Imagine More Podcast: Recent Episodes
Kimberly Stokes
The Imagine More Podcast helps you authentically engage God in your real life. I'm on mission to help women come out of hiding, connect with Jesus, hear His voice, and uncomplicate intimacy with God. It's time to get unstuck and encounter Jesus in all the ordinary moments of life. Join me on this journey and let's dare to IMAGINE MORE.
We try to squeeze as much productivity as we can from each day, but we often feel frustrated- like we never get enough accomplished. Has productivity become an idol in our lives? And what does God view as productive? Join me for this interesting convo & you just might make some new conclusions about productivity.
Join me for this convo about the many imperfections in life- i.e. a rough family outing bc of one child's bad attitude; date night going south when suddenly you feel hurt & misunderstood; tension with your sibling or boss. These are a few examples of the imperfections we face on a daily basis, and we can either sulk, get upset, deny our disappointment, OR we can turn towards God.
These messy, imperfect circumstances are actually opportunities for us to embrace God's presence and learn to "do life" with Him. He'll never force you to choose Him, but He lovingly invites us ever closer to His heart. In this episode, we'll discuss HOW to practice engaging God in the middle of all these messy, imperfect moments.
We love the Christmas season, but sometimes it's so stressful, right? Join me as I share four simple tips that can help put some happy in your holiday season. I hope these practical ideas help your holiday season have more peace and a lot less stress.
Loneliness....it's something we all deal with, but sometimes we try to fill the void with increased activity & busy schedules. Loneliness can be relentless at times, and if we don't deal with our disappointment & pain, we can end up pulling back, withdrawing, or isolating from God--which further increases loneliness. In this episode, we'll discuss how to engage God when we feel all alone. I pray HOPE awakens in your heart as you join me for this practical convo as we anchor our hearts in the reality of God's goodness and nearness.
Just as our closets get messy and cluttered, so do our souls. And the clutter that's in our soul often keeps us from the most important part of life: JESUS. In this episode, we'll explore ways to declutter our time, thoughts, & emotions, and we'll discuss how to actively engage the Lord in the process of decluttering so we can WALK in greater depth of intimacy with Him.
Do you know how to "bounce back" relationally after you're super angry with your spouse? If not, you may end up erecting emotional walls or punishing with a cold shoulder or the silent treatment. In this episode, I candidly share about my recent struggle of feeling furious at my husband- about an issue that felt huge in the moment, but really it wasn't a big deal. (Can you relate?) Join me as we discuss HOW to Get Over It, develop emotional resilience & increased dependence on God when we're angry & about to go off the rails. If you occasionally allow anger or relational snafus to ruin your day, then this episode is for you as we process how to "get over it" & move on.
Many people struggle with deep disappointment regarding their sex life in marriage, but ignoring it doesn't make it better. Join me for this episode as we talk about practical ways to increase and enhance sexual intimacy in marriage. We'll discuss 3 integral parts of a thriving marriage: emotional connection, non-sexual touch, & sexual touch. This show will encourage you to accept where you are & will challenge you to take courageous steps toward increased communication to start building a vibrant, healthy marriage that's full of passion & pleasure.
Honest confession: I've struggled with a negative attitude toward my spouse in different seasons- when I was more aware of his faults, weaknesses, & flaws than his strengths. And I see lots of marriages stuck in similar cycles of negativity. But the good news is: we don't have to stay there! In this episode, I share the tools God gave me to break out of this cycle and birth positive vibes toward my spouse again. In today's show, you'll learn a simple way to interrupt the cycle and begin to see your hubs as God sees him so you gain a greater awareness of his strengths and offer grace for his weaknesses. And there's a call to action with a 21 Day Marriage Challenge to stop the cycle of negativity in your marriage. Here's the link: https://www.connectcoach.co/resources
You can grow increased connection and intimacy as you learn to purposefully steward your thoughts toward your spouse. I'm not kidding, the results are tangible! These tools will empower you to appreciate your spouse & see him as God does.
The Lord is awakening us to live from His presence & tend the inner garden of our heart. This "garden" is the space where we connect with Jesus & give Him access to every part of our truest self- including the yucky, messy, ugly parts of our mind, will, & emotions. In this episode we'll discuss how to maintain constant connection with God throughout the day. As we tend the garden of our heart, we'll experience fellowship & intimacy with Jesus. And that authentic relational connection brings forth increased love, joy, and peace- and we grow more like Jesus on the inside.
