Category: life

911, change, gifts and talents, impact the world, inspirational stories, life, make a difference in someone's life, the butterfly journey, world a better place

A Day of Reflection

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We will always remember the 911 tragedy.  The images will be forever etched in our minds, for those of us who saw the terrible, heart-wrenching scene unfold before our eyes on live TV.  It was even more of a vivid nightmare for those who were there to experience it first-hand.  Many loved ones and heroes were lost that day and our hearts continue to mourn for them and their families.

We mourned for our country that was left wounded and it changed the fabric of who we were in America.  Many months after the tragedy, we were faced with uncertainty but we did one thing right; we banded together.  I have never in my entire life felt so much a part of something greater than I did right after 911.  We were at that time Americans, one, no different races, no different religions; we were Americans.  It was the best feeling!

Unfortunately, we have moved far from that place of unity again to fall back into our separate ways.  It saddens my heart.

As we reflect and honor and grieve the people, the loved ones, the heroes and our country; remember that we can make a difference.  If only with your neighbor or the lady down the street, you can make a difference in someone’s life.

No need to waste precious time on the little things that don’t matter.  Life is too short to flounder away on things that don’t add value to someone else or yourself.  I hope that you take this day to reflect on your life and how you can make it better for someone else.  What can you do to impact the world in a positive way?  What gifts or talents do you possess that make this world a better place?

I look forward to your inspirational stories of how you will change the fabric of your life!

The Butterfly Journey ~ Lisa

connection, danger zone, depression, destiny, God, life, live, people pleaser, purpose, the butterfly journey, women

Danger Zone!

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I have realized after a tragic break-down in my life that I was a people pleaser.  While it is not all bad to want to make people happy, or help them fulfil their destiny or reach their goals, it can be a danger zone for you-the pleaser.  I was talking to a woman the other day that was suffering from a typical case of people pleasing and I noticed it right away once she began to tell me her story.

What I discovered about myself is that I was a high level people pleaser, not your normal good friend that wants to help but I wanted to please every person that I connected with no matter what level of connection that we had.  It could be my family members, my boss, my boyfriend, my friends, and sometimes  strangers.  I really was living in a danger zone!

The danger comes because as people pleasers we don’t have a cut-off valve.  We will continue to pour out of ourselves until we fall over dead – literally!  We don’t have an internal stop button that tells us that is enough you can’t do anymore.  Well we really do but we ignore it for the sake of not disappointing others.

Unfortunately, people pleasers will find themselves surrounded by others that will feed on their desire to please.  They may not realize it but those type of people will develop an unhealthy connection to the pleaser and begin to “use” them to their own benefit.

The terrible lesson that I had to learn after my 2-year bout with a deep dark depression is that I needed only to please God!  He loves me  enough to not allow me to pour out more into Him than He was pouring back into me!

He showed me that it is okay to say “no” to some things especially if you know it could possibly take you over the point of being overwhelmed.  You just need to explain your situation and most people will understand.  It is up to the pleaser to stop the pleasing, because we are the ones who know how we feel.

Now I take it very serious about what I involve myself with; if I start to feel overwhelmed with too much stuff to do or being involved with I stop myself.  I am blessed that I have someone in my life now that can see if more clearly than I can and will tell me “you’re doing too much”.

Take an inventory of your life today and make sure you are not on the edge of a danger zone.  Make sure that you are not pouring out more of yourself than you are being poured into.  Let God show you how to line up your life and activity with what pleases Him and live a healthy balanced life.

I would love to hear from other “people pleasers” and I would love to help you get to a place of purpose and balance.

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

destiny, dreams, Jesus, life, live, love

Dreams

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As a child I used to “daydream”  all the time.  Even as an adult I still find myself daydreaming when I have quiet time which isn’t often.  But I used to love to dream about who I would become, what my life would look like.

When I was young I always dreamt about being a famous interior designer, living in the hub of New York City.  With my fancy penthouse apartment.  I would be in high demand and would only take a select few to be my clients.  It was always a hub of excitement in my all-window corner office and my team and I were making things happen.  It was a vivid dream with all the details in focus.  I even studied interior design for a while.  But I realize that I am a more simple type of person and although New York is wonderful to visit; today my dream is a quiet house on a couple of acres surrounded by woods in the country.

Today my dreams are of a more humble scene.  I’m sitting in a room with a few women sharing about our life’s journey, hurts and disappointments.  I’m helping them move past their place of pain and experience the true love of God.  I see myself holding one woman in my arms and telling her “it’s going to be alright”; we’re going to work through this together.

I dream about my grandkids as teenagers fussing to me about their mother and father won’t let them do anything and I’m giving them sound advice that I can hear my grandmother telling me.

I see myself growing mature with the love of my life there beside me.  We are sharing the one true love with each other that neither of us thought would come our way.  We are blessed!

I see myself running a successful conglomeration of businesses; building a legacy for the generations to come.  I feel proud and satisfied with my life.  Those are part of the dreams that I dream.

And in the end I see me running up to and hugging Jesus around His waist, for all the love that He deposited in me my entire life.  I thank Him like never before for having my eternal home prepared just for me.  And I see on His face that He is well pleased with what I accomplished in His name, for His glory!

Dreams are meant to be realized!  Don’t just allow them to be real only in your mind.

Today I challenge you to dig up those dreams that you have.  The ones that never went away but matured as you grew up.  Go back and find them and take one step toward your destiny today!  Make your life a life worth living.  It is never too late.

Tell me your dreams.

The Butterfly Journey ~ Lisa

 

 

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

Past Hurt? Let it Go!

livingwholecoaching

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

 

 

be all you can be, bucket list, life, live, New, potential in God, start living, women

Start Living!

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Are you satisfied with your life today?  Are you stuck in the normal routine rut and can’t get out?  Well try something new!  It doesn’t have to be something elaborate just different.  If you have always driven by a store on your “normal” route to and from work but never stopped in to see what they offer, today go inside.  If you want to change careers or desire to start your own business but don’t know where to start, sign up for a class at  your local community college to get more information.

I believe it is each person’s civic duty to be all that they can be.  Or is that in the army?  Anyway, you get my drift, start something different in your life and live a little.  We all know that life is short, so why leave this earth without ever experiences some of the exciting moments it has to offer.

I had a friend that passed away a year or so ago, she had worked and retired, she had raised her children and had the short opportunity to know her grand-child.  She was just getting started to live her life but unfortunately death came to knock on her door and she had to go.  Don’t have regrets at the end of your time.  Use your life to its fullest potential.  Take risks and find your “sweet” spot in life.

Create your “bucket list” of things you want to accomplish before you die.  Don’t wait, do it today!  Life is worth living!

The Butterfly Journey ~ Lisa