by Tarran Deane
The United Nations has declared 2011 the International Year of the Forest! Yes, the U.N. wants us to understand the importance of protecting the growth of our forests. Forests are forests as a consequence of a healthy bio-diverse group of plants and wildlife growing together through the cycle of life. This should be protected. Where destruction occurs, the seeds of new life should be planted.
Can we personally grow? Can we collectively grow? Can we be thoughtful, considerate individuals bonded by our commitment to enrich one another’s lives through encouraging, respectful, supporting and truthful relationships? I believe we can.
We can choose to grow personally & professionally. Imagine the impact on our families, communities, churches and companies.
1. Survey the landscape – what’s your life looked like this past year? Anything you would ahve liked to turn out differently? What are you going to need in your tool box for the year ahead? Do you need other ‘landscape artists or professionals’ to come alongside you? What feedback have you had about your life this past year? Have you filtered the comments and now realise maybe there’s some tweaking you can be doing?
2. Weed the ground – You can’t stand on the outside of your life and expect things to happen for you. Your life requires your involvement. Take responsibility and begin. Begin by weeding out of your life unhealthy thinking, attitudes and behaviours that only caused you to stay contained and poison relationships. Make some tough decisions. Pull out those pesky roots of disappointment, regrets, bitterness, and offense.
3. Prepare the soil – time to replace where the weeds have been with some good things. Our home is on a rocky hillside and we had to buy in some organic soil, wheelbarrow in some valley river rocks, crate in the mulch and than labour to transform the look and feel of our place. It didn’t just happen once either. It happens seasonally. You and I may have to ‘buy-in’ some talent and expertise ourselves to prepare our mind for thinking better. We’ve got to dig in some good personal values, regularly maintain our thinking. Every bit of ‘crap’ from the past can be used to build a terrific and fulfilling future, even if it looks different to what we imagined.
4. Select the seed – so now you’re feeling enthusiastic and positive about 2011! If you have identified key areas that you want to focus on e.g. time management, relationship building, better budgeting, career development, work-life balance then be S.M.A.R.T in your goal setting and prioritise your efforts for growth. Get in there and drive the growth for as much as depends on you.
5. Support the growth – Recognise what resources you need in order to achieve in your goals. Do you need to invest in your professional development? What's going to keep you motivated to achieve? Is it rest, journaling, music, connecting with like-minded people at church, work or play? Professional landscaping services generate millions of dollars for the economy. People often out-source lacking the time, know-how or discipline to tackle some maintenance in their own strength . You may consider engaging a mentor or coach to work with you and keep you accountable Roses flourish with pruning. Tomatoes requiring staking and structures for growth.
6. Watch for predators – Some birds are like people: they come in make a lot of noise and distract you from your purpose; other’s will come in and damage your emerging efforts; some will go behind your back and eat away at your confidence, just like the birds who steal the paw paw off my husbands much watched tree!. It doesn’t matter what you do or who you are, everyone will have an opinion about you and your lifestyle at some point. You know, that’s okay. Just be aware of who you’re dealing with and what your personal trigger points might be. Put strategies in place to counter their efforts. If you're growing something worthwhile you will be faced with some unpleasant conditions and criticism from time to time. Be mindful of the criticism, look for truth in it and use it to enhance your life. Otherwis,e set it aside and keep watch over your values, invest in your marriage and family, regularly monitor your effectiveness at work and look for ways to continuously improve.
7. Harvest the growth - get ready to harvest! Successful gardeners watch over their crop and know when the time is right to harvest and prudently store seeds for future planting. Fail to weed, you’ll harvest more weeds. If you’ve planted wisely and focused on key goals, you’ll reap a harvest. The key is to not grow weary in doing good! Stick with it and then rejoice when you see the fruit of your labour! In rural and wine growing areas around the world once the harvest is compelted, family and friends come together and celebrate the crop. Make sure you stop and celebrate your achievements periodically throughout 2011!
SUMMARY
8. Strike a cutting – true growth is never self-centred. Real growth provides a resource or fruit for others. Live outwardly. Share the benefit of your experience. Connect with your neighbours. Believe the best in others. Don’t be so quick to judge what you don’t understand. Be prepared to change the way you’ve always done life. Learn from other cultures. Celebrate life. Nourish your spirit. Maximise your talent. Accept responsibility.
In 2011 plant a lot of trees and help others grow too!
