I read something very motivating today. In an article titled the "Top Five Regrets of The Dying" author Bronnie Ware (who worked in palliative care for years) stated 'People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learnt never to underestimate someone’s capacity for growth. When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again.' Listed below are the five most common regrets:
1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
2. I wish I didn’t work so hard.
3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.
Source: http://www.inspirationandchai.com/Regrets-of-the-Dying.html
Ware noted many people didn't realize until the end of their lives that happiness is a choice, but had 'stayed stuck in old patterns and habits'. 'The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content.'
The fear of change kept these men and women from achieving true happiness. The desire to live up to the expectations of others rather than fulfill their own hearts' desires led to the number one deathbed regret. When it was too late to do anything about it. When the time for pursuing dreams had passed. Their dreams never became reality because they were too afraid to let themselves be happy, being more concerned with what others thought. How very sad.
We cannot control what others think of us, and we should not let their opinions determine our actions. No one else is going to pursue your dreams for you. It's up to you. You may not have control over your every circumstance, but as an extremely insightful friend of mine stated recently, we have more control than we realize. In her post "Focus on What You Can Control", Jacey Verdicchio states:
We will never be able to control everyone and everything around us, and we don't need to. We have control of one thing at all times - our minds. We don't have to wait for our families, friends, employer, government, and economy to change. If we take hold of this most valuable tool, we can diminish the effects of the uncontrollable aspects of our lives.
Source: http://jaceyverdicchio.com/my-full-thoughts/focus-on-what-you-can-control/
Are you living your life simply pretending to be content, secretly afraid to change because you fear what your friends and family will think if you do? Are you letting their opinions determine your thoughts and therefore your actions? Are your decisions based on their approval or disapproval? Don't let your dreams wait until it's too late. Don't wait until you're too tired to pursue them to give yourself permission to do so.
Make the choices that will make YOU happy. I would like to echo wholeheartedly the words used at the end of Ware's article, and urge you not to underestimate your own capacity for growth, and not to wait until your deathbed to follow this sound advice:
Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness.
God bless you
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Thursday, November 3, 2011
The Angel in the Orange T-shirt
I call him the angel in the orange t-shirt, but I don't really know if he was a bonafide angel, or just a nice guy who did a really great thing. All I know is, he was in the right place at the right time, and I'll never forget what he did for me.
It was less than 48 hours before my children and I would leave on our first ever family vacation. We'd been planning this road trip for months. What started out as a "Hey, wouldn't it be great if..." idea back in June was about to become reality in mid-October. I'd scrimped and saved but had nowhere near enough money to make it happen; at least, not the way a vacation should happen. My daughter donated part of her lemonade stand earnings, and my son pitched in from his restaurant job, but we still fell far short of our goal, and were set to leave Wednesday morning.
It was Monday, and I was standing in a used record store with my list of LPs from the 60's, 70's and 80's, and some very high hopes. I'd done some research and had an idea of what I'd like to be offered for my collection. I compiled a list of all 55 albums, categorized by genre of music and detailed with as much information as I could gather about each one, in the hopes that among my collection would be treasures unknown. I prayed that the shop owner knew his stuff, and asked God on the drive over to let me know if the offer I received for my merchandise was fair.
When I entered the small shop there was one customer ahead of me, a man in a faded orange t-shirt and nondescript shorts, sporting a day or two of stubble on his middle-aged face. The proprietor glanced at my list, saying he would mark whatever was of interest to him. I chatted with the man in the orange t-shirt as the owner puttered behind the counter, stacked high with musical minutiae, and learned he was there to ascertain the value of a collection of 52 Elvis albums he'd received from his daughter, who was gifted with them during her stint as an EMT in New Orleans, where she'd gone to help after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
The stranger was pleasant, and I shared with him the purpose of my visit. "I'm taking my kids on their first ever family vacation. We're going to Colorado day after tomorrow, and whatever I get for my album collection will be our 'fun money' to spend. I only have gas money so far, but I know ...” I started to say “I know God doesn't want us to go all that way and not have any fun money”...but I simply said "Whatever I get from these albums will be what we have to play with." Why didn't I mention God? I'm not sure, but for some reason I hesitated. Perhaps I didn't want to sound "religious" or "preachy". Whatever the reason, I stopped short.
When he learned where we were headed, he told me that he had lived in Colorado years before, in the very area we planned to visit. I asked for his recommendation on sight-seeing locations and possible activities the children would enjoy. "You have to visit the Flying W Ranch," he insisted, and went on to describe a tasty dinner and "western show", stating it was one of his favorite memories of Colorado. I wrote the information on the back of a business card I gleaned from the crowded counter top, and dropped it in my pocket.
