A Woman on the Move

It’s Women History Month and I think it’s great that we remember and honor the women who have made an indelible lasting impact for a positive difference in our world. I want to honor one of those women in my blog this month. No, she is not some great martyr, political figure or ministry leader, but she has modeled for me what great faith and being a “woman on the move” truly looks like. She is my MOM.

By the world’s standards she is a simple and humble person who only has a 7th grade education and never climbed the corporate ladder in pursuit of a “career.” However, her faithfulness to love God and love people cause all who know her, to love her. She is one of 13 siblings, and yes, I said 13! She was a migrant worker when she was young and the second eldest daughter. So, as you can imagine, she had a lot of responsibility growing up, but I think that is part of what helped make her such a strong woman.

In and through life’s trials, she has stood firm in her faith experiencing the fulfillment of God’s promises. She knows how to persevere and overcome. She is the one that people call when they need help, the one they confide in when they need solace, and the one they recruit when something needs to get done. She is a sweet servant, faithful friend, generous giver, and mountain mover. When I grow up, I want to be just like her! Okay, since I’m kinda grown up....I’m learning to be more like her. ;)

God is always on the move and invites us to participate in the dance with Him. The music of life is playing every day and beckons us to flow with the rhythm God placed in our soul as we love, serve and shine our light for others. Do you hear it?

So, who is that “woman on the move” that inspires you?

Tell them “thank you” today. Pray for them. If she has already passed on, then be ever more diligent to pass on their legacy to those around you.

A Sisterhood of Class and Sass!

What a GREAT time we had as we officially launched our Sisterhood!! Thank you to the 27 women who came with their beautiful smiles. Here's a photo and I apologize that some are cut off. (The panoramic photos we took were too blurry.)

What Living the Life provides to the women in the Sisterhood is a C-I-R-C-L-E of strength. We know the value of what Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” This is what I mean:

C is for CARE. Everyone is welcomed with open arms and open hearts. Our team is ready to love you and be there for you. You can openly share as we are committed to confidentiality as well.

I is for IDENTIFY. We are a group of women who are REAL. We are all leaders, business women and pastor’s wives who know exactly where you are and can relate.

R is for RESTORE. We know that it’s a daily battle in life and in leadership, but when you come to our gatherings, we want to offer you a retreat and refuge so you can be refreshed for what God has you doing wherever you are.

C is for CONNECT. Like an endless circle, God wants us connected and strengthened by prayer and fellowship. We know the Lord is creating wonderful mutual mentoring relationships in our midst.

L is for LEAD. As leaders, we are called to shine the light for others and hold forth God’s word wherever we are, whether at home, in the workplace or in ministry.

E is for EQUIP. We are committed to equip God’s daughters, not only through God’s word, but also with practical wisdom. Improving in life skills and leadership training in fun interactive sessions are provided.

*A special WELCOME to our new members who will be shining their light with us! Also, here are some of the comments we received:

"Good mix of large group, small group, Bible study, networking and personal equipping ministry. God multiply this work!"

"Everybody was so nice. Preaching was great. Small groups were interesting. Go girls go! Outstanding."

"Loved it! The Bible study was awesome."

"It was great. It helped me to see the good things I am trying to do and how I may be helping other women..."
"Thank you. Networking already good -- anticipating more."

Looking forward to a great and prosperous year as we continue empowering women from all over the South Texas region to shine their light and be heard in order to make a difference in our world and God's Kingdom!

How's It Going So Far?

Happy 2012!!

Is your new year off with a bang or a bust? Say it isn't so! If you have some things you want to achieve, I want to be your cheerleader today. "You can, you can, you can do it!" I always appreciate encouraging words, and I'm sure you do, too.

Here are a few tips to help keep you on track this new year. After all, we don't want resolutions, but results!

1. Take time to pause and reflect. Be still and and silence the noise around so you can focus on what you REALLY desire to accomplish this year.

2. Write it down. I know, making a list sounds BORING. However, lists are helpful and it does feel good to scratch something off! You may even want to consider having individual goals in BIG BOLD print and placing them around where you can see them. (It will help when your goals keep reminding you daily (or if you have any nagging family members who live with you!) Whatever works!)

3. Breakdown your goals into action steps. Make sure your steps are S.M.A.R.T. (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-sensitive).

4. Get an accountability partner. Seriously! This person needs to be a positive encourager who will cheer you on and keep tabs on you. Pay back the favor and cheer them on in a goal, too. Maybe consider someone who you see as successful in the area you're working on (ex. financial, physical, spiritual, etc.).

5. Plan a reward. We all LOVE getting a gold star. At least I did. (Yes, I was a teacher's pet!) So once you reach a goal, PLAN a way to celebrate it. This does not have to include food or money. Be creative and make sure it's rewarding to you and will keep you pressing forward.

