Leading from Your Strengths Certified
Leading from Your Strength Certified

Expectation Management

Perhaps Today

Download Photo for Your Desktop

Today is the seed for tomorrow.

When we decide that we have come to the end of ourselves, and we finally surrender to the Lordship of Christ, we come to Him as broken vessels in need of repair and restoration. ONLY GOD can do that. Some come with expectations that there will be an instantaneous change. Some expect that wealth and prosperity will follow. Some will sit back and have the mental attitude that they will merely wait for Christ’s return. Some will believe that all relationships will be restored, thinking they can bypass consequences of previous decisions and actions.

Giving and getting.

Some will believe they can pay the bills and have some fun, and whatever is left over, will go to God. The only problem with that is God asks for the First Fruits, not the left-overs. He has expectations, too. He expects to be FIRST in every aspect of our lives. He instructs us to GIVE. He promises that then, it will be given to us, good measure…running over…However, the GETTING is not to be our GOAL. The GIVING is to be joyful and off the top. The BEST. FIRST. THAT is GOD’s expectation before He grants ours. He wants our hearts. Not our leftovers.

Time management.

Some will daily meet with Jesus to get their marching orders for the day. And to surrender their will for His will. To submit to God so we have the strength to resist the devil, so that he will flee from us. It is a moment-by- moment conscious decision to follow after Jesus.  Managing our time to give First Fruits of time to developing a relationship with God is essential.

THY Kingdom come.

“When you pray, pray ‘Your Kingdom come’ and ask God to rule in your life until He returns to rule the world.“
{However}…”Before we can pray ‘Thy Kingdom come’, we must be willing to pray: MY kingdom GO!!!” –Alan Redpath

“Your Kingdom come…” Is our agreement and expectation of God’s right to rule!” –David Jeremiah

God’s Kingdom is within us. He is always in our midst! Are we living our lives with that expectation? That understanding? We must choose to manage our expectations from worldly expectations to Godly other-worldly expectations.This world is not our home. We are merely passing through. And then we enter eternity.

God’s will.

God’s will and God’s rule are the same. God’s will is always done in Heaven.
It is done on earth when we submit our will to Him—as Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane”
(See Luke 22:42 ) – David Jeremiah

What about you? What is an expectation, anyway?

Expectation: ”The feeling or belief that something will or should happen.”
— The Cambridge English Dictionary

Expectation: “A mental attitude. A prospect of future good or profit. The degree of probability that something will occur” — Dictionary.com

Synonyms: Expectancy, anticipation, hope, trust.

Verses about expectations

In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice;
In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.

Psalm 5:3

“And now, Lord, for what do I wait?
My hope is in You.

Psalm 39:7

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead

1 Peter 1:3

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.

Luke 6:35

Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

Proverbs 13:12

What seeds are you planting, friend? What are your expectations? Do you have some re-planning and re-planting to do? Tomorrow may come sooner than you planned. What if TODAY is the day of His return? For over 30 years, I have had this quote (the graphic) on my kitchen counter. It is part of my expectation management. It helps keep me focused.

Perhaps Today

“Don’t get too comfortable here. This world is not your home.
It’s a transition place. He’s coming for me”

Discover Living From Your Strengths (LFYS) Life Changing Mentor Coaching.

Do you have questions? Through the Ministry Insights assessment, you will Discover your strengths. And then, through mentor coaching, you will learn how to daily Embrace and Live out your strengths. You can contact me by clicking on the blue button beside the signature line. Or leave me a private message on Facebook.

Leading from Your Strengths

Let's Connect!
Awaiting His shout,
pam_signature-c49a6c

Christian Life Coach
Leading from Your Strengths Mentor
www.loavesandfishescoaching.com

Filed under: Christian Life Coaching,Spiritual Life — Tags: , , , , , , , — Pam Taylor @ 7:00 am

Do You Ever Feel Like a Failure in Your Relationships?

Loaves & Fishes Coaching Logo

that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You;
that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.

John 17:21 NKJV

What did Jesus mean?

When Jesus speaks of oneness, is He telling us to be in oneness with each other? That is what I had been taught for many years and I simply could not measure up. I have tried and tried to be in unity/oneness in thought and deed with all Christians. Jesus and God are ALWAYS in total agreement/unity/oneness about every single thing. Did he mean Christians would be able – even in the Spirit – to be in total agreement with each other about every single thing? If so, we have failed miserably!

