Studio G Spring 2015 by Gateway Church

Spring 2015

My Anchor in the Storms A Wild Adventure Building Love

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Generations

A STORY OF FAITHFULNESS

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features 5 6

8 10 Generations

A Story of Faithfulness by Shea Tellefsen & Stacy Burnett

in every issue 2 3 9 15 23 31

12 13 22

Generational Blessings by Missy Robertson

A Wild Adventure by Rachael Gilbert

A Moment of Your Time by Juliette Ross

Mile Marker 271 by Blynda Lane

Healing Is on the Way by Cristie Penn

Blessing Carriers by Tim Ross

Raise the Bar by Elaine Fisher

CONTRIBUTORS FROM THE EDITOR STUDIO SPICE

Coconut Cream Pie by Edra Hughes

STUDIO HEALTH

#likeaboss by Marsia Van Wormer

STUDIO FYI

24 26

The Most Important Meal of the Day by Chelsea Seaton

STUDIO PULSE

by Dana Stone and Terri Talbot

The Truth About Beauty by Jimmy Evans

The Perfect You by Dr. Caroline Leaf

My Anchor in the Storms by Amy Horan

Building Love by Dana Even

Studio

contributors

1. STACY BURNETT is Gateway’s direc-

7. EDRA HUGHES loves serving as a

tor of communications and the managing editor of Studio G. With a bachelor’s degree in English, she is committed to writing pieces that help connect people with the Lord and each other. She loves traveling, cheering for the Rangers, and checking out new restaurants with friends and her amazing husband, Travis.

volunteer at Gateway, meeting new people, and helping people connect. She enjoys reading and, at 83, still loves learning. However, her favorite thing is spending time with her family.

2. JIMMY EVANS is the founder and CEO of MarriageToday. He also cohosts MarriageToday with Jimmy and Karen with his wife, Karen. They have been married 41 years and have two married children and five grandchildren. marriagetoday.org

3. DANA EVEN has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Rice University and a juris doctor from South Texas College of Law. After working for Southwestern Energy, she’s now a stay-at-home mother to four children. She’s been married to her high school sweetheart, Jesse, for 13 years.

4. ELAINE FISHER is founder of Impression Ministries and has a heart to see people equipped to step into their callings. She’s a conference speaker and is getting her degree in theological studies at The King’s University. She and her husband, Ethan, have two daughters. elainefisher.com

5. RACHAEL GILBERT and her husband, Matthew, own Back & Body Chiropractic in Lewisville, Texas, and have three children. She enjoys teaching group fitness classes, serving in Pink, and using her blog (lifeoutsidetheshell.com) to encourage others.

6. AMY HORAN is married to her high school sweetheart, Philip, and is a homeschooling mom to their six children. Her passion is spending time in the Word and then writing about the treasures found within them at springsfromthedeep.wordpress.com.

8. BLYNDA LANE is passionate about women realizing their unbelievable potential. She has appeared on The Blessed Life television show, is a conference speaker, and teaches Gateway Equip classes. She and her husband, Todd, have three children. 9. DR. CAROLINE LEAF has studied cognitive neuroscience for nearly 25 years. She’s a speaker and author and is featured on her own show on the Trinity Broadcasting Network, Switch on Your Brain. She and her husband, Mac, have four kids. drleaf.com 10. CRISTIE PENN is a writer, a teacher,

13. TIM ROSS is the executive pastor of Apostolic Ministries at Gateway. He speaks both nationally and internationally, strengthening believers with the good news of Jesus Christ. Tim is happily married to Juliette, and they have two sons: Nathan and Noah. 14. CHELSEA SEATON is an associate pastor for Pink and engagement pastor for myGateway at Gateway’s North Fort Worth Campus. She’s passionate about seeing women live in victory and having as much fun as possible along the way. She enjoys running and watching the Dallas Cowboys.

15. DANA STONE is a coordinator for Pink. She enjoys writing and blogs at sochoosejoy.wordpress.com. Dana and her husband, Todd, have been married for 30 years and have four children and one granddaughter.

and the founder of Keys of Truth, a ministry that helps men and women discover their divine design and how they can work in partnership with one another and experience healthy communication. Cristie is married to her college sweetheart, Don, and has two married children. keysoftruth.org

16. TERRI TALBOT is a graduate of Wheaton College and has been teaching women’s bible studies since 1997. She has a passion for equipping moms with the tools to share the Word with their kids. Terri and her husband, Jeff, have three adult children.

11. MISSY ROBERTSON is wife to

tor at Gateway and has a bachelor’s degree in journalism. When she’s not writing, she loves reading, biking, going to Rangers games, shopping for mid-century modern antiques, and playing with her dogs, Max and Harley.

Jase Robertson and is featured on A&E’s Duck Dynasty. She worked at Duck Commander for many years but now devotes her time to songwriting, developing her clothing line, and volunteering. Missy and Jase have three children. missyrobertson.com

12. JULIETTE ROSS is half Jamaican and half Bahamian. She enjoys being a mommy of seven (two boys and five fish) and wife to Tim. Her ultimate goal in life is to fulfill every purpose and plan God has for her.

17. SHEA TELLEFSEN is a senior edi-

18. MARSIA VAN WORMER loves fashion and marketing, but she’s really passionate about her family, friendships, and fitness goals. She and her husband, Tobey, spend their time cheering on their kids’ sports teams and living a life that is genuine and glorifies God.

Studio

from the editor

Why Studio G? The title, Studio G, was inspired by Psalm 144:12 which is a prayer asking God “that our daughters may be as pillars, sculptured in palace style.” The name reminds us that we, as Christian women, are in God’s studio as unfinished works of art. Studio G is committed to reminding us of the ways of the Master Sculptor as He continues to fashion us into “women of palace style.” In His studio, we discover who we are created to be and we come to realize our true worth.

Hello Sweet Friends, It’s here! What’s here? The season of Pink! That means it’s time for Pink Impact—our annual women’s conference—and of course, this issue of Studio G. Both are significant to our Pink world. This year’s Pink Impact theme is Light! God is Light. His Word is a light to our path, and we are His light to the world. We change when we see the Light. So what does that have to do with this issue of Studio G? Just about everything! We need to remind ourselves that God is Light. If you allow God to use this issue to shine His Light in your heart, He’ll show you places of darkness you need to submit to Him. I believe you’ll also be challenged to be the light! I want to remind you that your light matters. You may not see yourself as a light bright enough to steer ships away from danger in fog. You may not see yourself as super bright headlights on a car. Maybe you just see yourself as a simple candle. No matter how you see yourself, you have great potential! Science has proven that under certain circumstances we can see a lit candle up to 30 miles away. Someone needs the light of your candle to lead them to the source of all Light.

I hope you let this issue be a light in your walk. If you’re looking for inspiration for your family, you’ll want to read Missy Robertson’s article, “Generational Blessings.” I love what Jimmy Evans has to say about body image in “The Truth About Beauty.” Need help shining on the Internet? Then check out “Raise the Bar” by Elaine Fisher. And you won’t want to miss Blynda Lane’s article about an honest (and funny!) conversation with God. I’m also excited for you to get to know my family and me better in “Generations: A Story of Faithfulness.” We are honored to have the opportunity to share with you about our family traditions and the things we value. That’s just a snapshot of what this issue of Studio G has to offer, and my hope is that every article impacts you in some way! Now, go let your light shine! Blessings,

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Generational Blessings Missy Robertson When I think of generations, I think of the legacy and influence the people in each generation pass to the next one. Jase and I started dating when we were very young and had the opportunity to basically grow out of adulthood together. Because of this, we have shared many “firsts” together. When our dating relationship started to become more serious, we made a commitment to stay sexually pure until our wedding night. Each of us had this goal before we started dating, but when we fell in love, that goal became one for each other as well. I knew that God expected this purity from his children, and I trusted God enough, even at my young age, to understand that His way was the best way. Jase and I reached our goal after dating two years, ten months, and two days. But who’s counting? We were! Whew! We made it!

During one of those classes, a lady I still admire greatly said, “The best gift you can give your children is to love your husband.” I first heard this when I was pregnant with Reed but have kept it close to my heart for the past eighteen years. I can honestly say my kids are confident in the fact that their mom and dad are completely committed to each other and to God no matter what circumstance we face. Since we have been in the limelight of Duck Dynasty, many women have approached Jase in person and on social media. However, because of his commitment to his Creator and to me, our family has become even stronger. Jase tells me almost every day how beautiful I am. He tells our teenage boys in front of me, “Your mama is one hot lookin’ woman!” They just laugh. No matter how difficult a situation may become, neither Jase nor I is going anywhere.

