by Dr. Karen Lindwall-Bourg | Feb 9, 2020 | Blog
Do you create your entrepreneurial atmosphere or does it just happen around you? What does the ambience that greets your customers tell them about you and the services they will receive?
“In its highest and purest form, good feng shui signifies perfect alignment between inner and outer worlds.”
― Lada Ray
We are moving into a new office building that is under construction and therefore have the privilege and fun of choosing wall colors and cabinets and counter tops and flooring. I know what I like when I see it, but I don’t always know how to get it there. So I have to ask the opinions of others who have a better eye for decorating than I do. And I had to look up how to spell feng shui and still can’t really tell you what it means! I’m also sure I’ve never experienced “prefect alignment” either!
How important is the ambience and the atmosphere in your workspace? Is your workspace just for you and your team or do your clients and customers visit you there? What other than good decorating sense do you need to understand to create a place that ministers to others and is in line with your mission and vision?
We have a counseling and coaching and supervision organization based on Biblical principles and therefore it is very important to us that our clients are comfortable when they visit us. It is very important to us that they see and hear and receive a testimony from us that God has solutions to all of life’s problems.
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV)
Everything seems to be happening at once: we are moving into a new building, we’re launching a brand-new website fully branded, we have just added two new associates to our team, and we have just launched brand-new services and products. I am most frustrated when everyone involved in these processes has asked me over and over who we are and who our clients are and what our mission and vision statements are. And yet, answering these questions again and again has refined and clarified our mission and our team so well that the face and even the atmosphere of Karen Bourg Companies today is very different than it was as few as nine months ago. I’m willing to bet that face and our ambience will change again over the next nine months if we continue to ask ourselves really good questions.
Take a moment to really think through the answers to the following questions.
· Who does God say that you are?
· What has He called you to do in this entrepreneurial venture?
· How does He want you to serve Him and others?
· When and where will you minister to others?
· Why do you feel led to serve in this way?
May these answers unfold and lead you to know the Lord, know yourselves, know your customers, and build a business that honors Christ and serves others in a more effective way than ever been before.
Feng Shui Away! Create an AH! Ambience!
Blessings,
Karen Lindwall-Bourg
“Achieve Levels of Success Worth Celebrating”
*Founder, Karen Bourg Companies http://karenbourg.com
*Owner, President {Inter}National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs/International Christian Mompreneur Network http://nacwe.org
*Founder, RHEMA Publishing House http://rhemapublishinghouse.com
*Founder, RHEMA Lakeside Retreat Center https://www.facebook.com/rhemaretreat/
*Founder, RHEMA Counseling Associates http://rhemacounseling.com
About Karen Lindwall-Bourg
Karen Lindwall-Bourg is the President of the {Inter} National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs [est. May 2010] and the new President of the International Christian Mompreneur Network [est. July 2010], both at http://nacwe.org . She and the NACWE Operations and Leadership Teams work diligently to provide
· Community
· Networking
· Education
· Missions
opportunities to Christian Women Entrepreneurs, Mompreneurs and Nanapreneurs alike all over the world!
Our Core Values are
· Community – we value Connection, Collaboration and Contribution
· Networking – we value Nurture, New relationships and New and innovative offers
· Education – we value Encouragement, Excellence and Expressiveness, and
· Missions – we value Ministry and Making a difference
Karen is wife to Fred, Mommy to 6 kids and 5 in-loves, Nana to “going-on” 12 grandchildren, and treat provider deluxe for a herd of Great Pyrenees who protect their north TX ranch! She is an entrepreneur coach, author, publisher, retreat hostess and more! Learn more about Mastermind groups and “Celebration” coaching with Karen at http://karenbourg.com .
by Dr. Karen Lindwall-Bourg | Feb 5, 2020 | Blog, Celebrate Life!
Life-Changing Journeys with God
I’m so grateful for the journeys God took me on in 2019!
We want to hear from you!
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
How would you describe the most life-changing moment God brought you through or brought to you in 2019?
Quest After God Purposefully
I honestly believe that there are times He brings to us great moments and we are surprised by them and by Him! But some of the best moments for me have been moments that have come to me when I sought/quested after Him and asked Him for them! They are all times when I finally am still enough to listen until I really hear Him speak to me!
