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Tag: Encouragement

June 12, 2023

June 12, 2023

The farmer needs a guide to help him direct his plow in a straight path. He fixes his gaze on an object in the distance, like a tree or a post, to help him stay on a straight path. If he turns to look behind him while he plows, his plow will veer off course and his furrows will become crooked.

 

Like the farmer, Paul admonished the church that a straight path forward requires that we avoid looking behind us and focus on the things that are ahead. As we keep our focus ahead, depending on the Lord as our guide, our path will produce great things that He has in store for us, both in this life and in our home with Him in heaven, the prize of everlasting glory!

 

Are you avoiding the temptation of concentrating on what’s behind you and working to keep your focus on the high calling ahead of you?

June 5, 2023

June 5, 2023

Have you thought about the fact that prayer is an amazing privilege? In prayer, we have access to God, which brings us into a personal fellowship with our Creator! This privilege includes untold blessings for ourselves, our families, friends, church, and country. Our prayers bring a blessing to God as well!

 

Pride can often be a stumbling block to effective prayer. None of us know how to pray as we should. We need to accept the fact of our dependence on Him and ask the Holy Spirit to intercede for us when we pray. (Romans 8:26)

 

My hope is for your encouragement in believing God’s promise that He hears your prayers and that He will answer. Admitting our helplessness brings Him close.

 

To quote Ole Hallesby, a Norwegian theologian and noted author on the subject, “By prayer, we couple the powers of heaven to our helplessness, the powers which can capture strongholds and make the impossible possible.”

 

Are you feeling helpless? Your Father is waiting to hear your heart!

May 15, 2023

May 15, 2023

I must admit that thoughts of gratitude seldom come to mind on Monday mornings.  I’m usually too occupied with my To Do list and thoughts of my current problems. 

 

Several years ago, I started using a gratitude journal published by my former coach. I made it a daily practice to record three things that I was thankful for. Whatever my circumstances were at the time, highlighting my awareness of all that I had to be thankful for brought a welcome lift of my spirit.

 

Last week, while listening to a talk about morning routines, the Lord nudged my recollection of a closer walk with Him on those days that began with recording my thankfulness. He refocused me on the blessings of this great way to begin the day! 

 

Paul emphasizes the importance of learning to be content and grateful, regardless of our circumstances (Philippians 4:11-13). Everything we have comes from Him. He allows the good, as well as the bad, in our lives. We may not understand it at the present time, but He uses the bad to bring the good in our lives.

 

Putting our trust in the Lord always leads us to a closer relationship with Him and more to be grateful for.  

 

Are you up for including gratitude as an important focus for your mindset to begin and/or end your day?

May 8, 2023

May 8, 2023

Among the more important roles in my work as a coach is that of being an encourager. 

I like to begin the week with an emphasis on encouragement, and, to me, there is nothing more encouraging than God’s Word. The Bible is a rich source of wisdom and power regardless of the circumstances.


We can rest assured in the knowledge that no matter what was done or said yesterday, God will be with us today, and every day, in a brand new relationship.

 

We have His mercies and compassion anew when we wake up each morning! 

Does this give you any encouragement?

April 10, 2023

April 10, 2023

This picture is from an Easter service that I attended with my son. It was special, not only because it was Easter, but because it was in the church that I attended growing up. I enjoy going to services there when we are in Maryland visiting my parents and family. 

 

I was touched by this trio of young men playing their instruments, singing, and praising the Lord. One reason it was so inspiring is that my son plays the trumpet, and I was glad for him to see these talented young men providing such a wonderful example to him. He whispered to me during one of the songs that the trumpet player was “really good”! 

 

It’s difficult to watch my son struggling with his faith and even turning away from the Lord at times. There is nothing I want more for him than to know how much God loves him and how wonderful and freeing it is to accept that love and follow Him. 

 

As I watched these boys play their instruments and listened to their music, I felt hope and peace. The words rang true. My help comes from Him. He gives me peace in the storm.

 

Is the Lord calling you to encourage a person, or to place a particular situation, into His hands? He wants you to be at peace, especially in the storms. Can you trust Him?

March 27, 2023

March 27, 2023

If you have read any of my previous “Thought of The Week” posts, then you know that I love to share truth and encouragement from God’s Word. I see the Bible as one of my primary reference tools in working one on one with clients, coaching them through problems and helping them reach their goals. Although helping women who have experienced trauma is something of a specialty for me, a universal goal for every client is growth in the client’s relationship with Christ. This includes partnering between myself, the client and the Holy Spirit. 

