Empowered To Live Your Purpose

In today's episode I have the privilege of chatting with a sister in Christ, Jenasa Prudhomme. She gives her powerful testimony of how God brought her out of the New Age Occult and redeemed her and brought her into freedom in Jesus. She is a wife, stay at home momma and kingdom minded entrepreneur with a passion to make Jesus known. We hear her testimony, talk about the new age practices that too many people, including Christians, are falling into and the power of baptism. You can follow Jenasa and her encouraging account in IG @createyourearthlife, or listen to her great podcast #createyourearthlife on all major platforms. As always, I am rooting for you. XO Rhi --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rhiannon-staal/message

In today's episode I remind you of the Hope we have in Jesus. It might seem too simplistic, but God is simple. We overcomplicate life and connection with God. He loves us dearly and has given us steps to get unstuck and let go of the overwhelm. Joy, and gratitude and freedom are possible. I provide Biblical encouragement and practical steps to find more hope and joy. Bible References: Hebrews 6:19, Proverbs 15:15, Romans 8:26-35, Ephesians 3:20 I'm rooting for you friend! XOXO Rhi --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rhiannon-staal/message

In today's episode I am speaking grace and favor to you stay at home mommas. You are not valued for what you do, but whose you are. You are loved and enjoyed by your heavenly Father because He chose you as His own. As His dearly loved daughter you have free access to His gracious favor, kindness, peace and joy. Our Father is for you. He cares deeply about the details of your life and wants to walk closely with you. He has given you His Holy Spirit to live inside you so you are never separated from Him. He is your counselor, guide, friend, teacher and helper. When your heart feels overwhelmed you can lift your eyes back off of your circumstances, or your own fears and look at the loving, accepting, quick to forgive face of papa God. I encourage you to read Ephesians 1 & 2 to see how we have been given this free grace gift, and we are wrapped in Jesus. When God looks at us He sees His perfect son, not our sins. You are loved momma and I am rooting for you. XOXO -Rhi --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rhiannon-staal/message

Welcome back to the show- Right off the bat I correct something I misspoke. In talking about the father with the demon possessed son and his prayer to Jesus I accidentally left off the chapter the story is found in. It is in Mark 9:19, 23-24, not Mark 24 One of the scriptures that has been a plea and prayer from me over the years is Mark 9:24- “The boy's father cried out with tears, saying, “I do believe, Lord; help my little faith (unbelief)!” Many people believe in God, but few trust Him. At first blush faith and trust seem like the same thing. We must believe that God exists (that's faith), and that He is a rewarder (that is trust) of those who diligently seek Him. Faith alone won't unlock the fullness of God's desire for you and thoughts toward you, because you won't fully have faith in someone you don't trust the character of. One saying that I have thought of over the years is that when we know God, we can trust His ways even when we can't see His hand. Our lives are often driven by what we believe we can trust in. We choose partners in life, friendship and business based on what we believe is reliable and trustworthy. As women, we particularly are drawn to what makes us feel safe and secure (we know we can trust it), but even our best effort to make good decisions about whom we can trust can fall short because we are measuring them up, or the situation we're stepping into against our limited vision and ability. When I allow my trust to fully lean on Jesus and the ability of His Spirit to speak to me, counsel me and help me then I don't have to live scared of the choices I make, or the people I connect with. So many of us have been raised in the church and taught an incorrect picture of Jesus, either overtly or inadvertently. Maybe it was the natural father you had that was harsh and critical, or aloof and uninterested unless you did something extraordinary. Somewhere along the way we believed that God is like that: harsh, judgmental, aloof and disappointed in us unless we perform well enough. The good news is that the Bible is full of the truth about God's kindness toward us and the unmerited favor He gives us. God's deep love for us is never changing. We can't do anything to make Him love us more than He does right now, and we can't do anything to make Him love us less. His love for us won't leave us where we are because He has better plans for us than anything we could ever ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). Sister, embrace that you aren't ever going to be good enough to attain holiness on your own, but God already knew that and loved you anyway. He looks at you and gets excited about the potential He has inside of you and the glorious future He is preparing for you. Rest in His love for you today. I believe God is saying right now- “I see you striving and it breaks my heart to see you bear the weight that I have already taken on your own. I love you and enjoy being with you even when you aren't “doing' anything. Just BE with me. Rest in my acceptance and let your striving cease. I will lead you and guide you like the good shepherd that I am and show you which way to go so you are refreshed and your mind, will and emotions are restored.” Scripture references: Romans 8:31-35, Ephesians 3:20, Romans 12:2 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rhiannon-staal/message

