America’s Got Talent, The Voice, American Idol, and America Ninja Warriors are just to name a few of the TV shows that highlight talent that people have. I sit back and watch these shows and wonder………. “why was I not gifted with these talents?”. Athletics was never my thing, in fact I joined band in 5th grade mainly because you didn’t have to do PE if you were in band. Now, understand, I stayed in band until I graduated, so I loved it despite my initial reasoning. As for singing, I joke with my kids as I sing along with whoever is on stage at the time and say, “I’m going to try out!” and my kids give me that “you got to be kidding” look. I wouldn’t make it through the initial phase.
But talent isn’t all about voice or athletics. So much more! God has gifted each of us in various ways. So Yes, I have talents, gifts!
In Matthew 25, the bible talks of talents of the biblical times, the Ten Virgins, Bags of Gold and the Sheep and the Goats. These stories/parables are about how we use what God has given us. Are we prepared, planning ahead, using the talents when needed? Are we thrifty, careful but capable in using our talents so to use them wisely to create more abundance? And do are we generous with our talents, giving them to others in need, while still taking care of our own needs?
From the teachings of these stories/parables, I’m to understand that with whatever talents/gifts, whether it be financial or otherwise, I’m to use them, not hoard them for a later date. I’m to share my gifts through relationships and help build others up so they too will be willing to use their gifts. So, I pray each day that HE will show me how he wants me to use what he has given me for his glory. Showing others how magnificent HE is!
So I ask you………… “How are you using your gifts?”
If you are unsure what your gifting is or how to go about using them, please comment on this post or go to my home page and contact me. I would love to walk through this journey with you.
Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
You know initially when reading this scripture years ago, I thought, “yea right, surely he is not talking to those like me who have suffered at the hands of others”. Surely he understands why I’m fearful, shamed, guilt ridden and anxious all the time. Never filling like I can measure up!
Yes, he was and is talking to me! I realized that with the Jeremiah verse.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
So now I’m told, “Be strong and courageous, He will not leave you” and “I know the plans I have for you, to give you a future and a hope”. Do I believe him yet? I started to grasp what he is telling me. He has a plan! A real plan! Not my plan! And while he is working on my plan through me, he wants me to be brave!
The last couple of years, he has been showing me glimpses of His plan but I really didn’t know why, so I wouldn’t move. Then he pushed harder. Putting things in front of me that lead in the direction to fulfill the plan that he has laid out, time after time, I wondered. But why would he put the same things in front of me if he didn’t mean for me to jump on board with him. About this time, I was beginning to come around in the belief that he would give me what I needed, strength, courage, knowledge, wisdom, patience, stamina and the list goes on.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
But there were still some pretty tall hurdles to jump if I was going to follow the path of his choosing. And what do you know, as soon as I accepted the offer to move forward with him, he provided the way regardless of the hurdle.
So I’m being brave. I’m going back to school! Didn’t really like it the 1st go around but here I go again. This time it’s a little different, I’m an adult and it’s actually something that I’m interested in! But Satan……….that stinkin’ ole Satan, loves to strike when the strikings good. He loves to poke fun at me in my vulnerable spots. He wants to stop me because he knows I’m heading in God’s direction and he doesn’t like that. I have to admit, I let him get to me sometimes but I quickly tell God what’s going on and Satan leaves. I’m learning to do that quicker and quicker. Maybe, just maybe, oneday I won’t let him get to me at all.
If you’re interested in what my Brave is, feel free to go to my home page and check it out. If you are interested in allowing me to walk with you as a coach, please feel free to contact me.
I hope to hear from you and I do ask that you pray for me as I journey down this path that God has me on. I can’t wait to see what the next chapter God has written looks like.
When I think about the last number of years or really the last number of days, it seems like they have sped by me with the speed of light or maybe even with the craziness of all the lights coming at me at one time, in multi-color. In many way it just seems like yesterday when I thought my parents, who had to have been in their thirties, were ancient! And now I’m almost twice that age. What does that make me, prehistoric!
Anyway, point being, life happens quickly it seems and comes at you from all directions. For many years, I simply lived that life making it through the day. Not really giving it a thought, except for just how I was going to make it. And now……………… I have decided………God is pushing me………to make it with a purpose.
