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Everyone Needs A Ted

August 11, 2011 in Life with 16 Comments

Have you ever met that one person in your life that simply looked at you and you felt changed? Their smile made you long for a deeper relationship with Christ. Their hugs gave you a feeling of safety you never knew existed.

I want to introduce you to someone. Someone who has done this for me.

Meet Ted…

December 2006

I met him when I walked into Woodland Hills Family Church as a lost sheep roaming through this world having no idea I needed a Shepard.

Ted was the first person that introduced himself and gave me a hug. I wasn’t a huggy person then, so the fact that he got close enough to do it was definitely from God. I had never experienced anything quite like that. Only one word can describe it – safe.

Over the course of the next six months I watched Ted’s actions. His words inspired, but his actions did more. His smile inspired me. To see a grown man stand on stage and cry when discussing his faith made me long for something like that. The way his heart reached out to others allowed me to see a form of authenticity I had never seen before. I wanted that.

Six months after meeting Ted for the first time and receiving that unforgettable hug, I cried out to Jesus in the middle of my office and gave him my life. I wanted what Ted had.

As I began a new journey in my life, Ted walked with me through it. He gave me truth. He showed me what love from Jesus was. He showed me the heart of a man I had never seen before.

December 2008

Ted prayed with me as I traveled to spend the last days with my dying father.

February 2009

Ted led the funeral of my dad and gave a sermon that brought tears to the eyes of alcoholics, drug addicts, and many lost people that gathered in that room to mourn the loss of my father. Ted didn’t just help me mourn. He helped me celebrate. Because my dad came to know the Lord on his death bed, Ted was able to share that story with others.

At the end of my dad’s funeral, five people raised their hands as Ted invited them to accept Christ into their hearts.

I’ll never forget the words he said to me.

“You’re dad did more for others in his death than he did in his life. Let’s celebrate.”

August 2009

His jeep pulled up at my apartment and as I met him downstairs dressed in a beer stained shirt, swollen eyes from tears, and a broken heart, he said words that changed my life.

“I’m not your father. I’m not your grandfather. But I’m going to talk to you like you’re my daughter. You need help and I love you too much to watch you do this to yourself.”

Two hours later he hugged me as I got in the vehicle to head to The Table Rock Freedom Center.

February 2010

He baptized me with the look of a proud father on his face.

August 2010

He sat in the front row as I shared my story of how God had changed my life as I graduated from TRFC. We also celebrated our over 100 pound weight loss.

Yesterday

We sat at our favorite little diner, Clocker’s Cafe in downtown Branson and talked about the changes God had made in our lives. We shared stories. We shared silent moments of bittersweet memories. That feeling of safety came back as I dipped my spoon in the hot oatmeal and allowed myself to be vulnerable with the man who made me want to be more like Jesus.

If you’ve never met Ted, I hope someday you do. His smile will captivate you. His heart will bring tears to your eyes. His words will challenge you. You can’t walk away the same as before.

Is there a Ted in your life? Comment below…

Fifteen Ways To Simplify Your Life

August 10, 2011 in Life with 4 Comments

photo credit: short sale daily news

Let’s face it. We all make life more difficult than it has to be. Don’t you think? I know I certainly do.

I can be a slob. Sometimes it makes it makes things difficult when I’m trying to figure out where my favorite shirt is. Oh yeah! It’s still in the floor from last week and I forgot to wash it.

Or when I am running late to be somewhere and realize my gas light is on and I have to make an extra stop.

I procrastinate. The jury is still out whether that makes things difficult. I work well under pressure. For instance, I’m under pressure to get this blog post finished because I’m running out of time. But, I’m bound and determined to get it done.

I wanted to share a few ideas with you on how to uncomplicate your life.

