livingwholecoaching

destiny, finding God, gifts and talents, God, journey, Life Coach, life worth living, mission, purpose, the butterfly journey, women

I Want to Die Empty

August 9, 2015August 9, 2015 livingwholecoaching

I admire those famous people in history that used their entire life serving people and making the world a better place. Those that we had the opportunity of knowing because their lives were showcased to the world. Some that come to mind are Martin Luther King Jr. and Mother Theresa and there are countless more, many more.

But there are ones who we didn’t get an opportunity to know through history or mainstream media. Those that weren’t written about in books. Those ordinary people like you and me, just living out their purposes, using their God-given gifts, talents and life experiences to serve others and making their communities something better than what it was before them.

I always knew that I was born for something. I just couldn’t believe for a minute that God would create me just to exist. It took me almost a lifetime to figure out what it was, but here I am today striving to live my life until I am empty. No not empty in the way you may be thinking, but empty of everything that God gave me and created me for to complete while here on this earth. I wish that I could have had someone to come along side of me to help m figure it all out before now. But God always had a plan. (Jeremiah 29:11)

When I first saw the words “die empty” it confused me; as I asked myself, “Why would anyone want to die empty?” But see God has given me a mind that is able to look at things from a whole different perspective.

To die empty to me means to use all that God has blessed me with and all that He created me to be to serve people in a unique way. It means to be passionate about using my gifts, talents, skills and every life experience (good and bad) to help someone else. It not only means to make the world a better place, but ultimately it means to build up God’s kingdom for His glory!

The discovery of my purpose came during one of my life’s storms. Yep, I discovered my purpose through my pain. It wasn’t very clear at first, but the revelation came after the storm, during my healing process. I went through a lot during that time and even though it was a painful experience, I am glad that God allowed something beautiful to come out of it. (Romans 8:28)

For me to find my purpose, my reason for being here was the most wonderful thing to happen to me! It gives me a specific reason for living, it gives me direction and it gives me peace!

The more I seek God, study His word and follow His guidance, the more I learn about life, my life that is connected in Him! I know for sure that I am here to help people “die empty” and most importantly to know God, for He is who we live and die for!

Love Lisa

The Butterfly Journey

http://www.thebutterflyjourney.com

brokenness, encouragement, God, health, the butterfly journey, women

Heart Healthy

February 3, 2015 livingwholecoaching

February is heart health month. During this month you can find helpful information about how to have a healthy heart, or about warning signs when something is wrong with your heart. It is all about the well-being of your physical heart.

February is also the month of Valentine’s Day. A day set aside to show love to your significant other and others you love in a special way. Usually we adorn each other with chocolates and roses. Valentine’s Day is one of the most celebrated and lucrative holidays that we engage in.

What about your spiritual heart? Is it healthy, do you know the warning signs that something may be going wrong with it? Do you have the information on how to keep it healthy? Or have the arteries of life circumstances caused plaque to build up and the flow of love and joy are having a hard time reaching your heart to keep it healthy?

Have you been exercising your heart muscles by showing love to keep your heart strong and in a position to receive love? Your spiritual heart is just as important as your physical heart. It warrants your every effort to make sure that nothing foreign comes in to make your heart beat irregularly or cause damage.

We place things in our heart from experiences that we have encountered in our lifetime. Some things are good, others are bad, but God wants us to make sure that what we put in our hearts are things that will help us live life to its fullest. Good things that will catapult us into a relationship with Him and others. When we have experienced something that was not good and we place it in our hearts, it stays there until we release it. As long as it stays there the more miserable you may become. You will live your life not fully being free to love or receive love.

That’s why God said in His word: Proverbs 4: 23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. NIV

The good news today is that God can help you release the bad things that you have placed in your heart. The things that will keep you from experiencing a true flow of love and joy, but you have to give God all the pieces of your brokenness. He will replace those things with wisdom and love. Trust Him, I do!

Blessings Lisa

friends, make a difference in someone's life, relationships, the butterfly journey

Are You Investing in Your Relationships?

