Living With Less Podcast

By Chelsey DeMatteisSociety & Culture Religion & Spirituality Christianity Personal Journals

Living With Less Podcast episodes

August 28, 2019Pride Goes Before The Fall
Pride isn't something anyone likes to admit or talk about. Which is why this episode is here, God revealed the beginnings of pride invading Chelsey's heart. He stopped her and met her with the truth from Galatians 1:10. This episode will give you a self-inventory of knowing that you're in step with the spirit or have you asking if you're trying to sprint ahead.
How To Detect Pride's Invading Your Heart
You dread doing something but keep showing up due to "fear" no one else can do it as well as you.
You sit down at a table and believe you have nothing to learn from anyone.
[You address before you confess. ](carey nieuwhof how to detect pride)
Verses God used to get Chelsey's attention
Galatians 1:10, "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of God."
Proverbs 16:18, "Pride goes before destruction."
What Does Pride and Approval Of Man Do To Our Hearts?
It takes our pure intentions for The Lord and rips the purity out of it.
It steals blessings.
It steals joy.
It blurs the line of "good" and God's best.
We Are A Example For The Kingdom
We need to be open and honest with others/believers when we are struggling in this area.
This helps new believers KNOW they don't walk alone.
This helps potential wandering souls from walking away when the enemy baits them with lies.
Truths The Lord Shared With My Heart
Pride disolutions us to believe we have to carry "our thing" all on our own.
The Lord CONVICTS and CORRECTS,
The enemy CONDEMS and CONFLICTS.
Galatians 5:25, "If we live by the spirit, let us also keep in step with the spirit."
When we are daily allowing the word of God to be the lamp that lights our paths, it keeps our minds on the eternal perspective.
How Do We Protect Ourselves From Pride?
Regualr time in the word.
Accountability partners (1-2) who KNOW all the stuff you wrestle with.
Prayer Warriors - pepole regualrly praying on your behalf.
The greatest gift next to Jesus God gave us is His word. It calls us out of our sin but always gives us the corrections we need to make. Praying this weeks episode will cause you to pause and allow God to pull the things out of your heart that are getting in the way of who He's calling you to be!
Head to the @livingwithlesspodcast on instagram to get daily encourament!
26 min
August 21, 2019Following The Call with Shaina Kidd
This weeks episode is all things encouraging, sweet, and a true testament to following God's call on your life. I got to talk with Shaina Kidd before she and her husband leave for a 2 year long mission trip to Cambodia. Shaina's heart for The Lord shines through every word she speaks, may this episode bless your heart to do the things God is calling you too. Near or far.
About Shiana:
I have been a wife for almost two years now. I am originally from Ashland, Ohio, which is where my parent’s and brothers still live, but I moved to Phoenix, AZ right after I graduated high school to go to college at Arizona State. I’ve been living here for eight years now! It’s crazy how fast time flies! Within the first couple of weeks of being here, one of my friends randomly met a pastor who had just moved here from Boston to plant a church near ASU. I’ve been a part of Antioch Community Church ever since! Garrett and I served on staff with college ministry for about a year and a half before stepping down to pursue our move to Cambodia!**
How Shaina met her husband!
This is my favorite story to tell! Back in college, my best friend started dating my husband’s cousin, who actually lived with Garrett. I found myself frequently third wheeling to their house to hang out and he became one of my good friends. I thought so highly of him: he was trustworthy fun, kind, and what seemed to be the perfect catch. But I needed a lot of healing, ultimately allowing God to be my lover, provider, comforter, and Lord over my life, before even thinking about dating anyone. Fast forward to 2016, God was capturing both of our hearts individually, and we surprisingly both decided to do a discipleship school at our church that same year. This year was amazing for us individually and together! We started dating, got engaged, and married within 10 months and the rest is history!
What led you individually when it came to doing missions and then what led you two as a couple to pursue missions together.
Since I was young, I have always wanted to live overseas to share the Gospel with those who have never had the chance to hear. Garrett on the other hand, loved going on short-term trips but didn’t necessarily feel led to long-term missions. When we were engaged, we got the chance to spend almost two months in India & Cambodia, concluding the end of our 9-month discipleship school program. Those two months were life-changing for both us. We saw God move in powerful ways, like the book of Acts came to life in front of us. It was amazing and we couldn’t deny that God was moving in powerful ways at the ends of the earth.
