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sheIlluminates

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When God calls, you answer. Alisha Robertson epitomizes this and has worked to help other women realize the same. She is a wife, mother, author, speaker, podcaster, and faith-infused business owner. Listen in as she shares about her path and why going all in with God in mind is what moved the needle in her business. 

Rather than just waiting for something to stick and striving toward something only to change direction, move toward your passion and your calling. When Alisha was first starting out she went through a time of striving without purpose. People all around her were talking about waking up and getting to do the things they loved which made her realize, she didn’t know what that was for her.

What did she do? She stopped ignoring the hints God was placing in her path. Taking a step back and refusing to listen to the world gave her the space to hear God’s plan for her. When she finally listened, she realized that she was supposed to be a writer. 

It took taking that step back to find her intention and purpose and walk in her calling.

One of the things we as human beings tend to do is ask and ask and ask of God, but do we listen. This is the same thing that Alisha was going through. She was unfulfilled and asking for God to give her a sign and as she said, he was pointing flashing lights at her but she wasn’t listening.

As you ask for your dreams and desires and your purpose, don’t forget to pray to have your eyes open to see His direction. He has placed so many gifts and treasures at your feet already. What are you doing with them? 

Give yourself permission to be okay with where God has you and stop comparing your path with others. Don’t try to skip out on your process.

One of the biggest hesitations is the fear we experience in the unknown. Alisha notes that for women specifically have a hard time taking a step in an unknown direction and not knowing what is on the other side. Usually it’s the fear holding them back. 

Why do we as women focus only on the bad? When you consider an action, do you ask yourself, “What’s the worst thing that can happen?” if so, you’re ignoring the other part. Try asking yourself, “What’s the best thing that can happen?” and see how your mindset shifts. 

If you know God is calling you in a certain direction, take heart in the knowledge that he won’t let you fall. 

When you take a leap, remember that each decision you make isn’t set in stone. While backing away and stepping back may be difficult, it’s not impossible. Every move that you make in your life is bringing you experience and knowledge. That experience and knowledge informs who you become. 

As Alisha states, “you can change your mind.” When she decided to step fully into Living Over Existing and away from coaching, she let her clients know, she was going to take that step, but if it didn’t work, she’d be back. Why? Because she knew that if things didn’t work out as expected, she could always step back into what she had already built. 

If you’re on the fence, take the leap and know that God will catch you. Even if that means placing you back on the fence rather than helping you to the ground, you will come out of the experience new and stronger.

Take a moment to realize that you can build your business without burning yourself out. Alisha has been called to the number 200 for this year and feels that she is meant to help 200 women. She normally set big goals for herself, but has realized that taking a step back has helped her gain clarity. 

Remember you don’t have to have it all figured out. Your goals are meant to motivate you, but don’t fret if they aren’t coming. Leave room for God to do His work in your life. 

I share specifically how you can set goals and create a strategy for prayer and listening when God answers. Just remember that your goals are like guidelines… don’t let them be a tablet written in stone. Give Him room to work. Back your faith up with action. 

Alisha Robertson is an author and business coach dedicated to helping creative women live their life & create their business on purpose. She’s a self-published author of the Living Over Existing book and the creator behind several physical products created to help online business owners gain clarity, organize and build their brands. Through her work, Alisha empowers women to uncover their voice, ditch fear, gain clarity & begin making money doing what they love.

Living Over Existing

Living Over Existing Podcast

Living Over Existing by Alisha Robertson

I have been in business for more than 5 years now and I still get asked about how I started. Honestly, it’s one of my favorite questions because launching your brand the right way involves God and faith-based planning. Stop searching for the world’s way to launch and dig deep into God’s plan for you.

My first couple of years in business, I spent a lot of time searching on Pinterest and scouring Google for information on creating an impactful brand. It wasn’t until I realized that none of those strategies were working when I took a step back and realized that I was not following His plan. You see, when you’re called by God to share His message, He doesn’t ask you to do it blindly.