Here are fifteen ways to simplify your life:

Get at least eight hours of sleep per night. You’ll tend to be more productive in the morning and less cranky throughout the day.
Put money in savings every week, even if it’s only a little bit. You’ll be surprised how fast your discipline pays off.
Keep your checkbook balanced. Never assume you have enough in the bank.
Follow a budget. Stick with it. Preaching this to myself.
Kiss and make up.
Say “I love you” even when you’re mad.
Don’t go to bed angry. It’s really not worth it.
Tell the truth.
Don’t cheat on your taxes.
Forgive.
Spend your time around people who lift you up and encourage you.
Make time for you.
Drink more water.
Let go of your expectations of others.
Never cease praying. Make this number one on the list.

What are some other things you can do to uncomplicate your life? Comment below…

Why I Love Pinterest

August 8, 2011 in Life with 3 Comments

photo credit: pinterest

I’ve found another thing to be addicted to.

But…

I think this is actually a good addiction. I was introduced to Pinterest a couple of months ago, but just recently started to dive in a little deeper. I’m pretty happy with what I have found.

If you’re not familiar with Pinterest, check it out. It’s the one stop shop for storing and sharing things you love and find on the internet. For example, I’m finding new recipes I can’t wait to try out. I’m not the craftiest person in the world. I may be able to write a song, but ask me to make a homemade card and you’ll think a kindergartener decorated it. But, it has inspired me to get off my tush and start making do-it-yourself crafts.

I’m actually going to try my hand at making my own toothpaste. Yes, there will be a blog to come I’m sure.

Plan your wedding. Find your vacation dreams. Save that framed art you can’t afford now, but hope to someday. Clip your favorite recipes and make your friends and family think you’ve been doing it for years.

Organize your organization.

I’ve actually been using it for a company I work for, Devo Olive Oil, to post our recipes. Not only is it great for personal use, but I believe it can be another asset to the world of Social Media Marketing.

Give it a shot. Get an invite today!

Are you currently using Pinterest? What do you love most or dislike about it? Comment below…

Why Positives Aren’t Always Better Than Negatives

August 4, 2011 in Life with 5 Comments

photo credit: all american mortgage

Have you ever tried to make a decision based simply on the list of pros and cons? More positive items on the list than negative usually means the decision is obvious. Or is it?

Here’s what I’m getting at:

Let’s bring The Smurfs into the equation.

I, along with my little cousin, Caleb, have been patiently waiting for Smurfs in 3D to hit the theatres this summer. I grew up on that cartoon and was super excited. For those of you who don’t know me, I’m a child at heart. I’ll probably never grow out of it. Actually, I should say I hope to never grow out of it.

Caleb and I ventured to the movie theatre ready for an adventure. We got our ticket, our 3D glasses, popcorn and drink. It was showtime! I walked out of the theater with a little less excitement than I went in with.

I decided to make a list about the positive and negatives of the movie. Here goes it:

Positives

It had an endearing message of learning what’s important in life
It provided laughter
You can’t help but fall in love with those cute, blue people
It was the usual bad guy loses at the end. Who doesn’t love that?
It was a cute love story
No profanity
No drinking
No drugs
No inappropriate music

Negatives

Insinuated foul language by substituting the cuss words with “smurf.” Example: “Smurf This!”
One scene involved a cleavage shot of a woman whose breasts continued to grow due to a magical potion
The movie wasn’t completely 3D

That’s it. That’s all the negativity I saw in the movie.

What now?

Based on the list, if I had it to do over again, knowing in advance what I would be seeing, it wouldn’t matter to me that the list of pros were larger than the cons. When I watched The Smurfs as a kid, my mom never had to wonder if it was safe enough. As I sat in that movie theater munching on my popcorn, it occurred to me how many millions of children would see the unnecessary sexual images displayed on the big screen. It also occurred to me how many parents would walk away without a second thought about what their children had seen.

Five years ago I wouldn’t have noticed either. It would have been no big deal to me. But today it is. It’s a big deal! Everyday, we have thousands of images that pass through our minds. If we don’t protect our children and ourselves, who will?

