Poetic Inspirations and Practical Applications for Blissful Living

Guest Post: Hope

Hope

Guest Post by Heart and Soul Health Coach Mike Fenton

  

Hope, the word that inspires us to keep going, to keep working towards achieving whatever it is we are trying to accomplish. Because when we have hope we believe there is a chance our dreams will come true. But for some, they have no hope, why? Maybe Satan is telling them they are undeserving, they are not worthy. However there is no reason to believe Satan, the Bible tells us in Lamentations 3:25 “The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him”. So if we come to the Lord in good faith and put our hopes in Him we should not worry, he will be good to us. We have no reason to doubt His word.

We can also lose hope when things start to go wrong, we may lose faith in ourselves and/or our abilities. We may even begin to lose faith in God, if we feel our intentions are good, why does He not stand behind us and help us through?

It may be because we are not on the right path that God has planned for us, or it may be because the time is not right.

We must not lose faith, as we are reminded in Hebrews 11:1 that “faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see”. We may not see immediate results, life works on God’s timetable, not ours.

Satan wants us to lose our hope and our faith in God. When we feel there is no hope, we must remind ourselves God is hope. Do not be tricked into believing anything else. We should go to the Lord in prayer and ask Him to reveal his plan to us. Hope can be such an inspiring word, but when we lose it, the results can be devastating.

January Reflection – I will not lose hope because I know that through Him all things are possible.  

 

 

Guest Post: Brave the New Day

Brave the New Day

Guest Post by Heart and Soul Health Coach Mike Fenton

  

Many folks like to begin the New Year making resolutions for changes they would like to make in their life. Most of those resolutions address these 5 areas of life.

Nutrition – I want to start eating better. I am going to start eating the things my body needs, not the things I tell myself I want.

Relationships – I have relationships I would like to change from broken, to thriving, secure, loving, & meaningful relationships with those I care about most.

Vocation – I am tired of this job and want to find new work.

Physical Activity – I am going to start doing something that gives me some form of exercise.

Spirituality – I am going to start attending church, or spend time reading The Bible.

So where are you at now? Are you following through with your intentions? Some of you have and some have not. Perhaps you have fallen off track for some reason or another and now feel discouraged.

There is no reason to feel discouraged because each new day presents us with the opportunity to start anew. We can get back on track and start working towards our goals. Just because you did not eat right yesterday does not mean you can’t start eating better today.

Relationships sometimes take time to heal, but as long as they are moving forward in a positive direction, be happy for that.

Finding a new job will take time, but knowing what you don’t want is the first step.

Putting a little physical activity into your life can be as simple as going for an evening walk after dinner. You will find that doing anything will make you feel better than doing nothing. Start with something simple and work on that gym membership later.

There are so many ways to have a more spiritually enhanced life. If you do not belong to a church take time to do some research on different beliefs and teachings. Visit different churches until you find one that resonates with you. The easiest way to a more spiritual life is to begin reading The Bible (borrow one from a friend if you don’t have one), the words you read will give you the inspiration to Brave the New Day.

“The world stands aside to let anyone pass who knows where he is going”

David Starr Jordan (1851 – 1931)

Guest Post: What Grows in Your Garden?

What Grows in Your Garden?

Guest Post by Heart and Soul Health Coach Mike Fenton

  

Think for a moment that your life is a garden, and that your thoughts, words, actions and deeds were the seeds for that garden, what would you find growing in your garden? Would you find a bed of beautiful flowers or some tasty vegetables or would you find it barren or perhaps a garden of weeds?

Just like any garden we grow we control what grows in it by what seeds we plant. We can also control what our garden of life will grow by what we put into it through our thoughts, words, actions and deeds. Our garden of life can be barren or full of weeds and of no value to us, or it can be a garden of fresh vegetables that can be used to sustain ourselves and others.

How do we keep a garden that is bountiful? Well we are reminded in John 15:5, 8 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples”. We must remember it is of utmost importance to keep our life Christ centered if we want anything to grow.

In our garden of life if we do not have good spiritual soil (ourselves) we may find it difficult to grow the garden we desire. As we read in Matthew 13:20–21 “The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away”.

