Telemarketer Training - Works For Me!

No.

I'm so bad at saying "no", but I was shocked to hear a very best friend of mine sign up to give money to save some endangered african bush rat (or marsupial of some description) because she couldnt say no to the pushy salesman at the door. She needs some telemarketer training!

If we can learn to say no to telemarketers and door to door salespeople, then our No and our Yes in the rest of our life will mean so much more.

How awesome would it be if we all answered telemarketers this week with "No thankyou, we are not interested" or "Not today thankyou" or "Nenhum obrigado. O rato em perigo não é o meu interesse" (in portuguese that means "No thankyou, the endangered rat is not my interest").

Of course all of these would have to be followed by a prompt but polite click as you hang up.

You might need some "No" training, and I encourage you to take up the telemarketer challenge and let me know how you go! And once you have your No sorted, you can work on your Yes.

For me, It's time to say Yes. I'll let you have a sneak peek at my conversation with God today.

Me: I don’t want to do it.
God: Oh, really? Why is that?
Me: Well, It's not something that is easy for me or that I like doing.
God: Do you think leading the people out of Israel came easy for Moses? Do you think he liked it?
Me: Ouch. No.
God: I didn’t bring you all this way just for you to enjoy yourself, but I did bring you here to use you in other peoples lives. You were so busy saying No to the requests of people, that you started saying No to Me!
Me: Sorry. But I don’t think I can do it by myself
God: Little One, I am with you! Remember what I said to my people through Isaiah – “I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:9)
Me: Wow, thanks.
God: No worries.

That's just an excerpt. And a paraphrase (Im not sure God actually says "No worries").

Notice how little I spoke (there arent many other times in life when Im short on words!).

Sometimes we have to say No, Sometimes we have to say Yes. And most of the time, we have to say No to good things so we can say Yes to the best thing.

I think I hear your phone ringing :)

G'Day!

Just thought I'd pop in and give you a smile

Special thanks to Nana Connie and Granddad Jim for this photo!

I've Got You

This week Hannah learned to ride without her training wheels. We started by holding the bike for her, and getting her to try to balance, assuring her all the while with the words "I've got you. Keep going".

Then, the process pictured above started. First, Hannah needs a push off, and then Bryce runs with her all the way till the end and steadies her as she finishes.

Now, Hannah still needs a push off, but she can ride and even turn without help. But then, she needed her Dad right there with her to give her the confidence she needed to ride.

Take another look at the photos - In how many steps can she see her Dad's hand right there ready to steady or catch her if she falls? Only the last one - and only just! Even though he is right there with her all the way, it is only right when she needs him that he comes into view.

Do you recall those times in your life when you have seen the hand of God? When you have been comforted, reassured, steadied? When you have been given unexplained peace, joy or strength? That's just a glimpse of all God has done for you and enabled you to do!

Why not take some time to reconsider those hard situations of your life, see if you can see his presence there, and thank Him. And when the next situation comes where you think you are about to lose your balance, hear him saying "I've got you. Keep Going!"



p.s. And at the end, when he steadies you as you finish may you hear the words "well done, good and faithful servant!"

Wish List - Works For Me!

Shannon, over at Rocks in My Dryer, has a bloggy carnival each week called "Works For Me Wednesday". Ive decided to join the ranks of bloggy advisors and so here is the first edition. If you like it, please leave a comment!

We reckon the hardest thing to maintain, and a definite ingredient for a great marriage is considering your spouse's needs. Thats why we do this cool thing called a 'wish list'. Here are the rules...

1. Every so often, to build into your spouse, ask them if there is anything on their 'wish list'. This gives them an opportunity to share things like "It would be great if you could not leave wet towels on the floor" or "I would love it if we could spend some quality time together soon" etc.

2. Remember to respond with grace and genuinely consider their request. Ask at a time when you are really wanting to love them by meeting their needs (not just cause you have something on *your* wish list!!)

3. Only one person can share their wish list at this time. (no reciprocal asking!). This ensures that when your spouse asks you, they are genuinely wanting to know what they can do for you (or not do as the case may be). If you have something on your wish list, just keep it and share it when they are ready to ask you.We find that by keeping a wish list, instead of raising issues whenever we are annoyed, things tend to fade away that arent important and it saves those heated 'you always leave your towel on the floor' discussions that in the end arent the real issue.

