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In this episode: This week’s guest, Eric Nevins, was miserable working in a call center for nothing but a paycheck. Or was that all? It turns out, God used his time to give him the skills he would eventually need for his true passion. (Article contains affiliate links. This means that when you click a link and make a purchase, I might receive a small commission from that purchase.) Inspired Life This week’s guest, Eric Nevins, talked about how God used his time in a call center to give him the skills he would eventually need for podcasting. He was miserable and never thought anything but a paycheck would come from that season of his life. But God had other plans.   Eric says one thing leads to another. Each step takes us closer to where God is leading. Taking the leap from the call center to a calling was terrifying. He wondered if anyone would listen to the show. There were so many uncertainties.    Eric said, “I did all this work. I went to school. I thought that was where you were leading me God and then nothing happened. It didn’t matter how many resumes I sent out or where I sent them. Nothing worked. I look at that now, and think that that was probably God’s provision.  “I wrote in my journal that I thought God might have an unconventional ministry for me. And then I spent the next 15 years trying to have a what I thought was a conventional church-style ministry…He was leading me there that whole time.”  Eric shared a quote from Biz Stone, one of the founders of Twitter. “Timing, perseverance, and ten years of trying will eventually make you look like an overnight success.”  About Eric:  Eric Nevins is the Host of Halfway There podcast and founder of Christian Podcasters Association, Eric Nevins loves helping people discover their gifts and uses them. He lives in Denver, CO with his wife of 23 years, their four kids, and a wonder dog.  Life, Repurposed Eric talked about how he is inspired by stories in the Bible and from other Christians. “Christian community is so important. This is what Scripture is for,” he said. “It’s more about telling how the people of God interact with him. Look at the stories. Go read through the Old Testament.”  “Wherever you are, it’s ok to be there,” he said. “Never stop pursuing new things if you’re not happy where you are, but trust that God is going to lead you to find yourself. Sometimes that takes suffering. Sometimes that takes hardship. But he will show you who you are in Christ. That is what unleashes the power of being a disciple of Christ.”  Recommended Resources Halfway There is a podcast about honest conversations with ordinary Christians about today's Christian experience. It’s one of my favorites to listen to! www.HalfwayTherePodcast.com    In this episode, Eric mentioned his favorite interview on Halfway There, one he did with John Swanger.  Plus, be sure to check out my own appearance on Halfway There where I talked about my faith journey.   Are you a podcaster? Check out the Christian Podcasters Association Eric Nevins in the founder of the group, and I love the weekly masterminds with other hosts. Want to know more about membership? Send me a message!   Also mentioned in this episode: AW Tozer Pursuit of God    Consider joining our Life, Repurposed Facebook community to build connections and engage in conversation about topics from each episode.  (Please note: books posted here on my blog are purely because I want to share them. Sometimes I receive free copies for review, and other times I purchase the books. Some I get from the library. Either way, any endorsement I offer here on the blog is simply because I want to talk about the book. ) Michelle Rayburn is the author of The Repurposed and Upcycled Life: When God Turns Trash to Treasure, as well as a small group Bible study to accompany the book. Learn more about these and her other books here. A sample chapter of the book and Bible study are available for free download. Subscribe and receive an email notice each time a new blog is posted. You can also subscribe on iTunes or on YouTube All blog content copyright MichelleRayburn.com This post contains affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission. I sell my ebook via Amazon but I’m also a part of their “Associates” (i.e. affiliate) program which pays a commission on books and any other Amazon products people purchase via my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The post Purpose Grows in the Waiting first appeared on Michelle Rayburn.

