How to Be Fulfilled

I woke up at 3:33am this morning and found myself pouring into the research of our basic human needs. And then this happened…

(Heads up: It starts with research language
but then it turns into a prayer strategy.)

What We Need and How to Become Fulfilled

Psychologist Abraham Maslow 
(1943, 1954): 

Study of Human Motivation:

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is a study by Abraham Maslow to understand what motivates people. It is believed that people possess a set of motivation systems unrelated to rewards or unconscious desires.

“A person is always becoming and never static”

Human Motivation is defined as people who seek fulfilment, change through personal growth, discovery that is present in life. Humans are always finding a meaning to life that is important to them.

Human Potential: 

Maslow formulated a more positive account of human behaviour, focusing on what goes right.

Self Actualization:

Refers to the person’s desire for self fulfilment, namely, to the tendency for him to become actualized in what his potential is. It is realizing one’s potential, self-fulfilment, personal growth and peak experiences.

It is a continual process of becoming, rather than a perfect state one reaches of a “happy ever after” 
(Hoffman, 1988)

Although everybody is able to be self actualized, most of us will not. 
Only 2% of the people usually reach this state.
“It’s a matter of degree. There are no perfect beings” -Maslow, 1970a. P176

Peak Experiences:

Self Actualization is measured with peak experiences.

A person experiences the world for what it is, with feelings of euphoria, joy and wonder.

These vary greatly from person to person.

How to become “Self Actualized”: (Take a look at this… This is much of what God invites us to too!)

1. Experience life like a child (full absorption and concentration on things you do) (Matthew 18:3; Mark 10:14; Luke 18:17)

2. Try new things instead of safe paths (Jesus makes all things new and He is our safe place)

3. Listen to your own feelings, in evaluating experiences (and not the voice of tradition and authority) (I would adjust this to: listen to your emotions, but take them to discern with Holy Spirit and do not merely follow tradition and rules.)

4. Be honest and avoid any façade (The truth sets us free. If you’re not free, it’s not the truth.)

5. Be prepared to be unpopular if views do not coincide with majority (Think of Noah.)

6. Responsibility and hard work (Colossians 3:23)

7. Identify your defenses and have courage to give them up (Prov 3:5,6)

So, What? What is the Next Step?

How do we apply this information and take it to God?

Consider this: 

Jesus, said to ask Him for whatever we need and it will be given…

John 14:13-14

Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

Therefore, we are invited to pray as Jesus taught. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. (Read and reflect on Matthew 6:9-34)

More Promises… 


Matthew 7:7-11 

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

John 16:23-24 

In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Psalm 121:2

My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.

Luke 11:13

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”

James 1:5

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Philippians 4:6-7

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

1 John 5:14-15

This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.

I Invite you to Pray:

Lord, thank you for these promises. Your Word says: (pick 1 or more to pray back to Him).

Lord, my heart and life is lacking… (name the need). I ask you to supply what I need.

(Or you could ask the Lord to help you name what it is that you need – to go deeper.)

In Jesus name, I rebuke the enemy from getting in the way. (Resist the enemy and he will flee.)

Father God, I ask you to release your angels to gather in what I need. (Angels are assigned to minister to us.)

Thank you! Amen.

I bless you with more of Holy Spirit 
to walk forward in ALL God has for you!
💕🙏🙌🥰 

Provided by: Merri Ellen Giesbrecht / www.merriellen.com

Need help walking this out? Contact one of us: www.coachinginfreedom.com

Source:

Need Some Encouragement?

BACK by Special Request

We are inviting women
who need encouragement to join us for our next 

FREE UPCOMING FUN EVENT
in March 2023! 

*Live participation not required

Women, reserve your spot!
Invite your friends!

We had such great fun last time…

Here’s a photo of some of the leaders who joined me as we shared words of encouragement for the women who joined us!

Simply join us below…

See what’s coming March 2023!

Co-Creating with Jesus and Diane Sheffield

This past week in the Freedom Coaching Circle, we enjoyed co-creating with Jesus!

Diane Sheffield, artist and author and beloved sister in our circle from Georgia, USA, led us through a creative reflection through Scripture.

This was fun as some of us women hadn’t done anything with paints or pencil crayons in ages! And some of us women are regular artists. We came from all sides of the spectrum. We simply all came ‘to the table’ and were ready for some fun.

She invited us to bring paints, pastels, or pencil crayons and listen to Holy Spirit as she read to us a few different versions of Isaiah 49:16a:

(VOICE) Look here. I have made you a part of Me, written you on the palms of My hands.

