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GraceFilled Community
The GraceFilled Community Podcast is a place where faith, connection, and community come together. We explore meaningful conversations with guests who share their unique insights, experiences, and stories to inspire and empower others. Each episode offers listeners practical wisdom for living out their faith, creating belonging, and building community. Whether you're looking for spiritual growth or ways to connect deeper with those around you, the GraceFilled Community Podcast provides valuable content that enriches both your personal and spiritual journey.
GraceFilled Community
It’s Never Too Late: Transforming Passions into Professions
Have you ever felt it's too late to pursue your dreams? In this episode, we sit down with Denise Payne, a vibrant career counselor who reminds us that it's never too late! Denise founded Career Crossroads Counseling at the age of 50, combining her faith with her expertise to help others find their calling. Join us as we explore how divine guidance can lead to fulfilling careers and uncover practical insights into overcoming common blockers like self-doubt and fear.
Denise shares powerful stories of her own career transition after homeschooling for two decades, demonstrating the incredible potential we all have at any age. With an emphasis on intercession, we discuss how prayer and faith can empower individuals facing pivotal career choices. Denise offers practical strategies for recognizing personal strengths and interests, all while encouraging listeners to embrace the seasons of their lives fully.
Through engaging conversation, you'll discover that your past experiences, even those that feel like failures, can become stepping stones to your future success. So whether you're feeling stuck at a crossroads or simply seeking guidance on your career journey, this episode is filled with hope, inspiration, and actionable advice.
Connect with Denise Payne:
📧 Email: denisepayne.ccc@gmail.com
📞 Call: 800-709-5730
📷 Instagram: @careercrossroadscounseling
👍 Facebook: Career Crossroads Counseling
🌐 Website: www.careercrossroadscounseling.com
Don’t miss out on Denise's insights! Listen, share, and leave a review to let us know how this episode has resonated with you. Explore more and gain valuable resources by checking out the show notes linked in the episode description!
My name is Nicole Cater, your host, founder and servant leader of Graceville Community. I want to thank you for tuning in to Graceville Community Podcast. This is a safe space, a place in which we just share stories of how God has touched individuals' lives all across the world and how they are now impacting the kingdom of God. Thank you for tuning in. Blessings to you, hello Graceville community. I am so excited once again to be in connection with you. Welcome to our podcast. If you are listening, if you are viewing, we give you a shout out, a hello from myself and the Graceville community team. We're so excited for you to be connected with us today for another day of just hearing about how God is moving. He is moving, yes, y'all, he still speaks, he still moves and I am so, so, so excited for the conversation we will have today.
Speaker 1:As always, I don't want to take much of your time. I want to get right to it because, y'all, once again, we have another guest that I'm super excited for, what she's going to bring and the conversation we have today. So I'm going to dive right in. Let me tell you a little bit about our guests. So today we have a Miss Denise Payne.
Speaker 1:Denise owns Career Crossroads Counseling and she offers career counseling services through Zoom. She offers it globally, all over the nation and, of course, in Canada. She's helped launch folks from ages 14 to 66 into their calling, destiny, ministry and career over the past three and a half years. She has a master's of science in counseling psychology and in the past has done individual, couples and group counseling. So all of it, y'all all of it, as well as advising and career counseling, currently her area of expertise is career counseling and the strong interest inventory which she does utilize with her clients, and so she has a whole journey and a story to tell, even about how she started her own business at age 50, never too late, guys, age 50.
Speaker 1:And she took a 20 year hiatus from her career in order to stay at home and homeschool her two daughters. So y'all know we're going to have great conversations, because you know I'm that homeschooling mama and I'm in the thick of it. Okay, so all that's been said. Hello, denise, hi, hi, how are you doing? I am great, I'm so excited for our conversation today. I'm looking to learn, engage and learn. So I'm happy, happy to have you on.
Speaker 2:Sounds good, I am happy to be here.
Speaker 1:Yes, okay. So I know like there's things that jumped out for our listeners, I'm sure, when I was reading just a little bit about your bio. So first thing is so you decided to start a business at 50. Please do tell what led to that choice.
Speaker 2:Yep, it's something I never thought would come out of my mouth. To be really honest, I took a 20 year hiatus to homeschool my daughters. It is no joke to homeschool. I did it out of obedience, um. And then I became an empty nester and I realized I had a lot of things I could have done. I could have done advising. I could have gone to traditional um job route and I actually had fasted and I prayed and sought the Lord and, um, he kind of just downloaded this formula that I work with my clients and I was writing it down and then he said and it's going to be your own business. And I was like what? I was very, very shocked at that idea and that thought One of the reasons why I think he did that.
Speaker 2:My husband's business is very flexible and so at that point I had a child in California, a child in Montana, and I just wanted to be able to, like, visit them and maintain connection. And so this whole career counseling over zoom and the formula that he gave me, it was honestly, I call it a divine download. It was not my idea, um, but I got really excited about it and I will say, three and a half years later. I'm not burned out and I love it, so he has the best ideas way better at the Bible and see that there are seasons.
