Shero Glitz Item of the Week (July 13, 2017)

As a part-time creative designer, I believe God can provide healing and empowerment through the beautiful things he leads his children to create. I love demonstrating the nature of God’s creativity by showcasing items he has led me to create.  So without further ado, here is our shero-glitz item of the week:

Find headbands like this one in my online store: Lonye' Lynn

Ministry 101: Rejection in Ministry (July 12, 2017)

(I created this column to provide insight and encouragement to those who are young and in ministry. I have served on paid ministry staff since I was eighteen years old and there are so many things I wish people had told me about being a very young leader. If you’re young and in ministry (or regardless of age, if you’re in ministry at all) I truly hope this encourages you.

Some of the greatest rejection I have experienced has been in ministry. When it comes to ministry, not many things are promised, but one thing that is promised, is that you will get hurt. In ministry, you are dealing with people. People are broken. Hurting. Selfish. Messy. And so are leaders. When you combine brokenness, and sin nature, at some point someone is going to get hurt and often that someone is the leader. Here are a few tips on how to handle rejection in ministry. 

1.      Remember Jesus was rejected: And scoffed at. And mocked. When you’re feeling the pain and sting of rejection. Read the gospels. Jesus was rejected in ministry. He was doubted, told that he wasn’t good enough, and some places completely refused to hear from him. Yet, none of that pain or rejection could deter him, because he knew he was called of God. He wasn’t called of people, but he was called by the Lord to do the Lord’s work.

2.      Ask God how he can use your pain for His glory: Each time I experienced rejection in ministry, it took me deeper into my walk with Jesus. Because I was going deeper in Christ and in the process of transformation, my light shined brighter and Christ became even more glorified. Ask God how he can use your rejection in ministry to shine his light even brighter.

3.      Don’t use pain as an opportunity to gossip: When a parishioner rejects you, this is never an opportunity to gossip about them (not even with other leaders.) I understand when you’ve been hurt you want to get vindication, but gossiping is not the way to do it. Instead, if you are feeling the urge to gossip, cry out to the Lord on that person’s behalf and ask the Lord to heal your heart.

4.      Remember that we battle not against flesh and blood: When you are rejected in ministry, always remember this. Usually the rejection is not personal (even when it feels very, very personal). Most times, it is a reflection of a spiritual battle that person is facing.

5.      Know that it’s okay to set boundaries: If someone has rejected you in ministry it is okay to set a boundary with them. There was an individual in our ministry who was slandering the leadership. The slander was causing division in the church and was greatly impacting some of the younger Christians in the body. News of the gossip had gotten back to the leaders and this person was lovingly, but firmly confronted and told to stop the slander. The person was told that if the slander did not stop, they would be asked to find a new church home. There is nothing un-Godly or unloving about this. If you have someone who is consistently hurting or rejecting you in ministry, you have a right to set a boundary.

6.      Have a tribe that loves you unconditionally: Be sure to have friends, family and other pastors who love you and encourage you.

7.      Take a break, but don’t walk away: Ministry is great, but very hard. Sometimes, you need a break so you won’t become bitter. That’s perfectly fine! If you are feeling emotionally depleted due to ministry rejection, take a break. Ask an assistant pastor to fill in for you. Have someone else lead worship that week. Disconnect from social media for a while so you don’t have to hear comments from parishioners. It’s okay to take a break from ministry to re-coup and keep from completely walking away.

I hope this helps!

Myah

Fertility, Sacrifice and John 3:16- (July 11, 2017)

John 3:16 is the first scripture I ever learned. From what I know, I can almost assure you it’s the first scripture many believers learn. When I was a child, as soon as a little tot said they’d accepted Jesus into their heart, the Sunday school teachers would teach them John 3:16. It wasn’t much different for adults at our church, when they came to know the Lord. Our discipleship program was very popular at my old church and one of the first scriptures people learned was John 3:16. This verse, so powerful and such a reflection of God’s grace and mercy is so commonly quoted, it’s sometimes referred to as cliché. Yet I can tell you when it comes to the word of God, nothing is cliché’.  As I look at this verse with woman eyes, I can say the power and beauty behind the scripture leaves me feeling so humbled.

