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ABOUT ME
WELCOME, FRIEND
It’s great to meet you.
I am Brenda.
And I will be happy to help you sift through your joys and pains and discover what that tells you about who you truly are and what you truly want.
Drawing out the treasure in people is one of my favorite things in life.
I will also keep a confidence to my grave.
I am relational at my core.
I believe authenticity builds trust.
And I work well with general guidelines that allow for flexible expressions.
Ask me to work with more rigid, repetitious expectations and I will likely disappoint.
Formulaic feels fake. And I don’t do fake.
At the end of the day, I am a Texas girl who loves God and people and big skies and coffee.
Life is good. And I am so happy you are here!
Family & Healing
My incredible husband encourages and challenges me continually. He encourages me to do the things I want to do, but also challenges me to do the things I don’t think I can. He has believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself and caused me to rise at times when I was ready to roll over and play dead. For my Michael, I am forever grateful.
Having said that, I also understand the pain of divorce and the gut-wrenching ache that makes you sick and scares you all at the same time because it feels like the ripping and tearing of your heart will never go away. In that place, I discovered Jesus as my Healer at a whole new level. And whether it’s divorce or disease or destruction of whatever kind…Jesus wants you to discover Him as Healer at a whole new level, too.
Together, my husband and I have 7 children with his, mine, and ours… plus 12 grandchildren now!!! And we are blessed to have my mother be a joyful, fun-packed part of it all! How in the world did I get here? I am so incredibly blessed.
Learning to Live Loved
It’s a powerful way to live.
A joyful way to live.
A purposeful way to live.
As long as I can remember it has been important to me to let others know they are seen, heard, known, and valued. In other words, to let others know they are loved.
But I spent too much of my own life questioning love for myself.
Mike Foster calls that a “primal question” and a “primal gift.” That one question is what we aren’t even aware we are asking because it is so much a part of the fabric of our being. Usually something we have been asking since childhood because of a need that didn’t get met. And the gift is the giving to others of that same thing we so desire because it feels so important to us. (You can find out more about your unique question and gift here.)
I have learned that we are much like toddlers wobbling, falling, and getting back up. A loving parent takes joy in that. Delight even, because of the incredible love they have for their child. God does the same with us and really believing that has allowed me to answer my question of whether I am loved with a great big YES. He simply reminds me how far I have come and lifts me back up when I fall, encouraging me to get going again.
No shame. No failure. Just learning. It grows our character and teaches us persistence and endurance.
Knowing you’re loved is a really great way to live, and I hope you know how genuinely loved you are, too!
My Personal Discovery
When I turned 40, I realized I had given so much of myself out to others that I didn’t even know my favorite color. It threw me into a personal crisis, which led me to a personal discovery, which has resulted in me believing that not only you, but your whole world, is blessed when you live the purpose God created you to live. Being fully who you are created to be, courageously doing what you were created to do, in every situation, no matter the circumstance is the best possible life to live.
Oh, and I love accountability. I love people who love accountability. I seek it out and genuinely appreciate those who speak truth to me even when it’s hard. It’s how I grow. It is how we grow.
Bottom line: I am learning to live authentically, joyfully, vulnerably, courageously and unoffendable. I love laughing. A lot. And my heart is filled with gratitude in knowing God is continually with me – and for me – on this journey.
MY FAITH
I believe…
- in the God who created the universe with all its galaxies and vast expanse and beauty and intricacies and majesty
- in the 3-in-1 God – the One who said “Let US make mankind in OUR image, according to OUR likeness”
- in the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit
- in the One whose incredible love for you and me is unwavering (no matter what)
- in the One whose amazing design for our lives is filled with unique purpose
- Jesus chose to leave His perfect heavenly kingdom and become human to rejoin us to His Father
- Jesus suffered horrible pain from both His friends and His enemies, then He died and was resurrected for those very same people, and all the friends and enemies who follow.
- For you. For me.
- His Spirit lives in us, guides us, and gifts us when we open our hearts to the gift of Jesus
- The Church is not a building. It is His people.
- He wants us to gather, encourage, and build one another up
- He wants us to love one another in true community
- He wants us to share His love and life with each other, as well as those who don’t know Him
- Unity of His family is Jesus’ prayer
- Grace is abundant
- His kingdom is coming on this earth
- the Bible is God’s Word and intended to point us to Him
GRAB YOUR
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