There are so many ways that we can each choose to make a difference in the lives of others each day.
I have just arrived home from our family church here on the Gold Coast – Metro. During the whole month of June we are celebrating the “Festival of Food”. Each week we are having two different countries battling it out to see which country’s food is the most popular.
Our pastors Kasey and Garry McDonald came up with the idea of the “Festival of Food” to raise awareness and funds to empower others in India. Kasey was all dressed up in traditional Indian dress. A few others also dressed in traditional costume from either Italy or India.
Today we had three master chefs Robbie and Anthony Quatro for team Italy and Derek Smith for team India each showing off their culinary expertise with yummy main meals and desserts. The meals are only $5 each and all funds raised are going to projects that Metro supports in India.
Over the coming weeks we will talk more about these projects in India and the impact that they are having for good in the lives of many children and young people and then by extension in the lives of many more throughout India!
Below you will see some photos from this special event.
Next week will be Mexican vs Indonesian food. So be sure to come back and see the follow up…
In the mean time, think about what you can do in your own life to touch, empower and bless others and to make a difference in your world.
Until next time, Remember to Enjoy Life, Smile at a stranger and Make a Difference in the World!
Your Friend in Life and in Blessing others,
Leanne Annett 
Tags: Bless Others, Derek Smith, Festival of Food, Make A Difference, Metro Church, Robbie Quatro
I have just returned from a women’s conference where we were discussing ways that we can make a difference in the world.
One of the guests at the conference was from Destiny Rescue. This is an organization especially set up to put a stop to child prostitution.
As the speaker shared, if there was no demand then the supply would decrease! But due to the perverseness of mankind there is a demand and hence there are people out there who prey on children and young adults in order to meet the demand!
I was especially shocked to learn that in Thailand the number one pedophiles who seek out child prostitutes are Australian men! I am Australian and proud to be an Aussie! But I am certainly not proud to hear that Aussie men are rapping and hurting children!
Destiny Rescue is an International organization with the key purpose of being a voice for those with no voice!
Their message is “Together we can fight to end poverty and child slavery in our life times.”
I agree with their message and stand together with Destiny Rescue to declare that child slavery and prostitution is NOT okay!
Over the coming weeks, I will discuss Destiny Rescue and the 26 Second Challenge more and let you know how you can impact the lives of many through this Godly organization.
In the meantime, you can click here to learn more about Destiny Rescue.
Until next time, Remember to Enjoy Life, Smile at a stranger and Make a Difference in the World!
Your Friend in Life and in Blessing others,
Tags: 26 Second Challenge, Destiny Rescue, Make A Difference, Stop Child Prostitution, Stop Human Trafficking, Stop Slavery
This morning I was having my usual Quiet time with the Lord and was reading my devotional The Word For Today by Bob and Debby Gass. I really liked the reading and so want to share part of it with you.
Feel free to check out their free online devotional The Word For Today
or you can subscribe and have it sent to you each day via email.
The devotional talked about how Jesus desires to Empower us rather than judge us as people so often can do!
This is from TWFT devotional:
There’s a story about a guy who fell into a pit and couldn’t get out.
A subjective person came along and said, ‘I feel for you down there.’ An objective person came along and said, ‘Well, it’s logical somebody would fall down there.’ A Pharisee said, ‘Only bad people fall into pits.’ A judgmental Christian said, ‘You deserve your pit.’
A realist said, ‘Now that’s a pit.’ A geologist told him to appreciate the rock strata in the pit. A tax agent asked him if he was paying taxes on the pit. A self-pitying person said, ‘You haven’t seen anything until you’ve seen my pit.’ An optimist said, ‘Things could be worse.’ A pessimist said, ‘Things will get worse.’
Jesus, seeing the guy in the pit, reached down, took him by the hand and lifted him out of the pit.
I know that my desire is to be like Jesus in this story. Sometimes I do respond like some of the other examples, but my prayer is that more and more my response will be like our Lord Jesus and that I will lift others up and Empower them to live to be all that God created them to be.
This word really spoke to my heart. What are your thoughts about this story? Leave your comment below and let us know what you think about helping others out of the ‘pit’ that they may find themselves in.
Until next time, Remember to Enjoy Life, Smile at a stranger and Make a Difference in the World!
Your Friend in Life and in Blessing others,
Leanne Annett
It has been a while since you have heard from me. I have found myself absolutely swamped under the pressures and busyness of life….
Well, I have finally gotten myself out from under all of this and so here I am again. Still passionate about Making A Difference in Our World.
Struggled After Losing My Job
Over the past few months, I have struggled after losing my job in December, due to the economic recession. My employer was no longer able to pay to keep me on and so let me go at Christmas 2009. This was not easy for us.
I since have been applying for jobs, but with no success.
