Podcast appearances and mentions of Jill E Mccormick

Last week we talked about four factors that can lead us into deeper friendships. One of those was asking good questions, but could all our questions be keeping us from sharing our own hearts? Special guest host Jill E. McCormick joins us again to talk us through dropping certain habits that keeps us from going deeper in friendship. Jill is the host of the Grace in Real Life podcast and the writer behind jillemccormick.com, spaces where she shares common-sense grace with the try-hard girl who wants her faith to intersect with her real and full life. Jill lives in South Texas with her high-school-sweetheart-now-husband Ryan, their two daughters, and one Vizsla puppy. CONNECT WITH JILL Instagram | Website | Enneagram Guide   CONNECT WITH GIRLS TALKING LIFE Instagram | Facebook | Website

Welcome to week five of the Summer of Friendship series! Special guest host Jill E. McCormick is back sharing a bit of her story and what to do when you feel too fragile for friendship. If you're in a difficult season or just having a hard day, you may feel the tension of needing to let friends in and, at the same time, not wanting to share a thing. I hope Jill's words encourage you today. Jill is the host of the Grace in Real Life podcast and the writer behind jillemccormick.com, spaces where she shares common-sense grace with the try-hard girl who wants her faith to intersect with her real and full life. Jill lives in South Texas with her high-school-sweetheart-now-husband Ryan, their two daughters, and one Vizsla puppy. CONNECT WITH JILL Instagram | Website | Enneagram Guide   CONNECT WITH GIRLS TALKING LIFE Instagram | Facebook | Website

Guest host, Jill E. McCormick, joins us to talk about the Enneagram and how your type impacts your friendship style. Learn how God specifically wired you and how he designed the personalities of friends in your life. She'll break down each of the nine Enneagram types and give you habits to help you grow in your friendships. Jill is the host of the Grace in Real Life podcast and the writer behind jillemccormick.com, spaces where she shares common-sense grace with the try-hard girl who wants her faith to intersect with her real and full life. Jill lives in South Texas with her high-school-sweetheart-now-husband Ryan, their two daughters, and one Vizsla puppy. If you aren't familiar with the Enneagram or don't know your type yet, don't worry. Listen to see if you hear Jill describe some of your personality traits and be sure to grab her Quick Start Guide to the Enneagram. CONNECT WITH JILL Instagram | Website   CONNECT WITH GIRLS TALKING LIFE Instagram | Facebook | Website

During June, July and August, I'll be releasing mini episodes all about friendship. My hope is that these bite-sized shows will be just what you need for the laidback rhythm of summer and will encourage you to prioritize connection, make new friends or deepen existing friendships. This series is based on what I've been learning from God's word, the research I've been studying, and my own experiences.  If you are looking for my traditional, interview-style show, there are over 100 past episodes for you to dive into, and I'll be back with all new conversations this fall. I have some truly amazing women lined up and I'm excited to bring you their stories! MEET MY GUEST HOST I've also invited my sweet friend Jill E. McCormick to join us. Jill was a guest on episode #102 sharing her story of entering into the invitation of God's grace and how we can move from being try-hard girls to being grace-girls. If you haven't heard that one, definitely go back and listen!  Jill is the host of the Grace in Real Life podcast and the writer behind jillemccormick.com, spaces where she shares common-sense grace with the try-hard girl who wants her faith to intersect with her real and full life. Jill lives in South Texas with her high-school-sweetheart-now-husband Ryan, their two daughters, and one Vizsla puppy. SUMMER FRIENDSHIP CHALLENGE To go along with this series, I'm hosting a Summer Friendship Challenge. If you're ready to dig in with intentionality this summer, I'd love for you to jump in. Each week of the challenge, you'll get an email, where we will give you a small, practical action step to help you be intentional in this area of your life. If you're already subscribed to the GTL newsletter, you'll get these weekly challenge emails. If you're not a subscriber yet, join us here! I can't wait to spend the summer with you growing in our friendships! CONNECT WITH GIRLS TALKING LIFE Instagram | Facebook | Website

