Prayer, timing and Truth!

I love Sundays, for oh so many reasons, but mostly because I've been commanded by a Great and Glorious God to take a day of rest. Rest....hahaha...God has such an incredible sense of humour. I know, I know the Sabbath...I've gone through stages of legalism in my journey, add to that a touch of being opinionated(thanks Dad) and I have to humbly admit that I've changed my views on so many things as I’ve grown in my journey.

As I reflected on how much I've learned about Grace and forgiveness I also had the gnawing at my heart that there is this balance between what we convince ourselves is OK to do and what God says is right. I was reminded of how much I’ve learned through Bible study and how much I’ve missed God at times in my life as I’ve charged full steam ahead.

I’ve come to terms with how much sin I am capable of and have publicly confessed that it is only through my relationship with my Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ that I have any purpose greater than what this world teaches. There are so many times that I’ve felt very alone in this world and today driving home to an empty house I once again thought about being alone and yet was thankful for time alone with God.

I came home to a surprise; a hanging basket of flowers from a friend, my favourite colour too. I thought of a message I had heard a long time ago about being single and God providing. I love flowers and had earlier visited a nursery with my Dad to buy him a new bush for his new garden and thought about what I’d like in a hanging basket but didn’t buy anything for myself.

The flowers made me smile as I was coming into the house and was preparing to listen to a message someone had sent me a few months back and that I had saved because she said it was about an hour long. Interesting….no time to commit an hour to hear a message. But…seeing as I had missed Church this morning which I hardly ever do, I wanted to hear a Bible message.

I also thought about coming home and checking to see if someone I knew that had a gift for words had put anything on their blog for Father’s Day. His Mother’s Day message was awesome. So..I check his blog first….great post….tears..I noticed his previous post and it sounded familiar. I checked the message I was going to listen to and it was one in the same!

OK, so if you don’t know how God works. This is what He does in my life. He is a gentleman; He guides me and waits for me to take the TIME to acknowledge Him. Yet again, I’m the slow one. Here this message has been in my face and totally reflective of my journey over the past 6 months.

I chose to take the hour and listen to Rachel’s story. http://deathisnotdying.com/

Enough said by me. Please listen to her message for it is full of Truth and you will understand how great our God is! Thank you Wendy & Paul for showing me this link. Than you Rachel for reminding me of so many of the truths that I hold dear and get too busy to model.

Reflecting on Heroes

It's been a crazy few months for me. I've probably said that a few hundred times in my life. It's interesting how we wear the badge of "Busy" like it's something to be proud of. What would it sound like if instead we were saying I am "in pursuit" of our Dreams? Wouldn't that inspire others?

I have been extremely active in pursuit of my destiny!

I owe a debt of gratitude to the Heroes in my life. Those awesome individuals that chose to speak into my life. Those words and actions of the Balcony people have allowed me to hang on during the tough times and know who I want to call in the great times to celebrate with!

Here is a shout out to:

Irene Crann (my Mom), she was the one who taught me that the sky is the limit! When the Drama coaches in grade 6 told me that I couldn't sing and shouldn't tryout again for a part in the musical. My Mom let me cry it out and said "what can you do instead to be a part of the play?"
I sold Ads door to door and won an award for the most money raised to support the play. Numerous times in my life my Mom has given me a fresh perspective to see a solution rather than focus on the challenges. Its all about perseverance, right Mom?

Mrs. Hearn (grade 7 teacher), she saw the potential in me, right through the cloud of bad attitude I was portraying. She wouldn't accept less than my best. One grade with this incredible teacher and I won an award for the "Most improved Student".

Frank Rose (my Grandfather), although he lived 1,300 miles away, he started visiting us here in Ontario just when I needed the guidance the most. Moving a 13 year old from the City to the Country is a challenge. My grandfather taught me Who to rely on, Who is unchanging, Who will never leave me nor Forsake me. He led me to my life of Faith.

James Dobson (Focus on the Family), from the day I became a parent I realized how ill-prepared I was to teach this beautiful child all that they needed to know. I am a fact-finder by nature so researching I did! I found the Focus on the Family Ministry to provide me with incredible resources that helped me parent. I believe motherhood is a privilege and shaping a persons life is the most important thing I will ever do in this life!

Joanne Paas (kids grade 1 teacher), this absolutely gentle loving teacher stopped me in my tracks with her positive speech. She blesses each child that walks through her door with the gift of knowing they are uniquely designed and very special! What a privilege to have her teach my children and more so their Mom! The lessons were life-changing.

