Just an Ordinary Girl: Recent Episodes
Stevie Ciske
Welcome to Just an Ordinary Girl. I’m your host. My husband calls me babe, my kiddos call me mama, but you can call me Stevie. I’m just an ordinary girl helping listeners find the extraordinary life through the extraordinary God. Jesus often taught his disciples through parables-- stories of ordinary life that mirrored a spiritual lesson he wanted to teach them. I feel he speaks to us today in the same way. Stay tuned to see how this ordinary girl plans to live the extraordinary life through ordinary life stories.
In a world that is seeking for truth, the enemy loves to come in and twist it around to draw you away from your purpose in life. Listen in on this amazing message from Mr. Ordinary Girl on how to untwist things.
How are your New Year's Resolutions going so far, two weeks into 2022? Is God the center of those resolutions? Take a listen as we tackle some of these questions, and how to set resolutions that are surefire wins for 2022!
As Thanksgiving approaches, do you consider yourself thankful? Is saying thanks just a polite gesture to you? Listen to today's podcast to see the extent of thankfulness He desires for us to have.
Ever found your thoughts in a downward spiral? Did you know it's possible to change the course of your thought process where that spiral is reversed, and spirals TOWARD the things God wants you to think about?
After reading Jennie Allen's book Get Out of Your Head, I began to contemplate, and then teach this concept to my teen agers, I'd like to share the same lesson I've been practicing for over ten years now, with you. I'm proof that it's doable. I may struggle, but there's now doubt there's truth behind taking your thoughts captive.
A perfectionist is a person who refuses to accept any standard short of perfection. Did you know God does not require perfection from us. Did you know God just wants us to pursue the One who is perfect? Listen to find out if you are a perfectionist or a pursuant. And prayerfully we will all desire the pursuit by the time we're done.
When your team is down, what do you shout from the stands?
When your kids are downcast, what do you tell them to raise their spirits?
When things don't go right in your life, what do you tell yourself? Gotcha there, didn't I?
There are three types of people. Those who are mean to others, those that are kind to others, and those who are mean to themselves... Which type are you?
Listen to find out how much power your words have...
When my tennis players feel they've lost, they begin to show physical signs of defeat. Slumped shoulders, heavy feet, furrowed brow. And they begin to play as if they've already lost the match! And I'm beginning to see that in Christians who have faced a few too many rough patches. The good news is that Jesus, our victor, is sharing His victory with us! So you don't have to play defeated anymore! Listen for more...
If 2020 up to this point has taught us anything it has been that FEAR is a monster. Fear also comes in all shapes and sizes. So what do we do when "Faith over Fear" just isn't cutting it. Cute phrase, but the phrase alone is not truly bringing us out of our fear/worry/anxiety. I have 5 not-so-easy steps that you can begin to put in practice to get you on the right track. You may be doing them every day, mulitple times a day until the fear subsides, but it's a great starting off point. Listen in to see how you can fit them into your own struggle.
What does it mean to you to be a Christian? Are you secure? Are you remaining? And what does that even mean!? This podcast speaks of remaining in God, the warning for those who aren't... and some encouragement on how to draw in close.
Oh how I love summer... but one of my favorite things about school starting back up, and "Fall" is that routine that comes with it. God is a god of order. I believe He wants us to order our days with purpose. Today's podcast will dive in to 10 ways we can reign in the summer "fly by the seat of your pants" days for a tad more structure.
Don't you realize that if you are a believer in Christ, you ARE in ministry. You are called by God to reach out to others and share the gospel and love of Jesus. So how are you doing in that process?
Do you ever feel your not even making a difference? Nothing you touch ever grows?
Even more, what if you already have an official title in ministry, a organization, or non-profit? How do you measure success? Please take time to listen to today's podcast on all the ways to monitor your ministry, the ministry God has placed before you.
Are feeling unfruitful? Unuseful? Is ministry feeling stagnant having no growth? Is it possible your looking at it from the wrong perspective or that your not waiting long enough? Join me later today for my season finale as we discuss these very questions.