In 2017, we were asked by a couple of our friends to pray and consider moving to Cambodia with them. Of course, I was ready to pack my things up the next day, while Garrett was very hesitant. We had just gotten married when we were asked to consider this, so life was already more intense than normal with all the learning that takes place. This was a very significant time for me, going from super independent to allowing Garrett to lead me. I realized that this dream God had placed on my heart from when I was a little girl, also had be placed at the foot of the cross and held with open hands, even though it was good. Through God showing me this, I got to a point of being okay if we didn’t go, because I knew Gods plans were to give me a hope and a future, even if it meant not going overseas.
We began praying and asking God to give us a sign, give us peace, just anything to confirm if we should go or not. Through an experience I had in Cambodia, God spoke through someone at a conference we attended that could only be connected to my experience and we felt like that was the confirmation we needed.
Who/how will you be serving in Cambodia?
-Some facts about Cambodia:
• 80% of the population lives in villages
• From 1975-1979, the Khmer Rouge took place which killed over 2.5 million people, so the median age right now is 25 years old.
• Buddhism is the largest religion.
• 99% of the country is considered unreached.
We are going with two other couples from our church, and three kids. We are believing to help end sex trafficking through a church planting movement, which will consist of village house churches. The first year, we will be living in the capital city, Phnom Penh, to attend a language school. Right now, we think the best way to reach people is to stay in the city because each week, lots of people travel into the city for work, and then go back to their villages after. We are believing to find people who are open to us, open to the Gospel, and want to share it!
There are organizations already helping to fight sex trafficking there, so we hope to partner with and learn from them to help see women and children rescued, rehabilitated and of course, given the chance to chance to hear the Gospel. God is the hope of the world!
How can people be supporting you financially and prayerfully while you're away?
Prayerfully
God would continue to give us His heart for the Cambodian people.**
We would be 100% financially supported by August 10th!
God would prepare the hearts of those we will come across, and the seeds would fall on good soil.
Matthew 13:23 “As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case va hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
Financially
We are 93% monthly funded so we are close to being 100% funded, but we are looking for a couple more people to partner with us monthly to see Cambodia reached. We have $354/month left to raise People are called to go, and people who can’t go, are called to give. It’s a beautiful way God designed it in order for all people to be a part of how God is redeeming the world.
If you would like to partner with us financially, please click the link and steps below:
https://antiochphx.com/give
-Click give to staff
-Under giving type, choose G. & S. Kidd
-If you wish, you can set it up recurring if you would like to be a monthly supporter.
What are you most excited about and what are you most nervous about?
Excited: loving on the Khmer people, seeing them through God’s lens, and seeing the chains fall and they would find hope and freedom in Him!
Nervous: learning the language
What were your families reactions when you told them you were pursuing long term missions?
I get asked this a lot actually! The initial reactions were a mixture of confusion and sadness, but also accompanied by excitement. For our families and lot of other people, it’s hard to understand fully why we made the decision, because they haven’t experienced what we have through seeking God on whether Cambodia is where he wants us or not. When we made the decision to go, we truly experienced Phil 4:7 peace that surpasses all understanding, and also felt like God said that our yes was going to allow even our families to experience his love in a deeper way and we have seen this play out over the past year of preparation.
The Living With Less podcast is all about John 3:30 - living with less of the things getting in the way of who Christ is calling us to be! If someone asked you what they needed to begin living with less of in their lives in regard to becoming who God is calling them to be what would you tell them and why?
Overcoming the performance mentality, which is normally rooted to shame. I have dealt with having my value and worth being tied up in my accomplishments during numerous seasons over the course of my life. Basically, it’s the belief that through my self-effort and striving, I have to win God’s love.
Ephesians 3:8-9 says “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is a gift from God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
It’s crippled me when I lived this way. I was so concerned on what I was doing right or wrong, that I couldn’t see God’s goodness and my joy was completely gone. Praise God that it is by his works that we are saved and not our own. We can free ourselves from the religious mindset and the idea of working to attain his attain his love, and instead rest in him.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gently and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11: 28-30
Favorite bible verse and why
Psalm 139-- When I read this passage, it reminds me how detailed our God is with the way that he created me, and that he is with me always.
