“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30 MSG

Fall will soon be upon us and once it starts it feels like one big jump to the end of the year. When you get to the end of 2022, what do you want to be different for you? Who do you want to be? In this episode of the Margin Maker podcast, I take you through some of the questions I use with my clients as they create healthy rhythms and boundaries and care for their soul.

Before you make a plan of action you need to be able to see the vision Jesus has for you.

Pull out a piece of paper, a journal, or something to capture what Jesus will say to you. Get into a quiet space (and set a timer if that helps you stay present in the moment.) Read over the passage from Matthew above and hear the promise Jesus speaks over you as He invites you to do life with Him...His way.

When you're ready, move to the questions.

• What's your vision for me? My family? My life and leadership?
• What relationships would you like me to focus on?
• What things are most important? What should I prioritize?
• What rhythms and boundaries do you want me to create or maintain?
• Where are the busy seasons coming up in the months ahead and when should I create margin before moving on to the next thing?
• What obstacles could get in the way of what you desire for me?
• Who do I need to communicate with? 

Don't self edit and give every excuse as to why you can't do what you are sensing is needed. Just capture what Jesus is saying to you.

Do you know someone else who needs to discover the vision Jesus has for them? Make sure to share this episode!

Connect with Jen

Come visit our new website at jenhowat.com.

If these questions have helped you and you want to create a rhythm of sitting with Jesus each month, check out the Margin Maker Planner.

Summer is my favorite season but this summer has been hard. When things became overwhelming, I made 3 life-giving decisions that have made all the difference in the world.

• I deleted all news apps off my phone. There is something to be said about being informed about what is happening in our world and in our communities, but watching and reading the news was not helping me be the best version of myself. I wasn't more loving. I wasn't more empathetic. The constant bombardment of watching people tear each other down while not making any strides to actually solve any issues was too much, so I quit and it has been life-giving!

• I stopped my morning bible and prayer routine. Ok, before you think I've lost it completely, let me tell you what I started doing. My husband and I started having coffee outside in the mornings. We also go for a morning walk. And I have been using the 30 Days to Resilient feature on the Pause App put together by John Eldredge and team. It's been quite some time since I have heard God consistently and clearly. But as I've spent time just being with Jesus and giving everything to Him, something has shifted. My soul is starting to come alive again as my roots grow deep down into Jesus.

• I stopped using social media platforms for my ministry. Yes, you read that correctly. I no longer have my Facebook and Instagram accounts for Women in Ministry United. Why? Well, there are a few things. First of all, I have struggled with what to post and I didn't want to put something out there just to put something out there. That doesn't feel authentic to me. I also realized that social media platforms are not the place where people are showing up to have candid conversations about their soul. Most come to check out, not check in and that's ok. So, why keep trying to come and do something in a space that isn't working? That didn't seem to make much sense. But I do wonder if a private Facebook group would be something of interest. I'd love for you to let me know. You can drop me a line HERE.

What decision could you make to breathe life into your soul? What isn't serving you well? What isn't helping you be a better person and share the love of Jesus? What is keeping you from being compassionate and empathetic? What life-giving decision would make all the difference to your heart, soul, family, relationship with God and ability to show up well for yourself and others?

Margin for the Unexpected: EP:015

John Eldredge: He has written many books but one of my favorites is Get Your Life Back. He and his team also created the One Minute Pause App which includes 30 Days to Resilient. Also check out the Wild at Heart Podcast.

Would you be interested in a private Facebook group to have conversations around creating healthy rhythms and boundaries and caring for your soul? I'd love to know. Just click HERE and share your thoughts.

Connect with Jen

You can now find our website at jenhowat.com and you can email me at jen@jenhowat.com. I also hang out on instagram @jenhowat

Setting boundaries inevitably involves taking responsibility for your choices. You are the one who makes them. You are the one who must live with their consequences. And you are the one who may be keeping yourself from making the choices you could be happy with. We must own our own thoughts and clarify distorted thinking.        -Henry Cloud

Many of us wonder how we ended up where we are today...so far away from the person we were created to be. It's because we are caught up in The Drift.

We have one life to live and we don't want to leave anything to chance. Boundaries are key to keeping us on track. That means that we need to grow in spiritual and emotionally maturity and exercise the authority Jesus gave us over our life and leadership. In other words, we need to become the adult. We need to take responsibility for our own choices.

And yet, many of us are at the whim of the waters, being tossed back and forth by everyone else's opinion and expectations. That's what the Apostle Paul calls being "immature children."

• You are a great leader.
• You are wise.
• You are godly.
• You are intentional about stewarding well the limited time, energy, and resources God has given you.

Yes, you'll make mistakes. Things will come up. You'll grow. You'll learn. You'll fail. And then you'll grow some more. You will become more like Jesus. But it will NEVER happen if we do nothing...if we drift and abdicate responsibility over our life...expecting...hoping...that someone, somehow, somewhere will make it OK and do the adulting for us.

• In what ways do you need to take ownership and responsibility for your life and leadership?
• What decisions have you been leaving up to others that you need to reclaim authority over?

Henry Cloud, Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say Not to Take Control of Your Life

Pete Scazzero, Emotionally Healthy Leadership 

Margin Maker podcast: The Drift [EP:016] and How to Guard Against the Drift [EP:017]