Faith, Holidays, Trust

7 Must Wins: Overcoming the Fear of Lack

by hcfwomen2 Comments on 7 Must Wins: Overcoming the Fear of Lack

7 must winsThis week is our final installment of the Must-Win series. If you missed any previous posts, you can start with Part 1 here.
As a reminder during this Christmas season: Jesus came so that you do not have to live in the fear of lack, but out of the abundant life that He gives! 

Overcoming the fear of lack changed my life.

The fear of lack led me to some ugly places. It motivated me to do things of which I am not proud. It made me feel like I was in a constant state of not having enough and not being enough. You know:

Not smart enough.
Not quiet enough.
Not rich enough.
Not skilled enough as a wife/mother/friend.
Not pretty enough.
Not organized enough.
Not serving enough.

It manufactures lies and pain. The lies sound something like my own accent whispering, “Why don’t you try harder? After all God has done for you how can you be so ungrateful? You are a disappointment.”

The fear of lack waits until I am about to accomplish a goal and then it moves the goal line just a little further out of reach.

God says otherwise.

He says I am complete, whole and lacking nothing. Because I performed well enough? No. Because Jesus Christ went the distance. Through His life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension, He exchanged His righteousness and integrity for my lack.

Now my work is not to grovel. My work is to BELIEVE I am who He says I am.

He bestowed upon me dignity, beauty and worthiness. He says in Christ I am enough and I have enough.

This changes everything. I quit demanding from others what only God can give me. It’s not my husband’s or my kids’ fault I can’t be myself. I choose to show up and be seen because I am enough.

What is at stake if I lose this battle with the fear of lack? Wholeness.

At some point I have to drive a stake in the ground and believe that God is not holding out on me. He truly gave me what I need to do life in this season of life. It’s up to me to engage and take action. Show up. Be seen. Believe that I have something to offer because of who I am in Christ. This is not perfection. This is COURAGE. And it is INSPIRING!

Will I experience failure? Yes. Will I get some sand kicked in my face? Probably.

Am I saying I have to give my life to something I don’t want to and don’t enjoy? No. I’m saying I quit hiding behind excuses for not speaking up and not acting on what God has called me to even when the going gets tough. God extends an invitation for us to come awake. LIVE. Dare greatly in the arena instead of playing it safe as a spectator of my own life.

Friend, your life counts. Your family needs you to engage and quit believing that you’re not enough. Your workplace needs you to show up and let your ideas be seen. Your community needs you to speak up for what is right and decent.

What actions will you take when you believe you are whole, complete and lacking nothing in YOUR life?

This post was written by Jodi Leigh LaFrance. To read more about her, click here.

Giving, Trust

7 Must-Wins: Stewardship

by hcfwomen1 Comment on 7 Must-Wins: Stewardship

7 must winsThis week, we continue our fall blog series, “7 Must-Wins.” With a uniquely personal twist toward us as women, we will address seven topics that must be understood and walked out in order for us to have success in this life. To start with Part 1 of this series, click here.

At some point, we’ve all asked and answered the question. If I had a million dollars, what would I do with it?  And usually it follows with some grand plan to give and help others…right after we go ahead and buy that new car, or boat, or vacation we’ve been dreaming about.  The reality is that most of us will probably never be millionaires. The real question is: what will you do with that with which you’ve been entrusted—no matter the number?

That’s what stewardship is all about. How will you allocate the gifts that God has given you?  It speaks to more than just finances, but since money is mentioned more than almost any other topic in the Bible, I’d say it’s probably a big deal. It’s a big deal because the way we steward our money says a lot about where our hearts are.

Many of us say things like, “Well, I’ll give when__________.” Fill in the blank. When the babies are out of diapers. When we get out of debt. When the kids are out of the house. But the Bible says in Proverbs 11:25, “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” It seems our logic (myself included!!) can be a little backwards in the economy of God’s Kingdom. We think, “I’ll be generous after I prosper.”  He says be generous and THEN you’ll prosper!

