Mission Impossible?

What does the phrase, "The Great Commission" mean to you?  If you are not a Christian you probably are drawing a blank.  If you are a believer, you might (should) know.  If you are in ministry, you know exactly what it means.

I grew up in the church but didn't hear that phrase until I was in my 30s.  I suppose it either wasn't a phrase used or I wasn't paying attention.  Now that I know what it means and it's significance, I'm doing my best to put it to use.  

My One Word Challenge for this year is USEFUL.   I believe the Great Commission and Useful go hand in hand.

What am I talking about?  Jesus Christ was crucified and buried in a tomb.  On the third day he came back to life and presented himself to his disciples.  "Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.  When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.  Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."  Mathew 28:16-20.

I have struggled with my purpose, my usefulness, my abilities as a Christian for years.  Often my prayers have been, "Use me, God. Don't care how or when, but use me."  Then, when opportunities arose, I became frustrated by the lack of finances, which prevented me from doing what I thought was God's will.  Several years ago, I was blessed with the ability to go on a local mission trip.  Of course, at first I didn't consider it an actual 'mission trip'.  I was wrong.   I wrote a book based on that trip,  "Mount Mission".

This upcoming November, I have the opportunity to go on a mission trip to Panama.   Will finances prevent me from going?  Life happens, AC's break, kids get sick, etc., etc.   If I don't raise the money, does it mean God doesn't want me to be the "hand and feet of Christ"?   (see: 1 Corinthians 12)  The hands of Christ is 'serving', the feet indicating 'going' into the world.  

I'm doing my part, praying, studying, praying, fundraising through my businesses (Origami Owl and my books).  I have also created a GoFundMe account for donations.  

Now, I'm asking you for support.   Please prayerfully consider supporting me through any of the routes above and by sharing this post with your friends and family.  Feel free to download and print the attached flier, go on Facebook and share my event page.  Every little bit helps.  Five dollars from 600 people, $10 from 300 people, $100 from 30 people.  You get the idea.  

One last thought, Luke 1:37 "For nothing will be impossible with God." (English Standard Version).  If it is God's will for me to go to Panama, it will happen.

Thank you for your prayers and your support.

ShopFoward for Panama www.marathonmom.origamiowl.com

www.marathonmom.origamiowl.com

Panama Mission Trip

Shop online or donate through PayPal freedspirit05@me.com

Fundraisers the Fun Way

I don't know about you, but I love to give stuff away.  I've given so much "stuff" away, I'd probably be rich if I had sold it all.  Alas, I don't really care about being rich.  Giving makes me happy.  Giving breathes life into my veins.  Giving is a gift that God has given me and I intend to use that gift to the fullest!!   

Every Friday, I post a code for a book or two on Smashwords that anyone can get for free.

I give away my time and talents (what little I posses) to my church, Matthew's Hope, and anywhere that will take me.

I'm not bragging, I'm imploring you to use me, take what I give and use it for good.  

Early this year, I joined Origami Owl.  Not to make a ton of money or become a business mogle in the direct sales industry.  I joined to meet people and to give back via fundraisers.  Several charities and friends in need have benefitted from these fundraisers and I would love to continue in this endeavor.

Do you have a charity that needs money?   Do you have a child in school?  Do you have a favorite cause you would like to raise money for?   

Are you tired of the boring fundraisers - candles, cookies, discount cards, calendars - stuff you really never need or use?    

Origami Owl is an amazing company, started by a 14-year-old girl who wanted to earn money to buy a car.   Their mission statement is:

"Our mission is to be a force for good; to love, inspire, and motivate people of all ages to reach their dreams and empower them to make a difference in the lives of others."

I like that.

How can I help you?

marathonmom.origamiowl.com

Feel free to download this poster from here, my Facebook site, or my Pinterest page.  

THE END

"The End".  It's a bittersweet sentence.  The end of what? The end of whom? Maybe, it's just the beginning.  

As a writer, 'the end' takes a long time.  I look forward to finally being able to write it. The ending is difficult to write, at least for me.  As a reader, I often am sad when I reach the end of a good book.  I want the story to continue, what happens next? I suppose that's what sequels are for.

"The End" is a badge of accomplishment, a finish line, a statement that a goal has been achieved.  The End is synonymous with "Whoo Hoo!  I did it!"

As a runner, the finish line is just a stepping stone.  This race is over, when's the next one?  After writing ten, now eleven books, I must have the same mind set for writing.  It's not quite so easy to pick up and write a new novel as it is to put one foot in front of the other and run another 3, 6, 9, 26.2 miles.  Although, I must admit the older I get the running is becoming more difficult than the writing.

So, you're asking, have you just written "The End"?   

Why, yes, yes I have.  Thank you for asking as my thoughts wander and my fingers take me to another place because I'm thinking of something else to write and whether or not I want to run 25 miles in the 98% humidity tomorrow.  

Ready? Set? HERE IT IS!!!

WILDWOOD

My husband, bless him, says this is my best book yet.  He says that every time.  I believe he thinks he's not allowed to say otherwise because I feed him and he sleeps with me. What do you think?  

