verse to reflect on...

When I was doing my garage sale yesterday, Larry was on his way out to the meetings and he
asked us (Martha, Cynthia and I) if we were ready for something to think about/on for the day.  We said sure!  He started, Worry...(Martha is sitting on my right and Cynthia on my left), they both turned and looked at me - we had just been discussing worries, stress and my comment on needing more patience and more faith...Larry says, "what?" so I had to fill him in, his topic was right in line with our conversation already for the day.  

Worry is making your problems bigger than God's promises. Faith is putting it all in God's hands. -Larry Balderson

He commented on Psalms 46:1, 10...Be Still means to "be at rest, lay your hands down".

another garage sale!

So, if you remember, I did a garage sale two weeks ago.  Everyone donated their goods to my cause in the end of it and all this was setup Friday & Saturday for another sale at Bev's house.  I did the sale along with Bev, Martha and Cynthia.  It was very slow...not lots of customers, but in spite of all that, we really did well!  We did $925 of which I made $161 (after spending $12.75)!  So between my last sale, the things I have sold betwee on Craigs List, and then this weekend's sale, I have met my goal to make enough to pay my house payment!  YAH!!!  I contemplated doing another sale, but decided I am done with this for the remainder of this year.  We all donated all the leftover stuff to Milka as she does flea market sales.

I want to thank everyone for their donated items and the Lord for knowing my need and seeing to it that I met it!

Quotes

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by doing the thing which you think you cannot do.
– Eleanor Roosevelt

song ~ shadow of your cross

Shadow of Your Cross
Joel Engle


Lamb of God, Son of man how you suffered how You bled
With a crown of thorns pressed upon Your head
You chose the road of pain
You walked the hill of all my shame, all my shame


In the shadow of Your cross, I will live for all my days
How could I forget the price You paid
In the shelter of Your love I will give You all my praise
In the shadow of Your cross I will stay


Man of sorrows crucified pure and holy sacrifice
As the hammer hit the nail You offered up Your life
You gave up heaven for Your own
You took our punishment alone
You were so alone


In the shadow of Your cross, I will live for all my days
How could I forget the price You paid
In the shelter of Your love I will give You all my praise
In the shadow of Your cross I will stay


O King of Majesty
Forever I will sing
Of the gift You gave to me
You game to me


In the shadow of Your cross, I will live for all my days
How could I forget the price You paid
In the shelter of Your love I will give You all my praise
In the shadow of Your cross I will stay


In the shadow of Your cross, I will live for all my days
I will live I will live for you
How could I forget the price You paid
In the shelter of Your love I will give You all my praise
In the shadow of Your cross I will stay
In the shadowof Your cross I will stay
Man of Sorrows, oh Lamb of God, I will stay

Quotes

Of course it's easier to solve other people's issues, that's why you chose more challenging ones.

verse to reflect on...

Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.
-Proverbs 16:3, NKJV

Try it in your own life. Commit your works, all that you do, to the Lord. The wisest man who has ever lived, or ever will live, is saying that this is truly the only way to live.

which way on this journey???

Today, I am having one of those days.  You know, one when you ask lots of questions that you don't have the answer to?  Yup...the ones that you wish you had that would give you a clue about your journey??? 

I took some time out this evening before meeting one of my employees at the clinic and did some emails...requesting that you pray for me.  I am now taking a moment to post my thoughts here in my online journal for you...my online friends...to be able to pray also and know what is going on in my head right now too.  

I am having a hard time right now keeping my focus and believing God has a plan and will show me what I am to be doing with regards to work and creating a means of income for me...the question that I can't seem to answer is: am I to just get a job or will I get more clients? I landed a client a month ago, but to date they have used me minimally for consulting.  The weeks are starting to stack up since I lost my job.  The anxiety is starting to weigh in and the thought of how to make this decision is beginning to frustrate me.  If you can take a minute and ask the Lord to help me trust Him...help me to have more faith & believe that He truely does have a plan for my life...and ask him to show me what I need to be doing, I would appreciate it. I don't doubt that some of you have been, but right now, I seem to be struggling to maintain a good outlook with some recent turn of events.

