Category: Faith

destiny, God, journey, life, love, prayer, purpose, seeking God, the butterfly journey, travel, women, worthy

The Journey Part I

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Today a group of adventurous women have set out on their “butterfly” journey!  Our first trek is “Down the Path of Worthy”; were we are seeking clarity and understanding of what our “true” worth is.  Until we understand this foundational point we will not understand our purpose.

We live in a world full of things to connect our worth to, but unfortunately those things are not our “true” worth nor do they hold any substance.  They are temporal and once they fade away then our worth goes along with it.

That is why it is so important to understand what God ordained as our worth.  The way He classifies us as worthy is much more than anything or anyone in this world.  It is of an eternal substance and will not wither away with the passing of time.

Our “true” worth is directly connected to our purpose.  So once we understand that pivotal point we are well on our way to understanding our destiny!  There is no better feeling than to walk in one’s destiny!  Until you are walking in your destiny your life is ordinary and feels like it has no basis.  Do you ever ask yourself what is it all for?  Waking up, going to work/school, back home to start all over again.  If God created you don’t you believe He had something marvelous in mind for your life?

Well He does, but you need to get deep into the things of Him to understand  and start living it.  That is what the butterfly journey is all about.  This month is only the beginning of a series of journeys that we will take.  There is a definite process to finding your true destiny.

I pray that you will join us on one or all of the journeys as we discover life!

The Butterfly Journey ~ Lisa

be all you can be, change, comfort zone, Faith, God, hope, Jesus, journey, life, live, New, prayer, purpose, the butterfly journey, travel, women

The Change Zone

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Traveling to a new place is sometimes a little scary.  You don’t know what to expect.  You don’t know if the people will be friendly or will you make new friends.  It is just a big unknown.  That is how it is changing your life from one level to the next.

We don’t know what the new level  will be like because we have become accustom to where we are right now.  Most people tend to stay in their comfort zone; well because it is comfortable.  To me the thought of never trying to reach that new level is even more scary.  Never trying to be all that you can be; just living the ordinary life.  For me if I didn’t ever try, I would always wonder if I could have made it to the next level and actually enjoyed the benefits of living that extraordinary life.

I believe you go through a series of emotions and growing pains when you decide to launch yourself into the new level of life.  It isn’t an easy process; that’s why so many of us will decide not to venture out into the new zone.  No one wants to fail, so we stay comfortably in the place that we may or may not be excited about being.  The thought of stepping out is too daunting.

When I decided to walk a life of faith in God and allow Him to grow me into a new level; I never thought I would feel so indifferent.  I know God is great and would always lead me to a better place in life with Him.  But the journey isn’t easy and each day is a challenge just to stay on course.  I can only imagine what Jesus felt as He walked through His journey on earth knowing His ultimate assignment was to die.  I am grateful that He did complete the assignment for you and me!  It allowed us to have hope and  a future!

God is not asking me to die for Him, but He is asking me to walk into this new level with Him.  When I think about Jesus, He didn’t have many who understood His journey and at the end some of the ones closest to Him would betray Him.  But that didn’t matter to Him, He knew He must fulfill His calling.  He did suffer; and we too sometimes will have to suffer in this life in order to reach our full potential in Him.  To complete our assignments.

My prayer for each of you is that you trust God in your journey whatever that may be.  You are better off  finding your true self than remaining in a place of unfulfillment.  More so, I pray that you will have someone there to encourage you through the tough spots that are sure to come.  I vow to be that someone who will come along side you when things get unbearable and pray you through.  I will be that one who you can express your feelings to that will understand, because I too am on my journey and I can relate to the rollercoaster of emotions that come with growing into that person that God would have you to be.

The butterfly’s journey isn’t easy; what you see when you see it fluttering freely through the flowers is the end result of its journey to become what it was meant to be.

Don’t stand still in the place that you are in right now; God has something greater for you!

The Butterfly Journey ~ Lisa

 

book, change, coach, Faith, God, journey, New, one day at a time, purpose, success, the butterfly journey, women

Just One Day

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I have been missing in action and I apologize to my faithful subscribers.  My life is about to turn upside down or right side up depending on the perspective that I take.  I will be venturing into a total new dimension of my life and while it is all exciting it is terrifying at the same time.

