Announcing Our Newest Collaboration

Are you beginning to think about Christmas gifts?

Us too! That's why we are so excited to introduce you to Amber 'Thompson' Colberg and her company, Prayerful Signs.

What is Prayerful Signs?

Prayerful Signs is a business who designs gifts utilizing acrostic poetry and prophetic prayer to offer words of life, truth and encouragement to people.

This bundle of custom inspired prints was made with prayer and intention to encourage a woman in her walk with Christ. All prints are black font on a white background.  The print set is offered at a discounted price of $30 (regular $45). In addition, if you use the code "BSG" at checkout, you will receive an additional 10% discount off your total order, including bundles, custom items and the BSG trio.

Shop early because custom Christmas orders are only being accepted until November 6th.

Meet Amber

• Brave Strong Girl is an affiliate partner with Prayerful Signs.

The Power of Hope

Never underestimate the power of hope.

The Bible gives us so many promises in Scripture around the topic of hope.

Recently, I started writing down various scriptures with the word hope. There are so many! But by the time I finished writing the 5th scripture (Jeremiah 29:11, Psalm 31:24, Romans 15:13, Hebrews 6:19, Romans 5:3), I noticed a pivot in my thinking. Suddenly, I begin to see hope as a reality. Like an overwhelming sense of expectation coming alive in my soul.

·         Expect doors to open

·         Expect your enemies to scatter

·         Expect shackles to fall off your feet so that you can dance

·         Expect your heart to sing again

·         Expect to fall more in love with Jesus and His Word

·         Expect to plant seeds of hope for others

Oh, my dear sister-friend, God’s Word is alive and active.

So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord! (Psalms 31:24) NLT

Rhonda Love

intercessor, business professional, advisory team lead

Welcome to the BSG Community

You are brave and strong.

“Most of us spend our lives trying to hide, overcome or even deny our weakness and fears, believing that our cracks and imperfections disqualify us from a life of influence and love. It never really crosses our mind that our weakness and fear are the place of hidden treasure from which courage and strength will spring forth. ”

— Jan Greenwood, Founder

“Brave Strong Girl is a community of spiritually-grounded women driven to boldly overcome fear and weakness through faith-based mentorship, connection, collaboration, and resources. 

Our goal is to connect women who feel called to a divine purpose to the true source of all power, Jesus Christ, so that they might serve others in a manner that glories God and builds up the faith of His people.”

For several years, we’ve been working on building a mentoring community for women.  It started out as a simple collection of resources in one easy location.  With time, our vision has grown.

• What if I could gather what we already have - friends, resources, stories of faith - and gather them in one beautiful place?

• What if we could use our own journeys to speak faith over fear and strength over weakness to one another?

• What if we could introduce a lot of women to not only anointed resources, but also to trusted Christian mentors?

• And what if we could do in an atmosphere full of grace, safety and empowerment?

In the Brave Strong Girl community, we believe that you are a warrior who has the ability to make a difference in the lives of others. A true warrior’s strength comes not from her tools, experiences or even her imagination, but rather rises from a divine call, a sense of purpose, and a holy hope that her experiences, pain and trials can be used to change her world and the world of those around her. She is empowered not by her own strength or courage, but by a constant dependence upon the Holy Spirit which presses her to rise above her fear and weakness.

Ready to check us out? Then begin by joining the BSG community on our private Facebook group. This is the best place to find out who you might already know and to make some new friends. We’ll keep you updated, encouraged and connected. And don’t forget to subscribe to our email list so that you will be the first to know about new blogs, resources and opportunities for gathering.

Stay tuned for great resources, powerful coaching and some amazing mentors.

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Every Battle by Rita Springer

This blog is a repost from September of 2016. Since it’s original publishing, Rita Springer has released her 10th album called Battles. If you find yourself in a fight for your life - then use this worship album as a weapon against discouragement and fear. As you worship, you will be revived, empowered and deeply encouraged to fight with power.

Read on to learn a little more about the feature track called Every Battle.

Rita Springer is my friend.

I mean it.

My friend.

I can hardly believe it.  That's why I wrote it out.

For years, her worship has impacted my life.

One time I worshiped among hundreds under her anointing.  I was transformed.

From then on, when I worship with her, I imagine I'm resting under her key board and I can feel the presence of God the way that she does.

She knows how to love, how to endure, how to worship and how to fight.

Recently, she stepped into my fight with cancer in a very personal way.

Every Battle is a new song of victory, recently released on a Gateway Create project called Voices.  This is the first ever project celebrating the female voices of Gateway Worship and can be purchased at any Gateway Church bookstore or online by clicking here.