Joyce Meyer (Bible teacher), I don't remember the day but I do remember the feeling. The first time I heard this woman speak I was shocked that she was saying what I thought. Finally, I'm not crazy, there are others that see things so straight. I've been called a purest and I am. My children grew up knowing that a day that started with me having my "Joyce" time was much better than when I didn't.

Steve Brown (Pastor), he was on the radio every morning as I drove the kids to school. Coming from an Anglican background to a Christian Reformed church at 21 I learned an awful lot from his straight forward teaching. He specifically taught me about GRACE!

James MacDonald (Pastor), his teaching is some of the best in the world. There is no nonsense with James. He tells it like it is and challenges us to stand for the truth as well. There have been numerous times when I've needed to re listen to one of his messages to strengthen my walk.

Kevin DeRaaf (Pastor), he speaks the truth in the most gentle fashion. He nicely challenged my thinking and redirected my path on many occasions. His commitment to speaking the truth in love will change many lives.

Kimberley Coles (Business Leader), this amazing lady has set the example of a Woman of Excellence in Business, Marriage and family. She's the real deal! She works tirelessly, serving others and taking care of her family. She embodies leading from the front!

Garry Coles (Business Leader), this fantastic man has stood with his wife and made some very tough decisions that were totally principle based that will forever cause me to follow their lead. He has spoken into my life at the most crucial times with a word of encouragement. He's never stopped believing in me.

Jordan Streutker (teenager), oh...our story is so fantastic. Our journey is definitely one of the highlights of my life. I only look forward to the movie some day so that we can share what can happen when two people's lives cross paths and God is allowed to lead. A shout out to your parents (Clarence & Sandra Streutker) because their role was equally as important in this story of stories.

John Maxwell (Author...), when I began my own business I started listening to and reading materials from John Maxwell. He gets it! He teaches it! He lives it! What more can I say...I share the same passion for Personal and Professional Development that this prolific Author, Pastor, and Business Leader does.

David Courey (Pastor), what an incredibly gifted Bible teacher. I can't wait to get to church to hear the next message. Being led to your Church was another turning point in my life for which I am extremely thankful.

Jody & Kathy Victor (Business Leaders), there are not words to describe this couple for me. I know of no other couple on this planet that have given more of themselves for a worthwhile cause than these two and their family. The responsibility and respect they show the opportunity they've been give to lead so many people is awe inspiring.

Jessica (& Justin), Sarah, Nicole, Mitchell and Scott (my kids), here comes the tears....you are my reason to continue to fight the good fight of growing, changing and becoming all I'm meant to be, because I know you are watching. You are my heroes because you've had to walk along side me through some tough times and each of you grew because of it. You chose not to become victims but to be Victors and that you are! You will accomplish much for God!

Each of these people have impacted my life with their words and deeds. We all need perspective at times to ensure we don't stray too far from the path we are intended to follow. I thank each and every one of you for influencing and inspiring me.

We are each given the same number of hours in a day....let's not waste them. I implore you to pursue your God given vision with total abandon, for there is no better way to live this life. I know my busyness has caused me to miss out on some of life's little moments but here's to pursuing the BIG dream - Freedom!

Go ahead and Celebrate Your Gifts...I dare you!

The Gift of Encouragement

I look back over my life and can name the various "Balcony People" that have influenced me in a profound way. We all need encouragement;

"As a boy he worked long hours in a factory in Naples. He longed to be a singer, and when he was only ten years old, he had his first voice lesson. "You can't sing. You haven't any voice at all. Your voice sounds like the wind in the shutters," his teacher said.

The boy's mother, however, disagreed. She believed that he had a talent to sing. Though very poor, putting her arms around him, she said, "My boy, I am going to make every sacrifice to pay for your voice lessons."

Her confidence in him and constant encouragement paid off. That boy became one of the world's greatest singers—Enrico Caruso!We all need encouragement!

We all—including, and especially our children—need someone to believe in us."
excerpt from Daily Encounter...the Gift of Encouragement

I Believe....

I Believe...That just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do love each other.

I Believe...That we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I Believe...That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I Believe...That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I Believe...That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

I Believe...That it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I Believe...That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I Believe...That you can keep going long after you think you can't.

I Believe...That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I Believe...That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I Believe...That hereoes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I Believe...that money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I Believe...That my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I Believe...That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down,... will be the ones to help you get back up.

