I Have Shed My Mask

The most exhausting thing in life, I have discovered, is being insincere.  That is why so much of social life is exhausting; one is wearing a mask.  I have shed my mask.

Perhaps middle age is, or should be, a period of shedding; ambitions, material accumulations, possessions, and the ego.  One’s pride, one’s false ambitions, one’s mask, one’s armor.  Was that armor not put on to protect one from the competitive world? If one ceases to compete, does one need it? Perhaps one can at last in middle age, if not earlier, be completely oneself.  And what a liberation that would be!           (Anne Lindbergh’s Gift From the Sea)

The Engaging Leader: Winning with Today’s Free Agent Workforce

“People don’t quit their jobs, they quit their bosses.  Skilled people want to work for winning leaders.  Grade A talent wants to work for Grade A leadership.  It won’t settle for less.”

In The Engaging Leader, Dr. Ed Gubman communicates how to draw out employees’ enthusiasm and commitment; how to retain and nurture companies’ most prized and priceless assets — employees:

• Engaging leaders are drivers and builders.  Drivers are decisive decision makers; putting results first, stress the bottom line, and crack the whip (maintaining pressure on accountability and come down hard when goals aren’t met).
• Builders put people and process first.  Builders are relationship-oriented.  Builders let solutions emerge, take a long-term focus, stay behind the scenes more, and are more positive than critical. (They are, by no means, indecisive.  Builders possess goals and visions.  They rely on natural consequences vs. immediate consequences by an authority).

Engaging leaders know when to be drivers and when to be builders.

Furthermore, Dr. Gubman states, “Employees (talent) want freedom, control, accountability, and caring.” 

• Freedom — the freedom of expression and the ability to be who you are, not someone you’re not.
• Control — people enjoy their work when they know what their responsibilities are and have the autonomy to achieve them.  They don’t want to be micromanaged.  Even when what-to-do comes from above, talented employees expect to figure out how to do it themselves.
• Accountability — giving someone an assignment and holding him or her responsible for delivering results.
• Caring relationships increase people’s investments in your workplace.  Warm relationships help employees feel connected and will motivate them to work for you — to help you meet your goals.  Employees will confide in personal matters if they feel safe.  They also want some friends in the workplace.

Tough and tender, a loveable task master, realistic optimist … whatever you call it, the intersection of driving and building behaviors is what engages most people. 

Successful leaders learn this in their interactions with people.  They become more versatile, expanding their own styles by taking on some behaviors that are unnatural to them at first, but become second nature as followers reinforce them by responding favorably. 

The ability to incorporate parts of these seeming opposites, like the skill of reconciling group goals and individual needs, will make you an engaging leader and a long-time, big time winner.  (Full Story)

 

All Heaven Declares — LOVE Conquers All

He is risen!  AMEN!

All heaven declares, the glory of the risen Lord.  Who can compare, with the beauty of the Lord.

Forever He will be, the Lamb upon the throne.  I gladly bow my knee, and worship Him alone.

I will proclaim, the glory of the risen Lord.  Who once was slain, to reconcile man to God.

Forever You will be, the Lamb upon the throne.  I gladly bow my knee, and worship You alone.                       (Noel and Tricia Richards)

 

How to Reach Your Full Potential for God

Before introducing Dr. Charles Stanley’s latest publication, I wish to clarify, I am no right-wing conservative; to the contrary, a left-leaning Independent; a social progressive and fiscally, moderately conservative. 

More importantly, having been screwed too many times by unreliable knowledge and the perception of truth, this hopeless sinner came to the Lord 16 years ago, gradually beginning to trust what I’ve yet to understand (yes, the disobedient child FINALLY listens to her Father because her ways have resulted in intolerable pain and sheer misery).

Have you ever wondered, “What is my calling?  What is my purpose here on this earth?”

You’re not alone.  I know at least half a dozen friends who’ve shared similar thoughts, myself included.

Dr. Charles Stanley’s How to Reach Your Full Potential for God describes God’s wisdom and His ways:

1. God always gives us opportunities that challenge who we are already and that are designed to move us to a new level of what we are already doing. (The bold, courageous, fisherman, Peter, puts down his net to serve Jesus, becoming a fisher of men.)
2. God always calls us to something.  Jesus does not call us to quit something and remain idle for the rest of our days. (God didn’t simply tell Abram to leave his homeland.  God provided clear directions on how to reach the new land and the future that awaited him).
3. God sets before us a challenge that holds the opportunity for blessings beyond ourselves. (If an opportunity is only for you or your immediate family, it very likely is not from God.) 
4. God will confirm His presence as you pursue the challenge He has set before you.  (Peter walked on water until his faith in Jesus waned.  Peter also walked back–on water–to the boat with Jesus.) 
5. God’s challenges will always accompany the enabling power of the Holy spirit.  He will remind you of God’s commandments, Bible stories, and lasting promises of God’s Word.  In most exciting ways, The Holy Spirit will give you His creative and productive ideas.

At 44-years-old, I continue to search for my ultimate calling.  I have yet to find out, but regardless of the unknown, I choose to live daily with purpose and joy (doesn’t happen all the time but I try).

What’s your calling?  What do you want to be when you grow up? 

Obedience Requires Courage

Which would you choose?  Known or the unknown?  Knowledge or faith?

If you take comfort in control and predictability, you value knowledge, the known. 

Those of us who’ve been screwed too many times by unreliable knowledge and the perception of truth, gradually begin to trust what we’ve yet to understand.  Yes, the disobedient child FINALLY listens to his parents because his ways have resulted in intolerable pain and sheer misery.

Do we have a choice?