The shop owner eventually poked his head out and said he was ready to give the gentleman a value on his Elvis collection and they both disappeared around the end of the counter. Once their business was concluded, the man in the orange t-shirt left the shop after we both agreed "It was nice meeting you"...although I realized we never actually exchanged names.
The next few minutes did not go as I'd envisioned. The shop owner looked at my list and said there was really only one album he was even remotely interested in seeing. Wow, only one? Out of all my treasures??? I left the shop to retrieve the album from the back seat of my car, where my tub full of would-be treasures waited. Maybe this one LP would be my golden ticket... As it turned out, he didn't even want that one. I tried to convince him otherwise but he graciously informed me that he simply wasn't interested in what I had. "I'm sorry," he said. Well, so was I, because the bottom line was that I walked out of the shop with my collection intact, and not a penny richer than when I walked in. As I left I thanked him for his time, said I hoped his shop prospered and left, saying "God bless you."
Once outside I wondered what I was going to do. That album collection was the last thing I had to leverage to raise cash for our trip. Should I cancel our vacation? I couldn't do that to my children, not after talking about it, praying about it and saving for it for 3 and a half months. I'd received some money in the mail that morning, but it was only a fraction of what I'd originally planned to have on hand for our trip. I didn't know what would happen next, but I didn't feel that I should give up.
I walked to my car, shaking my head in disbelief and muttering "I can't believe he didn't want any of my stuff! Well, God, I guess you'll just have to get me the money I need some other way." As I closed the back door of my car after replacing the lone album, I looked up to see the man in the orange t-shirt approaching. I thought it odd, since he'd left several minutes before and should have been long gone by now. What was he doing still here, I wondered. I didn't have to wonder long.
"You know, sometimes God has us in the right place at the right time for the right reason" he said as he walked up, his hand extended. I looked down and saw he held a $20 bill. "Take this and have a good time with your kids". I started to reach out, then hesitated. I remembered how I stopped short of saying I knew God didn't want us to go to Colorado without any “fun money”. I felt confused, unsure how to respond, and said the first thing that popped into my head. "He didn't want a single one of my albums!" He chuckled at the disbelief in my voice, saying "I know, he didn't want any of mine, either! But here, I want you to take this and have fun on your vacation anyway."
He still held the money in his outstretched hand, and didn't look as though he had any intention of changing his mind. I accepted his offering, reached up and gave him a hug saying, "Thank you for this. You're going to make me cry." He started back toward his car, which I noticed was quite a nice, expensive looking car...not at all what you'd expect someone who looked like him to be driving. "It's okay" he assured me. "Just take it and have a good time". I managed another befuddled "Thank you" before he disappeared.
I got behind the wheel of my own car, shut the door and looked down at the bill he'd pressed into my palm. It was then I realized that it wasn't a $20, it was FIVE $20 bills! This total stranger, whose name I did not know and with with whom I'd only shared a few brief minutes in a crowded used record store, talking about Elvis and Colorado, had given me $100. I did cry at that point, realizing that until that moment I wasn't 100% convinced I was doing the right thing by pressing forward. I recalled how on the drive to the record shop I'd asked God for a "billboard" to let me know if He wanted us to make this trip. You see, a “billboard” is something I've asked God for in the past when I've been unsure about important decisions, figuring I might not hear a "still, small voice", but a billboard would be hard to miss. "I guess I just got my billboard, didn't I?" I said aloud, laughing through my tears.
The next day we were blessed with $200 more, exceeding our original goal by $20, and went on our family trip as planned. We visited friends, toured a college, did some sightseeing and enjoyed the western show at the Flying W Ranch. As it turned out, that particular event was the highlight of the trip. Like I said, I don't know if he was a bonafide spirit being or just a nice guy in a faded orange t-shirt, but the stranger with the Elvis album collection was definitely in the right place at the right time for the right reason, and to me, he'll always be an angel.
It was less than 48 hours before my children and I would leave on our first ever family vacation. We'd been planning this road trip for months. What started out as a "Hey, wouldn't it be great if..." idea back in June was about to become reality in mid-October. I'd scrimped and saved but had nowhere near enough money to make it happen; at least, not the way a vacation should happen. My daughter donated part of her lemonade stand earnings, and my son pitched in from his restaurant job, but we still fell far short of our goal, and were set to leave Wednesday morning.
It was Monday, and I was standing in a used record store with my list of LPs from the 60's, 70's and 80's, and some very high hopes. I'd done some research and had an idea of what I'd like to be offered for my collection. I compiled a list of all 55 albums, categorized by genre of music and detailed with as much information as I could gather about each one, in the hopes that among my collection would be treasures unknown. I prayed that the shop owner knew his stuff, and asked God on the drive over to let me know if the offer I received for my merchandise was fair.
