Fellowship Friday

I’m so glad you’re here today God never intended for you to walk through life’s journey alone. He created the fellowship to be a family-his family-a place where you belong. If you are here for the first time-or for the first time in a long time I want to connect with you.
There’s no better place to share my heart than with my fellowship friends and family. So, like true Friday fashion, here are a few of my selective, random thoughts.

1. You can be made perfect on the outside but not be whole.
2. Respond to the opportunity don’t react to it.
3. We go for what we want but God gives is what we need.
4. Respond to the need, it will always be what we want.
5. When God tells you how, don’t argue the why.
6. Jesus doesn’t see what we are lacking he looks into our potential.
7. God doesn’t give quick fixes.
8. You can’t be whole if you aren’t obedient.
9. You can live in a place of wholeness while waiting on a miracle.
10. Are you willing to be made whole? The miracle happens when you make the decision.
11. You don’t have to behave to start believing.

Gracefully, Jackie

Decision 2016!

My biblical perspective!

You are making a kingdom difference.

You are more enriched when you are a giver and not a getter.

God is not freaking out over the election.

November 9 holds another day of God’s perfect sovereignty.

We are going to have a new president this week, but we will still have the same God.

We may have new people in the White House but we’ll always have the same God in his house.

We put our hope in the Lord.

Seek first the kingdom of God.

America is not the promised land God’s kingdom is.

Above all else you must live as citizens of heaven.

Even though you live “here”, you don’t belong “here”.

Don’t get caught up in the craziness, God is who is in control.

4 things we must do as a Christ follower:

1. Pray, 1 Timothy 2:1, 2:2

2. Pray for those in Leadership, Proverbs 21:1 God can do more in seconds then we can do in centuries.

3. We must vote, this is a freedomocracy. We must start asking for something different. Look at 1 Samuel 8-this is what you are asking for. 

Remember, there are consequences for our choices. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. Psalm 33:12. 

We get caught up in personalities we forget the platform. Does anything on these platforms grieve God?

Open the WORD before you open your ballot.

Jesus didn’t come to take sides, he came to take over. He is not a Republican or a Democrat.

4. Fear God and honor the Emperor. 1 Peter 2 and Romans 13:7

The elections does not give us a pass to be ugly. Guard your thoughts, guard your words. Let’s get on the side of Jesus. Ecclesiastes 10:20

Unity does not mean uniformity. Focus on biblical unity. Philippians 2:1-2 

What unites us is far greater than what divides us.

We have “love”!!!!

LOVE IS GOING TO BE MY BRAND, Jackie

Fellowship Friday-Possessions

We’re so glad you’re here today God never intended for you to walk through life’s journey alone. He created the fellowship to be a family-his family-a place where you belong. If you are here for the first time-or for the first time in a long time we want to connect with you.There’s no better place to share my heart than with my fellowship friends and family. So, like true Friday fashion, here are a few of my selective, random thoughts.

1. It’s not bad that you’ve got stuff just make sure your stuff doesn’t have you.

2. Nothing has ever “occurred” to God

3. If God is first in your treasure he can be first in your heart

There are over 2000 versus on possessions, it’s my opinion that this area must be extremely important!

Walk by faith not by sight, Jackie

Guilt Free Cheat Treat

Correction…. 1/4 pumpkin purée 

Some formal instructions😊
INSTRUCTIONS:

Add cashews, dates, oats, protein powder, pumpkin pie spice and sea salt into your food processor and pulse until mixture is completely chopped. Open food processor and add water. Blend for a few more seconds, until a dough forms. Scoop dough from food processor and roll into small balls using your hands. Freeze for 20-30 minutes.

In a shallow bowl, whisk together melted coconut oil with maple syrup and pumpkin pie spice. (Add Optional 1/4 cup Raw chocolate) Roll each ball into the coconut oil and maple mixture and place back in the freezer to harden. Continue to coat the donut holes and re-freeze until each donut hole has a gooey coconut maple glaze! We did three rounds of coating and freezing. Store donut holes in your refrigerator.

Happy Heart Hour

Have you ever seen the movie Pollyanna? Child actress Hayley Mills starred as the orphaned daughter of missionaries who becomes the ward of her rich, embittered aunt. Pollyanna’s infectious habit of being thankful transforms the crabby aunt, the crochety household staff, and the whole town!
These days, people use the label “Pollyanna” to suggest someone childishly naive in her ability to look on the bright side. But being happy doesn’t require us to turn a blind eye to troubles such as gangs and crime and Columbine. Neither does it mean we chant shallow platitudes such as “Don’t worry, be happy.”
Like most attributes we long for (peace, patience, goodness), a happy heart takes root in the discipline of giving thanks. It’s the secret weapon of the joyous Christian! But what is it about gratitude that creates a happy heart?

