Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — Do you extend hope to others? If you have some, I hope you do. We shouldn’t keep it to ourselves. Does it have to be a big deal? A time consuming conversation? The giving away of something you value? No. Might it be? Yes, and it would be worth it. Can it be a smile shared as you walk past a coworkers? Yes. a genuine question, asking someone how she is, and showing with body language, eye contact, and facial expression, that you do want and care about a real answer? Yes. an anonymous gift of money to someone who needs it? Yes. asking someone for practical help so a need you have is met, but more importantly … [Read more...]
Security & Freedom
April 22, 2013 by · 1 Comment
Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — Security. Protection. Shelter. Safety. Refuge. Retreat. Defense. Safeguard. Sanctuary. Guard. Sure. Supported. Safe and sound. Trustworthy. Freedom from harm, danger, fear, hurt, wickedness, abuse, wrong, injury, Freedom from hopelessness, hurt, disaster, suffering, pain, damage, worry, trouble. Freedom FOR truth, belief, joy, hope, confidence, love, contentment, purpose, Freedom FOR happiness, playfulness, growth, peace, pleasure, blessings, anticipation. God. Jesus. The Holy Spirit. Forgiveness. Salvation. Security. … [Read more...]
Are You Alive?
April 1, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — Are you alive today? Of course you are, if you’re reading this. :) Are you living? Did you celebrate LIFE at church yesterday? Let’s live grateful for it EVERY day. When we live with Christ’s sacrifice in mind, we will LIVE. Don’t waste it. Let’s LIVE! When people spend time with you, is LIFE appealing? Is Jesus appealing? Forgiveness freeing and sin damaging? Really LIVING appealing? I’m sad for people alive not living. We need to recognize our need for LIFE and have faith to see Jesus as the answer. He is life and He wants us to live. Daily. Every day. To be alive. To breathe. Inhale. Exhale. Bleed. … [Read more...]
Jesus Erased our “Certificate of Debt”
March 27, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
Every Wednesday, I’ll post about multiple intelligences so we can better understand children and why they do what they do. — We’re going to take a week off from the series about individual smarts. Rather, I’d like to share a beautiful example of involving people’s picture-smart and body-smart intelligences when wanting them to grasp a point. In the past weeks, I explained much about being body smart here and picture smart here. Last Sunday, my Pastor Dr. Stephen Lowrie, taught from Colossians 2:8-15. He titled his message “Nailed to the Cross.” During his entire message, in the center of the sanctuary, on the floor, was a large cross with a brief message nailed to it. This immediately engaged our picture-smart … [Read more...]
What do you think about perfection and perfectionists?
February 8, 2013 by · 1 Comment
What do you think about perfection and perfectionists? Over the past month, I’ve posted several blogs related to perfectionism to help promote Jill Savage’s book. I hope you’ve been thinking about the topic and wondering how you’re influenced by it. Today, I’ve asked Jill to share with you directly. I love what she writes near the end: “While we’re pursuing perfection, we’re missing out on the most precious parts of life: the laughter of silliness, the joy of spontaneity, the lessons found in failure, and the freedom found in grace.” Do you agree? Read on…. Guest Post—Jill Savage www.JillSavage.org www.HeartsatHome.org www.NoMorePerfectMoms.com When child number one threw a fit in the grocery store one … [Read more...]
Parents Appreciate Learning About Their Children – Pick Up “No More Perfect Moms”
February 6, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
Parents appreciate learning about how their children are smart for several reasons. One I’ve seen evidenced in many of my audiences is that “imperfect” is redefined as “different.” That’s a powerfully important change! Some children are very word smart so they learn to read and write easily and enjoy both. Others aren’t as word smart and they may struggle to learn and/or they may not enjoy reading in their spare time. That doesn’t make them imperfect. It just makes them different. I’ve seen children damaged by perfectionism. And, I’ve talked with more moms than I can count about the damage they do to themselves when trying to be perfect. Unrealistic expectations they have for themselves and their families are … [Read more...]
“No More Perfect Moms” – Book Launch
February 4, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — Monday’s blogs are about how we and our children should and can meet our core needs of security, identity, belonging, purpose, and competence in healthy ways. As I’ve written before this month here, it’s not wise to try meeting our needs by being perfect. Yet, I see people doing this so often. Honestly, before God did a beautiful work in my life, I was perfectionistic. I was very hard on myself when I made mistakes and I know other people were afraid to be wrong when around me. I still have regrets about that period of my life. This is why I was happy to join the launch team for Jill Savage’s important new book, … [Read more...]
The Proper Perspective on Being “Perfect”
January 7, 2013 by · 7 Comments
Every Monday, I’ll post about discovering genuine hope and authentic answers for living a healthy life. — When I speak about our core needs, the topic of perfection comes up in two primary ways. Trying to meet our legitimate need for security by being perfect won’t work. When trying to be perfect, our mistakes become even more obvious and we’ll become insecure. This is the exact opposite of our goal. We can’t meet our legitimate need for competence by being perfect either. Our God-wired-into-us need is for competence, not perfection. Perfect paralyzes. Permits defeat. Pummels. Perfect is painful. It suffocates. Perfect lies. It diminishes. It erases. Perfect is defined as “faultless.” We’re not. … [Read more...]
No More Perfect Moms
January 4, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
Are you trying to be perfect? Do you know others who struggle with perfectionism? I meet way too many women trying to be perfect or thinking they have to be or wishing they could be or regretting they’re not…. It’s a mess! You’ve possibly heard me speak against perfectionism. We should strive to become more than we used to be, to be and do the best possible given our circumstances, to accept ourselves when we fall short, to develop the competencies we need so we can fulfill our purposes, to be teachable, etc. But, perfect has been done. His name is Jesus. A colleague I’ve come to have great respect for, Jill Savage, the Chief Executive Officer of Hearts At Home, has written a new book that you’ll want to purchase the week … [Read more...]
Thought Provoking Discussion Starters #46: Wonderful Christmas Quotes!
December 21, 2012 by · Leave a Comment
Every Friday, I’ll post thought provoking discussion starters. — “One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don’t clean it up too quickly.” ~Andy Rooney “Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.” ~Author unknown, attributed to a 7-year-old named Bobby “There has been only one Christmas - the rest are anniversaries.” ~W.J. Cameron “The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread?” ~Psalm 27:1 “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will … [Read more...]
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