Live Your Purpose Podcast

An honest conversation about about how chasing happiness will lead to a life of unhappiness, learning to be content with who you are and where you are in life, and giving yourself permission to be imperfect.   IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL FIND OUT ABOUT How chasing happiness can lead to a life of unhappiness How thinking about social media success and other first-world problems leads to a life of discontentment Learning to empower yourself to no longer listen to the “broken record” playing in your mind and take steps towards who you want to become How the “comparison” game actually starts from a very young age in every aspect of life

This is the second part in my series on the book Pavarotti and Pancakes, written by my friend Frank Granieri. This episode goes beyond the book as I asked him questions on how he overcame the dysfunction and turmoil outlined in our first conversation, and in his memoir.   IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL FIND OUT ABOUT - How therapy and hypnotism were key aspects in overcoming his past - How visualization manifested events becoming a reality - How goal setting helped pave a road to success   SHOW NOTES This episode goes beyond the book Pavarotti and Pancakes as Frank Granieri tells us how he overcame the dysfunction and turmoil outlined in our first conversation, and in his memoir.    To purchase Pavarotti and Pancakes, click here.   To learn more about Frank, click here.

An open conversation regarding mental health, sexual abuse, addiction and dysfunction as told in the memoir Pavarotti and Pancakes by Frank Granieri.   To purchase Pavarotti and Pancakes, click here.   To learn more about Frank, click here.

I’m a highly-emotional person who has always made emotionally-driven goals at the beginning of each year. And yet a lot of my goals didn't bring the validation or satisfaction I hoped they would. Then I learned to ask myself "at what cost?" I’ve recently discovered how to begin incorporating my logical brain when making goals, dealing with conflict, and even increasing my self-confidence. By moving the needle towards the logical side of my mind, I truly feel like life is beginning as I’m learning to be content with who I am, and who I’m created to be. I no longer feel the need to set goals to “fix” myself, or find validation as a person because I accomplished a goal. I love being driven by things that encourage me to become more of who I’m created to be. And in this episode, I help you do the same by asking “at what cost.” If your goals are commonly to lose weight and exercise more, this episode is definitely for you.  

2018 was an unexpectedly transformative year. In this episode I break down my spiritual journey from trying to read the entire Bible to tearing down walls, turning over tables, and rebuilding my faith on a new foundation.   If you're a previous listener, this podcast is different in both content and editing. This is intentional. I'm excited to experience the unlimited potential and reach of the Live Your Purpose podcast in the future. Thank you for joining me on this journey.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL FIND - How the Lord unexpectedly revived seeds that felt dead for a long time- My Boston Marathon recap - My story of running by faith - How the Lord carried me to the Boston Marathon finish line - How you don’t have to be “good enough” for God to use you in an opportunity SHOW NOTES God gave me this opportunity and God’s going to carry me through.   No matter what you’re facing that feels like you’re not good enough, you feel defeated by the surrounding elements through your journey, your unable to lift your head, your body is failing, God has set that journey before you and is walking with you through it, ready to carry you when your strength is no longer enough. That may be parenting, that may be your career or relationships. It may be a situation where you’ve heard these stories of what an amazing experience it is but when you get there you have the opposite feeling.  We all go through situations that, whether or not you think the Lord gave you the opportunity, you can still rely on His strength to carry you through. He is faithful, He delivers in his strength. And don't be afraid of rain in your life. Rain brings life. It revives, rejuvenates and awakens something that you think has died.  

The weaker you are, the more you depend on God. And the more you depend on God, the more you’re like Him. This episode teaches and encourages discernment when using social media. From filling time, to avoiding work, to mindlessly scrolling at any available opportunity, this episode helps you to take back the time spent on social media and use it for God’s glory.   IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL FIND OUT ABOUT - Gaining God’s wisdom- Retraining your brain to think holy thoughts based on the truth- How to take back your time from what’s worthless - Focusing on what’s eternally significant Proverbs 3:5-7: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil” (NLT, second edition).   James 1:5, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (NIV).   2 Corinthians 12:8-10, “Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (NLT, second edition).   Psalm 62:5-7: “I depend on God alone; I put my hope in him. He alone protects and saves me; he is my defender, and I shall never be defeated. My salvation and honor depend on God; he is my strong protector; he is my shelter.”   Proverbs 20:30, “Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways” (TEV).   “Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭90:12‬ ‭NLT‬‬ http://bible.com/116/psa.90.12.nlt   “Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:20-22‬ ‭NLT‬‬ http://bible.com/116/mat.6.20-22.nlt Ephesians 5:15-17 So, then, be careful how you live. Do not be unwise but wise, making the best use of your time because the times are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

