The Christian Habits Podcast

Do you have a hard time enjoying that person in your life who annoys you on a regular basis? Would you like to forgive and forget, but you’re not sure how? In today’s podcast, we’ll talk about how to let go of those angry feelings that fester inside of us. We’ll do that by going through the anger questions and Bible verses in the I Deserve a donut book and/or app. If you’re annoyed with someone right now, these questions and Bible verses will help! To listen or subscribe on iTunes: click here Other Resources Anger/Annoyance Questions and Bible Verses 20 Things to be Thankful for When Life is Hard 15 Words That Will Change Your Relationships <enclosure url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/christianhabits/How_to_Stop_Being_Annoyed_w_intro.mp3″ length=”21139365″ type=”audio/mpeg” />

Interview with Ngina Otiende Today I’m excited to have my friend Ngina Otiende on The Christ Habits Podcast. Ngina blogs about the early years of marriage at IntentionalToday.com. I would encourage you to drop over to her blog as she has lots of great advice for both single people and married people! In today’s podcast we’ll be talking about: * Working on your goals and dreams, even when it’s difficult. * Learning how to adjust to a different life than you’re used to living. * Learning to trust God in the midst of uncertainty. * Ngina also shares her story of moving to the States from Kenya three years ago. If you’d like to know more about her journey, click here.  As I listened again to the podcast while preparing to put it on the blog, I was struck by how perfect Ngina’s advice on going through a transition was for me personally, as we just started the empty nest life a few weeks ago. Thankfully, Ngina also sent over five tips for those of us who are going through a transition, in addition to what she says on the podcast. Here are Ngina’s tips: 5 Tips for Those Going Through a Transition from Ngina Otienda 1) Don’t focus on the past. It will drain you and take your focus from the moment 2) Take it one day at a time. You don’t have to figure out the rest of your life now. The only way not to worry about the future is to know what God says about it. Look for and memorize verses of Scriptures that deal with fear, anxiety or any other thing you might be struggling with. Positive thoughts won’t carry you through, God’s Word will. 3) Apply yourself to what God is telling you to do now. Sometimes it will not look big or significant, nothing remotely looking like your big dream or aspiration. But just be obedient. When we are faithful with little, He opens up the next step. Don’t expect to move to the next level, if you are not being faithful with His current instructions. 4) You might have to cut out negative voices, even for a season – people or situations that conflict with God’s current instruction to you. Obviously be wise, be open and honest but realize that God does not mandate that everyone will understand the new thing He’s doing in your life. Don’t carry everyone’s concerns and burdens and discouragement. 5) Most important, intentionally invest in your relationship with God. Spend time in prayer, His word. You can’t slack off on your relationship during transition (or any other time!). You have to be close to God because He’s all you got, your source of strength and your future. <enclosure url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/christianhabits/Interview_with_Ngina.mp3″ length=”27809582″ type=”audio/mpeg” />

Interview with Heidi Bylsma Today I have the privilege of sharing a wonderful interview about marriage with my friend Heidi Bylsma. I hope it’s as much of a blessing to you as it is to me. This is an encouraging interview whether  your marriage could use just a little tweaking or a major overhaul. To listen on iTunes: click here (Note: For some reason the last two podcasts haven’t shown up in iTunes.  You can still get them by subscribing to the podcast in iTunes. Right now, only the subscribers are getting the latest episodes. To subscribe, click on the link above and then click on the little blue button that says “view in iTunes” and then click on subscribe.) Renewing of the Mind Tools Heidi offers several suggestions of ways you can renew your mind if you’re struggling in your marriage. Click on the links below to find the resources she mentioned in the blog. Creating a God List: http://heidibylsma.com/step-6/ Praise Fest and What is it? http://heidibylsma.com/praise-fest/ Truth Cards: http://www.thinwithin.org/truth-cards-what-they-are/ I Deserve a Donut Questions: Available in paperback or Kindle, Android app, or iPhone app. Truth Journaling: https://barbraveling.com/2014/03/09/how-to-truth-journal/ If you’d like to reach Heidi, here are some links for her:  Email address: heidibylsma@gmail.com Speaking: http://heidibylsma.com/speaking/ <enclosure url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/christianhabits/Heidi_Podcast_with_intro.mp3″ length=”29817575″ type=”audio/mpeg” ></enclosure>

