Midlife Repurposed

There was a time when Teresa Janzen thought she was disqualified from serving God. Until she realized we’re all flawed people, and God can repurpose our mistakes and set us on a new path when we surrender to him. Now she’s helping others find grace. eresa talked about how she struggled to restart her life with four small children after going through a divorce. She wondered if God would be able to ...

Your version of creativity might not include paint, glue, or words on paper, but I believe you have imagination waiting to be tapped somewhere. This episode contains 10 ideas for how to wake it up.   Show notes and resources This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit michellerayburn.substack.com

Linda Kruschke lived trapped in fear because of the trauma she’d experienced in the past. But when she let the secrets out and spoke freely, she started hearing “me too” long before #MeToo was a hashtag. This week, she talks about her journey to living fearlessly. Linda let fear hold her back from experiencing life for so many years. But then she decided to live fearlessly. We chatted about how Go...

Have you ever stopped to think about what you’ll need to accomplish your goals and dreams? This week’s podcast covers how to work through the factors that could stand in the way. And there’s a custom free resource to help you work on your goals! Time Money Skills Focus Control Habits Mindset  Show notes and resources This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscriber...

When we surrender our failures to him, God can bring out the best in us! If you’ve ever felt less-than because of failure, be sure to tune in for wise words from Wendy Pope to discover your hidden potential. What a delight to sit down and chat with Wendy Pope! In this episode, Wendy talked about learning to celebrate the successes of others while she waited for God to fulfill her dream. While she...

You probably have an inner circle of close friends, but have you paused to think of what qualities make your dearest friendships work? In this episode, you’ll be encouraged to reflect on those relationships and look for ways to become a better friend as well. Friends come and go. I’ve had more than one falling out, a change of direction in life (we don’t work together anymore), moving away, fading...

What would happen if we made it our goal to be the exception when it comes to negative opinions about Christians? That’s exactly what Chris Staron does. He’s also living out his faith as he studies history for his podcast episodes while trusting God for his future steps. This week, Chris Staron shared his story of coming to know Christ at the age of 10 and diving into reading the New Testament. He...

Can you imagine how wonderful our world would be if we intentionally looked for creative ways to bless someone else? The ideas in this episode give you a starting place to be deliberate about encouragement. Even the strongest of people need encouragement! Not too long ago I had a couple of weeks of really wrestling with whether or not the time I pour into creating podcasts every week, writing book...

What do we do when life has so many uncertainties, when scary diagnoses threaten our peace, or when everything feels upside down? My guest Nancy Kay Grace knows, and she runs to God. This week, we talk about her recurring diagnosis of tongue cancer and how God has taught her to pursue his grace above all.   Show notes and resources This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with o...

Rosie Williams was serving in Christian ministry and working herself to the breaking point while unraveling on the inside. When she promised to spend a minimum of 10 minutes a day for the rest of her life in prayer and Bible study, it changed everything. What started as the treasure of trusting Christ completely in her early years looked more like trash when dealing with difficult life challenges ...

There is so much we can learn from someone else’s story! I’m excited to introduce a new project featuring the stories of 34 amazing women who have seen God at work in their lives. Hear the introduction to the book Life, Repurposed in this podcast episode.   Show notes and resources This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, v...

When life feels like a crisis overload, God is still there. That’s what Grace Fox has learned from her years of trusting God through hardships. In this episode, we talked about where God has been faithful, and she shares about her new book, Finding Hope in Crisis. In this episode, Grace Fox shared about where her second child was born while she and her husband were missionaries in Nepal. Her daugh...

Do you ever feel spiritually numb, as if you’re overloaded on crisis and you’re done with it? Does it feel as though the darkness is too much, and self-preservation is your only hope? This week, I want to talk about how we might be faith sleepwalkers when life stresses us out. Let’s flip on the light and wake up to what we might be missing. The podcast episode began with one of my sleepwalking sto...

This week’s guest, Eric Nevins, talked about how God used his time in a call center to give him the skills he would eventually need for podcasting. He was miserable and never thought anything but a paycheck would come from that season of his life. But God had other plans.   Eric says one thing leads to another. Each step takes us closer to where God is leading. Taking the leap from the call center...

What if saying no more often isn’t the answer? Maybe we just need a better yes. If you’re ready to say no to things that someone needs FROM you and yes to better opportunities FOR you, this is episode is for you. Stop closing the wrong doors and discover a more hopeful future.   Show notes and resources This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get acces...

Could you use a little more kindness on social media? Would you appreciate less arguing and more objectivity? Daniel Darling talks this week about how we use our words in the digital space and how we can change our own behavior to make a difference. Dan and I talked about the biggest traps we can fall into on social media these days and how we can avoid them. We discussed navigating the digital wo...

Has comparison kept you from fulfilling the purpose God intended for you? Do you experience highs and lows in your positive outlook based on appearance or body or image? This week, we continue from last week with talking about how to break the chains of unhealthy comparison and experience God’s best for us. Last week, I talked with Heather Creekmore about comparison and about how she overcame a co...

Get to know Heather Creekmore, a writer, podcaster, and former contestant on the Netflix show Nailed It! Heather shared about how she overcame her own struggles and now encourages other women as they wrestle with body image and comparison.  Heather Creekmore is known for being bad at decorating cakes—at least from her TV appearance on Nailed It! But she is no failure when it comes to real life. We...

Michelle talks with her husband, Phil, about the different types of laugh languages spouses might have. Phil brings his usual dry humor as they chat on their anniversary about how laughter has helped them keep their relationship strong for three decades.    Show notes and resources This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, v...

In this episode: How can we respond when we're at a crossroads, unsure of what to do next? What if we cave to stress or mess up? In this episode, guest Amber Cullum talks with me about how she found that God's grace was enough when she could never be enough. And she shared how a gratitude list helps to keep her in the right mindset.    Show notes and resources This is a public episode. If you woul...

In this episode: This is my story of pursuing biblical truth but getting sidetracked by legalism and pride along the way. Discover how God revealed my heart condition to me and began his process of transforming me into a more compassionate and graceful human. —Michelle   Show notes and resources This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bon...

In this episode: How do we move forward in a culture where we disagree, where we are deeply discouraged, and where tension is off the charts? We have choice in how we contribute to conversations and in how we adjust our own attitudes. Also, you don't want to miss this week's resource that asks the question: what if Jesus was serious in what he taught?    Show notes and resources This is a public e...

Sue Donaldson says, "Surrender every day. We have disappointments, but we surrender over and over." On this week's episode, we talked about how she walked through a period of doubt and how God brought her through that in steps that surprised her. We also talked about how taking the next step is where faith comes in.   Show notes and resources This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss...

In this episode: From blue light specials to garage sales, I've enjoyed making the most of living on a budget! Sometimes, life's challenges have hidden fun and joy. There is no second best when we embrace our present circumstances as part of the adventure!   Show notes and resources This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes,...

In this episode, I chatted with author Kathy Carlton Willis about how COVID-19 affected her personally, and we talked about what it is like living with chronic health challenges when the risk is high. Kathy shared how the last nine months of mostly isolation have been for her and how she has experienced a pause on her normal speaking, conferences, local ministry, and personal connection to friends...