Thinking of You

I am so excited - still!

Pink Impact 2011 is finished! We did everything we planned to do and a few things we didn't plan. We praised, preached, prayed and prophesied. We ate, shared, danced, talked, laughed, and cried. We got saved, healed, set free, equipped, empowered, and yes - even released for service!

As I sit on my front porch this afternoon reflecting on my personal "Pink Impact Experience", I can't help but thank God for you. This verse says it all:

You need to know, friends, that thanking God over and over for you is not only a pleasure; it's a must. We have to do it. Your faith is growing phenomenally; your love for each other is developing wonderfully. Why, it's only right that we give thanks. We're so proud of you; you're so steady and determined in your faith despite all the hard times that have come down on you. We tell everyone we meet in the churches all about you. I Thes. 1:3-4 (The Message)

Your faith is growing phenomenally.

Your love is developing wonderfully.

You are so steady and determined in your faith.

Just like you, I'll be processing the personal things of Pink Impact for weeks to come. But today - right now - I'm just giving thanks for the beautiful, maturing, faithful gathering of women that make up Gateway Pink. It's not only a pleasure, it's a MUST! We are so proud of you! Telling everyone I meet about how amazing you are!

Love,
Jan


Did you hear the good news?

Beth Moore is joining us for Pink Impact 2012. We sold over 1500 tickets for next year at the 2011 conference, so don't wait! Registration is available right now. Click on the title of this link and reserve your spot today. Only 4,000 seats and we will not live broadcast! Can't wait to see you there!

PI Workshop Speakers - Lexa and Sandy

In case you haven't heard - we've added workshop speakers to this year's Pink Impact lineup. We are offering ten different workshops for you to choose from! These encouraging and challenging classes will be taught by Gateway women. It's my honor to introduce you to some of the best and brightest in the house! Over the next few blog post I'm going to be introducing you to these speakers and their workshop topics.

Today I'm featuring Lexa Brecheen and Sandy Jobe. (Click on title of this post to go ahead and see all ten workshop choices - and of course - to register for Pink Impact.)



Get Moving
Lexa Brecheen

Are you stuck? Do you feel powerless? Well there’s good news! We serve a big God who has given us authority to move out and move on. Are you ready to walk in the authority God has given you? If you are, this workshop will help you awaken your heart and soul to the power that’s within you. Learn how to spiritually move the mountains in your way and develop an overcoming anointing in your everyday life.

Lexa has served women through her leadership in churches for 16 years. Her passionate desire is for women to see the favored position the Lord has given to them. Lexa is a former Pink Impact speaker, retreat speaker and the founder of Velvet Hearts—a discipleship ministry that calls women to holiness and to the fullness of femininity. She is most proud of her husband, Marcus, and their five children.

MORE ABOUT LEXA
http://velvethearts.org
http://info@velvethearts.org




Faith or Fear?
Sandy Jobe

For years, fear came knocking at Sandy’s door, threatening to engulf her life. Refusing to be a victim, she learned how to move from fear to faith. How did she do that? In this workshop, Sandy will share personal stories and insights about how she chose faith over fear and how you, too, can live free.

Sandy has a passion to empower women to live life with no regrets. She has served as a Titus 2 teacher and as a hostess for Pink Impact speakers. She enjoys spending time with her family, loves to laugh and uses baking as a form of stress release. Sandy has been married for 31 years to Mark, one of Gateway’s Global Ministries Pastors, and is the mother of three grown children: Kari, Kris and Caleb.

MORE ABOUT SANDY
sjobe81@gmail.com

Destiny In Bloom Contest

I'm so excited to invite you to enter a contest where the grand prize is two free registrations to Pink Impact. The contest is sponsored by Destiny in Bloom, a women's on-line magazine that aims to inspire, uplift and challenge their readers through articles written from the heart,yet in different perspectives. This week, Pink Impact is their feature article under "Reviews and Favorites". There are several easy ways to enter the contest and many other prizes you could win as well. Simply visit www.destinyinbloom.com or click on the title of this blog - which will take you right to the Pink Impact Article.

When you visit DIB, be sure to leave a comment and share something about your perspective on Pink Impact. While you are there don't forget to

Subscribe and Socialize

Just click the icons right on their page and you will soon be getting an update on the latest articles, guest writer's and special features. I hope you will "like" them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter and in general let them know how much you like the magazine.

