Tuesdays Unwrapped {budding plants}

I'm joining in over at Chatting at the Sky for Tuesdays Unwrapped. Come join in, link up, and let's unwrap the lovely, messy, and unexpected.

I had just got off the phone from the third person in one day contemplating quitting and giving up on their leadership roles in ministry. But this call was different. There were many questions. Many heart-hurts laying beneath the surface. A true new awareness that maybe they were a leader and it was frightening.


I couldn't help myself so I retreated to my computer. I needed to clarify some of my words. I needed to encourage once more as I clicked on email. What could I say that would help? What would I say that might make a difference?


And I started . . . 


"I would never speak for you for I don't know your hearts struggles. But what you expressed today - looking from the outside - I see someone who needs to spend a multitude of time with God, not instead of ministry, but because of ministry. You are a leader. You have much to offer. You always have, you just don't see it. 


You are a fighter. You are called. To move on and become who you were MEANT TO BE. Yes, it will be a struggle. So, just take some days to breath, to rest in God. To let Him heal those places that need healing. Let God reaffirm those promises He has spoken to the still of your soul. 
You are but a budding new plant bursting out of the soil. I always wonder how that must hurt - a small fragile green stem pushing up the weight of dry soil. I ponder over the strength of that little plant as it grows through the hard thick places of dark dirt. At each new season, we are but budding plants. Today, you are budding. You can burst forth, if you so chose."


The gift is we are resillient. God made us just as strong as the budding plant that can push through the hard crusty clods of dirt, if we hang on long enough and keep striving. Yes, it hurts. Yes, it's uncomfortable. Yes, it is beautiful!


Maybe you need an extra push today to keep on. Maybe you need encouragement. Maybe you need the gift of budding plant. I pray you find the strength to spring forth here.

I'm not asleep . . . I'm resting my eyes

As I looked around the room I was a bit overwhelmed. There were CPA's, teachers, ministry leaders, students, those that were jobless, abused, and homeless. How in the world was I going to teach a lesson that I felt God had put on my heart and know it would speak to everyone in the room?

Opening up I asked, "Do you feel like there is a leader within you trying to get out but that leader feels trapped by the circumstances of life?" I looked around the room and most everyone was sadly nodding their head up and down.

I know that feeling. It's a feeling of despair, captivity, and frustration. As I've been studying to strengthen the leader in me and stretch my capacity, God has been bringing scriptures, devotionals, people, and sayings to me that all say one thing WAKE UP!

How could I or anyone in my class be living life asleep? We might all come from different backgrounds and be in quite different circumstances, but basically we all get up, run all morning, are frustrated by afternoon, and eventually collapse in bed. What I've noticed is that no matter who you are or what you do you are BUSY! So why the continuous flow of these words WAKE UP?

I remember when I was young and I'd talk my dad into watching a show with me on TV. Sure enough when the good part came I'd say something to him and he wouldn't answer. I'd look closely and he'd be asleep. How could he be sleeping through the good part? I'd nudge him and say, "Daddy, wake up!" His answer, "I'm not asleep. I'm just resting my eyes."

Maybe we are so numb to our busyness, circumstances, and routines that we feel like we are wide-awake. But in reality we are "just resting our eyes." We are caught up doing the same things over and over. We run through each day without even giving attention to our actions and reactions because many of those actions don't require us to be fully awake to participate in -- computer time, TV, holding grudges, arguing, gossiping, etc. Basically, we are asleep with our eyes wide open, but our heart, mind, and soul are fully shut down and unaware.

If we are "resting our eyes" then it is no wonder why the nodding of the heads when I asked, "Do you feel like there is a leader within you trying to get out but that leader feels trapped by the circumstances of life?" If we aren't AWAKE - wide awake - then we are sleep walking through our life. It's hard to develop, train, and raise up the leader within us while we are apathetic and at rest.

Hear the alarm . . . it's time to WAKE UP and live life fully awake, aware and alive!

I don't want to be asleep. I don't want to rest my eyes. I want to be fully AWAKE!

It's Measuring Day

Well, tomorrow is the big day . . . measuring day at the gym. You see, I asked for a gym membership at Christmas. CrAZy me!!! So in January I signed up, along with the Total Solution package they offered, which incorporates exercise, diet, and motivation. Let's all say YEAH for the motivation, I need a lot!

One thing that is great about this program is the accountability built in. You keep track of what you eat. You write down when you exercise. This isn't just something they say you should do -- hmmmm, they ask you to bring in your food and exercise diaries. Urgh!

So, here I am my second BIG measuring day. I weigh frequently and it's recorded, but once a month I get measured from my neck down. Yep, you get it . . . everything (neck, shoulders, knees, ankles and everything else in between) gets measured. While this seems quite intimidating it is actually a motivational booster to see in black and white those inches going down.

