The Struggle is Real...Even at Christmas time

Here we are in the season of joy, family, fun, thankfulness, gifts, happiness, festivities, everyone sharing stories of their fabulous life, their beautiful children, their _________.  Fill in the blank.

And there you are with a hole in your heart, nothing to feel especially grateful for; empty arms, empty wombs, sadness that permeates your very core, your heart is aching. Facing the biggest battle, loss, struggle, pain in your life, yet knowing this is supposed to be a time of joy and celebration.

How do you feel the ache so deep that at times makes it hard to even breathe?

How do you smile and enjoy the most blessed season of all?

Let me begin by telling you that I only share what I know to be true. I know what I have had to do in my own times of difficulty and struggle. One of those times being right now.

In order to carry on we must look to the One who has the answers. We may never know the answers to the painful whys of life, but we can trust the One who does. We may never understand why life has to be so painfully difficult at times, and some of those pat answers about God having His reasons do little to comfort. Yet our hope for healing and carrying on comes through a full confidence and trust in His plan, His ways. We can commit to Him our brokenness, our pain and anguish and allow Him to heal those places that feel so raw and painful.

One of my greatest sources of help from the Word of God is Philippians 4:6-8
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me – practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

When I find my thoughts drifting to the difficult situations, the heartache, the struggles, I do my best to begin to shift, change my channel and remember these words. Think about what I know to be true, what is worthy of praise, what is good, what is pure. In that spirit I will be kicking out the negativity, the thoughts about the things I cannot control, the parts of life that bring great anguish.

I am a work in progress and do not always succeed at “changing my channel” before the thoughts and agonies of life begin their negative effects on me. But I have learned to watch for the signs, to be alert and remember WHO is in charge. And you know what, if God is in charge then I am off the hook.

I pray that whatever it is you are struggling with you can find your way to remembering who is in charge and allow Him to pour peace into your heart as we focus on the One true reason for the season. That you will indeed find JOY knowing that you have the greatest thing of all to be thankful for….Jesus Christ.

Victory and Healing

I am blessed beyond measure every time Soul Steps comes to the end and I get to hear how this journey has touched hearts and lives.

Last Tuesday night was the final night of our seven weeks together. It is always sad for our time together to come to an end, but exhilarating to see the way God has moved them and catapulted them forward on their journey with Him.

 

Here are a few quotes from some of the women who saw the value of investing in themselves to move out of their stuck places.

 

“Soul Steps has made me open my eyes to know that God has made me perfectly for a purpose and I AM ENOUGH!”

Shelly

“Soul Steps helped me to dig deep and deal with things I have buried so deep. I feel so much weight has been lifted off my shoulders and I can breathe!”

Stephanie W.

 

“Soul Steps helped me know I am enough and how to enjoy life more peaceful, helped me to let go of things that stole my peace and joy. It was an amazing journey for me, helped me to start journaling. Now that is amazing and I am loving it and finding things out about myself.” 

Vicki P.

 

“Soul Steps helped me to see myself more as God sees me – beautiful, His child, loved, worthy and forgiven. It gave me tools to remember who I am when life tries to get me to see myself differently.”
Laura D.

 

God longs for everyone of us to live in peace and freedom, the very freedom He sent His one and only Son to die for. Yet far too often we stay camped out in fear, anxiety, overwhelm, pain, anguish… you name it.  

If you find yourself living in a state of being consumed with your past or the hurts you cannot let go of, continually feeling overwhelmed by life’s blows,  consider signing up for our next Soul Steps series coming up in February 2016. The “in person” series at my home is limited in space so I will also be offering an ONLINE version for the first time. Stay tuned for more details about both of these offerings.

Love & Blessings,

Sherry

What is a Life Coach?

With my offer of a FREE life coaching session comes the question: What exactly is a life coach and why would I, or do I, need one.


First off just think of what a COACH does. If you were to play football for instance your coach would be the one who guides you in the process of getting in shape and learning the sport, the plays, the strategies, etc to play and essentially WIN the game, right?! 
That is exactly what a LIFE coach does. A life coach helps you learn what makes you effective and powerful in this game of life. Assisting you in learning the techniques, strategies in becoming the best at what it is you are encountering in life.