I'm headed over myself right now to leave a little comment of my own! Hope to see you there.

Be Pink!

Jan

It's Almost Time

Hi Friends,

It's only 23 days and counting!

Are you coming?

It won't be the same if you aren't there.

Pink Impact, the annual women's conference at Gateway Church, is coming up in just three short weeks. As all the details finally come together, I am getting so excited! In just a few days you will begin to stream through the doors of the new campus. There will be chatter and laughter and lots of hugs. We will celebrate one another and enter into His presence together.

I am humbled by the privilege it is to dream about a gathering of this nature. Not only to dream - but to see my dreams come true. I am confident that many God encounters are appointed for this year. The Father is giving us divine confidence so that we can overcome every hurdle that strives to keep us from moving out in faith.

Our theme is Live It! If I could give you a Nike swoosh, I would. Wherever you are, whatever life stage you are in, whatever obstacles you face, whatever dreams you are dreaming...just go ahead and believe God! He will help you to expand your expectations, increase your faith, and give you the courage to obey. Don't hold back any longer. Live your faith out loud!

You will hear from our own Pastor Debbie Morris. (To hear more about Pastor Debbie's heart for the conference, please visit her personal blog at www.debbiemorris.gatewaypeople.com.) She'll be leading us throughout the weekend where we will also hear from Chris Caine, Priscilla Shirer, Charlotte Gambill and TD Jakes, who are some of the most inspiring and influential leaders in the church today.

As an extra bonus, we are offering workshops that feature some of Gateway's best teachers. Thursday morning we will have two rounds of workshops where you can hear some new voices and some new topics. Over the next few weeks, I'm going to be introducing you to these women and their workshop topics, so check back often for updates.

Our congregation has grown by almost 4,000 members since last November. That's a lot of new ladies who have no idea what Pink Impact is about. Would you help me spread the word? Would you be sure that the women in your sphere of influence have received a personal invitation?

As a matter of fact, please consider this a personal invitation to you. I'm inviting you to join us. I'm inviting you to invest in yourself and in your spiritual relationships. I'm inviting you to invite someone!

But if you don't come, you won't experience it.

So go ahead and check it out for yourself. Click on the title of this blog and it will take you directly to the conference site at www.pinkimpact.com. If you have questions about things like schedules, childcare or scholarships, please email your questions to info@pinkimpact.com.

Please join me in praying for every woman who will join us - including you! We're asking God to stir your expectation for more of Him.

Much love,
Jan

Spiritual Highs and Spiritual Lows

Dear friends,

Thanks for stopping by my blog again. I know it’s been weeks since I’ve posted anything of real value here and I apologize for that. Many of you know that the conference, Pink Impact, has been underway and that I get sort of swallowed up in the experience.

I’m very happy to report that the conference was an amazing gathering both personally and professionally. I am so honored to walk with such an amazing group of women and to serve such an amazing God. If you missed it, you can purchase cd’s or DVD’s from the church bookstore soon!

I had planned to share with you some of the personal highlights from the conference during my first blog. However, there has been something happen in my life that has shifted my focus so dramatically that I feel is important to share.

You might have heard Christine Caine say at Pink Impact that a statistic of one in a million is just a statistic until you meet the one. I have been broken for the one.

Last Monday morning my housekeeper and friend, Maria, was brutally murdered by her abusive husband in her own home. In a matter of a couple of moments, a marriage of 26 years, 6 children, two son-in-laws and two grandbabies went from the American dream to devastation. In a moment, her children and grandchildren lost parents, their home, their financial support and who knows what else.

When I heard the news I literally screamed. I never really knew what the word malevolent, or heinous, or even violent really meant. I was aware that violence against women happens everyday in their homes – even in my community. But I didn’t know until I knew.

I have been catapulted into the realization that there is a fine line between love and hate – safety and threat – life and death. What I thought was far removed from me, is in fact right in my neighborhood.

A couple of months ago I started reading a book called Half the Sky. (If you are interested in this book, please visit www.studiogmag.com for a book review.) The book is about the oppression, abuse and neglect of women around the world. Don’t read it if you are unwilling to be changed.

As I read, I was convicted about the blinders on my own eyes. My life is one of privilege and favor and ridiculous blessing. I began to wonder what I was to do about my sisters around the world who daily stand in the face of great opposition.

