by Courtney Leatherwood | Apr 30, 2020 | Life Advice, Testimonies |
Sometimes we need to unplug to recharge.
This word changed my quarantine this month: unplug. While everyone was spending more time on social media, zooming, and staying connected, I knew I needed a break.
Confession: my screen time average was at least 10 hours/day at the start of the quarantine. That’s almost 50% of my day spent looking at my phone… scrolling and seeking.
Friends, I don’t share these numbers with pride. I simply want to be honest with you, and with others who might be facing the rising screen and scroll time in this season.
You won’t find what you’re looking for on your screen.
You will not discover true inspiration on your screen.
You will not feel real connection on your screen.
You will not be your original self on your screen.
This sounds harsh, but I’m here to share the good news of what happened when I stepped away from my screen by starting with an Instagram detox (yes, Instagram stole most of my time! ha)
And here’s why I decided to unplug: my mind was racing, wondering, and spinning all of the time. In. Out. On. Off. Moving. Never resting. Always available.
Do you ever feel as if your mind is racing? Spinning from the screens, scrolling, stimulation?
You’re in good company. You should definitely keep reading 😉
When’s the last time you checked your screen time? Or tracked your hours spent on Instagram or TikTok? You might be rolling your eyes or making excuses but trust me friends, this might be the most honest, vulnerable (and helpful!) thing you do for yourself this month.
I’m about to share how 7 days of an Instagram detox changed me.
Note: if you’re reading this and you can’t relate… I encourage you to keep reading. One day it might be you.
The day I started my Instagram detox was the day I started to dream again.
Note: I limited myself to 30 minutes a day because of my job as a social media manager. Otherwise, I was totally off Insta the remaining 23.5 hours a day.
For seven days, I spent less than 5 hours on Instagram and here’s what happened with my life:
I wrote a creative workshop (coming 5.4.2020 on the Fam!)
I wrote a blog.
I read 2 books.
I designed clothing.
I started journaling again.
I called my friends instead of sending them Instagram DMs.
I planted a garden.
I doodled graphics.
I read Joanna Gaines’ entire cookbook (I guess that makes 3 haha).
I learned to cook new meals.
I slept through the night.
And I spent quality time with my quarantine buddy (husband!) without scrolling.
Friends, I found new life after 7 days of saying no to one thing and yes to the right things.
I re-discovered the joy of creating more and consuming less.
I connected with God and my friends in new, deeper ways.
These seven days changed me. These seven days allowed me to return to my original self.
Did you know there’s something significant about 7 days?
I didn’t know this at the time I started my Instagram detox, but check this out! Scripture references the number 7 over 700 times as a symbol of completion, perfection, healing, and the fulfillment of promises.
Completion.
Healing.
Fulfilment.
Genesis 1 and 2 tells the story of how God created the heavens and the earth in seven days. He created, dreamed, and rested in seven days. This is the picture of the original state of our creator. Genesis and the Garden of Eden is a beautiful image of perfection, healing, and fulfillment.
Do you need to return to your original self? Do you need to feel like you’re in the Garden?
Let go of the thing or distraction that is stopping you from living in completion and fulfillment of Jesus. When I let go of Instagram for 7 days, I felt as if I returned to a state of Eden. A place in my mind and heart where I was free to create, dream, and step into my original self. It was the best version of me.
Are you looking for healing? Are you looking for fulfilment? Friend, I was looking in all the wrong places. Spending less time on Instagram revealed that I already had fulfillment in Jesus. It was always there, I was looking for that in my screen connections.
Walk away from your phone and find new inspiration. And I believe that you will find a new source of inspiration: Jesus.
You see, when we take away what the world offers, and we return to what God has gifted us to do, we find our original selves. We have all we need in Jesus.
I am writing to encourage you to pause whatever is causing your mind to race and your heart to be heavy. Take a minute, a day, a month to unplug. We are stepping into a new season, a season with in the sun, a space to try new things, and a time to enjoy God’s creation.
For further study of the significance of 7 days in the creative order, here are Biblical references that you can dive into.
Exodus 20:9-11 – Rest on the 7th Day
Deuteronomy 15:1-2 – Freedom in the 7th Year
Joshua 6:1-20 – Fulfillment of God’s promises after the people of Israel walked around the wall 7 times on the 7th day.
