Jennifer Bennett-Educational Consultant, Life Purpose Coach, Speaker

New Home Address!

2010-10-25T20:40:00.003-04:00

Jen's Blog has moved! Check it out on:

http://www.mysoulmission.org

Blessings!

Superwoman

2010-10-06T18:34:00.002-04:00

This morning I had the opportunity to drive myself to work. You see, my husband Luke and I work at the same place, which in our eyes, is truly a blessing. We not only get to ride to work together, but we also come home together. What’s funny is that as a teenage girl, I always dreamt of working in full-time ministry with my husband. Honestly, I never thought it would look like this, but grateful I am. It has been a blessing.

You see, I was able to drive myself to work today because Luke and I had another long night with our little guy. For some odd reason, he has once again decided to wake up multiple times throughout the night. I blame it on his teeth. Being that Luke is such a great husband, he did the majority of the night duty, so he ended up coming into work a few minutes late.

As I was driving to work, I just really wanted to worship God. Honestly, it has been a REALLY rough month for the Bennett’s. It all started when Liam got a nasty virus that took him out for a few days. Then Luke got the virus that pretty much put him out of work for a week. Then, we think it attacked me. I ended up in the hospital last Thursday with horrible stomach cramps that would just not go away. They ended up keeping me overnight to monitor the situation and on Friday, sent me home with a diagnosis of a virus. On top of all that, Liam has decided to not sleep through the night. And to make matters worse, I feel as though I am consistently tired.

Needless to say, it has been a rough month

I have to admit, this month has brought about many feelings of inadequacy. Can you relate? I can’t remember a time where I just felt so inadequate as a wife and mother. I have felt as though I don’t measure up. As if I can’t be the “Superwoman” that so many times I feel I need to be. You know, the wife who consistently loves on her husband, cooks seven well rounded meals for him throughout the week, and packs his lunch for him every night. “Superwoman” mom is one who never runs out of patience and knows exactly what to do and say to soothe her crying child, the mom who would never want alone time because that would be horrible, the mom who rocks her baby to sleep every night and in turn, is always the one who gets up in the middle of the night, joyfully. And of course, “Superwoman” always finds time to not only work a full-time job, but she can come home FULL of energy to spend on her child and husband. And last but not least, she not only has the energy, but she finds the time to get a good one hour run in keeping herself in the best possible shape for not only herself, but her husband!

I am far from being Superwoman

As I drove to work all I could do was cry as I listened to the words of the song, “I Gotta Keep Singing” from Mercy Me. Take a look at the lyrics listed below:

Another rainy day
I can't recall having sunshine on my face
All I feel is pain
All I wanna do is walk out of this place
But when I am stuck and I can't move
When I don't know what I should do
When I wonder if I'll ever make it through

I gotta keep singing
I gotta keep praising Your name
Your the one that's keeping my heart beating
I gotta keep singing
I gotta keep praising Your name
That's the only way that I'll find healing

Can I climb up in Your lap
I don't wanna leave
Jesus sing over me
I gotta keep singing

Can I climb up in Your lap
I don't wanna leave
Jesus sing over me
I gotta keep singing

Oh You're everything I need
And I gotta keep singing

Do you feel as though it’s been a long time since your face saw the sunshine? Do you just want to walk away from where you are in life right now? Do you not know what you should do? Do you wonder if you will ever make it through?

If so, let me encourage you to climb into the lap of Jesus and just let Him sing over you. These words brought healing to my soul this morning. I envisioned myself sitting in the lap of Jesus and Him just singing over me-a place that I didn’t want to leave.

Maybe you have hard a rough month too. If so, really find a quiet place and just pour your heart out to God. He wants to bring the sunshine back to your face-the sunshine that you will find when you allow yourself to sit in His lap and let Him sing over you.

Matthew 11:28

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

Desperate for Strength!

2010-09-13T18:15:00.003-04:00

This past weekend was rough. Honestly, at times I felt as though I just couldn't do it. My precious little boy became sick and the truth of the matter is that it wore me out!

Friday we came home after Luke's sister called and said that Liam had a 102 temperature. When we got home, the little guy just looked miserable. We immediately took him to the doctor where he quickly told us, your weekend will not be fun. Not the words I really wanted to hear! And yes, my weekend was not fun!

I remember Friday night being up with Liam at 1:00 in the morning just telling God, "Lord, I can't do this. I don't think I'm cut out for motherhood." I had lost all my strength. I truly felt as though I just could not go on. Not only was I exhausted, but I wanted nothing more than to be able to help my little guy feel better. I remember asking God, "why won't he just sleep! I DESPERATELY need sleep! If I don't sleep, I can't function! God, I can't do this!"

I think it was at that moment when I said, "I can't do this" that He said, "you are absolutely right. You can't do this-you need Me." It was then that I finally realized, how desperately I need Him. How desperately I need His strength. How desperately I need Him to carry me when I feel as though I can't go on. How desperately I just need Him.

As I've thought about this past weekend, I can't help but continually think upon 2 Corinthians 12:9:

"Each time he said, 'My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.' So now I am glad to boast about my weakness, so that the power of Christ can work through me."

You know what? I'm not a perfect a mother and never will be. There are days where I just want to pull my hair out and at times wonder, Lord, are you sure I can do this. It is then that He whispers in my ear, "you can't but I can and I'm here to help you and see you through it."

Where in your life today are you lacking strength? Where in life do you feel as though you can't go on? Trust Him-He will see you through it!

Mini-Makeover Madness

2010-09-05T16:12:00.003-04:00

This past Saturday, I woke up just feeling blah and was really sensing that I needed to give myself a "Mini-Makeover". You know, my hair was beginning to look as if it hadn't been touched or brushed in weeks, my wardrobe was lacking (closet full of clothes yet I couldn't "find" anything to wear), nothing seemed to fit anymore, and my nails looked as if they had been through the ringer and back!

Needless to say, I woke up and decided it was time to get myself in order again! I spent the morning focused on this one thing and would not allow anything to get in my way of accomplishing the goal of "getting myself fixed".

Well later that evening, I felt as if the Lord was speaking to me. Now believe me, I do think it's perfectly ok and at times really needed, to get a mini-makeover. I tend to take part in one every few months. But I did feel as if the Lord was asking me whether or not I had ever been so diligent in wanting and desiring a heart makeover. Let me explain.

When I was busy running around on Saturday accomplishing those things that I felt I needed in order to make myself look better on the outside, I would not allow anything to stop me from reaching my goal. I was determined. But yet, Saturday evening I had to truly ask myself, when was the last time I was this diligent in allowing myself to look deep into my heart and in turn, wanted nothing more than to get myself in order again? When was the last time I was "disgusted" by what I saw on the inside, that I would in no way allow anything to get in my way from reading and meditating on God's Word so that my heart could have a mini-makeover? When did I last long for a clean heart? Honestly, it had been some time.

So, Saturday night I spent some time just reading and thinking about this person, Jen Bennett that He created and in turn, spent some time thinking about those "ugly parts" that I really want to change. And you know what? It was refreshing! It was time well spent.

So, you know I have to ask, When was the last time you longed for a heart makeover? Is it time for one in your life?

Confessions of an Imperfect Wife

2010-08-30T19:37:00.006-04:00

I have a confession to make. Ready? I fail miserably at being a wife. Let me explain.

A couple of Sunday's ago, I was really looking forward to going to church-with my husband. You see, our pastor Tim Grosshans was going to speak on marriage-you know, that 1 Corinthians 7 chapter. Well, I was really excited about this because I felt like my husband could use a "reminder" about what it meant to be, you know, a good husband. So I was all excited about the "reminders" my husband would be receiving and in turn, was really looking forward to this service.

Well of course, our 10-month old decided to fall asleep in the car (he was truly lacking sleep at that point) and thus, my husband decided to drive around in order to let him sleep. So there I was, going to this marriage service by myself even though I knew it was my husband that needed to be there.

Needless to say, the Lord spoke to me in some big ways. I remember walking out of the service thinking, "Jen, are you serious? Did you really think that you had this marriage thing all figured out? All morning you spent thinking about how good it would be for Luke to be reminded of some things when the reality is Jen, you needed to be reminded of many things!" Some of these things included:

* Snapping at my husband when "moody"

* Becoming easily annoyed over stupid things

* Expecting him to read my mind at all times

* Focusing on the things that would annoy me instead of focusing on the great things about my husband

* Being selfish

* Expecting him to be Jesus-basically, expecting him to be perfect

It was at that point that I realized how desperately I needed God to work in my own life. Instead of always thinking about the things that I felt needed to be changed in my husband, it was time for me to start thinking about the things that Christ wanted to change in my life in order to make me the wife that He not only desires for me to be, but also the wife that my husband deserves to have.

So, let me ask you this-are you always thinking about those areas in the life of your husband that you feel need to be changed, or are you spending more time at the feet of Jesus asking Him to change you and mold you into the wife that He desires you to be?

What areas of your life do you need to change?

NEVER EVER GIVE UP IN LIFE

2010-08-11T20:24:00.000-04:00

Does anxiety seem to get the best of you?

2010-08-09T20:39:00.005-04:00

I am so excited to share this encouraging post from a great friend of mine, Rosie Wittleder. May her transparency encourage you!

“Papa God, I am a total stress case again. I hate this. There is so much going on that I have never done before and I am extremely out of my comfort zone. I feel like I am in way over my head. And my anxiety is high. Please help me. I know in my head that you wouldn’t have me doing all of this if you didn’t think I could do it with your help. But still this just looks too daunting. Please help me God. I don’t want to waste this day being preoccupied with worry.”

Ladies, this journal entry from 2 weeks ago, gives you just a slight glimpse of the battles I face with anxiety. Can you relate? What things do you worry about? Your children, your marriage, your plans, what others think of you, etc?

There was a woman that could relate to the fear and anxiety that comes with embarking upon a difficult task. And that person is Esther. She risked her life to go speak to the King in order to spare her people, the Jews, from being killed. In Esther 4:11, we see the tough predicament that Esther is in, when Mordecai suggested she approach the king. She says, “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned, the king has but one law: that he be put to death. The only exception to this is for the king to extend the gold scepter to him and spare his life. But 30 days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”

Can you imagine the anxiety Esther must have felt? She knows how miraculous it is that she is queen in the first place. And then, she is challenged to risk her life in order to save her people. To make things worse, the king doesn’t have a close relationship with her, since he hasn’t seen her in 30 days. If all of this isn’t cause for anxiety, I don’t know what is. Yet, Esther was bold. She was courageous. She proceeded to do the right thing even though everything was at stake. The king granted her request, and God used Esther to save his people.

As we relate this to our own lives, how can we overcome such anxiety that can leave us paralyzed in fear? What do we do when we are plagued with anxiety?

I’d like to share with you some of what I am learning about anxiety in Philippians chapter 4. Verses 6 through 8: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.

As I was desperately studying these verses, begging for relief from my anxiety, it came to me in tangible steps how God suggests we deal with this issue:

Step 1 – Petition to God – What does this mean?
Definition of petition: A formal message requesting something that is submitted to an authority. To petition means that at some level we are implying that the person we are approaching is in a place of authority or power. So this step is setting straight what the “org chart” is between God and us, where He is above, and we am under, in terms of power. Thus causing us to realize our need for Him.

Step 2 – Remember what things you are thankful for. Why this is important?
Expressing gratitude gives us a broader scope on the situation, causing our anxiety to start to subside, as we can look at our situation in its proper perspective. Especially after we consider what He’s already done in our lives. When we start out with what we are grateful for, suddenly our perspective begins to change.

Step 3 – Present all of our requests to God
At times, my pride got in the way, as I convinced myself that I didn’t need to give all my requests to Him since I could handle some of them on my own. The problem is, those other requests that I wasn’t presenting to him, were creating additional anxiety because I was frantically trying to solve them on my own. He wants to hear all of our requests, whether big or small.

What is the result of the first three steps? Peace that is beyond our comprehension will guard our minds and hearts. I love that! His peace protects our minds from going wild.

Step 4 – Replace the anxiety we once had, with truth about that situation.
It is important to replace those thoughts we used to have, with thoughts that are true. And choose focus on those things instead. So, during the course of our day, when those fears and anxieties creep up again, we will remind yourself of the truth in that particular situation. This gives us the ability to avoid going down that road of unnecessary anxiety.

For me, the last few months have been plagued with anxiety as I take on a new role of leading women. I feel too young to be able to do this well. In addition, I feel like I have too much baggage to be effective. All of these thoughts create a lot of anxiety for me. But, as I’ve begun to petition to God, come with thankfulness, present all my requests to him, and focus my mind on the things that are true, for the first time I am able to quit worrying about fearful situations for that day.

Today my challenge is, to look at how God suggests we deal with fear and anxiety, as opposed to other options we may take, such as food, shopping, others’ approval, public recognition, or any other choice we may prefer. Dealing with our fears in a healthy way allows us to be able to follow through on His purpose for our lives. So we too can be like Esther, who despite her fear and anxiety, fulfilled her purpose of saving her people. We can do the same, if we will commit to moving through our own fears and anxieties. So, what is God nudging you to surrender to him today that is causing stress, worry, or anxiety?

Do your reactions hold you back?

2010-08-03T21:49:00.003-04:00

"God honoring reactions will give us a God sized reach"-Lysa TerKeurst,

This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend the She Speaks conference in Charlotte, NC. I've actually wanted to attend for a few years now, but never really had the opportunity. All I can say is that it was an AMAZING weekend of not only spending some great quality girl time with two great girls, but also having the opportunity to meet a variety of women who desire nothing more than to follow hard after God and His calling on their life. It truly was an inspirational weekend.

While everything at this conference was great, there is one thing that has really stuck out to me-the quote listed above. I can't help but continually think about the way I react in different situations. Ever since Lysa spoke those words, "God honoring reactions will give us a God sized reach", I can't help but think before I react. While this is a good thing, it is also annoying at times because the reality is, I've come to realize what a major overhaul I need in this area. My reactions are not always so God honoring.

I've continually been "checking" myself when responding to my husband, coworkers, child, and friends. And you know what I have realized? The more I think before I react, the better my reactions end up being. And honestly, this not only brings a smile to my face (and I'm sure the the faces of those that I react to!), but also to the face of God.

How will you choose to react differently this week? Remember, "God honoring reactions will give you a God sized reach". Isn't this what we all long for? I know I do!

Are you a Risk Taker?

2010-07-11T16:44:00.007-04:00

“When you risk walking into the unknown that God is calling you to, you will potentially encounter your own transfiguration moments on the mountaintop. You will become changed, from the inside out, for the better. But remember, sometimes we must die to the old in order to experience the new”-Laurie Beth Jones

Life is all about risk taking. Personally, I feel as though this is my word for the year. As I think about risk taking, I can’t help but think of the mighty people of the Bible. Honestly, in many ways, they were all risk takers. Just take a few minutes to glance over the stories of these remarkable individuals:

• Abraham-Abraham risked everything when he agreed to follow after a God he had not seen and to a place he did not know.
• Esther-Saves her people after risking her life by approaching the king when he had not called for her.
• David-Risked his life when fighting against Goliath. In the end, he becomes a hero.
• Deborah-Risked her life when she agreed to go out into battle.
• Daniel-Risked his life when he refused to worship a pagan God.
• Ruth-Risked her life and dreams when she agreed to follow her mother-in-law.
• Noah-Risked his reputation when he agreed to obey what God was asking him to do.

These are just a few examples of the extraordinary men and women of the Bible who took risks. What I have come to realize is that if you truly want a life of purpose, you must be willing to take risks. As Laurie Beth Jones states, “You must risk to get the reward.”

Where in your life may God be asking you to get out of your comfort zone and take a risk?

• Being open to change whether it is a geographical change, career change, or behavior change?
• Needing to make a personal sacrifice of time, energy, and/or money?
• Do you need to forgive someone?
• Do you need to ask someone to forgive you?
• Do you need work on restoring a relationship?
• Is God calling you to go back to school?

Is God nudging on your heart and asking you to take a risk? When was the last time you took a risk? “Risk is what separates the dreamers from the doers, the wannabes from the victors” (Laurie Beth Jones). Are you content with being a wannabe or are you ready to be a victor? What will you risk today?

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental
To reach out for another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your dreams before a crowd is to risk ridicule.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk despair.
To go forward in the face of overwhelming odds is to risk failure
But to risk we must, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing is one who does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.
He may avoid suffering and sorrows, but he cannot learn, feel, change, grow, or love.
Chained by his certitudes, he is a slave - he has forfeited his freedom.
Only a person who takes risks is FREE (Author Unknown).

Are you ready to be a risk taker? If so, contact Jennifer today!

Laugh Daily

2010-07-05T19:31:00.003-04:00

When was the last time you had a good laugh? Did you know that laughter can actually help reduce stress and may even help protect you against a heart attack?

Personally, I try to not take myself nor life so seriously. I try to see the humor in my every day activities. Let me share a recent "laughter" moment I had.

While vacationing in North Carolina, my husband, son, friend April and I were wandering at the mall. While we were wandering, we came across one of the stands that promises to make you look 100% times better by shaping your eyebrows. The method for shaping the eyebrows was some kind of "floss" like contraption. Well, our friend April was all about doing it-me on the other hand, I just wasn't sure. First off, the last thing I want is people watching me while I get my eyebrows shaped. To me, it just screams-I'm hairy and I need help. Second, I'm a big wimp and quite frankly that floss like contraption looked like it would hurt. Third-the lady who was shaping the eyebrows looked at me and said, "Oh, you really need to do this". Honestly, I couldn't believe that she said that to me. I mean, my eyebrows are not that bad. Its not like I have a unibrow.

I ended up saying yes and really, I questioned myself as to why I agreed to even do this. It HURT!!! I had to make the "eyebrow goddess" stop multiple times because it was hurting me so much. The reality was that all I could do was laugh. If I didn't laugh, I would just end up crying. The funny thing is that the laughing not only helped me survive the pain, but it created a memory that I truly will never forget! And yes, my eyebrows did end up looking much better!

Let me encourage you to make it a priority to find the humor in your day to day life. Not only will you feel better, but ultimately, your life will be much less stressful! Laughter is good for the soul.

When was the last time you had a really good belly laugh?

Be Content

2010-07-01T19:56:00.002-04:00

Today was a sad day. My husband returned the cable box to the cable company. Why? Well, my husband and I are on a journey to save money! What do I mean by this? We truly want to cut back on expenses for a variety of reasons and the reality is, cable is one way of saving. Now, when I say cable, what I mean is that we no longer have 600 channels to choose from; we now have 72. Not only are we cutting back on cable, but we are getting rid of our house phone (who really uses a house phone anymore anyway?), Luke (my husband) will now be our lawn man, and we are looking at switching cell phone companies. All of this in our quest to save money. Additionally, we have been cutting back on eating out (we have done FANTASTIC the past two weeks!).

It’s interesting to me that all of this cutting back is taking place right as we look at what it means to be content. In our world today, it is so easy to get wrapped up in wanting more and not being thankful and grateful for what we do have. It’s easy to look at what others have and in turn, wonder why we can’t or don’t have what they have. It’s easy to compare our “things” to the “things” of others. When I get caught up in thinking that I need a bigger house, I think of my neighbor. First off let me say, we have WONDERFUL neighbors right beside us and across the street from us. Let me tell you about both of them!

Our neighbor’s right beside us have three beautiful children. They live in the exact same model as our house which means, their house is exactly the same size as ours. And you know what? They make it work with three children under five years of age!

Across the street we have our other great neighbors. What I love about them is they really know how to save money by eating at home and not eating out so much! Both of my neighbors inspire me in so many ways, and I don’t think they even know it!

The reason I say all of this is because again, it is vital that we learn to be content with what we have and what we can afford. If we desire to live lives of purpose, we must learn to be content with what God has blessed us with. Here are a few things to consider:

• When was the last time you thanked God for what He has blessed you with?
• Take some time to walk around your home thanking God for not only the home He has blessed you with, but what you have inside your home.
• Do you need to cut back in some areas?
• Are there things that you really can’t afford that maybe, you need to give up?
• Do you find yourself comparing your life to those of others? If so, ask yourself why?
• Does your bank account demonstrate your contentment?

Take some time this week to truly thank God for the many blessings in your life. Learn to be content with what you have and if you find yourself with things that you really can’t afford, look for ways to cut back. I’m on this journey with you!

Exercise Daily

2010-06-29T20:21:00.004-04:00

Exercising-something so beneficial, yet so hard to not only find the time to do, but also the motivation to do. But as women of purpose, it is vital that we make exercising a priority in our daily lives. Believe me-this post is for me also!

Let me explain. Prior to getting married, I exercised all the time! Honestly, I was in the best shape of my life. I was known as the exercise girl! Not only did I look good, but I felt great! Needless to say, once I was married, I turned into a happy little wife and well, exercising took a back seat. Ever since, it has been a struggle. Not only a struggle to get moving, but a struggle to find a spare moment to actually get some kind of physical activity in my day. So, my goal for the week? To begin moving-not only this week, but every week!

Here are some tips that I too am applying in my life:

1) Make it fun-if you are going to make exercising a part of your daily life, you must do something that you enjoy. If you decide to run because everyone else is running, but yet you HATE running, this exercise routine will not last. Ask yourself, what do you enjoy doing?

2) Time-what do you have the time to do? For me, this has been a tough one. When I used to exercise all the time, I enjoyed going to the gym and the reality is, I still do to this day. But with everything else that is on my plate-getting to the gym is no easy task. As a new mommy who works full-time, I try to spend as much time with my son as possible. The last thing I need is to spend even more time away from him. Not to mention that most gym classes take place during the time my son gets his bath and goes to bed. So, with all of these factors, I've come to the conclusion that what is best for me now is to work out from home. Whether it be walking, running, or working on weights from the house, this is what I need to do in this time of my life. Really think about what you do have time for and what will fit into your schedule. If you try to take part in an exercise program that doesn't flow with your schedule, you're likely to fail.

3) Accountability-Do you have someone that can hold you accountable? Do you have someone that you can work out with? Someone who will push you when you don't feel like working out? You are more likely to succeed when you have someone holding you accountable.

Make exercising a priority-I know I will. What will you do this week to incorporate some physical activity into your life? I'll keep you posted on my progress!

Part Two-Guarding Your Time: Tips for Time Management

2010-06-24T20:29:00.002-04:00

Here's Part Two to Guarding Your Time-Tips for Time Management:

7) Simplify your environment
Clutter in your office or home environment can create stress. It can actually make you feel like you have more work than you really do.

8) Simplify your tasks
This may involve over-responding and/or under-responding. For example, when receiving a fax, which needs only a quick response or a confirmation, write your answer on the faxed document and fax it right back. Or, if someone asks you for something specific, and you know that by offering more help than was originally asked you can avoid the form of a problem, then isn't it worth it to do more? Make a point of over-responding to any situation in which there is an opportunity to solve more than one problem in the process.

9) Really listen to others
When you are preoccupied with other thoughts, you actually create anxiety for yourself about what you are listening to and what you allow to intrude into your thoughts. This anxiety is created because you can not act immediately on either. You are left feeling incomplete with both.

10) Decide what you can give up in order to get what you want
One day has only twenty-four hours in it, and yet, how many times have you borrowed from the next day to finish a project thereby losing valuable sleep, or borrowed from your relationships to pursue a goal, or borrowed from your personal time to work on a project? When we choose among multiple possibilities how we will spend our work and/or personal time, we are almost always asked to choose what we will give up in order to have more. Much pain and suffering around "managing time" could be avoided if this process were respected.

11) Find some time each day for quiet reflection
When you commit to spending some time each day suspending your thoughts and judgments and creating inner stillness, you'll train your body and mind what awareness feels like and you can transform how you experience the flow of time.

Take some time this week to really think about how you can improve your time management skills! You'll be happy that you did!

* These "Keys" to Time Management have been taken from The Coaching Starter Kit by Coachville.com, published by W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

Guard Your Time

2010-06-21T21:06:00.002-04:00

Do you end each day wishing you had more time to accomplish the things that you did not get to throughout the day? If so, this post if is for you!

If we truly desire to be women who live lives of purpose, fulfilling that which Christ has for us each day, it is vitally important that we use our time wisely.

Time Management is something we all struggle with at different points in our life. Time management is something I have really had to work on being that my life is non-stop. In addition to working full-time as a high school administrator, I am also a Life Purpose Coach, Educational Consultant, Writer, Speaker, Doctoral student, wife, and mommy. Needless to say, I have had to learn to prioritize my time.

So, what are some time management skills you can apply to your life? Read on!

1) Start with giving your calendar over to God
There is only so much you can handle before it becomes a mess. Believe me, I know. If you really want to prioritize your time management skills, start off by giving your calendar to God. Truly seek Him and ask Him to show you what your calendar should consist of. When you do this, I promise, He will show you.

2) Make God the Priority in Your Life
I don't know how He does this, but every time that I have made God the priority in my life and in turn, have spent time with Him on a daily basis, not only am I able to accomplish everything that I needed to accomplish, but my day goes by much more smoothly. It's like God showing me that when I place Him first, He in turn will indeed take care of my every need. Try this and watch how God will bless your day.

3) Prioritize your efforts
Make the distinction between things that are important and things that are urgent. Most of the time, doing the things that are important, rather than urgent, results in greater effectiveness. In other words, don't major in minor things.

4) Do less to get more
Economize your efforts. For example, when you're boiling a pot of water, let it come to a boil while you do something else, or you can "watch the pot."

5) Reduce excess sources of adrenaline
These are substances, activities, relationships, situations, or attitudes that result in your feeling "charged up". Too much adrenaline can distract you from the focus needed to complete a project, increase feelings of anxiety, and intensify the feeling that time is flying. Over time, excessive adrenaline can have negative health consequences as well.

6) Eliminate time and energy-taxing elements
These are situations, attitudes, or behaviors that you're putting up with in your personal or work life, which don't serve you or your larger purpose but consumer physical, mental, and/or emotional energy. Eliminating them results in an increase in available energy for people and projects, an overall feeling of calm, and more time to get things done.

If you are having trouble with time management, take some time this week to implement some of the "keys" listed above. Also, if you have any time management ideas that you have implemented within your life, please, share those with us! Looking forward to reading your comments and be on the lookout for Part Two of "Keys to Time Management".

