Podcast appearances and mentions of kay wyma

Peace and Joy: Special Patreon Release with Kay Wyma   “So, as God's own chosen people, who are holy [set apart, sanctified for His purpose] and well-beloved [by God Himself], put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience [which has the power to endure whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes, with good temper];” ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:12‬ ‭AMP‬‬   *Transcription Below*   Questions We Discuss: Will you elaborate on this concept of a Soul30? What were your favorite stories from this adventure? How has this peace project changed the way you will live life from this point forward?   Kay Wyma is a mom, blogger, podcaster, and author of four books in which she has tackled, with candor and humor, some of the troubling societal issues that impact us all. Kay's writings have led her to appearances on TODAY, CNN, Hallmark's Home & Family, and more. Before staying at home with her kids, she held positions at the White House and Bank of America. She lives in Dallas, Texas, with her husband and five kids. Connect with Kay at kaywyma.com or on Instagram @kaywyma.   At The Savvy Sauce, we will only recommend resources we believe in! We also want you to be aware: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.   The Peace Project   Thank You to Our Sponsors: Chick-fil-A East Peoria and The Savvy Sauce Charities (and donate online here)   Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook or Instagram or Our Website   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV) Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”   Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”   Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”   Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”   John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”   Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   *Transcription*   Music: (0:00 – 0:09)   Laura Dugger: (0:09 - 2:47) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here.   I want to say a huge thank you to today's sponsors for this episode, Chick-fil-A East Peoria, and Savvy Sauce Charities.   If this is your first time here, welcome! You may be wondering what it means to have a special Patreon release, so here's the scoop. Patreon was a platform we used to generate financial support for The Savvy Sauce, and we expressed our thanks to those paying patrons by giving them a bonus episode every month.   But in 2024, we transitioned away from Patreon when we became a non-profit called the Savvy Sauce Charities. The podcast is part of this non-profit, which exists to resource loved ones to inspire growth and intimacy with God and others. So, people used to pay to support us through Patreon, but now they can just donate directly to our non-profit.   We spend thousands of dollars each year to record and produce these episodes, and we do pray that they're beneficial and that God sees fit to use them to be transformational in your life. If that is the case, if you have ever benefited from an episode of The Savvy Sauce, would you consider showing your gratitude through your financial generosity? Any amount is greatly appreciated.   In fact, if every listener gave only $1 per month, it would completely offset our costs. We have all the details on our website, thesavvysauce.com, but feel free to also reach out to our team anytime if you want to partner together. Our email address is info@thesavvysauce.com.   And now I'm pleased to share this episode with you that used to only be available to paying patrons. Kay Wyma is my returning guest today. She is vibrant, and her curiosity sometimes leads to experiments in her life. Her most recent experiment turned into a book, and now she's going to let us in on three areas of focus that added peace and joy to her life. This process is based on Scripture and validated in science. Here's our chat.   Welcome back to The Savvy Sauce, Kay.   Kay Wyma: (2:48 - 2:52) Thank you so much for having me. You're really sweet to put up with me again.   Laura Dugger: (2:53 - 3:07) Well, it was a delight last time, and I'm excited for today as well. And I'm so fascinated by your history of different careers and roles you've had. So, will you tell us a little bit more about all that you've experienced professionally?   Kay Wyma: (3:08 - 5:44) Oh my gosh, it's so funny, Laura, because people will read the bio as they could for any of us that are in our mid-50s, and I'm sitting there going, I'm exhausted listening to that. But the deal is that they didn't happen all at the same time, but I just had a really great opportunity to do some interesting stuff. And one of them, especially in my 20s, I got to work in the George Herbert Walker Bush, so 41 White House, and I was a lead advance for the vice president.   And so, I pretty much got to travel all over the country and a lot of very interesting places in the world during that period. And it was a blast. I got to set up the trips as they would go traveling to these places with the Secret Service and White House Communications. And it just was an amazing way, an opportunity to get to see the world. And then I went on to graduate school and got an MBA and ended up somehow in an international investment banking role, which is laughable because I cannot even help my children with fifth grade math. So, I don't know who that person was that did that.   But I used to be able to do things that way. I can't anymore. And then I had kids, which was such a blessing. I'd met my husband at graduate school when we got married after I'd finished my stint in the White House and had kids right off the bat. And during that time, I really did try to piggyback. That was back in the day when women were allowed to job share, and I just couldn't do it. The more kids that came, the harder it was. And so I stayed at home with my kids, started a couple of businesses here and there, and then found myself in the world of writing. And I didn't plan on it. I kind of say I was an accidental writer, but I don't think anything is really an accident. It's not something that I was educated to do. However, I loved it.   And I look back now and look at the great education that I had gotten and honestly how much I loved writing even as a child. I just didn't know that was something that you could do because back in that day there were, and I'm not that old, but there really were careers that were careers that you sort of went to that made sense from a sensible banking father. It's like, here are your choices for a degree plan. And so, I love how just even gravitating towards what you're gifting a purpose is, which we talked about before, it's just those things are in you, and it's fun to see how they will come out and how fun that it can even come out in a way where it's your vocation. And so here I sit as a writer, crazy.   Laura Dugger: (5:44 - 6:00) Which is so great to hear the journey because you would think the math and the different skills required for international banking and then to become a successful author, that's so interesting. And this is so random and I could be wrong. Were your parents ever on Focus on the Family?   Kay Wyma: (6:01 - 6:54) Well, they could have been. I have the greatest parents. I really do. They're so kind and they're just really terrific people. And so, they became friends, like they're friends with Dr. Dobson. And so, I don't know if they were. That's another really gift they gave us. You just do it in front of you and you don't really make a big deal about anything. And I love that. Everybody puts their pants on the same way, which is one thing I loved even about working at the White House because some of the stuff can look so glamorous and go. But the truth is, we're all just people. And the Lord has put in certain people's paths, things to do that could look really amazing and spectacular. But the amazing and spectacular is around you every single day, even if it might not have something. And for my kids would be like that have a million followers or that has gone viral. But they are there. I'm very blessed, Laura, with very nice parents.   Laura Dugger: (6:55 - 7:03) Well, you've mentioned before that you battled an eating disorder growing up. Do you feel comfortable sharing a little bit more about that journey?   Kay Wyma: (7:04 - 8:39) Absolutely. So, I definitely battled that. And again, I have a wonderful family that I grew up in, a home that I grew up in. But I also grew up in an environment where performance was a big deal, which it is today, too. So many kids are struggling with that. Oh, my gosh, so terribly. And whatever you're struggling with, because it could be for me, it was performance. And the way that I learned, the way that I coped with it was through eating and not eating. And a lot of just getting rid of the food that I had eaten.   And there just came a day when I was in college that thankfully the Lord, the Lord just showed me one night that this is not a good thing. So, I actually left that semester of college to get help. And it changed my life. I was telling one of the girls yesterday, my girls, how grateful I am for that because I had never really understood or even contemplated the concept of grace. I just didn't know that was something I'd heard it, but I didn't know what it was. And I didn't know a whole lot about my worth having been declared by God and my identity having been determined by him. And I will say at 55, I know a lot more about it than I did even then at 19 or 20, but it was going through that journey, asking for help, stopping what was hurting me and reaching for truth that put me on a road to actually learn a lot of just what it means when he says it is for freedom that I have set you free.   Laura Dugger: (8:40 - 9:00) And the reason that I bring up the eating disorder is from a previous podcast. I can't remember which one, but elsewhere I'd heard you say that you stay away from the whole 30 diet, but you were intrigued one day to instead try a soul 30. So, will you share that story with us too?   Kay Wyma: (9:01 - 14:47) I will. And I do, I have to tell you, I, since, since I was 20, I've steered clear of scales and I really do steer clear of diets for me because they don't do good things in my head. And so, one thing that I learned through all of that was that you, you can't change an environment. Often you can't change the environment that you're in, but you can change the way you operate within the environment. Biggest lesson that I learned through all of that, like, please hear that. It was so life altering as I stood going, I can't change this environment, but I can change how I interact with it.   Okay. And so, the whole 30, I do find intriguing, you know, because people, if you're going to do something physically, like to make your diet better, a lot of people do that. And so, for 30 days, they, they exit a ton out of their diet. I don't know everything about it because I am a big chicken. And I think they, if, if I was going to do it, the thing that would be the killer for me is not being able to have cream in your coffee. You know, it's like, that's a deal breaker for me right there.   But the soul 30 it all started one morning. Again, I think I told you on the last one that like, even the experiment with the putting the stuff, like helping the kids with independence started with my rotten attitude. Well, this started with the rotten attitude too. And we aren't always doing experiments in our house, but I just had this bad attitude one morning as I'd come home from carpool. I had women coming over to my house. I leave a Bible study that meets on Tuesdays. And I was just going to the refrigerator to get milk out to be able to serve coffee. And there were two jugs of milk in our fridge. I pull the first one out and it's empty. And I'm like, what? And the second one, I pull it out. It's empty too. Like maybe a drop in it. And quite frankly, I could have put it back going, well, there's a drop of milk in it, but I don't know why people do that. Like in our house, it could be the same with a cereal box. Like you pull the box out, there's nothing in it. And I'm like, just throw it away. Like, please.   And so I was frustrated. I get out into my car to go to the grocery store. And as I drive back out into the street, this big black pickup truck, literally like road routes its way into my face. And I was sort of like, really? And, and I didn't have a choice, but to back down because he was not going to let me go. And so as I started to back up, I looked up and I got to see this beautiful sun like peeking through this cloudy sky. And, and it was so beautiful. I was like, what am I doing? Like why am I in a crabby mood or frustrated by this? I'm in an air-conditioned car on my way to a grocery store where there are refrigerated items and there are people, somebody actually might say hello. Okay. Cause I go in there all the time and I was sort of like; everything is not bad.   And I started to breathe. And I didn't realize in that moment that I was, I was being thankful. Like I just, it just happened. And, and in that I really was breathing. And I like felt better inside of me. I back up and let the guy go legitimately, which again, I did not realize it in the moment, but it was an act of kindness. And I felt even better. And when he drove by, I looked in his window and I was sitting there going, I have, it was a human being first of all. And I recognize that. And just for a moment, I was like, I have no idea what's going on in his day. He could be raced into the hospital. He could be late for work. He could just, you know, be a jerky person and, and life as long as a jerky person. And, and I just was, I wasn't over spiritualizing or anything, but I prayed for him. I was like, please let whatever's going on in his day be okay. Because if he's that intense, something is not great.   And I drove to the grocery store, and I physically felt so good. It was like, like I had been given a joke Cola or something like I, Or some vitamin that was just a blast of energy. And it lasted. By the time ladies got over, I was like, you're gonna believe what happened this morning. It was so weird. And I told them about it the next week they came back and one of the ladies said, can you tell me again? What that story? And I was like, what story? And the lady next to her goes, Oh, I've been doing it. And I was like, doing what? And she goes, your thing. I was like, what is my thing? And she said, Oh, the thankfulness, kindness, and compassion. And as we talked about it again, I was sitting there going, is that something because it had deeply impacted this person that was trying it even for a week.   And I really sat there going, okay, we would do a whole 30 for a physical diet. Something in these practices is impacting the soul. And I was like, what if we tried a soul 30 and for 30 days, proactively practiced thankfulness, kindness, and mercy, because that's what compassion is a part of mercy. What would happen? And so it was sort of like, let's do it. And these very sweet friends were willing to try as were my kids. And so instead of like pulling something away, which is what a fast is that goes with a whole 30, we sort of switched it to this unbelievable soul feast that came with doing these things. It was unbelievable. The joy that came into everyone's life when they started doing this stuff. I mean, it was amazing. And so as I tracked it, I really did track it because I like to know why it was sort of like, why is this happening? What's going on? What is in these things that actually can impact your life at such a deep, deep level to where joy is invited in and peace.   Laura Dugger: (14:49 - 15:00) And so, like you said, you focus on thankfulness, kindness, and mercy in this most recent book, The Peace Project, but will you define and give examples of each of those?   Kay Wyma: (15:01 - 19:08) Yes. And I think that is such a great way to start because it's like, okay, what, what is it even on the soul 30? I was like, here's what you do. Okay. Here is what thankfulness says, because I went to look like, if I'm going to ask, please do these things, here's what they are. So, thankfulness is calling out things for which to be grateful. And for our family, for my kids, I was like, please let it not be the same thing every day. Although now a year and a half out, what difference does it make? It could be the same thing every day. But for them, I was like, don't let it be the same thing. And it can be more than one thing, because the thing with thankfulness, when you start it, it's like, it may take a little effort to go, what do I have to be thankful for? Especially in a situation that's unsettling, which is kind of like when that car drove up on me, that was an unsettling moment.   I was being forced down. And there's so much going on in that conversation that isn't spoken, which I think is important to call out in these things. So even as he's barreling up on me, it makes me feel unseen. It makes me feel like there's no, even though it's not spoken, that action brings with it. What thankfulness does is it instantly, it's like a wake up, like it's a focus shift. And so, and it tends to be looking up in some way, and it gets your eyes off of whatever the situation is. And it allows for truth to come in, which is where thankfulness goes, especially in the unsettling. Cause you can say, as I didn't mean to, but I did even in that moment, I am in an air-conditioned car. It is Texas in the summer, for goodness sake, that is a gift. And it's worth calling out. And there's always something for which to be grateful. So that's what thankfulness is.   Kindness is seeing and loving others. And let me tell you something, loving yourself too, because I've learned through this. We are harder on ourselves than we are on anybody else. So seeing and loving others and yourself in deed or action, this component is so significant because you're taking it. Thankfulness is in your thoughts. So you're walking through in your thoughts and you're doing these things. And kindness is where you're going that extra step. And you're actually putting action on it so that even in your mind, because I learned a lot about neural pathways and how our minds can be transformed by this, which is sort of where we started. If your physical health can be impacted by a diet, can my thought health be impacted by doing things that are good for it? And so kindness takes it from the thought to the action. And so even in that, you know, letting that car go, that is so small. And so kindness doesn't have to be moving a mountain. It can be tiny little things.   I've watched my neighbor one morning picking up newspapers and putting them on everybody's porch. And no one was seeing her do that. I accidentally did. And she even told me that day, you know, it's the small things because it is because when that person opens the door, the neighbor opens their door, they know that someone thought of them that day. Like it gives them, whether it's spoken or not, they get a sense of worth by going, I must matter. Somebody cared enough to put my newspaper on my front porch. Tiny, tiny things, as well as big things can be an act of kindness.   And then mercy, that's the showstopper. And it is a challenge and it is beautiful. And the definition of mercy is compassion or forgiveness shown towards someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm. And again, including ourselves. And so as I started to peel back the layers on mercy, there's more and there's more and there's more. And another one of my favorite definitions of it was from a Jesuit priest whose name is James Keenan. And he called mercy the willingness to enter into someone else's chaos, which I actually found to be the most powerful because willingness plays a central role in this whole process because it actually is centered on our significance having been settled by the Lord.   Laura Dugger: (19:09 - 19:17) What surprising discoveries did you make as you deliberately practiced each of these attitudes? And like you said, you partnered them with action steps.   Kay Wyma: (19:18 - 21:54) Yeah, so I think for everybody, we just did a book club just finished last week, even here. And one of the gals said that she has been struggling terribly with anxiety and worry that stemmed a lot. They moved to Florida before the pandemic. And so, she was living in a new place, basically holed up in her house for a year and a half. And those things of worry and anxiety and fear had crept in and had become, you know, on repeat in her mind. And so just because she had signed up for the book club, came with a friend and she didn't really buy any of it because it doesn't matter whether you buy it or not because these things are not for me. Like that's the number one thing. They aren't mine. These really are woven within the greatest commandment. You know, love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind is thankfulness. Your eyes are not on yourself. And love others as you love yourself. And he's not talking about a narcissistic love. He's like genuine caring for others and yourself. There's so much power in that, which includes kindness and mercy.   