In this episode: What if saying no more often isn’t the answer? Maybe we just need a better yes. If you’re ready to say no to things that someone needs FROM you and yes to better opportunities FOR you, this is episode is for you. Stop closing the wrong doors and discover a more hopeful future.  (Article contains affiliate links. This means that when you click a link and make a purchase, I might receive a small commission from that purchase.) Inspired Life In last week’s episode with Daniel Darling, he said that part of how he got to where he is right now is that he says yes to every opportunity. I know Daniel didn’t mean this to imply he says yes to everything, even if it isn’t part of his calling of gifting. I took it to mean that whenever God opens a door, he walks through it.   Several times in the last few weeks I’ve been reminded that a yes to one thing is a no to something else. I think many of us understand the concept, but in practice, not so much.   I’ve talked about this concept in the framework of time management before, but let’s frame it a little different this time. Let’s look at it in relation to what we do when opportunities come regarding where God might lead us if we stopped getting in his way.   Often, when I talk about learning to say no, it’s in relation to things that someone needs FROM me. Chairing a committee, leading an event, donating time, etc. But what if the real problem is not saying yes to the right things that are great openings FOR me?   If I said yes to all the right things, I’d never have room to take on the wrong things.   What if we stay small, but God opened the door to go big?  What if multiple opportunities come along, and we keep brushing them off?   What if insecurity blocks us from taking the leap and saying yes to the best way to use our talents and gifts?  Discouragement and disappointment live in the place where we say no to the best options FOR us and we settle for everything that sucks the life FROM us.   Let’s change it up.  Life, Repurposed Wherever you are right now, I want you to pause. We’re going to have some thinking time. First, I want you to think about your big dream. Let’s look at the next 5 years.  What would you be doing in 5 years that you aren’t doing today if you had it your way? This might be related to your work, it might a writing goal, speaking, a hobby, a business, a project, a fitness goal, anything.   Now, think about the last few months. When has a door of opportunity edged open a crack and you were too afraid to widen the gap and look inside?   An invitation to speak  A writing mentor or webinar opportunity comes along  A fitness trainer wants to work with you  A great idea popped into your mind  What was your response? Refusing to look inside the cracked door sounds like this:   I can’t afford it.   I’m not good enough. I’m not disciplined enough. I don’t have time.   It’s too good to be true.  Do you see how those are all no’s? It’s self-sabotage. What would happen if you said yes by opening the door and changing the script? That sounds like this:  I’ll find a way to pay for this.  I’m as good as anyone else who is willing to learn.  I’m willing to apply new self-discipline habits.  I’m going to make the time.   It’s wonderfully exciting.   Let’s practice saying yes to the right things!   Recommended Resources   If you’re looking for ways to track your daily progress and work on setting yourself up for the right yesses, I invite you to check out a quarterly goals planner that I created. You can find a sample of it on my website here: 1–2–3 Ideas and Progress Journal   This is created with a daily place to write one big goal and two smaller ones. There is also space to write notes about what brings you joy, create ideas for projects, and celebrate your wins. If you would commit 90 days to saying yes to the right things, I have a feeling you will be amazed at what can happen.       You might also like the time-claiming resources I posted about before.  The Best Yes: Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endless Demands by Lysa TerKeurst. She talks about how to say no to in order to overcome the stress of an overwhelmed schedule and the sadness of an underwhelmed soul.  Overwhelmed: How to Quiet the Chaos and Restore Your Sanityby Kathi Lipp and Cheri Gregory. You can simplify and savor your life—guilt free! Clutter, tasks, and relationships may overwhelm you now, but God can help you overcome with grace. Uncluttered: Free Your Space, Free Your Schedule, Free Your Soul by Courtney Ellis. You'll learn tips for paring down your possessions, simplifying your schedule, and practicing the ancient art of Sabbath.  Would you like to be part of our monthly group coaching? Check out the link for membership on the Buy Me a Coffee graphic below to learn more.   Consider joining our Life, Repurposed Facebook community to build connections and engage in conversation about topics from each episode.  (Please note: books posted here on my blog are purely because I want to share them. Sometimes I receive free copies for review, and other times I purchase the books. Some I get from the library. Either way, any endorsement I offer here on the blog is simply because I want to talk about the book. ) Michelle Rayburn is the author of The Repurposed and Upcycled Life: When God Turns Trash to Treasure, as well as a small group Bible study to accompany the book. Learn more about these and her other books here. A sample chapter of the book and Bible study are available for free download. Subscribe and receive an email notice each time a new blog is posted. You can also subscribe on iTunes or on YouTube All blog content copyright MichelleRayburn.com This post contains affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission. I sell my ebook via Amazon but I’m also a part of their “Associates” (i.e. affiliate) program which pays a commission on books and any other Amazon products people purchase via my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The post Saying Yes Could Change Your Life first appeared on Michelle Rayburn.

