Hearing God

121 What I‘m Listening to Right Now

In the messy intersection of faith, family and business we need an anchor... so we don't go crazy some days!!! An anchor keeps you stable and secure regardless of the storm. And the bigger the seas the bigger your anchor needs to be.

Metaphorically, your anchor is the sum total of the daily disciplines that secure your soul. That may include physical exercise, eating well, relationships, fun... and what I want to emphasize in this episode: what we are listening to or reading.

In the midst of my busy schedule I have some key practices that make it possible for me to read a bunch of books every month, without taking away from all the other activities of work and family and fun. Here's my process and some of the ways that I am feeding myself:

1. Anchor your day and night. I start each morning by reading my bible. If I don't know where to read, my default is the book of proverbs that lines up with the day of the month.

In the evening I will read a few pages of a book - physical copy. This helps slow me down, center my thoughts and prepare me for sleep (I learned this off  my wife).

2. Anchor your margin moments. I don't have a bunch of free time in my day. But there is always a 20min drive if Im going into town and 20-30min if I'm going for a run or walk (if alone). I find that there is always time to double up listening while doing chores or exercising or doing something on the house.

3. Choose your anchor. Everyone is listening to something; you choose WHAT you will listen to. The default is social media and the news. That's never uplifting or building your future. So you have to intentionally choose what you will listen to - anchor YOURself. Here's what and how I'm doing that myself:

- Audiobooks: currently I'm listening to True Spirituality by Francis Shaeffer and have some half finished books including Business Adventures by John Brooks, YouTube Secrets by Sean Cannell and Dream Big by Bob Goff. Taking my son down to a cross country event over the weekend we listened in the five hour car ride (one way) to Living With a Seal (warning - rough language) and Band of Brothers.

- Physical books: the Bible (daily!) and current focus books. At the moment my favorite is Network Power: The Science of Making a Difference by David Seel. I also have some unfinished books beside my bed and in the drawer.

- Ebooks: currently I'm reading The Seed of a Nation by Darrel Fields. It's the story of William Penn and the "Holy Experiment" of Pennsylvania.

- Podcasts: I regularly listen to God is Not a Theory with Ken Fish and Ford Taylor Talks and a bunch of others as I feel inspired.

So what is your favorite book so far this year and are you an audiobook or physical book person?

120 How God Views Your Work

When you understand the significance of your daily work EVERYTHING changes. Here's seven keys how God views your work. I encourage you to search these out for yourself and let me know what impacts you as a result. Also, if you have any questions or comments, don't hesitate to contact me andy@authentic-solutions.com or see HeaveninBusiness.com for more.

1. Jesus broke the curse - John 19:30

2. Work is worship - Genesis 2:15

3. Anointed work displaces demonic powers - Zechariah 1:18-

4. Don't exclude yourself or call what you do "unclean" - Acts 10:15

5. Don't reduce your walk with Jesus to an event - Matthew 6:33

6. Let God anoint YOU - Acts 10:38 and Genesis 33

7. EVERYTHING is the Lords - Ephesians 2:10 and Psalm 24

119 Learning to CREATE SPACE for Life

Processing learning from last weeks executive retreat and from having a building that was seemingly bigger than we need… until God said “It’s not empty.” I’m learning about creating space or room for God. In this podcast I tell the story of what happened last week. I also unpack how I so often fill my ‘spaces’ with more activity and God is inviting me to create and protect space… even where/when it feels awkward.

So where do you need to create space in your life? Tired? Worn out? Restless? Anxious? Perhaps it's time to take the reins back and rewrite your schedule and priorities. 

What about intentionally creating space in your day, in your home, in your business... to see what God will fill it with?

118 Case Study: Building Online Business

Ever wondered what it's like to get business direction from God and what happens as a result? Does that mean everything goes smoothly? How do you know what is your part and what is His part to do? Over the last few episodes I've been unpacking How to Make Decisions, How to Dream With God and a bunch of examples. This episode join me as I unpack how we heard God to take Heaven in Business online, the steps we took to implement that and the learning along the way.

Here's some key points:

- Big vision... dreaming with God

- Stuck... how do we realize the big dream

- God spoke... SURPRISE

- How do we implement what He said... people, product, process, price

=> miracle funding

- Bumps in the process... not going how we thought

=> platform can't do what was promised

=> second platform can't do what we want

=> third platform crashed... and rebuilt better, faster, smoother

- Next???

Learning:

1. Human thinking takes time to align with Heaven's thinking
2. You have not because you ask not... so ask BIG
3. Wise counsel makes wiser plans
4. The journey is more important
5. Everybody grows in the process

Finally - online is way more than a membership site... exec retreat, courses, coaching

If you want to check out our online platform and access the weekly inspirational and strategic prayer, access a free trial HERE.

117 Accessing the Force Multiplier of Community

You were never supposed to go it alone. Better yet, I am WITNESSING a measure of results in businesses that I am working with that I can ONLY attribute to "this must be God." Actually, it's legit because I read about it in Psalm 133 and Matthew 18. Check this out...

Behold, how GOOD and how PLEASANT [it is]

For brethren to dwell together in unity!

...

