The beginning, March, 2006
The end, December, 2011
The middle, the Bend.
In the bend, much is learned.
A co-worker needing to talk is not an interruption, they’re
a blessing.
Each person has an individual need, the more resources you
know the better you can help.
Every caller is a person, not just a caller; talk with them
like they are.
Every coworker is a person, talk with them like they are.
No matter how bad things get, laugh; it does help you feel
better.
Each person can be empowered to do great things.
Creativity comes from the strangest places.
Be your unique self, no matter how unique that is.
Even while paying attention to the details, take a break for
fun.
Keep a bottle of bubbles in your desk and blow some often!
Perseverance is not easy, but it is necessary to see
results.
Relationships are worth far more than the actual work.
Each person whether they are employed, volunteer, a caller
or client, leave an impression that can never be completely erased.
Look for the best in your coworkers and clients.
You create the atmosphere around you, be sure to make it one
of encouragement and peace.
Silly Putty is one of the best stress relievers on the
planet!
Listen long before you make a decision, because every decision
changes something for more than just you.
You impact more people than you think.
Each lesson taught through a person, an experience, or over
time; all extremely valuable.
Today is the end of that Bend; what will be in the
next.
*I started at Crisis Line in March of 2006 and my time there ended December 2011. What a ride!
What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.
~William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
By any other name would smell as sweet.
~William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet
But how true is this statement? Can you imagine calling a rose, stinkweed? Something tells me that if that was its name, it would change our desire to even go near it. Is it the same then for people? Not as much that we would shun or avoid others strictly because of their name, but do we have names for or beliefs about ourselves that have a negative meaning to us? Do we act according to what those names mean even if they are false?
Late last year I read the book Captivating by Jon and Stasi Eldridge. Then I began listening to the podcasts of the Captivating Conference while I was driving. I was about to leave for my favorite conference of the year and stopped by my church to say goodbye to my sister on my way out of town. In the lobby there a few other ladies who share the name Amy. With three Amy's in the lobby, my friend, Cory Ball, joked that he felt he needed to change his name to fit in. I assured him that the name just wouldn't fit and we talked for a moment about how important names are and that mine was Amy Beth, Beloved House of God. I thought nothing more of the conversation, found my sister, and said goodbye.
As I drove the three hours to the conference, I again listened to the podcasts. The one that hit me was when Stasi was teaching about the lies the enemy will keep us believing. As I drove, I asked God what lies I was believing. The word that came to my heart was "disappointment". Not a long list of life's disappointments but that I was a disappointment to everyone. I cried and I wept. That is what I had been believing and living to hide.
The conference was wonderful. I felt accepted and important. Our last activity before we left was to take a rock from a basket that was passed around and say one word that summed up what we would take away from the conference. I heard the others say things like teamwork, unity, etc. The only word that kept coming to my head was home. "Home," I thought. "What in the world does that mean?" It then came to me. That is how I have felt here and what I want to leave with, feeling at home.
Driving home, I again began listening to Stasi. This time she was talking about God giving us a new name and how that name is as unique was we are. She said that many times that name is one that God gives to squash the lies of the enemy. She told her story about how God had given her a special name. She also said that it took six years to realize her name. I cried out to God and asked for a name of my own and that I really didn't want to wait six years for it. The next thing Stasi said was that for some of us, our parents were right in line with God and gave us our name when we were born. I thought for a few moments then began to feel my eyes well up with tears. The words that came to my heart were, "you are My Home and I am not disappointed in My Home." The tears were now more like a waterfall pouring down my face. I quickly found somewhere to pull over.
For a few moments, I had to let it all sink in. Before I left for the conference, He reminded me of the name my parents gave me. I even took pride in what it meant, Beloved House of God. He then gave me a beautiful example of the new meaning of my name at the conference. Now at the pinnacle, He opened my eyes to see how that new meaning was what He thought of me all along and He threw the lies I had always taken as truth into the fire of His grace. My name is His Home.
I now wear the outline of a house on my left ring finger as a constant reminder of what my King thinks of me. I am His Home and He is not disappointed in me.
What lies have you believed about yourself? What new name does God have for you that will pour grace over the lies of your past?