Or…

is He telling us to choose to make it a priority to get to know God in such a deep personal relationship, so that the mind of Christ rules our thoughts. So that we are one in thought with God and Jesus. Is He calling us to a relationship that is like the oneness that only comes through surrender/submission to the Lordship of Jesus over us. As is between God and Jesus.

Jesus Himself

was not in unity with all the leaders or people in the “church”. He was not in total agreement even with His disciples. He was in total agreement only with GOD HIMSELF. As we are to be…

Is TRUE unity even possible human to human?

Have we been striving to make it happen? Does that striving kick God off the Throne and put ourselves there instead? Have we been thinking we are capable of being in unity with another person? Or with a group of people?

What if our goal is actually to be to SUBMIT to GOD and seek ONENESS with HIM only…To choose to seek friendship and fellowship in true Christ-like relationship with Him. And then, HE—working THROUGH us—will allow us to be a conduit of HIS power, HIS love, HIS mercy TO those He puts in our path. That would be UNITY/ONENESS with God, right? What is impossible with men is possible with God, in God, and through God.

Unity wasn’t forced in the Early Church.

People walked in unity only as a direct result of each one having a close personal walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. That caused them to experience times of having one heart/one mind. And, truthfully, they often failed miserably. STRIVING for UNITY doesn’t work. TRYING TO HAVE UNITY doesn’t work. Only SUBMISSION to GOD “works”.

UNITY cannot be the GOAL.

The GOAL is JESUS HIMSELF!!! Looking unto Jesus…personally, individually…each one for himself/herself is the ONLY WAY to UNITY/ONENESS. There are no shortcuts. There are no “programs”.

It is only through deep personal relationship with the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. And then, we become LIKE HIM whom our HEART LOVES because it is actually HIM shining THROUGH us!!!

It is a journey we travel daily all our earthbound years!

Like John the Baptist stating that he, himself, must decrease, so that JESUS might increase. He knew that JESUS HIMSELF is the GOAL!

Isn’t that actually what our heart longs for in our human relationships? Jesus Himself. Unity with God, which then brings about HIS unity with us to human relationships. Because our eyes are then directed off of humans and onto God Himself. Isn’t that when the devil FLEES from us?

“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

James 4:7 (NKJV)

After all these years of following Jesus, since 1975, I am still struggling with the “submit” to God part. I think I have it and then He shows me another layer of ME ON THE THRONE. UGH! But, I get back up, dust myself off, ask forgiveness and realize He has not given up on me. What a blessing!

What about you? How are you doing?

Personality and Jesus

Do you know who God created you to be? Have you ever stopped to think about how your personality affects the way you interact with others? Find out more in this new book by Pamela A. Taylor.

Personality and Jesus

Let's Connect!Until next time,
Awaiting His shout,
pam_signature-c49a6c

Christian Life Coach
Leading from Your Strengths Mentor
www.loavesandfishescoaching.com

Filed under: Christian Life Coaching,Spiritual Life,Strengths Mentor Coach — Tags: , , , , — Pam Taylor @ 7:00 am

Stunning Realization. Easter.

Path to Bridge

For many years I searched for whatever my mother had that gave her the strength to endure her years of cancer with such grace and peace. People didn’t talk much about their faith in those days. They considered it a private thing between them and God. So, I flailed around for years trying to figure it all out. I had no idea who would even know the answer to the longings in my heart.

Stunning Realization

About a year or so after my mother died, I was in bed “saying” the prayer I had been taught. You know the one: “Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep…” Then, according to my routine, I would end with “God bless “Mommy, Daddy, Davey, Gail and Bill.” And I stopped. I suddenly HEARD what I had been saying. I had continued to pray for my mother for a year after she had died. It was a rote memory prayer. With no “heart” to it. No real thought to it. Just a routine I did each night. Like brushing my teeth before bed. That realization was MY FIRST STEP TOWARD GOD. But it was only the beginning for my long search for the Living God.

For Years I Kept Searching

I can now gladly tell you that I found Him for whom my heart longed. Jesus. He was there all along. Waiting with out stretched arms. Waiting for me to fall into His arms in surrender.

Crushed…For Me…For You!

What does that mean? It is Amazing Grace. A gift that we can receive or reject. I have found what my mother had. And it wasn’t a what. It was a who. It was Jesus. I learned that Jesus died for me. For my sins. He rose again and is coming back for me. I KNOW THAT so well now. This is real and my prayers are not just a routine anymore. My prayers are conversations with a cherished Friend who is also my LORD!

