Marriage, Motherhood, and Mentorship: My 3Ms

By Shari Rigby

In the Kendrick Brothers’ new movie OVERCOMER, I play Amy Harrison, wife and partner to Coach John Harrison (played by Alex Kendrick). Amy is a boy mom to two spirited young men and a mentor to Hannah, one of her high-school students and a cross-country runner coached by John.

I love how this film mimics real life. It makes it relatable to audiences of all ages and allows you to see yourself on the screen. When I read the script, I was able to see myself in my character. We had so much in common: I am a mother of two boys, a wife and partner to my husband Matt (who loves to coach soccer), and a mentor to young women.

Oh, and I'm also an actress, writer, producer, and director. As you can see, my time is limited, but my calling is specific. As I tackle motherhood, marriage, and mentoring, my calling is to glorify Jesus. Period. No matter what my job title is.

This truth came to life for me during a scene between John...

Love Mercy

How would your relationships be different if mercy were built into them? If you were a student of God’s mercy—that is, if mercy became a way of life—how would it transform your relationship with your family? Your coworkers? Your neighbors?

I remember reading a story about twin brothers who lived years ago. Together from before birth, they were close, seemingly bonded for life. In childhood they were inseparable; and when they grew up, the townspeople said the reason they never married was because they loved each other so much.

When their father died, they took over the family business and ran it together. One day, one of the brothers was so busy that instead of fully ringing up one customer before he moved on to help the next person in line, he left a dollar bill sitting on top of the cash register. Later he remembered the misplaced bill, but when he went back to the cash register, the money was gone.

He asked his brother, “Did you take the dollar...

Over the course of our lives, each person’s identity is being formed and shaped through individual experiences, relationships, culture, media and the world around us. We are constantly seeking to define who we are in any way that we can.  God created humans to have unique characteristics and purpose. However he designed us also to have a commonality of contentment with our lives through His will. We discover our true identity the more closely we are drawn to Him.

First, we must know how God sees us. One of the richest passages about identity in the Bible is found in Ephesians 1:3-14. In this passage, Paul addresses the church in Ephesus, explaining the new identity given to a person when they are in Christ.

According to Ephesians 1, we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing; we have been chosen, adopted, redeemed, forgiven, grace-lavished, and unconditionally loved and accepted. We are pure, blameless and forgiven. We have received the hope of spending eternity...

LOVE SACRIFICIALLY

Love comes in many forms. In today's culture we have a tendency to throw the 'love' word around for just about anything. Stephanie and I love Mexican food. We love ice cream. We love date night...and many other things that we do together. Love can have different meanings depending on what your situation is or the people that you are around.

As many of you know there is another kind of love that completely transcends any of the superficial 'loves' that we claim on a daily basis. This kind of love is Agape Love.

God is very clear and He calls us to this different kind of love. We are supposed to love our spouse everyday with this sacrificial love.

Ephesians 5:1-2 states ¹Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. ² Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. I don't know about you but that seems to be a...

Overcomer Movie

Like you, we loved War Room. That’s why we’re excited to share the trailer for the Kendrick Brothers’ @OvercomerMovie, which opens in theaters nationwide on August 23. 

Life changes overnight for coach John Harrison when his high school basketball team and state championship dreams are crushed under the weight of unexpected news. When the largest manufacturing plant shuts down and hundreds of families leave their town, John questions how he and his family will face an uncertain future. After reluctantly agreeing to coach cross-country, John and his wife, Amy, meet an aspiring athlete who’s pushing her limits on a journey toward discovery. Inspired by the words and prayers of a new-found friend, John becomes the least likely coach helping the least likely runner attempt the impossible in the biggest race of the year.

Release date: August 23, 2019 (USA)

Director: Alex Kendrick

Distributed by: Sony Pictures

Producers:

Stephen Kendrick,...

Hey there!  I’m Alita Reynolds, Foundational Voice with Women of Faith.  

Let’s talk today about our Be the Light Event, September 6-7, 2019 in Lincoln, Nebraska.   

First of all, I would love for you to register!

Second of all, I want to talk about our Story Workshop, Friday from 9 am - 3 pm.  

I am absolutely passionate about this Story Workshop because I know everyone has a powerful story.  We want to help you compose your story in such a compelling way.

We know that sharing your story lets others know they are not alone. I am sure you have experienced it too. When somebody says... “This has happened to me too”! People relate more to your failures than your successes. 

Why not learn how to share that in such a powerful way to bring them to Christ. 

May the story about me... always point to Jesus.

THREE TYPES OF ATTENDEES
There are three types of attendees for the Story Workshop. 

The first type of attendee is...

Women of Faith Show with host Alita Reynolds and guest Priscilla Shirer of Overcomer Movie which is in theaters August 23, 2019.

About the Movie

Life changes overnight for coach John Harrison when his high school basketball team’s state championship dreams are crushed under the weight of unexpected news. When the largest manufacturing plant in town suddenly shuts down and hundreds of families begin moving away, John must come to grips with the challenges facing his family and his team. Urged by the school’s principal to fill-in and coach a sport he doesn’t know or like, John is frustrated and questioning his worth… until he crosses paths with a student struggling with her own journey.

Filled with a powerful mix of faith, a twist of humor, and a ton of heart, the Kendrick Brothers return to theaters with OVERCOMER, their newest feature following FACING THE GIANTS, FIREPROOF, COURAGEOUS, and the #1 box-office hit, WAR ROOM. The inspiring family film stars Alex...

Longing or Living?

These past few months, the topic of longing vs. living has struck a chord with me. I have faced a number of changes that have left me, at times, longing for what was.

My daughter, Becca, who for the last 21 years has been my third appendage, has decided to move from Iowa to Texas. She has met the love of her life and is getting married!

She was home for a visit in June with her fiancé, and when they left to return to Texas, it hit me hard. She will be married in a few short months to begin her own family! I found myself longing for more time…time where she was still all mine.

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” ~Genesis 2:24

I have to admit, there are times when I find myself pondering how easy it would be to live in a state of longing for what we want, what we had, instead of living what is. Periodically over the past few years I have found myself in that...

Finding My Bearings

The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit . . . Let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. —Romans 14:17, 19

One day I could hear that inner voice shouting orders at me: Cook the dinner . . . volunteer in the classroom . . . finish the scrapbook . . . make the deadline. And above all, you’d better look fit and thin while you’re at it.

Finally I put my hands over my ears and found a quiet place to sit—not an easy task in a house with six kids. God met me there and made sense of my exasperation. The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking,He seemed to whisper. Thin or not, I love you. And I don’t desire a to-do list from you. I desire righteousness and peace and joy in My Holy Spirit.

The promises, straight from Romans 14, soothed me then and there. I still had things to do when I left that quiet place, but I had my bearings...

LOOKING FOR REAL RELATIONSHIPS? 

Real relationships are rare, like a diamond in the rough. 

If you have real relationships, you are blessed!   

Real relationships are special and to be handled with care. 

If you have real relationships, you are one of the few! 

Real relationships get me through life and are the best God-given medicine. 

Real relationships are developed over time and requiring intentional effort. 

Maybe you read these statements and wish you could say - YES, I have real relationships!  

Maybe you read these statements and think to yourself - HOW do I develop real relationships? 

I remember a time when all I wanted was to have Real Relationships.  

I have had the surface friendships which left me with dissatisfaction.  

I wanted real, raw conversation; talking about things that truly mattered. 

I wanted friends who would lift my arms up when I felt I could not. 

I...