In today’s podcast we’ll talk about 6 steps to breaking free from idolatry. This podcast is based on a post I wrote last year, although I’ve changed the steps just a bit. To see that post and the study that goes with it, click here. To listen to the post in iTunes, click here. For the idolatry quiz, click here. Other resources: * Made to Crave, by Lysa TerKeurst * Gospel Treason, by Brad Bigney * Idolatry Sermon Series, by Brad Bigney * Idolatry Series, on my blog                 <enclosure url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/christianhabits/chp10_how_to_break_free_from_idolatry.mp3″ length=”13419982″ type=”audio/mpeg” ></enclosure>

Do you ever get tired of working on breaking that habit? I know I do. In today’s podcast we’ll talk about 5 reasons to keep working on those habits when it would be so much easier to give up. For more help with breaking habits, check out the breaking a habit tab at the top of this blog. url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/christianhabits/5_Reasons_You_Should_Keep_Working_On_Your_Habit.mp3″ length=”12333728″ type=”audio/mpeg” />  

Do you ever feel like a complete and total failure? Do you ever feel like a mild loser? Either way, this podcast will help. We’ll go through the self-condemnation questions and insecurity Bible verses from I Deserve a Donut with our own failures in mind. To listen on iTunes: click here Here are the questions we’ll be discussing (these are in the book and the android app, but they’re not in the iPhone app as I wrote them after publishing the app): Insecurity: Self-Condemnation Questions * Why do you think you’re a failure (terrible person, bad Christian, etc.)? * Does that really make you a failure (terrible person/bad Christian, etc.)? Why or why not? * * Whose standards are you using to determine whether or not you’re acceptable? * What does God think of those standards? * How does God feel about you? (See insecurity verses for ideas.) * God is not a condemning perfectionist parent. He’s a loving Father who says, “Come to me, my beloved, and let me help.” In what areas do you need help? * Take some time to ask Him to help you with those areas. * Is there anything you need to accept? * Is there anything God wants you to do? * What can you thank God for in this situation? * If you’re having a hard time answering this question, look through the insecurity verses and think about grace. If you’re going the bad Christian route, think about the life of David and Romans 3:23. Possible things you’ll need to accept: that you’ll never be as good as you want to be, that others will see your imperfections (just as you see their imperfections), and that you’ll fail at times. Everyone does—it’s part of the human condition, so you might as well get used to it! Possible things you’ll need to confess: condemning someone God loves (you!), giving yourself permission to give up because you feel like a failure, and making “success” more important than God wants you to make it. Click on the following link for the insecurity Bible verses: Insecurity Bible Verses <enclosure url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/christianhabits/When_You_Feel_Like_a_Loser.mp3″ length=”13690779″ type=”audio/mpeg” ></enclosure>

See also:  Taste for Truth Christian Weight Loss Podcast. Click here for more info! Click here to view on iTunes. Interview with Christina Smith Today I’m excited to share an interview with my friend Christina. We’ll be talking about how to follow lifelong eating boundaries, how to break free from the idol of skinny, and how Facebook sometimes gets in the way of that. Christina shares her journey and how God has helped her along the way. She also gives practical suggestions for change. To subscribe or listen on iTunes: click here Other Resources: * Taste for Truth: A 30 Day Weight Loss Bible Study – also discusses body image * I Deserve a Donut (And Other Lies That Make You Eat) * Insecurity Bible Verses * When You’re Not Good Enough Bible Study * Idolatry Series * Thin Within blog <enclosure url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/christianhabits/Christine_Interview_2.mp3″ length=”24675329″ type=”audio/mpeg” />

