10 Bible Verses Every Small Business Owner Needs

As a Christian and a family focused entrepreneur, I believe that faith is a key ingredient in small business success. In this current economy, the people of God must remember that if you honor God through your business he will direct your path.

Each year, I pick a bible verse as my theme for the New Year. As I considered which bible verse would guide me in 2010, I thought it would be helpful to share some of my favorites. Use these bible verses in the good and tough times in your small business.

1. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your path.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) Learn something every day. If you only lean on your own knowledge in your business, you will not be able to grow. You must grow yourself to grow your business

2. “Behold, I am doing something new! It’s already happening; don’t you recognize it? I will clear a way in the desert. I will make rivers on dry land.” Isaiah 43:19 (GOD’S WORD® Translation) Sometimes your business will need to move as the market pulls you in a different direction. You might need to reinvent your business, and you should not be afraid. God’s always got your back.

3.”Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6 (NIV) One of the most important things you can do for your business is to pray every day.

4. “Faith without works is dead.” James 2:26 (KJV) You can’t just pray for success. Develop a plan and work your plan. If you can do something about your situation, then do it. Stop making excuses, stop procrastinating, and do it!

5. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (NIV) There will be contracts that you really need that you will not win. There will be days when you drop the ball on your customer service, but you can not let that define you or your business. You will get another opportunity and even if you don’t, God is with you always.

6. “As I think in my heart, so am I.” Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV) Your thoughts can be your number #1 asset or your biggest liability. When you are alone in your office or back bedroom, your thoughts can easily turn on you. Your ability to stay positive, learn from all experiences and shake off mistakes quickly will be a big asset to you and your business.

7. “God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love and sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) Making decisions in your small business based on fear is never helpful. For that matter making decisions in anger is not good either. Try hard not to be reactionary with clients, vendors or employees. Use factual information and up-to date financials to make sound business decisions.

8. “But these things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day.” Habakkuk 2:3 (TLB) You need to understand that God’s time is not your time. There may come a time in your business when you just know you have a contract, one that you really need and things fall through. Those are the times when you need to trust in the Lord the most. When we accept God’s timing, we can learn to live in hope and enjoy our lives while God is working on our problems.

9. “Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding;” Proverbs 3:13 (NIV) You need to be a life long learner in order to be successful in business. You should constantly seek to improve yourself and increase your knowledge about the business of running a business.

10. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NIV) This is my new bible verse for 2010. It came to me watching a college football game. I believe I was only watching the game to see it.

Remember, whether you are religious or not you can always pray about your business.

Special Shout out to Joyce Meyer Ministries for her book The Secret Power of Speaking God’s Word which gave me guidance for this post and to Pastor F.L. Anderson who gave me some biblical wisdom for this article. Read his blog http://www.FLAnderson.com.

Do you have a special bible verse that has helped you in your business? Please leave a comment and tell me about it.


Melinda Emerson “SmallBizLady“, is a Veteran Entrepreneur, Small Business Expert and Social Media Coach who hosts #Smallbizchat on Twitter. #Smallbizchat is the trusted resource on Twitter to discuss everything entrepreneurs need to know about launching and running a profitable small business. Melinda’s first book, Become Your Own Boss in 12 months. A Month-by-Month Guide to a Business that Works will be released by Adams Media in March 2010.

For more tips on how to start or grow your small business visit http://succeedasyourowboss.com and subscribe to Melinda Emerson’s blog.

And the abuse continues

I've not really shared my experience living thru a physically, emotionally and abusive marriage for 16 years - for the sake of the children. When I finally came to my senses and had the police come and remove him from our home, I was still afraid of him. Soon after that my mom died unexpectedly and my whole world was topsy turvy. He still had access to the house and I tried to be cordial until one night I woke up to him in the bed next to me! I told him my period was on and soon after moved to my mother's home where I felt a little safer. He was still very nasty after he realized that I had no intention of reconciling with him.

About two years later he served me with divorce papers. I didn't contest. In fact, I let him have the house and all of it's contents. All I got for 16 years of making him look good was $10,000 and PEACE OF MIND.

When at functions that concern my daughters (who went to live with him because they felt comfort in the home they grew up in oh yeah and knowing I didn't have a job took me to court for child support when he makes over $80,000/year AND HE LIED AND BROUGHT FALSE PAYSTUBS INDICATING THAT HE MADE $3,000 PER MONTH GROSS) he always brings his insecure girlfriend who always feels a need to bump, brush up against me or follow me around.

