Chasing your Dreams

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond mesasure. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same."

I came across this quote recently in a book that I was reading, Put Your Dream to the Test by John C. Maxwell. He tells his readers of a scene in Akeelah and the Bee in which she reads this off a plaque that her spelling coach asks her to read.

This quote has had me thinking A LOT over the last few days. Thinking about my dreams, and what I am willing to do and AM doing in order to reach them. Thinking about what more I could be doing to make sure that I reach my potential and do what I have been called to do.

I was discussing this very book last night with some great friends when I realized, I needed to REALLY listen to this quote. You see, we've all got dreams. The problem is that society teaches us to let those dreams go, to tone them down and accept 'reality'.  I have been entertaining some BIG dreams, thinks that I truely, in my heart of hearts, believe I have been placed on this earth to do. I haven't, however, been doing anything to actually reach out and try to accomplish them. I think I was so afraid of what people would say, and so afraid of failing, that I wasn't actually taking that first step...

Well that ends today! I'm not going to reveal what it is yet, but soon when I have something actually in place to reveal! A few of you know what I have up my sleeve, and some of you that read these are even helping me today to get things going!

Stay tuned....

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

I haven't been on here in a bit, sorry for the delay.... Today's blog is for a specific and special reason: February is Ovarian Cancer awareness month.

A little known, hardly talked about Cancer, and yet one that is taking SO many lives! Did you know that it is actually the 5th leading cause of death amongst women!!!!! The biggest reason being simply that so few women know what to watch for, or don't bring the signs to their Doctor's attention... and as a result its rarely found until its too late.

So I am hoping just putting this blog out here will share with all you ladies what to watch for. Early on the symptoms are often vague and go unnoticed, but if you know what you're watching for that will help! Some of the more common symptoms include: abdominal pressure, discomfort, pain or swelling, feeling full after a small meal, changes in bowel habits, frequent/urgent urination, pain in lower back or leg, gas, nausea, fatigue, abnormal vaginal bleeding, menstrual disorders, or pain during intercourse. Another great way to track these tools is using the One Sheet that Dr. Oz released in order to attempt to bring the seriousness of Ovarian Cancer to light, it can be found here: Ovarian Cancer One-Sheet

If you or someone you know is concerned or feels they should be checked, PLEASE take that step! If your doctor won't listen or take you seriously enough to atleast check, then find a second opinion! This isn't something to take lightly and is all too often shrugged off or not thought about!!!!!

Also if you are looking to make a donation in honour of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, the only National charity dedicated to finding a cure and overcoming this horrible disease is Ovarian Cancer Canada. You can find more information about them here: Ovarian Cancer Canada

Do your part to break the silence on this disease and save the lives of the women around you!

Being the Bigger Person

One of the hardest things I find as a Christian Woman is knowing when to fight back, guns a-blazing and when to accept that it is time to be the better person, step back and let it go. Before I started taking the steps to give my life direction like this, I was a fighter. It didn’t matter if it was something that directly affected me, or something that I just happened to witness, I would be right there, in your face, fighting for what I considered to be the ‘right answer’. It never once dawned on me that the phrase ‘pick your battles’ might have some relevance.

One thing I have learned from Christ is that he did exactly the opposite. He was strong, silent and a great role model. When people treated him poorly, or unfairly, he simply loved them back. He forgave, loved and moved forward regardless of what the others may have thought of him, or how they may have treated him. I know its not easy, but that is the example I am trying to follow…

I had a good test today. I have been away from work, home sick, for a few days, and was chatting with some of my coworkers about the fact I would be returning today. This, of course, resulted in them telling me all about things that have happened over the course of this week, both the good and the not so good. One thing pointed out a ‘double standard’ at work, for which I was on the worst side of, and I was immediately upset. I wanted to know why, who made the choice, and speak with someone who could fix it. It was then that I took a deep breath and rethought the situation. I decided its best to let it go. To go to work with a smile, and forget about any work politics and goings on, and just do my job, the way I am paid to do.

