Henriet's Blog

Great Calm Amidst Great Fear

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them,“Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them,“Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”  

Mark 4:35-41, ESV

Great fear

The disciples were in a huge storm that frightened them greatly. Yet, after the storm ceased, it was Jesus who they truly feared. They were in awe of him. 

Jesus is the one I need to fear. There is nothing in this world I need to be afraid of because Jesus has overcome the world and is greater than any issue or circumstance I can ever face. 

He could sleep in the midst of a raging storm because he knew that the storm really was in the "teacup of the world." In the true reality, the spiritual dimension beyond our visible reality, all was calm. Great calm! 

He asked the disciples why they were so afraid. They feared becaue they looked at the circumstances instead of at the author of life and the rule of all things. Lack of faith causes fear. Faith leads to peace on earth and fear (awe) of God. Perfect love casts out fear. Jesus is perfect love.

Great calm

This passage challenges me not to look at the weather forcast or the weather. Instead I need to look beyond the earth's atmosphere to God's reality for true peace and great calm...in the midst of circumstances.

Men: Beware of these 9 Phrases

My mother sent this to me via email. Have you seen it before? These "Nine words and phrases women use" are written as a warning guide for men. It's funny because it's so true. I was surprised that after significant personal growth and 30 years of marriage this still applies! Do you relate?

Guys, this one is for you! I hope it helps!

Nine words and phrases women use... (a communication guide for men)*

1. Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.
2. Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.
3. Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.
4. Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!
5. Loud Sigh: This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to # 3 for the meaning of nothing.)
6. That's Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.
7. Thanks: A woman is thanking you, do not question or faint. Just say you're welcome. (Warning clause: This is true unless she says, "Thanks a lot" - that is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say "you're welcome"... That will bring on a 'whatever').
8. Whatever: Is a woman's way of saying, "Go to h#!!..."
9. Don't worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking 'What's wrong?' For the woman's response refer to # 3.

* Send this to the men you know, to warn them about arguments they can avoid if they remember the terminology.

Thanks to Dina Dijkxhoorn via Erskine Austin for sending this to me. Do you have a funny story, great quote or cartoon? Please send them to me at info@sempervita.org and I'll share them on Fridays!

You Are Just Like Snow!

Forgive us Western Washingtonians...we've got snow on the brain. It is melting today but we have had a lot of it. I have not left my house for days, just like everyone else around here. Maybe that's why I'm comparing everything to... snow.

We are just like snow!

Snow is intriguing and fascinating. It is mesmerizing when it comes down in all its forms. Sometimes it falls in big flakes swirlingly floating to the ground. Sometimes it resembles a fine mist. It can even come down in mini snowballs that look hail but are a type of snow. 

Gathered snow looks like a big white, beautiful blanket. Lots of snow looks great but the individual snowflake is truly amazing. We have all heard it before...each one is unique! All snowflakes may look alike but they are orginals, every one of them.

That's how we are like snow

We are just like that! We are each unique. One-of-a-kind. God made us original, according to his image. He did not make batches of Bobs or piles of Paulas. He made individuals! I love that. It's why I love coaching using StrengthsFinder and Myers-Briggs. Every person is so interesting! And, every person is one tiny aspect of God's entire Person. Just like the snowflake. Mind boggling!

Often we look at people as a group, clan or race. We see them from afar and totally miss the wonderful individuality. Just like when we only look at the blanket of snow. It's looks great but we miss the true beauty.

Let's not miss the wonder of what God created in the people around us. Let's all choose to look closer and truly see and hear each other! Pass it on...

Jefferson Bethke Video: Hate religion, Love Jesus

Have you seen the video? It's everywhere. What is Jefferson Bethke saying? It's all about Jesus!

 

Raymond Edman Quote

“Never doubt in the dark what God told you in the light.”  V. Raymond Edman

What a good reminder and great encouragement!  Via today's Daily Hope devotional. 

Honesty: Do People Really Value Truth Telling?

An article on the Harvard Business Review Blog entitled, "Do People Really Want You to Be Honest?" led me to think about truth telling. What's your first reaction when you think about telling the truth? Do you tell the truth? Do you like it when others tell the truth?

My first thought was that most people really do not like it when you tell the truth. The people in the article tell a white lie supposedly to protect someone else. Eventually they tell the truth and in this story everyone feels better. Is that always the case? There were times when I told the truth and it was not appreciated! Maybe I could have been gentler although in the situations I thought about I remember being very careful... and kind! Regardless of great the delivery, people do not always want to hear the truth. Sometimes the truth is unpleasant. Is that a reason to accept dishonesty?

Why should we tell the truth?

In my full-blown people pleasing years, I often managed the truth so that it would be more palatable. I believed the lie that I did not like hurting other people's feelings. That may have been true at some level. However, underneath this magnanimous gesture played the real story, which is that I don't like how I feel when I think that my words or choices may hurt someone else's feelings. What I am really doing is avoiding hurting my own feelings. Warped, right?!

Telling the truth started to matter to me!

