Are You Crabby?

When you go crabbing, you need a bucket with a perforated lid. When you catch your first crab, put it in bucket and quickly put the lid on lest it escape. However, once you have put two or three in the bucket, the lid is no longer necessary. You see if one crab attempts to escape from the bucket, the other crabs will pull it back down. If they can't have freedom, neither can their fellow crab. Sometimes, the crabs seem almost sinister,  waiting until the crab has almost escaped before yanking it back into the bucket.

 Talk about misery loves company.

Apparently the crabs are unaware of the boiling pot awaiting them. If they were would they pull each other back into the bucket, instead of helping escape artist? Or do they have that moronic mentality of if I can't have it, neither can you?

Those with that “crab mentality” are dream killers. I have seen it when people are doing their walkout and trying to take their life back after a devastating illness. Sadly, I have seen it in Mary Kay when someone is all excited about making some extra money and paying off their debts or maybe they have captured the big dream. Friends and relatives tell them they are foolish for even trying. They sound like Job's friends with the constant accusations. 

When we can step beyond the accusations, the pronouncements of doom, we can walk in plan that God had for our life before the foundations of the world. It is "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think..." 
The following video shows a young man who "regardless of his hard life, passionately runs towards what he really wants.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I have so much to be grateful for. I had one cardiologist tell me that I would never see 60. I am 64 and happy. Each day is a gift.
I am married to a man who loves me unconditionally.
Recently we had a wedding at our church and at the close, they played, "Dance with me, Lord." All married couples were invited to come dance with the newly married couple. As Ray held me in his arms, I was reminded of our first date and our first dance. What a long way we have traveled.
A friend, Marcia Fisher, took a picture of us dancing. I don't usually like pictures taken of me because I am overweight. (translation:not perfect) However, there was something endearing about this picture- belly and all. So I made some copies to send to family and a 8X10 for our family wall of pictures. When I framed the 8x10 and took it to the wall, I noticed the similarity of that picture to the one that was taken 30 years ago on our wedding day as he held me in his arms. There was that same look of love for one another, that same surrender into the safety of his arms.

This 30 years has not been without sadness, even grief, rebellion and brokenness, but what matters most is we have come full circle with God's help. The key is to keep dancing. No matter what your dreams are, don't give up.
Dance as if no one were watching,
Sing as if no one were listening,
Love as though you've never been hurt,
Live every day as if it were your last.
In the attached video, Paul Wilbur opens in prayer and if you listen carefully you will hear prophetic declarations towards the end...darkness has passed...sickness has passed... Then you see a woman dance across the stage and in my mind's eye, I see a little girl dancing for her daddy and I know that is how I want to dance and live for my Father God - in abandon.

My Hopes, My Dreams, My Future

I had a priest once who said, "To listen truly listen to someone is to allow the Christ in them to be formed."
He went on to explain that God has given us the answers to our problems, but it often isn't until we share our heart that the answers form from our own mouth. Yesterday I had two dear friends who visited me. Just sharing allowed me to have clarity over a situation that I was conflicted over.
Until recently I was the queen of self-sabotage. I could get most any job, but soon I was doing things that would sabotage my effectiveness and before long I was resigning because I was sure it was only a matter of time before they would fire me. How insane is that?
Now that I know fully that God is my Source, not the job, I am not driven to self-destruct nor even driven to perform. I simply do my best for Him.
Our trip to Ireland was very healing. It was time out for the two of us as a couple. We get way too little of that. There were no deadlines to meet and everywhere we went people went out of their way to see that we had a delightful visit. I saw hospitality as a way of life.
I came home determined to rid my own life of performance and drivenness, but I had not a clue what that would look like.
I knew I had to refinance our home and the goal is to pay it off in the next seven years. The problem is that credit requirements are particularly stringent and it will take someone who does private mortgages. Since I know that would have to be a God-thing, it doesn't stress me. I mean look at our trip to Ireland.
Still there was a part of me that wanted to help God make it happen.
I work for Be In Health and I sell Mary Kay. Should I back off off the predictable income job that I love and push for personal sales and make it happen? I had no peace in that, but I really didn't know if that was fear of failure.
Then I was watching a Food Network challenge last night and this young woman said something like this: "It is better to fail at something you love than succeed at the wrong thing."
I love my job. Last Thursday when I taught Unloving, I could see that I was making a difference in people's lives so that they could know freedom from the enemy. People came to me afterward with gracious comments.
One girl was so cute. She said, "I got it! I finally got! Thank you so much. I finally understand what I was allowing the enemy to do in my life."
She went on to say that she had called her husband the night before and told him to come get her. She didn't understand anything and this was a waste. He didn't do that. So she had come that morning anyway and now she had the key to her freedom.
I love being one of the moderators of the Bulletin Board. It's like have an interactive extended family with people helping each other.
So last night when she said, "It is better to fail at something you love than succeed at the wrong thing," Be In Health won hands down.
Almost immediately the Lord gave me a way to build the internet side of my Mary Kay business. It is rather passive and will not take away from Be In Health in the least. Also, I saw God sell Mary Kay for me before I went to Ireland when I was too busy. Just last week someone who hasn't ordered in a week, called me out of the blue to order. I have to be faithful to keep my "store" stocked and give good service, but I don't have to get into drivenness over it.
Corrie Tem Boom once said, "Hold everything loosely because it hurts when God pries your fingers open."
That everything includes my hopes, my dreams and my future.
Today once again, I lay it all in His hands. He is faithful. What shall I fear if I totally surrender to Him?