It's easy to let spiritual activity take the place of 1:1 relational connection, but podcasts, sermons, & spiritual acts of service are cheap substitutes for a thriving personal connection with Jesus. Join me for this convo about how to intentionally tend the inner garden of our hearts.
God created you to have a lasting legacy on the earth & for eternity. And it doesn't require you to be famous, to be particularly gifted, or to be an influencer. As we intentionally show up for our lives, God uses our unique personalities to make a lasting impact on our friends and family. This episode will encourage you to "be present" for your own life & will remind you that your life matters! It's the little, daily choices we make that end up having a profound impact on others. Join me for this convo about what matters most: loving God & loving others, & I think you'll be reminded that your life IS making an impact on the world around you.
This episode explores the relational impact shame can have on our most cherished relationships with our spouse, family, & friends. Learn how "shame waves" interfere with our communication, leaving others confused & scratching their heads. We'll also discuss relational "shame crashes" & how to partner with God in the middle of them. We don't have to live from a shame narrative, & this episode will empower you to practically navigate through shame, stop the shame dance, & grow in increased levels of freedom.
Shame can be sneaky. I was completely clueless of the covert role shame played in my life, my eating disorder & my struggle with perfectionism. Join me as we dissect shame, distinguish between the emotion of shame versus the oppressive nature of a shame based identity, & look at the spiritual roots that keep us stuck in cycles of shame. We'll uncover some of the ways shame invites us to hide our true selves & the coping mechanisms we develop to cover our shame.
Shame lurks in the dark places of our soul, and as we bring it to the light of God's presence, we'll take steps toward increased freedom. You can experience freedom in this area...It happened for me. And there is hope for you!
Let's be honest: Valentine's Day can be full of disappointment. If you're struggling with the Valentine Blues, know that you aren't alone. The Lord wants you to know that He sees you & He loves you, & your value as a woman isn't dependent on having a valentine! This short episode addresses some practical ways to deal with the Valentine Blues & has a call to action challenging you to spread some love & positive vibes to others who might feel alone & disappointed. Let's partner with the eternal Lover of our Soul today, cancel the pity party, & spread some love.
It requires an enormous amount of courage to make changes & take risks, & in this episode we'll process the messy, beauty of imperfect action, which enables us to reach our goals. You don't have the "be the "best" or have everything figured out before you take steps to start that biz, take a step toward your destiny, or simply move toward making healthy lifestyle changes.
In what area of your life do you want to make some progress & forward motion? In this episode we'll discuss some of the "giants" we face that keep us stuck: Small thinking, Victim Identity, Fear, & Perfectionism. Join me for this practical convo to help stop spinning your wheels & make some forward motion.
Do you struggle with the voice of your inner critic? The voice that says you're not enough. The voice that stifles spontaneity & creativity. The voice of self-doubt that speaks a narrative of shame. In this episode, we'll expose the "inner critic"- what it is, how it seeks to help us, and how it can harm us if left unchecked. And most importantly, we'll discuss several practical ways to deal with our inner critic, living from God's truth, perspective, and presence instead of being berated by that negative voice in our head.
In this episode I mention a previous podcast episode that may help on your journey of healing & identity, and here's the link for that show: https://www.connectcoach.co/podcast/episode/a9b60417/you-are-gods-baby-pink
We can GROW to recognize and heed the voice of God over the voice of our inner critic, and it's life changing! I hope you'll grab hold of these truths and begin to implement changes...and I promise that you won't regret it!
There's an invitation from the Lord to go deeper this year, and this episode highlights two areas of relationship where we can intentionally cultivate increased intimacy. As the Father calls His Bride deeper, each of us has can respond with a resounding, "Yes, Lord," but it requires action on our part. Join me for this practical conversation about going deeper with God AND with other people. The Kingdom of God really boils down to love & relationship. What will you RSVP to His invitation to go deeper?
This episode encourages you to start 2022 in alignment with God. We'll explore some specific questions to ask the Lord, talk about the current season you're entering, and discuss practical ways to release and entrust your fear to Him at the outset of this new season. You are not alone as you journey into the new year. Joshua 1:9 says, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." And that promise still stands! His presence is greater than our fear. His nearness is greater than our discouragement. And His strength is greater than our insecurities.
It's my prayer that 2022 will bring increased partnership with God as we consistently posture our hearts in complete honesty & vulnerability, knowing our faithful God meets us & invite us into increased intimacy as we journey with Him.