* Some of these "Keys" to Time Management have been taken from The Coaching Starter Kit by Coachville.com, published by W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

Investing in Yourself

2010-06-15T21:25:00.000-04:00

You know what I find to be mind boggling? Technology! If I’m correct, I really thought that with all the advancements in technology, we would have more time to focus on ourselves. But, if you’re anything like me, you tend to grasp for time where you can actually invest in yourself. It seems that with all the “upgrades” that have taken place, we have become much busier. Is life really supposed to be this busy? I don’t think so!

Take a minute to ask yourself, when was the last time you truly invested in yourself? As women, it’s so easy to allow ourselves to continually be on the run meeting the needs of others that we fail to make it a priority to take time out for ourselves. We often times get caught up in meeting the needs of spouses, children, friends, family, employers, employees, etc., that before we know it, we are completely burned out and longing for some “me” time. At times, we even tend to feel guilty for taking that “me” time. Let me share with you a few steps to help get you that time you so desperately need and want:

1) What is wasting your time? This is a question you must ask yourself. Take time this week to write down what you do every day and the amount of time it takes you to do what you do. You might be surprised. For me, I tend to waste time watching TV. After a long day, I just want to sit and veg on the couch doing something that requires no brain power. But you know what? This is a huge time waster. Instead, I need to spend that time doing those things that energize me.

2) Schedule time for yourself. If it’s hard for you to find time for yourself, make it a priority to schedule a time on the calendar for you to truly invest in yourself. Sometimes writing out that “appointment” will free up your schedule for “me” time.

3) Learn to say no. Do you tend to say yes to everything? If so, you need to begin to learn to say no. Really ask yourself-are the things that I am involved with allowing me to use my gifts, skills, and talents that God has blessed me with? Am I passionate about what I am doing? Do I look forward to those things that I am part of? If you find that you tend to take on “things” due to guilt, you must find a way out. You must learn to say no. By saying no, you not only open the door to more time for yourself, but you also open the door to opportunities that will energize you.

4) Wake up early. If your days and nights tend to be extremely busy-make it a point to wake up early when everyone else is sleeping. Take time to enjoy the quietness of the house. Enjoy investing in yourself before the craziness of the day gets started.

So, what changes will you make this week in order to invest in yourself?

Investing in Others

2010-06-12T19:15:00.003-04:00

As we continue to take steps towards becoming women who live lives of purpose, we must not forget to take the time to invest in others, step number six. Be sure to click on the link below for a past post on Investing in Others.As you go through the weekend, ask yourself, who can I invest in this week? Until next time!

http://coachjenniferbennett.blogspot.com/2010/04/investing-in-others.html

Be a Life Long Learner

2010-06-09T21:03:00.006-04:00

So far, we have examined four of the twenty-six steps (Trust, Focus on Today, Forgive, Love Others) each of us must consider and implement into our lives in order to become the best that we can be-namely, women of purpose. When we started this journey, I posed three questions that I really wanted you to consider. As you continue to go through each of the steps, always be mindful of these questions:

1) Who are you becoming?
2) What Legacy will you leave behind?
3) Are you blooming in such a way that people are naturally drawn to you and who you are?

The fifth step is probably one of my favorite steps of all time-Be a Life Long Learner. How are you doing in this area? What was the last thing you learned? In order to become women of purpose who live lives that Glorify God, we must be willing to learn on a daily basis. Let me share with you 8 steps to that will help you in this endeavor:

1) Always have a book with you.
What was the last book you read? What did you learn from it? Reading books are probably one of the best ways to not only grow as an individual, but also a great way to challenge yourself. You should make it a priority to read for at least 15-minutes a day. Always have a book on you. Anyone that has seen my “purse” will tell you that I usually have 2-3 books in it. I take books with me everywhere because you never know when you will have the opportunity to read. Just yesterday as I was getting my pedicure, I spent that time reading. Always have a book with you!

2) Surround yourself with people you can learn from.
What people do you surround yourself with? Are they people that you can learn from? Or are they people who tend to encourage bad habits or negative thoughts? Make it a point to seek out people that you can learn from. You will be a better person for it!

3) Learn from your mistakes.

One of the best ways you can learn is to learn from your mistakes. If you are not learning from your mistakes, you are bound to continue making them over and over again. What was the last mistake you made? What can you learn from it? Spend some time thinking about this and writing down your thoughts.

4) Listen to Podcasts.
With the advancements that have taken place in technology, there is no excuse for you to not be learning. Check out the many Podcasts that are available-listen to them. Listen to them on your way to work, as you run errands, as you exercise, etc. There are multiple opportunities for you to learn through this venue.

5) Connect with a mentor/coach.
Are you currently being mentored by someone? Whether it is a friend, someone you look up to, or even a coach, be sure to have someone in your life that will hold you accountable and challenge you in all areas of your life. Make it a priority to meet with them at least once a month either in person or over the phone.

6) What interests you?
Think about those things that really interest you. What is it that you are passionate about? Seek out learning in those areas. When you are learning about your interests, you are much more likely to make your learning a priority.

7) Attend workshops/conferences/seminars.
When was the last time you attended a workshop, conference, and/or seminar? You don’t have to travel far to find learning opportunities through these venues. Check out your local library, they are always offering free learning opportunities. Additionally, many organizations today provide online learning which gives you the opportunity to learn from the comfort of your home.

8) Always ask questions .
Last but not least, always ask questions. Whether you are surrounded by a group of people, or are cuddled up on the couch reading a book-question everything you read, hear, and see. Ask yourself if it lines up with God’s word. The more questions you ask, the more you learn.

Let me challenge you to pick one avenue of learning you plan on pursuing this month. Check out your local library, look into listening to a podcast, head to the bookstore, etc. How will you commit to being a life long learner?

Steps to Loving Others

2010-06-08T20:07:00.002-04:00

Loving Others-easier said than done. But yet, as followers of Christ, we are called to love others. Matthew 22:36-39 says it perfectly:

"Teacher, which command in God's Law is the most important?
Jesus said, 'Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.' This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' These two commands are pegs; everything in God's Law and the Prophets hangs from them" (The Message).

Our purpose in life is to not only love God with every fiber of our being, but we must also love others as much as we love ourselves. Yes, even those who tend to get on our last nerve! Look at what Matthew 5:43-47 has to say:

"You're familiar with the old written law, 'Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, 'Hate your enemy.' I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that” (The Message).

Here’s what I love about these verses-it clearly states that we are to love our enemies and in turn, allow them to bring out the best in us, not the worst. I don’t know about you, but when it comes to loving those who I tend to not “like” – unfortunately, the worst in me comes out, not the best. When was the last time you allowed someone to get on your last nerve and in turn, allowed them to get the best of you? Scripture tells us that when someone gives us a hard time, respond through prayer-give it your best-let them bring out the best in you. Not only will you bring a smile to the face of God, but you will walk away feeling at peace and demonstrating to those around you, the heart of God.

Lastly, let me share with you 10 steps that you can follow in your quest to love others. These steps come straight from God’s word and His definition of Love:

1 Corinthians 13:3-7: “If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end” (The Message).

1)Love is a choice-don’t give up!
Wake up every morning choosing to love those that the Lord places in your path. Love is a choice-you choose whether or not to love those that you come into contact with. Start your day off choosing to love others.

2)It’s not about you.
When it comes to loving others, you must look beyond yourself. What needs are there around you? Who’s hurting? Who needs a helping hand? Who’s struggling? Remember-this life is not about you. When you spend time reaching out to others, you end up walking away feeling blessed. God wants to use you to reach out to others.

3)Be Content.
Be content with what you have and where God has placed you. If you tend to fall for the “grass is greener on the other side” syndrome, you will have a hard time loving others. Remember, it’s not about you. Be happy with the many blessings that are in your life. When you are content, you allow yourself to extend love to those around you.

4)Keep your emotions in check.
Do you tend to fly off the handle at every little thing? Do you think everyone is against you? Do you take everything the wrong way? If you are going to fulfill God’s command to love others, you must keep your emotions in check. Check them at the door every morning. Meditate on God’s word throughout the day. Commit to memorizing scripture on a weekly or even monthly basis-scripture that will help you keep your emotions in check.

5)Forgive others.
Colossians 3:13 says it best:
“So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it” (The Message).
Remember, love keeps no records of wrongs. You must learn to let the past be the past.

6)Trust God Always.
When you fully trust God with every area of your life-all you can do is love others because you have a quiet steadfast faith that God is who He is says He is and He will do what He says He will do.

7)Focus on the positive.
Do your thoughts tend to focus on the negative things that are taking place in your life or on the positives? Focus on the good that God has blessed you with. Once again, when you do, you are much more open to loving others.

8)Slow Down.
I don’t know about you, but when I am on the go, go, go-not only am I exhausted, but I tend to become grumpy and even a little snappy. When my attitude gets this way, I definitely do not love others. If you find yourself always on the go, not getting enough sleep, etc.-slow down. To love others effectively, you must slow your pace.

9)Tame the tongue.
Learn to speak words of blessing rather than criticism. Instead of looking at things with a critical perspective, learn to speak words of blessing. Be a woman who only allows “good” to come from her mouth.

10)Stay tuned into Christ.
Make it a priority to chat with God on a daily basis along with reading His love letter to you on a daily basis. Above all else, this will empower you to love others!

My challenge to you this week? Love others! Who you will you extend your love to this week?

Until next time!

Forgiveness

2010-06-01T19:15:00.002-04:00

“Can you recall a time when you fell short in your relationship with someone and needed to be forgiven? Or a time when you were wronged by someone and had to make a decision to forgive the person or carry a grudge? These situations cause us to gravitate in one of two directions: healing and reaping the rewards of personal freedom or facing the damage of bitter resentment. These choices, when made repeatedly over time, determine whether we will live a life of sadness or joy, a life of regrets or God’s best” (Brazelton, 79).

Did you know that choosing to not forgive can keep you from experiencing God’s absolute best for you? Unfortunately, many of us get so caught up in the trap of holding on to bitterness and unforgiveness that we end up living a life that is characterized by anger and resentment. Personally, I tend to stay away from people who hold onto grudges. Why? Because all they focus on is the bitterness, hurt, and anger that they have experienced and quite frankly, it ends up bringing me down. Who wants to be around that?

“People who forgive become less angry, more hopeful, less depressed, less anxious, less stressed, more confident, and they learn to like themselves more” (Luskin, 78).

As a woman of God, what are you known for? Are you known as a woman who forgives and allows God to take those hurtful experiences and turn them into something beautiful? Or do you tend to hold onto the hurts and allow them to “run” your life? If you desire to truly experience God’s best for you and your life, forgiveness must be a part of your vocabulary and daily life. You will experience much hurt, grief, and rejection in your lifetime. We live in a fallen world that is full of sinners. But the good news is that God knows everything that you have experienced and He promises to take the bad and make it into something good.

Let me challenge you this week to truly allow God to work in your life and in turn, open your heart to forgiveness. It will not be easy, but the end goal will be a life that is not only pleasing to God, but one that is filled with purpose and fulfillment. Who do you need to forgive this week?

Until next time!

Dr. Katie Brazelton, Live Big!, page 79.
Dr. Fred Luskin, Forgive for Good: A Proven Prescription for Health and Happiness, page 78.

Focus on Today

2010-05-20T13:24:00.002-04:00

What are you focusing on today?
• Negativity
• What you don’t have
• Past hurts
• Failures
• Rejection
• Happier Times
• What could have been
• The future

I don’t know about you, but this “step” in the journey of life gets me off centered at times. Let me explain. I tend to be one of those people who not only thinks about the “good ol’ days” (aka college, seminary, being a youth minister, etc.), but I also tend to consistently think about the future and what I hope for, what I think God will do in my life, etc. In all of this thinking about the past and future, many times, I fail to recognize what God is doing in my life right now, in the here and now.

I wonder how many of us are in this same situation. We want so much to go back in time or to see what it is that God will do in our lives, that we completely miss out on the small still voice of God that is saying, “Look! See what I am doing in your life right now! I’m here guiding your every step. Enjoy where I have you.”

One prime example in my own life was when I was attending Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. As I was studying for my Master’s in ministry, all I could think about was how God was going to use me in full-time ministry. At the time, I was a nanny to five WONDERFUL kids (who by the way, I still keep in touch with). While I LOVED and adored these kids, I couldn’t help but consistently feel as though my life didn’t matter. I would always question what God was doing in my life. He would hear from me quite often-“Lord, here I am studying to be in ministry full-time and all you have me doing is changing diapers, running errands, folding laundry, and cleaning. What kind of ministry is this?” Little did I know that God was using me in ministry in more ways that I could have ever of imagined. This became crystal clear to me when God opened the door for me to work in youth ministry full-time. Once I was settled into my new ministry, I received an essay that one of the children had written about me for her English class. The essay explained the impact that I had on her during my time as a nanny. It was then that I realized God was truly using me in ministry. Unfortunately, I was too focused on what I wanted for the future that I failed miserably to see how God was using me at that time.

Maybe you are not focusing on what the future has for you, but instead, are focusing on past hurts. This is just as detrimental as someone who consistently focuses on the future and what might or might not happen. This is another area of my life that I struggled with.

When I was in youth ministry full-time, I was extremely hurt by a church. It pains me to still think about it today. Not only did I not receive the support that I desperately needed, but I was talked about and made to feel as though nothing I did or said was good enough. What’s even worse, this all took place right as my husband and I were getting married. Not a great way to start off a marriage. Unfortunately, I ended up leaving the church because nothing was going to change. Can I tell you that it took me nearly three years to work through this hurt and forgive those who hurt me? During those three years, I really questioned what God was doing in my life. I would ask God, “Lord, what are you doing? I went to seminary because I really felt that you were calling me to full-time ministry and here I am just trying to lead youth to your heart and in turn, I get nothing but hurt and pain from the people of your church. What are you doing?” I spent many days and nights focusing on my hurt and rejection and because of that, I was missing out on the new thing that God was doing in my life.

I say all of this because you do not want to do the same thing! Don’t waste your life by thinking about what has happened or what can happen! Focus on Today! Focus on what God is doing in your life right now. Maybe you are going through a hard time at this point in your life and you have no clue how there could be any good in what is currently taking place. Hang in there-God knows what is taking place and in turn, He hears your cries, prayers, and moans. Always remember that while we don’t see the big picture, God does.

Maybe you are focusing on how great things were in the past. If you are, stop doing that! Thank God for those great days and in turn, ask Him to show you the good in today. If you ask, He will show you. Maybe you are spending a lot of time focusing on what you hope for in the future. While it’s not bad to set goals and have dreams and aspirations, don’t allow those thoughts to not only become your idol, but to rob you of what God is doing in your life today! Focus on today!

So, I leave you with the same question I started with, what are you focusing on today? Ask God to show you the good in today and what He is doing in your life right now. Don’t allow yourself to miss out on the beauty of today!
Until next time!

Trusting God = Risk Taking

2010-05-13T20:19:00.002-04:00

Why is it so hard to trust God? Is it because we are fearful of what our lives may become if we do in fact give everything over to God and in turn, trust Him with every fiber of our being? Did you know that when you don’t allow yourself to truly trust God, you end up missing out on some of the Lord’s biggest blessings that He desperately wants to pour out on you?

When I think of the word trust, I can’t help but also think about the word risk. When we allow ourselves to truly trust God and allow Him into every area of our life, are we not taking a risk? You may be asking how is this so. When we give Him complete control of every area of our life, the reality is, at that present moment, we do not always know what God will do. Look at James 4:13-15:

“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’-yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’”

The truth of the matter is that we have no clue as to what will take place in our lives today, tomorrow, or 10 years from now. Life in itself is a risk. So, what’s keeping you from truly trusting God? You will only come to experience true joy and fulfillment if you allow yourself to trust God with everything you have.

This is the way I look at it. Women who would rather stay within their comfort zones, tend to be like the people on a carousal. In life, they just go around and around. Nothing changes, everything remains the same. Eventually, the ride becomes a bit monotonous.

On the other hand, women who are willing to take risks, tend to be like the people who are ready to tackle a roller coaster-whether they are filled with excitement or complete anxiety! Roller coasters have all kinds of turn, climbs, drops, loops, highs, lows, etc. Women who take risks, experience life like no other. Life not only becomes an adventure, but more importantly, you get to experience God like never before!

So today, ask yourself-where in my life do I truly trust God? Am I currently taking any risks or have I recently taken any risks? If not, what’s holding me back? What kind of ride does God want to take you on?

Until next time!

Becoming The Best You Can Be!

2010-05-04T19:58:00.003-04:00

In my last post, I asked you a few questions:

Who are you becoming?

What Legacy will you leave behind?

Are you blooming in such a way that people are naturally drawn to you and who you are?

Have you allowed God to mature you so that you may reach your full potential?

If you haven't already taken the time to truly ponder these questions, let me encourage you to do so. As women of God, one of our goals should be to never remain the same. We need to allow God to do His mighty work within us on a daily basis so that we may not only live life to the fullest, but also impact this world in big ways.

For the next couple of weeks, let me take some time to share with you some "steps" on how you can become the best that you can be! Tonight, I will post all 26 steps, but over the next couple of weeks, I will delve deeper into explaining each of these vital and crucial steps that in turn, will assist you in becoming the best that you can be!

1) Trust

2) Focus on Today

3) Forgive

4) Love Others

5) Be a Life Long Learner

6) Invest in Others

7) Invest in Yourself

8) Guard Your Time

9) Exercise Daily

10) Be Content

11) Laugh Daily

12) Simplify

13) Stay Positive

14) Do the Right Thing

15) Learn to Listen

16) Focus on Your Strengths

17) Don't Complain

18) Control Your Emotions

19) Learn from your Mistakes

20) Embrace Change

21) Pray

22) Get Enough Sleep

23) Learn Patience

24) Give Everything 100%

25) Get out of Debt

26) Surrender on a Daily Basis

Take some time to think about each of these steps and in turn ask yourself-Which step do I struggle with the most and why? If you feel up to it, feel free to share your thoughts with me-I would love to know and hear what it is that women have the hardest time working through. I can tell you-I too am a work in progress. Just like you, I'm working through each of these steps and will continue to do so as long as I live. So know, that you are not alone!

For me, I have to consistently remind myself to focus on today and not what has happened in the past or what it is that the future may hold. This is a step that I am continually working on and in the next few days, will share with you my personal experiences within this step.

Stay tuned and if you feel up to it, share your thoughts with me!

Believe. Blossom. Become.

2010-05-02T18:33:00.003-04:00

As many of you know, I am truly fulfilled when I see other women living lives full of purpose. Not only am I inspired by these women who are living life to the fullest, but it continues to amaze me to see the impact that many of these women are making in their homes, communities, country, and world. What a sight to behold!

Unfortunately, I also come across many women who long to live lives of purpose, but yet, the "things" of this world have kept them from experiencing God's best. These "things" include:

* Fear

* Hurt

* Rejection

* Time

* Unforgiveness

* Depression

* Death of a Dream

* Weariness

* Other Responsibilities

* Confusion

* Past Mistakes

* Bad Decisions

* Debt

The list could go on and on. I have to ask-which woman are you? The one who is living the purpose filled life? Or, are you a woman who desires to live a life of purpose, but yet, something keeps holding you back?

Here are some questions I want you to consider:

1) Do you truly believe that God has a purpose for you and your life? Do you truly believe that He wants to give you the desires of your heart? Do you truly believe that the Creator of this world is madly in love with you-despite your past and the mistakes you have made?

2) To Bloom means to mature into achievement of one's potential, to shine out, to Glow. Are you blooming? Have you allowed God to mature you so that you may reach your potential? Are you shining? Are you blooming in such a way that people are naturally drawn to you and who you are? How are you blossoming?

3) Who are you becoming? What legacy will you leave behind?

Take some time to journal your honest responses to these questions. In the next few days, I will share with you some specific steps you can take that will not only help you believe that God does have a plan for you, but steps that will help you blossom and become the woman that God has created you to be!

Stay tuned!

Investing in Others

2010-04-19T20:08:00.003-04:00

This past weekend I had the opportunity to speak to women on the subject of purpose. What a great weekend it was! As I spoke and met many of the women who were in attendance, I couldn't help but hear stories that included much pain. Women who have been hurt by the church, hurt in relationships, and women who have experienced regrets for past decisions. As I listened to each story, I couldn't help but hurt for each of them. What I also realized is that there are many women who desire and long for someone that they can share life with; another female that they can be open and honest with. Women today long for lasting friendships with other women.

Based on this, let me ask you this simple question: What are you doing to invest in the lives of other women? I have no doubt that there are many women who surround you on a daily basis who long for encouragement and friendship. How can you be the hands and feet of Christ to them? Mother Teresa once said, "A day lived without doing something good for others is a day not worth living."

Here are 10 simple things you can do to impact the life of another woman:

1) Write a note of encouragement

2) Invite her out for coffee and/or lunch

3) Offer her words of praise

4) Offer to provide dinner for her family

5) Offer to watch her kids so that she can have some alone time or a date night

6) Be someone who truly listens

7) Take an interest in what she is interested in

8) Give her a book that really impacted you

9) Pray for her and with her

10) Be trustworthy

Take some time this week to really reach out to one of the women that God has placed within your path! Who knows, she could end up becoming your best friend!

Working Moms

2010-04-09T20:03:00.004-04:00

This week I have had the opportunity to really think about being a working mom. Let me explain. A friend of mine has recently decided that instead of working, she needs to be at home with her little boy. As she and I chatted about her decision, I couldn't help but to begin feeling a sense of guilt. Anyone that knows me, knows that not only do I love and cherish my little boy to pieces, but at the same time, I'm a very driven individual who is passionate about what she does vocationally. It's in my blood!

So, as I've been thinking about this, I've also been thinking about the many working moms who either work because they need that income or because they just truly enjoy their vocation. As I've pondered the many different points of view when it comes to working moms, I figured I'd ask you-my readers what you think. So, here are some questions that I would LOVE for you to comment on.

Everyone who comments on the following questions, will be placed in a drawing for a great prize-Katie Brazelton's book, Pathway to Purpose. If you want guidance on discovering your purpose-this is the book to read! Ok, here we go:

1) If you are a working mom, have you ever felt guilty for being a working mom? Where has that guilt come from? How do you work through the guilt?

2) Do you work because you need the income, or do you choose to work because you love what you do and feel called to your vocation?

3) How do you juggle being a working mom with all the other responsibilities that come with life?

4) If you are a stay at home mom, what was it (besides having a baby) that led you to be a stay at home mom? Husband? Family? Calling?

5) What is your impression of the Proverbs 31 passage in the Bible? What does that passage mean to you?

Ok, I hope to read many responses! Have fun answering!

Purposeful Women

2010-04-06T20:21:00.003-04:00

Today I had the opportunity to take a group of high school leadership students to meet and learn from John Bozard, the President of Orlando Health and VP of Arnold Palmer and Winnie Palmer Hospitals. What an incredible opportunity this was for our students!

As we listened to John Bozard and some of the executives from the hospitals, I couldn't help but get excited for our students as they learned some essential truths. Let me share with you these truths that you can incorporate into your life.

According to John and the executives, when they are looking to hire someone, there are four specific characteristics that they look for in individuals:

1) Integrity: They want someone who is who they say they are.

2) Vision: They want someone who is not only committed to the vision of the organization, but also who has a vision-someone who can think beyond today.

3) Someone who has the right priorities: Basically, someone who can balance the different parts of his/her life.

4) Someone who has a personal sense of security: Someone who knows who they are, where they are going, and who has a desire to serve others.

As these characteristics were discussed, I couldn't help but think about how as women, these are characteristics that we should be striving for in our daily lives. We must continually ask ourselves:

* Who are we?

* How do others see us?

* Are we impacting this world in a positive or negative way?

* Are we women of integrity who have a vision-God's vision?

* Do we know what our priorities should be and do we know who we belong to?

As these leaders continued to share with our students, one of them made a statement that I was so happy to hear. It's something I continually strive to get across to both students and adults:

"Your job should not be a job that you just clock in and out of on a daily basis-it has to be a part of your life. It should be your passion-it's a calling. You should wake up each morning saying, this is what I get to do and in turn, be excited about it."

I LOVE THIS! If you have ever heard me speak, you have heard me say that God never intended us to wake up each morning dreading the day before us. God wants us to enjoy our lives and in turn, He desire that we use the gifts, skills, and strengths that He has given us. He gave us those for a reason. The reason we are passionate about certain things is because He desires nothing more than for us to use that passion to impact this world for Him. God never wanted us to separate our spiritual life from our vocational calling-the two must come together.

So, let me ask you:

* Do you wake up each morning saying, "Wow, I get to do this for my job and I love it!"

* Do you feel as though your job is a part of the calling that God has on your life?

* Are you passionate about what you do?

* Would you be willing to do what you do even if you didn't get a paycheck for it?

Spend some time pondering and journaling about this. Spend some quality time really observing your life and asking yourself whether or not you are a woman of integrity and vision, a woman who had her priorities straight, a woman who has a personal sense of security.

Then, really think about your job. Are you passionate about it? Do you view it as a calling? I have no doubt that when we begin to realize and truly believe that God has a purpose for our lives, in turn, we will begin to live as women of purpose!

Enjoy the journey of self discovery!

Jen

Journal Entry #2

2010-01-18T20:19:00.003-05:00

As you continue to deepen your relationship with God-here's another journal topic that will allow you to spend some quality time with you Maker:

"What is my God-given purpose in life?"

What do you think your God-given purpose in life is? Do you know what your purpose is? Do you wake up each day looking forward to what God is going to do, or do you wake up dreading the day before you?

Take some quality time to discuss your thoughts with God. He desires nothing more than to reveal His purpose for your life.

Rambling Thoughts

2010-01-16T20:50:00.005-05:00

It's been a busy week for me. As many of you are aware, this past Tuesday, Haiti experienced a devastating earthquake. My heart is truly saddened for the people of Haiti. As I watch the numerous news stories, my heart can't help but break. Seeing everyone living on the streets hungry for food, babies not having formula that they so desperately need, people trapped under buildings, etc-I just can't help but to truly hurt for each and every individual.

As the news has developed, I have to admit, I've never felt so hurt for a country and group of people. What this means-I don't know. I'm desperately trying to figure it out. Is Haiti a country that the Lord will allow me to minister to in the future? Who knows. All I do know is that for now, I can pray and in turn, donate as much as I can to help a broken country.

