Faith Based Investing

The other day I was asked by a reader, “How can I figure out God’s will for my life?”  He was talking about where should he live, what should he do for a job, how should he be investing, etc, etc.  I was reminded of a story I heard a few years ago about the death of Walter Houston. “Who is Walter Houston?” you may be thinking…

The headline read:

MAN, 91 DIES WAITING FOR THE WILL OF GOD

TUPELO: Walter Houston, described by family members as a devoted Christian, died Monday after waiting 70 years for God to give him clear direction about what to do with his life.

“He hung around the house and prayed a lot, but just never got that confirmation,” his wife Ruby said. “Sometimes he thought he heard God’s voice, but then he wouldn’t be sure, and he’d start the process all over again.”

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Labor Day is almost here … the last day of a nice long weekend, three days that I hope you enjoy very much.

The first Labor Day was celebrated in New York City in 1882, by roughly 20,000 workers who held a giant parade to call for better working conditions. They followed it up with picnics and fireworks. In 1894, Labor Day was made a national holiday … a reward for all the hard work we put in as Americans. Interesting how times change … what started as a day of protest has become a day of leisure and relaxation.

While we relax and enjoy the freedoms we have as Americans, we should remember that some Americans will indeed be at work on Labor Day … in Iraq, in Afghanistan, and here at home, serving our country and serving our communities. We should be especially thankful for that.

I wish you an enjoyable, relaxing Labor Day weekend!

Happy Labor Day,

Jay

Photo credit: Bennett

Watch your thoughts, they become your words.
Watch your words they become your actions.
Watch your actions they become your habits.
Watch your habits they become your character.
Watch your character for it will become your destiny.”

– Frank Outlaw, Founder, Bi-Lo supermarkets in South Carolina

Do you guard what you think about?

Your thoughts will either bring you closer to success or keep you from it.  There is an old saying, “whether you think you can or cannot, you are right!”  The mind is such a powerful instrument that can work for us or against us. With all that power, shouldn’t we guard what we think about?

I refuse to watch the news for one reason alone:  it gets me thinking bad thoughts.  I mean with all the murder, deception, scandals, violence, earthly disasters, and economic trouble, how can one not become depressed?

Now I don’t stick my head in the ground and pretend problems aren’t there.  Instead I focus on what I CAN control:  my actions and how I treat and help others.  I try each day to fill my mind with God’s Word, positive thoughts, encouraging plans, and work toward being a part of the solution…instead of adding to the world’s problems…

Every action begins within in our minds

Affairs, money problems, murder, divorce, and other conflicts begin within what is at our core – our heart.  If we think about something long enough, it consumes us.  So I ask you: what are you constantly thinking about?  Money, material things, your problems, only about yourself?   I try to ask myself: will what I am going through make any difference 100 years from now?  If I am having problems…they become that much smaller.  If I am having success, is the success glorifying God?

I have been getting so many emails.  Many of you are going through some really tough times.  The economy, stock market, real estate bubble, and job situations may look bleak, but know God is still in control. He is a God of love, mercy, and compassion.  Though we don’t fully understand why the hard times come, but they still do.  We can either dwell on our troubles or use the difficulties to become stronger – spiritually, emotionally, physically, and financially.  We just need to focus on the Giver of everything.

These Hard Times

“Give me an answer
Give me the way out
Give me the faith
To believe in these hard times” – NeedtoBreathe

I keep listening to one of my favorite bands Needtobreathe and can’t help but find so much wisdom in “These Hard Times“.  The lyrics will inspire you. I promise!  Give it all to Jesus.  Commit to Him fully.  The hard times are stripping you of something you hold dearly.  Lean on Him alone and He will be all you need to find light at the end of the tunnel. His arms are wide open…He wants you to fill your thoughts with Him!

May you fill your head with thoughts that can help you make a difference!

Don’t we all wear the same jersey?