I Believe...That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry,... but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I Believe..That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

I Believe...That it isn't always enough, to be forgiven by others sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I Believe...That no mtter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I Believe...That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but, we are responsible for who we become.

I Believe...That you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could chane your life forever.

I Believe...Two people can look at the exact same thing...and see somthing different.

I Believe...That life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.

I Believe...That when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you-- you will find the strength to help.

I Believe...That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I Believe...That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

I Believe...That the happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything.

Thank You Becky Yantzi...for sharing

Life - It's about our reactions!

"Life has no other discipline to impose, if we would but realize it, than to accept life unquestioningly. Everything we shut our eyes to, everything we run away from, everything we deny, denigrate or despise, serves to defeat us in the end. What seems nasty, painful, evil, can become a source of beauty, joy and strength, if faced with an open mind. Every moment is a golden one for him who has the vision to recognize it as such." Henry Miller

Failing Forward

"Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly-until you learn to do it well." Steve Brown

John Maxwell wrote a great book on this subject. He explains that if you look at each time you fall down it is an opportunity to pick yourself up and be stronger for the experience.

"The not-talked-about, terrible truth is that all roads to achievement lead through the land of failure. Every person you admire has walked this road: the Wright brothers, Arnold Palmer, Mary Kay Ash, Truett Cathey, Erma Bombeck, Tony Gwynn, Amelia Earhart, Sergio Zyman, Hank Aaron, George Bernard Shaw and Mother Teresa have all experienced failure and learned how to turn it into a stepping stone for success. Leadership expert Peter Drucker says, "The better a man is, the more mistakes he will make, for the more new things he will try." Mistakes really do pave the road to achievement. Let John Maxwell teach you the 15 steps to turning mistakes into steppingstones for success!"

Reading John C. Maxwell's book Failing Forward will change your outlook forever.

Our Deepest Fear

by Marianne Williamson

Quoted by Nelson Mandela in his 1994 inaugural speech

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us.

We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be brilliant,

gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?

"Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small doesn't serve the world.

There's nothing enlightened about shrinking

so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the

glory of God that is within us.

It is not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And as we let our light shine, we unconsciously

give others the permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,

our presence automatically liberates others.

Selective Attention ….

"Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don't you remember?"1 The story is told of a man who once bought a new radio, brought it home, and placed it on the refrigerator. He then plugged it in, turned it to WSM in Nashville (home of the Grand Ole Opry), and proceeded to do the most unusual thing. He pulled all the knobs off! He had already tuned in to all he ever wanted or expected to hear, and so he chose to limit his radio reception to one station.

"Most unusual," we call it. But is it? Really? Many, of not most of us, if we will be honest, do the same thing in principle. Maybe not with our radio but we surely do with our life.

We all have what the communicators call selective exposure, selective attention, selective comprehension or perception, selective distortion, and selective retention. That is, people expose themselves only to messages they want to receive; hear only what they want to hear; perceive or see things the way they want to see them; twist and distort messages to match their preconceived perception of reality; and they remember only what they want to remember. Everything else is filtered or blocked out.

In other words, we hear, see, accept, remember, and apply only that which we want to hear, see, accept, remember and apply. Furthermore we believe only what we want to believe—and for many of us we choose to believe that which is convenient—regardless of its moral or lack of moral value. For instance, people accept abortion on face value because it is convenient. They accept abnormal, immoral sexuality because it, too, is convenient. And they reject God because, more often than not, they don't want to change their lifestyle and be accountable, much more than for any intellectual reason.

As I've said before, if we don't live the life we believe and know in our heart to be right, we will end up justifying and believing the life we live—a very dangerous, self-deceptive, and self-destructive path to follow. God's laws, all of them, are for our safety, protection, and survival. They are as universal as the law of gravity which holds the universe together. We can't break the law of gravity. If we defy it, it will break us. Or rather, we will break ourselves trying to defy it. It's the same with God's moral laws. We can't break them either. They, too, are universal. If we defy them, it isn't God who will punish and break us, but rather we will punish and break ourselves trying to defy them. If we used our God-given intellectual reasoning we would understand this. But we don't reason this way—we reason to find ways to justify what is most convenient for us at any given moment." by Dick Innes
http://www.actsweb.org/

Accepting Yourself!

"Accept everything about yourself--
I mean everything,
You are
You and that is the beginning and the end--
no apologies, no regrets." Clark Moustakas