21-Day Fast - Lessons Learned

Lesson Learned: More God, Less Me

There are many reasons people may choose to fast. Some may fast to lose weight. Others fast for religious traditional reasons at certain times of the year. What I have learned from fasting this year is fasting is to humble oneself before God; to completely surrender in faith and trust to God. In humbling oneself, we are asking God to take over and we are asking God to draw nearer to us. We are asking God to change us. God does not change for us when we fast because God is the same now as He was in the beginning, as He always will be. When we fast, we are changing ourselves in order for Him to work through us and in us. We are seeking our true selves through God. We are saying "Yes" to Him and saying, "More of you Lord and less of me."

If you choose to fast, you can take comfort in knowing that a fast is anything you wish to refrain from for a certain amount of time. You can take a fast of food which is the most common or you can do other fasts...you can fast from television, you can fast from sex, you can fast from smoking, you can fast from anything that you wish the Lord to speak to you about during your fast so that you can receive your breakthrough. It is important to pray while you fast, because like said, it is a surrender...and refraining from anything for any proportionate length of time takes patience and most importantly prayer.

Fasting brings you closer to God, it allows you to remove yourself from what it is that you are fasting from so that God can remove blockages from your life and work miracles for you. Have faith and trust that God wants to work wonderful things for you. He loves you. I have learned this over my previous fast: More God, Less Me.

Sincerely, Drisana (Angelica Carmouche of KBWA)

Marketing "MIATA"

by Krista Dunk

Marketing isn't always an easy task, and most of us need some help. I've made many marketing mistakes myself in the past! However, I have learned a few important tips lately. When it comes to marketing your business and services, think MIATA - Make It About Them Always. Focus on your potential clients rather than making your marketing and promotional materials all about you, or what you do.

Honestly, most people don't care that much about what you do. But, they do care about what they want or need right now. If your business solves a problem for them or meets their need, by all means promote that fact! When you take that approach, your customers will be more likely to investigate what you have to say.

Even in networking situations this can be achieved. Look at these two answer options when someone asks, "So, what do you do?"

1. "I am a sales rep for Fluffy Bunny Software, and I work with independent preschools." (Boring)
2. "I help busy preschool teachers with software that opens the imaginations and ignites the reading skills of their students." (Catchy for parents of preschoolers and teachers)

Marketing letter:

1. "I offer payroll services, monthly bookkeeping, tax tips and business forms for small businesses." (Yippee)
2. "I partner with small business owners by eliminating the burden of bookkeeping, tax prep and payroll while keeping it in trustworthy, experienced hands." (This appeals to me!)

Promoting a service:

1. "Learn about healthy eating for your whole family and positive self-care habits." (Do they need this? Yes. Do they want this? Not really.)
2. "Come see how you can loose weight, have less medical expenses, make simple healthy lifestyle changes, and prevent disease." (They want this!)

Many of you know this already, but it serves as a great reminder for us. From your elevator pitch to your website, brochures to ads, keep MIATA in mind. Focus on what they want, and how your service meets that need. Also, use wording that describes their greatest wants, not their greatest needs. For example, does someone want to loose weight? Yes. Do they want to change their eating habits? No. Will loosing weight require a change in eating habits? Yes, and you know this as the expert who can help them, but it does not appeal to them.

So, in conclusion, discuss their "want," as that is what will catch their eye. Also, don't fill your precious marketing space with info about you; "I can...me, me, me." Show that what you have to offer is all about them!

Practical Life Wisdom

A friend of mine sent these words of wisdom to me this morning, and I wanted to share them with you. The author is unknown, but whoever they are, they have some great thoughts to share:

1. Prayer is not a "spare wheel" that you pull out when in trouble; it is a "steering wheel" that directs us in the right path throughout life.

2. Do you know why a car's WINDSHIELD is so large & the rear view mirror is so small? Because our PAST is not as important as our FUTURE. So, look ahead and move on.

3. Friendship is like a BOOK. It takes few seconds to burn, but it takes years to write.

4. All things in life are temporary. If going well enjoy it, they will not last forever. If going wrong don’t worry, they can't last long either.

5. Old friends are like Gold! New friends are Diamonds! If you get a Diamond, don't forget the Gold! Because to hold a Diamond, you always need a base of Gold!

6. Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, GOD smiles from above and says, "Relax, sweetheart, it's just a bend, not the end!

7. When GOD solves your problems, you have faith in HIS abilities; when GOD doesn't solve your problems HE has faith in your abilities.

8. A blind person asked St. Anthony: "Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight?" He replied: "Yes, losing your vision."

9. When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them; and sometimes, when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you.