I try not to podcast about problems without giving solutions. But this podcast on mental health has no solution. And yet I found myself recording the most raw episode yet in order to start the conversation without shame, judgement or in hopes of finding a solution, or at least providing hope. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL FIND - My journey in suicidal thoughts- Encouragement to live your purpose despite the lies playing in your head - God created you for a purpose and that you can actually take back control from mental illness - How to help me break down the stigma of mental health SHOW NOTES While Jesus breaks the chains of captivity, when it comes to something that's wrong in our health, sometimes we need to also seek other alternatives.   Depression isn't the inability to recognize your blessings, but the inability to find joy in those blessings due to your thoughts telling you that those blessings would be better off without you. The feelings feel SO REAL. And before long those thoughts take over your ability to live life.   God wouldn't have created you if He didn't have a purpose for you. He intentionally had to create you. He wasn't controlled by two people who made a decision and created a baby on their own. God designed you with a purpose in mind. Suicide robs you and the world of that purpose.   If you struggle with your mental health in ANY aspect, I would love to hear your story and encourage you to seek a treatment option that works FOR YOU. Then join me in fighting back and living our purpose despite our struggles!   Let's freaking talk about this! Let's save our moms, our dads, our kids by wholly listening and supporting without judgement or questioning! You might save someone's life!   Mental health is nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about. It's something you can't control!    Suicide affects every season of life. But you have a purpose for your life! God wouldn't have created you if He didn't have a purpose for you. He intentionally had to create you. He wasn't controlled by two people who made a decision and created a baby on their own. God designed you with a purpose in mind. Suicide robs you and the world of that purpose.   Stop believing the lies that the world would be better without you.  

Social media has a way of taking over our schedules. From filling time, to avoiding work, to mindlessly scrolling at any available opportunity. This episode encourages you to take back the time spent on social media and use it for God’s glory.   IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL FIND OUT ABOUT - How to stop the “social media comparison” game - Retraining your brain to think holy thoughts based on the truth - How to take back your time from what’s worthless - Focusing on what’s eternally significant   SHOW NOTES Psalm 119:35-37 “Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.”   Philippians 3:13 But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ‭ Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.   John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.   ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭23:19‬ “My child, listen and be wise: Keep your heart on the right course.”   Philippians‬ ‭1:6‬ God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again.” ‭‭‬‬ Psalms‬ ‭39:4‬  “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is.”   ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:17 “Everything you do or say should be done to obey Jesus your Lord. And in all you do, give thanks to God the Father through Jesus.”   Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

God wants to make 2018 your best year yet. But it can’t happen if we don’t turn our eyes and our focus on Him. This episode if you’re determined to make 2018 better than previous years for the works of Jesus.   IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL FIND OUT ABOUT How to stay focused on Jesus in a world that demands our attentionWhy God allows trials in our lives.   Determining what is “worthless” in our lives. How to see things differently.   SHOW NOTES Psalm 119:35-37: “Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.” Philippians 3:13: But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ‭Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

This episode if you’re struggling through a trial of any kind. Did you know the Bible calls us to find joy in the trials? But it’s incredibly hard when trials are devastating or feel like a battle you’ll never win. In this episode, I open my heart and vulnerably share a trial I’ve struggled with for years. For anyone looking for encouragement, truth, and how to see the joy in trials, this is a great episode.   IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL FIND OUT ABOUT How I learned to find joy in a trial while running a major world marathon. Why God allows trials in our lives. The purpose of trials. How to see the joy in a trial. Three steps I’m promising to do in my future trials. Why we need to persevere through trials.   SHOW NOTES ‭James 1:2-4,  “consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face Trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Romans‬ ‭5:3-6: “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death James 1:14: And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. Daniel 3:18: Even if he does not...

