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Coaches Spotlight: Mona Glick

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What drew you to YadaFactor?

My sweet friend, Pegi Richardson, would give me a journal to encourage me to write and I would say thank you but never opened it. This happened for a couple of years. God was trying to teach me to trust Him and while studying Moses in Bible Study Fellowship I heard the Holy Spirit speak to me about keeping a record of what God was doing in my life. Pegi and I met for a couple of years doing YadaFactor together until I heard God say in 2015 it was time to become part of a group.

What do you like about coaching?

I love watching the light turn on for people. When it comes together for them and they start hearing God speak, there is nothing like it. It is like watching scales fall off people’s eyes.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I have been doing strength training for over 30 years. It has become a way of life and a wonderful discipline. These days you will find me in my garden with God growing bales of kale, sweet potatoes, spinach, carrots and the list goes on. I enjoy fermenting foods and making my own kefir and kombucha. With that said, my heart is for the Gospel and I am always looking for ways to reach people with it.

What one word would you use to describe YadaFactor?

Transformative

Why would you suggest YadaFactor to friends and family?

Because YadaFactor gives you the tools necessary to hear the gentle whisper of God.

Is there something special you’d like to share with other coaches in the YadaFactor community?

I love how YadaFactor is a safe place to be heard with no judgment towards one another.

Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself?

I am a Jewish follower of Christ for 22 years. Because of some challenges as a child, I was always speaking to God but never heard Him speak to me. YadaFactor was the missing link that helped me to hear God. I heard a woman at a YadaFactor home gathering early on talk about how God would chase her down and speak to her all day long. I wanted that and now I have it!


Celebrating Women

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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

 

Coaches Spotlight: Mike Cowart

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What drew you to YadaFactor?

Cindy Chamberland introduced YadaFactor to me as a way to grow closer to God.

What do you like about coaching?

Most importantly it keeps me grounded with my spiritual disciplines: study scripture, prayer, mediation, journaling (aka-YadaFactor), silence, solitude. By practicing these disciplines on a regular basis, I enjoy sharing with others how YadaFactor has changed my life!

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Study scripture, my wife (Darlene) and I have a one year old miniature schnauzer that takes up a lot of my time. Therefore, I spend a lot of time outdoors: walking, and hiking.

What one word would you use to describe YadaFactor?

Powerful

Why would you suggest YadaFactor to friends and family?

It has changed my life by showing me how to have a personal relationship with our Lord.

Is there something special you’d like to share with other coaches in the YadaFactor community?

Every coach/person has their own story, and I can not think of a better way other than YadaFactor to assist people to start or strengthen their personal relationship with God.

Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself?

YadaFactor had been an avenue for the Lord to transform my heart and called me into His ministry at some point in my life! Yahweh and I are still working out those details, lol.


Mike with his wife Darlene

Agape Love

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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

Coaches Spotlight: Susie Colahan

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What drew you to YadaFactor?

My friend Christine introduced another friend and I to YadaFactor after we had been attending a Bible Study in her home for a long time. We both took the Yada class together, with Christine serving as our assistant coach. After the class, the three of us formed a triad, and have now been together for several years. During the summers we meet weekly on Zoom; winters we are all in Florida and are able to meet for breakfast once a week to share what God is telling each of us.  It has been a wonderful time of growing in intimacy with God and with one another.

What do you like about coaching?

My next step was to begin serving as an assistant coach for YadaFactor.  As a retired elementary school teacher, I remember the joy of seeing a child’s face light up when they finally “got it.” Now I experience an even greater joy of seeing YadaFactor participants light up and reflect Jesus as they discover the intimacy of hearing from Him daily!  I am humbled and thankful for whatever small part I may have contributed to their growth.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

In retirement I am enjoying spending more time with my husband of 55 years, as well as more quality time with our large family (5 married children, 13 grandchildren, 3 greats!). As for hobbies, I am a quilter and my husband is a woodworker, so we both love making special gifts for family and friends.

What one word would you use to describe YadaFactor?

The one word I would use to describe YadaFactor is “Change.”  Due to physical limitations, I was feeling guilty about the ministries I used to be involved in that I can no longer do.  But God has called me into a new season and new ways to serve; He has shown me that in spite of my weakness, I can be used mightily!  He frequently gives me motivation and strength to prepare meals for someone in need.  He has called me to pray as I make a memory quilt for someone who is grieving. And most importantly, He has called me to coach, to share the wonderful gift of YadaFactor with other women.  He’s taught me to accept where I am in life and to know that He can still use me.

Why would you suggest YadaFactor to friends and family?

