Women Finishing Well: Recent Episodes
Chris Syme
Helping women of faith finish well by building a legacy life that lasts for generations. Hosted by Chris Syme and Diane Bradley, founders of the Women Finishing Well Bible ministry.
In this episode podcast original co-host Diane Bradley returns to join Chris to discuss the challenges of building a legacy in your everyday life when God is calling you to a “new thing.”
Show Notes & Links (Click' em, they're live)
-The heart of Women Finishing Well’s calling: Romans 12:1-2
-God has called us to run a race with others and pass our faith to others in the race (Heb. 12:1-2, 12-13)
-Review of the legacy seasons:
Spring: women ages 25-40
Summer: women ages 40-54
Fall: women ages 55-75
Winter: women over 75
-Our circle of influence can change in various seasons. Be open to the people God puts in your life as you get older.
-Moving into a new season can bring a sense of urgency and anxiety. But God will show you the next thing as you follow Him in trust.
Scriptures about trusting God in a new season : 2 Peter 1: 13-15, Isaiah 43: 18-19
- When you want to take on something new, you need to put something down. How do we choose what to give up when God calls us to something new? Diane calls it “finding your best yes.”
-Our stories: what we are moving on to.
-When God does something new, it’s exciting!
Links and stuff you need:
-Stay connected over the summer with a new devotional series, giveaways, and news by signing up for our email list. We won’t spam you—just the good stuff about once a week. Click here to sign up.**
-Link to the Legacy inventory
-Link to Saundra Dalton Smith book, Sacred Rest
-Link to Building a Legacy of Faith Bible study book (print edition on sale)
**Note: The Women Finishing Well Facebook page will be closing this summer. The cost to run a Facebook page to reach people who already like your page is becoming prohibitive. We thank you all for your support! Please sign up for the email list (above) so you can stay in touch.
Welcome to the last lesson (lesson four) in the online Bible study, The Four Seasons of Legacy Building. In this lesson you’ll discover how you are uniquely and wonderfully made by God to build a legacy of faith that lasts for generations.
Show Notes & Links
Where we’re going in this lesson:
- You’ll discover the unique purpose God has for you using our Legacy Inventory online tool.
- Clarify the definition of “building a legacy of faith in your everyday life.”
- Introduction to the Legacy Inventory: How are you wonderfully made?
- Step One: Who Am I?
- Step Two: Where Have I Been?
- Step Three: Where Am I Now?
- Step Four: Who Has God Put in My Life?
- Step Five: Putting it All Together
As you access the online inventory, be sure you have all your tools ready (journal, Bible) and start each step by watching the video. Be ready to take notes on the video in your journal! After you watch the video, go through all the instructions and exercises for that step in the inventory. Warning: Life-changing information ahead!
Scriptures for this lesson (New Living Translation, unless noted):
- Romans 12:1, The Message
- Jeremiah 29:11
- Php. 1:6
- Deuteronomy 11:18-21
Links (click ‘em, they’re live):
Click here to access the Legacy Inventory on our website.
Click here to access a pdf of the first two chapters of Building a Legacy of Faith if you don’t have a copy.
Click here to get your copy of Building a Legacy of Faith on sale on Amazon. Both digital and print versions are on sale.
Click here to access our Facebook community. Join us and share your legacy!
Be sure and email us if you have any questions or just want to say “hi.” Email chris@womenfinishingwell.com
What does building a legacy of faith look like in the different seasons of life? In this episode, some of our former podcast guests will share their current legacy-building challenges.
Scriptures, Show Notes & Links:
Scriptures we use in this podcast:
1 Cor. 9:26-27
Ps. 1:1-3
2 Pet. 1:12-15
Jer. 29:11
John 15:4
Show Notes:
-Review of the four season of legacy building; their ages and characteristics.
-The Challenges:
Spring: time for parenting, friends, finding a place/time to serve.
Summer: Change in parenting styles from the spring season because of kids' ages--giving them more freedom; job changes and trying to advance careers; finding the time and place to serve; few leadership opportunities for women this age; making time for friends.
Fall: Identifying the next step in family and job transition; hard to let go and pass the baton to youngers, hard to connect with younger women and older women—too young for some, too old for some. Changing family status (children leaving, grandchildren arriving)
Winter: How to ignite my stored energy to influence youngers; difficulty finding a place to serve; shifting of priorities and health challenges. The biggest challenge is the church's perceived irrelevance of women at this age.
Links:
Click here to download the Four Seasons of Legacy Building study guide.
Click here to check out Jean Fleming's book, Pursue the Intentional Life.
Click here to get your copy of Building a Legacy of Faith (book by Chris Syme).
You can email Chris at chris@womenfinishingwell.com.
The Tree of Seasons:
Welcome to lesson two of our online study, The Four Seasons of Legacy Building. This episode is dedicated to helping you get started with the study guide and lead you into an immersive experience with the study material. You'll get the most out of this episode if you download the study guide first here and follow along as you go through the podcast:
https://womenfinishingwell.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Lesson-4-study-guide.pdf
Don't be in a hurry to work through this lesson. I recommend starting with 10-15 minutes/day with your journal. Pray that God will open the eyes of your heart as you listen and journal through the guide (Ps. 119:18).
Show Notes & Links:
-God is the Orchestrator of all our seasons.
-List of scriptures from the study guide. You may want to do a short study taking one scripture passage per day. We'll cover the basics of the SOAP method of study in this lesson in the Digging Deeper section. It's very user-friendly and will help you get more out of your Bible reading.
• Psalm 1:1-3
• Psalm 78:2-4
• Psalm 145:4-6
• Exodus 20:4-6
• Colossians 3: 1-2
• Hebrews 12:12-13
-Be sure and use your journal to take notes as you are going through the lesson.
Links
Send me an email with any questions or just let me know how you're doing. You can email me at chris@womenfinishingwell.com.
If you don't have a copy of the Tree of Seasons, you can save (right-click) the image below:
Get out your journal and get ready for lesson four in our Bible study, The Tale of Two Legacies. In this episode we’ll start the process of identifying what “season” of life we’re in and how we can craft the narratives that will help us build a legacy of faith in this season.
Show Notes:
What 2 Listen 4 in this lesson:
In this lesson we’re going to learn the basics about the four seasons of legacy building and discover the stories (narratives) of your season. Before you start, download the image of the tree of seasons in the show notes or right click on the image below. We will refer to it in the podcast.
- Discover the season of life that defines where you’re at right now.
- Each season has unique narratives that help us build a legacy during that season. More on the how-to in lesson five.
- The seasons:
- Spring: ages 25-40*. New, exuberant life. These are the leaves on the far left of our tree of seasons.
- Summer: ages 41-54*. The season of strength and growth. The leaves are green and sturdy.
- Fall: ages 55-75*. This season is normally a season of transition and change– the one with the most vibrant colors of life.
- Winter: ages 76-plus*. This is a strong season of stored energy essential for the regeneration of seasons in the spring. The most challenging season of legacy building.
*seasonal ages can vary a few years on either side
- Scripture verses in this lesson (all scripture is from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted)
- Psalm 1:1-3
- Psalm 78:2-4
- Psalm 145:4-6
- Exodus 20:4-6
- Colossians 3: 1-2
- Hebrews 12:12-13
Links and downloads:
You can download your copy of the “tree of seasons” and your lesson four study guide under the lesson four resources HERE.
Download your Lesson 1 study guide here.
You can email Chris at chris@womenfinishingwell.com with any questions or resources you need to access.
CLICK to visit our Facebook page and join the community of women learning to build a legacy of faith.
In this episode, we're introducing a new 4-lesson online study that will help you build a legacy of faith no matter what season of life you're in.
Notes & Links:
-When God wants us to step out, sometimes He leads us through some challenges. No worries--He's just getting you ready for what's next.
-Join our new online study starting the week of April 24: The Four Seasons of Legacy Building where we will explore what it takes to build a legacy of faith in every season of your life. No matter what your age or season of life, we've got you covered.
-This study is great for grandparents and moms who have kids out of school in the summer.
Click here to join our Facebook community
Click here to subscribe to our newsletter and get episodes early and chances to win free books.
The Four Seasons of Building a Legacy Tree:
In this episode of our new series, Help For The Hurting, we'll talk about the three kinds of questions to ask God when we are faced with a season of hurt. God wants us to bring him into our troubles. He knows the way through.
Show Notes & Links:
There are some common challenges we face and questions we ask in a season of hurt:
Common challenges:
- The misplaced "shame" of questioning God.
- The two truths we need to establish when trouble shows up.
Three kinds of questions we face when we hurt:
- The questions we ask God (who, what, when, where, why)
- The questions the world asks us: if you really are a child of God, then why did God let this happen? Did God really say?
- The questions Jesus is asking us.
The 5 W's: The questions and the scriptures. I encourage you to take some time and study these questions and answers to help you connect with God in a season of hurt. Today we'll talk about the first four: who, what, when, and where. We talked about the why in last week's blog post. You can read that here: https://womenfinishingwell.com/why-god-why/
- Who is involved in the hurt—how far did it reach? Is it just me? Are there others? What is God’s take? It’s time to bring God alongside—He is the biggest “who” in the equation of every hurt. All things come through Him (not, "are caused by Him"—there is a difference. Read Romans 11:36). Are you protecting me in this? (Ps. 73:25-26, Rom 11:36, Ps. 23:7, Ps. 138: 7-8)
- What? What just happened here, God? Am I discerning the cause, the effect? Is this important? What attacks of the enemy do I need to guard against in light of what happened? Show me what is the truth and what is a lie or a conclusion fueled by my emotions? What do you want me to see? Are you protecting me? (2 Thes. 3:3, Is. 54:17, Psalm 59, Ps. 23:5, Rom. 12:2)
- When? How long will this last God? We need prayers for endurance, wisdom, and strength of heart and mind. When will I (my friend, these people) be restored? How can I keep connected to you in this trouble? How can I let go of this? Ask God to help you walk through the process of grieving/making amends, or whatever needs to be done in His perfect timing. (Php. 4:13, Php 4:5-7, Ps. 29:11, 2 Chron. 6:19, James 1:5, Mt. 11:28-30, John 16:33)
- Where? Where are you, Lord? Are you here with me? Help me to see your healing hand in all this. Where can I turn? What friends, scriptures, and wisdom should I seek in this situation? It feels like You have abandoned me. (Heb. 13:5-6, Ps. 73:23-26, Ps. 37:24-26)
Links: click 'em, they're live:
- Listen to the kickoff episode of our new series here.
- Sign up for our newsletter to get new episodes delivered to your Inbox and chances to win fun prizes! Click here and be sure and check your email inbox for a confirmation after you sign up.
- Join our Facebook community. Meet other women finishing well.
- You can email me at chris@womenfinishingwell.com
In this episode, we start a new series called Help For the Hurting. You'll want to hear this kick-off episode with writer and speaker Melanie Davis Porter as she shares how God brought her family through a season of grief, and how He used that grief to inspire Melanie to reach out to help others through her writing and everyday life.
Show Notes & Links:
- Defining grief as a season and how God brings balance to our seasons.
- How the enemy of your heart can complicate your grief.
- Defining your season of mourning and its purpose for the healing journey.
- How to share your grief with others.
- How looking back at God’s faithfulness helps us deal with our present hurt.
- Why you should keep an inventory (journal) on how God shows up in your grief.
- Andrew Murray prayer for troubled times: “In time of trouble, say, First, He brought me here. It is by His will I am in this strait place; in that I will rest. Next, He will keep me here in his love, and give me grace in this trial to behave as his child. Then say, He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me lessons he intends me to learn, and working in me the grace he means to bestow. And last, say, In his good time he can bring me out again. How and when, he knows. Therefore, say, I am here (1) by God’s appointment, (2) in His keeping, (3) under His training, (4) for His time.”
Where to find Melanie…(clickable links) * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelanieDavisPorter/ * Twitter & Instagram: @melaniedavisporter * Blog & website: https://melaniedavisporter.com/
In this episode we take a look at how to set our heart and mind on making 2023 our best year ever. Learn the keys to building a deeper walk with God in the new year.
Scripture verses we'll dive into:
- Hebrews 12:1-3, The Message
- Hebrews 12:1-2, NLT
- Psalm 90: 12, 17
- Philippians 1:6
- Romans 12:2, The Message
Show Notes & Links:
-Why we need to start out every year asking God to teach us to number our days.
-The important difference between a goal and a purpose.
-How to write a life purpose statement. Details are below in the tools section.
-Always remember that it is God who works in you. We're seeking His purpose (Philippians 1:6).
-"Transformation will happen when you consistently do what others occasionally do" (Pastor Ashley Wooldridge).
Other tools you'll need:
How to Write Your Life Purpose Statement:
- Get a blank sheet of paper. Title it, My Purpose in Life. Pray for wisdom.
- Start writing. Write. Write all you can. Words, phrases, complete sentences, Just write . Don’t stop and edit. Write more.
- Repeat step two until you get the answer that makes you either cry or jump up and down with excitement. Boil it down to a couple sentences. It has to make sense to you only.
Chris' Life Purpose Statement:
My purpose in life is to live and love for God, and bless all the people He puts in my life; to trust in Him completely to lead me in the way I should go, come what may; and to put on the easy yoke and carry the light burden.
Links: Click 'em, they're live
Tools for starting a morning time with God:
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Load the Lectio 365 (app) on to your Apple or Android Device. It will help you connect with God in just ten minutes each morning: https://www.24-7prayer.com/resource/lectio-365/
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Take advantage of the reading plans on any book of the Bible or any topic in the YouVersion Bible app. Load it on to your Apple or Android device here: https://www.youversion.com/the-bible-app/
You can also use this app to read from any Bible version, search for verses and topics, and study reading plans with friends.
- Click here to learn more about the five-year journal.
-Click here to join the Women Finishing Well Facebook community-get involved in 2023!
-Click here to join the email list and be a podcast Insider! Access to new podcasts, giveaways and more!
Send Chris an email: chris@womenfinishingwell.com
This episode is the finale of our Bible study, The Journey Back To Your Heart. We'll discover that beginning with the end in mind is the key to our successful journey. Get ready to be blessed!
Show Notes, Scriptures & Links:
Scriptures in this episode: Hebrews 12:1-3, Hebrews 12: 12-13, Philippians 1:6, Colossians 3:1-2, Romans 12:2, Ephesians 1: 3-14, Matthew 7:13-14
-This episode brings us full circle in the journey back to the center of our hearts with God. As we step up to the starting line, we'll learn how a good beginning mindset produces a strong finish.
-In this episode, we tackle our last life habit: begin with the end in mind. We aren't called just to start our race; we are called to finish well.
-Running the race God has marked out for us to run: Jesus has already been there, done that. Learn how He did it!
-Finishing the race takes perseverance--life is full of challenges.
-Two keys to beginning with the end in mind and finishing strong:
- Keep your heart and mind fixed on things above, and the tools to help you do that.
- Determine to live counter-culturally. (Romans 12:2, The Message). Don't let the world squeeze you into its mold. The gate is narrow and the road to life is difficult. But Jesus is leading us! (Mt. 7:13-14)
Links: Click 'em; they'll get you there:
Click here to access the first episode (161) in the study and start your journey!
For a deeper experience with this study, get a copy of the Bible study, Building A Legacy of Faith: how to influence others with your everyday life.
Lectio 365 app for Apple or Android here
Download the First Things First tool here
You can connect with our Facebook community here. Find other women who want to finish well!
Sign up for our mailing list here and get insider access to every podcast and giveaway! You can unsubscribe at any time.
Don't forget next week's episode where we explore the process of setting our hearts and minds above for 2023. Learn the difference between purpose and goals. It'll wow you! Tell a friend.
In this episode, we discover the practice of rest as part of our Bible study, The Journey Back To Your Heart. Listen in as we learn together that rest is not found in a destination, but in a Person.
Scriptures in this episode (all scriptures quoted from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted):
-John 14:27, Matthew 11:28-30, Romans 12:2 (The Message), Psalm 23, Matthew 6:24-27, 2 Cor. 10:3-5, Colossians 3:1-2 (NIV)
Show Notes & Links:
-Rest is not found in a destination or a set of calming daily tasks—rest is an internal state of being that begins and ends in a personal connection with God.
-Jesus call everyone to His rest (Mt. 11:28)--no one is excluded!
-Jesus is our shepherd. His job is to care for us. Our job is to let Him. (Ps. 23)
-Keeping our heart and mind set on things above (Col. 3) is like a truth filter for everything that comes into our lives.
-We hear from God when we are connected to Him. Tips for keeping your mind open to God's voice.
-Don't let the culture squeeze you into its mold (Rom. 12:2)
-What are the "rest-busters" that are keeping you from experiencing rest with God?
Links (click 'em, they're live)
-Do you have the Kindle Reader app so you can download a free copy of The Mary Answer (in case you don't have a Kindle). The app allows you to download and read books from Amazon on any computer or device--phone, iPad, whatever. Download it now so you can get your free book Dec. 21-25. Both Apple and Android versions available here: https://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=16571048011
-Listen to episode 172--the introduction to Remain: https://womenfinishingwell.com/episode172/
-Click here to check out Linda Troyer's Bible study, Rest Revealed.
-Sign up for my email list here and don't miss a podcast or a blog post. You'll find lots of other goodies in these short, snappy emails!
-Check out our Women Finishing Well Facebook community here: https://www.facebook.com/womenfinishingwell/
Don't miss the blog post this week on Practicing A Sabbath Rest! Find it on the Facebook page or my blog: https://womenfinishingwell.com/blog/
In this episode we start the last leg of our Journey Back to Your Heart Bible study: learning to remain. We'll learn how to pack our backpacks for a journey that will keep us in the center of our heart with God no matter what comes.
Show Notes & Links:
Scriptures in this episode:
- Colossians 3:1-4, 15-17
- Matthew 11:28-30 in the New Living Translation and The Message
- John 15:1-12
-Review of the Life Habits we've learned so far:
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1 Pause (episode 161)
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2 Declaring the Truths of Who God is and who we are in Him (episode 163)
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3 Recalibration Checklist (episode 164 and Women Fininshing Well blog: https://womenfinishingwell.com/your-recalibration-checklist/)
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4 Remembering What God Has Done (episode 165 & Women Finishing Well blog: https://womenfinishingwell.com/know-the-truths/
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5 Learning How to Pray Scripture (episode 167)
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6 Building Communities of Influence (episode 168)
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7 Spiritual Warfare & Armor of God (episode 169)
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8 Personal Worship & Lament (episodes 170-171)
-The two elements we need to pack up for the journey of Remain:
- Set our hearts & minds on things above (Col. 3)
- Take on the yoke and the burden (Mt. 11:28-30)
-What does it mean to remain?
-John 15: abiding is all about relationships, not about keeping rules (John 15:1-12)
-The relationships of the Gardener, the Vine, and the branches.
Links (Click 'em, they're live)
-Sign up for the email list here and get early access to new podcasts, tools, and exclusive giveaways.
-Find Women Finishing Well on Facebook here.
-If you're new to our current study and would like to start at the beginning, start listening here.
You can email Chris at chris@womenfinishingwell.com
Next Week: Practicing Rest
In this episode Chris interviews writer and teacher Melanie Davis Porter about the blessing of lament--learning how to bring God into our troubles. Is being honest with God about how we feel a good thing? Listen in and find out.
Show Notes & Links:
Scripture verses in this episode:
- James 1:2-4
- Romans 8:28
- Psalm 138:7-8
- Psalm 73:1-22, Psalm 73:23
- Psalm 130
- Psalm 10
- Psalm 6
- Php. 4:6 (NLT)
-Melanie's story
-"The enemy will try and complicate your grief with more chaos."
-What is the meaning of James 1:2? Are we really supposed to be happy when we have problems?
-Not knowing that our loving God has a purpose for our troubles can keep us in the dark and afraid. Trusting that God is always with us gives us confidence in trouble. (Ps. 137:7-8)
-In the midst of all our troubles, God is remaking us and renewing us so that perseverance can make us mature and complete, not lacking anything. He is reviving us in our trouble. (James 1:4)
-We can get distracted and busy in our grief in an effort to not deal with our feelings. We need to embrace our trouble and our feelings with God. Being honest with God opens our heart to his healing.
-David was a good lamenter because he knew God personally and he was self-aware of what he was feeling. Pouring out his heart to God was a spiritual discipline that kept him close to God's heart.
-Henri Nouwen quote: We need to embrace our own brokenness so we can minister to broken people. When we suffer willingly, we can comfort those who suffer.
-We need an everyday, talking relationship with God. Church is not enough to know God personally.
-Melanie's favorite Psalms of lament: 130 (forgivness), 10 (Why are you so far off, God?), and 6 (I am completely tired and worn out from this)
Links (click 'em, they're live)
You can find Melanie online here:
- melaniedavisporter.com (website)
- Courage to Endure Facebook page
- Melanie Davis Porter on Instagram
- Melanie is also part of the Proverbs 31 writing and podcast team: https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions
You can email Chris here: chris@womenfinishingwell.com
Join the Women Finishing Well Facebook community here
If you're new and you'd like to start the online Bible study, The Journey Back To Your Heart, click here to start with the first episode.
-If you'd like to become a podcast insider and get a weekly reminder and lots of free tools to help, join our list here.
In this episode, we're going to discover the true meaning of the phrase, "count it all joy whenever you face troubles of many kinds." We'll learn why troubles in our life are evidence that we are God's children.
Notes & Links:
Scriptures in this lesson:
-James 1:2-4, Romans 11:36, James 1:5, James 3:17, Psalm 92:1-2, Psalm 42, Jeremiah 29:12-14, Psalm 90:14
-My story about overcoming lies I believed about James 1:2-4.
-My lesson learned: trouble was something God allowed in my life because He loved me and he wanted me to have a more sacred life.
-Three things trouble stirs up in us:
- We worry (and fear)
- We focus on the trouble and lose our perspective.
- Our "fix-it" impulse kicks in.
-At the first sign of trouble, pray for God to show you what He wants you to see. Invite Him in. Let Him lead.
-Trust God's truths: He is always with you, you are His child, you are no longer a slave to fear, Trust in Him with all your heart. If you have doubts in any of these areas, find the truths that destroy the lies and drive them into your heart with study, worship, memorization, declaration, or whatever it takes.
-Why worship is our path out of sorrow.
-The mindsets of worship we need to start with.
-Next Episode: How lament opens the door for God to turn our sorrow around.
Links (click 'em, they're live):
-Check out the book Fierce Faith by Alli Worthington
-Check out the book Life Of The Beloved by Henri Nouwen
-Check out my Bible study, Building A Legacy Of Faith here
-Sign up here to be a podcast insider and get a link to new episodes and other news sent to you Inbox before the episode is released tp the public.
-Join our Facebook community here.
-If you are new, you can start The Journey Back To Your Heart from the first episode here.
You can email me at chris@womenfinishingwell.com
How well do you know your enemy? In this episode we tackle an often-neglected Life Habit, putting on the armor of God and why it's key to keeping our hearts centered on God. Join us as we continue in our online Bible study, The Journey Back to Your Heart.
Show Notes & Links
-Recap:
- We started our journey with recalibration: leading our heart back to the center of being present with God.
- Now, we are working through the practices of Renew that keep our hearts in that center place as we grow deeper roots.
-In mythology (the stories of humankind's origin), there are two common themes that have emerged over history:
- The war between good and evil.
- The quest for love.
-Do we live like we have a real enemy? We need to know the weapons and schemes of our adversary.
-In the New Testament scriptures on spiritual warfare, there are two recurring themes: stand firm and be strong in your faith.
-Don't underestimate the power of the enemy and his army. His "powers" are limited, but his army is powerful.
-Satan's biggest tactic is to get our eyes off the "real" battle (spiritual) and distract us with the battles round us in this world. (2 Cor. 10:3-5)
-We prepare for regular spiritual battle with two things:
- We need a pep talk to develop a battle mindset (Eph. 6:10-13).
- We need to put on every piece of God's armor and understand its purpose (Eph. 6:13-18).
-The offensive weapons help us advance: prayer and The Word (Eph. 6:17-18).
This week's challenge: do a personal Bible study of Eph. 6:10-18 asking God to teach you how to put on the armor of God. You may want to use the SOAP method of study. Click here for a link to a free tool that will walk you through the SOAP study method.
Scripture verses in this episode:
- Eph. 6:10-18
- 1 Peter 5:8-9
- 2 Cor. 10:3-5
- Rom. 11:36
Links (Click 'em, they're live!)
- Click here to join our Facebook community--I'd love to connect with you there.
- Click here to get on our email list and get the inside scoop on new podcasts, giveaways, and other goodies.
- You can email me at chris@womenfinishingwell.com
In this episode, we explore another life habit on the journey back to our heart called influencing through community. Where has God placed you in life to influence people for Jesus? You might be surprised.
Show Notes & Links
-We'll start with a review of our purpose in this next leg of the journey: Renew
-Renew is where we’re learning how to integrate spiritual habits into our everyday lives that will keep us at the center of our hearts with God.
-Renew is also about fortifying our legacy of faith with the people God has put in our lives. Who are your people?
-We all have an everyday, ordinary life where God gives us an opportunity to influence others for Him.
-How can you identify your circles of influence? Who has God put in your life?
-Learning the unforced rhythms of grace.
-Is church attendance sufficient to develop the kind of community that Jesus calls us to?
Scripture references in this episode:
- Deuteronomy 31: 12-13
- Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)
- Romans 12:1 (The Message)
- Hebrews 12:1-2
- Hebrews 10:24-25
How to find your communities of influence:
Our lives are filled with groups of people we regularly move in and out of. We may not know all the people by name or have relationships with them outside those places, but we can develop a level of influence with them that reveals love and hope to them by the way we value their presence in our lives. Let’s think about what some of those groups might be. Start a page in your journal called My Communities of Influence. As I give you these examples, maybe there are others you can think of in addition to the ones mentioned. Write them down in your journal as well. This will become a prayer list. Remember, you may or may not know their names. Just write down a phrase describing who they are if you don’t.
- They could be people you interact with in a club or hobby setting like a Bunco group, or a card-playing group, a book club, yoga class members, or a crafting group.
- They could be service providers you interact with regularly like grocery store clerks, baristas, home care providers, mail and delivery people, childcare workers, hair stylists, house cleaners, or the checkout person at Staples. Use your imagination. Who do you see in a day?
- They could be people at church you visit with but don’t socialize with outside of the church.
- They could be people you work with but don’t spend time with outside of work.
- Neighbors you don’t socialize with. You may see them at the mailbox, but you don't really know them.
- Circle the people on this list you don’t have a name for. Make a point over the next month to find out their name and come back to your list and write it down. Dale Carnegie who wrote the classic, How to Win Friends and Influence People wrote, “a person’s name is to him or her the sweetest and most important sound in any language. Start calling them by name when you see them. This should be easy in most stores because employees are usually wearing a name tag. Greet them by name; smile at them.