What's even more interesting is that the school I work for had a group of students there on a mission trip during all of this. They left last Friday and bam, the earthquake hit on Tuesday. All week I have been praying for these kids for not only their safety, but also that God would do a mighty work through them. I can't imagine what it was like to be in a country without your family and to all of a sudden experience an earthquake that has literally killed thousands of people all around you.

All I can say is that God WAS SO GOOD! Everyone on our team was safe and in turn, they were able to minister to those people around them. What excites me even more is that these students came back much closer to God and in turn, have a strong desire to go back to Haiti to continue ministering to the people. Oh how that makes my heart jump for joy. Nothing makes me happier than seeing teenagers living their lives for Christ and in turn, allowing God to use them. These kids came back with a fire and I pray that they would impact FA in some mighty ways! I pray that students all around will realize what a huge difference they can make for Christ in our world. Ultimately, I pray that they will help bring thousands upon thousands of lives to Christ because life is truly found in Jesus Christ.

I know so many people who do not know Christ and my heart breaks for them too because I know what they are missing out on. I have both family and friends who want nothing to do with Christ and it truly saddens me. When you are just so in love with someone, you desire nothing more than to shout it to the world. I am in love with Jesus Christ and I want nothing more than for people to realize that Jesus Christ does exist and that if we would just turn our lives over to Him, He in turn will love us like we have never been loved before. Our purpose in life can only be found in Jesus. True Joy only comes from our creator.

As I sign-off, I pray that not only the people of Haiti would turn their faces to their creator, but that the people of America would realize how blessed we are and that we too would turn our faces to God. He promises us that if we would turn from our evil ways and look to Him, He will heal our land. I pray that the lost would come to know Him and those that have turned their backs on Him, would come running back into His arms. He's been patiently waiting.

Journaling

2010-01-08T12:38:00.003-05:00

Each year I come across women who truly desire to grow closer to God. In my experience, one of the best ways to truly draw closer to God and in turn, communicate with Him is through journaling. I don't know about you, but when I am able to just sit and write, something happens. I feel a sense of peace, relief, and closeness. It's as if I'm truly able to get all my thoughts, questions, ideas, concerns, confusions, etc., out in such a way that I would not be able to if I were to just speak them out.

For the next few days, let me encourage you to spend some quality time chatting with your Maker via journaling. I guarantee you that if you take the time to do this on a daily basis, you will draw closer to the Lord. Start the new year off fresh by purchasing a journal that will only consist of your letters to God. If you would rather type out your journal entries, set up a folder on your computer that is completely dedicated to God's letters.

In order to help you in this endeavor, I will be providing you with some specific "questions" that you can respond to in your journal. So, let's begin!

Question #1:

"Why did God create me?"

Take some time today to truly focus on this question. Why do you think God created you? What was His purpose in creating you with your specific gifts, strengths, talents, skills, passions, weaknesses, etc.?

If you feel up to-share your responses! I would love to hear them!

A Glimmer of What is to Come

2009-12-31T21:48:00.000-05:00

The other day I was driving my usual route to work, when I came across the renovation of a local downtown theatre. On the outside of the theatre a sign was posted that said, "A Glimmer of What Is to Come.” As I pondered this sign, I started thinking about my personal walk with Christ. How many times does Christ try to tell me these exact words, but yet, I don't hear Him because I allow the noise of everything else around me to capture 100% of my attention? How many times have I been so focused on what I hope for in the future that I fail to see how God is using me now to make a difference?

As women, it is so easy to think:

· If I only had one more hour a day, life would be much easier
· If I could only get another job, life would be great
· If I only had another house, I’d be so much happier
· If I only had some extra money, I could accomplish so much more in life
· If I only had a husband, life would be so much better

So many times we focus on the “if only” thoughts which cause us to miss out on God’s presence in our lives today and what it is that He is trying to show us now. The Lord is saying, “If you would keep focused on Me, I will give you a glimpse of what is to come in your life.” Yet, we wonder why the Lord is not using us or why we must experience the toils of our daily routine. We spend so much time focusing on what we don’t have and what we want, that we lose sight of what the Lord is doing right now in our lives.

In Genesis 37 we find the story of a young man by the name of Joseph. Joseph, a seventeen year old kid had dreamt about his family bowing down to him. When he reveals the dream to his brothers, they hated him for it. Because of that hate and jealousy, they decide to sell him into slavery. But the story doesn’t end there. Later, Joseph lives in the house of his Egyptian master and his master’s wife falsely accuses Joseph of sleeping with her. In turn, his master throws him in jail. Talk about life not turning out the way you expected it to! What do you think Joseph thought during this time? He had glimpsed what was to come and life suddenly veered and his “dream” was no where in sight. What do you do when life turns you upside down?

If you look carefully at the account of Joseph, you will notice that quite often it is mentioned that God was with Joseph. God was with Joseph while he was in the house of his master and because of that, God blessed the home of the master. God was also with Joseph when he was thrown in jail after being falsely accused of sleeping with his master’s wife. God gave him favor with the head jailer. Then, God gave Joseph the ability to interpret dreams-only Joseph could interpret Pharaoh’s dream and consequently Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of all of his affairs. Once again, the Lord was with Joseph. Joseph spent his time preparing for the upcoming famine. Joseph’s brothers desperately needed food and supplies. Because of that need, they traveled to Egypt and found to their amazement their brother Joseph. Before we know it, Joseph’s brothers bowed down to him. The glimpse that Joseph was given years before finally came into fruition. WOW!

The Lord desires to give us a “glimpse” of what is to come. But so many times we can’t see that glimpse because we allow everything else to distract us. God has placed a dream within your heart that he wants to eventually fulfill in your life. Do you trust Him? Maybe life has taken some unexpected turns like Joseph’s did and you’re wondering what it is that the Lord is doing. Hang in there, hold on, trust God, and watch what he will do. Everything that you are experiencing at this time in your life, God will use it for His glory. I love how the Message writes Romans 8:26-28:

Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our present condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.

So, here’s my question to you; are you trying to take control of your life, or are you willing to trust God and believe that he has a purpose for you and in that, He will bring to fruition what he has promised? Are you willing to trust God and in that trust, allow Him to use you the way He wants to use you today? Are you willing to make yourself available to Him today and in turn, shut out all the noise around you and wait patiently for Him to whisper in your ear, “Hold on, I want to give you a glimpse of what is to come in your life?”

Growth

2009-12-28T08:44:00.003-05:00

“Growing in Your Relationship with God”

When I think back to the days when I was dating and experiencing love for the first time, I can not help but smile when I remember how I longed to hear “his” voice. There were days that I could not stand not being around him, waiting by the phone hoping he would call, and of course, anxiously waiting for my work day to end so that I could see him and spend time with him. The sound of his voice, the touch of his hand, caused my heart to race. Just knowing that soon, I would be able to spend time with him again, filled me with much excitement and anticipation. Those were days filled with the discovery of loving and being loved.

When I think of my growing relationship with God, I can see that in many ways, it resembles the relationship that couples in love share. We want to spend time together so that we can learn more about each other. When we can’t see each other, we miss each other, our hearts long for that other person. Lovers spend many nights and hours just talking about nothing in particular because they want to be close, connected with the one who makes their heart race. They just can not get enough of each other. This is the relationship that God desires with us.

The Creator of this universe desires nothing more than for us to desperately miss him when we are apart from him. His heart longs for us to spend time with him. He wants our thoughts to be filled with him. He wants us to feel as though we just can’t get enough of him, because in reality, he just can’t get enough of us. He wants to know us intimately and in turn, he wants us to know him intimately.

How then do we grow in our relationship with God when it seems like everything else is calling out for our attention? Communication is the key. Communication is vital to each and every relationship. If I am in a relationship with someone and I do not communicate whether it be by phone, letters, or in person, that relationship will never grow, never mature, there would never be a time of deep, personal intimate love. The relationship that doesn’t communicate person to person, heart to heart, is doomed to failure on many levels.

Growing in God means that we get to know him and as we grow in the knowledge of Him, we fall more in love with him each and every day. Because of that love relationship we have with him, our hearts desires become the desires of God. If we want to grow in our relationship with God, we must make it a priority to communicate with him each and every day. Ask yourself these two questions:

1) When was the last time your heart really missed God?
2) When was the last time you felt as though you couldn’t get enough of him?

If you find it hard to answer these questions, you need to spend more time with him. As you spend time with God, your heart draws closer to him and in turn, all you can do is think about him and desire nothing but him. Matthew 22:38 (MSG) says, “Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence. This is the most important, the first on any list.” The God of this universe desires our love.

It is like someone who is married, who carries a photo of their spouse around. That person, can show others the photo, speak about their spouse, confess their love for their spouse to all, but if that person never goes home, never spends time with their spouse, never speaks loving, intimate words with their spouse, in fact acts as if their spouse were not even in the same room with them…would you really expect that the spouse would feel loved? Appreciated? Would the relationship ever grow, becoming more united, sharing more intimacy? Or would that “relationship” slowly cool, would it eventually break down?

In this world of fast cars, fast food, and instant messaging, here are some practical ways that you can communicate with God which in turn will allow you to grow in your relationship with Him:

Prayer. When we spend time in prayer with God, it gives us the opportunity to share our hearts with him which is what he desires. It’s a time to tell him about our day, our happy moments, our discouraging times, our worries, anxieties, hurts, joys, etc. Philippians 4:6, 7 (MSG) says; “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”
Can you believe that? God wants us to communicate with him through prayer. He wants to hear us talk. He wants to hear about our day. He wants to laugh with us, cry with us, rejoice with us, and be with us. Just like you spend time with your family and friends talking with them about what’s happening in your life, God also desires that time with only you, no one else will do, no one else can take your place in his heart. Carve out time in your day to just talk with him. Isn’t that what prayer is all about? Maybe the next time you step into your car, instead of listening to the radio, just spend some time talking with God.

Another aspect of praying is listening. When you communicate with others, you take time to talk and you also take time to listen. God desires the same thing. He not only wants to hear about what’s happening in your life, he also wants to talk with you. When you pray, make sure to take some time to just be silent. Let your thoughts be on the things of God and wait patiently for his thoughts. If you have difficulty keeping your mind focused on listening for his voice, tell him so. He understands. Ask him to sharpen your ability to stay focused on listening for him to speak to your heart.

Reading/Studying the Bible. Another part of communication with God is reading and studying God’s word. If we want to grow in our relationship with God and really know who he is, we must read and learn his word which is his message to us. John 1:14 states (NIV), “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” When we spend time reading and studying God’s message to us, we grow in our relationship with him. We learn about the heart of God and what it is that he desires of us and we also learn about the things that make his heart sing. The Bible is his message of love to us.

Fellowship. God never intended us to be lone rangers. Hebrews 10:25 (NIV) states: “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the day approaching”. When we surround ourselves with people who have a heart for God and desire nothing more than to draw closer to him, we will find that we not only learn more about who God is, but we also desire him more. Being around like minded people encourages us in our own walk with the Lord. We are to stimulate one another to love and good deeds. Without real fellowship we can not grow in our love and knowledge of God, because in other believers, we experience relationships that teach us how to love God. How can we learn to love Him, if we can not love others?

What steps will you take this week to grow in your relationship with God? Maybe instead of listening to the radio on your way to work or as you run errands, spend some time just talking with the Lord. Or maybe you should start journaling and writing love letters to the one who created you. Also, take some time to read God’s message of love to you. Surround yourself this week with those who desire God like you do. If you take these steps, you will soon come to realize that you are no longer the person you were a few months ago and you will find that your heart is filled with the one who loves you, cherishes you, accepts you, and finds you to be amazingly beautiful.

Make 2010 Different!

2009-12-27T21:05:00.001-05:00

10 Simple Steps to Begin Living a Life of Purpose!

Be Still-Make it a priority to spend time with your Maker on a daily basis; be still and know that He is God. The more time you spend with Him and the more time you spend getting to know Him, the more He gives you. Make Him a priority and in turn, He will begin showing you how He wants to specifically use you and how He has uniquely created you!

Love God, Love others-Give God everything you have. Love Him like you’ve never loved Him before. Love others. Be a servant leader. Take time each day to love on those that the Lord has surrounded you with. When you love God and others, God pours out an abundance of blessings upon you!

Be You-Be yourself; be the person that God has created you to be. Don’t compare yourself to others and what it is that God is doing in their life, be you. God has created you with specific gifts, skills, and talents. Allow Him to begin showing you your uniqueness. When you spend time comparing yourself to others, you miss out on who God has created YOU to be!

Learn to say no-So many times we allow ourselves to do everything, which in turn, causes us to be tired, moody, and exhausted. Before saying yes to anything, give it over to God and ask Him if this is something that He would have you be a part of. If you ask, He will answer.

Simplify-Simplify your life. If you have a cluttered house and/or office, not only will you be stressed, but you will fail to create an environment that inspires you to be who God has created you to be.

Be Inspired-Make your home and/or place of employment a place of inspiration. Surround yourself with those things that inspire you to not only spend time with God, but also those things that inspire you to dream, set goals, and pursue your passions. Display words of encouragement around you, light candles, keep your journal nearby, and display fresh flowers throughout the house. Allow yourself to be inspired!

Make Connections-Surround yourself with positive people. Allow yourself to connect with those people who not only inspire you, but people who will cause you to grow emotionally, academically, and spiritually. Surround yourself with people who will hold you accountable in regards to your goals and what it is that you hope to accomplish.

Do Something Different- Allow yourself to take a step and get out of your comfort zone. Attend a meeting, sign up for a college course, attend a writer’s conference, invite someone to dinner, etc. Do whatever it takes to allow yourself to get out of your comfort zone.

Write, Write, and Write-Take time each day to write your thoughts, dreams, goals, hopes, passions, etc. Not only will you be inspired, but you will also begin discovering YOU!

Visit Jen’s Blog-Be sure to check-out Jen’s blog on a daily basis. Many times you will find questions that will help you discover who you are, what you are dreaming about, and what it is that is holding you back! www.coachjenniferbennett.blogspot.com

Jennifer Bennett
Life Purpose Coach, Life Plan Facilitator, Educator, Writer, Speaker
www.coachjenniferbennett.com

All rights Reserved, Copyright by Jennifer Bennett, 2007

The Dream Giver

2009-11-16T11:48:00.002-05:00

Do you believe that God wants to give you the desires of your heart? Do you believe that our God is truly, a Dream Giver?

If you're anything like me, you've most likely had your doubts. Maybe you dreamed for so long that at some point, you gave up because it seemed as if no one was listening and nothing was happening.

Or maybe, you attempted to follow your dreams, only to have them trampled on by people.

Or, have you never allowed yourself to dream because you fear that only disappointment will come from allowing yourself to dream.

If any of the scenarios above sound familiar, don't worry, you are not alone. I too have been there. Let me explain.

Scenario #1-When I was 18 and on a mission trip to Venezuela, I truly felt the calling of God on my life. I knew beyond a shadow of doubt that God was calling me to full-time ministry. Well, it wasn't until 5-6 years later that God gave me the desires of my heart. Now, with that being said, He gave me part of my dream-not all of it. I'm still waiting for some of my dream to come to fruition. During the waiting period-I really questioned God and the calling He had on my life. I felt as if I was going nowhere. At one point I felt as though He was calling me to seminary and believe it or not, I almost didn't attend because I started questioning what God laid on my heart.

Know this-if God has placed something on your heart and you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God has called you, hang in there! He will bring it about in His timing. And if for some reason your dreams not the dreams He has for you, ask Him to clearly show you what He dreams for your life. I can guarantee you, He will show you.

Scenario #2-Oh how I have experienced hurt from people. When God did give me the desires of my heart, I ended up being deeply hurt by people. Oh, did it hurt. I really questioned what God was doing because all I knew was that I wanted to make an impact in this world for Christ and here I was getting hurt by the very people I should have been able to lean on. I've dealt with this in the church and in my own ministry endeavors. It's never a fun experience to go through.

Scenario #3-While I've never felt as though I couldn't dream due to the fear of hurt and failure, I have to admit, there are times that I wonder whether or not it's worth it. Let me say this-it is well worth it! Again, if God has given you a dream, do not give up! I've been experiencing this this week with my dissertation for my doctoral degree. Yesterday was a bad day-I was ready to throw in the towel and say forget it. I was ready to give up on my dream of ever obtaining my doctorate. Let me give you the advice that many of my friends posted:

* take a breath-relax
* have some ice cream
* think of the positive outcome that will come about when you fulfill your dream
* DON'T GIVE UP!

So today I ask you, what are your dreams? Do you believe that God wants to give you the desires of your heart? What stands in the way of you believing that God wants to bless you? Do not allow impatience or people keep you from fulfilling what God has placed in your heart. God is faithful! He will do what He has promised to do!

New Lessons Learned

2009-11-06T13:13:00.002-05:00

I must admit-having a baby has recently taught me numerous lessons. Let me share some of them with you:

* Patience. Currently, my son wakes up between 2-3 times a night. What amazes me is that even though I pick him up, change his diaper and get his bottle ready, he continues to cry, even though his needs will be met. Seeing and experiencing this makes me wonder, how many times do we do the same thing? We know deep in our hearts that God is there with us, carrying us through our daily lives while meeting our needs, but yet, we still throw our "tantrums" and in turn, lose our patience because we feel as though God is not working on our timetable. Watching my son as he cries has caused me to question how many times I do this to God.

* Decision Making-Since Liam has arrived, I've had some decision making to do which in turn has caused me to really lean on God. What decisions are you needing to make today? Have you turned to God and asked Him to guide and lead you?

* Opinions-Having a baby brings about the many opinions of others. While I appreciate the majority of the thoughts and ideas I get from others, I can't but help ask myself-Jen, are you listening more to the opinions of others or are you truly seeking God's ideas and what it is that He thinks is best? Let me ask you the same-as you make decisions and try to figure things out in life-are you seeking the opinions of others over God?

I pray that as you continue to seek out your Life Purpose, that you will realize that God desires nothing more than to share His thoughts and ideas with you and that even though it may seems like He's not working on your behalf, be patient, He's not only meeting your needs, but preparing you for what He has for you! May you be blessed!

Dream Map #2

2009-09-10T18:38:00.001-04:00

As you continue to reflect on the dreams that you have, take into consideration the following questions:

* Does anyone in your life or personal history also share this dream for you? If so, who would be happier if you achieved this dream-you or the other people?

* What would happen to you if you were not able to pursue this dream?

* What would happen to you if you pursued it and failed to achieve it?

* What would change in your life if you accomplished this dream?

As noted in my last post, really take some time to reflect on these questions and your responses. Your responses should give you a pretty good idea regarding the purpose and direction of your dream(s).

Have fun!

Your Dream Map

2009-09-02T18:45:00.002-04:00

Do you have a dream in your heart? Is there a passion within you to live out your life purpose-the life that God has created you for? If so, you are not alone.

Millions of people today wake up dreading the day before them. Why? Because they are not using the gifts, strengths, and talents that the Lord has blessed them with. Did you know that research shows that the majority of heart attacks take place on Mondays? Do we wonder why? People do not like what they are doing. People feel trapped in their jobs and in turn, see each day as another day to make enough money to pay the bills.

What would life be like if you actually woke up each morning looking forward to using your gifts and skills in an area that you knew, was created for you? Please understand when I say this-there are times in life when each of us have to do things that we don't like. There are times that God does and will put our dreams on hold in order to grow us. But even in those times, God still wants us to dream and in turn, trust Him to give us the desires of our heart. What we must choose to realize is that sometimes God has different dreams for us and if our heart's desire is to truly be who God has created us to be, then it is imperative that we allow God to work within us and in turn, plant the dreams He has for us in our heart. If we truly seek out God and ask Him to give us His desires, He will be faithful to do that.

Here are some questions to consider when thinking about the dream that you feel God has planted within your heart. These questions are taken from John Maxwell's book, "My Dream Map." If you have the opportunity to purchase this book/journal, let me encourage you to do so. It will help you clarify the dreams that God has placed within you.

* Why do you want to accomplish this dream?
* Why are you the right person for this dream and why is this dream right for you?
* What specific talents, strengths, and personality traits will help you achieve this dream?
* What kind of research have you done on your dream?
* What is your earliest recollection of knowing you wanted to achieve this dream?

Take some time today to truthfully answer these questions-it will help bring clarity to you and your dreams. Also, be on the lookout for future blog posts that will challenge you to truly think about your dreams.

Blessings to each of you!

Why Should My Child Explore Careers?

2009-01-27T19:36:00.003-05:00

Why Should My Child Explore Careers?
Source: U.S. Department of Education

Hands-on Career Exploration
There are many ways for your child to "try-on" careers during the middle and high school years.

* Have your child volunteer for organizations that hire people in his or career interest area.
* Let your child take part-time or summer jobs that relate to his or her career interest area.
* Find someone who works in your child's career interest area and arrange for your child to watch that worker for a day.
* Help your child find an internship or work-based learning experience related to his or her career interest area. Your child may be able to get high school credit for this type of work experience.
* Find out if your child's high school offers vocational classes in a field in which he or she is interested.

Where Can my Child Find Quality Career Information for Exploration?
There are many resources for career exploration. The career center or library in your child's school may be the first place to start. Your child's school or local library may also have a computerized career information delivery system (CIDS) to provide career information to your child.

Every state has a local office of America's Career Resource Network (ACRN). ACRN is a nationwide network dedicated to helping young people and adults identify and provide the academic and career skills they need to become productive citizens, workers and community members. You can find the contact information for the ACRN office in your state by going to: http://www.acrenetwork.org and clicking on Network.

For more information:
Occupational Outlook Handbook online at http://stats.bls.gov/oco/

America's Career InfoNet at: http://www.acinet.org

O*Net: http://online.onetcenter.org

WOIS Portfolio, WOIS/The Career Information System at: http://www.wois.org

Your Child's Career, A Website for Parents at: http://www.yourchildscareer.org/careerplanning/careerplan_no_plan.htm

Why Should My Child Explore Careers?
For your child to make good career decisions, he or she must explore and investigate many careers. Active participation in career exploration activities will help your child become aware of the many career opportunities available and the steps that need to be taken to reach his or her career goals. Some advantages of career exploration include:

*Understanding the work environments of interesting careers;
*Exposing your child to careers he or she may never have considered; and
*Discovering the various types of post-high school education and training, as well as their costs, so your child does not waste time and money getting training unrelated to his or her chosen career.

Start Career Exploration Early
Career Exploration should begin in middle school. It should be a continual process throughout your child's middle and high school years.

Career development is a life-long process and your child's plans will probably change as he or she gathers more information. Exploring careers does not mean that decisions have to be made and set in stone. It does not mean that as your child makes decisions about his or her career direction, those decisions will be based on concrete realistic information.

What Should Career Exploration Look Like?
Career exploration begins with the awareness that different occupations exist. It continues with research and "trying out" several occupations. There are two ways to explore careers; one is to investigate and the other is to experience. Your child should engage in both.

Investigating Careers: Your child should collect as much information as possible about several career options. Your child may be interested in careers that are similar, such as an animal scientist, veterinarian and dolphin trainer; or your child may have wide-spread interests and want to explore careers in a variety of fields, such as firefighter, mental health counselor and electrician. Whether your child's interests are focused or general, he or she will be able to create a more realistic educational and career plan by participating in career exploration activities.

Information about careers that should be investigated include:
*What education does this career require?
*Where is the education/training available? Am I able to access the education/training needed to enter this career?
*What is the future outlook for this career?
*What is the path for advancement in the career?
*What other careers are closely related to this career?
*What are the everyday tasks performed in this career?
*What are the normal work hours?
*Does this career require travel?
*What health and retirement benefits are generally found in this line of work?
*What are the typical wages for this career?
*Do I need to relocate to find a job?
*Do the tasks match my interests and values?

Help Your Child Create a Career Portfolio
A career portfolio is a collection of your child's academic and work experiences, career interest assessments and personal achievements. A career portfolio can encourage your child to keep a record of important academic and career information that he or she may need in the future.

Make a Career Portfolio Teachable Moment
Help your child make a career portfolio using a file, envelope, journal, scrapbook or other storage device. As your child investigates careers, encourage him or her to put copies of the information gathered into the career portfolio. The portfolio may also be a place for your child to:
*Record and save dates, places and duties performed in volunteer work, paid jobs, internships or work-based learning experiences. This information can be later transferred to a resume or job application.
*Record classes taken in middle and high school and grades received in those classes.
*Store information about education and training research and the colleges or other training locations explored by your child.
*Record results from interest and personality assessments.
*Store records of awards, achievements, or honors.
*Record information about extracurricular activities.

When your child keeps all of his or her career and educational exploration information in one place it will be easily accessible when he or she is ready to apply to college, apply for a job or create a resume. It will also help your child compare the information he or she gathers in the career exploration process.

Community Colleges

2008-11-14T19:31:00.004-05:00

This week I had the opportunity to speak with a variety of students who are beginning to make decisions as to what school they will attend upon graduating from high school. In my experience as an educator, one of the things I have noticed is that many students tend to view community college as a step below the four-year university. As an educator, one of the things I really try to help students see is that beginning college at a community college is a wonderful way to begin the college years.

Here's an article I came across which highlights this thought process.

Community College: A Viable Option
by Jennifer GrossSource: National Association for College Admission Counseling

What do an Academy Award nominated actor, the first female space shuttle commander, the governor of Hawaii, and the president of the NAACP have in common? All four got their start at a community college.

More and more students are enrolling in community colleges across the nation, even as media attention focuses mostly on selective four-year colleges. Why are students choosing community colleges, and should you consider a community college as a part of your college search?

The Economic Option

One reason for the growing popularity of community colleges is their relatively low tuition. Overall, the average cost of public community colleges is less than half the cost of public four-year colleges and about one-tenth the cost of private four-year colleges. "Community college is a way for students to afford college without accumulating huge debts," says Linda Shapiro, an independent counselor (MA) and president of the New England Association for College Admission Counseling. "Two years at a community college are fairly inexpensive, so the total cost for a full four years is relatively low." As a result, students who spend two years at a community college and then transfer to a four-year college spend less money for the same bachelor's degree as their classmates.

The Associate's Degree Option

Of course, the two-year associate's degree is a goal in itself for many community college students. Community colleges offer a wide variety of programs that train students to work in specialized fields, such as dental hygiene, computer technology, nursing, and culinary arts.
"The push for everyone to go to a four-year college ignores the fact that not everyone is suited by talent or interest to spending four years studying many of the same subjects they hated in high school," says Shapiro. "In two years, students can get training for a fulfilling and well-paying career."