January 26, 2015 livingwholecoaching

A new year, a new you, a better version of you! One of my goals for 2015 is to invest in the relationships that I hold dear to my heart. I would admit that I have not really taken a close look at my relationships until my husband said, “in order to have a friend, you have to be a friend.” Wow, ok that made me look deep within myself for the answer to that statement. Had I really been a friend?

I searched over the relationships in my life and concluded that yes maybe I hadn’t been such a good friend. At my age, I don’t believe that I would be making many new friends, acquaintances maybe, but real friends no. So I looked back over the years for those who had been positive, encouraging, influences in my life. Yep, I found them all in the history of my life. Those who never were far away during the real struggles on my journey.

I thought back to the milestones that we had shared with each other; the good ones and the bad. We never missed a beat. We may have missed birthdays or anniversaries, but we never failed to reconnect at the most important times. So I searched my heart and knew right away that I had to do something different. I wanted to make the next leg of my life’s journey with them by my side.

I wanted to celebrate them, let them know how incredibly important they were to me and the world. I decided that I would invest my time, money, and life to these few folks who God had so meticulously placed in the path of my life. I work in the funeral industry and all too often I see people regret missed opportunities to cherish those who were important to them. But once they are in our office it’s too late to change the pattern of the life that is now gone.

So I vowed that I am going to be the best friend, wife, mother, daughter, sister, grandmother, and person that I can be. I want to give each of my relationships their flowers while they are living to enjoy them. I will invest my time, money, and talent to bless their lives. I want them to know without a shadow of a doubt that they matter to me! And I want my life to reflect that I loved those dear to me and that I gave all that I could to make this world a better place.

Here are some of my ideas in blessing others:

Send a card with flowers just to say “I love you and you matter to me”
Take a day off work to spend the afternoon with my grandchildren just to laugh
Buy a Valentine’s gift for my sister
Take my mother to get a mani/pedi
Have lunch and facial with my best friend

These are just some small things that you can do for someone special in your life. You would be amazed of how something small becomes a “big” deal to someone who deserves it! It’s time to invest!

Blessings,

Lisa

encouragement, self-discovery, self-examination, the butterfly journey

Worry About Yourself

January 18, 2015 livingwholecoaching

I had to share this funny video with you. It was one of the cutest videos I had seen in a long time posted on Facebook! Although the message was sweet and innocent coming from a 3-year-old little girl, it had some profound content that I thought worthy of blogging about.

The scene is a sweet, cute little girl in the backseat of the family car trying desperately to hook the belts to her car seat. (This is a daunting task as I have tried many times and failed to buckle my grandchildren in). Her dad says, “you want me to help you?” And with the sweet small voice she says, “no I can do it myself.” As she continues to struggle with it her dad asks again, “what do you want me to do?” She so innocently says, “worry bout yo self!” Well you could have bought me for a wooden nickel! It was too cute!

But how much message is really in those little words? Worry about yourself, could be a nice way of saying mind your business, but I didn’t take it that way. I look at it as saying we can always find something wrong or we know how to correct someone else’s issues but we can’t even see our own issues. Isn’t that the truth? It is always easier it seems to let someone know what they are doing wrong or not addressing in their lives, than it is to understand our own shortcomings or bad choices.

That is why I am learning (you see that I’m learning) to ask God to show me my own issues so that I can work on me and then I can come along side of someone who may be dealing with similar issues and help not hinder. I never want to be in a position that I can’t see my own stuff, my own issues or where I fall short. None of us are perfect so there is always something to work on. I believe staying humble is the best ingredient for being in a position to help people when they need you.

So don’t stop “worrying about people”, but make sure you have the right attitude when you are trying to help them. Make sure your reasons are pure and if they aren’t then “worry bout yo self and let God do the rest.

Blessings

Lisa

depression, encouragement, God, the butterfly journey

Could It Be You?

