What happens when life is throwing you multiple curveballs?

When others are talking about how great life is and you look at your life wondering what’s happening?  It’s a tough place to be when the current of life is pulling you down and dragging you in mud…

How can you know what you want out of life when you’re fighting to keep your head above water financially, relationally, emotionally?  These are hard questions to answer directly because each person’s situation is different.

Each person’s experience of pain and belief is different and there we get to meet each person where they are at.

Half the battle is getting to that point where you’re asking, “How can I change how I view my life?”

When you ask that question sincerely and pursue answers, Change is coming.

Here’s a nature lesson to illustrate that when life is throwing you curveballs, you can set your sights on THAT RIGHT THERE. Watch the video to find out what THAT RIGHT THERE is…

Start with what you need most now.  If you don’t know what you need, ask God to show you exactly what you need right now and work to believe that He will.  You can also ask God to give you a vision of what you want so you can keep HOPE alive.

Here are a few tips to take with you when you’re ready for change:

1.  Take a deep breath and take it one step at a time, one day at a time.  Remember God has your back.  He hems you in the present, the past is behind and the future awaits.  (Psalm 139:5)

2.  Find something to live for and set your sights upward on that person or thing.  Ask God to give you a vision because where there is no vision, the people perish (Proverbs 29:18 KJV)

3.  Find a credible source that can help you heal in finances, relationships and how you view yourself.

For years I’ve struggled in different areas of my life.  You’re welcome to hear more of my story and how I’m changing.  Go to the upper right of this page where it says ‘Gift for You.’  Enter your name & email there to get this audio recording from me.

I’m so excited I get to do the kind of work where I can help people who want change, to get on a path to get change.  I’m happy to share resources and give all that I can to help people get to a better place.

Get a better footing on life.

And I can’t believe I get paid doing this, it really doesn’t get better than this for me.  I’ve dreamed of and worked hard to get to this point and I’m excited to share a project coming up with a community of God-loving, supportive & powerful women who are doing amazing things to bless other people.

Next Tuesday we will be meeting over the phone to discuss this special project near and dear to our hearts.  You’re invited to join us!  It’s a time-sensitive project and it’s not for everyone.  If you are someone who’s concerned about the health, finances and state of future generations, then you are someone who may be qualified for this project.  For access info, visit http://organichomehealth.com/

Hello my friend, aren’t you glad it’s Friday   Well today I’m happy to introduce Tina “The Book Lady” to you.  I believe in the passion she has for families, reading, and building relationships.  Here she is…

Hi! My name is Tina Peterson and I am also known as The Book Lady to my customers and their kids. My passion is literacy and reading and sharing those passions with others. I have 2 blogs: http://familyliteracyandyou.bl… which is dedicated to encouraging strong family relationships through reading and playing together and giving to others.

Throughout the year, I do literacy booths and homeshows/bookfairs to help schools and families get FREE books and manipulatives for home and classroom. I am in the process of adding the line of SylvanDell Publishing to my bookfairs for preschools & elementary schools & I’m really excited about that as they share/teach math/science concepts through stories.

I also have another blog: http://givingnsharing.blogspot… which focuses on family friendly product reviews and giveaways.

Take a moment to stop by Tina’s blogs and get to know her a bit.  And my friend, have an incredibly blessed weekend!

Today I get the privilege to announce the winner of the Coffee or Brownies January giveaway!

Are you ready?

Drumroll, please…

Out of 59 qualified entries, random.org chooses #26…

Andrea G. – congratulations!  Watch for an email from me

To help you get to know Andrea a little bit better, here’s an introduction:

“Hello! My name is Andrea, have 3 kids with one last one on the way! Four is it! I’m a full time work at home mom who is trying to go to part time after the birth of our fourth. No blog, just a blog reader, giveaway contestant and quite possibly a neurotic mom! LOL! Oh, and peanut butter cup ice-cream is my absolute favorite!”

Hope you had fun with this giveaway, have a GREAT weekend!

Hey there, Happy Friday!

It’s nearing the end of this first month of 2011…

Let’s end it with a blast and embrace the new year with all that it has to offer!  We’re giving away a $10 Starbucks gift card or a box of delicious gourmet brownies to one of you!

The Rules

Required Entry: Leave a comment sharing what you’d like to receive – a $10 Starbucks gift card or a box of gourmet brownies.  And tell me what’s your favorite reason to go to Starbucks?

Optional extra entries: Once you’ve done the required entry, you may do as many of these extra entry options as you’d like!  Leave a separate comment for each entry.

