Category: purpose

change, destiny, Faith, God, journey, prayer, purpose

Enjoy the Journey

livingwholecoaching

This week has been a whirlwind of excitement!  I met with my editor for the book (The Butterfly’s Journey) and she said the book is awesome!  I started to cry because I never dreamed of writing a book, but when God put it in my spirit to share my testimony in a book I felt unworthy to do so.

I am no Toni Morrison to say the least, but I really want to produce a product that is life-changing for women all over the world.  But as I began to think about the task at hand each week and each month that went by, I started to convince myself that it wouldn’t work.  I couldn’t do it.

The rollercoaster of emotions that I felt along the way were hard to handle.  Almost everyday I had to ask God to give me direction and clarity.  I began learning to walk in faith last year (for real this time) and it has been one of the hardest things that I have taken on in my life!  It seemed as if one thing would be working out and then something different would come along to squash my confidence and joy.

But I am learning each day to trust in Almighty God for every aspect of my life and it has been an amazing journey thus far.  I decided this year I would start a journal of my experiences with learning to walk by faith and not by sight with the Lord.  (just a little secret. . .this will be the base of my second book)!

As I challenge myself to live the best life that I can live; I want to also challenge you to do the same.  Tackling this project is not for the weary at heart.  It is going to require a lot of dedication, commitment, and praying in order to make it through.  I know that if we keep God first and focus on Him we shall be victorious.

My prayer for you and I is to keep our faith strong and never allow the doubts and fears of life stop us from accomplishing the greatest things that God has for us to do.  I pray that whatever comes to slow us down from making the necessary positive changes for a better life, will dissolve before our eyes as we lift up prayers to God.  I pray that every day brings us closer to working in our purpose and walking delightfully into our destiny.

Always take the opportunity to learn life lesson from your every day experiences and enjoy the journey!

The Butterfly Journey ~ Lisa

 

depression, destiny, God, prayer, purpose

It’s Not About Me

livingwholecoaching

My challenge this year was to post new blogs everyday of the week.  Unfortunately, life comes at you and changes things.  More important things have arisen to take my attention.

As I begin to understand the full spectrum of this ministry that the Lord has me involved in, it is not going to be easy.  I didn’t believe that it would be, but I know that God is with me every step of the way.  And so I push on.

This ministry – The Butterfly Journey; is not about becoming famous and living in the lime light of TV or books or anything else.  It is about helping women become healed from the hurts of life and move into a new place of purpose in God.  It is about interceding in prayer for the women that come to me with their hearts broken and their fears magnified.  I want the women that come to this ministry to be drawn by the love of God that is in me.  I pray that my spirit will always be in line with what God wants, not my own agenda.  It has nothing to do with me really.

My prayer is that every woman who comes in contact with me and this ministry  will receive the restoration that they need to move into their purpose and walk out their destiny with God.  My compassion for them is so deep that I understand that I will have some sleepless nights.  I understand the role that God wants me to play for them, the message that He wants me to share with them.  The prayers that I will need to pray over them and for them.  It won’t be about nice clothes and pretty faces, it will be about the condition of their heart that God (and I) are concerned with.

I had to write this out today because it is a reminder to me of how important each woman who I come in contact with is, especially to God.  I can’t take one moment for granted.  I can’t get caught up in the hype that is all around me.  I can’t look at success in numbers, but in transformation of souls.  I took on this mission because God asked me to share all that He has done for me.  When I was in my place of darkness and depression, He saved me for His purpose and this my friend is an honor for me!

The Butterfly Journey ~ Lisa

 

 

 

 

depression, destiny, dreams, purpose, seeking God

Where Are You?

livingwholecoaching

One of my favorite phrases was; “I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up.”  And I used that phrase up until a few years ago!  I have been grown for quite some time, but I never really knew what it was I was supposed to do, or that I was good at.  I used to envy those who said they have known since they were kids that they wanted to be a certain profession or accomplish a certain thing in their life.

I figured out that if I had stopped and reflected on my life and my experiences I may have understood what my role in life was far before now.  However, I was too busy doing life, working, taking care of my family, and just being.  I had dreams and aspirations, but I still didn’t know exactly what they were.  But I knew it was more than what I was experiencing.

I had to find out where I was in order to understand where I was going.  And God helped me with that, but it was after a terrible, long, bout with depression that He showed me my purpose.  Seems ironic I know, but until I knew where I was or had been and understood all the experiences that I had suffered I couldn’t grasp the purpose that God had for my life.