That night was the first sexual experience either of us had ever had, and we have only known each other since then. Being pure and faithful to each other and to God is a top priority for us to this day. Our decision to remain pure is something we have not been silent to our children about. The older we get and the older our children get, the more we realize how hard accomplishing that was and still is for kids today. We built our relationship on a spiritual foundation many years ago, and we feel a great responsibility to pass that spiritual foundation on to our children. At the time of this writing, our oldest child, Reed, is eighteen; Cole is sixteen; and Mia is ten.

Our kids are also confident that their parents try to make decisions from a spiritual point-of-view. This doesn’t mean we succeed every time, but our kids know, without a doubt, that we love God more than anything else in the world. When we fail, we have a Savior who forgives us and encourages us to try again. We try to do the same with our kids. When they fail, we are disappointed, but we try to show them that they are forgiven and encourage them to get back up and keep going. Living a spiritual life with God at the forefront is a top priority for me, and passing that on to my children is my ultimate goal. I thank God for the previous generations who have influenced both Jase and me in this regard.

Preparing for a New Generation When Jase and I married, we decided to wait a few years before having children. We wanted to spend this time together, just the two of us, before starting a family. We also wanted to prepare as best we could before starting to raise another human being. We felt like this was a huge responsibility. Once we began contemplating starting our family, I went to as many Christian parenting classes as I could find. We are blessed with many qualified and talented speakers in our church, and I was there every time the doors were open.

This is an excerpt from The Women of Duck Dynasty: Surprising Insights from the Women Behind the Beards About What Makes This Family Work by Kay Robertson, Korie Robertson, Missy Robertson, Jessica Robertson, and Lisa Robertson. Used by permission. © 2014 by Kay Robertson, Korie Robertson, Missy Robertson, Jessica Robertson, and Lisa Robertson

A Wild Adventure Rachael Gilbert What comes to mind when you think of a wild woman? Most of us get an image of an out-of-control woman with no boundaries, clear direction, or plan. When an idea strikes her, she just runs with it and often finds herself in less-than-perfect circumstances. The dictionary defines wild as being “uncontrolled” or “unrestrained.” I had a wild streak in college that was fun while it lasted but left me feeling empty and alone. When I chose to surrender my life to Christ, I wanted to bury that wild girl. I was terrified of going back to a life without control or restrain. I longed for boundaries and protection. The problem was that I went to the extreme. I thought

if I couldn’t be wild in the way the world defines it that I couldn’t be wild at all. I needed to be the good little church girl who prayed and read her Bible every day and attended church weekly. Don’t get me wrong, all of these things are great. In fact, they fuel us for the wild adventure God wants to take us on. My mindset changed when I heard Gateway had a program called WILD (Women In Leadership Development), which consists of a series of classes designed to equip women for leadership. I was a little shocked and intrigued at the same time. The world may have a negative view of the word wild, but God sees it differently.

God created us in His image, and there’s a reason He created us to long for adventure. Being wild with God doesn’t mean living life with reckless abandon; it means wildly following Him when the things He calls us to don’t make sense. On my journey through WILD, I learned I have unique gifts, strengths, and a calling that only I can fulfill. I learned I was created for so much more than being just a quiet church girl. I was created to be a confident woman who walks hand in hand with God every day as He takes me on an exciting adventure.  Even as you’re reading this, the

Fulfill the destiny God created for YOU! The number one thing that keeps us from pursuing our passions is the sin of comparison. If you have breath in your lungs, then you have probably dealt with comparison at some time in your life. Think about a puzzle and all of its many pieces. Can you imagine if just one puzzle piece looked exactly like another? It would cause confusion, frustration, and exhaustion. And the picture would be incomplete because of the missing piece. When we compare ourselves to others, we not only bring confusion into our lives but

Whatever you’re drawn to was placed there by God for a divine purpose. Holy Spirit may be stirring something in you and asking you to believe Him for so much more. If you want to be a WILD woman too, start with these simple steps that will help you begin your journey:

Identify your passions. What gets you up in the morning? What could you spend hours talking about? What job would you do for free because you love it so much? Our passions tend to be reflected in our everyday life. Whatever you’re drawn to was placed there by God for a divine purpose. There is no passion too small (or too big) to be of significance in God’s kingdom. For me, I love to see women walk out their God-given dreams and passions. Because I used to be so shy and terrified of stepping out of my comfort zone, I felt God call me to start a blog called “Life Outside the Shell.” God has already done more than I could have ever imagined in such a short time since starting that blog.

also into the lives of everyone around us. As we cheer on others around us and help them find their place, we will also find ours.

Hear God’s voice for you. After we discover our passions and strengths and stop comparing, we must listen closely for God’s voice in our lives. He is our guide on this grand adventure, and if we want to reach our destination, as well as enjoy the scenery along the way, we must follow Him closely. Read the Word, spend time in worship, and pray so He can show you things and directions only He can reveal. Will you join me in becoming a WILD woman?

A Moment of Your Time Juliette Ross It’s Monday, and I’m preparing for a party. Our tables are covered with garland and tulle and lights and bows. I have my tape and measuring stick in one hand and a strand of dark brown tulle in the other, when our son walks in. “Let’s play NFL,” he said. “Okay, just a minute,” I replied. I continue to wrap the dark brown tulle around the garland. With one row done and many more to go, I stand back to see where I should place the next strand. Our son comes back in the dining room to ask me to play. “Let’s play NFL, Mommy,” he urged. “Okay, just a minute,” I said. One minute flew by. Again with tape and tulle in one hand and garland in the other, our son comes back in the room. This time he pulls at my pant leg as he looks up at me, his bright brown eyes staring deep into mine.

“Mommy, can I have a moment of your time?” he asked. His question melted my heart and stopped me in my tracks. I dropped the tape, the tulle, and the measuring stick. I dropped my plans, grabbed his hand and my sneakers, and we went outside to play NFL. In that moment, I was reminded of our access to God. The access He’s given us allows us to ask for “a moment of God’s time” anytime. Our God is never busy. His response is always YES! His pursuit of us is constant! His love is overwhelming! We are His daughters. The apple of His eye. And He lives to give us a moment of His time.

“Our God is never busy.”

Studio

studio spice

Coconut Cream Pie

Edra Hughes

his basic recipe goes back to my great-grandmother who must have brought it to East Texas when she arrived by wagon as a young bride. I have wonderful memories of my mother and grandmother working together, preparing variations of this simple but delicious recipe.

For as long as I can remember, meringue cream pies have been served at our family holidays and celebrations. Coconut was always the crowd favorite with both chocolate and banana pudding running closely behind. My husband, Grady, enjoyed them all, but from time to time he would request a pineapple pie. At times, three generations would be in the kitchen working together to create this delicious pie. My job as a young girl was always to grate the fresh coconut. My mother perfected the pie and often took it to church fundraisers where her pies always received the highest bids. Now I am blessed with my own daughters and granddaughters to share and make new memories with when we cook for family gatherings. I chose to share this recipe because of the sweet memories I have of my mother making it for special occasions as I grew up. I hope it brings your family together as much as it does mine!

Coconut Cream Pie

1 cup sugar 3 ½ tablespoons flour 2 cups milk 1 ½ cups shredded coconut 3 egg yolks, beaten 2 tablespoons butter 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 piecrust, baked Combine all ingredients, except pie crust, in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thickened. To test whether or not the mixture is ready, run a spatula through it. If the spatula remains coated and barely dribbles when removed from the mixture, it is ready. When thickened to the desired consistency, pour it into the baked piecrust.

Meringue 3 egg whites 1/3 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla Shredded coconut to sprinkle on top With an electric hand mixer, beat egg whites until they are stiff and hold a peak; then gradually add sugar and vanilla. Spread the meringue over the top of the pie, all the way to the crust; this will seal the edges. Sprinkle a coating of shredded coconut on top of the meringue. Bake at 375°F for 8 to 10 minutes or until the meringue is light brown and the coconut is toasted.

Variations Chocolate Pie: Use 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder in place of coconut. Blend cocoa, sugar, and flour together. Continue following the directions above for Coconut Cream Pie. Pineapple Pie: Use 1 small can of crushed, welldrained pineapple in place of coconut. Continue following the directions above for Coconut Cream Pie. Banana Pudding Pie: Use the same Coconut Cream Pie filling except leave out the coconut and use whole eggs, slightly beaten, instead of yolks only. In place of piecrust, layer vanilla wafers and banana slices in the serving dish. Reduce cooking time slightly so the mixture is not as firm and will pour more easily over the wafers and bananas. Sprinkle crushed wafers on top.