Here’s the key: It’s all His anyway. He didn’t ask us to be good owners. He asked us to be good stewards. And if we truly see Him as our source, it’s not that hard. After all, spending other people’s money is easy! 😉

orangesLet me wrap this up with a picture God gave me a few years back. I was standing next to a solid white picket fence that seemed to stretch on for miles and miles. Right next to me a tree branch was hanging over the fence with several ripe, juicy oranges on it. I felt like I was supposed to give a couple of these oranges to someone else. But then anxiety set in. “But Lord,” I said, “if I give these two away I’ll only have a couple left, and that’s not going to last long!” At that moment he took me up to a higher perspective. I could see over the fence that this wasn’t just a single branch of an orange tree, but a massive orchard that stretched as far as the eye could see. I realized that all these oranges were available to me, and suddenly, giving away two didn’t seem like a big deal at all. It’s all about perspective.

I know financial hardships are real. And I know that as women, one of the things we crave is security. But we don’t have to live in the fear of lack. When we are faithful to answer the call to give, He is faithful to meet all of our needs.

“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” (2 Corinthians 9:10-11 NIV)

This post was written by Becca Wilhite. To read more about her, click here. 

**To read Part 7, click here. 

Faith

7 Must-Wins: True Faith

by hcfwomen1 Comment on 7 Must-Wins: True Faith

7 must winsWe are continuing our fall blog series, “7 Must-Wins.” With a uniquely personal twist toward us as women, we will address seven topics that must be understood and walked out in order for us to have success in this life. To start with Part 1 of this series, click here.

My tiny four year old hands grabbed my mom’s face, cupped it and quietly reminded her that “big girls don’t cry.” My siblings and I had gathered around her on the piano bench and just watched her sob. I didn’t know it at the time but my mother had just sent my father off to receive some help for bipolar disorder—by far one of the hardest choices I know she ever had to make as a wife.

Despite my many hours in prayer and fasting, my father still has bipolar disorder. I have spent many years petitioning and bargaining with the Lord for wholeness and healing in my father’s body—I haven’t seen it happen yet.

I don’t know why people get cancer. I don’t know why recently in our media we see photographs of precious children washed up on the beach, or why people who love the Lord are being executed for what they believe. I don’t know why couples struggle to conceive, or why someone throws the towel in on their marriage, or why the widow lost her husband long before they had a chance to grow old together. I don’t know why “bad things happen to good people”—but I do know that my God is STILL good.

I think that it would be super easy to blame all of these unexplainable things on God. But I think as women of faith we have to take a look in the mirror and ask ourselves: Is my belief in God rooted in my circumstances, or in the finished work of the cross? Do I REALLY believe that I was the joy set before him as he endured the cross? Do I REALLY believe that my God is FOR me, and that he will FIGHT for me?

You see, true faith is not believing hard enough, and then once you have prayed enough you get to see the miracle. No. True faith is choosing to believe that he is GOOD even when your circumstances aren’t perfect. Your miracle is that the King of Kings loved you and chose you even in your sin. If we allow our view of God and his goodness to be trapped in a happy ending, we will miss the joy in the journey, and the miracles he provides along the way.

Because even though I haven’t seen my father’s circumstances change, I have seen God as my whole complete father, and allowed healing to take root in my heart. Even though the couple who couldn’t conceive had pain—they adopted a beautiful child who NEEDED a family. When we choose to quit camping out in our misery we will see that our mess isn’t because of God, but that he IS working all things together for our good.

I don’t know where you are today. I don’t know what miracle you are hoping for, or what circumstance you wish would change or go away—but I do know that our God, he is fighting for YOU and working ALL things together for your good—you need only be still. Find joy in the journey, sweet sister. You are not forgotten, and you are NOT alone.

This post was written by Maggie Riley. 

**To read part 6 of this series, click here. 

Faith

7 Must-Wins: Faith Righteousness

by hcfwomen1 Comment on 7 Must-Wins: Faith Righteousness

7 must winsWe are continuing our fall blog series, “7 Must-Wins.” With a uniquely personal twist toward us as women, we will address seven topics that must be understood and walked out in order for us to have success in this life. To start with Part 1 of this series, click here.

