Pam Taylor - Christian Life Coach

August 27, 2010

Do You Have Hope-so or Know-so Faith?

Filed under: Christian Life Coaching, Deeper Christian Walk, Finding Hope and Purpose — Tags: , , , , — admin @ 12:13 pm

I have a serious question for you. Do you have hope-so faith or know-so faith? Do you “hope” that you will go to Heaven? Or do you “know” that you will go to Heaven?

Let’s go back to basics. We all become like those we spend time with.  So, get a piece of paper and let’s take time to:
**Review your relationships (including TV/computer/cell). Are they drawing you closer to the Savior or away from Him?
**Review how you spend your discretionary time. Are you feeding your mind/spirit/soul with trash or with a banquet?
**Review the priority you give to spending time in the Word of God (The Holy Bible).  Remember that we become like those we spend time with.

A good way to begin to get that “know-so” faith  is to practice the presence of God. Be aware of His presence. Everywhere. All the time. In all circumstances. He is a gentleman. He won’t push Himself on you. It’s your choice to: Seek–with a vengeance–a relationship with Him. As though your eternal life depends on it. Because it does! Literally. Eternally.

It’s that time of year when we start new schedules. It’s time to: Schedule in the Lord.  Purposefully make time with Him and His Word a priority in your schedule. Highlight it in your day-planner or calendar. Then keep that appointment as though it is a “date” with the coolest person in the world. Because it is! (And the best part is, the relationship also carries over to the next world as well. It doesn’t get any better than that!)

Be honest with Him. He knows it all anyway. He loves you. He created you, so He knows why your life is “stuck” or not working as you had hoped it would. He knows you’re hurting over betrayal or disappointment or because you made a decision that has turned your world upside down. He knows what is tempting you. He can provide that way out. But the only way to get the power to be the best you can be is through an intentional relationship with Him and His Word. He promises to meet you there.

If you need help working it through, that’s my favorite thing to do…to walk alongside people like me…imperfect people that want to be all the Lord wants us to be. It is so much easier when you have a trusted ally to walk the path with you. Don’t worry. Nothing you say will surprise me. We all struggle. Me, too. That is the nature of this world. It is not our home. We are only passing through. We’re “getting ready for” the next…the so-much-better-world. The first call is my gift to you. Just email me to arrange it. It is that easy. Let’s get started with this new schedule determined to get back to basics…whatever it takes! Onward! Pam@loavesandfishescoaching.com

August 17, 2010

The Lord Is My Shepherd

Filed under: Christian Life Coaching, Finding Hope and Purpose — Tags: , , , — admin @ 5:05 pm

Psalm 23 reminds us that “The Lord is My Shepherd. I shall not want”. (Meaning: I have all I need.) That’s what The Lord God wants us to know.

With Him as our Shepherd/Lord, we lack nothing that we need. He is enough to meet our every need. Key word = need. He is Faithful and True. He longs to hear us say, “I trust You, Lord, to give me everything I need.” If it’s a new thought, keep saying it until you believe it. It may take time, but believing it brings freedom from the enslavement of continually striving for more! If you have questions, contact me at pam@loavesandfishescoaching.com If I don’t know the answer, I’ll find someone who does!

“I shall not want“. The pain of life comes from wanting more than we have. Wanting to the point of distraction and discontent and sometimes even anger or bending the rules. It sometimes gets us into a lot of unnecessary debt, because…after all…we deserve it, right? It is a hard habit to break away from thinking that if we don’t take care of ourselves, who will?

How do we conquer the wanting more demon? It takes a mindset change. A Christian life coach can help. But, it also takes spending time regularly in His Word (The Bible) to keep remembering that He is sufficient. All things are possible with the Lord.

It is a statement of confidence in the Lord when we conquer that wanting more demon. When we discover contentment. I’d love to help you as you move toward that truly good life of trusting God as the Good Shepherd. He truly wants what’s best for you!

