Faith and Business 101: Brainstorming for Business – part 1

Theme verse for the next few weeks:

Call to me and I will answer you. I will tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own. Jeremiah 33:3

This weekend my family and I are leaving for a 3 week trek across the United States. Our families are spread out all over the U.S. now, but the bulk of our family lives back in Ohio. Since our son is now too old for the free plane ticket, we usually take our time and drive across many states to visit friends and family.

This year we had some unexpected and very expensive dental bills to pay for. When my husband and I sat down to budget for our vacation, we realized that we were not going to have any extra cash to make the trip this year. I was very disappointed and began to pray and think. How could we make this work?

An idea came.

I ran with it!

I decided to plan a month-long summer event called “Across the U.S.: Summer 2010 Family Vacation Guide” that will be featured on our blog, Facebook and Associated Content (where I’m also a contributor). I wrote to various family vacation spots that would be located along our drive home to see if they would be willing to participate in whatever capacity they could. I’m delighted to tell you that several HUGE theme parks and resorts offered us complete vacation packages in exchange for their participation in our guide! They have even offered giveaways for our readers! All expenses paid, less the gas. I am so thankful to the Lord for this opportunity!

How did this all happen? Prayer and brainstorming!

I’ve written many times about how prayer is so much more important than PR! Along with praying, we need to use the brain power and creativity that God has given us to move forward! If I had just prayed for God’s help but hadn’t acted on the idea he gave me, we would be sitting at home for the next 3 weeks. It’s important in life AND in business to pray and then act upon the ideas you are given.

I’ve been to Willow Creek Church many times for their conferences and have learned a lot about brainstorming. One of my favorite quotes from Willow is: “God whispers ideas to the listening ones.”

For the next few weeks we’re going to look at brainstorming and how it can improve your business!

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 NIV

Until next time…

MariLee Parrish

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