Cherish Your Visions

July 19, 2010

Summer! I love it! Barbecues and picnics. Fireworks. The beach. Cicadas and crickets. Watermelons and peaches. Ice cream. Heat waves rising from the pavement. The sounds of lawnmowers and weedeaters on Saturday mornings. Farmers markets. Life –a bit more relaxed.

And time for reading.  One book held the following extended passage from James Allen’s work As A Man Thinketh. In the midst of the renewal of summer and preparing to gear up for the work of the Fall season, comes this reminder of the importance of one’s visions and life goals; and the necessity of keeping them in focus as well as taking the necessary action to see these goals become one’s reality.  Allen writes:

He who cherishes a beautiful vision, a lofty ideal in his heart, will

one day realize it. Columbus cherished a vision of another world and

he discovered it. Copernicus fostered the vision of a multiplicity of

worlds and a wider universe, and he revealed it. Buddha beheld the

vision of a spiritual world of stainless beauty and perfect peace, and

he entered into it.

 

Cherish your visions; cherish your ideals. Cherish the music that stirs

in your heart, the beauty that forms in your mind, the loveliness that

drapes your purest thoughts. For out of them will grow all delightful

conditions, all heavenly environment; of these, if you but remain true

to them, your world will at last be built.

 

To desire is to obtain; to aspire is to achieve. Shall man’s basest

desires receive the fullest measure of gratification, and his purest

aspirations starve for lack of sustenance? Such is not the Law. Such a

condition can never obtain: “Ask and receive.”

 

Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become. Your

vision is the promise of what you shall one day be; your ideal is the

prophecy of what you shall at last unveil.

 

The greatest achievement was at first and for a time a dream. The

oak sleeps in the acorn; the bird waits in the egg. And in the highest

vision of a soul a waking angle stirs. Dreams are the seedlings of

realities.

 

Your circumstances may be uncongenial, but they shall not remain so

if you only perceive an ideal and strive to reach it. You can’t travel

within and stand still without. Here is a youth hard pressed by

poverty and labor. Confined long hours in an unhealthy workshop;

unschooled and lacking all the arts of refinement. But he dreams of

better things. He thinks of intelligence, or refinement, of grace and

beauty. He conceives of, mentally builds up, an ideal condition of life.

The wider liberty and a larger scope takes possession of him; unrest

urges him to action, and he uses all his spare times and means to the

development of his latent powers and resources. Very soon so

altered has his mind become that the workshop can no longer hold

him. It has become so out of harmony with his mind-set that it falls

out of his life as a garment is cast aside. And with the growth of

opportunities that fit the scope of his expanding powers, he passes

out of it altogether. Years later we see this youth as a grown man.

We find him a master of certain forces of the mind that he wieldswith world-wide influence and almost unequaled power. In his hands

he holds the cords of gigantic responsibilities; he speaks and lives are

changed; men and women hang upon his words and remold their

characters. Sun-like, he becomes the fixed and uminous center

around which innumerable destinies revolve. He has become the

vision of his youth. He has become one with his ideal.

 

And you too, youthful reader, will realize the vision (not just the idle

wish) of your heart, be it base or beautiful, or a mixture of both. For

you will always gravitate toward that which you, secretly, most love.

Into your hands will be placed the exact results of your own

thoughts. You will receive that which you earn; no more, no less.

Whatever your present environment may be, you will fall, remain, or

rise with your thoughts–your vision, your ideal. You will become as

small as your controlling desire; as great as your dominant aspiration.

The thoughtless, the ignorant, and the indolent, seeing only the

apparent effects of things and not the things themselves, talk of luck,

of fortune, and chance. Seeing a man grow rich, they say, “How

lucky he is!” Observing another become skilled intellectually, they

exclaim, “How highly favored he is!” And noting the saintly character

and wide influence of another, they remark, “How chance helps him

at every turn!” They do not see the trials and failures and struggles

which these men have encountered in order to gain their experience.

They have no knowledge of the sacrifices they have made, of the

undaunted efforts they have put forth, of the faith they have

exercised so that they might overcome the apparently

insurmountable and realize the vision of their heart. They do not

know the darkness and the heartaches; they only see the light and

joy, and call it “luck.” Do not see the long, arduous journey, but only

behold the pleasant goal and call it “good fortune.” Do not

understand the process, but only perceive the result, and call it

“chance.”

 

In all human affairs there are efforts, and there are results. The

strength of the effort is the measure of the result. Change is not.

 

Gifts, powers, material, intellectual, and spiritual possessions are the

fruits of effort. They are thoughts completed, objectives

accomplished, visions realized.

 

The vision that you glorify in your mind, the ideal that you enthrone

in your heart–this you will build your life by; this you will become.

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.”  Proverbs 23:7a

How are your thoughts?

Steve

Dead Man Crawl

One of the best movies I have seen is “Facing the Giants.”  Cleverly disguised as the tale of a high school football team with a history of losing and the personal struggles of their coach, it is in reality a parable of life itself and the walk of faith.

 In my opinion, the most powerful scene of the movie takes place on the football field during practice. The coach has finally come to the conclusion that his real job is not simply teaching the young men how to win football games, but rather is that of developing the young men who win at life and learn how to honor God no matter what.  He challenges the team to give their all, to give 100% of their effort and to hold nothing back.

 One particularly grueling exercise is the dead man crawl, which involves carrying another team player on one’s back, on their hand’s and toes the distance of ten yards while not allowing their knees to touch the ground. Calling on one of the team leaders, the coach asks the player if he were to give 100% would he be able to go double the distance—20 yards rather than only ten.

 Wanting proof of the answer, the coach has the player prepare to carry his teammate the 20 yards. But then the coach blindfolds the player to insure that he doesn’t give up at a certain point, but rather will give his best effort the entire time.

 The young man starts off confidently, but begins to tire out before reaching the 20 yard line. The coach yells at the player to give his very best, to not quit, to not give up, to keep going.

