RESOURCES from 4word
When It’s All Too Much
Oh June, where did you go? This month has been full as we discussed finding joy, even in the midst of the least joyful situations you could imagine. We are all struggling with something. Some of us deal with more struggles, but every one of us… Read More
Suffering Can Bring Joy
I’ve been deeply moved by the stories of joy shared by real, passionate, faithful women in the workplace in the midst of suffering this month as we explore the topic of “joy.” This has been a struggle for my own family as my daughter, Annie, has… Read More
Finding Joy After Losing a Child
When Anna Bauereis’ son Alexei was tragically killed in 2016, she and her family were plunged into a world of questions, doubting God and wondering where to go next. And yet today, Anna is full of joy and seeks to use her life to impact others.… Read More
Why Is It So Hard to Find Joy?
"Are you joyful?" Have you been asked that recently? Have you ever been asked that? You're asked if you're happy, but that's not the same as joyful. In fact, in order to be truly happy, you need joy. We can feel a temporary happiness, but… Read More
Resting Means You’re Obedient, Not Weak
May is a very intense month. For those of us with school-age kids, summer break is just around the corner. We are also now almost to the halfway point of the year. (Just let that crazy thought sink in!) Time is flying, and it's no surprise… Read More
Rest is All About Rhythm
Last month, I shared with our 4word readers how keeping it simple in our walk with God can help us grow closer to Him. Closely related to simplicity is rest, not just something we need when we get tired and worn out but an actual Biblical… Read More
Resting Isn’t Failing
Sheri Sullivan, entrepreneur and board member-elect of the Rotary Club of Dallas, shares why she thinks women struggle so much with valuing and adding rest to their lives, and how she makes time to rest amidst her busy schedule. ------ 4word: What does the word… Read More
Do You Really Need Rest?
24%. That's the increase in stress-related sick days women have had to take since 2009. Burnout and stress-related illnesses are on the rise, with many companies recognizing this epidemic enough to add "burnout prevention programs" to their employee benefits. A study conducted in 2017 found that "an estimated… Read More
How to Tune Out the Noise at Work
Before we end our discussion on simplicity this month, we wanted to share with you the article Diane Paddison wrote on LinkedIn for April. She talks about how to simplify life at work and keep your time outside of work protected. Check LinkedIn each month for more original… Read More
God Doesn’t Want You to Be Perfect
This past month's discussion on simplicity has been one of the most eye-opening and convicting yet. Would you agree? Many of us think we've toned down our lives and trimmed the fat of overcommitment, but in reality, we're still driving ourselves to exhaustion and attempting to… Read More
No Simplicity? No Intimacy.
As Christian women in the workplace, we all desire to be closer to God and grow our relationship with Him. But the relentless demands of work and family can drain not just our physical and mental energy but our spiritual energy, too. It’s not a matter of… Read More
Comparison: The Enemy of Simplicity
So how do you know you need to simplify your life? For Susan Tolles, Director of Local Groups for 4word, it took decades of over-achieving and overworking herself and her family in pursuit of perfection before she realized she needed to make a change … or… Read More
Does Being The Busiest Pay Off?
It's 8:00AM. You're either stepping out of your car, at the office, or you're still on your way. You've already been to the gym or gone through the drop-off line at your children's school. You had maybe two seconds to chug your coffee earlier that morning… Read More
Discover Your Source of Strength
Has this month's topic been difficult to process? Knowing your worth is such a highly sought-after, foundational piece to anyone's life. As we discussed in the first blog in March, knowing the value you bring to the world and your own life is so important, especially in… Read More
Don’t Play By the World’s Rules
This month, we’re talking about identity and worth. In today’s society, especially for women, are there two more loaded words? As Christian women in the workplace, we battle feelings of insecurity and unworthiness as we climb the corporate ladder, facing challenges that many of our male counterparts… Read More
How a Nike Executive Found Her Confidence at Work
Patty Ross, former Nike executive and 4word board member, had an amazing 34-year-long career with Nike that was gratifying and in line with her vision for her life … and yet, she struggled for years with lack of confidence and self-doubt in the value she brought to… Read More
What Are You Worth?
Tax season is upon us (oh the joys!) and for many of us, that means a very clear and hard-to-ignore lesson in worth. All those forms and all that filing lead to a definitive answer of where all your money went over the past 12 months. The… Read More
The Relationship You’ve Been Waiting For
We blinked and February is done! It's been so refreshing to see the response to this month's discussion on relationships. As we shared back at the beginning of this month, relationships are something to think of beyond the constraints of romantic love and Valentine's Day. Our lives… Read More
Why Love Takes Work
Every February, we’re inundated with messages about love, and the focus is almost always on romance. While loving and serving our significant other is important, God has blessed each of us with many different types of relationships and calls us to love others as He has loved us.… Read More
I Never Wanted To Be Divorced
When it comes to “relationships,” women tend to throw more of their time, energy, and even money into the ring to keep things “just right.” Chances are, you are one of these women, and chances are, all of your efforts are going to waste. Catherine Gates, Director of… Read More