- If your communities of influence are just one or two, add a prayer request to this list asking God to open the eyes of your heart to see the people around you every day that need a word of encouragement. Also, just a hint from doing this in my own life. If you go to the store or the coffee shop at the same time of day, usually you will start seeing more of the same people. Look around—take notice of the people God is putting in your life. These are the people He is asking you to influence for Him.
Links (click 'em, they're live):
The first episode of the journey back to your heart. Start here: https://womenfinishingwell.com/episode161/
Connect with me here:
- Women Finishing Well Facebook page
- Email me at chris@cksyme.com
- Interested in free books, news, and notifications of new podcasts? Sing up for my email list here: https://forms.aweber.com/form/40/1204767040.htm
Coming Next Week:
Renew: Cultivating Mental & Emotional Resilience-Learning to Bring God Into the Good and the Bad Times
In this episode, we explore another life habit on the journey back to our heart called influencing through community. Where has God placed you in life to influence people for Jesus? You might be surprised.
Show Notes & Links
-We'll start with a review of our purpose in this next leg of the journey: Renew
-Renew is where we’re learning how to integrate spiritual habits into our everyday lives that will keep us at the center of our hearts with God.
-Renew is also about fortifying our legacy of faith with the people God has put in our lives. Who are your people?
-We all have an everyday, ordinary life where God gives us an opportunity to influence others for Him.
-How can you identify your circles of influence? Who has God put in your life?
-Learning the unforced rhythms of grace.
-Is church attendance sufficient to develop the kind of community that Jesus calls us to?
Scripture references in this episode:
- Deuteronomy 31: 12-13
- Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)
- Romans 12:1 (The Message)
- Hebrews 12:1-2
- Hebrews 10:24-25
How to find your communities of influence:
Our lives are filled with groups of people we regularly move in and out of. We may not know all the people by name or have relationships with them outside those places, but we can develop a level of influence with them that reveals love and hope to them by the way we value their presence in our lives. Let’s think about what some of those groups might be. Start a page in your journal called My Communities of Influence. As I give you these examples, maybe there are others you can think of in addition to the ones mentioned. Write them down in your journal as well. This will become a prayer list. Remember, you may or may not know their names. Just write down a phrase describing who they are if you don’t.
- They could be people you interact with in a club or hobby setting like a Bunco group, or a card-playing group, a book club, yoga class members, or a crafting group.
- They could be service providers you interact with regularly like grocery store clerks, baristas, home care providers, mail and delivery people, childcare workers, hair stylists, house cleaners, or the checkout person at Staples. Use your imagination. Who do you see in a day?
- They could be people at church you visit with but don’t socialize with outside of the church.
- They could be people you work with but don’t spend time with outside of work.
- Neighbors you don’t socialize with. You may see them at the mailbox, but you don't really know them.
- Circle the people on this list you don’t have a name for. Make a point over the next month to find out their name and come back to your list and write it down. Dale Carnegie who wrote the classic, How to Win Friends and Influence People wrote, “a person’s name is to him or her the sweetest and most important sound in any language. Start calling them by name when you see them. This should be easy in most stores because employees are usually wearing a name tag. Greet them by name; smile at them.
- If your communities of influence are just one or two, add a prayer request to this list asking God to open the eyes of your heart to see the people around you every day that need a word of encouragement. Also, just a hint from doing this in my own life. If you go to the store or the coffee shop at the same time of day, usually you will start seeing more of the same people. Look around—take notice of the people God is putting in your life. These are the people He is asking you to influence for Him.
Links (click 'em, they're live):
The first episode of the journey back to your heart. Start here: https://womenfinishingwell.com/episode161/
Connect with me here:
- Women Finishing Well Facebook page
- Email me at chris@cksyme.com
- Interested in free books, news, and notifications of new podcasts? Sing up for my email list here: https://forms.aweber.com/form/40/1204767040.htm
Coming Next Week:
Renew: Cultivating Mental & Emotional Resilience-Learning to Bring God Into the Good and the Bad Times
In this episode, Chris will dive into Life Habit #5: The power of praying God's Word. Learn how to amp up your prayer life.
Show Notes & Links:
-What are the "5 Ws" you need every morning? (5 minutes is all you need)
-How God leads us to pray His Word into our spiritual life.
-Use the five prayers of renewal from Psalm 143 as an example of the powerful prayers in God's Word.
-Why we need to personalize our prayers.
-How to understand what we're praying for and identify what "scriptures" to pray into our lives.
Links:
-Click to start here if you're new to the study. The first episode of The Journey Back to Your Heart.
-Learn more about the 5 W's in our original study, Building A Legacy of Faith. The paperback is on sale on Amazon for $4.99 Click here to find out more.
Scriptures in today's episode:
-Hebrews 4:16, Matt. 6:9, 1 Thes 5:16-18,1 John 5:14, Psalm 143:8-10, Heb. 4:12
List of Paul's prayers for your reading and study:
- Romans 15:5-6
- Romans 15:13
- Eph. 1:17-19
- Eph. 3: 15-19
- Php. 1:3-6
- Php. 1:9-11
- Php. 4:6-7
- Col. 1:3-14
- 1 Thes. 5:23-24 (benediction)
- 2 Thes. 1:11-12
- 2 Thes. 2: 16-17 (benediction)
- Philemon 4-6
Check out our Women Finishing Well Facebook here.
You can email Chris at chris@womenfinishingwell.com if you have any questions or would just like to say "hi."
In this episode, Chris will dive into Life Habit #5: The power of praying God's Word. Learn how to amp up your prayer life.
Show Notes & Links:
-What are the "5 Ws" you need every morning? (5 minutes is all you need)
-How God leads us to pray His Word into our spiritual life.
-Use the five prayers of renewal from Psalm 143 as an example of the powerful prayers in God's Word.
-Why we need to personalize our prayers.
-How to understand what we're praying for and identify what "scriptures" to pray into our lives.
Links:
-Click to start here if you're new to the study. The first episode of The Journey Back to Your Heart.
-Learn more about the 5 W's in our original study, Building A Legacy of Faith. The paperback is on sale on Amazon for $4.99 Click here to find out more.
Scriptures in today's episode:
-Hebrews 4:16, Matt. 6:9, 1 Thes 5:16-18,1 John 5:14, Psalm 143:8-10, Heb. 4:12
List of Paul's prayers for your reading and study:
- Romans 15:5-6
- Romans 15:13
- Eph. 1:17-19
- Eph. 3: 15-19
- Php. 1:3-6
- Php. 1:9-11
- Php. 4:6-7
- Col. 1:3-14
- 1 Thes. 5:23-24 (benediction)
- 2 Thes. 1:11-12
- 2 Thes. 2: 16-17 (benediction)
- Philemon 4-6
Check out our Women Finishing Well Facebook here.
You can email Chris at chris@womenfinishingwell.com if you have any questions or would just like to say "hi."
In this episode, Chris kicks off the second part of the journey back to your heart: Renew. You'll discover how to grow deep roots in God's love.
Show Notes & Links:
-This week's scripture list: Ps. 143:8-10, Mt. 11:28-30 (MSG), Eph. 3:14-19, Rom. 12: 2(MSG)
-Lessons we can learn from the Saguaro cactus.
-What is a taproot?
-Renewal is about building deeper roots in God's love for us.
-Three things we can't miss from Ephesians 3:14-19.
-Flexibility is the key to incorporating new habits into our everyday life. Find ways to connect with God that match your lifestyle.
-The five Renewal Prayers from Psalm 143 that will transform your day.
-We are learning new rhythms that help us live freely and lightly (Matt. 11:28-30, The Message).
Links (click 'em, they're live)
-Episode 161: the beginning of the journey back to your heart. Click here to start your journey.
-Link to Women Finishing Well Facebook page. Click here.
-Click here to sign up for my newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time.
-Link to Chris Baxter's The Heartbeat Of God devotional
-Link to download the Lectio 365 devotional app
You can email me at chris@womenfinishingwell.com
In this episode, Chris will finish the process of recalibration in our study, The Journey Back To Your Heart; Recalibrate, Renew, Remain. We'll take a close look at the materials we can use to build on the foundation Jesus gave us for our best life.
Show Notes:
-What has happened to our hearts in the last couple years to pull us off-center and out of tune?
-We need to pause to pray, "God, "Where am I?"
-Review of the process of recalibration and Life Habits we've covered so far.
-The most important Life Habit in our journey.
-How is declaring God's truth out loud different from scripture memory?
-How are you doing with the Recalibration Checklist? Don't get overwhelmed. Let God lead you gently.
-What's next? How do we keep on the path of our journey?
-Renewal begins with a look at our "building process." What are you building on the true foundation of your life?
- Paul said in 1 Cor. 3:10-15 that Christians can use gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw to build on their foundation. Be careful what you build.
-Recalibration is about making choices.
Show Notes & Links (click 'em, they're live):
-For new listeners: link to the first epsiode in the study (Episode 161)
-To sign up for the advance reader list for the new Bible study, you can email me at chris@cksyme.com. I will send you a follow-up email so you'll know what all is involved. Thanks much for being willing to help!
Email me if you have questions or comments at chris@womenfinishingwell.com.
Scripture verses in this episode: I encourage you to make a simple SOAP study of these verses this week (Scripture-Observation-Application-Prayer)
1 Cor 3:10-15, Romans 12:2, James 1:22-23
In this episode, Chris will finish the process of recalibration in our study, The Journey Back To Your Heart; Recalibrate, Renew, Remain. We'll take a close look at the materials we can use to build on the foundation Jesus gave us for our best life.
Show Notes:
-What has happened to our hearts in the last couple years to pull us off-center and out of tune?
-We need to pause to pray, "God, "Where am I?"
-Review of the process of recalibration and Life Habits we've covered so far.
-The most important Life Habit in our journey.
-How is declaring God's truth out loud different from scripture memory?
-How are you doing with the Recalibration Checklist? Don't get overwhelmed. Let God lead you gently.
-What's next? How do we keep on the path of our journey?
-Renewal begins with a look at our "building process." What are you building on the true foundation of your life?
- Paul said in 1 Cor. 3:10-15 that Christians can use gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw to build on their foundation. Be careful what you build.
-Recalibration is about making choices.
Show Notes & Links (click 'em, they're live):
-For new listeners: link to the first epsiode in the study (Episode 161)
-To sign up for the advance reader list for the new Bible study, you can email me at chris@cksyme.com. I will send you a follow-up email so you'll know what all is involved. Thanks much for being willing to help!
Email me if you have questions or comments at chris@womenfinishingwell.com.
Scripture verses in this episode: I encourage you to make a simple SOAP study of these verses this week (Scripture-Observation-Application-Prayer)
1 Cor 3:10-15, Romans 12:2, James 1:22-23
Show Notes
- Why do we need to recalibrate our hearts? A review.
- When we pray scripture, are we mindful of what we're actually praying for? Do we know how to see specific answers?
- God isn't interested in punishing us for our mistakes; He is interested in drawing us back to Him.
- Only God can recalibrate our hearts. Our part is to embrace what He is doing in our lives (Rom. 12:1, The Message)
- The first question God asked humans was, "where are you?" (Gen. 3:9)
- In order to experience our best life with God we need to get our physical, mental, and spiritual lives in sync with God's Spirit in us.
- How to use the Recalibration Checklist.
- You're not looking for solutions in the first step of the process. You're just truthfully answering the questions to find out where you are.
- We start the process of recalibrating with small incremental steps, not large, unattainable goals.
- Prayer is a necessity all throughout the process. Prayers before you start (personalize them): Psalm 46:10, James 1:5 (the promise of wisdom), Philippians 4:6.
Scriptures used in this episode:
- Eph. 3:17, Psalm 139:23-24, Psalm 51:10, Romans 12:1, Gen. 3:9, 1 Peter 3:11, Luke 11:24-26, James 1:3-4
Links: Click 'em, they're live!
- Download your pdf of the Recalibration Checklist here.
- Link to last week's Life Habit blog post with the Recalibration Checklist here.
- Link to the first podcast episode in this series here.
- Link to our email list sign-up here. We like to give away stuff in addition to short weekly updates.
- Email Chris at chris@womenfinishingwell.com
Show Notes
- Why do we need to recalibrate our hearts? A review.
- When we pray scripture, are we mindful of what we're actually praying for? Do we know how to see specific answers?
- God isn't interested in punishing us for our mistakes; He is interested in drawing us back to Him.
- Only God can recalibrate our hearts. Our part is to embrace what He is doing in our lives (Rom. 12:1, The Message)
- The first question God asked humans was, "where are you?" (Gen. 3:9)
- In order to experience our best life with God we need to get our physical, mental, and spiritual lives in sync with God's Spirit in us.
- How to use the Recalibration Checklist.
- You're not looking for solutions in the first step of the process. You're just truthfully answering the questions to find out where you are.
- We start the process of recalibrating with small incremental steps, not large, unattainable goals.
- Prayer is a necessity all throughout the process. Prayers before you start (personalize them): Psalm 46:10, James 1:5 (the promise of wisdom), Philippians 4:6.
Scriptures used in this episode:
- Eph. 3:17, Psalm 139:23-24, Psalm 51:10, Romans 12:1, Gen. 3:9, 1 Peter 3:11, Luke 11:24-26, James 1:3-4
Links: Click 'em, they're live!
- Download your pdf of the Recalibration Checklist here.
- Link to last week's Life Habit blog post with the Recalibration Checklist here.
- Link to the first podcast episode in this series here.
- Link to our email list sign-up here. We like to give away stuff in addition to short weekly updates.
- Email Chris at chris@womenfinishingwell.com
In this episode Chris explores the process of finding and declaring your personal truths from God's Word--the truths that will recalibrate your heart to God's best.
Show Notes & Links
-Review of episode 162 and the two essential truths we all need to start recalibrating our heart to God.
-How Chris found her personal truths and made them into personal declarations.
-Why is declaring God's Word out loud daily so important?
-Take an inventory to find your core truths. How does that work?
Chris' sample declarations with scripture references:
- O God, You Are Wise (James 1:5 and James 3:17)
- O God, You are Faithful. You will guard me from the evil one (2 Thes. 3:3).
- O God, You are Holy. I will make no agreements that compromise your holiness. You are holy in all things. (1 Samuel 2:2 and Is. 57:15).
- O God, You are my redeemer in trouble (Ps. 69:16-18, Psalm 4:1).
- O God, You are Trustworthy in everything you do (Ps. 145:13).
- O God, You are my burden-bearer. Thank you for daily bearing my burdens. I am not created to carry my load. (Ps. 68:19, Mt. 11:28-30).
Scripture verses in this episode:
- 2 Tim. 3:16-17
- John 8:32
- Eph. 1:17-19
- Eph. 1: 3-14
Links (click 'em, they're live)
- Chris Baxter's devotional, The Heartbeat Of God.
- Info on the Lectio 365 app for phone (Apple)
- Lectio 365 app on Google Play
- Listen to last week'e episode here
- Women Finishing Well Facebook page
- Sign up for the weekly email here
- The Life Habit blog post for episode 162 on how to write personal declarations.
In this episode Chris explores the process of finding and declaring your personal truths from God's Word--the truths that will recalibrate your heart to God's best.
Show Notes & Links
-Review of episode 162 and the two essential truths we all need to start recalibrating our heart to God.
-How Chris found her personal truths and made them into personal declarations.
-Why is declaring God's Word out loud daily so important?
-Take an inventory to find your core truths. How does that work?
Chris' sample declarations with scripture references:
- O God, You Are Wise (James 1:5 and James 3:17)
- O God, You are Faithful. You will guard me from the evil one (2 Thes. 3:3).
- O God, You are Holy. I will make no agreements that compromise your holiness. You are holy in all things. (1 Samuel 2:2 and Is. 57:15).
- O God, You are my redeemer in trouble (Ps. 69:16-18, Psalm 4:1).
- O God, You are Trustworthy in everything you do (Ps. 145:13).
- O God, You are my burden-bearer. Thank you for daily bearing my burdens. I am not created to carry my load. (Ps. 68:19, Mt. 11:28-30).
Scripture verses in this episode:
- 2 Tim. 3:16-17
- John 8:32
- Eph. 1:17-19
- Eph. 1: 3-14
Links (click 'em, they're live)
- Chris Baxter's devotional, The Heartbeat Of God.
- Info on the Lectio 365 app for phone (Apple)
- Lectio 365 app on Google Play
- Listen to last week'e episode here
- Women Finishing Well Facebook page
- Sign up for the weekly email here
- The Life Habit blog post for episode 162 on how to write personal declarations.
In this episode, discover the two truths that will guide you on the journey to recalibrate your heart. Discover the power of declaring and personalizing God's Word for your life.
Scripture verses for this episode. Pray that God will speak to your heart as you read each one this week:
Matthew 22:37-40, Php. 4:6-7, Is. 40:28, John 8:32, Eph. 1:3-14 (Chris' personal declaration scripture), Eph. 3:18-19, 1 Peter 5:8-9, Dan. 7:25, Rom. 11:36, 2 Cor. 10:3-5, Ephesians 6 (Armor of God), Col. 2:15, Eph. 1:20-22, Is. 30:19-21, John 16:33
Show Notes & Links:
-Review of last week's episode: introduction to the three steps in our journey: recalibrate, renew, and remain.
-Recalibration: to tune an instrument (or person in our case) to a place of zero adjustment or perfect pitch for optimum performance. Think of tuning a guitar. In our case, think of returning to the "inmost being" of our heart.
-First Truth of Recalibration: God loves us with a personal unfailing love so great you cannot comprehend it fully.
-Second Truth of Recalibration: We have an enemy who wants to wear us down.
-Our journey requires a mindset of simplicity: the art of making the journey less cluttered and distracting. What can you do this week to simplify your life?
Links (cick 'em, they're live):
-Click here to take this week's challenge on learning how to write a personalized declaration from scripture that you can use daily in your habit of pause. This week's Life Habit.
-Link to last week's episode-first in the series.
-Link to last week's Life Habit blog post on learning to Pause.
-Link to sign up to receive an email when a new podcast or blog post in the series is published. You can unsubscribe at any time.
-Link to like our Facebook page where you can get all the latest info on the new sseries and interact with the community there.
-Email me at chris@womenfinishingwell.com with any questions or concerns.
In this episode, discover the two truths that will guide you on the journey to recalibrate your heart. Discover the power of declaring and personalizing God's Word for your life.
Scripture verses for this episode. Pray that God will speak to your heart as you read each one this week:
Matthew 22:37-40, Php. 4:6-7, Is. 40:28, John 8:32, Eph. 1:3-14 (Chris' personal declaration scripture), Eph. 3:18-19, 1 Peter 5:8-9, Dan. 7:25, Rom. 11:36, 2 Cor. 10:3-5, Ephesians 6 (Armor of God), Col. 2:15, Eph. 1:20-22, Is. 30:19-21, John 16:33
Show Notes & Links:
-Review of last week's episode: introduction to the three steps in our journey: recalibrate, renew, and remain.
-Recalibration: to tune an instrument (or person in our case) to a place of zero adjustment or perfect pitch for optimum performance. Think of tuning a guitar. In our case, think of returning to the "inmost being" of our heart.
-First Truth of Recalibration: God loves us with a personal unfailing love so great you cannot comprehend it fully.
-Second Truth of Recalibration: We have an enemy who wants to wear us down.
-Our journey requires a mindset of simplicity: the art of making the journey less cluttered and distracting. What can you do this week to simplify your life?
Links (cick 'em, they're live):
-Click here to take this week's challenge on learning how to write a personalized declaration from scripture that you can use daily in your habit of pause. This week's Life Habit.
-Link to last week's episode-first in the series.
-Link to last week's Life Habit blog post on learning to Pause.
-Link to sign up to receive an email when a new podcast or blog post in the series is published. You can unsubscribe at any time.
-Link to like our Facebook page where you can get all the latest info on the new sseries and interact with the community there.
-Email me at chris@womenfinishingwell.com with any questions or concerns.
In this episode we start a new series designed to help you renew and reclaim your heart for God. When life's everyday struggles have pulled you off-center, you'll learn how to get back to your true heart.
We suggest you use a journal to document your journey. We'll have tips, scriptures, observations, and prayers to write down as we go. Also, enrich your journey by spending a few minutes each day in a quiet place to reflect and connect with God.
Show Notes and Links:
-In every episode, you'll get scriptures that you can read throughout the week to restore your heart, soul, mind, and strength. This week's scriptures:
- Isaiah 30: 19-21
- Deuteronomy 6:4-7
- Matthew 22:37-40
- 1 Kings 19:11-13
-Three steps to get our hearts back to center: (Re)calibrate, (Re)new, (Re)main.
-What is "zero adjustment"?
-How to tune your guitar!
-Where do we start the journey?
-The five stages of COVID grief(David Kessler)
-To start your journey, reflect and pray about this one question: Where am I now?
- Ask God to help you hear his voice as you pray and listen throughout your day.
- Are my heart, soul, and mind where I want them to be?
- Has my heart wandered from zero adjustment?
- What am I seeing or hearing in my life that tells me my heart needs to be recalibrated?
-Come and sit by the side of the pool with Jesus. It's a journey, not a task.
Links (Click 'em, they're live):
-How to do a simple SOAP study of a scripture passage.
-Links to Lectio 365 app for your phone:
- Apple tablet or phone here
- Google tablet or phone here
-You Version Bible app for phone or tablet (complete Bible, any version)
-Email Chris at chris@womenfinishingwell.com if you have a question or would like to ask for prayer.
In this episode we start a new series designed to help you renew and reclaim your heart for God. When life's everyday struggles have pulled you off-center, you'll learn how to get back to your true heart.
We suggest you use a journal to document your journey. We'll have tips, scriptures, observations, and prayers to write down as we go. Also, enrich your journey by spending a few minutes each day in a quiet place to reflect and connect with God.
Show Notes and Links:
-In every episode, you'll get scriptures that you can read throughout the week to restore your heart, soul, mind, and strength. This week's scriptures:
- Isaiah 30: 19-21
- Deuteronomy 6:4-7
- Matthew 22:37-40
- 1 Kings 19:11-13
-Three steps to get our hearts back to center: (Re)calibrate, (Re)new, (Re)main.
-What is "zero adjustment"?
-How to tune your guitar!
-Where do we start the journey?
-The five stages of COVID grief(David Kessler)
-To start your journey, reflect and pray about this one question: Where am I now?
- Ask God to help you hear his voice as you pray and listen throughout your day.
- Are my heart, soul, and mind where I want them to be?
- Has my heart wandered from zero adjustment?
- What am I seeing or hearing in my life that tells me my heart needs to be recalibrated?
-Come and sit by the side of the pool with Jesus. It's a journey, not a task.
Links (Click 'em, they're live):
-How to do a simple SOAP study of a scripture passage.
-Links to Lectio 365 app for your phone:
- Apple tablet or phone here
- Google tablet or phone here
-You Version Bible app for phone or tablet (complete Bible, any version)
-Email Chris at chris@womenfinishingwell.com if you have a question or would like to ask for prayer.
Welcome to the last lesson in the online Bible study, A Tale of Two Legacies. In this lesson you’ll discover how you are uniquely and wonderfully made to build a legacy of faith that lasts for generations.
Show Notes & Links
Where we’re going in this lesson:
- You’ll discover the unique purpose God has for you using our Legacy Inventory.
- Clarify the definition of "building a legacy in your everyday life."
- Review from lessons 1-4.
- Introduction to the Legacy Inventory: How are you wonderfully made?
- Step One: Who Am I?
- Step Two: Where Have I Been?
- Step Three: Where Am I Now?
- Step Four: Who Has God Put in My Life?
- Step Five: Putting it All Together
As you access the online inventory, be sure you have all your tools ready (journal, Bible) and start each step by watching the video. Be ready to take notes on the video in your journal! After you watch the video, go through all the instructions and exercises for that step.
Scriptures for this lesson (New Living Translation, unless noted):
- Romans 12:1, The Message
- Exodus 20:4-6
- Matthew 7:24-27
- Psalm 1:1-3
- Jeremiah 29:11
- Deuteronomy 11:18-21
Links (click ‘em, they’re live):
Click here to access the Legacy Inventory on our website.
Click here to access a pdf of the first two chapters of Building a Legacy of Faith if you don’t have a copy.
Click here to get your copy of Building a Legacy of Faith on sale on Amazon. Both digital and print versions are on sale.
Click here to access our Facebook community. Join us and share your legacy!
Be sure and email us if you have any questions or just want to say “hi.” Email chris@womenfinishingwell.com
In this podcast we listen to women of all ages talk about the challenges of building a legacy of faith in every season of life. This episode is lesson five of our online Bible study, The Tale of Two Legacies.
Show Notes & Links (click 'em, they're live)
-Listen as former podcast guests share the challenges of building a legacy of faith in their current season. You'll be able to relate.
-Scripture verses to study this week from this podcast: We encourage you to take one of these passages each day this week and do a SOAP study. (Read the scripture, write down your observations, journal about how this might apply to where you're at right now, or what God is showing you as you read, and then pray about where to go from here.
- 1 Corinthians 9:26-27
- Psalm 1:1-3
- John 15:4
- Hebrews 12:12-13 (The Message)
- 2 Peter 1:12-15
- Jeremiah 29:11
Click here for last week's episode and all other lessons in the study including study guides.
Click here to access Jean Fleming's book, Pursue The Intentional Life.
Click here to access the book, Organic Mentoring.
Click here for podcast episode 112: Bridging the Generation Gap With Friendships
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In this episode Chris helps you navigate the four seasons of legacy building using the study guide from episode 157. Be sure and see the show notes for download links for this podcast.
Show Notes & Links (click 'em, they're live)
Scripture verses for this lesson:
- Ephesians 1:17-19: Paul's prayer for wisdom and revelation.
- Philippians 1:6
- Psalm 145: 4-6
-Link to the image of the Tree of Seasons
-Click here to download the lesson four study guide.
-Link to the First Things First worksheet-a user-friendly way to remember what God has done in your life.
-Chris' email: chris@womenfinishingwell.com
-Click here to join us on our Facebook page
-Are you on our mailing list? Get notifications of new podcasts, giveaways, and other great stuff. Click here to sign up. We won't spam you and you can unsubscribe at any time!
Get out your journal and get ready for lesson four in our Bible study, The Tale of Two Legacies. In this episode we'll start the process of identifying what "season" of life we're in and how we can craft the stories that will help up build a legacy of faith in this season. Before you start, download the image of the tree of seasons from the link in the show notes. We'll refer to it in the podcast.
Show Notes:
What 2 Listen 4 in this lesson:
In this lesson we’re going to learn the basics about the four seasons of legacy building and discover the stories (narratives) of your season.
- Discover the season of life that defines where you’re at right now.
- Each season has unique narratives that help us build a legacy during that season. More on the how-to in lesson five.
- The seasons:
- Spring: ages 25-40*. New, exuberant life. These are the leaves on the far left of our tree of seasons.
- Summer: ages 41-54*. The season of strength and growth. The leaves are green and sturdy.
- Fall: ages 55-75*. This season is normally a season of transition and change and the one with the most vibrant colors of life.
