Living With Less Podcast

This week Chelsey shares how God began peeling back the layers on a sin issue that has been a long time growing in her heart. He landed her in Psalm 115 and showed her what it looks like for people to want God's glory displayed through all who know Him and trust in however He makes it happen. Psalm 115:1, 9-181: Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!9-18: O Israel,trust in the Lord! He is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord! He is their help and their shield. You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord! He is their help and their shield. The Lord has remembered us; he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron; he will bless those who fear the Lord, both the small and the great. May the Lord give you increase, you and your children! May you be blessed by the Lord, who made heaven and earth! The heavens are the Lord's heavens, but the earth he has given to the childre

This week Chelsey shares her heart on the power of Godly community and prayer intersecting. For some people, it takes really hard, scary things to make them reach out vulnerably for prayer, while for others asking for prayer comes so naturally. This week Chelsey shares a few stories and places in scripture that have shown her on a deeper level why we need community and why we need those people praying for us.

This week is a short, deep, raw episode. Chelsey's sharing a prayer she wrote to The Lord while in this season of navigating life with a seemingly constant weary heart. Weary of missing people, weary of wanting God to end this, and weary of missing our normals. Her prayer is this short episode will meet your heart in a tender way and most importantly point you to Him.  Prayer:How long O’Lord? I know these words are very familiar to you. They’ve been muttered, whispered, and screamed at you. Our hearts are aching for normalcy and connection. Our hearts yearn for the day this is over and past us.Lord, I am not alone and I know that. You make it so evident you are with me. In this time where we are physically distant from others, I pray we all feel a deep sense of your presence.God, my heart in some ways has turned to stone. Lord - remove it. I pray Ezekiel 36:26-27 over me and anyone listening. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from you

This week I was honored to sit down with Alicia Bruxvoort for a refreshing, honest, and God led conversation about motherhood. As a mom of 5 herself she has walked out many of the seasons you and I are currently walking through. Her heart for moms to know The Lord and make time for Him in their middle minutes completely shines through during this entire conversation. I cannot wait for you to hear it!**Giveaway Details at the end of the show notes!** 1) Tell us about the wonderful you! (Where you live, church, writer/speaker, family, etc.)I’m a writer and speaker and abundant life seeker. I’m a sunset chaser, a carpooler, and a storyteller. I am a member of Proverbs 31 Ministries’ writing team, so I have the privilege of reaching over a million readers around the globe each month with hope from God’s word. Best of all, I’m a mom and a wife. five kids ranging in ages from 11-21 with our sixth child coming home through adoption sometime in the year ahead. I’ve been married for 26 years to the cute boy who sat be

This week Chelsey shares a snippet of her life with the unexpected passing of a family member during a very unexpected time in history. God has shown her that while we don't know all things, we can't control all things, we can rest in the assurance of who does AND...the He faithfully prepares our hearts.  The Psalm 138:8 Story:I felt God place this on my heart the morning of the day my uncle would pass. I felt I was to share it with the young man installing our new garage door. Turned out his grandmother had just passed away the evening before in North Canton.As I ended the day, I got a call from my dad sharing the news that my uncle had passed away. He was around the same age as the younger mans grandmother AND he lived in North Canton. I then remembered the verse and that I had written the date...I quickly realized while God used that for the young man in the morning, He was using that to prepare my heart for what was ahead. Psalm 138:8 will forever be my Uncle Ralphie verse.While We Don't Know All - We Kno

This week Chelsey dives deeper into a very well known portion of scripture and shares how the message behind it is not to encourage us to work in our strength but it's an invitation to share in God's holiness. The race The Lord has set before us is His, not ours and hustle culture tries to sidestep that truth. You are not your own hero, Jesus is.  Hebrews 12: 1 - Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.10 - They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.14 - Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.15 - See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.God's discipline vs Hustle Culture:God's discipline is out of his

1) Tell us about you! (Family, work, ministry, church, etc)I come from a large family in Oklahoma, married to husband Danny and live in OC - love our life group, community, church RHMV, and walks to the beach where our story started. part time for AKB as the Trauma Trainer and Director of Organizational Healthpart time in private practice in Newport Beach serving children and families through counseling2) Can you share about the mission of AKB?Activate Government, Business and Faith leaders to end the crisis for kids in foster care.3) When did you feel called to start serving in this space and how did that feel when you first began?I had a heart for children for forever & the fatherless since about 10 years oldFamily’s foster/adopt journey + family mission trips seeing hurting people led me to study social workMasters program - clearly interested in working in foster/adopt worldFelt difficult, beautiful, energizing, sad, overwhelming, and yet “right” for me4) Something that I found really incredible about

