Out Chasing Rainbows, while Sitting on a Pile of Gold.

Jeremiah 29:11

New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

I have spent the morning in deep and quiet thought, just before, I once again, hit the road running. 

....What is it that we are reaching for that keeps us constantly on the go and frazzled?
As I look around me, right here where I sit, I am moved by how blessed I am. Blessed right here, surrounded by all my answered prayers that I very often neglect, overlook and allow to overwhelm and frustrate me.
.....How crazy. How UNGRATEFUL!!!! How Damaging....
 AND.......How unnecessary!!
Our Father's plan is Always much better than ours. Perhaps it's time to take a deep breath, regroup, and enjoy all we have now, right where we are TODAY, surrounded by all the answered prayers we received from the few times we allowed Him to be in charge.


Love, 
Catherine

How Big Of a Hole will You Leave?

Do to others as you would have them do to you. - Matthew 7:12 NIV


As long as I can remember, whenever I would begin to think that I was SO important, My Father would say, "Cathi, stick your fist in a bucket of water, take it out, and see how big of a hole you leave." At times he would follow up with, "Don't ever think that you are indispensable. There is always someone to fill in where you've been and may be able to do it better!" His point was effective and always humbling. It would bring me down off my high horse and put me back on track. Now I use this example on my children when they begin to "think that they are all that!"
This is probably a point we all could benefit from. But over the years I have been blessed to know a few people who WILL leave holes, and I attended the funeral of one today.
Shortly after moving here to "The Burg" she extended her warmth and kindness to my family making us feel extremely comfortable and welcomed to call her friend. Her notes and calls to comfort, compliment or congratulate over the years have made many of our days extra special or better. The smile on her face when she greeted us always made us feel wonderful. By all accounts this is how she treated everybody. This is how she lived her life. By the Golden Rule.
 When we dance around "accomplishing" and stay busy with thoughts of how important we are and "Thinking we're all That", we need to think about how big of a hole we will leave. For the only way to really leave a hole, is as Jane did. A great big hole full of warmth, kindness, fun, laughter, comfort, beauty and Love. Lots of Love.

Thank you Jane,
Catherine

Garden Gifts

You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared. Ezekiel 28:13 ESV


I LOVE TO GARDEN, and outside of spending time with family and friends there are few places I'd rather be. Put friends and family IN the garden and I am a happy girl!!
Since I was very young, and spending time with my Grandmother, I've received an unusual sense of peace and joy while working with flowers and plants that I could not explain. Until few years ago, when I was traveling alone and listening to a  gardening talk show on the car radio. Shortly into the show a listener called and in a shameful tone explained to the host the guilt she felt over the spiritual connection she experienced when spending time in her yard. The Host's firm response shocked me, but gave me insight into my own heart. "Why are so many people surprised at the joy and comfort they feel while in the garden???" He said. "The Garden is the first gift God gave to man!!!!!"
That explained it! The Garden is a "God Thing" It is A God Thing that from the very beginning, is full of rare and precious gems being placed in a perfectly crafted setting. On the day that you were created, they were prepared!!

There is a connection between fellow gardeners and plant lovers, and the friendships found and strengthened through the mutual love of flowers and gardens is a perfect example of these gems and how once again our Father continues to bless us in such unique and special ways.

He loves us so much, he gives us flowers everyday! Wow! What a Gift!


Love,
Catherine

O.K. I'll Rejoice, but I'm Not Happy about it!

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV

There is a women's conference this weekend in Concord, NC, and I WANT TO BE THERE!!!!! Did you hear me God? I WANT TO BE THERE!
For three years now I have watched the "She Speaks" conference information as it has unfolded, rolling out wonderful schedules, speakers and workshops. I have dreamed, and hoped, and prayed every year that this would be the year I would be able to attend. But here I am, again, year three, on the day where 100s of attendees are heading North, South, East (and maybe in a few cases West), with proposals in hand and enthusiasm in their heart to partake in this adventure. I am not going to lie to you. It is hard for me to rejoice that I am not going, and God knows better than anyone that I am not happy about it!!
 But..... this is the awesome part! For many of my 53 years I have forced what I wanted him to want for me. Pushing doors open and making it happen is how I handled MY will to be His will for me. And though his mercy and grace has used my spoiled brat mentality and actions as a teaching and training tool, I am far more interested in doing it HIS way, and in HIS timing.
So for that reason my friends, (those going to the SS conference AND those not going) I will Rejoice always, and pray without ceasing, that His will ALWAYS overrides my stubbornness, and give thanks in all circumstances that ultimately, in every case, I want HIS will.

With Love and prayers for all of you!!

Catherine

The Power of Laughter.

Sarah said, "God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me."
                                                                                                                      Genesis 21:6 NIV

I have recently returned from a 4/5 day long business related trip full of meetings, presentations, zone changes, record high temperatures, rescheduled and rerouted flights. I learned a lot while at the conference, and what I learned I believe will make me better at what I do, and no doubt better for those I do it for. But the knowledge I acquired while there was not what I will remember most about the trip. It is the laughter shared with the two colleagues/friends I traveled with that I will carry with me for many years to come. And even though most of what we laughed about was at my expense, (sitting in the wrong plane seat, buying a magazine written in Spanish and not realizing it, breaking out in my old high school dance routine while at Popeye's Chicken thinking no other customers were in there,) I thank and praise God for the gift and the power that comes with it. Laughter breaks down walls, heals hurt, eliminates fear (and in our case), over rides fatigue. I have often said I could get through anything as long as I could laugh. Accepting this life enhancing gift daily has the power to really make a difference!

