Pamela Koefoed's Blog, page 4

Wie man sein Leben ändert, indem man Gottes Wahrheit in deinem Herzen erhält – Aktivität (Change Your Life with God’s Truth–Activity)

[image error]I’ve found the following activity helpful in my life. I think about and I speak aloud what the Bible says about God. And I think about and I speak aloud what the Bible says I can do through faith in Jesus.

This method helps turn weak faith into strong faith. Having strong faith is what God wants you to have…it can change your life.

Ich habe die folgende Aktivität in meinem Leben hilfreich gefunden. Ich denke darüber nach und ich spreche laut, was die Bibel über Gott sagt. Und ich denke darüber nach und ich spreche laut, was die Bibel sagt, die ich durch den Glauben an Jesus tun kann. Diese Methode hilft schwachen Glauben in starken Glauben zu verwandeln. Einen starken Glauben zu haben, ist das, was Gott will, dass du es hast … es kann dein Leben verändern.

Daily Pledge – Tägliches Versprechen

Focusing on negative circumstances doesn’t help. Worrying about the past or the future is harmful for your God – created purpose and for your health. Renew your mind to have a more hopeful and optimistic perspective on life.

 

Die Fokussierung auf die negativen Umstände hilft nicht. Sich über die Vergangenheit oder die Zukunft zu sorgen i st schädlich für deinen von Gott geschaffenen Sinn und für deine Gesundheit. Erneuere deinen Verstand, um eine hoffnungsvollere und optimistische Per s pektive auf dein Leben zu haben.

 

If there’s something weighing on your heart today, tell the Lord what it is and ask for His help in the situation. Thank Him for the answer before you receive it.

Wenn heute etwas auf deinem Herz lastet, sage dem Herrn was es ist und bitte um seine Hilfe in dieser Situation. Danke Ihm für die Antwort bevor du sie empfängst.

→Read the following eight bulleted items one or more times a day.

→Lese die folgenden acht aufgezählten Punkte ein oder mehrmals am Tag.

Today I won’t allow worry to fill my thoughts. I cast all my care on the Lord, for He cares for me, 1 Peter 5:7.

Heute werde ich Sorge nicht erlauben, mein Denken zu füllen. Ich werfe alle meine Sorgen auf den Herrn, weil er für mich sorgt .(1. Petrus 5,7)

Today I will expect good things to happen. After all, God is causing all things to work together for my good, because I love Him, Romans 8:28 – 29.

Heute werde ich erwarten, dass gute Dinge geschehen werden. Schließlich wird Gott es veranlassen, dass mir alle Dinge zu meinem Besten dienen werden, weil ich Ihn liebe.

(Römer 8, 28)

 Today I won’t expect failure. I will look to the Lord for success by committing my plans to Him, Philippians 4:13.

Heute werde ich kein Versagen erwarten. Ich werde auf den Herrn schauen für Gelingen und Ihm meine Pläne übergeben. (Philipper 4,13).

 Today I won’t allow a self critical thought to take up space in my mind. After all, I’m told in 1 John 3:1 to think about how great God’s l ove is for me.

Heute werde ich keinem selbstkritischen Gedanken erlauben, Platz in meinem Denken einzunehmen . Schließlich ist mir in 1. Johannes 3,1 gesagt, darüber nachzudenken, wie groß Gottes Liebe für mich ist. 1. Joh. 3,1: Seht, welch eine Liebe hat uns der Vater erwiesen, dass wir Gottes Kinder heißen sollen.

Today I won’t worry about getting sick. I take for myself the New Covenant blessing of redemption from sin and disease through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Heute werde ich mich nicht darum sorgen, krank zu werden. Ich nehme für mich den Segen der Erlösung von Sünde und Krankheit durch das Blut von Jesus Christus in Anspruch.

Today I won’t scrutinize how my voice sounds. I won’t negatively assess my physical features. I won’t worry what oth ers think about me. I’m the dearly beloved of the Father and He created me in His likeness and image. I’m a blessing to others, 1 John 4:7; Genesis 1:27- 28

Heute werde ich nicht überprüfen , wie meine Stimme klingt. Ich werde nicht in negativer Weise meine körperlichen Eigenschaften beurteilen. Ich werde mich nicht darüber sorgen was andere über mich denken. Ich bin die teuer Geliebte des Vaters und er hat mich geschaffen in seine Ähnlichkeit und in sein Bild. Ich bin ein Segen für andere. (1. Johannes 4,7; 1. Mose 1, 27 ). 1. Joh. 4,7 : Ihr Lieben, lasst uns einander lieb haben; denn die Liebe ist von Gott, und wer liebt, der ist aus Gott geboren und kennt Gott.