The Transfer Option

For students who want the four-year degree, community colleges work with four-year colleges to make sure that students can make a smooth transfer. (You might even be able to complete your bachelor's degree through another college but at the community college.) Most community colleges maintain transfer or "articulation" agreements with a number of four-year colleges. These agreements map out exactly which community college courses will transfer to a specific four-year college. They may even guarantee admission as a junior to students who fulfill certain course work and grade requirements. For more information on whether the community college you're considering has articulation agreements with the four-year colleges that interest you, talk to an academic advisor at the community college.

Some students use their two years at community college to improve their chances of getting into a more selective four-year college.

"Almost no colleges will look at your SATs or high school grades after you complete community college," notes Scott White, a counselor at Montclair High School (NJ). Instead, you will be measured by your performance at the community college. This is good news for students with less-than-stellar high school records.

"Community college offers an opportunity to prepare for a bachelor's degree program at a college you might have been unable to be accepted to out of high school," says John Yaegel, counselor at Tenafly High School (NJ).

The Flexible Option

Most community colleges cater to students of all ages and backgrounds. As a result, you'll often find more options in class scheduling, including evening and weekend classes. Distance learning is also one of the strengths of community colleges, with a variety of courses offered online, by correspondence or by other alternative methods (such as "telecourses").

An Option for You?

Community colleges can have some drawbacks for students who want the residential college experience. The majority of community colleges do not offer dorms (although you can find some that do), and many community college students have full-time work or family obligations. As a result, you may not find the same breadth or depth of social options and extracurricular activities that you would at a traditional four-year residential college. On the other hand, community college often provides a more supportive learning environment, with smaller class sizes and an emphasis on academic and career counseling, than do larger universities.

As with all college decisions, make sure to research the specific community colleges that interest you. Like their four-year counterparts, each community college is unique, and you must decide for yourself which colleges may be right for you.

But don't automatically cross community colleges off your list. After all, they were right for actor Dustin Hoffman (Santa Monica College); the first female space shuttle commander, Eileen Collins (Corning Community College); Hawaii Governor Benjamin Cayetano (Los Angeles Harbor College); and President of the NAACP, Kweisi Mfume (Baltimore City Community College).

The Dreaded Science Fair Project!

2008-10-11T16:33:00.002-04:00

As a teacher and wife of a science teacher, it's not surprising to hear each year around this time, the many complaints that revolve around science fair projects. In all honesty, I find them to not only be a great learning opportunity for students, but also, a great opportunity for parents to bond and work side by side with their child.

I came across this article today that lists some great tips for parents as they journey through the science fair project with their child. Enjoy!

Tips for Parents
Source: Interior Alaska Science Fair

Set your child up for Success
Your child will be more likely to have a positive Science Fair experience if you follow these tips:

*Be positive about your child's work.

*Be aware of the boy-girl syndrome; girls CAN do science projects also.

*Be aware of the "perfect project" syndrome; allow yourself and your child to make mistakes. Edison made many before he came up with the right answer!

*Be honest with your children: If you don't know the answer, tell your child.

*Look around for ideas: take youngsters to your garden, library, etc.

*Seek out people to help you, friends who could "assist" your child.

*Get books for your children, join and use the public library.

*Collect and save materials; free and inexpensive materials found around the home often work best.

*Work with materials; allow your child to "mess about" with materials without your direction.

*Allow your child time for thinking, exploring, and doing the project.

*Save time especially for repeating the experiment many times.

*Stress "how to" skills, e.g., observing rather than memorizing facts.

*Examine issues with moral consequences, e.g., animals being harmed for experimental purposes.

*Help children to keep a daily log of their research activities.

*Help children write a report of their science fair research.

*Go over the results of your child's research with your child in order to help him/her practice explaining their research.

*Go to the science fair with your child and take pictures of projects that you are all interested in. These will serve as a resource for future research ideas.

*Talk to your child about future science fair projects that they would like to do.

*Keep a log of ideas as they come up throughout the year.

*If the experiment "didn't work," discuss with your child why this is so. Encourage your child to explain the results and ENTER the project anyway!

*REMEMBER, this is a learning experience for you CHILD. Projects should be done and understood by your child. You are welcome to guide.

There are many websites that have science fair ideas in many topics. Go to Google.com and type in "science fair projects" and several sites will appear

What Can My Child Do to Prepare Academically for College?

2008-09-07T18:25:00.008-04:00

What Can My Child Do to Prepare Academically for College?

Source: U.S. Department of Education

Take Courses Recommended for College-Bound Students

To prepare for college, there is no substitute for your child getting a solid and broad academic education. This means your child should take challenging courses in academic subjects and maintain good grades in high school. Your child's transcript will be an important part of his or her college application. A college education builds on the knowledge and skills acquired in earlier years. It is best for your child to start planning a high school course schedule early, in the seventh or eighth grade. Research shows that students who complete algebra and geometry by the end of ninth grade are more likely to go to college than those who do not. By taking these courses early, students are then prepared to take geometry, trigonometry, calculus, and science courses in high school.

Most selective colleges (those with the highest admissions requirements) prefer to admit students who have taken courses in certain subject areas.

For example, many colleges prefer that high school students have taken challenging science courses and mathematics courses beyond general math and algebra. Basic computer skills are now essential, and some colleges prefer three or four years of a foreign language. Your child's guidance counselor can help your child determine the high school courses required or preferred by different types of colleges. If your child is interested in specific colleges, he or she can contact those schools and ask about their admissions requirements.

Many high schools offer advanced placement (AP) courses and exams. AP courses are college-level courses in approximately 16 different subjects; they help students prepare for college-level work while they are still in high school. Students who take AP courses are often more prepared for the academic challenges presented in college. In addition, a student who takes an AP course, and who scores a grade of 3 or higher on an AP exam, can often receive advanced placement in college or credit for a college course. [Footnote: This can result in significant cost savings. However, not all colleges and universities give credit or advanced placement for earning a grade of 3 or higher on an AP exam. Write to the admissions office of the colleges that are of interest to your child to find out if they give credit for an AP exam grade of 3 or higher. Ask to obtain the college's AP policy in writing, or look for a policy in the institution's catalog.] Talk to one of your child's teachers, your child's guidance counselor, or the principal of your child's school to find out if the school offers AP courses. If they don't, ask whether they might consider offering AP courses in the future.

Even if your child is interested in attending a junior college, community college, or technical college, he or she should take most of these courses since they provide the preparation necessary for all kinds of postsecondary education. (In addition, many students who attend two-year colleges go on to earn a B.A. or B.S. degree at a four-year college or university.)

Mathematical and scientific concepts and skills learned in math classes are used in many disciplines outside of these courses. Recent studies have shown that students who take higher level math courses are much more likely to go on to, and complete, college than students who do not.

Traditional English courses such as American and English literature will help students improve their writing skills, reading comprehension, and vocabulary. History and geography will help your child better understand our society as well as societies around the world.

Research also indicates that students who take courses in the arts disciplines and who participate in the arts (performing arts and visual arts) often do better in school and on standardized tests. The arts help students to learn; they often give students a richer understanding of history, science, literature, and math.

Thirty states require students to take some art course(s) (visual or performing) before graduating from high school; six state university systems require students to take at least one unit of art (visual or performing) at the high school level before gaining admission to the university. Many college admissions staff view participation in the arts as a valuable experience that broadens students' understanding and appreciation of the world around them.

Questions to Ask Guidance Counselors

* What basic academic courses do you recommend for students who want to go to college?
* How many years of each academic subject does the high school require for graduation?
* What elective courses do you recommend for college-bound students?
* Can students who are considering college get special help or tutoring?
* What activities can students do at home and over the summers to strengthen their

preparation for college?
* How much homework is expected of students preparing for college?
* What do different colleges require in terms of high school grades and SAT or ACT

scores?

The 7 Habits of Highly Successful Teens

2008-08-17T20:31:00.004-04:00

I came across a great article today that I thought I would share with you. As an educator, I have had the opportunity to share the book, The 7 Habits of Highly Successful Teens with students. If you have never glimpsed through this book, let me encourage you to get it and read through it with your teenager. Why not start off the school year right?

7 Habits of Highly Successful Teens
by education.com

"For teens, life is not a playground, it's a jungle. And, being the parent of a teenager isn't any walk in the park, either. In his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, author Sean Covey attempts to provide "a compass to help teens and their parents navigate the problems they encounter daily."

How will they deal with peer pressure? Motivation? Success or lack thereof? The life of a teenager is full of tough issues and life-changing decisions. As a parent, you are responsible to help them learn the principles and ethics that will help them to reach their goals and live a successful life.

While it's all well and good to tell kids how to live their lives, "teens watch what you do more than they listen to what you say," Covey says. So practice what you preach. Your example can be very influential.

Covey himself has done well by following a parent's example. His dad, Stephen Covey, wrote the book The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People, which sold over 15 million copies. Sean's a chip off the old block, and no slacker. His own book has rung in a more than respectable 2 million copies sold. Here are his seven habits, and some ideas for helping your teen understand and apply them:

Be Proactive
Being proactive is the key to unlocking the other habits. Help your teen take control and responsibility for her life. Proactive people understand that they are responsible for their own happiness or unhappiness. They don't blame others for their own actions or feelings.

Begin With the End in Mind
If teens aren't clear about where they want to end up in life, about their values, goals, and what they stand for, they will wander, waste time, and be tossed to and fro by the opinions of others. Help your teen create a personal mission statement which will act as a road map and direct and guide his decision-making process.

Put First Things First
This habit helps teens prioritize and manage their time so that they focus on and complete the most important things in their lives. Putting first things first also means learning to overcome fears and being strong during difficult times. It's living life according to what matters most.

Think Win-Win
Teens can learn to foster the belief that it is possible to create an atmosphere of win-win in every relationship. This habit encourages the idea that in any given discussion or situation both parties can arrive at a mutually beneficial solution. Your teen will learn to celebrate the accomplishments of others instead of being threatened by them.

Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood
Because most people don't listen very well, one of the great frustrations in life is that many don't feel understood. This habit will ensure your teen learns the most important communication skill there is: active listening.

Synergize
Synergy is achieved when two or more people work together to create something better than either could alone. Through this habit, teens learn it doesn't have to be "your way" or "my way" but rather a better way, a higher way. Synergy allows teens to value differences and better appreciate others.

Sharpen the Saw
Teens should never get too busy living to take time to renew themselves. When a teen "sharpens the saw" she is keeping her personal self sharp so that she can better deal with life. It means regularly renewing and strengthening the four key dimensions of life – body, brain, heart, and soul."

Starting off the School Year Right!

2008-07-31T17:49:00.003-04:00

Hard to believe it's that time of year again. Where did the summer go? Within the next couple of weeks, parents and students will be spending much of their time preparing for the new school year. One of the things that saddens me the most as an educator is the fact that so many students start off the new school year very determined to do their absolute best, but yet, after a few weeks, that motivation seems to dwindle down. So, how can students and parents start off the new school year on the right foot? Read below for some great tips!

1) Meet your teacher early-Many schools offer "Open Houses" where both parents and students can meet the teacher prior to school starting. Do not allow this opportunity to pass you by. Not only is this a great way to meet the teacher, but it's also a great way to start off on the right foot. No matter what, make this a priority within your schedule.

2) Purchase a planner-Students today are extremely active when it comes to school, sports, family life, community events, etc. It is vital that students learn how to use a planner so that they can keep up with everything that they are a part of. Take some time to purchase a planner for your child (allow your child to pick out the planner that they want) and as a parent, make sure to walk your child through it. Don't assume that your child knows how to use a planner-show them.

3) Supply List-Many times, when a parent attends an open house, the teacher will provide parents and students with a supply list. Be sure to get one and in turn, purchase what it is that the teacher has requested. Not only will your child know you care for them, but doing this will help your child get started on the right foot.

4) Set up a daily study time routine-Many students fail to complete homework due to the fact that no routine has ever been put into place by the parents. Make sure to do this. Spend some time talking with your child regarding what it is that you expect out of them and what it is that they expect out of themselves. Set up a routine that consists of when they will study and complete their homework each day, along with where they will study and complete their homework. Remember, the area that your child completes all of this in can really help them or hinder them (like, no completing homework on the bed-before you know it, your child will be napping instead of completing their school work!).

5) Get Organized-One of the biggest downfalls of students is that they do not know how to be organized. Make sure you assist them in this area. Help them set-up their notebooks for each of their classes. Walk them through the planner. Set up a daily morning routine. While this may seem trivial, in the long run, it will assist your child in doing their absolute best!

Make the 2008-2009 school year a success! Be on the lookout for more tips within the next few days!

Blessings!

Princeton Review Names Top Party School

2008-07-28T17:32:00.002-04:00

By RON WORD, Associated Press Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The University of Florida can raise a glass to another national title — best party school in the country.

The Gators, known for wild celebrations following national championships in football and basketball, wrested the party title away from West Virginia University and beat out the University of Mississippi and Penn State University, in the Princeton Review survey of 120,000 students released Monday.

The university has made the top 20 party school list for the past 15 years, but has never been No. 1.

Freshman Allison Belanger, a journalism and political science major, said she's only been on campus for a few weeks but already has had no problem finding a party. "All I have to do is leave the dorm," said Belanger, 17. "A lot of people study hard and party hard."

A university spokesman said the party school reputation comes from the school's athletic successes. The Gators won two national basketball championships in 2006 and 2007 and one national football title at the end of the 2006 season.

"The fact that we have three national championships in two years is probably a major contributing factor," spokesman Steve Orlando said. "We know our students like to have a good time."

He defended the school's academic climate, noting Florida's incoming students have a weighted grade-point average of 4.1 and an average SAT score of 1,300. Florida also came in first this year in the categories of students who study the least and students who pack the stadiums.

Joseph Milano, 21, a finance major from Palm Harbor, said a mostly young student body of 51,000 students and successful athletic programs make it easy to party. "With a lot of people on campus, fun things happen," he said.

Chris Hickox, 22, of Fort Lauderdale, said he is working hard to try to get into veterinary school, so he doesn't have a lot of time to celebrate. "We do party and have a good time, but I have to study or my Dad will kill me," he said.

The annual rankings also list the nation's "Stone-Cold Sober Schools." Topping that list was Utah's Brigham Young University for the 11th consecutive year.

The Princeton Review's annual guide, "The Best 368 Colleges," also ranks schools on scores from 60 to 99 based on admissions, financial aid, and a new category called the Green rating, which surveys colleges in part on their environmentally friendly practices.

The book has 62 categories in all, including: Best Professors, Middlebury College in Vermont, Tastiest Campus Food, Wheaton College in Illinois, and Best Dorms, Loyola College in Maryland. The students happiest with their financial aid attend Princeton University, which also tops the list for the most beautiful campus, the survey found.

The Princeton Review says the guide to the best schools is intended to help applicants who can't visit every school in person. "In our opinion, each school in this book is first-rate academically," said Robert Franek, the book's author.

The Princeton Review is a New York company known for its test preparation courses, educational services and books and is not affiliated with Princeton University.
___
On the Net:
The Princeton Review: http://www.princetonreview.com

Youth and the Church

2008-07-22T18:11:00.010-04:00

I've been really thinking about something lately. Something that really disheartens me. Let me explain.

For some time now I have come across many students (both high school and college) that seem to have a "sour" taste when it comes to the word "conservative". Many of the young people that I have come across that state that they are followers of Christ, have absolutely no desire to be known as a conservative. My question is why? It seems to me that the younger generation views those who consider themselves as conservatists, as humorless, angry, straitlaced, no fun kind of people. Again, my question is why? Is this what they have been exposed to?

As I was getting ready for work the other day, I happened to watch an interview with two young authors who are tackling this exact topic in their book, "Why You're Wrong about the Right". Here's the brief synopsis:

"And on your right, ladies and gentlemen, please observe The Conservative (Conservitus Americanus). This fascinating species in-habits vast territories across middle America, but rarely reveals itself in coastal urban areas. It is commonly believed to be uptight, humorless, and devoid of compassion, and is often characterized as racist, homophobic, and highly eco-unfriendly. Primary behaviors include unnecessary warmongering, tax cutting, and gun collecting. For decades, conservatives have proven to be hopelessly un-hip, and their mating habits dull. They are highly feared and often despised, for so few know and understand their true nature.

Get ready to meet the conservative next door or in the office down the hall, the person you never thought in a million years was one of "them." Lively, witty, and thought-provoking, 'Why You're Wrong About the Right' blows the lid off the stereotypes that have long been associated with the American Right, and reveals the face of today's conservatives: an intellectually and philosophically diverse new breed of young, outgoing, smart, friendly professionals who live and work among liberals everywhere!"

While I'm not endorsing this book, I must say, I do plan on purchasing it to read over and see what the thoughts are of the authors, because it seems to me that unfortunately many young people seem to believe that being a conservative is not only a bad thing, but that it describes someone who is no fun.

Another disheartening bit of research I came across is this:

* Some stats say more than 70% of children and youth leave the Church by the age of 18.

* Of those who stay, approximately 90% of those leave by the age of 25.

* If these numbers are true, we have lost 97% of all the children, youth, and young adults who have either grown up or attended a Church.

I don't know about you, but this saddens me. What is it that is keeping youth from not only trusting God 100% with their lives, but also living their lives for God? As one student told me this past year, he feels that the majority of Christians are hypocrites. Of course, this just hurts me because unfortunately, I do see a lot of this in our world today. It seems to me that we have become so known for what we are against rather than who we are for, which is Jesus Christ.

Anyway, these are just some thoughts that have really been swimming around in my mind as of lately. If you have any thoughts, opinions, etc., I would love to read them.

Why does the younger generation look down upon "conservatists"?

Why are youth leaving the church?

Looking forward to reading your responses!

Jen

PS-when you get a free moment, make sure to check out the website of one of my students who is striving to live a life that is pleasing to God! This just makes my heart sing!

http://www.freewebs.com/growing-in-faith-with-mariah/

Chaos

2008-07-18T19:54:00.003-04:00

Do you ever feel as though your life is somewhat chaotic? This week has been one of those weeks for me. Let me explain.

Last Saturday, I received a "frantic" phone call from my mother informing me that my grandfather had been admitted to the hospital and that the doctors confirmed that we needed to be there. When I received this phone call, Luke was in the middle of "remodeling" our master bedroom and bathroom. I was in the middle of completing assignments for my doctorate and was really hoping to accomplish some required reading that I had not been able to get to. Needless to say, all of those plans went out the door.

I ended up driving down to South Florida with my brother and his wife while my husband stayed behind to clean up the remodeling mess and to also stay true to his commitment to play in a worship band in Tampa that was having their very first service (he ended up coming to Miami on Sunday). When I arrived in Miami, I saw my grandfather-he was on a breathing tube and was pretty much out of it. Needless to say, two hours later he passed away.

This week has been filled with many tears, thoughts, disorganization, stress, fatigue, etc. Basically, it has been a chaotic week. What do you do when life seems to get chaotic? Let me share with you some thoughts regarding overcoming the chaoticness that life seems to throw at us at times:

1) Breathe-when life gets chaotic, just breathe. Take some deep breathes and allow yourself a few minutes to refocus.

2) Pray-God answers prayers. When life seems out of control, take a few minutes to lift your anxieties, worries, and fears to the Lord. Hold on to His truth; "Be still and know that I am God".

3) Look for the positive-this can be a hard thing to do when life takes a turn, but let me assure you, it works. When you allow your mind to focus on the positive, your outlook changes.

Do you currently feel as though your life is a tad bit chaotic? Maybe you have a child who is getting ready to head off to college, one that is starting middle school or high school for the first time, maybe some things have taken place within your family, etc. If life seems chaotic, take the time to breathe, pray, and focus on the positive. It will make all the difference!

Until next time!

Jen

Reading, writing, and critical thinking

2008-07-01T09:59:00.005-04:00

As I think about the upcoming school year, I can't help but think about the many "moans and groans" teachers across the nation will hear from both students and parents as they, the teachers, implement activities that encourage students to think critically.

As an educator, one of the things I am passionate about is preparing students for what they will encounter upon graduation, both in college and in the "real world". One of the things that saddens me the most is seeing students who have no desire to excel. What bothers me even more is the fact that there are parents in our world who will allow their children to take the "easy way out" when it comes to courses, etc. This should not be so. As parents, it is vitally important that we encourage our children to continually do their best and in turn, to never give up when things get hard.

According to Mendelman (2007), "When your student starts high school, teachers have higher expectations for reading, writing, and the critical thinking skills. And teachers have a right to think students should improve. Recent studies indicate that the frontal lobe, the area of the brain responsible for the reasoning skills that enable critical thinking, undergoes development just prior to puberty. That means that ninth and tenth graders are moving from the black-and-white world of concrete thought into the shades of gray that define upper-level English studies. Instead of only identifying literary terms, such as similes and metaphors, students start to interpret what those techniques and devices mean. Essays replace book reports and arguments, also called thesis statements, take the place of plot summary."

Parents, as your children enter high school, be prepared for your student to encounter classes that require more reading, writing, and critical thinking. This is the norm. As students mature, it is vital that they are given opportunities to think critically so that once they graduate, they are ready for what the world will bring them.

Additionally, research is now stating that 1 in 3 high school graduates are unprepared for life after high school. According to Wood (2007), "close to one-third of all community college freshmen enroll in at least one remedial course upon arrival and 20 percent of freshman in four-year institutions do. They come to college without the basic skills required to succeed there. And high school students who go straight into the work force are just as unprepared." Wood (2007) also goes on to state that "more than 80 percent of employers said recent graduates were deficient in 'applied skills' like communication, work ethic, and critical thinking. And 72 percent said they were deficient in basic writing skills."

So, what does this mean for parents? Don't throw the towel in when things get hard during the 2008-2009 school year. Allow your child to be challenged. Allow your child to really think. Don't allow your child to convince you to take the easy way out. If you encourage your child to stick through it and in turn, work with your child's teacher, in the long run, you and your child will be happy that you did.

Until next time!
Jen

Mendelman, L. (2007). "From Hogwarts to Hawthorne". Retrieved July 1, 2008 from http://www.education.com/magazine/article/Hogwarts_Critical_Readers/

Wood, D. (2007). "1 in 3 Unprepared for life after high school". Retrieved July 1, 2008 from http://www.education.com/magazine/article/Ed_1_3_Unprepared_After/

Cardboard Testimonies

2008-06-22T18:35:00.003-04:00

This is a powerful video. God continues to amaze me with His undying love and forgiveness. He desires nothing more than to change who we are. May you watch and be changed. Know that you are loved.

Summer tips for high school students

2008-06-10T16:43:00.003-04:00

Hard to believe that summer is upon us and that we are nearly half-way through June! My how time flies!

I always get a chuckle when I hear students talking about how they can't wait for summer to arrive, but yet, when it does arrive, you tend to hear them talk about how bored they are or that there is nothing to do! Here are some "tips" on how to keep your students "moving" this summer:

1) Have them volunteer their time to an organization-remember colleges really like to see students who are actively involved within their communities.

2) Take some time to visit college campuses-the summer is a great time to visit those potential colleges that your child is looking at attending. Additionally, this may give them the extra motivation they need to excel in their high school studies.

3) Assign your child some research work. Have them research those colleges and careers that they are looking at pursuing. Once they have completed this, take them out for lunch and discuss their findings. This is not only a great way to bond with your child, but it will also allow your child to know that you truly care about what it is that they are hoping for in the future.

4) Set-up a job shadowing experience for your child. Once you know what career your child is interested in pursuing, see if you can set up a job shadowing day with a local professional. This experience will give your child some great insight into the career they are looking at pursuing.

5) Does your child tend to struggle in a certain subject? Why not enroll them in a course that will "refresh" their mind of the main concepts needed for that course? Maybe hire a tutor that will keep them on task during their summer break.

6) Many schools (high schools and colleges) offer summer enrichment courses. Why not take a look at the schools in your community and see what enrichment courses they offer that your child may enjoy being a part of.

7) Encourage your child to take on a part-time job. Not only will this teach them responsibility, but if finances are tight, this can be an avenue where they can begin to save money for college.

8) Set up an appointment with your child's guidance counselor. Nail out what courses your child should take to not only succeed in high school, but also in college. Summer time is a great time to meet with that counselor.

9) Many schools require that students take part in a summer reading program. Find out what book(s) your child needs to read and then join them. Again, this will allow you and your child to bond and it will allow you to have some great discussions with your child.

10) Have some fun, quality time with your child. Be sure to consistently encourage them and be sure to carve out that special time for the two of you! You child will appreciate it!

Until next time,

Jen

The Unexpected

2008-05-29T16:41:00.003-04:00

How do you react when the unexpected occurs? Do you tend to worry, fret, and/or stress? Or, do you tend to take things as they come knowing full well that God has everything under control?

Case in point-I've had some "unexpected" things come up this week. Let me explain. For the past couple of weeks I have been experiencing some tooth pain. Well, when I went to the dentist, they noticed a cyst around a few of my teeth. To make a long story short, I am scheduled for a root canal next week along with with oral surgery in order to remove the cyst and the "extra" tooth I've had (that is not visible) since I was a little girl. Apparently, this extra tooth is harboring the cyst and may have very well of caused the cyst.

To be honest, I worried a bit and still am catching myself worrying. First off, I have no tolerance for pain and secondly, I'm just a big wimp. I tend to be one of those people who worry and become fearful about the worst case scenario. Lastly, even though I have insurance, it's not the best insurance, so it looks like my husband and I will be paying quite a bit out of pocket. There goes our plans for using the extra money we were expecting to pay down our car. Talk about dealing with the unexpected.

It's quite evident that the Lord is teaching me to rely on Him even when I have no clue how things are going to turn out. He's teaching me to trust Him when I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am incapable of not worrying, being fearful, and basically, having no tolerance for pain. He's teaching me to allow Him to have complete trust and to basically, trust Him for my well being. Again, how do you react when the unexpected takes place in your life?