10. WORRYING does not take away tomorrow's TROUBLES; it takes away today’s PEACE.

Enjoy,
Krista Dunk, www.KBWomen.com

You Have Started a Business - Now What?

You Have Started A Business, Now What?

As business owners, we all decide one day, “I can do this.” You no longer need your boss. Heck, your boss couldn't make it without you! You bravely make the decision to start your own business. You have been in your industry for years. You know all there is to know about your field of work.

You go out and get your business license. You get some business cards. You even get a website. You are ready!

Now what?

To be successful with your own business you have to start doing thing you never thought you would do; all the things your mom warned you about.

"Don’t talk to strangers." Yet, now you find yourself standing in the corner of a restaurant, by yourself, staring at your shoes instead of networking with other business owners. It’s hard to get the nerve to walk up and talk with someone you have never met before.

But it doesn’t have to be hard. If you go to a networking meeting ready, the conversation can flow as easy as coffee with your best friend.

You have a secret. No one knows you are nervous. Chances are they are nervous too. Put a friendly smile on your face and walk up to someone at the networking event. Find someone standing at the opposite corner of you. I guarantee they will welcome you.

Always give them a business card. If you are not comfortable just handing them your card. Ask for their card. Take that opportunity to give them your card in return. If you ask them about their business they are sure to ask about yours. Take the time to listen to them. Even if that person isn’t a potential client for you, they may know someone in the future that needs your services.

Follow up. After going to a networking event take the time to contact the people you met at the event. To be a successful business owner you must build your relationships. A quick note that says it was nice to meet you or loved hearing about your business will not be forgotten.

Remember, not talking to strangers has been ingrained in us since we were two. But to have a successful business talking to strangers becomes our biggest ally.

Submitted by Diana Kohn
Diana Kohn is a member of Koinonia Business Women. She is the owner of FLAIR. Her business is designed to help small business owners grow their business through networking.She is also available for writing projects. http://www.businesswithflair.com/

21-Day Fast Blog Journal: Cravings

Cravings

Lord God in Heaven, I used to crave for physical things, more clothes than I need, more time than I need, more food, more of everything. All these physical cravings consumed my thoughts, my lifestyle, my everyday when I should have been craving more of you. I knew you were always there Lord, at my side and at my back, but I should have been looking for you at my front to guide me. I lost sight of what I was supposed to be doing. I was walking without a plan; had too many clothes, too little time and money management and too much food consumption. I had only to rely on you for a plan instead of relying only on me.

Over consumption of anything will lead to a loss of something with whatever I do. Spending too much leads to debt, not managing money and time wisely leads to waste. Allowing food to consume me has led to unhealthy body and an unhealthy spirit life. I don't want my spirit to starve Lord, so I rely on you so that I can resist the temptations and redirect my cravings onto you Lord. Jesus, Lord you were tempted so I know I am not alone. Temptation does not have to come in the form of food; it can be in any form, and produce all kinds of unhealthy cravings. Lead me not into temptation guide me towards your spirit of truth.

Today I sustain a deep craving Lord God; a craving for your spirit and truth. I wish to be consumed by the spiritual cravings of truth and life, not of darkness and death. The life of the righteous is in your hands. Lead me to the cross where I lay my burden down. God be with me. Amen.

Contributed by (KBWA Member Angelica Carmouche) Drisana - http://askdrisana.blogspot.com/

21-Day Fast Blog Journal

Search for a Deeper Meaning

Sometimes when I write or think, I have rambling thoughts and everything comes out jumbled and confused. It is like I am typing on the keyboard and every second or third key that I hit sticks and I have to hit it several times and it ends up like ttttttttttthis. Does life seem like this to you sometimes? That is when I realize that I have to take deep breaths, quiet the noise in my mind and in my heart, and ask God for peace. I have learned over this past week how to truly allow God to take over, to hand over my problems, fears and concerns to God, not to pick those problems back up and try and tell Him what to do with them. In the past couple of weeks of fasting and prayer, I have found a portion of inner peace that has allowed me to truly surrender to God and not fear the future unknown.

Lord God, my life is in your hands. To you I give total surrender and hand over all my worries, fears, doubts, insecurities. I will not pick these problems back up and tell you what to do with them. I will let go, as it well should be with total faith in my surrender to you Lord. Keep guiding me Lord, and draw me closer to you so that I may have strength in the journey.

Amen

Drisana -

New Business Book - "Flash Foresight"

Hello Business Women!
I just heard about a new business book, and wanted to share the information with you. Here is a snippet:

Have you ever wished you could predict the future in business—and be RIGHT? How valuable would it be to see invisible opportunities BEFORE anyone else including your competition? Are you ready for your business to thrive regardless of the changing economy?