The first thing that God had to show me was me.  Like the caterpillar’s journey to becoming a butterfly, my life had to be broken down (literally it was during the depression) just like when the caterpillar goes into the cocoon.  When the caterpillar goes into the cocoon (chrysalis), its safe place, it is broken down and liquified and it begins its change.  There in the midst of the depression I began my change.  The caterpillar knows their purpose and destiny is to become a butterfly.  But for me I didn’t know what my life would become after that.  I didn’t even know if I would make it out of that stage of my change.  But you know what, I only could depend on God that He would see me through and that my friends was my life-changing lesson.  God was the only one that I could depend on from that point forward.

So you see, knowing where you are right now is very important to your process of transforming.  This is your opportunity to seek God for what it is that He has for your life and start living an extraordinary life with purpose!  I wouldn’t have chosen the path of depression as my lesson to find out my purpose and my worth, but today I wouldn’t change my experience for the world.  It was there that I learned to cling to God and our relationship has become one I would never want to lose.

Where are you today, do you know?

The Butterfly Journey – Lisa

 

 

depression, God, Joy, people pleaser, purpose, women

Women It’s Your Time!

livingwholecoaching

When I began my “butterfly journey”, I didn’t realize how many women in the world were suffering with the same issues that I myself had dealt with for so long.  But I am noticing that it is a common theme for most of us to lose ourselves, our worth, our purpose, and our faith while doing life.

You know when I think about life it is so much more than just working, cleaning, taking care of others etc.  God created it to be a time to understand who He is, understand of ourselves, our worth, our purpose and each other.  One of His greatest commandments is to love thy neighbor as thyself.  But we fall short on this because we lose the ability to love ourselves.  Our society is full of the message that it is selfish to do things for yourself, especially women.  But we must if we are ever going to reach the full potential of our lives as God has planned.

We are expected to have a career, raise a family, be competitive, have a great shape, complete our education, do the laundry, clean the house, serve in the church, take care of our extended family and whole host of other things!  Whew, that made me tired just typing it out!  And nothing is wrong with any of this, we do have responsibilities, but then where do we fit God in all of this?  That’s the missing link!  We end up doing all this and more and we lose our relationship with the one who can give us everything we need.  That’s what happened to me and I am not proud to admit it but it’s the truth.

My personality is one of “people pleaser” or so it was.  I had to fit in and make people pleased with me and my abilities.  What happened was I could finally take no more and I shut down; emotionally, spiritually, intellectually, and physically.  I was a wreck!  I suffered a deep depression for over 2 years and tried desperately to figure out what happened to me.  That’s when my “butterfly journey” began. When I could suffer no more, God showed me my life using the analogy of a caterpillar’s journey to becoming a butterfly, to illustrate where I had gone all wrong. (The Butterfly’s Journey book to be released April 2012)!

The main thing (a relationship with God) had become a secondary, or really even third or fourth place in my life.  I was literally in a place of hell (separated from God) and it was horrific to say the least!  I didn’t understand my “true” worth in Him; I only knew what my worth was to others and to them I was disposable, even to some I was garbage.

I let the God of my creation heal me from the inside out and my life has never been the same.  Through my pain He gave me my purpose, through my tears He gave me joy, and through my newly established relationship, He showed me my worth!

It’s time ladies to take your rightful places in life and live a transformed life with purpose in God!

The Butterfly Journey – Lisa

2012, destiny, Faith, New Year, purpose

2012: Accountability

livingwholecoaching

Yesterday I spent some quality time with my best friend, my mom!  She is so full of wisdom and love for me and others.  I adore her.

As we were taking our adventure trip to her  doctor’s appointment, she gives me some ideas to becoming financially savvy.  She then goes on and says that she will be keeping me accountable and that she will be my accountability partner.  I started to laugh because I didn’t ask for an accountability partner, but am thankful that she has decided to take the position anyway.  You got to love mothers for giving you what you need, not necessarily what you ask for.

So as the New Year unfolds I see a common theme that God wants me to incorporate into my plans; accountability.  Without even planning for this I now have a prayer partner, a bible-study partner, a ministry development partner, an organizational partner, business development accountability partners, and a financial accountability partner!  God is grand!  He knows what I need and He made it all fall into place.