Tarran Deane. Dip Business Management,Dip Bus Administration, WPT&A, Adv Dip Christian Studies
Tarran is a vibrant speaker, author, coach, and founder of Embracing Ability. Tarran passionately shares her values with companies, community organisations, clans and churches across the planet. You can find out more about Tarran, her content and passion right at home on www.embracingability.com
Hi Wonderful Friends
Only one sleep to go until my Live Radio interview with Marnie Swedberg. Go online and catch us 6am AEST Frid 24.9.2010 at http://www.leadershipattitudes.com
Stressed at work? Feeling weary from serving at church? Some people draining you? Trouble saying 'thanks, but no we can't make it? Feeling a little unfulfilled and at odds with yourself? Been a Christian for a while now and still trying to figure out what your passion is?
Listen in to "Connect your vision and values within your company, community, clan or church." and you can start embracing your ability
Feel better about your life! Begin the journey of discovery by tuning into the program, download the handout, pray about the message, have an open mind and commit to living your life brilliantly.
I hope you'll join Marnie Sweberg and I at http://www.leadershipattitudes.com. Follow the prompts by clicking on the blogtalkradio icon on the page and be inspired to connect your vision and values in every aspect of your life.
Come and hang out with us ~ you know you want to!
Tarran
# the interview will also be recorded and available through the www.leadershipattitudes.com archives so tell your friends!
Only one sleep to go until my Live Radio interview with Marnie Swedberg. Go online and catch us 6am AEST Frid 24.9.2010 at http://www.leadershipattitudes.com
Stressed at work? Feeling weary from serving at church? Some people draining you? Trouble saying 'thanks, but no we can't make it? Feeling a little unfulfilled and at odds with yourself? Been a Christian for a while now and still trying to figure out what your passion is?
Listen in to "Connect your vision and values within your company, community, clan or church." and you can start embracing your ability
Feel better about your life! Begin the journey of discovery by tuning into the program, download the handout, pray about the message, have an open mind and commit to living your life brilliantly.
I hope you'll join Marnie Sweberg and I at http://www.leadershipattitudes.com. Follow the prompts by clicking on the blogtalkradio icon on the page and be inspired to connect your vision and values in every aspect of your life.
Come and hang out with us ~ you know you want to!
Tarran
# the interview will also be recorded and available through the www.leadershipattitudes.com archives so tell your friends!
Tarran Deane
Tarran Deane
Look what my colleague, Paul Timms of National Speakers of Australia completed for me! It's a free video creation template. Perhaps you could showcase your talents too!
Look what my colleague, Paul Timms of National Speakers of Australia completed for me! It's a free video creation template. Perhaps you could showcase your talents too!
Feel Like Life's a Circus?
CIRCUS LIFE - The Money Changer:
Attending an event such as a circus requires you to ‘pay a price’ to gain entry. As in life, the right change or ‘currency’ may enable you to gain entry to ‘the greatest show on earth’ - your chosen career, your dream relationship, achievement of your financial, spiritual,or physical goals. In fact you might have to go away and come back again. You may have to go and source a bank where you can ‘draw on your deposits’. You might have to go and work at something you don’t like to get a little more of what you do like, currency. Currency could be described as finance, skill, experience, a commodity, or an asset that you can redeem*. This applies no matter who you are:
Are you a new citizen or resident? A business founder? Fresh out of college and trying to find your way?
Are you the breadwinner in the family? Trying to cover the increasing cost of living, with rising mortgage rates? Insurance premiums jumping? Fuel prices on the rise?
Or are you the single person, trying to make it big, get some cash in the bank, go on that holiday overseas, save for your first home, bring your cell phone bill back into control?
Are you the non-residential parent trying to make ends meet in your new living arrangements, paying child support payments to the other parent and not receiving a return on investment of time spent together between you and the child?
Are you on the board of a community organisation and the gap between government funding and the true provision of services continues to grow at an exponential rate? Is your not for profit organisation finding that debtors are increasingly slow to pay their accounts? What happens in the GFC and redundancies, government grant guidelines changing, and donations fluctuating like never before?
The tourist stranded abroad because of a natural disaster or phenomenon and little change left from your holiday – is that you?
The 'money changer' may feel like funds are coming in one hand and out the other?
You could be one, or a mix of these people and the challenges remain the same: How do you maximise your income and the return on investment?