And, now…thinking of the Easter season and all the remembering we do during that time, I know that: It was our sins that did that to Him. The betrayal. The whippings. The cross. It was our sin that ripped and tore and crushed Him. Our sins! My sins! (Past, Present, AND future sins. He took them all. We still have to face the consequences, but He paid the PENALTY with His life.) He took the punishment. So we won’t have to. And through His bruises we are healed.

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?'”John 11:25-26

Ponderings

This would be a great time to just stop and sit quietly and ponder what you just read. What if you sat quietly each day and mediated on the depth of love from this Jesus the Christ, who would suffer so much so we don’t have to?

Human Love vs. God’s Love

No human love can ever match the depth of God’s love. We don’t have to do anything at all to earn it. It is freely given. BUT we DO have to RECEIVE it. A gift needs to be received before it can bless. Let it sink in. Deep into Your soul. What would that do to your daily life? To your relationships? To your attitude day-to-day?

What if we really believe this? We can only BEGIN to imagine what God has in store for a life fully surrendered to Him…

I Would Love to Hear From You

Is this already a reality for you? If not…Are you willing? I would love to hear your story.

Until next time…

Personality and Jesus

Do you know who God created you to be? Have you ever stopped to think about how your personality affects the way you interact with others? Find out more in this new book by Pamela A. Taylor.

Personality and Jesus

Let's Connect!
Awaiting His shout,
pam_signature-c49a6c

Christian Life Coach
Leading from Your Strengths Mentor
www.loavesandfishescoaching.com

Filed under: Christian Life Coaching,Holidays,Spiritual Life — Tags: , , , , — Pam Taylor @ 7:00 am

Let Me Introduce You to My Best Friend

The Upper Room

The upper room was the last time before His death, that Jesus and his best friends—the disciples—would be together eating a meal and enjoying each other’s company. He showed them TRUE love. He talked frankly with them. They had shared so many wonderful experiences those three years of traveling together. Now, this was their last evening together—celebrating the Passover Feast. HE knew that, but they were just living for the day. With no thought for tomorrow.They were all together in one place. It was glorious. He loved them so much! He wanted them to KNOW that! He served them. He SHOWED them over and over again, HOW to love one another. And now—He was washing their feet. Imagine that! Peter, of course, protests. What would you do? Jesus kept trying to prepare them for what was ahead, but they simply did not or would not understand. I know often in my own life, I simply don’t understand what Jesus is doing in my life until AFTER the fact. I guess I am as dense as the disciples were! What about you?

The Garden of Gethsemane

Think of that first battle between good and evil (think Adam and Eve). And now Jesus has the ultimate good verses evil battle looming in front of Him. Yet, this is exactly WHY He came. He didn’t come to be born. He came to die. Without Easter, Christmas doesn’t make any sense. Sadly it doesn’t make sense to the RATIONAL EARTHBOUND MIND. But it is true! He came to DIE! For you. For me.

In the Garden, Jesus cried out to His Father God, “not my will but Yours be done”. In this Garden, Jesus wins the battle by choosing to totally and absolutely surrender HIS will to the will of His FATHER. ABBA. He chose to SHOW us ultimate unselfish love! Love that SAVES! The horror of what was ahead for Him, was to begin very soon. He knew what He had to do, but that didn’t make it easy. He struggled in the Garden. But, He prevailed in prayer. He won the battle in His mind, will, and emotions before He actually experienced the suffering and humiliation. He did that for you, For me. Stunning!

Alone with His Father

Jesus was often alone with His Father, but this time is different. Sadly, His friends, the disciples that He had taken with Him to share the sorrow and pain of His burden in the Garden, had fallen asleep, while Jesus did Spiritual Warfare! They slept. He fought in prayer. They gave in to their humanness. Their weariness. Have you ever gone through a tough spiritual battle ALONE? Friends deserting. Too busy. Too weary. Clueless what you are experiencing? I have. And I’m pretty sure you have, too. The good thing is that we—like Jesus—are not really alone. God the Father was with Him and He will be with us in all things. Through all things, ALL THE TIME! We are NEVER really alone. Believe that with your whole being.

They took Him away

Then, in the Garden, the solders took Him away. He did not resist. Any resisting He had previously felt, had already been dealt with in the Garden, wrestling with His feelings before God. While His friends—the disciples—slept. So, the soldiers brought Him before the High Priest. His friends had all run away. Peter followed at a distance. He tries to blend in with the crowd—to be UNnoticed, he hopes, Yet, he is recognized and in fear, he denies even knowing who Jesus is! THREE times he does that! Do YOU ever do that? Can you imagine the sadness Jesus feels when He is denied?

