Now that the new year has arrived, everyone seems to be talking (or blogging) about their resolutions for the next 365 days. Some people are making resolutions not to make any more resolutions! I even read a blog post this week by someone who chooses a theme for each year, rather than makes resolutions.

No matter what you choose to call it, you’ve probably set at least a few goals for yourself this year. Your list might even look a little bit like mine:

• Lose 2 more jeans sizes so I can fit into my favorite pair again
• Take a trip to somewhere warm next winter
• Include more Science lessons in our homeschool program
• Make more profit  from my home business this year

It’s completely natural, and even healthy, to set goals and plans for yourself. After all, if you don’t know where you want to go, how will you ever know when you get there?  The tricky part is knowing which goals you should be setting for yourself.

How Do You Decide Which Goals to Set for Your Business?

It’s easy to get caught up in the goal-setting frenzy of the new year. “What are your business goals for 2009?” is the question of the hour. “Make them now or you won’t get anywhere this year!” You may have even heard the discouraging, “You should have set your goals for this year three months ago. It’s too late now!”

But if your plan includes listening to God more in your business, and following His plan, you may have to take a different approach.

Do You Know God Has Plans for Your Business Too?

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, in Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV).

For a long time, I didn’t really like that verse. I had this idea that God’s plans for me weren’t as exciting as what everyone else was up to… and certainly not as good as what I could come up with on my own.  So, I made my own plans instead, and then wondered why they didn’t work out like I had wanted, or why I wasn’t happy with where I ended up.

One day I slowed down enough to read the rest of the verse: “… plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” To me, that verse is not an assurance that my business will be successful, because I believe that God’s idea of success and prosperity often differs from our earthly definitions.  However, it is an assurance for me that God knows exactly what He has planned for my life and my business, and if I follow His plan, I will discover the very best He has for me.

Five Ways to Discover God’s Plan for Your Business This Year

Here are five things I do when I’m seeking God’s plan for my business.

1. Stop listening to the goals others are setting. For me, this might mean a few days away from my online groups where goal-setting is discussed. Ignoring all the blog posts about planning now for a prosperous new year. Ditching the tools that everyone else has created to help me plan my year, and picking up the tool created by the One who has already planned my steps for me – the Bible.

2. Reconnect with God and His idea of success. When I need to stop hearing the voices of the world, and listen to God’s voice instead, spending time alone with Him, and reading His Word, helps me refocus on Him and listen better.

3. Plan to spend time with God each day. When you let God plan your year, you don’t need to know right now what your plans for the year are. Pray for continued guidance, and that He will reveal His plans for your business in His time. Then set aside time each day to hear what He has to say. One way you can track the plans God reveals to you is by keeping a prayer journal of your thoughts and reflections while you spend time with Him, then reviewing it regularly.

4. Listen to what God tells you. How does God speak to you? For me, sometimes it’s a verse that just leaps out at me while I’m reading the Bible. Sometimes it’s something someone else says. Sometimes it’s just a still small voice. However God speaks to you, you will probably hear Him more clearly when you start obeying His leading. Not sure if something on your mind comes from God, or if it’s your own idea? Test it by taking the next logical step (as long as it’s not something condemned by God and His Word). If doors continue to open for you, it could be God’s leading.

5. Seek wise and godly counsel. When you’re discovering God’s plan for your business, it might be helpful for you to work with a life or business coach. I like to make sure that anyone who speaks into my own life has a relationship with God, and is sensitive to His leading as well.

When you let God make your business plans for you, you’ll need to keep your eyes and ears open for God’s leading. He could reveal His perfect plan for you when you least expect it. You might be surprised to discover the exciting plans He has for your business this year!

About the Author:
Denise Willms is a professional web writer who writes articles and press releases for online business owners. A work-at-home-mom of two teenagers, Denise’s homeschool Science experiments almost never work out like they’re supposed to, and she still can’t fit into her favorite pair of jeans.  She does, though, wholeheartedly believe that God has a perfect plan for her life and her business. You can learn more about Denise and starting a home business of your own at her reprint article directory for work-at-home-moms, http://www.WAHM-Articles.com

I hear a lot about how to be more like Mary in a world that values Martha – the sister who wanted to get the job done instead of worshipping Jesus. But do you ever think that being like Mary in that well-known Bible story isn’t always a good thing? I’m starting to wonder.