Don't Let Anyone Steal Your Dreams

I was once in a dreadful relationship. One day I went to work and returned from to work to find that he and his friends had cleaned out our attic. Everything that he didn't think was absolutely essential had been hauled away. That included the clothes I brought my babies home from the hospital in, old letters and pictures. Minutiae like the report that I was having twins. Things important only to me.
Something inside of me died that day when he said, "You don't need memories. You have me."
When I married Ray the following year, I began to dream again. One of our dreams from the beginning has been to go to Ireland together. This year it is finally happening. I wonder how much sooner it would have happened if during the journey of my life, I did not allow others to steal my dreams.
I heard the story of the man who sold hotdogs today. I just have to share it with you. I do not know the original author.

THE MAN WHO SOLD HOT DOGS

Many years ago there was a man who lived by the side of the road and sold HOT DOGS.
He was hard of hearing so he had no radio.
He had trouble with his eyes so he read no newspaper.
But he sold HOT DOGS
He put up signs on the highway telling how good they were.
He stood on the side of the road and cried: "BUY A HOT DOG, MISTER ?"
And people bought, because he was so enthusiastic.
He increased his meat and bun orders.
He bought a bigger stove to take care of his growing trade.
He was so happy selling Hot Dogs, and people enjoyed doing business with him.
One day his son came home from college to help him out.

And something happened.

His son said, "Father, haven’t you been listening to the radio.? Haven’t you been reading the newspaper.?

The situation in Europe is terrible. The Domestic situation is worse."

Whereupon the father thought, "Well, my son’s been to college, he reads the newspaper, he listens to the radio, and he ought to know."

So the father cut down on his meat and bun orders, he took down all his advertising signs, and no longer bothered to stand on the highway to sell his hot dogs.

And his HOT DOG sales fell, ALMOST OVERNIGHT.

"You’re right, son," the father said to the boy.

"WE CERTAINLY ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A GREAT DEPRESSION."

Who are you listening to? Why?
The Word I hear is:
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer 29:11


Has someone taken away your dream? Take it back! Don't have a dream? Get one!


In the movie the Ghost Busters, you could identify them by the clothes they wore and their outrageous car.

Dream Busters are not nearly as recognizable. They could be your friend, your boss, a relative or even someone who loves you. They have had their dreams squashed and never had the courage or stamina to take back what the enemy stole.
Don't share your dreams with negative people. Share them with those who have dreams also.
Have an accountability partner or your dreams will be just that-a dream.
I think there is power in intercessors as well who are willing to pray for you. A dream needs balance.
Too often I have had dreams and gotten off track by neglecting the necessary. Can't tell you how many craft shows I did when I was young, totally neglecting kids and housework. God does things decently and in order.

Turn off the news and do some dreaming today.

Are You Building with Your Words?

Our words can build people up or tear them down. In fact, silence can destroy others as well. Christ in us, the hope of glory means that we have the gift to be able to speak life into people today. Why not see how many people you can touch with words of life today?
Not only will it change them, it will change you as well.
Do it on purpose.

They're Here!

I have eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren and NONE live where I live.
Tonight though two of them, Emily and Christopher arrived, escorted my by beautiful daughter, Margie and her husband, Tom. What a great gift!
There is nothing like children in the house for Christmas. The sheer joy! Tonight we sat on the front porch as it was a very crisp evening. Later, we had hot chocolate and cookies. Emily and I made Christmas cards while Mike and Christopher played battle with Christopher's soldiers.
How rich we are to see Christmas through the eyes of children. We should seek to see the world like that daily. Emily wanted the Christmas tree left on just in case she woke up during the night, she could come out and see it. I used to do that.
While everyone slept, I would sit by the tree and dream.
If you haven't dreamed in a long while, maybe it is time to stir up that hope of beautiful tomorrows.