Positively Alene

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National Best Selling Book, I Dare You to Change, by Bil Cornelius: Signed Book Giveaway!

Stop!!! Before you dismiss this blog due to the dare in the title, you’ve got to hear me out. If you are anything like me this is the time of year where you are already thinking ahead to 2011. Your asking for guidance, looking for direction, and beginning to set those goals for the upcoming year.

Well, those goals and resolutions you make are, my friend . . . ALL ABOUT CHANGE!

Do these questions sounds familiar? “So how do you recognize God’s call? How do you know what He’s directing you to do?” These questions are addressed in I Dare You to Change.

“Success and failure are directly related to our choices.” Pastor Bil Cornelius

If you’d like a successful jump start on 2011 and the rest of your life – you have got to read this book. It is bringing clarity to my goals, and most of all giving me the determination to put action steps to them.

I double dog dare you to take the I Dare You to Change pledge. I did!

I’m also honored to be under the leadership of Pastor Bil at Bay Area Fellowship. Let’s talk with him about change, goals, and talk about the difficult steps to get there:

(1) Why do you think God places promises beyond a person’s current reach?

God is interested in our growth more than our comfort.  One of the biggest reasons why God gives us dreams bigger than our abilities, is so we have to depend upon Him for their accomplishment.  Another phrase I use often is people use people to get tasks done, but God uses tasks to get people done!  He gives you an assignment bigger than you are for one reason only…to grow you.

(2) How can a person protect herself/himself from slipping back into old habits?

The best protection from moving backwards is to always be moving forwards!  This is why setting new goals is a continuing process…or as the Bible says, we go from glory to glory!  Accountability is important as well as a strong routine, but nothing takes the place of forward movement!

(3) What has been the most difficult change for you?

The toughest change has been the acceptance that my time is limited.  I can’t speak at every event, nor can I be available to everyone anymore.  The price for God opportunities is to quit committing to good opportunities.  God has a “best will” versus a “good will.”  Limiting my schedule to the absolute highest uses of my time has transformed my life, family, and ministry.  This will move you from success to significance, and it is worth it!

(4) How does someone go about changing their life when they feel so overwhelmed?

The first step when wanting to change something in your life, especially if overwhelmed, is to pray, and break it down into bite-size chunks of change.  The prayer part is obvious, but most people don’t do it.  Prayer releases God’s confidence in you, so you have the vision and power from God to move forward.  What comes next is a good strategy:  if something is overwhelming you, it’s typically because we are thinking of changing everything at once (or one really large change) rather than breaking into a series of smaller changes.  You may not be able to own a high rise in New York City, but you can buy a small fixer-upper home, work on it, get it rented, then do it again.  If you are consistent enough with this, then within a few years you can sell it, take your profits and reinvest them into a 4 to 6 unit.  Sell this a few years later, and you can invest into a 15 to 20 unit.  Sell this a few years later and reinvest into a small office building.  Sell this…you get the point.  It’s all about taking baby steps first.  Another angle is if you want to lose 50 pounds, lost 5 first and keep going.

(5) What was your inspiration when writing your new book, I Dare You To Change?

My inspiration was actually a desperation to change myself.  All of us have areas we need to change, yet few make the changes they want.  Making this even worse is the fact that those who do change, when asked, give us a humble platitude for how they did it like, “well, I’m just lucky,” or “you know, God is just good to me.”  Those are both true for the changed individual, but I guarantee they also had a plan in place and they worked their plan.  I wanted to take the mystery out of life change without taking the miracle out with it.

(6) How have you seen, the message of your book, impact you or members of your congregation?

By far the best part of what I do is having a front-row seat to changed lives.  I have the privilege of seeing people take the steps this book teaches and really change.  There is no greater satisfaction in the world than knowing you are in God’s plan and making a difference in people’s lives.  I have seen people who were on the brink of divorce, choose to fall in love again.  I’ve seen a single-mother with little career prospects, double her income.  I’ve also seen too many to count of people who just lived out of control lives with no purpose, discover that God has a greater path for them.

Yes, amazingly, change is possible for everyone!

Giveaway Details!!! (up to 5 entries can be made. Must have 1 comment per entry)

*Leave a comment to this post with your email address.

*Receive an extra entry by becoming a follower, or by reminding me that you are already a follower.

*Leave a second comment.

*Receive bonus entries by posting about this giveaway on your blog, Facebook and/or Twitter. Please
           leave a comment for each social networking platform you share this post on (up to 3).

*Deadline to enter is midnight Sunday, November 14th.

*Winner will be notified via email.
     

Please join us at the next IDY2C Blog Tour stop with Julie McElroy next week!

