Oh, the joys of summertime! We welcome longer days, sweet vacations, lazy pool days, and cookouts with friends and family. It’s a time when our schedules become less rigid, sleeping in becomes a thing again (well, at least for the kids!), and warm sunshine kisses our faces.  

 Summer’s less-structured time, unfortunately, often pairs with less time spent with the Lord. In the YadaFactor course, we discuss competing voices that clamor for our attention and distract us from hearing God. A competing voice is anything that interferes with us getting to the Bible each day. 

While summer has many glorious moments, we must fight to listen fiercely to the voice of God—intentionally and daily.

JESUS SHOWS US HOW

Jesus knew about distractions. In Mark 1:35-37, Jesus’ friends hunted until they found him, and they told him, “Everyone is looking for you!” Whew! That’s a lot of pressure. Everyone wanted something from Jesus, and they wanted it now.  

But where was Jesus?

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” Mark 1:35-37

Jesus could have filled his time with many good opportunities, but he knew what was most important. He rose early in the morning—so early it was still dark outside. He went somewhere quiet to be alone and talked to his Father. Jesus was so intimate with his Father that nothing could distract him from getting alone with him. He will go to the people and accomplish many wonderful things. But not first. First, he gets alone with his Father.

Jesus set a beautiful example for us.

The most influential voice in your life is the one you listen to first and most. 

• Who do you listen to first thing in the morning?
• Where do you go when you have a problem or feel overwhelmed?
• Who or what directs your steps each day?
• How do you decide what you will and will not do with your time?
• Where do your thoughts dwell the longest?

REORDER VERTICALLY

Don’t let the carefree days of summer turn into fewer moments with God and his Word. Summer is the perfect time to reorder your life vertically.

No matter how seemingly good your sunny summer days may be, nothing is better or more important than getting close enough to Jesus that you sense the warmth of his love and hear what he is saying to you. That is the power of God at work in you.

Find a still moment to open your Bible and journal each day. Ask God, “What do you want to say to me today?” and listen. As your summer days progress, whether you have your toes in the sand, you’re sitting by a crystal-clear pool, or you’re simply performing mundane tasks, may it ALL point to God, and may you know (Yada) him deeper.

Desiring to learn more about listening to the Lord through the “Read It, Write It, Share It” process of YadaFactor? Visit our website and join our newsletter to be the first to know when our next session of free classes opens for registration.  

Written by Julie Garner, YadaFactor Coach

A Mother’s Day Story

written by Lisa Tammaro, YadaFactor participant 

At least a decade ago, my mom passionately shared with me that she had joined a group of women whose sole purpose was to help other women experience and know God more intimately. Despite her enthusiasm, my marital turmoil ironically caused me to be circumspect. Consumed with worry, I simply couldn’t manage the stress of a commitment, and was reluctant to share with a triad group the tragedies that had fallen upon me and my children at the hands of my then husband who suddenly seemed a stranger to me. Always praying and patiently waiting for God’s perfect timing, Mom often mentioned the impact YadaFactor had on her life, and she occasionally would ask me to prayerfully consider joining. I justified that to decompress meant minimizing obligations, including YadaFactor; and furthermore, to rehash the past, even with God, seemed to be reliving the trauma. I just wanted to move forward with a “normal” life, while denying the impact of our experience. So, I opted to keep my relationship with God private.

As God would have it, new challenges surfaced. With perseverance, I pressed on, reaching out to God, but always keeping Him at arm’s length for fear of what He might bring next. Anxiety seized every fiber of my being. My emotions were at odds and waged war with my intellect over confidence in God’s love for me and faith in His goodness. All the while, Mom persisted in prayer, never giving up on me and, moreover, never giving up on God. Feeling defeated in life, and with nothing to lose, I agreed to take the Yada Factor Experience course. God’s providence was immediately evident. The women in our triad had been perfectly chosen, each of us with a history and disposition that complemented one another.

Journeying through the 7 week course together, we discovered new ways to approach our time with the Lord that opened our hearts and minds to hear Him speaking into the depths of our lives and situations. Most unique was the method taught on how to encourage and support one another to hear from God. When the 7 week course came to an end, our triad had formed a strong bond. We had all grown with one another in our relationship with the Lord and so opted to continue together on our own.

In the year and a half since our triad began, my relationship with God has deepened. While my circumstances have not changed significantly, I have. I come boldly before God, I wrestle with Him, I trust He still loves me in my moments of doubt, and I’m learning to trust God’s process even when it’s counterintuitive.

Accepting my faith ups and downs, I now appreciate my journey alongside God, instead of feeling guilt and shame, because I know He accepts me. In adherence to the Hebrew meaning of Yada, I am discovering what it is to know and be known by God. The blessing of my beautifully faithful, prayerful Mom has brought me into a deeper, richer relationship with my Lord and Savior through YadaFactor; and for that, I am truly eternally grateful.

Photo: Lisa and her mother Beverly

A Praying Mother

by Beverly Ristuccia, Lisa’s mother and YadaFactor Coach

I’ve been reflecting on my time coaching women in YadaFactor over the years and the impact that it’s had on my life and the lives of so many women. I’ve been a witness to the saving work of Christ in women who were so lost and suffering, I’ve seen women who found freedom from their burdening circumstances because they drew on Jesus’ strength and I’ve been an eyewitness to the sanctification, transformation, and personal spiritual growth of hundreds of women as a result of the YadaFactor ministry which teaches the disciplines and tools necessary to hear God speak into each of our lives through His written Word.

Over the years, I’ve shared with my children how YadaFactor has been life changing for me and how it’s extraordinarily deepened my personal relationship with my Savior. I’ve learned that I can’t live the Christian life on my own strength and that I need to abide day by day and remain in Christ in order to overcome life’s hardships and to bear fruit, John 15:5. YadaFactor has provided me with the tools to do just that through the hard won discipline of getting into God’s Word daily and seeking to hear His sweet soft voice speak to me as I begin my day by asking Him, “Lord, what do you have to say to me today?”

Not only does God show up for me and meet me in my need but He has transformed my life by drawing me into a deeper more intimate relationship with Him and by empowering me to obey and serve Him as I rely on His strength ( 2 Cor.12:9-10 ) to bear fruit and do the work he has foreordained for me to do ( Eph. 2:10 ).

Having seen what God has done in my life through this ministry, I desired with all of my heart to leave a legacy for my children. I began praying for my daughters to take the YadaFactor Experience course. I knew that my daughter Lisa was struggling with some major life issues and needed to hear from God to allay her fears and receive wisdom and guidance from Him. As her mother, nothing brought me more joy than when she accepted my encouragement and invitation to take the course.

Since that time, I’ve seen Lisa become intentional about her daily devotional time with the Lord. There are days when she will share her concerns with me but she knows that our conversation will inevitably end with my saying, “Well, pray about it and see what God has to say to you.” Although Lisa continues to face some challenges, I see her radiate the peace of God, which was once missing in her life, as she hears from God and trusts Him to lead her through these times of uncertainty.

I’m deeply grateful for YadaFactor, as I’ve experienced the joy and peace of seeing Lisa blessed through this ministry. Although Lisa, at times, is powerless against her circumstances and not knowing what she should do, YadaFactor has taught her first to seek God’s voice and to fix her eyes on Him for He is the only One who can calm the storm and lead her through the valley.

I am so thankful to Yada and the women who dutifully, fiercely and faithfully listened to the voice of God which resulted in a ministry that would impact and transform, not only my life and my daughters but the lives of so many women across the globe by asking one very simple question,

“What did God say to you today?”

As we celebrate Women’s History Month there are many events that bring recognition to some trailblazing famous women that have helped build our nation and shape progress. It is a wonderful time to celebrate these events and the women that have made a difference. But as I reflect on these accomplishments, I am also drawn to the everyday events that may seem simple and ordinary that also deserve recognition. The woman that gives of her time freely volunteering in a homeless shelter, the mom who pours into her children every day, the Sunday school teacher that teaches biblical values through bible stories and song, and all the women who simply support each other through everyday challenges and take time to celebrate the milestone successes along the way. We are all worthy of celebration every month of the year! 