Mile Marker 271 Blynda Lane

There’s a phenomenon that happens over a few months of every year. Families, who otherwise live in constant surrender to events and schedules, decide to set out on a pilgrimage of sorts, searching for new land and new adventures. It’s something we call summer vacation. The destinations may vary, but the gist is the same: pack in as many miles and see as many sights as possible all in the name of family bonding and memory making before the hustle and bustle of the school year ensues. Our family is no exception as we clocked over 3,000 car miles one summer, spanning Texas, Missouri, Colorado, Florida, and everything in between. On our family trip to Missouri, we had the awesome travel experience of a seven-car caravan totaling 31 people heading to the Ozarks. This causes you to pray for miracles like safety … and super-strong bladders.

Our car led most of the way, not for any reason other than my husband’s lead foot and a car full of well-bladdered children. I didn’t know being the lead car meant anything significant to me until after our car stopped for a quick restroom break. As we resumed our travels, I simply sent a text to the group to identify where everyone else was located on the road. I received a text that one of the cars was passing mile marker 271. I took notice that we were only at mile marker 265 … 6 miles behind! To a normal person, this should elicit absolutely NO emotion or response. None. Zero. It should just be a matter of fact that when one car passes another, they are, in reality, ahead of the other car. No. Big. Deal. Consequently, I discovered that day that I am not exactly normal. Okay, so what you may not know about me is that, secretly, I’ve always believed a study of my genetic makeup would reveal distant

family ties to the Andretti family. I constantly feel the need for You are needed. You are loved. You are enough. speed (in the most legal of terms). So, when we fell behind dur- “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing our Missouri trip I can only describe how I felt as being in the ing love I have drawn you to myself.” Jeremiah 31:3 (NLT) lead of the Indy 500 and then unexpectedly experiencing a tire For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my blowout, causing our victory to dwindle from our hands. My only mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully concern was “How can we catch them?” Ummm … sorry, did anyone made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. else get the memo that we were racing? Isn’t this just a relaxing Psalm 139:13–14 (ESV) vacation to Missouri? I found my competitive thoughts comical. I had one of those God has created you for this time, in this place, with moments when you identify a quirk in yourself and I wanted to your set of giftings, to do great things. cry, but I laughed instead. Instinctively, I asked God to show me For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good if I had a hidden issue that needed healing. DUH! I didn’t ask in a works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in super-spiritual way, but just in the way I talk to God regularly—as them. Ephesians 2:10 (esv) a friend and a father. I was reminded that He actually likes this driven (no pun intended) side of me. “It will be beneficial for doing great things for the kingdom,” He said. Whew… good. I’m glad we’re You cannot rush or delay God’s timing, but take on the same page. And then He continued. Uh oh. He dropped a heart; God’s timing is perfect! few thoughts in my heart of which to be cautious. He showed me “For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it hastens toward the that in this instance, innocently, I looked at the mile marker on goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; for it will the side of the road to determine how far behind our car had fallen certainly come, it will not delay.” Habakkuk 2:3 (nasb) from another. But in the same way, He showed me that I have a tendency to judge my life according to other people’s “mile markers.” When I do, I begin a downward spiral of self-evaluation that leads to insecurity and disappointment when I feel I don’t quite measure up to how well others are doing. Someone is always in better shape. Someone is always smarter. Someone is always a better mother. Someone is always more gifted. Someone is always more “put together.” Someone is always more.

needed. You are loved. You are enough. You are

We live in a culture that gauges success in a different way than God gauges success, and without a constant, close relationship with Him I could have a tendency to determine my success by the world’s standards. We can all relate to times we’ve felt like someone seems to be “getting ahead.” It feels like you started at the same place, but somehow, somewhere, you lost sight of the goal and they continued to thrive. You evaluate where you are and compare yourself to others of your age or profession, and you don’t quite measure up. Where does this demeaning thinking come from? Is it innate in our humanness? Why can’t I just be concerned about doing what I’ve been called to do? Why does someone else’s “mile marker” matter to me? So here’s the truth God has shown me. There have been days I really have to saturate myself in His Word to actually believe it.

When you’re tempted to evaluate someone else’s life and make judgments about your own, remind yourself of the lyrics to one of my favorite hymns: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.” Gazed upon Jesus is where you will find your true value, calling, and purpose. He has “marked” you as His own, so leave the “mile markers” in the past.

God has created you to do something no one else can do because He made you special for a great purpose. “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 a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Healing Is on the Way Cristie Penn

Not too long ago, I was leading a precious group of women in Bible study when God began to speak. Little did we know at the time that He was about to do a multifaceted miracle right before our eyes. A young woman in our group began to share her intense sorrow and confusion about having yet another miscarriage. Our hearts ached for her, and we could feel the tension and sorrow in the room. As she shared, I began to think about another woman in our group who had walked through this same journey, but she now had three—yes, three!—children. I held my breath and prayed she would be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and speak up. I knew in my heart that if He wanted to speak through her, she would obey.

After a few moments, she raised her hand and asked to share. (Thank You, Jesus!) She spoke hope, healing, and peace to the broken woman across from her. We watched as this gentle, young mom shared her heart and seemed to lay a soft, spiritual blanket of grace over the shoulders of the sad, young woman. The young mom told us she had never shared publicly about the pain of her miscarriages before that day. As she spoke, it was evident to everyone that Jesus was present in our group. He had reached down, tapped her on the shoulder, and asked her to minister to someone who was feeling the deep ache and pain that had become so familiar to her. And we had the privilege of watching this young mom courageously obey His prompting and dig deep into her painful past to help someone else. Amazingly, as she shared, the Lord completely healed her of the residual pain she held in her heart from her past experience with miscarriage. It was indeed multifaceted and supernatural!

He showed us that even though we may not be fully healed from our pain, we still have the opportunity to minister to and help another. It is in our unselfish desire to help others that we can get even deeper freedom and healing. I regret that there have been times in my life when I have ministered out of my own pain and need. I didn’t do it on purpose. I was ignorant and knew little to nothing about freedom or healing. It never worked for me or for others because my motivation was out of brokenness and selfishness. But as I chose to work with the Lord and get freedom in these areas of my life, I got more healing and the privilege to escort others through places where I have been. We all need God, but we need one another too. Take time to consider what each one of us has been through. The Lord doesn’t want to waste pain, but instead, He wants to use it for others and for us. I love how 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 (nkjv) says it: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” What has Jesus healed in you? Is there an area that is still very painful? If so, ask Him why and what your part is. Is there an area of healing you have walked pretty far into but wonder if it’s complete? Ask the Lord to show you. Maybe you have been healed in an area and are healthy enough to help someone else. If so, pay close attention because as you walk your faith out, you just might feel a tap on your shoulder when you least expect it. He may be getting really close. Will you listen for His footsteps behind you? He might be placing someone in your path who may need to see your victory and proof that God’s love is real. They may need to be reminded that their healing is on the way.

Most of us understand on some level that emotional healing is a journey, but we must take the first step for the Lord to bring healing and peace. But God showed us something new that day.

Blessing Carriers Tim Ross Have you ever been frustrated by a promise from God? Or have you ever gotten impatient waiting for God to fulfill a promise He’s given you? If you’re living a normal, everyday life with a huge promise from God ruminating in your mind, but nothing crazy spiritual is happening, you’re not alone. Eve knows exactly how you feel. Let me set the scenario for you. Adam and Eve have just sinned, incurring the fall of man. They try to hide from God, but He sees them. After they try to explain themselves, God says to the serpent,

“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel” (Genesis 3:15). So, in essence, God is saying that Satan will attack, but in the end, Eve’s seed will bruise his heel. What a prophecy! Can you imagine what Eve must have been thinking? I’m sure she couldn’t wait to see her future children defeat Satan. But then she and Adam have Cain and Able, and then Cain kills Able … so that’s probably not the prophecy coming to pass. Eve

was undoubtedly thinking, Oh my gosh! What the heck?! Then they have Seth, and nothing happens. Eve dies, generations pass, and God’s prophecy still hasn’t been fulfilled. Do you know why that was? When God gave that prophecy to Eve, it wasn’t for her. It was actually for Mary, someone many generations down the line.

There isn’t enough failure to stop God from fulfilling His promise. Through the seed of Abraham’s faith, the virgin Mary conceived Jesus, who we all know defeats Satan! It doesn’t matter where you come from or what generational curses may have come before you, you can see God’s promise come to fruition!

Let’s take another look at Genesis 3:15 to understand this better. When God talks about Eve’s seed, it’s with a capital “S.” We see seed capitalized in another place in Scripture. In Galatians 3:15–16, it talks about God’s covenant with Abraham: “Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet

But what if you’re the person who’s received God’s promise and nothing is happening? Sometimes we feel like if we’re not doing something big then we’re not doing enough. We think, I’ll never be used like that. The beauty of Scripture is the bulk of it is mundane. This is not a comic book. You have these peak moments of faith

There isn’t enough failure to stop God from fulfilling His promise. if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, ‘And to seeds,’ as of many, but as of one, ‘And to your Seed,’ who is Christ” (emphasis added).

things, and then there’s Chronicles: that person begat that person who begat that person. We’re spanning hundreds of years, and nothing cool was happening. Just people being born and dying and living right and going about their business.