Answer: You’ve got to know YOUR business and plan to succeed. Simple but INTENTIONAL!
Questions for: Company, Community, Clan & Church
1. How reactive are you to emerging issues and opportunities?
2. Personally or professionally – do you have a plan? Could be strategic, operational, communication, marketing or financial?
3. Have you undertaken a risk assessment on the numerous variables that could lead you to feel ‘out of control’ and jeopardise your cash flow? What are your strategies to assist you and your team to implement counter measures wherever possible
4. Are you a SME – Small Business Enterprise or NGO – Non Government Organisations or Church Group? Are you aware of current legislation and due diligence? How do you communicate the vision and invite 'buy-in'?
The Way Forward:
'Fail to plan then plan to fail’ so the saying goes. Imagine if God didn’t have a plan and everything was reactionary? Jeremiah 29:11 reads “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord, “plans to bless you not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future”. If the big guy is into planning than shouldn’t we be too? So what could you consider:
Strategic Plan - “The document that is the result of long-range (strategic) planning. It usually covers a minimum period of five years, sets forth the mission and goals of the program, prioritizes strategies, and formulates the financial basis for achieving the goals” [http://erc.msh.org/mainpage.cfm?file=2.2.3s.htm&module=gmt&language=English]
Operational Plan - ”sets forth the specific projects or activities (consistent with the strategic plan) that will be conducted, and the timetable and resources needed for completing those projects or activities”
Financial Year Budget – “A plan for a person or company's expenditures. Making a budget involves looking at one's revenue or income and matching that to expenses such that the person or company pays for all necessary expenses. A budget is in balance if revenues equal expenditures, in deficit if the person or company must resort to borrowing to meet expenses, and in surplus if money is left over to be used for savings or expansion” [http://financial-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/budget]
Financial Year Forecast - (Actual Year to Date and remaining spend window)
Career Plan – Professional development. If you’re working for a company the HR department and your immediate supervisor will work with you on an annual minimum basis to identify opportunities for growth and relevant training for you to undertake
Family Contracts – Gary Smalley & son Greg Smalley Psy.D have written a great book “the DNA of Parent – Teen Relationships” and have “ drawn upon their experiences from Greg’s teen years – along with those of 5,000 teens they surveyed – to give you a workable plan for relating positively to your son or daughter ISBN 1-58997-163-9
Our Next Circus Role will be : THE TICKET SELLER
* As a Christian I believe that Jesus Christ gave His Life for me as the greatest act of love for humanity. Now, that my friends is major currency that isn't affected by fluctuating currency markets! Have you thought about investing?
Attending an event such as a circus requires you to ‘pay a price’ to gain entry. As in life, the right change or ‘currency’ may enable you to gain entry to ‘the greatest show on earth’ - your chosen career, your dream relationship, achievement of your financial, spiritual,or physical goals. In fact you might have to go away and come back again. You may have to go and source a bank where you can ‘draw on your deposits’. You might have to go and work at something you don’t like to get a little more of what you do like, currency. Currency could be described as finance, skill, experience, a commodity, or an asset that you can redeem*. This applies no matter who you are:
Are you a new citizen or resident? A business founder? Fresh out of college and trying to find your way?
Are you the breadwinner in the family? Trying to cover the increasing cost of living, with rising mortgage rates? Insurance premiums jumping? Fuel prices on the rise?
Or are you the single person, trying to make it big, get some cash in the bank, go on that holiday overseas, save for your first home, bring your cell phone bill back into control?
Are you the non-residential parent trying to make ends meet in your new living arrangements, paying child support payments to the other parent and not receiving a return on investment of time spent together between you and the child?
Are you on the board of a community organisation and the gap between government funding and the true provision of services continues to grow at an exponential rate? Is your not for profit organisation finding that debtors are increasingly slow to pay their accounts? What happens in the GFC and redundancies, government grant guidelines changing, and donations fluctuating like never before?
The tourist stranded abroad because of a natural disaster or phenomenon and little change left from your holiday – is that you?
The 'money changer' may feel like funds are coming in one hand and out the other?
You could be one, or a mix of these people and the challenges remain the same: How do you maximise your income and the return on investment?
Answer: You’ve got to know YOUR business and plan to succeed. Simple but INTENTIONAL!