(AMP).“Indeed, I have inscribed [a picture of] you on the palms of My hands;

(TLB) See, I have tattooed your name upon my palm

(AMPC) Behold, I have indelibly imprinted (tattooed a picture of) you on the palm of each of My hands;

(ERV) I drew a picture of you on my hand. You are always before my eyes.

As she read this passage over us, we were invited to draw or pain what pictures the Lord gave us!

The Lord highlighted different words or phrases for each of us. We will never forget it!

I chose to use pencil crayon and came up with this…

I’m just realizing, as I draft up this post, what God is sneakily doing…

Back in 2019, in prayer one day I felt the Lord prompt me to multiply what He was leading me through. I jumped on zoom that year and it began to spread beyond what I could ask, think, or imagine.

This past week, we got to hear what Diane has been doing with what she’s learned in the Freedom Coaching Circle and how she’s taken it to her community! I felt prompted to have her lead us! As a result, this week we watched the women become ignited in so many pictures and ideas of how to share this with others too.

Diane, thank you for leading us…

Next week, we enjoy another special artist leading us from California!

If you’re a woman who is hungry to hear God and explore the various ways He speaks to us, join us at:

www.freedomcoachingcircle.ca 

Having a Healed Heart

Photo by Hassan OUAJBIR on Pexels.com

Having a healed heart is crucial for walking in God’s kingdom, and to be His ambassador of spreading His light, love and salvation! 

If you say you love Jesus but your heart is not healed, you will not reflect Him. Instead, you will reflect yourself and your circumstances.

Here are some helpful keys for you and me:

1. Be a part of a healthy community that wants to build you up and not tear you down. Healthy family and friends help in the road to recovery. They will give you the honest feedback you need to hear. (This is one reason for the FCC community!)

2. Inner healing – having someone guide you into an encounter with the Lord to help you stomp out a lie for the truth, heal heart wounds, etc. 

3. Take note of when you feel offended. Offense allows you to identify where you are. Ask Jesus: “What’s coming up in me?”: insecurity, pride, etc.? If so, then turn from it and turn to Jesus for what it is your heart is missing. A lifestyle of Holy Spirit connection and correction is such a gift to walk in freedom. Walk by Spirit, not by flesh!

For helpful fun on the journey together, visit: www.coachinginfreedom.com for private or group sessions to walk forward!

Encounter His Freedom

In May 2022, four of us women began prayer walking a piece of property. The Lord showed us pictures of what He had in store for a women’s event there. We prayed into it.

We saw His heart go into the depths of the women’s hearts like a quick arrow going straight in. We saw him put their hearts on operating tables, some barely alive with scar tissue and blockages. We saw Him hold each heart, flushing each with His breath of life. We sensed He wanted hearts to burn again with His fire – burning hearts fully alive.

We saw a cylinder from heaven going deep into a foundation for growth to happen. We sensed deep fellowship and connection. We saw Him fertilize seeds – growing them to become who they really are to be.

We even saw nuts cracking open and shells coming off. The Lord will speak and revive. He will strip it all away, breaking the ground, bringing them to supernatural acceleration over 3 days. The women’s hearts would be open, no more self-protection, no comparison. Fresh identity in His love for them. They would shed expectations of other women, so there could be a clarity of identity. New creation, and a different way of being creative.

We saw women with fire on their heads – newly ignited, hearts healed – and taking that fire home to their circles and it would multiply!

Five months later, in Sept/Oct 2022, we hosted women from across North America. Many traveled through all kinds of hoops to join us. What the Lord did among us women blew us all away.

One woman shared after she returned home:

Good morning to all my sisters. Just want to say thank you to all of you for being so welcoming this past weekend.

Definitely has been a shift in the atmosphere in our home already. God has been preparing us both (hubby and me) for this new season. WOW!! When we find that safe place in Jesus and are willing to surrender in a deeper way breaking the alabaster box is not really that difficult. So again thank you for all your support, encouragement, affirmations and love. I am eternally grateful. 

Thank you for…. Encouraging us to protect the spoils of battle that we gained at the retreat and to be aware of the devices of the enemy. I have had a number of opportunities to share with friends the freedom breakthrough I experienced.

Also I have been encouraged to ask Jesus what he wants to speak to me when I wake during the night. No more empty tossing, turning and fretting.  

