Reaping and Sowing

In this season of Thanksgiving, I sat down earlier in the week to reflect on the things that I had to be thankful for. What I recognized was that I did not have enough paper to express how good God has been to me. I have been blessed with awesome family and friends. God has always stationed the right people in my life and continues to do so.

I wrote an article a couple of weeks ago titled “The Hand You Were Dealt” and I must say I have been dealt a really good hand. My life has certainly not been without struggles, but even through the struggles I would not want another deal. I am especially thankful for my parents. I was adopted at 3 months old and God gave me the best option there was. I don’t know my biological parents but I thank them for giving me the best opportunity. It is not where you start the race it is where you finish.

I was raised in a Christian home reared by loving and caring parents. Even my extended family is really cool. As God has blessed me with a family, I only hope that I am half the wife and mother that my mother has been to my father and me. I have been married to a wonderful man for the past 17 years, and those that really know me wonder why he has been married to me for so long. Well someone has to do it. We have a beautiful daughter that was 1lb 2oz at birth and now is a healthy 13 year old. Any of you with teens no nothing else needs to be said about this age. She is ADHD with the dominant trait being hyperactivity. In our family God has blessed her with this trait as a survival mechanism. My husband and I both have really strong personalities and I am bouncing off the walls all over the place so it works really well in our family. As a matter of fact, I maybe ADHD myself.

I have been blessed with great careers and really good bosses and co-workers, all of which have prepared me for my life as a Christian Life Coach. In your spare time I want you to reflect on what has your whole life prepared you for? When you take an honest assessment you will be surprised of the results. OK enough about my great life. Did I mention I have had struggles? Just wanted to make sure it has not always been peaches and cream but I would not trade this hand for the world.
When I think about Reaping and Sowing which is our theme for this month it speaks perfectly to the coach/client relationship. The coach is always sowing (techniques, strategies, action plans, etc) into the client’s life. The client in return reaps the benefits (transformation, accomplishments, results etc). When the coaching relationship is done properly your client’s lives as well as your life will never be the same. Transformation will occur that changes their lives for the rest of their lives.

The point is this: "whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully”. (2 Corinthians 9:6 ESV).

I will share a real life coaching scenario with you. The name has been changed to protect the innocent.
Morgan: Hello Coach Marsha
Marsha: Hello Morgan how are you? Before we get started I’d like to open us in prayer.
Morgan: Great
Marsha: What has brought you to coaching?
Morgan: Well I am at my wits end. I have no clear direction in my life about anything. I hate my job, I have no savings, my family life is a wreck, and nothing in my life thus far has gone according to my plans. I have absolutely no direction. This is my last ditch effort for things to work out.
Marsha: Well Morgan let me thank you for caring enough about your life that you are willing to make some changes. Believe it or not your situation is not unique. Most people seeking coaching are in your same shoes. Morgan you have to put first things first. If you were to take a trip you would not blindly just start traveling. You would map out your course. You have to do the same thing with your life. Secondly, it is not about what you have planned for your life it is what the creator has planned for your life. Galatians 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mothers’ womb and called me through His grace (NKJV).
Morgan: That’s just it I have no idea which direction to head in or what he has called me to do.
Marsha: Let’s start off by defining what is the most important problem you want to solve?
Morgan: What is my purpose?
Marsha: Well Morgan the first thing that I recommend is that you complete a Spiritual Gifts Assessment. The reason for doing this is, until you clearly understand what God has purposed you to do you are not living on purpose. Each one of us has been given special talents and abilities that are specifically designed for us. Once you realize what your gifts are we will built a plan around those gifts. These gifts will answer and explain exactly what role in your life you should be playing. Does this make sense Morgan?
Morgan: It makes perfect sense. Once I identify what my gifts are I can then plan my actions/goals around those gifts correct?
Marsha: Correct for example, if one of your gifts is leadership then the roles you seek should be leadership roles in your career, church, other organizations etc). I am also going to encourage you to complete The Wheel of Life. This Wheel of Life allows you to self-assess in eight key areas. This Wheel will help you determine which areas to work on. Morgan we have 5 more minutes left is there anything else you would like to discuss today before we close our session?
Morgan: No I just feel a whole lot better about mapping things out. Just that one piece of information explaining the Spiritual Gifts Assessment has given me a new look on things. I am going to enjoy coaching with you.
Marsha: Great let’s go ahead and lock into our session for next week. This is the number and time that you will call. What would be a good action step for this week Morgan?
Morgan: To complete the Spiritual Gifts Assessment and The Wheel of Life.
Marsha: Great now on a scale of 1-10 how likely are you to complete both? Also I always give scripture for the week to ponder. The scripture for this week is Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, “declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (NIV).
Morgan: 10 I will complete the steps and read the recommended scripture.
Marsha: Ok then that is your action step for this week is to complete Spiritual Gifts Assessment and The Wheel of Life. You will also read Jeremiah 29:11. It has been a pleasure speaking with you on today. Let’s close in prayer.
This is a typical session that shows the Reaping and Sowing principal.

Action Step - Sit down with a sheet of paper and divide the paper into half. List Reaping on one side and Sowing on the other. Identify where you see the principal.

I am happy to guide you along your journey. Hope this article has been informational and peaks your interest to want more. Please contact me on meverett24@verizon.net so that we can set up an introductory session.

And You Thought Dragons Didn’t Exist!!!!

While sitting at my dining room table recently, I made the statement and you thought dragons didn’t exist. My daughter and her girlfriend immediately commented. Dragons don’t exist, they are just fictional animals. I laughed and said but they do. Both of them said really? I said yes really. It was really fun explaining my definition of dragons to them.

According to Webster’s Dictionary dragons are defined as 1) a huge serpent or snake, 2) a mythical monster generally represented as a huge, winged reptile with crested head and enormous claws and teeth, and often spouting fire, 3) a fierce violent person, and 4) Satan. These are just a few of those listed.
When I think of dragons, I think of a mythical huge, winged reptile with crested head, and enormous claws and teeth spouting fire. They are fictitious, not real, only found in tales. As I thought long and hard about this, I recognized that dragons come in many forms.

Dragons are (fear, anxiety, depression, guilt, substance abuse, pride, envy, jealously, low self-esteem, etc) anything that is negative in your life can be a dragon. The good news is that you have the ability, to capture the dragon. How does one capture a dragon? First, know that your life has value and significance. Release past negative experiences and focus on a positive future. Create goals and plans for your live. Capturing the dragon is the courage to change the things that we can.

God can slay the dragon. We are to change those things that we can, and let God handle the rest. God established your value and significance when he died on the cross for your sins. We must recognize that we have to be totally dependent upon God to slay our dragons.

He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak (Isaiah 59:17 ESV). This is God’s protection.

What dragons exist in your life? Write those dragons down and let’s create a plan to capture them. Once captured, we will allow God to completely slay them.

Action Step – For this week refuse to allow negative thoughts to creep into your mind. Keep a notebook with you and divide a page in half. Each time you have a negative thought write it down on one side. On the other side of the paper replace it with a positive thought.

E-Mail me for a free introductory session so that we can discuss your dragons and your negative thoughts. I’d like to assist you with creating a plan so that you can eliminate your dragons.