Speaker 1:First of all, we can look outside and see that God created seasons, and so I love how you leaned into a new season. I think that's something that we'll just pause and talk about as we even get started today, of just how sometimes we try and hold on to one season when it's like no, we're moving, Like we're going from summer to the next season, we need to move to the next season and I think, because of comfortability, we can find ourselves holding on to that. And so in the midst of having to make this change, like what was one of the things I mean first of all, you know you got this divine download but what's one of the things that was even like blockers in the aspect of starting this business and making this change into something that probably was had some uncomfortable phases to it.
Speaker 2:For sure. Yeah, I think several blockers were. I was not in the workforce for 20 years so I actually I got re-certified as a career coach so I could do career counseling with just my master's. I've chosen not to get licensed because my license are sure hours, honestly, and I don't mean this in a morbid way, but I've got licensed 28, 29 years ago.
Speaker 2:My supervisors have probably passed away at that point, because they were kind of older at that stage and I, you know, I had no way of even tracking my hours. So I said, god, what can I do without getting a license? And I can do career counseling. But I actually got certified as a career coach because there were careers that are no longer in existence, that when I did this before you know, 28, 29, 30 years ago they're they're new careers. There's a whole the whole technology thing. Like that's all new. I would do paper and pencil with with students and clients years ago and and like workbooks and things. So I think for me that was intimidating as far as, like you know, just even the social media aspect of advertising your business, those things were not in existence, like we did not have iPhones three years ago.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I think just being you know, being relevant to I I work with teenagers a lot and so trying to be relevant to them as well, I'm a really good team player. I am very like I will serve you, like any other job. I'm like I love having a boss and you tell me what to do and I will serve you. And that was intimidating to say, oh Denise, like you got to be your own boss and I am a self starter, that I have integrity, like when I say I'm going to do something, I will try my darndest to do it, but I'm way more comfortable being told what to do. So obviously just kind of like lacking that confidence of maybe between partnering with the Lord. You know, we know what's best for our business, just the Lord, yeah. So those are a couple of things for me that were blockers when starting.
Speaker 1:Yes, I mean, I can just imagine. So in my world we do a lot of web design, social media. We do lots of web design and social media for nonprofits and for churches, and one of the things that happens is, I mean, even just in social media, I have to consistently take classes and courses and I'm like, oh, there's a new thing out, there's a new way to do this real, there's a new way to do this type of video, and so it's a constant learning phase, which sometimes does make it very uncomfortable, like what is this now? Right? And so I just, first of all, kudos to you for stepping into that and going back and getting the education to help you, along with the God divine download.
Speaker 1:I think one of the things that's important in that is, you know, so many times I think, as believers, we can hear from God and we will hear an instruction, right, and so we may hear like, hey, this is what to do, this is like you said, like this is the business and this is how it's going to go, but we can miss out on some of the tools that he's provided in this earthly realm for us to advance in that. Right, and don't get me wrong, there are miraculous times, right?
Speaker 1:That is just like here it is and you go with it, but I think that there is truly some power backing behind getting the education and partnering that with the spiritual thing so that you can have God's success in it. Yeah, I imagine being in career counseling. That's something that you probably speak to and engage with with those that you work with. Uh-huh.
Speaker 2:For sure. Yeah and um, and honestly, going back, like just talking about my age, I just want to encourage the listeners out there that are post 50, um, going back to school, menopause is no joke and foggy brain is real and I was like what I used to memorize things so quickly when I was an undergrad in grad school. It was a very humbling process. But I also think oftentimes when the Lord promotes us, he has him a humbling season as well. That's coexisting. So he's like I'm gonna make your platform more public than you've ever been and I'm going to humble you more than you've ever been.
Speaker 1:Yeah, which I feel like is so necessary. Right, because it's easy when you have a platform, it's easy to take in the praises. Right, because often on the platform that's what comes, and so it's easy to take in that aspect of like look at what I've done versus look at what I'm able to do, partnered with him. Amen, and that humility, I think helps bring that in a coinciding space, right.
Speaker 2:Yes, the two can coexist. Confidence and humility can actually coexist together. Yeah, and I heard this great definition of humility once, that humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less often and so it's not being so self-focused and it's just getting your focus back on the Lord and you can be confident and keep your focus on the Lord because you know where it comes from.
Speaker 1:So yeah, it actually makes me think and I'm like pulling up the scripture because our listeners know like I have all this stuff in my head and I'll start saying this verse and I'm like, oh, don't ask me where the verse is, so I'm going to pull it up. But there is a biblical verse that we often hear which I'm going to pull up for us yes, romans 12 and three right, do not think of yourself more highly than you ought to, but rather think of yourself as sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. The very first thing that always stands out to me, or that has stood out to me through some teachings of that, is don't think of yourself more highly. So that means that there is a concept of how we should think of ourselves and an appropriate level in which we should.
