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November 15, 2017
Contentment

I realize this isn’t the most popular opinion, but I hold it unwaveringly and nobody can convince me otherwise.  Fall is my favorite season (sorry summer lovers)! As a mother of three elementary and middle school kiddos, fall is a time to celebrate.  Everyone is back in school and our routines are as established as they ever will be.  The air is crisp.  The leaves are changing; fall is a beautiful thing.  As I write this I have a pumpkin chai candle burning and a vase full of fall colored flowers.  Overboard? Maybe.  But I do it all in anticipation for the best part of the season: Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is a holiday without the distractions of gifts or elaborate decorations.  We literally sit around with our family and take a few precious moments to contemplate what we are grateful for.  Gratitude makes us stop thinking about what is wrong or insufficient in our lives and allows us to focus on what is right and fulfilling.  Could you imagine what our lives would look like if we choose to live every day with gratitude? What would happen if we focused daily on the sufficiency of our relationships, finances and ourselves instead of our insufficiencies?  That’s what gratitude does for us.  I bet we all want to live with more gratitude every day.  So, why don’t we?

Whenever I’m short on gratitude I’m also short on something else.  Any guesses?  It’s a state where I don’t think anything is enough.  Life isn’t fulfilling enough.  I’m not skinny enough.  My husband isn’t doing enough.  The house isn’t clean enough.  Work isn’t producing enough.  ENOUGH!!! I’m lacking contentment.  The Bible knows what it’s talking about when it instructs us:

“True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So, if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.”

1 Timothy 6:6-8 (NLT)

If we live in a state of godliness with contentment our mentality shifts, and even though we may not have more of anything, what we have will be enough.  This is why having those two things make us very wealthy.  Godliness with contentment.  Godliness convinces us that we are enough and contentment convinces us that what we have is enough.

Do you consider yourself godly? Why or why not? Did you perform godly acts yesterday so you’re feeling especially godly today? Or did you yell at your coworkers, kids and best friend all in one day yesterday so there’s no way you could be godly today?  Here is what I learned that changed my life when I desperately needed it.  My godliness isn’t based at all on my actions or performance.  I am godly simply because I have chosen to believe in Jesus and His righteousness.  The Bible says, “For He made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”  (2 Corinthians 5:21, NKJV).  Jesus took all our wrong upon Himself and gave us all His rightness, perfection, and godliness.  I cannot do a single thing to become more godly, because I can’t become anymore godly than Jesus already made me.

I desperately needed this nine years ago when I was feeling completely inadequate.  My husband Judah and I had been working as the youth pastors at the church his parents had founded and were leading.  After Judah’s father was diagnosed with terminal cancer and was no longer able to lead the church, Judah’s parents asked us to step in as Lead Pastors.  I honestly didn’t think I could do it! I had two young boys and was pregnant with our baby girl.  I had been used to leading teenagers but adults scared me.  I was intimidated and felt completely unable to handle that weight of responsibility.  Looking in the mirror and telling myself I was qualified didn’t help.  Telling myself I could do it didn’t help.  The realization that I am complete and enough through Jesus was the only thing that enabled me to know that what I am is enough.  We are enough because Jesus has made us enough.  He made us godly.  We are enough.

Once we believe we are enough, it’s easy to be content that what we have is enough.  Sure, we may not have as much as we want to have, or as much as our friend has, but once we realize we are enough we no longer need those things to make us feel adequate.  As 1 Timothy says, if we have food and clothing, let it be enough.  A lot of days we have to fight for this mentality and remind ourselves of it.  But if we enter this month truly content, gratitude will easily follow.

 

ABOUT CHELSEA SMITH

Chelsea Smith is the co-lead pastor of Churchome, formerly The City Church, in Seattle, Washington. She and her husband, Judah Smith, lead a thriving multi-site congregation with campuses throughout the greater Seattle area, Beverly Hills and Guadalajara, Mexico.  She is a gifted leader and speaker who is passionate about showing the world who Jesus is. Her ministry is noted for down-to-earth wisdom, authenticity, humor, and strong faith. Judah and Chelsea have three children: Zion, Eliott, and Grace.

November 6, 2017
Remember When…

Have you ever had a random moment in your day when a smell catches you off guard? And just for a second, it immediately transports you back to a very specific memory or moment in your life?

Well, I had one of those moments happen to me the other day.

