Tag: Tips

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5 Christian Living Tips That Can Change Your Life

Christians face many challenges in their daily life, and the decisions made at their core are often the cause of many problems and hardships. The decisions that most affect the Christian are the ones to sin and live a life of sin, or to follow Jesus and live a life of obedience. The Christian life is not easy, and the temptation to sin is constant. But, there is hope. With the help of God, the Christian can not only overcome sin and live a life of obedience, but they can also live a life of freedom, and experience peace.

Christian Living is a tough road to walk. If you are new to the Christian faith, or if you’ve been away from the church a while, you may think that everything is going to be tough. This is why it is a priority to learn the basics and polish up your walk with God. Here are 5 Christian Living Tips That Can Change Your Life. We all can benefit from the wisdom of the Bible, but not everyone knows how to live out what it teaches.

Life is filled with decisions, and many people find that their lives revolve around making the right decisions. And while it may seem like we make all of our decisions based on logic and sound reasoning, sometimes our decisions are made for us by God. The 5 Tips below will help you break out of your rut and take your life to another level.

1.Make time for God

As Christians, we are called to live faithfully, loving God and others. Below are five Christian living tips that can change your life and the lives of others for the better.Living out your Christian values in everyday life is not always easy. It’s easy to get distracted by all the things that are wrong with the world and to be discouraged by what we see happening around us. It is easy to get lazy about living out your faith.

But God wants us to live the Christian life. God wants us to love and serve others. God wants us to be a light in the world. God wants us to grow closer to God. But we can’t do this on our own. God wants us to rely on Him. God wants us to let Him lead us. God wants us to know that He is with us, and He is watching over us.

We all go through different seasons in our life. Whether it be a season of joy where everything seems to be going right or a season of life where everything seems to be going wrong.

2.Pray more

Our prayers don’t just affect the people we pray for. Our prayers affect those around us as well. Sometimes our prayers are filled with positive intentions, such as asking God to forgive our sins. Other times our prayers are filled with requests, such as asking God to help us with our problems. But whatever your prayer is, remember, others are affected by your prayers.

Prayer is the most powerful force on the planet. However, many people don’t feel they can pray or don’t know how to pray, or they think prayer is too wimpy for them. But the truth is, prayer is powerful. You can pray about anything, and you can have your prayers answered. Prayer is simply communication between you and God. And prayer works if you sincerely pray from the heart.

3.Good works

Good works is a topic that gets talked about a lot in Christianity. There is a small group of Christians who believe that the Bible teaches a works-righteousness doctrine, and that good works are the only way for a person to be saved. But there are others who believe that good works are just a way that God graciously shows His love for his children.

Good works is the name given to works done that are pleasing to God. One’s works, especially their good deeds, matter based on how good one’s intentions are, or whether they have been doing good works consistently.When you are struggling to find meaning in your life, good and faithful works may be exactly what you need. Good works do not have to be amazing or earth shattering, but they can give your life something to focus on, and help you feel a sense of fulfilment.

4.Meet with other Christians

Meeting with other Christians is a great way to find new friends, share your current faith experiences, and grow in your faith. It is a simple way to grow in your faith. It is a simple way to grow in your faith. There are many times in our lives when we feel alone, and that loneliness can be overwhelming. When you join a Christian church, you instantly have a community of people who are there for you.

Meeting with other Christians helps the church find ways to build relationships with each other. This is a type of small group that is focused on supporting and getting to know one another. Meeting with other Christians can be a good way to make connections within your church and with other Christians. Many people, Christians included, worry that talking about their faith will make others uncomfortable.

5.Treat others with love

Treat others with love. Well, that is a simple phrase. But if we are honest, most of us do not treat others the way we would like to be treated. But we can change that. We can see that by treating others with love, we are actually treating ourselves. Loving others takes the focus off ourselves and puts it on someone else.