Matthew 18:21-22 – Forgiveness 70×7
Matthew 12:9-13, Mark 1:23-26, Mark 1:29-31, Luke 13:10-13, Luke 14:1-4, John. 5:5-9, John 9:1-7 – Accounts of people who were healed by Jesus on the 7th day.
Joshua 6:1-20 – Fulfillment of God’s promises after the people of Israel walked around the wall. 7 times on the 7th day.
Court Leatherwood is a dreamer and a creative. She’s a member of Team LO. Fueled by community, creativity and coffee, she spends her days moving the mission of Team LO through social media and graphic design. Court is passionate about encouraging other women in truth and love, and she loves celebrating small and big moments of life with handwritten cards. Court recently married the man of her dreams.
by Katy Gjovig | Mar 31, 2020 | Testimonies |
“For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake.”
Philippians 1:29
Growing up, whenever I heard a powerful testimony, I would think to myself, “I hope someday my story can be that impactful for someone.” The testimonies were always from people who had gone through a paralyzing time and, by the grace of God, were able to get through it with amazing lessons that they learned about Jesus and themselves. The Church talks often about suffering for the sake of Christ, and I wanted that to be my story.
During a huge growing period of my life, when I was hyped up on my relationship with Jesus, that kind of suffering, that painful situation that you would never want for anyone, came into my life. It quite literally took the breath out of me. It wasn’t something that was my fault, though that thought definitely ran its course in my mind. Still, there was a lot of shame, hiding, and ignoring of pain, thoughts, and emotions. And honestly, the last thing I wanted to hear was “Jesus loves you.” I also remember praying, “God, this is not what I asked for when I wanted to suffer for your sake.” What followed was more shame that I would even think to be upset or angry with God.
Naturally, I avoided all of this pain for as long as I could. I felt so guilty that I was mad at God. I felt shame that I would even doubt His sovereignty. I felt abandoned. I felt very alone. I felt pressure to forgive and move past the hurt. I felt that I needed to have it all figured out so that I would be able to share the amazing truth that was revealed to me in this time.
But I didn’t have those “a-ha” moments. I didn’t have the answers to my biggest questions.
Why would God, who is supposed to be my protector, let this happen to me?
Why did this have to happen?
What am I supposed to do with this now?
My walls were up big time. I was wrestling with these questions and all the lies that evil had planted in my mind to make me doubt. I was so lonely and putting on the biggest show of my life to convince, not only others, but also myself that I was okay. I wasn’t really talking to God at all (more shame there). I didn’t really want to hear truth.
I finally got to the point where I couldn’t handle it any more. I couldn’t handle carrying the heaviness of the shame and hurt on my own. I got to a place where I was just crying on my bedroom floor, begging to Jesus, who I had been hiding from for months, for any help because there was no way that I could do it anymore. I could not handle or control it anymore.
So Jesus stepped in.
He didn’t show himself to me in a grand way. He didn’t bust down my door and force scripture down my throat. He didn’t give me a realization of all the answers I was searching for.
He started with providing a way for me to begin counseling. It was a safe space for me to start processing through my pain and what I had been through with someone who was a Christian but didn’t know me and wasn’t going to try to fix me with “Christian-ese.”
Slowly in these 45-minute sessions, God started working on the lies that I was believing. He started by searching my heart for what truth I still believed and went from there. Despite the lies that God had abandoned me or that God didn’t protect me, the one truth I couldn’t shake was that God is good.
Good: of favorable character or tendency // bountiful // can be relied on // full // kind // loyal // of the highest worth or reliability // true.
From there, God started to remind me that He has good plans for me (Jeremiah 29:11).
He reminded me that He weeps with me (John 11:33-35).
He reminded me that He works all things together for good for me (Romans 8:28).
He reminded me that He is love (1 John 4:8).
He reminded me that love protects (1 Corinthians 13:7).
He has been patient with me when I need to take it slow or take days off from the healing process. He has been kind and forgiving to me when I accuse him out of anger. He has had grace with me when I take steps back in the healing.
Today, I’m still suffering and hurt. I haven’t had a magical healing moment that I secretly wished for. I still think about the “what happened” on a daily basis, and I still feel paralyzed if I let it have control over me. I still cry and mourn parts of myself that won’t be the same again. I still wrestle with God over my big questions because I still don’t have answers.