My husband’s car was in the shop and so our mechanic let us borrow a loaner car until the work on ours was done. This was a very old, very beat up, VERY smelly car. Being the good wife that I am, I decided to let my husband use my car to commute to work and I begrudginly graciously took the loaner car.

I went to the gym and after a grueling 45 minute bike ride while watching the latest episode of “This Is Us” (yes, I multitask while I work out…please don’t judge) I walked back to my loaner car. When I opened the door, I noticed an open tube of used red lipstick sitting in the cup holder that was begging me to try it on. Alas, it also had dirt flakes on it that begged even louder for me to throw it away. As I sat down I was engulfed by a smell…a very familiar smell…a mix of old crayons and exhaust fumes.

It was…the smell of an old car.

Growing up, my family could not afford new cars so we bought older, slightly used ones that my dad could fix when they broke down. We went through at least 10 cars from when I was in kindergarten til I graduated. And they all had one thing in common…they smelled the same…like old crayons and exhaust fumes.

So you can imagine that the overwhelming smell in that loaner car immediately brought me back to countless car rides growing up. And out of nowhere, my eyes welled up with tears and these words quietly came out of my mouth…”Thank you Jesus”.

If I’m honest, my initial thought was “thank you Jesus that I don’t have to drive cars like this anymore”. That quickly changed to “thank you Jesus for the cars you’ve blessed me with that get me from point A to point B without breaking down”.

And then it happened…I started remembering.

I remembered the bed in the backseat my mom would make for me so I could keep sleeping whenever we picked up my dad from work in the middle of the night. I remembered our road trips from Seattle to Portland to visit my grandparents and the hundreds of times we played the slug bug and license plate game. I remembered early mornings praying that the car would turn on and get us to school on time. I remembered the multiple times ALL of our cars broke down and my dad would be outside in the pouring rain fixing it one more time even though he just got home from working a 4 day trip as a flight attendant.

My “thank you Jesus” kept evolving as I remembered all the good things that came from driving in those old, beat up, smelly cars. I learned what family looked like from those cars. I found my love for adventure and games in those cars. I learned how to pray and watched them get answered in those cars. I learned what hard work and sacrifice was from those cars.

And now, years later, I was learning about thankfulness from those cars.

I don’t know about you, but when it comes to thankfulness, I am a lot like newer cars. I’m a Point A to at Point B person. I’m thankful at the beginning of something and I’m thankful when I’ve reached my destination. But somewhere during the trip, my thankfulness usually gets lost.

Lamentations 3:20-23 says “I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.

Just reading that verse makes me thankful! There’s something about remembering what God has done in our lives, especially during hard situations that make being thankful a lot easier. I know that happened for me while I was sitting in that car smelling all the smells.

When I really thought about it, I saw how God has consistently turned soooo many hard seasons and situations in my life into good things. And the more I remembered what he’s done, the easier it was to be thankful. It also made me worry less about what will happen between Point A and Point B in some situations that are currently happening in my life. I began to feel hopeful again about how they’ll turn out.

I was reminded of something Joyce Meyer often says…“You may not be where you wanna be, but thank God you’re not where you used to be”. I think as we make the daily choice to remember how far God has brought us DURING whatever we’re in, we’ll be surprised at how quickly thankfulness comes and our hope is renewed.

So…let’s start together…right now…while we’re staring at our computers or sitting in our cars or working out at the gym…and pause. Go back to a memory or a moment and allow it to reignite thankfulness in the middle of the journey.

 

ABOUT AMY LUNA

Amy Luna is originally from Seattle, WA but has lived in LA for over 10 years. She’s been a part of the Oasis Worship team for almost a decade and is an Associate Pastor at Oasis Church. Amy loves music, hiking, the rain and being married for the last 2 years to her amazing husband Nelson Luna.

October 30, 2017
Fighting Fear With Reality

Fear is a monster.

It’s a prickly little demon that sits on your shoulder and stabs you with “what ifs” and worries every time you start to breathe or enjoy or God forbid, relax.

And the thing about fear, for me, anyhow, is that no matter how much I try to stand up to that fear, the scariest part about that little monster is that it could be right.  

What if that person does think I’m unintelligent?

What if my relationship is doomed?

What if I don’t have enough money for that expense next month?

What if that person never forgives me?