In this episode: Could you use a little more kindness on social media? Would you appreciate less arguing and more objectivity? Daniel Darling talks this week about how we use our words in the digital space and how we can change our own behavior to make a difference. (Article contains affiliate links. This means that when you click a link and make a purchase, I might receive a small commission from that purchase.) Inspired Life Dan and I talked about the biggest traps we can fall into on social media these days and how we can avoid them. We discussed navigating the digital world with grace and what that looks like in real life. We discussed the idea of sharing truth in the way that isn’t destructive or attacking.    Quote from Daniel’s Facebook:   “Rule of thumb for politics (and life): don't be so zealous to criticize vulgar talk/ behavior from politicians on the other side if you are unable to muster up criticism when someone on your side exhibits the same behavior.” —Daniel Darling  Daniel mentioned a book by Dave Zahl called Seculosity: How Career, Parenting, Technology, Food, Politics, and Romance Became Our New Religion and What to Do about It (New and Revised) . Zahl said the online shame culture is “Christianity with all of the forgiveness sucked out.”  Daniel said, “It’s ok to wait to comment on something for 24 hours to get the whole story.”     When thinking about the passage in James 1:19 that says let everyone be quick to listen, slow speak, and slow to anger. Daniel Darling says in this day and age, we can be “Quick to read, slow to post, slow to wrath, slow to digital rage.”  He also said, “The quality of your offline life determines the quality of your online life.” He shared how accountability softens the edges for him as he runs things by his confidants before posting.   About Daniel:  Daniel Darling is the Senior Vice President for Communications at  NRB (National Religious Broadcasters). Former Vice President for Communications for the ERLC (Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission), an entity of the Southern Baptist Convention, America’s largest Protestant denomination. Dan is a bestselling author of several books, including Teen People of the Bible, Crash Course, iFaith, Real, Activist Faith, The Original Jesus, The Dignity Revolution, The Characters of Christmas,  A Way With Words, which released in August, 2020, and The Characters of Easter, which just released.  Dan is a prolific writer for a wide variety of publications. More than we can list here! He is the host of a popular weekly podcast, The Way Home, where he interviews Christian leaders, politicians, and journalists.   Life, Repurposed Daniel said, “Social media is here to stay. It’s not going away. We’re not going to suddenly all become Amish. We’re not going to go back to the 1950s. This is where conversations are happening. So, we have to ask ourselves, how do we steward our words on here?” The solution? “Let’s try to be countercultural in the way that we use social media,” he said.  Dan has a free download of a chapter from his book available on his website. In it, he gives 6 tips on how to read the news:  Do I have the whole story?  Is the writer and the media outlet trustworthy?  Am I willing to read news from a variety of sources?  Am I willing to hear bad news about my own tribe?  Am I qualified to comment on this issue?  Can I say something constructive that will evoke a healthy conversation?   Grab that download to get all the text that goes with this list! Download it here  Recommended Resources A Way with Words: Using Our Online Conversations for Good by Daniel Darling    About the book:  Social media was made to bring us together. But few things have driven us further apart.   Sadly, many Christians are fueling online incivility. Others, exhausted by perpetual outrage and shame-filled from constant comparison, are leaving social media altogether. So, how should Christians behave in this digital age? Is there a better way?   Daniel Darling believes we need an approach that applies biblical wisdom to our engagement with social media, an approach that neither retreats from modern technology nor ignores the harmful ways in which Christians often engage publicly.     In short, he believes that we can and should use our online conversations for good.  Dan has some fantastic images on the Way With Words book page on his website that you can post to social media. Other Resources:  Daniel is the hose of The Way Home, a weekly podcast featuring conversations with key Christian leaders on church, community, and culture.  Dan’s newly released book about the characters of Easter: The Characters of Easter: The Villains, Heroes, Cowards, and Crooks Who Witnessed History's Biggest Miracle Consider joining our Life, Repurposed Facebook community to build connections and engage in conversation about topics from each episode.  (Please note: books posted here on my blog are purely because I want to share them. Sometimes I receive free copies for review, and other times I purchase the books. Some I get from the library. Either way, any endorsement I offer here on the blog is simply because I want to talk about the book. ) Michelle Rayburn is the author of The Repurposed and Upcycled Life: When God Turns Trash to Treasure, as well as a small group Bible study to accompany the book. Learn more about these and her other books here. A sample chapter of the book and Bible study are available for free download. Subscribe and receive an email notice each time a new blog is posted. You can also subscribe on iTunes or on YouTube All blog content copyright MichelleRayburn.com This post contains affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission. I sell my ebook via Amazon but I’m also a part of their “Associates” (i.e. affiliate) program which pays a commission on books and any other Amazon products people purchase via my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The post Using Online Conversations for Good—It’s Possible! first appeared on Michelle Rayburn.