Today I expect favor on my life. I am chosen. I’m not rejected, Isaiah 41:9

Heute erwarte ich Gunst auf meinem Leben. Ich bin erwählt. Ich bin nicht abgelehnt. Jesaja 41,9 : […] ich erwähle dich und verwerfe dich nicht .

Today I will show love and receive love, 1 John 4:7 – 10

Heute werde ich Anderen gegenüber Liebe zeigen und Liebe empfange n .

1. Joh. 4, 7 – 10 : Ihr Lieben, lasst uns einander lieb haben; denn die Liebe ist von Gott, und wer liebt, der ist aus Gott geboren und kennt Gott.

→  Speak aloud the following ten statements one or more times a day for 30 days. Decree a thing and it shall be established, Job 22:28.

→  Spreche die folgenden zehn Statements 30 Tage lang ein oder mehrmals am Tag laut aus. Verordne eine Sache und sie wird errichtet. Hiob 22,28 : Was du dir v ornimmst, lässt er dir gelingen und das Licht wird auf deinen Wegen scheinen.

I can accomplish things that seem hard for me through Christ Jesus, Romans 8:17

Ich kann durch Jesus Christus Dinge vollb ringen, die mir hart erscheinen. Römer 8,17 : Sind wir aber Kinder, so sind wir auch E rben, nämlich Gottes Erben und Miterben Christi, da wir ja mit ihm leiden, damit wir auch mit ihm zur Herrlichkeit erhoben werden.

I am strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, Ephesians 3:16

Ich bin stark im Herrn und in der Kraft Seiner Macht .

Epheser 3,16 : dass er euch Kraft gebe nach dem Reichtum seiner Herrlichkeit, gestärkt zu werden durch seinen Geist an dem inwendigen Menschen.

I am loved by God. He is my Father. I am a child of God, John 3:16, 1 John 3:1



 Ich bin geliebt von Gott. Er ist mein Vater. Ich bin Gottes Kind .

Joh . 3,16 : Denn also hat Gott die Welt geliebt, dass er seinen eingeborenen Sohn gab, auf dass alle, die an ihn glauben, nicht verloren werden, sondern das ewige Leben haben.

1. Joh. 3,1 : Seht, welch eine Liebe hat uns der Vater erwiesen, dass wir Gottes Kinder heißen sollen – und wir sind es auch!

I am favored by God, Galatians 4:7

Ich bin von Gott begünstigt . Galater 4,7 : So bist du nun nicht mehr Knecht, sondern Kind; wenn aber Kind, dann auch Erbe durch Gott.

I am the righteousness of God through Christ Jesus, 2 Corinthians 5:21

Ich bin die Gerechtigkeit Gottes durch Jesus Christus . 2. Kor. 5,21 : Denn er hat den, der von keiner Sünde wusste, für uns zur Sünde gemacht, auf dass wir in ihm die Gerechtigkeit wür den, die vor Gott gilt.

 I am victorious through Christ Jesus, 2 Corinthians 2:14

Ich bin sieg reich durch Jesus Christus. 2. Kor. 2,14 : Gott aber sei gedankt, der uns allezeit im Triumph mitführt in Christus und offenbart den Geruch seiner Erkenntnis dur ch uns an allen Orten.

I do not worry. I am not anxious. God’s meeting my every need and His peace is in my heart and mind, Matthew 6:25 – 31; Philippians 4:6

Ich sorge mich nicht. Ich bin nicht ängstlich. Gott begegnet jedem Bedürfnis von mir und Sein Friede ist in mei nem Herzen und in meinem Denken. Matthäus 6,25 – 31 : Darum sage ich euch: Sorgt euch nicht um euer Leben, was ihr essen und trinken werdet; auch nicht um euren Leib, was ihr anziehen werdet. Ist nicht das Leben mehr als die Nahrung und der Leib mehr als die Kleidung?   Philipper 4,6 : Sorgt euch um nichts, sondern in allen Dingen lasst eure Bitten in Gebet und Flehen mit Danksagung vor Gott kundwerden.