I was also reminded this week that having accountability in all areas of our lives helps us stay on track. I had gotten lazy with some writing I needed to do, but a conversation with a friend reminded me just how much I need accountability in that area. I need people asking me, "Hey Alene, how's that writing coming?" Just like I need my fitness coaches asking, "Hey Alene, how's your diet and exercise coming?"

Having accountability partners you can share you dreams, goals, and deadlines with is a sure way to boost your success rate. I've learned also, it is also imperative not to only have accountability partners, but also a measuring date. There's no denying results. Either you wrote another chapter or you didn't. Either you made another sale or you didn't. Either you lost another inch . . . or you didn't.

So, here's hoping that tomorrow all my trips to the gym and my grilled squash have paid off.

Yep, I'm ready for measuring day.

Something Beautiful

Recently, I was the Director for a three day retreat. The team met for four months preparing, praying, and practicing everything that was to take place during the retreat. The team was incredible – every woman had such love for our God.

I wanted something special that would commemorate our weekend together and decided to build a cross. Well, Hubby helped quite a bit. This cross will always be very special to me!

A little about this beautiful cross:

OK - the cross didn't start out as much. But you'll love it by the end. The team wrote their prayers for the weekend on the back of tiles. (you can barely see them they are in pencil) I took the tiles and broke them into smaller pieces to build the cross. The tiles symbolize us: we are broken, different, a little rough around the edges and fragile.

Hubby built the wooden base. The wooden cross is Jesus as He is our foundation and every so sturdy. He is the one who holds us up continually.

I then plastered all the tiles onto the wooden base. Each tile special and unique. Each tile not much on its own, but together they form something beautiful.

Hubby begins to put the grout in. It's hard work to get the grout where it needs to be - in every crook and crevice. The grout is Jesus' blood and grace. Just as with building this cross, it is hard sometimes to let Jesus fill us to the very core. We fight it, don't we? And we begin to look like a big mess. But once we let Jesus in to our heart and soul we begin to be something new and beauitful.

I will post the finished cross soon. It is gorgeous! Something beautiful from the inside out.

Christ is beautiful - I'm amazed at how He sculpts our hearts daily into something beautiful!

If you know me, you'll also be amazed that I finished this project! hehehe

Wisdom Builds a House

It’s an historic day. As Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th President of the United States, I stand in awe of this country. A country that is strong, bold and free. There is no other like it!

While excitement builds over the possibilities before this great nation, I find myself sad. I will miss President Bush and his family. He has led this country with wisdom through many trials the past eight years.

By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. Proverbs 24:3-4

A friend shared an article today that you have to read, Playing House in the White House. It’s a letter from President Bush’s daughters to President Obama’s daughters.

Wisdom builds a country. Wisdom builds a house, and it certainly builds a family.

Wisdom – a rare and beautiful treasure!

We Love Girl Talk - Tomorrow

REMEMBER the give-away this week. Read the post below. Leave a comment anywhere on this blog before Monday the 24th and be entered into a random drawing for some random give-aways!

Bloggy friends, join me along with Sarah Goebel and Sandra Stanford tomorrow night, Thursday, 7pm Central at Blog Talk Radio. I’ll be the guest on “The Christian Women’s View” We Love Girl Talk. Log on here, listen and then call in if you’d like.

Also, if you are in need of a speaker for your ladies event, please check out the following article about the incredible ministry at Speaking Thru Me. This article was written by my good friend Leah Adams. I feel privileged to be part of this incredible team. Here’s another article posted yesterday.

"Mom, please don't!"

It’s Bubberz first day of college and he won’t let his mom take pictures of him at the campus. HOW RUDE??!! I have pictures of his first day of school from the past thirteen years, but this year is different.

It’s different all right!

As I was visiting with him the other evening I asked how the roommate situation was working out. He said the four of them had sat down together and worked out some ground rules they could all follow.

The other three were concerned with locked doors, trash being taken out, dishes being cleaned, etc. When it was Bubberz time to speak he said he politely said, “I don’t care if you smoke or drink. But if you’d not smoke in the apartment or throw parties here I’d really appreciate it.”

It was the cutest thing. He said, “Mom, they are actually respecting my requests. I can’t believe it.”

Now this is the line that left me speechless and crying Hallelujah’s out to God –

“Mom, Joe (changed name) came over the other night when everyone was gone. We prayed over that apartment. We prayed over their rooms. I want God to work through me.”

I still get a lump in my throat when I think of it. I certainly didn’t think that way when I was 18. Did you? Seriously!

I think back on all the days and nights I’ve prayed over Bubberz room and over him as he slept. Actually, I still go into his room and pray for him. But now . . . Now, this kid is praying over others rooms!