Having someone or others to come along side of you to help you stay on the course that you desire to see for your life is priceless.  I have always had a problem with staying on tasks and this year I vowed that I would be FAITHFUL and walk by FAITH, then God decided I needed one more level and that is ACCOUNTABILITY.

If you need someone to push you into your purpose and help you figure out your destiny, consider joining and participating with The Butterfly Journey ministry.  What is it that you want to accomplish in 2012?  We are here for you!

The Butterfly Journey – Lisa

 

book, distractions, life, mother, procrastination, purpose, success, the butterfly journey

Stop That Procrastination!

livingwholecoaching

I am trying to get the word procrastination out of my life!  It creeps up at the most untimely times.  I don’t want it to be my friend but I can’t seem to get away from it.  I have so much to do and really am very excited about all the projects that I want to complete, but still the little friend and his cohort distraction come to visit almost every day.

I know my problem and I know how to fix it so why is it so hard to get past it?  I don’t know I guess if everything were easy life would be that bowl of cherries without the pits.  Unfortunately, you must have the pits in order to have the cherries.  I’ll get to the place of progress soon.  If I have to fight procrastination and distractions for the rest of my life, I will!

When you finally find your place of purpose; that’s all you want to focus on.  However, in life you have many more responsibilities to take care of  and sometimes you can’t just do want you want.  I am learning the hard way that I have to prioritize, organize, plan and oh yeah execute to be successful.

Do you remember how “Bewitched” used to just wiggle her nose and things would happen.  Well I definitely don’t want to be a witch, but the trick with the nose is pretty impressive and I could use some things happening in that type of quickness.  It doesn’t work that way, I know.

My mother is a super planner and executor.  She always tells me just do one thing at a time and you will eventually get the task done.  But I am a visionary and I always look at things in “big picture” form.  So it is hard for me to look at the little steps in between that make it a reality.  I just want to jump from concept to vision!

I have to stop this crazy thinking if I am ever to get to my full place of purpose!  I have to get started somewhere.  Well today looks like a good of a day as any to start moving forward.  Book editing; ready or not here I go!

The Butterfly’s Journey book is due out in April 2012!  Pray for me!

The Butterfly Journey ~ Lisa

depression, God, journey, Joy, life worth living, purpose

My Life is Worth Living!

livingwholecoaching

My life is worth living!

Even though my life has been filled with disappointments and trials.  It has had many turns and dips that have left me weary and exhausted.  I have suffered from unworthiness, low self-esteem, depression and a whole host of other negative things.  I have been lied on, cheated on, giving broken promises, but still my life is worth living.

Through every storm there has been a rainbow at the end to show me that God still exists and better still He has been with me through all of the pain.  He has kept on giving me reasons to push on!   Rays of hope and direction for my future!

Sickness has knocked on my door and lingered in my room sometimes too.  But God has healed me each time and strengthen me for the next leg of my journey.  I have had strangers and friends bless me with gifts of love right at the perfect time.

When I consider all that God has in store for me and how much He loves me and wants to give me a life of purpose, joy, and peace, I get excited!  My life is worth living!

Can you count the blessings that the Lord has given you over the year even in the midst of your mess?  Just think about what He wants to do for you and get in position to receive it!  Jeremiah 29:11 says; “I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” NIV  Come on get that in your spirit right now!

Your life is worth living, so stop trying to figure it all out yourself and let God show you just what He has for you.

The Butterfly Journey ~ Lisa

God, purpose, seeking God, the butterfly journey, try one more thing

Try One More Thing

livingwholecoaching

I was having lunch with a few close friends the other day and they were going through some “stuff” in their lives.  Trying desperately to find their purpose and move into their destiny.  I know it is frustrating for them to feel like they are just “being” and not making progress towards their true life purposes.

As I listened to them explain about all the things they had tried to help them figure out the “why” of their lives; I began to go directly into my spiritual self.  I know what they need to help them; this is what I do in my ministry, but how do I say it to them?  So without biting my tongue I asked them if they tried praying to God?  Their responses came all at once back to me laden with excuses of why they never tried God.  Sad but true for a lot of people that I know.  I see them struggling in life for answers that I know for sure they will never find in the places that they are searching.

