SJP #008: Wendy Speake : Life Creative Starts at Home

Welcome to the Simply Joyful Podcast Episode #008 with Wendy Speake   Life Creative Starts at Home!   Show Notes: KristiClover.com/008   When we become moms it often feels like we lose part of our creative selves. The things we used to enjoy doing become memories. It's easy to start viewing motherhood as a choice that voids all the other things we thought we'd do in life. However, God can use motherhood to refine our gifts and talents and use them right where we are -- at home. Now, by "at home" I'm not just talking to stay-at-home moms. I'm talking to all moms.   God did not make a mistake when He gave you all your incredible creativity and unique gifting. You can still use them. Sometimes it just looks a bit different than we first thought it would look.   On a “Simply” & “Joyful” side note… This whole podcast talks about how to find joy using the creativity that God gives us. Our conversation was so rich and filled with goodness, tips for finding more joy, and how to simplify our big dreams and use our gifting right where God has us -- that we never got to an "official" Simply Joyful moment at the end. So, don't miss this whole episode! It's all in there!   In This Episode In this episode Wendy and I talk about the dreams moms have and how we often feel hindered and burdened with motherhood. We hope you will be encouraged to explore the dreams, talents, and gifts that God has given you -- even while being a mom! I know you are going to be blown away by this encouraging episode with Wendy!   Highlights from This Show… ...(I know I mentioned cake pictures. I'm looking for them. I'll get them on here in a few hours. Sorry for the delay.) Wendy mentions her book Life Creative: Inspiration for Today’s Renaissance Mom, while explaining what a “Renaissance Mom” is.   “I write about about parenting, and I find that it’s still tapping into the same skills of storytelling, but it’s all with the purpose of pointing women to Jesus.” -- Wendy Speake   “God did a good job when He gave you all those other passions and all those other abilities. And so I’m encouraging you to find a way, find a time, find a tribe, find a group of women that can cheer you on in those things that you used to love before you became a mom.” -- Wendy Speake   Wendy shares about her friend, Kristen Schell who used a turquoise table to begin practicing hospitality when she was a mom.   Wendy talks about how the Great Commision starts at home with your kids and that you can use your talents and dreams during your season of motherhood to share God’s love with not only your kids, but with others...even when feeling "Confined, yet unhindered.”   “The dream come true of motherhood intersects every other dream.” — Wendy Speake   “This is the way God planned it, whether it’s jotting down the dreams in your notebook, or pulling out your sewing machine again, or working to invent new recipes, taking pictures, or pulling out the pottery wheel -- or whatever it is, when you’re a mom, all the other dreams start at home, too. It starts here. But it can start." — Wendy Speake   “God made us in His creative image for a reason. And one of those main reasons is because there’s gospel power in creativity. There are so many ways to get creative while 'confined' at home.” — Wendy Speake   “That Great Commission call actually starts at home. The Scripture says first in Jerusalem, and then in Judea and Samaria, and from there, out into the world (Acts 1:8). And Jerusalem is the home for the early church, and then Judea and Samaria are the neighborhoods … and then from there, out into the world.” — Wendy Speake   “It is God’s power that can flow out of our homes.” — Wendy Speake    “I might not want to be auditioning for movies, I might not be throwing extravagant dinner parties, but this is creative me, doing something to show someone they’re loved by God.” — Wendy Speake   “God sometimes uses motherhood to refine us and to show us how else we can be using those gifts to bless others and I think that is something we can get so shortsighted on when we start focusing on what we 'think' God’s plan is.” — Kristi Clover   Wendy answers Kristi’s question on what encouragement she has for moms who don’t know how to guard against the feelings and emotions that make them feel hindered and burdened: talk to your husband, let him know how you’re feeling during a time when communication is devoid of conflict and have some husband-and-wife teamwork for the next project you plan on doing.   Kristi talks about how she was inspired hearing about Joanna Gaines's story in her new book The Magnolia Story.   Wendy’s advice for moms who want to find balance is to redefine “balance.” She uses a life guard analogy to illustrate we need to surround our selves with people who encourage us to go out a little deeper...and sometimes remind us that we need to swim a little closer to shore.   “Balance is looking at the broad picture. If you can take a broader look at your life … then you won’t be so tempted to feel like you’re failing at balance.” — Wendy Speake   “Abundant life is yours for the taking and I really do believe that it starts with embracing where we are today and then inviting God to just inspire us how to live that joyful, abundant life -- and it doesn’t have to be complicated!” — Wendy Speake     Books Mentioned…   Life Creative Triggers Created for Work The Magnolia Story   Scripture Mentioned...   "You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." -- Acts 1:8 (ESV) "He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance." -- Acts 28:30-31     Please Note... Every podcast episode will have all the highlights and links from each episode (just like this) on my website. So, come on over to the blog to find the show notes. Be sure to grab your FREE copy of my book, Sanity Savers for Moms, by joining our Simply Joyful community. It's a great way to keep in touch...and get subscriber only freebies like my book. Click HERE to get the book and join! Make sure you head over to listen to my other interviews HERE! I know you will love these episodes!     Help Get the Word Out... My prayer is that this podcast would be a blessing to all who hear it. If you enjoy this podcast, it would be such a blessing to have you "Subscribe" to this podcast on iTunes or Stitcher and leave me a rating and review. This helps the podcast to rank in iTunes and be more "visible" for people searching for new podcasts to listen to. If you wanted to share this episode with friends or on social media, I've created several great images that are share-worthy. Thanks!   *My "Thank You" for Your Rating & Review on iTunes or Stitcher*   If you do subscribe, rate, & review this podcast in iTunes or Stitcher, I'd love to thank you by giving you my new Sanity Savers for Moms Coloring Book for FREE! Just leave the review and email me, and I'll send you a coupon code to access the coloring book! (See show notes for details)   Thank you so much for helping us get the word out about the Simply Joyful Podcast!   I hope you enjoyed this week's podcast! My prayer is always that you will be blessed and encouraged by each episode.   Live Simply. Be Joyful.   Connect Online: My Website Facebook  Instagram YouTube Pinterest Twitter     Connect with Wendy... As a trained actress and heartfelt Bible teacher, Wendy ministers to women’s hearts through storytelling and Biblical life applications. She utilizes drama, comedy, poetry, and the study of God’s Word. During her career in Hollywood, Wendy longed to tell stories that would edify and encourage women. Today, she does just that — writing books and performing dramatic Bible studies that move audiences closer to Jesus! Wendy is co-author of the popular parenting book Triggers: Exchanging Parents’ Angry Reactions for Gentle Biblical Responses and Life Creative: Inspiration for Today’s Renaissance Mom. Wendy residing in Southern California with her husband and their 3 ruddy boys. You can check out Wendy's books HERE on Amazon! You can find Wendy on her website at www.wendyspeake.com.