Tag Archives: Brave

One Year. One Vision. One God. Let’s Go!

Posted in Brave Girl Bonus, Brave Girl Boots Updates by

Brave Girl,

When this popped up on my timehop this morning I couldn’t believe it. One year ago today we launched our BGB ONE YEARBrave Girl Boots Prayer Challenge. I remember hearing this statement, “If God seeds us with vision, we are able in Christ” after the thought came to me about the prayer challenge. It would be an understatement if I told you that I had no idea what was behind the yes to God.  No idea. Have we been able in Christ? Absolutely. 

So here we are. One year later. Two things have come out of the BGB Prayer Challenge that I’m incredibly humbled and honored to steward for the Lord. First is the BGB group on Facebook. What an oasis for the hurting. I can’t tell you how undone I get when I peek in and see over two hundred women in that room supporting each other, taking desperate needs to the Lord on behalf of one another. Not one time have I seen judgement. The women in that group are my heroes. Thank you! You’ve proven yourselves trustworthy at all hours of the day and night to meet every request with grace. The level we meet someone with grace shows the level we trust God to be God. If you haven’t joined that group yet, please do so now! You will find a safe space to ask for prayer and be transparent. Just to name a few things we have walked through together: disease, a mother dying, and mommies having a bad day…whatever your need is — it will be treated with respect and love.

The second thing is a 40 day published devotional based on this prayer challenge. I can’t believe what God had in mind when I thought I was saying yes to leading a prayer challenge. It makes me laugh when I think about it. God knows us. He knows sometimes vision needs to be time released. Ya’ll I had no idea where to begin with publishing a book. But each step of the way God provided. Financing – all provided. Knowledge – He brought people smarter than me along side me to point me in the right direction. “If God seeds us with vision, we are able in Christ” — I can honestly, wholeheartedly say, “Yes, and AMEN!”

I imagine women taking that devotional out each morning being encouraged by real women who walk out a real faith. Hand in hand with their God who makes them brave.  Ohhhh…I can’t wait!  We’re hoping for an April release, if not then my eyes are on Mother’s Day for the launch. We will surely keep you posted. I can’t wait to touch and smell that book. If you are a book-girl you get that statement. If you aren’t — move along. 🙂

What I’ve learned over this past year is this: each time we answer yes to God, He will faithfully respond. If you think it’s a Lucy holding the football for Charlie Brown thing with God…I respectfully say to you, “You are wrong.”

Charlie Brown and Violet pulls football away-2 panel aBrave Girl, it’s time to dust off that dream. You know the one. The one you placed safely on the shelf of your heart. You’ll never know if it’s from God if you don’t step up to kick that ball.

Bravery in Shattered Pieces

Posted in Brave Girl Boots Updates by

shattered_glass_by_nyxknight16-d3im3ia

One.

One call, one conversation, one email…all it takes is one.

One to take the air out of the room, punch us in the stomach, leaving us breathless and searching. Life altering news seems to come out of left field. We don’t expect it. We certainly don’t look for it, do we?

The glass shatters. Leaving our lives in pieces.

We can’t see anything but ONE BIG MESS.

How? Why? WHY? Our broken hearts and dreams demand answers.    Those questions often get unanswered.

The easiest thing to do is blame God,  take up our cause and become victims.    And we stay sitting in our mess as the months, years, tick by.   Sitting in our mess.

Brave Girl, there is another way.   

Psalm 34:18 comforts us with this truth:  The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Have you looked for God in your shattered pieces?   He is nearer than you think.    “If He is near, why didn’t he stop this from happening?”

The truth is found in  John 16:33… ” I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

The promise of this world: Trouble.

The promise of our Lord:  Overcome.

There is another kind of shattering that comes to believers. Truth comes in and shatters our facade of sin. It’s a holy moment when we look at our sin for what it is; face to face with the truth of our estate.

And the shattering comes.   Usually when we least expect it.   Facade is shattered and we see clearly the heart wrenching betrayal lodged in our heart.   Self-worship.  “My, me, mine”  really boils it down doesn’t it?

Godly sorrow is good.   Contrary to what the world would tell us.    2 Corinthians 7:10  Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

Godly sorrow brings repentance.    A change of heart and mind.   Luke 3:8 encourages us to “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.”     Repentance is not private.

The promise of this world: Death

The promise of our Lord:  Life

Brave Girl,  you are not alone in your mess.   And believe it or not, the truth is God wants to bring a message out of your mess.    Will you let Him take the broken things,  the hurts and disappointments to make something beautiful?

Only Jesus can turn our ashes to beauty.    He won’t throw that shattered life away,  but with care only a loving Father can give will He bind your wounds, brush the tears from your cheeks, and begin to build something so beautiful…it will grab the world’s attention and point people to Himself.

Will you be brave enough today to let Him?

Bravery into the Unknown.

Posted in Brave Girl Boots Updates by

20140729-232018-84018193.jpg

Brave Girl,

I stumbled upon this picture tonight. Taken September 2005 on my last day at The Auto Club Group. I worked there since I was a “kid”…just shy of 18 years.

That was nine years ago.

If someone would have told me after I started following Jesus just five years earlier, I would be leaving my career to go into full-time ministry…I would have laughed. Loudly. Yes, I would have laughed very loudly.

God’s ways are not our ways, right? I mean we read that in Isaiah 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.

Like, He wasn’t kidding?! Isn’t that scripture for other people?

I mean I didn’t actually think He meant it, right? Sound familiar, Brave Girl?

In this picture I see an unsure woman who is leaving everything she has known: her comfortable job, the security of being known in a field she specialized in, and great friends. All cozy, all comfortable. All Tami’s plan.

Enter God’s plan. Gazing at that picture, I remember feeling so unsure of the foreign territory God was asking me to travel on for the next leg of my journey towards Heaven. As unsure of the new soil I was asked to tread, I was completely sure of my God.

Brave Girl, is God asking you to step out on unknown roads with Him? Unsure of where they may lead?

Be encouraged. God’s plan is better. 10000% better. S E R I O U S L Y.
When I think of what I would have missed out on had I been too afraid to answer the call to follow Him…my heart aches.

I have found healing on this unknown path. Deep life-changing healing. I have the absolute privilege to serve God through my wonderful Connection family. Not to mention the sweet joy I experience in leading CGgirls. God’s plan is better. (And did I mention my stinkin’ awesome husband? Yeah, that happened, too! )

You won’t regret saying “Yes” to God, Brave Girl. Wherever that leads you.