Full Transcript for When You’re Doing Too Much: How to Make Time for What God Has Called You To Do

your life. But specifically how 00:05:03.160 --> 00:05:08.180 it has impacted my life as a parent is the place 00:05:08.180 --> 00:05:15.600 that I have noticed more than anything. how that 00:05:15.600 --> 00:05:18.600 relationship makes me a better parent and makes 00:05:18.600 --> 00:05:23.040 me a better mom makes me a better wife and So 00:05:23.040 --> 00:05:27.860 I am really passionate about sharing that Testimony 00:05:27.860 --> 00:05:32.399 with other moms and wives and and women because 00:05:32.399 --> 00:05:38.740 The deeper your relationship is the more Connected 00:05:38.740 --> 00:05:43.079 to your purpose whatever area of life you're 00:05:43.079 --> 00:05:48.860 in, I think you will be. So without trying to 00:05:48.860 --> 00:05:51.379 be too cliche, I think number one is know your 00:05:51.379 --> 00:05:56.100 why and but also as part of that know your who, 00:05:56.860 --> 00:06:01.680 right? So I do this for that audience, right? 00:06:01.759 --> 00:06:06.379 The women who are overwhelmed and they've tried 00:06:06.379 --> 00:06:10.139 everything and they just feel so out of options, 00:06:10.680 --> 00:06:16.879 you know, the mom who has tried multiple times 00:06:16.879 --> 00:06:19.660 to be the mom she wants to be but feels like 00:06:19.660 --> 00:06:21.779 it's impossible because there's never a moment 00:06:21.779 --> 00:06:24.939 where she feels like she can be regulated emotionally 00:06:24.939 --> 00:06:29.420 enough to be that calm parent that's not yelling 00:06:29.420 --> 00:06:31.959 and screaming all the time, like, I feel you, 00:06:32.079 --> 00:06:35.980 I hear you, I see you. And you are the person 00:06:35.980 --> 00:06:38.899 that I have a big heart for in this ministry, 00:06:39.120 --> 00:06:46.199 because I am you. So when I talk about know your 00:06:46.199 --> 00:06:50.800 who, yeah, know your audience. OK, in this world 00:06:50.800 --> 00:06:53.560 of podcasting, I need to know my audience. Right. 00:06:53.920 --> 00:06:59.000 But my other who is my family. But the biggest 00:06:59.000 --> 00:07:04.209 who is God. And I talked a lot when I first started 00:07:04.209 --> 00:07:07.790 this podcast about how the whole journey got 00:07:07.790 --> 00:07:12.970 started, right? And I can't describe to you how 00:07:12.970 --> 00:07:17.689 much I think it's a God thing. And I've talked 00:07:17.689 --> 00:07:19.009 about it on the podcast. If you want to hear 00:07:19.009 --> 00:07:20.470 it, you can go back and listen. But there were 00:07:20.470 --> 00:07:24.870 too many things that were just such a clear alignment 00:07:24.870 --> 00:07:27.410 over just the two years prior to starting this 00:07:27.410 --> 00:07:31.680 podcast that led to this point. And there have 00:07:31.680 --> 00:07:36.540 been countless signs and moments where I could 00:07:36.540 --> 00:07:40.680 just see God's hands continuing to move to send 00:07:40.680 --> 00:07:43.899 me into the next phase of this purpose that he 00:07:43.899 --> 00:07:48.000 has clearly defined for me. And so my who, I'm 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:52.339 not doing this for me. I'm not doing this for 00:07:52.339 --> 00:07:57.420 like prideful reasons. Sure. I mentioned this 00:07:57.420 --> 00:08:00.079 sometime this week talking to somebody about 00:08:00.170 --> 00:08:03.449 I don't even know what I was talking about. But 00:08:03.449 --> 00:08:08.129 when you are naturally a leader, you're the kind 00:08:08.129 --> 00:08:10.410 of person like me who's going to start a podcast 00:08:10.410 --> 00:08:13.990 if you think you need, you know, one is needed 00:08:13.990 --> 00:08:17.610 or that kind of thing. Like when you're kind 00:08:17.610 --> 00:08:21.230 of like me, pride could be something that you 00:08:21.230 --> 00:08:25.810 struggle with because You like to put your name 00:08:25.810 --> 00:08:27.670 on things and you like to start things and you 00:08:27.670 --> 00:08:31.209 like to be a creator or an inventor in some ways 00:08:31.209 --> 00:08:36.690 and and a trendsetter and I Definitely feel that 00:08:36.690 --> 00:08:39.389 that is kind of the niche that I fit into so 00:08:39.389 --> 00:08:41.809 of course I like to have my name on things and 00:08:41.809 --> 00:08:44.429 of course it makes me feel good When people call 00:08:44.429 --> 00:08:47.350 that out, but but I'm not doing this for me or 00:08:47.350 --> 00:08:49.490 the accolades or any of that stuff Although it 00:08:49.490 --> 00:08:53.889 does feel kind of cool to be recognized as somebody 00:08:54.190 --> 00:08:59.149 Who is a podcast host and can talk through? Certain 00:08:59.149 --> 00:09:02.090 lessons or life like I can talk through things 00:09:02.090 --> 00:09:07.509 right and have a conversation with somebody And 00:09:07.509 --> 00:09:11.149 I briefly mentioned my who was my family and 00:09:11.149 --> 00:09:15.809 my kids but I Want to touch on that even deeper 00:09:15.809 --> 00:09:22.970 because I think it leads to my next point I have 00:09:22.970 --> 00:09:27.590 a dream that someday I will be able to sustain 00:09:27.590 --> 00:09:32.629 my family through my purpose on this planet. 