Office Chairs

If you really want to impress your boss, get them one of these new executive office chairs. (thanks, Suzanne!)

Guess Who's 1 Year Older...

...my boss, pastor, friend & mentor, Troy Gramling.

Visit here, troyandsteph and here, potentialblog,

and wish this guy a humongous Happy Birthday!

Incomplete Thoughts on Praise

If anybody says they don't want praise, in between those lines, that's precisely what they're asking for. Is it bad that we want praise? It depends. Do I want praise 'cause I think I'm all that and others need to say it? Do I want praise 'cause I'm feeble and insecure and need props to build me up? Do I want praise 'cause all my peers just got some? These might be bad motives to want praise. So what are good motives for it? Maybe it's NOT asking for it. Maybe it's when we LEAST expect it. Maybe it's when we DON'T ask loaded (praise) questions. Maybe these are the precise moments when we should be praised.

Sniffing the Clorox

OK, let me explain...
It's not like I always let my kids walk around sniffing Clorox wipe containers. I swear, this picture was a fluke. DJ just happened to have an EMPTY container of Clorox wipes and I just happened to have my camera there when he took a whiff. In alot of ways, we're like DJ in this picture. We get curious, but if we park on our curiosity it can lead to danger. The curiosity of a flirt can lead to the danger of an affair. The curiosity of one porn peek can lead to the danger of addiction. The curiosity of a perfect body image can lead to the danger of self-deprivation. Look, if you know someone who is parking on "curious" for a little too long, be a God-send, a friend, a leader....jump in right now and help them!

MJ vs Tiger

Tonight I actually watched Sportscenter. Unbelievable! The guys got in an argument over who's the greatest: Tiger Woods or Michael Jordan. Do they even need to ask? PLEASE! Here are my 3 reasons why it's a no-brainer:
1) MJ didn't just fight to win 6 rings for himself....he had to mobilize an entire team to do it with him.
2) He has athletic & business-excellence: Tiger Woods + Buick or MJ + Nike = need I say more?
3) Michael played in Game 5 of the '97 championships with a nasty throw-up flu...and WON!
So there you have it. It really is a trite debate, but now you know how to answer it: MJ is the greatest. And if you're in the market for a great leadership book WITH pictures, get "Driven from Within" by Michael...has Tiger even written a leadership book yet?

Heatherater the Exaggerator

Last week in some meeting, I voiced this fatal mistake: "EVERYBODY leases a car." So a certain-somebody in the room decided to put my everybody-proclamation to the test. And in that room of 10 everybodies, there was 1 who leased a car. Nice. It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's Heatherater the Exaggerator! Man, I hate it when she shows up. What are some signs that she has? Words or phrases like: "EVERYBODY," "YOU ALWAYS," "NOBODY EVER," "I'LL NEVER," "THERE 'S A TON," "I'M STARVING," "I'M DYING," and "THERE'S A MILLION." The list goes on. Here's two unarguable reasons not to exaggerate: 1. "Too much talk leads to sin." (Prov. 10:19) 2. Jesus never did. So whattaya do? Well, after last week's huge, embarrassing debacle, I started praying an unexaggerated prayer that goes like this, "God, let my words be true, amen." Amen? Amen.

My Time & What I Learned

For 3 days I've been away. The "for what" doesn't matter near as much as the "with who." I want to tell you about each of these who's & the impact they had on me....
Melissa helped me stretch my compassion muscles. She has alot of it and I need more. For this, I'm glad she got to "flex" some on me.
Peter helped me re-appreciate God's grace. God's given both of us quite a bit. Sometimes I forget that, Pete helped me remember.
Michelle and I had a lot of good laughs over my craziness. It meant so much. We all need someone to laugh with. I'm so glad I found that in her.
Lili helped me re-embrace my i.d. as a leadHer. Sometimes we can be challenged because of the "her" part. But in our convo, I was reminded that God wouldn't have it any other way.
In the last month or so, who is speaking into your life? Never get to the point where you are above it. It is ALWAYS refreshing and inspiring.