Eve’s Seed (with a capital “S”) is actually Jesus! The word Eve received generations before—that her Seed would bruise the heel of the serpent—was actually a prophetic word for her descendant Mary, who was going to conceive the Messiah. Eve was the carrier of the prophecy. It was her job to pass it on to future generations. No pressure, right?

Take Nathan, for instance. He’s David’s son and is also in Mary’s bloodline. You don’t hear a whole lot about him. He wasn’t parting seas or escaping lion’s dens. He didn’t do anything special except live righteously, but he passed on that promise to Mary. You can live a righteous life and carry the blessing. You don’t even know what you’re passing on. You might think, I’m just regular. God’s not using me for much. He is using you. You’re helping your descendants be blessed! When you receive that prophetic word that you aren’t seeing come to pass … consider that it might not be for you. It could be for your grandchild or your grandchild’s grandchild!

It traveled down her bloodline, and trust me, there were plenty of people who could have completely messed it up. Cain, for one. Then there’s Tamar, who masqueraded as a prostitute to get Judah to keep his word. Ruth was a Moabite. Bathsheba slept with David when she was married to someone else. But you can’t mess up God’s promises! The path doesn’t matter with God. You can still establish a generational blessing even if you came into agreement with a generational curse. Galatians 3:17–18 says, “And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.”

My encouragement to you would be to accept what God says about you and the role He’s called you to play in the next generation—whether it is natural, maternal, or spiritual. You have a part to play in shaping the next generation to make sure that legacy continues to be godly. The instruction that happens as children, that happens at every age and stage of life, happens because there’s a woman there who’s accepted the responsibility to perpetuate a generational blessing.

#likeaboss Marsia Van Wormer

girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do. And sometimes that means saying the unpopular and unwanted words no girl wants to say: I need to work out! #byebyebulge

To be clear, there’s a difference between fitness and nutrition, and although they work best when they are hand in hand, this one goes out to all the girls who need a quick reminder of how you could be working out like your life depends on it. #becauseitdoes

So, to help you get started, I did some extensive research (extensive as in I asked 10 of my friends what they thought), and I came up with some reasons you aren’t working out and why you should be working out along with some helpful tips for workout success!

Studio

studio health

Top 12 Reasons ... You Aren’t Working Out 1. The weather. It’s too hot. It’s too cold. It’s raining. 2. You don’t want to. 3. You’re already on the couch.

At some point you will have to own it. Do it with style. Do it with attitude. Do it with some sass. #likeaboss

4. It’s that time of the month. 5. It’s not Monday. 6. It’s not January 1. 7. You don’t have a gym membership. 8. You hate exercising. 9. You don’t have time.

How to Get Started

10. You don’t want to go alone.

Because your fitness is 100% mental, your body won’t go where your mind doesn’t push it, so here are some simple steps to get you started:

12. You’re too tired.

• Make a plan.

• Set goals. Realistic goals.

• Commit to it.

• Write it down.

• Change it up so you don’t get bored.

• Now, workout #likeaboss!

Did you know that a one-hour workout is 4% of your day? #noexcuses #getmoving

Now that the hardest part is over—admitting you needed someone to tell you that fitness matters—you can #justdoit. Don’t stand in your own way. Remember the following and you are on your way! #fitnessisfabulous

11. The donut’s already in your body.

Sound all too familiar? The good news is that fitness is a relationship between you and your body, and every moment you have the choice to live a life that takes care of your body. #timetodigdeep

You Should Be Working Out 1. It’s good for your health. 2. You’re out of shape. 3. It’s Thursday (or Tuesday or Friday). 4. You want to have a baby. 5. You just had a baby.

S.T.R.O.N.G.

6. Your jeans split (#mayday #danger).

Start.

Only do what works for you.

Just start. No matter how slow you go, you’re lapping everyone on the couch. Buy yourself some cute workout clothes to get motivated!

Don’t compare yourself with other people.

Try one thing. Something. Anything. You have no idea what you’re capable of and what your limits are until you push yourself. If you need some tips, check out fitness blogs and apps!

Rest. Give your body a break.

Never forget why you started. Never give up. Never skip a Monday. Never go more than two days without working out!

Grab a girlfriend. Push each other. Working out with someone increases your chances of success, and it becomes a hobby instead of a chore. #itsbetterwithfriends

7. Because you’re a good friend. 8. Your clothes don’t fit (stop blaming the dryer). 9. You want to live longer. 10. You want to be stronger. 11. The holidays are right around the corner (summer, Christmas, your birthday). 12. “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t shoot their husbands, they just don’t.” (You can thank Elle Woods of Legally Blonde for that one!)

call 817.552.3758 路 email pink@gatewaypeople.com 路 visit pink.gatewaypeople.com

Studio

studio spotlight

Generations

a Story of Faithfulness Shea Tellefsen & Stacy Burnett

n this particular beautiful afternoon, Edra Hughes, Debbie Morris, Mari Eisenrich, and Elaine Fisher are all gathered around a grand, wooden dining table recalling tales about family and a cherished legacy, smiling as they retell warm memories, and tearing up as they share about God’s faithfulness to their family throughout generations. Whatever the season or circumstance of life, they could constantly rely on two things—the faithfulness of God and the unflinching loyalty that runs deep in their family.

We hope you enjoy this very special Studio G interview with the ladies of Gateway’s founding family as you see just how generations of godly heritage helped form the very foundation of Gateway Church.

Left to right: Elaine Fisher, Addelynn Fisher, Debbie Morris, Edra Hughes, and Mari Eisenrich

Mari, Debbie, and Edra.

Edra, Mari, and Debbie teach the girls how to cook.

Do you have a favorite family memory?

Mari: I remember back in the day when we

Debbie: One day when we were growing up,

would get in trouble, we’d get a spanking. There was no timeout. Timeout would have been delightful! One time, somebody, I don’t know who for sure, did something wrong, and Mother called us in and said, “Alright! Which one of you did that?”

we spent the whole day cleaning the house for guests who were coming over. As kind of a crowning touch to their arrival, Mom made a pie. It had a graham cracker crust with bananas, a cream cheese topping, and berries on top. She had to put it in the refrigerator to gel and as she was putting it in, it toppled and landed upside down. The floor was clean because we had just mopped it, so Mom passed out spoons, and we sat on the floor and ate the top of the pie! So, instead of it being a bad experience, it turned out to be a lot of fun!

Mari: It was important to Mom and Dad to take us on family vacations. There were lots of adventures on these! We learned how fast Daddy could move when a black bear turned and headed toward him!

Edra: At Yellowstone Park, there’s a miniGrand Canyon, and Debbie kept getting closer and closer till she was just right at the edge of the canyon. I always worry a lot in advance about things like that. So I was very fretful, and even Grady [Edra’s husband/ Debbie and Mari’s dad] was concerned until we got her pulled back from the edge.

[Laughter]

Mari: And we both said, “It wasn’t me! It wasn’t me!” And Mother persisted, “Alright now, come on! Which one of you did that?” She wanted a confession. I just dug my little heels in and said, “It wasn’t me.” It was tug-of-war between Debbie and myself. And eventually Debbie said, “Okay, it was me.” Well, that’s exactly what I wanted her to do, but it didn’t turn out to feel good at all, because it wasn’t true. She took the blame for me. That’s so sweet. What are some of your family values?

Mari: My dad had five brothers. They were

adulthood; we have always enjoyed when our families get together and have enjoyed family trips together. Do you have a favorite “sister” memory?

Debbie: And it’s carried down to the grand-

Debbie: I always felt like I had a best friend.

kids. Emily [Mari’s daughter] and Elaine [Debbie’s daughter] did not live close to each other growing up, and they didn’t have cell phones at that time, but when they

[Laughter] Do you still have that adventurous spirit?

Debbie: I married Robert, so yes! [Laughter] So, what was it like growing up with a sister so close in age? Were you good friends?

Debbie: Yeah! We were real close. We shared a bed and our lives, because we were only 22 months apart. We had close friends that kind of intermingled.

Mari: That closeness has continued to

We just always had fun.

Edra: By the time all the grandchildren were born, my husband, Grady, and I were retired and living on the farm. We always designated one week for all six cousins to be together, because it was our desire for them to have fun together. They have a lot of love and respect for each other.