Now I find my heart convicted again – but this time for my sisters who stand in the same oppression – right next door to me. I do not know what I am to do, but I know I am not to stand by and act as if their pain is not important or worth noticing. Injustice is so cruel.

Tomorrow morning I leave for Israel. It’s another example of the extraordinary privilege that is mine. I’ve dreamed of walking where Jesus walked for a long time…and I am truly honored to have the favor, time and resources to go to the Holy Land.

I have to tell you, that I am a little in fear of what God might do in my heart on this trip. I am so tender in this moment and I have experienced both spiritual highs and lows in a very short period of time. As I place my feet on the “Holy Land” I am reminded that even there unholy violence reigns and that Jesus experienced the most excruciating, undeserved, cruel punishment for my sins. Surely, I will not return the same.

Will you join me in praying for the children and grandchildren of my friend Maria? If you would like to contribute something toward their financial needs, you can stop by any Wells Fargo branch and ask to make a deposit into an account on behalf of the family of Maria Santos Corona.

I will be tweeting from Israel and hope to journal often on the trip. I look forward to sharing.

I love and appreciate you!

Jan

It is done! Time to celebrate!

Hi friends,

I am so excited to say - it is done! Pink Impact 2010 was all that we dreamed and more! Thanks to all of you for your participation, support, prayer and encouragement. Not only was I personally blown away by God's grace, power and purposes for us - but our entire team - all 400+ volunteers and our staff - were transformed by the experience. What a joy to work with so many God-honoring people. What a joy to worship with so many God-chasers!

I hope you are filled with hope, determination and potential. God broke up our soil, planted an amazing amount of seed in our hearts, spoke His blessing over His work, and now we wait to see! In due season, you will reap a harvest. I would love to know more about what he did in your heart - so if you dare - post a comment and testify!

It was an honor to share my testimony with you. Thanks again for all the positive feedback and encouragement. It was my pleasure to stir your faith in His faithfulness. I hope you feel the authority of God on His word and that you are determined to overcome! Many of you asked me for more details or to even write about the prayer portion of my teaching. I'll do my best to get some of that done in the next few weeks.

Now comes point 3 of my talk - rest! I'm going to rest. I want you to rest. Don't "blink" past this moment! Stop and really appreciate His presence. I wrote in article in Studio G about what to do after a mountain top encounter with Christ. I hope you will take a moment and check it out. In the meantime, thank Him for your pink blessing - whatever it was.

Thanks for the read - I love you dearly! You are very pink!
Jan

The In Between...

Pink Impact 2010 Operation Alpha is now history!

What an honor to serve with Priscilla, Christine and Caroline! Miriam and Kari are incredible. The women that I work with are amazing! Watching all of us work together to create an environment where women can receive a word of truth has been a blast. Love my job - just saying!

What an amazing group of "special agents" reported for duty! You went some places in the spirit I couldn't have imagined and experienced a sense of unity I had only dared to dream about. Thanks for totally going for it! Thanks for your faithfulness! Thanks for your willingness to show up. Praying for you tonight and trusting God will encourage you as you head back home.

Now we are in the "in between"...

I know there are a many packing their bags tonight. They are running around getting everything ready so they can set aside the daily in order to encounter the sacred. They won't be disappointed!

Me either! I'm finishing up a load of laundry, celebrating my husband's birthday and checking my checking account balance. Just the ordinary things of life that we do everyday. But...at the same time...I have a song in my spirit and a skip in my walk. I can feel the vibration of His spirit and His word. He's near to us! More to come. Surprises for all of us in the next few days.

Whether you are coming in or going out - please know we love you! You were prayed for today! We believe in you. We think you are awesome. You are a world changer!

You are so PINK!

Love,
Jan

PS Would be honored if you wanted to follow me at on Twitter or Facebook. You can click on the icons to the bottom right on this post. I'd love to be your friend! Thanks.

Pink Impact 2010 - 2 weeks and counting!

I can’t believe it’s finally here. I’ve been waiting on this gathering for so long…anticipating all that God wants to do…looking forward to seeing your beautiful faces…waiting for the moment we break into worship. Can you feel it? Pink Impact is on the horizon.

The original idea for this year’s theme “Permission Granted” came about from a discussion among our team. We were talking about the needs of women and one of the topics that arose was how many of us know God, love God, serve God - but seem to be waiting upon something – some one or even some opportunity - to be sure we are valued or needed or called by God. That one little conversation began a whole dialogue about God’s heart for women, His calling and our opportunity to respond.

