song ~ the sacrifice

The Sacrifice
by Greg Long

Who am I to choose to walk in green pastures pastures?
As if that’s what I deserve?
I try and try to live my life for what really matters
Anymore, I’m not so sure.
I get so caught in the good things you have given me,
I pray I don’t forget to see...
Chorus:
The sacrifice, the cross of Christ
The way you hung there you hung there so defenseless
With your arms held open wide.
The pain in your eyes, the tears you cried,
And the holy blood of mercy that poured out from your side
To give me life, it gives me life
The Sacrifice!


Blessed is the one who can see his own reflection
Within the suffering of the cross
Who can take the righteousness of his own making
Then count it all as loss
Though I pray it leaves me broken with a contrite heart
So I can see you as you are…
Chorus:
The sacrifice, the cross of Christ
The way you hung there you hung there so defenseless
With your arms held open wide.
The pain in your eyes, the tears you cried,
And the holy blood of mercy that poured out from your side
To give me life, it gives me life
The Sacrifice!


Everywhere, I turn I see, the evidence surrounding me
How can I not follow where he leads?
It calls me to a simple place,
Where everything is stripped away
All that’s left is what you really long for me to see…
Chorus:
The sacrifice, the cross of Christ
The way you hung there you hung there so defenseless
With your arms held open wide.
The pain in your eyes, the tears you cried,
And the holy blood of mercy that poured out from your side
To give me life, it gives me life
The Sacrifice!

It gives me life, The Sacrifice!
Oh o oh.
It gives me life, The Sacrifice!
Oh o oh.
It gives me LIFE, the Sacrifice!

Quotes

Before you speak, listen.
Before you write, think.
Before you spend, earn.
Before you invest, investigate.
Before you criticize, wait.
Before you pray, forgive.
Before you quit, try.
Before you retire, save.
Before you die, give.
~ William A Ward

song ~ rescue me

Rescue Me
by Wynonna Judd

What do you do when you're scared inside?
When all of your feelings seem to collide
Emotions just seem to let go
All of your tears always follow
All of these things that you're feeling deep down
And you realize that you're calling out loud

I love Thee
Rescue me
Shine your light lead me home
Lord, all I need is your love
I love Thee
Rescue me
Shine your light lead me home
Lord, all I need is your love
Rescue me, Rescue me

What do you do when the path leads nowhere?
When you need someone to be there
Now you're afraid of what's gonna come
And now there's nowhere to run
All of these things that you're feeling deep down
And you realize that you're calling out loud

I love Thee
Rescue me
Shine your light lead me home
Lord, all I need is your love
I love Thee
Rescue me
Shine your light lead me home
Lord, all I need is your love
Rescue me, Rescue me

Oh it's love sweet salvation
With Christ the Blessed Lamb
We can get through anything as long as it's you and me

I love Thee
Rescue me
Shine your light lead me home
Lord, all I need is your love
I love Thee
Rescue me
Shine your light lead me home
Lord, all I need is your love
Rescue me, Rescue me

song ~ whatsoever

I do not know who sings this song, but I am absolutely struck by the words and the way it is sung on the radio. Though I search online for it I come up with nothing...someday I hope I successfully find it!

Every single thing thats pure and lovely, whatsoever things are just and true, dedicate your heart and soul to follow and your mind will be renewed.

Spark People Healthy Reflections

ENJOYING THE MARATHON

Life is like a marathon. We run and run, not knowing where (or how far) the finish line lies. We focus so intensely on prolonging the race but sometimes--despite our best efforts--the race is cut short. Too often we don't relish the path of and enjoy the details instead of just pounding the pavement of life. What personal boundaries can you expand to help you enjoy your life? Today meditate on the simple joys: a warm bath, reading a book to a sleepy toddler, or spending quality time with your family and friends. All of life contains bumps in the road such as losing your job or an unforeseen illness. But it is up to us to determine the quality of our lives. Remember, we don't always determine the distance, but we can determine the path.

Book Review ~ The One Minute Manager

The One Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson

#1 set One Minute Goals: Agree on your goals. See what good behavior looks like. Write out in 250 words or less that follow observable and measureable behavior terms, not attitudes or feelings. Read and re-read your goals. Monitor your performance and see whether your behavior matches your goals. 80/20 Rule: 80% of your results will come from 20% of your goals.

Everyone is a potential winner. Some people are disguised as losers, don't let their appearances fool you. People who feel good about themselves, work better, work smarter, and are more productive and produce good results.

#2 give One Minute Praisings: Give praise immediately. Give precise crystal clear feedback on what was done right. "People who feel good about themselve produce good results". Encourage to do more of the same. Touch them in a way that makes it clear you support their success.

