The Daily Choice to Be Happy

DreamingYou Day #25
For over three weeks we have been focusing on 'the positive'... have you noticed any changes in your life?

As I get older I recognize that I have real choices about who I spend the majority of my time around, what I read, what events I attend, what I watch on TV, what sites I visit on the Internet, and so on. I can choose those activities and friends who will feed my enthusiasm to stay connected to the Lord, or I can choose to hang out with negative people who put me down and reject Christ.

I am not saying that we are to avoid having anything to do with certain people, but it is probably more to your soul's benefit if you allow God to lead you to the people who are waiting to hear The Gospel from you (or SEE the Gospel in you) than to continue to hang over the well trying to fish someone out when they consistently resist grabbing on to the rope. Continue to pray for them, of course, but perhaps there is someone God has in mind who will be more effective in bringing that person into a relationship with Jesus. Pray for that, if you are so led.


Thinking Work:Take out your paper and pen. Every day is a day to start anew. Write down at least ten positive thoughts you can start each day with in the week to come. Every morning continue to read your BIG DREAM goals (in the Present Tense, as if they are already attained), and now add in these positive thoughts as well-- like adding fuel booster to what runs your engine! I hope that the daily youtube clips are also helpful and inspiring you to continue to focus on the source of true joy.

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. ~Psalm 100:1-2

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Becoming Joy

DreamingYou Day #24

We are ultimately meant to be examples of what it means to "live in faith" and that means living with joy as a major daily component of who we are.

When we reach out with our message of hope that the world does not have, we want to be so happy, peaceful and joyful that others will want to have what we do.

I am an extreme introvert meaning that I am very rattled by 'group' events or activities after about an hour. Once I returned totally irritated and exhausted from a "delightful" (my friends tell me)Women's Retreat. My very good friend, who works "in the field" of understanding such things, said, "Ah, Cynthia, you were just totally out of your element-- you need to be a ALONE to recharge, not with a hall full of people."

So, sometimes I try to beg off going with my lovely husband to events that sound like they will be mind-rattling for me. And sometimes he allows me to stay home. But the truth is that sometimes God calls me to go out of my way, committing myself first to His monitoring of my social fuse system, and I have received HUGE blessings in return. As someone in a home business I have sometimes felt a little too isolated... but just recently I have begun working with a wonderful Christian woman who has introduced me to a praise and worship team call... can you imagine? And last week my husband and I attended a health lecture in the community that resulted in about ten of us meeting with the presenter the next day in a park, doing a study on how health is presented in Scripture, and being part of an outreach that we had never anticipated. These are God's little treats, if you will, just for obeying as He leads. It's harder NOT to be joyful as a Christian!


Thinking Work:Take out your pen and paper. Are you as happy as you want to be? Look deeply into your life and write down what takes your joy away, what prevents you from exuding sheer joyful energy? What specifically are you worried about? Write down each of your worries and then go through them and 'correct' them by writing down the kind of advice you reserve for others when you see them feeling down or worrying up a storm. What adjustments can you make to achieve full joy?

May the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful. ~Psalm 68:3

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Noble Actions

DreamingYou Day #23
When we 'give up' bad habits we need to replace them with good habits... now, there's the rub.

Sometimes our bad habits are exacerbated by a lack of information (knowledge). I had no idea, for example, that eating late in the evening is more addictive than other bad habit eating. But the television guys knew it, didn't they? Try watching TV after eight o'clock, even if you have told yourself that you will not snack in the evenings. So, if you break the late-night TV habit, what will you do instead? How about consuming some information about healthy lifestyles?


Thinking Work:Take out your paper and pen. Identify one of the bad habits you have that really bugs you. Make a decision to take action to change the habit. Commit what this action is to paper. Now DO it! Don't be shy about asking for help. The Internet is actually pretty heavy on support groups and mentors. Write down what actions you might need to take to reach out for support. Make a plan-- right at this moment-- to get the help you need. What is that plan? (write it down)

No temptation has ever seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. ~1 Corinthians 10:13

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Forming Better Habits...

DreamingYou Day #22

You still have your eye on the Big Dream? Are you doing something each day?

Really successful people develop better ways of doing things. We have all heard the quip:"The definition of insanity is to keep doing the same old thing and keep expecting to see new results".

What do you need to do differently? Go to bed earlier? Get up earlier? Eat your last meal earlier? Tell your mother more often that you love her?

