Today's message is about how living out your dream can influence others to raise the bar in their lives.  We can connect with people who look like us and who have a similar background.  When we see them excel in life, we believe that we can do the same thing!  That is the Power of Image!

 

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Written by Annena G.

Music and produced by Billy Ray

Last week the message was about using your dream to find your purpose, but what do you do with that dream?

If you don't know, I will tell you, you bring that dream to life by taking it to your imagination.

It is in your imagination where you will develop and grow that dream into something tangible.

So, tune in and bring that inner child out to play and explore!

Be encouraged and Blessings Abound!

 

Remember - Help us spread the word by leaving a good review and telling a friend.  Thanks in advance!

 

Written by Annena G.

Music and produced by Billy Ray

Thank you for supporting this podcast!  

Did you know that your dreams are clues to your purpose?  Did you know that your desire to do that thing that is in your heart is not random at all, but pointing you towards your destiny?

In today's message we will discuss why you should pay attention to your dream and how it affects your identity .

 

Remember - Help us spread the word by leaving a good review and telling a friend.  Thanks in advance!

 

Written by Annena G.

Music and produced by Billy Ray

Show Notes

Today's message is about not letting failure stop you!

NOTE - If you like today's message help us spread the word by leaving a good review and telling a friend.  Thanks in advance!

 

Show Transcript

Welcome to the Made for Great Podcast

My name is Annena G., I am your host and it is my pleasure to be with you.

This is Episode 7– And today’s message is – Find the lesson in the failure

How do you look at failure?  Is failure a brick wall that stops you or a brick wall that you can climb over or knock down?

We fail, we mess up and we all have lost something important to us.

We’ve made plans, we’ve jumped and found that our plans did not work out.

Henry Ford said – “failure is simply the opportunity to begin again this time more intelligently.”

We can begin again, as many times as it takes but we don’t begin again by doing the same thing that we’ve done that didn’t work.

We begin again with information, experience of what didn’t work with understanding.

We begin again with new energy and resolve to try not just harder but better.

Failures are lessons and data that we collect from the experience.

Learning from failure is wisdom.

Don’t make failure your excuse to not try.

Don’t use the past as a reason to let yourself off the hook.

The work is hard and the work is fierce but you can handle it.

Remember who you are and you can find a way to succeed, if you keep trying.

So don’t feel bad or discouraged when something didn’t work out.  Find the lesson in the failure, make a few adjustments and try again.  You could be 1 attempt away from getting the results you want.

Well, that is it for today’s message.  Please check out Episode 8 – Dreams are clues to your purpose

Until we meet again, this is Annena G., Be Encouraged & BLESSINGS ABOUND.

 

Written by - Annena G.

Produced and Music by - Billy Ray

Show Notes

Today's message is about not settling in this life and breaking out of the comfort zone to reach your potential!

NOTE - If you like today's message help us spread the word by leaving a good review and telling a friend.  Thanks in advance!

 

Show Transcript

Welcome to the Made for Great Podcast

My name is Annena G., I am your host and it is my pleasure to be with you.

This is Episode 6– And today’s message is – Don’t Settle for the Status Quo

This is a message to you if you find yourself in a place where you know in your heart that there is much more to you than you have shown.

If you have a dream but never acted on it.

If you can classify your life as being not good, not bad but just somewhere in the middle

If you are older and feeling regretful because you have allowed so much of your life to pass by without even trying to pursue your dream.

I would like to share with you this small excerpt from the book -The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth by John Maxwell because you need to hear it.

The subtitle of the section is - Settling for the Status Quo Ultimately Leads to Dissatisfaction

It says, “I believe that most people are naturally tempted to settle into a comfort zone where they choose comfort over potential.  They fall into familiar patterns and habits, doing the same things in the same ways with the same people at the same time and getting the same results.  It’s true that being in your comfort zone may feel good, but it leads to mediocrity and therefore, dissatisfaction.  As psychologist Abraham Maslow asserted, “If you plan on being anything less than you are capable of being you will probably be unhappy all the days of your life.”

If you have ever settled for the status quo and then wondered why your life isn’t going the way you’d hoped, then you need to realize that you will only reach your potential if you have the courage to push yourself outside your comfort zone and break out of a mind-set of safe, and secure.  You must give up excuses and push forward.  You must be willing to face the tension that comes from stretching toward your potential.  That is the only way to avoid what poet John Greenleaf Whittier described when he wrote, “For all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these:  ‘It might have been.’”