Questions for: Company, Community, Clan & Church
1. How reactive are you to emerging issues and opportunities?
2. Personally or professionally – do you have a plan? Could be strategic, operational, communication, marketing or financial?
3. Have you undertaken a risk assessment on the numerous variables that could lead you to feel ‘out of control’ and jeopardise your cash flow? What are your strategies to assist you and your team to implement counter measures wherever possible
4. Are you a SME – Small Business Enterprise or NGO – Non Government Organisations or Church Group? Are you aware of current legislation and due diligence? How do you communicate the vision and invite 'buy-in'?
The Way Forward:
'Fail to plan then plan to fail’ so the saying goes. Imagine if God didn’t have a plan and everything was reactionary? Jeremiah 29:11 reads “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord, “plans to bless you not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future”. If the big guy is into planning than shouldn’t we be too? So what could you consider:
Strategic Plan - “The document that is the result of long-range (strategic) planning. It usually covers a minimum period of five years, sets forth the mission and goals of the program, prioritizes strategies, and formulates the financial basis for achieving the goals” [http://erc.msh.org/mainpage.cfm?file=2.2.3s.htm&module=gmt&language=English]
Operational Plan - ”sets forth the specific projects or activities (consistent with the strategic plan) that will be conducted, and the timetable and resources needed for completing those projects or activities”
Financial Year Budget – “A plan for a person or company's expenditures. Making a budget involves looking at one's revenue or income and matching that to expenses such that the person or company pays for all necessary expenses. A budget is in balance if revenues equal expenditures, in deficit if the person or company must resort to borrowing to meet expenses, and in surplus if money is left over to be used for savings or expansion” [http://financial-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/budget]
Financial Year Forecast - (Actual Year to Date and remaining spend window)
Career Plan – Professional development. If you’re working for a company the HR department and your immediate supervisor will work with you on an annual minimum basis to identify opportunities for growth and relevant training for you to undertake
Family Contracts – Gary Smalley & son Greg Smalley Psy.D have written a great book “the DNA of Parent – Teen Relationships” and have “ drawn upon their experiences from Greg’s teen years – along with those of 5,000 teens they surveyed – to give you a workable plan for relating positively to your son or daughter ISBN 1-58997-163-9
Our Next Circus Role will be : THE TICKET SELLER
* As a Christian I believe that Jesus Christ gave His Life for me as the greatest act of love for humanity. Now, that my friends is major currency that isn't affected by fluctuating currency markets! Have you thought about investing?
My Life Is A Circus! - The Many Roles We Play
Life is a Circus!
How many times have you thought 'my life / workplace/ home feels like it is a circus act?'
One minute you’re laughing, the next holding your breath. At other times you’re rushing to your seat so you don’t miss out.
Another moment, your eyes are wide open as air escapes from between your lips with wonder! Could be you witnessed an ordinary person do something extraordinary or a child walk for the first time, and you were moved.
What about you? Have you ever felt that you are all at once, animal feeder, money changer, ticket seller, transport coordinator, freak show, character in the crazy mirror, crowd controller, promoter, grounds maintenance guy, acrobat, elephant tamer, beverage lady, juggler, and ... trapeze artist?
Maybe it's just me? Plenty of people I connect with comment on how frantic life seems to have become and how intentional we have to be now not to become overwhelmed by the busyness of life. Still it remains, just like in the circus we're completing obstacle, defying acts daily as the 'show must go on'.
Consider Jessica Watson, Australian solo yatchsman who had a dream to become the youngest girl to circum-navigate the world? She has been amazing to watch. Courage, tenacity, practice, practice, preparation and ...boring food towards the end.
The world is full of people taking risks, thrilling us, mystifying us with how they seemingly do 'it' all – whatever ‘it’ is!
Who are these people? Is it you? What’s the attraction? What’s the downside? Does a circus get repeat business? Are you in business? What does your 'act' say about you? What TYPE of circus are you? Old school? cirque de soleil?
Are you the ‘ringmaster’ of your life or are you blown about by circumstance? Would people look at you and your act and describe you as a circus?
Who Do YOU Identify With in the Old Circus Model?
We begin examining the first in a series of traditional circus roles. Do you identify with the:
Animal feeder:
Maintaining the wellbeing of animals in your care; all aspects of hygiene; cleanliness. Hey it actually sounds like being a parent:chief cook and bottle washer! Is that you? Do you feel it’s just work home, work home?