January 11, 2015 livingwholecoaching

When you are involved in an unpleasant situation, do you naturally look at the other party as the reason for it? I’m not saying that you are wrong for doing that because in some cases it could very well be because of someone else’s role that the situation occurred.

But this is what I want you to think about for a minute…could it be YOU? I know you have examples for me that prove that it is not always you or it never has been you that caused a situation to go south. However, hear me out.

I’ve shared my testimony with you many times, but since I haven’t blogged in a year (and I hope that I will have some new followers) I will give you a little bit of my story. Thank God it has been over 7 years now since I suffered with major depression. During the latter part of my dark journey I started asking myself and God why did I get to the place that I was in? Well talking to myself I could explain a lot of my demise by pointing my finger at others.

God took me in another direction. He pointed his finger at me! Me?! I did this to myself?! But I didn’t fuss with God, I just listened, because at that point in my life that is all I could do. I humbled myself and listened to God. I allowed God to show me, myself. Wow, what a journey that was; not pleasant at all. What it did for me though was examine every choice that I had made. The good, bad, and the ugly.

It was then that my life began to change…for the better. I learned the most life lessons during this season of my life. If you want to truly be free and walk in a better relationship with not only yourself, but God and others, you would embrace self-examination.

Would you agree that God only wants the best for you? When He cares, he wants to show you ways that may be contrary to the what the world teaches you. He wants to move you into a new level of “trusting” Him. And if you can’t trust Him with your life, your entire life, than you have a lot to learn my friend.

Give yourself a chance to be the “best” you and trust God to show you, you.

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within ME.” Psalm 51:10 NIV

Blessings, Lisa

2015, dream bigger, dreams, encouragement, New Year, the butterfly journey

Dream a New Dream 2015!

January 3, 2015 livingwholecoaching

While I was thinking back over the last year, I noticed a common theme…I don’t stick with the plans that I have for my life. I am not sure what happens to the zeal for the things that I so long to do, but I get overwhelmed with life in general and I just stop!

Not good! There are so many wonderful, worthy plans that I want to accomplish and unfortunately time is not standing still waiting for me to get my act together.

God is always faithful even when we are not. When I was crying and complaining about my own laziness, He began to intervene on my behalf. Wonderful right? Well not so much. What God did was allowed me to be in a situation that caused me to be uncomfortable. Very uncomfortable and usually when I’m uncomfortable, I run. I run far away from the situation, the people, my calling….everything. My head in the sand.

But this time God said no more running. You will stay and you will face this situation head on with me by your side. Wow! Everyday I prayed as hard as I could for the answers to come, what do I do, where do I go, can I escape? Everyday for months I prayed for an answer.

One day it finally came! Yay, but hold on it wasn’t pleasant at first. The same feeling of hurt, pain, and confusion came as it did for the many days before, but this time I reacted differently. I trusted God and I did it His way and boom the outcome was not the same!

I say all this to let you know that until I was able to conquer this situation and the way it was making me feel and react I was going to be stuck and not doing the things in my life that I long to do. You see these situations come to blur our focus, cause us to retreat, to throw up our hands in surrender. Instead we should figure out the reason for the test and learn to conquer it and not allow it to conquer us.

So now that God was able to get my attention and teach me some wisdom, I am more than ready to move into the life that He was created for me. Without that situation rubbing me the wrong way and me learning to deal with it in God’s way I would still be stuck.

God told me to “dream a new dream in 2015”, not to let go of what He has already showed me, but to breathe new life into those things. I need to encourage myself and recognize instantly when the enemy is trying to distract me from my calling.

2015 is my year, what about you?! You can take a close look at the patterns of your life and determine that what held you captive then will not be the same thing that holds you back this year. Time for a good self-evaluation and talk with God. Let Him show you what you need to do to move toward your destiny.

Blessings,

Lisa

31 Day Butterfly Journey, the butterfly journey

31 Day Butterfly Journey: Change

September 22, 2013 livingwholecoaching

Well I’m back! I had a challenging 2 weeks recently and had to take time to deal with the situations that presented themselves in my life. I don’t like dealing with challenges, especially those that cause me discomfort (most people are probably the same), but I have learned that I must face those challenges in order to move forward and not get stuck in a place of discouragement or defeat.

