Dreaded October~

August 1, 2015 / salciccioli / Leave a comment

October 2015 ~ Will we survive it?

Over the past few months I have heard; both in conversations and in the news, that this October will bring many brash challenges to we as Americans. There could be an earthquake that will take out the entire Northwest, our American dollar may become an invaluable currency, Iran may nuke China, and on and on the list of predictions goes.

Now, I am all for being as wise and as prepared as possible but when we hear these continual predictions we stand a huge chance of being gripped by fear and anxiety about our lives and those we love. I have been pondering what I am hearing and wondering what, if anything, I need to change to be better prepared IF something “big” were to take place.

1. I should try to be out of any debt.

2. I should have a good size reserve of batteries, water, food, etc.

3. I should try to be healthy so that I am better able to navigate challenging times.

4. I should have extra cash hidden away.

Yet, these are all things I am already doing in my normal life. So, WHAT SHOULD I CHANGE TODAY IF THESE THINGS HAPPEN?

Actually, my biggest way to be prepared for challenging times is to trust God more. Scripture says that He promises to never leave us nor forsake us, He will comfort us, He will provide, He will heal, He will carry us through, and He will give us wisdom to navigate anything that comes our way.

I don’t live my life with my head in the sand, but if I allow all these “predictions” to rob me of my joy, ability to sleep, desire to hope, and heart to care for others then I will move further and further from a life based on trust in a powerful God. I will miss what I could be doing in my life today because I am anxious about what may happen tomorrow!

Hard times do come, challenges do arise, there are uncertainties all around us, this is true but living in consistent fear and anxiety is not the answer!

A better approach can be found in Scripture:

“I lift up my eyes toward the mountains—
from where will my help come?
My help is from the Lord,
maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” Matthew 2:26

^”And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord!” Romans 8:38-39

Let’s be wise, prepared, and informed people who are full of faith, hope, and trust in a God who keeps His promises!

Remember Y2K? 🙂

Who are ” your people? “~

March 16, 2015 / salciccioli / 4 Comments

Over the weekend I had the privilege to hear a profound speaker while attending Menlo Part Presbyterian church Sunday morning. The topic was about getting “Unstuck” and the theme was about adding the element of accountability/community to our ongoing spiritual health and growth.

How many of us have found ourselves at spiritual or emotional crossroads over the years? Did you navigate these seasons in isolation or did you have individuals you trusted to help you find healthy and sustainable solutions?

Many people suffer in isolation, whether self – imposed orotherwise, and what we will find~every time~ is that those who live in isolation struggle greatly to have significant mental, spiritual, and emotional health!

Sunday, the Pastor shared a revealing study:

In a government study with rats, back in the 70’s, while in isolation, rats were given the options of water or cocaine from two separate spouts. Day in and day out they became more and more addicted to the cocaine; rarely if ever choosing to drink fresh water! The finding here was that rats in isolation became addicted to the cocaine to the point of death every single time!

A professor by the name of Bruce Alexander wanted another filter for this same experiment! He was concerned that the one consistant element in the study is that every rat was kept isolated for any others! The rats were in cages all alone. The rat has nothing to do but take the drugs. In isolation the rats never observed any alternate behaviours around them! What would happen, he wondered, if we tried this differently? So Professor Alexander built Rat Park. It it was a lush cage where the rats would have colored balls and the best rat-food and tunnels to scamper down, alternative activities, and plenty of friends: everything a rat about town could want. What, Alexander wanted to know, will happen then?

The rats with good lives didn’t like the drugged water. They mostly shunned it, consuming less than a quarter of the drugs the isolated rats used. None of them died. While all the rats who were alone and unhappy became heavy users, none of the rats who had a happy environment did!!

Hmmmm….what does that mean for us??

When we place ourselves amongst trusted friends and family, attend a regular small gathering of purpose minded people, check our thinking with those who are wise, and confess our challenges to individuals that have our best outcome in mind~ we will “choose better”!

God fully intended that we would go through the joys and challenges, sadness and loss, celebrations and surprises within “community”; never in isolation!