From the armed services to the service line at your local takeaway, favourite restaurant to the familiar smell of your mum’s kitchen and dad’s weekend BBQ. Let’s face it we need to eat but when I speak to most parents, particularly mums, we have all agreed that at some time if anyone were to ask us again what was for dinner a neurotic meltdown could occur!
It can be true that we take life into our own hands when we forage for food at our local supermarket.
Harsher examples however, have been seen in Haiti after the earthquake; the power being off for days and weeks after New Orleans, cyclonic storms and flooding on massive scale throughout the greater part of Australia’s Queensland regional communities and coastal cities, volcanic ash from Iceland and travelers isolated across the world as international airlines lose millions of dollars everyday! Ordinary human beings faced with the simple truth of finding food and feeding the beast.
In the west we face a burden of gluttony. We feast on things like caged animals with shopping malls hosting line upon line of fast food alternatives. What are you feeding yourself and others? Is it gluttony? Pause, reflect, give thanks for the accessability you have to food, but choose wisely and care for those in your charge responsibly.
Question: When’s the last time you saw a doctor for a complete physical? Maybe it’s time you did.
Action: Schedule a medical. Check on your full bloods including pH levels. Too acidic? Too alkaline? Overweight yet undernourished? Under the guidance of your medical practitioner perhaps it’s time to give your body some breathing space. Consider changing the type and quantity of your food to something more healthy. Consider fasting for a period of time. Record how you feel after giving up for a period of time - coffee, tea, soft drinks, donuts, red meat. Journal the effects and change your lifestyle.
Maybe you'll cease to see yourself as the animal feeder and find some pleasure in enjoying the company of others over a meal. Make a commitment to treat someone this week.
Maybe you’ll experience a circus ‘Ta-dah” feeling!
Next Blog My Life is A Circus continues: Are you the Money Changer?
How many times have you thought 'my life / workplace/ home feels like it is a circus act?'
One minute you’re laughing, the next holding your breath. At other times you’re rushing to your seat so you don’t miss out.
Another moment, your eyes are wide open as air escapes from between your lips with wonder! Could be you witnessed an ordinary person do something extraordinary or a child walk for the first time, and you were moved.
What about you? Have you ever felt that you are all at once, animal feeder, money changer, ticket seller, transport coordinator, freak show, character in the crazy mirror, crowd controller, promoter, grounds maintenance guy, acrobat, elephant tamer, beverage lady, juggler, and ... trapeze artist?
Maybe it's just me? Plenty of people I connect with comment on how frantic life seems to have become and how intentional we have to be now not to become overwhelmed by the busyness of life. Still it remains, just like in the circus we're completing obstacle, defying acts daily as the 'show must go on'.
Consider Jessica Watson, Australian solo yatchsman who had a dream to become the youngest girl to circum-navigate the world? She has been amazing to watch. Courage, tenacity, practice, practice, preparation and ...boring food towards the end.
The world is full of people taking risks, thrilling us, mystifying us with how they seemingly do 'it' all – whatever ‘it’ is!
Who are these people? Is it you? What’s the attraction? What’s the downside? Does a circus get repeat business? Are you in business? What does your 'act' say about you? What TYPE of circus are you? Old school? cirque de soleil?
Are you the ‘ringmaster’ of your life or are you blown about by circumstance? Would people look at you and your act and describe you as a circus?
Who Do YOU Identify With in the Old Circus Model?
We begin examining the first in a series of traditional circus roles. Do you identify with the:
Animal feeder:
Maintaining the wellbeing of animals in your care; all aspects of hygiene; cleanliness. Hey it actually sounds like being a parent:chief cook and bottle washer! Is that you? Do you feel it’s just work home, work home?
From the armed services to the service line at your local takeaway, favourite restaurant to the familiar smell of your mum’s kitchen and dad’s weekend BBQ. Let’s face it we need to eat but when I speak to most parents, particularly mums, we have all agreed that at some time if anyone were to ask us again what was for dinner a neurotic meltdown could occur!
It can be true that we take life into our own hands when we forage for food at our local supermarket.
Harsher examples however, have been seen in Haiti after the earthquake; the power being off for days and weeks after New Orleans, cyclonic storms and flooding on massive scale throughout the greater part of Australia’s Queensland regional communities and coastal cities, volcanic ash from Iceland and travelers isolated across the world as international airlines lose millions of dollars everyday! Ordinary human beings faced with the simple truth of finding food and feeding the beast.
