Finding Real Fulfillment in Life

The Potato chip effect

I have made a connection between eating potato chips and living my life. That may sound silly, but hang in there with me for a sec…

When I sit down to eat a potato chip, I taste the first one and instantly want one more. I keep going back for more until I either feel sick or I literally ate the entire bag of chips. Now let me explain how I relate this to my life.

Living a life in potato chip fashion, we seek things that won’t bring us true fulfillment. Here are a few examples:

I want to make more money

I want to drive a nicer car

I want to be successful

I want approval

The moment we actually receive any of these examples above, we start chasing more. We aren’t actually being fulfilled when we chase these desires.

How to recognize what will fulfill you

There are three areas that we can focus on that will stop the chase of satisfaction and bring us to a place of true fulfillment.

Obeying what god asks you to do

We were created for a specific purpose, carefully designed and thought out by God. When we choose not to obey him, we might as well have placed the foundation of our life that we are building on sand. When we do obey God, the foundation of our life is a rock. Solid and ready to weather the storms.

Challenge Yourself

When God calls, step out of your comfort zone. Even if it is just one step. We cannot build a life by staying in the same place. The place where we have learned to feel safe. He has so much more for us in this life.

Speak Truth

When insecurity sets in, avoid seeking outward security and validation. If you are following God’s adventure for your life, you don’t need anyone’s approval or validation.

When our self-doubt sneaks in, remember who you are and who God created you to be. Listen to His truth and not the voice inside of you telling you that you aren’t good enough.

We can live our lives doing things that seem and feel great, but without truth in our foundation, our house will crumble in the storms.

It's Time to Get Real About Your Struggles

Being Real Matters

Why do we have a Christian culture of hiding? Hide our problems. Hide our insecurities. Hide our struggles. If I hide these things, I will look like a perfect Christian right?.....This is NOT where we want to be as Christians.

Let's be the Christians who shift this dynamic. If we are in hiding, we will never be on the adventure that God created us for. Imagine hiding who you are for the next five years and then looking back only to wonder how your life became such a mess.

God already knows your struggles.

There is no such thing as a perfect Christian. Let's stop with trying to achieve the "Christian look" of life and actually live a true Christian life with faults, problems and mistakes. A life where we seek healing and God through the struggle.

God is not calling us to live a nice little life that looks pretty and perfect. He is calling us to a life of adventure that will cost us something, lead us to healing and find freedom.

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Secrets keep you stuck

lies keep you stuck

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It is our duty to…

Love who we are

Raise children who know and love who they are

Build a beautiful marriage

Let’s run after what god has for us.

Are You Ready to Show Up and Do What God is Asking?

Have you been listening?

Do you wake up in the mornings wondering if you’ve gotten off track?

Maybe you have lot’s of ideas in your head, but you have ignored them because now isn’t a good time.

Do you feel comfortable in your life?

If you said yes to any of these questions, God is inviting you to do something right now!

You were absolutely put here for a reason!

God had a reason for creating you. You have a purpose in this life. These ideas you feel pulling on your heart are God coming in and inviting you to get on board.

Following God is messy! Don’t fall for the look of a “perfect Christian lifestyle.” We don’t have to be perfect. We don’t have to be put together all the time, and we certainly don’t have to even be ready to say yes to God’s invitation.

God is coming for you!

Whether you feel ready or not, God’s timing is perfect.

You will feel uncomfortable.

You will feel disappointment.

You will experience failure.

You will face challenges.

God never promised that our journey would be easy. But we will find freedom and healing when we live the life He created for us.

Is God Asking You to Change a Habit?

Am I Hearing God Right?

For the past few weeks, I have been feeling overwhelmed, discouraged and heavy. Some things didn’t go as I had expected and there just seems to never be enough time.

Now you have probably heard me talk about how I do not believe in this mindset of “not enough time.” I know there is enough time in the day to do what God is asking me to do. There just might not always be enough time to do what God is me to do and what I want to do.

It takes some unlearning to live the life god has for us

I felt like God was calling me to change some of my habits, set some new boundaries and get rid of some distractions in my life, and I honestly didn’t listen at first. I’ve been living this way for so long, why would I want to change things up now?

