Major LeAnn Trimmer shared this with me and I share it with you.
The Daffodil Principle
Several times my daughter had telephoned to say, "Mother, you must come to see
the daffodils before they are over." I wanted to go, but it was a two-hour
drive from Laguna to Lake Arrowhead "I will come next Tuesday", I promised a
little reluctantly on her third call.
Next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised, and reluctantly I
drove there. When I finally walked into Carolyn's house I was welcomed by the
joyful sounds of happy children. I delightedly hugged and greeted my
grandchildren.
"Forget the daffodils, Carolyn! The road is invisible in these clouds and fog,
and there is nothing in the world except you and these children that I want to
see badly enough to drive another inch!"
My daughter smiled calmly and said, "We drive in this all the time, Mother."
"Well, you won't get me back on the road until it clears, and then I'm heading
for home!" I assured her. "But first we're going to see the daffodils. It's
just a few blocks," Carolyn said. "I'll drive. I'm used to this."
"Carolyn," I said sternly, "Please turn around." "It's all right, Mother, I
promise. You will never forgive yourself if you miss this experience."
After about twenty minutes, we turned onto a small gravel road and I saw a
small church. On the far side of the church, I saw a hand lettered sign with
an arrow that read, " Daffodil Garden ." We got out of the car, each took a
child's hand, and I followed Carolyn down the path. Then, as we turned a
corner, I looked up and gasped. Before me lay the most glorious sight.
It looked as though someone had taken a great vat of gold and poured it over
the mountain peak and its surrounding slopes. The flowers were planted in
majestic, swirling patterns, great ribbons and swaths of deep orange, creamy
white, lemon yellow, salmon pink, and saffron and butter yellow. Each
different-colored variety was planted in large groups so that it swirled and
flowed like its own river with its own unique hue. There were five acres of
flowers.
"Who did this?" I asked Carolyn. "Just one woman," Carolyn answered. "She
lives on the property. That's her home." Carolyn pointed to a well-kept
A-frame house, small and modestly sitting in the midst of all that glory. We
walked up to the house.
On the patio, we saw a poster. "Answers to the Questions I Know You Are
Asking", was the headline. The first answer was a simple one. "50,000 bulbs,"
it read. The second answer was, "One at a time, by one woman. Two hands, two
feet, and one brain." The third answer was, "Began in 1958."
For me, that moment was a life-changing experience. I thought of this woman
whom I had never met, who, more than forty years before, had begun, one bulb
at a time, to bring her vision of beauty and joy to an obscure mountaintop.
Planting one bulb at a time, year after year, this unknown woman had forever
changed the world in which she lived. One day at a time, she had created
something of extraordinary magnificence, beauty, and inspiration. The
principle her daffodil garden taught is one of the greatest principles of
celebration.
That is, learning to move toward our goals and desires one step at a
time--often just one baby-step at time--and learning to love the doing,
learning to use the accumulation of time. When we multiply tiny pieces of time
with small increments of daily effort, we too will find we can accomplish
magnificent things. We can change the world ...
"It makes me sad in a way," I admitted to Carolyn. "What might I have
accomplished if I had thought of a wonderful goal thirty-five or forty years
ago and had worked away at it 'one bulb at a time' through all those years?
Just think what I might have been able to achieve!"
My daughter summed up the message of the day in her usual direct way. "Start
tomorrow," she said.
She was right. It's so pointless to think of the lost hours of yesterdays. The
way to make learning a lesson of celebration instead of a cause for regret is
to only ask, "How can I put this to use today?"
Use the Daffodil Principle. Stop waiting.....
Until your car or home is paid off
Until you get a new car or home
Until your kids leave the house
Until you go back to school
Until you finish school
Until you clean the house
Until you organize the garage
Until you clean off your desk
Until you lose 10 lbs.
Until you gain 10 lbs.
Until you get married
Until you get a divorce
Until you have kids
Until the kids go to school
Until you retire
Until summer
Until spring
Until winter
Until fall
Until you die...
There is no better time than right now to be happy.
Happiness is a journey, not a destination.
So work like you don't need money.
Love like you've never been hurt, and, Dance like no one's watching.
If you want to brighten someone's day, pass this on to someone special.
I just did!
Wishing you a beautiful, daffodil day!
Don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin.
~anonymous
"Be kinder than necessary,
for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."
WIN ONE WOMAN! One by one we will make a difference!
Monday, January 22, 2007
Friday, January 19, 2007
Choose Wisely
Do you have favorite lines or scenes from movies? (Lines like the famous one from Terminator: “I’ll be back.”) Here is one of my husband’s favorite scenes from Indiana Jones, The Last Crusade. The scene is toward the end of the movie when Indiana, the bad German, the knight, who guards the Holy Grail, and the blonde are in a room filled with cups. The cups are all shapes and sizes. The bad guy wants the Grail. The knight tells him that he will have to choose one. The bad guy looks at all the cups and admits he does not know which one to choose. Elsa, the blond, offers to choose for him. She falsely chooses a cup that would be fit for a King. He fills it with water and drinks. He dies dramatically and turns to dust. The knight replies: “He chose poorly.”