Help people reach their full potential, catch them doing something right.

#3 give One Minute Reprimands: Give as soon as something is done wrong, explaining specifically. Don't attack the person, just the behavior. Tell them how you feel about what they did wrong. Be consistent. Let them know you are on their side and you value them, but not their performance in this situation. When the reprimand is over, it's over.

We are not just our behavior we are the person managing our behavior.

Goals begin behavior, consequences maintain behavior.

Effective managers, manager themselves and the people they work with so that both the organization and the people profit from their presence.

The best minute I spend is the one I invest in people.

I completed this audio book today. It was short, but had some good points to reflect on, which I will do in the days ahead as I strive to be a better manager. It is my goal to be better at managing yself, so that I profit and others will profit from these efforts. I can be keen on the areas that have mistakes and not take enough time to let the person know how good they are doing and why I think so, beyond a general statement. This must be corrected if I expect to achieve winners on my team!

Keys to Achieving Your Goals

from daveramsey.com on 08 Jan 2010


Another year and another set of resolutions. If you're like most Americans, you'll probably forget your goals by mid-February. So how do you make your resolutions actually happen this year?

First, keep in mind that goals are dreams; but don't stop at just dreaming. Turn your dreams into bite-sized pieces that will gradually create a big event in your life. If you're waiting on an outside variable to change your life, you have a long wait. You have to do something. It's your responsibility to fix your life, not someone else's. It's time to sit down, make some goals, and take control. Use Dave's online goal tracker now.

Goal setting is how you win. Once you've made your resolutions, they will drive you forward. The goals will motivate you to seek activities that will help you succeed. It's not always fun, but those exercises bring you closer to your goal and make you a winner.

If you want to actually achieve your goals this year, then consider the following:
1.Be specific.

When setting goals, be specific in what you want to achieve. Vagueness will only cause you to feel overwhelmed, and you will just give up.


2.Make your goals measureable.

In order to know if you achieved the goal, it must be measurable. For example, if you want to lose weight, don't simply write down "lose weight" as a goal. How much weight do you want to lose? Or don't just write "spend more time with family." How much time do you want to spend with your family every night?


3.Are they your goals?

Only you can set your own goals. If your spouse, co-worker or friend sets a goal for you, you're not going to achieve it. Taking ownership will give you more incentive to meet your goal.


4.Set a time limit.


Setting a time frame will help you set realistic goals. For example, if you want to save more money, list how much money a month you want to put into your savings account.


5.Put them in writing.


Putting your goals in writing will make you much more likely to achieve them. Write down your goals and review them often. This will give you motivation to make them a reality.


This is the process to succeed. Successful people reassess their lives and then start living intentionally, in writing, on paper, on purpose. Make your resolutions a reality in this year!  What are your goals for 2010? Leave a comment below.  Check out Dave's resources to help you achieve your financial goals.

Real Simple Daily Thought

Waste your money and you're only out of money, but waste your time and you've lost a part of your life.
~ Michael Leboeuf

Brian Tracy Quote of the Day

It's not what you do once in awhile; it's what you do day in and day out that makes a difference.
~ Jenny Craig, diet guru

Spark People Healthy Reflections

VALUING TIME

Often our days are busied with worry, stress, complaining, work, and a general wasting of time. Once we finally realize the value of our time, often for many of us it is too late. While your life might seem like a long time in the midst of it, truly it is a blink of an eye. Today, make more time to be present in your life. Even small moments--enjoying a cup of tea, calling a friend, reading a favorite book--should be enjoyed. Restructure your day so that you can get all of your work done, but allow for extra time to be spent on personal matters. Stop procrastinating!

Quotes

If work was easy, businesses wouldn't have to pay people to do it.
~ Glenn Shepard

Journal: FRIENDS

http://www.dictionary.com/
FRIEND: 1. a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard; 2. a person who gives assistance


Why do friends seem to walk into your life, pull up a chair and stay awhile and leave, never to return? Or some make these drive by visits and wave leaving you dazed, staring after them with longing and wondering when to expect the next wake up call in the middle of the night? Seems very few to be the statue of friendship, true in every form. Are we all like in this quest for friends, or am I alone?