My prayer today is that together, we all laugh more often. The results will be wonderful life-living moments full of Joy and Love!

Love AND LAUGHTER,
Catherine

I speak Right Brain

For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. - Ephesians 2:10

When updating Facebook page information I was asked to enter the languages I spoke. I was first taken back by the question, but then decided that this was information necessary in order for users to better communicate with each other. So I entered "Right Brain". Yes, I speak Right Brain. The social media did not find this an acceptable answer, but I was not hurt or discouraged and this is why. It has been within the last 15 years that I was sitting at my kitchen counter with tears uncontrollably running down my face, my hands pounding at my temples and crying out again and again. "What's wrong with my brain? What's wrong with my brain? GOD PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!!!! I was convinced that there was something wrong with me and I knew God could change and heal my bounce-around, upside-down, and at times sideways thinking brain.
Well he did!!! He changed and healed me, but not in the way I expected. You see He didn't change the way my brain worked. He changed the way I thought about HOW my brain worked!
What I knew as my greatest weakness was actually a God given gift! It wasn't hidden or camouflaged, it was right there in plain sight and being viewed and treated as a handicap!!! The change and healing didn't happen overnight. It was days, months and years of trusting that from the beginning, I was created just the way God had planned and for a purpose. Now, after co authoring books, tapping's and speaking on how to open your home and entertain simply with unusual creative ideas, I live in thankfulness and joyful anticipation of how He will use this Right Brain Gift to His glory!!!!

My suggestion is this. Take a look at what you consider your weaknesses. They just might be your gifts!!!!!

Love,
Catherine

http://www.fearlessentertaining.com/
Facebook Page:  Fearless Entertaining
Twitter:   CathStrange

For today, enough said!

Be still, and know that I am God;...
                                   Psalm 46:10



Yes Sir.

Love,
Catherine

AMAZING Grace Indeed!!!

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
                                                                                                                                 Ephesians 2:8


I have to admit, that for sometime I have had trouble understanding what being given grace really meant. I knew it was a gift, but how could I receive grace if I didn't understand what it was?
I began praying and researching  for a clear example or understanding of this wonderful gift.
One of the American Heritage Dictionary's definitions of  Grace is, A favor rendered by one who need not to do so. another is, Divine love and protection  bestowed freely on mankind. Both of these definitions helped, but what really hit home was coming across a verse I have know for many years but now see in a different light. Romans 8:28 For those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. WOW! a Father that can not only forget and forgive ALL of my mistakes and shortcomings but then turns them into something good!!!!!!!!
O how I get it now, and living in awe of how much he loves me.
That is nothing short of AMAZING GRACE! No Doubt!!!!!

Love ,
Catherine

but I want to scream, "THIS IS CRAZY!!!!!"

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.
                                                                                    Psalm 62:5

When there are wild days like today, when things happen such as verdicts on the national scene announced that make absolutely no sense based on our knowledge, my first response is to scream at the top of my lungs, "THIS IS CRAZY!!!!" But I have found great comfort in Psalm 62:5. For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. So I am going to hang tight to this verse today, and wait in silence, for my hope is in God. The Alpha and the Omega. The beginning and end.
Truly an attempt at "A Fearless Faith!"

Love,
Catherine

Evergreen and FREE!

Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have,
for he has said, I will never leave you or forsake you.
                                                                             Hebrews 13:5

When speaking and demonstrating for Fearless Entertaining, we emphasize the concept that within your home, within your yard and within you, is everything you need to begin welcoming and entertaining family and friends. But I personally had gotten off track. Staying too busy, not putting away, appreciating or knowing what I had, resulted in increased disorganization, confusion and frustration. So recently I committed to getting back to "practicing what I preached" at home, and my life.
A few days ago while working in the yard, I noticed an area that badly needed a few evergreen plants. My mind first went to cleaning up, grabbing my purse, getting into the car and visiting numerous garden centers to hunt down and purchase plants that would fulfill my need and take care of the problem.
I then stopped, and thought about the plants that were already on the property. Because many of them had multiplied, they could easily be split, moved and take care of the problem.
How simple! Plants, right there, already within the property, already proven, already beautiful, evergreen and FREE! Not only did this make the task easier, but it created a joyous and uplifting surprise greater than my plan would have ever produced!

Somehow, we have allowed ourselves to be programed into thinking that we can't possibly already have what we need to become happy and fulfilled, and that it must come from someone or somewhere else.
But the truth is, if we take the time to first enjoy and be grateful for what we already have in and from our loving Father it will forever be green and free!

Love,
Catherine

Why do we make things so hard?

"For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
                                                                   Matthew 11:30

FREEING is one of the words that best describes the feeling I had when finding this verse on 1-25-11. (About a year ago I began to date the verses in my Bible.) All at once it hit me. DUH!!!!! Why do we make everything so hard? Do we feel we are not worthy of anything good unless we are suffering or dramaticlly struggling to acheve happiness or success? Well my friend, I dont have a clue, but the wonderful news is it doesn't matter why we've been doing it! We can NOW STOP! Why? Because - if we really want the best, we want what He wants, and He is telling us that His yoke is EASY and his burden is LIGHT!
So Sisters, today we begin our journey with more joy, love, laughter, and "Fearless Faith".
This is going to be FUN!

Love,
Catherine