Two Powerful Words That Change the Way You See Yourself, with Heather Holleman and Ray and Robyn McKelvy

Ever get tired of measuring yourself against the woman next to you? Find the freedom to embrace your true identity in Christ in this episode of Grounded. Guest Heather Holleman shares the two powerful words that will release you from the pressure to compare yourself to others.

Connect with Heather

Instagram: @heatherholleman
Twitter: @HeatherHolleman
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/writer.heatherholleman
Website: https://heatherholleman.com/

Connect with Robyn

Instagram: @mommamac51
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robynmckelvy.author/
Go Fund Me account for Robyn: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-robyn-continue-phys-ocup-speech-therapy

Episode Notes

• Seated with Christ book by Heather Holleman: https://heatherholleman.com/books-2/seated-with-christ/
• Summer Bible Study Sale: https://store.reviveourhearts.com/summer-bible-study-sale/

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Dannah Gresh: Ever get tired of measuring yourself against the woman next to you? Yep, me too. I'm Dannah Gresh.

Erin Davis: You're the woman next to me this morning Dannah, so I'm glad we're having this conversation. Today, we're gonna share two simple words that will unlock the prisons that many women find ourselves in: comparison. Do you ever feel locked into that. 

What do you think those two words are? Hey, that's what the chat’s for. Maybe take a couple of guesses about what those two words are. But we want you to freely embrace your true identity in Christ this morning. I'm Erin Davis. We're here to give you hope and perspective.

Dannah: I should also say, “Welcome to Grounded.” I had two job— two. One was to say, I'm Dannah Gresh. The other one was to say this is Grounded. I couldn't pull both of them off.

Erin: They knew. They know they're watching Grounded. 

Dannah: We are so glad you're here today. The program has been a long time coming in my mind. You see, I've heard today's guests speak at my church many months ago. Before I was even out of the service, I texted Erin immediately. I said, “Hey, we have got to have this woman on Grounded. Listen, love alert. You are going to love Heather Holleman today. 

Erin: Dannah, when you send me those texts, which I wouldn't say is very often, certainly not at that level of enthusiasm, I listen. So, I'm thrilled that Heather's here.

Dannah: Heather is an author, fellow author. She's also an English professor.

Erin: A smarty smarty. 

Dannah: Yeah, if there's a word geek out there, we're going to be friends. She's an English professor at Penn State University, here in my hometown. She is burdened to share the love of Christ on that campus. She's here to tell us how two simple words will change our understanding of identity. They'll disrupt that comparison game in your heart forever.

Erin: And you know what? Every single Monday morning of our lives, we probably need to get grounded in our true identity because as we head into a new week, it's so easy to go sideways there. So, after Dannah talks to Heather, I'm going to help us get grounded in God's Word. And you're going to need a sharpie or a marker. 

So, if you have one handy, grab it. We're going to need those as we dive into God's Word. We're going to look at an identity shifting word in the Bible. It's not the two that Heather's here to talk about. You'll have to stay tuned to see what that word is.

Dannah: I guess it's word geek day on Grounded. 

Erin: Yeah, I'm in. 

Dannah: I am not unhappy about this.

Erin: Me neither.

Dannah: But first, we have a very special guest joining us today, along with our very special cohost, Portia Collins. Come on in here and take it away. 

Portia Collins: Good morning! 

Erin: Portia, are you fellow word geek?

Portia: Definitely. Like, I'm a collector . . . 

Erin: Of words?

Portia: Yes, absolutely. It’s the writer in me. 

Erin: That's right. All right. 

13:34 - Good News (Ray and Robyn McKelvy)

Portia: Well, you guys know that Grounded is a family and like a family. We celebrate the good times and the hard times together. And two essential members of the Grounded family are Ray and Robyn McKelvy. They've been enduring some challenging days after Robyn had multiple strokes back in April. I am so elated that they're here with us this morning. Ray and Robyn.

Ray McKelvy: It is so good to be with you guys this morning. Good to see.

Portia: It's so good to see y'all. I just love y'all. I love y'all. I am so grateful to everyone, our Grounded family. They have been so faithful to pray for Robyn and for you, Ray, and many have asked for an update. And so, I'm super excited that you're all here. I'm excited to say, I've been waiting to say these words. “Welcome back to Grounded. We've missed you.”

Ray: Thank you so much. And you know, it's never a good time when you're going through a tough time, but I really try to encourage both of us to walk through this in real time with people that love us.

Portia: Yes, absolutely. All right. We often say that the good news starts with the bad news. And so, since you and Robyn have been unable to be on Grounded since her strokes, can you kind of take us back and tell us what happened?

Ray: Well, I try to keep it in a nutshell. We had just finished a FamilyLife conference, and I knew that she was more exhausted than usual. It was just a relief to get home, but what we didn't realize that she was experiencing stroke that weekend. 

