You’ve finally done it. You’ve finally decided that it’s time for a change. Scary though it sounds, you’re pretty sure you’re ready. So the question is, “what now?”

One of my clients wrote this:

“We all have glimpses of what we want our future to look like…..every age and stage of life yields something different. When I had my 61^st birthday the thought of early retirement from my job of 16 years to pursue some sort of ministry started to float around in my mind. I didn’t have a plan and had no idea how to even begin. Very unsettling for a professional project manager! I had no idea how to manage a project in my own life! And after almost eight months of letting the thought run undisciplined through my mind I finally did something…..I got a Life Coach!”

My own testimony is similar. Huge life changes forced me to seriously consider the “what now?” question. I was very fortunate that a friend had become a coach. Without his ability to ask the difficult questions, I would still be sitting on the sofa staring blankly at the TV. Without his willingness to put the pressure on – ever so gently – I would have given up.

Making the decision to change is only the first step toward your new life. What happens next takes a lot of work and diligence. My client was a “project manager,” but she couldn’t conceive of the next steps in her own life. What about you? Do you need help with the next steps, with goal setting, with traveling through the stormy seas of change?

A life coach is someone who helps you navigate until you reach your destination. Change is hard. Trying to change by yourself is harder. Why not consider the support of a life coach to get the passion back in your life.

Yesterday was the day of hearts and flowers, of chocolate and red balloons. It is the day that we celebrate love: romantic love, love of friends, love of others.

Not having a significant other on Valentine’s day makes it a little hard, but I want to share some thoughts about love and how we are to love.

No one wants to be left out. NO ONE. No one gets excited about a day when no one says “I love you.” It just doesn’t happen. There are so many ways to say it to everyone you meet. Every day.

1. “I notice your existence.” “I see you.” “I hear you.” All these words say I love you. When you greet someone, do they feel like you are glad to see them? When they talk, do they know you are truly listening. Linda Stone says that we live in a state of “continuous partial attention,” barely lifting our eyes from our devices to acknowledge the others in the room. Oh, how this diminishes the other person. How difficult it is to truly have a conversation. It hampers our ability to create relationship.
2. Check in on those who live alone. The widows and singles need to know someone is thinking of them. So make a phone call – yes, a real phone call – and talk for a few minutes, only to them. You have no idea how it brightens up someone’s day. Isolation can be depressing, and for the older singles, it is not good for them mentally. Let them know they are not forgotten.
3. Love on the kids you know. We’ve been told that they need 10 positive reinforcements a day. Be someone who gives that when you see them. Just tell them how happy you are that they are there (wherever that may be). Play with them – they absolutely love it if someone will take time to play a game or throw a ball. For older kids – take them out for a meal or ice cream – no one will refuse ice cream! Build memories with the neighborhood kids and their parents, too.

Finally, share the best love there is: the Love that came to us through Jesus Christ. When we love God and each other, our joy is complete and we share our joy with others. The world would be so much better if we just loved each other, deliberately and exuberantly.

Valentine’s Day may be over, but loving never is!

It’s snowing. I guess I can say it’s pretty, and white and … but I don’t love snow. I did when I was a kid: sledding, skating, snowmen and snow forts, but snow now makes me feel anxious and claustrophobic. I wish I could love just sitting here watching it. I no longer have to go out in it, drive in it or even shovel. Yet, at the end of each sentence I look out and stare – not for the joy of it, but the fear.

Fear drives us sometimes. Fear immobilizes us. The Bible tells us over and over not to fear. “Be not afraid,” the angels said. “Be anxious for nothing.” So today I am trying my best to follow the command of scripture and put aside my fear and just praise the One who made the snow come today. The One who knows how I feel. The one who “has this.”

What about you? How are you handling your fears? What are some tactics that you use to keep those fears at bay?

Here are some suggestions for a snowy day.

1. Slow down. When the enemy gets in your face. Slow down. Don’t try so hard to look strong when that’s not what your feeling. Slow down and take your Spiritual Temperature. Take a moment, before fear takes over, to give it to God. Be still and remember who He is. He really does have this. Pray until you remember, and give thanks for all He has done for you.
2. Ponder. Like Mary, it may be time to ponder the “why” of your feelings. Journal, read, speak to someone who knows you well. Ponder the events that have lead up to this fear. (For me, it was a serious accident in the snow, and ice dams, and leaks, and 100+ inches of snow.) Peal away each one and look at it. What did God do in the midst of these events? Did you learn something ? Did you gain more faith? Did it change someone’s life? Yours?
3. Rejoice and be thankful. We have so much to be thankful for, so many reasons to praise. Just start rejoicing. As Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say ‘rejoice.’” When fear is triggered, rejoice. When doubts assail, rejoice. When you can’t see your way, rejoice. Believe me, He is not finished with you yet. Rejoice and be exceeding glad!