In order for our garden to grow we must be firmly and deeply rooted in God’s word so in times of trouble or persecution we will not fall away.

 

 

 

Guest Post: To Be Or Not To Be

To Be Or Not To be

Guest Post by Heart and Soul Health Coach Mike Fenton

  

Each new day presents us with the opportunity to change the things we did not like about the day before. We can say today I am going to be this or today I am not going to be that. We can change things about ourselves we do not like or that prove to be of no benefit to us or to others. We should identify what those things are, eliminate them from our life, and work to become who it is we want to be.

Being who we want to be, or not to be, applies to every aspect of our life, both personally and professionally. It can be about our work, knowing I do not want to be in this job any longer, I want to do something different. This work is not for me.

In can apply to our health, knowing I do not want to feel this way any longer, I do not want to weigh this much, I do not want to feel lethargic, I want to feel my best, I want to weigh less, I want to feel energized.

It can be about our relationships with others, knowing I do not want to be in relationships where I feel as though I am not treated the way I should be, I want to be in relationships that are healthy, that are thriving, and ones that will allow me to be and give my best.

It can be about spirituality and our relationship with the Almighty, knowing I want to be a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, and not to be left out from the His grace. We are reminded of His blessings in John 8:12 which say, When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

The “light of life” is what helps us to see things more clearly in life. It gives us the understanding of what it is we want to be or not to be, and enables us to make those changes more easily.

Who do you want to be, or not to be?

 

 

 

 

Poem: Winter Warmth

Free Image Winter Sun by Evgeni Dinev

 

Winter Warmth

Wisdom of Winter - Inspirational Christian Poem by Caroline Gavin of Purposeful Pathway Christian Life Coaching

Image courtesy Evgeni Dinev at www.freedigitalphotos.net

 

 

 

“While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.” (Genesis 8:22)

Remember, My child,
When cold it may be,
In the winter of life
You are closest to me,

Yes, just as the sun
Hovers closest to earth
In the coldest season
Before spring rebirth,

So too I am with you
Indeed all the more
When the snow falls,
When cold rain does pour.

So do not grow weary,
Do not let tears fall,
For Your Jesus is here
Throughout it all.

I am kissing your days
With brightest sunshine
I am warming your heart
With pure love divine,

I am filling your soul
With peace deep and pure,
I am uplifting your spirit
With love to endure,

So embrace the storms,
The bitter cold days too,
For I promise, little one,
I am all the closer to you.

Yes, rejoice, My child,
When cold it may be,
For in the winter of life
You are closest to me!

 

 

© 2014 Caroline Gavin

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Journey to Joy Workbook Image FINAL

 

 

Poem: Beauty in Everything

Beauty in Everything

 

Beauty in Everything

Image courtesy Ikunl at www.freedigitalphotos.net

 

 

“He has made everything beautiful in its time…” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

My child, please savor
The beauty in everything:
The glory of morning,
The majesty of evening,

The warmth of summer,
The sparkles of snow,
The colors of the fall,
The spring blossoms to grow,

The smiles of children,
The wisdom of parents dear,
The laughter with loved ones
When they are near.

Yes, savor the beauty
Of everything I give,
As endless is the beauty
In life you live.

Perfect is the peace
When you travel My way,
Wonderful the wisdom
Of every word I say,

Bright is the joy,
Limitless the love,
Timeless the treasures
From Heaven above,

When to Me
You keep always near,
When in your heart
My truth rings clear,

When faithfully
My path you follow,
When wherever I lead
So too you go…

Yes, sweet child,
To My hand please cling,
As you will then savor
Beauty in everything!

 

 

© 2014 Caroline Gavin

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Guest Post: Ask

Ask

Guest Post by Heart and Soul Health Coach Mike Fenton

  

Last month in my newsletter I talked about change and how going through change can be a difficult task for some and a not so difficult task for others. One reason it may have been easier for others is because they sought help in trying to accomplish whatever the task was at hand. Any task becomes more difficult when we try to do it ourselves instead of seeking the help of others when we need it. It is important to decide which tasks we need help with, and those we can handle on our own.