00:09:33.269 --> 00:09:37.250 I really believe that God someday will allow 00:09:37.250 --> 00:09:42.350 me to be an entrepreneur and I'll be able to 00:09:42.350 --> 00:09:47.789 bring in a financial living that my family doesn't 00:09:47.789 --> 00:09:51.169 have to worry. We can be outrageously generous. 00:09:51.659 --> 00:09:57.200 and use whatever the Lord blesses us with through 00:09:57.200 --> 00:10:00.740 this ministry or the entrepreneurial whatever 00:10:00.740 --> 00:10:06.080 that God allows in my life someday to glorify 00:10:06.080 --> 00:10:09.820 him and share more about his kingdom and grow 00:10:09.820 --> 00:10:15.480 the kingdom. And so with that dream in mind, 00:10:17.210 --> 00:10:19.730 I'm not even anywhere close to it right now and 00:10:19.730 --> 00:10:21.870 I don't know when it will come

because it's not 00:10:21.870 --> 00:10:25.669 my time, it's his but I think about the ways 00:10:25.669 --> 00:10:29.549 that that could impact my children. How amazing 00:10:29.549 --> 00:10:34.090 would it be someday for me to be able to be home 00:10:34.090 --> 00:10:37.730 and working on this during the day but be available 00:10:37.730 --> 00:10:41.230 if they're sick from school or it not be a big 00:10:41.230 --> 00:10:45.100 deal if they need anything during the day. If 00:10:45.100 --> 00:10:47.440 we wanted to do homeschooling, if we wanted to 00:10:47.440 --> 00:10:51.320 start a farm, there is opportunity there in the 00:10:51.320 --> 00:10:55.320 schedule of working from home and working for 00:10:55.320 --> 00:10:59.700 myself. Of course, that is a huge big dream that 00:10:59.700 --> 00:11:02.340 who knows if or when it will happen. I trust 00:11:02.340 --> 00:11:07.220 that the Lord has a plan there. But when I think 00:11:07.220 --> 00:11:11.679 about them and how they're connected to this, 00:11:12.090 --> 00:11:15.409 Not only is it maybe someday this could provide 00:11:15.409 --> 00:11:23.909 for them, but it's also I want them to see me 00:11:23.909 --> 00:11:32.129 boldly following God's call on my life. And of 00:11:32.129 --> 00:11:34.309 course, there's no way of perfectly knowing what 00:11:34.309 --> 00:11:37.330 that call is without God like hitting you over 00:11:37.330 --> 00:11:39.850 the head with it or writing it literally on the 00:11:39.850 --> 00:11:45.159 wall. But I believe when you start to chase those 00:11:45.159 --> 00:11:48.580 little God nudges, you start to see real clearly 00:11:48.580 --> 00:11:54.059 over time, sign after sign, blessing after blessing, 00:11:54.899 --> 00:11:56.980 whether or not you're going the right way. I 00:11:56.980 --> 00:11:59.120 think that God will slam the doors that are not 00:11:59.120 --> 00:12:02.019 meant for you, and he'll open the ones that are. 00:12:03.340 --> 00:12:06.700 And so, that sort of segues into my next point. 00:12:07.419 --> 00:12:10.200 I've had a lot of people comment, to me over 00:12:10.200 --> 00:12:13.820 the last year. I don't know how you do it because 00:12:13.820 --> 00:12:17.600 I work full time and I have three children and 00:12:17.600 --> 00:12:19.460 I have a fourth on the way. I think I've mentioned 00:12:19.460 --> 00:12:24.179 that in the podcast leading up to this one, but 00:12:24.179 --> 00:12:29.559 four children nearly. My husband is a youth pastor. 00:12:31.039 --> 00:12:33.500 I'm very involved in my church. I lead worship 00:12:33.500 --> 00:12:37.799 at my church. I recently this year started a 00:12:37.799 --> 00:12:40.700 women's Bible study. I also had another women's 00:12:40.700 --> 00:12:45.980 Bible study group. I could continue to list my 00:12:45.980 --> 00:12:50.299 entire itinerary and schedule for you, but people 00:12:50.299 --> 00:12:52.120 ask me all the time, how do you do all of that 00:12:52.120 --> 00:12:54.799 and still find time to record and have a podcast 00:12:54.799 --> 00:12:56.600 and do all of the things you're doing with that? 00:12:58.609 --> 00:13:01.570 The reason I hadn't started this for so long 00:13:01.570 --> 00:13:07.049 was that exact mindset. It was I don't know how 00:13:07.049 --> 00:13:09.730 I'll ever find time to do it. But what I've learned 00:13:09.730 --> 00:13:14.649 over the last year is when you really truly believe 00:13:14.649 --> 00:13:17.830 you're doing something the Lord has called you 00:13:17.830 --> 00:13:21.350 to do, when you know the thing that you are doing 00:13:21.350 --> 00:13:26.929 has purpose beyond your full understanding and 00:13:26.929 --> 00:13:30.129 when you know If it's important enough to you, 00:13:30.149 --> 00:13:33.450 let me rephrase that. When you know it's important, 00:13:35.210 --> 00:13:39.610 you will find time and make time for that thing. 