Growth & Grace

Bible Byte - Ephesians 6, The Armor of God Today on the podcast, I'm doing something a little different. You might know that I'm an ordained pastor, and today I'm sharing some thoughts on a Bible passage that I have heard misused a good bit. Several years ago I did a study on Ephesians, and it completely changed how I read this passage. In light of recent headlines, I think this might be helpful... whether you're a Christian or not!  HINT: This is not about an individual call to arm ourselves for a spiritual battle.  www.amberleagray.com  

It's time for a pep talk episode! I've had multiple conversations recently where people are doubting themselves. Here's what I want to say to you!  www.amberleagray.com

Have you ever found yourself disappointed, but don't know why? Have you struggled with resentment or shame, but cannot identify why you keep finding yourself in these types of situations? You might be experiencing stealth expectations. I learned about this and it was a game-changer!  www.amberleagray.com 

Your feelings are valid, but that doesn't mean they are true. Have I confused you yet?! Let's talk about what it means to validate your feelings. Honestly, there is more to it than you probably think! www.amberleagray.com

This is the MOST listened to episode of the Growth & Grace podcast to date! Want to become more self-aware? Want to have more grace for yourself and others? Want to develop better leadership skills? Want to make more money? Want to be a top performer at your job? Want to be successful? Want to have healthy relationships?  Then, let's talk about Emotional intelligence!  www.amberleagray.com 

Today I'm putting on my pastor hat and sharing with you 3 rules to live by-- that I believe can change both your life and entire communities!   www.amberleagray.com 

Did you know that Easter is not just one day, but an entire season in the church? Today on the podcast I'm sharing an Easter sermon based on John 20:1-18 that I preached in 2021. It's my prayer that this sermon gives you hope!  www.amberleagray.com 

We live in a world where we are constantly bombarded with information. It can be hard to distinguish between what you believe and what you've been told. That is the work of discernment. In today's episode, I'm talking about some practical things you can do to find your voice. Why? So that you can authentically show up in the world and share your truth!  www.amberleagray.com 

Today let's talk about the power of curiosity. It's more than an emotion, but is a way we position ourselves in the world. That every moment is an opportunity to learn and grow. In this episode, I unpack what curiosity is and share two important things that cultivating curiosity can bring to your life.  www.amberleagray.com 

What is the difference between good and holy work? What is practical theology? How does our faith impact our daily lives? In today's episode, I'm talking about these questions and so much more! www.amberleagray.com   

I've heard the word gaslighting thrown around in casual conversation in the last few months, and I think it is important to know what we are talking about. So in today's episode, I'm sharing some signs that you're experiencing gaslighting and some practical examples of what gaslighting can look like. Gaslighting is a form of psychological abuse and makes you question everything. Push play to learn more!  www.amberleagray.com

Sleep can impact your physical, mental, and emotional health. When I worked as a therapist, one of the first things I talked about with clients was their sleeping patterns. In today's episode, I talk about the problems with too little sleep and tips on how to adjust your sleep cycle. www.amberleagray.com

Honesty is a virtue, but we can be honest without being mean. If you struggle with being brutally honest, then this episode is for you. In today's episode, I give some practical tips on how we can express our truth with kindness. www.amberleagray.com

Resilience is the ability to mentally or emotionally cope with a crisis or to return to pre-crisis status quickly. In layman's terms, it is the ability to bounce back from hardship. In today's episode, we unpack ways to build our resilience muscle. www.amberleagray.com

You may have heard by now about the Great Resignation. Literally millions of Americans have left their jobs in search of something different, something that aligns with their passion. People are starting to ask, what is my life's calling? In today's episode, I'm starting the conversation about discovering your call and giving some practical exercises to help you get started. www.amberleagray.com

Okay, raise your hand if you are struggling to move from passive to massive action! Are you unsatisfied with where you are, but can't seem to find the motivation to get started? Maybe it's time to identify your excuses. Excuses pop up when are afraid or uncomfortable. In this episode, I walk through ways to identify and work through the excuses holding you back. www.amberleagray.com

On today's episode of the podcast, I'm putting on my pastor hat and sharing a sermon I preached yesterday in worship. We're in the middle of a sermon series on the Letter of James. Honestly, it was a hard scripture passage for me. James sounds harsh, but I learned a lot prepping this sermon. My prayer is that it encourages and challenges you as much as it did me!  www.amberleagray.com

Y'all, humans are seriously the worst listeners. I think that so much conflict and hurt feelings could be avoided if we had better listening skills. So on today's episode, I'm giving you some practical things that you can start doing today to develop your listening skills!  www.amberleagray.com 

Raise your hand if you're feeling stressed?! Y'all, I'm right there with you! In today's episode I walk through 6 really practical things that you can do RIGHT NOW to reduce stress. This is a replay episode from way back at the start of the podcast, but I needed to hear it again! www.amberleagray.com

I pulled out my old counseling material, and I found an acronym that I think a lot of us need right now. It's called IMPROVE the Moment, and it is taught in DBT (a type of therapy). There are times when we can't change the situation, but can we improve it? Or improve our perception of it, our approach, our current thoughts and feelings? This episode is super practical, and definitely something I needed right now!  www.amberleagray.com