And so, she simply started doing the thankfulness. She was like, I don't know what the others are, but I know I can track being thankful. I can find a way to be thankful. And she came back after the first week and couldn't believe what it had done to her. Just in practicing thankfulness, which we know through science that there are benefits that occur in your brain just by doing that simple act. And it's clearly proven. You can just Google even the amount of thankfulness journals because it's so good for us. And if you write it down and look at it and see, you're using all these senses. And when you add the kindness and the mercy to it, it's so deeply impactful.   And so, I think the thing that probably surprised me the most is how consistent the piece is and how your neural pathways actually can change. You can actually have your superhighway and your thought process, because we have those ruts in our brain that are highly traveled paths that our thoughts go to. And they tend actually to be along the lines of anxiety or fear or worry, because that's been a part of your life since you were a little kid. And to be able to somehow transition those highest traveled pathways to something that involves kindness and mercy and thankfulness is so significant because your instant reaction is going to a place of peace instead of a place of anxiety. It's like where science meets scripture.   Laura Dugger: (21:54 - 27:25) It's so beautiful. And now a brief message from our sponsor.   Did you know you can go to college tuition-free just by being a team member at Chick-fil-A East Peoria? Yes, you heard that right. Free college education. All Chick-fil-A East Peoria team members in good standing are immediately eligible for a free college education through Point University. Point University is a fully accredited private Christian college located in West Point, Georgia. This online self-paced program includes 13 associates degrees, 17 bachelor's degrees, and two master's programs, including an MBA. 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Were there any other passages that especially seemed to come to life during this project?   Kay Wyma: (27:26 - 29:11) Oh, yes, and they continue to, Laura, as is always the case with scripture. You know, it really is like, wow. But I love the take your thoughts captive and make them obedient to me, which can sound like it's something that I do, you know, that I'm going to have to make my thoughts obedient to him, but it's really the Lord's power that does that. And it's like these things, you know, I think we talked before about, he isn't doing something to us by saying do these things, it's for us. And it's because when you do these things, naturally it is going to set you free. And so, I love that.   I love in Isaiah where it says, “He will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast in him.” And so when you feel that unsettledness, in that unsettledness, we can go to the places of worry or fear or anxiety, but what if in the unsettledness you can go to the one who says, I see you, who says you are known, who says you are a masterpiece, who says you belong because I chose you, who says, “I see you, you are mine.” And then go to those beautiful verses, even in Isaiah where he says, “you'll go through the water and they will not rise up over you and you will go through the fire, yet you will not be burned.” That's the truth because the one who says it is the one who protects us through all those things. And in the willingness aspect of this, it goes to this place where you're trusting what you can't see. And that is the one who has said these things over us to the point where I'm acting on it in places that can feel very scary. And leaning into his safety actually proves his safety over and over and over and over. And I think that's why the piece comes in.   Laura Dugger: (29:12 - 29:17) Kay, you're such a great storyteller. So, do you have any favorite stories from this adventure?   Kay Wyma: (29:18 - 33:55) There's a couple. So, it's like these practices rehumanize what so much around us has been dehumanizing because people aren't objects. People really matter. We like to compartmentalize everybody based on so many things, our race, our religion, the color of our hair, our vocation. I mean, you name it. And so, it kind of dehumanizes in that. And now we have this cancel culture, which is so weird. Like you could cancel a human being. And so, the rehumanizing comes in all of these practices. And it's so powerful.   So, we were even on our way to the grocery store. There was a person that needed to get over a couple of lanes. And so, I'm with one of my daughters and I was like, let's let that person over. And so, as we did, she crossed over in front of us and made it all the way over three more lanes to go right. I mean, she really was in the wrong place. And my daughter looks at me and said, I'm so glad we did that. And I was like, why? And she said, because if someone had done that for me, it would have made me feel like I was seen and that I had worth. And so, I've never, like that sticks in my head constantly. To be seen and to have worth is what we all need. And the tiniest little things can do that for us.   And so at that grocery store where we were going, a lady honked at me in the parking lot. Like I was walking and she just like blared on her horn, scared the living daylights out of me. And I was like, oh my gosh. But again, in that moment, I was like, wait a second. I can either have that, I'm either gonna fire up and be mad or I'm gonna be like, oh, I really am not seen. Either way, I'm going in a bad path or I can choose willingly to go, no. She's probably stressed out because she's not used to driving or maybe I scared her. She didn't see me. I don't know. And just reacts that way. And so, in that moment, I'm like letting it go, seeing her as a human being going in the grocery store.   And so, I go in, do my shopping. It's super packed in there. I go to the deli line, get my number, stand and wait and stand and wait. And as I'm waiting, who shows up next to me but the lady that honked at me, which if I hadn't let it go in the parking lot, I would have been like, oh, there's that lady in my head. But I wasn't. I was like, oh my gosh, there she is. And the guy calls my number and I feel her next to me and hear her sigh like, oh my gosh. And I look at her and she had forgotten to get her number. And the line was so long. And I was sitting there going, you know what? I've got margin in my day. And I took my number and handed it to her so happily. And she did what we all do. She refused it because kindness is risky. You may be rejected, okay? But again, if you're going into it willingly in the willingness that's based on your settled significance, that kind of rejection doesn't hurt because you're not rejected by the one who has called you by name. Not to over-spiritualize it.   But in that moment, I'm like, okay, no worries. But the deli guy is watching the whole thing. And so, I go to hand him the number and he looks at me and he serves her. And it was, I just can't even tell you how beautiful it was because she accepted it from him. I left because I was like, I don't want her feeling weird. I'm out of here and came back later. And it was so tiny and so beautiful. And it was like the greatest things of humanity were right there at the deli line in the grocery store. And I could tell you others, like even at the checkout, not on this occasion, but another one. Like what the checkers did to give grace to a woman who was so mean to them. And for them, like these two people to look at each other and go, man, she must be having a hard day and err on that. I mean, people are amazing. And it's like, dare we walk alongside each other? Dare we reach for the good? Dare we like just sink into the beauty of all that comes with things like your significance being eternally determined so that we can actually live in the freedom that surrounds you. All these opportunities that are around you every single day to be able to see the people and to treat the people next to you like human beings. It's really freeing and it's so beautiful. And it's a path paved with shalom peace. And it's amazing.   Laura Dugger: (33:56 - 34:22) Okay, that story is so touching. And I think it's because it's so apparent that that was the Holy Spirit and Jesus in you being Jesus to someone else. Because in scripture, we do see that it's God's kindness that leads us to repentance. And I just wonder what the other side of the story is. Your act of willing obedience and kindness. I wonder how that impacted her in a positive way.   Kay Wyma: (34:23 - 35:31) I don't know, but Laura, the coolest part is that I don't need to know. Like this is, again, through these things, that whole part exits. Like it doesn't matter at all. It's like that so much of the unseen is none of, I'll sit there and go, I can't believe he gave me something in that. Because the thing about any of these, when you give them out, it doesn't work like the world's economy where giving is actually a depletion. In God's economy, when you give, you're actually being filled. And so, it's like with a full tank, you walk away going, why did you allow me to be a part of that? Like, why would you have let me do that? Because I can't believe what you gave me through all of that. It's so amazing. Gosh, it just increases your capacity to trust exponentially. And so you have these little things like thankfulness that primes the pump. It's like, well, I'm going to get it going. And then the kindness. And then to be able to go to these places of mercy that involve very, very deep concepts like compassion, like forgiveness, like grace, like letting go of bitterness. These are aspects of God. They are not from us. It's like an invitation to experience God.   Laura Dugger: (35:31 - 35:38) What are some other ways that this peace project has changed the way that you live your life from this point forward?   Kay Wyma: (35:39 - 37:30) You know, almost with a spirit of expectancy and wonder and being able to see so many things that you haven't seen before. It's like it goes from black and white to technicolor. When I was in college, I actually had the opportunity to travel into West Berlin. This was a long time ago before the wall came down because there was the wall between East Berlin and West Berlin. But in order to get to West Berlin, you had to travel through East Germany. And it was so strange because literally on the train and everyone says this that did that back in those days, it was like you would go from colors to black and white. Like it was gray. They're literally the landscaped was gray. And then you would go from that gray into West Berlin that was like all colors and crazy and vibrant.   And that's what I feel like this does. It takes the gray and it makes it, the colors just come out spectacularly. And I think it is because you're choosing to not just believe, but you're acting on the belief which changes something which because you can't do that on your own strength. And so you're getting to experience this very mysterious aspect of God where he says, come to me, I will give you peace. I will give you joy. And I'm going to add that during this period, we probably lived through some of the hardest stuff that we have ever lived through in our life, just with very old past hurt that came and revisited in an extreme way. And it's amazing to me how full our days were on some of the hardest days we've ever experienced simply because these practices allowed us to look beyond and to live in peace and joy that paved even the hardest path.   Laura Dugger: (37:31 - 37:52) Well, I think that points to our good God, even in his timing that he invited you into this and you were willing to step in. And like you've said, it wasn't just something he did to you, but he offered this for you. And even through a hard time, that was such a gift.   Kay Wyma: (37:53 - 39:32) Yeah, which I could never have known that we would even be living that hard time when we started doing this. And it was definitely something that was given to us because I wasn't looking for it. Again, like I said, I had a rotten attitude when all this started and yet he met me there. Somebody said to me, how brilliant that you did this. Like, you know, you did thankfulness, then kindness, then mercy. And I was like, I did not do this. Like, I didn't make this up. This is what literally happened that morning. And for whatever reason, our curiosity was piqued and it was piqued enough to go, hey, you want to try? And what would happen?   And this, the book is the story of us trying and it really is a 30-day experiment where I go through the 30 days of like us doing it as a group and even include the group with these alongside call outs to where even the ladies that were doing it with us. And it was ladies just because it's a ladies Bible study. It doesn't mean that it's a woman thing or a guy, you know, not a guy thing. The consistency of, I can't believe how this has set me free. I didn't know I was entering into these places like this. I can't believe how healthy my mind is. You know, and again, people, if you have any issues with depression or that are deep that you need to get help, get help, please. You know, there is help out there. There are people that are gifted to be able to walk alongside us through very, very challenging situations which we were getting help along the way too. These practices will invite peace into your day on any day. I mean, just try it. Of course, I would love for people to get the book, but more than anything, just try it. I mean, these things are for you as much as they are for me.   Laura Dugger: (39:33 - 39:39) And if someone is willing to give it a try, what suggestions do you have for them?   Kay Wyma: (39:39 - 41:53) Yeah, it's so funny because I think when we hear like, oh, I have to do something for 30 days. I don't know about you, but I'm like, I can't add one more thing to my plate. And then I'm like 30 days. So, the first thing is just do it. Like just try it. And this is not something that you are going to have to give up anything or that it's going to be some burden or that you're gonna be trudging through just a hard journey. It will instantly be a gift to you. That's it. I still struggle with my rotten attitude going, no, it's really stubbornness that I'll go, oh, I'm not doing it. And then I'll think, what is wrong with you? You really know how great this is.   When the Lord was asked, what would you say is the greatest commandment? He instantly said, love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind and love others as yourself for these sum up all the law and the prophets. That's a pretty big deal. And so why? Because it's so good for you because it gets our eyes off ourselves because it puts into action our effort to believe that what he says is true. The belief, I love you. I see you. I know you. You're safe. I'm provided for you. It's so powerful. I know that to be true.   One of the gals that was in our book club has an eight-year-old daughter that hilariously picked this book up because her mother was reading it. And she called it Kay's Peace Project. She does not know me. She was going into a soccer camp, you know, and it's hot. A little girl that's her friend was being mean to her every day. And so by the last day she was getting out of the car. And that week, you know, she didn't want to get out because she didn't want to deal with this friend of hers that was being mean to her. As she was getting out on Friday, she turned to her mom as she got out of the car and she said, you know, I picked up Kay's Peace Project last night. She had landed on a day about mercy. And she said, I read about mysterious mercy. And she said, it made me realize that something may be going on in her friend's life that she doesn't know. And so, she said, I've decided that that's probably why she's being mean to me. And so, I really want to be nice to her today because I don't know what it is that's going on in her life. Eight years old.   Laura Dugger: (41:54 - 42:07) Wow. And that is so powerful. How it has the power to work in all of us. And so, if somebody wants to grab their own copy of The Peace Project or if they want to find you online, Kay, where would you direct them?   Kay Wyma: (42:08 - 42:49) Well, to KayWyma.com or I do love Instagram, but I'm just telling you, it's set your expectations low, people. Because it is, anything I've got is for whoever would like to participate in it or alongside because I do love living life together. And I would love for anybody to join along in that on those platforms or even through the books. And it's just such a privilege. And I just can't thank you enough for having me on and for your listeners even giving me a few moments to even hear whatever is the Lord has put on my heart today. And please share what's on your hearts with the people that are next to you, too. It's worth it.   Laura Dugger: (42:50 - 43:04) Well, it's been a joy to host you. And you probably remember from last time, we are called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge. And so, as my final question for you today, Kay, what is your savvy sauce?   Kay Wyma: (43:05 - 43:57) Okay. So, for this project is settled significance. And it is the idea to live in your settled significance. You don't have to get significance from anything around you even though the world would tell you that we need to like in whatever capacity is is like ask the question, where am I thinking I have to do this in order to be okay? Because that's this if then equation of the world. If you do this, then blah, blah, blah, blah. Settled significant operates off God's economy that says, because then, because I have declared you righteous, you are seen, you are known, you are whole, you are loved, you are enough, you belong. And to be able to live in those things, we fight for that right now. We really do. And we try to call out those things that are telling us otherwise.   Laura Dugger: (43:58 - 44:15) Well, Kay, thank you for fighting the good fight of faith and for sharing these practical ways to live out these biblical themes that really have eternal value of thankfulness and kindness and mercy. It has been a joy to host you as my guest.   Kay Wyma: (44:15 - 44:23) Oh, my gosh. You're so nice to host me. Thank you so much. And thank you for what you do. You're a huge encouragement to people every day. So, thank you.   Laura Dugger: (44:23 - 47:39) Thanks, Kay. One more thing before you go, have you heard the term gospel before? It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you, but it starts with the bad news.   Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there's absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death, and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved.   We need a savior, but God loved us so much. He made a way for his only son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with him.   That is good news. Jesus lived the perfect life. We could never live and died in our place for our sin.   This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus. We can be covered and justified through the work Jesus finished. If we choose to receive what he has done for us, Romans 10:9 says, “that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”   So, you pray with me now. Heavenly father, thank you for sending Jesus to take our place. I pray someone today right now is touched and chooses to turn their life over to you.   Will you clearly guide them and help them take their next step in faith to declare you as Lord of their life? We trust you to work and change lives now for eternity. In Jesus name we pray.   Amen. If you prayed that prayer, you are declaring him for me. So, me for him, you get the opportunity to live your life for him.   And at this podcast, we're called The Savvy Sauce for a reason. We want to give you practical tools to implement the knowledge you have learned. So, you're ready to get started.   First, tell someone, say it out loud, get a Bible. The first day I made this decision, my parents took me to Barnes and Noble and let me choose my own Bible. I selected the Quest NIV Bible and I love it.   You can start by reading the book of John. Also get connected locally, which just means tell someone who's a part of a church in your community that you made a decision to follow Christ. I'm assuming they will be thrilled to talk with you about further steps such as going to church and getting connected to other believers to encourage you.   We want to celebrate with you too. So, feel free to leave a comment for us here. If you did make a decision to follow Christ, we also have show notes included where you can read scripture that describes this process.   And finally, be encouraged. Luke 15:10 says, “in the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The heavens are praising with you for your decision today.   And if you've already received this good news, I pray you have someone to share it with. You are loved and I look forward to meeting you here next time.