I’m pretty skilled at getting to the bottom of my fears, at thinking through the question of “what is really going on here?” But what happens when I get to the bottom and I can’t disprove it or rationalize it away? The problem with “what ifs” are that they are about the future, so I can’t promise they will or won’t come to pass. That leaves me feeling stuck. I am afraid and anxious, my head swirling with fears that I have no response to.

Fear loves to invite its friend, Shame, along to play in our minds. Shame is the creature that tells us to keep quiet, not to admit these things, that we are the only ones who face this, and that there’s something inherently wrong with us that disqualifies us from the peace and security that we see in those around us.

I can’t believe that God intends for us to stay buried under this mountain of fear when His words are so often about life and love and service. There must be something I’m missing or haven’t yet fully believed.

This current season is full of fear and anxiety in my life. On a daily basis, what I have come back to over and over again is this When fear and shame claim the loudest voices in our minds and hearts, our defense is to anchor ourselves in the present, in reality, and in truth.

  1. Anchor myself in the PRESENT

One of the reasons the future can be so terrifying is because it is always a step outside our reach. What is within our reach is today, the present, and that knowledge always brings a fresh relief to my worries. If nothing else, it forces me to acknowledge the presence of today, and my responsibility only to what is in front of me. In fact, what often brings about my anxieties and fears is a wrong belief that I have control over the future, and therefore, must work to secure my own happiness in it. The truth is that I have very little control over anything outside of my attitude, actions, and choices in the present moment. And strangely enough, it seems that’s exactly how God meant for us to live.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:33-34)

  1. Anchor myself in REALITY

I learned a strange-sounding, but oddly-helpful skill from the amazing Beth Moore. She instructs her readers to practice “finishing their worries” with a healthy dose of reality. This seems counter-intuitive, since we are so often prone, or even advised, not to think about the things we are afraid of. Beth says, jump right in and think it all the way through.

Here’s an example: one of my big fears is failure, especially in my career. (Newsflash: pastors and leaders aren’t exempt from this.) I’m afraid I will make a big mistake and have to answer to my leadership about it. This causes me all kinds of hesitance and worry, and keeps me from stepping out and taking risks in my job and community, because I’m afraid of failing.

Beth’s advice is to think through the reality of that. Keep asking yourself, “Then what?” until you get to the end and back to normal reality. When it comes to my fear of failure, it’s not just possible, it’s probable! I will make a mistake and have to face the consequences of it. Then what? Then, I will feel embarrassed and awkward, and have to deal with what comes. Then what? I will probably cry at home and spend a lot of time trying to figure out how to avoid that ever happening again. Then what? Then I will go back to work and people will get past it and so will I. Then what? Then that’s it. Life continues. That can bring a helpful dose of reality for me in the moments when the uncertainties feel like a giant un-conquerable mountain.

  1. Anchor myself in TRUTH

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I have to anchor myself in truth. Truth is what identifies me and reminds me of the bigger picture of the universe and who is in charge.

The truth is that God has been in control, He is in control, and He will continue to be in control, despite every ounce of circumstantial change that can occur in my life, or ever will occur in my life. He is simply more powerful than those possibilities.

Sometimes when we learn something new or a fresh fear is awakened in us, it can feel like everything has changed all of sudden. I like this reminder of truth that while my understanding or awareness may have grown, everything that was true 5 minutes before this is still true now. The world is still turning, God is still victorious, and the end of our story, our truth, cannot be intercepted.

—

Anchoring myself in the present, in reality, and in truth leads me again and again to one inevitable result: HOPE. I start to have hope that all is not lost, that there is calm beyond the storm, and that God continues to be in control. Even though my circumstances and reality haven’t changed, and sometimes my feelings of fear and anxiety haven’t waned, I have grounded myself in an unshakable truth that God is still in charge. Then I experience the blessed choice to rest on that anchor, trusting its depth and foundation, instead of my own.

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” (Hebrews 6:19)

 

ABOUT SARAH ROSE LOCHELT

Sarah Rose Lochelt is a Southern-California native who is passionate about the power of communication and the connection that happens through conversation, especially when there is coffee involved. She is a pastor in the LA area and loves to write and speak about the lies of shame, the truth of grace, and the freedom that comes from relating authentically to one another, especially for women in the church. She always has at least one book to read in her purse, is infamous for making silly faces at babies in public, and could live on pizza for every meal.