- Winter: ages 76-plus*. This is a strong season of stored energy essential for the regeneration of seasons in the spring. The most challenging season of legacy building.
*seasonal ages can vary a few years on either side
- Scripture verses in this lesson (all scripture is from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted)
- Psalm 1:1-3
- Psalm 78:2-4
- Psalm 145:4-6
- Exodus 20:4-6
- Colossians 3: 1-2
- Hebrews 12:12-13
Links and downloads:
You can download your copy of the "tree of seasons" and your lesson four study guide under the lesson four resources HERE.
You can email Chris at chris@womenfinishingwell.com with any questions or resources you need to access.
CLICK to visit our Facebook page and join the community of women learning to build a legacy of faith.
NEXT: In episode 158 we'll go over the study guide for this lesson. Don't miss it! Publishing date: Aug. 2.
In this episode we hear the last of the "storytelling" episodes that will prepare us to move on to lesson four in our Bible study, A Tale of Two Legacies. Nuts and bolts--you'll want to take notes.
Show Notes & Links:
-Learn how to craft your own narrative of The Greatest Story Ever Told--how Jesus makes a difference in your everyday life.
-Start by learning the life stories of people God used in the Bible. Spoiler: they were not perfect people.
-Start with the woman at the well (John 4), Hannah (1 Samuel 1), and Paul (Acts 8 and beyond).
-The two elements of a good story: relatable context and discernment.
Tips for finding good stories:
-Think of a scripture you love that comes from a story in your life.
-Work on being able to tell three kinds of stories:
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A story not bound by time and situation (be careful to make it a conversation).
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A story limited by time and situation.
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A 30-second “elevator pitch.” This technique needs practice and preparation.
-Your redemption story might be a turning point in your life if you were saved as a child.
-Be careful about using a “Christian” vocabulary. Not everyone has the same definition for theological concepts. Besides, non-Christian people will be lost. Learn to tell stories without Bible words.
-Your redemption story may vary according to situation and context of the meeting.
-Always be able to tell about the “why” of your faith.
Scripture verses used in this episode:
1 Peter 3:15, Hebrews 13:14-16, Romans 12:1-2
Links:
Catch up on the first three lessons of the free online Bible study including study guides here: https://womenfinishingwell.com/free-bible-studies/. Remember this is a go-at-your-own-pace study.
Join our Facebook community--it's where we hang out and share the good stuff: https://www.facebook.com/womenfinishingwell
You can join our email list and get news updates and new podcasts delivered to your Inbox. We're not fans of spam and protect your privacy. You can unsubscribe at any time: Click here to sign-up.
If you have a question or comment or just want to say hi, email Chris: chris@womenfinishingwell.com
NOTE: This episode is the second of three encore episodes on storytelling to prepare you for the next lesson in our Bible study, A Tale of Two Legacies. Enjoy learning more about this all-important skill of storytelling.
Show Notes & Links:
-Rudyard Kipling was right: if history was taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.
-Why having a system of remembering is the beginning of a storytelling legacy.
-Good storytellers understand two important story elements: relatable context and perception, or discernment.
Six Truths of Biblical Storytelling from Psalm 87:
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We are commanded to tell the stories about how God works in our lives. (vv. 2-3)
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Our stories are meant to be told to all people in our everyday lives. (v. 4)
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Learn how to tell a good parable. (v. 2)
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Good storytellers draw people in and encourage them to tell their stories. (v. 6)
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Storytelling increases our faith in God. (vv.6-7)
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Telling God’s stories from our life helps us avoid rebellion and sin. (v. 8)
-Learn to tell your stories of trouble with discernment and compassion.
Scripture verses from this episode:
Mt. 7:15-20, Mt. 7:24-26, Ps. 78:2-8
Links (click ’em, they’re live)
-Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get all the resources we have to help you build your legacy of faith. Also, we’ve been known to give stuff away in our newsletters! Click here to sign up.
-Join our Facebook community. We'd love to meet you there. Here's the link: https://www.facebook.com/womenfinishingwell
-Email us here: chris@womenfinishingwell.com
-You can also find great resources on our website here: https://womenfinishingwell.com/
What happens when your legacy foundation gets some weak spots? In this episode Chris walks you through the study guide of lesson three from A Tale of Two Legacies: keeping your foundation strong. -If you haven't started or downloaded your study guide yet, no worries. Download here and follow along: https://womenfinishingwell.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Lesson-3-Study-Guide.pdf
-Have you downloaded the First Things First worksheet for this lesson? You can find that here: https://womenfinishingwell.com/first-things-first-free-tool/
Follow along as Chris shares her challenges and "aha" moments as she worked through this week's lesson.
-Don't forget to go to our Facebook page to share your insights or ask questions: https://www.facebook.com/womenfinishingwell
-I'd love to hear from you. You can also email me (Chris) personally if you have any questions or insights you'd like to share at chris@womenfinishingwell.com
--Don't miss next week's episode. Lesson four is Chris' favorite chapter in the study: how to build a legacy in the different seasons (generations) of life and some of the challenges of each one. You'll want to tell a friend about this one.
In this episode Chris teaches lesson three from the online Bible study, A Tale Of Two Legacies. Be sure and download your study guide in the show notes and get ready to learn about the essential legacy building blocks.
Welcome to lesson two in our Bible study: A Tale of Two Legacies. Learn how your everyday life can influence generations. Be sure and download the study guide below before you listen. In lesson two we’ll learn about how to choose the right foundation to build our legacy of faith on. Join us as we take a close-up look at Matthew 7:24-27. Don't forget to download your study guide before you start!
Show Notes:
-Start by downloading your study guide before you start listening to the first lesson. It is availabe in pdf and Word formats. Click here to access your guide in Word. Click here to access your guide as a pdf.
Access every lesson with digital study guide in one place. Click here.
-Sign up for our email list to get a notification every time a new lesson is released or we sneak in a live bonus episode on Facebook Live. We won’t spam you. Unsubscribe at any time. Click here.
-Be sure and follow our Facebook page for updates and conversations. Share how your study is going and get inspiration from others. Click here.
-If you have any questions about the study, email chris@womenfinishingwell.com
Join our Zoom gathering on Wednesday, June 1 at 6:30 PM Pacific time, and we'll talk about lesson two. Check our Facebook page or bi-weekly email for a link!
-The next lesson will be released on Wednesday, June 8.
This episode is the beginning of our new online Bible study, A Tale Of Two Legacies: how your everyday life will influence generations. Download the study guide at womenfinishing.com/podcast
In this episode Chris shares what our listeners said were the main challenges to building a legacy of faith in every season of life.
Show Notes & Links:
In this episode we interviewed several women at different ages and stages of life about what their main challenges are to building a legacy of faith.
-Chris' celebration: 25,000 Days and counting!
-A preview of our new Bible study.
-Which of today's challenges resonated the most with you? Share your thoughts on our Facebook page or in the comments on the podcast page of our website (links in section below).
-The surprise of our interviews: younger women shared a common challenge: wondering if it is something important to do at this stage of my life?
Links:
-Share your thoughts on the podcast episode on our website here: https://womenfinishingwell.com/episode151/
-Share your thoughts in our Facebook community. What challenges resonated the most with you? What about the challenges we didn't talk about? Join us here: https://www.facebook.com/womenfinishingwell
-Next week: What's the difference between seasons and stations of life and how do they influence building a legacy of faith?
This week we are sharing the most popular podcast of our three seasons--our fan favorite--called "Up Close Ithe God." In this interview with author Chris Baxter, she talks about how her quest to get closer to God turned into a devotional that blessed readers all over the world. Links & Show Notes * How a daily habit of journaling turned into a book. * A look at the unique conversational style of Chris' book and how each day's devotion started as a personal prayer. * Chris' treadmill story. You'll love it! * Chris tells the story of how her personal time with God evolved over the years. * Words of encouragement for listeners struggling to began a daily personal time with God.
Links: Click 'em, they're live * Buy Heartbeat of God (Amazon) * Chris Baxter's Website: Respite For the Weary * Get a free ebook copy of our Bible study Building a Legacy of Faith this week. Subscribe to our newsletter or join our Facebook community and we'll share the link starting Monday, April 11.
Sign up for our monthly email here and get our First Things First tool free to get your personal time with God on a new track! You can unsubscribe at any time. You'll receive a confirmation email after you sign up so be sure and confirm your subscription. Hint: You may have to hunt in your Spam folder. -PLUS- you'll get a free First Things First tool after you confirm your subscription! Please join our Facebook Community! Join us as we ramp up our content and resources in our Facebook community heading into our fourth season. Lots more opportunities to interact. We hope you'll join us here: https://www.facebook.com/womenfinishingwell
Want to make a real difference in your neighborhood? In this series, The Best of the Women Finishing Well Podcast, Diane shares her favorite episode of the last three seasons--an interview with Dave Runyon, co-author of The Art of Neighboring. Show Notes & Links: -Does the command to “love your neighbor” mean to love your actual neighbor?
-What happened when a team of pastors went to their city leaders and asked what they could do to help the city with its neighboring project.
-What if we just drew a circle around where we are and worked out from there?
-Step One: learn your neighbor’s names. Dave’s war stories.
-Sometimes our neighborhoods are already filled with opportunities to meet up. Maybe we need to slow down long enough to connect with what’s already going on? Should we check our life pace?
-Dave throws out the challenge: neighboring is not an evangelism strategy. If you knew your neighbor would never take a step toward God, would you still make the effort to follow the command?
-Where should we start?
Links: click ’em, they’re live
-Find resources and how to get the book (website): https://www.artofneighboring.com/
–COVID-19 Neighboring Toolkit
–Block map download
–Books and refrigerator magnets
Join the conversation in our Facebook community
In this episode Chris replays her favorite podcast from the first three seasons and chooses a few honorable mentions that changed her life. Her favorite podcast so far: Rekindling Your Passion For God's Word (episode 145). In this heartfelt interview with author and Bible teacher Cherie Wagner, you'll learn about how important your interaction with God's Word really is. It is the Difference Maker. You'll be challenged, encouraged, and motivated to go deeper with God in His Word and let its power transform your life!
Chris also reveals her favorite honorable mentions from the first 147 episodes with links to each episode below.
Don't miss this passionate interview with two women who have a heart to bring God's Word to women everywhere.
Show Notes & Links:
-What you need to know about Cherie.
-Has there been a dangerous shift in the church away from the spiritual disciplines calling them legalistic instead of faithful?
-Cherie talks about how legalism is a heart motivation and not a set of habits.
-Is the young church leaving their first love?
-How Cherie's passion for serving God was formed in every valley, every pain, and in every mountaintop experience.
-When people don't know who they are in Christ, they don't know how to live like Christ.
-The importance of scripture memorization: it's hard to bring things up to mind that you haven't put down in your heart.
-Cherie's thoughts on how to build a legacy of faith: "The greatest work we can do is right inside the four walls of our own home."
-Want to know where you're going? Ask yourself who or what is the loudest voice in your life.
Links (click 'em, they're live):
Neue Thing Facebook page. Click here.
Neue Thing website and Cherie's books.
Arise Movement info
Chris' Honorable Mentions-each is a live link:
Episode 139-The Challenges of Changing Lanes in Life with Michelle Nezat
Episode 138 - Bridging the Gap With Millennial Women with Lauren Foster
Episode 135 - How To Pray For The World
Episode 130-How Courage and Endurance Work Together with Melanie Davis Porter
Be sure and join us March 29 for Diane's favorite episode and a list of her honorable mentions!
Join us on Facebook at Women Finishing Well!
In this episode Chris and Diane interview longtime friend Kathy Swenson who is making a big dream God gave her years ago into her legacy of faith.
Show Notes & Links
-How God prepares us even before we know Him.
-Letting God lead and learning to be obedient.
-Road blocks are just part of the journey. Keep praying.
-Look for open doors, signs, and listen to the people God brings into your life. Hear how God opened doors for Kathy's next steps.
-Never give up hope.
-Kathy's biggest piece of advice to make it through: always make a commitment to obedience first.
Links (click'em, they're live):
-Learn about the Love and Sonshine ministry here.
-Check out the newly re-launched Bible study Building a Legacy of Faith on Amazon. Get your sale copies now.
-Join our Facebook community
In this episode, Chris and Diane interview author Beth Hackworth about her exciting book, Practice Listening To God. Join them as Beth shares how God speaks to us today. Show Notes & Links: -All about Beth and her freelance coffee cup ministry.
-Why Beth initially disqualified herself as a writer. Sound familiar?
-What does it mean to listen to God?
-What if I ask God something and I don't hear anything?
-God speaks in multiple ways.
-How do we know who we are hearing? God? Ourselves? The enemy?
-The difference between condemnation and conviction.
-How to look for confirmation about what you're hearing.
-How to listen for others.
Links: (click 'em, they're live)
Find Beth's book here.
Listen to episode 141 with Linda Troyer
Find past podcast episodes here.
In this episode Chris interviews Cherie Wagner, founder of Neue Thing and 30-something lover of God's Word. Join them as they talk about the need to rekindle our love for God's Word.
Show Notes & Links:
-What you need to know about Cherie.
-Has there been a dangerous shift in the church away from the spiritual disciplines calling them legalistic instead of faithful?
-Cherie talks about how legalism is a heart motivation and not a set of habits.
-Is the young church leaving their first love?
-How Cherie's passion for serving God was formed in every valley, every pain, and in every mountaintop experience.
-When people don't know who they are in Christ, they don't know how to live like Christ.
-The importance of scripture memorization: it's hard to bring things up to mind that you haven't put down in your heart.
-Cherie's thoughts on how to build a legacy of faith: "The greatest work we can do is right inside the four walls of our own home."
-Want to know where you're going? Ask yourself who or what is the loudest voice in your life.
Links (click'em, they're live):
Join the launch team for "Building a Legacy of Faith." See what all the hub-bub is about here.
Neue Thing Facebook page. Click here.
Neue Thing website and Cherie's books.
Arise Movement info
In this episode Chris and Diane visit with Dave Runyon, author of the bestselling book The Art Of Neighboring. Find out what Jesus really meant when he said, "love your neighbor as yourself" (Mt. 22:37-40).
Show Notes & Links:
-Does the command to "love your neighbor" mean to love your actual neighbor?
-What happened when a team of pastors went to their city leaders and asked what they could do to help the city with its neighboring project.
-What if we just drew a circle around where we are and worked out from there?
-Step One: learn your neighbor's names. Dave's war stories.
-Sometimes our neighborhoods are already filled with opportunities to meet up. Maybe we need to slow down long enough to connect with what's already going on? Maybe we need to check our life pace?
-Dave throws out the challenge: neighboring is not an evangelism strategy. If you knew your neighbor would never take a step toward God, would you still make the effort to follow the command?
-Where should we start?
Links: click 'em, they're live
-Find resources and how to get the book (website): https://www.artofneighboring.com/
-COVID-19 Neighboring Toolkit
-Block map download
-Books and refrigerator magnets
Join the conversation in our Facebook community
In this episode Chris interviews Erica Wiggenhorn, the author of one of the Must-Read Books For 2022, Letting God Be Enough.
Show Notes & Links:
-Erica's new book, Letting God Be Enough, is based on the life of Moses and his struggle with Imposter Syndrome (feeling you are not good enough).
-How this fear of inadequacy exhausts us and destroys our relationships.
-Why Mose was the greatest self-doubter in the Bible.
-How our self-doubt is tied to self-reliance.
-Why is it so hard for us to trust God with our troubles?
-God is constantly putting us in places where we need Him because He desires intimacy with us.
-"Don't believe the lie of the enemy that if you are following God's call, your life should be easy. That's not this life; that's heaven. This life is a battle. We're going to battle all the way home. Our promise is that God will never leave us or forsake us."
-We need community. God used the people in Moses' life to get him through the desert.
Links (click 'em, they're live):
-Visit Erica's website to take advantage of all her resources including all her books and giveaways.
-Check out Erica's book here.
-Click to sign up for the Women Finishing Well newsletter so you can help us put together resources for 2022 that meet your needs.
-Link to this week's episode to share and to leave a comment about today's podcast--can you relate to what Erica is saying?
-Link to the Getting Ready for 2022 Checklist. See the list of this year's must-read books.
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In this episode Chris and Diane offer a free book to everyone to say thanks for your support in 2021! This 6-week study will get your 2022 off to a better start!
Show Notes:
-The Mary Answer: Embracing God's Disruptions and Detours is part of the Getting Ready for 2022 Checklist. The must-read Bible Bible study highlights the lives and lessons of people God challenged with detours in the Bible.
-The six-week study and 30-day devotional is perfect for individual study or a group study. It's available for free as an ebook on Amazon or a print book for just $6.99. See the show links for details on how to get yours. You don't need a Kindle to read the free ebook! Offer good Dec. 21 through Dec. 25.
-Diane shares why the 30-day devotional in the book is a game changer.
-Hear Chris and Diane's favorite "disrupted Bible hero" stories from the book.
Links:
-Click to find out how to download a free Kindle Reader app for your device, phone, or computer. (Be sure and get your free Kindle app first if you don't already have it so you'll have somewhere to send your free ebook!!)
--GET YOUR FREE EBOOK HERE OR $6.99 PRINT BOOK HERE
-Link to the introduction to the Getting Ready for 2022 Challenge podcast with all the tools you need!
-Join our Women Finishing Well Facebook community here.
Next podcast: January 4, 2022. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
-
In this episode Chris interviews Linda Troyer, author of Rest Revealed. Linda's life-changing book is part of the Getting Ready for 2022 Challenge. This isn't just a book about rest--it's a book that will lead you to find the rest Jesus promised in Mt. 11:28-30.
Show Notes & Links:
-The answer to finding real rest is not by scheduling it on your to-do list.
-The four keys to rest are found in the REST acronym: Repent, Enjoy, Sit, and Take In.
-Repentance: God is pursuing us to restore us, not to punish us.
-The part the enemy plays is our unrest: the enemy is a big, fat liar.
-To push through the experience of God's love trimmers (pruning), we have to believe God is Good and we can trust Him, not just believe in Him.
-Jesus is our rest partner (Mt. 11:28-30) Take His yoke upon you and you will find rest for your souls.
-Being yoked to Jesus is how we learn His humility and gentle heart towards us.
-"Sitting" is an outward declaration that God is in control.
-Actively deny the lie that the more you work, the more you will get done.
-"Take in" is an intentional and tangible action of rest. Take in, breathe in, give in, and stay in.
-Rest is all about learning to be present in the moment with God.
Links (click 'em, they're live):
-Click here to listen to the Episode 140, the short introduction to the Getting Ready for 2022 Challenge and get all in!
-Click here to find Linda on her website. We recommend signing up for her newsletter.
-Click to get your copy of Rest Revealed here on Amazon.
-Here's the link to share this podcast with a friend or on your social media pages:
In this short episode Chris previews a tool that will change your life! Join the Getting Ready for 2022 Challenge with our five-step checklist.
Show Notes:
-Thanks to all our listeners for your support in the last year. We want you to have the best year ever in 2022! Thanks for all your encouraging emails and Facebook messages!
-The Getting Ready for 2022 checklist includes five steps to building a strong foundation for your legacy of faith--a legacy that will stand the test of time (Matthew 7:24-27).
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First Things First-your free tool to get it done!
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Must-read books for 2022.
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Tools to help you dig in deeper to God's Word.
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Digital resources: devotionals and streaming services to keep your mind and heart set above.
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Get connected to Women Finishing Well online.
Links:
-Here is the link to access your Getting Ready for 2022 Checklist and all the live links and info you'll need for the five steps:
https://womenfinishingwell.com/2022-checklist-challenge/
-Click to go to the Women Finishing Well Facebook page
Link to share the podcast with a friend (copy and paste): womenfinishingwell.com/episode140
Don't miss next Tuesday's Facebook Live Show!
In this episode Chris interviews alumni WFW guest Michelle Nezat about the challenges of changing lanes in life.
(Note: We use the term "Gen X" in this podcast which refers to the generation ages 40-55.)
Show Notes & Links:
-When we feel the "nudge" toward changing lanes we need to seek God's voice for guidance.
-First step: consider the challenges of change: who is affected? Talk to the people in your circle and find out how change will affect them.
-Am I really hearing the voice of God leading me? Pray about the motivations involved in the voices you hear.
-Michelle's biggest lesson: Don't stay longer in your present lane because you feel you're irreplaceable.
-Good advice to the person who replaces you: You are not filling "my" shoes. God gave you your own pair of shoes.
-God's plans for us aren't always revealed to us from beginning to end before He asks us to step out into something new.
Keys to hearing God's voice:
-The enemy is an accuser. God's voice is not.
-The enemy is a liar. Make sure you stay in God's word and pray to detect any lies you might be hearing.
-Michelle's biggest tip for changing lanes. Don't miss this!
Links:
-Click here to check out Michelle's More Than a Song podcast.
-Click here to explore the Compel Training for women interested in writing, speaking, podcasting, or blogging.
Please join the Women Finishing Well Facebook community. We have fun Facebook Live broadcasts there, give away books, and offer resources to help you build a legacy of faith that lasts for generations.
In this episode Chris interviews millennial leader Lauren Foster about how older women can help younger generations of women build a legacy of faith that lasts for generations.
Show Notes & Links
-All about Lauren. What does a Director of Hospitality and Outreach do?
-What does it mean to build a legacy of faith as a young woman?
-Advice on helping younger women escape the comparison trap of social media.
-How important are multigenerational ministries?
-What a younger woman wants to tell the older generation of Christian women. It'll surprise you.
-How to overcome the challenges of getting younger generations into Christian fellowship.
-Facing the challenges of being a young woman in a church leadership role.
-Why life groups (small groups) are the church's secret weapon to build community.
Links You Need (click 'em, they're live)
-Click to listen to the That'll Preach Podcast produced by Springhill Presbyterian Church in Bozeman, MT.
-Click to subscribe to our bi-weekly news brief so you don't miss a chance to win books and more plus get an update on our latest podcast. As our thanks, you'll get a free mini Bible study on how to start a daily habit with God called First Things First. You can unsubscribe at any time.
-Please join our Facebook community. We've got some exciting things going on there including a bi-weekly Live video where you can be a part of the action! Click here to join us!
In this episode Chris kicks off the new series, The Four Seasons of Legacy Building by interviewing Courtney Lowman, founder of the Journey of Ruth ministry in Phoenix. Courtney teaches multi-generational discipleship to women of all ages. You're going to want to grab a cup of coffee and your favorite girlfriend for this one!
Show Notes & Links
-All about Courtney from A to Z.
-How God led Courtney into a ministry of worldwide discipleship.
-Why multigenerational disciple is so critical for legacy building.
-God sometimes calls us to uncomfortable places. It's okay to admit you don't know what you're doing.
-How do we "make disciples of all nations"? (Mt. 28:19
-The framework for becoming or finding a mentor (the PLAA process).
-Why a "no" from a potential mentor is not a failure.
-Why it's important for young women to began building a legacy of faith when they're young.
-Courtney's "one piece of advice to rule them all" about discipleship.
Links: How to find Courtney online
-Listen to The Journey of Ruth podcast on your favorite player or find it on her website here: https://www.journeyofruthpodcast.com/
-Courtney's podcast on YouTube:
https://youtube.com/channel/UCedVKM6bC3goMciq8jedYvA
-Courtney's Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/journeyofruth/
-Courtney on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/journeyofruth/
Link to all our past podcast episodes and subscription links:
https://womenfinishingwell.com/podcast/
**Sign up for our snappy newsletter and get the latest podcast link and first chance at resources and giveaways. It comes every other week and you can unsubscribe at any time. As our thanks you'll get a free mini Bible study on First Things First:
https://forms.aweber.com/form/40/1204767040.htm
In this episode Chris reveals exciting news about the Women Finishing Well podcast. You won't want to miss this episode. Plus your chance to receive a free mini Bible study!
Show Notes & Links:
-This is a short, newsy podcast with a couple links you'll want to explore. Exciting changes are coming to the podcast!
Links:
Won't you join our Women Finishing Well Facebook community? Check out the beautiful image of our new Four Seasons of Legacy Building series.
Click here to see the beautiful "Four Seasons" image on our Facebook page.
Subscribe to our every-other-week short and sassy newsletter to get the new podcast link for the week and a chance at other great resources. When you subscribe you'll get our free mini Bible study, First Things First as an attachment in your follow-up email. Look for it in your Inbox! CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE
See you all the week of Oct. 19 for our new podcast re-launch!
In this episode Chris gives tips and scriptures on how to effectively pray for our world during this difficult time.
Show Notes & Links:
-If you are already a prayer warrior, keep going!
-Don't get distracted by world events. Tips to overcome distractions:
- Turn off the TV news. Read selected online digests to know what's going on.
- Temper your social media. FOMO is a real addiction. You don't need to know everything from every viewpoint. Be confident in God's wisdom. (James 1:5)
How should we pray for the world? Remember time spent praying is not as important as your heart. (Mt. 6:6-7) Be sure and listen. Prayer is two-way communication!
Who should we pray for?
- Pray for your neighborhood.
- Pray for your community and churches.
- Pray for our country.
- Pray for the world.
Before you pray, remind yourself of these six things:
- God has it all covered. (Rom. 11:36)
- He is faithful (2 Thes. 3:3)
- He is patient, not slow. (2 Pet. 3:9)
- God is in control and trustworthy. (Ps. 145:13)
- One thing God asks us to do: be still (Ps. 46:10)
"Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring to you today. The Lord will fight for you; you need only be still." Ex. 14:13-14
Links:
-While we're off in September, catch up on episodes you haven't listened to yet here: https://womenfinishingwell.com/podcast/
-Link to the Scott Saul's book, The Gentle Answer: https://scottsauls.com/books/
In this episode Chris finishes the mini series on storytelling with an in-depth look at how to share the stories of what God has done for you with the people he puts in your everyday life.
Show Notes & Links:
-Learn to tell your story that tells The Story--the one Jesus came to tell the world.
-Start by learning the life stories of people God used in the Bible. Spoiler: they were not perfect people.
-Start with the woman at the well (John 4), Hannah (1 Samuel 1), and Paul (Acts 8 and beyond).
-The two elements of a good story: relatable context and discernment.
Tips for finding good stories:
-Think of a scripture you love that comes from a story in your life.
-Work on being able to tell three kinds of stories:
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A story not bound by time and situation (be careful to make it a conversation).
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A story limited by time and situation.
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A 30-second "elevator pitch." This technique needs practice and preparation.
-Your redemption story might be a turning point in your life if you were saved as a child.
-Be careful about using a "Christian" vocabulary. Not everyone has the same definition for theological concepts. Besides, non-Christian people will be lost. Learn to tell stories without Bible words.
-Your redemption story may vary according to situation and context of the meeting.
-Always be able to tell about the "why" of your faith.
Scripture verses used in this episode:
1 Peter 3:15, Hebrews 13:14-16, Romans 12:1-2
Links:
If you'd like to listen to the first two episodes in this series:
https://womenfinishingwell.com/episode132/
https://womenfinishingwell.com/episode133/
If you're interested in bulk copies of the Women Finishing Well Bible study, email Chris: chris@womenfinishingwell.com
In this episode Chris talks about the basics of telling a good story using lessons from the master storyteller--Jesus.