It is no accident that our Spiritual Health series started with paying attention and ends with sharing what rumbles in our souls. Only when we wake up to what's bothering us on the inside can we pour it out to the Lord as David did in the psalms.  We must know ourselves – our fears, hopes, dreams, worries, nervous ticks, default coping mechanisms – so we can articulate them to God, not because He doesn't already know them but so we know ourselves in the light of His presence. Because developing the skill of pouring out what you're thinking and feeling is a practice that has laid dormant for many of us, I invited Jennifer Dukes Lee to the show.   Today, Jennifer walks us through: How journaling brings our stuff into the light, What holds us back from sharing our hearts with the Lord, And the two ways we can handle pain.   Quotes about how to pour out your heart through journaling “Journaling is really a voyage of self-discovery.” - Jennifer Dukes Lee “Journaling really helps you clear out distressing throughs so that you can move forward with renewed peace.” - Jennifer Dukes Lee “Journaling is an opportunity to meet God on the pages.” - Jennifer Dukes Lee “What would you say to God if you were completely honest?” - Jennifer Dukes Lee “The psalms are unfiltered cries of people with broken hearts.” - Jennifer Dukes Lee “Sometimes we don't want to share our hopes and dreams because to speak it out loud or put it on paper feels like you're setting yourself up for disappointment.” - Jennifer Dukes Lee “Your honesty is safe with God.” - Jennifer Dukes Lee “The most courageous thing you can do is be honest with yourself.” - Jennifer Dukes Lee   If you'd like to learn more about being honest with God about your dreams, listen in or read on: #45: Refresh your thought-life about your dreams, calling, and next steps with Sarah Birkbeck #88: What to do when you fear naming what you want [Fear Series] #135: Grace vs. Fear: When you worry you're selfish 4 necessary skills to wait well on your dream How we tragically misunderstand Jesus' command to deny ourselves   Grace In Real Life Podcast's 3rd Birthday Giveaway Win books, books, books, + $270 in fun Amazon money + awesome prizes! Want books by Christ-centered authors? Need $270 from Amazon to purchase gifts? Relish gifts like a journal set, Purposed Box, virtual workshop, and two coaching sessions? One winner will be randomly selected. The giveaway is open from February 14 through February 28. Donors to the gift card are: Jill E. McCormick, Jill E. McCormick, Jennifer Dukes Lee, Jennifer Barnett, Heather Bjur, Twyla Franz, Jen Babakhan, Michelle Nietert, Jodi Grubbs, Girls Talking Life, Inspired Motherhood, Do A New Thing, and Purposed Box. To enter, go here.  As Mentioned in the Podcast The FCC requires that I tell you that I'm an Amazon Affiliate, which means I earn a bit of commission on each sale. But don't worry; there's no added cost to you! #57: Delete + Reset: Slowing down, releasing expectations, and creating an unhurried heart with Jennifer Dukes Lee Stuff I'd Only Tell God by Jennifer Dukes Lee at 40% off at Baker Book House It's All Under Control by Jennifer Dukes Lee Praying the Scriptures for Your Children by Jodie Berndt Spiritual Health series episodes #144: Spiritual Health: Paying attention with Anjuli Paschall #145: Spiritual Health: Spending time with Jesus with Arabah Joy and Jen Evangelista #146: Spiritual Health: Embracing a lifestyle of rest with Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith #147: One ridiculously easy way to spread the gospel with Twyla Franz #148: Easy ways to study the Word of God every woman can use w/Portia Collins #149: How to find community: 3 easy places to find it with Rachael Wade #150: Questions to ask God, yourself, and others w/Lore Ferguson Wilbert #151: Cultivating a life of prayer with Asheritah Ciuciu About Jennifer Dukes Lee Jennifer Dukes Lee is a bestselling author, thinker, and question-asker from Iowa.  Her friends say they are scared to sit alone in a room with her because they end up telling her things they never intended to say. She is both proud of this fact and also a little annoyed at how nosy she can be.  She put a bunch of her favorite questions into a journal called Stuff I'd Only Tell God. It's like your own little confession booth. She's also the author of Growing Slow and It's All Under Control.  Her wisdom doesn't stop there. Jennifer is sharing resources EXCLUSIVELY with my email subscribers. Sign up here for the good + the grace. Here's how to connect with Jennifer Website Instagram Facebook Here's how to connect with Jill Website  GraceInRealLifePodcast.com  Instagram  Subscribe to Jill's weekly “the good + the grace” email   