When I entered the small shop there was one customer ahead of me, a man in a faded orange t-shirt and nondescript shorts, sporting a day or two of stubble on his middle-aged face. The proprietor glanced at my list, saying he would mark whatever was of interest to him. I chatted with the man in the orange t-shirt as the owner puttered behind the counter, stacked high with musical minutiae, and learned he was there to ascertain the value of a collection of 52 Elvis albums he'd received from his daughter, who was gifted with them during her stint as an EMT in New Orleans, where she'd gone to help after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
The stranger was pleasant, and I shared with him the purpose of my visit. "I'm taking my kids on their first ever family vacation. We're going to Colorado day after tomorrow, and whatever I get for my album collection will be our 'fun money' to spend. I only have gas money so far, but I know ...” I started to say “I know God doesn't want us to go all that way and not have any fun money”...but I simply said "Whatever I get from these albums will be what we have to play with." Why didn't I mention God? I'm not sure, but for some reason I hesitated. Perhaps I didn't want to sound "religious" or "preachy". Whatever the reason, I stopped short.
When he learned where we were headed, he told me that he had lived in Colorado years before, in the very area we planned to visit. I asked for his recommendation on sight-seeing locations and possible activities the children would enjoy. "You have to visit the Flying W Ranch," he insisted, and went on to describe a tasty dinner and "western show", stating it was one of his favorite memories of Colorado. I wrote the information on the back of a business card I gleaned from the crowded counter top, and dropped it in my pocket.
The shop owner eventually poked his head out and said he was ready to give the gentleman a value on his Elvis collection and they both disappeared around the end of the counter. Once their business was concluded, the man in the orange t-shirt left the shop after we both agreed "It was nice meeting you"...although I realized we never actually exchanged names.
The next few minutes did not go as I'd envisioned. The shop owner looked at my list and said there was really only one album he was even remotely interested in seeing. Wow, only one? Out of all my treasures??? I left the shop to retrieve the album from the back seat of my car, where my tub full of would-be treasures waited. Maybe this one LP would be my golden ticket... As it turned out, he didn't even want that one. I tried to convince him otherwise but he graciously informed me that he simply wasn't interested in what I had. "I'm sorry," he said. Well, so was I, because the bottom line was that I walked out of the shop with my collection intact, and not a penny richer than when I walked in. As I left I thanked him for his time, said I hoped his shop prospered and left, saying "God bless you."
Once outside I wondered what I was going to do. That album collection was the last thing I had to leverage to raise cash for our trip. Should I cancel our vacation? I couldn't do that to my children, not after talking about it, praying about it and saving for it for 3 and a half months. I'd received some money in the mail that morning, but it was only a fraction of what I'd originally planned to have on hand for our trip. I didn't know what would happen next, but I didn't feel that I should give up.
I walked to my car, shaking my head in disbelief and muttering "I can't believe he didn't want any of my stuff! Well, God, I guess you'll just have to get me the money I need some other way." As I closed the back door of my car after replacing the lone album, I looked up to see the man in the orange t-shirt approaching. I thought it odd, since he'd left several minutes before and should have been long gone by now. What was he doing still here, I wondered. I didn't have to wonder long.
"You know, sometimes God has us in the right place at the right time for the right reason" he said as he walked up, his hand extended. I looked down and saw he held a $20 bill. "Take this and have a good time with your kids". I started to reach out, then hesitated. I remembered how I stopped short of saying I knew God didn't want us to go to Colorado without any “fun money”. I felt confused, unsure how to respond, and said the first thing that popped into my head. "He didn't want a single one of my albums!" He chuckled at the disbelief in my voice, saying "I know, he didn't want any of mine, either! But here, I want you to take this and have fun on your vacation anyway."
He still held the money in his outstretched hand, and didn't look as though he had any intention of changing his mind. I accepted his offering, reached up and gave him a hug saying, "Thank you for this. You're going to make me cry." He started back toward his car, which I noticed was quite a nice, expensive looking car...not at all what you'd expect someone who looked like him to be driving. "It's okay" he assured me. "Just take it and have a good time". I managed another befuddled "Thank you" before he disappeared.
I got behind the wheel of my own car, shut the door and looked down at the bill he'd pressed into my palm. It was then I realized that it wasn't a $20, it was FIVE $20 bills! This total stranger, whose name I did not know and with with whom I'd only shared a few brief minutes in a crowded used record store, talking about Elvis and Colorado, had given me $100. I did cry at that point, realizing that until that moment I wasn't 100% convinced I was doing the right thing by pressing forward. I recalled how on the drive to the record shop I'd asked God for a "billboard" to let me know if He wanted us to make this trip. You see, a “billboard” is something I've asked God for in the past when I've been unsure about important decisions, figuring I might not hear a "still, small voice", but a billboard would be hard to miss. "I guess I just got my billboard, didn't I?" I said aloud, laughing through my tears.