So, to make a long story short, on Tuesday after that weekend, after the prompting of our 18-year-old, I took Robyn to the ER. Yes, I did take her to the ER, our daughter took her to the ER on Monday. They didn't find anything at the walk-in clinic. But on that Tuesday, the stroke was more evident. So, we went in, did a CAT scan, MRI, and actually had discovered she had strokes. And you know my wife, she just obviously had worked those strokes. 

Portia: I love to call Robyn, Resilient Robyn. Okay, I am just amazed at the details of what you just shared. What have these months of recovery been like?

Ray: Oh, wow. What would you say? 

Robyn: Hard.

Portia: Yes. And it has been, just to give it a caption. She could not eat. She had a feeding tube. She couldn't walk. Obviously, she couldn't talk. She couldn't use her hands, her legs, anything. So now through lots of therapy, she's able to stand. She can walk with a walker. She's eating fine. And is using a cane; she didn't want me to forget that.

Portia: She’s going to let you know every time what you need to be saying.

Ray: Yes. So, she is progressing to the cane. She could speak a lot more than what she's speaking right now, but she's very emotional right now.

Portia: And that's okay. That is okay. You know, we love you. And those tears are welcome here on Grounded, so it's fine. 

So, I gotta ask and I can kind of already tell because she has been making sure that you tell it straight this morning. How is our girl Robyn doing? How are you doing?

Ray: Do you want to tell them? Because I can. You will. I'll talk until she can compose herself. I can tell you, she is doing incredible. Every doctor says, “We're amazed.” Because the type of brain stem strokes that she had, where all the information gathers, she should not be where she is at all. So, it's amazing.

Portia: I am floored at the faithfulness and the miraculous God that we serve. I praise God for what God is doing. Absolutely. So, it's a miracle. Yes, it is. Yes, ma'am. Yes, it is. I think we already know, but I just got to ask because I think we should recount the faithfulness of God. How have you seen God at work during this difficult situation?

Ray: You want me to start here? Okay. The body of Christ has been amazing. I don't know how people do it without the body of Christ. I asked Rob the other day and I said, “Have you prayed more or less since the stroke?” And we both had to admit that we prayed less, because we have been overwhelmed. But we know the body of Christ has been calling upon the name of the Lord on our behalf. So, providing for us meals, cards, love, Scripture. 

Robyn: And cards from people we don’t know.

Portia: Yes, from people, the body of Christ is people we hadn't even seen face to face. And look, I'm getting a little choked up. I'm trying to keep it together. I'm holding it together. But yeah, I've seen that. I mean, your Whatsapp group with updates and just pictures . . . and you guys got a new bathroom, I heard. So yes, God is so faithful. I'm so grateful. I know. I just hope you know how much Grounded sisters love you and how much they have been praying and asking about you. And so right now I'm gonna ask you give us some specifics. How can we continue praying for you and your family? 

Robyn: Yes, thank you.

Portia: Of course.

Ray: I can tell you. A very practical way to pray is that Robyn's therapies have run out as far as the insurance covers. We're praying for more therapies and God's provision, because she's nowhere near at the place where it's done. So that's very practical.

Portia: Absolutely. You got it. Let's do that right now. Let's pray right now. Bow with me. 

Oh, heavenly Father, I thank You so much for Ray and Robyn who are family. They are truly family. I am just grateful for the ways that You have shown yourself miraculous, Lord. And what you have done in my sister Robyn’s life, Lord, I just cannot find the words to convey just how thankful and grateful we are for Your mercy and Your grace. 

We know that You give that to us day in and day out. But it is just something about when we see the ways that You do that. It just leaves us a bit speechless. And so, God, we just praise You right now. We thank You for this beautiful family. We thank You for the brothers and sisters in Christ who have come alongside to support them. We thank You that the love of Christ has been seen and evident through people near and far. God, we praise You for that. We praise You for the community that has circled around this family and has provided meals and support and prayers and love and visits. 

So Lord, right now we just want to come with our petitions asking once more that You do the impossible, God. We know that Robyn would like to have more therapy. And this has been so beneficial to her thus far. Even though those therapy sessions have been exhausted for the time being, Lord, we believe that You can make a way, that You can open a door for her to be able to continue those.

And so, Lord, we just lift this up to you right now. I pray that You will continue to strengthen her, to strengthen her not only in her body, but in her mind, and in her spirit. Let her know over and over and over just how loved she is by You and by all of us. Continue to strengthen Ray who has been such a wonderful example of a loving husband, who has been there every step of the way to support his wife 

Lord, I pray that You will bless him immensely for his faithfulness and his love to his dear bride. God, we thank You. We praise You. We love You, and we love Robyn and Ray. It's in Jesus Christ's name that we pray. Amen. 

Love you guys so much. It's so good to see your faces. 

Ray: Thank you. 

Portia: Thank you so much for being with this. 

Well, the McKelvy’s commitment to give God glory in all circumstances, that puts a smile on my face, and it makes me want to cry a little bit. I'm gonna take an exit, and Dannah, come on and get grounded with God, because I like to have a good cry for a minute. 

