Blog - Page 8 of 17 - Start. Finish. Grow

17 Feb 2015

Sticky Post By christinafaith Posted in Authenticity Permalink

Winter, Love and Apple Fritters

Sticky Post By christinafaith On February 17, 2015

I thought this story was amazing! Here is an experience Darielle had today.

My work day was becoming very “blah”. I was getting antsy, somewhat bored, didn’t want to go out in the snow but I needed a break. I finally convinced myself to go out because I was indeed hungry and it was about lunch time.

I needed to find an ATM. I went to the closest store near to my job and the ATM was broke. Ugh! It’s too cold. I want to go back inside. I decided to walk across the street to the 7/11. That’s where I spotted Jason. Jason was not like a guy I haven’t seen many times before: sitting outside, on the ground, holding some variation of a “homeless” sign.

Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t stop and talk to every person that I see on the street. Especially not in the winter, in the middle of my work day. But I decided to stop for him. (These are moments where I totally give credit to God. I don’t know what convinced me to stop aside from the Spirit of God that’s alive inside. I don’t why I stopped, but I did).

I asked him if there was anything I could get him from inside the 7/11 and all he asked for was an Apple Fritter… AN APPLE FRITTER! I didn’t even know what that was until today. & guess how much that apple fritter costed me; a grand total of $1.94… One single dollar and 94 cents! You’ve gotta really respect someone when you’re offering to give them something without constraint and all they ask you for is worth less than $2.

To make a long story short, I of course got the Apple Fritter, then I tried to use that 7/11 ATM. And guess what?… their ATM was out of order too! I was able to use my debit card and get the cash I needed as change but I thought that in itself was quite interesting. I knew then that my trip wasn’t for the sake of an ATM machine, it was so that I could take an opportunity to share my joy inside.

I told Jason that I stopped for him because God loves him and I wanted him to know that. So much so that He could convince this complete stranger who despises cold weather, has had a “blah” kind of work day and was really only looking for an ATM, to go in and out of a store twice (he originally wanted hot chocolate but the machine was broke) for something worth $1.94.

Jason isn’t too sure what he believes about Jesus and we weren’t really in the predicament, nor did we have the time, for detailed explanations. But Jason did let me pray for him. Pretty much the same thing that I said to him, I said to God. And I prayed that he would become so convinced of God’s love, and that every single day that he’s alive is an opportunity for his life to change. No situation is ever to big for God to change.

The moral of this story? I’m not too sure. I didn’t find a working ATM, and my toes are still a little bit cold, but would I do it again, absolutely. I’d walk farther, wait longer, and pray harder, just to share God’s love and $1.94.

Yet again, My we never be too proud…, or too busy, to stop what we’re doing and share Christ’s love, hope, and salvation, wherever we go.

I may be $1.94 poorer, but that’s the life of a #newagemillionaire.

Guest Post by: Darielle

04 Feb 2015

Sticky Post By christinafaith Posted in Authenticity, Blogging, Vision Permalink

When Everything Is Fake

Sticky Post By christinafaith On February 4, 2015

Authenticity is a major factor in our world. There has been a stream of fake EVERYWHERE. From fake love to fake faces our world desires an image that isn’t real. We want more people to follow us. We want to know the key ingredient to blowing up.

I listen to a lot of podcast with major influencers as the guest and many people ask the EXACT same questions. Each time the person on the show seems a bit focused on how that person has achieved success. I completely understand the focus of the shows. As I have been reflecting on these interviews & pulling from them what I can I am realizing that there is no formula to success.

Everyone that has succeeded tried the formulas and learned along the way that they have to figure things out for them. There are somethings we can all do that leads to a greater return. But attempting to use someone else’s formula of success step by step and word for word isn’t authentic.

As you are hustling through life be authentic. Be who you are. Don’t look at the images on the screens and think that it’s reality. It’s an picture. It’s an image. Unless we document EVERY part of our lives step by step we don’t really know how we attained success. But what we do know is that we grind regardless of where we were at the time.

Success and hustle can’t be measured. We all measure success and hustle differently. Today focus on how you are going to remain authentic in your life. Show your flaws, show your achievements, be authentic. Authenticity is what people are yearning for not another “how to” formula for success. Remain authentic and consistent.