Every woman wants to understand what a man does and says as well as love him in the midst of it. In What’s He Really Thinking? How to Be a Relational Genius with the Man in Your Life, Paula Rinehart helps women do just that. Since relating to a man means having a deeper understanding of what makes him tick, that is Paula’s goal from the first chapter. She takes the reader on a journey that starts with looking at why men do what they do, what makes them hurt, and what causes them to change. This gives women a window into men’s psyches and hearts, where understanding begins.
The trip continues as Paula helps us learn how to show love to these men in the ways they best understand and respond to. She gives real life examples for the five key areas of expectations, respect, conflict, getting through and intimacy. Each example demonstrates practical ways to communicate and meet his needs while strengthening your relationship.
The author also includes sections on how to pray for and understand your specific man as well as The Relational Genius Guide that helps you digest each chapter more effectively.
Even though What’s He Really Thinking? was written to help you relate better to that one man in your life, I recommend this book for any woman who wants have a better understanding of any man in their life. The practicality lends itself to family, friends and work relationships.
The waiting game began. Waiting for the doctor to see me; to be taken to x-ray; to be taken to CT scan; to see the doctor again; to eat or drink, etc.
In the midst of all of this, my family started to arrive. MJ, my little “sisto”, and her husband, Joey, were already in town, so they got there first. Mom and my sister, Vickie, arrived soon. Then my brother and sister-in-law, Rusty and Frankie. Others from Brentwood were in the lobby waiting for word on my condition.
After all of the testing, I was diagnosed with a cracked rib, a bruised right lung, and three cracked vertebrae in my neck. The pain was more intense than anything I had ever dealt with before. Just moving to feed myself was too much.
I finally got to my room at about 9:30. As I was wheeled in and transferred to the bed, I saw faces of people that had stayed to make sure I was okay. In addition to my family, the Bassie family, my friends, Erin Suder, Justin Snyder and a new face, Val LaScola, were there. These wonderful people stood around my bed as Mark Bassie prayed. I was overwhelmed with God’s goodness to me through them.
The day was over and my body had been beaten. I was beyond exhausted. Morphine brought about needed sleep. The day started off like any other day but ended in a way I never wanted.
Each day has events and moments to be experienced and things that happen to teach us and help us grow. It’s our choice to either allow ourselves to learn or to let the opportunity pass us by.
I’m learning to ask…”How am I going to let it shape me?” “Is there something I need to realize?”
How are you going to let today shape you? Is there something you need to realize?
In the midst of all of this, my family started to arrive. MJ, my little “sisto”, and her husband, Joey, were already in town, so they got there first. Mom and my sister, Vickie, arrived soon. Then my brother and sister-in-law, Rusty and Frankie. Others from Brentwood were in the lobby waiting for word on my condition.
After all of the testing, I was diagnosed with a cracked rib, a bruised right lung, and three cracked vertebrae in my neck. The pain was more intense than anything I had ever dealt with before. Just moving to feed myself was too much.
I finally got to my room at about 9:30. As I was wheeled in and transferred to the bed, I saw faces of people that had stayed to make sure I was okay. In addition to my family, the Bassie family, my friends, Erin Suder, Justin Snyder and a new face, Val LaScola, were there. These wonderful people stood around my bed as Mark Bassie prayed. I was overwhelmed with God’s goodness to me through them.
The day was over and my body had been beaten. I was beyond exhausted. Morphine brought about needed sleep. The day started off like any other day but ended in a way I never wanted.
Each day has events and moments to be experienced and things that happen to teach us and help us grow. It’s our choice to either allow ourselves to learn or to let the opportunity pass us by.
I’m learning to ask…”How am I going to let it shape me?” “Is there something I need to realize?”
How are you going to let today shape you? Is there something you need to realize?
Even though the pain was extreme and I was told it was about an hour, it seemed like only moment’s until I was on a backboard and in the ambulance. I was impressed even in those moments at their quick skill at the same time they were being very attentive to how I was feeling and reacting. I was apologizing to them and they were telling me not to be sorry at all. Each of their voices was calm even in the midst of the urgency.
As I laid in the back of the ambulance, I place I had told myself I would never be, I heard those taking care of my medical needs talking to each other to verify everything they did with someone else. Their only concern was me. I was not an inconvenience or problem, I was their priority. I was and am very thankful.
