Blog
Posted: September 14, 2009
The Drive-Inn Movie Theatre in Prince George leaves a lasting legacy in my mind. I can still see Charles Heston as Moses with his cane, handsome face and flowing robes, in the “Ten Commandments” approaching Pharaoh and telling the king to “Let God’s people go!” After God changed all the water into blood, sent locusts, turned rods into snakes…and then came the frogs. The bible says that the frogs were everywhere! In the ovens, in the kneading troughs, and in the palace bed. Here is the astonishing part. Moses specifically told Pharaoh that he would pray and ask God to remove the frogs whenever the King wanted them removed. Our dear King Pharaoh said, “Tomorrow!” When we read that we throw up our hands and exclaim, “Why in the world would anyone want to live with pesky frogs any longer than you have to?” In fact, we all do. Many of…
Posted in: Beauty from the Inside Out, Beauty Unleashed
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Posted: August 14, 2009
“Lingering and Loving it – in Poland” Last night I lingered with friends in a coffee shop. Surprisingly I stayed longer than I anticipated; I didn’t want to leave because we were talking about the joys and struggles of relationships. I’ve noticed that when we start talking about relationships at a “heart connection” level, it is a story without end. When we finally stop the surface conversations about the weather, lousy economics, toilet training, “busy” activities or the price of gas – we get down to what matters – issues of the heart. If I really want to know someone, be aware of God’s magnificent creation, or discover a treasure that God has placed in my path in that moment, I have to learn to linger. I discovered this necessary but gorgeous concept on my overseas trip to Poland where I taught lectures on “Spiritual Transformation”. When I heard a comment like,…
Posted in: Beauty from the Inside Out, Beauty Unleashed
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Posted: July 11, 2009
“Listening leads to Loving” Last year I read 14 books to prepare for a workshop on “Empowering Leadership through Friendship.” I randomnly discovered that the greatest need in relationships, and the greatest gift we can give each other is “Listening.” Since that discovery, I have paid attention to the power that listening has in our lives, and I stand amazed. I recall one afternoon when someone came into my office with a problem. I sat and listened. I did not open my mouth once-not once and for those who know me, you know that is not easy. As this employee walked out of my office she said, “Thank you for helping me, this has meant so much.” I had not said one word to help her – I simply listened. This unusul encounter made me sharply aware that the greatest gift I can give anyone is to LISTEN. Not judge, not give advice,…
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Posted: March 28, 2009
BEAUTY TIP #2 – “Forgiveness removes wrinkles.” I read a story about identical twin sisters who had been abused and mistreated by their father. In their early 20’s, they moved away from their family – angry and bitter at their life’s circumstances. They had no contact with each other until they were 65. When they met, it was shocking to see on their face visual evidence of what had taken place in their heart. The twin who never forgave her father had a face that was distorted, angry frown marks, sagging skin and wrinkles. The other twin had chosen to forgive her father – looked years younger, had less wrinkles and her face was radiant. Unforgiveness turns into bitterness and the affects of this begins to show on our faces. How many older people do you know that have angry scowls on their faces, hunched shoulders and when they speak you can…
Posted in: Beauty Unleashed
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Posted: February 14, 2009
BEAUTY TIP #1 “Beauty starts in the heart.” (Proverbs 4:23) “Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life.” I don’t believe there is anything wrong with Botox, filler injections, laser surgery for removing brown spots or unsightly veins. BUT, these are procedures that last for a short while and have to be repeated in order to keep us looking young and beautiful. We are women, and I believe we want to be gorgeous. There is nothing more gorgeous than a woman who knows she is loved and knows where she belongs. I’m not talking about the kind of love that makes us feel good for a season, or the kind of love that gives us a thrill when things go our way. I’m talking about a love that is shed abroad in our hearts by a God who knew you and me before the foundations…
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Posted: January 5, 2009
Austin, my adorable, blonde tousled grandson, is only two but he’s already King of the House. He’s tough, energetic and makes everyone laugh outrageously – especially now that he is starting to talk. When his eyes start to droop and it’s time for a nap he walks up to me, looks me square in the eye with that helpless, innocent baby look and says, “Suckie please Nana!” He always adds the “Please.” My heart melts and I give him what will comfort him the most in this tender moment – his suckie. He’s only two so it’s OK and cute to walk around with a crown and suckie, but it’s not so cute when we’re in our 20’s or older. Let’s face it we all want to be king or queen and run this world, but after harrowing days that seem to control us and leave us overwhelmed and drained, all…
Posted in: Beauty Unleashed, Uncategorized
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Posted: December 14, 2008
In 2007 I completely rebelled against the greed, commercialism and frenetic activity of Christmas. It hurt my heart to see how we were supposedly celebrating Christ’s birthday by throwing lavish parties – but He was not invited. What was the point of this whole “holiday season?” I rebelled to the point where I did not put up a single decoration in our home, send out Christmas cards and I sent most of the designated gift money to Africa. It was the perfect year to do this because we were off to spend that Christmas season with my pregnant daughter Michelle, her husband Tim and my two grandsons Matthew and Austin in the small, country town of Grassy Lake, Alberta. I loved everything about it. The simplicity of Christmas Eve in a small country church – candles burning, carols sung off key and excited children running up and down hallways eagerly anticipating their goodie bags….
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Posted: November 2, 2008
I’ve had several “near death” experiences. More often than I care to count, I have driven down the highway on a dark rainy night, with the windshield wiper going at full speed, then switching lanes and finding that I almost drove into someone right beside me. Or thinking, “Where in the world did that bike come from – and how come I didn’t see him?” I can still feel my jelly knees and pounding heart with the harsh reality that I might have killed someone – or myself. Those near death experiences have helped me to grasp the concept of scotomas – the clinical name for “blind spots.” Now that I am aware of them – I also see our scomotas in relationships. How often have we heard someone complain about “so and so did this and that?” With a shocked look on our faces we listen to what they are…
Posted in: Beauty Unleashed
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Posted: September 26, 2008
Life seems stormy these days. Gas prices soaring out of sight-elections-divorces-house prices too high-depression-fatigue-hurricane Ike-too much information-too little time. Lately I seem to be standing in the middle of storms where I feel shaken and know I need to hang onto something strong so that I won’t be swept away. I have to make myself stop, breathe and remember what I am hanging onto. Then I remember the story of the chicken and the eagle. The research done by Joyce Meyers (a well known international speaker and Bible teacher) on eagles fascinates me. She tells the eagle story this way: When a storm comes, chickens run around madly flapping their wings, squawking, going in circles, digging in the same old dirt and going nowhere. The eagle is different. When it sees a storm coming, it sits on a rock and waits. When the storm comes it rises up to “catch…
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Posted: September 2, 2008
With a grin on her face, my daughter Michelle said, “Mom, would you please pass me my purse, I think I still have some pickles in there.” Sure enough, she dug around in her purse through endless receipts, baby soothers, credit cards, gum, matchbox cars, and pulled out a plastic bag with old, wrinkled, baby pickles in it. I laughed, “Why are you carrying pickles in your purse?” You would understand this conversation if you met their 22 month old Austin – the strong willed child that makes grown men cry. He loves pickles – they entertain him for at least 7 minutes – and that is reason enough to carry them around at all times. This strange conversation made me curious enough to check what kind of old junk I was carrying around in my purse. Sure enough, there were at least 15 pens, markers, gum, credit card receipts,…
Posted in: Uncategorized
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