Every Battle was partly inspired by her compassion for my fight. She and her fellow worship leader from Bethel Music, Kalley Helligenthal, partnered together to write one of the most beautiful and powerful anthems I've ever heard.

"I love words. When writing songs I stack my words around and then start trimming. Last winter I was standing in the kitchen and words hit me. We fight wars and battles in our lives daily. I felt it time to write a song and now a complete new record around fight, victory and God's defense! I want my words to be shouts of truth and bursts of declaration! Every Battle became just that!" - Rita Springer

Here is the official lyric video and full audio recording for your own private worship.  In addition, the story of Every Battle was recently featured in Gateway Life Magazine.  Here is the feature by Katie Smith.

This past week, she did a live recording for a new project.

The Project is called Battles.

If you missed it, watch this live video clip of Every Battle from a recording made by our mutual friend, Mary Beth Miller.

Every Battle

This is how she ended the evening...and what she had to say about it.

"I cannot even describe how grateful I am. Please hear me when I tell you that this is the kind of posture is what it will take for us to arise. I have been through the toughest of fights and I am still standing in this position to tell you, to shout out to you that God does not need our fake responses or our over performed sacrifices. He needs our openness and willingness to just let go and surrender to what he's more capable of accomplishing. If you ache, worship. If you war, worship. If you've been betrayed, worship. If you are under it and over it, worship. Our posture in the fire is what he looks for and sets his gaze on. I have wanted to give up but threw my hands up instead. Surrender is the road to dependence on Him."  - Rita Springer

This is how I want to worship.  This is how I want to war.  This is how I want to surrender. This is how I want to overcome.

To all my friends who face a battle - I offer my friend and her gifts to you.  God through her will lift us up.

Every battle belongs to the Lord.

Toxic Female Relationships

Many women have been deeply wounded by relationships with friends, sisters, or female coworkers that have turned competitive, slanderous, or even vengeful. From a young age, many girls experience the rejection, hurt, and mistrust that occurs when women war against one another.

I wrote Women at War in 2013 to address the harm of toxic female relationships and to offer hope and help to those who have been hurt.

Gateway Publishing recently addressed this issue on their author blog, featuring some of the content from Women at War. Click here to read the article.

If you have struggled with developing healthy female relationships, there is a way to move forward on the road to recovery.

Healed by Light and Sound

If you’ve ever had an x-ray or a radiation procedure - or if you or someone you love is facing this kind of treatment - be encouraged.

God still heals by light and sound.

Align Your Body and Experience Healing

Your body is a healing machine. It has a miraculous ability to heal itself. No one has to tell it what or how to do it. Yet, every day many deal with chronic sickness.

Why?

In this video blog, I share why and how alignment is a critical factor for your physical, emotional and spiritual healing. When what is missing, broken or out of place is properly repositioned we can heal.

The First 48 Hours

Receiving bad news is never easy. Shock comes quickly and so many unanswered questions often overwhelm us. It isn’t until later - looking back - that we can identify the miracles that were happening all along the way.

I recently shared my “First 48 Hours” with my Equip team at Gateway Church. They encouraged me to share with you this window into the moments following my diagnosis with breast cancer. Join me as I share about my first 48 hours and how God met in the midst of a really hard day.

Why Is Mentoring Such a Powerful Tool?

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

— Romans 15:13

Why is mentoring such a powerful tool?

With the launch of Brave Strong Girl I've been really pondering the fundamentals of mentoring. 

It's easy to get caught up in the form of mentoring:  is it training, teaching, coaching or advising?  Often the focus is on a path or pattern of development: is it one-on-one, small group, face to face or anonymous? 

All of these questions are important to a successful mentoring experience, but what is it about mentoring that makes it so effective?  Why do we find mentoring - whether formal or informal - as an integral part of our human experience?

I believe it's because mentoring is fundamentally about hope.

It has a natural stance that looks ahead and dreams about what could be.  It's the opposite of fear, which looks ahead and prophecies destruction.  Mentoring looks ahead and declares ability, capacity, fulfillment, transformation, confidence and even eternal purpose.

It is the intersection of two life experiences where one person looks back to extend a hand and say "come on, you can do it".  The other person dares to look ahead, stretch out their hand to grasp another and makes a leap of faith.

It is filled with potential and questions of what if.  What if I can?  What if it matters?  What if I change, grow, influence, or impact?

As a person of faith, the what if's go deeper.  What if I was born for this?  What if it's about more than me?  What if I have a purpose or a destiny that matters to me, to God, and to others?

Hope is a key to courage. 

The kind of courage that will take you past your weakness and your fear and cause you to become brave and strong. 

Hope is a necessity. 