What are friends? How do we get them? How do we keep them? What defines them? Are they mutual or viewed only by one party as a friend? Are they really not a two way relationship? Do people need friends? Or are we just supposed to be friendly towards each other and not "have" friends? Maybe your life is perfect and you don't need any more friends, because you have SO MANY already? Why do some friends stick in their click of friends, this special group of people, thats plain you are not included as "their friend"...does this mean they don't like you? or maybe you are just useless? not very sweet? unfavorable to be around? Puuuhlease! I thought that was stuff done only in elementary school? but you meant to tell me its in workplaces and other environments too? Why? Don't they know it hurts peoples feelings? Makes them think something is wrong with them? Gives a complex that their friendliness is unwanted and therefore ignored? Makes them feel alone? Oh, I forgot, I am alone, remember??? I am single, have no man or kids, won't relate to what you are going through in life, and so having me around creates this 5th wheel syndrome thats too much to deal with? I know...I understand. But you think if you say "good to see you" when you walk by me, that makes up for you never calling to say hello? write an email to touch base and cheer me/them on their journey? invite over for a meal to warm my heart? chat by the fire just to be cozy? meet up mid-week for coffeee? Or is your life so filled with you and yours that you have no time for friends? Why? Do you really like it like that? Is it easier to have friends off in the distance? Is that why you can't find my phone number? Can't remember the web address to my blog to read whats going on in my life? Deleted me as your facebook friend? I forgot, your life is busier than mine...you have less time in your day than me. All these things I guess make you not obligated to keep me close to your heart because I am out of sight and out of mind, right? Maybe you think I have all the friends I need, for when you see me, I am not sitting in the corner alone, does that mean I don't need or want you in my life friend? You say, you have so much family, cousins, aunts, uncles, distant relatives, way more than me... so I do, did you know not one of them calls me, writes me, or does anything to stay in touch? that they feel nothing like family or relatives in anyway? Yah, really you should be proud, they don't even attempt what you do! You say you enjoy my emails, but do you think that I don't enjoy yours? or when I email you that I don't want a response?



Yah, I think friends are special but they take lots of work...they make you shed tears you can't shut off...they make you go leaps and bounds to do things absolutely beyond the moon to grab a star and bring it back so maybe just maybe they will know how much, how really much you care for them...they make you hold dear the good times shared and treasure them like they may be your last, because in reality, it might...but in the end, it all ends with many hours of prayer to know how to be a friend and keep one with the ultimate purpose to set aside my feelings and be open, kind, loving and generous friend regardless of or if I am really considered their friend.



So tonight I close my blog, wishing I had the answers and knew the way to solve the FRIEND problem...but for now, I continue to muse and discover how to be the FRIEND I want in my FRIENDs. I love you my friends!

Brian Tracy Quote of the Day

The important thing is to learn a lesson every time you lose.
~ John McEnroe, tennis champion

2010 Goals & Resolutions

personal goals
#1 begin each day in prayer that God direct me in my path & integrity of my heart; remember Sunday is renew your spirit day, no business work stuff

#2 create and implement Balance in all areas of the wheel of life (spiritual, physical, intellectual, family, social, career, and financial - each of these have goals within them)

#3 organize, cull, condense, minimize, sell or use up things in & around the casa - attack a section of a room each week for 30minutes

#4 lead a quiet life, one that creates peace; remove anything that doesn't contribute to this

#5 read 2 &/or listen to 2 audio books a month, at minimum

#6 make a list of things that need to be fixed, completed, or started on my house with regards to repairs/maintenance improvements - get two done a month

#7 resume monthly piano lessons - starting January 2010; establish a schedule for piano practicing to keep to commitment

#8 health: commit to a workout schedule 3-4 times weekly; log into sparkpeople.com daily; resume diet with no wheat, sugar or trans fats; take all vitamins & supplements daily; get 8hrs or more of sleep

#9 email my friends weekly; write my friend in prison once a month; entertain company once a month on Saturday night or Sunday afternoon

#10 pay off 2nd mortgage by the end of 2010


business goals
#1 complete design of website (www.medicalaccountsolutions.com) by February 1st, 2010

#2 create P&P Manual by June 2010 to include vision statement, mission statement, expectations for excellence, bonus/profit sharing structure, other benefits, expense reimbursement guidelines, dress code, time keeping, HIPAA compliance, etc

#3 review EntreLeadership materials quarterly for refreshment & encouragement (rehearse, execute, review)

#4 enroll in accounting courses to further education -fall 2010; take a course in Microsoft Office to learn more about graphs and pivots

#5 quarterly check in with EntreLeadership friends to motivate, encourage, gather ideas, share and cheer each other on success

#6 stick to weekly plan to help employer achieve financial goals for 2010 for cash flow

#7 complete all back filing for employer by summer 2010

#8 encourage positive thinking, support and morale of all coworkers & team

#9 review & define motivation, delegation, responsibility, accountability, and authority in my position so that I have a clear picture in view to stay focused on what I expect of me