I am leaving my current job of 17 years to pursue my passion of being an entrepreneur.  My friend took a quantum leap of faith earlier this year to pursue her dreams and she is doing well.  I envied her, but I know the decision and the action to actually do it had her going in circles.  I know I have the skills, talents, a great business plan, and a great service that I am offering, but still there is this little voice deep inside saying; “You can’t do it!”  I am trying to push the little voice away but it has become a part of my subconscious mind and it is slowly developing into stress.  As we all know exposure to long-term stress is not good or healthy for you and I am a living testament to that.  Been there, done that!

On top of that I am finishing up my first book and now I need to prepare for its distribution in the spring.  That whole process is a job in itself!  Again, I am excited, but stressing about all the details that I will need to complete in order for its success to prevail.  And just to add a little spice to the mix, I am studying for my Christian Life Coach certification as a part of the service that I will offer through the ministry – The Butterfly Journey!  Yes, I started a ministry that is in direct connection with my book.

It seems as if I should be gearing up and my body and mind feel like taking a vacation.  My spirit is ready to move forward into my destiny!  I am just not sure how all this will play out.  But I do know that God is able!  So I am going to lean on Him for everything.  I know it all is going to work out, I just need to stay faithful and focused.

The other day I came home exhausted as usual (as I found out recently that I have severe insomnia) which I already knew and I just began to cry to the Lord.  I literally cried with every word that I spoke out to Him in prayer.  Graciously, He gave me instant peace and I rested that night.  Each day is going to have to be dealt with individually.  One day at a time.

Have you ever faced challenges that seemed to much to handle?  Please share your stories of how you got through it.  I know that it will encourage me and someone else who is facing a huge endeavor.

Continue on your journey, it is well worth it!

The Butterfly Journey ~ Lisa

a place for you, book, depression, God, grace, Healing, healing and deliverance, journey, land of Oz, life, live, love, purpose, the butterfly journey, women, worthlessness

A Place for You

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There have been times in my life when I thought I wouldn’t make it to another day.  The feeling of endless sadness and pain.  So many disappointments, far too many to count.  And this feeling of pure worthlessness.  But I knew intellectually that people cared about me and loved me but this feeling grew larger than my common sense.  It drowned my rational thinking like it was nothing.  It had me teetering on the edge of life itself.

I know I have talked about my depression a lot because it was one of the most difficult times in my life.  I never had experienced something so strong that was not a tangible thing that it baffled my normal thought process.  The more I tried to figure it out the more elusive it became.  You can’t even articulate the feelings in real words.  The more you try the more frustrated you become and you just begin to give up.

I suffered in this place of depression for over 730 days and I know other people have dealt with this terrible sickness for years and never really have come full circle from it.  I pray for those people everyday, for the strength to battle this monster with no face.  This enemy of mind and emotion.  This life threatening fog of doubt, fear and loneliness.

Once I received my full healing and deliverance from God.  I was inspired to write about my journey to this place of darkness and back to a place far better than what I left.  A place of purpose and confidence.  A place of undying love and grace.  I am forever grateful to God for saving me from this place of torment.

You really don’t realize that people all around you suffer from some sort of pain that they don’t openly share with others.  We work beside people who have suffered emotional and physical abuse from their parents.  Others that may have been damaged by things that happened to them in relationships.  They hide these things that have shaped who they are today because it is not accepted.  But we all are in the same boat, yet none of us want to open up and cry for help.  We would rather suffer silently and die a slow death inside ourselves than look like a failure or  be judged by the very ones who say they care.

My story, coming soon in a book form is for those kindred spirits that are lost in the land of Oz (depression) or some other sort of terrible place with no avenue of escape; nowhere to run to; to find release.  The Butterfly Journey is a place where you can share and feel safe that no one will judge where you have been or what has happened to you.  You can come to us and get the encouragement and rest that for so long you have needed.  A place of peace!

We can’t walk this path of life alone.  God is always there and we are his vessels in which to show you that you can be free of all that “stuff” and walk down a new path with your head held up, shoulders back and with an assurance that you do matter and you have purpose in this life.

Won’t you join us?  www.thebutterflyjourney.com or www.facebook.com/thebutterflysjourney

We have a place reserved just for you!  The Butterfly Journey ~ Lisa

autumn, change, God, journey, life plan, message, October, purpose, seasons of change, the butterfly journey, travel, treasures, women, worthy

Come Journey With Us!

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Well autumn will officially be here next week!  I love this time of year, when the air is crisp and cool.  The trees begin to change colors and the earth is preparing to go to sleep for the winter.  I love the seasons of change.

Years ago, my mother spoke at a women’s retreat about the seasons of ones life path and it was amazing!  Some of those attendees still stop her on the street and tell her how that message impacted their lives.