From that one anointed discussion sprang countless strategy meetings about how to communicate God’s heart to you. We have an incredible creative team which helps us take ideas and turn them into amazing elements. We dream up things like special agents and secret missions and fun invitations. We extend speaker invitations to the best and brightest women we can find. We prayerfully recruit a large leadership team and assign major areas of responsibility. We launch in the fall, promote through the spring and meet together at the big event.

This year – more than any other – there will be an intentional message at Pink Impact designed to encourage you! Everything in Christ is yes and amen. He loves to say yes. He loves to empower, encourage, release, set free, disciple and equip for His God-given purposes – for your good and His glory.

We are very near to the time when all of our activity will shift. There are months of preparation for Pink Impact. And then a moment comes…and everything shifts.

It’s no longer about getting the service agenda correct, or the décor completed or even the number of registrations. A spiritual shift happens. Everything that is not done – just falls to the ground – and everyone begins to focus on the fact that the He is coming to meet with us.

Now I know He meets with us everyday and I know that we don’t need a special event to meet with Him. But I also know that when I am intentional – when I prepare my spirit – when I set aside time and place to meet with Him – He loves to show up. God comes to a prepared environment.

We are preparing. Everything we are doing is intentionally creating a safe place for you and God to meet. If you haven't made plans to be a part of Pink Impact, please reconsider your plans. Ask for help or invite a friend. Show up! We are waiting for you.

So this week – shift with me! Let’s set our sights above the planning required to get there. I know you are thinking about your childcare, making plans for transportation, reserving your hotel room, or even gathering your wardrobe. Do it all, but do it with anticipation in your spirit – a shift from the natural to the supernatural.

I’ll be praying for you this week. Asking God for divine favor to get here and a heart to anticipate His move. Together, we’ll sit at his feet, listen to His word, and receive from His hand.

I love you,
Jan

I have hair!

Hi friends,

I've given up my scarves, hats and wigs! I am ala-natural and let me tell you my hair is short! This photo was taken on the last day I wore a hat! It gives you a hint about just how short it really is. I've laughed several times about asking God for hair by Pink Impact. I definitely should have been more specific - "at least 2 inches" would have been smart! Prepare yourself - it's short and sassy and salt and pepper. It's been like freedom to just walk out the door again. You should be a little jealous - it takes me about 10 seconds to style!

Pink Impact is only a few days away and everywhere I go, ladies are getting excited with me. At this point, I'm just wishing it was time! The only thing left for me to do is finish my talk. Would you pray for me? I have my thoughts - I just need the final order to come together. Got some tips from my sweet friend Lynda Grove yesterday to help me organize and prioritize - so one more day of prep and then prayer, prayer, prayer!

As soon as Pink Impact is over - I am headed out to the other side of the world! I'm going to Israel. In six weeks, my feet will be in the "mother land." I've wanted to go to Israel for a really long time. My longing to visit was really birthed during a season of my life when I was participating in Bible Study Fellowship. The year we studied the book of Genesis was life changing for me. The more I studied the more I understood my Jewish roots and the importance God places on this little parcel of land.

When the opportunity came up, my heart leaped a little. I wanted to go but didn't think it was realistic. Finally I mentioned it to Mark. He didn't say much at first - just waited me out I think. One day while driving to one more doctor appointment, I just realized, "what am I waiting for?" Really - what am I waiting for?

Surely this year I've come to realize that we really only have this moment. There are a lot of reasons to wait - wait til the kids are grown, wait til I feel stronger, wait til Mark can go with me, wait til I can afford it...the list goes on and on...I'm over waiting. I'm not waiting anymore. With the permission of my husband and my physician - I'm going now!

I got to meet both Francine Rivers and Beth Moore last week! Surprises in the future from Francine Rivers if you are a Gateway woman! I am reading her new book and it is a page turner! Love her writings and I know you do too. When I met Beth Moore we were standing on the second floor of Barnes and Nobles in Southlake. I pointed out the window at the brand new Gateway campus out the window and said something about how much we would love to host her. Wouldn't it be a dream for her to join us at future Pink Impacts? I also picked up her new book on insecurity and it's hitting me between the eyes!

