Forward Thinking

Tell YOUR Story and Get a Free Coaching Session

I am so excited about my new online course for beginning faith-based authors who want to share their stories and inspire others!

Completing the course represents an important…

Comments (0) | Published On: Oct 23, 2019

It Takes This to Reach Your Goal

a coach and inspirational speaker who encourages others to achieve their goals, I sometimes fail in setting aside time to reach my own benchmarks. Have you ever been there? Were you so busy…

Comments (0) | Published On: Sep 30, 2019

Telling My Secret

Comments (0) | Published On: May 28, 2019

That's Not the Problem, This Is

Can I be real with you? The truth is that sometimes I struggle to keep my thoughts pure and positive.

I wish I could…

Comments (0) | Published On: Apr 30, 2019

A Bossy Woman Finds Purpose

I want to share a story about a "bossy woman" named Melvina Hill. By the time we met, she had moved from California to Fort Wayne and was working as a community…

Comments (0) | Published On: Mar 30, 2019

Pictures and Life Lessons

Recently, I came across several photos of myself while scrolling one of my computer files. The changes intrigued me, although not because of the differences…

Comments (0) | Published On: Feb 27, 2019

Do you need to rise again?

I was baptized for the second time at age 22 in New Jersey. For my first baptism, I was about 9 years old with my mother at the church I had attended for most of my life…

Comments (0) | Published On: Mar 30, 2018

Don’t go back there!

“Don’t go back there!”

I’d scream those words at the TV screen during a pivotal scene in one of those scary movies of the eighties. My favorite back in the day was “Halloween,” starring Jamie…

Comments (0) | Published On: Oct 22, 2015

Faith: It’s Essential for the Journey

I huffed breathlessly up the steep hill, stopping midway. A mission team from my church had journeyed to Uganda. We were there to help build a home for teachers at an orphanage, so I expected some hard…

Comments (0) | Published On: Oct 15, 2015

Don’t Settle for the Blah, Pink Life

Question: Are you living a “pink” life?

Before you answer that, let me explain. Years ago, my life hovered in mediocrity. I said I had faith, but didn’t really live with courage. I thought I…

Comments (0) | Published On: Sep 30, 2015

Your Online Coach: Ask a Question!

Q: I am in a relationship with a man who I really care about. We both go to church and he seems to love the Lord as much as I do. The problem is I took a vow to stop sleeping with men until I'm married. I really believe this is God's will. But my boyfriend doesn't agree. He says we're not young kids and we're already past being virgins, so it doesn't really matter. And this is something God will forgive because basically nobody in the church is celibate anymore because God knows our urges. In some ways I know he's right. Most singles in church do sleep with their significant others and don't see anything wrong as long as it's only one mate at a time and they aren't sleeping around. As for me, I'm wondering if I'm holding onto this in vain. I think my boyfriend will leave soon if we don't take it to the next level, and I truly believe he is the one God sent to be my husband... What do you think?
- Anonymous

A: Thanks so much for sharing your dilemma! Your story is a scenario that many other Christian women face—and likely some men, too. Please know that your feelings and convictions should be respected by the man in your life, especially one who claims to love God. Do not feel pressured to forsake a promise that you made to yourself and to God simply to fulfill someone else’s desires. When we live to please others, we often wind up shortchanging ourselves. In this case, breaking your vow could very likely lead to feelings of regret and shame. Biblically speaking, the Word refers to “fornication” or “sexual immorality” on several occasions: 2 Cor. 12:21, Gal. 5:19, Eph. 5:3, and Col. 3:5. Celibacy can be a tough road for singles in today’s society—believe me, I know! The key is to put our faith and trust in God, believing that His plans are better than your own. As for your boyfriend being God-sent, why would God send someone to be a stumbling block, someone who contradicts His Word and His will for you? Think about that… I am not saying that you must leave your boyfriend. That is your decision to make. But I am encouraging you to stay true to your convictions and the promise you made to God. If your boyfriend leaves, or you decide to end the relationship, know that God has a different plan for you, one that is greater than any you could imagine. Believe and rest in that.
- Sharon