Month: June 2012

purpose, seeking God

I Have Need of Quiet Time

livingwholecoaching

The woman of God spoke life over me as I shared with her the mission/purpose God had given to me to pursue.  When I was sharing with her the vision that the Lord showed me over 3 years ago when He healed me from my depression; I could see in her eyes that she could see it too!  As I began to share my testimony of where God had bought me from she began to feel the passion in my spirit for what God had called me to.

It was an amazing encounter to say the least, as we were in a hospital room with my mother recovering from back surgery.  The woman of God got up and came to me and began to pray over my life.  She spoke to me as God gave her revelation for my life and I began to cry.  As she touch my hands I felt the spirit of God transcend from her spirit to mine and I knew she was who she says she is, a woman of the most high God!

The words that she spoke were nothing new to my ear as it all was confirmation of what God had promised me years ago. Now He was using someone to let me know that it was Him who had a plan for my life.

The one thing that she said that stood out for me was; “it time for new beginnings”, a new life everything would be changed, this was the time.  So I decided that I would embrace these words and begin my journey into a “life makeover” with God.  But only a few weeks into the life makeover challenge I began to feel very week in my physical body, as well as, my spirit, and the zeal began to wane.

The Lord gently spoke to me and said; “you need quiet time with me”!  I heard God loud and clear and so I have decided to be obedient and go away from all that I am doing and seek His face.  Without Him I can’t do any of this, I can have no power in executing the things that He has shown me.  The purpose that He has given me is so much more important than me that I will not compromise its outcome for anything!

So I am going away, perhaps not physically, but emotionally and spiritually I have to go away to be with God and allow Him to make me over in the way that only He can.  I solicit your prayers during this time that I would remain faithful to my purpose and to God.  That I would come back to my purpose/mission with more clarity, more vivid directions, and more importantly more zeal for my life as God sees it!

I pray that each of you will remain faithful to your purpose and if you need quiet time with God don’t put it off do it now!

Blessings – The Butterfly Journey ~ Lisa

God, Life Coach, purpose

Are You Running From Your Purpose?

livingwholecoaching

I have always wanted to know the meaning of my life.  It has always been a part of my curiosity to figure out exactly why I was born in this world.  I would never understand why anyone consciously wouldn’t want to know their purpose in life.

But I see that some people actually are running from their life’s purpose. Some run perhaps because they are afraid of success, others run because of fear of failure and still others run, because  it seems to require too much energy to figure it out.

I was reading about Jonah this morning and him running away from what God had asked him to do.  His reasons were of a selfish nature.  He didn’t want God to have compassion and grace for the people of Nineveh.  They had done a lot of evil things and didn’t honor God, but once Jonah completed his assignment to preach judgement to them, they repented and God was gracious and compassionate with them and saved them.  Essentially giving them a next chance to get it right.  (We all need next chances)  Why wouldn’t Jonah want that for the people of Nineveh? Are your reasons anything like that of Jonah?  I pray not, but you know whatever it is that God has purposed for your life just might be the saving grace that someone needs.  Why would you withhold that from them?

I’ll admit that when God showed me my purpose I was afraid, because the task seemed so daunting.  But I knew in my heart of hearts that if what God asked me to do would heal, deliver, and set free women from where they are and set them on a path to knowing God, how could I not do it!  My purpose has become bigger than me and has become more about pleasing God and bringing healing to my sisters than any of my fears.

What purpose are you running from today?  Who will suffer because you are not willing to fulfill your God-given purpose?  These are some deep questions to ask yourself, but I pray that you will ask them and seek the answers from God.  Not only because someone somewhere needs what you have, but more because God ask it of you.  Do you want to end up in the belly of a big fish, I think not!

Embrace your purpose and I will be praying for you!

The Butterfly Journey ~ Lisa (www.thebutterflyjourney.com)

God, journey, purpose, vision

The Vision Will Come

livingwholecoaching

In our microwave society, we want everything yesterday.  Time is of essence and we can’t waste a minute of it.  Work harder, move faster, get it done all in one step.  That’s what I was allowing to happen to me.  God showed me my purpose and the vision for the ministry and I want to hurry to get there.

But a good friend reminded me today to enjoy the journey.  Wow, my mother told me that about 3 years ago when I first started dating my now fiance.  I listened to her for the most part, but now I find myself doing the same thing with my ministry.  Perhaps it is because I finally found out what my purpose was so late in my life that I feel I have little time to see its manifestation.

But wait a minute, I can’t get in front of God!  I don’t even want to because that my friend that will be disastrous to say the least.