I wish I could say that I was taking the time to get things caught up at home and enjoy the break from "work", but I haven't. I feel pressure to move to the next step and get money coming in. 

And today, I simply want wish I knew the answers to my journey.


I don't want to end this post without Thanking You for your Friendship, Love and Support!

Quotes

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
-Thomas Edison

give, love, do more = enjoy more

I watched this great video about giving, loving and doing more means you can enjoy more...and I want to share it with you.  Here are my take-aways:

We complain.  We cut corners.  We put ourself first.  How did we loose focus?  Forget what life's about? 

It takes service, contribution, attitude, action.  Connect with each other. 

Listen. 
Watch. 
Ask. 

It's about people, relationships, & connections. 

Be thankful for challenges...Be thankful for opportunities.

Complain less.

The small things have the biggest impact.

Have:  Purpose.  Committment.  Respect.

Exceptional results come from exceptional effort.

Give no excuses.

Give, love, do more and you will enjoy more.

Quotes

It is quite possible to work without results, but never will there be results without work.
– Anonymous

Get Motivated Seminar 2010

I attended the Get Motivated Seminar today with one of my employees.  I will recap for you my take-aways and nuggets:


Steve Forbes
Do things outside the box - even when you don't know how it will turn out.  Do things differently.  Take some risks.  Often times success comes from those who utilize the services already in existence.  The little things are what makes the difference (i.e. coffee lids - one size fits all, vs sodapop lids - multiple sizes).  Be ready for serendipity.  Do things differently...like everyday things.  Make it simple.  Free enterprize with sensible rules.  Information without implementation is useless.


General Colin Powell
You have to go thru transitions in life.  Technology is changing life, how we learn, and how we do business.  It doesn't matter where you start in life...it's where you end up!  Book: The Greatest Generation.  Go thru life looking through the windshield not the rearview mirror & sideview mirrors.  Give people a future and a hope.  Do not be afraid.  Give them goals, a mission and a purpose...with passion.  Leaders must show intensity and be inspired.  Are you living the values you have in life?  Take care of, equip and train "your troops" (employees).  186miles per a second = speed of lightening.  The leader must do all this.  Recognize your troops....they will glow all day.  We all have anxiety's, fears, ambitions, goals, etc.  The leader will be in touch with all in the organization.  Don't hesitate to do what you need to do.  Trust is the essence of ALL leadership.  Be generous and open.


Laura Bush
We all have our own stories.  Books not only move people but define and encourage us on our journey.  It is the job of all of us to stand up and make a difference.


Krish Dhanam
If you're happy, acknowledge your face.  Stand tall.  Have geniune leadership.  Restore relationships.  Amicable partnerships.  You have to have belief in your soul.  Equality or Fairness?  Complete ownership.  "I wish I had" or "I am glad I did".  Sometimes before you speed up, you must slow down.  Effective stewardship.  Give more than you have.  You have to have something to give to do so.  Leave more than you take.  Offer praise to those loved.  Whose applause matters?  Book: The American Dream from Indian Times.  We are too cheap to offer dignity.  Don't hide behind political correctness.


Chris Andrews
Debt makes you distracted.  Have the will to take action.  Visualize.


Emmit Smith
Have a strategy.  It takes hard work and dedication.  Have mentors.  All things begin and end in faith.  Think beyond the end of the game.  Even thru adversity opportunities emerge.  It is a decision and choice if you don't take action.  You will be knocked down - pick yourself back up.  You will have to fight and fight hard.  Do your job with passion and integrity.  When you strive to be your best you and your team will be successful!  Learn, hone and develope your skills.

1. it all begin and ends with faith
2. claim inner champion
3. write down goals
4. define yourself and be a champion
5. recognize your vision
6. have fun - you only have one life
7. don't give up
8. never strive for perfection - strive for excellence
9. be open for critics
10. do whatever it takes to be successful, and be consistent


Krish Dhanam
Success is who you are from where you begin to where you end.  We are mental, physical and spiritual beings. 
IQ = intelegence
EQ = will
SQ = soul
all these (IQ, EQ, SQ) = YOU
Lord become #1 in my life.  Transform me to be the kind of person who you want me to be.  Forgive me of my transgressions.  When this is your heart, He will be the pilot of your life.  His purpose is what you were created for.  Cut out of your heart that which truely doesn't matter.