I’m learning that placing my struggles in the hands of God can shorten the process or challenge that I am facing. It’s hard to relinquish your troubles, but I am realizing now that it is well worth it in the end. God gives me the answers or supplies my needs in each situation and then I can breathe again.

Change is a very hard subject for some (me included), but change most times is a result of things that come into our lives either for the better or for the worse. It is not always something great that happens to make us look at change, sometimes it’s something bad that has caused us to really look at change in a whole new light.

For me its my health. I suffer from diabetes and all its little minions that follow along with it; hypertension, high cholesterol, and all kinds of different ailments.

This past week my fiancé and I were on vacation in the mountains of Massanutten VA, just relaxing and enjoying the scenery. We both realized almost at the same moment that we need to live a healthier life.

I am not sure if it was because of the beauty of the environment or if it was the lazy feeling that settled over us after we had a wonderful fat-laden meal each day, but something just sparked a burning desire to take care of the one body that God gave us.

Change isn’t always easy, and sometimes it’s a matter of life or death and as the old saying goes; “old habits die hard”, but they do die if you decide that it’s time for them to go! So I am going to give my old unhealthy habits notice that they will have to go, go to a grave where they can no longer have control of my life or health. They have to go so that I can live and fulfill my God-given destiny. They have to go so that I can see my grandchildren grow up. They have to go so that I can have a medication free life without all the side affects that surely will give me an early funeral of my own life.

If there is something that you need (or want) change for in your life today, then declare and decree it in the name of Jesus that it has to go! Don’t be afraid of failure, just keep trying! We will give you all the encouragement that we can and when the results start to show you will be so delighted that you decided to make that change! It’s not always going to be easy to face each new challenge, but it can be done!

What is the one change that you would like to see in your life? Let’s change together, we CAN do it!

The Butterfly Journey ~ Lisa

31 Day Butterfly Journey

31 Day Butterfly Journey: Refresh!

September 5, 2013September 5, 2013 livingwholecoaching

Wow what a challenging day! Every where I turned there was some situation that was rearing its ugly head trying to sap the life out of those that I care about and love, even me! I started to get frustrated, like why God not one more thing?! But in my journey of learning from life’s lessons, I stopped myself and my mind from going any place other than to the one I know can change our future.

I often wondered how people that face a life altering threat can withstand the uncertainty of their situation. It amazes me how some face their challenges head on, never wavering to consider “why me”; they just keep on moving forward to see what lies ahead of them. I have witnessed people that have held on so tightly to their faith that nothing that came would shake them. How do they do it? What motivates them to face health issues, and sometimes death everyday and not get tired of the pain, the changes, or the limitations?

Well I tell you what one friend told me; she said “I do get tired, sad, and even wanting to give up”, but she said “I can’t”. I said, “what makes you keep going then”? She said “it’s the love of God”. Explain I said, well she began it’s like this, “every time I can’t take anymore of my situation God comes and refreshes me”. I asked; “how does He do that”? “By taking the pain away or making the situation better for a day or so”? She said, “no not really, it’s more internal (more to do with my heart and spirit)”. Wow! ” You are telling me that by God refreshing your heart and spirit allows you to go on another day?!” She said, “yes”!

I took her wisdom and placed it in my heart for such a day like today. I was even able to pour into someone else that was going through and we both shared a tear or two, but our spirits were okay. . . they were refreshed!

So no matter the circumstance ask God to refresh your heart and spirit. Begin to praise Him in the midst of your storm and see if He will not only refresh you, but He will restore you to a place in Him that nothing can touch, not even the negative reports or feelings that you may have. He is greater than anything that we face. Yet we still may have to face our challenges and sometimes they may seem daunting to us, just know for sure that God will refresh you!

