Help for When You Feel Overwhelmed by Requests, the Power of Timeouts, Freedom From Clutter, Maternity Photo Shoot, and More!
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Happy last day of September!
As you know (unless you're new to my online community—in which case, welcome!), at the close of every month, I share a few of my favorite listens, reads, and resources.
As we move into October, I hope these resources encourage and inspire you as you pursue a life of purpose, joy, and intimacy with God!
As always, you are in my thoughts and prayers, and I’d love to hear from you! You can contact me here or through the comment section below!
In purpose and faith,
Finding Joy in Everyday Life...
Before we get to the resources, here are a few things that brought me joy this month!
My dear friend Nicole blessed Paul and me by spending a couple of hours on a perfect fall day taking maternity photos for us. They turned out SO beautifully and it was so hard to pick just a few to share!
In addition to snapping lots of baby belly pictures, I’ve been savoring Fairbanks’s short but sweet autumn days, complete with lots of fall walks (including cat walks!), fall treats like apple pie, and quality time with my sweetheart.
I love the sound of honking geese in the fall! They’ve all moved on now, but I really enjoyed the bird-watching trips I made to our local bird refuge earlier this month.
What brought you joy this past month? I'd love to hear about it!
Resources to Inspire, Encourage, and Equip
I've been reading...
When Making Others Happy Is Making You Miserable: How to Break the Pattern of People Pleasing and Confidently Live Your Life by Karen Ehman
“When faced with a choice between doing what God requires or giving in to someone else’s wishes, we as followers of Jesus should choose to serve God.
Now, of course, if what someone else desires is in line with God’s will, that’s altogether different. However, when we feel that twinge of tension—that alluring and enticing pull—we must choose to place pleasing God above placating people.”—Karen Ehman
This is the second time I’m reading this book, and I love it just as much as I did the first time around.
As a recovering people pleaser, sometimes I just need someone like Karen Ehman to remind me that not only it is okay to say no to people pleasing, it is essential if I want to accomplish all that God has called me to do.
While I knew this was true before I found her book, Karen’s warm, funny, biblical encouragement on this topic helps me shed the guilt that I sometimes feel when setting boundaries around my interactions with others. She also provides many practical tips on how to actually go about setting boundaries in kind, healthy ways, which I find very helpful.
If you find yourself saying yes when you really want to say no…If you feel like other people’s agendas are controlling your life…If you feel overwhelmed by requests and responsibilities, I think you will find this book immensely helpful! You can learn more here.
I’ve also been reading…
“Graceful Timeout” by Kristin Demery
“When my husband arrived home at 5 p.m. I set a timer and went upstairs for 10 minutes to sit in silence. It was blissful.” —Kristin Demery
Feeling frazzled, but also feeling like you can’t take a break? In this devotion, Kristin Demery shares about the power of a quiet timeout (even if it’s just a quick one!). You can read it here.
I’ve also been reading…
“How to Become Grateful For Less & Steward Well” by Erin Greneaux
“The more I released my grip and let things slip through my fingers, the more I realized that things come and go. There is no need to hoard or protect.” —Erin Greneaux
Paul and I are in full-blown nesting mode over here—we’re organizing, completing household maintenance projects, and clearing out things we no longer need—so this blog post about letting go of excess stuff really resonated with me.
You might not be nesting like the Alansons, but if you could use some encouragement and a thoughtful perspective on keeping your home clutter free and peaceful, you can read the full post here.
I've been listening...
“Standing in Miracles” by Emma Rose/Bethel Music
You Might Enjoy…
Interested in When Making Others Happy Is Making You Miserable by Karen Ehman but not ready to get to the book? You can get a feel for what she has to share on this topic by watching the first lesson of her Bible study, which is based on the book, here.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission, with no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services I believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