I’ve learned a valuable lesson which helped me find my purpose. I’ve learned that God loves me. Yes, little ole, simple me! I could go through all the things that I’m NOT or those that I am. But those things would be my perception of me not God’s perception of me. And honestly, HIS is all that matters.
You know that until I realized how much God loved me and what my value was in HIM, I saw no value in myself and honestly didn’t even really love myself. Until this……..
Mark 12:30-31 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
So this is my purpose, “Love my neighbor as myself”. You see, I couldn’t do that until I loved myself.
I challenge you to take a good look and see if you love yourself as God loves you. Because if you don’t, you can’t love others.
I pray that you will study the scriptures, find His love and live your LIFE with purpose.
Everyone loves bubble wrap! Something about that popping sound that brings out the happy, joy filled, care free, expectant child in each one of us.
The anticipation of that sound keeps us at the edge of our seats just waiting to hear it. I wonder if I went and purchased a box of bubble wrap if it would carry away all the many fears, worries, struggles and painful things that I have had and still do in some way carry around within myself.
Some how I doubt it. That happy, joy filled, care free, expectant child inside, has be ripped away as I’ve aged and as I’ve lived this life. But wait, even though bubble wrap won’t do it, I know, I’ve experienced, I’ve held on to, the ONE thing, the ONE person that would.
Psalm 55:22 (NIV)“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” Be sure to cast your fears or worries on God. If you feel stressed or worried, do not allow yourself to be shaken. God’s grace is enough.
I’ve heard and read this scripture so many times but somehow I really didn’t understand it. I was still searching for something external that would carry away all my pains. Although they may have carried them away, it was only temporary and sometimes I came out of it with even more pain.
I have had many pains and struggles through out my 58 years here on earth and I’m sure that there will be more. Some of those pains became real for me as a child and I was still carrying them around. The load got heavier and heavier with every day that I carried them. I have done well over the last several years to free myself of some of that load. Actually, it wasn’t “I” who freed me, it was God. But I had to allow HIM to do it. I had to understand that HIS Grace is Enough for me.
I had to understand and realize that there will be those pains and struggles that are solely mine and with my change and my repentance, God’s grace will allow me to let go of those things. But there will be pain and struggle in our lives that are caused by others and our change and our letting go will not affect that actions or feelings of the other. I had to understand that God’s grace will and does still cover me in those pains and struggles. Because He reminded me that I am not responsible for others or their actions and feelings. That is something that they will wrestle with God over.
So for me, I have casts my care to God. I fully understand that His Grace is enough and I can lean into Him to find that happy, joy filled, care free, expectant child. I do have much RELIEF in my soul.
We all do it! Drive through the fast food establishment that we love and grab us a meal that satisfies our hunger pains and sustains us. At least for a little while.
We do it even though we know that it may not be the best nutrition. And it may not truly satisfy our deepest desires of our taste buds. But it’s fast and it’s cheap.
It’s fine, I guess, that we all do the fast food line thing. But in other aspects of our lives, such as in our relationships, is the “fast food” method the best?
I would have to say, “NO”!
The fast food method in our relationships is not sustainable, they are superficial. They do not satisfy our hunger pains from the need for love (closeness), they leave us empty and a huge hole inside.
Think about it! If we were truly wanting a meal that would sustain us in the long run and totally fill us by satisfying our internal need for nutrition, then we wouldn’t go to a fast food establishment. We would choose a place where we could sit down, relax, share some meaningful conversation and enjoy a well balanced meal. All of which would totally fill our desires as a human being.
The same goes for relationships. Fast food relationships just won’t cut it! God placed deep in our souls, the desire real lasting relationships. Ones that fill our hearts desires, satisfy our nutritional love hunger pains and create meaningful and beautiful conversations.
Fast food relationships are just as it says, fast and not lasting. Nutritional, long lasting, deep filling and perfectly satisfying relationships take time.
Which would you choose?
Do you know how it feels to have that type of relationship?
Are you willing to be one that gives more than you take?
You choose?
If you’d like to search deep inside yourself to discover how? Contact me and I’ll journey through this process with you.
You can find my email address on my “Contact Me” link.
I have found myself waking in the night, mind racing, thoughts tumbling around in my head and they won’t stop. I lie still, trying to do the tricks of my past so sleep will come again. It won’t! Counting backwards is not working this time. I am totally engulfed in my thoughts. They will not leave me.
