Rise and Shine!

This is an article that I wrote for the Christian niche of CTI (The Coaches Training Institute). I am on the Christian leadership team, and will continue to write articles from time to time when it is my turn in the rotation. I wrote this for last Monday's post and I thought it would be fun to share with you, giving you a glimpse into the life of coaches. The article that we write comes out each Monday and is appropriately titled "Monday Musings"...

"'Men and women who have lived wisely and well will shine brilliantly, like the cloudless, star-strewn night skies. And those who put others on the right path to life will glow like stars forever.” Daniel 12:3 The Message

It’s Monday! Time to rise and shine! I love this verse from Daniel. Seems perfect for a “coaching motto.” Take a moment and meditate on this passage. We as Christians and as Coaches could pray this passage over our coaching practices (ministries), and live into its principals. Let us shine light into many areas of those we coach. We have a privileged position to be brought into the depths of the lives of our clients where most are not invited. We are able to listen with level three ears, (what I like to call “our Holy Spirit ears”) to what our clients are aspiring to.

Many times as we are coaching a client we find ourselves in awe of some of the things that that they are up to. We discover areas that they have strengths in which they are not fully aware of and then begin to shine the light on this new discovery for them. They may have a song they want to write and record, a new business to open, a team to lead, a book that is dying to be birthed, a dance just wiggling to come out, a painting with such beauty you hear and see the colors radiating through their vocal cords, jewelry designs being strung while watching TV, mission trips to aid the needy. Many times these dreams are just as frightening as they are exhilarating and in many instances they are afraid to share their dreams with anybody for a number of reasons, one because they are extremely personal, secondly, it causes them to step out of their comfort zone, and thirdly, because they are absolutely terrified to attempt it! Yet they hire you because ultimately they are more terrified of not attempting their God-given dreams!

Oh what a holy thing to be a part of their individual and unique journeys! We have such wonderful opportunities this week with our remarkable clients!

Each of us as coaches we too have dreams within us, shine the light on what it is that the Lord God is calling you to this week. Close your eyes, look deep within, agree to live within the stars in your eyes this week. Write down your own dreams, give yourself the opportunity to do an “intake session on yourself”, much like the one you do with your clients. Are you called to forgive, to rejoice, to lead, to support, to write, to dance, to paint, to sing, to coach a new and different niche? Whatever-- Shine It, Write it, Sing it, Dance it, Shape it, Draw it, Record it, String it, Weave it, Dream it… just do it! Do it all for the glory of God!

It’s Monday people! Praise Him for the day; praise Him for your opportunity to be used in the life of your clients.

Make a date with the stars this week, lie under the night sky, experience the brilliance of the stars and of our Lord. When was the last time you actually went outside and laid down and looked heavenward? Probably too long…

Shine brighter, rise higher, radiate with the love of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Rise and Shine!

Kathryn

Struck by Lightning!

Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash?
Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who is perfect in knowledge?
Job 37: 15-16

I am "struck" by this scripture passage above! Oh how God is so powerful, so amazing. He is truly in charge, I am not one who can question His power and authority, I simply need to know that He is the one in control of all things. There are things in this world that none of us can completely fathom. His wonders that are always above us, physically, mentally, spiritually, directionally.

The last several weeks have been a bit crazy for me. My computer got struck by lightning! Therefore, as you can see I have not written any posts. I have had to purchase a new computer, try to gather all of my previous items needed to function. This has been a very frustrating time for me. The new computer I have is a "Vista" and I hear mixed thoughts from people about Vista. Some really love it others really hate it. I am learning to adjust to it, and still have much to learn.

I am just now moving beyond the frustration of it all, and am now finally to a point where I am able to stand in awe of His abilities. Our God is always able to get our attention, one way or another. I believe that He was trying to get my attention. It was as if He was asking me the very questions in this Scripture. Posing it to me saying "Kathryn, Do you know how I, your God, control the clouds and make My lightning flash?" Pulling me in, asking me to recognize His amazing power, His creation. Causing me to have to break the routine of my days.

My husband Bruce and I have been watching the sky more lately. This summer we have had an unusual amount of rain and the sunsets have been grande! We have a wonderful bench on our front porch, and we sit out there in the mornings and evenings enjoying the peace. We have several dove families living all around us and enjoy another part of God's creation in listening to them every day, through out the day. Check out this link to hear the sound of the "Mourning Dove" http://www.learnbirdsongs.com/birdsong.php?id=7 . Many days they stand on the top of our chimney, and pipe their music into my house! Their beautiful sound will literally fill my home with their song!

We also have seen lots of wonderful "Lightning shows" in the night sky as we have sat out on our wonderful bench. His creation is so vast! His wonders, His creative intelligence, and knowledge put me in my respective place. I am so awed by His gloriousness. Oh my Lord, I am taken aback at how the clouds hang in the sky! How You pour out Your rain, cleansing us, cleansing the earth, providing us and Your earth with Your living water!

Yes, You are full of majestic wonders, and perfect in knowledge! Thank you for constantly revealing Yourself to me in the clouds, the lightning strikes, the thunder!

Let me always experience Your creative splendor even in the midst of my frustration.