In your/my garden

In my mind, I picture this scene in my “gardens” of testing and trial. I imagine maybe saying things like, “I’m in a tough place. I don’t want to go through this alone.” And I look and there is NO ONE there with me. I am alone. Like Jesus was. That’s what life truly is.People can only go so far with us. Most of the journey must be “fleshed out” individually alone in our “closet” (garden) before our Father. And He will make us aware of His presence with us. We are never truly alone, no matter how it may feel sometimes.

They slept

His friends slept while Jesus went through His spiritual battle alone. Just as our friends “sleep” while we go through our battles. They are going to blow it. And, sadly, we are going to blow it, too, when they go through trials and testings. We are just like the disciples. But, when we return, like Peter came humbly, repenting, in sorrow, we, too, will be welcomed back into fellowship with Jesus. And He will show us what to do. And when to do it. And how to do it.

Faith and Trust

Next to Jesus, there were two thieves hanging on crosses, tortured and in horrendous pain. Like Jesus was. One of them was arrogant and spewing out angry words. But the other one realized he deserved his punishment and he also realized that Jesus did NOT deserve what HE was experiencing. That second thief was saved because he put his faith and trust in Jesus Christ, not in any works. Just simple faith and trust. Not in church attendance or ministry. Not in teaching a Bible study or hosting a small group in your home. Not in water baptism. But He believed Jesus was the Son of God—come to save him for an eternity together with Him. When He spoke those words, Jesus promised him they would be together for eternity very soon. And the suffering would be behind them.

John 5:24 (NASB) “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”

How about you?

Have you taken that step of faith—into the arms of the risen Savior? If not, this Easter would be a great time to take that step. Jesus is my Friend. I’d like to officially introduce you to each other!

We are living in perilous times.

I’d be grateful if you would pass this on to as many people as possible. It’s Easter time. Like Christmas time, many thoughts are pondering Jesus. Springtime is a time of new beginnings. My passion is to get the word out that Jesus Saves while we still have opportunity.

Personality and Jesus

Do you know who God created you to be? Have you ever stopped to think about how your personality affects the way you interact with others? Find out more in this new book by Pamela A. Taylor.

Personality and Jesus

Let's Connect!
Awaiting His shout,
pam_signature-c49a6c

Christian Life Coach
Leading from Your Strengths Mentor
www.loavesandfishescoaching.com

Filed under: Christian Life Coaching,Holidays,Spiritual Life — Tags: , , , , , , , , — Pam Taylor @ 7:00 am

What Is the Purpose of Lent?

Loaves & Fishes Coaching Logo

Some call it Lent

The period from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday. A time set aside to deprive ourselves. To do without certain luxuries or indulgences. To GIVE UP something.

Others set aside that time to ADD something. Like more Bible study. More prayer. More church activities. Things like that. All those are good things. But is there something better?

I wonder what God desires

Perhaps this time called Lent is not so much a time to better your life, but rather to center your life. To take a mental assessment of “Why am I here? On earth. At this very time in history. What did God have in mind when He created me/you?”

40 days

Forty days has great significance throughout Scripture. Is that why we celebrate 40 days of Lent? Tradition? Is it just a habit with no Scriptural underlying goal/purpose in mind? Does God require it?  What does Scripture say?

Once I was blind but now I see

Is that the true purpose of Lent, and actually of our entire Christian walk? Why would these 40 days be any different than what God desires from us every day of our lives in our earthbound bodies? I submit that they should NOT be different days. I submit to you that what God desires is for us to SEE what is before us. To SEE what has always been there. To be aware daily, moment-by-moment of God’s presence and His voice. His word. To see through HIS eyes the creation, the people. the life He has given us.

Fearfully and wonderfully made

I am fearfully and wonderfully made. YOU are fearfully and wonderfully made. And everyone in our path has been fearfully and wonderfully made. The mean people and the nice people. He made you. He made me. ALL are fearfully and wonderfully made by our Creator God Almighty. All have opportunity to hear and obey Jesus’ invitation to “Come. Follow Me.”

Marvelous are His works!

His works are marvelous EVERY day. Not just during happy times or times of celebrations. Not just during Lent. EVERY day in every way. God does all things well. He died for me. He died for you. Marvel over that! It is a BIG DEAL! Stop and think about that fact! Make time in your day every day all day for what really matters to God. Glorify Him in your responses to the opportunities and challenges that come your way daily. Think of Him as being right beside you throughout your day. Because he IS! Right there with you!