I need to learn to enjoy this journey that He has me on, every aspect is wonderful and a learning experience for me.  I need to take a step back and marvel at the awesomeness that He is revealing to me.  I need to slow down, because if I don’t I feel the whole thing could just fail.  I don’t want to get weary, because I am doing things in my own strength.  I don’t want to miss an opportunity to draw closer to God.  I want to be obedient with every step of faith that I take.

So thank you Lord for using my friend to tell me to slow down and enjoy the journey, because you are faithful and the vision will come.

The Butterfly Journey ~ Lisa

coach, God, Life Coach, Next Step

The Next Step

livingwholecoaching

I was just sitting here thinking about how different my life would look if I had made different choices in life a long time ago.  But I realize that I can’t go back and change my past.  When I really think about it I really don’t want to because my past experiences have molded me into the person that I am today!

I can however, take steps to change where I am today to where I want to be in life with the help of God.  Like most people, I look over my life and get overwhelmed with where to start.  What is the next step?

As I have been studying for my certification as a Christian Life Coach, the one thing that the instructors told us was if you are going to be coaching people into their destiny, then you yourself need to have a life coach too!  Wow, that made a whole lot of sense.  So I reached out to a Life Coach that I had met over 2 years ago that had a very unique effect on me.

At that time in my life I was smack dab in the middle of a life crisis, I was in full swing of my depression.  When I met her at a workshop about Life Coaching, she asked me a simple question; “where are you in your life?”  And I burst into tears!  Needless to say at that point I really needed something or someone to help me through my mess, but the timing was not right.  But when I heard the instructors say get a life coach, she was the first person I thought about and I made strides to find her again.

I did find her and we met for lunch one day to begin the process of starting a coaching relationship.  God is never wrong and is always on time!  That meeting went so well and we connected so well spiritually that all we could say was we must make this work!

The thing that I am trying to say is don’t just sit still and not decide to take the next step in your life, even if you don’t know what that step looks like.  You can reach out to God for answers and if a Life Coach is something that you want to pursue to help you get from point A to point B, we can help!  My mother always says: “how do you eat an elephant?” One bite at a  time!

If you are ready to get started, check out our introductory Life Coaching sessions (6 weeks) for only $150 with a payment plan that can work for every budget. www.thebutterflyjourney.com  Hurry this price will only last until July 31!

The Butterfly Journey ~ Lisa

 

 

 

God, the butterfly journey, unplug, wellness

Get Unplugged

livingwholecoaching

I can honestly say that my life looks so much different from 4 years ago.  I am grateful that it is for the better and not the worse.  When I was stuck in my depressive state I had nothing to look forward to, no purpose, no dreams, just a dark hole of emptiness.

But today I am thriving, working out my life’s purpose and I have more zeal and joy with the Lord than I have ever had.  With that has come an overwhelming feeling of too much.  I long to work full-time in the ministry/business that God has revealed to me as my calling, but in reality I have to pay the bills and so I continue to work a job.  It is very taxing at times trying to balance all the things that I want to accomplish within the limited time of only 24 hours in a day!

Sometimes my days look like this: 2 hours on the road, 8 hours at work, 2 hours to check-in with family, friends, and clients, I try to get at least 5 hours of sleep (I have insomnia so that doesn’t always work), an hour to eat, an hour for daily errands and that only leaves me with 5 hours to work in my purpose!  I try to multi-task, pray while walking the dog, research while eating, posting, blogging and tweeting while on the phone with loved ones, running errands while on my lunch break and whew, I am tired!  And I don’t even have little children running around, thank God, because I probably would need to run away to an island for a week if I did! And I have no time to even pamper myself and I need it, everyone needs it once in a while.

How do I get this all in?  How do people do the amazing things they accomplish while doing life in general?  I am searching for the answers, asking God for clarity and direction.  I am leaning heavily on going unplugged for a period of time.  How much time?  I don’t know I feel that I don’t have a minute or second to waste.  But is it really a waste to take some time to reflect, relax, and refresh yourself?  Or will it give me more energy to find a creative way to get it all in and not lose my composure?

As we are talking about physical wellness during our life makeover,  I think it is a good idea to think about our emotional and mental wellness as well.  We can be super fit physically and emotionally a mess and that is not good.

I want a huge commitment from you to balance your life and manage it with the direction of God.  Make the important things count and never take anything for granted.  Prioritize the things in your life that matter most and if the dishes aren’t washed tonight so what, kiss your husband and spend time with your kids.  Do the things that make an eternal impact.  I am learning!

So I am praying about going unplugged and I will let you know when I do, but in the meantime, think about your own life and see if you need to unplug for a period of time so that you can focus on the things that really matter.