On another note, one of my students had the unexpected take place for her just recently. If you remember, about a week ago, I had one of my students blog as the guest blogger on this blog (talk about using the word blog a million times). Well, little did we know that a few days later, I would get an email from the admissions office at Berry College (the college she will be attending in the fall) asking me who the student was that blogged on my blog. Little did we know, that once they received the name of my student, they in turn would offer her the opportunity to work in the admissions office as a freshman in the fall. Totally unexpected! Needless to say, both Christine and I were thrilled! What an absolute wonderful opportunity Christine will have to gain experience and work within the admissions office at Berry College throughout her college years.

As all of this took place, it just once again reminded me how vital it is to trust God in everything-the good and the bad. You just never know when God is going to show up with some great unexpected news, as in Christine's case. Or, as in my case, the not so great unexpected news that has shown up, but yet, God's peace that passes all understanding is teaching me to rely solely on Him. It's causing me to grow as a person and to grow in my understanding of Him.

What unexpected things are occurring in your life today? What is it that God is trying to teach you? Rest assured, God knows what's He's doing-remember, He's in control!

Until next time,

Jen

PS-Do you think if I leave my "extra" tooth under my pillow after the surgery, the tooth fairy might send me some money to pay for it? :)

Guest Blogger

2008-05-18T16:40:00.003-04:00

Today, we have a special guest blogger-one of my students from the school I work with. Be encouraged as she shares her thoughts with you!

"College can be such an overwhelming and scary experience. I am a senior at the school that Mrs. Bennett teaches at and will be graduating in four days. After this summer I will be going to Berry College in Rome, GA to study psychology. At the moment I am on my senior trip and it is incredible to me that the four years behind me went as quickly as they did. My college search was not the one that I would call ideal, in fact it was only by the grace of God that it worked out as well as it did. Allow me to share with you some tips that I wish I would have known before.

1) Start early: It is never too early to start looking and considering colleges, I didn't start looking at colleges until the end of my junior year and it is something that I really regretted. And while looking at a college, really try to see yourself there with the students, for FOUR YEARS! One of my college options was The College of Charleston. It is an amazing school with an amazing environment, however, I am not a city mouse, although I can appreciate the energy and the people for a week, I knew that I would not have been the most productive there regardless of how great the school is.

2) Keep yourself informed: So many kids I know are not educated about the college application process or colleges in general. This is a big decision, one that the student should be completely and totally involved in. This is one first step toward the bigger step of being independent at college. Don't be afraid to ask questions, I know that most people have a lot of them and there is certainly nothing wrong with asking someone who knows or who has been through it.

3) Recognize your strengths and your weaknesses: This is another thing that I wish I had done earlier. High school can be tough and college acceptance is getting nothing but tougher so it is important that you recognize the parts of you that are the most marketable to schools and enhance them, as well as perhaps put extra time and work in to the areas that you need work.

4) Be proud: And when it's all said and done be proud of the person God made you to be. You have something to offer and it is incredible so stop comparing yourself to "everyone else" as long as you try your best it's enough. I have always been a good student and involved with absolutely everything that my school has to offer, so I figured that when I took the SAT I wouldn't have any problems and that I would score in the top 90% (at least). Well, when I got my scores back I had to come to the realization that I was not a good test taker and my scores were certainly not in the 90% but it was OK because I tried my best and God was going to honor that effort.

5) Use your time: I have a bad habit of wishing my time away. I will say things like "oh I wish the weekend was here" or "I can't wait to be in college" but now looking back at my time in high school I realize that my time could have been much better spent if I was just able to be content within the moment and concentrate all my energy on the present. While it is important to be well prepared and well planned for the future, right now is the only thing you have been given for the moment, so use it up for all that it is worth.

6) Shoulds and if: These are terrible words; don't beat yourself with the dreaded well "if I only did this" or "I should be this way if I want to go here". Be who you are and try the best you can and stop telling yourself what you should be!!!

7) Fear: This one is the one that always gets me so while I write this it will also be something of a reminder for myself. God has got you!!! He knew your name before you were born, He knows how many hairs are on your head, He knows your future, and it’s perfect for you!!! Learn to trust God with your decisions and your future, it is not bleak. Although it may sometimes feel that way, God knows and your future is full of growth and joy. Learn to not let fear control and manipulate you.

8) Parents on fear: This is just a little side note for the parents on the topic of fear and college. Parents, when your child is a senior and trying to make a decision of where to go or already made that decision, it is the scariest time of their life. They have to grow up now, they don't want to leave you because they don't know if they can do it yet by themselves; it’s scary. Although you know that they will be fine and that they will thrive, they haven't convinced themselves of that yet. Your children love you and are so grateful to you for everything that you have done which is probably one of the reasons this is such a hard time for them. So please, just try to understand their fear and anxiety. They need you and your understanding. Your children love you for everything that you do.

9) HELP: Although you have heard it a million times, if you need it ask for it. There are many people that are willing to help you and want to see you succeed. If you need something, ask. What’s the worst thing that could happen, they say no? Oh well, just keep chugging and ask for what you want and need.

I hope that this was somewhat helpful or enlightening. As I go through college maybe I will have some more tips for you : ) Good luck in your college search and high school career and when it feels overwhelming just remember to pray your way through it!!!!"

The Adventure Continues

2008-05-18T15:23:00.004-04:00

The end of the school year always catches up with me! I just can't seem to grasp that the school year is practically done.

At this time, I am in Gatlinburg, Tennessee with the seniors from my school. We have had a wonderful time here, but let me tell you, the trip here was eventful to say the least. Let me just rattle off some of the things that have taken place:

* Bus broke down on our way to Tennessee on Wed. We were stuck at a Steak-n-Shake truck stop for like 5 hours.

* When we finally were on the road again, the bus was pulled over by a cop because the tail lights were not on.

* About 2 hours from the hotel in Georgia that we were supposed to stay at, traffic came to a complete stop due to an accident.

* We ended up having to make new reservations at a hotel that let's just say, would not be my first choice.

* Thursday, we finally make it to Tennessee. As we climbed the mountain in this charter bus, the bus gets stuck and ends up having to be towed down the mountain. Kids and chaperones had to "climb" the mountain with luggage and groceries in hand. Thankfully, cops arrived and the Chief of police helped us lug our luggage up the mountain in the his car.

* Because the bus could not make it up the mountain and because it ended up costing the bus company $1200 to tow the bus back down, needless to say, we had to figure out how we could get kids up and down the mountain each day since we would have no transportation. My husband and I ended up renting a car because that was our only option.

* The cabin we are staying at is BEAUTIFUL! But, to go along with our eventful trip, the oven does not work properly and last night when the boys were getting ready to grill out for everyone, we noticed that the grill did not work.

So as you can see, we have had an eventful trip. Have you ever experienced anything like this? All I can say is, sometimes life throws things at you that you were not expecting. When things like this take place, always remember that God has everything under control and eventually, you will see the light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes when God calls us to something, the "trip" there is not always the easiest. But we can rest assured that if God has called us, He promises to provide for our every need. Despite everything we've been through with this trip, God has provided for our every need. He is faithful!

Until next time!

Questions To Ask Your Child's Guidance Counselor

2008-05-07T19:18:00.003-04:00

The more I talk to parents, the more I realize how much help and guidance they truly desire when it comes to their child's education. Parents today want to know the following:

* what courses should my child take in order to get into college?
* what kinds of outside activities should my child be involved in?
* what electives should my child take in order to "look good" to a college?
* what are the requirements regarding GPA, SAT, ACT, etc., in order to get into a good college?

Parents, let me encourage you to meet and develop a professional relationship with your child's guidance counselor. When meeting with him/her, here are some pivotal questions you will want to ask. Remember, the sooner you can meet with your child's guidance counselor, the better off your child will be; the better choices you as a family can make for your child's future.

1) What academic courses would you recommend for a child who wants to attend college?
2) What are the graduation requirements regarding academic core classes?
3) What elective courses does the school offer and what would be best for a child who wants to attend college?
4) Does the school offering tutoring for students who need help in certain core subject areas?
5) What activities can a child take part in during the summer in order to prepare for college (courses at the local community college, community service, etc.).
6) When is the ACT and SAT offered? Does the school offer the PSAT?
7) How often can my child take the ACT/SAT?
8) What do the majority of colleges require in regards to ACT/SAT scores and GPA?
9) Does the school offer any kind of college/family nights (where colleges come and present information to the students/parents about the school)?
10) Does the school provide any kind of personality inventories for students who desire to learn more about themselves?
11) What kind of information does the school provide in regards to paying for college (financial aid, scholarships, etc.)?
12) What college resources does the school offer or what would the guidance counselor recommend (Occupational Outlook Handbook, college guides, etc.)?

If you make it a priority to meet with your child's guidance counselor where you can ask the questions listed above, you and your child will be well on their way to a smooth transition between high school and college.

Until next time,
Jen

Student Apathy

2008-05-05T15:57:00.002-04:00

Apathy-lack of interest or concern

Today, I just couldn't help but to think about student apathy. Let me explain. In my years of teaching, I have always questioned what it is that makes certain students want to excel, while others are OK with just getting by. This thinking process has come about because of two things:

1) My students had the wonderful opportunity to recite from memory, lines from the Shakespearean play that they studied in class. Students chose which specific lines they wanted to recite. Well, I had those students who were all about it and in turn, did wonderful. And then, I had those students who were not as thrilled and because of that, kinda failed to fully memorize all of their lines. As a teacher, of course, this just saddens me beyond what the students will ever truly comprehend unless of course, they too become teachers.

2) Secondly, I am in the process of reading this WONDERFUL book called, "Do Hard Things". The basis of this book is that students today need to "rebel" against low expectations. This book is written by two teenagers who finally got fed up with low expectations and in turn, have started a "rebelution" to get other students to rebel against low expectations. This is actually a book I am looking at having not only my students at school read, but also, those students I work with as we journey through the college/career process.

The authors of the book make some very valid points within the chapter that focuses on students and mediocrity. Let me share some of them with you:

1) Students today are known for what they don't do rather than what they do do. "Being considered a good teen only requires that we don't do bad stuff like taking drugs, drinking, and partying. But is it enough to be known for the negative things we don't do, or should we also be known for the positive and difficult things that we do?"

Isn't this the truth? Students today are known as "good students" when they don't do the stuff that they shouldn't do. But what if students started being known for what they do rather than what they don't do? What kind of impact would this make?
"To live by God's standards for young people and to enjoy the blessing He promises, we must go beyond simply avoiding bad stuff. We are not just supposed to avoid sinning; we are supposed to pursue righteousness in a way that others will want to imitate."

2) Pursue Excellence, not Excuses
The authors go on to share their thoughts about the amount of emails they receive from students complaining about "getting corny awards at school when all that they have done is turn in their homework and pay attention in class while everyone else goofed off." One girl in particular stated, "It's sad how little I had to do to earn this award."

This really struck a cord with me, because I see this happening all the time. Today, students are awarded for things that they should just naturally do. As a teacher, I seldom give out awards because when someone does get an award from me, I want them to know that they truly deserved it; that they went far beyond what was expected of them. Too many students today are being awarded for things that should just be expected of them. And unfortunately, students are getting rewarded for "just getting by". There is no extra effort involved; they do just enough to get by and in turn, are rewarded for it. What kinds of disappointments are we setting our children up for in the future? As adults, we know that we are not awarded for every little thing we do. What will happen when students enter college and the work world expecting to get awarded for everything they do? It will be a huge let down and wake-up call.

This really saddens me because I feel that as adults, we have helped create this atmosphere of apathy and mediocrity. We reward kids for things they should just naturally do, or, if they don't do what they are supposed to do, we in turn do it for them. I see this all the time with students who are struggling in school. Parents who want nothing more than to see their child pass (which of course is only natural)but in turn, end up completing the work for them so that the child can avoid failure and disappointment. While it may seem like the right thing to do at the moment, the reality is that we are only setting up our child for failure in the future.

Let me close with this-spend some time really talking to your student about apathy/mediocrity. Ask them what it is that causes them to not want to excel in certain areas of their life. What is it that holds them back? You might be surprised at the answers you get. Also, I have listed some questions below that you may want to explore with your child. These questions are in the book, "Do Hard Things."

* What areas of my life do I not care about that I know should care about?
* In what areas have I fallen short of God's standards and my own potential?
* In what areas have I settled for just getting by when I know I could do better if I really tried?
* In what areas have I decided that things "will always be this way" without ever putting in the kind of effort that really changes things?

Lastly parents, let me encourage you to answer these questions also. Our actions speak louder than words. Do you tend to exemplify apathy and mediocrity in the things you are involved with? Have you shown your children what it looks like to go the extra mile? Are there areas in your life that you need to care about more? If you feel as though you have failed within this area, it's not to late to change. Have a heart talk with God and then, have a heart talk with you child. Be open to what he/she has to say and be willing to hold each other accountable.

Let's all join the "rebelution" and make an effort to no longer live with low expectations!

Until next time,
Jen

Unfailing Love

2008-04-25T17:50:00.002-04:00

Everyday I pose either a question or quote to my students in which they have to answer or explain. Today, I posed this question:

Do you have a habit of feeling like you're worth more in God's eyes or other people's eyes, when you're a success? Explain.

I found this to be a very interesting question for not only my students, but also for me. As I discussed this question with the students, I had to really take some time to think about whether or not I feel as though I'm worth more in not only God's eyes but other people's eyes if and only if I am "successful". Sadly, I have to admit that I do feel this way at times; I think we all do.

Many of us (myself included) tend to "get down" on ourselves when we feel as though we have failed at something. We tend to take on the belief system that if we do not do something perfectly, not only will people be disappointed in us, but so will God. The truth of the matter is, God loves us no matter what. His love is not based on how successful we are in life.

Let me share with you a devotion from the devotional book, "Jesus Calling". If you do not have this devotional, let me encourage you to purchase it. It is wonderful! In it, the author has written words of assurance, comfort, and hope as if they are coming straight from the heart of Jesus. May these words encourage you today:

"I LOVE YOU regardless of how well you are performing. Sometimes you feel uneasy, wondering if you are doing enough to be worthy of My Love. No matter how exemplary your behavior, the answer to that question will always be no. Your performance and My Love are totally different issues, which you need to sort out. I love you with an everlasting Love that flows out from eternity without limits or conditions. I have clothed you in My robe of righteousness, and this is an eternal transaction; Nothing and no one can reverse it. Therefore, your accomplishment as a Christian has no bearing on My Love for you. Even your ability to assess how well you are doing on a given day is flawed. Your limited human perspective and the condition of your body, with its mercurial variations, distort your evaluation. Bring your performance anxiety to Me, and receive in its place My unfailing Love. Try to stay conscious of My loving Presence with you in all that you do, and I will direct your steps."

Allow the Lord to direct your steps one day at a time. Give him your best, but rest assured that if things do not turn out as you had planned, God still loves you with an unconditional love, and that's all that matters.

Blessings!

Student Leadership

2008-04-23T19:20:00.003-04:00

Can you tell that I've been a little busy? I have not had one free moment to blog until now and the reality is, I have a million other things that still need to get done but I just couldn't wait to share with you about the wonderful weekend I had.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to take a group of students to the Student Leadership Conference in Orlando. This was a wonderful opportunity for students to learn and develop a variety of leadership skills. We basically went non-stop from Saturday to Tuesday. Many of our sessions covered topics such as:

* Excellence in all things and the future
* Dream it. Do it.
* Time management
* Worldview/Apologetics
* Mental Readiness

One of the sessions that really encouraged me was one that was titled, "SERVE-What Great Leaders Know and Do." This session was led by Ryan Bowman of Chick-Fil-A. During this session, he shared with students and adults what it is that great leaders do. Let me share with you a few of his thoughts that each of us can take to heart along with questions that you may want to consider answering:

1) Great leaders see and shape the future: When someone has a passion about something, this creates a picture of the future. What is your picture of the future? What is it that you are passionate about?

2) Great leaders engage and develop others: The challenge is knowing how to engage people-how to be personal with them. A question great leaders continually ask themselves is, "how can this person be plugged in?"

3) Great leaders reinvent continuously: Great leaders are always looking for ways to do things better. Great leaders focus on reinventing by changing self and changing systems-the methods that are currently in place. What is it that you want to personally reinvent? What do you need to change in order to get better results?

4) Great leaders value results and relationships: Leaders have to get results to be a great leader. Investing in others shows that you value relationships. What do you value, results and/or relationships? Why?

5) Great leaders embody the values: Values are filters by which we make decisions. If your actions and values do not match-up, you are a hypocrite. You must live consistently to your values in order to gain trust. What are your three core values?

Leadership is not about me, it's about others. Jesus came to serve.

Take some time to think about whether or not you are a leader and if so, what you can do to improve your leadership skills. Lastly, let me really encourage you to check out the website of Student Leadership University. This is something that every student who desires to be a faithful leader, needs to participate in. It is well worth the money.

Until next time!

Foundational Principles for Career Planning

2008-04-15T20:33:00.003-04:00

I think I may have a new addiction. Let me explain. Today is my birthday and my wonderful husband gifted me with something I have wanted for quite some time-an iPod. I can't believe it-I'm actually moving up in the world of technology. I'm fearful that not only will I be addicted to reading blogs, but also my iPod. This thing is amazing-not only can I watch movies and listen to music, but I can listen in to some of my favorite speakers within seconds. I'm just amazed!

Anyway, on to the important stuff. The other day I decided to "test drive" Career Direct which is now offering an online guidance system report for career maximization. I decided to check it out because it is something I am really looking at incorporating for not only students, but adults who come to me wanting clarification on who they are and what they are passionate about.

One of the print-outs I received gives foundational principles for career planning that I thought would be great to share with you. As you continue to seek out God's purpose for your life and how you fit into this world, take these principles to heart:

1) You are uniquely designed by God-you are a unique creation. God made you for a special purpose. Psalm 139:13-14

2) You have been given unique talents for a purpose-God gave each of us unique talents to use, not waste. God has designed each of us with talents and gifts for His service. Romans 12:6-8

3) You must develop those talents for excellence-Develop your talents to the finest and you will stand out from the crowd. You should do your work as if you are actually working for the Lord. Using your talents in work is a form of worship to Him. Proverbs 22:29

4) Work is stage for your higher calling-Let your light shine, so that others will see your good deeds and they will praise your Father in heaven. Work is an excellent place to be a witness. Matthew 5:16

Take joy in where the Lord currently has you. Wake up each day thanking Him for another day of life and another day where you have the opportunity to reach those that He places within your path! You were created for a purpose!

Blessings!

Are you kidding me American Idol?

2008-04-13T19:52:00.002-04:00

Ok, can I just say that I am in shock!! As many of you know, I am an American Idol fan, but due to my schedule being so busy, I have unfortunately, missed the last few episodes. Needless to say, I think I missed the best one-the contestants actually sang, "Shout to the Lord". I'm in shock. As I watched the video below, I have to admit, goosebumps were all over me. Now, the video that is listed below apparently was the first version they sang-the politically correct one-instead of saying "My Jesus, My Savior", they sang, "My Shepherd, My Savior". But, the following evening they followed up with singing the song again and including the name of Jesus.

As I watched I just couldn't help but get goosebumps and you know, I just can't even begin to think what it would be like if every person of our nation actually cried out to God and came together to worship Him. What if our country actually made God the priority. What if TV actually gave God a voice? I just can't even begin to imagine the changes we would see in our nation.

Another thought that came to mind was, gosh, here you have a group of talented individuals. God has given them the talent of singing. What if they used that talent to glorify God and no one else? In all honesty, it breaks my heart to see people who have been gifted with the talent of singing and yet, use it in ways to dishonor God. What if people actually used their gifts, skills, talents, and strengths to glorify God and in turn, use those gifts and skills to make an impact in this world? How different would the world be? Again, I just can't even being to imagine.

Let me leave you with this thought and piece of encouragement-God has gifted you in mighty ways. God has given you specific gifts, skills, talents, and strengths and He desires nothing more than that you would use them to glorify Him-that's why He gave them to you. If you would allow God the opportunity to use your gifts, He will use you in mighty ways. If all of us allowed God to use our make-up the way He wants to-our world would be a changed place. I'm confident of this!

Educational Consultation

2008-04-10T17:58:00.002-04:00

Attending college can be one of the best experiences for a student to take part in, or it can be the worst. According to research, 57% of college dropouts do so prior to a students second year in college while 40% of students who begin a college degree will in fact, not finish out the degree program (Thompson, Orr, Thompson, Grover, 2007).

Students are arriving on college campuses unprepared for what lies ahead. Students are unprepared in the areas of study skills, time management, goal setting, etc. Students are presented with many more options than existed 20 years ago. Multiple options that are confusing to an unprepared student, may lead to that student’s failure to make adequate grades. Students are more likely to drop out of college when confused (Thompson, Orr, Thompson, Grover, 2007). The high school-college transition period leaves students underprepared and unprepared for what is to follow in their collegiate years, which leads to remediation and attrition (Reindl, 2006).

While getting into college is an important aspect, it’s not the most important. Students need to know why they should go to college. If students do not realize the relevance of going to college and studying for a specific career they have “discovered”, then students will continue to struggle and the transition from high school to college will continue to be difficult (Dedmond, 2005).

According to Gordon & Elovitz (2002), educators and other professionals who work with students refer to a 10-year drift that many individuals between the ages of 18 and 28 experience. They change the direction of their education, try different training and occupations, and do not settle into a career pathway until their late 20s or later (Gordon & Elovitz, 2002). One reason for the drift is that students are graduating high school unaware of their skills, what type of work they can be passionate about, and what career fits their skills and passions best.

According to Lapan, Tucker, Kim, & Kosciulek (2003), the transition from high school to college is one of the most difficult developmental periods adolescents face. Students need to be proactive in developing an approach to their post-high school transition. Career development research and theory suggest that students need growth in academic achievement, efficacy expectations, outcome expectations, career related attributions, goal formation and exploratory actions, work readiness behaviors and social skills, exploration of the career related aspects that promote better person-environment fit, active engagement in the process of crystallizing and beginning to implement one’s vocational preferences (Lapan, Tucker, Kim, & Kosciulek, 2003).

It is vital that when students graduate high school they have an increased knowledge of what is available to them after high school, an understanding of what it is that they are passionate about, an understanding of how they are gifted, what they are talented at, where their strengths lie, and a clear picture of what direction they need to walk in after high school.

This is where Educational Consultant, Jennifer Bennett comes into play.
Contact Jennifer today for more information:

www.coachjenniferbennett.com

jen@coachjenniferbennett.com

Great Literature

2008-04-08T19:46:00.002-04:00

As an English teacher, I'm always up for reading insightful, life-changing literature; literature that really gets you thinking. Currently, my seniors and AP students are reading Macbeth by Shakespeare. I must admit, this is probably one of my favorite writings by Shakespeare. This drama really gets you thinking about power, the desire for more, selfishness, hate, guilt, sin, etc. If you have not read this play, then let me encourage you to do so.

According to the book, "College in a Can", here are some other noteworthy pieces of literature that they recommend reading prior to attending college (my favorites have an asterisk by them):

Pride and Prejudice*
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Jane Eyre
Wuthering Heights
Alice in Wonderland
The Awakening
Heart of Darkness
A Tale of Two Cities
Emily Dickinson Poems
As I Lay Dying
The Great Gatsby
The Diary of a Young Girl*
Grendel
Lord of the Flies*
The Scarlet Letter*
Their Eyes Were Watching God *

I'm happy to say that many of my high school students have had the opportunity to read these classics within my classroom.

One book that I am reading right now that I have to admit, is not always the easiest to read is Kay Warren's "Dangerous Surrender". If you are looking for a book that will cause you to look on the inside and in turn, will cause you to change for the better, than let me encourage you to purchase this book. I seldom come across books that really tug at my heart when it comes to spiritual matters (I hope that doesn't say anything bad about me!). This one does it for me. I can only read so much in a day without having to put it down and basically, evaluate my life and give things over to God. This book will move you and in turn, will cause a stir in your soul. Read it only if you want to change for the better.

Alright, there you have it! This book list should keep you busy for some time!

Lies

2008-04-07T19:31:00.003-04:00

When it comes to living out our life purpose, it is vital that we "uncover" those lies that we tend to cling to. These lies usually take the form of false assumptions we have, life misunderstandings, negative thoughts we have towards ourselves, etc. These lies are things that we allow to dictate not only the way we live our life, but also the way we choose to believe whether or not the Lord does have a purpose for us and whether or not we believe that He will do what He has promised to do.

Let me give you an example. As a young girl, I failed miserably at math. It all began during my middle school years. I had this math teacher who was just absolutely horrendous. She would require you to go to the board to work out a math problem. If you did not respond with the correct answer, she would yell at you in front of the whole class. Unfortunately, that began my dislike for math and my false belief that I could never do well in math. In high school, I flunked right out of geometry. I really believed that I could not do it nor pass the class successfully. Needless to say, when I entered college, I had my doubts about math and whether or not I could actually earn a college degree. Thankfully, I chose to not allow myself to give into those lies. Had I done that, I would not be where I am today-pursuing my Doctorate degree (which by the way, at one point I "believed" that I could never do).

What lies are you allowing yourself to believe hook, line, and sinker? What lies are keeping you from living the life that the Lord would have you live? Do you believe that you are not good enough and that God could never love you nor use you? Do you believe that you could never accomplish a college degree? Do you tend to see yourself as that chubby little girl that no one liked?

Take some time to allow yourself to uncover those lies that are keeping you from living the life that God would have you live. As you uncover these lies, make sure to also take some time to ask God how you (with His help) can overcome these false beliefs. It's only when we begin to uncover these lies that we can begin living a life of purpose!

Blessings!

Some of the worst reasons for choosing a college

2008-04-04T19:57:00.005-04:00

Well, my husband and I have made it back home from Charleston, SC. While it was hard to come home, it's always nice to be back in the comforts of our own home. Last night we had the pleasure of having my sister-in-law and her children over. We ate way too much pizza and ended up in Downtown Disney where the girls conned us (not really!) into buying them some princess hats! Luke and I just couldn't resist!

Anyway, while I was in Charleston, I came across this book that I purchased, College in a Can. I have to admit, this book has some interesting "lists" in it, some good, some not so good. One of the lists I would like to present to you (part of the list anyway) today is: The 10 Worst Reasons for Choosing a College. This specific list is of interest to me being that my seniors are getting ready to graduate and head out into the college world. Also, while I was in Charleston, one of my seniors called me and shared with me her recent college visits. So, here are some of the worst reasons for choosing a specific college:

1) It's the cheapest-Don't assume that you can't afford an expensive college, even if your family doesn't qualify for government aid. Most private colleges offer scholarships of their own, including many that are merit-based.