It isn't a luxury.  Every human heart is shaped with a longing for our eternal purpose to be fulfilled.  This life is not just about getting into the doors of heaven.  It's about what we do now with what we have and it's eternal impact.

You need mentors because you need hope.

This life tends to wear down hope.  It drinks it like afternoon lemonade on a hot summer day.  If you let it, life can leave you dry and empty, looking backwards at what happened to you, rather than ahead toward what can be.

This is why the Word of God satisfies the thirst and hunger of the believer.  It is a mentoring tool provided by the Chief Mentor (God), given to us by the Chief Servant (Christ) and taught to us by the Chief Teacher (the Holy Spirit). 

And it is full of hope.

If you've been without a mentor, then get busy.  Open the Word of God and let it lead you.  Then find a community that will speak to your future in a brave new way.  You can begin right here with us.

Then just leap!

Other Posts That You Will Enjoy:

Mentoring is Fundamentally About Trust

Looking for a Few Good Men

Resource Recommendation:  Hope Prevails

Are You a Good Listener?

I’m not sure how I developed the habit of being a poor listener.

I have several theories:

• I am an only child, therefore I have a life-time habit of listening to myself before I pause to listen to anyone else. (This should explain so many things about me.)

• I am selfish. Although I am an enthusiastic listener, I am often eager for you to get to the end of your point so I can tell you about mine.

• I am impatient. I enjoy conversation so much that sometimes I fall into a dream state where I think we are in perfect step with one another, and that I intuitively know what you are about to say. In eager confirmation of my mind-reading skills, I will burst forth, interrupt and complete your sentence. (I almost never get this right, but somehow I keep right on trying.)

It’s taken me a long time (and a lot of awkward moments) to understand the finer points of conversation and just how far I tend to drift, but it wasn’t until I began to listen to the voice of God that I began to grasp the true value of intentional listening.

Do you need to work on being a better listener? Then sit down with me and we can learn together.

Lead Like a Boss

Have you ever worked for a boss who just would not lead? Or maybe you’ve had the dubious privilege of working for a leader who had high expectations but low communication skills. How about when a leader gives responsibility without the appropriate authority? Or when a leader lacks self-control and uses their emotions to force others into obedience?

It’s so frustrating when a leader doesn’t know how to or simply refuses to lead in a manner that empowers others to work toward success. When this happens, the whole team is stunted, other leaders go around the appointed leader or abandon the team, and results are greatly diminished. No one grows stronger and little is accomplished.

So why don’t leader’s lead well? A lack of self-awareness cripples many of us. It is so important that we know and understand ourselves more fully. We must grasp when our actions, style or behavior impacts others in a positive or negative manner.

A self-aware leader understands their own strengths and weaknesses, considers how their personality and delivery style impacts others and works on improving their communication and collaboration so that others can respond effectively to their leadership. Perfection is not required, but a consistent, humble growth in self-awareness will draw influence and release power.

The vast majority of people who bear responsibility for leading, desire to be an effective leader. However, simply being appointed or even desiring to be a leader doesn’t mean that a person has the character, skill, or courage necessary. Many leaders simply haven’t had the time, training or focus to develop a leadership style that empowers others. In addition, many have failed to make the connection between grace and growth.

When we lead by grace, we demonstrate a courage and confidence in how God created us – and we naturally extend the same grace to those who follow. People follow leaders who exhibit a compassionate understanding of where they are right now while empowering them to make courageous, faithful choices that help them become successful.

When we receive grace we are empowered. When we give grace we empower others.

Grace enables us to change, to become like Christ, to mature, to dream, to experience revelation, to become something and someone more than we have ever been. It involves the tenacious belief in the best version of who God created people to be and it refuses to let those we lead live beneath the vision of God’s highest dreams for their lives.

So how does grace translate to the everyday goals and responsibilities of leadership? What does it look like in the real world of team building?

Here are ten grace-filled tips to help you become a more empowering leader.

1. Go ahead and lead

Leadership development is a life-long process that is forged in the fire of leading. Becoming an empowering leader is not just about communication - talking or listening. It’s actually about what you model; what you do. Leadership inherently includes a responsibility to effectively steward the people, resources and opportunities set before us. So don’t let leadership paralysis overtake you. Whether you have a formal position of leadership or you are simply cultivating a leadership lifestyle, you can begin with what you have and where you are. Consider how you might encourage or help others achieve their goals within your current scope of influence. What strength or resources do you already posses that could be used to serve another’s vision? Set forth and model a leadership style that is worthy of emulating and inspires others to grow in productivity and maturity.