Choices, choices, there are so many choices we have to make in our life times. Choices we make affect others. Choices others make affect us. Choice – a funny word. Here are some other words used to describe choice: selection, alternative, option and preference.
What do we know about Eve? Her story begins in the first chapter of the first book of the Bible. “Then God said, "Let us make people in our image, to be like ourselves. They will be masters over all life--the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the livestock, wild animals, and small animals." Genesis 1:26
The Hebrew word for “people” is “adam” and literally means “groundlings,” but through the years we have understood it as “man” meaning mankind or all humans.
So we know that Eve was created in God’s image.
“So God created people in his own image; God patterned them after himself; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27
We know that Eve was created as Adam’s equal.
“God blessed them and told them, "Multiply and fill the earth and subdue it. Be masters over the fish and birds and all the animals.”” Genesis 1:28
“And the LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion who will help him." So the LORD God formed from the soil every kind of animal and bird. He brought them to Adam to see what he would call them, and Adam chose a name for each one. He gave names to all the livestock, birds, and wild animals. But still there was no companion suitable for him. So the LORD God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep. He took one of Adam's ribs and closed up the place from which he had taken it. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib and brought her to Adam.” Genesis 2:18-22
Ribs, the Hebrew (Tsela) literally means side and does not refer to the rib bone. It was not until the medieval times that Rabbis taught this translation to support that women were made inferior. They also used the same verse to teach that women were created as an after thought and in the image of man rather than God.
God made a companion to help him. The Hebrew here is “Ezer Kenedo” and means “helper corresponding to.” It is interesting to note that God often refers to Himself as “Ezer,” our Helper. There is nothing subordinate in that job description.
We know that God was happy with His creation.
“Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was excellent in every way. This all happened on the sixth day.” Genesis 1:31
We know that God created the world with human kind in mind so Eve really had it made. God gave them permission to eat all the fruit in the garden except the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
“Then the LORD God planted a garden in
“But the LORD God gave him this warning: "You may freely eat any fruit in the garden except fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat of its fruit, you will surely die."” Genesis 2:16-17
We know that Eve was curious and liked to “push the envelope.”
She was inspecting the tree.
“Now the serpent was the shrewdest of all the creatures the LORD God had made.”
"Really?" he asked the woman. "Did God really say you must not eat any of the fruit in the garden?"
"Of course we may eat it," the woman told him. "It's only the fruit from the tree at the center of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God says we must not eat it or even touch it, or we will die." Genesis 3:1-3
She was considering truth of what God said.
She added to the truth. (Even touch it.)
She refers to the forbidden thing by its position in the garden rather than by its content.
She rationalizes and she was ripe for the temptation offered and the hidden lie.
“"You won't die!" the serpent hissed.
"God knows that your eyes will be opened when you eat it. You will become just like God, knowing everything, both good and evil."
The woman was convinced. The fruit looked so fresh and delicious, and it would make her so wise! So she ate some of the fruit. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her. Then he ate it, too.” Genesis 3:4-6
Eve made her choice. She took the bait because she ignored or forgot the truth. (Truth: She was already like God because she was created in the image of God.)
Adam was with Eve, but we do not hear or see him trying to stop her.
They both swallowed the lie.
The consequences:
Eve became separated from God by her choice to eat the fruit. Adam became separated from God by his choice to eat the fruit.
Eve lost everything. Adam lost everything
Their rebellion caused sin to enter into our world.
Generations have been affected and infected by their choice.
It is true that the choices of others affect our lives. Their choices may narrow our choices or may bring more choices. Think about how your lives have been affected by the choices of others. Some have brought you good and some have brought you bad. Think about how your own choices have affected you. Every day we have a choice: We can be like Adam and blame Eve or someone else for the consequences of their choices. We can choose to wallow in the mire of bad choices or we can choose to take responsibility for the choices we have made and take responsibility for our future.
Choices, choices we have so many choices to make. Will you choose wisely?
Will you choose to share the Gospel Story with someone who needs to hear it today. Will you choose to Win One Woman?
WOW We Want to Hear From You!
WOW!
Recently we were at Territorial Executive Council meetings and met together with the TEC Women to hear reports on the WOW Initiative. It was thrilling to hear the stories. It was encouraging to hear the stories! We want to hear your stories.
If you have a WOW story to share, please send it to my lotus notes address. Testimonies always inspire us to do better. Also you can make a comment on the blog site. Some have tried without success to comment, so that is why I suggested you send them to me. If you are in TSA you will know how to get my address. If you are not on Lotus Notes, ask your corps officers to send it for you. Keep the stories, short, real and uplifting.