First Thessalonians 5: 11 says

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

Galatians 6:2 says

“Therefore encourage Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

Romans 12:10

“Therefore encourage Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.one another and build one another up, jus Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor as you are doing.”

Who are your people? What trusted individuals are in your posse? Where do you go to garner wisdom, balance, and encouragement? Or do you find yourself for the most part, basically alone?

My prayer for you is that if you are in some form of isolation, you will be intentional in the coming year to build a trusted team around your life! For those with a posse, invite them in regularly so that you can soar above the challenges and temptations that would love to entangle you! We do better TOGETHER!

My take on 50 Shades of Grey~

February 17, 2015February 18, 2015 / salciccioli / 2 Comments

My heart has felt heavy this past week. I have been reading so many different thoughts, articles, and reviews of the movie 50 Shades of Grey. Secretly, I had hoped it would flop at the box office, sadly it was a box office win. I am sad that so many people are so drawn to a hurtful and harmful “pseudo love” in light of what God has designed our experience of love to be.

1 Corinthians 13 says it best” Love is patient and kind (is not demanding nor abrupt); Love does not envy or boast ( is not prideful about a conquest); is not arrogant or rude (not manipulating and intimidating).

It does not insist on it own way (does not take affection “my way, my timing, my satisfaction”); is not irritable or resentful ( does not confuse anger and harshness with affection); it does not rejoice in wrongdoing ( does not feel empowered by breaking barriers and twisting what real love looks like) , but rejoices in the truth.

Love bears all things ( considers the needs of the one they love to be their utmost joy), believes all things ( does not establish a relationship of uncertainty and tension), hopes all things and endures all things.

People often say “what happens in the bedroom is up to each individual marriage and I would agree…to a point. This movie gathers millions of people into a room to watch harsh, intimidating, and borderline abusive sexuality with the redemption at the end because the arrogant, narcissistic billionaire finally “falls in love”. All wrapped up in a pretty bow! No! What really happens is that the stage has been set for people to have their sensitivities and values worn down once again; moving hearts further and further away from the beautiful plan God had for love.

This has made me so sad.

This morning I had the refreshing joy of reading a blog by Lisa Jacobson (www.club31women) where she so beautifully listed “what makes love hot”:

1. Love is hot when a man and women commit to stay together.

2. Love is hot when he and she freely offer forgiveness to one another.

3. Love is hot when he cherishes her and she respects him.

4. Love is hot when he and she lovingly lay down their lives for each other.

5. Love is hot when a couple is so grateful to grow old together.

I look at my precious, innocent granddaughters face and I pray that she will experience a rich and meaningful marriage relationship full of fun, passion, and rich love completely devoid of anger, abuse, manipulation, or cruelty!

Last week I had a sweet visit with my precious mother; she and my father have been married for over 60 years! ” How’s dad?” I asked and she said with a sparkle in her eye and a knowing smile of her face ” he’s so cute, he’s sexy”. 🙂 we giggled.

THAT is what God intended..deep,rich love and affection that stands the test of time…don’t settle for any counterfit expressions of love! God had the right idea!! 🙂

Fear or Faith?

September 4, 2014September 4, 2014 / salciccioli / 4 Comments

Recently, a dear young mother asked me to write a blog on a particular topic that concerned her. I have been sitting on her request for weeks simply because I don’t feel that I would be the final authority on this subject. Nevertheless, I have prayed and pondered about it and feel like I have something to share.

Her topic? How do we walk out a faithfilled life with all that’s going on in our world? How do we find peace in the midst of so much world turmoil??

Let’s be honest, there’s a lot going on in the world that is, frankly, scary. I have written previous blog posts that have touched on the challenges we are all facing. Young parents fear for their children’s’ futures, seniors fear for their healthcare, and financially there are great uncertainties. Some people fear chem- trails, GMO’s, immunizations, and public schools. So many real concerns!!

ISIS, Ebola, Russia, China, and Israel are creating unrest in all our hearts. No matter how you lean as a voter; all of us have concerns about our government. All these things have potential to cause us to be fearful, anxious, and hopeless. I hear it in conversations I have with people daily.

Some folks would say that it is all the sign of the times and wait expectantly for the Lord’s quick return. Some folks would say that “back in their day” these kinds of things took place and they too, thought it was “the end of days”. And it could truly be.