Get to KNOW your Bible better every day

Get to know the author. Read John chapter 1 “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God…He was with God in the beginning…”  And Jesus (the Word) continues to be with God. And His Spirit is with us even now…

And forever…

Make space in your head for thoughts of Him and His sacrifices. Not just His death on the cross…but consider that He actually willingly LEFT HEAVEN in order to be called a liar, a drunk, to be betrayed, humiliated, spit on, tortured, and other horrible experiences. Those who he had discipled for 3 years deserted him in his time of greatest need. Even his own family questioned his sanity. I venture to say that nothing any of us suffers can ever compare to what the lover of our souls did for you and me.

So…when the devil comes to “visit”, respond like Jesus did: It is written…

Lenten focus

Jude 24, 25 “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
To God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.”

Keep listening for the trumpet call…it could be any day now…
See you there?

Personality and Jesus

Do you know who God created you to be? Have you ever stopped to think about how your personality affects the way you interact with others? Find out more in this new book by Pamela A. Taylor.

Personality and Jesus

Let's Connect!
Awaiting His shout,
pam_signature-c49a6c

Christian Life Coach
Leading from Your Strengths Mentor
www.loavesandfishescoaching.com

Filed under: Christian Life Coaching,Holidays,Spiritual Life — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — Pam Taylor @ 7:00 am

How Do I Get What I Want from God?

Woman in coat walking down street
The book of James says that if I resist the devil he will flee from me. Well, that sounds easy. But IS it?

It must be a conscious choice to not only receive the salvation of our Jesus, but to be certain He is on the Throne as Lord of our lives.

There are immediate and serious challenges in our world today. Challenges we cannot ignore.  We are now and have always been in a war for our mind. And the mind is the devil’s playground. He loves to manipulate Scripture to get us to stray away from God. Just think about his manipulations of Scripture with Eve in the garden and even with Jesus in the wilderness. The first step to get the devil to flee, is to submit to God. So, the “formula” is this:

  1. Submit to God (turn toward God) SO THAT you will have the power, the strength, to…
  2. Resist the devil (turn away from the devil) SO THAT…
  3. He will flee from you.

It sounds simple and is truly is. But this is also very serious business. It takes daily deliberate thought and action. And even moment by moment.

The devil wants you to fail. Remember, he wanted Eve to fail and he wanted Jesus to fail. However, the Lord God wants you to succeed and to have that inner peace and joy as you walk in the midst of His will. Our relationship with God must be our priority.

So, how DO you get what you want from God?

ASK

In the beginning verses of chapter 4 of James, the Word is clear that when we don’t get what we ask for it could be because we don’t actually ASK God. We don’t take the time to talk it over with Him. To seek His will. To ASK. Crazy, but I know I am guilty of that. I can’t believe I still, after all these years of walking with Him, I actually forget to do the actual ASK. Lazy? Preoccupied? Pride? (We think we can do it ourselves.) Is that why God tells us in James 4 verse 6 that He resists the proud but gives grace to the humble? When we find ourselves coming up short with anger, irritability, confusion, could it be we just forgot to ASK God for His help and His will? It never ceases to amaze me that I can actually forget to ask! What about you?

Wrong motives

And sometimes, we don’t get what we ask because, when we DO ask, we ask with wrong motives. Selfish motives. Only to satisfy our own desires. We have our SELF on the throne. Wanting what will make others’ lives or our own lives easier. I am actually guilty of that as well. But God has a bigger plan. I am so glad He is patient to teach us the same lessons over and over again. Isn’t He amazing? He wants us to ask Him what HIS plan is for our friends, family, co-workers, our town, our state, our country and our world. Our big assignment is to train ourselves to remember to always ask God for HIS heart for all the things I mentioned…and MORE!

We are merely instruments through whom God works. It is not about YOU. It is not about ME. It is about GOD and HIS plans.

Now, let’s go back to specific points

He tells us we must first humble ourselves before God. What does that look like to you? Humbling yourself. That’s really what we have been talking about throughout this whole post. Choosing a Godly mindset. Asking for the unselfish Mind of Christ. Humbling ourselves. Getting ourselves off the throne. Seeking God before moving forward. Before speaking. To take control of our thoughts. Turn them toward God. And then we can walk in the light of the following verses…

Let’s look at the surrounding verses in chapter 4 of James in a version you might not be familiar with. (The J B Phillips New Testament version.) I’m sure like me, you’ve also realized that when we look at the same verse in different versions, it gives us fresh insights. It expands the meaning for us.

