(from a recent interview – Karen was interviewed by Dr. Sharon Johnson of Comtivate C2M)
[During COVID-19 Shelter-in-Place Spring 2020]
We’re all hunkered down (ooops, that’s a Texas/Southern term!) and living in uncertain times. And I don’t know about you, but one of the first things I did was look to my trusted leaders for community, encouragement, and wisdom. I looked to God’s Word, the Bible; to the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control (not wanting to get caught up in the media hype); to my husband, to my daughter (a Family Nurse Practitioner); to my coaches – the John Maxwell Team; and to my own team (because they will look to me for leadership and hold me accountable to lead well and they will be supportive and offer me wisdom in return).
In this series of Blogs, we will talk about:
Why leadership and engagement are so important during uncertain times,
What Christian leaders can and should do during uncertain times, and
Some favorite Christian resources (Scriptures, quotes, books, podcasts, etc.); and we hope you’ll share your advice with us as well in the comments below!
Recommended Scripture & Resources for Christian Leaders During Uncertain Times
Here are some of my favorites.
Scriptures
Psalms
Much of the Bible is filled with stories of lament and struggle and more importantly, overcoming adversity through God’s Presence and Power!
Consider Psalm 77:
God gives you words to say during uncertain times!
Are you crying, weary, troubled?
Asaph was too.
God gives you questions to ask during uncertain times!
Are you wondering where God is and what He’s doing?
Asaph was too.
God reminds you Who He is during uncertain times!
Are you needing to hear, over and over, God is a God who works wonders?
Asaph was too.
Psalm 77 English Standard Version (ESV)In the Day of Trouble I Seek the LordTo the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph.
God gives you words to say during uncertain times!
Are you crying, weary, troubled?
Asaph was too.
77 I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and he will hear me. 2 In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted. 3 When I remember God, I moan; when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah
4 You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. 5 I consider the days of old, the years long ago. 6 I said,[a] “Let me remember my song in the night; let me meditate in my heart.”
God gives you questions to ask during uncertain times!
Are you wondering where God is and what He’s doing?
Asaph was too.
Then my spirit made a diligent search: 7 “Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable? 8 Has his steadfast love forever ceased? Are his promises at an end for all time? 9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” Selah
God reminds you Who He is during uncertain times!
Are you needing to hear, over and over, God is a God who works wonders?
Asaph was too.
10 Then I said, “I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.”[b]
11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. 12 I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds. 13 Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? 14 You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples. 15 You with your arm redeemed your people, the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
16 When the waters saw you, O God, when the waters saw you, they were afraid; indeed, the deep trembled. 17 The clouds poured out water; the skies gave forth thunder; your arrows flashed on every side. 18 The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind; your lightnings lighted up the world; the earth trembled and shook. 19 Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen.[c] 20 You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
[added from footnotes – I love this translation’s research (again, I’m a “knowledge junkie”)]
25 Then Jesus exclaimed, “Father, thank you, for you are Lord, the Supreme Ruler over heaven and earth! And you have hidden the great revelation of your authority from those who are proud and wise in their own eyes. Instead, you have shared it with these who humble themselves. 26 Yes, Father, your plan delights your heart, as you’ve chosen this way to extend your kingdom—by giving it to those who have become like trusting children. 27 You have entrusted me with all that you are and all that you have. No one fully and intimately knows the Son except the Father. And no one fully and intimately knows the Father except the Son. But the Son is able to unveil the Father to anyone he chooses.
28 “Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to me.[o] Many times Jesus said, “Come after (follow) me,” but only here does he say, “Come to me.” See Ex. 33:14; Matt. 23:4.
I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis.[p] 29 Simply join your life with mine.[q] Or “Bend your neck to my yoke.” The metaphor of a yoke is that it joins two animals to work as one. It is not simply work or toil that is the focus here, but union with Christ. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle,[r] “tranquil” or “peaceful.” humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me.[s] The Aramaic could be translated “Come to me and I will cheer [refresh] you. I am cheerful [refreshing] and humble in heart, and you will find cheer [refreshing] for your soul.” 30 For all that I require of you will be pleasant[t] “kind” (or “delightful”). and easy to bear.”[u] Ps. 55:22.
