September 18, 2024 • 29 mins
In this episode, we’re joined by Kristina Renee Wise, founder of Spiritual Healing Sisterhood, as she shares her powerful leap of faith. We dive into the challenges of self-publishing, the courage it takes to embrace faith-driven decisions, and how God’s silent guidance often prepares us for the unexpected. Listen in for heartfelt encouragement to trust in God's plan, even when it defies logic.
Kristina's Bio
Passionate Speaker. Educator. Daughter of God.
Recent Author and Lover of God's Word, Kristina is a fun and energetic daughter of God who loves Jesus and wants to see people flourish in their purpose. Her educational background started her love for teaching God's Word and her desire to travel the world speaking his Word. Back in the Summer of 2019, Kristina flourished in her passion and her desires to see women whole and healed in Jesus and birthed Spiritual Healing Sisterhood.
Currently, Kristina is a seminary student and hopes to minister to women and make an impact in Christian Education.
Kristina lives by Psalm 37:23, "The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him," because she knows that God is the only one who can make her steps firm.
Connected With Kristina:
Kristina's | Book
Kristina's | Website
Kristina's | Instagram
Rachel's Bio
Rachel G. Scott is a devoted wife, mother, and Ohio native. She is also the author of the book, Taking the 5 Leaps and founder of the I Can’t Come Down Movement. As a Bible teacher and podcast host, she desires to inspire believers to walk in their purpose and assignment as they boldly take leaps of faith.
Special Announcement:
Ladies ONLY: Still time to join the PurposeFilled Bible Study Retreat | LEARN MORE
Podcast Mentions:
Rachel G Scott TV YouTube | HERE
Grab Rachel's Book 'Taking the 5 Leaps' (Now available on Audible) | HERE
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
God normally speaks.
He speaks to all of us and he'sbeen silent this year, very
different from past years andpast seasons, from walking with
him, but he's been silent andnormally when we think that you
know, when God is silent it's abad thing, but I've noticed that
, like when God is silent, Ithink that's a leap that I'm in
(00:22):
and I think he's still going towalk me through that, like his
silence is still sovereign, likehis silence is good, like it's
okay, like even right now, likeGod knows, like okay, I have a
specific situation that like,hmm, that God needs to happen,
like so when you're going tocome through Jesus, but I know
when he's silent, I know he'sworking.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Welcome to the Taking the Leaps podcast with me, your
host, fellow leaper and coach.
I know he's working andtrailblazer leaps.
My hope is that you will seehow God is with you every step
of the way and begin toconfidently trust him as he
(01:08):
leads you into your next leap.
It's time to live a leapinglifestyle.
You ready, let's go.
Welcome, christina.
Thank you so much for joiningme on the podcast.
Thank you so much for having me.
So I'm excited because, justfrom our pre-conversation, it is
very evident that you are atrailblazer and you have done
(01:30):
all of the leaps.
So, before we dive into justsome of that story and the
ultimate thing that I wanted totalk about, tell us a little bit
about you and just some of yourleap and journey.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
So I'm grateful, rachel, for this opportunity.
Hello everyone, I am Christina.
I guess my stage name isChristina Renee.
I am a aspiring Bible teacherIn 2018, I knew that God was
calling me to teach his word andjust everything about it I'm
literally obsessed with, and soI knew that that was again the
leap that I'll talk about laterthat God was stepping me into.
(02:03):
Was that leap?
Because I'm like Lord, I don'teven know how to read.
I don't know what to read, butHoly Spirit just led every
single part of the way.
I do have a ministry calledSpiritual Healing Sisterhood.
It is a nonprofit organizationwhere we help women become whole
and heal in Jesus.
I did write a devotional calledStrength in Him, and that was
actually on accident.
I had absolutely no idea that Iwas getting ready to write a
(02:24):
book and all the things thatcame with writing a book, and I
just did all this research and,lo and behold, I thought the
devotion was too good.
I was writing it for myself andthe Lord was calling me to
write a book out of it.
So I love that.
Yes, oh my gosh.
He like was squeezing, he'slike you need to get this book
out.
And I'm like, okay, okay, I'llget the book out and I'll share
a little bit.
Actually, the name StrengthenHim actually didn't start off
(02:48):
that way.
It was called Daily Devils withChristina.
It was just something I did andI felt pressed like I think I
want to do devotionals.
That's when I really started.
Devotional writing was 2020,because everyone's in their
house and we're not doinganything.
So, that's how that, that's howthat birthed out out.
And so I had a friend.
He confirmed yeah, you shoulddevotionals.
And I was like, okay, well, howdo I do it?
(03:10):
Well, again, with thetrailblazer, people have gone
before me and did things that Iwanted to do.
So I literally found an emailof people that I follow.
I looked at the bottom and said, okay, well, what did they do?
Because if they did it, I cando it.
So that's my encouragement.
If they, if anyone, can do it,I can do it as well.
So don't discount yourself.
Even though I'm nobody.
Nobody knows my name, but HolySpirit knows your name and
that's all that's important.
And so I wrote devotionals everyday.
(03:33):
Every Monday I would send themout to friends and family
because they were so gracious.
I had like 14 emails.
You know five of them are mine,but it's okay, I sent them out
anyway.
And so, long story short, theLord gave me.
I asked him, I said God, whatis one word that I can describe
this year when writingdevotionals?
And he said strength.
I said that's it.
(03:54):
So literally, that name camelike that when I was getting
ready to self-publish on Amazonand so, yeah, oh, I love that
and we're going to talk moreabout that as it correlates to
taking leaps.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
But tell us you've done quite a few leaps.
You've moved recently andyou've done transitions.
You're kind of to me more of abuilder, where you are
transitioning out of somethingtemporarily.
You go back to it.
So just tell us a little bitabout the recent move to be with
your family and when you werein the career full-time.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
Well, that came accidental.
I had no intentions of cominghome.
So, really, the transition,actually, if I could go back to
2021, that's kind of when itreally started.
Well, even before then, god hadtransitioned me to seminary and
I did that for about a year anda half and then I was like God,
I just really need a break,like my spirit was tired.
(04:50):
I was again in the midst of abig leap, taking all these
little leaps in between, and Iwas like God, I just need a rest
, I'm tired, and you know, whenGod does give you rest, he'll
give it to you.
But you're also going to beworking too.
It's not just a full, full rest, you're going to be doing some
work too.
And so, through that again, Iwent home.
I'm originally from New Jersey,I'm in Cincinnati, ohio, right
(05:12):
now, and that leap was when Iwas taking care of a loved one.
So when I was listening, when Iwas reading all of them, I said
that one was that season, andso I actually had left full-time
teaching to go to seminary andthen to go home and be with my
parents, and that was a journeyin itself.
But then God was like okay, Iwant you to go back to North
(05:32):
Carolina where I was living.
I said, okay, so this isanother leap.
So I took that leap, and that'swhen he was like I want you to
go back to teaching.
I said go back to teaching.
What do you mean?
Go back to teaching, like hewas like I want you to go back
to Durham.