2. Assume people are capable

People tend to rise to our expectations. So what are you expecting? Do you have a fundamental faith in people or a fundamental distrust? If you believe that your team members desire to be successful and to contribute effectively to the mission, then demonstrate that belief by expressing confidence in their abilities. (If you don’t believe these things, then why are they on your team?) When you assume people are capable you will entrust them with assignments and responsibilities that are on the edge of their experience. This is how you find treasure in people. You believe in their potential, not just in their track record. This assumption may cause you some difficulties. After all there has to be room for failure, mistakes and learning curves. You may have to step up and help them accomplish the task or cross the finish line. You won’t know the potential in people until you begin to believe they are capable of more.

3. Cast vision

It is so important to learn to cast vision to your team. Teams, consumers and even communities are more motivated by the why of your mission, than by the how. Casting vision not only defines the “win” but also explains what is expected or required of the team. Often team members need to know “is what I am doing making a difference?” or “what’s the goal?” As you cast vision, make your words “salty”, seasoned with respect and confidence. Don’t expect people to stay excited about the mission if you aren’t excited about the mission. Work hard on improving your own communication skills so that vision casting becomes an inherent part of your leadership style.

4. Take more risks

Risk taking yields great reward. Not only should you take more risks, but consider giving others an opportunity to do the same. Clearly define the measurable and objectives, but leave more room for the strategy and tactics. If everyone has to accomplish every task the same way that you do, then you’ve limited your team and destroyed the creative potential within others. Try giving others more permission; permission to draw their own conclusions, determine their own applications; and steward their own portion of the work. Create meaningful and collaborative learning experiences and release others into greater authority.

5. Allow for and forgive failure

When you entrust and empower people with more confidence and authority, you will also be communicating that they have permission to try again. Failure is not the end. It’s only an opportunity to begin again. Allow others the freedom to make mistakes and they will extend the same grace to you. Take time to debrief all along the way so that you can strategize adjustments for the future and encourage others to try again. Keep your focus on how you can improve and don’t hold a grudge.

6. Provide resources and encouragement

Give people as many tools, training and resources as you can in order to equip them for their responsibilities. Sometimes we approach our mission from an attitude of lack or stinginess, expecting others to “produce more bricks with less hay.” Turn that approach around and generously resource your team for maximum effectiveness. Don’t withhold what is needed to facilitate the vision.

7. Build community

Do you want to accomplish big goals? You’ll need a lot of human resource. Everyone has an innate desire to be a part of something bigger than themselves. Whether you are building a product, selling a service, or leading a life group, you can invite others into your circle of influence so that together you might see a greater return for your investment. This naturally requires human contact. Make more time for people. You can go fast and take along only a few people or you can slow down and take along thousands.

8. Prioritize people over results

I realize this advice is counter culture to most of America’s leadership environments, but when you value people over what they can do for you or with you, you build healthy relationships. When you legitimately care about the people “on the mission” with you, you will naturally build empowering, creative, loyal communities who work more effectively with less supervision. What seems contrary to accomplishing the goal, can actually accelerate the collaboration of team and increase positive outcomes from the bottom line to team loyalty.

9. Be patient

It’s what you do and how you respond when emotions are running high, that reveal if you are an emotionally mature leader. We tend to lean heavily on the intelligence of people (their talents and skills), but it’s our emotional maturity that can trip us up or cause us to break through. People are naturally chaotic. All of us are moving from lost to found and need more grace. Make room in your leadership style to accept people where they are while encouraging them to move toward greater maturity.

10. Take time to celebrate

Often we fail to stop and acknowledge the positive changes and impacts we are looking for. We simply rush to set the next milestone. This can result in discouragement to those who follow. Consider creative measures for recognizing great results. Give away the credit for success to others. Find a way to commemorate important achievements and build reward into your recognition. Public recognition for a job well done inspires the whole team to achieve with excellence and builds tremendous loyalty from the one who is recognized.

Having a team that is empowered and functioning well is the dream of every leader. It will take more than exceptional talent to create that team; it will require the sacrifice of a servant leader mixed with a strong dose of grace.

Are you an empowering leader?

Are You a Safe Person?

A safe person is someone who listens without condemnation, keeps your sharing confidential, and supports and guides you toward the Love of Christ.  John Maxwell

How to provide a safe environment

1. Listen intently while others share using good eye contact and focused attention

2. Share your honest feelings and experiences. Others won't feel safe to share their shameful feelings if you refuse to be real. Authenticity breeds authenticity.

3. Affirm encourage and give specific validations for other self-disclosure. Share with them how their stories have touched you personally. (that must be hard.)

4. Balance sharing time within the group by inviting other members to speak. Listen more speak less. Ask questions instead of telling. Don't try to be the Holy Spirit. Invite him to speak to them.