I again heard my sister. She was asking if she could ride with me. She then took her place in the front seat leaving Betsy, the only vehicle we now had, in the median. One of our pastors was already handling how to get it to the hospital.
J called from the front that the police officer handling the accident was a former student of mine. I asked her who. I was proud to hear the name Ronald Coleman. He was a wonderful young man when I had him in class. Now a man there to take care of me. How things turn around.
As we journeyed from the accident site to the hospital, I could tell we were not flying at high speed. In fact, we were probably going below speed limit. Why, my comfort level. The driver heard my pain and did his best to make the ride easier on me.
We finally arrived that the hospital and as I was taken from the ambulance, the first person my sister saw was our pastor, Jon Dupin. Even though he know there was not much he could do, he wanted to be there as a support for us. I was wheeled through the doors I had walked past so many timed before for work. I was placed in a bay and then I finally felt the touch of my sister. Never have I been so thankful for her.
When have you felt extremely cared for? What or who are you thankful for?
As I laid in the back of the ambulance, I place I had told myself I would never be, I heard those taking care of my medical needs talking to each other to verify everything they did with someone else. Their only concern was me. I was not an inconvenience or problem, I was their priority. I was and am very thankful.
I again heard my sister. She was asking if she could ride with me. She then took her place in the front seat leaving Betsy, the only vehicle we now had, in the median. One of our pastors was already handling how to get it to the hospital.
J called from the front that the police officer handling the accident was a former student of mine. I asked her who. I was proud to hear the name Ronald Coleman. He was a wonderful young man when I had him in class. Now a man there to take care of me. How things turn around.
As we journeyed from the accident site to the hospital, I could tell we were not flying at high speed. In fact, we were probably going below speed limit. Why, my comfort level. The driver heard my pain and did his best to make the ride easier on me.
We finally arrived that the hospital and as I was taken from the ambulance, the first person my sister saw was our pastor, Jon Dupin. Even though he know there was not much he could do, he wanted to be there as a support for us. I was wheeled through the doors I had walked past so many timed before for work. I was placed in a bay and then I finally felt the touch of my sister. Never have I been so thankful for her.
When have you felt extremely cared for? What or who are you thankful for?
I texted my sister at 12:20 to let her know I would meet her and a few friends for lunch at 12:45. I quickly got ready and headed to my car.
At 12:40, I was headed down 460 west excited to spend time with friends I hadn’t seen in a while. Suddenly something caught my eye. The car in the right hand lane was moving into my lane. You always tell yourself you know how you will react when something like that happens; I know I had even rehearsed it in my head. What I rehearsed is not what happened.
My reaction, quickly turn the wheels toward the median. It was a big one so I could slow down and come to a stop and then ease back onto the highway when traffic allowed. Nope, not what happened. I did quickly turn my wheel toward the median but when my wheels caught the gravel the unpredictable began. My car began to skid further into the median. I then felt myself being thrown back and forth between the driver and passenger side of the car as it flipped 2 or 3 times. It finally came to a stop, on its wheels thankfully. I was headfirst in the passenger seat.
At that moment, I could not take a breath. I was scared beyond where I had ever felt fear before. I pushed myself back into the driver’s seat and began to feel the pain as I took a breath. Almost immediately there were people converging on the car…a pastor and his wife, a sheriff from a neighboring county, and Aimee Blanks, our Brentwood Church office manager. I am thankful for each person that stopped, but you know how you feel when a familiar and trusted voice is heard above the crowd. Aimee started the chain of events that gave a foundation of support for the rest of the day. She called my sister, J, and stood by the car until emergency services made her step aside so they could get me out. God had her there at the perfect moment.
The deputy came to the passenger side and asked about my pain and what had happened. I tried to but every breath hurt. I remember him talking to someone near the front of the car telling them to make sure the battery was disconnected. I then heard the sirens and he left to give them his analysis and let emergency services do their job.
Emergency services began assessing the situation around me. I heard them discussing the best way to get me out. I was relieved when I heard someone say they did not have to cut me out. Over the static noise of the situation, I heard the most beautiful voice even though it was filled with panic and concern. It's one voice that always helps to put my heart at ease, my sister, J. She called from a distance since she was not allowed to get near the car. My heart began to calm.
Whose voice calms your heart?
