Message of Love

Your father loves you so much that he wrote you a great love letter:
Here are just a few excerpts:

This Easter weekend I just want to take the time to say how grateful I am to have a caring church family to celebrate with. Last year we spent Easter in Memorial Hospital of Pembroke Pines, FL with my mother-in-law. We did church by her bedside, but it wasn't festive or easy to watch so much suffering. It also wasn't easy to be away from my husband so long while he worked up in PA and could only come down to FL 3 weekends out of 3 months to visit. Each time he did come down we spent all our time in the ICU. This year we are settled and working and moving on. God has a good plan for us and the mystery of why we needed to move here is beginning to unravel. We all can expect dark times, but we can also always expect times when what is dead in our lives will resurrect by God's love and power. Without the contrast of darkness, we'd never know how beautiful the light really is. I love my friends at Victory (www.getvictroy.net) who have provided us a place to connect and grow this year. I don't know what to expect this Sunday, but I am so excited to serve at our two services in our brand new church facility. God's up to something, that's for sure because I feel like a kid going to Disney! I just can't wait to see new faces enter those doors and experience God's love as I have. If you ever come visit, I'll greet you! (www.422church.com)

Happy Easter and Blessings of Peace to you-
In His LOVE Always,
Anne

humility comes before honor

In what area of your life are you being humbled? Don't fear, God is here. He'll honor you if you stay faithful...stay committed...and long to do His will.

Currently, it's a time of economic humility across the country. My family has been 'humbled and brought very low' in our finances. Through this temporary, but devastating process, we've learned more than ever to be thankful and grateful for every single penny. We are currently grateful for our jobs and the company we work for. We are grateful for our new church home, our new friends and neighbors and we are in the home stretch in terms of change and turmoil. One of the final pieces of this mysterious puzzle is for me to get settled in my work and find a permanent job. I didn't want to do this, I wanted time to RECOVER. I wanted to just be a normal housewife for a while (I say that not to let you think I wanted to stay home and watch TBN - although I would like to occasionally) . I wanted to work at home and build a ministry and nurture our life here in this state. I've never relaxed and been an at home mom or homemaker. (All my at home mom homemaker friends, I'm sure, would be the first to point out that the words 'relaxed' and 'homemaker' should not even be in the same sentence, but I have some kind of romantic idea of the simplicity of it. I think I have have grass-is-greener-syndrome. I've been working very hard since I was 15 and I just wanted this next year to nest, manage our home, take care of my husband, fully devote time to the kids and my father in law when they are here and make our new house an organized clean and cozy home. I've wanted to think about having a child. I'm on the precipice of 40, and time's-a-ticking.

Against my will, but to the urging of my husband, I took a temporary job back in the pharmaceutical industry since we have gone deeply into debt in the past 6 months and were still short each month to pay our bills. Exhausted from this cross country move, if feels like I just got unpacked and went directly into a job. Not only any job, but a temporary job that humbled me further because it's job that is 8 years behind my level of experience. I've had to re-frame my thinking to get through this work situation. (Coach, coach thyself!)

It was SOOOO hard for me to go to work. I owned my own company in Florida for four years where I set my hours and my dress code in our office. (I had a no-dry cleaning policy in our office. Flip-flops (nice ones) were acceptable business casual...). During the move, my mother-in-law was very ill. Since Jaime was already working in PA, Alexa, our oldest daughter, and I went to the hospital daily and brought food for my father in law. After 2 months strait of eating carry out and hospital food before our move, I packed on the stress pounds. I had gained 20 pounds in total. So going to work in the fall in PA I had big time dress code challenges. I now needed to suddenly to wear suits in a highly formal North-Eastern, prudent, conservative work environment. Since starting work in a sedentary job, I gained 5 more. None of my suits fit or were warm enough, we didn't have money for my new wardrobe and I had to buy ...closed-toed shoes. Ugh. Even if I wear two pairs of socks my feet are always cold.

Despite the challenges, I've adapted. I've been in the company for 2 months, and slowly I've been able to choose to count my blessings. I get to work up the hall from my husband and have lunch with him. We are able to drive to work together and for us, that's a great thing. We love to work together.

I prayed for God to show me the beauty of PA and it is slowly happening. We had such a cheering experience the first snow. I prayed for God to give me meaning in this work role, and within 1 week I was plugged in a trans-denominational Christian bible study. I love this, since unity in the body is a recurring and important theme for me. Within 2 months, I have been made a part of their leadership team. The past 2 bible studies at one of the largest companies on the planet, and there I was, facilitating a group that has been together for 2 years. Only GOD, can move such mountains for this little brokenhearted girl. Only God can use the lowly and broken servant and simultaneously give them the desires of their heart.