00:13:42.210 --> 00:13:47.470 So what I'm telling you is if a goal of yours 00:13:47.470 --> 00:13:51.190 is to read the Bible, read the whole Bible in 00:13:51.190 --> 00:13:56.039 your lifetime. You don't know how many days you 00:13:56.039 --> 00:13:59.600 have left is my first point there for you, but 00:13:59.600 --> 00:14:03.720 also Everybody wants to say well, I just don't 00:14:03.720 --> 00:14:06.179 have time or I have such a hard time understanding 00:14:06.179 --> 00:14:10.419 the Bible and personally my My advice to you 00:14:10.419 --> 00:14:13.860 is you may not understand it Half the half the 00:14:13.860 --> 00:14:17.620 way through the first time you read it, but somewhere 00:14:17.620 --> 00:14:21.620 along the line You're gonna pray for God to open 00:14:21.620 --> 00:14:24.820 your heart and mind to the words on those pages, 00:14:25.279 --> 00:14:27.620 and you're going to start to understand and absorb 00:14:27.620 --> 00:14:31.419 them in ways you've never before been able to. 00:14:32.019 --> 00:14:35.399 But it also, I feel like reading the Bible takes 00:14:35.399 --> 00:14:39.019 practice and skill, and it also takes patience 00:14:39.019 --> 00:14:42.940 and a willingness to dig deeper than the words 00:14:42.940 --> 00:14:47.679 on the page. It takes an effort to explore other 00:14:47.679 --> 00:14:51.580 translations because in the King James, I will 00:14:51.580 --> 00:14:54.559 tell you, It takes me a whole lot longer to understand 00:14:54.559 --> 00:14:56.539 something in the King James than it does if I 00:14:56.539 --> 00:15:00.940 read it in the NIV NLT. Or even like the CSB. 00:15:00.960 --> 00:15:07.299 I really like my CSB. But my point is reading 00:15:07.299 --> 00:15:10.220 the Bible is not just like reading any other 00:15:10.220 --> 00:15:15.360 book. It takes a little bit of effort and it 00:15:15.360 --> 00:15:20.899 takes finding resources and personally finding 00:15:20.899 --> 00:15:24.500 a community of people who can help you understand 00:15:24.500 --> 00:15:27.580 it. Because I

can understand the conversations 00:15:27.580 --> 00:15:30.559 I have with people in person, but sometimes if 00:15:30.559 --> 00:15:33.000 I'm trying to read, even if it's like a commentary 00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:36.649 on the Bible, I still don't quite... grasp what 00:15:36.649 --> 00:15:38.769 they're saying. And I think that's some of why 00:15:38.769 --> 00:15:41.350 God gave us preachers, right? They have a unique 00:15:41.350 --> 00:15:44.990 ability to understand His word and share it with 00:15:44.990 --> 00:15:47.690 people on a way that they can fully wrap their 00:15:47.690 --> 00:15:49.690 heads around it and see how it could apply to 00:15:49.690 --> 00:15:53.509 their lives, or maybe even be inspired to dig 00:15:53.509 --> 00:15:59.049 deeper into those passages themselves. But if 00:15:59.049 --> 00:16:03.029 that's your goal, you're never going to get there 00:16:03.029 --> 00:16:04.710 if you keep making the excuse that you don't 00:16:04.710 --> 00:16:10.139 have time. because you will make time for the 00:16:10.139 --> 00:16:13.419 things that you feel are important. The same 00:16:13.419 --> 00:16:16.799 thing goes for, I don't know, being more involved 00:16:16.799 --> 00:16:22.139 at church. You know, if you want to help prepare 00:16:22.139 --> 00:16:25.820 communion on a Sunday morning, you want to go 00:16:25.820 --> 00:16:27.980 to Sunday school if it happens before your church 00:16:27.980 --> 00:16:31.299 time or after your church time, you will prioritize 00:16:31.299 --> 00:16:34.440 the time. You'll find a way to make it all fit 00:16:34.440 --> 00:16:39.379 in and I will say my spouse happens to be extremely 00:16:39.379 --> 00:16:43.759 supportive and I know that God blessed me with 00:16:43.759 --> 00:16:47.360 one of the most patient and incredible men I 00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:52.240 could have ever found and knowing that I also 00:16:52.240 --> 00:16:54.720 recognize the blessing that I have that that 00:16:54.720 --> 00:16:59.899 maybe not all women have a man who is like him 00:16:59.899 --> 00:17:05.059 and Supports me so deeply that it doesn't matter 00:17:05.059 --> 00:17:07.799 if that means he's spending a few extra nights 00:17:07.799 --> 00:17:10.740 single parenting it while I'm locked away in 00:17:10.740 --> 00:17:14.400 our bedroom recording or leading women in a Bible 00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:18.299 study at our church or Lead like, you know leading 00:17:18.299 --> 00:17:23.799 a small group He is extremely