The next day we were blessed with $200 more, exceeding our original goal by $20, and went on our family trip as planned. We visited friends, toured a college, did some sightseeing and enjoyed the western show at the Flying W Ranch. As it turned out, that particular event was the highlight of the trip. Like I said, I don't know if he was a bonafide spirit being or just a nice guy in a faded orange t-shirt, but the stranger with the Elvis album collection was definitely in the right place at the right time for the right reason, and to me, he'll always be an angel.
An oldie but a goodie
I have a confession to make. I am not the perfect mother. But I like to think that I am not alone. Perhaps there’s another mother out there who, when faced with a grinning 2 year old covered from tippy-toe to ankle in mommy’s favorite purple metallic nail polish, silently ask themselves "What made me think having a child was a good idea?" Yet when that self-same aspiring makeup artist, confident of your approval, smiles winningly up at you and says ever so sweetly "I make me pretty, Mommy, just like you!" you are lost. Helpless in the face of her unconditional adoration, your heart melts.
Parenting is an awesome responsibility, not to be taken lightly. It can also be an endless source of joy, learning, and love reciprocated. It is, like anything in life, what you make it. It can be a burden or what keeps you going on those days when you feel as if all the world is out to get you. When the alarm doesn’t go off, traffic backs up, the copier breaks down, and your leftovers explode in the lunchroom microwave, a chubby pair of loving arms wrapped tightly around your neck at the end of a ruthless day can make it all disappear.
Parenthood is full of eye-opening moments. It’s the sight of your little one passed out cold after playing so hard she fell asleep with her shoes on that reminds you of the importance of taking time to play. It's the teenager who says "Thanks, Mom" instead of rolling his eyes and stomping off who makes you realize you really are having an impact on at least one member of the next generation of leaders.
With every great privilege comes great responsibility. Let’s remember what a privilege it is to shape the next generation, our future leaders, and let’s not take that responsibility lightly. Remember to tell your children you love them, and enjoy the precious moments along the way. Take time out to stop and inhale the sweet fragrance of a downy-soft baby’s head, take a moment to watch your child at play, or peacefully sleeping, or laughing with friends, and thank God for the awesome privilege and responsibility of being a parent.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
'I can't take your money!'
I tried everything I could think of, but the woman on the other end of the phone would not take my money. I was trying very hard to give her $1,400 but she simply would not take it. Let me back up a bit and explain. A few years ago I was trying to get out of debt, and there was one big bill I needed to handle. At $1,400 it was, in fact, the single largest outstanding debt, representing the balance owed on an orthodontic bill. For various reasons, payments on this bill had lapsed. Although it was close to two years past due and I hadn't received any statements in quite some time, I knew I still owed the orthodontist and I was bound and determined to clear this debt. Hence, on the day in question, the phone call to the polite but somewhat uncooperative billing department manager.
I suppose it's actually unfair to label her "uncooperative", but the fact was she was not willing to take my money. I had an old statement in my hand as I explained that the purpose of my call was to take care of the outstanding balance on my bill; I simply needed to verify the amount and my check would be on it's way to their office. The woman in charge of billing put me on hold as she pulled up my account. Or should I say, as she attempted to pull up my account in her computer system. After several minutes she informed me that she had no record of an outstanding bill with my name on it. I gave her the account name and number from the statement once more, along with the amount due. I also explained that I was in the process of paying off all my bills in order to become debt free, and how important this was to me to accomplish my goal.
"I understand what you're trying to do, and I appreciate your honesty, but...I can't take your money" she informed me. "I don't understand", I replied. "I know I owe you this money. I have the statement in my hand and I want to pay what I owe the doctor. He provided services for which he has not been paid, and that's not right. I want to take care of this properly." I was becoming frustrated by this woman who refused to acknowledge my debt and allow me to clear it.
"Ma'am, I would love to take your money, but I wouldn't have anywhere to put it" she stated. "We have a new computer system since you last visited our office, and there simply is no record of an outstanding balance with your name on it." I asked her to please check her paper files, and even pressed her about old records stored off site. She chuckled at one point, amused by how hard I was trying to give her money. She expressed the uniqueness of someone arguing with her about their bill in this particular manner. I don't think she'd ever had anyone insist that they DID owe money.