Today I share a little bit about my life. Let me know if anything in my life resonates with you. 8 Random Facts About Me 1. I was born at home 2. I didn't like chocolate or watermelon until I was an adult 3. I started working (cleaning houses) when I was 12 years old 4. I have traveled to 13 countries and have so many more I want to go to! 5. I lived in Hong Kong for 2+ years 6. I love, love good food 7. I hated Coffee until I was in my 30's and now it's one of my fav things 8. I am 4 years older than my husband #encouragingfreedom #empoweredtoliveyourpurpose #wholeselflifecoach #transformation #lifecoach #christianlifecoach --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rhiannon-staal/message

Prayer is such a big topic! It really summarizes the entirety of our conversations with our Father God. All communication with God is done through prayer, which is just talking. Listening, asking questions, and making requests are the components of our prayers. The Bible says we are not heard because of our many words. God already knows our needs.Matthew 6:7-8 NLT, The Bible clearly states that we are to let our requests be made known to God (Philppians 4:6). We are to be unceasing in prayer (prayer with persistence) 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Romans 12:12, Matthew 7:7, Colossians 4:2, James 5:17) We are to Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) Ephesians 6:18. We are to ask with faith, not doubting that we will receive what we've requested. (Matthew 21:22, Mark 11:24, James 1:5-8, 1John 5:15) I think this is a huge key that can delay our answers, or understanding God's answer, more than anything else. James 1:5-8 AMPC This is a powerful picture of the potency of our words. Proverbs 18:21 says death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who indulge in it shall reap the consequences of it, for death or life. (Matthew 12:37- our words justify or condemn us). We are to ask in the name of Jesus. John 14:13, Colossians 3:17 (whatever you do, whether word or deed) We are to pray in private and in unity with others. (Matthew 6:6, Matthew 18:19-20, Acts 1:14) We can be confident that He will give us the best He has for us. 1 John 5:14 We are to always be thankful in our prayers. (Philippians 4:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Colossians 4:2) All Believers prayers are heard: Elijah was a man, just like us… James 5:17 James 5:16- The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. God hears the prayers of the righteous. 1 Peter 3:12 Sometimes God's answer to our prayers are conditional- John 15:7 Our prayers need to be offered with clean hands and a pure heart- not holding offense against another, or grumbling and complaining. 1 Timothy 2:8, Matthew 6:12 4 steps to help us examine our prayer life: Ask Boldly with faith- Jesus had given us access directly to God Be thankful for God's love for us and that He's provided for what we need. Listen closely- God wants to speak to you and guide you through His written (Logos) word, the Bible, and His Rhema (revealed/spoken) word through His spirit in you. Examine our motives/heart to make sure we are walking in God's ways and not holding unforgiveness or bitterness in our hearts, or just complaining to God. Previous Podcast References: Episode 5 - Fear/Resistance, Episode 11: Love is better than you think, Episode 14: Are you living as an Orphan when God has called you His daughter?, Episode 15: The Side Effects of an Orphan Heart, Episode 18: Do You Know What Season You Are In? #encouragingfreedom #empoweredtoliveyourpurpose #wholeselflifecoach #prayer #transition #transformation #heartwork #mindset #Bible #lifecoach #christianlifecoach --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rhiannon-staal/message

Today I want to talk about the importance of recognizing and valuing the season that you are in. It is easier to identify natural seasons and even the physical season we're in sometimes, but harder to identify the seasons of our soul. Transition between seasons can be painful and challenging if you don't understand the purpose. As with the natural seasons, we have soul seasons. Living with a mindset in the wrong season or being unaware of where we are we will feel unnecessarily defeated. Proverbs 10:5a “Know the importance of the season you're in and a wise son you will be.” If we understand the value of each season, we will work with the growth opportunity and not against it. When we don't understand where we are it can be very frustrating. If you find yourself saying things like, “this isn't the way it's supposed to be”, or “I had plans and now I can't do what I wanted to”, or ‘This isn't what I expected” it may be time to evaluate the actual season you are in, and the expectations we had based on it. Let's remember what some signs of the natural seasons are, so we can look for these signs in our life: Winter- depth/strength (no visible fruit) Spring- new growth (visible change) buds, blossoms, birds returning from their winter away Summer- beauty (development/expansion) warmth and continued growth, but not necessarily a harvest Autumn- harvest (reward for our effort) Seasons can overlap. You may be in a winter season of waiting, trying to remember that better days are ahead in one area of life, and a season of growth and harvest in another area. This is a grace gift from God. When times are hard we can focus on the parts that feel good, easy and fruitful. Are you in a season of planting, or a season of harvesting? A season of grieving, or a season of dancing? A time of quietness or a time to speak up? A time of tearing down or a time of building? All of these seasons are invitations to lean into what God is calling you to and growing in you. God wastes nothing. No moment is too insignificant or falls through the cracks of the divinely woven tapestry of our life. God is faithful and He will complete the good work He has begun. Take some time to think about and maybe even journal the season or transition you are in. Ask the Holy Spirit for discernment. Look at your life for the signs of the time you are in and “survey the land”. What do you see prospering, what needs pruning and what needs a rest. Are you in a season of rest, walking or running? Are you in a season where you are tilling, planting and waiting for the rain to come and help your seed grow, or you are reaping a joyful harvest for the hard work that has been previously done? Answering these questions will help bring clarity and peace to your soul. Remember these 3 things: 1) There is beauty and benefit in every season. 2) We are planted in this day and time for a reason. 3) God does not change, but the season will. Bible References: Proverbs 10:5a TPT, Ecclesiates 3:1-8 NLT, Psalm 1:1a, 2-3 AMPC, Jeremiah 17:7-8 AMPC, Psalm 74:17, Philippians 1:6, Galatians 6:9, Ephesians 3:20 & Romans Chapter 8 #encouragingfreedom #empoweredtoliveyourpurpose #wholeselflifecoach #soulwork #seasons #transition #transformation #heartwork #mindset #Bible #lifecoach #christianlifecoach --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rhiannon-staal/message

