Mary Marantz's Blog: Slow Growth Equals Strong Roots, page 7

EP. 119: Biblical Principles to Overcome Overwhelm with Jordan Raynor

APPLE PODCAST | SPOTIFY | STITCHER SUBSCRIBE HERE LEAVE A REVIEW This is your ONE, precious life.  Do you feel like your life, your time, is actually YOURS? Or do you mostly feel pulled in a million directions and distracted from doing the DEEP work of calling on your life?  I don’t know about you – but I could really use a guidebook to remain present and productive in this digitally distracted world. Thankfully, my friend, Jordan Raynor, read my mind and wrote a book on exactly this topic.  Jordan’s perspective on time management is shaped by the Gospel and as he says in his book, Redeeming Your Time , “the Gospel is our ultimate source of both ambition and rest,” and that truth has tremendous applications for how we redeem our time. In the last five years alone, Jordan has built two businesses that have created more than 100 jobs, signed 7 book deals, and helped millions of Christians in every country connect the gospel to their work. So, I’d say he knows a thing or two about productivity. In addition to desiring presence of mind, I feel like I’ve been holding this tension recently between work and rest. I know it’s important to rest, but how does that hold up in relation to pursuing work with excellence?Well, Jordan and I sit in this tension until we mine out some gold in today’s episode on the Mary Marantz Show. Jordan is sharing the exact blueprint of how to sift through all those open loops in your mind keeping you distracted and how to truly begin doing the good work that God has prepared for us in advance. One of my favorite things he chatted about was the Zeigarnik effect. Essentially, this effect states that people remember unfinished tasks better than completed tasks. As a result, we keep rehearsing the to dos in our head, causing a lot of anxiety because we are afraid we’ll forget to complete this action and drop the ball altogether.  Jordan’s solution to this was surprisingly simple (don’t you just love when that happens?) He said that you don’t actually have to close the open loop to get it off your brain – you just have to store them in a trusted external system. Jordan calls this a commitment tracking system. [image error]

Keeping a tracked system alleviates our anxiety and stress because we have a comprehensive, trusted place that ensures we will follow through on our word.  

And you know what happens when we follow through on our word? Others trust us more.

And as my friend Kim Butler says, trust leads to opportunity. Be faithful in the small things because that leads to our reputation. 

Now if that’s not a WORD, I don’t know what is!

In this episode, Jordan and I also chat about: 

While we were saved BY faith, we are also called to do good works! We should care deeply about redeeming our time in whatever field God is calling us to.The real reason why it’s important to redeem our time (hint: it’s not for our success)How to make our yes an actual yes, and how to clear space if need to make a yes a no in the interimTangible tips to eliminate the constant noise in today’s culture

Friend, if you feel like your days are not your own, but you’re so ready to start on the deep, legacy leaving work you know you were called to, today’s episode will be refreshing to your overwhelmed soul.

More From This Episode: 

Connect with Jordan on Instagram and be sure to pre-order his new book, ‘Redeeming Your Time’. 

Subscribe to the Mary Marantz Show weekly email and get a weekly dose of inspiration and grit delivered right to your inbox

 You May Also Like: How Your Small Yes Can Turn Into Big Impact with Natalie GrantHow To Take Back Your Time in 3 Guilt Free, Easy Steps With Christy WrightHow To Stop Treating Busy As A Badge of Honor With Emily Lex5 Principles To Win At Work and Succeed At Life With Megan Hyatt MillerHow To Live More By Doing Less with Tonya Dalton SUBSCRIBE TO THE
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EP. 118: How Your Small Yes Can Turn Into Big Impact With Natalie Grant

APPLE PODCAST | SPOTIFY | STITCHER SUBSCRIBE HERE LEAVE A REVIEW

Do you ever feel a bit less than when you are witnessing the external success and achievements of others around you? Especially when you are going through a season of trial? Whether it’s someone you know on social media or someone you look up to on a stage – it seems like everyone’s achievements are out in the open more than ever. 