Spend some time at www.loavesandfishescoaching.com if you’d like to understand a bit more about Christian Life Coaching. (For instance, you’ll see the option: “What is Life Coaching?”) And as you navigate around the rest of the site, you can grasp how you or someone you care about (forward this on to them) could personally benefit from the coaching relationship. With the Lord as your Shepherd, having a Christian life coach will be one of the best things you ever did for yourself and your relationship with your Creator.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Awaiting His shout,
Coach Pam.
Reach me at www.loavesandfishescoaching.com

August 9, 2010

The American Dream: “Stuff”

Filed under: Christian Life Coaching, Finding Hope and Purpose — Tags: , , , , — admin @ 3:40 pm

“Stuff”…Do we own it or does it own us? Isn’t the temptation to acquire more and more stuff at least part of what is referred to as  the American Dream? Do we sometimes hope we will feel better about ourselves because of what we own?

Abraham, the Patriarch in the Bible was a tent dweller. Why?

He knew this world was not his home. He was merely passing through. Abraham’s hope was centered in his future Home – the City of the One and Only True and Living God. We can read about it in chapter 11 of the New Testament Bible book of Hebrews, verses 9,10. “By faith he (Abraham) lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow-heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”

Keeping our focus on the eternal rather than the temporal is difficult to do alone. We need support. We need encouragement to keep our focus on what is truly important. That’s what Christian Life Coaches do. Coaches help you find–and then encourage you to keep your eyes on–your God-given strengths and goals. That’s how we find renewed hope and purpose.

We know that we can’t take any of this “stuff” with us on that day when we breathe our last breath. A coach helps you remember to keep asking yourself: “In light of eternity, is this where I should focus my attention, time, money, skills, and emotions?”

You know the question: What would Jesus do?

Or maybe a better question is: What did Jesus do? When was the last time you stopped long enough to think about how Jesus spent His time? We know His time was definitely not spent on accumulating “stuff.” It was/is spent on helping people find their way Home.

Home.  Where Jesus is waiting. Do you need “directions” how to get there?

There’s one way to find that answer…Time spent prayerfully reading the Bible. Lots of time.

It’s been said that the Bible can be read from Genesis to Revelation…from beginning to end…in 72 hours. How did you spend your last 72 hours? :-)

Can you answer this question with certainty: “Is my citizenship in Babylon or in the New Jerusalem?”  I’d love to be your coach in the discovery process. This could be the day you choose to think like Abraham did…and to act like Jesus did… focused on your eternal destiny, rather than just living for the “stuff” of today.

Contact me at pam@loavesandfishescoaching.com

I know the way “Home”…

July 20, 2010

Deal or No Deal?

Filed under: Christian Life Coaching, Deeper Christian Walk, Finding Hope and Purpose, Your Prayer Life — Tags: , , , , , — admin @ 5:06 pm

Deal or no deal? Pride or humility? Wisdom or Arrogance? What are the makings of a “real man” (or woman) of God? Let’s “talk” about it…

There is a story in the Bible known as the parable of the Prodigal (or Lost) Son. (You can read the whole story for yourself. It can be found in the book of Luke, chapter 15, in the New Testament of the Bible.)

You might already know that the story is about the son that asked for a share of the inheritance so he could leave home and do his own thing. He was granted his requests. He had a good time for awhile…until his money ran out, that is. Which meant that his friends ran out about the same time. And then he found a job slopping pigs. He was so hungry that the pig slop began to look pretty good. That’s when he decided he had to do something to take control of the situation.

Eureka! He got an idea!

We find him reasoning to himself that he will go back home and negotiate a deal with his father. He will tell his father that he is no longer worthy to be called his son. (Sounds humble, huh? Sounds like he learned his lesson, right? ) And he decides the best part about his brilliant plan is that he will plead with his father to make him one of the father’s hired servants.

Sounds good. But is it really?

There were at least three kinds of servants in those days:
1. Day Workers. They were paid on a day-to-day basis (no job security).
2. Hired Servants. They worked long hours on the estate, but lived in town (with their independence intact).
3. Bond Servants: They lived on the estate and worked very hard (job security, but no independence).

After all of his arrogance and foolishness and loss, when the prodigal was planning to return home, we see that he continued to want control of his own “hard-earned” money and to live apart from his father and keep his independence as well. He wanted to be a hired servant.

So, do we find a surrendered, humble man that has learned from his mistakes or do we find someone that looks a lot like US when we approach the throne of God the Father to make requests of Him in prayer??? Are we really saying, “I’ll serve you, but I still want my freedom to decide how that will actually play out”.