Happy in the Lord

At first I wasn’t madly in love with my husband, Scott, when we got engaged. But now, by choosing to have that happy heart, nothing compares to the love I have for him, after nearly 14 years of marriage. The difference? Gratitude! I’m thankful for the hundreds of times Scott has made me amazingly healthy and tasty smoothies every morning, or when he has my lemon water all made and served bed side, the little notes he spontaneously leaves in the coffee/teapress letting me know he brewed some for me too, for the times he’s instantly forgiven my crabbiness, for the willing spirit he shows about helping my “desperate for health answers”- friends, for the amazing perspective he brings to parenting our kids. As I think about the multitude of actions that prove Scott’s love for me over the years, I’m filled with joy.
That’s the way I feel in my relationship with God, too—and the reason I believe the Old Testament is loaded with verses that instruct God’s people to “remember” his goodness, such as 1 Samuel 12:24: “Be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.”
Whenever I struggle to feel joyful, I choose to reflect on how God always meets my needs. Time after time, I’ve seen God put forgiving love in me right where angry resentment had been half an hour before, simply because I asked him to.
As my relationship with God grows, my love for him becomes more deeply entwined with my gratitude to him. The more I remember his goodness, the closer I feel to his comfort, peace, and presence.

Happy with Others

It’s easy to recognize how integral gratitude is to experiencing joy in God. It’s less obvious to see how it affects my other relationships—but it does!
When I’m tempted to keep score with others, or resent a friend who talks more about herself than listens to me, gratitude helps me remember how “full” my cup is—how well God’s caring for me. Then I’m better able to reach out to my friend without becoming bitter.
Have a Happy Heart Hour, J

Broadcasting Happiness

RATIONAL OPTIMISM + FACT-CHECKING TO CATALYZE MOJO
“Fact-checking to maintain an optimistic mindset in the face of big goals and challenging events or people is what separates the truly successful from the rest of the pack. …
Optimism is the belief that good things will happen. Optimistic thinkers believe that negative events are temporary and local (only affecting one domain of life, such as work or a relationship), and, most importantly, they believe that their behavior matters in the face of a challenge. Pessimists believe that negative events are permanent and pervasive and that behavior does not matter in creating a positive outcome. What I always advocate is striving for rational optimism, which is taking a realistic assessment of the present moment while maintaining a positive outlook and the belief that if we take positive action, we can triumph over challenging circumstances.” 

– Michelle Gielan

from Broadcasting Happiness

That’s from a chapter on the importance of “Fact-Checking” any potential negative thoughts in the midst of challenging times. More on that in a moment. First, let’s explore rational optimism a little more.
So, we can be irrationally optimistic and simply ignore anything negative in our reality. That’s, obviously, NOT a good idea.
What we want to do is create RATIONAL optimism.
For now, know this: We want to embrace reality (with all its challenges, etc.) while maintaining a positive outlook on the future and the belief that, if we take constructive action, we can create that better future.
So, how we do we cultivate that rational optimism?
This is where fact-checking comes in. Any good broadcaster/journalist needs to fact-check their story before going live with it. As Positive Broadcasters, we need to do the same.
Fact-checking is basically a fun tweak on cognitive behavior therapy.
We don’t ignore any negative thoughts or challenges, but we DO hold them up to some fact-checking. Michelle walks us through a process that includes isolating our stressful thought, listing the facts we know, then listing what she calls “fueling facts” that illuminate a new story.
I love the idea of fueling facts—basically, reinterpretations that provide FUEL to our fire of awesome rather than diminishing our power.
The FUELING facts need to be present as well. The fact that ALL great businesses go through challenging pivots and that failure is inherently part of the learning process. The fact that it often takes great stress to catalyze great performance (no pressure no diamonds!) and that I had the choice to alchemize the experience however I wanted.
By adding the fueling facts to a story (while not ignoring reality), you can create a rational optimism and a sense of anti-fragility—in which the challenges LITERALLY fueled the growth and made you (and the biz) stronger much like how Nassim Taleb tells us that wind extinguishes a candle and fuels a fire.
How about you?
What’s challenging you these days?
Identify the stressful thought. Look at the facts. See the fueling facts.
Here’s to rational optimism and anti-fragile trust in ourselves to get a little stronger as we create a better future for ourselves while meeting challenges head on!