The Butterfly Journey ~ Lisa

31 Day Butterfly Journey

31 Day Butterfly Journey: Go for It!

September 5, 2013September 5, 2013 livingwholecoaching

Well it’s no secret (or maybe it is) that I have a problem with procrastination! It really is almost like a disease. You get stuck in a place of not doing anything and you can’t or won’t move forward. That’s me! I hate to really admit my shortcomings before the world, but this is what this journey is all about, sharing my life’s struggles and triumphs so it gives wings to someone else.

I have a HUGE opportunity coming up in the next couple of weeks. I really want to do it, but I am a little afraid of the outcome. I feel so passionate about it that I can’t let it just go by the wayside. Oh my what should I do? I have weighed the pros and cons and I think I am going to GO FOR IT! If I have nothing to lose (maybe a few dollars), but a LOT to gain, then why not?

What do you all think? If you were given an opportunity to do something that you have dreamed of doing or trying then would you go for it? Why or why not? And how would you come to your conclusion for the choice that you make?

I think in everyone’s lifetime we are offered some sort of alternative or solution to our situation and for some it is a hard decision, even though, we know it just might be the booster that we have been looking for. Fear gives way to our logically thinking and the heart and mind sometimes don’t agree, then what? We lose the opportunity that may not present itself again or not for a long time? Will we have regrets that will haunt us the rest of our lives? Something to ponder.

Well, I think I just talked myself into going for it! I hope that I can share the outcome either way it comes out! I want to be open about my progress of learning how to let go and yes, let God!

If you are in a situation where you are contemplating what to do, share and let our community help you. SHARE!

The Butterfly Journey ~ Lisa

31 Day Butterfly Journey, the butterfly journey

31 Day Butterfly Journey: In the Meantime

September 4, 2013September 4, 2013 livingwholecoaching

When I finally realized what my purpose in life was I was so excited! I had waited all my life to understand who God wanted me to be and do while I was on this earth. Year after year, I worked and went about my daily life struggles just like everyone else and just summed it all up to this is all there is.

But since God has a bigger and better plan for my life I was overwhelmed with emotion when it all started to click! Yay, but not so fast, I haven’t been able to work fully in my purpose just yet. Bills have to be paid, responsibilities taken care of; and I can’t just skip to the loo my darling off into purpose land.

However, in the meantime, I have been praying and listening to the instructions of God to catapult me into my purpose full-time. I am not just sitting here waiting and complaining (well I admit sometimes I do), but God has been so wonderful to teach me things in everyday life and my walk with Him that is preparing me for my transition into my destiny.

I have worked for a large insurance company for 20 years, 10 of those years I have been doing the same job. Even though most jobs have left me feeling under challenged and unmotivated after like 2 years, this one has kept me going. Truly it is the people that I interact with each day that makes it all worthwhile. If I didn’t have them I would probably grow into a dust ball in the corner of my desk and roll away at around age 65!

Today God proved to me that even though this is not my life’s purpose, but in the meantime I can use the skills, technology, and oh yes the many wonderful people that I get to meet everyday for my ministry. I could go on for days telling you story after story about how wonderful some of the relationships have been through my job. There have been times when I was feeling low and client’s would come in (some I knew, some I didn’t) and they would end up ministering to me about the goodness of the Lord! Now talk about God sending angels to meet your needs! He has never failed.

Hmmm, that just might be my next book. . .Angels in Our Midst (don’t steal my idea)!

Anyway, I just want to encourage you that where you are today is not where you will always have to be, but in the meantime do your best to find the opportunity in whatever you are doing to add to you destiny. Try to find that spark of opportunity in your everyday life.

I read a post this evening from a high school friend that has been suffering with cancer and she said and I quote; “The goal is to live a full, productive life even with all that ambiguity. No matter what happens, whether the cancer never flares up again or whether you die, the important thing is that the days that you have had you will have lived.” – Sherry Smith Luttrell Sherry’s words speak volume to me and hopefully to you to live your life every blessed second of it with zeal and purpose!

Seize the new opportunity and new grace with every new day!

The Butterfly Journey ~ Lisa