Do you ever feel like you can’t break that habit that has been plaguing you all your life? In today’s podcast we’ll talk about three steps you can take if you want to break your habit. To listen on iTunes: click here To listen on Stitcher: click here If you’d like more info on this subject click on the following links: * How to Set Boundaries * Secondary Boundaries * How to Set Boundaries To Break Free From Idolatry * The Renewing of the Mind <enclosure url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/christianhabits/How_to_Break_a_Habit_Test_with_intro.mp3″ length=”14689750″ type=”audio/mpeg” ></enclosure>

In this episode of the Christian Habits Podcast, we’ll talk about an attitude that keeps us from breaking our habits.  If you’d like help with breaking a habit, check out the breaking a habit tab at the top of this blog. Click here to see the questions on today’s podcast. To listen on iTunes: click here To listen on Stitcher: click here <enclosure url=”http://traffic.libsyn.com/christianhabits/Entitlement_1.2.mp3″ length=”10715754″ type=”audio/mpeg” ></enclosure>

http://traffic.libsyn.com/christianhabits/people_pleasing_2.mp3   Do you ever feel like you have to say yes when someone asks you to do something? Do often find yourself saying yes and then regretting it later? Does it bother you when people are unhappy with you? If so, you may be a people pleaser. In this podcast, we’ll talk about 6 different things you can do if you want to break the habit of people pleasing. We’ll also renew our minds with the people pleasing questions from I Deserve a Donut. If you’d like to subscribe to the podcast or listen to it on iTunes, click here, and then click “View on iTunes.” (It may not be there right away as I am having technical difficulties, which also explains why I have two play buttons rather than one!) People Pleasing Questions * Why do you want to make this person happy? * What will make him happy? * Are you able to make that happen? * Will that really make him happy? Explain. * Are you: * Interfering with what God wants to do in this person’s life by always trying to make him happy? Explain. * Tempted to do something God doesn’t want you to do (or not do something God wants you to do) just so you can make this person happy? Explain. * Remembering that only God can fill this person up and make him happy? * Neglecting your responsibilities (as a parent, for example) just to avoid making this person mad? * How do you think God wants you to handle this situation? * Why do you think He wants you to handle it that way? * What would you need to sacrifice, give up, or risk to do what God wants you to do? * What will you gain if you do what God wants you to do? * Is there anything you need to accept? * What can you thank God for in this situation? Question: Are you a people pleaser? Do you have any tips for us?

See also:  Taste for Truth Christian Weight Loss Podcast. Click here for more info! Click here to view on iTunes. Interview with Terry Tignor Today I’m excited to share an interview with my friend Terry Tignor, who has lost 140 pounds over the last 2 1/2 years. Terry is the friend I mentioned in the intro to I Deserve a Donut (And Other Lies That Make You Eat). Terry has wonderful words of wisdom, and I know her interview will encourage you, no matter how many pounds you have to lose! In this episode, Terry shares some of her struggles along the way and how God helped her through the process. Resources We Talked About on the Podcast * Why We Get Fat and What To Do About It, By Gary Taubes To listen on iTunes: click here To listen on Stitcher: click here http://traffic.libsyn.com/christianhabits/03_03__140_Weight_Loss_-_Interview_with_my_friend_Terry.mp3 I hope you enjoy the interview. I submitted my podcast to iTunes today so should be available there in the next day or two! (Unless I did something wrong!)

