In this episode, Chris and Diane talk about the importance of remembering what God has done to building a legacy of faith and what God asks us to remember and pass on.

Show Notes and Links:

-Remembering what God has done for us is an essential part of building and passing on a legacy.

-Readings from Psalm 103:2-5 (don't forget God's benefits) and Psalm 145:4 (the charge to tell our stories to other generations).

-Why our stories need a "God component."

-Three things God asks us to remember (Psalm 103):

1. What He has done.
2. What He's doing now.
3. What He promises He will do.

-God knows everything about us and knows just exactly what we need (Psalm 139: 1-10)

-Tips for remembering:

• Don't get caught up in what's going on around you. It blots out what God is doing.
• Dread and fear cause us to miss what God is trying to do so that we cannot remember.
• Is the news of the day unsettling you? Try Diane's tip: When you get off into dread or fear, STOP (physically pause) and ask God what He wants you to see in this and how you can be the peace.
• Keep in the Word. Knowing the truth is the key to being free from fear and dread.

-God know how difficult remembering is (Read Exodus 17:14-16)

-Two challenges for you this week:

1. Write down what God is doing--use a journal or notebook. Date each entry. Keep track of what God is doing and look it over regularly as an offering of thanks.
2. Join the scripture memory challenge (see link in show notes).

Show Notes:

-Link to the first episode in the study of Women Finishing Well. The series started in episode 38 on Feb. 3, 2020. Click to start listening and catch up.

-Link to scripture memory challenge and downloadable list of scriptures on our website here.

Link to get your copy of our Bible study, Women Finishing Well.

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In this episode Chris and Diane explore three essential habits we need to find our new normal.

Show Notes & Links

This episode is part two of "Finding Your New Normal." Listen to the first part here: https://womenfinishingwell.com/episode46/

-Read Romans 12:2 from The Message

-Start with the truth: God has already given us a new heart (1 Cor. 5:17). Now we need new habits!

-Three habits that will help us establish our new normal:

1. Deepen connections with the people God has put in your life
2. Memorize and declare scriptures that cement who you are in Christ (your inheritance). Finding a new normal means you'll come up against some battles. Put on the armor of God.
3. Develop an attitude of gratitude: what do you have a new appreciation for?

-When we are intentional about connecting with others, those connections grow stronger.

-What deepens our connections? Hebrews 10:24: "Let us think of ways we can motivate one another to acts of love and good works."

-Use your creativity to stay connected. Read our blog post about how to use technology wee have at our fingertips to stay in touch. https://womenfinishingwell.com/pick-up-your-phone/

-Why should we memorize scripture?

-Join our scripture challenge and get a new revelation of your inheritance in Christ. Put on the helmet of salvation! There is a link to a downloadable tool to start here: https://womenfinishingwell.com/this-means-war-scripture-challenge/

-What are you grateful for that you took for granted before?

If you know someone who would be blessed by hearing this podcast, please share the link with them or post it on your Facebook page. https://womenfinishingwell.com/episode47/

We are praying for you. Hold on--God's got you!

Join us on our Facebook page and get links, news, and encouragement: https://www.facebook.com/womenfinishingwell/

In this episode Chris and Diane talk about how to find a new normal in this weird time of uncertainty. It's not about going "back to normal," it's about going forward!

Links & Show Notes:

-What opportunities does the current crisis give us?

-Do we really want to go back to normal?

-Exodus 14:12 – At the edge of the Red Sea, the Israelites pleaded to "go back to their normal of slavery."

-When we are in a situation where we have no historical context about what to do, we can easily become afraid and confused.

-Our "new normal" is found in going forward, not backward.

-Are we getting to well adjusted to the current culture? (Romans 12:2, The Message)

-It's not just time to find a new way to do church, it's time to find a new way to be the church.