#10 as a leader, I must be different

the day of New Years Eve 2009/2010

I had requested to have the day off (unpaid as I had no more PTO or Vacation time) to relax and enjoy the day preparing for the New Years Eve Game Night Party. I slept in till 10am...which felt lovely!!! I have been really tired as of late and am not sure if its my schedule catching up with me or if its the fact I have not been eating as I had been previously and therefore it has made me tired. Anyways, I got up and the first thing I did was to check my email and read one from Dr. Tom stating his phones were out at the house. I called the number and it stated it was no longer a working number. Not knowing whom the issue might be with because we have requested to be transferred to a new carrier...after 3hours of walking thru the issues, being transferred to 3 different departments, getting a ticket logged, and someone scheduled to go onsite and bring resolution to the issue now that someone had dropped the ball and made things much worse than they already were, I was now behind on the rest of my agenda for the day. I decided to make the most of my day and be optimistic, that it would all come together and work out just fine though I had more on my plate then I saw fit to accomplish. My car was in the shop and I had loaded up all the props last night in my rental car that I was to deliver to the meeting hall for my part in the decorations for the "Live Clue Game". I was starved but there was no time to eat, I had to get a move on it. I stuck some milk and water in to heat in the microwave, poured it into my togo cup and stuck a chai tea bag in it and rushed off to hit the road. Went to Terry's to ask him to assist me in unloading everything in the rain to make things more efficient, he was glad to help. I thought I would back up close to the gym door to help us not have to lug things so far through the rain and mud, a BIG MISTAKE! I kept saying, I can't get stuck Terry, I can't get stuck! What was I thinking??? I was already stuck!!! Yup, you got it, I got my rental car stuck in the mud...and to top it off, it was 2.15pm and I needed to be at the rental place by 3pm which is when they closed! With tears in my eyes and my voice quivering, I asked Terry to try to push and we could try to get out...didn't work. Jeff was not at home, he was in town running errands and unable to help me out of my fix. He told me what vehicle to use, where the straps were and how to use them to pull me ot. I had him tell Terry the same information because my brain was frozen...but all the while I was thinking, I don't have time for this!!! We continued to unload the car. Rachel Sebastian and Preston showed up to do some of their game stuff. I asked if they would kindly try to help push us out and they did. We made little progress and I was beginning to feel very helpless. Terry kept giving me directions on how to turn the wheel how much gas to use on this dumb automatic car, etc. I had NEVER been stuck in the mud before and I didn't like the feeling. Plus being in a car that wasn't mine made things all the worse...it was bigger and an automatic and I felt like I was going nowhere...I tried to take a deep breath and remember I wasn't a quiter...before long, I was out...wow! No the pressure was on to get gas and get there by 3pm...could I do it??? If not, I was going to be out more money with two more days car rental since tomorrow they would be closed due to the Holiday...I sure didn't want to spend money this way. Terry called me while I was driving on FM1187...he said he didn't know what to do when I started crying...I told him he did fine, but he hadn't seen crying yet! LOL!!! I told him not to feel bad, it was my fault, but he felt bad anyways because he told me to go in reverse further when I should have gone forward. It still was not his fault I am the one who decided to go in reverse and get myself stuck in the mud...it was my fault, no one elses!!! Plain stupid of me! I pulled up to the gas station unable to see what side the gas tank was on in this four door silver Hyundai Sonata. Of course, it was on the other side, but I thought I could deal with it, you know most of the pumps these days usually have that pulley thing so I could make it work, wrong! Not this old place. Get back in, move to the other side, people starring, license plate is Tennessee, yah, I know I am some pale face white female in a skirt who doesn't know what she is doing...okay, if you only knew my peridicament! I hurried...how much gas? where the mark had been when I picked up the vehicle or was it supposed to be returned at full??? I don't remember the guy telling me and I certaintly had received no paperwork. What the heck, fill it full, why make things worse in the end and have to pay some exporbitant fee for not returning it maxed out? No thanks! Didn't need that. So I tear out of the gas station like I was going somewhere in a big hurry, because I was! Run the next signal light as it turned to a red light knowing that it was an older one that doesn't have those red light cameras that are so popular now...telling myself "keep going, you got to hurry Misty, HURRY!" Guess what? I made it there 3minutes before they closed!!! The guy commented about the mud on the vehicle...I nicely told him that he should be glad I made it on time because I had gotten stuck in the mud at "church" and barely got out. He was nice after that. ;) I walked to the dearlership next door and picked up my car...thankful to finally have my own wheels back, something I knew and felt comfortable with.