Learn how to cultivate a deep prayer life and pray effectively, including incorporating prayer in your daily rhythms in Grace In Real Life Ep 151 w/Asheritah Ciuciu. I've been talking to God since I was little. My prayer life started with those basic prayers of mimicking what my parents spoke and saying grace before meals. I'm pretty sure I went radio silent in high school and college. I told myself God was too busy when I was not even considering talking to Him. Becoming a mother grounded my prayer life, making it a lifeline and the only way I could come up for air. When I held a newborn and entertained an 18-month-old, my prayers were one word: Help. Now, I write out my prayers because of all the shiny squirrels in my head. My mind goes rogue if my hands don't remind it why we're here. Prayer seems like the simplest of practices: talking to God and hearing His voice back. And yet… it's a lot more difficult, isn't it? Because growing your faith through prayer is a skill that takes practice and creativity, and sometimes grit, I invited Asheritah Ciuciu to the show.   Today, Asheritah walks us through how to cultivate a life of prayer, including how to  Pray outside the box, Use the REST method of prayer And overcome these two common prayer challenges.   How to cultivate a deep and effective prayer life “God, would you meet me here in this moment? Would you show me what it looks like to grow in my communication with you?” - Asheritah Ciuciu “When your prayers come from a sincere, honest heart, they please God.”  - Asheritah Ciuciu “Let us not become complacent or somehow believe this is our destiny to be sub-par Christians who don't know how to talk with God.”  - Asheritah Ciuciu If you'd like to learn more about developing a life of prayer, go here: A prayer for the Achiever #98: Spiritual Health: Praying to connect with the heart of Christ with Kimberly Coyle A Prayer for the Worrier Sign up here for A Holy Hush A Holy Hush: Reflections for Lent is a multi-part series sent only to those who sign-up and will offer simple reflections on the final days, death, and resurrection of Christ. When you sign up, you'll receive a short audio reflection in your inbox beginning Ash Wednesday and then every other Wednesday, as well as Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday. By signing up, you'll also be added to Jill's weekly email newsletter, the good + the grace. Sign up here for A Holy Hush. Grace In Real Life Podcast's 3rd Birthday Giveaway Win books, books, books, + $270 in fun Amazon money + awesome prizes! Want books by Christ-centered authors? Need $270 from Amazon? Relish gifts like a journal set, Purposed Box, virtual workshop, and two coaching sessions? Just head to the link in my bio to enter! One winner will be randomly selected. The giveaway is open from February 14 through February 28. Donors to the gift card are: Jill E. McCormick, Jill E. McCormick, Jennifer Dukes Lee, Jennifer Barnett, Heather Bjur, Twyla Franz, Jen Babakhan, Michelle Nietert, Jodi Grubbs, Girls Talking Life, Inspired Motherhood, Do A New Thing, and Purposed Box. To enter, go here.  Key quotes about prayer “When we look at what Scripture says about what prayer is, it's almost as common as breathing.” - Asheritah Ciuciu “Instead of believing the lie that we are not disciplined enough to be in prayer, we turn them [distractions] into prayer prompts.” - Asheritah Ciuciu “What if God is bringing thoughts we find distracting because He has a list of things He wants to talk with us about?” - Asheritah Ciuciu “All of who we are is safe with God.” - Asheritah Ciuciu “If you could hear Jesus praying in the room next door, what would He be praying? How would that embolden you to join Him?” - Asheritah Ciuciu “We have this problem of individualizing and privatizing our faith.” - Asheritah Ciuciu “You are not meant to walk through your wilderness or your storm alone. That's just not how God designed it.” - Asheritah Ciuciu “When you're in the wilderness, when you're in the storm, surround yourself with community who can pray for you, who can hold you, and you can borrow their faith.” - Asheritah Ciuciu   As Mentioned in the Podcast The FCC requires that I tell you that I'm an Amazon Affiliate, which means I earn a bit of commission on each sale. But don't worry; there's no added cost to you! A Holy Hush: Reflections for Lent Grace In Real Life Podcast's 3rd Birthday Giveaway   About Asheritah Ciuciu Asheritah is a bestselling author, national speaker, and missional entrepreneur. She's also a wife and mom, daughter, sister, and friend. And a recovering perfectionist. Growing up in church, she thought spending time with Jesus meant an hour alone each day to study and pray—and this formulaic approach got harder to maintain the fuller her life became. But she's learned that Jesus welcomes us to come to Him with our messy bun, sticky hands, crumby floors, and all.  Her greatest mission is to help busy women like us find joy in Jesus—right where we are.   Here's how to connect with Asheritah Podcast Book Weekly email Instagram Here's how to connect with Jill Website  GraceInRealLifePodcast.com  Instagram  Subscribe to Jill's weekly “the good + the grace” email   

