Journal
With Christmas 2025 wrapped and décor back in storage, can we continue to let the wonder and miraculous birth of Jesus resonate and shape how we live and work throughout 2026?
“Wonder” is the word God has given me in 2026.
When the shepherd saw the angels break into a chorus in the skies proclaiming the birth of the Son of God, whom we would come to know as Christ Jesus, they were initially frightened, thinking them ghosts. Why did the angels appear to lowly shepherds who had no significant influence? Why hadn’t they appeared to influential leaders, priests, and kings? I believe it was because the shepherds were paying attention. They needed a solution and an answer to the crazy, uncertain world they lived in. They were shepherds who needed hope.
Are you a shepherd in God’s kingdom on earth today?
As artists, you are caring for His sheep through creativity in media, entertainment, music, art, and leadership opportunities. Using your artistic talents and skills, your artistry provides a type of emotional and spiritual nourishment and clothing for audiences and their minds, which affects hearts and, in turn, shapes what we say, believe, and choose. At the perplexing sight of the host of angels, the shepherds didn’t demand credentials, nor did they need clarification that what they were seeing was real and significant to motivate them to search for the location where the manager held the Savior of their souls. They went ahead in trust and curiosity – in wonder.
Wonder is not weakness.
Wonder creates boldness in leadership. It is an inward knowledge that the unshakeable promises God has given us are true and that He is trustworthy. But the way God delivers them is never how we think. It reflects a creative God who supernaturally delivers His people and word. Knowing His nature allows us to trust in His wonder. It is a type of humility. Trusting in the miraculous is not the absence of leadership, but it is a confident knowledge that God is in control when things don’t make sense. The shepherds didn’t arrive at the manger with strategic business plans, spreadsheets, or three goals formulated by AI. They came in pure, unfiltered awe.
God achieves His most significant accomplishments through curiosity.
The three Wise Men were the next ones to find our Savior by observing a curious, moving star. They bowed before him, laying down their crowns at the feet of a child singled out by the heavenly sign. They came from wealth and influence, offering kingly gifts in a bold counter-cultural declaration of worship and wonder. Endless Bible stories are filled with curious, strange, and miraculous events. The stories of Noah, Moses, Abraham, Esther, David, and the birth of Jesus, along with the miracles He performed while He walked on the earth, should give us pause and prompt us to walk confidently in wonder. God takes the natural and performs the supernatural. He is not a God who lays out all details of His plans, but He asks us to trust Him in the nonsensical. The shepherds and the Wise Men came with open hearts, bold faith, and expectant joy, and they witnessed the miraculous glory of God.
As 2026 begins with a rush, choose to turn off your screens more often this year to ponder and walk in the miraculous wonder of God. Turn down the volume on your need to understand and let curiosity and the wonder of God lead you into bold new places. The shepherds showed up. Will you?
“Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!” (Luke 5:26 NLT)
Inner Views
BIO
Gabrielle is at home in Theater, TV/Film, Live Concert & Cabaret performance, and Commercial Modeling. She has held title roles in Broadway, National, and European tours, Off-Broadway, and regional productions. Select favorites include: Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill (as Billie Holiday), Intimate Apparel, Once On This Island, Smokey Joe’s Café, Ain’t Misbehavin’, All Night Strut, Showboat, Dreamgirls, among others. Gabrielle is especially proud of her work (and ongoing development), portraying the legendary Ada “Bricktop” Smith, doyenne of Parisian cabaret, where she starred in the world premiere of Bricktop: Legend of the Jazz Age (Co-creator). On-screen Guest Star favorite roles include Chicago P.D., Blue Bloods, FBI, Bull, Madam Secretary, Law & Order, and the HBO Max–nominated short 27 Candles. She makes her feature film debut in the supernatural thriller The Block, to be released in theaters in 2026, directed by Craig Singer and starring alongside Jack Falahee and Chris Noth. Concert appearances with: New York Pops, Cab Calloway, and Ray Charles Orchestras. Gabrielle has provided backing vocal appearances with Aloe Blacc, Angelique Kidjo, Steely Dan, Common, Marvin Hamlisch, Natalie Cole, and served as a lead backing vocalist for Harry Belafonte. As a writer/producer, her Blackbirds Legends concert series has enjoyed national and international success, earning rave reviews at Feinstein’s 54/Below. She serves as the Sr. Artist Advisor and Creative Developer for her Artists’ Digital Press Kits. Gabrielle is a recurring performer with Sing For Your Seniors (SFYS), a committee member of the Tin Pan Alley American Popular Music Project. and has contributed book-reads for organizations such as Scholastic Inc., SAG-AFTRA’s Storyline Online, and Book Pals. She enjoys volunteer work as an International Ambassador, granting wishes with Make-A-Wish Foundation Int’l, and is delighted to be a part of the Influence Women family. Member: AEA | SAG-AFTRA | Dramatist Guild East
INNER VIEW
Kathleen Cooke: Working in the media, entertainment, music, and the arts industry, staying focused is required, but it is often difficult for creatives. Can you share with us how you stay focused?