 

In his popular devotional, “My Utmost For His Highest”, Oswald Chambers writes: “My goal is God himself, not joy nor peace, nor even blessing, but Himself, my God.”

 

One of the apostle Paul’s several confirmations of this goal, and secret to success, is seen in his prayer for the Ephesians, Chapter 1, verses 17-23. Verse 17 reads: “…that the God of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him…”. It is Jesus Christ who invites us into an intimate relationship with Him that is life-changing, and it is our personal relationship with God that enables us to be successful.

 

Are you interested in knowing God more intimately?

 

If you would like to talk about your goals, and grow in your relationship with God, send me a message or schedule a time to talk about a coaching relationship and whether I would be a good fit for you. I would love to help you on your journey!

March 6, 2023

March 6, 2023

I have more than one chapter! 

 

It took a very long time for me to understand that it’s only God’s assessment of worth and value that really matters. It takes more time and effort for many of us to recognize, and then internalize, this truth than it does for others.  

 

Only the Lord can set us free from the common error of believing that what others think about us is a valid basis for assessing our true worth and value. It is so freeing to recognize and rely on the love of the Lord for our sense of self-worth rather than relationships with others. Relationships matter, but self worth is never truly defined by others’ thoughts about us. 

 

My relationship with God stands firm and secure no matter what storms may swirl around me. The chapters that I didn’t want to read out loud are no longer of concern. All that matters is what God thinks of me. My identity is found in Him! He will guide me, strengthen me and take care of my needs. 

 

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

 

“. . .that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the width and length and depth and height – to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.“ (Ephesians 3:17-19)

 

Are you looking to your relationships to define you or are you looking to the Lord?

February 27, 2023

February 27, 2023

Are you interested in acquiring an understanding that brings with it a special gift of wisdom?

 

Not everyone is aware of the opportunity to share in God’s wisdom. To many, it’s simpler and less effort to stay in the dark!

 

How wonderful it would be to have as much as we could possibly have of God’s great wisdom!

 

The good news is that everyone can have access to His wisdom. Your education, intellect, talents, opportunities, skills, wealth, etc. are not required.

 

As Charles Stanley puts it “every person can reverence God, can receive Jesus Christ as Savior, and can submit his or her life to God on a daily basis. Every person can become wise.”

 

Interested? 

January 30, 2023

January 30, 2023

A coaching relationship provides a helpful and healthy platform for sharing and finding relief from burdens. It’s a safe place, where your coach listens and engages with you to help you determine how to lighten your load and move forward without those burdens. 

 

Everyone has burdens, but not everyone is motivated to let go of them and improve their situation and their life. A genuine desire to unload heavy burdens is a key. A coach can’t provide the desire and determination, but can be an important sounding board to help lift and eliminate unnecessary burdens. 

 

Good coaches begin their coaching businesses by finding and meeting with their own coach. This gives coaches the positive experience of sharing their burdens and finding solutions that work for them. Everyone benefits! 

 

Why keep wrestling with unneeded burdens? What are you waiting for?

November 21, 2022

November 21, 2022

As Thanksgiving nears, my focus on the things that I have to be thankful for increases. I look forward to a road trip with my son to spend time with my parents in their retirement community. We are thankful for the homelike atmosphere and the opportunity to spend time with them as well as time with sisters and other family members in the area.

 

One day, out of the blue, my son quipped that we are not a “real family”. “We’re just two people who live together”. As a single Mom, his comment hit home. I told him that I understood how he felt because sometimes I sense a longing for a classic family – unified in accord with God’s will for His children. Perhaps your situation leads to a longing for your idea of life as part of an ideal family. 

 

Reminding myself and my son of all that we have to be thankful for helps to keep our minds from wandering into the depths of sadness over missing life in our idea of the ideal family. We realize that so many are in less than ideal situations and we think of how we can be a blessing to others. We find that giving encouragement and showing our Father’s love to others is fulfilling and uplifting. I’m always thankful for God’s provision in meeting our needs and allowing me to make my son my priority.

 

God reminds us that we should be thankful for everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18)! It’s a sure way of shining light in the darkness and causing the evil one to flee.

 

As believers, we are especially thankful for being rooted and grounded in His love and that His love is transformational. Knowing how much He loves us helps us to grow into the person he intends for us to become. He has taken me by my right hand, pulled me up out of my sin and shame, and lifted me up to sit with Him for all eternity. The love that He displayed in rescuing, mending, and restoring me moves me to want to share my good fortune with others!

 

If you need encouragement and more to be thankful for, I am available to talk with you.

 

What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving season?