We all have discipline when it comes to doing what we love to do! If you like a particular TV show, don't you make sure that you are there in front of the tube when it comes on, or you remember to tape it if you are going out somewhere?

You will have this same desire to fulfill your Life Purpose once you have fallen in step with your Comrade for the journey. You will know unquenchable joy and enthusiasm.



Thinking Work:Take out your pen and paper. Did you know that someone has estimated that 90% of our behaviour is based on our habits... we're on 'autopilot' it would seem! Take an inventory of your less desirable 'habits', 'compulsions' (drives), or 'obsessions'. Be honest and detailed. If you can name it, with God's guidance, you will change it.

Start by choosing one habit on your list and describe a POSITIVE HABIT that could take its place. An example might be "I drink too much pop" and a positive might be "I drink pure, fresh, water when I am thirsty". Remember those 'affirmations' we talked about previously? Take a trip back there and look them over. Focus on your 'new habit' over the coming week. Think of yourself in terms of your new habit (I'm a water guzzler-- I'm a non-smoker-- I'm a vegan-- I'm an active and energetic person-- I'm a sensitive listener-- I'm an attentive spouse-- whatever it is that you have chosen). Go ahead, get enthusiastic about your new habit!

Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths. ~Psalm 25:4

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Here I Am....

DreamingYou Day #21



Thinking Work:Take out your paper and pen. But before you start, just close your eyes and listen to the youtube clip above a couple of times.

Go back to your BIG DREAM. (If you haven't written down your BIG DREAM, then go back to Day #1 of DreamingYou and read the instructions).

Does anything need to be 'tweaked' in your original BIG DREAM? Has your BIG DREAM expanded since we started out three weeks ago? Write down the details of the expansion...

How does the youtube song "Hear I Am Lord" speak to you, particularly in terms of your BIG DREAM?

Write down THREE (3) opportunities you have right now to move your BIG DREAM along... (what 3 possibilities are open to you right now to do something that will bring your BIG DREAM towards fruition?) And because this whole week has been spent on reflecting on how we can be a blessing to others, please link into your possibilities just how you can bless THREE PEOPLE this week. Write down their names and what you plan to do. Remember to be detailed.

He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me..... And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward. ~Matthew 10:40, 42

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The Blessing in Giving...

DreamingYou Day #20

It truly is more blessed to give than receive...

The words you use have the power to lift someone out of discouragement and to help catapult them into victory!


Thinking Work:Take out your pen and paper. Write down ten ways you can invest in the lives of people you love this coming week. Think in terms of what you can say to encourage them (it must be genuine, no empty flattery!) or what you can do to actively make it possible for them to press forward.

And let us consider how we can spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another. ~Hebrews 10:24-25

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The Family Compact

DreamingYou Day 19
To play a most delightful rendition of the hymn "Love at Home" by My Sisters open another window and go to my My Space page where you will find it on the player there.

If you sit for twenty minutes in a fast food restaurant you will see just about every stripe and colour of family 'personality'.

As Christians we are called upon to do our part to make a harmonious family. God is there to lead us.


Thinking Work:Take out your paper and pen. Write down the ways that you have uplifted and blessed family members over the past week. Do you do the opposite? Write down a plan to change things if you are discouraging, contentious, or neglectful.

Here is a very interesting sermon written by Catherine Booth, wife of William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army. See if you can't identify some of the negative situations of the time for parents and children that were similar to those of today, well over a century ago. I also found unexpected and refreshing instructions for promoting Sabbath delight and worship.

These commandments that I give to you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ~Deuteronomy 6:6-7

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Making Peace

Being a peace-making Christian is not so much about 'making things right' as it is with practicing the discipline of peace-making-- keeping conflict, disorder, hurtfulness towards others, strife, and unforgiveness out of your life. As hard as it is, making peace is always more comfortable than wearing strife. We've all been there.

Now here is the clincher for fruit-bearing Christians: you are asked to forgo winning the argument and EVEN apologizing when you did not start the conflict. That's all. (hehehe) It seems like a tall order, but when you have experienced the break in tension and good-will following a sincerely stated desire for peace, you will have a clear indication of why Jesus wants this kind of 'reconciliation' in our lives.


Thinking Work:Take out your pen and paper. For a moment, close your eyes and search your heart, listening for the Still Small Voice. Who are you holding prisoner in your record book of wrongs? Write the answer down and then devise a plan with yourself (and God) about how you can make peace with this person. As in all contracts, be specific and list a date. Whew!

