Broken and Restored

A friend I used to work with sent me the link to an interview he did with New Man e-Magazine. The timing is almost eerie. I have friends who are in the middle of a separation, other friends whose marriages are on the decline, and even more friends whose marriages have completely fallen apart. I'm praying day and night for my separated friends, and my heart is grieving for my divorced friends.

Friday night I spoke with a friend who is divorced. We were talking about how this time of year is particularly challenging. She said that the first week of December is the anniversary of the death of her marriage. This time last year, my marriage was a mess. James and I were facing the most difficult season of our marriage since our first year, which is still the worst--and, in some ways, the best--year of my life. I was coordinating meals for Joe and Denise Bradford when Joe asked me how James was doing. I said, "I don't know how to answer that." So I told him what was going on, and he asked if he could share some scripture with me.

He showed me verse after verse about marriage, and something supernatural happened. It was as if a window opened in my marriage, and heaven rushed in. From that point forward, my husband and I were able to be kind to each other. Prior to that, we had gotten downright rude. On Thanksgiving day last year, I got almost to Springfield when I decided I couldn't spend the day with him, so I drove him all the way back home and spent Thanksgiving at my parents' house while he went to a movie. We couldn't stand each other. No matter what we said or did, it was wrong. But . . . after Joe shared those scriptures and prayed for us, something changed.

During the same month, I also got together with a group of girls who prayed for specific things--I asked for breakthrough in my marriage. Two of the girls asked for babies. One friend asked for a red van. Guess what? Every single request was granted. My marriage is healed and thriving. My two friends who were yearning for babies are now pregnant. And my friend Rachel has a red van that has a wonderful God-story surrounding it.

I'm continually being brought back around to: You don't have because you don't ask (Matthew 7). Well, I'm asking. Lord, heal my friends' marriages!

While the enemy came to steal, kill, and destroy, Jesus came to bring life, and life abundantly (John 10:10). Jesus actually appeared to destroy the work of the evil one (1 John 3:8).

When I think about my friends and their marriage vows, I'm brought back to: "What God has joined together, let no man separate." Why did God join them together? For what purpose are they married? I pray that they will be able to hold on until they see those purposes--their destiny--their oneness as a couple. I pray that they will trust God to heal their marriage.

God is a healer and a redeemer. If we give up on our marriages, are we not putting our trust in ourselves and, in essence, saying to God, "I don't trust you to work this out." That's definitely what I was doing this time last year. I was saying, "God, you tricked me. You set me up for failure. I can do this on my own a lot better than relying on you to help me." And then the kingdom of God invaded our marriage. And God showed himself able to heal. And restore. And resurrect.

Jesus taught us to pray, "YOUR KINGDOM COME, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." What is the kingdom? The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:16-18). Righteousness refers to a right-relationship with God. What does that look like? From a biblical perspective, what does a right-relationship with God look like? Does it look like obedience? Trust? Faith?

I'm amazed at the kind of faith that I see in the people of the Old Testament. God, give us that kind of faith! People like Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Daniel, and David, who KNEW God would save them from destruction, proclaimed their faith aloud before being thrown into a pit of fire or into a lions' den or before rushing at a giant with a small weapon and great faith. These men had full confidence that God would rescue them. And he did.

When I read about Daniel, I'm struck by his response to the king after spending the night with lions. "Oh, King, live forever!" he said. He didn't lash out in anger. He treated the king with the same honor and respect he would want for himself. Which brings me back to Matthew 7. If we do to others what we would have them do to us (v. 12), then what often happens is that our behavior gets mirrored back to us. I see it all the time with my kids. I treat them harshly, I get back harsh words. I treat them kindly, I get back soft hearts. It is the kindness of the Lord that leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). His loving-kindness softens our hearts.

My prayer is this:

God, help us to love each other well. Help us to love when it's not convenient. Help us to love when it's not reciprocated. Help us to love our enemies, to bless those who persecute us, to bless and not curse (Romans 12:14). Help us to do to others what we would have them do to us. Help us to trust you, to believe you, to have faith in you.