Speaker 1:I actually had this conversation in our previous podcast.
Speaker 1:We were talking about receiving and accepting compliments, right, and that goes into an aspect of we are his creation.
Speaker 1:He spoke very highly of us and when we downplay his creation, we're actually downplaying our heavenly father, we're downplaying the creator, and so I love how that verse says like don't think of yourself too highly, meaning that there is a measure that we should have and I think that lends into, I mean, just the aspect of we can obviously talk about like self-confidence through that right, because we could obviously talk about like self-confidence through that right, um, and being confidence in our identity, not necessarily in what we do, yes, and my immediate thought of just even in that I have had the transition of going from like corporate, having all this education, and thinking like not only do I have education, but I have these student loans, and now I'm like you want me to homeschool these kids and very similar to you.
Speaker 1:It was not my desire. I did not start this off saying I want to be the stay at home wife and mom that homeschools, right, and so there's like a shift there. And then there's this shift where you hit the season where it's like, okay, this season is up, now I want to take you here. So one of the questions I want to ask is because, as I just thought about identity and how we can often get our identities tied into a role, versus like our identity vertically with him. What are some tips that you would give our listeners of just being mindful of, even in your careers, in your careers, in your spaces of where your identity is tied to.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean, I think some of it is discovering the uniqueness of who God created you to be and owning that for sure. And the scripture love others as you love yourself, and one inversion says as well as you love yourself. And um, and one inversion says, as well as you love yourself. And so I think it gets wonky if we love others too much and we're not focusing on loving ourselves. And then it gets wonky if we love ourselves too much and we're not focusing on loving others. So I think you know, when you have that balance, um, that definitely um is is a way to make sure that you're in the proper identity space, so to speak. And then also, god really did create us so uniquely.
Speaker 2:And when I work with my clients, I mean we discover together, you know, a lot of the unique destiny, calling hobbies, things like that. There's things we've come up with within session that like are so out of the box, things of what they can do career wise. But a lot of that gets back to one of the things I do is I look up their names. I actually have this baby name book, prophetic baby name book, and I look up their names because I think God gives us clues, even like I was born to non-Christian parents but they named me Denise, and that means wise, discerner, and so when I was in grad school and having some tough days, I was like I have wisdom, I have discernment, you know, and I think sometimes that can be a clue as to, like, your calling and destiny. And so God, I think, throughout our lives he's always putting little, you know, kisses, or God winks as far as like this is who I created you to be, this is how you're uniquely made.
Speaker 1:Yes, I love that. So I often refer to names. You know, when we named our children, we knew that names had an important meaning, so but I also those that know me know that all of my kids start with the I name and my husband has an I name. Why I'm Nicole with the N name?
Speaker 2:Hey, with the I name and my husband has an I name.
Speaker 1:Why I'm Nicole with the N name hey look you have an I in your second letter, second letter is I. But even as I look at my name right, my name means victory for the people, and God has really given me a heart that literally love God, love people, is what I live by, right. And so you know, over time it actually helped me understand to your point of what path the Lord was taking me on, um, how he uniquely created me to walk this path and be able to walk the path of people. We know sometimes people can hurt, right, um. And so when you love people hard, you also have to be able to carry boundaries, and I have to learn that that's a key part in even in the calling of my name, right. And so we in our home believe heavily in the names and believe that when you speak that name, you're consistently speaking that over that individual. And so I laugh because my daughter's name is Ivory, laugh because my daughter's name is Ivory. And when I named her I was on this track of, like everybody had I letters, names, everybody's names had five letters, and so I was searching and it came up and it said, like you know, the white tusk of an elephant, like hard on the outside but soft on the inside and I was, oh sure, it's not nothing bad, let's go with it, right. And now I look and I'm like that really does describe her like she is a very solid young lady. She is, I mean, can exterior wise you like. Yes, she has it all together and yet she is the most tender hearted, like the most hugs, the most embracing of, like touch, and I'm like this truly is a description of what this name means. Yet even in that, she loves to worship and she has a gift inside of her that I definitely listen. I sing in the shower and I'm not taking it beyond there, like I will sing amongst many others worshiping right and in my private quarters. Yeah, um, but she loves to do it. She leads key kids worship at our church. She's always just singing and singing worship songs.
