by Karen Lindwall-Bourg | Feb 1, 2022 | Blog, CHAYIL Series
You are God’s – A Woman of Valor!
I am God’s woman of valor. I wield my sword in battle!
You are God’s woman of valor. You wield your sword in battle!
Life changers! Game changers!
- Can you count on one hand the number of messages you’ve received that have actually changed your life and the way you live and work and minister to others? One hand – that’s about it for me, but OH MY!
- When was the last time you received that sort of message?
- What was that message?
- And have you passed it onto others?
- Please leave us a comment and share life-changing lessons!
A Woman of Valor!
In the dead of winter, outside, freezing my tushy off, during a week-long “no devices allowed” retreat with about 30 women, I was introduced to living and working from a place of rest to the true meanings of the words God and man and woman in Hebrew and how they relate, and to another Hebrew word to describe a woman of virtue and valor – Chayil.
From that time forward to today, it seems the Lord places this word and these precepts in front of me over and over again. He uses some of the most amazing Christian women friends and entrepreneurs on the planet to teach me and draw me closer to Him.
God, Man, Woman of Valor
Man: I learned that the three Hebrew letters that make up the word “man” indicate that he is vital, strong, a leader.
Woman: I learned that the three Hebrew letters that make up the word “woman” indicate that she is wise, passionate, an authority.
Two of those letters in each of these words are exactly the same.
One of those letters in each of these words is unique!
God:
The two unique letters in the Hebrew words for man and woman, are the first two letters in the Hebrew name for God – “Yahweh”. He is Wisdom and Strength.
When you take these two unique letters in the Hebrew words for man and woman, the first two letters in the Hebrew name for God, out of the name for man and out of the name for woman – when you remove yourself from the presence of God, you are left with danger and consuming destruction: fire!
Strength without wisdom and vitality leads to brutality and bullying.
Wisdom without strength leads to uselessness and dumbing.
We need God’s wisdom and strength!
Chayil – Woman of Valor!
At the same retreat, I was introduced to the Hebrew word CHAYIL. Used in several places in the Bible, the first place of familiarity for me was Proverbs 31! And honestly, I had always looked on this woman as a conglomeration of women, for surely one woman could not accomplish all that she did! I thought of her as demure and passive maybe. Instead, she was dynamic, intelligent, and active. She orchestrated, planned, and nurtured.
The word Chayil (I found about 46 synonyms; I’ll share my favorites) actually means:
- Able
- Creative
- Defender
- Faithful
- Influencer
- Prayer
- Valorous
I could go on and on!
I don’t know about you, but I want some of that! I want someone to use all of those words to describe me!
A Woman of Valor Lives and Works from a Place of Rest
I went to this retreat at the suggestion of one of my licensed professional counselor intern/associate. I was explaining to her that I needed to rest and hear from the Lord.
I look like a woman at rest and peace!
It seems that everywhere I go for an extended conference or seminar or retreat, at least one woman walks up to me and comments about how peaceful and restful I am and tells me that she came to the event with some anxiety and was at peace because I was at peace. I usually shoot up an arrow prayer, asking, “Lord, do I tell her the truth about me?!“
More often than not, I may look like a duck skimming smoothly across a still pond, but underneath, if I am truthful, there’s a webbed footed, frantic storm going on. Looks can be deceiving!
Now, until I write more about living and working from a place of His rest, and what that has looked like for me, let me refer you to Dr. Saundra Dalton Smith’s book Sacred Rest: Recover your life, renew your energy, restore your sanity.
You are God’s woman of valor. You wield your sword in battle!
- Do you want to be wise and passionate, a woman of authority? I do!
- Do you want to be a woman of virtue and valor, a CHAYIL woman? I do too!
- Do you want to live and work from a place of God’s rest? I do too, again!
Join me and women of the RHEMA and the National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs as we pray together on Monday mornings. Let us know how we can pray for you. Pray for us!
And learn along with us in this CHAYIL series!
#RHEMAPrayers
#NACWEPrayers
That stands for Prayers and Pray-ers / Prayer Warriors!
#CHAYIL series
Prayer Call
Join us for Prayer every Monday morning at 9:30am – 10:00am CST. Matthew 26:40-41 says, Then Jesus returned to the disciples and found them sleeping. “Were you not able to keep watch with Me for one hour?” He asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
We have 2 options:
- By Phone via Free Conference Calling – Every Monday 9:30am – 10am CST – Prayer Calls can be accessed by dialing 1-712-775-8968 / conference code 620259
- Zoom in at https://goo.gl/r32zu3
Blessings,
Dr. Karen Lindwall-Bourg
Karen started out in helping professions (Medical Technology, then Counseling) and quickly fell in love with the ins and outs of Entrepreneurship as she built her private practice and endeavors to 6-figures. She knows it can be lonely out here “on the entrepreneurial limb”! She knows what it takes to build community and to learn and network in an ever-changing field. She desires to pay-it-forward in a missional, working God’s way manner so others are blessed along the way!