I received an encouraging email from one of my clients today. It read, “Sales are picking up! Whatever you’re doing, Denise, keep doing it.”

My client believes her business is her God-given ministry. She feels called to share God’s love in a particular way through her business, but she’s frustrated because it hasn’t been working out. So, this email was a real encouragement that we were on the right track.

I sent her back some details of things I had done differently, “But mostly,” I said, “I’m praying.”

“I’m praying too,” she replied, “but I’m learning my problem is that I don’t act on the wisdom and direction I receive when I pray.”

Funny she said that. I’ve been noticing the same thing in my own life.

No one could ever accuse me of being a Martha. If I were to take the “Which famous Bible character are you most like?” quiz, I would probably come out pretty close to being like Mary. My favorite place to spend my time is at the feet of my Savior. When I’m there, I’m not concerned with locating the bed under Mt. St. Laundry, the to-do list that’s longer than my arm, or even my kids’ schoolwork for that day. All that can wait.

Yes, it can get pretty comfortable down there. Get up and go back to the routine and the work waiting for me outside my bedroom door? I don’t think so. I’ll stay right here where it’s peaceful and quiet, thank you very much.

As important as time with God is, though, I think there is a time when you have to stop praying and starting taking action. Like my client who had received wisdom and direction but hadn’t acted on it.

Perhaps sometimes I’m using my Mary-like tendencies as an excuse to rest on my laurels a little too long. I’m beginning to think of praying without taking action as developing a solid plan to lose weight… but then not following through on it. Or going to class regularly, but not sitting for the test.

I heard a true story that reminds me of how prayer and action can work together. There was a church choir that decided instead of practicing each week, they would pray together. So they met regularly for choir practice, but didn’t sing a note. Instead, they prayed. When the day finally came for them to perform, they took their places in front of the church and sang more beautifully than they ever had before.

It’s tempting for me to think this group of singers prayed without taking action. After all, instead of practicing, they asked God to do all the preparation for them. But they did take action. They showed up on Sunday morning, ready to do the work. They didn’t sleep in or go on vacation, expecting God to take care of that part too.

Do you ever wonder why God isn’t doing more through your business? Why the hours spent praying over your work haven’t brought the results you expected? There could be a lot of reasons, and the best place to find the answer is at the foot of the cross. But once you receive the direction you asked for, don’t forget to get up and follow.

Denise Willms is a ghostwriter and the owner of WAHM Articles, a directory of articles for work at home moms. Visit WAHM Articles for high quality reprint and original content designed to help you reach the lucrative “mom market.”

Letting others know you’re a Christian WAHM can be an open invitation to criticism and prejudice, especially if your target market is not necessarily other Christians.

Sure, it’s exciting to put up a pretty “This is a CWAHM site” button on your website, add links to your favorite Christian sites, and blog about your walk with Jesus.

But that spiritual glow you start out with can seem a dark cloud when other business owners and potential customers tell you you’re wrong for doing so. They might even accuse you of not respecting others’ faiths, or just tell you outright you’ll never build a successful business this way. And unfortunately, if you’re a Christian WAHM who publicizes that she’s a Christian, there’s a good chance that eventually you will run into someone who says exactly that.

My first experience with this occurred in an online forum a few years ago. A member had asked for opinions on her business cards, which bore a prominent Christian symbol. The forum’s consensus was she needed to remove the symbol or she would destroy her business before it even got off the ground. One member even wrote that she would never knowingly do business with a Christian.

Kathy Everman of Kathy’s Kit-n-Kaboodle had a similar experience when someone advised her not to mix Christianity with business and to remove all Christian-based content from her websites.

“She said I would never grow my business if I kept them on there,” Everman says. “I was really struggling with trying to build a name for myself and a reputation as a business owner and service provider. I took the advice and removed my Christian links.

“Upon doing so, it didn’t sit right with me. Why was I hiding who I am? Not to sound rude towards anyone, but I figured if someone was going to be offended and turned off just because I am a Christian they would probably be offended and turned off by most anything and I really didn’t want to get involved in a business relationship with them.”

Has having Christian content on her website affected her business? Everman hasn’t noticed a difference one way or the other. She says, “I won’t ever allow someone to tell me I can’t mix my Christianity with my business again. Instead I let people know it’s OK to be a Christian business owner and to show it.”

