In this episode Chris explores the process of finding and declaring your personal truths from God's Word--the truths that will recalibrate your heart to God's best.

Show Notes & Links

-Review of episode 162 and the two essential truths we all need to start recalibrating our heart to God.

-How Chris found her personal truths and made them into personal declarations.

-Why is declaring God's Word out loud daily so important?

-Take an inventory to find your core truths. How does that work?

Chris' sample declarations with scripture references:

• O God, You Are Wise (James 1:5 and James 3:17)
• O God, You are Faithful. You will guard me from the evil one (2 Thes. 3:3).
• O God, You are Holy. I will make no agreements that compromise your holiness. You are holy in all things. (1 Samuel 2:2 and Is. 57:15).
• O God, You are my redeemer in trouble (Ps. 69:16-18, Psalm 4:1).
• O God, You are Trustworthy in everything you do (Ps. 145:13).
• O God, You are my burden-bearer. Thank you for daily bearing my burdens. I am not created to carry my load. (Ps. 68:19, Mt. 11:28-30).

Scripture verses in this episode:

• 2 Tim. 3:16-17
• John 8:32
• Eph. 1:17-19
• Eph. 1: 3-14

Links (click 'em, they're live)

• Chris Baxter's devotional, The Heartbeat Of God.
• Info on the Lectio 365 app for phone (Apple)
• Lectio 365 app on Google Play
• Listen to last week'e episode here
• Women Finishing Well Facebook page
• Sign up for the weekly email here
• The Life Habit blog post for episode 162 on how to write personal declarations.

In this episode, discover the two truths that will guide you on the journey to recalibrate your heart. Discover the power of declaring and personalizing God's Word for your life.

Scripture verses for this episode. Pray that God will speak to your heart as you read each one this week:

Matthew 22:37-40, Php. 4:6-7, Is. 40:28, John 8:32, Eph. 1:3-14 (Chris' personal declaration scripture), Eph. 3:18-19, 1 Peter 5:8-9, Dan. 7:25, Rom. 11:36, 2 Cor. 10:3-5, Ephesians 6 (Armor of God), Col. 2:15, Eph. 1:20-22, Is. 30:19-21, John 16:33

Show Notes & Links:

-Review of last week's episode: introduction to the three steps in our journey: recalibrate, renew, and remain.

-Recalibration: to tune an instrument (or person in our case) to a place of zero adjustment or perfect pitch for optimum performance. Think of tuning a guitar. In our case, think of returning to the "inmost being" of our heart.

-First Truth of Recalibration: God loves us with a personal unfailing love so great you cannot comprehend it fully.

-Second Truth of Recalibration: We have an enemy who wants to wear us down.

-Our journey requires a mindset of simplicity: the art of making the journey less cluttered and distracting. What can you do this week to simplify your life?

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

-Click here to take this week's challenge on learning how to write a personalized declaration from scripture that you can use daily in your habit of pause. This week's Life Habit.

-Link to last week's episode-first in the series.

-Link to last week's Life Habit blog post on learning to Pause.

-Link to sign up to receive an email when a new podcast or blog post in the series is published. You can unsubscribe at any time.

-Link to like our Facebook page where you can get all the latest info on the new sseries and interact with the community there.

-Email me at [email protected] with any questions or concerns.

In this episode we start a new series designed to help you renew and reclaim your heart for God. When life's everyday struggles have pulled you off-center, you'll learn how to get back to your true heart.

We suggest you use a journal to document your journey. We'll have tips, scriptures, observations, and prayers to write down as we go. Also, enrich your journey by spending a few minutes each day in a quiet place to reflect and connect with God.

Show Notes and Links:

-In every episode, you'll get scriptures that you can read throughout the week to restore your heart, soul, mind, and strength. This week's scriptures:

• Isaiah 30: 19-21
• Deuteronomy 6:4-7
• Matthew 22:37-40
• 1 Kings 19:11-13

-Three steps to get our hearts back to center: (Re)calibrate, (Re)new, (Re)main.

-What is "zero adjustment"?

-How to tune your guitar!

-Where do we start the journey?

-The five stages of COVID grief(David Kessler)

-To start your journey, reflect and pray about this one question: Where am I now?

• Ask God to help you hear his voice as you pray and listen throughout your day.
• Are my heart, soul, and mind where I want them to be?
• Has my heart wandered from zero adjustment?
• What am I seeing or hearing in my life that tells me my heart needs to be recalibrated?

-Come and sit by the side of the pool with Jesus. It's a journey, not a task.

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

-How to do a simple SOAP study of a scripture passage.

-Links to Lectio 365 app for your phone:

• Apple tablet or phone here
• Google tablet or phone here

-You Version Bible app for phone or tablet (complete Bible, any version)

-Email Chris at [email protected] if you have a question or would like to ask for prayer.