If you have felt the tug of Christ pulling you in a certain direction, then you know He is stirring you up. While He doesn’t ask you to carry out His requests without aid, He does ask that you sit down with him and gain clarity. 

When you know you have a message to share with the world, but the vision itself is eluding you, then it’s time to sit down and be in fellowship with the Lord. He will help you see His plan for you and how He wants you to launch.

I was shown the vision behind sheLaunches while reading Luke 5. I knew that I was meant to help Christian women and entrepreneurs to launch their God-given purpose into the world, but after reading this chapter, I realized the full impact of truly launching your vision.At this point in the Bible, Peter is frustrated that he has been fishing all day and didn’t manage to catch anything. He’d brought his boat back up to shore when he meets Jesus. It was then that Jesus asked Peter to launch his boat into the deep waters and then release his net. Peter did as he was asked and caught a huge haul of fish. Jesus asked Peter to launch out in faith and only when Peter was in the presence of the Lord was he able to receive the abundance.This is true of you launching your faith-based business or ministry. You must be in the presence of the Lord before you will find true success.

This leads to the first step of the sheLaunches Program. Before we can do any work, you have to get a handle on your mindset. Have you been in conversation with the Lord? Are you clear on the mission and vision He has set for you? If not, then you have more work to do. Lay the foundations of your business or ministry at the Lord’s feet and allow Him to lay the concrete.In this first step, I ask that you take the time to really sit in prayer with the Lord and make sure that the path you are walking is in alignment with His purpose for you.

God told Peter to launch into the deep knowing that the water was rougher and the path more difficult, but the reward was infinite. The same is true of your business. You have to dig deep into the scripture and your faith to be sure you are hearing His message. In Habakkuk 2, we are told to write down the vision and make it plain, but first we are told to wait and see what He will say to us. God says that while it may linger, the vision will come. Before we can release your vision through brand messaging, you have to know His will.

Every launch and brand is different, but when you’re a Christian entrepreneur, the foundations are the same. Lay your foundation at God’s feet so that you can launch into the deep with His blessing and guidance. 

Need help with that? Reach out here.

I am a faith-infused brand strategist and designer for God-focused entrepreneurs helping them to confidently show up, walk in their purpose, and serve others well. My brand fuses Biblical truth with creative application to guide women in finding clarity around their purpose, igniting their confidence around who God created them to be, and translating their dreams into reality.  I am on a mission to help others spark their inner light into the world for kingdom impact.

Instagram @chamelevans

Facebook @ChamelEvans

Pinterest Chamel Evans

www.chamelevans.com

Do you ever find yourself scrolling through social media and seeing how well every else is doing? Does it cause you to second guess your own accomplishments and achievements? Ashley Morgan Jackson and I discuss this prevalent topic and how you can lean into your faith to help protect you against the pitfalls of comparison. Ashley is a Christian communicator, speaker, podcaster, and author. 

Both Ashley and I have struggled with various aspects of comparing the way we mother our children to others. For me, it’s the belief of what is right and how I was raised versus how I’m raising my kids. For Ashley, it was having a C-section rather than a natural birth and not being able to breastfeed. We all struggle with some component of comparison issues while mothering, but as Jesus says to Peter in John 21, what He is doing with one of his sheep has nothing to do with you. 

That passage is absolutely perfect for this topic and Ashley really hits that nail on the head. We need to support each other as women and as mothers and stop “telling” on each other to the Lord. The plan God has for you has nothing to do with what He has planned for me. He basically says to tend to yours and leave other people to their own business. 

Taking the time to compare yourself or your business to others is a practice in wasted time. The comparisons you’re making between you an others have no bearing on the truth or purpose God has called you to. He has asked that you do something in particular to further His goals and His aims for His people. Wasting your time comparing your purpose with another person’s purpose is pulling you away from the path that God has set for you.

There is no right or wrong way to raise your family or run your business in the eyes of God. There is also not a singular path for you to walk down that everyone else is using too. Comparing your path with someone else’s is the same as trying to compare apples and butterflies. Not only are apples and butterflies completely different but they are both perfectly made for their purpose on this Earth.

