by Kim Avery

“They’re baaaack,” or so the corny line from the 3^rd rate horror movie goes, and it’s true. Well, almost. It would be more accurate to say, “It’s baaaack,” as in that virulent  case of laryngitis that stole three months of my life this past spring. Three months.

Crazy, isn’t it? I mean who has ever heard of a case of laryngitis stalking someone like a hungry shark on a summer day? And not just someone but a very talkative woman?  And not just a woman but a Life Coach who spends her days talking ON THE PHONE? And if I were to be really honest, I wonder why speechlessness is dogging not just a female Life Coach who makes her living talking on the phone, but why is it chasing me!?

Joy Is Good

You see, I am all about joy. I like being happy. I’m quick to smile. And I avoid elective pain at all costs. In Kim’s world, joy is good; suffering is bad.

Suffering Seems Bad

Unfortunately, that rule of thumb doesn’t bode well for those who live in a world filled with brokenness, death, disease, and pain. If my mood were dependant on the things that happen around me and to me, I might as well give up now.

But it doesn’t.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

^… in this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory…

I Peter 1:3-9

I have been born again, and I have a living hope  > My hope comes from the resurrection of Jesus Christ  > Trials will come but they can’t threaten what Christ has given  > By believing in Him, I can rejoice with joy that is literally inexpressible. Good thing it’s inexpressible, since I can’t talk again .

No matter what, joy is mine.

Trust me, you will never catch me loving pain. I don’t run towards trials. And I will absolutely pray, “Lord, if it’s Your will, may this trial quickly pass.” But in the meantime, I’m planning to fight for joy every time, because I am His, and He is mine.

I’m praying for joy in this current trial today. How can I pray for you?

The truth is that in this time-restrained world “nothing fails like success,” and what that means is that changes lie ahead for the Living in Love with Jesus blog here at Life Coaching for Christian Women. In others words, I have been so undeservedly blessed by my Father God that I find myself in the difficult position of having to narrow the scope of the Living in Love with Jesus blog that I love.

Change Is Hard

This is hard!!! I get a lump in my throat just saying it but know it is for the best.

I love everything I do, and if my time and energy were unlimited (hah!), I would only add more to my plate and not take a single thing away. Unfortunately, that is not what God seems to be calling me to in this particular season of my ministry life.

I am praying that revamping the blog will allow me some additional time and focus to devote even more to my one-to-one coaching practice and to public speaking engagements with Christian women. My life’s passion is to live contagiously in love with Jesus and helping other Christian women do the same is what gets me out of bed every day.

Delightfully Intermittent

Thus, for a time Living in Love with Jesus will move to a “delightfully intermittent mode” – meaning that I’ll allow myself the privilege of posting when time permits and my heart cannot be contained in its sharing. Against all prevailing blogging wisdom, (don’t you just love it when God goes against prevailing wisdom), this will be completely random and hopefully will become a sweet unanticipated surprise to readers each time it appears.

Stay In Touch

If you would like to stay in touch (and I really, really hope you do), you can by:

• Receiving our FREE monthly newsletter
• Receiving notice of all blog posts by email
• Reading encouraging thoughts daily on our Facebook page
• Contacting me personally for coaching or more

God has blessed me beyond measure with amazing relationships developed through this blog, such as my relationship with you, and I pray that those continue until we meet in eternity face to face.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all you are and all you do. Please let me know of any way that I can serve you and pray for you as we eagerly await our Savior’s return.

God loves you and so do I!

Humbled by His love ~ Kim

Come and Catch a Passion for Jesus

Meet Julie Gorman

Kim: How did you become involved in ministry?

Julie: I’m a firm believer we are all called to the ministry, whether preaching to masses, teaching little children, giving financially, caring for the sick, cooking for the hungry, or….well the list can go on and on infinitely…The truth is God has fashioned each one of us uniquely. We have special gifts and talents that can be used to minister His grace and mercy. So, how did I become involved with ministry? I recognized it was God’s heartbeat for ALL believers.

Kim: What are some of the exciting things that God may be calling you to in the near future?

Julie: Currently, my family and I are moving to Florida to partner up with The Well Network to do missionary service to a few different countries. I’m writing a new book entitled When He Whispers…God’s Speaking Even When You Think He Isn’t. I’m travelling to minister in 9 different Nations. I’m continuing to host a nationwide Blog Talk Radio Broadcast every Wednesday at 2 PM EST. I’m so excited about the future, I can’t stand it! LOL. I don’t know everything God has planned, but I’m convinced it’s good!

Kim: What do you love most about serving Christian women?

