The Power Based Life

by Mike Flynt

Thomas Nelson Publisher

–This book came into my life at a very poignant time. Approaching the beginning of a new year, I began praying and seeking for a life coach. I was looking for someone that would show me objectively (not relationally or emotionally) how to go to the next step with my goals, to begin to live out the dreams in my heart. I did not want one more year to go by with me remaining the same. God heard my prayers, and gave me my very own life coach in the form of “Coach Mike Flynt.” Reading his book, I really felt as if I were stepping into his training room, and he was my very own personal coach. His writing makes you feel like he’s not addressing an audience, but rather interested in helping you as an individual become your best. Reading Coach Flynt’s stories, in the beginning of the book, of the successful people who have all won and lost, right away gave me a belief that I too, could do all that he is teaching me.

Subtitled: “Realize your Life’s Goals and Dreams by Strengthening your Body, Mind, and Spirit,” is exactly what the book did for me as a whole. Coach Flynt shares his own personal stories of tragedy and triumph. He became the only 59 year college football player in NCAA history. Talk about overcoming obstacles and “realizing your life’s goals and dreams!

The practical applications of living out a “power based life” are truly achievable and have already made a difference in my life.

With this book, you will want to keep a highlighter and a stack of notecards handy. It is full of power-packed quotes that will change your life.

One specifically that is now on my refrigerator is this one from page 9, in a story about a baseball pitcher:

“Refuse to throw good effort after low potential.”

My husband is reading through it now, too, and he keeps saying ‘wow, this is good stuff.’

I would highly recommend this book to anyone out there looking for a personal coach for life goals, weight loss, health benefits, or even spiritual growth. This book really works to strengthen to all areas of life – mind, body and soul.

—Disclosure: BookSneeze provided me with a complementary copy of this book, in return for my review.  The opinion expressed here is entirely my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Part of my new job includes keeping up with a notebook of children who are waiting to be adopted by forever families.

At the end of a busy day I began to make my updates, adding the new children’s pages to there new place in my notebook.  These pages are a reflection of their smiling faces and a short bio of their personalities, their likes, their dreams and hopes.  These pages are children.  Not just a social group that we mention in our circles.  Not just a number, lump summed together. Beautiful children, with beautiful names.

The three-ring binder is large and has a powerful presence in my office.  It is the center of everything we do in our organization.

They are the center.

As I flipped through these pages late yesterday evening, I begin to look at their smiles, their names, the clip art images chosen to reflect their personality.  What were they thinking about while standing by the river or leaning against that tree?  Are they thinking about their future family?

These smiling children captured my heart and made me smile back at them as I alphabetized them in my notebook.  Some of their smiles are choking back the pain that is spilling out through their eyes.  Some of the faces are full of joy and steadfast hope, even in the face of their immense obstacles, their eyes are bright.

And then I begin to place myself in the seat of the Adoptive Parent.  The one who will someday sit down and look through my notebook.  They will come and look at these pages, with these smiling faces and sweet stories.  What will they be thinking? What will be going through their mind when they look through this collection of those who are Waiting?

I wondered what my page would look like if I had not been born into my incredible family.  What if I had grown up like them? Waiting. Wondering.  It’s almost unimaginable – the thought of life, especially childhood, without my wonderful parents.

I wondered what the “Waiting Parents” would think when they read my page, or saw my smiling face sitting by a tree.  Would they deem me “the one?” Would my childhood interests and hopes be a match for their home.  Would they have picked me? Out of all the others?

Thankfully, that’s not how the process actually works today. Our social workers are “gifted hand holders” and “matching experts.”  The families are matched with the children, almost poetically…from what I have seen so far.   When we have “finalizations” – and the “We have a match!” email is sent out – it’s a real cause for celebration in the office.

And it all starts with a smiling face, and a story on a page in that waiting child notebook sitting on my desk.

…a few interesting FACTS.

Using your God given gift is like learning how to ride a bike.

You get one for Christmas as a young child. You have rarely seen it used before, but you know it is now yours to enjoy!  And after all, there are not too many kids in your neighborhood have bikes like this just yet.