Welcome to the Christian Habits podcast, episode two! I won’t normally write a separate blog post to go with the podcast, but thought I would today so I could explain what it’s like to do a podcast. The nice thing about blogging is that if you forget to say something when you write the first draft, you can easily add it in before you publish. Or if you said something you didn’t want to say, you can easily take it out. You can’t do that with podcasting! Or at least if you can, I don’t know how to do it yet. So if you ever hear me saying something in a podcast and think, Does Barb really believe that?, write and ask me. It could be that I was just being spacey–as in today’s podcast when I called my youngest daughter my oldest daughter–or it could be that I’m wrong and need correction! What I Meant to Say Here’s an example. In today’s podcast I talk about some practical ways to change our lives when we’re discontent. If I’d been on the ball, I would have given you lots of examples rather than just a couple from my own life. I also would have pointed out that sometimes we have to give up what we think we need to be happy–but that that’s not a big deal since God is the only one who can make us truly happy anyway. But alas, I got sidetracked and didn’t say all those things. I can already see that podcasting will be a wonderful “opportunity” to let go of perfectionism. Hopefully, this is the last time I’ll correct myself on the blog unless I say something really drastic. But as you listen to future episodes, just keep in mind that I am forgetful, absent-minded, spacey, and technologically challenged so listen to each podcast with that in mind! Show Notes I also wanted to let you know that if I reference something in the podcast, I’ll try to include the link to it or information for it in the blog post. Podcasters call the blog post the “show notes” so if you hear me saying that, it’s just the blog post. Today’s “show notes” include the discontentment questions and Bible verses from I Deserve a Donut (And Other Lies That Make You Eat). Here they are: Discontentment Bible Verses and Questions * Why are you unhappy? * What do you think will make you happy? * Will that really make you happy? Why or why not? * Are you able to create the conditions you think will make you happy? * Yes: If so, do you think God wants you to work on that? Why or why not? * No: If not, is there anything else you can do to make life better? Explain. * Is God enough to satisfy you, even if you don’t get what you want? * What is one thing you can do to draw closer to Him today? * What is one thing you can do to show love to others today? Be specific. * Is there anything you need to accept? * Is there anything you need to hold with open hands? * Is there anything God wants you to do? * What can you thank God for in this situation? Discontentment Bible Verses Psalm 43:5Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. niv Psalm 40:1-3a I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.

A few months ago, I interviewed my friend Terry who lost 140 pounds. Rather than doing it on video, I thought, I’ll just tape it and then I can make a podcast. Little did I know how complicated it was to make a podcast! It’s definitely not for the technologically faint of heart! But thanks to Terry’s wise words of wisdom that I wanted to share with all of you, I persevered. And now I am excited to introduce my new podcast! I’ll be doing some interviews, some how-to podcasts, and some podcasts you can use to renew your mind with either on the way home from work, while you exercise or clean your house, or anything else you might like to do. I look forward to walking, exercising, cleaning, and commuting with you! How to Listen to the Podcast To listen on iTunes: click here To listen on Stitcher: click here For a list of all podcast episodes: click here I’ll try to post a podcast every Wednesday (the interview with my friend is the third episode), at least for the first few months, and will also cut down on my regular posts during this time period so I can put my efforts into the podcast. After it starts becoming routine, then I’ll start doing a mix of regular posts and podcasts. I hope you enjoy listening to it. This whole thing will be somewhat experimental so please let me know if you have any ideas of how to make the podcasts better! This is definitely a learning-as-I-go experience! Here’s the first podcast! (Hopefully!) (If you’re getting this post by email, you may need to go to my blog to access it.) http://traffic.libsyn.com/christianhabits/01_01__Intro_to_The_Christian_Habits_Podcast.mp3