Treat others with love. Love others lavishly. Love others without condition. While these are difficult concepts to put into practice, they are essential for being happy. These concepts are, however, very different. For some of us, love is easy. We are naturally loving people. For others of us, however, love can be a challenge.

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15 Book Marketing Tips Christian Authors Should Use

Marketing your book can be a difficult task, especially if you’re trying to appeal to a specific audience. Christian authors face their own set of challenges in getting people to buy their books, but there are also plenty of ways they can capitalize on their existing fan base and find new buyers. This article will walk you through some of the best ways to market your Christian book, whether you’re an author who just published his or her first book or one who has been writing for years.

1. Outreach Via Social Media

As a Christian author, you have a unique opportunity to reach out to potential readers via social media. By sharing your faith and your love of writing, you can connect with readers who may be interested in your work. You can market your books on social media platforms, such as Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest. Use hashtags like #writeyouheartout and #faithreads. Share quotes from the Bible or inspirational messages that relate to your book. Inspire other writers by sharing social media posts or blog posts on how God has used the craft of writing to change you and others around you. I was blessed when i found an inspiring Christian blog such as “when we need God”. Outreaching and being published on these type of Christian blogs can also help book authors to be found by Christian audience.

2. Reach Out With Newsletters

You can let people know about your book by sending out newsletters. This is a great way to connect with potential readers and let them know what you’re doing. You can also include a link to your book’s sales page in the newsletter. You should have an opt-in form on your website that encourages people to sign up for the newsletter. In addition, make sure that when someone subscribes, they receive a confirmation e-mail.

3. Call Other Believers

One of the best things you can do as a Christian author to market your book is to call other believers and let them know about it. You can also ask them to help spread the word by sharing your book with their friends and family. If you’re not sure who to contact, there are many free tools online that will list all the churches in your area. Send out some invitations if you find one with a lot of attendees.

4. Speak at Your Church

Start by marketing your book at your church. This is a great way to get started because you already have a built-in audience of people who know, like and trust you. You can do this by giving a short talk about your book during service, setting up a table in the lobby with information about your book or passing out flyers. Ask your pastor to mention your book when they mention you as a Christian author who attends their church. Once again, this will be another opportunity to connect with your congregation. You could also pass out copies of your book before and after sermons so that those in attendance will read it on their own time and write a review for you.

5. Market Your Book in Christian Conferences and Seminars

If you want to market your book to Christians, one of the best places to start is by attending Christian conferences and seminars. Here, you’ll be able to connect with potential readers and other authors and professionals in the industry. When attending these events, be sure to have plenty of business cards and bookmarks on hand to promote your work. You can also create a special offer or discount code to encourage people to buy your book.

6. Give Away Freebies Related to Your Book

If you’re a Christian author, chances are good your book is about Christianity in some way. A great way to market your book is by giving away freebies that are related to your book’s topic. For example, if your book is about marriage, you could give away a free e-book on “10 Tips for a Happy Marriage.” Freebies related to your book like bookmarks and notepads with quotes from the book on them will help you attract readers who are interested in what you have to say.

7. Write About Your Book on Your Website

If you have a blog or website, make sure to mention your book on there and include a link to where people can buy it. Write blogs on your website. This will help you connect with potential readers and give them a taste of your writing style. Plus, it’s a great way to build up your platform and get people interested in what you have to say. Ensure you optimize your site by making sure your keywords are present throughout the content so search engines will be able to find it. You should also consider writing guest posts on other blogs in your niche and do webinars that are related to the topic of your book.

8. Post Your Book’s Cover on Pinterest

There’s a section on this list about marketing your Christian book on social media platforms, but Pinterest is more than a social media platform. It’s also an easy way to promote your book with visuals.

Create a free account and pin the cover of your book to one of the boards you create.

Write a short description and include the link to buy your book to generate sales.

Use keywords that are related to religion or Christianity to make it easier for people who are searching for these topics or terms to find you.