I understand all too well that you can’t take your friends by the hand and lead them to God,  but I can show them how much He has done for me through my life.  After years of trying my own way and failing I finally was in a position to only seek Him.  I suffered with depression for over 2 years!  No one could help me in the place that I was in not even if I wanted them to.  God planned it that way for me, because He knew any other way would not have been the personal connection that I needed so much.  And that is what my friends need, they have to get to a place where nothing else works and finally realize that and turn to God.

He is right there waiting for us all to come to the realization that there is no earthly thing that can fill a void that only He can fill.  He designed us to seek Him for our lives.  When you understand that you need to go directly back to the Creator to find out your purpose; your life will be so much more exciting and pleasurable.  Unfortunately, I have to watch my friends wiggle and wrangle  with their lives until they turn and seek God.  And I continue to pray for them to get tired of trying all the other “stuff” soon so that they can live a life of purpose!

It doesn’t cost anything to try God, He is free.  Unlike all the “stuff” that is out on the market today that promises it will get you to a place of purpose only to fail and have you spending more money than you can afford and going back to the same place that you began.  Just like the hamster on the little wheel; and around and around you go!  Making no progress at all.

If you have tried to self medicate yourself with the “things” of this world and have tried every coaching system, read every book, met with every counselor, every guru, and everything else and have had no success; try one more thing for me . . .

Try God and let me know what happens!

The Butterfly Journey ~ Lisa

God, God has ordained, Jesus, journey, love, purpose

More Clear Every Day

livingwholecoaching

Writing is my passion and even though I never thought about it when I was growing up, I have come to love the way words shape our lives.  I find comfort in expressing myself though words written on paper or typed out in this blog.  I pray that every word that I use will be of some pleasure or part of some type of healing for someone else.

I realized today that my purpose involves having a servant’s heart to those that God loves.  It is a tremendous sacrifice to those that I come in contact with.  It  has nothing to do with me personally, but what God purposed in His heart for those that He loves.  This ministry may have me praying for and with others.  It may have me cleaning a sick woman’s home.  I may need to give someone some money for bills.  It is all about service.  Jesus was a servant to those around Him and He met them in their time of need.  That was the way that He showed His love unconditionally.  He showed it not just talked about it.

So my view is now clearer in my heart for what my full purpose is and it is to help hurting women wherever they are in life.  I may need to hold them as they cry or coach them in their journey.  I may need to pray for them and keep them encouraged as life sometimes gets tough.  I understand all too well how a need keeps you from experiencing the greatness of God and what He has in stored for you.  Sometimes when life is beating you up,  you can’t see how wonderful God really is.

But I am here to be that servant partner with you in your needs.  I pray for the strength that I will need physically, emotionally, and spiritually to deal with all that may need it.  But I won’t stray from the purpose that God has ordained for me to do.  He loves you and me much more than we can ever imagine.

Sacrificing myself for the better good of my sisters is a humbling task, but with God I am able to do just what He needs me to do.  I pray that you will open your spirit and heart to receive all that He has for you!  God is real!

The Butterfly Journey ~ Lisa

change, Faith, God, hurting women, journey, life, motivated, New, purpose

Don’t Just Stand There

livingwholecoaching

If you are anything like me I get motivated by the visions that I have.  I see the end result and am stirred to high motivation.  It is the steps in between that kill my motivation sometimes.  It looks too daunting to complete!  I fall back and retreat from taking the next step; I feel paralyzed.

God is teaching me in my journey that I need to take one step at a time.  He will reveal the parts as I go.  This life is a test of faith and without it you won’t have a chance.  Sometimes you don’t know which way to go, but you have to stand firm and listen to the still small voice of God to direct you.

God told me this week that I need to push passed my fear of the unknown and He will make every provision that I need.  I trust Him because He has never failed me yet.  I have been commissioned to minister to hurting women at all levels even situations that I have never experienced.  He will give me the words and prayers to pray.  God will be in the midst and it is up to Him to do the transformation not me.  I just need to keep my motivation to move!

Sometimes we lose our motivation to fear, to tiredness, to life itself.  But God is telling us now is the time to change our lives for a better (new) life.  If you can only find the motivation for each day.  Don’t worry about motivation for the entire journey, just search and get motivation for one day at a time.

My mother asked me “how do you eat an elephant”?  The answer; one bite at a time.  Allow the Lord to get you from here to there.

So find your motivation for today and listen to God for what you need to do today that will move you toward your purpose, heal you from your past, and change you from the inside out.

The Butterfly Journey ~ Lisa