So at the same time, I have invested literally hours each day on learning Internet Marketing. This has been a slow process for me, but I am still hopeful that we will be able to make a living from it.
Financial Pressure Can Be Exhausting
Due to the financial pressure we have been (and still are) under, I have worked on the Internet Marketing seven days a week and have found myself exhausted.
Then over the past couple of weeks, as I have spent Quiet times with the Lord, I have felt Him prompting me to rest. The Lord spoke to me of the importance of taking time out each week to allow myself (body, emotions, soul and spirit) to be refreshed and to rest.
God Wants To Refresh Us
I was listening to Joseph Prince the other day on the Internet and he commented how Jesus performed most of His miracles on the Sabbath (Shabbat in Hebrew). He put the question out there asking whether this was because people had rested and were refreshed that the Lord was more able to reach into their lives and bless them, as He desired to do!
This got me thinking. I was waking up each day, tired and not really looking forward to the day, as I knew all of the work that lay ahead of me. I also was worried about our finances.
So I have made a decision to set aside one day to rest and refresh myself. Since I lived 10 years of my life in Israel, I am setting aside Shabbat (Saturday) as the day when I focus on other things and not on making money or paying bills.
Shabbat – An Amazing Gift From God
I just want to say that in case you think I am being legalistic about resting that I see Shabbat as a wonderful and awesome gift from God to His children who He loves more than we know! He never gave us this day of rest to bind us! In fact, totally the opposite!
God gave us the gift of Shabbat to refresh us and to Empower us to live the lives He has planned for us, the rest of the week! By resting on one day, we are so much better enabled to handle whatever Opportunities and challenges that life throws our way!
Whatever day you choose to set aside, I encourage you to DO IT! Make a conscious decision to set aside one day every week where you give yourself time to focus on other things in your life.
Some Ideas To Rest And Be Refreshed
Here are some ideas for you on resting and getting refreshed:
Spending time with your family or friends.
Taking a walk with your spouse or partner.
Reading a book (remember that book that you have sitting next to your bed that you never have time to read….)
Having a swim.
Going on a family picnic.
Playing some games with your family and friends.
Soaking in a bubble bath…
I am sure you get the idea.
So I hope from today’s Blog post that you sense my heart. You are important and you do need to look after yourself before you can reach out and make a difference in others’ lives!
So today make a decision to set everything else aside (Believe me that it will still be there waiting for you later on. So focus on blessing yourself a little! It is okay and also necessary) and find a few things that you do (or not do…) to bless yourself!
Until next time, Remember to Enjoy Life, Smile at a stranger and Make a Difference in the World!
Your Friend in Life and in Blessing others,
Leanne Annett
Tags: Day Of Rest, Joseph Prince, Make A Difference, Make A Difference In Our World, Rest And Be Refreshed
We are now onto our third day of my commitment to you to reach out and bless someone every day – to see whom we can bless and make a difference in their life.
Mum In Hospital
I continued today with my own mum. Mum has been in hospital now for almost 4 weeks and has not had an easy time of it! Today I was able to visit mum, before we went to church, and spend time chatting with her. It was nice just being together and being there for her and loving her.
Who do you know who is in hospital or who has not been well? Is there someway that you could touch their life in such a way that would show them that you care? What can you do to bless them and to make a difference in their life?
I love the concept of “Pay It Forward”. You too can find a way to bless someone and to pay the blessing forward. One day then when you are in need, I am confident, that you too will find that there will be someone there reaching out to bless you!
Until next time, Remember to Enjoy Life, Smile at a stranger and Make a Difference in the World!
Your Friend in Life and in Blessing others,
Leanne Annett
Tags: Bless Others, Make A Difference, Make A Difference In The World, Pay It Forward
Making a difference in your world need not be a difficult thing to do. There are so many ways to reach out and bless others.
We continue today with my commitment to bless at least one other person each day – whether it is in a small way or a big way.
Today I was able to bless a friend of my son. He had stayed at our place for the past 10 days and today was flying home. I was able to bless him by driving him to the airport along with my son. We were all then able to hug and say “Bye”.
This may seem like a small thing. You may even be asking, “How is this blessing someone?”
Well think about it. Our lives can get so busy that we may have people around us who need our help, even driving them to an appointment or airport, for instance. But if we are so busy with our own lives then we may miss this opportunity to reach out and take a bit of time to bless another person and to make their life a bit easier.
Think about what you can do in your own world to touch and bless someone today. Choose to Make A Difference!
Until next time, Remember to Enjoy Life, Smile at a stranger and Make a Difference in the World!
Your Friend in Life and in Blessing others,
Leanne Annett
Tags: Bless Others, Make A Difference, Make A Difference In The World
I am going to be totally honest with you. This year has been very difficult for my family and I in many different ways! There have been days where it has been very easy to become so overwhelmed by the challenges that we are facing and to forget about our dreams and goals in life.