2) It's the most expensive-On the other hand, don't assume that the higher the tuition, the better the school. Public colleges are often able to provide a high quality education at a reasonable price, thanks to government support.

3) They've offered me the most scholarship money-If college "A" is offering $5,000 in grants and college "B" is only offering $1,000, college "A" must be the better deal, right? Not necessarily. Subtract the amount of grants from the total cost of education at each school in order to get the real cost of attending. And remember, most scholarships have conditions attached.

4) I know, I'll get in-While it's important to apply to a "safety school", one for which you are well qualified, don't cross your dream college off the list without first doing your homework. Although most schools are vague when it comes to revealing admissions criteria, you can get a sense of your chances of acceptance by reviewing the profile of the previous year's freshman class. Ask about the mean SAT scores, the range of high school averages, the number of students with class ranking similar to yours, and the percentage of all applicants that were accepted.

5) The campus is pretty-Although aesthetics are important, you need to look beyond the beautiful to the practical.

6) It's where my boyfriend or girlfriend is going-If the relationship ends, you may find yourself trying to figure out how you ended up at a college that doesn't suit you in any way.

So, there's some food for thought! Enjoy your Friday evening!

Life-Ministry

2008-04-02T21:32:00.003-04:00

"If our vocational endeavor is really a “life-ministry,” then we will resist the attraction of “lifestyle” decisions and honor the God-given gifts we have at our disposal" (Cedarville University).

One of my passions is assisting students with the many questions and concerns they have in regards to attending college, deciding on a major, "figuring" out what God has called them to, etc. What I have come to realize is that so many students view their "church/God life" as something different then their "career/job life". Many students today fail to see that their vocational calling is a life-ministry calling. The two go hand in hand.

Today, I came across this article that explains this topic pretty well. As you read, think about your own life. Do you tend to race towards the American Dream or God's Dream for your life? If you have children, are you encouraging them to chase after the American Dream or the Dream that God has for them?

Lifestyle Versus Lifework
by Cedarville University

If our vocational endeavor is really a “life-ministry,” then we will resist the attraction of “lifestyle” decisions and honor the God-given gifts we have at our disposal.

“There appears to be a significant difference between student perceptions of lifestyle and lifework.”

This is a quote written on my office whiteboard, based upon interactions with scores of students, regarding their life''s employment choices. As Director of Career Services at Cedarville University, I have a profound opportunity to interact with students as they attempt to deal with these issues as they try to connect their education to real life.

One of the pervasive tensions found in a Christian university of arts and sciences appears to center upon the issue of ultimate career choices on the one hand and the notion of God's initial design – in terms of a graduate's skills, interests, abilities, personalities, and values – on the other. Initially, admittance to such a university would presume some level of Christian testimony; in addition the academic matriculation process over four or five years is understood to be jam-packed with Biblical integration throughout each of the many majors and minors in offered coursework.

Throughout that educational process, students are challenged to consider summer ministry teams using mediums such as drama, music, puppetry, and healthcare. They attend daily chapel and minor in Bible. The campus “ethos” would seem to be centered upon a wide-range continuum of ministry opportunities from one-on-one mentoring through small group ministry to street evangelism groups.

When incoming freshmen students arrive on campus at our institution, they are encouraged to take an assessment tool that provides them with a wealth of research – based on information regarding their skills, interests, personality and values. Additionally, we have the opportunity to meet with all of them in several group settings and discuss strategies to prepare themselves appropriately for their eventual careers. During that session we ask three questions.

What is their desired future job title

What is the name of the company they had in mind

What would be the realistic salary expectation

You should see their eyes bulge when we indicate that we just asked the wrong three questions!

We stress that the educational journey upon which students are about to embark is not to prepare for careers, but rather, to prepare for “life ministries.” Therefore, with that view in mind, their education ought not to be about job title, name of company, or salary. It should be about preparing to do kingdom things, that is, to be so capable, as a nurse, or engineer, or accountant or an educator that people ask for “a reason for the hope that is within them.”

When given the opportunity, students are asked if they think that biblical integration in all of their courses would help prepare them to “have their lives read as a living gospel before men,” they nod their heads in the affirmative. Subsequently, when they are asked if their desire is “to be salt and light in places where there isn't any,” they answer in the affirmative. Additionally, they would universally agree that they are training to do kingdom things.

How do student responses mesh with their “having difficulty perceiving the differences between lifestyle and lifework?” Actually, they speak to the “lifework” part of the construct. It is almost a universally-held view by students that these would be the expected outcomes of a Christian education, searching out God's purpose for their lives and studying “to rightly divide the word of truth” as they find ways to share with the world at large.

Then what then causes tensions mentioned in the quote?

While it is true that students, perhaps also their parents, agree with the “lifework” notions, they also ardently hold on to their American Dream notions. These are “lifestyle” notions. The fast food, on demand, “I want the wife, the baby, the house and two cars, all within the first two years after graduation", instant gratification dream! To achieve it, significant numbers of them seem to have compartmentalized their paradigms. In particular, it seems that while students philosophically hold that their career choices should be about how God has designed them, they nevertheless make decisions when choosing employment that satisfies the three wrong questions of title, company name, and salary.

Why? In my thinking, it is to satisfy a lifestyle that in many (if not most) cases will require both marriage partners to work, that will create a series of credit card, loan, and mortgage debts that will enslave them for years, perhaps cause a need for serious marriage counseling, and may commit their children to an early life of child care. Make no mistake –decisions made on these lifestyle criteria alone will prevent experiencing the pure joy and freedom of a life ministry resonating with God-given design. A recent survey, published in the Dayton Daily News showed that over 67% of Americans are in jobs “they can't stand.” No wonder!

It has been said that while we may be able to do many different types of work, the one that we would select without salary would most closely match and resonate with our God-given design. So, why are students not doing that in large numbers? It appears that we've become too experienced in the art of “compartmentalization.”

We seem to have developed a way to deal with the tensions between lifestyle and lifework, between how we act at church or home and how we act in the business place or the ballpark. That is, we've created several varieties of public and private standards. Integrating a biblical worldview in the arenas of music/arts, politics/public sector employment and media/advertisement/private sector employment ought to be the sole perspective to our daily activities.

Consider the often cited quote from Ray Kroc, the McDonald founder and multi-millionaire: “My private priorities are God first, family second, and hamburgers third. When I go to work on Monday, that order is reversed.” That standard demonstrates one set of values for the private life and a graphically different one for the public life.

Acknowledgement of God-given skills, interests, personality, and values (on the one hand) and avoiding “playing by the pursuit of the American Dream rules” (on the other) ought to demarcate the normal Christian life. When job description, company name, and salary take precedent over family, home, and church we tarnish the “sacred” sphere of God-valued work. If our vocational endeavor is really a “life ministry,” then we will resist the attraction of “lifestyle” decisions and honor the God-given gifts we have at our disposal.

Unexpected Surprises

2008-04-01T18:08:00.003-04:00

Why is it that when you are on vacation, time seems to fly by? I have had such a wonderful time in Charleston, SC these past few days, that in all honesty, it's going to be hard to go home. It has been wonderful being able to sleep in, explore, not having to worry about laundry, house work, etc. It's also just been really nice being able to think about the many thoughts and things that the Lord is continuing to show me.

First off, I have had the opportunity to meet a couple of people while I've been here in Charleston. Not only did I meet another Jen Bennett, but my husband and I also met a lady who used to live in Clermont, Florida-where we currently live. Now, I find that to be quite interesting. Let me explain how this happened. For the past few days, Luke and I have been driving down the same road in order to get where we need to get. Well every day, we have been passing this place called Life Management Center, Inc., which consists of educational consultants who work with families and schools in a variety of areas. Well of course, I wanted to stop to speak with someone from the company in order to get information about what they do being that this is a huge interest of mine. Today was the day. We walked in and met with this lady who gave us some wonderful information about what they offer and what it is that they specialize in. As we were talking, she mentioned that she was from Florida and of course we asked what part of Florida. Her response went something like this, "well, I'm from this little place right outside of Orlando called Clermont." We instantly had a bond!

Now, while this may not be all that exciting, what it reminded me of was the fact that it just continues to amaze me how the Lord opens doors here and there for us to meet and come into contact with those people that He wants us to come into contact with. Not only that, but He also opens the doors that He wants to open and He opens them when He wants to open them. Additionally, God will let you in on what He has for you when the time is right. I never expected to have so many thoughts and ideas flowing through my head while on vacation, but I have. God has been showing me some great things while I've been here and in all honesty, it just excites me!

Be open to what God wants to do you in your life. Many times, it's in those small occurrences that He ends up speaking big. Be open and always keep your ears,heart, and mind open to what He wants to show you!

Growing your Marriage

2008-03-30T19:11:00.003-04:00

What a busy few days I have had! First, this past Thursday I had the opportunity to meet up with some fellow friends and Life Purpose Coaches in Tampa. Kelly, Diane, and Phyllis were in Tampa hosting a Life Purpose Training for women who are wanting to become certified as Life Purpose Coaches through Life Purpose Coaching Centers, International. It has been nearly 2 years since I have seen each of these women, so needless to say, it was wonderful seeing them!

Second, my husband and I left for Charleston, South Carolina on Saturday. We LOVE it here! The historic downtown area is absolutely wonderful. We are here visiting with his parents and are staying at the Residence Inn Marriott which is also wonderful! This is our second trip here to Charleston and I imagine, it will not be our last. We just like it here too much! One of our favorite restaurants to eat at while we are here is Hyman's Seafood. They have the absolute best, Fried Green Tomatoes which I love. Another thing I love about this restaurant is the tidbits of knowledge they share with each of their guests. On each table, you can find cards that contain words of knowledge that I would like to share with you for the next few days. Here's the first one:

Test Your Spouse And See How They're Doing
Promises for Marriage by Steve Stephens

Start each day with a kiss
Wear your wedding ring at all times
Date once a week
Accept differences
Be polite
Be gentle
Give gifts
Smile often
Talk about dreams
Select a song that can be "your" song
Give back rubs
Laugh together
Send a card for no reason
Do what the other person wants before he or she asks
Listen
Encourage
Do it his or her way
Know his or her needs
Fix the other person's breakfast
Compliment twice a day
Call during the day
Slow down
Hold hands
Cuddle
Ask for each other's opinion
Show respect
Welcome the other person home
Look your best
Wink at each other
Celebrate birthdays in a big way
Apologize
Forgive
Set up a romantic getaway
Ask, "What can I do to make you happier?"
Be positive
Be kind
Be vulnerable
Respond quickly to the other person's request
Talk about your love
Reminisce about your favorite times together
Treat each other's friends and relatives with courtesy
Send flowers on every Valentine's Day and anniversary
Admit when wrong
Pray for each other daily
Watch sunsets together
Say "I love you" frequently
End the day with a hug
Seek outside help when needed

So here's my question for you-what can you specifically do this week to show your husband that you love him and desire nothing else than to be the wife that you were created to be?

Take some time this week to really build up and encourage your husband. Not only will your marriage grow stronger, but your husband will be encouraged!

Until next time!

Jen

Heavy Heart

2008-03-26T09:22:00.006-04:00

I must admit, I have a heavy heart. Last night, I decided to listen in on Oprah's online web class based on Eckart Tolle's book, A New Earth: Awakening to your Life's Purpose.

Every so often, I listen in to what Oprah has to say because the truth of the matter is, she has quite a following. Many people (women in particular) tune into what she has to say and in turn, take it as truth. Dear friends, can I be honest with you? Guard your hearts. It truly saddens me to see the amount of people, even those who call themselves Christians (including Oprah), who not only take to heart what Oprah says, but in turn, take it as truth. Oprah is so far from the truth, that is scares me as to what we are allowing ourselves to believe in.

As I listened in on the first session, one of the things that Oprah states is that she is a Christian. She states that when she was in her twenties she was attending a Bible believing Baptist church that was all about rules, beliefs, and doctrines. During that service, she said that the pastor said something that struck a cord with her. The pastor said that our God is a jealous God. When she heard that, she commented that it did not sit well with her and that this was the time when the doctrine of the church really got to her. She could not believe that God was a jealous God-that God was jealous of her. She continued by stating that God is love, not jealousy.

Of course when I heard this, my heart sunk because the truth of the matter is, our God is a jealous God. He's not jealous of us, but rather, He wants our total devotion. He clearly states in Exodus 20:4-5:

"You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God..."

"During this time period, the Israelites had just come from Egypt, a land of many idols and many Gods. Because each god represented a different aspect of life, it was common to worship many gods in order to get the maximum number of blessings. When God told his people to worship and believe in Him, that wasn't so hard for them-He was just one more god to add to the list. But when He said, You shall have no other gods before me, that was difficult for the people to accept. But if they didn't learn that the God who led them out of Egypt was the only true God, they could not be His people, no matter how faithfully they kept the other nine commandments" (Life Application Study Bible).

Ladies, the truth of the matter is that our God is a jealous God and that He wants us to have no other gods before Him. Unfortunately, today's thought process (which Oprah helps to deliver) is that there are many ways to God. That it's OK to worship many gods in order to get the maximum number of blessings. This is so far from the truth. God's word clearly states:

"Jesus answered, I am the way and the the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).

There is no other way to God, it's only through Jesus Christ. Oprah went on to state that so many times, we as Christians tend to put God in this box, that we make God too narrow. "Jesus says He is the only way to God the Father. Some people may argue that this way is too narrow. In reality, it is wide enough for the whole world, if the world chooses to accept it. Instead of worrying about how limited it sounds to have only one way, we should be saying, Thank-you God, for providing a sure way to get to you" (Life Application Study Bible)! Oprah clearly stated that she believes that she is a Christian and that there are many other paths to God rather than just Christianity. She is far from the truth.

What amazes me is that the Bible clearly states that there is only one way to God the Father, and that it is through Jesus Christ. But yet, she refuses to acknowledge this truth all the while, accepting other truths that are within the Bible. It's more of a let me pick and choose what I want to believe and whatever it is I disagree with, then so be it.

The truth of the matter is, you are either for God or against Him. There's no picking or choosing.

Oprah also stated a book (that she subscribes to) that describes old spiritual thinking and new spiritual thinking. She states that old spiritual thinking is thinking that includes believing that there is only one path to God and that the path to God and to worship Him has already been set.

New spiritual thinking (which is what Oprah believes in) states that you are your own authority and that there are many paths to spiritual freedom. She along with Tolle goes on to state that the problem today is that we tend to deny other people's belief systems when the reality is, that we should accept those.

You know, I just can't accept this when I know that Jesus clearly stated the only way to the Father is through Him. And here's my point-many people claim to believe in Jesus and in turn, state that He was a great man-honest, full of integrity, kind, compassionate, etc. They believe all of these characteristics of Him, but yet, choose to believe that He is not the Son of God-that He is not the Savior of the world and that He is not the only way to God the Father. Well, how can you believe that He was an honest, kind, compassionate man, and yet, believe that He is not the Savior of the world? That would in turn make Him out to be a liar and thus, you have no grounds to stand on when you state that He was an honest man. Instead, you would have to call him a liar and a lunatic.

With this thought in mind, Oprah states that she believes that Jesus came to earth to show us His heart-to show us how to live. Again, if you believe this, then how can you not believe anything else about Him? She clearly states that Jesus did not come to start Christianity.

"Therefore Jesus said again, I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:7-10).

"In the sheep pen, the shepherd functioned as a gate, letting the sheep in and protecting them. Jesus is the gate to God's salvation for us. He offers access to safety and security. Christ is our protector" (Life Application Study Bible).

Jesus came so that we may have life and have it to the fullest-being able to spend not only time with Him now, but for all of eternity. He didn't just come to show us how to live lives of honesty, integrity, etc. He came to not only show us those things, but to give us life!

Ladies, guard your hearts. After hearing all of this crazy talk from Oprah and the "spiritual advisor", my heart sank because I know the world is falling for these lies. What broke my heart is that much of what I have listed came from the mouth of Oprah as she was answering a young women's question about aligning her Christian beliefs with what Tolle's book is all about.

Ladies, the truth is found in God's word and God's word alone. You either believe it whole heartedly, or you don't.

When you are searching for answers and guidance, seek God, not Oprah. God will not lead you astray. God will awaken your purpose for you life if you will give Him the opportunity to do so. Don't depend on Tolle's book or "The Secret" for answers. Turn to God-He'll give you what you need.

Fear

2008-03-25T20:18:00.003-04:00

Fear-It's something we all face at some point in our life. For some odd reason, fear has smacked me right in the face this week. I don't know about you, but it seems like the older I get, the more fears I acquire. Let me explain. When I was in my twenties, I was ready to conquer the world. Nothing scared me (except maybe the occasional roller coaster). I was OK with dying. I knew who I belonged to and really felt that when it was my time to go, it would just be my time.

Well, as I've gotten older, I have to admit, death scares me a bit. I still know who I belong to, but I still tend to have a little fear of death. I not only fear death at times, but getting on a plane also scares me a tad bit. I used to never be afraid of flying and now, I always get a little nervous when I know I'm getting ready to get on a plane. Cancer, sickness, etc., used to never scare me either. Now, if I hear numerous stories on TV about cancer, I have to turn it off or else I become a little fearful.

These past two days, I have had quite a few fears creep in. This Sunday, I'm flying out to South Carolina. Honestly, I'm a little nervous about the flight. Also, in the near future, I will be alone at home one night-this scares me. I prefer my husband to be with me. So, needless to say, I've been thinking about that.

I also found out this week that I am going on the senior trip to Tennessee in May. Well, one of the activities we will be taking part in is white water rafting. Even though I've done this multiple times, I am still a little fearful. The last thing I want to do is fall out of the raft!! Lastly, today I became aware that in order to get to the cabin in Tennessee, we will have to take the charter bus all the way up the mountain! Yes, this scares me! I'm a Florida girl, not a mountain girl! So, in the past two days, I've had 4 fears smack me down.

What do you do when you become fearful?
Who do you turn to?
What fears are holding you back from doing and being who it is that God has called you to be?

Take some time this week to really think about those fears that have creeped in. Spend some time giving those fears over to the Lord. Think about all of the people in the Bible who I'm sure were fearful at times, but yet, they did not allow that fear to keep them from being who God called them to be and doing what God called them to do:

* David (David and Goliath)
* Daniel (Daniel and the Lions)
* Moses (Moses and public speaking)
* Esther (Esther helping to set her people free)

Psalm 34:4
God met me more than halfway, he freed me from my anxious fears.

Psalm 46:1
God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him.

Psalm 49:5
So why should I fear in bad times, hemmed in by enemy malice, Shoved around by bullies, demeaned by the arrogant rich?

Really take some time to give God your fears. Rest assured, I'll be doing the same thing this week!! Feel free to drop me a comment and let me know how I can pray for you and if you get a moment, feel free to throw in a prayer for me too!!

Blessings,
Jen

The Day that True Love Died

2008-03-22T16:08:00.003-04:00

I'm a day late, but still, this is a powerful video. Make sure to take some time this weekend in not only praising God and who He is, but also thanking Him for allowing His Son to die on the cross so that we may be Saved! Praise God-Jesus Lives!

10 Simple Steps to Living a Life of Purpose

2008-03-17T20:19:00.003-04:00

10 Simple Steps to Begin Living a Life of Purpose!

Be Still-Make it a priority to spend time with your Maker on a daily basis; be still and know that He is God. The more time you spend with Him and the more time you spend getting to know Him, the more He gives you. Make Him a priority and in turn, He will begin showing you how He wants to specifically use you and how He has uniquely created you!

Love God, Love others-Give God everything you have. Love Him like you’ve never loved Him before. Love others. Be a servant leader. Take time each day to love on those that the Lord has surrounded you with. When you love God and others, God pours out an abundance of blessings upon you!

Be You-Be yourself; be the person that God has created you to be. Don’t compare yourself to others and what it is that God is doing in their life, be you. God has created you with specific gifts, skills, and talents. Allow Him to begin showing you your uniqueness. When you spend time comparing yourself to others, you miss out on who God has created YOU to be!

Learn to say no-So many times we allow ourselves to do everything, which in turn, causes us to be tired, moody, and exhausted. Before saying yes to anything, give it over to God and ask Him if this is something that He would have you be a part of. If you ask, He will answer.

Simplify-Simplify your life. If you have a cluttered house and/or office, not only will you be stressed, but you will fail to create an environment that inspires you to be who God has created you to be.

Invite Inspiration-Make your home and/or office a place of inspiration. Surround yourself with those things that inspire you to not only spend time with God, but also those things that inspire you to dream and set goals. Display words of encouragement around you, light candles, keep your journal nearby, display fresh flowers throughout the house, and get outside. Allow yourself to be inspired!

Get Connected-Surround yourself with positive people. Allow yourself to connect with those people who not only inspire you, but people who will cause you to grow emotionally, academically, and spiritually. Surround yourself with people who will hold you accountable in regards to your goals and what it is that you hope to accomplish.

Do Something Different-Allow yourself to get out of your comfort zone at least once a month. Allow yourself to take a step. Maybe that means attending a meeting, signing up for a college course, attending a writer’s conference, inviting someone to dinner, etc. Do whatever it takes to allow yourself to get out of your comfort zone at least once a month.

Write, Write, and Write-Take time each day to write your thoughts, dreams, goals, hopes, passions, etc. Not only will you be inspired, but you will also begin discovering YOU!

Visit Jen’s Blog-Be sure to check-out Jen’s blog on a daily basis. Many times you will find questions that will help you discover who you are, what you are dreaming about, and what it is that is holding you back! http://www.coachjenniferbennett.blogspot.com/

PS-A printable version of these 10 simple steps will be available on Jen's website in a couple of weeks. Make sure to check out her website!

Jennifer Bennett
Life Purpose Coach, Life Plan Facilitator, Educator, Writer, and Speaker
http://www.coachjenniferbennett.com/

What Inspires You?

2008-03-14T17:29:00.010-04:00

What inspires you? What gets your creative juices going? What kind of environment causes you to dream, set goals, and in turn, envision who you can become?

I LOVE being inspired! And what's funny is that I don't really know how to explain the feelings I encounter when I am inspired. Let me share some personal examples with you.

As a high school teacher, not only do I want to inspire my students, but I want and need to be inspired throughout the day-especially on those days where my precious students are determined to drive me crazy! :) To help inspire me, I have purchased a few things that I have placed throughout my classroom.

First, I have two pictures hanging right above my desk that truly inspire me. I LOVE pictures of outside cafes. There is just something about those kinds of pictures that get me dreaming. So, needless to say, right above my desk I have two pictures of outside cafes. One in particular has the word Shakespeare written across it which of course I love being that I am an English teacher.

Another piece of inspiration is a small photo of Walt Disney which is hanging from my white board. In this picture you have Walt Disney walking on the undeveloped land where Walt Disney World currently stands. In the background, very faintly, you see Cinderella's castle. At the bottom of the picture it states, "It's fun to dream the impossible." Every time I see that picture I can't help but be inspired. To think about this incredible man whose dream started with a mouse and to see what has come from that, is just absolutely inspiring to me.

Lastly, I have a wood carving that sits on my white board that states, "Believe-with God all things are possible." Seeing these things on a daily basis inspire me to do the absolute best that I can and in turn, to give God all I've got.

Another place of inspiration for me is my home. I LOVE candles, so needless to say, my house has candles everywhere. The sweet aroma inspire me to read, write, and dream. Additionally, I also have a picture of an outside cafe on the wall that is adjacent from our living room. And then, right across from the couch I sit on, I have another wood carving that states, "God is Faithful" which reminds me on a daily basis that God will do what He has promised to do in my life.

So, what inspires you? Is it being able to take a walk, going to the bookstore, eating at an outside cafe, getting together with like minded girlfriends, or just cuddling up on the couch with a great book in hand?

Take some time to think about those things that inspire you. As you think of these things, write them down and then see what you can do to not only make your home a place of inspiration, but also your work environment. You'll be surprised how your attitude will change when you allow yourself to be surrounded by those things that get you dreaming!

Discovering YOU!

2008-03-11T20:49:00.004-04:00

I hope you have had the opportunity to spend some time really thinking about the questions that I posed on Sunday:

* Why are you alive?

* What are you most proud of having accomplished at this point in your life?

* If you were financially able to retire one year from today, what would you begin working on to prepare for that?

As you went through the questions and answered them honestly, what thoughts were running through your head? Do you know why you are alive? Do you truly believe that you have a purpose and that no matter what you have been through or are currently going through, that God does indeed want to do a mighty work through you?

What were you thinking when you started pondering what it is that you are most proud of having accomplished at this point in your life? Maybe it was losing those last 10 pounds you've been holding onto. Maybe it was being consistent in your quiet time. Or maybe, you went back to school and started pursuing what you have always dreamed about pursuing. What is it that you are most proud of right now in your life?

When I ponder this question, I have to admit-What makes me most proud is that I am currently working on my doctorate. Granted, I don't like all the school work, but getting a doctorate is something I have always thought about, but honestly, many times I felt as though I could never do it. I had those same doubts that many of you encounter when you begin thinking about those things your heart longs for. Those thoughts of, "you can't do this, you're not smart enough, no one will listen, no one will believe that you can do it, etc." But you know what? I decided to not allow those thoughts to stop me from pursuing a dream that I have always had and believe it or not, I actually have a 4.0 grade point average. Hard for me to believe-but not so hard for God-He, once again showing me that His dreams are bigger than mine.

Lastly, if you were financially able to retire one year from today, what would you begin working on to prepare for that? Personally, I think I would be doing exactly what I'm doing-going to school, being actively involved within my church, continuing my writing, etc. I would be doing exactly what it is that I am currently doing. Can you say the same thing? Or are you continuing to hold off on pursuing those things that you want to pursue because you feel like it's just something that will have to wait?

Let me encourage you to really make it your prayer to seek the heart of God and in turn, to allow Him to reveal to you why he has created you for such a time as this. Allow Him to show you what makes his heart soar-what in your life has just made Him smile like never before. Allow Him to make it absolutely clear as to what He wants to do in your life. He'll show you, I promise. Just give Him the time and He'll come through!

Are you ready for you new set of questions? Here they are:

* What would you most like the people at your funeral to say about you, specifically?

* Who in history do you admire most and why?

* If you could solve a world problem, what would it be? Be VERY specific.