The Butterfly Journey ~ Lisa

change, health, motivated

Move!

livingwholecoaching

This is an area that I have struggled with most of my life, my weight/health.  I enjoy the benefits of looking good and being healthy just like most people, but I struggle with staying with a healthy regimen.

I use my busy schedule as an excuse, (ok I admit it) to not exercise when I know that it will help me reap the benefits that I long for.  So why can’t I get motivated to move?  I really have no excuses and I am able-bodied and able to walk and have some endurance so I just need to get out there and move.  I know the results will be great and I will feel so much better once I get started, it’s the getting started part.

But since I have decided that I would makeover my life, this part I can’t skip over.  It wouldn’t make much sense to have a made-over life and then be sick.  Ok, ok I get it!

I hope that we can do this together, help motivate each other to move more and eat less and see what results we get at the end of this 6-month challenge!  For me I want to not only be at a healthy weight, but I want to be medication free.  What do you want?

Let’s do this!  Day 6 Action Step – Begin an exercise regimen that you can handle.  Find a buddy to keep you motivated.  Just start today and build up to where you want to be.  We can do this, let’s go!

The Butterfly Journey ~ Lisa

give, God, Harvest, reap, sow

Give!

livingwholecoaching

Since we are on a roll with facing debt and talking about money let’s just dive right into the other aspects that we need to know and do in order to change the course of our relationship with money.  Let’s really get free!

If you are a believer I trust that you understand the principle of tithing.  If not please get wisdom from your spiritual leader.  But we will give you a basic understanding today.  God asks that we give back to Him 10% of our gross income.  He asks that we sow this tithe into the church (storehouse) that we attend.  Malachi 3:10 says – “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.  Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” It helps to advance the ministry in reaching people for God.  It also teaches us to be obedient to His principles, for our very own good.  You see when we give back what God asks of us, he promises to provide for our every need.

The principle of sowing and reaping can be understood by anyone.  When you plant something you will reap something.  If you plant a pumpkin seed you will get a pumpkin.  If you plant a thorn-bush, guess what you will not get a cherry tree.  It is the same concept with tithing, if you plant your tithe in obedience back to God, He will give you a harvest of abundance.  I know it may sound weird, but from experience I can tell you that I have never had a lack whenever I have been obedient in giving of my tithes.

I have tithed when I didn’t really know if I would have enough money to pay my bills, but I trusted God’s word and sure enough I would have what I needed when I needed it.

Now I am not trying to a theologian with all the correct words etc, but I am speaking from my heart.  If you don’t have a church home to tithe to and you’re not quite ready to move in that direction, try giving back to your community, a charity of a good cause, and see how it feels to help someone or something other than yourself.  It is a great feeling.

Day 4 Action Step – Decide today to begin to tithe your 10% into your place of worship and watch what God will do in the midst of you trusting Him!

The Butterfly Journey ~ Lisa

 

Challenges, change, debt

Facing Debt

livingwholecoaching

On our journey to a life makeover, today’s action step was about debt.  Ugh!  Well it’s something that we all face in some facet throughout our lifetime.  Hopefully, yours has been a positive experience, personally mine has not.

Some issues are due to my own fault of not being a good steward over the finances that God entrusted me with.  Until I got to that level of thinking and looking at my situation, I could never be free to face it and dissolve it once and for all.

I have too much to do for God to be burden down with debt and all that goes along with it.  So as a part of my life makeover I have decided to face it head on!  Here we go!

Day 3 action step is to create a spreadsheet or chart that lists all your outstanding debt including the name of the creditor, their address, phone number and the amount you owe.  It may seem like a daunting task and it was for me, but once I completed it I felt liberated.  And guess what it wasn’t as bad as I had imagined.  Now I will put the steps together to whittle them all down to nothing and finally be free!  By the end of this 6-month life makeover I will owe no one but to love them a mandate from God!

I found a wonderful tool that is biblically based with financial tools to get you from point A to point B.  If you need assistance check out www.crownmoneymap.com.

In order to be successful with this part of our lives we are going to have to have a new mindset on how we look at and deal with money.

I don’t know about you, but I am ready to be free from debt and being able to be a blessing to others financially instead of living paycheck to paycheck.  Are you ready?  Well get going then it’s all in your hands.

The Butterfly Journey ~ Lisa

believer, Challenges, change, coach, finding God, Life Coach, wisdom

Turn the Page

livingwholecoaching

It’s time to turn the page in your book of life.  Time to write the next chapter as you see it vividly through God’s eyes.

Matthew 6:33 says; “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” NIV  When we finally come to the conclusion that God is there for us and we can look to Him for our everything, He will make it plain the plan He has for you and help you in the struggles of life that you face.  So all the areas in your life that you want to makeover really need to start with a belief in God.  What we will do over the next 6 months are things that will help you make positive move towards those goals, but it isn’t solidified until you choose God to lead you through life.