Lastly, I want to leave you with my POWER verse that reminds me GOD is my source of strength and through His divine ability, I can: "For God is working in you, giving you the desire AND the power to do what pleases him." Phil. 2:13

To make your dreams a reality, ACTION is necessary so do SOMETHING! No matter how small it may be, progress IS progress and bringing you closer to the finish line. Now, get that daily planner and start writing!

Embrace Your Life Purpose

God has an amazing way of challenging our faith. It often begins as an idea or thought in our spirit that will cause us to look up and ask, "Wow, is it just me or is it you God?" Then, little by little that idea becomes a hunger, and that hunger becomes a driving motivation. You know it was God.

This happened to me in 2010. Even though I had speaking for years, some doors began opening for me to speak to young people and I thought, "What are you doing, Lord? Uhm...I'm quite comfortable speaking to mainly women." He simply told me to "Expand your vision." He reminded me how He radically changed my life at the tender age of 15 and that He wanted to use me to reach today's youth. He was expanding my vision so He could enlarge my territory. It took a while, but I finally realized, this too is a part of my life purpose! Since then, door after door, have opened for me to motivate and equip young people to be all they were created to be. It started in San Antonio, Texas, and this soul stretching adventure took me literally across the country in under one year. Wow!

So what about you? Has God been challenging your faith?

Perhaps you've become comfortable where you are (as I was!) and He's ready to expand your vision, too. Never limit what God has in store for you. His thoughts and His ways are so much higher than ours. (Isaiah 55:8-9) Dare to embrace His purposes for your life...all of them! I want to share some encouraging tips from my own personal journey:

1. Expand your vision to more than what you see. Ask God, "Is there something you want me to let go of? Is there something new you want me to embrace?" As yourself, "What do I feel is my life purpose or purposes? Am I willing to seek God to find out? Am I willing to trust God to pursue them?"

2. Be willing to take risks and make the investment. My whirlwind journey has come at a price. It would not have happened if I hadn't stepped out in faith time and time again beginning with an out-of-state trip on my own nickel within two weeks of being invited. Your willingness demonstrates how bad you want it.

3. Be willing to be uncomfortable. At first, God's stretching will be uncomfortable and inconvenient. Trust me, I know! However, God wants to grow you, not baby you. This is how He develops God size faith for God size happenings. Obedience is hardly easy, but absolutely necessary.

4. Be willing to let God reshape you. Face it. Your dream is too small for God. Be willing to upgrade to God's dream. It will look different in some way than you imagined, but it's always bigger and better. Therefore, allow Him to mold you as seems best to Him. (Jeremiah 18:4)

5. Choose to walk in your life purpose more boldly. Get God's perspective and plan for your life. Wholeheartedly believe, embrace and embody who He says you are and what He says you can do. Connect with the right people and the right opportunities that will bring about God's destiny. It may begin on a small scale, but the important thing is that you just do it!

6. Discern where you are on God's timetable. Lastly, there is a season for everything. Realize what season you are in and work with God from there. Don't go ahead of Him and don't delay Him. His timing is perfect and things will fall in place as they should when you cooperate. Remain faithful.

Never underestimate the God inside you or His power behind you to bring about His plan before you!

Need Tips for Summertime Fun?

Summer can either be the most fun and exciting time or the most boring and restless time for a family. Vacations spent visiting loved ones, theme parks, and the outdoors camping or swimming, are a great time to create fun and lasting memories. However, if your vacation is only a couple of weeks long, then what else can you do? I also understand that many activities cost money that may not be within your budget. I personally have two active and adventurous boys at home to keep happy this summer. As a result, I poked around online for ideas and came up with some of my own. Some are rather simple while others require more time, creativity and energy. Whether you have a toddler, a teen or a child in between, I hope you find this list helpful:


20 Tips for Family Summer Fun


1. Go on a walk and decide specific things you would like to take various pics of (trees, birds, etc.)
2. Move your big screen TV and have a movie night outside.
3. Bake some cupcakes or cookies and deliver them to your neighbors.
4. Volunteer at a local animal or homeless shelter.
5. Have a neighborhood family board game night (pass out flyers).
6. Gather a few friends and have a picnic at a nearby park.
7. Look through old family scrapbooks, photos and yearbooks.
8. Have a smoothie making contest at home and invite friends to be the judges.
9. Write a silly poem together as a family.
10. Make a mixed CD of your favorite songs and title it "Family Favorites for 2011."
11. Plant flowers in your yard.
12. Make lemonade and go down and pass out free cups to your neighbors working outside.
13. Gather the area kids/adults to perform for a "Neighborhood Night of Entertainment."
14. Go to a museum.
15. Each family member picks a new word from the dictionary for the family to learn and spell.
16. Make popsicles of your kids favorite drink in your freezer.
17. Turn up some music and record everyone dancing and then view later on your TV.
18. Go camping in your backyard!
19. Mow and landscape an elderly person's yard together as a family for FREE.
20. Look online or in your newspaper for summer activities provided by your city.