“But resist the devil and you’ll find he’ll run away from you.
Come close to God and he will come close to you.
You are sinners: get your hands clean again.
Your loyalty is divided: get your hearts made true once more.
You should be deeply sorry, you should be grieved, You should even be in tears.
Your laughter will have to become mourning, your high spirits will have to become dejection
You must humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord before he will lift you up.”

James 4: 7-10 (Phillips)

Pretty stiff conditions, huh? But all for our good. All for our peace. Our joy. God created you and me, and He knows how to bring out the best in us. He made the rules of the “game” of life. Of Eternal Life with Him! And if we want close fellowship with Him, we will stop trying to make our own rules for this earth-bound life. So that things will go well with you and me.  And THAT, my friends is how we get what we want from God. Because we come to realize that what we want is actually what He wants.

Just like if you play a game of Monopoly. You can play by the rules—OR–you can decide you are going to make up your own rules. I am pretty sure making up your own rules will NOT go well with you in Monopoly. And, the “game” of life eternal has much more serious consequences than a game of Monopoly.

Choose wisely, remembering God adores you. He even sent His son to die for you. Let’s talk…

My Father: Experiencing God's Love A-Z

Pamela Taylor invites you to join her in this interactive acrostic devotional journal designed to draw you into the extremely personal and abundant love God has waiting for you. Experience the "Just ask..." of His love for you!

My Father: Experiencing God's Love from A-Z by Pamela A. Taylor

Let's Connect!Until next time,
Awaiting His shout,
pam_signature-c49a6c

Christian Life Coach
Leading from Your Strengths Mentor
www.loavesandfishescoaching.com

Filed under: Christian Life Coaching,Freedom,Strengths Mentor Coach — Tags: , , , , — Pam Taylor @ 7:00 am

September 11: Perhaps Today…

Man removing shoes

The date September 11 (9/11) is on the mind of many this month. The 20th anniversary brings memories flooding back. Most who were alive during that day, can even tell you where they were when they first realized what was happening.

This will be short today.

When you read the title above. what did you think? My thoughts are:

  • Don’t get too comfortable here
  • This world is not your home
  • It’s a “transitional” place
  • Jesus is coming again
  • PERHAPS TODAY

How then shall you live?

Are you fearful? Are you hopeful? Do you need someone to talk to–to process what is rumbling around in your head? You don’t have to figure it all out alone. Christian Life Coaching is a pathway to grow in your faith and relationships.  But, first things first…

“Jesus said, ‘I am the Way, the Truth, the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”

John 14:6 (NIV)

Jesus is the Way…

Jesus is the ONLY Way, the ONLY Truth, the ONLY way to ETERNAL LIFE. How are you with Him? Are you in a vital relationship with Jesus? If not, why not?

Don’t miss out. Don’t wait another day to develop a deep, abiding vital relationship with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Let’s talk…

My Father For Children: Praising God Through the Alphabet

With an easy-to-follow, alphabetical format, your child will discover how God cares for them in this new book from Pamela A. Taylor.

This interactive acrostic devotional journal is designed to draw your child into the extremely personal and abundant love of Jesus.

My Father For Children: Praising God Through the Alphabet

Let's Connect!Until next time,
Awaiting His shout,
pam_signature-c49a6c

Christian Life Coach
Leading from Your Strengths Mentor
www.loavesandfishescoaching.com

Filed under: Christian Life Coaching,Freedom,Spiritual Life — Tags: , , , , , , — Pam Taylor @ 9:11 am

Where Is My Neighborhood?

Neighborhood
A few weeks ago, God impressed on me that I was not obeying His command to love my neighbor as He intended. I have been asking Him for clarification. Where is my neighborhood and who is my neighbor? Specifically, WHERE and WHO? Did I need to do something differently? I wasn’t feeling condemned by God. Rather, I felt joy that He was taking me into a deeper understanding what it means to be a Follower of Jesus Christ. Here’s some of what I have been processing…

Who IS my neighbor?

“…When the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power to testify about me with great effect, to the people in Jerusalem” [where they were residing…in their own back yard] “throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth, about my death and resurrection.”