October 25, 2017
Together Is Better

I recently co-planted a church 5 months ago. It has been an incredible journey that has stretched me in my leadership. For those of you that have been a part of planting a church, you know that it requires many hats. My title is Associate Pastor, however I currently wear the hat of worship pastor, operations, creative director, small groups and serve coordinator, events, marketing, website, social media… I could go on! Looking at that list actually makes me nervously chuckle a bit.

I have had to learn very quickly that I cannot do it on my own. And to be honest, burn out would come very quickly if I tried to. Together is better! We need people around us serving in their sweet spot if we are going to effectively reach people for Jesus.

In the last 6 months, I have had to switch most of my attention to developing people. So what does development tangibly look like?

  • Focus on the long term goal, not the immediate need.
    Sometimes, as church leaders, we get too focused on the immediate need. “I NEED a greeter!” So we plug in joe-schmo to the greeter position when he is a total introvert and actually hates initiating conversation. This is not going to last long term and we end up with the same problem down the line. Find people who can operate in their sweet spot and they will stand the test of time.
  • Focus on others, not yourself.
    People matter. Developing people not only means plugging them into the right area of service, but actually caring for them. I don’t want to be the person that asks “how are you?” as a greeting. I want to genuinely mean it. “HOW ARE YOU DOING… FOR REAL?” Let’s be leaders who go further in our shepherding. We must be full of love and compassion.
  • Focus on follow-up, not forgetting someone in the process.
    Unfortunately, it is so easy for someone to get lost in the system. You plug them into their area and then they never hear from you again. NO NO NO! We have to be consistent in our development. This gets harder as your church gets bigger, so it is even more important to develop leaders who can in turn develop other leaders. Don’t let people get lost. Make sure you are following up and checking in.
  • Focus on prayer, not control.
    Prayer is powerful, people! If you are in need of someone to teach kids, play in the band, help with creative ideas or whatever, give it to God! He hears our prayers. I recently lost a consistent keys player in our band so I prayed and asked God to provide. Two weeks later, a girl introduced herself saying she wanted to audition for the band and play keyboard! Praise God for provision when we need it most.

I am still learning and God is continually stretching me in the area of development, but I know this (and I am sure you have heard this quote before)…

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” -African Proverb

Together is better. So leaders, take the time to invest in others. Your development of people will help propel your church to the next level.

 

 ABOUT ASHLEY BECKFORD

Ashley Beckford is a worship pastor and songwriter from Southern California. Previously a member of the pastoral staff at Christ’s Church of the Valley in San Dimas where she served as the Worship Pastor for 6 years and Adult Ministries Pastor for 2 years, Ashley has recently been called to plant Unite Church in Pasadena as their Associate Pastor. A gifted leader and songwriter, she loves to develop people, especially other women in worship. Ashley recently joined the She Leads team as the ministry lead to worship and creative leaders. Ashley loves spending time with her husband, Lance, son, Declan, and dog, Oreo.

October 16, 2017
We All Deal with Fear

We all deal with fear.

Not simply at one crossroad of life, but throughout the different seasons, it appears, again and again, offering a seemingly safer, more comfortable route of passage for our anxious hearts.

Fear is a chameleon.

It creatively changes its appearance depending on the most convincing chance of entry to our soul. It creates a facade veiled in “concern” and “balance”. It sings a soothing song that lulls our God dreams to sleep as we choose to trust the voices of others instead of the Holy Spirit. Fear feeds our deepest fears with more fear. After all, while at first meek and mild, once given attention, fear is a drama king that loves the spotlight. Fear takes over every thought process, conversation and situation with “what if’s” that rapidly spiral into hopeless despair.

There was a time in my life that I came to the realization that fear was dictating my life choices. Doors were opening and I was closing them because of a genuine fear of failure. I had a fear of being anything less than perfect and my unwillingness to take risks was causing me to miss out on beautiful opportunities brimming with destiny. My family brought the truth to my attention and it startled me and immediately put me on the defense. I was crushed as my Dad lovingly but strongly said to me “DawnCheré if you don’t step into what God has called you to do, he will use someone else.” Aaah! Shot to the heart for this teenager at the time lol. For a timid high- schooler, those words swept over me like a cold tsunami. I was crushed. I cried as I allowed the voice of fear to once again convince me that Dad had behaved harshly and unnecessarily. My mom came and sat beside me as I wept tears of frustration. She said, “DawnCheré, your Dad is not mad at you. He is speaking to the warrior inside of you to stand up and fight.” And suddenly the voice of the Holy Spirit within my heart became louder than the fear. I realized I didn’t have to surrender any longer to this paralyzing enemy. I could choose to trust God more than the fear. I could choose to take my eyes off of myself and put them on the needs around me. I was free to choose.