 How far was he able to go? I encourage you to view the movie (now available at Red Box) to see for yourself. We will simply say that he made it past the ten yard line and his example set a new standard for what was possible.

 I can not help but think how much this corresponds to the life of faith. There are times when it seems the weight of the world is on our back, and we are being forced to carry it much further than we think is humanly possible. We feel as if we are blindfolded, not knowing where we are going and when the trial will end. Unlike the movie, there are times when we must continue without the audible encouragement of our Coach.

 Yet we continue, to discover that we CAN do more than we thought possible; and also realize that because we persevered we have set an example for others.

 The past month—actually the past five years—have seemed at times like a marathon “dead man crawl.”  We are encouraged by your prayers and words of encouragement, and by the Word of God. And we begin to understand more fully what the Apostle Paul meant when he wrote:

 “For which cause we faint not, but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”  (2 Corinthians 4:16-17 KJV)

 Or in the words of a more recent translation:

 “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever.” (New Living Translation)

 Here’s to “Facing the Giants” in our lives….

 Steve and Libba

Don’t Wait!

If you knew this was going to be your last year on earth what would you do, who would you spend it with, who would you call, and what are you waiting for? At a recent family get-together, one of the family members pulled back her bangs, and showed us the gift of Botox. Friends, time is moving forward. Life is short.

 

     A man who knew he was dying—in the final stages of his illness was visited at home by his doctor. “Listen, today is probably your last. Do you want me to tell your wife?” the doctor asked. Weakly, he nodded. The man dozed, drifting in and out of awareness. In a semi-conscious state he thought he smelled chocolate chip cookies. “This is it,” he thought. “I’m in heaven. God knows that chocolate chip cookies are my favorite.” The smell was wafting up from downstairs.

     Summoning every last bit of energy he possessed; slowly and painfully he crawled out of bed and made it to the staircase. Step by slow, deliberate step he descended, the smell growing ever stronger. Finally he reached the first floor and turned into the kitchen, leaning on the wall for support. Every inch of surface space was taken up with chocolate chip cookies. They were cooling on racks, stacked in Tupperware, lying on dishtowels, and waiting on cookie sheets to be baked.

     The man smiled as a tear slid down his cheek. “My wife,” he thought.  “The doctor told her. Bless her for thinking of this.” He reached out a hand for a cookie. Just as he grabbed one, a spatula reached out and smacked his hand. “Stay out of those,” his wife commanded. “They’re for the funeral!”

 

           A favorite story amongst chocolate lovers and  baby boomers, …the above story reflects our human tendency to wait. If I were to ask you:

What are you waiting for?

What would your answer be? Perhaps a better question is:

“What are we procrastinating?”

 

     For some, just knowing life is short may not be compelling enough to overcome our tendency to wait and/or procrastinate. We may need a fresh, up to the minute and compelling sense of purpose to overcome our tendencies. Author Sandra Felton and co-author Marsha Sims, in their latest book, Organizing Your Day stress the importance of asking yourself what is your chief purpose in life, and how can that work out in your daily activities. The late Jim Rohn declares:

“Some people are disturbed by those tough days because all they have is the days. They haven’t designed or described or defined the future.”

 

     Have You?

 

     “Many people are too busy making a living to make life worth living,” says author Croft Pentz. Ouch! Suppose you and I press the pause button this week. It’s been said that the subway is the most energy-efficient means of transportation. Why? Because it runs on a track. Let’s put our lives on a set of rails going where we want it to go. Suppose we map out a plan: 30 Days/30 Steps to the Life We Love. Return to the question at the top of today’s article. Write down your answers to the question:

 

“If you knew this was going to be your last year on earth what would you do, who would you spend it with, who would you call, and what are you waiting for?”

 

     You may be thinking, But I don’t have time! Or I don’t know what my purpose is. Or, life is OK the way it is. Or, I’ve already lived my life. Or, it’s too late for me. Or, I’ve tried to change and I failed.

     I relate to every one of these declarations. There are days, I want to give up. Cash it in. Say it’s too late. Or that’s not going to happen. Yet, then I smile when I reflect upon today’s story. That man, on his deathbed, managed one more time to drag himself downstairs, step by step, and reach out— for that which brought a smile to his face. A chocolate chip cookie.

 

     Lately, I’ve been reflecting on many a life paradox.

Why is it we have time for the funeral, but not the life?

Why is it we have time to look for something, yet we don’t have time to put it away?

Why is it easier to stick with an unproductive job or habit, than to reach out for a new one?

Why is it easier to hold onto grudges than to forgive?

Why is it simpler to run through Starbucks drive through than to run through the emotions tugging at our hearts?

 

     We all live under the illusion that there is time. Or that past failures and clinging habits will never allow us to wear a wardrobe of victory.  We lie comfortably, complacently under the bed sheets of our routines and schedules—thinking someday. Or no way. It’s a lie folks. Life IS short. Let’s you and I press the pause button. Let’s develop a strong sense of our life purpose, and back it up with a dynamic daily plan to get there.  

 

      Take time this week to reflect upon what would be the perfect life for you, which is another way of saying, link into God’s best purposes for your life. Link into the daily joys of life and living He has for you. It’s the hardest thing to make time for! 

     In the words of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, pulling away from the routine feels like an amputation of sorts. Yet, without this time for reflection and renewal of purpose and joy, we will continue on the set of rails we’re on. It’s tough to jump off the moving train of our daily schedules and routines, but jump we must, if we want to overcome our human tendency to wait. And procrastinate.

 

     “If you’re not doing something with your life, then it doesn’t matter how long you live. If you’re doing something with your life, then it doesn’t matter how short your life may be. A life is not measured by years lived, but by its usefulness. If you are giving, loving, serving, helping, encouraging, and adding value to others, then you’re living a life that counts!” –John C. Maxwell

 

     Let’s live a life that counts folks. Don’t Wait. Keep reaching for those cookies!

 

And on that note…, we will be taking a two week break from the weekly encouragement sessions for the purpose of reflection and to set a new and dynamic plan for 2010.

