Tag Archives: love

coaching

Ribbit!!

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frogs
Photo credit: Google photos

As I was studying Exodus 8 the other day, these thoughts came to me and I wrote them in my journal. Sometimes Father has a way of bringing a chapter of history into a different time period, yet we can still relate to it. I know this was for me and the period of life I am going through, but perhaps you can relate also?

Journal Entry 1/10/16-  “Studying Exodus 8 today. One more night with the frogs! How often are we praying for relief from oppression and trials but we give them to Yahweh with clenched fists instead of open hands? We whine and complain (under our breath) that Yah has not taken away our pain, our lustful desires, our burdens etc, yet we never fully let go of them…? We are no different than Pharoah who, when Moshe (Moses) asked when Pharoah wanted him (Moshe) to ask Yah to remove the frogs, Pharoah said TOMORROW! (Exodus 8:10)…. History repeats itself, eh? Shouldn’t we learn from history and not repeat the mistakes of the past? Hardening our hearts, holding a grudge, allowing bitterness, anger or malice to take up housekeeping in our heart – may eventually cost us the life of our firstborn! Not only that, but it may cost us our health too. Our decisions will affect those around us and ripple out to our fellowship groups, communities and land.

Photo credit: Google photos
Photo credit: Google photos

And thinking back, you wonder how it all started? You were willing to spend “one more night with the frogs”! Ribbit!

Repent therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out. [Acts 3:19],  humble yourself, pray and seek Yah’s Face, turn from your wicked ways (fully let go of your lawless ways, lusts of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life [1 John 2:16]) … THEN Yah will hear from heaven, and will forgive your sin and will heal our land. [2 Chronicles 7:14].  **This is the ripple effect of obedience**

Starting now, open your hands (literally!) before the Creator of heaven and earth, pour out your heart to Him, give him your burdens, your cares and anything that is “plaguing” you from moving forward. Allow HIM to clean your heart from bitterness, anger, lying, lust, pornography, addictions (to food, sweets, alcohol, tobacco, shopping/spending money you don’t have by using credit cards, gambling, etc….). You will find a fresh new outlook on life and you will feel lighter. Your health will improve and you will smile more. 🙂

Photo credit: Google photos
Photo credit: Google photos

You are His beloved, precious son and daughter. He loves you. You don’t need to spend one more second with those frogs! If you need someone to listen, or would like more information on how to keep the “frogs, darkness, lice etc” away, contact me at mannafoldblessings@gmail.com. I am here to coach you.

L’Chaim! (To Life!) ~Coach Shannon

coaching

Loving Yourself

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Enough

Matthew 22:37-39- Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second likewise is this, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

This verses sticks out in my mind the more I support and coach women. The question I ask is this – In what way do you love yourself?” If we are to love our neighbors as ourselves, how is this being portrayed? I often catch myself trying to treat those around me much better than I treat myself…then wonder why I feel so empty inside?! 🙁 So I wrote up a list of ways to “love on myself”.

Love

1) Listen to your body and its needs. If your body tells you “I need sleep” – then get ready for bed and allow 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. If it says “Feed me”, then give it wholesome, healthy, homemade food! 🙂 (No processed junk!!) If it says “I’m thirsty”, give it good clean water! Your body craves plain water, or water with a little lemon or lime for flavor. You can get these here. And if you have already eaten and an hour or two later you think you are hungry again or feel like eating a snack, try drinking a glass or two of water. Most likely your body is asking for more water instead of food!!

2) Forgive yourself for mistakes made during the day. We are human- but we do not need to use this as an excuse either. We will make mistakes this side of heaven, but we need to get up, brush off the dirt, say “I’m sorry” to whatever body part was injured the most, and try again!

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3) Speak kindly to yourself. Speaking words of accusation over your body will only pull you deeper into a pit. Our bodies CRAVE words of love from our own lips. I have a dear friend who had hammer toes. She was having a conversation with God one day and she heard “Today we will love body parts”. She asked where to begin and God said “Let’s start with your toes”. So she looked down at her hammer toes, told them she loved them & how cute her toes were. She thanked God for her toes and for the years they have worked for her. Slowly over time, her little toes are becoming straight! This is a true story!! 🙂 God loves it when we love on ourselves! —This is the manner we need to speak over each of our body parts!!

