You Reap What You Sow

Reaping and Sowing

By Coach Marsha ~ marsha@gospel360nline.com

In this season of Thanksgiving, I sat down earlier in the week to reflect on the things that I had to be thankful for. What I recognized was that I did not have enough paper to express how good God has been to me. I have been blessed with awesome family and friends. God has always stationed the right people in my life and continues to do so.

I wrote an article a couple of weeks ago titled “The Hand You Were Dealt” and I must say I have been dealt a really good hand. My life has certainly not been without struggles, but even through the struggles I would not want another deal. I am especially thankful for my parents. I was adopted at 3 months old and God gave me the best option there was. I don’t know my biological parents but I thank them for giving me the best opportunity. It is not where you start the race it is where you finish.

I was raised in a Christian home reared by loving and caring parents. Even my extended family is really cool. As God has blessed me with a family, I only hope that I am half the wife and mother that my mother has been to my father and me. I have been married to a wonderful man for the past 17 years, and those that really know me wonder why he has been married to me for so long. Well someone has to do it. We have a beautiful daughter that was 1lb 2oz at birth and now is a healthy 13 year old. Any of you with teens no nothing else needs to be said about this age. She is ADHD with the dominant trait being hyperactivity. In our family God has blessed her with this trait as a survival mechanism. My husband and I both have really strong personalities and I am bouncing off the walls all over the place so it works really well in our family. As a matter of fact, I maybe ADHD myself.

I have been blessed with great careers and really good bosses and co-workers, all of which have prepared me for my life as a Christian Life Coach. In your spare time, I want you to reflect on what has your whole life prepared you for? When you take an honest assessment you will be surprised of the results. OK enough about my great life. Did I mention I have had struggles? Just wanted to make sure it has not always been peaches and cream but I would not trade this hand for the world.
When I think about Reaping and Sowing which is our theme for this month it speaks perfectly to the coach/client relationship. The coach is always sowing (techniques, strategies, action plans, etc) into the client’s life. The client in return reaps the benefits (transformation, accomplishments, results etc). When the coaching relationship is done properly your client’s lives as well as your life will never be the same. Transformation will occur that changes their lives for the rest of their lives.

The point is this: “whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully”. (2 Corinthians 9:6 ESV).

I will share a real life coaching scenario with you. The name has been changed to protect the innocent.
Morgan: Hello Coach Marsha
Marsha: Hello Morgan how are you? Before we get started I’d like to open us in prayer.
Morgan: Great
Marsha: What has brought you to coaching?
Morgan: Well I am at my wits end. I have no clear direction in my life about anything. I hate my job, I have no savings, my family life is a wreck, and nothing in my life thus far has gone according to my plans. I have absolutely no direction. This is my last ditch effort for things to work out.
Marsha: Well Morgan let me thank you for caring enough about your life that you are willing to make some changes. Believe it or not your situation is not unique. Most people seeking coaching are in your same shoes. Morgan you have to put first things first. If you were to take a trip you would not blindly just start traveling. You would map out your course. You have to do the same thing with your life. Secondly, it is not about what you have planned for your life it is what the creator has planned for your life. Galatians 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mothers’ womb and called me through His grace (NKJV).
Morgan: That’s just it I have no idea which direction to head in or what he has called me to do.
Marsha: Let’s start off by defining what is the most important problem you want to solve?
Morgan: What is my purpose?
Marsha: Well Morgan the first thing that I recommend is that you complete a Spiritual Gifts Assessment. The reason for doing this is, until you clearly understand what God has purposed you to do you are not living on purpose. Each one of us has been given special talents and abilities that are specifically designed for us. Once you realize what your gifts are we will built a plan around those gifts. These gifts will answer and explain exactly what role in your life you should be playing. Does this make sense Morgan?
Morgan: It makes perfect sense. Once I identify what my gifts are I can then plan my actions/goals around those gifts correct?
Marsha: Correct for example, if one of your gifts is leadership then the roles you seek should be leadership roles in your career, church, other organizations etc). I am also going to encourage you to complete The Wheel of Life. This Wheel of Life allows you to self-assess in eight key areas. This Wheel will help you determine which areas to work on. Morgan we have 5 more minutes left is there anything else you would like to discuss today before we close our session?
Morgan: No I just feel a whole lot better about mapping things out. Just that one piece of information explaining the Spiritual Gifts Assessment has given me a new look on things. I am going to enjoy coaching with you.
Marsha: Great let’s go ahead and lock into our session for next week. This is the number and time that you will call. What would be a good action step for this week Morgan?
Morgan: To complete the Spiritual Gifts Assessment and The Wheel of Life.
Marsha: Great now on a scale of 1-10 how likely are you to complete both? Also I always give scripture for the week to ponder. The scripture for this week is Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, “declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (NIV).
Morgan: 10 I will complete the steps and read the recommended scripture.
Marsha: Ok then that is your action step for this week is to complete Spiritual Gifts Assessment and The Wheel of Life. You will also read Jeremiah 29:11. It has been a pleasure speaking with you on today. Let’s close in prayer.
This is a typical session that shows the Reaping and Sowing principal.

Action Step – Sit down with a sheet of paper and divide the paper into half. List Reaping on one side and Sowing on the other. Identify where you see the principal.

I am happy to guide you along your journey. Hope this article has been informational and peaks your interest to want more. Please contact me on meverett24@verizon.net so that we can set up an introductory session.

Marsha Clarke-Everett is a Certified Christian Life Coach who specializes in Transformational Coaching and  moving individuals from ordinary to extraordinary. She holds a BS in Criminal Justice from Florida A&M University and an MBA from National Louis University. For more information about Coach Marsha visit her blog Purpose Driven Life Coaching.