BUT…………

What if there are still generations of people to be born and life continues on this earth? How do we navigate these uncertainties without making knee-jerk, fear based decisions? How do we live an intentional, hope-filled life free from the burden of paralyzing fear?

In God’s wisdom and goodness, He knew these times would come. He gave us messages of encouragement and ways to live in His Word that have key answers to these questions.

John 16:33 says, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Phil 4: 6-7 says, “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 your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 6:25-34 says “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

Proverbs 12:25 tells us, “Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.

1 Peter 5:7 promises us, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”

Hebrews 11:1 says,” Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.

Life is full of many concerns stemming from the absence of certainty and control over our future. While we can never be completely free from worry, the Bible gives us powerful promises to show us how to minimize worry and anxiety in our lives.

When I am filled with fear I find that I am severely distracted from the people and opportunities that God wants to bring my way. Fear works to cause us to have tunnel vision, missing out of the chances today to make a difference, and THAT is a tragedy.

God has called us to live fully, purposefully, and faithfully “until He returns.” Making fear based decisions for our lives, our children’s’ lives; will stand in the way of the peace God promises us.

Now, making wise decisions, being smart in our choices is imperative. God promises to give us wisdom if we simply ask for it.

My last thought to share is this: Prayer is powerful and we must be people who pray during uncertain times!! Prayer is a gift to us; we can bring all those things that burden our souls to Him. We can pray for those in harms way. We can pray for peace.

^{2 Chronicles 7:14 says, ”}if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land!”

I know this is an especially long blog on a seemingly a negative subject; but I believe it is timely. I hope you do too. 🙂

Help! Help! Help!

July 31, 2014 / salciccioli / 1 Comment

This has been a relationally rich summer. Greg and I have had the joy to host clients, family, and friends in our home every other week since the first of June! What a privilege to share our lives and to engage in “shoulder to shoulder” activities with them all. These sweet times truly enrich our lives and I believe, theirs as well!!

Recently, one of our visitors swam farther than they were equipped to swim. We were at a mountain lake and he challenged himself to swim across the lake to an area where he could rest upon a floating dock. However, the ladder to the dock had fallen deep to the bottom of the lake. uh oh! After trying unsuccessfully to climb up on the floating dock he decided to swim back to shore. Halfway back his legs cramped and shut down having been affected by the cold water and fatigue! At first he said, “I need help” which quickly turned to a cry! “HELP!”…..”HELP!”……”HELP!”

It was surreal to see our friend truly struggling to survive. His plea for help became more and more emphatic….he was sinking and he knew it. My husband heard the cries of his friend and he knew he needed to make every effort to help his friend survive!! Before he sank under the water, Greg jumped in, swam to his friend, held him above the water leading him to safety. After resting along the shore, our friend regained his strength and went on to have a wonderful day. Nevertheless, witnessing this experience shook us all up and left me with a clearer understanding about some real live truths. Our friend did nothing wrong, yet LIFE happened uexpectantly and he was wise enough to have not been alone!

We were never meant to “do life” alone. We weren’t created to depend only on ourselves. We have been designed to walk through this life in community and with accountability. The scenario at the lake would have ended differently if our friend had been there alone! Fortunately, he had not made that unwise choice. We all need to have people around us that want us to survive and thrive! People who will jump in and carry us if needed when we cry out for help!

When we withdraw and silo ourselves from the support and safety of wise counselors we can tend to gravitate toward treacherous waters….to stinking thinking, compromised choices, and unhealthy commitments. To be protected from these things we need quality people in our lives who can recognize the “danger” and help us to stay on the safe shore.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 says “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”

Proverbs 15:22 says “Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success.”

