Captain's Blog

Being full of the Holy Spirit is tied to many things in the Bible. Prophesy, speaking in tongues, boldness, courage, filling others, confidence, power, joy, sense of fullness like being drunk, wisdom, signs and miracles are all attached to the power of the Holy Spirit.

I'm thinking that least a couple of these qualities might appeal to you. If they are appealing, here's the deal. The best anyone can ever be is not good enough. We will always fall short of being perfect. God is perfect and requires us to be blameless. In the old testiment every time a person messed up they were suppose to sacrifice an animal to get back to a right relationship with God. So God decided to send his only Son Jesus Christ to be the ultimate sacrifice for all of our sins. No more sacrificing animals!!

So we have to accept that Jesus died for our screw ups. The times we missed the mark. Otherwise his "sacrifice" isn't for us. Ask Christ to come into your life and clean you up to restore that right relationship with God. When we do that God gives us a deposit of his Holy Spirit to live in us and help us as we walk out the rest of our life. We have a free personal counsellor for life! He gives us all those qualities I talked about above.

Your life will feel complete. You will have a renewed purpose. Have you ever wondered why so many people who have all it all commit sucide? Without Christ in our lives there is no sense of purpose, no lasting hope, no anything good that lasts.

Is this a religion? I personally don't see it as a religion. I see it as a personal relationship with God who is wants to restore a relationship with His kids.

Many relgions you have to do something to get something. It's "man" reaching to a higher seemingly unreachable and unpersonal power. What I described is God sending His son for us. We accept and recieve it.

Too simple? Children get it and us adults who have to reason it all think it's got to be more complicated. :)

Got questions? God can handle your questions and even your doubt. Ask Him to show you if He's real.

Where are you at?

For those who have asked Christ into their life, I encourage you to ask God to continously fill you. We are sponges and sometimes dry out. Get back to that uninhibitied realtionship with God. See what happens. Nothing like it.

Encouraging you.

Alanne.

In the Bible it talks about being filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues. Now there are many arguments whether those two go hand in hand or not. I'm not here to debate that. I will say they are both great and I encourage you to check them both out more. Especially being full of the Holy Spirit and having sex with your spouse! (more on that topic to come, stay tuned) Ok so this is proving to be an interesting, straight up post.

So initially I was going to talk about being Full of the Holy Spirit and I will touch on that however, when I went to do research on www.biblegateway.com I discovered a whole bunch of things people could be filled with. Search "Filled Spirit"

filled with the Spirit of God

filled with power

filled with the spirit of wisdom

filled with rage

filled with Holy Spirit

Whatever you are filling your life with, evenutally you will be full of that. Deep I know. When you are full of something it causes you to act. Here we go.

Full of words -you want to speak

Full of Holy Spirit - you want to do God's will

Full of wisdom - you know what to do and want to do it

Full of Faith - you want to do

Full of doubt - you tend to question or avoid

Full of fear - you tend to hide or lash out

Full of shit - well garbage in garbage out

Like the example I gave my kids about us all being 341 mL coke cans. (If we are open we are crushable and if we're full and sealed we can't be crushed but realisitically we don't ever stay sealed very long.)

So 2 questions for you....

What are you filling your can / life with ? What does that make you full of ?

When the pressures of life come and squish you what are you going to spew onto those around you?

Pressures will come. Don't be ignorant as I was to that.

Fill yourself with Christ.You will do things that will blow your mind. Luke 9:1When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

We are to be his disciples so guess what you have the ablitiy to do those things too.

You won't be bored. Freaked maybe but not bored. And life will be way more than you could ever imagine.

Want some?

Alanne

Scriptures for "filled"

Exodus31:3

Exodus 35:31

Deut 34:9

Esther 5:9

Micah 3:8

Luke 1:15

Luke 1:41

Luke 1:67

Acts 2:4

Scriptures for "full"

Job 32:18

Luke 4:1,2

Luke 10:21

Acts 6:3

Acts 6:5

Acts 7:55

Acts 11:24

Romans 8:4

Romans 15:19

Scriptures for "power" and "authority"

Rev 12:10

Luke 9:1

Luke 10:19

Thanks to www.biblegateway.com

Recently I posted a Recycling Challenge. Thank you for all who responded, shared your recycling ideas and more importantly took up the challenge. The draw winner is Christy Fisher!!! Congratulations. I will be delivering your BeautiControl Product shortly.

Alanne Schellenberg.

I wanted to share a couple things that have impacted me over the last few weeks.

Here are the titles...

Big Decisions, One Liners, Challenges, What we're here for.

Big Decisions

I was listening to the radio in the van and there was a snipet from a ministry called Love Worth Finding Ministries with Adrian Rogers and Adrian shared something that really impacted me. He said "One big decision takes care of a whole bunch of small ones." Is there some things in your life that you are mulling over? Sometimes a bigger decision that you have made or will make will take care of some of those smaller details.

A couple big decisions that I can think of would be accepting Christ's sacrifice on the cross for you, making him center of your life. Or the decision of marriage. Are there any other big decisions that you can think of?