Working in this job I have learned a few things about myself:

1. I am a proverbs 31 woman. My hands are not idle and I am able to work and still support and honor my husband. I can submit to him so he can be in the spotlight at the city gates. We both can sleep better knowing that we do have the ability to get wealth and we can pay our bills. I help keep his name, now my name, our family name and credit clean because we pay our bills on time.

2. I am a leader. John Maxwell says in his newest book, leadership gold, that a leader can be defined in many ways. Leaders are not always the ones in the position of power, but can still lead those in charge. Leaders can also put themselves in a working position to serve or do whatever it takes for the team, the family, the greater good. Specifically he wrote, "leadership is the ability to submerge your ego for the sake of what is best...is taking responsibility while others are making excuses...is seeing the possibilities in a situation when others are seeing the limitations". By doing so, you inspire others to wash feet along with you.

3. It is my choice to let God's word work through my own mouth.

I didn't 'deserve' these bills. $35,000 worth of debt. Some of our friends like Job's friends, assumed (judged) that we did something wrong. But we knew we had a business that we dedicated to God. We tithed and gave sacrificially, we considered ourselves 'blessed to be a blessing'. Our increasing hard times in front of others, including non-believers, didn't seem like a 'glorious testimony' to the power of God. But the testimony is coming in waves. First, the Holy Spirit of the Living God has lead us to the truth in these scriptures. God's word provided an understanding. Like Job, we sinned only by crying out temporarily in human reaction to our situation. Gods word give us the method of escape if you search it enough and live it, especially when you don't feel it. I realized our FAITH in God above all is our testimony for now. Rising above the storm and keeping our eyes on Jesus, we stayed strong in the Lord in times of trouble and loss and grieving. I promise to glorify God as testimony continually unravels in our lives. I prophecy over our situation declaring, we will have more material signs of restoration. I will carry a position of honor in God's eyes and be raised up in a position God appoints for me at the right time, as Esther was. Our words are life and death. Get a hold of this and prophecy over yourself with the spoken word (rhema) what the logos word declares you can have.

I also have really gotten a hold of the fact that as Christians we have NOTHING to fear in times that seem of trouble. (Joshua 1:9, Joel 18-30). That humility goes before honor and that God restores . (Genesis 39: 2-5) , Job 40:10-17). He will restore what the locusts have stolen and the amount of time you spend (murmuring and complaining) in the wilderness is up to you.

I look forward to my next post so I can keep you informed of HOW God is GOOD and WHAT he does in this vessel's life. Lord...have your way in me.

Why did I post a pretty picture of those lotus flowers on their lilly pads? Because the lovely lotus flower and the beautiful water lilly can only grow in muddy, seemingly stagnant water. There is a theme in nature in being able to arise and shine through seemingly undesirable circumstances. God brings beauty from a pile of ashes and perfects his saints by fiery trial and pruning. There is always loss before there is gain. So I wait in the joyful expectation of what's next...

In His LOVE, Anne

Sigh of Relief

Well, today was my first day of a work in PA. I have had my own business now for over 4 years and it isn't easy going back to work for someone else. It's not as creative and not as fulfilling. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt what the call on my life is, so to take a job, even for a season is a struggle because I have such a burning desire over my life's work and moving forward in the direction of my dreams. I believe, however, there are times in our lives that in order to move forward, we must take those few steps back.

Re-evaluate.

Re-conceive.

Re-launch.

Rise again - renewed.

In my new temporary scientist role in big Pharma, I am semi-incognito. The management knows my capabilities for this job, but most of the staff do not. Those who do have asked me why, if I am so overqualified, do I want the job. The answer was sincere: We need the money and it's temporary.

