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Significant Encounters 2022 Introduction

Sep1

Hi my name is Deb. I want to thank you for joining me today for the introduction to a new series in Significant Encounters.

Significant Encounters is a place for people who have had a lot of drama and trauma in their life,

Maybe they just really need a listening ear.

A way to resolve things in their life.

Maybe they just need a soft place to land.

Be encouraged, this could be that place.

My life was full of drama and trauma.

Cycle after cycle after cycle of abandonment, abuse, rejection, anger, guilt, and shame.

So much shame.

One cycle would end and another would begin.

There was seemingly no way out.

Is this where you find yourself?

With coffee cup in hand, I would like to invite you into some encounters to look at different aspects of overcoming drama and trauma.

Do you do all the right things day after day after day, and still, your life just seems to stink?

I did too.

But, I found a way to be at peace.

I found a way to have joy in my life.

I found a way to be able to keep the peacefulness in my heart, no matter what is going on in my circumstances.

When the cycles try to begin again, not if, but when, I’m able to fight against them.

Your life can be as PEACEFUL and as JOYFUL as you want it to be.

So if you’d like to join me in this, we can figure it out together.

When we begin our encounters in earnest, each session will lead us one step closer to a life of peace and a life of joy, and a life of contentment.

I am not a doctor or a trained consultant.

I am someone who has lived a lot of life.

A life full of drama, and trauma, who wants to help you get your heart healed in much less time than it took me.

I know that if we do a little life together, we can get you to a place where you can be free.

Let me leave you with this.

It’s a scripture from the Holy Bible found in Isaiah 61  

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.

Now you may think that sounds a bit like blasphemy, but here in John 14 it says “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

What I’m asking in His name, is that your healing will be complete.

I want to see your heart healed.

I want to see your bonds broken.

I want to see you living the life that peace can provide.

So grab your coffee and comfy seat and join me next Tuesday for our very first Encounter.

I hope to see you then.

Feel free to like and share this blog post.

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Or on Facebook at SignificantEncounters.

I Think I’ll Sing

Feb15

During most of the past year, I think I’ve done pretty well with the whole pandemic, stay at home, social distance thing.

Probably because home is where I prefer to be anyway.

Then, for reasons unknown to me, somewhere around Thanksgiving, I felt myself beginning to sink.

Looking for the reason, I began to assess my my relationships, my schedule, my health.

Beginning with looking at relationships, I found that social distancing had not done me any favors.

Covid had given me a reason to not be around so many people, but also it was keeping me away from those who were important to my life.

Except for my husband and children, all others were out, and I had no idea how distressing that was to my soul.

During that time, my relationship with God stayed strong, or I would have probably given up.

Psalm 27:13-14 says I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!

Assessing my schedule, I realized that where I used to schedule my days, I had fallen into a time of very lax scheduling.

Personally, if I don’t schedule it, or write it down, it does not happen.

It did not take long to go down that slide for sure!

For about two months I went through several tests given by some specialized doctors.

After these tests, the findings, all my numbers, with some medication, lined up into the healthy range.

Each one of these assessments ended up bringing me to a positive place, but I still felt that something was missing.

I really couldn’t put my finger on it.

Then one morning as my husband was readying himself for the day, and per usual, he had his music playing.

Very loudly.

I had long since passed the point where I let the volume annoy me, so this time I began to listen, and sing along.

To my surprise, the song I was singing got stuck in my head. Humble and Kind – Tim McGraw .

Others songs got stuck there too.

Songs from church, Is He Worthy? – Chris Tomlin.

Songs from my exercise class, Move (Keep Walkin’) – Toby Mac.

I began singing these songs out loud, unprovoked, and even in my sleep.

Let me tell you that I’m feeling much better, getting more done in my scheduled time, and even have been visiting with people.

Real people.

Zoom people.

Known people.

Stranger people.

What a difference!

For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. Psalm 32:3

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22 ESV

According to an article I read on Spinditty.com, renowned vocal coach Audrey Hunt says there are many reasons for you to sing.

She lists six in her article, and I share them with you here.

  • Boosts your immune system
  • Releases stress
  • Benefits your heart
  • Increases your energy
  • Improves your memory
  • Fosters clear thinking through correct breathing

Hunt’s article sites How Music Affects Your Brain with this short video.

I have found all of these things to be very true.

So I encourage you – like Audrey Hunt and Karen Carpenter to Sing, Sing a Song.

Until next time ..

Birds of a Feather

Feb8

I would like to share a few questions come from one of my mentors, Lance.

Lance can be a little crazy.

His ideas, at first blush, can seem a bit outlandish, but for all the years, and twists and turns I have followed him on, I have found him to be quite accurate.

His studies, and his experiences bear him out.

I trust him.

The questions I want to share, I heard from him some time ago.

But as many things we hear that are important, they come back around.

Often at times when we need them most.

Pandemics, lockdowns, governmental upheaval, violence, and just general chaos have made these questions important again.

So, let me ask you;

Who do you serve?

Who do you run with?

Who do you teach?

The answers to these questions are important if we want to be successful in leading ourselves and others through the chaos, and into an open place where we can be free.

You may not consider yourself a leader, or even want to be one, but I can tell you; someone is always watching.

You will lead someone, for good or for not.

So, please consider each question with me, would you?

Who do you serve? (What/who is the most important thing to you?)

Why is this question important?

We were created to serve.

We were created to worship.

Serving the wrong things can take a toll on us; physically, mentally, spiritually.

Who or what we serve can bring us life, or bring us death.

Scripture tells us this; “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. Matthew 6:24.

We can only serve one thing (person, place, thing) fully, at one time.   

Serve Somebody – Bob Dylan

 Who do you run with? (Who do you spend your social time with?)

Why is this question important?

Foundationally, humans were not created to be alone. (Think Adam and Eve)

Remember the old saying “Birds of a feather flock together”?

Individuals of like character, taste or background tend to hang together.

Affiliations, clubs, or societies; Colleges would call them “Fraternities” or “Sororities”; more urban terms could be our “Posse”, “Tribe”, or “Crew”.

The thing about these groups is that each one has its own world view.

This could be either positive or negative.

Think how you want to be perceived.

Your reputation will always precede you.

Make it what you want it to be by just who you let be your influence.

Another important factor about having a “Clan”, is that when trouble comes our way, because it will, we have someone to hold on to until the darkness passes.  

I Just Need U – Toby Mac

Who do you teach?  (Remember I said that you will always lead someone?)

People may not say anything, but they ARE watching.

What is your character, your influence, showing them?

Do they want to become like you? (For good or bad)

Do they aspire to be what they see in you?

Many times there is a problem here, because people only see what is directly in front of them.

They have not seen the history behind your choices, or the process that you used to get there.

To my way of thinking, this makes how we act even more important.

Unless we have had a chance to really get to know someone, and their background, the picture we see, can be skewed.

Is He Worthy? Chris Tomlin

Let me summarize the time we spend with others here.

Wherever and whoever you spend time with, should hold these three elements;

There should always be someone that you can show love to by serving. (This shows them who you are)

There should always be someone who is on the same level of process that you are. (You can grow further together)

Then, there should always be someone whom you can teach. (We are here for a reason, right?)

I hope you have found these ideas helpful, and can put the principals here to good use.

I know they have made a profound difference in my own life.

Until next time …