 

Friends, will we take it to heart,

 

Libba

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Success in Daily Living… 

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Work out solutions. Writing it out brings focus and clarity. 
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Ask “What are you grateful for?” 
Ask “Is there someone I need to forgive?”
Ask “Is there someone I need to say thanks to?”
Plan tomorrow’s top three priorities. 
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Daily, you and I do well to go before the Lord and shout:

“Lord, here’s my to-do list and plans for the day. Look it over and answer me…”Are the plans and purposes you have for my life on this list?”

Turning points occur as you and I stop living on autopilot! We create turning points when we step aside from the routines of our lives for a few moments— or a few days.  
E-Book: Turning Point 5 Days to a New Life! 
                  by Libba Narron Lewey

Organizing: 
 

Organizing Your Day: Time Management Techniques That Will Work for You   By Sandra Felton & Marsha Sims / Revell Not enough hours in your day? Find the time you want for fun activities or projects by implementing the ideas in Sandra Felton and Marsha Sims’ time management book, Organizing Your Day. They cover ten basic time management choices and show you how to put them into action in your own life. From goal setting, project management, to-do lists, daily schedules, and curing chronic lateness, the solutions offered here is ideal for busy homemakers, office workers, and anyone who wants more productive days. Paperback.

Get the Guts…Do What You Do Best!

Be who you is, cause if you ain’t who you is, you is who you ain’t.”

 

     Returning from a morning of salt-water fishing at Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, my brother hauled in an armload of silvery specimens. Laying them on the kitchen counter, he asked his wife if she would clean the fish. He was eager to return to the salty waters and haul in another load! His wife’s eyes widened at the massive mound, but no stranger to work, she said: “No problem”.

 

     As soon as his truck left the driveway, my brother’s wife pulled upon every bit of ingenuity she had. Reaching for the phone book, she called the local seafood market. I’m certain, the owner of the market received a request he had never heard, nor has heard since.

     “If I bake you a pecan pie, would you clean a load of fish for me?”

     “How many fish you got?” the owner asked. After giving him an estimated figure the owner said, “Sure, bring them on down!”

 

     My brother’s wife whipped up a couple of her signature pecan pies, swept up the stack of fish, and headed for the seafood market. True to his word, the seafood market owner cleaned the load of fish. With a wide grin, he accepted his prize— two pecan pies still warm from the oven, and turned towards the back of the store.

     “Wait a minute!” my sister-in-law demanded. He turned pies in hand, and asked: “What else can I do for you?”

     “Give me the guts!” she asserted.

     “The guts?”

 

The owner bagged up the guts and my sister-in-law headed home. 

     Later that evening my brother arrived home from his second go-round of fishing. Expecting to see his wife still at work cleaning the first massive load of fish, he was surprised to see row upon row of beautifully filleted fish upon the kitchen counter. He looked closer. In his mind, he was thinking, “Man, I can’t clean fish that good!”

     “Did you clean all these fish?” he incredulously asked.

     “Yeah!” she declared. “There’s the proof…right there in the trash…see all those guts!”

 

     My brother looked at the guts, then back at the display of fish, filleted to perfection. Again, he walked over to the trash, stared at the massive mound of guts, and once more gazed at the professionally gutted specimens from his morning catch. Shaking his head, he had all of his fishing buddies come in the kitchen to see the incredible work his wife had done! For the next few months every time a neighbor, friend, or family member came by, he bragged on his wife’s amazing fish cleaning prowess!

 

     For three months, she had him going. And Why Not!

     After all, she had the Guts…. She got the Glory!

     How?

     By doing what she did best! 

 

 

     Suppose my sister-in-law in the above story had chosen to clean the fish. When her husband arrived home, she would probably have been exhausted. This could have led to a verbal battle with her husband about who was doing the most work around the house. She might have felt like a martyr, for here she was stuck at home while her husband was out having fun. And the seafood market owner? He would have had another humdrum day at the market, minus a phenomenal pecan pie. AND…neither you, nor I  would be reading this story!

 

 

     In the article, “Top Five Regrets of the Dying”, Australian author, Bronnie Ware, speaks of her work in palliative care. Her patients were those who had gone home to die. She was with them in the last three to twelve weeks of their life. When questioned about any regrets they had, one of the most common was:

 

“I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”  

 

Another common wish:

“I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.”

 

And a surprisingly common one:

“I wish that I had let myself be happier.”

 

     When you and I live authentically, we make space for ourselves in our own lives. It’s a form of self-care. Courage will be required. Yet, as the saying goes:

 

“Courage is fear that has said it’s prayers.”

 

     One of my most courageous design clients moved here from up north. She lived in a very traditional Southern neighborhood, where all her neighbors’ homes had formal dining rooms. “Would it be alright, if I turned my dining room into a billiards room?” she hesitantly asked. “My husband and boys love to play pool.” The dining room was the first room you saw as you entered her foyer. “Absolutely I told her!” And we did.

 

     Perhaps you remember the classic children’s novel, The Velveteen Rabbit. It’s a tale of a stuffed rabbit and his quest to become real through the love of his owner. Perhaps that little rabbit knew the secret to becoming real that we tend to overlook. He looked to the love of his owner for courage and strength. We need God to pour out His love into us; into all the empty places. Into all the places we’re afraid to be authentic and true to how he made us.

      

     Nick Vujicic, born without arms and legs would affirm: “As humans, we continually put limits on ourselves for no reason. What’s worse is that we put limits on God who can do all things”

 

     Becoming authentic is not easy. Our family, friends, and co-workers may not understand. They may laugh at us, even initially reject us—possibly even ignore us. Yet, the world groans for that which is bona fide, genuine, reliable and true.  “Be who you is, cause if you ain’t who you is, you is who you ain’t.” These words of wisdom from an older minister were given to a freshly minted seminary student, buckling under pressures and expectations of his congregation. 

 
So Stay True…

 

 

     As you exercise the muscle of authenticity, you will magnify courage within that will help you, your family and the people in your circle of influence to— have experiences and feelings that go beyond the drudgery of day-to-day existence. You just might change the world.