In today's episode I want to explore the beautiful gift that we are given through the Holy Spirit. Jesus came to be our Savior. He was Emmanuel, God with us. But he's giving us another helper, the Holy Spirit to be God in us. The decision to believe Jesus is our Savior is the best one we will ever make, but in order to unlock the great purpose and designed destiny that he has for us we must learn to yield to the Holy Spirit as our leader. God is our Savior and our Lord. He is a loving father and has great purposes and plans for you. Listen today and be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit to walk in the grace which is God's enabling favor that leads you to the good things that he has for your life. Bible References: Colossians 3:15 AMPC, Isaiah 55:9 TPT, John 16:13, Luke 11:9-10, 13 TPT, Philippians 1:6, Proverbs 14:12, 16:25, Jude 19-20, Isaiah 30:21, 43:19, Proverbs 4:25-27 TPT, Psalm 45:10 TPT #encouragingfreedom #EmpoweredToLiveYourPurpose #WholeSelfLifeCoach #SoulWork #InnerHealing #Heartwork #HolySpirit #Helper #Savior #Lord #Mindset #Bible #LifeCoach #ChristianLifeCoach --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rhiannon-staal/message

Welcome back friends- today lets talk about the importance of our soul (mind, will and emotions) being healed and renewed so we can live the life that God designed for us. The visible/external appearances are only a glimpse of the deeper/hidden things of our soul. The things in our lives that affect us the most are built by the moments and thoughts that surround that thing. What happens to us isn't our fault, but it is now our responsibility to get our heart healed so we can walk in freedom and don't push away the good things God has for us. Healing our heart is a work that only the Holy Spirit can adequately lead us through. We have hidden beliefs and blind spots that we aren't even aware of. When we deny or demand that someone else pay, or fix us, then we are stuck. We cannot live a powerful life as an overcomer, walking in the authority of Christ if we are waiting for another savior. When we allow Holy Spirit to work through the pain and tragedy and make them a pinnacle of triumph through grace, our life is a light and reflection of Jesus. We aren't limited to the brokenness of our past, but allowed to flourish as His beautiful bride and a daughter of the King here on earth and then even more fully in heaven. When we refuse to take responsibility for our soul we shortchange ourselves and even hinder the glory God wants to grace others with through us. One of my favorite verses is Romans 8:11 because it is a simple, yet profound reminder that the Holy Spirit can give life to our bodies and raise up the things we thought were dead in us, or impossible. So what is impossible in your life right now? What power is limiting the Holy Spirit from restoring your life to its original purpose and the future you have here on earth? The power of permission is the only opponent limiting the redeeming power of Jesus in our life. We are given a choice. We get to walk in faith, and believe all that God has for us is possible with Him. We get to choose to take the authority to speak those things that are not as though they are, according to His promises for our life. We must meditate and wholly believe His promises to us. Do you have anything you are facing that seems like it has died? Do you believe there is nothing there to do something with? That is the perfect place to work with God from. He starts with the impossible! We are told to guard our heart, not to create an impenetrable fortress. The guard for our heart is supposed to be a filter, like a screen over your window, for what's allowed to enter, because out of it flows the issues of our lives. We have a choice and we are empowered through the Holy Spirit to do the work of renewing our mind and watching our life change. One of the evidences of the Holy Spirit in us is self control, which can also be called self restraint or self discipline. It takes effort, but it is so worth it because you are worth the freedom and peace, and joy that you will live in as a result. Your inner life is the game changer. What you do is not as important as who (character) you are and how you do the things that you put your hand to. There is more for you in this life than what you have experienced up to this point. Your best days are ahead of you! You and Holy Spirit are a powerful team that can change anything. #encouragingfreedom #empoweredtoliveyourpurpose #wholeselflifecoach #innergame #soulwork #innerhealing #heartwork #mindset #Bible #lifecoach #christianlifecoach Bible References: 1 Corinthians 2:11 AMPC, Proverbs 21:2 AMPC, Romans 8:11, 2 Peter 1:3-4 NLT, Romans 4:17-18 NLT, Proverbs 4:21-23 TPT, Romans 12:2, Philippians 4:8-9, 2 Corinthian 10:5 Resources: Empowered to live your purpose podcast episode 1 (The power of our thoughts), Dr. Shannon Irvine -video reel on IG & Dr. Caroline Leaf Neuroscientist and mental health expert --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rhiannon-staal/message

