“One of the keys to abundance is having a solution oriented mind set.”  Brian Klemmer

What is the first thing that comes into your mind when you encounter an obstacle?  How about when you are presented with an opportunity?

And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened.  For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks.  (Luke 11:9,10 and Matt. 7:7,8; NLT)

The eighth character trait that Brian Klemmer covers in his latest book, The Compassionate Samurai, is abundance.  Given all that is going on in our world right now, abundance is a very timely topic and it seems that everybody is writing about it…except the journalism community.  (BTW, the Link of the Day is a fascinating blog post made by a close friend of ours who has a graduate degree in journalism.  I urge you to not miss it.)  Klemmer adds some interesting bits of wisdom to this topic, but one that particularly stands out to me is when he writes, “Before abundance manifests in a tangible way in your life, it must first manifest in your mind.  If abundance never takes root there, then you’ll probably never experience it.”  Hmmmm…abundance seeds anyone?

So my post will instead be more about the opposite side of an abundant mind set, i.e., the scarcity mind set.  This is clearly the view of the masses during this chaotic time in our history.  “There just won’t be enough to go around!”  “I will have to make major adjustments to my lifestyle just to exist,” etc.  Folks, I’ve been there.  I’ve experienced the fear that comes from worrying about finances…even during good times.  When the enemy has your mind going in a downward spiral like that, it’s almost impossible to pull out of it by yourself.  But have you ever noticed that most of the stuff that we worry about never happens?  Sure, uncomfortable things happen, but pretty rarely is it ever as bad as our overactive imagination made it out to be.

Here’s the tip from Klemmer that I’ve been going around the barn to get to.  When faced with either an obstacle or an opportunity, how often do we look at the circumstances we can see and ask, “Can I do this?”  It’s an amazing fact that the words, “can I” usually lead to reasons why I can’t.  Even if we can, that combination of words will make our minds seek all the reasons why not.

The solution?  Add a single word to the question.  Ask instead, “How can I do this?”  That one little word, “how,” will cause your mind to create a solution rather than search for a problem.  This may seem so trivial and insignificant, but it’s just these kinds of “tweaks” to our thinking that will, over time, move us from the limited thinking produced by scarcity to the reality of abundance.

Speaking of abundance, The Coaching Pair is going to take the rest of the holiday week off and enjoy some abundant down time.  We’ll be back next year.  Make it a wonderful New Year’s celebration by imagining how great 2009 is going to be.

Prayer Power
Lord, we thank You that Your Word tells us in no uncertain terms that Your are an Abundant God.  Indeed, we are a blessed people.  We are grateful for all that we have and look forward to an abundant future.

Link of the Day
Don’t Believe the Hype

Blessings on you as you reflect on all that you have to be grateful for.  Take some time and make a list.

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“Appetizers are the little things you keep eating until you lose your appetite.”  Joe Moore

What changes will you be making in your self-care in this upcoming new year?

He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.  (Ps. 22:8: NIV)

I’ve never really done much with appetizers, dips, and spreads.  I know there are many cooks who focus on these little party teasers, developing lavish and beautiful recipes.  Personally, I didn’t want more “things” to eat.  As long as I’ve been on the road of healthful eating, I’ve concentrated on making the meal a tasteful experience.  At gatherings with lots of “before the meal” treats, it’s very easy to overeat.  Folks are standing around chit-chatting and popping in the sausage balls and cheese and crackers at record speed.  Once the meal is served, people may already have a semi-full stomach.  With more food and courses available to eat, people can easily eat too much.

However, a simple dip or spread with fresh vegetables can be a healthy addition to a nice meal.  Today’s recipe comes from our dear friend, Karen Cochran.  Karen and her husband, Evans are both retired school teachers.  (They retired at young ages!)  Now, they travel the countryside in their 5th Wheel, jaunting from one Blue Grass Festival to the next.  Karen plays the bass and Evans plays the Dobro, (a beautiful, steel guitar held on the lap).  I’ll let you know when they cut their first recording.  It’ll be great!