Showing a little kindness can change the world around you. Danny tells a moving story about a time he and his kids blessed a homeless man. Then, Jim Daly talks with Kay Wyma about the power of helping those in need. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.The Peace ProjectTake the 7 Traits of Effective Parenting AssessmentFinding Peace in Your Everyday Life (Digital)How to Reduce Grumbling and Increase GratitudeListen to Focus Live on Godcaster

Showing a little kindness can change the world around you. Danny tells a moving story about a time he and his kids blessed a homeless man. Then, Jim Daly talks with Kay Wyma about the power of helping those in need. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.The Peace ProjectTake the 7 Traits of Effective Parenting AssessmentFinding Peace in Your Everyday Life (Digital)How to Reduce Grumbling and Increase GratitudeListen to Focus Live on Godcaster To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1197/29?v=20251111

How do you have real peace in a chaotic world? Maybe something called gratitude might help? Jim Daly and Kay Wyma discuss how to teach your kids to be thankful. Also, Danny gives some tips for how to help your child if he or she is having a bad attitude Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book The Peace Project for your donation of any amount! Take the 7 Traits of Effective Parenting Assessment Finding Peace in Your Everyday Life How to Reduce Grumbling and Increase Gratitude Learn About Our Age and Stage e-Newsletter Support This Show! If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Parenting Podcast, please give us your feedback.

