H.A.V.E.N. at Home by Julianne Pearson

In the 1939 film entitled “The Wonderful World of Oz,” Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) says one of the most memorable quotes of all times.  Can you guess which one I’m speaking of?  Let me help you.  It’s towards the end of the movie.  Dorothy has on those shiny, sparkling red shoes, and she’s clicking her heels together three times, all the while repeating this famous phrase.  Can you hear the words…“There’s no place like home.  There’s no place like home.  There’s no place like home.” 

      Home can mean so many different things to so many people.  However, I believe there is one universal Truth that home should be – that is a “haven”.  What is a haven?  It is a place of refuge, protection from danger and trouble.  Every home should be a safe place for the development of every family gem.  In order for the individuals of your family to wholeheartedly believe that there’s no place like home, allow me to share with you how to establish that type of abode. 

      Are you ready to make your home sweet?  Let’s get started as you pause for personal reflection and consider the current condition of your home in the light of these five key principles to making your home a h.a.v.e.n.:

     1.  Strive to create an atmosphere conducive for healing.

Is your home a safe place for the individuals in your family to be naked and unashamed about their cares, concerns, and hurts?  Is it a place of encouragement, exhortation, and inspiration?  Begin by deciding and choosing to make the threshold of your house the line of demarcation from the outside hostile environments they enter into and deal with on a daily basis.  This will begin to foster a family mindset that states, “Everything will be alright as soon as I get home.”

     2.  Develop the skill of acute awareness.

Be purposeful in your desire to see healing take place in your home by being sensitive to the slightest changes in the temperature of your home environment as well as the dispositions of each individual who lives in your abode.  For some, this will take discipline and much effort because they have become self-concerned, self-focused, and self-absorbed.  Look beyond yourself and attempt to be sensitive to the needs of those living within your sphere.

3.      Strive to operate from a voluntary self-sacrificing perspective.

In order to effectively operate from a voluntary self-sacrificing perspective, one must adequately develop the skill of acute awareness which equips him/her to look, listen, and fill the voids or needs of the home as well as those you are privileged to live with.  When you have been given the privilege to see a need (for example, a sink full of dishes) and you have the capacity to fulfill (bring to a place of wholeness) that need, there is no need to wait for someone to ask you to help.  Roll up your sleeves and get to work!  This perspective gives you the wonderful opportunity to re-present the King, Who is Love!

4.      View every individual in your family from an eternal perspective.

           

God created everyone for a particular purpose.  And since the time each of us arrived on earth, God has been envisioning us from that eternal perspective.  This is exactly how we should see each other – from God’s vantage point.  Without having an eternal perspective, you can become discouraged, frustrated, and unnecessarily angry at the temporary condition of your loved one’s soul – mind, emotions, and behavior.  Therefore, embracing their eternal perspective endows you with the grace to endure the tumultuous snap shot of their lives while you’re expecting the joyful release of their entire movie. 

5.      Consider your home a network of exceptional people.

Since God is a God of Purpose, understand that you have been divinely connected to your family for an eternal purpose.  When you endeavor to create a home that is conducive for healing through acute awareness and everyone begins striving to operate from voluntary self-sacrificing and eternal perspectives, networking can begin.  This is where the enhancement of the individuals has provoked the advancement of the whole family by capitalizing on each others’ strengths while minimizing the exposure of individual weaknesses.  Therefore, the family team comes alive where together (unity) there is excellence; however, when a-part (dissension) yields mediocrity.

I am hopeful you are encouraged to establish a home sweet home by personally embracing and reflecting these five key principles to creating a h.a.v.e.n.  Please know that you are only able to give what you possess.  Therefore, begin by establishing your personal h.a.v.e.n. (within you) and live from the inside out!  From experience, it’s worth the discipline and all the effort.  Your home will be a place like no other.  You may be surprised that some may never desire to leave!

© 2011 Julianne Pearson

Be a part of the MOVEMENT! 

Follow us on Twitter:  www.twitter.com/theLIVEmoments
Join our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/theLIVEmovement

Celebrating My Champions by Julianne Pearson

A few days before Father’s Day 2010, my husband and I were having a heart to heart talk with our children.  Because of our commitment to healing the repetitive dysfunctional behaviors of our ancestors, my husband and I are quite naked and unashamed with them at times – to their chagrin.  However, like any natural hurt or wound, in order for it to heal properly eventually the Band-Aid has to be removed so that air can get to it.  Likewise, the spiritual hurts and wounds of our past must be aired constructively so that the proper healing can take place.

Therefore on this particular Father’s Day, it was Al’s opportunity to receive another level of healing through the power of confession.  As he poured out his heart, my heart actually began to ache in compassion for him like never before.  However, the interesting thing is, Al being naked and unashamed actually gave me a greater appreciation for all the challenges my own father had encountered, survived, and transitioned from this life in the process of conquering.

According to most relationship specialists, it is said that the fellowship (quality of a relationship) a daughter has with her father will be indicative to the fellowship she will have with her husband.  In essence, the qualities and characteristics of her father are an indication of the qualities and characteristics of the individual she chooses to date and eventually marry.  Although there are always exceptions to the rule, this is a prevailing premise.  Naturally, I followed the rule and married someone similar to my dad.

Yes, like any other human being, my father had some frailties and deficiencies; and so does my husband.  However on this particular day, God gave me an opportunity to gain a greater appreciation for one profound quality both of them share – Champion!

I define a champion as one who is a visionary and missionary who is accustomed to rising to the top – eventually!  Let me explain.  A visionary is an individual that has the ability to envision beyond their past disappointments and their present view.  However, a missionary is an individual that possesses the capacity to put into action or make a life-mission of what they envision.  Although many people visualize experiencing more, fewer people possess the missionary spirit to do something about what they envision.  In my opinion, those that forcefully advance with steps of faith to experience what they envision regardless of their past experiences and present circumstances are true Champions!

Similar to my dad, Al has been training to be someone neither one of them had the pleasure of experiencing as a child – an interactive father.  I say training because failure – in Al’s mind just like my dad – is not even an option.  Al is determined to be more, and therefore he continually strives to do more.   Subsequently, Al’s decision (mind-determination) and choices (faith in action) to persevere has broken a destructive family pattern, doing what was initially difficult until it became easy. 

Therefore, today I honor the Champions in my life – my dad and my husband.  Why don’t you join me?  If you have a true Champion in your life – a visionary and missionary – celebrate their efforts to be more which has empowered them to do more than what was done for them.  It is no easy feat!  And yet they have persevered, making their ceiling their children’s floor!  I promise you…because of this Championing spirit, Heaven rejoices!

© 2011 Julianne Pearson

Be a part of the MOVEMENT! 

Follow us on Twitter:  www.twitter.com/theLIVEmoments
Join our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/theLIVEmovement