After several minutes and a lot of dialogue back and forth I finally had to give up. That's not something I do easily, especially when I know I'm right, but there was no way this woman was going to take my money. She insisted I did not owe a bill that I insisted I did! Something had to give. It was a situation I'd never faced before. She finally convinced me that despite my good intentions, if I did indeed mail her a check~whether for $4 or $1,400~she'd just have to mail it back to me, so I might as well save us both the trouble.
I thanked the billing manager for her patience and multiple attempts to locate my bill, although I still wasn't convinced it didn't exist somewhere, stuffed in the back of a file drawer. I felt odd not paying my debt, but it was abundantly clear that my debt no longer existed as far as the other party was concerned. As the billing manager so patiently explained, there simply was no record of it anywhere. It was an experience I'll never forget.
I can't help but think of how God works. When it comes to our debt, there's nothing left to pay. God's only begotten son, Jesus Christ, made complete and total payment for our sins; past, present and future. I think about the way my orthodontia debt disappeared, and how no matter what tactic I used to pay my nonexistent bill I was told "You don't owe us anything". God is like the billing department manager, in a way. He keeps no record of our sins. He casts them as far as the east is from the west and remembers them no more. When we try to remind Him of them by asking for forgiveness over and over again, He says "What sin? I'm sorry, but I have no idea what you're talking about. I have no record of any debt with your name on it."
So why keep trying to pay a bill that doesn't exist? If this sounds like you, stop! Don't expend any more effort trying to pay a debt you no longer owe. It's counter-productive. Don't write that check...God has nowhere to put it. As a child of God, you are spiritually debt free. Enjoy it, and perhaps take a moment to send your Heavenly Father a mental thank you note today.
God bless you.
I suppose it's actually unfair to label her "uncooperative", but the fact was she was not willing to take my money. I had an old statement in my hand as I explained that the purpose of my call was to take care of the outstanding balance on my bill; I simply needed to verify the amount and my check would be on it's way to their office. The woman in charge of billing put me on hold as she pulled up my account. Or should I say, as she attempted to pull up my account in her computer system. After several minutes she informed me that she had no record of an outstanding bill with my name on it. I gave her the account name and number from the statement once more, along with the amount due. I also explained that I was in the process of paying off all my bills in order to become debt free, and how important this was to me to accomplish my goal.
"I understand what you're trying to do, and I appreciate your honesty, but...I can't take your money" she informed me. "I don't understand", I replied. "I know I owe you this money. I have the statement in my hand and I want to pay what I owe the doctor. He provided services for which he has not been paid, and that's not right. I want to take care of this properly." I was becoming frustrated by this woman who refused to acknowledge my debt and allow me to clear it.
"Ma'am, I would love to take your money, but I wouldn't have anywhere to put it" she stated. "We have a new computer system since you last visited our office, and there simply is no record of an outstanding balance with your name on it." I asked her to please check her paper files, and even pressed her about old records stored off site. She chuckled at one point, amused by how hard I was trying to give her money. She expressed the uniqueness of someone arguing with her about their bill in this particular manner. I don't think she'd ever had anyone insist that they DID owe money.
After several minutes and a lot of dialogue back and forth I finally had to give up. That's not something I do easily, especially when I know I'm right, but there was no way this woman was going to take my money. She insisted I did not owe a bill that I insisted I did! Something had to give. It was a situation I'd never faced before. She finally convinced me that despite my good intentions, if I did indeed mail her a check~whether for $4 or $1,400~she'd just have to mail it back to me, so I might as well save us both the trouble.
I thanked the billing manager for her patience and multiple attempts to locate my bill, although I still wasn't convinced it didn't exist somewhere, stuffed in the back of a file drawer. I felt odd not paying my debt, but it was abundantly clear that my debt no longer existed as far as the other party was concerned. As the billing manager so patiently explained, there simply was no record of it anywhere. It was an experience I'll never forget.
I can't help but think of how God works. When it comes to our debt, there's nothing left to pay. God's only begotten son, Jesus Christ, made complete and total payment for our sins; past, present and future. I think about the way my orthodontia debt disappeared, and how no matter what tactic I used to pay my nonexistent bill I was told "You don't owe us anything". God is like the billing department manager, in a way. He keeps no record of our sins. He casts them as far as the east is from the west and remembers them no more. When we try to remind Him of them by asking for forgiveness over and over again, He says "What sin? I'm sorry, but I have no idea what you're talking about. I have no record of any debt with your name on it."
So why keep trying to pay a bill that doesn't exist? If this sounds like you, stop! Don't expend any more effort trying to pay a debt you no longer owe. It's counter-productive. Don't write that check...God has nowhere to put it. As a child of God, you are spiritually debt free. Enjoy it, and perhaps take a moment to send your Heavenly Father a mental thank you note today.