I’m blessed to have the ability to easily snatch quiet moments for myself. We have four boys and two girls and they are all grown. One of our sons has some special needs and still lives with us, but he also treasures his alone time and gives us lots of space. We have 10 – welcome new baby girl Mika born January 23 – and we have an 11th grandorable daughter due in May! That will make eight grandorable daughters and three grandorable sons! Everyone is within 4 minutes to 4 hours from us and we zoom off to see them as often as we can.
Family means everything to me, but again, there are times I work really hard and then crave some alone time. Especially alone time with God!
7 Ways to Quest after God
1. Be Still and Know
I don’t know about you, but I am rarely still – although many times people at events or conferences have said they were calm because I was calm. If they only knew I am most often like a duck gliding serenely on a still pond, but underneath I am paddling frantically to keep up with life!
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!” – Psalm 46:10 ESV
2. Seek Him Every Morning
Put Him First!
“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.” – Psalm 63:1-5
3. Utter a Breath of Prayer Often
Breathe in one of the Names of God – who is God to you in this moment of need?
Breathe out your utter most desire – what are you asking Him for in this moment of need?
O God, My Comforter; please comfort me in this desperate time of illness.
Add a Verse of Assurance to your prayer –
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever.” – John 14:16
4. Journal
I only journal in spurts, but EVERY time I do, I feel I receive a breakthrough and badly needed mind- and heart-set shifts and I hear the Lord speak to me.
Journal Prompts I use:
What is the pressing issue you need to bring before the Lord today? _____________________
This is how I think/feel this issue is affecting me: _____________________
What has the LORD promised in this area? _____________________
Remember a time when God was with you. _____________________
Express gratitude for His presence. _____________________
Be quiet and still for __ minutes: Listen as HE Says,
“I know this is a big deal for you! _____________________
I hear you _____________________
I see you _____________________
I can help you _____________________
I want _____________________ for you!”
What’s the most powerful thing you can ask God for? “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee” (Psalm 55:22). _____________________
What’s the one thing you cannot fail to do, the one basic action that will affect change, make a difference if you do it with consistency and excellence? _____________________
5. Fast from Food, Talking, or Technology
You choose! Ask the Lord from what and for how long. Then be obedient!
From food – be sure to hydrate!
From words? SO hard to do for us gals! – Be sure to listen intently!
From technology – I promise your life and work will still be there when you return! Be sure to relax!
The Purpose:
“Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods.” –Ezra 8:21
6. Join Group Studies or Ask for Wise Advice from a Mentor
So many of my breakthroughs have begun with the wise counsel of a trusted mentor. Ask for help!
“Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” Proverbs 11:14
7. QUEST Away for Extended and Focused Periods of Time
I am inspired by stories of my mentors who felt God asking them to get away from it all to another place and seek Him for as long as it took. A homeschool Pastor went away for 6 weeks at the beginning of the year – it was always amazing what insights he came back with. A local church I admire sends their Pastor on a variety extended sabbatical trips often. They are one of the most stable churches I have ever known. Several Entrepreneur mentors have gone away for extended periods of time and I admire their growth and dedication more than I can say.
Ask Him what you should do!
I spent a week away last year without technology or contact with anyone from home; I prayed, studied the Word, fasted, and grew. It is now my goal to get away again every year and more often! (I went to http://thequestlife.com)
I want to hear from you!
What about you? Do you have advice for your fellow Christian Entrepreneur about:
- Favorite group Bible Studies?
- Opportunities to quest away?
Please share your advice!
Blessings,
Karen Lindwall-Bourg
“Achieve Levels of Success Worth Celebrating”
*Founder, Karen Bourg Companies http://karenbourg.com
*Owner, President {Inter}National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs/International Christian Mompreneur Network http://nacwe.org
*Founder, RHEMA Publishing House http://rhemapublishinghouse.com
*Founder, RHEMA Lakeside Retreat Center https://www.facebook.com/rhemaretreat/
*Founder, RHEMA Counseling Associates http://rhemacounseling.com
About Karen Lindwall-Bourg
Karen Lindwall-Bourg is the President of the {Inter} National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs [est. May 2010] and the new President of the International Christian Mompreneur Network [est. July 2010], both at http://nacwe.org . She and the NACWE Operations and Leadership Teams work diligently to provide
· Community
· Networking
· Education
· Missions
opportunities to Christian Women Entrepreneurs, Mompreneurs and Nanapreneurs alike all over the world!
