Change can be hard!

Change can be hard!

Part of being a good leader is knowing when to let go! It's learning to raise up amazing leaders under you that could one day take over where you left off and hopefully, even bring it to the next level! That doesn't make change any easier!

As our worship team, I am no longer part of, was practicing tonight, I felt a sadness. They were having so much fun and I missed being a part of that! (I can't escape it, it took place in my living room- Church planter problems!) I enjoy singing and worship and the camaraderie that our band has. I realize that the band has moved forward and has come to a really great place. They are growing and engaging more people in worship. New and younger talent is developing in ways they weren't able to with me in there.

I also just handed our church women's ministry to our associate pastor's wife. She has a passion for women's ministry and I know that she is the right woman for the job. At Thrive, God spoke to me and told me to let her take the ministry. I have full confidence that she will bring the ministry to the next level! I'm excited for what God is going to do through her!

The growing stage is hard! I know that as I am leaving these ministries, God is freeing me for other things. I know that I cannot move to greater heights when I am stuck where I used to be! Sometimes there is a gap between one thing and what's coming next. We just need to sit and wait on God to reveal it to us!

I can know these things in my head, but my heart still hurts sometimes.

But...I see it on the horizon! New things are coming! I have to look toward the future!
I can't wait to see what God has next!

Thrive! Don't just survive!

I have a friend that has been going through some difficult times. She is an amazing woman of God, but she has been struggling a bit. She shared with me that she told another friend about this and she was told "God doesn't always call us to thrive, sometimes his will is for us to just survive". 

What?!? My nose crinkled up in confusion and disbelief! That can't be true!

Didn't Paul say that he was content in all circumstance? 

"Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am." Philippians 4:11 

"Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." 

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Sometimes we get in we get in a rut where we thin if we are just surviving we're okay. God wants to do more than just survive! He wants to see us thrive. 

Yes, there will be difficult times. Yes, there will be seasons of chaos surrounding us. Yes, we will go through situations we never thought we'd have to face. But..can't we learn to thrive in those situations? Doesn't God want that for us? Doesn't he want to use us to be a light shining to all those around us in the world, that we can overcome? Doesn't he want us to thrive and grow and learn and rejoice even in these times? especially in these times?

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord And whose trust is the Lord.

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For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought Nor cease to yield fruit." Jeremiah 17:7-8

That sounds like a healthy, THRIVING tree to me! We can thrive if our trust is in the Lord!

Take time for yourself, surround yourself with women that will lift you up, attend an a conference! You can do all those things in one place at PF Women's Conference Thrive ( pfwomen.com for more information) Sometimes we need a change of perspective! Fill yourself with things of God that will help propel you to a place where you can learn to thrive no matter the circumstance! 

We have been fed a lie that just surviving is okay! Rebuke that lie! Don't let the enemy have the victory! You can and will overcome! You can and will thrive and grow and come out stronger on the other side!