“This is the first point to be made: and the first action to be taken is to pull ourselves together. If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb when it comes find us doing sensible and human things—praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts—not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs. They may break our bodies (a microbe can do that) but they need not dominate our minds.”
He has had a lot to say about leading through crises these last few weeks. He has encouraged us to put people first, educate ourselves with the truth, be flexible, leverage our team to minister to other people, communicate judiciously, and be authentic.
He reminded us that crisis is common, we’ve come through crises before; crisis is distracting and we have to keep moving forward instead of pulling away; crises help to ground and strengthen – they can “make us or break us“ and we get to choose; crises require adaptability during uncertainty; and during crises real leaders need to show up and be visible, with confidence, and lead by example always being clear about Hope even when we don’t have all the answers.
What I really loved was at the end of one of his talks he asked this question which I ask you now:
“What are some positive changes you want to see in your life right now?” Because the only way that tomorrow is going to get better is if we make some changes and grow today!
Books
The Bible
Anything by John Maxwell – especially his Leadership Bible
Anything by Shae Bynes and her team at Kingdom Driven Entrepreneur – especially Grace Over Grind
YouTube
When you need light and clean laughter… Christian Comedians like Michael, Jr., Tim Hawkins, Anita Renfroe
Worship Music that is uplifting and instills peace and truth like Hillsong, Keith & Kristin Getty, lean toward your favorites as long as they align with God’s Word and Truth
Prayers like The Trauma Prayer are so healing:
CONTACT US:
Community -When you need a Nurturing, Active, group of like-minded Christian Women Entrepreneurs whose goals are to provide Community, Networking, Education and Missions opportunities – join the National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs (NACWE) on Facebook http://facebook.com/groups/NACWEFreedom / our Website http://nacwe.org Once you’ve gotten to know us, we hope you’ll consider joining our more Intimate and Elite Group as well. NACWE was established in 2010 and has served thousands of women across the United States AND the world!
Coaching & Writing -When you need small group Coaching/Masterminds and/or Individual Coaching with opportunities for trips, retreats, VIP Days and more to achieve extraordinary levels of success worth celebrating, join Me / Dr. Karen Website http://karenbourg.com/work-with-me I’ve been coaching since about 2007 when I opened a Private Practice Marriage and Family Therapy/Biblical Counseling Practice and realized to grow took a whole lot more than “when you build it, they will come”! It took knowing how to run a business/ministry God’s Way!
Conference -Also, we hope you’ll consider joining us for our ANNUAL Conference “Working God’s Way” north of Dallas September 18-19, 2020. Our keynote Speaker will be Shae Bynes, Co-Founder of Kingdom Driven Entrepreneur and the Author of Grace Over Grind. https://nacwe.org/savethedate2020conference/
Karen Lindwall-Bourg
“Achieve Levels of Success Worth Celebrating”
*Founder, Karen Bourg Companies http://karenbourg.com
*Owner, President {Inter}National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs/International Christian Mompreneur Network http://nacwe.org
*Founder, RHEMA Publishing House http://rhemapublishinghouse.com
*Founder, RHEMA Lakeside Retreat Center https://www.facebook.com/rhemaretreat/
*Founder, RHEMA Counseling Associates http://rhemacounseling.com
About Karen Lindwall-Bourg
Karen Lindwall-Bourg is the President of the {Inter} National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs [est. May 2010] and the new President of the International Christian Mompreneur Network [est. July 2010], both at http://nacwe.org . She and the NACWE Operations and Leadership Teams work diligently to provide
· Community
· Networking
· Education
· Missions
opportunities to Christian Women Entrepreneurs, Mompreneurs and Nanapreneurs alike all over the world!
Our Core Values are
· Community – we value Connection, Collaboration and Contribution
· Networking – we value Nurture, New relationships and New and innovative offers
· Education – we value Encouragement, Excellence and Expressiveness, and
· Missions – we value Ministry and Making a difference
Karen is wife to Fred, Mommy to 6 kids and 5 in-loves, Nana to “going-on” 11 grandchildren, and treat provider deluxe for a herd of Great Pyrenees who protect their north TX ranch! She is an entrepreneur coach, author, publisher, retreat hostess and more! Learn more about Mastermind groups and “Celebration” coaching with Karen at http://karenbourg.com.
