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Tag: Encouragement

February 26, 2024

February 26, 2024

Sheila Walsh was one of the most inspiring speakers I’ve heard at the AACC Conferences I attend for my continuing education. Her 2019 “Extraordinary Woman of the Year” award was well-deserved. Sheila traveled from her home in Scotland to share her story. After five years of co-hosting the 700 Club with Pat Robertson, she suffered a terrible breakdown and, as she put it, God allowed her life to fall apart. The day that began on the set of The 700 Club ended with her in a hospital on suicide watch. Sheila told us that God took her to prison to set her free and that “gifts are given to us with bloody hands”. 

 

Sheila’s story of her childhood in Scotland and the extreme pain she suffered at the hands of her ill father is heart-wrenching, but worth hearing and learning from. Her journey through clinical depression taught her in the end that she did not have to carry her shame, that Christ took it and carried it for her. The message she shared was about pressing on through the darkness, holding Jesus’ hand.  Sheila reminded us that our Savior gladly bared his scars when he rose from the dead, and that we should bare ours to let others know that they are not alone on this journey.

 

Listening to Sheila made me more eager to share my own story and less afraid to show my scars. As Christians, we need to be all in! Are you willing to bare your scars to let others know that they are not alone?

November 6, 2023

November 6, 2023

Your path ahead may look like a maze.

 

Each day presents numerous choices that require a decision. Choosing which way to turn isn’t always easy.

 

Thankfully, there is a Navigator to help steer us through and around the obstacle course.

 

He stays with us. He does not leave us.

 

We can relax!

 

If you are ready to acknowledge your need for help, and ready to accept the fact that, as your Savior, you can put your trust in Him, you’ll find that He has a glorious destiny to lead you to!

 

Are you ready to grip His hand and let Him be your Navigator?

 

Like to talk about it?

October 2, 2023

October 2, 2023

Here is Snoopy’s recipe for Balance!

 

The humor may outweigh the message about balance, but it helps to focus on the importance of balance in our daily living. I also think it is a fun message to begin a new week!

 

Balance is important for healthy relationships and it’s a subject that coaches can help their clients to work toward.

 

Who’s up for a nap this afternoon?

September 18, 2023

September 18, 2023

I think I’m pretty hard on myself. How about you?

 

When I came across this prayer, it seemed obvious to me that the Lord was speaking directly to me. Do you think He talks to you?

 

I often see myself as one of my own worst enemies. How about you? 

 

Thankfully, God doesn’t expect perfection. We’re all works in progress and will never reach perfection in this life. It doesn’t matter how hard we try, we just can’t live up to our own expectations. We need to come to terms with the fact that, despite our weaknesses, God loves us just the way we are.

 

It’s important to forgive others, but probably more important to accept God’s grace and forgiveness for ourselves.

 

I hope the above prayer will encourage you today.

 

Can you stop beating yourself up? 

September 4, 2023

September 4, 2023

Busy, busy! We’re all so busy, aren’t we?!

 

One definition of the word “busy” is “an active or earnest effort to accomplish something”.

 

But what are we accomplishing in all of our busyness? Are we making progress towards our goals? Or are we spinning our wheels and avoiding the things we need to be doing?

 

A coach can help you work smart.

 

Call me. Let’s talk about it!

July 10, 2023

July 10, 2023

I would love to meet you! Hopefully, one day that will happen. In the meantime, I would like to share a few of my personal likes and thoughts so you’ll know me a little better:

 

  1. I love exploring the Maine coast!
  2. I love photography. Landscape photography is a special passion of mine.
  3. I like having plants all around the house, especially when they are in pots with lobsters on them!
  4. I enjoy reading at the beach when it’s foggy and no one’s around. This book, “Surrender to Love” by David G. Benner, is excellent!
  5. I have a belief that God has used various trials in my life as a workshop for the development of particular skills, coupled with a sprinkle of wisdom, to be used for helping others to experience positive outcomes from their own trials.

 

I’d like to get to know you better, too. What is a personal like or belief of yours that you are willing to share? Book a half-hour complimentary Discovery Call with me and let’s talk!

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?