Motivation Monday - Why It’s Time To Gather For A Genesis Moment

“I don’t want any of you or any of the women in your world to miss this opportunity to let the Holy Spirit illuminate your mind and your heart to see that there is good ahead, there is life ahead, there is light ahead, there are all things new ahead, if you will just say yes to receiving it.”

— Cathie Ostapchuk

In my conversations recently the subject of all that has changed in the world has come up frequently.

I spent so much of the pandemic fighting the feeling that I wanted my pre-pandemic ‘normal’ back.

Now I spend much of my time longing for the quieter days of pandemic life: less traffic on the roads, fewer live meetings to travel to, fewer place to fly, fewer opportunities to gather, less noise.

Things are changing, faster, at hyperbolic speed, every day. In my personal life we are back celebrating milestones and happy times to come, and also saying goodbye to loved ones.

In ministry, keeping up with the expectations to create, curate and deliver inspiring biblical content to encourage the female church is like running after target that keeps moving. Social media seems to keep redefining the rules of online ‘success’. Leadership is less about setting goals towards a vision and more about holding paradoxes, contingency plans and a ‘both and’ mindset on any given day. Leadership also means giving grace upon grace upon grace to women that are helping build this movement – because their lives have changed in response to the instability of the world, the church and ministry life.

I am amazed at the speed of what changes nearly every day, including how we gather, the news we listen to, the books we read, our friendships, our work life, our family dynamics, and our emotions about the trauma from continuing to live in a world that is not done with a global pandemic, but instead experiencing more layers of trauma being added as life becomes more complex.

I wonder if you find yourself asking, ‘what can I hang on to that has not changed?’

I have been thinking of all of the ways I have pivoted and pleased and performed and plateaued and pleaded in order to both hang on to what I know, and also to keep up with all that I can’t know in this changing and issue-charged world.

I have also been praying in the deep and sacred spaces over the women in our nation who are still desiring to be seen, to become visible, to bring their giftedness into church and ministry environments so all can flourish.

Change is happening – but it is slow. Gather has partnered with the EFC and other national ministries to seek to answer the question: “What’s going on with the women in Canada?” Are they thriving? Is the church a place that invites women to bring the fullness of a woman’s strengths and gifting to shape the future of the church in Canada?

While we wait to gather the answers to the questions, we invite you to gather. If the world has opened up, for awhile at least, can we invite you to not miss an opportunity to just not grieve about all that has changed, but also create space to welcome the new.

I don’t want any of you, or any of the women in your world, to miss this opportunity to come together.

I don’t want any of you or any of the women in your world to miss this opportunity to let the Holy Spirit illuminate your mind and your heart to see that there is good ahead, there is life ahead, there is light ahead, there are all things new ahead, if you will just say yes to receiving it.

I don’t know how else to express the desire of my heart that wants to welcome you into an atmosphere where Jesus is center, where you are reawakened to your life with Him.

I want to welcome you into an atmosphere where you hear again, clearly, the voice of love of a good, good Father as He speaks to you of new purpose and passion.

Will you join us at Gather Rise GENESIS November 4-5 in Calgary? (REGISTER HERE) Would you risk stepping out of your comfort zone, coming to Calgary from where you are in this nation, and be in the room with us as we receive more of God’s heart for us, his daughters, together?

Do you believe that it is time to gather, women in Canada, from coast to coast, the one, the few, the many, to experience genesis moments together?

I pray you will answer the invitation and come to join us. I can’t wait to meet you there. I pray over you, daughters of God, that you will come and find what your heart has been longing for that you don’t have words for. I pray that you will come and discover that all that you have not been able to express, dreams, disappointments, desires, that are known by God already. I pray you will come and experience the sisterhood of women from across Canada, who, like you, are seeking to find their identity and value in God and God alone. I pray you will come and be reawakened to His purposes for you for such a time as now.

It’s time to gather to experience genesis moments. Together. Are you coming?

I am praying these words over you from “Dancing on the Waves” from Bethel Music:

“Look up and lift your eyes
The future's open wide
I have great plans for you, oh, yes, I do
Your past is dead and gone
Your healing has begun
I'm making all things new, oh

I'm reaching out, I'll chase you down
I dare you to believe how much I love you now, oh
Don't be afraid, I am your strength
We'll be walking on the water, dancing on the waves”

I believe in you!

Cathie