Enjoy the message and music,
and Happy Easter everyone!
He's Alive!
This is a very holy weekend for so many of us. It's the celebration of Jesus' death and victory over it. Yesterday was Good Friday. Good only because we know that Sunday's coming. And regardless of what my days are like, this Truth is what we cling to as Christians. This is the hope we live by. The hope that is available to everyone.
He's Alive!
He's Alive!
Maestro here.
Who doesn't love a good cat-nap?
I love to sleep with mom. Even when she's working at her desk. There's not enough room on the desk for me and the computer, so to the floor I go. If I can fall asleep in mom's arms or her lap, her foot makes a great pillow. Time for my nap, and I encourage you all to do the same. Take it from me, the world keeps spinning even when you don't.
When I was little, I used to watch The Dukes of Hazzard every Friday night with my grandma. Dallas came on after that. Wonder Woman, Different Strokes, Buck Rogers, Facts of Life, and so many others! As an only child who spent a lot of time on my own, those early 80's shows became my world and part of my family. What I didn't realize was how much I actually learned in the process.
I've been enjoying reruns of the Dukes on CMT, and I STILL want a Dixie Jeep like Daisy had. I have total respect for Uncle Jesse. His wisdom, strength of character, and take-no-crap attitude is something I can admire in a leader. The way he handled Bo, Luke, and Diasy, not forgetting Cooter & Enos & Roscoe & Boss Hogg & any others that came across his radar, was nothing short of greatness. He was a prayin' man, good cook, and a gentleman to all. A true patriarch. Sure, the show was predictable: Boss Hogg was always swindling, Roscoe fumbling, Enos stumbling, Cooter fixin' the cars, Daisy always beautiful & in trouble, Bo & Luke handsome & in trouble & chased. Shoot, the guys wore the same outfits every show! There were car chases, General Lee's horn, and inevitably someone ended up in jail. But there was ALWAYS a happy ending!
We're getting ready to transform the preschool's environment at GCC. My children's minister and I talked today and she was telling me how preschoolers need predictabilty - stability - in their environment. And I immediately thought of the Dukes! No wonder they stuck with me so much. They provided the stability I needed as a child. And now as an adult, it's welcome relief from the pace I keep.
Don't underestimate the Dukes, and some of the other "classics." The wisdom and examples set forth by some of those characters can totally transport you to happy place where men can be real men, women be strong & beautiful at the same time, people have values and it shows, and there's always a happy ending.
Each day holds new surprises for me. I'm surprised when my mind is all for getting out of bed doing the daily stuff and getting down to some real productive business-building work, but my body dictates otherwise keeping me on the couch for half the day. That was my yesterday. I've been fighting with sinus crud for months now and there are days it wins. And as much as I love reading the departed optimist's writings about thinking positive and it will be positive, Norman Vincent Peale couldn't have helped me yesterday.
So before I went to sleep last night I determined today would be different. There had to be something that would help keep me off the couch even if I felt bad. But what was the key to motivating me beyond myself into something great for the day. Yeah, yeah - Jesus. Start the day with prayer and the Word and everything with be just peachy - if you believe that then you don't actually read anything Jesus says. Life's not easy - SIMPLE, not easy. And I do that pretty much every morning, and yet still landed on the couch. That was my choice. So what is the key for me to not make that choice of caving in to the comfortable?
I don't know about you, but that key for me is music. Since I have a roommate, I'm limited in how I can express it sometimes - LOUD mixed with crazy dancing, but that's what good headphones are for. I have a playlist for every mood and every season. I have a playlist that represents ME. What I believe in, how I express myself, what I aspire to, and it's those songs that I go to when I need re-energized. It's like magic. It's as if God had those songwriters create those songs just for me. That's my key to motivation and re-energization. What's your key?
