SOLID P.E.A.C.E. in a sHaKy World! #Peace4Chicks

         I was absolutely scared out of my wits. All I remember about that moment was the instinct to RUN! So that is what I did. I ran. I ran as fast as I could. I didn't even realize at the time that I was also stopping bystanders in their tracks with my blood-curdling screams. I didn't know I was screaming. I knew I was being chased and I knew I wouldn't stop running until I found a safe place where the man chasing me couldn't hurt me. In my own memory banks, this moment in time looks like something out of a movie. All I can see is what is before me and how far I have yet to run. All around me is a blur—as though time stopped in all respects except for this chase.
As soon as I got to my safe place, I felt PEACE immediately because I trusted in the one I was running to this whole time. And when the mall security officer caught his breath, he looked at my mom with a helpless expression and said, “All I was trying to do was to tell her not to run.” But in my 3 or 4 year old mind, I was being chased, and there was only one place to find safety: in the arms of my mother.
Peace. We all long for more of it, don’t we? We hear the word and there’s an internal response. With this in mind, take a moment to write down your own thoughts on Peace:
• How would you define peace? (What is it?)

• How would you describe peace? (How does it feel? What does it ‘look’ like?)

• Where do you find yourself on the “Peace o Meter?”

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I wouldn’t know Peace if I bumped into it at the Mall                          I could use some Peace                       If I were more peaceful, I’d be a liquid

In our study time together over these next 5 segments, we’re going to invest in our own Peace Factor by studying the best example of One who understood and lived out the Peace that passes all understanding. We’re going to spend some time with the Prince of Peace as we study the life and times of the Prince of Peace. I mean, who would know better how to hold onto His peace than the One who invented it and holds within Himself that very quality? Right?

Read: Luke 2:40-52
In this short passage, we get to read the only biblical reference to what Jesus was like as a child and adolescent. I am confident the Holy Spirit spoke to you as you read these verses. Take just a moment to jot down anything that came to your mind as you read the Scripture passage:



• Luke 2:40 describes Jesus in some pretty specific ways. Write down those descriptions here:


We can see in just these three verses that this was a family dedicated to God and to each other. Jesus was growing physically and spiritually under the guidance of his earthly parents. The Amplified Bible says that “the Child became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom and the grace (favor and spiritual blessing) of God was upon Him.”  Jesus on earth revealed to all of us what God in the flesh looks like. This is key to understanding our position in Christ so that we can begin to practice our position in Christ...

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This is an excerpt out of the newest study guide that accompanies our newest series, "Solid PEACE in a Shaky World." We would LOVE for you to join us for this series if you're in the Atlanta, GA area. We have two locations on two nights each week to serve you. Not local? We have an option for you as well. You can find our teaching videos online each week after they've been recorded on site and you can purchase your copy of the study guide online as well. (The above article is only a portion of the Week One study section.) Please visit us at www.church4chicks.com for all the info!

Real Peace? It REALLY is possible!

What is the purpose of letting our light #Shine?

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16

What is the purpose of letting our light shine'? To bring the Father honor and praise. Sounds simple enough, right? 

Growing up, I heard this passage repeated so frequently that I could quote it in my sleep (which is actually a good thing). However, when the reality of ''the challenge of living life' started to take it's toll, the significance of this passage really began to seep in. 

Whenever we are in a situation and don't know what to do, it never hurts to look toward Jesus! As a matter of fact, it is the best thing to do. That's right dear friends--our humble Savior and the One and Only sacrificial Lamb. He lived out these verses (Matthew 5:14-16) so purely that His life epitomizes them. There has never been, nor will there ever be One again Who, though He endured unimaginable hardship and ultimately died unjustly in an unthinkable manner, continually radiated God's glory drawing man to worship and praise the Father.

At times it is so easy to praise our Creator and 'shine' for Him--when He has given us a break from life's many curve balls, or even when the Lord has answered that prayer we've brought before Him countless times with a "yes." Rejoice! There is nothing wrong with that--we should relish the joy He has given us and soak up those sweet moments of happiness while giving Him credit for what He has done! There are numerous Psalms about "praise" and Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us that "there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven…" 

Nevertheless, there are seasons we walk through when, quite honestly, all is not well and it's hard enough to take it second by second, forget day by day. The beauty of this is that it is in moments (and seasons) like these, we have the opportunity to let our full dependency rest on Him. When we do this, the pressure is off of us (*phew*--sigh of relief), because when we are finally open to His results, He shines through us (and when His light is present, boy does it ever radiate)! It doesn't matter if we feel it or not--our precious heavenly Father is there.

