What's your heart behind hosting? A clean house? A well trained dog? 
In today's episode we talk about our motive to either BLESS others or IMPRESS others. As I walk through several scenarios throughout our fall hosing events this past year, I ask you to guess what my motive was and ideas on how to change it. I hope this episode encourages you as it convicted me. Heading into the holiday season with friends and family gathering more than normal, I'm praying this episode sets you free from the pressure to impress others! Instead, I hope you can bask in the joy of being motivated to bless. 

https://www.rockkenneltraining.com/

I'm okay with the fact that I have needs- like sleep. (Because I have a little baby) So I am not going to write a description, I'm just simply going to bed right now!
If you struggle with feeling you always need to be "strong", just have a listen! (Oh, and also listen to the Anne Wilson song, Strong.) 

Okay I am going to stop typing now because again I have a BIG need right now... zzzzzzz

Today is a reflection over the past year as we have grieved the loss of our mom/mom-in-law/nana. Here are the things she taught me that I want to pass along to you for encouragement.

-Put family first
-Rest
-Don't try to do so much
-Serve others
-Host and include everyone
-Play and make things fun for the kids
-Pray, always, about everything
and most of all... ENJOY LIFE.

"Death can be a coach or motivator to celebrate (or enjoy) the here and now while we have it"

Magic in the Messiness episode

"A routine, project, or task's level of success should NOT be marked by efficiency but legacy."

Learn Do Become Link

Cody Johnson's song- Till You Can't.
"Cause you'll never know how much you wanna, until you can't some day"

How are you going to start ENJOYING the blessings in your life?
Send me a message and fill me in at- RockKennelTraining.com

Need help "enjoying" your dog but can't because of their behavior needs? Contact us to get on the wait list for our e-collar program that is filling up fast for this fall. 

"Just be Held" by Casting Crowns

What in the world is baptism and why it's important

So... I kinda sorta have been holding in a secret for the last 32 weeks! 
I am beyond excited to share with you why it has been so hard to step away from my business and enter into a season of rest as we prepare to welcome baby #3 into our lives. Is slowing down hard for you? Are you always wanting to take the overtime shift? Are you addicted to checking things off your to do list? Do you have millions of projects in your mind that you want to accomplish- now? None of these things are bad necessarily. What a blessing to the world to have people who like to work hard and get things done, however, there is a danger. When we allow things to go unchecked, our hearts believe a lie! Ready for it... "It all depends on us!" Resting and replenishing from work becomes excruciating to enter into when we believe everything will fall apart if we don't do x, y, or z. But this is literally simply not true! WE ARE NOT GOD! And that is a good news! 
After an incredibly  convicting message at church last Sunday, I am choosing to take God at his word and entrust RKT into his hands as I understand the success of my work doesn't rely on me. What is it for you? Do you need to start saying "no" to certain commitments so you can say yes to rest and the enjoyment of good things in life? 
My mother in law Annie would plead with you if she was here to not wait. Life is short. You are never guaranteed your next breath so stop running so hard, striving so deeply, and believing the life that it all depends on you. Bask in the freedom and joy that is found in the reality that you are not God, and that's good news. 

https://www.rockkenneltraining.com/

Episode "Striving to BE instead of ACHIEVE"
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6DYN2LZMSzDirLdsHigHAO?si=XZXtG87wS0itAF5MQNLAyg

Episode "Slow and Steady"
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2FOFtabfwNKaXqrJShgk2d?si=buXq2dLJT9WlwoA1AV-Otg

Episode "Life's not Fair"
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0DgFV53L2fTvvuLDWSYm5z?si=RfACl46sRl-qK9vL6f9W_A

Incredible Book- "You're Only Human"
https://www.christianbook.com/youre-human-limits-reflect-design-thats/kelly-kapic/9781587435102/pd/435107

Gosh darn it! I love bringing you content that hopefully encourages you as it convicts me!  This is one of those episodes where I am preaching at myself today! Do you feel like you are capable? Have the ability to change other's actions and attitudes? Feel like you are strong enough to manage and control all your fears, anxieties, and frustrations? Me either! 
Honestly, if we are truly honest with ourselves we need someone who will fight those hard relational battles for us. Someone who has an undefeated record. I think we just need Jesus. But that's too simple right? What does that practically look like? 

PRAYER. That's the battle plan! Just as a trainer who asks reactive dogs to surrender it all and retreat to their place beds, we too need to retreat from the battlefield. We need to go to "place" where we can... pray! Don't know how to pray? PLEASEEEEE check out the linked resources below. Like, for real ya'll! This movie and these books will give you PRACTICAL , EASY, STEP BY STEP ENCOURAGEMENT to start doing the strongest, most powerful thing you'll ever do! Admit your need for Jesus, fight the battle on your knees, and become the BEST version of yourself (better than you ever knew possible!) 

