by Dr. Karen Lindwall-Bourg | Apr 10, 2020 | Blog, Celebrate Life!
(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/
READ MORE: Part 2, Part 3
Blessings,
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.
by Dr. Karen Lindwall-Bourg | Jan 26, 2020 | Celebrate Life!, Entrepreneur Endeavors
Leadership Lessons from Mary, the Mother of Jesus
Today is January 20, 2020
When will baby Mika be born?!
I’m sitting here feeling I am the only family member who is anxious about the wait for baby Mika to be born! Everyone else, including Daddy and Mommy and three big sisters and Papa and Grandma and Grandpa and all the aunts and uncles seem to be as calm as cucumbers!
Can you imagine Mary, the Mother of Jesus and her level of anticipation compared to mine? After all, she was pregnant having never known a man, she was unmarried in a culture that could’ve chosen to stone her to death, and she was going to bear THE Messiah!
Read Luke 1:26-38
Birth of Jesus Foretold
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
The angel told Mary she was highly favored, God was with her, she was blessed among women, she should not be afraid, and she would conceive and give birth to Jesus, the son of God!
Leadership Lessons surrounding Mary – What NOT to Do!
Imagine! As soon as Herod found out about the coming birth of Jesus, he set out to do all he could to kill Him. He felt threatened, as he should have! Instead of sharing his power he abused his power.
Are you following a leader who abuses his/her power? What will you do about it?
In what ways do you lead and exercise your power wrongly? What needs to change?
Leadership Lessons surrounding Mary – Godly Examples
Imagine!
-God planned from the very beginning of time to prepare the world for His coming and to save the world! God was with Mary! God is with you!
– God blessed Zacharias and Elizabeth with a son and gave them opportunities to minister to Mary. They were also told not to be afraid, that they would bear a son, that they should call his name John, and that he would be great in the sight of the Lord. Zacharias and Elizabeth cared for Mary. God provides others who care for you!
-God blessed Joseph. He was also told not to be afraid, and to take Mary as his wife. He married her and helped her to raise Jesus and His siblings. Thank Him for your parents, spouse, children.
-God led wise men from the East to worship Jesus and to offer valuable gifts to Joseph and Mary. List the innumerable gifts of value you have received from the Lord!
-God allowed Simeon to see Christ and to bless him. He allows you to bless others. Who will you bless this week?
-God prompted Anna to fast and pray, day and night without leaving the temple and to give thanks to Him for Jesus. Who does God bring to mind that you should fast and pray for this week?
–God provided an angel to instruct Joseph exactly when to move and where to keep His family safe! How can you listen to Him more intently this week?
Leadership Lessons from Mary, the Mother of Jesus
Mary had to know that God would provide the Messiah.
She couldn’t have known that from the beginning of time God had chosen her and prepared her along the way to bear and raise the Savior of the World.
When the angel appeared to her she responded “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”
We often wonder how God can do something great through us. May we always respond as Mary did! “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”
Lord, thank you for wise leaders You have sent our way!
Lord, help us to lead as servants and according to your Word!
Amen
[Baby Mika Rene’e was born Jan 23, 2020! FINALLY!]
Blessings,
Karen
Karen Bourg Companies
National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs
by Dr. Karen Lindwall-Bourg | May 5, 2019 | Celebrate Life!, Entrepreneur Endeavors
You Will Not Fade! You Will Not WITHER!
Are you pooped? Are you tired? God will give what you need so that
You Will Not Fade! You Will Not WITHER! But you WILL Prosper!
Let’s look at Psalm 1 (ESV)
The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked
1 Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
You Will Not Fade! Pray that You Will Not WITHER!
Father God,
I so desperately want the joy and delight that comes from your law, from you, not from the frivolous daily fulfillments I receive. I understand that all good things have come from you and that it is right to take joy and delight in my grand-dorables and on our beautiful farm and in the successes of the Christian women entrepreneurs I coach!
But I want to work through the Psalms experiencing the joy and delight that only comes from you when I am in your word – meditating on it day and night!
I want to bear fruit each season! I’m thrilled that because of you my leaves never wither, and I prosper in all I do!
Thank you for watching over my paths, for I am sure, that left to my own direction, I would continually stumble and constantly need to redirect.
Amen
You Will Not Fade! You Will Not WITHER!
What does it mean to wither? Or NOT to wither?!