I said, god, I had been inDurham like two and a half years
, like, and so he called me togo back, and that was extremely
difficult I'm not about to heara lie, because I always say that
(05:54):
, like, my heart was to do myministries and what I wanted to
do.
But then God was pulling myheart in another way where it's
like no, I'm calling you to goback.
In this season I was so torn, Iwas unhappy, I was complaining
every day, and that's not theheart pressure that I wanted to
be in.
I wanted to be gratitude andthankfulness that I have a job.
And I took again this leap tolike, leave a different state
with nothing but things in mycar I can speak on that later
(06:17):
and it was really reallydifficult because, like, that
calling was pulling me, but thenhe was pulling me in another
direction.
So that was that one.
And then he said, okay, youdon't go back to this one, I'm
going to call you to work on.
I do self-publishing and stufflike that.
It's really cool once you learnhow to publish a book on Amazon
, now you can help other peopledo it.
And so he was like, okay, don'tgo back there.
(06:39):
And I'm like, okay, don't goback there.
Well, what am I going to do?
So I worked on my nonprofitstuff and that's when I was here
again this time last yeararound Christmas.
He was like I want you to goback to teaching.
I said, okay, jesus, you'redoing, you are doing way too
much.
It's back and forth and all ofthat, but that's sometimes what
a leap is.
Like he'll have you leap andthen like, sometimes, like
(07:00):
you'll stay for a minute whereeverybody's calling you, but
then it's like, okay, it's timeto take another one, and that
one can be big, that one can besmall, but all leaps you know, I
feel are very significant.
And so I went back to full-timeteaching.
But I was praying.
I said, god, please let this bethe last time.
Like I'm so ready, like I'm soready to just dive in.
(07:21):
I want to no, back to school.
And I'm like God, why isn'tthis happening?
But I didn't, and I would saythis time I had a much more
different posture than I wasback in 2022.
This was just this past coupleof months ago, 2023.
And so, yeah, if I can speakonto that one, that was
difficult because I didn't wantto.
I did not want to.
I was literally like Davidpleading the Psalms, like how
(07:41):
long Lord?
That's literally how I feltalways.
Like Like David pleaded in thePsalms, like how long Lord, like
that's literally how I feltalways.
Like Lord, how long am I goingto be, how long are you going to
keep me in teaching?
But then, finally, it's almostlike you have those finally
moments where it's like, okay,I'm with my mom, I really don't
feel called, I'm supposed towork full time.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
I really feel like where I'm at now is just where
he's going to place me and thatis perfectly full-time ministry.
Yeah, yeah, that's so good.
I think you really hit onsomething where it's that
waiting season and that how longam I going to have to be in
this place where I'm unhappy andI'm not content, and I know
that there's so much more thatyou've called me to do that I'm
passionate about.
But I also think that leads usto the topic of doing things in
(08:24):
his strength, because there wasprobably a strengthening that
was going on within you.
So tell us a little bit aboutwhat that looked like for you
during that season.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
Yeah, Well, it didn't come easy.
It took a lot of pruning andpressing and really actually
being in pretty difficultsituations, I didn't realize I
had the gift of faith untilsomeone pointed it out.
She was like, yeah, you have agift of faith.
I was like I do.
I just thought it was beingobedient.
That happened to me recentlyand I'm thinking in my head this
(08:56):
is just the normal, like peoplejust take these like leaps of
faith and like you know, andthis is just normal.
But I'm like it's actually notand I realized that, oh, this is
a gift that God has cultivatedin me.
So, with that strength in him,it really started back in 2018,
2019, when God told me I wantyou to go to seminary.
God confirmed it.
But I think that was when hisstrength in me was really really
(09:19):
brewing in me.
Like I didn't know that I hadto move out of my apartment and
I didn't know I didn't havefull-time job, but all these
things that he was calling me tohave a deeper trust in him.
And so I would say like,through all those moments where
I had his strength in me, likeit was developing a deeper trust
in him and in his name and whohe is, because that's a big
thing for me.
I am the type of person whereit's like if you're going to say
(09:40):
something, I need you to do it.
I don't like broken promises, Idon't like when people are
flaky, I just don't like that.
And so for me, in my mind, Ihad to get out of.
Like Christina, god is not likethat.
He's sovereign, he's faithful,he's all these things.
So if he's calling you to havea deeper strength in him and
take these miraculous leaps thatyou never thought you would,
(10:02):
he's calling you to have adeeper trust in who he is.
And so that's what I learned.
And really, if I can speak to mydevotional again, it really
came from accident.
Like I didn't realize that Godwas going to give me the title
literally as soon as I was aboutto, about to publish it, and
that was a whole strength initself, because I didn't realize
that when it saysself-publishing, yeah, that's
(10:22):
what it is Like.
You're doing it by yourself,right, right, you're doing it by
yourself.
You have people to help you,but goodness gracious.
And so, and I didn't realizewriting those devotionals it's
40 days, I needed them myselfand I was like these are too
good, these are blessing me.
I know they're going to blesssomebody else and so, just in
(10:45):
his strength, I've learned inthis journey, with taking leaps
and just having a walk of faithand waiting on him, that, like
you really will mount on wings,like when the scripture says
Isaiah, like you will mount uponwings, you will really soar
like an eagle, because there'ssomething in you that he wants
to birth out of you and throughyou.
And really I've learned it'sactually like people actually
(11:06):
are like literally watching me,like they're watching my life
and they're watching like, wow,she's so strong in the Lord,
like, wow, like she's likeobeying God, like I want that
and it's just like, well, yeah,I do want you to want that, but
also it's just a gift that he'sgiven you.
So I would speak to that withstrength, because it is not easy
(11:27):
, but the fruit that he'sproducing in you, it's going to
be so worth it.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
Yeah, and even I'm sure you've realized that, as
you've done one thing to thenext thing, he's called you.
You're stronger with each onebecause of how he has shown
himself and revealed himself inthe last situation, and so the
strength of God is something,that he is strong, but we come
into a deeper knowledge of hisstrength each time we choose to
(11:53):
obey and step into what he'scalled us to do.
I want to go back to that backand forth season a little bit,
where you were jumping here,there, because I know that there
are so many people who havefelt like, okay, I thought that
this is what I was supposed todo, or I thought that did you
ever feel that way?
Like, did I hear you wrong?
Did I think and that's that'spart of the reason that this
(12:14):
build-a-leap exists, because Idon't want people to feel that
way, but let's acknowledge thefact that you were moving your
whole life back and forth.
So what was kind of going onduring that time for you?
Speaker 1 (12:26):
No, it's completely true and I'm glad you're doing
it, because it's like sometimesI question, like did I hear from
you?
So when I was at home in 2021,I did not believe that God told
me you need to go back toRaleigh.
I was in my quiet time, I waspraying.
He said you need to go back toRaleigh.
I said, excuse me, go go backwhere, go back who?
To Raleigh?
(12:46):
Like no, like I was not goingto take that leap by myself.
Like I had to drive seven,eight, eight, nine hours by
myself with no money on top ofthat.