Favorite season in AZ and best place to visit if traveling there!
Spring: it’s the perfect temperature! Sedona is beautiful!
29 min
August 14, 2019Kingdom Eyes
This episode focuses on keeping our eyes on the eternal perspective. "Kingdom Eyes" is the term God put on Chelsey's heart in regards to how she is supposed to view people in the world, other believers, and how to use this mindset to stand firm against the enemy.
How do we address the people of the world and lukewarm Christians with Kingdom Eyes?
View them as the unsaved version of yourself - you will extend 10 times the grace when you see them this way!
Speak to them as the unsaved version of yourseld.
Speak the truths of God over their broken hearts. His word heals from the inside out.
Take it as high honor when God trusts you to speak life to a non-believer or someone struggling in their faith.
Remeber God loves them just as much as you. Despite their sin, they are still His children.
Give them your time, even if its 5 minutes. Let them know you see them!
Why the world does what it does - Habakkuk 1 gives such great insight!
How do we fight the enemy with our Kingdom Eyes?
Instead of looking at our hard things, we need to tell those things we see right through them and have kingdom eyes! Eyes that see all God is doing and eyes that trust the unseen!
We can look at our hard things and tell them where they belong. They have no dominion over us. We can stand in the victory of Christ Jesus! We have the power to stand firmly against it because of Christ living within us!
FIND YOUR SHORT VERSES - find the verses you can quickly go to when the enemy comes to strike. My go to's for anxiety are Colossians 3:2 and Ephesians 6:16.
Remeber God NEVER steps out of His character.
Learn how God speaks to you. We have to open our eyes and look around at all He's doing.
GIVEAWAY DETAILS
Follow the @livingwithlesspodcast instagram page
Like the GIVEAWAY photo
Tag your friends in the comments for extra entries
Share on your stories for bonus entries
28 min
August 07, 2019Holy Boldness
This weeks episode was birthed from Acts 4. In this chapter of the Bible it talks about the boldness we're called to have in our faith. The Lord took me back to a conversation I had four years ago with a friend that was without a doubt the boldness of the Holy Spirit. What God showed me in this is the difference between me desiring to be bold in my flesh and me being obediently bold with the spirit.
Acts 4:13-14, 21, 29, and 31
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14 But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. 15 But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, 16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.
21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened.
29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness,
31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
Holy Boldness
At our point of history we all can agree we live in a time where we tend to be hesitant, timid, or fearful in regards to standing firm in our faith to the outside world. We get caught up in the fear that we will be misheard, labled judgmental, or a hypocrite. While all these feelings are certainly valid because of what we see day to day, Acts 4 gave me a new perspective and helped change my human way of thinking on the topic of boldness.
When we're acting in the boldness of the Holy Spirit our demeanor isn't one of intimidation or trying to put your "opinion" on someone else. Boldness from the Holy Spirit is quite the opposite, it's approachable, kind, and truth filled. If you read this story in Acts you'll also see when the council saw the man who had been healed, they couldn't deny what had been done. This goes for us as well, when we show and share the things God has done for us, people cannot deny what we have experienced.
Chelsey's Story
4 years ago a friend and I were meeting for dinner and I He boldly put on my heart I was to talk to her about her relationship. I remeber being so concerned with how this would even come up, not to mention she's not walking with The Lord. I remeber packing my bible, getting to dinner early to pray, and just kept asking Him to open up the converstation because I didn't know how to. About a half hour into our meal it somehow came up and God blew my hair back.
We talked about the relationship, we talked about all the things God wanted for her life, how special she was to Him, and why He wanted her to be treated with respect.
I walked away from that dinner with my heart filled to the brim but I also walked away thinking how on earth did God do that! Well..4 years later He's answered. God centerned boldness.
