In this episode Chris finishes the mini series on storytelling with an in-depth look at how to share the stories of what God has done for you with the people he puts in your everyday life.

Show Notes & Links:

-Learn to tell your story that tells The Story--the one Jesus came to tell the world.

-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:

If you'd like to listen to the first two episodes in this series:

https://womenfinishingwell.com/episode132/

https://womenfinishingwell.com/episode133/

If you're interested in bulk copies of the Women Finishing Well Bible study, email Chris: [email protected]

In this episode Chris talks about the basics of telling a good story using lessons from the master storyteller--Jesus.

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.

-Link to last week's podcast on how to remember what God has done in your life. Click here to listen.

Next week: How to tell the greatest story you've ever told!

In this episode Chris talks about the important legacy habit of storytelling. The first step in the process is establishing a habit of remembering what God has done.

Show Notes & Links:

-Storytelling is one of the most overlooked skills of a Christian disciple and essential for building a legacy of faith.

-Remembering what God has done in our lives is the first step in telling the stories that build our legacy.

-To remember, we need intentionality. How do you remember what God has done in your life?

-In Psalm 103 David talks about three types of events he purposefully remembers:

1. What God has done (vv. 2-4)

2. What God is doing now (v. 5)

3. Who God will do (vv. 17-18)

Tips to remember what God is doing right now:

1. Start with the expectation that God shows up every day in your life.

2. Collect what helps you remember: monuments, celebrations, and stories.

Starting a list of what God has done:

1. Start a remembering section in your journal, or get a journal and start writing things down!

2. Use a phrase and a date so you can remember the story.

3. Read over these entries regularly to build a memory and build your faith.

4. Just write down the things you want to remember. You'll get the hang of what that is. Pray and ask God to show you specific times he is showing up.

Scriptures from this episode:

-Numbers 15:38-39

-Psalm 103

-Rom. 11:36

Links:

Click here to sign up for our short weekly emails to get all the resources on how to build your legacy of faith and take part in our giveaways exclusively for email subscribers! As our thanks, you'll get a free mini Bible study on how to start a First Things First morning routine!

-Click here to listen to the episode where Diane tells the story of how God opened a new door for her she never anticipated.

In this episode we'll talk about how we approach the idea of how to build an extraordinary legacy of faith from the events of our everyday lives.

Show Notes & Links:

-How we approach legacy building: Use the everyday moments of your life and embrace them as your God-ordained opportunity to build a legacy of faith.

-"On the road to Emmaus" was an ordinary event that Jesus turned into an extraordinary one.

-Do we anticipate extraordinary meetings with God in our everyday, ordinary events? Are you on the lookout for God to show up?

-Three circles of people God gives us:

1. Circle of influence: small, intimate group that we do life with.

2. Communities of influence: groups of people we share common events with.

3. Everyday people: Strangers that God moves in and out of our lives for a specific purpose.

This week's challenge: Who are the people in the first two groups in your life? Can you see their faces? Look over chapters 1, 2, and 10 in the Women Finishing Well Bible study for further info on how to identify the people in these groups.

Scriptures from today's episode:

-Romans 12:1, The Message

-Hebrews 12

-Like 24:13-35 (the road to Emmaus)

Links (click 'em, they're live)

The Women Finishing Well Facebook community.

Get your copy of the Women Finishing Well Bible study.

Sign up for our email list and get weekly links to all our resources. You'll receive a free mini Bible study on First Things First.

Check out our website and blog here.

In this episode Chris interviews author and blogger Melanie Davis Porter about the partnership of courage and endurance. To allow perseverance to "finish its work" (James 1:4), we need courage to be in it for the long haul with God.

Show Notes & Links:

-Elisabeth Elliot's perspective on suffering: "having what you don't want to wanting what you don't have."

-Is busyness a distraction that pulls us away from God?

-Galatians 6:9: Don't get weary doing the right thing. When the time is right you will reap a harvest if you don't give up.

Melanie's tips to develop persevere in your quest to start a daily time with God:

1. Start with the right mindset (Pr. 24:16): If we see ourselves as dearly loved and accepted children of God, we will have a better chance of living like one.

2. Just ask: If our goal is to spend a quiet time with him daily, ask Him to give you that desire. Transformation happens in God's presence.

3. Keep a journal: writing down your thoughts and observations can keep you on track and block out distractions.

4. For Bible study/reading: Use Bible study books, devotional apps. Try the Proverbs 31 First 5 app or the YouVersion app to find reading plans (see links below).

5. Build a habit that works with your lifestyle. The rules are not as important as the relationship.

-God will stir a fire in us as we go to Him (2 Ti. 1:6). The more we are in His Word, the more we will want to be there.

Links:

-Learn about the Proverbs 31 First 5 devotional app here. Melanie is one of their writers.

-Find devotional reading plans in the YouVersion app here.

-Find Melanie on Facebook here.

-Visit Melanie's new (under construction)website here and find out how to contact her.

Melanie is also on Instagram (@melaniedavisporter) and Twitter as well (@MelMel27)

-Check out Sweet to the Soul Ministries here

In this episode Chris talks about the importance of the fourth "W" in the First Things First Challenge. Learning to wait in prayer takes some practice.

Show Notes & Links:

-How waiting and prayer are linked.

-Some wisdom from Elisabeth Elliott.

-Prayer is a conversation that takes active listening and heartfelt talking.

-Waiting in prayer will change the trajectory of our day (Colossians 3:1-2).

-Being quiet and still takes intentionality. Waiting is prayer is not a passive empty mind.

-Ways to keep our minds set above:

• verbal praise
• reading prayers from the Bible (start with Psalms and Paul's epistles)
• try playing quiet instrumental praise music
• Inviting God to speak.

-Keep a prayer journal

-We are not all called to be prayer warriors but we are all called to pray.