At 12:40, I was headed down 460 west excited to spend time with friends I hadn’t seen in a while. Suddenly something caught my eye. The car in the right hand lane was moving into my lane. You always tell yourself you know how you will react when something like that happens; I know I had even rehearsed it in my head. What I rehearsed is not what happened.
My reaction, quickly turn the wheels toward the median. It was a big one so I could slow down and come to a stop and then ease back onto the highway when traffic allowed. Nope, not what happened. I did quickly turn my wheel toward the median but when my wheels caught the gravel the unpredictable began. My car began to skid further into the median. I then felt myself being thrown back and forth between the driver and passenger side of the car as it flipped 2 or 3 times. It finally came to a stop, on its wheels thankfully. I was headfirst in the passenger seat.
At that moment, I could not take a breath. I was scared beyond where I had ever felt fear before. I pushed myself back into the driver’s seat and began to feel the pain as I took a breath. Almost immediately there were people converging on the car…a pastor and his wife, a sheriff from a neighboring county, and Aimee Blanks, our Brentwood Church office manager. I am thankful for each person that stopped, but you know how you feel when a familiar and trusted voice is heard above the crowd. Aimee started the chain of events that gave a foundation of support for the rest of the day. She called my sister, J, and stood by the car until emergency services made her step aside so they could get me out. God had her there at the perfect moment.
The deputy came to the passenger side and asked about my pain and what had happened. I tried to but every breath hurt. I remember him talking to someone near the front of the car telling them to make sure the battery was disconnected. I then heard the sirens and he left to give them his analysis and let emergency services do their job.
Emergency services began assessing the situation around me. I heard them discussing the best way to get me out. I was relieved when I heard someone say they did not have to cut me out. Over the static noise of the situation, I heard the most beautiful voice even though it was filled with panic and concern. It's one voice that always helps to put my heart at ease, my sister, J. She called from a distance since she was not allowed to get near the car. My heart began to calm.
Whose voice calms your heart?
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6)
His long life has been filled with a wonderful wife, numerous children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and a successful insurance career. Each holiday his house was filled with traditional sights, sounds and smells.
Now Grandpa Jesse has only a small fraction of his heart working. He’s in his mid 80’s, the family wonders how long he will be here and he sometimes questions why he is still here.
Recently Grandpa Jesse was taken to the hospital, again. Seems like that has been his second home often over the past year.
During this stay, his brother was also in the hospital and not doing well. They called the brother’s family in and Grandpa Jesse was wheeled up to the room. He asked his family to give him a few minutes alone with his brother. Grandpa felt strongly that he needed to share Jesus with his brother one more time. This was probably the last time that he would hear the Good News.
We don’t know what decision he made or will make, but we know that one man wondering how much time he has left took some of that time to share Christ with another man who doesn’t know how much time he has left.
We may wonder at times why we are here. Sometimes even to the point of getting depressed. We all have a divine reason for being here – every hour, every minute, every second. So what is it? Only you and God can answer that question. Ask Him. Listen. Act.
What will you do with the time you have been given? What has God been nudging you do that you need to act on? Do it…it is not too late!
His long life has been filled with a wonderful wife, numerous children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and a successful insurance career. Each holiday his house was filled with traditional sights, sounds and smells.
Now Grandpa Jesse has only a small fraction of his heart working. He’s in his mid 80’s, the family wonders how long he will be here and he sometimes questions why he is still here.
Recently Grandpa Jesse was taken to the hospital, again. Seems like that has been his second home often over the past year.
During this stay, his brother was also in the hospital and not doing well. They called the brother’s family in and Grandpa Jesse was wheeled up to the room. He asked his family to give him a few minutes alone with his brother. Grandpa felt strongly that he needed to share Jesus with his brother one more time. This was probably the last time that he would hear the Good News.
We don’t know what decision he made or will make, but we know that one man wondering how much time he has left took some of that time to share Christ with another man who doesn’t know how much time he has left.
We may wonder at times why we are here. Sometimes even to the point of getting depressed. We all have a divine reason for being here – every hour, every minute, every second. So what is it? Only you and God can answer that question. Ask Him. Listen. Act.
What will you do with the time you have been given? What has God been nudging you do that you need to act on? Do it…it is not too late!