As a Christian, I believe my faith belongs in my business. The apostle Paul wrote, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV). For me, that includes my online business.

The Bible also tells me how exactly how to conduct myself when I am criticized and persecuted for openly sharing my faith.

1. Instead of being surprised by criticism, I should expect it. “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” 2 Timothy 3:12-13 (NIV).

Jesus Himself said:

If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me. (John 15:18-21 NIV)

2. I should be prepared to respond. 1 Peter 3:15 says, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (NIV). I became more confident standing up to others who criticized me once I understood the reasons for my own beliefs. One book I’ve found very helpful in answering commonly asked questions about Christianity is The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel, and there are many others as well.

3. I should be kind in my response. The Bible even tells me HOW to respond when I’m persecuted for my beliefs: “But do this with gentleness and respect keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander” (1 Peter 3:15b – 16 NIV).

When I first encountered negativity towards business owners who mixed faith with business, I was shocked. It felt so natural for me to combine the two, it hadn’t occurred to me that it might be a bad idea. I’m not surprised by it anymore, but I feel encouraged when I meet business owners like Kathy Everman who believe, as I do, that mixing Christianity with business is not a freeway to failure, but a way of glorifying God in our lives.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Denise Willms is co-owner of WAHM-Articles.com, publisher of WAHM-Articles Ezine, and a ghostwriter for WAHMs who don’t like to write. She is author of the free eBook, Uncovering the Secrets of WAHM Article Marketing and A 30-Day Prayer Guide for Work-at-Home-Moms, scheduled for release in 2007. For more information, please visit http://www.wahm-articles.com or email info@denisewillms.com .

One comment I often hear from Christian women with home businesses is that they want to write Christian WAHM articles, but they don’t know where to start.

Just like writing an article is a great way to promote your business, writing Christian articles is a wonderful way to share your faith and God’s love with others.

When you write a free reprint article, that article may be circulated among many publishers and a wide range of readers. You may be able to sell your articles, and many people will read what you have to say while you make an additional income from your writing.

If you’ve been thinking about writing a Christian WAHM article but you don’t know where to start, don’t ignore that feeling. Pray for direction, and ask God what He wants you to write about. "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." James 1:5 (New International Version)

Before You Write a Christian Article

Here are some steps that might help you write that first Christian article:

Before you begin to write, you need to READ. Read your Bible daily. Know what it says and what God wants to say to you through His Word. You can’t write about something you don’t know well, and the best way to get to know God and what He thinks about things is to read His Word.

Pray about what God wants you to say in your article. Don’t fall into the trap of trying to write some like someone else, or write the same kind of articles as your favorite author.

You have your own personal experiences, and more importantly, your own relationship with God. God has given you a unique message to share with others that no one else could possibly share, because only you are you!

Keep a faith journal. The best way to improve any kind of writing is to write daily. This gets you into the habit of writing regularly and makes you a stronger writer. If you want to write Christian articles, it helps to take this a step further and write about your daily walk with God. As you look back through your journal, you’ll find many article ideas and things you want to share with other people.

Finally, Writing a Christian WAHM Article

When you’re finally ready to sit down to write your Christian article, it sometimes helps to keep a Bible verse in mind. Even if you don’t include the verse in the article, it’s a good way to stay focused throughout your article. And why not include it? Let your reader know where you found your inspiration, and that you’re not just making this stuff up.

For an article to be really effective, you will need to make yourself vulnerable. Be willing to write about yourself and your own walk with God.

For me, one of the scariest articles I wrote was about praying for your clients and colleagues. It was scary for me because I wrote about my own prayer life. I’m one of those people who pray about every little thing – like merging onto busy freeways, finding parking spots, and, let’s not forget my daily frantic prayer: "Lord, please help me find my keys… again!"

I know that not everyone prays like that, or agrees we should pray about those things, yet here I was, opening up and admitting to doing what some people think I shouldn’t do.

But, of all the articles I’ve written, that is the one I’ve received the most positive feedback on. I think it’s because I made myself vulnerable: I showed that I was a real person, and even though they may not agree with what I wrote, it helped my readers identify with me.

You don’t need to be a great writer to write a great Christian article, you just need a desire to obey God and to tell others about what He’s done in your life.