One Liners

This topic came about by a conversation I had with a dear friend. We both share similiarities in our lifes in that we love on people around us and then get "whelmed" by all the directions we feel pulled in.

So here's your chance. What would you do if you were in our shoes?

Challenges

"I want to see more miracles and less TV." Adam Browett

"The music style, volume, or speed of songs sung at a service does not change God or our need to worship Him." - me

"A heart of true compassion, and a heart of love combined with wrong teaching and direction is disasterous." - me

What we're here for

And I'll leave you with this thought, It's from Isaiah 60:21b

"... They are the shoot I have planted,
the work of my hands,
for the display of my splendor."

Living life with you, beside you, for the display of His splendor.

Alanne Schellenberg

As I sat a t a red light,I watched the drivers turn infront of me. I watched them as they made decisions and acted on those decisions. I was thinking about how people obey the rules of the road how they make educated guesses about what the other drivers will do next.

Just as there are rules of the road there are rules in life. For some people they obey just the bare minimum and some are extreme legalists. I'm wondering where you are at? I'm thinking about where I'm at.

What rules do you live by?

The curious,

Alanne.

Go to Youtube and type watch?v=zCdZwitrNoY

This was so great I had to share.

Alanne

I love to communicate and communicate well. I believe it's important. For me though, I'm learning to shut up already!

I need to gear up to fight the good fight, not just sit around talking about the fight I should be fighting!!

Today at church Pastor Dave Wood delivered a powerful message called The Fourth Tabernacle. It should be available to listen to soon on www.weca.com. At the end of his message he said "There's no victory without at battle, it's hard but I've read the Book, we win!"

"A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.Proverbs 25:11 My mom drilled this into me.

There's a time to talk, there's a time to pray, there's a time to fight and I need to know when to to what. And maybe moreso, just do it!

Fighting with you. :)

Alanne.

PS If you'v read this and you don't understand what I'm talking about, if you don't understand the spiritual battle that goes on around us but want to know more, email me. I'd love to talk with you and hopefully help answer some questions you might have. Life is hard but knowing some key things will help. Thinking of you and praying for you. Alanne schellenbergs@shocotech.com

This morning I learned a lot reading the Bible. I love learning new things. And being Saturday I didn't have places to be I went to lie down and I prayed a quick thoughtless prayer asking God to help me remember that. How selfish of me.

At Evangelistic Tabernacle in Nanaimo I went on (and later helped lead) and Encounter weekend. It's a weekend packed full of 18 sessions that walk through what the Bible says about being a Christian to how to walk that out. It's intense but so good. One of the sessions was a soaking session. A time where everyone grabs their pillow and sleeping bag and
"soaks" while quiet music plays in the background. (Sounds great hey?)

I got thinking and this question came to my mind. "How can something cool I've learned soak in without soak time?"

So the challenge to me was not only to read the Word but to take the time to let it soak in.

Philippians 4:8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

In this busy world take the time to learn and then time think on it.

Thinking on this this morning.

Alanne.

I was at my BeautiControl Unit Meeting and the Director closed the meeting by reading a quote from the book "If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat." By John Ortberg. It encouraged us to get motivated in our business by discovering and getting over our fears. I'm going to check it out. If you've read it let me know what you think.

Alanne.

Maybe I just liked the title. Had to share.

By Bob Gass

Mow Your Own Garden - Not Someone Else's
What is that to you?... follow Me!
John 21:22 NIV
Peter had strong opinions about others. Maybe you are like him. One day he started meddling in John's business, saying, "Lord, what about him?" Jesus answered, "What is that to you?… follow Me!" There's an important lesson here. Learn to identify 'who owns what.' If it's their garden let them mow it, or live with the weeds.(Love it!) If someone can only get what they want by playing the martyr or guilt tripping and manipulating others, that's their issue; don't make it yours! If they're living with consequences, it's their consequences not yours! If they deny their problems or can't think clearly on a particular issue, the confusion is theirs. It's your responsibility to love and pray for them, even offer help, but it's not your responsibility to fix or rescue them. If they don't seem capable of showing appreciation or apologising when they're wrong, that's their problem. Only when they have an attitude of gratitude and the humility to acknowledge their mistakes, will they grow. In the meantime it's their garden, stop trying to mow it! If your hopes, your peace and your happiness are dependant on anyone other than God, learn to detach. You're a joint-heir with Christ, not a joint-tenant with Him (Romans 8:17).
Has it occurred to you that God could be waiting for you to get out of the way so that He can go to work in their situation? The truth is, you are powerless over them, but God's not! He may let them stumble before He lifts them, but He'll do what's right and what's best. So follow the Lord - and mow your own garden!

Strong words but good to chew on.

Alanne.

I have to add some details (read the last entry called Challenge) as now my kids want to get involved. They have challenged Kevin if they get their friends to recycle that he should get a toy for a draw prize!! I'm excited about this and possibly other challenges.

The draw will happen at the End of February and depending on how it goes we may move it to the end of March!