Today was hard with the stress and anticipation of my first day in Corporate Northeast America. It's a white nuckled, high stress cold world. And, of all therapy areas I could be working on, I am working in neurosciences and specifically in depression. I was telling my friend Virginia tonight that I don't want the negativity that surrounded me today to bring me down. She said something to the effect, "We'll, you just be the one to help bring them up." Her wisdom was spot on. Nelson Mandela quoted Marianne Williamson in his presidential inauguration speech stating: "Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to manifest the glory of God within us." Ghandi said, "Be the change you want to see in the world." And God confirms this saying, Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Mt 5:16)

I will be myself. I will do a great job for the company who pays me. I will not lament for times past (Egypt), but look forward with hope and anticipation to times of restoration (Canaan and freedom from bondage). This job and the money it brings is a blessing in a time of serious financial economic instability in our nation. My husband and I are, thank God, now both gainfully employed and will come out of hard times. We will see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the living. We are just starting to reap the harvest of seeds planted in faith a long time ago. I just know the Autumn season we are moving into is going to be pregnant with surprises and I anticipate each one. In the meantime, I will just let this little light of mine shine and focus on the mere success of holding a job as I work on rebuilding my coaching practice after our move.

Dr. William Menninger said there are, "Six essential qualities that are the key to success:
sincerity, personal integrity, humility, courtesy, wisdom, charity."

I agree. So did Jesus when he spoke his Sermon on the mount:

Sincerity (the pure of heart), personal integrity (the hungry - those who hunger and thirst after righteousness), humility (meek, poor in spirit), courtesy (peacemakers), wisdom (those persecuted for following the Son of Man), charity (the merciful).

Well hats off to you, Dr M. It's not easy working with cutting edge depression treatments and still maintain the spine of a life coach and the soul of a believer.

I feel that right now God is giving me such experiences and extremes to test my gird in all situations.
I will pass because I love Him.
And I thank God today for the sigh of relief that I can breathe over our finances today.

Maybe my post is not making a lot of sense today. I just know that if you are not doing what you want to do. Just keep dreaming. Keep praying . The vision God gives you for your future is real and can not be taken away from you. There may be hard times. And detours. But always there is learning and growth. And God is always there with us. His rod and his staff they comfort and guide us.

Keep following your dreams through that sometimes long and winding road... don't let the fire go out. Crock pots take a while, but eventually everything gets cooked...

love to all, Anne

But he who practices truth [who does what is right] comes out into the Light; so that his works may be plainly shown to be what they are--wrought with God [divinely prompted, done with God's help, in dependence upon Him]. John 3:21

The Monday Motivator

The Daffodil Principle

I am not authoring today's post. This 'story' was forwarded to me which I found very motivating.
In the coming weeks, months and years I hope to make a habit of steadily posting a life coaching principle each Monday. I call this The Monday Motivator. I look forward to blogging something that has encouraged me and can empower you.

Today I was sent 'the Daffodil principle' via e-mail from my friend Virginia. I loved it because it inspires me. All great things have humble beginnings. Don't despise the times you had to work a full time job and start your company on the side...or get up extra early to workout. You don't lose those 30 pounds in a day. You do it consistently over time with lifestyle changes you choose to make. You don't achieve any great thing without repetition of actions that will produce positive results. Add in some willpower, determination, persistence and perseverance and you have a recipe for success. You can change the world around you - one brushstroke, one chapter, one practice and even one daffodil at a time. Enjoy, Anne

Several times my daughter had telephoned to say, "Mother, you must come to see the daffodils before they are over." I wanted to go, but it was a two-hour drive from Laguna to Lake Arrowhead

"I will come next Tuesday", I promised a little reluctantly on her third call. Next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised, and reluctantly I drove there. When I finally walked into Carolyn's house I was welcomed by the joyful sounds of happy children. I delightedly hugged and greeted my grandchildren. "Forget the daffodils, Carolyn! The road is invisible in these clouds and fog, and there is nothing in the world except you and these children that I want to see badly enough to drive another inch!"

My daughter smiled calmly and said, "We drive in this all the time, Mother." "Well, you won't get me back on the road until it clears, and then I'm heading for home!" I assured her. "But first we're going to see the daffodils. It's just a few blocks," Carolyn said. "I'll drive. I'm used to this." "Carolyn," I said sternly, "please turn around." "It's all right, Mother, I promise. You will never forgive yourself if you miss this experience."

After about twenty minutes, we turned onto a small gravel road and I saw a small church. On the far side of the church, I saw a hand lettered sign with an arrow that read, " Daffodil Garden ." We got out of the car, each took a child's hand, and I followed Carolyn down the path. Then, as we turned a corner, I looked up and gasped. Before me lay the most glorious sight. It looked as though someone had taken a great vat of gold and poured it over the mountain peak and its surrounding slopes. The flowers were planted in majestic, swirling patterns, great ribbons and swaths of deep orange, lemon yellow, saffron and butter yellow. Each different-colored variety was planted in large groups so that it swirled and flowed like its own river with its own unique hue. There were five acres of flowers. "Who did this?" I asked Carolyn. "Just one woman," Carolyn answered. "She lives on the property. That's her home." Carolyn pointed to a well-kept A-frame house, small and modestly sitting in the midst of all that glory. We walked up to the house.