Faith righteousness. WOW what a big topic, I never would have fathomed that these two words could mean so much to my soul. Two simple words when put together can impact a believer to their core.

Faith—is the complete CONFIDENCE in things hoped for and assurance in the unseen.

Righteousness—Right standing between you and the Father, as it should be.

Put it together: Faith righteousness is complete confidence that I am in right standing with my Father, and I have assurance that my hopes and things that are unseen are as it should be between me and Him.

We all accept this free gift of righteousness when we become believers, but along the way, we all starting doubting. We doubt our sins are forgiven, we doubt his love, we doubt we are worthy enough. So we start working out of our own ability and taking things into our own hands, thinking we can earn His love through our works.

In my personal walk, I have had to come to a place of being confident to trust in my faith righteousness during the gaps in my life. What I mean is this: there are circumstances in life that we didn’t plan on, and a gap can be created between you and God. We get hurt, we lose a loved one, or we are in a transitioning season. But we must understand that even when our circumstances are not as it should be, we are ALWAYS as it should be with God. Understanding that, when gaps come our way, we can look up to the Father with complete confidence that we are in right standing with Him, even though the world around us is in complete chaos.

My encouragement today is to believe that you are as it should be. God sent us His Son so we could believe in Him and have righteousness that doesn’t need to be earned. It is a free gift, because he loves us…it is as it should be.

This post was written by Madi Mikael. 

**To read Part 5, of this series, click here. 

Worship

7 Must-Wins: Worship

by hcfwomen2 Comments on 7 Must-Wins: Worship

7 must winsWe are continuing our fall blog series, “7 Must-Wins.” With a uniquely personal twist toward us as women, we will address seven topics that must be understood and walked out in order for us to have success in this life. To start with Part 1 of this series, click here.

Music has always been part of my life. Whether we were singing hymns at church, on a family road trip (where we listened to anything from ‘50’s and 60’s Rock n Roll, Classical, Motown, to college fight songs), or playing the piano, music was always there. Perhaps this is where God began to lay the groundwork in my heart to become a worship leader. Maybe it’s just because I really like music! Either way, music is where worship began with me. Not with Motown or college fight songs, mind you. But when I was 12 years old, I attended church camp and heard (what we in the church world call) contemporary worship for the first time. I was hooked. Because this wasn’t just about singing some songs about Jesus. It wasn’t just about a really cool band, whose members had long hair and tattoos (Um…I had never seen that in church before). I had an experience. In fact, the best way I can describe it is that I truly, purely, experienced the Presence of Jesus. For the first time in my life, I connected with my Savior. I felt alive! Why? Because He is my Life-Source!

In John 4, Jesus encounters a Samaritan woman who was drawing water from a well. It was very unusual for a male Jew to speak to a female Samaritan. In fact, according to the Law, Jesus would’ve been considered “unclean” by drinking from this woman’s vessel. It’s interesting to me that the Samaritan woman is who Jesus tells first that He is the Messiah. According to the world’s standards, she was most unworthy. She had been married 5 times and was living with another man. Why would Jesus reveal Himself as the Son of God FIRST to this person? Because she was dead in her sin. She needed to be connected to her Life Source. Jesus says to the woman, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (vs. 13-14, emphasis mine). You see, the water we receive from the Father becomes something inside of us…NEW LIFE! Isn’t this good news!?! Why wouldn’t we want to be connected to our Life Source?

When we worship, we become more aware of God’s Presence. God’s not looking for accolades or compliments. He’s looking for our hearts to be connected to His. He loves us SO! His desire is to be in relationship with us at the deepest level.

So what’s music got to do…got to do with it? (Because everything is a song to me…) Music is a vehicle to not only express our worship, but also to touch our emotions. You can hear a song that was popular when you were in high school, and you will literally FEEL what you were feeling during that time in your life. (Which could be good or not so good…) When I hear a college fight song or a Motown song, I immediately think of the many road trips we took as a family when I was growing up…good times. When we listen to someone singing, playing guitar, playing the keys, or even playing a pipe organ (‘cause that still happens), and they are worshipping Jesus, our hearts become vulnerable to the One who created them. Our Creator God is lovingly speaking to us, connecting to us, revealing Himself to us. And when we respond…OH FRIEND…that spring of water wells up inside of us and WE FEEL ALIVE!!!!! Because we ARE ALIVE!!! Praise Jesus!