Speaker 1:And at one point the lord told me like look at her name again. And I remember going back and looking and seeing ivory and I'm reading through and I'm like, yep, I know this it's, you know, like your teeth, it's hard on the outside, there's softness on the inside, and he really started showing me like the beauty of the softness on the inside and what all it can create. But then he took me to a place which I never understood that ivory comes from the tusk of elephants and that elephants, when they would go into these battles for praise, elephants, would lead the way, lead them with the praise and worship. And so it was like an eye opener of like Lord, you did have a plan with this day. I love it With this tender heart. Like you have a plan, you have a destiny which I know. Our scripture tells us that. I know the living word says that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and also elephants. They actually kind of trumpet, it's like they herald, you know, even with their trunks, and so she kind of heralds and ushers in the presence. And yes, yeah, my two girls are worship leaders as well, as is my husband, but I am the front row intercessor.
Speaker 1:Right, yes.
Speaker 2:Everyone else is so thankful.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, look, I'm right there with you. I'm like I will be behind this, I will teach, I will intercede, I will set up tables. I will set up things like I want to up tables. I will set up things like, oh yes, I love it. Okay, so, as we just continue to talk this through, I mean, you made the transition, decided to do this new business. You're impacting lives all over. How do you feel like you have the ability to just talk Jesus with those that are coming for career space?
Speaker 2:Well, I do advertise myself as a Christian career counselor, so 90% of my clients are Christian. I will take, I will see anyone, but I will say I love. I actually by design chose to call it a faith-based or Christian career counseling because when I was at CU Boulder and Portland Community College, I was not allowed to even breathe anything having to do with the Lord and so I was just interceding. But now I'm like I have freedom. So, yeah, so I pray beforehand, I pray in the seat of my clients. I actually ask the Lord for a word for them. Like I said, I look up their baby names and I actually write those out and then at the beginning of the session I actually do right before I meet with them, I do a worship song and I kind of war over them and then at the beginning of the session we pray at the beginning and at the end. And actually one client just recently she just broke down in the middle. She was a teenager. She broke down in the middle of the session and I said we're stopping, we're praying right now and we just stopped everything and we just prayed.
Speaker 2:For sometimes there's a lot of emotion that goes along with career change or exploration. I've met with clients that they've gotten fired. Their self-esteem is like you know. I've met with teenagers that don't believe they can do anything. They they've been told that you're not going to match anything. You're just. You know, you're going to just have a menial job at a gas station. Not that that's a bad thing if that's what God calls you to do.
Speaker 2:But you know, like I feel, I feel part of my job is to empower. I don't I don't want to handhold, I don't want to tell them what to do. I want to give them the tools, cheerleading, champion them and then they can kind of take all the information and, you know, hopefully also some prophetic things from the Lord and go explore on their own.
Speaker 1:So yes, I love that. I mean, that is a key component that I know many would not consider, with the aspect of like walking people through transition, which is really what it is right there in the face of transition.
Speaker 2:They're at a crossroads, exactly. I just connected a crossroads, exactly.
Speaker 1:I just connected it. Yes, I did there Look crossroads. Yes, absolutely, I love that. And so, man? Okay.
Speaker 1:So intercession I do want to not presume, because I trust and believe that all individuals are welcome to Graceville community and to our podcast.
Speaker 1:So I do want to explain the power of intercession to our listeners. Intercession is essentially the ability to pray on behalf of someone else, asking God to intervene to be help to them. It is what we would consider a sacrificial act, because you are warring in the spirit realm on behalf of that person. The Bible actually tells us that Christ sits at the right hand of the father and intercedes on our behalf, and so it is a powerful tool. What a great space that we can be in, that we can enter into the throne gates and go before our heavenly father on behalf of someone else.
Speaker 1:It's one of the most powerful acts of love I believe that exists, that you can do, no matter where you are, for someone else. And so I can imagine I mean I'm just thinking if I connected with you in a state of transition and I'm like I'm clueless in the sense of where to go next, trying to connect with career and have that intercession power present. Man I imagine there has had to have been testimonies and just miracles that have come through even in the last three and a half years of you doing this. So I mean, if at Liberty, I would love if you could just share an example of just ways that you've seen.
Speaker 2:God just answer yeah, yeah, I have seen fruit, which is like why I do it.
Speaker 2:You know, if it's not fruitful, I am moving on, unless he tells me not to. Yeah, there's been some really neat things. One of the things that happened with one of my clients. So what I do at the end of the session is we come up with five doable goals for them to do within the month after we meet and I just sent a little email checking in how did your goals go? Sometimes the goals are shadowing, like a veterinarian, or interviewing their cousin who's a firefighter. I had a client who got hired on the spot from their goal. So they interviewed someone in a career area of interest and that person in just them interviewing the boss, got hired. Yeah, and it worked out really well. And I've had other clients. They've started that dream business. I've had clients that. It's very interesting because sometimes they'll get that dream job right away. Sometimes it's in six months, sometimes it's in a year.
Speaker 2:So you know, and they'll, they'll get back to me and I continue to intercede for them and I tell them once, a client, always a client. As far as intercession, you know, I I mean, I can't continue to for free you know like me. Yeah, I'm like you know, but I do for me. It's like I am on your team, I'm on your side, I am available to be a resource for you across the board. So, yeah, yes, yes.