Several years ago I was diagnosed with PCOS. It’s such a weird feeling to be a woman and confronted with the fragility of your fertility. Conceiving is not out of the question for me, as many women with PCOS do conceive. But the idea that it could be a faith walk, when the time comes is scary… and heart-breaking. I want to be a mother. In fact one of the meanings of my name is “mother.” So the idea that I could possibly be faced with fertility challenges is something I desperately try not to think about. When I look at John 3:16 and I consider my own desire to be a mama one day, I wonder: could I, for the sake of the salvation of humanity, have given up my child (or fertility?)  Could I have sacrificed my only son to save the souls of others? I’m going to answer you outright and tell you, I could not. Thankfully, I’ll never have to; but what astonishes me is the fact that God was so willing. He was willing to give Jesus up. To sacrifice his baby for my soul. The selflessness that took astounds me and leaves me feeling grateful.

I’m an unmarried woman, so for the time being having children is not a concern. However, I trust that in God’s timing I will one day conceive and birth children of my own. When I do, one of the first scriptures I will teach them is John 3:16. I want them to see how God surrendered His baby for them; so they know to never take his sacrifice for granted.

XOXO,

Myah Lonye'

Design a Life You Love: Who's Your Tribe (July 10, 2017)

You’ve probably heard the saying “even the Lone Ranger had Tonto.” This essentially means that we all need someone. It’s impossible to get through life without connection. We were made for community and interconnectedness. I think it’s healthy to periodically reflect on our friendships. Ask yourself the following questions about friendship. Once you’ve completed answering each question, take a little time to pray your answers back to God.

XOXO,

Myah

Who’s Your Tribe- Friendship Questions

1.      Outside of your spouse and your immediate family, who are your 3 closes friends?

2.      What do you love about these individuals?

3.      How do these individuals bring you closer to Christ?

4.      How do these individuals help you pursue your dreams?

5.      How are you a good friend to these individuals?

6.      How can you become a better friend?

7.      If you do not have any friendships outside of your spouse or immediate family, how can you develop new friendships?

Resource Friday: Nioby Trivett - (July 7, 2017)

What is resource Friday?

Every Friday I feature a musician, poet, author, entrepreneur or speaker who has incredible material. I believe that as Christians we can help one another grow by providing each other with Biblically sound resources. Every resource I suggest is of someone who's work I truly believe in and/or use myself.
This Week's Resource: Nioby Trivett

I first discovered Nioby, several years ago when her blog was entitled "The Chicest Ambry." Nioby has undeniable style, but what is so lovely about her is her love for Jesus. Find out more about this sold-out fashionista by following her on insta or by checking out her blog.
XOXO,
Myah Lonye'

Shero-Glitz Item of the Week: (July 6, 2017)

As a part-time creative designer, I believe God can provide healing and empowerment through the beautiful things he leads his children to create. I love demonstrating the nature of God’s creativity by showcasing items he has led me to create.  So without further ado, here is our shero-glitz item of the week:

Find headbands like this one in my online store: Lonye' Lynn

Ministry 101: Your Ministry Identity (July 5, 2017)

(I created this column to provide insight and encouragement to those who are young and in ministry. I have served on paid ministry staff since I was eighteen years old and there are so many things I wish people had told me about being a young leader. If you’re young and in ministry (or regardless of age, if you’re in ministry at all) I truly hope that this encourages you.)

I love being in ministry. I. LOVE. IT. I think it’s so amazing how God uses his children to bring others into the body of Christ. During my time in ministry, one thing I’ve learned is how imperative it is to know the identity God has given you as a minister. During my time in ministry, I’ve had many different assignments. I’ve done everything from developing children’s programs, to cleaning toilets. If I’ve learned anything, I’ve learned how to bloom where I was planted and how to embrace every season. But, I didn’t always know how to capture the vision God had for me in that season.

 Several years ago, I was given the assignment of being a worship leader. I’m a classical trained singer and I love to perform, so I thought “this should be easy.” Boy was I naïve! Becoming a worship leader was hard. When I was promoted to worship pastor it became even harder! One thing becoming a worship pastor led me to do, was to get before God and ask him to give me a real vision of how he wanted me to lead worship. I needed spiritual guidance on who I was as a worship leader. I needed to develop a ministry identity.