**I’m entering a photo contest to win a ticket to a happenin’ business event in Orlando, FL!  I’m beyond excited…I’d appreciate your help to get me there!  Follow steps 1 and 2 below – 3 entries

1. LIKE the page Real Savvy Success at http://www.facebook.com/realsavvysuccess

2. LIKE my photo at http://on.fb.me/dSF4Z1

• Follow me publicly on Google Friend Connect – 1 entry (leave me a comment saying you now follow or already do)
• Follow my blog on Networked Blogs – 1 entry (leave me a comment saying you now follow or already do)
• Like my Facebook fan page – 1 entry
• Follow me on twitter @jinnialow – 1 entry (leave username)
• Tweet the giveaway using:  Help @jinnialow get to Orlando! Coffee or Brownies Giveaway http://bit.ly/fdC0XX (may be done once daily – 1 entry, leave direct url to tweet)
• Introduce yourself right here, then come back here and leave 2 separate comments – 2 entries

Giveaway Ends on 1/27/11

Winner will be chosen using random.org and announced next Friday, 1/28/11.  Be sure to leave me your email so I can contact you if you win!  You’ll have 48 hours to claim your prize after I email you or another random winner will be chosen using the same method.  Good luck!

And have a wonderful weekend!

Hey there, it’s been a while since I held a giveaway for you!  After attending a Women in Business luncheon, I was inspired by the keynote speaker, Lori Butterworth who created Jacob’s Heart to provide support to families of children with cancer.  She’s had 3 featured appearances on the Oprah Winfrey show.

And in the spirit of this Christmas season, I want to reach out to children in need of smiles – through you.

So I’m giving away a $5 Starbucks gift card or a box of delicious gourmet brownies to one of you!

The Rules

Required Entry: Go to Make A Child Smile and choose 1 child to send a card to.  Then go to my website and send a card to encourage that child (it’s on me including postage).  Be sure to read the instructions and do’s and don’ts about sending mail to the child.  Leave a comment here sharing the name of the child you sent a card to.

Optional extra entries: (Once you’ve done the required entry, you may do as many of these extra entry options as you’d like!)  Leave a separate comment for each entry.

~Follow me publicly on Google Friend Connect – 1 entry (leave me a comment saying you now follow or already do)

~Subscribe by email (must activate) – 2 entries (leave me 2 separate comments saying you have subscribed or already do)

~Follow my blog on Networked Blogs – 1 entry (leave me a comment saying you now follow or already do)

~Like my Facebook fan page – 1 entry

~Follow me on twitter @jinnialow – 1 entry (leave username)

~Tweet the giveaway – may be done once daily, include @jinnialow – 1 entry (leave direct url to tweet)

~Introduce yourself right here, then come back here and leave 2 separate comments – 2 entries

Giveaway Ends on 12/16/10

Winner will be chosen using random.org and announced next Friday, 12/17/10.  Be sure to leave me your email so I can contact you if you win!  You’ll have 48 hours to claim your prize after I email you or another random winner will be chosen using the same method.  Good luck!

Today’s video is Day 13 – A Fictional Book

Have a wonderful weekend!

Recently I was asked a question that made me think.

I thought so long and hard about it that I want to share it as a post with all of you.

Here’s the question:

What do you think is most important in order to have and maintain a successful marriage year after year?

I believe the answer varies for each person because of different circumstances.

Personally for my husband and me, the over-arching “ingredient” is being willing to meet each other’s needs.

In order for us to do that, there are all kinds of “ingredients” we need to make that happen.

Things like…

• time alone with each other, free of distractions
• listening to each other intentionally
• asking each other engaging questions
• putting ourselves in each other’s shoes
• doing something funny to break tense moments
• remembering each other’s good qualities

Yes, it’s about communication.  But I believe there’s a deeper angle…

Perceived communication.

Here’s a suggestion if you want to experience this.  It’s helpful and kinda fun.

Pretend you are your spouse for the day.

Whatever you say to or do for your spouse today, imagine yourself receiving those words or action.  Notice how you might feel if you were in your spouse’s shoes today.

It gives incredible insight into how we can better ask questions, listen to, and meet each other’s needs.  Also a great way to prepare our hearts for Valentine’s Day.

What about for you?

What do you think is most important in order to have and maintain a successful marriage year after year?

If you have a comment, we’d love to hear it below!

What happens when 2 close friends experience their own difficulties during the day, separate from each other?

That’s what happened with my husband and me yesterday.  He at work – I at home.  We happened to be at a peak of difficulty in each of our respective circumstances.  And what ensued was him coming home already frazzled and needing me to comfort him.  I, on the other hand, was in physical pain and emotional exhaustion mode.  Whereas we normally can put ourselves in each other’s shoes, on this particular day we were not able to see from the other’s viewpoint.

What followed was not pretty.  We had the first argument we’ve had in YEARS.  I love my husband and children so much – but this reminded me I’m not perfect.  No one is.  Another great reminder – ask for help.  The cool thing is, I’ve got a wonderful network of friends who will pray for me and my family.  That is honestly what keeps me going, is the power of the Spirit of God working through my weaknesses and giving me strength.