Engulf is a verb that means being completely surrounded, soaked, or covered. Fire, snow, smoke, flood waters, or even violence are a few things that could engulf you.
Obviously, there are things that I need to pray to God about. Things that are weighing heaving. Things that I’m feeling a burden for. Things!
So, I get up, sit on the edge of the bed and start praying. I start with giving HIM praise for all he is and all he does for me. And that’s a long list! Then, remind him of my failings. Like he has forgotten! Then I remind myself, he may have not forgotten but he has definitely forgiven. Then I lay it all out there. Handing it over to him. Asking for his guidance and wisdom. Asking him to show me clearly what I can do with these things. Asking him to help me let go or move, which ever he needs me to do. Telling him my fears and dreams. Asking for his help.
Last night as I go through this process of listing all that is on my mind. I realize that there are 3 real areas of burdens. While speaking through these burdens with him I notice something. I notice that each burden has a completely different level of control for me.
The first burden is one that I’ve been wrestling with for a while and I have leaned heavily into him for guidance. I have moved and moved and moved, with nothing! The burden has not left me but my acknowledgment of having ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL of the situation is real. Apparent! I have to let it go and let Him deal with.
The second burden is one the is very close to home. I see suffering and stress to others as a consequence. I feel a load of uncertainty with it. And I do have some control over it. Even though it may not be much, I have some. But the burden is, what does God want me to do with that control? How is he asking me to move and when is the appropriate time. The burden is real. The need for clarity is real. Leaning in is where I’m at.
The third burden was in total control of myself but I’ve allowed someone else to take that control. Yet, I’m still the one burdened with it.
Don’t we all do that? Have burdens that keep us up at night. That we at some level have had, do have or should have control of , yet we don’t.
For me, my burdens are felt deep within. For the most part you would not know that I carry the burden, but on the inside, I’m feeling them. My physical health takes a toll when I carry around burdens. I turn to food to try to engulf my burdens. So my body is suffering. For some of you it may be other things that you turn to, trying to engulf your pain.
But last night, while I was processing another sleepless night, I realized it at yet a new level. “I need to be engulfed by God”, allowing his grace to cover me totally and give me peace, so that I don’t over eat and loose sleep. I need to let his words engulf my thoughts. I need to allow the Holy Spirit to engulf my body so that I can hear him more clearly on what my next move is.
Romans 6:14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
What burdens are you carrying around with you that you should allow God to engulf? When are you going to take the step to let him?
Our little community of Winchester KY is making a BIG MOVE! And even though I say little, it has many churches. Just as most communities do.
Why do communities have so many churches? I’ve asked myself that many times. It’s because of me! Not me personally but the me generation. Our country is feeling that me generation hard now in every facet of our lives. We have divided over the smallest of things and held hatred for years over matters that, at the end, really won’t matter at all.
So our community has joined forces and our churches have too! We have made a BIG MOVE to have over 10 churches in our community to BE THE CHURCH together. We will all be discussing through our sermons what it means to BE THE CHURCH as individuals. Doing as Jesus did and as it says in ..
John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
The bible talks about the church a lot and it’s never about a building or a structure that people congregate in. It’s not about the stain glass or the decor. It’s not about the number of attendees or how many times they join together. It’s about the people. The people are THE CHURCH. So if our little community of area churches are going to BE THE CHURCH, we are going to love one another enough to join together spiritually even with our differences. What a concept, that we can love because ultimately that is all that will matter in the end.
The bibles says this….
Matthew 16:18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
So if our little community join together as the church, there will be NOTHING that satan can throw at us that we will not be able to stand against.
Ephesians 2:20-22 Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
We are joining together with Christ Jesus himself being our cornerstone. And it will be seen that the Holy Spirit will dwell within us.
Romans 12:5 So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
So we, as over 10 churches, will be of one body in Christ.
I pray that this BIG MOVE will move all individuals in our community. Whether they are church goers or not. If all people that love Christ join together to BE THE CHURCH, together we will show love as Christ shows love and the masses will be reached.
I ask you Lord to be with this community of believers and that abundant glory will be given to YOU! Amen!
What is a life coach and do you personally, your business or your employees need one?
A coach is a collaborative partner, not a hired expert. A coach is not a consultant, mentor, counselor, or adviser because he or she is non-directive. We say that coaching is done “from the inside out” rather than “from the outside in”.