Debbie: There were just two of us.

close, but even beyond that, they were loyal. They had this incredible loyalty to one another. That gave them a lot of freedom to disagree, to not get along, and to be their own person. Yet, there was this code of honor—this code of loyalty—that was so fierce amongst them. They would do anything for one of their brothers. They could be mad at their brother, but nobody else could. They would fight for one another and rally for one another. And we saw that growing up. That was just part of the way we grew up. So, when we have different opinions or different thoughts on things, there’s this overriding loyalty that is above all. And I think that has woven us together as we’ve grown through the years. There was never going to be a consideration of not “being family.” Some families go for a long time without talking. That’s not an option for us.

Debbie: Yeah, I got in trouble for that.

would get together, they would instantly be buddies. It was the same for all the kids. They didn’t have a lot of time together, but when they would get together, they were best friends. It was like they never missed a step with each other.

Debbie, Grady, and Mari (December 1962). It’s wonderful that everyone is so close. What about your mother/daughter relationships? What example did your mother set that was imparted to you?

Mari: Mother set examples in a number of ways about the value of marriage and the problems and downside of divorce. It was really very clear to us that divorce is not a great solution. She communicated by example when various people in the family had troubles. She would partner with them to intercede and pray it out. She would get up early before work and pray with family members about their situations over the phone. She showed us that the answer to problems in marriage is prayer. And it’s profoundly impacted my life, because marriage is not easy. My husband came from a family with a lot of divorce. Neither one of us were particularly well equipped to be married, so when challenges came along and divorce entered our minds, had I not had my mother’s voice in my head, I may have gone the way of the world and said, “Enough! Enough of this. This is ridiculous.” But because Mother was so strong about breaking the pattern of divorce in her own family, she passed

it on to us. So, it’s carrying out in our lives. I think a lot of her influence was shown by her words, her example, and her fierce determination for her marriage and other marriages to stick it out.

man.” So, God gave me that vision. I think that’s why as parents we need to be strong and godly. When Debbie and Robert were dating, he was always good and protective with her. And I honor him for that.

Edra: When I say I’m strongly against divorce,

Legacy is very important to you all. What are some things that were passed down to you from your parents?

I’m not saying I believe in staying together under any circumstance. My father died when I was 11 months old, and my mother was very young. Both my mother and grandmother were widowed at a young age. They remarried for survival, which later ended in divorce. So, I saw the hurt and damage it does to a family. Because my husband and I were 27 and 32 [respectively] when we married, we were both very set in our ways. We had some painful growing, but I was fortunate because I knew he loved me and I knew he was a good man. It all centered on the fact that we were both raised differently and both had fears, and we each wanted to have our own way. So, yes, I have been strong against divorce because I think there are ways of working it out—first through the Lord, but even people outside the Lord’s will can work a marriage out if they’re determined to recognize what the true problem is and each one is willing. How did that affect the way you guided your daughters as they were growing up?

Edra: I used to write letters to the Lord. I found one recently. I was asking the Lord to bring the right men for my daughters and not let me interfere. I believed God had a plan for their lives. God has honored my prayers, because I’ve been blessed not only with great sons-in-law, but wonderful grandchildren and now with precious spouses to my grandchildren. It’s been wonderful.

Elaine: Granny, did you think the Lord was answering your prayers with my dad in the beginning? Were you a little concerned? [Laughter]

Edra: Family character carries over, and I watched Robert’s daddy, Jearl. He was a gentle man. Rosalie, Robert’s mother, sang in the choir. And every Sunday, Jearl would bring Rosalie’s mother, who was elderly, into church. He would place her at her seat and then go do his ushering and preservice responsibilities. Then he would come back and sit with her and take care of her. He was so gentle with the grandmother. I would look at him and say, “If Robert matures to be like his daddy, he will also be a good, gentle

and ground meat in many ways, but it was delicious. During this time, I saw that my husband was a “free giver.” I grew up in hard times with an awareness of lack, so naturally this can make you a little less likely to want to give freely. If my husband saw someone that needed something, he would give, whatever the need.

Debbie: My parents weren’t religious, but they did what was right, whether it was staying in a marriage or something else. And another area that we constantly saw them do what was right was in tithing. From as early on as I can remember, they tithed. Daddy always believed that if you didn’t, God was going to get it another way. They didn’t make a whole lot of money, but they tithed and saved, and God has blessed those two things. Now I continue that legacy with Robert’s commitment to tithing and our desire to put God first.

A familiy vacation in Colorado (2000).

We went to church pretty frequently. Maybe not every time the doors were open, but it wasn’t about being there to be seen, it was about being there to have a relationship with God. I think what my parents did really well for me was to just live with the sense of right based on scripture and the Bible.

Debbie: He did that with his grandparents. They didn’t have social security and didn’t have any income. So, as a single man, he would send a large portion of his salary back home for them to live on, and then he lived on very meager amounts.

Mari: Daddy wasn’t a talker. He wasn’t

Mari: Growing up, Daddy was really good

going to tell you little life lessons, but he did live them. I think I learned about tithing in junior high. The way I remember it, Dad had a flat tire, and it was about the third thing that week that had not gone well for him, and he came home and asked Mother, “Did you turn in that tithe check?” She said, “It’s in my purse! I’m going to take it Sunday.” He said, “Well, take it by the church office!” Giving sooner was always better than later for Daddy.

with cars. He was a great mechanic, and he loved doing the work. So, the way he saw it, if somebody called and asked him for help, he was going to stop and help them. It didn’t really matter if we were headed out on vacation or what was happening, he was going to serve. He felt that was his gift to the Lord. He gave his talent as well as his time to the Lord. He was very generous in that way.

Debbie: He just knew God protected you

that if he did something for somebody it would be reciprocated to his family. One time I was driving our yellow Volkswagen—we called it The Yellow Submarine—and it got a fuel leak. As I was driving, my full gas tank went down to nothing in rush-hour traffic, and I was stranded in the center median. It wasn’t very long before a nice man came along and filled up my gas tank. I offered

if you tithed.

Edra: When the Lord showed us that we needed to start tithing, we were renting a house and had started saving a hundred dollars a month for our house fund. (That was a lot to us at the time.) We would tithe and put our hundred dollars in savings, and then we would live. I learned to cook beans

Debbie: My dad always had the philosophy

Edra, what did you want to pass down to your daughters?

Edra: Well, it would be hard to sum it up. They’ve already pursued the Lord. I wanted them to know He has a plan for their lives and that there will be struggles and hard times, but when we’re living out God’s plan, it will be alright. So I’d like to see them walk in that. It’s so special to see how much you admire each other. If you could take personality traits or skills from your family members, what would they be?

Debbie: I would take Mari’s organization …

Top row: Elaine, Bridgette, Emily, Mari, Erin, Hannah Bottom row: Addelynn, Debbie, Willow, Edra

and hospitality and cooking.

Elaine: I would want my mom’s grace and

to pay, and he said, “No, you had this one coming!” I felt like he was an angel!

see the fruit of how they lived their lives in my life now.

[Laughter]

Another thing Mom really taught me was grace. I’ve never met somebody with so much grace. She always says, “Let’s just extend grace.” Everything about her is grace. I remember praying to be like my mom when it came to grace. It wasn’t until I got a prophetic word and someone said, “You have your mom in you,” that it hit me: I can be a gracious woman like my mom.

I was seeing my dad’s “life sermons” come to life because he had done that for thousands of people. So, here I was being reciprocated that good measure for what my dad had done. It’s interesting how so much of your heritage is a part of your ministry now. How did your parents prepare you for your ministry today?

Debbie: I never thought about finances. We weren’t wealthy, but everything I had need of was taken care of. Mom might have made my dress and finished it about 15 minutes before I walked out the door (it might even have had some pins still in it), but I had on nice shoes. I never felt like I was not taken care of. I think I carried that over into my adult life. I learned that’s how God takes care of his kids because that’s how my parents took care of me, so I didn’t worry about it. I know Robert is a faithful man. He would do whatever it took to take care of me even if that meant taking on extra jobs. There were times we didn’t have a lot of money, but I never felt like I lacked. What impact have your parents left on you, Elaine?

Elaine: There are two things that come to mind. One of them was that they’ve always trusted God. Now, being married and having two daughters, it’s just easy for me to say, “I trust God with ‘this.’” Because that’s what I saw my parents do. Our family would always say, “Okay, let’s pray about it, and we’ll just leave it with God.” I really

What things do you want to pass down to your kids?

Elaine: Prayerfully, I want them to inherit the sense of giving that has come from generations. That’s something that’s always been on our hearts. And obviously, I want them to love the Lord and know the Word of God. I remember going to Granny’s house in the summer as a kid. In the breezeway, she had these bookshelves that were full of all different types of biblical books and other books. But I only saw the biblical ones. She always had a Bible, a yellow notepad, and a little pencil. One summer I wrote a note telling her that it meant so much to me that she took the time to study the Word of God and how I prayed that I would have that same hunger for the Word of God and I would pass that to my children. A couple of months later, she found the note in her Bible and mailed me a handwritten letter saying she believed that. And it’s true; I’ve fallen in love with the Word of God. I think it started with her.

