You are currently browsing the monthly archive for July, 2009.
Want to be happier immediately? Here are a few tips for a happier day… today.
- Meet someone new. You’re not on house arrest, so you can easily meet someone new today. Bypass the self-checkout line at the grocery store, go inside for your cup of joe, or go out to dinner. When your server or barista is working on your order, smile and simply introduce yourself. Don’t worry, they’ll appreciate it. They are used to people using them like a vending machine… it will bless their day to have you treat them like a human. Then do nothing but ask questions (tip: people LOVE talking about themselves). ”Have you worked here long?” ”Are you from here originally?” ”I was thinking about renting a movie tonight, seen anything good lately?” Nothing too personal, just small talk. You might not become life-long friends, but you’ll bless someone else and that will bless you.
- Splurge… on someone else. I’ve heard of people trying to emotionally rebound by splurging on a new TV or car. Number one: if you’re going to splurge on yourself, do so with a candy bar or new t-shirt. Number two: if you really want to feel better, give your splurge away. Rather than eating that candy bar and feeling guilty, what if you bought a value meal for the cardboard sign guy on the corner? How good would it make you feel to buy a few helium balloons from the grocery store and give them to the first three kids you see? Watch them light up with excitement and take a mental snapshot. Set that picture as your new mental desktop background. You might not change anyone’s life, but you’ll bless someone else and that will bless you. (Noticing a trend?)
- Laugh aloud. Take a few minutes to read the comics, watch a silly video, or listen to a great comedian. Search, watch, and repeat until you laugh aloud. You’ll be surprised how much tension it releases.
- Smile. I’ve heard it said, “Fake it till you make it.” That’s a bad idea when it comes to finances, but a great idea when it comes to a quick emotional boost. Give yourself two more minutes to be grouchy, then simply force a smile and hold it. You might lose it while you’re focusing on work or something tedious, but the instant you see someone (even if it’s someone you see all the time) smile at them. Smiles are contagious and they will likely smile back. No unnecessary words, just a smile.
Bonus tip: Sleep more. Okay, this tip gives you a happy day tomorrow, so it’s a bonus. We all know that most Americans don’t get enough sleep and I don’t know about you, but I’m always grouchier when I don’t get enough sleep. Sure, I can fake it for a while, but it doesn’t take much to set me off. My suggestion… do some basic exercise (Wow, bonus tip #2!) like walking or biking after dinner, take a nice warm shower/bath, and go to bed. Most people can’t fall asleep instantly so you’re going to lay there a while anyway, but take the time to get a full 8 hours of sleep. Trust me, you’ll feel much better.
Happiness black-belt test: Combine all 6 tips. If you accomplish this baffling feet, tell me how you did it.
Actually, I’d love to hear any of your thoughts, stories, or other tips. Please post a comment.
If you’re not on Twitter yet, you should join. It’s a fun way to stay in touch with your friends, know what’s going on their lives, or hear what is on their minds.
So why would you follow Jaclyn or me on Twitter?
Well…
- Thoughts or verses to keep you loving God, others, and life.
- Cool links to stuff we’re enjoying online.
- To know how to pray for us and for our church plant.
- To reply and let us know how to pray for you at any moment.
This past weekend was the Colorado/Nebraska District Conference for the Wesleyan Church. On Friday evening, the District Board of Evangelism and Church Growth hosted a service, during which they gave Marty (and the other new church planter in the district) several minutes to share our vision and what God is already doing.
Afterward, we had the privilege of meeting Dr. Jo Anne Lyon, the denomination’s newest, and first female, General Superintendent. We so appreciated the way she took time to speak with us and encourage us. It’s hard to express just how reassuring it is to know that we have the support structure of the Wesleyan Church behind us as we venture into this new type of church plant.
(By the way, I am positive that Dr. Lyon would never refer to herself as “The Big Cheese.” I just thought it sounded funny.)
-Jaclyn
This may look like a normal picnic with friends to you, but it was not. It was special. It was different. It was church.
I have a brother in the Lord who has been praying with me nearly daily for the salvation of souls in Aurora. He has helped birth two families of Jesus in the Denver area. A couple weeks ago, he invited me and our house church plant to join him and his house churches for a picnic and celebration of what God is doing.
