Simply Living for Him

Today we are talking about joy. It is not something we can produce in ourselves, nor is it something circumstances can produce. Come listen in and let me know if you agree with where our joy comes from!

There's so much hustle and bustle in our culture that many of us crave slow living. But today we are talking about slowing down and a slower lifestyle, not just as something we do as a reaction to our circumstances, but as a mindset. Join me as I fill you in on all that has been going on here lately, where I've been, and where my focus is these days. Be encouraged if you are feeling overwhelmed, just how to refocus to walk with Him and not this world.

God created seasons in nature. They show us His order and also His purposes. One season on the calendar depends on the next and there is often growth in different ways through each season. And just like in nature, God has created different seasons in our lives. We can't stop them but we can walk with Him through each one, whether a season of struggle or a season of praise.

The new year is always a time when we focus on wellness, which usually means physical wellness. But let's chat today about the wellness of your soul. Even if the world seems dark and chaotic, you can find joy in Jesus, no matter what the circumstances!

Today I am sharing some changes to the ministry this year and then I am sharing a special New Year's message.  I'm encouraging you to look ahead to 2023, not with resolutions and goals, but by asking yourself what you want to see God do in this new year. Listen in to this encouraging message to focus on the new year to come!

As the year comes to a close I have been thinking about this question quite a bit...what would my life look like if no one told me what it should look like? Except for God, of course. Let's face it, the world is bombarding us with daily information that influences us more than we realize. But in the end, our time with the Lord will really determine how we live. The enemy wants us to keep up with Joneses so we don't keep up with God.  Listen in and be encouraged today to tune out the noise of this world and let Him dictate all you do.

Let's talk about Christmas- the enemy wants nothing more than to take a good thing and distort it. At a time when we are supposed to focus on all that this Advent season is, we make it about stress and busyness and "stuff." I am sharing how we have dealt with this. And then even out of the Christmas season how I have changed my mindset about the most important things. 

This is a special episode that I have recorded at the request of many listeners. Feel free to share it far and wide, as we look differently at the teen years and beyond and what God really wants for our teens. Academics are just a small part of it all! We are raising Kingdom-builders.

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind and I am sharing some of the things I have learned on today's episode. Listen in to hear about losing control, distractions, and more. Be encouraged to know WHO is in control and to be pointed to Him in all things so that we all draw near to Him, especially during this busy season!

It is so easy to get caught up in a complaining mindset. Yet, the Bible tells us we should do ALL things without complaining. Not just when things go our way. Not just when we have a good day. We are going to dig into God's Word today to see what God has to say about our complaining culture and how to stop it. There is a key to stop complaining- find out what it is!

We walk through life always thinking if we just get through the next trial or the next stage, things will finally settle down. Well, guess what? Things will only ever be settled in heaven. Join me today as I talk about living for our end game- Jesus- and how the Lord has shown me this in my life lately. It will change how you live when you focus on your TRUE reason for living!

Let's face it. In today's culture, the perfect home is glorified. The aesthetics are everything. The decor needs to stay on trend. And for many of us, we look around our homes and feel defeated. Yet, we are a society of abundance. We have more than we need. We should be thankful for the roofs over our heads and the places we call home.

Today I have a special guest, Jenny Nanninga, joining me as we talk about normalizing "normal" homes. Jenny lives in a smaller home with five children and gives a beautiful perspective on being content with what you have (even when discontentment creeps in) and gives practical advice for those of us to remember the purpose of our homes– our dwelling place. Make sure to listen to the end to hear her beautiful statement on this.

About Jenny:

Jenny is a wife and mother of five daughters living on the Central Coast of California. She and her family strive to love out God's calling on their lives to homeschool, serve the church, and love the world through hospitality while living small, in just 800 square feet! They love adventuring outdoors, exploring God's creation, pretending they have a small farm in suburbia with their chickens, cats, and dogs, and reading ALL the books. Jenny writes for different publications with a focus on homeschool, motherhood, and biblical womanhood. It is her desire to point others to Christ and to help them grow in their understanding of scriptures and to live fully in all that God has called them to.

Are you weary these days? You're not alone. Grab a cup of coffee, tea, or water and settle in. Let's look to the remedy for our weariness. Find some peace in your day and rest for your soul. Don't miss this one!

Are you an overthinker? It can be a blessing or a curse for me. But over the years, I have learned that key to quieting my mind. Come listen in and be encouraged, whether you are an overthinker or not, how to set your mind on the things above and experience true transformation in your life!

We've got a lot to chat about today! I am starting out by sharing about the incredible difference in our school year this year! Then we are talking about something everyone deals with- the comparison trap. But it is about SO much more than just that- we are talking about being Kingdom-minded with a purpose far greater than ourselves. Your life isn't supposed to look like others. It's supposed to look like Christ. Listen in and be encouraged!

We’re back from our SLFH Retreat and it was filled with attacks, victories, and beautiful sisters in Christ. So many lessons were learned. Grab a cup of coffee and listen in and be encouraged today, whether you are lonely, under attack, or feeling anxious, you will learn something about simply living for HIM!

Want to live a simpler life? Stop following every voice that speaks into your life and start following the One that speaks only the truth.

A simple life isn’t necessarily about minimalism. It goes much deeper. If you truly are living for the Lord you will eliminate so many of the things that are cluttering up your home, your mind, and your soul. You are no longer a slave to the things of this world but you are set free to truly live for Him. Join me today as we talk about finding freedom in a simple life.

As I returned from the grocery store this week, I just felt squeezed. The prices are soaring, the gas is at an all-time high, and it can all feel quite overwhelming. So I am sharing a few practical tips for these tough times, and helping us get back to the basic mindset. How can we wisely use our time and money these days? Mostly though, I want to encourage you that no matter what the circumstances are right now, we do not need material possessions to be content- we have Jesus. We are going to look at some biblical truths to help keep our focus during these challenging times.

Today I am answering some of the questions you all have submitted! Join me to get to know a bit more about who I am and why I do what I do! We are addressing several topics submitted by listeners and even a bit of my personal testimony. Listen in and let me know what you think!

So many of us fall into the trap of living for some arbitrary time in the future and say, "I'll be content when..." But we have so much to do right now at this moment. There is so much to learn from Paul's life- while in jail he wasn't waiting to be released to get busy for the Gospel and neither should we. Don't wait for the perfect conditions to live the life you have in front of you right now. Listen in, be encouraged, and seek Him first. That mindset will change everything.

This year has not gone according to plan, or shall I say, according to our homeschool plan. But perhaps it has gone just how God has planned. He has been near and life has been our best teacher. If you're in a place where you feel like you've failed or the year hasn't gone according to plan- whether you are a homeschooler or not- come listen and be encouraged that when things seem to fall apart, God redeems and puts them back together.

This week I realized enough is enough. Come and listen to this HUGE realization I had in the midst of dealing with some personal issues. Also, I mentioned at the beginning of the episode that I was going to talk about our school year and the challenges we faced this year, but I ran out of time...so that will be another episode!

It's been a whirlwind lately. Join me to hear all that is going on with family, farm life, and my faith. Then we will talk about finishing it all well.

This time of year, I am always looking ahead to the next homeschool year saying, "I'm done with this year. But NEXT year will be the year where I finally get it together. Next year will be our best year." Ha. That perfect year never came after 16 years of homeschooling. Life is full of changes and challenges and we must live in the present and finish well, and not look ahead waiting for better times. Join me today as I encourage you to finish well in whatever season you are in.