Ever wrestled or roughhoused to the point where it got out of hand and were told to take it outside?
Some issues are not delicately struggled with indoors. We have to step outside and take care of them.
Read about real faith in "Morning Coffee" where my good friend, writer and newspaper columnist, Renae Brumbaugh, posted "Take It Outside."
Living free, quite frankly, is no fall cakewalk. Fear binds me all up – binds me to expectations, religion, and sure-fire failure. I can never measure up to other’s expectations, religion’s rules, or perfect pastor-wife’s position. But I‘ve found a secret to living free from all that.
It’s really a one step process: Take love and be filled to overflowing. As I’ve learned through difficulties, God is all I need, all I want, and nothing else can fill that place.
It’s love, true love that’s the key to living free and casting off cords that bind. My life verse is “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”(2 Tim. 1:7) Out of love comes power and self-discipline; timidity and fear melt away. I pray this verse when fear strikes.
Perfect love comes from personal relationship with God. Freedom to live as a Christ follower doesn’t come from religion’s rules, but flows out of love for God. Ironically, this freedom requires more of a commitment. It’s about relationship with God and proper relational etiquette rather than rules of “churchianity.” A self-discipline. See previous verse. We have to mind all the checks the Holy Spirit gives. That’s way beyond a set of rules handed down from generations of church going people. The only way to receive the promptings and checks of God is to have personal dialogue with God – a personal relationship.
I offer a personal introduction to God as well as a set of communication exercises in iGETitLIFE with Purpose. The exercises are not set in stone. They are only coaching exercises to get your dialogue with God started on a personal level.
But first comes the introduction. We must realize we don’t measure up and see our need for God. That’s called sin. No matter how big or small, we all have it. But if you don’t feel the need for God, it won’t do any good to introduce you to him. If you desire an introduction, after realizing your need, you simply tell God you need him. “God, I’ve made a mess. I’ve sinned. I need you. Please come into my life, change my heart, and become my master giving me prompts and helping me follow them. God, I need you. Thank you for listening.”
If you talked with God like that and meant it with everything that’s in you, you are a Christ follower – one who is committed to following Jesus. At this point you have all the love you need to live free, but . . .
You have to live it out. It’s harder than living up to expectations and rules, but it’s freer. Fear will push you back into expectations and rules. Love will draw you deeper into the sacred relationship. Every moment is a choice, love or fear. One is freedom the other bondage.
Choose well, my friends. God’s grace will cover you in repentance.
I’m passionate about sharing God’s love and I’ve found a marketing truth that applies to the spreading of anything. Social networks have proven their ability to share news. I want to share some of what I’ve found in the way of links, books, and webinars to help you understand this new world of marketing where advertizing doesn’t work as in the past.
I heard Seth Godin at the Catalyst Conference and received a free copy of his book, Tribes. It’s a great eye-opener to the thought processes of spreading news today. I recommend Seth’s book.
PyroMarketing by Greg Stielstra, VP of Marketing at Thomas Nelson Publishing, is available as a free audio download. He builds a good visual with fire that helps understand marketing in today’s world.
Twitter is micro-blogging. Get twitter educated with blog posts from Michael Hyatt, CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers, or Terry Whalin, a literary agent.
Facebook, a social network, works great to connect people. To learn how to spread news and use it to touch lives, read free download e-book, Facebook for Pastors.
Looking for a webinar to teach us more. (Coming soon)
Watch it. The fun waits, mixed with great inspirational teaching and stories. You don’t want to miss out. Something great is in store for you. See the video and find more information at www.iGETitLIFE.com.
The video is on YouTube.
Join my friend, national speaker and author, Vonda Skelton, and award winning worship leaders Tasha Fox and Brenda White for a spectacular weekend September 18th – 20th 2009. Great breakout sessions and time for a refreshing focus on Sacred Relationship is also yours if you sign up before space runs out. We are limited in the number of ladies that can attend, but the sky is no boundary to the fun and encouragement that can be had. I look forward to hearing from you and spending a great weekend together!
See you there!
Robin
PS. Don’t forget to register at www.iGETitLIFE.com.
iGETitLIFE 21 Day Challenge Wins 20 Day Reunion in Navasota TX
A group in Navasota got serious about the iGETitLIFE 21 Day Challenge and decided to encourage, help and hold each other accountable, to stay the course and designed a 20 Day Reunion to inspire each other and bring new ones into the challenge.
Aren’t they a marvelous bunch?
November the 13th is the scheduled 20 Day Reunion and I’m so excited they have asked me to join them. I look forward to hearing awesome stories of how God met them in the Quiet Place.
