Angela Breidenbach is a multi-award-winning inspirational speaker, popular conference presenter, and author of the Gems of Wisdom: For a Treasure-filled Life and the new Kindle release of Creative Cooking for Colitis. Other works by Angela include compilation books and devotionals from Guideposts, Group, and articles in magazines, ezines, and newspapers. She connects missions to her work with Hope’s Promise Orphan Ministries and the Jadyn Fred Foundation. Angela serves as an assisting minister for her congregation in Missoula, Montana. Angela Breidenbach on the web: http://www.AngelaBreidenbach.com, http://www.GodUsesBrokenVessels.com, and http://TheFaithGirls.com on Wednesdays each week.  Angela's next book, A Healing Heart, Abingdon Press, releases April 2013 http://www.quiltsoflovebooks.com

Visit her Christian Speakers Service page for speaker bookings.

Are you good at what you do? Do you want to get better at it? Then you need a coach: someone who is skilled in specific tasks. Athletes, singers, pageant contestants all use personal coaches. The coach is charged with the responsibility of analyzing and correcting form, skill, and pushing their clients to success. Even businesses have coaches to create standardized procedures or leap financial walls. Coaches are focused on specific goals.

Do you need someone to help you grow as a person? Do you want someone trustworthy and dependable? Mentors are amazing people that partner with their mentees long-term. Mentors become a deep heart connection. They may mentor in a specific area like spirituality or personal growth. But always the mentor’s heart is on your well-being through support and suggestion.

The definition for mentor from dictionary.com is: 1. A wise and trusted counselor or teacher. 2. An influential senior sponsor or supporter.

Coaches are usually a hired position, while mentors are a relational position. Coaches are often easier to find because when someone succeeds (sports teams, pageant queens, Olympians), the coach is highly sought after by the next up-and-coming competitors. Mentors, on the other hand, are harder to find. They’re located through networking and building relationships over a long period of time. Most of the time mentors don’t step forward and ask to mentor. It’s the mentee’s job to ask to be mentored. Seems like a huge hurdle, doesn’t it?

Here’s a few tips on finding a mentor:

1. Join the organizations suited to your passion.
2. Become a student of the masters in your field.
3. Build a network of friends.
4. Pay attention to those friends and be a friend back.
5. Offer to volunteer in the organization.
6. Be a servant. Servant hearts are magnetic.
7. Share your desire to find a mentor.
8. Listen to those you admire and find them on social networks.
9. Support those in the organization through helpful marketing, hospitality, and kindness.
10. Be willing to mentor those coming behind you.

Rhubarb Crisp with a Twist
(Photo courtesy of my son, Devan Leder)

Early summer brings the sweet-tart rhubarb. Big leaves used as a fan and crunchy stalks to dip in a cup of sugar turn a summer day memorable. This fruit is so tart it seems hard to eat at first. Then sugar and baking turns it into something amazing. And then there’s this fun pie.

Prep any single piecrust from homemade or store-bought. Press into greased 9-inch pan. Fill with 4 cups diced rhubarb

Cook over medium heat till thick and clear, gravy-like.
Pour over rhubarb.

Top pie with crumb mix.
Bake at 350 degrees for one hour.
Serve warm with whipped cream.