We are getting into the deeper waters of planning for the WOW Event. We need your prayer support and you need to let us know how we can pray for you.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Changing Lanes
Changing Lanes
In the medieval age the Church saw the need to address the moral behavior of the masses of people. They used entertainment in the form of street plays. These were called Moral Plays. The main character was cleverly named “Everyman” and faced moral dilemmas that every man could and probably did face. Occasionally
The moral play presents us with two men who have high hopes for the future. These two men will be challenged, will examine their core values and have a choice presented to them. Actually the play gives these two men several opportunities to redeem their situation before they reach the point where there is no turning back. While on their way to court the men are distracted, and as they change lanes to take the same exit, they have a wreck. The man in insurance wants to change information and do the correct thing. The lawyer is in a hurry and cannot find his insurance information and offers the other man a blank check. The insurance man refuses. The lawyer stuffs his court files back in to his brief case in which he had been searching for the insurance information and leaves the insurance man with a disabled car on the road. The lawyer is late for his court hearing. He unpacks his legal files to discover one of the most important files is missing. The judge gives him until the end of the day to bring it back. The problem is that the lawyer does not know who the man is because he did not exchange information properly and left the scene of an accident.
It begins to rain and the insurance man sees that the lawyer has left a file on the ground. He picks it up with the intent of returning it. He is twenty minutes late for his court hearing and is not able to present the fact that he has the loan to buy a house. The judge has awarded the wife with full custody of his sons. When the insurance man leaves the courthouse, he throws away the file. He walks off despondently in the rain. Low and behold out of the millions of people in
The lawyer is told about a computer hacker who will be able to help him. The computer hacker shows how easy it is to get information on the guy and fix his records. The lawyer asked if there was any other way to handle this. The computer hacker tells him he could call and ask nicely for the file. One push of the button and the situation escalates. I will not tell about you the entire movie., but will skip to the end. The lawyer has a conversation with his boss, who is also his father-in-law about how he can live with himself and the corruption. The father-in-law says: “I judge it all by the end of the day. If I have done more good than bad, I consider it a good day.” The lawyer has choices to make. The insurance man has choices to make. Can they make things right by the end of the day?
I relate the story told in this movie to you for a reason. The reason is to challenge you today as “Everyman” and “Every-Woman” who daily face ethical, moral and spiritual dilemmas to carefully consider the choices you make. Your choices carry a heavier price tag because of your call and appointment as an officer and spiritual leader.
Recently I heard the children’s poem Jack and Jill used as a parable lesson to point to our circle of influence. Jack’s fall effected Jill. Because when Jack fell, Jill came tumbling after. Your circle of influence as a Salvation Army Officer, soldier or Christian makes it crucial for you to choose the most correct response to the ethical, moral and spiritual dilemmas you face.
Well I have given you a quick look at
Here are a few “sound bites” from the Bible. Can you find them? A tree is known by its fruits. Be holy, because I am holy. You are a new creation. Walk worthy of your calling. Live in such a way to honor God.
What do your choices say about you at the end of the day? I hope they say, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.”
WOW – Will your life style win others to Christ and to The Salvation Army?
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Bind The Strong Man
Bind the Strong Man
Jesus referred to binding or tying up the “strong man” when the Pharisees challenged and tried to discredit Jesus for His ability to cast out demons.
“He knew their thoughts, so he said, ‘Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A family splintered by feuding will fall apart. You say I am empowered by Satan. But if Satan is divided and fighting against himself, how can his kingdom survive? And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said. But if I am casting out demons by the power of God, then the
Luke 11:17-22 (NLT)
Parallel account found in Matthew 12:29 King James Version: “Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man?”
How does this idea relate to the work we do for the Kingdom today? The strong man is Satan and Satan has stolen many people from God. They are “stored up” or held captive in his “house” and we must liberate those captives in the Name of Jesus. In order to do that we must “bind the strong man” in the same way that Jesus bound him.
We are involved in a battle. The battle belongs to the Lord. Some times the best fight is to first commit the problem or battle to the Lord in prayer. Through prayer we bind or tie up the strong man so that we can invade his house or strong holds to set captives free. What are the strong holds that you face in your corps and community? A strong hold can be identified by repetition of a problem or challenge in one or more families. Unwed pregnancies, gang activity, violence, illness, abuse, and addictions are examples of how the enemy can get a hold on the lives of people. These are strong holds and these strong holds can only be taken if we bind the one who holds them. Bind the strong man.
Before any prayer warrior takes it upon themselves to begin to bind the strong man, they must be covered in the armor of God. (See Ephesians 6) Also a prayer warrior is to cover in prayer their health, their reputation, families, their ministries, their homes and their businesses. Cover in prayer anything or anyone that could be used to distract them from the battle or be used against you.
The word for today is: Bind the strong man.
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