I have the paperback coming out soon on Amazon and also the ebook is available on Smashwords.com.   Check my website (www.colleenwait.com) on Fridays for Freebie Fridays through Smashwords.

Fun? in Phoenix part 2

Continued from previous post:
Friday morning, I woke up at 5 am.  My roommates were still asleep so I crept into the bathroom and put on my work-out clothes and went down to the gym.  My key didn't work.  No surprise there, par for the course so far I suppose.  I called the front desk and they sent someone right away to let me in.  I ran for about 45 minutes before anyone else showed up. I enjoyed the solitude.  When I returned to the room, my roommates were up and dressed.  I was not in a huge hurry to get to the convention hall.  The women I had met up with the night before planned on being there at 6:30 to get good seats.  My roommates and I arrived at 7:30.  The large hallway was just beginning to fill up, but it wasn't overly crowded and we found our group near the front of the line.  Next to us was a woman with a service dog.  Not just any service dog - a great dane.  

Service dog at convention.

Because of what happened next, I may need him.  I stood with my group near the front and by the wall.

As the crowds got heavier, I moved closer to the wall where it was a little more open.  Several minutes later, I begin feeling agitated.  I'm looking around, shifting my weight from foot to foot, backing up, turning around. My heart is pounding and I start breathing heavy.  Basically, I'm in fight or flight mode and I'm starting to shake.  Mentally, I know I'm safe, not in any danger.  Physically, my body is rejecting all intellectual thought.  Suddenly my eyes begin to tear up and one of the ladies in our group turns around and looks me in the face, "All you okay?" she asks with a very concerned tone.  I shake my head no and tell her I'm going to the bathroom and I'll be out when the crowds go away. Fortunately, the bathroom is only about three yards away but I have to push through the crowd to get there.   Inside the converted men's room, I find and empty stall, lock myself in and start crying my eyes out.  I texted my husband, "I wanna come home!"  I did at that point.  I could have left with no regrets.  Being the wonderful man he is, he assured me I was fine and to take a breather and go back in when I was ready.  Which I did.  I was embarrassed.  This was the second time this had happened.  The first was at a race when I couldn't find my husband after crossing the finish line.  I sat on a curb and cried for 20 minutes (after running around in a panic thinking he had left me).  

About 10 minutes or so later, I left the sanctuary of the men's room and found my group.  Fortunately, they were near the front and I was able to relax - sort of.  

The main session was really good.  The shadow dance group performed and Bell (the founder) sang.  Several videos were shown.  One was about the trip to Europe and the new Swarovski crystal line of jewelry (yippies) and the Origami Owl story.  If your kids want a car for their birthday, have them watch this video.  If you've ever wanted to own your own business, watch it.  Also, we learned something that I thought was really exciting.  Origami Owl will begin offering health insurance through Agentra beginning August 1st to qualified designers (meeting minimum volumes).  Read more about it here.

Near 12:30 I was ready to climb the walls. Plus, I was starving.  12:30 Phoenix is 3:30 Orlando so way past my lunch time.   I excused myself and found some food and a free massage!!!  I so needed that massage.  It was free but I tipped the woman well.  I went to two breakout classes and then I broke out and went back to the hotel.  Around 5 pm just as we were all leaving for our group dinner, a sandstorm warning set off alarms on everyone's phones.  We didn't get caught in the storm, but could see it in the distance.  

Dinner went well, I had dairy-free options to eat.  It was a little stressful at first because I had to find a waiter, in the crowd, to ask about food.  I'm always stressed when eating out and this was no different, worse even.  One of the women, Christina, made the evening and really the whole week-end bearable and even a little fun. 

There was a photo booth in the restaurant and she was the first person to pull me in.  Normally, I don't like having my picture taken, however, with the hats and funny glasses and mustaches it was fun.  She, Christina, always answered my texts right away and checked in with me often throughout the week-end.  My roommates were great, too.  In fact, they decorated our hotel room door.  The pictures of me they pulled off the internet. 

I love this quote from Chrissy Weems:  The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our "behind the scenes" with everyone else's "highlight reel".   You may think the grass is greener on the other side, but if you took the time to water your own grass, your's would be just as green.

 My husband often says the same thing, referring mainly to Facebook.  People's lives aren't that perfect and we tend to compare our meager life to what is portrayed on FB as a perfect, happy life.  

All you need is within you, right now.  Search for it, find it, water it, and let your light shine.  If you are having a bad day, skip!

Overall, this was an experience that I needed as much as I did not want it.  I needed to get out of my comfort zone.  I can't say that I'm afraid of crowds.  Otherwise, I would not have gone at all.  For me it's a physical reaction that I, thus far, have little control over.  Praying definitely helped.  I know my limits.  I push myself out of the box a little at a time and next time, if there is a next time, I will do more, enjoy it more, engage more, socialize more.  

I returned home exhausted, yet excited at all the possibilities that lay before me.  I leave you with this:

  

AND HERE ARE A FEW PICS:

INTERESTED IN BECOMING AN INDEPENDENT DESIGNER (SMALL BUSINESS OWNER) ?  CONTACT ME THROUGH FACEBOOK.