Guided By Grace Life Coaching

A friend recently asked me if I would write a blog post about what to do when we are constantly thinking “ugly thoughts.” You know – the kind of sarcastic and rude things that you have enough sense not to say to the person right as you’re thinking them (but probably something that you’ll vent to someone else later on). Well, goodness knows that I’m really good at over-thinking and just plain dwelling on the wrong things all too often. It’s part of why I was thrilled to have the opportunity to participate a few years ago in the Bible study Who Switched Off My Brain? by Dr. Caroline Leaf. It’s a book (and DVD series) all about the science behind how the brain works. Dr. Leaf takes a topic full of science and teams it up with God’s Word. It’s really an incredibly eye-opening book! She says in her book that, “Controlling your thought life is not about a destination, it is about a journey. The first step on that journey is to understand what a thought actually is, how it grows in your br...

Well apparently, God needed to drive home the point of being still so that I would hear what He really wanted to talk to me about: letting go of grudges. Ouch. That’s not what I was hoping to have a revelation on. Because, let’s be honest, I’m really good at holding onto them. I can still remember who hurt my feelings in the first grade and exactly how they did it! As much as I hoped my quiet times with God this first week home were going to be full of all kinds of warm fuzzies – God has had a totally different agenda. He wants to do a little more pruning. And His focus this time is really hitting where it hurts. Grudges are sneaky. You think you’ve handled the issue and that all is well. Then all of a sudden, something new shows up and brings the old grudge right along with it. Like it’s bringing an old friend home for dinner. Or rather, an old unwelcome guest. Unfortunately for us, feeling this way just means we never really dealt with the problem in the first place. Somewhere alon...

Ahhhh…it’s back to reality for us. After a much needed vacation away from cold & dreary Michigan, we are back home from warm & sunny Florida and ready to jump back into our busy schedules. Or, at least that’s what is supposed to happen after vacation. Somehow, instead of feeling rejuvenated and refreshed today, I’m feeling overwhelmed by the reality of our day-to-day life. My ten days off seem to have just left me with the desire to take a few more days off! Can you relate? I know I’m not in this boat alone. We are a very busy homeschooling family of five. With three busy kids, it seems there’s always a lot going on each week. I’ve become much too good of friends with the calendar feature on Outlook. Our vacation came at the end of an intense four-month season of homeschool basketball for the twins. Between all their practices and games and running to and fro, this overbooked Mom was about at her wits’ end. I literally told my husband that if we postponed the vacation just on...

Have you heard about the She Speaks Conference ? You can check out all the details at http://shespeaksconference.com/  . Here's a quick preview: She Speaks is a conference founded in 2001 by Proverbs 31 Ministries with the intent of: "encouraging and equipping women as they communicate God’s Word through writing, sharing their testimony, leading a Bible study and speaking from the podium". Whether you're a woman with a heart for speaking, writing, or leading in women's ministries...the 2011 She Speaks Conference is for you! Here’s what’s in store for 2011: She Speaks: (Speakers’ Track) Whether you feel led to speak in a large arena or lead Bible studies in your church, you will be equipped with the tools you need to effectively share your message, build your platform, and market your ministry. She Writes: (Writers’ Track) Learn everything from basic writing guidelines to preparing an article or manuscript for submission, and everything in between. In ...

Well, our two days in Mt. Pleasant for the kids' basketball tournaments taught me a few things. For one thing, it taught me again just how blessed we are to have our kids playing basketball with the organizations they are. We are surrounded by amazing coaches, players, fellow parents, and siblings. Our kids are learning a ton about basketball, and even more about friendships and playing to honor God. On Friday night, Mikayla was having all kinds of fun at our hotel with her teammates while Dave took Luke over to hang out and have fun with a bunch of his team. Saturday, when they weren't on the court, they were running around the facility having all kinds of fun with their friends. We all came home 100% worn out from all the fun and competition. Another basketball season is behind us, but what a great one it was! The drive home from Mt. Pleasant taught me how to appreciate the beauty of falling snow...and of driving slowly. It was a long, slow drive home. But we got home saf...

I don't know if it's a sign of how badly I need a vacation or how ready I am for the basketball season to be over...or just that I'm getting frustrated with how hard and slow this weight loss journey is. But I'm about at the end of my rope today! I just had to take a minute to vent and re-group my thoughts back to the "happy place." I know it's there. Somewhere. Psalm 118:24 - "This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Proverbs 15:13 - "A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit." Proverbs 17:22 - "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Psalm 9:2 - "I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High." Psalm 16:9 -"Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure." Psalm 28:7 -"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him...

Deuterononmy 2:3 ~ "You've circled this mountain long enough. Now turn north." This is my theme verse lately. It's kind of alarming to me how much progress I can make in my thinking & my habits and yet how quickly all those old ways can come screaming back! I feel like that little orange craving monster has taken up permanent residence in my head the last few days. When will this journey get easier?! I'm starting to come to the rather depressing realization that it probably won't. Just like an alcoholic will always have to struggle to stay away from alcohol and a cocaine addict will always fight the urge to get another fix, those of us who struggle with weight will always have these unhealthy tendencies just lurking around ready to pounce on us at any weak moment. I Peter 5:8 ~ "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." I'd never quite taken this so literally...