Irrational visualization is when we ONLY focus on our positive fantasy for the future—ignoring any potential challenges/obstacles.
<— That, of course, is NOT A GOOD IDEA. (Again, research is unequivocal.)
RATIONAL visualization, on the other hand, starts with our positive fantasy about a better future but doesn’t end there. After soaking up all the good vibes of our Wish being fulfilled and the benefits we’ll experience from that Outcome, we rub our fantasies up against reality. We imagine the Obstacles that might get in the way of attaining that vision and then we see the Plan that’ll help us navigate the process.

I’m taking the class here. 

That’s the secret sauce of rational visualization. It works. <— Let’s do that

Love y’all, J

Fellowship Friday, To know God

We’re so glad you’re here today God never intended for you to walk through life’s journey alone. He created the fellowship to be a family-his family-a place where you belong. If you are here for the first time-or for the first time in a long time we want to connect with you.
There’s no better place to share my heart than with my fellowship friends and family. So, like true Friday fashion, here are a few of my selective, random thoughts.

1. Hang around with some sinners, to bring them to heaven. 

2. His love is like a buffet, it’s for everyone.

3. If you are ever going to love like Jesus, you Gotta get uncomfortable and love those that you don’t like.

4. God’s love for me doesn’t depend on me.

5. Gods grip don’t slip.

6. Good leaders ask great questions, and Jesus was the greatest leader of all.

7. Gods capacity to forgive is greater than your capacity to sin. (LET THAT SINK IN)

8. God does not grade on the Curve, he grades on the Cross.

9. Unless you listen, you’re never ready to serve. (2 ears, 1 mouth)

10. Food nourishes the body just as words nourish the soul.

Fellowship Friday, Just Drop It!

We’re so glad you’re here today! You know, God never intended for you to walk through life’s journey alone. He created the fellowship to be family-his family-a place where you belong. If you’re here for the first time-for the first time in a long time-we want to connect with you.
I recently read this pretty amazing book called Drop It, by Scott Williams and I like to share my selective random thoughts, here it goes.

1. If your vision is not big enough it is not God sized

2. Drop your care, as you reach new levels you’re going to get new Devils. Turn your back to the crowd.

3. Your faith has healed you now go and follow Jesus on the road

4. Drop your coat/comfort zone. It’s in the incomfortable moments that you get cozy.

5. Drop your cup, have faith immediately. God is not moved by the size of your situation, he is moved by the size of your faith.

6. God miracle is greater than your mess

7. Psalm 46:1 God is a very present help.

8. You are not a minority, you and God make the majority.

9. Church begins when the service ends.

10. It is your moral and ethical responsibility to help, car, and serve with all of your heart. 

THE GOOD SAMARITAN

I want to be just like you mommy!

And for sure you are my dear!  

I don’t know that I ever took the time really, to realize just how important it was to be that model in my little girls eyes. All that I do and say is watched through the eyes of my children. And I always share the struggles, The hardships, the courage and the fun that I had in my youth. 

I don’t want to paint this picture of perfection that our world seems to eagerly desire. Perfection is impossible, so I teach my children to strive for excellence. 

This takes work, effort, courage and bravery to overcome the judgment, ridicule, and discouragement that we often encounter through society. 

So as I watch my daughter ride every Friday I always use this time to teach A valuable lesson that was instilled in me.

No matter the size of your giant, you may get thrown, bucked off, or feel there’s no end to the training but if you stay on the ground you’ll get kicked. Pain equals understanding! But if you could avoid the pain at all costs and stay true to the training, magic!

 Stay the course, stay focused, sometimes it may require blinders just like “Peanut”!

I was a blue ribbon rider, (and sometimes yellow or red) but now I’m learning to be a blue ribbon mama. 

It’s in the lesson, Jackie

Fellowship Friday (Recognize your enemy)

We’re so glad you’re here today! You know, God never intended for you to walk through life alone. He createdfellowship to be a family-his family-a place where you belong. If you’re  here for the first time-or the first time in a long time-I want to connect with you.

And like true Friday fashion, here are my reflective yet random thoughts.

1. The fight of faith starts with the bottle in your mind.

2. Recognize your enemy. John 8:44

3. You cannot let yourself be bullied anymore into the playgrounds of your mind

4. Don’t take things personal, taking spiritual

5. If we don’t take our thoughts captive, they will take us captive. 2 Corinthian 10:5

6. Wrong thinking leads to wrong lying

7. If you get in the word, you’ll get a word

8. Your thought life impacts what you see in life

9. Kingdom thinking leads to kingdom priorities

10. Lastly, Sow a Thought – by: Ralph Waldo Emerson