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Comments

  1. This sounds like a fascinating book to read!

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

  2. I follow your blog via e-mail subscription.

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

  3. Would love to read this! :)

    Melissa at HuckleberryPrairie.com

  4. Great timely advice. I'll check out the challenge.

    Thanks for sharing and glad it has transformed your life.

    patrina <")>><

  5. I need to change some things. I always appreciate your goal oriented posts Alene. I have to enter and b challenged. I have not thought about my goals in 2011…but now you two are pushing the turtle girl to keep on moving. thanks, b

  6. I have IDY2C and have accepted the challenge! I purchased my sister the audio version and she's listened to it two or three times on her commute to and from work. I would love to win a signed copy of IDY2C to give it to someone as a Christmas gift. (a signed copy would be so cool and I know they would appreciate it- big time!).

    I am a follower of your blog (love to hear what's going on with you and all your insight!) …you have my email : )

    Love ya girlfriend!

    Thanks~ Teri

  7. I would love to win this book!
    I'm always looking for ways to make my life better! :)

  8. I'm a follower.

    I forgot to leave my email address on the last post.

    smitchell@gbs.edu

  9. God must have big plans for me. He moved us out of our comfort zone to grow – but first, like a plant, I need to get those roots all snug back in the new place. Change is hard. One of my boys asked if I wanted to move back. I said that though I loved where we were,I wouldn't want to be anywhere other than where God wanted us to be. And for now that is where we are:)

  10. God must have big plans for me. He moved us out of our comfort zone to grow – but first, like a plant, I need to get those roots all snug back in the new place. Change is hard. One of my boys asked if I wanted to move back. I said that though I loved where we were,I wouldn't want to be anywhere other than where God wanted us to be. And for now that is where we are:)

  11. I am presently reading this book.
    It is encouraging me in my goal to exercise and lose weight.
    I like the fact that Pastor Bil says think about where you want to be in 5 years.
    I am trusting, through God, in 5 years I'll be at an appropriate weight.

    Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving some comment luv.

  12. Thank you for sharing this interview. Encouraging words are what so many need to hear, myself included. The book sounds wonderful and I'd love to be entered in the giveaway. Just signed up to follow your blog.

    Thanks, too, for stopping by my blog and commenting!
    Blessings,
    Karen
    klange61(at)hotmail(dot)com

  13. Hi Alene, this book sounds great. I can definitely use some change in my life. I love Pastor Bill's statement…God uses tasks to get people done.

    bnredeemed(at)gmail(dot)com

  14. Hi Alene –

    I've been thinking along these lines for several months. I'd love to win this book.

    susanjreinhardt AT gmail DOT com

    I'm a Follower.

    Blessings,
    Susan

  15. What a timely book! Speaks to where I'm at presently. Thanks for the giveaway & chance to win a signed copy.
    Chanticlear1atgmaildotcom

  16. I follow in GFC!
    Thanks for a chance to win this book!
    Chanticlear1atgmaildotcom

  17. I need & can benefit from the message in this book. Thanks for the chance to win this wonderful giveaway.
    Chanticlear1atgmaildotcom

  18. Thanks for stopping by my blog Alene! You have a wonderful blog as well! I am the last stop on the I Dare You to Change Blog Tour in January! I just received my copy and have read the first chapter – very exciting! I'm looking you up on Facebook now. :)

  19. Hi Alene! So glad you found my blog so I could find your Awesome blog! I love all the 'empowerment' vibes I already feel here! The books sounds Awesome too! I'll have to order that one soon! Exactly the type of books I read! :-)

    Following and will be back soon! Have a Wonderful day, Alene!!
    Hugs,
    Coreen

  20. Yes Sounds like the book is great! Consider this an entry, I am a follower already
    kbstandard@gmail.com

  21. Thanks for the opportunity!
    rbjj32825[at]lycos[dot]com

  22. My name if Alene too. There aren't many around. This looks like a book I would love.

  23. Would like to read this. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway.

    dianad8008 AT gmail DOT com

  24. A new GFC follower. Thanks

    dianad8008 AT gmail DOT com

  25. Sitting under Pastor Bil's leadership for 10 years, I know it will be an excellent book. Would love to have a copy!

  26. Sounds Amazing:)
    cain4him (at) hotmail (dot) com

  27. Second comment – You know I'm a forever follower:)

  30. This sounds so intriguing and helpful!
    fourkidsrgreat(at)gmail.com

  31. Thank you all! It is an awesome book, and I hope you order it to get your "change" on.

    The winner of the signed book give away at this stop chosen via random drawing is: tracietrump@yahoo.com.

    Thank you for stopping by and participating. Come back soon!

  32. Thank you, nice job! This was the stuff I had to have..

hello, i’m alene

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