It's like everything that couldhave happened with haywire in
that moment.
But he was like I need you togo back, cause I was like God, I
don't have any money, like whatam I going to do?
And so he was like you need togo back, and so that back and
(13:10):
forth really really test yourfaith.
It really tests your faith toknow that and I'm confident
enough to know that I did hearGod, cause I had a friend tell
me.
She was like you need to goback and I'm like you're crazy.
I was like you're absolutelycrazy, I'm not going back.
Like you are insane.
Like I literally told that toher face, I said you're crazy,
I'm not going back.
But it showed me that, like one,you do hear his voice and you
(13:33):
have to also like be confidentin yourself and trust yourself.
We don't trust you know trustin our flesh, but we trust in
who he is and who God is.
But you also do have to be likeI heard God, like I heard him
so so clearly to know that, okay, this is another transition.
Lord, I already been through 10transitions already.
So, like the fact that eachtime that you have landed me on
(13:56):
a soft ground, like Psalm 40, Ilove that Psalm so much, I go
back to that Psalm over and overI waited patiently on the Lord
and how God lifted David out ofthe slimy pit Like sometimes
that's really how I felt,because I needed him to have me
placed on a solid rock, to knowthat I heard his voice, to know
(14:17):
that like, hey, I already beenthrough these before, but I know
God because I've heard, heardyour voice, that you're not
going to fail me this time andyou will never fail me.
So that's what I would speakinto that with that back and
forth.
And it's difficult because mylife looks so.
It looks crazy from the outside, but I know that God is doing
something not within me, well,within me and around me, and so
I have to know that I'mfollowing the Lord as much as I
(14:38):
value other people.
I'm following the call that hehas on me.
So that's how I would say that.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
That right there is so good, because I do think that
the trap of how this could lookunstable can cause us to walk
in disobedience because it'slike okay, I'm all over the
place and we're listening towhat the world says and what
other people say we should have.
You should have one career, youshould live in one town, you
(15:04):
should raise your kids in onehouse, you have all of these
things, and God is like but,yeah, no, not in my world.
The leaping lifestyle is thelifestyle that we lead until we
make it to heaven.
It is the lifestyle that we arecalled to live until we make it
to heaven.
It is not a one and done thing.
(15:25):
He's always going to call usout of the comfort zone.
The example that you are givingis that very thing, and it looks
easy for those of us that havethe gift of faith which someone
told me that recently too, andI'm like is it though?
I was like, but it wascultivated in a lack of faith.
Which someone told me thatrecently, too, and I'm like is
it though?
I was like, but it wascultivated in a lack of faith.
It was cultivated in momentswhere people told me, ye, of
(15:49):
little faith, and him walking methrough how often he said ye of
little faith to people.
Why does he say that?
Because he wants faith to grow.
But you know, I love hearinghow you you allowed yourself to
lean into each moment to silencethe noise around you maybe not
immediately, but eventually andto continue to say I am called
(16:13):
to live a leaping lifestyle.
You know, there's a lot ofpeople in the bible that we see
that went from place to place toplace.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
And it was normal, it was normal for them.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
My God, Abraham that's my dude Come on Like all
over.
You know to do these differentthings and to go into these
different places and ministerthe word, but yet we have this
belief system that that is notus, that we are not called to
different places and differentseasons of life.
You know, we may always becalled to work with this one job
, but in that one job we may becalled to different areas of
(16:44):
influence, and that's a leap.
So I love, as you're sharingthe story, I do want to ask the
leap to taking care of yourfamily.
That's a hard one to makebecause it's a huge sacrifice.
Tell us how that came about andwhat strength did you see God
building in that time?
Speaker 1 (17:03):
Well, that came on accident Again.
All of these situations, theycame on accident, I'm not even
kidding.
So, end of 2020, I was like man, I just want to go home.
I just need a break.
I done been through thisjourney, I done lived with
people, I'm used to living on myown and I'm like Jesus too much
.
I just need to go home, I justneed a break.
So, actually, 2021, that'sactually when my dad got sick
(17:24):
and actually it would be a year.
Sunday I passed one year andthank you, and so that was
accidental.
And you know I'm thinking in mymind.
You know how we think in ourmind.
We perceive in our mind of whenand how things are going to go.
Our timeline, yeah, I don'teven plan with God anymore.
My friends know Christina doesnot plan with God Because you
(17:45):
know Christina's feelings aregoing to get hurt Because it
doesn't go her way.
I mean, I don't plan and Ican't plan my life, because if I
surrender my life to Christ,well, I wouldn't need him, like
I wouldn't need him, I wouldn'tneed him.
And so, yeah, that's when mydad actually got sick.
That's when things started goingdownhill and I'm thinking, oh
(18:05):
yeah, I'll be there two, threemonths, I'll be in New Jersey
two, three months and I'll goback to North Carolina to live
my life.
And God was like no, you'regoing to be there for the entire
year, I'm going to be there forthe entire year.
Jesus, what?
And so when God gave me animage about how and it, it
(18:27):
really just it.
We don't, we don't know whathe's doing behind the scenes, we
have no idea, and that's whathe truly showed me.
So, like, unfortunately, my dadwas blind, he can't see.
I mean, he could, like walkaround the house cause he's, you
know, very familiar with ourhouse, but he couldn't cook,
couldn't drive, couldn't doanything.
And so sometimes, when he'slike sleeping, or sometimes when
(18:47):
he's listening to music andlike, I know that, like, okay,
he wants a snack, or you knowit's time for him to eat, I
would go ahead and alreadyprepare his lunch.
And so he didn't know that Iwas already going ahead and
preparing what he, what hewanted, and so that when it
showed up, he was like, oh, Ihave lunch.
And so I realized that, withGod, like God gave me that
revelation it's like, christina,I'm preparing things behind the
(19:10):
scenes that you really don'tknow, just like you're taking
care of your father right now,in this moment, and my mom too,
but mostly my dad.
That's really why God had methere, because he knew that a
year and a half later he wouldpass away.
And so what really reallystruck me was like was I'm doing
things behind the scenes,christina, that you have no idea
?
You just have to trust me toknow that I'm preparing this for
(19:31):
you, just like how you preparedthings for your dad, and he
didn't even know.
I'm doing the same thing foryou, because I know you love
your dad.
But how much more do I love you?
That was one thing he reallyreally taught me in that year
with taking care of parents andreally cherishing that moment
too, because you know,unfortunately, I would never get
it back.
But and I did not realize that,god, why are you having me at
(19:53):
home?
I'm not.
I'm not understanding, but inthe blessing of that, I was able
to build my nonprofit same time, and then God is calling me to
have to do another business.
So literally, I went to work,and so I call it.
I call it working by faith.
I went downstairs, at my diningroom table, I had everything I
needed and I went to work forthat day because I wanted to
prove God and show God that like, okay, you're giving me all
(20:13):
this time home, it's for areason, like there's no time
ever wasted in the kingdom.
If I'm at home, if you'recalling me somewhere or a
specific job, there's, there's areason to it.