Have you been hurt by someone in the church? By someone who professes Jesus Christ as their leader? Have you been turned off to church due to a pastor treating you poorly? Will you choose to listen today, and take on my challenge? Not ALL churches will be horrible. Maybe it's time to give it another try.
On Mother's Day week... let's talk motherhood! What season are you in, are you longing to get past it, return to one, or struggling through one? Motherhood has many stages, there will be even more until we've left this earth. God has something beautiful in each one.
What dream are you too afraid to pursue? What fear has held you back for way too long? It's time to let go, and let God use you!
Our nation is suffering from a massive wound. What can we do to be instruments of healing? And can we without choosing "sides" and meeting in the center? Jesus is center.
How do you feel about someone taking a magnifying glass to your DIY projects? What if they chose to point out every flaw and mishap in your project... or even judged you on it? What if someone came into your home and began critiquing your home decor? Rude, right? And yet people do it all the time with the lives of others. They whip out their magnifying glass and criticize, belittle, put down, and even dismiss others. This is not right. When can you lend your opinions? When can you speak wisdom into someone else's life? Today's podcast dives into when and if you should.
This podcast comes in the middle of Holy Week, the week between Palm Sunday and Easter. Eleven years ago I lost a daughter to miscarriage. But because of an Easter Sunday over 2000 years ago, I had a sympathizer who understood, and grieved my loss with me. If you are not ready to hear a story of healing and grace, come back when you are... But if you need a comforter in the midst of your grieving, this message is for you. He is alive forevermore, He is Risen, He is Lord. Happy Easter!
How do you know your living the Christian Life right? Just like a doctor runs a battery of tests to determine health and problem areas, we can test our spiritual life. Stay tuned to find out if your growing.
Let's be honest, I'm not good enough to have a failproof Parenting life nor am I equipped to guarantee you will have one... But I do know what the Bible says about setting our paths in the right direction. And I know 100% God never called you a failure. So if you've ever said you're a failure, or secretly thought it... This message is for you.
I remember thinking that I was laying my all down at the altar and Jesus just walked right over it, right past me. But in reality, he does not forget us. It's been a tad over 16 years since I fully grasped this, when the Lord remembered (not that he ever truly forgot). Do you need to be reminded today? You have not been forgotten.
Do you ever feel weak and can't find the strength to continue on? Discover what may be there that you may have forgotten about.
The greatest invitation isn't one you receive but rather the one you extend. This is a MUST listen!
I had the privilege of sharing the pulpit with my amazing Pastor/Husband for Valentine's Day and thought I'd share with the rest of you. Love is an action verb. So what does it look like to love? As we recently celebrated 20 years of marriage, we decided to share some of our top ten "must dos" based off of our wedding vows.
Do you desire to grow in your communication with your spouse? Today's bonus episode takes a look at how communication should grow in your marriage. But first, listen to part one.
Communication evolves in a marriage. But what if you've stalled? Have you ever tried to increase your prayer time in an effort to improve your communication in marriage? You should! Today's podcast can help.
How do you deal with messes in your home? Are you a total slob or a neat freak? What about messes in your life. When we find ourselves in a mess, whether it be from our own doing, from not being proactive, or from absolutely no fault of our own, there is hope. There is help! Listen this week to see how my 3 year old taught me about asking for help.
Growing in your relationship with God is much like building endurance on an Elliptical. The first time on one takes some getting used to, but eventually you grow stronger and it's way less intimidating. The same with our walk with God. But how do you measure growth with God?
Welcome to Just an Ordinary Girl. I’m your host. My husband calls me babe, my kiddos call me mama, but you can call me Stevie. I’m just an ordinary girl helping listeners find the extraordinary life through the extraordinary God.
Jesus often taught his disciples through parables-- stories of ordinary life that mirrored a spiritual lesson he wanted to teach them. I feel he speaks to us today in the same way. Stay tuned to see how this ordinary girl plans to live the extraordinary life.