Yes! Sisterhood mornings are starting back NEXT WEEK on Wednesday, September 8 in the Midtown Annex and Thursday, September 9 at Orange Park. I am so excited about the series we are doing at Sisterhood Mornings this fall, Eden’s Epic. This series has been on my heart for over a year now, and I am bursting to get it out. The series is based on the book, Epic of Eden, by Sandra Richter.  Although I have been studying the Bible seriously for 23 years, this book gave me a completely new way of reading, organizing and understanding the Old Testament.

Let’s be honest, for many people, the Old Testament is downright confusing. Even if we do understand it, sometimes it seems like the God we find in the Old Testament is vastly different from the Christ we find in the New Testament. Richter’s book helped me to see the continuity between the Old and New Testaments. I began to see that the Bible is not really two separate stories (Old and New Testaments), but it is one long, continuously unfolding epic of God’s rescue plan of redemption. As much as I loved this book, I knew that, because of how “academic” it is, very few people will have the time or desire to read it. I knew that I had to teach it to the Sisterhood, because we all need to see a panoramic perspective of God’s pursuit of humanity throughout the ages.  I think it will seriously blow your mind in a good way — I know it did for me! SO….I hope you will join me and the girls at Sisterhood Mornings this fall. Who knows what God will do amongst us as we gather round to learn more about His epic story of love and redemption? Doors open at 10am, hope to see you there! Kerri xoxo

Hello ladies!

I’m so excited to introduce you to the JustONE Virtual Conference! It’s a free, online conference for pastors’ wives and women in ministry. And it’s just over a week away! Lori Wilhite is the host of this conference and I was so honored to be asked to speak for one of the sessions. There are a lot of other great speakers as well, so I hope you take the time to check it out!

Here are the top 10 great things about the JustONE Conference:

10. You don’t have to arrange childcare. (Unless you count putting on an episode of Dora to help entertain.)

9. It costs nothing…nada…zip…zero. Yep, it is totally free.

8. You don’t have to travel. Airplanes aren’t nearly as comfy as your couch.

7. You’ll get to hear from some amazing leaders. Amazing. Trust me in this.

6. There will be two, count them, two opportunities to participate every Tuesday.

5. You can get some primo typing practice while you are chatting it up in the chat room.

4. You can drink in mass amounts of encouragement.

3. We’ll be talking about relationships & criticism, marriage, family, time & balance, growth and passion.

2. Your husband will wish he could join in.

1. It is going to be epic…amazing…fabulous…and all around, pretty darn great.

So join us each Tuesday, September 7th through October 12th at 12pm EST OR 9pm EST at this link: http://live.mediasocial.tv/potsc

There is no need to register, but if you do, we will be able to send you reminder emails before each session. Registration is available at: http://leadingandlovingit.com/virtual-gathering/

Here are the ladies that we will be hearing from:

Lisa Jernigan and Patty Wyatt….Donna Politz

Lisa Young…………Jenni Clayville

Cindy Beall…………Holly Furtick

Tiffany Cooper…………Heather Whittaker

Kay Warren…………Lisa Hughes

Kerri Weems………….Sherry Surratt

Natalie Witcher………..Amy Groeschel

Jessica Cornelius……….Brandi Wilson

DeLynn Rizzo………..Lori Wilhite

I really hope you can make it to some of the sessions!

Love you,

Kerri

Yesterday I had a great time meeting with some girls from our staff who are just entering into the amazing season of motherhood. They were gracious enough to read the first three chapters of my upcoming book and give me some feedback (thanks ladies!) One of the things that stuck out to me was how unique each of them were in the process of deciding whether or not to work again after having children.  When I started the motherhood journey a mere 13 years ago, it was expected in the church world (at least in MY church world!) that once you had children you would do everything possible to stay at home, only working if you had to. To be honest, I faced some criticism for deciding to return to work when we didn’t absolutely have to have my income to live. These days, it seems that things have shifted and women feel less pressure to conform to expectations, either to stay at home full time or to work. So I am curious to know about your experiences. If you’re a mom, do you work outside the home or inside (hey — ALL moms are working, right?) How did you come to your decision? Did you face criticism or struggle with guilt over your choices? How are you making it all work in this season? I’m interested to hear your stories! And ladies that are not yet moms but hope to be someday,  how do you see yourselves navigating the “work dilemma”?

Hi, Ladies! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and are entering this week refreshed and ready to take on whatever life throws your way! I just want to send out a friendly little reminder about Sisterhood nights taking place this week. You can find the dates and times for your campus by visiting the Sisterhood page of our website.