When I go to http://biblestudytools.com and look in the Strong’s Concordance it defines the word wither as “fade” and “whatsoever.“ And it sends me to the following verses:
You Will Not Fade! You Will Not WITHER! But, You Will be BLESSED!
Psalm 128:2 “You shall eat the fruits of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.“
Dear Christian Woman Entrepreneur/Mompreneur,
You will yield fruit and not wither. In all that you do, you prosper.
Be BLESSED! Be WELL! (as Mary in Luke 1 was blessed)
In what ways do you need to ask the Lord to bless you today? For wellness today?
____________________________________________________________________________________
You Will Not Fade! You Will Not WITHER! So, Ask for Prayer.
Psalm 129:8 “…the blessing of the Lord be upon you! We bless you in the name of the Lord!“
Dear Sister,
You will yield fruit and not wither. In all that you do, you prosper.
The BLESSING of the Lord be upon you and those who pray for/with you!! (after the example of prayer warrior, Mother Teresa of Avila)
What prayer warrior/partner can you call to ask the Lord to bless you today? ____________________________________________________________________________________
You Will Not Fade! You Will Not WITHER! Indeed, You Will SUCCEED!
Genesis 39:3 “His (Joseph’s) master (Potiphar) saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands.“
Genesis 39:23 “The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed.“
Dear Friend,
You will yield fruit and not wither. In all that you do, you prosper.
The Lord is with you! He causes ALL you do to succeed! (like Lydia Acts 16)
In what areas do you need to ask the Lord to cause you to SUCCEED today? ____________________________________________________________________________________
You Will Not Fade! You Will Not WITHER! AND You Will be Strong & Courageous!
Joshua 1:7 “Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.“
Dear Christian Woman Entrepreneur/Mompreneur,
You will yield fruit and not wither. In all that you do, you prosper.
Be STRONG and COURAGEOUS! Be careful to do according to God’s law. (like Judge Deborah in Judges 4)
In what ways do you need to ask the Lord for strength and courage to take action today? ____________________________________________________________________________________
You Will Not Fade! You Will Not WITHER! Therefore, Meditate on His Word!
Joshua 1:8 “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.“
Dear Sister,
You will yield fruit and not wither. In all that you do, you prosper.
Meditate on His Word! (like Huldah in 2 Kings 22 & 2 Chronicles 34 who “decided what was holy Scripture)
In what ways do you need to ask the Lord to open His Word to you today? ____________________________________________________________________________________
You Will Not Fade! You Will Not WITHER! Now, Build His Kingdom.
1 Chronicles 22:11 “Now, my son (David), the Lord be with you, so that you may succeed in building the house of the Lord your God, as he has spoken concerning you.“
Dear Friend,
You will yield fruit and not wither. In all that you do, you prosper.
The Lord is with you! He will help you build as you do Kingdom work.
In what ways do you need to ask the Lord help you build His Kingdom today? (like Priscilla in Romans 16 and Acts 18)
____________________________________________________________________________________
You Will Not Fade! You Will Not WITHER! Always Seek Him.
2 Chronicles 31:21 “And every work that he (Hezekiah) undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the Commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered.“
Dear Christian Woman Entrepreneur/Mompreneur,
You will yield fruit and not wither. In all that you do, you prosper.
SEEK Him! (like Hannah in 1 Samuel 1 & 2)
In what ways do you need to SEEK the Lord today? ____________________________________________________________________________________
You Will Not Fade! You Will Not WITHER! Exalt HIM; and you Will be Exalted.
2 Chronicles 32:23 “And many brought gifts to the Lord to Jerusalem and precious things to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations from that time onward.“
Dear Christian Woman Entrepreneur/Mompreneur,
You will yield fruit and not wither. In all that you do, you prosper.
Be BLESSED! He will exalt you! (like Rahab in Joshua 6)
In what ways do you need to exalt the Lord, and ask the Lord to exalt you today? ____________________________________________________________________________________
You Will Not Fade! You Will Not WITHER! Now, Bear Fruit in your Work.
Isaiah 3:10 “Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.“
Dear Christian Woman Entrepreneur/Mompreneur,
You will yield fruit and not wither. In all that you do, you prosper.
Be BLESSED; bear fruit through your actions! (like the Proverbs 31 Woman)
In what ways do you need to ask the Lord to lead you to bear fruit today? ____________________________________________________________________________________
You Will Not Fade! You Will Not WITHER!
To achieve levels of success worth celebrating, Work With Me!
Blessings,
Karen
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