Speaker 1:Oh, I absolutely love that and I intercede on your behalf. I know that there is eternal rewards being stocked up for you, but I also pray that these earthly rewards are coming your way, because it truly is a way of impacting other people's lives, and I mean again just that's. One of the greatest forms of love that we can extend to one another is the power of intercession. I mean, there's no greater, greater way than to intercede and pray on their behalf. Yeah, even at times when we cannot, you know, financially assist or, you know, cannot provide in a certain way, one thing we can always do is pray and intercede. That does not negate, that does not negate the opportunity of God speaks to you to plant into someone or to give into some aspect. But one thing you can always do, no matter where you are and where they are, is go before the heavenly father on behalf, their behalf.
Speaker 1:Amen, amen, yes, hey, let's take a quick break to tell you about grace-filled community grace-filled community is an organization that focuses on the primary principles of the Church of Acts, centered around building communities that impact the kingdom of God. We do this through three core extensions. One, graceville Church Network, where we empower churches and nonprofits for God's success and growth. We offer tailored growth strategies rooted in biblical principles that will help you expand your reach and impact your communities. Just like the early church, we focus not on attendance and numbers, but on discipleship, providing leadership teachings and trainings to today's ministry leaders. Our second extension is Project of the Grace Field, where we provide biblical counseling, mentorship, workshops and events that are dedicated to encouraging individuals to live a life filled with grace and purpose, rooted in the understanding that all have fallen short and are a working project. Let us help the individuals in your community grow as they walk with God and experience the fullness of his love.
Speaker 1:Our third extension is the grace-filled business. Grace-filled business is here to help small faith-based business owners develop their business in a way that honors God, that brings increase and allows them to pour back into his kingdom through marketplace ministry and financing his kingdom. We do this through our 15 years of experience of virtual administrative work, digital marketing, business development and consulting. Welcome back. Oh, my goodness, okay. So what are some practical tips that you would actually give our listeners to identify like God-given destiny? I know we talked about the names, but what are some other tips when they're considering like a career or calling, or their destiny?
Speaker 2:Right, yeah, so I'm just going to share a little bit about. I asked my clients at the beginning of each session five questions, and I'm going to share those for free for your listeners. Let's go get your notebook. So I do ask, and again I felt like these were kind of God just laid these out. So it's one of the formulas that I do.
Speaker 2:But so I do ask the traditional question what makes you feel alive and happy to be on the planet? And this doesn't have to be career, this can be when I go water skiing, this can be when I'm with my grandchildren. I mean it. Just that that is definitely indication, because God created you to actually have abundant life, and he comes to kill, still destroy, Satan comes to destroy. But God wants us to have abundance Doesn't necessarily mean we're all rich, it just means abundance in every area. And you could be abundant living in a hut in Africa, being a missionary, if that's what God's, you know, called you to do. And so, um, one indicator is what, what makes me feel alive and exhilarated?
Speaker 2:And another question I ask is at age eight-ish, which is when we kind of transition from concrete to abstract thinking what types of hobby sports did you engage in and even imaginary play. So I had someone I worked with that she was always playing store and she was always the cashier and on her strong interest, inventory results, and that's one clue you can take an assessment that, like you know, accountant or whatever you know, is kind of one of the top ones. So that's an indication of did you? I have some clients that are like I always like stopped the bad guy, I always, you know, rescued. I'm like, well, police officer and, you know, firefighter and EMT all showed up really high on your interest. So I do. I asked that.
Speaker 2:And then I asked what have you always been told that you're good at throughout your lifetime? Cause sometimes, you know, I mean it was 66 and counting, I would love to meet with even older, because I think we never retire and sometimes there's ministries that pop out of this, hobbies and things. And so I asked that what have you always been told you're good at? Because God builds patterns with us and you can see a thread throughout your lifetime and there's stuff that if you were good when you were four, believe it or not, it can be translated to when you're 34. And then another thing I ask is where are you currently serving, and so in your church, your home, I have a lot of clients who are like well, I'm just, I'm the counselor to all my friends you know, and I'm like and so just kind of getting a clue to like where did you naturally feel led to volunteer to serve?
Speaker 2:And then the last thing I asked, which is very unique I've never met a career counselor who asked this but what are your current night dreams and daydreams? Because I believe it's biblical that God speaks to us through dreams Not always, sometimes it's pizza or your processing Right, but I do believe that, especially when we make that appointment, I'm like okay, god, you're like game on, you're going to be speaking to them. I've been really praying that like they'll get confirmation. And so many times we're like oh my gosh, denise, I can't believe you're asking me this because yesterday, blah, blah, blah.