Curiosity is a skill we can use to better understand each other. But can we use that same skill to grow our faith? Can we develop curiosity about ourselves: Why do we tense up the way we do around that person? Why do we always say “yes” before checking our calendar? What does it look like to be curious about God, ourselves, and the world? Because developing curiosity is a skill that takes time and effort to cultivate, I invited Lore Ferguson Wilbert to the show.   Today, Lore walks us through: How to cultivate curiosity, The power of sitting with “I don't know”, And one question to ask a fellow Christ-follower today.   What is curiosity? “Curiosity is a way to cultivate love for the world, for the Lord, and even for myself.” - Lore Ferguson Wilbert “When we begin to look at those hard questions and really wrestle with them, that's the thing that strengthens our faith.”  - Lore Ferguson Wilbert “Wrestling with the question leads to a rootedness.” Jill E. McCormick If you'd like to learn more about finding community in your real life, go here: Drop this habit for better friendships #106: Holding space for the mystery of God with Rev. Summer Joy Gross  Sign up here for A Holy Hush A Holy Hush: Reflections for Lent is a multi-part series sent only to those who sign-up and will offer simple reflections on the final days, death, and resurrection of Christ. When you sign up, you'll receive a short audio reflection in your inbox beginning Ash Wednesday and then every other Wednesday, as well as Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday. By signing up, you'll also be added to Jill's weekly email newsletter, the good + the grace. Sign up here for A Holy Hush. Grace In Real Life Podcast's 3rd Birthday Giveaway Win books, books, books, + $270 in fun Amazon money + awesome prizes! Want books by Christ-centered authors? Need $270 from Amazon to purchase gifts? Relish gifts like a journal set, Purposed Box, virtual workshop, and two coaching sessions? Just head to the link in my bio to enter! One winner will be randomly selected. The giveaway is open from February 14 through February 28. Donors to the gift card are: Jill E. McCormick, Jill E. McCormick, Jennifer Dukes Lee, Jennifer Barnett, Heather Bjur, Twyla Franz, Jen Babakhan, Michelle Nietert, Jodi Grubbs, Girls Talking Life, Inspired Motherhood, Do A New Thing, and Purposed Box. To enter, go here.    Key quotes about curiosity and faith “The power of sitting in a space of ‘I don't know.'” - Lore Ferguson Wilbert “When I say I don't know something, that means there's something for me to learn.” - Lore Ferguson Wilbert “There's more to my story, and I know the One who is writing my story.” -Jill E. McCormick “Oftentimes, what God wants is our limp.” - Lore Ferguson Wilbert “We come to know Jesus in our failure. We come to know Jesus in our joy. We come to know Jesus through paths of destruction. We come to know Jesus through sweet paths.” - Lore Ferguson Wilbert “Orienting our lives around Jesus is the work of our lives.” - Lore Ferguson Wilbert “Faith is messy.” - Lore Ferguson Wilbert “Asking all those scary big questions leads us to the locus of His love 100% of the time.” - Lore Ferguson Wilbert “How is your soul?” - Lore Ferguson Wilbert   As Mentioned in the Podcast The FCC requires that I tell you that I'm an Amazon Affiliate, which means I earn a bit of commission on each sale. But don't worry; there's no added cost to you! A Holy Hush: Reflections for Lent Grace In Real Life Podcast's 3rd Birthday Giveaway A Curious Faith by Lore Ferguson Wilbert   About Lore Ferguson Wilbert Lore Ferguson Wilbert is a writer, thinker, learner, and author of the books A Curious Faith and Handle With Care. She lives in New York with her husband Nate, a puppy named Harper Nelle, and too many books to read in one lifetime.    Here's how to connect with Lore Instagram Twitter Facebook   Here's how to connect with Jill Website  GraceInRealLifePodcast.com  Instagram  Subscribe to Jill's weekly “the good + the grace” email   