I've been thinking a lot about the process of cancer recovery lately. I'm at about 9 months into my treatment and although I'd like to be finished, I realized this week that there is a certain comfort in this stage. I am overcoming the enemy, regaining strength and growing hair, all while still receiving intensive treatment. Every three weeks I stop and fire some massive ammunition at the heart of the disease - a warning shot that says I am standing guard! You will not overtake me!

I am thinking that it might be more "scary" to stop chemo. What happens when you are not being so aggressive? When you stop fighting with drugs and only fight with faith?

I don't know if I'm ready. I don't know if I'm courageous enough.

As I type this morning, I am so acutely aware of you. I am grateful for your "read" and praying a rich blessing of courage, faith and hope for you. Whatever your need or your dream, our God knows and is able. Let's trust Him for the measure of faith required each day. We have enough courage for today.

You are a miracle in my life!

Love,
Jan

Seize the Day!

Today some friends called to say they were coming to Pink Impact in April! Three of them (who now live in three separate cities) are getting together and making a girls road trip to come hear me speak! (Wish you would come too! If you want to check it out, visit www.pinkimpact.com or simply click on my title above and it will take you right to the web site.) I am so excited! Beth, Ashley and Betty are coming! It reminded me of a very sweet season in my life...

I have made some amazing friendships since moving to the Dallas area in 2006, but there is a small cluster of women from Abilene, Texas that knew me first! They knew me when my whole platform was the kitchen table and every "ministry moment" happened with four children at my feet. (It's still my favorite place to have a God conversation!)

They were a part of my life during such an amazing time of spiritual development - any of them that were a part know exactly what I mean. We spent a few precious years, or in some cases only months, God-chasing together. We were passionate and authentic and vulnerable - and God did something unexplainable in our hearts. We experienced a divine season.

Then He dispersed us. Some to other cities - some to other states - and even one was sent around the world.

Today we don't see each other often. (Thank goodness for facebook and tweets and blogs!) Yet despite the distance - I know in a moment of need they would stand with me. As a matter of fact, they have already proven that. I hope they know I would do the same for them.

Thanks to Amy, Jonya, Beth, Wendy, Wendi, Betty, Cheryl, Kerri, Cindy, Ashley S, Ashley B, Sherla, Maria, Becky, Dianne, Donna, Michelle, Martha, Karen, Latrice, Yvonne, Loyce - and all my other beautiful Abilene friends - I know I missed some - You are still a sweet cluster to me!

You never know how long a season will last. Tough ones seem to go too slow, but sweet ones fly by. Sometimes you are in a very sweet season and you don't even realize it until it's gone. We had no idea that our season would end so soon, that it was so unique, or that it would never come again.

Transition will come, my friends - so let us seize the day! Make the most of the relationships we have and grow deep together.

See to it, brothers, (and sisters) that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today...Hebrews 3:12-13

Greetings from the sidelines!

Hi team,

I'm posting an update from my phone while sitting on the sidelines of Matthew's football scrimage. I've been wanting to post an update for days but find that having time in the evening at the computer is challenging. All 3 boys are practicing for fall football and our nights from 5 to 8 are no longer our own. Not complaining. I love it. Just explaining.

In addition I've been working hard on all things related to Pink Impact, especially writing all the pre event copy. For those of you who might not know one of my primary responsibilites in the womens department at Gateway Church is our annual women's conference called Pink Impact. This is my 4th conference to be involved with and it takes a large portion of my work time. I've been trying to get all the promotional oieces done. By the time I finished all that, I had a hard time switching to this format. Didn't mean to be absent for so long.

I've had a good two weeks. I am experiencing some side effects that are related to the steroids and chemo that effect your hormones. Hot flashes are a regular occurence and this week my ankles are swelling. These things make me grumpy! Who wants toi be fat and sweaty? Seriously, these are minor and I am continuing to be strong.

I had a surgery consult this week. It will be awhile before we have to make some decisions in this area. Not one of my favorite topics.

Tomorrow I receive my monthly dose of bone strengthener along with a new drug designed to prevent my blood vessels from feeding the tumor. Hoping for no side effects and a quick office visit.

My mom in law, Molly gave me Joshua 1 9 this week. Just a reminder to hold back fear and stay the course.

Please continue to pray for my body and soul. I have to keep resetting my mind and will to focus on what is good and pure and right. Believing my emotions will follow suit.

Thanks for hanging with me during a dry couple of weeks. I'm remaining steadfast and faithful.

Thanking God for every single warrior! You are appreciated.

Love,

Jan