This salmon spread is easy to make and very healthful.  I found red sockeye salmon in a can from Natural Sea in our local grocery store, in the health food section.  It’s wild, premium Alaskan salmon.  Be choosy about the salmon you buy.  Don’t buy farm-raised salmon.  Fresh lemon juice and horseradish give this spread a great flavor.  Feel free to add more horseradish if you enjoy the taste.  I’ve served this spread with crudités. Don’t be fooled by this fancy word.  Crudités (pronounced CROO-da-tays) are fresh vegetables such as baby carrots, red pepper strips, cauliflower, and broccoli.  Whole grain crackers are also good with the salmon spread.  However, finding whole grain crackers without partially hydrogenated oils and preservatives isn’t always easy.  And one can tend to over eat crackers much easier than fresh vegetables.  When was the last time you said, “Oh, I ate too many carrots?”

Prayer Power
Father, we are so grateful for 2008 and for a new year about to commence.  May our lives honor You in all that we do and say.

Link of the Day
Sassy Salmon Spread

Blessings on you as you enjoy a healthy appetizer.

“You may be deceived if you trust too much, but you will live in torment if you do not trust enough.”  Dr. Frank Crane

How would life be different if people were more willing to trust one another?

The trustworthy will get a rich reward. But the person who wants to get rich quick will only get into trouble.  (Prov. 28:20; NLT)

Have you ever heard someone say, “I will never trust anyone ever again?”  Perhaps you yourself have felt that way after being let down by someone you trusted who broke that trust.  In today’s culture, it’s virtually impossible to not extend some level of trust over and over again.

For example, when you give your credit card to the wait person in a restaurant, you are trusting that person (whom you likely never saw before nor will ever see again) to not record your card number and use it for their own gain.  If you purchase groceries in a store, you are trusting the store owners to provide edible food at a fair price.  If you contract with the electric company to provide electricity to your home, you are trusting them to do so in return for the monies you give them.  Trust is virtually impossible to escape.

On the other hand, Brian Klemmer lists five important benefits to trust in his latest book The Compassionate Samurai.  First, the synergistic power of teamwork is only accessible through trust.  It is well understood that a tightly-knit team can accomplish far more working as a team than the total of each of the individuals performing individually.  That kind of teamwork requires trust–trust that each member will do their part as planned.

Secondly, trust builds relationship and intimacy.  Ask anyone who achieves a personal goal by paying the price of breaking trust with others just how lonely they are with their prize.  There is no one left to celebrate with nor to help them as they move on to the next goal.  The short-term gain of the gold ring never outweighs the long-term loss of relationship.

Thirdly, trust releases time and efficiency.  Delegation is impossible without trust.  One person can only do so much in a single 24-hour period.  Having to do things which could more easily be delegated is a terrible waste of time and talent.  For talent and skill to be maximized, there must be delegation, aka trust.

Klemmer’s fourth reason for trusting is that it is the “primary tool for making a difference….When you trust people, you empower them.  They play at a higher level trying to live up to the trust you’ve placed in them.”  I’m sure we can all relate to the increase in ability that seems to come to us when someone else is counting on us to do something.  What would happen to our growth if no one (including ourselves) trusted us to do better?

Finally, trust gives you a feeling of exhilaration.  Recall the feelings you experienced when you trusted your child to do something and they did it…when you trusted someone else to do something and they did it.  How about the time you trusted yourself to do something…and you did it?  This is a good feeling that in itself inspires even greater levels of achievement.

By this time it should be evident that the ability to accomplish one’s life purpose is virtually impossible without the trust and interdependence of other people.  The ability to trust others and the ability to be trusted are vitally important character traits that must be carefully nurtured and protected.  Like a great building, trust takes a significant amount of time to build, but can be destroyed in a few seconds.

Prayer Power
Lord, help us to see the importance of trust and grant us the strength to protect our trustworthiness from the many temptations to compromise that inevitably come our way.

Link of the Day
America’s Trust Fall

Blessings on you as you prayerfully increase your level of trust in someone this week.

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“The holiday season is one for gathering. Punches are a quick, easy way to let your guests serve themselves.”  Drinkoftheweek.com

What healthy beverages will you be making over the holiday season?

They sing to the music of tambourine and harp; they make merry to the sound of the flute.  (Job 21:12 NIV)

I did the cranberry tea recipe the first week of December, then the eggnog recipe last Tuesday.  Jerry suggested that I stay with a beverage theme for this week and he actually requested a holiday punch recipe.  Now, I know there are dozens, if not hundreds, of holiday punch recipes available using everything from sugar-laced juices to champagne and sherbet.  I have a few punch recipes that I’ve used for bridal and baby showers, but I didn’t necessarily think they would “fill the bill” for a holiday punch.