If you have additional tips, please feel free to post one in a comment.

Whatever you do, have FUN making lasting memories with your family.

HAPPY SUMMER!!

Empowering Youth

Our young people need us to believe in them and in their dreams. They are after all, I believe, not only the leaders of tomorrow, but also the dreamers of today.

How many of us remember that one teacher, family member or role model that inspired us to do better? For me, one of those dynamic people was my high school English teacher, Mrs. Westfall. She really wanted me to test for the honors English program. Although I was a little too reserved to do it at that time, every time I turned in an assignment, she would tell me, "Honors woman!" I'd smile and laugh, but wouldn't say a word. I enjoyed my English class and Mrs. Westfall's simple affirming statement challenged me to do my best. She saw something in me that I didn't see in myself. Who knew I would someday write a book (and more to come!) and become a national speaker and author? Wow. Thank you Mrs. Westfall! I now aspire to see and believe there is greatness in every young person, too.

This past month of May I was privileged to speak to students at two conferences. At the Rise Up Foster Youth Conference in Corpus Christi, Texas, I dared students to "Step Out and Speak Up." Boy, did they ever! They shared their strengths, struggles and dreams in what was a powerful session. It's amazing what youth will share when they know you're willing to listen. Here are some pics and comments I received:

"Wow! I didn't think people were going to open up the way they did...great speech!" ~ George V., college student
"Very inspirational, motivational and FUN! Keep it real!" ~ Martha O., college student
"The workshop was AWESOME. Thanks so much." ~ Olivia H., college student

At the Latinas & Power Symposium in Cromwell, Connecticut, I challenged the girls to believe that they could be "America's Next Top Latina Leader." We had an amazing time as I shared my story, discussed proper business fashion, helped them discover their own personal leadership style and shared the mic for them to showcase one another down the runway. Yes, we had a BLAST! Here are a few pics and comments:

"Rochelle's connection with the girls was incredible and allowed the girls to be present and open to different ways of thinking. Her workshop was interactive, real and extremely empowering. Great advice from someone with real experiences the girls can relate to. Bravo!" ~ N. Roldan, Co-Founder of the Latina Army

"Rochelle definitely knows how to invite her audience in and allow each person to explore how they too can overcome any challenge they are currently dealing with." ~ Y. Owens, Founder of Club Destiny, LLC

"Thanks for teaching high school students how the real business world works. It is helpful." ~ Krystal C., high school student

As you go about your life, choose to believe there is GREATNESS inside that young person you interact with, whether he/she is in your own home, church, neighborhood or even the mall. They have a dream like you once did (or maybe still do!) and with a little motivation and positive reinforcement, they can achieve them, too.

Wanna be Great?

A few weeks ago after praying with my two boys ages 8 and 9 at bedtime, I told them I have the two best sons in the world!! To which Jalen my oldest responded, No mom, Jesus is the best son in the world. I then replied with, Well, I guess you’re right. (How can you argue with that?!) He then casually said, Me and Uriah are second and third place. As you can imagine, I was very amused and said, Oh, okay. I guess you are. I will mention that he was gracious enough to give his daddy fourth place. (I'd have to check with my mommy-in-law about that!)

My son’s statement was cute and in response to my statement of praise, but it reminded me of the disciples’ quarreling over who would sit at Jesus’ right hand in Mark 10. Remember, that? After James and John had asked to sit on the right and left hand of Jesus, the other disciples became indignant. Jesus warned them, “But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

According to Jesus, in order to be a leader or be first, one must be a SERVANT. Who exactly does Jesus say we are to serve? EVERYONE. Wow! It looks different for all of us. Does that include a sometimes cranky husband? An overbearing boss? Unappreciative children? Rude neighbors? Backstabbing co-worker? YES!! If you're like me, you may be telling yourself, Maybe I don't want to be great. Truth is, we could never be great on our own. We'd cave in sooner or later. That's why I'm thankful for the Holy Spirit who lives inside us and enables us to do what we couldn't do on our own. Whew! That's good news!

So, as we go about our week, let's look for ways to SERVE those around us. Not because, we want to climb the scale to first place, but because we're allowing Jesus to reign through us by being a servant to all.

My boys will always be the two best sons in the world to me, but they're good with second and third place (to this mommy anyway!). After all, we can't argue the fact that Jesus is the all-time best Son and servant of all. We want to be great like Him.