Then you are ready for Flash Foresight: How to See the Invisible and Do the Impossible. By Daniel Burrus, renowned futurist and technology forecaster. HarperCollins has positioned Flash Foresight to be the lead business book in 2011.

Here’s what the experts are saying:

"I love this book! It's as much fun to read as it is inspiring to learn from. Buy it, read it, and put it to use--in a flash!" - Alan M. Webber, Co-founder, Fast Company Magazine

"Full of provocative insights and powerful strategies from a veteran entrepreneur. The 'Take Your Biggest Problem - and Skip It' chapter alone is worth the price of admission." - Steve Forbes, Editor-in-Chief of Forbes and CEO of Forbes Inc.

With change accelerating as never before, anticipating the future has become essential for business leaders and entrepreneurs alike. By adopting the principles in “Flash Foresight”, you can accelerate innovation and growth.

To help you make this your best year ever, Daniel Burrus has an extraordinary limited time opportunity for anyone who purchases a book. There are $20,000 worth of free gifts that you can take advantage of, simply by purchasing this $17.99 book! These bonus gift offerings are from top business, sales and marketing gurus.

Today we all face more impossible challenges than ever before. In Flash Foresight you’ll discover how to transform the impossible into the possible, revealing hidden opportunities and allowing you to solve your biggest problems – before they happen.

More information about the book can be found at www.FlashForesight.com.

I encourage you to check this book link out for more information. Have a great week everyone!

posted by Krista Dunk

Perimenopause: The Catch-22 Taboo

This article was submitted by Ellen Sarver Dolgen, who has a book launching today called
*Shmirshky: the pursuit of hormone happiness* http://shmirshky.com/book/. She has some great information on a somewhat taboo and misunderstood topic - menopause. As women, it is something we have delt with, are dealing with now, or will deal with in the future.

Ever wonder what happens before “the change”? That’s right – it’s “the change before the change.”

Don’t worry, it sounds worse than it is. There’s a lot of misunderstanding about exactly what menopause is, so let’s clear things up a bit. Perimenopause is the six to ten years leading up to menopause. Menopause is defined as the moment after perimenopause, when a woman has not had a period for 12 consecutive months. Often when women say, “I’m going through menopause,” they’re describing the perimenopause part of the journey. Who knew, right?

Well, perimenopause has long been something women didn't discuss much and personally, a time in my life that no one ever mentioned to me, until I already began the process. Why the silence? Probably because I would have requested a sex change immediately, had I known what would be in my future!

Perimenopause can be tough, but if you keep these three things in mind, you’ll be on your way to an easier perimenopause experience:

• be prepared
• trust how you feel
• reach out for the help you deserve

Nowadays, older women are much more active, happier, and sexier than ever before. Aging is no longer our greatest fear. Remember, with so many new and different ways to share information, we must continue to break the silence!

Reaching out is IN. Suffering in silence is OUT.

"E" is the pen name of Ellen Sarver Dolgen, author of Shmirshky: the pursuit of hormone happiness, a light-hearted, informative, easy-to-read book on menopause, and creator of http://www.shmirshky.com, a resource treasure trove for women going through perimenopause and menopause. E stands for everyone because everyone goes through menopause or knows someone who does. Ellen is passionate about promoting health and wellness in America. She currently serves on the Community Advisory Board of Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla. She has served on boards, committees, and chaired numerous events for Fresh Start Women’s Foundation, Angel Charity for Children, San Diego Hospice. Brandeis University, the Phoenix Heart Ball, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Brewster Auxiliary, and Handmaker Home for the Aging. Ellen’s lifelong commitment to philanthropy through board representation, fundraising, and event organization continues with her founding of Shmirshky Universal, which aims to promote women's health and well being around the world. For more information, visit http://www.shmirshky.com.

21-Day Fasting Journal Continued...Weekend Fasting Days

I have learned that God speaks to you when you are quiet; when all the noise is quieted in your life, including the noise in my mind. I experienced my own awakening this weekend. I felt the presence of God while I was lying down, my child was sleeping, the television was off, and my eyes were closed. This is what I heard:

Some people who experience God tell you they have experienced Him and it is usually after a huge loss. The Lord has moved into their lives they tell you and changed them and it is after they have experienced a trial or a terrible circumstance. There is nothing wrong with that the Lord was telling me because it has happened to me. But what then...the Lord asked me personally, what have you done after God has come in cleaned everything up made you feel better and moved you forward in your life? Remember now....God was speaking to me...ok. Let me change the tone. The Lord asked me, "What have you done after I have cleaned everything up? You have taken the mile I have given you and regressed backward inch by inch until you are doing exactly the same thing you were doing before that led you to calling out to Me in the first place. If you would have just stayed with Me instead of pulling back you would have been even further along. Does that make sense to you?