But, I am doing better. I can now talk about it (with trusted people) and feel less shame. I can talk about counseling with just about anyone because I’m proud of myself for getting help. I can relate to people who have similar pain in ways that I couldn’t before. Good things are still happening for me even though I’m not fully healed. I know that it is okay to not be okay and to take steps back. I know that the lies I believed are nothing in comparison to the truth that God has been breathing into my life.
I believe that God can do all of this for you. Whether you are suffering from family hurt (past or present), failed or hurtful relationships, things that happened to you, or even things that resulted from mistakes you have made, I want you to know that God has grace for you. God has love for you. God has forgiveness for you. God has good plans for you. He has never stopped working for your good and His plans have never been altered. God is bigger than the suffering.
I want say a few things directly to you now that I really want you to know especially if no one has told you this lately or ever.
Your pain is valid.
Crying is okay.
Doing what you need to do to take care of yourself is important.
Counseling is not something to be ashamed of.
It is okay to have questions and to wrestle with God about them.
It is okay to continue on without answers.
It is okay to be angry with God. He can take it.
Jesus has already overcome the darkness, so please let Him take care of you in suffering. It is really hard and honestly impossible to do it on your own.
And please remember the truth that God is good.
“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
1 Peter 5:10
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33-34
Katy Gjovig is a college senior studying music business and living in Nashville, TN. She just so happens to have the best internship this semester with Live Original! She spends her time leading in her campus ministry, spending quality time with her best friends, and baking all the yummy treats.
by Nancy Alcorn | Mar 19, 2020 | Sisterhood, Testimonies
Note from Sadie: I am so excited to invite Nancy Alcorn, Founder of Mercy Multiplied, to share about the impact that their free residential program is having on women who are struggling with suicide, depression, sexual abuse, eating disorders, anxiety and more. God is using this ministry in incredible ways and I feel so honored to support them.
*THIS WEEK ONLY* we are partnering with Mercy to donate 500 ‘LIVE’ books to the women that walk through the doors at Mercy. My team and I have already donated and we would love for you to join us. Will you consider being a part of changing a women’s life today?
Click the image below to donate a book now and enjoy today’s post 🙂
____________
You were created for more.
I want you to understand this because suicide has become an epidemic in our society. Too many people are believing the lies that no one cares about them or that their life is no longer worth living. Chances are, many of you reading this blog know someone who chose to end their life. Maybe you have considered taking your own life. I am here to tell you there is hope and that God created you on purpose for His purpose and He has a great plan for your life!
When people who have been hurt hear that God has a plan for their lives, they often say, “If God’s plan looks like what I’ve experienced, I don’t want anything to do with Him.” I want to be clear with you, though: There are two plans for your life. God has a plan for you, and the enemy has a plan for you. And they couldn’t be more opposed to one another.
As the Founder and President of Mercy Multiplied, a free Christian residential program for young women ages 13-32, I have seen thousands of young women walk through our doors feeling hopeless and worthless.
These young women tried for years to “fix” themselves by changing their behaviors. Behavior modification does not bring healing and freedom and transformation from the inside out. Only Jesus can do that! We have to get to the root of our issues if we really want to live free and stay free! But you have to take the brave first step and ask for help. Jesus did not die for you and me so we could live in bondage. He died so we could walk in freedom and thrive!
Breanne is a 2013 Mercy graduate who was in Bible college when she made the choice to get help. She had struggled for many, many years before making that decision. But because she reached out for help, she is now living a full life.
I grew up in a Christian home with great parents and three younger brothers. I was a pretty carefree, happy-go-lucky kid and loved making people laugh. However, when I was 12 years old, my parents moved us to a new community for my dad’s new job. It was hard for me to make friends. I was hit so hard with depression and anxiety to the point where I could barely leave my parents’ side in public, even at church. My friendships became smaller and smaller and I started isolating myself and turning more inward.
As the depression set in, I started having dark thoughts like, ‘I am untouchable and unlovable. Would it even matter if I wasn’t around? Would anyone notice if I were gone?’ These thoughts escalated to, ‘You need to be punished for the way you are. You’re a horrible kid. You have a good family, you know God, and everything has been provided for you, so why are you struggling like this?’
I started believing these lies and started thinking about myself as ‘worthless’ and ‘garbage.’ I was physically unhealthy, friendless, and falling hopelessly behind in schoolwork. I decided I needed to be punished, so I began to self-harm.
When I was 15, we had new youth pastors join our church. They reached out to me and made me feel welcome in the youth group. I started to enjoy church again for the first time in years. But the darkness and loneliness at home increased, and I began considering suicide more seriously.