God Centered Boldness
As I wrestled with this chapter of Acts I kept coming back to the place of seeing that our fleshy boldness is absolutely NOT the boldness of God. When we act in the flesh things feel off, words feel pressured, and the person were talking with becomes unengaged. I know this because I've been on both sides. I've been the non-believer with someone making me feel uncomfortable while sharing their faith. I've also been the believer trying to have a conversation with someone that I felt needed to happen and things went nowhere.
When our boldness is set in the things Christ is doing, it becomes filled with truth and love. It's captivating and causes even believers and nonbelievers to lean in to what His word says. His truth gives wandering souls a safe place to land.
So, if God has asked you to share the gospel with someone, pray over someone, or just ask someone too lunch to be the hands and feet, trust that He will pave the way. He will make the conversation happen. You follow the call, He's got the plans.
I pray this weeks episode leaves you feeling encouraged to step out in Godly centered boldness as you pursue your kingdom work. Whether that be in your home with babies, at a corporate workplace, in ministry, or a mixture of these together if God is on the throne of it all that's the best place you can be.
25 min
July 31, 2019Why God Calls Us Back To Places
Episode 31 is all about God asking me to go back to a place that once left me feeling insecure and inadequate. I know I'm not the only that's felt like this. You leave a place wondering why God ever brought you there to begin with, then comes the hesitation when He's clearly calling you to go back. This week is all about the truth of Isaiah 30:21 in my life. How over the last 7 years God has used this truth to guide me in my steps of obedience even when hesitation and emotions want to take over.
Why would God call us to go back somewhere?
When you read in Acts 15:16-18 you'll see where God says "I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild it's ruins, I'll restore it." Here God shows that He will "go back" and restore something that was wrecked.
This is the same thing God has to do with each of us. In order to restore broken things He has to take us back to where things began. Whether in memory or take us there in person. When a hurt is left unattened it can't be healed when left in its desolate state.
Where did God ask me to go?
God asked me to go back to She Speaks. When I was there two years ago I left feeling inadequate, insecure, and with a huge question mark looming over my head as to why He brought me there. Have you been there before? God asks you to present something, interview for a job, and then it goes so differently than you planned. I get it and I get the emotions that come with it.
We must remeber that God never causes pain, hard things are unfortunatly a part of this world. He is there to walk us through them and teach us about His unfailing love for us.
How did He meet me in my obedience to go?
My first feeling was getting on the plane, as someone who doesn't like to fly. I had no anxiety. He gifted me with seeing a heart formed by the sun shining in the plane for a few seconds, that was my first gift from Him.
Second, which I didn't notice this till 2 days after my trip but God had gifted me with 4 ladies I'd already been talking to over social media/phone/email leading up to the event. I felt so unconnected last time I was at the event, this time I showed up already feeling connected by women who were here for the same reasons. To grow in their calling, to grow in their faith, and to meet other women like them.
Anointing night. This was probably one of the sweetest gifts from God in my life thus far. When this woman prayed for me and felt the Lord tell her to draw a heart of my forehead. Which, as I stated above, hearts are my thing with The Lord.
The list could go on. He met me in so many incredible ways that left me feeling secure and take care of.
How do we know when God is calling us to go?
We have to know His voice. This comes from spending time in His word and submerged in a body of believers. The only way we will ever learn how He speaks to us is time. It's like an y relationship, you have to put in the effort if you want something to grow and be fostered.
When The Lord nudged me, I just asked Him to keep making it clear, and He did just that. Day after day and week after week it became more and more evident this is what He wanted for me.
I hope you know whatever circumstance you're finding yourself in God wants to meet you there. If you're unsure if He's calling you to move on, stay put, or go back, the best thing you can do is ask Him for His wisdom and direction. Pray over Isaiah 30:21 and ask The Lord bodly to answer this, whether through His voice, you hearing it through someone else, His word, He will answer. In His time.
If you loved this weeks episode please share it on social media and I'd be SO honored if you left a review on Apple Podcasts or iTunes.
26 min
July 24, 2019Guarding Your Gifts
Guarding Your Gifts is all around 2 Timothy 1:14. When Paul tells Timothy to guard the things entrusted to him. This episode walks us through the ways we can guard the things God has given us in a Godly way. Whether that be serving someone, submitting to Gods call, or walking out in obedience just by stepping out in faith.