Include links from other places where your readers can find you such as Facebook, Google.

9. Share Your Work on Online Christian Forums

One great way to market your book is by sharing it on Christian forums online. This will help get your work in front of potential readers who are interested in reading material from a Christian perspective. When posting on forums, be sure to include a link to your book’s sales page so that interested readers can easily find and purchase your work. Get involved with online communities related to your book’s topic. Share your expert insights and connect with potential readers.

10. Give Podcast Interviews

Podcast interviews allow you to share your faith with others and talk about your book in a natural way. If you have no idea how to start the interview, give them some background information on yourself, like where are you from, what is your favorite food? Once the interviewer knows who you are, he or she will likely ask about your book. When it comes time to promote the interview, be sure that you send out an e-mail and tweet. These tools can help get people interested in what is happening.

11. Reach Out to Influential Bloggers

Hiring or consulting influential bloggers is a great way to market your Christian book. These bloggers have already established themselves as experts in their field, and they can help you reach a larger audience. Reach out to influencers and bloggers who have been featured in major publications like Christianity Today or RELEVANT Magazine. They may be able to help promote your work too!

12. Give Away Books

Book giveaways allow potential readers to sample your work and see if they like it. You can give away copies through social media, your website, through Amazon or in person. Be sure to let people know how to get in touch with you to claim their prize. There are a number of sites where you can host a book giveaway, such as Listy and Goodreads. If you have a website or blog, you can do one of these. After that, you’d urge anyone who has received the book to post a review or testimonial in support of it online.

13. Go Door to Door

Start by going door to door in your neighborhood and asking people if they would be interested in reading your book. You can also offer a short summary of the book. If you get a positive response, leave them with a business card or contact information so they can reach you when they’re ready to purchase.

14. Submit Book Reviews on Amazon

As an author, you can submit book reviews on Amazon, which can help generate interest in your book and also help with its ranking. When submitting a review, be sure to include the title of the book, the author’s name and why you would recommend it to others. Also make sure that you write a detailed review that includes what the book is about, what was good about it, and what wasn’t so great.

15. Review Your Book on YouTube

As a Christian author, one great way to market your book is by creating a YouTube review. This is a great way to get your name and face out there, giving potential readers a taste of your book. Plus, if you have good production values and an engaging personality, your YouTube review could go viral, reaching hundreds or even thousands of people.

Closing Thoughts

If you’re a Christian author, marketing your books can be one of the most difficult parts of the process. Book marketing is more than just advertising. You also need to promote yourself and your brand as an author so that people know who you are and what you wrote.

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Overcoming Fears

Overcoming fear

There are times in our lives when the challenges we face are many. Whether there are things happening in your life or to the entirety of the world, fears can get the best of you. This can make anyone too scared to take chances and live their lives to the fullest.

Overcoming fears that are holding you back is challenging and cannot happen overnight. There are a few things you need to be able to include in your life in order for change to take place. Here are five simple tips to help you start dealing with the things that scare you and hold you back.

1. Have faith in change

One of the biggest things you need to keep in mind when trying to overcome fears is that change will take time. The fears you are facing have developed from experiences in your past, which have affected your life strongly. Trying to change the feelings these experiences have caused you is no easy matter. 

Believing that you are able to change these around is the best way to start this journey. While it might take some time, change is bound to happen when there is will. Having faith in your ability to change will help you see things from a different perspective. Through this, you will manage to keep pushing yourself forward. 

2. Focus on positive thoughts

Another thing that can help you come to terms with fear is focusing on the positive instead of the negative. Most of the time, being afraid of something will make you focus on everything that can go wrong. If you allow yourself to feel this way, it will be a lot more difficult for you to see things differently.

No matter what you go through and what you are afraid of, God is on your side. Instead of letting negativity impact your decisions and everyday life, have faith that something good will come out of a difficult situation. This way, you will be able to train your mind to focus on the positive outcomes and overcome the fear certain situations can cause.