Birthdays and High Fives

Hey Everybody! Just want to ask you something and tell you something. First, the ask...Tomorrow is my very good bud's birthday. We've had about 7 years of good times together & I love making a big whoop-de-do out of her birthday cause she's just great and deserves the biggest of celebrations. Would you click here and wish her a Happy Birthday? Thanks! Now I want to tell you something. I just want you to know that you have endless potential. And that you make a difference in this world because your handprints and footprints are in it. No other person could do what God has called you to do. No other person could "take your place" should you vanish tomorrow. You are the one and only. And if you haven't been high-fived in awhile, I'm posting this high five to your hand. And even better, I'm praying you sense the applause of heaven in your heart!

We've Never Talked About This Before

There are fears like elevators, spiders & roller coasters. And there are fears like rejection, death & criticism--fears we have, but we cannot reach. If I'm afraid of roller coasters, I can "reach out" to the merry-go-round. If I'm afraid of elevators, I can "reach" for the stairs. But what do we do with that other kind of fear?
I fear the prospect of rejection (a ton more than the action of it). This prospect has kept me on mental pins and needles with those I care about. It's so stupid. But I've wrestled with this long enough that I have a prescription for it. If I feel that fear lurking, during our worship, I'll close my eyes & see the most crytal-of-clearest image of God reaching down and letting me jump up into His hands. His acceptance comforts me. You don't have to share your fear here; but we sure would be encouraged by your prescription for it...

Peaches

Since Andy was about 12 mo.'s, he will eat a peach, in its entirty, in about 3 minutes. It's hilarious! He barely comes up for air as he deeply enjoys this delectible fruit. Put candy or a peach in front of Andy...he'll chose the peach, no doubt.
What I love is that my kids are pretty good about eating fruits in their original form.
Just the way God intended them to be.
What ONE fruit or veggie can you eat in its original form? Untouched, unprocessed, totally pure?

Internet Baptism

My church had its first Internet Baptism! So cool. Click HERE to read the play-by-play.

Miracle

Tonight, Raul & I watched this flick called, "Miracle."
I've never been a competing athlete, so I was stunned when I saw the brutality of training these athletes went through.
I learned that they sweated, they bled, they got chewed out, they got beat up, they got hurt, they got tortured with drills.
But they always got back up again.
What made these players get up?
What made these players stay in it?
What made these players not quit?
I learned it's because they wanted to win.
It was that simple.
That's hockey.
This if life.
How hard do I want to win at it?
How about you?
Your passion to win in your life is proportionate to the success you'll get out of it.
No pain; no gain.

Unkind Words

"You'll never make it in Florida. When you get there and those people learn the real you, you'll have to move back."

An unkind quote from an unkind friend, just weeks before I moved all by myself to South Florida.

That was 11 years ago.

I'm still here.

What others may intend for bad; God WILL do for good.

I'm so glad that her criticism didn't get me down. Cause God used it to light the fire under my butt and set me out on a journey of a lifetime.

Someday, I hope I get the chance to thank her (really...I do)

Hope Management

I just read an amazing article by one of my fav.'s, John Ortberg. He wrote, "The church is in the hope business. We of all people ought to be known most for our hope; because our hope is founded on something deeper than human ability or wishful thinking...And so hope endures when hype fades."

YES! AMEN! Preach it, John!!!

Here's my takeaway:

I want to be a hope manager. I want to be someone who says, "Yes WE can!" and "Yes YOU can!" At the end of my run here on planet Earth as a little leadHer, I hope I graduate from the school of hope management with honors! So God & I can look back and not just see a girl who led a mission but who managed alot of hope!

For more, click here.

Curse These Boots!

"First pride, then the crash—the bigger the ego, the harder the fall." (Prov. 16:18)

Let's talk about that verse, shall we? Yesteday I had the privilege of tripping and falling down TWICE in front of people. I didn't want to deny you the privilege of laughing your butt off so here are my reenactments (reenacted to a tee):

Look, here's the deal....all I kept thinking was maybe there's some pride somewhere in me? Maybe it was merely a spec (cause I sure as heck didn't know it was there)....but Christ, who is without pride, can not reside in a life where there is any. And let me tell ya...a sure-fire way to be rid of pride is to wipe-out in front of people. Amen?