I graduated from high school and looked for a fresh start in Bible college. I knew if I could leave town, I would leave my issues behind and everything would be fine. I could finally move forward. For a while, it worked. I started gaining confidence and making friends, but I felt like a fraud because I didn’t feel like I had a relationship with the Lord. Isolation returned my sophomore year and I became depressed again.
I felt worthless and would compare myself to everyone. I thought to myself, ‘Nothing’s different. I still feel left out, hopeless. I brought all my problems here with me.’ The worse I felt, the more I refused to go out with my friends. I began to self-harm again and this time I ended up in the hospital twice during the fall semester of my junior year. I almost couldn’t bear the thought of my peers at school finding out. ‘You’re at a Bible college!’ I told myself. ‘You’re a Christian. You’re not supposed to struggle with suicide. What do you have to be depressed about?’
A peer at school told me about Mercy and I remember looking at her and saying, ‘that is a place for girls who are dying, that is not for me.’ And she looked at me and said, “Breanne, you are dying.” She had such seriousness on her face that it really hit me that I needed to get help.
I remember driving up the driveway at Mercy with my friend who came with me. I looked at her and said, ‘please don’t make me go in.’ I knew I needed to be there, but it was still so hard, especially making the decision to leave college.
When Breanne came to Mercy in 2013, God started bringing light to the darkness and showing her the lies that she was believing. He started replacing those lies with the truth that she was worthy of love, that her life was worth living. She was able to work through the pain of her past and allow God to bring a deep level of healing into her life. As she allowed herself to actually feel pain, the door opened for her to start feeling all emotions again – including joy and peace. As Breanne was able to truly feel again and no longer believed that she was “garbage” and needed to be punished, she wasn’t compelled to self-harm anymore. When her roots were exposed and uprooted, the life-controlling behavior no longer had a place to grow.
Another important part of Breanne’s journey was in learning how to forgive herself for her past choices. The enemy, who is also known as the accuser, had heaped so much shame and condemnation on her. Some of us may be able to accept and believe the fact that God has forgiven us, but like Breanne, we have a hard time forgiving ourselves. We may feel as if we are more in control and even experience a sense of safety by remaining angry with ourselves, but that control is deceptive. We must learn to fully receive God’s grace but also to extend that grace to ourselves.
When Breanne started to understand the truth of God’s good heart towards her and His good plans for her life, she was able to trust Him again. She learned that God is perfect in love and had only done good to her. It was never His desire for her to be hurt and rejected.
Breanne’s life was not only completely transformed, but she graduated from Mercy, she went back to Bible college, took summer classes and was able to graduate with her class. Today, Breanne works for a child and adolescent psychiatric residential treatment facility. Children ages 6 to 18 spend several months to a year on the locked and secure campus, each struggling with some kind of disruptive or life-controlling behavior. Breanne conducts individual, group, and family therapy sessions and gets to live life six days a week with the residents. The problems they bring — suicidal thoughts, self-harm, aggressive behavior — are not for the faint of heart, she says, but Mercy so impacted her with its example of effective residential care that Breanne wants to multiply the result from her own life into the lives of many others. She is living the full life God created her to live!
I want you to know that, through the power of Christ, you can overcome whatever issues or hurts you may be struggling with. You do not have to live your life under a list of labels or diagnoses. You do not have to stay in bondage to all of the things you have experienced, in fact, those are the very things that God will restore and use to be part of your testimony of freedom. Don’t waste another minute of your life living in bondage, thinking this is the way life is always going to be. There is no such thing as a life that cannot be transformed when someone allows God to work in their heart and life. He loves you and created you to do so much more than just survive, He created you to thrive!
You can watch Breanne’s testimony here.
If you are struggling or know someone who may need help, please visit www.MercyMultiplied.com for more information and resources.
Nancy Alcorn is the Founder & President of Mercy Multiplied, a Christian non-profit that offers free residential counseling for young women ages 13-32 and Outreach services that equip people to live free in Jesus Christ.