How do you have real peace in a chaotic world? Maybe something called gratitude might help? Jim Daly and Kay Wyma discuss how to teach your kids to be thankful. Also, Danny gives some tips for how to help your child if he or she is having a bad attitude Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY. Receive the book The Peace Project for your donation of any amount! Take the 7 Traits of Effective Parenting Assessment Finding Peace in Your Everyday Life How to Reduce Grumbling and Increase Gratitude Learn About Our Age and Stage e-Newsletter Support This Show! If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Parenting Podcast, please give us your feedback. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1197/29?v=20251111

Kay Wyma reminds us that needing to belong to the right group, equating busyness with self-worth, and an unwillingness to forgive are false pressures in today's culture that need to be replaced with God's truth.

Many families feel overwhelmed today, but are we overwhelmed for the right reasons? Kay Wyma examines why we need God's truth instead of cultural pressures of performance, beauty, and perfectionism.

When life gets busy, thankfulness, kindness and mercy can be overlooked! Kay Wyma invites you to try “The Peace Project” — a 30-day experiment to bring godly virtues into your life instead of anger, fear, and entitlement.

Ever wonder how your mom friends with all boys or all girls handle parenting? Do you often wonder how in the world a “boy mom” or a “girl mom” views the opposite?  Today my good friend Courtney DeFeo is here to have an in-depth conversation about her experiences as a “girl mom” and asks me tons of great questions about what life with four boys is like (spoiler alert- active and crazy). Courtney is an author, podcaster, and creative mom of two girls. We bring the conversations we have had many times over the lunch table to the podcast today. Often our worlds feel opposite, her girls used to sit and play with playdough for thirty minutes, and my boys sit for three minutes. Her girls love clothes, nails, and coloring while my boys were in a bouncy house, eating my decor, and moving their bodies constantly.  We end by starting to break down the teen years and how the emotions show up differently for each gender. By discussing some of the gender stereotypes that come up we hope this conversation helps you support your mom friends better. And don't forget to go over to Courtney's podcast to finish the conversation later this week.  Connect with Courtney DeFeo:  Website:  Home - Courtney DeFeo Facebook: Courtney DeFeo | Facebook Instagram:  Courtney DeFeo (@courtney_defeo) Podcast: Pardon the Mess - Courtney DeFeo Links Mentioned:   Foundations: by Ruth Chou Simons The Worry-Free Parent: by Sissy Goff What in the World?!: by Leanne Morgan The Tech-Wise Family: by Andy Crouch Whoobli Ninja Inflatable Kids Punching Bag Trampoline with handle Skylight Digital Picture Frame ZELUS Balance Ball Trainer with Resistance Bands Water Blaster 2pcs Water Gun Fight Shooting Water Guns for Kids Roller Skates for Girls Boys Ages 4-12 KidKraft Vintage Wooden Play Kitchen LEGO Creator 3 in 1 Mighty Dinosaur Toy Related Episodes: Shrinking or Swelling to Fill Your Space :: Courtney DeFeo [Ep 406] RWYB wk 5 Uninvited :: Lysa TerKeurst, Kay Wyma and Courtney DeFeo {Ep 131} Art of Nurturing Boys :: David Thomas [Ep 119]   Raising Worry-Free Girls :: Sissy Goff [Bonus] Featured Sponsors:  Betterhelp: This episode is sponsored by Betterhelp. Let the gratitude flow, with Betterhelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/dma today to get 10% off your first month. Vegamour: This holiday season, give the gift of great hair with Vegamour. There's something for everyone, including you! Visit Vegamour.com/DMA code DMA to shop.  Greenlight: Greenlight is a debit card and money app made for families. Sign up for Greenlight today at Greenlight.com/dma.  Find links to this week's sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors. 

In one moment, Kay Wyma's perspective was transformed. She decided to spend the next 30 days focusing on thankfulness, kindness, and mercy. What transpired was more powerful than Kay had ever imagined, and at the end of the “peace project,” her faith and family life were stronger than ever.   Get the book The Peace Project with your donation of any amount!    Get More Episode Resources   We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

When life gets busy, thankfulness, kindness and mercy can be overlooked! Kay Wyma invites you to try The Peace Project a 30-day experiment to bring godly virtues into your life instead of anger, fear, and entitlement. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/776/29

When life gets busy, thankfulness, kindness and mercy can be overlooked! Kay Wyma invites you to try “The Peace Project” — a 30-day experiment to bring godly virtues into your life instead of anger, fear, and entitlement.

Does a child-centered approach work? Kay Wyma joins Rebecca and Danny to talk about how to teach your child responsibility. Plus, we'll hear a question from a dad who wants to know how he can get his kids to do their chores with a good attitude!   Get Kay's book for a gift of any amount!

We're closing in on 12 days until Christmas, and I'm guessing the whole idea of “peace” feels illusive at this point? Or maybe that's just me.

We're down on all fours and crawling towards the finish line of summer over here.    Barely scraping by.    It's not all that surprising, except that every year my idealistic May-self is convinced this will be the summer where my dreams and expectations line up perfectly. The summer of family walks, lemonade stands, nightly devotionals, and a physical and spiritual renewing of our hearts and minds.    But it's August and all of that's shot to  . . . the ground. And now it's just survival. Want new school shoes? Not my concern, go thrifting. Need school supplies? Look in the junk drawer. Summer reading? Pretend you didn't get the assignment.    I'm assuming I'm not alone in this? The heat dome has shut me down, and it's time to send the people back to school in a few weeks. So in honor of our impending freedom (scratch that) school starting, we're spending the next few weeks in August talking about all the back-to-school basics.    Today. Kay Wyma is chatting with us about comparison, competition, and how to become cheerleaders for those around us. Next week, I'll be sharing a few critical conversations to have with your kids before school starts. And then Sissy Goff will round us out with some critical thoughts on anxiety in our kids and how to stay in front of it.    I'm grateful you're here each week, and in the event you're having the summer of your dreams . . . let's just keep that preciousness to ourselves.

Have you ever seen a “magic towel” that swells and “grows” when you put it in water? Have you shrunk a shirt in the laundry? At different times in our lives God assigns us a space that we have to shrink or swell to occupy. This could mean giving up beloved roles, or taking on responsibilities we don't want. How do we respond when we find ourselves in these situations?  My guest this week is Courtney Defeo. At God's leading she stepped back from a high-profile career and dreams of being a CEO so her husband could step forward in his career pursuits. She put certain things on hold to create the family and home culture she wants. While at first glance it might seem like she's squandering her talent and intellect, when she looks around her life she sees things that can only be done now. She feels the freedom to use her gifts in the spaces she's in now.  Connect with [Courtney DeFeo]:  Website:  https://courtneydefeo.com/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CourtneyDeFeoPage/  Instagram:  @courtney_defeo Links Mentioned:   Right Where You Belong by Heather MacFadyen  Treasured Journal: An Interactive Experience for a Tween Girl & Her Mom by Courtney DeFeo  In This House, We Will Giggle: Making Virtues, Love, and Laughter a Daily Part of Your Family Life by Courtney DeFeo  Raising Them Ready: Practical Ways to Prepare Your Kids for Life on Their Own by Jonathan & Erica Catherman   Related Episodes: Uninvited :: Lysa TerKeurst, Kay Wyma, & Courtney DeFeo [Ep 131] Light ‘Em Up :: Courtney DeFeo [Ep 50] Inner Healing Prayer :: Jennifer Barnett [Ep 323] Listening to the Lord :: Kelsey Phillips [Ep 279] Available Now:  Heather's new book, “Right Where You Belong” is now available wherever books are sold.  Featured Sponsors:  Find links to this week's sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors.   

Teaching your kids to own responsibilities and their faith will mean you have to let them make decisions for themselves, John and Danny offer hope to parents who are afraid to give their kids a chance to make choices. Also, Jim Daly and Kay Wyma share some inspiring perspectives for letting kids own their choices. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast, or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.Receive the book "Cleaning House" for your donation of any amount: https://donate.focusonthefamily.com/don-fofp-podcast-2023-03-14?refcd=1639601Get more episode resources: http://www.focusonthefamily.com/episodes/focus-on-parenting-podcast/teaching-kids-to-own-a-relationship-with-jesus/#featured-resource-ctaListen Anytime: https://store.focusonthefamily.com/practical-advice-for-raising-responsible-children-digital-product/?refcd=1639601If you've listened to any of our podcasts, please give us your feedback: https://focusonthefamily.com/podcastsurvey/

Giving your kids a chance to run errands is great training for helping them own responsibility, John and Danny share how you can help your kids become more independent, and Jim Daly talks with Kay Wyma about things she taught her children. Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast, or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.Receive the book "Cleaning House" for your donation of any amount: https://donate.focusonthefamily.com/don-fofp-podcast-2023-03-14?refcd=1639601Get more episode resources: http://www.focusonthefamily.com/episodes/focus-on-parenting-podcast/running-errands-and-owning-independence/#featured-resource-ctaListen Anytime: https://store.focusonthefamily.com/practical-advice-for-raising-responsible-children-digital-product/?refcd=1639601If you've listened to any of our podcasts, please give us your feedback: https://focusonthefamily.com/podcastsurvey/

Raise your hand if you're overwhelmed in some area of your life.    My fairly unscientific poll indicates that 9 out of 10 of us raised our hands. (And I'm guessing the rest of you thought the question was rhetorical.

How can you motivate your child to do something when he or she doesn't want to? John and Danny discuss that topic, and Jim Daly is joined by Kay Wyma to share about why teaching your kids to take responsibility for assignments is a good thing.Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast, or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.Receive the book "Cleaning House" for your donation of any amount: https://donate.focusonthefamily.com/don-fofp-podcast-2023-03-14?refcd=1624801Get more episode resources: http://www.focusonthefamily.com/episodes/focus-on-parenting-podcast/when-your-kid-doesnt-want-to-do-something/#featured-resource-ctaListen Anytime: https://store.focusonthefamily.com/practical-advice-for-raising-responsible-children-digital-product/?refcd=1624801If you've listened to any of our podcasts, please give us your feedback: https://focusonthefamily.com/podcastsurvey/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Joy to the world, the Lord is come. Let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare him room.”   Singing carols like “Joy to the World” is one of my favorite things this time of year. The nostalgia that comes with singing these beautiful words reminds me over and over again of the significance of Jesus coming to earth as a baby, paving the way for our salvation.   This week we're praying for our kids to experience the true message of Christmas and respond with the profound joy that our favorite Christmas carols describe. My dear friend Kay Wyma joins us to talk about Psalm 98 and how Christmas impacts our parenting and changes the lives of our families.   As we enter this week leading up to Christmas, I pray we can remember to praise God no matter what we're facing in the moment, because our eternity is settled. That's the heart of Christmas.    Join Kay Wyma and me as we pray for our kids. 