For those of you who have a peace-making gift, you might be interested in checking out some of the Christian peace-making organizations. One that I often go to for inspiration is the Adventist Peace Fellowship. You will find referral links to other denominational peace agencies there as well.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. ~Matthew 5:9

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That's Perfect-- er-- Imperfect But Enough!

Sometimes we make 'perfectionism' sound like a good thing. The truth is that perfectionism is just another name for nit-picking, the spirit of criticism. It doesn't make you friends, and it certainly creates walls between spouses and parents and their children.

Tune into your "internal nag" again if you find yourself about to give advice or to criticize others. What does your criticism really mean for you right now? What is being triggered? How can you meet your own needs for internal peace? Would prayer help?


Thinking Work:Get out your pen and paper. Reflect on ways that you are expecting unrealistic things from others. How can you change your attitude to 'encouragement' (building up the heart) instead?

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ~Colossians 3:13

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Do unto Others...

When you reach out to others, you are joining hands with God...

As you become aware of your own needs and go to the Father to have them filled, you will be freer to meet the needs of other people you come across.


Thinking Work:Get out your pen and paper and answer the following: What have I done to positively impact the lives of the other people I come into contact with? Do I build others up with encouragement, or pull them down with criticism? How can I demonstrate to my compadres that I have faith in them and want to bring blessings to them?

Let therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification. ~Romans 14:19

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Praying it Forward

I'm not sure if the idiom is still around, but I used to hear about people who were "self-made"-- as though they, all by themselves, in their own power, conceived themselves, grew themselves up through incredible adversity, and then-- in a vacuum, single-handedly-- 'made' themselves successful.

It's interesting to know that most people will NOT reach their full potential without the encouragement and faith shown by others.

It is also so that God seeks to use many people's gifts to bring one person to the knowledge of his Son, Jesus.

Thinking Work:Take out your pen and paper: Write down 3 influential people in your own past-- encouragers-- and describe how each showed they believed in you. When you have completed that, identify three people YOU can encourage, and some idea of what you might do to achieve that. Maybe you even want to go on-line and tell about your mentoring experiences-- thank your mentor at Who Mentored You?

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. ~Ephesians 4:29

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When We Heal

God really wants you to be at peace with who you are (see about the real you that we discussed yesterday).

You are going to have to turn off those old wasteful and destructive internal messages and practice (many times daily) the new positive, refreshing, energizing thoughts towards yourself that we call 'affirmations'.

Revisit your BIG DREAM... what have you done today towards fulfilling this dream? Don't let go of the BIG DREAM...



Thinking Work:Take out your pen and paper. Reflect on the positive thoughts you have been directing towards yourself this week. Record the blessings and possibilities and PURPOSE that God is showing you.... What didn't you know about yourself two weeks ago that you now know?

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. I myself am convinced, my brothers (sisters), that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another. ~Romans 15:13-14

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Grand Blessings

If you came from a parent (that would be all of us) you know what a blessing it is to overhear positive comments made about you by that parent to a friend (or maybe the other parent). In a parenting class that I once facilitated, I actually suggested that parents do this for their kids on a regular basis-- bless them with words they are catching by default.

At this writing I am so excited by the arrival tonight of my little granddaughters, who with their lovely parents, have been visiting their other granny and extended family in the Philippines for five months. I believe that the chief function of a grandparent is to affirm the stuffing out of their grandchildren. Over the months that they have been gone I have had the opportunity to think of lots of positive words I want to say and to stock my house up with "tools" for activities that we can work on together. I have also been plugging away at a website called A Natural Gran that has become my map of what kind of grandmother I want to be in reality. I desire to be one source of positive, affirmative, blessing words and actions sunk deep into my granddaughters' consciousness and even into those "secret" places that we talked about yesterday as the unconscious.

I am very blessed to have had two sets of grandparents during my entire childhood into my adulthood. I was an oldest grandchild, both sides. I have no recollections of ever having been verbally berated or physically harmed by any of my grandparents. They were 'pressure release valves'-- a place for us kids to go when my parents were experiencing unusual stresses, and they were about as close to unconditionally loving as one will ever find on this planet. They treated me like I was interesting, lovable, and brilliant. One grandma surprised me by having a short story I wrote published in a local newspaper (when I was about eight) and sent me roses on the opening night of a high school play I was acting in. My other granny talked to me about my family history and gave me suitcases full of my great-aunt's diaries and poetry, expressing the hope that I would 'do something' with the writings. I saw each of these events as affirmations of my potential. Their blessings were their legacy to me.