Stay Connected With Nancy Alcorn:
Twitter //www.twitter.com/nancyalcorn
Instagram //www.instagram.com/nancyalcorn
Stay Connected With Mercy Multiplied:
www.mercymultiplied.com
Facebook // www.Facebook.com/MercyMultiplied
Instagram // www.Instagram.com/MercyMultiplied
Twitter // www.Twitter.com/MercyMultiplied
by Marisa D'Amore | Jan 17, 2020 | Life Advice, Testimonies |
Note from Team LO: We are SO excited to bring you this month’s post from our LO Fam member, Marisa D’Amore! If you want to be a part of this global community, subscribe to our email list to the be first to know when our doors open!
When God calls us, we often feel the pressure of not being qualified because of our lack of experience as well as other insecurities. Interestingly, many of the heroic Bible characters were in the same position. Let us look at how these people initially responded when God called them and see how God responded to their doubts and fears.
Moses: “I cannot speak well.”
God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of Pharaoh’s oppression in Egypt into the Promised Land. Moses was a shepherd at the time of God’s call and he had certainly never had experience leading an entire nation.
The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt…So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:7,10-11)
The Lord replied by assuring Moses that He would be with him. He also told Moses what to say when the Israelites asked who sent him as well as what signs God would perform through him to show that he was sent by God.
Moses’ response to this seemingly impossible assignment was:
Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” (Exodus 4:10-12)
Moses was not eloquent, yet God was sending him to lead and speak to an entire nation? This seems outrageous! But God did not allow Moses’ perceived weakness to get in the way of His work through him. God reminded Moses that He is aware of his weakness and He will help him and be his source of strength.
After this encouragement, Moses pleads with God to send someone else because he does not believe that he is qualified. God responds with righteous anger and explains that his brother will help him speak to the people. (Exodus 4:14-17)
Moses ended up being a great leader of the Israelites. He gave God’s commands to the people, helped lead them out of Egypt into the Promised Land by following God’s orders and interceded for the people when they sinned.
These events show us that when God calls us to something, it will be impossible in our own strength. Thankfully, His strength and abilities are made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9) and this will enable His purposes to be carried out far better than if we could do it on our own. A position of leadership is not the time to take matters into our own hands. We are to depend on the Holy Spirit for what to say and what to do.
Jeremiah: “I am too young.”
Another great leader thought he was unqualified when God called him. Jeremiah reasoned that he was too young and, therefore, inexperienced. He also, like Moses, felt insecure because he did not know how to speak, yet God called him to be a prophet.
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 1:5-9)
In the midst of Jeremiah’s insecurities, God encouraged him not to fear because He would be with him. God explained that He had appointed Jeremiah to be a prophet before he was born. Again, we see God’s strength manifesting best in our weakness and inabilities. Jeremiah would go on to become a great spokesperson of the Lord and proclaimed with boldness the words God commanded Him to speak.
Gideon: “I am the weakest and lowest.”
God called Gideon to defeat Israel’s enemies. He is yet another example of someone who gave God many excuses as to why he could not fulfill his assignment.
When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” (Judges 6:12)
Gideon responded to the Lord by accusing Him of abandoning the Israelites and delivering them into the hands of the Midianites who oppressed them.
The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” (Judges 6:14)
God reminded Gideon that He was the one sending him, and therefore the mission would be successful.
Gideon countered this with another excuse:
“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.” (Judges 6:15-16)
Gideon was shocked that God would choose him, the weakest and lowest person. He insisted that he could not do what God had commanded him, but God reminded him that He was with him and would give him the power to accomplish his mission.
Me: “I am visually impaired.”
I can personally relate to feeling unqualified. I was born extremely premature, and as a result, I have limited vision in my left eye and no vision in my right eye. My visual impairment often leaves me feeling very insecure. Throughout my childhood, I subconsciously defined myself as “the visually impaired girl”. But this all changed during my high school years as God began to show me that my identity was found only in being His daughter. I have gained confidence in what the Lord says about me and know that I am more than one who lacks sight. I have seen God turn my weakness into strength as He called me to speak His name and share His word with others. I have shared my testimony at schools and churches in my local area, and all of this is possible because of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. I know that true strength is found in Him, and it is a joy to partner with Him in advancing His kingdom.
In conclusion, God’s call on our lives might seem impossible with our own strength, but with God’s strength, it can be done. And, all for the glory of God. Our weakness magnifies His power and abilities. It is not a limitation to be used as an excuse, but rather a catalyst for greater humility and dependence, which leads to greater power and effectiveness. God’s grace enabled an ineloquent speaker to lead a nation, a young and fearful person to boldly declare the word of the Lord and the weakest and lowest to defeat the enemy.