Whether it be the fear of missing out or the fear that someone is better than you, the reason we compare ourselves to others is based in fear. Ashley says that sometimes her fear is that God has shown favor to someone else because he’s denying her. When really we need to just take ourselves out of the equation. Our lives and businesses are not our own, they are God’s and he knows exactly what he’s doing with them. For me, the fear stems from the unknown and having to give up control and not being enough. God and I are working through that together.

Ashley again brings up an amazing scripture in Luke 9 when the disciples are all working on comparing themselves to one another. Jesus instead asks them to be more childlike and unconcerned with which is greater than the other. It is the person who is the least that is the greatest. Fearing being second best is inherently against that which God has called us to be. 

You can’t get stuck in comparisonitis when you truly celebrate the wins and achievements of others. Celebrate and encourage those around you in their wins. You never know if that person has been working for 20 minutes or 20 years to make it to where they are today. Rejoice in knowing that God has worked in their life and business and continue to tread your path. 

God does everything in His time and for His glory. Don’t get stuck in the place of wondering why He isn’t working on your life right now. He is! But He is working at his pace and in His plan. Be patient and continue to seek His word and His guidance. Give your fears to Him and trust the He is going to work on your fears and in your life. Acknowledge your fears! Then hand them over to Him. Take a minute, press pause, get on your knees, and pray!

Ashley Morgan Jackson is a Christian communicator, author and graphic designer who loves encouraging women in Christ to walk boldly in their identity and calling. She has written a book about her depression "The Blessing of Being Broken”, a Bible study named “Called to Build” on the book of Nehemiah and currently working on online courses and a podcast of the same name to equip women to take steps toward the dreams God has placed in their hearts. She is a wife of ten years, a mother of two little boys, loves hanging out at the beach in her home in Ventura, CA and is currently doing an internship with author and speaker Melissa Spoelstra.

Blog: ashleymorganjackson.com

Instagram: @ashley.morgan.jackson

Facebook: AshleyMorganJacksonblog

Twitter: AshleyMJackson   

Called to Build, The Podcast

sheilluminates is back for Season 3 and I wanted to take a minute to share some of the breakthroughs I have had about my business, ministry, and calling. 

In the last year, my business has changed dramatically. In a good way. In a truly blessed way! God has been moving and working and I am so excited to step into His purpose for my life, more fully. 

However, there have been some hurdles. Have you ever been talking with God and you hear a snippet of what He is saying to you? You hear just the one piece and you take off running thinking you’re doing His work? Well, last year a little bit of that happened to me. 

I have been called to my business as a faith-infused brand designer and strategist for women entrepreneurs, but I have also been called to bring God’s word to all women seeking His truth. I’ve had two sides of my business for a long while now and as God called me more fully to the one, I started to let the other slip. 

Then I wondered why I wasn’t experiencing the same fulfillment I had when I was also bringing along my ministry. Enter God’s voice saying Chamel… I never told you to run full tilt in one direction. 

Last year I left my full-time job to go full-time in my business and I know without a shadow of a doubt that this was the path God laid out for me. However, he never told me to hold back on my ministry. 

I’m not sure if you’re someone who ascribes to having year-long goals or focusing on one particular word for the year, but I definitely am. When I have a specific word in mind, I have a focal point for my business decisions and my ministry. I am able to plan my content around that word and making sure that I’m stepping into my path for the year.

This year my word is, “release.” I’m releasing God’s vision for my life and helping others do the same. The first thing I’m doing is re-releasing this podcast. I have so many messages to share with you, but I also know so many amazing, Christian entrepreneurs who want and need to share their stories with you.

I’m also releasing a new methodology in how I help my clients dig deep into their faith to create brands and business strategies that fit with God’s plan for their lives. I’ll be sharing more about that in future episodes, but for now, just know that I have a lot of valuable information to share if you’re looking to start a business or ministry this year.

My promise to you is to be consistent with my message. I want to be there to help you walk in your faith journey and to do that, I have to be available. I promise to show up for you and to share with you the messages that I have on my heart. I also promise to be a pillar of strength for you as you navigate life. 

