Abundant Life Counseling & Coaching

09/05/2025

When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

08/26/2025

Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord God you have an everlasting rock.
Isaiah 26:4

08/20/2025

As our children go back to school, please take time to pray for them. The start of this year will be different and challenging for each one. God has given us the blessing of knowledge and learning...only He can fill their minds with the knowledge required to fulfill His calling on their lives.

BACK TO SCHOOL PRAYER
Dear Lord,
We praise you for creating us with a mind to learn and the gift of knowledge.
As our children start a new school year,
I pray that you will keep them in your care.
Send your Spirit to open their minds
to all that is true and beautiful and good.
Help them to see the gifts and talents
you have given them and to use them well.
Help them to grow in knowledge and wisdom.
Help them to be kind to others
and lead others to be kind to them.
Give their educators patience and understanding and help them teach what is just and true.
Send your angels to guide and guard our children and to keep them from all harm.
Open their young hearts to your presence
and enfold them in your peace and protection.
Hold them in the palm of your hand
and bring them home safely at day's end.
In Jesus name, Amen.

08/14/2025

Finding joy in everyday situations is a key to happiness and a way to embrace the humor in life. It’s all about having the ability to laugh at yourself and finding the silver lining in any situation.

Laughing at yourself can improve your self-esteem, reduce stress, and enhance your relationships by showing that you are comfortable with your imperfections. It helps you cope with life's challenges and fosters a positive outlook on your experiences.

My mom taught me to laugh at myself by doing the same. In hard times and everyday situations. The other day, I was making Scots shortbread, one of our favorites and thinking of her and grandma Marshall. I've made it many times. Easy recipe, memorized by now, but apparently my mind was on other things when I mixed it up. It's flour and butter mixed then add sugar. Mix and pat into round cake or pie pan. Well, when I took it out of the oven it presented more like hard biscuit. I could hear my mom saying to me..."Kay Ann, what in the world are you making?!" I had a good laugh!😄 (I forgot the sugar.) So after a good laugh and shaking my head, I paid attention and mixed up a correct batch.

08/12/2025

Child anger quiz...

Are there moments when your child yells at you in public, hits their sibling, or throws things across the room in frustration? You’re not alone, and it doesn’t mean you’re a bad parent. Studies show that it’s normal for children to experience outbursts from time to time, which is part of their developmental journey.

That said, a child’s anger can sometimes become so intense that it begins to affect their daily life, relationships, and school performance. When aggressive behavior in kids becomes frequent and disruptive, it may signal something deeper than just a phase you can simply “wait out” as a parent.

Some outbursts may be early signs of behavioral problems that call for intervention and tailored child anger management strategies.

**Take this quiz to see if your child’s anger is out of control:

1. Is your child getting into trouble at school or at risk of being suspended or expelled due to anger, aggression, or fighting?

2. Is your child a danger to him/herself or to others?

3. Does your child get excluded from playdates and parties with other children because of problem behavior?

4. Do your child’s angry outbursts disrupt your home life and cause strife in the family?

5. Is your child too old to be having temper tantrums and meltdowns, but still having them?

6. Does your child feel guilty and frustrated because they can’t control their anger?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, it’s likely that your child would benefit from an evaluation. This doesn’t mean you’re a bad parent, and you definitely aren’t alone.

In fact, anger issues are one of the most common reasons why parents take their children to see a child and adolescent psychiatrist. Seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Dr Daniel Amen, MD
Amen Clinics
1-877-266-8169

08/12/2025

When you know your child's frame of mind, your response to him or her becomes obvious. When he's lonely, he needs your company. When he's afraid, he needs the security of your embrace. Take the time to observe your children. If you tune in closely to what they say and do, the feelings behind their behavior will soon become apparent.

08/11/2025

What if boldness wasn’t about doing more — but about being more present, more whole, and more aligned with the life God dreamed for you?

