Get Empowered! iBloom Blog Talk Radio Recap

Our Blog Talk Radio show this week was about getting Empowered! We invite you to CLICK HERE to listen to the show.

Here’s a quick recap of some of the main points brought out in the show:

The definition of empower is authority, responsibility, power, permit, enable. Philippians 4:13 tells us that we can do “all things through Christ who strengthens us.”

We encourage you to get empowered today by remembering these tips:

1. Determine what you REALLY want; articulate what is stopping you; then CHOOSE to move forward.

2. Be hopeful about the future. Know that your choices make a difference in your life and those around you.

3. Choose intentionally. You are not a victim to your circumstances – your circumstances are victim to GOD!

4. Speak with empowering words. For example, instead of saying, “I’m SO busy,” say, “Life is full and exciting right now!” Or, instead of saying “I have the worst luck,” say, “I’m so grateful for ____________.”

5. Use “I Choose” statements like “I choose to celebrate each stage of life,” or “I choose to discover how God designed me.”

6. Remember, protect yourself, your time, and your energy by saying NO sometimes. Try these statements:
“I really appreciate your thinking of me, but no thank you.”
“Hmmmm, I need to pray about this. I’ll give you an answer by Friday.”
“I’m sorry, I can’t.” (no need to explain!)
“I can’t but I think I know someone who would really enjoy doing this.”

Resources:

“A Christian Woman’s Guide to Empowerment” by Leigh Ann Napier, iBloom Associate

Get your FREE copy of Empowered Magazine. Anna Quesada was a guest on our show today. She shared why she started this magazine where women can contribute their writing. You will be stunned by the quality of this magazine that can come right to your email box!

Empower your kids by identifying their personality and helping them live in their strengths. Betsy Ringer has a terrific resource loaded with teaching about The Personalities PLUS a bonus booklet of great tips of fun things to do with kids and teens! Zoo Clues: The Personalities of Children and Teens for Parents and Educators

Make your calendar empowering by using Planner Pads.

Have You Ever Wondered WHY Your Kids Act so Different from You? by Betsy Ringer

Have you ever wondered why your kids act so different from you? Wouldn't it be great if you could understand your kids and know why they behave the way they do? You CAN! You CAN learn to speak to their strengths and help them grow into successful adults!

“You may have just saved our family! Thank you soooo much!” A couple shared this comment with me one evening after my Personalities class. This quiet, godly, couple had a look on their faces of both surprise and relief. They had just learned that both of them and their daughter had the same personality type. However, they had adopted a boy from another country and they thought there was something really wrong with him!! In my class, they learned he had a different personality style from theirs and he was just fine!! They simply needed to learn how to get along with his personality type!

We are all born hard-wired with a preferred personality style. This determines our basic responses: extravert, introvert, follower, leader. It also determines our desires, that is, what we want most in life: control, order, fun, peace and so on. If you have more than one child you probably agree that you were able to see that each of your children had different personalities VERY early!

I have three almost adult children and all three tell me repeatedly that learning about The Personalities has been the most valuable information I have taught them. They say it has helped them know themselves, understand their friends and get along better with their teachers and employers. My 19 year old daughter says, “I just can’t imagine NOT knowing this information.”

You CAN learn about your child’s personality and learn how to bring out their strengths and help all members in your family get along better.

Register today for the teleclass, “Zoo Clues – The Personalities of Children and Teens for Parents and Educators.”
Thursday, November 19, 8 – 9:30 PM Eastern 7PM CT 6PM MT 5PM PT

Click here to register for the teleclass.
If you can’t make the class time register and we will send you all info plus the recording of the class so you can listen at your convenience.


Once you register we will send you a downloadable packet which includes GREAT ideas of things to do with your kids and teens to make daily living more fun and meaningful. We will also send you a phone number and access code to call at the time of the teleclass as well as a link to take a free online Personality profile prior to attending the class.

Educators – this is extremely valuable information for your classroom!

New iBloom Radio Show Recap - Inspired!

WOW! We just got off our very first BLOG TALK RADIO show! I know some of you were on the show and I hope you enjoyed the time with us! For those of you who missed it or are wondering, “What is Blog Talk Radio?” Let me fill you in with the details.

Blog Talk Radio is, yes you guessed it, a RADIO show that comes on through your computer! The iBloom team is going to be on every Monday from noon to 1 PM Eastern Time with great info, interviews, resources and some fun surprises! I hope you will join us! Simply go to Christian Women Affiliate and sign up!
If you missed it and would like to listen, CLICK HERE

Here’s quick recap of what we talked about!

Inspire is a GREAT word – some synonyms include motivate, encourage, enthuse, move. So we talked today about some ideas that help us get inspired. For example, God’s creation inspires us, so does trying new things like a new recipe, and assisting others can be quite inspirational.

During our radio show this week, Kelly Thorne, founder of iBloom was interviewed. She shared how iBloom got started, her vision, the value of working as a team and some interesting personal information. Did you know when Kelly isn’t working diligently on the iBloom vision, she likes to play games and hang out with her friends?

