Christian Success Initiatives: (Csi)

By Dr. Catherine I. Williams

Dr. Catherine Williams book will serve as a constant source of inspiration for the People of God. It is written to encourage the believer, and give direction for living in purpose, that only comes through active faith in God. It holds a wealth of scriptural and spiritual insights that help the People of God live life in victory. I thank Dr. Catherine Williams for such a needed work to empower the Church. Joseph E. Lamb, Sr., D. Min.

I am quite impressed and inspired by Dr. Catherine Williams. The Christian Success Initiatives (CSI) provide stepping stones to obtain goals, overcome challenges and move towards excellence in all aspects of life. I feel these initiatives are an integral part of a closer walk with God, in the development of becoming a successful individual, and being an active member of the community. I applaud her for establishing techniques to become not only the best person, but also, the best Christian you can be. Leticia L. Cozart

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Sep 24, 2008
• ISBN: 9781491803554

Book preview

CHRISTIAN SUCCESS INITIATIVES

 (CSI)

DR. CATHERINE I. WILLIAMS

AuthorHouse™

1663 Liberty Drive, Suite 200

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.authorhouse.com

Phone: [phone]

©

2008 Dr. Catherine I. Williams. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 9/8/2008

ISBN: 978-1-4389-0773-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4918-0355-4 (e)

All rights reserved. No part of the material protected by this copyright may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Requests for permission to make copies of any part of the work should be mailed to: Dr. Catherine Williams, Inc., 1307 Old Musket Lane, Fort Washington, MD 20744.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

THE CONCEPT

INTRODUCTION

PART I THE WINNER IN YOU

Seven Steps To Developing And Maintaining Victory

Step 1 Remember That You Are Fearfully And Wonderfully Made

Step 2 Call Your Daddy. Imitate Him!

Step 3 Use The Keys To Victorious Living

Step 4 Examine Your Ways

Step 5 Check Your Baggage and Leave Some Baggage

Step 6 Make Plans to Stay Victorious

Step 7 Press Toward the Goal

PART II YOUR WALK AND YOUR TALK

Five Steps To Developing And Improving Christian Character

Check Up!

Step 1 Read, Process, And Digest What The Bible Says About The Subject

Step 2 Put Off The Old Man

Step 3 Putting On The New Man

Step 4 Speak No Evil!

Step 5 Let Your Light So Shine… Matthew 5:14-16

Walk and Talk Like Jesus

Words of Wisdom

PART III LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION

Five Steps To Resisting Temptations

Step 1 Get Wisdom And Get Understanding of the Problems

Step 2 Recognize and Classify Temptations

Step 3 Resist Temptations

Step 4 Identifying Some Of The Major Challenges Confronting Our Youth Today

Step 5 Try God: Follow The Leader

God Will Take Care Of You

PART IV GOD’S STANDARDS FOR EXCELLENCE ALWAYS STEP IT UP!

Questions About Excellence

God’s Standards for Excellence

Love

Faith

Plans and Goals

Communication

Teamwork

Perseverance

SUMMARY

NOTES AND REFERENCES

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CONTACT ME

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I give honor and thanks to the Almighty from whom all blessings flow—especially for the gift and love for teaching. There are several people who have been a source of inspiration and support. Thanks and appreciation are to:

CLERGY

There are many pastors with whom I was blessed to spend some time with and who directly or otherwise contributed to my spiritual growth and development. Thanks and appreciation to: The late Rev. Dr. William Westbrook, Sr. (New Central Baptist Church, Norfolk, VA); Bishop Courtney McBath (Calvary Revival Church, Norfolk, VA); Rev. Dr. Aubrey Moore (Mt. Bethel Baptist Church, Virginia Beach, VA); Rev. Dr. Patricia Gould-Champs (Faith Community Baptist Church, Richmond, VA); Rev. Dr. Christopher Bullock (Canaan Baptist Church, Wilmington, DE); The late Rev. Dr. Levi Baldwin (Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, Twin Oaks, PA); Bishop Thomas Weeks, Sr. (Greater Bethel Apostolic Temple, Wilmington, DE); Pastor Leroy Jones (Liberty Christian Ministries, Inc., Bear, DE); Bishop Thomas Weeks, Jr. (Center of HOPE, Washington, DC); Rev. Dr. Freddie Barnes (First African Baptist Church, Goldsboro, NC); Rev. Thomas Walker (Ebenezer Baptist Church, Rocky Mount, NC); Rev. Dr. Timothy Flemming (Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, Atlanta, GA); Pastor Milledge Butch Mosby (Unity Center of Light, Bowie, MD); Rev. Dr. Florida Morehead (Shalom Ministries Christian Center, Fort Washington, MD); Rev. Dr. Donald Dunnigan (Cornerstone Fellowship Baptist Church, Wilmington, DE); Rev. Dr. J. Madison Thomas (Riverside Baptist Church, Fort Washington, MD); and my Pastor, Rev. Dr. Joseph Lamb, Sr. (St. Thomas AMEZ Church, Norfolk, VA), who admonished me: Always do what God says. I also graciously acknowledge and appreciate the professors, pastor, and co-laborers of the Class of 1996, School of Theology, Virginia Union University.

Thank you for being a part of my past, present and future. All of you have a place in my heart and I thank God for every remembrance of you.*

Catherine Williams

*If a name has been inadvertently or otherwise omitted, please charge it to my head and not my heart.

THE CONCEPT

Whoever wants to reach a distant goal must take many small steps.

--Helmut Schmidt

In 1989, a friend of mine said to me: I’ve never seen someone who loves to write, but does not spend time doing so. Cathy, you need to write some books; you said that’s your dream and your passion. Your books will be a blessing to so many of your students. Those words haunted me for years because God had already told me to do so, but I was hard-headed. I continued to sally forth in the wilderness (like one of the children of Israel) for many years.

One night while I was praying and crying from disappointments, boredom and some of the vicissitudes of life, God spoke these words which I will never forget: My child do what I tell you to do so that I can bless you. I told you to write. I said, Okay Lord, but I need you to help me. I’m not sure that I know how. Then God said, Write the way you teach. Use steps.

Therefore, the conceptual and operational framework for this book is steps. A step is defined as a single action or measure that is taken proceeding towards an end or goal. Steps suggest order, chronology and putting first things first.

The Bible says the following about steps:

• "If the Lord delights in a man’s way, He makes his steps firm." (Psalm 37:23)

• "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." (Proverbs 16:9)

• "A man’s steps are directed by the Lord, how can anyone understand his own way?" (Proverbs 24:20)

• "The steps of a good man are ordered." (Psalm 27:23)

• "Order my steps in thy word." (Psalm 119:133)

God orders my steps and I follow where he leads me. He led me to write Christian Success Initiatives (CSI).

INTRODUCTION

Christian success is defined as being the person God created you to be, doing what God wants you to do, and achieving the goals God helps you to set. Initiative is the power or ability to begin or follow through energetically with a plan, task or enterprise. It is a determination, a beginning or introductory step. Taking initiative entails developing a clear understanding of divine purpose, remaining motivated and steadfast in the face of obstacles and persevering until you accomplish your goals.

This book, Christian Success Initiatives (CSI), provides biblical insights and principles for practical everyday life application. It focuses on intrinsic motivation and deliberate goal-directed actions essential for victorious living. Self-efficacy, a person’s belief in their ability to do what they set out to do, is an