1 Corinthians 13:4-8

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

If we want to run our business in a way that honors God, let’s take a moment to ask him about this things.

Matthew 14:28-32

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Today, let’s look at comparison and how it leads to impatience. Comparison can quickly cause us to miss our team members.  When talking about loving our team, it’s important to take a look at the way that comparison can steal our patience and diminish our love.

1 Corinthians 3:2

“I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.”

Being patient means that we walk with others where they are, not where we wish they would be.  Meeting people where they are is a profound way to love them.  Think that doesn’t apply to us as leaders in network marketing? Think again.

I Corinthians 13:4a “Love is patient.”

The biggest way that people will tell that we are different is because our love for others is different. So love is patient. And what does that look like, and how do I grasp that? To me, this is an ambiguous, vague comment that means very little. The only way I can see patience is when I don’t have it.

This week let’s talk about how to love our team members by being patient with them. But I’m not talking about biting our tongue. This week we are going to talk about a focus on progress not perfection.

Today, we are going to talk about being patient with ourselves first.

1 Corinthians 13:1-8

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.  Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

This week we are beginning a new podcast series based in this familiar passage.  This week we focus on the first characteristic of love: patience; and how this can impact our network marketing businesses.

Today we get to hear from our very own sales coach, and CNM Co-founder, Tasha Smith.  Hear her share about how God is at work in her as she kills it in her business.  You won’t want to miss this one.

Contact Tasha at: [email protected]

And get access to that awesome content I mentioned by going to cnmcommunity.com/members  Use the code “new” and get your first month for $1.

I wouldn’t be doing my job as a Spiritual Director if I didn’t lead you in the prayer of Examen that I introduced yesterday.  So, as we talk about how to have courage, we know that being with Jesus is key.  But unless we can recognize that God IS, in fact, with us, it will be hard for that courage to grow.  Join me as we practice growing in the awareness of God with us during our day.

John 14:17b-18

“The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”

This week we have heard some great tips from Tasha about how to move in courage.  Today I want to talk about the other part of the equation when it comes to courage: being with Jesus.  Sometimes it difficult to know how to “be with” Jesus.  We know he is with us.  But what if I don’t know how to recognize God with me?  Today, I want to talk about one spiritual discipline that can help.  Its called “the examen.”

Deuteronomy 31:8

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged.

Acts 4:13

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

Today let’s bring it home and talk about how to help your team members to have more courage. Let’s face it, it’s frustrating when our team members don’t do what they say they are going to do. After all, their success impacts our success!

Deuteronomy 31:8

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged.

Today we are going to talk about courage and how it relates to how you relate to customers. No, I’m not going to tell you to “go for no.” And just feel the fear and keep going anyway. I think fear is natural, it’s our body’s way of telling us there is danger. In this passage, what stood out to me was the word “discourage.” It’s the opposite of courage right? The dictionary definition is to cause someone to lose confidence and enthusiasm. Nothing makes us lose confidence and enthusiasm like feeling like we are a failure.