As we go through life it is easy to forget those in our lives that have been there for us or encouraged us to go the extra mile. We so often take these people for granted and overlook the guidance and time they have given to us.
It is very easy for me, to be in the moment and not even realize that the suggestion from someone, in regards to work or the words that are ringing in my ears that give me that extra push to keep my head in a workout, are there because someone cares enough to give of th…
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Added by Elizabeth Carpenter on October 18, 2009 at 12:40pm —
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A blog I came across tonight from Leo Babauta, author of Zen Habits.
Interested to hear what you guys think!!
Let me know...let's get some conversation going =).
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"By letting it go it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go. But when you try and try. The world is beyond the winning." - Lao Tzu
One of the unshakable tenets of success and productivity literature is that you need to have goals in order to be successful (see Seth Godin on this - he's someone I respect, bt…
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Added by Krysta on October 2, 2009 at 12:11am —
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Communication is the conduit to allowing us to inner act with the world around us, but it seems that communication is the most talked about and least understood area of human behavior. Our ability to communicate in so many modes is unique to each of us individually. Even with though the loss of one or two senses certainly can impair communication, it does not have to stop communication. Effective communication is rarely taught and even more rarely learned in our society. What follows is quick ov…
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Added by Elizabeth Carpenter on September 6, 2009 at 11:39am —
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September is Stepping-It-Up month. I have already stabilized, so I need to Step-It-Up, increase my performance and productivity, and really bear down to meet my preferred launch dates for my site.
MONTHLY GOALS:
FITNESS Goals: Increase my performance by 5% on all measurables (load weights, time performance, etc). So, I need to continue to record my performance measurables.
STUDY Goals: Listen to Audio 4 nights a week. Finish 'Walking With the Poor'. Read 2 chapters of the Bible daily. Create a…
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Added by Grant R. Nieddu on September 4, 2009 at 10:14am —
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The five attributes to adaptability are confidence, tolerance, empathy, positiveness and respect for others.
1.Confidence, means that you believe in yourself; you trust your own judgment and resourcefulness.
2.Flexibility, means you’re open to accepting opinions and practices different from your own. We can easily think of people who are intolerant of others because of religious or political beliefs. Those intolerant folks may attract like-minded people, but they don’t gain the a…
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Added by Elizabeth Carpenter on August 30, 2009 at 7:44pm —
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What is your perspective?
How do you perceive things?
It is amazing how just a shift in our perspective or how we perceive things happens when we allow ourselves to view them in a more reasonable manner! It truly is great when we just take the time to really look at the thoughts playing in our heads, or the situation we are facing with a whole different outlook—perspective.
How do you look at life today?
Do you really have a perspective that is conducive of living in the moment before yo…
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Added by Elizabeth Carpenter on June 21, 2009 at 10:30am —
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Hey guys - Check this out. I got it from an old friend in Ohio, that just started a church. It's taken from The Mars Hill church website, but is initially credited to St. Ignatius of Loyola. I like the intentionality and quietness of this. Let me know what you think!
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THE PRAYER OF EXAMEN [GUIDED VERSION]
About the Prayer of Examen
The Prayer of Examen is a daily spiritual exercise typically credited to St. Ignatius of Loyola [1491-1556], who
enc…
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Added by Krysta on May 20, 2009 at 11:45am —
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Confidence is a function of the mind.
It has to do with how we feel about things and is based upon the general patterns of thought or mental grid that occupies the cortex of the brain. As a feeling or emotion, it is the result of energy impulses, not from God, but generated by the data on the cortex of the brain.
Thus, feelings of confidence will be based on past experiences and the characteristics provided through heredity. Those who have inherited tendencies toward anxiety or have had bad ex…
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Added by Elizabeth Carpenter on May 8, 2009 at 8:00pm —
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Outwardly, I appear to be an organized person.
I am diligent and doing well in my line of work.
I tend to keep my planner up-to-date as much as I possible can, leaving room for unexpected changes that tend to happen in life from day to day.
I don’t like to be rushed and tend to show up for my appointments on time, if not early.
As a naturally “with-it” type person, you would assumed when I began meditating regularly that my thoughts would be as orderly as my day, that emptying my mind would…
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Added by Elizabeth Carpenter on April 28, 2009 at 8:00pm —
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This post is a follow-up to the post-dinner coffee chat last Saturday (while Brigs and Erin were visiting). It has to do with the concept that one man should expect realistically to be able to do/be it all. (We were talking about trying to be both a planer and executor, I believe.)
Brien had a follow-up thought and case study: "Great composers, such as Mozart, didn't know how to play every instrument in the orchestra."
Could he have learned? Sure! Could he have played 1/2 as well as any of the…
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Added by Christina on April 22, 2009 at 3:33pm —
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To prepare your mind for action means to bring your mind into obedience of the conscious act of the will. Many times believers face an inner conflict that brings about a tough-minded focus that readies us for action—being self-controlled.