One more thing. I woke this morning to a glimpse of women liberated, rejoicing in Jesus, almost like flames of fire…. I can’t even express in words what I saw and heard. It was so beautiful. . Holy Spirit is moving and reviving…. Dry bones are awakening and raising up a mighty army. PTL

What she describes at the end is the exact vision my friends and I saw in May which was 5 months before the event!

If you missed the event, stay tuned for more!
Or simply jump on in to our our community that meets regularly!

What Happened in Belize?

Here’s a glimpse of all that happened in Belize August 2022 when I was invited to speak at a camp for kids and teens. I sent the following out to my email list…

What God did in a few days blew us all away!

Okay, so…
In a previous email, I wrote: 

 “I’m away and heading to Belize in a week (Aug 8 -17) to minister to children and teens. Invite your prayers.  There’s lots of abuse and trauma. Shyness is common as trust is tender. Pray for Holy Spirit anointing through us. I’m full of anticipation for what God will do!”


Well… God absolutely BLEW us away.

Ephesians 3:20 was definitely the theme of each day:

“With God’s power working in us, he can do much, much more than anything we can ask or think of.” (ERV)
What happened each day?

Belize Camp Day 1 of Hearing God in Living Color – August 10 kicked off with some training of leaders in the morning which resulted in breakthrough for many of them! We led them through the basics we were preparing them to take kids through. Then, in the afternoon, together we led children age 7-11 in hearing God through art, journaling, and dance. It was an incredible first day.

Belize Camp Day 2 – August 11 was increasingly powerful. Our morning worship time with the leadership was under an open heaven. Constance, one of our FCC teammates, kicked it off with a reflection and music. The young leaders opened up and received more of God and encountered him. We got to pray over several leaders and lead them to experience more breakthrough and freedom.

Later, I had the joy to individually pray with each Director – Joey and Heather and lead them through encounters with Jesus. They received profound pictures and truths from the Lord.

The young leaders came together and presented the major truth lesson of the day lesson using coconuts – something the kids now will never forget! It was awesome!

Later, after camp, 2 men who lead a recovery ministry in the states arrived and we all shared stories over supper. Later, Constance and I enjoyed a late night swing in the hammocks by moonlight 🤩 I am amazed at all God was doing in connecting the dots. So much was flowing and syncing!! 💕🙏🙌

Day 3 of the Belize Camp, August 12 – Hearing God in Living Color was for age 11-13 and it was another powerful day starting with miracles of deep healing already over breakfast! 😳🤩💕🙏🙌 This was followed by another powerful worship time and more breakthroughs in the leadership session! When the kids joined us, they continued to encounter God through various stations of art, dance, journaling, and other fun listening activities.  Each day got better and better!
 
On Day 4 of the Belize Camp, August 13, we started the day with a treasure hunt with Jesus. It was incredible. We asked the Lord in only 3 minutes for clues to find his treasure – his people who needed prayer and encouragement. (See video enclosed.) In the afternoon, I had the joy of leading several of the teen leaders through one on one sessions to encounter Jesus. There continued to be breakthrough and tears of joy hearing God speak. In the evening, I led the entire crew of female leaders through a teaching and activation around Luke 10. More tears and breakthrough. The guys enjoyed a hike and campout which we hear was amazing! 

On August 14, I continued with the joy of leading several of the teen leaders through one-on-one sessions to encounter Jesus. In the evening, we led the group of teen leaders and adults through a dinner feast and communion with fresh bread and homemade sangria. We led them through the great exchange at the cross surrendering all our sins, sorrows, and weaknesses as Isaiah 53 reveals and received in prayer from the Lord, His healing and forgiveness. We invited people to ask for prayer and we prayed for many of all ages. Many encountered Jesus that evening both in communion and in prayer time afterwards. 

On August 15, on our last day in Belize together, we played and rested with a boat ride to an island to enjoy some swimming and snorkelling in the beauty of Belize. I even captured some video of a stingray swimming past us. 😳

A group of us asked God for clues and He led us to people who needed encouragement and prayer. We were amazed!
Our lovely Freedom Coaching Circle teammate, Diane Sheffield (pictured 2nd from left beside me) got the original idea from the Lord in prayer one day – to do this camp in partnership with Joey and Heather Barrs of A Better Belize. Diane followed through on what He gave her, and connected us to see God move in incredible ways! Constance Galubenski (pictured 2nd from far right), also an FCC teammate, did each of our colourful t-shirts tie-died by hand. Just seeing the colours each day brought smiles to our faces.

It was incredible to do life together!

Thank you to all who prayed for us. 

We’ve already been invited to come back for a follow up camp next year!