God, give us hearts of thankfulness.

Holiday Sale!

Holiday Sale!

Would you spend $50 to save $300?

You can this Christmas! When you purchase a condominium concierge card for $50 (half off the retail price of $100), you will be able to take $300 off of your next week-long condo stay.

With over two million weeks of availability (half on the website and the other half only a phone call away), you will be able to find the perfect vacation destination at the perfect price.

Some friends of mine just returned from a week in Orlando where they stayed in a beautiful resort area. Their condo for the week only cost them $345. They used a $600 condo card, so if you applied your $300 discount, your week-long condo stay would cost less than staying in a hotel, plus you would have a full kitchen so you could eat some of your meals at "home" rather than going out for breakfast, lunch, and supper. Vacationing in a condo is the way to go!

Give the gift of travel this holiday season--to yourself or to a loved one--and invest in memories and experiences that will last a lifetime (go green instead of buying more stuff!)

To order your $300 condo concierge cards for $50 each,
call or e-mail Lori Todd at
(615) 496-8079
loritodd@increasingfreedomnow.com

Festive, Warm, Fun, Delicious.

Part of me thinks this is frivolous and unnecessary, but a deeper part of me is aching for an experience that looks like a party but is more than that. I want to attend something festive and warm and fun and delicious. I want to enjoy beautiful decorations and a warm fire and laughter with friends and gourmet food . . . My heart is yearning for a feast with good friends.

Cattle Ranching vs. Dairy Farming

Yesterday, I picked up a copy of Who Took My Money by Robert Kiyosaki that I had checked out from the library. Kiyosaki relates an experience he had with this "rich dad" visiting a cattle ranch and then visiting a dairy farm.

He says, "The financial lesson rich dad wanted us to learn was that while both the cattle rancher and the dairy farmer count their cattle as assets, they treat their assets differently and they operate via different business models.

"The visits to the ranch and the farm were to emphasize the very important difference between:

Capital Gains

versus

Cash Flow

"Simply put, a cattle rancher can be compared to a person who invests for capital gains. A dairy farmer is more like an investor who invests for cash flow.

"One of the reasons so many people lose so much money investing or think that investing is risky is because they invest like ranchers. They invest to slaughter rather than to milk." (emphasis mine)

Wow.

I LOVE Kiyosaki's books. Never have I taken such an interest in all-things financial. I took a personal finance class in college because I knew I was clueless and needed help. Now I'm reading books written by wealthy entrepreneurs and learning the ropes from a different angle. When you check out books from the library (and actually read them), a huge part of your financial education is free.

Three things I woke up thinking about this morning:

An investment in CTCV is like dairy farming:

1) You put in $977 and pay a low monthly fee (the Voyageur package has been reduced by $500 for a limited time!)

2) You receive an $1800 credit toward three week-long vacations and a $300 cash-back rebate after your first vacation (that, alone, is worth the initial investment)

and

3) You generate cash flow simply by sharing the investment opportunity with others.

Let's say that you only have three people join you in a year. That means you have recovered your investment, your monthly fees, and you've made at least $500 in profit. Now, if your third person introduces two people to what CTCV has to offer, you've just made another $1477. On top of that, you've saved thousands on your travel.

I have to admit, I like financial dairy farming. This type of investing is really fun for me. It means that I have to know what I'm doing (fortunately for me, I LOVE learning), and it may take a little longer to see a significant stream of income, but taking care of my assets as a dairy farmer takes care of his cows lines up with my values. I've never been into "fatten 'em up quick and cash in on the slaughter," which is why I'm really enjoying reading Kiyosaki and others who use the dairy farm approach.

Call into one of our live conference calls to find out how you can invest long-term and reap a significant return!