Speaker 2:But getting back to the dreams, there can be a huge indication. Like one client, she was a high schooler, she was debating on where to go to school to pursue some degrees and she kept hearing about water and ocean. And I'm like and she was landlocked at the time I'm like honey, I think you're supposed to go to a school near ocean and water. It was just kept reoccurring. Sometimes they'll have childhood dreams, because some people, like I, don't dream anymore, and which is fine. I think we do dream. We don't always remember, you know, but they'll have a childhood dream where again that reoccurring. I dreamt that I rescued my family, my mom, my and and. Again, that's just another clue.
Speaker 2:And then I asked what are your daydreams Like when you're bored? Besides your to-do list, you know what do you find yourself dreaming about? And, and one of these things was really cool, a client I had. He came up very high on all things finance, like finance, cpa, stockbroker, day trader, like all these things. And then art. And I was like and I said this is very interesting because four out of five are very much make sense, but the art one did not belong in that mix. And he said, you know, he said I used to do art, um, as a way to process and to like, explore my feelings, and, um, to vent. And he, um, he said he had not picked up his pencil or brushes in 10 years and he felt like the Lord was calling him back into the hobby of art. And his, he was actually about to interview for a job. He got the job, it was his dream job, but he and our session was mostly like confirmation, right, that he was doing what he was supposed to be doing, but but the art piece he goes, I'm going to you know. Basically, I said I think you're going to need this to pick up your pencils and your brushes to help relieve the stress that you're going to get with this job.
Speaker 2:So yeah, and then one other thing I wanted to say, kind of along that too, with my, my clients, when stuff pops up, I had a 66 year old, very frail, tiny, petite woman who came up, the number one police officer, and she's like I don't want to be a police officer. And I said I don't want you to be. I mean, she's like this frail little. But I actually knew her because I coach, I can see people, I know which is the difference between being a counselor as well. And I knew her and I said I know that you're a police officer in the spirit realm. I said you hold watchdog prayer groups, you pray over your County, your city, families, your nation. And I said I think the Lord is just like keep doing that, keep doing that. And so sometimes it's not literal what pops up, sometimes it's God just saying you know not again, under the where are you currently serving? And she was just massively organizing all of these intercession prayer groups. And I think you know, I think the Lord was highlighting that and still on that.
Speaker 1:So yes, yes, oh, my goodness, I absolutely love that, especially because, for someone like me, I am top tier, number one verbal processor. Like I need to start talking it out. Often I will talk it out and be like, oh, it just hit me.
Speaker 2:Right, and there's the solution.
Speaker 1:But I love that aspect of being able to sit with someone and I mean first of all the questions you asked, especially, like you said, that last one. I've done a lot of, been in a lot of workshops, a lot of conferences where I hear these career counselors. I've set and even did aspects of career counseling with college students, and so to hear that be a portion of it it just makes me think of the reason why dreams were even created, and I think biblically, like dreams were a way that God communicated with his people. It was often a way that he would reveal, like preparation, like as in warnings. We know that prophets would dream warnings before a misfortune, right. We also see where there was message dreams, right, these were known as oracles and these dreams often included like direct instructions or divine assistance, and so we see that with Gideon, like he had dreams of confirmation, and so I mean just the aspect of you asking that and leaning someone in to have that conversation with you, me verbal processor, about like those dreams and looking back, even at childhood, those that have listened to us before and if not, this is your first time I'm going to give you my personal definition of grace and grace in my personal Now this is my personal definition is understanding that the individual you're interacting with has had past life experiences that have shaped the response that you see today. And so when we look at people through those eyes, we no longer are focusing on just the act that they're giving to us, but we are recognizing that the responses we are receiving is connected to some past experience, whether that's a negative one or a positive one. But our job is to lend grace, because it's not us that they're doing to act to. It is from the past experiences that is shaping what we're seeing today, so good.
Speaker 1:And so when I think of that and think of how even grace plays a part in looking for a career in a season of transition, I know that many times, matter of fact, I just prayed with the lady yesterday who was working a job was for sure, like this was the job God gave me and she'd been there for a year and right at the anniversary of the year she was laid off, off, and so she just felt like I didn't hear right or, you know, something happened, like I did something wrong, and my number one thing was first one, lend yourself grace, right. I think so often we could jump to, like it was me, and in this case she was laid off, so not fired, so not that there was warnings, and you like there is a. You know we do have consequences, but that was not her case, right? So one lend yourself grace and then also understand that there's grace for a season that the Lord you truly may have heard from the Lord and I watched I think it was a pastor Jonathan Evans had talked about what we hear from God and we're like, yes, we heard from God, like I'm going to make this move, and then we get into that space and it's not like happy, go lucky, like we're not doing all the dances, balloons are not, the confetti is over, and we're like this is not what I thought it was going to be, this doesn't feel good, I'm not so excited in it, and so forth.
