The Mercy Seat

Do you struggle with self doubt?

2011-10-29T20:26:00.000-07:00

Have you ever struggled with self doubt? Asking yourself, have I made the right decision, am I doing what I am designed for, did I make the right choice this time? Well that is exactly where I am at right now. Thoughts come flooding in and won't leave me alone. So I am forced to look at this topic and see what it is that has brought this on and find my lesson in it. Self doubt is nothing more than not having confidence in ourselves. Confidence in the choices you make or confidence in your ability.
My struggles recently came from a business decision I made. I kept questioning myself that maybe I made the wrong choice or it was the wrong timing. I asked myself if I was doing the right thing. Basically when you don't have anyone cheering you on and it's been quite around, you begin to second guess your moves. It's in the quite times though where you really have to find your faith and remember the big picture. Here's a quote from Matthew Barnett "Your dream might plateau for awhile in order for you to learn the inward lessons needed to rise again. I love this,this is exactly what we need when were in the mindset of self doubt. Everything that happens is according to Gods timing so we have to remember He is in control and it's Him making the next move and in the meantime we can look at what inward lessons He might be teaching us. For me, I needed a reminder that He is the one calling the shots, not the business women who thinks she is making it all happen. I need to take a step back and ask, what's next Father? And it was a good reminder that He is the CEO of my company and I must be very sensitive to where He wants me to go and why.
So next time self doubt starts to creep into your mind , ask yourself what inward lessons do I need to learn right now? Get your mind off yourself and focus on God and He will lead you into a confidence that will out shine everything. Not in yourself but in Him!

Tough situations

2011-10-04T17:15:00.000-07:00

Have you ever found yourself in situation & asked yourself, How did I get here?
That's exactly what I had witnessed on our last street night outreach. A group of us girls go out to Strip Clubs once a month to encourage, lift up & inspire the dancers to be all that can be in life. We just bring all the love we have, homemade cupcakes, goody bags with earrings, lip gloss & whatever else we can get into those bags & recently we brought roses for each girl. We show up & Love out Loud & it changes people.
Well this one night I met this young beautiful girl (for privacy reasons) we will call her Anna. Anna confided in me that she wasn't sure why she was dancing in this club. She really didn't want to be there & was already thinking her escape plan. She was desperate, lonely, broke & hurting. Sound familiar? I'm sure we all have our story of how we made choices based off our desperate circumstances. Maybe you didn't go into dancing in a strip club but you found yourself someplace you never thought you'd be. Anna poured her heart out to me telling me her plan. I listened intently to her wants & needs. She was a smart girl and she knew that stripping wasn't for her but yet she keeps going back. Little does she know we have some good news for her because a few of us girls pulled together so we can help Anna meet some of her goals a little quicker than she expected. So we are looking forward to going back to see her & share the goods news with her. We are glad she opened up to us & was honest. So I just want to encourage you to find someone stuck in a tough spot & ask yourself if there is anything you can do to bring them closer to getting out of it.
I can instantly think of the people that did that for me in my life, especially in my twenties when I was young & making bad choices. Those friends didn't judge me, they just saw the need & went for it. This is what Loving out Loud is! You actions show the love & it has a trickle affect on others so figure out how you can go Love out Loud today!!

Remembering your past so you can find your future!

2011-08-04T09:45:00.000-07:00

Reliving the past.

Thinking back on my childhood isn't something I ever wanted to reflect on as a young adult but as I got into a place of desperation to find some peace in my mind that's exactly what I had to do. I started counseling with a Christian counselor that was especially trained to deal with post traumatic syndrome. One of the first things he wanted to work on was reliving the traumatic events that shaped who I was. I have to tell you just speaking the words made my heart race, my hand sweat & I felt physically ill.
I never wanted to tell anyone what I had been through, especially a man. But that's exactly what I ended up doing apt after apt. And that was what began the healing process for my mind & soul. The more I talked about it, the more I wasn't so traumatized by it.
I just want to encourage you in looking at your life today & asking yourself if you been emotionally stuck. Do you have relationship problems,sleeping problems,anger issues?
Do you have no self worth,self hatred & low self esteem. If you answered yes to these questions then it might be time to face the giants in your life.
Is your past running your future? My past was & let me tell you now that I've found healing I have experienced a whole new life! One I never know I could have. I am not that same little girl that walked into that Dr.'s office in 1996 I am a woman of God that walks in peace, that experiences joy. I no longer deal with jealousy issues & am thrilled that no insecurities run my life! Night terrors, anxiety attacks, relationship problems, self hatred they are ALL behind me. And I haven't missed them. Not one bit. Living in freedom and in peace is what I want for each of you as well.
So my prayer and hope is your read this article and make a decision to make an apt for some good Christian counseling to begin the healing process your for mind & soul. There are many resources we can connect you with if you live in the Phoenix area & if not we can help get you into the right direction. Please leave a comment or contact me on my twitter page. www.twitter.com/lilycompany as I would love to help you begin your journey of healing. Many blessings over you as you begin to heal! Oh and one last thing it won't be easy but pressing through is where you find healing so don't give up!! Adieu

