Rule #1: Lifting the Limits

I have always loved reading autobiographies and biographies.  The more different a person is from me, the more fascinating I find them.  Steve Jobs is one of the people I have always found intriguing.  He was brilliant, successful, and was committed to his dream.  When he gave a speech or presentation he didn't get in his own way.

Even though Steve Jobs and I have a very different belief system, I know there is much to learn from him.  I have read a couple of books about his life and last night I listened to a powerful commencement speech he gave.  He had his struggles in life, but he was always dreaming and taking risks.

Jobs had 10 Rules For Success and the first one was, Don't Live A Limited Life.  As a Christian I love this one.  As soon as I truly gave God the reigns to my life, the adventure became much more exciting!  When I get in my own way, it limits my life.  When I told God fourteen years ago that I would do whatever He asked of me, the limits were lifted.

Next Sunday I am going to visit a place where I let God lift the limits.  I am going to go back to the last church my father served and make a video of his story to be used in a training.  I was there only one time and that was just a few weeks before my father passed away.  I was very uncomfortable speaking in front of people but on that day, my dad needed me.  He was too weak to give his sermon and asked me to stand and share with the congregation about the ministry Bill and I were involved in.

That Sunday was pivotal in giving up a limited life.

Since then God has taken me on an exciting adventure and I have loved it.  Grace Without Margins is part of that adventure.  It has been a walk of faith to launch and develop the ministry, but I am trying to not put limits on it and trust God with its direction and purpose.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us... Ephesians 3:20

Exciting Changes!

You may have noticed a few changes with Grace Without Margins!  

We are excited about our new logo!

I thought I would give you a little explanation on why we chose the logo we did.  We chose the color blue because it communicates strength, peace, and serenity.  We chose to have the watercolor extending beyond the borders in hopes of diminishing the borders we often have in our churches.  If there are no borders, hopefully there are no margins!  And lastly, we wanted to include the butterfly.  I have used the butterfly to communicate with my students over the years.  During my years of teaching I read the book, The Butterfly Effect by Andy Andrews to my students.  I want them to understand the difference their efforts can make around the world when they welcome people that happen to have a disability into their lives and hearts.

We have also made a number of changes to our website.  We want to provide more help and encouragement to those that are serving in disability ministry or simply want to support a loved one.  Our website is:

www.gracewithoutmargins.com

Bill and I are simple people just trying to do what God has called us to and we are enjoying the journey tremendously!  We have been training churches on location for about six years now but we feel called to make training available online as well.  We are excited to be partnering with ministries in other countries and hope that partnership continues to grow.  The link to view and register for courses is provided below:

www.gwm.digitalchalk.com

We currently have the following courses available:

• Grace Without Margins:  Elements of Disability Ministry
• B.U.D.D.Y. Training
• Autism: Associating Neuroanatomy With Observable Behaviors 

We are working on the following courses to be available in the fall:

• Behavior Management and Classroom Management 
• Insights On Aging Parents and Loss  

We greatly appreciate the number of people that have been so encouraging to us in ministry and have invested in our growth and understanding.  And most of all, we are grateful to the children and adults that have changed our perspectives on ourselves and others over the years.

God's Encouragements

I don't know about you, but I often get discouraged and wonder if I am really doing what God wants.  I question if I have anything to offer that has any meaning.  Just about the time I get discouraged, however, God always sends me something to get my attention, lift my head, and stay the course.  He has done this several times lately.

Several weeks ago I called a woman that was offering a class and that turned into a wonderful conversation, followed by a meeting at Starbucks which led to reading her books and drawing from her skills as a professional author and speech writer.  Her book, My Father's Eyes by Sheila Allee, added a whole new dimension to my perspectives on people affected by disabilities.

This weekend I was blessed to be at a family reunion and be reminded what love is all about.  I especially loved spending time with some family members affected by autism and experiencing the dynamics of the love between them and their parents.

And this afternoon God blessed me once again by allowing me to meet someone in a restroom of all places.  Because of the t-shirt I was wearing, she asked me about special needs ministry.   It turns out she has a new non-profit ministry for families affected by disabilities.  After talking for a few minutes, we are planning to get together and see how we can support each other.

I am reminded so often that God has all kinds of supports and encouragements ready for me.  I just have to pay attention and look for them.

What encouragements has God sent you lately?  Are you looking for them?