It is important to remember that there will be times in each of our lives when we must seek the help of others in order to get things done. When we do, it is always important to remember that we can always come to the Lord when we need help as we are read in John 14:14 “ You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it”. There is no reason to feel as though we have no help when we come to the Lord in faith. We just have to ask in good faith.

We can also take comfort in what is written in Philippians 4:13 which reads “I can do all this through him who gives me strength”. How great is that? He will not only help us if we come to Him in faith, but he will also give us the strength to do it as well!

Our Lord is there to help us any time we need help, we just have to ask in good faith. He will never be too busy or unavailable, just ask.

November Reflection: I can come to the Lord when I am in need.

Guest Post: In Through the Out Door

In Through the Out Door

Guest Post by Heart and Soul Health Coach Mike Fenton

     Do you ever get the feeling that you’re not going in the same direction everyone else is? Like you’re trying to go in through the out door? And if you have, is feeling that way necessarily wrong? Sometimes following others is not our best option or the wisest thing to do. I remember as a child getting into mischief and telling my mom “everyone else was doing it” in which she would reply “if everyone else jumped off a bridge would you? So much for my argument, she was right, just because everyone else was doing something wrong did not make it okay for me to join in.

     Following the actions and/or words of others can either be a good thing or a bad thing depending on who it is you’re following or listening to. When we feel as though we want to follow or listen to others we should step-back and take time to think; what would following this person get me into? Where are we going and what is awaiting us once we get there? Or what is this person telling me, and is it in alignment with my personal beliefs?

     Life itself presents enough dead-end roads and wrong turns, we certainly don’t need the help of others to find those. As a matter-of-fact listening to bad advice and/or following bad directions can be exactly what gets us to those wrong turns and dead-end roads. That’s why it is so important to take the time to contemplate who and what it is we listen to, and then decide who we are to follow or listen to.

     There is one person however that we can feel comfortable in listening to and following because we know He will never lead us anywhere we should not go or tell us anything that is not right. He is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. So when you are questioning the direction you are going in, or the advice you just received, bring it to the Lord in prayer and ask Him for his advice. Advice you can always count on!

 

Poem: Choose Love

Poem Choose Love

 

Choose Love

 

Poem Choose Love

Image courtesy Marcus at www.freedigitalphotos.net

 

“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” (Matthew 5:44)

Choose love, My child,
No matter what may,
Choose love, little one,
Throughout your day,

Choose love faithfully
When all is awry,
Choose love surely
When you find yourself cry,

Yes, choose love
Through joy and pain,
Through mountains and valleys,
Through sunshine and rain,

Through each gain,
Through each defeat,
Through times of loss,
Through victory sweet.

No matter what comes
Let love be your choice,
Let it be the reason
Your heart does rejoice,

Let it be sunshine
To wash away the rain,
The brilliant beams
To melt the pain,

The miraculous light
Every raindrop to dry,
The rainbow to follow
When tears you cry.

Yes, choose love, child,
No matter what may…
And blessed will be
Your Heaven-bound way!

 

 

© 2014 Caroline Gavin

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I offer you a gift! Sign up for the “Journey to Joy” workbook at right-hand side of this page…and journey with Jesus to pure joy!

 

 

Guest Post: Change

Change

Guest Post by Heart and Soul Health Coach Mike Fenton

It’s been said that one of the biggest fears people have in life is getting up and speaking in front of a group of people. Another big fear people have is change. Many people do not like change and prefer to keep business as usual; their thought may be, “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it”. We also seem to find that as we age we have less tolerance for change, which usually is a result of complacency and in being content to live life as is, so be it.

But what about those that want to change but their circumstances do not allow them to? They know they were born to do something else. They currently are not living the life they wanted, and it is taking away their energies and in some cases depleting them of their will to live.

While not being who God created us to be can certainly be paralyzing, what is worse is to stop trying to be who we know we were meant to be, to stop trying to do what we know we were meant to do. It is more than just a feeling that tells us that, it is written in 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” God has a plan for each and every one of us and if life does not feel right, then it’s possible we may not be doing what the Lord has intended and we may need to make some changes.

If life doesn’t feel right we should come to the Lord in prayer and ask him to give us clarity about what his plans are for us. We may find that it requires us to make some changes in our lives, but it is better to change and follow Gods plan than to be something we are not.