Kelly then interviewed two members of the iBloom team. Each shared a little about her area of focus and why she is passionate about that area. Leigh Ann is passionate about helping women take steps to make their marriages strong and vibrant! Who doesn’t need that?!!

Betsy is passionate about helping women get a handle on work/life balance. She knows from experience the consequences of stretching too far and living in constant overwhelm and exhaustion. Whether you work full time at home or away at a paid job, we ALL need a “life.”

It seems that life is so much more joyful when we intentionally build some inspiration into our lives. We’ve listed some ideas below. Be sure to share some of your ideas with us! Click here to share!

Inspirational movies:
Last Holiday
The Ultimate Gift
Facing the Giants
100 Most Inspirational Films


Songs:
Switchfoot's "Dare You To Move"
Iz version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"
“Time of My Life” by David Cook
“Lifesong” by Casting Crowns


Quotes:
"Every artist was first an amateur." Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little." Edmund Burke

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined.” Henry David Thoreau


Books:
Jesus Calling
God has a Dream for Your Life by Shelia Walsh
His Princess by Sheri Rose Shephard


Website:
Simple Truths – watch the short inspirational movies

Scripture:
Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were born or You gave birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. Psalm 90:1, 2

Here’s another way to put it: You’re to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. Matthew 5:14 The Message

We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you. 2 Chronicles 20:12

You will not have to fight this battle. Stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you. Go out to face tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you. 2 Chronicles 19:17

Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting. Psalm 106:1

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. Jeremiah 31:3

The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. Zeph. 3:17

They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. Psalm 36:8

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:23



Take time out every day for a little Inspiration!!!

Finish Strong – Start Powerfully by Betsy Ringer

Yesterday the radio alarm came on and when I woke up, for a moment I really thought the dream I just had really happened. Has that every happened to you? Sometimes my days are kind of like that – they slip by and I think I lived them but can’t quite capture the memory of the moments of the day. And now an entire year is about to fade into time forever. In a couple of weeks we are all going to be fully absorbed in the joy, rush, overwhelm, exhilaration and chaos of Thanksgiving and Christmas. And then, 2010 will present itself with a fresh call to action. Whoa!!! Not so fast! I still have today, this day, this moment and I want to LIVE it!

As your Life Coach, I give you permission to stop, assess, and prepare to finish 2009 STRONG and to start 2010 POWERFULLY. Psalm 34:8 says, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” God used this verse to help me get a firm grasp on how to live the “moments” of my day; how to treasure the gift of time and everyday living. It would be such a privilege to share it with you.

You can develop your own simple and straightforward Life Guide Statement. It’s different from a mission statement and purpose statement which identify things to “do.” Your Life Guide Statement is more focused on how you live day in and day out in a way that fills your soul, moves you from mediocre to meaningful daily living and brings out the life vitality you long for. My Life Guide Statement is “Exalt and encounter God, take a risk, savor the moments and live intentionally.” These components bridge my family, satisfying work, bold fun, and meaningful relationships.

I invite you to take action NOW to develop your very own Life Guide Statement. I am offering a teleclass – you sit in the comfort of your home and call in by phone – entitled “How to Write a Compelling Life Guide Statement.” During this teleclass, you will be led through a process to develop your very own Life Guide Statement. The cost of the teleclass includes:
• A handbook that will be used during the class
• A review of your Life Guide Statement in a follow up email
• A recording that guides you through the process if you would like to review it after the class

This process helps you identify specific ways your inner core yearns to experience life a vibrant way. By creating a personalized compass-like statement you will have a guide to help you begin living the life you truly want to live.

The teleclass is offered:
Thursday, November 12, 8 – 9:30 PM Eastern time
(7 PM CT, 6 PM MT, 5 PM PT)

Click here to register now.
If you can’t attend the class, go ahead and register and we will send you the handout and recording of the class so you can walk through developing your own Life Guide Statement at a time convenient to you. You will also be able to send your Life Guide Statement to me for review and comments.

Take action now to finish 2009 well and be prepared to live 2010 the way you’ve always wanted to live. Life is not a dress rehearsal. It is a precious gift. The Holy Spirit works within us to guide us and align us with God’s desire for our lives. Take time today to reflect and hear what the core of your being is saying.

Transformed by the Word: What is Your View of the Bible? by Tara Mclenahan

As you will remember from my previous post, taking the time to be in the Bible with the right attitude is critical to our spiritual growth. But we also need to examine how you view the Word of God.

It's difficult to take the Bible lightly or consider it just another book when we truly realize what sets it apart from other books. There are several views of what the Bible is in today's postmodern society ~ everything from a God-inspired work to a book of suggestions to simply a book that we can take some and leave the rest as it suits us. I'm going to take a bold stand and say that if you truly believe the Bible is a God-inspired work, you must believe all of it. It is either all truth or all fiction. There really is no in-between.

The Bible itself says clearly in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NASB:

"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."

This single passage says that ALL Scripture is inspired by, so we can't take the parts we like and discard the rest. It can be tough to do so but I challenge you to evaluate your view of what the Bible is.

