Another blog. This one will be for this week and for next. I have been travelling and as such, my schedule is thrown off. However, in a few weeks, I should be regularly publishing every Monday again.

Today I want to talk about values. I have learned a very valuable lesson in the last few weeks. I have been trying to live my values out but have been leaving a piece of me behind and as such, it has not been working out too well.

Here's my deal: I have been speaking at different places - schools and corporations. The money is pretty good but I have not been able to put all of me out there. I am a Christian and my faith is very important to me and a HUGE part of who I am. When I speak at a place where I have to watch my words and not preach Christ, it somehow falls flat and I always leave feeling like it was just okay. But okay is not good enough and I can't get excited about 'okay'. So if I can't get excited about 'okay' then how am I going to sell what I do to others. Well, I can't. At least not very successfully.

So I am changing my website and am now an 'eternal life coach' and a Christian speaker. When I spoke at a youth conference recently, I was able to fully express who I was and freely talk about who God is in my life and what He's done. It was so freeing and because I didn't have to hold back, my speaking was anointed and much more powerful. The Holy Spirit was free to move and He did - because that's who my God is. He is SO faithful in every way.

So, now I am trusting that God will open new doors for me to speak at other youth events and perhaps womens' retreats and conferences as well.

I'll keep you posted because I know that I will have more exciting things to share because our God IS faithful!!

Can I encourage you this week to live your values and see if God wants to re-direct you in any way? Our journeys are exciting when we walk with our God!

Well, here I am. I have decided I have to blog this week even though I am holidaying. I have just had the most wonderful week!

I have been here in Toronto speaking to a most amazing group of young people. They were kind, hard-working and loving to those around them. My theme was "How Do You Fill Your Bucket?".

I worked on my messages for them and all the time, praying that these would be the right words and the ones that they needed to specifically hear. I prayed that each one would take something special home with them - something that they could hide in their heart and that it would stay with them.

God gave me the words and I should know by now that He is always faithful and loving to His children - me included!
I had such a powerful week - feeling like I left with much more than what I came with. But isn't that like our God? He has some how designed a system that when we pour out, we always get 'soaked' in return.

Can I encourage you today to pour out prayerfully (and carefully) and watch and see how God pours back into you and into your life. Our God loves us and loves to see us fulfilled and blessed in our lives (and so do I!).

So now I go into a week of holidays feeling 'full' - full of His blessings and His goodness. Until next week, may God continue to pour His blessings out upon you.

Good Monday morning and happy Canada Day!
My apologies for missing last week. My internet was down and so I took a computer holiday. Kind of nice, actually!

However, things are back up and running and so here I am again.

Today I am heading out to Toronto to speak at a youth conference. I am prepared and yet feel a bit of the jitters. How I combat this is to think about the young people that will be there. This is about them and not about me. If I focus on them and encouraging and blessing them, my jitters fast disappear. I may not be the most gifted orator but I do know how to love and care about people.

And isn't that the way of it? When we put ourselves first, we get too introspective and lose our way. However, when I look outside of myself, I have a much clearer view of where I'm going and what I need to do.

So, this week, I will commit to loving the people who come across my path and I'll let you know how it goes. I hope to blog next week however I will also be holidaying so we'll see how it goes.

Can I encourage you also this week to focus less on self and more on others and see where it takes you? Thank you for being on this journey with me - it is my privilege to travel with you!