What do you think? Am I making a mountain out of a molehill? Comment below…

Three Excuses We Make Instead Of Planning Our Pleasures

August 3, 2011 in Life with 5 Comments

photo credit: marcn (creative commons)

Life is hard. That’s simple enough right? But, what does that mean for us?

I was listening to Joyce Meyer the other day talking about planning our pleasures and our pain. It really got me to thinking how much better I could do, and reminding me that I’m doing better than I think I am.

Here’s some questions for you to answer..

Do you want to lose weight but haven’t done anything about it yet?
Is debt piling up and you can’t see over the stack?
Do you hate your job and come home depressed everyday?

Here’s my next question:

What are you doing about it?

I used to sit around and make excuses for why things weren’t happening. Then I learned that I was wasting my time, others’ time, and wasting my breath. I was making excuses for things that were not beyond my control, but I was looking at the situations as if they were.

I wanted the pleasure of being successful at things, but I didn’t want to go through the pain of getting there. Sometimes life calls for pain. There is no way around it. You have to plan your pleasure. Plan how you will get there.

Here are three excuses we make instead of planning our pleasures:

I’m Not Losing Weight. Are you getting off the couch? Are you looking in the mirror saying, “I wish I could be skinny?” As Joyce says, “You ain’t gonna get it wishing!” Stop waiting for others to do it with you. Stop waiting for the next best diet. Get up! If I can do it, you can do it. No more excuses. I started small with a tiny walk around the parking lot. I traded McDonald’s for grilled chicken. I didn’t go on a diet. I didn’t starve myself. I went through the pain of excercising and changiing my lifestyle. Guess what? That pain eventually got easier. You have to make the decision today that you will stop wishing for what you could have and start planning for what you will have.

I’ll Never Get Out Of Debt. Not with that attitude you won’t. Here’s my first suggestion: cut up those credit cards now! If you don’t have the willpower to say no, then don’t give yourself the temptation. Just as in losing weight, it takes one step at a time. One payment at a time. One month at a time. But if you plan the pleasure and start walking through the pain, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Let me be honest with you. I have some medical debt stacked up. I started to get defeated by looking at the bills stacking up in my shoe box, but one day I sat down and started opening everyone of them. I put them in a spreadsheet and figured out how much I owed. I was actually happy with the total. It could have been much worse. Then I came up with a plan. I have a certain amount I plan to pay every month, and am hoping that within the year I will be debt free. I’m planning the pleasure of paying off that last bill and will smile at the end of the pain. This doesn’t mean that you have to live a dull life and never grab a movie and popcorn. But make your choices wisely. I am by no means a professional in this area, but God is growing me.

My Job Gets Worse Everyday. Not everyone loves their job. Not everyone is expected to stay in a miserable work environment all of their life. But, you are expected to keep your integrity and good attitutude at work, despite what others around you do. Check your heart and your attitude. Ask yourself what needs to be changed inside of you before you blame your job for negative things in your life. If you’ve worked on you and things are still rough, plan the pleasure of finding a new job, continuing to dig in and do your work based on Colossians 3:23-24.

Obviously I can’t cover all the excuses you or I make, but these are some main ones I hear. Whatever situation is in your life right now, sit down and reevaluate the situation. Plan your pleasure. It’s right around the corner if you decide to make it happen.

What pleasures are you currently working on? Comment below…

Learning A Lesson From Reacting

August 2, 2011 in Life with 2 Comments

photo credit: sundijo

Do you ever have those moments where you snap and five seconds later wish you could bury your head in the sand and pretend it didn’t happen? Yeah, me too.

I can get so caught up in the busyness of life, that I tune out other things around me because I go into “get r done” mode. Yes, I just used a redneck word to explain myself.

The other night I was sitting in bed with my computer in my lap, typing away. My little cousin Caleb, who has been staying with me this summer, climbed up in the bed next to me to read. After I had finished typing an email I needed to send, I started reading some of my favorite daily blogs that I keep up with.