For there the LORD COMMANDED THE BLESSING - Life forevermore.

Psalm 133:1, 3

 

I also tell you this:

If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you.

Matthew 18:19

A force multiplier is a military term that refers to a factor or combination of factors that, when used together gives a significant increase in combat potential. Think army vs. army plus navy vs. army plus navy plus airforce. It's not 1 + 1; it literally multiplies that power and impact... 1 + 1 = 1,000!

You can access this yourself and this episode unpacks how as I interview a panel of four businessmen in one group and what they are experiencing.

1. What is it that I'm seeing in authentic community ?

- Check out the testimonies... wisdom, power, connections, perspective, encouragement, comfort

- Growth in business profitability, growth as a husband and father, as a person...

2. What are the barriers to building authentic community?

 – Commitment - performance-based-identity - willingness to be vulnerable

- Fear – Pride – Lies – Ignorance

3. What baseline criteria do you look for in WHO to build community with?

– Authenticity, love me enough to tell truth, wisdom (body scars and wrinkles), excellent at what is good, innocent of evil, evidence of God-walk, commitment to DO THIS.

If you would love to be a part of a community like this email us - contact@Heaveninbusiness.com

116 Case Study: Dream House

Ever wondered what it's like to experience miracle provision? Here's a case study of what happened for us in regard to our dream house. This is an example of dreaming with God and the practical steps we took to partner with Him in walking it out. It was scary... emotionally and financially more scary than most other things I have done. Yet the greatest outcome is not the house; it is the trust that grew in my relationship with Jesus. May the same happen for you.

Key points:

- A sacrifice

- A promise

- A delay

- An answer... in part

- Contentedness

- Disruption and dreaming bigger

- Another Delay

- Discovery!

- Disappointment

- R I S K

- Disaster one and disaster two

- Don't know what to do

- Miracles

If you have any questions or comments please don't hesitate to contact me andy@authentic-solutions.com

 

 

115. Case Study: Dreaming With God

Last episode (#114) you heard an introduction to dreaming with God. This episode I share the journey and outcome of a dream to go deep sea fishing combined with a spiritual retreat. If you enjoy this podcast please help spread the word by posting a review and hitting subscribe. You can also send any questions or comments to andy@authentic-conversations.com

114 Dreaming With God

It costs nothing to dream; it costs everything not to. God had a dream and wrapped your body around it. Lou Engle When you discover and live out the dreams and desires of your heart you release hope, Life and purpose all around you. The world needs you to dream! So how do you dream and turn that into practical action steps? Join us for a 5-week online course starting October 21. Find out details by emailing contact@Heaveninbusiness.com or Andy@authentic-solutions.com.

113 Case Study: Did I Hear God?

Last episode (#112) I unpacked eight keys to help make decisions... WITH God. I referred to one of our biggest decisions which was to leave the comfort and stability of our home in New Zealand and move the family to the USA. At the time it seemed crazy leaving the growing business influence and momentum, let alone leaving behind family and friends and a community I was familiar with. A decade later I can look back and definitively say, THAT WAS GOD! 

 

So this episode I'm going to walk you through the process of hearing God, understanding the timing and even the location. It will also be no-holds-barred letting you in on the challenges and lessons I learned in the process.

 

For you.... what decisions are you facing (or avoiding) that are an invitation to make WITH God? What would you do if you were fearless?

 

If you want to go deeper in learning how to hear God for practical decisions you make on a daily basis check out our short course - HEYGODWHATNOW.com or grab a copy of Finding Hope in Crazy Times: daily stories of hearing God (on Amazon.)

 

Once again, don't hesitate to post a review, subscribe to this podcast and send any questions or comments to andy@authentic-conversations.com

 

112 How Do You Decide

Last week my wife and I celebrated 23 years of marriage and 13 years being in the USA. Those were some significant decisions and time has proven them to be GOOD ones! So how do you decide? Whether that's a new product line or who you will marry, here's some tips that have worked for me:

1. WHO do you let decide?

Make sure that you are the one making the decisions and not passively letting them be made by email, social media, the size of your vehicle, pride/ego/fear or some other significant voice. Freedom equals "I tell me what to do... and I do it." (Danny Silk).

You are the only one who governs your time and choices... unless you are in prison... 

2. Don't do this:

Don't rush in or be hasty. It's not good to have zeal without knowledge or be hasty and miss the way. Proverbs 19:2

Don't ignore the due diligence process. Pay attention to the details.

Don't ignore wise counsel

Believe in the Lord and you will be established; believe in His prophets and you will prosper. 2 Chronicles 20:20

3. How DO you make decisions?

This book shall not depart your mouth... mediate on it... and in so doing you will make your way prosperous and you will have great success. Joshua 1:8

Key clues and contributors to decision making:

1. Word of God

2. Voice of God

3. Prophets

4. Wise and godly counsel

5. Witness of trusted counsellors ("...this is the right thing to do...")

6. Submitting the decision to the Lord and His timing... surrender and yieldness

7. Inner knowing/conviction

8. Peace

 

ACTION: TEST it. It's only in stepping out that you find out if the ground is stable. Faith is only faith when action is involved. Do something small to move towards what you believe is the right decision and pay attention to the results.