1-712-421-8859, PIN 545454#
Monday- 1pm EST, 8pm EST and 11pm EST
Tuesday- 1pm EST, 8pm EST
Wednesday- 1pm EST, 8pm EST and 11pm EST
Thursday- 1pm EST, 8pm EST
Friday- 1pm EST
Saturday- 11am EST
Sunday- 10pm EST

24/7 Sizzle Call: 618-355-1490

Or check out the videos on my website: http://ltodd.cruisetocash.com and join free to see what CTCV has to offer!

Lori Todd

(615) 496-8079

loritodd@increasingfreedomnow.com

"Working toward living on 10% and giving away 90%"

Get paid to travel? Really?

Just when I think I've got my head around my business, something new rolls out and I have more to learn! Last night, I attended a webinar, which is an online seminar, that COMPLETELY rocked my world. We heard example after example of the service members have received simply by booking their trips through their exclusive travel centers.

One man needed to book a hotel in a small town, but he couldn't find anything on the Internet. When he called our travel provider, they found SIX options and had him booked within 10 minutes.

A woman who had booked airline tickets with her sister paid $600 per ticket. When her mother decided to go on the trip, too, they tried calling the airline for help, but discovered it was completely booked. The airline didn't offer any suggestions. She called our travel provider, who not only found flights for all three women, but also SAVED them $1200 since the new flights were only $200 each.

A man traveling to Las Vegas wanted to attend a show, ride a helicopter, and get tickets to a local event. Our travel provider helped him not only book his accommodations, but they also helped him find huge discounts on all of the attractions he desired!

And that's just the beginning!

Members have all kinds of opportunities to make money connecting people with travel deals and unparalleled service. One woman saw that she could make $50 for every person who booked a cruise through her site. When 32 people booked the cruise in one weekend, she made $1600!

There are so many options with my business that I could write a book about them, but in a nutshell, we have options for:

1) People who love to travel who want the best service, competitive prices, and exciting promotional deals.

2) People who have considered timeshares because they've spent $2500 on one week-long vacation and can't see spending that kind of money over and over. (Say no to timeshares! Check out CTCV!)

3) People who own businesses who are looking for creative customer and employee incentives.

4) People who run non-profits and charities who are looking for creative fundraisers that require less work and generate more money than traditional methods.

5) People who want to run their own home-based business who would love to earn money simply by traveling and sharing the travel experience with others.

Did I just describe you or someone you know? Then keep reading!

People who love to travel who want the best service, competitive prices, and exciting promotional deals.

When I have my personal travel center up and running, I'll send out the link so you'll be able to see all of the promotions and deals that we run. In the meantime, you can either purchase a travel concierge card (we have cards for hotels, condos, and cruises), or you can contact me before your next trip, and I'll put you in touch with my travel provider, who will take care of you every step of the way!
http://ltodd.cruisetocash.com/store
loritodd@increasingfreedomnow.com
(615) 496-8079


People who have considered timeshares because they've spent $2500 on one week-long vacation who want the experience but don't want to spend that kind of money over and over. (Say no to timeshares!)

Instead of spending tens of thousands on a timeshare that will give you discounted rates on the same properties, limited availability, and huge headaches, buy a condo concierge card instead. A concierge card is like a pre-paid gift card for condominiums. You'll gain access to over two-million weeks of properties in over 160 countries, and you'll pay a fraction of the retail price. Check out my condo concierge card store here: http://ltodd.cruisetocash.com/store/products.php#go-condo.

The way it works is similar to the Nashville Originals Gift Certificates. When Baja Burrito, for example offers $20 certificates for $12, we snatch some up. We have essentially pre-paid for our meal, but we've also saved $8 by purchasing the discount gift certificate in advance. With your condo concierge card, you might pay $99 for a $300 card, which will give you $300 toward the price of your week-long condo stay. Then, when you return from your trip, you can submit a cash-back rebate for $25. We have cards that range from $300 all the way up to $6,000. http://ltodd.cruisetocash.com/store.

People who own businesses who are looking for creative customer and employee incentives.