So for anyone who challenges their school, workplace, community or city/government to also take on this challenge will get 5 extra entries into the draw. (the government is already on board but people don't get fined for not recycling. - If you get that changed I'll just hand you a product on top of the draw!)

I'm excited! Feel great about what you are doing and be a great example to those around you.

Alanne.

It's tough as a mom to add something extra to our plates. It's so much easier to toss something into the garbage than take the lid off rinse it out and then walk it down the stairs to put it into the recycling.

It was easier in Nanaimo, if you don't recycle you get a fine, plus you are only allowed one garbage can per week so it only makes sense to recycle. I know in Ladysmith, just south of Nanaimo, they have even gone a step further and you have to seperate your compost for roadside pick up. Edmonton is a different story, recycling is optional. It's definately easier that Nanaimo as we had to sort it and here we don't!!!

So my challenge to all the mom's/ladies in Edmonton and I'll even go as far as to say all Alberta, is to recycle everything possible. Get your kids to be involved. It is good for the environment. It is good training for your kids and as we all well know actions speak louder than words.

So take the challenge. I tell you what..... I will have a draw. For every response I get I will put your name into a draw and I will give you a free product from BeautiControl. And if you share this with 12 friends let me know and I will enter you twice. I trust that you are challenged and will do your part to help the environment and train your kids.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Alanne Schellenberg

www.alanne.info

We start each day new. It's great. We could get up and do nothing or get ready for work or to take care of kids or??

Having 4 kids is busy. Many people have asked how do you do it? And somehow I still find time to make cards and do spas. So my question is what fills your day? Everyday we have 24 hours. That's 1440 minutes (if my calculator and mind did it right). Well it takes me say 3 mintues to wash my face and brush my teeth in the morning. Do you have 3 minutes in the morning? I do my quiet time most mornings and that takes me about 15 minutes. Do you have 15 mintues? I think you get the idea. We all have the same amount of time. We all have different lives and time schedules etc. But somehow the bottom line is that we have time for what we make time for. Maybe that sounds silly but I recall having a conversation with a young lady who didn't have 8 hours to attend a training day. Ok but the same person has time to see up to several movies a week. It's about what we make priority.

Now there is nothing wrong with doing what we want. My challenge is be honest about it.

I am being challenged to pray and fast. My life is currently not busy. I have my regular must do's, feed the kids, clean the house etc. but on top of that I have some time. I am feeling like I deserve some "me" time. I have had a busy couple of months. But I know I'm called to pray. So do I flip on the tv or start a project or do I simply take time to hang out with God. The tv and or projects make me feel good. They make me feel accomplished (muchly desired in the life of a mom) But it's temporal. It's self satisfying. For me it's not right. So what's the right thing for you? Only you can answer that.

I need to think about what is eternal. I need to be disciplined about reading the Bible, praying and fasting. No distractions. (including Christian books or music) There is NOTHING WRONG WITH CHRISTIAN MUSIC OR BOOKS as long as your not ignoring God. :)

Ps 94 says "Does he who implanted the ear not hear? Does he who forms the eye not see? Does he who disciplines nations not punish? Does he who teaches man lack knowledge?.....

Unless the Lord had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death."

So what's filling your day?

Served Straight up.

Alanne.

Good morning! Ladies I am asking that you lift Kevin and I up in prayer. In this fast paced life we cannot survive with out fuel, maintenance and the occasional overhaul. Satan wants to rip apart a great thing and destroy God's work. Thank you for your support and prayers. You're the best.

Alanne.

Thanks to my dh and cousin Dennis for working this into our conversations, I believe it's a Cadillac commercial.....

"The nail that sticks out gets hammered down!" :)

Happy Saturday to you! Hope you are having a good day.

Alanne

What does a friendship look like to you? I asked this question on facebook so it's only fair that I share what it is to me.

A friendship to me is when someone is there for me, they take the time to hear me and remember what I've said. They are funny and make me laugh. They let me cry on their sholder. They challenge me in love and encourage me to go further than I thought I could go. A friend makes me a better me. A friend will love me more than the friendship. They will tell me what I need to hear even if it could possibly destroy the friendship. Foundationally my friends are working on being who they are suppose to be in Christ. Quoting Pastor Dave Wood, "You will only ever have a handful of close friends your whole life." I am blessed with an amazing family and extended family and amazing close friends. I love them and cherish them deeply.

I just read a great article my cousin forwarded to me. My cousin and her husband pastor in Medicine Hat Alberta.

These are the most exciting words for me to hear and yet the hardest. How much of what we say or explain is fact and how much is our opinion or swayed by our opinion?

That being said how do we present the gospel or solve problems when we are sinful people swayed by our own opinion, formed mainly by our own experiences? Lets go to the Word and see if we can gain some understanding.

Paul writes, "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel - not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of it's power. " 1Cor 1:17

Later on Paul writes "I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my reaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power."

We need to tread carefully "...lest the cross of Christ be emptied of it's power." Wow that is concerning that our "human wisdom" could do that. How do we avoid that?