She, along with husband Fred, is the Founder of RHEMA 3E Services @ https://rhema3eservices.com . Their greatest desire is to Encourage, Empower & Equip you to be who God has called you to be and do what He has called you to do in the fields of
- Biblical Counseling
- Kingdom Coaching
- Christian Writing & Publishing, and (Karen)
- Food Process Systems Consulting (Fred)
Karen is the President of the National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs (NACWE @ https://facebook.com/groups/NACWEFreedom ) and her greatest desire is to help you build confidence in the Lord to be who He has called you to be and do what He has called you to do! Let’s Cultivate #NACWEConfidence and #Godfidence in 2022!
by Karen Lindwall-Bourg | Jan 19, 2021 | Entrepreneur Endeavors, Firm Foundations
Your firm foundation must be firmly built in your BELIEFS- Body, Emotions, Livelihood, Intellect, Environment, Family/Friends, & Spiritual.
God’s Empowering Grace is Your Firm Foundation
In the first chapter, “God’s Empowering Grace” from her book “Grace Over Grind”, Shae begins,
You don’t have to strive endlessly to make things happen with the dream God placed on your heart for your business. You simply need God’s empowering presence, and everything else is going to flow from there.
Shae Bynes, Grace Over Grind: How Grace Will Take Your Business Where Grinding Can’t,
To build with God’s empowering grace as your firm foundation, begin with His words!
He is Your Firm Foundation!
Build Your House on the Rock
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
(Matthew 7:24-27 ESV)
From The Passion Translation
24 “Everyone who hears my teaching and applies it to his life can be compared to a wise man who built his house on an unshakable foundation. 25 When the rains fell and the flood came, with fierce winds beating upon his house, it stood firm because of its strong foundation.
26 “But everyone who hears my teaching and does not apply it to his life can be compared to a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 When it rained and rained and the flood came, with wind and waves beating upon his house, it collapsed and was swept away,” or “and great was its fall!” (Matthew 7:24-27 TPT).
- Choose key words from Matthew 7:24-27.
- Explore different Versions.
- How will you apply these precepts to your life and business this week?
Again, Shea said,
You don’t have to strive endlessly to make things happen with the dream God placed on your heart for your business. You simply need God’s empowering presence, and everything else is going to flow from there.
Grace is that empowerment. It enables you to successfully do what God has called you to do and to do what you could never do on your own. It’s by God’s grace that you are able to do extraordinary things, have supernatural results, and eternal impact through your business.
Shae Bynes, Grace Over Grind: How Grace Will Take Your Business Where Grinding Can’t
We want to hear His Words and do what He says! We want the foundations of our life and work to be built upon the rock – an unshakable foundation!
Let’s rely on God’s empowering presence, on His Grace to do what He has called us to do in extraordinary ways with eternal impact in our lives and work. Build with God’s Empowering Grace as Your Firm Foundation. Begin with more of Him.
Your Turn
Challenges:
1. What does building your business on the rock of God’s grace mean to you?
2. Consider Karen’s quote below. How would you like to firm up your foundation in the following dimensions of wellness/areas of your life/business/ministry?
Your foundation must be firmly built – in all dimensions of wellness – Body, Emotions, Livelihood, Intellect, Environment, Family/Friends, & Spiritual.
– Dr. Karen Lindwall-Bourg
B.E.L.I.E.F.S.
- Body
- Emotions
- Livelihood
- Intellect
- Environment
- Family/Friends
- Spiritual
3. Journal for 5 minutes asking the Lord very specific questions about your business and record His answers!
Actions:
Read The Partner Post
Each week, Karen Lindwall-Bourg and Valerie Riese each write a post for the Community and Education Webinar. Read the Partner Post here:
Maintain Your BELIEFS: How to Repair the Stained, Scratched, and Dented Areas of Your Business by Valerie Riese
Blessings,
Dr. Karen Lindwall-Bourg
Numbers 6, ESV
24 The Lord bless you and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
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by Karen Lindwall-Bourg | Nov 8, 2020 | Entrepreneur Endeavors, Firm Foundations
The Keystone: The Third of Four Business Cornerstones for Helping Professionals
…therefore thus says the Lord God,
“Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion,
a stone, a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation:
‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’
—Isaiah 28:16
A cornerstone, in ancient building practices, was the first and principal stone placed at the corner of the structure. All other stones would be set in reference to this one stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.
