The last part of 2008 has been a rocky road for me -- with crazy things like credit card fraud while the card was still in my wallet, lost luggage for 36 hours with my laptop battery in it, a flat tire on one of the busiest days of my life, numb hands that don't work without electrodes
zapping them, crashed computer (that one was totally my fault for plugging in a wrong cable! GGRR!), virus on a loaner-computer, leaky water heater which left me with no hot water for 5 days and showering at the community pool, book deadline in the next 50 days -- and trying to teach for Rockbridge Seminary and sit on a 2-day Jury Selection process while physically and emotionally helping my son's family move to Colorado and my daughter move to a neighboring county in CA.
zapping them, crashed computer (that one was totally my fault for plugging in a wrong cable! GGRR!), virus on a loaner-computer, leaky water heater which left me with no hot water for 5 days and showering at the community pool, book deadline in the next 50 days -- and trying to teach for Rockbridge Seminary and sit on a 2-day Jury Selection process while physically and emotionally helping my son's family move to Colorado and my daughter move to a neighboring county in CA.
But...what I learned during this odd season is that as I was tempted to throw a pity party, all I had to do was to ask others how they were doing to have my eyes really opened! I was so often
humbled by really tough situations in other's lives. For example, two friends lost their houses this week; another friend's husband is today having tests for possible colon cancer; and another friend's husband lost his job.
humbled by really tough situations in other's lives. For example, two friends lost their houses this week; another friend's husband is today having tests for possible colon cancer; and another friend's husband lost his job.
May I urge you during this New Year to be like Christ who cared deeply about the trials of others. Take the time to ask the all-important question: Do you have any prayer requests!? You will be forever blessed by asking the question and then praying for others. BTW, I often ask a waitress/waiter serving a meal: "We are about to offer thanks for this meal you have served us. Is there any prayer request we can include for you?"
But, if you try that, I must warn you to brace yourself. The last time I asked a waitress that question, she said to us: "Yes, please pray for my twin infant boys who were just born a few days ago and have to stay in the hospital for three more weeks. I'm really worried about them."
People are hurting. OFFER TO PRAY FOR THEM! You will make the birth, life, and death of Jesus more tangible for them and for yourself. May 2009 bring God's best for you and your family! And, may the prayers you offer on behalf of others change your life forever.
Hugs,
Katie Brazelton
Founder
Life Purpose Coaching Centers International®
7 comments:
Happy New Year Katieb.,
Thanks for being so transparent about your situation. It really gives us permission to struggle out loud. I too fell into self-pity spending my second Christmas without my oldest daughter and her family, who moved back to California. All I wanted was to have Christmas end, and end quickly. I kept myself busy and distracted until the Lord sent me an angel to remind me what Christmas was really about. The phone rang and the voice of a crying single mom that I coach was on the other line. She proceeded to tell me of her struggles with her family and we talked and cried together for an hour. We ended with praising God for His amazing goodness and mercy. The Spirit said after I hung up, "think on things that you DO have rather than what you're missing". I forgot I could choose my attitude which filled my heart with joy and peace as I focused on all my blessings. We invited this sweet mom and her daughters over for Christmas Eve dinner, provided for them as best we could and it was one of the best Christmas Eve memories ever. It really is more blessed to give than receive.
Thanks for being such a great example to all of us Katie.
Love you bunches,
Teri Alderson
Thank you for your book "Character Makeover". I've been at a place of struggle for the past few months, trying to find purpose and meaning in my everyday life. Rather than asking others to change, I have felt like the Lord wants me to change. I picked up your book and I am on day 3 of my makeover; I absolutely loved the exercise that you had us do with rewriting 2Cor. 12:9-10. This was absolutely wonderful! Thank you for pointing my eyes and heart to my heavenly Father who has enough grace for all of my self pity and "undirectedness". I'm so excited to continue this journey. thank you!!! Sincerely, Heather
Doing online ministry at another website for many years has indeed shown me how vital prayer is, not just for others but for myself. It has been a long lesson learned that it is ok for me to ask for prayer. Thanks for the encouragement on each of us to grow our prayer life and extending even further to outreach and offering FIRST. God bless.
Happy New Year to you too, Katie!! Thanks so much for being obedient to the vision that God gave you about Life Purpose Coaching! I enjoyed reading and got much benefit and insight from the orange and green books in particular.
I just finished reading Pathway To Purpose and God so definitely affirmed his next purpose for me. And then in reading about your current struggles, I once again realized that even as God unfolds his plans and we carry out them out, it does not insulate a person from future struggles. But through HIS goodness and mercy and the support of coaches and your ministry, the struggles become opportunities. LPCCI is God's newest blessing to me!
Thank you so much for all you have done and sacrificed for others of us to be able to fulfill God's call on our lives through Life Purpose Coaching! 2009 holds so much potential for me and countless others, and it is SO exciting to watch what God is doing and what He is going to do. I will very soon consider myself blessed to be counted among you as a certified Life Purpose Coach, and I can't thank you enough for the opportunity. Here's to a FABULOUS new year!
Sometimes it really takes a lot of courage to offer to pray with someone. When I ask myself why, I have to admit that it's because of how I think that person COULD react to me. It makes me aware that, even though I hate to admit it, I'm thinking of myself rather than that person's needs. For me, self-protection really is about self. I'm asking the Lord to help me get over that.
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