I am so excited about starting back up for the fall! We are kicking off our new series, “Blessed.” Together we are going to look at what it means to live a blessed life by Jesus’ definition in the beatitudes from Matthew 5. In the Message Bible, Jesus’ disciples are referred to as His “climbing companions.” They followed Him to the next level, and because of that, they were the first to hear His life-giving words. So let’s determine to be like those climbing companions, following closely the lead of our savior. Who knows what amazing, life-giving words He might speak to us?

Love you girls, and hope to see bunches of you at Sisterhood nights this week!

It has been said that “good” is the enemy of “great.” I agree with that. As humans, we are often inclined to give up when the going gets tough, settle for less because aiming higher is, well, just plain hard. But I have been thinking a lot lately about the reverse of that statement. I have been asking myself this question:

“Could it be that ‘great’ is also the enemy of ‘good’? Is it possible, in our desire to do great things (for God, ourselves or others) we often overlook the simple good works that are right before us?”

I love that we serve a God that can do, “exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we could think or imagine.” (Ephesians 3:20) I firmly believe that He deposits heaven-breathed dreams in our hearts that also speak to our natural desire for significance. But many times our focus on a vision for the future can cause us to look over the simple acts of goodness and kindness that are waiting to be done in our “now.” Ironically, it’s those seemingly small “good” works that are the stepping stones to the “great” works we are dreaming of. It’s as if we are looking at the landing wondering how to get there, somehow missing that first step at our feet.

So remember today that goodness, no matter how small, is never wasted. Walk the steps of goodness, and one day you will look up and find that the great things you were dreaming of have somehow come to pass.

People are always asking me to talk about relationships or tips for a healthy marriage. And I think that’s pretty funny, because Stovall and I just don’t spend a lot of time stewing over how to have a great marriage.  Of course we make our marriage and family a huge priority, but we just don’t have a system or formula that we stick to — in other words, no magic bullet. In fact, some of the things we do might seem oddly…ummm…not textbook, let’s say. Like…

• Texting each other instead of talking…when we are BOTH in the house but in different rooms.
• Forgetting our OWN anniversary (not all that infrequently we are reminded by our parents leaving us a voice mail.)
• Weeks going by without a date night
• Never making a rule that we can’t talk about kids or church when we are out (seriously, we don’t have lots of other things that we are that passionate about)

But the funny thing is, we have a GREAT marriage! I truly think that one of the reasons (besides his general awesomeness) is that we don’t place our expectations for fulfillment on each other. Our main desire is first to totally fulfill the mission God has called us to in this life, and second to release and support each other in doing that. It takes the pressure off and gives you permission to laugh at each other and yourself. In short, it creates an atmosphere of  freedom in the marriage. And that’s one incredibly effective way to go the distance toward a strong marriage.

Below is a small part of a chapter for my upcoming book on Motherhood. This is from the chapter on building a strong identity. I would love to hear your thoughts and also your own insights in this arena! Love, Kerri

Your identity is your sense of self: your perception of who you are, and how you define “you.” If you were to sit down and thoughtfully describe yourself, what kinds of adjectives would you use? What activities are you good at, the ones that come naturally to you? What is your true outlook on life? What frustrates you, and why? What are your passions? What are your dreams? When you have a strong sense of your identity, these questions are easy to answer. In addition, these answers help you understand why you act, react, and feel the way you do.

But what if you have trouble answering these questions? Or what if you can only answer them with negative responses:

• I’m not patient.
• I’m not negative.
• I don’t know what really frustrates me or makes me feel happy.
• I’m not sure what I hope for the future – I just hope it’s not bad.

Sometimes it’s easier to answer questions about ourselves by naming what we are not rather than what we are. When we only think of ourselves in terms of what we are not, then we are creating our identities in a negative space. In other words, we are eliminating characteristics from our identities, but we are not claiming for our own anything worth keeping. When you base your identity on what you are not, you end up with a vacuum and with nothing solid to build and expand upon.

It’s necessary to begin forming our identity by knowing what we aren’t, but if we want to have a strong identity, we must move beyond that. We must be able to articulate who we are. That means defining ourselves in terms of positive statements:

• I am not patient, but I am persistent.
• I am a positive person.
• I am organized, and disorder makes me feel frustrated.
• In the future, I really want to get a college degree/move up to management/open my own business.

Look at the difference between the list of negative statements and the list of positive statements! Even the language of the positive statements is stronger. But there is something else, too. Speaking about ourselves in positive terms makes us accountable to a certain extent. It compels us to take ownership over who we are and what talents and gifts we have been given. And I think that sometimes that is more scary than living in the comfortable ambiguity of negative space.