This story is often called the story of the Prodigal (or Lost) Son, and yet it is also the story of the Loving Father. (For some of you, this story will be a sad thing because you have never known what it felt like to be truly loved by a Father. And for you, this is an especially important thing to understand: it is an excellent illustration of the way our Heavenly Father is with us.) (Be sure to read the whole story in Luke 15). In this story, do you see that the Father never let the son tell him his plan? All the son got to say was that he was not worthy. The Father took it from there and gave the son much more than he ever had thought or imagined. Our Heavenly Father is just like that! (A word of caution: We can’t expect a shower of material things, but it can be guaranteed that whatever He (God, the Father) chooses for us will most certainly be better in the long run than we ever could plan out in our own puny earth-bound brains.) Let’s talk about it!  You can find me at pam@loavesandfishescoaching.com

However, it is also important to mention that a prodigal attitude breaks the Father’s heart as He stands waiting for us to come back home. When we stray or get distracted from fellowshipping with Him, He waits with a longing for us…He wants to shower us with His love. He is sad because of all we miss by not trusting Him to take good care of us. Dig deeply into the reading of His Word (the Bible). He is waiting there for you. He wants you to get to know Him. He has carefully chosen each word…to bless you!

Let’s talk about it. Email me at pam@loavesandfishescoaching.com I’m only an email away! :-)

July 9, 2010

Meet MY coach on You-Tube

Filed under: Free Offers, What is Christian Coaching — Tags: , , , , , — admin @ 5:56 pm

 

I thought you might enjoy meeting my Christian Life Coach on You-Tube: speaking about the role of a Christian Life Coach.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5AW97lZhj8

The few short minutes you spend there may clarify and/or answer some questions you might have about life coaching in general…and how it differs from other professions.

Then, spend some time at www.loavesandfishescoaching.com Be sure to check out some of the other blog posts, as well. After getting to know me a bit, schedule your FREE call. We can talk about where you are now and how that gap can be bridged to get to where you want to be. Finding renewed energy, purpose, and joy.

From the comfort of your home or office computer, you can conveniently contact me at pam@loavesandfishescoaching.com to set up the free phone appointment.

Do it now, before you get side-tracked on something else. What have you got to lose? It’s a FREE inquiry call. That’s all. No obligation. I’m looking forward to meeting you!     pam@loavesandfishescoaching.com

　

June 15, 2010

Wedding Plans & Alpha Moms

Filed under: Deeper Christian Walk, Finding Hope and Purpose, Your Prayer Life — Tags: , , , , , , , , — admin @ 3:05 pm

Most couples have expectations that after the engagement, there comes the blissful and effortless planning of a wedding celebration. However, sometimes, one or more Alpha Moms vie against the Alpha Bride for the power to plan.

Let’s be fair. Seldom does the Alpha person see the relational fractures they are causing. What could be some of the possible reasons this is happening?

Alpha Manifestations:
The money rules. Whoever pays the most thinks (and rightly so) that they should have a greater input … but unfortunately that often translates into the “Right to Rule” all things attitude.
Power struggles. “Where, what, who, when” decisions become nightmares as formerly sane people try to be heard. It appears that they feel that their way is the only reasonable (translated: correct) decision.
Focus on tasks/decisions. It is easy to forget to be kind when so many tasks and decisions are piling up.
Past experiences. Perhaps their own Mom was a Wedding Alpha Mom and they don’t know there is another option.

Is there an alternative? Is this all inevitable? Does the best Alpha win?

Advantages in the Christian Wedding:
 We can choose to keep God in the center…to pray first, pray during, and pray after each decision, each meeting, and each event.
 The wisdom of the Word of God is the Rock to stand on. Reading the New Testament book of Philippians is a good place to start each day. It helps to keep our focus on the Joy in the Lord…to keep our thoughts of Him front and center.
 It helps to keep reminding ourselves that God is on our side. He wants us to ask for His help. He desires the wedding plans to be as blissful as the joy of the engagement was. Jesus’ first recorded miracle was at a wedding feast with his mother. He understands.
 A priority must be in keeping our guard up against the evil one that desires to destroy the good testimony that can come from a Christian wedding done well.
 We can choose to have an “accountability partner” to help us keep focused on what is eternal.

It is also important to remember that just because we are Christians, we are not immune to the temptations brought on by wanting everything to be just right. With all the busyness, it is easy to forget we are sinners needing God’s mercy, guidance, wisdom, and grace.