Proverbs 27:6 says The wounds of a friend are trustworthy, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”

Think about your life today. Do you have people around you who want to see you stay above water? Do you have those who are willing to help when you feel like you are drowning in the challenges of life? If you do then you are richly blessed. If you do not I sincerely encourage you to be committed to creating a circle of connection in the days ahead. Just like our friend on the lake…..if you are alone in a crisis, you need to have support. We were meant to do life together! 🙂

When Life Feels Uncertain~

July 22, 2014 / salciccioli / 1 Comment

Our lives are full of uncertainty. Pick up a newspaper, watch your evening news! There’s change and challenge all over the world. Weather, finances, government policies, and global conflicts swirl around our lives every day. For some, uncertainty at this level has left them paralyzed with anxiety and fear of the future. Uncertainty is so uncomfortable; our minds want clarity and good closure. Certainty is almost always preferrable to the unknown!

Yet, we all experience uncertainty in our lives in a more personal way; health diagnosis, job changes, relational challenges, and financial transitions just to name a few. Times of uncertainty are really challenging to navigate because our head and emotions tend to respond negatively to the discomfort; thus anxiety can set in and hold us captive.

So, how can we find a way to thrive amidst uncertainty? Is it even possible? In her blog on uncertainty, Katherine McHugh says “disorienting storms of life are not just about survival, they are about learning to thrive. It is not in spite of daunting circumstances that we grow, but because of them.”

Scripture puts is this way:

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”
James 1:2

There are many moments of uncertainty in life. There always have been and there always will be. Sometimes things turn out the way you want them to, sometimes they don’t. Yet, accepting the uncertainty rather than trying to fight it, trusting God to guide and lead you, remembering that you cannot predict the outcomes, and watching for opportunities to grow and learn in the middle of uncertain times really helps.

My life has been full of seasons of uncertainty. I’ve moved 11 times in my marriage, lived in 5 different cities, we pastored in 5 different churches, served 9 years in a non-profit organization, and have built our own Coaching Company from the ground up. We have faced physical challenges, family changes, and relational transitions. Many of these seasons of uncertainty left me anxious, fearful, and discouraged as I walked them out. However, now that I’m older I am able to look back and see how all these situations have played a big part in who I am today. Some situations turned out as I’d hoped, some disappointed me, and some were a complete surprise to me!

If I could speak into the life of my “younger self” amidst a season of uncertainty I would encourage her to catch her breath, spend time with God, look for the good that can be gleaned, spend time with life-giving people, and fight the urge to need to know NOW! If I had consistently made those choices I can only imagine that my experience would have been a bit different!

Are you sitting in a season of uncertainty? If you are then it is my prayer that you will begin to walk in greater confidence that there will be a resolve and that there will be “nuggets of wisdom” to pocket in the days ahead.

Remember:

“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

Be Well~

May 26, 2014May 27, 2014 / salciccioli / 1 Comment

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

This verse is action packet with some of the best advice you’ll ever be offered! Yet, in a world that’s filled with busy schedules, heavy responsibilities, political posturing, financial challenges, and even relational loss. We find our minds constantly carrying the “burdens of the world”. I know I sure have to catch myself!

Something we may not truly understand is that focusing on all that is stressful and unhappy can actually make us sick!!

In a recent Washington Post article, Kendall Powell stated; “If stress is chronic every day, pumping out hormones without any escaping or fighting, then it’s not good for your immune system,” comparing its response to infection. The bottom line is that “chronic stress makes it more likely you become infected and that infections will last longer and be nastier.”

WebMD says is this way; “Chronic worry and emotional stress can trigger a host of health problems. The problem occurs when fight or flight is triggered daily by excessive worrying and anxiety. All of these systems interact and are profoundly influenced by your coping style and your psychological state. It isn’t the stress that makes you ill. Rather, it’s the effect responses such as excessive worrying and anxiety have on these various interacting systems that can bring on the physical illness.”

Our Creator knows us very, very well. He knew that excessive worry and concern would cause us to live our lives partly broken, unable to become the best versions of ourselves. I imagine that is why He filled His Word with verses like these:

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Psalm 56:3

When I am afraid, I will trust in you.

Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

So,

How are you today? Is it time to lay down the heavy backpack of stress and worry? Time to turn and lay those things that burden your soul on the altar; choosing to put renewed trust in the One who knows you the best? I challenge you, and myself today, to CHOOSE TO BE WELL! 🙂

Unanswered Prayers.