In this episode: If we go through life reacting to circumstances like emotional babies, drama will follow us wherever we go. In this episode, we explore ways to change from being highly reactive into people who can cope using emotional maturity and self-control.  (Article contains affiliate links. This means that when you click a link and make a purchase, I might receive a small commission from that purchase.) Inspired Life I was recently watching my granddaughter as her mommy and daddy played with her. How quickly her face could change from a lit-up smile combined with a belly laugh to a pout and a whimper. It took literally seconds for her to react and change from happy to sad.    With her immature emotions, she’s naturally affected by what goes on in the room. If the adults sound happy, she plays happily on the floor, but if our tone escalates in a serious conversation her reaction, reflects that tone. Because she’s emotionally immature, she’s highly sensitive to being reactive.    She doesn’t have the ability to ration or reason. She doesn’t talk herself into a different state of mind. It’s all reactionary. As long as one of the adults offered a toy, made a funny noise, sang a song, or tickled her tummy, she stayed happy. She could be diverted by a noise or a smile in a positive way. Or diverted by irritation in a negative way.  Have you ever stopped to notice how often adults still react as if they have the emotional control of a 5-month-old baby? I say we, but I mean me. How quickly do we flip to drama mode?   Examples:  Triggered by something on social media to tap out an angry or insulting reply Suddenly crying because someone frustrates me (raising my hand here)   Socially overwhelmed and either withdraw or lash out  Overcome by someone else’s drama and make it worse by joining  Fight or flight takes over with any hint of vulnerability  Feeling unsafe about someone else’s tone and fighting back   While some of this is rooted in past emotional pain that could require the help of a therapist, I think some is just because we chose to be emotionally immature. So, let’s talk about how we can get in a better place.   Life, Repurposed Let’s walk through a couple of simple steps that can help us process.   Name and recognize feelings. I struggle with this more than I once thought. When someone says, “What are you feeling right now?” I’m not always able to answer that well.   Practice being other-centered. It’s natural to talk on and on about ourselves. When someone asks about something, we might give a long answer. But what would happen if I spent a whole phone call with a friend talking about me? What if I missed something in her voice that sounded as if she were about to cry? I try to think of a way to volley the conversation, like tossing a ball back and forth, where I ask a question to learn how the other person is doing.   Exercise a pause. When scrolling social media, I sometimes want to post right away. What I will do is type a reply in the notes app on my computer or phone. I’ll leave that reply there for a bit and read it over. I might adjust some things. I might delete it. But when I post it, I’ve had some time to think about the tone. I’ve tried to do this with emails and letters too. I recently left one for several days before editing it a bit and then sending it to customer service at the organization that had disappointed me.  Learn how my past affects my reactions. It might mean seeing a counselor. It might mean journaling. Self-analysis or professional help, either way, it’s important to know our triggers. My perfectionism makes me put undue burdens on others. I react when they don’t meet my standards. It makes me impatient. But because I’m aware of it, I’m practicing a few questions: Does it matter that much if someone else does something my way? Am I being overly critical? Is this reaction necessary? Is it helping?  Notice when I act like a victim. If I quickly react and blame someone else, I don’t take control of my actions. I ignore my responsibility. Being a victim is like a crying baby. It will gain a lot of attention and perhaps power, but is it healthy?  Delay defensiveness. Emotionally mature people know their strengths and weaknesses and they don’t see constructive criticism as an attack. I don’t love criticism. But this is an area where God is stretching me to receive it better when it can help me learn and grow.   Which of these will you practice this week?   What technique will you use to redirect your attention to something better when you’re triggered?  Recommended Resources I have a couple of resources to recommend today if you’d like to explore the idea of emotional maturity more. Also, I wondered, would you like to buy me a coffee? I’m serious!  If you’ve enjoyed the content and would like to contribute a small amount to support my work, I’d be honored if you use the link. There are several options:  A one-time contribution to say thanks. Enough to buy a cup of my favorite iced mocha with dark chocolate.  A coaching call. Publishing advice for aspiring independent authors or life coaching advice on the kinds of topics featured on the Life Repurposed podcast.   A monthly membership. Members get access to a monthly group coaching call where we will cover personal growth topics.    