In Touch Ministry’s pastor, Dr. Charles Stanley’s messages always hits the nail on the head, “You reap what you sow, more than what you sow, later than what you sow … Obedience is not for the faint hearted.  Obedience requires discipline and courage.”

Our life is not just ours.  Our actions — both good and bad — affect others; especially those closest to us.

• Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit.  God banned them from the Garden of Eden. 
• King David’s affair with Bathsheba causes negative repercussions.  First, the child conceived would die.  David’s many children would always fight. This is especially hard on David because he loves his children very much.  God forgives King David but David must still face his consequences.

The world has eyes. (Marianne Williamson).  What is said and done in secret will be shouted from the rooftop. (Luke 12:2-3)

For the year 2010, I will continue to work on obedience.  I’m not courageous.  I simply don’t care for the consequences.

God, thanks for your patience, guidance, and understanding!

What’s your new year’s resolution?

It’s Complicated!

Don’t know about you but the the longer I hang around the block, I find myself enjoying the company of complicated people — the so called “screw ups” — the ever so adorable human beings! 

Would you prefer to be around people who are always “doing great” and “so together?”  Not me.  I’m so imperfect; I’d suffocate amongst wanna-be-perfectionists. 

Wanna know my humble opinion? Folks who think and act like they’re so together are really more screwed up than you and me — at least we’re able to admit to and live with our humanity.  “Perfect people” are just in denial — too insecure to face their true selves.  To the goody two-shoes, ”STOP JUDGING.  LIVE A LITTLE!”

If you were divorced, successful, stable career woman about to start a new relationship, and your charming, unreliable, two-timing ex-husband showed up saying “I really want to grow old with you”, would you take him back?

My head would say “NO WAY!”  But my heart?  “Maybe …?  Maybe … someday?”

LIFE — so hilarious, so complicated, so unbelievable! 

It’s Complicated — two thumbs WAY UP!  A must see this holiday season! 

 

Love This Letter!

A personal letter doesn’t get better than this.  Love to share it with you!

*****

My Children,

Many folks have told me they’re upset that My name is taken out of the season.  Maybe you’ve forgotten I wasn’t actually born during this time of year.  It was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on a pagan festival.

I don’t care what you call the day.  If you want to celebrate my birth, JUST GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth, here is my wish list.  You choose:

• Write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home.  They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year.  I know.  They tell me.
• Visit someone in a nursing home.  You don’t have to know them.  Just let them know you care.
• Try to give everyone a warm smile.  You could make a difference in the life of the lonely and the hopeless.
• Pray for George and his family rather than complaining about the wording on his cards.
• Spend time with your kids.  They don’t want gifts you can’t afford.  Tell them the story of My birth and why I came to live with you down here.  Hold your kids.  Tell them how much you love them.
• Forgive someone who has hurt you.
• Support a charity or a missionary — especially ones who take My love and Good News to those who have never heard my name.
• Finally, behave like a Christian.  Don’t do things in secret that you wouldn’t do in My presence.  Let people know by your actions that you are mine.
• I am God.  I can take care of Myself.  Just love Me and do what I have shared.  I’ll take care of the rest.  Check the above and get to work.  Time is short.  I’ll help you but the ball is now in your court.  Have a blessed Christmas with all your loved ones. 

Remember, I LOVE YOU.

Jesus

*****

Thanks GOD!

Life’s Treasures

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE.

In your anger do not sin.  Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.  (Ephesians 4:26)

******

I’ve heard this countless times. 

But my aunt’s sudden death shook me to the core: “Nothing of this world can be taken to the next.  I can be here one day and gone the next.  My most important legacy is and ought to be love.”

My cousin, still in disbelief, shared with us the last 10 hours with her 70-year-old mother.

*****

Last night, our aunt, with the help of portable oxygen, was breathing normally, even telling a few jokes over the phone.  At 7 p.m., mother and daughter were enjoying a light conversation. 

Aunt was going to work on Monday.  Business as usual. 

At 7:30, something went wrong. 

Aunt called her daughter again. 

Cousin called the ambulance.  In hopes of minimizing wait time, she wanted her mother to be admitted to the Emergency Room.

Similar incidents have occurred in the past.  Family members thought aunt needed to get routine care, then return home.

At 11 p.m., aunt’s pulse weakened — dramatically. 

Suddenly, she wanted family members at bed side.  She begged for her priest.  For 12 years, aunt worked at the church gift shop. 

Daughter called … She called once more. 

Priest answered, “It’s 1 a.m.  I don’t make late night visits.”

In desperation, daughter told mother, “Mom, you can talk directly to God.  You don’t need the priest to intercede.  If you want to get right with Him, the time is NOW!  … TELL GOD EVERYTHING NOW!”"

At 5 a.m., aunt took her last breath.

Cousin called the priest. 

He arrived — 5:20 a.m.

******

Our aunt is at a much better place.  She is HOME.

  

Christ Our Savior is Born!

“Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”  (Luke 1: 30-35) 

 

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests. (Luke 2:14)

 

LOVE — God’s Way

What is LOVE? 

Passion?  Lust?  Uncontrollable attraction?

Been there.  Done that. 

Is that all? … Not so, according to God. 

Here are the characteristics of Godly love:

• Believes in God’s powers
• Endures all things
• Does not envy
• Does not boast
• Is not rude
• Does not keep record of wrongs
• Celebrates others’ achievements
• Keeps all things in confidence.  Yes, tight lips.
• Holds out holy ambitions for others (What Does the BIBLE SAY ABOUT … The Ultimate A to Z Resource, 246)

I’ll get it … someday.