I just got this email from a new friend of mine. She and her amazing woman’s ministry team were host for our VERY FIRST  “Imagine Me…Set Free”. This feisty group of God’s girls bravely took a chance on me and a North Carolina “Freedom Weekend”. To say that it was an adventure would be an understatement. Never-less, God Blessed. Jill and I have been hooked at the hip since. There is just something about being a part of a move of God together that joins one heart to another.

The fact that our hearts are joined is evident by the following.

My last blog post was my promise to unwrap a whole bunch of newly deposited knowledge right here on “Living Free”. While I was writing that post Jill was enjoying a family vacation in paradise.

As a  Leading Lady Looking for the Lasting Lesson in everything, would do……here is what she sent me after her return. You will see why God has placed this wise women in such a precious position of leading and loving on HIS beautiful daughters.

Lessons Learned on Vacation

We were fortunate enough to spend a week on Paradise Island, Bahamas for our summer vacation. We rented a three bedroom condo (got it for a great price), went on a couple of great excursions and spent a few days at the Atlantis Resort (day passes with access to the aquariums, water park, pools and beach). Our teenagers each brought a friend, so there were six of us. It was truly a spectacular vacation.  I am convinced that there is no more beautiful place on earth than the Caribbean. And I think my kids would agree.  My sixteen year old son, who has repeatedly said that he doesn’t like the beach, said “it’s not the beach…it’s the Caribbean…there’s a difference”.  Amen to that.

While we were there, I really learned some lessons that apply not only to my life but to my ministry work.  Here they are in no particular order:

Bigger isn’t necessarily better…unless it can be made to feel smaller and more intimate.  Atlantis is a huge property.  I mean massive.  It’s like a Ginsu Knife commercial “…but wait, there’s more…”.  It went on forever, it was very crowded and you had to wait in line for most things. Certainly you can achieve economies of scale, but when it’s that big, it’s overwhelming. So how does this apply to:

◦      Ministry – people want to be acknowledged, they want to be heard. Reply promptly to inquiries, even if you don’t have the answer. And follow up when you get it. Anticipate people’s needs and fill them before they realize they needed something.  Don’t make people come to you, greet them, have information readily available, be accessible-not sitting behind a table, but out front with a smile. Make sure the website is up-to-date and easy to navigate.  There is nothing that will turn me off faster than a difficult website – one click, that’s it, especially if I’m spending money. Don’t make it hard for the user.

◦      Life – well, pretty much all of the above. Take the time to SEE, ACKOWLEDGE and LISTEN to people.  Be present.  I won’t get this moment again, how can I reflect Christ in this instance, to this person?  Not to be trite, but “what would Jesus do”? I should never be too full of myself to ignore another person.

People want a “road map”. Did I mention that Atlantis was big?  But it wasn’t well marked.  The signage, when you could see it, was small.  Maybe they were going for unobtrusive, but it frustrated the heck out of us.  And in Nassau, good luck finding a bus schedule.  They’ve got a great local bus system, but no printed schedule. Certainly you’re on “island time”, which is vastly different than regular time (way more relaxed), but I would’ve loved to have a schedule that told me “the number 10 bus runs between downtown Nassau and Cable Beach”, that kind of thing. Navigating was a trial! Application:

◦      Ministry – provide all the information and all the tools!  Events and class schedules with dates/times/meeting place/cost. Easily accessible. And provide a good map! Give detailed directions, provide agendas for meetings. This comes down to respecting people’s time. Time is our most valuable commodity.  Don’t waste other people’s time by making it difficult for them to find information. Anticipate their needs, and provide for them!

◦      Life – we all need the road map, and the Bible is it.  But it’s like looking at a World Atlas.  Where do I start, how do I read this, what does this mean for my daily life? This is the most valuable tool we have, but it’s useless unless we know what to do with it.

