Captain's Blog

It really spoke to me about speaking life to my kids, encouraging them and having them catch me speaking highly of them to someone else.

I've been told that I am encouraging. Would my kids say that about me if you asked them? (retorical question:)

What do others say you are good at? Do you show the same exceptional quality/service to your family? I have to be honest that I haven't. I am however encouraged to change.

Dawson Trotmand said "I believe with all my heart that one of the greatest soul saving stations in the world is the home." I do believe he was referring to inviting people into the home but think about it this way with me.

My family for example. There is Kevin and myself and 4 boys. Now Kevin and I could reach out and "go into the world and make disciples" and we do, however I would go as far as to say I have failed as a mom if I reach out to someone else before my kids. Ladies I've done it and done it lots. I now want that to change. Think about how much more effective it would be if I make disciples of my kids; grow up 4 Godly men. Why add when you can multiply!

Now Ladies I believe you know me well enough to know I'm not saying you have to have kids or lots of kids (you are however suppose to have as many kids as He's called your family to have no more and no less. We'll save that topic for another day:)

Where ever you are at put your family first. God has designed the family to be a unit and has created those people to love you, grow you, prune you into who He needs you to be.

A quote from Femanine Appeal specifically about mom's but if you are alive you are part of a family. So take what God wants you to out of it.

"When onlookers see us thriving in our role as homemaker, and when they observe the exceptional quality of family life that our efforts produce, this can pique their curiousity. They may want to find out what our secret is!" (italics mine)

Does your home have exeptional quality? Some may and there is always room to improve.

"Lord help me to build the kind of home where all who enter find it 'impossible to keep from thinking of God.'" (quote Femanine Appeal inside quote Peter Marshall former chaplain of the US Senate)

Priority number 1 Quality Time with God (make time for this one don't take time - set a regular time)

Priority number 2 Quality Time with Family (it won't become a priority by itself)

Priority number 3 Quality Time with Extended Family and Friends (set time for this however often or seldom it is make sure it is scheduled and important to you - they will see your efforts and appreciate it)

In summary give your best to your family. Prioritize and set boundaries so that your prorities happen.

Bless you as you join with me to make our homes places that family and others find it 'impossible to keep from thinking about God'.

Alanne.

"Whereever I go that's where the party's at!" First thoughts? Sound Cocky? Of course it could if you walk around proclaiming it loudly from the highest hills of Edmonton! I want you to know deep down that where ever you go that's where the party's at. God has designed you to be fun, to live loud and to laugh and cry hard.

So think your not fun? Well I have heard something recently that was very cool. "Stop listening to yourself and start talking to yourself." At the leadership class I took recently they discussed this. We were to complete a receipe card sized paper with things that were positive about ourselves and we were to speak it 3 times a day out loud to ourselves.

We receive the first negative comment we hear right away and yet we need to hear positive things way more to believe them. Try this exercise.

So if you need me to say it....

You are fun.

You are fun.

You are fun.

YOU are fun.

You ARE fun.

You are FUN.

YOU ARE FUN!!

Jean Brand said "Did you know that sausages and beans taste different if the person serving them is glad to do so, or if they are hating it?"

Ok so what do beans and weiners have to do with anything. Well lots! Very often our perspective and attitude determines how we see the day and how things taste and how we feel about ourselves.

I encourage you to spend some time asking God to show you how He sees you and what He has for your life. It may not be the direction you are currently walking. Maybe you know that and don't want to surrender because you want to go that way. Ladies please trust me it will end in disaster. You will experience stress and unrest. All that to get where you were heading and realize it's not all everyone said it would be. You are left with that empty feeling that you thought would be fulfilled when you reached your goal. Don't waste your time and energy. Life is too short.

What God has for you is pure, right, holy, perfect and is truly the deepest, original desires of your heart. When you trust Him,God may surprise you in a huge way with revealing to you what you truly desire or may just simply confirm that the desires that are already there are from Him.

Get into his love letter to you, everyday. Read it and let Him tell you what he thinks and remember what He thinks is all good. A story that is our family favorite and I encourage you to buy is "You Are Special" by Max Lucado. (the long version). I can't read that book without choking up with the overwhelming feeling of love from our Maker.

Blessings and you learn to that whereever you go that's where the party's at.

Alanne.

So in response to describe the phileo love. (not exactly philly cream cheese :) Phileo love "describes the love between very close friends. It is a tender, affectionate, passionate kind of love. It emphasizes enjoyment and respect in a relationship."

"Titus 2:4 "So train the young women to love their husbands." The form of the Greek in which the New Testament was written employs at least five words to distinguish various kinds of love. The word for love used in Titus 2:4 is phileo."

As a wife and mom "I get so busy serving him that I overlook enjoying him." Book Femanine Appeal.

This was a real challenge for me. I want to enjoy my husband and my kids but the pressures and demands sometimes cloud that. Which I'm sure that keeps satan pleased.

