It’s about ministry.

My speaking, my facilitation, my writing all ignite my passion when I’m able to use those gifts in ministry-related settings. When I can incorporate faith-based principles into content, when I can pray with groups about their direction and purpose and use Scripture to encourage people – those are the times when I’m most alive!

That may be all I know for sure at the moment.

It’s scary because the mere suggestion that I want to work with churches, ministry organizations and Christ followers who are business owners/business professionals has the potential to alienate me from a lot of great folks I’ve met and worked with in the last two years. Nonetheless, I know this is where I’m heading. My whole life has been moving towards this.

I still have a ton of questions like:

• What specific areas of work make the most sense for me?
• How do I balance my desire to serve with my desire to contribute to my family?
• With a finite amount of time available, how do I spend my time wisely in order to get the best possible return – from a kingdom perspective and from a financial perspective?
• What are the next steps I should be taking?
• How do I balance the need to plan and follow that plan, with the need to follow the voice of the One who said, “go to a land I will show you,”?

For now, it’s just one step at a time. Starting with this blog post.

What about you?
When has God called you to a new thing and how have you navigated that time in your life? In your business? In your ministry? (I really want to hear your feedback on this one!)

(Creative Commons graphic on Flickr by Purpleslog.)

So I thought I would write a love letter to God. But God said, “Be still.”
Then I thought I would read more of the Bible. But God said, “Be still.”
Music! Music always helps me worship. But God said, “Be still.”
So instead, I thought I should journal. But God said, “Be still.”

“But God, don’t I have to DO something?
READ something?
PRAY something?
WRITE something?

How can I just ‘BE STILL?’
It’s so counter to culture, society, church – to life?”

“Be still.”

“OK – You want me to ‘Be still?’ (Sometimes I’m a slow learner.) I will. Pen down. Now….”

…So I went outside to be still, just in time to hear the bells chime 12 times for it was noon. But God was not in the bells.

And I heard the leaves in the trees rustling in the breeze. But God was not in the breeze, nor in the leaves.

And I heard the sound of a lawn mower whirring in the distance. But God was definitely not in the lawn mower. (Can I get an “Amen?”)

And I heard the bees buzzing busily around me as I sat on the deck. But God was not in the bees.

And I heard the birds in the neighborhood and in the woods behind my house, singing beautifully. But God was not in the birds nor in their song.

And finally, I was still. I felt the breeze on my cheeks and relished the sun’s gentle kiss on my skin (for it had been raining for what seemed to be 40 days and 40 nights). Just then, a fly landed on my arm. And God was in the fly (not literally, lest some confuse me with a pantheist). I watched it for a bit, realizing that flies don’t land on moving objects. When I’m so busy doing – I don’t give God the chance to simply love on me.

I know what it’s like to love a child unconditionally. At night when I lie down to say prayers with Hannah and Morgan, I hold them and tell them how much I love them. I lovingly place my hand on Morgan’s head as he snuggles into my chest, or sometimes gently sweep locks of hair away from Hannah’s face so I can gaze into her eyes. And together, we share this beautiful moment of intimacy, not based on actions nor behaviors. The good and bad of the day somehow fade away and we simply enjoy being with one another.

When I send Jake or Michaela out the door to catch the bus, I stop them in their haste to be “first,” so I can get their attention. I place their faces in my hands, look them directly in the eyes and say, “Have a good day. I love you.”

And I remind all of them that if I lined up all the little children in the whole wide world, I would choose them to be my sons and daughters.

But I don’t always understand how to be loved like that by God. I have my moments when I slow down long enough to allow him to land on me (like that fly) and pour out His love towards me. But sadly, those times are few and far between. I’m often so busy telling God and showing God how much I love Him, that I don’t give Him time nor permission to love on me.

But today, I got it right. I was still and I knew that He was God.

Today, I got this email from my friend Laura:
“I was reading this Scripture verse yesterday and your face came before me:

My heart is overflowing with a good theme;
I recite my composition concerning the King;
My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
Psalm 45:1”

You can bet those words jumped out at me!

READY WRITER.

Coincidence or God Moment? What do you think? And have you ever had the sense that God was asking you to say a prayer or share a passage with someone?

I’m thankful for obedient people who have been faithful to sow good things into my life. May I be found likewise, faithful.

Transition is Hard
If you’ve ever gone through childbirth (as the one giving birth or the one assisting), you know that transition is the most difficult time of all. The pain is more intense; it comes more frequently, and lasts for longer periods of time. It’s also the most critical. The way we approach transition shapes not only the process, but the outcome as well.

Maybe you’re in a time of transition right now. You’ve been laid off, a casualty of your company’s response to the economy. Or maybe you’re about to be and you’re just waiting for the other shoe to fall. Maybe you’re facing a move to a new location because you’ve found a job in another area. Whatever the case, this time of transition can be painful.

If you’ve built your identity around your job, chances are you’re facing an identity crisis in the midst of your transition.

My Own Transition
Last week I emailed a few close friends to ask them to be praying for me as I further refine God’s call on my life, my business, my writing and speaking. For the last few months, I’ve been sensing the approach of transition and I can’t quite see what’s around the corner. Or if I stick with the childbirth analogy, I can’t see the head crowning.

I enjoy working with groups and speaking. I’m energized when I facilitate sessions on behavioral preferences, social media, or generational differences in the church. I like blogging about business, social media, faith and family. I’ve written a couple of children’s stories that have been particularly meaningful to kids in transition/crisis. I love sharing my faith journey with others. But it all seems sort of frenetic.