Battle Belongs- Phil Wickham
Honestly, we just need Jesus- Terrian

War Room Movie
Fervent Book - Priscilla Shirer
Prayer Coach- James Nicodem

https://www.rockkenneltraining.com/

Do you have people in your life who are hard to love? Struggle with a desire to “get even”? Been holding on to bitterness from the wrong people have done? We want to battle, fight, and lash out in our frustration and insecurity. But how is that going for us? Although it may feel good in the moment, we are spinning our wheels and feeding our addiction of defensiveness or drama.

What if we could turn from the chaos and surrender the battle to someone who is far more capable and powerful than us? How would we feel? Peaceful. Content. Satisfied. Safe.

Here at RKT, when we ask our reactive dogs to perform the "Back to Distract" exercise it's hard work! It's something we aren't giving any wiggle room on. BUT when the dog finally surrenders, the look they give their owners is one of peace, contentment, relief, and safety.

Thank God for reactive dogs who help bridge the connection that this is what God requires of us. Take a listen to the song below. Talk to Him today. And let HIM start fighting your battles for you. On leash reactivity doesn't look good on you anyway. It's hard work to trust and surrender and "turn your back to what distracts" but with God, the effort is always always worth it! 

Battle Belongs song link-->
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=johgSkNj3-A

https://www.rockkenneltraining.com/daycare
https://www.rockkenneltraining.com/ecollar

So often, we act as if we don't have someone who is not only capable but WILLING to help us with our problems in life. We attack the things that plague us (like relationship tension, hard decisions, triggers that cause us to slip up every time) instead of abiding with the one who is our solution. Abide? What does that mean? To stay connected to, rely on, check in with, etc. 

Today we opened with comparison between between a wolf and a dog. The wolf attempts to solve his problems on his own strength. A dog, abides. Checks in with the human and knows they can help with the solution to their problem. 
I hope this episode encourages you to turn to God, maybe for the first time, and ask for His help and guidance. Or maybe you have a relationship with God. If that's the case, what area or situation in your life are you trying to solve like a wolf instead of abiding in His power, resources, strength, and wisdom. 

Just remember He didn't rescue, adopt, and rehab you just to see you struggle on your own. He wants to help you. The question is, will you Abide?  

Stay strong my friend! If you're going through something hard, God is going to use it to make you stronger! In order for us to become the best version of ourselves, it requires some form of rehabilitation-- and that process is never easy.

In dog training, we use the pressure from a leash or an e-collar to communicate to the dog that the behavior they are doing is not in their best interest. It doesn't look good on them. It's not helping them become the best version of themselves. And you know what... it's hard to accept that. It's hard to willing walk through the hardship when taking the easier road feels so much better. But we all know just like if we hit the gym for a work out, sometimes we need to break down those muscles in order for them to grow back stronger.
God is using your mental health battle. He is using your grief battle or financial struggle or relationship turmoil.  He is using these things in our lives to motivate us, get our attention, help us become dependent on Him! Because He knows that when we rely on Him most in our weakness, we truly become our strongest. Digging deeper into our relationship with Him or starting a brand new relationship with Him is THE GREATEST and MOST POWERFUL way to truly become the best version of ourselves.

He will one day fix this broken world friend. He will someday make all things right. But until that day comes, keep "fighting the fog" and know you're not alone in this rehabilitation process. He has a great beautiful plan for your life and this hardship won't last forever! Love you dearly! 

Lauren 
https://www.rockkenneltraining.com/

Today, we have a lot of fun talking about 3 dog's adoption stories and relating them to our lives. Is your life similar to Noah? Do you have specific parts of your life that are killing you, like Sully? Do you feel "too far gone" like Scooter?

I hope you'll send me an email or shoot me a text to fill me in with which dog you relate to the most. I love you dearly friend and producing the content on this podcast is such a privileges to me!

All in all, I hope you know... you are loved and Jesus paid such a high price to be able to adopt you into His forever family. So what are you waiting for? It's single handily the BEST decision you'll ever make.

Stay tuned in 2 week as we dive into our 3rd week of this 4 part series R.A.R.A. and talk about "Rehabilitation" (My personal favorite as a dog trainer and getting to see first hand, real rehabilitation stories that CHANGE people's lives!) If you want that for your dog, don't forget to visit- https://www.rockkenneltraining.com/ 
Ps. There are limited e-collar program spots available this spring so be sure to get in before the summer hits! 

Take care! Love you guys!