It is amazing to me, how many Christians are at odds with each other over trivial matters. We essentially fight over who loves God “the most”, who loves Him the “right way” and other less pressing issues.  Too many Christians waste too much time fighting other Christians.

What if the body of Christ actually took Jesus’ advice and looked to help others, build them up, and work together to advance God’s work?  What if we took all the time and energy of fighting each other and instead worked toward helping and saving others?

Think of all the work that needs to be done: the church doors closing, ministries shutting down, people starving, those dying physically and spiritually.  There is no shortage of work that needs to be done yet the biggest obstacle to Christianity is often…well, other “Christians”.  How can we attract others to faith when we are so quick to fight one another?  No one is perfect, but if we don’t show the love of Christ toward other believers how can we possibly attract non-believers.  When we fight those on the same team, our opponent – the enemy wins! Let us fight the bigger battles and let’s stop wasting precious time!

I am reminded of Titus 3:9: “But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.”

What do you think?

How do you define success?

Do you think of people like Donald Trump, living the high life, fancy penthouses, wining and dining, endless golfing at private championship clubs,  and toys, toys, toys?  Too often, many of us, view success in the eyes of the world. Success is the attainment of some  end result—money, big house,  luxury car, extravagant vacations, on and on… But these things bring you no closer to finding your true purpose and passion in this life.

I hate to be the one to burst your bubble, but I have been there, done that.  My goals were once wrapped in materialistic lies.  The quest for a bigger home, nicer cars, and attaining the “American Dream” left me feeling shallow, empty, and lost! Though I had amassed riches and was quite successful from a worldly perspective, I found little joy in the reward because I had little fun accumulating.  There was no greater purpose in my life.

Buying lies – hook, line, and sinker!

We buy into the lies of the media-created fantasy world of celebrities and stars. A life of luxury and rest is only fun for so long.   Without a greater sense of purpose, there is no real fulfillment.  The fabricated image constructed by the media is:  “life is easier with more money“.  In fact, I submit, it is much tougher! Read one of Donald Trump’s books and you will be enlightened on how hard he actually works.

Those who often succeed work so hard at one thing that life can actually be…BORING!  Michael Jordan practiced and played basket ball day and night – lots of work.  Trump lives and breathes real estate and business.  Chris Daughtry lives and breaths music – touring, recording, traveling.  Don’t get me wrong – these people LOVE what they DO, but it takes a TON of HARD work!   The reward  (money, fame, luxury) is not where the joy comes, it’s doing what you love that really brings the joy!

Here are 5 ways to get what you want without selling your soul:

1). Create a personal mission statement and live with a sense of purpose! Those who are most successful live each day as if it were their last. Their daily mission and purpose drive each behavior.  They become proactive instead of reactive.  The end result (the vision) is so clear, that the focus each day is on that no task is too trivial to get there. Have you determined your own meaningful and purposeful goals? Do you have a clearly defined, mission statement for your personal and business life?  Is it written out?

2. Be confident and keep your faith central in ALL you do! When you have confidence in God and your abilities, success is far more likely.  Those who focus on what they can do rather than what they can’t do, accomplish far more.  You can play the part of a victim or work harder to overcome obstacles. The choice is yours and yes it is a choice!  Invite God to be a part of your business, finances, the small and big parts of each day and see how much more trust you will have in Him.  He never lets you down.  Though you may not get everything you want, He surely will provide everything you need.

3. Look at challenges as opportunities! More millionaires are built during recessions and depressions.  Those who look at tough times as an opportunity, fare much better than those who allow tough times to swallow them up.  Opposition builds character, cements your commitment and drive, and grows you closer to the Giver of life!  During these challenging times, are you looking to add value and build relationships?

4. Just show up! Woody Allen once said, “Eighty percent of success is just showing up.”  Do you think those who are most successful are the best out there?  No!  They are not the smartest. They are not the most skilled.  They are not the most unique people.  They are, however, the most dedicated.  They are the hardest workers.  They are all heart!  They are those who are willing to show up every day, roll up their sleeves, and get messy as they try to figure out how to get closer toward their end goals.