I walk in love because I am loved, Ephesians 5:1 – 2; 1 John 4:7 – 10

Ich wandle in Liebe, weil ich geliebt bin. Eph. 5,1 – 2 : So ahmt nun Gott nach als geliebte Kinder und wandelt in der Liebe, wie auch Christus uns geliebt hat und hat sich selbst für uns gegeben als Gabe und Opfer, Gott zu einem lieblichen Geruch.

Joh. 4, 7 – 10: Jesus antwortete und sprach zu ihr: Wenn du erkenntest die Gabe Gottes und wer der ist, der zu dir sagt: Gib mir zu trinken!, du bätest ihn, und er gäbe dir lebendiges Wasser.

I am a blessing to others, Galatians 5:13

Ich bin ein Segen für Andere. Galater 5,13 : Ihr aber, Brüder und Schwestern, seid zur Freiheit berufen. Allein seht zu, dass ihr durch die Freiheit nicht dem Fleisch Raum gebt, sondern durch die Liebe diene einer dem andern.

I am safe because God protects me, Psalm 121:7; 2 Timothy 4:18

Ich bin sicher, weil Gott mich beschützt . Psalm 121,7, 2 : Der HERR behüte dich vor allem Übel, er behüte deine Seele. Timotheus 4,18 : Der Herr aber wird mich erlösen von allem Übel und mich retten in sein himmlisches Reich.

 

Simone, danke, dass du das ins Deutsche übersetzt hast. Gott segne dich.

W ritten von Pamela Koefoed - einfach üben

Simone,thank you or translating this. God bless you.



You can Live Fearless…Two Tools that Really Work

You don’t have to live with fear. On this video, Living Fearless, I share two practical tools that really work to free yourself of fear’s subtle and more obvious influences. I’ve put these tools to use and have had such great results that I’m sharing them with whoever is listening…hopefully, that’s you.

I had fun sharing on Facebook’s livestream. I’m still learning to use my equipment, so forgive the 30 second blooper at the beginning. I’ve received good feedback from folks who have put the tips that I share on this video to use.

They had the same good results that I had. The stress or anxiety that they felt went down from something like a 5 to a zero within minutes. These tips that I share really work and that’s why I’m so excited to share this video with you, blooper and all. I hope you enjoy it.

 

How to Change Your Life

If I could tell you how to change your life and you actually put into practice my instructions and they actually worked, you would probably think that I’m a genius. But I can’t take any credit for the life changing instructions in this article because they’re found in the New Testament.

God is the supreme genius and I’m merely the sharer of His principles. It’s my hope that you will put them to good use and it’s my prayer that your life will be wonderfully transformed.

Transformation begins with our minds and our hearts. To live the amazing life that our Heavenly Father has for us, habits of thinking and patterns of belief must be brought under the headlamp of God’s Word.

To fulfill our God designed purpose, fear based thinking must be replaced with a way of thinking that encourages our own hearts and motivates our own minds. Too often, the inward self critic and the mind’s anti-risk mode uses fear to dissuade us away from the steps that lead us into what we’re here on this planet for.

To be more like Christ, our own ideas about who we are and what we’re capable of achieving must line up with who God says that we are and with what He says about the victory that He provided for us through His Son.

If it’s difficult for you to approach life optimistically or if you experience frequent fear or condemning thoughts, you’re not the only one. These things seems to be typical human responses to living in a less than perfect world.

In Romans 12:22, we’re told to be transformed by renewing our minds. This passage  refers to building into your mind the truths and principles found in New Testament teaching; doing so transforms you.

Do you know that when you change the way you think, you actually begin changing your life? This is because we walk out what we believe. We think and then we do. We think, we speak what’s in our hearts, and sometimes we find that what we speak comes into being.

For several reasons, it’s important for us to believe, think and speak in line with what God has revealed in New Testament teaching about who He is, what Jesus has accomplished, who we are, what He’s given us, what He provides, and what awaits us in the future. This isn’t always easy to do, but it’s much more achievable for the person who has renewed his or her mind with God’s Word.