Edra: I happen to have that note! Elaine: And I still have your note!

Mari’s cooking.

Mari: In this season of my life, I would take Elaine’s and Emily’s enthusiasm and excitement about life.

Debbie: They are a party in a box! [Laughter]

Edra: If I could take from my mother, I would take her love of cooking. She actually enjoyed it and cooked good meals just for herself! I don’t do that. She also had a hard life and had to overcome so many things—I would want her ability to bounce back. You have such a strong heritage, and it’s clearly influenced the ministry of Gateway. How are you passing down these strong values to the Gateway family?

Mari: As I was thinking and praying about this interview, I remembered my grandmother teaching me about God’s favor and I thought, You know, Gateway is founded on so much more of our family history than we would have thought.

Elaine: From my perspective, growing up, we loved God and we loved people. It was just easy for Dad to show that in the pulpit. But going all the way back, even to Papaw, he would have never used those words, but he loved God and he loved people. Dad put those words together. I know plenty of pastors have used them. It’s funny how that thread has come through. We’re going to love God, and we’re going to love people. That’s our family.

Meet the Rest of the Girls 1 Hannah Morris (30) | Married to Josh, Pastor Robert and Debbie’s son. My favorite part of being in this family is that I am in the family. I have always felt more like a daughter, sister, granddaughter, and cousin than someone who just married into the family.

My favorite memory is the first time I met Granny [Edra] and Papaw [Grady]. Josh and I had only been dating a few months, and I went with his family to Granny and Papaw’s for Thanksgiving. I had heard many stories about them, so when I met them I felt like I already knew them. I connected instantly with both of them and immediately felt like they were family. I’ve never once called them Edra and Grady; they were always Granny and Papaw. It was like that with everyone in the family. It can be intimidating meeting your future husband’s family, but they were all so welcoming from the very beginning.

2 Bridgette Morris (28) | Married to James, Pastor Robert and Debbie’s son. My favorite part of being in this family is the spiritual heritage my children have. I grew up in a Christian home with godly parents and grandparents, and I am so grateful to have married into a family that listens to and obeys God’s Word and the Holy Spirit. My children have both godly influences and the blessings of having godly grandparents and even godly great-grandparents. Our heritage is rich with what matters most—the Lord.

My favorite memory is actually a collection of memories. We spend a lot of time together as a family, and some of my favorite times have been on the lake in the summer. I’m like Olaf from Frozen … I could sing about my love for summertime. Between wake surfing on the lake and our last family vacation to the beach, just having family time hanging out in the sunshine together is my favorite! Winning card games is always fun too!

3 Erin Eisenrich (26) | Mari and Lloyd’s daughter. My favorite thing about our family is our heritage. My great-grandmothers were praying women, and I often sense that we are reaping the benefits of their legacy. The generosity of Papaw and Granny is a lifestyle that has been sowed into each one of us, and our parents’ love and kindness is so much of who we are today.

My favorite family memories are the Thanksgiving and Christmas prep days we've had the last few years. Several years ago, the women in our family started getting together a few weeks before the holidays to prep the food that we serve every year. Granny knows the recipes by heart, and we wanted to make sure that we all learned them from her. We often have four generations in the kitchen rolling out dumplings and whipping sweet potatoes.

Emily Bua (24) | Mari and Lloyd’s daughter. My favorite thing about our family is our legacy. Our great grandmother, GG, was an incredible prayer warrior who prayed powerful prayers over our family that I believe we’re seeing the fruit of today. Her legacy was passed down to Granny who has continued an incredible legacy of prayer. Our Papaw left an impactful legacy of quiet servanthood and generosity, always serving those around him and giving above and beyond with a spirit of humility. My favorite family memories are from our time spent at Granny and Papaw’s land in East Texas. One of the most notable moments was when we thought a black panther was in the pasture not far from the house. All of the guys suited up with an excessive amount of weapons to combat it in a military-like formation, only to discover it was a black baby calf who was frightened and had been separated from its mom.

5 Tara Eisenrich (27) | Married to Jacob, Mari and Lloyd’s son. My favorite part of being in this family is the support we all provide each other. Throughout the week, one or more of us will have a circumstance or event that needs prayer, so we’ll send a group text to everyone about it. It’s encouraging to know that multiple people are praying about a specific need, and it never fails to show that our God answers prayers. My favorite family memory is from a couple Thanksgivings ago. All of the girls were in Debbie’s kitchen with Granny teaching us how to make chocolate and lemon meringue pies. There were no written recipes and only a couple of measuring tools. Granny would tell us to use “a capful of vanilla” or “a little bit more sugar.” I have no idea how much we actually helped, but the pies were so delicious!

Raise the Bar Elaine Fisher

Recently, my seven-year-old nephew informed our whole family that babies have more bones than adults. We all questioned him and had our doubts, to which he proudly replied, “Google it. But I know I am right!” So, of course, we Googled it and found out he was right.

friend’s marriage and belittle our own. The more we look to social media to see where we should be in life, the more we will end up defeated and, ultimately, left sitting in the slump of comparison, resenting the very blessings we prayed for. When we allow social media to be our standard, our eyes shift off the miracles in front of us, and we focus on what we don’t have and think we need.

This is a great example of how the Internet can be a good and useful tool. (Although, we all wished we’d been right!) And while it offers a plethora of useful information, there are some downfalls we need to watch out for when it comes to the Internet, social media in particular.

Beware of Gossip Gossip has found a new mask to wear when it comes to modern technology. It often disguises itself as a blog, tweet, or Facebook post. It spreads quickly through shares, retweets, and likes. Yet, biblical principles still apply in modern technology. Our goal in every comment and post should be to reflect the fruits of the Spirit. There is power in our words, even on the Internet and through social media. We have been given a platform that generations before us did not have, but it needs to be stewarded responsibly.

Beware of Falsehoods Just because it’s on the Internet and/or social media doesn’t mean it’s true. We’ve all heard that at one point or another, but are we really taking it to heart? Recently, I was scrolling through my Facebook feed and saw the title of a catchy article. Before I knew it, I was sucked into an emotional story about a little boy only to find out at the end it wasn’t even true. I was frustrated when I realized I had just wasted 30 minutes of my time and emotions on a lie! It’s so easy to allow what we read to become truth and forget that what we’re reading might be promoting a falsehood or feeding the egos of eccentric liars. Sometimes, falsehoods are also about our perceptions. If we assume we know the backstory behind it, we’ll misinterpret every photo, comment, or post we read. Just because we perceive something to be the way it is doesn’t mean it is that way.

We have an opportunity to be a light in a way that generations before us didn’t have.

Beware of Envy and Comparison Our perception can also lead us to fall into the comparison trap. Often, we compare our blooper reel to someone else’s highlight reel. On Instagram, we might see a friend’s post of her date night with her husband … their third one that week! Then, we glance over to see our messy house and our husband sitting on the couch watching espn and struggle to remember the last time just the two of us went out for a date. Immediately, the enemy swoops in, taunting us with envy. We begin to lust for our perception of our

More than likely, you are one of the three billion Internet users in the world today; this leaves you as prey to some pitfalls of modern technology. We have an opportunity to be a light in a way that generations before us didn’t have. So, I challenge you to be aware of the pitfalls, stand for what is right, and use your influence for good. It’s time to raise the bar!

Studio studio fyi

The Most Important Meal of the Day

Chelsea Seaton

esearch shows that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It refuels the body and brain with nutrients, improves concentration for the day ahead, and gives us strength and endurance to engage in physical activity. I don’t know why anyone would skip breakfast because if the research is true, you’re going to be a hungry and confused weakling without it. But sadly, many of us skip breakfast in the morning. We run out of time, don’t know what to eat, or aren’t feeling hungry. So we go on with our day in our own strength.

pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment.” Yet so often we skip reading the Word because we don’t make time, we don’t know where to start, or we just really aren’t feeling very spiritual. And so we try to go on with our day in our own strength. Before you turn the page because you’re tired of hearing pastors tell you you’re not reading your Bible enough, hear me out. I think you might be discouraged because you believe lies about what your quiet time needs to look like. I’d like to debunk some common quiet time myths that I think will help you spend more time with God and in the Word.