Our Core Values are
· Community – we value Connection, Collaboration and Contribution
· Networking – we value Nurture, New relationships and New and innovative offers
· Education – we value Encouragement, Excellence and Expressiveness, and
· Missions – we value Ministry and Making a difference
Karen is wife to Fred, Mommy to 6 kids and 5 in-loves, Nana to “going-on” 12 grandchildren, and treat provider deluxe for a herd of Great Pyrenees who protect their north TX ranch! She is an entrepreneur coach, author, publisher, retreat hostess and more! Learn more about Mastermind groups and “Celebration” coaching with Karen at http://karenbourg.com
by Dr. Karen Lindwall-Bourg | Jan 31, 2020 | Entrepreneur Endeavors
Be an Entrepreneur with GUMPTION!
It takes great gumption to start, build and grow a successful business. It is not for sissies or the faint of heart. It is an extreme adventure with various ups and downs.
The best moments in your business journey are when the ideas are coming, the product is selling, and the customers are happy. The best times are when the progress you are making is apparent and measurable.
Then there are the other times. In real life, it gets terribly tough. There are times when the progress is not what you want it to be – or there is no evident progress at all. Setbacks come and your plan doesn’t work out like you hoped. It is so easy to become discouraged and give up.
Fight discouragement and despair with these tips:
GET GUMPTION! DON’T GIVE UP
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 ESV
It’s been said that building a business is a lesson in personal growth as much as it is about business. Every entrepreneur knows the frightening and exciting truth of this statement. Part of that personal growth involves not allowing discouragement to take root and become despair. Discouragement can be a first step toward giving up.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9
Do not be frightened! Do not be dismayed!
You must stir up courage and strengthen by reminding yourself that the Lord is with you wherever you go. God is always with you. So, whether you succeed or fail, you have not lost that which matters the most, blessed fellowship with God. It is that fellowship which strengthens your faith and renews your spirit and brings you out of discouragement.
GET GUMPTION! DOUBLE-CHECK YOUR PLAN
Sometimes the reason you aren’t seeing progress is because you have drifted off the purposed path.
I set two big purpose-filled goals at the beginning of the year. I break them down into monthly steps or tasks. I diligently review them daily. However, even with all the good-intentioned review, I often find myself easily distracted.
There are times when divinely inspired ideas come. Those ideas are important for my business development, but they are for later. In those times when I am not seeing progress, I revisit my major goals and passions. I also check my motivation and to-do list with these questions:
- Is this task in line with my principal passions?
- Is this task relevant to my primary overarching goals?
- Is this something pressing that needs to be done right now?
- Am I allowing this task to distract me from that purpose-filled task, that “something” I need to do, but I just don’t want to do? (Yikes! I live in this statement way too often! I can find lots of reasons to procrastinate!)
We all get off track at times, but don’t lose heart!
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
GET GUMPTION! PRAY THROUGH PROGRESS
In those times when progress is slow or not evident – pray. In the times when progress is moderate and things are falling into place – pray. In the times when progress is swift and business is growing speedily – pray!
Prayer is what keeps your fire lit. It is the foundation of perseverance and strength. Prayer is the secret to banishing doubt.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. Proverbs 3:5-8
Part of not leaning on your own understanding is praying about everything instead of worrying (Philippians 4:6-7). Part of getting your path straight is acknowledging God in all you do through prayer, worship and giving thanks.
As Christian business leaders, God cannot be absent from your business. Having God as part of your business involves including Him fully in the everyday decision making as well as the big goals.
So when the going gets tough and the progress gets slow, keep going and build yourself up in faith and in the strength of the Lord.
What are some of the ways you handle slow progress in your business? Where do you Get Gumption?
I want to hear from you!
Blessings,
Karen Lindwall-Bourg
“Achieve Levels of Success Worth Celebrating”
*Founder, Karen Bourg Companies http://karenbourg.com
*Owner, President {Inter}National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs/International Christian Mompreneur Network http://nacwe.org
*Founder, RHEMA Publishing House http://rhemapublishinghouse.com
*Founder, RHEMA Lakeside Retreat Center https://www.facebook.com/rhemaretreat/
*Founder, RHEMA Counseling Associates http://rhemacounseling.com
About Karen Lindwall-Bourg
Karen Lindwall-Bourg is the President of the {Inter} National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs [est. May 2010] and the new President of the International Christian Mompreneur Network [est. July 2010], both at http://nacwe.org . She and the NACWE Operations and Leadership Teams work diligently to provide
· Community
· Networking
· Education
· Missions
opportunities to Christian Women Entrepreneurs, Mompreneurs and Nanapreneurs alike all over the world!
