With the end of the year approaching at warp speed, I imagine I’m not alone in the busy-ness of the season. In fact, I’ve been so busy, I’ve pretty much neglected this blog, but the Lord is so faithful in guiding my steps that he’s redirected me toward it (Proverbs 16:9) using the above scriptures as divine inspiration. He is SO good!

There was a time in my life that I didn’t pray with any regularity. Even though I believed in God, at least theoretically, I didn’t believe that the Lord had any time or interest in actually responding to my prayers. I figured he had to have better things to do. My old mindset: Really, who am I — small and insignificant — to think God Almighty has the time to respond personally to me? New mindset: I now know that He does because He shows me all the time, and even though I’ve had a relationship with Him for more than 13 years, each time He reaches out to me, I’m still a little shocked and deeply humbled.

Okay, so back to the scriptures above, let’s consider the following:

1. Jabez was honorable — more honorable than his brothers.
2. He petitioned God for what he wanted. He prayed for the Lord to enlarge his territory (I would think this meant more land, more flocks, more riches), and (drumroll, please) God granted his request.
3. He asked for the Lord’s blessing or “favor,” and he asked the Lord to be with him and protect him. He didn’t just rush out on his own to try to enlarge his own territory because he knew that would be a waste of his time.

So, what does all this mean? Why did the Lord answer Jabez’s prayer? What can you and I take away from this?

1. Being honorable isn’t just a great brand attribute, it’s important to finding favor with the Lord!
2. Jabez was smart because he recognized that he could do nothing apart from the Lord (John 15:5,8).
3. It’s okay to set material goals for ourselves, and if we’re honorable and if it’s God’s will, He will grant our request(s).
4. The Lord wants us to ask for what we want, and if we don’t ask, we don’t get. (James 4:2)

How would you like the Lord to expand your territory in 2010? Think about it, but don’t just think about it. Write down your goals in exquisite detail. Then, live honorably, pray, and ask God to bless you, be with you, and keep you from harm.

For those who may be wondering why I haven’t blogged in a while, I decided to take the summer off because:

1. We moved to a new house on June 26th, and I wanted to pack, unpack, and get settled. In case anyone is wondering, we love our new house. We’re 100% unpacked; we’ve painted four rooms; and finished a minor renovation (with the help of an amazingly talented general contractor, RMR, whom I’m certain was hand-picked for us by the Lord himself) — thank you very much.

2. We went on vacation. It was so nice to get away and spend some time alone with my hubby of 18 years! and …

3. The most important reason: I wanted to spend some time enjoying my three wonderful sons while they had the summer off.

Anyhoo, I’m back now and excited to be blogging once again.

I’ve been praying about some pretty big things lately — some personal and some professional. I have some BIG questions for the Lord, but I haven’t been hearing his answers. Perhaps you can relate?

Recently, I was texting Dear Son Number One to ask him a question, and I was astounded by how quickly he replied (like most teens, he texts at warp speed). His response was almost instantaneous, and I thought, “Wow, if only the Lord sent us text messages…”

And then I realized He does send us text messages but not on our phones — through His holy word, a.k.a. the bible.

Are you praying about some big things in your life? Would you like a text message from the Lord? Look in the bible, and remember He will teach you the way you should go, and He will look over you and watch you.

Thank you, Father, for your abundant provisions in my life. Thank you for giving us an instruction book to guide us. Thank you for your perfect love, and most of all, thank you for your forgiveness. Amen.

According to studies done by the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) and the Wall Street Journal, 48% of jobseekers and 24% of employers search for jobs/employees through “places of worship.”

As a career coach, resume writer, and job search strategist, the most common mistake I see job seekers make in searching for a job is a profound lack of networking.

Please do not post your resume online, and then sit back and wait for the phone to start ringing. Statistically speaking, less than 10% of jobseekers find their next position this way. As my dear friend, Susan Whitcomb said, “It’s either network or not-work.”

Okay, so you know you should be networking but you say you don’t know where to go. Why not start off by worshipping regularly at your local church, temple, or mosque? Find out if they have a careers ministry.