Hope. We all want it. We all need it. But why do we struggle to live out the reality of it? In this episode we'll discuss the battle for hope and expose the 2 voices vying for our attention. As I share about my recent experience of being crippled with fear & anxiety for a couple of days, I hope you'll be encouraged to let the Lord meet you in the middle of your messy moments to breathe His hope over your heart and emotions.
Do you experience regret at times from being impulsive? I do. When emotions are ramped up, my impulsive responses to others usually don't go very well. In this episode, we'll discuss the source of impulsivity & how to practice responding to the Holy Spirit in those moments instead of giving in to our flesh.
We're all in process as we grow more like Jesus, and God gently meets us in the middle of our mess and impulsivity with His love, forgiveness, and kindness. This episode will inspire you to increased partnership with the Holy Spirit when your emotions are ramped up. Practicing an "open door" policy with the Lord is a relational process of yielding and surrender. And I'm so thankful we can access the power & beauty of His divine love when we least deserve it.
Is God calling you to "Move On" in a certain area of life? In this episode, we'll explore 3 facets of Moving On & hone in on what it looks like to partner with God in our thought life. We experience new levels of victory in our lives as we learn to embrace God's thoughts & perspectives, while letting go of the lies of the enemy. We can engage the God- as we ask, seek, and receive increased revelation from His heart- and that becomes the launch pad from which we anchor ourselves.
We can "Move On" in confidence as we partner with the Father in our thoughts, perspectives, and mindsets, but it all comes down to relational connection with Him minute by minute.
Here's the link I refer to in this show: https://www.imaginemoreministries.org/resources
You can grow your internal capacity for happiness, & this episode is GOLD providing tools to help you on your journey. Gladness and joy are Biblical mandates, but we often allow our emotions, situations, or disappointment to steal our joy. Join me in this life-changing conversation that will empower you to experience a super-natural lifestyle rooted in continual connection to God & increased capacity to receive from Him, the eternal source of our joy.
Whether you have a clear vision of your destiny in God OR if you feel lost and clueless, this episode addresses how to navigate through life stewarding the dreams, destiny, & even the disappointments along the way. Sometimes we get de-railed, and it's a red flag if we focus more on our destiny than on the Lord. Practical and timely, this episode will encourage you that your ultimate destiny is simply knowing & walking in intimate relationship with Jesus.
How many times have you asked yourself this question: Did I miss God? When we encounter problems, we often wonder if we "missed God," and Abram can relate. He followed God in obedience, left everything that was familiar to him, and encountered a famine-- meaning there was no food to eat. Now that's rough! I wonder if he asked himself, "Did I miss God?" This episode will encourage you to purposely pursue God in setbacks and difficulties because God Himself is our goal. And the problems we encounter don't necessarily mean that we "missed God."
In feast or famine, the choices you make have a huge impact on your intimacy with God. Today's episode will encourage you to steadily make your way deeper into the heart of the Father step by step, day by day, minute by minute.
Have you ever felt like God was a million miles away? Ever asked, "Where are You, God?" but didn't get a response? If so, I can relate. In this episode I candidly share about my recent experience of feeling ghosted by God. Oof...it was such a hard, lonely season, but I hope this show helps you better navigate through dark seasons when you feel far from God.
Packed with practical applications when we don't sense God's presence, this episode is a must if you're struggling with hopelessness or depression. Take a listen and if it's helpful, please share on your social media platforms.
May hope arise in your heart, my friend, if you're in a dark & lonely season right now. You are going to make it, and God is with you- even if you can't sense His presence today, He's got you.
Ain't nothin' easy about waiting on God. If you've waited on God & trusted Him for breakthrough or answer to prayer for any length of time, you know the tendency to get weary, bummed out, or even angry with Him bc waiting is hard!
In this episode, we explore what the Bible says about waiting on the Lord, we'll expose religious mindsets that hinder our process, and inspire practical application when we're waiting on God.
Time spend in the WAITING ROOM with God isn't fun or easy, but it certainly isn't wasted. There aren't any pat answers or 3 step processes, but I've found time in the WAITING ROOM with God always has a relational invitation attached, and it's intricately linked to TRUST and HOPE.
Some seasons of life are rough, and we feel powerless, which can be scary. When I feel afraid, I frequently kick into "control mode," but God is teaching me to view life NOT through a filter of FEAR, but rather a filter of TRUST. In this episode we'll explore the difference in these two filters and some of the supernatural blessings that are birthed as we choose to trust our heavenly Father.