You can’t just leave it in the Box…You have to open it.

You might even have to read the instructions and put it together peice by piece.  But maybe your dad has done all this for you, and your new bike is ready to ride!

You cant then store it away in the garage and expect to supernaturally learn how to ride it!  You have to go out there every day and try…and then keep trying to learn how to use it effectively.

You may not have an earthly father or spiritual mentor to take you by the hand and support you 100% of the time, until you learn.  No. You might just have to teach yourself, seek it out for yourself.  But there’s one thing you absolutely should not do – give up. Never, ever Give up.

You may look and say, “Oh, it’s just hands on the bars, and feet on the petals, that’s it.” But when you try to do what you have watched others do so effortlessly, all you do is hit the ground.  Somthing is not working, until someone shares with you the missing piece, their precious wisdom and advice:  “you have to learn to balance first.”

Step out there. Climb onto your bike.  Get really comfortable resting on it and practice your balance. Because the pedaling, and the steering are the easy parts.  It’s the balance that will make or break your success.

And, sure, now you can jump on and go.  But you won’t do very well unless you set your sights, your vision, on a clear destination.

————–

Lately, I’ve felt like that little girl on a bike, trying to peddle, trying to steer, and all I do is topple over.  The quitters-voice inside me says, forget it, give up, go back inside and play with the easy toys.

Romans 12:6-8 says “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”

I love how this passage follows each gift with a mandate, “then do it, and do it well!”

There are many spiritual gifts that the Lord gives his children.  It is valuable to know what your gift is, and then learn how to use it effectively.  And you may say, “but I don’t have a gift!”  I assure you that you do!!  If Jesus is your savior, then there are gifts inside your spirit, ready to be used for His Glory!   My wise hubby and I often take a “Spiritual Gifts Test” – every few years or so, to re-define our spiritual gifts.  We use this one at churchgrowth.org.

All of the members of our Sunday School class also took this test with us last fall and we discussed it as a group.  One thing we found in most couples was that the husband and wife had unique gifts that complimented each other. Where the husband would score very high in say Evangelism, the wife would score extremely low.  And when the wife would score high in one spiritual area, the husband would score low.  It was empowering for our couples to see how God has uniquely matched us with our soul mates.

Maybe you’re like me and you know what your gift is, but when you exercise that gift and begin to use it – you often feel as if maybe this gift is not really something you know how to use just yet.  I challenge you to join me in putting your feet on the pedals, gripping your hands on the bars, and balancing your spirit through prayer, to learn how to use your gift well, with great success to Glorify God and journey out into a new destination.

It’s been a while.  A really, long, long while actually – since I’ve unfolded out of a cartwheel. Ten years ago or so in college I realized my days of cartwheeling were over, when I ended up flat on my back with a splitting headache.

But yesterday made me a twelve year old believer again.

In Cartwheels….

I’m in an all day meeting with my new job.  We’re listening to someone from the County Sheriff’s office tell us about the social issues kids are facing in school.  Bullying, cyber bullying, harassment, degragation, among a dirty laundry list of other negative issues.

It broke my heart, with a million pieces spilling out of the rims of my tear-filled eyes. Now, let me preface this with the fact that I spent – oh – about 10 hours Friday and Saturday, while on my Steroid shot thrill ride, doing some designs for a “bullying” specific presentation.  In our office, it’s been a topic that we’ve discussed at length, analyzed, and chewed on.  I’ve heard it all, or so I thought.

I don’t remember his name, but Mr. Law Enforcer Man shared with us a startling truth that made me sit up in my seat, lean my ear in, and place my thumb nail bitterly between my teeth.  I was all in.

If someone harasses you verbally, or in person slanders or defames you with their mouth, with their words or actions, you can “Call the Po-Po, Ho” cause they gone’ ta jail!

But catch this!  If someone harasses you with a text message, an email or a social media venue – there is nothing the Po-Po can do.  Nothing! NADA!  Zilch. Zippo. NixoN.

