Update #48

“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

Giants Baseball Park - San Francisco

“This is absolutely ridiculous!” Karen exclaimed as she giggled delightedly and ran up the stairs, “This is absolutely ridiculous!”

“What’s so ridiculous?” came the reply from the office next to ours. By that time Karen was in the garage and couldn’t answer – so I got to share the “God news”.

Tuesday morning, one of the alumni called and said that she had a timeshare reserved in downtown San Francisco but couldn’t use it…“was there anyone in the office who would like a few nights in the city?”

That was a blessing in itself, but to make the story even richer, Monday morning I had overheard Karen chatting with a friend that she would love to spend a few nights in the city – she wanted to experience city night life, walk to Union Square, eat at a roadside vendor, pop into stores, etc.

Well, God heard and he made it happen! …And this isn’t the first time!

Two days earlier she was window shopping in the city and found a quilt in Anthropologie. She fell absolutely in love with it but, with the price way out of her budget, she petted it fondly and followed her husband out of the store.

The next day in comes the exact same quilt purchased off EBay – it didn’t fit what the buyer had in mind – “Would anyone here want it?” You bet Karen did!

Again, God heard and he made it happen!

This is the same girl who I talked about in the P.S. section of Update 42 – she is the one who mentioned she would love a nice business suit…and one arrived the next day, complete with matching blouse and shoes…all brand names of course!

What does this say to me? God sees, God hears, and God knows the desires of your heart. And he loves us so much he wants to give them to us – and can be extravagant in doing so!

I can hear your response. “I haven’t gotten the desire of my heart…I am still single, I don’t have that car, that house, that bag, that…I desire”.

My response back - Are you delighting yourself in the Lord? Psalms 37:4 states this is the contingency for receiving the desires of your heart. Are you aligning yourself with God, his purposes, his ways, his thoughts, his desires, his wants, his needs, his actions?

If yes, get ready to giggle with delight...if no, well…it’s your own fault. Align yourself with what God is doing and where he is working and your life will take on a new zing, a new zest, and it will be full of pleasant, un-petitioned surprises and delights. All I have to do is turn around at my desk to watch this principle in action.

Updates:
Living – safely ensconced at my relative’s house
Car – I have one thru Tuesday afternoon. Travel season for rēp starts the end of September so I will have cars available from then thru the end of October.
Samson – Mr. Curiosity got caught in the hallway cleaning closet last night – it took me awhile to figure out where the meowing was coming from – he exited like he was shot from a cannon!
Work – I’m on my way to Israel! Whoo hoo! I leave the 19th of September and will be gone about 10 days.
Financing – I have raised about $1900 a month – thank you. I am actively working to book LEMON seminars (www.lemonleadership.com) in the Bay area to raise my salary.

Requests:
Housing – I am with my Aunt, Uncle, and cousin for the time being but, when the new rēp headquarters are determined, I need to a cat friendly space close to the office.
Car – Starting Tuesday through the 19th I will need a car to get to and from work…anyone gonna be out of town?
Work – Israel. A team of 6 of us are going to scout the area and pray for the city of Jerusalem (based on the Numbers 13 model). Please pray for unity among the members, that we will recognize the ‘giants’ of the land, and that we will make some good connections with the prayer networks there.
Financing - Eventually my position will be salaried but at first I need to raise ~$3000 a month cover expenses. If you are interested in contributing, please see ‘Contribute’ at http://www.repurposing.biz/ on the left of the page, or visit http://www.denaandrews.blogspot.com/ and read the footer for additional info.

Happy Labor Day WeekendHappy end of August!

Dena

P.S. Congratulations to Joe Querie, AJ Johnson and Carol Procunier on their engagements! Whoo hoo!

Update #47

“...not only this, but we glory in afflictions also, knowing that afflictions work out patience, and patience works out experience, and experience works out hope.” Romans5:3-4

Lake in Emerald Hills, CA

In 1998 I was without hope. I had become utterly frustrated with my job, I had ended a long-term dating relationship, and I had come to a place where most of my friends had ‘disappeared’ into new jobs, marriages, or our lives had taken different paths. I was very unhappy.

Financially, on the other hand, I was doing quite well. Bart Miller was the administrative pastor at my church and taught me the finer art of stewardship…and of perseverance. I had royally screwed up my check register (not normal) and he volunteered to help me straighten it out. When I got the register back, corrected and on track, there was a 3X5 card enclosed in its folds.

