Category: Lifeguard

Discipleship Challenge #1 Give Thanks

11/20/2014

Discipleship is one of those big scary church-y words that makes everyone squirm in their pews. But in actual fact, it doesn't have to.

Basically, it means to be a student. We've all been one of those at one time or another. Some of us still are. To be a disciple means to be a follower, a student, or a learner.
It also does not escape me that it contains the root for the word discipline. Being a student also takes discipline, to study and learn everything that we have to.
So there you have it. Something we can all understand and do. And as the newly elected Discipleship leader for Peace Lutheran Church in Sacramento (drop on by anytime), I will be issuing weekly challenges for all of us students and follower-learners to grow by.

Christ was Thankful.

In all things, give thanks. So what are we thankful for. Saying the things that are right in front of you is too easy. Home, job, family, spouse, and health are all off limits here. This is meant to stretch your intelligence and challenge your mind.

So, I want everyone to pick something NEGATIVE that has happened to you, and state why you are thankful for it.

All things means ALL THINGS. How did something bad happening improve your situation?

For me, nearing the end of my working career, I can look back and say that every time I changed jobs (either by choice or not), I ended up with a better one. Better hours, better pay, better conditions. And, I probably would not have made those changes if left to my own devices. I get very comfortable and complacent. I am thankful that I am where I am in life, and also thankful for how I got here.

How about you? What can you thank God for today that you never saw coming?

Until next time...

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Re-Inventing the Impossible
~Lori
Loretta Sinclair
Sinclair Publishing
www.SinclairInkSpot.com

Jesus is my Life Coach!

Rise to the Occasion...

11/8/2014

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We've all heard the phrase. And the meaning is pretty clear. "Rise to the occasion." When an opportunity presents itself, you reach out and take it... good or bad. Many war hero's will tell you they are not really hero's at all - they just did what they had to do. A situation presented itself, and they took it. Police officers, firefighters, and first responders will tell you they have no more courage than the average person, they are just doing their job. A job they have been trained for. So to rise, you need to be trained, and be ready... something our military and public service academies do extremely well. They rise to the occasion.

But the opposite can also be true.

"Once a loser, always a loser." We've heard that phrase too. Someone said to me once "He (an acquaintance) was a moron twenty years ago, and he's a moron today!" When someone is put down constantly and told they are worthless, often times they believe it. And with it repeated often enough, it becomes part of who they are; part of their innermost being; part of their personality. Some people are so engrained in their identity as a loser or a victim, that they will actually sabotage their own situation negatively, just to prove to themselves that's who they really are. Losers.

No one on this planet is a loser. To bring back a phrase from my own childhood "God don't make no junk!" You were wonderfully and carefully made. The Bible says that we were "knit together in your mother's womb." Anybody who knows anything about knitting, knows that it is a very tedious process. Each and every single stitch is created one at a time from a single piece of yarn. Your project is designed to be individual - and for a specific purpose. You wouldn't make a scarf for your feet; or a sweater for a table cloth. You were knit together and created to be uniquely you, for your own unique purpose.

So how do we train ourselves out of being a loser? Go to the source. Consult your Creator. He alone can teach and train you to rise to the levels that He has in mind. Let nothing and no one hold you back in this life. Rise to the purpose that God planned for you from before you were born. There will never again be another You!

Until next time...

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Re-Inventing the Impossible
~Lori
Loretta Sinclair
Sinclair Publishing
www.SinclairInkSpot.com

Jesus is my Life Coach!

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Stress. How do you handle it?

9/23/2014

We live in a high-octane society. Americans never seem to stop. From early mornings at the gym, work all day, taking the kids to sporting events, church events and needed shopping. We even take our tech with us on our vacations so we can keep connected to the office.

As a schoolteacher, some years are better than others. And every so often there are years you hope to survive with your sanity. I suffered the later this last year. It was filled with impulsive boys who reacted with their fists, lying girls, and parents who were masters of venomous emails.

How do you handle your stress? Some people eat, some work out more, some turn to other things to dull the anxiety. Me, I like to sleep. Being on my guard to control every possible hint of conflict between students, suffering under the lies, and trying to console irate parents took its toll on my mental strength. I came home many days, flopped on the couch and took a nap before going to bed. In the oblivion of sleep, no one fought or yelled at me. There I was safe.

As a Christian I knew Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Phil. 4:6). I admit, I struggled to find much to be thankful for in the events of this past year. But I prayed more than any other year. Many others were praying for me too. Prayer saw me through.

School’s out. Summer is a time to refresh and rejuvenate and gear up for the coming year. A year that will see new challenges, a new set of students, and parents; A new mix of stressers. So I how will I manage? Pray without ceasing. 1 Thes. 5:17.

How will you manage the stress in your life?