Welcome to the last lesson in the online Bible study, A Tale of Two Legacies. In this lesson you'll discover how you are uniquely and wonderfully made to build a legacy of faith that lasts for generations.

Show Notes & Links

Where we're going in this lesson:

• You'll discover the unique purpose God has for you using our Legacy Inventory.
• Clarify the definition of "building a legacy in your everyday life."
• Review from lessons 1-4.
• Introduction to the Legacy Inventory: How are you wonderfully made?
  • Step One: Who Am I?
  • Step Two: Where Have I Been?
  • Step Three: Where Am I Now?
  • Step Four: Who Has God Put in My Life?
  • Step Five: Putting it All Together

As you access the online inventory, be sure you have all your tools ready (journal, Bible) and start each step by watching the video. Be ready to take notes on the video in your journal! After you watch the video, go through all the instructions and exercises for that step.

Scriptures for this lesson (New Living Translation, unless noted):

• Romans 12:1, The Message
• Exodus 20:4-6
• Matthew 7:24-27
• Psalm 1:1-3
• Jeremiah 29:11
• Deuteronomy 11:18-21

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

Click here to access the Legacy Inventory on our website.

Click here to access a pdf of the first two chapters of Building a Legacy of Faith if you don't have a copy.

Click here to get your copy of Building a Legacy of Faith on sale on Amazon. Both digital and print versions are on sale.

Click here to access our Facebook community. Join us and share your legacy!

Be sure and email us if you have any questions or just want to say "hi." Email [email protected]

In this podcast we listen to women of all ages talk about the challenges of building a legacy of faith in every season of life. This episode is lesson five of our online Bible study, The Tale of Two Legacies.

Show Notes & Links (click 'em, they're live)

-Listen as former podcast guests share the challenges of building a legacy of faith in their current season. You'll be able to relate.

-Scripture verses to study this week from this podcast: We encourage you to take one of these passages each day this week and do a SOAP study. (Read the scripture, write down your observations, journal about how this might apply to where you're at right now, or what God is showing you as you read, and then pray about where to go from here.

• 1 Corinthians 9:26-27
• Psalm 1:1-3
• John 15:4
• Hebrews 12:12-13 (The Message)
• 2 Peter 1:12-15
• Jeremiah 29:11

Click here for last week's episode and all other lessons in the study including study guides.

Click here to access Jean Fleming's book, Pursue The Intentional Life.

Click here to access the book, Organic Mentoring.

Click here for podcast episode 112: Bridging the Generation Gap With Friendships

Click here to sign up for our newsletter: news, giveaways, and announcements. We don't like spam and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Are you on Facebook? Click here to join our community of women pursuing the intentional life of finishing well.

In this episode Chris helps you navigate the four seasons of legacy building using the study guide from episode 157. Be sure and see the show notes for download links for this podcast.

Show Notes & Links (click 'em, they're live)

Scripture verses for this lesson:

• Ephesians 1:17-19: Paul's prayer for wisdom and revelation.
• Philippians 1:6
• Psalm 145: 4-6

-Link to the image of the Tree of Seasons

-Click here to download the lesson four study guide.

-Link to the First Things First worksheet-a user-friendly way to remember what God has done in your life.

-Chris' email: [email protected]

-Click here to join us on our Facebook page

-Are you on our mailing list? Get notifications of new podcasts, giveaways, and other great stuff. Click here to sign up. We won't spam you and you can unsubscribe at any time!

Get out your journal and get ready for lesson four in our Bible study, The Tale of Two Legacies. In this episode we'll start the process of identifying what "season" of life we're in and how we can craft the stories that will help up build a legacy of faith in this season. Before you start, download the image of the tree of seasons from the link in the show notes. We'll refer to it in the podcast.

Show Notes:

What 2 Listen 4 in this lesson:

In this lesson we're going to learn the basics about the four seasons of legacy building and discover the stories (narratives) of your season.

• Discover the season of life that defines where you're at right now.
• Each season has unique narratives that help us build a legacy during that season. More on the how-to in lesson five.
• The seasons:
  • Spring: ages 25-40*. New, exuberant life. These are the leaves on the far left of our tree of seasons.
  • Summer: ages 41-54*. The season of strength and growth. The leaves are green and sturdy.
  • Fall: ages 55-75*. This season is normally a season of transition and change and the one with the most vibrant colors of life.
  • Winter: ages 76-plus*. This is a strong season of stored energy essential for the regeneration of seasons in the spring. The most challenging season of legacy building.