Coaches have no agenda, no personal investment in a client taking one path versus another. Instead, coaches will listen for and focus on the gap between where a client is now and where the client senses God is calling them to be.
Coaching is the art of asking powerful questions that prompt clients to think about things they’ve never considered before, or may have dismissed as impossible.
The Lord has been guiding me for many years. Even as long as when I was a child, he has placed the ability to listen and not judge those who struggle. He has given me desire to walk with people through their journey. Life got in the way until now and it is perfect timing. God revealed to me what his path was and how to get there.
Struggles have been long and hard for me yet HE has always shown me the way and refused to let me quit. That determination is where I live my day to day. Not the determination to climb to the top but to do the climbing with JOY. Whatever my top is, what good will it be to get there and not have joy when I do.
What is your top? And is your journey as you travel there filled with much JOY?
My favorite verse is:
Jeremiah 29:11-14For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
If you or someone you know would benefit from having me walk beside them through this journey, please comment on this post or you can find my contact information on the HOME page links.
Share this post for me please, as I walk the path that HE is guiding me on.
I choose this word because of the work that God’s been doing. 2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”. His work has instilled in me much: Strength, Resilience, Discipline, Courage, Focus, Belief, Let Go, Fearless, Warrior, Surrender, Forgiveness and Unbreakable only because it is HE who lives in me.
God’s been working on me for several years now. I can look back and see many changes. As I was thinking about my word for 2020 and what all it may mean for me in my year to come, I decided to look back over the last 4 years and see just what God has done with me. As I look at the words that were put on my heart at the beginning of each year, I’m amazed at how those words played out through out the year. Here is a glimpse…
2016 – Love and Forgiveness: 2016 was a life changing year for me. God lead me to confront some old demons but to confront them with love and forgiveness. I have to admit that initially I didn’t want to confront and then once I let go and allowed God to direct me, I then had to learn that just because I came from a place of love and forgiveness, that didn’t mean that the other parties would. It was also the year that my birth father re-entered my life after 40+ years. What a blessing it was for 2 situations that needed to be filled with Love and Forgiveness, yet both were so different in nature, took place during the year that God wanted me to work on Love and Forgiveness. A big year for me! And a huge year of inner soul growth with the Lord.
2017 – Renew: 2017 was a time of renewal. Inner renewal that is. I had been carrying so much damage inside for so long that I had to literally be renewed from the inside out. Finding me, for who God made and not for who my past said I was. Learning to really lean into HIM for my renewal and not lean into others or even myself. Allowing HIM to guide each step of the process, not being determined to lead my own steps. This gave me the freedom to just be who HE was creating me to be. Much time of rest!
2018 – Change and Joy: 2018 was showing me that I was resistant to change, as my past dictated, and because of that resistance my Joy was being stripped away. It was a hard year. One that was all about me and who I really wanted to be, emotionally and spiritually. Realizing that not everyone is on that change train at the same time, but I needed to hop aboard when my time was right. Also finding that I needed to depend on Him to show me the changes that needed to happen and determining that I would have JOY in my day to day even in my circumstances. This was a monumental year for me. Change is hard but the JOY that followed was un-measurable.
2019 – Brave: 2019, well let me tell you! It was the year of needing some bravery. Let’s face it, I’m full of sin and to live in this world with other sinning people can be challenging. And to be brave takes way more strength than I have in myself. So I have had to trust in HIS strength, gaining courage to be brave in my circumstances. There were some major life shifts for me this 2019 and many of them painful. But HE has been doing a great work in me over the last few years that has prepared me to be BRAVE! As I’m sure that the upcoming years will also require. But instead of me seeking that bravery from within myself, I’m finding it through HIM.
Now, He has given me the word EMPOWERED for 2020. I’m excited for what this word and what God will bring for this upcoming year but I also feel a little fearfulness wanting to creep in. But I know that my power does not come from within, it comes from HIM and HE will never send me down a path that HE will not empower me to walk. I also know that when I get fearful, I just have to remember that HE is right there next to me taking each step along side of mine. The definition is…
make (someone) stronger and more confident, especially in controlling their life and claiming their rights.”movements to empower the poor”
synonyms:
emancipate, unyoke, unfetter, unshackle, unchain, set free, give freedom to;
In 2020, God is journeying me down a path that has been a desire of my heart for so many years. I can’t wait to see how it unfolds.