Dr Robert Schuller
You/I can sin and make mistakes.  You/I can go to heaven or hell.  Cut the word impossible out of your life.  If we don't have Jesus in our heart we have nothing.  You can start over again.  Faith is the capacity to believe what you do not have. Live with faith not with doubts.  God is alive.  Positive thinkers are always winners.  God loves you!


Julie Ziglar & Zig Ziglar
Help is needed in whatever you are doing.  You can have everything in life you wnt if you help enough other people get what they want and need.  Encouragement is very important.  The "economy" is in your head.  God didn't make junk.  You need to treat each other in a loving way.  Tell the truth and people will trust you...trust is the magic word.  "Cold Hard Cash" is neither hard nor cold...it is soft and warm.  You can't get anything without character.  A sense of humor is one of the most important things in life.  Say: I love you and believe in you!  You have to put something in before you can get something out...you may have to pump long enough...hard enough...and with the right attitude!


Ryan Smith
What is the definition of a business?  Provide a product or service that makes a profit.  Are yo just busy being busy?  You need to be out to serve the other party.  Instill a work ethic.  I blieve prayer works.  He that is good with little is given much.  Believers know why they are givers.  Income does not determine class.  Every action has an equal reaction.  If you don't have a plan, nothing will happen.  A written plan is 300% better!  What is your purpose?  Serving people will bring you happiness...money doesn't.  You serve to make it...you give to keep it.  There is only one race - the Human Race.  Serving to benefit others should be your purpose.


Troy Aikman
Success takes hard work...no shortcuts and easy way out.  Put in the time.  You know when you are working hard.  We all need influential mentors and coaches...to make a "team".  What makes a great leader?  To be effective you have to explain the goal.  Each member on the team will have their own goals and bring different attributes to the table.  People make things tougher than they need to...keep it simple...pull back.  Go in fully prepared - it will make your competition have to be just as prepared or work twice as hard.  Getting knocked down has tought me to move and has been my greatest accomplishments.  Give everything you have...even if it doesn't work out, something else will.  Listen...play hard...be a good teammate.


Terry Bradshaw
Realize who you are.  Be still and listen.  God will tell you what to do.  Be real with yourself.  Know your limits. Be thankful you are alive today.  Be what God wants you to be.  Work hard at it.  Be happy...you have to have joy inside.  Understand your limits...and know what you are good at.  We are all limited.  Learn how to smile...you will meet lots of people.  When you become successful, people will make fun of you and take shots at you.  Keep things simple and in perspective.  You have choices.  Have a plan.  Say Thank You to someone else.


Stephen Pierce
1. The biggest threat to your future is the past you won't let go of.
2. You can't make money and excuses at the same time.
3. It's not about it getting better...it is about you getting better.

It is not about what is going on on the outside, but what is going on on the inside.  It isn't about proximity, it is perspective.  Change isn't always comfortable, but it is possible.


Rudolph Giuliani
Spend time individualizing your thoughts and beliefs.  We are in an instant information age.  Stay connected.  Make technology work for you.  You have to figure it out and use it.  You have to do more things and be intentional in leadership.  Empower yourself with information.  Have strong beliefs.  Have goals.  When you prepare, you do better.  Be determined.

1. Read books: write down what interests you.
2. Listen: to other people.  copy them (the ones you admire).
3. Write: things down...pro's & con's. goals.
4. Think & Meditate: everyday.
5. Care about & love people: be there for your friends - it is the best social safety net.

There are lots of winds...lots of waves...lots of distractions.  Stop and take a break.  Think of the morale of the people.