See the “Buy Me a Coffee” link below for more info!  Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry  Emotional Intelligence 2.0 delivers a step-by-step program for increasing your EQ via four, core EQ skills that enable you to achieve your fullest potential: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Management.    Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: It's Impossible to Be Spiritually Mature, While Remaining Emotionally Immature by Peter Scazzero  Peter Scazzero outlines a roadmap for discipleship with Jesus that is powerfully transformative. He unveils what's wrong with our current definition of "spiritual growth" and offers not only a model of spirituality that actually works, but seven steps to change that will help you experience authentic faith and hunger for God.    Consider joining our Life, Repurposed Facebook community to build connections and engage in conversation about topics from each episode.  (Please note: books posted here on my blog are purely because I want to share them. Sometimes I receive free copies for review, and other times I purchase the books. Some I get from the library. Either way, any endorsement I offer here on the blog is simply because I want to talk about the book. ) Michelle Rayburn is the author of The Repurposed and Upcycled Life: When God Turns Trash to Treasure, as well as a small group Bible study to accompany the book. Learn more about these and her other books here. A sample chapter of the book and Bible study are available for free download. Subscribe and receive an email notice each time a new blog is posted. You can also subscribe on iTunes or on YouTube All blog content copyright MichelleRayburn.com This post contains affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission. I sell my ebook via Amazon but I’m also a part of their “Associates” (i.e. affiliate) program which pays a commission on books and any other Amazon products people purchase via my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The post How to Increase Self-Control and Emotional Maturity first appeared on Michelle Rayburn.

In this episode: Kevin White found himself in a performance trap in bondage to the fear of failure. Fired from the ministry, this painful experience afforded him the freedom to live generously. He asked God to give his family food so that others could eat. In one year, they went from a family needing food to sharing food with over 500 families per month. (Article contains affiliate links. This means that when you click a link and make a purchase, I might receive a small commission from that purchase.) Inspired Life In our interview, Kevin talked about being a pastor and having such an unhealthy focus on work that he lost his job. Their process of surviving financially led to founding a ministry and a whole movement of generosity. Almost broke, God led him to feed others while trying to figure out how to feed his own family. Kevin also talked about what it was like to be caught in a performance trap and trying to measure up to an impossible standard. About Kevin White: As an author, speaker, and leader, Kevin White, is convinced that audacious generosity transforms the world. Kevin’s on a mission to empower a culture of generosity throughout the world with his book, Audacious Generosity, and his annual campaign, Generosity Award. A seasoned pastor and entrepreneur, Kevin founded With Love From Jesus Ministries in 1999 to distribute essential resources to high-need populations. The organization continues to carry out its original mission by distributing millions of dollars in resources each year to those who need it most. In 2003, Kevin founded Global Hope India, and he continues to lead the mission-minded organization focused on Indian Nationals as its executive director. Kevin has traveled to India over 50 times taking one thousand people on short-term mission trips to India. Outside of building successful nonprofits with world-changing impact, Kevin has started churches and businesses. He speaks internationally and hosts three podcast shows in the USA. An ordained minister, Kevin received his undergraduate degree in 1989 from Southern Wesleyan University. Kevin and his wife, Shelly, have been married 33 years. They have three adult children and one grandchild. Kevin and Shelly live in Cary, North Carolina. Life, Repurposed Kevin said PushPay Research found of families that make $75,000+, only 1 percent donated a tenth if their income. PushPay Research also found that giving to mission is down 50% since 1990. We talked about God’s principles of generosity. This isn’t prosperity gospel. This is about trusting that if we return a portion of what God gives us back to him, he will provide for our needs in unexpected ways. “Generosity is something that happens long before you crack open your wallet or you write a check…If you’re not generous with kindness, if you’re not generous with compassion, you’ll never be generous monetarily.” — Kevin White “We think when we get blessed then we will be generous. God says generosity is your path to blessing. Jesus flips God’s blessings upside down! It’s more blessed to give than to receive. Generous then blessed. God has never asked anyone for something he himself hadn’t already given them in advance.” —Kevin