OK, but now, get this: These boots are made by Nike. They are called Nike-Air boots. But I can't help but wonder if Nike Airborne might have been a better name...

Done with Drama

OK, so here's something I've never told you: I've had drama-queen tendencies. This is certainly difficult to blog about because its downright embarassing; and I'm still in recovery for it. But I've lived with myself long enough that I can put my drama in 2 categories: drama queen and real drama.
Drama Queen Heather - makes a bigger deal out of the crisis than is needed. She tells more people than care to know or need to know. She often brings this crisis on herself. She stunts her potential because she delays her progress.
Real Drama Heather - makes an ordeal out of a crisis with GOD FIRST. She proceeds to tell only a few, who will care, who will empathize, who will pray. She EXPECTS a speedy recovery. She stays quieter only because she desperately wants to hear God's whisper.
And that's all I have to say about that.
I'd love to know if any of you relate to this, but maybe its too personal to ask??

If You Feel Left Out, This One's For You

The thing that breaks my heart the most is rejection. Probably because I endured quite a bit of it growing up. I don't think anything cuts the heart deeper than rejection. With everything in me, if you are feeling left out, this one's for you...
Jesus didn't get to be on the panel;
Jesus didn't get to be nominated;
Jesus didn't get to be treated as VIP;
Jesus didn't get to be popular by the popular.
He was here to fulfill heaven's vision and because He was faithful...
Jesus DID get to be seated at the Father's right hand;
Jesus DID get to conquer the grave;
Jesus DID get to make the biggest kingdom-difference;
Jesus DID get to reach His eternal potential.
When you get passed by, looked over, rejected or misunderstood...
You just remember the things that Jesus DID get to do,
and you let that be your fire to keep doing what you're doing.

My Schwety Playlist

I try to do some workout everyday. But because I'm random and compulsive....so is my workout routine. Sometimes, I do a 2-mile run. Sometimes, I only do 25 mins of weights & cardio. On days when my back hurts, I do yoga. In South Florida, on the Oxygen Channel, there is a 1-hr yoga program called Inhale. It's challenging, I LOVE it! Sometimes when I'll be sitting on my butt all day in meetings, but it's not a workout day, I do situps. Here's some of the tunes on my workout playlist. Working out to these songs make me feel like Rocky punching the beef as I hear them!
Mama Said Knock You Out
Looking for You
Ain't No Other Man
Independent Woman
I See You Baby
Wanna Praise You
Hey Ya!
Temperature
Hips Don't Lie
Free
Blue Monday
Gonna Lift Your Name
Hip Hop Hooray
Stronger
I Am Free
What's on YOUR workout playlist?

Rev'ed Me

This morning, I started reading Hebrews. I've never paid attention to this verse before, but it rev'ed me up! "The Son is the RADIANCE of God's GLORY and the EXACT representation of his being, sustaining ALL things by his powerful word."
Obviously, the emphasis is mine, but just look at these words!
RADIANCE of God's glory - He is not dull, He is not budge, He is not average.
EXACT representation - I don't HAVE to serve unknown, many gods; I GET to serve One who is 3 in 1, but never duplicated.
sustaining ALL things - We're kids of a Father who put gravity, balance, equilibrium, order and stability into all things. Into me. Into you. Into every thing He created.
I'm so grateful I get to be with God in Heaven, but I'm so relieved that I get to walk with Him on Earth. Aren't you?

