Hopegivers 2014

I was honored to be asked to speak at Bethel Church's Hopegivers Seminar this past weekend. I love that church and it was great to be able to give back just a little of what they've given me.

I decided to share about stories. How stories are important. How OUR stories are important and how in the telling of our stories we give each other HOPE!

 

I shared a little "Mrs. Libby-ology" in that I think that there might be books in heaven, books about our lives. A little scary and a little exciting if you think about it.

 

 

 

"All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." ~Psalm 139

 

 

If we view our lives as a story, especially a life story with God, then we can be assured of a happy ending! I think Jesus and Jane Austen are in agreement in that they want everyone to have a happy ending.

 

 

Our past is already written, but we can collaborate with God on our future, on the next hour, on the next minute and we can write a GREAT story with our lives!

 

If we are the main character, then we can choose to be the hero or a victim or a villain, it's our choice.

 

There is one thing we must remember about heroes:

 

 

In order to be a hero, he/she must fight a battle, overcome a great obstacle, survive a dangerous journey, or slay the dragon. A hero is not a hero without conflict!

 



Perhaps we should view our conflicts as opportunities to be a hero. Maybe it would give us confidence and strength to view our troubles as a chance to overcome, to win, to be victorious - to be the hero of our story. Maybe we wouldn't give up or give in so quickly. Maybe we would be encouraged to "do the right thing" instead of the selfish thing.  - Just a thought.

 

If we view our lives as stories, then perhaps we would see the people around us as characters in our stories and decide if they are helping move our story along to its happy ending or if they are a constant distraction or temptation to the hero (you) then perhaps you need to write them out of your story. Maybe you need to look for that loyal, supportive character to travel with you through your story.

 

We quite possibly need to decide if our setting is helping or hindering our hero. We might need a change of scenery.

 

What about the theme of our story? Have you ever met someone and they are just negative and critical and depressing? You know the theme of their story! Many people say they can't help being negative, that's the way they were raised or they blame events in their lives. I say "hogwash!" People can change the way they see life! If you look for the bad, that's all you'll see but if you look for the good you'll find it! What's the theme of your story? What do people say about you? Do they say, "she's always kind" or "she's always hateful"? You can decide what the theme of your story will be.

 

You can turn the page, end this chapter and begin a new one TODAY! I know old habits die hard, but if you keep working at it you can be the HERO of your story! The theme of your story can be LOVE and HOPE and PEACE!

 

Remember these verses:

 

2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

 

Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

 

Isaiah 43:18-19 “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."

 

Don't waste your time re-reading the old chapters you've written. God forgives. God heals. God restores. God reconciles!

 

Start writing your new chapter today!

 

Peace to you,

Jill

 

 

 

 







Hopegivers 2014 Music That Makes Me Happy Playlist

I came up with a playlist of music for the Hopegivers seminar and I wanted to share it in case anyone would like some suggestions for making a playlist of Music That Makes Me Happy!

Enjoy!

"Blessed" by Brett Dennen
"Singing in the Rain" by Gene Kelly
"Everybody" by Ingrid Michaelson
"Sunny Side of the Street" has been done by many but I like Billie Holliday's version
"Sound of Sunshine" by Michael Franti
"Follow Me" by Paul McCartney
"Laughing Song" by George Younce
"Mr. Blue Sky" by the Electric Light Orchestra
"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by IZ
"That's Amore" by Dean Martin
"What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong
"Something Beautiful" by NeedtoBreathe
"Shower the People" by James Taylor
"He Gives Us All His Love" by Randy Newman
"Foux Du Fafa" by Flight of the Conchords
"Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company D" by the Andrew Sisters
"Make Someone Happy" by Jimmy Durante
"Accentuate the Positive" by Bing Crosby
"It's a Good Day" by Perry Como
"Beautiful Morning" by the Rascals
"Home" by Phillip Phillips
"If I Knew You Were Coming Ida Baked a Cake" by Eileen Barton
"On the Rebound" by Floyd Cramer
"One Mint Julep" by Ray Charles
"Soul Bossanova" by Quincy Jones

Some of these didn't make my final cut for the Hopegivers playlist, but they're fun anyway.

Fighting With Laughter

I'm not even going to acknowledge how long it's been since I last posted. I'm not going to tell you about any New Year's resolutions about blogging. So, I'll just post. I really want to apologize and offer excuses and qualify, but I'm going to shut it and type.

I've had an invitation to speak at a women's seminar called Hopegivers next week. I've been thinking a lot about what I will share and I've been thinking a lot about comedy since that's a part of what I'll be talking about.

I just watched a biography about Rodney Dangerfield this morning and while his humor was never my cup of tea, I have to respect him as a comedian. In the bio they addressed and were fascinated with the same thing they are fascinated with in every comedian's life: how humor can come from such sadness and struggle and pain.

I'm sure there are thousands of theories explaining this phenomenon and I'll add three more.

One theory I have is that I think comedians are fighters. Depression, sadness, pain, abuse and all those other negative, horrible things pull humans down and threaten to suffocate them and kill them. Comedians fight that. They don't stand for it, they combat it with humor and laughter. They may have had a life or have a life that is dark and suffocating and they decide that they want to let light and air in and so they make it happen. They experiment with faces and actions and words until they find the right combination to unlock the cage they're in. The beauty is while they're ripping open the doors for themselves, they give such happiness to others.

Another theory I have is that comedians are generous. Because of the difficult lives or childhoods or painful experiences they understand loss and lack. They know what it's like to live in the dark drowning in sadness or neglect or pain and they decide that they will give to others what they wished they had. So, they bring to people the happiness and pleasure that they never had. And many, many comedians still don't have it even as they are bringing it to others. Because of all the pain that's why, I believe, many comedians are alcoholics, drug abuser and many have committed suicide.

My last theory is that some comedians use their comedy to express their anger and the pain and hurt and injustice they've experienced. This is the group that I don't really care to listen to because I feel used. I should be paid to hear them complain about their problems and anger. They use their comedy for venting. They appeal to those who wish they could say what the comedians say and get away with it. They insult, criticize, use a lot of vulgarity I've noticed and they're just generally mad at the world. They have their audience and their audience can have them. I personally wish they'd get a therapist and then come back to the stage and let's see if they can make me laugh.

I've heard comedians describe their work as a calling, a passion, they couldn't live without it, and I believe it's all true. Some people are just made to be funny and they can't NOT do it. It's how they've learned to survive and cope.

I tip my hat to all the comedians out there. Keep fighting!