In recent years I've dealt with bunches of teenagers. My word to them always was that I cared far less about what they were up to and much more about their honesty. Many times I would choose to believe them only to find out I had been lied to. This only made me more insistent on truth telling. Why? Trust depends on honesty. And good relationships depend on trust. We cannot get anywhere or grow in our love for, or relationship with, each other if we are not honest. Is that what God had in mind?

Honesty for relationship

God thought telling the truth was important enough to put in the Ten Commandments. The ninth commandment tells us,

“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor." Exodus 20:16, NIV

It is listed among the five commandments that govern community relationships. No group of people can live in harmony and peace without trust and honesty. We tell the truth because we value relationships, trust and community. Even when the truth hurts.

How should we tell the truth? In love! That's what the Apostle Paul tells us to do in Ephesians 4:15. Or as The Message puts it, "God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything."

Dr. Seuss Quote

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."  Dr. Seuss

This quote reminds me that to live every day to the full requires being yourself. Some will love it and others won't... but you will be able to look yourself in the mirror and know that you were you. And you'll know who your friends are! 

2012 Hopes, Dreams and Goals

It is my New Year's Day tradition to focus on my hopes, dreams and goals. I don't make New Year's resolutions. We all know they don't work! :) Obviously not all my hopes, dreams and goals come true. At the beginning of each year I review last year's list, celebrate God's faithfulness and look forward to the New Year with a new list.

Hopes and dreams for 2012

• Among my hopes and dreams is to live each day to the full in peace, joy and hope. 
• I also want to live with margin. Life is too short to race through it without enjoying God's special surprises along the way. 
• Hopefully, we will get to travel somewhere wonderful like the Caribbean (again) or South Africa, my ultimate travel destination dream. 
• Finally, I hope to be successful in my writing, speaking (I will be presenting at the NW Ministry Conference, March 22-24 at Overlake Christian Church), and with Semper Vita Institute, my StrengthsFinder and Myers-Briggs training company. 

Goals for this year

• Make a difference
• Publish my book, "The Story Lives"
• Launch more Go Groups, a special kind of missional leadership multiplication group
• Start on my second book
• Stay in touch with family and friends
• Stay organized (apparently that's the key to success for an ENTP, my Myers-Briggs type)

Of course I can only hope to accomplish any of these if I stay close to God, follow Jesus and live according to his Spirit.

How about you? What are your plans? Do you make New Year's resolutions? Please leave a comment and share what you are looking forward to in 2012.

The Best of 2011

This year it seems important to remember the best of 2011. Many of you know that the past few years have been difficult for us in various ways. I believe it is even more appropriate to give thanks to God and remember his goodnes in the hard times. Being grateful comes easy when life is good and easy. In recent times God has stretched and challenged us to always give thanks—even when things are difficult.

My best of 2011 list:

• My mother Dina celebrated eight decades of life in March! She still travels—this year that included the Netherlands, Budapest, the Caribbean on her first cruise, Vancouver and Victoria. I love my mom! She is awesome. I hope I have half her energy if I get to that age. You go, Mom! 

• Fred and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary in March. (I know you all think that I married in elementary school, ha ha.) Fred is a great man! I would marry him all over again. "Thanks honey for your love and support. I love you." Fred is the president and owner of CFO Plus. He is an amazing CFO, a certified fraud investigator and a certified valuation analyst. I am very proud of him.
• The changes and growth in my son's life. He is growing up to be a wonderful young man. He is finding his way back to God. I am so happy God gave him to us. 
• Hardship. Yes, the tough times! Why are they on my best list? Because they helped me to grow, love God more deeply, depend on him more fully, learn about prayer, and clarify my priorities. 
• The Caribbean—especially Aruba and Curacao. My mom took my sister Suzanne, me, and our families, on a cruise to the Caribbean to celebrate her milestone birthday. We went late June/early July. It was amazing! We had a great time. The sun, the deep blue of the Caribbean sea, the beaches, the Dutch food!, the culture, Old San Juan PR—It was spectacular. I want to go back to Aruba and Curacao!

• My book. I finished my manuscript for "The Story Lives." It's been a labor of love and a 10 year (!) process. I attended my first Christian writer's conference at Mt. Hermon in 2001. David Kopp encouraged me during a meeting about some work I submitted. At a later conference, I attended one of his classes. Over the years I have started and stopped several books until I "found" this one. Now it's written—all 200 pages. I am working to get it published. Stay tuned. I am also setting up "The Story Lives" website. I will let you know when it goes live.
• Semper Vita Institute. I relaunched my training business. I am a certified StrengthsFinder and Myers-Briggs coach and do Strengths and MBTI training. I love it.
• Go Group. Cindy Patterson and I were part of a great and unusual small group this past year (actually the past 18 months). We had the privilege of journeying with nine other women. God worked deeply in all of us. Cindy nor I had ever seen anything like it.

That is my list. There were many other note worthy things and great people along the journey. How about you? What was your best in 2011? How have you grown? What were your adventures? I'd love to hear from you!

MBTI Type Humor: Which chicken are you?

I shared this cartoon on my Semper Vita Institute blog. Sometimes our Holiday celebrations can be stressful. Can you relate? Which chicken are you? :)