I was in the middle of reading about Jesus and all I could hear was my name being repeated. It wasn’t in an annoying way. It was a gentle, calming voice saying my name. After he touched my arm, I quickly turned my head away from the Christian blog that would “inspire me to be a better person” and snapped, “What?!”

He looked at me and said, “I was just going to tell you that you are an unrepeatable miracle.”

Insert sigh here…

I felt like a complete jerk. I was a complete jerk. Not only did I let the busyness of life become priority, I let the busyness of being a “Christian” become a priority over building a relationship with someone who looks up to me. Thank God for forgiveness and grace.

I quickly apologized for my reaction and he quickly accepted. Five minutes later we were laughing and picking out DIY crafts on Pinterest. He has probably forgotten it, but I haven’t.

I don’t want to be remembered for snapping at those I love. I don’t want to be remembered for being too religious to have relationships. I don’t want to be remembered for being unappreciative of others’ grace and compassion toward me.

This little ten-year old boy has taught me many lessons in the short time of his life, and I know he will continue to teach me more. I want him to remember me as a responder, not a reactor.

How about you?

Can you think of a time you reacted and quickly realized you made a mistake? What was the next step you took to repair the mistake? Comment below…

The Truth About Intimacy

August 1, 2011 in Life with 0 Comments

photo credit: collin key (creative commons)

When you hear the word intimacy what’s the first thing you think of? It’s ok – be honest.

From my experience most people seem to associate the word with romance. For example, “My husband and I were intimate last night.” But there is more to this powerful word than that. Let me explain.

I’m guest posting on The Truth About Intimacy over at Mel’s World today. Click here for the rest of the post. You don’t want to miss what intimacy is really about..

Six Reasons To Take That Morning Jog

July 26, 2011 in Health, Life with 2 Comments

It’s been almost a year since I ran my last 5K. I miss it, but thanking God for the strength he gave me to run. There was a time in my life I couldn’t walk up one step without wanting to pass out. There are so many advantages to running. That’s why I wanted Tim Frisch to guest post on Six Reasons To Take That Morning Jog.

photo credit: ed yourdon (creative commons)

From Sundi Jo: This is a guest post by Tim Frisch, a student at the University of Wisconsin. Frisch has been jogging every other morning since his Freshman year of High School. He also contributes regularly at PSCLife.com, a pharmaceutical company dedicated to bettering the lives of others. PSCLife.com is also a leading retailer of Tyme Zyme Enzyme Supplement - designed for quick healing times in athletes.

1. Cardiovascular Toning: Jogging not only is a great weight-burner, but it also does wonders on your heart’s condition. If you make a habit of jogging at least 10-20 minutes every morning you can not only significantly lower your risk of heart disease; but also increase your longevity.

2. Breathing: Not everyone is blessed with the “lungs of steel.” For the rest of us, we have to work and sweat and try our very best to get our lungs in a healthy condition. Jogging is the perfect activity; it’s breathing-intense pace allows for any person – athlete or not, to gain an excellent set of lungs.

3. It’s Fun and Free: Forget that $40 gym membership, or that $50 Yoga class. Jogging is absolutely free and absolutely fun. You can also incorporate music on an iPod full of your favorite tunes for you to groove out to while you are jogging.

4. Cold and Fresh Air: Early mornings are often a tad bit colder, except if you live in a humid region. This colder atmosphere will alleviate some of the pain of jogging in a later time such as the afternoon or dusk. Also; the fresh, cool air will do wonders on soothing your skin and lungs!

5. Great Body: Sure, you may not become the next Hulk Hogan, but I can promise you this – Your body will look tone, fit, and amazing! Not to mention the girls or guys you may be attracting during your run. Who knows who you will meet with your great, new body after a consistent morning routine?

6. Easily Accomplished: Running may seem like a daunting task at first; for some even impossible. You must get out of this mindset though. It is not only an easily accomplished task – it is almost automatic! In order to tackle the “mountain” that you may be making this task out to be; just think of ways to incorporate an easier jog. For instance, you could bring that iPod that was aforementioned and alternate walking and running between every song. This will ease the tension and make the jog much quicker.