We walk through life as an orphan when we have been reconciled to the Father and have been adopted into a family. We are created for belonging. The problem with having an orphan mindset is that we inadvertently repel the very thing we need. We try to protect ourselves from being hurt by building walls to avoid being further wounded. The problem is that the walls also keep the joy and goodness from coming into us. As we journey through life we frame our beliefs by our experiences instead of our identity in Christ. We continue to operate FOR a place in the kingdom instead of FROM a place of righteous authority as His child. Because of our misplaced identity we adopt the wrong mindsets to cope with what we experience. One of the primary mindsets that is connected to an orphan heart is poverty, or scarcity. We live from a place of “not enough”. We can make this our identity, I am not enough. When we live with an orphan heart we live in envy and jealousy of others because of a lack mentality we believe there is only so much to go around. If someone else has something then there isn't enough for me. Another side effect of an orphan heart that I have dealt with is perfectionism. You might be a perfectionist if… You are critical of yourself and others (and I used to think that I was only critical of myself, but they go hand in hand. You can't love others well if you are hyper critical of yourself.) You are a people pleaser. You need others' approval to make decisions. You rarely ask for help and have difficulty delegating. You are a procrastinator. Do you have unrealistically high expectations, Another sign of perfectionism is low self-esteem. The solution and salve to our orphan heart is full acceptance and love of the Father. His grace not only leads us to salvation, but it is the power to sustain us in it and help us grow in the love of God. He is always our answer. Our perspective of Him changes everything. If you find that any of these mindsets or tendencies ring true then you are in a great place to overcome them. You can repent (remember, repentance is just changing your mind, turning back to God and what He thinks) and ask God to forgive you for thinking more highly of yourself than you do of Him and His love, care and power to work on your behalf. You can ask Holy Spirit to show you the ways you have lived as an orphan even though you are a beloved daughter. When Holy Spirit shows you how you have been living small and feeling less than what He created you to be you get to turn around and run back to His loving embrace. Bible Verses: Psalm 37:3-5, 68:6, Luke 9:24, Romans 8:1, Romans 8:28-29 #encouragingfreedom #empoweredtoliveyourpurpose #wholeselflifecoach #orphanheart #orphan #mindset #Bible #lifecoach #christianlifecoach #povertymindset --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rhiannon-staal/message

The most challenging things we face in life are not obstacles, but relationships. No matter the age, or stage of our lives the most important and transformative thing about us is the people we relate to and the way those relationships inform us and unfold over our life. Our entire life is summed up by the way we relate to God, and people. The most important thing about us is what we think of Jesus, and people, who are created in God's image. Relationships have layers, and spheres in which they exist. Not all interactions are the same, but the way we interact is a sum of what has shaped our thoughts and feelings. Relationships are meant to be transformational, not transactional. This was so eye opening and felt like it answered a soul deep question of what has been wrong in many of my relationships. We are meant to be ‘Iron sharpening iron' as it says in Proverbs, speaking words of life, and “discovering creative ways to encourage others and to motivate them towards acts of compassion, doing beautiful works as expressions of love.” Hebrews 10:24 TPT. I believe that the greatest factor in interacting transactionally, which keeps people at a distance and views them as tools to get what I want instead of a BEING to be enjoyed, is an orphan spirit. We have divided souls. We compartmentalize and guard our hearts in ways that build walls and keep others out. We choose to be our own security and provision and protection. We believe that no one will really look after us or give us what we need, so we have to take it for ourselves. We have a scarcity, lack, poverty mentality that keeps us from asking for what we need and reinforces that there isn't enough (love, care, protection, encouragement etc) to go around. We are all lost children wandering around trying to find a home with support and protection. The first step in healing this Orphaned heart is to be reconciled to God. There is no help and hope for sonship apart from being reunited to the Father. Jesus came to redeem us from the brokenness and separation of this world. We have been given the spirit of adoption. “And so that we would know that we are his true children, God released the Spirit of Sonship into our hearts—moving us to cry out intimately, “My Father! My true Father!” Now we're no longer living like slaves under the law, but we enjoy being God's very own sons and daughters! And because we're his, we can access everything our Father has—for we are heirs because of what God has done!” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭4:6-7‬ ‭TPT‬‬ “...And you did not receive the “spirit of religious duty,” leading you back into the fear of never being good enough. But you have received the “Spirit of full acceptance,” enfolding you into the family of God. And you will never feel orphaned, for as he rises up within us, our spirits join him in saying the words of tender affection, “Beloved Father!” For the Holy Spirit makes God's fatherhood real to us as he whispers into our innermost being, “You are God's beloved child!”” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:14b-16‬ ‭TPT‬‬ As an adopted child you have been hand picked, specifically chosen to be a part of God's family. You are not one of many in a sea of children, but you are the one that God created to be in relationship with Himself and share the inheritance of Jesus as a dearly loved child. God intends to set the lonely in families as it says in Psalm 68:5-6a TPT “To the fatherless he is a father. To the widow he is a champion friend. The lonely he makes part of a family. The prisoners[a] he leads into prosperity until they sing for joy. This is our Holy God in his Holy Place!” Reading at the end of the podcast was Romans 8:14-35 in The Passion Translation --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rhiannon-staal/message