Are you living the try-hard life? Do you find yourself working for your worth? Is it hard for you to accept the grace God offers? I'm joined today by Jill E. McCormick, a try-hard girl – i.e., a woman who wants to wholeheartedly pursue Christ, live and love well, and extend grace to herself and others, but isn't always sure how to do that in real life – who helps other try-hard girls (like me!) move toward being grace girls by understanding and applying grace in their real lives. You'll hear us talk about… Jill's story and her introduction to the concept of grace What grace is and how we can practically apply it everyday Why grace may be hard for us to receive The impact grace can have on our relationships Jill McCormick is the host of the Grace In Real Life podcast and the writer behind jillemccormick.com, spaces where she shares common-sense grace with the try-hard girl who wants her faith to intersect with her real and full life. Jill lives in South Texas with her high-school-sweetheart-now-husband Ryan, their two daughters, and one Vizsla puppy.   MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Grace In Real Life podcast Grace for the Good Girl by Emily P. Freeman   JILL'S FAVORITE 5 The Pause App Volunteering with her Daughter at their local Dog Shelter What Made My Heart Happy Today List KJV Strong's App The Prodigal Prophet by Timothy Keller   CONNECT WITH JILL Instagram | Facebook | Website   ENNEAGRAM GUIDE Jill and talked about the Enneagram a few time in today's episode. If you don't know what the Enneagram is or want to understand it better, Jill has a quick start guide for you! You'll learn what the Enneagram is, what it isn't, and what's important to know about your type.  Grab your Quick Start Guide to the Enneagram!   GIFT GUIDE The Girls Talking Life Favorite 5 Gift Guide for 2022 is coming soon! This guide is a collection of my guests' favorites shared on the show that will make terrific gifts for your favorite people this season. If you get the GTL newsletter, this gift guide will arrive in your inbox soon! If you are not a subscriber, sign up here: Become a GTL Newsletter Subscriber

Whether your husband travels a lot, works late or unpredictable hours, or is deployed, this episode was designed just for you. We're breaking down what's it like for the dad who's away a lot and practical systems for the mom keeping things afloat. To help us navigate this topic, my husband Ryan McCormick joins the show. In this interview, Ryan and I talk about: the hardest part of traveling for both of us,  how we frame Ryan's work for the girls, what hasn't worked for us,  and practical systems we have in place to help us navigate a dad who's away. You'll learn:  what habits help when dad comes home and how to stay on the same page even when you're geographically separated from your spouse. Key Quotes “Being supportive is the biggest thing.” - Traveling dad Ryan McCormick “Realign your expectations with reality.” - Jill E. McCormick “It's okay to have a bad day.” - Jill E. McCormick “It's going to be okay.” - Jill E. McCormick Mentioned in the Podcast The FCC requires that I tell you that I'm an Amazon Affiliate, which means I earn a bit of commission on each sale. But don't worry there's no added cost to you! To Bless the Space Between Us by John O'Donohue Brittany Spencer, graphic designer Your Quick-Start Guide to the Enneagram ebook About Ryan McCormick Ryan is my husband of 22 years, best friend, the cutest guy I know, and the greatest dad to our two girls. The nature of his job pulls him away for travel or for unpredictable and odd hours. He knows what he's talking about when we talk about dad being gone.  Here's how to connect with Jill Website  GraceInRealLifePodcast.com  Instagram  Facebook group  Facebook page Subscribe to Jill's weekly “the good + the grace” email 

Grace is a word used often in church circles, but what does this word really mean in the midst of everyday life? Jill E. McCormick—host of the Grace In Real Life podcast—joins Sarah in episode 41 of Not My Story to explore these questions together. Jill talks about her own journey being a “try-hard girl” and wrestling with what grace really looks like day in and day out, especially when life did not go as planned. They talk about the tendency toward striving, how to extend compassion to yourself and to others, and a few practical ways to live a grace-filled life.For full episode notes and ways to connect with both Sarah and Jill, visit NotMyStoryPod.com.To sign up for Sarah's monthly(ish) newsletter The Shelf, CLICK HERE.