Jesus goes on to tell the Samaritan woman, “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” (vs. 23)

Are YOU the kind of worshiper the Father seeks? Is your worship observable? Are you aware of God’s Presence in your life right now? Do you recognize that He is revealing Himself to you? Are you connected to your Life Source? Come and take a drink…

This post was written by Allison House. To read more about her, click here. 

**To read Part 4 of this series, click here. 

Forgiveness

7 Must-Wins: Forgiveness

by hcfwomen1 Comment on 7 Must-Wins: Forgiveness

7 must winsWe are continuing our fall blog series, “7 Must-Wins.” With a uniquely personal twist toward us as women, we will address seven topics that must be understood and walked out in order for us to have success in this life. If you missed Part 1 of this series, click here.

“I Forgive….”

That may be one of the hardest things to say some days, much less do. Many times it’s so hard to even say that one simple word out loud. I am currently reading the book Lead Like Jesus. The author states that the opposite of forgiveness is judgment. I think I must have re-read that statement 10 times…the opposite of forgiveness is JUDGMENT??!!! Makes sense if you think about it. Forgiveness is very difficult for most of us, but judgment, well that comes pretty naturally….When we feel wronged by another, whether intentional or not, it is so much easier to judge them, isn’t it? We do it in a moment; it’s sadly often my first response.

In that moment it feels good, it feels necessary, it feels justified. Someone pushes my ‘bad mom’ button, my ‘bad friend’ button, my ‘bad wife’ button…well, BOOM, you’re getting judged by me, in my head, all by myself! How do you like them apples?? Well, the problem with those apples, is that they are all ours. Ours to carry, ours to hold, and eventually as all apples do, they rot. We are left with that feeling…rotten apples.

I was reading a verse the other day that I have probably read a hundred times, but for some reason on this particular day, it popped out at me in a way it never has before.

Luke 23:34, “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

Jesus said those words while hanging from a cross, after being beaten brutally beyond recognition by the very men he was now forgiving. He had been mocked, spat on, ridiculed. He said these words literally feeling the weight of all of humanity’s sin upon him. I can’t even imagine the pain He felt, the agony, the anguish. He knew what he was there to do. He knew why his Father had sent him. He knew his fate was to die so that we might live. He knew He was there to provide a way to forgiveness. He knew those men would have been forgiven, yet He chose to voice His forgiveness anyway. He chose to say those words out loud, not only for them to hear, but for any to hear.

Three incredibly powerful words…”Father, forgive them.”

I have never been beaten, I have never been publically mocked, I have never even been spat on (well, not intentionally anyway). I never have, and never will be, hung from a cross. I have felt embarrassed, I have felt less than, I have felt shame, I have felt unloved, I have felt forgotten, I have felt pain. But, to choose forgiveness, is to choose HIM!! It’s a choice. No one promised it would be easy or happen in a moment. And even to choose forgiveness doesn’t guarantee restoration in a relationship, but it does guarantee restoration in your heart.

So, when the choice is hard, and it seems impossible, I will remember those three words that changed my life forever.

”Father, forgive them.”

This post was written by Kristen Wright. 

**For Part 3 of this series, click here. 

Scripture

7 Must-Wins: Authority of God’s Word

by hcfwomen6 Comments on 7 Must-Wins: Authority of God’s Word

7 must winsWe are beginning a new fall blog series, “7 Must-Wins.” With a uniquely personal twist toward us as women, we will address seven topics that must be understood and walked out in order for us to have success in this life. As you read, ask the Holy Spirit to open the eyes of your heart to what He has to say. We hope you enjoy this series!

I am very good at memorizing things. This was helpful in college…although whether or not I retained any useful information for more than a week after testing is questionable! It also helped me while growing up in a church and a family that highly valued knowing the Scriptures. I memorized many verses, and even remembered where most of them were found in the Bible. This still helps me today, but I have also learned something else: knowing God’s Word in my head is different than knowing God’s Word in my heart. Knowing with my heart means that I actually take in what God says, and it makes a difference in the way I live my life.