“Good fences make good neighbors” is a line from Robert Frost's Mending Wall, but the poem goes on to say, “Before I built a wall I'd ask to know / What I was walling in or walling out”  So often in our lives we feel the unrest of chaos or dysfunction in our relationships, but we don't know exactly what we need to wall out or wall in. My guest this week, Lysa TerKeurst faced a new season of life and wanted to enter it with wisdom and strength - caring for others and herself in each of her relationships. Her personal journey led to her newest book, Good Boundaries and Goodbyes, a guide for each of us as we navigate relationships, practice setting healthy boundaries and even sometimes need to say goodbye.  Connect with Lysa TerKeurst:  Website:  https://lysaterkeurst.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialLysa  Instagram:  @lysaterkeurst  Links Mentioned:   Good Boundaries and Goodbyes : Loving Others Without Losing the Best of Who You Are by Lysa TerKeurst    Setting Healthy Boundaries with Family :: Dr. John Townsend [Ep 250] Leslie Vernick and Difficult v Destructive Relationships - https://leslievernick.com  Therapy and Theology Podcast  Related Episodes: Setting Healthy Boundaries with Family :: Dr. John Townsend [Ep 250] Forgiving What You Can't Forget :: Lysa TerKeurst [Ep 304] 5 Schedule Sappers and How to Stop Them :: Lysa TerKeurst [Ep 45] Uninvited :: Lysa TerKeurst, Kay Wyma and Courtney DeFeo [Ep 131] Featured Sponsors:  Find links to this week's sponsors and unique promo codes at dontmomalone.com/sponsors.

We review the latest news from the nation's capital with Rob Bluey, executive editor of The Daily Signal. *This encore presentation originally aired on August 25, 2022 Author Kay Wills Wyma joins Bill and gives the challenge to seek internal peace through outward actions, from her book, "The Peace Project: A 30-Day Experiment Practicing Thankfulness, Kindness, and Mercy."  

Maybe you'd love to parent with thankfulness, kindness…but sometimes, things get ugly. Author Kay Wyma chats about parenting toward grateful, connected kids. Show Notes and Resources Find resources from this podcast at shop.familylife.com. Kay Wyma Podcast on Soul30: Listen to hear more about what benefits you can have by going on a "Soul30". Passport to Purity & Identity: These getaway kit equipts you with the tools to help your son or daughter flourish Find more content and resources on the FamilyLife's app! Help others find FamilyLife. Leave a review on Apple Podcast or Spotify. Check out all the FamilyLife podcasts on the FamilyLife Podcast Network

Wish you could be naturally…kinder, more peaceful? Author Kay Wyma explains ways to change your brain through outward practices that transform your world. Show Notes and Resources Find resources from this podcast at shop.familylife.com. Kay Wyma Podcast on Soul30: Listen to hear more about what benefits you can have by going on a "Soul30". Passport to Purity & Identity: These getaway kit equipts you with the tools to help your son or daughter flourish Find more content and resources on the FamilyLife's app! Help others find FamilyLife. Leave a review on Apple Podcast or Spotify. Check out all the FamilyLife podcasts on the FamilyLife Podcast Network

Life's slights and indignities provoke bitterness, resentment, frustration, sadness. But in her Peace Project, author Kay Wyma asks—is there a better way? Show Notes and Resources Find resources from this podcast at shop.familylife.com. Kay Wyma Podcast on Soul30: Listen to hear more about what benefits you can have by going on a "Soul30". Passport to Purity & Identity: These getaway kit equipts you with the tools to help your son or daughter flourish Find more content and resources on the FamilyLife's app! Help others find FamilyLife. Leave a review on Apple Podcast or Spotify. Check out all the FamilyLife podcasts on the FamilyLife Podcast Network

Kay Wyma is joining us today to talk about purity and thoughts to consider as we pray for our kids. Praying purity definitely means we're praying for our kids to pursue it in their dating relationships, internet searches, music choices, clothes, and pure groups. However, we also know that purity is rooted in our identity, and when we know our worth it makes purity less about checking a box and more about trusting our Savior.     I love how Kay reminds us that through the blood of Christ we are all clothed in righteousness, and that nothing our kids have done (or that has been done to them) can take that away. There's a whole lot of soul issues around the notion of purity, and I'm grateful Kay is joining us today to break it down in ways we probably haven't considered before.     It's hard to believe we're in our last month of praying through the school year! Finish strong and join us in praying today! 

When life gets busy, thankfulness, kindness, and mercy can be overlooked! Kay Wyma invites you to try “The Peace Project” — a 30-day experiment to bring godly virtues into your life instead of anger, fear, and entitlement.

If your pants are a little tighter and the stress level a little higher this Monday after Thanksgiving, you're not alone. With all the shopping, wrapping, parties, family gatherings, cooking, and baking—it may feel like a little hope is exactly what it's gonna take to keep going.   Kay Wyma is with me today (I mean seriously, she's the best), and we're talking about the role hope plays in our lives and the lives of our children. As we pray hope over our kids this week, we're reminded that only the Lord can strengthen, restore, and deliver on the great plans he has for each of our lives. Knowing this, we can pray for our kids to find hope even on their most discouraging days as he faithfully restores their strength and gives them a kingdom perspective.   Can I encourage you these next few weeks to keep up the good work of praying for your kids each week? If you're like me, it feels like sometimes the first things to go in the craziness of the holidays are those things that have the most significance. Prayer is significant, so let's keep on keeping on the next few weeks. 

Inspiring Perspective in Parenting with Kay Wyma   She equips herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task] And makes her arms strong. Proverbs 31:17 (AMP)   Questions We Discuss: 1. You believe kids thrive on high expectations and you became determined to parent your children "as if they were inherently strong, not inherently weak." . . how did this epiphany launch you into a 12-month experiment with your kids? 2. What list did you create for your "Top Twelve Things a Kid Should Know Before Flying the Wyma Coop"? 3. Now that some of your children have grown and launched, how do they look back on this experiment?   Kay Wyma is a mom, blogger, vodcaster, and author of four books in which she has tackled, with candor and humor, some of the troubling societal issues that impact us all. Kay's writings have led her to appearances on TODAY, CNN, Hallmark's Home & Family, and more. Before staying at home with her kids, she held positions at the White House and Bank of America. She lives in Dallas, Texas, with her husband and five kids. Connect with Kay at kaywyma.com or on Instagram @kaywyma.   At The Savvy Sauce, we will only recommend resources we believe in! We also want you to be aware: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.    Cleaning House: A Mom's Twelve-Month Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement   Thank You to Our Sponsor: Midwest Food Bank   Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook or Instagram or Our Website   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV)   Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”    Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”    John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”  

In Fight For Peace, Kay Wyma is back again, talking about her latest book, The Peace Project and how you can experience true peace on the Soul H2O Radio & Podcast show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When life gets busy, thankfulness, kindness and mercy can be overlooked! Kay Wyma invites you to try “The Peace Project” — a 30-day experiment to bring godly virtues into your life instead of anger, fear, and entitlement. Book by guest: The Peace Project: A 30-Day Experiment Practicing Thankfulness, Kindness, and Mercy.

What if peace comes with practice? That was the question that set Kay Wyma, author of The Peace Project: a 30-Day Experiment Practicing Thankfulness, Kindness, and Mercy, on a path to find the key elements that lead to peace. Kay shares the way she stumbled into the some counterintuitive truths for battling anxiety, and then she dives into the brain science (squeeee!). This fun episode will leave you with powerful, practical tips to practice yourself into peace.

Sex is not a post-fall sin. Pastor Mike Novotny joins Bill to help us understand that God's intention for physical intimacy between a husband and wife was given to us as a gift, through his book Sex is Complicated: Let's Talk About It. Then, does life have you feeling  unsettled, overlooked, insignificant and exhausted? Author Kay Wills Wyma joins Bill and gives the challenges to seek internal peace through outward actions, from her book, "The Peace Project: A 30-Day Experiment Practicing Thankfulness, Kindness, and Mercy."

On any given day we can feel rushed, judged, or ignored. And so it's tempting to respond to the slights and indignities of life with bitterness, resentment, frustration, or sadness. But Kay Wyma suggests there is a better way. In a 30 day experiment titled The Peace Project Kay demonstrates that lasting inner peace comes from outward practices—a magical mixture of thankfulness, kindness, and mercy. Join us to experience lasting peace for yourself and the world around you. This week's love offering is to, “Ask the Lord to open your eyes to see someone you can encourage, build up, or care about so that they may feel seen or known today. It is all for His glory, for His namesake, and for our good.” Connect with Kay: kaywyma.com People Mentioned: Courtney DeFeo Steven Furtick

Do you lack peace!? Do you have trouble finding and extending grace?! Are you searching for ways to be kind or to serve others?! I am so excited to introduce you to my friend Kay Wyma. Kaye's new book is The Peace Project. It's like the whole 30 but for peace! I am SO excited to share today's podcast episode with you. Kay is sharing so much of her heart and the bottom line is to see people. Making others feel fully seen.Grab her book HereWant 20%off Olive & June use code jeanettet20 or head to think linkhttps://oliveandjune.com?mct=apz-6zp5

Our guest today is Kay Wyma. Kay is a mom of five, former White House aide, International Capital Markets banker, entrepreneur, and author of 4 books.With candor and humor, she has tackled troubling societal issues such as youth entitlement in her first book (Cleaning House which reached top 25 Amazon Best Sellers and was featured on the TODAY Show).  She has just recently released her 4th & latest  book The Peace Project: A 30-day Experiment - Practicing Thankfulness, Kindness & Mercy . Kay lives in Dallas with her husband Jon and their family.Kay Wyma WebsiteKay Wyma InstagramChasing What Matters InstagramChasing What Matters Website 

After we spoke with our friend Kay Wyma last month about her new book, "The Peace Project," we decided to spend an entire episode talking about mercy. That's right. Mercy. So much of that discussion left us wanting more, so here it is. We discuss why showing mercy is so hard. Why??? The definition of mercy is "compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm." At its core, mercy is forgiveness. But it seems beyond love and forgiveness. We hope you'll be encouraged by our discussion. We always want to talk about things that will encourage us but also spur us on. Thank you for listening and for encouraging us! If you like what you hear, go to Apple Podcasts and give us a 5star review! That would make our day!

This was one of those conversations where we had to stop talking so we could press record and keep talking. Kay Wyma is such a lovely individual with such a big heart for God and for those around her. Unexpectedly Kay found herself with a bad attitude in an everyday life situation and God used that moment to invite her into a 30 Day journey of pursuing thankfulness, kindness and mercy. The result: Peace. And often peace feels like one of those elusive things, reserved for those people who don't seem to experience frustration or anger. Those people who don't experience loss or have misunderstandings. But what if peace is available to even those of us who do. Us regular humans that bump up against the pressures and stresses of life and other broken and hurting people? Kay invites us into a journey to pursue peace through her latest book, The Peace Project: A 30 Day Experiment Practicing Thankfulness, Kindness, and Mercy. And if you're looking for deep rooted peace in your everyday life, check out my Tangled course to help you break free from all that you're holding onto and all that is holding onto you.