‘HOPE’ is all it said. I called and asked him about it. I could hear the smile in his voice: “You don’t seem to have much of it now so I am giving you a bit of mine to tide you over.” I cried.

At that point in my life I didn’t realize the gift he’d given me. According to Romans 5, hope isn’t easily acquired. It is attained through affliction, long-suffering, and trial. Ugh.

Reflecting back, Bart had had a fair amount of ‘hope builders’ in his life…so much so he had hope to give away. He had to have had an abundance of the hardship/suffering, patience building, and tribulation pieces to make the reservoir deep enough to overflow to me!

Hope isn’t easily attained but it matters. The Bible says that a life with hope deferred makes you sick (Proverbs 13:12) but a life filled with hope keeps you from shame (Romans 5:5).

So, are you feeling hopeless, despondent, downhearted, or unhappy with life…maybe God is deepening your hope reserve...

Just something to think about!

Updates:
Living – safely ensconced at my relative’s house
Car – I have one until Eric returns – probably September 1st-ish.
Samson – Houdini has a new harness complete with id tag…and he hates it! It jingles when he walks giving away his locale…no more sneaking up on anybody!
Work – I’ve realized that I don’t want to become a travel agent – I have been booking a lot of trips lately (not mine) and wow, are airline tickets expensive!
Financing – I have raised about $1900 a month – thank you. I am actively working to book LEMON seminars in the Bay area to raise my salary that way.

Requests:
Housing – I am with my Aunt and Uncle for the time being but, when the new rēp headquarters are determined, I need to a cat friendly space close to the office.
Car – God only knows!
Samson – He and his buddy, Lucky, have become fast friends…as long as Lucky stays away from me and Sam doesn’t go anywhere near my cousin or her room! Fur can fly!
Financing - Eventually my position will be salaried but at first I need to raise ~$3000 a month cover expenses. If you are interested in contributing, please see ‘Contribute’ at http://www.repurposing.biz/ on the left of the page, or visit http://www.denaandrews.blogspot.com/ and read the footer for additional info.

Happy end of August!

Dena

Update #46

“For I, the Lord your God, have taken your right hand in mine, saying to you, Have no fear; I will be your helper.” Isaiah 41:13

Julie and the "Boys" - Samson, Lucky, and Buddy

I am predominately left handed. There is a story about how my dad went into my kindergarten class (after seeing me struggling to practice writing right handed) and, in front of the teacher, handed me a pencil. I grabbed it with my left hand. As far as he was concerned this proved his point and I was a leftie. I think the poor teacher was a bit overwhelmed. There were 45 five year olds in my class…and only two were left handed. From then on, Dinah Fay and I had our own table for “letter learning” and “writing”.

As a therapist, it is important to know your clients dominant side. It is usually stronger, has greater dexterity, and gets a lot more use than the non-dominate side.

In the Bible, there is a special significance to the right side. It says that in God’s right hand there are pleasures for ever and ever, that it is our support, our strength of salvation, and that it is full of righteousness and works of power. Jesus is sitting at God’s right hand in heaven and the verse above says we are on his left (“I…have taken your right hand in mine”).

I thought about this concept: My right hand in his left one. His right hand is still free to do all the cool things mentioned above (as well as the ‘blighting of the enemy’ part I left out) and my dominate hand is unfettered. Uh oh.

Yeah. Uh oh. My stronger, more agile hand is loose. Great. How much stuff can I muck up with it available! I have this picture in my head of a Dad holding a little girls right hand. She is busy “doing” stuff (picking flowers “Pretty huh Daddy?”, pulling weeds, waving at people, pointing at things) that she doesn’t realize he is patiently waiting for her to focus on him so they can walk a bit farther.

I think this is a good picture of my life. I get so involved in ‘helping’ with my unrestrained, stronger side that I delay my life moving forward. I don’t usually ask if God needs my help, I just see what I perceive as need and go after it. I wonder where I would be if I had had this realization sooner. Probably a lot farther down the sidewalk!

Updates:
Living – safely ensconced at my relative’s house
Car – I have one until Eric returns – probably September 1st-ish.
Samson – Houdini and accomplice (Lucky) got out on Wednesday night. The accomplice got hungry and came back in after a few hour outing. Houdini, on the other hand, stayed out all night (ask about scaling the fence in flip flops and nightclothes for a good laugh). He has been re-introduced to a harness complete with id tag…his microchip has been updated…so, I am ready for Houdini's next adventure!

Work – training is half way through the cycle. I only have one more Saturday!
Financing – I have raised about $1600 a month – thank you. I hope by January we will be booking enough LEMON Leadership conferences that my position will be salaried.

