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Co-Laborers in Ministry...

7/27/2015

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"He who walks with wise men will be wise"
~Proverbs 13:20 (NKJV)
"Ten years ago God birthed in me a vision for a ministry..."

One aspect of the ministry of Costly Oil began as a weekly email to a small and intimate group of friends in Christ. The emails title, "Make Monday Matter," were simple, but the messages were great : Be Encouraged; Have Faith and Confidence in God; Walk in His Promises and His plan; Trust His Way and His Leading; Accomplish ALL that He has Destined and Designed! I have always felt a burning desire to connect with, encourage, and coach women with my words and gift of exhortation. These simple, short, emails were just another way for me to do that. Well those emails developed over time, and for the past three plus years, they have been published as this weekly blog. This final week of July, I give honor to a group of women who have helped make the dream of this blog a reality.

This last group of friends I am humbled and honored to give honor to, are certainly not the least by any measure. They are Women of God who have generously allowed God to use their voice, words, wisdom, and experience to help thousands of readers who visit this site each week. These women have poured such divine and unique insight into their writings, and willingly shared it with us on subjects such as : The Armor of God, Fear of Man, Gossip, Healthy Living, Guarding our Heart, Prayer, Home Organization, Following our Dreams, Priorities, leadership, and many, many others. Their wisdom and love for God and His people shine through in every word; and, I am grateful beyond words...beyond grateful...for how they have joined me to minister to others through this blog.

Ladies I thank you and honor you for your vision, passion, integrity, and wisdom! Your gifts have helped make me better at what God has inspired me to do! Many, many blessings to you Angela, Nikhol, Yolande, Lakeisha, Toca, and Sara! I call you Sisters!


Humbly,
Dawn~ 

"Treasure in Earthen Vessels"
Taken from unpublished, "The Road to Humility" 
Chapter Three titled, "2005 - Costly Oil"
"Jesus You are my King!  You are my savior and Lord!  I offer you the sacrifice of a clean heart and an upright spirit!  I lay my hopes and dreams at your feet, and I offer my works as a sweet smelling savor to you.  Father let my ways be pleasing and acceptable to you. I  will obey and go forth!  I will speak and not withhold myself from your service!  I call you Lord not because of what you have done, because King and Savior and Lord only begin to define who you are.  And you are worthy of much more.  My words fail!!!!  My heart runs dry because of you!!!!  I am empty to give you that which you deserve!!!!!  Help me!!  Interpret my groaning and my tears and receive the little that I have to offer!  Continue to lead me and enlighten my path.  Give me the words for your precious vessels, and then water and bring forth abundance of fruit from the labor of love and passion.  Father get the glory and raise up many more after me in Your likeness!
 
Now bless my sisters who are your vessels.  I love them and desire great things for them.  Use them and speak through them.  Fill them with great treasures that can not be imagined.  Let their treasure overflow to every one around them.  Thank you for them, in Christ Jesus, amen!"
~Pouring My Life Out in Worship, Like Costly Oil~
~dlb~
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R.E.A.L.* Moment Monday

7/6/2015

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"A woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil...she broke the flask and poured it on His head." ~Mark 14:3 (NKJV)

First Giving Honor to God...

"...who is the head of my life."

Remember that old cliché? Man! Those words drove me crazy many hot, late, mid-week, church nights! That was when "Testimony Service" took place. Well here I am, starting this special month off with a deep, heartfelt, truly appreciative.....first giving honor to God who is the head of my life! God has truly been good to me in more ways than I can list, but I specifically want to thank Him for birthing and sustaining the ministry you see before you on this website, for ten years!

Ten years ago God birthed in me a vision for a ministry that was unlike anything I had ever encountered. It was unique and out of the box because the term "Life-Coach" was just coming to be. But it was certainly not yet in the realm of Christian ministry. Even today, Christian-life coaching is still seen as taboo, and not fully accepted in many traditional church circles. But the truth is that Jesus was the very first Christian-life coach that there ever was. He was a disciple-maker, and that is what we do, plain and simple. We make and strengthen the walks of Christian Disciples for the Kingdom of God. It is what He commanded His own disciples to do via the great commission, "Go and make disciples..." We have somehow changed the look of The Great Commission to be more reflective of making converts instead of disciples. Converts only require convincing; disciples require a coach. But I digress, I don't need to defend my vision...

Ten years ago this month, Costly Oil was officially established, and has been an amazing journey. Since then, I too have been a work in progress to reflect exactly what Christ has desired to birth from and through this vision. What started out as a great, and extremely humbling vision, has remained so, and expanded to include many avenues of ministry and service whereby Christian women can be encouraged and grounded in their walk with God, and their individual God-breathed visions. I write these words with humble amazement and joy as I think back ten years ago. I recall the days of writing the vision and making it plain just like it was just last year. All the great and wonderful plans God dropped in my heart...all the sweet, sweet assurances of lives being touched...all the much needed confirmations amid extreme lack and inadequacies...all the late nights of fervent prayers and much writing...they are all still so vivid. And I am thankful that His Grace has kept them all alive these ten years later. So back to my introductory statement, first, giving honor to God...it is for Him and through Him that I and this vision exist. THANK YOU LORD!!!

Please stay with me, right here at Make Mondays Matter as I continue to celebrate this joyous occasion. I will be introducing you to a few names and faces who are also deserving of honor for being instrumental in my journey in some way. Finally, I will be sharing some of my writings and stories from along the way. Please celebrate with me!