3. Pray when you feel overwhelmed

The power of prayer is great and can help guide you when you feel scared and helpless. No matter what fear you are facing, praying about it can make it seem more simple and manageable. When you feel overwhelmed with emotions, taking a step back and thinking about it is important. 

This is something that you can easily do through praying about a situation. During that time, you are talking about your fears and worries to God and asking for help and guidance. Praying when your fears overwhelm can help you see things clearly and get the reassurance that everything is going to be okay.

4. Discuss your fears with people that care 

No matter what it is that scared you, talking about it with people that care about you is going to help you tremendously. Your family, your friends, and the members of your church are all people you can trust and ask for some of their time. Opening up about the things that scare you will make them a lot more manageable. 

In addition to that, you will be able to see how someone else understands and perceives what exactly scares you. In certain cases, they will be able to relate to your fears. Other people will be able to break your fears down and help you see just why they should not hold you back. 

5. Take some time off

If you find that certain fears are affecting your everyday life in a negative way, it might be necessary to take some time off. Something as simple as spending some time at home or going on a short trip can help you feel better very quickly. 

It is possible that the fears you are dealing with are caused by stressful situations in your everyday life. Taking some time to reevaluate certain scenarios and situations will help you seek new ways to overcome them.  

Facing your fears with the help of others

Facing your fears alone is a very difficult task. Having the help and support of other people in your church and your community is important. The best way to overcome situations and things that scare you is through finding your strength. God can provide you with a safe place where you can think about everything that scares you. This way, you will be able to think about them more logically and know that you will overcome every challenge that comes your way. 

Bio: 

Bridgette Hernandez is a professional writer and editor who works with websites such as TrustMyPaper and SupremeDissertations. Brid loves to educate her audience on the power of writing, and oftentimes creates blog content for platforms such as GrabMyEssay. In her spare time, she loves spending time with friends, cooking, and listening to audiobooks.

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5 Ways To Stay Faithful In Your Faith

Nowadays, it’s easy to forget about our faith, since our busy lives and the negativity have taken over, with people dying, many wrongdoings, and sin being evident everywhere we look. Plus, it’s hard to tell who are friends are, especially when someone whom we’re supposed to trust doesn’t really feel accountable for anything”¦ or anyone. Even when people make promises, they either don’t keep them, or they forget about them.

As you can tell by now, sin is detrimental to one’s life; and, it stops us from being that God has created us to be. Just because we don’t have faith-based friends or careers, doesn’t mean that we, ourselves, can’t be faith-based. So, here are five basic tips on how to stay faithful in your faith:

1. Remember That God Is Your Friend

“There’s no denying that God is a friend to those who believe in Him,” says Thomas Gettysburg, a lifestyle writer at Next Coursework. “As Christians, it’s important to spend time with God as often as possible, just as you would with your regular friends.”

You can welcome God as your friend by doing the following:

· Attend church each weekend. (This is just one of the things that Jesus has asked of all his disciples.)

· Speak to God, and listen for Him every morning and every night. Offering yourself to God each day and night allows you to be closer to Him.

· Volunteer to help others (e.g. helping out in soup kitchens, offering your services to homeless shelters, etc.). In this way, you’ll not only help others, but also help yourself know and love God more.

· Go to confession at least once a month. Sacramental reconciliation allows you to “begin again,” to restore and strengthen your friendship with God.

· Seek counsel from someone trustworthy (e.g. a good priest or well-informed lay person) that you can talk you whenever needed.

2. Call Up A Friend

In today’s world, most people can’t live without their cell phones for more than .003 seconds away at any given moment of the day. So, why not make some good use with your phone by calling up a friend, and checking in with them.

You may want to have someone you trust on speed dial, so you could have them on the phone within seconds. Just keep in mind: don’t vent to them if you don’t want to; you can always start a conversation about something else, in order to take your mind off the negative. And

ultimately, God knows about your personal woes; so, give up all the negativity for Him to take care of.