Summary: Kay Wyma takes a walk with Brenda to discuss how her writing career took off. Kay Wyma's writing career began when she was extremely frustrated with how entitled her kids were acting so she started a blog to help other parents and kids who were facing similar troubles. One day, in her car, something happened that changed her entire outlook on life. Tune in to get the full scoop. Today, Kay Wyma lives a life of thankfulness, kindness, and mercy. She is the best selling author of  Cleaning House: A Mom's Twelve-Month Experiment to Rid Her Home of Youth Entitlement.   Timestamps: [00:53] How her kids' entitlement issues made her start blogging. [03:00] How Kay Wyma went from frustrated mom to best selling author. [04:21] Speed walk! [06:42] Arm work (scissors). [08:00] The moment of gratitude that brought life into everything. [10:57] Speedwalk and arm work! [14:26] What does gratitude do to your brain? [17:46] What is the upside-down economy of kindness? [18:30] Final set: speed walk and chest work. [21:53] Believing that you are a masterpiece. [24:46] What is kindness without consequences? [25:59] Who has walked the road with Kat Wyma? [27:02] How can you connect with Kat Wyma?   Key Takeaways: Physical well being and mental well being are deeply connected. Methodically and intentionally practicing gratitude daily impacts your neural pathways. “Even in moments of unsettledness you can always find something for which to be legitimately grateful for” - Kay Wyma When you are secure in your identity and know your worth, it becomes easier to enter into other people's reality and empathize with what they might be facing. Being kind is a vulnerable situation because you might be rejected by the person you are being kind to.   Links: Connect with Kay Wyma: Website | Moat Blog | Instagram Connect with Brenda: Instagram | Website

Today’s Guests Ben Johnson – Media Reporter – Daily Wire, Rights Writer “Fossil fuels kill more people each year than the holocaust,” said someone on CNN. Ben gives us the lowdown on the quote along with Biden’s “door to door” vaccine Covid Vaccine idea and PEW researchers’ study on American news consumption. Kay Wyma – […] The post Changing the News Norms | Willingly Leaning In appeared first on The Reconnect with Carmen | Engaging Culture from a Christian Worldview.

Kay Wyma reminds us that needing to belong to the right group, equating busyness with self-worth, and an unwillingness to forgive are false pressures in today's culture that need to be replaced with God's truth. Find more encouragement for your family. Book by guest: Not the Boss of Us.

Many families feel overwhelmed today, but are we overwhelmed for the right reasons? Kay Wyma examines why we need God's truth instead of cultural pressures of performance, beauty, and perfectionism to bring your family back into balance. Book by guest: Not the Boss of Us.

On today's episode, we're so thrilled to welcome back to the show our sweet Texas friend, mother of five, and best selling author, Kay Wyma. I can't think of a better way to kick off our summer than to practice what Kay calls a Soul 30, which is a daily dose of thankfulness, kindness, and mercy. We chat with Kay about her own personal experience through 30 days of practicing thankfulness, kindest, and mercy….. the challenges she faced, powerful lessons learned along the way, and the unexpected peace that resulted from continually living from this posture. Pull up a chair and join us, this is a great one! Listen in.   Connect with Chris & Jenni: https://letsliveitwell.com https://www.instagram.com/chrisgraebe/ https://www.instagram.com/jennigraebe/ https://www.instagram.com/letsliveitwell/

​Do you feel unsettled, anxious and exhausted? Author and speaker Kay Wyma has a practical 30-day challenge she says can lead to transformation. She calls it “The Peace Project,” and it’s designed to help you see yourself and others through God’s eyes. It’s an experiment with thankfulness, kindness, and mercy. Don’t miss Chris Fabry Live.

Kay Wyma joins us today on the podcast.  She is a friend to our show and we gain so much insight and encouragement from her EVERY time she is on.  Her new book is out, The Peace Project.     What would happen if we practiced thankfulness, kindness and mercy each day for 30 days? That's what Kay and friends did ...and The Peace Project was born.  The results were undeniable.  30 days.     Research has shown the benefits of thankfulness, kindness and mercy (compassion, forgiveness and more) individually, but magic occurs when they are practiced together.  30 days. Peace - the Shalom kind of peace that means wholeness, completeness, the bringing together of opposites - shows up and stays for a while.     Want peace? Come and try.  What have you got to lose?

Kay Wyma chats with Father Dave about her new book, “The Peace Project: A 30-Day Experiment Practicing Thankfulness, Kindness, and Mercy.” 

Kay Wyma took on a unique challenge. She decided that for 30 days, she would practice three things that she thought might bring more peace into her life. Show Notes: https://bit.ly/3w4XeNX

Alright guys, stop what you’re doing because I have the perfect summer experiment for us to do with our kids this month!   More accurately, Kay Wyma has the perfect 30-day experiment, and we’re talking all about it today on Pardon the Mess.   It’s called The Peace Project: A 30-Day Experiment Practicing Thankfulness, Kindness, and Mercy. What is it you ask?   The Peace Project is an experiment that invites us to experience lasting personal peace by getting serious about showing thankfulness, kindness, and mercy with everyone and everything we encounter each day.   Kay shares with us how this concept came about and the impact it’s had on her life and the lives of those around her. She’s practical in showing us what it looks like each day and how she’s lived in some really hard places this last year in complete peace because God reframed her perspective.   Let’s be honest: peace is a distant memory when all these kids are home all day asking for food, activities, and attention. I urge you to take a few minutes today to listen to our conversation and then join my family as we embark on this 30-day journey of showing thankfulness, kindness, and mercy.   There are few things we need more of on this side of heaven than peace. I just know God’s going to do big things through this experiment—so let’s do it together!

Does life have you feeling unsettled, overlooked, anxious, exhausted? Good news! There's a better way. Try this thirty-day experiment that will invite you to experience lasting personal peace through the outward practices of thankfulness, kindness, and mercy. The result? Transformation--for you and those around you. Author, Kay Wyma joins Mornings with Eric and Brigitte on Thursday and takes us along on a journey to see others--as well as ourselves--not as objects or obstacles but as people of great worth. People who matter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Lindsay, Jim Bolthouse, Kimberly Holmes, Kay Wyma

In a world that seems to bring more and more division every day, how do we connect with other people in a deep, human way? Kay Wyma takes us into her story of how seemingly small acts of kindness, thankfulness and mercy have made all the difference for her and her family.  “There are so many ways you can practice kindness that are outward acts of kindness. And then you'll start to realize kindness is picking up the laundry for somebody that I'm frustrated with, you know, that they could have done it themselves.There are kindness opportunities everywhere. Be kind to yourself for Pete's sake. At least one day a week. Actively do something kind for yourself.” Learn about what Kay calls a Soul 30 and her new book The Peace Project. I love that this isn't another thing for your to do list, it is more about HOW you do the things on your list. And when we practice kindness, thankfulness and mercy we can't help reflecting the goodness of God to a world that needs it more than ever.    Connect with Kay Wyma:  Website: kaywyma.com  Facebook: facebook.com/kaywillswyma   Instagram: @kaywyma    Links Mentioned:   BOOK: The Peace Project: A 30-Day Experiment Practicing Thankfulness, Kindness, and Mercy Featured Sponsors:  Nextdoor—Join your neighborhood on the FREE app. Use this link nextdoor.com/DMA to let them know you heard about it from me.  Betterhelp—Listeners of the DMA podcast get 10% off their first month of secure online professional counseling. Betterhelp.com/DMA.

“The only thing getting thin during this quarantine is my patience.” – Author Unknown I don’t know who said this, but I give it a resounding amen as we kick off week nine of sheltering in place. Who’s with me? This week we’re praying patience over our kids, and I’m guessing few of us feel qualified to teach anyone a lesson in patience these days. Thankfully the Lord models his great patience in dealing with us and guides us with grace as we attempt to raise kids in this fruit of the spirit. As we consider what patience looks like for our kids, we naturally think about it in the context of their siblings, friends, teammates, and especially their parents. But take a few minutes to listen to our podcast today as Kay Wyma joins me to talk about an even deeper level of praying patience for our kids – the discipline of waiting patiently for the Lord’s hand in their lives. Praying and abundance of patience with you and for you this week! Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2

How are your New Year’s resolutions coming? It’s been a few months since we kicked off 2020 and, undoubtedly, many of us have decided those naïve resolutions of January were simply a pipe dream. The crowds at the gym have died down while the lines at the In-N-Out Burger have maxed out. I have the “My Fitness Pal” app on my phone. Every single morning, it pops up a notification around 10:00 a.m. asking if I’ve forgotten to log my breakfast.  You’re precious, little app, but I haven’t logged my breakfast (or lunch or dinner) in about six weeks. But I do want to thank you for being so ambitious on my behalf and always thinking the best of me by assuming it’s just an oversight. This week, we’re praying that our kids have the resolve to turn away from the temptations they face and a willingness to turn to Jesus when they need a way out. Our kids’ generation is inundated with social media, pornography, graphic music, widespread internet access, and so much more. Their resolve will need to be mighty to withstand the temptation they will face in their lives. Kay Wyma joins us today with a needed reminder that worth is at the center of the ability to show resolve.  Our kids need to be reminded that they have immense worth in Christ and that looking away, or saying no, or living differently comes from knowing you who you are to Jesus. In short, we’re praying, through Jesus, that our kids will have the strength and conviction to live set apart or holy in a world that is growing further and further away from Christ.

We’re kicking off a new series this March focused on intentionality. I can’t think of a better way to get started than with Jennie Allen encouraging us to be intentional in identifying the toxic thoughts in our lives.  Jennie says “the greatest spiritual battle of our generation is being fought between our ears.” And with an average of 30,000 thoughts a day going through our minds, it’s easy to see how quickly those negative thoughts can have a huge impact on our lives.   On today’s program, Jennie Allen, Kay Wyma, and I jump in the car for a carpool podcast of sorts.  We talk about:  identifying our negative thought patterns, acknowledging that we are in charge of our thoughts; they are not in charge of us, the science behind our thoughts, and remembering that God gives us the power to confront and overcome the toxic ones. It’s a fun interview you won’t want to miss. We even drove through McDonald’s for fries during our chat. We’re so fortunate to have Jennie Allen on Pardon the Mess. She’s a gifted communicator and the founder and visionary behind the IF:Gathering, an organization that equips women to know God more deeply and disciple others. She’s a speaker, author, podcaster, and much more. Listen to today’s podcast on your favorite podcast platform, or watch the video here!

We say this often, but parenting is one of the greatest blessings and one of the greatest challenges. There are really hard places in parenting that are much easier to avoid rather than address head-on.  Suicide is one of those topics.  It’s emotional, it’s scary, and it’s easy to feel inadequate when it comes to talking about it. That said, the CDC lists suicide as the second-leading cause of death in children and young adults between the ages of ten and twenty-four. We can’t afford to gloss over a topic so pervasive in our youth.  This statistic has become more than a number in recent days as we have seen family after family impacted by suicide in our community. Many of you have asked us to consider entering the conversation and to provide biblical guidance and resources. We heard you, and today we are doing just that by providing a special edition of content focused on suicide.  Our prayer is that these resources are helpful as you consider the topic of suicide. However, we are not a substitute for professional help. If you are struggling (or anyone around you is), please get the help you need and deserve.  The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is (800)273-8255. 