 

And in the meantime, you get your life back.

 

Friends, will we take it to heart?!

Your Friend,

 

Libba

  

Becoming Authentic Resources: 
Direct links to Christian Book Distributors

 

The Velveteen Rabbit, Or, How Toys Became Real By Margery Williams / Simon & Schuster Trade Sales This is the story of a little boy and his toy rabbit. The rabbit lived in the cupboard with the other toys. Only the skin horse who had been there for many years was friendly to the rabbit. He explained how the boy’s father had loved him for many years and that was how he became real. The little boy started sleeping with his velveteen rabbit and after many hugs and kisses the rabbit becomes real to the youngster.

 

Credit Statement Example: Reprinted or forwarded with permission from Libba Narron Lewey. To start your own free subscription to Free Weekly Encouragement Session, free and easy sign-up: calebcommunity.com All contents  Copyright ©2010 Libba Narron Lewey (All rights reserved worldwide)

Goal Blockers….The Top Five

Why do thoughts of goal setting and resolutions make our nerves stand up? Or arouse vague feelings of fear. Perhaps we remember all too well previous attempts to achieve certain goals. Maybe we blew our diet, experienced business failure, or yelled at the kids too much. Perchance we missed a great opportunity in the stock market. Or fell for the late night infomercial gadget. Possibly we have been unsuccessful in living up to our full potential and we feel the pain of the gap. And, we all have some memory of when our best intentions blew up in our face.

 

     Like in 1978, when firemen went on strike in England. This strike made possible one of the greatest animal rescues of all time. Emergency firefighting efforts were nobly taken over by the British Army. On January 14, an elderly lady in London called them out to retrieve her cat. They arrived in record time, and with much ingenuity and gentleness, rescued her cat. As they started to drive away, the lady was so grateful; she waved them down and invited the heroes in for a pot of tea. Driving off later with loads of smiles and warm memories of their valiant deed, they ran over the cat and killed it. 

 

     So what do you and I do with our mixed bag of failures, disappointments, and blunders? Can we drag them in a nearby gutter and negotiate opportunities for new beginnings. And what’s more, where do we find time for goals beyond laundry, work schedules, and driving Miss Teenager?! Dare we laugh at ourselves a bit and become amazed at what pageantry God might have in store.

 

     Before we boot dreams and goals to the curb…let’s remember each of us already possesses the capacity, wisdom, and ability to live a life in alignment with the greatest purposes God has designed us for. Five Goal Blockers, however, trip up even the most sincere ones.

 

Using the acronym G.O.A.L.S, let’s wipe our slate clean of:

 

THE TOP FIVE GOAL BLOCKERS…

 

•          GUILT… We flag down guilt like there’s a reward

           for it.  Confess and shave off the stubble of

           yesterday’s guilt. Guilt and its cousin Remorse,

           like a ball and chain, drag us down, stalling our

           best intentions for new starts. Should have’s,

           could have’s, might have’s…Waste of time! GOT

           GUILT? 

“Guilt is as useless as a shower curtain made out of toilet paper.” Pam Young, founder of Sidetracked Home Executives

 

 Turn the tide and invest a few moments savoring your growth over the past month, six months, year!

 

•          OTHERS…Who we are a year from today will be

           vastly influenced by the people we surround

           ourselves with. Think of the friends and

           acquaintances in your circle.

           Should these continue? 

 

•          ALWAYS… Yearning for the good ‘ole’ days?

When we’re forever trampling in the past, the gifts of the present are hidden. Youth, jobs, dreams, relationships, the city we live in, having the kids at home—each may have their season. Nostalgia, however at some point, must bend its knee.  “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)

 

•          LOSSES… When we’re gasping for newness of

           life, it’s hard to imagine, much less chart a better

           tomorrow. Heavyweight champion—grill master—

           and now pastor— George Forman, after his first

           marriage broke up found the pain of his wife’s

           leaving overwhelming. He finally made a deal with

           God. If God would take away the pain, he would

           tell people they can make it through anything. The

           next day he woke up and felt new strength inside.

           He still hurt. But he made it. And George kept his

           promise. He’s still telling others, they too… will

           make it. Thanks George!

 

•          SAY NAY…  “People with horse sense know when

           to say nay.” To whom or what did you say “Yes”

           to, when you should have said “Nay”?   Perhaps

           at best, we can say “Nay” to life’s “Little Extras”.

           Extra debt, jobs, habits, hobbies, or pounds that

           don’t suit us.

What “little extras” can you say “Nay” to? A little extra this, a little extra that, and the best we can hope for is our goals grinning at us from a distant corner.

 

Which of the top five goal blockers are you contending with?

 

     Like it or not, you and I are developing Black Belts in Life Management. In dealing with the top five Goal Blockers, the best we can do is make friends with our past and cherish the joy that is before us.  We can view past failures and losses as the conclusion of a chapter, not the end of possibilities for the future.

 

     So, raise the lid on your trash barrel every day Deal with those exasperating goal blockers. They are masters at undermining our confidence and resolve to begin again. The Old Testament prophet Joel must have had some run-ins with these guys. His advice:

“Let the weak SAY, I am strong.”

Joel 3:10 (emphasis mine)

 

     Friends, we do sweat the big stuff, but those madcap little guys, those Goal Blockers that plague us year after year…We’ve now got something to say about it!

 

 

Just don’t run over the cat!

 

Your friend,

Libba

 

Libba Narron Lewey ©2010 All rights reserved worldwide

 

“Who do I have to become to achieve these goals? The answer to that question excites me more than the goals!”

TC Cummings

When Your New Year’s Resolutions Make A Bucket List

The New Year flings promises of fresh starts. The months, like stepping stones, lead to new gateways; through which we can champion stronger faith, build stronger families, bulk-up our bank accounts, brush off extra pounds… and usher in a new us! Or so we hope.

      It’s tough to set new goals, however, when last year’s clutter stares us in the face. It’s like buying fresh veggies and having no where to put them; for all the rotting produce from last week takes up all the space. Therefore, before pondering new  pledges, last year’s clutter needs to hit the curb.