Instructions for changing your life, one thought at a time.

I’ve included in this article a tool that I believe is a great tool for personal transformation, especially for anyone who needs a little help with any one or more of the following issues: overcoming fear, anxiety, worry, dread, or feeling unworthy of God’s love, or feeling ashamed, insignificant, or rejected.

The daily pledge list and decrees included in this article can have truly amazing results. To get the full benefits requires a little effort, but it isn’t difficult.

There are eight daily pledges and ten decrees. You might want to copy the pledge and decree list and post it in a place where you’re likely to see it during the day.

For best results, read the eight daily pledges and speak aloud the 10 decrees one or more times daily for 30 days. Doing so will produce amazing results. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself happier and more optimistic, accomplishing better results, walking more in tune with your purpose and in closer fellowship with the Lord.

Daily Pledge

Read the following eight bulleted items one or more times a day.

Focusing on negative circumstances doesn’t help. Worrying about the past or the future is harmful for your God-created purpose and for your health. Renew your mind to have a more hopeful and optimistic perspective on life.

If there’s something weighing on your heart today, tell the Lord what it is and ask for His help in the situation. Thank Him for the answer before you receive it.

Today I won’t allow worry to fill my thoughts. I cast all my care on the Lord, for He cares for me, 1 Peter 5:7.
Today I will expect good things to happen. After all, God is causing all things to work together for my good, because I love Him, Romans 8:28-29.
Today I won’t expect failure. I will look to the Lord for success by committing my plans to Him, Philippians 4:13.
Today I won’t allow a self critical thought to take up space in my mind. After all, I’m  told in 1 John 3:1 to think about how great God’s love is for me.
Today I won’t worry about getting sick. I take for myself the New Covenant blessing of redemption from sin and disease through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Today I won’t scrutinize how my voice sounds. I won’t negatively assess my physical features. I won’t worry what others think about me. I’m the dearly beloved of the Father and He created me in His likeness and image. I’m a blessing to others, 1 John 4:7; Genesis 1:27-28
Today I expect favor on my life. I am chosen. I’m not rejected, Isaiah 41:9
Today I will show love and receive love, 1 John 4:7-10

Speak aloud the following ten statements one or more times a day for 30 days. Decree a thing and it shall be established, Job 22:28.

I can accomplish things that seem hard for me through Christ Jesus, Romans 8:17
I am strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, Ephesians 3:16
I am loved by God. He is my Father. I am a child of God. John 3:16, 1 John 3:1
I am favored by God, Galatians 4:7
I am the righteousness of God through Christ Jesus, 2 Corinthians 5:21
I am victorious through Christ Jesus, 2 Corinthians 2:14
I do not worry. I am not anxious. God’s meeting my every need and His peace is in my heart and mind, Matthew 6:25-31; Philippians 4:6
I walk in love because I am loved, Ephesians 5:1-2; 1 John 4:7-10
I am a blessing to others, Galatians 5:13
I am safe because God protects me, Psalm 121:7; 2 Timothy 4:18

 

 

 

 

 

Live Fearless, a Livestream Event with Me, Pamela Koefoed

[image error]Living fearlessly is one of my life messages. I came by it in a deeply personal and authentic way.

Trauma and terror were part of my early childhood. By age eight, fear and I were well acquainted. During a two year period I was in danger. The fear that I felt at that time was totally legitimate.

Those early experiences wrote a script in my mind which told me that I was not safe. I was in my thirties when I realized that most people don’t plan escape routes, but that’s what I did many times over the years.

In my new home, when my husband and I were on vacation, and even while staying with friends for a weekend, I planned in my mind how to suddenly vacate the building.

In my forties, I realized that many of my decisions were influenced in some way by fear undertones. It was a startling discovery.

One afternoon, I walked in the field behind my home and I talked to the Lord about this. I remember telling Him about the fear that I wanted to conquer.

I decided to reach out to Him for help. “Lord,” I prayed. “Please make me fearless.”

The Lord’s answer to that little prayer didn’t come suddenly, but it came incrementally over the next months and years. It came with the study of Scripture as passages stood out to me and revelation flowed. It came with learning to trust God with each of my children, with my husband and with me. And it came through putting into practice the wisdom that He supplied.