I wanted to make this punch recipe simple with easy to find ingredients.  I went to a local Walmart and sauntered down the juice aisle.  I was pleasantly surprised at what I discovered.  There, amidst the high fructose sweetened “fake” juice drinks, I found organic, all fruit juices in glass bottles, even!  Santa Cruz makes a berry nectar that contains all organic fruit juices and I know that is very tasty.  Pop one of those in the cart.  Lakewood is another reputable and safe brand.  They had an organic, pomegranate, anti-oxidant blend of juices that looked good.  Another bottle in the cart.  (It was also more reasonably priced than the 100% pomegranate juice, which most people would gasp over.)

Pineapple juice always adds a nice touch to a punch.  I bought the 100% juice, not from concentrate.  A little bubbly also gives punch “some punch.”  (Love the pun…and me.)  There were a few to choose from in this well-stocked juice aisle.  I bought Kristian Regale sparkling lingonberry-apple juice.  It looked a bit different than the regular sparkling grape juice.  Okay, one more ingredient and that should do it.  I wanted to add some type of sorbet or ice cream to the punch to give it more body and keep it cold during a party.  All of the sorbets at Walmart contain sugar and corn syrup.  If you’re willing to lower your standards a bit for the holidays, then they would work fine.  I left the store without any.  Cascadian Farms used to make organic sorbets sweetened with fruit juice.  I can no longer find those.  So, I choose Julie’s organic blackberry ice cream.  Her products are now readily available in supermarkets in the frozen area of the health food section.  What a treat!  It really added to the punch, although it did lighten the color.  By adding the ice cream, the color went from a dark berry color to a light pinkish, purple.  Don’t be put off by the color.  It still tasted great.  Enjoy!

Prayer Power
Father, we bless our readers with love, joy and peace during this special time of year when we celebrate the birth of Your Son, Jesus.

Link of the Day
Holiday Berry Punch

Blessings on you as you enjoy some holiday punch.

“Probably the reason we all go so haywire at Christmas time with the endless unrestrained and often silly buying of gifts is that we don’t quite know how to put our love into words.”  Harlan Miller

What are your plans to s-l-o-w down this Christmas season?

She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the village inn.  (Luke 2:7; NLT)

One of the newsletters I receive on a regular basis is done by Mac Anderson and known as “Simple Truths.”  Mac is primarily a book publisher, but he publishes very unique, small gift books that can be read in 30 minutes or less.  His little books are always beautiful and can be seen at http://www.simpletruths.com.

From time to time, Mac does a short little video presentation of one of his books.  I have used his videos as “links of the day” numerous times over the past 15 months.  This month, he did a movie on “One Solitary Life” which was written by James Francis in 1926. In 248 words he captured the essence of how the life of Christ has made a powerful difference for over 2000 years. Therefore, to celebrate His birth this Christmas season, just click the link below to watch this three-minute movie.

I felt that this would be a great resource to share with you at the start of this magnificent Christmas week.  Oh, and speaking of movies, I found a way to capture and permanently post The Validation Movie to the post that used that as the link.  So, if you were one of the unfortunate ones who missed seeing it before they took it down, now you can watch it anytime by clicking here.

BTW, because of the holiday, this will be my last post this week, and Sharon will post tomorrow for her last.  We both want to wish you all a wonderful Christmas holiday.  See you in a week.

Prayer Power
Lord, we thank You for resources like this to remind us that You’re the real reason for this season.  For that we are grateful beyond what words can ever express.  Happy birthday!!!

Link of the Day
One Solitary Life

Blessings on you as you make choices that will make this your best Christmas ever.

“I love living life.  I am happy!”  Nick Vujicic

When you fall, have you ever felt like you just didn’t have the strength to get back up?  How did you overcome that feeling?

Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size–abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks.  I just let Christ take over!  And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.  (2 Cor. 12:10; MSG)

Last February, I wrote about an overcomer by the name of Nick Vujicic who touched my heart greatly (as well as the hearts of many you readers).  That DG was entitled “Another Overcomer” and is still available if you want to review it.  Just click on the title and it will take you right to it.