In Luke 18:9-14, the Alpha church leader – the one that knew and taught the Scriptures – the one that spent most of his days in a religious lifestyle (and should have known better) tried to convince God of his “Alpha-ness” (translated: worthiness).

In the story, we also see the lowly, despised man – feeling his sinfulness (translated: UNworthiness). He is begging God for mercy.

The question is – in any of life’s circumstances – do we want to be the Alpha person or the one asking for the Lord’s mercy and guidance…and receiving it because God sees our heart. Being an Alpha person is a hard habit to break. But the first step is awareness that it’s not worth the ultimate price – being out of God’s favor.

It helps to keep the perspective that it is truly only one day. Future relationships can be strained when we insist that the Alpha way is the right way…controlling things with either attitude, tears, or outbursts of anger. Whether you are the bride, the groom, the mother, the father, a relative, or friend, it simply is not worth it in the long run. How much better to seek to be a blessing in the planning of a wedding.

Yes, decisions have to be made and deadlines have to be met. And yielding is difficult, but done with eyes wide open and on the Lord, it can be the difference between being a Kingdom Person rather than a Church Person. Our ways are earthly. His ways are Heavenly.

Luke 18:14 “I tell you that this man {the UNworthy one…the one who knew that he was a sinner}, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled; and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

May God bless your wedding plans, your wedding, and all the rest of your days on earth. For His glory!

Awaiting His shout,
Your greatest admirer,
Pam Taylor
Christian Life Coach

www.loavesandfishescoaching.com

May 28, 2010

A Time for Remembering

Filed under: Deeper Christian Walk, Finding Hope and Purpose, Missions and Missionaries — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 4:59 pm

Memorial Day…a time for remembering the Military that we are so grateful for…and also all that have impacted our lives. I’d like to tell you how I found that loss is the means to great gain. When I was pre-teen, my Mother died after a long illness. Unable to bear to see her suffer any longer, I had cried out to God to either heal her or take her. She died that very day. Loss.

A year later, my boyfriend died following a boating accident. Normally, we would have been spending the day together; but he had gone water skiing because we were arguing.  Loss.

That very summer–just days after the accident, and a year after my Mother’s death—my best friend and confidant went on vacation out of state for the entire summer. Loss.

Continually coming to dead ends, for years I searched for the GOD of my Mother.  She had something that helped her through that time of suffering; and I wanted that something. (What was her “secret”?).  I was lonely, bored and confused. Loss.

Still desperatly looking for answers in the wrong places–when I was not yet 20, I married a man I barely knew. For twelve years we were barren. Loss.

My salesman husband traveled and there were breeches to our marriage covenant to love and honor. Loss.

Still searching for answers, I finally found what I was looking for in a church. I still didn’t know what to call it, but I knew they had something very important.  I was in a safe place–loved by people that knew the “secret” my Mom knew. And now I knew the “secret” too. They loved me to the Word of God and to the God of the Word. Gain.

I devoured the “secret”…the Glorious Word of God…and I found HIM (the LORD) there…in the Bible. He was waiting there for me all the time. I just had to be willing to receive what He had to offer. I found Jesus and God and the Holy Spirit and lots of examples of how God relates to His imperfect creation: people…you and me. And I found the joy of discovering the unconditional love of our Creator. He loves us exactly as we are…but…He also loves us too much to let us stay there. He teaches us how to see loss as gain. Loss truly is gain when it drives us seeking until we come to Him and to His Word. He wants us to experience the abundant life—not of money and things—but of the realization of our Father’s Love. Gain. Great Gain.

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! …For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen” (Romans 11:33-36 New International Version)

It doesn’t get any better than that! Turning losses into great gain…
That’s my favorite topic! Arrange a FREE call. Email me at pam@loavesandfishescoaching.com I can’t wait to talk to you.

May 8, 2010

Discrimination

Filed under: Deeper Christian Walk, Finding Hope and Purpose — Tags: , , , , , , , , — admin @ 3:37 pm

Discrimination. A big word —  back in the news because of the Arizona law.

Have you ever considered that celebrating Mothers’ Day discriminates against the rest of the population?  So,  am I recommending that we eliminate it? Not on your life!

After numerous illnesses and many long periods of hospitalization, my Mom died when I was 12.  And now she is out of my life forever. We never think that can happen to us and yet it did!  How I wish I could spend the day with her tomorrow. (Do you ever stop missing your Mom?)  