supportive and 00:17:23.799 --> 00:17:25.420 you know if it means we have to get to church 00:17:25.420 --> 00:17:27.519 at 8 a .m so that we can do worship practice 00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:32.549 before church and lead the band and worship or 00:17:32.549 --> 00:17:35.450 lead the church congregation and worship during 00:17:35.450 --> 00:17:38.990 Sunday service. We're all in it together and 00:17:38.990 --> 00:17:42.289 we have taken this motto of we're all in it together 00:17:42.289 --> 00:17:48.009 to as many extremes as we can to include the 00:17:48.009 --> 00:17:50.049 things that he's doing with his ministry. Oftentimes 00:17:50.049 --> 00:17:53.269 if he has to travel we all travel and it gets 00:17:53.269 --> 00:17:55.710 a little bit more complicated of course when 00:17:55.710 --> 00:17:59.009 we talk about you know the the youth events and 00:17:59.009 --> 00:18:01.410 things that they include in overnight because 00:18:01.410 --> 00:18:05.250 not all of these events um are like little kid 00:18:05.250 --> 00:18:08.670 friendly they don't always have a place for those 00:18:08.670 --> 00:18:12.390 littler children to run around or a way for you 00:18:12.390 --> 00:18:15.109 to incorporate them into the event but the ones 00:18:15.109 --> 00:18:17.549 that do we often try to bring them along because 00:18:17.549 --> 00:18:20.450 we want them to see the ways that we are working 00:18:20.450 --> 00:18:24.670 not only to provide for our family but also to 00:18:24.670 --> 00:18:29.519 make a difference in this world for God. So I 00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:33.299 guess that was like number three is if it's important 00:18:33.299 --> 00:18:37.859 enough to you'll make time for it and It is not 00:18:37.859 --> 00:18:40.200 always easy Let me tell you there have been some 00:18:40.200 --> 00:18:42.720 weeks where I am dog -tired by the time Thursday 00:18:42.720 --> 00:18:45.039 rolls around and I'm trying to take off on a 00:18:45.039 --> 00:18:47.779 Friday because I Don't have anything left in 00:18:47.779 --> 00:18:55.269 the tank but It's worth it if it means enough 00:18:55.269 --> 00:18:57.990 to you, if it truly is an important enough goal 00:18:57.990 --> 00:19:00.730 to you. And by that same standard, I guess maybe 00:19:00.730 --> 00:19:04.650 this is number four. If you have things in your 00:19:04.650 --> 00:19:07.369 life, or maybe it's probably like a 3B, if you 00:19:07.369 --> 00:19:10.190 have things in your life that you really want 00:19:10.190 --> 00:19:11.869 to do, but you feel that you don't have time 00:19:11.869 --> 00:19:13.650 to do, maybe you need to look at your schedule. 00:19:14.779 --> 00:19:17.559 your priorities that you're currently prioritizing 00:19:17.559 --> 00:19:20.240 and decide if any of those things are in alignment 00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:22.359 with the person that you want to be or the places 00:19:22.359 --> 00:19:26.440 you want to go because you may be doing all really 00:19:26.440 --> 00:19:30.299 good things but if it's really good things that 00:19:30.299 --> 00:19:32.480 don't necessarily align with the purpose that 00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:36.900 you have identified with God is for you or if 00:19:36.900 --> 00:19:41.119 you don't know that purpose if you are if your 00:19:41.119 --> 00:19:44.369 schedule is so full of of even just all good 00:19:44.369 --> 00:19:48.829 things, sometimes you might be missing the best 00:19:48.829 --> 00:19:52.269 thing. So I'd also encourage

you to look at your 00:19:52.269 --> 00:19:57.450 stuff and decide, am I doing the things that 00:19:57.450 --> 00:19:59.430 God wants me to do? Because it can all still 00:19:59.430 --> 00:20:02.509 be good and it all could still be godly. But 00:20:02.509 --> 00:20:04.670 again, if you don't have time in your schedule 00:20:04.670 --> 00:20:07.650 for the thing God actually wants you to be working 00:20:07.650 --> 00:20:11.769 on, how will you ever be able to fulfill your 00:20:11.769 --> 00:20:14.680 purpose? Without letting go of something else. 00:20:14.680 --> 00:20:18.180 That's really good. So Unfortunately, I have 00:20:18.180 --> 00:20:22.359 had to work through some of that this year towards 00:20:22.359 --> 00:20:26.380 the end of the year because We got to a point 00:20:26.380 --> 00:20:30.079 where There was like every other week. I was 00:20:30.079 --> 00:20:34.220 spending my Tuesday Wednesday Thursday and Sunday 00:20:34.220 --> 00:20:39.140 at church because of the ways that I was serving 00:20:39.140 --> 00:20:44.410 and we ended up having to cut out the Thursdays 00:20:44.410 --> 00:20:49.569 because in this journey, I am realizing that 00:20:49.569 --> 00:20:53.049 one of my main ministries is to my family and 00:20:53.049 --> 00:20:56.670 to be