Using the acronym R-E-S-O-L-U-T-I-O-N-S, let’s wipe last year’s slate clean of:

REGRETS… God can’t fill up our silver platters if we keep glaring at the tarnish. Are we willing to look intently in new directions?

ENERGY DRAINS… “The heaviest thing to carry is a grudge.” Got a grudge? Otherwise name your biggest energy drain.

STUFF… When we can’t park the car in the garage for all the stuff—quick, find a friend with a truck and shake it, shake it baby!  Too bad we can’t just spray the garage like one girl did with her dog:

“I poured Spot remover on my dog. Now he’s gone.”

OLD AND STALE… Ruts and “out of date” routines will not shake hands with New Year’s Resolutions. Why? They don’t go to the same parties. God creates new pathways in the desert. But you may have to pave them.

LOSSES… A recent divorcee on a sitcom was asked if he was going to get a dog? “If I did, my wife would probably take half,” he declared. Losses puncture our soul and grief sneaks up on us when we least expect it. No one can judge the depths of our pain, for each heart knows its own sorrows. And so does God. Out of the quiet crucibles of our pain and sorrow, some of God’s greatest gifts are birthed… Grab whatever you need from the portals of heaven. Rest your tears in prayer and watch for God to light a candle in your darkness.

UH OH’S!…  We didn’t sign up for the Uh-Oh course in Mistake Management—but it sends the lesson plans home. The best we can do is exchange last years’ mistakes for new ones!

“Everyone makes mistakes. The trick is to make mistakes when nobody is looking.”

TRASH FEARS… Tell your fears how much they annoy you. Raise the lid on your trash barrel and deal with those exasperating 3 and 4 pound weights of fear that undermine your confidence and self-esteem.

IDEAS… Some of last year’s ideas must be butchered in order to FOCUS on the best. What ideas require of you a magnificent obsession? Keep those. Let go of the rest.

OUT OF TIME… “Sometimes it is better to do less and do it with contentment than to do more and be exhausted.” S. Truett Cathy, founder Chick-fil-A, Inc.

NEGATIVE PEOPLE… They can be useful you know. If you wanna borrow money, ask a pessimist to lend you a sum. They won’t expect it back! Otherwise develop the art of negative people regulation…regulate very little time to their influence. On the flip side, if we’re the negative one, we might want to cheer up, lest we have to pay for some new friends.

STOW AS YOU GO. Last year’s papers, magazines, books, clothes, furniture; anything which encumbers your tomorrow…stow it, sweep it, send it to its’ better tomorrow. Otherwise you’ll trip over it next year.

Remember, before we fixate our sights on the new grace resting on the horizon, first we must, and I say must, relinquish last year’s regrets and clutter. In so doing we create space for new pledges and possibilities. We won’t be tripped up by the old. This very well can be our best year yet.

You better run fast, however. If your New Year’s Resolutions are at the same party as mine, they’re all creating their Bucket Lists!

“The victory of success is half won when one gains the habit of setting goals and achieving the. Even the most tedious chore will become endurable as you parade through each day convinced that every task, no matter how menial or boring, brings you closer to fulfilling your dreams.” Og Mandino

DVD Devotions:

A dear friend of ours is a chaplain. As she fixes her morning coffee, she pops in a DVD where a narrator reads through scripture. In the time it takes her to enjoy her coffee, she listens to one or two chapters a day. The DVD/CD she uses is available through Christian Book Distributors and is available in several translations. Here is a direct link: 

NIV Signature Edition Bible on DVD By Narrated by Max McLean / Hendrickson Publishers The New International Version Signature Edition Bible On DVD, narrated by Max McLean, is a very powerful Bible study tool. This Signature Edition includes the complete Old and New Testament, along with the Through the Bible in a Year Weekly Reading Guide, which allows you to see and hear the complete Word of God in a convenient 52 week format on your television or computer.  Features: Over 70 Hours of Dolby Digital Stereo Audio on one DVD Dramatized multi-voice narration of the Old and New Testament Optional Through the Bible in a Year Weekly Reading Guide Synchronized graphics & text showing every verse Widescreen (16:9) and Full Frame (4:3) display Interactive Menus that allow direct access to any book or chapter Optional playback modes including play a single chapter, play a single book, play a weekly portion of the Bible with the 52 Week Bible Guide, and continuous play of the entire Holy Bible No Region Coding NTSC TV format Bonus Disk Includes: Ultimate Bible Q&A Game—Hundreds of questions to test your Bible knowledge Bible Stories from the Old and New Testament—33 dramatized Bible stories Holy Land Photo Tour—Enjoy scenes of the Holy Land accompanied by classical music.

Fitness and Faith:

No time for gym workouts?  Walk two miles with personal trainer Leslie Sansome in this high-energy, high-calorie burn in-home workout! Available through Christian Book Distributors. Visit here:

A Closer 2-Mile Walk–DVD By Leslie Sansone / Anchor Bay Entertainment Walk two miles with personal trainer Leslie Sansone in this high-energy, high-calorie-burn in-home workout! Inspirational worship music will keep your body and soul motivated as you explore the powerful union of fitness and faith with a band of veteran walkers. Includes an uplifting message from Father Philip Farrell. Revitalize and energize—inside and out. 30 minutes.

Journal… Give journaling a TRIAL RUN with Libba’s 2-page PDF download. Custom designed from her 21+years of journaling, it helps you get to the heart and purpose of your life. It’s fun. It’s great for those of us intimidated by those blank books. Need a Mentor? A Journal can be one of the best.  