Thinking Work:Take out your paper and pen. Recognize the brimming-over potential of your life-- how your creativity shows up, how passionate you are about what and who you love, and all the favour with which God surrounds you. This is who you really are! Take time now to write the TOP TEN TRUTHS about who you really are-- the positive statements about you as a worthy Child of God.

I am God's workmanship. ~Ephesians 2:10

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Tender Words From Your Lips...

Do you suffer from the names YOU call yourself?

We have previously talked about the power of the 'tapes from the past'-- all those nasty discouraging words that play back whenever we feel down about ourselves.

Fortunately, because of God's free gift of salvation, we can accept His wonderful offer of a new start... You can tell yourself, "I am a new creation. I have been chosen and anointed to bear fruit. (John 15:16) I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Tim. 1:7)". Start repeating what I believe are 'Christian affirmations' and you will believe it-- you will begin to anticipate positive things in your life!

Did you know that the words you use about yourself have more power than anyone else's for you? If you hear this internal commentary long enough it will have an impact-- for positive or negative-- on your life. Your memory is a reliable storage closet for all of the good and bad experiences of your life.

The early Christian leader, Augustine, believed that memory extended beyond the grasp of the conscious mind.

King David begged God, in Psalm 19:12-13, to show him his 'secret' faults (i.e., those faults that were not accessible to his conscious understanding) and he asked that God would not let these same thoughts "have dominion" over him-- that is, obsess him to the point where he gave them more significance than they deserved-- that they did not 'bring him down'.

Paul refers to a 'root of bitterness' in Hebrews 12:15. Unless God points out that this root (hidden and growing) has sprung up in us, we are usually not even aware of its presence in, and deep impact on, our lives.

Such is the power of the 'secret' (i.e., sub-conscious) programming that causes us to castigate ourselves in ways that most of us would be very loathe to treat others.

It is powerfully important for us to declare good things for ourselves every day!


Thinking Work:Get out your pen and paper. Before you start, close your eyes, relax, and think about all of the love in your life. Recall how much you are loved by people you know care about you, and think about how much you love each of them. Meditate for a few minutes on the love that God has shown for you. Now list some of the names you are most likely to call yourself in times of discouragement and impatience. Now, like a good, unconditionally-loving parent, choose positive statements that will transform you from feeling down to feeling loved.

If you are someone who has had a lot of profound 'abuses' in your life and often find it difficult to press forward-- you feel 'stuck'-- I would like to suggest that you might want to check out the work of Christian psychologist, Larry Nims. He has developed a way of getting in touch with, and clearing out, emotional hurts that have lodged in our 'secret parts'. Sometimes we need to do this work before we can move on to find out what the real work of our lives is!

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God. ~1 Peter 2:9

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Projecting the Positive

Unbelievably, God is more interested in what I am becoming rather than what I did along the route. As I like to point out (and it is NOT original of me) we are human beings, not human doings. And God loves me-- and you-- regardless. He delights in catching you in a private joyful moment, unlike some of those 'parent figures' from your past (read:teachers, parents, grandparents, religious leaders, older siblings) who seemed to live to catch you doing something naughty. God actually wants you to have joy and peace on an on-going basis, and you can!

But first we need to work on really dumping those negatives. Have you been anywhere lately where you could hear any echo of what you call out? Some of us go through our lives calling out "You are such a stupid, stupid...", "When will you ever learn?", "Why did you have to go and do that?" Those are the statements we echo back, the way we think of ourselves. What do you think would happen if you changed your echo to state "You've got what it takes!", "You're God's Favourite Child", or "You are the apple of His eye!" Maybe you ought to give it a try.

I am very happy that my son and his wife decided to nickname their first child "Apple" as a reminder to her that she is the 'apple of God's eye'. Nicknames like these can be such a blessing. What nickname would you like to wear, given all the right opportunities to so name yourself? How would you feel when someone you love called out that name that you love?


Thinking Work:Get out your pen and paper. Take the negative messages you give yourself, those dusty, moldy hand-me-downs, and re-write them. Here are some actual affirmations taken right from Scripture that you might want to use as well:
John 10:29 "I cannot be taken out of God's hand"
John 1:12 "I am God's child".
Col. 2:10 "I am complete in Christ"
Jude 1:24 "I am faultless before God"
Heb. 4:16 "I can find grace and mercy to help in time of need."
Matthew5:13, 14 "I am the salt and light of the earth"
1 Cor. 3:16 "I am God's Temple."