I invite you to join me Thursday, February 8th from 12 -1 p.m. Pacific Standard Time for the Facebook livestream event, Living Fearless. I’ll show you from Scripture what Jesus did to teach His disciples how to live fearlessly; by His example, you can receive a major tool to help you live more courageously.

There are a couple of simple things that you can do to quickly interrupt and stop anxiety. I’m excited to tell you all about it. You really can quickly replace anxiety with peace. These are skills that I learned from God’s Word, skills that I’ve put it to use and have had great results.

During the livestream, along with learning how to identify fear’s subtle influence over your decisions, you’ll learn how to stop the triggers that lead to feelings of fear and anxiety.

It’s my earnest prayer and belief that you’ll be greatly blessed and greatly encouraged by the Living Fearless teaching.

To view the livestream, go to my Facebook page on February 8th at 12, PST. If you miss the livestream, the live teaching will be recorded and posted to my Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/pamela.koefoed.author

You are dearly loved,

Pamela

How to be Happier

[image error]How to be truly and  chronically happy…

Love God. Love your family and “your neighbor.”
Be kind to yourself. You will make mistakes. We all do. Give yourself some grace, because this is what God does.
Do your part to stay true to God and to who He created you to be.
Stop and smell the roses. Get out in the fresh air. Breath deeply. Go for a walk or a ride.
Limit your sugar and unhealthy fats.
Eat your veggies. Drink water. And move, move, move your body enough to rev up your circulation..how often? Several times throughout the day.
Laugh. Even if nothing’s funny. Regardless of the humor element, your brain will think you’re laughing and will release health producing chemicals into your bloodstream.
Read the New Testament slow enough to think about it. Pray. When you sin, confess your sins to God (and, if needed, to a trusted friend).
Don’t hold grudges. Forgive. This includes yourself.
Be a friend. Spend time with an old friend or make a new friend.
Learn something new. With the internet, there are hundreds of classes available for you to take in your home. Classes can also be found at local churches, the YMCA, colleges, and community centers.
Get 6 to 8 hours of sleep a night.
Don’t spend all of your time working. Include fun in your life…clean and healthy fun.
Give to others. Give in order to help someone or to help a worthwhile organization with their mission of helping others. If you don’t have money to give, re-gift something that you don’t use, or donate your time.
Show others the same grace and kindness that you want God to give to you. And Show this same grace and kindness to yourself.

God has given you life…go and live it!

Pamela Koefoed

Livestream Class with Pamela Koefoed and friends, 02-01-2018. How to Know when God is Speaking to You. How to recognize His Voice.

 

[image error]What do Niels Bohr, Albert Einstein, Elias Howe and Otto Loewi have in common? Each of these men received detailed instructions while sleeping that led to remarkable scientific discoveries and a modern day invention.

Niels Bohr’s dream led him to the structure of the Atom. The details in Albert Einstein’s dream led to the famous E=mc2, the Theory of Relativity. Elias Howe’s dream helped him invent the sewing needle used in lock-stitch sewing machines. His needle was the first of its kind.

And Otto Loewi’s may be one of the most amazing of all…He had the same dream on two separate nights. Because he was unable to recall the instructions that were shown him in the dream on the first night, the exact dream occurred a second night. This time he arose from sleep abruptly and headed straight to the lab where he carried out the details in the dream. What did his experiment reveal? That nerve pulses aren’t the result of electrical signals, but they’re the response to chemicals.

These intelligent men obtained information leading to remarkable discoveries from their dreams. Where did their dreams come from?

I’ve been talking about God speaking to mankind on Facebook live-streaming. I’m convinced that He speaks to us more often than we realize, and am equally convinced that there are actions that we can take that help us listen and hear. During the live-streaming, I’ve been sharing what I’ve learned from Scripture, testimonials and personal experience about this. I’ve also shared some tips and tools that I believe will help others grow in their relationship with the Lord and in this whole area of hearing God speak.

Teaching over Facebook has been a richly rewarding experience because of all of you who have joined in for the classes. Those videos are now saved to my timeline and can be viewed at any time.

What about dreams…where did the dreamers in this article get their dreams? Dreaming is just one way that we receive information from the Lord. So, I believe that the logical answer here is that God gave them the information while they slept.