In December of last year I get a text from him asking me what I want for Christmas?!?! Totally ignored it and did not respond. I had/have everything I need. Peace! Something that cannot be brought.

For all I know he could have been behind the mysterious drive by crash and total of my car last November. My whold block is perplexed at how, out of ALL the cars on my block, MINE is the only one that got crashed and totalled. No other car around it was scratched.

Alright enough about the pass, because I really am over it.

But today, I get a certified, notarized letter saying it serves as an "official cease and desist order to inform me that he is in the process of obtaining a court order with the district attorney's office mandating that I stay away from him and his property"?!?! WTF?

The strange thing is number one, HOW DID HE GET MY ADDRESS? IT IS NOT PUBLIC INFORMATION! THAT'S SCARY!

So now, he is still harrassing and abusing me because this is just crazy. I have said three words to him in 5 years. I have no idea what prompted this, but I have my attorney on it.

Miss Black Pennsylvania USA 2011 Jillian Patricia Pirtle was crowned on December 11th, 2010 to represent our state with her Arts Empowerment Platform & for a year of extraordinary service to our communities in the state of Pennsylvania before she travels to Washington, DC on August the 8th 2011 to compete for the national crown & title of Miss Black USA 2011.

Miss Black Pennsylvania USA 2011 Presents a Royal Concert
Starring:Jillian Patricia Pirtle
Featuring: Artist Jeanette Berry & The COTA/Eva Donaldson Youth Orchestra.


Enjoy a Royal evening of Incredible Classic Concert Entertainment showcasing Historic Spirituals, The Gospels, Broadway Standards,
Jazz, Rhythm & Blues & the Sound of Philadelphia Presented by Miss Black Pennsylvania USA 2011 in support of the state platforms Arts Empowerment
Project.

When: July 16, 2011
Where: The Arts Bank Theater (Located on Broad & South St. Philadelphia, Pa 19147)
Time: 7pm Curtain – 9pm

Tickets: Event Tickets are $20.00 & can be purchased @ www.missblackpennsylvaniausa2011.com or you can call Miss Black Pennsylvania USA 2011’s office @ 267- 281-3521 & the staff will be happy to assist you.

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS

Is blood really thicker than the mud? It’s a family affair.

My aunt has always been so proud of her great grandfather, Albanus Fisher. Especially after the movie “Glory” came out. Seems that her great grandfather, who was actually a part of the 54th Massachusetts’s Volunteer Infantry. Seems that he was the character portrayed by Morgan Freeman. There are letters at the Gettysbury Museum that he actually wrote too. My aunt shared with us copies of information supporting these facts along with documentation that he was a descendent of Ned Hector. For some reason my mom would get mad and say things like “I don’t know why she telling yall that shit”. I didn’t know why she didn’t think it was important, but true to form, I followed my mom and didn’t take much of an interest in our family history. When mom my died, I decided that I needed to know more about my family roots. One night while watching the news, I saw a man who dressed himself as Ned Hector and paid tribute to blacks in the Revolutionary war. I pulled out all the paperwork that I had stashed away many years ago and the search was on.

I got in contact with the guy who portrays Ned Hector and learned why my mother was so adamant about not sharing that information. Come to find out, Albanus Fisher was my grandmother’s father’s stepfather. He was not a blood relative. Furthermore, Ned Hector was Albanus Fisher’s step father as well. So, there was absolutely NO blood history there. That’s why my mom didn’t care to share that information with us. Hmmmm.

I found that to be peculiar, especially because the man who raised me was not my biological father – but you would never know it. Neither him nor any of his family members ever treated me any differently than blood.

So, being the deep thinker that I am, I took it a little deeper. Jesus came thru David's bloodline. Joseph was a descendant of David but Jesus actual bloodline is thru Mary, who is NOT a descendant of David.

Sometimes MUD is thicker than the BLOOD. It’s a family affair.

Jenks Elementary School’s After School Club Win 2nd Place in Business Plan Competition Sponsored by State Senator LeAnna M. Washington

As part of a 6-week program sponsored by The Business Center for Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise, instructor Kendall Hayes taught the after school Career Club the basic characteristics of successful entrepreneurs, risks and rewards of running a business, life skills (including budgeting and investing), the importance of a business plan, and steps on how to write one.

Upon completion of the program, the students submitted their business plan for their company Go Green Fashions (“Don’t let Old Clothes Go To Waste, Going Green is in Good Taste”). Senator Washington visited the group to present them with certificates and a $100 check for winning 2nd place in the competition.