And so I really wanted to makesure that I not only I didn't
quote unquote waste that time,but like, okay, there's stuff
(20:34):
that I could be doing right now,there's stuff that could be
building, and financially it was.
It was extremely rough becauseGod didn't call me to work quote
unquote nine to five, when Iwas at home, because my primary
you know reason I was there wastaking care of my family or my
parents, and that was difficultin itself because I had to trust
God.
I remember one time I was lateon a credit card bill and I was
like you know what I'm going tosurrender, lord, if my credit
(20:57):
score goes low, if I go intooverdraft, anything could happen
.
Lord, I'm going to surrender itto you.
I'm going to surrender thesefinances to you because if
you're calling me home,obviously you're going to
provide.
I kid you not.
I left my phone somewhere, Ithink, in my room.
I went downstairs, went backupstairs, someone gave me a cash
app.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
Wow, yeah, listen, I'm telling you, that is how I
have consistently seen God work,and he's had to remind me
recently don't just surrenderthe situation, surrender the
outcome.
Yes, and that's what you did.
You were like, whatever happens, god, I'm going to trust you
see, and I am all the so manytimes I'll say like Lord, you
(21:39):
see this?
Okay, so I know that you see it.
I'm going to bring it to yourattention.
But I also know that you seethis situation and so I'm going
to surrender the situation.
But also, in this season, I'mlearning to surrender the
outcome, because it's so easyfor us to want to manipulate the
outcome and manipulate ourprayers to accommodate the
outcome that we would like tosee happen, and it's really like
(22:01):
no God, I surrender thissituation, I surrender the
outcome and I pray your will bedone.
Yes, that is our prayer, thatis our hope.
So, okay, as we get ready towrap up the conversation, this
has been so good.
And I'm encouraged that thestrength of God is made perfect
in our weakness and even inthose moments where it seems
(22:22):
like, because the leaps weren'tperfect and even you, navigating
within it, it was still.
You're still processing it andI think people think that you're
going to get to this pointwhere you arrive, but you're not
Until we get to heaven.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
That's our arrival, right, that's it.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
Each leap will require its next level of faith,
its next level of trust, itsnext level of whatever that
might be.
So I want to ask you, as youare thinking about what your
next leap is, I also want to askyou what do you think he is
going to strengthen in youwithin that leap?
Speaker 1 (22:57):
My next leap.
I've actually I learned thisthis year God normally speaks,
he speaks to all of us, yeah,and he's been silent this year,
very different from past yearsand past seasons, from walking
with him, but he's been silentand normally, when we think that
(23:20):
you know when God has said it'sa bad thing, but I've noticed
that, like when God is silent, Ithink that's a leap that I'm in
and I think he's still going towalk me through that, like his
silence is still sovereign, likehis silence is good, like it's
okay, like even right now, likeGod knows, like okay, I have a
specific situation that, likeGod, needs to happen, like when
(23:41):
you're going to come throughJesus.
But I know when he's silent, Iknow he's working, he's working
something out and I have totrust that, like he will always
speak.
You know, read his word everyday, sometimes audibly,
sometimes my spirit, sometimesother people, and even recently
it hasn't been like that.
I even asked God today, thisone of my quiet time.
I said, god, normally yourepeat, like when he speaks to
(24:03):
me twice, I know that it's him,he doesn't.
You know.
One time Okay, but two timesOkay, I know it's three times.
It's like okay, you reallybetter pay attention.
And I literally asked him today.
I said, god, like is thereanything that you've spoken
twice about that I need that, Ineed to know, like, where in my
life have you spoken that I needto pay attention to?
So I would say that's a leapright now, because sometimes I
(24:25):
feel I know for me, like Ialways want God to speak, I
always want God to speak, and hedoes, and he speaks through his
word and he speaks with people,but sometimes just the silence
of him, knowing that, like I'mgoing to work, I don't sleep and
I don't slumber, like that's agood thing, christine, like rest
in that silence and know thathe's going to come through
because you're his child and so,and also too, I think a
(24:46):
constant leap for me is knowingthat, like I'm faithful, I'm
faithful Cause you know,sometimes I'm not going to lie.
Sometimes I'm like, okay, lord,you did it once.
Like are you truly going to doit again?
But like that goes against hisnature and character, he's
always going to do it again.
So I would say that's probablythe leap that I'm taking.
Next, it's like just reallyembracing his silence and
(25:06):
knowing that even my 30thbirthday I turned 30 this year I
told God.
I said, god, I want you tosurprise me, which is not my
nature and character at all.
I don't know what happened in2023 this year, but I've never
told God in my life that Iwanted him to surprise me, and
he did.
I had best friends.
They threw me a 30th birthdaydinner.
So even just in that thesilence of not planning, the
(25:30):
silence of not doing anything Ididn't know what I wanted to do
and I again surrendered.
I surrendered that to him.
So I would say that's the leapthat I'm in now, just embracing
his silence.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
Yeah, that's so good and I love it.
And one thing I've learnedabout is silence is leaning into
that, and I've also learnedthat sometimes that's an
invitation to go deeper, youknow, and explore that deeper
thing.
I literally just came out ofthat season where I'm like hello
, anybody there and and you knowI was I went to church and I'm
(26:03):
like expecting it to be thething that took me to the next
thing, like okay, I'm going toit to be the thing that took me
to the next thing, like okay,I'm going to fill it here.
He was like no, and I spent aweek where I just spent like an
hour or two in his presence.
I was listening to worship, Iwas listening to sermons, I was
taking notes.
And when I went to church thenext week, not only could I hear
him better, but I felt hispresence more and I remember him
(26:35):
saying see, it wasn't that theywere off, but your expectation
to experience me.
There was not what it needed tobe.
You needed to experience me athome so that you could carry me
into there.
And so the silence made me leanin and say God, where are you
Exactly?
And search Exactly.
Yeah, it allowed me to lean inand really search for God and
him answer.
So I love what you said,because there are definitely
(26:57):
those seasons where, like,silence can equal surprises, and
I'm the same.
I don't like surprises Do notcome up in here with a big old
surprise balloon.
Please don't do that.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
I don't.
And you know, if you're goingto surprise me, please for the
love, you know what I like.
Yes, If you're going tosurprise me, get something that.
Speaker 2 (27:19):
I'm going to enjoy so that I react, so it's not a
double disappointment, that'sall I'm saying.
Thank you, because I'm like one.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
You didn't get me what I wanted and you're trying
to surprise me?
Speaker 2 (27:28):
Yeah, I'm just saying , but I love that.
That is a huge leap and it'sthe surprise and it's the
invitation and it's all thethings Okay.
So, as we wrap up, please tellme, or tell my listeners, where
can they find you?
Speaker 1 (27:52):
How can they connect with you?
Where can they get thedevotional?
Devotional is on Amazon, Ibelieve.
If you just type in StrengthenHim, there's a subtitle called
Daily Divas with Christina,because that's what it was.
It was Daily Devotionals.
You can find that on Amazon,and I am ChristinaReneeXO on
Instagram and thenChristinaReneeYs, so I don't
really go by my last name, butI'm on Facebook.