This isn’t a podcast, but it’s listed as a podcast because of the recording. Suppose you’ve been trying to lose the same 20 pounds (or break that same bad habit) for the last six years. Every time you start doing well, something comes up: a vacation, a holiday (Easter, for example), a hectic few weeks at work or at home–something that throws you off your weight loss plan. What you really want is just to relax and enjoy life–eat what you want when you want–and still be able to lose or maintain your weight. Is that too much to ask? After all, aren’t we told that life should be easy? That we should be able to get what we want with very little effort? Let’s do an option chart to see if we can get what we want in this situation. Since we also want a close walk with God, let’s add that column to the chart this time. Once again, I’ll use a recording to explain the chart.  (I explained these charts in my last post. Click here to get that post.) The recording is 5:54, and I apologize for it being a bit “echo-y.” I’m trying to find the best place in the house to do this, and didn’t choose a good room today! To listen to the sound recording, click here. Options Lose Weight The Good Life!! Relationship with God Lose weight quickly and easily!!!!!!! NOT AN OPTION!!! Give up because it’s too hard. ↓  ↑↓  ?↓ Muster up all the will power you can find and just lose this weight!!!!! You can do it!!!!  ↓  ↓  ? Renew your mind every once in awhile to see if that helps. ?↓ ↓  ?↑ Give up whenever it’s hard and start being good tomorrow!!! ↓ ↑↓  ?↓ Beat yourself up because you’re such a failure.  ↓  ↓  ↓ Commit to 1) lifelong boundaries 2) renewing your mind every single time you break your boundaries. Get an accountability partner if you can’t make yourself renew your mind.  ↑  ↓↑  ↑ P.S. In order for an option chart to be a true “renewing of the mind” tool, you would need a  “Relationship with God” column as that will help you look at life from a biblical perspective. P.S.S. I’m thinking of starting a podcast. If anyone has any advice for me or ideas for a title, please let me know! I interviewed my friend who lost 140 pounds this week and was fascinated by all she had to say, but I haven’t been able to figure out how to put it on my blog yet. Any suggestions would be helpful! Other Weight Loss Resources Taste for Truth: A 30 Day Weight Loss Bible Study is focused on the lies that make us eat, body image, and the weight loss process. I wrote this Bible study to go along with the questions and Bible verses in I Deserve a Donut, and although you can do the study without I Deserve a Donut, it’s best if you have both books. I Deserve a Donut (And Other Lies That Make You Eat) is a renewing of the mind resource to use in the midst of temptation and also to prepare yourself for temptation. I use it all the time, just for regular life. It is filled with 36 sets of questions and over 150 Bible verses that you can use to have...

Do you ever say, “If only I hadn’t messed up,” or “If only life were easier?”  “If only I had made a different choice?”  “If only I were more like so-and-so?” So often we live in the land of “if only” and “I should have.” This is not a pleasant place to live. Not only does this sap our energy and make us constantly discontent with life, it also keeps us from looking at our real-life options. We spend so much energy thinking about what we should have done or what we wish life were like, that we have no energy left over to stop and think, “Okay, I can’t change reality, but what can I do?” And is what I’m currently doing, working? If you struggle with regret and if only, an option chart will help you renew your mind. Since this is kind of a hard tool to describe, I’m going to try to be a real techy person and explain it in a recording. Since this is the first time I’ve ever tried to put a recording on my blog and I’m not a techy person by any stretch of the imagination, let’s use my own trial today for example. First I’ll truth journal and then I’ll make an option chart. Truth Journaling Example Beliefs: 1. I can’t believe this is so hard. 2. If only I were more of a techy person. 3. Maybe I should do this later. 4. Or use a different example. This isn’t a very good example. 5. Maybe I should skip it altogether since it will be so hard to figure out. 6. Besides, I probably won’t be able to figure it out anyway. Truths: 1. This is not surprising! Most techy things are hard in the beginning for me. Why should this be any different? 2. But I’m not, so I might as well accept it. God can use this struggle for good in my life. 3. I have been saying that for almost two years now. I could say that ’til the day I die. Let’s just get it over with. 4. Oh well. If I go for perfection, I’ll never get it done. Let’s just do this. 5. No, Barb. You want to do it. Get it done! 6. I bet I will! Option Chart Example Truthfully, just truth journaling would probably have been enough to make myself do this, but since this is supposed to be a post about option charts, I better continue on! Here are the steps to making an option chart: * Put in the column headings. List what you want in the column headings. In this case I want a recording on my blog, but I also want an easy life. I also want a close relationship with God, so when I’m making my own option charts, I always include a “Relationship with God” column. But because I can’t fit three columns in the blog format and my main purpose of this post is to show you how to make an option chart, I’ll leave the “Relationship with God” column out of it. * List what you really want: In this case, what I really want is for it to be EASY to put a recording on my blog. * Cross out that option if it’s not a real-world option and write “NOT AN OPTION!!!” in huge bold letters to drill it into your head that this is not a real-life option so you might as well stop thinking about it! * List some real world options. Try to include the ones you’ve been using. * Evaluate each option by placing up and down arrows. Up if they’ll get you what you want. Down if it won’t. A recording on my blog The Fun & Easy Life Get this recording on the blog (and write this post) in 15 minutes with little effort!!! NOT  AN OPTION!!!!!!!!!!! Give up: Just say,