In our second episode of the Delete + Reset series, we talk about race, racism, and your role in racial reconciliation as Dr. Lucretia Berry, founder of Brownicity, joins the show.  How exactly is “race” defined? What is racism? Who has white privilege? Dr. Berry defines these terms and helps us delete mindsets that are unhealthy and holding back our country (and our relationships!) like the “bootstrap mentality” and staying quiet so we don’t offend people. She also shares three practical ways to talk to your kids about race in a non-awkward way. I love how Dr. Berry talked about how we don’t live in a vacuum so what we do impacts our collective and how silence aligns with complicity because lies don’t mind being loud, obnoxious, and wrong.  If you want to know how to talk about race with your kids and friends, how to replace antiquated mindsets with God’s truth, and how to make our country a better place to live, and you’re ready for a conversation about race that’s handled with grace and kindness, listen in. Key Quotes  “Race is not biological. It’s policies and practices put in place to hold people in particular categories in relation to power.” - Dr. Lucretia Berry “Race isn’t a topic we learn about; we just live the consequences of it.” - Dr. Lucretia Berry “It does take miracles to intersect and disrupt the system.” - Dr. Lucretia Berry “We all collectively impact each other. We don’t live in a vacuum.” - Dr. Lucretia Berry “If you have the opportunity to contribute and cultivate and create a neighborhood that resonates love for everyone, wouldn’t you want to do that?” - Dr. Lucretia Berry “Our silence aligns with our complicity.” - Dr. Lucretia Berry “Lies don’t mind being loud.” - Dr. Lucretia Berry “We do have to be conduits of love and truth.” - Dr. Lucretia Berry “Silence allows the lies to be loud and obnoxious and wrong… and attractive.” - Dr. Lucretia Berry “Shed the lies. Lean into the truth.” - Dr. Lucretia Berry “When we talk about race, the Holy Spirit is always in the room.” - Jill E. McCormick   Mentioned in the Podcast The FCC requires that I tell you that I'm an Amazon Affiliate, which means I earn a bit of commission on each sale. But don't worry there's no added cost to you! Be a part of the Podcast Facebook group for a chance to win a spot in Dr. Berry’s course  What LIES Between Us course Brownicity  Hidden Figures movie  “But slavery was so long ago” timeline   Brownicity’s course for kids Books for kids  Jill’s book recommendations to learn about race and racial healing  Jill’s Inner Critic Challenge    About Dr. Lucretia Berry Dr. Lucretia Carter Berry is the founder of  Brownicity: Many Hues, One Humanity, an agency dedicated to advocacy, education, and support for racial healing and antiracism that hosts thousands of learners committed to an antiracism learning journey.  She is a wife to Nathan and a mother of three girls.  A former college professor, she is learning to courageously create the world for which she is designed. Lucretia created a ‘beginners’ course and authored the accompanying study guide called, What LIES Between Us: Fostering First Steps Toward Racial Healing. Lucretia earned her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction and MA in English from Iowa State University, and her BA from South Carolina State University. Lucretia and her family get to be a part of the amazing community that is Mosaic Church, Charlotte. She finds joy in prayer, dark-chocolate covered almonds, and dancing! Here’s how to connect with Dr. Lucretia Berry Dr. Berry's Instagram    Brownicity Website  Brownicity Twitter  Brownicity Facebook    Brownicity Instagram   Here’s how to connect with Jill Website  GraceInRealLifePodcast.com  Instagram  Facebook group  Facebook page  Subscribe to Jill’s weekly “the good + the grace” email     