Following these six tips will get you on the right path to a healthier body and a healthier you. Jogging can be a pain at first; and your core and legs will beg you to quit initially; but press onward vigilantly and with fortitude. The rewards will be reaped and you will never regret the decision to become a healthier, more fit, and heck, even sexier you.

Can you think of other advantages to jogging? Comment below…

How To Find A Mentor

July 25, 2011 in Faith, Life with 4 Comments

Merriam Webster defines the word mentor as a trusted counselor or guide. That definition doesn’t do the word justice. If you currently have a mentor or are mentoring someone, then you understand what I mean.

If you currently don’t have a mentor in your life, it needs to be on the top of your list of things to do. Write it in all CAPS. Highlight it. Underline it. Put a star by it. In other words, make it urgent.

You may be asking yourself, How am I supposed to find a mentor? Do I just go up and ask someone?

No!

Never walk up to someone and simply ask them to mentor you. They are immediately put in an uncomfortable position and odds are it won’t turn out for the best. Getting to know the person is important. And they must get to know you.

Ask. Seek. Knock. Jesus gave us direction in Matthew 7:7.

I remember a time in my life, over three years ago to be exact, journaling to God and asking Him to put someone in my life to walk alongside me. I needed a mentor. But honestly, I had no idea what that would look like. Little did I know He would answer my prayer a few months later. This woman at church wanted to meet with me to discuss being on the prayer team. For some strange reason(God), I had shown interest in being on the team.

She sought after me. She would call out of the blue to check on me. She would ask me to breakfast. She wanted to hear stories about my life. She brought me a plant when I was in the hospital. She wouldn’t leave me alone, but not in a freaky stalky way. Frankly though, in the beginning, it was weird to me. It wasn’t clicking in my mind that God was answering prayer. Duh Sundi Jo!

Three years later allow me to tell you what a mentor looks like.

They are a trusted counselor, yes. They guide you in the right direction.
A mentor doesn’t try to fix you; they love you enough to want to see you better.
He/she lets you see their imperfection and weaknesses as well.
A mentor asks your advice too.
They speak truth to you with grace.
A mentor will intervene on your life when deemed necessary.

The list could go on. But the most important definition that Merriam Webster didn’t add is the word friend. A mentor is your friend.

Today I no longer have one mentor in my life. I have several and I am blessed to call them friends.

When searching for a mentor, ask yourself these questions:

Do I want to be more like this person?
What does their faith walk look like?
Will they challenge me rather than allowing me to stay stagnate?
Am I willing to receive constructive criticism?
Am I ready to accept what they have to offer?

Do you currently have a mentor in your life or mentor someone? What other questions should others ask when seeking a mentor? Comment below…

One Amazing Dining Experience

July 22, 2011 in Life with 0 Comments

I experienced an amazing dining experience yesterday that I have to tell you about.

A new restaurant in Branson, Table 22, has been open for a little over a month. I have been so excited to go, and yesterday was the day. It was day 11, which meant I got to add protein to my 21-day cleanse.

Table 22 is a contemporary American bistro serving locally grown products with an extensive wine list. Their menus change according to what’s in season. From the moment I walked in, I was in love. The style fit my personality so well. From the art on the wall to the ice water pitchers, it was cool and contemporary.

I ordered the smoked salmon, which was brought out on my plate beautifully displayed in thinly slices, topped with onions and caps. One word: INCREDIBLE! I followed that up with a watermelon salad mixed with olive oil, cracked pepper and thyme. It was sweetly delicious!

Table 22 brings a new and much needed style to Branson. You no longer have to drive to the big city to enjoy contemporary style. If you’re planning a trip to Branson, make Table 22 a must on your list of things to do.

I haven’t experienced the dinner menu yet, but I’m looking very forward to it.

Have you been part of the Table 22 experience yet? What did you enjoy? Comment below..

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