Coffee with Carole

Why is it we will immerse ourselves in our work to avoid the problems at home or immerse ourselves in a book or exercise to tune out what is going on around us?  Some of us immerse ourselves in our feelings and thoughts and end up sinking deeper into depression and overwhelm, right?

If we want to see real change, we need to immerse ourselves in things that will create lasting change.  What if we immersed ourselves spiritually?  What if we ask God what needs to change within us, what we need to learn and where we need to grow?  

Here are the 9 Steps to Spiritual Immersion:

I-Intentional Effort-  Be intentional with your decision

If you immerse yourself into God, you will eventually become what you hear!  

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In the days after Christmas, what is going on in your house?  Are you cleaning, reflecting, or sleeping?  Are you looking for places to put the new things you got and wondering why it takes so much preparation for a 2 hour event?  Are you preparing for New Year's or simply back to work and routine?

I wonder what it was like for Mary and Joseph the days after Jesus' birth? The Bible doesn't say exactly what they experienced, but it does say that Mary pondered all the things and treasured them in her heart.  She spent a great deal of time thinking.  I imagine that they both simply looked at Jesus and were like, "can you believe this actually happened just like God said it would?"  

When we look at the New Year and begin to think about goals and resolutions, do we truly believe that God has all the answers or do we honestly believe that we have to take responsibility for our success?

On Thursday night at 7:30PM EST I am going to teach on the 3 Simple Things.  It will be on my Facebook page, so join me!  https://www.facebook.com/IPDCoach

Let's take a look at how to become a different you in 2022!!  See you then!

I stood in line to get the party favor and when it was my turn, the host said, "I am so sorry.  We just ran out of favors, but we are so glad you came!  I will send you something if you will just put your name here on this paper."

Has this ever happened to you? Sure, you enjoyed the party or event, but somehow it feels funny not getting the little party favor.

When we accepted Christ, we were invited to the party!  God gave us the Holy Spirit to live within us so we could experience a relationship with Him here on earth and receive blessings!  Yet, what I believe we truly want, is we want God's favor.  We not only want the Holy Spirit in us, but we want His spirit ON us.  How do we do this?

In Luke 2:25 there is a man named Simeon who was "righteous and devout and had the Holy Spirit on Him".  We can learn from Simeon.  Each of us is freely given the Holy Spirit to dwell within us once we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior.  However, having the Holy Spirit ON us is a choice.  Like Simeon, we must obey God's word, become obsessed with God's opinion, live a life pleasing to God, and never stop growing in our devotion to Him.  Not necessarily easy, but absolutely doable.  

If you want to live a life of favor...walking in peace and experiencing the miracles of heaven the way God wants you to, I want to help.

My book, All-In Paragon; Living a life by God's Design is available at this link and at bookstores everywhere.  

If you want it, but can't afford it, please let me know.  I would be happy to send you a copy.  

I am also going to be doing a LIVE class starting on January 9, 2022 to teach the principles of the All-In Paragon and would love for you to be a part of it!  

Here is the information link:  ALL-IN Paragon LIVE ZOOM COURSE

My prayer is that my words are God's words coming through me in boldness and authenticity.  Merry Christmas 2021!  May you and your family be blessed!

We have all been there.  Changes in a our schedules and interruptions to our daily routine can get us out of our groove!  

Over the past couple of weeks, between Thanksgiving and taking care of my granddaughter, I have found myself "out of my routine".  I may have did it intentionally, but it still creates a bit of "where's my flow?"    

As I watched my granddaughter, Lily, attempt to climb on her rocking horse, it made me think of how we can "fall off our horses" at times...we start a health journey and then there is a birthday cake...we start an exercise routine and we get sick...I am sure you know what it looks like!  As Lily tried and tried to get on her horse without success, she became frustrated and threw herself down on the floor in a tantrum.  It just wasn't working out.  When she asked me for help, I was able to lift her and put her on her horse with ease.  This is what our heavenly Father wants to do for us.  He wants to help us if we would simply ask!  

When life seems overwhelming, we simply need to stop and look for Him.  He is right there beside us waiting to show us HOW to have peace in the storm.  Reach out for Him and ask Him to show you what you need to do today to get closer to your goal?  Who needs to be served?  Lift your eyes to seek the one who can make all things possible.  Matt. 19:26

Instead of an activity, why not make it a way of life?

1-Start the day with God.  You can get a window/mirror cling from the store on my website to help remind you!

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,  and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Interestingly enough, we don't read about a drummer boy. Probably because that story wasn't written as a song until 1941 by Katherine Kennicott Davis.   Animals are not mentioned in the story (except possibly sheep in a nearby field). I don't see the decorations or Christmas Yet, our imaginations take us to a place different from what the Bible story depicts.