I promise to share with you my personal journey with God and how He is moving in my life so that I can empower you to pursue your purpose.

God has so much in store for all of us this year. We need to listen to His words and follow the path he is setting out for us. 

I’m going to continue to sit and rest at the feet of the Lord throughout the year. He is going to continue to release my vision and message throughout the year. I’m going to continue to release this podcast and update my vision for my business. 

Stay tuned for what’s coming up next. No matter if you are looking for encouragement in your business, support in your walk, or you simply need to hear more of God’s word in your life, I’m here and ready for you! 

2020 is the year to walk in audacious faith. Are you ready? 

I am a faith-infused brand strategist and designer for God-focused entrepreneurs helping them to confidently show up, walk in their purpose, and serve others well. My brand fuses Biblical truth with creative application to guide women in finding clarity around their purpose, igniting their confidence around who God created them to be, and translating their dreams into reality.  I am on a mission to help others spark their inner light into the world for kingdom impact.

Instagram @chamelevans

Facebook @ChamelEvans

Pinterest Chamel Evans

www.chamelevans.com

Welcome back, ladies! This has been an amazing season full of inspiration, deep discussion, and amazing tips for walking more strongly in your faith journey. Today’s episode is short but no less inspiring for the length. 

If you follow me on social media, you’ll know that I recently made a big announcement. I left my 9 to 5 to go full time in my business! I have been feeling God talk to me about my career direction and He has been pulling me to take yet another bold step of faith.

There are a variety of reasons for this. Not the least of which is my ability to tend to my home and my family more completely. He is calling me to spend more of my time bringing up my children in their faith and connecting with my husband, focusing on my first ministry — HOME.

The topics that we covered this season and the ladies I’ve had on the show fueled my heart to want more and to truly tap in the abundance that God was calling me to. The more that I communed with Him and sat in stillness to listing to His plans for me, the more I realized that He has called me to my business. 

I feel called to work more closely with God-loving women looking to build their faith and their business at the same time. I am so looking forward to having the time to dig into my client’s businesses and inspire them to build and grow in Christ. 

The show is going on a mini-hiatus as I ramp up for Season 3. If you have felt yourself being called and inspired by the show, then I look forward to catching up with you in the fall! You won't want to miss the topics and the guests that I have coming up! I hope you have a wonderful rest of the summer, and as always, I’ll see you next time!

I am faith mentor, strategist, and designer for female entrepreneurs and ministries helping them to confidently show up, walk in their purpose, and serve others well. My brand fuses Biblical truth with creative application to guide women in finding clarity around their purpose, igniting their confidence around who God created them to be, and translating their dreams into reality.  I am on a mission to help others spark their inner light into the world for kingdom impact.

Instagram @chamelevans

Facebook @ChamelEvans

Pinterest Chamel Evans

www.chamelevans.com

1 in 3 women is affected by mental health disorders. 1… in… 3… Today’s episode is touching on the heavy side as I speak with Tamisa Hunter, founder of Women Like Us Inc about mental health awareness. We talk about our own struggles, how God met us in those struggles, and how community inspires healing. You won’t want to miss this episode!

Mental illness is a difficult topic to discuss and supporting a woman suffering from mental illness is hard. Simply being there IS enough. Tamisa says she’s transparent with the women that she works with. She shares her story in a way that lets her clients know that they are not alone. This feeling of powerlessness will recede.

Support does not equal exact knowledge. Even if you have never suffered from a mental illness, you can still support your sisters in Christ by showing them love and acceptance. I know that we as women feel like we need to fix everything, but that is not our place in this discussion. Be there as a pillar for your friends, family members, and acquaintances and your support will be noticed.

Tamisa shares more about her story and how her experience brought her closer to God’s plan. She founded her organization after suffering at the hands of domestic abuse. Despite feeling unwanted, unloved, and unworthy, she has managed to build a community out of the ashes of her life. She speaks candidly about times when she went to God and asked him why? What was his purpose in making her go through those times? The more she asked, the more He revealed and she says she was driven to create Women Like Us to give other women a place to heal. She found her purpose through the horror of her experience and realized that without her experience, God’s plan for her life would not have been fulfilled.