Its not easy, and I’m not ‘not mad’. On the contrary, the whole situation is still frustrating when I dwell on it, but let me tell you, there is a peace in just letting go…

Remembering Your Priorities...

Ever find you get so caught up in the day to day grind that you forget your priorities? You forget the things that are supposed to matter most...

Take family dinners for example, its something that is common around this time of year... how easy is it to get caught up in worrying about whether the turkey is perfect, whether you have all the proper side dishes, who is bringing their favourite drinks, etc... and yet is the time with family not one of the main reasons for this? Remembering the reason for the season, should that not be a priority?

This Christmas season my fiance and I headed north to spend some time with my family, and I had two different occasions where I was reminded of this.

First of all, I went to the Family Christmas that my Dad's side of the family always holds. My aunts/uncles/cousins all get together at someone's house for a lunch, that often becomes dinner as well, card games and time together. Just before we eat we get together and sing grace. Seeing the whole family gathered around that table, singing grace together, that for me was one of those 'ah-ha' moments. The moments when you find  yourself reminded of why you're there, in that place at that  moment.

The second came in the innocence of a child. Amidst the new toys, flashy wrapping paper and Christmas specials, you often don't expect to see much of your children during Christmas... and yet my 2 year old niece walks over, takes my hand and leads me to the couch this morning. She voiced her one and only request from me... "Cuddle me". When we reached the couch she curled up in my lap, pulling a blanket from the couch with her, so we could just curl up together for a bit.

So lets all learn a little something from that 2 year old child. Forget about the flash and commercialism, don't worry if your meal is perfect or your gift is worth enough... Just look at your loved ones as they are around you, some living so far away on a usual basis, and spend some time with them... No distractions

Christmas Spirit

I have noticed that there is a lot of talk as of late on the local Christian radio stations about the Christmas holiday, and society's reaction to it. As Christians we are being told constantly to avoid speaking of our particular beliefs in public settings, and to monitor what we display in our decorating so as to avoid offending those of other religions and beliefs... But why is it that this one holiday is suddenly so taboo?

It has hit the point that there are school boards that are actually banning the use of Santa and poinsettias in decorations as they 'too closely resemble the idea of Christmas', and the only approved decorations are snowflakes and snowmen. When did it go from Christmas to just a celebration of winter? When Easter rolls around we haven't yet banned the site of bunnies and easter eggs, but is that what is coming next in our move to try to make everything so unbelievably politically correct?

I am sorry, but I live in a country that was built on Christianity... We don't compromise our langugages and avoid speaking English so as to be fair to those speaking Chinese for example, so why should I compromise my celebrating of the holidays that mean the most to me? I would not be remotely offended if I had a neighbour that placed a menorah in the front window of their home as they are celebrating Hanukkah... sure I don't share that belief, but that's their home and their beliefs, but at the same time I don't believe in judging those around me. I have a nativity set in my home, and will proudly display it each and every year. My work decorations include a magnet on my desk that reads "Wishing you Christmas Joy" and quotes Luke 2:10.

Even worse, is hearing those who proclaim themselves as Christians dreading the holiday season, complaining about hearing Christmas music everywhere they turn, even if it is Christmas music based in the spirit of celebrating the birth of Jesus. This is a joyous time of year for all us Christians, the birth of our saviour and the acknowledgement that we are forgiven for all our sins. This is something we should be rejoicing in, celebrating and we should be full of joy and happiness! Why then are so many Christians so eager to return to the daily grind and leave it all behind?

For those of you who still subscribe to the idea of Happy Holidays to avoid offending others, that is your choice... but this year as I am signing all my Christmas cards for close friends and family with the words 'Merry Christmas' I will be reflecting on the true meaning of the season as a Christian! I am ever so thankful for the gift that God has given us, and hope that I never lose sight of that!

Living, Breathing Example

We’ve all heard it before, be on your best behavior at all times, you never know who is watching. Its something that as a child was more of a threat to make you behave, but I’ve come to learn that as a Christian it’s a way of life…

I was at church  on Sunday, waiting for a small group that I belong to which starts shortly after the service. One of the couples in the group actually is the parents of one of my fiancé’s previous employees. We have gotten to know them quite well through this, and I previously have seen the employee a few times here and there, but not a lot by any means. We noticed that the woman of the couple was sitting alone in the café; her husband was working this Sunday. We sat down for coffee with her, as we have become good friends with the couple during this time in our small group together.

