Vision + PMS = ?

So I've been scanning this book "Visioneering" (which I still totally recommend)looking for the some indication of what Nehemiah did with his vision and plans when he had PMS... and as you can well imagine, I'm coming up blank! I don't know what you guys are like, but as I'm getting older my PMS is getting uglier. It's not that I'm angry, it's that all of my emotions bubble to the top and at any second any one of them can appear. The exhaustion of trying to maintain order in myself and to continue as much as possible to display the fruit of the spirit (Gal 5)leaves me feeling like I'm stuck in a swamp stinking of a general sense of failure (among other things). My question is, how do I keep from getting derailed on a monthly basis? It seems that fighting my way back out of the swamp takes me about a week, after which I get a good two weeks feeling myself and I start all over again. It's such slow going! Any advice?

SC

Vision

Visioneering
God's Blueprint for Developing and Maintaining Personal Vision
By: Andy Stanley

"Vision is a preferred future. A destination. Vision always stands in contrast to the world as it is. Visioneering, according to bestselling author Andy Stanley, is “a clear mental picture of what could be, fueled by the conviction that it should be.” With warm, down-to-earth practicality, Andy Stanley explores the ordinary life of Nehemiah and his God-given vision for accomplishing the extraordinary. He shows how the life of this great ancient visionary, determined to rebuild the ruined walls of Jerusalem, reveals principles that can prepare us to find and follow God’s multifaceted vision for our own lives."

So I'm reading this book... I must say, it's been stirring things up like mad since I've picked it up! The thing is, that it's also helping me to find some focus in the things that the Lord has been wispering to me for years. I'm amazed by the practicality and insight that Andy Stanley brings to the whole area of vision. Each chapter ends with a project which really helps you to work out what the author has said for yourself, I've really been challenged and fired up by it! He gives building blocks for vision, here they are;

#1 A vision begins as a concern.
#2 A vision does not necessarily require immediate action.
#3 Pray for opportunity and plan as if you expect God to answer your prayers.
#4 God is using your circumstances to position and prepare you to accomplish his vision for your life.
#5 What God originates, He orchestrates (How is never a problem for God)
#6 Walk before you talk, investigate before you initiate
#7 Communicate your vision as a solution to a problem that must be addressed immediately.
#8 Cast your vision to the appropriate people at the appropriate time.
#9 Don't expect others to take greater risks or make greater sacrifices than you have.
#10 Don't confuse your plans with God's vision.
#11 Visions are refined, they don't change; Plans are revised - they rarely stay the same.
#12 Respond to criticism with prayer, rememberance and if necessary, a revision of the plan.
#13 Visions thrive in an environment of unity; they die in an environment of division.
#14 Abandon the vision before you abandon your moral authority.
#15 Don't get distracted.
#16 There is divine potential in all you envision to do.
#17 The end of a God ordained vision is God.
#18 Maintaining a vision requires adherance to a set of core beliefs and behaviors
#19 Visions require constant attention.
#20 Maintaining a vision requires bold leadership.

I highly recommend this book. Pick it up and check it out. If you want to chat about it, give me a call!

Simone

Home Sweet Home?

For the last several months we have been house hunting. Not necessarily because we are in the financial position to buy a house, but because of a series of occurences that have brought us to the conclusion that the Lord has directed us to. Here they are;

In August, Dan and I start dreaming about buying a house... looking on MLS once in a while. Talking about what we would like in a house - you know for the future.

In October I have a vivid dream and feel that the interpretation is that the Lord is telling us to buy a house. I tuck it away and don't say anything. The next morning I'm woken up and "feel" the Lord saying that I NEED to tell Dan right away, so I call him at work and tell him. That night, Elisabeth has a melt down, she is full of anxiety and fear and blurts out that she thinks its because of the way the people downstairs are continually yelling/swearing/screaming day and night at their little girl. We pray and feel that the Lord is saying that he wants us to start looking for a house, as this is not a good place for our kids.

Since then we have been looking - and having to put up with increasing meltdowns from the people in the basement appartment. It is very difficult to live with, but it does keep us focused. We really feel that we need to get out. The problem is, that we applied for a mortgage and got refused. (long story) The mortgage guys said that we would need a coapplicant to get approved. So we went back and prayed, asking God if we heard wrong and where the money was going to come from. We heard, "keep looking and trust me". So here we are, no downpayment, no mortgage but with the Lord strongly telling us to keep looking. What choice do we have? None really. So we just keep looking and wondering how the Lord is going to do this.

It has been very stretching. We spent all of our savings - cashed out our rrsps etc in the year of going north and coming back. It makes no sense to us that we would be able to buy a house, but whenever we pray about it we hear "keep looking". So that's what we've been doing. We're looking at another one this afternoon. Even the kids have created lists of what they "want" in a house - we just keep praying that the Lord would show us which one and how. I guess he'll tell us when he's ready.

SC

Where has the time gone?

I can't believe that I haven't posted anything since November! Where have I been and what have I been doing? Well, I had to wade through my first Christmas working at the Vineyard. All I can say about that is oy!!! Next year I will definitely try to delegate a bit more! Christmas at our house was good, but busy because I had to work as well as host Dan's family - I'm thankful that they were so understanding - (sorry about not having dinner till almost 9pm on Christmas eve, 3 services made it hard to accomplish what I wanted to!) It was great to see Will and Jenn and the boys again! It had been so long and they seemed to be doing well. It's so great to hear what the Lord is doing in their lives! It was also good to have Bill and Mary there. We were one big happy family!
We headed to my family's on boxind day. It was great to arrive and see some of my siblings and their family's whom I hadn't seen in well over a year! Michele's little Ben was so cute! He is 2 and he fell in love with "Uncle Dan". What fun to have a little one around! It was great to see Michele's not so little ones as well! Danielle is in 1st year at Kings College in Halifax and Nadia is in grade 11 - wow! They are so beautiful, confident,talented and brilliant! Michele and Lowell were great as well. Monique and Jim were also there with their kids - Martin, who is 18, full of charm and witt (I keep realizing that he's the same age Dan was when we got married - omgosh!) and Siana who is 13 and has become an - "Emo" - which to my understanding is punk/goth with emotion. She is very cute either way! Roger and Gisele were there with Lindsay who is in first year at Laurentian University and Stephanie who is in grade 10 and plays competitive basketball (along with swimming and volleyball). What a dedicated girl! Robert and Lise came around with Patrick and Roxanne - Roxanne is trying to decide which university to go to next year and Patrick is only 1 year behind her! They both work as well as doing amazing in school - they grow so fast, I used to babysit them before and after school! Denis and AnnMarie came with Alix (whom I also used to babysit and is growing up so fast - she's in grade 8! and Dennan who is the spitting image of his Dad and the same age as Elisabeth - who is also growing up too fast!) Ray and Pam came with Andy - who has the best hair ever! And Aaron - who is the same age as Julia and just the cutest little boy! I'm telling you it was great to see so many! I did miss my sister Ariane, her husband Eric and their kids as well as Joel and Michelle, Andre and Pierre. I'm hoping to see them soon! We're thinking of planning a family camping trip at Sandbanks this summer - hopefully we can all get together then!
We had an awesome New Year! Tim and Julie and Steve and Caroline came over. We had turkey dinner and then learned how to play poker! It was 2am when we finally decided to pack it in for the night. The next day we went to Tim and Julie's and the girls watched "13 going on 30" while the boys went and detailed their cars. A great way to start the new year!
Now we're getting back into routine - work, school, lessons, studying... and all that jazz! I'll talk a bit more about that next post.

Simone