(from Karen Lindwall-Bourg, LPC-S and son, Jeff Bourg, Cashier)
ON A NEGATIVE NOTE:
That anyone would build homes with plumbing on outside walls in areas that reach freezing temperatures.
The amount of trash accumulated in our household alone!
How impatient folks (I) can be over things that they have no control over and that seem not too crucial.
How technology has made people seem aloof or consumed or rude.
Ribbons of highways and congested traffickers – I always wonder, “Did God really intend this?”
Be amazed!
What amazes you negatively?
ON A POSITIVE NOTE:
Lighthouses, Waterfalls, & Sunsets.
The kindnesses (sometimes misdirected, but always heart-felt) of others when a loved one dies or is ill.
How small efforts make such a huge impact!
Smiles!
Puppy breath!
The miracle of birth & hugs of grandchildren – and when they finally call you by name! “Say, Nana!”
When my expectations are low and things turn out so much better.
Air flight! And Time-Zones (he’s amazed; I’m confused and discombobulated)!
The heart “swell” experienced during worshipful music!
God’s free gift of eternal life, for even one such as I!
Be amazed!
What amazes you positively?
Time for Grands!
Be amazed!
By Grace Through Faith
“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Ephesians 2:2-10
-From Karen
Listen to Indescribable by Chris Tomlin
Be amazed!
Future Glory
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And He who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified.”
Karen Lindwall-Bourg is the President of the {Inter} National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs [est. May 2010] and the new President of the International Christian Mompreneur Network [est. July 2010], both at http://nacwe.org . She and the NACWE Operations and Leadership Teams work diligently to provide
· Community
· Networking
· Education
· Missions
opportunities to Christian Women Entrepreneurs, Mompreneurs and Nanapreneurs alike all over the world!
Our Core Values are
· Community – we value Connection, Collaboration and Contribution
· Networking – we value Nurture, New relationships and New and innovative offers
· Education – we value Encouragement, Excellence and Expressiveness, and
· Missions – we value Ministry and Making a difference
Karen is wife to Fred, Mommy to 6 kids and 5 in-loves, Nana to “going-on” 12 grandchildren, and treat provider deluxe for a herd of Great Pyrenees who protect their north TX ranch! She is an entrepreneur coach, author, publisher, retreat hostess and more! Learn more about Mastermind groups and “Celebration” coaching with Karen at http://karenbourg.com
(from a recent interview – Karen was interviewed by Dr. Sharon Johnson of Comtivate C2M)
[During COVID-19 Shelter-in-Place Spring 2020]
We’re all hunkered down (ooops, that’s a Texas/Southern term!) and living in uncertain times. And I don’t know about you, but one of the first things I did was look to my trusted leaders for community, encouragement, and wisdom. I looked to God’s Word, the Bible; to the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control (not wanting to get caught up in the media hype); to my husband, to my daughter (a Family Nurse Practitioner); to my coaches – the John Maxwell Team; and to my own team (because they will look to me for leadership and hold me accountable to lead well and they will be supportive and offer me wisdom in return).
In this series of Blogs, we will talk about:
Why leadership and engagement are so important during uncertain times,
What Christian leaders can and should do during uncertain times, and
Some favorite Christian resources (Scriptures, quotes, books, podcasts, etc.); and we hope you’ll share your advice with us as well in the comments below!
What Can and Should Christian Leaders DO During Uncertain Times?
I am called to lead!
You are called to lead.
“You are never NOT leading!”
– Dr. Karen Lindwall-Bourg
[You may be leading well, you maybe leading poorly; but you are always leading someone!]
To lead well, we need to:
Be honest!
I think we need to be as honest as we can be about several things – about the facts and only the facts. The last thing we want to do is disseminate wrong information or jump to conclusions or cause people harm. We only want to help. I’m trying, for example, to look only to the Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization for information. And honestly, I’m not looking very often.
Be honest again!