God was trying to show me that some of my behaviors and habits that I am trying to hold onto are not going to serve me as I move forward in living the life God has for me.

We sometimes have to admit that we are part of the problem

Our habits can get in our way. We can get so comfortable doing things a certain way that we miss the opportunity to move forward and grow. I do believe that part of being obedient to God is letting go of parts of ourselves and our lives when God asks us to. It’s not easy. Oftentimes, it can be quite scary. I know that I want to live the life God has for me. I want to find healing and freedom with Him, so I am going to listen when He tells me to let go of something.

This is the race I am supposed to be on. what do i need to let go of?

Is God Asking You to do Something That Doesn't Make Sense?

Is there something God is asking you to do that just logically does not make sense?

I have been having conversations with several different women about them listening to God and responding to His call even though it just doesn’t make sense for them right now, especially financially. These women don’t know each other. They don’t know I have been having these conversations with them. But they have all had the same response…This doesn’t make sense, but I am saying yes to God anyways.

women are stepping out and saying yes to god instead of listening to fear

I think it can become a habit for us to hear God calling on us to do something, but we are going to check on things first to make sure this is a good time. We will look at our finances or we will dive into our logical brain and sometimes straight up decide for God that now is not a good time for this.

God does not respect our comfort

God knows the “right” time better than we could ever know it. He is constantly calling us out of our comfort zone. God doesn’t care about money or making decisions that seem smart in this world. He cares about helping us grow and find true healing and freedom. We can’t forget that we are His creation and He knows what we are meant for in this world.

This adventure that God has you on is worth taking.

Has God Failed You?

God Loves the Scenic Route

The more I walk with God, the more I realize my ways are not His ways. My timing is not His Timing.

God doesn’t really give us the most efficient or even quickest way to accomplish what He is asking of us. When I’m told I need to do something, I just want to get it done right then and there, but that just isn’t how God works.

God likes the scenic route, which takes a lot longer than what I would consider the efficient route. It can become very discouraging and at times, we can even feel embarrassed or begin to question if we even know what God is actually asking us to do.

God invited me to a party, but it felt more like a challenge

When God invites me to do something, I tend to get excited. I see how great this could be and I genuinely can’t wait to get started, but then as soon as I do, I face challenge after challenge when I really felt like it was going to be more of a party.

Is God trying to trick me?

No matter how challenging, disappointing or embarrassing following God’s plan might feel sometimes, we have to make an intentional decision that we know God has something great for us. It might not be right away and it might not be what we thought it would be, but He truly does have wonderful things for us and our life.

Our disappointment can rob us of our purpose if we aren’t careful. This is why we have to keep making the choice to show up time and time again when God is calling on us.

The whole point of our life as christians is to keep showing up.

Do it. Show Up Again.

All About the Redemption Unveiled Bible Study Community

Do You Struggle to Read the Bible?

The Redemption Unveiled Bible Study Community was created to make the Bible part of your weekly routine.

Most Christians struggle with reading the Bible.

Why?? Because it's HARD to read! LOL.

-It's written very differently than we would write today.

-The stories are often featured in several locations

- They use words we don't use.

- We don't know where to start

- We don't know the meaning behind things.

- We are really busy

- It's hard to find quiet time. (Especially, if you have little kids!)

- It can be boring.

-It's easy to get distracted.

- It can be hard to find the lessons in the stories.

I have felt called to help women get into the bible in a way that fits our busy lives…and i make it fun!

As Christian women, I never want us to feel stuck in a stagnant routine where we are just going through the “shoulds of life.” I want us to lean into a routine that actually brings us closer to the adventure that God has for us AND have some fun while we do it.

It has been really exciting to see so many women come together and want to get back into the bible. For those who are curious about the bible study community, we would love to invite you to join us!

The Redemption Unveiled Bible Study Community is open today, march 30th, 2023 - April 3rd, 2023 to new members.

If this sounds like what you are needing in your life and to get back into the bible, you can sign up Here!

Redemption Unveiled Community Preview Week: Misunderstanding God's Why

Enjoy This Free Preview of the Redemption Unveiled Community Bible Study!

Misunderstanding God’s why

One of the worst things we can do is try to define God and his intentions.