-How do we find our new normal

• Pray (link to "Set a Fire" by Jesus Culture).
• Spend time daily sitting and listening to God (for help starting out, we've got you covered in our Bible study here).
• Journal your daily reflections on how is speaking to you.
• Rehearse gratitude every single day. Gratitude opens the door to peace.
• Cultivate the habit of personal worship!
• Remember, remember what God has done (Ps. 78).
• Give yourself some grace.

-Join us on Facebook–how can we pray for you? Tell us the story of your new normal. Join us here.

Help us get the word out:

-Do you know somebody that would be blessed by today's podcast? Would you consider sharing a link with them or posting it on your Facebook page for your friends?

In this episode, Chris shares her experiences during this strange time of "sheltering in place" and how we can see hope and peace around us during this crisis. Also, she issues a challenge for meeting the needs of the people God has put in your everyday life.

Show Notes & Links:

-Three ways we hear from God: through His Word, through godly counsel, and through our circumstances.

-What are you seeing God do in your neighborhood? How can you be a force of peace to your neighbors?

-Challenge: How can we connect when we can't see people face-to-face?

Links (click 'em they're live):

Link to Michael W Smith video: "Hold On, Help is on the Way. (Facebook Link)

The same video is available without the intro on YouTube if you are not on Facebook: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vH_CeU-JNW0

-Three steps to get rid of anxiety now (blog post)

-Pick Up You Phone! (blog post)

-Why Coronavirus should be the least of your worries - how gratitude boosts your immune system.

Please connect with us on our Facebook page and let us know how we can pray for you, or to tell us all a good, good story about how God is working in your life. Click to like our page here.

In this episode Chris and Diane reflect on the opportunities Christians have to be the peace of Christ to people in the present volatile health crisis.

Show Notes & Links

-Adversity can spur creativity. What churches and people are doing to stay connected.

-Keep up with people without having to be with people

-Diane and Chris' favorite scriptures for troubled times: John 14:27, Philippians 4:6-7, Proverbs 3:5-6

-Offset the doom and gloom with gratitude. Pray with thanksgiving to release the peace of God (Philippians 4:7)

-Use technology to keep up with friends and family.

-It's a great time to write and keep track of stories of God's provision and protection. Remembering what God has done is an important part of our legacy of faith.

-Be careful what you post. Check to make sure you're not posting fake news at snopes.com.

-Tip for having kids at home: Establish a schedule. Structure is what they are used to at school.

-Diane's tip: Facebook is a great source of activities and crafts for you kids at home.

-Don't forget to check on your high-risk friends and neighbors.

-Connect with our Facebook page. We'll be sharing timely information for you: https://www.facebook.com/womenfinishingwell/

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In this episode Chris digs deeper into the legacy building block called "The Philippians 4:8 Test" from the Women Finishing Well Bible study.

Show Notes & Links

Scriptures in this episode:

-Colossians 3:5-10

-Philippians 4:8 (Message)

-James 1:4 (the end game)

Notes:

-It's not about a list of do's and don'ts; it's about obeying the leading of God's Spirit.

-"Putting something to death" doesn't mean being perfect; it is about agreeing that this thing is drawing you away from God and committing to obey God's lead.

-What is in my life that God is challenging me to give up? What's not in my life that God is challenging me to add?

-What God calls us to do, He will empower us to do.

-The first step of the Philippians 4:8 Test: pray God will show you what is drawing you away from Him.

-Do the next right thing.

-Lean on your community of SIC (Sisters-In-Christ) friends.

-The end game: James 1:4. Let perseverance finish its work.

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Please join our monthly newsletter community and learn about our upcoming studies, events, and enter our monthly giveaways. Click here to subscribe. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Links

Listen to the last episode introducing chapter four of the study.

In this episode Chris and Diane explore Colossians 3:1-2 and talk about who we are in Christ, the challenge of living out that truth, and setting our hearts and minds on things above (chapters three and four of the study).

Show Notes & Links:

-Our reality: we are children of God (1 John 3:1, Colossians 3:1-2)

-We need a heavenly reality check.