As people draw close to God, often difficulties come or struggles get worse. Part of the group recently shared some hard things they’re facing. Please pray with me for their continued commitment to find God in the challenge and peace in their situations.
“Stripped of myself, stripped of religion . . ., I had nothing before God. I drug my worthless emptiness to him anyway. I didn’t know what else to do. I had nowhere else to go. But what I found when I got there was an intimacy with my Heavenly Father that I had never known. An intimacy that might never have been mine if not for suffering.”
Karan Standley’s story powerfully demonstrates God’s redemptive nature of taking ordinary people – with not-so-pretty pasts – and using them to do extra-ordinary things. I met Karan at an event last month and was intrigued by her passion.
Karan, please share your experience with us.
“What I viewed as an ending was really just a beginning. When my first marriage died – and I say died because it was a long, slow death – I thought that I would sit upon a shelf until I died or the Lord returned. I really did. I’ll never forget a conversation with my mom, "Karan, now God is going to do something!" I laughed and thought. "Great!" I had been stripped of me and religion, but eventually found an intimacy with my Father that I had never known. My wants were few, and I never expected to teach Sunday school or lead a ladies’ Bible study again. I was okay with that. I only wanted Jesus and this new found intimacy with God.
But God had other plans. A second marriage. A pastor’s wife, me! Using me to encourage women to follow hard after him. God has surely put a new song in my mouth and given me a new name. I have a passion to see women set free from religion and learn to sit at the feet of Jesus. And all of this came only after I lost everything that I held dear. What I find most extraordinary about my life is that I have survived what I always said I could not. I have more than survived. I am thriving. But it is not due to anything I have done – it is all God!!! An ordinary life always becomes extraordinary when placed in God’s hands with no strings attached.
Total surrender. I know He gives beauty for ashes – not just because His Word says so, but because I am living proof. I’m always amazed at the number of women who feel just like I felt: unworthy, no good, a failure, useless. The fact that God allows me to minister to them knocks my socks off! I told God that I would be faithful to share my story to encourage others. But I didn’t know that He would take me up on it! I praise Him today because He delights in using broken vessels. That’s me: broken, but not forsaken.
I haven’t always liked my testimony. It’s not pretty. It’s messy. Ugly. Wrong. But people don’t need to hear another fairy tale story. They need to hear about someone’s less than perfect life and how they overcame it. I’m amazed at the growth that has come from suffering. The peace. The contentment. This place of quiet acceptance is very freeing. Maybe that’s the most extraordinary part: that God took a woman wrapped in religion and set her free in Christ. That He uses her to help others find their way to Him and freedom. Yeah, that’s me: a freedom fighter.
Robin, there is so much more I could say, but I often feel like people are thinking, "Will she ever shut up?" So, I thank you for listening to a portion of my story, for wanting to hear my story. I’m honored and excited every time someone asks me to share my testimony. Yes, the one that I despised at first has now become my joy to share. I understand your feeling that you would rather share your story than eat your next meal. I’m so there. Isn’t God just awesome?!!!! So press on, knowing that you are being lifted up to our Father in prayer.”
Thank you Karan, for sharing how God, in his great love, mercy, and grace, takes our broken, ordinary lives and does extraordinary things through us. It has been my joy to help you share.
Post a reply with how Karan’s story has encouraged you. It would delight me to help you share your story as well. If you have a story that would encourage others please contact me at Robin@RobinBryce.com.
I plopped face first in a pile of emotion. Near tears, but refused to succumb. What would the kids think? I felt overwhelmed, unworthy, and unable. Pick an area of life–any area. I was totally unfit to accomplish anything I was supposed to do in all areas of my life. I had so many good and necessary tasks to carry out and fulfill God’s calling on my life, but looming over me was a sense of utter inability and sure-fire failure. This feeling was all in my head . . . or was it?
I had the same twenty-four hours as others to accomplish the actions items that overloaded my table. What to do first? Do I have what it takes? What if I mess up? Living life was frightening. Dying seemed a respite of peace. But before dirt is thrown in my face, would anything I’ve done, said, or stood for be considered beautiful, jaw dropping, or worthy? I was called to share the encouragement of Christ, but there were so many steps, means, and ways to do it that confusion and frustration concerning my lack took over and I found myself in need of the encouragement I was to give. I wanted to hang it all, find a hole in the sand and stick my head in it. It was too many things to do, too many choices to make, and not enough of me to go around.
Since I was a leader, speaker, and writer, and my life an example (at least to my kids), I did what any powerless leader might do. I lay in an emotional heap, bare before God and open before his Word for the day’s reading. God spoke . . .