In that moment – it can be easy to internalize the lie that unless we are SEEN we are not VALUABLE.Phew. Even if we know in our HEADS that’s not true, believing it in our HEARTS and living that out is a whole, different story. While you can’t always choose the stages you’re on or the trials you go through, my guest on the Mary Marantz Show today is here to show you something much more powerful. Natalie Grant is an Eight-time GRAMMY® nominee and Five-time GMA Dove Awards Female Vocalist of the Year, and has become an icon in Christian & Gospel music. In addition to garnering more than 500 million streams and multiple number #1 albums and singles on the Billboard Charts, she is also a respected author and philanthropist – with her first book releasing, Dare to Be: God is Able. Are You Willing? just last month.  In today’s episode, Natalie speaks openly about experiencing life’s high highs and low lows simultaneously.  Consequently, I think we believe that life is like a roller coaster, where a high is then followed by a low – and then repeat. But more often than not, life is more of a bungee cord, BOTH AND circumstance. Where the highs and lows overlap and happen in parallel. Natalie covers how she experiences this and how she consistently leans in to hear God’s voice – at all times. Because it’s not a question of whether He is speaking, it’s a question of are we listening?  Something that really stood out to me that Natalie said was: “God knew that if we stayed in the mountain top moment, we’d start to think life is all about us. That’s why he takes us to the storm.” There are things he can do with us in the middle of the storm that no mountain top moment will ever give us. And boy was that timely for me. Because how uncomfortable does it feel when we are having a mountaintop moment where things are moving and grooving and we are hitting those goals – but then that turns into a pause moment – where not quite as much is ‘happening.’ That pause moment typically feels more like failure than rest.  But, in all of Natalie’s wisdom, she reminds us that while it’s easy for others to look at the big ‘ta-da’ moments – there are multiple, incredibly important small moments of obedience that lead you there. THOSE are the moments that matter. In this episode, we also cover: The AMAZING story of how Natalie met her conference/movement co-founder Charlotte – in what feels like a once in a lifetime overlap of storiesHow to not panic when you hear God say Pause or PivotThe lessons we learn when our usual is challenged by God’s unusualThe life changing perspective shift to adopt when in a season of desperationFriend, whether you’re in a mountaintop or a valley moment – God SEES you. He cares more about who you are becoming than what you are achieving. And there is so much peace in that. Tune in to this amazing episode and see what happens when you say YES to when God says I DARE YOU. More From This Episode: 

Connect with Natalie on Instagram and be sure to pick up her new book, ‘Dare to Be: God is Able. Are You Willing?’ wherever books are sold.’

Subscribe to the Mary Marantz Show weekly email and get a weekly dose of inspiration and grit delivered right to your inbox

  You May Also Like: How To Take Back Your Time With 3, Guilt Free, Easy Steps With Christy WrightHow To Live A Life Of Surrender With Holly HayesEssential Habits For An Extraordinary Faith With Pastor Justin KendrickWhy You Should Leave Your Comfort Zone Today With Zim FloresA Surrendered Yes With Rebekah Lyons SUBSCRIBE TO THE
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It’s Time To Make Yourself Proud with Mary Marantz

One of the hardest things about seeing your own progress is that by the time you get somewhere, you already have your eyes on another mountaintop.

In other words: You are never the same person when you hit a milestone as you are when you first set it. So somewhere along the way in getting there, inch by inch, mile by mile… that goal becomes not such a big deal anymore. 

It just becomes part of your new normal.

So you can forget that all around you, right now, today, you are surrounded by the very things you once prayed for. And here’s the really scary part.

If we’re not careful… we could spend our whole life that way.

In my experience, the quickest way back from this ledge of a life lived without awe is to ask “Day 1 you” what she has to say about it. Whether that’s the the littlest version of you, last year you, or this morning you… let her tell you how she sees it.

Let her hop into the time-traveling phone booth of your life and imagine that she was just waking up right now to see how very far you’ve come..

Imagine her jumping up and down, dancing around at this life you’ve built, slow clapping at the courage it took to get here. And let her reaction be the reminder….

One day, you’ll be SO HAPPY you didn’t give up.

One day, you are going to make YOURSELF so proud.