Our Core Values are
· Community – we value Connection, Collaboration and Contribution
· Networking – we value Nurture, New relationships and New and innovative offers
· Education – we value Encouragement, Excellence and Expressiveness, and
· Missions – we value Ministry and Making a difference
Karen is wife to Fred, Mommy to 6 kids and 5 in-loves, Nana to “going-on” 12 grandchildren, and treat provider deluxe for a herd of Great Pyrenees who protect their north TX ranch! She is an entrepreneur coach, author, publisher, retreat hostess and more! Learn more about Mastermind groups and “Celebration” coaching with Karen at http://karenbourg.com
by Dr. Karen Lindwall-Bourg | Jan 31, 2020 | Blog, Celebrate Life!
Preparing for Marriage
11 Top Issues in Premarital Counseling
If all you’ve thought about is the wedding and not the marriage, then you might need to think again. (Renae Willis)
Couples spend a lot of time and money preparing for marriage. There is a great deal of excitement and romance surrounding the union of the beloved. Every detail is fussed over from the color of flowers to the placement of every hair on your head. Everything is considered! Too often we spend all our time focused on the wedding and we forget about the marriage.
In between the dress fittings and seating charts, be sure to take some time with your beloved to explore some fundamental questions for your life together after the ceremony is over.
First,
Study God’s Word Together
Especially the roles and duties of a husband and wife found in
Ephesians 5:22-31;
1 Corinthians 7:16;
Colossians 3:18-19,
Titus 2:1-5, and
1 Peter 3:1-7.
Are there any red flags or major doctrinal disagreements?
Then,
Consider Some Top Issues
FAMILY
How much time will we spend with each others family? For the Holidays? For Birthdays?
How will we handle family planning? Timeline for children?
How will we find time for one another when work becomes demanding and life gets in the way?
WORK
What is our dream job?
What is the plan if one of us gets laid off?
How much of a priority is work to us?
Do we have any intentions of continuing our education?
MONEY
How much is considered a large cost purchase?
How will we decide on large cost purchases?
Will we have savings goals? Purchase goals?
How will we handle financial disagreements?
MARRIAGE
What do we imagine the first year of marriage will look like?
How much time will we spend together?
How often do you think we will have sex?
How will we handle disappointment/dissatisfaction?
What most stands in the way of creating a passionate and caring marriage?
HEALTH
How do we behave when we are sick?
What are our expectations of each other when we are sick?
What is our plan for being healthy and fit?
Do we have expectations about how we will eat?
APPEARANCE
What is our favorite way to spend a lazy day?
What is important about our physical appearance?
How would we handle changes in physical appearance?
FRIENDS
How will we spend time with friends?
How much time do we need with friends?
Is it important that I like your friends new and old?
PETS
Is it important for us to have pets?
What kind of care do we expects pets to receive?
Will we treat pets as family members?
POLITICS & LAW
How important is it for us to agree politically?
How do we feel about breaking the law?
What are our feelings about city/local politics and our involvement?
RELIGION
How often do we want to attend church?
Is it important to volunteer at church?
How do we go about finding a church we both like?
What are our expectations spiritually?
COMMUNICATION
Will we fight fair?
What constitutes and hampers our joy and passion?
What refreshes our mind, body, and spirit?
What makes our heart smile in tough times?
What makes us feel the most alive?
You can ask all the questions on earth to try and prepare yourself for marriage. However, one of the biggest and most important things you can do to prepare is commit to one another. Be willing to work through the hard times. Be willing to dig in and hold on for dear life when the storms come. It may seem like cliché advice but a willingness to work it out puts you in a mindset to listen, forgive, compromise, and love.
Finally, I recommend Premarital Counseling for all engaged couples.
And don’t forget to put Christ First in your lives and in your marriage!
If you’re single, and you want to know who to marry, run as hard and as fast toward Jesus as you can and if, out of the corner of your eye, you see somebody running in the same direction, take a second look. (Pastor Tommy Nelson)
Blessings:
The Lord bless you and keep you as a couple preparing for marriage;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace and a marriage that pleases Him!