Show Notes & Links:
-Rudyard Kipling was right: if history was taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.
-Why having a system of remembering is the beginning of a storytelling legacy.
-Good storytellers understand two important story elements: relatable context and perception, or discernment.
Six Truths of Biblical Storytelling from Psalm 87:
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We are commanded to tell the stories about how God works in our lives. (vv. 2-3)
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Our stories are meant to be told to all people in our everyday lives. (v. 4)
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Learn how to tell a good parable. (v. 2)
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Good storytellers draw people in and encourage them to tell their stories. (v. 6)
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Storytelling increases our faith in God. (vv.6-7)
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Telling God's stories from our life helps us avoid rebellion and sin. (v. 8)
-Learn to tell your stories of trouble with discernment and compassion.
Scripture verses from this episode:
Mt. 7:15-20, Mt. 7:24-26, Ps. 78:2-8
Links (click 'em, they're live)
-Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get all the resources we have to help you build your legacy of faith. Also, we've been known to give stuff away in our newsletters! Click here to sign up.
-Link to last week's podcast on how to remember what God has done in your life. Click here to listen.
Next week: How to tell the greatest story you've ever told!
In this episode Chris talks about the important legacy habit of storytelling. The first step in the process is establishing a habit of remembering what God has done.
Show Notes & Links:
-Storytelling is one of the most overlooked skills of a Christian disciple and essential for building a legacy of faith.
-Remembering what God has done in our lives is the first step in telling the stories that build our legacy.
-To remember, we need intentionality. How do you remember what God has done in your life?
-In Psalm 103 David talks about three types of events he purposefully remembers:
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What God has done (vv. 2-4)
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What God is doing now (v. 5)
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Who God will do (vv. 17-18)
Tips to remember what God is doing right now:
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Start with the expectation that God shows up every day in your life.
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Collect what helps you remember: monuments, celebrations, and stories.
Starting a list of what God has done:
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Start a remembering section in your journal, or get a journal and start writing things down!
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Use a phrase and a date so you can remember the story.
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Read over these entries regularly to build a memory and build your faith.
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Just write down the things you want to remember. You'll get the hang of what that is. Pray and ask God to show you specific times he is showing up.
Scriptures from this episode:
-Numbers 15:38-39
-Psalm 103
-Rom. 11:36
Links:
Click here to sign up for our short weekly emails to get all the resources on how to build your legacy of faith and take part in our giveaways exclusively for email subscribers! As our thanks, you'll get a free mini Bible study on how to start a First Things First morning routine!
-Click here to listen to the episode where Diane tells the story of how God opened a new door for her she never anticipated.
In this episode we'll talk about how we approach the idea of how to build an extraordinary legacy of faith from the events of our everyday lives.
Show Notes & Links:
-How we approach legacy building: Use the everyday moments of your life and embrace them as your God-ordained opportunity to build a legacy of faith.
-"On the road to Emmaus" was an ordinary event that Jesus turned into an extraordinary one.
-Do we anticipate extraordinary meetings with God in our everyday, ordinary events? Are you on the lookout for God to show up?
-Three circles of people God gives us:
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Circle of influence: small, intimate group that we do life with.
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Communities of influence: groups of people we share common events with.
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Everyday people: Strangers that God moves in and out of our lives for a specific purpose.
This week's challenge: Who are the people in the first two groups in your life? Can you see their faces? Look over chapters 1, 2, and 10 in the Women Finishing Well Bible study for further info on how to identify the people in these groups.
Scriptures from today's episode:
-Romans 12:1, The Message
-Hebrews 12
-Like 24:13-35 (the road to Emmaus)
Links (click 'em, they're live)
The Women Finishing Well Facebook community.
Get your copy of the Women Finishing Well Bible study.
Sign up for our email list and get weekly links to all our resources. You'll receive a free mini Bible study on First Things First.
Check out our website and blog here.
In this episode Chris interviews author and blogger Melanie Davis Porter about the partnership of courage and endurance. To allow perseverance to "finish its work" (James 1:4), we need courage to be in it for the long haul with God.
Show Notes & Links:
-Elisabeth Elliot's perspective on suffering: "having what you don't want to wanting what you don't have."
-Is busyness a distraction that pulls us away from God?
-Galatians 6:9: Don't get weary doing the right thing. When the time is right you will reap a harvest if you don't give up.
Melanie's tips to develop persevere in your quest to start a daily time with God:
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Start with the right mindset (Pr. 24:16): If we see ourselves as dearly loved and accepted children of God, we will have a better chance of living like one.
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Just ask: If our goal is to spend a quiet time with him daily, ask Him to give you that desire. Transformation happens in God's presence.
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Keep a journal: writing down your thoughts and observations can keep you on track and block out distractions.
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For Bible study/reading: Use Bible study books, devotional apps. Try the Proverbs 31 First 5 app or the YouVersion app to find reading plans (see links below).
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Build a habit that works with your lifestyle. The rules are not as important as the relationship.
-God will stir a fire in us as we go to Him (2 Ti. 1:6). The more we are in His Word, the more we will want to be there.
Links:
-Learn about the Proverbs 31 First 5 devotional app here. Melanie is one of their writers.
-Find devotional reading plans in the YouVersion app here.
-Find Melanie on Facebook here.
-Visit Melanie's new (under construction)website here and find out how to contact her.
Melanie is also on Instagram (@melaniedavisporter) and Twitter as well (@MelMel27)
-Check out Sweet to the Soul Ministries here
In this episode Chris talks about the importance of the fourth "W" in the First Things First Challenge. Learning to wait in prayer takes some practice.
Show Notes & Links:
-How waiting and prayer are linked.
-Some wisdom from Elisabeth Elliott.
-Prayer is a conversation that takes active listening and heartfelt talking.
-Waiting in prayer will change the trajectory of our day (Colossians 3:1-2).
-Being quiet and still takes intentionality. Waiting is prayer is not a passive empty mind.
-Ways to keep our minds set above:
- verbal praise
- reading prayers from the Bible (start with Psalms and Paul's epistles)
- try playing quiet instrumental praise music
- Inviting God to speak.
-Keep a prayer journal
-We are not all called to be prayer warriors but we are all called to pray.
Links:
The Heartbeat of God devotional by Chris Baxter
Click here to go to our Women Finishing Well Facebook page and let us know how you set up your prayer journal.
-Send Chris an email and let her know how you're doing at chris@womenfinishingwell.com
Start your own 30-Day First Things First Challenge by listening to podcast number 126 here.
In this episode Chris talks about why perseverance is key to forming a new habit. God is making us into spiritual diamonds!
Show Notes & Links
-Why developing perseverance is like a diamond forming in the earth.
-God uses disruption and to trouble to press us into a spiritual diamond.
-James 1:2-4, The Message.
-When trouble comes, don't run away--run to God. He wants to make you mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Links (click 'em, they're live):
-Join us on our Facebook page to learn more about the 30-day challenge and connect with us! Click here to get there.
-Interested in the 30-day challenge to start a morning routine with God that will change your life? Listen to episode 126 and get everything you need to start! Click here to listen.
In this five-minute episode Chris shares the secret of rocking the 30-Day First Things First Challenge. Not what you think.
Show Notes & Links:
-The secret to rocking the 30-day challenge is not getting up early--it's finding a quiet place to meet with God. If you've got a house full of people, it may be a tough go.
-Some tips:
- Scout out a quiet place and get ready the night before: journal, Bible, water.
- Enlist help if you need it taking care of kids first thing in the morning. Remind them it'll only be a few minutes.
- Enlist the help of your alarm: get up early. Ask God to give you rest so you can wake up refreshed and ready to go right away.
- Set your coffee maker if you have a timer. Get the Keurig set up with water, pod, and cup to grab right after you drink your water. Maybe move your coffee pot to a quiet place so it doesn't wake anybody up.
- Learn to carve out time in the morning chaos--get creative.
- Don't ever give up or be hard on yourself for missing.
- Stay connected to the Facebook community for support.
Links:
-Want to join us? You can start any time. Just go listen to the two episodes that will get you ready:
Click here to listen to episode 126 - Finding Your Why & Getting Ready.
Click here to listen to the bonus episode with tools and resources to get you going.
Click here to join the community on our Facebook page and answer the daily reflection question.
This is the bonus podcast for episode number 126. In this episode you'll get resources to make sure you're ready to start your 30-day challenge. There is also a Resource Tool in the show notes that walks you through some tasks to cover this week.
Show Notes & Links (click 'em, they're live):
-Why is morning the best time for spend time with God? Your Resource Tool includes several scriptures to study.
-Our "why" for First Things First: Colossians 3:1-2
This week's task (all instructions and references for this week's tasks are detailed in the Resource Tool linked below.)
Download your Resource Tool here (pdf)
Task 1: Study the importance of meeting with God first thing in the morning. Scriptures and journal questions available in the Resource Tool above.
Task 2: Bonus! Download your free copy of the Women Finishing Well from Amazon on June 24-26. Instructions and a how-to video in the Resource Tool (download above)
Task 3: Read "The Four Truths of God's Unfailing Love" from chapter 2 of the Women Finishing Well Bible study book. If you don't have the book, the text is printed in the Resource Tool.
Task 4: Join our Facebook community. We've got lots of stuff there to help you succeed! Here's the link--See you there! https://www.facebook.com/womenfinishingwell
Task 5: Choose your lane. Be sure and read this great info in the Resource Tool. It will give you confidence and direction on how to approach the challenge starting where you're at right now!
Links:
-Video on how to download the Kindle app onto your computer, phone or device. You'll need this before you can download your free book. Watch now: https://vimeo.com/562233056/e4bdedf92d
-Video on how to download the YouVersion Bible app unto your phone, device or computer so you can access the Heartbeat of God reading plan. Watch now: https://vimeo.com/562569673/92280af0f5
See you next week in episode 127!
In this episode, Diane and Chris get you ready for the start of the 30-Day First Things First Challenge on June 28. This is prep week, ladies! On your mark...
Show Notes & Links:
-This is the kickoff of prep week for the 30-Day Challenge. Lots on info ahead so put on your seatbelt!
-Diane's Bookshelf: The recommended read this week is Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero. Check out the book by clicking here. Learn the seven steps to God-given peace.
Getting Ready for the Challenge (starts June 28)
-Download your free copy of the Women Finishing Well Bible study from Amazon on June 24-26, you'll need to have the Kindle app on the device where you want to read (phone, computer, iPad). We've put together a video showing you how to do that if you don't have it already. You don't need a copy of the book to do the challenge, it's just our way of saying thanks for joining us! Click here to view the short video.
-Have you got the YouVersion Holy Bible app on your phone or device? If not, you'll want to get that so you can use Chris Baxter's 30-day devotional, The Heartbeat of God. We've also put together a short video to show you how to get the app. It is also available on your computer. Click here for a link to that video.
-If you already have the YouVersion app, you can find The Heartbeat of God in the Plans tab.
-Are you ready to listen to the bonus episode for this week? You can listen to it and download the Resource Tool for that episode here:
Why the Morning?
-Setting your mind and agenda in the morning with God helps you see your day with eternal vision.
-Colossians 3:1-2: "Since then you have been raised with Christ, wet you hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
-Be sure and look through the scripture verses in this week's Resource Tool about why we need to seek God in the morning!
What 2 Do Next Recap:
If you don't have a Kindle, be sure and download the Kindle app to your phone, device, or computer. See the link above for a video on how to do that.
If you don't have the YouVersion app on your phone or device, we have a video to help you with that too. See the link above.
-Review of the 5 W's. We'll have a podcast on each one over the next weeks of the challenge: Wake-up Call, Water, Word, Wait in Prayer, Worship.
-Don't forget to listen to the short bonus episode and get your prep steps for next week! FREE BOOK JUNE 24-26 ON AMAZON!
In this episode Chris gets you ready for the 30-Day First Things First Challenge that starts June 28. Get ready to take notes!
Show Notes & Links for Bonus Episode 1
-As you contemplate joining the 30-day First Things First Challenge, what are your great expectations?
-There is a lane in this challenge no matter where you are in life:
- Lane 1: morning newbie. You've never tried to set up a morning time with God before. We've got you covered in five minutes a day!
- Lane 2: Consistency is your challenge. Some days you spend time with God, sometimes you don't. Let's change that is just ten minutes a day.
- Lane 3: You're already there but you want to rejuvenate your morning time with God. This lane is for you--no time limits!
-How does this all work? The regular weekly podcasts cover the 5 Ws in the challenge and the bonus episodes take you deeper in each "W" with tools and tips. The bonus episodes will be released right after the regular podcasts. They'll go right to your podcast player or you can find them on our Facebook page!
-Don't worry about missing days or falling down. When you fall down, get up!
-Develop a habit you can't live without!
Five Ways to Get Ready For The Challenge:
-
Subscribe to the podcast here: womenfinishingwell.com/podcast
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Join our Facebook community--it will be the command center for the challenge: https://www.facebook.com/womenfinishingwell
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Get a journal
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Download the YouVersion Bible app for your phone or device or access it at bible.com/app We've also made a tutorial video to show you how to do that in case you need help. Access that here:https://vimeo.com/562569673/92280af0f5
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Start praying!
We'll see you next week. Don't miss the next podcast. We'll be giving away free copies of the Women Finishing Well Bible study.
In this episode, we celebrate the beginning of our third season of the podcast with the return of Diane to the show. You'll hear her story about the big changes God has brought into her life--how she went from her dream job to her "God job."
Show Notes & Links:
-The Bookshelf: This episode, Chris recommends a classic by Elisabeth Elliot titled Be Still My Soul. The subtitle of this book is a battle hymn for our present day: Cultivating Stillness in Our Can't-Stop World. This book will help you take a new look at the deceptions of being busy. Click here for a link to the book.
-Scriptures for this episode:
- Hebrews 12:1,12-13
- Proverbs 3:5-8
- Jeremiah 29:11
Diane's story:
-Going from dream job to no job in 60 seconds.
-We're never told old to change paths and rekindle an old passion. But trusting God through all the negative thoughts is important!
-Stuff sometimes happens when you have your life all planned out.
-What to do when a door closes but you don't feel like you're done yet.
-But wait...there's more!
-"I lost my dream job and got my "God job."
Don't miss the bonus podcast tomorrow:
-To help you navigate the First Things First Challenge we'll be publishing a bonus episode after this podcast. You can find it on our Facebook page, our website, or it will automatically be delivered to your podcast player if you are a subscriber. You won't want to miss this. On the fence about joining the 30-day challenge? This episode will help you make up your mind!
Links this week (click 'em, they're live)
-Join our Facebook community for giveaways and support during our First Things First Challenge. Click here to join. Giveaways coming!
You can find links to subscribe to our podcast by clicking here.
If you need a journal, you can find one here.
Next Week: Get your free copy of the Women Finishing Well Bible study. Don't miss this episode!
In this episode Chris previews the launch of season three of the Women Finishing Well podcast.
Show Notes & Links:
-Our goal this season: help you embrace what God is doing in your everyday life. This season, it's not about the big things, but about the real things that happen in our lives that bring us closer to God.
-Our emphasis this season will be on creating free resources that will help you build that legacy of faith that lasts for generations.
-There will be a massive free book giveaway on June 24-26. Stay tuned!
-We've got a 30-Day Challenge that will change your life! Honest!
-Introducing The Bookshelf--a new weekly feature on our podcast.
-Five things you need to do to get ready for season three:
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Subscribe to the podcast. Click this link.
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Join our Facebook community. Click this link to get there.
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Get yourself a journal if you don't already have one. Click this link for a simple, inexpensive journal from Amazon.
-
Tell a friend about our podcast. Share it on your Facebook page or Instagram.
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Get ready to give us your input!
Next Week: Hear about Diane's new journey!
In this episode, part two of Getting Your Mind Out of Trouble, Chris gives listeners practical steps to get your mind out of the presence of your troubles and into God's presence.
Note: On June 15 we will begin season three of the WFW podcast with a series you won't want to miss. You'll get a chance to get a free copy of Women Finishing Well, win some prizes, and join a challenge that will change your life. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for details (link below). Tell your friends!
Show Notes & Links:
-The first step in getting our mind out of trouble is to recognize that the root of what is troubling us is a lie. The only antidote to a lie is the Truth!
-Getting to the truth can be hard work--there is no "easy button." But the work is worth it.
Some practical steps to get your mind out of trouble:
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Call the lie out with a declaration of personal truth from God's Word. Chris gives a personal example from Romans 8:31-35.
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Put together an arsenal of personal declarations for issues that frequently trip you up (remember last week's inventory challenge?)
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Use praise and worship:
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Recall and remember what God has done (Lam. 3:25, James 1:17). Start keeping a list in your journal of ways God has shown up in your life. Look over this list daily.
- Praise and worship God. Sing when you're alone, in your car, in the shower, at the sink, or whenever trouble comes your way. If singing isn't your thing, memorize some verses (Psalms is great) that praise God or just let it flow from your heart. This isn't always easy in trouble, but just do it!
- Praise needs to be a habit to be spontaneous. Find triggers in your day when you can praise and worship: driving in the car, when you're at the sink doing dishes or meal prep, when you're in front of the mirror putting on make-up--pick some chores you do every day.
-Above all, work on changing your perspective--how you see trouble. Consider memorizing Colossians 3:1-2 from your favorite Bible version.
-Please be sure and leave your tips for getting your mind out of trouble in the comments or on the Women Finishing Well Facebook page.
Links:
-Get your copy of The Mary Answer here.
-Join our Facebook community here.
In this short kickstarter episode, Chris gives listeners a challenge to help turn down the commotion around us so we can hear God whispering to our hearts.
Show Notes & Links:
Question: Have you ever said, "I've had enough!" If so, you're in good company.
-The two-week remodel that is lasting over two months.
-When I feel like I've had enough, I want to remember God is enough. Easier said than done, right?
-Praise will pull us out of the presence of our problems and into God's presence.
-What did God say to Elijah when he ran and hid from Jezebel? 1 Kings 19:11-12
-We need to learn to lean in and listen for that whisper. He is the Waymaker. He is here.
Challenge: Take inventory this week. Is there something going on in your life (commotion?) that is drowning out God's still small voice? Keep track of when you find yourself present with your problems and absent from God. What is happening? What are you thinking? Next week, we'll talk more.
Links:
-Click here to watch the beautiful lyric video of Waymaker by Michael W. Smith
-Click here to join our Facebook community. Lots coming up in June you won't want to miss.
In this episode Chris looks at how accepting troubles that come our way can actually draw us closer to God. This week's episode is inspired by the book Be Still My Soul by Elisabeth Elliott.
Show Notes & Links
-Why trouble can sometimes throw us for a loop that carries us further from God.
-"Our major problems with acceptance usually have to do with timing because God’s timetable is always different from ours”.
-In Isaiah 40:31, God promises to be walk with us when we walk through our troubles; not if. Troubles in this life are a given. And God will use those troubles to draw us closer to Him.
-The six choices we need to make when we are faced with trouble.
Links:
-Click to check out the book, Be Still My Soul by Elisabeth Elliott.
-Join our Facebook community and get news of upcoming books, events, and giveaways here.
In this kickstarter episode, Chris asks the question, is there such a thing as good trouble?
Show Notes & Links
-In John 16:31-33, Jesus told us we are going to have trouble in this world. He also said we should be of good cheer. How do we reconcile those two?
-If we look for the negative, we will find the negative. If we look for the good, that's what we'll find. You'll always find what you are looking for.
-Sometimes we need to wait awhile before we can see it, but other times it's right there in the midst of the trouble. Seeing God's goodness requires us to trust in His timing.
-O God, help us to find your goodness in our everyday lives.
Links:
Click here to check out Craig Groeschel's book, Winning The War In Your Mind.
Join our Facebook community here.
Don't forget to share this episode with a friend!
In this episode Chris talks about the difference between just knowing God's Word and making it alive and powerful in your life.
Show Notes & Links:
-Honor mothers with us this week!
-Today's scripture: Heb. 4:12
-The difference between knowing the Word of God and owning it as your own.
-How to dig a trench of truth in your life.
Links:
-Click here to learn more about Craig Groeschel's new book, Winning the War in Your Mind.
Be sure and share today's podcast with a friend!
Welcome to our new series, Kickstarters, designed to get your day going with God. Grab your journal or notebook and your Bible let's get going. Just give us ten minutes.
In this episode we explore how anchoring your life in 24-hour increments can keep you from experiencing what God has for you.
Show Notes & Links:
Read Jude: 24-25
-What is the difference between Jesus' timetable (kairos time) and our timetable (chronos time)?
-The art of being able to tell what is important from what is urgent.
-How is God calling us out of our "24-hour calendar" into his divine time schedule?
-What can you give up to create some margin in your life for what is important?
Want to go deeper? Read Matthew 6:25-35 and do a SOAP study (scripture, observations, application, and prayer).
Links:
Are you interested in getting a bulk quantity of books for your next Bible study for just $5 each? Right now, we're offering Women Finishing Well at a group discount when you order through us. Just email Chris at chris@womenfinishingwell.com for more information.
This week we're kicking off a new series called Kickstarters: 5-minutes podcasts that will get your day focused on Jesus. In this episode we take a quick look at what happens when we let other people make rules for us to live into.
Show Notes & Links:
-Read Eph. 3:16-19, The New Living Translation
-Bob Goff's new parenting story
-People like to make rules that make other people look like themselves. Can you relate?
-Be careful not to compare yourself, your kids, your home, you job, and even your suffering with others around you.
-God never compares what He creates...You're already in!
-Would you join us in prayer?
Links:
Link to Bob Goff's book: Live in Grace, Walk in Love.
Click here to check out our latest Bible study, The Mary Answer.
In the last episode of our spring break series, Chris interviews national speaker, author, and comedian Amberly Neese about her new book The Belonging Project. Get ready--you're going to laugh.
Show Notes & Links
-Find out how Amberly got interested in comedy. What are the hardest and best things about using comedy to teach the Bible.
-What inspired Amberly to write her latest Bible study, The Belonging Project?
-Find out how you can be a dongle for Jesus.
-A look at the four “one-another” scriptures the book is based on.
-Why making new friends can be hard work and why we need to persevere.
-If building friendships is a challenge for you, Amberly has some specific words of encouragement for you.
Links: (click ‘em, they’re live)
Amberly’s website and contact information here.
Find out more about Aspire women’s events here.
Find out more about Marriage Date Night events here.
Get your copy of our latest Bible study, The Mary Answer-embracing God's disruptions and detours, by clicking here.
This week in our spring break series we look back at another "best of the best." This episode is part two of our interview with Dr. Maggie Syme on how to navigate life changes that relate to aging. In this episode we'll talk about the practical "how-to." There is a link in the show notes to listen to part one of this interview you won't want to miss!
Show Notes & Links
- Why we need people around us when changes comes at us unexpectedly.
- Why understanding your own strengths in a challenge is important.
- Have friends facing sudden change? Just show up. Remember their tangible needs too.
- How to instigate “what if” conversations with loved ones about matters like end-of-life care. (Hint: it’s okay to admit it is awkward)
Tips you can use: 1. Be compassionate to yourself! 2. Find success stories in your social circle (your squad) for inspiration. 3. Celebrate your little wins.
Links: * Link to part one of this interview here. * Five Wishes organization and end of life documents. * Starting the conversation on end-of-life care (from AARP)
What do you think? What are your tips for handling changes that want to throw you off track? Join us on Facebook and jump into the conversation! Click here.
In this episode of our Spring Break series, Chris and Diane interview longtime friend Dona Kabeary about how a devastating life change brought a new focus in her journey to serve God and finish well.
Show Notes * How God turned a tragic loss into a new path Dona never thought was possible. * Why we should never limit how God can use us--He is able! * What happened when God asked Dona to put down her Bible, her journal, and her pen and just listen. * Special encouragement for those going through changing times and wondering what’s next.
Links: click 'em, they're live –Join our Facebook community here.
–Get your copy of the Women Finishing Well Bible study here.
In this episode, Chris interviews professor Dr. Amy Hanson about how our churches can empower the growing Baby Boomer generation to help reach the world for Jesus.
Show Notes & Links: * Meet Dr. Amy Hanson, author and gerontology professor at the University of Nebraska with a heart for the church. * What's the reality? Amy shares some key data about the Baby Boomer generation. * How the largest generation in history has already changed history--and wants to continue to make a difference. * Why we need to revamp the old "Senior Ministry" model. * How to approach your church leadership to help. * The big picture: the largest generation includes large numbers of people that need to know Jesus. * Why multi-generational ministry is a key to bringing the church together. * Final words: Stay connected to God, be willing to step out and take a risk on your dream. Where do you want to leave your heart?
Links: * Baby Boomers and Beyond (Amy's book) * Amy Hanson's website * Link to the Women Finishing Well Facebook page
In this next episode of our Spring Break series, we have an honest conversation with two young women about why we need friends from different generations. Chris and Diane interview two Millennial women who give their take on why younger and older women need each other. You'll want to share this episode for sure.
Meet Becca Syme and Lauren Gelman
Becca is a full-time writer and writing coach, and also has a side gig as the worship director at her church. She holds a master's degree in Transformational Leadership from Bethel Seminary. She is also Chris' daughter.
Lauren is the Associate Director of Foursquare Multiply, a church planting organization through the Foursquare denomination that serves eleven states in the West Coast region. She holds a master's degree in Strategic Leadership from Life Pacific University. She and Diane work together.
Show Notes * How important is it to have friendships in other age groups? * How diversity broadens our scope. * Advice for women who want to build friendships outside their own generation? * Why mentoring programs are struggling. * The best advice we all had: don't be afraid to ask women of other ages to get together. You have to be intentional. * Advice to all generations: We all approach life differently. Be open to difference and establish a relationship based on trust. * Tip: if you're looking for a place to start, look for a volunteer opportunity where women of multiple generations take part.
Links: -Go to our Facebook page and give us your best tips for developing multi-generational friendships. How have they enriched your life? https://www.facebook.com/womenfinishingwell/
-Here's a link to share this episode with friends: https://womenfinishingwell.com/episode112/
In this episode Chris interviews blogger Melanie Davis Porter about her journey through grief after losing family members in a tragedy.
Show Notes & Links * Defining grief as a season and how God brings balance to our seasons. * How the enemy of your heart can complicate your grief. * Defining your season of mourning and its purpose for the healing journey. * How to share your grief with others. * How looking back at God’s faithfulness helps us deal with our present hurt. * Why you should keep an inventory (journal) on how God shows up in your grief. * Andrew Murray prayer for troubled times:
“In time of trouble, say, First, He brought me here. It is by His will I am in this strait place; in that I will rest. Next, He will keep me here in his love, and give me grace in this trial to behave as his child. Then say, He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me lessons he intends me to learn, and working in me the grace he means to bestow. And last, say, In his good time he can bring me out again. How and when, he knows. Therefore, say, I am here (1) by God’s appointment, (2) in His keeping, (3) under His training, (4) for His time.”