In the west we face a burden of gluttony. We feast on things like caged animals with shopping malls hosting line upon line of fast food alternatives. What are you feeding yourself and others? Is it gluttony? Pause, reflect, give thanks for the accessability you have to food, but choose wisely and care for those in your charge responsibly.
Question: When’s the last time you saw a doctor for a complete physical? Maybe it’s time you did.
Action: Schedule a medical. Check on your full bloods including pH levels. Too acidic? Too alkaline? Overweight yet undernourished? Under the guidance of your medical practitioner perhaps it’s time to give your body some breathing space. Consider changing the type and quantity of your food to something more healthy. Consider fasting for a period of time. Record how you feel after giving up for a period of time - coffee, tea, soft drinks, donuts, red meat. Journal the effects and change your lifestyle.
Maybe you'll cease to see yourself as the animal feeder and find some pleasure in enjoying the company of others over a meal. Make a commitment to treat someone this week.
Maybe you’ll experience a circus ‘Ta-dah” feeling!
Next Blog My Life is A Circus continues: Are you the Money Changer?
Shakespeare said, "How do I compare thee to a Summer's Day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate, though rough winds do shake the darling buds of May and Summer's lease hath all too short a date".
Summer in the Southern Hemisphere ended here yesterday with the passing of more tropical showers and a Tsunami warning generated by the Chile earthquake. The rain continues today and though the Tsunami did not eventuate, our lives sometimes have seasonal storms and the occasional threat of a near disaster that exist in our mind and fail to materialise despite us spending hours considering what might or might not occur. The future is a pretty tough gig to predict.
The onset of Autumn in our part of the world heralds a period of deep change. Leaves fall, summer fruits cease, bulbs are planted for a new Spring harvest. The tropical rains will begin to ease. Westerly winds will gather strength and prepare for the winter chills that come upon our coastal towns. While it may appear in this upcoming season that our personal progress slows quite the opposite will be true. God does His best work in this season of our lives. Energy can be redirected to the root systems, ensuring our faith foundation is strong and steadfast preparing as it were for the new growth that will spring forward in the following months.
Remember, if you find yourself in a dry season; a season where questions go unanswered or where grief lies at your door - hold fast in your faith. Just as your faith roots are being adjusted your story will inspire and encourage other women and men to keep on going.
Don't EVER think that Autumn and Winter mark the end of Hope! Hope continues and we have to decide daily what we shall focus on. So let's focus on HIM, the giver of life in every season of our lives:
H - Happiness, hospitality to others, holding fast to God's promises, honourable, hiding (taking comfort in)your very real faith
O - Opportunity, Offering (generosity to others), obedient - sometimes you've just got to do the right thing and not whinge about it (yeah, I know this can be hard when you're simply weary and grieving - but don't give in)
P - Possibility, purpose driven, peace-filled, positioned strategically for growth
E - Examine our lives, be energised, expectant, example to others, enduring - don't dare quit, extol one another - encourage people coming alongside them & holding them up when they're weary or taking 'faith risks'.
I'm challenged by this and the stories of others that inspire me. Don't quit. When we understand how valued we are by God as individuals and how collectively we are loved as His Church, I am compelled to navigate the different seasons of life.
Outside the rain continues to fall. Life isn't perfect. Autumn comes. Roots go down further and through faith, new growth will occur. Our God is Mighty and is committed to you. God remembers you and I in and out of every season. Hold fast and press onwards. Do not quit or give up on the people in your lives. Pray for one another regularly.
Loving you from Australia's Pacific Coastline
Kisses
Tarran
Summer in the Southern Hemisphere ended here yesterday with the passing of more tropical showers and a Tsunami warning generated by the Chile earthquake. The rain continues today and though the Tsunami did not eventuate, our lives sometimes have seasonal storms and the occasional threat of a near disaster that exist in our mind and fail to materialise despite us spending hours considering what might or might not occur. The future is a pretty tough gig to predict.
The onset of Autumn in our part of the world heralds a period of deep change. Leaves fall, summer fruits cease, bulbs are planted for a new Spring harvest. The tropical rains will begin to ease. Westerly winds will gather strength and prepare for the winter chills that come upon our coastal towns. While it may appear in this upcoming season that our personal progress slows quite the opposite will be true. God does His best work in this season of our lives. Energy can be redirected to the root systems, ensuring our faith foundation is strong and steadfast preparing as it were for the new growth that will spring forward in the following months.