Now get on with it. It might be snowing but there is plenty to do. Me – I have a list a mile long and I’m getting to it now.

Blessings,

Janet

I spent many years making New Year’s Resolutions. Big bold ideas that were probably impossible to accomplish or at least too lofty to maintain. Lose 40 pounds, run a race. And what happened? I felt like a failure and didn’t achieve most of them. (by the way, big bold plans are important too)

I have spent the last four years, giving myself a break from the New Year’s disappointment. After all, if you don’t plan anything, you’ll be a success.

All this to answer the question, What should we do? Certainly the New Year is a great time to look forward in hope, to want to do better. What’s wrong with making resolutions?

As with many words these days, the word “resolution” is loaded with baggage, not the least of which is our confirmed belief that we won’t succeed.

So I offer you three things you can do to dive into 2017 with a little hope.

1. Resolutions aren’t specific enough. Goals can be baby steps that get you to the final goal. I finally gave myself permission to take baby steps toward a larger vision. For instance, one of my goals for 2017 is to wake up to a clean kitchen. Anyone who knows me knows that this will be hard. But I have broken it down: the first week in January, I want to wake up to a clean kitchen at least 3 times. In times past, I would have said I wanted that every day but I know myself. Want to run a race? Plan to stretch and go for a walk a few times this week. Just get started. Want to lose weight? Plan your food so that it is possible. So, set a goal for the first week, make it doable, make it simple. Being successful in the small things helps us to dare to try the larger things. And then next week set your goals again.And Guess What! Today I woke up to a clean kitchen, one down and two to go.

2. Focus on what’s important, not what is urgent. The urgent will get done. The important needs to be planned for. Time with your spouse? Put it on the calendar (try for once in January). Clear out the clutter. Set a timer for 20 minutes. Plan to do it once a week. Or deal with 5 things. It will only take a minute or two but those 5 things will be done. Do it as many days as you think you can. And stick to it. I cleared out two rooms of clutter with the 5 thing plan.

3. Finally, celebrate the small victories. Did the dishes get done, do a happy dance. Did you help someone in need? Rejoice in your big heart. We don’t celebrate enough. I have a journal by my bedside, a “victory” journal. I take a few minutes at bedtime to acknowledge what I have done. Maybe on one day I have a major success – Yay me! And the next day I get the dishes and laundry done – Yay me again. It doesn’t matter how big or small your accomplishments, list them all and then be glad that you have the energy and the ability to accomplish things. You’ll be surprised how much better you feel about life.

So set a few goals, share them with us if you want and we’ll pray for you. And don’t get down when the going gets tough. Just get up the next day and try again. NO PRESSURE.

Do what you can and celebrate what you do.

Happy New Year!

Have you ever kept a journal? Have you ever wondered why people do? Here are five tips about journaling and how you can add this spiritual discipline to your devotional time.

1. Journaling as Discipline. God calls us to obedience and consistency. Writing in a journal can help you be more disciplined. Writing thoughts as you listen to God speak to you from his Word can help you stay focused. Some people journal verse by verse – some read a whole passage and comment on it. Who knows – maybe you will write the next great commentary!

2. Journaling as an art form. The newest way to journal is to be creative – drawing pictures, doing graffiti like lettering, doodling. Not everyone is good at this but if this is your style – go for it. Enjoy the experience not matter how it gets done. If God gifted you with words, use them. With Art, draw your thoughts, If you like to draw cartoons do that. Maybe you write poetry or songs. Go for it. Don’t get stuck doing it like someone else. Be yourself. Make it yours.

3. Journaling as therapy. Writing down your feelings is often helpful in showing us who we are and what things we need to do. When rereading my journals I see patterns of behavior that need changing. I might never have noticed those needs had I not put them in writing. Getting your hurts and heartaches up and out is cathartic – releasing you to grieve and move on. Sometimes you just need to rant. That’s ok too.

4. Journaling your life story. Writing down the events of your life can give you motivation, help you to look toward the future and clarify your dreams. Often we want to keep a record of what our families and children have done. Don’t exclude your own life. What events have made you the way you are, what life changes have brought you to this day. Learn to understand what is keeping you stuck, what motivates you, what you fear.

5. Journaling your prayers. Can’t think of what to write? Write out your prayers. Again, it often helps us to stay in the moment with God if we use more of our senses. Writing is visual and uses our muscles. It helps us to think clearly about what we are saying to God and to ourselves.