Mom’s are unsung heroes most of the other 364 days of the year. We just kinda get used to them being there whenever we want them to be.  Taking them for granted.  Sometimes we want our “Mommy” and other times we want to be an adult and stand on our own two feet…without their “interference”. And that can change back and forth even within a five minute  time period. Being a  mom is like walking a tight-rope. 

How is it we go about not realizing their sacrifice until we have a child of our own? T H E N … we understand and we grieve the lost opportunities we had had to connect on a deeper level all those years before the birth of our own child/children.  And our Moms must then again walk that tightrope of wondering which hat they should wear at any given time, when–even as parents ourselves–we are back and forth between wanting our “Mommy” and standing on our own and making our OWN mistakes.

I am a mother and proud of it. I loved the privilege of homeschooling my kids, coupled with the privilege of praying with them as they asked the Lord to be their personal Savior. Glory! What can ever be more rewarding than all of that?  Each phase of their lives has had its own challenge and reward. 

It has been said, “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.”  My mother had a great influence on me.  Her faith in the Lord made me hunger for what she had. We never had a chance to sit down and talk about it, but  I knew she had something very special that I wanted…and…after her death, I searched until I found the Source of her strength — Jesus. 

Are mothers perfect? Not on your life! Mine wasn’t and I am not. Moms are sinners and their kids are sinners. Do we make mistakes? Numerous ones and often! Would we die for our children? In a heartbeat! Isn’t that what childbirth proves?

Back to the original question: Should we eliminate Mothers’ Day because  it is a discrimination against others?  Or rather decide to make EVERY day Mothers’ Day, forgiving her for her mistakes and all her sins and choosing to enjoy her with all her warts and flaws…every day.  We are not guaranteed tomorrow. I know. I was not guaranteed even the 13th year of my life with mine. 

www.loavesandfishescoaching.com

April 30, 2010

Just Sit Back & Close Your Eyes

Filed under: Deeper Christian Walk, Finding Hope and Purpose, Missions and Missionaries — Tags: , , , , , , , — admin @ 2:35 pm

“Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”

 A simple little children’s song? Not at all! It is a deep and profound fact! 

I could write pages of text to try to convince you of that–but why not let HIM convince you. Just sit back, close your eyes and say that phrase over and over a few times: “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”

Let it sink in.

Amazing! How often do we take the time to do something as simple as that?
Now what? How do you know it’s true that Jesus loves you…YOU…personally.

“The Bible tells me so.” Really?? Really!!

The Bible is full of stories of how God relates to people–all kinds of people in all kinds of circumstances. And EVERYTHING He does is from the motive of love. The more you’re alone with Him in His Word, the more real that fact will become. Guaranteed!

Don’t believe me? Let’s talk about it. I’ve tried it and tested it and proved it to be true! Want to stay on track? I’d love to walk the path with you. Just let me know. You can find me here:    pam@loavesandfishescoaching.com

April 15, 2010

Of What Value?

Filed under: Deeper Christian Walk, Finding Hope and Purpose, Missions and Missionaries — Tags: , , , , , , , — admin @ 4:40 pm

“In 1978 a Gutenberg Bible was sold at auction in New York for $2 million – the highest price ever paid for a printed book.” So says The Timetables of History – a Horizontal Linkage of People and Events book.

This week, I went to a Wycliffe Bible Translators fundraiser banquet in my city. What a privilege to hear the testimonies of people that are so eager to get the Word of God to every nation, every tribe, every people. People that don’t even have a single copy of the Bible in their own language. Wycliffe wants to remedy that.

How many Bibles do you possess? Would you pay $2 million for any one of them?

I have a lot of questions rolling around in my head. Why do you suppose that anyone would pay $ 2 million for the Gutenberg Bible? To read and study it? Or just to “possess” it? I wonder if the new owner is a Christian? Was it an emotional draw to the original Gutenberg version of the Bible? Or was it an emotional draw to the Author of the Bible?

Now…ask yourself:
Why do you own your Bible? To possess it, or to get to know the God of the Bible ?  Are the pages dog-eared from extreme use? Or is it gathering dust somewhere?

The Word of God – living and active and more powerful than a doubled-edged sword. Rightly dividing the truth and error.  In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.

What value? $2 million? NOT ENOUGH! Priceless! 

Let’s talk about it!

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