When we think about purpose it feels like this intangible thing that means we have this self confidence in us. Or it seems like a specific niche, or job that we enjoy which would somehow confirm that we are walking out our purpose. Purpose is actually neither. We can call it destiny, calling or purpose, but all three need to be rooted in the same ‘thing'- which is actually a belief in the gift and calling of God that He orchestrated for our lives before we were even created. God's plans don't revolve around where we were born, how we were raised, who approves of us or what type of education we have. All these things are not limiters to our destiny and no one can mess it up for us, and God never changes His mind about it. The sad truth is that we are the only ones that can miss what God has by not believing in Him. The way we live out our calling can look many different ways. Your calling isn't your career, your purpose isn't your profession, but they will play a part in what we do. We are called to do good works, but that isn't our purpose. Our purpose is relationship. The more you spend time with the author, creator, who is your Father- the more clearly you will see the excitement in His eyes over you and the good things you'll do. Life's biggest questions can be boiled down to these 3 things Who Am I? What is my purpose? Where am I destined to go? As a believer in Christ, all of the answers are found in Jesus. Our identity is in His love for us. Our purpose is found in loving God and loving others. Our destiny to reign in life here on earth is just the beginning of our eternity with God in Heaven. If you want know more about your identity and purpose and my story of trying to discover what it means then hop on over to my website rhiannonstaal.com or thewholeselflifecoach.com and click on the link to have my 3 truths about your purpose writing sent to you. You can share this episode, or my website and the writing on our purpose with a friend and help them understand that their purpose is easier and closer than they might think. You're loved, valuable, and God is for you. I am rooting for you too. Song Reference; Kari Jobe - The Blessing Scripture References: Matthew 11:29-30 TPT, Psalm 40:1-2, Romans 8:11, 28, Numbers 6:24-26, Jeremiah 29:11 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rhiannon-staal/message

Walking as a new creation in Christ isn't a one and done deal. This 18 inch journey, as U2 sang, is the longest one you'll ever take. The process of renewing our minds and cultivating the soil in our hearts to receive the implanted word of truth is a process. For me this journey to become whole looked like Biblical counseling, a spirit filled mentor, and counsel and accountability from wise friends. It required that I stop being afraid of looking at, and taking responsibility for, the broken places. Blame and Shame are not from God. We can't shame ourselves into changing, believe me, I tried. Negative feelings, even surrounding a real need for change, will only get you started, but it cannot sustain the perseverance that you will need to see it through. However, the working out of our salvation is a journey of soul work. It is a renewal of our mind and healing of our heart. It is removing the things that weigh us down and hold us back from the life we are meant to live. There are 3 keys to unlocking God's purpose for your life. Make Him Lord over all (We are here for Him and not us) Listen to what the Holy Spirit is teaching you (We must have ears to hear what's being said), remaining humble and teachable Do the things that He has shown us. "We Need to Heal so We Stop Bleeding on Those that Didn't Cut Us." Wisdom Builds- start building new habits to help you heal. 1) Break habits into tiny pieces that can be built on. 2) Anchor your new habit to something established in your routine. 3) Celebrate to build positive feelings with your new habit. Bible References: James 1:23, John 10:27, Colossians 3:15AMP, Psalm 46:10, Isaiah 61:1-4, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, Proverbs 11:20, James 1:7-8, 21, Matthew 11:29-30 TPT References for further help and Study: Dr. Caroline Leaf's book- Switch On Your Brain, and her Switch App for the 21 day brain detox process The Chalene Show with BJ Fogg- "The Science of Tiny Habits" Get on my mailing list to keep updated about my "All Things New" Course coming soon! www.thewholelifeoach.com or www.rhiannonstaal.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rhiannon-staal/message