a godly wife and to teach my children and 00:20:56.670 --> 00:20:59.970 disciple them. And, you know, it's funny that 00:20:59.970 --> 00:21:02.289 I say I'm learning that, but I did learn that. 00:21:02.289 --> 00:21:04.670 And that's why I'm sharing it with you. But it's 00:21:04.670 --> 00:21:06.930 so easy to get lost in the other purposes that 00:21:06.930 --> 00:21:09.470 I feel that God has for me that I forget that 00:21:09.470 --> 00:21:12.329 that's also part of my ministry. it's probably 00:21:12.329 --> 00:21:14.390 my number one ministry, the thing that I should 00:21:14.390 --> 00:21:17.210 be most focused on because these are the lives 00:21:17.210 --> 00:21:21.269 that God has entrusted to me. So it is my responsibility 00:21:21.269 --> 00:21:23.730 and my husband's responsibility to ensure that 00:21:23.730 --> 00:21:29.589 their lives that they are able to know God and 00:21:29.589 --> 00:21:33.410 like hear him so they can find their purpose 00:21:33.410 --> 00:21:38.809 and fulfill their purposes as well. And so. Again, 00:21:38.849 --> 00:21:41.029 all the things I was doing were very positive. 00:21:41.049 --> 00:21:46.069 They're good, but they weren't But I had to find 00:21:46.069 --> 00:21:48.930 something that I had to let go of in order to 00:21:48.930 --> 00:21:53.349 make time to be The parent I need to be but also 00:21:53.349 --> 00:21:55.829 I was getting so involved in other things that 00:21:55.829 --> 00:22:03.630 I wasn't making time to Be a part of this ministry 00:22:03.799 --> 00:22:06.599 that God has established for me, this podcast 00:22:06.599 --> 00:22:13.799 and this sort of motherhood ministry. And I think 00:22:13.799 --> 00:22:18.579 that that's important too. So I think those are 00:22:18.579 --> 00:22:23.680 my biggest takeaways from the year. And it's 00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:27.119 really easy to get distracted. I would say this 00:22:27.119 --> 00:22:30.480 is maybe my number four. Let me back up and I'll 00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:35.849 just say here's number four. It can be so easy 00:22:35.849 --> 00:22:40.950 to get lost in the technical pieces of something 00:22:40.950 --> 00:22:47.549 like this And I'll go as far as to say it can 00:22:47.549 --> 00:22:51.650 be so easy to get lost in the technical elements 00:22:51.650 --> 00:22:55.329 of being a parent Sometimes that you forget the 00:22:55.329 --> 00:23:00.569 heart in it all or you forget the the Yeah, the 00:23:00.569 --> 00:23:04.940 heart Right, so for me, podcast wise, let me 00:23:04.940 --> 00:23:08.160 just give you the clear podcast example and then 00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:10.400 maybe I'll dive a little more into the parenting 00:23:10.400 --> 00:23:15.619 one. When I think about my podcast, when I started 00:23:15.619 --> 00:23:19.960 it, every week I had carved out specific time 00:23:19.960 --> 00:23:25.920 to do what I learned to be, or I call, a business 00:23:25.920 --> 00:23:33.549 meeting with God. dedicated the work time or 00:23:33.549 --> 00:23:36.789 at least a portion of my work time on a given 00:23:36.789 --> 00:23:43.089 day of the week for that specifically and I felt 00:23:43.089 --> 00:23:48.450 like it was very Easy for me to fully be engrossed 00:23:48.450 --> 00:23:50.769 in the things that God wanted me to do because 00:23:50.769 --> 00:23:53.630 that was the whole point of that meeting God's 00:23:53.630 --> 00:23:57.430 the CEO of this adventure and so I wanted him 00:23:57.430 --> 00:24:04.150 to be feeding that Feeding the directions I take 00:24:04.150 --> 00:24:09.329 and I've been a whole lot less intentional with 00:24:09.329 --> 00:24:14.630 that over the last probably Half of the year 00:24:14.650 --> 00:24:17.609 that this has been going on and it's because 00:24:17.609 --> 00:24:20.250 I started taking on too many other yeses that 00:24:20.250 --> 00:24:25.289 were not um that they were good and I do believe 00:24:25.289 --> 00:24:29.890 God has me there for a reason however um they 00:24:29.890 --> 00:24:32.509 were again I like I just didn't have any more 00:24:32.509 --> 00:24:34.609 time left in my week I genuinely didn't have 00:24:34.609 --> 00:24:36.890 any more time left and now that I'm pregnant 00:24:36.890 --> 00:24:40.190 I'm also exhausted I don't have as much energy 00:24:40.190 --> 00:24:43.549 left in my day. So again, it was about parsing 00:24:43.549 --> 00:24:46.829 all of that out. And so I got really consumed 00:24:46.829 --> 00:24:49.769 with doing the technical pieces, the editing, 00:24:50.450 --> 00:24:56.250 the recording, the social media, the emailing, 00:24:56.609 --> 00:25:00.910 the guest finding, all of the very technical 00:25:00.910 -->

