An INNER VIEW with Award-Winning Veteran Actress, Lisa Renee Pitts

An INNER VIEW with Award-Winning Veteran Actress, Lisa Renee Pitts

Inner Views

BIO

Lisa Renee Pitts is a veteran and award-winning (multiple Critic Circle and NAACP Theater) actress on stage, film, and television. You may recognize her from the highly acclaimed music biopic, “STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON,” playing Verna Griffin. After graduating from Rutgers University, Lisa began her career in her hometown, NYC, where she graced the stage with numerous artists, such as Leslie Uggam and Chita Rivera on Broadway, in Regional Theaters, and in Europe. You may have also seen Lisa in her numerous TV roles, which include “The Shield,” “The Practice, “Lincoln Heights,” and many others, or in her many national commercials. Lisa is an award-winning audiobook narrator and producer, motivational speaker, and ministry leader. Most recently, you may have seen her in LA at the Mark Taper Forum’s 30th Anniversary production of “Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992.”

INNER VIEW

Kathleen Cooke: The industry is a rollercoaster. You often feel out of control, having to wait and wait for projects and productions to happen. What have you learned about how to stay in control when you can’t be in control?

Lisa Renee Pitts: Most recently, God has taught me, or rather He has reminded me once again, that He is in control, at all times, all by Himself. His timing is not my timing and whether I can “see” His hand moving or not, I can stand on Deuteronomy 31:6 (NKJV) “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

Kathleen: Our days are full of choices. What has God taught you about making the right choices?

Lisa: Making choices – GOD FIRST! Lay every choice you have before God, first, asking, “Will this choice represent who you have called me to be?… who I know myself to be.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) says, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Glory to God! We can go straight to the source for direction and clarity regarding every decision we have to make. What a blessing! Go to God first!

Kathleen: The Bible tells us in Nehemiah 8:10, “…the joy of the Lord is our strength.” We often forget this when we’re in the midst of suffering. And there’s lots of suffering today. What have you learned to do when suffering happens?

 Lisa: As I began to mature in my walk with God, I could clearly see the toll long-suffering was having in my life (sickness, isolation, depression, anger.) I could also see that I needed to change the way in which I responded to that season of suffering. (more…)

How Do Leaders Lead When Strikes, Lay Offs, or Disruptions Happen?

How Do Leaders Lead When Strikes, Lay Offs, or Disruptions Happen?

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…)