Where to find Melanie... * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelanieDavisPorter/ * Twitter & Instagram: @melaniedavisporter * Blog & website: https://melaniedavisporter.com/
In this first edition of our spring break series, we visit with Cathy Lamb about how she handled some unexpected detours in her journey to serve God in full-time ministry. Sometimes a change of direction is the best thing that can happen to us.
Show Notes & Links:
- Meet Cathy Lamb and follow her unexpected journey when she was called into full-time ministry at age 50.
- The challenges of being a woman in church leadership.
- How to recalibrate when God closes a door.
- Listening to God when you're navigating hurt.
- God's faithfulness and our call to be the best we can be.
- Cling to the One who calls and let go of the calling.
(Correction: Cathy Lamb has a master's degree in Transformational Leadership from Bethel Seminary.)
Where you can find us * We'd love to connect with you on our Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/womenfinishingwell/ * If you've read The Mary Answer, would you be willing to post a review on Amazon? Click on the "ratings" right under the title of the book on this page: https://bit.ly/maryanswer
What has the call of God looked like in your life? Let us know in the comments.
Don't forget to join us next week in our new series, Spring Break: The Best of Friends and Family.
In this episode Chris interviews podcast host Michelle Nezat about how to develop a personal worship habit that will take you deeper in your relationship with God in 2021.
Show Notes & Links:
-Hear the story of how Michelle started her podcast, More Than A Song.
-The difference between corporate worship (in a group) and personal worship and why both are important.
-Personal worship needs to be part of our everyday time with God. And the form can vary.
-Our tips for a deeper personal worship experience. Michelle shares her worship tools.
-How to make Christian music part of your daily time with God.
Links:
Where to find Michelle's podcasts and website:
Subscribe to her podcast on your favorite player: http://michellenezat.com/starthere/
-Check out her new videocast and YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6ywEchlFvrKZdZjXlVoqVA
-Michelle's website: http://michellenezat.com/
Don't forget to stay tuned for our Spring Break series starting next week: interviews with women who are finishing well in their everyday lives! Tell a friend!
Does prayer seem complicated or cumbersome to you? In this episode Chris interviews devotional author Chris Baxter about how to revitalize and simplify your prayer life. Part of our Digger Deeper With God series.
Show Notes & Links:
-Chris' unique devotional writing style comes from her deep search for God that produced a heart change of her understanding of God's love.
-Understanding and knowing the width of God's character produces a more personal prayer/conversation with God.
-"It's okay to bring all my struggles and heart's desires to Him knowing He's going to listen." He is never too busy for us.
-Using God's Word in our prayers makes them powerful.
-Writing out our prayers helps cement them into our hearts.
-"Prayer is a gift from God and it's our choice to open it."
-Sometimes we overrate the difficulty of prayer. It's not difficult, it's just a choice.
-Pray specifically and boldly as a child of God. Know the One we are praying to knows how to answer with His very best.
-Chris answers the question: "what if you're not sure prayer is worth the effort?"
Links (click 'em, they're live):
Be sure and check out Chris' new book, A 40-Day Journey of Prayer: A daily choice to talk to God. It's available on her website, Respite For The Weary, here.
Find Chris here:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RespitefortheWeary
Soul Sisters Ministry: https://www.soulsistersministry.com/
In this episode Chris offers listeners a free tool to get a daily time with God's Word established--guaranteed. This is the first in a mini series on Digging Deeper with God in 2021.
Show Notes & Links:
-Building a strong foundation is the first step to leaving a lasting legacy of faith. And that strong foundation has some key elements.
-Why a daily time with God in His Word is essential to building that legacy.
-Today's free tool will guide you step-by-step through the process of getting a morning routine going with God no matter what your day looks like.
- The 5-day study is downloadable and includes a 30-day challenge to help you establish your daily routine.
Links:
Click here to download your free five-day Bible study and tool kit.
Join us on Facebook. Click here.
Have you got a copy of our new Bible study, The Mary Answer: Embracing God's Disruptions and Detours? Click to get yours here.
In this episode Chris talks about the exciting projects Women Finishing Well has in store for you in 2021. And no, this isn't an episode about New Year's resolutions!
Show Notes & Links
-Our missions when we started in 2019. The wayback machine.
-What we brought your way in 2020 (Rom. 12:1, The Message) How are you doing with that?
-Where we'd like to go in 2021 (Rom. 12:2, Heb. 12:1)
-It's time to start running a race unhindered--throw off everything that is weighing you down.
-Exciting projects we have for you in 2021.
Links:
-If you've read The Mary Answer and would like to leave a review, click here and then on the link for "Leave a customer review"
Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Sticher, or Spotify.
Get a copy of our study Women Finishing Well here
Join our Facebook community here.
What do you need to throw off in 2021? Let us know in the comments on the podcast page on our website at womenfinishingwell.com/podcast
In this episode Chris and Diane talk about God's purpose in the disruptions and detours of our everyday lives.
Show Notes & Links:
-John 16:33 - the "Trouble Sandwich." Jesus tells us the truth about trouble and sandwiches it in between two assurances that He's got it covered.
-When God disrupts our everyday lives, it is an invitation to come closer to Him.
-God is asking us to embrace our everyday ordinary lives as a blessing from Him, and this includes disruption. (Rom. 12:1, The Message)
-God will use disruptions to change our lives to do His work.
-Ps. 23:4-5: God is always with us--even in the dark valleys. We don't have to find Him--all we have to do is reach out.
Links - Click 'em, they're live.
Visit our Facebook page (Women Finishing Well) and leave your prayer requests or a comment about today's podcast. How is God using disruptions in your life?
Have you got your copy of The Mary Answer yet? Our new Bible study is on sale on Amazon until the end of the month. Choose ebook or print book. Click here to het your copy.
In this episode Chris and Diane share the breaking news that their new Bible study, The Mary Answer: Embracing God's Disruptions and Detours is available right now on Amazon. Listen as they talk about who this book is for and dig into why you need to read it.
Show Notes & Links:
-The Mary Answer is on sale right now on Amazon until the end of January. Ebooks are 99 cents and the print books are $9.99. If you are a Kindle Unlimited subscriber you can get the book for free. Click here to get yours now!
-Bulk copies (10 or more) are available for $5 each. Email Chris directly if you are interested. Email chris@womenfinishingwell.com
-Hear what people are saying about The Mary Answer.
-If you want to go wherever God is calling you to receive His best for you, this book if for you!
-Hear a story from chapter one about The Great British Baking Show!
-The abundant life really starts to take hold when we walk through storms with Jesus. All things are not good, but God is good in all things.
Links:
Click to get your book now.
-Join our Facebook community and connect with us here.
In this episode Chris and Diane will preview their new Bible study, The Mary Answer. Find out how it will transform your 2021.
Show Notes & Links:
-This new study looks at how God uses life's disruptions to bring us unexpected blessings and a closer walk with Him. It all starts with saying "yes" to His invitation.
-The six-session study book includes lots of tools and a 30-day devotional at the end to help you step into what you've learned over thirty days.
-The study is a great fit for a group that wants to do a shorter study to give their busy schedule a break.
-You'll study seven ordinary people in the people who did extraordinary things when they said "yes" to God.
-Diane and Chris share their favorite story of inspiration from the study.
Links & News:
**If you would like to purchase a bulk quantity of books (10+) for a study, email Chris directly and you can buy the books for just $5 each. Each bulk order includes a personal Zoom visit from Chris for your Bible study group. Email her at chris@womenfinishgwell.com for more information.
-Link to our Facebook page to join the conversation and stay tuned for more book launch news: https://www.facebook.com/womenfinishingwell
-The book will be available on Amazon January 18 with special discounts for print and ebook until the end of the month. In next week's podcast, we'll give you the links!
In this episode Chris and Diane share their process for choosing a direction for spiritual growth in the new year. Stories and tips that will motivate you to get going with God in 2021!
Show Notes:
-What does your 2021 look like?
-How to set a spiritual direction for the coming year.
- Start by looking back your challenges and blessings.
- How to choose focus words for the coming year. What is God stirring in your heart to pursue?
- Always start with prayer and an emphasis on listening to God's voice.
-Chris and Diane share their words and scriptures for 2021.
-Where to go after you choose your focus words?
-How to find scriptures for "base study" for the year.
-The biggest tip of all: Be flexible.
The next podcast will be the week of January 10 when we start previewing our new Bible study, The Mary Answer.* Don't miss!
Links:
-Here's a link to Day One of our mini podcast series, "30 Days to Embracing God's Disruptions and Detours." It's a great way to get going with a daily time with God in 2021. Thirty 5-minute devotionals: https://womenfinishingwell.com/day1/
Don't forget to visit our Facebook page (Women Finishing Well) and join our community. Let us know how you're getting ready for 2021!
In this episode, Chris and Diane look back at the year that was 2020. Starting with an attitude of gratitude, they reminisce about their personal struggles, how God showed up in their lives, and why you should do the same.
Show Notes & Links:
-How to look back at 2020. Start with an attitude of gratitude and look for blessings in the trouble.
-How to look ahead: the process of choosing words and scripture to guide your spiritual journey.
-Chris and Diane look back at how 2020 was a mix of blessing, confusion, and personal challenges.
Links:
-Please go to the podcast page (womenfinishingwell.com/episode101) and share your takeaways from 2020. You can also join the conversation on our Facebook page, Women Finishing Well.
-Chris' recommended reads: The Gentle Answer by Scott Sauls and Enter Wild by Carlos Whittaker.
-Be sure and join us New Year's Day for a look ahead at 2021!
In this episode Diane and Chris continue their conversation about how to make holidays special, even in the new normal. Part two.
Show Notes & Links
-What traditions can you keep?
-Which traditions can be changed and still be safe?
-Are there traditions you'll just have to set aside this year?
-Diane's words of wisdom: "Wisely choose the hills you want to die on in these battles. You may not be able to get in all those traditions, but think creatively about what you can do."
-Diane and Chris share stories about the traditions they are going to try and keep alive and new traditions they want to create.
Links:
Episode 70 - Part 1 of Celebrating Holidays in the New Normal
Link to our Facebook page
Subscribe to our podcast on the player of your choice so you won't miss a day of our upcoming devotional series, "30 Days to Embracing God's Disruptions and Detours: The Mary Answer. Starting November 16!
In this two-part series Chris and Diane give listeners tips about how to make the holidays special this year, even in the midst of a pandemic.
Show Notes & Links:
Scripture References: Deuteronomy 6:4-9, 11:2-7
-Why we need to work hard at normalcy during the holidays.
-What about people disconnected from family?
-What to do if you're doing holidays alone.
-Tips for how to keep traditions alive.
-Be sure and look around you for people who are alone on the holidays.
Links (click 'em, they're live):
-Connect with our Facebook community. Also, please leave your prayer requests so we can join you in prayer: https://www.facebook.com/womenfinishingwell
-Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, or Spotify and don't miss a day of our 30 Days to Embrace Disruptions and Detours starting November 16: https://womenfinishingwell.com/category/podcast/
Join us for the final day of 30 days to embracing God's disruptions and detours; a preview of our new Bible study, The Mary Answer. Today's devotion is called, "No Holds Barred." We want to wish you all a merry and peaceful Christmas! Be sure and be listening next week when we share our biggest lessons from 2020!
Day 30: No Holds Barred (transcript & links)
Read the Word: Romans 12:2 (The Message). Read today’s scriptures and take note of anything that catches your heart. What do you observe that God might want you to single out and pray about? Write down your observations.
The history of wrestling stretches back over 15,000 years ago, first referenced in cave drawings as a method of hand-to-hand combat. The modern sport of wrestling evolved through many iterations but was one of the sports mentioned in the ancient Olympic Games. The rules of the sport also evolved over the years governing the types of “holds” that were illegal and could disqualify a competitor. In the 1800s, wrestling became a mainstream form of entertainment and you could take in a respectable match at the opera house, or one not so respectful in a local dive bar or barn where the free form of “no holds barred” wrestling could include a fight to the death. A pop culture movie of the same name in 1989 had a tagline that read, “No Ring. No Ref. No Rules.”
Modern Christianity has a lot of rules. This is what a good Christian looks like. This is what a good Christian church looks like. This is what a good Christian woman looks like. And so on. There is always going to be a brand of Pharisee-influenced faith that makes so much noise that it gets tough to hear God. Add to that the hectic life pace we all live with and it’s no wonder we can’t discern the Spirit moving in our lives. It’s like God is in the background, not the foreground where He belongs. Maybe, as Carlos Whittaker wrote in Enter Wild, we need to lower the volume of our lives so the volume of God can go up.
Keeping all the rules takes a lot of time and energy. What if we took that time and energy to just slow down and listen? To read and pray more? To shut off the TV and power down the phones for just a couple hours at the end of the day? What if we decided to follow Jesus with no holds barred?
Good Christians don’t have trouble. There, I said it. That’s the first rule we need to get rid of. Jesus said in John 16:33, “I have told you these things so that in me, you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Jesus is busting all the holds on abundant life. In the first half of John 10:10 he identifies the truth: the thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy. And in the second half of that verse He gives us his solution: “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
Wait in prayer: Are there any holds in your life that are keeping you from going all in and answering the call of God to a more abundant life? Do you have a bag of excuses like Moses? A bullying friend or family member like Hannah? A career path like Paul that is drawing you away from God? We’re going to end our 30 days together with a personalized prayer from Romans 12:2, The Message version. Memorize it. It will help you recognize when the world has a stranglehold on your life. That’s an illegal hold, by the way.
“O God, don’t let me become so well-adjusted to my culture that I fit into it without even thinking. Instead, help me fix my attention on you, God. I invite you to change me from the inside out. Holy Spirit, help me readily recognize what You want from me, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around me that always drags me down to its level of immaturity, you, God, bring the best out of me. You develop well-formed maturity in me. Teach me to listen.
Worship: Chain Breaker performed by Zach Williams
Links (click 'em, they're live)
Link to the lyric video for Chain Breaker by Zach Williams
Link to sign up for our launch team and get your free copy of The Mary Answer.
Join us in the Women Finishing Well community on Facebook.
Stay tuned next week when we resume our regular podcast episodes with a look back at 2020.
Join us for Day 29 of 30 days to embracing God's disruptions and detours; a preview of our new Bible study, The Mary Answer. Today's devotion is called, "Don't Forget the Because." You can find out how you can sign up for a free copy of our upcoming study and be a part of our launch team in the show notes.
Day 29-Don’t Forget the Because (transcript & links)
Read the Word: Habakkuk 3:17-19 Read today’s scriptures and take note of anything that catches your heart. What do you observe that God might want you to single out and pray about? Write down your observations.
Dental work is my nemesis. I dread the appointment for days. I’ve never been a big fan of mouth pain. Even a routine cleaning throws me for a loop. I’ve always had a hard time remembering to floss. When I shared that with my dentist at an appointment, my dentist told me, oh, you don’t have to floss your teeth every day. Shocked at this new revelation of oral care, I answered, really? And he glibly answered, only the ones you want to keep.
Knowing the “because” brings tasks and commands to life. Just telling me to floss every day for good mouth health, whatever that is, wasn’t very motivating. The because—you’re going to lose your teeth—was the clincher.
In our journey to embrace the disruptions and detours God brings our way, we need to know the because to buy in. Some scholars believe that the short book of Habakkuk was written to prepare Israel for captivity by the Babylonians using a series of oracles. But at the end of this short three-chapter book, Habakkuk ends with a prayer that contains the three necessary declarations of making it through disruption with our faith strengthened: though, yet, and because.
Though (v. 17): “though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls…” There is nothing good on this list, so we know the prophet is setting us up for how to deal with trouble--whatever is coming.
Yet (v. 18): “yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” Now these two verses together represent a statement of faith about trouble. They are comforting. But they are also perplexing. How is this possible? Enter the because.
Because (v. 19): “The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.” When you add the because, we understand that it is possible to rejoice in trouble. Not because of what we believe, but because of Who He Is.
Friend, it’s one thing to know what the Bible promises, and another great thing to believe it’s true. But until we accept that this life of faith is only possible because of Who God is, we just have some promises on paper. They are true, because the one who promised is True. Never, ever forget the because.
Wait in prayer: Is it possible that our faith can be in our faith and not in our God? If I just believe, it will be true? Confess to God that your faith is in Him, not in what you believe. Thank Him for his power at work within you, for his intervention of blessings and trouble in your life. Ask Him to help you see disruption for what it really is—an opportunity to get closer to Him. And ask Him to help you really believe that He is the because behind your faith. .
Worship: I Believe (The Creed) performed by Hillsong Worship
Links (click 'em, they're live)
Link to lyric video of I Believe by Hillsong Worship. This wonderful video was made in Kiev.
Click to sign up and get your free copy of The Mary Answer and join our launch team.
Day 28- Playing the Long Game (transcript & links)
Read the Word: James 1:3-4, Romans 8:28 Read today’s scriptures and take note of anything that catches your heart. What do you observe that God might want you to single out and pray about? Write down your observations.
When I was a new Christian, I was so enthusiastic about God. I couldn’t get enough of Jesus. I was blessed with close Christian women friends who were my age and like-minded. We would get together and talk about our hopes and dreams of serving God. Then life happened.
I remember driving down the road with my closest friend one day and we began ruminating about how the Christian life sometimes felt like a slog. And she said, “yeah, we’re just looking for that life of ease, aren’t we? Where is that abundant life, anyway?” We had identified the classic mistaken identity of abundant life. We were trying to put together events, relationships, and even moments that were evidence that God really loved us. But they were so mixed in with the cares of life that we couldn’t see what was right in front of us; God present in our everyday, ordinary lives.
The abundant life is not our creation; it is embracing who God created us to be. The abundant life is not a formula, it is a process of following where God leads; clearing out the underbrush one section at a time. It’s a long game that is filled with blessings and troubles. Those two are not separated—remember Romans 8:28? All things work together to form the abundant life God has for us.
Are you willing to grow with the good and the bad? For the rest of your life? Do you believe that God’s best for you is sometimes forged in trouble? Life with God is a mixture of high points, normality, and disruptions. When we finally get to the place where we embrace the life God has given us, God is blessed (Rom. 12:1, The Message). Rise up. God’s love for you is right here, right now. In all of it.
Wait in prayer: Do you believe the abundant life is a long game dotted with detours and disruptions? If you haven’t done this already, write out a personalized version of James 1:2-4. I like the New Living Translation for these verses. Get yourself some colored index cards and write this out on several cards of different colors. Put one in your purse, on your refrigerator, on your bathroom mirror, in your car, on the inside of your door to the outside…anywhere you’ll see it. Say it out loud every time you see it. I recommend doing this for at least 30 days or more. But always keep one in your purse and on your bathroom mirror. Remember, you’re playing the long game.
Worship: Rise Up performed by Matt Maher
Links (click 'em, they're live)
Link to lyric video for Rise Up by Matt Maher
Link to sign up for your free copy of the Mary Answer ebook and join our book launch team.
Join us for Day 27 of 30 days to embracing God's disruptions and detours; a preview of our new Bible study, The Mary Answer. Today's devotion is called, "First Things First" and it includes a free tool you won't want to miss. And you can also find out how you can sign up for a free copy of our upcoming study and be a part of our launch team.
Day 27 - First Things First (transcript & links)
Read the Word: Hebrews 4:12, Matthew 7:24-27 Read today’s scriptures and take note of anything that catches your heart. What do you observe that God might want you to single out and pray about? Write down your observations.
I was engaged in a robust conversation the other day with a friend about how our kids don’t seem to know much about the Bible. It seems her husband mentioned to their adult son that a certain TV show might not be appropriate for their young children. Like many of these generational conversations go, the olders tend to point to the Bible and the youngers, even though brought up in a Biblical home, sometimes think that the “old-fashioned” version of the scriptures is too strict. But what struck me was that when both sides asked for evidence from the Bible, neither one knew where their “side” could be found.
Today, more than ever before, the Word of God needs to be evident in our lives, not just in our speech. In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus talks about the wise builder and the foolish builder. But most people I talk to remember this as a parable of the foundations—the sand and the rock. We know that the rock is a life built on following God and the sand is, well, foolish. But let’s dig a little deeper into this parable. It isn’t just about knowing what the Bible says and being able to use that in an argument—even by chapter and verse. What Jesus was really getting at here is found in verses 24 and 26. “Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.” I truly believe there are a lot of professed Christians who fit this verse. According to a Lifeway Research report, 12 percent of church goers in the U.S. rarely or never read their Bible. The same report said less than one-third of the whole group surveyed reads the Bible regularly. It’s probably hard to put into practice what you don’t read regularly.
In Women Finishing Well, we encourage our followers, readers and podcast listeners to adopt a routine we call First Things First. It’s a daily practice of five disciplines you can do in about ten to fifteen minutes that connects you to God directly. It is imperative that Christ followers learn how to connect with Jesus through a personal, interactive relationship with God’s Word. Why? Because a closer relationship with the Word opens the lines of communication between us and God’s Spirit in us. It allows God to speak directly into our lives; to lead us and guide us in the way we should go. (Ps. 32:8) It is about a relationship with the living God.
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12)
Notice that the word of God is capable of dividing our souls from our spirit. It is that precise and sharp. The word judges our attitudes and helps us discern right from wrong. Without reading the Bible that is all just guess work.
To go deeper with God, I recommend you consider a daily morning routine that will keep your heart and mind sharp and connected with God. I call these disciplines the 5 Ws:
- Wake-up call:a prayer first thing I the morning before you get out of bed that focuses on God’s faithfulness and commits the day to Him. It can be as long or short as you like.
- Water:Before you put any caffeine or sugar or other substances in your body, drink a glass of water—cold or warm, it doesn’t matter. It has numerous health benefits that include a clearer mind.
- Word:a short study of God’s word. I recommend using a SOAP method to interact with a passage of your choice. Or, use one of the many reading plans available in many places including the YouVersion Bible app.
- Wait in prayer:Prayer and reflection on what you’ve studied and intercession for requests on your heart.
- Worship:End with some sort of praise—it could be reading a psalm or listening to a worship song on YouTube, Pandora, or Spotify.
If you’re interested in running through a short mini study on how to incorporate the 5 Ws into your day, you can access our mini study for free on the Women Finishing Well website. The link is in the show notes below. Once you start this daily habit, you’ll never look back. Remember, if this is new to you, start slow—maybe ten minutes a day.
Wait in prayer: Ask God to help you start a new personal habit of regular Bible study. If you already read and study regularly, ask God to take you deeper. Ask God to help you be faithful—and if you miss a day, remember God is always there waiting for you to come back. More than anything, He wants to reveal his heart to you in his Word.
Worship: Your Word performed by Hillsong
Links (click 'em, they're live):
Link to the lyric video for Your Word by HIllsong.
Bonus worship video: Thy Word by Amy Grant
Access our free mini Bible study on how to start a First Things First routine in just ten minutes a day here: https://womenfinishingwell.com/first-things-first-free-tool/
Click to sign up for your free ebook copy of The Mary Answer and join our launch team!
Join us for Day 26 of 30 days to embracing God's disruptions and detours; a preview of our new Bible study, The Mary Answer. Today's devotion is called, "Don't Look Down." Find out how you can sign up for a free copy of our upcoming study and be a part of our launch team in the show notes
Day 26: Don't Look Down (transcript and links)
Read the Word: Mt. 14:22-33 Read today’s scriptures and take note of anything that catches your heart. What do you observe that God might want you to single out and pray about? Write down your observations.
In Matthew 14 Jesus had just fed thousands of people with five loaves and two fishes. After the disciples picked up the leftovers, Jesus told them to get in a boat and go to the other side of the lake without him. After their boat was a considerable distance out, the wind came up and the waves started to rock the boat. Now there were a few fishermen in this boat so I don’t imagine they were scared; just focused. To navigate choppy waters you need to concentrate on the movement of the boat against the wind. Then Jesus came to their boat walking on the water. Now they were terrified. (Mat. 14:26) Now they had two sets of troubles at once: the rocking boat and someone walking on the water they thought might be a ghost.
But recognizing Jesus on the water gave Peter enough courage to ask to walk on the water as well. Jesus didn’t give him any instructions; he didn’t test the wind speed or look to see if Peter’s clothing was too heavy. He just said “Come.”
Peter got out of the boat and started walking. Then he did the one thing we do sometimes when we’re in troubled waters—he looked down, saw the wind and the waves, and began to sink. Instead of keeping his eyes focused on the miraculous presence of Jesus, he looked at his challenge. In that moment, Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. (v. 31)
Is there something you’re going through right now that feels like a rocking boat in a wind storm? Don’t doubt him. He is standing there right with you, calling you. And don’t take your eyes off him. But if you do get distracted by the waves, look up. He is there to catch you when you start sinking.
Wait in prayer: Write out this personalized prayer from Deuteronomy 31:6 and put it on your list of scripture prayers to memorize: “I will be strong and courageous. I will not be afraid or terrified, for you are with me, Jesus. I know you are with me wherever I go. I thank you that you will never leave me or forsake me.”
Worship: Waymaker performed by Michael W. Smith
Links (click 'em, they're live)
Link to the lyric video for Waymaker by Michael W. Smith
Click to sign up to get a free copy of The Mary Answer and join our launch team. We'd love to have you!
Today's devotion is called, "Everyday Ordinary Trouble - The Real Proving Ground." Don't forget to find out how you can get a free copy of the new Bible study and join our launch team in the show notes.
Day 25 - Everyday Ordinary Trouble - The Real Proving Ground (transcript)
Read the Word: Read Mt. 6:34, 1 Cor. 10:13, Romans 12:1 (The Message) Read today’s scriptures and take note of anything that catches your heart. What do you observe that God might want you to single out and pray about? Write down your observations.
About 200 miles west of Phoenix lies the nation’s largest military proving ground—one of the biggest military installations in the world. Its climate, weather, and location make it the perfect location for testing every ground combat weapon in the U.S. military arsenal. The Yuma Proving Ground includes over 1300 square miles of land. Its remote desert terrain is the perfect practice spot for everything from unmanned helicopters to tanks to land mine systems.
The proving ground is the soldier’s safety net. Can you imagine what devastation might occur if soldiers were sent into the battlefield with faulty weapons? A proving ground is a place that demonstrates whether a weapon really works or not.
God has given us a proving ground for our faith. It’s called our everyday, ordinary life. When we embrace the disruptions that come into our everyday, we are ready to face the bigger challenges that interrupt those everyday lives. In the everyday we learn how to take thoughts captive with smaller challenges like when the hubby says he’s busy watching football so he can’t take the garbage out. Trivial, you say? You bet. Trivial challenges are where habits are made. When the car won’t start and we have a doctor’s appointment, how do we react? When we see a hateful remark about a friend on social media, what is our first response? When your daughter is the only classmate left out of the slumber party, what do you tell her? Sometimes when we are waiting around for the big tragic things to happen. We overlook our everyday lives as mundane or ho-hum. little things are the proving ground.