This excerpt can be found on Pg. 163 if you would like to read it yourself.

But I hope it will at least make you think a little differently about your life if you have been stuck in the comfort zone.

In closing, I would like to say, it is not too late for you.  You do not have to settle.  Today is a new opportunity to push past your comfort zone and do something that matters.

Well, that is it for today’s message.  Please check out Episode 7 – Find the lesson in the failure

Until we meet again, this is Annena G., Be Encouraged & BLESSINGS ABOUND.

 

Written by Annena G.

Produced and Music by Billy Ray

Show Notes

Today's message is about being undervalued by those around us and treated as an afterthought.  When looking at the story of King David we can see how it is important to take God's view of our lives instead of giving weight to what others think.

NOTE - If you like today's message help us spread the word by leaving a good review and telling a friend.  Thanks in advance!

 

Show Transcript

Welcome to the Made for Great Podcast

My name is Annena G., I am your host and it is my pleasure to be with you.

This is Episode 5 – And today’s message is – King David was an afterthought.  And we will explore how God sees us differently than man sees us and why taking God’s view is healthier for our self-image.

There has been times in my life when I have taken offense to being what I call an afterthought.

An afterthought is the girl that gets asked to be a bridesmaid in her cousin’s wedding only after her mother gave the bride a guilt trip.

An afterthought is the kid that made the baseball team only because the “preferred” player broke his ankle.

An afterthought is being asked out on a date to a special event with a guy you like, only to later find out that the woman that he really wanted to go out with was unavailable.

When you are an afterthought, you are not the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd choice – but an “accidental” choice.

I personally had an “afterthought experience” while at a get together at a friend’s house.  I was mingling around and happened to walk in the kitchen where a group of friends where gathered discussing plans for an upcoming excursion.  From the conversation, you could tell they were excited as they were hashing out the details of the get-away.

I was a few feet away grabbing some food when one of the group noticed me standing there, we made eye contact, there was an awkward pause and then she said “Oh Annena, you can come to IF YOU WANT.”

With a fake smile on my face, I promptly declined, and told her that it was that it was ok, before exiting the room.

When walking out, I was thinking – “I am no-one’s afterthought!”  Honestly, I was offended, I felt rejected, a little insecure and not valued by these so-called friends.  What was wrong with me?  We were all the same age range, we were friends, and they surely knew how to call me when they needed help with something, but I was not invited.

I was an afterthought and it didn’t feel cool.

Then one day in church I heard a minister say something that blew my mind.  He said - “King David was an afterthought.”  That statement got my attention quick.  I was like “whoa,” because King David was one of the greatest kings in history, how could he be an afterthought?

So naturally, even though I had read the story of King David several times before and was very familiar with it, I needed to read it again with fresh eyes.

The story is in the book of 1 Samuel, in Chapter 16 and I want to read a little bit for you now – in this section God sends the prophet Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint one of Jesse’s sons to be King of Israel.  Starting on verse 4 it says-

4 So Samuel did what the Lordsaid, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said, “Do you come in peace?” 5 And he said, “In peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” He also consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

6 So it happened, when they had come, he looked at Eliab [the eldest son] and thought, “Surely the Lord’sanointed is before Him.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man loo...

Show Notes

Today's message is about how we live in seasons and when to make life changing decisions.  Sometimes we want to be in a different phase of life but it is just not the right season for change.  When your in a season it is important to get what you need from it.

NOTE - If you like today's message help us spread the word by leaving a good review and telling a friend.  Thanks in advance!

 

Show Transcript

Welcome to the Made for Great Podcast

My name is Annena G., I am your host and it is my pleasure to be with you.

This is Episode 4– And today’s message is – What season are you in?

How do you know when it is the right time to make a major move in your life?  Like starting a family or changing careers or getting married?

I’ve done all those things and the best way that I can describe readiness is you just know.  Something inside you shifts from “no, I’m not ready for that,” to “it is time,” just like you can’t rush bread that is baking in the oven, it is not done until it is done.

I believe that our readiness for a change has to do with seasons.  A season is a period of time characterized by a particular circumstance.  We have weather seasons – spring, summer, fall and winter.

We have sport seasons – where we participate in winter sports like skiing obviously when there is ice and snow, and play sports like baseball in the summer when the conditions are warm.