00:25:05.490 pieces. But the heart at the middle of all of 00:25:05.490 --> 00:25:09.910 it is the Lord. The heart at the middle of all 00:25:09.910 --> 00:25:12.589 of this the whole purpose for me doing it the 00:25:12.589 --> 00:25:17.589 whole central reason that I'm doing it is God 00:25:17.589 --> 00:25:23.089 and so I Would say in the next year. My goal 00:25:23.089 --> 00:25:26.390 is to be more intentional with my business time 00:25:26.390 --> 00:25:28.549 We're gonna call it that right the time that 00:25:28.549 --> 00:25:31.029 I'm working on this podcast I want it to be really 00:25:31.029 --> 00:25:34.210 focused on the Lord in the ways that he wants 00:25:34.210 --> 00:25:38.299 to lead this And so I don't know what he has 00:25:38.299 --> 00:25:41.119 planned for the next year, but I'm excited to 00:25:41.119 --> 00:25:45.420 share it with you here first. But to push this 00:25:45.420 --> 00:25:47.559 metaphor or push this a little bit further just 00:25:47.559 --> 00:25:50.160 for anybody who is maybe just looking for the 00:25:50.160 --> 00:25:55.299 motherhood or the parenting example. You can 00:25:55.299 --> 00:25:57.940 get so caught up on making sure your children 00:25:57.940 --> 00:26:02.859 are fed, clothed, bathed, and You know, like 00:26:02.859 --> 00:26:06.299 in bed, they have sleep, right? You can get so 00:26:06.299 --> 00:26:08.799 focused on the technical pieces of parenting 00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:13.779 that you forget they also need snuggle time. 00:26:14.299 --> 00:26:17.880 They also need kisses on the head. They need 00:26:17.880 --> 00:26:19.859 you to tell them that you love them randomly 00:26:19.859 --> 00:26:25.099 and regularly. They need to see you be a person, 00:26:25.140 --> 00:26:29.039 not a provider. Of course it's important that 00:26:29.039 --> 00:26:31.900 you're a provider, and they do see that. But 00:26:31.900 --> 00:26:34.299 the most important part for them is that you're 00:26:34.299 --> 00:26:38.019 a person who loves them. You are a parent That 00:26:38.019 --> 00:26:41.220 you're their mom or their dad, but I'm talking 00:26:41.220 --> 00:26:43.920 to most likely just talking to women So you need 00:26:43.920 --> 00:26:47.440 to see that you are more than just the person 00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:49.859 who takes care of them You're not just a maid. 00:26:50.039 --> 00:26:52.359 You're not the person who just does all you know 00:26:52.359 --> 00:26:54.160 cooks all the meals You're not just their chef. 00:26:54.380 --> 00:26:58.140 You are their mother and you love them beyond 00:26:58.140 --> 00:27:04.170 measure And if you lose that piece of parenting, 00:27:04.329 --> 00:27:06.509 if you forget about that, just trying to check 00:27:06.509 --> 00:27:08.490 the boxes because you've got too many things 00:27:08.490 --> 00:27:12.289 on your mind, you miss the most important part. 00:27:14.250 --> 00:27:16.869 And I'll just be honest with you, I got to a 00:27:16.869 --> 00:27:20.730 point where the heart of this podcast and the 00:27:20.730 --> 00:27:24.349 heart of my household and my parenting journey 00:27:24.349 --> 00:27:33.420 were not my focus. Just getting it all done was 00:27:33.420 --> 00:27:38.380 my focus. So there is the element of if you want 00:27:38.380 --> 00:27:42.299 it bad enough, you'll do it. But staying so clear 00:27:42.299 --> 00:27:45.380 on the reasons you're doing it, staying clear 00:27:45.380 --> 00:27:48.259 on who you're doing it for, all of these things 00:27:48.259 --> 00:27:51.400 circle around the point of what's at the heart 00:27:51.400 --> 00:27:56.019 of it and are you staying true to that? Don't 00:27:56.019 --> 00:27:59.119 forget to give the attention to the heart. The 00:27:59.119 --> 00:28:03.460 world often says to follow your heart and in 00:28:03.460 --> 00:28:06.660 this context you may want to lean into that but 00:28:06.660 --> 00:28:10.079 your heart can be deceitful and the Bible talks 00:28:10.079 --> 00:28:16.960 a lot about our hearts but one message that really 00:28:16.960 --> 00:28:20.380 stands out to me is Colossians 3 and it says 00:28:21.470 --> 00:28:25.289 Don't work only by being watched as people pleasers, 00:28:25.509 --> 00:28:29.109 but work wholeheartedly fearing the Lord. Whatever 00:28:29.109 --> 00:28:31.990 you do, do it from the heart as something done 00:28:31.990 --> 00:28:34.970 for the Lord and not for people, knowing that 00:28:34.970 --> 00:28:37.390 you will receive the reward of an inheritance 00:28:37.390 --> 00:28:40.769 from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ for 00:28:40.769 --> 00:28:43.269 the wrongdoer will be paid back for whatever 00:28:43.269 --> 00:28:45.670 wrong he has done and there is no favoritism. 00:28:46.730 --> 00:28:51.079 But I really want to like do but work wholeheartedly 00:28:51.079 --> 00:28:57.240 fearing the Lord. And, you know, I don't I don't 00:28:57.240 --> 00:29:00.460 know if this is like like I know it's biblical 00:29:00.460 --> 00:29:02.799 somehow. I'm not going to go find the reference. 