Gabrielle Lee: God has been teaching me the importance of focus—what’s really important and what’s not. More specifically, what or who am I giving my attention to, and for how long? In a world saturated with “influence,” (especially as a performer here in NY), it’s easy to get caught up and find yourself paying more attention to other things, to others in general—(how they’re shining, i.e. what they’ve won, what they’re wearing; this issue or that headline) —without realizing how much time and energy has been diverted from our own God-given assignments. You look up and realize, “Oye, where did the time go?” especially when deadlines are approaching, projects are unfinished, and even more, the presence of insurmountable stress has come upon you. That “other” thing— whatever it is—has subtly taken first place. In the midst of juggling auditions, learning music, script memorization, working contracts -I’ve had to pause sometimes and examine: Who, what is influencing me, my mind and attention the most right now? Is it God—or is it the noise around me? Am I letting outside voices shape my thoughts more than the Word of God? God’s been reminding me to be still. Be still enough to listen—not just hear, but really listen. The Holy Spirit often nudges us: “That’s enough time spent there.” If you sense the Holy Spirit nudging you to stop and you delay or ignore it, that’s a signal: you’re spending too much time and energy with it. Your response time serves as an indicator—how long did it take to shift your focus back to doing what you need to be doing? God points the way back to intimacy, to focus, to peace. He wants to be “First.” So, ask yourself: What are you focusing your attention on most? Recognize, if it’s serving you forward, in that moment, or is it a distraction? God will always gently reveal where our focus has drifted—not to shame us, but to lovingly realign us. To pull us close again. To remind us: Keep Me first. (more…)
Journal
With the recent tragic death of Charlie Kirk, many are realizing that we continue to be caught in a spiritual battle for our culture and a Biblical worldview. Those battles are often played out in the media and affect the careers of artists who want to maintain a Biblical foundation and worldview. Working as a believer of Christ in the media and entertainment industry is a constant battle on many levels. Audition, pitch your script or project, network, audition and pitch again, write some more, and then do it all over again and again. You just keep stabbing it out with seemingly no results. Life in the arts and creative field takes grit, and the battle never ends. And wanting to uphold a Biblical worldview as a Christian is even more challenging.
Yet, even if you have a trophy case of awards to show for your work, talent, and success, with each project or production ending, you start from scratch – ground zero, fighting for the “next.” You train yourself to stay and think positively and trust someone is out there thinking and cheering for you, thinking about you for that next job, and will be in the trenches for you. But are they? The industry requires a life of humility and endurance. And as a Christian, it is imperative to have your feet firmly planted in scripture and an intimate engagement with God. It also takes others supporting you with their words of encouragement, prayers, and willingness to stand and keep cheering for you as you battle on. That’s why The Influence Lab and Influence Women were created. But it also means you have to be prepared for the kind of battle you are actually fighting. Is it a spiritual battle? Or is the battle a result of an “out of line” choice that has resulted in a struggle you created for yourself?
“The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.” Proverbs 21:31
Whether a spiritual battle or one that you created due to your choices, what’s your responsibility and duty? God calls you to be ready, disciplined, and stay diligent. He instructs us to stick with His plan and not ours. And…compromising is not permitted in the wait. Elijah hid in a cave until the smoke cleared from his prophecy that put a price on his life from King Ahab. Joseph was thrown into a pit for a time, David had to run for his life twice, and Daniel was in a lion’s den. Was God teaching all of them lessons and giving them wisdom during these times? Did God provide? Yes. Was it challenging? Yes. But each of them trusted God, and they were victorious in the end. Victory is mine, says God – 1 Corinthians 15:57.