Jesus was the expert for putting this into practice during His short time on earth. He was entirely dependent on His Father, in Whom He had no question regarding His faithfulness. …And look, Jesus was the brightest shining Light of all!

Shining our light is not about feeling or emotion, good days or rotten days, rather our hope being in the One who saved us from the pit. Because of this hope we have been given, we can "…hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:23) That alone is reason enough to continue onward everyday as we let Him radiate through us! Shine on! 


Who do you know that lets her light shine brightly for others?


How does she do this?

 A native of Metro-Atlanta, Danielle Hendrix is a graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design and is a graphic designer for Ecce Design Studio.

www.eccedesignstudio.com

She is also the graphics designer for Church 4 Chicks and has designed and developed all of our newest designs! 

A light to children who only know darkness #Shine

Have you ever looked into eyes that seem hollow, dark and overwhelmingly sad? Have you seen that look in the eyes of a child? I have, replayed over and over again at our camps for kids in foster care. These are the eyes of a child that has experienced abuse, many times by the hands of someone that is supposed to love them more than anyone else. This is a look of rejection, fear, loneliness, anxiety and hopelessness.

How do you break through a heart that has been shut down, one that refuses to trust because everyone in their life has let them down? Truth is, we can’t do it. It’s an impossible task. However, there is One that’s been there, One that knows how it feels to be rejected and beaten by those that were supposed to love Him the most. He is the only One that can truly empathize with these kids. It’s Christ, and He is the One that is a Father to the Fatherless (Psalm 68:5-6) and calls us to minister to the orphan and the widow (James 1:27).

 It is our desire as a ministry to start a relationship with each child through a camp setting. We have fun together, and lay a foundation for them to know that they are loved, valued and special. No, they are not worthless, bad or unwanted. The God of the Universe created them; He knows the number of hairs on their head and had a plan for their life even before they were born … an awesome plan designed just for them. 

We continue as they age out of our Royal Family Kids’ Camp at the age of 12 to teach them, through Xtreme Life, the skills they need in order to be successful in their interpersonal relationships. We teach them what their particular gifts and abilities are and how to use them effectively. All the while, we continue to teach them that God is always with them and loves them unconditionally. Our goal, especially through our mentoring program, One 4 Life, is to give them the support they need so they will not feel alone and will have someone that they can count on throughout their life.

Ultimately, we desire to be light in the darkness. For most of these kids, this darkness is all they have ever known in their short lives. We want to shine the light of Jesus so these kids will know that there is hope, that they don’t have to stay in darkness, that there is more to life than hurt, pain, and sadness and that they don’t have to repeat the cycle of abuse that they have experienced. And in the end, we pray that our lives and the lives of each one of these precious kids, will result in praise to our God.

 “To bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness, instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.” Isaiah 61:3

Letting our lights shine begins first with a relationship with Jesus Christ--He is the source of the very light He wants us to shine into the darkness. Do you know Him? 


If you know this Jesus, then you are already full of the very Light this world most needs to see--not just a light to look at, but a light that helps others see--who they are, where they're going, what is happening around them... How can we be intentional to become even more effective "lamps" to make the Light of the world known and seen in our lives?

For the past 14 years, Tasha Whitener has served children in various ministries and programs.  She was on staff at First Baptist Woodstock in the Children’s Ministry for 11 years, which included serving as Director of ongoing programs such as Sunday school, Awana and Special Events. She also served as a CPS case worker with the Department of Family and Children’s Services in Georgia. Since 2008, she has been the Director of the Woodstock Royal Family Kids’ Camp (a week-long camp for abused and neglected children ages 7-11). She is currently the Founder and Executive Director of KidS³, Inc., a non-profit organization that serves children/youth in foster care.