I think we need to be as honest as we can be about how we are feeling and managing during these uncertain times. I think in some ways, for example, our family was more prepared than other families for this crisis and therefore, so far, we have not been as adversely affected by the changes forced upon us as some people have been. We’ve even been able to help others. But when people ask me how I’m doing, they can usually tell if I’m being truthful or not. And honestly, there have been times during this crisis that I have shed some tears (even though I’m not usually much of a crier); and I’ve been concerned, even to the point of finding myself sitting in front of my computer with tasks to complete staring off into space, completely unproductive! Sort of frozen in time! You’ve heard the adage – when we are faced with a crisis, we enter either Fight, Flight, Freeze or Fawn (Faint) Mode? I’m a “Freeze” gal!
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:8-9 ESV
Follow Wisely
We need to follow God, follow and obey the rules being set before us by the governors God has appointed, and follow wise counsel. God, in His Word, has the best and wisest and most comforting counsel of all. We should at least start there! My husband has provided for and prepared for a crisis like this and he is well researched. I look to him during these trying times much more closely than I do when things are sailing smoothly. He chooses carefully the wise counsel he receives as well so I feel doubly covered! Our daughter is a Family Nurse Practitioner and like my husband, one of the most well researched medical professionals I know! I look to her for advice on how to take care of myself during these uncertain times knowing that she will give me wise counsel and if she doesn’t have the answers she will research until she finds them! As a John Maxwell Certified Coach, I immediately sought out his thoughts on this crisis and found his counsel to be wise and comforting. We should all choose wisely the counsel we follow.
Lead well – by being honest, by following wise counsel ourselves, and by setting an example for those who are turning to us for help.
Show UP! The people who want to hear from you will listen. The people who don’t will go elsewhere. Don’t be afraid to talk to others. I WANT to hear what you have to say! They WANT to hear what you have to say!
Listen Well. By that I mean… Listen to hear, without considering your expert response while they are pouring their hearts out to you. When my first husband was at Baylor Hospital in Dallas being worked up in preparation for a possible Bone Marrow Transplant to fight cancer, the whole family went along on a visit. The nurses and staff there were so great – they showed us around, explained things, loved on our kids… At one point we were walking down the corridor and behind me I heard Matthew who was maybe 5 or 6 at the time, say, “What is sex?” As you can imagine, I thought I was going to die of embarrassment and the added challenge of answering him in front of this medical team! Just before I opened my mouth, I turned to see Tim kneel to the ground and point to a clipboard full of forms in his arms and say, “Well, if you’re a boy, you put a checkmark by ‘male’; and if you’re a girl you put a checkmark by ‘female’!” Listen well, my friends! Don’t be too hasty to give an answer!
Ask Great Questions. My Professor of Family Therapy, Dr. Jennings, used to say, “The best counselors, ask great questions, and lots of them!” We’re not the answer police; we’re searching for answers ourselves. Ask questions that lead others to the Lord, to His Wisdom, to peace and hope and empowerment, and to their own solutions.
Be authentic and vulnerable at the same time.
Pray often.
Rest in God’s Unforced Rhythms of Grace
Matthew 11: 28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Companion – As a counselor working with grieving families and families in crisis since 1995, one of the best helps I learned from grief experts in the field was to walk alongside/companion those who are hurting during uncertain times. Most of the time, they don’t need answers, they just need to know they are not alone.
Love – Listen, Care, Let others know you love them. Let them know Christ loves them!
Serve – as unto the Lord. Ask Him what you can do during these ambiguous times to serve in new ways.
Leader Q&A:
Dr. Sharon added, “Show up with Clarity” and “Show up with Hope!” Always be ready. Wrap yourself in the Word. One of her favorites is Psalm 23 – The Lord is my shepherd…!
CONTACT US:
Community -When you need a Nurturing, Active, group of like-minded Christian Women Entrepreneurs whose goals are to provide Community, Networking, Education and Missions opportunities – join the National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs (NACWE) on Facebook http://facebook.com/groups/NACWEFreedom / our Website http://nacwe.org Once you’ve gotten to know us, we hope you’ll consider joining our more Intimate and Elite Group as well. NACWE was established in 2010 and has served thousands of women across the United States AND the world!