1) Tell us about you!My family and I relocated from Chicago to Charlotte, NC three years ago when I joined P31 and Lysa T’s team as Director of Theology and Research. My wife and I have been married over 10 years and we have three little boys under the age of 8 (Liam, Levi, and Lucas) and we are expecting our 4th, a baby girl any day now! In addition to serving at P31 I also serve my local church, Transformation Church on the preaching team with my Pastor Derwin L. Gray. 2) I sat under one of your teachings at She Speaks 2019 and from that, I have so enjoyed following you on social media. I love the way you teach people how to not only read God’s word but you teach the importance of finding what it truly means in the contexts of the time it was written. So, that's where I want to start first with our conversation today. For those just getting their toes wet in the Bible, can you share a good place is to start when reading scripture? I think for anyone that just gets into the Bible they approach it like any bo

This week's episode is one my heart needed and I pray it meets you in a tender way too. Let's Talk Friendship is exactly what Alysha Miller came on the show to do, talk all things friendship! 1) Why we need it. 2) How it's a call from The Lord. 3) How to stick it out when things get hard.I don't know about you but recently my heart has felt weary so I pray you to find yourself listening to this episode feeling like you're one of our friends sitting at the table with us.1) Tell us about you!Alysha Miller lives in Southern California where she serves her local church in the 5-6th grade ministry and also is a full-time wedding photographer.Being around a lot of couples stepping into marriage, in 2015, she felt the Lord move her heart to compassion for marriage as a whole and for those who were stepping into marriage without fully realizing what they were stepping into. She wanted to use the gift of photography the Lord had given her to shine a light on what marriage is, who defines it and answer questions from a

This week Chelsey dives deeper into Psalm 73:28, "But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord my refuge, that I may tell of all your works." The Lord revealed to Chelsey that these 3 commands are choices we have to make. We have to choose to be near to The Lord. We have to choose to make Him our refuge, and we are called to tell the world of His works.The Lord made it clear to her that while He desires to be near her (He slways it), He desires to be her refuge, and He desires her to share of the amazing things He does...that it's her choice to be obedient in all 3 of these things. What does Psalm 73:26 Call us to Do?Be near to God! This doesn't change because of  circumstances, this should be a constant in all of our lives.Make The Lord our refuge - we need to stop turning to earthly things to fill this void and create a false safety net. We are to tell of all His works. The Lord calls us to share the amazing things He does in our life (in His timing, not always right away) but to give examples

In this week's episode we're diving into why we must hold fast to God's truths and diving into truths that we must hold fast too. 2 Chron 20:17 - You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”Psalm 23:4 - Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.Isaiah 41: 13-14 - For I, the Lord your God,  hold your right hand;it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.” Fear not, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel! I am the one who helps you, declares the Lord;  your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.Isaiah 41:17-18 - and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in

Heavenly Father, It’s hard to put words together in times like these and because of that I’m so thankful you know our hearts. (Ps. 139:2) Lord, I pray that you quiet the anxious thoughts that take our eyes off of you, I pray that the heaviness that seems to be looming in our hearts all over the world and our country would turn to hopefulness in knowing these events did not blindside you. You know all, permit all, and have all authority. You make beauty from ashes. Jesus, I pray that you would cover the families who’ve been tragically affected by the pandemic of the Coronavirus, the flu strands that have hit hard this season, and tornados that devastated Nashville. May these people feel your all-consuming love wrap around them from head to toe and may they experience the love of Christ in a mighty way. We ask a covering of protection for all of those who are at high risk of this virus. I’m sure their hearts are filled with worry and uncertainty and I pray they sense your peace that surpasses all understanding

1) Tell us about you! ( Family, church, where you live, ministry, job etc.)My name is Emily Lauren Cardel, but I go by Elle! I am 26-years-old and live with my husband, Michael,  and our sweet lab-mix, Tucker, in a historic fixer-upper home in Shelbyville TN- which is about an hour outside of Nashville if you’re familiar. I graduated from Lipscomb University in May 2015 with a degree in theology. I spent several years in children’s ministry during college and actually graduated with a job as a children’s minister for a church in Birmingham, AL, where I worked for almost two years before my husband proposed and brought me back to sweet Tennessee. Now, I own my own business and am a certified wedding planner. I do this part time while I focus on pursuing the call to women’s ministry God has laid on my heart through my online women’s ministry, Daughter of Delight.  2) Daughter of Delight is your ministry that is used to speak to the everyday woman, when did you feel God birth this in you and how did you begin wa