Requests:
Housing – I am with my Aunt and Uncle until the new rēp headquarters are determined. I need a cat friendly space close to the office.
Car – God only knows!

Work - I am trying to book 6 income producing forums and seminars by the end of the year...let me know if you, or your office, would be interested or would like some more information: http://inst.net/lemon_leadership.html
Samson – that indoor living will be not only tolerable but preferred! I am not so concerned about him getting lost – I am more concerned about the hawks and coyotes having a tasty treat! Financing - Eventually my position will be salaried but at first I need to raise ~$3000 a month cover expenses. If you are interested in contributing, please see ‘Contribute’ at http://www.repurposing.biz/ on the left of the page, or visit http://www.denaandrews.blogspot.com/ and read the footer for additional info.

More soon!

Dena

Update #45 B

A friend of mine sent me a better picture of the Medina Police Department view (taken from his boat) - Enjoy!

Update #45

“In all your ways give ear to him, and he will make straight your footsteps”. Proverbs 3:6

Medina Police Department - Washington

I recently moved to the Peninsula south of San Francisco and have been a zealous user of Google Maps and Mapquest. One of my first stops after moving here was an AM/PM mini-mart to get maps of the area. I do so much better when I have an overall picture of where I am driving and going. I usually have a great sense of direction (N, S, E, W) but in new areas, especially JHB, I can get confused!

A few Sunday’s ago I went to the Stanford Mall (very nice – kinda like U Village in Seattle – but less concrete and more flowers) looking for a watch. I didn’t see anything I liked and was chatting with God about it. I then remembered that I had gotten my last wristwatch at a drug store in Washington (Bartells) which has an equivalent here in California (Longs).

Great, thanks for the reminder God. Get in Eric’s car and head out from the Mall. Oh, um, God, where is it?! I don’t have wireless in this car so I can’t download directions, I don’t have an address, so I can’t find it on a map! All I remember is it’s on that street that starts with an M…um, God?

Then the most remarkable thing happened. God gave me directions. Left, right, straight, left…all the way across Palo Alto, Los Altos and into Mountain View to the exact store I had pictured in my head. I didn’t take main streets either; I was on little residential roads. I went into the store and found the exact watch I had before and, it was on sale for 25% off!

Just this Saturday I was trying to locate a Trader Joe’s my aunt had told me about. I was on the phone with my friend Jamie and she said “Use your GPS”…(um, James, this car doesn’t have that feature)…she responded with “your God Positioning System, silly!”

Ok…God where is this store? Left. I immediately got into the left lane and up ahead, on the left, there it was. I shared this with Jamie and she giggled – “I love how God works” she commented.

I love how God works too. I just have to get out of the way more and let him do it. I have to remember to ask for his input, his help, and in this case, his store-locating skills. He likes to help, wants to help, and I think gets a kick out of holding our hand.

This wasn’t the first time God has given me directions…I told him once I wanted to go sit at the beach and watch the sunset. He took me straight to the Medina Police Station – which is located next to a park on the eastern shore of Lake Washington. I had just moved to Bellevue and there was NO WAY I could have found it myself. In fact, I was sitting in stunned silence in my car for so long that a police officer came up and asked if I was ok!

As I think back to how God has helped me, gotten me through, made the impossible possible – it humbles me. I then repent of trying to do things myself and ‘save him time’. I need to ask God the W’s more – who, what, where and when – and follow his lead. It is SO much more fun than planning it myself and, I get a great story to tell!

Updates:
Living – safely ensconced at my relative’s house
Car – I have one until Eric returns – probably September 1st-ish.
Samson – He and cousin Lucky have taken to racing, tails at full flag, up and down the length of the house; then sprawl, full length, on the tile to cool off. They look at us as we step over them as if to say “What? We’re resting here!”
Financing – I have raised about $1600 a month – thank you. I am hoping that by January we will be booking enough LEMON Leadership conferences that my position will be salaried.

Requests:
Housing – I am with my Aunt and Uncle for most of the summer but, when the new rēp headquarters are determined, I need to a cat friendly space close to the office.
Car – Eric’s dad passed away on the 8th from invasive cancer. The memorial service was on the 11th – please continue to pray for his family as they transition into living without their loved one. They had less than a month to prepare for this – he was diagnosed the first part of July.
Work – remote training is going well and I am trying to book Brett into several companies to lead LEMON Leadership seminars before the end of the year. Also, the 2nd edition of Convergence is on its way
Samson – the early morning fascination with the bunnies has ceased! Thank God!
Financing - Eventually my position will be salaried but at first I need to raise ~$3000 a month cover expenses. If you are interested in contributing, please see ‘Contribute’ at http://www.repurposing.biz/ on the left of the page, or visit http://www.denaandrews.blogspot.com/ and read the footer for additional info.

