Join Dave and me for a winter getaway~February 13-20, 2011

Relax your body and spirit with my husband, Dave, and me when we go on our first ever cruise February 13-20.  I’ve been asked by cruise host Dan Miller to teach my workshops called “Diving Into Creativity” and “Release Your Dream” on this combination vacation/learning trip. Other motivational workshops will be offered on how to be successful at both your work and play. And we’ll travel to Puerto Rico (where my grandparents are from!), St. Thomas and St. Maarten along the way.

Dave and I are looking forward to enjoying this week together with others who are ready to rest, play and learn! You’ve heard Dan on Midday Connection with his expert advice on discovering meaningful work (and sometimes redirecting our work!) through artful blending of our unique personality traits, passions and desires.  Dan is always overwhelmingly received on Midday. His wife, Joanne, has talked with Midday friends about discovering giftedness especially after the nest is empty and there are many miles already walked in life! You’ll have an opportunity to hear their positive and Biblically-based insights on this cruise.

Widely appreciated singer and worship leader Alvin Slaughter will be along with workshops on reinventing your life and your ministry. 

What a great blend of fun, fellowship and learning. Click here  for more information!

• Will I sit in that chair? Do I feel good enough to sit in this chair for a Princess?
• Would I be worthy or even scarier, deserving of sitting in that chair?
• It’s beautiful and inviting…but…is it for me?
• Am I too dirty to sit in it?
• What if someone sees me sitting in it…will I feel stupid for assuming I could sit there?
• What would others close to me think if I sat in this chair?
• Might I break that chair with my presence? Maybe I am too much for it.
• It’s gorgeous and I want it…but maybe it’s one more thing in my life I have to walk by…and sadly never own.
• Don’t feel anything about that chair. You might begin to feel too deeply, and never come out of it.

Since I am the daughter of a king because I follow King Jesus (Acts 17:7), it makes a lot of sense that He’d ask me to sit in a Princess-chair like the one above. In other words, to take on the full rights of being royalty (Romans 8:17a), including where I plant my Princess-self!

Where is God asking me to courageously, regally, without insecure questioning, plant myself? What is keeping me timid about being an heir of His – fully female, fully a Princess, without a spirit of fear that I must please him like a slave with her master would do (Romans 8:15) – instead of a daughter of a King? A daughter who just has to “be” who she really is. Deserving.

I am looking at that chair – and I am wondering…will I sit down in it?

(*find out more about Christine Wyrtzen’s ministry at www.christinewyrtzen.com)

I just watched “I Am David” and enjoyed this story of a persevering boy who broke out of a prison camp after WWII and learned to trust again (see link below). How about you…any suggestions?

http://www.iamdavidmovie.com/main_flash.html?DETECT=SWF.6000000

• Elmhurst Christian Reform Church, 155 Brush Hill Road in Elmhurst 
• Nursery is provided for newborns through age three 
• Guests can visit the church website at www.elmhurstcrc.org or call Rhonda at 630-916-7527

Me in front of my on-stage "creative lab!" at DIVE!

We dove in at DIVE on Nov. 7 at Christ Church of Oak Brook, IL. Mindy Caliguire spoke on diving deeper into  our relationship with God, Anita Lustrea challenged us to risk deeper spiritual friendships and I had a blast talking about discovering our (sometimes long-lost or hibernating) God-instilled creativity. We ended the day with a panel of  women talking about how God’s calling in our life evolves through the seasons of our life. Angie Thomas led beautiful worship. We met some open and spirtually-seeking new friends. Thanks for taking the DIVE with us ladies!

engaging in a life of the mind

with people who take faith seriously

my spirit is twirling, smiling, celebrating, creating

How about you?

I finally saw it this afternoon, the movie Julie & Julia. www.julieandjulia.com I walked out chatting with a woman who was beaming, declaring she’d made some of Julia Child’s recipes in the past. I admitted I hadn’t. If a recipe has certain words in it, like ”French,” I’m usually too scared to try it! She couldn’t believe it, and I felt sheepish. I’ve always prided myself (there’s the first problem) in simple and easy cooking. What’s the need to “fuss,” to search for odd ingredients? Even capers scare me off – besides, I’m practical. Why purchase an ingredient I’ll only use for one recipe and leave the bottle to decay in the fridge for the next couple of years? I’ve left the Junior Women’s League cooking to my freinds Terry, Joan, Sarah, Beth, etc., etc. But – oops – somehow I got a little smug about it too. Where’d that come from? Author and speaker Janet Davis says it’s easier to say, “I’m not creative,” than, “I’m scared.” I have to admit – I’m scared. “It might not turn out. ” That’s the big roadblock to my creativity in ALL areas…so I often just don’t try.

I walked out of the moving smiling and wondering, “What’s the harm in expanding my horizons. What’s wrong with creating a culinary work of the heart that requires hard work, forces me outside my comfort zone and makes me face possible failure?” Enough of constant “30 minute meals.” What’s that saying about my lifestyle and spirit of play?

My daughter Kelly and I did cook Christmas Eve/Day meals out of the Williamsburg Holiday Fare cookbook. We were exhausted and declared next year will be simpler. Is that part of  it  – Julia Child-style cooking is (like inthe movie) both exhausting and requires A LOT of one’s focus?

I’ll be talking about diving into our creative selves at the DIVE! Conference on Nov. 7 – I know I’ll be adding a pinch of Julie & Julia to my talk! Check out the conference dive.soulcare.com And I hope, that by Nov. 7, I’ll be able to report that I’ve cracked open my White Gull In cookbook, popped in my Pride and Prejudice movie soundtrack cd and created…and smiled.

Now it’s your turn….what do you dream of?