By Michelle Janene

@MichelleJaneneM

TurretWriting.com

~Until next time,

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Re-Inventing the Impossible
~Lori
Loretta Sinclair
Sinclair Publishing
www.SinclairInkSpot.com

Jesus is my Life Coach!

The Female Narcissist..

9/11/2014

Ok, I just found this video and had to share it. I have seen the light!!! This video about human behavior will tell you just how far the enemy can drag you down, and drag you away from others. Jesus' command is to live one another. This perfect example of human behavior is exactly the opposite. Check it out!!! It will change the way you see those closest to you.

There will be more to come on this subject, as this is a series of videos on You Tube. If you want to investigate further, check out Melanie Tonya Evan from Australia!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJP0FUk6oWY

~Until next time,

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Tweet me @LorettaLea
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Re-Inventing the Impossible
~Lori
Loretta Sinclair
Sinclair Publishing
www.SinclairInkSpot.com

Jesus is my Life Coach!

Overcoming Insecurity...

8/20/2014

I'm not good enough.
I can't do it.
Everybody hates me.

It's not enough that the world beats us down at every turn, but we have to keep up the fight, and continue to beat ourselves up when everyone else is done.

I'm a failure.
I can't do anything right.

Or, the expectations that we put on ourselves when we compare ourselves to others.

I can't make it on my own.
I'm afraid to be alone.
I don't make as much money as she does.
I have to show the world that I am better.

Better = more, bigger, better, nicer, more expensive, MORE.

So how do you let go of those feelings that cripple you. I've heard people say "Just get over it." That seems a bit cruel. These feelings go down deep and shake the very core of who you are. If it was that simple, there would be no problems.

The answer is a little deeper. Christ shows us in his life. You see, His purpose for coming here to earth was not about Him. "The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve others." He wasn't put first. It was about us. He wasn't thinking of His own accomplishments, He put others before Himself. We have to learn to take ourselves out of the mix. I will repeat the opening line in one of my favorite books, The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren. "It's not about you."

If we can stop dwelling on all of our failures and downfalls, then we can start to get past them. Don't think about how you see yourself, or how others see you. Think about how Christ sees you. Life will take on a whole new meaning.

If we can stop seeing ourselves through the judgmental eyes of others, then we can truly begin to see what our real value is. Because, truthfully, all insecurity really is, is the judgment of others imposed on us. Judgment is God's and God's alone. People have NO RIGHT to do that to each other.

Christ came to live (and die) for us. If you can turn things around and live for Him, then you will find true value and purpose in your life.

Pick up a copy of this book. It will change your life. (No, I get no kick-backs - but I wish I did!)

The Purpose Driven Life. by Rick Warren

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Re-Inventing the Impossible
~Lori
Loretta Sinclair
www.SinclairInkSpot.com

Jesus is my Life Coach!

Withdraw to Serenity...

8/20/2014

There is something truly blessed about the Sierra Nevada Mountains surrounding Lake Tahoe. Its beauty and magesty are astounding. It leaves me speechless just to look upon the beauty of the glistening Topaz color of the water on a clear day.

I am here for a week now staying atop the gorgeous Heavenly Valley. I don't think the name is any accident. I have come to relax, rejuvenate, and to spend some time alone with God - something I get way to little of at home.

Christ is our example in this. When he was stressed, he withdrew from the crowds to pray. He chose to spend time alone with God.

Changing Relationships...

8/14/2014

How many Lutherans does it take to change a light bulb?

Change?!?!?!?!?! (scared face)

Change is scary, for a lot of people and for a lot of reasons - especially in relationships. The truth is that some people just refuse to change, and would rather sacrifice a relationship rather than face the change that is required to make it work.

And here's the clencher. Some people are simply not capable of change. It's not that they won't, they just can't.

How many psychiatrists does it take to change a light bulb? Just one. But it takes a long time, costs a lot of money, and the light bulb has to want to change.

Change comes from the inside. If the party involved either won't or can't, there's nothing you can do to make that happen. The best and most important step at that point, is prayer. Ask God to do the impossible. Ask Him to intervene and do the things that you cannot. Ask God for a miracle. Then sit back and see what happens. Understanding that the answer might not be Yes. Sometimes you have to walk away. And that walking away is for a reason. That reason always should be to glorify God. If you are being held back, held down, prevented from being all you can be, then it's time to shake the dust from your feet and move forward.

Christ came to change the world - to shake it up and give us a new perspective. I, for one, will not be stuck in the same old rut that I have been for decades. It's time to spread my wings and fly to heights that I have only dreamed of so far. I will miss those that get left behind, but they have the choice of coming along with me on this journey called life.

Change is not always bad. Just different.

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Re-Inventing the Impossible
~Lori
Loretta Sinclair
www.SinclairInkSpot.com

Jesus is my Life Coach!

Purpose in your Life...