Coaching & Writing -When you need small group Coaching/Masterminds and/or Individual Coaching with opportunities for trips, retreats, VIP Days and more to achieve extraordinary levels of success worth celebrating, join Me / Dr. Karen Website http://karenbourg.com/work-with-me I’ve been coaching since about 2007 when I opened a Private Practice Marriage and Family Therapy/Biblical Counseling Practice and realized to grow took a whole lot more than “when you build it, they will come”! It took knowing how to run a business/ministry God’s Way!
Conference -Also, we hope you’ll consider joining us for our ANNUAL Conference “Working God’s Way” north of Dallas September 18-19, 2020. Our keynote Speaker will be Shae Bynes, Co-Founder of Kingdom Driven Entrepreneur and the Author of Grace Over Grind. https://nacwe.org/savethedate2020conference/
Karen Lindwall-Bourg
“Achieve Levels of Success Worth Celebrating”
*Founder, Karen Bourg Companies http://karenbourg.com
*Owner, President {Inter}National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs/International Christian Mompreneur Network http://nacwe.org
*Founder, RHEMA Publishing House http://rhemapublishinghouse.com
*Founder, RHEMA Lakeside Retreat Center https://www.facebook.com/rhemaretreat/
*Founder, RHEMA Counseling Associates http://rhemacounseling.com
About Karen Lindwall-Bourg
Karen Lindwall-Bourg is the President of the {Inter} National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs [est. May 2010] and the new President of the International Christian Mompreneur Network [est. July 2010], both at http://nacwe.org . She and the NACWE Operations and Leadership Teams work diligently to provide
· Community
· Networking
· Education
· Missions
opportunities to Christian Women Entrepreneurs, Mompreneurs and Nanapreneurs alike all over the world!
Our Core Values are
· Community – we value Connection, Collaboration and Contribution
· Networking – we value Nurture, New relationships and New and innovative offers
· Education – we value Encouragement, Excellence and Expressiveness, and
· Missions – we value Ministry and Making a difference
Karen is wife to Fred, Mommy to 6 kids and 5 in-loves, Nana to “going-on” 11 grandchildren, and treat provider deluxe for a herd of Great Pyrenees who protect their north TX ranch! She is an entrepreneur coach, author, publisher, retreat hostess and more! Learn more about Mastermind groups and “Celebration” coaching with Karen at http://karenbourg.com.
At this time of year you are constantly reminded of love. You plan romantic outings or long for them. Tips on showing love to your friends, spouses and kids are everywhere. There are tips on how to love your family, your clients and even your pets. But how do you love God more?
Let’s talk first about loving God.
It’s easy to start feeling lonely and depressed with so much love in the air. February activities present an idealized love that is so much fun to watch in the movies and makes our heart go pitter pat. But, that type of feeling love can change from one moment to the next, from one commercial to the next. So let’s focus on a love that is not fleeting.
God’s Love!
Nothing can separate you from God’s love.
“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39
This verse boils down to this: nothing you can say, nothing you can do or have done can keep God from loving you.
Nothing can keep God from loving you. He loves you without you doing anything right. He loves you in your darkest moments. He loves you when you don’t think you deserve it. NO thing you can name will keep God from loving you.
Once you accept Him, God does not require you to do anything to receive His unconditional love. So this month, along with loving others in your life why not try a few things on this list to love God. Practicing some of these suggestions will create a stronger intimacy with God and improve your mood.
There are many ways to love God.
Try these tips alone or with your family as part of your Valentine’s Day celebrations.
LOVE GOD THROUGH PRAISE & WORSHIP
Sing along with praise and worship music.
Listen to beautiful, worshipful music while thinking about the love of God.
Create as a way to celebrate God’s love. You can paint, craft, knit or sew.
Dance to worship Him.
LOVE GOD THROUGH MEDITATION
Be still – eliminate all distractions, and focus on the blessings in your life.
Go outside and purposefully take in the beauty of nature.
Pick a meaningful verse, memorize and rehearse then share it.
LOVE GOD THROUGH GRATITUDE
Free yourself of distractions then make a list thanking God for the important people in your life. Detailed why they are important to you.
Take 10 minutes each morning to thank God for everything He’s done in the last week to show you love and blessing.
Use these lists and express gratitude to those people in your life through notes or actions they will appreciate.
This is a short list of personal things you can do to express your love to God. Of course, you can do any of the activities on this list with others or for others in order to show love because loving others is loving God. The more time you spend loving God, the easier it will be to love others.