As added bonuses for attending worship services regularly, you will please the Lord and find encouragement and hope. This is really a big deal, because along with the mechanics of job search, you need the right mindset.

Consider volunteering too. Nothing gets your mind off your problems like helping someone else with their problems. And few things feel as good as the blessing you will receive when you cheer someone up with a kind word of your own. (Proverbs 12:25)

You’ve probably heard the expression before − There are only two things you can count on − death and taxes. While I agree that death and taxes are a certainty, they aren’t the only ones. You can also count on facing adversity at some point in your life and God’s absolute and unwavering love for you.

Regardless of who you are or what you do, you will face adversity in this world. We all do − every single one of us− either in our personal relationships, our health, or in our career, but the Lord wants us to be brave and find our peace in Him.

If you’re facing uncertainty, if your stock portfolio is dwindling, if your job is in jeopardy, or you’re having trouble even finding a job, cry out to the Lord. Remember who your daddy really is and that He loves you and that there is absolutely no adversity that He can’t overcome.

Since time immemorial, mankind has faced distractions — both internal and external. Author, Steven Pressfield calls these distractions resistance, and in his book, The War of Art, he says “Resistance is the most toxic force on the planet. It is the root of more unhappiness than poverty, disease, or erectile dysfunction. To yield to Resistance deforms our spirit. It stunts us and makes us less than we are and were born to be.”

Perhaps you’ve heard the expression “What you resist persists.” What are you resisting in your career? Is it networking, marketing, development? What can you do to make your task more palatable? If you feel overwhelmed, how can you break up your big to-do items and make them more manageable? Here are three options for you to consider:  do, defer, or delegate. Wherever you are in your life or career, what would you have to believe to trust that the Lord has you exactly where you’re supposed to be?

Take the words “should” and “have to” out of your vocabulary and replace them with “choose to” and “get to.” You don’t “have to” write your resume — perhaps writing isn’t your thing, and the truth is that if that’s the case, hiring a professional resume writer might very well be the smartest thing you can do. You don’t “have to” network. If you go to a networking even with that attitude, it will sabotage your success. Why not go instead with a strategy for making networking comfortable?

Byron Katie or Katie as she’s known says that “Reality is always more kind than the story we tell about it.” If you’re telling a story about reality that has you feeling less than abundant, consider changing your story. Remember, the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. Jesus came that you may have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)

I heard a great quote recently by Joe Girard, “The elevator to success is out of order. You’ll have to use the stairs… one step at a time.”

Have you ever wondered why so few people achieve their big picture goals? I think there are several reasons for this: people get tired, distracted, life gets in the way, people get confused and sometimes internalize their limiting beliefs. Hey, climbing the ladder of success is hard work.

But winners and high achievers do the things that other people aren’t willing to do (executives and leaders — I’m talking to you), and there’s one solution to the problems that keep people from achieving their goals that works with an amazing level of effectiveness.

So what is this secret, you ask? One word… accountability.

Experts estimate that if you have an accountability partner, you’ll be eight times more likely to achieve your goals. Yes, you read that correctly — eight times more likely — that’s HUGE. Choose your accountability partner carefully. You’ll want someone who will support and not sabotage your success. Friends, as well as coaches, make wonderful accountability partners. Check out stickk.com (yes, two k’s) to see their simple and free four-step process for achieving your key goal or goals.

Are you ready to step up to the plate and be the person who God is calling you to become?

By the way, if you like quotes too, click here to see more of my favorite quotes.

Sometimes it’s easy when in the midst of a challenging situation to doubt the Lord, but He loves you so much, and regardless of where He has you today, he always has your back. He’ll never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5-6).

If your career isn’t going well right now, find comfort in the words of Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Instead of being angry or frustrated about your career predicament, remember that the Lord has big plans for you, and part of those plans might very well include using your current situation to grow your obedience, faith, and trust. Ask Him, “Lord, what do you want me to do?” (Acts 9:6) Then, sit back and listen. He will answer you. 

Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7)

I admit it. I am a material girl living in a material world, but when I read this verse, I remember that stuff — whether it takes the form of jewelry, a nice car, or pretty clothing (hey, I AM a woman!) — is just stuff. What matters most is how I serve the Lord, my family, and the people whose paths I cross — bot personally and professionally.

When people hear your name, what do they think of? That’s a very important part of your brand. The achievements and accomplishments that you demonstrate on your resume should support your brand and back-up your good name.

If your career reputation is less than stellar, here are some tips on how you can bolster your career reputation and make a better name for yourself.

1. Engender trust and responsibility by taking a genuine interest in other people’s best interests, and doing the right thing. Listen to your intuition, it will guide you.
2. Be a learn-it-all. We’ve all heard of a know-it-all, but a little humility goes a long way. Recognize that no matter how smart or how accomplished you are, there are always more learning opportunities ahead of you.
3. Be responsible for your own professional development. Engage in at least two to three major learning experiences a year. You’re never too accomplished to rest on your laurels.
4. One of my favorite quotes is, “You can either run with the big dogs or sit on the porch and bark.” Even if you’re already a “big dog” in your niche, figure out who the other key thought leaders are in your industry or profession, and start building relationships with these people. The company you keep says something about what kind of person you are and/or what kind of person you aspire to be.
5. Strive to be more of a giver than a taker, and remember that it’s better to underpromise and overdeliver.
6. At the end of every day, reflect on your day. Recognize where you may have fallen short, and ask yourself what systems and actions you can put in place tomorrow to do better. This isn’t about beating yourself up. Hey, none of us is perfect. Escape the tyranny of perfection, and instead aim for progress.

Exodus 3:11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

If you’re one of the millions of Americans feeling insecure about your career challenges, take heart. Even Moses doubted that he was up to the work he was called to do.

Instead of focusing on why you won’t succeed, I recommend you:

• focus on how you can make sure you will
• write down all the things you’re most proud of having accomplished during your career
• figure out who can help you be successful

If you’re interested in learning a process for overcoming your limiting beliefs and stressful thoughts, consider investigating The Work by Byron Katie, or Katie, as she’s known. She contends that the only time we experience stress is when we’re being a thought that isn’t true. An example of this can be seen in the biblical reference above. Clearly, Moses *was* equipped to successfully bring the Israelites out of Egypt. For more about The Work, go to www.thework.com. 

Finally, two parting thoughts:

It’s not what you know it’s who you know — foster sound, strong, mutually beneficial relationships with people who are in a position to help you. Perhaps it’s time to call in the big guns. Moses had God helping him, and that’s always a plus in my book. Who do you have, or who can you get, to help you?

Control the controllables — there’s a lot in this world that is beyond our control. Recognize that the only person you can control is you, and align your thoughts and actions to be congruent with your goals. What is one thing you can do today to boost your confidence level?

Matthew 4:19 Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.

From the bible, we know that Jesus called four fishermen and they immediately left their nets and followed him, forever leaving behind their occupation for a new calling. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Jesus was a pioneer of viral marketing, and today, thanks to the Internet, it’s easier than ever to harness the power of viral marketing by using online social media to get YOUR message out.

Are you familiar with Twitter? It’s a new social media tool in which members try to get followers by broadcasting “tweets” of 140 characters or less, telling people what they’re doing. 

The cool thing is that many job seekers today are using Twitter as a broadcast medium, a way to build their online visibility, and even get their next job.

Instead of getting lost in the huge pile of resumes online, why not consider sending a direct tweet to the Twitter people at companies you’re targeting as a way to broaden your net? Who knows? You might even get people to evangelize you and your skills to prospective employers.

Twitter is free and will even let you link to a URL where you could post your resume or even your own blog.

How can you get people on Twitter to follow you? The answer is as simple as having a really strong, clear brand. I think Jesus’ brand was and is very clear:

1. He was God in the flesh. (John 1:1,14)

2. He was sinless and died on the cross so we could be forgiven for our sins. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

2. He is the only way to heaven (John 14: 6)

That’s what compelled me to follow Him.

What would compel someone to follow you, and more importantly, if you’re in the market for a new job, what would make someone want to hire you?