One of my favorite Christian authors, Stormie Omartian, didn’t think of herself as a writer at all until God got hold of her. In her autobiography, Stormie: A Story of Forgiveness and Healing she writes that after she became a Christian, she felt that God wanted her to write. So, she bought herself a desk, and every morning she sat down at that desk and wrote whatever God put in her heart to write. Years later, she’s a well-known published author and speaker, and her life story has inspired millions. You don’t need to know how to write well. You only need to know how to listen to God well, and that comes with practice.

What Should I Write About?

Here are some ideas to get you started on your first Christian WAHM article:

• Interview someone about how being a Christian makes a difference in her life or her business
• Tell how God has made a difference in your life and/or business
• Write about a time you learned something new about God, or understood something about Him in a different way.

You can even turn your article into a devotional by referencing the scripture that inspired you to write the article, and including a prayer at the end.

I Wrote a Christian Article – Now What?

Publish it! "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16 (New International Version).

Post your Christian WAHM article on your website or on your blog.

Other places that publish Christian WAHM articles are:

www.WAHM-Articles.com
www.CWAHM.com
www.FaithWriters.com
www.WivesofFaith.com
www.WomenofFaith.com

Some churches will publish articles in a bulletin or a newsletter. Ask at your church if there is a way you can share your articles with the congregation.

Writing Christian articles can open many doors for you. Some writers develop workshops based on articles they’ve written; others eventually turn their articles into eBooks or books.

If you’ve been feeling like you should write a Christian WAHM Article, but you haven’t started yet, I hope this has encouraged and inspired you to begin. It’s one of the best ways to share your faith and God’s love with others.

About the Author:

Denise Willms is a homeschooling mom of two and owns WAHM Articles, a directory of articles for moms and women who work from home. Submit your best WAHM Articles at www.WAHM-Articles.com and they’ll be read by hundreds of women who are looking for your product or service. And, yes, we publish Christian WAHM articles too!

It’s almost Easter, every chocoholic’s favorite time of year. To the Christian, though, Easter has even greater significance.

Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ after His death on the cross. Because of the resurrection, we have proof that Jesus really was the Son of God and that He had conquered death once and for all. Without Easter, Jesus would be just another prophet or great teacher.

I feel comfortable writing about the importance of Easter in this particular column. My audience is likely to be other Christians or people who are interested in Christianity. If you’re a Christian business owner who serves mostly Christians, you probably find it easy to talk or write about your faith with them, too.

For most of us, though, our customers aren’t necessarily of the Christian faith. If that’s your situation, is it possible to share to Easter’s Good News with the people you serve each day? And is it even desirable to do so?

Many entrepreneurs and experts believe that there is no place for faith in a business. If that’s your belief, I respectfully disagree.

I believe God wants to be intimately involved in every area of your life, and your business is no exception. Why would a God who takes the time to count the hairs on your head because you’re so interesting to Him (Luke 12:7) suddenly lose interest when it comes to something as important to you as your business?

Before Jesus left the earth and ascended to Heaven, he gave us the Great Commission: "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…" (Matthew 28:19 – NIV) As a business person, you don’t have to go very far to find "all nations." They’re regularly coming right to your door, your voicemail or your website.

Every day you communicate and build relationships with people who need Jesus as much as you and I do. For some, you may be the only Christian they know. For these reasons, I believe it’s not only important for Christian business owners to share their faith, but also an act of obedience to God.

Now, I’m not suggesting that you go out and preach to your clients or start slipping religious tracts into your direct mail outs. But there are easy, non-confrontational ways to begin sharing your faith, and Easter is an easy time to start.

According to ReligionLink.org http://www.religionlink.org/tip_040309a.php, polls show Easter has the highest church attendance of the year. People who normally don’t attend church or who don’t see a need for God in their daily lives, recognize that Easter is somehow important. You can build on that feeling by helping to them reflect a tiny bit more or a little longer on the importance of Easter. Remember, you’re not out to convert anyone. I’ve often been reminded that we can’t convert anyone, only God can. Our job is only to make ourselves available for God’s work.

Your business blog might be the perfect place to being sharing God’s love this Easter. Blog posts tend to be a little personal, and are often used to help your audience get to know you. If you have a blog, write a post about your plans for the Easter holiday and talk about the Easter service you’ll be attending. Share briefly why Easter is important to you.