Acts 1:8 (TLB)

They simply did not understand. Things were not turning out as they thought or hoped for. What was Jesus talking about and what were they supposed to do now? And what does that verse have to do with my new “assignment” from God? (To love my neighbor) Wasn’t I already doing that? As a mentor life coach, I love encouraging friends and clients. I support ministries and I write blogs and books to encourage people to love God and have a relationship with Him. What was I missing? What specifically am I not understanding?

Now what? Their friend was gone

:12, 13 “…They were at the Mount of Olives, so now they walked the 1/2 mile back to Jerusalem and held a prayer meeting in the upstairs room of the house where they were staying. This prayer meeting went on for several days…about 120 people were present…”

They waited a long time

Acts 2:1 “Seven weeks had gone by since Jesus’ death and resurrection and the day of Pentecost had now arrived.”

What happened?

The Apostles were still in Jerusalem when the Holy Spirit descended on the group in that room. They had been waiting seven weeks. Confused. Their Best Friend had left them. And now, in that room, the Holy Spirit arrived. And…at last, they KNEW what Jesus had been trying to tell them. He HAD to leave them so that each of them could receive for themselves the POWER of the HOLY SPIRIT residing in them.

But now what?

The people from many nations ran to the house to see what was causing the commotion in that upper room. And the people from those other nations heard these people (the disciples and apostles) from Galilee speaking in their own language “…about the mighty miracles of God.” (v. 11 TLB)

The sentiment of that day was:

Can anything good come from Galilee? And yet, MUCH good was coming from those in the upper room who had prayed and waited for direction. For the Holy Spirit. And each person heard the message in their own native tongue.

(Peter speaking) :

:18, 19 “ Each of you must turn from sin, return to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ or the forgiveness of your sins, then you also shall receive this gift, the Holy Spirit: For Christ promised Him to each of you who has been called by the Lord our God, and to your children, and even to distant lands.”

Where is my neighborhood?

So, what I am learning anew is my current “neighborhood” is the apartment building where I live.

My profession:

I am a writer…a published author. I write books, blog posts, and newsletters. That takes quiet, solitude, concentration, and setting myself aside to think and to study and to write. But, like most things, I had taken it too far. I was isolating and would get frustrated if my solitude was interrupted.

God changed my priorities

He lovingly convicted me that my immediate neighborhood is a blessing from God to me. Each is a gift. I am grateful for each of my neighbors. May I continually seek ways to encourage and bless each one.

I’m sure this is just the beginning of God changing my mindset. But this part so far has been a joy!

“…the direction of Divine living is a deliberate surrender of our own point of view in order to learn Jesus Christ’s point of view and seeing that men and women are nourished in the knowledge of Jesus. The only way that can be done is by being loyal to Jesus myself.”

Oswald Chambers

God Loves Aardvarks: And God Loves Me

"Thank you, God, that you love all the animals and bugs. You love funny looking aardvarks and you love me."

Thankfulness through the alphabet. That's what this fun book will teach the kids in your life.

God Loves Aardvarks and God Loves Me

Let's Connect!Until next time,
Awaiting His shout,
pam_signature-c49a6c

Christian Life Coach
Leading from Your Strengths Mentor
www.loavesandfishescoaching.com

Filed under: Christian Life Coaching,Living From Your Strengths,Spiritual Life — Tags: , , , , , — Pam Taylor @ 7:00 am

Law vs Grace

Stairway

Two Husbands

I once heard a story that helped me understand the difference between OT law and NT grace. Here it is…

There once was a woman married to a harsh task master of a husband. He made her a long list of what he expected her to accomplish. She found it impossible to complete and always felt lacking and a bit frightened of his reaction. She never felt good enough. She daily felt like a failure. She had no relationship with him. And, she was very afraid of him.

One day, her husband died and she put the list away in a drawer and forgot all about it.

She later met another man. He was a wonderful, kind, thoughtful, soft-spoken, loving man. She married him. They had a wonderful relationship, based on mutual respect.

As she was cleaning out that old desk one day, she found the list and when she read it—much to her surprise—she was automatically doing all the things on the list for her current husband. Without even trying. It was so easy to bless and serve him.

Comparison

That was an illustration I heard many years ago to compare the inability to keep the Old Testament laws. Always attempting to please & appease God. It was never enough. There were so many rules!!!

THEN, along came Jesus, who became our sin and died in our place, opening the gates of Heaven to all who choose to believe and accept the marvelous gift of forgiveness God offers us through His Son, Jesus. He is wonderful! We no longer fear we are not good enough and we can choose to live in the joy and pleasure of His company NOW, under grace. The Lamb of God, Jesus the Christ, our Savior,

“God of unconquerable Love, each day you surround me with Your unfailing Love. Today, I am going to remember that!”