Through out the upcoming chapters of Corinthians you see Pauls honesty and how humble he is. He quotes Jeremiah9:24 in 1Cor 1:31b "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." He also talks about the "rights" of Christians and how he does not "use any of these rights" 1 Cor 9:15a

Being a Christian is complicated and yet simple. The wisest don't understand and yet children get it. So where does that leave most of us? Well thankfully as a friend encouraged me with scripture, "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Cor 12:9.

So this blog does not have a conclusion. All I can end with is that I don't have all the answers and my opinions are biased but I love my Savior and am encouaraged that He loves me and uses me. I encourage you to get to that place too.

Alanne.

So much has happened this summer. It has been amazing. I will give some highlights and some verses that God has spoken to me through shortly. Just wanted to say hey and I'll write more soon!

Blessings.

Alanne

Carpe Diem is the name of my brother and sister-in-laws sailboat but the saying has been on my mind lately.

The meaning "seize the day; enjoy the present, as opposed to placing all hope in the future. "

So I've been working on this. "Being in the moment" or as a good friend shared "Be in the Zone".

This is tough but something to work towards or improve on in our lives. Recognizing we need to improve is a first step. Taking any size step towards improving is worth a pat on the back! As I said in a previous blog entitled "Throw yourself a party". Celebrate small victories.

I get all too wrapped up in the bigger picture that I forget that even small steps are progress. Right now I believe where there is progress there is growth and there is real life.

There are so many examples I could choose from. Exercise, eating habits, getting enough rest.

A quick example before I head to bed. Exercise. I love to work out, to work on getting in shape, to be active and get into that positive cycle. Because I haven't had or made the time to get to the gym I give up on everything to do with exercise. This is not making the most of my moments!

Do something active. I don't need to be at the gym to do something active. I just need to do it. Don't get me wrong when I get to the gym it will be great.

When you become a little more disciplined see it as a positive. When I put off having that treat, even if I had it later, I took a positive step. When I was patient with my kids, even if I lost it later I took a positive step. For me I was disciplined even if it was only for that moment. When I recognize that I have taking a positive step I will feel good about it and next time work harder to take more positive steps. Hence a positive cycle.

My kids teach me a lot about not giving up. Sometimes they need encouragment sometimes they need a break. Who am I that I don't think I need encouragment or a break as I work towards improving?

So be encouraged, encourage others and take a break when you need to.

Alanne.

I have been feeling very overwhelmed with all the demand on me lately. Especially with the extra stress of the accident and everything that has to be done in regards to that. I prayed about it and asked God to speak to me and guide me today. Here's what I read.

Acts 6:1In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."

5This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

7So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

Now to break it down.

Acts 6: "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. "

Now waiting on tables in this case was important, valuable and a notable cause as the verse before explained...

1In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

Point number 1- they recognized it was important.

Secondly - they deligated turning it over to very qualified men. Verse 3...

3Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them...

Thirdly and perhaps one of the hardest - they let go and focused on the task at hand.

4and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."

How often do we do "important" tasks but not the right one? or How often to we try to do the right task and a couple other things as well?

As a result of their choice to deligate, let go and focus on the task at hand great things happened!

5This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

7So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

WOW!! I'm not sure why that surprizes me but it does. I am encouraged that I'm not the only one who gets off track and goes on tangents doing other "important" jobs whether I instigate them or I allow others to put pressure on me and give in.

The other thing that I noticed is that they were speaking life. Why would they say "and give our attention to" the task at hand if it wasn't something that perhaps some or all of them had a issue with?

Ladies hear my heart. I am learning this. I'm not there yet. But I'm speaking it into existance. I'm putting it out there and now I'm accountable. (eeek scary!)

Blessings to you as we prioritize, deligate and focus on the task at hand. Enjoy the freedom, peace and increased growth that will come with that. And remember to be thankful.

Alanne.

Celebrate small victories….

As a Christian I think that victory is leading someone to Christ or speaking at a women’s convention or something big like that. Those are victories don't get me wrong but I often forget or don't consider the small victories.

This week would feel like defeat if I was to think only of how many people I brought to Christ or how many women's conventions I spoke at.

It takes effort to be the women we are called to be. It is anything but weak to be the submissive wife, to be the patient mom, to be a supportive available friend and get everything done in a day that we need to get done!!

So to help us get there lets look at these points.

1. The Bible says let your yes be yes and no be no. Say yes when you need to and no when you need to. Let any guilt associated with a no roll off your back and don't feel like you always need to explain why. (Be discerning sometimes it is good to explain why)

2. As I have said before make a list and then ask God what He wants you to do and change what you need to change.

3. Get plenty of rest so that you are thinking clearly to win battles. I will be more likely to loose my cool when I'm tired or not focusing where I need to focus. Check your HALT Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired Do what you can to make sure those are limited.

4. Make a plan. What part of the day do you struggle with? Make a plan to tackle it and celebrate and feel good about yourself when you win that victory. Share it if possible.