You can do the same thing in your newsletter, or just send a friendly e-mail or note, thanking your customers for their business this year and wishing them a happy Easter. Tell them how you’ll be celebrating.

True, it’s always possible someone may be offended by even a brief mention of your religious beliefs, but I have found that doesn’t usually happen. More often, they will just politely ignore it so long as it’s not "preachy" or "in their face," meaning, not easily ignored if they choose to do that.

If you’re not used to sharing your faith publicly, sharing it with your business associates and clients can feel really scary. Begin by praying about your business and asking God how He would like you to share your relationship with Him, and for His wisdom in doing so.

Even if you already share your faith regularly, it’s a good idea to pray about what God would like you to share with your customers this Easter. After all, He has counted all the hairs on their heads, too.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

After owning a Virtual Assistant business for two years, Denise Willms realized she wasn’t using the true talents God had given her. She closed the doors on her successful home business and began to write the articles, devotionals and stories she previously had not had time for. She is co-owner of WAHM-Articles.com http://www.wahm-articles.com and loves the fact that her work helps other moms work from home too.

More and more moms are choosing to either work from home or start home based businesses, and while they each have their own reasons for doing so, most have one thing in common: they want to be with their children and spend more time with their families.

A Christian mom may feel an even larger responsibility to be with her children on a daily basis. It’s easier to teach our children about God’s love for them when we are with them all day, every day.

But what can a work-at-home-mom do when working from home isn’t working out?

Perhaps a home business idea didn’t take off and a business mom thinks about returning to her old job to pay off some bills. Maybe a telecommuting job is ending and another one isn’t on the horizon. Sometimes the desire for a larger home, a family vacation, or the loss of the husband’s income can lead a work-at-home mom to wonder if it’s time for her to work outside the home again.

It’s a difficult decision to make, frequently fraught with feelings of failure, sadness, and wondering where you went wrong. A Christian WAHM who prays regularly for her business’s success may even question why God didn’t just make things easier for her.

At least, that was how I felt when faced with this decision two years ago. My husband had been hospitalized for several months, his paycheck had been cut back and our expenses had increased. My revenue from my new home business simply wasn’t enough to make up the shortfall.

At first, returning to work seemed my only option, but after spending many hours in prayer and discussing options with my husband and others whom I trusted, I believed God wanted me to stay home with our children and trust Him to meet our material needs.

Rebekkah Kogelschatz of Smart Moms-Smart Business, LLC, http://www.smartmoms-smartbusiness.com, recently faced this same decision when her husband’s health problems increased his time away from work. For Kogelschatz, though, returning to work was the right answer. It has been a difficult decision, but she says, "You truly have to look at your overall picture, pray, and have faith that God will lead you to the right answer."

For anyone who feels pressured to return to an outside job, it’s important to remember that God hasn’t forgotten about you, your family, or your business. Here are some steps you can take to find God’s purpose for this time.

Pray. Are you thinking of returning to work because of social pressures, or is it truly God’s idea?

Kogelschatz and her husband both "prayed for discernment, trying not to see only the financial aspects of returning to work, which would definitely improve, but also looking at how it would affect our children and our household."

During my own husband’s illness, the growing pile of bills seemed to scream that it was time for me to go back to work. But when I asked God what He thought, I strongly felt that He wanted me to stay home and trust Him, despite how things appeared.

Whatever you decide to do, be sure it’s God’s plan and not your own.

Trust. If you have sincerely sought God’s plan for your business, you can trust that God will protect and provide for you and your family.

Though not always pleasant, and not always in the way I wished He would have helped us, God did provide for my family during my husband’s illness.

As a teacher looking for a job in late summer, Kogelschatz expected to find the bottom of the barrel in teaching positions, but she believes God prepared the way for her return. "There was a great resource position available that I applied for and I got it," Kogelschatz says. "It was the perfect position for the other events that are happening in my life… God provided the right position at the right time."

Work. A return to the outside workforce does not necessarily mean the end of your home business. Continue to work on building your business when you can.

Kogelschatz works many evenings on developing her websites, posting on her blogs, and chatting on forums. "When I used to work 20-30 hours a week on building the websites, I know have to balance my time with my family time and do as much as I can when I get the opportunity." She plans to return to her home based internet business full time and is using this year to build foundations that will help her earn an at-home income equivalent to her teaching salary.