As part of my SIMPLIFYing 2011, I decided some organization was in order around my house and home office. Most people think I am already highly organized, but I want to get to that easy-to-maintain organized, thus simplifying my life. However, I've had this huge realization hit me today. To clean-up you have to clean-out. Have you ever watched Extreme Makeover Home Edition? Every time they do a new home, the old one has to go - everything gets cleaned out for a fresh start. There's another show, "What Not To Wear." Same concept - they have to clean-out the closet to clean-up the person's fashion, and sometimes their lives. Alcoholics Anonymous' 4th step is: take a fearless & moral inventory of yourself. This is the clean-out part of that process.
The same holds true for our own selves. We should regularly take a fearless and moral inventory of ourselves then decide what parts can stay, and what needs to be cleaned out. That's the beauty of free will and power of choice. It's up to us to acknowledge awareness, accept what's there, decide what to keep and get rid of, then take action to do it.
What would 2011 look like for you if you were to break cycles, clean-out negative thinking, find an accountability partner to check your progress, and ultimately clean-up your self? Or even your closet? Or garage? Or something as small as a junk drawer? It all starts with your mind - clean it out!
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." (Romans 12:2)
In 2010 I had a word that I concentrated on, it became my theme for the year - Preparation. And preparation was certainly what was happening for me - to start my own business, to grow as a leader, to share my life with others, to trust in God, to love in action, and many other things.
For 2011 my word is SIMPLIFY. I'll explain.
I had a wonderful meeting with a brother of mine (my pastor) who has the freedom and guts to tell me like it is. I have this tendency to do things BIG. I think big - and then do it. Nothing wrong with that; however, if I want to be a great leader, I need to make things doable for others to join in. I am robbing others of their ability to do ministry simply because I do too much - I end up either overwhelming my volunteers with the feeling to keep up, or the guilty feeling of not keeping up. Neither of these are intentional, it just happens as I think big and do big by myself. So to my volunteers - I sincerely apologize!
For 2011 my goal as a leader is to SIMPLIFY. Keep things simple enough so that what I do as a leader is easily duplicated. Simple enough for anyone interested in doing it - can. Simple enough for more people to join in. Simple enough for everyone to start on the same page and create the big idea together. This was not my idea first, take McDonald's and Jesus. Yes, I said McDonald's and Jesus.
McDonald's is the biggest restaurant chain in the world. Would you believe they're not in the business of selling hamburgers & fries? They're in the business of building an easy-to-duplicate system - keeping systems simple so that anyone can do it then repeat it down the road. That's why they consider themselves the largest small business in the world. Their leader, Ray Kroc, had the foresight to recognize that wealth comes from depth. The same could be said for lasting effects - like the disciples.
Jesus limited Himself by giving up His seat in heaven to come to earth as a man. He showed me the way to live by limiting Himself. His life as a man is a simple concept to duplicate. Nothing is ever EASY - just SIMPLE (kinda like losing weight is a simple concept but oh,so hard to follow-thru). Jesus simplified the whole law - love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and strength, and love others as yourself. Simple. Easy to duplicate. Hard to execute sometimes, sure, but easy to duplicate. Wealth comes from depth, and the best wealth is to see lives changed. So I will SIMPLIFY and be a leader others want to follow.
And I officially give you all the same freedom my brother has - to tell me like it is. To have no fear in being honest with me even when it comes to me. How else can I grow if I don't know. (And knowing is half the battle...come on you 80s fiends...sing it!)
I've included a cute video that shows a good leader....
For 2011 my word is SIMPLIFY. I'll explain.
I had a wonderful meeting with a brother of mine (my pastor) who has the freedom and guts to tell me like it is. I have this tendency to do things BIG. I think big - and then do it. Nothing wrong with that; however, if I want to be a great leader, I need to make things doable for others to join in. I am robbing others of their ability to do ministry simply because I do too much - I end up either overwhelming my volunteers with the feeling to keep up, or the guilty feeling of not keeping up. Neither of these are intentional, it just happens as I think big and do big by myself. So to my volunteers - I sincerely apologize!
For 2011 my goal as a leader is to SIMPLIFY. Keep things simple enough so that what I do as a leader is easily duplicated. Simple enough for anyone interested in doing it - can. Simple enough for more people to join in. Simple enough for everyone to start on the same page and create the big idea together. This was not my idea first, take McDonald's and Jesus. Yes, I said McDonald's and Jesus.