Let you imagination show you that it isn't so much about the gifts this season but about what is in one's heart.  Don't worry so much about what you will buy someone.  What about giving from what you already have...your time and talents?  Clean their car or house!  Babysit so the mom can get a much needed nap.  Do yardwork or cook & deliver a dinner.  Make a special batch of cookies.  Do the laundry.  Take time out to go for a walk.  Memories and moments are more important than the price tag.  If you have less to spend this year, think about humbling yourself to give  from your heart instead of your wallet and experience the magic of Christmas the way it was supposed to be experienced!

Saying no to another piece of cake or no to splurging on a purchase you don't need (but is on sale) can be difficult.  Especially when you really want it!  Why is it so hard to have self-control and self-discipline?  

The world created the mess and we are just playing in it.  The world says that we should practice self-care and do nice things for ourselves.  So, if the second piece of cake makes you happy or using your credit card to buy that thing on sale gives you pleasure, just DO IT!  The world says you have permission to take care of yourself and be happy.  If you don't like it then leave it.  If it doesn't make you happy, then don't do it.  

Self-control (by the world's design) is one's ability to control their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors when tempted by something, in order to achieve an end goal.  The world wants us to rely on our own abilities to accomplish things and it is a TRAP!

Self-control by God's design says that you are to GIVE UP and SURRENDER your ability to control your thoughts, emotions and behaviors and seek God's guidance and His will in all you do.  Total opposite of the world.  

You will find self-control & self-discipline in the Bible.  You won't find "self-care", "self-worth", "self-esteem", "self-confidence" in the Bible.  Why is that?  It is because God knew we were already too focused on ourselves.  This is why it is so important to focus on others and how others are feeling...seeking to understand before being understood...getting out of our own feelings, emotions, thoughts and desires.

Putting God first is the answer.  You must stop before your start.  Pause before you make any decision.  Get God's opinion first.  He is in charge.  He knows what you should do.  When you make this a priority, He builds you from the inside out and shows you how to have self-control and self-discipline...and then along the way, you will also begin to see your worth, value and how much He cares about you.  

Self-confidence is the problem.  You don't need it.  It really is messing you up and keeping you stuck.  You have to keep starting over.  Self-Confidences allows us to gain confidence in our abilities because our successes make us feel worthwhile, secure and significant.  We feel good about ourselves until the day we don't.  The moment we fail at something we were "good" at, we lose a bit of confidence.  The comment from the person we respected causes us to doubt ourselves.  

The only true confidence to seek and strive for is God Confidence.  When we fully depend on God for every single thing and ask Him to guide and lead our every decision, and believe His word that He goes before us and plans our steps, we walk with a confidence that is unlike any other.

Our mission is seek and serve God in all things.  Obedience to His word will show you His faithfulness.  You will have a track record of all the times He came through for you and begin to trust and believe more in His truth.  When you do this over and over you will develop God Confidence and you will move forward as if you know tomorrow's lottery numbers.  

Honestly, most of us are thinking about ourselves.  Let's just be real.  We are either thinking about how tomorrow will turn out , thinking about how we are feeling about tomorrow, thinking about what needs to be accomplished today, or possibly thinking about what the rest of the holiday season is going to look like...we are inside ourselves and our thoughts.   

Ask yourself what ONE thing you can do today to make a positive impact on someone else.  Look for ways to encourage and lift up without increasing stress.   

With this in mind, I wanted to let you know that I have a "Prayer Request" page on my website.  You can find it here:

Many years ago I wrote a song that talked about being a vessel of clay in God's hands.  I had forgotten about it until last night when God reminded me of it.  I looked for the words and couldn't find them.  I remembered some of them and as I thought of the words I wrote so long ago, God showed me how even then He was forming me and my life into what it is today. 

Isaiah 64:8 tells us that we are the clay and that we are a work of the potter's hand.  Jeremiah 18:4 says that when something is wrong with the intended design, the potter is able to use the same clay to make something different.  Sometimes,  a potter, in order to make something better, he must break the hard clay into pieces to then add water and make it pliable and shapeable.  

Are we willing to be used differently than we first thought?  Are we willing to be broken into pieces to become all that God intends for us to be?  

The chorus of the song I wrote is :  Guide me, direct me, I am a vessel of clay.  I long to be molded and shaped in your name.  Teach me to trust you each and every day.  Oh guide me, direct me, I am a vessel of clay.  

May you speak this over your life and allow the Master potter to do His will in your life.