*A life coach offers you a non-judgmental assistant to help you shed some light on what is truly at the root of your struggles, what keeps tripping you up.
*A life coach helps you process, examine and discover your obstacles and challenges.
*A life coach helps you reach your full potential with the process of uncovering your true passions and discovering your very essence.
*Life coaches help people move forward. To set personal and professional goals that will give you what you want in life.


Here is a definition from Newsweek that I find quite interesting.

"Part consultant, part motivaltional speaker, part therapist, and part rent-a-friend,

coaches work with managers, entrepreneurs, and just plan folks,

 helping them define and achieve their goals - career, personal or most often both."

Most Life Coach clients are healthy, successful people who might be a bit stuck or simply want to make a change in their lives and they need/want the support of their own personal coach to do so. 

A life coach is NOT a psychologist, psychotherapist or therapist. As life coaches we are trained to work co-creatively with our client to use all our joined knowlege, resources, skills and intuition to problem solve on the clients behalf.


Coaching can promote BIG shifts in thinking. This creates forward movement towards goals. Plus, the continuity of the weekly sessions builds a foundation of trust.

"A coach is someone who gets you to do what you don't want to do,

so you can be who you want to be."

 Coach Tom Landry

Football Hall of Fame

So, no you may not NEED a coach, but you certainly may benefit greatly from one. Just like many athletes who know the game and feel perfectly suited to play their sport of choice, hiring a coach is an investment in making them better. A life coach can help you gain tools, skills, and insight quicker than you can on your own.

If you think you are ready to break through an area or areas of your life, I would be happy to help. 

Love & Blessings,

Sherry

FREE Life Coaching Sessions

Have you ever wished you could afford a Life Coach but you figured it was out of your reach? Or you just wanted to run things by someone to help get clarity?

 Well, I might just be your gal.

Last month I took a leap into yet another Life Coach training course.

 I am currently certified as a Christian Life Coach, but this course will further my knowledge and give me an accreditation.

As part of our training we are required to give 20 sample sessions.

A Sample Life Coach Session lasts only 15 minutes and is focused on a particular topic that has been pre-determined.  So, basically it is something you have on your heart and mind and would love to talk to someone about.

Maybe you just need to discuss an area of life that you feel overwhelmed about, or you feel like you could use some direction.

 Life coaching is a collaborative relationship that helps you find your way when the path seems unclear.

I would like to offer this service to my blog readers. We can arrange a phone call session so no matter where you live we can make it happen.

You can contact me via my email at Amazinglovecreations@gmail.com if you are interested in your own personal 15-minute sample session.

It is my passion to help other women on this journey of life by sharing that which I know, what I have experienced and learned along the way.

Let me know if I can be a conduit of God to help you on your personal journey.

 

May you be blessed and always remember…YOU ARE ENOUGH!

 

Love& Blessings,

 

XO Sherry

Take That FIRST Step

Have you ever watched a baby take its first steps?

 

The sweet baby starts off with a tight grip, afraid of letting go. Her feet begin moving forward but she hesitates to release the hand that is holding her upright. Then, she finally does it, she lets go. One wobbly step at a time she begins to move forward, taking tiny baby steps.  Then plop, she’s down. Now that she knows she can do it though she wants to try again. Again and again she takes wobbly steps, one foot in front of the other, time after time, until she masters the art of walking on her own. Before you know it that sweet baby girl is running all over, nothing can slow her down or stop her.

 

 The “grip” is different for each one of us. “I don’t have enough time”, “I have already tried everything”, “I’m not sure this is what I need”, fear, anxiety, hopelessness, the list goes on and on.

 

It is time to let go of the grip and move forward into the amazing future God has planned for you. It is time to get unstuck, to pull up out of the pit and move forward into the full confidence of Christ. Time to move forward, which might mean investing in yourself, which you are not accustomed to doing.

Let me assure you that you are worth the time, energy, expense and effort. It just takes that first baby step and before you know it you will be like the sweet little tot running all over.

If you live in the Bakersfield area I would love for you to join us in Soul Steps as we walk together on this journey towards freedom in Christ one step at a time. The fall session begins on September 22nd (registration closes on September 14th).

 As for the rest of you lovelies, I am working on making the course available online, hopefully very soon.

