We are deeply grateful to our guest today, Mike Barber, for sharing the wisdom and experience that 50 years as a Professional Financial Advisor has provided him. Our topic today is Stewardship and as he shared his story with us, it’s easy to see how God uses His word, the people in our lives and situations we walk through to build our story and impact the people around us.

Here are a couple of definitions of stewardship;

Charles Bugg – Christianity.com: Utilizing and managing all resources God provides for the glory of God and the betterment of His creation.

Merriam-Webster: the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care.

As a reflection on Mike’s story, I can see many “Archie Bunkers” in my life who in hindsight, had great impact on my future, that in the moment, I was blind to or just did not want to see. In Paul’s first letter to the people in the church in Corinth, he wrote;

“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” 1 Corinthians 1:27

Can we open our eyes to this possibility? That we don’t always know what is best for us and the people around us who we are likely to label as wrong, bad or ignorant may have the most to teach us?

The Parable of the Talents we were referring to.

• https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2025:14-30&version=ESV
• Simple Video Explanation - https://youtu.be/vQ_RLvvpeNU?si=-Mt_v2oWSprhH-RI

The other impactful message for me in Mike’s story is the fact that when he started out, he didn’t really enjoy the work, and it didn’t really pay very well, however as he shifted gears in his mindset and became a student who developed skill, his love for the work blossomed into a 50-year career that has enabled him to have a significant impact in the lives of thousands of people, including the generations to come. Check out this article on the subject. https://www.goalcast.com/unlock-potential-3-keys-harnessing-hidden-aptitudes/

Our discussion led to evaluating the biblical example of Joseph as steward.

• The Story of Joseph (a video summary)
• https://youtu.be/4FuphiEjg4g?si=4wVreOKlg3JlToKu
• A Study of Joseph
• https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-stories/the-bible-story-of-joseph.html

Resource:

• https://kingdomadvisors.com/find-a-cka

Connect with Mike.

https://barberassociatesfinancial.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbermike/

Phone: 352-245-6817

Connect with Greg & True North Development LLC

https://www.truenorthdevelopment.co/

https://www.youtube.com/@TrueNorthDevelop

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Transformation is possible for all of us! We can move away from a life that is driven by the desire to fit in and the acceptance of society toward a life of purpose, significance and deep fulfillment. How we move through this process and whether we step into a higher calling is impacted by the choices we make every day.

Matt and Jessica Hepner have made the choice to yield to the higher calling in their lives. Yes, transformation is a process and it happens over a long period of time however at some point, we have to make the decision to leave our lives that are focused on comfort and acceptance of the people in the world around us, and yield to the calling on our lives which brings struggle and discomfort that strengthens us and prepares us to live the life of significance we were created to.

Here are some of the key points in this conversation.

• Be in the story! God is still writing it. For Matt and Jessica their story involves creating a library where people can learn about God together, and care for each other. Matt calls it Vibin 😊
• Live in your purpose! The bible says we have a Holy Calling. What is yours? How do you find it? What does it take to step into it? Various Verses with Commentary https://scripturesavvy.com/bible-verses-about-calling/
• We can chase the worldly definition of success; however, it will leave us unsatisfied, unfulfilled, and living a life that is meaningless.
• Transformation happens over a long period of time by making one small change at a time. You become the collection of your daily habits. Like Matt and Jessica’s food forest, we cultivate one piece at a time for an hour or two a day and years down the line, we get to enjoy a vibrant and self-sustaining ecosystem that is thriving and will continue to impact the lives of countless humans. Tiny Changes that Create Remarkable Results https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gdkBt9it84
• The conscious care of your body, soul, and spirit is significant. When one area is out of balance, they are all out of balance. If we want to live in our potential, we must develop habits that maintain optimal health in each of these areas.
• You are weird! People will say it. The average person in this world will never step into this space we are talking about. Just know that any person that has responded to a life of significance by stepping into their calling will be greeted by people who will try to discourage them. The reasons why will remain a mystery.
• One of the most impactful processes in transformation is the continuous renewing of the mind. Caroline Leaf: What is Your “Mind”? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04rjdSiVKHI

You can connect with the Hepners and the Standard Coffee Shop family.

https://www.thestandardclcl.com/

https://www.instagram.com/thestandardclcl/

Get started on your journey of transformation with us: https://www.truenorthdevelopment.co/

Really knowing yourself, how you are “wired” and creating a life that empowers you to live in your divine purpose can bring you to a whole new level of fulfillment and impact! Brian and Greg discuss various aspects and experiences on this subject. Some people know who they are and what their life’s purpose is early on, others never find it, then there are the rest of us who experience it as a transformation process.

Our guest today is Brian Williams who is a leader and teacher in our community, having a significant impact as a local Realtor® walking alongside and loving people who are exploring new possibilities in real estate. Brian shares his experiences in personal development,specifically in the area of purpose. Finding it, living in it, and facing the challenges of becoming the person you were created to be.

Here are some of the key points in this conversation.

- The transformation personal development brings is driven by the renewal of our minds.

Romans 12:2 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%2012:2&version=NIV ;

Caroline Leaf: What is Your “Mind”? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04rjdSiVKHI

- The process of renewal involves taking our thoughts captive and rejecting those mistruths that our mind wants to “ruminate” on.

- Hope is the foundational quality of all change. It’s the great activator which defeats anxiety, depression and boredom.

Hope is the Power - Zig Ziglar https://youtu.be/SxkJRfn-7M0?si=E1H3VN98hjD5D0gS

- Understanding who we were created to be and stepping into that space can be an intentional effort that brings energy, joy and peace to our lives while positively impacting all those we encounter. Regardless of what our job is or what social environments we interact in, we can operate in our giftedness.

https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/type-descriptions/

https://www.16personalities.com/

https://www.mydiscprofile.com/en-us/

- If we are not intentional about discovering and walking in our purpose, social influences can shape us in ways that do not serve us.

- Having accountability partners, mentors and coaches in your life can be a catalyst to lasting movement toward a life of meaning and purpose.

https://www.goalcast.com/what-is-an-accountability-partner-how-to-choose-yours/

What does it mean to be a mentor? https://youtu.be/lFUXtURI-Dk?si=5C9wr9jFRpwQg1sS

https://www.mindtools.com/a1plnmq/what-is-coaching

- Courage is demonstrated when a person is willing to try something new while they are fearful of failure.

Connect with Brian:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553157420856

https://www.instagram.com/brian_williams_fl/

brianwilliams2205@gmail.com

https://brianwilliams.thekranzgroup.com

True North Development:

https://www.truenorthdevelopment.co/