In that season I found weapons to fight my fear through scriptures like “there is no fear in love, perfect love casts out all fear” and “the joy of the Lord is my strength”. After all, who wants to be fearless but joyless as well? No one. And as I walked in obedience the fear didn’t immediately leave but faith overtook its hold! Now Rich and I often say, we choose to run towards the things that make us afraid. Fear won’t control our destinies.

You see, friends and family can help you identify fear in your life but only you can choose to fight fear with faith. It’s your mind, your body, your life and your choice alone to aggressively wage war. This choice is a gift from God. And no matter how many years you have relinquished your choice to fight, today you can make the decision and walk into freedom.

I’m grateful that the Bible so clearly gives us real handles as to how to combat fears’ paralyzing grasp. God doesn’t want to help you conceal your fear, he wants to reveal it so that it no longer has power over your life. Once you identify that the driving force for your specific mindset or actions is rooted in fear you are able to reject it and then remove it from its place of occupancy.

I have found strength from many peoples lives within the Bible but Gideon is such a genuine encouragement to me. He went from a man in hiding to a hero. All because he chose to relinquish fear and pick up the courage. He made a choice to trust God. Judges 6:12 tells us of the angel of the Lord appearing to Gideon as he hides in a winepress from the enemy.

12 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.”

God saw Gideon as a man of courage even before he saw himself that way! Why? Because God created Gideon. God created him to fight with courage and gave Gideon the ability to choose faith in God over fear. Gideon went on to fight battles and lead Gods people to victory. How quickly our fear is overcome by the spirit of God if we just surrender and obey! Stop belittling yourself and awaken to the love of God that calls out your true identity even in moments of weakness! In every season God is waiting to bring your heart to a place of real victory, again and again.

In my life, it wasn’t just the one exchange with my parents that settled my freedom from fear once and for all. I have had to reject fear in many seasons since… as I went to college, got married, moved to Miami, planted VOUS Church two years ago and even this month as we faced Hurricane Irma. Fear is a lame lingerer. It sits around waiting for another opportunity for an “in”. Allow the holy spirit to help you identify areas of your life that perhaps are being limited by fear. Trust God today to give you the strength to no longer allow fear to have any space in your mind or heart. You are FREE. So walk in it. xx

Thoughts for today:
What are areas in your life allowing fear to take residency?
Has fear returned to your heart in a new disguise?
What scriptures have you hidden in your heart to combat fear and choose courage?

 

ABOUT DAWNCHERÉ WILKERSON

DawnCheré Wilkerson is a speaker, singer, songwriter and pastor who loves nothing more than to encourage people of all ages to never give up! Her contagious joy and zeal bring a uniquely impacting perspective on life. She and her husband Rich are currently planting VOUS Church in downtown Miami and they also host the annual VOUS Conference on South Beach at the historic Fillmore Theater. VOUS Church is a catalyst of creativity, diversity, encouragement and community centered around the message of Jesus. Rich and DawnCheré recently offered a peek inside their world with their docu-series, Rich In Faith, a 10 episode feature on the Oxygen network.

IG: DawnCheré

October 3, 2017
When the Fog Rolls In

I live in southern, sunny California. Most days are clear blue skies with a slight taste of salt water in the air. From February to (sometimes) June the weather patterns in our area often cause an eerie, ghost like fog to come rolling through the canyons. When the fog rolls in, it is difficult to see what is right in front of you, a chill fills the air and we long for the sunny days of summer.

A few months ago, I went for a morning hike with a friend up on the cliffs facing the beautiful Pacific Ocean. It was a path we walk often. We were very familiar with its twists and turns but on this day we could only see the ground right in front of us. The ocean and endless horizon were hidden from our gaze by a heavy cloud of fog. Although we knew it was there, we could not see it. We were also forced to walk more cautiously as the trail was covered in this haze of fog and a wrong step could ensure a major fall or a turn in the wrong direction. The imagery reminded me of the moments in our lives when the fog rolls in.