3. Keep Your Rosary Handy

There’s nothing wrong with carrying a rosary with your in your pocket (or in your bag or purse). Or, you can wrap your rosary around your wrist; though, don’t make it seem like a fashion accessory, rather than a scared tool. Wear it (or carry it) as a constant reminder of Mary saying “yes” to God even when times are tough. Let your rosary encourage you to say “yes” to God, even when it seems impossible. And finally, don’t be afraid to pray with it, either.

4. Remember Your “Alternatives”

Let’s face it: temptation is where. So, if you’re not with accountable people, have an alternative activity that is your “go to.” Train yourself to avoid sin.

The best way to avoid sin is to use your gifts and talents the right way. For example, if you’re an athlete, you must make it your job to keep training and exercising to stay active. Another example is that if you have an interest or hobby, find an alternative way to do these things, so that you can use your gifts to glorify God, not sin against Him with.

5. Surround Yourself With Inspiration

Looking for inspiration from your faith? Why not have visuals inspire you?

One way to do this is to change the background on your cell phone and computer to show an inspiring Scripture verse, or even a picture of Jesus. Basic? Yes. However, this will remind you of your commitment to Christ each time you might be tempted to use your devices to sin.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the key to staying faithful in your faith is to commit to being faithful, and not straying from the path. As you stay on the path with these 5 simple tips, not only will you grow in holiness, but you’ll also grow with God.

Michael Dehoyos writes for Dissertation writing service and Write my assignment. He also contributes to numerous publications, such as Origin Writings. As a content marketer, he helps companies improve their marketing strategies.

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3 Tips for Dealing with a Manipulative Project Co-Worker

Are you stuck working with a project manager who is manipulative and dishonest? If you are, you’re not alone!

Today’s workplace is a cut-throat environment with everyone trying to get ahead in some way, shape, or form. It’s no surprise that there are malicious, sneaky project managers who will do anything to get a leg up to succeed or survive, even if it means throwing you under the bus. Like a clever politician, these project managers keep their desires hidden, but underneath a friendly and charming exterior is a highly destructive individual whose goals are power and control. Pretending to pursue the greater good, he or she adopts the mantra of “company first” with a fervency that inspires admiration and respect, and most people accept his or hers claims of a selfless pursuit of noble causes.

Regardless of your industry, profession, experience level or company, these manipulative people exist and, if given the right opportunity, they can ruin your reputation and career prospects. They’ll tell you that the entire team hates you, thinks you’re arrogant, stupid, or incompetent, and attempt to manipulate you into believing that their opinions are objective facts. A study published in the Journal of Applied Psychology called it “social undermining” and “bottom line mentality.”

“According to a recent survey,  roughly 90% of folks who read this post are presently working with at least one person who, mentally, would be described as a manipulator”.

Proving yourself in a new organization is hard enough. When someone manipulates and lies about you, it can hurt your relationships, your reputation, and your career. Luckily, Project Journal has 3 tips for effectively dealing with this workplace danger.

1. Don’t Ignore Your Gut
I should’ve seen it coming. Unfortunately, there isn’t a clear-cut answer to the question “Friend or foe.” If you find yourself putting up your guard around a co-worker, you might wonder if you’re imagining things and being paranoid? Well, maybe you are, but under no circumstances should you ignore your feeling. From experience, this is often the very first sign of trouble. Weak leaders sometimes resort to emotional deceit as a weapon for getting things done. Try to consider facts objectively. Manipulation is normally felt, rather than heard or seen, so you must listen to your gut.

What makes you mistrust this person?  Do they constantly gossip? If so, be careful as those who gossip to you, will probably be doing the same about you too and like Mom always said, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” Plus, you don’t want to get caught up in the drama when people find out about this control freak’s gossiping.