Here, I present to you four “cornerstones” for building a business that pleases the Lord!
We discussed THE Cornerstone—Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul referred to Him as the “head of the corner” and the “Chief Cornerstone of the Church.” He must be the head of our businesses as well!
Then, we discussed the dedication stone, your mission and vision. It includes your purposes and is fundamental to and defines your past, present, and future growth.
The Keystone
Another keystone is your customer or client.
God has called you to serve them and to represent Him as you work together—you are His ambassador and builder as you offer your clients services and products that will enhance their lives and draw them even closer to the Redeemer: THE Cornerstone! Without the customer, you don’t have a business or ministry. The satisfied client may be the mortar or cement that holds the whole business together! We can create, build, and launch new programs all day, but reaching out to touch and care for our consumer is paramount and is a way to lovingly represent Christ in their lives!
- Who is your ideal client?
- Does defining him/her lead you to change or enhance your services or products?
- How do you reach out and touch your customer when they’re not in your presence?
- Devise a communication and “touch” plan monthly to let them know they are valuable to you and your ministry!
A final, but crucial foundation stone is… You! Let’s talk about You as foundation stone next time!
What new steps are you taking to reach out and touch your clients?
Let’s take these steps together! Join us and share your keystones.
God Bless You!
Karen Lindwall-Bourg
by Karen Lindwall-Bourg | Nov 8, 2020 | Entrepreneur Endeavors, Firm Foundations
The Foundation Stone: The Fourth of Four Business Cornerstones for Helping Professionals
…therefore thus says the Lord God,
“Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’
—Isaiah 28:16
The ONE cornerstone was usually the largest, the most solid, and the most carefully constructed of any in the building. In this series, we’ve been discussing types of secure stones necessary to build a successful business. We discussed THE Cornerstone—Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul referred to Him as the “head of the corner” and the “Chief Cornerstone of the Church.” He must be the head of our businesses as well!
Then, we discussed the dedication stone, your mission and vision. It includes your purposes and is fundamental to and defines your past, present, and future growth.
Another keystone is your customer or client. God has called you to serve them and to represent Him as you work together—you are His ambassador and builder as you offer your clients services and products that will enhance their lives.
The Foundation Stone
A final, but crucial, foundation stone is…you! After all, it is you God has called to minister to others in this unique and effective way! He will lead you to the equipment and expertise needed to draw others to Him as you follow your purpose and calling as entrepreneur! I waited seven years for God to show me what this looked like, and then I realized (in this stagnant state) that I had to move as far forward into His will as I could before He would show me more of the purposes and vision for RHEMA Counseling Associates.
- Who are you?
- Who are you in Christ?
- What has He called you to do?
- How do you believe He has equipped and will equip you toward this calling?
As you seek His will and look at what He has already shown you, what is the next step to take toward bringing Him gory and honor in your organization? Let’s take that step together! Join us and share your cornerstones.
God Bless You!
Karen Lindwall-Bourg
by Karen Lindwall-Bourg | Nov 8, 2020 | Entrepreneur Endeavors, Firm Foundations
The Dedication Stone: The Second of Four Business Cornerstones for Helping Professionals
…therefore thus says the Lord God,
“Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion,
a stone, a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation:
‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’ Isaiah 28:16
A cornerstone, in ancient building practices, was the first and principal stone placed at the corner of the structure. All other stones would be set in reference to this one stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.
Here, I present to you four “cornerstones” for building your business!
Last time, we discussed THE Cornerstone—Jesus Christ. Jesus described Himself as the Cornerstone that His church would be built upon, the foundation of a unified body of believers, and He should be the chief and foundational cornerstone in your business or ministry!
The Dedication Stone
The dedication stone is your mission and vision.
Your mission and vision (your purposes) are foundational to and define your past, present, and future growth. In older times, the completion of a building involved a ceremony of the rite of laying the cornerstone that was symbolic of the produce and the people of the land and the means of their subsistence. Some contemporary builders include an inscription on the stone indicating the construction dates of the building and the names of architect, builder, and other significant individuals. For our team of associates, this celebration will include a ceremony of prayer and dedication and the placing of a custom designed stepping-stone in our offices.
- Have you clearly defined your mission and vision statements?
- Can you concisely talk about what you do?
- Do you have a catchy 30-second introduction prepared?
- Do you have a 2-3 minute “commercial” video on your homepage?
- How can you celebrate and re-dedicate your business and stay true to your mission and vision?
Another keystone is your customer or client.
A final, but crucial foundation stone is. . .you!
Let’s talk about these next time!
What steps will you take now to dedicate and celebrate your organization and its mission and vision before the Lord? Let’s take these steps together!
God Bless You!
Karen Lindwall-Bourg