In this episode, we talk about the importance of grieving hurts, losses, and the hardship of 2020, so we can whole-heartedly embrace thankfulness. We break down: What hardships we’re grieving  Why we feel the pressure to be thankful Our default methods for handling grief Jesus’ way of practicing grief and thankfulness And what to do if you truly cannot feel thankful this season. So if you’re wondering how to navigate a Thanksgiving that will -- most likely -- look and feel different than any other year, you’re in the right place.  We feel heavy because we are processing and grieving: The cancer diagnosis Sending the first-born off to college Our inability to attend a funeral  The loss of getting together with friends The lack of normalcy -- like wearing masks, delayed or shortened sports seasons for our kids,  And the reality that not everyone will be able to sit around a shared table at Thanksgiving this year. We also feel the pressure to be thankful. It is Thanksgiving week after all. This is the one time of year where the spotlight is on counting our blessings and listing what we’re grateful for over turkey, dressing, cornbread, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie.  Who spoils this special time of year by leading with grief and bringing up the hard times of this year? To navigate the tension between grief and gratitude, we employ quite a few coping mechanisms: We deny our grief by telling ourselves that whatever we’ve lost didn’t really matter, it wasn’t all that important, and that compared to other people, it really isn’t all that bad.  We escape by overeating, over-scheduling, planning a fantasy move to Hawaii, or binge-watching The Crown on Netflix. We wear the “Mask of Thankfulness” by making a list of all our blessings and beating our hearts over the head by reminding ourselves God works all things for good.  And finally, we tell ourselves emotions are for the weak, and we need to power through and be strong for one day. For crying out loud, there’s no room for pain here! So what do we do? Is it possible for gratitude and grief and hardship to intersect? Yes. And Jesus shows us the way in John 11 as Mary and Martha grieve the loss of their brother Lazarus.  Jesus sees Mary weeping. He is deeply moved. Some translations say that He got angry at death. Jesus asks a logistical question: “Where did you bury him?” And then Jesus cries. Notice what Jesus does not do:  He doesn’t recite how wonderful Lazarus was and how grateful they should all be to have known him.  He doesn’t wax poetic about all the good times and inside jokes.  Jesus doesn’t tell them to buck up and count their blessings. He simply sits with a grieving sister and weeps with her. Does this make Jesus ungrateful? Do the tears show mistrust in God? Does His anger at death belie unbelief that good could come from this hurt? Of course not. The truth of being a human is that we can hold two competing emotions at the same time: grief and gratitude, distress and thankfulness, contrition and contentment. Jesus shows us that we don’t need to bury our emotions or rush to thanksgiving.  We can: sit in our feelings,  feel them in our core,  ask Jesus to come and see our hurt, and then, from a place of trust and peace, give thanks. This is what grace does -- grace understands our humanity and comes alongside of us to work on our behalf. Grace says you can grieve. Grace says Jesus will stand with you through it. Grace says that you don’t have to respond the way the calendar tells you that you’re “supposed to.” Grace makes a way for multiple emotions at the same time without a need to justify any of them.  And friend, when you simply cannot muster up thankfulness, when you cannot hand over the grief to Jesus, when you feel stuck in your heartache... Live in the grace that tells you that clarity, peace, rest, hope, and assurance all come in Jesus’ time. You don’t have to rush yourself into converting every hard thing into a thankful phrase. Know there is grace even in the grief. Key Quotes Know there is grace even in the grief. Grace says you can grieve, and Jesus will stand with you through it. Grace makes a way for multiple emotions at the same time without a need to justify any of them.  Talking to Jesus is always a good choice and always makes you feel most like yourself. Mentioned in the Podcast The FCC requires that I tell you that I'm an Amazon Affiliate, which means I earn a bit of commission on each sale. But don't worry there's no added cost to you! The Crown on Netflix The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown Learning more about Jill E. McCormick speaking to your group   Previous Episode Mentioned Episode #29: How to acknowledge your feelings but not stay stuck in them   Here’s how to connect with Jill GraceInRealLifePodcast.com Instagram Facebook group Facebook page Subscribe to Jill’s weekly “the good + the grace” email