Maybe you find yourself in a season like this! You have been walking through life, striving after all God has for you. At one point, you had a clear sky, endless horizon and vision of what was ahead. You were taking steps in the right direction, navigating the ups and the downs of the journey. Then the fog rolled in. What you once could see so clearly is completely clouded in a haze of doubt, questions and fears. The chill in the air stings with inadequacy and what you what you once enjoyed in the sunshine becomes uncomfortable and uncertain. You find yourself tempted to stop or turn around.

Maybe you have said yes to a huge step of faith. Your life is taking a turn in a new direction. The path before you is unfamiliar and the future ahead of you is covered in fog. The uncertainty of what is ahead causes you to long for what is behind and anxiety attempts to paralyze your steps.

In all seasons of our lives, I think God allows us to have beautiful, sunny days with a clear vision for the future! We aim our lives in that direction but much of the journey is often spent in the fog. The fog forces us to trust and to not lean on our own understanding but rather to carefully lean into the Holy Spirit as our guide.

Habakkuk 2:2-3 tells us
“Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.”

God will give you a vision for this life he has entrusted you with. It points you in the right direction. It is your responsibility to hold on to the vision when it seems slow, when it is delayed, when you are afraid; to keep moving forward when all you can see is the one step in front of you. The problem is, the fog stirs up questions and brings on doubt. I’ve known many people to turn around and re-direct their path when the fog rolls in.

It is easy to wonder if you made a mistake or if that dream was really from God when you can’t see clearly. Big course changing decisions should not be made in the fog. In the fog, we should stay true to the path right in front of us and the step we are on. Be faithful with what is currently in your hands. Doubt stirs up distraction and often dissension if we are not careful. It can deter us from the path God has intended us to take. The fog is a playground for the enemies lies and deception. Let’s not become distracted.

If God has given you a vision and dream for your life, don’t doubt in the dark what he showed you in the light. God is the author and fulfiller of all his promises. Be confident in the path He has called you.

If you are married…stay married
If you are serving….keep serving
If you are leading…keep leading
If you are believing….keep believing
(you get my point)

When I was walking with my friend, we were forced to slow our normally fast paced, calorie burning, multi-tasking workout connection into a purposeful conversation. The fog causes us to slow down. Our steps must become intentional and not hurried. For those of us who are trailblazers or visionary dreamers, this process of patience is frustrating but is key to keeping us on course. It prevents us from focusing to much attention on the “bright, shiny, exciting future” and more on the steps at hand.

Psalm 46:10 tells us to
 “Be still and know that I am God.”

In other versions it says “Cease striving and know.”  Instead of panicking in the seasons of fog, could you stop and allow the stillness and mystery to drive you into a deeper understanding of who Jesus is? Could you allow this season to bring more intentionality to what you are doing and less to where you are going? When our pace is forcibly slowed down and we stop striving so hard, a season of fog can actually become quite beautiful and peaceful.

A final thought for navigating the fog; trust those who are a few steps ahead in the journey. You don’t have all the answers and you don’t know it all. To navigate the twists and turns in the midst of the unseen, we all need the voices of leaders speaking into our lives. Learn to listen well. Ask questions. Be teachable. Don’t isolate yourself in the journey, we all need friends by our side encouraging us to heed the wisdom we’ve been given, to stay the course and to not give up. We really are better together.

Hold on to hope. Discover the beauty of trusting God in uncertainty. The fog will clear, the sun will shine and the view will be worth it! Just don’t give up!

 

ABOUT MEGHAN ROBINSON

Meghan and her husband Carey pastor The Movement Church in Orange County California! Meghan is a wife, mom to two beautiful girls, church planter, pastor, speaker, friend, and big dreamer! Her greatest passion is helping women identify the God dream inside of them and awaken to their greater purpose! She also loves seeing women in ministry connected, equipped and inspired and is a part of our She Leads team!

IG: Divapastor | Twitter: MeghanLRobinson

September 5, 2017
She Is Organized

Six Random Organizational Tips as we begin the Fall and back to school season!

(So You Don’t End up on Hoarders or any other reality show!)

 

  1.  Have a landing strip. This is the bowl, or tray that you put everything in when you come home. That way you are not always looking for your keys, phone etc. and other pocket-sized belongings.
  2.  Clean as you go. Really. Makes all the difference.
  3.  Everything in its place.
  4.  If your house really is currently an organizational nightmare . . . just start small. One room at a time. You can do it!
  5.  Use a calendar. Either the paper kind or one an online version will work . . . and as long as you remember to use it!!
  6.  How many things do you really need to collect??? Most of them just become ‘“dust catchers.’”
June 20, 2017
She Is Revolutionary

By: Oneka McClellan

 

revolution – a sudden, complete, or marked change

 

YOU ARE LOVED, VALUED AND BELIEVED IN. What if every single woman heard those words from her neighborhood to the furthest corners of the world? What if every woman understood their immense worth and value? What if from the playground to play groups; to high schools; colleges and board meetings; women were building each other up and instead of competing, they were speaking words of life into each other?