God bless you.
Friday, September 23, 2011
It's in my DNA
I helped someone yesterday, and it felt fantastic.
I've heard it said we each have an unique gift from God that began at the point of our conception, and God has a purpose for each one of us in our generation, so we should use that gift in service to Him. The question is...how do you discover your gift? Once you do, how do you use it to serve God?
Start by determining what you are passionate about. How do you do that? First, ask yourself what seems to flow effortlessly from you. Is it teaching? Giving? Helping others? What do you get excited about doing whenever the opportunity presents itself? Leading? Building things? Encouraging? Mentoring?
We all have things that just seem to "come naturally" to us, as if they're built into our DNA. Perhaps they are. My situation yesterday, for example. A friend asked if she could stop by for a visit. I said yes, knowing something was up, and she needed counsel. How did I know? I can't explain it, I just had what I call a "gut feeling". Turns out, I wasn't wrong.
As we sat in my living room chatting, I found myself speaking Biblical truths to her, knowing what she needed to hear. I was in control, of course, but the words that she needed to hear flowed from my heart without much effort or premeditation, and seemed to strike a chord in hers. At one point she even said "You're speaking the words that are in my heart!" The Christ in me had made a connection. God knew what she needed to hear and gave me the right words to bring peace and resolution, and to help my friend get the right perspective. I was thrilled and energized as we spoke, becoming excited at the possibilities she was beginning to see as we worked through various obstacles, mapping out a plan of action to bring victory in her situation. Her cause became my cause, and I was ready to labor alongside her to see her dreams become reality.
When all was said and done and she was leaving my home, I almost didn't want her to go, although I knew she had the ammunition she needed. If I had any doubt before, it was clear as she left peaceful and ready to take on her challenge that the label of "Encourager" fit me like a custom made silk glove. It felt good, it felt right, it felt natural...and I loved it. I wanted to seek someone else out and encourage them!
You see, it's not that I "have it all figured out" or carry a wallet full of credentials that qualify me to tell someone else what they should do in life, it's just that I believe in people and find great joy in encouraging them to "a more worthy endeavor". Somewhere along the line I heard that phrase and it fits who I am and what I do well.
I am an encourager, and that makes me happy. With God's help I will continue to encourage others to do their best and be their best for Him at every opportunity. I can't help it, it's in my spiritual DNA.
God bless
I've heard it said we each have an unique gift from God that began at the point of our conception, and God has a purpose for each one of us in our generation, so we should use that gift in service to Him. The question is...how do you discover your gift? Once you do, how do you use it to serve God?
Start by determining what you are passionate about. How do you do that? First, ask yourself what seems to flow effortlessly from you. Is it teaching? Giving? Helping others? What do you get excited about doing whenever the opportunity presents itself? Leading? Building things? Encouraging? Mentoring?
We all have things that just seem to "come naturally" to us, as if they're built into our DNA. Perhaps they are. My situation yesterday, for example. A friend asked if she could stop by for a visit. I said yes, knowing something was up, and she needed counsel. How did I know? I can't explain it, I just had what I call a "gut feeling". Turns out, I wasn't wrong.
As we sat in my living room chatting, I found myself speaking Biblical truths to her, knowing what she needed to hear. I was in control, of course, but the words that she needed to hear flowed from my heart without much effort or premeditation, and seemed to strike a chord in hers. At one point she even said "You're speaking the words that are in my heart!" The Christ in me had made a connection. God knew what she needed to hear and gave me the right words to bring peace and resolution, and to help my friend get the right perspective. I was thrilled and energized as we spoke, becoming excited at the possibilities she was beginning to see as we worked through various obstacles, mapping out a plan of action to bring victory in her situation. Her cause became my cause, and I was ready to labor alongside her to see her dreams become reality.
When all was said and done and she was leaving my home, I almost didn't want her to go, although I knew she had the ammunition she needed. If I had any doubt before, it was clear as she left peaceful and ready to take on her challenge that the label of "Encourager" fit me like a custom made silk glove. It felt good, it felt right, it felt natural...and I loved it. I wanted to seek someone else out and encourage them!
You see, it's not that I "have it all figured out" or carry a wallet full of credentials that qualify me to tell someone else what they should do in life, it's just that I believe in people and find great joy in encouraging them to "a more worthy endeavor". Somewhere along the line I heard that phrase and it fits who I am and what I do well.
I am an encourager, and that makes me happy. With God's help I will continue to encourage others to do their best and be their best for Him at every opportunity. I can't help it, it's in my spiritual DNA.
God bless
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
My Dreams WILL come true!