But primarily I found myselfbeing more on Instagram.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
All right.
Well, thank you again,Christina, for joining us.
This has been a greatconversation and I really enjoy
just your perspective and whatGod has shown you with having
strengthened him.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
Thank you, I enjoyed it.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
Thank you for joining today's episode.
I hope you were inspired bywhat you heard and you're even
more encouraged to trust Godwith your next leap.
Before you leave, take a momentand think of your community.
Who do you know that couldbenefit from the wisdom shared
in this podcast?
Now take it one step furtherand encourage them through text,
(28:43):
dm or a simple conversation.
By sharing this episode, let'smake sure others know they're
not alone as they obey God andchoose to live a leaping
lifestyle.
Enjoy the rest of your day andremember God can do more with
your willingness than he couldever do with your worthiness.
God normally speaks.
He speaks to all of us and he'sbeen silent this year, very
different from past years andpast seasons, from walking with
him, but he's been silent andnormally when we think that you
know, when God is silent it's abad thing, but I've noticed that
, like when God is silent, Ithink that's a leap that I'm in
(00:22):
and I think he's still going towalk me through that, like his
silence is still sovereign, likehis silence is good, like it's
okay, like even right now, likeGod knows, like okay, I have a
specific situation that like,hmm, that God needs to happen,
like so when you're going tocome through Jesus, but I know
when he's silent, I know he'sworking.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Welcome to the Taking the Leaps podcast with me, your
host, fellow leaper and coach.
I know he's working andtrailblazer leaps.
My hope is that you will seehow God is with you every step
of the way and begin toconfidently trust him as he
(01:08):
leads you into your next leap.
It's time to live a leapinglifestyle.
You ready, let's go.
Welcome, christina.
Thank you so much for joiningme on the podcast.
Thank you so much for having me.
So I'm excited because, justfrom our pre-conversation, it is
very evident that you are atrailblazer and you have done
(01:30):
all of the leaps.
So, before we dive into justsome of that story and the
ultimate thing that I wanted totalk about, tell us a little bit
about you and just some of yourleap and journey.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
So I'm grateful, rachel, for this opportunity.
Hello everyone, I am Christina.
I guess my stage name isChristina Renee.
I am a aspiring Bible teacherIn 2018, I knew that God was
calling me to teach his word andjust everything about it I'm
literally obsessed with, and soI knew that that was again the
leap that I'll talk about laterthat God was stepping me into.
(02:03):
Was that leap?
Because I'm like Lord, I don'teven know how to read.
I don't know what to read, butHoly Spirit just led every
single part of the way.
I do have a ministry calledSpiritual Healing Sisterhood.
It is a nonprofit organizationwhere we help women become whole
and heal in Jesus.
I did write a devotional calledStrength in Him, and that was
actually on accident.
I had absolutely no idea that Iwas getting ready to write a
(02:24):
book and all the things thatcame with writing a book, and I
just did all this research and,lo and behold, I thought the
devotion was too good.
I was writing it for myself andthe Lord was calling me to
write a book out of it.
So I love that.
Yes, oh my gosh.
He like was squeezing, he'slike you need to get this book
out.
And I'm like, okay, okay, I'llget the book out and I'll share
a little bit.
Actually, the name StrengthenHim actually didn't start off
(02:48):
that way.
It was called Daily Devils withChristina.
It was just something I did andI felt pressed like I think I
want to do devotionals.
That's when I really started.
Devotional writing was 2020,because everyone's in their
house and we're not doinganything.
So, that's how that, that's howthat birthed out out.
And so I had a friend.
He confirmed yeah, you shoulddevotionals.
And I was like, okay, well, howdo I do it?
(03:10):
Well, again, with thetrailblazer, people have gone
before me and did things that Iwanted to do.
So I literally found an emailof people that I follow.
I looked at the bottom and said, okay, well, what did they do?
Because if they did it, I cando it.
So that's my encouragement.
If they, if anyone, can do it,I can do it as well.
So don't discount yourself.
Even though I'm nobody.
Nobody knows my name, but HolySpirit knows your name and
that's all that's important.
And so I wrote devotionals everyday.
(03:33):
Every Monday I would send themout to friends and family
because they were so gracious.
I had like 14 emails.
You know five of them are mine,but it's okay, I sent them out
anyway.
And so, long story short, theLord gave me.
I asked him, I said God, whatis one word that I can describe
this year when writingdevotionals?
And he said strength.
I said that's it.
(03:54):
So literally, that name camelike that when I was getting
ready to self-publish on Amazonand so, yeah, oh, I love that
and we're going to talk moreabout that as it correlates to
taking leaps.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
But tell us you've done quite a few leaps.
You've moved recently andyou've done transitions.
You're kind of to me more of abuilder, where you are
transitioning out of somethingtemporarily.
You go back to it.
So just tell us a little bitabout the recent move to be with
your family and when you werein the career full-time.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
Well, that came accidental.
I had no intentions of cominghome.
So, really, the transition,actually, if I could go back to
2021, that's kind of when itreally started.
Well, even before then, god hadtransitioned me to seminary and
I did that for about a year anda half and then I was like God,
I just really need a break,like my spirit was tired.
(04:50):
I was again in the midst of abig leap, taking all these
little leaps in between, and Iwas like God, I just need a rest
, I'm tired, and you know, whenGod does give you rest, he'll
give it to you.
But you're also going to beworking too.
It's not just a full, full rest, you're going to be doing some
work too.
And so, through that again, Iwent home.
I'm originally from New Jersey,I'm in Cincinnati, ohio, right
(05:12):
now, and that leap was when Iwas taking care of a loved one.
So when I was listening, when Iwas reading all of them, I said
that one was that season, andso I actually had left full-time
teaching to go to seminary andthen to go home and be with my
parents, and that was a journeyin itself.
But then God was like okay, Iwant you to go back to North
(05:32):
Carolina where I was living.
I said, okay, so this isanother leap.
So I took that leap, and that'swhen he was like I want you to
go back to teaching.
I said go back to teaching.
What do you mean?
Go back to teaching, like hewas like I want you to go back
to Durham.
I said, god, I had been inDurham like two and a half years
, like, and so he called me togo back, and that was extremely
difficult I'm not about to heara lie, because I always say that
(05:54):
, like, my heart was to do myministries and what I wanted to
do.
But then God was pulling myheart in another way where it's
like no, I'm calling you to goback.
In this season I was so torn, Iwas unhappy, I was complaining
every day, and that's not theheart pressure that I wanted to
be in.
I wanted to be gratitude andthankfulness that I have a job.
And I took again this leap tolike, leave a different state
with nothing but things in mycar I can speak on that later
(06:17):
and it was really reallydifficult because, like, that
calling was pulling me, but thenhe was pulling me in another
direction.
So that was that one.
And then he said, okay, youdon't go back to this one, I'm
going to call you to work on.
I do self-publishing and stufflike that.
It's really cool once you learnhow to publish a book on Amazon
, now you can help other peopledo it.