The Lord asked me that..."Does that make sense to you girl?"

The Lord showed me in my mind where I had asked for His help, called out His name and how He had answered me. He showed me the times He had placed answers in front of me and I chose other paths. He even showed me how He had used those diverted paths of mine to better me. The simplest thing is this, God told me this in my personal prayer..."You don't need a loss to call out to me. You don't need a terrible circumstance or a horrible consequence. You don't need those things at all to have Me in your life all the time. You can have victory in your life without having to suffer loss after loss after loss. I don't want you to suffer, I want you to experience the freedom of knowing that I am with you every day, every moment, and that you can be secure and happy with that knowledge and move forward in a positive way."

As I prayed on this, I understood that I do not want to suffer any more losses either. I want God in my life without the pain of self-inflicted loss and I do not want to regress either. I didn't know how long it was going to take for my own spiritual awakening, but it was pretty quick according to my standards. I guess it is because I discovered that I am expecting again, and the Lord who knows everything revealed these things to me now in this short period of time. Now my prayer is focused on having another healthy pregnancy and birth. My faith levels have definitely been raised. My attitude about food has changed as my hunger for spiritual food has grown. It is absolutely amazing what God can do.

I pray that God continues to use me as an inspiration, and I pray that if you decide the same that you experience your own awakening with God.

Praise God by the power of His Holy Name, Lord Jesus. Amen

Drisana - http://askdrisana.blogspot.com/

Day 5 of a 21-Day Fast

I am grateful to God that I started today out with a prayer. "Lord God, just be with me Jesus." I had no idea how much strength I would gather from those few words in a prayer. I can't express that enough because I have said those words many times today. "Lord God, just be with me Jesus. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. There is nothing like the name of Jesus."

Oh, it was tough today, really rough. The devil was working all kinds of tricks on my mind and in my heart. But you know it wouldn't be God if the devil wasn't trying to work on me. My birthday is coming up, and a friend of mine wants to take me to lunch. I asked him if he would mind waiting until after 5:00pm and then told him why. "It is a fast from sun up to sun down," I told him. Well, he told me it was just foolishness that he would have to "plan his life around events," and he wasn't going to do it. So I told him "never mind." God, God, God, oh well - something must be coming to revelation that day on my 35th birthday. I will wait and pray on it. The Lord knows I am being true to my commitment.

Keep me in your prayers, this is as I have said a commitment to God and I am dedicated to keeping my word. It has for sure been a conditioning of mind, body and spirit.

Be still and have faith in the Lord whose strength I hold near to my heart.

Drisana - http://askdrisana.blogspot.com/

Virtual Mastermind for Business Women of Faith!

Yes, you heard (or read) right...

On January 24th, KBWA launches the "Monthly Spotlight Q&A Calls" which is an opportunity for like-minded faith-based business women to connect, collaborate and grow. Does this sound interesting to you?

Learn more here at our association home page: http://kbwa.memberlodge.com/. Our main website address is http://www.kbwomen.com/ where you can find out more about Koinonia Business Women. This Christian mastermind group with a business focus might be just what you're looking for.

Membership is only $129 a year! Join us!

-Krista Dunk, KBWA Association Leader

21-Day Fast, Day #4

"Not by my will, Lord, but by Your will be done."

That is what has been rolling through my head all day today as the 4th day of my 21-day fast. It is interesting to me how far from God and His perspective I have been in life; after removing food for just four days now, how much I have leaned on nothing but the support of the Lord God Jesus Christ. I have called on His name in my mind. It is interesting to note that this is not something that I have done in my life just recently. I have prayed, yes. I have seen God answer prayer and have felt the power of prayer in my life, yes. I have been a testimony and have seen my own personal miracles occur. But now, I can actually say that I have felt God pull me closer in to Him, and I have felt His presence more.

There is more to this I know; there is more than I have to learn. I want to learn more. I yearn to learn more, to feel more, to have more passion in life for Christ. I have committed myself to this fast, and it is absolutely amazing to me that I have a new desire a new driving hunger to have a more initimate relationship with God.

I cannot speculate on what will happen next. I am experiencing as I go through this and I am learning. It is not easy, but when it gets the hardest, and believe me the devil tries to play on my mind...calling on the name of the Lord and praying, "Lord, God if this be your will then let it be. Not by my will but by your will Lord God be done." Total surrender, total trust.