Mary Ann Radmacher

It’s a good thing to give thanks to the Lord for His boundless Love!

God Loves Aardvarks: And God Loves Me

"Thank you, God, that you love all the animals and bugs. You love funny looking aardvarks and you love me."

Thankfulness through the alphabet. That's what this fun book will teach the kids in your life.

God Loves Aardvarks and God Loves Me

Let's Connect!Until next time,
Awaiting His shout,
pam_signature-c49a6c

Christian Life Coach
Leading from Your Strengths Mentor
www.loavesandfishescoaching.com

Filed under: Christian Life Coaching,Spiritual Life — Tags: , , , , — Pam Taylor @ 7:00 am

Lord, I Want to Know You (Devotion Week #7)

Woman under arch looking at castle - Lord I Want to Know You

Lord, I Want to Know You is the 7th and last post in this series. Below are the links to the other 6.

“The Name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe.” (Proverbs 18:10)

THE LORD who remains the same throughout all generations.

His loving-kindness

“And the LORD (Jehovah) descended in the cloud and stood there with him (Moses) as he called upon the name of the LORD (Jehovah). Then the LORD (Jehovah) passed by in front of him and proclaimed, ‘The LORD (Jehovah), the LORD (Jehovah) God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in loving-kindness and truth; who keeps loving-kindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations’” (Exodus 34:5-7) This is your Jehovah!

He is self-existent. He is LORD

Jehovah, the self-existent One, appears in capital letters in many Bibles. LORD. “And God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel,
‘I AM has sent me to you.’” (Exodus 3:14)

He is eternal

John 1:14 records that the eternal Word of God “became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” Also in John’s gospel, Jesus identified Himself as the eternal Son through “I am” statements, including His bold statement, “before Abraham was born, I am!” — Arthur Jackson, from Our Daily Bread

Of course He is LORD over all the year, but there is something special about this season of the year, that we call Easter—an amazing time to awaken our spiritual senses and focus on the ultimate sacrifice of our Savior and Lord. The great I AM, who Was, Is, and Always Will Be. He came as a baby, lived, died and rose from the dead. AND is coming back again for His own. He is all we need for every circumstance. For every need.

His unchangeableness

Jehovah is the self-existent One – “I AM WHO I AM”. He is the eternal I AM, the Alpha and the Omega, the same yesterday, today, and forever. All of life is contained in Him. Why do we look elsewhere? Why do we not rest in His unchangeableness? He has never failed. Would He begin with me or with you? He cannot; He is Jehovah, the self-existent, covenant-keeping God.” — Kay Arthur

The Covenant Names of God

We’ve spent these last 6 weeks focusing on the Names of God. But, it is not JUST the Names of God. It is actually the characteristics of God we have studied. And most of all, we have been looking more closely at the COVENANT NAMES of GOD. And we’ve also been looking at Biblical characters who learned particular characteristics of God at a particular time in their lives. And we have seen a modern day example from my own life of how each name applies to us today. And a personal prayer for you each week.

My prayer for you:

Father, I pray for this amazing woman reading this. I ask—just as Moses prayed for God to show him His Glory—that You, LORD, will show her Your Glory! Pass by even now, in all Your goodness. Proclaim Your Name over her! I pray that she continues to draw closer to you—to her amazing God Almighty. Help her to deeply know You by all Your glorious Names. Make it personal. Each of Your names are actually a Covenant You are making with each of Your Followers. THANK YOU, FATHER!!!

I pray she daily continues to draw closer to You—The Keeper of her soul!

Dear one,
Thank you for taking this journey of discovery with me. If you don’t know the LORD in a personal way, but would like to, I’d love to make an appointment to talk to you about all this.

Questions?

I LOVE questions! We can explore together how to RE-discover, or to finally find your way HOME into the arms of the ONLY ONE who loves you Unconditionally! Truly! I’m only a click away!

Until next time…

Free E-Book for Easter

When you sign up for Pamela Taylor's email list, you'll receive her 7-day Names of God Easter devotional book FREE.

Names of God: 7-Day Easter Devotional

Let's Connect!Until next time,
Awaiting His shout,
pam_signature-c49a6c

Christian Life Coach
Leading from Your Strengths Mentor
www.loavesandfishescoaching.com

Filed under: Christian Life Coaching,Spiritual Life — Tags: , , , — Pam Taylor @ 7:00 am
« Newer Posts — Older Posts »