If we’ve learned anything the last few weeks, it’s that acts of generosity are all around us this time of year – but definitely not in the form of a Peleton bike gifted to your wife and a resulting a video diary of her fitness journey. That, my friends, is dangerous territory. I remember my Dad used to say you never give a gift with a plug to your wife for Christmas (meaning an appliance). Now I believe we can all agree that one might be wise to stay away from gifts with a plug AND a pedometer. That’s just a little Christmas advice for you as we all finish up our shopping this year. You’re welcome. This week, as we continue to pray for our children this school year, we’re praying for generosity in their lives. Kay Wyma joins us today with a great reminder that true generosity stems from acknowledging all the Lord has done for us. Chew on that for a minute: Generosity naturally spills over to those around us when we live with gratitude for what the Lord has done in our own lives. I can’t think of a better gift we can give our kids this week than praying they live lives marked with gratitude. Praying they show generosity in their friendships, being happy when others succeed, and compassionate when they do not. Let’s also pray generosity in their areas of influence by including peers who are overlooked, and always being willing to serve those around them when they see needs. Let’s pray our kids live all of their days rooted in generosity with gratitude for who Jesus is to us – beginning all those years ago when he came to earth as flesh, born in a lowly manger so everyone could be offered eternal life with him. I can’t think of an easier time of year to show generosity because of what Jesus has done in our own lives. Let’s share that with our kids. Take a minute to listen to our podcast today while you’re driving, shopping, or sitting by the Christmas tree. And think long and hard before you purchase your beloved a blender, vacuum, or a Peleton bike. Ha! Note: If you missed our podcast with Kay Wyma last Thursday, take a minute to listen today. She unpacks the song “Joy to the World” and gives us practical ways to hydrate our souls this holiday season. It’s just the word we all need as we make the final lap headed into Christmas.

A show of hands for anyone who might need a few deep breaths as we’re headed into the final lap before the big day? Christmas often brings out our very best—generosity, focus on Jesus, time with friends and family. Christmas also may bring out our worst—exhaustion, materialism, sadness. You’re not alone if you’re feeling stressed, tired, overwhelmed, sad, excited, grateful, and everything in between. Kay Wyma, author, blogger, and mother of five shares practical ways to experience true Christmas joy. She encourages us to hydrate for the holidays by practicing kindness, relishing the regular, and stopping to simply look up (literally). Kay is my dear friend, and I am so grateful to have her join us again on Pardon the Mess. I was so refreshed by her words that a few times I forgot we were recording. She takes the Christmas carol “Joy to the World” and breaks it down beautifully, reminding us that you experience joy by trusting the One in whom you have faith. I didn’t just enjoy hearing from Kay today – I needed to hear it. I have a feeling you will feel the same way. She’s got a word for all of us as we run errands and make last minute preparations for Christmas. And don’t miss the very end where she gives us a few thoughts on entitlement and how to overcome it with our kids this time of year.

What does fear of the future have in common with faith? They both require trust in the unseen. Every day we face a choice: Dwell on our fears or dwell on the truth - that our God is bigger than our fears and sovereign over all. Kay Wyma joins Rebecca Carrell and Christina Perez (in for Liz) to talk about transferring our faith in our fear to the One who conquers our fears.

What does fear of the future have in common with faith? They both require trust in the unseen. Every day we face a choice: Dwell on our fears or dwell on the truth - that our God is bigger than our fears and sovereign over all. Kay Wyma joins Rebecca Carrell and Christina Perez (in for Liz) to talk about transferring our faith in our fear to the One who conquers our fears.

Kay is a mother of five who somehow finds the time to: Host Neighborhood Bible Studies Blog Host Vodcasts (specifically "Say Something") She is a true influencer.

Is anyone a fan of feeling overwhelmed? Life’s pressures, expectations, and circumstances steal more than they give. When “overwhelmed” went too far, desperately hurting someone they knew, Kay Wyma and her family called it out and called it quits. Because even though feeling overwhelmed has become the new normal – it does not have to own us. What if you could take the negative nature of being overwhelmed and diffuse it or, better yet, flip it to good and be overwhelmed by truth instead?

Rebecca is joined by author, Kay Wyma and Brand Manager of ChristianParenting.org, Cynthia Yanof as they discuss the topic of comparison and ultimately how we can see this struggle through the lens of scripture.

Is anyone a fan of feeling overwhelmed? Life’s pressures, expectations, and circumstances steal more than they give. When “overwhelmed” went too far, desperately hurting someone they knew, Kay Wyma and her family called it out and called it quits. Because even though feeling overwhelmed has become the new normal – it does not have to own us. What if you could take the negative nature of being overwhelmed and diffuse it or, better yet, flip it to good and be overwhelmed by Truth instead?You can get Kay's new book "Not The Boss Of Us" here:https://kaywyma.com/not-the-boss-of-us/

When you get the opportunity to chat candidly about the hard places in parenting with good friends Rebecca Carrell and Kay Wyma - well, you don’t want to miss it. In this episode of Pardon the Mess, the three of us talk about the recent college admissions bribery scandal and the messaging our culture sends that our kids need to look a certain way or have certain credentials to be “good enough.” As followers of Christ, it’s always a great reminder that our identity in Christ is received, not achieved. Kay and Rebecca share real-life examples of some of the tough places in parenting and encourage us to walk in the grace of the Lord as we remind our kids to call out God’s truth in their lives. Kay Wyma is the host of the vodcast, Say Something. She has also written several books, the most recent being Not the Boss of Us. Rebecca Carrell is the co-host of Mornings with Jeff and Rebecca on Dallas radio KCBI 90.9, as well as an author, speaker, and founder of the HeartStrong Faith conference.     Links from this podcast include: KayWyma.com Say Something Vodcast Not the Boss of Us by Kay Wyma Mornings with Jeff and Rebecca on KCBI 90.9  HeartStrong Faith    Get the encouragement and support you need to teach your kids to love Christ in a world that doesn’t — directly to your inbox each week! Christian Parenting offers trusted guidance for the hardest job there is. CONNECT WITH OUR COMMUNITY Facebook // Twitter // Instagram //  

Coffee Talk Topic: Redefining Happiness Today's Coffee Talk Topic challenges us to redefine happiness, as well as to put overwhelmed in its place. What a great way to start a new year! “It's great to be back to kick off a brand new season of coffee talk topics; and welcome an extended audience as we join Cornerstone Christian Radio, broadcasting the foundations of faith around the world, from Blackpool England! Now that brings much happiness to our new season! In addition to the powerful messages our featured guests will share on today's show, it brings me much happiness to recount the history of Christian Coffee Talk for our new listeners, and share all of Psalm 119 to recharge and realign our steps in 2019 with His decrees.” Featured Guest No 1: Alli Worthington Alli Worthington is an author, speaker, business coach and entrepreneur. Her goal is to help women live the life they were created to live and help small business owners; ministries and Fortune 500 companies to be more successful. Alli joins us to talk about her new book, The Year of Living Happy, Finding Contentment and Connection in a Crazy World! Alli says “with this new book, God gave me the word happy. At first, I thought it was silly because I thought God doesn't allow us to be happy. But He kept putting it on my heart, so I spent a year of my life studying what scripture tells us about happiness. Many of us grow up in a church culture that says to know joy is to be Holy in the Lord, but happiness is fleeting. Through my research in scripture, I found that there's no distinction between joy and happiness.” Featured Guest No 2: Kay Wyma Kay Wills Wyma is a former White House staffer, an international banker, an entrepreneur, and a mom of five! She's an author who writes about seeing beyond life's pressures to navigate life and thrive together. Kay has published three books and has been featured on the Today Show, CNN, focus on the family, and now Christian Coffee Talk. Kay joins us today to talk about her latest book called; Not the Boss of Us. Putting Overwhelmed in its Place in a Do All, Be All, World. If we can learn to put overwhelmed in its place, we can surely find happiness during, and at the end of the process! LINKS FROM THE SHOW Connect with Alli at www.alliworthington.com Connect with Kay at www.kaywyma.com Subscribe to the Christian Coffee Talk Podcast on iTunes Podcast, Google Play Podcast, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, and Stitcher. Join our growing Online Community Christian Coffee Talk for Women to connect 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year! Check out our theme song, Jesus Kind Of Love by www.NateJacksonMusic.com.

Coffee Talk Topic: Redefining Happiness Today’s Coffee Talk Topic challenges us to redefine happiness, as well as to put overwhelmed in its place. What a great way to start a new year! “It’s great to be back to kick off a brand new season of coffee talk topics; and welcome an extended audience as we join Cornerstone Christian Radio, broadcasting the foundations of faith around the world, from Blackpool England! Now that brings much happiness to our new season! In addition to the powerful messages our featured guests will share on today’s show, it brings me much happiness to recount the history of Christian Coffee Talk for our new listeners, and share all of Psalm 119 to recharge and realign our steps in 2019 with His decrees.” Featured Guest No 1: Alli Worthington Alli Worthington is an author, speaker, business coach and entrepreneur. Her goal is to help women live the life they were created to live and help small business owners; ministries and Fortune 500 companies to be more successful. Alli joins us to talk about her new book, The Year of Living Happy, Finding Contentment and Connection in a Crazy World! Alli says “with this new book, God gave me the word happy. At first, I thought it was silly because I thought God doesn’t allow us to be happy. But He kept putting it on my heart, so I spent a year of my life studying what scripture tells us about happiness. Many of us grow up in a church culture that says to know joy is to be Holy in the Lord, but happiness is fleeting. Through my research in scripture, I found that there’s no distinction between joy and happiness.” Featured Guest No 2: Kay Wyma Kay Wills Wyma is a former White House staffer, an international banker, an entrepreneur, and a mom of five! She’s an author who writes about seeing beyond life’s pressures to navigate life and thrive together. Kay has published three books and has been featured on the Today Show, CNN, focus on the family, and now Christian Coffee Talk. Kay joins us today to talk about her latest book called; Not the Boss of Us. Putting Overwhelmed in its Place in a Do All, Be All, World. If we can learn to put overwhelmed in its place, we can surely find happiness during, and at the end of the process! LINKS FROM THE SHOW Connect with Alli at www.alliworthington.com Connect with Kay at www.kaywyma.com Subscribe to the Christian Coffee Talk Podcast on iTunes Podcast, Google Play Podcast, iHeartRadio, TuneIn, and Stitcher. Join our growing Online Community Christian Coffee Talk for Women to connect 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year! Check out our theme song, Jesus Kind Of Love by www.NateJacksonMusic.com.