Ministry Description

KidS³ was founded in 2009 by Tasha and her husband, Doug, to build on the foundation of Royal Family Kids’ Camp. They saw the need to continue their work with these kids as they graduate from RFKC and equip them with the skills and support that are necessary for their success as they progress through their teenage years. This is accomplished through week-long and weekend overnight camps, a mentoring program, and community events. During these programs, they are taught their value and self-worth, character and team-building, budgeting, job skills and work ethic, leadership training and are then engaged in service projects according to their area of interest. All of the children/youth they serve are in foster care, group homes or state approved care and range from 7 to 18 years old. Our passion is to connect these youth with a mentor/advocate that will remain a consistent factor in their lives during their time with KidS³ and beyond. It is critical that these youth have the support and life skills they need as they “age-out” of the system and enter into adulthood.

Ultimately, their vision is to establish a strong support system and effective services for youth in state care that will result in the development of men & women of character and integrity, equipped with the necessary job skills in their area of interest and giftedness, engaged in service to the community, and fulfilling God’s purpose for their life.

True Beauty that Shines #Shine

“People are like stained glass windows – the true beauty can be seen only when there is light within.”

~Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

All women should do self-care. Why? Because others are drawn to a woman who shines! People take notice when someone is rested, pleasant, has good boundaries, stops people-pleasing, and learns to say no so that she can say yes to what God really wants. People want to be with a woman who feels good because she put herself on the list. She takes time to eat right, exercise, and finds pleasure in small things. When Jesus told people to love others as they love themselves, he was assuming people would love themselves. As a counselor, I meet so many women who don’t love themselves by taking time for self-care. Hey Church 4 Chicks, would you stop what you’re doing and write down one thing you’re going to do for yourself today.

 It is nice to know that self-care doesn’t have to be radical or expensive. History and research has shown that when the economy goes into a recession or a depression, the sale of lipstick increases. The Lipstick Effect is a term coined after the Great Depression, when sales of cosmetics rose in the four years from 1929 to 1933. People continue to spend money on small luxuries during times of economic or emotional stress to buoy their spirits. The same thing happened after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Lipstick sales doubled.

Not everyone enjoys the lift that lipstick brings, but there are small items you can buy that will give you a truckload of happiness. Maybe it's a pretty journal or a beautiful pen. Maybe it's a pink frilly blouse that makes you feel ultra-feminine, or perhaps it's a pumpkin-caramel latte that goes down warm and comforting. Even if the item is small, the fact that you took time to buy and enjoy it, affirms your worth to yourself. Perhaps you stop to sip some tea and read your favorite book for 15 minutes. Or take a quiet walk. Doing something simple for yourself has the capacity to change your life in a big way. Thomas Merton said, “Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance and order and rhythm and harmony.”


What about you? Do you struggle to take care of yourself? If so, what causes this struggle for you?


If you have found ways to maintain your own balance and well-being, do tell! Share your secrets for making self-care a priority.

Lucille is working on a book about self-care for Abingdon Press. She and her husband are celebrating 25 years of marriage and are experiencing the "empty nest." She has a private counseling practice in Littleton, Colorado and teaches psychology courses at Colorado Christian University. She writes on her own blog http://blog.rumorsofglory.com/ and for the http://wordservewatercooler.com/

You can also connect with Lucille on 

Facebook and Twitter 

If you could ask Mother Teresa for advice, what would you ask her? #Shine

Can you imagine what it would be like to have some one-on-one time with Mother Teresa of Calcutta when she was very much alive serving the poorest of the poor in India? Even if you don't see eye-to-eye with her on everything, you have to admit that she was one amazing woman. I look at her pictures and I see a beautiful woman. Can you imagine what it would be like...

To see her with your own eyes?  

To hear her voice saying your name?

To see her fragile, yet powerful hands touching those whom the world had forsaken?

 I try to put myself there in my mind, but I can’t come close to being able to imagine an experience like this. It would be an honor that nothing could ever make you forget, right? Now imagine that you could ask this one-of-a-kind woman who walked with her Jesus in such an authentic way anything, knowing that she would share her wisdom and counsel with you. What would YOU ask Mother Teresa?

I wonder for myself what I might ask her…

"How did you come to know the Savior?"

“What made you choose this part of the world?”

“Has it all been worth it?”

“What keeps you going when discouragement is high?”