About a week ago, a great friend and colleague, Kathy Kane sent us another video of some of what Nick has been up to lately.  As last time, this video is a must see.  First of all, you will be amazed.  Second, your gratitude attitude will undoubtedly soar to new heights.

BTW, if you’re on Facebook, so is Nick.  Log on and search for Nicholas James Vujicic and do a friend request to be one of his over 4200 friends.  As I recall, he’s a little slow in responding, but then again, he’s busier than most of us, so we’ll just have to extend a little grace.  BTW again, if you’re on Facebook and your not on my friend list, go to http://profile.to/jerrygraham/ and identify yourself as a DG subscriber.  I would be honored to be on your friend list.

Finally, in case you haven’t noticed, next week is Christmas week.  It’s going to be a little different for us this year.  We’re traveling to Pennsylvania to spend Christmas day with Sharon’s Mom.  If you’ll remember, Sharon’s Dad passed away a couple of days before Thanksgiving and Mom was just moved to an assisted living facility last week.  She wants to have Christmas dinner at her own home, so we’ll be working toward that end.  We will appreciate your thoughts and prayers this holiday season.  Fortunately, Mom seems to be doing remarkably well.

All that to say that we plan on publishing a DG Monday and Tuesday of next week and then taking the rest of the week off…or giving you a break for the rest of the week.  There are some major changes in the wind with our DG emails.  We’re moving in the direction of just sending you a short email announcing the fact that we just published a new DG and if the title and description catches your interest, there will be a link to our blog.  At the moment, the plans are that our writing schedule will stay the same–just a change in the method of delivery.  That will likely happen early in January.

Make it a great weekend!!!  See ya Monday!

Prayer Power
Lord, You have given us such amazing resilience.  In Your strength we cal overcome any adversity.  Never let us give up.  Give us the strength and courage to finish the race well.

Link of the Day
Get Back Up

Blessings on you as you tie up any loose ends this weekend just prior to Christmas.

“Working out makes you better at the things you like to do.”  Health Club Panel Network

What are you doing to maintain your exercise discipline during this busy time of year?  What does your level of commitment say about your priorities?

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.  (Heb. 12:11; NIV)

During the time of Dad’s accident and subsequent death, funeral and all that comes with that, along with my mother’s hospitalization, I wasn’t able to exercise, for a number of reasons.  Most all of you who know me know that I’m a huge proponent of exercise.  Many of you can quote me as saying, “Exercise is NOT an option.”  I coach clients on how to make exercise “fit” into their busy schedules.  I coach clients on overcoming obstacles to incorporating exercise into their daily routines.  People pay me to tell them they must exercise.

So, as you can well imagine it was a huge pull for me not being able to exercise.  I didn’t like it nor did my body.  I know many of you can attest to the fact that it seems to take weeks to build strength, muscle and endurance doing consistent exercise.  Then, why does it seem to “disappear” so suddenly?  I was able to get back to the gym last week but not at the consistent level that I’m accustomed.  However, the tide has turned.  I’m now back into the rhythm and realize once again that indeed, exercise is NOT an option.

In just a few short weeks with not exercising, I’ve noticed that I’m not able to lift or push at the same weight and amount I was able to before.  Last week I was thinking it was due to fatigue and grief.  This week I’m realizing the fact that I’ve lost ground.  Today, while doing upper body exercises, I had to decrease the weight on the machines from what I used to do.  I had to fight discouragement.  Could I really have lost strength in that short of time?  I will not despair.  I will quickly regain as long as I’m persistent and consistent.

I know most people’s schedules are very busy during this time.  Almost insanely busy for many.  If you currently have an exercise routine and you’re tempted to lay off due to the many external pressures such as errands, shopping, baking, parties, and decorating….DON’T do it!  Don’t allow yourself to think, “I really don’t have time to exercise.”  Believe me when I say, “You don’t have time NOT to exercise.”  If ever there was a time to stay committed to an exercise routine, it’s now.  Seriously look at what other things you can cut-out so that your exercise schedule doesn’t suffer.  Does the season really call for all of that frenetic activity?  If you’ve baked twelve dozen cookies and sent out 180 Christmas cards, yet neglected your own physical health and well-being, what does that say about your own self-care?  “Yes, Virginia, you really have to.”