Speaker 1:That doesn't remove that it was a place that was intended for you, it was God's instructions. But so often we look at the external circumstances and want to say like, oh, that wasn't God right when God gave her grace to be there for a season.
Speaker 2:And so.
Speaker 1:I can imagine, as you're doing this career counseling, you're also just walking them through, probably even some childhood wounds that are being carried out as they're in this phase of transition, cause we know that that's typically when those things may come up, when there's challenging times. Yes, yeah.
Speaker 2:And sometimes I mean wounds from bosses or, you know, like authority. I mean, it's just the gamut of and and the person who actually kind of broke down the session was actually from a dream and they they never processed really painful dream that triggered something, and so that's when I was like we are shutting everything down. Like is way more important that you feel seen, heard, loved and we picked up where we left off and we ended on time, which was great.
Speaker 2:You know I have to honor people's time. I'm like, okay, god, like I, you know I set aside everything to honor, like this space, and honor her in this space, and so, yeah, but I love what I love all. I love your definition of grace and I love what you said about all of that of just what people are projecting, presenting and and that's fantastic. And I think sometimes, like you're, whoever you're praying with yesterday, sometimes God will have that job just as a stepping stone, you know, and it really wasn't the end game and it wasn't the 30 year climb of the corporate ladder job, it was actually a stepping stone for what he has next. And, honestly, sometimes when I'm in session, I remember one session I was like God well, a couple of different ones, but one I was like God just keeps highlighting worship dance and like they were wanting a job somewhere else and dance did pop up or performing arts popped up, but they were just kind of pushing like nope, I want this or this. I said pop up or performing arts popped up, but they were just kind of pushing like nope, I want this one, this is it. Okay, I'm just being honest. It's like worship dances right here, I just like and like. So three months later there they texted Denise was right and I'm. I'm actually like being interviewed for professional worship dance position, getting paid and all of that, you know, and yeah, and they were. They're kind of kicking and screaming, though, and sometimes you'll get that where the Lord is like come on, come on.
Speaker 2:And another gentleman he he wanted to be a worship pastor at a church and he kept kind of settling for more traditional jobs and and there were several things, you know, assignments he had as far as his goals and things, but every door was blocked and then he just got hired and I was like you know, you kept knocking on those doors and I pray, I say Lord, shut those doors that are not supposed to be shut open.
Speaker 2:Those are supposed to be open. Sometimes I'm like your thing says real estate agent, I think that's for when you're retired, or you know like. Sometimes it's like you were saying, okay, god, let's go, and like I love how you talked about the seasons too and um, one of the best metaphors I've heard is you know, you can't use the harvesting um apparatus or uh tools when you're planting, like that would be ridiculous if you use something to pull up something off tools when you're planting, like that would be ridiculous if you use something to pull up something off the ground when you're trying to plant, and so what worked in that past season doesn't necessarily work in this current season.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes, that's so good. Oh, that's such a good analogy. That is really good. Okay, well, talk about honoring time. I looked at the time and I'm like what happened? I feel like I know our listeners are probably like Nicole. You say that every episode Cause that's what I feel, like we're in such a good conversation, and especially whenever you're talking about the goodness of God and testimonies of how he has showed up Well, he's ever present, but how we have seen him show up I say show up and show off.
Speaker 1:Yes, exactly I'm like time goes by. You know, I definitely am that person that was kicking and screaming. I even in this aspect of Graceville community and definitely in this podcast, kicking and screaming and not be hearing right Somebody else. Maybe I'm supposed to help somebody else launch this right For them.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'll intercede and they go do it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, exactly, I'm like, back them up and then you know there's so many confirmation after confirmation to where you almost get in this place, where you're, like you recognize, like I, either I'm going to make this decision, this choice to be disobedient, or I'm going to make this choice to humble myself and all the aspects I think of Moses right, all the excuses that he had, and then into obedience. And so, before we go I know we talked about man a great deal over just transition One of the things I want to ask you is we probably have some solopreneurs on here listening or viewing. What were some tips that you have for our solopreneurs?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'll do those really quickly. I want to honor your time too. So, first of all, you don't solopreneur is actually a misconception. You're not alone and you don't need to go through it alone, so surround yourself. First of all, join some Facebook groups. I have I joined Christian women entrepreneur groups, christian women coaching groups, um, things like that, and I set up coffee chats with people and we've just connected, even if it doesn't lead to any clients or anything, you know, just to have like-minded people, um, that they're praying for you, they're in your corner.
Speaker 2:I also have what I call a little mastermind groups. I have three friends that we're all in the counseling field. One lives in Illinois, one lives here and quarterly we get together and we discuss each other's goals. So we all have goals for each month of that quarter and then we hold each other accountable to that. And so, just to.