On the patio, we saw a poster. "Answers to the Questions I Know You Are Asking", was the headline. The first answer was a simple one. "50,000 bulbs," it read. The second answer was, "One at a time, by one woman. Two hands, two feet, and one brain." The third answer was, "Began in 1958." For me, that moment was a life-changing experience.

I thought of this woman whom I had never met, who, more than forty years before, had begun, one bulb at a time, to bring her vision of beauty and joy to an obscure mountaintop. Planting one bulb at a time, year after year, this unknown woman had forever changed the world in which she lived. One day at a time, she had created something of extraordinary magnificence, beauty, and inspiration.

The principle her daffodil garden taught is one of the greatest principles of celebration. That is, learning to move toward our goals and desires one step at a time--often just one baby-step at time--and learning to love the doing, learning to use the accumulation of time. When we multiply tiny pieces of time with small increments of daily effort, we too will find we can accomplish magnificent things. We can change the world .

"It makes me sad in a way," I admitted to Carolyn. "What might I have accomplished if I had thought of a wonderful goal thirty-five or forty year s ago and had worked away at it 'one bulb at a time' through all those years? Just think what I might have been able to achieve!" My daughter summed up the message of the day in her usual direct way. "Start tomorrow," she said.

She was right. It's so pointless to think of the lost hours of yesterdays. The way to make learning a lesson of celebration instead of a cause for regret is to only ask, "How can I put this to use today?" Use the Daffodil Principle. Stop waiting.....

Until your car or home is paid off Until you get a new car or home Until your kids leave the house Until you go back to school Until you finish school Until you clean the house Until you organize the garage Until you clean off your desk Until you lose 10 lbs. Until you gain 10 lbs. Until you get married Until you get a divorce Until you have kids Until the kids go to school Until you retire Until summer Until spring Until winter Until fall Until you die...

There is no better time than right NOW to be happy. Happiness is a journey, not a destination. So work like you don't need money. Love like you've never been hurt, and, Dance like no one's watching. If you want to brighten someone's day, pass a link to my blog on to someone special. Wishing you a beautiful, daffodil day! Don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin. AND REMEMBER: GOOD FRIENDS ARE LIKE STARS. YOU DON'T ALWAYS SEE THEM, BUT YOU ALWAYS KNOW THEY ARE THERE!!!

Rejoice Always

1 Thessalonians 5:16 NKJV simply states 'rejoice always' or in some translations, 'always be joyful'. Well that's not always easy. We have a tendency to rejoice when we are happy. When things go well. But, that's not what God wants. He wants you to REJOICE even in tragic circumstances. And he's given us the ability to REJOICE when things go wrong. Even when terrorists kill thousands of innocent lives and effect the citizens of over 100 nations. The world trade centers alone housed more than 430 companies from 28 countries. We will never even know the exact death toll. But the Bible says rejoice always. What???

Just in case we didn't get it the first time, it is written a few more times. Philippians 4:4, "Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say rejoice... That's a tall order. How is that even possible or appropriate?

James recounted the principle in his first chapter, vs. 2: "Count it all joy when you fall into various trials."

It means that we can have a deep down knowing that it will all work out. It will all be OK. It all happens just as it should and God is in control. It's knowing God didn't cause it, but if you go through it the right way, he will help you fix it.

Our soul can experience a variety of painful emotions when tragedy strikes, our mind can search for a solution, our will can be challenged. But deep down - if we get and stay quiet a bit - we can sense that God is in control. That sense can give us the confidence, strength and determination to go on. That kind of rejoicing can only come from God and bubbles up in our spirits. But, why didn't he just say that through His spirit you will muster the courage to muddle through? Instead he gave a command to rejoice.