You don’t have to believe to understand biblical principles, but you must believe in order to activate them.  We are always going to refer back to our foundation – God during this journey.  It is not the only thing we know, but it is the best.  We will never push our beliefs on you, but we want to invite you to try this God that we speak about.

One thing I know for sure is that God has amazing things that He wants to show you and share with you, and you freely have the choice to choose His gifts!

Since we have reflected on our lives, taken an honest look at where we are in our lives, we should now be able to turn the page of our lives to begin to re-write the script of who we are.  This 6-month challenge is not going to be easy for some, it is not all going to be happy, happy, joy, joy; there are things that we will need to face in order to move forward into the life we desire.  So stick with me on this one, I promise that if you try at least some of the action steps that you not be disappointed.

Day 2 Action Step – Let’s start with wisdom, now you know I disclosed in the beginning that most of the areas that we will touch on will have multiple meanings and this is one of them.  This step will have a dual action step so pay close attention.  Part 1 – If you have a church home and are not attending regular bible-study then now is the time.  Make the sacrifice to join and be committed to it.  I have decided that I was going to join my fiance in studying the bible in a year, we started a while back, but I admit it was me that slacked off.  But I am going to call him right now, and ask that we start back up or at least that I start back up with him.  If you don’t have a church home that you belong to I am sure that any fellowship in your area will welcome you to attend their study.  Part 2 – What is it that you desire to do with your career?  Want that promotion, want to become an entrepreneur?  Then let’s takes a course!  Find out what you have to do to sign up for either a credit course or continuing education course that you would enjoy and invest in yourself for a change.  Don’t give me any excuses because I have used all of the myself, just do it!

I hope that this challenge will catapult you into the person that you desire to be, you know the life that you daydream about it only takes commitment and effort, I’m giving you the tools for free!

See you around campus!

The Butterfly Journey ~ Lisa

Challenges, change, God, hope, Life Coach

Start from Square One

livingwholecoaching

Well today marks the first day of our 6-month life makeover challenge!  Woo hoo! I am super excited about all the new beginnings and possibilities to change my life from the place that I am right now into the place that I desire to be in every area of my life! It’s not going to be easy that is why we called it a challenge.  There are some parts of our lives that we will breeze right through, other parts not so much.  But I am committed to seeing the process to the end of the 6-months just to see how strong I really am.

I prayed and thought and thought and prayed about what the first action step should be on this challenge and it dawned on me that in order to begin to change the fabric of our lives we need to really have a clear picture of where we are.  Make sense?  How can we challenge ourselves to makeover areas in our lives if we don’t really focus on where we currently are.

So the first action step is going to be internal.  What do I mean?  Well I mean in your heart; I need you to focus on the inner being of who you are right now.  Look at yourself in your spiritual mirror and take an honest look at yourself.  Where are you?  Reflection on oneself is not something that we do everyday or even at all, but in order for us to move into a new dimension of who we really are supposed to be we must figure out who we are right now!  Are you following me?

I know that I shared this part of my journey with  you many times before, but it stand telling again so you get exactly where I am coming from for this action step.  When I was depressed and started to heal (with the love of God), I asked God why did I end up in this place that I was in?  His response to me was simple, “look in the mirror of your soul and take a close look at your life”.  My life had become a jumbled mess of compromising who I really was, what I believed and my values.  For many reasons I found myself compromising to be liked, to be loved, to fit in, and to please people. But that portrayal of who I thought people wanted me to be was false,it was taxing on the real me. For me it was bittersweet to finally realize what was going on with me; on one hand I could finally make a decision to change and become the real Lisa, on the other hand, I had to face that I had let God down.  And that my friend was the bitter part.

Day 1 Action Step – Find a quiet place and begin to focus on your life, every part of it, the good, the bad and the ugly.  Listen to what your heart is telling you about what your life really looks like.  Some of it may hurt, some may make you proud, but remember there is hope for a brighter future.  Now one thing that I want to make clear is that it all begins and ends with you.  You can’t do this exercise and include others in the process.  If you have deep embedded hurt and unforgiveness that you need to deal with please seek a professional therapist to work those issues out.  One thing that God showed me in my process was ME, no one else, only me, I was responsible for myself – period.  After you have gotten a clear picture of where you are now is the time to begin to vision where you want to be in the next 6-months.  Have a set goal for every area of your life that you want to change.  This will give us a clear measurement of your progress.  If you haven’t purchased a journal to record this journey I suggest that you so today. You are going to be wowed at the end of the challenge about how far you have come and accomplished!

Ready?  Let’s go!

The Butterfly Journey ~ Lisa