I would LOVE to hear your thoughts in regards to the last question-what world problem would you solve?

Enjoy your time of discovery!

Your Purpose Partner,

Jen

Your Online Life Purpose Coach

2008-03-09T19:37:00.005-04:00

It has been such a pleasure reading your responses to the online poll-What keeps you from working with a Life Purpose Coach? It doesn't surprise me that the majority of responses centered on finances. This is not uncommon. Hiring a Life Purpose Coach is and can be a costly commitment-anywhere from $50-$250 an hour.

Here's some food for thought-

In life, we must choose those things that are important to us. Due to the fact that my husband and I want to spend our money a little more wisely and in turn, save up for those things that we really desire, we have decided to cut back on our eating out. In 2007 we came to realize just how much money we spent on eating out-so much that we could have easily afforded those things that we really wanted. I say all of this because if you truly desire to work with a Life Purpose Coach, think of some ways you can cut back:

-maybe cutting back on that morning coffee that you purchase at Starbucks everyday. At $3.00 a cup for 365 days a year-you would save $1095.00

-cutting back on eating out

-getting rid of cable and instead, spend that TV watching time working with a coach-

Cable costs vary but most likely it's approximately $50 a month-you would save $600 a year if you turned off your cable

-Cutting back on manicures and/or pedicures (this one is so hard for me!!)

-What other extras do you have in your life that you could get rid of (lawn service, cell phone plan, switch to some generic products instead of name brands, etc.)?

While cutting back is good, maybe you still can't afford a Life Purpose Coach because you have debt to pay off. Well, here's the good news-be sure to check this blog often. Consider me your online Life Purpose Coach! I will pose questions that we would work on and speak about if you were to hire me as your Life Purpose Coach. Questions that deal with dreams, purpose, fears, anxieties, goals, mission, vision, etc. As I pose questions, feel free to respond to them both at home in your journal and with me online. If you have a comment or question, let me know. I'll be happy to communicate with you via the blog and email.

So, are you ready for the journey? If so, here are some things you need to do:

1) If you don't have a journal, go purchase one! Designate this journal as your Life Purpose Journal where you will respond to the questions that I will pose on this blog.

2) Set aside time on a daily basis to not only work through the questions, but to also dig into the Word of God and in turn, making sure that you spend consistent time with Him on a daily basis. Talk with him about the questions and your responses. Ask Him to guide you-He will!

3) Check out Coach Jennifer Bennett's blog on a consistent basis! Leave a comment, post a question.

4) Get some of your girlfriends to join in-then, set up some time to meet and discuss your responses together. Hold each other accountable, encourage one another, etc.

Are you ready to begin? If so, here we go! Here are your first set of questions which directly deal with Life Purpose:

* Why are you alive?

* What are you most proud of having accomplished at this point in your life?

* If you were financially able to retire one year from today, what would you begin working on to prepare for that?

I look forward to hearing from you!

When Your Kid Isn't College Bound

2008-03-07T18:31:00.002-05:00

Today, I came across a couple of interesting articles that deal directly with students and college. Take some time to read them and let me know your thoughts:

“My dad wants me to go to college — he’s a very 'education-is-the-greatest-aspect-of-life' kind of guy,” Marchioni says. But despite the lectures from his father and the taunts of his classmates, he has no regrets about his decision. “I’ll be doing something better,” he says confidently. Read More

Also, take some time to read the thoughts of those who have reflected about their past decisions in regards to attending or not attending college, and the thoughts, concerns, and fears that parents face regarding their children and college:

"Looking back now at age 46, I could kick myself in the behind for not sticking with it. I, as a teenager, definitely did not know what was good for me or my future," writes Heidi. "There are so many roads that have been blocked because I did not pursue higher education during those early years." Read More

What are your thoughts in regards to college? Did you go? If so, why? If not, why not? Do you feel as though you were ready to attend college at the age of 18? Did you have a clear understanding of who you were and what you wanted to study? Do you expect your children to attend college? Why or why not?

Please, feel free to share any thoughts in regards to attending or not attending college and any other thoughts you may have on the subject. I look forward to reading your responses.

Teenagers Searching for Purpose and Significance

2008-03-05T18:53:00.005-05:00

One of the joys of a Doctoral program is having the opportunity to write a dissertation, which can be defined as an extended research paper that incorporates the practical. One of my passions is working with not only students, but also teachers. Within this passion is my desire to see students discover who they are, what their gifts, skills, and talents are, and what it is that they are passionate about. I long to see students step foot on a college campus knowing not only who they are, but who God has called them to be and with that, what direction He wants them to walk in. This is what the focus of my dissertation will be on.

Research is showing that anywhere between 20%-50% of students end up entering their freshman year of college undecided about their major and future career. With that, between 50% and 70% of all undergraduates will change their major and career plans at least once during college (Lepre, 2007). What does all of this mean for students? Well, students who postpone declaring a major tend to have lower grade point averages, they take fewer courses, and they tend to be less academically motivated (Lepre, 2007).

With all of these statistics, Lepre (2007) goes on to state that many students have a difficult time just knowing where to begin when it comes to the whole college process/declaring a major. And in addition to this, when students feel pressured to make a decision, they in turn, decide on a major/college that does not fit them and many times these students become discouraged due to lack of direction. This breaks my heart because this is such a critical time in a student's life and so many students are not only trying to make some big decisions, but they are searching for purpose and when they feel discouraged, they begin to really question and wonder whether or not God does indeed have a plan for their life.

It is vital that students begin the process of self-discovery by their freshman year of high school. Students need the opportunity to begin exploring who they are: their values, their passions, their skills, talents, gifts, beliefs, fears, etc. Students not only need to explore these areas, but they must also begin to see and realize the relevance behind their current studies. Many students tend to see school as a waste of time. If students can begin exploring who they are and what it is that they want to accomplish in the future, in turn, they will begin to see the relevance behind their current studies.

I recently had some of my high school students write a paper titled, "My plans after graduation". Students had to write about what they wanted to do after they graduate from high school. Many of them expressed that they planned on attending a four-year university. As they spent some time researching the colleges and careers they hope to pursue, their eyes were opened. Many of them had not realized:

* how much college costs

* grade point averages needed in order to be admitted into a college

* SAT and ACT scores needed in order to be admitted into a college

* that the majority of colleges accept students who have taken classes filled with rigor (honors, AP, dual enrollment, etc.)

* that being involved on your school campus along with being involved in the community is something that colleges look highly upon

* that their intended major required specific multiple courses in one academic area and unfortunately, many of these students are failing those courses at the high school level

The students were a little surprised. I say all of this because if you have a child, you need to begin working with them in helping them discover who they are. You need to take some time each day to reassure them that God does have a purpose for them and that He wants to use them in some incredible ways. Here are some ideas that you can take and start using with your kids today:

1) Have your child create a collage by using magazine pictures. Have them answer the following question through pictures-Who am I? This will give you LOTS of insight as to who they think they are.

2) Talk to them about what they like to do in their free time.

3) Talk to them about their favorite subjects in school and have them explain why those are their favorite subjects

4) Talk to them about their hopes and goals for the future

5) Take some time to help them explore colleges and the requirements that those colleges have

6) Take some time to help them explore careers that they have thought about pursuing

7) Set up an appointment where they will have the opportunity to meet and talk with someone who is working within the career they are thinking about pursuing

The goal is to get your child thinking about all of this before their high school graduation day. If you do this, not only will it save you tons of money (no changing majors multiple times thus extending their college years), but you will have a child who will hold their head up high knowing who they are and that they were created with a specific purpose that God wants to work within them!

Feel free to send me any questions, thoughts, or concerns that you may have. This is my calling-working with adults and students as they seek out to discover who God has uniquely created them to be.

Lepre, C. (2007). Getting through to them: Reaching students who need career counseling. The Career Development Quarterly, 56(1), 74-84.

Part Two-Keys to Time Management

2008-03-03T20:07:00.002-05:00

Here's Part Two to Keys to Time Management:

7) Simplify your environment
Clutter in your office or home environment can create stress. It can actually make you feel like you have more work than you really do.

8) Simplify your tasks
This may involve over-responding and/or under-responding. For example, when receiving a fax, which needs only a quick response or a confirmation, write your answer on the faxed document and fax it right back. Or, if someone asks you for something specific, and you know that by offering more help than was originally asked you can avoid the form of a problem, then isn't it worth it to do more? Make a point of over-responding to any situation in which there is an opportunity to solve more than one problem in the process.

9) Really listen to others
When you are preoccupied with other thoughts, you actually create anxiety for yourself about what you are listening to and what you allow to intrude into your thoughts. This anxiety is created because you can not act immediately on either. You are left feeling incomplete with both.

10) Decide what you can give up in order to get what you want
One day has only twenty-four hours in it, and yet, how many times have you borrowed from the next day to finish a project thereby losing valuable sleep, or borrowed from your relationships to pursue a goal, or borrowed from your personal time to work on a project? When we choose among multiple possibilities how we will spend our work and/or personal time, we are almost always asked to choose what we will give up in order to have more. Much pain and suffering around "managing time" could be avoided if this process were respected.

11) Find some time each day for quiet reflection
When you commit to spending some time each day suspending your thoughts and judgments and creating inner stillness, you'll train your body and mind what awareness feels like and you can transform how you experience the flow of time.

Take some time this week to really think about how you can improve your time management skills! You'll be happy that you did!

* These "Keys" to Time Management have been taken from The Coaching Starter Kit by Coachville.com, published by W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

Part one - Keys to Time Management

2008-03-02T08:11:00.007-05:00

Time Management-something we all struggle with at different points in our life. This past week I had the opportunity to meet with a variety of parents and students who are thinking about enrolling (students) in my AP Literature course for next year. As many of you know, AP Literature is a college level course that is offered to high school students who want to get college credit. Within this course, there is LOTS of reading and writing. The point I kept making clear to all students and parents is that this course requires time management skills. If a student is going to succeed, the student must have good time management skills.

Time management is something I have really had to work on being that my life is non-stop. In addition to working full-time as a high school teacher, I am also a Life Purpose Coach and a Doctoral student; I have had to learn to prioritize my time.

So, what are some time management skills you can apply to your life? Read on!

1) Start with giving your calendar over to God

There is only so much you can handle before it becomes a mess. Believe me, I know. If you really want to prioritize your time management skills, start off by giving your calendar to God. Truly seek Him and ask Him to show you what your calendar should consist of. When you do this, I promise, He will show you.

2) Make God the Priority in Your Life

I don't know how He does this, but every time that I have made God the priority in my life and in turn, have spent time with Him on a daily basis, not only am I able to accomplish everything that I needed to accomplish, but my day goes by much more smoothly. It's like God showing me that when I place Him first, He in turn will indeed take care of my every need. Try this and watch how God will bless your day.

3) Prioritize your efforts

Make the distinction between things that are important and things that are urgent. Most of the time, doing the things that are important, rather than urgent, results in greater effectiveness. In other words, don't major in minor things.

4) Do less to get more

Economize your efforts. For example, when you're boiling a pot of water, let it come to a boil while you do something else, or you can "watch the pot."

5) Reduce excess sources of adrenaline

These are substances, activities, relationships, situations, or attitudes that result in your feeling "charged up". Too much adrenaline can distract you from the focus needed to complete a project, increase feelings of anxiety, and intensify the feeling that time is flying. Over time, excessive adrenaline can have negative health consequences as well.

6) Eliminate time and energy-taxing elements

These are situations, attitudes, or behaviors that you're putting up with in your personal or work life, which don't serve you or your larger purpose but consumer physical, mental, and/or emotional energy. Eliminating them results in an increase in available energy for people and projects, an overall feeling of calm, and more time to get things done.

If you are having trouble with time management, take some time this week to implement some of the "keys" listed above. Also, if you have any time management ideas that you have implemented within your life, please, share those with us! Looking forward to reading your comments and be on the lookout for Part Two of "Keys to Time Management".

* Some of these "Keys" to Time Management have been taken from The Coaching Starter Kit by Coachville.com, published by W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.

And the winner is.....

2008-03-02T08:06:00.003-05:00

Dolores!! Congratulations Dolores on being our giveaway winner! Be on the look out for an email from Jen and a package in the mail! Hope you enjoy the book as much as I did!!

Favorite Book

2008-02-28T10:11:00.005-05:00

When it comes to books, I LOVE BOOKS! One of my favorite things to do is to snuggle up on the couch or in bed and read a great book! Thus the reason why my giveaways revolve around books!

One of my all-time favorite books is, "The New Lottie Moon Story". This book is incredible. I first came across this book while studying at seminary in my missiology class. What I love about this book is that here you have this incredible woman of God who accomplished some amazing things within her lifetime, but yet, she faced many of the struggles and obstacles that we at some point have faced or will face. Let me share with you some of my favorite quotes from this amazing book:

"For approximately two years, Lottie seems to have lived a nondirective existence at Viewmont, immersed in her family and in the national crisis. Then she became impatient to seek her own destiny." -Gosh, haven't we all been here?

"She needed a job. Lottie's friends advertised her search for a school in which to teach. If she thought of the mission field, she knew it was impossible. Not only would the Foreign Mission Board not appoint single women, but it could not appoint anybody." -Nothing is impossible with God-as many of you know, Lottie went on to be a missionary in China.

"Perhaps she was not sure whether foreign missions, with the retrains imposed on single women, would be as fulfilling as work as running her own school." -Again, we all experience doubt at times in regards to our purpose.

This book is a must read. Not only will you be encouraged, but you will also realize that you are not alone and that God does have a magnificent plan for your life!

Anyway, if you are looking for another great read, make sure to respond to the giveaway question listed below!

Blessings,
Jen

GIVEAWAY #2!

2008-02-27T18:18:00.003-05:00

Ok, here we go with GIVEAWAY #2:

What do you love about your job?

The Prize? Kristen Billerbeck's "She's All That" book. For someone who's more into non-fiction than fiction, I must confess, I LOVE Kristen Billerbeck's Spa Girls Collection. Her books take you through the lives of three girlfriends and in turn, allows you to escape the real world. So, if you are looking for a great fiction reading book, this just might be the one!

When it comes to our jobs, it's so easy to focus on the negative aspects. As many of you know, in addition to being a Life Purpose Coach, I am also a high school teacher. As a high school teacher, I could easily allow myself to focus on all the things that I really don't care for which include:

* Grading papers

* Dealing with irate parents

* Being at work everyday at 7:00 a.m.

* Lesson Plans-having to prepare on my time-off away from work

But, if I start to focus on those things that I LOVE about my job, those things that I find exciting, not only am I more thankful for what the Lord has blessed me with, but my days are filled with so much more joy. So, what do I love about teaching?

* Working with kids

* Seeing the "light bulb" go off when they finally get something

* Seeing kids dive into their assignments and in turn, doing an outstanding job

* Being able to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with them

* Seeing them experience new things for the first time

* Joking with them

* Them joking with me

* Having kids come back after they have graduated and telling you thank-you for pushing them to do their best

You know, when I focus on the things I really enjoy about my job, those other things don't seem as bad. So, what is it that you love about your job?

I am REALLY looking forward to reading your responses!

Why Lord?

2008-02-21T17:23:00.004-05:00

Do you ever sit back and wonder what happened to the life you once dreamed about? I have. It actually happened on Wednesday. Every Wednesday, our school has Chapel and we have been blessed to have a variety of speakers come and speak words of truth and encouragement to not only our students, but also to the staff.

This past Wednesday we were BLESSED with having Pastor David Uth from First Baptist Orlando. This man is incredible. I watch him speak on TV nearly every Sunday as I get ready to head out to my home church and I can't help but to be challenged and encouraged as I listen to him speak the words of God. Well, before he spoke on Wednesday, he introduced two people he brought with him-the youth minister at First Baptist Orlando and the girl's minister. As soon as he introduced this woman of God and explained that she was the one who specifically worked with the teenage girls at the church, my heart just dropped. Why? Let me explain.

When I was attending seminary, my heart's desire was to work with youth and be in ministry full-time. I had these huge dreams of working in a church where I not only had the opportunity to work with youth, but would also have many opportunities to speak, write, go on mission trips, youth retreats, etc. When I graduated seminary, I did these exact things; in Texas and Florida. But after about three years, not only did my dream fade away, but unfortunately, I was deeply wounded by the church I was working for at the time. So wounded that I wanted nothing more than to get out and get a job at McDonald's. That's how bad it was.

Well, eventually the Lord healed my heart and allowed me to work through my shattered dreams. From that point on, the Lord has blessed me immensly within the field of education. I love education and the reality is, I am still working with youth and in turn, ministering to them on a daily basis. But you know what, on Wednesday, my heart sank when I saw this girl. All I could think about was, "God, what happened? Why did things not work out the way I thought they would? What that girl is doing, is what I dreamed about doing. Lord, I was faithful. I wanted nothing more than to be in ministry and in turn, make an impact for you. Why did things turn out the way they did?" Does any of this sound familiar?

As I went on through my day, I felt as though the Lord was speaking words of encouragement to me. I felt as though He was showing me that even though my life didn't turn out the exact way I had planned, He is still very much using me in ways that I have dreamed about. The truth of the matter is-I am in ministry. I am still working with youth. I still get to go on retreats with teenagers. I still get to minister to teenage girls who are searching for answers. And what's even more amazing is that I actually get to see and talk with these students more often than what a youth minister would. So the reality is, God is using me and is giving me the desires of my heart. Unfortunately though, I was too wrapped up in seeing what somebody else had, when all along I was allowing myself to miss out on what God was doing in my life and how He was truly using me to make a difference.

Do you feel as though some of your dreams have been shattered? Have you wondered why things have turned out the way they have? If so, you are not alone. Rest assured that God knows what your life looks like. He knows the desires of your heart. He knows the dreams that you dream. He desires nothing more than to use you in ways that you can't even begin to imagine. Trust Him. He is faithful. He will do what He has promised to do in your life. Though you may not understand it right now, hang on, He will show you. Believe me, I'm living proof of this. My dreams were at one point shattered, but through that brokenness, the Lord has continued to use me in ways I never even imagined-more than I could have ever of imagined. Not only am I blessed to work with teenagers from an educational standpoint, but He has also blessed me with being able to work with women who are searching for their purpose; women who question whether or not He does have a plan for them. Let me reassure you-He does have a plan for your life. No matter where you have been or what you are currently going through, He has a plan and He promises to work everything out according to His purposes. Stay focused, trust Him, be patient, and watch what He will do. If He did it for me, I can promise you that He will do the same for you!

Who are you Becoming?

2008-02-15T20:36:00.002-05:00

Nothing excites me more than a great novel. I love cuddling up on the couch under a blanket with candles blazing all around me and a great book in hand.

In addition to being a Life Purpose Coach, I also work as a full-time high school English teacher. My favorite part of the job is reading great novels with my students. Currently, my 12th graders are reading "Pride and Prejudice". If you have never read this book, let me encourage you to do so. There's just something about the the way Jane Austen takes a hold of your emotions and in turn, draws you into the life of the characters.

My second favorite "activity" is watching the movie versions of novels. Not only does the book come to life, but it also allows you to see the many differences between the two. Tonight, I was finally able to watch the new release, "Becoming Jane". This movie is based on the life of Jane Austen. While we don't know a lot about Austen, research has shown that many of her writings paralleled her true existance. As I watched the movie, I couldn't help but notice that Austen experienced many of the things that we as women face in our lifetime. Here are some of the similarities:

* Austen desired to find her one true love
* Parents and society had their own thoughts on how they felt Austen should live her life
* Many people within her society felt that money was the answer and in turn, would bring happiness
* Austen had dreams of writing, but yet she had those "dream killers" in her life who felt that those dreams were a waste of time
* Austen dealt with rejection
* Austen dealt with doubt
* Austen questioned what her purpose was

As I sat on my couch watching this movie, I couldn't help but focus in on the title, "Becoming Jane". This movie clearly portrays Jane Austen becoming who she was created to be. As I continued watching, I kept asking myself, "Jen, who are you becoming?" As I look back on my life and the many experiences I have lived through, whether good or bad, I can't help but see the hand of God guiding and leading me into becoming the person He has created me to be. He has always led me onto the path that He desired me to be on. He has always had a plan for me. He is good.

So, with these thoughts, I can't help but ask you, who are you becoming? If there was a movie written about your life and who it is that you became, what would the movie portray?

Take some time to think about this and journal your thoughts. If you get a free moment, feel free to leave a comment and let me know who it is that you are becoming.

Blessings!

And the winner is........

2008-02-12T21:10:00.001-05:00

JESS!!! Congratulations Jess! Be on the lookout for an email from me!!

Thanks to all who commented! It was WONDERFUL reading everyone's thoughts. I look forward to hearing more from each of you! Make sure to check back often!!

Jen

GIVEAWAY!!!

2008-02-06T18:24:00.001-05:00

Because I would love nothing more than to hear from you, I figured what better way than to pose a question and in turn, give away a free gift!! Every week I will pose a new question. The deadline for answering the question will vary week by week, so be sure to keep checking the blog. Once the deadline has arrived, I will randomly pick a name from the posts and the name chosen will be the winner! When you leave a comment, make sure to leave me your email address so that I can contact you upon your win!! I think this could be fun!! Ok, here we go-question #1:

* What do you feel passionate about? What gets you out of bed in the morning?

This weeks prize? Katie Brazelton's new book, Character Makeover! I look forward to hearing from you!!

Blessings,
Jen

Are You Content?

2008-01-11T13:29:00.001-05:00

"To experience happiness we must train ourselves to live in this moment, to savor it for what it is, not running ahead in anticipation of some future date nor lagging behind in the paralysis of the past." -Luci Swindoll

I'm in the process of reading and going through Dr. Katie Brazelton's new book, Character Makeover. One of the topics she discuss is contentment. She states that "Any one of us can be content, because contentment is a state of satisfaction that is independent of circumstances, and we learn contentment by trusting in Christ, who gives us strength. Contentment is a sense of satisfaction in God that doesn't go away because of what you lack, how you're hurt, or where you're stuck. Real contentment is perspective."

Today, it's very easy to allow ourselves to get caught up in what it is that we lack, how we've been hurt, or where it is that we feel stuck. Whether it be the house we feel we need, the job that is going nowhere, or the friend that wounded us deeply, we tend to focus on these aspects rather than the positives. We forget to thank God for what it is that He has blessed us with and what it is that He is doing in our lives. When was the last time you thanked God for anything?

Believe me, I know how easy it is to get caught up in the contentment game. I too have seen houses that I've longed for and in turn, have felt as though my house didn't compare or wasn't good enough. I've also wondered at times why I didn't get a certain job or position, or even, how people that are younger than me could possibly afford the things that they purchase. I've been there, and each time that I have been there, I have had to stop and think about all the wonderful things that the Lord has blessed me with. It's only then, when I begin to thank Him, that I once again realize that I have all that I could ever need and want.

One of the areas that most people tend to lack contentment in is in regards to their jobs. Katie states that "to some degree, everyone has drudge in their days. The administrative assistant has filing. The teacher has grading. The doctor has charting. The lawyer has briefings. The athlete has training. The musician has practicing. Everyone has to deal with activities that are draining, demotivating, or dull. If you start to focus on the dullness and the drudgery, it will zap your joy! If, instead, you see your work as a holy calling, not a daily grind, you'll rediscover the joy and meaning in your tasks."

How would your day be different if you began to see it as a holy calling? How different would your attitude be if you took the words of Colossians 3:23 to heart:
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people."

Let me encourage you to take some time today and just thank the Lord for not only what He has given you, but what He has done in your life. When you allow yourself to get into the habit of thanking God for all that He has done, your attitude tends to change and in turn, your days are filled with joy. Every time I've allowed myself to focus on the good things, not only is my outlook better, but those around me feed off of my joy.

So, what are you waiting for? Go tell God how thankful you are and in turn, watch how your attitude and outlook will change!

Brazelton, Katie. Character Makeover: 40 Days With A Life Coach To Create The Best You. Zondervan, 2008.

About the Author: Jennifer M. Bennett, MACE, LPC, LPF is trained and certified as a Life Purpose Coach® and a 2-Day Life Plan Facilitator to women of all ages through the Life Purpose Coaching Centers, Int'l. Jennifer assist’s women in identifying and embracing their unique, God-given purpose utilizing the Pathway to Purpose process. As a Life Purpose Coach®, Jennifer will assist you in gaining a clearer understanding and vision of your passions and what God's purpose is for your life. As a 2-day Life Plan Facilitator Jennifer will take you through a series of sequential exercises intended to help you discover your uniqueness, how God has been present in your life, and the creation of a personal action plan outlining specific steps to take immediately in response to new insights. Jennifer has had a variety of experiences working in ministry and is currently studying for her Doctorate in Instructional Leadership.

Contact Information:
www.coachjenniferbennett.com

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T21:22:00.001-05:00

Can you believe that the year 2008 is upon us already? It's hard for me to believe that Christmas has come and gone. It seems as if it was just yesterday that my husband and I were setting up our decorations and in turn, getting excited about spending the holidays with family.

With the new year upon us, take a minute to think back on 2007. Think back to January 1st 2007. Did you set out goals to accomplish, only to find that 2 weeks later you had lost sight of those goals? Was 2007 a year of joy and happiness, or one of sadness and sorrow? As you think back to 2007, what is it that you would like to do differently in 2008?

I want to encourage you to take some time to write down your thoughts. One thing that I like to do at the beginning of each year is purchase a new journal that I can start off fresh with. If you have no journal, I want to encourage you to go out and buy one. Be determined to write down your thoughts, ideas, goals, joys, sadness, etc. It's amazing what a difference writing can make in your life. What's even more amazing is the fact that within a few months, you will be able to go back through your journal and realize how far you have come in your thoughts, ideas, and actions.

So with 2008 upon us, what are you striving for? If you are not sure, spend some time with the Lord asking Him to show you what He would like to do within your life in 2008. If you ask, He will reveal. Let me share with you a few things that I know that the Lord wants to do within my life this year:

* Healthy eating and exercising-Yes, many of us make this a goal and unfortunately, fall short within a few weeks. I'm determined to shed some pounds and in turn, get back in shape. I've been feeling convicted about really taking care of the temple of God. So, to help keep me on track, my husband and I have hired a personal trainer to help keep me going. No, it's not cheap, but if I want to accomplish this goal once and for all, I have to be willing to do whatever it takes. Watching the Biggest Loser helps too!