In the live-streaming, I teach on God speaking to us in our sleep. In tomorrow’s class, I’ll teach you how to interpret your dreams. But there’s a second source of dreaming that I will discuss in tomorrow’s class…your amazing brain and how, while sleeping, it can flush to the surface repressed, hidden or ignored feelings that may be weighing you down, disturbing your peace, or frustrating you in some way.

God speaks to mankind! This is exciting, uplifting, fascinating and such a relief. He loves us, after all. And He’s our Father. Good dads speak to their children.

But when does He speak to us? And how can we be sure that a dream or any type of non auditory language is from the Lord? What about dreams with metaphors? Are these from Him?

I invite you to my Facebook page where you’ll find all of the video lessons on this exciting topic.

The next live-stream event is Thursday, February 1st. I’ll teach on Dream Language. Please join me live on Facebook at 12 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. During  the one hour event, the first half is teaching and the second half is open for comments and questions.

If you miss the live-stream, you can still watch them. After live-streaming, they’re posted to my timeline. A side note regarding the video quality. The first couple of weeks while we were learning how to use the Facebook live video feature with our new computer, the video reception was a little choppy, but the tech issue for this has been gloriously resolved.

I’ve loved live-streaming with the Facebook community. To date, there have been more than 1,000 views of the videos. There’s an advantage for those who can watch during the live recording; they have the option of interacting with me and others, commenting or asking questions while we’re on live.

Livestreaming is a great way to connect with, encourage, inspire and share with so many wonderful people from throughout the world. I’ve found sharing with you to be a great way to spend an hour and I look forward to the next opportunity to do so.

I hope that you will join me this Thursday for the next livestream event, Dream Language. Found on my Facebook page.

You are dearly loved,

Pamela Koefoed

7 Keys to Help you Hear Your Heavenly Father… He Wants to Speak to You

Today, I was on Facebook live, teaching on the exciting topic of our Heavenly Father speaking to us. I had a great time with a wonderful group of people.

I first “heard” the Lord when I was eight years old. At that time, because He warned me, I escaped extreme danger. And because He warned me, I grew up with an unshakable faith in Him. This doesn’t mean that I never asked the hard questions. Such as, “Lord, where were you when…happened? Lord, why did that happen to me? Lord, I know you didn’t cause that person’s accident, but did you allow it?”

You know, asking these types of questions is okay. I believe that it’s healthy to ask them and to sincerely seek the Lord for resolution, which might not include an answer to your inquiry but provides you with a helpful revelation.

For instance, someone I greatly love and cherish became ill and died. After his death, I had a big question in my heart. Why did he dramatically improve when we prayed for him, but days later he spiraled downward?

It just didn’t make sense to me. Really, it didn’t. I accepted his passing, but in the back of my mind I wondered, “Why? Why? Why?” One night in a dream, clear out of the blue, revelation came to me and my big question was answered.

I understood that there was far more going on with my dear one than I had previously known. I learned this in a dream in answer to my “Why” question.

Through dreams is one example of how the Lord speaks to us. (By the way, I’ll be teaching on dream language in the next class, Thursday, January 18th at Noon, PST. You might want to write down the date and time. Then on 01/18 at noon go to my FB page and look for the live video at the top of my page.)

Over the years, I’ve learned that our Heavenly Father speaks to us more often than we’re aware. I know this because many times I’ve heard mature believers say that God doesn’t speak to them. But I’ve observed times in their lives when He actually had told them something. The issue here is not, “Why doesn’t God speak to me?” But it’s more like, “Why aren’t you recognizing when He speaks?”

The answer may be that even mature believers haven’t yet learned how to recognize His “voice.”

The Bible states an emphatic truth–It’s an absolute certainty that the Lord speaks to every child of God by His Holy Spirit. But not everyone knows how He speaks to them or how to discern between their thoughts and His words.

Just as with many facets of the Christian walk, “hearing” God is something that can be taught and learned. Through the free Facebook live classes, I’m teaching my brothers and sisters in Christ how to “hear” His voice. It delights my heart to pass on to others what He’s taught me.

Over time, as we continue in the Lord, we learn to recognize when He’s speaking to us. We learn that certain actions can hinder our relationship with Him and certain actions can assist us in intentionally drawing closer to Him. And we learn that we can actually develop the ability to “hear” and receive from Him.