April 27, 2014April 27, 2014 / salciccioli / 2 Comments

I had the good fortune this week to have the opportunity to talk with a friend and fellow coach about trusting God. Her honesty was refreshing and both of us acknowledged how difficult it can be to trust God in the face of unanswered prayers. Now I am mature enough to know the God is not a “spiritual Santa Clause” so I’m not talking about prayers that involve frivolous requests. ” I pray I get a parking place.”, I pray I win a trip”, or I pray I can get a new, fancy car”. No, I am talking about prayers for a friend that has cancer; who passes away. I’m thinking about those who pray to become parents; remaining childless. Or the prayers of protection those who have beloved children pray; only to lose their children long before their lives have been lived. How do we navigate continuing to trust what God’s word clearly tells us:

Luke 11:9 says “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

Mark 11:24 “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.“

I believe these promises are true and have experienced God’s faithfulness over and over again! But, I have also walked through the darkness of prayers that were prayed with absolute faith yet have remained unanswered. How do we remain faith filled? How to we keep ourselves from feeling as though God is distant and unfeeling? How do we protect ourselves from becoming angry and disillusioned? In the movie God’s Not Dead, the college professor makes a profound statement; ” The biggest atheists are those were had been believers and experienced unanswered prayers”.

Have you experienced unanswered prayer? How have you kept yourself faith filled in the midst of the disappointment?

Three years ago, I had a precious family members life taken brutally at a young age. I had prayed for him all his life. I had seen God do mighty things in and with his life. He was amazingly talented and deeply loving. Upon the news of his death I spent almost 90 days angry at God, seeking understanding with the knowledge that God “could” have stepped in and protected him from losing his life. I was devastated and confused by the scriptures that had once given me comfort. Those verses now served to cause greater hurt.

God is good. His shoulders were big enough for my questions; even my anger. In His still small voice He just kept reminding me that He would help me through the pain. He would never leave me nor forsake me. He spoke the truth that His ways are higher than my ways. And slowly, with the power of the Holy Spirit, I could feel myself beginning to whisper “Even so, I will trust you.”

I couldn’t even begin to give you a formula for navigating this particular spiritual challenge, but there are a few action steps that will help keep your heart from becoming bitter.

1. Stay in God’s Word, it speaks to your soul.

2. Be brave to talk about your questions, don’t isolate.

3. Make sure you continue to look at your many blessings, even in the midst of unanswered prayer.

4. Be willing to learn something fresh from what you are having to walk through.

5. Remember, loss and challenge falls on the just and the unjust. It is part of our human condition and can help you gain keen empathy that will enable you to love and support others along the way.

Steven Arterburn in his article , When Prayers seem Unanswered says;

It certainly seems like a secure bet that sometimes God doesn’t answer our prayers because he’s aware that his, ours, and the whole world’s best interests will not be served if he does. It’s safe to say that when God decides what’s best, he’s got a broader perspective for making that decision than anything we can bring to the table.

All of which brings us to the very good reason that when mature Christians do pray for something, they tend not to say, “God, please do [such and such],” but rather, “God, if it is your will, please do [such and such].” This is the all-important caveat. Always leave to him the final determination of whether or not what you’re asking for is, in fact, the thing most ultimately beneficial.

We all want to live a life trusting the Lord. However, life can broadside us. Rather than pulling away, becoming angry, and perhaps even bitter, choose to remember God’s heart for you and I. Find yourself whispering “Even so, I will trust you.”

Navigating Transitions~

April 12, 2014April 12, 2014 / salciccioli / 3 Comments

Life transitions have a crazy way of causing some emotional imbalance–for almost all of us! Transitions, even happy ones, can be stressful and bring up some surprising mixed emotions. These reactions can often time come as a surprise to us, causing us to feel especially sensitive for seemingly “no reason at all.” Moving to a new city, becoming a parent, selling the family home, transitioning from one job to another, marriage, or a personal loss can all create the opportunity for us to feel imbalanced for a while.

I graduated from my University, married, moved away from my family and friends to a new city, and became a mother within a 16 month period of time. Even though there was so much that was good and new –my equilibrium was off and I had to find a way to create a new normal for myself. It was an emotional time. My life since that time has had numerous changes and transitions. Each time it gets a little easier to understand how these transitions affects me and I work harder at being proactive during this time. I am going to pass a few of these tips on to you!