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
Wishing to encourage her young son's
progress on the piano, a mother took her boy to a Paderewski concert.  After they
were seated,
the mother spotted an old friend in the audience
and walked down the aisle to greet her.
Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders
of the concert hall, the little boy rose and eventually
explored his way through a door
marked "No ADMITTANCE."
When the house lights dimmed and the concert
was about to begin, the mother returned to
her seat and discovered that the child was missing.
Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights
focused on the impressive Steinway on stage.
In horror, the mother saw her little
boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out
"Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."
At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the
piano, and
whispered in the boy's ear
"Don't quit.  Keep playing."
Then, leaning over, Paderewski reached
down with his left hand and began filling
in a bass part.  Soon his right arm reached
around to the other side of the child,
and he added a running obligato.
Together, the old master and the young novice
transformed what could have been a frightening situation into a wonderfully
creative experience.
The audience was so mesmerized that they couldn't recall what else the great
master played.
Only the classic,
"Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."
Perhaps that the way it is with God.
What we can accomplish on
our own is hardly noteworthy.
We try our best, but the results aren't always
graceful flowing music.  However, with the
hand of the Master, our life's
work can truly be beautiful.

The next time you set out to accomplish great feats,
listen carefully.  You may hear the voice of the
Master whispering in your ear,
"Don't quit.  Keep playing."

May you feel His arms around you and
know that His hands are there, helping you
turn your feeble attempts into true masterpieces.
Remember, God doesn't seem to
call the equipped, rather, He equips the called.
Life is more accurately measured by the lives you touch than by the things you
acquire.  So touch someone by passing this little message along.

-Author Unknown

I have always loved this story, not only because it encourages me not to quit, but it also encourages me to embrace the moment and not stop someone else.  So often children are stopped because something may appear inappropriate.  If we let them continue, as God has designed them, we may end up seeing something even more beautiful.

By The End, I Loved It!

Today I finished reading, my grandmother asked me to tell you she's sorry by Fredrik Backman.  It wasn't just a story; it was an experience.  I was left with the feeling, "Wow!  What just happened?"

Much like life, it started with too many characters and too many elements.  Being a big picture person most of my life, I found the details overwhelming.  But by the end of the book, I absolutely loved it!

I put the book down several times because it was too different from me.  It was too much for me.  But I am not a quitter.  I wanted to find the beauty in the story.  I walked through a third of the book and then...I was swept up in the magic, the beauty, and the purpose and I couldn't put it down.  And once you love a novel, deeply love a novel, it becomes a part of you and it always will be.

I have run across a great many people that are just like this book.  They were too different from me.  There were too many things to try to understand.  But there was always a part of me that wanted to find the magic, the beauty, and the purpose.  I would pick up the person again and listen to the words and all of a sudden I wouldn't be able to put them down again.  I loved them and I loved them deeply.  They became a part of me.

Top Ten Things I Have Learned From "Retirement"

We all have the same amount of time and we all fill it up!

We all have time to stop if there is a crisis so we need to take the time to stop to relax.

Education is just as important in your 50's as it is in your 20's.  

Early in our lives we start to wonder how much time we will have.  In your 50's you know it is most likely half over.  Plan the second half of your life, don't let it just happen.

Stay current with technology so you can be close to the next generation, but remember the ways of the past so you can share it's wisdom.

Be a voice for positive change for those in the margins and give thanks  for the changes that have already occurred.

Set measurable goals for yourself and surround yourself with people that will encourage you on the journey.

Embrace the "failures" in your life as well as the successes.  They both make you a better person.

Be confident enough that you can do anything God asks of you, yet humble enough to realize it is only because of Him that you can.

When you rise in the morning, pick everything up with dreams of the possible; when you lie in the evening, lay everything down with faith and trust.

Disability Ministry Online Training!

For the last two Januarys I have ordered a planner from ibloom.  https://ibloom.co/planner/

I love the size of it (large) so I am pretty sure I won't loose it and I love that it asks me to set four goals and then holds me accountable to meet the goals.  I have just completed my second goal for the year and I am so excited.

We have wanted to take a next step and offer training online so training can be accessed anywhere in the world.  Maybe you are a little curious about disability ministry.  Maybe you want to offer it but you have questions.  This will be the place for you!  

We have just launched our first training, "Grace Without Margins:  Elements of Disability Ministry."

After the Grace Without Margins training, you will have a better understanding of why people with disabilities are vital and need to be welcomed, nurtured and assimilated into your church body.  I share my personal journey in disability ministry.  I share scriptural support, spiritual truths, and perspectives of disability ministry.  For next steps, getting leadership on board, recruiting and training volunteers, and sharing the gospel are a few of the topics that will be covered.  By the end of the training, you will understand what it means to make your ministry so large, you can no longer see it.

We are currently working on additional modules:

• Buddy Training
• Associating Neuroanatomy With Observable Behaviors
• Behavior Management and Classroom Management
• Insights On Aging Parents and Loss

We hope you will join us at your convenience, any time of day or night, in the comfort of your own home, or with a group of volunteers.

https://gwm.digitalchalk.com/dc/learn/grace-without-margins-elements-of-disability-ministry

Deana Boggess

Grace Without Margins

www.gracewithoutmargins.com

specialneeeds-deana.blogspot.com

theboggi@aim.com

512-673-0187