Speaker 2:So, when I'm having like, oh, I said I was going to get six blogs on my thing, and but I know I'm like they're going to ask me, you know, um, and so yeah, just definitely to do that. And then I also have people, um, who have committed to interceding for me in their session, um, and that I can take prayer requests. I do not, you know I keep things confidential but I can take prayer requests and say, hey, you know I'm anticipating, you know this is going to be a tough one or can you pray for someone, so, or someone was interviewing and again, I won't use names, I'll keep everything confidential but I think, like you, you actually have to create your own community, and so just to go after that in those aspects has been really beneficial for me.
Speaker 1:Oh man, so you just hit a keyword to me. I mean, obviously, greeceville, community, but community is such a core foundation. I believe in just having God's success in all areas, like he created us for community. We were not meant to do this all together, alone, and so I absolutely value those tips that you lend to solopreneurs. That's so true. You're not in it alone. You don't have to be alone.
Speaker 1:I'm imagining, I'm trying to remember how do we even first connect? I'm like I'm pretty sure it probably was a Facebook group, because similar I'm on the Facebook groups and I have built some wonderful relationships with people globally because of the ability to step into spaces of community for like-minded believers. So, yes, yeah, for sure, awesome, well, denise. Believers. So, yes, yeah, for sure, awesome, well, denise, I definitely enjoyed our time today, such great conversation and, to be quite frank, I'm like I know I'm asking for the listeners, but I'm also asking for myself, because, as you were talking about some of the tips for understanding destiny and career, I'm like I have three teenagers in this moment. I've been trying to figure out what is coming next. So please tell myself and the listeners how we stay connected with you, how we could tap into actually your resource. If we have someone that we want to refer my three teenagers to you, how do we do it?
Speaker 2:I can look up their names. Yes, middle names too. I look up middle names too. That's key.
Speaker 1:Absolutely.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know I have a website it's careercrossroadscounselingcom. That explains most thoroughly my offerings. I do have a Facebook page with the same name, Instagram account with the same name, but if you really just you could actually go on my website and you can send. I just got a form from someone today. They just do a submission form. I'm interested and, yeah, I would love to work with your teenagers. I love to work with your listeners or anyone that they might know, happy to do it.
Speaker 2:My pricing is actually half price because I've chosen not to get licensed. So, um, and I prepay for the test, and I charge $75 for a 90 minute session and I prepay for the test, so the test is a $40 value. So it's really kind of like 35 bucks to meet with me. So awesome.
Speaker 1:Try to make it affordable yeah, I'm like that's a steal of a deal to me. I love it.
Speaker 2:I was going to say I my, my business is a nonprofit and I know you said you work with nonprofits, so I've chosen to do a non, make it a nonprofit for a variety of reasons.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, Awesome. Well, I mean, we're going to definitely have to have a separate conversation, because I'm thinking of even the churches and the nonprofits that I work with, and often we do these aspects of like again, community right and building community and connecting them with career spaces and so forth. So I'm like, when we end podcast Denise, we will continue. Listeners, I'm sorry you're not going to catch that part, but do know that in the show notes all the details for connecting with Denise will be present. I encourage you to please connect with her if you find yourself that you're in a space of transition or believe that her resources can be valuable to you, and especially if you know someone as well, like me, that can benefit. Please check out the show notes. Denise, I want to thank you again for joining us today. Thank you for lending your time to our community.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much for having me, nicole. It was really truly honestly, a pleasure to meet you and chat with you for the past hour.
Speaker 1:Yes, absolutely Well. Listeners, viewers, as always. I want to thank you for tuning in today. We have the same message that we have for you every week If you're not connected to community, please feel free to visit us at gracevillecommunitycom and we'll be happy to find a community for you. We have partners globally that we trust and value to be like-minded believers that can answer questions, encourage you, uplift you and be a part of your story and your journey with Christ. So, gracefieldcommunitycom Otherwise everyone please have a wonderful rest of your day, night, week, weekend. Whenever you are tuning in and listening to this, we will be interceding for you, our listeners. Thanks again, denise, you're welcome. Bye. Thank you for tuning in to today's episode of Graceville Community Podcast. We would like to invite you to visit gracevillecommunitycom.
Speaker 1:Graceville Community is all about doing church the way Church of Acts did, using five main principles that we see in the book of Acts Sharing resources, as believers pooled their possessions and resources to support those in need, as we see in Acts 2.44. Through hospitality the early Christians practice hospitality by opening their homes to others, as we see in Acts 2 and 46. By financial aid the church in Antioch sent financial aid to believers in Judea during a time of famine, as described in Acts 11 and 29. Prayer and encouragement they supported each other through prayer and encouragement, as we see in Acts 4 and 24. And finally, spiritual guidance the apostles and elders provided spiritual guidance and teaching to help strengthen and build the community, as we see in Acts 15 30. I would like to encourage you. If any of those areas are areas in which you are in need or can contribute, please reach out to Graceville Community. We are working together across the world with ministries and individuals alike, to help bring back the Church of Acts.
