Personalities: Using Them to Live a Life inline with Gods Calling

When I was doing my Biblical Life Coaching Certification, I learnt a lot about myself. As trainees, we journeyed through personal application of same processes, principles and questions we ask of our clients.

One particular question we were asked, was to draw a picture that described ourselves.

My picture was short and sweet! It was a love heart with a smiley face in the middle of it. Since I am not gifted in the area of sketching, it was no surprise that my drawing was simple. Though simple, it accurately depicted how I felt I was created. My description to the image below:

“I, Michelle, feel I was made to love other people and I do this by sharing happiness through smiling and offering words of encouragement out of the overflow of love in my own heart.”

So, why am I sharing this with you?

Two mornings ago, I walked downstairs to see this note my son had written for us and left in the kitchen as an early morning surprise (totally something I would do, too!). I spent a moment dwelling over the sweetness of the gesture and the excitement of my child reaching a new stage of life where we can write back and forth with each other.

Then, I noticed it! My son draws the same image I do! I pondered on a few more thoughts…

… is it because he has the same personality as me and feels it too?

… or is it just something a child feels?

…or is it just a part of a Childs developmental stage of simple expression?

I know there are people in this world, who through their viewpoint, might call my connection with a child-like characteristic an insult to my maturity, however I choose to go straight to my maker and ask Him about my personality.

The following downloaded into my heart: “God loves children”.

Matthew 19:14 NIV 

“Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Matthew 18:1-5

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.”

I have the ability to choose a Godly view point regarding  my child-like love and these verses are the way I silence the views of others and focus on my Godly attributes.

You also have the ability to seek God for the same affirmations. Our differences are not a surprise to God. He made us with unique personalities, yet all with the same purpose: to carry out the call of God in our lives.

I want to leave you with a few coaching questions to help you apply this to your own lives:

1. What drawing would describe you?

2. What part of that drawing, do you see as being in line with how God calls us to be?

3. What scripture affirms this?

I eagerly look forward to reading all that God is downloading to you!

Standing with you in hope and prayer,

Motives in Marriage for "Working Out"

I have been going through a sort of refining the past year and a half over my health and fitness self-view. . . Or should I say ‘health and fitness God-view’.

It all came with our move to a new state, a colder state and a more isolated setting. This brought a change in my workout routine and my ability to continue using a gym facility. With this came a slight change in my weight. I felt discouraged at the thought of what it will take to get “back to what I used to be”. Thankfully my ears were open to the Lord, and I heard ever so softly, “are you working out for the approval of man or because it is healthy for your body”?

You see, my entire life I had been insecure about my body — insecure because of comparison — insecure because of fear — insecure because of my lack of understanding in how beautifully and individually I was made. This did not magically go away when I got married either, in fact it got worse! I had this unhealthy belief that looking a certain way would guarantee my husbands approval and ensure he would never go astray.

The truth is, we can not control any outcome. The truth is healthy comes in all shapes and sizes. The truth is that everlasting beauty is on the inside. The truth is that if we are working out for the approval of our husbands, we are still searching for the approval of man and when we put that power into the hands of others we will forever be powerless. I know that seems like a hard pill to swallow, because I am also a big believer in taking care of our bodies out of love and respect for our husbands, however we must really let the truth sink in over our ability to carefully maintain the body we have been given as a temple of the Lord.

Why am I calling our bodies a temple of the Lord? 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV) says,

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

God wants us to take care of our bodies in honor to Him. Can you ask yourself if you are truly working-out and eating healthy as unto the Lord and not for man? Lets remember Colossians 3:23,

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters”

I know for me personally, not only did I need to check my heart but I needed to replace some of the lies with the truth of what beauty really is. When I started to remind myself of the promise God has for me, my marriage and my ability to be beautiful for my husband, my self-confidence increased.

Proverbs 31:30 (ESV) “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”

1 Peter 3:3-4 “Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.”

2 Corinthians 4:16 (ESV) “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.”

So be encouraged ladies! We don’t need to feel insecure about ourselves in comparison to other women or fear loosing our husbands attention, because “who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?” - Luke 12:25. Together, lets honor God with a balanced workout schedule and healthful eating, allowing enough time in our day to get into the word of God and let His glory be the beauty radiating from the inside out.

If you need help practically applying this in your own life, reach out to me so we can schedule a coaching session soon at https://www.wifeandlifecoaching.com/

Blessings,

Michelle x

Memories that Trigger Pain in Marriage

I had something happen this morning which directly relates to a painful part of my marriage. Due to the journey over the past decade and my training, I do have the skills, habits and faith needed to tackle these moments (which I am about to explain :P), however through sharing this, it will remind you that mentors are still human! By becoming real and raw with you, I hope you will feel encouraged! You are not alone!

“By becoming real and raw with you, I hope you will feel encouraged!”

This morning as I scrolled Facebook, I saw someone share a loving post with the date stamped September 2014: immediate trigger! September 2014, was a time when I nearly lost my marriage, my child and my health all in one foul swoop. Here we are five years later in September of 2019, I have a thriving marriage, I am seeing miracles take place in my health and I have not just one child but now two! You would think that it is natural to just be thankful for what God has restored and healed, but the fact is, we are all still human. In order to heal from the pain of my past marriage woes, it takes intentionality with taking thoughts captive.

Over five years, I have continued to grow my mind muscle and take thoughts captive, yet the triggers are still there! I share this to remind you that this is an ongoing skill that needs to be practiced.

Memories are a trigger because it evokes emotions that are attached to them and emotions bring pain. I saw that date stamp and immediately in my mind thought about ALL those many painful memories. As these thoughts flooded my mind, I took notice and started to control my thoughts instead of let them control me!

“I took notice and started to control my thoughts instead of let them control me!”

The way I controlled my thoughts was through processing each one and refocusing. For example, the IMMEDIATE refocusing phrase I use often in taking thoughts captive is to tell myself, “this is the past, praise God for what has been restored and healed”. I also speak scripture that comes to mind such as;

2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ”.

If we are making our thought obedient to Christ, then we must also remember Philippians 4:8 which says;

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things”.

As I focused on the above (focused on God and not the world = pain), I was able to let the pain attached to memory to fade away.

So I want to leave with you a couple questions today — what are you drawing your mind towards today? Are you taking your thoughts captive? Are you thinking upon that which is lovely and true?

I know it can be difficult but there is hope! And there is so much more freedom available to each one of you as you practice this skill. If God can help me overcome this in my life, then you certainly can be an overcomer also through HIM who gives you strength!!

Should you need help establishing this in your own life, schedule a session and together we can walk hand in hand with God and see freedom be your future!

Michelle x

Holiday Stress: It's Coming... OR IS IT?

With just 2 weeks until Thanksgiving and less than 7 weeks until Christmas, it is no surprise that the remaining two months of the year can bring a high amount of stress with it.

Thankfully coaching can help combat this problem, as well as many others (like new years resolutions, but we won’t go there just yet). All it takes is just five minutes of your time and someone to ask you the right questions to get you thinking.

So, do you have five minutes today? Are you willing to take five minutes to change your holiday season this year, or make it better then every before?

I want to bless you and so I have gone ahead and created this FREE QUIZ that will help YOU create YOUR “stress-less” holiday season! My gift to you. 🍁

Click here: https://goo.gl/forms/sEY3yMHcyjRhKcW92

**those who finish the quiz and submit results will be emailed a special 20% off discount code