00:29:02.940 --> 00:29:05.980 But my point being here to just just like follow 00:29:05.980 --> 00:29:09.539 me. Right. We talk to our kids about where Jesus 00:29:09.539 --> 00:29:12.519 lives and like we say he's in our hearts. We've 00:29:12.519 --> 00:29:15.279 accepted him into our hearts because we've been 00:29:15.279 --> 00:29:22.450 baptized. And so Like think of your heart as 00:29:22.450 --> 00:29:26.069 like the new tabernacle. This is where Christ 00:29:26.069 --> 00:29:29.210 lives. This is where the Lord lives in you. And 00:29:29.210 --> 00:29:33.789 so of course, if your heart is in it, so is he. 00:29:35.069 --> 00:29:38.789 But the Bible also talks about how our hearts 00:29:38.789 --> 00:29:42.200 can be hardened. and they can be deceitful. And 00:29:42.200 --> 00:29:44.759 so it is really important that you keep your 00:29:44.759 --> 00:29:47.740 heart focused in the right areas and you continually

00:29:47.740 --> 00:29:52.240 ask God to keep your heart clean. And like it's 00:29:52.240 --> 00:29:56.819 all kind of confusing to me as well, but I just 00:29:56.819 --> 00:30:00.279 want to point out that when you take the heart 00:30:00.279 --> 00:30:04.089 out of the project or out of the... place you 00:30:04.089 --> 00:30:06.589 are in your life, you've removed the piece that's 00:30:06.589 --> 00:30:09.930 most important. And so in parenting, I have to 00:30:09.930 --> 00:30:11.829 sometimes really remind myself that it's not 00:30:11.829 --> 00:30:14.890 about the boxes that I'm checking. In my spiritual 00:30:14.890 --> 00:30:17.309 life, it's not about just going to church and 00:30:17.309 --> 00:30:20.250 checking the boxes. I went to church, I actually 00:30:20.250 --> 00:30:23.029 served today. I did this, I did that. It's not 00:30:23.029 --> 00:30:28.309 my works that matter. Going to church is a great 00:30:28.309 --> 00:30:31.069 thing. Fellowshiping with your fellow Christians 00:30:31.069 --> 00:30:34.890 is a great thing. But If that's where your faith 00:30:34.890 --> 00:30:38.369 starts and ends, you're missing some of the most 00:30:38.369 --> 00:30:42.170 important heart -filled pieces of being a Christian. 00:30:45.049 --> 00:30:49.269 So I would encourage you, as you can maybe consider 00:30:49.269 --> 00:30:52.069 the four things that I kind of talked about in 00:30:52.069 --> 00:30:54.789 this journey I've learned over the last year, 00:30:55.210 --> 00:30:57.490 I would encourage you to see how you can apply 00:30:57.490 --> 00:31:00.980 those things to your parenting journey or your 00:31:00.980 --> 00:31:03.299 life in some way, whatever you feel your purpose 00:31:03.299 --> 00:31:08.099 is. Look at it from the lens of why do I want 00:31:08.099 --> 00:31:12.660 to do this? Why am I doing this? Who am I doing 00:31:12.660 --> 00:31:20.059 it for? Who's impacted by this ministry that's 00:31:20.059 --> 00:31:25.299 been put on my heart? Do I have time? And if 00:31:25.299 --> 00:31:35.920 I don't, why? And is my heart really in it? Or 00:31:35.920 --> 00:31:39.519 was my heart in it at one time and I've taken 00:31:39.519 --> 00:31:46.339 it out to check some boxes. I'm gonna wrap up 00:31:46.339 --> 00:31:49.500 this season with this episode and we'll come 00:31:49.500 --> 00:31:52.400 back soon with another one. But I just wanted 00:31:52.400 --> 00:31:55.019 to take some time to really call out and celebrate 00:31:55.019 --> 00:31:59.339 the fact that this podcast has now had its first 00:31:59.339 --> 00:32:03.960 birthday, and I'm just so excited to see where 00:32:03.960 --> 00:32:07.220 God takes us from here. If you've been listening 00:32:07.220 --> 00:32:10.220 since the beginning, thank you. I'm so happy 00:32:10.220 --> 00:32:13.579 to have you here. I am grateful beyond measure. 00:32:13.960 --> 00:32:18.700 I genuinely cannot express to you the ways that 00:32:18.700 --> 00:32:22.880 just knowing that somebody was out there listening, 00:32:23.720 --> 00:32:27.619 what it means to me. And if you're new here, 00:32:27.769 --> 00:32:30.569 Thanks for joining us tell your friends. I hope 00:32:30.569 --> 00:32:34.049 that this podcast is reaching you in a place 00:32:34.049 --> 00:32:37.329 where you really need it right now And I hope 00:32:37.329 --> 00:32:39.990 that you're able to grow in your relationship 00:32:39.990 --> 00:32:43.670 with God through this Experience as I go through 00:32:43.670 --> 00:32:46.210 the next year again I don't know where all God's 00:32:46.210 --> 00:32:49.009 gonna pull us and and grow us and shape us, but 00:32:49.009 --> 00:32:54.380 I want to point out that There is an endless 00:32:54.380 --> 00:32:57.339 number of possibilities and ways that we can 00:32:57.339 --> 00:32:59.660 connect with each other in this modern world. 