Too many high-achieving people have learned how to survive. But bold living isn’t just survival with a smile — it’s a sacred surrender to God’s invitation to thrive. It’s the courage to choose joy again, to live with purpose, and to let your healed life become a light for others.

This isn’t about perfection — it’s about presence.
This isn’t about hustle — it’s about wholeness.

Jesus didn’t come so you could barely make it through each day.
He came so you could live abundantly — in peace, in purpose, and in power.

Live Boldly — Your Life Is a Message of Grace
Scripture: John 10:10 – “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

🌿 Reflection:
Bold living isn’t about being busy, flashy, or loud.
It’s about being deeply alive.
It’s living a life so aligned with God’s truth that it overflows with peace, joy, purpose, and freedom — no matter what season you're in.

To live boldly is to stop performing and start being.
It’s trusting that wholeness, rest, and abundance aren’t luxuries — they’re your birthright in Christ.
Not because of what you’ve done, but because of what Jesus already did.

The enemy wants you to settle — to shrink, strive, or simply survive.
But God calls you to live. Boldly. Bravely. Fully.

And your bold, healed, whole life?
It’s a message. A testimony. A light.
It gives others permission to believe there’s more for them, too.

🙏🏾 Prayer:
Jesus, I’m tired of merely surviving.
I want to live the full life You promised me — not just in eternity, but here and now.
Help me release guilt, fear, and hesitation so I can live boldly, freely, and faithfully.

✍🏾 Prompt:
What would change in your life if you stopped waiting for permission to live boldly?
Where have you been shrinking or holding back your joy, your voice, or your calling?

08/06/2025

We all worry to some extent from time to time. Some of us, though, find our lives disrupted by fear and anxiety.
We’ve all felt worried or anxious at one point or another. Taking a test in school, interviewing for a job, undergoing a tax audit, facing an unexpected health crisis – these are the types of situations that many people find stressful and which might provoke intense feelings of unease, even marked by anxiety disorders.

As a counselor/therapist, I’ve brought to many people’s attention the fact that many of the troubles we worry over never do actually come about. Furthermore, when we take the time to realistically consider and work through worst-case scenarios we can enjoy a measure of clear-headedness and calm when considering potential problems. So while worry and anxiety are unpleasant, these feelings can be quite useful if they prompt us to plan and take action. For example, considering the situations above, if worry causes us to study harder, prepare for the job interview, keep our tax records and financial paperwork in order, or attend to the needs of our physical body, these anxious feelings will have served a good purpose.

God gave us the capacity for fear to protect us. Fear not only motivates us to avoid hazardous situations, but it also helps to prepare our bodies to fight or flee when we are in danger. Unfortunately, our brains and bodies can act as if we’re facing an imminent threat even when we’re not, and feelings of fear can explode into uncontrollable dread and panic. These feelings can arise suddenly even in the absence of any discernible trigger. One can experience worry or fears about future uncertainties that are so overpowering that normal everyday functioning is impaired. These are just a few of the signs of a class of illnesses known collectively as anxiety disorders.

As is common with other mental health issues, people with anxiety disorders can feel very alone, like they are dealing with something that no one else is facing. The fact is, anxiety disorders are not uncommon. It’s estimated that each year about 18 percent of adults in the U.S. deal with an anxiety disorder.

1 Peter 5:7, which states, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." This verse encourages believers to trust God with their worries and concerns.

You are not alone and hope for relief can be in your future. Help and treatment for anxiety disorders is available.
Contact me at abundantlifecounseling20@gmail.com

07/31/2025

07/26/2025

“He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.” (Psalm 62:6-7)

07/14/2025

Today's to-do list:
Smile••Don't sweat the small stuff••Think positive••Inspire••Love••Be grateful••Be happy

07/03/2025

https://www.lovesongtomylife.com/blog/longing-to-be-free

ONE MORNING on the national news, there was a story about a young African American police officer whose associates at the department met him, as he reported for duty, dressed in the hooded garb of the Ku Klux Klan. Even women on the office staff and other department employees joined to taunt and fri