Links:

The Heartbeat of God devotional by Chris Baxter

Click here to go to our Women Finishing Well Facebook page and let us know how you set up your prayer journal.

-Send Chris an email and let her know how you're doing at [email protected]

Start your own 30-Day First Things First Challenge by listening to podcast number 126 here.

In this episode Chris talks about why perseverance is key to forming a new habit. God is making us into spiritual diamonds!

Show Notes & Links

-Why developing perseverance is like a diamond forming in the earth.

-God uses disruption and to trouble to press us into a spiritual diamond.

-James 1:2-4, The Message.

-When trouble comes, don't run away--run to God. He wants to make you mature and complete, not lacking anything.

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

-Join us on our Facebook page to learn more about the 30-day challenge and connect with us! Click here to get there.

-Interested in the 30-day challenge to start a morning routine with God that will change your life? Listen to episode 126 and get everything you need to start! Click here to listen.

In this five-minute episode Chris shares the secret of rocking the 30-Day First Things First Challenge. Not what you think.

Show Notes & Links:

-The secret to rocking the 30-day challenge is not getting up early--it's finding a quiet place to meet with God. If you've got a house full of people, it may be a tough go.

-Some tips:

1. Scout out a quiet place and get ready the night before: journal, Bible, water.
2. Enlist help if you need it taking care of kids first thing in the morning. Remind them it'll only be a few minutes.
3. Enlist the help of your alarm: get up early. Ask God to give you rest so you can wake up refreshed and ready to go right away.
4. Set your coffee maker if you have a timer. Get the Keurig set up with water, pod, and cup to grab right after you drink your water. Maybe move your coffee pot to a quiet place so it doesn't wake anybody up.
5. Learn to carve out time in the morning chaos--get creative.
6. Don't ever give up or be hard on yourself for missing.
7. Stay connected to the Facebook community for support.

Links:

-Want to join us? You can start any time. Just go listen to the two episodes that will get you ready:

Click here to listen to episode 126 - Finding Your Why & Getting Ready.

Click here to listen to the bonus episode with tools and resources to get you going.

Click here to join the community on our Facebook page and answer the daily reflection question.

This is the bonus podcast for episode number 126. In this episode you'll get resources to make sure you're ready to start your 30-day challenge. There is also a Resource Tool in the show notes that walks you through some tasks to cover this week.

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

-Why is morning the best time for spend time with God? Your Resource Tool includes several scriptures to study.

-Our "why" for First Things First: Colossians 3:1-2

This week's task (all instructions and references for this week's tasks are detailed in the Resource Tool linked below.)

Download your Resource Tool here (pdf)

Task 1: Study the importance of meeting with God first thing in the morning. Scriptures and journal questions available in the Resource Tool above.

Task 2: Bonus! Download your free copy of the Women Finishing Well from Amazon on June 24-26. Instructions and a how-to video in the Resource Tool (download above)

Task 3: Read "The Four Truths of God's Unfailing Love" from chapter 2 of the Women Finishing Well Bible study book. If you don't have the book, the text is printed in the Resource Tool.

Task 4: Join our Facebook community. We've got lots of stuff there to help you succeed! Here's the link--See you there! https://www.facebook.com/womenfinishingwell

Task 5: Choose your lane. Be sure and read this great info in the Resource Tool. It will give you confidence and direction on how to approach the challenge starting where you're at right now!

Links:

-Video on how to download the Kindle app onto your computer, phone or device. You'll need this before you can download your free book. Watch now: https://vimeo.com/562233056/e4bdedf92d

-Video on how to download the YouVersion Bible app unto your phone, device or computer so you can access the Heartbeat of God reading plan. Watch now: https://vimeo.com/562569673/92280af0f5

See you next week in episode 127!

In this episode, Diane and Chris get you ready for the start of the 30-Day First Things First Challenge on June 28. This is prep week, ladies! On your mark...

Show Notes & Links:

-This is the kickoff of prep week for the 30-Day Challenge. Lots on info ahead so put on your seatbelt!

-Diane's Bookshelf: The recommended read this week is Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Peter Scazzero. Check out the book by clicking here. Learn the seven steps to God-given peace.

Getting Ready for the Challenge (starts June 28)

-Download your free copy of the Women Finishing Well Bible study from Amazon on June 24-26, you'll need to have the Kindle app on the device where you want to read (phone, computer, iPad). We've put together a video showing you how to do that if you don't have it already. You don't need a copy of the book to do the challenge, it's just our way of saying thanks for joining us! Click here to view the short video.

-Have you got the YouVersion Holy Bible app on your phone or device? If not, you'll want to get that so you can use Chris Baxter's 30-day devotional, The Heartbeat of God. We've also put together a short video to show you how to get the app. It is also available on your computer. Click here for a link to that video.

-If you already have the YouVersion app, you can find The Heartbeat of God in the Plans tab.

-Are you ready to listen to the bonus episode for this week? You can listen to it and download the Resource Tool for that episode here:

Why the Morning?

-Setting your mind and agenda in the morning with God helps you see your day with eternal vision.

-Colossians 3:1-2: "Since then you have been raised with Christ, wet you hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

-Be sure and look through the scripture verses in this week's Resource Tool about why we need to seek God in the morning!

What 2 Do Next Recap:

If you don't have a Kindle, be sure and download the Kindle app to your phone, device, or computer. See the link above for a video on how to do that.

If you don't have the YouVersion app on your phone or device, we have a video to help you with that too. See the link above.

-Review of the 5 W's. We'll have a podcast on each one over the next weeks of the challenge: Wake-up Call, Water, Word, Wait in Prayer, Worship.

-Don't forget to listen to the short bonus episode and get your prep steps for next week! FREE BOOK JUNE 24-26 ON AMAZON!