Wow, eh? We will cover more in the days to come.

How about this quote? Winston Churchill once said, "We are all worms, but I believe I am a glowworm."

For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own. ~Samuel 12:22

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Let Go & Hold On!

John Bradshaw, the "father of the recovery movement", says in his book Healing the Shame that Binds You: Recovery Classics Edition, that “To be shame-bound means that whenever you feel any feeling, need or drive, you immediately feel ashamed.” Think of the Prodigal Son-- when he sat among the pigs he felt so desperate and low that he considered eating the pigs' chow (by the way, possibly carob pods were what the hogs were fed). Soon he decided that he would be better off to go home... we are treated to a recount of his utter surprise at his father's thrilled and delighted welcoming of him home. In spite of how inadequate he felt, and how ashamed of the choices he made.

Our Heavenly Father is like that. He knows us from the womb where he created us. He can see our comings and goings, and our coming-back to him, long before we even know what we are going to do. He is ever ready to embrace us back into that place of warmth and peace that we often eschew in favour of whatever choices result in us feeling shame-filled and undeserving.

Shame often gets in the way of our fulfilling our dreams. We feel unworthy, lower than pond scum, and so on... and then we give up the BIG DREAM that God has gifted us with. If you are there right now, give your head a shake. God is waiting to celebrate with you-- to watch you unwrap each gift He has given you.


Thinking Work: Take your pen and paper. Reflect on how you feel about the Good News that God's face will ALWAYS be turned toward you. Write how you feel about having God on your team as you keep pressing toward the achievement of your BIG DREAM. What role does God have on the team? What is your role? Write about one of the meetings you and God will have to discuss strategies for achieving your BIG DREAM. Make sure that any shameful thoughts are firmly set aside (imagine doing that-- maybe the 'shameful thoughts' are ugly green blobs with broken yellow teeth, for example)when you do anything toward achieving your BIG DREAM.

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess you are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." ~Romans 10:10-11

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Begin With Grace

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. ~Ephesians 2:8-10

Hanging on to our sins is a bad habit, especially after we have asked for forgiveness. If you ask, "God can you forgive me for this?" and then go about doing what the Lord asks you to do (asking forgiveness of your brother/sister and forgiving any who have sinned against you)-- then you must KNOW that you are well and completely forgiven... that grace has made you completely free from that particular sin or sin-set.

Let it go!

We are NOT worthy in ourselves, but the Good News is that God has made us worthy through the blood of his son, Jesus.

And God sees YOU as totally worthy because of this. He blinks at your flaws and shortcomings and delights in your growth and the changes you are making! You are his precious Child!


Thinking Work: Write a prayer thanking God for the grace and mercy that has come into your life as a result of His Love for you. Close your eyes and focus briefly on your BIG DREAM-- imagine God touching this picture with the tips of his fingers and bringing it into brighter, more Technicolor clarity. This BIG DREAM was given to you by God and He doesn't want it sullied by your inability or unwillingness to accept His mercy and blessings with each new day.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-- yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. ~Hebrews 4:15-16

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Tuning In

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes... Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place. ~Ephesians 6:10-11, 14

Today's coaching pointer is another one of those short and bittersweet ones... I don't have to harp. You know what it means to "second-guess" yourself... to ignore the positive messages that you are getting and to pay attention to the discouraging and sometimes repetitive negative messages. Like someone very close to me. At a recent meeting he was commended for some work that he did and on the heels of that, he heard a very negative message from another person-- not even directly involving him. He came home focused on the second rant, taking responsibility for that person's unhappiness.

I recall a time when I did a workshop and we were each 'peer reviewed' for a presentation that we had done. Nine of the slips of paper I received had glowing remarks about what a terrific job I had done-- the tenth slip said something like, "Could have been better organized." Well, instead of feeling delighted by the positive (and equally genuine, valid)feedback, I immediately flashed on all my feelings of inadequacy around my organizational skills. I beat myself up good until a friend asked me about the other comments I had received and helped me to tip my perspective back.

We all make mistakes. Acknowledge your sins and mistakes, and then press forward towards that BIG DREAM... don't allow yourself to live condemned during the process!