This week begins off the Month Of Missions Series! You'll be hearing from 4 wonderful organizations with missions that are fully committed to being the hands and feet of Jesus. Suzanne Mayernick is kicking off the series sharing the heart and mission behind Love One International. She also gives us a deeper dive into her own story of how God birthed Love One in her heart years before it began.  Love One's Mission:In 2007, Mike and Suzanne Mayernick flew to Uganda to bring their little girl, JosieLove, home from Uganda. When they arrived, the 15-pound shell of a 3 1/2-year-old who they came to adopt was raging with a 105 degree fever and at a routine medical exam, they found out that that she had malaria, tuberculosis, and was HIV positive.After just a few months at home receiving the love, attention, and the medical care she needed, this once dying little girl blossomed into a healthy, thriving child. Watching JosieLove's transformation sparked a fire inside of Suzanne and she knew that she was called to help

This week Chelsey shares about The Lord taking her on a journey to revealing the unwillingness that was buried in her heart. He showed her through her word that an unwilling heart leads to ungodliness and unfruitfulness. May this episode lead your heart to a place of seeing the attributes God calls us to and why we need the removal of those that are not from Him!  Attributes of An Unwilling Heart:UnfruitfulnessUngodlinessSinful, fleshly desiresNot seeking the truthHis Commands To Us:Willing hearts (1 Corinthians 2:14)Make disciples (Matthew 28:19)Send the gospel to the ends of the earth (Matthew 28:19) This week's scriptures:Romans 1:18-23 - 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the

This week's episode is diving deeper into 3 questions that are changing my faith and they all have to do with discernment. This theme is one that God is continuing to weave into all of my days. Reminding me that it's all about knowing Him better and making Him known.  3 Verses in  the ESV: Romans 12:2 - Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfectHebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.Hebrews 5:14 - But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. 3 Questions That Are Changing My Faith:Is my life pleasing to The Lord?Do I discern the intentions of my thoughts and heart?Do I know good from evil? Wise from unwi

This week Chelsey sits down with Phylicia Masonheimer to talk about the importance of discernment. Phylicia shares her wisdom on what discernment is, how to know if we're growing in it spiritually, and most importantly why God desires it for us. You'll leave this episode challenged, equipped, and pointed to truths that will change your walk with The Lord. What is discernment?Wisdom in actionThe Holy Spirit will give them the discernment they need as they expose themselves to The Word.1 Corinthians 1:19Hebrews 5:14Hebrews 4:12Romans 12:2 Why we need to study God's word to grow in discernment:We cannot live the Christian life apart from Christ. You can only know Christ through His word and His spirit.You'll know if you're hearing from His spirit if you're in His word.We learn that just because things may resonate with us in the world it doesn't mean it's biblically true.If we say we're Christians we're saying we align with the teaching's of Jesus Christ and to be in alignment with them we have to know them. How

This week's diving deeper episode is all about community. The call to it, the joy of, and at times the heartbreak it brings. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 gives us a very clear picture of why The Lord calls us to Godly relationship and what happens when we don't have it.  Car Key Story:God gives us the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus for others. This is how we as a church need to lead by example for others. Fear & Rejection:These two words are what keep us away from going deeper with our relationships.These two words lie to our hearts and allow the enemy the take a mile. "Come To Me":Jesus calls us to come to Him for rest - rest comes with having a community to love on you.It's an invitation to be able to walk alongside people who we can help and they can help us. It's a gift from Christ.  Community:There is heartache and heartbreak within community but the beauty and blessings that come from it far outweigh the hard. If you're in a church that continues to make getting into community difficult it may

Live The Truth is an episode showing why we need to outwardly live the truth to those around us. Chelsey's heart was stewarded to a place in God's word because of a friend continuing to speak it. She wasn't speaking it directly to Chelsey but since God's word doesn't return in void (Isaiah 55:11) it was doing a new thing in her heart. The Lord used this powerful example to show why it is so important to live out His truth in our lives so we can steward others to Him. What Happens When We Live The TruthOur hearts grow deeper in Christ.Peoples hearts begin to change around us.We steward people to The Lord and His word.It changes everything.  Scripture References Matthew 13:24-30 The Parable of the Weeds - 24 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also.27 And the

This week we're diving deeper into the power of praying God's word and the call to be obedient even when He's fighting the battle for us. If you missed last weeks episode (55) with Wendy Blight it is one you'll want to be sure to tune into. 2 Chron. 20:12,15,1712- For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you."15- Thus says the LORD to you, 'Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's.17- You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.'Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you.The Lord calls us to be obedient even when He's fighting the battle for us. Matthew 15:1313- He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up.The Lord wants to eradicate everything in our lives that is not meant to