And so he was like, okay, don'tgo back there.
(06:39):
And I'm like, okay, don't goback there.
Well, what am I going to do?
So I worked on my nonprofitstuff and that's when I was here
again this time last yeararound Christmas.
He was like I want you to goback to teaching.
I said, okay, jesus, you'redoing, you are doing way too
much.
It's back and forth and all ofthat, but that's sometimes what
a leap is.
Like he'll have you leap andthen like, sometimes, like
(07:00):
you'll stay for a minute whereeverybody's calling you, but
then it's like, okay, it's timeto take another one, and that
one can be big, that one can besmall, but all leaps you know, I
feel are very significant.
And so I went back to full-timeteaching.
But I was praying.
I said, god, please let this bethe last time.
Like I'm so ready, like I'm soready to just dive in.
(07:21):
I want to no, back to school.
And I'm like God, why isn'tthis happening?
But I didn't, and I would saythis time I had a much more
different posture than I wasback in 2022.
This was just this past coupleof months ago, 2023.
And so, yeah, if I can speakonto that one, that was
difficult because I didn't wantto.
I did not want to.
I was literally like Davidpleading the Psalms, like how
(07:41):
long Lord?
That's literally how I feltalways.
Like Like David pleaded in thePsalms, like how long Lord, like
that's literally how I feltalways.
Like Lord, how long am I goingto be, how long are you going to
keep me in teaching?
But then, finally, it's almostlike you have those finally
moments where it's like, okay,I'm with my mom, I really don't
feel called, I'm supposed towork full time.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
I really feel like where I'm at now is just where
he's going to place me and thatis perfectly full-time ministry.
Yeah, yeah, that's so good.
I think you really hit onsomething where it's that
waiting season and that how longam I going to have to be in
this place where I'm unhappy andI'm not content, and I know
that there's so much more thatyou've called me to do that I'm
passionate about.
But I also think that leads usto the topic of doing things in
(08:24):
his strength, because there wasprobably a strengthening that
was going on within you.
So tell us a little bit aboutwhat that looked like for you
during that season.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
Yeah, Well, it didn't come easy.
It took a lot of pruning andpressing and really actually
being in pretty difficultsituations, I didn't realize I
had the gift of faith untilsomeone pointed it out.
She was like, yeah, you have agift of faith.
I was like I do.
I just thought it was beingobedient.
That happened to me recentlyand I'm thinking in my head this
(08:56):
is just the normal, like peoplejust take these like leaps of
faith and like you know, andthis is just normal.
But I'm like it's actually notand I realized that, oh, this is
a gift that God has cultivatedin me.
So, with that strength in him,it really started back in 2018,
2019, when God told me I wantyou to go to seminary.
God confirmed it.
But I think that was when hisstrength in me was really really
(09:19):
brewing in me.
Like I didn't know that I hadto move out of my apartment and
I didn't know I didn't havefull-time job, but all these
things that he was calling me tohave a deeper trust in him.
And so I would say like,through all those moments where
I had his strength in me, likeit was developing a deeper trust
in him and in his name and whohe is, because that's a big
thing for me.
I am the type of person whereit's like if you're going to say
(09:40):
something, I need you to do it.
I don't like broken promises, Idon't like when people are
flaky, I just don't like that.
And so for me, in my mind, Ihad to get out of.
Like Christina, god is not likethat.
He's sovereign, he's faithful,he's all these things.
So if he's calling you to havea deeper strength in him and
take these miraculous leaps thatyou never thought you would,
(10:02):
he's calling you to have adeeper trust in who he is.
And so that's what I learned.
And really, if I can speak to mydevotional again, it really
came from accident.
Like I didn't realize that Godwas going to give me the title
literally as soon as I was aboutto, about to publish it, and
that was a whole strength initself, because I didn't realize
that when it saysself-publishing, yeah, that's
(10:22):
what it is Like.
You're doing it by yourself,right, right, you're doing it by
yourself.
You have people to help you,but goodness gracious.
And so, and I didn't realizewriting those devotionals it's
40 days, I needed them myselfand I was like these are too
good, these are blessing me.
I know they're going to blesssomebody else and so, just in
(10:45):
his strength, I've learned inthis journey, with taking leaps
and just having a walk of faithand waiting on him, that, like
you really will mount on wings,like when the scripture says
Isaiah, like you will mount uponwings, you will really soar
like an eagle, because there'ssomething in you that he wants
to birth out of you and throughyou.
And really I've learned it'sactually like people actually
(11:06):
are like literally watching me,like they're watching my life
and they're watching like, wow,she's so strong in the Lord,
like, wow, like she's likeobeying God, like I want that
and it's just like, well, yeah,I do want you to want that, but
also it's just a gift that he'sgiven you.
So I would speak to that withstrength, because it is not easy
(11:27):
, but the fruit that he'sproducing in you, it's going to
be so worth it.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
Yeah, and even I'm sure you've realized that, as
you've done one thing to thenext thing, he's called you.
You're stronger with each onebecause of how he has shown
himself and revealed himself inthe last situation, and so the
strength of God is something,that he is strong, but we come
into a deeper knowledge of hisstrength each time we choose to
(11:53):
obey and step into what he'scalled us to do.
I want to go back to that backand forth season a little bit,
where you were jumping here,there, because I know that there
are so many people who havefelt like, okay, I thought that
this is what I was supposed todo, or I thought that did you
ever feel that way?
Like, did I hear you wrong?
Did I think and that's that'spart of the reason that this
(12:14):
build-a-leap exists, because Idon't want people to feel that
way, but let's acknowledge thefact that you were moving your
whole life back and forth.
So what was kind of going onduring that time for you?
Speaker 1 (12:26):
No, it's completely true and I'm glad you're doing
it, because it's like sometimesI question, like did I hear from
you?
So when I was at home in 2021,I did not believe that God told
me you need to go back toRaleigh.
I was in my quiet time, I waspraying.
He said you need to go back toRaleigh.
I said, excuse me, go go backwhere, go back who?
To Raleigh?
(12:46):
Like no, like I was not goingto take that leap by myself.
Like I had to drive seven,eight, eight, nine hours by
myself with no money on top ofthat.
It's like everything that couldhave happened with haywire in
that moment.
But he was like I need you togo back, cause I was like God, I
don't have any money, like whatam I going to do?
And so he was like you need togo back, and so that back and
(13:10):
forth really really test yourfaith.
It really tests your faith toknow that and I'm confident
enough to know that I did hearGod, cause I had a friend tell
me.
She was like you need to goback and I'm like you're crazy.
I was like you're absolutelycrazy, I'm not going back.
Like you are insane.
Like I literally told that toher face, I said you're crazy,
I'm not going back.
But it showed me that, like one,you do hear his voice and you
(13:33):
have to also like be confidentin yourself and trust yourself.
We don't trust you know trustin our flesh, but we trust in
who he is and who God is.
But you also do have to be likeI heard God, like I heard him
so so clearly to know that, okay, this is another transition.
Lord, I already been through 10transitions already.
So, like the fact that eachtime that you have landed me on
(13:56):
a soft ground, like Psalm 40, Ilove that Psalm so much, I go
back to that Psalm over and overI waited patiently on the Lord
and how God lifted David out ofthe slimy pit Like sometimes
that's really how I felt,because I needed him to have me
placed on a solid rock, to knowthat I heard his voice, to know
(14:17):
that like, hey, I already beenthrough these before, but I know
God because I've heard, heardyour voice, that you're not
going to fail me this time andyou will never fail me.
So that's what I would speakinto that with that back and
forth.
And it's difficult because mylife looks so.
It looks crazy from the outside, but I know that God is doing
something not within me, well,within me and around me, and so
I have to know that I'mfollowing the Lord as much as I
(14:38):
value other people.
I'm following the call that hehas on me.
So that's how I would say that.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
That right there is so good, because I do think that
the trap of how this could lookunstable can cause us to walk
in disobedience because it'slike okay, I'm all over the
place and we're listening towhat the world says and what
other people say we should have.
You should have one career, youshould live in one town, you
(15:04):
should raise your kids in onehouse, you have all of these
things, and God is like but,yeah, no, not in my world.
The leaping lifestyle is thelifestyle that we lead until we
make it to heaven.
It is the lifestyle that we arecalled to live until we make it
to heaven.
It is not a one and done thing.
(15:25):
He's always going to call usout of the comfort zone.
The example that you are givingis that very thing, and it looks
easy for those of us that havethe gift of faith which someone
told me that recently too, andI'm like is it though?
I was like, but it wascultivated in a lack of faith.
Which someone told me thatrecently, too, and I'm like is
it though?
I was like, but it wascultivated in a lack of faith.
It was cultivated in momentswhere people told me, ye, of
(15:49):
little faith, and him walking methrough how often he said ye of
little faith to people.
Why does he say that?
Because he wants faith to grow.
But you know, I love hearinghow you you allowed yourself to
lean into each moment to silencethe noise around you maybe not
immediately, but eventually andto continue to say I am called
(16:13):
to live a leaping lifestyle.
You know, there's a lot ofpeople in the bible that we see
that went from place to place toplace.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
And it was normal, it was normal for them.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
My God, Abraham that's my dude Come on Like all
over.
You know to do these differentthings and to go into these
different places and ministerthe word, but yet we have this
belief system that that is notus, that we are not called to
different places and differentseasons of life.
You know, we may always becalled to work with this one job
, but in that one job we may becalled to different areas of
(16:44):
influence, and that's a leap.
So I love, as you're sharingthe story, I do want to ask the
leap to taking care of yourfamily.
That's a hard one to makebecause it's a huge sacrifice.
Tell us how that came about andwhat strength did you see God
building in that time?
Speaker 1 (17:03):
Well, that came on accident Again.
All of these situations, theycame on accident, I'm not even
kidding.
So, end of 2020, I was like man, I just want to go home.
I just need a break.
I done been through thisjourney, I done lived with
people, I'm used to living on myown and I'm like Jesus too much
.
I just need to go home, I justneed a break.
So, actually, 2021, that'sactually when my dad got sick
(17:24):
and actually it would be a year.
Sunday I passed one year andthank you, and so that was
accidental.
And you know I'm thinking in mymind.
You know how we think in ourmind.
We perceive in our mind of whenand how things are going to go.
Our timeline, yeah, I don'teven plan with God anymore.
My friends know Christina doesnot plan with God Because you
(17:45):
know Christina's feelings aregoing to get hurt Because it
doesn't go her way.
I mean, I don't plan and Ican't plan my life, because if I
surrender my life to Christ,well, I wouldn't need him, like
I wouldn't need him, I wouldn'tneed him.
And so, yeah, that's when mydad actually got sick.
That's when things started goingdownhill and I'm thinking, oh
(18:05):
yeah, I'll be there two, threemonths, I'll be in New Jersey
two, three months and I'll goback to North Carolina to live
my life.
And God was like no, you'regoing to be there for the entire
year, I'm going to be there forthe entire year.
Jesus, what?
And so when God gave me animage about how and it, it
(18:27):
really just it.
We don't, we don't know whathe's doing behind the scenes, we
have no idea, and that's whathe truly showed me.
So, like, unfortunately, my dadwas blind, he can't see.
I mean, he could, like walkaround the house cause he's, you
know, very familiar with ourhouse, but he couldn't cook,
couldn't drive, couldn't doanything.
And so sometimes, when he'slike sleeping, or sometimes when
(18:47):
he's listening to music andlike, I know that, like, okay,
he wants a snack, or you knowit's time for him to eat, I
would go ahead and alreadyprepare his lunch.
And so he didn't know that Iwas already going ahead and
preparing what he, what hewanted, and so that when it
showed up, he was like, oh, Ihave lunch.
And so I realized that, withGod, like God gave me that
revelation it's like, christina,I'm preparing things behind the
(19:10):
scenes that you really don'tknow, just like you're taking
care of your father right now,in this moment, and my mom too,
but mostly my dad.
That's really why God had methere, because he knew that a
year and a half later he wouldpass away.
And so what really reallystruck me was like was I'm doing
things behind the scenes,christina, that you have no idea
?
You just have to trust me toknow that I'm preparing this for
(19:31):
you, just like how you preparedthings for your dad, and he
didn't even know.
I'm doing the same thing foryou, because I know you love
your dad.
But how much more do I love you?
That was one thing he reallyreally taught me in that year
with taking care of parents andreally cherishing that moment
too, because you know,unfortunately, I would never get
it back.
But and I did not realize that,god, why are you having me at
(19:53):
home?
I'm not.
I'm not understanding, but inthe blessing of that, I was able
to build my nonprofit same time, and then God is calling me to
have to do another business.
So literally, I went to work,and so I call it.
I call it working by faith.
I went downstairs, at my diningroom table, I had everything I
needed and I went to work forthat day because I wanted to
prove God and show God that like, okay, you're giving me all
(20:13):
this time home, it's for areason, like there's no time
ever wasted in the kingdom.
If I'm at home, if you'recalling me somewhere or a
specific job, there's, there's areason to it.
And so I really wanted to makesure that I not only I didn't
quote unquote waste that time,but like, okay, there's stuff
(20:34):
that I could be doing right now,there's stuff that could be
building, and financially it was.
It was extremely rough becauseGod didn't call me to work quote
unquote nine to five, when Iwas at home, because my primary
you know reason I was there wastaking care of my family or my
parents, and that was difficultin itself because I had to trust
God.
I remember one time I was lateon a credit card bill and I was
like you know what I'm going tosurrender, lord, if my credit
(20:57):
score goes low, if I go intooverdraft, anything could happen
.
Lord, I'm going to surrender itto you.
I'm going to surrender thesefinances to you because if
you're calling me home,obviously you're going to
provide.
I kid you not.
I left my phone somewhere, Ithink, in my room.
I went downstairs, went backupstairs, someone gave me a cash
app.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
Wow, yeah, listen, I'm telling you, that is how I
have consistently seen God work,and he's had to remind me
recently don't just surrenderthe situation, surrender the
outcome.