03 Feb 2015

Sticky Post By christinafaith Posted in Authenticity, From Start to Finish, Writer Permalink

Why Hustle Is Important

Sticky Post By christinafaith On February 3, 2015

Recently, I’ve had a lot of doors open. I have been able to have conversations with some major influencers in our tech and social media world. People that I never thought I had a reach on. I realized through speaking notification each of them that my dreams and your dreams are possible. Yesterday, I interviewed Carlos Whittaker and the major take away that I got from him is CONSISTENCY.

We all struggle with consistency! Things attempt to take the place of what we know we should be doing. In our busy world EVERYTHING is important! Even the fact that I just placed a “!” made it feel like that was important. Our emotions run a mile a minute and we are moved by every tweet, news bulletin and notification that dings us. I have been battling this immensely huge boulder of consistency and distraction myself.

There are days that I WIN the consistency and distraction free game. But there are also days that I do not win. Our job is to build prayer and hustle into our lives! I’ve recently began to think about why I hustle so hard. It’s really ingrained in me. Anyone who knows me knows I hustle. In prayer, at Bible Study, at work, at dreams, at home life at EVERYTHING. I believe that I can exert myself in what I am doing. When I do things with love and grind in my heart my hustle is authentic.

How are you going to hustle differently? Will you even hustle? Will you be consistent? Ben Arment tweeted, “Hustle without purpose is hassle”. Everything we do should be done with purpose. Everyday that I wake up I make it my job to pray, read the Word and listen to the Lord. I am looking for purpose. I am looking for direction. I am looking for courage and motivation.

Define everyday as a day you hustle with purpose. When you hustle with purpose you will develop consistency because it will matter to you. 20 years ago today Eileen Collins became the first female astronaut to pilot a space shuttle mission. I would image that Eileen hustled to become the first of many! My dreams are big in my mind but the closer I get the more I realize how attainable they are. Don’t be distracted by the days you don’t win at consistency. Daily renew your mind to become consistent in what you were purposed to hustle towards. Your hustle is important!

27 Jan 2015

Sticky Post By christinafaith Posted in Entrepreneurship, From Start to Finish, Podcast, productivity Permalink

EP 1: Write With Heart Podcast

Sticky Post By christinafaith On January 27, 2015

How to Write with Heart with Adam Smith

With over 300,000 email subscribers for his blog Adam Smith gives us advice on how to lead with your life and write with heart.

Set list:

J. Moss- Your Work Mary J. Blige- Doubt
Atiba Hailisi- Dreams
Stephen the Levite- Date Night
Hunter GK Thompson- Marantha

27 Jan 2015

Sticky Post By christinafaith Posted in Blogging, Entrepreneurship, From Start to Finish Permalink

4 Ways to Kick Doubt In The Face

Sticky Post By christinafaith On January 27, 2015

We read about doubt in the form of resistances a lot in the blogger world. Steven Pressfield in his book The War of Art speaks about the resistance in a lot of detail. The resistance in the form of doubt is REAL! When we think of all the things we would like to finish and accomplish in life doubt peaks it’s head out and says hello immediately. If you can overcome doubt you can overcome anything.

Doubt is a feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction.

Imagine your ready to start working on your first book and you are full of conviction and in one instance the feeling of uncertainity starts to overwhelm you. One thought at a time doubt attempts to overwhelm us until she has won and we no longer believe we can accomplish what we started out to do.

Doubt can be kicked in the face! Here is how I kick doubt in the face on a daily bases:

Do the work!
Speak to the doubt!
Get Around Likeminded People
Listen to Podcast

Whatever you do with doubt you must overcome it. The sure fire way for doubt to win is to do nothing. What are you going to do with your doubt?

27 Jan 2015

Sticky Post By christinafaith Posted in Authenticity, From Start to Finish Permalink

Why You Shouldn’t Hide That You’re A Christian

Sticky Post By christinafaith On January 27, 2015

If you are reading my blog most likely you are a Christian. I have been extremely unapologetic about the fact that I am a Christian. I wasn’t raised a Christian however; my whole life changed in 2003. I had several encounters with Jesus that showed me He was real. Since my final Damascus experience when I gave my entire life to Jesus I have been bold about my hope in the Lord.