Karen Lindwall-Bourg
“Achieve Levels of Success Worth Celebrating”
*Founder, Karen Bourg Companies http://karenbourg.com
*Owner, President {Inter}National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs/International Christian Mompreneur Network http://nacwe.org
*Founder, RHEMA Publishing House http://rhemapublishinghouse.com
*Founder, RHEMA Lakeside Retreat Center https://www.facebook.com/rhemaretreat/
*Founder, RHEMA Counseling Associates http://rhemacounseling.com
About Karen Lindwall-Bourg
Karen Lindwall-Bourg is the President of the {Inter} National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs [est. May 2010] and the new President of the International Christian Mompreneur Network [est. July 2010], both at http://nacwe.org . She and the NACWE Operations and Leadership Teams work diligently to provide
· Community
· Networking
· Education
· Missions
opportunities to Christian Women Entrepreneurs, Mompreneurs and Nanapreneurs alike all over the world!
Our Core Values are
· Community – we value Connection, Collaboration and Contribution
· Networking – we value Nurture, New relationships and New and innovative offers
· Education – we value Encouragement, Excellence and Expressiveness, and
· Missions – we value Ministry and Making a difference
Karen is wife to Fred, Mommy to 6 kids and 5 in-loves, Nana to “going-on” 12 grandchildren, and treat provider deluxe for a herd of Great Pyrenees who protect their north TX ranch! She is an entrepreneur coach, author, publisher, retreat hostess and more! Learn more about Mastermind groups and “Celebration” coaching with Karen at http://karenbourg.com
by Dr. Karen Lindwall-Bourg | Jan 26, 2020 | Celebrate Life!, Entrepreneur Endeavors
Leadership Lessons from Mary, the Mother of Jesus
Today is January 20, 2020
When will baby Mika be born?!
I’m sitting here feeling I am the only family member who is anxious about the wait for baby Mika to be born! Everyone else, including Daddy and Mommy and three big sisters and Papa and Grandma and Grandpa and all the aunts and uncles seem to be as calm as cucumbers!
Can you imagine Mary, the Mother of Jesus and her level of anticipation compared to mine? After all, she was pregnant having never known a man, she was unmarried in a culture that could’ve chosen to stone her to death, and she was going to bear THE Messiah!
Read Luke 1:26-38
Birth of Jesus Foretold
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
The angel told Mary she was highly favored, God was with her, she was blessed among women, she should not be afraid, and she would conceive and give birth to Jesus, the son of God!
Leadership Lessons surrounding Mary – What NOT to Do!
Imagine! As soon as Herod found out about the coming birth of Jesus, he set out to do all he could to kill Him. He felt threatened, as he should have! Instead of sharing his power he abused his power.
Are you following a leader who abuses his/her power? What will you do about it?
In what ways do you lead and exercise your power wrongly? What needs to change?
Leadership Lessons surrounding Mary – Godly Examples
Imagine!
-God planned from the very beginning of time to prepare the world for His coming and to save the world! God was with Mary! God is with you!
– God blessed Zacharias and Elizabeth with a son and gave them opportunities to minister to Mary. They were also told not to be afraid, that they would bear a son, that they should call his name John, and that he would be great in the sight of the Lord. Zacharias and Elizabeth cared for Mary. God provides others who care for you!
-God blessed Joseph. He was also told not to be afraid, and to take Mary as his wife. He married her and helped her to raise Jesus and His siblings. Thank Him for your parents, spouse, children.
-God led wise men from the East to worship Jesus and to offer valuable gifts to Joseph and Mary. List the innumerable gifts of value you have received from the Lord!
-God allowed Simeon to see Christ and to bless him. He allows you to bless others. Who will you bless this week?
-God prompted Anna to fast and pray, day and night without leaving the temple and to give thanks to Him for Jesus. Who does God bring to mind that you should fast and pray for this week?
–God provided an angel to instruct Joseph exactly when to move and where to keep His family safe! How can you listen to Him more intently this week?
Leadership Lessons from Mary, the Mother of Jesus
Mary had to know that God would provide the Messiah.
She couldn’t have known that from the beginning of time God had chosen her and prepared her along the way to bear and raise the Savior of the World.
When the angel appeared to her she responded “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”
We often wonder how God can do something great through us. May we always respond as Mary did! “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”
Lord, thank you for wise leaders You have sent our way!
Lord, help us to lead as servants and according to your Word!
Amen
[Baby Mika Rene’e was born Jan 23, 2020! FINALLY!]
Blessings,
Karen
Karen Bourg Companies
National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs
