OUR BLOG

The moment you received Christ as your Savior, you were rescued from the kingdom of darkness and transferred into the Kingdom of Light! Your name was written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Your spirit has already been transformed. However, your mind and body are a work in progress. That is why it is important to renew your mind with the washing of My Word daily.

Judy’s heart is pure gold. She is the Founder and President of Empowering International Ministries and a celebrated author, speaker, life coach, mother, and grandmother. Judy is the former Co-Host of Living on Purpose, was named Arkansas Business Woman of the year in 1987 and was recognized as one of Dallas' Top 10 Unstoppable Women in 2011.

John is one of my favorite gospels to read because it is written from a man who understood God’s love in a very real way. The other three gospels give us a beautiful account of Christ’s life on earth, but John writes in a way that inspires us to know Jesus’ love the way he did. John was one of Jesus’ disciples. He walked with Him. He saw His miracles firsthand. He listened to His teaching. And He experienced the love of Christ daily.

Beautiful, sassy, and sweet. A Speech Pathologist by trade and the owner of Silky Sweets—Silk Nelson is a major boss babe. Silk recently moved to Dallas and found Equipped by Faith in her search for authentic community and friendships. Her story is why we exist, and we couldn’t be happier that she found herself right at home with Equipped by Faith. We love you Silk!

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is in the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8 (ESV)

Nicollette is like sunshine. Her shining personality lights up every room she walks into, making everyone feel warm, embraced, and welcomed. That’s why she is our #wcw this week (and every week). Nicollette is a Dallas based photographer and the face behind all of our beautiful Equipped by Faith website and promo photos! If you’re looking for a photographer for anything from editorial images to senior portraits—Nicollette is your girl (and ours).

Disappointments may be unavoidable in this life, but we are not without hope! I wouldn’t choose the pain I’ve experienced in life, but I don’t think I would change it either. Disappointments have led me to find a deeper strength and relationship with God that I never knew I could have. Refining moments strip away everything we don’t need so we can become more like Christ. Refining moments require us to draw our strength and courage from God to proceed to the new level He is calling us to.

Kayla Rae Combs is not only the beautifully tattooed arm on our website, she is an incredible makeup artist and business owner from Dallas, Texas. Her outward beauty is obvious, but take it from us—she is even more radiant within. Currently, Kayla is planning a month-long trip (beginning on August 25th) to Antigua, Guatemala to serve at a local orphanage called Village of Hope, providing mentorship to orphans with special needs. Kayla will be living with a local Guatemalan family and be taking Spanish courses at a local academy in order to communicate better with the children she will be working with.  

As I read through the gospel of Luke, I find it interesting that Luke writes more about Jesus’ ministry to women than any of the other gospel authors. Luke sheds light on the humanity of Jesus—breaking down every barrier between Jews and Gentiles, the rich and the poor, and even the barriers between men and women. Jesus came to set the captives free. He came to give the oppressed a voice. He came to shed light on darkness—and in His day and age, He came to do all of these things for women.  

What I find incredible about knowing the inner details of the lives of the disciples is that number one: they were human. And number two: God does not give up on us because of our failures. This truth is made clear through the life of John Mark. God’s mercy restored Mark and used him to write a significant book of the gospels that is read today—and will continue to be read for all of eternity!

For those who feel a loss today, I pray you will be encouraged and comforted by this truth: You have a Father who loves you more than you will ever know. He looks out for you. He provides for you. And He smiles over who you are and who you are becoming. There is not a moment of your life that He has missed. There is not a tear that has fallen on your face that He has not kept. He will never leave you or forsake you. You are His, Beloved. Forever.   

The Book of Matthew is the first book of the Gospels in the Bible. It was written by Matthew, a former Jewish tax collector and disciple of Jesus. This book is full of miraculous stories of Jesus walking on the earth—healing blind eyes, opening deaf ears and saving the oppressed. But what is so special about the book of Matthew is the overwhelming theme of redemption for all people.

Look into your hands—what “talents” has God given to you to use in the world for His glory? The special abilities that only you have are gifts from God and He wants you to use them! Any time you use your gifts and talents to help someone else, you are ministering for God! 

Even when we have great examples of mothers to look up to, motherhood is not easy. A lot of the "work" we have to do as mothers can seem mundane, insignificant or draining in moments--but I assure you, that every moment you spend with your children is shaping their character and future. You are helping to create a legacy, each and every day. I can only hope to be a fraction the kind of selfless, caring and nurturing mother that I was so blessed to have. 

Are any of you dealing with fear or anxiety today? Instead of worrying…pray. Talk to God about what you need, and start making a list of things He has already done for you to remind you, and give you faith, that He won’t ever let you down. Then, with a heart full of gratitude, you’ll begin to experience His peace—this peace—that somehow comforts us in a way we can never understand. This peace, that guards our hearts and our minds from any worry or fear. This is God’s promise to us.

Amy Vanderoef is best known for her role as the Emmy-nominated Host on WFAA’s Good Morning Texas. Amy's television career has taken her everywhere from the set of Dancing with the Stars, to ABC’s The View and countless red carpet events! In 2001, she took on a much different challenge when she was crowned Miss Connecticut USA and became the state’s representative at the Miss USA Pageant. She has been a guest star in two ABC daytime dramas; All My Children and One Life to Live, and has worked as a guest correspondent for ABC’s Good Morning America. Currently, Amy is a lifestyle expert contributing on Network TV stations nationwide. She also speaks at dozens of live events each year, acting as MC for many charitable causes, but she currently resides in Dallas with her son, Wyatt—and shared her beautiful heart with us last night!

I love the books of Ephesians and Philippians simply because of how and where they were written. The Apostle Paul wrote these letters to the church of Ephesus and Philippi while he was sitting in prison for nearly 6 years! And, it was there, at the end of his letter in Philippians that he wrote, “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:11-13)  

We had such an incredible time at Equipped by Faith last night with the beautiful, Amanda Roman Leak! She left all of us feeling inspired to move forward, no matter what we are facing in life. Amanda is a wife, mother, author, and speaker residing in Dallas, Texas with her husband, Ryan, and adorable son, Jaxon. (I’m pretty sure Baby Field will want to be Jaxon’s BFF because of his style!) They are on staff at Covenant Church in Carrollton, Texas, leading a large young adults ministry called VENUE.