Subscribe to the Mary Marantz Show weekly email and get a weekly dose of inspiration and grit delivered right to your inbox

You May Also Like: Finding Strength To Take Back Your Story with Desiree SiegfriedWhat Comparison Really Robs Us Of (It May Not Be What You Think!)How To Un-Hurry Our Hearts With Jennifer Dukes LeeTrusting The Journey With Morgan Harper Nichols SUBSCRIBE TO THE
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EP. 117: How to Take Back Your Time in 3, Guilt Free Steps with Christy Wright

APPLE PODCAST | SPOTIFY | STITCHER SUBSCRIBE HERE LEAVE A REVIEW It’s time to take back your calendar. It’s time to take back your schedule. It’s time to take back your TIME. ….without guilt. Sound too good to be true?  Well, that might be because your definition of LIFE BALANCE is … well… out of balance.  And it’s not your fault! Life balance was most likely a behavior and mindset you picked up either from childhood or through the lens of comparison – and never even knew to question it!  I mean, just think about it! When you think of life balance – what images come to mind? Juggling it all?  Walking a tightrope? As a result, we think to have balance – we have to do it all the time and do it well.  And if you’re anything like me, your inner dialogue goes something like this: “If I can just be productive enough, good enough, work on overdrive to complete that mile long to do list – then on the other side I will feel BALANCED.” This definition of life balance is not only wrong, but it’s toxic!  In addition, with every generation, we add on new pressures. More demands. More opportunities. New technology. More accessibility.  If you really think about it – did your mother or your grandmother feel the pressure to do everything and do it well?! Honestly – probably not.  If you’re ready to swap overdrive exhaustion for balanced peace – Christy Wright’s message is here to speak to your heart today. In her new book, Take Back Your Time: The Guilt-Free Guide to Life Balance , Christy reveals the main reasons why we feel out of balance and how to combat those. She also lays out the path to balance that anyone can walk in order to ditch the distractions in life and focus on what really matters. Christy has truly become a friend to me during this season, and I’m so grateful for her honesty and transparency in our conversation on the podcast today. Something she said that really stood out to me was:  “We judge others by what they are doing right and what we are doing wrong.”  Woof. Isn’t that so true?! We push ourselves into overdrive because our focus is on how great everyone else is doing – and simultaneously on the 1 or 2 things we failed at that day. So what if we changed that? HOW do we change that?! I love how practical Christy is able to break down exactly this – and how to take back your time through creating your ideal calendar.  The first step?  Start with a blank slate on your calendar.  Don’t simply move the puzzle pieces around. Take a blank weekly calendar and put it next to your current calendar. Then fill in the things you absolutely *have* to do. Things like: go to work, take the kids to school, etc. I think you’ll be surprised by how FEW items end up in this category. Therefore, this begins to set up your ideal calendar so that you can see how much time you can then fill into your calendar with things you LIKE to do.  Want the next three steps to create that perfect, ideal calendar? Be sure to tune into today’s episode for Christy’s easy to apply, 3 step process. We are also covering:  The deeper heart wounds that drive us to perform What we learn in childhood that needs to be unlearned as an adult about love.How to find peace in an unbalanced worldFriends, this deep and heartfelt conversation truly spoke to my soul and I’m so grateful to Christy for her time and the wisdom she is sharing on today’s episode. If you’re ready for peace instead of pressure, be sure to hit play on this episode so you can start to take your time back right NOW. More From This Episode: 

Connect with Christy Wright on Instagram and be sure to pick up her new book, ‘Take Back Your Time: The Guilt Free Guide To Life Balance’ wherever books are sold.’

Subscribe to the Mary Marantz Show weekly email and get a weekly dose of inspiration and grit delivered right to your inbox

  You May Also Like: Do It Scared: Why Your Story Was Made To Be Shared With Christy WrightHow To Stop Treating Busy As A Badge Of Honor With Emily LexHow To Un-Hurry Your Heart With Jennifer Dukes LeeHow To Embrace What Matters Most With Kendra AdachiHow To Make Friends As An Adult With Jeanette Tapley SUBSCRIBE TO THE
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EP. 116: How to Make Friends as an Adult With Jeanette Tapley