My husband and I are close friends.  We know the most about each other than anyone else, and we still love to hang out and talk and have dates.  What makes things hard is when time squeezes us, difficult situations, and extreme tiredness.  Who can’t relate to this?

Awesome thing – late last night we talked and today we enjoyed our day together, asking questions to understand what actually happened with each of us.

I asked him, “How can I support and affirm you better?  What specific areas?”

He answered, “I’m not sure.  Maybe my personhood?  My gifts and talents?”

Funny thing – the chapter I left off reading in ‘The Power Of A Praying Wife’ is about praying for His Self-Image, which addresses a man’s gifting and opportunities.

I believe as his wife, I play a huge role when I respect and honor my husband in his gifts and talents – to get out there and shine like a star in the universe!

*Note:  This post is directed towards the Safe Haven community, but you’re welcome to hang out and listen in.

Assumption #1 – It’s selfish to have my needs met.

From 12 Christian Beliefs That Can Drive You Crazy…

Hey guys,

It was great Skyping with you all to discuss this first chapter of the book!

Great discussion!  I appreciate your insights, questions and thirst to dive deeper into this topic.

And this is what this page is for:  Accountability in between the times that we meet.

I believe we could dialogue even more about the ideas presented about our needs.

To recap:

We talked about Jim on p. 21 who was so emotionally self-sufficient that it became tough on his marriage.  How his resourcefulness and responsibility actually made him appear arrogant to his wife and contributed to isolating herself from him.

We talked about Karen on p. 24 who struggled with emotional isolation in her marriage and her church.  How we personally also feel “weird” when our father hugs us or calls us up just to talk.

We talked about needs vs. wants and Psalm 37:4.  How do we delight in God?

We talked about some tools in our toolkit of how we can respond to people who are not doing well.  When we ask, “How are you doing?”  And they answer, “Okay, I guess.  Can’t complain.”  Then how can we respond in love?

One tool was to listen to them share their struggle and say, “Can I pray for you?”

Another tool was to be observant of them to see if we can ask them a question to allow them to share and be listening, which is an advanced skill.

Great stuff guys!  I’m encouraged by your sharing.  Yet I sense that there’s more meat in the chapter.  So feel free to jump in and make comments directly below this post.  We welcome more observations, insights or questions that you may have along the journey.  We can keep the discussion going until next time we meet.

Questions to ponder and answer in time:

1.  What are your needs?

2.  Are you asking for what you need?

3.  Do you have a hard time asking for help and support?

4.  Is there anything that you struggle to give freely because you yourself have not received it yet?  (We’re talking about receiving deep within your being, not just in your head.)

It’s been 1 week since the end of the 21-day Compliment Experiment.  You may be wondering how things have been going since then.  After all, it takes 21 days for a new good habit to stick.  Did it stick?

I discovered that it takes more than the behavioral change of speaking the compliments.  What needs to happen in conjunction is a deeper level of awareness & change of any root issues that make it consistently difficult to speak the compliment.  For instance, I seemed to have slid backwards in complimenting my household.  In fact, I have said negative things to my children and hubby within this past week.  Does this mean the experiment backfired?

After a few more days of searching and identifying my root issues with this, I realized something profound.  The behavioral changes of complimenting need to be accompanied by changes in the root system.  What do I mean by that?  The negative words I spoke were symptoms of a root issue I had with my hubby and children.  As I asked my God about it, I traced it to a resentment I had for years that I didn’t know I had.  I had complied with what I thought my husband wanted in terms of good cooking.  I worked hard on my behavior to achieve what I thought a good wife & mom would do for her husband & children.  The root issue was doing things for their approval.  The anger & resentment surfaced in the form of negative words that on the surface seemed like regression from the positive experiment.  But guess what?  The experiment served as a much-needed catalyst to show me what was in my root system that hindered healthier relationships with my household.  It was a positive forward movement toward lasting change because it is happening at the root where all our beliefs that drive behavior are formed.  What a huge and profound discovery!

To my daughter

Thank you for putting down your lunch bag.

I admire how you can write such amazing sentences!

Thank you for being kind.

What a beautiful cake!

Thank you for being grateful.  (that I let them play @ the park for 10 minutes)

To my son

Thank you for putting your sharing bag in the bin.

Thank you for helping out with the cups.

Nice jump!

Great listening ears!  (for cleaning up his ball game)

You guys are so sweet to each other.

You kids are such great kids!

To my hubby

That’s what I love about you.  I can be me around you and share my weaknesses.

Observations

Woo-hoo!  This officially marks the final day of the 3-week experiment.  It has been such a wonderful experience!  It feels great to compliment others, especially my own household full of the people I love most.  It’s giving a word of encouragement that lifts and builds each other up.  I love being a person to stand for using the power of my tongue to give life.