My Dream
I'm a single mom of two and until recently, I had big dreams but no solid plan for making them come true. My financial future? No solid plan for it, either. Most folks I know live from paycheck to paycheck, just like I did. That means if we continue to live this way, we will need to work at our jobs for the rest of our lives, and never have the time or money to do the things we love with the ones we love. Not exactly the American Dream, is it?
I have dreams to follow and goals to achieve! I want to have the time and resources I need to pursue my passion. I want the freedom to help, inspire and bless people without being chained to a day (or night) job, and without wondering how I'm going to get the bills paid every month. Whether it's by way of what I do or what I say, my passion is to help others full time...and I have some pretty big ideas on how to make that dream come true.
I want time with my family and friends, and I want to make a difference for as many people as possible in the time God gives me. I don't need recognition, fame, power, etc. I don't even need tons of money. I need the same amount everyone else does~enough for it not to be a problem. All I want is to be able to take care of necessary expenses and have some extra to do the things that make life worthwhile. Thank God I now have a plan to make that happen.
Making it Happen
So, how do I plan to get to the point of having the time and the resources to pursue my passion full time? I am an independent business owner working with the world’s largest telecommunications and home services provider. This very reputable and successful company has a very doable 3 to 5 year plan where I can retire from the rat race with lifetime residual income. Residuals are like royalties..."movie star money" as my friend calls it. If you make a movie, record a song or get a book published (one of those dreams I have to pursue!), every time someone pays to see your movie, buys your CD or your book, you receive some money – residual money. You do the work once and you continue to get paid over and over again.
Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against traditional jobs. Lord knows I've had plenty of them. But working a job means you trade your time for money, whether you work hourly, salary, or commission. Time away from your family, time you could spend following your passion. And the truth is, if you don’t work, then you don’t get paid. Not true with residual income...and therein lies the secret to leveraging your time.
Positivity
I am working with some very positive and inspiring people. I like the fact that in order to be successful, you have to help others to be successful. It’s not complicated; I really only do two things. I share what I have found with people looking for other means of income. If they are interested, I personally help them get started in their own business. I teach them what I've learned and I help them do the same. I help them build their business and work their way closer to making their dreams come true. The second thing I do is redirect telecom and home services (cell phones, internet, home phones, satellite TV, gas and electricity) that people already pay for, often saving my customers money. I either help people save money, or make money.
Prime Time, Baby!
What I am really excited about, and what distinguishes this company from any other company that I’ve worked with, is that on March 27, Donald Trump is featuring us on The Celebrity Apprentice. Check it out at 9:00 pm EST/8:00 pm Central! I like the idea of a billionaire businessman giving MY business good press on national television in prime time :) Pretty cool, yeah? That sort of thing doesn't happen to me every day, and I'm pretty jazzed about it.
Credit Where Credit is Due
I give God the credit for bringing me this opportunity to make my dreams come true. There's no doubt in my mind this is what I call "A God deal". There have been many times in my life I've prayed for answers, for guidance, for direction. I don't plan to stop any time soon. I don't always get it right, but I've learned how to recognize the signs of "A God deal" when it comes my way. This is one of those times. See, I don't believe in coincidence, or luck, or fate. I believe everything is either a blessing from God, or it isn't. Keeps things pretty simple, and I like simple. I can handle simple.
The truth is, God wants me to prosper. He says it clearly, all over His Word. I have confidence that God meant what He said, and that He will back up His promises. I trust Him to keep His Word. He's never let me down, and I don't expect Him to start today. Continue to build your trust and confidence in God; He will never let you down. For help along those lines, be sure to check out my friend Mike's blog on Confidence and Joy.
God bless you~never give up on your dreams! And if you want to know more about how I'm making mine come true, check out my website here.
God bless
I'm a single mom of two and until recently, I had big dreams but no solid plan for making them come true. My financial future? No solid plan for it, either. Most folks I know live from paycheck to paycheck, just like I did. That means if we continue to live this way, we will need to work at our jobs for the rest of our lives, and never have the time or money to do the things we love with the ones we love. Not exactly the American Dream, is it?
I have dreams to follow and goals to achieve! I want to have the time and resources I need to pursue my passion. I want the freedom to help, inspire and bless people without being chained to a day (or night) job, and without wondering how I'm going to get the bills paid every month. Whether it's by way of what I do or what I say, my passion is to help others full time...and I have some pretty big ideas on how to make that dream come true.
I want time with my family and friends, and I want to make a difference for as many people as possible in the time God gives me. I don't need recognition, fame, power, etc. I don't even need tons of money. I need the same amount everyone else does~enough for it not to be a problem. All I want is to be able to take care of necessary expenses and have some extra to do the things that make life worthwhile. Thank God I now have a plan to make that happen.