The reason given: because our local judicial system dismisses the act of electronic harassment, because you cannot prove the person on the harassing end was actually the owner of the device.  Oh, and further more, the cyber harassment law that was passed in Alabama last year, yeah, it’s not public yet, and it could take up to 10 years for the public to actually see it.

Really?  Yes.  Really.

These things I don’t understand just yet.  But I will.

The indecent act of cyber bullying itself did not actually raise me to my feet initially, but hearing that the act of cyberbullying has NO judicial consequence – absolutely raised me on my toes, put a megaphone in my hand, and tuned my GPS to the white house door steps…cause Baby, something has to be done!

Nothing grips my heart more than INJUSTICE!

Don’t tell me something just “can’t” be done.  Don’t tell me it’s impossible.  Because I AM A BELIEVER.  I believe in impossibilities. I believe in uncovering injustice, and “making paths straight!” I believe that with God all things are possible.

So, I’m on a new mission.  There must be an answer for the increasing amount of bullying among our youth in America.  Jesus is our ever present answer.

Tonight I stumbled onto A21 Campaign, an awesome movement to stop human trafficking – an injustice close to my heart.

Evil triumps…when GOOD MEN do NOTHING.

After Mr. Law Enforcer man left.   We took a break and I’m sipping my coffee when I realize that for the first time in a really long time, I have that feeling inside me again.  Like an excitement of a new passion being birthed.  I’m no longer 31, sitting in an exquisite river front ‘chalet’ in our professional business meeting, with a room full of very smart people.  I’m twelve years old, and I have to do everything in my power to grip to my coffee cup, and hold myself back from doing a cartwheel across that red European rug.

…because I’m a BELIEVER.

And that’s what believers do.

We do Cartwheels.

Each year, during my new year ‘golden’ goal time, I look back at all the highs and lows and then I set my eyes on the new horizons. After a few years of keeping up with this personal habit something happened.  I noticed a single word would begin to emerge.  Like a great “ah-ha” moment, or a middle of the day grand epiphany.  This single word has been a guiding them in my endeavors throughout the year.

One year, my word was simply Hope and others were Charity, Passion or Pursuit.  One especially difficult year my word was Rest.  One sweet season, my soul-purpose word was Worship.  Sometimes the words are for life, other times they are merely for a moment – a little help line for the passing season.

When these words hit my spirit, it’s like a hook in a fishes mouth.  I’m snagged, pulled in and captivated by its theme.

In 2008, the word was “Mouthpiece.”  Specifically “His Mouthpiece.” – learning to speak the Fathers heart.

in 2009, “Establishment” – was the order of the year.  There were many changes in our life, moving to a new city, a new church and establishing order in our marriage, our finances and with new jobs.

Last year, the clear word was “Voice” — All things voice.  I went on a soul search to discover the meaning of our voice, and found multiple avenues for our voice.  I learned my “Voice” is not all about my singing.  It’s a speaking voice, it’s a loving voice, a consoling voice, a praising voice, a writing voice.  I discovered there are literally a “thousand” ways that our heart has a voice!

In the same year of voice, I moved into “Ambassador” – as I launched an online prayer vigil for a sweet sister in my church.

Now, I have a NEW word for 2011. It’s an unusual word for sure!  It’s not a natural word for me to use.  It’s not something already found on my lips.  But it’s a word that has me hook, line and sinker!  For three days solid in December, everywhere I went, I saw this word in lights, on Christmas Ornaments, in newspapers, everywhere.  This year my word is QUEEN!

What a GRAND word!

Queen.

I immediately make this spiritual, and think of Queen Esther.  (my Nurse’s name last week was Esther!!) I think of the triumph that Queen Esther did for her people.  I’m reminded of the 6 month preparation process it took to get her ready for just one night!

Then I realized this is “the Year of the Queen.” My beloved childhood memory of watching Princess Diana’s wedding came flooding back, as I heard Prince William’s wedding date announced that he will marry the supposed future Queen of England, sometime in April.