2 Timothy 1:14 - "This precious thing God placed in your custody by the Holy Spirt who works in us."
What has God entrusted us with?
Marriage
Children
Family
Collegues
People we pass in the world
Your spiritual gifts
What are the different levels of the things He's give us?
Some are lifelong - spiritual gifts, marital, parenting, loving our family
Some are shorter term - jobs (because they can changed), the daily encounters with strangers
How can we guard what He's trusted us with?
EXPECT HIS BEST.
Think of the BEST thing God can do. Even if that means expect His peace.
Spirutual gifts - If God calls you to do something expect His best in HIs provisions for how this will play out in your life.
Marriage - expect the very best of your spouse by surrendering them to the Lord. Instead of going to the worst place, take it to the best place..the hands of God.
People we pass in the world - serving the people in the world out of the love of Christ is how people come to truly expereice Jesus on a deeper level. You can serve them by helping at the grpcery, paying for their coffee, holding the door, and easiest yet..smiling at someone!
How do we trust God's best?
Believe that even if it doesn't feel good, God is still good and can do good things in hard places.
Spend time with Him and let His word change our hearts.
Allowing His word to give us better understanding of who He is.
I pray this week you can find yourself submitting the plans you want and ask Him to pave a way through His provisions so you can see His hand working!
26 min
July 17, 2019Interview with Kendra Schwarz from Proverbs 31 Ministries
Kendra Schwarz from Proverbs 31 Ministries joined me on this weeks podcast for an interview that is all things fun, gritty, and real.
Kendra is an Ohio native gone southern. She's known to be overly optimistic, a little upbeat, and has a strong love for kettle cooked chips. She's passionate about the power of encouragement, showing up, and building relationships! She works as the Online Bible Studies manager with Proverbs 31 Ministries and believes staying relevant is the key to understanding the next generation.
Where Kendra works:
Proverbs 31 Ministries is a non-denominational, non-profit Christian ministry that seeks to lead women into a personal relationship with Christ. With Proverbs 31:10-31 as a guide, Proverbs 31 Ministries reaches women in the middle of their busy days through free devotions, daily radio message, speaking events, conferences, resources, online Bible studies, and training in the call to write, speak and lead others. We are real women offering real-life solutions to those striving to maintain life’s balance, in spite of today’s hectic pace and cultural pull away from godly principles. Wherever a woman may be on her spiritual journey, Proverbs 31 Ministries exists to be a trusted friend who understands the challenges she faces, walks by her side, encouraging her as she walks toward the heart of God.
Click here to learn more about Bible Studies.
Advice to working with youth?:
Show up and be intentional!
Know that you don't have to have all the answers.
Help them through the hard stuff.
Life verse:
"If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land." Isaiah 1:19 (NIV)
In regards to Living With Less of the things getting in the way of who Christ is calling us to be, what would you tell someone if they asked you what they should start with?
"We need to live with less scarcity mindset and focus on God's promises to bless us abundantly where we are with what He has given us. We need to remember God never runs out of blessings."
2 Corinthians 9:8: And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
John 10:10: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Ephesians 3:20: Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.
To follow Kendra you can find her on Instagram at @kendraschwarz
33 min
July 10, 2019Guard Your Eyes
Guard Your Eyes shares a part of her story Chelsey wish she didn't have. It began as a 7 year old sitting at someone else home exposed to something someone her age shouldn't ever see. After years of praying why and how certain areas of sin and fear entered her life, God finally showed her it wasn't something that was done to her or anything she did, but something she saw. The seed of destruction and curiosity was sewn.
This episode gives you places in God's word that bring clarity to the discernment we need to keeping the things we see at God's standards for our lives and others.
Matthew 6:22-23
“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
Accountable & Responsible
We are called as Christian's to be responsible to how people are directly affected by the way we live out our faith.
We've got to have accountability in our lives to keep us on the narrow path.
We are called to lead our children and those around us in the faith.
When people are in our homes they should be pointed straight to Jesus and no where else just by the way you conduct your home. (Fruits of the spirit)
Psalm 119:37
Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.
Turn Our Eyes
The world doesn't care about you, your soul, or your faith.
We've got to ask God for the discernment to turn our eyes away from what we shouldn't be seeing.