There are certain actions that I’ve found to be particularly meaningful in my walk with God. I’m sharing seven of them here with you. Put them to use to contribute to a vibrant, flourishing relationship with your Heavenly Father. Of course, this includes “hearing” Him speak to you.

1. Seek the Lord God to personally and deeply know Him.

2. Read any of the four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. Prior to reading scripture, ask the Lord to reveal to you your Heavenly Father’s heart and His nature through Jesus’ life and teachings.

3. Embrace the unconditional love that God has for you. Read scripture and think about what’s revealed in it about His love. Suggestions are: Romans 8, First Corinthians 13 and all of 1 John (1 John is only a few pages long.)

4. Value God’s words, the Bible, when He speaks directly and personally to you, and when someone gives you a word from Him. Write them down in a journal or in a notebook. (By the way, all such words should never produce fear or shame, and they should never lead you into sin or bonadage. Words that are supposedly from Him that do so are not from your Heavenly Father.)

5. Sincerely desire a walk that includes talking to Him and hearing Him speak to you.

6. Make a space and a place in your life to be with your Heavenly Father. This could include: reading scripture and talking to Him about it. Worshiping Him. Asking Him to come especially close to you and expecting Him to do so. Asking Him a question and waiting for His answer. The answer might come in a dream. He might speak directly to you while you wait. He might speak to you through someone else. He might speak to you through an event, or through some other way. The key here is to make a space and place in your life to be with Him and Remember to add some quiet pauses when you listen with your heart for His voice.

7. Know the ways that He communicates. If you’re expecting a voice in your physical ear, you will be waiting a long time. Most often, He communicates deep within your heart and His voice is “still,” not noisy or loud.

WHEN IS THE NEXT LIVE CLASS?

Next Thursday, January 18, 2018 from noon – 1:00 PST on my Facebook page.

Next week’s class, Sleep Talking or When our Father Speaks to us while we Sleep will be instructional, helpful and super fun. It’s not all about dreams, but I will talk about dream language and I’ll share about some famous people who received instruction and ideas from the Lord while they slept. Surprisingly, the information that God gave them didn’t always come in dreams. Next Thursday at noon, tune into my Facebook page to learn more.

One more thing…the video from today’s lesson will remain on my Facebook page. Feel free to enjoy it, and share it to those you feel will be interested. Let me know if you’d like me to teach on a certain aspect of the prophetic and I’ll try to include it in one of the classes.

God bless you,

Pamela

How to Make a Friend and Why You Need to

[image error]

Photo: public domain, wikipedia.org

There’s more to good health and longevity than good genes, as a nearly 80 year old Harvard study has shown. Good genes are nice, joy is better.

As it turns out, it really isn’t good for mankind to be alone, Genesis 2:18. Friendship reduces the risk of chronic disease, mental illness and age-related mental decline, and having a friend adds more meaning and joy to life.

It’s been a long time since you were in grade school where friendships were made at the monkey bars or on the ball field. Since we’re no longer playing with classmates on the playground, having good relationships with people takes more effort than it once did.

Need some ideas on how to have awesome friendships?  Look at the practical “how to” lists below. They’ll show you how you might be sabotaging relationships and what you can do today to begin or build meaningful, fun and interesting friendships.

How to NOT have a friend:

Don’t reach out to someone you’d like to get to know better.
Don’t invite someone you enjoy being with to spend some time with you.
Don’t put any effort into being a friend.
Let the other person make all the phone calls to you.
Let the other person come up with all the things for you two to do together. (For example, never invite your friend to come to your house.)
Dominate the conversation with your friend.
Be rude to your friend…all the time.
Never ask your friend about his/her day, family, work or ministry, hobbies, faith.
Don’t even try to meet new people.
Don’t go places where you’re likely to meet people with good values.
Stay in your home…all the time.
Don’t initiate conversations with people you don’t know.
Don’t forgive offenses.
Don’t say yes to your friend’s invitation to do something together.
Agree with self doubt and avoid doing new things.

How to have amazing friendships with people who are awesome like you!

Embrace the follow three truths:

Friendships are all around you waiting for you to discover them.
Every person you see has been engineered for relationships with people.
You are a people and you qualify as someone with great friend potential.

