Bluewater Women kicks off a provocative new series this Saturday called "Lean In: Inspiring Stories of Unapologetically Powerful Women". It's a bit of a take off from Facebook CFO Sheryl Sandberg's book Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead. The idea is that you and I are called to shape, heal and influence our world -- yes, you are. But we have some hang ups that hold us back, some particular to women.
1. First off, we can stop apologizing for not being "enough" or up to the task.
- Sandberg says; “Women need to shift from thinking "I'm not ready to do that" to thinking "I want to do that- and I'll learn by doing it.”
- Jesus says "Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you." Luke 10:19
- Sandberg says “If you're offered a seat on a rocket ship, don't ask what seat! Just get on.”
- Jesus says, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." Luke 9:62
3. We have to help one another by boldly and vulnerably sharing our own examples, our "stories of try", (including successes which we sometimes playdown in favor of our failure/vicitim stories!)
- Sandberg writes: “There's a special place in hell for women who don't help other women.”
- The apostle Paul wrote: "And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ." I Cor 11:1
SO, this Saturday, Angie Gibbons brings her awesome game and shares her unapologetic leadership story. Angie is a homeschooling mom of 3, an adoptive parent, and a multi talented creative. She invents music, is writing a book, blogs and she even draws very funny cartoons. Angie and Ryan lead the Sunday morning Prayer Ministry Team. She has had an intimate closeness with Jesus since she was a little girl and she seamlessly invites everyone in her radius into the joyful safety of that presence. I'm personally so blessed to call her my friend. She will inspire you forward! Specifically, she'll share how God’s redemptive power turned the lowest, weakest parts of her life into places of freedom and compassion for others. You'll gain faith for how God wants to redeem your own story for your good and for his glory.
Please join us 9-11 am (yes we've made the time a little later for our meetings so people can slow down on the weekend - yay!) at the St. Mark's Coptic Church Fellowship Room, 1052 Ilima Drive, Honolulu 96817. Look for the steep driveway on the mauka side of the road and the Kamaaina Kids sign. Please RSVP to bluewaterwomen@bluewatermission.org and bring a breakfast item to share. In addition to Angie's talk, we'll have a time of worship and prayer ministry.
Please join us 9-11 am (yes we've made the time a little later for our meetings so people can slow down on the weekend - yay!) at the St. Mark's Coptic Church Fellowship Room, 1052 Ilima Drive, Honolulu 96817. Look for the steep driveway on the mauka side of the road and the Kamaaina Kids sign. Please RSVP to bluewaterwomen@bluewatermission.org and bring a breakfast item to share. In addition to Angie's talk, we'll have a time of worship and prayer ministry.
Look forward to seeing you there!
Sonya Seng (for Sandy, Joannie and the Bluewater Women Team)