And when you can do works that are greater than you can imagine, you are unstoppable for Jesus. Hey friends! Welcome to the show! I’m so honored you’re taking a few minutes to spend time with me today. I know your time is precious and very limited, but I hope that through this podcast, you will be reminded of how precious YOU are as a child of Christ and that by taking a few minutes to step away from your busy lives and invest in yourself spiritually and emotionally, you’ll be encouraged and strengthened to go throughout your day with less overwhelm with day-to-day obligations, and more intention to live the purpose the Lord created for your life. In the first episode, i gave some context as to who i am and how this podcast came about. So if you’re curious about either of those things, then i highly recommend you going back and listening to that episode. It’s only about 11 minutes so it doesn’t take up much of your time. But for the rest of the episodes I just want to jump straight in to sharing the Lord’s words that he’s speaking into my heart. So i want to start this off with sharing one of my absolute favorite verses in the Bible. It’s my favorite for many reasons because it’s so applicable in so many areas. And you’ll see why the Lord wants me to remind you of it today. Hebrews 12:1 says, 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, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Throw off and run, fixing our eyes on Jesus. There is such a strong purpose for your life that only you can fulfill, but if you’re bogged down by things that are hindering you and entangling you, then you can’t even take a step towards accomplishing your life’s purpose. As tough as your day might be, as overwhelming as life can get, as stretched-too-thin as you feel and as exhausted as you are, there is a strong purpose for your life that we cannot afford to lose sight of. God has a strong calling on your life, and if you’re continually stressed and overwhelmed, then something is out of alignment with God’s calling on your life, and we need to do something about it. This became so apparent to me last year during our church’s christmas eve service while we were singing christmas carols. They were songs i’ve sung possibly a thousand times, but this time singing them felt different as my I held my son. As I was singing the words “long lay the world in sin and error pining, til He appeared and the soul felt it’s worth. The thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices.” And i broke down in tears. I had been living in a weary world, exhausted by everything. And then i realized that my son, that our kids…and me and you … have as much purpose for my life as jesus did, like the song says. That the world rejoiced because HE was born because His purpose was something they so desperately needed. Now let me clarify this. I’m not comparing myself or my son to Jesus. We’re not saving the world by any means. But what I’m saying is that God made Jesus for a purpose, and He made us for a purpose. And it’s my job as as a mom, above all else, to help my son discover the purpose for his life and to encourage him to live it in the name of Jesus. And it’s my job to be an example of what it means to live your purpose each day, even when it’s tough, even when you don’t want to, even when you have 1 million other things on your to-do list. The laundry, the cooking, the cleaning, those all come second to first living your purpose each day. The enemy is very real in our daily lives and it’s our job to protect our kiddos from it, but also protect ourselves from it. Being overwhelmed, sometimes it’s a struggle to be a godly example for our children and often times it’s because the enemy can attack our minds and our hearts through our to-do list. He makes the greatest impact by making us too busy to focus on living out the purpose for our lives so that we fall victim to overwhelm, to depression, to being stretched-too-thin, to being stressed, and not living the purpose for our lives. We can’t be an example of the goodness and faithfulness of Jesus when we’re in oppression ourselves. The ultimate goal of the enemy is to push us over the edge into the valley of overwhelm so we can’t live out the purpose for our lives.   So here are four things the bible calls us to do when we’re overwhelmed: 1. Recognize what’s hindering you We can’t throw them off until we realize what’s holding us back. Take a few minutes over the course of the next week or so and write down everything you feel is hindering you from living your purpose. Is it your to-do list? Are you overcommitted? Is it your health–physical, mental or emotional health that isn’t aligned with God’s best for your life? Is it your finances? Is it your attitude? Is it lack of motivation or direction? What is holding you back from living your purpose in life? Or let me put it this way, what is distracting you from doing the works of Jesus? What is unnecessarily taking up time and effort in your life that you can replace with the works of Jesus. Because for the one who gives us everything, I know I personally don’t give him enough in return because I’m so caught up in something that is of this world and will pass aways. I need to recognize how I much time i spend on worldly matters that will pass away rather than the time i spend on investing in the treasure in heaven.   