Do you ever struggle to identify, embrace, or use your gifts with confidence? You’re not alone, and this episode will help you reframe your thoughts about embracing your gifts. As Christian women leaders, it’s important for us to embrace our gifts--but how exactly do we do this? In the first of our Summer Throwback Series episodes, we’re sharing clips from several of our past guests around the topic of embracing your gifts.  You’ll hear encouraging and challenging words to help you remember some powerful truths about acknowledging, understanding, and using your gifts with confidence. After you listen, make sure to head back and listen to the full episodes with these guests, as these clips are just a small glimpse into the incredible conversations.   Featured Guests on this episode: Abby Rike Rockenbaugh, Episode 3 Breshana Miller, Episode 45 Lilah Higgins, Episode 5 Patrice Washington, Episode 51 Rachael Gilbert, Episode 14 Jill McCormick, Episode 7   Key Quotes from this throwback episode:   “Whenever I say, ‘Oh I’m not a leader, oh I’m not good enough to do that’, then I’m basically calling God a liar.” - Abby Rike Rockenbaugh   “If God has called you to this, and you know this is what you can do--this is how God has blessed you in order to serve other women--there are women who need it.” - Breshana Miller   “When you’re trying to build a business off of your skills, and you’re trying to walk in what God has for you, it’s something you don’t really notice, cause it’s super easy for you, and it doesn’t feel like work.” - Lilah Higgins   “Even as I was building confidence, there was still that seed of doubt that tried to come in.” - Patrice Washington   “The more time I hang out with God… I don’t have the words to express how He shifts something in my heart.” - Rachael Gilbert   “When we confuse confidence and competence with pride, that’s a problem. Because God has gifted you with competence, and He’s gifted you with gifts to use and acknowledge. And you don’t do the world any favors when you deny your gifting for the sake of not wanting to be boastful.” - Jill E. McCormick   Support the podcast Our Merch Store Click here to go to the store and find merch you'll love! If you grab one of the items and share a photo on social media, use the hashtag #leadwithconfidence and/or tag us so we can see it! Tag @estherdlittlefield or @christianwomanleadership on Instagram Tag @estherlittlefield on Facebook   Become a Podcast Partner & Receive Bonus Content We have a fun way for you to partner with the podcast and get access to exclusive content. Every month, we add at least 1 bonus clip from an interview or from Holly and I to a special podcast for our partners. You can become a podcast partner for as little as $5/month by clicking here.   Connect with Esther and Holly: Esther’s Website Holly’s Website Instagram Facebook Group Facebook Page   This episode was originally published on estherlittlefield.com/episode107.

Welcome try-hard girl to the Grace In Real Life podcast. My name is Jill E. McCormick.  This podcast is for you if you’re a woman who wants to wholeheartedly pursue Christ.  You want to live in such a way that when you meet Jesus, He says, “Hello My sweet girl. Well done, my good and faithful servant.”  You want to experience a life of freedom using the gifts and talents God gave you, but in a way that doesn’t wear you out.  You want to follow where He leads, To live and love well, To extend grace to yourself and others, but there’s a art of you that’s like how?  Because you’re a woman who easily gives grace to others, but has a hard time receiving it yourself.  You struggle with trying to do All The Things for All The People and it’s wearing you out.  You want your faith to intersect with your busy life, but aren’t sure how.  The Grace In Real Life Podcast is here to walk you through where you struggle, how to navigate all the hats you wear, and how to be who God created you to be.