White   Recommended Resources Audacious Generosity: How to Experience, Receive, and Give More Than You Ever Thought Possible From the back cover: WHERE GOD IS THE GIVER AND GIVING DEPENDS ON WHAT GOD PUTS UNTO YOUR HANDS. Given the choice, every one of us wants to be more generous, but fear holds us back. Audacious Generosity shows you how to exchange any sense of pressure and regret about giving for genuine confidence and satisfaction. Gone are the days where you feel pressured to be the giver. Instead, Audacious Generosity will empower you to give limitlessly—as God gives through you. By reading this book, you will learn to enjoy a loving relationship with God that’s fueled by courage, characterized by freedom, and overflowing with audacious generosity. As God combines courage and freedom in your life, you will experience, receive, and give more than you ever thought possible. See what happens when you open your hands to God and commit in advance to use what He puts into our hands to fulfill His mission. Consider joining our Life, Repurposed Facebook community to build connections and engage in conversation about topics from each episode.  (Please note: books posted here on my blog are purely because I want to share them. Sometimes I receive free copies for review, and other times I purchase the books. Some I get from the library. Either way, any endorsement I offer here on the blog is simply because I want to talk about the book. ) Michelle Rayburn is the author of The Repurposed and Upcycled Life: When God Turns Trash to Treasure, as well as a small group Bible study to accompany the book. Learn more about these and her other books here. A sample chapter of the book and Bible study are available for free download. Subscribe and receive an email notice each time a new blog is posted. You can also subscribe on iTunes or on YouTube All blog content copyright MichelleRayburn.com This post contains affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission. I sell my ebook via Amazon but I’m also a part of their “Associates” (i.e. affiliate) program which pays a commission on books and any other Amazon products people purchase via my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The post The Practice of Audacious Generosity first appeared on Michelle Rayburn.

In this episode: Has comparison kept you from fulfilling the purpose God intended for you? Do you experience highs and lows in your positive outlook based on appearance or body or image? This week, we continue from last week with talking about how to break the chains of unhealthy comparison and experience God’s best for us. (Article contains affiliate links. This means that when you click a link and make a purchase, I might receive a small commission from that purchase.) Inspired Life Last week, I talked with Heather Creekmore about comparison and about how she overcame a constant struggle with body image. This week, let’s continue that conversation with some thoughts about how comparison affects everyday life and how we can change our mindset. I’m not sure we ever really get over comparison. But I’m in a better place than I was at one point. I want to share some of the dangers that I talked about in the opening chapters of my book, The Repurposed and Upcycled Life. The dangers come when our mindset centers around our physical appearance or even our body health and not the other way around. If I believe that I can only smile if I am thin, or if I have lost my joy, what happens if my body changes? When I think other people have something that God forgot to give me, comparison has gone awry. If I lose weight and people tell me I look great and then I gain some, or all of it, back, what do I now believe about myself? See episode 8  where I talked about how we can start to make this part of our self-worth. When I long for someone else’s life, body, job, talents, success, etc. and I don’t see what I already have, this is dangerous. If my insecurity about my body, my image, abilities, or anything else causes me to withdraw from participating in life or from volunteering or serving, comparison has frozen me. Let’s look for some ways we can move past comparison to a healthy place of living out what God has designed for each of us. Life, Repurposed I’m not a perfect body weight. I have extra chins. But long ago I broke out of the chains of bondage that said I wasn’t good enough, qualified enough, or skinny enough to pursue the big audacious opportunities God provided. Guess what happens? When we say yes to a small opportunity, God keeps opening up more. When I stopped waiting to be a certain size to pursue writing and speaking, I put it all out there on stage. Sometimes literally. There was the time where I spoke for a group of bankers at their Christmas party and on my way to my car, I discovered my slip had not only bumped down below my belly roll (I could feel it while I was speaking), but it had slid right down my thighs. I didn’t know it had gone that far, But as I paced back and forth on that stage with complete confidence, I can only be thankful that perhaps with a few Christmas cocktails in them, they didn’t notice the weird lace-trimmed satin that had slid low enough to practically make a maxi dress out of my knee-length one. As I schlepped my