There have been times in my life when I have faced certain circumstances, and I actually surprised myself by my response. I’ve found myself asking questions like: Why am I reacting this way? Why does this make me feel so stressed out? What do I really believe about this situation? About my capacity to handle it? Not until I was able to assess in positive terms what I truly believed about myself did I discover the long-term personal growth I desired, as well as the ability to actually embrace my God-given identity with confidence and joy.

Hey everyone! I am excited to have a guest blogger to share with you for a few weeks. Margie Houmes is a member of Celebration Church and Sisterhood. This is the final part in a six week series. Enjoy! -Kerri xoxo

“Thou shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee; and the light shall shine upon thy ways.” (Job 22:28)

A passive mind is the devil’s delight! Because the battle is fierce, we must be resolute and stand, declaring the Word of God over our lives. The Word of God breaks the enemy lines and crushes his appointments. We must speak what the Lord shows us, just as Jesus Christ did in His wilderness temptation. He did not spout off clever axioms, but the truth that is written. He didn’t even say at that point, “Devil, you are a liar!” It’s the Word, the Word, and once again the Word!

A Shine speaker told us to “love the fight.” Put on your boxing gloves, daughter. Let’s go to war! Please say these scriptures out loud:

“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 hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

“No weapon forged against you will prevail and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me.” (Isaiah 54:17)

“But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. To the LORD I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill.” (Psalm 3:3-4)

Because of the authority of Christ, ”the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…” (Revelation 12:10b-11a)

Now, you may say to yourself, “Why, who do I think I am to be so ballistic? I know my faults, my past, my whatever. This is not walking in humility is it? How prideful of me. I remember what my mother said about pride and I don’t want any part of it!”

Dear sister, I have a question for you. Is the blood of Christ enough to wash you daily? Was the purpose of Christ’s agonizing death and resurrection from the dead so you could grovel before the accusations of Satan? I will tell you what this is. It is nothing more than unbelief. It is timidity, not humility. I was corrected by the Holy Spirit when I saw the grief I caused Him because I did not believe.

The Bible tells us not to grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). The interpretation for the word, grieve, is sorrow, breaking the heart to make sad. When we choose to doubt Him it really and truly makes the Holy Spirit sad.

Zephaniah 3:17 states that the Lord takes great delight in you and rejoices over you with singing.

Let us become a beautiful city, a delight for the Lord and believe His truth. Humility is to believe. Once again we must come as a child and very simply trust and obey!

I have an assignment for you. Get out your Bible and begin to write down in your journal the scriptures that jump when you read them. Speak them with expression and authority! You are going to feel wonderful. Oh, hallelujah!

You rock, you roll!

Send your enemy reeling!

And come out of your box!

I am so proud of you!

Hey everyone! I am excited to have a guest blogger to share with you for a few weeks. Margie Houmes is a member of Celebration Church and Sisterhood. This is part five in a six week series. Enjoy! -Kerri xoxo

“I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing.” (Galatians 2:21)

I have encouraged you almost continuously in this series to believe and receive your inheritance in Christ. My desire for you is to come out of your pot and walk in the matchless love and unbroken companionship of your King.

Elisabeth cursed the darkness and cut off the voices of condemnation and shame. The label of men just didn’t stick and she sang in her wilderness. When she hid herself for the first five months of her pregnancy she was in the presence of God savoring the triumph with Him. Her hiding place with the Almighty had been the pattern for her life. In His presence, the taunts of the enemy were washed away. Had she not believed that God would keep His covenant with her, had she lost all hope and become broken and resolute to an unfulfilled dream, she would never have had the strength to conceive.

Everything I have shared with you is because I have a passion for you. Yes, I do! My dream is to see you rise to your King’s bidding and believe that Calvary’s tree was more than enough for your pardon. I dream of seeing you walk with Him into your destiny and smashing the strongholds of Satan that are gripping your world. You are well able, beloved!

Let us turn to the Word of God now, where we find the truth, the arsenal, which enables us to fight and win. We live in a world that glories and revels in the stage, a world that idolizes and worships performance. Naturally this evil does its best to infiltrate the Kingdom of God. The enemy will attempt to discourage you by throwing into your face the accomplishments of others in contrast to your own. This tactic is tried and true and can truly unglue the belief of our righteous standing before God.

The scripture from Galatians 3:11 clearly states that “No one is justified before God by the law.” It is a curse to live by the law, for one is constantly surveying his deeds, his life, and hoping that he has made the mark. Guilt is always just around the corner. This is not God. He is for you! He seeks your good always!

Here is a test for you to determine if you walk by grace or by the law. Scripture states that the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. The Lord wants you free!