5. Expect conflict. This is a tough one for me. Why would I want to expect something that I see as a negative? Well is it negative? Maybe I should change my perspective. Perhaps I should look at it as a challenge. I'm ok with a challenge. (ok more so than a conflict)

6. Reward yourself. What does that look like for you? Schedule a coffee with a friend, buy something (in our budget something inexpensive), book an evening to make cards (or whatever it is that you enjoy doing), take some "me" time and pamper yourself (in my case with spa treatments) Do whatever will lift your spirits. Be sure to plan the time to work for your family and be sure to do it (speaking to myself as well here)

Blessings ladies, as we tackle our days and celebrate our victories individually and together.

Alanne

I want to encouarge you if this is where you are at to check out today's post on www.girltalk.blogs.com

The other article that I think is appropriate for many ladies who are into what fashions are in right now is the post from May 7/07.

Blessings and don't forget to get your cards out to your mom's ladies!

Alanne.

A huge thank you for all who have been praying for us and supporting us over the last couple of weeks. Last night it really felt like something was broken off in the spiritual realm. I felt lighter, freer (is that spelt right?), I saw the beauty of the sunset. Funny how that is stolen.

Interestingly, today I am reminded that I am doing what I am suppose to be doing. I can be busy with BeautiControl or whatever "work" I choose to do but I find when I "work" the less I want to do what I'm called to do. Be a Home Manager. When I am at home and doing what I am to do I have a joy, a peace that I am doing what I am suppose to do. It's the most amazing place to be. So why is it that part of me longs to be doing something else? Well I believe that would be what the apostle Paul also wrestled with. Well hey if he wrestled with it I guess I'm ok. I just need to stay in the word and remind myself that this is what I am to do and continuously surround myself with people who encouarage me and love me enough to correct me when I get out of line.

I don't like housework. I don't like playing things with my kids that I don't like doing myself. I'm not great at cooking. It's a job that is the most sacrificial and lowest paying category. So why will God bless us and take care of us financially when I choose not to work for money and work my behind off at home making no money. Again that's where it doesn't make sense to the human mind. I know it doesn't make sense to me. That's where I have to continue to learn trust and to grow faith. We don't need a lot of faith cause if we had a lot of faith lots of mountains would move from BC to here! Matthew 17:20He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Thanks for listening, learning and supporting our family through this time.

Blessings,

Alanne.

Life is very busy and sometimes chaotic. Responsiblities and self inflicted business keeps us hopping. When we feel unhappy or feel that God is not with us, well we don't even know where to begin to find out what it could possibly be.

How I came to thinking about this began last night. I took my oldest son Levi to an Improv Night at our church. We both had a blast. We were out later than his bed time though and I knew that today would be a little rough. Forgetting that Levi did not get enough sleep I responded to his impatience as I normally would.

So how does this tie together? Well Levi had another factor to consider when he faced the day. He was tired. Children that have a schedule don't have a lot of extra factors to figure out why they are having the type of day they are.

How many factors do we have to sift through to realize why our day is going the way it is? How many things do we blame God or satan for when we are not disciplined about our time and sleep?

I am guilty of this myself. I am selfish and want to stay up late to have "me" time cause I think I deserve it. "I" don't deserve anything. The Bible says the wages of sin is death. I deserve death. Wow that's harsh. But looking at it that way wow I am blessed to be alive. I am blessed to have my amazing family. I am blessed to have an amazing extended family. I am blessed to have great friends and I am blessed to do the work God has planned for my life.

Get back to the basics. The world will try to tell you that basic is boring. Living a "basic" Christian life will be anything but boring.

Life is short. Be diligent with your time. Be disciplined in what you do and say. Say no sometimes. The Bible says let your yes be yes and your no no. That means it's ok to say no! I had to grow in this area. I can't please everyone and I shouldn't try. I am to please the Lord that's it.

Be blessed as you look at your day and your life and think about setting a schedule. Don't just let your life happen by chance or do what you feel like doing. I'm sure Christ didn't "feel like" dying. We are to die to self everyday. I'm thinking that would be easier than dying on a cross. Die to self and live for Him.

Alanne.

Marriage is much like owing your own business. Let me explain.

I have been a consultant with BeautiControl for over a year now and every month they have what's called a Unit Meeting. Consultants get together and several selected people share what they find works for their business and all the consultants are free to ask questions.

Sometime I don't feel like going but when I do I get renewed energy and new ideas on how to propel my business forward.

How often do we think our marriage will just work on it's own? I know I often do. We need to work at it and getting new ideas by talking to friends and seeing what works for them is so helpful.

I am truly thankful for the friends that God has placed in my life. I am thankful for my extended family. I am thankful for who I am in Christ.

I did this illustration with my boys today. I put a sealed full can of coke and an empty can of coke in front of each of them. I told them that they are things in the world like bully's, sickness, bad things. And that the coke cans are them. I explained that when we ask Christ to be the Lord of our lives, He sends the Holy Spirit to live in us. Everyday when we ask the Holy Spirit to fill us we are like a sealed coke can. So I asked them to crush it. They couldn't. Then I asked them to crush the empty can. They did easily. Then Gabe said well we didn't crush the full one hard enough. So I said go ahead crush it harder. Didn't happen. They got it.

