#sistersofinfluence: Lyndsey Lovern

Friends, today I get to introduce to a dear, dear friend. Lyndsey and I have known each other for almost ten years now. We met at the very beginning of freshman year in college at UGA. She and I both were a part of the BCM (Baptist Collegiate Ministries) and were in the same small group. Our sophomore year we lived together in a teeny dorm room, and one summer we lived in a little bitty apartment in Five Points. We've been on many a road trip, she knows my family and I know hers. She came to visit me in Mexico during her spring break of nursing school, and she's prayed over me countless times. If this woman is a part of your life, you are blessed. She is a gem, and I love her dearly as my own sister.

{Elissa Ewald Photography}

Tell us about yourself. Who are you?

I am a truly small town, southern girl, who God decided to give a heart and affinity for big cities. With that said I live with my husband Will, in Peoplestown, a small half neighbor, half hood in Atlanta (it's close to Turner Field). We attend Renovation Church and I couldn't be more grateful for the awesome community of believers around us. I am also a mother baby nurse at Emory Midtown, but I am excited to say that with God's grace I will graduate in May with my Doctorate to become a Nurse Practitioner- thats right, thats Dr. Lyndsey ;)

How did you come to know the Lord?

Well so here comes the small town part of my story... I grew up in a fairly small Southern Baptist Church , in a small town- West Point, GA. My parents both love Jesus and God was really gracious to meet me at a very early age. I excepted Jesus into my heart in Kindergarten and pretty much "grew up in church". In middle school I would say I realized knowing Jesus was not about religion but a relationship and I think because middle school can be quite dramatic and your peers are the most important people in your life, and because, well I wasn't that cool, I clung to Jesus as my literal best friend. I also was able to go on my first mission trip to Mexico around that same time and this was God's good way of helping me realize that the world was bigger than my small town and I was called by Him to love Him and others more than myself. I attended UGA with Jessica for my undergrad and it was in college I learned about community and the power of God's word. He gave me a passion for His word and some training in how to read and study it when I worked at this camp called Maranook, my freshmen year. He taught me about true christian community and what living the gospel out in relationships looks like through campus ministries like BCM and Athen's Pbjs. Athen's Pbjs is a homeless ministry some friends and I started our Sophomore year. God really used that season of being friends with college students and homeless people at the same time to teach me that we are all the same at the foot of the cross. He also placed deep in me this passion to live and serve the poor always, hence why I think my half neighbor, half hood, is the coolest - ( a dream come true). I am no better than any of my neighbors - I just know God who rescued me out of darkness and revealed himself to me that I may know him and have Joy, maybe one day my neighbor will know Him too!

What do you think it means to be a woman of influence right where you are?

I must confess right now while working and being in school, most days I feel lucky if I am able to keep my house livable and love my husband, but I think being a women of influence right were I am means letting others into that. I've talked about our neighborhood , but I think really practicing letting my neighbors in even when I don't have a plan is chance for them to see how God truly keeps our family together. The children in our neighborhood do not care if I have a fun activity planned or not they just want to be inside. The moms in our neighborhood do not care if I have children or not they just want someone to acknowledge them. On that same note I am a YoungLives leader. It's Young Life's ministry for teen moms, and I think the same concept holds true for these young girls. I don't have to have a grand hang out plan, influence looks like believing God is big enough to reveal himself when I simply include them in daily life, grocery store runs, helping me make dinner, and riding in the car.

Hangin out in Florida for a BCM Ride for Christ trip.

How does the Lord allow you to shine His light through your job as a nurse?

OOOH I love being a nurse. Patients love when you love your job. I think I get to share Jesus the most at work when i'm enjoying my job. We hear this all the time, but gratefulness really does lead to Joy. When I am able to put aside feeling tired or frustrated by the health care system and instead be grateful that God made my career one of serving others while they are sick and tired, Jesus gets to shine and its a good day :) I have worked on every unit within the Emory system and practiced all types of medicine , so I will share right now, with the mommy and babies I enjoy seeing families being formed. Getting to teach a new mom how to feed and swaddle her baby for the first time makes me feel really thankful and makes me aware of the miracle of life. I want to be on the same team with the GOD that makes babies and families !

What is your favorite verse or passage of Scripture?

Romans 12: 9- 21  "9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

With my little kiddies in Chihuahua!

What is one truth you want others to remember and cling to?

Ephesians 36: 26- 28 " 26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. 28 You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God." 

- We are his people and he is our God. Oh how I need that heart of flesh!! Its a process , but you are his people and he is your God , through the process! Oh and stay in COMMUNITY. Community is really important! Community makes the process easier :)

What is the best piece of marriage advice you've been given?

Kiss a lot :) Say I love you and I'm sorry a lot ! Love Jesus most and let Him help you love each other. 

And last but not least: coffee or tea?

Coffee - the day starts with coffee. I mean I read the bible different with a good cup of coffee ;)