Saturday afternoon we gathered at Wash Park (centrally located in Denver), played volleyball with some college students that we met, ate, and enjoyed getting to know one another. And then as we sat down together, the Lord led some to sing – so we sang. Then he led some to share and teach. And as we closed in prayer for one another and for the world, I was reminded at just how different this was from a normal picnic. We had just met with the living God of the universe… right there in Wash Park. Thank you, Jesus, for being present wherever we are.
For the past three days I’ve been trying to keep pace with Chris Conrad. For those of you who know him, you know exactly what I mean. He has run me ragged during a 3-day, intense time together called the iMAP (Individualized Missional Action Plan). The iMAP is is a face-to-face coaching session which covers anything and everything that you need to cover for church planting. The best part is, he doesn’t come with a set-in-stone syllabus and try to cram it down your throat. He sends you pre-work that probes deep into your vision, plans, passions, strengths, weaknesses, questions, and much more. Then the time together is truly individualized. He helped me in areas like recruiting, finances, leadership training, vision casting, etc.
This was a clarifying experience. When we look back at this church plant in five years, I will point to this weekend as pivotal. Stay tuned for decisions that were made and directions we’re heading in.
Thank you, Chris, for your passion for planting new churches that will fulfill the Great Commission in the Spirit of the Great Commandment.
We’ve now had a couple more teleconferences with Matt, our branding pro, and we are pretty sure that we are close to deciding on a name for this…thing! It has been an intensive process. (It has reminded me a lot of the process of choosing a name for your baby.) Matt has given us many different homework assignments, from describing our ideal target audience member to doing word free associations, in an attempt to mine out the very core of what we want this church’s identity to be.
We’re really excited, and can’t wait to unveil our name, hopefully very soon!
-Jaclyn
Last Friday and Saturday, my sister, Jenae, took a road trip with me and the kids to go visit our Grandpa Willard in McPherson, Kansas. He is 92 years young. He brought out his “magic box” and showed the kids all of his magic tricks, just like he used to show us. We played Skip-Bo and Rummikub together–longtime family traditions. And we even wrangled some new stories out of him:he used to catch rabbits for dinner by walking back and forth past them so they would stay still and then just stepping on them!
We think the seven hour drive was worth it.
-Jaclyn
The view from atop Mt. Princeton is majestic. Pike’s Peak is in the distance to the east and all around you are rocky, rugged mountains for as far as you can see. It makes you feel small and insignificant. It can make you feel helpless and hopeless – unassisted survival wouldn’t last long up here. But it can also make you feel secure that God made all this, commands all this, and is more interested in you than all this.
On the hike up this 14er, God reminded me of just how blessed I am. I have done more, seen more, been in more places, loved more and been loved more than I can even remember or deserve. As the Lord flashed all these things in front of me, I heard him clearly say, “Stop being discontent.”
I’ve always been a go-getter, a self-starter, and an entrepreneurial thinker… and those things aren’t bad or ungodly. But when the spirit of adventure causes me to complain, get angry, or jump ship and disobey the Father, that’s a problem.
Are there any of you out there who – like me – need to be reminded just how huge God is, how much he loves you, and just how blessed you are? Perhaps God is calling you to discontinue your discontent.
“Confession is good for the soul.” – Anonymous
For centuries people have confessed. Some confess to a priest, others confess in quiet prayer, still others confess into a journal. Several years ago I had a close friend come to me and confess about things they had done and said behind my back. It was a wonderful feeling to forgive them and free them from their chains of guilt.
This week we gathered to be the church together again (Wednesday nights at 6:30) and after dinner and some biblical discussion, Hailey blurted out, “I have a confession to make.” It was obvious to everyone that this was a cork that needed to be popped! Hailey began to unload her heavy burden of guilt regarding how she had treated someone over the phone. After she was done, one after another, others joined in confessing their sins and shortcomings. What a blessing it is to be part of this church God is planting!
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” – James, the younger brother of Jesus
During July only, ChristianAudio.com is giving away a free download of “Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God” by Francis Chan. It’s been blessing me and challenging me. Get it free here.