And put these to practice:

Initiate conversation with people around a common interest. (Do you both like dogs? Cats? Do you enjoy movies, art, walking, good food, taking classes…? Are you in the same career field or are you both ministers? Do you play music or enjoy sports? Do you both have preschoolers? Are your spouses in similar fields? Do you both love God? Relationships begin around a common interest. Common interests are instant conversation starters.)
Put effort into existing friendships.
Invite your friend to do something that you think he/she will enjoy.
Invite someone you’d like to know better to lunch or out for coffee / tea.
Put your friend in the limelight for a while by asking open ended questions that lead to understanding: heart, mission, or life. A great getting to know you question is, why do you do what you do?
Celebrate your friend’s birthday, milestones and successes.
Comfort your friend’s broken heart.
Be your friend’s cheerleader by being a source of sincere and truthful encouragement.
Be transparent about your life and dreams.
Pray together.
Forgive offenses.
Listen to understand.
Be intentional in developing new or strengthening existing friendships.

Here’s some shocking news: Friendships rarely happen like they do in the movies. You bump into someone on the street. She drops her books. You pick them up. And magic happens. That’s called fantasy. Instant friendships happen all the time in movies, because there’s not a lot of time to develop initial engagement into a deeply meaningful relationship.

Life without a good friend is a life half lived. Friends add so much to who we are, and they contribute to a true sense of joyful fulfillment. As proven by the Harvard study, the joy of friendship is good for our health and longevity. Bottom line…your efforts to have a friend and to be a friend are priceless.

Look at the list of friendship sabotagers and you’ll see that when you make efforts to be a friend, you are one wheel on a two-wheel bike. The other wheel is your friend being a friend to you. Two wheelers cannot go anywhere without both wheels.

One more thing, most of us can improve in the friendship department. If friends have been passive in your life, then you’re very likely one of multitudes of people who wonder whether their friends care about them. Feel free to share this article with friends and let them know that you value your relationship with them. But if you’ve been the absent wheel, then the bike isn’t going anywhere, and the decision to get it going is yours to make.

Here’s to friendship and Happy New Year!

©Pamela Koefoed 2018

Jesus Followers, Not Freaks!

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Being a follower of Jesus, your mindset is radically different than that of the world’s.

Instead of hating your enemies, you love them by praying for them.

Instead of living a life motivated by fear and greed, your life is energized by courage and a desire to help others.

Your words are radically different than that of the world’s. You speak hope when others expect defeat. Your words inspire, console and heal. Your conversation is beyond reproach. Your words are salted with grace.

Will you always live as I’ve stated here? If you do, please write to me because you will be the first perfect Jesus follower who has ever lived. The radical difference, however, is that when you mess up you go to Him in humble attitude and repentant heart.

When you wrong others, you seek their forgiveness. When your heart is hurt, you freely forgive. When you’ve done a wrong and can offer restitution, you do so.

You don’t knowingly cause others to stumble. You reflect to those who have fallen the grace and mercy that Jesus has given you.

Followers of Jesus, your life in Christ impacts more people than you realize. Don’t quit. Please. Keep looking to Jesus to become more and more like Him. The world needs you. We all need you.

Keep living in Him,

Pamela

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Dear Hurting One

[image error]Dear Hurting One, God hears and sees what you’re going through.

Brilliant sunshine or dark storm, the Lord is near. Springtime or winter, He’s within reach of your tiniest whisper or loudest prayer.

His love is deep and devoted. His kindness is beyond measure. His grace knows no end. His mercy is greater than the Grand Canyon’s steep walls that loom thousands of feet above those who hike its valley floors.

Can you see God’s mercy surrounding you like high canyon walls?

Please don’t give up. Uncertainty is often followed by clarity, sickness by health, depression by contentment, loss by new discoveries.

Don’t let despair enter your heart. It wants to swallow you like a tiny stone swallowed up by ocean waves. Call upon the Lord and praise Him for the good things in your life. Surrender what you cannot control to Him in prayer and receive a peace that defies logic (Phil. 4:7).

Dear Hurting One, God’s love for you is many times greater than the love of a mother for her precious child.

Can you think about a small child sitting in her loving mother’s lap? Such a child rests her head against her mother and is without fear or dread. Rest in the love of the Lord just like that child.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea–Psalm 46:1-2