Making it Happen
So, how do I plan to get to the point of having the time and the resources to pursue my passion full time? I am an independent business owner working with the world’s largest telecommunications and home services provider. This very reputable and successful company has a very doable 3 to 5 year plan where I can retire from the rat race with lifetime residual income. Residuals are like royalties..."movie star money" as my friend calls it. If you make a movie, record a song or get a book published (one of those dreams I have to pursue!), every time someone pays to see your movie, buys your CD or your book, you receive some money – residual money. You do the work once and you continue to get paid over and over again.
Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against traditional jobs. Lord knows I've had plenty of them. But working a job means you trade your time for money, whether you work hourly, salary, or commission. Time away from your family, time you could spend following your passion. And the truth is, if you don’t work, then you don’t get paid. Not true with residual income...and therein lies the secret to leveraging your time.
Positivity
I am working with some very positive and inspiring people. I like the fact that in order to be successful, you have to help others to be successful. It’s not complicated; I really only do two things. I share what I have found with people looking for other means of income. If they are interested, I personally help them get started in their own business. I teach them what I've learned and I help them do the same. I help them build their business and work their way closer to making their dreams come true. The second thing I do is redirect telecom and home services (cell phones, internet, home phones, satellite TV, gas and electricity) that people already pay for, often saving my customers money. I either help people save money, or make money.
Prime Time, Baby!
What I am really excited about, and what distinguishes this company from any other company that I’ve worked with, is that on March 27, Donald Trump is featuring us on The Celebrity Apprentice. Check it out at 9:00 pm EST/8:00 pm Central! I like the idea of a billionaire businessman giving MY business good press on national television in prime time :) Pretty cool, yeah? That sort of thing doesn't happen to me every day, and I'm pretty jazzed about it.
Credit Where Credit is Due
I give God the credit for bringing me this opportunity to make my dreams come true. There's no doubt in my mind this is what I call "A God deal". There have been many times in my life I've prayed for answers, for guidance, for direction. I don't plan to stop any time soon. I don't always get it right, but I've learned how to recognize the signs of "A God deal" when it comes my way. This is one of those times. See, I don't believe in coincidence, or luck, or fate. I believe everything is either a blessing from God, or it isn't. Keeps things pretty simple, and I like simple. I can handle simple.
The truth is, God wants me to prosper. He says it clearly, all over His Word. I have confidence that God meant what He said, and that He will back up His promises. I trust Him to keep His Word. He's never let me down, and I don't expect Him to start today. Continue to build your trust and confidence in God; He will never let you down. For help along those lines, be sure to check out my friend Mike's blog on Confidence and Joy.
God bless you~never give up on your dreams! And if you want to know more about how I'm making mine come true, check out my website here.
God bless
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
It's a generational thing!
Awesome~my daughter is turning into quite the kid writer! I have to brag, I just have to! Not only was she published in the premier edition of the children's magazine "Starsongs" (two entries!) but she's been invited to contribute again, and her submission was accepted.
When I attended the Colorado Christian Writer's Conference last May, I had no idea that my 4th grader would be the one to walk away with a contract. I am thrilled, however, that at least one of the writers in our household (my son is an awesome author as well) is getting paid :)
As parents we hope to set a good example and encourage our children to use their talents to do what they love, without pushing them in a direction solely because it fulfills some age old dream of our own. I would be lying if I said it doesn't thrill me that my daughter is doing at 10 what it took me several decades to get around to doing. I'm glad I've been able to instill in her a higher level of self-esteem than I had at her age so that she's brave enough to go for it, and I'm privileged to be her #1 cheerleader.
If my "mini me" can have this kind of success at such a tender age, I feel certain she will continue to build upon that foundation and go on to have a stunning career that would make any parent proud.
Go, Lizzie!
Check her out here: http://www.lizzieslimitlesslife.blogspot.com/
When I attended the Colorado Christian Writer's Conference last May, I had no idea that my 4th grader would be the one to walk away with a contract. I am thrilled, however, that at least one of the writers in our household (my son is an awesome author as well) is getting paid :)
As parents we hope to set a good example and encourage our children to use their talents to do what they love, without pushing them in a direction solely because it fulfills some age old dream of our own. I would be lying if I said it doesn't thrill me that my daughter is doing at 10 what it took me several decades to get around to doing. I'm glad I've been able to instill in her a higher level of self-esteem than I had at her age so that she's brave enough to go for it, and I'm privileged to be her #1 cheerleader.
If my "mini me" can have this kind of success at such a tender age, I feel certain she will continue to build upon that foundation and go on to have a stunning career that would make any parent proud.
Go, Lizzie!
Check her out here: http://www.lizzieslimitlesslife.blogspot.com/
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