In today’s culture, when everyone else is choosing the world’s way of doing things, choosing to live according to God’s Word means submitting to an authority higher than ourselves. These are not just words on a page. God’s Word is “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12). When God’s Spirit in us opens our eyes to the truth of His Word, it comes alive in our hearts, and we can begin to live out of it.

I used to think that to “walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25) meant I had to force myself not to walk “in the flesh.” But all God is saying here is that as we align our hearts with God’s Spirit, we begin to see the fruit of who He is coming out of us. Because God is love. He is peace. He is joy. That does not come out of striving to “do better.” It comes out of surrendering myself to God and responding to His voice when He speaks to me.

Yes, this may mean correction sometimes. Paul advises Timothy, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man (or woman) of God may be competent, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Sometimes when I read or hear God’s Word, I am convicted because I know my heart does not line up with God’s heart for me. So I have to repent, and choose to turn my heart to God’s truth. Yes, it is painful to admit that I am wrong. But it is so good to experience the peace of the Holy Spirit when I choose to agree with Him and follow His voice.

So what does this look like in reality? Honestly, it will be different for each person. It is not a formula. I tend to read the same section or chapter of Scripture for days at a time when God grabs my attention with something. For those of you who don’t like to read, you can easily find websites and mobile apps that will read the Bible to you in many different versions. Just start. Ask God to make your heart come alive to His Word. Why? Because this leads us to God’s heart.

This post was written by Heather Dillard. To read more about her, click here. 

**For Part 2 of this series, click here.

Family

School Prep – Part 3 of 3: Starting Well

by hcfwomenLeave a Comment on School Prep – Part 3 of 3: Starting Well

(This is the final installment of our School Prep series, encouraging our hearts to start the school year well…If you missed Part 1, click here. For Part 2, click here.)

Have you caught me lately in the school supply aisle, daydreaming obsessively with shining eyes and a radiant glow about me? I’ve actually heard rumors that there are people in the world who resent the interference of these amazing pens, folders, sticky notes, glue bottles and snazzy protractors into their lazy summer days! Can you believe that? To me, it is always a signal of “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”

There are fresh starts ahead: new little chickadees to squeeze, minds to mold, books to share, jokes to crack, stories to write, giftings to empower. I wait with expectation to meet the band of disciples that Jesus is entrusting to my care for the next nine life-shaping months. In other words, it’s time for school!

I love the sign that hangs outside my door. It says, “When you enter this classroom, you are scientists. You are authors. You are explorers. You are artists. You are important. You are loved. You are the reason we are here!” It’s a continual reminder of God’s mighty purposes in this generation that we are partnering together to raise up in His kingdom. What a privilege!

This 4th grade “Learning Zone” just happens to be one of my little corners of the world to practice the Great Commission. (We each have our own!) But I like to take it personally when Jesus said to go into all the world, make disciples, and TEACH them.

And yes, I get to do it all with brand spanking new pencils, notebooks, markers, scissors, planners, index cards…highlighters…Sharpies…..paper clips……..

This post was written by Jill Brown. To read more about her, click here. 

Family

School Prep – Part 2 of 3: Leading Our Children to Jesus

by hcfwomen1 Comment on School Prep – Part 2 of 3: Leading Our Children to Jesus

(This is a continuation of our special series about preparing our hearts for starting well in the upcoming school year. If you missed Part 1, you can read it by clicking here.)

Salvation is really the foundation we want our kids to build on as we send them into school.  As my oldest son says…if we don’t built on that, we’ll build on something else.
So whether your child is entering Kinder or is a Senior this year…let’s remind them of who they’ve given their life to. ~ Julie

I’m so happy to write this post because my 6-yr-old daughter asked Jesus to be her Savior. She wants to follow Him. To trust Him and walk with Him throughout her life. For a Christian, this is the biggest eternal decision we can make.