Contact me at my email Amazinglovecreations.gmail.com if you have any questions.

XO

SOUL STEPS FALL 2015

It seems summer is still in full swing when you check the weather report yet school begins again next week here in Central California. The good news about the end of summer is that it means Fall is just around the corner. Autumn is my favorite of all seasons  with its scents and sights and much cooler days.
With Fall comes my next session of SOUL STEPS. I am so excited to offer this incredible opportunity once again to women in Kern County.
We will be meeting every Tuesday night (6:30-8 pm)beginning September 22nd for seven weeks as we take an amazing journey through the heart. We will be digging out the junk that has built up within us, getting rid of what has been hanging on for far too long and walking into the freedom of Christ. God longs for us to live our lives free of bondage, fears and that constant feeling of overwhelm. During Soul Steps we will go over the importance of GrOwing forward in our faith and realizing who we are in Him.
Most of us women fail to recognize our own importance and value. But God wants you to know that YOU ARE ENOUGH.  Period!
I would love to invite you to join other women on this journey of the heart. It has proven to be life-changing for those who have experienced Soul Steps. Some women have said that it has completely changed the way they look at themselves, at their lives. It has helped them to unload the weight they have been carrying on their shoulders.
If you are interested contact me directly via my email at Amazinglovecreations.gmail.com for further information. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to have you join us in what proves to be the greatest step forward in your future of peace and freedom.
Love & Blessings!
XO

Never Forget To Remember

I am a real softie. I wear my emotions on my sleeve for all the world to see. Even when I try my best to be tough I cannot hide the rivers of tears that stream down my face when my heart is touched. Unfortunately this happens often, much to my dismay.
Some of those emotions come from my heart being touched so deeply by God's great blessings that I cannot contain myself. I have felt that a great deal lately.
Sometimes it is from the kindness of others; when I feel so deeply touched by the love and kindness of another soul.
Sometimes my heart swells with such great pride (the good kind) when I witness my grown children accomplish amazing feats in their lives, or just make great choices  ;)
There are times when I cannot keep the tears from spilling over due to the pain my heart feels as I miss the ones I love so much who are no longer here or I feel the angst of life.
There are times I simply become consumed knowing full well how great God is and how blessed I am.
The spilling over of tears comes from many reasons. My heart aches or it bursts, bringing forth a well spring of tears.
Currently my heart is weeping huge tears in deep sadness as I have learned of a great loss of an acquaintance. I actually only met her a time or two, but took many of her scrapbook classes through the years. Her 16 year old son has died. I have yet to learn the circumstances, but that really does not even matter. A family has lost a son and a brother. He held many roles; he was a grandson, a cousin, a nephew, a friend, a fellow rugby  team mate.
When I went to bed last night my pillow was filled with my silent tears as I thought of a family who would be so deep in grief they might not find the peace of sweet sleep. Their life forever altered. Their hearts broken into tiny pieces.
It is my nature to begin putting it all into perspective. I begin thinking about my great blessings. Of course I think about my own precious family and I feel compelled to love them deeper, to hug them tighter,  hold them longer.
I live my life pretty aware of the fact that we never know what tomorrow holds or that it can change in the blink of an eye. I have had a few devastating experiences of my own. Yet, like many, I am afraid I might find myself "forgetting to remember."
Tonight I am reminded, my heart has been re-booted and recharged, I shall not let any such great loss go without learning a valuable lesson, being more aware.
That is what I want to share with you today sweet friends.
Do not forget to remember your blessings. You may be struggling, but in the grand scheme of things you can find your way to knowing God's got this, He's got you. I pray you can find perspective and allow your heart to weep tears of gratitude or even anguish as you let Him know how you feel. Let Him carry the heavy load for you.
Hold your loved ones tighter, smile at others who may just need that tiny pick-me-up, lift up your head and know that He is mighty to save you and your situation.
Remember that we are not promised tomorrow and we must make the absolute most of each day. Live it fully. Love deepy.
I pray that you are in a place of peace in your life, and if you are not you will find your way there. God is the only route there. Hold on tight to Him and to the ones you love and hold dear to your heart.
Sending much love to each one of you tonight as I personally count my blessings and pray for the hearts that are breaking, especially Heidi Swapp and her family.
XO