Has God ever taught you a lesson for a really long time and you have been working hard on learning from His lesson and then all of sudden God asks you to do the exact opposite?

We have to be careful about having systematic thinking when it comes to God's purpose.

Are there any areas in your life that you have stopped recognizing God's voice because you have a system and think you already know the answer?

From the beginning of Jesus’s resurrection story, we can easily see how we can get confused by some of the decisions Jesus made. Waiting until Lazarus was already dead before returning home, asking Peter to get a sword but then telling him not to use it, etc.

Jesus whole-heartedly desired for God’s will to be done

Even when Jesus was praying to God that he didn’t want to be crucified, he ended his prayer with by wishing for God’s will to be done.

God knows the plan He has for us. He knows the outcome, the struggles we will face and what we will need to get through it.

If you have enjoyed this week’s preview of the Redemption Unveiled Community Bible study, the community will be opening up NEXT WEEK for new members to join.

We would love for you to join us!

When Life Gets Heavy w/ Hannah Brown

“God is Calling Us Out of Comfortable”

We all face hardship in our lives, and sometimes those hardships keep coming one right after the other. We start to feel like we are treading water when the waves keep pushing us down even further.

We may start to wonder if we can survive, wonder why God is allowing these things to happen in our lives, and ask what in the actual reality is happening to my life right now.

Sometimes we resort to going into survival mode. Just make it through the day. Stop feeling so much. Just put one foot in front of the other. Sometimes, a period of survival mode is necessary, but if we aren’t careful we can get stuck there, no longer saying yes to what God has for us, because we just want to survive and be comfortable…

Three words to focus on…

As you listen to this podcast episode, you will hear my sister Hannah share her story, how she was stuck in survival mode after experiencing multiple hardships one right after the other, I would like you to keep three words in mind…

Surrender

Sacrifice

Trust

He simply said, "Follow Me."

What am I Missing?

I didn't understand. Was God playing tricks on me? This didn't make sense.

He kept promising me a treasure, that He would lead me to beautiful things. I was putting in the work and I wasn't seeing results. Why was He doing this to me? 

Why wasn't He telling me how to do it?

Why didn't He make sure I was prepared?

Why didn't He provide me any sort of instructions or directions to follow?

I didn't know if I was able to do this.

He simply said, "Follow Me."

What Do You Have?

I HAVE NO TIME…

I’ve said this many times in my life, especially while having young children. When God was asking me for my time, I just didn’t think I had any to give Him.

My attitude problem was a belief problem

The truth was that I did have time. I had five minutes here and there. It wasn’t much and it certainly wasn’t a a small window of time that I was wanting to give to anyone else. But God was asking for it, so I said goodbye to my attitude and belief problem and gave it to Him.

if god is asking something of you that requires your time, money, resources, etc and you just don’t feel like you have much to give, give it to him and watch him create something beautiful out of it!

This is for the Woman Who Has Stopped Saying Yes

I was blindsided by god

There are parts of this life that are just bad. Full of disappointment. Full of failure. Full of loss and grief. They just suck. And I am not going to act like I know why these things happen or how they are part of the plan, but I do know that I trust God.

You have grace to stop at the rest stop

It is ok to stop and take a rest. When life gets hard, sometimes that is what we need, but then we have to make a choice. Are we going to stay here? Are we going to continue living our life on the sidelines of what God actually has for us? Are we ok with missing out on the life we are meant to have?

Are you ready to fully trust god again?

My Secret Weapon to Gain Clarity

The Best Way to Find Clarity and Direction

Last week, we talked about the different seasons in life. You can read more about that here.

For the past few years, I have been in what I like to call the “fog” season of life. I kind of knew what God wanted me to do, but I wasn’t sure what that was going to look like or even how to get there. So here is what I did to gain clarity…

I started acting & moving forward on what i thought god was asking me to do.

It was messy, I encountered many hurdles and even thought about quitting several times, but then I realized what was helping me gain clarity.

Hindsight is more powerful than forward looking.

As I was acting and moving forward without clarity, I was able to take a pause, look back on what I had been doing and evaluate. Sometimes, we see ourselves more clearly when we look back.