4 Truths of Our New Reality:

1. God has chosen us and gave us a new home (Eph. 1:4. Gal. 3:13-14).

2. His Spirit in us witnesses to that truth (Rom. 8:16).

3. We are children by faith (Gal. 3:26)

4. He made us and we are His (1 John 3:1-2, Ps. 139:13-16)

-What does it mean to "lay something at the foot of the cross"?

-Setting our heart and mind on things above takes intentionality.

-Do you need to throw away generations of dirty clothes?

Setting our Mind: the 5 Battle Mindsets (chapter four)

1. Understand who we're fighting and where the battle takes place (Eph. 6:12, 2 Cor. 10:3-5).

2. The battle belongs to God, not us (1 Sam. 17:45-46).

3. Live in the armor of God (Eph. 6:11-17).

4. Trust what you already know (Pr. 3:5-6).

5. Our victory has already been secured (Col. 2:15, Eph. 1:19-23)

Question for you this week: Which piece of God's armor are you consistently missing? What vulnerable spot is being exposed? You can join the conversation on the podcast page or on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/womenfinishingwell/)

In this episode Chris challenges listeners to dig deeper into the subject of how to develop a circle of influence and communities of influence.

Show Notes & Links:

-Defining your circle of influence and communities of influence is foundational to building a legacy of faith.

-Biblical standard for these groups found in Jesus' life:

1. Followers (large, unnumbered group) Best defined by the large number of people Jesus taught in Matthew 5-7 (Sermon on the Mount)

2. Communities of influence: small groups of people who shared an affinity or circumstance who had a personal encounter with Jesus (Pharisees, family members & friends who cared for his needs, tax collectors).

3. Circle of influence (12 disciples). The main elements: accountability, transparency, mission, and diversity.

4. Inner Circle: (3 men; Peter, James, John). Intimate friendship and accountability. In-depth personal teaching.

-Biggest temptation when defining your personal groups: personality. Prayerfully consider the people in each circle.

Links:

Link to chapter one revision in Bible study on defining your circle of influence.

In this episode, Chris and Diane preview chapter two of the new Bible study, Women Finishing Well. Do we obey to be loved, or because we love?

Show Notes & Links:

-What is the love-obedience connection?

-Is trouble God's way of putting us in a time-out?

-In the wilderness, ask yourself: what's really going on here?

-The truth: Your wilderness is not God's punishment, it's His call.

-Job 36:15-16-God is in our suffering and distress.

-John 15:1-4-Remaining and pruning.

The Four Truths of God's Unfailing Love:

1. It is available to all, no matter what (John 3:16).

2. It will allow us to suffer (Heb. 12:7-11).

3. It is relentless (Ps. 139:7-12).

4. It is a mystery (Eph. 3:18-19).

Digging Deeper Questions:

1. Read John 14:15-21. Why does Jesus put such an important emphasis on obedience?

2. Read John 15:1-17. What does it mean to remain in God? What does God do with the branches in our lives that bear no fruit? What might that look like? Why does God prune our "fruitful" branches?

Links (click 'em, they're live):

Episode 39 - Finishing Well is an Ageless Challenge

Won't you help us get the word out about the podcast? If you enjoyed today's episode would you recommend it to your friends on Facebook or Instagram? Or maybe over a cup of coffee or tea?

In this episode Chris and Diane talk about the myth that finishing well is something we pay attention to when we turn 50.

Show Notes & Links

-Finishing well is an ageless challenge and it's never too early or too late to start.

-Leaving a legacy of faith involves navigating the changes in multiple seasons of life--like running a 26.2 mile marathon.

-In Philippians 3:12-14, Paul gives us three keys to running the race:

• forgetting what is behind (13): the season we left behind
• straining to what is ahead (13): embracing our current season
• press on toward to goal (14): letting God use our everyday ordinary life for His glory.

Question of the week: How does the call to finish well apply to you in your present season? You can answer in the comments or on our Facebook page: (https://www.facebook.com/womenfinishingwell/).

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