I have found myself, since being ordained and finishing my Christian Counseling Certification, to be blessed with many new open doors and opportunities to share the Word and saving message of Jesus Christ. One of those places is through post-abortion ministries. I've worked with the local women's center for a few years now and went to a "Surrendering the Secret" training just this past month...but without even trying to make connections, women who have had abortions in their past are migrating towards me. I know it's the moving of the Holy Spirit. I haven't painted a sandwich sign and draped it across my body saying.."LifeCoaching and Counseling for women who have had abortions!" but it practically seems as if I had.
I start a new small group Bible Study in a month for post-abortive women so I am asking for prayers as I Coach and Counsel with these ladies. Naturally, my personal prayer is that I get out of the way so THE Counselor can do His work. My heart aches that 1 in 5 Christian women have had abortions and yet the Body of Christ barely reaches out to them. It's inveritably one of the last true secret shames and sins that the Church would prefer remain a secret. I used to think pornography was the last secretive battleground that we had not dared to walk on but it is not. The statistics for college campuses and African Americans having abortions are alarming at nearly 1 in every 2 women! Besides the obvious sin that comes from abortion, it causes an avalanche of post abortive traumatic symptoms, similar to post traumatic stress disorder...and it comes with years of blame, shame and secrets that can lead to a domino effect of additional sin.
So, as we work to start the first Bible Study for Post Abortive Christian women in my tri-county area here, please pray for us and with us...and for those who have been so greatly effected. Pray that these women will understand that grace IS theirs if they choose Him and that forgiveness of self is something God says we must do... and it can be done with God's strength and guidance. Pray also for me as I forge ahead in the fall by going right into the mix at our local small town college campus. I will be starting a support group there as well, on campus, at a predominantly African Amercian college. Please pray for God to put additional partners, resources and help readily at hand. Resistance will come, but God is greater than all that can come up against us.
Most women who have had abortions do not seek counseling for their post abortive emotional stress and in fact, most do not even recognize the chaos in their lives as a symptom of the grief and guilt they feel. Life Coaching for post abortive women is a terrific tool for pointing women down the road to healing. Some have been so scarred that they do indeed need intensive counseling and can be referred for such services but I have found in the past few years that the women who seek me out for help are merely seeking the steps and encouragement towards forgiving themselves. That can indeed be done through Coaching. Sometimes all we need is a compass, pointing us to our true north so we can find our way. So I pray often that my Coaching will always be pointing UP...towards the heavens as the example of grace and forgiveness. I've been there myself and I know how important it is. Without encouragement and coaching for myself in my distant past, I wouldn't be blessed today to be able to help others.
Thank you all for your prayers. And if you know anyone who is walking the road alone after an abortion, please pass on my site or my email. You can send someone directly to lifecoachinspired.com...and I am sure they will thank you.God Bless and thanks again,In Him,Karen
Friday, March 13, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Get Coaching..not Coaxing!
Seeking assistance from a Life Coach is like finally stopping to ask directions when you’re lost. Often times we are frustrated, hurting, and fearful but we stay that way because we don’t know where to turn. We may know where we need to head or what the dream is but we might not know how to get there. Life Coaching helps you see the plan, read the map and helps you get you there!
As a Christian Life Coach, I am here to Coach you and not coax you. I will not bribe you, dangle a carrot in front of you, get mad at you, yell at you or push you. I will help you to better discern what God is showing you to do and how to do it. I will help you sharpen your own discernment and tune in to God. I will support you, encourage you and help train you to move forward and higher into the position God calls you to. He will show you where to stand and position you in His timing but you have to allow Him to and you have to listen to Him. So often we are weary and overcome by the world. But He has overcome the world and He has placed gifts within His people to help do this. Some of my giftings are being an Encourager, an Intercessor, a Trainer, a Biblical Counselor, a Coach and a Mentor. I am here to help YOU to move forward on the path God has called you, with joy and hope and to understand that how you live, what you think, say, do and feel makes a difference in the Kingdom of God. Welcome to living a life of purpose through Inspired Coaching.
~ Karen
www.lifecoachinspired.com
www.womaninspired.com
As a Christian Life Coach, I am here to Coach you and not coax you. I will not bribe you, dangle a carrot in front of you, get mad at you, yell at you or push you. I will help you to better discern what God is showing you to do and how to do it. I will help you sharpen your own discernment and tune in to God. I will support you, encourage you and help train you to move forward and higher into the position God calls you to. He will show you where to stand and position you in His timing but you have to allow Him to and you have to listen to Him. So often we are weary and overcome by the world. But He has overcome the world and He has placed gifts within His people to help do this. Some of my giftings are being an Encourager, an Intercessor, a Trainer, a Biblical Counselor, a Coach and a Mentor. I am here to help YOU to move forward on the path God has called you, with joy and hope and to understand that how you live, what you think, say, do and feel makes a difference in the Kingdom of God. Welcome to living a life of purpose through Inspired Coaching.
~ Karen
www.lifecoachinspired.com
www.womaninspired.com
Labels:
coaching,
encouragement,
mentoring,
women
What's the difference between Life Coaching and Therapy?
Life Coaching begins with an evaluation of your current life conditions and then takes you through a process to assist you in setting goals, formulating plans to achieve your goals and encourages you to take steps forward towards success. These goals can be personal, professional, spiritual or relational. Improving your outlook, inspiring you and assisting you on your path towards wisdom and spiritual growth are also a part of Christian Life Coaching.
Therapy is a bit different in that it helps to promote insight by going through past issues and assesses your mental health status along with your emotional capabilities. Therapy can be important for healing emotional pain and for resolving past issues that impinge upon life satisfaction and functionality but it is not necessary for all individuals. Therapy is also the type of treatment prescribed for disorders like depression, addiction and anxiety. LifeCoachInspired does not offer this type of therapy and if such therapy is deemed necessary by the Life Coach after assessment or Coaching has begun then such services will be referred and Life Coaching will be discontinued until such mental health services have been secured by the Client.
Although in my Coaching role I may incorporate certain skills and techniques from my experience as a Christian Biblical Counselor and as an Ordained Minister, it is only used to augment the Coaching process rather than to treat psychological issues. Coaching is not psychotherapy, nor a substitute for professional counseling or psychiatric services.
Therapy is a bit different in that it helps to promote insight by going through past issues and assesses your mental health status along with your emotional capabilities. Therapy can be important for healing emotional pain and for resolving past issues that impinge upon life satisfaction and functionality but it is not necessary for all individuals. Therapy is also the type of treatment prescribed for disorders like depression, addiction and anxiety. LifeCoachInspired does not offer this type of therapy and if such therapy is deemed necessary by the Life Coach after assessment or Coaching has begun then such services will be referred and Life Coaching will be discontinued until such mental health services have been secured by the Client.
Although in my Coaching role I may incorporate certain skills and techniques from my experience as a Christian Biblical Counselor and as an Ordained Minister, it is only used to augment the Coaching process rather than to treat psychological issues. Coaching is not psychotherapy, nor a substitute for professional counseling or psychiatric services.
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