What if we stood up when we heard another woman being mistreated or bullied? What if we didn’t just cheer just for the boys, but the girls too? What if we took a stand for our sisters who have no voice and we became their voice? What if, as a company of women, we became a united force on mission to discover our value, and then we were mobilized to crown others with it?

Let’s GO to the highways and byways to tell and invite as many women as we can to be a part of a VALUE revolution. Let’s leave gossip and competition behind us. Let’s be builders of every woman we meet, speaking value and worth into her very soul. Think about Mary and Elizabeth, the mother of Jesus and John the Baptist. They spent time with each other and at the end of their visit – Mary, who started out shaky left Elizabeths house singing. And when they first greeted each other, Elizabeth said the baby leapt in her womb.

The truth that we have locked inside our hearts has to come out; the truth that we are ROYAL daughters; the truth that we have a Heavenly Father who is madly in love with us and who has a generous inheritance for us that will never end. This truth has to be told from one heart to the next.  Psalm 45 says, “ the royal daughter is glorious within.”

Let’s celebrate what HE made glorious.

Great is HIS love toward us and great is the One who has the power to bring change and to lift ceilings and limitations off of any situation or circumstance. We owe it to this next generation to flip the switch and push forth, in the spirit, a value revolution. It starts on our knees. It starts by following after the example of Jesus who throughout the Bible loved, lifted and affirmed all women.

Think about the woman caught in adultery. The crowd was ready to stone her. I can feel the tension of the angry crowd judging her with their eyes and their actions. But Jesus in that moment says, “Let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Her accusers left and Jesus told her that He did not condemn her.

So often we cast stones with words that tear down each other. But as we follow in the example of Jesus, the ultimate value revolutionist, we should have the posture of kneeling down in the dirt just like Jesus and realizing we are all in this together. Surrendered, in need of a savior, and leaned into each other. We are on the same team. United, we can break down strongholds and weights that have tried to separate us as daughters.

The time is now, girls. The world is waiting. Your city is waiting for a tsunami, a tidal wave and to hear the ripple effect of the sound wave of value that originated from heaven to sweep over every single woman. This sound wave is coming to arrest her heart to experience the greatest lover of her soul. Then, because of that marked transformation and realization, she awakens to her freedom, her passion, and purpose. In-turn, she will ignite the hearts of everyone in her world. And so the revolution begins. All we need is you, darling, to say “Yes” to the call!  The invitation is this simple. Now, all you have to do is decide to GO!

Luke 14:23 Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.’ The table has been set by our King. Let’s go into all the world and reach as many women as we can with unbelievable love and value that comes from HIM.

 

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June 15, 2017
She Is Entrusted

By: Donna Pisani

I would awaken to her tiny, sweet face staring at me, close enough that I could feel her panicked breath on my cheek. Then, like a record on repeat, I would hear that same little voice begin to spill out the terrors of the night, the things she imagined in the dark corners of her room.

Of course I knew there were no one-eyed, hairy monsters lurking under her bed. But because it was three o’clock in the morning and I was in the midst of sheer exhaustion from a very full life—four kids and a church to pastor—I would grab her tiny body, wrap my reassuring mama arms around her, and pull her into bed with me. Both of us were quickly engulfed in the warmth of blankets and pillows, as I tenderly prayed and quieted her fears until she dropped off to sleep.

This continued for weeks, until one night I realized all I was doing for this little one was soothing her fears, rather than showing her how to break this nightly routine of terror. All I had to do was remind her that she had a light switch in her room; that as tiny as she was, she had the power to switch the light on all by herself to expose the fear and silence her roaring imagination.

What about you?

How often does fear, the disappointment of an unmet expectation, or an out of control imagination scream at you, making you forget you have the power to turn on the light and expose it? Perhaps you’ve felt stuck in life and the longer you wait, the more the “Not Yet Zone” begins to define you. But what you may have forgotten is that God has an extraordinary plan for your life. Every single one of His promises has the power to silence any fear or disappointment.