tote bag and purse to the car, I felt its restriction around my legs. I’ve discovered there is a spiritual root, not a physical one, that keeps me from freedom. It isn’t my body size that restricts me from full-on living, it’s my mindset. Pride. I know the thoughts of people. I know how they criticize people on the stage or in the photo shoot. I’ve seen the comments about news anchors and Hollywood stars. But God didn’t call me to live for the approval of those people. He called me to live for his approval. Pride goes both ways. It can also lead me to believe I’m better than someone else. Shame. When stuck in unhealthy comparison, we live in a place of constant shame, thinking we don’t measure up. Envy. This causes us to dislike people who have something we want. It might make us angry when they achieve something we wanted to achieve. Their happiness might irritate us. I wanted to bring another voice into this episode and have my friend Amber Cullum share a few words about comparison. Amber is the host of the Grace Enough podcast, and she was a guest on episode 71. Listen as Amber Cullum tells us about how there is a difference between healthy and unhealthy comparison. Amber cautioned against two things we might say: I am better than I don’t measure up She also mentioned Galatians 6:3–6 “Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load. Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor” (NIV). I love Amber’s questions: Why am I comparing? Is the comparison breeding sinful behavior or motivating me toward godliness? Is this fulfilling my purpose to glorify God? Recommended Resources If you want to continue thinking about this topic, I encourage you to check out my book and companion Bible study book: The Repurposed and Upcycled Life: When God Turns Trash to Treasure. You can get info and learn how you can sign up for a download of a sample of the first chapter on my website.   Consider joining our Life, Repurposed Facebook community to build connections and engage in conversation about topics from each episode.  (Please note: books posted here on my blog are purely because I want to share them. Sometimes I receive free copies for review, and other times I purchase the books. Some I get from the library. Either way, any endorsement I offer here on the blog is simply because I want to talk about the book. )   Michelle Rayburn is the author of The Repurposed and Upcycled Life: When God Turns Trash to Treasure, as well as a small group Bible study to accompany the book. Learn more about these and her other books here. A sample chapter of the book and Bible study are available for free download. Subscribe and receive an email notice each time a new blog is posted. You can also subscribe on iTunes or on YouTube All blog content copyright MichelleRayburn.com This post contains affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission. I sell my ebook via Amazon but I’m also a part of their “Associates” (i.e. affiliate) program which pays a commission on books and any other Amazon products people purchase via my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The post End Negative Comparison and Experience New Purpose first appeared on Michelle Rayburn.

How can we respond when we're at a crossroads, unsure of what to do next? What if we cave to stress or mess up? In this episode, guest Amber Cullum talks with me about how she found that God's grace was enough when she could never be enough. And she shared how a gratitude list helps to keep her in the right mindset. The post Grace Enough and Daily Gratitude first appeared on Michelle Rayburn.

Very little about this year has been easy. But it can still be good. What if it is all an opportunity to become better people? What if the fire is what refines us? In this episode, I talk through options for how we can respond, and I leave you with a resource about going through trials. The post How the Fire Refines Us: Five Ways to Look at 2020 first appeared on Michelle Rayburn.

In this episode, I sit down with Dena Dyer, author of Wounded Women of the Bible: Finding Hope When Life Hurts. She shares her journey through postpartum depression and is so vulnerable in telling her story. Listen in to learn how to find hope and healing in the midst of depression and anxiety. The post From Depression and Anxiety to Hope and Healing first appeared on Michelle Rayburn.

This episode is packed with ideas for fun and creative things you can do with friends and family from a distance. If your pandemic holiday needs something a lot more interesting than a video chat, you'll want to check it out. Plus, an Advent resource from author Jane Rubietta, and a secret discount offer on one of my books hidden in the episode. It's a must-listen episode! The post Reclaiming Christmas: Ways to Make the Holidays Special in a Pandemic first appeared on Michelle Rayburn.

Author Stephenie Hovland returns this week to talk about how she changed her mindset about Christmas from “If you can’t do it all, do more” to a more balanced approach. We also discussed how we can prepare now for the necessary celebration changes in a pandemic. There's a giveaway this week and some great resources. The post Tips to Prepare Your Mindset and Home for a Pandemic Christmas first appeared on Michelle Rayburn.