We now have a Business-to-Business package that enables businesses to pay a one-time membership fee that gives them access to all of our travel certificates (GREAT customer incentives!), a private online travel-booking website (from which they can earn commissions if they choose), and the ability to purchase our exclusive concierge cards at a 25% discount (enabling their employees to travel for pennies on the dollar and receive a cash-back rebate after one of their week-long condo stays). The Travel Incentives package is FULL of benefits! And the great news? You don't have to own a business to purchase a package! http://ltodd.ctcvtravelincentives.com

People who run non-profits and charities who are looking for creative fundraisers that require less work and generate more money than traditional methods.

This is one of the aspects of my business that I'm most excited about. I can help any non-profit or charity with creative fundraisers that will generate significantly more revenue than cookie dough or magazines, and we have a product that everyone wants--TRAVEL! http://buysavegive.com

People who want to run their own home-based business sharing the travel experience with others.

If you've ever thought about owning your own business and you love to travel, it just doesn't get any better than Cruise to Cash Vacations. We have AMAZING travel products that everyone wants (you'll wonder how timeshares stay in business once you see what we have!), we have a compensation plan that no one can beat (you get paid first--straight to you and not through the company), and we have a committed team that works together toward your success. We have weekly team training calls, company-wide "Build Your Own Business" calls, regular live business presentations, live conference calls, marketing websites, a business center filled with all kinds of tips and training . . . and all of this--and more--is included in your membership fee. If you want to make money on all of your travel and generate a significant income sharing "Get paid to travel" with others, Cruise to Cash Vacations is your ticket!
http://ltodd.cruisetocash.com (sign up as a free member to see "behind the scenes").

I'm SO jazzed about all of the new developments I wish I could just go out and talk to a million people. Instead, I'll sit on the couch and read books to small children. And blog. :0)

Mira Mishu

I wish I had a video to post here instead . . .
I just had to jot down that Miriam said to James this morning, "Bye bye, Daddy. Uh mish you, Daddy" again and again as he was walking out the door to head to work.

Other Mira-isms:

Mommy, read book. Tigah book.
Judah, let go.
Daddy, No. Mommy hold me.
To anyone within sniffing distance: Stinky tooties. New diap-ah time.

And since she's very snotty right now, she says, "Mommy, boogahs," which, translated, means "Mommy, wipe my nose please."

She's SO cuddly and sweet!

Have you heard?

"Pampering and Holiday Shopping with local businesses owned by Williamson Women!"

Holiday Market at the Williamson Women's Expo
Grace Center/Benton Hall School
2420 Bethlehem Loop Road, Franklin, TN 37069

TODAY (or tomorrow, depending on when you read this)
Saturday, November 8, 2008
from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Local artisans and business owners with great gift ideas--for you and the ones you love. I'll have a booth featuring "The Gift of Travel" with specials and surprises.

There will be prizes and giveaways as well as presentations in the coffee shop every half hour. Some of my favorites include:

Great sale items from Two Green Olive Trees (my friend Elizabeth makes the CUTEST baby stuff ever!)

Hand-knitted scarves from my New Zealand buddy Andrea--she makes kids scarves, too!

Gorgeous hand-made jewelry and funky reconstructed clothing by Opal Designs (I get SO many compliments when I wear my jasper/leather earrings fashioned by Adelle)

Photography samples and session openings from Lillian B Photography (you should know by now my sentiments toward our fabulous photographer friend)

Original artwork from LAH Studios (you've got to see Lydia's stuff in real life)

I'm also hoping Jen will be there with her gem art originals.

So come check out all the cool hand-made stuff and the home biz offerings, sip a cup of java in the quaint cafe (and hope that Lucy Rizzo will have some of her home-made yummies available for sale--if not, I'm pretty sure Sunshine will be there with goodies galore from her magical kitchen), enjoy some casual morning shopping with your friends . . . it certainly beats the mass-produced madness at the mall!

The WWE is sponsored by Jasmine McClarney of Arbonne and Sheri Bertolini of Sheri's Organized Life. . . exhibitor fee proceeds donated to ThriftSmart.