There's something to be said if the Bible specifically tells older women to teach younger women to phileo love their husbands. This doesn't come naturally. Women have a terrible talent to be able to serve inspite of hardened hearts. This is what satan wants. Do whatever you want as long as you have a bad attitude about it.

Determine to phileo love your husband and kids "Or will I wake up one morning lamenting, 'I wish I had spend more time with my kids!'"

"Finally, it dawned on me that "good" days were those days when I scratched lots off my "do list." "Bad" days were those days when I could show few tangible results for my day's efforts. ... I realized that if I lived my life for what made me feel good at the end of each day I would give my life to things of secondary importance." Book A Mothers Heart.

Blessings as you determine to Phileo love your family.

Alanne.

So the word of the day is (drum roll please) Persistent.

A couple of definitions from Merriam-Webster

-continuing without change in function or structure

-continuing to exist despite interference or treatment

This seems to be the word that God dropped on my heart for today. Be Persistent. Wow how tough is that when we are tired worn down and tired of hearing no for an answer. I was asked about whether I had work or not outside the home and I was able to share what I do as an Independant Consultant with BeautiControl. I have to say that it's only been in the last couple of years that I have discovered we need to be living our Christian walk like our own business that we need to succeed. We need to be persistent. I love BeautiControl and the products that they produce so using them is not hard. Sharing them is not hard either but trying to convince everyone to try the products for themselves is tough. May people have reasons not to try them or book a Spa Escape. Understandable however I know that when they book with me they will love the evening of fun and even if they never buy I'm sure they would think of friends who would also have a blast. Same thing with Chrisitanity. It works for me. I even share my experiences but when it comes to letting other people know they need to try it? Well that's when you hit a lot of brick walls.

So what does that have to do with persistent? Well simply that we need to be. Pastor Dave charged a team from our church that is going to Grenada in February on a missions trip to be persistent in favorable and unfavorable situations. Well let me tell you that charge was not just for those going. I'm exhausted and almost ready to quit. I can't I need to persist.

I typed in "run race" on biblegateway.com and here we go.

1. 1 Corinthians 9:24
   Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
2. Galatians 2:2
   I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain.
3. Galatians 5:7
   You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?
4. Hebrews 12:1
   [ God Disciplines His Sons ] Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

I think we need to be persistent. To persevere. So in the words of a wise Godly woman. "If you think you can do it on your own - Good luck with that"

Lord please help. I press in and say Father I'm weak, I'm exhausted and I can't run the race on my own. Father I can't hear another no. Lord you know my heart, you know my deeds. I give my all to you. Please help. I love you Lord.

Blessings,

Alanne.

"whether it's the pleasure of being a wife or of raising children or of making a home - (these) were, until the day before yesterday, considered the most natural things in the world."

Danielle Crittenden

For the single or the married here's what marriage is all about. If you're in it here's your job description and if you are not don't walk into it blindly.

"The man needs the help; the woman needs to help. Marriage was created by God to provide companionship in the labor of dominion. The cultural mandate, the requirement to fill and subdue the earth, is still in force, and a husband cannot fulfill this portion of the task in isolation. He needs a companion suitable for him in the work to which God has called him. He is called to the work and must receive help from her. She is called to the work through ministering to him. He is oriented to the task, and she is oriented to him.

Douglas Wilson

(Gen 1:26-31; 2:7-25; 1 Cor.11:8-9)

I just added some great links. Check them out. They are the ones that are different colors, till I remember how to change the color!

Alanne

God thanks for today. Another day to love my family. Another day to serve them. Another day to enjoy them another day to teach them. Another day to wrestle with them. Another day to laugh with them and to cry with them.

The other morning I got out of bed early to do my quiet after having a crappy sleep. I was awake most of the night and then to top it off I had a wacko dream. (My mom got remarried - not that that is a bad thing if that is what she chooses!)

Anyhow I had such a fear of dying that morning. A healthy fear. I was scared but I think more than that a realization yet again to remember how precious each moment is. It reminds me of that song that my sister showed me the video for. Nickleback I think? A good band that still need Christ. But in the video everyone had a number over their head counting down till they were to die. Brutal but true!

Love those around you. Prioritize and make your family and close friends feel that they are your prority. Love, love love. Research the definition of love. English is so limited when it comes to the word Love. I love hot dogs, I love my child, I love my husband. Those are all different!!!!

Our first scheduled time to get together didn't work so we rescheduled tea till the next day. This was ok but then I have to make sure my house presentable the next day again! My challenge for you. "Our LandLord" (The Lord) may come at any moment. Is your "house" presentable? There is a tract that mom has and we grew up with mom quoting it over and over "If Jesus came to your House" I'm sure my sister and I could quote at least the first few lines.

If Jesus came to your House.

If Jesus came to your house
to spend a day or two --
If He came unexpectedly,
I wonder what you'd do.

