Authentic Conversations with Andy & Janine Mason

The only thing certain is uncertainty! How do I know what I should focus on? How do I decide what to do?

In the midst of pandemic, riots, political positioning, media manipulation... YOU CAN HAVE PEACE. You CAN make decisions that set you up with momentum in the middle of mess. You CAN do this!

In this episode I walk you through the simple process of how I have been hearing God and making adjustments to my business and personal life THAT IS PRODUCING RESULTS! Here's the notes for you to download and follow along.

• I heard God, pivoted and saved over $1500 in flight costs PLUS got back in country just three hours before the borders closed.
• I heard God, pivoted and transformed our in-person executive retreat into an online experience with raving reviews.
• I heard God, pivoted from my monthly travel and generated a brand new course that is equipping business people to hear God and do the same!

It's easier than we think. God is closer than we realize. Best of all, He is not anxious, upset, or surprised by what is going on. He does have hope, wisdom and solutions for life... IF we will listen.

So are you ready to listen?

I'm going to outline the simple 5-step process but first here's a quick win that you can apply immediately.

For those of you born in the digital era, analog is the OPPOSITE of digital. It's what people used to do...

BEFORE you pick up your phone and read the latest notifications,

BEFORE you get distracted by texts and emails,

BEFORE you catch up with the latest social media posts

BEFORE you get your daily dose of anxiety from the news updates

BEFORE you listen to all the OTHER voices telling you what you should do, know about and get concerned over...

PAUSE.

Rebel against the crowd and go analog. Pick up your bible. And a journal. And a pen.

Read an ancient text.

START your day by listening for the voice of Wisdom.

START your day with prayer. Simple gratitude that you are breathing... and have clothes... and breakfast! LISTEN for what the Founding Creative Entrepreneur of the Universe has to say about your "complex" situation... Ask the God of all Wisdom what He wants to say to you... How He feels towards you... What He thinks about you and your day.

Test me in this and see if it doesn't change your ENTIRE outlook for the day.

Now you are ready...

This is a simple process I use to hear God for practical decisions. Remember it is a process that serves me; I don't serve the process. It's helpful to get started but once familiar with the steps, feel free to use, edit, or add to the process to best serve your style.

Write down the situation that you are facing write now that you need clarity, decisions or direction for. The clearer you can articulate the situation the easier it is to get to th next step. What is the question you want to ask? Write it down.

Ask God the question. You may be surprised with His answer. If you ask the question, pause for a moment, then have a thought, idea, image, conviction, scripture... that comes to mind, IT'S PROBABLY GOD.

Write down what you hear.

If you want more on hearing God check out Episode 007 Hearing God in Central Park.

What is the practical application of what you heard? How would you apply that to your life. If it's not clear and obvious then jump to step 4.

Remember, the you cannot enter the Kingdom of God unless you come like a child so DON'T OVERCOMPLICATE IT. DON'T TRY TO REASON yourself out of what you heard.

Remember, God's Word (scripture) is a foundational pillar and so is wise counsel...

Wisdom is found in the multitude of counsellors. By wise counsel, plans are established. So seek wisdom to apply what you heard God say.

I have a multitude of wise counsellors. My wife. My team. My friend. My accountant. My lawyer... Point is, I have people around me who I trust to give me wise counsel.

In seeking wisdom I look for someone with wrinkles... evidence of learning. What evidence do they have (in the area that you are talking about) that gives you CONFIDENCE that they have wisdom? Is there a track record of good decisions? Would people around you agree that they are a person of wisdom?

So what are you going to do? Write it down.

When?

Not 'probably' or 'maybe' or 'soon.'

Once you have taken action you will have RESULTS. Good or bad, they will give you feedback on the next question to ask or the next conversation to have with your wise counsellor.

Life is happening something crazy! What is crazier is the response of people TO what is happening. On one side, denial and conspiracies are resulting in some people justifying inaction. Others are so distracted by what is going on, they have lost touch with their own purpose and priorities.

In this episode I walk you through a simple process to clarify and protect your priorities. If you don't know and protect your priorities you will live someone else's. One great YES must be protected by a thousand NO's.

Download the notes and activity here:

NOTES DOWNLOAD

BIG ROCKS EXERCISE

For more, see HeaveninBusiness.com

This week has been crazy... Pain erupting. America burning. Ive been pondering a phrase "For such a time as this," and how it applies to now.

It was said by Mordecai to Queen Esther. Her people were about to be exterminated and she could have sat quietly and comfortably protected by title and privilege. Mordecai challenged her, "What if you were born for a such a time as this? You can speak up and use your privilege to help your people... OR God will cause help to come from another source." (See the book of Esther in the Bible).

What about today? When things get hot and volatile and risky, do you hide behind your privilege and pretend you cannot see or hear... or do you go all in, knowing YOU WERE BORN FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS!

A couple years ago we bought our dream home. It was ten years in the making. Then just six weeks after moving in, we experienced the Carr Fire. I drove my family out of the house with a couple of overnight bags as the U.S.Marshalls were coming up the road compelling people to evacuate. The Carr Fire went on to burn 229,000 acres and over 1,000 structures. Eight people (including five fire fighters) lost their lives.

What I observed was similar to what is happening now.

The crisis, pain, and loss forced people to make a decision. Some people we met had only been in the community for three days before the fire. But the crisis actually STRENGTHENED their resolve to say "THIS IS MY COMMUNITY... WE ARE ALL-IN."

Others made the belated decision to leave. They had already left the community in heart and the fire was simply the final external trigger that confirmed their decision.

Still others literally danced in the ashes of what used to be the living room of their home. They were ALL-IN.

Ten years prior God had led us from New Zealand to USA. We knew we were here for the rest of our lives and fully engaged in the community... BUT we had a privilege: citizens of another country. We could get out any time we wanted.

During the fire, we realized it was time to go ALL-IN. So we did. We started the process of becoming citizens of the United States of America.

Whats the point?

Today there's another fire and you get to choose what you will do.

Perhaps YOU were born for such a time as this. Perhaps THIS is your time to speak up, listen up, help out.

And if you don't... help will come from another source.

So what will you do?

BeTheBridge.com

Have you realized that no matter how much you accomplish or accumulate, you are never satisfied? You are never made happy by external things. That is only an inside job. Listen as I unpack my current story and the resources that have got me to where I am right now... READY to go all in and fulfill what I was born for.