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Category: Thinking

Am I Overcoming Defeatist Thoughts?

April 10, 2023
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| Categories: Thinking, Uncategorized

I’m excited to introduce a special guest and her writing to you today! Kelly Balarie is a master encourager and a passionate writer and speaker about God’s truths. She knows the power of God’s truth for the heart, soul, and mind and since we are all about turning toward truth and grace here, I want to share her writing with you. I also want you to know that her new book, Take Every Thought Captive, is being released today! As you read Kelly’s post below, will you ask yourself along with me, “Am I overcoming defeatist thoughts?”…

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Podcast S1E2 – What’s My Plan to Work Proactively with My River of Thoughts?

July 31, 2022
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| Categories: Coaching Yourself, Thinking, Uncategorized

Outside forces can impact rivers; obstructions can cause the current to divert and cut channels in a new direction. The Mississippi River once changed course because of the New Madrid earthquake in 1811. It has been said that beavers are “ecosystem engineers.” When they build dams, they create brand new ponds and divert the way rivers flow. If a little animal such as the beaver can divert powerful rivers and create safe places for themselves, do you think we can too?

What is your plan for caring for and influencing the direction of…

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Podcast S1E1 – How Am I Regularly Caring for My River of Thoughts?

July 13, 2022
| 2 Comments
| Categories: Coaching Your Friends, Coaching Your Kids, Coaching Your Spouse, Coaching Yourself, Thinking, Uncategorized

Well, I’ve put this off for a long time, but I’ve finally created the first episode of my first podcast!

Friends have told me more than once that they wished they could listen to my blog. Like me, they just don’t have time for all the reading they want to do. As my friends and I have discovered the beauty of filling our minds with audio while we do mindless jobs like driving and washing dishes, the idea of a podcast has grown on me.

So, here it is….

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What’s My Plan To Work Proactively With My River of Thoughts?

May 28, 2022
| 12 Comments
| Categories: Coaching Your Friends, Coaching Your Kids, Coaching Your Spouse, Coaching Yourself, Thinking, Uncategorized

I didn’t sleep a wink the night before our class IV/V adventure down the Chattooga River. It was a ride I personally did not sign up for. A part of the vacation that my husband thought would be a great family experience.

I was thankful for the mandatory safety video and short class we had before the float, but it only heightened my concerns. The steps the outdoor adventure company took to increase safety for us were, in my eyes, heroic. I knew, with the Lord’s help, we had a good chance of…

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How Am I Regularly Caring For My River of Thoughts?

May 20, 2022
| 10 Comments
| Categories: Coaching Your Friends, Coaching Your Kids, Coaching Your Spouse, Coaching Yourself, Thinking, Uncategorized

I used to live just one street over from the bluffs that rise up over the Missouri River. I’m familiar with its power. My kids and I loved to walk down to our historic town’s riverfront to stand at the banks and throw rocks and sticks into it. Sticks were our favorite because we could see just how swift the current was. It also gave a strict warning to my children to never play in that dangerous river. The sticks are always quickly rushed along with the rushing course of the river, too fast to ever retrieve back.

What Attributes of God Can I Image For Others Today?

February 26, 2022
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| Categories: Coaching Yourself, Encouragement, Mothering Encouragement, Parenting, Renewing the Mind, Spiritual Growth, Thinking, Uncategorized

Is it wrong for me to think I can reflect God?

Humans aren’t perfectly holy, all-present, or all-knowing.

Don’t worry! I don’t propose that we can reflect those kinds of attributes, but if we are in Christ we are enabled and called by God to image other attributes of Himself; the ones He calls His followers to. Imaging them isn’t to be a prideful or self-righteous move; it’s just the opposite. God’s attributes are all based on His perfect love. The essence of His kind of love is kindness, tenderness,…

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Am I Living Congruently with Who God Says I Am?

June 21, 2021
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| Categories: Coaching Yourself, Identity of a Believer, Thinking, Uncategorized

It has been a few months since the bitter, cold day that our sweet rabbit, Cocoa, gave birth to her four babies.

It was a day that Cocoa acted on her feelings instead of the realities and truth of her situation. The result was quite horrific to see. The ensuing tragedy gave me a terrifically helpful illustration to remember going forward.

It’s also lead me to ask this week’s question:

“Am I living congruently with who God says I am?…

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Am I Grasping the Height of God’s Love? Part 4 of 4

June 1, 2021
| 4 Comments
| Categories: Coaching Yourself, Questions, Thinking, Uncategorized, Who we are in Christ / Identity of a believer

Sometimes, fighting my own thoughts feels like climbing a mountain. There are slippery slopes, jagged, painful edges, and dangerous cliffs. Being out of my comfort zone can bring on thoughts that are not based on truth and, hence, a mountain climbing expedition! I recently found myself outside of my comfort zone and started questioning my worth and abilities. I began assuming what others were thinking of me. None of the thoughts were ones that I should’ve considered true, yet there I was thinking upon them. They felt high and unscalable as if they could weigh me down…

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The Third Way to Practice the Presence of God…Even if You’re Busy

March 3, 2020
| 10 Comments
| Categories: Coaching Yourself, Spiritual Disciplines, Spiritual Growth, Thinking, Uncategorized
Presence of God Way 3

Inspired by my journal from three years ago:

“I told you guys I need peace this morning!”

I had just prayed that the Lord would help me know what to write about for this blog post.  He answered quickly.  Without skipping a beat, my husband let the dog loose to come upstairs.  “I thought it would be fun for you and the kids”, he said.  The kids started playing baseball in my room.  Their squealing and…

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The Second Way to Practice the Presence of God…Even if You’re Busy

February 24, 2020
| 4 Comments
| Categories: Coaching Yourself, Spiritual Disciplines, Spiritual Growth, Thinking, Uncategorized

We’ve come to the second of Brother Lawrence’s six ways necessary to develop the spiritual life in The Practice of the Presence of God.  

I’ve been talking a bit about my weekly phone call with Suzanne each week and how it’s inspired me in practicing the presence of God.  Something I enjoy about my friend, Suzanne, is that once in a while she texts me a personal note. She encourages me in an area I’m struggling with or updates me on some aspect…

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