It's Our Anniversary

Today is our anniversary. We got hitched 9 years ago on this day. Raul and I don't make a big deal out of our anniversary. Never have, probably never will. We don't make special plans, we don't give special gifts. To outsiders, it may seem irreverant or unromantic. Not to us. The reason today is like any other day is because for us, EVERY day is an anniversary. When you get as close to divorce as Raul and I did 8 years ago and you nearly kill yourself putting the marriage back together....still waking up to the same person offers a daily unspoken appreciation and a strong celebration.
Hey, Cuban...Thanks for sticking with me. I know you could have found an easier one to hitch up to, but that's just like you to go for the challenge. And everyday I'm grateful you did. Love, Heath

Life's Like a Box of Playdoh

I think life's like play-doh. We're born (the container is opened) and there we are....a lump of play-doh on the table. The times when I've let the world mold me, I felt like the world looked and asked, "What's that suppose to be?" But when I let GOD mold me, the world still looks, but they don't need to ask. They know what they see: something that's been shaped in the image of Him. When God makes something out of us, there are no questions, there is no uncertainty. Oh, sure, God's had to break me down and REmold me. He's even had to put me through the Dr. Drill and Fill a few times!

But when we let God be the hands that molds the play doh, two great things happen on the play doh table: The world takes note of who we are in Him; and so do we.

Where the heck's my purse??

I was walking to my car with my mom, my 2 kids, my purse, my iPhone, DJs backpack, Andy's school papers, conversing with my friend Melissa, while holding DJs hand, while keeping an eye on Andy, while starting the car, while putting Andy in his carseat, talking to my mom, yelling at DJ to sit down....when we finally took off to get lunch. Arriving at the restaurant parking lot, I shriek in terror, "OH MY GOSH! MOM! I think I left my purse on the hood of my car!" My Mom goes into rational-mode (to offset my psycho-mode) and comes up with the plan, "I'll keep the boys here and get lunch, YOU leave NOW and find that purse!" So I'm driving at a turtle-pace, down the busy highways & byways, looking for the worst: my purse and all its belongings blowing like tumbleweed down Flamingo Road.

Meanwhile, my mom sits down for lunch with my boys and leads them in prayer that mommy will find her purse. I make it all the way back to parking lot where the chaos started. Lo and behold, look what I found:

Somebody throw me a bone here and tell me I'm NOT the only one who does stupid things like leave her identity, money, iPhone, credit cards, etc. in a purse, along a curb, by a bush?!

So whatta ya do with moments like these?

Thank Him and remember that: in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

I've Screwed Up

Last March, we launched a website called ivescrewedup.com. Although our ivescrewedup.com series only lasted 11 weeks, the website has relentlessly forged ahead. To date, we've had some 200,000 visitors to the site and 100,000 confessions. Just last week, my pastor was interviewed again. See interview here. Intermittently, the argument has been raised that you can't confess thru a website. I challenge that argument and I welcome the debate. God is everywhere, everytime, available to everyone...which makes Him God. And a broken person, typing with a sincere heart, can meet God right where they are, even at a computer. At times, the anonymonity of this site has been tough for me because I can't reach out to them, but everyday, I'm praying and believing God is. Hey, right now, if you're heavy-hearted about something, go here and get it off your back.

'Cause confession is good for the soul; and the soul feels good when it confesses.

Misunderstood

Andy's only been talking for a year and a half, and there are alot of consonants he can't enunciate. Additionally, his brain processes words faster than his mouth can say them, so Andy is often misunderstood.
Andy has wanted more of something yet we walked away as if he was done.
Andy has not felt well yet we made him finish his dinner anyway.
Andy has wanted to be picked up yet we walked away.
For Andy, there's been tough moments where he's wanted us to know so badly what he's saying yet we didn't.
Most of the time I'm there to "translate" for him but I feel bad for the times I haven't been.
Sometimes, I've just had to confess, "Andy, I don't understand what you are saying."
And 'though he keeps saying it over and over, we don't get anywhere except frustrated.

I just want you to know that God has never misunderstood you.
When you've cried and had no words....He knew exactly what you were saying.
When you've only moaned, uttered, or winced, God knew.
He doesn't misunderstand you. He doesn't get confused by you.
And nobody will ever have to translate to God for you.
If He's in your heart, He always knows what you're saying from it.