Live Only True Stories

Does the idea of discovering “God’s will” confuse, terrify, bore, or excite you? Is there even such a thing as divine direction? If so, how can we recognize it?

Seven principles from the example of Nehemiah enable us to make good judgments about whether we’re hearing God’s divine direction, our own desires masquerading as God’s will, or something else.

I unpack:

• Hearing accurately is a learned skill

• Taking circumstances outside our control into account

• Having a lifestyle of integrity and obedience

• Outcome for others includes leading to obedience and blessing

• Focusing on our responsibility, not others

• Tied to a lifestyle of seeking God

• It’s not for every decision we make

Just because someone says, “God said …” doesn’t make it so. Grow your discernment in hearing, recognizing, and applying God’s divine direction.

Empower yourself and your family to engage fully in God’s grand story. Subscribe to Hi(Impact) at Stephanie Presents for insights, encouragement, and practical resources!

Book Stephanie to speak to your women, parents, Christian educators, and students.

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Is it easier to keep kids safe or teach them to be strong?

What if strength is the best way to keep kids safe -- for life?

Learn 10 ways to build strong kids in this two-part series. While the application varies by age, the principles apply from tots to teens.

Today we'll dive into:

• Struggle
• Speaking
• Perspective
• Unfamiliar
• Horizons

You'll discover how to apply each of these key words in today's episode. Next week we'll look at the remaining five.

Empower yourself and your family to engage fully in God’s grand story. Subscribe to Hi(Impact) at Stephanie Presents for insights, encouragement, and practical resources!

Book Stephanie to speak to your women, parents, Christian educators, and students.

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Who is the first group of people you would employ after an organization-wide overhaul?

Musicians probably isn't your answer. But that's exactly who Nehemiah prioritized after Jerusalem's walls were rebuilt and gates were installed.

Singers and priests led worship and interceded on behalf of others. There's something about worship and intercession that helps keep us grounded in our God-given identity and purpose and keeps us from becoming self-absorbed.

We also see our highest calling is not to impressiveness but faithfulness and how it's necessary to have people -- not just practices and technology -- to guard us.

Empower yourself and your family to engage fully in God’s grand story. Subscribe to Hi(Impact) at Stephanie Presents for insights, encouragement, and practical resources!

Book Stephanie to speak to your women, parents, Christian educators, and students.

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In Part 2, we continue investigating how children develop a healthy, Christ-centered self-esteem. In Part 1, we explored the importance of dignity; the difference between applause and affirmation; the necessity to be intentional about being attentional.

Today we look at four more ways self-esteem develops (or doesn't!)

1. Self-expression tethered to self-regulation
2. Responding to criticism
3. Grit or sticking with tasks when the fun is gone
4. Repentance and restoration

All parenting approaches do not lead to the same outcome. Learn to discern the difference between practices based on timeless truths and current fads.

Empower yourself and your family to engage fully in God’s grand story. Subscribe to Hi(Impact) at Stephanie Presents for insights, encouragement, and practical resources!

Book Stephanie to speak to your women, parents, Christian educators, and students.

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Courageous people practice introspection and ask four key questions. Not just once but as a lifetime habit!

I unpack these four questions and other insights from our continued study in the Old Testament book, Nehemiah.

We see:

• God's timing is perfect -- and is a model for us to practice considerate timing with others
• Why we need to be mindful who we -- and those around us -- are connected to
• How introspection and repentance go together

Empower yourself and your family to engage fully in God’s grand story. Subscribe to Hi(Impact) at Stephanie Presents for insights, encouragement, and practical resources!

Book Stephanie to speak to your women, parents, Christian educators, and students.

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#lifeskey3

How do you nourish self-esteem in children that's Christ-centered?

How do you avoid the extremes of arrogance or insecurity?

While there are no guaranteed-outcome formulas, there are principles.

In Part 1, I share three practices you can apply at any age. I unpack:

1. What treating children with dignity looks like
2. When to affirm and when to applaud
3. Why intentional attention is crucial and how technology complicates this

Empower yourself and your family to engage fully in God’s grand story. Subscribe to Hi(Impact) at Stephanie Presents for insights, encouragement, and practical resources!

Book Stephanie to speak to your women, parents, Christian educators, and students.

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Let's be honest.

Our success isn't always met with cheers -- especially from those closest to us.

Let's be courageously honest and admit our initial response to other people's success may not always be applause, either. Why?

Self-esteem.

In whatever area of insecurity, loss, disappointment, or pain we have, we're tempted to resent more than respect someone else's success in that area.

We can learn from Nehemiah's experience. He led a team that pulled off an astounding project -- only to be met with jeers and threats. We can follow his example, however, and not be dismayed by this.

We can also learn not to follow his enemies' example. Instead, we can become people who live with an abundance mentality. This requires actively taking three steps:

1. Identify why we feel threatened or envious or pained by someone else’s success.

2. Align our thoughts with what’s true about ourself and someone else.

3. Act in alignment with that truth.

Over time when we walk this out, we will become people of grace and gratitude, greater security, and better positioned to receive God's blessings with thankfulness and humility. If not, we will become  ungracious, closed, and embittered.

Empower yourself and your family to engage fully in God’s grand story. Subscribe to Hi(Impact) at Stephanie Presents for insights, encouragement, and practical resources!

Book Stephanie to speak to your women, parents, Christian educators, and students.

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#lifeskey3

What masquerades as “Biblical” teaching that is anything but?

What motivates – and sabotages – the best-intentioned parents?

Fear – especially when the world is a scary place.

Learn how to avoid three common false antidotes to fear.

Recognize the eight warning signs fear may be motivating you – in one or more areas.

Hear how to face and replace fear with what works in the long-haul.

Empower yourself and your family to engage fully in God’s grand story. Subscribe to Hi(Impact) at Stephanie Presents for insights, encouragement, and practical resources!

Check out speaking engagements for women's gatherings, parenting conferences, and Christian education events.

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Fear is a four-letter word for a reason.

It’s one of the most destructive forces on the planet. It’s also one of the most subtle.

But conquering it requires us to say its name. We call it what it is.

The difficulty is fear doesn’t always show up clothed in a monster outfit. Sometimes it dresses like our best friend and invites us to dinner.

In today’s episode we see:

• Opponents don’t give up

• Just because someone changes methods doesn’t mean they’ve changed motives

• Differences between overt and covert fears

• Five ways to respond when people try to make you afraid

Fear doesn’t have to distract or destroy you. You can defeat it!

Empower yourself and your family to engage fully in God’s grand story. Subscribe to Hi(Impact) at Stephanie Presents for insights, encouragement, and practical resources!

Check out speaking engagements for women's gatherings, parenting conferences, and Christian education events.

#spirituallystrong

#emotionalhealth

#relationships

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#truth

#biblestudy

#christianfaith

#christianwomen

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#lifeskey3

It's not just "popular, charismatic, extroverted, or beautiful" kids who need to be raised to be leaders. Leadership is about character, not personality or physical traits.

Learn six characteristics to intentionally develop in each child following the example of Nehemiah and Christ.

• Being content with less than what a person can obtain or afford
• Standing up for others
• The actions that develop genuine compassion
• The importance of getting their hands dirty
• Valuing the need for integrity over the right to privacy
• Asking for affirmation

Empower yourself and your family to engage fully in God’s grand story. Subscribe to Hi(Impact) at Stephanie Presents for insights, encouragement, and practical resources!

Check out speaking engagements for women's gatherings, parenting conferences, and Christian education events.

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#raisingkids

#raisingchristiankids

#bible

#faith

#biblestudy

#christianfaith

#christianfamilies

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