I often refer to myself as a podcast junkie. I currently subscribe to over 50 ranging in topics from theological to book recommendations to racial justice to church planting and beyond. I subscribe to Audible so I can listen to the New York Times. I also have one “for fun” book and one “for work” book that I am listening to on audible as well as numerous hard-copy “for work” books, one “for fun” book and one “for personal development” book that I am in the middle of.
With six kids in 4 different schools plus activities, I spend a lot of time in the car driving to places or with 10 minutes of down-time between pick-ups. In case the podcasts and books aren’t enough to fill that time with, I also have access to my work and personal e-mail as well as my grad school syllabus on my phone and can always read articles from one of the Facebook groups I subscribe to about fostering, mothering, planting a church or making my own chicken food (yes, we have groups to talk about our chickens).
There is endless opportunity to learn and achieve.
And while these are all good things (I mean, who doesn’t want to learn how to make their chickens happier, which results in even better tasting eggs?!), I can use this to create my identity.
Instead of sitting in the silence and listening for God, I may turn on my YouVersion Bible app and read someone else’s thoughts on a Bible passage. Instead of standing outside in the pick-up line engaging another mom in a conversation, I might listen to the latest mommy-podcast. Instead of simply letting my mind rest, I might scroll through my e-mail inbox.
Instead of feeling like I need to constantly be improving and bettering myself, I should pause and be reminded that my value is in being a child of God, not in what I know.
Will you take a moment with me to pause?
Don’t just skip this and move on to the next post…….
Sit…….
Rest……
Listen…..
Remember…..
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephisians 2:8-9 ESV, emphasis mine.
Christine is the Lead Pastor at ARK United Methodist Church, a church replant in North Sioux City, SD. She is also a Ministry Coach with MOPS Int’l, wife to Matthew, a foster and bio mom to 6 kids, and an aspiring chicken homesteader leaning on the grace and hope of God amidst life’s messes.
With six kids in 4 different schools plus activities, I spend a lot of time in the car driving to places or with 10 minutes of down-time between pick-ups. In case the podcasts and books aren’t enough to fill that time with, I also have access to my work and personal e-mail as well as my grad school syllabus on my phone and can always read articles from one of the Facebook groups I subscribe to about fostering, mothering, planting a church or making my own chicken food (yes, we have groups to talk about our chickens).
There is endless opportunity to learn and achieve.
And while these are all good things (I mean, who doesn’t want to learn how to make their chickens happier, which results in even better tasting eggs?!), I can use this to create my identity.
Instead of sitting in the silence and listening for God, I may turn on my YouVersion Bible app and read someone else’s thoughts on a Bible passage. Instead of standing outside in the pick-up line engaging another mom in a conversation, I might listen to the latest mommy-podcast. Instead of simply letting my mind rest, I might scroll through my e-mail inbox.
Instead of feeling like I need to constantly be improving and bettering myself, I should pause and be reminded that my value is in being a child of God, not in what I know.
Will you take a moment with me to pause?
Don’t just skip this and move on to the next post…….
Sit…….
Rest……
Listen…..
Remember…..
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephisians 2:8-9 ESV, emphasis mine.
Christine is the Lead Pastor at ARK United Methodist Church, a church replant in North Sioux City, SD. She is also a Ministry Coach with MOPS Int’l, wife to Matthew, a foster and bio mom to 6 kids, and an aspiring chicken homesteader leaning on the grace and hope of God amidst life’s messes.
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