Journal
“She just keeps getting out!” I heard my girlfriend’s frustration in her voice as she hung up the phone with a neighbor who had rescued her new puppy. The dog had escaped through their invisible fence and kept figuring out how to get out. It made me think about the “invisible fences” in my own life.
God’s wisdom found in His Word is our invisible fence.
Cultural worldviews and enticing selfish choices seem to draw many Christians through God’s invisible fence. Are you staying within God’s foundational boundaries? Maybe it’s time to pay attention and understand who and what is egging you on and beckoning you to disregard and defy those little shock wave warnings in your spirit. Understanding the line God draws and trusting that He has His best in mind for us when he lays down those fences through the wisdom found in His Word takes a mature Christian mindset. Our mind affects our passions and heart; our heart controls our hands, feet, and what and where we go.
It takes a willingness and discipline to be obedient.
Working in media, entertainment, music, and the arts today means working in diverse and often anti-biblical territories. Remember the story of Pinocchio, the puppet who was given life and freedom as a real boy? He was exposed to new places and cultures when he received this “real boy” freedom. He saw the lights and sounds of the distant carnival and fell into its alluring trap. We have been given much freedom as Christians, but God requires us to live within His biblically based boundaries. Just like my friend’s new puppy, we can push past the invisible boundaries set up for our protection and compromise our values as we’re drawn into what the culture promises as places of happiness and contentment – even though they are illusions created by the deceiver, the devil.
We must be mindful and understand the strategic place, territory, and influence God has placed us in and also its influence on us. Those places and territories affect our careers and lives. Austrian/American management consultant Peter Drucker says, “Culture eats strategy. Who you are is more important than what you do.” A trusting, obedient follower of God knows who they are in Jesus Christ and refuses to let the culture dictate where they will go. This is essential because knowing the Master’s voice allows us to feel God’s presence – and also the boundaries of His invisible fence when we step out of the perfect place He wants us in.
God often limits us until we mature and learn to pay attention to His voice.
When we are ready to venture further into new territory and places, God opens the way for us to move forward into new territory because He can trust us. Remember, His heart is to keep us safe and close to Him. It took the Children of Israel 40 years of wandering in the desert before they were allowed to enter the Promised Land. When we trust Him, He trusts us. He then gives us new assignments and challenges and will enable us to connect with others and new projects. We have proven to Him that we are trustworthy.
The power of the Word protects and surrounds you like an electronic collar on a dog. When you step over the line, God’s Spirit gives you a buzz, giving you notice that you are heading into the wrong places. As leaders, we are called to be spiritually sensitive and mindful, paying attention when cultural and selfish curiosity tries to pull us beyond the line. Our job is to remember who we are and God’s boundaries of protection – His wisdom, laws, and precepts. When we do, joy and freedom are bountiful, and we no longer see God as limiting our freedom but expanding it. “Apart from Him, we can do nothing.” John 15:5
Are there any areas in your life where you are ignoring the alerts from God’s Spirit and venturing into compromising spaces?
Are you willing to thrive within Biblical boundaries and where God has placed you?
Inner Views
BIO
DeAnna Kane earned her master’s degree of Science in Education Leadership from Keiser University and graduated at the top of her class. She began her professional writing career for donor development and fundraising with the Museum of the Bible in 2015 and then moved into managing many of their high-end donor events for the Museum’s grand opening in 2017. DeAnna also produces large women’s conferences as well as helped coordinate logistics for many Influence Women events.
DeAnna combined her talent for writing and event planning to launch KC Media Publishing as CEO with business partner Leslie Callaway. KC Media Publishing currently produces Heart of Hospitality Magazine combined with The Empowered Magazine, which has a presence in 34 countries. She co-authored the etiquette book Just the Basics: Manners Made Easy with Leslie, and they are writing an etiquette curriculum to accompany the book.
In addition to serving on the advisory board of Influence Women, she has accepted the position of director of the Hollywood Chapter of Influence Women. She also serves on the National Board of Mon Ami Ministries as well as serving as the executive director of communications and public relations for Connection Point Church LA. She lives in Los Angeles, California, with her four kids and a plethora of animals, including cats, dogs, and horses.