Faith is liberating, and uncompromised faith is rewarded. (more…)
Journal
One of my most cherished gifts is getting away for some downtime on a boat and going deep into the ocean waters, skin diving. Sometimes, I have been caught in stormy waters, rocking and rolling – not the musical kind. I’m grateful for the captain’s knowledge and steady guiding hands, and for being secure in a good boat. The vessel’s core that holds it in the deep, turbulent water is its ballast. It lies deep in its core, not seen from the ship’s top and beneath the water line, allowing the boat to weather storms and reach their destinations.
Core values matter and are our personal ballasts.
Each New Year turns our thoughts toward how we will live differently and what we hope to accomplish in the coming year and our future. If our core values (our ballast) are not weighted correctly, the chances of reaching career and life destinations can be in question. Success depends on one’s core value choices. “The Lord expects you to be fair in every business deal, for He is the one who sets the standards of righteousness. Kings and leaders despise wrongdoing, for the true authority to rule and reign is built on a foundation of righteousness.” Proverbs 16:11-12 (Passion Bible).
What size boat are you building?
When building, we use a measuring tape to know how things will fit together. The Bible is our ultimate measuring stick for career and life goals. What we measure as essential core values affects our choices and sets the standards for our character and key decisions. We also use a level when building to keep things balanced. When considering future plans, a balanced perspective is necessary. That includes what people, messaging, and activities we allow to enter our lives and inform us. We determine our boat’s size by the waters in which we want to sail. Our ballast must have a measured and balanced core to float the size of the boat we’re building. We load it with weighted values based on our choices.
Core values define identity and bring acceleration.
Wandering off course happens when identity has not been weighted down in the foundations of Biblical truth. Key plans sink when core values are not firmly secured. However, when core values align with right decisions, explosive energy erupts, forming brilliant creativity and confident bold leaders. Everyone wants to be around and work with visionary, forward-thinking, and artistic people. Like magnets, we are drawn to them, feed off their endeavors, and want to go with them. They are our King Davids. When leaders are confident in their identity, it sets them apart as dynamic influencers in our culture. They are the people God is calling us to be in 2025.
This year, I want to strengthen my ballast. Want to join me? Here’s what I’ll be working on…
Gratefulness – Celebrating those tedious, mundane jobs and tasks – “Whistling while I work!”
Grace – Loving others like dogs love their owners.
Hope – Embracing life milestones without negativity but with childlike expectations.
Patience – Trusting with holy abandonment in God’s timing, and not mine.
Obedience – Taking unquestioning forward steps towards God’s desires and not my own selfish wants.
Personal Identity – Focusing my eyes on who God says I am and not cultural chatter.
Destiny – Learning more about heaven and traveling with Jesus to His destinations.
Intentionality – Turning up the volume of God’s voice within me so I can be tuned into others.
Longevity – Choosing healthy lifestyle decisions rather than what the world declares as beauty.
Mindfulness – Refocusing negative thoughts by worshipping the King of Kings.
Priorities – Spending more (and still more time) with Jesus in prayer and not on a screen.
Knowledge – Knowing God intimately because knowledge of Him informs me on all things.
Joy – Remembering that “the joy of the Lord” IS my strength.
What core value will you be working on?
Will you build a strong core to reach your destination in 2025?
Inner Views
BIO
Alaina is an LA-based wardrobe stylist with more than five years of experience in personal, commercial, and editorial styling. Passionate about turning concepts into reality, Alaina specializes in putting together essential pieces that elevate her clients’ personal brand and tell a visual story. She is currently a stylist for Nordstrom at The Grove. As a freelance stylist and consultant, Alaina is happiest when she is bringing ideas scribbled on paper and images posted on a vision board to life for others to experience – her version of art.
INNER VIEW
Kathleen Cooke: Fear. It is saturating our lives with wars, strikes, and ongoing uncertainties. What has God taught you about dealing with fear?