Oh, I know you'd give your nicest room
to such an honored Guest,
And all the food you'd serve Him
would be the very best,
And you would keep assuring Him
you're glad to have Him there --
That serving Him in your home
is joy beyond compare.

But when you see Him coming
would you meet Him at the door
With arms outstretched in welcome
to your Heavenly Visitor?

Or would you have to change your clothes
before you let Him in,
Or hide some magazines,
and put the Bible where they'd been?

Would you turn off the radio
and hope He hadn't heard,
And wish you hadn't uttered
that last, loud, hasty word?

Would you hide your worldly music
and put some hymn books out?
Could you let Jesus walk right in,
or would you rush about?

And I wonder -- if the Savior
spent a day or two with you,
Would you go right on doing
the things you always do?

Would you go right on saying
the things you always say?
Would life for you continue
as it does from day to day?

Would your family conversation
keep its usual pace,
And would you find it hard each meal
to say table grace?

Would you sing the songs you always sing,
and read the books you read,
And let Him know the things
on which your mind and spirit feed?

Would you take Jesus with you
everywhere you planned to go,
Or would you, maybe, change your plans
for just a day or so?

Would you be glad to have Him
meet your very closest friends,
Or would you hope they stay away
until His visit ends?

Would you be glad to have Him
stay forever on and on,
Or would you sigh with great relief
when He at last was gone?

It might be interesting to know the things
that you would do,
If Jesus came in person to spend some time with you.
~Author Unknown~

Yes this poem is talking about your physical house however I want to refer to your spiritual house. Your temple. I am challenged to keep my life in order everyday. Life is short and getting shorter everyday. Set your "house" in order. Like I love to say "Live Loud".

Alanne.

A great friend of mine said to me once "If my feet hit the floor at the same time as my kids, I'm already behind." Ok so I was challenged by that but didn't actually do something about it. Sound familiar anyone?

So to start I have set up an alarm clock by my bed and set it for an hour before my kids get up. 6:30 am. I thought this was so early till I visited with a long time friend from here in Edmonton who shared that she gets up at 5 am 3-5 times a week and goes to the gym. AHHHH Ok I'm really challenged now! Proverbs 31 she rises early!

Blessings as you allow God to set your schedule.

Alanne

Our family has had an amazing week of visiting family, old friends and meeting with new ones. Now we need a holiday from the holiday!

As our family prepares to step back into what is to be the norm for the next part of the school year I am challenged by a friend and amazing woman of God Lindsay as she shared with us what she was told when she was in Bible College.

Be prepared to preach, pray and prophesy at any given moment.

I am challenged by this. I don't believe this was just from school or for just her. I believe this is for everyone.

I encourage you as Lindsay said to check yourself at any moment and are not ready, get ready.

2 Timothy 4

1In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

I love you ladies,

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1Thes 5:11

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. Heb 3:13

24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Heb 10: 24-26

Words in bold my emphasis... But in the words of Pastor Dave anything said more than once must be important.

Blessings as you resolve to set your eyes on him for this year.

Love,

Alanne.

First off, Happy New Year!!! Our family had an amazing Christmas with Kevin's family in Manitoba, and a fun New Years. Our New Years began with playing games with our new friends the Youngs, who just loved on us since we've moved here, and ended with a romantic evening on the couch ringing in the New Year watching Holms on Homes!! Not even a grand ball which I've dreamed of forever would have topped it. One year I'm sure it will be fun to do that too.

So the New New New stands for...

New Day

New Year

New Perspective

I want to encourage you today to be thankful for the New Day and New Year facing us with exciting New Challenges, New Found Friendships (I have a story to share on that one...!) And to seek to gain a New Perspective.

Personally I don't want to walk into this New Year with my old perspective. For example this was my quiet time after reading Matt 7:7-12. (Ask, Seek, Knock)

Lord I ask for patience and self-control. Lord I seek to be the wife and mom you want me to be. Lord I seek to find your heart. I seek you and to do your will. Lord I knock, I bang at your door and ask you to provide our daily bread, I ask that you would open doors of opportunity to teach my children. Lord I ask for opportunities for phileo love, I ask for heaps of phileo love! Lord thank you for this New day, New Year, and New Perspective.

The New Perspective is finally surrendering (or working towards surrendering completely) to God's original design for women. I'm thankful for the people and resources that have brought new light to this.

I want to seek to live my life in Gods will. Now just to be completely honest I'm probably wanting it for selfish reasons. My life is full of inner peace and joy when I follow his will. I WANT THAT!!!!

Matt 7:13-14.

The Narrow and Wide Gates

13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Lord I want this life, Help me to choose this road everyday.

So my plan today is to plan my days. To rise early and get things done so that when my family arises I'm ready to greet them and serve them being prep'd and looking good for the day myself.

Lord Help! :)

Alanne.