Thank you for reading this and for praying for me. I value you.

Dena

PS - Thanks Mike for finding me a tenant!

Update #44

Charge the rich in this world that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, He offering to us richly all things to enjoy - 1 Titus 6:17

How do you define ‘rich’?

I used to define it as in monetary context (what I owned, stuff I had, labels I wore) until I met a man from the Middle East. He was a client of mine several years ago - we were in a treatment room (he was a software engineer with what I call ‘techno-neck’ – caused by too many hours leaning over a key board with less than perfect posture) and he said that he never felt rich until he came to the US.

Huh? (I happened to know this man came from an absurdly wealthy background…his family was in oil). He went on to ask me if I had any familial enemies that would want me dead, if I had any religious factions scheming my demise, if I had any loved ones dead due to violence… He smiled and said ‘then my dear, you are very, very, very rich’. (He then offered to take me back to his ‘home country’- and marry me off to his nephew.)

So, monetary abundance and lack of violence is richness?

Last October I was chatting to God about my finances (triple outgo, no ingo) and shared my ‘plight’ with someone. She looked at me hand on her hip, other on the counter and, without smiling, asked me how much I had in savings…about 6 grand. “And”, she continued, “How big is your house”…about 800 square feet. “Do you own a car?”…yes, “Do you live alone”…yes, “Are you able to buy food?”…yes, “Do you have medical care?”…yes, “Do you make your own decisions?”…yes. “Well Dena, I would say that you are very wealthy indeed.” Then she went back to wiping down the counter.

Whoa. I had never thought of myself as wealthy. In modern day American society I’m not, but, on the world’s economic scale I am. I guess it is all about how you view it – are you comparing what you have (and want) to your nearest neighbors, or to your fellow man on another continent.

I view wealth like a sluice gate. God is at the source end of the flow and opens and shuts the door as he sees we have (or don’t have) need. The problem isn’t with his end (surprise) it is with ours. See, the sluices aren’t individual - they are all connected and the ‘water’ flows from one to another spilling here and there; but, we get panicky about ‘having enough’ and put our own barrier in to keep the ‘water’ where we want it (on that topic, read 2 Corinthians 9:6 when you have a moment…).

I’m not saying Americans are hoarders and that they are a greedy bunch…I just think their view on ‘richness’ can be bit twisted. Finances are always a sticky subject. I have seen people get pretty heated when I ask who controls their money…God or them. It scares them to say God – they want to say it, they know it is the ‘right way’, but don’t want to experience the perceived risk of living that way.

So, I guess it comes down to several questions…1. How do you define ‘rich’? 2. What is in your sluice besides ‘water’? and 3. Who really controls your finances? Hard questions – but they made a HUGE difference in my life when I truthfully answered them.

Updates:
Living – safely ensconced at my relative’s house
Car – I have one until Eric returns – probably mid August.
Samson – I have figured out a place where I can feed him with out his ‘cousin’ Lucky stealing his food…the windowsill…Lucky is to ‘padded’ to be able to balance and snack at the same time – he falls off (poor thing)!
Financing – Thank you for your generosity…I am humbled and emotionally touched every time a gift comes in. I am awaiting my latest report and will let you know the status in my next update.

Requests:
Housing – I am with my Aunt and Uncle for most of the summer but, when the new rēp headquarters are determined, I need to a cat friendly space close to the office.
Car – I am happy to keep borrowing them if people are generous enough to let me do so…but, eventually, I will need a car long term, one that gets great gas mileage, isn’t too expensive to insure, and that is an automatic would be awesome!
Work – that I hear God’s voice on how HE wants things done!
Samson – That the early morning ‘plea’ (yowling) to join the bunnies outside would cease! It is starting to grate on me…getting 6 hours of sleep is just not enough!
Financing - Eventually my position will be salaried but at first I need to raise $2,500 - $5,000 a month cover basic expenses. If you are interested in contributing, please see ‘Contribute’ at http://www.repurposing.biz/ on the left of the page, or visit http://www.denaandrews.blogspot.com/ and read the footer for additional info.

I value you and your prayers – thank you.

Dena