2. Throw them off, or how I like to say it in my own life, lay them at the feet of Jesus and walk away. For me, my attitude hinders me from living my purpose. I either feel like I’m not good enough to do what I know I should be doing, or I start doing it and get distracted by something else. Distraction, by the way, is a ploy of the enemy to pull you further from God. I also just get very discouraged and want to give up when i come across a trial. Because it feels like when we’re doing something for the Lord it should be easy. We forget that that’s when we’re opening up ourselves to even more attacks of the enemy because he doesn’t want us accomplishing our purpose, he wants to stop us. So he will try everything he can to stop us. That’s why it’s so important to recognize what will hinder us from living our our purpose, then lay them at the feet of Jesus, because when our hindrances are in the presence of Jesus they are in his power, and I no longer have to worry about my own strength carrying me through because the hindrances are no longer over me. They’re at the feet of Jesus. Now I know what i’d be thinking if i was listening to this right now, and it’s… Kristen, how am i supposed to “throw off” the hinderance of doing chores around the home. Things HAVE to be done. Laundry HAS to be done, dishes HAVE to be done. How am I supposed to throw those off? God has not called you to do the laundry or the dishes, or wash the windows or mirrors, swiffer the floors or vacuum the crackers off the carpet yet again. Yes, He understands that at least in my house, i’m the leader of the home in maintaining the cleanliness of the home, but that is not what he calls me to do with my life, with my time and with my efforts each day. They are a small part of my day, but they are not the most important parts of my day. He calls me to use my time, my efforts and my life for the things that are eternal. The things that will not pass away. And while maintaining the organization or cleanliness of my home is part of taking care of the blessings He’s provided my family, if it’s separating me from what I need to do to honor God by taking a step towards the purpose that He’s created for me, then I’m disobeying. And disobedience is a sin. When he’s calling you to do something in His sweet, quiet voice, it’s very easy to not hear what he’s saying in a world of busy chaos that always seems to need your attention. Friends, the enemy is using the familiarity of everyday tasks to pull you away from obeying the Lord without you realizing that he’s doing it. Because every day you wake up and start checking off items on your to- do list without taking some time with the Lord to first see what HE wants you to do with your day, is a day that’s open to the enemy. Or, a day that you know you need to do something the Lord wants you to do like, check in with a friend, volunteer your time serving your church or an organization, inviting friends over for dinner so you can speak life into them, but you put off what he’s calling you to do to work on things that are not eternal, then that’s disobedience. If the enemy can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy. And how is he most effective in making you busy? By adding insignificant items on your to-do list. And telling you that you can do what God wants you to do AFTER you do these things first. I’m honestly calling myself out right now because when I felt the call of the lord almost a year ago to start this podcast I KNEW that’s what he wanted me to do. But instead I found 100000 other things that seemed more pressing at the time and needed my immediate attention and I kept putting this podcast on the backburner. When in reality I look back at those days between when I first heard the Lord telling me to start a podcast and when my podcast actually launched and i have no idea how I spent all that time. Scrolling on facebook, probably. And for so long I was disobedient to the best things that God has planned for this season of my life because I was settling for good things. And i did a lot of good things. But they were just good, they weren’t the best. They weren’t necessarily bad, they just weren’t necessary. AND…they took up too much of my time. Scrolling on facebook is fine, but not if it’s holding me back from doing the works of the Lord. Washing the windows of your house is good, but don’t use it as an excuse for what God wants you to do.   3. Run. Run with perseverance. There will be bumps in the road, you will come to a halting stop, you will have seasons where you feel like you’re running as fast as you can yet you’re not going anywhere, but run with perseverance with the intention of every step to take one step closer to living your purpose each day. Paul tells us in 1 corinthians “So I run with purpose in every step.” And maybe you’re thinking, “Kristen, I don’t know what the purpose of my life is. I don’t know what I want to do with my life.” Or like some people say, “I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up.” I’m excited to cover this process in a few episodes, but for right now I just encourage you to think of this this way… imagine yourself at the end of your life looking back on where you’re at right now. What do you hope to have accomplished between now and then? What does that look like for you? What does it feel like? What goal sets your heart on fire to run with perseverance? But most importantly, does it align with scripture? Is it something that you will be able to feel God’s blessings to help make it happen? Then do it. Run towards it. Persevere.   4. Finally, focus on Jesus. When we keep our eyes focused, laser focused on Jesus we can accomplish what we first thought was impossible. Because we’re always keeping our eyes on the one who provides, and keeping our eyes on what is true, excellent and praiseworthy, we know that our plans are being established in the name of Jesus, but without Him, our plans may fail.   In Matthew 14 when Jesus is walking on water, he calls Peter to walk on the water towards him, and he did, peter did walk on water. But he only walked on water while he was laser focused on Jesus. The moment he shifted his eyes to look at his surroundings he began to sink. But when he was laser focused on the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, he was doing the impossible.  I don’t want to live a life that when Jesus is performing a miracle I begin to sink because I’m too distracted by the storm of everything else around me! We are called to walk by faith and not by sight, because while we can’t see the finish line of the path we’re walking down, you must hold on to faith, and keeping your eyes on Jesus keeps you holding on to your faith. And you can the works God has always known you can do but you never realized you could. And when you can do works that are greater than you can imagine, you are unstoppable for Jesus. The impact your life can make in your family and in the world when you’re not bogged down by the hindrances of the every day…Satan won’t be able to hold you down. Because you’re eyes are on Jesus and you are RUNNING with perseverance. You will be limitless. Throw off. Run. Focus on Jesus.