God has a habit of picking ordinary people for some very important tasks. One story can be found briefly in Luke 2:36-38.

There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

Anna was a faithful witness. She literally could not stop talking about Jesus. A witness that shared her faith to everyone she came in contact with. A woman that most likely impacted the lives of so many with her faithful words. Anna demonstrates the importance of spending time alone with God, being faithful in prayer, and sharing the gospel with others. I don’t know about you, but I think that is worth celebrating. An ordinary woman chosen by God to receive the gift of prophecy and to see Jesus as an infant. Only mentioned briefly in the bible, but her impact so mighty and in ways we may not completely know and understand. 

Anna is not unlike many of us as we spend time with God during our Yada time and as we listen to what he has to say to us personally. We share the good news of Jesus with those we encounter during ordinary events – in the grocery line, at the office, coffee with a friend, or a brief encounter with a stranger. We are all making a difference one encounter at a time. 

 So, during Women’s History Month, I encourage you to stop and celebrate all the ordinary and mighty women that are on mission, sharing the good news of Jesus! 

Christine Brevik, Executive Director

To understand Agape love, you have to first understand that there is a distinction between love as we know it and what Agape love is all about. Love is an intense feeling of deep affection, used to describe things that invoke pure emotion and delight. We tend to use the word loosely to describe things we fancy. Agape love is so much more than a feeling. It’s a promise. It’s a covenant that believers of Christ are committed to showing others. Agape Love is love but at its highest form.  In 1 John 4:8 it states that, “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

Simply put, Agape love is Godly love. We can learn and appreciate the true context of this love by seeing the greatest example set by our Lord in Romans 5:8, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” We also see this in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” He laid down his life for all of man-kind. This act of selflessness is rooted in Agape love.

Agape love is an action of loving others as much, if not more than, we love ourselves. Agape love is bigger than what our flesh can fathom. It is demonstrating true love through actions of service, obedience, and selflessness. As we look at how God defines the love we should have for others, we can look at how it is described in 1 Corinthians 13, specifically in verses 4-7.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” These qualities/sentiments can be applied to the way we convey Agape love to others.

In 2007, I started a residential program for sex trafficked teenage girls. I’ll never forget the first resident that arrived. She was 14 years old and had been trafficked across several state lines. She came into my office one day crying about selling her body for 50 dollars while her roommate would earn 250. She kept saying, “I sold myself so cheap.” At that moment I shared with her that her body was priceless. I talked with her about Jesus and His sacrifice that was made on the cross and that by accepting His gift of salvation her sins would be as white as snow; and through Him she could find forgiveness for others who had hurt and abused her. I reminded her that she was a child of the King and His Agape love for her was unending. This strong young lady started a jewelry making business called Queen Elizabeth’s Jewelry because she wanted the name to symbolize her royalty in Christ. She went on to get a Masters degree from an Ivy League school on a full scholarship.

Agape love can restore and encourage others to walk in their full purpose. We would love to hear from you about ways God has used you to show Agape love!

Written by Emily Reed, YadaFactor Marketing Assistant and Founder of Flagship Equip

Happy New Year!

As we start the new year, I am excited and encouraged to see what God has planned for YadaFactor in 2023. Our winter courses are starting next week with only one spot open! We also have another course in Nepal starting mid-February. God is so good!

With so much to celebrate I am also reminded that the new year is a popular time for resolutions, new focus, and creating new habits. While I love the approach of starting fresh in the new year, I have always wondered why we wait for a calendar to prompt us to start something new. I like to think that every day is an opportunity to start new. A fresh day, a do-over, a chance to reconcile and regain focus. To me, that is what the YadaFactor process is all about. When I think about fresh starts in a new year it reminds me of the hope found in Lamentations 3:22 – 23.

The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. (Lamentations 3:22-23 NLT)

Lamentations is full of so much hardship, but then comes the beautiful message of hope. Hope that can come from a new year, but also comes “afresh each morning”!