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ (Oh yes. Lord, I have much encouragement from our relationship.), if any comfort from his love (Yes, your love and acceptance is great comfort in my inability and insecurity.), if any fellowship with the Spirit (How sweet is the fellowship with you, your Spirit, and your word! It is better than life, and makes life worth living.), if any tenderness and compassion (You are tender and compassionate with my frailties and shortcomings. I will be filled with the same for others.), 2 then make my joy complete (Thank you! Because of your work in and through me, you make me completely joyful.) by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose (In unity of mind, love, spirit, and purpose with you, I can be and do all you call me to do.). 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Yes Lord, I will not consider anything related to myself, rather relish in your love and acceptance and build others up.) (Phil. 2:1-4, NIV).
I learned five essentials to a successful life for overcoming mountains of insecurity, conquering heaps of responsibility, and fulfilling God’s purpose for my life.
Humility. Effective leaders are servants. Servants consider those they serve as more important than themselves. Leaders place their needs aside to serve the needs of others. Authentic leadership doesn’t seek to make a name for themselves, but to build up those they serve. Genuinely effective leaders are created in time spent with God.
Prayer. Effective leaders are in constant communion with God. They know their power to lead comes from God alone, and without prayer their leadership is less powerful, original, and creative. Prayer makes a good leader better.
Word. Effective leaders find guidance and direction in God’s Word. They know without the truth of scripture there is no hope, no point to work towards. Servant leaders search God’s word for direction and leadership for their own lives then translate what they learn to lead others.
Follow Through. Effective leaders lead. They follow through in all the ways in which God leads. That sounds elementary, but this is where the well intentioned remains only intentions. They don’t do it all perfectly. Authentic leaders are not only willing to lead, but honest enough to understand not everything they try will work. Good leaders are quick to evaluate, try a new tactic, and keep at the job in the face of failure. Thomas Edison said, "I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work." Follow through is key to success.
Assistance. Effective leaders look for ways to include others. They know their limitations and "staff" to their weaknesses. God provides helpers to complement our weaknesses. "Look to the hills from whence our help comes" (Psalms 121:1). Good leaders know the more they empower and include others to serve the more creative and effective are the outcomes.
My near tears of discouragement turned into joy and compassion. I gained a renewed purpose to continue working at the increasing load on my table knowing that it is God who called and he is able to finish what he started with me, his imperfect instrument (2 Tim 1:12). With God all things are possible (Matt. 19:26). "Pay attention to the ministry you have received in the Lord, so that you can accomplish it." (Col. 4:17, HCSB). I am eager to watch God move this mountain of responsibilities, inabilities, and frailties to make a splendid wonder out of my nothing. How great is our God!
previously posted on July 29, 2008 at www.VondaSkelton.com
"I’m so excited to introduce our guest blogger, my friend, author and speaker, Robin Bryce. Robin and I met years ago in Knoxville, TN, when we both attended a CLASServices seminar for speakers." Vonda Skelton
Ordinary, local girl gets a talking to. (Not uncommon for this girl. I know her. She gets into stuff.) 
A news reporter interviewed me because I was invited to speak on a Christian Caribbean Cruise. Talk about an ordinary girl getting to do awesome things. The invite and interview filled me with awe over what God can do.
Check the story out online in The Courier: Houston Community Newspaper. Information about the March 30th – April 5th cruise is included in the article.
If that interview wasn’t cool enough, Eric Canaday of Christianity Unplugged asked me to be a special guest on his Blog Talk Radio Show. (Yeah, I know. Unbelievable isn’t it. The only thing special about me is the stuff I get into!)
I look forward to visiting with Eric and discussing what it means to live free from things like fear, religion, and expectations of others. (Do you think a preacher’s wife will have any confessions on those topics?) For some of the discussion points click here.
Tune in and check it out on November 11th at 7:00 pm Central Time. Listener questions will be received and answered in real-time. Ha, what fun.
I’m amazed at the willingness of God to use ordinary me.
Eric Canaday Blog Talk Radio interview on Christianity Unplugged.
Click here for call in questions. Tuesday, November 11th, 7:00 am.
When: November 7 & 8, 2008
Where: North Point FWB Church
17018 FM 1314
Conroe, TX 77032
936-697-0786
Accommodations: Drury Inn & Suites
28099 I45 North
The Woodlands, TX 77380
281-362-7222
Cost: $40.00 for Retreat and Meals
See Registration for Special Room Rates!
www.iGETitLIFE.com
Contact info: Robin@RobinBryce.com
936-449-5571