How do you show that you love God?
Let’s learn to love God first, then others as ourselves this month!
Karen Lindwall-Bourg is the President of the {Inter} National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs [est. May 2010] and the new President of the International Christian Mompreneur Network [est. July 2010], both at http://nacwe.org . She and the NACWE Operations and Leadership Teams work diligently to provide
· Community
· Networking
· Education
· Missions
opportunities to Christian Women Entrepreneurs, Mompreneurs and Nanapreneurs alike all over the world!
Our Core Values are
· Community – we value Connection, Collaboration and Contribution
· Networking – we value Nurture, New relationships and New and innovative offers
· Education – we value Encouragement, Excellence and Expressiveness, and
· Missions – we value Ministry and Making a difference
Karen is wife to Fred, Mommy to 6 kids and 5 in-loves, Nana to “going-on” 12 grandchildren, and treat provider deluxe for a herd of Great Pyrenees who protect their north TX ranch! She is an entrepreneur coach, author, publisher, retreat hostess and more! Learn more about Mastermind groups and “Celebration” coaching with Karen at http://karenbourg.com
(from a recent interview – Karen was interviewed by Dr. Sharon Johnson of Comtivate C2M)
[During COVID-19 Shelter-in-Place Spring 2020]
We’re all hunkered down (ooops, that’s a Texas/Southern term!) and living in uncertain times. And I don’t know about you, but one of the first things I did was look to my trusted leaders for community, encouragement, and wisdom. I looked to God’s Word, the Bible; to the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control (not wanting to get caught up in the media hype); to my husband, to my daughter (a Family Nurse Practitioner); to my coaches – the John Maxwell Team; and to my own team (because they will look to me for leadership and hold me accountable to lead well and they will be supportive and offer me wisdom in return).
In this series of Blogs, we will talk about:
Why leadership and engagement are so important during uncertain times,
What Christian leaders can and should do during uncertain times, and
Some favorite Christian resources (Scriptures, quotes, books, podcasts, etc.); and we hope you’ll share your advice with us as well in the comments below!
Why is Christian Leadership and Engagement So Important During Uncertain Times?
John Maxwell tells us that “everything rises and falls on leadership!” Leadership is influence.
Leaders Offer Safe and Like-Minded Community
We were created for relationship and community and connection. God wants a relationship with us. We desire a relationship with Him. He planned that we would relate and communicate with and love each other – hopefully drawing each other closer to Him along the way! We NEED each other. We need to know we’re not alone. Our group has created an online virtual work-space open to all Monday through Thursday, so even though we’re miles apart (from TX – VA, even in Uganda), it feels like we’re in the next cubicle and we’re not so alone! View upcoming dates here: http://nacwe.org/calendar
“We are better together. After all, two hearts are better than one; four hearts are better than two!”
– Karen Lindwall-Bourg
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ESV
Leaders Offer Encouragement
There is too much negativity and too little positivity in this world, especially right now during these uncertain times. We’re all looking to online venues to fill some of the void and to be reassured that our loved ones are okay, that we’re going to be okay.
Every time I talk to a client these days, they mention places they’ve sought online. One woman talked excitedly about some of the coolest venues online that she’d found aligned with her interests, but before she finished telling me about them, she was reduced to tears. An indication, I pointed out, that her searching was too much, adding to overwhelm instead of leading to peace and hope.
As leaders, on the one hand, we DO need to offer online venues that are encouraging and engaging. On the other hand, we need to make sure that we offer those who look to us enough, but not so much that we add to the already overwhelming chaos out there. Everyone needs to choose wisely how often and where they go online to fill the void.
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV
Leaders Search for and Impart Wisdom
We need wisdom, truth, certainty, refuge, hope, peace — the Source of these resources is the Lord and we share them with each other. I am the first to admit that I am a “knowledge and understanding” junkie! I’m addicted to the written word / to knowing more — sadly, sometimes to the point that I miss the true Wisdom and Word from God that I so badly need.