When you begin asking God to lead you in this you'll probably find the things you once did don't feel right anymore. In this place we've got to ask God to replace the dark with His light.
What evil/promiscuity/deception we see as children plant seeds, those seeds get watered by the world, those watered seeds turn into weeds that entangle our hearts.
I pray this message has you asking Jesus what in your life do you need to get rid of that gets in the way of what He has for you. What are your eyes taking in that needs to be removed and restored with the light.
26 min
July 03, 2019 Interview with Kaitlin Chappell Rogers - Not From God Book
Kaitlin wrote the book Not From God and when I saw this, I had to get her on the podcast. Her whit, love for Jesus, and biblical truth are so refreshing in our world filled with watered down Christianity. She tells us about her life, how God gave her the mission for this book, and of course all things Jesus.
Tell us about you?
I have been a wife for two years and a dreamer for 26. I started writing when I was about 7 years old and held art contests for my friends to illustrate my stories. I can't imagine I was the most fun play date. I have wanted to publish a book for as long as I can remember, and that prayer became a reality on December 13, 2018 when I released my first book, "Not from God: Taking Back the Narrative of Your Life." When I'm not writing or reading, I love speaking to women about how much Jesus loves them and how they can learn to love themselves. I also thoroughly enjoy a good cup of coffee and tacos and queso... just not all at the same time. My parents and two brothers mean the world to me and I love them and my friends hard and with abandon. My favorite hobby is traveling, and Naples, Italy is my favorite place I've been so far, second only to Tianjin, China. I don't neglect the U.S. though -- my husband and I are on a mission to visit all the Major League baseball stadiums in the country.
How did you get to the place of feeling like you needed to write this message?
My first year of marriage was very difficult, not because of my husband, but because it was the same year I began struggling with a really deep depression. I have always been known as the "happy girl" who can "light up a room," but when I was alone, all I felt was darkness. My husband watched me cry myself to sleep most nights and my counselor consoled me the best she can. I couldn't put my finger on just why I was so miserable, but I prayed A LOT. And during my battle with the darkness, God birthed a book inside me. He reminded me that not all the feelings I feel are from Him -- in fact, many are NOT from Him. And so "Not from God" was written to shine a light on the lies we believe and replace them with Truth from God's Word.
How can we begin to take our thoughts captive as new believers and old?
I heard a message recently where the pastor said that our hearts change when we find Jesus, but our minds don't -- and THAT is why we have to take our thoughts captive. One major way new and old believers can take thoughts captive is by replacing lies with Truth, and that's why I put a truth replacement at the end of every chapter of my book. The best way to replace it fast is by memorizing and hiding scripture in our hearts.
How do we recognize whats from God and what is not?
One thing I have really learned about God is how very kind He is. I used to see Him as a judge and a punisher. And He does discipline us for sure, but more than anything, He is kind and generous and loving. Now, when fear or shame or anxiety creep in, I remember that He is way to kind and way too good of a friend to pin any of those feelings on me. Those feelings must be from an enemy trying to destroy my soul, and NOT from my God.
Darkness and light, I talk about how the two can’t coexist in harmony and God is always fighting for His light to permeate us when darkness is trying to take over. Do you have a story you could share about a time you felt God doing this.
I talked earlier about the darkness of depression. When I was at my saddest and would lie down to go to sleep at night, I would try to find something to bring me joy. I don't have curtains on my bedroom windows, so the moonlight would pour in and dance on the walls and on the floors of the room. It made me smile every time. That to me was God's reminder that on the darkest nights, the moon shines the brightest, a reminder that He would not leave me in the darkness. And He didn't.
Arsenal of truths you use when feeling defeated, anxious, & full of fear.
Fear can teach us how to fight. When the enemy ushers in fear, we see how God ushers courage into our hearts and knocks down and fears we have. Our God has already defeated death, so what else is there for us to fear?
"Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you." Deuteronomy 31:6
Anxiety might not be from God, but God allows us to experience emotions like anxiety to remind us of the calmness and stillness we feel when we stop placing so much weight on worry and start worshipping Him to lift the weight of the world.