Are you being challenged to love and forgive? Or is He wanting to renew your soul, show you what needs changed and teaching you how to find joy. Or do you just need to be brave? Whatever your journey is for 2020, I pray that you will take that 1st step into the new year with a Spirit filled soul.
Have you ever found yourself not being excited about Christmas? Of all days, who doesn’t get excited about Christmas? I was asked the other day, after a Christmas Eve service, if I was excited for Christmas? And my response caught me off guard! I found myself not really being able to answer the question appropriately. It was a little awkward for all the people standing around me. And then I played it off and said, “well you know it’s just not the same when you don’t have little ones in the house”. And I went on my way!
That thought just would not leave me. Well, of course, I’m excited for Christmas, but not the commercialized Christmas. I would guess that most people think about the HO HO HO, family and opening presents when you say “Are you excited for Christmas?”. It’s been a particularly hard season in my life over the last few years & definitely this year. “LIFE” this year has been rough and it’s not looked like the pictures of this commercialized Christmas. I attempted to choose to focus on what has really been on my mind this Christmas and that is the birth of Jesus and how HE saved my life. Literally and Emotionally. But there was still that burning question inside of me.
Why could I not be exited for Christmas?
Psalm 46
1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. 5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. 6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
8 Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. 10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
After thinking about this for a little while, it dawned on me that there has been many times when I wasn’t excited for a holiday or another special celebrated day. I can remember vividly a conversation that I had with my husband just before my 50th birthday. You see, my 30th and 40th birthday came alongside a couple of pretty traumatic events in my life. So I wasn’t really excited about hitting another decade and what that special celebrated birthday might bring with it. But he was quick to remind me of the blessings that we had received during those times. Yet for some reason my mind wanted to go to those traumatic events. My 50th birthday came and went and as normal “life” just happened as well.
As my mind was reminiscing about the past, I was brought to the fact that my next decade birthday is coming up in couple of years. It will mark the 40th year decade of birthdays with some hard life. I starting wondering if something with the 40 is at play here.
Psalm 40:1 I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.
Jesus spent 40 days and nights being tempted by Satan. Then there was the flood to wipe out humanity because of evil, that lasted for 40 days & nights. And in Numbers 32, it reads that 40 years marks a new generation. You may be asking what does this have to do with not being excited about Christmas. Nothing really, that’s just where my mind went. Yet, the not being excited part does tie everything together. Lack of Joy! That is where Satan wants me to live. Why do I have dread? Why do I have worry? Why?
Yes, I’m an over thinker! I get something on my mind and I have to settle in it for a while. Until it seems God always reveals something to me.
I think. I read. I search. And yes, I google! With this 40 theme running around in my head, I google, “what does the bible say about 40?”. And I found several things. Here is the find that I found most intriguing. The spiritual meaning of 40. Angel number 40 is a message from your angels reminding you that you are safe, well-protected, and loved. Your guardian angels are near and all you have to do is call upon them for help achieving your goals and manifesting your desires.
I’m starting to get excited about my 60th in a couple years, I think to myself!
And then I flash back to what my husband reminded me of a few years back, “We have had many blessing! That is what you need to be focusing on!”. And YES, as bad as it pains me to say, “He was right!”. There have been many blessings over the last 30 plus years. The marriage of my sweet husband, the renewed health of our son, the redeemed life of our son, beautiful marriages of our sons & daughter in laws, 5 “GREAT” grand children, the reunion of my birth father & myself and so many more that I can’t even begin to list.
So even though the last 30+ years have brought some hard times, the blessings have far out weighed them. And with the spiritual meaning of 40, I would say that the next decade celebrated birthday and all my other celebrated holidays will also come with many blessings.
I’ve learned, yet again, through this process of getting faced with a question that brought to light the lack of joy, that Satan was loving, only because of outside influences. So I’m asking the Holy Spirit to renew my soul and fight off Satan’s attaches. Help me to wake each day with my blessings being the foremost on my mind. Seeking out God’s word and remembering Jesus’s sacrifice that is here for me to grasp tightly. Knowing all too well that “life” happens but they are passing moments and in the end, God’s blessings will always far out weigh those moments.
I will scream from the mountain tops that “Jesus is my Lord!”.