Five Ideas to Enhance Your Time with God

1. Don’t get stuck in a rut.

   We all know about the “quiet time” but sometimes it feels like a chore. Vary your time with God by doing something different. Go for a walk. Sit in a park. Dance to praise music. God wants to have a relationship not a ritual. Now don’t get me wrong, consistency is important, discipline is important but when you are stuck in a rut it’s time to shake things up. What are places where you feel God’s presence? When have you heard from God? Who might go on a ½ day retreat with you?

2. Read Scripture from a new translation.

   If you’ve always read the NIV, try reading the same passage in The Message. Compare them, see how a modern wording helps your understanding. Try writing your own paraphrase and then pray through the passage in all three versions.

3. Read one of the “old guys.”

   Sometime you can get a new (old) perspective on God by looking at what Christians have written in times past. Men like Brother Lawrence, Augustin, Martin Luther and Dietrich Bonhoffer. Women like Teresa of Avila, Hannah Hurnard, Catherine Marshall and Corrie Ten Boom. Hearing insights from others can open your heart and mind to things you might not have thought of yourself.

4. Try for silence.

   Silence does not come easy to us but a relationship is a two-way street. Try waiting in silence for 60 seconds after you share something with God. It may seem like a long time but give Him a chance to speak to your heart. Read a passage of Scripture, verse by verse, pausing to let the message settle into your heart and mind. Silence is one of the Spiritual Disciplines, one we need to cultivate.

5. Memorize a favorite passage.

   I know! You have a hard time memorizing. We certainly memorize less that people did even 50 years ago. But we are told to “hide God’s Word in our hearts.” By doing so, we allow the Spirit to work those verses into our core. Memorize in small bits and once you have memorized, pray through the verse asking God to show you all you need to learn from it. You will be amazed at how this changes your prayer life!

Finally, relax and enjoy your time with God. Think of all he has done for you, for all of us. Thank him, Praise him, Worship him. Be willing to “be” in his presence.

 

Let’s start in the right place by understanding who God is, why he chose to free us, and what he has freed us for.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.

Our true freedom comes when we recognize who our master is

You’ve heard this message time and time again – you can’t have it all. You can either have God or the world. But over and over again the world and it’s stuff draws us. The expectations of people imprison us. The “shoulds” eat up our time and money. And we ourselves place heavy burdens and expectations on ourselves. In verse 32, Jesus promises us that the truth will set us free. Free from the:

• tyranny of sin
• tyranny of the “shoulds”
• tyranny of expectations
• tyranny of the world’s hype
• tyranny our own requirements of perfection – work in progress from birth to death

But what is the truth? The truth is that God “so loved” us all that he sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins. The truth is that God is our creator, and he made us in his image. For a class, I had to write my  “theology” statement about who God is. Here are the truths that resonate with me:

My God is Creator: Therefore I can trust in His design for me

My God is omnipotent: therefore, I can trust that he can do all things as he has planned

My God is Sovereign, King and Lord: Therefore I can hold onto the fact that he is in control no matter how crazy things are in my life.

My God is Faithful: therefore I can know that he will never leave me or forsake me.

My God is Good: Therefore I can believe that all thing will work together for my good.

My God is Holy: therefore I can expect righteousness and justice from Him.

My God is Long-suffering and forgiving: therefore I can know that he will be patient with me as I try to do his will.

My God is gracious and merciful: therefore I can know that he allows for my humanity and doesn’t hold my sins against me.

Can you see the clear message – God is in control. God is our focus. God is all we need. In fact, God is the right place to start.

 

So this week was a bit surprising. I quit my job and am now working full out on my coaching practice. For those of you who know me this is a huge step which only happened through God’s intervention.

I sometimes wonder why we are so hesitant to take a next step, to “boldly go,” For me, it has its roots in my fear of failure, the “what ifs” of life. Trusting God in the adventure has been hard for me. Taking a risk is hard too, but how do we ever go anywhere if we don’t step out in faith?

God is in the business of making all things new. He makes us new creations when we accept his gift of salvation (2 Corinthians 5:17). He makes beauty out of the ashes of our lives (Isaiah 61:3). He even promises to restore (make new) the years that the locusts have taken (Joel 2:25).

How many times have you seen God use your messes and bring something good out of them? I know I’ve seen it in my life –  over and over again. So why? Why is it so hard to believe that He has a plan and that the plan is the very best for us, no matter how scary?

A friend of mine once talked about risk as “falling into the arms of God.” I like that! I guess that’s where I will be as I work through (with Him) the next phase of my life. Good thing I have a life coach to help keep me moving forward.