People want authenticity. Now don’t get me wrong, Atlantis was beautiful. No expense was spared creating this fantasy world. And it was a fantasy of the first magnitude. The property was laid out for maximum visual and sensory impact. The aquariums were amazing, you almost felt like you were under the water. In fact a couple of the water slides took you through the shark tank. Pretty cool. Until we got on a boat and went to one of the out-islands, where we saw the true beauty of the Caribbean. The turquoise water, the pink sand, and no crowd. Pristine. Breath taking. The majesty of God laid out before you. God made, not man made. People want substance, not surface. And, by the way, we got in the water and fed the stingrays and the sharks which beat the heck out of the aquarium.

◦      Ministry and life – authenticity and transparency. These are paramount. We live in a fallen world, we are all broken. Stop wearing the masks. Ask for help when you need it. If the project’s more than you thought, say so, we’re all in this together, we have a common goal. But don’t shirk your responsibility, remember you’re working for God.  Jesus was the only man who could handle things on his own, the rest of us – we need help.  Why do you think he had 12 disciples?

People want a personal experience and they want to remember it. The big resort and the giant cruise ship are cool, but they aren’t personal. You’re a number, you’re cattle. Get ‘em in, get ‘em out. Standing knee deep in the water, having a 5′ shark pulled out of the water right next to me, that’s personal. That’s an experience I won’t forget (and I have the pictures to prove it). I brought back some sand from that beach so I can have it in a jar on my desk. Every time I look at it, it takes me back to paradise.

◦      Ministry – the large church, the big conference has to have a personal touch, or there is no connection. The volunteers and staff have to be front and center, meeting, greeting, assisting. And easy to identify. Disney is the ultimate at providing a stellar guest experience. It is that anticipation of needs. From pulling into the parking lot to trash disposal on your way out the door, it’s all been coordinated.  People want to leave with a souvenir, if you will, of their experience. They want the tangible reminder. But they need to leave with something useful, something that helps with the life application of what they’ve experienced. It’s not enough to experience God, you have to have the ongoing relationship!

Jill Marquis is Director of Women’s Ministries at Mecklenburg Community Church in Charlotte, NC

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I went for my Annual Eye exam last week. One of the procedures they perform is for you to press your head up against a little machine and have a what they tell you will be a “puff” of air shoot into your eye. I didn’t ask WHAT this does but I would say they use the term “puff” loosely. The hit to the eye, although it doesn’t hurt, is more like a BLAST than a sweet little “puff”! Each time it makes you jump backwards and away from the machine even though you know it is coming.

I recently sat in the filled auditorium at Van Dyke Church in Tampa soaking up the amazing teaching of some of the greatest Christian teachers and speakers of today at the simulcast of the Global Leadership Summit sponsored by Willow Creek. As I tried to take it all in I remembered that little “puff” from my eye exam.

The Willow Creek summit has been referred to as “the go-to event for leaders who are serious about being better at what they do – whether it’s shepherding a flock, growing a business, or becoming a more passionate follower of Christ”.

That is me. I am one of those leaders AND one of those followers.

I always want to learn to do things better and I am the first to know, I HAVE A LOT TO LEARN!!

As you saw in THIS POST, I am a firm believer  in constantly FILLING UP on all the wisdom, inspiration and Bible teaching that is available to me. I look for it. I find it. I follow it. I also want to see that kind of teaching and coaching poured into those I love and serve with. Some of our ministry Staff sat in one long row and soaked it all up as best we could. At one point, as I was leaning forward in my seat with my elbows on my knees trying to catch every single word that BLASTED out from one of the speakers, I looked down the row and saw the head of my middle son leaned in along with mine. It was precious. The apple truly doesn’t fall far from the tree.

I have to admit, the whole “simulcast” thing has never really thrilled me. I figure I can watch TV or a video podcast on my computer in my own home and in my PJ’s.

The fact is however, that simulcasting is an amazing tool of technology that allows us to actually BE PART of something awesome as it happens, not just an observer. At this particular event tens of thousands of pastors, ministry leaders, corporate leaders and just plain ole learners, in multiple countries gathered at over a hundred sites across North America.