1. What will people think? My house is such a mess today!

2. Did I pray long enough today?

3. How long did I read the Bible? Was it enough?

4. I don’t have my life together like Pastor Kerri does.

5. I failed the exam. What a failure I am!

6. I am just a stay at home mom.

7. I feel the Lord’s disapproval. I must not measure up.

8. I remember when I lied to my mother. I’m such a loser.

9. My boss rejected my project.

10. I failed third grade.

11. I wish I were pretty like other girls.

12. My children do not rise up and call me blessed.

13. I don’t do enough to help other people.

14. I overdrew on my bank account. What an idiot!

15. My children have serious problems. It’s my doing!

16. Who needs me? I have zero talent!

As you can see, the list is endless! The bottom line is all these thoughts bring you to a standstill. Being double minded is no weapon that brings victory. It brings instability! Condemnation and guilt run rampant because you do not trust in the grace, forgiveness and mercy of the Lord. Some of the above are purely from a religious spirit, which always carries with it the to-do and not-do list. You retreat into your pot and the devil has the satisfaction of spoiling your day and aborting destiny.

“What can separate us from the love of God?”

Nothing. Absolutely nothing!

The blood of Christ has paid the debt!

Believe, receive and run!

Hey everyone! I am excited to have a guest blogger to share with you for a few weeks. Margie Houmes is a member of Celebration Church and Sisterhood. This is part four in a six week series. Enjoy! -Kerri xoxo

“Blessed is she who believes” (Luke 1:45) God has sworn!

Scene – The site of the town well in the hill country of Judea. Two women are talking.

Jemimah: “When was the last time you spoke with Elisabeth? I have not seen her for days. She appears to have locked herself away from the rest of the world. Is she in a depression?”

Keziah: “I cannot remember when I saw her last. She could be in a deep depression because of her barenness. We tried to comfort her, but our words seemed to fall on deaf ears. She refused to accept her lowly lot in life. I suppose we intimidated her, but what do you do? The fact remains, Elisabeth is barren!”

Jemimah: “I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. Living in a fantasy world eventually catches up with you. Collapse is unavoidable. She needed to face reality! She really believed that God had promised her a son. She was adamant, so much so that we avoided all topics of motherhood.”

Keziah: “Well, the bottom line is that she and Zacharias are old and well along in years. I don’t take pleasure in saying this, but her life can be summed up with just one word—barren!” (Speaks with complete authority) “It is God’s choice!”

Jemimah: (Speaks excitedly) “I forgot to tell you an interesting tidbit about Zacharias. I heard that he had a strange encounter when he ministered in the burning of incense before the Lord. He was in a state of confusion and unable to speak…something about a heavenly vision.” (She rolls her eyes) “Some think he must have been spooked by an evil spirit, but he just shakes his head and points towards heaven. What do you make of it?”

Keziah: (Sighs heavily) “Well, you know how some people are. They are just so fanatical about their love for God. They believe anything. I love the Lord, but I try to be balanced. You know what I mean? Zacharias and Elisabeth need a reality check.” (Speaks emphatically) “There will be no children. Period!”

Eventually the conversation ends and both women return to their respected homes bearing water jugs.

One of my favorite Bible characters is Elisabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. Her cousin, Mary, visited her soon after the angelic visitation. (Always seek out women of faith to walk through life with.) When Elisabeth, who was called (labeled) barren, was greeted by Mary, she proclaimed these words:

“Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished.”(Luke 1:45)

Why did she speak so confidently? Had she always believed? The day I uncovered the meaning of her name was when the Spirit sealed all doubts concerning Elisabeth’s unmovable faith in God. Elisabeth means “God has sworn!” That’s it! I love this woman because she cursed the darkness. She wore no labels from men. She ignored their comments and whispers.

Slowly the nausea began to form a pattern. Other symptoms became obvious and she ran! She ran to her Beloved. For five months, she hid herself with Him. She allowed herself to relish the moment with Him. Just the two of them shared their delicious secret. She had spent her life living in the shadow of the Almighty. He was her strong tower, her place of safety and refuge from deep hopeless disappointment, and the scorning of the enemy who taunted her nothingness. At times, the emptiness of her womb created an ocean of sorrow, which swept over her wave upon wave upon wave.

“When, Lord?”

Women were of little value in those days and those who bore no children were considered even less. A woman’s total worth was tied to her ability to produce offspring. In all her disappointment, Elisabeth did not sin, for the Bible records that she and Zacharias were upright in God’s sight and obeyed all the commandments. She remained steadfast. She did not lean on her own understanding, but simply trusted God.

Curse the darkness, daughter!

Cling to the Almighty!

Bow before Him!

He will fill you!

He will amaze you!

“The king is enthralled by your beauty; Honor Him, for He is you Lord.”(Psalm 45:11)