  APPLE PODCAST | SPOTIFY | STITCHER SUBSCRIBE HERE LEAVE A REVIEW Do you remember making friendship bracelets? You know, the multi-colored string bracelets that you would pass out to all of your friends.  Or how about the silver and gold BFF heart necklaces?! The ones where you would take half of the heart and give your best friend the other half! Looking back now, it seems like a cute but an incredibly silly and childish thing to do, doesn’t it? BUT – on the other hand, I can’t stop thinking about how EASY it was to make friends as a kid.  In fact, I even remember making a “best friend” waiting in line at Dollywood one summer! We effortlessly chatted the entire wait time in line without fear of what the other person was thinking, trepidation of saying the wrong thing, or the anxiety of fitting-in.  Interestingly enough, what’s also ingrained in my mind is the memory of the two of us turning to our moms and saying that THEY should be best friends too! Our moms thought we were cute. Laughed it off. And, continued waiting in line.  I keep coming back to that contrast though.  While I didn’t realize it at the time, I clearly see it now….the stark difference between my childlike experience and my mom’s adult experience is actually very telling.  Something happens as we get older that makes finding, cultivating, and keeping friendships much more challenging than it once was. It’s probably a combination of things — being shaped by life’s experiences, building walls as a defense mechanism if we’ve been hurt, running a million miles an hour in different directions, finding ourselves in different seasons of life… The longer the list becomes, the lonelier we feel and the more challenging we believe that friendships actually are.  BUT! Today’s guest nailed it when she said: We have to stop believing that friendships are hard. Friendships are worth the work we put into them. SO good!  Take a minute to let that sink in! And! Get a pen ready because you are going to want to take notes from today’s episode!  In fact, I am so incredibly excited about today’s conversation for a couple reasons: We are talking about adult friendships. I think that this is something that SO many of us struggle with!Today’s guest, Jeanette Tipley, is the host of the “Let’s Get Coffee” podcast, AND a very dear friend of mine who has become an expert in this exact topic! You are going to LOVE her and our conversation! I really feel like it couldn’t be more practical or timely! Here’s the thing, Jeanette explains that friendship does not have to be hard; BUT, it does have to be intentional.  It is SO easy to get caught up in busy schedules and other excuses only to wake up and find we have slowly but surely drifted apart from the very people we care the most about! Jeanette even shares a story today about how 3 years (yes, 3!) went by before reconnecting with one of her best friends! It happens. I’ve been there. I get it! But! There are some tangible tips we can put into place to avoid this slippery slope! Set a reminder to check-in – So easy! Just put reminders in your phone to check-in with certain people! Even just a quick text or phone once a week can help you to stay connected! Schedule your next meet-up before leaving your current one– LOVE this one! Don’t leave coffee or dinner with the “let’s do this more often” line. Instead! Take out your calendars and decide on the next time and place right then and there! Be the friend to others that you want to have – This one is huge! Think about what kind of friend you want. Write down a list of qualities if that helps! And, then make sure to show up that way to those around you! Oh friends! There are just a FEW of the ideas and wisdom Jeanette shares with us today!  Make sure you to tune into the full episode where we also: Explore the idea of what it means to have a true place of belonging with people who know you and are forDive into ways to balance the “friendship breakup” with our call to love othersDiscuss how to be an intentional friend to others while finding, making, and keeping friends over the long haul as an adultFlip the script on the idea that friendships are hard while walking away with tangible tips for how to be intentional with scheduling, checking-in, and calendarsI hope that you are ready to join me in dropping the walls and flipping the script as we navigate the intentional act of developing life-giving friendships together!  Now go! Put yourself out there! And start reaping the benefits of your efforts!  I can’t wait to hear your favorite take away from the episode! More From This Episode: 

Connect with Jeanette on Instagram! 

Subscribe to the Mary Marantz Show weekly email and get a weekly dose of inspiration and grit delivered right to your inbox

  You May Also Like: Finding Strength To Take Back Your Story With Desiree SiegfriedHow To Get Real About The Hard Stuff With Debra FiletaBury Your Ordinary: Essential Habits for an Extraordinary FaithHow To Get Real About The Hard Stuff With Debra FiletaRelatable: How to Connect with Anyone, Anywhere With Rachel DeAlto SUBSCRIBE TO THE
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You’re Not Weak: Thoughts On Breaking Generational Chains

Today, I’m calling it OUT, friend.

Enough.

Enough with the self-talk that says you should be moving faster than this, that you should be where someone else is. Enough with the believing you should just buck up and put on a happy face. Enough regret over all the years it took to get you to this very place.

You are so much further along than you’re giving yourself credit for. Because no one knows just how far behind you started.

These miles you’ve walked have not been easy. 

They’ve been a full-frontal marathon through a face full of molasses. An uphill climb. A marathon three-generations deep in the making.