God does not allow our perceived weakness (in the case of Moses), our fears and insecurities (in the case of Jeremiah), or the labels the world ascribes on us (in the case of Gideon), to inhibit His purposes. God turns our weakness into strength and with Him, the impossible is a reality. He will give us the power to accomplish His will, all we have to do is depend on Him!
Related Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 1:26-27, Isaiah 41:10,13, 2 Corinthians 3:6, John 5:19
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by Paige Pollock | Dec 11, 2019 | Life Advice, Testimonies |
Note from Team LO: We are SO excited for today’s post! We have invited Sadie’s personal trainer, Paige, to write to us about our individual passions and calling. If you want more from Paige, you’re in luck! Paige has created a health and wellness study launching January 1st (exclusively for LO Fam) that will go over comparison, body image, identity, and more! Best part, we are giving you a MONTH free when you join the Fam today. Hope to see you there!
You were created ON purpose, WITH a purpose! The Lord has thought out every little detail about you, what you look like, what you are good at, what you enjoy, etc., and with all these details, together, we make up the body of Christ! Isn’t that crazy to think about?! 1 Corinthians 12, compares the human body to the body of Christ as an example of how we all need each other to be who we are designed to be, in order to be the best possible example of the kingdom of heaven to the world.
(v. 14-21) “Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?
But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”
God has put each part just where He wants it. God has created you with the desires of your heart for a reason. He has specific plans for YOU!
What is my calling? That is the million dollar question, right?! What am I supposed to do with my life? How am I supposed to figure that out?
Is it possible that we have over complicated this idea of your “calling?” To be honest, sometimes I think we can! I think that we are looking to drive past a sign that is supposed to give us a hint or we are just waiting for someone to help guide us. Can the Lord send you a message by driving past a sign or speaking though someone? ABSOLUTELY! He can speak to you however He wants! But, I also think it is possible that He has already gifted us with what we need and we just haven’t stepped into it.
He has put each part just where He wants it.
Where has the Lord put you? What are the gifts that He gave you? What are you passionate about? What doors has He opened up for you?
Paying attention to your answers to these questions will help lead you to where you are being called!
When the Lord brought me into the fitness industry, I had no idea about the fire that He would light inside of me. I knew that I enjoyed the process of helping people improve themselves, but little did I know the Lord had more for me. As I worked one on one with women everyday, I started to notice how women saw and talked about their bodies. The negativity made my blood boil. Not because this was the way that they felt, but more because I realized the grasp that the enemy has on body image and the way so many people view health and fitness. The enemy does not want us to be healthy and to feel confident. He wants us to fail on our wellness journey. This isn’t something that I could just sit back and be silent on. Over time, this has become a burden to my heart. There is a fire inside of me. The Lord has put me here, just where He wants me, and I must do something about it.
“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” ― Frederick Buechner
My home church here in Franklin, Tennessee did a study through Nehemiah and it was all focused on discerning your calling. My pastor, Darren Whitehead, said something that has really stuck with me since that study: “information brings obligation, when God gives you revelation.” Is there anything in your life that the Lord has taught you or shown you that the world needs to hear? When God puts a fire inside of you and gives you something you feel passionate about, what would it look like if you were to use your gifts to get this truth, this revelation, out into the world?
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
Everything that you have experienced – all trials, all celebrations – have led you to where you are today. He is working ALL things for good! All of our separate experiences, gifts, and passions are working together for HIS ultimate purpose. And you, my friend, play a very important role in all of this! The Lord’s calling on YOUR life is irreplaceable.
So what is your fire? What is the enemy attacking that makes your blood boil? What excites you? What gifts have you been given? What doors are open in front of you?
I want to invite you to put thought into these questions. Pray about it. Do some soul searching. Your calling might not lead you to quit your job, or it might. Calling doesn’t doesn’t always equal vocation. It is possible that the calling God has put on our lives can exist completely separate from the jobs that we have. I would argue however, it is more possible that the calling God has put on your life can be lived out through the job He already has you in. It often surprises people how much the calling God has placed on their lives directly coincides with the doors He has already opened for them. We don’t just get to do these things FOR God, we are doing these things WITH God! You have the King of Kings on your team. You have the same power that rose Jesus from the dead inside of you! And with that power, the Lord has put you RIGHT where he wants you. Friend, you have a calling and you have a purpose. The body of Christ needs who the Lord has designed you to be!