Thinking Work: Take out your pen and paper. Identify ways in which you are tempted to believe the accusing voices you hear-- maybe in a relationship, in your work, or because of certain habits you have not yet overcome... Write down each "accusation" and write beside it: "God has made me a worthy person. I KNOW God gave me my BIG DREAM and is helping me achieve it...!" Now, go forth and tune into all the messages that PROVE this!

The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever-- do not abandon the works of your hands. ~Psalm 138:8

If you care to comment on this blog, it would really be appreciated! Want to share your BIG DREAM? Was today's task helpful? Leave your comment by clicking here.

*Join us here for 40 days of exploring your dreams and the potential to use more than 10% of the gifts God has laid before you...FREE. This is Day #8--want to start with Day #1? Need a reminder? Register below and you will be sent a reminder email each day for the next 40 days (and your email will NOT be sold or given to any third party).

Picking Your Passion

This is the truth, and it is much-stated, simple, and profound: if you follow God's calling for you, you WILL live with passion and joy.

Today's question: Are you working at something that is pleasurable, rewarding, pretty natural to your skills and talents, and 'fires your engines'? If yes, then you are probably 'following God's calling'. This is what God has designed you for.

If, on the other hand, you are bored or hate what you are doing; if the work feels mundane, humiliating, and/or meaningless, this is likely NOT your purpose in life. Believe me, God does not intend for you to live a miserable and unfulfilled life. When you discover your destiny, you WILL THRIVE!


Thinking Work: Get out your pen and paper. Think about what 'drives you', what you feel passionate about. Name Your Passion. Describe it and tell about what you have done with it so far. List THREE STEPS you can take to make your passion the centre of your BIG DREAM...

For you have created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. ~Psalm 139: 13-14

*Join us here for 40 days of exploring your dreams and the potential to use more than 10% of the gifts God has laid before you...FREE. This is Day #7--want to start with Day #1? Need a reminder? Register below and you will be sent a reminder email each day for the next 40 days (and your email will NOT be sold or given to any third party).

The Spirit of Excellence

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. ~Colossians 3:23-24

I have a neighbor who has the annual neighborhood garden party in her backyard each summer. The gathering started out as a way to keep everyone up to speed on disaster planning (yes, we live on beautiful Vancouver Island and we live on a shifty fault line). Eventually, because of their extraordinarily beautiful gardens, the planning agenda was dropped but the party continued.

Mary, the gardens' creator, told me that when they purchased their property a dozen years ago, the yard was just an expanse of lawn. (Some environmentalists call lawn "green desert"). They started the first year by planning a garden for a strip of the yard that was about 70' by 10 feet, and used this system each year, until bit by bit the yard grew into a minor paradise.

They had a vision, a plan/strategy, and then they put in the hard work to bring the vision about. Their vision and hard work has definitely positively impacted on everyone in our neighborhood.

You too can have a positive impact on your family and friends and customers and anyone else you come into contact with-- and even into the future of your family-- just by your own spirit of excellence! As a Child of God, you are called to that spirit of excellence!


Thinking Work:Even if you haven't arrived at a place of realization of your dreams, please know that your hard work and positive attitude will result in a difference for your family and in your own happiness. You are fortifying your DNA with strength and courage and the kind of upbeat attitude that will be immortalized in your children and grandchildren. With your pen and paper, write down the ten qualities you most want to pass on to your kids and grandkids. Describe how you are sowing seeds of these same qualities right now in your life.

As an added piece of learning, read how another coach and Olympic athlete expresses his excellent spirt and vision to achieve his dreams. Click here.

*Join us here for 40 days of exploring your dreams and the potential to use more than 10% of the gifts God has laid before you...FREE. This is Day #6--want to start with Day #1? Need a reminder? Register below and you will be sent a reminder email each day for the next 40 days (and your email will NOT be sold or given to any third party).

Sins of the Fathers...

DreamingYou-- Day #5
Are you struggling with one or more of the 'negative patterns' from your family's past? That doesn't make you bad... those choices were made by someone else and now you are paying for them. Time to make some changes in your life!


Thinking Work: Let's look at burying those generational curses. First you have to identify your own flaws and shortcomings and negative patterns. Admit them! Write them down. You WILL be liberated. After each weakness that you have listed, write down "All Things Are Possible With God" and decide to commit to change.

This is tough to do, so today's assignment is short and bitter-sweet.