I hope you get it too. We need the Holy Spirit to fill us and we need to surround ourselves with Godly people who will tell us what we need to hear not just what is not going to hurt us.

Life with God is amazing. Your highs are amazing. Your lows are raw and real but good. You know that you are living to the fullest when you can experience every emotion and say it's good.

I think of Ben Johnson a speaker from CLA Vancouver who was speaking at a teen sports camp. He started his message and he was completely awkward. He even said that it was awkward. I was thinking come on here you are talking to teenagers, get it together! Then he went on to share that if we embraced awkward moments how many of them could be used for God. When describing an awkward moment he let out an emotional, adrenaline rush roar and said "That's good."

What is good? Easy is what I used to think. Fun is what I used to think. Not anymore.

Over this last week I have really given thought to what Christ went through on the cross. I know that He went through so much pain that perhaps no human has experienced before or since. I know He said Father let this cup pass from me. I myself have said this week. I don't think I can do this. My friend reminded me that I can and that it's good. Perhaps God said that to Jesus. You can do this and it's good. Perhaps you need to hear that you can do this and it's good.

Raw, real emotions are amazing. Embrace them. Feel them.

Be blessed as you live out today.

Alanne.

Sometimes we see glimpes of God's plan but not the whole picture. When you get glimpes take my advice and ask God what the next step is. Sometimes the glimpes we see are His plan but not yet. So what does that have to do with Life, God and Sex. Well hang in there and lets see if I can explain.

This might be 2 posts worth of information but I'm sure they will tie together, here we go.....

Just in case you didn't know submission has nothing to do with equality. We are all made in the image of God and we all heirs. All equal. Different roles.

Now to speak directly to submission,

Dr. Wayne Grudem says "The idea of headship and submission never began! It has always existed in the eternal nature of God himself. And in this most basic of all authority relationships, authority is not based on gifts or ability; it is just there...[The relationship between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit] is one of leadership and authority on the one hand and voluntary, willing, joyful submission to that authority on the other hand. We can learn from this that submission to a rightful authority is a noble virtue. It is a privilege. It is something good and desirable. It is the virtue that has been demonstrated by the eternal Son of God forever. It is His glory, the glory of the Son as He relates to the Father.

I guess I've always thought of "submission" (in a negative conetation) as thought up in the early days when women started to try to work outside the home and men didn't want them to. This is more like when the problems began. And why might the problems have begun then? Hmmm. Women outside the home?

Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.

Mark Twain "I have far more trouble with the things I do understand in the Bible than the things I don't understand." :)

Now here me out. I have resisted this my whole life. I'm no femanist but I have rights! Yeah only to submit.

Carolyn Mahaney in Femaine Appeal "...the submissive wife - far from being the weak willed woman our culture portrays - is actually a model of inner strength. By God's grace, she has conquered this oppostion within her own heart. It is actually weakness on display when a wife is not submissive; she is only caving in to her natural inclination to usurp authority and demand her own way. That doesn't take any effort at all!

After I read this I thought wow. She is bang on. This just sat right. Not easy to hear but it is true and something inside me agrees with every word and wants to fight with all I have to possess inner strength.

The other day I was at Toys R Us, we were buying a present for Orin for his birthday, and I saw the ugliest scene. A women was arguing with her husband in a not so quiet way, not yelling but definately disrespectful and demeaning. I would have thought nothing of that before. In fact I have done that and felt like my point was being made if not heard. Selfish! Now that I am aware of how ugly that is well I want to be far from that in my life. I felt awful for the husband cause he was very meek, definately not trying to make a scene and reason with his wife.

Ladies, I'm not fully there but I'm encouraged to grow in this area.

Now for the kicker. I was thinking about my sons and who they are going to marry one day. How do I want my daughter-in-laws to treat my sons? People say we marry our opposite sex parent. Would I want my sons to marry someone like me? Would I want my daughter-in-laws to treat my sons like I treat Kevin sometimes? Ouch. Am I the only one feeling that?

The saying goes I can yell at my kids but don't you dare. I can demand that my kids submit but I won't. Messed up!

God is clear and satan is trying to make everything fuzzy. God is not a God of confusion. He is clear. It is simple to grasp. We just need to choose to do it. Easier said than done, however that's why we have each other.

Hebrews 10:24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

Be encouraged as we fight our natural inclinations.

God said, "I am with you" Jeremiah 30:11

Go warrior princess.

Alanne.

Lately for many Christians the focus has not been on the Ten Commandment and the Law. We have moved to focusing on Christ. The problem is

that we forget that God gave us those laws and they were not just for the people in the "Bible Times".

"a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true" Merriam-Webster

This to me really describes Christianity and the life of a Christian.

How can submission be freeing? How can less be more? How can giving be better than receiving? How can death be living?

Do you struggle with any of these questions? Ask God to show you the truth.

John 14:6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Blessings,

Alanne

Zephaniah 3:17 says "The Lord... will quiet you with his love,.."

