Promote What's Promoting You

My father taught me this...

1. Your job may not be your calling; but it is your income. Be grateful for it. Someone took a chance & hired you. Pray for them! Mean them well. Do what you were hired to do. Take nothing for granted. Some people can’t find a job.

2. You ministry opportunity is a result of your calling. It may or may not come with an income. Be grateful for it. Someone, usually a pastor, took a chance on you & gave you an opportunity to use & express your gifts. Pray for them. Mean them well. Do what they have asked & afforded you the opportunity to do. Take nothing for granted. Some people wish they had the opportunity you have.

I always say this: PROMOTE what's PROMOTING you. If you attend a church, you should be constantly inviting people to attend it with you. YOU are the biggest PR person for your church & ministry. When your church is posting/promoting...you should be the first person sharing it & passing the word along. Seems like a no brainer...but, unfortunately, seems like things have to be spelled out.

Some things are TAUGHT...some things are CAUGHT. You either GET IT or you Don't/Won't. If you get it...you'll catapult your NEXT into your NOW! In fact, it will accelerate in your direction.

My dad taught me to PROMOTE what's PROMOTING me. Whatever is FEEDING me...I should be FEEDING back into it. It's really not rocket science...it's just good old fashioned RECIPROCITY.

Whatever you're wanting God to do for you...start DOING it for God. Cast your BREAD on the water & watch it come back to you.

BLOOM where you're already PLANTED.
WATER your own YARD.

What If?

WHAT IF:
• I were the owner of a restaurant, but never ate at it?
• I were the owner of a hotel, but never stayed at it?
• I were the coach of a sports team, but never attended a game?
• I were the leader of a ministry, but never led it?
• I were the pastor of a church, but never attended it?

WHAT IF:
• There was a restaurant convention in town but, as an owner, I didn't avail myself or my team to it?
• There was a hotel convention in town but, as an owner, I didn't avail myself or my team to it?
• There was a sports conference in town but, as the coach, I didn’t avail myself or my team to attend it?
• There was a Childrens/Student/Leadership Ministry conference/event in town but, as a ministry leader, I didn't avail myself or my team to it?
• There was a pastor's/leadership conference in town but, as a pastor/staff, I didn't avail myself or my team to it?

Are you thinking like an OWNER or an EMPLOYEE?
Are you thinking like a SON or a SERVANT?

How you see yourself often determines the words you speak & the actions you take. I would go as far as to say that the way you see yourself is the way others will treat you.

As I've served in ministry & observed business practices...I've learned that we can never stop learning. We must continually position ourselves to learn where we can & when we can.

I've also learned that my actions reveal who I am. This verse has always been powerful to me: Where your treasure is...there your heart will be. (Matthew 6:21)

If the company I work for (which pays my salary & provides my livelihood) succeeds...I succeed.

If the church I attend & serve in (which provides me community, a place to fulfill my calling & spiritual help) succeeds...I succeed...and my family succeeds, too.

When you GRASP this...it's a REVELATION that will affect your actions.

I've always lived my life with this thought, "I must promote what's promoting me." In other words, what ever is adding value to me...I need to make sure I'm adding value to it as well. It's a principle called RECIPROCITY.

I also approach this from another perspective: How can I bring improvements to where I'm at? A lot of times, we get in a rut & need to remind ourselves that we are called to ADD VALUE everywhere we are.

Don't let miscommunication, misunderstanding or misinformation allow you to miscarry your full potential! God wants you to BLOOM where you're planted!

Bring VALUE to the table & be determined to IMPROVE yourself in the process. God will bless you & others in the process.

It's a journey.
One step at a time.
Hit the reset button, but don't give up.

What if you turn your WHAT IF into a WHY NOT?

#BeEncouraged
#YouGotThis

Don't Be Swept Away With Fake News!

“Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish.” 
Proverbs‬ ‭18:13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I know first hand how people, who have no clue, think they know so much. Truth is, they've never even talked face-to-face to the person(s) they apparently have an issue with & their fabricated information is not only ignorant it's flavored with someone else's offense.

The Scriptures teach how to handle such issues: Steer clear of these people, mark them & have no fellowship.

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭16:17-18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

When it comes to Pastors in Houston, TX and churches who are working with their city to provide HELP, please don't sit in your lazy boy and form an opinion based off of social media or even the news channels that a particular church or leader isn't doing enough to help! Unless you're there FACE-TO-FACE...and can interview them & see it for yourself...your opinion doesn't matter.

On another note...why is it that people who aren't doing much constantly criticize people who are doing more! The point I'm making is, until you're actually accomplishing what they're doing for God...who are we to put our mouth on people? My parents taught me..."you keep your mouth & your hand off the man of God."

You may not like someone's methods or even their message (in the Kingdom of God), but WHO ARE YOU to even criticize? Before we speak to something we KNOW NOTHING ABOUT, let us humbly remind ourselves that we are NOTHING without the grace & mercy of God.

Those who are doing lofty things for God will always come under speculation & assumicide.

The peanut gallery will always have stones to throw & axes to grind. But those who are leading well...are looking through the windshield & not the rear view mirror.

Always remember...what goes around comes around. What you do to someone else will come back to you. It's called the law of reciprocity. If you've caused someone else severe hardship with your mouth or actions...watch out...It's just a matter of time.

If you're interested in helping some great churches in the Houston area, here's more valuable information concerning people we love & respect in God's Kingdom!

Let us continue to PRAY FOR TEXAS! We have many churches/friends that are severely affected by HURRICANE HARVEY.

Please consider DONATING to the following:

• Pastors Don Nordin & Susan Nordin | CT Church in Houston, TX:Donate Here: https://pushpay.com/pay/ctchurch/nAAx_-ri9e-QJ6KDKrC_gQ…
  
• Shawn Nelson Shannon Etdc Nelson | East Texas Dream Center in Conroe, TXDonate Here: http://easttexasdreamcenter.org/giving.html
  
• Pastors Aaron Jayne & Bobbie Jayne | Coastal Bend Family Worship Center in Aransas Pass, TexasDonate Here: https://www.gofundme.com/4c7qbrk
  
• PCG National Missions Disaster Relief Fund:
  Donate Here: https://secure-q.net/donations/PCG/670

Sincerely,

Russell & Beverly Hylton
Lead Pastors
bfwc.net

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Leadership 101 - Eleven Nuggets

The Law of Reciprocity

What do you want in life?

What do you think you lack?

What do you wish to receive?

Here is how to get it:  GIVE TO OTHERS WHAT YOU WISH TO RECEIVE!

I believe GIVING starts the receiving process in your life.  In Luke 6:31, Jesus teaches us "Do to others as you would have them do to you."

Giving to others, provokes the power to create ABUNDANCE in our lives.  If we withhold our giving, we stop the rebounding energy flow of RECIPROCITY.

Most of the people I know, really want to make a difference in this world, in our country and in our community.  I believe the best INVESTMENT we can make is in our FUTURE - the YOUTH! 

This is one of the primary reasons we continue to offer our Sports Ministry with the Basketball program called UPWARD.  

Often, the most important principles and skills on how to live a successful life are not taught in school - goal setting, self-responsibility, building self-worth, communicating with others, managing time and developing a success mindset.

Want to do something SIGNIFICANT...something that makes a life-changing difference in the life of another...many others?  Want to ignite the law of RECIPROCITY in building your own success?

Help us this season!  For more information, visit our website www.bfwc.net and see how you can get involved in our UPWARD Basketball & Cheerleading outreach.

@RussellHylton (Twitter & Instagram)
@bevhylton (Twitter)
Russell Beverly Hylton (Facebook)
www.russellhylton.com
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www.bfwc.net