My goal in telling you this story is to share what happened in our conversation, and hopefully give you some encouragement in how to walk with your children through the plan of salvation. This is not an exhaustive explanation—just real, authentic living.

We were reading about Saul and his experience with Jesus as he was on his way to persecute believers in Damascus. We read the particulars in her children’s Bible. After reading about Saul’s conversion Landry wanted to get baptized.

I asked her what it meant to be baptized; she said it meant that you trusted Jesus and wanted to follow him. Worked for me.

I wanted her to understand what sin is and why we even need a Savior. So we flipped back to read the 10 Commandments.

I explained that God is holy and perfect. He cannot allow sin into His presence. If we have broken even one of God’s laws, then we are unable to have a relationship with Him. We went through each one and I asked her if she had ever broken that commandment. It was hard for me to explain what idolatry, not keeping the Sabbath, and committing adultery were. If I did it over again I wouldn’t even mention those until she got older. She understood very well what dishonoring parents, stealing, lying and coveting were, though.

And she started to cry. And then I started to cry. Gracious.
She said, “Now I feel really, really bad.” (Memo: that’s called conviction and it is the work of the Holy Spirit. It is a GOOD thing!)

So we began to pray together. At first she wouldn’t say anything out loud, but I told her that the Bible tells us that if we believe in our heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord, then we will be saved. So she started to repeat after me in a VERY loud voice. (Insert big grin.)

She understands that when she gets baptized she is showing everyone around her that she is a Christ-follower. She’s on the path to knowing Him and doing life with Him.

You have the unique privilege to share your faith with your child. I encourage you to take a moment today and share part of your testimony with your kids. It will mean a lot to them, especially as they grow up, to know why you follow Christ. Go ahead. Start the conversation.

This post was written by Jodi Leigh LaFrance. To read more about her, click here. 

Family

School Prep – Part 1 of 3: Soaking Up Summer

by hcfwomen2 Comments on School Prep – Part 1 of 3: Soaking Up Summer

Dear Friends,
As summer comes to an end, we have an incredible opportunity to end summer well and to begin school well. I hope you enjoy these next 3 blogs as some of my dear friends talk about how they prepare their own hearts for the school year.
~ Julie S. 

I realize I could be in the minority, but I am truly sad to realize summer is winding to an end. Don’t get me wrong, there have been plenty of days I’ve looked at my 4 kids and thought to myself, where are you, August?? My kids have recently started to look at me and I can see it in their eyes….they know my bag of summer tricks is almost empty! Perhaps boredom has set in—and let’s face it, TV time which was very limited in June, has suddenly become a very acceptable ‘activity’!

“Oh your playing basketball on the Xbox? That totally counts as physical movement! You’re right, your fingers do look tired!”
“It’s too hot outside? I agree, let’s see what on Netflix, I’m sure we can find something educational! Wipe out? Perfect!”
But don’t you worry kids, Mom’s got a new bag of tricks for these lasts few weeks!!!!

You see, the thing I love the most about summer, is the white space it provides. Let me explain. White space is free time, it’s no schedule, no agenda, no plan really. Sure, we have things we are going to accomplish each day, but it’s not FULL of activities! White space allows us to be us. It is less quantity and more quality.

So, I am vowing to soak up the last bits of summer! Before homework hits, Tuesday folders, theme dress-up days at school (which I totally forgot about until 7:30 AM)…I will soak up summer.
Before packing lunches, trying not to be tardy, being tardy, and arguing with the girls over the perfect pair of shoes to wear, only to find the perfect pair, then discover you are missing the mate…I will soak up summer.
Before after school activities, church activities, and having to schedule an activity to not have an activity…I will soak up summer!

Soaking up summer means more US time! More family movie nights, more American Ninja warrior courses in the backyard, more late night ice cream runs because we can, more pool days with friends, a couple more sleepovers, one last getaway if we can squeeze one in, more pizza for breakfast (because it’s a bit more acceptable in the summer for some reason), more lazy mornings with nowhere to be….

We live the majority of our life on a schedule; sometimes the best place to be is nowhere at all…

I will soak up SUMMER!!!

This post was written by Kristen Wright.