Reading God’s Word in the morning is a lot like eating breakfast. In fact, Jesus compares scripture to food several times in the Bible. In 1 Peter 2:2 we are told, “ Like newborn babies, you must crave

Quiet Time Myths »» It needs to be hours long. Last I checked, there’s nothing in the Bible that says the prophets stayed in their houses for six hours to meet with God. What it does say is that they made time. Just keep showing up, and let God do the rest. »» It needs to be in a special chair, in a special place, or in the perfect environment. God is omnipresent, which means He’s everywhere and can show up anywhere. Some of my best quiet times have been in my car with the YouVersion Bible App playing.

»» I need to read multiple chapters or verses to be effective. Pastor Marcus Brecheen once said, “Read the Bible slowly and one verse at a time if you have to.” He also said to pay attention to the verbs. At some point this week, practice this by reading Titus 3:4–5 or Philippians 4:5. Underline the verbs to help you pay attention to what the verse is saying. »» I need to feel like having my quiet time, otherwise it doesn’t count. I want to let you in on a secret … I don’t always feel like going to work. I know that no

one can possibly relate. But I go anyway because I know if I don’t go to work, the consequence will affect my livelihood. Reading God’s Word is important, and we need to do it whether we feel like it or not. We know Satan’s goal is to kill, steal, and destroy. Is it possible one of his goals is for you to not feel like spending time with God? How about you kick him in the teeth by seeking God when you can’t see Him or feel Him? So what’s the moral of the story? Start eating “breakfast”!

The Truth About Beauty Jimmy Evans

One of the biggest hang-ups we all have is the tendency to compare ourselves with others. And the problem with comparison is we almost always choose society’s ideal to measure ourselves by. In other words, we compare up—way up. And the results are frustration, low self-esteem, jealousy, and reduced confidence.

Research proves that most women compare their bodies to fashion models. In one study, 60% of young girls said they did just that. Not surprisingly, the same study found that many of those girls’ self-esteem was lowered as a result. In fact, 31% of them admitted to starving themselves or refusing to eat in order to lose weight.

The issue isn’t weight or size—it’s health. God doesn’t have a onesize-fits-all ideal for women. All women are unique. He loves you for who you are. But He does want you to be healthy. Fashion models typically weigh 23% less than the average female. Today’s super-thin ideal has created an epidemic of eating disorders as women and young girls desperately try to be accepted. And this issue is just as real in the church as it is in the world. Right now, approximately 24 million Americans suffer from an eating disorder of some type, and most sufferers are women. But do you realize that only 5% of women have a naturally thin build? That means God made 95% of women with more fat on their bodies.

If you are a woman struggling with your weight or feeling pressured to be thinner, I want to give you some encouragement. First of all, you are beautiful for who you are. God made you in your mother’s womb and He did a great job! You are unique and special, and you can only be successful by being yourself. Look in the mirror and thank God for who He has made you to be. The issue isn’t weight or size—it’s health. God doesn’t have a onesize-fits-all ideal for women. All women are unique. He loves you for who you are. But He does want you to be healthy. Your eating and exercising habits are important for that reason. But you don’t have to be legalistic about it, and after doing everything right, you will still have fat on your body if you are a normal, healthy woman.

We have some friends whose son and daughter-in-law had twins that were born premature. One of the twins was a girl and the other was a boy. When the doctor came out to talk with them, he expressed particular concern about the baby boy. The doctor told them that because the babies were born premature and their body weights were very low, he had to keep their temperatures up. He then told the parents that he wasn’t concerned about the baby girl because she had an extra layer of fat because she was a girl. But the boy didn’t have that extra layer. Women are born with more fat on their bodies naturally. That is God’s design. But regardless of that, in every society, some person or group of people decides what the ideal is going to be. Earlier in American history, the ideal female build was much heavier than today. If you watch old movies, you can see that back in the early- to midtwentieth century, female movie stars were much heavier than today. But then something changed. In the 1960s, a fashion model named Twiggy came onto the scene. She got her name because she had the build of a twig. As her fame spread so did the notion that somehow women were supposed to be skinnier. And then more super-skinny models and actresses began to appear. And then the 95% of normally heavier women began to feel pressured to conform to the 5%.

Ladies, you are beautiful. God made you that way. Celebrate His design—because you are special. Show off who you are!

The Perfect You Dr. Caroline Leaf “Does anyone out there understand me?” God says: “I do; do you?.....” God tells us we are made in His image (Genesis 1:26) with a sound mind that operates in love and power (2 Timothy 1:7). Science proves we are wired for love, for the positive. This is called the optimism bias. Therefore both science and scripture demonstrate we are wired for healthy thinking, choices, emotions and health. Once you know how you are made, you can know your purpose and fulfill your destiny. You are on your way to ‘Becoming the Perfect You’. You are uniquely you and adding to your uniqueness is the expression of your uniqueness through your maleness and your femaleness. God created you for uniqueness and for perfection. In fact the scriptures instruct us to become perfect as He is perfect (Matthew 5:48). Becoming the Perfect You is a lifelong walk - but - it begins with recognizing what it means to be made perfect: “I made them perfect BUT they choose to go down their own pathway” (Ecclesiastes 7:29). The way in which you think and choose is the road to becoming The Perfect You We are thinking beings made in the image of a thinking God, Who is perfect and Who is Love. But we have to think and choose to follow God and His way of thinking. This is free will. Einstein so accurately once said: “I want to know God's thoughts, the rest are details.” God gave each of us the ability to think and choose as well as a unique way in which to do this. The way that we use our unique ability to think and choose determines how we stay on the road of “The Perfect You”. Stepping out of our perfect thinking happens when we don't listen to God; when we do our own thing. This is a bump in the road, and by admitting, quitting and beating, we can get back on the road again. Each of us is a set-apart designer babe! There is something you can do that no one else can do - and - if you don't do it: the whole world suffers because we are entangled in each others lives. This is called the Law of Entanglement in Quantum Physics and can be seen in Ephesians 4:16, as well as many other scriptures.

THE PERFECT YOU: WIRED FOR HEALTH The fact that you are wired for love is reflected in all the bodily systems. When you don't think and choose well, when you step out of your The Perfect You, it affects the whole body. 75 to 98% of all mental and physical illness is a result of the thought life. If you are functioning according to The Perfect You, you remain in good health and your body heals a lot faster. You are wired for health.

Nervous System- Healthy thoughts literally causes the brain to grow, making you more intelligent. Since the brain is connected via the rest of the nervous system to all the rest of the body, total health increases. Endocrine System- Healthy thoughts positively affect the hormonal balance, which in turn positively affects all the rest of the bodily systems. Even fertility can be affected by the thought life. Immune System- Thoughts affect the functioning of the defenders of the body- the white blood cells. Healthy thoughts lead to robust white blood cells which can fight off infections and even devour cancer cells. Intestinal System- The gut has a brain of its own. A ‘gut feeling’ is real. Healthy thoughts enable proper food digestion and therefore leads to good general health. Integumentary System- This system includes the skin, the largest organ in the body. Healthy thoughts leads to better skin- the first line of defense against for the rest of the body. Muscular System- When your thought life is healthy you are motivated to exercise. Exercised muscles in turn released substances that increase brain health. This an example of an upward spiral. Cardiovascular System- Healthy thoughts are involved in proper communication between the heart mini-brain and the skull brain, leading to the promotion of well-being by the heart’s orchestration of the whole body’s electromagnetic rhythm and harmony. Good thoughts also enhance the vascular system, thus preventing hypertension.

What do you have inside of you that no one else has? Maybe no one ever told you that you are unique. You have a divinely pre-wired Perfect You - a unique way of thinking and seeing the world that God has placed within you - a divine sense of purpose, a piece of eternity! (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

For nearly 30 years Dr. Caroline Leaf has researched the science of thought. She discovered that “The Perfect You” is reflected in the unique structuring and functioning of our brains. In other words we are wired differently according to our unique way of thinking.

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WHAT’S KEEPING YOU FROM BEING TRULY FREE? If you’ve ever wondered, Why do I keep repeating the same mistakes over and over again? Why can’t I change? Take heart—there is a way out! With relevant scriptures, prayers, and questions for contemplation or group discussion, Pastor Robert Morris explains how you can find lasting freedom and live truly free.

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Available Wherever Books and eBooks Are Sold May 12, 2015

My Anchor in the Storms Amy Horan For as long as I can remember, the storms of life have caught me off guard. I know I’m out to sea, and sometimes I can even spot the storm clouds rolling in, yet I still have found myself shocked and scrambling for safety every time the winds hit me. Then, because I have not prepared myself, I am easily tossed to and fro. My footing is unsure, and my ship is like a toy boat as it rolls and pitches. Even mild and brief life storms have affected me quite dramatically … simply because of lack of wisdom and preparation. Then I read 1 Peter 4:12 and feel like Peter is wagging his finger right at me: “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you” (NKJV).