When my kids were younger, we had a homeschool curriculum that included all sorts of wisdom games. The homeschool pastor explained that in our secular training we often build up knowledge and understanding first then hope the wisdom to apply that information comes naturally. It often doesn’t. God’s Word is full of analogies, metaphors, parables and isn’t always readily understood, and we should be seeking His Wisdom and His Truth first! And we should be filtering the information we receive from others through the crucible of God’s Word and His Principles. I want to follow leaders that are seeking wisdom! I want to be a leader who is seeking Wisdom!
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
James 3:17 ESV
Leader Q&A:
One of or Interview attendees asked me, the self-professed knowledge and understanding junkie:
“Because we are all learners… How much knowledge is enough?”
My Answer: Wow, what a loaded question! REST first! Be still enough to hear from the Lord! God only gave us so many hours in a day. His design is perfect. I want to always be learning, of course. But my calling from God, even during these uncertain times, has not been re-called! He still has called me to work for Him, to serve Him! I must balance the time He has given me between self-care, family, and my calling (knowledge, and service). There comes a time when I must put knowledge sources aside and serve Him as He has called me to do! It’s a matter of obedience and balance!
Dr. Sharon’s Answer: Consider experience. Wherever your focus goes, that’s where your energy flows. Consider your purpose – to enhance and add value to people. Is the knowledge you’re seeking aligned with your purpose and values? Will this gained knowledge give you experience that makes you a better teacher? What’s your “WHY,” your purpose? Turn your focus there!
What would you add to why Christian Leadership and Engagement is so important during uncertain times?
CONTACT US:
Community -When you need a Nurturing, Active, group of like-minded Christian Women Entrepreneurs whose goals are to provide Community, Networking, Education and Missions opportunities – join the National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs (NACWE) on Facebook http://facebook.com/groups/NACWEFreedom / our Website http://nacwe.org Once you’ve gotten to know us, we hope you’ll consider joining our more Intimate and Elite Group as well. NACWE was established in 2010 and has served thousands of women across the United States AND the world!
Coaching & Writing -When you need small group Coaching/Masterminds and/or Individual Coaching with opportunities for trips, retreats, VIP Days and more to achieve extraordinary levels of success worth celebrating, join Me / Dr. Karen Website http://karenbourg.com/work-with-me I’ve been coaching since about 2007 when I opened a Private Practice Marriage and Family Therapy/Biblical Counseling Practice and realized to grow took a whole lot more than “when you build it, they will come”! It took knowing how to run a business/ministry God’s Way!
Conference -Also, we hope you’ll consider joining us for our ANNUAL Conference “Working God’s Way” north of Dallas September 18-19, 2020. Our keynote Speaker will be Shae Bynes, Co-Founder of Kingdom Driven Entrepreneur and the Author of Grace Over Grind. https://nacwe.org/savethedate2020conference/
Karen Lindwall-Bourg
“Achieve Levels of Success Worth Celebrating”
*Founder, Karen Bourg Companies http://karenbourg.com
*Owner, President {Inter}National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs/International Christian Mompreneur Network http://nacwe.org
*Founder, RHEMA Publishing House http://rhemapublishinghouse.com
*Founder, RHEMA Lakeside Retreat Center https://www.facebook.com/rhemaretreat/
*Founder, RHEMA Counseling Associates http://rhemacounseling.com
About Karen Lindwall-Bourg
Karen Lindwall-Bourg is the President of the {Inter} National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs [est. May 2010] and the new President of the International Christian Mompreneur Network [est. July 2010], both at http://nacwe.org . She and the NACWE Operations and Leadership Teams work diligently to provide
· Community
· Networking
· Education
· Missions
opportunities to Christian Women Entrepreneurs, Mompreneurs and Nanapreneurs alike all over the world!
Our Core Values are
· Community – we value Connection, Collaboration and Contribution
· Networking – we value Nurture, New relationships and New and innovative offers
· Education – we value Encouragement, Excellence and Expressiveness, and
· Missions – we value Ministry and Making a difference
Karen is wife to Fred, Mommy to 6 kids and 5 in-loves, Nana to “going-on” 11 grandchildren, and treat provider deluxe for a herd of Great Pyrenees who protect their north TX ranch! She is an entrepreneur coach, author, publisher, retreat hostess and more! Learn more about Mastermind groups and “Celebration” coaching with Karen at http://karenbourg.com.