Hi Friends, Thank you for joining me on today's episode. What is love, is it an accumulation of all the things I like and enjoy? Is it a feeling? Let's discuss the greatest need we all have- LOVE We'll look at what love isn't, what it is and that the Bible has to say about love. Verses in today's episode: John 3:16, 1John 3:16, 1 John 3:16-19, 1 John 4:18, Romans 8:5, 6, 35, 38-39, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, Matthew 6:33, Galatians 6:9 Episode #5 on fear and resistance, Episode #10 on Wisdom Love Challenge: I will use the New Living Translation of the Bible because it pretty clearly delineates the characteristics. I will read them in order for you. Love is patient (waiting with a good attitude) Love is Kind Love is not jealous Love is not boastful Love is not proud Love is not rude Love does not demand its own way Love is not irritable Love keeps no record of being wronged (easily offended) Love does not rejoice about injustice Love rejoices when truth wins out Love never gives up Love never loses faith Love is always hopeful Love endures all things Love never fails I encourage you to read these verses in different translations to get a better understanding of all of the qualities of love. Each day as you meditate on the qualities of God as expressed through His love we can pray for these to be expressed through us as well. When we come to a day that feels particularly hard to swallow, let's be quick to repent (which just means to turn around, or turn our thoughts back to the right way of being) and ask God to forgive us for not walking in love. If a particular person comes to mind when you're going through this exercise then you can forgive them, ask God to bless them, and if there is still a relationship and a safe place to talk with them then share what God is showing you. Maybe you need to ask them for forgiveness for a past offense. Ask Holy Spirit to help you (that's why Jesus gave Him to us) walk in love in the specific quality that day. I would recommend doing this at the beginning of your day and watch as God shows up and displays His love for you and through you over the course of the day. #encouragingfreedom #empoweringwomen #bible #allthingsnew #transformation #Jesus #empoweredtoliveyourpurpose #wholeselflifecoach #love #Godislove #feelings --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rhiannon-staal/message

I think we would all agree that we need more wisdom and discernment than ever before. It's nearly impossible to discern truth, and receive wisdom and understanding from what we see in the media, or even from well meaning friends and colleagues. Wisdom isn't acquired knowledge, but applied intimacy. True wisdom comes from God and only can be found in Him. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The starting point for acquiring wisdom (fear of the Lord is the foundation) is to be consumed with awe as you worship Yahweh. To receive the revelation of the Holy One,[a] you must come to the One who has living-understanding. “ Wisdom was there when God planned in advance a designed purpose for you and I. Psalm 139:16 says “You saw who you created me to be before I became me![a] Before I'd ever seen the light of day, the number of days you planned for me were already recorded in your book.” And in Ephesians 2:10b it says, “... Even before we were born, God planned in advance our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfill it! The blueprints He has for our life cannot be properly discerned apart from relationship with Him. In the second half of Romans 8:28 it says we “have been called to fulfill his designed purpose.” and in Proverbs 19:21 TPT it says, “A person may have many ideas concerning God's plan for his life, but only the designs of God's purpose will succeed in the end.” Wisdom is always speaking, but do we have ears to hear and a heart to understand? Proverbs 1:33 says, “But the one who always listens to me will live undisturbed in a heavenly peace. Free from fear, confident and courageous, that one will rest unafraid and sheltered from the storms of life.” There isn't a soul on earth that wouldn't want that promise, but it is reserved for God's holy ones, His lovers, that are seeking Him with their whole heart. And He promises to be found and reward us for diligently seeking Him. Challenge: Read a chapter of Proverbs everyday, and read over James 1 & 3:13-17 Closing Prayer from Ephesians 1:17-19 AMPC Bible Translations mentioned: TPT (The Passion Translation), AMPC (Amplified Classic) NKJV (New King James Version) & ESV (English Standard Version). Bible website: www.biblegateway.com Bible App: YouVersion --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rhiannon-staal/message

If what should be an exciting time of year, and feel like a break from the regular routine feels overwhelming and reminds you of all you haven't done well, then maybe you're doing it wrong. Listen along today and discover how to take a step back and start the New Year, or a new season in your life with more intention and less stress. I appreciating God's good plans for us and prayerfully considering His plans and how they work with our desires we can walk into the new, good thing He has for us without a sense of urgent necessity for instant change that only overwhelms and disappoints us. New Year, New You isn't wrong, but we maybe be trying to jump in too deep too soon and it will only set us up for failure. Baby steps before the big steps. Daily, consistent, small movements in the right direction will make BIG changes over time. Life isn't easy, but that doesn't mean it isn't good. Hard things are good things. Fast food is easy, but not good. A planned out, home cooked meal can be harder, but it is so much more satisfying and better for you too. Let's leap into this next season with a momentum that we can keep up so we don't burn out before we reap the harvest! "And don't allow yourselves to be weary in planting good seeds, for the season of reaping the wonderful harvest you've planted is coming!" Galatians 6:9 TPT "For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome." Jeremiah 29:11 AMPC --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rhiannon-staal/message