My boldness has been challenged throughout the years and I have wanted to change my writing style to stay relevant. Here I am in 2015 to tell you that as a child of God we can’t bend in order to acquire success. Success is tricky. Many people see what other’s in the world are doing and they want the success they have. As Christian’s that can’t be our place.

We have to be bold; yet loving.

Courageous; yet humble.

Honest; yet listen.

Straight forward; yet wise.

As Christian’s we are called to make disciples and that can be hard in our society. It seems that every law is being formed against what we believe however; that shouldn’t stop us from living unashamed. Living unashamed doesn’t mean distancing yourself from the culture. Living unashamed means living out loud for all to see! I’ve decided not to change my content for more followers. Not to bend in my writing for more readers. Not to hide my beliefs in Christ for others to be comfortable. I have decided to be a brave and courageous Christian.

I have befriended people who aren’t Christian since I was born again. They know who I am and what I believe. I don’t hide behind the uniform of society. I am not a Christian so that I can fit in. I am a Christian because the flow of the culture leads to destruction and I want life not death.

If you are reading this blog post I believe the Lord wants us all to know that we should be living our lives from Start to Finish with the Him. The path to earthly success and spiritual maturity is seen throughout Scripture and it all begins and ends with the Lord.

Live bold. Love hard. Speak openly. Punch fear in the face. Be His out loud.

I don’t know about you but I love Jesus because He loves me. If He was willing to die for us how much more should we be willing to surrender our reputations for His glory. If you are a Christian writer write for Christ! If you are a plumber plumb for Christ! If you are a Christian student learn for Christ! Whatever your occupation is God is worth surrendering your reputation for the world to know you are a believer. Persecution is apart of the Christian walk. We can’t be afraid of what others will think and deny the Christ that loves us when we are faithless. Be encouraged to live unashamed!

20 Jan 2015

Sticky Post By christinafaith Posted in Authenticity, Blogging, From Start to Finish Permalink

3 Ways To Dream The Impossible

Sticky Post By christinafaith On January 20, 2015

As I sit here in my chair I am reflecting on my own dreams. I have always dreamed big and many of those dreams have come true. When I wrote my first book and published it myself my dream was a reality. I am a published author. When I directed my first music video my dream became a reality. When I launched my first media company my dream became a reality. When I released the first episode of my web series my dream was a reality.

During the process of all the working, planning, creating, failing, trying to figure it all out I had doubt. I still have doubt to this day that I wonder if I can actually become a full time Author and Director. It’s not my biggest dream but it is the biggest dream in my mind that I desire to be tangible. Today is a day of reflection for me. When I thought things were impossible God showed me that it was possible. How do you know when your dreams are possible?

I am not a superstar. I don’t have a huge following but I am a finisher. I remember when I sent out my first newsletter in 2006 encouraging people to live unto the Lord. It was a hard email to write but I knew I had to hit send. It was so well received that I continued sending those email for years. With all the ventures I have taken part in I have Started and Finished.

What are you starting and finishing this year, this quarter, this month, or even today? Are you just talking about the dream or are you living it? Are you showing up to work on your dream daily or are you still thinking about it? Is it sitting in your head scared to come out? Are you driven by money or by fulfilling your calling? Whatever the dream is it is possible. The question is do you pursue it like it’s possible or do you allow doubt to enter your heart and stop you from moving forward.

16 Jan 2015

Sticky Post By christinafaith Posted in Authenticity, Blogging, Entrepreneurship, From Start to Finish Permalink

7 Ways To Measure Success

Sticky Post By christinafaith On January 16, 2015

There seems to be this idea in the world that if we copy formulas that other people have used we will receive the same amount of success they have. I am here to tell you that it’s not true. Formulas aren’t what people follow. People follow value. If you are providing someone value they will embrace you. If you are not offering value they will skip over you. Society allows for many get rich quick schemes and viral instant celebrities. However; those rare moments shouldn’t be our priorities. We have to ask ourselves a few question before we start projects and while we are in the midst of them.

What does success look like to me?

What do numbers mean to me?

Am I adding value to people?

Am I lusting for attention?

Am I selling things I love or am I just trying to make money?

Am I measuring success against someone elses?