Remember 1 Cor. 10:13? Every temptation has a way out. Every piece of trouble has an exit door. Jesus said in Mat. 6:34 that every day has plenty of trouble. Do you approach your day with a mindset that trouble is not going to send you into a tailspin? When your girlfriend is 30 minutes late picking you up for a movie, do you get edgy with each minute that passes? If you take one thing with you from our new Bible study, let it be that our everyday ordinary lives have sufficient amounts of trouble to produce spiritual growth. And embracing those everyday, ordinary disruptions is the best things we can do for God. The. Best. Thing.
Wait in prayer: Do you really believe that everyday ordinary troubles are your faith’s proving ground? Write out the following version of Romans 12:1 from The Message and memorize it. It’s one of the most effective daily prayers you can pray, if you pray it from the heart. I guarantee it will make a huge difference in your spiritual growth when you start to walk it out.
“So here’s what I’m going to do, God. I’m taking my everyday ordinary life, my sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and placing it before you as an offering. Trouble or no trouble, I know embracing whatever you bring me is the best thing I can do for you.” (Personalized version of Rom. 12:1 from The Message)
Worship: I Will Follow performed by Chris Tomlin
Links (click 'em, they're live)
-Lyric video for I Will Follow You by Chris Tomlin
-Click and sign up for a free e-book copy of The Mary Answer and join our book launch team. We'd love to have you!
Day 24 - How the Garden Grows (study with us!)
Join us for a preview of our new Bible study, The Mary Answer, coming Jan. 18 and learn how you can get a free advance copy and join our launch team (link in the show notes).
Read the Word: John 15:1-8, Hebrews. 12:11 Read today’s scriptures and take note of anything that catches your heart. What do you observe that God might want you to single out and pray about? Write down your observations.
Raising a garden is a big commitment. Whether it’s just tomato plants in patio pots or a full-blown backyard vegetable garden that provides a pantry of canned goods, it’s a chore. When I first started gardening as a young wife, I wanted to plant everything. We had lots of spare room in the yard, so I asked my husband to till up a huge spot near our water supply. After all, I spent my growing up years hanging around the nursery owned by my Dad—I should good at this, right? The next spring I had had my blueprint and seeds ready to go. It took me a few days to get everything planted but when I was done, I beamed with excitement about the new grocery store growing in our yard. It took me two weeks to realize I had over-extended myself. Weeds, watering, fertilizing, and bugs became my full-time occupation. I was now a full-time gardener whether I liked it or not.
Jesus used the garden analogy in John 15 to teach us that spiritual growth is a work in progress. It happens in spurts, while we’re waiting in the desert, and when we have to take three steps backward and re-think. But in John 15, the focus is on the gardener’s part. In this whole scheme of things, we are branches. And as gardeners know, branches cannot survive apart from the plant. No matter how many Bible studies we attend, how many Sundays in a row we go to church, or how much money we tithe, we won’t survive as branches without a vital, living relationship plugged into the true vine.
Jesus said he is the true vine and his Father is the gardener. As branches, we have to remain attached to the vine in order to bear fruit because apart from the vine we can do nothing. He said that if we do not remain in him, we will wither and die. (John 15: 5-6) So how do we remain? “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.” (v. 10) And what command was he specifically referring to? “Love each other as I have loved you.” (v. 12) No long list of works to do, just something simple, but not easy.
As you journey through our new Bible study, The Mary Answer, there is one thing I hope you will take to heart: there is no growth without disruption. Jesus promised us that in John 16:33. So part of being a branch is being pruned. It can be painful, but afterward it produces a harvest of righteousness. (Heb. 12:11) God is the gardener. Jesus is the vine. It’s God’s purpose in pruning to make us more fruitful branches attached to the vine. Stay connected to the source of life and the gardener will make sure you will grow exceedingly, abundantly, over and above all you dare ask or think. (Eph. 3:20)
Wait in prayer: Read over John 15:1-8 write out a prayer of submission to God’s work in your life and your commitment to stay plugged into Jesus, the source of your life. Acknowledge his love you for you and thank him for his protection. Let him know that apart from him, you can do nothing.
Worship: Abide With Me by Matt Maher
Links (click 'em, they're live)
-Link to the lyric video for Abide With Me by Matt Maher
-Get your free copy of The Mary Answer and join our book launch team!
Join us for Day 23 of 30 days to embracing God's disruptions and detours; a preview of our new Bible study, The Mary Answer. Today's devotion is called, "There Is a Way Out." Find out how you can get a free advance copy of the new study in today's show notes.
Day 23 - There is a Way Out (transcript and links)
Read the Word: 1 Cor. 10:12-13 Read today’s scriptures and take note of anything that catches your heart. What do you observe that God might want you to single out and pray about? Write down your observations.
I have not had a good experience with a corn maze. As a matter of fact, I’ve only had one experience, and it was soooo enough that I never wanted to do it again. So if you’re asking me if I would recommend that as a nice leisurely autumn activity, I would say no—especially not at night with a group of middle school girls.
Granted, we had a guide so it started out well enough. But the guide got lost. It was a big maze. And the guide didn’t have a walky-talky—she forgot. And, this was the days before cell phones. And did I mention that I was leading a church youth group activity? Have you ever been stuck in a small pitch black space with a bunch of frightened, screaming teenage girls? At least their screaming got us found. That was about the only good thing that happened that night.
Sometimes when we’re caught in the darkness of sin, it can feel like we are lost in a maze in pitch black. There are lots of choice and we know that one them is the right way, but we can’t tell the good from the bad from the ugly. Thankfully, there is a way out. But we have to stop, look, and listen.
Paul puts our choices in perspective in 1 Corinthians 10:13, “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” (NLT)
I can’t always find my way in the dark. Especially if there is fear, indecision, or shame involved. But thankfully I have a Guide that does not need a walky-talky to find the right exit. You know what? God does not want to see you fail. He provides a way out. And if we look for the way out, we will find it. It may take some backtracking and winding around where you’ve been before, but you’ll get there. God’s got you surrounded.
Wait in prayer: Write out a prayer thanking God for providing a way out when you need one. You may want to write out 1 Cor. 10:13 and personalize it. Memorize it so that when you’re in the dark and you hit a dead end or can’t find the exit, you can reach out to the True Guide.
Worship: Surrounded (This is How I Fight My Battles) performed by Michael W. Smith
Links (click 'em, they're live)
Link to video of Surrounded by Michael W. Smith. The recurring lines in this video are, "This is how I fight my battles. It may look like I'm surrounded but I'm surrounded by You." I wanted you to see the performance video because it is a powerful worship experience. Be blessed.
Click the link to join our launch team and receive a free advance copy of The Mary Answer.
Day 22- Keeping It Simple (transcript)
Read the Word: Romans 7:15-20 Read today’s scriptures and take note of anything that catches your heart. What do you observe that God might want you to single out and pray about? Write down your observations.
I used to think New Year’s resolutions were a good idea. I mean, they are the perfect motivator for a person like me who likes goals and charts. For years I spent the last two weeks of every year pouring over the year before and prayerfully considering where I needed to be focusing my energies in the coming year in my career. One year I even spent $300 on a course that was designed to help me do this more efficiently. But two years later I had some major life challenges and I realized that this system didn’t allow for interruptions or detours. There was no wiggle room in my big plan to success. I sort of lost my motivation the following December to tackle the whole process again.
Then I read a book by Robert D. Smith called 20,000 Days And Counting, and I realized that the most important thing to master in life was today. In that short, power-packed book I learned more about following God than any Bible study I had read up to that point. I learned that I could not plot out the perfect Christian life (surprise-surprise) and no amount of goal setting or spread-sheeting was going to get me there. It was about lifestyle priorities and living each day with those in mind. And thanks to Robert D. Smith, I can tell your exactly how many days old I am—I put it in my journal every day.
Paul had a zest for living for today that was unparalleled in the Bible. On any given day he didn’t know if he was going to be thrown in jail, stoned, or called before the highest authority in the land to preach the gospel. And he didn’t care. He just took what came and did what he was called to do with every ounce of energy he had. And Paul wasn’t perfect…and he knew it.
“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ” (Romans 7:15-20)
Paul understood the pull sin has on us after we are saved. We never get rid of that sinful nature. It is with us fighting every step of the way until we die. We are human. In this passage he is telling us that we have to recognize that—that sin’s pull still lives in us. We don’t want to follow its desire, but sometimes we do. And that is not failure because God knows we can’t be perfect. That’s why Jesus died for us. He didn’t die to give us sinless perfection, just a way back when we need forgiveness.
Friend, if you are a Christ follower, if you’ve trusted Jesus to be your Savior from sin and desire to live a life fully dedicated to following where he leads, then you’re good. Just keep on keeping on. Life has disruptions. We screw up. People we love leave or disappoint us. We can’t make heaven on earth, but we can set our hearts on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God…and He is smiling down on us. You don’t need to be perfect. God just wants your heart. Keep it real simple.
Wait in prayer: Today, write out a prayer thanking God for sending Jesus so you don’t have to be perfect. Ask God to help you not get discouraged when you don’t do the good thing you want to do. Ask Him to help you embrace your everyday ordinary life one day at a time.
Worship: Love God, Love People performed by Danny Gokey
Links (click 'em, they're live)
Link to lyric video Love God, Love People by Danny Gokey
Link to the book 20,000 Days And Counting by Robert D Smith
Link to get your free advance copy of The Mary Answer and join our launch team.
Day 20 - Stop, Look, and Listen (transcript)
Read the Word: 2 Thes. 3:16, Ps. 34:14 Read today’s scriptures and take note of anything that catches your heart. What do you observe that God might want you to single out and pray about? Write down your observations.
When my children were little, there was a popular curriculum in schools called Stop, Look, and Listen. Its main goal was to teach kids how to safely cross streets and railroad tracks. The first step was to stop whenever you wanted to enter a street or go across railroad tracks, whether you were chasing a ball or just standing at a crosswalk. Next, you were supposed to look both ways to see if you saw anything coming. Then lastly, listen for noise that indicated there might be something coming you couldn’t see. If all the boxes were checked and nothing was coming, you were good to go. The object of the program was to get stop, look, and listen to be their first response.
What is your first response to disruption? We can use the same stop, look, and listen mantra to help draw our attention back to the God of peace any time something unexpected comes across our path. First, stop and call on God. Ask Him what’s happening. Ask for wisdom—invite him into the disruption. Next, look at the situation. With God alongside, we won’t be as distracted by the trouble as we’ll be looking what is really going on. What are you actually feeling or seeing? What was the trigger? How does God want you to respond? And lastly, listen to how God is leading you. What do you need to do next?
The first thing we usually see is that disruption wants to take control. It stimulates an emotional response like fear or dread. Bring God in right away. Even if we’re swirling around like a boat on a stormy sea, Jesus will speak peace to our hearts.
What if our first response in trouble was to seek peace? When things are falling apart, look for the firm foundation. When things feel unstable, stop and look for the solid Rock. When you feel hopeless, pursue the Hopeful One.
Wait in prayer: Write out a prayer to learn how to respond to trouble. You may want to borrow the stop, look, and listen formula. Ask God to help you learn to stop, look, and listen.
Worship: Peace Be Still performed by Hope Darst
Links (click 'em, they're live)
Peace Be Still lyric video performed by Hope Darst
Sign up for our launch team today and get your free advance copy of The Mary Answer. Help us get the word out about this life-changing new study.
Join us for day 21 of 30 days to embracing God's disruptions and detours; a preview of our new Bible study, The Mary Answer. Find out how you can get a free advance copy of the new study coming in January. Today's devotion is called, "When It Isn't What It Looks Like." Study with us!
Day 21- When it Isn’t What It Looks Like
Read the Word: John 10:10, Gen. 3:1-7. Read today’s scriptures and take note of anything that catches your heart. What do you observe that God might want you to single out and pray about? Write down your observations.
In our community in Arizona, the main boulevard is lined with beautiful orange trees. In the spring, they produce blossoms that are so fragrant, I often just stop on my morning walk, close my eyes, and breathe in the intoxicating scent. But these trees are not real orange trees. They produce a fake fruit that is so bitter, you cannot use them for anything. They are called ornamental oranges.
It is so tempting to look at the world’s alluring definition of the abundant life and be taken in by the fragrant trappings. We’re not talking about lottery-level fairy tales here, just a nice little life: home with a doable mortgage, a couple cars, kids who don’t land in jail, a good-paying job, and a group of friends at church to hang out with. We are like Eve in the garden—taking it all in and saying, “this is good.” (Gen. 3:6) But like Eve, if we start picking and eating that fruit, we are on the path to spiritual death. How can something that looks so good be so wrong?
Jesus warns us that the path to the abundant life is contrary to the path that the world wants us to take. (John 10:10) In Romans 12:2 from The Message, Paul writes, “Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” God’s idea of abundance is not like the culture around us.
Sometimes it’s hard to spot the fake. But the spiritual fake has bitter consequences. When we allow the culture around us to dictate the definition of abundant life, we are believing a lie. And when we believe a lie, we separate ourselves from God’s best. Jesus’ definition of abundant life in John 10:10 is found only in following him. And that may include disruption.
Today, make a decision to go on a hunt for that abundant life, not the ornamental version the world is offering. Live like you’re loved.
Wait in prayer: Ask God to help you sort out what the abundant life looks like for you. Ask him if there are places in your life where you’re settling for the fake. Thank him that richly provides everything for your enjoyment. (1 Tim. 6:17-18)
Worship: Live Like You’re Loved performed by Hawk Nelson
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Live Like You're Loved performed by Hawk Nelson
Sign up for your free copy of The Mary Answer and join our launch team today!
Day 19: The Longer Way Around (Study with us)
Read the Word: Ex. 13:17-18, James 1:4 Read today’s scriptures and take note of anything that catches your heart. What do you observe that God might want you to single out and pray about? Write down your observations.
Do you remember the days when we used to navigate road trips with actual paper maps? Every gas station had a display cabinet of maps for anywhere you were going from that point. I remember opening up that huge crinkly map in the back seat as a kid and looking at all the fascinating landmarks, lakes, and towns along the route. Only problem: they were kind of clunky to look at while you were driving. Talk about distracted driving. These days, I am so used to relying on Google Maps to show me the quickest way with one tap that I can get frustrated when there’s a detour and I have to take the long way around. If Google says it should only take 25 minutes to get there, I can get cranky when it actually takes 35.
In Exodus 13 after Pharaoh let Israel go, God did not lead them on the direct route to the promised land. The three-day direct route was through a country filled with warriors and armies. God knew Israel wasn’t ready for battle or self-rule yet so he led them on a 40-year detour that began at the Red Sea. God was actually protecting Israel taking them the long way around. They needed time to grow in courage and determination. The longer way around was going to be their proving ground.
Our journey to where God is leading us can sometimes feel like a wilderness. And that wilderness can be a refinery; the place where discomfort and pain take us closer to God. It could be that God is protecting you by taking you the long way around something in your life right now. Remember that the wilderness is not about the route; it’s about the work He is doing in us. He is making us mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:4) The long way around is not a punishment—it’s a preparation. When we persevere through those disruptions and detours, God will lead us to where we need to be to do what he has called us to do. Take heart, dear friend. If he is leading you through a dark valley, remember that it is also filled with green pastures and still waters. Rest in it. Embrace His comfort. (Ps. 23:1-4) He is the Good Shepherd. Goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life—even on the longer way around. Don’t turn back; don’t run away. He will never let go of you.
Wait in prayer: Has God got you on a detour? Pray that you will feel His presence with you as you follow where He leads. Pray that perseverance will work God’s will in you. I recommend writing out Psalm 23 as a personal prayer, replacing every “he” with “you” in verses one through three.
Worship: You Never Let Go performed by Matt Redman
Links: (click 'em, they're live)
You Never Let Go by Matt Redman (lyric video)
Link to join our launch team and get a free copy of The Mary Answer.
In this episode, Chris draws from her years in the book marketing world to give new authors three keys to success.
Show Notes & Links:
-Three things every new author needs to do to succeed.
-What does self-publishing mean?
-The difference between vanity publishers and hybrid publishers.
-Why authors need to build a platform to connect with their readers.
-Some resources for authors including writing conferences, books, and online courses that will help you get your book published.
Links: (click 'em, they're live)
Compel Writer's Training (Proverbs 31)
Christian writers conferences and state-by-state writing groups (note this is a 2020 list and some of these won't be available in 2021)
-Redemption Press general info
-Redemption Press 21-Day Boot Camp info
-Platform by Michael Hyatt
-Influence by Shannon Popkin and Kate Motaung
- The Women Finishing Well Facebook Page--please join us!
-Email chris@womenfinishingwell.com if you have any questions.
Day 18: Be a Heart Whisperer (transcript)
Read the Word: Col. 4:5-6, Gal. 5:13-15 Read today’s scriptures and take note of anything that catches your heart. What do you observe that God might want you to single out and pray about? Write down your observations.
We live in an age where calling people out is an art form. Christians and non-Christians excel at naming names anonymously. One look at Twitter or Facebook can break the hardest heart. Paul referred to this practice in Galatians as “biting and devouring one another.” He admonished his readers to remember that their freedom was not to be used to indulge in the flesh, but to serve one another in humble love.
“For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Gal 5:14)
In his book, The Gentle Answer, Scott Sauls makes the observation that Jesus knew how to talk to people’s hearts, and rarely pointed at their actions. In a world where hearts are heavy with shame and hopelessness, that would be a good skill to have, don’t you think? We need to learn how to be heart whisperers like Jesus. Our conversations should always be full of grace and flavorful. We need to nourish one another. (Col. 4:6) A heart whisperer knows exactly how to answer everyone’s needs.
It’s easy to speak our mind and give our opinion about anything and everything. Our conversation should be so uniquely full of love and grace that people will know there is something different about us. Jesus is calling us to learn to listen to the heart by drawing people to His love. Instead of needing to have the last word, we need to have the best word.
Wait in prayer: Write out a prayer asking God to help you learn how to make every conversation one that lifts up and encourages. Ask Him to help you learn to answer hostility with gentleness and not to react to what you see. Ask Him to help you forsake any us-against-them attitudes you might be hanging on to.
Worship: Does Anybody Hear Her? performed by Casting Crowns
Click for link to the worship video, Does Anybody Hear Her? by Casting Crowns
Click here to get your free advance copy of The Mary Answer and join our book launch team!
Day 17: Be a Serendipity Hunter (transcript)-study with us!
Read the Word: John 4:4, Heb. 12:1-3 Read today’s scriptures and take note of anything that catches your heart. What do you observe that God might want you to single out and pray about? Write down your observations.
When Jesus met the woman at the well in John 4, it wasn’t just a shortcut back home. It was a divine detour that would change the lives of many in the town of Sychar. John 4:4 tells us Jesus had to go through Samaria. He was on a recruiting mission. When we plan to do something and a detour pops up, our first reaction might be to heave a sigh and roll our eyes. Sometimes a detour is scary, sometimes it is an inconvenience. But hidden inside every detour is a serendipity—something that is a happy accident, a benefit we didn’t expect. The woman at the well wasn’t expecting anything out of the ordinary when she went to the well in the middle of the day.
And she never expected to be called as the first Christ-following missionary in the New Testament.
Hebrews 12:1 encourages us to throw off everything that hinders us and run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hunting for serendipities on a detour takes perseverance. But if we expect them and look for them, we will find them. I could probably say with confidence that the woman’s conversation with Jesus was probably the longest conversation she’d ever had with anyone. When Jesus spoke to her, she was drawn in. The longer their conversation went on, the more she was throwing off everything that hindered her: shame, fear, doubt. And by the time he was done and the disciples showed up, she couldn’t wait to run back to the village and proclaim that she had met the Messiah. She had discovered the unexpected benefit of speaking with Jesus: saving grace.
There is a gem from God in every detour you will face. It’s there; don’t give up. And the hunt for that serendipity makes the path we’re running on smoother for us and for those coming behind us who need to discover that saving grace. (Heb. 12:12-13) What if the trials of your detours are your blessings in disguise?
Wait in prayer: Can you think back on a happy accident or unexpected benefit you discovered on a detour in your life? Write a prayer of thanks for the detour and ask God to give you the heart of a serendipity hunter every time you encounter a detour.
Worship: Blessings performed by Laura Story
Links:
Click to watch the lyric video for Blessings performed by Laura Story
Click to sign up for a free copy of our new Bible study, The Mary Answer, and join our launch team.
Day 16: The Climbing the Ladder (transcript)-Study with us!
Read the Word: Philippians 3:4-8, Romans 12:2, The Message. Read today’s scriptures and take note of anything that catches your heart. What do you observe that God might want you to single out and pray about? Write down your observations.
One of the values our American culture holds dear is something we call, “climbing the ladder.” It’s a figure of speech for working hard and being rewarded with power and higher income which doesn’t necessarily add up to personal fulfillment and certainly isn’t a model fore the abundant life Jesus promises us. This idiom has been the battle cry of the successful since the 1950s. When we buy into this life, we are in for a life of dissatisfaction and emptiness. But what if the problem isn’t the ladder, but the building we have the ladder up against?
When we have our ladder propped up against the world’s definition of success, every rung we climb is another step towards confidence in the flesh. Move that ladder over to God’s kingdom with a heart that wants to glorify God and every step is another move toward embracing the abundant life Jesus has promised us. And climbing this ladder will not leave us empty but each step will fill us with a greater sense of God’s purpose and joy in what He provides. (1 Tim. 6:17-18)
Is God against success? Absolutely not. The Bible is filled with analogies about winning battles and reaching goals. God just wants us to have our ladder up against the right building. (Romans 12:2, The Message) Which building is your ladder leaning on?
Wait in prayer: Do you have areas in your life where you are depending on yourself for success? Are there places where the world is dragging you down to its level of maturity? Have you ever thought about how God can use your everyday, ordinary life to serve him successfully? Your eating, sleeping, going-to-work, and walking-around life to help build His kingdom? Write a prayer today based on Romans 12:1-2 from The Message version. Ask God to show you how the culture around you is dragging you down to its level.
Worship: Treasure performed by Gary Chapman
Links:
Join our launch team and get a free advance copy of The Mary Answer (click)
Link to the worship video (lyrics are printed below)
The Treasure (lyrics) written by Gary Chapman:
They say that were your treasure is
There will your heart be also
And your heart stays where you hide your greatest love
Now you can leave that love on earth
Where thieves may steal tomorrow
Or you can take it to
That hiding place above
Where there's a treasure at the end
Of this narrow road I'm traveling
And it gives me a purpose for my life
Jesus is my treasure
He's the reason that I am living
And he's gonna be my reason when I die
So if you've been wondering where you are
And where it is you're going
He's left a map for you and me to use
Just read the map and follow close
Always walking where it's showing
You just can't miss it
It's way too much to lose
See there's a treasure at the end
Of this narrow road I'm traveling
And it gives me a purpose for my life
Jesus is my treasure
He's the reason that I'm still living
And he's gonna be my reason when I die
Now there's a treasure at the end
Of this narrow road that I've been trying to travel
And it gives me purpose for my life
Jesus is my treasure
He's the reason that I'm still living
And he's gonna be my reason when I die
Yeah, he'll still be my reason when I die
Day 15: The Seasons of Life
Read the Word: Ps. 92:12-15, Romans 12:1 (The Message) Read today’s scriptures and take note of anything that catches your heart. What do you observe that God might want you to single out and pray about? Write down your observations.
I grew up in the Midwest where each calendar season has its own glorious beauty. I love the fall in Wisconsin. Watching trees turn shades of bright pink, deep crimson red, soft yellow, and dark purple bless my soul. As a kid, I would collect some of the most beautiful leaf specimens and my Grandma would help me encase them in waxed paper with a warm iron. I loved glancing at that beauty throughout the barren months of winter on the walls in my bedroom.
Our lives have seasons that reflect creation, starting with the spring of youth and progressing to the quiet of a new snowfall in the peace of winter. As I move through my autumn—I am now in my sixties—I am tempted to think that this season of my life is for slowing down. And maybe even that I’m disqualified from serving God in any impactful way. The world exalts the seasons of spring and summer and sometimes the church reflects that as well. But God has a plan for every season of our lives, and he wants us to embrace each season eagerly.
“Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.” (Ps. 71:17-18)
In the Midwest, autumn is the most spectacular season of the year. People travel from all over the country to view the vibrant colors of God’s creation. It is not a docile season. The eye popping colors of maples, birches, and oaks mark a season of energetic movement into winter.
Psalm 71 tells us that God has been preparing us for autumn and winter since we were in spring. And the mission for each season has been the same since day one: declare God’s power to the next generation. This is the time to declare the vibrancy of God’s power to the next generation and declaring that power to the next generation is a critical link in God’s plan. How we do that depends on the gifts, resources, and time God gives us. Where has he placed you in this season of life? Here’s what he wants you to do:
“Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God has done for you is the best thing you can do for him.” (Rom. 12:1, The Message)
Embracing that every day, ordinary life is the best thing we can do for him, no matter what season of life we are in.
Wait in prayer: What does your everyday, ordinary life look like? Read Romans 12:1 in The Message and make a list of your “walking around life.” Where has God placed you? What gifts has he given you? Who are the people he has placed around you? Write a prayer asking God to help you embrace your everyday ordinary life. Ask him to open your eyes to the opportunities he puts in your everyday to speak love and life to those around you. If you just start there, you are on your way to living your best life for God.
Worship: Come To the Table performed by Sidewalk Prophets. The video for this song is a big blessing and I want to say just a couple things about it. Look at the diversity of the people in the video—this is what God is calling us to—to join arms with women of all ages, shapes, colors, and sizes to declare God’s power to the next generation. That is our call in the autumn of life. Listen to the chorus—look at the words. Who is God calling? Everyone single one of us, no matter who we are—no matter where we’ve been. Just come to the table.
Link to the video for Come To The Table by the Sidewalk Prophets. (lyrics below)
Click here to sign up for a free copy of The Mary Answer and join our launch team.
Lyrics for Come To The Table:
We all start on the outside
The outside looking in
This is where grace begins
We were hungry, we were thirsty
With nothing left to give
Oh the shape that we were in
Just when all hope seemed lost
Love opened the door for us He said come to the table
Come join the sinners who have been redeemed
Take your place beside the Savior now
Sit down and be set free
Come to the table Come meet this motley crew of misfits
These liars and these thiefs
There's no one unwelcome here, no
So that sin and shame that you brought with you
You can leave it at the door
And let mercy draw you near Just come to the table
Come join the sinners, you have been redeemed
Take your place beside the Savior now
Sit down and be set free
Come to the table
Just come to the table To the thief, to the doubter
To the hero and the coward
To the prisoner and the soldier
To the young, to the older
All who hunger, all who thirst
All the last, all the first
All the paupers and the princes
All who fail you've been forgiven
All who dream, all who suffer
All who loved and lost another
All the chained, all the free
All who follow, all who lead
Anyone who's been let down
All the lost you have been found
All who've been labeled right or wrong
Everyone who hears this song Just Come to the table
Come join the sinners you have been redeemed
Take your place beside the Savior
Just sit down and be set free
Oh come on
Just sit down and be set free
Come to the table
Come to the table
You're welcome here Songwriters: Dave Frey / Ben Glover / Ben Mcdonald Come to the Table lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc
Day 14: Sowing on Thorny Ground (transcript)
Read the Word: Mt. 13:1-23, 1 Peter 5:7 Read today’s scriptures and take note of anything that catches your heart. What do you observe that God might want you to single out and pray about? Write down your observations.