I thought about that verse for a while in comparison to my life and these other verses came to my mind.

Psalm 46:10
"Be still, and know that I am God;.."

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians4:6-8

So these verses really challenged me with my time. Many things in my life are "loud" and busy. The world may think these are ok for a person following Christ as their personal savior but it's not. At times sure but not the norm. Let me explain.

Being still and peace and quiet are necessities in the core of our lives at all times. We can be loud and very expressive but when we are doing the will of God and thinking on him in all we do we "are" experiencing inner peace and quiet and stillness. If you are not I challenge you to throw off inner noise or that chaiotic feeling and business. Give God your all and ask him to sort it out and reveal what your priorities should be.

I love the quote I read on my friend Rebecca's profile on Facebook. "The urge to save humanity is almost always only a false-face to rule it." HL Mencken

How many times does something in our lives have a false-face? Eek I'm speaking to myself here. Like Pastor Dave would say "oh now I'm medaling".

So all this to say have discipline with your time and be accountable to someone. Make a plan. I've done it. It doesn't make the temptation less but it helps keep you on track.

Blessings as we walk together.

Alanne.

Well that's not exactly what I was going to talk about but it is something that has been consuming much of any free time that I might have and then some. So nothing real "spiritual" to say... (I know what you are thinking...)

As many of you know I have been doing BeautiControl for over a year now and have been doing well with it on the Island. Edmonton so far is another story. It has been very challenging. All this to say that I'm realizing something about myself. When things go well for me I sort of see it as normal and when things don't I look for someone to do something about it. How selfish is that? Well I don't intend on being selfish but wow Suck it up sista! (that is note to self)

I have been encouraged at my Unit meeting though. Now to find the time. Well I guess if I was putting some effort into BeautiControl and spending less time on Facebook..... :)

I am going to put in some work this weekend and see how it goes.

Bless you this Easter as you reflect on what Christ did for you and as you learn more about yourself in relation to Him.

Alanne.

As a friend of mine, Sandi Meyerhoff said "If my feet hit the ground at the same time as my kids, I'm already behind." How true is that!

I am struggling in my life to balance everything I "need" to get done and everything that gets done. So this blog is pretty much about me to encourage me. Come along for the ride! If I treated my life like a business I think it would look very different. I am a very professional person. I do struggle with organizing but have definately improved in that area by finding systems that works. So how can I be professional as a Home Manager?

I believe all successful businesses start with a plan. So I need to make a plan. To begin my plan I need to spend some time with the Lord. I often want to make a plan and then ask God to approve it. Backwards!

So I will be doing that right after this as long as the kids allow me a few minutes.

I do want to leave you with one last thought that was running through my head this morning. On the thought of running my home like a business, Why don't I look good for my job? I spoke resently and one of the headings was "Looking Good and Being Attractive." If I was going to a job outside the home I would look good (or at least presentable) If I was heading out with friends, same thing. Why am I not treating my Home Manager job like that?

I am challenged. I still feel overwhelmed, inadequate and scattered but I will work on a plan.

Thanks for coming along.

Alanne.

I heard Chuck Swindoll share this one morning on the radio.

A father told a child to sit properly in his carseat. No was the response. Again the father told the son to sit and the child said No! Again the father told the son to sit and the child said No! Finally the father got the child to sit and in response the child said I may be sitting on the outside but I'm standing on the inside!

Thoughts?

Some of my thoughts were

The child did obey and that is good. However first time obedience must be required. Don't be a threatening repeating parent. Let your yes be yes and your no be no. (The first time!) We are called to be in charge and friendship is our goal for when our children are adults not now.

My final thought is this shows how parenting is so much more than providing for our childrens needs and getting them to behave a certain way. We need to train the heart. You can get a child to behave however you want but when they are grown they will chose what they want.

Shepherding a Child's Heart by Ted Tripp "The things a child does and says flow from the heart. Luke 6:45 puts it this way, "... out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." "

I recall one specific insident when Levi was young he came to me after he had done something wrong and said "Mommy I need a consequence, my heart hurts." Levi recognized that this helped his heart feel better. Children want structure and discipline and consequences. It helps for a happy healthy heart. They feel secure, loved and have the freedom to be a child.

Parenting is hard. Get support read Shepherding a Child's Heart. Pray.

Blessings as you do your best to raise your children and help those around you who are.

Alanne.

exhibiting a spirit proper to a follower of Jesus Christ; Christlike

a person who exemplifies in his or her life the teachings of Christ

decent; respectable

www.dictionary.com

So I had a few thoughts that I wanted to share and haven't gotten around to posting them. I will post them but just to take some time and say it's been a really tough couple of weeks.

We have been sick but this week I have been down. A bit depressed? Am I above being depressed? NO! Do I have reason? Not really. That time of the month? part of it maybe. Attack from the enemy? He's sure trying to keep me from doing my quiet time!

Through all this God has blessed me with "lights". Friends have encouraged, given gifts, and listened and and and!!! I have so much to be thankful for. So I think part of what needs to happen here is taking my own advice that I had heard and shared yesterday at Bible Study. "Stop listening to myself and start talking to myself."