"Many, O LORD, my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare." ~Psalm 40:5

*Join us here for 40 days of exploring your dreams and the potential to use more than 10% of the gifts God has laid before you...FREE. This is Day #5--want to start with Day #1? Need a reminder? Register below and you will be sent a reminder email each day for the next 40 days (and your email will NOT be sold or given to any third party).

Let Go Of Your Internal Nag

I am a 57-years old Christian. I am retired from a pretty interesting and fulfilling career and I have a coaching certificate, grandchildren, a loving family. But you know what? (And all my family members and close friend will attest to this)-- I STILL struggle with the 'old internal tapes'.

Take today. My husband and I drove to a nearby town to visit a friend's son in ICU-- he had been in a scooter accident and his mother-- several hundred miles away-- was concerned that perhaps he was in a coma (someone had reported to her that he was "not responding" and had to go in for a CT-scan later in the day). We were admitted to the ICU and when we were preparing to pray with him we were pulled aside by the nurse and I was chastised for "wearing a strong fragrance". Now, I DO wear essential oils, and I have my own set of beliefs around them (i.e., that people who are wearing a great deal of chemicals in cosmetics such as hairspray, etc., or who are taking pharmaceutical medications, will go into a detox process when exposed to high quality essential oils). So I was quite shocked and not a little angry. We were quickly escorted out of the unit. In spite of my husband's support and indignation at my treatment, I began to feel guilty about what I had done.

Home again, with our friend also 'feeling bad' for our treatment (she had asked me to take up a number of healing oils for her son) I had to recognize that at the very most I had 'made a mistake'. I had not intentionally gone into the ward wearing my usual essential oils to 'make a statement'. I need to cut myself some slack, just as I would with my friends when they offend me. Then I need to say, "God, please forgive me for this insensitivity and help me to be more effective the next time I go into the hospital." That done, I need to let it go and move on.


Thinking Work: Remember: You are a Child of God... not perfect yet... but a unique creation of the Master of the Universe. No matter how many screw-ups you make, you have inside you the seed of Almighty God. Each day you need to anticipate the amazing blessings and favour of God, who calls you "the apple of my eye". Take some time and write out the negative messages you give yourself... your thoughts, self-criticisms, and self-doubts. Read them over. How do you feel? Reflect on the following Scripture passages and KNOW that you are forgiven and loved!

Because you got a double dose of trouble and more than your share of contempt, Your inheritance in the land will be doubled and your joy will go on forever. ~Isaiah 61:7 The Message

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, and the new has come!" ~2 Corinthians 5:17

*Join us here for 40 days of exploring your dreams and the potential to use more than 10% of the gifts God has laid before you...FREE. This is Day #4--want to start with Day #1? Need a reminder? Register below and you will be sent a reminder email each day for the next 40 days (and your email will NOT be sold or given to any third party).





*Want to have your own personal Life Purpose Coach? Come and read about it at Blaze Coaching.

Who Are Your People?

DreamingYou Day #3
Have you ever traced your family line back? You can do it on the internet these days, with the odd snail-mail letter needed... but you can not really go back as far as you need to to be assured of your spiritual pedigree...

You are a Child of God...

Your bloodline is made up of the most beautiful, intelligent, talented people who ever lived.

Your ancestors have passed along to you DNA filled with strength, ability, courage, determination, and faith.

It doesn't matter one bean what your present condition renders... you might be addicted, you might be phobic and fearful of all things. You still have the potential to succeed at being the best you you were meant to be.

Thinking-Work: Let go of focusing on your weaknesses and flaws. Consider the heroes and heroines in the Bible stories you have read-- Ruth, David, Lydia, Daniel, Nehemiah, Deborah, Joshua, Mary, Joseph, Hannah... These were flesh-and-blood people with mortal flaws. But they loved God. What about you? What if your dream was recorded, as reality, in the Bible... what would we read about you and your chosen journey? Write a detailed description that reflects what God has to say about you.

I am proud of my son Phil for offering a free e-book he wrote on Chapter 11 of Hebrews, the "faith chapter". If you want to read it, go here.

*Join us here for 40 days of exploring your dreams and the potential to use more than 10% of the gifts God has laid before you...FREE. This is Day #3--want to start with Day #1? Need a reminder? Register below and you will be sent a reminder email each day for the next 40 days (and your email will NOT be sold or given to any third party).





*Want to have your own personal Life Purpose Coach? Come and read about it at Blaze Coaching.