When you’re called into ministry, it can be easy to think “I’m going to be a worship leader or a pastor or a youth leader.” And feel like the meaning behind that is cut and dry. But every leader must get before God and find out how He wants them to lead. I had to get before God and say, “Dad, what do the people who come to One Vision (my church) need when it comes to worship? What songs do we need to bring to you? How do you want the songs to be performed? What does this body need in terms of worship” It’s easy to think “I’m going to preach like T.D. Jakes,” or “I’m going to lead worship like Kari Jobe.” Yet the thing is, no one can preach like T.D. Jakes and no one can lead worship like Kari Jobe. Only they can lead like them and only you can lead like you.

It’s so imperative that you sit before the Lord and ask him how he wants you to lead in ministry and what your ministry identity should be. There’s a group of people who need what only you can give.

I hope this helps,

Myah

Happy Independence Day! (July 4, 2017)

                                                                                                                         Pic Found Here

Allowing God to Change My Compass- April 18, 2017

I was sitting in my senior English class when God told me to stay home for college. While it was nearly a decade ago, I remember it so clearly. I sat in the back of the classroom and cried as I realized that God, the dream giver, was asking me to lay down a dream I’d had for many years. That afternoon, he spoke to me so loudly. I spent the next month crying and debating on whether or not I would obey. I heard him, but the choice was mine: keep my dream, or submit to his will. I submitted; but unbeknownst to me, I would have to submit many more times along the road.

A year later, he asked me to lay down my music aspirations, voice major included. I remember feeling like such a loser when I changed my major from English/Music to English/Sociology. I didn’t know why God was making me lay it down, but here I was feeling prompted to lay down another dream. But that wasn’t all. Don’t worry sister’s, God didn’t let me off that easy. Nope, he asked me to lay down my dream to be a business owner.  Owning a business was a dream I’d been working on since I was 14 years old. I’d watch my crafting colleagues become successful selling their wares online and at craft shows. People would see my items and comment “wow, such talent. These items are beautiful.” Then they would sit them down and go shop from the vendor at the next booth.

Everything I ever wanted, I felt like God asked me surrender. The surrender became so common that there were times I became afraid to even want things (marriage I’m talking to you.) I associated surrender with God stripping me from the opportunity to have my hearts' desires. What I didn’t see, was how every time I allowed him to change my compass, he was really shaping me into the person I really was. Now all these years later, I can see some of what he was doing. For instance, music (and let’s be real, fame) were such an idol. I never knew I had a desire or a call for worship until that idol was out of the way. And who knew I was called to get a P.h,D.?  Me? The girl who couldn’t wait to be done with college so I could be a full time business woman? If God had of given me some of the things I so desperately longed for, when I longed for them, I wouldn’t be in the center of his perfect will for my life.

Something that is so lovely about God is that he never “forces” us to surrender. In each of these instances, he kindly asked and kept asking me to surrender. I can’t tell you that surrendering to God’s will is easy. For the most part, it is not. I also can’t tell you that it will be easy to allow him to change the direction of your compass. Generally, It isn’t. But when we allow him to lead the way, the journey is so much more beautiful than anything we could have ever imagined on our own.

XOXO,

Myah

Help, I'm an Outcast- April 17, 2017

Have you ever felt like the black sheep?  When you are radical in your faith, it is not uncommon to be outcast. I have been outcast by friends before. I’ve been outcast by family. Being an outcast is painful, but it is something you can survive and use to glorify the Lord. Here are a few tips to help you if you are in a season of being “out-casted.”

1.      Begin to pray and fast on a regular basis- This will strengthen you mentally and emotionally (and of course spiritually.)

2.      Find older Christians who can cover you in prayer- the longer you are in the faith, the more likely you are to have had a season of being a spiritual outcast. Finding older Christians to lean on can help you get through this season, because more likely than not, they have been where you are at some point or another.   

3.      Ask God, what He wants’ you to learn from this season of solitude- There is never a season we go through where God does not want us to learn something. If you are going through a season of being outcast ask the Lord what he wants you to learn.

4.      See if you can find people who are accepting of your faith outside of your family/friend circle. Sometimes finding a new circle of like-minded people can help you through this season.

5.      Get comfortable with the idea that you may lose friends. There is always a possibility of losing friends as you go deeper in your walk. Learn to accept it and trust that if you lose friends God will eventually restore you with even better friends.

6.      Began to confess scripture about your God given identity. Confessing scripture out loud helps to remind you who you are as a child of God.

I hope these tips help!

XOXO,

Myah