One of the reasons women cite for NOT sharing their truth is the fear of being judged. Women are quick to label and demean women for their thoughts and experiences, and it is because of this that we are less likely to share our truth. Tamisa chats about why these thoughts are so destructive. Don’t let the world define who you are.

Other women have not lived your life, walked in your specific shoes, and survived what you have survived. Their opinion of that path and that journey has no bearing on where you are being led. When you let God in, you are provided a flashlight to illuminate the path in the darkness that you are experiencing. Don’t let the world define who you are, God defines who you are!

Revelations 12:11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

Tamisa is a businesswoman, servant-leader, and loving wife of 20+ years. She is a survivor of domestic abuse and founded Women Like Us, Inc. in 2017. Tamisa delivers a successful transformational program that has grown in leaps in bounds. She found her calling as a successful businesswoman, creating a thriving brand that demonstrates her gifts of speaking, certified life coaching, teaching, and even fashion design. Tamisa is tireless in her pursuits and has empowered women and teens girls of every background. She has been featured on Heaven 97 KHVN, 95.3 Jamz, PRAISE 98FM JAMZ and numerous other radios, television and magazines both nationally and locally, in the southwest and spreading the word of God, supporting women to become their best selves, and showing that she is the role model of a woman destined for greatness who transformed her life into one with great promise.

If you’re in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area, check out the Women Like Us Conference on August 10th — Tamisa and her group would love to see and fellowship with you there!

You can finder her on:

Instagram @womenlikeusinc

Facebook @womenlikeusinc

Twitter @womenlikeusinc

www.womenlikeusinc.org

**Article from the World Health Organization on mental health**

Do you feel like you are just going through the motions in life and your faith? Today I want to empower you in the knowledge that God meant for us to live vibrant and abundant lives. My guest today is Sarah Martin, author of Just RISE UP!: A Call To Make Jesus Famous. Lean in as we talk about the daily grind and how we can keep Jesus at the forefront of our minds.

The dictionary defines vibrant as being full of energy, enthusiasm, and passion. I don’t know about you, but these words don’t always apply to the way I feel about my faith. Sarah and I talk about what it means to be vibrant in our faith and passionate in our faith journeys. For Sarah, what vibrant life looks like doesn’t have to be this bold, over the top display of faith.

Our emotions can’t always dictate our faith. This is a lesson Sarah has learned in her walk with God. When you look at your faith based on truth rather than emotion, your vibrant faith is revealed in acknowledging and loving God’s truth. Sarah quotes Abraham Kuyper, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!” This quote helped Sarah realize that she needed to get over herself. It led her on a journey to make Jesus famous.

When we seek after God first we avoid the “Blahs” of life. So many times we go into prayer or study the scripture, but we are going through the motions and not seeking out God’s truth. When we do this, we dampen the vibrancy of the life we are building in Christ. Sarah says we need to get over ourselves and seek after His character, His nature, and His goodness.

Rather than opening the Bible and thinking about what we are going to learn, we should open the Bible and ask God what we are mean to learn about Him. When we are vibrant in our faith, our light will shine so bright.Our Personality Does Affect Our Faith

Ever wonder what your Enneagram score is? Sarah has found that her score has an effect on the way she worships Him and learns about Him. Her Enneagram is type three, always seeking out attention. Knowing this about herself, she turns that attention-seeking toward His love and grace.

When we get over ourselves we won’t get bored. When you start feeling like you’re going through the motions, you’re not bored with God, you’re bored with yourself. If you take your thoughts and your knowledge out of the picture in your walk with God and seek only His thoughts, His knowledge, His light, then there’s no way you can be bored.

Jeremiah 29:11-14: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.[a] I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

I have found that when I seek the Lord and stop asking Him to reveal his plans FOR me but rather to guide me to what He knows is right in my life, I feel more fulfilled. I feel like those are the times when I receive blessings. We have to die to ourselves and allow God the chance to move in our lives. When we die to ourselves and die to the world, we allow Him the room He needs to work.