Joy is so much more than happiness. Happiness is derived from circumstances which fade and fail, but Joy is a gift that grows as we face hard things, and is based on our position in Christ. The joy of the Lord becomes our strength. When joy feels elusive I need to choose to focus on gratitude. Having a thankful heart does lead to a happier heart. My first focal point needs to be Jesus, and the gift of His indwelling Holy Spirit. He is the promise keeper that we can build our lives on. God shall supply all my needs according to His riches -Philippians 4:19 My second focus needs to be on others. When I lift my eyes off of my own circumstances and look to the needs of others I feel joy knowing that I am serving someone and providing for their needs. Philippians 2:3b-4 TPT says, “...Don't allow self-promotion to hide in your hearts, but in authentic humility put others first and view others as more important than yourselves. 4 Abandon every display of selfishness. Possess a greater concern for what matters to others instead of your own interests.” What we give we in turn receive. We can joyfully serve others because we trust God to meet our needs according to the immeasurable riches of His glory and not our own limited ability to provide for ourselves. When we spend time with God, and look to the needs of others then we can correctly place ourselves in a position to receive the JOY we are searching for. Think of it this way… J esus O thers Y ou In a world infatuated with self love, self care and self expression, yet missing out on true joy, it's time to reorder our lives according to God's Word and experience deep joy that isn't swayed by circumstances. My Closing prayer is found in Ephesians 1:17-19a #encouragingfreedom #empoweringwomen #bible #allthingsnew #transformation #Jesus #empoweredtoliveyourpurpose #wholeselflifecoach #joy --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rhiannon-staal/message

In today's episode let's talk about where peace comes from and how to keep it! I promise you will be empowered to live a life of peace in spite of your circumstances. Jesus didn't offer a plan or government program to follow to achieve peace. He offered Himself.Everything that Jesus offers is all encompassing. He didn't come to just be our Savior for the future, but to be the Lord of today. We are told that we can be led by the peace of Jesus Christ. Colossians 3:15 AMPC says, “And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds…” The peace of Jesus, through His Holy Spirit will tell us what should stay and what should go. Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord completely and do not rely on your own opinion. With all your heart, rely on Him to guide you, and He will lead you in every decision you make. Become intimate with Him in whatever you do, and He will lead you wherever you go.” TPT “Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you'll discover that I'm gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me. For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.” Matthew 11:28-30 TPT In Isaiah 26:3 we are reminded that our peace is a direct link to what we focus on and what we place our trust in. "You [God] will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you [Him]!” NLT Peace is a gift from Jesus as He says in John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]” AMPC What I am allowing by what I choose to focus on determines the peace that I feel. Proverbs 4:23 reminds us that we are the gatekeeper of our soul. “Guard your heart above all else for it determines the course of your life” NLT What we see coming out of us is a reflection of what we have allowed to come in. Jesus says it in this way in Luke 6:45b “...For the overflow of what has been stored in your heart will be seen by your fruit and will be heard in your words.” 4 Steps to maintaining your peace 1. First Things First- The way we start our day affects the way it continues. Don't start with social media or the news. Start your day with The Bible, Worship, and Prayer. Even if you have to get up 15 mins earlier. It will set the tone for the day and you will walk in more peace. 2. Lift you eyes throughout the day. God is our very present help in trouble. We can pray and listen and receive from God any time of the day and in the midst of any situation. Psalm 46:1 says, “God, You're such a safe and powerful place to find refuge! You're a proven help in times of trouble- more than enough and always available whenever I need you.” TPT 3. Slow down, ruthlessly eliminate the hurry from your life. Many times this includes pairing down our schedule as well. If we find ourselves constantly saying things like “I don't have time for this or that” try to replace it with “that's not a priority for me” and see if that sits well with you.Where we spend our time and money shows our priorities and if time in the Word, worship and meditating on scripture and prayer aren't at the top of your list you will see why you struggle keeping peace. 4. Choose to quit something that isn't bringing you peace Tremble by MosaicMSC --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rhiannon-staal/message

Hope is a foundational truth about our God, but if we misinterpret or misapply its meaning we will continually feel let down which can lead to depression. If I place all my hopes on a relationship, job, finances or the timing of what I am hoping for, I will be disheartened. But, if my Hope is settled on WHO God is and not a certain outcome then I will be full of joy and peace as I trust in HimHis hope does not disappoint, as Romans 5:5 tells us because it comes from the love He has for us that He sealed in us by giving us the Holy Spirit. May the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13 Even when things don't go our way, or we have an unexpected loss we can thank God that He is our radiant hope, and He is at work in the situation. (Psalm 27:13, 33:20 TPT) Hope challenges us to dream again. God has made us dreamers. He has placed in each of us the desire and longing to see our dreams fulfilled. He promises that if He is our primary desire He will give us what we long for. “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalms 37:4 ESV I love the way The Passion Translation says it. “Make God the utmost delight and pleasure of your life, and He will provide for you what you desire the most.” What Dreams Have You Put On Hold? Reimagine those possibilities while firmly resting your hope on God's promises and love for you. Start awakening the desires you may have stuffed down, but awaken them to the hope that “...with God nothing will be impossible.” Luke 1:37 NKJV Steps to walking in Hope: Step One: Believe God Step Two: Abide in Him and not your circumstances Step Three: Trust His Timing Step 4: Begin dreaming again Here are a few of the promises you can hold onto: He is anchor for our soul He never changes or fails He is always faithful He will never leaves us or forsake us He is our peace He longs to be good to us He is our healer He is our provider He is our protection He is a good Father who always takes care of His children “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you will abound in hope and overflow with confidence in His promises.” Romans‬ ‭15:13‬ ‭AMP‬‬ “Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us.” Romans 5:5 AMPC #encouragingfreedom #empoweringwomen #bible #allthingsnew #transformation #Jesus #empoweredtoliveyourpurpose #wholeselflifecoach #hope --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rhiannon-staal/message