I somehow had convinced myself that I was immune to verses such as John 16:33 and James 1:2, which make it crystal clear that trials will come. It is not a matter of if, but rather when; and, more importantly, what will I do through them? Before I met Christ, I was sinking without hope. At salvation, He rescued me and drew me out of many waters! Now, I have been given a sturdy ship under my feet and the Holy Spirit at my helm. However, this does not mean that the ocean is now tame or timid. I am in a broad place and the Lord is on my side … but storms of life will still come.

Ouch.

The Lord began to show me that what left me so emotionally vulnerable to even the most trivial of trials was that I was neglecting to throw out the anchor He had already provided for me in Christ.

It was a rough wake-up call the day the Holy Spirit stopped me in my tracks and showed me how I had bought into the lie that the Christian life would be smooth sailing from salvation on out.

Hebrews 6:19 (nkjv) says, “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil.”

“What hope?” I began to ask the Lord. All throughout the Psalms I could see that God is our only hope. In the New Testament, we have further revelation as we see that Christ Himself is the source of that hope. Paul makes it clear as he begins his letter to Timothy that Christ is not just his hope, but our hope: “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope” (1 Timothy 1:1).

And, so, I began to learn to throw out my anchor no matter what comes my way. Whether in light breezes of change or through treacherous hurricanes, I no longer need be unstable, doubleminded, driven, and tossed by every wind. I can choose to stand on a firm foundation of the Word, knowing in my mind and believing in my heart that every good and perfect gift comes to me from my Father—no matter what storms blow in.

“Okay, Lord,” I pressed in, “Now, how do I throw out that anchor so I am steady and sure in that hope, storms or no storms?”

I have tethered myself to Christ and His Word, the anchor for my soul—mind, will, and emotions. And I praise God, for He is sure and steadfast even when I don’t know how to be!

Peace, joy, and excitement for the journey ahead came over me as the Lord brought John 1 to mind, and the puzzle pieces began to fall in place. Hope is my anchor … Christ is my hope … Christ is the Word made flesh …

Hope is my anchor … Christ is my hope … Christ is the Word made flesh … Ah, yes … the Word is the anchor for my soul.

Ah, yes … the Word is the anchor for my soul.

Building Love Dana Even

There is a building frustration in the hearts of some mothers. We a godly way, I must sacredly guard my one-on-one time with the think it’s normal. So we keep our mouths shut, our heads down, Lord. I have to be in prayer, and I mean serious, on-my-face prayer and we push on, plodding through motherhood, trying desper- with Him about my children. What do each of them need from me today, ately to enjoy merging the child-world and the adult-world. We Lord? Direct me in my tone, in my words, and in my use of time. During ask, What’s wrong with me? We wonder, Why is this so much more of one of these times of prayer, the Lord gave me 1 Corinthians 16:14: a struggle than I ever thought it would be? We think, I love my children, “Do everything in love.” Not just some things … everything. but I guess because I don’t love every minute of motherhood I’m just not Knowing what makes me tick has also been key. Before I attended a “naturally” good mother. And then we stick that label on ourselves Gateway’s WILD (Women in Leadership Development) Retreat this and push it down deep inside and don’t really deal with it. But past November, I took the Clifton StrengthsFinder 2.0 assessment is that what’s really going on? Are we defective mothers because in preparation. What I learned from it was significant. Evidently, we get frustrated with motherhood? No, that’s a lie straight from harmony is my strongest strength at this time in my life. That the liar’s playbook! So, what do we do to fix this draining frustraexplains why I feel frustrated on occasion … motherhood isn’t tion? For me, I needed to think about motherhood differently by harmonious! With young kids, there’s bound to be crying and protecting my time with the Lord, knowing myself better, and bickering in our house on a daily basis. But knowing a little more intentionally seeking out women in my life stage and beyond. about myself has enabled me to recognize why I feel the way I When Dave Ramsey came to speak at Gateway in the summer feel and then tackle it with God’s direction on a situation-byof 2013, he used the analogy of us being like bankers with our situation basis. money. It isn’t our money; it’s God’s money, and we are simply It has also helped for me to connect with other Christian mothcalled to be good stewards of it. That’s when the Holy Spirit said ers who are in the same stage of life or even a few stages beyond. to me, “That’s how I want you to think about your kids.” It was as Whether it’s connecting with the moms of my kids’ friends or conif a weight had been lifted off my shoulders, and He was freeing necting with people from Gateway, this has to be an intentional me to see my children differently. I had always seen my children effort. To be able to support each other, vent, and laugh through as precious gifts from God, but now I began to catch myself in life is invaluable (Galatians 6:2). certain situations and redirecting. For example, one evening I had all four kids in our bathtub and was in the process of searching Motherhood is a convoluted mix of joy, frustration, love, pain, and for towels under the sink. As I was grabbing them, the Holy Spirit many more contrary adjectives, but if we ask God for help, know said, “Use the good towels.” Yes, Lord, I will. They might wipe boogers ourselves, and seek out others, we can lay our weaknesses at His on them, but if You say so, I will use the good towels, I thought. Why? feet and pick up God’s unfailing love and see how “love builds up” Because I’m stewarding four gifts the Lord has entrusted me with, (1 Corinthians 8:1). And, really, isn’t building love what motherand He would use the good towels. hood is all about? See, motherhood does not equal automatic selflessness: That doesn’t just happen, as I once thought. For me to consistently respond in

To learn more about Clifton StrengthsFinder 2.0 or to take the assessment, visit strengthsfinder.com.

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From a Mom Who Used ABCdevos: Just One More Thing ... Dana Stone

From the Author of ABCdevos:

How It All Started

Terri Talbot

arenting is a delicate balance between drawing your children close and letting them go. As parents, our instinct is to protect them by holding them tight, but we know there are times we need to loosen our grip. This balancing act seemed to heighten when it came time to send our middle daughter, Jordan, off to college. She has always been a very old soul and extremely self-reliant. As a child, she was never really quite sure she needed parents! (It took some convincing.) We knew we were in for an adventure when her first sentence was, “Me do!” The trick became knowing when to jump in and help her and when to just walk alongside her.

After doing the college parent/freshman student drop-off routine, it was time to say our goodbyes, grab one last hug, get in the car, and leave ... leave her behind. My husband and I, half jokingly, wondered aloud if we would ever hear from her again. I knew it would be okay because this is what parents were supposed to do. After all, we were experienced at this. Our oldest daughter had already successfully survived, thrived in, and graduated college. I needed to find a new way to stay connected, a way to make myself available to her without being overbearing and intrusive. I also wanted to find a way to keep God’s Word present in her daily life while giving her the space necessary to discover where God would lead her. I decided I would write her a letter. I remembered when I taught Jordan the ABCs for the first time and decided I would take

the opportunity to teach her (my “Me-do” child) the ABCs again. The idea was simple. I would write her a letter each week, formatted as a greeting card. Beginning with the letter A (A is for Absolute) and continuing through the letter Z (Z is for Zebra), I took special care to avoid “churchy” words. Each letter was short, sweet, and full of scripture, focusing on one main thought ... and sometimes it was laced with gift cards and coupons! The letters were my way of encouraging her to stay close to the Lord by staying in His Word and watching Him do amazing things in her life. Simultaneously I reminded her that she had a mom and dad who were thinking of her. I wanted to encourage her to make decisions and view the world based on the truth found in God’s Word. Thus, ABCdevos were born. I thought that I was just writing letters to my kids, but God had bigger plans in mind. Not only did the ABCdevos get us both through four years of college, but they also ended up in the most unexpected places. Today I am working on the eighth set of letters in the ABCdevos series, and each one has taken on a life of its own. My role as a parent keeps changing as my kids grow older, but I still have the opportunity to influence them and be an example. It is not an impossible task; I just had to find a different and creative way to accomplish it. To check out Terri’s ABCdevos, visit abcdevos.com.

When my daughter left for college last fall, I was determined to find a way to stay connected to her without making her feel like I was intruding on her newfound freedom. That’s when the Just One More Thing ABCdevos came across my path. Terri Talbot has created the perfect format that allows parents to keep God’s Word present in their children’s lives while allowing them the opportunity to hear from God on their own. The idea is a simple yet effective way to communicate the heart of God to our children, no matter their age. Each card has a one-word thought corresponding with that week’s letter of the alphabet and is filled with scriptures related to that thought. A short but powerful devotional is also included and provides the opportunity for a personal note from the parent. The ABCdevo cards have been the perfect solution for this mama! I love being able to share God’s heart with my daughter each week, and she loves receiving letters from home that encourage and exhort her. Best of all, the letters remind her of who she is in Christ. It’s also fun to include a gift card or two along the way!

To live happily ever after is the desire of every couple, and this powerful marriage resource will help you understand the unique qualities of strong, amazing women and the remarkable men who love them.

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