Is today a hard day for you? (Father's Day)

2011-06-19T14:04:00.000-07:00

With today being Father's Day I can't help but think of some of my friends who are hurting today. Are you struggling with this day? I know some of you have lost your Father this year and you are grieving over your loss. I can't imagine your pain right now. I once almost lost my Dad (amazing story) he went into a coma & wasn't suppose to make it but somehow he did. My crazy family even had a funeral for him. I hung in there hoping for a miracle and God gave us one. He is still with us today, WOW! But sometimes miracles don't happen. :( This year my Uncle Bill had a stroke and he didn't make it. We were not ready for his departure at all! Very hard times. RIP Uncle Bill we love you and miss you!
Maybe your Dad wasn't there for you. Maybe your Dad abused you and you have a broken relationship with him. Some never had the chance to even meet their real Dad. My heart breaks for the Fatherless! This was never Gods plan. I know what it is like to grow up with out a Daddy. Its heartbreaking and shapes your whole life. But through counseling & a great God I am healed from the past pain and you could be too. It takes time. Time really does heal wounds. So as today moves on know that there is a sister out there with your heart in her mind and prayers covering you and hoping for a better day tomorrow. You are not alone or forgotten in your pain and This too shall pass!! Much love and healing to your heart and soul. Adieu.

Please repost this or retweet so we can bring hope to the hopeless!! And I would love to hear how your feeling today so feel free to post a comment and let us know how we can pray! www.twitter.com/lilycompany

Reliving the Past

2011-06-05T11:20:00.000-07:00

Thinking back on my childhood isn't something I ever wanted to reflect on as a young adult but as I got into a place of desperation to find some peace in my mind that's exactly what I had to do. I started counseling with a Christian counselor that was especially trained to deal with post traumatic syndrome. One of the first things he wanted to work on was reliving the traumatic events that shaped who I was. I have to tell you just speaking the words made my heart race, my hands sweat and I felt physically ill.
I never wanted to tell anyone what I had been through, especially a man. But that's exactly what I ended up doing apt after apt. And that was what began the healing process for my mind and soul. The more I talked about it, the more I wasn't so traumatized by it.
I just want to encourage you in looking at your life today and asking yourself if you been emotionally stuck. Do you have relationship problems,sleeping problems,anger issues?
Do you have no self worth, self hatred and low self esteem? If you answered yes to these questions then it might be time to face the giants in your life.
Is your past running your future? My past was and let me tell you now that I've found healing I have experienced a whole new life! One I never know I could have. I am not that same little girl that walked into that Dr.'s office in 1996 I am a woman of God that walks in peace, that experiences joy. I no longer deal with jealousy issues and am thrilled that no insecurities run my life! Night terrors, anxiety attacks, relationship problems, self hatred they are ALL behind me. And I haven't missed them. Not one bit. Living in freedom and in peace is what I want for each of you as well.
So my prayer and hope is your read this article and make a decision to make an apt for some good Christian counseling to begin the healing process your for mind & soul. There are many resources we can connect you with if you live in the Phoenix area and if not we can help guide you into the right direction. Please leave a comment or contact me on my twitter page. www.twitter.com/lilycompany as I would love to help you begin your journey of healing. Many blessings over you as you begin to heal! Oh and one last thing it won't be easy but pressing through is where you find healing so don't give up!! Adieu

Do you have a good relationship with yourself?

2011-01-28T14:38:00.000-08:00

I saw this headline today and it brought back a flood of memories. I remember the days I didn't like myself or even want to be in the same room with myself. Pretty hard to get away from yourself,right? So I was forced to start working on my relationship with no other than, myself. I know it sounds funny but if you felt the way I did then, they'll you'll get it. You first have to learn to love yourself and think positive thoughts about yourself. Retrain your brain and your thought process. Most likely you don't like yourself due to the fact that someone put these ideas in your head from the beginning. Like your not pretty enough, smart enough or why do you always do dumb things,etc.. Ask yourself what are the tapes playing in your head that planted this self-hatred. Most likely it came from a family member or a boyfriend or spouse. Whoever it was or is. You are going to have to fight against each word brought against you. Think of it as a battle that you need to win. A battle to renew your mind, then your relationship with yourself with begin to heal. Soon you'll be on your way to being ok that your the only one in the room. Maybe go grab a coffee or a movie on your own. I have a friend of mine that thinks it's weird that I like going to movies by myself. I told her hey I don't mind being alone. She replied, I could never do that! Believe me I know why. I love doing things with my girlfriends but when there are times I am alone, I'm ok with it. So ask yourself do you have a good relationship with yourself? If the answer is no or I could improve, find out why. Talk with a counselor or a friend or just start by working on your thoughts. It's a process and it takes time. You didn't get this way over night so give it some time but be aware of what is being said to you and how you process it. And if any old tapes are playing without you even realizing it. Then take those thoughts captive and regain your love for yourself. You can do it! Here's to loving yourself! Adieu. Lisa