Speak life! My soul, my soul must sing! And press in.

At Bible Study last night Julie shared ...

Phil 4:4-9Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I think I need to write this out, speak it out and post it somewhere where I can speak it to claim it.

Focus on good things and be honest.

So some of the things I wanted to share were ...

We are to let our light shine. Just as Psalm 118:27a "The LORD is God,
and he has made his light shine upon us."

My question is does your face shine? Are we a reflection of Christ?

"Lord let me shine, shine like the moon, a reflection of you all that I do..." Song "Shine" by Salvador.

We are to look different than the world. Maybe not radical in what we wear etc but our face should glow.

I am very sensitive to this. God allows me to see past the surface many times and I don't think I'm the only one who is able to do this. People who are not yet Christians can spot a hypocrite a mile away. Can they spot you reflecting Christ a mile away.

I am being challenged in this. Am I a reflection of Christ this week when it's been really tough? I should be. How? Well part of it is being honest. Part of it is speaking God's promises into my life like what I read this morning Zechariah 2:8 For this is what the LORD Almighty says: "After he has honored me and has sent me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye- 9 I will surely raise my hand against them so that their slaves will plunder them. ^[a] Then you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me.

"...for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye- 9 I will surely raise my hand against them.."

I am the apple of his eye and he's going to kick anyone's butt who touches me!

Cross Rocks! - Thanks Camille.

Blessings ladies as you "face" your day.

Alanne.

8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Rejoice letting gentleness be evident

Do not be anxious but present everything to God and Peace will guard your heart and mind

Think on whatever is of God, practice what you've learned and the peace of God will be with you.

"My environment is forever going to change and therefore I can't allow it to decide my walk with God."

-Emily MacKay

Bless you.

Alanne

So this was the message that I spoke at the Spa Ladies Brunch. Spa Ladies are groups of ladies who meet to encourage each other in their walks with Christ. When I refer to "the spa" I'm refering to a physical spa as well as a small group of Bible believing women who meet regularly. These could be called care groups, life cell groups, Bible study's, small groups, etc.

If you are not apart of one I encourage you to find one. Read on and see why.

Life and the Spa.

Imagine : Waking up to soft music, surrounded by natural rock and next door to a mineral pool. You get up to have breakfast served while you are in a white robe and towel twisted on your head. Then you sit back while your nails are done. You lounge while reading a book and then in the afternoon you have your feet attended to. Lovely hey? Too bad that wasn’t our everyday!

Hand gestures Life One hand Spa other hand.

We’re going to look at Life and the Spa.

Role of the Spa

A spa helps us look good and sets us up to face the world.

We should look good and be attractive.

You look good ladies!

If we look good we often feel better. The main reason we should look good is to bring glory to God.

I said we should be attractive. How do we “be attractive”?

In the book Femanine Appeal Carolyn Mahaney says

Although our daily actions might not be covered on the evening news, our lifestyle speaks loudly to those around us. How sobering it is to realize that our behavior has the potential to discredit the gospel. But how exciting it is to think that we can actually commend the gospel! …..

Several years ago while we were on a family outing, a gentleman approached my husband and said, “Sir, I’ve been observing you for some time, and I have never seen a family relate like yours. How do you do it?”

My husband explained that we are simply a family of sinners – but sinners whose lives have been transformed by the power of the gospel. And that was the reason for the difference this man observed.

Although we might not always be aware, people are watching our lives. If we exhibit the qualities from Titus 2 such as love for our families or purity or kindness, we are promoting the gospel. And the unbelievers who see us – be they family member, friend, neighbor, or stranger – may actually be drawn to the gospel by the way we live. How extraordinary!

How their family interacted was attractive to an onlooker, in the same way what we do speaks loudly to those around us. By living life as God wants us to it is attractive to those around us.

What should a spa do for us?

1. Relaxing,

2. Detoxifying,

3. Rejuvenating,

4. Polish,

5. Takes us away from the world in order to ready us for the World.

Christ often took time and went away to spend time with God. When he went to pray it was like having a spiritual spa. He went away from the world.

Christ made it a “holy habit” to spend time with his Father. When he was not “at the spa” he was ready to go. He was ready to preach, pray and prophesy. He didn’t say to those who needed to be healed, Can you wait here for 20 minutes I need to go seek my dad’s advice. He was ready to go! He was prepared to face the world.

When Christ had “spiritual spa” time He had direct access to the Father.

Ephesians 2:18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

We have the ability to do what Christ did and just as he did we have direct access to the Father.

When we take spiritual spa time we can approach God directly and He listens.

1John 5:14This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15And if we know that he heards us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him.

We have access and we can approach God. That thought continues to blow me away.

Spa Ladies is here to help you

1. Relax

2. Detoxify,

3. Rejuvenate,

4. Polish – Not always comfortable….

5. Takes us away from the world in order to ready us for the World.

How important is the spa? Why is it important to come together to talk about the things of God.