Visit our Dollar Download Center here

Read… E-Books:

 Turning Point…Is God Pro-Exhaustion  is Libba’s own intimate journey into a new life of balance, beauty, order, and joy in life and home. Delivered in inimitable style—making us laugh, cry, and pause to reflect on our own daily “To-Do Lists” Are they God’s best for us? A great read when you’re yearning for new beginnings! Order here:

Jumpstart Your Life…Top 21 Benefits to Journaling

 Part 2…Continued from last week

       A journal is a trustworthy friend. It sharpens you. It brings order to your thoughts. It solidifies ideas. A journal expands in you a grateful heart as you capture the gifts in your days. People will be drawn to you as they see joy increasing. Here you can implement the advancement of your dreams and goals. A journal will be a friend who listens…just listens. When life gets tough and relationships are challenging, it can offer comfort. It can serve as an educator for your emotions. It is the highway to your present and future best. Sure, you can buy a friend. Psychiatrists, counselors, teachers, coaches, advisors, trainers—they’re great. But still…

What A Journal Can Do For You!

Top 21 Benefits…“

 Which of the following Benefits excites you?

• Brings Order… A journal can bring order out of chaotic thoughts, schedules and priorities. “Order is heaven’s first law.” (Quote on ceiling of The Library of Congress)

 

• Discover God’s Presence in You Days!

Each day presents its own miracles. Unwrap them. There is something magical about recording them. You are training yourself you to be aware of God’s daily presence—even when you didn’t think he was there.

 

• Reduces Wear and Tear on Friends and Family… My mentor once remarked (without any judgment I might add) “Libba, this is an old conversation.” It was time to share fresh dialogues with friends and family. And leave my litany of stale conversations for my journal. 

 

• Sharpens You… As iron sharpens iron—there is something intriguing about putting pen to paper. Distorted thinking is forced to lie down. Truth emerges. Solutions come forth.

 

• Uncovers Voids or Negativity…For one friend, journaling uncovered a source of discouragement. She met with a co-worker for lunch on Monday’s. After reviewing journal entries, she recognized her discouragement keyed in on Mondays. After thoughtful prayer, she withdrew from her lunch meetings.

 

• Pulls out Gifts in you… Recording the best parts of your day identifies your giftedness and strengths. You may discover a new hobby or career.

 

• Puts you in touch with how you really want to live your life… Documenting your “dailies” brings preferences and desires into focus. You will begin to know how you really want to live your life. And discover what is important to include in your days— no matter how busy you are.

 

• Figure it out…Life, Work, Parenthood. Just writing it down clears the cobwebs in your mind.

 

• Less Mistakes… A journal is a net for mistakes and lessons learned. Make a mistake once. That’s understandable. Make it twice. Not great.

 

• Create a New Life…Safe place to record ideas or sketches. . List qualities desired in new friends. Plan a move to a new job or city.  Design a new home

 

• Patterns Emerge…It’s tough to see the sky when the weeds on the ground distract us. Reviewing a journal reveals unproductive patterns or habits not serving us.

 

• Harassing Center… Harass Yourself into Great Habits. Every day or so I jot down in my journal any reminders I need. Drink water, eat veggies, take supplements, avoid hurry. You can harass yourself on any topic!

 

• Simplify Challenges… One of my wisest mentors, the late Jim Rohn, encourages us: “Look for the chinks in the obstacles you face…David killed Goliath with a pebble.” The simplest solution may be best.

 

• Cheerleader… When no one else is cheering, root for you. See yourself as the source of change. Not your spouse, kids, friends, or co-workers. Nor circumstances. Cheer yourself on in your journal: “Good Job!” “Wow…You make a great pot of coffee!” “You’re a great Mom or Dad!” “Love You!” “Great haircut!” “You look stunning!”

 

• Diffuser for negative emotions… Advocate for positive ones! Journal into submission, any excuses and feelings threatening to overwhelm you.  

Remember: “He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound]. Isaiah 40:29 (AMP) 

 

• Pride Dump … “Be not proud of race, face, place, or grace.” Charles Spurgeon

 

• Work-out Training Center… for improving relationships at home and work. Vent frustrations and worry. “To react is negative. To respond is positive.” Work-out a win-win response. Think long term results, vs. short term gain.

 

• Brings Focus to A.D.D tendencies or fragmented thoughts and routines. Use your journal to record schedules, routines, and ideas for improvement. Use it. Use it. Use it.

 

• Lose Weight…Keep a record of every morsel.

 

• Be Aware… Thomas Edison had twenty-seven assistants who took the same path from his lamp factory to the main building at Menlo Park, New Jersey every single day. No one noticed the phenomenal cherry tree on the path— except Mr. Edison. A journal trains you to be on the lookout for special gifts in your daily pathways.

 

• Develop a Gratefulness that draws people towards you… “It takes only the highlights from a single hour in my day to confirm that I have a lot to be grateful for.” Sharon A. Hersh

         

 

     A faithful friend, who can find? There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother; who helps you jumpstart life and finish strong. One day when you stand before your Maker and He asks? “Who is this standing beside you?” As you introduce your new friend, surely He might declare:

“I see your new friend helped unravel the best I placed within you. Well done, thou good and journaling servant.”

    

      A journal…one of the most powerful tools in your endeavor to keep faith, life, work, and home in balance. Here’s to your new friend!

 

Friends, Will we take it to heart?

Your Friend,

Libba

Libba Narron Lewey ©2009 (All Rights Reserved Worldwide)

 

 

Give Journaling a TRIAL RUN!

 

Visit our Dollar Downloads Center

• Libba has created a customized 2-part “Journal Page” (for anyone intimidated by those blank books) Pulled from her 21+ years of journaling. Guides you through questions easily answered in 3 to 10 minutes a day. Simple, highly effective, and easy to use.

 

This is a $1.00 downloadable PDF file. Once ordered, you simply print and start journaling.

Visit here to order from our Dollar Downloads Center.

 

Give Journaling a TRIAL LISTEN!

• Jim Rohn’s MP3 download on “How to Use a Journal” is available here. Special price $9.95. Fantastic resource!

Manage Your Time in 2010

If you’re like us and have procrastinated getting a 2010 day-timer, here are direct links to our top 2 favorites:

• For Franklin Covey Planner Refills, approximately $20, here is a direct link. Click FranklinCovey

 

• Harold Taylor, Time Management Expert also offers a great day-planning system. Comes with the equivalent of a mini Time-Management course. Click here.