00:32:59.720 --> 00:33:02.720 So I would just ask that if you feel strongly 00:33:02.720 --> 00:33:05.099 and you want to reach out to me and ask me any 00:33:05.099 --> 00:33:09.200 questions, please do. I'm here. I want to talk 00:33:09.200 --> 00:33:13.900 with you and I'll just share this story. Somebody 00:33:13.900 --> 00:33:19.150 did reach out to me once. She's more local. But 00:33:19.150 --> 00:33:21.210 she reached out to me because my husband was 00:33:21.210 --> 00:33:25.410 sharing some of my ministry stuff, my podcast 00:33:25.410 --> 00:33:29.289 and other things. And she reached out and she 00:33:29.289 --> 00:33:31.609 said, I want to grow my relationship with God, 00:33:31.710 --> 00:33:33.589 but I don't know where to start. And I said, 00:33:33.769 --> 00:33:36.049 holy cow, that's like my whole ministry. I'm 00:33:36.049 --> 00:33:38.650 so excited that you reached out. And we had some 00:33:38.650 --> 00:33:41.690 great conversation. And she's really the reason 00:33:41.690 --> 00:33:45.710 that this women's Bible study started on Tuesdays 00:33:45.710 --> 00:33:50.250 at my church. It's been a journey has been so 00:33:50.250 --> 00:33:53.569 fun and it connected many people in our church 00:33:53.569 --> 00:33:56.930 in ways that I had never expected it to and so 00:33:56.930 --> 00:34:01.670 I just I Really do mean it when I say reach out 00:34:01.670 --> 00:34:05.970 let's talk and we'll we'll see where the world 00:34:05.970 --> 00:34:08.730 see where it all takes us as we sort of enter 00:34:08.730 --> 00:34:16.889 into this Christian journey together, so With 00:34:16.889 --> 00:34:20.030 that being said I want to pray us out of season 00:34:20.030 --> 00:34:25.949 four and Just thank you again so much for being 00:34:25.949 --> 00:34:30.829 a part of it Lord I just thank you so much for 00:34:30.829 --> 00:34:33.469 today. I thank you for the opportunities that 00:34:33.469 --> 00:34:38.289 you've given me To speak to these women and your 00:34:38.289 --> 00:34:42.050 people through this podcast I thank you for the 00:34:42.050 --> 00:34:46.650 ways that it has grown my heart and my knowledge 00:34:46.650 --> 00:34:49.590 and my confidence in our relationship and the 00:34:49.590 --> 00:34:53.769 ways that we are able to work together to grow 00:34:53.769 --> 00:34:59.889 your kingdom God. I thank you so much for allowing 00:34:59.889 --> 00:35:04.690 me to use my voice in a way that glorifies you 00:35:04.690 --> 00:35:08.969 all the time. I pray God over all the people 00:35:08.969 --> 00:35:12.489 listening that they would experience you in ways 00:35:12.489 --> 00:35:14.690 that they never have before, that they would 00:35:14.690 --> 00:35:17.969 start to engage deeply into their relationships 00:35:17.969 --> 00:35:21.090 with you and know you in ways that they never 00:35:21.090 --> 00:35:25.369 have. Lord, I pray that as we kind of get ready 00:35:25.369 --> 00:35:27.869 for the next phase of this journey, that you 00:35:27.869 --> 00:35:30.530 would just continue to lead me and that you would 00:35:30.530 --> 00:35:34.570 lead all of the folks listening to find you in 00:35:34.570 --> 00:35:38.070 all the different ways. God, I just pray that 00:35:38.070 --> 00:35:42.170 you would be with us. as we go through our week 00:35:42.170 --> 00:35:49.989 and just continue to light the way. I pray all 00:35:49.989 --> 00:35:54.449 of this in Jesus' holy name. Amen. Don't forget 00:35:54.449 --> 00:35:59.050 to keep looking for the calm in the chaos and 00:35:59.050 --> 00:36:07.070 the miracles in the mess. Thank you for listening 00:36:07.070 --> 00:36:10.010 to Miracles in the Madness. I hope today's episode 00:36:10.010 --> 00:36:12.530 encouraged you and reminded you that even in 00:36:12.530 --> 00:36:16.389 the chaos, God is present and faithful. If you 00:36:16.389 --> 00:36:19.250 enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing, 00:36:19.710 --> 00:36:22.050 leaving a review, and sharing it with a friend 00:36:22.050 --> 00:36:23.929 who might need a little encouragement today. 00:36:24.550 --> 00:36:26.929 This helps more listeners like you find this 00:36:26.929 --> 00:36:30.869 podcast. You can connect with me and find devotionals, 00:36:31.250 --> 00:36:33.590 resources, and faith -filled tools to support 00:36:33.590 --> 00:36:37.300 your walk with God at AshtonKever .com. You can 00:36:37.300 --> 00:36:40.179 also follow along on social media or join the 00:36:40.179 --> 00:36:42.360 community where we continue these conversations 00:36:42.360 --> 00:36:46.199 and walk this journey together. Remember, God 00:36:46.199 --> 00:36:49.480 is still writing your story. He's working in 00:36:49.480 --> 00:36:52.619 your everyday moments and you are never alone 00:36:52.619 --> 00:36:55.159 in the beautiful chaos of motherhood.