Conflict is a NORMAL part of marriage and family, but FIGHTING doesn't have to be the way conflict is handled! You can learn to deal with conflict in healthy ways that will grow your relationship, increase connection, and honor God. This episode discusses practical aspects of living out the Kingdom of God in the messy moments, navigating through conflict instead of fighting.
Facing our failure can be so painful. While the enemy loves to scream his narrative in our ear, the Father gently whispers His perspective- if only we'll listen. Lately I've been super aware of my own failure and dealing with the ramifications of that is difficult and can birth hopelessness in my heart.
But I'm reminded that God's grace really is sufficient for my battle, and His grace is more than enough for your battle as well. We can walk in shame believing the enemy, or we can listen for the Father's invitation as He calls us into His abundant GRACE--even amidst our failure and disappointment.
Most of us hate conflict, and sometimes we avoid it altogether--like sweeping dust under the rug. But avoiding issues doesn't make them magically disappear. Even though conflict isn't fun, it's not necessarily bad. Conflict is normal--it's inevitable, and learning to navigate through conflict in a healthy way can actually strengthen your relationship, deepen connection, and increase intimacy. Join me for this practical conversation about dealing with the "dust bunnies" of conflict in marriage.
We all base our identity on something, but does it agree with what God says about us? Do you tend to see yourself as He sees you? Do you hear what He says about you? Do you believe what He believes about you? Join me for this conversation about identity, learning to see yourself as the Father sees you, and embracing your uniqueness.
Sometimes we fail miserably in our process, right? But God's invitation remains, and He continually offers us undeserved forgiveness and grace. On our journey through life, we all experience unmet expectations and deep disappointments, and something will be birthed in and through us as we navigate through our struggles. While the enemy wants to birth the ugly baby of bitterness, God seeks to birth more of His grace in our hearts.
This episode challenges us to freely give to the undeserving people in our lives, and we can only do that as we stay connected to the Father. We can't always control what happens to us, but we can control how we respond. We can growl and grumble, OR we can embrace God and grow.
Do you sometimes feel like a victim to life's circumstances or your emotions? I know I do at times, and this episode addresses things we unknowingly allow to hijack our lives. The enemy likes to subtly hijack our emotions or mindsets in effot to pilot the trajectory of our lives, but GOD gives us freedom of choice and invites us into partnership. This episode will encourage and empower you to kick some devil butt as you step into the authority God has given you to intentionally steward the "ship" of your life.
The enemy may have sneakily hijacked your life, but today you and Jesus are on a reconnaissance mission to take back that territory! And you'll learn how to powerfully respond to the enemy's tactics as you surrender to God and partner with Him in this season of life.
In this episode we'll discuss practical ways to embrace the concept that life is NOT about ME--it's all about JESUS! Really, this is a basic principle of the Christian faith, but our "selfie" generation actually has difficulty living it because we're exposed to constant messages that "we deserve to be happy" or "life is all about me."
But Jesus completely abandoned Himself to the will of the Father and lived to please His Father, and we're called to follow His example. In this episode I share four things we an do to embrace the notion that life is all about Jesus--and NOT about us.
We all want an incredible marriage, right? But how do we make that a reality? It's obviously multi-faceted, but one super simple, yet powerful tool is intentional prayer & making declarations from scripture over our spouse & marriage. In this episode, I share the exact prayers that I pray/declare over my hubs & our marriage.
If you want to access the pdf, it's a free download: https://www.imaginemoreministries.org/resources
Friend, I hope you'll refer to this episode over and over so you can experience a "marriage boost" via targeted prayer as you multi-task. The seeds you sow in intercession for your marriage WILL bear fruit!
Do you ever beat yourself up for not being as kind or patient as you want to be? If so, then you gotta listen to this episode! Friend, God never expects us to produce fruit on our own--we can only live out the Kingdom to the degree that we're surrendered to Jesus.
When I'm making cookies and realize I don't have any flour, I immediately text my neighbor, and she always comes through for me. In daily life, when we've run out of patience, grace, or kindness, we can reach out to God for immediate upgrades because He has an abundant supply of whatever we need! This episode is packed with practical truths and application for our real lives.
What do you do on the days when you don't like your spouse? We all have those days--or seasons, right? In this episode, we'll address the rarely discussed reality of what to do when you don't like your people. I'll share 3 practical things that help me navigate through negative thoughts towards my hubs & kids. This is real, y'all!
Identity. It's who or what we allow to define us. Baby Pink was a cheap, plastic doll. Her once colorful eyes and mouth had faded and there was a hole in her right hand, but my daughter's steadfast affection gave Baby Pink infinite value.