My morning time with God is so precious and provides the hope of a new day. That hope comes from my quiet time in scripture, journaling, and sharing what I am hearing God say to me. It has provided the framework that allows me to start new things, refocus, and form new habits any day of the year. Every day is a new day, a new beginning, and a new opportunity to learn, grow, and go deeper in my relationship with God. Can you imagine if God waited until the start of the new year to make things new. I for one am thankful that “his mercies begin afresh each morning”!

Although the calendar is a great reminder to celebrate and reflect on the previous year while refocusing on the new year, I am rooted in the knowledge that God is with me every day. He waits for me patiently with love, grace, and forgiveness as I form new habits and focus on putting him at the center of all that I do.  Every day is a new day to start fresh and receive the mercy that God gives so graciously.

How will you start fresh and receive God’s mercy today?

Heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunity to start fresh every day. Be with me, guide me, and help me recognize the mercy you provide in the midst of chaos. When I get discouraged, I will remain in the truth that your faithful love never ends. Amen

Christine Brevik, Executive Director

I am honored and humbled to be serving in this ministry as we continue to grow and explore new opportunities to share the YadaFactor Experience with more and more people. We have an incredibly dedicated team of board members, coaches, volunteers, and internal support staff that make everything we do possible. Join us in prayer as we ask for God’s continued blessing over the mission He has placed before us. 

We recently finished our summer YadaFactor Experience course and as usual I am in awe of the testimonies that tell of new habits and changed lives. As our participants learn methods to strengthen their relationship with God, the results they share are always so inspiring. New habits are changing lives through strength, courage, growth, and resilience.

In his book Resilient, John Eldredge reveals a path toward resilience through Jesus himself. I don’t know about you, but I for one have found the past two years to be a time where much resilience was needed. And now, when my sweet state of Florida is recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Ian, I am reminded just how much a resilient soul is necessary to carry us through our storms!

When I was first introduced to YadaFactor I was intrigued and had to learn more. I immediately signed up for the YadaFactor Experience course and I, too, had a testimony of new habits and a changed life! These habits have created space for a deeper relationship with God that allows me to be still to hear His voice guiding me daily through my journey. My changed life puts God in the center of everything that I do, with a big faith that continues to grow every single day.

My big faith comes from practice, every-single-day! When I practice my faith, it leads to great fruit and rewards. My big faith provides resilience that strengthens my soul – resilience when devastation hits or even when I am just feeling like my day is not going the way I planned. When we are in relationship with God, our souls are strengthened, and we can be encouraged by His faithfulness. The evil one prowls around, trying to damage our souls and destroy our faith, but big faith is hard to destroy!

I am not saying that everything is always easy, but being in the word, being still, and having a daily relationship with God gives me strength and resilience. And when the evil one tries harder to destroy my faith, the full armor of God’s protection is available to me. Great resilience of our heart and soul comes from our relationship with our Lord and Savior. We discover the strength available through Jesus and being in His word.

Colossians 2:6-7 provides the instructions for how to practice our big faith…

“So then just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

Right in the middle, Colossians 2:6-7 provides the instruction to practice our big faith. Being in the word daily opens my heart and soul to receive the message God has for me and to live my life rooted and built up in Him.

As I hear from friends and family who have been part of the recovery efforts in Florida, one thing I hear consistently is the resilience of the people impacted – thankful for what they have been able to salvage and working together to rebuild and recover. I don’t know about you, but I want to have resilience like this all the time…rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as I was taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Heavenly Father, thank you for providing a space for me to grow, heal, and receive your gift of peace. On the hard days I come to you first and seek comfort and strength through the resilience you provide. I pray that others find resilience in relationship with you.

~~~~~

Christine Brevik is the Executive Director of YadaFactor and enjoys sharing how the YadaFactor process has impacted her personally.

The YadaFactor process has provided me the tools and discipline to be in the word and go deeper in relationship with God. I pray you too can experience a deeper relationship that provides opportunity to hear God through the peaks and valleys of your journey.