I'd just like to say...

Doesn't the moon look awesome tonight!

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Excuse me, I've lost my son

Josh and Hannah came with me to a just-for-fun bowling tournament on Anzac day (against my better judgement I might add) and I had to keep telling them to sit down and stop swinging on the banisters between each turn. Then after one go, I turned around and Josh wasn’t there. I asked Hannah to go check in the section where all the computer games were but he wasn’t there and I could not see him anywhere.

After a few frantic minutes of looking with no luck, I had to go to the lady at the service desk and say those dreaded words “excuse me, I have lost my son”. I felt like the worst mother! While I was trying to explain to the girl what he looked like (and trying to remember what colour shirt he had on), I heard his familiar cry and he came running out of the computer game area (see, I knew he would be in there!) bawling and saying “the man said No to me”.

Now, Im not sure who the man was, or why he said no to Josh, but Im really glad he did! He might have told Josh not to touch his game, or pointed out that Josh was in the wrong place, but the result was that Josh came running back to me and for that I am thankful!

Because I was telling Josh not to swing on the metal bar above a step, he thought I was spoiling his fun and so decided to do his own thing and play where HE wanted to play. But the only reason I asked him not to do that, was because I cared, and because I could see what was going to happen if he kept doing that. Josh was having fun until something came along which he didn’t know how to respond to, and then he realized that where he was, wasn’t the best place to be after all.

Sometimes we find out that where we are in life, isn’t where we want to be. Maybe something happens to you or a family member and you realize you don’t have the support or strength to deal with it.Maybe you have seen something in someone elses life that you just don’t have – like peace when finances are shaky, health is critical or life is threatened – like strength in difficult circumstances – like joy in the midst of sadness.

Josh thought he knew the most exciting place to be, but in reality it wasn’t the best or the safest place for him. You might think “nah, my life is fine thanks, I don’t need a God telling me what to do” but there is such a better option – with a God who cares for you, has the best in mind and has exciting stuff planned that you can do together! You can ignore that if you want to and keep living life the same way, or you could find out a bit more about this new way of living...

Welcome!

Welcome!!

If you are here for the first time, feel free to browse around!

There are 4 main categories you'll find

• life lessons ~ cool stories with a God twist
• quotable quotes ~ funny things my kids say
• animal crackers ~ random animals or flukey photos with a quick thought
• WFMW - a little tip on a wednesday that might help you along the way

Grab a coffee or cold beverage of your choice, sit back and enjoy!

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Thanks for dropping by!

Oh, and please leave a comment while you're here :)

Donna

check out tonights moon!

Someone's been on a Date

I'm dying to know who it was, but I guess since you didnt leave your name, I'm not supposed to know.

But Somebody has been on a date!

A huge gift was left for us today, and the timing was impeccable!

I didnt pick the theme of giving, but it has been coming up quite a bit recently hasnt it! I love joining God where he is working, and blessing people by giving in all sorts of ways. And the effect that it has when Gods people are obedient is amazing. The receiver is totally blown away by Gods provision people who dont know God get a glimpse of his love because of someones generosity.

God's plan for the nation of Israel is that they would be his representatives on earth. That others would know what God is like by seeing how they treat eachother, and how they take care of those in need.

"If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." Isaiah 58: 10-11

Paul writes to the Christians at Corinth, thanking them for the gift they sent, that he was going to pass on to others:

"What you are doing is much more than a service that supplies God's people with what they need. It is something that will make many others thank God. The way in which you have proved yourselves by this service will bring honor and praise to God. You believed the message about Christ, and you obeyed it by sharing generously with God's people and with everyone else." 2 Corinthians 9:12-13 (CEV)

And I'll leave you with one last verse...

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality." Romans 12:10-13

A Potamus Up a Tree

Last night we found this little critter up a tree...

Josh is still learning that it is a "possum" and not a "potamus" although he was the first to put his hand out to give the potamus some bread to eat.

Hannah however, was quite reluctant and held the bread close to her body. She didnt realise the joy and experience of holding her hand out and having the potamus take it from her in its little paws.

Sometimes in life we hold things tight and close in order to stay safe. But it is in opening up and letting go that we experience true joy and deeper experiences in life.

Do you have some bread to let go of? You never know, there might be a potamus just around the corner!