Most of us can only try to imagine such an encounter with this icon of the past century. Now, imagine getting to do this not once, but on at least three different occasions…

This was the experience that Dr. Lori Salierno had the privilege to realize when she was still a very young woman. God was already giving her influence as a communicator that few get to enjoy in their lifetime, much less while still so young. Those of us who know Lori and who have had the opportunity to sit under her teaching know that she is a woman with an insatiable hunger for God and for others to know Him well. She is the founder and CEO of Celebrate Life International, an organization with a vision to reach and mentor at-risk students all over the world. Lori is also the Founder and Lead Speaker for the WILD Women of God Conference which trains and mentors young women.

As Lori looked for women to mentor her in those early days of ministry, her greatest desire was to meet and be mentored by Mother Teresa. Talk about dreaming big!! It took years, lots of requests, incredible persistence, patience, speaking wherever she could for whatever she could get paid, and refusing to give up at the first, second, third….signs of opposition to finally get on a plane to India to work with, walk beside, and serve among Mother Teresa and the Sisters of Charity. I am still amazed that she got this chance at all, much less three times! I’ll never forget being in Lori’s home and reading a framed, handwritten letter to Lori and then realizing that this letter was from Mother Teresa herself. What a treasure!

So with this in mind, are you curious to know what advice Mother Teresa offered Lori when she earnestly sought it? After several years of persistence and all that it took to make this opportunity turn the corner from dream to reality, Lori had her shot—to ask Mother Teresa herself for her words of wisdom. Lori has shared on numerous occasions that as she asked Mother Teresa how she could make the biggest impact on her generation and even those to come, Mother Teresa offered her some very sage, completely biblical, and rather simple advice:

“Find a dark place and be a light there.”

Can it really be that simple? I think it can. I think it is. But simple doesn’t necessarily mean easy, does it? How many of us would agree, though, that the greatest fulfillment comes not from what is easiest but from what is best?

What might happen if…

What could happen if…

What will happen when…

Those of us who claim the Name of Christ begin to live our lives with the understanding and conviction that it is Christ in us who empowers us to let His light shine through our everyday lives...with intentionality....on purpose?

             Matthew 5:16

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As we begin our farewells to 2011 and look forward to 2012....

What dark place exists in your world? In your community? In your own neighborhood?

How can you be a light in that place?

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As Church 4 Chicks gears up for our next series, "Shine!" we are anticipating that we will not only hear what God's Word has to say about letting our lights shine, but also following through with obedience as He gives us opportunities to do just that!

I hope you'll join us as we hear from other women who will share their hearts and messages for us beginning Monday, Dec 12 and then over the next four weeks or so on this blog spot right here.

And then, if possible, join us in person for our Winter Series which begins January 10th at Town Center Community Church in Marietta, GA. (More details at www.church4chicks.com)

Remember, “A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.”

Let your light Shine!!

From one of our C4C Chicks

A year ago, when I first attended Church 4 Chicks, I was looking for a 

Bible study for the ladies in our church to attend.  What I found 

at Church 4 Chicks was so much more than just a Bible study!  I found a 

place where I could worship God in a real way with awesome 

women who had hearts for God.  One of the things that C4C strives to do 

is cultivate environments of grace.  Grace took on a 

totally new meaning for me as I saw it lived out by the women at C4C.  I 

spent all of my life in church and yet somehow I missed learning 

how to give and receive grace.

There were some struggles going on in my life at the time that I was 

unable to share with most people and C4C became a safe place for me.  

Many times during the incredible music, tears would just flow down my 

cheeks as I was able to sing praises to the One who heals and comforts - 

all without feeling judged or condemned by those around me.  As the

leader of C4C Shelley Hendrix spoke, she ministered to my heart with 

incredible words of wisdom delivered with a spirit of grace and an 

openness that I have not found in many places in church.  Feeling loved 

and accepted is one of the things that I love most at Church 4 Chicks. 

Another thing that I enjoy is that there are women of all ages. This 

past year, my 10 year old niece came with me and she loved being a part 

of it.  What a privilege to worship and learn with teenagers, 

grandmothers, new moms, college kids, seasoned moms, etc.!      

If you are looking for true biblical teaching, a place where you can be 

yourself, and a desire to grow in grace, you need to check out 

Church 4 Chicks. www.church4chicks.com  I know that I have been forever 

changed because of it.  

Ida Adkins  

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From Shelley: 

Dear Ida,

Thank you for sharing this testimony and for allowing us to pass it along. We are so delighted to have you with us as we continue to work hard and pray hard in our vision of creating and cultivating environments of grace for women of all ages.