Call 394-4525 or 310-0601 for more information.

When a lion enters your village, sound the alarm loudly.

Yesterday, I picked up a brochure that I had created three years ago for a grassroots, indigenous African organization--Back to the Bible Truth (BBT) in Uganda, East Africa. Founded in 1979 by Alex Mitala, a man who is now in his 50's, BBT is on a mission "to love actively, to serve practically, and to transform unprivileged Ugandans into dependable and constructive citizens by the preaching of the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

The nation of Uganda was once described by Winston Churchill as "the pearl of Africa." This pearl is currently undergoing great transformation. For example, in the 1980's, approximately 30% of Ugandans were stricken with the AIDS virus. As of 2005, only 6% were infected.

BBT directly contributed to the decline of AIDS-infected citizens through the Glory of Virginity Movement, also known as GLOVIMO. Started in 1985, GLOVIMO has been teaching youth and children how to fight HIV/AIDS through abstinence and monogamous marital relationships.

Misleading cultural traditions (polygamy, wife-inheritance) as well as blood and sexual practices are revealed as unsafe and detrimental through BBT conferences and GLOVIMO rallies.

BBT knows that people perish for lack of knowledge. They educate their people, so fewer are perishing.

How did they manage to turn the tide on the AIDS epidemic? The got to the root of the issue. They didn't manage its symptoms.

Putting a condom on the problem only makes it worse--just take a look at the other African nations suffering increasing mortality rates from HIV/AIDS. What has been their solution? "Safe sex." What has been their demise? "Safe sex."

The wife of the president of Uganda has said that all that stands between her people and the death of her nation is a thin sheath, and she intends to ensure that her country is aware of the the failure rates and the unreliability of condoms. She understands the grave danger that lurks behind the "safe sex" message. The only safe sex, as taught by BBT and GLOVIMO, is monogamous sex in the context of a committed, marital relationship.

There's an old saying among African tribes: When a Lion Enters Your Village, Sound the Alarm Loudly. BBT has sounded the alarm through their GLOVIMO conferences, their broadcasts, their ministry schools, their churches, their orphanages, their schools, their medical clinics--even those who labor the fields to produce crops to feed the orphans understand and follow the message: "Before marriage, no sex. After marriage, sex!"

Let us sound the alarm.

Define a slave as "property" and . . .

Define a man as "property" and you have "slavery." Define a baby as a "choice," (or as Obama has stated, "punishment" for a "mistake"), and you have a multi-billion dollar abortion industry.

Did you know that abortion is the most common surgical procedure in the U.S.? Did you know that the "Freedom of Choice Act" is designed to grow that number, not reduce it? Did you know that Obama voted four times against the "Born Alive Infants Protection Act"? Did you know that when he says that he supports providing medical care to "babies" who are born alive, he doesn't mean a child born alive during an "abortion." Leaving a child that has been born alive--whether that child exited the mother's womb as a result of a "live birth" or an "abortion"--is infanticide. And Obama has shown four times, through his voting record, his support for infanticide.

In less than 10 years, the killing in Nazi Germany moved from unwanted children to three-year-olds to 17-year-olds to adults.

Definitions are important.

When slaves were defined as "property," they could be bought and sold, abused and neglected, raped and murdered . . . without recourse. The government's relationship to slaves changed dramatically when the definition of a slave changed from "property" to "human being," who, then, is "created equal" with the same "self-evident" rights "endowed by their Creator" to "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" (The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776).

Now, did anything change fundamentally in the person of a slave? Did that person suddenly become more human or more valuable once defined as a person and not a piece of property? No. What changed was simply the relationship between a (former) slave and the American government, and as Paul Van Hoesen points out in his recent essay it took 89 years from the Declaration of Independence for slaves to be recognized as humans (http://www.pvanhoesen.com/images/The_wheels_of_Justice_Turn_slowly_but_they_do_turn.pdf) .