Do you have a great story from your child’s first day of school or college? This sappy sentimental mom would love to hear it!

I stand amazed at God’s incredible love and promises!

Still shoutin’, HALLELUJAH!

Insurance Called Faith

The road of discipleship is not straight. There will be a curve called Failure, a loop called Confusion, speed bumps called Friends, red lights called Enemies, and caution lights called Family. You will have flats called temptations. But if you have a spare called Determination, an engine called Perseverance, insurance called Faith, and a driver named Jesus, you will make it to your destination.

Amen!

I would ask your prayers these next couple of days as I travel to Houston with a friend and her 12 year old son for some medical testing. Pray for clear results from the tests, an extra measure of wisdom for the doctors; along with peace, comfort and strength for my precious friends.

Rejection - Ouch!

Rejection might as well be a four-letter word in my dictionary. It hurts. It stings. And it leaves whelps on the ol’ self-esteem and confidence. Ouch!

In my world of writing, I’m learning to keep the suave handy for the bumps and bruises. Just last week I got a couple more stings – rejections! Ouch again! Oh, they were nice rejections. They weren’t full of any four-letter words, even though it hurt like they were. But somehow even a nice rejection is still a reeee-ject-ion!

The silly thing is I actually got some great news for some incredible opportunities and even got a YES, but still all I could focus on was that rejection. I realize rejection will either make you better or it will make you bitter. Hummm? I get to choose. I do want to be better.

I want to be a better leader, a better writer, and a better communicator. All of which doesn’t happen over-night. Shucks!

John C. Maxwell writes in The 360 Leader, “The key to personal development is being more growth oriented than goal oriented."

Well, I’m certainly being forced into growing. A dear friend told me this week I should save all my rejection letters. Before I could shout “ARE YOU NUTS!” she reminded me that those are a true sign that I’m accomplishing something. I sighed - True?

Rejection is never easy. Even as a child I can remember certain instances when I felt so rejected that it still hurts to this day. Actually, some days I could just throw a big pity-party over what happened years ago.

When I let myself get to that place I’m always reminded of what true rejection is – it’s being charged with a crime you didn’t commit, while your best friends betray you. It’s being spit upon, being called names, being stripped naked and mocked in front of multitudes of people. It’s being beaten with many blows and then being hung on a cross to die.

We can learn a lot about true rejection from the life and death of Jesus!

That’s true reeee-ject-ion!

Amazing that I let a little rejection letter get me down.

Summer Reading Program

Do you remember book mobiles? I do. I remember growing up and during the summer the Book Mobile would come by our neighborhood. The old library bus would come down our street and my best friend and I would be there waiting. It would be scorching hot and as we entered the bus it was cool, damp and smelt of old musty books. I can still smell it.

While I don’t have a Book Mobile that comes through my neighborhood, I still love summer reading. I usually stock up on a handful and count the days until I can laze by the pool with a book and highlighter. Pure heaven! (I have to have a pen or highlighter when I read, do you?)

My daily reads are:
The One Year Bible (I changed versions this year – love it!)
My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers
God Calling (edited by AJ Russell)

I just finished reading: (these are MUST reads – incredible)
The Barbarian Way by Erwin McManus
Communicating for a Change by Andy Stanley
Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby

My summer reading program:
Finding Our Way Again by Brian McLaren
The 360 Degree Leader by John Maxwell
The Tabernacle: Shadows of the Messiah by David Levy
Irresistible Revolution - living as an ordinary radical by Shane Claiborne

While I take a few days to conquer some writing deadlines (prayers would be appreciated), please let me know what you’re reading. We can learn from each other. There are so many incredible books out there. Amazing!

Remember “Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.”

Join the summer reading program.

I'm Not Ready

As I’ve spent time praying over the year ahead today, I’ve realized God has opened doors for some incredible opportunities. These opportunities will not only give me a chance to share God’s amazing love, but they will grow me as a leader.

Ooh-wee! Becoming the leader I need to be is a scary thing because it brings with it such enormous responsibility.

I’ve read many leadership books, but there is something different about actually putting that knowledge into practice.

How do I lead a team for a greater purpose? How do I lead so that the team feels like a team? How do I share the vision? How do I? How do I . . . ?

I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know.

I’m excited. I’m being challenged; however, I know I’m not ready.

Yep -- I’m not ready! Yikes, but I’m going anyway.

I’m stepping out where I’ve been called, even when I feel I’m not ready.

Luke 12:47-48, “"That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”

I’m standing on the that fact that if God has called me to it – He will see me through it. Thank goodness!

Do you have any helpful advice for leading others? For creating a team atmosphere? If so, I’d love to hear about it!