Kate Motaung

About Kate Motaung

Kate Motaung is the Senior Writer, Editor, and Content Manager for a multi-state company. She is the author of several books including Letters to Grief, 101 Prayers for Comfort in Difficult Times, and A Place to Land: A Story of Longing and Belonging. Kate is also the host of Five Minute Friday, an online writing community that equips and encourages Christian writers, and the owner of Refine Services, a company that offers editing services. She and her South African husband have three young adult children and currently live in West Michigan. Find Kate’s books at katemotaung.com/books.

5 Tips for Personal Development

2024-09-25T08:57:37+00:00September 3rd, 2022|Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Spiritual Development|

Do you have goals for personal development? Any time of the year is a good time to make a fresh start on your personal development goals. You can use these five tips to improve your outlook, your focus, and your skills. These tips are practical and will make a big difference even though they don't take much time to implement. You can make good changes in your daily routines as you use these tips to inspire you. Mindfulness for personal development A fast-paced lifestyle keeps many of us focusing on what's most important. If you are a high achiever, you have many responsibilities on your plate. It may be easy to get caught up in these projects yet feel drained at the end of the day. If you always feel like you need to catch a breath from the fast pace of your life, mindfulness is a great way to do this. Mindfulness is an excellent way for Christians to boost their personal development in all kinds of areas. Research has proven that mindfulness improves concentration, lowers stress levels, encourages mental and physical health, and is a catalyst for spiritual growth. Only a few minutes of mindfulness each day can have a big impact on your peace level. To grow more mindful, you simply need to pay attention to what your five senses are taking in. Take a few moments to mentally record what you see, hear, touch, taste, and smell. Slow down while you are doing your daily devotions and Bible reading to bring extra layers of concentration to your spiritual experience. As you contemplate each sensation, thank God for giving you the ability to enjoy and appreciate his creation through your five senses. Mealtime is an especially good time to practice mindfulness. People who are mindful about [...]

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Bible Verses About Grief: Encouragement to Endure and Find Comfort

2024-09-25T08:55:31+00:00July 21st, 2022|Featured, Grief Counseling, Individual Counseling, Spiritual Development|

Loss is part of life, but simply knowing so doesn't make it any easier. The death of loved ones often puts a strain on those left behind and at times it can feel like the pain never ends. For Christians, an important part of healing from grief is derived from Scripture. Consider the following Bible verses about grief to help you endure. Whether for private reading and reflection or as a message to put on a condolence note, the Bible has many meaningful verses to comfort those who are experiencing grief. And we want to help you by providing you with a list of some of the most powerful Bible verses about grief and loss. If faith is a big part of your life, or the life of your loved one, turning to the Bible’s timeless wisdom can significantly help with the healing process. Biblical verses have been used for millennia as a way of making sense of a tragedy and ultimately helping to heal. Highlighting encouraging verses, discussing comforting Scripture with loved ones, or otherwise getting involved in one’s faith-based practices can be a healthy way of mourning and showing sympathy. Grieving can be the most difficult time for people. Trying to balance the feelings of pain and loss as you go about your daily life. Give yourself space and time, be honest with your emotions, and don't just grieve and don't lose hope. With this collection of Bible verses about grief, you can turn to the Scriptures for ease and comfort as we look to overcome pain. Bible Verses About Grief Do you need some calming words right now? Here are some verses that will help put your troubles and tribulations into perspective. The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. [...]

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Scriptures about Worry to Help You Find Peace in God

2024-09-25T08:55:22+00:00July 7th, 2022|Anxiety, Featured, Individual Counseling, Spiritual Development|

What is worry? Our English word “worry” comes from an old word that means “to strangle,” and worry certainly does strangle people physically mentally, and spiritually. There are many Scriptures about worry. In the Bible, the term translated “be careful” or “be anxious” comes from a root meaning “to be torn apart.” Worry comes when the thoughts in our minds and feelings in our hearts pull in different directions and tear us apart. The mind thinks about problems and this feeds additional feelings into the heart and there is a vicious cycle set up that tears the person apart. With the mind we know we should not fret; but with the heart, we cannot help ourselves. But what if these problems are more than the late bills? More than a missed appointment. More than a flat tire. What if it’s more? More on top of more!! What if it’s a sickbed? The death of a loved one? An affair? There are many Scriptures about worry. Consider how God comforts His people with the book of Joshua and his story. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9 God had buried His workman, but His work had to go on. Israel had just finished mourning for Moses and now God speaks to Joshua concerning his responsibilities as the new leader of the nation. What a tall order, right? Can you imagine following in Moses’ steps to fill his shoes? All this time Joshua no doubt missed and mourned his friend. His confidant. His mentor. What a commission! God had singled out Joshua to be Moses’ successor as far back as Exodus 17. Moses was told to [...]

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6 Tips for Dealing with a Complicated Relationship

2024-10-30T09:00:48+00:00June 17th, 2022|Couples Counseling, Featured, Individual Counseling, Relationship Issues|

When you have a complicated relationship, life can feel stressful and draining. Maybe you have been caught off guard by problems in your relationship even though they feel familiar to you. Dysfunction is like this – it can keep us off balance and make us feel so frustrated we want to scream. But there are several ways that you can deal with a complicated relationship and not let it run your life any longer. Tips for Dealing with a Complicated Relationship   The dysfunction in a complicated relationship could be deeply rooted, widespread, and related to many different factors. It’s often best to discuss your complicated relationship with a Christian counselor who can give you an outside, judgment-free perspective. You can also take steps like the ones described below to reduce your stress, deal with a complicated relationship, and prepare yourself for meetings with the difficult individual. 1. Perform a Self-Check Dysfunction in complicated relationships is rarely relegated to one person. If you bear even 1% of the burden of dysfunction in your relationship with the difficult person, you can make changes that will bring health into the relationship. This is why you need to perform a self-check to learn what you can control. Consider the following example. A father drinks during a holiday gathering, and eventually becomes irritable and begins to criticize his adult daughter. The daughter had quietly tolerated it in the past but developed resentment in her heart toward her father. To make a change at the next holiday gathering, she could excuse herself after dinner, so she would not be exposed to her father’s irritation that leads to criticism. That’s the 1% that she can control. Here is another example. You may refrain from voicing your opinions in an attempt to keep the peace. But [...]

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The Best Bible Verses for Self-Growth

2024-09-25T08:57:43+00:00June 6th, 2022|Featured, Individual Counseling, Personal Development, Spiritual Development|

Are you on a quest for self-growth in this season of your life? Studying and meditating on certain Bible verses for self-growth can help you stay on track on the path that you want to travel. Bible Verses for Self-Growth These Bible verses for self-growth can help you grow in both your personal and spiritual life. Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. – Romans 12:1, NIV For the greatest level of self-growth, you must be willing to live a life of sacrifice. You cannot only live for yourself, but you can offer your full self to God, who will then help you know how you can serve others. Be sure to keep the commands of the Lord your God and the stipulations and decrees he has given you. – Deuteronomy 6:17, NIV Obedience to God is a key to self-growth. It's good to study His word daily to learn the areas where you need to make improvements and changes. As you spend time in His word every day, you will notice growth in yourself and your faith. The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway. – Proverbs 15:19, NIV People who are committed to self-growth are hardworking and disciplined. Their path is smoother because they take steps to make plans and follow through. You can learn tips on how to pave a smoother path ahead by meeting with a Christian counselor. I remembered my songs in the night. My heart meditated and my spirit asked. – Psalm 77:6, NIV You can even practice self-growth in the middle of the night. If you [...]

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