So we, (The Butterfly Journey Ministry) have decided that it is time to begin our journey of change.  In the month of October we will guide you on a 30 day virtual journey called “Down the Path of Worthy”.  We are excited about what the Lord is going to do in our lives.  Each day each participant will receive a journal exercise to complete and explore.  Along our journey we will find the understanding of our “true” worth.  We will collect treasures of wisdom that only God can show us.  It’s going to be amazing!  Once you find your worth, your purpose is just around the corner!

Please consider traveling with us.  In order to get your ticket, please register on our website www.thebutterflyjourney.com and put “I’m on my journey!” in the comments section.  This is one trip you won’t want to miss!

The Butterfly Journey ~ Lisa

book, Faith, God, Harvest, Healing, hope, hurting women, life, love, motivated, purpose, reap, September, sow, the butterfly journey, women, worthy

September

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I love September!  Not only is it my birth month, but it is the time of harvest.  For farmers and gardeners this is the time to reap what they have sown into the ground.  It is literally the fruit of their labor.

In the spirit we also sow and reap.  Whether it’s good or bad.  We will all reap what we have sown into our spirits.  As one of my good friends and I were talking the other day she reminded me that I have planted seeds of faith into the spirit  and one day I will reap a harvest!  I got excited about that!  What will my fruit look like?  Will it be desirable to the eye and satisfying or will it be rotten and of no use?

As I finish up my first book, I want the words to be seeds that are planted in the hearts of hurting women near and far.  I want it to reap a harvest of healing and purpose for each person that reads it.  I have to continue to remind myself that sharing my deepest pain is not about me, but it is all about God and His healing grace.  It is about the women who will read it and feel motivated to press on to see what the future holds.  It is for that person who feels unworthy and unloved to understand their true worth in Christ.  It is for the ones who desire to live out their purpose.

So I won’t make anymore excuses that I don’t have enough time to finish the book in 2011.  I will make every effort to finish this book of seeds so that they will be planted and grow and reap a harvest of righteousness for God’s sake, not mine.

What are you sowing into your life today?  Are they seeds of goodness and love or are they seeds of discord and unrighteousness?  What will your harvest look like come harvest time?

destiny, dreams, God, journey, life, motivated, the butterfly journey

Motivated!

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Ok world here we go!  I have wasted enough time doing things that do not bring me closer to my destiny, my dreams.  But you know what the only thing holding me back is ME!

This morning as I looked over my calendar with a sigh feeling overwhelmed before I have even got started; I reminded myself everything on there has a purpose in helping me reach my destination.

So I prayed for the physical strength to push on and to complete everything with vigor and purpose.  I had to motivate myself!  I just imaged the results of my efforts and it all is worth every moment.  The momentum is building up in me as I type this post!

God said He has a plan for my life and I must do my part to make it a reality.  It isn’t about me, it’s about my desire to give Him the glory!  It is about helping someone else along their life’s journey!  I got to move, I have to push!

I will not allow my tiredness to defeat me before I even get started.  The goal is greater than the parts.

I have been battling this weight issue (only in my mind) for a long time, but not doing anything about my health issues is pure self-defeating.  I want to reap the results, but I didn’t want to put in the work.  We all know that is not going to work.  So today it is on!  So get out of my way laziness, it’s my time to get it right.  I have work to do!

Get motivated today to begin your journey!  Pump up your desire to reap the results that you want to see.  You can do it, I know you can!  I’m cheering you on!

The Butterfly Journey ~ Lisa

God, golden nuggets, Joy, life, merry go round, one day at a time, worry

Stop! Let Me Off!

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Have you ever been on a ride at an amusement park and want to get off?  Well once the ride has started there is no turning back you have to endure whatever is going to happen.  I have an image of my grandson telling me to stop the merry-go-round because he wanted to get off.  It was too much for him to handle, he didn’t like the feeling of the swirling around and around and around.

I feel like that some days with my life.  I want to stop for a second and just get off!  I don’t like some of the feelings that I have to endure.  I don’t like the feeling of going around and around and around.

Unfortunately, we can’t stop the wheel of life when we want to, but we can decide to slow ourselves down.  Did you ever noticed that once you reached a certain age the time just seems to fly by?  Seriously, you wake up its Monday and you go to bed and when you get back up its Sunday!  How in the world did the week fly by in a nano second?  Who did that trick on us?

Everything is moving faster and faster it seems, days are rolling into weeks and before you know it the entire month is gone and it’s Christmas again.