As an improver to her core, Paige has a passion for helping people become the best version of themselves! Most days you can find her training her clients or teaching boxing classes in Franklin, TN. She is a proud plant mom and a wife to her best friend.
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by ABLE | Nov 18, 2019 | Testimonies
Note from Team LO: We at Live Original absolutely LOVE supporting brands that stand for a larger hope and mission. That’s why we have invited our friend Jordan Soderholm, Fashion Director at ABLE, to share a story that will touch your hearts today. And for our readers ONLY, they’re giving us 20% off using the code LIVEORIGINAL20 through Monday (11/25). Visit their website now to learn all about their mission and to treat yo’ self!
When I first met my friend Crystal, she was both timid and kind. We come from totally different worlds. She has lived all over the country (and in Canada!), she has a tough relationship with her family, and overall has overcome some incredible circumstances in order to be where she is now – a jeweler at ABLE. I, on the other hand, was born and raised in Tennessee, surrounded by family and friends who were like family, and I stumbled into a job at ABLE because one of my beloved professors thought it sounded like a perfect fit for me.
Over the past couple of years, Crystal and I have built a beautiful friendship. She stops by my desk with pieces of my favorite dark chocolate smuggled from the jewelry studio, always brightening my day with her sparkle shoes and bright colored tops – sister loves some color! When my family went through a hard time, she spent hours making them a homemade card (more like a work of art) telling them that she was praying for them without having ever even met them. She’s truly a special person.
Last year, I had a panic attack that totally caught me off-guard. I’d never had one before, and in my mind, I was toooottalllyyyy fiiiinnnne. Except I wasn’t, and I didn’t know how to deal with what had just happened to me. Enter Crystal. Crystal has dealt with anxiety and depression throughout her adult life – but you’d never know it. Today, she’s a light in our workplace and a true joy to be around. She’s done the hard work of digging into the tough parts of life, working through them, and coming out even better on the other side.
When anxiety happens – it doesn’t make sense. There’s nothing you can do to “fix” it, but there are things you can do to put yourself in a better spot. My tendency was to completely isolate myself from all things, because I was scared that it would happen again. I didn’t want to burden or inconvenience anyone. But one of the biggest things I learned – which is totally the opposite of how I initially responded – is that leaning into people, and allowing them to sit with you in a messy spot, is important. So important that it’s literally how God created us!
Each of us is a part of the body of Christ, working with all of the other parts to make us whole. We were designed for community, and to not only carry our friends’ burdens, but allow them to do the same for us.
Crystal stepped into a really tough time for me, and directed me towards truth. She listened to me as I tried to process through something for the first time. She gave me suggestions of things that had worked for her – the Calm app is her fave. And she sent me daily encouragement via text or little post-its on my computer.
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you fulfill the law of Christ.” – Galatians 6:2
“…There should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” – 1 Corinthians 12:25-27
Obviously, you can see how amazing Crystal is. But the way Crystal loves those around her is because of the love of Christ in her. She’s diligent and self-aware and so faithful in her walk with Jesus – how could his love not shine through her?
I’m back on my feet once more, and now I have the honor of passing on that love and care I’ve received to those around me who are struggling. What greater gift is there than that?
About ABLE:
Founded in 2010 as a means to bring employment to disadvantaged women and communities reliant on charity, ABLE began as a single collection of scarves made by women in Ethiopia. ABLE has since become a lifestyle brand while remaining focused on the company’s mission: challenging the fashion industry by creating transformative economic opportunities for women to end poverty. The brand’s beautiful leather bags, handmade jewelry, denim, apparel and shoes are manufactured in the communities ABLE wishes to impact, both locally at the company’s headquarters in Nashville, T.N., and globally in Ethiopia, Mexico, Brazil, and India. For more information, please visit www.livefashionable.com.
About Jordan:
From the founding of fashionABLE scarves, Jordan Soderholm has grown from the company’s first intern in 2011 to her current role as Fashion Director, serving as the creative visionary behind ABLE’s modern lifestyle brand. She’s actually the reason ABLE makes their loved and bestselling leather bags – all because she wanted a leather tote herself. Driven by the idea that ethical fashion can be both cool and attainable, Soderholm is constantly finding balance in a trend-forward industry and the timelessness of ABLE’s dedication to social responsibility. Jordan resides in Nashville, T.N. with her husband Steve, dog Clooney, and a not-so-mild infatuation with all things leopard.