My passion to bless others and to Make A Difference is as strong as ever, but sometimes I seem to just struggle to keep my head above water that my passion gets put onto the back burner.
Do you know what I mean?
Movember BBQ Breakfast - Wizard Automotive
I want to commit before you today that over the coming couple of months I want to see what I can do each and every day to bless someone else. It may be to bless someone locally or internationally, in person or over the Internet, in a small way or big way. I do not mind in what way this occurs, but my commitment is to step outside the struggles that I am facing and to bless others!
So I began today by participating today in a Movember fund raising breakfast, at my work, to raise money for Men’s Health – including awareness of Prostate cancer and depression in men. I was able to take along my camera and take some photos of the breakfast.
Movember - Wizard Automotive
We also got a photo of each of the staff members who have a moustache.
We were able to raise over a hundred dollars to donate to Movember.
What way (small or large) can you think of today where you can bless another person?
Think about it and then go out and do it! You too can go out and Make A Difference In Your World!
Until next time, Remember to Enjoy Life, Smile at a stranger and Make a Difference in the World!
Your Friend in Life and in Blessing others,
Leanne Annett
Movember - The Wizard Automotive Team
Tags: Bless Others, Make A Difference, Make A Difference In The World, Movember
I was recently inspired by two men and the strength of the bond of love between them.
Have you heard of Team Hoyt?
I have found that there have been times in my life when I felt like giving up, like life was too hard to keep going. Then I think of people like these two men that we are discussing today and I realize that really life is not that hard or difficult for me. No matter what my circumstances are I can keep going!
Have a look at this inspiring video clip and see for yourself.
Dick and Rick Hoyt are truly an inspiration to me. When I see the love that exists between these two and the determination to keep going, I am inspired that nothing can come in my own life that I too can not overcome and push through!
Dick and Rick Hoyt - Team Hoyt
I sincerely thank both Dick and Rick Hoyt for the inspiration that they are to me and many thousands of others as well! Through your commitment over the years to keep going you truly have be able to Make a Difference in the world! You have both been able to inspire and encourage us to get back up, to take another step and have another go!
I know that people who step out past their limitations, that seem to be a natural part of their life, and go beyond these to reach their dreams will not only inspire many, but they also do make the world a better place to live in. People’s hearts are softened when they see the courage, determination and commitment that it takes to push past the natural boundaries and barriers.
Let me know if you have any inspirational people in your life and I can write about them in this Blog. I look forward to hearing from you.
Until next time, Remember to Enjoy Life, Smile at a stranger and Make a Difference in the World!
Your Friend in Life and in Blessing others,
Leanne Annett
Learn more about this inspiring Father and Son Team in this book
“It’s Only A Mountain” by Sam Nall
It's Only A Mountain - Team Hoyt
Tags: Be The Change, Dick Hoyt, Inspiration, Inspire Others, Make A Difference, Make A Difference In The World, Rick Hoyt, Team Hoyt
Welcome to our Make A Difference In Your World Blog.
As time goes by the passion inside me to make a difference in the world and in the lives of those around me grows stronger and stronger. Hence this website!
I want to share this passion with you. Over the coming weeks, I will share with you some ways that each of us can bless and impact those around us for good.
Empower Others To Live In Freedom And With Dignity
Just imagine being able to empower others to be able to live in freedom, dignity and to be free from fear in their daily lives! I know that this is the desire of my heart!
When I get to end of my life I want to know that I leave behind a legacy. I want to know that people’s lives (all over the world) have been impacted in such a way that empowered them to live freely to the best of their ability and beyond!
Pay It Forward
I also picture these people that we impact, empower and bless then reaching out and blessing and empowering others in their own communities and sphere of influence!
You may have heard of the concept of “Pay It Forward”. You may have even seen the movie. This is the kind of concept that inspires me.
Pay It Forward - Bless Others
In order to make a difference it only involves each of us taking small steps and actions and then multiplying this over and over again in many people’s lives.
Together We Can Be The Change
I have heard it said, “All it takes for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing.”
So let’s commit together to make a difference and make this precious world of ours a better place!
Until next time, Remember to Enjoy Life, Smile at a stranger and Make a Difference in the World!
Your Friend in Life and in Blessing others,
Leanne Annett
Tags: Be The Change, Bless Others, Make A Difference, Make A Difference In The World
Welcome to our Blog on Making a Difference in Your World.
My aim is to inspire you to step out of your comfort zone and to make a choice each day to touch those around you and to make this world a better place for many!
Thank you for joining us on this journey!
Until next time, Remember to Enjoy Life, Smile at a stranger and Make a Difference in the World!
Your Friend in Life and in Blessing others,
Leanne Annett
Tags: Make A Difference