The unrealistic expectations the world pressures us with are the lies of the enemy to discourage us from living our purpose. They hinder us from focusing on Jesus so that we can life each day delivering the powerful impact of Jesus’ love. Instead we trudge through the dark valley of overwhelm, overcommitment and loss of peace and purpose... Merely living in survival mode as we go down our never ending to-do list It’s scary enough to feel overwhelmed or depressed, but very scary to feel those things while feeling alone. Friends, you are not alone. I created this podcast to help overwhelmed moms become stronger spiritually, mentally, emotionally in the name of Jesus so that we can live the purposeful life He designed for us. That together, we can learn to throw off the “overwhelm” and live an intentional and purposeful life God laid out for us. There’s a whole world of people like us, overwhelmed women who feel like we’re just barely making it, and feel like we’re failing most of the time. We’re trying to balance everything and feel like we’re stretched too thin all the time. Whether you stay at home full time, or work full time, handling life as a mom is overwhelming. Maybe that’s you. Maybe you say to yourself, “I’m tired of being tired. I’m exhausted, and feel like I’m never enough even though I give my all. I’m stretched too thin, I’m overwhelmed, and I’ve lost who I used to be. I’m not myself anymore. And I feel like I’m not good enough for anything that I”m doing.” THAT is why I’m creating this podcast. The unrealistic expectations the world pressures us with are the lies of the enemy to discourage us from living our purpose. They hinder us from focusing on Jesus so that we can life each day delivering the powerful impact of Jesus’ love. Instead we trudge through the dark valley of overwhelm, overcommitment and loss of peace and purpose... Merely living in survival mode as we go down our never ending to-do list So through this podcast I want to help you rediscover your peace in your everyday life, and your purpose for your eternal life. So you and I are going on this journey together where we don’t quite know where we’re going, but we’re going to discover it together, following and trusting Jesus as he lays the steps stones in the right direction. So for today I’ll leave you with this: trust God even when you cannot see. Trust that he is carrying you through, that he’s walking with you, that he’s directing your steps and that, with your obedience, you can rediscover peace and purpose in life. And I’m here to help you. Subscribe to this podcast so each episode downloads directly to your phone, and share this podcast with other overwhelmed moms. It may be the only positive word of love and truth that they may hear all day. Let’s build a community of moms who are rising above overwhelm and focusing on impacting our families and the world by sharing the love of Jesus by living our purpose. Until next week, just know you’re loved, you’re not alone, and only you can live your purpose.