Kogelschatz has some encouraging words for moms who, like her, return to working outside the home for a time:

"If you have to go back to work, plan your time so your family and your home based business do not suffer, but don’t feel like you have to spend all night and the weekends working on your home based business. It may not move at the speed it would if you were home, but it will move ahead."

She adds, "I am truly at peace with our decision, even though I still miss being the one with my children each day."

‘For I know the plans I have for you’ declares the Lord, ‘Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’
Jeremiah 29:11

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Denise Willms is co-owner of WAHM-Articles.com, publisher of WAHM-Articles Ezine, and a ghostwriter for WAHMs who don’t like to write. She is author of the free eBook, Uncovering the Secrets of WAHM Article Marketing and A 30-Day Prayer Guide for Work-at-Home-Moms, scheduled for release in 2007. For more information, please visit http://www.wahm-articles.com or email info@denisewillms.com .

"I can’t believe it," lamented my friend Tammi. "I gave her a discount on the product, I didn’t charge her for shipping, and she’s still complaining that it costs too much!" Tammi had just opened a direct sales business and wanted to make a good impression on her first customer. "Now she’ll never refer me to her friends," she concluded.

Like Tammi, I believe that giving is an important part of building a business. One of the things my first mentor taught me was to give away as much as I could, whenever I could. As a Christian, giving is also a way for me to share God’s love: "Do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased" (Hebrews 13:16).

At the same time, giving away products and services can feel fraught with danger. For example, a business colleague gave her services to a friend for free – just to help her get started in her own business. Problems began when the friend kept asking for more, but didn’t want to give anything in return. My colleague felt stuck. She didn’t want to continue giving away her service, but she didn’t know how to say no without damaging the relationship.

Another friend of mine likes to say, "No good deed goes unpunished." To be honest, there are times when I’m tempted to agree with her. It’s difficult to know exactly how much to give, what I should give, to whom I should give, and when I’ve given enough. How do I say no when I don’t what to give anymore? Should I worry about being taken advantage of? How do I know the person I’m giving to will appreciate my gift? Does it matter if she doesn’t?

Here are some of the questions that help me decide if I’m giving for the right reasons, and if my gift is appropriate for the situation.

Is there a need?

First of all, does this person really need what I have to give? If not, that’s probably a clue this isn’t the right person for me to give to, or the right thing for me to share. If the person does have a genuine need, and I’m able to fill that need, that leads me to believe this is situation where I should be giving.

Do I have an abundance?

Having an abundance of something is often a hint that I should be generous in sharing it. A girlfriend called me a few days ago, wondering if I could give her some advice on starting her own online business. Of course I said yes. This is something I have in abundance because of the generosity of other WAHMs who have shared their insights with me.

Am I saying yes because I just can’t say no?

"Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7). One of my first Virtual Assistant clients was a referral from a prestigious colleague. I was determined to impress her and the person who referred her to me. So when the client began requesting services that I didn’t offer (and for a very good reason – I didn’t like doing them and I knew I wasn’t good at them!) I unwisely said yes just because I couldn’t bring myself to tell her no.

This wasn’t a gift at all. I provided the services reluctantly, under a great deal of stress, and I definitely was not cheerful. It would have been much better to be honest about my limitations and refer her to someone more qualified.

Will this person appreciate my gift?

Knowing that someone won’t appreciate my gift doesn’t necessarily mean that I shouldn’t give it. After all, Jesus healed 10 lepers even though He knew only one of them would thank Him. But if I know this particular person may not be grateful, and I still want to give, I need to readjust my expectations of their response.

What’s my motivation for giving?

"Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven" (Matthew 6:1). Am I giving to impress someone, because I want a good referral, to look good in front of my peers? If so, I might still choose to give, but I like to have a solid understanding of why I’m giving and what I hope to gain. If I am giving simply to share God’s love and my own abundance, I won’t expect a referral or praise – and I won’t be disappointed if I don’t receive them.

How to know for sure.

There’s really not a clear-cut way to know for sure every time if you should give away your product or service. Although these questions help me think more clearly about my gift and help me understand why I’m giving, they still don’t provide me with a definitive answer to all my giving questions.