One of the things I’ve learned in my 40-plus years as a farm wife is that all farm land is not created equal. Some soil is rich, some is poor, and some is too rocky to farm without running the rock picker over it every spring. But every year we seed every acre. Good soil, poor soil, rocky soil, and weedy soil each produce a different yield.
Like those different types of soil, our heart can have varying degrees of receptiveness to God’s Word depending on how we’ve prepared it. This is masterfully illustrated by Jesus in the parable of the sower in Matthew 13. The seed in this story is the Word of God and the various types of ground are the different levels of our heart’s receptivity to that seed. There is the footpath, the rocky ground, the thorny ground, and the good soil. I encourage you to read the parable through and journal your thoughts on what each type of ground represents. We’re going to take a closer look at the thorny (or weedy) ground.
“The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.” (v. 22, NLT) Did you catch that? No fruit. Not some, not stunted, but no fruit.
When we are chasing the cares of this world, we are sowing seeds on weedy ground. We are hoping that we can somehow mix God’s truth with the lifestyle of our culture and the desire to have what everybody else has. No fruit will result. On the farm, some pieces of ground are better at growing weeds than wheat if the ground is already infested with weed seeds and hasn’t been properly prepared. Weeds take over and the wheat dies. (Mt. 13:7)
Worry and anxiety are weed seeds ready to choke anything that tries to sprout. But God has the solution for us in 1 Peter 5:7: “cast all your cares on him for he cares for you.” We can take that sack full of worry seeds and hand it over to Jesus.
It’s one thing to say but another thing to do. How do I cast that worry on Him? Paul gives us some advice in Philippians 4:6-7. First, pray. About everything. Always present your requests to God first. And pray with thanksgiving because a grateful heart has a hard time being anxious. (v.6) When we trust God with our worries, His peace will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (7) And a heart at peace with God is good soil.
Wait in prayer: Is there a disruption or a detour in your life right now that is tempting you to turn to the world for answers? Write out a prayer right now giving that request to God and thank Him for what He has done and what he has given you. Ask Jesus to help you leave that request with Him. Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you when you try and reach out to take it back.
Worship: Eye of the Storm performed by Ryan Stevenson
-Link to Eye of the Storm lyric video (click)
-Link to sign up for book launch team for The Mary Answer and get your free advance copy!
In this episode we talk with Women's Ministries and Small Groups pastor Lindsey Harden about how her church is keeping community alive and well during the pandemic, and why staying connected is vital to our spiritual health.
Show Notes & Links:
-Why churches need to keep small groups meeting and engaged.
-How doing "church online" in evolving.
-How "home churches" are keeping The Refinery connected to people who want to meet together.
-Why churches need alternatives for church and why that isn't going away after the pandemic.
-Advice on dealing with fear about going back to church.
Links:
-Link to the episodes on how to get your women's Bible study online.
-Link for more info on The Refinery Christian Church in Goodyear, Arizona.
Link to the Women Finishing Well Facebook page. Come join our community!
Day 13 - Finding New Strength to Wait (transcript)
Read the Word: Isaiah 40: 27-31 Read today’s scripture and take note of anything that catches your heart. What do you observe that God might want you to single out and pray about? Write down your observations.
I am one of those people who scouts for the shortest check-out line in the grocery store.
I am not good at waiting. Once I’ve made my mind up to do something, I want to move. But one thing I am learning over the years; my anxiety doesn’t make things move any faster. In Isaiah 40, we see the truth of the matter. Many of us are familiar with verses 29-31—there are songs written about how those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength and fly like eagles. But what about verses 27-28? Isaiah asks Israel a question: Why do you say that God is not hearing you? Why do you say God is disregarding your cause? When we want God to act, if he doesn’t do so right away, we think he’s ignoring us. But Isaiah answers that lie right away in the next verses with sort of a sarcastic question: “Have you never heard? Have you never understood?” (v. 28, NLT)
I can feel the frustration in Isaiah’s writing. I’ve been there. Why isn’t something happening God? Boy, that question gets me into trouble. But Isaiah continues: “The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding.” (v. 28) And because God understands that we can lose heart, he adds, “He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.” (vs. 29-31)
Not being able to wait is a weakness that God wants to turn into a new strength. God is always on duty, as my husband would say. He never takes a break. He doesn’t run for coffee while you’re in trouble. I can’t always understand why He is asking me to wait, so I need to remember two things: God is not ignoring me, and I know that his timing is perfect. (vs. 27-28) And those who wait on Him will soar on wings like eagles, run without getting weary, and not lose heart. (v. 31) Now that is worth waiting for.
Wait in prayer: Write out a prayer of confidence in God to turn your waiting into a new strength. Try personalizing the verses in Isaiah for inspiration. As Him to help you to soar and not lost heart.
Worship: Wait Upon the Lord performed by Leeland
Links:
-Link to lyric video of Wait Upon The Lord
-Link to sign up for our book launch team and get your free advance copy of The Mary Answer.
Day 12 - A Leap of Faith Required (transcript)
Read the Word: Hebrews 11:1-3 Read today’s scripture and take note of anything that catches your heart. What do you observe that God might want you to single out and pray about? Write down your observations.
I have some fuzzy memories of the dark basement in our home as a young child. It was a damp underground cement fortress accessed by a rickety set of wooden stairs. The only time we ever used the basement was when there was a tornado warning. We would all hurry down the creaking stairs and sit on a blanket with a portable transistor radio, some flashlights and a couple board games. Like a lot of little kids, the dark creeped me out. It’s disconcerting not to be able to see if anything is lurking between you and a quick exit up the stairs.
In Hebrews 11, we see a list of heroes and heroines who stepped into the dark. The took a leap of faith like Indiana Jones off that ledge on the abyss. They had confidence in what they hoped for and assurance about what they could not see. They had faith in a God who created the universe. That was enough for them. They didn’t need to see the exit stairs. Disruption requires faith in what we cannot see. Detours require trusting when what’s ahead is unknown.
Are you having a hard time seeing God in the dark times? God is not calling us to walk through that dark alone. What we need to remember is that God is standing in our dark. He abides in that unknown. He is reaching out His hand to walk us through. And He goes through beside us. (Heb. 13:5) Read that list again in Hebrews 11. Even in the dark, those people knew God was with them. So they took a leap of faith.
Wait in prayer: Are you afraid of the spiritual dark? Ask God to give you courage to take a step of faith into whatever he is calling you to do. Thank Jesus that He is walking beside you. He will never leave you or forsake you. (Heb. 13:5-6)
Worship: Trust In You performed by Lauren Daigle
Links:
-Link to Trust In You lyric video
-Link to sign up for our launch team and get your free copy of The Mary Answer.
Day 11: Two Are Better Than One: Find Your Elizabeths
Read the Word: Hebrews 10:23-25, Ecc. 4:9-12
In the 1990s psychologist Robin Dunbar developed a method of defining the number of relationships we can sustain based on three factors: our brain’s capacity, the time we have available to sustain those relationships, and our attention span. It’s a formula known as Dunbar’s Number. His well-accepted research revealed several levels, or circles of relationships that were defined by the number of people in each group. The first circle, labeled “intimate friends,” is made up of four to eight people. In Women Finishing Well we labeled this group our circle of influence. These are the people you do life with—that love you no matter what—that pray with you and cry with you. They are your Elizabeths.
After Mary got her news from Gabriel and a tip that her older relative Elizabeth was also expecting a miracle baby (Luke 1:36-45), she “hurried off to the hill country” to see her. (v. 39) She wasted no time building her circle of influence. She knew what was ahead and that she would need support and encouragement for the journey from a like-minded sister friend.
There are 59 one another scriptures in the New Testament. God created us to thrive in community. We weren’t meant to go it alone. We were meant to be at peace with one another, serve each other, pray for one another, love one another, be devoted to one another, honor one another above ourselves, stop passing judgment on one another, and carry one another’s burdens. And that is just the beginning. Mary needed Elizabeth to one another her through the coming nine or so months. Find the people that will stick with you no matter what. Disruption is easier to face when you do it with a close friend by your side. They will help you hold unswervingly to the hope you profess.
Wait in prayer: Can you write down the names of two to four women that know you inside out? Women who share life together, pray for each other, and keep each other accountable to God? Women who know how to one-another each other? If you don’t have these women in your life, pray that God will help you start a list. Write down your first couple names and start praying. Everyday.
Worship: I Will Be Your Friend performed by Michael W. Smith
Links:
-Link to lyric video for I Will Be Your Friend by Michael W. Smith
-Link to join our book launch team and get your free copy of The Mary Answer.
-Join us on Facebook! You'll be glad you did.
Study along with us!
Day 10 Transcript
Read the Word: Romans 8:1-2
From the time David was anointed as the next king of Israel to the time he actually became king was 20 long years. Imagine you were promised a prestigious job promotion in a large company. After ten years and no promotion, would you start to lose heart? What about 20? And on top of that, the trouble David had to navigate was mind-blowing. Including death threats from King Saul, David faced lots of disruptions and detours. One of David’s favorite questions for God during that period of preparation was, “what have I done now?”
Some days I feel like this is my life. How about you? You’ve got a dream. It might be a big one—something that seems impossible. But something you feel called to do. And the journey gets hard. So hard you start to think maybe you took a wrong turn on the path somewhere. But the truth is, the journey to our dreams is hard. There’s proving to be done…preparation for the next step.
One of the key truths we need to embrace about disruption is that it is not meant to punish or condemn us. Some part of our disruption may be a conviction—a call to let go of something or repent from something. But it is never a condemnation. Never. Romans 8:1 promises us that there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. Condemnation is shame’s finger-wagging partner. Conviction is God’s drawing love and grace. Condemnation is the work of our sinful nature pairing up with some lie. It’s designed to draw us away, to discourage us. Don’t let it. Call it out. Take that thought captive and hand it over to Jesus’ authority. (2 Cor. 10:3-5) And because we belong to Him, the power of his Spirit in us sets us free from the power of that condemnation that leads to death. Disruption and detours are not our punishment. They are our road to better life.
Wait in prayer: Do you struggle believing that roadblocks in your life are God’s punishment for something you did wrong? Write a personalized declaration from Romans 8:31-39 as a prayer of praise and thanksgiving and speak it out loud every day. Here is my personalized version from The Message. I recommend reading this first thing in the morning or the last thing before I go to sleep. Keep it on an index card next to your bed.
With God on my side, how can I lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for me, a sinner, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for me? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with me, one of God’s chosen? The One who died for me—who was raised to life for me—He is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for me. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between me and Christ’s love for me? There is no way! I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can getbetween me and God’s love because of what Jesus has done to set me free.
Worship: I Am Redeemed performed by Big Daddy Weave
Links:
Lyric video for I've Been Redeemed
-Link to sign up for our launch team and get your free advance copy of The Mary Answer.
-Join the community on our Facebook page here.
Day 9: Trying Worry on For Size
Read Phil. 4:6-7, Eph. 6:12-13
I am a list maker. One of my top Strengths Finder© gifts is Strategic. And strategic people like to make plans, lists, and spreadsheets. I love contingency plans. My life motto should be, “what if.”
One of the lists we keep handy as believers is our list of objections. It has a heading on top that reads, “Please, God. Anything but this.” It’s a long list of things we don’t want God to bring into our life. We’re okay with a little disruption, but there are some lines we don’t want God to cross. In our mind, these are a list of our breaking points. But what this list actually does is invite a spirit of fear into our lives. Joyce Meyer used to call this a spirit of dread. But the truth is, God will not allow anything into our lives that is, “more than we can stand.” (1 Cor. 10:13) God knows something about us that we do not. He knows right where our real breaking point is.
Sometimes he allows us to get dangerously close to that point, and sometimes we break because we get distracted by our list. In Ephesians 6:10-11 Paul writes, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” All the items on your list are just schemes of the enemy. And God has given us some armor to stand against those schemes. The Bible doesn’t promise that trouble won’t hurt (is that on your list?) or that it won’t bring grief (how about that?), but that we will be able to stand our ground. (v. 13)
Wait in prayer: What’s on your list of objections? Take that list and give it to Jesus. Ask him to sanctify it under His authority, making every item obedient to Him, and then pray to stand firm. It’s a good idea to revisit this occasionally if you feel those objections creeping back in. When they come to mind, remind yourself that God’s got this list. I know it’s hard to remember this in the heat of the moment, but when we try on worry for size, God asks us to put on prayer instead. (Php. 4:6) Prayer is a one-size-fits-all garment for trouble. Write out Philippians 4:6-7 and personalize it. When we trust God with our worries, his peace guards our heart and mind in Jesus.
Worship: It Is Well performed by Kristene DiMarco.
Links:
Link to It Is Well lyric video
Link to get your free advance copy of the Mary Answer and join our book launch team.
Day 8: Live Like You're a Member of the Royal Family
Word: Read 1 Peter 2:4-12
In the first movie of the Lord of the Rings trilogy we meet Strider, who is really King Aragorn in hiding. Later in the movie we find that he was hidden as a child from the forces of evil that wanted to destroy his royal line. Even though he is of royal descent, he stayed in the shadows and joined the team of unlikely heroes protecting the ring from getting into the wrong hands. His royal heritage is still there, even though he doesn’t claim his throne until the last movie in the series.
Sometimes I think we Christians are a little like Aragorn. Even though we have a royal inheritance, we live our lives totally unaware of the royal standing we have in Christ. When the enemy tries to take us out with a bout of disruption, we are tempted to forget who we are and Whose we are. Remembering our royal blood is the anchor that keeps our hearts still when the waves start beating against the side of the boat. Remembering who we are in Christ helps us focus on the One from whom all things come. (Rom. 11:36)
Is this a point you struggle with? Is your identity in Christ your first go-to when you see trouble on the horizon? One of the best weapons we have to steer our reaction in the right direction is to remind ourselves that we “a chosen people, royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession.” (1 Pet. 2:9-10) And what does a highly favored person do when times get tough?
“Be careful to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.” (1 Pet. 2:11-12)
Wait in prayer: Today, repeat the prayer from Ephesians 1:3-14 you learned in day four. Go back to it every day. Never, ever lose sight of who you are and Whose you are.
“I am blessed in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. I am chosen to be holy and blameless in Your sight. I am your adopted child. You’ve redeemed me from death. You’ve lavished your grace on me. You’ve made known to me the mystery of your will to me. I am marked with a seal guaranteeing my inheritance. You have forgiven my sins.”
Worship: I Am Who You Say I Am performed by Hillsong Worship.
Don’t forget to look up the lyric video link in the show notes and worship along. And also in the show notes is a link where you can get a free advanced copy of The Mary Answer and join our book launch team tp help us get the word out. We’d love to have you along.
Links:
Link to get a free copy of The Mary Answer and join our book launch team.
Link to worship video: I Am Who You Say I Am performed by Hillsong.
Day 7: I Didn’t See That Coming
Word: Read John 16:33, Mt. 6:31-34
Summer driving in rural America usually means construction detours, roadblocks, and long lines waiting for a pilot car. It’s a good idea to add time to your schedule when traveling… just in case. Driving the 90-mile trek to an airport large enough to catch a flight on a real airline has no room for error. I had an important appointment in Los Angeles. Being a performing musician since I was 16, there was a hole in my life when I moved to a town with a population of 200 out in the middle of nowhere. I really felt like God wanted me to pursue my music for Him, so I snagged an audition with a Christian record label in LA. It was a big deal. I packed the night before and left plenty of time for any detours. Then Murphy’s Law kicked in.
About 25 miles down the road I missed the short cut to go “the back way.” I can’t even remember how I missed that turn. It was key to my plan. So plan B meant navigating the long way around on the highway. It was a half hour longer. My margin for error was shrinking. Then, I got stuck in a pilot car line. By the time I crept through the long stretch, I was way behind schedule. When I finally arrived at the airport parking lot my plane was boarding. In my rush I forgot my toiletries bag. With only an hour at my hotel before my audition, I was doomed to hotel hair products and no make-up. It seemed like the day couldn’t get any worse.
So how do you rebound from that? The quality of our spiritual journey is going to be determined by how we handle what we didn’t see coming. We like predictable; God likes detours. He’s not trying to make our lives harder, just deeper and richer. If I want to be used by God, I must be willing to be disrupted. I must be willing to relinquish control. When we try and hang on to control, we are displacing God’s work in our lives. We all need to take a lesson from Mary. Life is full of surprises. What are you going to do with them?
We may not always see it coming, but because we know disruption will come, we will not be surprised. Don’t bother with the why—it will derail you. Our job is to just embrace our life, to ask God to lead us through, and to always have our heart prepared for whatever comes our way. Let Jesus take the wheel—he knows the road that you need to take.
Wait in prayer: Do you dread disruption? Write out a prayer asking God to help you see disruption as an invitation to go deeper with Him and not as a negative. Ask Him to help you to let go when trouble comes. Use Matthew 6:33-34 as an inspiration.
Worship: Wanna Be Happy performed by Kirk Franklin. For a treat, search for this song on the Voices of Mobile YouTube channel.
Links:
Video Link to Wanna Be Happy by Kirk Franklin
Video Link to Wanna Be Happy from Voice of Mobile
Link to sign up to get your free review copy of The Mary Answer.
Post-script: It never did work out with the record company in LA. But I learned a lot from the trip!
In this episode Chris and Diane pick up where they left off in episode 66 and talk about content resources, how to keep people engaged online, and what your biggest challenges might be.
Show Notes & Links
-What are some of the content options for finding online Bible studies this fall? Free? Paid?
-How to make sure everyone can get online.
-Beware of screen fatigue.
-Ice breakers and other ideas for increasing engagement.
-Why you need to over communicate time, dates and other info.
Links:
-Click here to let us know what you're doing this fall on our Facebook page.
-Link to Right Now Media
-How to download the Kindle app so you can read e-books you purchase on Amazon on your phone or computer. (click here)
-Lifeway free Bible studies
Don't forget to share the podcast with a friend and leave a comment letting us know what you're doing for fall Bible studies this year.
Day 6 Transcript:
Day Six: Clearing the Footpath
Word: Read Hebrews 12:7-13, The Message
Summers always meant vacation to me growing up. We would pile in the car and make the long trek north to my grandparent’s cabin in northern Wisconsin on Big Lake. On the prairie, lakes are few and far between so when my kids got old enough to travel without car seats, I talked my husband into buying a small cabin on a wooded lake right across the Canadian border from our farm.
The cabin was set back from the water’s edge so our first order of business was clearing a footpath down to the water. Evidently the previous owners never went near the water. Grass that hasn’t been mowed or walked on for years has several layers to deal with. First you have to mark out your path and cut the grass short enough to dethatch with a bush mower. Those wispy waves of prairie grass were hiding a couple layers of compressed grass that needed clearing. The first layer was the hard stalks of grass that had years to gain strength. When you walked in those cut stalks, they feel like little swords poking into your legs. Under that was a dense layer of decomposing grass that had been crowded out by the stronger stalks over the years. And last but not least was the uneven ground peppered with gopher holes. This needed to be smoothed, sprayed to inhibit weed growth, and covered with a layer of small pea gravel. Clearing a footpath was hard work.
The writer of Hebrews reminds us that hard work, or discipline, is never fun or easy. (Heb. 12:4-11) Discipline, like the word disruption, can be cause for pause. Do we really want to do all this hard work God asked us to do? The answer, of course, is yes. Like the benefits we find in James 1:2-4, Hebrews 12 promises us that our hard work of clearing the path will “pay off handsomely”(11). The writer’s directive is, “so don’t sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet. Clear the path for the long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for it” (12-13, The Message).
Learning to embrace disruption and detours is not just for our own good. It is for all those who are running the path with us. Our family, friends, neighbors, and whoever is doing life with us. As we clear the footpath, we are making a smooth way for others. And Paul says in Galatians 5:14, “For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: Love your neighbor as yourself." God has given us people to run with. Help each other out. And run for it!
Wait in prayer: Is there a layer of underbrush you need to clear out so you can run your race without hindrances? Write out a prayer today asking God to help you clear the footpath for others. Write it in the first person like you’re talking with God face-to-face and not about Him.
Worship: Through It All performed by Hillsong
Links:
Click to sign up to get your free review copy of The Mary Answer and join our book launch team!
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Day 5 Transcript:
Day Five: A Wrench in the Works
Word: Read James 1:2-8
When my children were little, they both managed to catch strep throat. It seems like once it starts making the rounds at school, everybody gets a turn. The doctor prescribed a liquid antibiotic and its taste left something to be desired, even laced with fruity sugar. I remember negotiating each dose by reminding them, not that it was good for them, but it was the path to getting back to their school friends. Sometimes extolling the benefits of what is good for us isn’t enough to change anything.
We have that same feeling when God throws a wrench in our works with an unexpected disruption. Lots of times our first reaction is, “why this, why now?” We might search for something we did wrong, or something that was done to us. But God’s purpose in disruption is not punishment, even though it tastes bad in out spirit. His purpose is to force our faith into the open. (James 1:3, The Message) James even goes as far saying tests and trials are an opportunity for great joy. (The New Living Translation) This is tough to do unless we are grounded in the truth of verses three and four: “because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” I struggled with the “so that” in verse four for many years because I took my eyes off God’s goal and focused on my own discomfort. Sometimes those two words still touch a nerve, depending on the test. But God’s goal in every “wrench in my works” is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow: that I may be mature and complete not lacking anything. Wow. Not lacking anything. That is the abundant life. But guess how we get there? Letting perseverance finish its work by being in step with God’s Spirit. (Gal 5:25)
Wait in prayer: What is your biggest challenge to persevering through trouble? Write out a prayer today asking God to help you with that challenge. Commit yourself to listening and stepping out in faith regarding that challenge.
Worship: I Will Trust In You performed by Lauren Daigle
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Introducing our new feature: "3 Minutes to a Better Day." These short mini episodes are designed to be a short kickstarter to your day. Enjoy and be blessed.
Today's bonus is from Bob Goff's wonderful devotional, Live in Grace, Walk in Love. Click here to find it online.
Start your "Bob Goff Journey" with his book, Love Does. Click to find it here.
30 Days to Embracing God's Disruptions and Detours.
Join us for this devotional preview of our new Bible study, The Mary Answer, coming in January 2021.
Day Four: We've Won the Spiritual Lottery
Word: Read Ephesians 1:3-14
Have you ever bought a lottery ticket? I’m ashamed to admit I have—several of them. I went through a period in my life where we were having financial trouble—lean years on the farm—and I was getting weary. I had it all worked out with God. If He would give me a winning lottery ticket, I would use it to pay off all our debt, my family’s debt, put some in our savings account and give the rest away. Sounds like a holy deal, right? All good?
One day I was studying Ephesians 1:3-14 and verse three would not leave me alone: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed me in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” Not some blessings, but every blessing. So what are those blessings I have in Christ, anyway? I made a list:
I was chosen in Jesus before the creation of the world (4), I am holy and blameless in his sight (4), I have been predestined (in love) to be adopted as His child to show the world His glory (5-6), I am redeemed and forgiven by grace I do not deserve—it’s been lavished on me (7-8), He’s made known the mystery of his will to me (9), I have a predestined place in His plan (11), I have been given the Holy Spirit as a seal of my redemption—God lives in me (13-14).
I had to camp there for a few days before I realized just how rich these blessings are. Those verses made such an impact on my life that I wrote them out in the first person and say them every day. We can never lose sight of who we are in Jesus. He died so I could receive those blessings. Think of them, meditate on them, remind yourself of them every single day. I encourage you to start each day with this list. And open with verse three: “Praise be to the God and Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed me in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing Christ.” We’ve won the spiritual lottery, my friend. Let’s celebrate!
Wait in prayer: Thank God today for every spiritual blessing in Christ. Read through verses 3-14 and personalize each blessing. Ask God to work in you a humble attitude of gratitude for each one.
Worship: How Great Is Our God performed by Chris Tomlin
I’d like to close with Romans 12:1 from the Message—my prayer for you. And here’s what we want you to do, God helping you. Take your everyday ordinary life, your eating, sleeping, going to work, walking around, and staying at home life and present it to God as an offering. Embracing what God has done for you is the best thing you can do for Him. Don’t forget to check out the show notes on our women finishing well podcast page and get that link to the worship song and a link to our Facebook page. We’d love to have you join our community there.
Links:
Click here for the link to the lyric video for How Great is Our God by Chris Tomlin.
If you'd like to join our book launch team to get the word out about The Mary Answer, we'd like to give you a free book to read. You can sign up for the team by clicking here.
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Welcome to 30 days to embracing God’s disruptions and detours.
Day 3 Transcript: A Nice Little Life
Word: Read John 10:10, 2 Cor. 4:16-18
When I was a high school English teacher, one of my biggest frustrations was gifted students who just did enough to get by. No matter how interesting or engaging I made the class, they just wanted to settle for that “C” instead of the “A” they were capable of. They weren’t lazy; just satisfied with not engaging with the learning process. I always chalked it up to the typical teenage apathy some kids have for school.
Sometimes I wonder if we have become apathetic about our spiritual growth. In today’s scripture, we sit in on a discussion Jesus is having with the Pharisees about the difference between Satan’s mission and his. “The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy.” And the path to that destruction is nothing violent or traumatic. The prime tactic the enemy uses to destroy us is to get us to settle for a nice little life. The inherent danger is that a nice little life encourages us to forget there is something more beyond that; something that Jesus promised us in the second half of verse 10: abundant life to the full. The New Living Translation calls it “a rich and satisfying life.” This life isn’t defined by externals: a nice house, a couple cars, good kids, good health, and a vacation every year. It is an internal abiding relationship with a God who walks with us 24/7. It may include some of those externals, but it is never defined by them.
Paul put this in perspective for us in 2 Cor. 4:16-18: We don’t lose heart because our light and momentary disruptions are working for us an eternal glory that far outweighs any nice little life the world can give us (my paraphrase). So what do we need to do? We fix our eyes on what is not seen because what is seen (the nice little life) is temporary, but what is not seen is eternal. That which is not seen, my friend, is the abundant life Jesus wants to give us. It is exceedingly, abundantly above and beyond anything we can dare ask or think. (Eph. 3:20)
Wait in prayer: Are you in danger of settling for a nice little life—a life of ease? Write a prayer asking Jesus to help you seek the life He has to offer—life to the full. Ask Him to show you areas where you are starting to accept the status quo and not push through to the best life you can live in Him. Ask Him to give you a new attitude towards your “light and momentary troubles.” Nothing we go through in this world can compare to the glory that is being revealed in us. (Rom. 8:18)
Worship: Fix My Eyes performed by for King and Country
Links:
-Click here to watch Fix My Eyes lyric video performed by for King and Country
Visit our Facebook page and join the Women Finishing Well community: https://www.facebook.com/womenfinishingwell
Word: Read Genesis 3:1-7
Same old, same old. When Eve encountered the serpent in the garden, the question the snake posed was a question he is still hissing today: “did God really say...?” It describes the number one weapon the enemy uses to steal, kill, and destroy: twisting the Word of God into a lie. His arsenal includes a number of weapons but the most effective by far is the half-truth. In his reinterpretation of truth in Gen. 3:4-5, he displays this cunning weapon skillfully. The half-truth on the front of his statement is punched with the lie on the back. And that lie is his gem because it speaks to a deep desire in our proud souls: you can be like God.
