My mornings begin with a hot cup of coffee and a couple of articles pulled from my “favorite bloggers” file. This morning my selection included Michael Hyatt. Michael is the Chairman of a Christian publishing company. Michael takes time from his busy life to maintain a personal blog focusing on “intentional leadership.”

I’ve been a huge fan of his style and philosophy.

If you are going to lead well, you must be thoughtful and purposeful about it.

This morning’s choice“Why Speaking Well of Your Spouse Is So Important” resonated with me on a couple of levels. At this end of Michael’s article he asked, “How have you seen this play out in the lives of those who’ve lead you?”

This is the one example of someone I know vocalizing a protective hedge around their marriage:

Several years ago I had the opportunity to work with an executive in the pharmaceutical industry. It was because of him, I learned to set the bar higher when it comes to what I need and want from relationships.

I wasn’t but two paragraphs into Michael’s article when my mind turned to Ken. I remember every class or meeting he and I participated in, he’d always refer to his wife as his ‘lovely bride.’ Ken and his bride have been married for 30+ years. I’ve never forgotten the tone in his voice, the look on his face or the way they interacted with one another.

I had lost touch with Ken, his bride and their son a few years back, but thanks to Michael’s article, I found him on Linkedin and sent a connection request.

Isn’t it amazing how people come into your life with a purpose? As busy as I should be today, I felt the need to take a little ME time and read – the first piece I read connected me with someone who left a lasting impression in an area of my life I tend to need it most.

To continue the effort of Michael, share an example of how you’ve witnessed a great leader vocalizing and affirming their role as a spouse or friend.

Around 2:00 AM my eyes popped open and in the usual fashion, my mind began racing. Racing thoughts surrounding tough times, cut hours at work, bills that need paid, my boys birthday Friday and feeling so inadequate because this year it’s looking like they’ll be getting an IOU instead of a gift with a big red bow.

In my heart, I know they understand. We’ve been through tough times before – just never around their birthday or holidays so much. It’s just the breaks of working from home.

When I wake up like this and my mind won’t stop racing, I usually roll to my back to stare toward the ceiling fan and to try to focus on the constant, steady sounds coming from that direction. It usually helps me fall back to sleep quicker.

Last night I was greeted by a light.

The light from my desktop computer router was reflecting toward the ceiling and was taking the form of an Angel. This Angel’s wings spanned across half the ceiling.

In that very instant I felt peace. I felt comfort. I felt like everything was going to be just fine.

God was letting me know he was with me.

This morning I woke to the usual 5:30 AM alarm – the Angel was still there. Once I got my husband off to work, grabbed my coffee and settled in to review the morning email – there in my inbox was a little sign from God #2.

Today’s Scripture:

“This is my command — be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go”
(Joshua 1:9, NLT)

Today’s Word:

No matter what today has in store, as a believer in Jesus, you can approach the day with boldness and confidence. Why? Because the Lord is with you, and in Him is everything you need in this life. That means that if you need provision for something today, provision is with you. If you need wisdom today, wisdom is with you. If you need strength, joy or peace today, it’s with you. You can be confident today knowing that all of your needs are supplied spiritually, physically and emotionally because the Lord is with you. And best of all, He’s promised never to leave you! Isn’t it good to know that you will always have whatever you need any time you need it!

Today, don’t let lies from the enemy or pressure from the world keep you from taking hold of everything the Lord has for you. Open your heart by faith and receive whatever it is that you need today. Just begin to thank Him for His provision in your life and move forward in confidence and strength knowing that the Lord is with you!

Today’s Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me today. Thank You for Your faithfulness. I know that You are closer to me than the air I breathe. Today I receive Your promises in faith and choose to cast all of my cares on You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Every morning I am greeted with a Daily Devotional from Joel & Victoria Osteen. I can’t think of a better way to begin my day then with a little message that’s uplifting.

Enjoy your day

ou’d think waking up to a snow storm and a 180+ local school closings would make for a pretty rotten day – but not here! No Sir!

I woke the kids up a couple hours before Justin had to be at his final college class for the semester. Rather then have him drive himself in this horrible weather – the three boys and I went on a snow day adventure.

We dropped Justin off at his class – went for lunch and did a little shopping to pick up a few gifts that remained on our list.

Once Justin sent me a text that he was ready to be picked up – we checked out and headed back to pick him up then off to the college bookstore to sell his first semester books in hopes of getting enough back to get his second semester list.

We’d been alerted to the benefits of renting books on BookRenter.com – and wow – what a HUGE savings for sure!

Once at the bookstore – I asked Justin if he wanted me to go in with him. He told me I could if I wanted to. Jokingly, I told him I’d go in with him and use my powers of influence to make sure he got at least $230 out of his books.

That was our goal!

We entered the bookstore and took our place in a very lengthy line. While in line, while Justin was noticing the pretty girl in front of us, I was noticing she had a book in her hands that was on the list of books Justin needs for next semester. I wanted to make sure to listen to how much they were going to give her for that book because I’d just seen the book on the shelf priced at $155.25.

While at the checkout, the girl was told they weren’t buying that particular book back. She seemed disappointed.

As she was about to walk out the door, I approached her and asked if she was wanting to sell that book. She explained the store wasn’t buying it back from her – I told her I’d be happy to buy it and asked how much she’d like to have for it.

I felt my soul break into a dance of cartwheels inside when she said “Fifty-dollars.”

Deal!

I asked her to wait for just a moment while Justin was being taken care of by the book return agent.

The girl scanned each book carefully – and once she’d entered all the books, she told Justin they’d give him $252!

Remember I said I was going to use my personal powers of influence to get $230?

Those powers of influence were nothing more then claiming a set dollar amount.

We got that and more.

Tonight we placed his order through BookRenter.com – that order, coupled with the $50 purchase we made today resulted in a HUGE savings.

The original cost of the books he thought he was going to face was $624 – with a little effort put into searching on the internet, asking good friends via Facebook, a little belief in the Law of Attraction and claiming all that is good – we ended up with a total of $162.12.

That is a savings of $461.88