This work you are doing out here is not “easy story” work. It’s not a turn-key life placed gently in your waiting hands, an open door to anything you ever wanted. You have fought for it every step of the way.

But this is the work that three generations from now will point to and say, that was the branch in our family tree that changed everything.

You are doing the work right now that will unravel these tightly stitched seams of trauma and pain and unhealing. Day by day, with muddy, shaking hands, you are feeling your way to freedom.

So just know this, if today feels harder than most….

…You’re not weak, you’re not fragile, you’re not delicate.

You’re out here breaking generational chains…it is ok to be a little exhausted.

And this work that you’re doing is WORTH it.

xo, Mary

You May Also Like: How To Break Unhealthy Generational Cycles With Alex KendrickEssential Habits For An Extraordinary Faith With Pastor Justin KendrickA Mother’s Guide To Raising Herself With Sarah BraggFinding Strength To Take Back Your Story With Desiree Siegfried SUBSCRIBE TO THE
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EP. 115: How to Connect with Anyone, Anywhere With Rachel DeAlto

APPLE PODCAST | SPOTIFY | STITCHER SUBSCRIBE HERE LEAVE A REVIEW True or False:  You are the quiet one in the meeting room for fear of speaking up and saying the wrong thingYou feel like you’re constantly connected through social media, but still feel disconnected from everyone in real lifeYou cancel plans at the last minute when you begin to feel your social anxiety kicking inIf you answered ‘true’ to any of the above questions, I have a message for you: Don’t be discouraged! You CAN find connection with everyone you meet, you just need to learn the relatable skills that naturally attract lasting relationships! (I hope that all of my introverts out there are getting excited because I am right there with you!) Quite honestly, it has taken years of conscious awareness and getting out of my comfort zone to move myself away from the safe haven of the hor d’oeuvre stations at networking events, to mingling in the middle of the room. To actually connecting and engaging with those around me! (Although, let’s be real…sometimes the pigs in a blanket are still too tempting to pass up.) You see, connection and healthy relationships are the key to success, productivity, and happiness. Yet despite being constantly plugged in and connected virtually, Americans are more disconnected than ever. Get this! 3 out of 5 Americans report feeling lonely (and this was before the pandemic). The generation reporting the most? Generation Z- those in their early 20s. Lonely workers miss 5x more days of work due to stress and illness, contributing to the growing costs and moral crushing impact of unplanned absenteeism.Lack of social connection heightens health risks as much as smoking 15 cigarettes per day—and are twice as harmful to physical and mental health as obesity.

Can we just take a pause here for a moment?! Those stats are insane!

The truth of the matter is, we all have the desire to belong, to connect. But in the age of social media, making personal connections is becoming more challenging than ever.In fact, today’s guest actually calls it a social crisis that we are facing as a society of not knowing how to talk to each other! The good news? Today, Rachel DeAlto is here to help you to learn how to connect with anyone, anywhere!  From seasoned lawyer to relationship expert for shows like Lifetime’s “Married at First Sight” and TLCs “Dave + Kate,” Rachel knows a thing or two about connection.  She believes: Everyone can be likable. Everyone can be confident. And anyone can achieve this authentically. And friends, she is here to help you do just that!  So! What’s the first way to connect with someone?  Through a conversation! A conversation is a dance – you need a partner! (Makes sense, right?!) But, what do you do when you start to “word vomit?” Or when social anxiety kicks in? Or when you feel your confidence waining with every awkward silence? Talk lessAsk a questionTake a breath (Rachel actually has a 5×5 method she shares with us today in the podcast to reset our nervous system!)Taking these simple steps will help you to reset! They will help you to stop focusing on the negative thoughts swirling around in your head, and help you to be present in the moment! Presence is key to eliminate distractions (even internal ones), to get curious, and to begin connecting! Friends, this is just the tip of the iceberg of my conversation with Rachel today where we also chat about:  How to feel comfortable showing up as our true selves without feeling like we need to play small in order to be relatable External triggers of social anxiety and the grounding that happens when we connect in-person versus onlineWays to pursue adaptability no matter where you are with authenticityUnderstanding the art of reading the roomWhat you need to know to be aspirational and inspirational while still being relatableWe all want to create lasting, authentic, and meaningful connections while still feeling comfortable in our own skin, being confident in who we are, and walking away knowing that we were true to ourselves.  If you are ready for a guide that will help you do just that and take you from socially awkward to awesome, you will not want to miss today’s fresh, humorous, and powerful episode!  It’s a good one! More From This Episode: 

Connect with Rachel on Instagram and be sure to pick up her new book, ‘Relatable: How To Connect With Anyone, Anywhere (Even If It Scares You)’ wherever books are sold.’