The only way I’ve found to know for sure is to spend time talking about my business with Jesus every day, to get His insight and knowledge. "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best" (Philippians 1:9-10).

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Denise Willms is co-owner of WAHM-Articles.com, publisher of WAHM-Articles Ezine, and a ghostwriter for WAHMs who don’t like to write. She is author of the free eBook, Uncovering the Secrets of WAHM Article Marketing and A 30-Day Prayer Guide for Work-at-Home-Moms, scheduled for release in 2007. For more information, please visit http://www.wahm-articles.com or email info@denisewillms.com .

Possibly the most effective way to share God’s love through your home business is by doing something your clients and colleagues might never see you do. It won’t happen in an email, a newsletter, a phone call, or at your next meeting. It won’t be listed on your timesheet, your FAQ page, or your business proposal.

Your clients and others you work with may never even know you do this for them. If they did know, they might tell you not to bother – you’re just wasting your time. In fact, they might even ask you to stop.

However, the results of this one action could have a dramatic impact on their lives and businesses.

You might have guessed that I’m talking about prayer.

I’m one of those people who pray about everything – small or big. I pray I’ll find a parking stall in a busy lot. I ask for enough space to merge my minivan into a heavy lane of traffic. I pray for the success of my business, prosperity for my family, and that my children will learn to love Jesus as passionately as I do. Every day I pray that my life will be a blessing to others.

I believe the Bible when it says "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." (John 5:16) I know it’s true. I’ve experienced the life-changing power of prayer in my own life and in the lives of those close to me.

Praying for my own needs is easy. Praying for others, especially others I don’t know well, is a little harder. Their needs just aren’t as obvious to me. Sometimes, I don’t know exactly how to pray for them. I’ll probably never know what results my prayers had in their lives. So, why bother?

One event in my life has convinced me that, in spite of my own doubts and selfishness, it is definitely worth my time and energy to pray for those I meet in my business. Even though I don’t know exactly what to pray, and I may never know what results my prayers had, it doesn’t make those prayers any less effective.

A few years ago, a close family member was hospitalized with a chronic illness. He spent almost a full year in one of our local hospitals. Because of space and staff shortages, he was moved to different wards several times.

One ward stood out from all the others. It was as old as the rest of the building. It had the same paint, but its walls were a little brighter; same windows, but more light; same ventilation system, but fresher air. We were fighting the same disease, and for some inexplicable reason, we felt more peace while we were on this ward.

My family didn’t understand how one part of the hospital could be so different from all the rest until we met the Patient Care Manager for the ward. She told us she began each day by praying for every single patient in that unit by name.

"Do you know how long that takes?" she laughed.

Probably a long time. But I was very grateful she took that time each morning. Suddenly the cleaner air, the brighter rooms, and the indescribable peace all made sense to me. I believe it was her prayers that made the difference and made her ward a more pleasant place to be.

She couldn’t possibly have known the difference her prayers made in her patients’ lives while they were in her care and after they went home, but she was convinced it made a difference all the same. And she was right.

Your prayers can make a difference in the lives of your clients and business colleagues as well. If you’re not sure how to start praying for them, here’s a quick guide.

Begin by making a list of all your current clients and people you regularly have contact with for your business. If that’s too long a list to start with, break it down into shorter lists and pray for a different list of names each day.

Set aside time each day to pray for each name on that list. Early morning works best for my prayer time, before the kids get up and I get involved in my business day. Choose a time that works with your schedule. You may need to get up a bit earlier or go to bed a bit later to fit it in.

Here are some ways you can pray for those on your list. Ask God to reveal any other ways He would like you to pray for them.

* The success of their business

* That they will experience God’s love that day

* Their and their family’s safety

* That they will develop their own personal relationship with Jesus, if they haven’t already

Do I know how much time this takes? Yes, I do. But I also know it’s time well spent. The prayer of a righteous work-at-home-mom is powerful and effective.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Denise Willms is co-owner of WAHM-Articles.com, publisher of WAHM-Articles Ezine, and a ghostwriter for WAHMs who don’t like to write. She is author of the free eBook, Uncovering the Secrets of WAHM Article Marketing and A 30-Day Prayer Guide for Work-at-Home-Moms, scheduled for release in 2007. For more information, please visit http://www.wahm-articles.com or email info@denisewillms.com .