So many times we ask God what He needs us to do. He doesn’t need us to do anything, but love and follow him. We are the ones seeking His grace and His glory. When you feel like you’re getting off track, allow him the chance to correct your course. I focus a lot of times on God’s purpose for our lives. Your purpose is not some overarching, unbending thing in this world.

Your purpose is not bound by your emotions. God already knows what He has planned for you and He wants you to simply be his daughter or son in Christ. For me, vibrant life is owning the fact that this life is not about me. It’s about having an intimate relationship with God and living in who he is. At the end of the day, we are supposed to make Him famous. Everything is about Him, not about us.

Join us today to learn more about living a vibrant life and living out your purpose. You won't want to miss the rest of the episode because we dive deep into the daily process of living out loud and living vibrantly. You also won't want to miss how Sarah shines it forward.

Sarah Martin is a wife, mom, friend, author, speaker, and wannabe artist. She is passionate about grabbing her friends by the hand to lead them toward vibrant faith and glorious purpose while seeking out the presence of Jesus in everyday life. Sarah is the author of Just RISE UP!: A Call To Make Jesus Famous. When she is not typing away at her laptop, you can usually find Sarah on a date night with her husband, shooting hoops with her son, or making an epic mess in her art room.

Instagram @sarahfmartin

Live it Out Blog

Today I wanted to talk to the women who feel like they are in between. To dig into this topic, I have Katrina McCain author of Beyond Being Good: Seeking Christ’s Perfection for Our Imperfection, with me. We discuss what it means to be “in-between” in our faith and what we can do to move closer to Christ.

We start off our conversation discussing the state of being “in-between,” in our faith and who this state applies to. Katrina starts off our conversation by clarifying who this state applies to. A woman who feels that she is in between is a woman who is a believer, but the world’s offerings distract her.

This woman is fearful of missing out but also wants to walk in her faith. She has a foot in the world and hasn’t given her life over completely to the Lord. She wants to know the beauty of having a relationship with God, but handing over everything in her life scares her.

The world offers a lot of distractions. Whether it be our phones, social media, movies, television, music, books, etc. there are many avenues that can keep us from fully diving into our relationship with God. Our friends and family distract us too. Katrina says we have to take stock of the influences in our lives and decide which will move us forward in our faith.

We don’t want to miss out on anything. Following God means missing out on things that are not necessarily good for us. The world presents goals and desires we can get if we just strike out on our own and leave God behind. Then all that we do crashes and burns and we run back to Him. Rather than running back, Katrina and I want to empower you to seek Him first.

Keep open lines of communication with God. No matter the distractions, if we continue to pray and reach out to God, then He will lead us to the right path. You have to trust God through the good and the bad. Give Him the complete trust and faith and He will not lead you astray. Many women struggle with giving over control. God has us! Trust in Him and He will order your steps.

He will release the expectation of what our lives are “supposed” to be. He already knows what He has for you. When you let go of the appearance and control and cling to the knowledge that He has your path laid out. Through good times and bad, He already knows what He wants for you. By praying and seeking Him, He will show you the proper steps.

The first step in moving out of the "in-between,” is seeking Him. Once you’ve sought Him, take the time to listen. God will reveal his plans for you, but it will be in His time. Do not waiver in your faith. Continue to listen, relinquish control, and trust He knows the right way for your life.

Katrina also talks about evaluating the distractions in your life. What are you listening to? Watching? Hearing? Do these things bring you closer to Him or are they keeping you in the in-between? God‘s voice is a whisper, and you have to create quiet in your life to hear Him.

We all experience the in-between in our faith. It is inevitable because we are only human. God knows this, and He wants us to stop, pray, and move past it. Where are you in your faith journey? Are you all in? Or, are you in-between? Leave a comment. Let me know! I‘d love to meet you where you are and provide you guidance where you need it.