The three things that attracted Eve about the apple included two harmless observations: good to eat and pleasing to the eye. The garden was loaded with food that checked those two boxes. It was the third that spoke to her pride: “and she wanted the wisdom it would give her.” (v. 6)
Isn’t that just like us today? We want the wisdom to run our own life, to make our own decisions, to grab hold of the wheel. Wouldn’t that be magical? To have the knowledge to create a perfect life? That’s what drew Eve to take that bite.
As we go through these 30 days, you’ll be challenged to give up some half-truths the enemy has been feeding you about disruption and detours. He wants to convince you to keep both hands on the wheel of your life. May God give you wisdom for the journey and courage to let go of your half-truths and embrace the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Wait in prayer: Write out a prayer that Jesus would reveal places in your life where you are accepting half-truths and identify them by name. Pray that you would know the whole truth and nothing but the truth about this area of your life. Pray that you will know the truth and that truth will set you free (John 8:32)
Worship: Voice of Truth performed by Casting Crowns.
Click here to worship along with the lyric video.
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Day One Transcript: we invite you to study along with us.
Day One: Cruise Control
Word: Read Luke 1:26-37, Ps. 46:10
My first taste of stop-and-go driving came the winter we lived in San Diego. Driving in the wide open spaces of Montana’s two-lane roads, I was addicted to my cruise control. I used to joke that I could read a book while driving on the interstate in eastern Montana. But the hectic pace of speed up and slow down on the southern California freeways was disrupting to say the least. Paying attention to the abruptly changing speeds on the I-5 consumed all my attention.
Mary’s life was turned upside down by an angel’s declaration that she would give birth to a son…as a virgin. She went from cruise control to a dead stop in one short paragraph. And she was troubled. (29) It’s okay to be momentarily thrown for a loop by a disruption. We are human. It’s not a sign we are bad people or have no faith; it’s a sign that God is working in us. He wants to take the wheel. It may involve a tussle. It’s a sign He wants us to listen.
Disruptions are a part of our Christian growth. There is no going forward into what God wants us to be without going backward occasionally. There are things in us God wants to refine and some He wants to remove. What we won’t see in the disruption is God’s final purpose. We know that all things work for our good, but we don’t know how. And sometimes that drives us crazy. We just want to put the pedal to the metal and go. And God is saying, “Be still and know that I am God.” (Ps. 46:10)
When we turn our hearts to listening and remember that God is for us, we can confidently say, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”
Wait in prayer: What is sticking out to you in today’s Bible reading? How is your life on cruise control? Write out a prayer asking God to help you be fearless in the face of disruption. Remind yourself that nothing formed against you will stand. (Is. 54:17)
Worship: Whom Shall I Fear performed by Chris Tomlin
Click here for the lyric video and worship along!
In this episode, Chris welcomes Diane back and they talk about the technology challenges of putting your women's Bible study group online. Part one of two.
Show Notes & Links
-First, let's talk about technology. Don't freak out. It's pretty simple stuff. How to set your computer, phone, or tablet up for online interaction via Zoom.
-There will be a learning curve but there is lots of helpful tutorials on the Zoom website.
-Zoom does have a free plan with limitations. Check it out.
-Learn how to use Zoom with friends and family first so you can help women in your group who need to navigate the new technology.
-Consider holding an initial short session where everyone learns how to get online, mute their audio (and unmute) and turn their video on and off.
-Alternatives to Zoom and how to do a hybrid model of in-person and Zoom: YouVersion group reading plans and private Facebook groups.
-Above all, have confidence. It does take some learning, but it isn't anything you can't handle! Enjoy the ride!
-What is your women's Bible study group doing this fall? Let us know in the comments.
Links:
-Zoom free sign-up page: https://zoom.us/freesignup/
-Women Finishing Well Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/womenfinishingwell
In this episode Chris and friends recommend Bible studies that you may want to take a look at this fall.
Show Notes & Links: (Just click titles for a link to the book)
Here's a list of Bible study books Chris and friends are recommending for groups and individuals this fall:
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Discernment by Henri Nouwen
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Sermon on the Mount by Jen Wilkin
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On Bended Knee (study on prayer) by Cricket Keeth
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The Gentle Answer by Scott Sauls
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The Belonging Project by Amberly Neese
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Fervent by Priscilla Shirer
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Better by Jen Wilkin
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Women Finishing Well by Chris Syme (with a special offer for groups)
Other Links: (Click 'em, they're live)
-Join our newsletter mailing list on our website's home page
-Our Facebook page - please leave your prayer requests
-Email me if you want information on how to schedule a live Zoom with your Bible study group: chris@womenfinishingwell.com
-Click here to join our launch team and get a free copy of our next Bible study, The Mary Answer before it's published.
In this episode, Chris and Diane wrap up their series on spiritual warfare talking about the number one weapon we have to stand against the enemy's schemes: prayer. The teaching for this episode comes from Chris' Bible study, Women Finishing Well.
Show Notes & Links:
-What was David's response to his enemies hunting him down and trying to destroy him? Psalm 27:2-5
-What does it mean to "never stop praying" from 1 Thessalonians 5:7?
-Life is full of waiting rooms. So, how should we wait on the Lord?
-----Wait with focus and passion. Waiting is not passive. (Ps. 130:5-6)
-----Wait in hope. (Ps. 33:20)
-----Wait confidently. (Heb. 11:6)
-----Wait patiently. (Ps. 27:14)
-“Living as if there were none but He and I in the world.”-Brother Lawrence in The Practice of the Presence of God.
-Lifestyle prayer is about being in a continual state of listening and expecting to connect with God in our everyday lives.
-For more in-depth study of waiting (abiding) in God's presence, we recommend starting with John 14:15-24.
Links (Click 'em, they're live):
Link to the first episode in the spiritual warfare series: "The New Way To Do Battle."
-Link to The Practice of the Presence of God book
Link to get your copy of our Bible study, Women Finishing Well.
-Link to our Women Finishing Well Facebook page. Won't you drop by and connect or share a prayer request? You'll be inspired and encouraged!
If you've enjoyed the podcast, please share with a friend! Let's get the word out!
In this episode, Chris and Diane continue their series on spiritual warfare as they revisit an earlier episode on how to sharpen your sword: learning how to be a hearer and a doer of the Word.
Links & Show Notes:
-The goal of personal Bible study: go get to know the Who behind the Word.
-Personal Bible study is a journey of transformation. We are all at different places on the path but reading the same road signs.
Benefits of personal Bible study from Psalm 119:
-It keeps us on the path of purity. (vs 9-16)
-Gives our lives stability. (v 165)
-It keeps us from being put to shame. (vs 5-6)
-Gives joy to our hearts. (v 111)
-Helps us make important decisions. (v 105)
-was
-Gives us comfort in suffering. (v 50)
-It becomes a joyful heritage for us to pass on. (vs 111-112)
Tips to get started in personal Bible study:
-Find a reading plan that fits your time and life needs. Start with the YouVersion app for your phone or computer. See link in the show notes for help getting the app set up.
-We recommend The Heartbeat of God from Christ Baxter reading plan if you're just getting started. Use the search function on the app to find the plan.
-If you want a deeper study of a particular topic or book of the Bible, try the S.O.A.P. method:
S=write and recite the scripture
O=write your observations: What jumps out at you in this passage? Who is talking here? What comes right before this passage? How does this passage connect to the context of what comes before and after?
A=Application: How does this apply to my life right now? What truths are coming to the forefront as I meditate on the passage? What do I believe this passage is asking me to do
P= Close with a prayer asking God to help for apply what you're hearing from His Spirit. Be a listener and a doer.
-Chris and Diane give their take on the "O" and "A"--it's all about mirrors.
Links:
-Sign up for our newsletter list and get a free mini Bible study on how to establish a First Things First routine in just 10-15 minutes a day. Click here to sign up.
-Do you have a prayer request or want to pray for other women? Go to our Facebook page. There is a pinned post at the top of the page for prayer requests. Leave yours in the comments and we'll pray with you. Click here to go our Facebook page.
Click here to download the YouVersion app on to your phone, device, or computer.
Click here for the computer-based reading plan from Chris Baxter's The Heartbeat of God
In this episode Chris and Diane set the stage for a short series of podcasts on how to stand firm against the enemy using the armor of God. (Ephesians 6)
Show Notes:
-How to recognize the origin of a spiritual battle--we are not fighting against flesh and blood. (Eph. 6:12)
-How our imagination can get us off track and into trouble.
- How worrying about anything can turn into worrying about everything. (Phil. 4:6)
-The three steps of temptation. (James 1:13-15) Above all, remember God doesn't tempt anyone.
-Learn how to recognize when temptation in dragging your away and enticing you. (James 1:14)
-Tip #1: Ask yourself what is your biggest worry? Some tips for using the armor to take your stand.
-Tip #2: Identify your blind spots. What makes you angry? Afraid? Ashamed? Impatient? Feel condemned?
-First line of defense: put off your old self. Gt rid of the things that draw your imagination aside and play into a blind spot. (Eph. 4:20-24)
-Identifying the purpose of each piece in the armor of God and tips on using each one.
-Once you make a decision to bring your imagination under the control of the Holy Spirit, the enemy will step up their game. Be alert. Tips for scripture verses to say out loud daily.
-Spiritual warfare is not easy, it takes work. But it isn't impossible and it does bring a new level of spiritual confidence into your life.
Links:
-This Means War web page of verses to increase your battle confidence.
-Ephesians 1:3-14 list of spiritual blessings.
-Link to our Facebook page to leave your prayer requests or connect with our community. You are welcome there--it is a safe place.
In this episode Chris interviews author and blogger Melanie Davis Porter on how to deal with the shared grief we are feeling in this unsettling time.
Show Notes & Scripture
-Many of us are feeling a sense of sadness and loss that we need to identify as grief. Mourning is productive, not destructive.
-What is complicated grief? Melanie gives us a sense of what that experience looks like.
-Shared grief looks different for everybody. Grace and mercy needed. We are not all in the same place at the same time even though we are sharing the same experience.
Tips for dealing with your grief:
-To help each other, we need to pray for discernment and develop an active compassion that may not always feel comfortable.
-Be willing to be brave; to listen and to speak into the needs of others. (Php. 2:3)
-Don’t isolate yourself. It can become an open door for the enemy. Melanie gives us some ideas on how to keep connected in Covid times.
-Encourage the people God puts in your life on a daily basis. (Heb. 10:23-24, 2 Cor. 5:18)
-Give yourself permission to mourn (Ecc.3:4) and let go of the grief that is dragging you down.
-Dig into God’s Word. Read scriptures of hopefulness.
-Don’t mourn like people without hope. 2 Cor. 1:3-4: God comforts us and we comfort others. Ps. 147:3 – He heals the broken-hearted and binds up our wounds.
-Seek peace and pursue it. (Ps. 34:14) Where is your place of peace? Focus on the simple joys.
-Melanie shares her thoughts on contributing to the Proverbs 31 Ministries online study on Revelation.
Links:
Click here to read Melanie’s blog post from Dayspring’s (in)Courage blog
Click here to visit Melanie’s website
Click here to connect with Melanie’s Facebook page
Have you got a copy of our Bible study, Women Finishing Well, yet? Did you know you can get an ebook copy for free if you are enrolled in Kindle Unlimited. Click here to get your copy now.
Episode 60: Ps. 23 podcast on walking through the dark valley
Melanie's other episodes on our podcast:
Trusting God In The Season of Grief (episode 13)
Helping Friends Walk Through Grief (episode 19)
In this episode Chris and Diane talk about the six characteristics we share with sheep from Psalm 23, and how they will help us navigate the dark valleys of fear in our lives.
Show Notes & Links:
-Why fear is such a hot topic and common experience these days.
-Why comparing us to sheep in Psalm 23 is right on: Diane's story about raising lambs.
The six characteristics of good sheep from Psalm 23:
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A good sheep is a follower (v. 1). We have need of nothing.
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Sheep need rest (vs. 2-3) "He makes us lie down..."
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A good sheep stays close to the shepherd's staff for guidance. (v. 4) The rod and staff are meant for comfort and guidance, not punishment or condemnation.
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God blesses the sheep in the dark valley. (v.5)He prepares a table of blessing for us in the presence of our enemies.
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A good sheep lets the shepherd protect them (v. 5b) - He anoints our head with the "oil of protection." Lessons from a sheep herder.
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God "double blesses" us. (v. 6) His blessings follow us everyday in this life and in eternity too!
Scripture and Links:
-Psalm 23, Psalm 46:10, Psalm 19
-Link to Phillip Keller's book, A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23
-Link to the Women Finishing Well Facebook page.
-Would you consider sharing this week's episode with a friend in need of a boost? Here's a link to share: https://womenfinishingwell.com/episode60/
In this episode, Chris takes a look at what God asked Joshua and Israel to do after crossing over the Jordan: possess the promised land. How does this translate to the journey to our new normal?
Show Notes & Links:
-Review: In episode 56, we saw God asking Joshua to send the priests and the ark of the covenant into the flood-stage river to see their deliverance. No Red Sea parting here. They had to take a step first. You can listen to that episode on the link below in the show notes.
-In this episode, we explore the instruction God gave Joshua to "take the land and inherit it." It starts with a battle with weapons like you've never seen before.
- What is the significance for us of the 12 stones God asked Joshua to assemble on the other side of the Jordan?
-Remembering what God has done gives us courage for what is ahead. Also, it helps us pass on the legacy of our faith.
-Find out what Jericho really looked like to Israel.
-Why we don't need massive artillery to fight the battles of life. What kinds of weapons do you have that are like Israel's shoes, trumpets, and shouts?
-What is the Jericho that is holding you back from finding your new normal?
Links:
-Hear the first installment (link to episode 56)
-Do you have a prayer request? We'd love to join you in prayer. There is a pinned post at the top our Facebook page to leave your request. While you're there, like the page so we can keep connected. https://www.facebook.com/womenfinishingwell/
-Would you like to be included in our monthly newsletter for book giveaways and new about upcoming studies and events? When you sign up, you'll get our First Things First tool for free to turbocharge you daily time with God! You can sign up here.
Scripture references for this episode:
Joshua 1:10-11, Joshua 4:21-24, Joshua 6:1-5, 2 Samuel 22
In this week's episode we interview worship leader and tech expert Carol Tetzlaff about the role of tech in the future of church ministry. Are you wondering what to do with your Bible studies, retreats, or even if you want to try church online? This episode is for you!
Show Notes & Links
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How Carol and a friend "inherited" one of the largest women's conferences in the southwest. A lesson in how God qualifies those He calls.
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If you make the decision to have live events, why over communicating and making provisions for personal safety are important. You'll love the lanyard idea!
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Why we should use Facebook Live and other video tech to promote upcoming events. Build on the need for connection.
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Make sure you provide online options for those who don't feel comfortable "showing up" but are in need of connection.
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Learning to use tech effectively can be the key to making online connections real.
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Advice for the hesitant and confused: technology isn't as complicated as you think. YouTube is a great teacher!
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The Phoenix area LIFT organization is offering free training on how to use Zoom for groups on Aug. 14. See the links below to register for free.
Links:
-Find Carol on her website here.
-Connect with the SWCC Women's Conference on Facebook here.
-Find out more information about the free Zoom online training offered by LIFT and register for free here.
In this episode Chris is joined by guest co-host Michelle Nezat as they discuss one of the essential habits we all need for the journey to our new normal: personal worship. Listen and find out how personal worship can be a weapon against the enemy in troubled times.
Show Notes & Links:
-Have we delegated worship to the corporate church setting? God calls us to worship Him in every area of our life. Now more than ever when we can't gather together we need to cultivate the habit of personal worship!
-What is the difference between corporate and personal worship?
-How personal worship enhances our study of God’s Word brings us into His presence in our everyday lives.
-Personal worship puts God in his “appropriate place” in our life.
-What are the roadblocks to worshipping in troubled times and how do we get past them?
-Worship as a warfare weapon: We may not be able to understand the times we’re in but when we enter God’s presence through worship, we understand that God is in control. Psalm 73:13-17
-What if I’m not musical?
-Tips from Michelle to enhance your personal worship.
Links:
-Michelle’s podcast, More Than a Song, click here.
-To join Michelle’s 30-day Music Challenge, click here.
-Link to Michelle’s early episode on our podcast
-To join the conversation on our Facebook page, click here.
-Have you seen our Journey to Your New Normal blog posts? Click here to check them out.
-If you enjoyed today’s podcast, would you consider sharing it with your friends? Thanks for helping us encourage our sisters in Christ.
In this episode Chris shares the first of three steps in the journey to your new normal. This week we’ll talk about the first step in our journey: go across. Don’t get stuck on the shore.
Links & Show Notes:
-Our motto for the journey: do not be discouraged, do not be afraid; for the Lord will be with you wherever you go. –Josh. 1:9
-The three steps in the journey: go across, conquer the land, inhabit the land. (Joshua 1:1-11)
-We have history to understand the dilemma we are facing, but we have no experience.
-Unlike the Red Sea experience, Israel doesn’t have the luxury of seeing the water parted before they stepped into the Jordan River. God is requiring them to step into the raging water before He will make a way. Is that where we’re at today?
-What happened in Joshua 3?
-We have never been this way before. Keep your eyes on God.
-What is distracting you from moving forward on your journey? Take a quick inventory.
-Before we can fight these battles, we need to take a step into the river.
-Is your life a “raging river” right now? Chris’ story.
-God is bigger than any raging river in our life. And He wants to show us He’s bigger, so let’s take a step in.
Tips for taking a step: See the Show Notes for all the links in this section.
- Start praying scripture. Find the promises of scripture and pray them into your life. See the Bible Study Tools link in the show notes to get your lists started.
- Do you have a daily time of communication and connection with God? Click here for the tool to get started if you don’t have that time in your life yet?
- Step up your personal worship habit. Make some playlists.
-These three steps are not a guarantee your circumstances will change. But they will help change you in the circumstances.
-In order to take that first step into the river we have to leave some things behind. Don’t let the fear of missing out turn into a fear that God is not in control.
Links:
Link to Bible Study Tools page on scripture references for specific topics.
Link to the First Things First tool to get your daily conversation time with God started.
Get more good info on the journey to your new normal on our blog. Click here.
Join the discussion on our Facebook page by clicking here.
Link to Pandora to set up a free Pandora account for worship music.
In this episode Chris starts a new series called Journey to Your New Normal. It is our hope that this series will help you through the tough challenges you are facing and give you hope during this crazy time.
Links & Show Notes:
-Quick history from the book of Joshua: how Israel faced the same kinds of troubled times we have now--it's uncanny.
-Why Joshua and Caleb were the only two of the original two million that crossed the Red Sea to go into the Promised Land.
-In order to start where we're at, we need to take stock of where we are.
-Before Israel got ready to enter the Promised Land, God told them they needed to do three things:
- go across
- conquer the land
- dwell in the land (inhabit)
-Before we can start the journey to our new normal we have to make the same three commitments. We can't stay stuck on the other side of the Jordan.
-Conquering the land means declaring war on the things that are keeping us stuck.
-Best advice ever: Three things about this journey we cannot escape (from Pastor Jeremy Foster at Hope City Church in Houston.
Next week: Crossing the Jordan.
Scripture verses from this episode:
Numbers 13-14:Joshua and Caleb's story
Joshua 1:10-The three things Israel had to do
Isaiah 50:11
Rom. 12:2 & Pr. 3:5-6
Ps. 27:4
Deut. 4:29
Tell us what you think in the comments section or visit our Facebook page here and join the conversation.
Links:
Our April episodes on finding your new normal (click here)
In this episode Chris interviews national speaker, author, and comedian Amberly Neese about her new book The Belonging Project. Listen up--you won't want to miss this!
Show Notes & Links
-Find out how Amberly got interested in comedy. What are the hardest and best things about using comedy to teach the Bible.
-What inspired Amberly to write her latest Bible study, The Belonging Project?
-Find out how you can be a dongle for Jesus.
-A look at the four “one-another” scriptures the book is based on.
-Why making new friends can be hard work and why we need to persevere.
-If making new friends is a challenge for you, Amberly has some specific words of encouragement for you.
Links: (click ‘em, they’re live)
Amberly’s website and contact information here.
Find out more about Aspire women’s events here.
Find out more about Marriage Date Night events here.
In this episode Chris digs into the Lord's prayer to look at how personal prayer can transform our lives.
Show Notes & Links:
-Personal prayer is one of the four legacy building blocks that lay the foundation for our journey to finish well.
-Definition of personal prayer: we look to John 15 where Jesus talked about remaining. It's the mindset of staying continually in God's presence. It was David's "one thing" in Psalm 27.
-Lifestyle prayer is a heart that is always listening for a "poke" from God.
-The four types of prayer modeled in the Bible:
- Lifestyle prayer--pray without ceasing. 1 Thes. 5:17
- Corporate prayer: uniting with others and agreeing. Mt. 18:19-20
- Declaring or praying God's Word. Psalm 119:105, Heb. 2:12
- Intercessory prayer: one-on-one closet prayer.
-Jesus taught us how to pray in the Lord's Prayer in Luke 11:
- Remember that God is Holy.
- Pray for God's will--acknowledge that His plan is the best.
- Ask for Him to meet your needs - your daily bread.
- Confess your sin and ask for forgiveness. Forgive others.
- Pray for protection from evil. We have an enemy.
-Bring peace to your days with "bookend" prayers.
Links:
-If you would like to subscribe to our email list and get the free mini Bible study on First Things First, click here to sign up. You may unsubscribe at any time.
-Please connect with us on our Facebook page. There is a pinned post at the top of that page to share any prayer requests. We would love to pray with you. https://www.facebook.com/womenfinishingwell/
-Link to "Set A Fire" music video-click here. (live version)
If you have a friend that would be blessed by our podcast, would you consider sharing it with her? We also invite you to leave us a review on iTunes. That helps other women find us!
In this episode, Chris and Diane explore the lifestyle of personal prayer. Using Psalm 27, they look at the how David cultivated a life of waiting on God.
Show Notes & Links:
-What was David's response to his enemies hunting him down and trying to destroy him? Psalm 27:2-5
-What does it mean to "never stop praying" from 1 Thessalonians 5:7?
-Life is full of waiting rooms. So, how should we wait on the Lord?
- Wait with focus and passion. Waiting is not passive. (Ps. 130:5-6)
- Wait in hope. (Ps. 33:20)
- Wait confidently. (Heb. 11:6)
- Wait patiently. (Ps. 27:14)
-“Living as if there were none but He and I in the world.”-Brother Lawrence in The Practice of the Presence of God.
-Lifestyle prayer is about being in a continual state of listening and expecting to connect with God in our everyday lives.
-For more in-depth study of waiting (abiding) in God's presence, we recommend starting with John 14:15-24.
Links (Click 'em, they're live):
-Link to The Practice of the Presence of God book
-Link to our Women Finishing Well Facebook page. Won't you drop by and connect? You'll be inspired and encouraged!
-To celebrate our first anniversary of our podcast, we invite you to leave us a comment on our Facebook page or podcast post about how the podcast has encouraged you!
-Our June newsletter goes out Wednesday, June 10. Sign up on the link to get in on this month's giveaway and get a free copy of our First Things First mini Bible study! Sign up here.
If you've enjoyed the podcast, please share with a friend! Let's get the word out!
In this episode Chris and Diane talk about how to read the Bible for transformation: be a hearer a doer. A continuation in their series from the Bible study, Women Finishing Well.
Show Notes & Links
-The goal of personal Bible study: go get to know the Who behind the Word.
-Personal Bible study is a journey of transformation. We are all at different places on the path but reading the same road signs.
-Benefits of personal Bible study from Psalm 119:
- It keeps us on the path of purity. (vs 9-16)
- Gives our lives stability. (v 165)
- It keeps us from being put to shame. (vs 5-6)
- Gives joy to our hearts. (v 111)
- Helps us make important decisions. (v 105)
- Gives us comfort in suffering. (v 50)
- It becomes a joyful heritage for us to pass on. (vs 111-112)
-Tips to get started in personal Bible study:
- Find a reading plan that fits your time and life needs. Start with the YouVersion app for your phone or computer. See link in the show notes for help getting the app set up.
- We recommend The Heartbeat of God from Christ Baxter reading plan if you're just getting started. Use the search function on the app to find the plan.
-
If you want a deeper study of a particular topic or book of the Bible, try the S.O.A.P. method:
-
S=write and recite the scripture
- O=write your observations: What jumps out at you in this passage? Who is talking here? What comes right before this passage? How does this passage connect to the context of what comes before and after?
- A=Application: How does this apply to my life right now? What truths are coming to the forefront as I meditate on the passage? What do I believe this passage is asking me to do
- P= Close with a prayer asking God to help for apply what you're hearing from His Spirit. Be a listener and a doer.
-Chris and Diane give their take on the "O" and "A"--it's all about mirrors.
Links:
-Sign up for our newsletter list and get a free mini Bible study on how to establish a First Things First routine in just 10-15 minutes a day. Click here to sign up.
-Do you have a prayer request or want to pray for other women? Go to our Facebook page. There is a pinned post at the top of the page for prayer requests. Leave yours in the comments and we'll pray with you. Click here to go our Facebook page.
Click here to download the YouVersion app on to your phone, device, or computer.
Click here for the computer-based reading plan from Chris Baxter's The Heartbeat of God.
In this episode Chris talks about why we all need to learn to tell stories. Building a legacy of faith to pass on requires we start with the why.
Links & Show Notes
-Building a legacy of faith with stories has deep roots in the Bible:
-Why storytelling is important for everyone: Ps. 145:4-7
6 Truths of Storytelling from Psalm 78:2-8
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We are commanded to tell stories. (vs 2-3)
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Stories of God showing up in our lives are for the benefit of others. (v 4)
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Learn how to tell a parable. (v 5)
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Encourage others to tell their stories. (v 6)
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Storytelling increases faith and trust in God in others and us.
(v 7)
- Storytelling can help us avoid rebellion and sin. (v 8)
Links (Click 'em, they're live)
- Women Finishing Well Facebook page
-Link to Melanie Davis Porter podcast episodes:
Episode 13 - Trusting God is a Season of Grief
Episode 19 - Helping Friends Walk Through Grief
Women Finishing Well Website Link for Writers, Podcasters, and Bloggers
Scripture Memory Challenge
Chris' email: chris@cksyme.com