With Much Gratitude,
Dawn~
~Pouring my life out in worship, like Costly Oil~


A reminder about Purpose from the Archives
"My purpose and passion in life is to encourage and inspire women to live a life of purpose using my gifts of mercy, teaching, writing, and my words of wisdom and exhortation. I was redeemed from a walk of shame and a life of guilt and regret when I discovered my purpose was more than escaping hell fire. I will never be able to write enough words to express my gratitude to God for the gift of purpose! But purpose without power to impact lives and effect change is a waste; and, power belongs to GOD! So not only must we make sure that He is working WITH us, but we must work with the complete understanding that the results lay in His capable hands and providential timing. We should never allow ourselves to carry the burden of thinking that our doing is what makes our work successful."
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Beware of the Dream Stealers

4/6/2015

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"Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more." ~Genesis 37:5 (ESV)
Costly Oil LP didn't start out as a "dream" per se. It was a burning desire for ministry that started long before the name, mission statement, and incorporation came about in July of 2005. Wow. I can't believe that it has really been 10 years already. At that time, I wasn't planning 10 years out. I was, and still am, trusting and obeying God day by day...and that is the biggest "Dream" I have for this ministry: That I, and all those who are touched by what comes through this vision, will live a life of surrendered obedience.

From the moment ministry began burning in my heart, I've had to fight the dream stealers. Many time dream stealers came in the form of others who were unsuportive, dismissive, apathetic, negative, or doubtful. Like Joseph, I've had colleagues who I thought were "sisters" in the work, turn into dead weight when they saw the dream being realized or going to the next level. I realized that not every "supporter" would rejoice at the blessing of The Lord. But the worst were the "realists" who could see nothing but why I didn't have what it took to make it last. What these realists forgot was that it was never up to me to make it last. As I looked to Christ, and obeyed His leading, the work of my hands would begin, cease, and continue according to HIS will and design. They failed to recognize that this was not my work, but His. 

But the greatest of all the dream stealers came from the battles in my own heart and mind. The discouragement, distractions, and doubt that come as a result of obedience are ever waging war. There is always another reason to quit. There is always another disappointment. Always another let down or betrayal. Always another lack or challenge that is seemingly too great to overcome. Always weariness..... BUT GOD! He is faithful. In Him we always overcome and always come through! Beware of the dream stealers, but moreso, be AWARE of the dream stealers. Be aware that whether in others or within, they never truly or completely go away. So keep your eyes on Christ, and be ever careful to hear and obey. That is how we truly succeed, in spite of the dream stealers!

I'm thankful to God for showing me 10 years of faithfulness in this passion He placed in my heart. I don't know how many more He has planned for Costly Oil, but I celebrate this great milestone with joy and anticipation! And with surrender once again, I give it and all my plans back to Him. Thank you Lord!

Dawn~
~Pouring my life out in worship, like Costly Oil~
Beware of the Dream Stealers
By Dr. Denis Waitley


Although your own internal measurements are the most important, you will occasionally need to seek external feedback on your progress toward your goals. When you do, be sure it is from people who are truly interested in seeing you succeed. Don't seek feedback from fair-weather friends, competitive peers, or any person who doesn't have your best interests at heart. Neutral doesn't count. Get feedback from someone who is on your side but will still be objective and honest with you.

I've observed time and again that misery truly does love company. Jealousy creates some of the most miserable people I know. Surpass the achievements of your particular social crowd or your business colleagues, and look out for the slings and arrows of those who wish you were back where they are. You have to dodge the snide remarks and catty comments.

Let them roll right off you. Don't internalize them.

Only pay attention to feedback from those who have similar goals or who are working actively alongside you to achieve goals of their own. Motives and fears run deep. Study them in others. The sympathetic fair-weather friend who supports you and comforts you when you're down, may like you best when you are in just that state: down and dependent.

Ultimately, nobody else is responsible for your life but you. Nobody else is accountable for your actions but you. Therefore, nobody's expectations for you and opinions about you are as important as your own. So make sure those take precedence in your mind over all others, and if you do need to consult with someone else, think very carefully before you choose exactly who.

Equally important, be prepared to sell your ideas to an indifferent world. As passionate as you are about your business and the fact that your products and services will have positive, life-changing benefits to everyone you meet, you are going to find resistance every time you tellyour story.

People are most interested in their own dreams and goals. They have difficulty believing that you have found a better way than they have to reach them. They are suspicious and guarded when anyone tries to sell them or change their minds. Rather than have others steal your dreams by raining on them, ask questions and find out about their dreams before you launch into your sermon. People buy what they want first, then what they need. Find what turns them on. It may not be what turns you on. By helping others get what they want, you'll get what you want too!

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    Make Mondays Matter

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    believe. for. it.


    ~dlb~
    dawnlbedingfield

    "You don't know the cost of the oil in my alabaster box..."

    Picture
    *The phrase, Relationships Ever Abiding in Love, and the title, R.E.A.L. Moment Monday are the intellectual property of Costly Oil LP and Dawn L. Bedingfield, Inc. All Rights Reserved. R.E.A.L. Moment Monday blog posts are the express and sole property of the writer, no copyright infringement is intended. 
    Alabaster II Original Artwork painted by Jun Jamosmos, www.jamosmos.com
    Artwork and Design, Copyright 2014 Costly Oil LP. 
    All Rights Reserved.

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