Remember, if you find yourself in a dry season; a season where questions go unanswered or where grief lies at your door - hold fast in your faith. Just as your faith roots are being adjusted your story will inspire and encourage other women and men to keep on going.
Don't EVER think that Autumn and Winter mark the end of Hope! Hope continues and we have to decide daily what we shall focus on. So let's focus on HIM, the giver of life in every season of our lives:
H - Happiness, hospitality to others, holding fast to God's promises, honourable, hiding (taking comfort in)your very real faith
O - Opportunity, Offering (generosity to others), obedient - sometimes you've just got to do the right thing and not whinge about it (yeah, I know this can be hard when you're simply weary and grieving - but don't give in)
P - Possibility, purpose driven, peace-filled, positioned strategically for growth
E - Examine our lives, be energised, expectant, example to others, enduring - don't dare quit, extol one another - encourage people coming alongside them & holding them up when they're weary or taking 'faith risks'.
I'm challenged by this and the stories of others that inspire me. Don't quit. When we understand how valued we are by God as individuals and how collectively we are loved as His Church, I am compelled to navigate the different seasons of life.
Outside the rain continues to fall. Life isn't perfect. Autumn comes. Roots go down further and through faith, new growth will occur. Our God is Mighty and is committed to you. God remembers you and I in and out of every season. Hold fast and press onwards. Do not quit or give up on the people in your lives. Pray for one another regularly.
Loving you from Australia's Pacific Coastline
Kisses
Tarran
Life Group Survey Outcome
HOPE CHURCH LIFE GROUPS: New Fortnightly Breakfast Meeting Commenced
Thank you to all who provided feedback through various communication channels including the facebook event page. I'm delighted to confirm that last week I hosted a Life Group on behalf of Church to respond to the needs of business people in the community.
"Marketplace Faith for Christians in Business" ran on 3rd Feb 2010 from 630am-830am. Nobody wanted to leave! We'll be running them on the 17th February and 3rd & 17th March 2010.
At our first meeting we covered off a range of topics namely:
* Purpose & Frequency of coming together
* Privacy & Confidentiality of the details we share
* Christians in Business - Fact vs Fiction ~ discussing both secular and Christian perspectives
* Shared Values in the Marketplace
* Brainstorming and encouragement
We're meeting again on the 17th February from 630am-8am at the Lake Cafe @ Varsity Lakes Gold Coast. You're invited if you live nearby and we'd love to have your company. RSVP's are essential by phoning +61 417 654305.
Take care and remember to encourage people to embrace their ability! Mtw 25:14-30xxxx
Thank you to all who provided feedback through various communication channels including the facebook event page. I'm delighted to confirm that last week I hosted a Life Group on behalf of Church to respond to the needs of business people in the community.
"Marketplace Faith for Christians in Business" ran on 3rd Feb 2010 from 630am-830am. Nobody wanted to leave! We'll be running them on the 17th February and 3rd & 17th March 2010.
At our first meeting we covered off a range of topics namely:
* Purpose & Frequency of coming together
* Privacy & Confidentiality of the details we share
* Christians in Business - Fact vs Fiction ~ discussing both secular and Christian perspectives
* Shared Values in the Marketplace
* Brainstorming and encouragement
We're meeting again on the 17th February from 630am-8am at the Lake Cafe @ Varsity Lakes Gold Coast. You're invited if you live nearby and we'd love to have your company. RSVP's are essential by phoning +61 417 654305.
Take care and remember to encourage people to embrace their ability! Mtw 25:14-30xxxx
Relationships ~ Valuing & Learning From Friendships
The crests of the Birds of Paradise are vibrant orange in the morning sun. The agapanthus blooms are tiring. The river stones cry out in the heat beside weathered boardwalks and the rippling water of the inground pool.
Yesterday kite surfers could be seen from this hillside retreat where spirits are soothed and merry hearts do good like a medicine. These past few days my hubby and I have been in the company of long time friends as we've holidayed in Northern NSW. There has been time for reading, watching of movies (just loved "Second Hand Lions" starring Robert Duvall and Michael Caine), swimming, sharing our hearts and considering the way forward.