"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7
Confidence is the key to cracking the code of insecurity. But our confidence is not found in what we wear, who we hang out with, or where we work -- we have a confidence in Christ with a lock that can't be picked with any coat hanger or credit card. Choose to guard your heart with that confidence instead of letting insecurity break in and wreck every room.
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10
For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. 1 Thessalonians 5:5
If someone were to ask you what they needed to live with less of in their life that’s getting in the way of who Christ is calling them to be what you would you tell them?
Living with less of ourselves is something I have found to draw us so much closer to Christ. When I take the focus off myself, my problems, my fears, my insecurities and turn my gaze to praise -- to praise God for His solutions, His power, and His love, I remember that He is so much bigger than anything I will ever face. I encourage people to get out of their own way of the blessings God has waiting for them on the other side of their doubts and fears. We need to live with less of us and more of Him.
GIVEAWAY DETAILS
We're giving away a super fun bundle, 1 copy of Not From God, 1 of Kaitlin's bookmarks, and a beautiful necklace!
To enter:
Be sure you're following both of us on Instagram.
@livingwithlesspodcast and @kaitlinchappellrogers
Like the photos for the week of the giveaway.
Tag your friend in the comments on each days post for extra entries.
Winner will be picked on Monday night 9PM EST.
31 min
June 26, 2019 Stay On The Bus
Stay On The Bus is all about God showing me these last few weeks how important these words are. Jesus doesn't get off the bus in regards to our relationship with Him, He doesn't assign anyone else to do the hard work within our hearts, He stays. Whether you've struggled with keeping your commitments or you've had someone fail you in a big way over this topic, know God loves you, sees you, and wants you to know how important His commitment is to you and the value of our commitments to others.
Commitment
This word is filled with the power to bring life or death to a situation. Standing by it can show an amazing act of love or choosing to forget about it can blaze a way for destruction.
Fear
Is what gets in the way of wanting to stick it out and stay committed to things. Fear says the situation you're in will never change, it doesn't matter if you show up. Fear trips us up into believing we know better than God.
Jesus Stays On The Bus
John 4: 1-26 is the amazing story of the woman at the well. A story you must not miss about Jesus and His pursuit of us. Jesus spoke to this women words that changed the entire trajectory of her life.
When we get off the bus we miss seeing the power that commitment has to someones life. We miss getting to see our faith changed due to thinking something wasn't important or worth it.
Jesus Doesn't Find Someone Else to do The Hard Work Within Our Hearts
John 8:1-11 is another one of the greatest stories of Jesus doing hard things to meet us where we are in the midst of our messes. In this story of the woman who was going to be stoned Jesus was able to address everyones sin. The men and hers.
Staying for the hard work is where we get to see chains broken in Jesus name. With God on the throne of our situation we know the victory is coming, the fruit from obedience will come!
Jesus Doesn't Replace Me With Somone Elase to Love When I Fail Him
John 13:36-38 we see when Jesus foretold that Peter would deny Him. I still ponder this, that Jesus knowing all things could still love and serve Peter.
In John 21:15-19 You'll see when Jesus revealed Himself to the group of disciples Peter was with Peter jumped in the water and booked it to the shore. I love the beautiful picture this paints. Jesus never stopped loving Peter.
We've got to stick to the commitments God has called us to even when their in the hardest places.
When the enemy comes
When the enemy comes and the world starts to shout to add chaos we need Gods word to combat Him. I always cling to Ephesians 6:16 The shield of faith will extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one. This is what we have to cling to.
Obedience To God
God calls us to be obedient to Him in all things, even when He calls us into uncharted waters. Choose to stay, choose to stay on the bus, choose Jesus, choose His truth, choose to stand in the power of His commitments.
23 min

About Living With Less Podcast

From the publisher's feed

The Living With Less Podcast was birthed in 2019 when the Lord placed the words “live with less” on Chelsey’s heart. She wondered what you're wondering too, "what am I being called to live with less of?" You'll hear all about that in these episodes through her own personal stories on what God is teaching her, diving into scripture, and having conversations with guests.

Share Living With Less Podcast

Sign up to save your podcasts

Living With Less Podcast

Living With Less Podcast episodes

About Living With Less Podcast