Yes, and that's what you did.
You were like, whatever happens, god, I'm going to trust you
see, and I am all the so manytimes I'll say like Lord, you
(21:39):
see this?
Okay, so I know that you see it.
I'm going to bring it to yourattention.
But I also know that you seethis situation and so I'm going
to surrender the situation.
But also, in this season, I'mlearning to surrender the
outcome, because it's so easyfor us to want to manipulate the
outcome and manipulate ourprayers to accommodate the
outcome that we would like tosee happen, and it's really like
(22:01):
no God, I surrender thissituation, I surrender the
outcome and I pray your will bedone.
Yes, that is our prayer, thatis our hope.
So, okay, as we get ready towrap up the conversation, this
has been so good.
And I'm encouraged that thestrength of God is made perfect
in our weakness and even inthose moments where it seems
(22:22):
like, because the leaps weren'tperfect and even you, navigating
within it, it was still.
You're still processing it andI think people think that you're
going to get to this pointwhere you arrive, but you're not
Until we get to heaven.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
That's our arrival, right, that's it.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
Each leap will require its next level of faith,
its next level of trust, itsnext level of whatever that
might be.
So I want to ask you, as youare thinking about what your
next leap is, I also want to askyou what do you think he is
going to strengthen in youwithin that leap?
Speaker 1 (22:57):
My next leap.
I've actually I learned thisthis year God normally speaks,
he speaks to all of us, yeah,and he's been silent this year,
very different from past yearsand past seasons, from walking
with him, but he's been silentand normally, when we think that
(23:20):
you know when God has said it'sa bad thing, but I've noticed
that, like when God is silent, Ithink that's a leap that I'm in
and I think he's still going towalk me through that, like his
silence is still sovereign, likehis silence is good, like it's
okay, like even right now, likeGod knows, like okay, I have a
specific situation that, likeGod, needs to happen, like when
(23:41):
you're going to come throughJesus.
But I know when he's silent, Iknow he's working, he's working
something out and I have totrust that, like he will always
speak.
You know, read his word everyday, sometimes audibly,
sometimes my spirit, sometimesother people, and even recently
it hasn't been like that.
I even asked God today, thisone of my quiet time.
I said, god, normally yourepeat, like when he speaks to
(24:03):
me twice, I know that it's him,he doesn't.
You know.
One time Okay, but two timesOkay, I know it's three times.
It's like okay, you reallybetter pay attention.
And I literally asked him today.
I said, god, like is thereanything that you've spoken
twice about that I need that, Ineed to know, like, where in my
life have you spoken that I needto pay attention to?
So I would say that's a leapright now, because sometimes I
(24:25):
feel I know for me, like Ialways want God to speak, I
always want God to speak, and hedoes, and he speaks through his
word and he speaks with people,but sometimes just the silence
of him, knowing that, like I'mgoing to work, I don't sleep and
I don't slumber, like that's agood thing, christine, like rest
in that silence and know thathe's going to come through
because you're his child and so,and also too, I think a
(24:46):
constant leap for me is knowingthat, like I'm faithful, I'm
faithful Cause you know,sometimes I'm not going to lie.
Sometimes I'm like, okay, lord,you did it once.
Like are you truly going to doit again?
But like that goes against hisnature and character, he's
always going to do it again.
So I would say that's probablythe leap that I'm taking.
Next, it's like just reallyembracing his silence and
(25:06):
knowing that even my 30thbirthday I turned 30 this year I
told God.
I said, god, I want you tosurprise me, which is not my
nature and character at all.
I don't know what happened in2023 this year, but I've never
told God in my life that Iwanted him to surprise me, and
he did.
I had best friends.
They threw me a 30th birthdaydinner.
So even just in that thesilence of not planning, the
(25:30):
silence of not doing anything Ididn't know what I wanted to do
and I again surrendered.
I surrendered that to him.
So I would say that's the leapthat I'm in now, just embracing
his silence.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
Yeah, that's so good and I love it.
And one thing I've learnedabout is silence is leaning into
that, and I've also learnedthat sometimes that's an
invitation to go deeper, youknow, and explore that deeper
thing.
I literally just came out ofthat season where I'm like hello
, anybody there and and you knowI was I went to church and I'm
(26:03):
like expecting it to be thething that took me to the next
thing, like okay, I'm going toit to be the thing that took me
to the next thing, like okay,I'm going to fill it here.
He was like no, and I spent aweek where I just spent like an
hour or two in his presence.
I was listening to worship, Iwas listening to sermons, I was
taking notes.
And when I went to church thenext week, not only could I hear
him better, but I felt hispresence more and I remember him
(26:35):
saying see, it wasn't that theywere off, but your expectation
to experience me.
There was not what it needed tobe.
You needed to experience me athome so that you could carry me
into there.
And so the silence made me leanin and say God, where are you
Exactly?
And search Exactly.
Yeah, it allowed me to lean inand really search for God and
him answer.
So I love what you said,because there are definitely
(26:57):
those seasons where, like,silence can equal surprises, and
I'm the same.
I don't like surprises Do notcome up in here with a big old
surprise balloon.
Please don't do that.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
I don't.
And you know, if you're goingto surprise me, please for the
love, you know what I like.
Yes, If you're going tosurprise me, get something that.
Speaker 2 (27:19):
I'm going to enjoy so that I react, so it's not a
double disappointment, that'sall I'm saying.
Thank you, because I'm like one.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
You didn't get me what I wanted and you're trying
to surprise me?
Speaker 2 (27:28):
Yeah, I'm just saying , but I love that.
That is a huge leap and it'sthe surprise and it's the
invitation and it's all thethings Okay.
So, as we wrap up, please tellme, or tell my listeners, where
can they find you?
Speaker 1 (27:52):
How can they connect with you?
Where can they get thedevotional?
Devotional is on Amazon, Ibelieve.
If you just type in StrengthenHim, there's a subtitle called
Daily Divas with Christina,because that's what it was.
It was Daily Devotionals.
You can find that on Amazon,and I am ChristinaReneeXO on
Instagram and thenChristinaReneeYs, so I don't
really go by my last name, butI'm on Facebook.
But primarily I found myselfbeing more on Instagram.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
All right.
Well, thank you again,Christina, for joining us.
This has been a greatconversation and I really enjoy
just your perspective and whatGod has shown you with having
strengthened him.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
Thank you, I enjoyed it.
Speaker 2 (28:22):
Thank you for joining today's episode.
I hope you were inspired bywhat you heard and you're even
more encouraged to trust Godwith your next leap.
Before you leave, take a momentand think of your community.
Who do you know that couldbenefit from the wisdom shared
in this podcast?
Now take it one step furtherand encourage them through text,
(28:43):
dm or a simple conversation.
By sharing this episode, let'smake sure others know they're
not alone as they obey God andchoose to live a leaping
lifestyle.
Enjoy the rest of your day andremember God can do more with
your willingness than he couldever do with your worthiness.
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