It’s time to stop soothing your fear and turn on the light.

And what turns the light on is the truth that God has entrusted you with choice and leadership.  Making the choice to flip the switch is leadership and the first step to seeing all that God made possible in you.

In fact the choice you’ve been entrusted with determines whether you stay a victim of your circumstance or become the leader of change He’s knows you to be.

Just knowing what you rise above you have authority over is everything.

You’re entrusted my friend with the hard places, the stretch, the Not Yet Zone, that place you’re in right now.

God hasn’t entrusted you with potential and purpose in spite of your past failures and current imperfections, but because of.  Intricately woven into your story so your past doesn’t become someone else’s future.

Time to stop sitting in the dark doing autopsies on your fears and failures.

Time to flick the switch…the One who loves you the most is cheering you on and so am I.

For with God nothing is impossible
Luke 1:37

Excerpt from “The Power of Not Yet-Living a Life of Endless Possibilities by Donna Pisani

 

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June 13, 2017
She Is Staying

By: Elyse Roberson

She is staying

Heroes don’t always wear a cape, sometimes just a smile. Superwoman doesn’t always chase the bad guys away, sometimes she just stays around the good ones. Champions don’t always get it right, sometimes they just decide to try again tomorrow.

Brave doesn’t always mean winning, sometimes it just means staying.

Ever had a friend call you randomly and give you an accidental reality check in the best way? One of my best friends did just that a few months ago. We grew up together in Sydney and she moved to South Africa at the same time I moved to Los Angeles. She is, like, a really good Christian, seriously way better at it than me. She’s the girl you call at 2am when he didn’t text you back. She’s the one who will sit on the kitchen floor with you to drink coffee and watch back-to-back Friends episodes on the laptop, even though there’s a perfectly good TV and couch right there.

She’s the friend that won’t let you forget your dream, even when life feels like a nightmare. Every girl needs one of those friends.

Not long after my friend moved overseas, she had every reason to quit. While I was trying to figure out how to drive on the other side of the road, she was trying to figure out how to drive 20 kids to youth group, with no car or money. While I was annoyed that I couldn’t go to Vegas for the weekend, she was annoyed that she couldn’t get more teenagers to camp. (I’m a baby, I know).

She was my weekly reality check.

And yet, through the tears and the disappointments, she stayed. Through the heartbreak and loneliness, she stayed. Through the false starts and delayed promises, she stayed.

It had been about a month since our let’s-change-the-world conversation, but a few months ago, out of the blue, my phone rang. I was getting ready to speak for a conservative Christian conference, and was stressing over whether red lipstick was acceptable to wear, or clear would be more appropriate. I went with the red, because YOLO.

I answered the call only to find my friend sitting in her car, crying more tears than an Undercover Boss episode.

“I have never…. been happier… for you to answer my call… than right now,” was all she could manage.

What’s happened now? Did she have another person tell her to give up? I’ll punch them in the face. Did the boy that had changed her life throw away her heart? I’ll kill him. Was someone eaten by a lion? Not really sure to do with that one.

“Elyse, I stayed. I stayed and God is so faithful…. The bus… With the kids… and I started crying… He’s so faithful. I stayed.”

I didn’t understand the bus or the kids at first, but there was no mention of a lion, so that was a relief. Once she breathed, she began to explain a little more. She had set a personal goal at the start of the year to see 163 students come to Jesus, a bus full. And because she stayed, that night, she finally saw it.

Like, what?! I’m the worst Christian ever! After feeling completely convicted and deeply disturbed that I had just been trying to figure out when I could fit an afternoon nap into my day, I began to feel every bit of pride for my friend. The things we talked about on the beach all those nights ago, with the stars as our witnesses, were actually happening. After cyber-hugging and squealing for a few minutes, we said goodbye. I hung up the phone smiling.

Today, I want to be that friend that reminds you of what your heart is whispering. Stay. Though the marriage feels hopeless. Stay. Though you’re not where you thought you would be. Stay. Though your boss didn’t give you the promotion you deserved. Stay. Though the doors keep closing. Stay. Though it would be easier to leave. Stay. Though your heart is broken. Stay. Though it hurts. Stay.

Because perhaps the bravest thing you can do today is stare fear in the face and let it know that this time you’re here to stay. Not run. Not give up. Not quit. Stay.

Stay little one. Just stay.

 

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