Today, we face a similar issue. A baby that is unwanted is defined as an "embryo" or a "fetus" or a "blob of tissue" or a "choice." However, matters become complicated when that fetus or blob of tissue arrives outside the mother's womb as an intact, living, breathing baby. Now, in Illinois, there currently does not exist a law to protect babies born alive during abortions.

Want proof? On page 29 of the State of Illinois 92nd General Assembly Regular Session Senate Transcript, you'll find that the "Induced Birth Infant Liability Act," which became known as the "Born Alive Infants Protection Act" would "create a cause of action where medical care, as provided for in Senate Bill 1663, is not provided" (http://www.ilga.gov/senate/transcripts/strans92/ST040402.pdf).

As I read through the transcript, I took note of the following quotes from Senator Obama: " . . . one of the things that we were concerned about, was what impact this would have with the respect to the relationship between the doctor and the patient and what liabilities the doctor might have in this situation" . . . adding a--an additional doctor who then has to be called in an emergency situation to come in and make these assessments [confirm that the baby was, in fact, born alive and is also considered "viable"], is really designed simply to burden the original decision of the woman and the physician to induce labor and perform an abortion . . . this issue ultimately is about abortion and not live births . . . because if these are children who are being born alive, I, at least, have confidence that a doctor who is in that room is going to make sure that they're looked after" (pp. 31-34, boldface mine).

"This issue ultimately is about abortion and not live births." Do you see what he's saying here? It's a matter of rhetoric. According to Obama, "abortion" cannot produce a "baby" because it is not, by contractual agreement, a "live birth"; he says that if it were, then the "original decision of the woman and the physician to induce labor and perform an abortion" would be "burdened."

Why can Obama say, with full confidence that "a doctor who is in that room is going to make sure that they're looked after"? It is because he considers a baby born during a "live birth" different from a fetus produced from a botched abortion.

(By the way have you ever considered the definition of "botched abortion"? A "botched abortion" is an abortion that produces a live baby. My friend Gianna Jessen is the product of a "botched abortion." It says so on her birth certificate. I've actually seen it with my own eyes. You can find out more about her at http://bornalivetruth.com.)

So, with his vote--against the Born Alive Infants Protection Act--Obama helped to ensure that babies born in IL during abortions would continue to receive the same treatment that brought the bill to the senate in the first place. Why were they voting on the issue? Evidence had been provided by a nurse named Jill Stanek that doctors in an IL hospital were actually leaving live babies to die. Those babies were not protected by law.

Did Obama know that evidence existed? Yes. In fact, nurses Allison Baker and Jill Stanek testified "before Barack Obama in the Illinois Senate Judiciary Committee," even though Obama would have you believe that no evidence was provided that babies were being left to die ( I'd like to submit that, again, this is a matter of rhetoric since Obama's definition of "baby" is very specific. According to Obama, babies are only born during "live births," so he can say with full confidence that "babies" were not being left to die.

Are babies that are wanted by their parents fundamentally different from babies that are unwanted?

When does a baby stop being a "fetus" and become a "baby"? And which is more important: providing medical care to help preserve the life of a baby born alive during an abortion or protecting the contract between the abortionist and the mother? According to Obama (through his voting record and the transcript records), the contract is the one in need of protection. If the contract prevails and the baby is left to die, what you have is a case of infanticide, which is one step closer to the elimination of those who can actually speak for themselves.

For a brief interview with Jill Stanek regarding Obama's position, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z65F0z-UKmk.

One last thought. . . while we would all agree that several issues were at stake during WWII and the Civil War, which issues do you think were most foundational--most critical--most pivotal? May I submit to you that regardless of the other issues at play during this election, the most foundational, the most critical, the most pivotal, is the protection of children who are born alive, whether they are alive because of a "live birth" or a "botched abortion," they still deserve full protection from the law. They are not "property," but rather, "humans," who are "created equal" with the same "self-evident" rights "endowed by their Creator" to "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" (The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776).