* With the healthy eating, my husband and I have decided to not spend any money on eating out in 2008. Last week, Luke and I tallied up the receipts from 2007 that we spent on eating out, and the amount of money we spent was, let's just say, too much. So needless to say, we will only be eating out this year if we have gift cards. We really want to be better stewards of our money, so we are determined to not eat out. In turn, this will help us lead a more healthy lifestyle and will help us afford that personal trainer to keep me in line!

* Last but not least, we want to live lives of simplicity. We want to cut back on so many of the things that we allow ourselves to get caught up in. Our goal is to live simple lives.

There's my goals for 2008-what are you planning on accomplishing in 2008? I would love to hear from you regarding your goals!

Happy New Year!

When was the last time you played?

2007-12-09T18:41:00.000-05:00

When was the last time you played? When was the last time you were able to get away? Get away from your daily routine, responsibilities, work demands, house demands, and in turn, just play like a kid again? One of the privileges my husband and I have with living in the Orlando area is that Disney is 20 minutes from our house. Because of that, we try to always fit some time in our busy schedule to visit the place where "Dreams come true". This past weekend was one of those weekends. We stayed both Friday and Saturday night at the Boardwalk Hotel on Disney property and in turn, spent Saturday at the Magic Kingdom riding rides like Thunder Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, the Jungle Cruise, etc.. What a refreshing weekend it was. No computer, no alarm clock, no grading papers, no lesson plans to put together, and no doctoral classes to work on. Nothing. All we did was play.

I once heard a speaker state that the busier you are, the more play time you need. When was the last time you played? Are the responsibilities of life just wearing you down? Are you tired, worn out, burned out, etc? If so, play time is what you may need. Maybe your schedule or finances will not allow you to get away for the night. If so, why not take into consideration some of the ideas listed below:

* get out and have a picnic

* go to the park and swing on the swings like a kid again

* go down the slide at the park

* jump on your bed because you can

* have a pillow fight

* play hide-n-seek

* rent a canoe

* take a hike

* jump like a kid into a pool

* go on a bike ride

* go to a cafe and read a good book

* go to the beach

* fly a kite

* take a bubble bath

* go see a girl movie

* rent a girl movie

If the stresses of life are getting to you, set up some time to play. I promise, it will be well worth it!

What Are You Afraid Of?

2007-12-01T20:23:00.001-05:00

What is the first fear that jumps into your mind? We all struggle with fears, some paralyzing, others mildly nagging. What about you? What is your greatest fear? Fear can motivate you to seek God's strength and power, or it can keep you from embracing new opportunities, including those that would help you fulfill His plan for your life."

You Are Not Alone

"I cross paths with women every day who have fears like these: heights, snakes, public speaking, cancer, terrorism, financial ruin, spiders, bridges, or dogs. Some have a fear of flying, falling, enclosed spaces, job loss, husband's death, being alone, fish, or chemical warfare. You may know someone who has a fear of abandonment, rejection, being attacked, failure, success, ridicule, or being found out that she's not smart. What about an extreme fear of dying, which causes you to avoid your annual checkup" (Brazelton, 29).

What are you afraid of? Like many women, I too have my fair share of fears. What I have come to realize is that many times, fears can keep you from fulfilling the plan that God has for your life. Let me explain. For the past 10 years I have had the opportunity to speak in a variety of venues. Each time I'm approached about speaking, believe it or not, I can't help but have this immediate fear creep up within me. Yes, the speaker who gets nervous! My first response is to say no. But as I think about and pray about the opportunity that the Lord has placed before me, I can't help but feel the Lord nudging me to accept the invitation. I have to admit, I'm nervous until the speaking engagement is over! But what's interesting to note is that while I'm speaking, I am in my element. My heart is filled with an unexplainable joy and while I'm speaking I can't help but think, gosh, this is what I was made for. I love nothing more than being able to share my heart with others and in turn, being able to encourage and inspire others to live the life that God has called them to live. What's even more amazing is that after each speaking engagement, my heart is overflowing with the encouragement I receive from the audience members.

Here's my point-I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God has called me to be a speaker-to share His Word with others. When I'm asked to speak somewhere, I have to consistently remind myself that this is what God has called me to and in turn, I have to trust that He will give me the words to speak. I can't allow my fear to keep me from doing what it is that God has called me to do. If I do, I end up missing out on the wonderful blessings that the Lord wants to pour out upon me.

So, what are you afraid of? Where in your life are you allowing fear to take control? What would it look like if you allowed God to take that fear and use you in the mighty ways that He wants to use you?

Don't let fear win out. Give your fear over to God and watch what He will do. I promise, it will be well worth it!

Brazelton, Katie (2005). Praying for Purpose for Women. Grand Rapids, Michigan. Zondervan

Digging Deep

2007-07-09T11:08:00.000-04:00

About a month ago, my pastor approached me wondering if I would be interested in leading the Sunday church service on July 8th while he and his family were out of town. After I said yes, I then began seeking God's guidance as to what I should speak about. He led me to the story of Joseph found in Genesis 37-50.

As I began digging deeper into the life of this amazing young man, God revealed some truths to me in regards to purpose and how He works out His plans for our lives. As you consider each point, see if you can relate to Joseph and what he encountered on his path to purpose.

1) Joseph was given a glimpse of what was to come in his life-he had a dream of greatness that he was not afraid to talk about. Has God given you a dream? Have you openly discussed your dream with a trusted friend? When you talk about your dreams, you not only embrace your dreams, but talking about them also brings ownership.

2) Joseph had dream killers within his life-namely, his brothers. Dream killers are those people who consistently question the dreams that you have and in turn, provide negative comments such as; it will never happen, how do you plan on making a living doing that, when will you grow-up, etc. Make sure to focus your efforts and time on those people who will build you up and encourage you as you seek to live out God's purpose in your life.

3) Life has its ups and downs. At the age of 17, Joseph had a vision of what was to come in his life, but then all of a sudden life took a drastic turn. Even in the midst of confusion, Joseph continued to keep his eyes focused on God and in turn, God allowed Joseph to prosper in everything he did. In life, it's not so much what you go through, but how you go through it.

4) When seeking out our purpose/dreams, we must always be willing to wait on God and his timetable. What we do while we wait may at times determine how long we wait.

5) In life, people will sometimes forget about us (just as the cupbearer forgot about Joseph), but you can rest assured that God will never forget you. God has a plan for your life and he has not forgotten the dream that he has placed within you. As Galatians 6:9 states, "Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due time, we shall reap if we do not lose heart."

Are you ready to embark on a life of purpose where God not only uses you in some amazing ways, but also grows you in ways you never imagined? If so, I encourage you to read through the story of Joseph and in turn, seek out God's guidance in living out your dreams!

ENVISION what you can become

CREATE the life you have always wanted

GROW into the person God has created you to be

The Joy of Living a Life of Purpose

2007-06-29T16:13:00.000-04:00

This past week I received an email from one of my amazing clients who came to see me exactly a year ago for her 2-day Life Plan Facilitation. Every time I hear from her, I can't help but smile because she is living a life filled with purpose. She has allowed the Lord to guide her and in turn, he has used her in ways she couldn't even begin to imagine. Here's the latest email I received from her:

"My dearest Jen,
Today marks the 1 year anniversary of my completion of the Life Review process with you. It seems as if so much time has passed and I really feel I have grown and transformed so much. Here's a summary:

1) Physically: lost 66 pounds since baby was born
2) Mentally: have removed self-imposed barriers that limited my God-given potential
3) Heart: have identified what my passions are and have created my own projects to work in those areas. In fact, CREATED current position via a conversation with the hiring manager and we matched my passions with his business needs (this was a true God thing!)
4) Soul/Spirit: have grown much closer to God through daily Bible reading, claiming specific verses for my life, and regular conversations with God throughout the day

God was orchestrating so many things and I had faith that everything I was going through (including my job change in July of last year which was unpleasant for me, but was pivotal in my spiritual growth) was going to be worked out for good. In July of last year I took the "risky" faith step (see Daily Devotional below) of staying on in the new job I was offered, even though the job was not a good fit for my skills/passions/etc. I am so glad I did. God had me on a holding pattern because he wanted to prepare me to get involved in what I am working on right now at work. In fact, the products that I am looking after right now were launched in June 2006 (right when I got back to finish my Life Review) !!! Now, I am in charge of turning around those portfolios and re-defining the products!!! During that period of holding, God guided me to discover more of my strengths and passions. He led me to read books by John C. Maxwell and even attend a Leadership seminar he held in Palm Beach, so that I could develop my courage to speak to my then-future boss about my passions and request for a specific position within the company to deal with micro finance (a position that did not exist at the time). In short, during that "down" period, God was polishing me and preparing me. I continue to be polished and prepared on a daily basis, but I was aware at the time and now that this "down" time has been a crash course in humility, leadership, teamwork, and confidence-building. I was keenly aware at every step of the way that God was preparing me for a job, a big job (as I hinted in my Christmas letter). I did not know what that job would be or when, but I knew it was coming. Now, it has come.

From July 12-19 and August 10-17 I will be attending a seminar at a business school in Nicaragua, where I was faculty member many years ago, that focuses on Microfinance in Central America. Jen, you may recall that Microfinance is where I saw God leading me last year in my Life Review. I was expecting it to work out with another group within the organization that was already working in micro finance around the world, but God had other (and may I add better) plans that fit my gifts/skills/passions to a T. Our God is so good and kind to us, I cannot believe that today, on my one year anniversary of completing my Life Review (2 year anniversary of having started it), I can tell you that I am Living the Life I Was Meant To Live.

Jen, thanks again for letting yourself be used to help others with their Life Reviews.

May God continue to bless you,
Cristina-2-Day Life Plan Client"

As I read this email, I can't help but to allow my heart to be filled with joy. This to me, is what God has intended. He wants us to live lives where we use the gifts and talents that he has given us so that in turn, we can make a difference in this world. This is why I coach-Seeing other people living out their passions brings me such fulfillment that I honestly could not imagine not doing this.

Life Purpose Coaching for Teenagers

2007-06-10T17:11:00.000-04:00

Ahhh, summer time! I must admit-I do enjoy my summers. While I love teaching and working with students, I also love having time to myself! Thus far this summer, I have had the opportunity to really think about teenagers and the many questions and concerns they have when it comes to their future.

This past school year I had the opportunity to sit and chat with one of my 11th grade students who had many questions about her future. She spent a few minutes with me discussing her confusion as to what college she should attend, what she should study in college, etc. She knew she had a heart for students, but she had no idea as to how to use that passion, that desire in the "real world". Like many students today, she was confused as to what direction she should go in along with confused as to who she really was.

This is not uncommon. This past school year I had the opportunity to teach and work with the 12th graders of the school. When I tried to discuss with them what their plans were for the future, many of them had no clue. When their names and information were listed on the school hallway (as the graduating class of 2007) for all to see, many of them had listed that they were undecided as to what they would study in college. Once again, this is common.

As a teacher and Life Purpose Coach, I feel that it is imperative that when students graduate high school, they have a pretty good understanding of not only what their passions, gifts, skills, and talents are, but also, who it is that God has uniquely created them to be. Thus, the reason for Life Purpose Coaching for Teenagers! Wouldn't it be nice to send your child off to college knowing that they know that the direction they have chosen to walk in is one that has been discovered through a process of truly identifying what their gifted at and what it is that they are truly passionate about. Wouldn't it be nice to send your child to college knowing that within the first year, they will not be changing their major about 10 times. This is what Life Purpose Coaching for Teenagers is all about.

Here are some of the topics that this process will include:

* Identification of talents

* Exploring of spiritual gifts

* Recognizing personality type

* Understanding values

* Discovering passions

* And anything else your teenager may have questions about (college, money, etc.)

If you have a teenager that you feel would benefit from Life Purpose Coaching, contact me today and I will be happy to answer any questions or concerns that you may have!

For More Information:
http://www.iamnext.com/academics/goals.html

NOTE: You can freely redistribute this resource, electronically or in print, provided you leave the authors contact information below intact.

About the Author: Jennifer M. Bennett, MACE, LPC, LPF is trained and certified as a Life Purpose Coach® and a 2-Day Life Plan Facilitator to women of all ages. Jennifer assist’s women in identifying and embracing their unique, God-given purpose utilizing the Pathway to Purpose process. As a Life Purpose Coach®, Jennifer will assist you in gaining a clearer understanding and vision of your passions and what God's purpose is for your life. As a 2-day Life Plan Facilitator Jennifer will take you through a series of sequential exercises intended to help you discover your uniqueness, how God has been present in your life, and the creation of a personal action plan outlining specific steps to take immediately in response to new insights. Jennifer has had a variety of experiences working in ministry and is currently studying for her Doctorate in Instructional Leadership.

Contact Information:
Total Life Counseling (407) 248-0030
http://www.totallifecounseling.com/

Finding your Purpose

2007-06-01T17:42:00.000-04:00

"To find your purpose in life is the most amazing feeling and this is it."-Lisa Salem, Adoptive Parent

This past week I had the opportunity (and free time) to watch Dateline which showcased the story of an American Family that decided to adopt 6 Russian siblings who were in dire need of a home. As you read above, this mother knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she had found her purpose; to adopt and care for 6 siblings who needed a home and family that would not only take care of them, but love them like they had never been loved before. And as she states, "Finding your purpose in life is the most amazing feeling" that one can experience.

I want to encourage you to read the story and then come back and take a look at my thoughts:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13546439/

Jen's Thoughts:

1. "They are two regular people in an average suburb in America". I love how this story begins. This sticks out to me so much because here you have "two regular people in an average suburb" doing an amazing thing. So often, this is how God works. So many times we tend to think that there is nothing special about us, that we are just regular people and in turn, question and wonder what God could possibly do with us. Here is a prime example of a regular couple doing an extraordinary thing! God can do the same with you!

2. "We decided that there were more children in the world than there were parents. And that we could do something." This sounds to me like these parents had a passion within them that was coming to the surface at just the right time. They saw a need and went after it. So many times, that's how God works within us. He shows us where there is a need and in turn, asks us to join Him in making a difference.

3. "You just go where you’re meant to be. We were supposed to be in Russia." When God calls you to something or somewhere, He will let you know beyond a shadow of a doubt and in turn, you end up just going because you know that is where you are meant to be. There's a peace that passes all understanding and because of that peace, you go knowing that you were called to go. There's no wondering, worrying, or questioning. You just know.

4. "We did have doctors, three in the United States, who told us not to adopt them. That they would have cerebral palsy. That they would have brain damage. That they would never be whole." If you are following after what it is that God calls you to, there will always be people within your life that you will tell you not to do it or not to go. They will try to discourage you from going after that Purpose that God has specifically called you to. But once again, when you know what you have specifically been called to, you will just go because you were meant to go and you will be who it is that God has called you to be. And in regards to the children having cerebral palsy, etc.-the kids are living normal healthy lives today!

5. "But the Salems refused to be discouraged and five months later, in Jan. 1999, video camera in hand, they arrived in Moscow, boarded a train and rode mile after mile before they could meet their babies." Do not be discouraged. If God has called you, He will provide for your every need. Just keep walking on that path that He has called you to walk and He will bless you beyond measure.

6. "There were months of constant feeding, sleepless nights tending to terribly weak, feverish babies." Following after what God has called you to will be work-hard work, but within that hard work, you will have a peace because once again, you will know what you are doing is what you have been called to do and created to do.

7. "And as they set off on their long journey, they were excited, but had fears, as well-fear about the future." When God calls you to something, you will most likely experience a variety of emotions, including fear. The reason being-when God calls you to something, most likely it's not something you can accomplish on your own-instead, it's going to require you to trust him fully so that in turn, He can get all of the glory.

8. "Hythem (the father) is an engineer, earning $64,000 a year. Lisa works part time at home. Supporting a family of four, is one thing, but traveling to Russia... and if the adoption went through, doubling the size of their family. Lisa: I don’t know how we’ll get through it. We seem to be living every day by the seat of our pants, but you can’t put a price on this." So many times we allow things like money and time to keep us from going after what we know God has called us to, when the reality is that if God has called you to something, He will provide for your every need. You may not see the whole picture right now, but He does and He will take care of you and your family. You just have to trust.

9. "Here’s what they were coming home to: A $55,000 addition to the home. Every penny, every hour of labor donated by a local developer. New bedrooms, a bathroom, furniture… all of it a gift, from people who wanted to help." This is exactly how God works. If He calls, He provides. He just wants you to trust Him with every fiber of your being and when you do, He will bless your socks off, more than you could have ever of imagined!

10. What's God calling you to? Are you ready to embark on an adventure of life that you never thought was possible? Be who God has created you to be. Do what He has called you to do. When you do, you'll be soon saying others, "To find your purpose in life is the most amazing feeling and this is it."

NOTE: You can freely redistribute this resource, electronically or in print, provided you leave the authors contact information below intact.

About the Author: Jennifer M. Bennett, MACE, LPC, LPF is trained and certified as a Life Purpose Coach® and a 2-Day Life Plan Facilitator to women of all ages. Jennifer assist’s women in identifying and embracing their unique, God-given purpose utilizing the Pathway to Purpose process. As a Life Purpose Coach®, Jennifer will assist you in gaining a clearer understanding and vision of your passions and what God's purpose is for your life. As a 2-day Life Plan Facilitator Jennifer will take you through a series of sequential exercises intended to help you discover your uniqueness, how God has been present in your life, and the creation of a personal action plan outlining specific steps to take immediately in response to new insights. Jennifer has had a variety of experiences working in ministry and is currently studying for her Doctorate in Instructional Leadership.

Contact Information:
Total Life Counseling (407) 248-0030
http://www.totallifecounseling.com/

Life Coaching or Life Purpose Coaching?

2007-05-14T17:19:00.000-04:00

"Will Smith says that despite his huge successes, he still wakes up some mornings questioning his purpose in life. 'I just think that the gifts that God has given me and the attention that I have, I just don't feel like acting is the limit of it,' Will says. 'I just feel like there's so much more that I could do…'" (Oprah, 2007)

"Americans are growing increasingly unhappy with their jobs. The decline in job satisfaction has occurred over a period of two decades, with little to suggest a significant reversal in attitudes anytime soon. Today, less than half of all Americans say they are satisfied with their jobs, down from 61 percent twenty years

ago" (The Conference Board, 2007).

Does any of this surprise you? Will Smith, an extremely famous and wealthy actor states that even though he is very successful, he still wakes up questioning his purpose in life. Here's a man that can have and does have anything and everything his heart desires, but yet, he still wakes up wondering if there is more to life.

Then we read that less than half of all Americans are satisfied with their jobs. What this tells me is that more and more people dread Monday mornings and in turn, are living lives that have no passion, fulfillment, nor purpose.

I know that beyond a shadow of a doubt, the Lord never intended for us to live lives that have no purpose and the He never meant for us to wake up dreading the day before us. If He never meant this, then why do we feel this way?

The answer is this-we have failed to truly recognize how the Lord has created us and in turn, we have failed to spend time seeking out what our gifts, talents, skills, and passions are. In our fast paced world today, most of us are lucky to find 5-minutes of quietness within our day, let alone finding time to focus on how we have been created. If we want to live lives filled with passion and fulfillment, we must be willing to take the time to not only realize how the Lord has created us but to also spend time in growing and knowing him more intimately. Life Purpose Coaching can and will assist you in these two areas.

Why should someone seek out Life Purpose Coaching before Life Coaching? The answer is simple-in order to live a life of balance, it's vital to first know who you have been created to be, what your gifts, talents, and skills are, and in turn, realize what it is that you are passionate about so that you can live out that purpose that the Lord has specifically created you for. Once you realize your purpose, it is then that a Life Coach can assist you in living a balanced life and in turn, assist you in those other areas that you feel you may need encouragement and guidance.

Believe it or not, many people hire Life Purpose Coaches and Life Coaches to assist them in living the life they were created to live. Oprah Winfrey has a life coach that assists her in various aspects of her life. Here's a woman who once again, has it all by the world's standards, but yet, she seeks out the guidance and assistance of a life coach.

Look at it this way-many people hire coaches to help them in the following ways:
* Sports
* Dancing
* Speaking
* Voice
* Acting
* Music

While hiring someone to help you improve in these areas is important, isn't living a life of purpose as important, if not more? Let me encourage you to think about who you believe the Lord has created you to be and in turn, to truly ask yourself if you are living out the purpose that He has created you for. My hope and prayer is that you would live out your life being all that the Lord has created you to be and that in turn, when Monday comes along, you wake up ready to face the day!

Links for more information:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/classified/jobs/orl-coach2507apr25,0,7518336.story

http://www.see-purpose.com/

NOTE: You can freely redistribute this resource, electronically or in print, provided you leave the authors contact information below intact.

About the Author: Jennifer M. Bennett, MACE, LPC, LPF is trained and certified as a Life Purpose Coach® and a 2-Day Life Plan Facilitator to women of all ages. Jennifer assist’s women in identifying and embracing their unique, God-given purpose utilizing the Pathway to Purpose process. As a Life Purpose Coach®, Jennifer will assist you in gaining a clearer understanding and vision of your passions and what God's purpose is for your life. As a 2-day Life Plan Facilitator Jennifer will take you through a series of sequential exercises intended to help you discover your uniqueness, how God has been present in your life, and the creation of a personal action plan outlining specific steps to take immediately in response to new insights. Jennifer has had a variety of experiences working in ministry and is currently studying for her Doctorate in Instructional Leadership.

Contact Information:
Total Life Counseling (407) 248-0030
http://www.totallifecounseling.com/

Life Purpose Coaching

2007-05-04T11:40:00.000-04:00

It's quite often that I get asked, "What is a Life Purpose Coach?" Let me begin by sharing a story with you. A few months ago, I was contacted by a woman who was wanting to go through a 2-Day Life Plan Facilitation. For quite some time she felt as though she was not living the life that she wanted, nor did she feel as though she was using her talents, skills, and gifts in the best possible way. She felt as though her life lacked passion and fulfillment. This young woman had everything going for her-great job, great family and friends, but yet she still felt as though something was missing. She wanted to do something with her life where she felt as though she was making a difference and that her gifts, talents, and skills were being used in the best possible way.

After meeting with her a few times over the phone and through email, she decided to make the drive to come see me in Orlando for a 2-Day Life Plan Facilitation. During our time together, we covered a variety of topics including:

* Assessment of key areas

* 10 defining moments

* Poignant themes

* Positive & Negative Critics

* Character Issues (values, spiritual gifts, qualities, driving forces, achievements, addictions, motives, etc.)

* What is God telling you?

* Top three wishes

* 2-year plan for key life areas

After spending two days with this extremely gifted and talented woman, she walked away knowing what direction she wanted and needed to walk in in order to live the life that she not only wanted, but more importantly, the life that the Lord wanted her to live.

Today, she is in her dream career position and on top of that, she is using her gifts to reach out to other women who are just confused by life. She has begun a ministry within her hometown that seeks to reach women and assist them in realizing their God-given talents, gifts, and abilities.

Going through a 2-Day Life Plan Facilitation allowed her to realize where she needed to make changes and it also ignited her spirit to go live the life that she felt she was called to live.

So, back the main question-what is a life purpose coach? A Life Purpose Coach is someone who has been trained by Dr. Katie Brazelton, founder of Pathway to Purpose Ministry and Life Purpose Coaching Centers, International. Using the books written by her and our own unique experience, we help you to discover, know, and fulfill your God-Given Life Purpose.

As a Life Purpose Coach, I am someone who is dedicated to meeting with you on a weekly basis or one-on-one for two days, to help you realize your God given potential. I am someone who will listen, give spiritual advice when needed, and will pray for you diligently. I am someone who will help you realize how your past and present circumstances are helping you become the person you were created to be.

So, here's my question to you-Are you ready to start living the life you were created to live? If so, contact me today. You'll be happy that you did!

Links for more information:

www.totallifecounseling.com/jen.htm

www.pathwaytopurposeministry.com

www.lifepurposecoachingcenters.com

www.purposedrivenlife.com

NOTE: You can freely redistribute this resource, electronically or in print, provided you leave the authors contact information below intact.

About the Author: Jennifer M. Bennett, MACE, LPC, LPF is trained and certified as a Life Purpose Coach® and a 2-Day Life Plan Facilitator to women of all ages. Jennifer assist’s women in identifying and embracing their unique, God-given purpose utilizing the Pathway to Purpose process. As a Life Purpose Coach®, Jennifer will assist you in gaining a clearer understanding and vision of your passions and what God's purpose is for your life. As a 2-day Life Plan Facilitator Jennifer will take you through a series of sequential exercises intended to help you discover your uniqueness, how God has been present in your life, and the creation of a personal action plan outlining specific steps to take immediately in response to new insights. Jennifer has had a variety of experiences working in ministry and is currently studying for her Doctorate in Instructional Leadership.

Contact Information:

Total Life Counseling (407) 248-0030

www.totallifecounseling.com

To Whom Has God Called You?

2007-04-26T17:37:00.000-04:00

First and foremost, God has called you to Himself-to get to know Him, love Him, glorify Him. But He has also called you (asked you to follow Him and obey Him in a specific way) to minister to a particular group or certain age range of people. For whom does your heart break? Whose cries echo in your ears? Few thrills compare to the discovery of your life’s calling, including specifics about who, what, where, or how you are to humbly serve. If you have already heard the details about to whom you are called, jot that down today in thanksgiving. If not, ask the Lord to reveal to you ministry opportunities to the general population, as you prayerfully surrender to His will and await further instructions from Him.

Have you heard the call?

Do you gravitate toward church pastors who are computer illiterate, anxious to teach them how to prepare a PowerPoint presentation? Has God specifically urged you to pray for the lepers in Calcutta, India, or support the orphans in Tijuana, Mexico? Do you feel compelled to visit those in jail? Do you ache for children who have special needs, for your churches youth ministry, for those adults with no church family, or for visiting missionaries? Are you a friend to unwed mothers, the homeless, elderly, oppressed, fatherless, or widows? Are you drawn to those who are indigent, fire victims, orphans, hearing impaired, house-bound, or war veterans? Do you feel led to work with a parachurch organization to reach the unsaved around the world?

To whom has God called you?

[God said,] “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.” (Jeremiah 1:5)

How does this verse speak to you?

From "Praying for Purpose" by Dr. Katie Brazelton - pg. 223-225