Julie: Women who have a genuine love for God are among the most beautiful of all of God’s creation. I love watching their excitement to be used by Him turn from confusion to certainty. I thoroughly enjoy ministering to women because they aren’t afraid to get real with God! They have a genuine hunger and enthusiasm to be used by Him. Women are complex. We care deeply. We feel passionately. And when we channel our God-given resources…we are unstoppable!

Read more and listen
to the interview with Julie Gorman…

I never wanted to be a writer. Exactly zero of my childhood moments were spent envisioning my name on the cover of a book. Writing is not my gift and not my first love. It’s lonely, thankless, and it’s hard.

Instead, I like to talk.  I like to talk a lot. So, as an extrovert, my youthful dreams were a bit different. I liked to imagine standing in front of a crowd spewing wise words that changed the world. I pictured mass conversions when I spoke of Jesus’ love. My name might not grace the front of a book but instead would be emblazoned on the front of a marquee.

I’ve not changed much since those days long ago.

When God lays something on my heart, I want to tell others. When an idea pops into my head, it leaks out of my mouth. If one of my words happens to land in someone’s heart, I want to be there to see the gleam in their eyes.  Talking is social, rewarding, and it comes very naturally to me.

That is why it is so astonishing to be telling you, “I’ve just published two books: Change Your Thinking. Change Your Life. & Uniquely You: Discover Your Life Purpose.”

Why have I written two books? Good question.

As much as I dislike writing and adore talking, what I love even more is watching God change people’s hearts and lives. When women go from sorrow to joy, even though their circumstances haven’t changed, I get excited. When a friend who was lost and aimless, begins vitally contributing to the world by living with intention and purpose, I light up like a 100 watt bulb. When God’s promises move from the printed page to someone’s heart, I am fully alive.

Thus, against all my natural inclinations, for months I shut myself up in a lonely room.  Tied to my chair without a soul in sight, I cried out to God, wrestled words into submission, and began to capture a bit of what God has so graciously taught me on to the printed page.

My goal was to write a short, daily study for today’s busy woman that was more than informational, it was transformational. These two books are now a part of the Day by Day Series: Invest Ten Minutes ~ Experience True Change.

Change Your Thinking. Change Your Life. will walk you through God’s process of true change leading you to be secure, confident, purposeful, joyful, and fulfilled.

Uniquely You: Discover Your Life Purpose takes you step by step through the process of discovering why God made you the way you are and placed you on this planet just when He did. You will finish the study knowing who you are, why you are here, and rejoicing as you move forward in the path God has intended just for you.

So, now you know why I write when I hate to write. Because God is so beautiful He can’t be contained but inevitably spills over the edges of my heart wanting to be shared. Life is all about Him.

Life is hard, yet still God says there is no need for worry.  Is that even possible? Can we really live anxiety-free when the bills are late, the children rebel, and our job is at risk?

This month we have been studying how to truly live a life that is worry-free.  What could be better than that?

Four Essential Steps to a Worry-Free Life:

Recognize

Respond

Release

Replace

Up to this point, (click here) we have discussed the first three steps to a worry-free life. It begins simply, by just recognizing that there is a better way.  We then follow that acknowledgment with prayer, asking God what He would have us do. Then, every time that worry reappears we choose to praise God instead, increasing our faith in Him.

Replace

Finally, we are at Step Four, Replace.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Romans 12:2, NIV

God’s Promises

Now it’s time to replace Satan’s lie with the real truth.  By using your Bible’s concordance or a Bible Promise Book, find one of God’s many promises that apply to your specific situation.  For example,

• Children – Acts 2:39; Psalm 127:3-5; Proverbs 17:6
• Help in Troubles – Psalm 37:39; Psalm 42:11; Psalm 73:26
• Loneliness – John 14:18; Isaiah 58:9; II Corinthians 6:18
• Poverty – Psalm 72:12,13; Psalm 102:17; Psalm 68:10
• Money – Psalm 37:16; Deuteronomy 8:18; Psalm 9:18
• Worry – Matthew 6:34; Philippians 4:6; Psalm 34:19

Write this promise out on a 3×5 card and carry it with you throughout the day. Read it often. The truth will set you free.

Live Worry Free

Anxiety is insidious, paralyzing, and overwhelming.  God’s promises are specific, empowering, and life-giving.  His storehouse of resources is vast and offers reassurance for every need.  Each time a fear arises, practice replacing it with one of God’s truths.  There are plenty to go around.

The very first command to fear not is found in the book of Genesis, and God continues reassuring us until He states His final fear not in Revelation.  From beginning to end, He has us covered. Wow! God knows that life is hard, yet exhorts us to trust Him.  Remember who your God is, cling to Him, and sail through the storms of life.