BRAVE: A New Summer Series

It is on. That Summer Shift. And my family has binged on it like we’ve been waiting all our lives.

My kids have been out of school for a mere four days and we’ve already had three sleepovers, two picnics, late night movies and sleeping in like it’s breath to our lungs.

Memorial Day Weekend kicks off the Summer, and when seasons change, there’s a natural shift that happens, isn’t there? That cold and quiet of winter has left, and spring was so two weeks ago and we’ve totally turned the corner into full-blown-summertime. Love it.

What’s the beginning of summer look like for you? 

Sometimes the best part of a new season is the brand-new-ness of it all.  Fresh slate, new piece of paper, clean whiteboard. Write whatever you want. Dream it. 

Right here at the beginning, before you start your summer, on the top of that slate, paper or whiteboard, I want you to write down one question: 

Brave 2

 

Sit there for just a second…consider that. What would it look like to be brave right now? Because normally, if you’re at all like me, most days are not at all defined as BRAVE. Most of my days are pretty much the same: take care of the fam, do some dishes, make/attempt dinner, avoid putting away the laundry, go to bed, and wake up the next morning and hit repeat. 

However, even though our lives are pretty predictable, I believe this to my core: We are never more fully alive than when we are living bravely.

For the next few weeks, we’re going to examine this word BRAVE because I believe that we are desperate for more of it.

We’re going to look at the supernaturally orchestrated life of a Jewish girl named Esther. A story that’s unmatched, full of drama, a villain, and a hero or two. A story about what it really means to live a brave life, filled with conviction and courage.

My home church has been in the middle of a series on Esther, and a few weeks ago I had the privilege of giving the message, looking at what it means to be brave. But it hasn’t settled down in me yet. I keep talking with other women who feel like God’s calling them away from the shore. Women like you and me that desperately want something more than themselves, women who want to trust and believe God for all that He is.

If you’re here, I’m guessing you do as well. 

Here’s where we’re going. Over the next few weeks, we’re going to look at these three big ideas:

  1. Wherever you’re at, you have a purpose in that place.
  2. Intentional time in His presence reveals that purpose.
  3. Once you know that purpose, live.it.out with passion.

Esther understood every single drop of this.

  • She recognized that it was not by accident that she’d been chosen to be the Queen. She had a very specific position for that time and place.
  • Esther spent intentional time with God to understand the purpose for it all. 
  • When she understood, she moved. With passion. Even if it meant her life.  

Why does this ancient story matter? Because sometimes it’s hard to be brave.

Sometimes choices and life and every single thing is just too much, and we’re afraid.

Sometimes we’re discouraged and think nothing will ever change.

Sometimes we just get stuck in the predictability of it all. Staying near the shore, safe and secure in what our eyes can see.

What if God was asking you to step out and be BRAVE?

I invite you to join us here, wherever your summer may find you. 

  • Begin to read the book of Esther. 
  • Grab a journal or some notecards. There’s so much to this story, write down what stands out to you.
  • Even though it’s an ancient story, ask God to speak to your heart on what it means today.

Then meet us back here (or Subscribe and have it auto dropped into your email) as we begin to look at and answer the question, what does it mean to live my life bravely?

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Want more? We’re over at LifewithLisaWilliams.com talking more about all this. Plus, join us on Facebook for additional encouragement and community throughout the week.

Be a part our Brave Summer Series! By entering your email address below, you can SUBSCRIBE and have each post delivered directly to your inbox.  Invite your friends and ask them to join you.  Here’s to a brave summer! 

10 Comments

  1. Mary Lou Caskey on May 26, 2015 at 6:32 am

    Thank you so much for this podcast! I am excited to listen to the rest of the series! Congratulations on making BRAVE choices and moving forward. You are both inspiring me and helping me to not feel “alone” as I move forward with the BRAVE moves that God has called me to. Thanks again!

    • Julie Thomas on May 26, 2015 at 7:04 am

      Thanks Mary Lou, thanks for joining us!

  2. Molly on May 26, 2015 at 7:54 am

    Ahhhh! This is exciting!! I will be joining along from Haiti!

    • Julie Thomas on May 26, 2015 at 8:19 am

      Molly, you are one of the bravest women I know, I’m so grateful for your life. Thanks for being here.

  3. Kelly DeBardelaben on May 26, 2015 at 2:23 pm

    Julie

    Thanks for being part of the Life With Lisa Williams show.

    And Molly I am praying for you as you work through this study and get through everything else you have going on this summer 🙂

    (FYI Molly and I are friends in real life too) 🙂

  4. Sandy Thomas on May 26, 2015 at 7:35 pm

    I’m in.

  5. Shawna Quattlebaum on May 26, 2015 at 10:26 pm

    I am so thankful for this even though I am so far away I feel like i am still connected to you and your ministry.

    • Julie Thomas on May 26, 2015 at 10:29 pm

      So much love to you Shawna, so thankful for you.

  6. Karen Hearn on May 26, 2015 at 10:46 pm

    Noods! Count me in!!

  7. Lisa Kyle on June 6, 2015 at 8:51 am

    Super excited….Thanks Julie!

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