Prayer Power
Father, we continually thank You for Your Son and for this time of year when we can celebrate His birth.  May we seek You in arranging our priorities.

Link of the Day
Importance of Exercise and Fast Food Facts

Blessings on you as you stay consistent with your exercise routine.

“The higher up you go in life, the more input you’re going to need regularly to stay there.”  Brian Klemmer

Reflect on the last time you felt truly honored by someone.  How did it make you feel?

Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God will give you.  (Exod. 20:12; NLT)

Have you noticed the incredible lack of honor for each other that is sweeping though our society?  People used to honor our President…even if they disagreed with him, they at least honored his office.  Not any more.  It has become popular of late to bash Bush from all directions–the media, fellow politicians, high profile personalities with no experience nor knowledge all freely join in without giving it a second thought.  It really has little to do with the person being bashed…it’s all about a growing lack of respect for our fellow man.  Trust me, within the next couple of years, the guns will turn on Obama.  (Unfortunately, some of my fellow Christians have already begun.)

The U.S. Senate used to be a place noted for honor.  Senators gave deference to each other out of sheer respect for their position if for nothing else.  Now, it is not at all uncommon to see senators shouting at each other with total disrespect even while in session.  As these childlike antics are captured for all to see on the 6 o’clock news, is it any wonder that our children are growing up in a society that has lost touch with the meaning of the word “respect.”  Disrespect abounds across racial lines, within racial lines, across and within gender lines, across and within political parties, within major league sports teams, within churches, within families, and on and on and on.

Brian Klemmer devotes a whole chapter to honor in his latest book, The Compassionate Samurai.  He writes, “Dishonor always carries a very high price.  It costs the person who is dishonored, and it also costs everyone affiliated with the one who engaged in the dishonoring behavior.  The price to be paid for dishonor isn’t always immediately recognized.  But that doesn’t mean that it isn’t paid.  Society tends to hide the effects and consequences of dishonor, the thinking being that if you don’t show honor you can get away with it.  The truth is that this will never happen.  It will catch up to you sooner or later.”

One aspect of honor Klemmer discusses in his book is listening.  As a coach, this is an area that I’ve become especially sensitive to although I am still not as good at listening as I should be.  As he points out, when we’re communicating with others, our highest goal should be to listen to them intently as that demonstrates our honor for them.  When’s the last time someone really listened to you?  It seems to happen very rarely these days.  I’ve even heard of coaches being hired just so their client would have somebody who would truly listen to them.  How sad.

I didn’t really set out to write such a negative sounding DG today, but frankly, honor is a character trait that should be on the endangered species list.  I believe the only thing those of us who are concerned about the lack of honor can do is to choose to rise above the fray and purpose to honor those we come in contact with–whether they honor us or not.  Unconditional honor.  We may not be able to fully respect and honor their behavior, but we can always find something about them to honor even if it’s just the fact that they were created in the image of God.  It may not seem like much, but every little bit helps.

Prayer Power
Lord, help us to live our lives in a fashion that honors our fellow man and thereby glorifies You.  Grant us the grace to rise above the emotion that so freely degenerates into dishonoring behavior.

Link of the Day
Interview with Brian Klemmer

Blessings on you as you purpose find the good and to honor your fellow man.

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“Because eggnog is a holiday staple, it just wouldn’t be Christmas without it.”  Eggnog.ws

When was the last time you enjoyed some homemade eggnog?

She lays her eggs on the ground and lets them warm in the sand. (Job 39:14; NIV)

I really didn’t know much of the history behind this pleasurable holiday beverage.  Growing up on a dairy farm meant that eggnog was a common treat though.  We raised our own chickens, and of course, had our own milk and cream from those black and white beauties in the barn.  One memory that still stands out in my mind about eggnog revolves around my cousin Butch.  Butch was much older than I was and he lived with us at various times while working as a hired hand on the farm.  One morning he cracked an egg in a glass.  Poured in some milk, a little sugar and a smidge of vanilla extract.  He stuck a fork in the glass and gave it a few stirs.  Then he handed the glass to me and said, “Drink it straight down and don’t stop.”  Even that experience has never deterred me from drinking eggnog.