Alaina Griffin: One thing that God has recently taught me came from a dream. In the dream, it was dark, and I was walking to my vehicle. An overwhelming sense of fear and of being lost swept over me. Suddenly, all the lights around me went out. I fell on the ground in crippling fear, unable to move. After some time, I realized that an electrical outage did not cause the darkness around me and in front of me, but because my eyes were closed. I started praying to God that my eyes would be opened. This struggle caused me to wake up from my dream.
What was God revealing? To move forward, we must pray, as Paul prayed in Ephesians 1:18, that God opens our Spiritual Eyes so that we can confidently know and understand God’s WORD and God’s WILL. This enlightenment will transform our walk with God and change how we navigate waiting seasons, tough decisions, life lessons, trials, and triumphs to get to the blessings and promises of the Lord. Finally, spiritual sight causes us to seek God in order to capture in the Spirit what is not yet manifested on Earth. Spiritual sight activates us to speak by faith into existence what is seen, not by the natural eye. The Word God gave me to share is: See it so that you can seize it (even by force if necessary). With this, we are powerful, and all things become possible.
Kathleen: We are living in an increasingly competitive world. Our ambition to succeed can often overpower us, and we can make bad choices. How have you learned to wait on God’s perfect timing and will?
Alaina: Ambition is a topic that is definitely an issue in the town we live and work in – Hollywood. As believers of Christ, we can get swept up in chasing ambition and dreams if we’re not mindful and rooted in God. We must remember that we are IN the world and not OF this world. We are called to infuse and push God’s culture into this world. To do this, we must do as it says in Matthew 6:33: see first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (ways of doing things). The ways of the Lord are and will always be contrary to the way of the world, which measures success in riches and the number of followers, titles, and degrees a person has. When we seek God daily and trust Him, He will help us to navigate through each day in our professional careers. Sometimes it is a waiting season, and sometimes it is a “go now moment!” God must be the One speaking and leading, not ambition, society, vanity, or cultural pressures.
Kathleen: Many women today are struggling with an identity crisis. What has God taught you about being unique and finding peace in who He says you are, not what the world wants to define you as?
Alaina: I have found that people in this town suffer particularly from identity crises. I have encountered people who are always “ON”- in character, preparing for the next role. As children of God, the Bible makes it clear that we are special – a royal priesthood, 1 Peter 2:9. We are fearfully and wonderfully made, Psalms 139:14, and set apart, Deuteronomy 14:2. God invested time in creating and forming each person to fulfill the plan He has laid out at the beginning of time for Kingdom advancement. How do we find peace and come to know who God called us to be? One way is through our proximity to others- community. Groups like Influence Women, with other like-minded women on similar journeys, will help God’s calling for our lives to become clearer. The other way is through our proximity to God – intimacy. As we grow closer to God, He shows us how to love. How to love Him, ourselves, and others. In loving ourselves, we see ourselves and value ourselves as God sees and values us.
Kathleen: God tells us to Go. To be an influence in all the world. Why is that essential?
Alaina: When Jesus left His disciples, He gave a mandate that echoed throughout the generations, and it was to make disciples of men. As believers, we all have been given a mandate to lead others to Christ and into a deeper relationship. We were created and called to be leaders in this world- influencers. Matthew 5:13 tells us that we are the salt of the earth. It then goes on to say in the next verse that you are the light of the world. As believers, we were created and formed to function as salt and as a light in the world. By its design- light cannot be hidden, and salt cannot not be salty. It is just not possible. We are called to be a light at our jobs, at home, on the subway, in line at the grocery store, and in neighborhoods.
Thanks to technology, we can go and be influencers around the world without leaving our homes. As God has freely given us life, purpose, identity, giftings, spiritual blessings, healing, deliverance, His Word, and so much more, how could we possibly not share the good news and our testimonies with others? Not operating as God’s light or salt causes us to have an identity crisis and creates frustration and feelings of hopelessness, meaninglessness, and restlessness in us. It creates God-size issues that only God can correct. Answering the mandate to go simply means allowing God to navigate our next move and to work through us so that we can become the answers God called us to be on earth.
Connect with Alaina:
Find out more about her work at: arashedastyling.com
Facebook and Instagram: @arashedaconsulting
TikTok: @arashedastyling