Have faith and be still.
Drisana - http://askdrisana.blogspot.com/

Angelica's Fast - Day #3

Day 3 has been both a challenge, and an answer to prayer. I honestly did not expect a call to my heart such as this when the Lord spoke to me. Some challenges have been on my heart. With challenges, we feel troubled, and with those troubles I went to the Lord in prayer asking for guidance. I received an answer to this prayer as quickly as my mind thought the request. I was told not only to keep blogging, but I was told to write the past troubles that I had gone through out.

Being an imperfect person, I have been through many different things. My own self-inflicted trials and tribulations to name a few, and have not always actively sought God in my life. Of course I always believed in God, I always believed that Jesus Christ died for me and my sins. Yet I did not fully know what that meant, and in my ignorance, I lived my life for myself not fully having surrendered my life over to God. I believed in God, and yet I lived as if He did not exist. I only went to Him if I saw there was no other way not fully realizing that He is the way.

Lord, I do not wish to live my life as if you were a sidebar to my question mark. I wish to live my life in complete surrender to you God. I wish to live my life in total trust in your truth and your word. God in giving myself over to you, I have complete faith that you will redeem me in what has been lost and I will be found in the protective Glory of your Grace and your Heavenly Holy Spirit. Thank you Lord God, for your mercy, thank you Lord God for all that you have done for me. That my sins have been forgiven by the sacrifice you made with your son Jesus. Thank you Lord God. In your Heavenly name I pray.

Amen

by Drisana - http://askdrisana.blogspot.com/

Fasting Day #2

Day 2 of my 21-day fast has reached midday, and I have not had a single craving for food. I am leaning more on spiritual hunger and a thirst for more of what God has in store for me. Life gets in the way of a lot of things. I have found that when I am not thinking of breaking for lunch or what to snack on next, I am conversing more and more with God.

This challenge is just that - a challenge to discipline myself through prayer and devotion, knowing that the Lord will take care of all things that come my way. This fast, like any other challenge in life, is just one way to show that God has the reign no matter what we may think we are in control of. It is like my Grandmother used to tell me, the best way to make the Lord laugh is to tell him your plans. God has a positive plan for all our lives. I believe that more now than I have ever believed anything in my life. We make what we think are mistakes but God takes our "mistakes" and turns them for His Glory.

Lord, your ways, make known to me. Teach me your paths, guide me in your truths and teach me. For you are my God, my Savior, for you I wait all the day. Psalms 25:4-5

Drisana - I can do all things through the God that strengthens me.

(Angelica D. Carmouche) http://askdrisana.blogspot.com/

Day 1, of a 21-day Fast, by Angelica Carmouche

Day 1, of a 21-Day Fast

Well, it is day 1 of my 21-day fast, and of course the day was started out with a prayer. "Dear Lord, I do not know what I am doing but I know you will help me along my way. As I start this journey, walk with me Lord. Let me not close off my mind just to keep from thinking of food, but allow my mind to be open to you Lord Jesus. Allow my spirit to be receptive to what you want revealed to me over the next several days and lead me in the direction you wish for me to go. Thank you Lord Jesus in your Heavenly name I pray, Amen."

I am praying constantly in my mind, "be with me Jesus." Every moment, my mind is on the Lord. I surrender to God and trust that I do not have to rely on food for any comfort. That is hard, because for so long food has been my comfort. Now I am telling God, "Lord you are my only comfort here because I have removed food from my comfort zone." Only God is occupying my comfort zone.

Wow, how much does it take to say that and actually mean it? It is a faith feeling. I am drawing nearer to the Lord, believing in the promise that He will draw closer to me. I am walking a journey to discover what my true purpose is and how to fulfill it.

Pray for me as I continue to pray. I hope to inspire as others have inspired me, and during this time to keep hold to my faith and encourage me. I am reading AWAKENING A New Approach to Faith, Fasting, and Spiritual Freedom 21 days to Revolutionize your Relationship with God By Stovall Weams.

Pastors Stovall and Kerri Weams have been an inspiring aspect in my life and just hearing them speak and teach at Women's Conferences or on special Sundays at Healing Place Church (HPC), I have been blessed to have received the word from them. It is amazing how much being in attendance at HPC has changed my life. Pastors Dino and Delynn Rizzo, the leaders at HPC, are absolutely amazing. Through them, God has opened Faith doors for me. I thank God for them. It is only by walking through those faith doors that I have the devotion and strength to go through this, and I know that God will carry and see me through.

I look forward to this learning experience and the spiritual growth that comes from it.

Drisana (Angelica D. Carmouche)

http://askdrisana.blogspot.com/