And for me personally, there are obvious areas in my life that desperately need queenship.  This year I purpose to rule my laundry with an iron fist….to never deny my dishes a day without my reign, and to grace my grocery list with royal effort.  – Well, one could dream, anyway…

Ultimately in my heart, I know that I belong to The King — and this year is about me becoming more of His Queen than ever before.  Also, for my husband king on earth, to become the queen of his home, and honor and support him as the wonderful and wise husband king that he is to me.

Maybe you share the “word of the year” adventure too.  I’d love to know!  If not, I encourage you to seek the Lord and search your heart for your special word.   If not, feel free to SHARE this word with me this year: “Becoming Queen.”

Its beyond time for me to break the blog silence, and share all my NEW-ness.

We’ll have to go back to the beginning — way back to the New Year, which is my favorite time of year by the way.  I’m one of “those” who actually sits down and writes out goals and looks at my previous highs and lows and sets my eyes on a few new new horizons.

I LOVE having a destination to behold.

There is just something about a pending journey that thrills my soul.  So I keep the annual goal time going.

The Monday after our New years, I started a new job!! Can we say, “YEAH  yeaaaaaa!!!”  Yes, it is totally a God-ordained opportunity.  I accepted the position just before the holidays, to work part time with an organization called, Children’s Aid Society, in the Alabama Pre/Post Adoption Connection program.  It is just that:  All about Adoption in Alabama!  And I love it.  One lucky thing I ‘get’ to do is attend a summer camp for adoptive kids.  Hello!! I LOVE CAMP!!  After all, I did go to kids camp myself each summer from the time I was old enough to sign my application, and then in high school life guarded for 5 years for our Kids Camp in Birmingham.  And when I came home from college, I worked in the Administrative office in Montgomery and organized the registration, t-shirts, and marketing for all those 2000 kids at my favorite kids camp!  So when I found out my job included going to camp each summer, I was thrilled!!  Because I know what it means for the heart of the camper – a life changing summer experience!!

Side note: 10 years ago on my summer missions trip to Africa, I visited an orphanage for AIDS babies called “Jacksons Gap.”  The children’s camp for APAC where I’ll be going this summer is called, no other than “Jacksons Gap.”   No, I’m not kidding. –  Jesus, you make me sing sweet songs!

I have really been enjoying my new job answering calls, getting to meet new people, managing a library of resources for foster and adoptive parents and learning about the process of adoption.

My first week on the job, I felt great!  I was waking up each day jumping on my feet with enthusiasm, until around the second week…on a Tuesday morning, I started feeling achy, feverish, and coughing.  Two days later, I was very sick.  I spent the better part of the weekend sleeping and taking some OTC meds and vitamins, which wasn’t kicking it.   My energy level came back, but my symptoms were still there…sinus infection and bronchitis type infection, coughing a lot!  As of tonight, I’m going on my 5th week with this junk!!  Last week, i finally caved in and gave up my red super hero “i can do this” cape and went to the doctor (since my insurance doesn’t kick in until April).  Got a shot, a 14 day Antibiotic, and now, seven days later, I’m still fighting off symptoms.

The Doctor told me that I bursted a blood vessel in my throat, hence the giant swollen bulb at the bottom of my neck.  Last weekend, he ordered “3 days of vocal rest” – nothing over a whisper.  Ok. Give me a shot,  make me set my phone alarm to remind me to take a pill every four hours for the next fourteen days, Oh, and go ahead, sure, swab my throat out with that chopstick – but please — please — do not ask me to NOT talk!! That’s just inconceivable!  {insert the clip from “The Princess Bride”}

Well, the not-talking-for-three-days worked for about 3 hours. and probably one of the most difficult things I have ever done.  LOL. But maybe something I SHOULD be doing a little more of…

OH wait!! I have ONE more thing to say!

I have so many words in my heart that I want to share, maybe “a thousand” or two, as I’ve titled this blog.  So stay tuned!  You KNOW I will be saying them all soon!

And thank you for keeping me in your prayers to kick this cough to the curb once and for all!!

Ok, no more talking.

I’m serious this time.

Goodnight!!~~Sweet Dreams!