Quotes

Forgive and give as if it were your last opportunity. Love like there's no tomorrow, and if tomorrow comes, love again.
— Max Lucado

Quotes

Evermore people today have the means to live, but no meaning to live for.
-Viktor Frankl

Massive Multi-Family Garage Sale

I had a pile of stuff in the garage that I wanted to sell and get rid of.  Over the last few weeks, I have been going thru closets, cupboards, drawers, boxes and pulling together anything I have not used since I moved into the house 3.5yrs ago (or do not need or do not want).  I had accumulated a nice size pile including an old front door, an antique secretary desk, embroidery sewing machine, old Singer sewing machine, a set of china, toaster oven, and much more.  Shelley invited me to be a participant at her sale in Pecan Plantation and I seized the opportunity!  I exchanged vehicles and borrowed Jeff's big monster 16 passenger van last night to load up everything and be able to make one trip out to Pecan Plantation.  Halfway out to Pecan Plantation, I remembered I forgot my beveled glass & dark wood room divider screen that I wanted to sell.  I was very irritated and upset with myself for forgetting such an important nice item that I thought would have a better chance of selling by being in such a nice neighborhood.  Since the drive out there is like 45-50minutes one way, and so I decided to forget it and realize I made a mistake by not doing a double check through the entire house after loading things up or making a list of the important things to remember so that I wouldn't have forgotten it.  There were several of us doing the garage sale together at Shelley's.  The whole front yard was covered in furniture and the driveway was completely lined with tables.  It was one packed sale!  The weather was very nice to draw the customers, quite cold in the morning and really pretty warm in the afternoon sitting in the sun...but we made $2500 total in the sale, of which I made $255.50!  I am very excited and happy to have made half a house payment!!!  Lots and lots of hard work, but it paid off!  Everyone donated their goods to my cause in the end and I will be doing another garage 2day sale in 2weeks, this time, at Bev's.  The big beast was completely packed!  My big goal is to make the remainder of my house payment at the next sale  - or at minimum to make another $100.  With all I had packed in that van, I think this is completely doable.

computer drama...let's erase today

Do you ever have a day you just wanna erase?  Wish you could look back and have different results, or gone back to bed and started over? or simply never had at all?  yah, well, I am with you!  Today, I had one of those days...

I had set out to achieve a certain amount of organization and cleanup in my office.  I got one sack done...1 and I have probably 10!  Seriously, I am not exagerating.  That is not near enough accomplished with the impending garage sale in 3 days!  I also had planned to get one of my employee's computers fixed...after 6 hours, it still isn't!  I thought I knew enough about computers to fix it...but evidently I don't.  It took hours to even get Microsoft Windows XP reloaded...and only thanks to a very dear friend, did I even achieve that (because after entering the dumb product code, it kept telling me that it was invalid)!  I downloaded all 49files off of www.dell.com to my jump drive and then installed them on the this problem child laptop.  Some worked.  Some didn't.  I feel stupid.  I don't know why this is so complicated for me today...don't know what I am doing wrong and I must I tell you that I was and am beyond frustrated. Something like this should not be pushing me over the edge, but it is. I am calling it a day (after I finish this blog post to make me feel better) because I feel my day is and was wasted.  Must I tell you that I just keep crying and between all this computer mess???  Well, I am telling you...and between two other things that came up, (my brother being upset with me and turning down an invitation to join a friend for dinner), I am done in.  Maybe I should have seriously thought abut just taking this in to a repair shop...it would have for sure been less stress. ;)  I can't remember when I last even cried! I am not in the mood for my two networking events tomorrow, a 1on1 meeting, or the mid-week christian worship activities, I wish I could cancel and stay home, but I can't. I won't let myself quit or think of another wasted day.  It has to be more productive than today was!!!  and I am sure after a hot shower, some sleeping aid and a big glass of water, and I am sleeping in my cozy bed, I won't be thinking of my IT service issues...just hope that when the alarm goes off at 5.30am tomorrow I hope I don't remember today.

Quotes

When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.
-Henri Nouwen

Quotes

When you blame others, you give up your power to change.
- Douglas Noel Adams

Quotes

When a friend is in trouble, don't annoy him by asking if there is anything you can do. Think up something appropriate and do it.
-Edward W. Howe

reflections...

How do you let the peace of God override your fear and your doubt and your pain and your circumstance? No matter who you are, no matter what you are going through, God knows it, He is with you and He is going to pull you through. God loves you! God has a plan for you.

Quotes

Strange as it may seem, my life is based on a true story.
- Ashleigh Brilliant