Well I have decided to enjoy and learn from each day.  To take one day at a time, like the old gospel song says.  I can’t worry about tomorrow and think about next month or what will next year look like.  I need to relish in the moment of today; find my way in the throes of every moment and look for the golden nugget of knowledge and wisdom that God is trying to share with me in that instance.

I know as adults we have a need and desire to plan for the future, as we should, but I mean just being able to feel in the moment that you are in.  Find a true interest in the people that you come in contact with, go beyond “how are you today” and never stand still long enough for them to answer.

I challenge you today to enjoy the moment that you are in.  Find the “golden nugget” of experience for that day.  Start a journal and record what you learn, see or feel, and see the wonder of what God shows you.  We do live in a world of instant, fast, and get to the next stop before anyone else, but just try it for a week and see how you feel.  See how you grow to appreciate the simple parts of life and start taking “one day at a time”.

The Butterfly Journey ~ Lisa

book, God, Healing, journey, Joy, let it go, life, love, move on, past hurt

Past Hurt? Let it Go!

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I have had a lot of stuff going on in my life over the last several months.  Writing my first book, starting a ministry, developing a business and transforming to higher levels in my spiritual walk.  It all has been a marvelous journey and I am blessed beyond measure.  I have the love of my life there beside me to share it with.  My children and grandchildren are thriving and all is well.

Accept for today I woke up with a heaviness on my heart.  Not sure where it came from but it decided to visit me today.  There has been some past hurt in my heart because of a couple of people that were important to me, but I thought I had moved on from it.  But is seems that I have not completely healed from it.

Today I resolve to forgive the situation and the person(s) which the hurt has come from.  Even though I have never talked to them about the hurt that they caused and I feel that I may never get the opportunity, it is okay.  Today God gave me permission to let it go!

I am more than blessed to be surrounded by a group of people near and far that support me and love me for who I am.  Most importantly God loves me and that is all I need.

In life we will face these situations, but one thing I don’t want you to do is dwell on them and allow them time and space in your heart or spirit.  God will replace any hurt with joy and peace.  You can trust Him in that.

I have the spiritual covering from people that know me well and those whom I have just met.  And God has shown me unwavering favor in this journey!

So today if you have any unresolved hurt or unforgiveness, I want you to let it go now!  Open up your heart and spirit to the Lord and allow Him to fill you with His grace and mercy, love and joy.  Move on, it’s time!

The Butterfly Journey ~ Lisa

 

 

book, brokenness, connection, God, grief, hurting women, journey, the butterfly journey, women

Are You Connected?

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Con-nec-tion: a relationship in which a person, thing, or idea is linked or associated with something else.

What or who are you connected with?  Are your connections a positive influence in your life?  Are they challenging you to be the best you that you can be?  We all are connected with something or someone at some point in our lives.  So it is all the more important to make sure those connections have your best interest in mind.  It is also great to be a part of something or something that is more than what you can be or do by yourself.

Connections whether big or small allow us to have more ability together than we would have if we were alone.  A three strand cord is stronger than one strand.

As we journey through life’s trials and triumphs we should share with the connection of people who are like-minded in our cause or passion.  Together you can move mountains!  God created us to be dependant upon each other, not in the sense that we replace Him, but sometimes we need that physical connection with others to encourage us through.

When you hear good news or you have accomplished something great, what is the first thing you do?  Call one of your friends.  We are dependant people and it feels good to have someone to enjoy our accomplishments with.   Likewise, when we are going through our toughest hours or some tragedy has occurred, we long for someone to come to hold us and let us know that they are there.  Whether they can help the situation or not, we yearn for that physical connection.

My friend, Denise Hall Brown, just finished writing her first book called; 2Grieve 2Gether.  It is all about her journey through grief from several tragedies that happened in her life.  One of the main points is that we shouldn’t go through this process alone.  We need others to come along side of us to just be there.  It doesn’t matter where the grief comes from because there are all sorts and levels that occur in our lives daily, but the important thing is to share, connect, be there.

Just knowing that you have someone or a group of people in the world that are there to support you when you need to be uplifted or to be there to cheer you on when you are living your best life, is one of the most important parts about life.

That is why God created The Butterfly Journey ministry. God showed me many women in the world suffering with brokeness, grief, unworthiness; alone.  They feel they have no one to turn to not even Him.  And that is my mission to reach those women who need someone to come along side of them in their situations, to listen, help, pray with, and encourage them back to wholeness in Christ.

Are you connected?  Reach out to your connection, your circle of friends or family that have been there for you during the good and bad times and “thank” them for being your connection to God.

The Butterfly Journey ~ Lisa