In farming there are seasons for growing crops, you can’t just drop seed in to the ground any time you want and expect it to grow, you have to wait for the season where the climate and conditions are right.

The seasons we go through in life are more unpredictable and can’t necessarily be marked by a calendar on how long they last.  I believe our seasons are influenced by how open we are for learning.

We also may be in a season that will not end until a job that we are tasked with is completed.

Just as in the case of Shelly Parker.  Shelly earned her MBA and right out of college climbed the corporate ladder where she eventually worked her way up to executive level in her field.  Her career was her priority, she made all the right moves, earned a handsome income and traveled the globe.

However, when Shelly and her husband decided to have children, her priorities changed and her family came first.  Even though she had always been a go-getter, the love and desire to be there for her children surpassed anything desire for success. Shelly traded in her career to be a full-time mother.

Later, when her children were a little older and in school for most of the day, when the opportunity presented itself, Shelly took a part-time job which worked fine for her life style.  Her job supplemented their income and gave her the flexibility to shuttle her children to martial arts, football and ballet class.

When Shelly’s company went through a restructuring and her salary was cut, Shelly felt that it was time to move on.  It was already a humbling experience working in a capacity lower than she had been accustomed but receiving less money was hard to swallow.

Shelly made up her mind to look for another job but with her children’s hectic schedule she thought it would be better for football season to end before taking on that task.  When football ended, Christmas was in the way.  Then there was the New Year, her in-laws were visiting, a play at school and then they needed to replace the floor in the kitchen.

Shelly THOUGHT she was anxious to find another job but life seemed to always get in the way of her having the time to look.  When venting to her friend about her frustration, the reason for her reluctance quickly became obvious.

Show Notes

Today's message is about how sometimes we make choices out of obligation or responsibility that make us unhappy BUT we can decide how those choices affect us.  We can change our attitude about those choices so we can get the most of our lives right now.

NOTE - If you like today's message help us spread the word by leaving a good review and telling a friend.  Thanks in advance!

 

Show Transcript

Welcome to the Made for Great Podcast

My name is Annena G., I am your host and it is my pleasure to be with you.

This is Episode 3– And today’s message is - When your choice is the responsible thing to do.

My friend Dave’s contract with his old employer was ending and even though he had plenty of time to find a new job he procrastinated and only started looking for work a month before it ended.  However, luckily for him, his buddy got him on with his employer.

In his new job, Dave makes the same amount of money as with his old employer except with less responsibility.  He has full health benefits and 401K and his new employer is a large corporation with lots of opportunities for growth.

It sounds pretty good except for one important thing, Dave hates desk jobs.

You see Dave is what I call a free bird.  The outdoors type who loves to build things and to work with his hands.  He loves the freedom to roam around, get dirty and sweaty.

Dave’s new job is in a posh office, where he spends his days in a cubicle creating spread sheets and building reports.

The only dirt under his nails comes from changing the toner cartridge in the printer.  The only heavy lifting he gets to do is when he changes the 5 gallon water bottle for the break room water cooler.

In truth Dave will never get satisfaction from his new job, it is not a fit for him.

It is like putting a leash on a wild animal, it never works.

So why did Dave take the job when he knew that he would not be happy with it?

Well, Dave had to make a quick decision because of his habit of procrastination.  He simply ran out of time.

He had 2 options – take the job offer which means security and stability OR don’t take it and try to find a job that he would love.

Now Dave is single, no kids and has a little money in the bank that could’ve carried him for a few months if needed.  His housing expenses are low so he didn’t have any huge obligations to worry about.

He could have lived off his savings and possibly unemployment while searching for a job that would make him happy.  The only problem was he did not have a plan nor a specific field in mind.  He only had a few ideas of possible careers that might fit him.

No plan meant big risk of his savings running out before he figured out what he wanted to do and actually finding it.

His decision came down to doing what he said was “the responsible thing.”

But what happens when doing the responsible thing makes you utterly miserable, what do you do?

If you are like Dave and have made a choice like taking a job that you really hate, I want to tell you, THAT job doesn’t have to be a life sentence of misery and compromise.  We all have to make sacrifices from time to time.  However, what matters the most is what you do when you are in a job that you don’t like.