5.  Be persistent and willing to die trying! The game of life is like a marathon, not a sprint.  Are you committed to your personal mission and cause come rain or shine?  It is easy to keep plugging away when times are good. Do you give up easily or do you stay focused?  Keep your head in the game and focus on sticking around as long as you can.  It was once said, “luck is where hard work meets opportunity.” The longer you’re at it, the more opportunities that will come your way.

Work and play become one!

Thomas Edison said it best, “I never did a day’s work in my life. It was all fun.” His attitude shows exactly how we succeed.  We find our God-given passion, we live each day with a greater sense of purpose, and then work and play will eventually become one in the same.  Here’s to finding what God called you to do!

Are the odds stacked against you?

It can often appear like you are facing insurmountable odds:

• You look at the scoreboard and you are down by 5 runs in the bottom of the ninth with their top closer on the mound…
• You look at the political landscape and the proposed “hope” and “change” wasn’t what you had in mind…
• You look at your investment statement and your account is down 40 percent and you’re thinking now there’s no way to ever retire…
• The marriage is on the rocks and divorce looks inevitable…

• You look at your checkbook and there’s more month than money…
• You said you’d never do it again, now you find you can’t stop the addiction

No matter where you are, hope is not lost. There is a way -His way! When you are at the end of the rope, hang on tight and turn it over to the all mighty King! Sometimes we need a miracle, other times we need stamina, and times we just need to have our spirit lifted up. He can provide all we need in this life.

This morning I was listening to a song that spoke to me while exercising.

“Good Fight” by Creed

I give my all, my everything
Anything you want I’ve tried to be I tried, God knows I tried
Or am I stuck somewhere between who I am and who I hope to be?
Am I fighting the good fight?

Keep pressing on
Fight the good fight, fight what you know is wrong
Keep pressing on
Fight the good fight, fight what you know is wrong

I’ve come so far to fall too fast”

If you are in His will, He will lead you exactly where you need to be. Don’t lose hope, just keep fighting the good fight, and victory will be yours at last!

Here are Ten great verses dealing with “hope”

Yes, you read that right!

I’m saying to quit and to fail…

America is a nation focusing heavily on success.  With so much pressure to succeed, we constantly talk about perseverance and willpower.  We see banners that read, “Winners Never Quit, and Quitters Never Win”.  I argue that quitting and failing are not only good, “they’re grrreat!” (in the words of Tony, the Tiger)

Of those who have achieved financial success, I often see two major contributing factors:

1. They quit the things that are detracting them from their goals and are not in line with their faith and values. In other words, they are not afraid to say “no”.  It is as important to decide what you’re not going to do as what you are going to do.  Choices dictate our future.  Are you making good choices with your time and money?  Are you positioning yourself for  success? Many take on far too many commitments and end up succeeding at none of them because they are spread too thin.
2. They are not afraid to fail! Many are often too afraid to fail so they play it “safe”.  Playing it safe is a  sure way to fail.   The riskiest thing you can do is to seek safety over a life of chance and risk.   It is during the times we stretch ourselves that we have the biggest financial gains, the business breakthroughs, and we grow closer to God!    In the midst of an economic slump, I see people afraid to take a chance.  They have given up hope.  I hear things like  “it’s too difficult to get people to spend money” and  “no one wants what I’m selling anymore” or even “a recession is the worst time to launch a business”.   They make excuses instead of looking at the opportunities that lie ahead.  More millionaire are built during recessions and depressions!   Just like a hitter in the midst of a slump is told to swing the bat more. The more swings you take the more likely you’ll get some hits. The same goes for opportunities. The more chances you take, the more likely you are to have success!

So quit what’s not working and don’t be afraid to fail…

What are your thoughts?