8/14/2014

I absolute LOVE the opening line in Rick Warren's book, The Purpose Driven Life.

"It's not about you."

And it's true. This life isn't about me being happy. The world doesn't revolve around me. My happiness, or lack of happiness will not knock the world off kilter somehow. And people who believe that this is true balance somewhere between self-centerdness, and entitlement.

Yes, strive to be happy, but don't put that above the other relationships in your life. If making yourself happy takes something away, or somehow hurts another individual, then you should not do it.

The Bible says "Woe to you who cause even one of my little ones to fail." Little ones can be interpreted in many ways... children, people new to the faith, the weak, the infirmed, and the insecure. The list can go on and on.

Christ did not come here so that He could have everything His way. "The Son of Man comes to serve, not to be served." We can all take a lesson from this. When we love others more than we love ourselves, life takes on a whole new meaning.

Instead of it sounding like a punishment, say it with pride. "It's not about me."

"Ask not what your country can do for you," said JFK famously, "ask what you can do for your country."

It's the same thing. Pick up a copy of this book. It will change your life.

The Purpose Driven Life. by Rick Warren

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Tweet me @LorettaLea
#jclc
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Re-Inventing the Impossible
~Lori
Loretta Sinclair
www.SinclairInkSpot.com

Jesus is my Life Coach!

So why is being a People Pleaser bad?

8/7/2014

Because there's never enough. It's like trying to earn your way into heaven. It can't be done.

Once you start out chasing after people to please them day in and day out, the bar is continuously raised. Like an alcoholic or drug addict, it continuously takes more and more to please the other person. What pleased them yesterday becomes the standard for today. Tomorrow it will take even more.

And more.

And more.

When is enough, enough? At what point have we all lost control.

And when you are busy pleasing the snot out of one person, how many others are being neglected in the background.

Enough is enough when we crave the attention and love of other people more than we crave the attention and love of God. At that point everything we know to be true goes right into the toilet.

God craves our attention and love. He is all we will ever need. If we can just focus everything on Him, then everything else will fall into place.

Where have you looked to try to find value and self-worth?
Buying things?
Giving things away?
Wrong choices in love?
Chasing others?

God held nothing back for you, even sending his own Son to die for you. Let's not waste that trying to please all the people round us.

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Re-Inventing the Impossible
~Lori
Loretta Sinclair
www.SinclairInkSpot.com

Jesus is my Life Coach!

Insecurity + People Pleasers = Toxic

8/7/2014

We've heard it said often "so-and-so would never have gotten into trouble if they had not met so-and-so." Or, "That person is a bad influence on you." "Go hang out with them, they are a good influence on you." Or, "that's funny, they don't act like that around me!"

What is a People Pleaser other than someone who is trying to gain control of their own emotions and self-worth? - but by doing it through another person. (aka: co-dependence) They need another person to make them feel whole inside.

Peer pressure can be a powerful thing, and it can work both ways - for good and for bad.
I seem to have an abundance of insecure people in my life. Not just a little insecure, but life-altering, crippling insecurity - to the point where they make really bad decisions regarding other people. (Yes, sometimes me). I have never understood this type of behavior. But some things that I have noticed are these:

1. You cannot control your fears (and that's where insecurity stems from) by controlling other people. It does not work, and inevitably ends up alienating those around you.

2. If you have really low self-esteem, the quickest way to build yourself up is by knocking someone else down. And while this may make you feel good temporarily, it makes the other person feel like crap - and in the long run will cause separation.

These people often feel like they are in hell, or living hell. I wonder how much truth there is to that.

Hell is defined as separation from God. And since God is in ultimate control, when we try to wrestle that away from Him, are we not separating ourselves from Him? - in essence creating our own hell.

The only person we should be trying to please is God.
Control is an illusion.
When you care more about yourself than others, no matter how you try to justify it, you are being selfish - and selfishness will get you nothing but hell.

Learn to let go.
Let go of the fear and insecurity.
Let go of the control.
Let go of your own expectations of life, and seek what God's expectations are.
Only there will you find true peace and comfort.

Love thy neighbor. Don't put them down or tell them what to do. Let God be in charge of them.

Have this blog delivered right to your Kindle!

Tweet me @LorettaLea
#jclc
#JesusChristLifeCoach
#JesusIsMyLifeCoach

Re-Inventing the Impossible
~Lori
Loretta Sinclair
www.SinclairInkSpot.com

Jesus is my Life Coach!

<<Previous

Discipleship Challenge #1 Give Thanks

Rise to the Occasion...

Stress. How do you handle it?

The Female Narcissist..

Overcoming Insecurity...

Withdraw to Serenity...

Changing Relationships...

Purpose in your Life...

So why is being a People Pleaser bad?

Insecurity + People Pleasers = Toxic

Loretta Sinclair

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