We need and are called to be self-controlled with an internal direction from within, not from without by lusts, temptations, and unrighteous desires. Our hope is to be in the grace that God has given us through the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
Hav…
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Added by Elizabeth Carpenter on April 1, 2009 at 9:00am —
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Every day we face the inevitable interruptions that we do not plan or hope for, but rarely do we accept the twist and turns in our days and just go with the flow. Most of all when it comes to the very details of our lives, we have a very hard time seeing through interruptions and try at times to control that which we have no control over.
Even though we all experience interruptions in different ways and times, we need to come to realize that interruptions are not such a horrible thing as we mak…
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Added by Elizabeth Carpenter on March 24, 2009 at 11:00am —
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Does it conflict...it depends!
I think that the motivation behind, and attitude toward, the goals is what determines whether or not goal setting conflicts with simply following God.
The Motivation Behind:
When goal-setting stems from a person's desire to control (self or world around them) or fosters a false sense of self-sufficiency, then I believe that goal-setting can be contrary to just simply following God.
The Attitude Toward:
When goal-setting is elevated…
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Added by Christina on March 11, 2009 at 12:49pm —
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Background:
Last week in church we were singing a song that was pretty and all...but I couldn't connect with the lyrics. I didn't understand them ONE BIT...and that bothered me.
The song was "I Am a Friend of God." I have provided a the lyrics and a link to a YouTube video below.
The chorus is "I am a friend of God", and it is repeated over and over again. While singing that part especially, I was really confused! I know I am my Father's daughter. I know that I am a Queen. But His frien…
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Added by Christina on March 11, 2009 at 12:10pm —
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I was reading my bible this a.m. and came across a blurb in my study bible that really grabbed me. It is biblical principles, but I also believe they are applicable to business. They are now part of my personal spiritual and business/ethical mission statement.
From my study bible (related to 2 Timothy 4:3):
Sound doctrine is the eternal, unchanging truth about God and the gospel. Doctrine that merely scratches "itching ears" cares nothing for the truth; its concern is that it sound good…
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Added by Christina on March 10, 2009 at 1:37pm —
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A new month enters the scene!
This is the last month of the 1st quarter already, and so much has happened.
Personally, last month I way underperformed. Being dealt some serious time constraints at work, I got into the mentality of "rush, rush, rush. Cut away the unnecessary. Make sacrifices. Push, Push, Push to create provisions."
I think I am going to quit that. Even if I have to live on lower provisions for a time, I cannot speed through my time like I have. I have seriously botched my worko…
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Added by Grant R. Nieddu on March 1, 2009 at 8:06am —
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I'm currently chewing on the concept of
consecration. I'm seeking to understand what it means, and looks like, to consecrate my life and self daily.
My study bible says that consecration is "to set aside or dedicate for God's use."
The bible tells of both people and objects being consecrated. Sometimes the ritual includes using oil, washing (of self and of clothes), and/or abstaining from sexual relations.
I still don't understand what consecration looks like DAILY.
Oswald Cham…
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Added by Christina on February 14, 2009 at 2:00pm —
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God’s love for us extends far beyond the bounds of human comprehension; and awareness of how much we are loved by Him is forever slipping from our consciousness, especially in such a “love” driven culture, that doesn’t even know what true love is.
God's love for us is infinitely superior to any love we could ever express to each other, even to our husband or wife. But we often proclaim a higher standard for ourselves than what we believe God has for us.
“But if anyone does not provide for hi…
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Added by Elizabeth Carpenter on February 14, 2009 at 11:00am —
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Between some amazing discussion with friends last night and my daily devotional reading today, I came across a concept that just "clicked" for me and I felt compelled to share/process...
Sanctification!
I've heard the word and have had a fuzzy idea of what the concept means, but had a bit of an "Aha!" moment just now - and it makes my heart want to SING!
What Does Sanctification Mean to Us?
The process of sanctification is a gift that is available to us through the will of God, but that we hav…
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Added by Christina on February 8, 2009 at 5:54pm —
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Hello, Everyone!
I just wanted to give the update on the going-ons with me, Haiti, and what I have been doing there.
Our last trip was highly fruitful.
I went with Jonathan Capre for a small excursion to scout out quotes on replacing a building, prices for hotels and rental jeeps, and meeting leadership to prepare for partnering the local Haitian church with an American Church. (We focus on strategic partnerships between US people or organizations with Haitian people or organizations.) It was…
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Added by Grant R. Nieddu on February 7, 2009 at 10:45am —
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Showing Appreciation Where It Is Due
Minimalism: Break Free From Goals
Step-It-Up September
Musings on Indpendence and Interdependence (Specializing vs. Doing it All)