Subscribe to the Mary Marantz Show weekly email and get a weekly dose of inspiration and grit delivered right to your inbox

  You May Also Like: The Secret Way Expectations Can Shape Happier Habits With Gretchen RubinHow To Change Overthinking With Jon AcuffThe Surprising Reason Why Positive People Have All The Energy With Meaghan MurphyHow To Live Bold With Grit, Gumption, and Grace With Emily LeyShow Me the Father: How to Break Unhealthy Generational Cycles With Alex Kendrick SUBSCRIBE TO THE
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EP. 114: A Surrendered Yes with Rebekah Lyons

APPLE PODCAST | SPOTIFY | STITCHER SUBSCRIBE HERE LEAVE A REVIEW Feeling stuck really stinks. It just does. There’s no way around it.  And if we’re honest with ourselves, feeling stuck can be the result of when things don’t go according to plan – when we don’t feel like we have control.  Remember 2020? And even most of 2021? Life has pretty much felt like one big exercise of surrendering control of what we thought was going to happen. Whether that be in career plans, school, relationships – we’ve all had to sacrifice a lot. I think it’s safe to say we’ve all learned how to ‘let go’ of what we had hoped for recently – but what now? How do we begin to dream again?  If you’re anything like me, I bet you still have some sort of idea that you can’t go a day without thinking about, that you feel God just keeps giving you those nudges about – and you wonder what it looks like to surrender perhaps in a different way. In a YES way.  “Surrender to me is embracing what is and accepting what is in order to affect what is. Accepting and embracing our reality so we can heal and grow and have impact.”These were the words that Rebekah Lyons – bestselling author, podcast host and national speaker – said to me when I asked her what her definition of a ‘surrendered yes’ actually is. That definition seems a lot more active that what it initially comes across as, doesn’t it?  In her new devotional, A Surrendered Yes: 52 Devotions to Let Go and Live Free, Rebekah offers readers 52 reflections that will move them from striving and fear into freedom, joy and rest. The devotional was catalyzed by Rebekah and her husband saying yes to adopting a little girl, Joy, from China three years ago with a down syndrome diagnosis. Joy had been abandoned at four months at a police station, had lived five and a half years in an orphanage, and was still in diapers and formula when Rebekah brought her home. But when Rebekah felt that initial nudge from God, her first reaction was: ‘We’ve been married 20 years, our oldest is 17, we are too old for this! What is this going to cost me?’  And isn’t that so true of our response when we hear a nudge from God?  We ask Him, and ourselves, ‘What is this going to cost me?’ I believe there are three, main areas that keep us in that thought process and not going for those dreams we know that God placed in our hearts. The first being: Fear of Failure. When I asked Rebekah about this, when we have those thoughts of ‘What if this doesn’t work out? What if others ridicule me? What if I fail?’ She had such an insightful answer, she said: ‘Well, my question back would be: What if you do? What does that mean? What does that say about you? What does that say about God? I always play it out, right.’ And she’s right. What if that DID happen? What if less than stellar results were the outcome? Is it really as bad as we think? Is that worth the pain of regret of not going for it at all? Would you have learned something, grown from it, and become better for it?  Honestly, probably. Pain of failure is easier to digest than pain of regret.  Try to play out the situation the next time you feel you’re sidelining yourself before you even start. I bet you’ll be surprised to see what you experience on the other side – and maybe even find yourself giving God your next surrendered yes. To hear the other two areas that keep us from giving a surrendered yes, be sure to check out my episode with Rebekah out today.  In this episode we also cover: What is means to surrender not only control, but the struggle as wellWhy you are NOT disqualified; even when that’s all you feelHow to say yes even when it means to lay down heartbreaking things

After listening you will be equipped to:

Challenge your mindset when you place yourself on the sidelines before you startLearn what exactly to embrace and accept to take your first stepLive life with ease and peace rather than grabbing for controlIf you’re ready to take action on that idea that you can’t go a day without thinking about, the one God just keeps giving you those nudges on, then don’t miss today’s episode! More From This Episode: 

Connect with Rebekah on Instagram and be sure to pick up her new book, ‘A Surrendered Yes: 52 Devotions To Let Go and Live Free’ wherever books are sold.’