1. Transitions can shake your sense of IDENTITY. It’s natural for us to define ourselves by the job we have, church we attend, neighborhood we live in, family we belong to, or financial status we have known. When these kinds of elements get shaken up we have to find a new normal. During this particular time, be gracious with yourself and others, remain consistent to keep your spiritual/self-care routines in place, and surround yourself with life-giving people. These efforts will remind you that you are not defined by external titles or experiences.

2. A transition can be a wonderful opportunity for GROWTH. Sometimes transitions give us an opportunity to see areas of ourselves that need attention. Fear, lack of faith, uncertainty, even anger have roots in us somewhere. Being keenly aware of ourselves in this season we can take a good look at these responses and begin to take some steps to address and challenge ourselves to grow. Transitions are a great time to begin new habits.

3. Keep reminding yourself WHY you chose this transition. In my coaching I encourage my clients to assess their current situation and cast a clear vision for where they want to go. Though this kind of thinking can take take time and consideration; the greater challenge is in the in-between…actually applying the steps that will make the transition complete. Matthew Kelly in his book “Leading Through Change” says, “It is often said that people hate change, but that is not true. People love change; they just don’t like the time of transition.” If, during our transition we keep the end goal in sight, celebrate incremental changes along the way, and remind ourselves of the fruitfulness of our transition, we will navigate this time so much better. However, I have also walked through seasons where I didn’t choose the transition, wouldn’t have asked for it, and didn’t understand it’s value at the time. Yet, in hindsight I have learned to find the value even in those tough situations. I call those moments “looking for the pony in the poop”. There is always something to learn, nuggets of growth, even in un-chosen transition.

4. Remember your past transitions and apply some of the skills you learned during that time. No matter what our lives look like, we have all walked through transitions since we were children. There are ways that we have responded, lessons we have learned, and maturity gained that, if we reflect on those times, can even give us keen insight to our present transition. I love to journal for this reason in that it captures past responses in my life reminding me of tools and understanding gained during a previous transitional time.

5. Don’t leave God out of the equation. No one cares or knows us more than our heavenly Father. Draw close to him in these time. Sit still with Him; breath and wait. Trust that He will see you through.

Transitions can be invigorating, uncertain, challenging, even terrifying for some. Yet, we all face transitions. May you find great success in the days ahead as you apply some of these small principles for great success.

🙂

If you really knew me you would not like me……………..

November 15, 2013November 15, 2013 / salciccioli / Leave a comment

How many of us have made mistakes in our lives? How many of us have baggage that plagues us? How many of us have heard the enemy whisper “if they really knew you they would not like you”? I have. This kind of shame can keep us locked up; unable and unwilling to step into opportunities simply because we ask ourselves the question “why me?, I am not worthy!”.

Years ago I stood before the congregation of our large church where my husband was an Executive Pastor, I shared my story. Everyone has a story! My story involved a history of a date rape and an abortion at 17 years old! Such a shock to so many that saw me, and my life as perfect; perhaps charmed.

After sharing my story I had over 75 women come to me privately and share that this was similar to their story and they felt shamed and broken! Oh, how the enemy loves to make us feel ruined, soiled, and without value!! Here is the truth:

We have a God who is full of grace and mercy–God’s mercy is so much richer than the mercy we extend to one another. This is sad, but true! All of us have regrets and areas of deep sadness. The truth is that our Savior is rich in love, mercy, and grace!

If this resonates with you. If you have challenges or have faced situations where your choices caused great harm; run to the giver of grace and forgiveness! He loves you more than you can ever know!

Here’s what God’s word says:

Dianna Salciccioli

Walking out my Seasons and Assignments

trust

Dreaded October~

Who are ” your people? “~

My take on 50 Shades of Grey~

Fear or Faith?

Help! Help! Help!

When Life Feels Uncertain~

Be Well~

Unanswered Prayers.

Navigating Transitions~

If you really knew me you would not like me……………..

1 John 1:9

Isaiah 43:25-26

Isaiah 1:18

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