Join the adventure of women hearing God together…

The Healing Power of Saying “Thank you”

I found myself emotional on the 4 hour drive home. I was finished serving 1 week at a camp which included giving 10 messages on moving from mountains to miracles and moving from our problems to God’s promises. (Did you know there are over 8,000 promises recorded from God in the Bible?) However, I was confused as to why I was so emotional.

I asked God what was going on in my heart. I’m still processing and I think I have a few words to describe some of what happened to me. The week was full of campers asking the best questions and cabins inviting me to sit at their tables at meal times so they could ask me questions. During chapels and campfires the kids wonderfully put up their hands and asked me simple yet often profound questions so they could learn. Their hungry hearts were beautiful and so refreshing.

I had both staff and kids approach me throughout the week privately to ask me some deep heart questions. I found myself leading several to personally encounter Jesus and allow His Holy Spirit to speak to the depths of their hearts. They shared with me what they heard or saw with the eyes of their hearts.

Throughout the week, I explained how simply saying ‘thank you’ to God opens the gates to His presence. I led them through this simple exercise several times. Here’s one passage in the Bible that I referred to:

Know this: God is God.

He made us; we didn’t make him.

We’re his people, his well-tended sheep.

Enter with the password: “Thank you!”

Make yourselves at home, talking praise.

Thank him. Worship him.

For God is sheer beauty,

all-generous in love,

loyal always and ever.

(Psalm 100:3-5 The Message version)

The kids often shared some of what they sensed and saw from the Lord when they would speak to Him and ask Him questions. It was absolutely beautiful.

One thing I had not expected was how many times kids and staff, guys and girls said, ‘thank you’ to me EACH DAY. Over and over. And over and over again.

Driving home, I realized that the many words of thanks were still weaving their way into my heart and healing a previous chapter in my life of being so often told how I was not doing enough, which led to burnout and I had to learn how to walk and talk again. Clearly, the Lord had more for me through the words of both young and old – both guys and girls.

*This note pictured below from a young lady on staff was the icing on the cake.

Saying ‘thank you’ to God not only heals your heart and brain (even science confirms this), but I am convinced more than ever that saying ‘thank you’ to your PEOPLE will heal THEIR hearts and minds.

Take a moment today and ask God:

“Who in my life are you inviting me to thank today?”

Ask Him how to do that? – Perhaps with a note, a hug, quality time, a gift, an act of service?

I’m quite sure that turning AWAY FROM criticism and TO SAYING ‘THANK YOU’ could change our families, our communities, our nations.

1 Year ago, this women’s event started a movement of hearing God.

Just over 1 year ago…

I sensed the Lord inviting me to take the gold nuggets of what has been setting my clients free and put them into a group encounter in order to serve the waiting list of women waiting to meet with me.

Well, the road ever since continues to amaze me…

A movement was birthed.

The stories from women continue.

Yesterday, Helen shared a beautiful win in our Freedom Circle…

Her journey continues to bless us women!

Here again (from the archives) Helen shares below how her journey with us began…

Great news for you!

You can now download all the videos and pdfs from the event that kickstarted her in healing from depression.

(The recordings are actually of the very first event before she joined us but it contains the very same coaching elements that you will LOVE.)

Helen’s story gets better within our Group Coaching lovingly called the Freedom Circle. 🙂 We have so enjoyed seeing Helen come alive!

Helen’s journey started with the 5 Day Kickstart: 
Encounter Jesus in the Noise
Download this resource today 

if you missed the LIVE event and start your Kickstart journey!


This resource will get you ready for what the Lord is going to do next in this season. 

Absolutely, you will WANT to share this with your friends.

The fire ignited from this very first event that we continue to receive testimonies ongoing of how it changed everything!

Enjoy all videos and pdfs below…

Again, this experience above will launch you forward! 

I’m simply honoured to ignite women of faith to be truly walking in freedom knowing who they are in Jesus apart from any religious box or tradition. The Spirit of God is looking for women open to more of Him!

Blessings on your journey forward!

Merri Ellen Giesbrecht
Certified Life Coach & Spiritual Director

Edna, Tribute to a Warrior.

(Written to honour my 90 year old spiritual mentor, May 2022.)

The first time I met Edna, she came to my office door when I was first hired on as a pastor. I don’t believe she even said, “Hi, my name is Edna.” She came to the door and took up 1/10 of the door frame and out of her mouth came, “If you need someone to pray for you – I’m your woman.” 

It was absolute seriousness. She meant business. She was ready to go to war alongside me. She knew better than me the fire I would later walk through as a leader.