Doug Addison

4)Trust your gut instincts – because many times we know what we should be doing, but our flesh does something different and then we chide ourselves, hate ourselves and speak negative, unhealthy words about ourselves, etc.

5) Make a playlist of your favorite songs and play them in the evening after you get home from work. If you work from home, you can still play them- whenever you like! I have a list of favorite YouTube hymns and a list of Instrumental Hymns plus several favorite artist playlists on my iPad that I play.  Here are a couple of my favorite Hymns and Instrumental Songs. You can sing along or dance to them- it lets the enemy know that you are defeating him by worshiping the ONE and ONLY TRUE GOD!

6) Light some candles, have a small glass of your favorite wine, play or cuddle with your pet dog or cat >^..^< or read an inspirational book while curled up in your favorite chair. Take time for YOU! 🙂

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7) Spend time in prayer and meditating on the many blessings we have been given from our loving Heavenly Father. Spend time thanking Him, praise Him during the storms of life and praise Him when the sun is shining! And Psalm 107:8, 15, 21, & 31 all repeat “Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!”  A quote I read once said “Take a few minutes to pause beside the still waters of God’s Word. Drink deeply and you will find it cool and refreshing.” 

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8) While the number 7 means “completion“, number 8 means NEW BEGINNINGS! So for number 8, give yourself the gift of YOU. Schedule time in your day for something that you can do to reward yourself for the hard work of the day. Get a massage, a favorite meal, one piece of dark chocolate etc. You know what you have been wanting for YOURSELF, but have been neglecting to give it. And for fun, if it is possible, wrap it up in pretty paper with a bow, then give it to yourself and enjoy unwrapping it like a child does on their birthday! 😀

Perhaps you can relate to this or maybe you have written your own list? What do you do to love yourself? Email me at mannafoldblessings@gmail.com or comment below!

Until next week ~ Coach Shannon

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coaching

Beautiful Body Types

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Don’t compromise yourself. You are all you’ve got.   -Janis Joplin

Almost all of us have a distorted image of our body, often due to the importance our culture places on outward appearance and the onslaught of media images of airbrushed models and celebrities. On a daily basis, we talk to ourselves in ways we would never speak to another. Imagine speaking to a child the way you speak to yourself about your body. It would devastate and squelch a child. It affects you similarly, causing stress and emotional pain in your body, which can make improving your health or losing weight even more difficult.

Think of all the intelligence, creativity and time you spend on improving, altering and judging your appearance. Who would you be and what could you accomplish if your valuable resources weren’t used this way? Constant emphasis on the external makes us discount the great presence and intelligence that is housed by the body. It makes us forget the intelligent design of our internal rhythms and fail to acknowledge the beautiful bodies we have.

The body you have right now is incredible! It never misses a heartbeat, it maintains homeostasis and it miraculously digests whatever you put in it. It is your instrument for expressing your creativity, intelligence and love. By focusing on the 1% you don’t like or wish were different, you may be ignoring the remaining 99% about your body that is beautiful, unique and delightful.

What would your life be like if you were simply at peace with the body you have? You may wish to make your body healthier and stronger, but could you do that out of love and respect for your body instead of the opposite? Could you begin to treat yourself with kindness, to limit the negative self-talk and to reconnect with your inner wisdom? Take a minute to imagine what that would feel like. It would mean celebrating your body rather than punishing it. It would mean nourishing your body rather than depriving it. It would mean a chance to watch your body flourish when treated with care and respect.

Like a fellow coach says- “If you don’t take care of your body, where will you live?” ~Coach Lucy

Jesus said in Mark 12:31, the second greatest commandment is to “love your neighbor as yourself”. My question is, How much do we really love ourselves? If we don’t love ourselves, our looks,  or our body as God designed it, then how can we possibly love our neighbor in a Christ-like manner? Just something to think about. 🙂

~Coach Shannon