“14-16 “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” Mt: 5:16 (The Message)
I have some exciting news to tell you! I originally wrote and designed the posts for Shine Bright: Discovering Our Light! as an e-course with moderated comments and private Facebook group. From the beginning, I wrestled with the format. I knew the content came from a deep and true place, but the nature of the course required a high degree of vulnerability and trust online (even though the classroom and group were private and password protected), and I knew that this would exclude those unable or unwilling to scale these challenges.
Because I feel so proud of the content, and because I would love to encourage you along your own creative journey towards Jesus, here’s what I’ve chosen to do!
Shine Bright: Discovering Our Light! will run as regular, public posts on my blog, Monday thru Friday for the next 6 weeks!
Shine Bright: Discovering Our Light! is about bringing our struggles with identity
and voice out into the light, written from a
uniquely Christian perspective. It’s a chance to get reconnected with your authentic self…and it’s yours, free. Simply read along, here on the blog!
If you already have it all together and know where you’re going and how to get there, these posts won’t speak to your soul…
Shine Bright: Discovering Our Light!
posts are for the rest of us—those of us who need a little bit of support in finally getting real, it’s about unearthing and being honest with ourselves about the things we love and the things that repel us, it’s about discovering our natural giftings and learning to acknowledge and embrace our limitations, it’s about letting ourselves enjoy life and shine so that our work will be infused with the essence of who we are.
We get to ask ourselves the hard questions—in the privacy, comfort and safety of our own homes—and listento God for the answers. Here, we get to focus on who God created us to be so that we can take our truest-selves into the world in heartfelt service and it’s about doing this deep inner work in community with one another in non-confrontational and safe ways.
Week 1: We are Already Loved
The Gladdest Thing of All
Creative Project
You Have Permission to Love Yourself (He Commands it Actually)
Video of the Week
Poem/Quote of the Week
Weekly Wrap-Up
Week 2: Living Honestly, with Courage
Living Honestly…
Creative Project
…With Courage
Video of the Week
Poem/Quote of the Week
Weekly Wrap-Up
Week 3: Listening to Our Whole Heart (Gifts & Limits)
Celebrating Your Gifts!
Creative Project
Embracing our Limitations
Video of the Week
Poem/Quote of the Week
Weekly Wrap-Up
Week 4: Self-Care for the Artist
Self-Care 101
Creative Project
Self-Care 102 and Depression
Answering the Call (no video this week)
Feeding the Artist’s Soul
Weekly Wrap-Up
Week 5: The Yearning for Safe Community
The Yearning to Belong (Belonging to Yourself First)
Creative Project
On Being a Safe Person
Video of the Week
Building Community (A Tribe to Call Your Own)
Weekly Wrap-Up
Week 6: The Road Ahead!
There is a Season
Creative Project
Split the World Open
Video of the Week
Poem/Quote of the Week
Weekly Wrap-Up
If you look forward to following along as we go through this series, I need your help! Please blog, tweet or mention my blog on your Facebook wall. I’ve also created this here badge, and I’d be tickled if you would grab it, put it in your sidebar to let others know you’re a Kindred Spirit :)! Thank you so much!!!
XOXO,
Jan
Wow Jan. Wow! I always want to take the course when you offer but never have the funds. Now I will make time in my day for this. It's coming at just the right time I my life too. I will help spread the word of this gift!
Posted by: Hillary | April 08, 2013 at 12:32 AM
Hi Jan, Thanks for making this available. I have read your website with interest and have connected with what your ideas/thought process. I too have limited funds and limited time to commit to an online course. (A real "hard copy" book would be fantastic!) I look forward to reading your posts. Honestly, I can't commit to spreading the word about this blog offer until I've read a few posts.
Posted by: Susan Ernst | April 08, 2013 at 02:04 AM
Jan what a generous thing you are doing! I took the course and the content is so professionally written, so pure and authentically from the heart you are getting set to bless so many people. You truly are reflecting the light!
Posted by: Crystal | April 08, 2013 at 04:00 PM
Looking forward to this!!
Posted by: shelley | April 15, 2013 at 02:33 AM