Subscribe to the Mary Marantz Show weekly email and get a weekly dose of inspiration and grit delivered right to your inbox

  You May Also Like: Essential Habits For An Extraordinary Faith With Pastor Justin KendrickFinding Strength To Take Back Your Story with Desiree SiegfriedHow to Live a Life of Surrender with Holly HayesHow To Get Real About The Hard Stuff With Debra FiletaHow to Break Unhealthy Generational Cycles with Alex Kendrick SUBSCRIBE TO THE
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The post EP. 114: A Surrendered Yes with Rebekah Lyons appeared first on marymarantz.com.

EP. 113: How to Break Unhealthy Generational Cycles With Alex Kendrick

APPLE PODCAST | SPOTIFY | STITCHER SUBSCRIBE HERE LEAVE A REVIEW Everyone has a unique father story.  Some positive. Some painful.  If you’ve read my debut book, Dirt, you know what a special relationship I have with my dad.  But… it wasn’t always that way.  We once knew what it was to fight with one another, before we found what it was to fight for one another. To finally hold on with a white-knuckle grip when everything and everyone around us was letting go. Dirt is a reconciliation with the roots that grew me. It’s a story that I’ve become proud of.  What is your father story? Is it filled with wounds or wonder? Is it in need of healing or does it bring happiness? Are you longing for reconciliation, or are you rejoicing?Whether positive or painful, it’s always personal! And, it can deeply affect the core of your identity and direction of your life! Wait until you read this next part… it blew my mind! Research shows that 90% of runaways, 63% of youth suicides, 71% of pregnant teens, and 85% of youth in prison are from fatherless homes! It also goes on to show that those without a father present are 4x more likely to end up in poverty, 10x more likely to use drugs, and 32x more likely to run away. Whoa! Just take a minute and let those numbers sink in.  If they don’t scream out the importance of a father’s role, I don’t know what does.  But! Father wounds are not just found in the fatherless. Those blessed with a present father still have a father story – some healthy, some toxic, some a mix of both.  At the end of the day, our earthly fathers are human. The only Father that will never fail us, is our Heavenly Father.  And THAT is exactly the message today’s guest, Alex Kendrick, is passionate about sharing!  Yes! THE actor, producer, and writer Alex Kendrick of the Kendrick Brothers! A DREAM guest of mine ever since watching the movie Overcomer in theaters and bawling my eyes out! Well! My dream became a reality recently when I got to chat with Alex ALL about his newest film, Show Me The Father.  Show Me The Father is the Kendrick Brothers’ first full documentary featuring a variety of amazing true stories that provide a fresh perspective on the roles of fathers in today’s society.  More importantly, the film invites you to think differently about how you view your earthly father AND how you personally relate to God the Father.  Friends! I wish I could scream from the West Virginia mountaintops about what an AWESOME film this is! I was honored to receive an early viewing and trust me when I say that it will move and inspire you! If you are struggling with your father relationship today. If you are in need of reconciliation from past hurts. If you are wanting to break generational cycles for future generations to come – then make sure to listen up….As important of a role as our earthly fathers play in our lives, we cannot place our identity in any human, not even our dads.  Instead, we MUST place our identity in our Heavenly Father.  Just think about the difference that could make in the lives of those children mentioned in the stats above.  Just think about the difference it could make in your life! Once you place your identity in Christ, then you do NOT have to buy into the lies that encourage you to run away, seek affirmation in the wrong places, reach for things to numb you.  The lies that say you are worthless, incapable, a failure, or unloved.  Instead, your identity in Him says you are a loved, saved, redeemed, forgiven child of God! Amen!! And lastly, if you are struggling in your relationship with God because of your relationship with your dad. Remember this: You can’t hold up your earthly father’s attributes and look at God and think He’s the same way. He’s not the same. Your earthly father may have failed you, but God will not. If you are over there nodding your head and raising your praise hands, then you are definitely going to want to tune into my conversation with Alex today where we also discuss: The influence fathers have in shaping the direction of their children’s livesThe impact of breaking unhealthy generational cycles for generations to comeWays to think differently about how you view your earthly father while rediscovering how you personally relate to God the FatherFinding healing from your personal father wounds by seeking redemption from your Heavenly FatherEveryone has a father story, and it’s still being written – including yours! If you are ready to address old wounds, discover healing, and be inspired to change the lives of others, you will not want to miss today’s powerful episode!  I’m jumping up and down with excitement about this one! More From This Episode: 

Connect with Alex on Instagram and be sure to pick up his book, ‘Courageous’ wherever books are sold.’