I title all of my journal entries, and as I come to the last pages of a journal, I list all of the entries on the last few pages. Recently I listed 96 entries in the last journal I completed. As I listed them, many sparked something that made me go back and read over quite a few entries. As I read them, I was stunned to realize how much I’ve grown and changed over the past 96 days! I’m so grateful for YadaFactor, and for the habit of journaling. When I’m feeling low, I need only to read over my journal to be reminded of all God is doing in my life. He is always with me and He is always revealing more of Himself to me. I am humbled and grateful.

Is there something special you’d like to share with other coaches in the YadaFactor community?

If you think life is good and you’re happy, YadaFactor will take you to new levels you can’t imagine!  To hear the voice of God, and know that you’re in His will, is really possible!


His Mercy

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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. 

Coaches Spotlight: Asmita Lama

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What drew you to YadaFactor?

Being able to connect myself with the Bible everyday.

What do you like about coaching?

I learn more myself and enjoy helping young sisters in Christ in my country of Nepal.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I like to write songs and conduct business research.

What one word would you use to describe YadaFactor?

Consistency

Why would you suggest YadaFactor to friends and family?

It changes your life and brings you back to God everyday.

Is there something special you’d like to share with other coaches in the YadaFactor community?

I am amazed and thankful for this opportunity because with YadaFactor my sisters are able to learn more about God with me.

Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself?

I can’t wait to take more women and girls through YadaFactor.


Big Faith

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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.

 

 

Let “He” Become “You”

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When a doctor says words like “biopsy,” “cancer,” or “oncologist,” your mind can go to frightening places. That’s what happened to Steve and me when we received the news of his prostate cancer. Our story in July’s blog, “Learning to Walk on Water,” may have left you hanging, so here’s what happened as we continued to take courage.

God healed my husband and protected our marriage! Steve has been cancer free for over 10 years! We got through the market collapse of 2008 that hurt so many of us.  It was very difficult to go through, but there were many victories as we chose daily to get out of the boat of loss and keep “walking” to Jesus.

Over time, we continue to see how God uses every trial, in mysterious ways, as a catalyst for deeper communion with Himself. God didn’t always answer our prayers the way we asked, but He answered them in ways that grew us to trust Him more, especially when it became so hard to understand what was happening.

Recently our pastor, David Cassidy, became very sick and close to death from a small spider bite. But God was faithful to heal him!  When he came back, Pastor David preached a powerful message from Psalm 23 that he had been slated to preach five weeks prior. He made a profound observation about how life’s trials can become intimate adventures with God Himself.

Pastor David noted that Psalm 23 begins with King David talking about God. He is his shepherd, He makes him lie down, He leads him, He restores his soul. He, He, He. But after King David walked through “the valley of the shadow of death,” God become personal to him. “You are with me; your rod and staff comfort me…You prepare a table…You anoint my head.” You, You, You.

The same thing happened to Steve and me.  God became even more personal during our time in the valley.  We don’t just talk about God.  We know God is with us, continuing to grow us, inviting new levels of trust in His love.  Life can be scary, but He has a way of turning scary “boat rides” into adventures of deeper communion with Him.

Debbie Csutoros, Founder

Coaches Spotlight: Ann Hollensen

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What drew you to YadaFactor? 

Mona Glick was in my Bible Study Fellowship class two years in a row and she was on fire for YadaFactor. I finally tried it when my daughter-in-law showed interest. Little did I know how it would change my life!

What do you like about coaching?

I love watching God work in other women’s lives as they learn to hear Him. The joy that participants have as they go deeper with God is contagious!

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I love reading and word games. I also enjoy walks with family in the countryside of Central New York, where our kids and grandkids live.

What one word would you use to describe YadaFactor?

Transforming

Why would you suggest YadaFactor to friends and family?

It helps you read your Bible for transformation, not just information, and helps you spend consistent time with God so you can know Him more, love Him more, and become more like Him. That’s the point of it all, right?!

Is there something special you’d like to share with other coaches in the YadaFactor community?

I used to be extremely nervous about coaching, but have come to realize that if I simply prepare a little, show up with love and humility, and share how I do Yada, that’s enough for God to work with. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 lived out! I also hope that all the coaches know to approach me with any questions or concerns about coaching or for prayer requests. I’m here to help!

Is there anything else we should know about you?

I’ve been saddened to see the tone Christians take with each other over issues that divide us – whether political or theological. What I love about YadaFactor is that believers with differing opinions meet to focus on God and what He is saying to them personally. Celebrating that with each other brings unity to the body of Christ that is sorely needed. I’m grateful to be part of such a worthy ministry, for such a time as this.