Here we are at 54 and 43 years respectively. We have a few runs on the board and so do our friends. We cherish them for their very character, how they love, how they honour and banter with their spouses, how they dig their children, celebrate one anothers achievements and mourn together when life's seasons change. How as teachers, emergency service personnel, IT specialists, child care operators, business owners, individually and collectively, they invest in community and future generations; a lot of the time without even realising it! This seems to work, from what I can see from the outside looking in, by getting the balance right. They combine a vibrant love of life with a recognition that you've got to sew to make a difference, that if you want something to occur then make a plan, strategise, invest in your own learning, and share your knowledge with others, work hard, be a good mate, be hospitable. Be open to making new friends, don't hide behind walls, exercise in your local neighbourhood, laugh heaps! As my husband said recently, 'friends help you stay sane'.
Dave and I will come away from this time refreshed, having laughed, swum, eaten too much and ingested far too much coffee. Life's fun when we have an attitude of gratitude. Gratitude is an essential key ingredient in every relationship and helps smooth out the lumps. Developing an attitude of gratitude takes practice, like renewing the mind or making a great cup of coffee!
Why don't you join me and consider all the things we have to be grateful for today and develop a faith - filled heart of positive expectation. I know I am grateful for that rippling pool of water that's beckoning me right now. I think I might just go and dive right into life!
Thanks friends for doing life with us....
Yesterday kite surfers could be seen from this hillside retreat where spirits are soothed and merry hearts do good like a medicine. These past few days my hubby and I have been in the company of long time friends as we've holidayed in Northern NSW. There has been time for reading, watching of movies (just loved "Second Hand Lions" starring Robert Duvall and Michael Caine), swimming, sharing our hearts and considering the way forward.
Here we are at 54 and 43 years respectively. We have a few runs on the board and so do our friends. We cherish them for their very character, how they love, how they honour and banter with their spouses, how they dig their children, celebrate one anothers achievements and mourn together when life's seasons change. How as teachers, emergency service personnel, IT specialists, child care operators, business owners, individually and collectively, they invest in community and future generations; a lot of the time without even realising it! This seems to work, from what I can see from the outside looking in, by getting the balance right. They combine a vibrant love of life with a recognition that you've got to sew to make a difference, that if you want something to occur then make a plan, strategise, invest in your own learning, and share your knowledge with others, work hard, be a good mate, be hospitable. Be open to making new friends, don't hide behind walls, exercise in your local neighbourhood, laugh heaps! As my husband said recently, 'friends help you stay sane'.
Dave and I will come away from this time refreshed, having laughed, swum, eaten too much and ingested far too much coffee. Life's fun when we have an attitude of gratitude. Gratitude is an essential key ingredient in every relationship and helps smooth out the lumps. Developing an attitude of gratitude takes practice, like renewing the mind or making a great cup of coffee!
Why don't you join me and consider all the things we have to be grateful for today and develop a faith - filled heart of positive expectation. I know I am grateful for that rippling pool of water that's beckoning me right now. I think I might just go and dive right into life!
Thanks friends for doing life with us....
Christians Embracing Ability
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I am so excited about 2010 and the potential we individually and corporately have to stretch and explore and hone our talents. We can have an absolute blast this year. It is all a question of how we see ourselves and how we see our God.
Pride is a funny thing. No really it is. Pride is what has us focusing on our own short comings. Pride is what has us operate in fear and tangle up the important relationships in our lives. Oh if only we could focus on a God who loves us 'unrelentingly' (is that a word? I don't know but 2 members of my family who have established themselves as Grammar Royalty will certainly advise me).
Do you remember that childhood game of PICK UP STICKS where you had to be super careful not to upset the other sticks as you tried to untangle your own colour? Remember how if you caused collateral damage the turn moved to someone else? Our Christian life is a little like PICK UP STICKS. There's a lot at stake!
As a Christian my opportunity is to love my God through a grateful heart bursting with appreciation for the gift of salvation that is mine through Christ. My other opportunity is to love people hopefully without causing too much collateral damage along the way! None of us are perfect and sometimes we inadvertently bump other people's sticks and we get all tangled up once again. Our God tells us, my God tells me, that He will never leave me nor foresake me. So, that means, He's with me while I work through my mess of pride and sticks in my own eyes.
I hope you all have a fantastic 2010. Seize the day. Love your God. He is Lord OVER any and every problem.
And finally, play nicely!
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