Am I being truly patient about my idea of success or do I want it now?

Recently, I heard Jefferson Bethke speak about the first 3 weeks of his video going viral as the worse time of his life. He went on to speak about how our human souls weren’t created for overnight success. We often have the idea that if we can just get an investor, become a viral senstation, or win the lottery everything in our lives will be better. However; that isn’t true. We were designed with purpose. There is something unique about you that only you can provide to the world. You won’t be able to manufactuer it. Are you using what you have or are you wishing you had what someone else has. Don’t allow your eyes wandering to remove your focus for what you are called to do. Your idea of success is unique to you. Stay in your lane you were purposed to ride in it.

13 Jan 2015

Sticky Post By christinafaith Posted in Authenticity, Devotionals, Single and Anxious, Writer Permalink

Delight In God Today

Sticky Post By christinafaith On January 13, 2015

Writing a book is not an easy task. Writing a 50,000 word book in two months is even harder. It would be incredibly challenging for me to write this book in my own strength. Yesterday, I had the most amazing time with Jesus writing Single and Anxious. From 8am-5pm I wrote (with food and admin breaks). I had a new album by Brittney Wright on repeat and I poured out my heart to the single community. 5000 words spilled out of me. The difference between writing my first book and the second is the intentional delighting in the Lord. When I wrote Nickey’s Flesh I had a lot going on. I worked full time, directed plays, attended seminary and served at my local church. This time around I have time due to healing from my foot surgery. It is the most amazing experience to write, cry, pray and repeat. I realized yesterday that God desires for us to experience this on a daily bases not just with projects. He desires to be our delight all the time.

Delight- be refreshed; take pleasure in

Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. (Psalm 37:3-5)

When we seek Abba, Father we are refreshed. We are Christians because Jesus wanted to delight in us as His children. Jesus delights in us. Did you know that He takes pleasure in you? He desires for us to be delighted in Him as well. As an entreprenuer, writer, director I am always challenged by the implication of my faith in my work. I know that I serve a niche audience but at the same time I serve at the pleasure of Jesus. I don’t serve at the pleasure of the global audience. The freedom of delighting in God is trusting in Him. As we delight in Him he gives us the desires of our hearts. We don’t have to push and try to make things happen. We can rest in His will and He will do it. Today delight in the Lord and trust that He will do that which He has placed in your heart.

08 Jan 2015

Sticky Post By christinafaith Posted in Blogging, Entrepreneurship, Vision Permalink

Why You Should Do What You Love

Sticky Post By christinafaith On January 8, 2015

Last night Adam Smith blog had a conference. While we were on the conference call he encouraged us to Write With Heart. Those words rang in my ear and echoed from the first time that he said them to me on a podcast interview we recently recorded. The same words were echoed in the January’s edition of Inc, magazine by Peter Diamandis. He encouraged entreprenuers to “do what you’re passionate about, because that’s when you do your best work”.

In this crowded world everyone has something to say. What will set you apart from the crowd? Doing things with heart will set you apart. I have launched a lot of ventures. As a serial entrepreneur while exploring, building and launching you discover what you are passionate about. After launching a food business last year I realized that I am extremely passionate about food, fitness and the quality of food. However; I quickly learned that my vision was larger than my current abilities. I desire to own restaurant fitness centers not a per meal plan service. I couldn’t do it with heart. So I stopped.

Doing it with heart requires:

Passion – If you aren’t deeply passionate about your venture it is going to be extremely hard to see continued success. A friend of mine owns a photography/film company like my husband and I. He is not passionate about weddings but he is extremely passionate about business. For him his passion for business and creativity allows him to shoot 48 weddings a year with love.
Purpose – If you don’t know the purpose behind why you do what you do it will be extremely hard to do it with heart. Define what you are doing and why? The why behind it keeps you focused on what you are doing.
Goal – If you don’t have a plan with goals you won’t do it with heart long. Goals measure if you are headed in the right direction. Goals help us to push when our hearts grow weary. Goals remind you the process is valueable when we want to quit

Launching out into the deep of a dream is an act of faith and an emotional experience. When we do what we are passionate about it feels less like work and more like purpose. Although the road seems long you will be able to keep going forward regardless of the obstacles when you do it with heart.

Daily

Recent Posts