In my next post in this series, we will look at what reading the Word can actually do in and through us!

What is your honest view of the Bible? Does the way you live your life and the choices you make reflect that view?

For more information on this topic, please consider this resource.

Click here to share a comment.

Previous posts in this series:
Transformed by the Word

Transformed by the Word by Tara McClenahan

Psalm 119:97~105

⁹⁷O how I love Your law!
It is my meditation all the day.
⁹⁸Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies,
For they are ever mine.
⁹⁹I have more insight than all my teachers,
For Your testimonies are my meditation.
¹⁰⁰I understand more than the aged,
Because I have observed Your precepts.
¹⁰¹I have restrained my feet from every evil way,
That I may keep Your word.
¹⁰²I have not turned aside from Your ordinances,
For You Yourself have taught me.
¹⁰³How sweet are Your words to my taste!
Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
¹⁰⁴From Your precepts I get understanding;
Therefore I hate every false way.

¹⁰⁵Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.

Finding time for daily quiet time in God's Word can be a challenge in our hectic world. We have so many roles to fill ~ wife, mom, boss/employee, teacher, sister, daughter, taxi driver, etc. that sometimes the role of daughter of the King gets pushed off of our list. However, this week I dare to challenge you to carve out daily time in the Word. It's worth the effort. But it's not just about time. It's also about attitude.

Time vs. Attitude

Here's a self-assessment question for you to ponder:

When you do read/study the Word, what is your attitude?

1. I look forward to that time with GREAT anticipation!
2. UGH! I haven’t picked up my Bible in a week! I really should read a verse or two.
3. If I don’t read three chapters a day, I’m going to hell.
4. OK, I’ll read it but I probably won’t get anything from it.
5. Other: ___________________________

So many times we can put the emphasis on making time to spend in God's Word without examining the attitude in which we do it. Which of the above answers reflects your attitude when spending time in the Word? I know that we all would want attitude #1 all of the time but that is usually not the case.

Now let's imagine that you wanted to spend some time with your child or best friend. What if they came to spend time with you and their attitude was #2 (squeezing you in), #3 (duty, obligation or to avoid your anger) or #4 (apathy)?

How would you feel about the quality of that time spent with them? It's not a stretch to imagine that you, like our heavenly Father, would want the time spent to be out of love, anticipation and the desire to be there, no matter how long it may be.

So, here is your challenge for the day...

Examine your attitude about spending time in the Word. If you find it is not what you would like it to be, ask God to help you surrender to Him, allowing Him to change it. And while it may be difficult, realize that He, the Creator of the universe, wants to spend time with you. Do you, His creation, want to spend time with Him? Ponder that today and prepare your heart for my next post which will cover what we can expect when we spend time in God's Word with an attitude of anticipation and expectation.

If you are willing to, please share with me which number you chose above. No judgment ~ I promise! We are all a work in progress! Click here to share.

If you want to explore this topic further, please take a look at this resource.

The Inside Scoop to our Outward Behavior by Betsy Ringer

What is the most valuable information you have applied in your life besides knowing and loving God? I have three young adult kids. Not long ago I was asked to speak on the most valuable ways I impacted my kids during their school years. So I asked them. All three of them told me that teaching them about The Personalities helped them in their relationships with friends, teachers and employers as well as understanding and accepting themselves.

Since then, my daughter has emphasized that over and over again. She says she doesn’t know how others get along in life without knowing how people are wired. She says knowing and understanding the various personalities helps her accept others more lovingly and communicate with them more effectively. She said it’s been so helpful to understand what holds her back as well as how she can contribute in a positive way.

After my last PERSONALITIES teleclass (a class by phone that you enjoy in the comfort of your home!) one of the participants said, “EVERYONE should be required to take this class.” Most people comment that they wish they had taken it many years ago – it would have helped their marriage and their relationships with their kids.

I am a Certified Personality Specialist and I have been teaching about The Personalities for almost 20 years. I invite you to my next teleclasses (class by phone in the comfort of your home). To participate in a teleclass, simply click on the link I’ve provided below. That page will give you more info about the class. Then click on your desired payment option. Complete the short registration form. Once you submit it we will send you the handout for the class and a link to take an online Personality assessment. You will also receive a phone number to call at the time of the class. When you call you will be prompted to put in an access code which we will also send to you. THEN you will be connected to the “classroom” and I will be waiting for you. Teleclasses are fun! My last class had women from six different states!

If you can’t make the class time, register and we will send you all info plus the recording of the class so you can listen at your convenience!

Hope to “meet” you at these terrific classes! Click on the links below for more info.

The Personalities – Learn to Know Yourself and Understand Others

Tuesday, October 27, 8 – 9:30PM Eastern 7PM CT 6PM MT 5PM PT
Click here for more info and to register $10

Zoo Clues - The Personalities of Teens and Children for Parents and Educators

Tuesday, November 17, 8 – 9:30 PM Eastern 7PM CT 6PM MT 5PM PT
Click here for more info and to register. $10


Betsy is an associate with iBloom. She speaks to many groups and conducts workshops and teleclasses. For a list of her topics click here.