McDonald's is the biggest restaurant chain in the world. Would you believe they're not in the business of selling hamburgers & fries? They're in the business of building an easy-to-duplicate system - keeping systems simple so that anyone can do it then repeat it down the road. That's why they consider themselves the largest small business in the world. Their leader, Ray Kroc, had the foresight to recognize that wealth comes from depth. The same could be said for lasting effects - like the disciples.
Jesus limited Himself by giving up His seat in heaven to come to earth as a man. He showed me the way to live by limiting Himself. His life as a man is a simple concept to duplicate. Nothing is ever EASY - just SIMPLE (kinda like losing weight is a simple concept but oh,so hard to follow-thru). Jesus simplified the whole law - love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and strength, and love others as yourself. Simple. Easy to duplicate. Hard to execute sometimes, sure, but easy to duplicate. Wealth comes from depth, and the best wealth is to see lives changed. So I will SIMPLIFY and be a leader others want to follow.
And I officially give you all the same freedom my brother has - to tell me like it is. To have no fear in being honest with me even when it comes to me. How else can I grow if I don't know. (And knowing is half the battle...come on you 80s fiends...sing it!)
I've included a cute video that shows a good leader....
Do you have fifty things to do in a day, but only time for 20? What about that workout plan you swore you'd keep up with at the first of THIS year, so you'll just renew that resolution next year. What about those books that are on your list? Is blogging and facebook time diverting your attention from just moving your body?
I know for me, it's been hard to get away from the computer. I have had office jobs my whole life - sticks you in a chair behind a desk for the bulk of the day. Between the time behind the desk and the commuting time (used to be 2 hours a day), my poor body was crying out for some much needed activity. Since I've been out of the mainstream workforce I've been able to add in some activity: work in the yard, organizing the house, helping in the greenhouse this summer (sweating like I was in the Philippines every day). But now that I'm starting my own businesses (coaching practice and jewelry shows), I spend more time behind the computer again.
A friend of mine on facebook inspired me with a solution! She had created a laptop desk of sorts for her treadmill! I loved it so much that I found some materials in the barn and created my own. Check it out!
I know for me, it's been hard to get away from the computer. I have had office jobs my whole life - sticks you in a chair behind a desk for the bulk of the day. Between the time behind the desk and the commuting time (used to be 2 hours a day), my poor body was crying out for some much needed activity. Since I've been out of the mainstream workforce I've been able to add in some activity: work in the yard, organizing the house, helping in the greenhouse this summer (sweating like I was in the Philippines every day). But now that I'm starting my own businesses (coaching practice and jewelry shows), I spend more time behind the computer again.
A friend of mine on facebook inspired me with a solution! She had created a laptop desk of sorts for her treadmill! I loved it so much that I found some materials in the barn and created my own. Check it out!
This is a fantastic set-up! I walk about 1.8-2.2 mph and can still type or read or write notes...fabulous! It takes me longer than normal to get to a mile; however, movement is movement! Now I'm getting back in the groove of getting some more weight off! And this is the best form of multi-tasking EVER!
To laugh is to risk appearing a fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk despair.
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.
Hey may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, live.
Chained by his own fears, he is a slave. He has forfeited freedom.
Only a person who risks is free!
PS: Thanks to all our Veterans who've sacrificed lives and family who have sacrificed loved ones taking the risk of protecting others. Thank you beyond all thank yous!
This has to be one of the best emails I have received in a long time because when when you sit and think about the meaning, it is so true.
One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport
My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly.
So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!'
This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'
He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment.
As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally.
Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.
The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day.
Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!
Have a garbage-free day!
Law of the Garbage Truck
One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport
We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us.
My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly.
So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!'
This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment.
As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally.
Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.
The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day.
Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets,
so ... Love the people who treat you right.
Pray for the ones who don't.
Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!
Have a garbage-free day!
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