We welcome new friends!

If you received this as a forward from a friend and would like to receive weekly encouragement sent directly to your inbox: Free and easy sign up here

Need Another Friend?

 

“…So the sweetness of a friend strengthens the soul.” Proverbs 27:9

 

 Part One (Two Part Series)

 
     There will be days when your Blackberry rings in silence and bare is your e-mail box of personal e-mails from a friend. There will be days when you need to talk, or go to lunch, and everyone is busy. There will be days your boss and co-workers have the temperament of an old goat. There will be days when you’re so weary; you don’t know how you’ll get through the next few hours of your workload. Or face household chores. There will be days when rejection hunts you down and your heart needs pumping up.

     There will be days when you’d like to put your friends and family up for sale. There will be days when someone misinterprets the goodness of your intentions —and you feel misunderstood. There will be days when challenges appear larger than your strength. There will be days when your priorities argue. And days when life seems unfair.

     Then there will be days when your ideals and aspirations soar heavenwards and you’d love to share them with a friend. Or tell of meaningful joys in your day. Or solicit advice for a significant decision. Or you hear a great quote, story or joke— a recommendation of a book or movie and think, “My friend would love to hear about this!”

     There is a friend who will stick closer than a brother. A faithful comrade. A companion who will tell you the truth. A friend who will remind you God’s denials are better yet, God’s delays; or that He has something better in mind. A pal who will pull out the gifts in you. And accept the worst you offer. A buddy who listens…just listens.  A companion who will help sift the chaos within and refill the empty places. A friend who will warm up your heart on those days when your heart’s so cold if you opened it a light would come on.

     This friend— is a “Journal”.

     Short of flagging down the mail-carrier, kicking the cat, yelling at your spouse, or wearing out that empathetic friend; perhaps a journal is a friend it’s time to call. On those days when even your pet yawns and rolls over as it hears that certain tone in your voice…let’s face it. We can all use another friend.

But ordinary me… journal?  If you have created a To-Do List— you’ve fashioned a journal of sorts. If you’ve prepared a lesson plan, a Sunday School lesson, a business plan, a speech for the PTA, or kept a food log; if you’ve written in a diary as a young child, you have what it takes to capture and experience all the benefits of this new friend.

     You don’t have to be a writer to journal. Nor a touchy-feely sort of person. Anyone can utilize this friend to unwrap the best gifts God has placed in them, thereby creating an improved you, a better life, and a great future. 

WHAT IS A JOURNAL? “What would I share in a journal? you ask.  “What can a journal do for me? And how am I supposed to fit this into a busy schedule?”

A journal is like your favorite chair or preferred selection of coffee or tea. It suits you. It fits you. It can be a trustworthy friend in each season of your life.

Think of a journal in this way…your photo albums reflect special occasions and physical changes. A journal reflects proof of mental growth, emotional education, and spiritual progress. It captures parts of your life a photo cannot access.

 WHAT CAN A JOURNAL DO FOR ME?

A journal can be a net for catching your days. Cesar Millan, star of the television series The Dog Whisperer, encourages us to learn from our pets—to them every day is Christmas: “Take time every day to celebrate the many gifts that are hidden in the ordinary events of your life.” 

My friend Barbara utilized a journal to help her through post-partum depression.

If you’ve ever wanted to send your emotions to school, a journal is a great educator. Save  yelling  or complaining for your journal and your spouse, kids, or pet will forever be grateful.

Rather than rely on memory, which most people boast is short-lived, a journal can be your brain’s best friend. A post-it-note of sorts for capturing ideas, quotes, or names you’d like to remember. How many times do we say, “I can’t remember names.”

A journal can be the book you’d like to write. Many reveal to me, they’d love to write a book, but affirm they don’t have the time, talent, or patience. I love to remind them that a book leaks out one word and one sentence at a time. Few are the writers who have time, money, or patience to sit down and spend hours writing.

Like photo albums, a journal is a memorial…a log…a legacy for future generations. Your heart, your ideals, your thoughts are on paper. Just as your checkbook records your financial deposits, a journal records anything from a grocery list to plans for a new home—it’s there to catch the bits and pieces and weave them into a fantastic life. 

If you prefer a journal to be a private matter; if you fear there’s a “journal peeper” in your midst, you can do as one of my friends does. She codes. Develop a short-hand of sorts if your journal is for your eyes only.

How often should you journal? As often as you like and whenever you need it. You’re never too busy to pull out the best in your days. A journal holds so many surprising benefits; you may find your time with this new friend— the best part of your day!

Is there a “Journaling for Dummies” course? There are scores of books on journaling. One of the best resources we’ve found is an MP3 download on Journaling by the late Jim Rohn. Mr. Rohn utilized a journal for most of his life. His MP3 download is referenced at the end of this article. Also, Libba has created a PDF downloadable form (patterned after the journal she uses and designed) to get you acquainted with the habit of journaling. It’s simple, easy to use, and for anyone intimidated by those blank books, it’s a great tool to help balance faith, life, home, and work.   

     A journal is a trustworthy friend. It sharpens you. Listens to you. It is the butter to your bread. It is the educator for your emotions. It is the highway to your present and future best. Sure, you can buy a friend. Psychiatrists, counselors, teachers, coaches, advisors, trainers—they’re great. But still….

A journal is one of the most powerful tools in your endeavor to keep faith, life, work, and home in balance. Here’s to your new friend!

Friends, will we take it to heart?

Your friend,

Libba

Libba has created a customized 2-part “Journal Page” (for anyone intimidated by those blank books) Simple and easy to use.

 This is a $1.00 downloadable PDF file. Once ordered, you simply print and start journaling. Visit paypal to order.  

 

Jim Rohn’s MP3 download on “Journaling” is available here. Fantastic resource!

If you’re like us and have procrastinated getting a 2010 day-timer, we have direct links to our top 2 favorites here. For Stephen Covey Planner Refills, approximately $20, here is a direct link. Click here.