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The post EP. 113: How to Break Unhealthy Generational Cycles With Alex Kendrick appeared first on marymarantz.com.

EP.112: Essential Habits for an Extraordinary Faith With Justin Kendrick

APPLE PODCAST | SPOTIFY | STITCHER SUBSCRIBE HERE LEAVE A REVIEW Which statement best defines you: A) I have an ache to be greatB) My value comes from the fact that God loves me I know… kind of a hard hitting question to kick off this Tuesday morning. But! It is an important one. One worth exploring!  Let’s think about this for a second.  If you answered “A” to the question above, chances are you living your life in pursuit of more. More success. More achievements. More greatness. Can you relate? No judgement here! Without a doubt it’s an easy place to find yourself (myself included)- especially for all of my overachievers out there! BUT! Did you know that in our pursuit of more, we are actually missing out on all of the extraordinary things we are CALLED to do. The things we can’t do without Jesus. The things that are done in light of eternity (not in light of ourselves)! Let me explain… In Matthew, Jesus gave His followers one great command before He ascended into Heaven:Go therefore and make disciples So what does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus? To make disciples? To grow spiritually? To see others grow spiritually? If you have ever thought about intentional answers to those questions then go ahead and give yourself a pat on the back… because, you my friend, are in the minority.  According to today’s guest, most Christians actually haven’t.  And, that leads to…ORDINARY. We live ordinary lives. We do ordinary things. In fact, a lot of times our lives don’t look that much different from people who don’t follow Jesus. Whoa. Total gut check. Right?! If that statement hits you as hard as it hits me, then you are in the right place! Because today’s guest – my very own pastor, Justin Kendrick of Vox Church- breaks it ALL down for us!  In his new book, “Bury Your Ordinary: Practical Habits of a Heart Fully Alive” – Justin boils down discipleship and spiritual growth to… growth in love.  You see, as we grow in love, we grow in God. AND! We can actually create habits in our lives that recenter and reorient our loves.  And, no…I’m not trying to throw another to-do list at you. These habits aren’t meant to add more to your plate. Instead they are a guide to developing a lifestyle that will lead you to grow spiritually every day. That will lead you to a radical faith. Ready for the ‘how’? Step 1: Get out of your comfort zone. We HAVE to be willing to let go of our safety net. We have to get out of the ordinary.  Step 2: Embrace extraordinary habits. Habits of relationship, radiance, receptivity, righteousness, resources, rhythm, and replication. (Don’t let this overwhelm you! Justin lays it all out for us today as he groups these habits into 3 main categories: keeping God central, guardrail habits, and longhaul habits!) Step 3: Bury your old ways of doing things. It’s time to say goodbye to ordinary and hello to extraordinary. Spiritual growth requires a letting go, an undoing.  Words can’t even express how excited I am for today’s episode as Justin breaks down these steps even further and where we also chat about: The idea of trusting more instead of trying moreThe “secret” of Christianity and becoming who you already are (not who you will someday be)Why the opposite of ordinary is obedienceHow to follow the promptings of the Holy SpiritThe importance of living out the truth that God is deeply satisfied with who you are(I wish you could see me slow-clapping away right now!) So! If you are ready to STOP settling for an everyday faith…. If you are ready to START building a radically, extraordinary relationship with God…then trust me – you will NOT want to miss today’s transformational episode!  I guarantee that you will walk away with a fresh understanding and perspective of discipleship! And, I just know that you find it equally as humbling as it is empowering, like I did! More From This Episode: 

Connect with Pastor Justin on Instagram and be sure to pick up her new book, ‘Bury Your Ordinary: Practical Habits Of A Heart Fully Alive’ wherever books are sold.’

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The post EP.112: Essential Habits for an Extraordinary Faith With Justin Kendrick appeared first on marymarantz.com.