Today I'm talking with author and host of the Say Something Show, Kay Wyma. We chat about that time she freaked out the Secret Service, which was probably a little nerve-wracking in the moment but hilarious now. Then we talk about her book, Not the Boss of Us. Do you ever face overwhelming pressures and expectations or do you find yourself trying to help your kids with pressure at school or with friends? Kay talks about replacing our fears with truth and shares how we can stop feeling so overwhelmed. If the weight of the world is pressing down on you, listen in, and lighten up. Links from the show: Check out Kay's new book, Not the Boss of Us Find Kay on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter Say Something Show Pre-order my new book releasing October 23, Infreakinfertility: How to Survive When Getting Pregnant Gets Hard

This is Part 2 of our wonderful conversation with our good friend, Kay Wyma. Make sure to check out Part 1: Accidental Callings & Ending Entitlement Kay has appeared on The TODAY Show, CNN, The New York Times, USA Today, Focus on the Family, NPR and more. Before becoming a stay-at-home mom, she held positions at the White House, the Staubach Company, and Bank of America. In this episode, Kay shares the heartbreaking story that motivated her to write her newest book: Not the Boss of Us: Putting Overwhelmed in its Place in a Do-All, Be-All World. We talk about replacing the pressures of this world that overwhelm us with the truth that sets us free. Man, we needed this one. Praying it hits home with you too. Enjoy. Connect with us: https://letsliveitwell.com @chrisgraebe @jennigraebe

It’s Season 2!!! & we’re kicking it off right with our good friend, Kay Wyma. If you don’t know Kay, you're going to fall in love with her today. Kay’s a best selling author, blogger and mother of five. Kay is on a mission to tackle huge issues in our society like youth entitlement, comparison-pressures and is now taking a stand against the stress & anxiety that comes from being overwhelmed in her newest book Not the Boss of Us: Putting Overwhelmed in its Place in a Do-All, Be-All World. Kay has appeared on The TODAY Show, CNN, The New York Times, USA Today, Focus on the Family, NPR and more. Before becoming a stay-at-home mom, she held positions at the White House, the Staubach Company, and Bank of America. We had such a blast chatting with Kay. As you will soon discover, she’s one of us y’all : ready and willing to skip the chit chat and dive right into the good stuff. We covered so much good stuff, in fact, that we had to make this conversation a two parter. In this episode, Kay shares with us her journey of stumbling into her calling as an “accidental writer”, the powerful truths she’s learned along the way, and the message that launched her into writing: ending entitlement both in our kids and in ourselves. We were so inspired by our conversation with Kay. We know you will be too. Connect with us: https://letsliveitwell.com @chrisgraebe @jennigraebe

On this episode of Your Story with Melinda, we have Kay Wyma back to talk about a very interesting 12-month experiment to teach her children about entitlement and help them learn the value of work, as well as the lesson she learned about being part of the problem.

Kay Wills Wyma is a blogger, author, vodcaster and mother of five. Using raw and real stories Kay’s latest book, Not the Boss of Us: Putting Overwhelmed in its Place in a Do-All, Be-All World contemplates being overwhelmed by Truth with all its hope and peace and joy rather than life's pressures, stress & circumstances. Through it and her previous books, I’m Happy for You (Sort of … not really) and Cleaning House, Kay has appeared on Canada's The Social, the TODAY Show, CNN, The New York Times, Focus on the Family, Family Life and more. Before becoming a stay-at-home mom, she held positions at the White House, the Staubach Company, and Bank of America. Kay lives in the Dallas area with her husband, Jon, and their family.

Kay Wyma wears many hats. She was as an international banker and a staffer at the White House. Currently, she’s an author, blogger, entrepreneur, speaker, vodcaster – and most importantly – a wife and a mom to five kids! Like me, I know you want to find out how is she not overwhelmed by all these and what she does to stay on top of it all. She gives us the answers on this episode of Your Story with Melinda!

The messaging of the world leads us to shame, silence, and isolation. Instead of recognizing our kids’ unique qualities, as parents, sometimes we act like we want our kids to “be great” at everything. But this messaging is “not the boss of us”, as guest author Kay Wyma discusses today. Kay reminds us of our phenomenal worth and value, and how believing that identity for ourselves helps fuel us to lead our kids to living out their identity. She calls us to stop valuing our children based on performance, and instead call in truth to point them back to their precious worth to God, and to how loved and uniquely gifted they are to Him. (Today’s podcast references Ephesians 2, Isaiah 55:8-9, Matthew 11:28, Isaiah 43:1, Daniel 3:26, Phil 4:6)   Get the encouragement and support you need to teach your kids to love Christ in a world that doesn’t — directly to your inbox each week!   Christian Parenting offers trusted guidance for the hardest job there is. CONNECT WITH OUR COMMUNITY Facebook // Twitter // Instagram //  

Most of us are all too familiar with the feeling of being overwhelmed.  Whether it is due to our own decision making, challenging news, unexpected events, financial strain or emotional weight, this is a topic we intimately understand.  The problem with this state of mind is it takes us out of the game.  We succumb to the stress and stop living a life of joy, abundance, and fruitfulness. We are not the only ones who feel this way.  My guest, Kay Wyma, talks about how overwhelm also negatively impacts and damages our youth.  There is a solution.  All of us, adults and children alike, can stand up under the pressure, and lean into truth, hope, and light. If you or your children are overwhelmed by any part of life right now, this is your interview!

Remember THAT viral video? You know, the one where the mom wears the Chewbacca mask? Her contagious laugh was heard all over the interwebs. Today my friend and vodcast host, Kay Wyma, and I are thrilled to chat with the one and only Chewbacca Mom, Candace Payne. Listen in as Candace gives us a glimpse into more of her story.  And talks about finding satisfying joy in all of life’s circumstances. Happiness brings instant gratification based on things that happen to us… Joy’s that thing that satisfies and lasts beyond [circumstances]. What we chat about: How joy informs who we are “behind the mask.” Finding joy in the little things… like a Chewbacca mask in the clearance aisle of Kohl’s. Overcoming adversity by choosing positivity. The two types of joy and where we can find true satisfaction. Changing a “never” list to an “always” list. Choosing hope over fear, and thriving even when the worst-case happens. What can happen when you stop living in anxiety. Fighting comparison, the frenemy of joy. Links Mentioned: “Laugh It Up!” by Candace Payne**  When Your Wounded Soul Needs a Smiling God with Lisa Harper Kay Wyma and the SaySomething Show

Heather MacFadyen, mother of four boys, interviews guests discussing the topic of staying God-centered...both replacing "me" with "He" and remembering we are centered in Him.

Heather MacFadyen, mother of four boys, interviews guests discussing the topic of staying God-centered...both replacing "me" with "He" and remembering we are centered in Him. /

In this message at The Nest, Kay Wyma talks to moms about embracing contentment and choosing to not get caught up in the comparison game.

In this message at The Nest, Kay Wyma talks to moms about embracing contentment and choosing to not get caught up in the comparison game.

Is comparison hijacking your life? Come spend an evening with author Kay Wills Wyma and find relief from living in comparison. Most of us can relate to the questions asked in her new book I’m Happy for You: “Tired of performing? Feeling weighed down by the pressure to be Pinteresting? Does your friend’s wardrobe, body, [...]

What if your son can't read as he enters first grade? What if your daughter prefers wrestling to ballet? What if your living room sofa has a couple rips and stains from a decade of use? These things shouldn't be a big deal. But then you notice your friend's first grade boy is reading chapter books. . . and her daughter gracefully glides into class with a giant bow on her head . . . and their living room just got a make-over with coordinating floor-to-ceiling curtains. Personally? My feelings of "less than" often start at a place of comparison. I know I shouldn't compare. I know it doesn't make me feel good. Yet day after day I glance around making sure I keep pace with the Joneses. How do I move past comparison to contentment? And even more important, how do I get to a place where I can celebrate her athletic child or new couch or beach vacation? Well, today's podcast guest, Kay Wyma, shines a light on the age old comparison problem and guides us to a better place of connection and true community. In Kay's latest book, "I'm Happy for You (Sort Of . . .Not Really)", she helps readers find contentment in a culture of comparison. "Looking at what we lack prevents us from noticing how sweet the world already is. But when we shift our focus from what could be to what actually is, we find extraordinary joy in our ordinary lives."  I've been a big Kay fan since a dinner party over six years ago.  As I sat hugely pregnant with our 3rd son, she encouraged me in my role as young mom. Kay is authentic, brilliant and refreshing.  My hope is her wisdom and practical tips in this episode help you stop comparing and draw you closer to the women you interact with daily. What we chat about: Encouraging one another by running alongside, instead of determined to "win" Focusing on "being together" more than hosting the perfect dinner party Being our best instead of being "the best", discovering our "you"-niqueness How a "mental" computer reboot (cnt/alt/del) helps fight comparison Whose light is revealing your reflection (& the Kylie Jenner Challenge) How to help our kids navigate social media and speak life to their friends How our friends can help us "reboot" the messages we believe. How to enter back-to-school with fresh perspective, moving from comparison to compassion (repurposing school supplies). Why I can never look at an Instagram pic of feet on the beach the same way. Connect with Kay: The MOAT Blog :: Facebook :: Twitter Links Mentioned: I'm Happy for You (Sort Of...Not Really): Finding Contentment in a Culture of Comparison *Amazon Affiliate Link Kathie Lee Gifford video

Do you get angry because your kids are never satisfied or lack gratitude? Do they have a sense of entitlement or you hear them say, “That’s not fair!” Did you just answer, yes? You might be a “Snowplow Partent”. Come listen to author Kay Wyma share about Comparison and Entitlement. Despite good intentions, many people in today’s culture foster a sense of entitlement in their children through comparison. Comparison, according to author Kay Wyma, was the tool used in the fall. The narcissism from which entitlement stems, Wyma says, can be cured by learning to look at those around us, rather than what they have. Learn more about the dangers of a self-centered society, and join our conversation.

Do your kids expect clean, folded clothes to magically appear in their drawers? Do they roll their eyes when you suggest they clean the bathroom? By racing in to make their lives easy, have you unintentionally reinforced your children’s belief that the world revolves around them? Kay will share how to raise kids who don’t [...]

Kay Wyma encourages parents to teach their children to work. She believes equipping children to do for themselves builds confidence, whereas enabling them can do just the opposite. Kay shares some essential tasks that she is teaching her children to do, rather than doing the tasks herself.

Kay Wyma encourages parents to teach their children to work. She believes equipping children to do for themselves builds confidence, whereas enabling them can do just the opposite. Kay shares some essential tasks that she is teaching her children to do, rather than doing the tasks herself.

What does it mean to love God with all your heart when the demands of parenting are so great? Mother of five Kay Wyma discusses what this has looked like during her parenting journey. (Please note that owing to a technical problem a portion of Kay's talk is unavailable.)

What does it mean to love God with all your heart when the demands of parenting are so great? Mother of five Kay Wyma discusses what this has looked like during her parenting journey. (Please note that owing to a technical problem a portion of Kay's talk is unavailable.)