Are you rushing into things?

2011-01-20T08:43:00.000-08:00

Are you rushing into things?
I was making my son some eggs for breakfast this morning and was in a bit of a hurry so I decide to flip to eggs over before they were ready. I knew they weren't ready but thought well I'll try to do it & see what happens. Well you know what came next,right? A mess,the eggs fell apart and were no longer the eggs I set out to make. Funny thing is the same goes for decisions we make in life? We rush things, make decision's without thinking them through making a mess of life. So ask yourself today am I rushing anything in my life? Do I need some time to think things through. Most the time in cooking when you simmer food or put them in the crock pot for hours they turn out tastier, more tender & all around a better meal. Why rush, simmer down and settle into the big decision's in life. They'll turn out sweeter, juicier and all around a better decision. I encourage you to take your time, think things through and pray about what you should do. Here's to taking your time today! Adieu. Lisa

Restoring Humanity though Beauty
www.lilnco.net

Butterflies

2011-01-19T13:38:00.000-08:00

THERE WOULD BE NO BUTTERFLIES WITHOUT CHANGE!
Embrace CHANGE! Even though it may hurt and it my feel like your turning into something new. CHANGE is how we grow, how we learn. Wisdom comes from CHANGE. Look for the positive in the CHANGE your going through and it won't seem so tough. I just love when I see Butterflies I know they didn't get that beautiful without some serious CHANGE, dying to what they once were and thinking it was all over then they emerge a new creation. And I love that they only live for a few days so every time I see one I know they are special and they serve a specific purpose. So come embrace CHANGE with me and enjoy the journey. Love, Lisa

Restoring Humanity Through Beauty
www.lilynco.net

My First Radio Interview

2010-12-19T19:42:00.000-08:00

I recently had the opportunity to share my story on toginetradio LIVE, it was so exciting. Mending the Soul is a great org that you can look into for some extra help in healing your mind & emotions. I was asked to share how I came to the healing place I am at and I shared a tid bit of that. Blessings to you and Merry Christmas.

Please listen to my story on itunes. It was live on the radio yesterday. Click on the itunes link on the right hand side that says Mending the Soul. I am on about 20:29 or you can listen to the whole show. Its a good one! http://toginet.com/shows/girlfriendit

Lisa Schumacher

Giving Back to Human Trafficking Victims

2010-06-28T17:09:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had the opportunity to give funds through Lily & Co. to an org. that I have been wanting to be part of for awhile. Hookers For Jesus. I know the name throws you off a bit but believe me I have met the founder and she is all about rehabilitating these women from the modern day slavery that is existing right now as I write this. We will be able to help this young girl see her family that she hasn't seen in 3 years including her 2 little boys. If you want to know more go to www.hookersforjesus.net and read about it. And last week we gave funds to abolishslavery.org Aaron Cohen is a remarkable man who is on the front lines of human trafficking,if you get time visit his website and see some of his take downs in his videos. This man is beyond brave. The money we invested in his org will help on his next trip to Haiti I believe to rescue more slaves. I am all about giving especially when I know exactly where the money is going! So I am hoping that my company Lily & Co. grows tremendously so we can abolish slavery!!! Literally!!! If you know anyone who is interested in Human Trafficking please let them know about our fight through the sales of one skin care company. Adieu. Lisa

Can you find your humanity once it is lost?

2010-05-16T19:00:00.001-07:00

I saw this movie last night about human trafficking and have to say there was this one scene that was so moving. Anyone who has been in bondage can relate to this. Just remember there is always hope and with God all things are possible. Emotional healing can come but it does take work and time.
Here's what the girl who was in trafficking asked after she was rescued.
Do you think it is possible when you lost your humanity to find it again?
Her friend answered Yes but its yours to find! No one can take it away from you, not one man nor a hundred!
Oh man is this true when you have been made to do something against your will and treated less than a dog or worse, you began to believe you are worth nothing. Over time with counseling & prayer you can regain your humanity and believe in yourself again!