Harold Taylor, Time Management expert also offers a great day-timer system which comes with the equivalent of a mini Time-Management course. Click here.

The Yellow Star

Today’s Balance Session was almost ready to go. Why wasn’t I excited? It had a great story. Great humor. Great message. Yet, I sensed there was another story. “Lord, what is the message you want me to share?”

     “Tell them about the star.”

     “But Lord, I can’t prove it…”

     “Tell them about the star…”

All day I battled with this. It’s 4:30p.m. Time to wrap up this week’s message and after what just happened, finally, I am convinced I should tell you about the star.

 

     The past few years have held multitudes of losses: Loss of work for my husband. This of course introduced loss of income. Loss of any semblance of pride as job applications and resumes ring in nothing short of discouragement. Loss of the use of my legs for two plus years. This loss brought about the loss of my work in interior design. The loss of two close friends, one to cancer, one to suicide. And the loss of more family members than I care to count. As the losses mounted, I wearily declared: “NO MORE LOSSES LORD!”  “NO MORE!”

     Heaven’s doors seemed closed to this declaration. In fact, heaven’s doors seemed closed to my ability to hear God’s voice or for God to hear mine! Then came the stars. Everywhere I turned, I saw stars. It seemed they held a message. But, what? At first I thought the “star sightings” were mere coincidence. But, they came in rapid fire procession. I began to record “star sightings” in my nightly journal. “Star Of The Day” was the name of my journal entry.

     One day, my spirits were as low as they could get. I walked in Harris Teeter with my head down, grieving a recent loss. As I reached the automatic entrance doors an elderly gentleman said “Hello”. As I looked up, he touched the brim of his baseball cap and bowed his head ever so slightly. There on the tip of his cap was a star.

 

     Another day, my husband and I took a day trip to my hometown. Our little dog was traveling with us, so we pulled in to a local park where I used to play as a little girl and let her out for a run. I gingerly stepped out of the car onto the grass— still having challenges walking. There at my foot was a blue rubber star.

 

     The stars kept popping up, usually when I was at my lowest. One day, while sitting on my sofa, wrapped in grief, I heard a lawnmower rev up. I glanced across the street. There was my neighbor Tom, wearing a gray tee-shirt with a huge red star on the front!

 

     Another day, I visited with two high school friends in my hometown. Meeting at a restaurant, I arrived early. Sitting at a booth, awaiting their arrival, I struggled to get my attitude towards a more positive side. Ceiling fans circling gently overhead caught my attention. They were the kind with blades shaped like palm leaves. I love those. Then I noticed the stars. They were painted on the ceiling of the restaurant. I gripped the cup of iced tea in my hand with amazement. Then I saw the stars encircling the side of my cup.

 

     Soon, I came to expect the stars. There were days I took them for granted. Some days the “star sightings” aroused frustration. I desired more than stars. I longed for life to be normal again. Yet, they came. They came in all shapes and sizes and colors…until this month. This month they’re yellow stars. Yellow stars on the cards that arrive in the mail. Yellow stars atop trees such as the one up the street in my neighbor’s yard.

 

      This particular neighbor has an infatuation for those blow-up yard ornaments. This season he has a Santa riding a motorcycle, surrounded by all sorts of other inflated animals and paraphernalia. Like a miracle, at dusk, they all arise, and light up. It’s a hoot! But, I’m not laughing much this season. My heart is still heavy with loss. One dusky evening, however, I noticed a blow-up tree at the back of the motorcycle riding Santa. There perched on top was a flashing yellow star. Suddenly, even tacky yard ornaments, boasted a shining message.

 

     Today, as I struggled whether to share the message of the stars, which of course, I can’t prove, I took a bike ride. Yet another way to procrastinate today’s writing session. As I waited to bike across the first intersection, without warning a tow truck swiftly passed me by. Yellow stars were painted on the side of the truck and as I peered to catch the name of the towing company, all I could catch was the word star.

     Amazed, I continued on with my ride, still carrying a heavy heart, still wondering about the message to share today. The bike ride seemed all too short. Arriving home, I stowed the bike in the garage and headed back in the house. Just then I spotted a big plastic cup in the far back corner of my back yard. Probably thrown over the fence by the neighbor’s yard service, I thought. The yard was muddy, spotted with puddles of water from the melting of a recent snowfall. I’ll leave it for my husband to pick up, I thought. For whatever reason, I changed my mind, and went to retrieve the cup. After unsuccessfully dodging a few mud holes I hastily picked up the cup. There on its side was a logo of a huge yellow star.

 

     Perhaps you’re thinking, “But, God doesn’t show me stars.” Maybe not. However, God knows each of his children. He knows what will capture your heart and attention.  He has ways of making His presence known. Just keep watching. Keep looking. Be aware. Just when you need it most, it may be a phone call from a friend, a card in the mail, a text message, an unexpected gift…you’ll know!

 

     Year’s ago, God planted a star to steer by, in the East, proclaiming he had laid a Baby on the world’s doorstep. In the words of author Catherine Marshall, “What man or woman can forget the moments when life is lifted above the ordinary and the splendor of God shines into human hearts?” Now I understand the meaning of the stars. They certainly do not mean I’m a star. Nor indicate star status. The stars point my heart and attention to “The Shining Star”. They shepherd the presence of God into my life, just as God introduced His presence on earth over two thousand years ago. Baby Jesus was born. Baby Jesus grew up. He returned to heaven. Yet, he left us, not alone; but with the gift of His presence.  His presence is with us always. Happy Birthday Jesus! The celebration goes on. Thanks for the stars!

 

     This Christmas, may you experience more than the “spirit of Christmas”, which in the words of Peter Marshall, former chaplain to the United States Senate, is “more than the spirit of expectancy which warms the heart and melts into nothingness the arid practicability of other days…” May it be as if Christ himself, The Shining Star, enters your home and heart, quietly making you aware of His presence and peace.

 

Merry Christmas!

Libba

 

©Libba Narron Lewey (All rights reserved worldwide)