I could look back, see mistakes I had made and how I needed to change things as I moved forward…and the beautiful thing about doing this with God is that he doesn’t need us to feel shame over our mistakes or be afraid of what’s ahead. We just have to commit to keep moving forward and chasing what God is asking of us.

The whole point of the adventure is to become free and healed. God wants to unveil who we are. His creation.

What Season are You in Right Now?

The 4 Seasons of Life

I believe there are four seasons of life that we go through at different times. And no, I’m not talking about the four seasons of the year lol.

Clueless

When you feel lost, without purpose and aren’t sure where your life is going.

Darkness

You are experiencing heavy hardships and having a hard time understanding why life is going this way.

The Fog

You know your immediate next steps that God wants you to take, but you can’t see where this is taking you.

Clarity

You have a clear understanding of what God is asking you to do and what you are working towards in your life.

How would you describe your current season of life and your relationship with God?

What Idea is it Time to Act On?

Christian Things vs Normal Things

I used to have this feeling of separation. God would ask me to do these Christian things and then there were the “normal” life things that I would do throughout the day.

I have come to learn that these are one in the same. God will ask us to do normal life things like text someone to reach out, send a thoughtful card, invite someone to lunch, etc.

Our God is a creator

No matter what we hear God asking us to do, we can know this…

God is asking us to create

When I say create, I don’t mean create a painting or a drawing. It doesn’t have to be artistic. I mean create a beautiful home, a beautiful relationship, a beautiful community.

We are called to respond to the voice asking us to create

Feeling Confused in Life

How do you find focus in your life?

Confusion can rob us of things and even have us thinking that we don’t have a purpose. God created you for a reason. You are here because you have purpose. We just have to sort through the confusion, connect with God and gain clarity.

What can I do to gain clarity

Fast

Deny your flesh and seek God

Get Quiet

Go somewhere. Get Quiet. Hear what God has for you.

Reach Out

Reach out to your community and ask for prayer and help.

Three Elements to Focus On

One of the greatest enemies in our lives is confusion.

It is really easy to just say “Stay focused.” That’s all it takes right? Not quite.

Focus takes effort, especially when we have a million things running through our minds.

Life likes to throw us curveballs that can get us off course or make us lose sight of what we are working towards.

How do we stay focused through all of the noise life brings us?

In this podcast episode, we discuss the three areas of our life that we can direct our focus. These areas remind us what we are working towards in this adventure God has called us on.

She Heard the Call

“I didn’t just get called here for nothing.”

This is a story about a woman who felt a very strong calling in her life. There wasn’t many people around her who really understood why she felt so strongly about accomplishing this “goal.” Many people around her actually felt like this idea she was sharing was idiotic and dangerous.

Despite the critics, the call continued to grow. She did everything she could to prepare and then began the journey.

“As she left the path, she began to become overwhelmed with loneliness, fear, isolation and doubt.”

Listen to the podcast for the full story of her calling and the outcome. It was all for a picture.

it is the difficulty of the journey that gives it value.

Getting Focused

We are here for such a time as this!

We have officially made it into 2023 and I really feel like now is the time for us to get focused on our purpose.

I know that right now, the world can feel heavy and discouraging, but it is so important as Christians that we don’t fall into leading a hopeless life. So we need to get focused on what our role is in this current world. Why did God create me for this exact time?

Let’s Get focused on our own purpose.

I truly believe that the one thing we can do to help this world is to say yes to the adventure God has created us for. He knew we would be here during this time. He put us here, during this time for a reason. We are meant to be here.

We need to say yes to what god is asking us to do. no more no less.

How Do You Feel About Your Year?

What are you building?

Who are you becoming?

Who do you say your God is?

I’m not big on New Year’s Resolutions, but I always get excited when a New Year is coming up. It is such a great opportunity to reflect on where we invest our time and energy and truly learn learn what we are building, who we are becoming and how God is involved in that.

who did you become in 2022?

When you look back on the past year, specifically January of 2022, can you say that you are happy with your growth and what you accomplished in the past year? Did you lean in and trust God through the hardships?

You are created to do.

Faith without works is dead. I encourage you to take a moment to decide exactly what you want to build in 2023. Who do you want to be when December of next year comes around? Are you ready to say to what God has for you this year, no matter how hard or scary it is?