Hurting women who need help.: A Poem about a little girl in Modern Day Slavery

2009-12-08T14:30:00.000-08:00

Modern Day Slavery
www.callandresponse.com

Quote

2009-11-22T08:33:00.000-08:00

Begin to see yourself as a soul with a body rather than a body with a soul. Wayne Dyer

The Reservoir

2009-10-21T18:56:00.000-07:00

On the same day every week, I drive down a section of the highway in Arizona and come across a mile long area of dirt that has retaining walls and sectioned off areas that are suppose to contain water (aqueducts). Every time I pass I notice that they were all dried up. Here in the desert it's rare to see a extra supply of water in any form. In fact, there are goats that live in the area that eat the weeds and live off the land there. They must know though, that a time will come when the water will flow and they will have their share of milk & honey, because every week they are there on that dry hillside eating the weeds. One morning while I was driving past the same boring section of land the Lord spoke to me. I looked over and saw water in all the aqueducts. It was like an oasis. Water everywhere. Every single aqueduct was overflowing. The Lord said, you see when you open the floodgates and allow my healing water to flow in, you experience healing! Once one door is opened then the next can be opened until an entire river is flowing. All you have to do is be vulnerable, open your heart and the door where your pain is and I will allow my healing balm to flow. Open just one then we'll work on the next one. Once one is full it can only overflow into the next. What a beautiful picture he gave me. I got it instantly. Once we let Him in, He will move us on to the next level and on and on. Ten years ago if you asked me that if there will be a day when I wouldn't cry anymore I wouldn't have believed you. I was tormented by the memories of my past and the abuse I suffered. I was under intense emotional pain and suffered for most of my life. But I can say that when I opened the door to let the Father come in and release me from the emotional bondage I was in I began to experience healing. One day at a time, one river at a time. I later found out that this area I passed every week was called the Salt River Project that every time the reservoir ( the big lake in town) began to fill up to its capacity they would release the water and let it into the aqueducts. One by one they filled up until they were full and overflowed. This is the Fathers desire for you as well, for you to experience healing deep within your soul. Pray about it, open the door and let the floodgates control the flow for your life.

2009-10-16T17:12:00.000-07:00

A Poem about a little girl in Modern Day Slavery

2009-09-28T20:18:00.000-07:00

This is a poem I wrote recently. It is about a little girl stuck in the life of trafficking.

Where is my jump rope, where is my hopscotch,where have they gone? Someone turned out the lights and won’t let me come out til dawn.An empty shell I have become, numb and not aware of the pain.Theres got to be more to life than this, while all they do is gain. Beaten ,battered and broken will I ever stand up again? This is not my choice but here we go again.Someone said there’s a movement out there where Angels will come and rescue my soul. Tell me this is true, tell me there on their way. All I need is for them to show up and make these people pay! Will you be her voice she needs you! www.callandresponse.com go check it out!

A Good Read

2009-09-15T15:47:00.000-07:00

I recommend this book for anyone who is suffering with pain from the past and needs emotional healing. It is by Joyce Meyer and is called Beauty for Ashes. It will help you start to focus on the real issues going on that are keeping you in bondage. In the meantime here are a few scriptures that will help you work on renewing your mind. Meditate on them. Psalm 119:11,14 Psalm 32:24

Romans 12:2. 13:12 and Proverbs 4:25-27 and Psalm 139! Lisa

2009-09-12T16:22:00.000-07:00

A documentary on Human Trafficking.

www.callandresponse.com

Ask and Receive

2009-09-12T16:06:00.000-07:00

Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

I believe you have found this blog because your Father has desire for you to experience healing.

The Bible says in James 4:2 You do not have, because you do not ask. Its time! Ask your Father for what you need , it won't be easy. I can assure you of that but you will find freedom in a way you could not imagine. So lets go to the Father today and ask Him for what we need. Do you need to be free from Anger? deep pain, memories, night terrors, intimacy issues, eating disorders?? Whatever it is God already knows, he is just waiting for you to ask and walk through the door so you can find healing on the other side. So don't just ask, but ask and receive, so your joy will be full!

Free At Last

2009-09-12T15:36:00.000-07:00

Hello Sweet Woman,

This is the start of what I feel will be a healing place for women to come from all backgrounds to find a place to be comforted, ministered to and to find healing in their souls. There will be encouraging words and daily inspirations. I have a vision for this blog to be a safe place to share how you are dealing with your emotions as you heal from your wounds from the past. Maybe you have been a sex slave, a prostitute or sexually abused as a little girl and you have no where to go to deal with your issues. My prayer is you will find new friends and words & love that will heal the deep wounds that affect your soul. So welcome lets all get together and find a place to feel safe and find healing. Blessings to you. Lisa Michelle