I’m in transition and frankly, it’s a bit scary. I’m reminded of my son, Morgan. A little more than 11 years ago, he was almost born on the sidewalk of Virginia Baptist Hospital. I’m not kidding. My transition was hard and fast. I didn’t have time for drugs and I was screaming.

I feel a little bit like that now.

Wise Words
This morning, I received an email from Kelli, one of the friends I emailed last week. She sent me the following words (I’ve slightly edited for space) from God, taken from the Bible yet personalized for me. And they blessed me. Maybe they will bless you as well.

“Cheryl, I created you for my pleasure (Ephesians 1:3-8), not because of what you could do for me or what you would accomplish (Romans 4:3) but simply because I love you (Isaiah 43:4).  Even before I made the world, I loved you and chose you (Ephesians 1:4)…Believe me and let me delight in you (Psalm 147:11). Make me your treasure (Isaiah 33:6). And know that this blessing is forever (2 Samuel 7:28, 29).”

Here’s What I Know
My friend’s email blessed me because it was straight from the heart of God. She didn’t try to share her own biased opinion. She’s wise enough to know that God’s word accomplishes what He intends.

My identity isn’t tied into my personal brand. Hmmm. Even as I write those words, there’s a sense of freedom. My identity is in Christ. Plain and simple. I don’t have to brand myself perfectly to God. He created me. He knows everything about me. And He loves me just the way I am. If you’re facing a career transition, remember that your identity (your worth) isn’t tied into your job, your employer or your paycheck.

There might be more to unpack. If so, I’ll save that for another post.

What About You
Are you in a time of transition? Where are you seeking counsel? Who is praying for you during this time? Are you trying to tie your personal brand or your career into your identity? And if none of those apply to you, how are you being the kind of friend to others who blesses in the midst of transition?

He then said for twenty years or so, he’s been volunteering in the jail, teaching life skills to inmates in a work release program. He asked me if I’d be interested in helping. He went on to share a little bit of his story with me and in less than five minutes, he showed great passion for the work he’s been doing.

As it turns out, I’ve known Roger, peripherally, for many years. He used to play tennis with my ex-husband (more than a tennis elbow ago) and he’s been delivering my mail for a couple of years. Roger said he works well with men, but he truly believes “Men are from Mars, Women Are from Venus.”  And he thought I might be able to speak to the women at some point.

I couldn’t help but think of one of my favorite books, Vital Friends, which studies the science of friendship. The book actually begins with a story of a lady named Maggie, who overcame homelessness because someone “expected her to be somebody.”

Like so many things in life, I don’t see clearly how things will take shape. I do know that I saw God in the eyes of a mailman today. And I gave Roger my business card.

When and how has God surprised you recently? And who are the Vital Friends in your life who have expected you to be somebody?

We ended the tour outside on the deck, where we talked about ideas. It was dusk and Little Bit had just had her bath. She came outside in her long, white cotton slip/nightgown, complete with a ruffle at the bottom. Her hair was still wet and amazingly, she was quiet (the girl can talk!) as we discussed design ideas.

At one point in the conversation, my 6’5” husband looked down at Little Bit and said tenderly to her, “You want that; don’t you?” I hadn’t realized it at the time, but Little Bit was intently eyeing at least one firefly that was just out of her reach. Peter saw the desire of her heart and without any effort at all, reached up, cupped the firefly in his hands and lovingly gave her the tiny light.

The look on her face was priceless! She was so elated to have the very thing she wanted, and she entertained herself with it for the next while.

The lesson here, though, is not about the joy of receiving unexpected gifts, or being the recipient of someone else’s abilities. Rather, the lesson for me that day was about the love of a father for his child. Specifically, I witnessed firsthand how my husband loves his little girl and when he has the ability to do something nice for her, he does. It’s that simple really. No effort required.

That night, I believe Peter painted me a picture of God like I had never seen before. Peter showed me that God is like a Father, who loves His children, and desires to give good gifts to them. And for God, it’s no big deal to provide such gifts.

I’m thankful that Little Bit and her brother, as well as Sweet Pea and Ninja Boy have a living example of a loving father/stepfather, who is painting a beautiful picture for them of our own Heavenly Father.

One final note, I’m currently reading The Shack and was struck by a thought in the book when Mack, the main character, wrestles with why God is so often referred to as father. He didn’t have the best fatherly example of God. The author says that sense Creation is so broken, the need to point people to a loving Father is all the more important. You’ll have to read the book to get the full picture.

I’m blessed today, and every day, to see a loving Father relate to our four children in a way that paints a beautiful picture of God.

Happy Father’s Day, Shmitty!

Since I started my own business, I’ve been so worried (stressed lately) about the direction and which way I should go. This morning when I was having my quiet time, I was really praying for God’s guidance. I remembered a Bible verse in the recesses of my mind that said, “He teaches us in the way we should go.” (or is it ways?)

That parenthetical question led me to my concordance to look up way and ways to see if I could find the exact verse. Then it hit me…”way” Isaiah 30:21. As I was reading, “your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘this is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.”

So here I am these last few weeks, in a state of self-imposed limbo, because I wasn’t exactly sure what my business model should look like – corporate focused (which up front pays the bills and helps provide for the family) or faith based (which is where my heart is).

The truth is, they don’t have to be mutually exclusive and God will be whispering to me along the way, or maybe even shouting, “no Cheryl – this way!” or perhaps, “You’re on the right path. Keep moving in this direction.”

The picture is of God, speaking directly to me when I start to get off course. He’s there, filling my ears with his directions, guidance, leadership. Because He loves me. He’s faithful. And He’s the One who called me into this business in the first place.

When was the last time you cried? And why?

P.S. Jon Swanson gave me the idea to take a picture of my journal. You should check out some of his stuff.