INNER VIEW
Kathleen Cooke: Influence Women is thrilled to have you as the new Hollywood Chapter Director. What has God been teaching you recently as you prepare to take on this new role?
DeAnna Kane: I think, as women, we have an over-burning desire to be successful in all we do. We strive to be perfect and accomplished and stretch our boundaries always to be doing more. I believe God has equipped us to go above and beyond anything and everything we want to do, but what He didn’t say is we have to do it alone. Of course, God’s Word tells us He will never leave us nor forsake us, but I also believe he brings people into our lives to come beside us and lift us up, support us, and encourage us. He brings people to help us and puts others in our path so that we may help them.
I struggle with asking people for help. I remember at an event, I had a friend ask me if she could help with anything, and when I gave her a task, I actually started to do the task myself as I was explaining. She laughed and said, “Did you actually plan on letting me do that, or did you just want to do it yourself?” We laughed, and I let her take over. It was clear to me that I was so used to doing things on my own that I would have to really work at letting go and delegating better. This is where women need to build their tribe. Find those people you can rely on and trust to help you accomplish all that you want to do and stop looking at other women as competition. Women really get things done, so trust that God wants you to build a tribe to succeed. God never meant us to do life alone.
Kathleen: Whenever someone is asked to do a new job or take on a new leadership role, women often think about what might happen if they fail. What have you learned about making mistakes and not letting past failures stop your forward movement?
DeAnna: One year, I was throwing a birthday party for my business partner, Leslie, and I was holding the birthday cake. I zigged, and the cake zagged. It fell to the ground with the loudest thump ever possible. I stood there looking at the cake, and the first thing that crossed my mind was, “How can I fix this without everyone knowing what I just did?” Then I heard the collective, “Noooooo…, come from behind me.” For some reason, it just struck me so funny that I burst out laughing. Of course, there was nothing I could do to keep anyone from seeing it, and when the absurd thought struck me to cover it up, it was so outlandish that laughter bubbled up, and I couldn’t stop. (more…)
Journal
Strikes and layoffs are never planned. No one is exempt. The recent pandemic showed us how fast life can change. I live in the hills of Los Angeles, and our home was in jeopardy a few years ago when what was then the largest fire in LA history, the LaTuna Canyon fire, came up out of nowhere and raged one block from my home. Uncertainty due to disasters, health issues, and constant disruptions seem to have become everyday occurrences. The recent devastation in Maui, HI, is one recent unimaginable tragedy. As leaders, we constantly hold our breath, wondering what will be next. But disruptions force us to pause and reflect on how to lead and help others find God’s peace and restoration when chaos happens.
As we begin to reflect on what we are most thankful for, let’s look at those disruptive occurrences and look for the opportunities in them. Here are three leadership qualities I’ve found to be helpful to bring light and hope.
First, leaders need to be ready, and being ready means spiritually prepared.
Matthew 6:19, 20 tells us not to store up earthly treasures. So don’t pile up the unneeded. This scripture speaks of physical things that can be eaten by moths or stolen, but what about fear, stress, and depressive thoughts? They can steal more from you than physical things. Remember to store up heavenly treasures. Eternal wealth and security start with a prepared soul and a relationship that is fortified with prayer and God’s Word. So hide it in your heart where it can’t be stolen. (more…)
Journal
Each year our nation remembers Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr. and the significant civil rights and freedoms they fought for. King was more than a champion of civil rights and equality; he was also a champion for freedom of religion. Both great leaders knew that God gives us our ultimate freedoms and that attaining those freedoms means we have to use our God-given minds.
Our minds control our heart, and our heart controls our actions.
Martin Luther King Jr. fully understood how our Creator made us. In our culture today, science is seen as the solution to our problems, and it can bring solutions in many circumstances. The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly put science on a pedestal recently.
However, science without wisdom can be dangerous. The classic story of Frankenstein is a fictitious story of how science can create more issues and fear if we don’t employ wisdom with it. One of my favorite quotes by Martin Luther King Jr. is “Science investigates – religion interprets. Science gives man knowledge which is power. Religion gives man wisdom which is control.” (more…)