Katrina is a former fashion model from Charlotte, NC. She is the author of Beyond Being Good: Seeking Christ’s Perfection for Our Imperfect Hearts and is also the founder and president of Pearls of Hope Outreach. She has a passion to encourage women of all ages to live for Jesus authentically, in spite of the culture that tells them they can’t. She holds an M.A. in Education and is the proud wife of her husband, Jarrett, and mother to her sweet girls, Kailyn and Jaelle.

You can find her on:

Instagram @_katrinakatrina_

www.katrinamccain.com

www.pearlsofhopeoutreach.com

Are you starting with what you have and with where you are? In this episode, Loraine Martinez-Bellamy and I discuss what it means to show up and manage what God has already put on your plate. Loraine is a lawyer and a life and business coach who helps women get clear on their passion projects and step into their calling. Rather than waiting until a woman has reached a point in their life that they want to dismantle everything, she works with them to step into their purpose little by little.

Just because you have taken one direction in your life does not mean that you cannot switch directions and move deeper into the purpose God has for you. Make it a point to check in with God before making big decisions to confirm that your actions align with His purpose. I know that I fail in that at times, but as Loraine says, when He is calling you won’t be able to ignore it.

Despite going to school and getting my degree in computer science, I felt called to do something more. He has called me to help engineer His people, but this does not mean that I have to step completely away from the things I’ve already accomplished. I realized that I didn’t have to start completely over, but that I needed to use the other gifts that God provided me with.

Loraine shares that many of the high achieving women that she works with are scared and embarassed to want more when they already have so much. God wants us to live a life of abundance and that means that we shouldn’t feel guilty or that we are shirking the gifts we’ve been given if we feel called in a different direction. If you are feeling like you are being pulled in another direction than the path you originally set for yourself, then it is highly likely that God is pulling you there. Don’t be afraid to listen.

Many times women feel like they have to run and run to keep up with all of the tasks that are given to us each day. The first thing that you need to do is slow down. Take a moment each day to just stop. Listen to something and quiet your mind. Sit in silence. Let your thoughts come through. Allow God the time and the chance to speak to you through your thoughts.

When you slow down you allow God the chance to move in your life. If you’re feeling pulled and called but everything seems overwhelming, then you’re not giving Him time to speak. Next, you need to start journaling or doing a similar activity. When you take the time to write out your thoughts and ideas, you open a new space for God to work in your life.

Then you need to put yourself in a space with people who are in the same place in life that you are. Not everyone is going to understand the place that you are in. When you surround yourself with people who are also looking to find their greater purpose, the fellowship helps with accountability and making room to hear His purpose.

Them more you practice listening, the better you will hear him. It takes time and focus to feel His presence in your life. He wants to see that we are being good stewards of what He has already given us. When you take care of the things in your life right now, then He will put more in your path. God is not going to give you more if you are not able to keep up with what He has already given you.

Again, don’t let fear keep you from hearing Him. God doesn’t promise that we won’t be scared while walking in His purpose. He wants us to have faith that He will bring us to and through the path that He has for us. Every person who has been successful in their lives has had a period of fear on their path. Those who run from the fear will likely never find His path for their lives, those who embrace the fear and move forward will find success in Him.

When you are scared, seek divine guidance and community. He is calling you and if the fear is debilitating, reach out to your community and those people who are there to support you. Your community is there to help you stay on track, so turn to them when the fear begins to freeze you.

Slow down, take pause, take a minute to write out your thoughts, and spend time with Him. Again when you take the time to slow down you allow Him the space to work in your life and in His purpose for you. Find and nurture your community so you are growing in Him with others that are like-minded in their faith. When you are a good steward of what God has given you, it shows Him that you are ready for more. When you slow down, you allow His abundance to grow.

Loraine is a lawyer turned life coach who after years of climbing the proverbial ladder, woke up one day and wondered to herself, “who the heck chose this life? I’m so bored.” Through her 1-on-1 and group coaching programs, she now helps 20-30 somethings get clear on their dream career and create exciting yet sustainable plans to obtain it.

She also holds a B.S. in Management and International Business from the University of Connecticut, and a J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law.

You can find her on:

Instagram @loly_love

www.lorainemartinez.com