Now I was off to tackle the next problem of the day, head to Verizon to get my cell phone looked at as it keeps dropping calls. I got it in October and have been in there 5 times in the last 3 months trying to get my phone to work appropriately...they agreed to change it out today since the 3 software upgrades have not worked. Then I asked to make a payment on Terry's phone for him as he had given me cash to do so. The said I had to use the machine, I said okay. When I tried, it wouldn't let me because it is a prepaid phone it requires a PIN (which of course I didn't have) and it won't take payments without it...so I went back to the desk for assistance. The lady didn't want to help me, said she would do it this once but normally couldn't do that for me. WHAT? Where was peoples nice attitude of customer service...I am pre-paying a bill, I am not late! IRRRhhhh!!! As I am leaving, Bethany calls to see if now is a good time that they can come get my club chairs for the props, is it okay to come now? I said sure. After I tell her where I am at, she states that she is going to go get some food and head my way. FOOD? I haven't eaten and its 4pm! What was I thinking to run on empty all day? I rush in to Chipotle and get a burrito bowl togo and hurry home in the rain. We load the chairs, she leaves, I eat half my bowl and suddenly realize that I am utterly exhausted. I have much left to do, but feel that if I try to do another thing, I am going to be downright fried. My nerves are shot...whats wrong with me? I decide I need a nap...I am going to turn my phone on silent, close the blinds, gather a soft blanket that I received from a friend for a birthday gift a few years ago, and take a 40min nap. I fall asleep, drooling, but oh this nap did wonders for me because I woke up feeling better, in a frame of mind to be around people again. Now the rush is on...wash my hair, get my costume together, hopefully the clothes that I need are clean, find a scrap of white fabric, make a hat to look like the Clue Character Mrs.White & be ready in one hour to leave for Game Night at the building as it starts at 7.30pm and its 6pm now! Did I achieve it? Yes, I did it, in one hour and ten minutes...I still don't know how, but I did.

The game night at the building was a big hit...everyone was having a blast...actually way too much fun yelling and screaming for me...but it was true that it was a good time by all.

"LIVE" CLUE GAME characters played in action

CLUE CHARACTERS:

MR PLUM (RYAN MACHALICA)

MS PEACOCK (ALISHA MACHALICA)

MRS PEACOCK (backup) (BETHANY BAKER)

COL MUSTARD (DREX BAKER)

SCARLET (SHELLEY CARROLL)

MR GREEN (BRIAN CARROLL)

MRS WHITE (MISTY GILBERT)

(there were other backups but not taken in this photo)

LIBRARY

STUDY

CONSERVATORY

BILLARD ROOM

HALL

LOUNGE

KITCHEN

DINNING ROOM

BALLROOM

WEAPONS

4th Quarter progress on 2009 Resolutions

I received my fourth quarter email from Glenn Shepard on where I am with my 2009 Goals & Resolutions. This is what I submitted to him on where I stand on my goals for the year (review blog entry on 1/1/2009 for goals set):

1. 100% met = stay on track with monthly budget and financial planning
2. 50% = did not meet this goal in the way I had wanted (100% revamping of my casa), but I am grateful for the changes I have made in habits contributing to the issue; going forward it should only progress with my goal to achieve more in 2010
3. 0% met, no progress = must make this a priority for 2010
4. 75% progress = always good to recheck up on yourself and flow with life
5. 100% = have learned, need to continue to implement it

Many THANKS Glenn for your encouragement through the year!
for encouragement and to read others go to:www.glennshepard.com/nyr/2009.htm

Daily Bible Verse

For Christ has accomplished the whole purpose of the law. All who believe in him are made right with God. Romans 10:4 (NLT)

First Winter Snow

Camp started last night and it was bad weather for many traveling in. We had our first Winter Snow for the year with lots of ice and cold weather! It was a blizzard yesterday like I have never seen here in the 13 winters I have been here so far! I took picturs before heading out to camp this morning, a litte bit has melted, but you get a good look at what its like here today. I love the snow...it is so pretty!

right side of backyard

very back of house looking at my bedroom window

left side of backyard

front of the house

Brian Tracy Quote of the Day

Before a person can achieve the kind of life he wants, he must think, act, walk, talk and conduct himself in all of his affairs as would the person he wishes to become.
-Zig Ziglar, Author

Brian Tracy Quote of the Day

Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach. It's the end you're after.
-Anthony Robbins, Motivational Speaker

Quotes

Setting a goal is not the main thing. It is deciding how you will go about achieving it and staying with that plan.
-Tom Landry, football coach