Like Baby Pink, we tend to focus on our flaws and the holes in our hearts or character, but as we tangibly encounter the love of the Father, our identity solidifies, our confidence soars, and we can start live unapologetically in the relational reality of God's opinion of us!
Just as no one else on earth treasured Baby Pink like Allie did, friend, no one else can treasure YOU the way your heavenly Father does! Join me for this unique conversation on identity--I hope you'll be encouraged and blessed!
Intimacy in marriage. We all want it, yet we can't have it apart from getting NAKED! In this episode we explore what it means to get naked and vulnerable in marriage as we seek to create an environment where love and intimacy can thrive.
The thing about life is that it's so ORDINARY. Join me as we explore practical ways to ENGAGE Jesus in all the ordinary moments because it's time to stop viewing life through a lens of spiritual and non-spiritual. When we invite the Majestic One into our seemingly mundane lives, we can live above the mundane in the midst of the ordinary! Partnering with Jesus enables us to find meaning and purpose in every moment.
If you're a mom, you're a MINISTER 24/7, but too often we de-value our role. In this episode we'll explore how to release the atmosphere of heaven as God uniquely flows through YOU to minister His love, presence, kindness and forgiveness to your little fam, but we can only do this as we SURRENDER to Jesus and practice receiving from Him. A lifestyle of intimacy with God is fully and beautifully expressed in the vehicle of family--in the sweet moments and the really messy ones.
Shame can speak such a powerful narrative over our lives, and this episode will help you deal with shame in practical ways. The fear of exposure often causes us to hide our sin, cover up our shame, and pretend that we're okay, but Jesus wants to eradicate shame in our lives. Intimacy with God is the key to unlock prison doors of fear and shame, and being fully exposed before Jesus truly is the best way to live. Join me as we dive into this practical and life-changing topic!
Do you struggle with control issues with your hubby or kids? I can relate and feel your pain. When I give in to the desire to control others, I'm living in Crazytown which frustrates me and my entire family. This episode addresses the nature of our battle for control and practical ways to get out of Crazytown so we can engage God in the process. We'll explore the covert nature of control issues--inspiring you to let go of fear and truly trust God.
When we don't get our breakthrough or our prayers aren't answered, it's so disappointing. And dealing with continual disappointment is like eating old, stale leftovers, and it's easy to get STUCK in disappointment. In this episode, we'll talk about practical ways to deal with the "leftovers" of continual disappointment and how to honestly navigate through it with the Lord.
Disappointment. We all experience it, and leftovers in the refrigerator often remind me of the disappointment in our lives. I always procrastinate cleaning out my frig, so it get cluttered with gross, squishy veggies & tons of gladware. Ignoring the leftovers in my frig don't make them go away, and neither does ignoring the disappointment in my heart. In this podcast we'll focus on ways to honestly navigate through our disappointment with God.
Do you tend to focus on your weaknesses and flaws? Most of us tend to see ourselves as very "small," but God wants to partner with you to make the world a better place. And it's His presence that qualifies you for your heavenly assignment! This episode will encourage you to step out of your comfort zone, say NO to fear, and say YES to an adventure with God in this season of life.
Struggling with depression was such a downer, but I learned to make powerful choices when I felt completely powerless. In this episode, I share ways God challenged me to OWN MY ATTITUDE--even in the midst of a deep depression. If you're struggling with circumstances that are out of your control or battling depression, you'll leave this episode encouraged and equipped with some practical, new tools to help you own your attitude.
Do you tend to hide the real you? Afraid of what people might think? Don't want to risk and end up looking stupid? I can relate because I spent too many years hiding, and the struggle is real. This episode addresses some of the reasons we hide and offers practical encouragement to step into the fullness of life Jesus offers. There's even a call to action at the end. Girlfriend, it's time to STOP HIDING and START LIVING!
If your marriage feels like a complete mess, you're not alone! Join me for this episode as I share ways to honestly navigate through rough seasons WITH God. There's no perfect marriage--and I promise you're not the only one who's struggling. God wants to meet you in the middle of your mess!
It's time to get REAL with God! We can walk in intimacy with Jesus in the midst of our daily struggles whether it's anger, impatience, marital problems, or depression--it doesn't matter what you're going through. He continually invites the REAL YOU to show up and "do life" with Him. When you're at your WORST, it's His delight to love and forgive you! If you want to grow in your relationship with God, grab a cup of coffee and join me for this episode!