thecloserwalk.com

Avoid Pain at all Costs

If I do everything right, confess and repent, pray and believe, then life should work. I should be healthy, wealthy, and free from troubles. Right?

When life doesn’t work out the way we had hoped, what is our response? Do we lose faith? Do we blame God? Do we blame ourselves? Do we decide to take control? Do we simply pretend it’s all okay?

Or, do we experience God’s love in the midst of our disappointments, turmoil, and doubts? Is that even possible?

In this talk, we look at our God who doesn’t act like we tell Him to, but instead takes us on an adventure of love and discovery. We’ll identify the places we listen to the whispers and sometimes shouts of unbelief as we seek our own safety and security. We’ll understand that God’s love pursues us and beckons us into a life better than our small dreams.

Forgiveness

God’s word says, “Forgive.”  Some people even tell us, “Forgive and forget.”

What is forgiveness? How do we do it? How do we know we’ve forgiven when we still hurt or don’t want to be with the person who offended us?

Should we even attempt to forgive the unforgivable? The good inside each of us demands some sort of recompense for the evil committed.

But, unforgiveness ties us to the place of pain and condemns us to endless revisiting of the crime. We don’t need to remain tethered to the event to achieve justice.   

Breathe the fresh air of freedom from the past and move with joy into the future.

Grief & Beyond

I’ve experienced the loss of my husband of 16 years, the loss of my second husband to divorce—then 6 months later to a drug overdose and walked with friends through the death of their loved ones.

Losses come in many forms: death, divorce, unfulfilled dreams. Grief is individual, but there are some stages or patterns that are common to us all as we walk this shadowed path. Some trails lead to dead ends. Some lead to destruction. You grow or shrivel, find a fulfilling life or remain trapped in bitterness depending on the choices you make

This talk comforts, illustrates God’s tenderness, and inspires healing, growth and anticipation of a good future.

Healthy Body—Healthy Soul

I often treat my body as if it is only a means to my own pleasure. But 1 Cor. 6:18-19 says, “It is a living temple of the Holy Spirit…. Therefore honor God with your body.” 

An older lady who I deeply respected told me one day, “I’ve noticed, when I have my appetite under control, my spiritual life is richer also.”

Maintaining the motivation to actually measure our desires in light of God’s purposes should be easy if we truly love God. Most of us know from experience that it isn’t easy. Some of us have full-blown addictions. Some of us can deceive ourselves into believing the things we want are harmless or the things we neglect are unimportant.

This presentation inspires us to respond to God’s love for us, rely upon His help, and desire His best.

Overcoming Worry, Fear, and “What If”s

We’ve all heard those cute little sayings, “ Give your worries to God and go to sleep. He’s going to be up all night anyway.” Or …

But, how do you actually do it? Do you ‘overcome’ or ‘surrender’?

Do you trust God to rescue you or trust Him to walk with you?

Imagine what God intended when He created you. Explore the possibilities of abundant blessings. Understand the bigger meaning of, “Jesus paid it all.” Live with confidence.

You can bravely face your life and fears and at the same time feel deep calm, confidence, and peace.  Become a woman of courage and a woman at rest.

Prayer—our lifeline to God

Scripture tells us God longs to be known. We long to know Him. Does prayer satisfies these longings?

Through prayer, God meets our deepest needs. He gives us comfort, healing, peace, direction, purpose, motivation, and joy---filling us in ways uniquely tailored for us.

Sheila uses scripture as well as personal stories from her own life and people she has known to show practical ways to experience the presence of God and deepen your relationship with Him.

Rescued and Loved

Who says your knight-in-shining-armor won’t come or that there isn’t a ‘happily-ever-after’? Every great story has a rescue. Good overcomes evil.

Our story—the story of our life—is no different. Each of us is invited into a story that is bigger than ourselves. Our story has all the drama of triumph, defeat and second chances.

This talk will open your eyes to an unfolding epic that is your life. It will uplift your spirit with a renewed sense of meaning and purpose.

Growing Through Changes You Didn’t Ask For

Most of us have had times in our lives when we thought we were headed in one direction and God changed our plans. Discover the passion and inspiration of new possibilities as you learn to look at challenges through new eyes.

This inspiring talk works well for anyone stuck in a place they didn’t choose or someone being called to something different. It inspires you to view life with an attitude of discovery and an awareness that God may be instilling within you a fresh passion.

This talk was given as the first talk for the Texas Financial Women’s convention. Every other speaker for the three day event made reference to this talk.