This is what I call looking for the good in an unfavorable situation.  Taking that job is an opportunity to find contentment in your current position, even when you don’t like it.  You can decide to be happy no matter where you are and no matter what you are doing because happiness is a choice.

This job may not be a fit for you but if you shift your perspective,

Show Notes

Today's message is about how we can use love to combat the hatred and division that surrounds us.  Our kind acts can make a difference in the lives of others.  NOTE - If you like today's message help us spread the word by leaving a good review.  Thanks in advance!

 

Transcript

Welcome to the Made for Great Podcast

My name is Annena G., I am your host and it is my pleasure to be with you.

This is Episode 2– And today’s message is - Hope in the Storm

It is easy to lose faith when it seems like hate surrounds us.  When the news and social media feeds are filled with stories of political unrest and violence.  It is understandable to become fearful or disillusioned with such division.  It is easy to become disheartened when it seems like the current culture is growing more rude, impatient and downright heartless.

It makes you miss the good ole days.

Things have changed and are changing every day in a negative way but let’s remember that beauty still surrounds us.  Love is still greater than hate and it is strong enough to conquer it.

I believe that there are more good people than bad people.  More kind and generous people than selfish and self-serving ones.

There are more people like you and I walking this earth than those who are set on destruction.

Don’t let what you read on social media change you.  Don’t let it make you fearful.

Now is not the time to duck and hide.  It is a time to be bold.  It is time for radical love and generosity.

You are good, continue to be good, and do not hate those who are hating you for no reason.  We need to make the extra effort to find someone to help, go out of your way to be nice.  A small gesture, a kind word, buying a cup of coffee for a co-worker, help someone with a need without expecting anything in return.

It is the little things that are lasting because they are contagious and easy to do.  You do something for someone and they will feel good and want to do something for someone else.

Romans 12:20 – 21 If your enemies are hungry, feed them.   If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.”[a]21 Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

 

So, remember to love in the face of fear.  Love in Chaos, Love will conquer anything in its path, it is up to you to show it.

Well, that is it for today’s message.  Please check out Episode 3 – When your choice is the responsible thing to do.

Until we meet again, this is Annena G., Be Encouraged & BLESSINGS ABOUND.

 

Written by Annena G.

Produced and Music by Billy Ray

Show Notes

In this episode I am discussing why you are needed in this world.  I am exploring the topic of purpose.

 

Transcript

Welcome to the Made for Great Podcast

My name is Annena G., I am your host and it is my pleasure to be with you.

This is Episode 1 – And today’s message is - You are needed

Have you ever considered why you were created?  Why you were born at this time, within your family?

Why do you look the way you do?  Why were you born female and not male?

There are so many questions that we don’t have the answers to but the reason for your birth is no secret.

You were put here because you are a part of God’s plan.  You are here because you are needed.  Your life has purpose and meaning.  You matter.

God took time to design every little detail about you; your hair, smile and voracious since of humor.

And while still in your mother’s womb, he loved you enough to give you a name.

You have a call on your life that no one can answer but you.

He gave each of us a key that unlocks one door.

Your key only unlocks your door.  You can’t walk through Sally or Margaret’s doors because we must all walk out our own destinies.

You have to show up as you, not like Mike or the Kardashians but as YOU with all your gifts, talents and imperfections to fulfill the job that is on the other side of the door.

No door is better than any other, only different.

Behind your door is a territory where you will do your greatest work.  Whether it is a career, ministry or an assignment.  Whether you are called to be a carpenter, a stay at home mom, or a CEO, your territory is filled with people who need what you have.  People that you can help even in the smallest way.

However, when you push away your purpose or don’t use your gifts because you doubt yourself or have listened to someone else’s advice on what to do with your life, you are essentially abandoning your territory and are leaving your people uncovered.  You are making them wait for someone else to come along.

You were not given gifts just to make you sound more interesting.  You were not given gifts just to let them go unused.  You were given gifts to help others and to be a blessing to the people in your territory.

Your people need you, the world needs you.  Don’t ignore the tug in your heart.  Don’t settle for the next best thing.  It will never fill you.

Be bold enough to place your key in the lock, turn it and walk through your door because you were made for it.

Well, that is it for the show.  Please check out Episode 2 – Hope in the Storm.

Until we meet again, this is Annena G., Be Encouraged & BLESSINGS ABOUND.

 

Written by - Annena G.

Produced and Music by - Billy Ray