A Boot from God...

DreamingYou Day #2
Yesterday we talked about the "Big Dream" and asked you to ssssssttttttttrrrreeeeetttcccchhhhhh your imagination to embrace it... don't settle for a little more than what you are capable of when you haven't even tapped into 90% of your potential...

Did you write out your Big Dream in detail, listing the first 3 things you will do towards accomplishing it? No? Well, do that now. I'll wait right here...

Okay.

Remember yesterday we talked about how sometimes people just get too comfy to really go after their dreams?

Even when they see "doors closing to them" all over the place, they know that they can still just go back home to sitting in front of the TV in their undershirt slugging back beer and watching their favourite TV shows... or they can watch their favourite TV shows elsewhere (in the homeless shelter or jail even).

Is this God's Plan for this person? I don't think so.

Getting lost in a bad habit or addiction... drinking, drugging, shopping, gambling, negativism.... can really get in the way of having our dreams come true.

And remember, God planted those dreams... those are His Seeds! He wants to see you bring those dreams to fruition. He loves YOU more than anyone else ever could-- your spouse, your mother even... more than you could even love yourself... and He wants the best for you.

When the doors start slamming in your face, take a step back and posture yourself for some amazing adventures. Get yourself right with God... let go and let God, as the AA guys say. Go into rehab. Get into The Word. Hang out with some happy, Jesus-loving people who will encourage you to press forward with your dream (avoid those folks who want to pull you down into the rat-infested trenches of negativity).

Now, look around for the Opening Doors...

Think-Work: List three things that really disappointed and discouraged you in the past... to the point where you thought, "This is the end!" Now describe the new thing that God did to turn each of these calamities into blessings (open doors). I'd really love to hear what some of your "testimonials" are... to share (and encourage all who read what you share), click here.

Get prepared for more ssssssssssttttttrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeetttttttccccchhhhhhh exercises as you pursue your dream-- you will probably stretch right out of your current comfort zone. Also get prepared for blessings if God has to jolt you a little to get the change happening.

But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in him.
He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit. ~Jeremiah 17:7-8

*Join us here for 40 days of exploring your dreams and the potential to use more than 10% of the gifts God has laid before you...FREE. Want to Start with Day #1? Need a reminder? Register below and you will be sent a reminder email each day for the next 40 days (and your email will NOT be sold or given to any third party).





*Want to have your own personal Life Purpose Coach? Come and read about it at Blaze Coaching.

God's Amazing Gifting Ceremony...

DreamingYou Day #1
It's a well-known fact, I think, that neurologists say that most people use less than 10% of their brain power. So, for you and me, that means we have a whopping big potential to be changed, to learn, to discover, to blossom-- even if we are already in our so-called "twilight" years.

When we were born God gifted us each with talents, abilities, and creative genius that was unlimited in its scope for excellence. Over the years we have been discouraged and stymied, and some of us just give up.

Sometimes we just get comfortable.

After a while we wear our gifts like they were old run-down shoes... we just slip into them, carelessly, unthinkingly, and before too long, hey, they don't even serve anymore. Like old shoes that are finally thrown out. Your feet sometimes go looking for them in the early morning... but they're gone.

But, you know what? Whether or not we use our gifts, talents, and abilities does not lessen our potential... our God-powered battery kit continues to be just as super-charged today as it was when we were fresh new in the world. However you were treated as a child, however unfair things have been throughout your life-- does not have a flake or a feather to do with your potential-- your potential is unaffected.

So what is your biggest dream?? God put that dream into your imagination and He has given you everything to achieve it! Dream HUGE! Don't focus on where you are right now, today-- think about where you will be... where God wills you to be!

Get out your paper and pen (or use your computer Notepad) and write the first, second, and third steps to getting to where you want to go... Be detailed. Really stttrrrrrreeeeeettttttcccccchhhhh toward that dream-- that God-given dream!

The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." ~Isaiah 58:11

*Join us here for 40 days of exploring your dreams and the potential to use more than 10% of the gifts God has laid before you...FREE. Do the homework above and come back tomorrow! Need a reminder? Register below and you will be sent a reminder email each day for the next 40 days (and your email will NOT be sold or given to any third party).





*Want to have your own personal Life Purpose Coach? Come and read about it at Blaze Coaching.

**Header photo courtesy of Nerian
**Photo of girl writing courtesy of Nsle at sxc.hu