Fear is not our friend, it is a spirit sent to derail us from getting to the designed destiny that God has for us. Fear is "False Evidence Appearing Real". When we believe a lie we live as though it is true. Fear comes in many forms; Anxiety, Unbelief, Doubt, Worry, Resistance "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but power, love and a sound (self disciplined) mind." 2 Timothy 1:7 “Love never brings fear, for fear is always related to punishment. But love's perfection drives the fear of punishment far from our hearts. Whoever walks constantly afraid of punishment (correction, rejection) has not reached love's perfection.” 1 John 4:18 TPT If fear/resistance has stopped you in any area of your life you have let it influence your destiny. Fear is a liar, Whatever fear is telling you, the opposite is true. Fear is faith in the wrong kingdom. Both fear and faith are believing that what I cannot see will come to pass. Proverbs 12:28, Romans 8:6, John 10:10 God is love, so He will not bring fear to lead us. Fear is sin: We can't be believing, trusting and walking in faith and be fearful, doubting and unbelieving. Steps to overcome fear: Pray for Holy Spirit to show you where you are fearful, or in resistance to something. Once you have seen the area that has been influencing you, then repent of believing that lie and ask God to show you the truth of who He is and what He has promised concerning that situation. Lean into what scares you- there you will find freedom! Christ has truly set us free, stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again [be entangled] to a yoke of bondage Galatians 5:1 Some Questions to Ask: What is one thing I would be doing if I were not afraid? What thoughts and areas of my life do I need to challenge the anxiety, fear, resistance that I have been feeling? Is there something you keep thinking about but find yourself avoiding? “Do something every day that scares you” - Eleanor Roosevelt “What could we accomplish if we knew we could not fail?” - Eleanor Roosevelt --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rhiannon-staal/message

A dictionary definition of faith is to think to be true, to be persuaded of, place confidence in. The Bible defines faith as believing in what we cannot see, and also walking and living by that belief. The predominate idea of trust/confidence in God and Jesus Christ springs from faith in Them. Faith is like a mustard seed, and is activated and grown through challenges and choice. We can activate our faith through gratitude and watch it grow because what we focus on grows. Mark 11:23-24, James 1:6, 2 Corinthians 5:7, Hebrews 11:6 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rhiannon-staal/message

When our anxious thoughts overwhelm us where do we turn? Do we feel we have to carry it alone? Let's listen today and lean into what God says about how anxiety, depression and worry harm us, and the answers He has in His word, the Bible, for living in peace. Scripture References today: Proverbs 12:25, 15:13, 15 & 17:22 in The Passion Translation (TPT) Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You." NKJV Philippians 4:6-7 "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard you hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." NLT Colossians 3:15 "And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state]... And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always]." AMPC YouVersion Bible App --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rhiannon-staal/message

When life happens and you receive bad news: a diagnosis you didn't expect, a failed venture, a relationship falling apart. How do you respond? We might not be able to control what happens to us, but we can control how we think and speak about it and that will change how we feel about it. In today's podcast I get to sit down with my good friend Sasha Anderson, Wife, mother of 3, Assistant Coach for SPU Women's basketball and breast cancer survivor. We talk about the peaks and valleys of life and how we can come out of hard things stronger and better, full of love and character. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rhiannon-staal/message

We can change our thoughts and change our life. We are not stuck living a life we weren't designed for. Our thoughts are powerful tools to renew our minds to the designed purpose that God has for us. Not all thoughts are our own, we can take these thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to overcome and change. You are deeply loved, and we have a living hope in Jesus to live an abundant life. Resources: Dr. Caroline Leaf's podcast: Cleaning up the mental mess & IG @drcarolineleaf- neuroscientist, mental health & mind expert Joyce Meyer's book: The Battlefield of the Mind Key Scriptures: Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Psalm 91 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rhiannon-staal/message

Hope deferred makes the heart sick. I think we have all been there. How can we go from feeling so hopeful one moment, and then feeling drained of hope within minutes? Let's explore what God's word has to say and keep our hope up! Scripture References: Proverbs 13:12, Lamentations 3:21-25, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Hebrews 6:19, 2 Peter 3:9 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rhiannon-staal/message