So began years of prayer partnering together. She would listen to the Lord and at times share specific words and verses. I remember her giving me Psalm 27. “Wait patiently on the Lord.” It was timely. She had no idea the difficult decision I was trying to make when she sent it.

Edna helped me understand the spiritual realm. 

She had served in Indonesia and Philippines where things were in your face including head hunting. Her stories were incredible. She was 43 years older than me and full of wisdom. 

It was from her that I think I really learned how to effectively pray. She helped put language to the things I was experiencing and felt in the spiritual realm. We would prayer walk laps around the church building – every Monday morning. The front office staff would cheer us on and remark to us with wonder if the walls were going to fall down.

There was one season I remember deeply. The church was going through a difficult time. We sensed the Lord invite us to pray for repentance on behalf of the church; it’s people and it’s history.

I remember in one month; 13 people came forward to me personally, not knowing what we were doing. They confessed sin or shared deep wounds. I would pray with them and refer many of them to a local counsellor. It got such that the counsellor emailed me. “Who are you and what are you doing over there?”

We prayer walked for families. We prayed for the Kids Soccer Camps we ran and we saw incredible things happen.

She was my spiritual mom for years. 

One day she asked me, “Do you know how to fight a bull?” Again, she said this in absolute seriousness. Her dad had a bull in the field growing up. She said to me: “When you come face to face with a bull, you take that ring in its nose and you twist.” At first, I thought she had lost her mind. But, I felt like the Lord said to me, “Take note of this.” I realize I have used that lesson so often, not in the natural but in the supernatural.

Today, I minister to missionaries, pastors, and various ministry leaders all over the world. They are often on the verge of burnout or in deep spiritual oppression. I enjoy walking with them to lead them through it and take the enemy to task.

Yes, Edna was probably the first person who effectively taught me about the spiritual realm. We are seated in the heavenlies. In Christ, we have authority over the evil one. But, we give away our authority when we live in fear.

Because of her, I have multiplied what she has taught me. Her impact is far reaching today as I coach people on the mission field, often in countries like she was once in.

Our friendship was such that we would often joke; if we had grown up together, we would have gotten in so much trouble.

Years ago, she was told she was dying already back then. The news hit me hard. I went to a local retreat centre and spent a day weeping. She asked me to do her funeral back then. She was always a huge supporter of me and my leadership.

We met and prayed and looked forward to riding a motorcycle together in the airstrip of heaven. In her earlier years she had often hopped on a motorcycle after her kids were in bed, and road it up and down the local airstrip for stress relief and prayer. She was my kind of woman. When I pastored, I rode a Honda Ruckus myself and found it great therapy.

Together, we prayed for Edna. Lo and behold, she was healed. The funeral plans were off. 

Edna and I enjoyed years of visiting together after that. I would go to her home and ask her what the Lord was telling her and hear her reflections on the Word or her stories. When I would phone her and she’d answer, I would greet her with: “Hello, my friend!” Her response was always so life giving.

Edna passed quietly in her sleep at 90 years of age. She was singing about heaven in the weeks leading up to it. She knew she was getting ready for heaven. I write this having recently experienced her celebration of life. She was a woman ahead of her time. Stories of her life were shared of hiding fugitives in a dangerous country, chasing away thieves, guarding women in the local prison, leading women through 12 step recovery programs, preaching sermons in a day before women really did, hosting the local police for meals in order to minister to them, and speaking at the Bible Camp that I have spoken at for years myself. This is only some of what she did and reminds me why we hit it off. 

I miss her deeply as I write this. I lost contact with her in the final years due to my own health crash in 2016-2017, then her Parkinson’s making it hard for long emotional visits and then Covid 19.

I hope we will be riding some kind of joy ride vehicle together up in heaven. I’m sure it’s going to be far beyond all of our dreams.

Edna has left a huge legacy and impact on my life and I can see how what I do in coaching ministry leaders is flavoured by her.

I pray that my life will impact at least 1/10 of what her life has on her family, friends, and those she cared for. 

Women Helping Kids to Hear God

Dear, mom, grandma, aunt, kids ministry leader, teacher, and all caregivers of kids!

Are you concerned for your kids today?

Do you have a heart to prepare them and impact them for God’s kingdom?

Our world is FULL of negative voices: 

…despair and depression,
panic and fear,
judgement and intimidation,
perversion and lust… 

THIS is the time for you and your kids to HEAR GOD’s voice instead!

Learn more about our event for women…