*seasonal ages can vary a few years on either side

• Scripture verses in this lesson (all scripture is from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted)
• Psalm 1:1-3
• Psalm 78:2-4
• Psalm 145:4-6
• Exodus 20:4-6
• Colossians 3: 1-2
• Hebrews 12:12-13

Links and downloads:

You can download your copy of the "tree of seasons" and your lesson four study guide under the lesson four resources HERE.

You can email Chris at [email protected] with any questions or resources you need to access.

CLICK to visit our Facebook page and join the community of women learning to build a legacy of faith.

NEXT: In episode 158 we'll go over the study guide for this lesson. Don't miss it! Publishing date: Aug. 2.

In this episode we hear the last of the "storytelling" episodes that will prepare us to move on to lesson four in our Bible study, A Tale of Two Legacies. Nuts and bolts--you'll want to take notes.

Show Notes & Links:

-Learn how to craft your own narrative of The Greatest Story Ever Told--how Jesus makes a difference in your everyday life.

-Start by learning the life stories of people God used in the Bible. Spoiler: they were not perfect people.

-Start with the woman at the well (John 4), Hannah (1 Samuel 1), and Paul (Acts 8 and beyond).

-The two elements of a good story: relatable context and discernment.

Tips for finding good stories:

-Think of a scripture you love that comes from a story in your life.

-Work on being able to tell three kinds of stories:

1. A story not bound by time and situation (be careful to make it a conversation).

2. A story limited by time and situation.

3. A 30-second "elevator pitch." This technique needs practice and preparation.

-Your redemption story might be a turning point in your life if you were saved as a child.

-Be careful about using a "Christian" vocabulary. Not everyone has the same definition for theological concepts. Besides, non-Christian people will be lost. Learn to tell stories without Bible words.

-Your redemption story may vary according to situation and context of the meeting.

-Always be able to tell about the "why" of your faith.

Scripture verses used in this episode:

1 Peter 3:15, Hebrews 13:14-16, Romans 12:1-2

Links:

Catch up on the first three lessons of the free online Bible study including study guides here: https://womenfinishingwell.com/free-bible-studies/. Remember this is a go-at-your-own-pace study.

Join our Facebook community--it's where we hang out and share the good stuff: https://www.facebook.com/womenfinishingwell

You can join our email list and get news updates and new podcasts delivered to your Inbox. We're not fans of spam and protect your privacy. You can unsubscribe at any time: Click here to sign-up.

If you have a question or comment or just want to say hi, email Chris: [email protected]

NOTE: This episode is the second of three encore episodes on storytelling to prepare you for the next lesson in our Bible study, A Tale of Two Legacies. Enjoy learning more about this all-important skill of storytelling.

Show Notes & Links:

-Rudyard Kipling was right: if history was taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.

-Why having a system of remembering is the beginning of a storytelling legacy.

-Good storytellers understand two important story elements: relatable context and perception, or discernment.

Six Truths of Biblical Storytelling from Psalm 87:

1. We are commanded to tell the stories about how God works in our lives. (vv. 2-3)

2. Our stories are meant to be told to all people in our everyday lives. (v. 4)

3. Learn how to tell a good parable. (v. 2)

4. Good storytellers draw people in and encourage them to tell their stories. (v. 6)

5. Storytelling increases our faith in God. (vv.6-7)

6. Telling God's stories from our life helps us avoid rebellion and sin. (v. 8)

-Learn to tell your stories of trouble with discernment and compassion.

Scripture verses from this episode:

Mt. 7:15-20, Mt. 7:24-26, Ps. 78:2-8

Links (click 'em, they're live)

-Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get all the resources we have to help you build your legacy of faith. Also, we've been known to give stuff away in our newsletters! Click here to sign up.

-Join our Facebook community. We'd love to meet you there. Here's the link: https://www.facebook.com/womenfinishingwell

-Email us here: [email protected]

-You can also find great resources on our website here: https://womenfinishingwell.com/

What happens when your legacy foundation gets some weak spots? In this episode Chris walks you through the study guide of lesson three from A Tale of Two Legacies: keeping your foundation strong.

-If you haven't started or downloaded your study guide yet, no worries. Download here and follow along: https://womenfinishingwell.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Lesson-3-Study-Guide.pdf

-Have you downloaded the First Things First worksheet for this lesson? You can find that here: https://womenfinishingwell.com/first-things-first-free-tool/

Follow along as Chris shares her challenges and "aha" moments as she worked through this week's lesson.

-Don't forget to go to our Facebook page to share your insights or ask questions: https://www.facebook.com/womenfinishingwell

-I'd love to hear from you. You can also email me (Chris) personally if you have any questions or insights you'd like to share at [email protected]

--Don't miss next week's episode. Lesson four is Chris' favorite chapter in the study: how to build a legacy in the different seasons (generations) of life and some of the challenges of each one. You'll want to tell a friend about this one.