It was a BLAST!!

I have pages of notes and ideas to figure out how to apply to my life over the next few months. I do not want to MISS what God was pouring into me.

As I sat there it occurred to me how many places HE has placed me in just the past few weeks that have given me the OPPORTUNITY to be filled with some amazing, in fact life changing, information.

Last weekend I attended Proverbs 31 Ministries “She Speaks” and left feeling the same way. Like I had gone expecting a “PUFF” and received a “BLAST”.

The only way that I know to take all of this information and try to process it into a few realistic and achievable goals in my own life, is to write out some of the truths and attempt to set a goal or two from each session.

Since I use “Living Free” as an online life journal of sorts to be shared with the few who might care or might be served in some small way, I am going to be transferring my notes to this blog, then create a “DO THIS WITH THAT” list.

I would love to exchange ideas with you.

Tell me what God is teaching you. And I will NOT forget my “Life Planning” process that blasted into my heart from the Michale Hyatt Blog I shared earlier this week. There has to be SOME PLAN for all this great knowledge. Right??!!

PLEASE DON’T FORGET ABOUT MY AUGUST GIFT CERTIFICATE to be used for the item of your choice at “The Lavendar Road”. My drawing will take place using ALL of my August COMMENTS!! Two comments equal TWO ENTRIES, Three equal THREE!! You get it!!

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Obviously I don’t do well without it.

Not  only have I not scaled any buildings lately–short or tall– but my laundry is piled up to about 6 loads. It is probably the highest mountain I will climb anytime soon.

We have had a not-so-great-adventure going on at the Layton house over the past few weeks. We lost our AC in the midst of some of the hottest days in Florida history. It is very difficult to get ANYTHING done while laying prostrate on the floor with ones face pressed against a fan, much less attempting blogging feats of witty writing glory.

When I got to the point of resembling the Wicked Witch in the Wizard of Oz, AFTER she was splashed with water, my husband broke down and took us to live in a HOTEL for 4 days. Our home temperature got as high as 102 degrees!!

The loss of AC is nothing as major as many precious friends of mine have been dealing with lately. No where near. Awareness of that has caused me to pray every day asking God to keep my heart right and my perspective balanced. Sometimes I disciplined myself into what I knew was a God pleasing attitude and sometimes I did not. I tried. I really did.

Anyway, I have had a more than my usual difficult time setting myself aside to blog.

I do have some great ideas on little pieces of paper, saved in my documents file and sitting next to my Prayer Chair with the sour towels.

I did manage to TWEET and Facebook my whining a few times but that only took a few words and no thought process, only a high pitched complaining cry!

The truth is, even on most ordinary days I can not seem to find time to fit it all in and just have the highest regard for those who can.

I have not given up however. I am on a hot quest (sorry, heat is on my mind) for discovering the best method of organization and life planning.

One of my favorite blog spots is Michael Hyatt’s blog. I have just downloaded his post on “Creating a Life Plan” and “The Importance of the Quarterly Review” and have already devoured them both. I have put a day on my calendar for later this month to try my hand at his method of “Living Life on Purpose”.

I can’t wait to see what God drops into my heart and will gladly share my “On PURPOSE” discoveries here on “Living Free”.  As long as I have AC and some sweet tea, I am a writng fool.

Lastly I have not forgotten my JULY Summer Book Giveaway . I am a few days late but the books are in a box for ROBBIE JO!!!!! (Email me your address sister!!)

My sincere thanks to all who emailed, facebooked and blogged about my upcoming Woman’s Conference “Imagine Me…Redeemed, Restored, Renewed…Set Free” on October 1 and 2 in Eastman, Georgia.

My AUGUST Giveaway is a COOL GIFT CERTIFICATE for a goodie of your choice from my beautiful Daughter-in-Laws Kim’s Everything Etsy shop.

Take a look and see what you like then all you have to do is tell someone about IMAGINE ME and leave a comment here on the blog telling me where to look!!

Also…I would love to know YOUR Life Planning tips!!

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