Personal Life Coach for Women

Christian life coaching principles of interest to women

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Location: Cary, North Carolina, United States

MDiv, CBC, Certified Christian Life Coach

Monday, March 05, 2007

Christian Life As I See It

Have you ever been in a conversation with someone you met at a social function only to have them discover that you are a Christian or in ministry? I have. Everything was going great in the conversation and then suddenly a mutual friend steps up and interrupts with the words, “did you know” that, Janet is an ordained minister? Suddenly the conversation immediately changes. The person that you were talking to now freezes up, apologizes for everything they might have said in the past 10 minutes, looks awkward and begins to withdraw or quietly dismisses themself.

Why has the word "Christian" or anything associated with it gotten such a bad rap these days? Why are Christians no longer looked up to or respected in our society? Maybe a good place to seek the answer is to take a long hard look at ourselves in the mirror. It seems to me, that of all people on the face of the earth, Christians, or "believers” should be some of the most vibrant people around. We should be joyous people full of life. After all, we really do have something to celebrate! Yet, the truth is we often come across more like doubters, worriers and complainers than "believers." If you are happy, as the expression goes, why don't you let your face know it? Christians should be the very people that others are seeking out and asking, can you please tell me how I can get what you have and not how can I get away from you.

So what has happened? Where have we gone wrong? Why do people run from us? Could it be that we have become a little too good at pointing the finger and declaring what we are "against" rather than what we are "for"? Have we become so religious and pious that we are no earthly good? I don't believe we were ever called to be “religious” or to "segregate" ourselves in "Christian clubs." In fact it was the "religious" leaders of Jesus’ day that Jesus most disputed and stayed at odds with. I don't think holiness ever has or will mean weirdness or strangeness. Holiness means being set apart for God and having God's interest and purpose at heart. Holiness is an internal work in our hearts and character. It is much more about a life changed from the inside out than any external list of do's and don'ts. Obviously if the sinners, publicans and tax collectors and rift raft of his day were comfortable with Jesus, we must be missing something here!

As I talk with women in life coaching, I often talk about the law of attraction. In essence, you really will attract what you think and believe about yourself. Most of us do give off a vibe whether we realize or not and people are reading our mail, if you will, daily. A good question to ask ourselves, is not only what we are attracting into our lives but are we "attractive" to others? Do others want what we have? Do they even want to be around us? Is there anything about our lives that reflects love, goodness, gentleness, kindness and peace? Are we lovers of men? Do we really love people and care about them? Most people know when we are genuinely sincere or not. It's not hard to spot a phony. On the flip side, I have never seen condemnation or judgment win over a person for long. When love is real and genuine who can resist it? It's simply irresistible! The question is, are you and I "irresistible"?

So the way I see it, even though Valentines’ Day has long come and gone; real love is never seasonal. In fact I believe the world is looking for the real deal. They are dying for it! If Christians have been called to be salt and light and to make a difference in this world, then maybe it’s time our demeanor, and more importantly our actions look like we have something to offer!"