Trust that you will be thrown under the bus when “stuff” hits the fan. If you’re still unsure, you should run their behaviour by objective people you trust. As trust is built on the foundations of a good relationship, instead of basing trust on someone’s words, observe their deeds.

2. Dealing with a Bad Apple
There’s a lot to be said for the old saying, “One bad apple can spoil the whole barrel.” Not only is that true for fruit, but it holds a lot of merit in the work environment. Rude behavior is contagious. Toxic manipulative employees have an unhealthy ripple effect that harms co-workers, managers, and subordinates alike. They lack positive personality traits, such as genuine concern for others, a generous and understanding nature, a desire to teach and encourage, a desire to have straightforward dealings with others. They dwell in a very dark place lit only by their own ambition.

“It takes just one malicious employee among the ranks to wreak havoc on your team’s culture.”

Healthy human interactions are not dominated by manipulation. If you feel you can’t trust them, don’t. Manipulators do not communicate openly. Instead, they resort to flattery or play the victim to gain your trust and sympathy. Through artful, indirect and devious methods, they influence and control others and have a fair amount of social support, most likely because no one wants to be on their bad side. But that doesn’t mean their behavior isn’t harmful.

Your priority in this situation must be to protect your professional standing. Begin documenting every instance of destructive behavior and take it to a higher authority. When a co-worker starts manipulating you and ignoring the behavior doesn’t work, distance yourself, if possible and keep all correspondences. When colleagues try to sabotage you, they might tell you lies to cause you to make mistakes. The more you cover yourself, the less you have to worry about. Change your passwords, shut down your computer when you leave your desk, and keep sensitive documents under lock and key. Remember to “choose your words carefully when sending emails so that things you write can’t come back to bite you. Unfortunately, if you lose your cool, you will be in danger of looking undignified.”

“When you know what a man wants you know who he is, and how to move him.”
’- George R.R. Martin, A Storm of Swords

It can be tempting to excuse the antagonistic worker who seems zealous about his job, but clearly, those employees may be undermining the entire workforce. Being direct lets the other person know you’re aware of their manipulative behavior, and in some cases, that may be enough to nip it in the bud.  If you stay out of their world of negativity, you will be a much more difficult target for their manipulation.

3. Counteracting Sabotage
Manipulators are blind to the serious defects in their character, but keenly aware of the slightest weakness or imperfection in others. They are judgmental, suspicious, demanding and calculating, all negative personality characteristics. Even their outward charm is cold and calculated. Before you can deal with the situation, you need to understand the impact.

Is it a small lie with little effect? Is it a big lie that requires damage control or even legal action? Consider how others might view the situation. Although it may be difficult, the best choice might be simply to move on as the people who make it in the long-term are the ones who are honest, hardworking and able to maintain their professionalism.

“According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, workplace sabotage is on the rise in this difficult economy.”

If you choose to directly address the situation. It is critical to use neutral language and tone of voice. Do not stoop to their level, it is important to keep your integrity. Consider having witnesses to your conversation so it’s not your word against theirs.

Your final action can be accepting an apology and moving on, or it can be reporting the lie to a higher authority. In extreme cases, it can be making a formal complaint or hiring an attorney. It’s smart to search for job postings, even when you have no intention to quit. Obviously, you don’t want to let one bad apple lead to your resignation but, if nothing else, knowing you have options can help you feel more empowered and in control of the situation.

Other signs sabotage may be in the works: You don’t receive a promotion or responsibilities you logically should have gotten; cold or averse behavior from management that is (seemingly) out of nowhere; sudden and unexplained alienation by individual co-workers or even entire cliques; or unwarranted and continuous kind behavior from someone that was formerly aloof, ambivalent or even aggressive.

Manipulative behavior is widespread, but fortunately, it doesn’t exist everywhere. Do you have manipulative co-workers? How do you dodge their requests and still manage to pave a successful career path?  Tell us what you think?

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