While talking about what’s new, and how life is going, she said something that really opened my eyes. It wasn’t some world altering event, and nothing that you would see make the news, but it had a bigger effect on me than almost any story I have ever seen on the news would.

She was talking about her son, and his recent interest in attending our church. He stated he’d noticed a change in his parents that had peaked his interest, which I agree with as my fiancé and I had noticed a change in them as well. He had one other reason for wanting to go though, he stated he’d noticed a positive change in my fiancé and myself.

It just goes to show you, that as you go about your day to day lives… your drive to work, your morning coffee… your crazy work day or your grocery shopping… you never know who might be impacted by the example you are providing. Its not always going to be your best friends/family that come about due to a change in who you are, and you can’t choose whose lives you are going to change.

Remember this moving forward today… Someone could be watching and learning from your example right now! You are a living and breathing example of Christianity and the work of Christ for each and every person that you interact with every second, of every day. Sure it sounds intimidating, and yes it’s a big responsibility…. But its your responsibility!

Letting Go of Control

Alright, so I will admit it... I am a control freak. I have always to some degree been a control freak.... There is something about the comfort of knowing that my personal actions and choices can set me up for success or failure, that it is all at my finger tips and is my choice in what I want to do....

I think it might have something to do with how we're raised in society. How many times do you hear "Just go to school, get good grades, get a safe secure job and all will be well"... Ask all the people currently laid off in today's economy how that is working for them. We are rated all through school, getting our grades on the basis of how we personally handle everything, no need to condition ourselves to circumstances beyond our control.

This for me has been by far the hardest thing since becoming a Christian. I remember sitting in a class at our church when I first heard them use the phrase 'let go and let God' and the idea was frightening to me. You mean I have to just let go of all the control I have on what's going on in my life, plug forward doing what I can and trust that God will take care of me? The same God that I have just recently started to develop any sort of a relationship with?

Last night I came home for work, my mind running a million and one ways. When I finally told my fiance why I was 'in a mood' it all just spilled out as I fought back tears of frustration... I told him that I was feeling overwhelmed, that there is too much on my plate. I talked about stresses at work, about trying to take care of various friends/family and help them with their situations... I talked about health issues that I have been facing, and I talked about finances, with the wedding, and Christmas gifts, and everything else going on.... He supported me, consoled me, and made sure I had a night at home to relax and not worry, a night to sleep early, let the migraine (stress induced I'm sure) subside and put my feet up.

It was while I was relaxing, home alone, thinking to myself that I realized, this is exactly the situation they talk about... the moments when we realize its time to 'let go and let God'. I mean really, lets look at my health for starters... as long as I'm doing what I can to eat healthy and stay active, attending my doctors appointements and taking medication where needed, what else can I honestly do to fix it? Nothing! I need to trust that God knows what is happening, and that he will help me get through this and solve whatever is going on.

Another one... finances... one that we all dread talking about! I am a big time budgetter... I track everything, spend only what I have to, save what I can. I have account information, the exact reason for each purchase, what catagory every transaction falls under... I track my savings account, my interest amounts coming in for what I have in the account.... I work extra hard, try to earn more commission....

But when it all comes down to it, and something falls apart (currently we're facing, for example, my laptop... the one that I need to be able to work on my internet based business, to plan our wedding, to access my budgetting site... has decided it will heat up to the point it is slowly frying its own parts... including the motherboard apparently), I need to have faith that God will help us through it, and provide those things that I need most.

My favourite bible verse, and always has been, reads:
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28, NIV)
So if this is true, and something that I love and believe in, why can I not trust that whatever I am facing, God is working good through that and will take care of me at the end of the day?

So my challenge to all of you today is rather than stressing yourselves trying to control the day to day happenings, rather than trying to control your circumstances, your coworkers, your friends and family, your spouse... Let go and Let God...