Because rejoicing is a choice. You chose to follow God's will. You choose to control your emotions. To be dignified and graceful rather than assuming a victim mentality. You choose to understand that no matter what goes wrong, no matter what the trial, test or temptation, that you can choose to not focus on the problem but the solution. You can choose to believe the promises written in His Word. You can choose to find scriptures which comfort you and give you hope and hold on to them. Even in the midst of the unthinkable. When a nation is effected and thousands of families and businesses literally must rise from the ashes. It's hard to choose rejoicing. Sometimes we want to choose to sit alone in the dark and eat Ben and Jerry's. I struggle with choosing positive emotions in negative circumstances. I believe, however, that after a time of mourning, that pain and indignation at being unjustly treated can be the very fuel which drives you to rise up and stand for what is right. If Jesus had not wept over Jerusalem, knowing how far they were from God's peace, and wanting that for them, He may not have chosen the cross to save them. It was a hard decision. He suffered just praying about it. He sweat blood over it.

Peter learned the hard way the principle of focusing on Jesus as he sunk in the water after walking on it. Later in 1 Peter 4:12, inspired by the Holy Spirit, he writes "Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. ¹³ Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. ¹⁴ So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian,^[a] for then the glorious Spirit of God^[b] rests upon you.^[c] .

Today I am reminded of a terrible tragedy, remembering the thousands of families torn apart. I have not stopped praying for them. But in the midst of the tragedy, I also recall a time of rejoicing. The prayer vigils, the unity in diversity, the help and sacrifice of all those who volunteered in the massive cleanup, the flags waving proudly on cars across the nation and the sense of rebuilding, renewal and a collective longing for what is right that our country experienced in 2001. I think about the song lyrics by Israel Houghton and Jon Stockstill and make it my prayer for the Church today...

Let the Church rise from the ashes
Let the Church fall to her knees
Let us be light in the darkness
Let the Church rise...

For those effected by 9/11/01 personally, May God bless you and keep you and make his face to shine upon you. May you rise from the ashes and know God loves you. May you shine once again and be an example to those you personally touch. IJN, Amen

All my love to those I don't know, but continually pray for, Anne Arvizu

I read the back of the book

I'd like to sum up my past 18 months of trial and testing by publicly letting the devil know he's a liar. The attacks do not matter any more. This light affliction is for but a moment, as Paul said. My husband and I have been bombarded on every aspect of our lives. As a life coach, I am familiar with administering 'the life balance wheel'. My personal wheel includes the following 8 key areas (in no particular order of importance/ranking: 1. health & fitness 2. family, 3. personal time, 4. spirituality/time with God 5. career 6. husband 7. personal development/education 8. friends/community. I can honestly tell you EVERY area of our lives have been attacked. The happenings may cause a temporary loss of happiness, but the satan will never steal our JOY. JOY is a gift, a fruit of the Spirit of the Living God who lives in me and who never lets me go.

I just want today's post to praise the Lord OUTLOUD in cyberspace. Recently these lyrics from Casting Crowns' song, I Know You're There' have been in my heart and on my lips. When, I get a pain in my leg, a bill in the mail, canceling coaching seminar due to a health crisis, inability to work out, unexpected problems arising to steal time from my husband or family, more issues ongoing with the relocation, financial woes over paying two mortgages because our other house won't sell. I sing this and satan is reminded he will never get me, because Jesus already got me!

If all I had was one last breath
I'd spend it just to sing Your praise
Just to say Your name
If all I had was one last prayer
I'd pray it 'cause I know You're always listening
If I could live a thousand lives, bind the hands of time
I would spend every moment by Your side

'cause I, I know You're there, I know You see me
You're the air I breathe
You are the ground beneath me
I know You're there, I know You hear me
I can find You anywhere

If all I had was one more song to sing
I would raise my voice to make the heavens ring
If all I had was one last chance, I'd take it
I would stake it all on You

If I could raise up high and catch a glimpse of every eye
I would make them believe
What I feel inside

If I could live a thousand lives and bind the hands of time
If I could rise up high and catch a glimpse of every eye

I know You're there
I know You're there
I know You're there
You're there

Amen! Be blessed today!

Inspiration

Tomorrow I am going to a neurologist to follow up on the leg pain, weakness and numbness that I have been having for over 3 weeks. I had a CT scan which has rendered 3 doctors unable to commit to a diagnosis. I have to admit, I've been a little afraid, although I KNOW it's in God's hands. When doctors start talking MS and permanent nerve damage, it takes a lot to walk by faith and not by sight. I have been immersing myself in the truth of the Word for mental strength. I viewed this video and wanted to share it. It is a source of inspiration and courage to me. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. I am expecting God to heal the source of this debilitating pain. I am expecting the Lord to lead the doctors to finally diagnose it. I believe it will be treatable and will not be anything with permanent repercussions. Join me in prayer for a positive outcome, if you will. Thank you. Anne

Heb 12:1 ...'Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us'