By the way, I’ve found it spelled eggnog and egg nog.  Not sure who’s right on that front.  Various stories abound around the inception of this winter toddy.  However, the consensus says that eggnog is a tradition that was brought to America from Europe.  Eggnog is related to various milk and wine punches that had been concocted long ago in the “Old World”. However, in America a new twist was put on the theme. Rum was used in the place of wine. In Colonial America, rum was commonly called “grog”, so the name eggnog is likely derived from the very descriptive term for this drink, “egg-and-grog”, which corrupted to egg’n'grog and soon to eggnog. At least this is one version…

Others say that the “nog” of eggnog comes from the word “noggin”. A noggin was a small, wooden, carved mug. It was used to serve drinks at the table in taverns.  The true story might be a mixture of the two and eggnog was originally called “egg and grog in a noggin”. That was a term that required shortening if there ever was one.

Most eggnog recipes call for some form of liquor.  We never had liquor in our house so I have never used it when making eggnog.  There are various ways of making this creamy beverage too.  Some recipes say to separate the eggs, beat the yolks with the cream and sweetener and then beat the whites and fold them in.  I’ve never done that but I tried it last night and did not like it.  It was too frothy and foamy.  Most all recipes call for sugar but I’ve developed a recipe using honey.  The organic ice cream is optional but adds a nice twist.  And yes, eggnog uses raw eggs.  Since I buy organically raised eggs from free-roaming chickens, I have no concerns over using raw eggs.  However, if that’s not something you’re comfortable doing, by all means have a cup of tea instead.

Prayer Power
Father, thank You for the incredible, edible egg.  May we all continue to remember the reason for the season is Your son, Jesus.

Link of the Day
Holiday Eggnog

Blessings on you as you enjoy some holiday eggnog.

“When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost.”  Billy Graham

When is it acceptable (or strategic) to be a little less than honest?

Good people are guided by their honesty; treacherous people are destroyed by their dishonesty.  (Prov. 11:3; NLT)

Yes, I’m honest, but….   And that’s where the dishonesty begins.  Sometimes the person saying it doesn’t even see the discrepancy.  Most of us have mental filters when it comes to honesty.  Brian Klemmer, in his new book, The Compassionate Samurai, uses as an example the quote of a crook: “Of course I’m honest!  I tell people that I’m going to steal from them, and that’s being honest.”

But with honesty, as with many character traits, there is no gray area–no buts.  You either are, or you aren’t honest.  Admittedly, the challenge is often made greater when we don’t even know ourselves well enough to understand what is really the truth.

Sometimes we choose to not disclose the whole truth.  Sometimes we do that to protect our position.  Sometimes we do that to protect the other person from harm.  But in both cases, it’s being dishonest.  Honesty is the whole truth, period!  Now this is not to say that you should feel free to “blast” someone in the name of honesty.  Check your intentions.  Be honest with yourself.  Is your goal to help the other person or just make them feel bad?  There is a right way and wrong way to handle such a situation.  Purposely hurting another to make you feel better is never the right way.

We’ve all grown up hearing, “honesty is the best policy.”  Yes it is–in the long run.  Sometimes there are short-term costs to pay for being honest.  That’s what causes many of us to choose to be less than honest at times.  However, Klemmer documents the long term cost of not being honest as “the loss of intimacy, efficiency, and aliveness.  First, lying destroys the trust the other person has in you.  Once you lie, the veracity of everything you say is in doubt.  Relationships and businesses are based on trust….Second, every time you violate your own principles, it’s like taking a knife and cutting yourself.  A piece of you dies.  It doesn’t matter what principle you violate.  You become less whole; you compromise your integrity.”

This series of character traits of a Samurai as gleaned from Klemmer’s new book will continue for the next several DG’s, only interrupted from time to time when something timely appears.  I would like to think that the series will be helpful to you as we stand at the threshold of a new year.  it’s a great time to examine ourselves and make selective adjustments.  Improvements to character is always a fruitful activity.  If this is resonating with you, I encourage you to get Klemmer’s book.  See the Amazon link in the 12/3/08 DG, “Benefits of Playing Victim”.

Prayer Power
Lord, often the person we’re most dishonest with is You.  We make excuses for our lack of fellowship with You rather than just being honest about our true motives.  How foolhardy!  Do we really think we can deceive our Maker?  Grant us the grace to overcome those tendencies.

Link of the Day
Yes, Integrity Matters!

Blessings on you as you purpose to avoid all temptation to be less than honest.

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