Dannah: You go right ahead, Portia. I am so blessed to see Robyn and Ray, the good news is that she is miraculously still here with us. The best good news is that even though she's still struggling, she's still glorifying Jesus. I am so honored by that. 

Well, we've kind of already been getting grounded with God's people, and we're going to continue to get grounded in God's people, by having our guests join us. We're going to learn about those two powerful words that release us from the pressure to compare ourselves to others. Here to help is Dr. Heather Holleman, a woman who loves words, why else would she devote her life to developing advanced English curricula for higher education? Heather, welcome to Grounded.

26:11 - Grounded with God's People (Heather Holleman)

Dr. Heather Holleman: Oh, thank you so much for having me. I'm so excited about our conversation. Although I have to say, I was just so encouraged and touched by the last segment. What a precious couple.

Dannah: Yeah, they are truly precious. Hey, Heather, I want to start out with this. We're kind of billing you as the woman with the guarantee or promise or hope that you can help release us from insecurity in comparison. So, have you ever struggled with insecurity concerning your identity?

Heather: Well, this is the story of my life. I am a jealous woman who lived in comparison to the point where it was really destroying my life, especially as I approached my forties. With the rise of social media, I was just living every day saying things like, “When is my great life gonna begin? Why does everyone else get a new wardrobe, a new kitchen, fabulous vacations?” I mean, I was really suffering, Dannah, and God sent forth His Word and healed me and really delivered me and continues to deliver me with every fresh attack of jealousy and comparison.

Dannah: Okay, I have to know, how did He send forth His Word and heal you because many of us are still looking for that healing? What began to change things for you?

Heather: Well, there are two words that can help you keep in step with the Spirit and get out of this cycle of just feeling jealous and living in this comparison. The first is the power of God's Word in Ephesians 2. I remember exactly where I was sitting when I read Ephesians 2:6, and the Holy Spirit just applied it to my heart. That passage of Scripture says, “God raised us up with Christ, and seated us in the heavenly realms with Christ Jesus.” 

And what happened was, I was sitting thinking of all the tables, where I was waiting for an invitation to the seat that I thought would finally bring me life. Like I thought, If only we had more money, if I were thinner, or more beautiful, more accomplished, if I could be chosen for this and that day . . . It was as if the Holy Spirit were saying, “Do you not see you are already seated at the greatest table with the greatest King. You have everything you need. I chose you for your exact location.”

Ephesians 2:10 says that I'm His masterpiece, and He's created me for good works. So that day I made a list of all the ways I was fighting for a seat at the table. In my journal I wrote I'm already seated. Now I can start living like a seated person. And the jealousy just stripped away. That jealousy just kind of like fell off me like a coat I was taking off of me that I'd carried that burden for so long. And that day, I really began to enjoy my life. Because I thought well how to see that people live here. I am adoring Jesus accessing all the riches of God's kingdom when I’m really abiding. 

Dannah: I think that a lot of us. It sounds incredulous to some people to hear. Well, I heard this verse and I started to understand it. I started to process it mentally, and I started living freedom. But that is how God's Word works. It is alive and active. It confronts all of the lies and the comparison that conjure up their way into our minds and our hearts and you experience the power of discovering truth. You said you started to live as a seated person. I kind of want to know, how does that work? How does a seated person live?

Heather: Well, first of all, when you realize that God chose you for your exact location with your family, where you are the neighborhood . . . I found this quote from the Hayden Planetarium in New York City. And it just says, “All seats provide equal viewing of the universe.” And I started to cry when I heard that. I called the Hayden Planetarium. And they told me, we have to say that to the children, because they all run in trying to find the best seat in an arena where there are no best seats. So, we have to say to them, children, all seats provide equal viewing of the universe. No matter where you sit, you won't miss any part of the show. 

I just started crying because it was like the Lord was speaking to me, like, “Heather, all seats, no matter where you sit, you have equal access to My power, My provision, My peace, My joy, My love.” And how is that true? Well, Paul was writing Ephesians, 2 most likely from a Roman prison. This image of him being seated at the best table spiritually was so powerful. He reiterates it in Colossians, where he says, “Set your mind on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.” 

Now, how do you live this out every day? Well, I thought, Okay, I'm seated with Christ, I'm at the best table already. Now what? And that really goes along with my second favorite verb, which is “chosen.” And here's what God revealed to me. We are actually chosen for Christ. Colossians 1 said, all things are made through Him and for Him. 

So, the purpose of my life is to be conformed to the image of Christ. So, every day I wake up, and I'm thinking, Well, what is Jesus doing? How can I be conformed to the image of Christ? Well, guess what He's doing? He's seeking and saving the lost. He's surrendered to the will of the Father, and He ever lives to intercede. These are new truths. God's even teaching me today. Like Heather, go seek and save the lost, be completely surrendered to the will of the Father, and start praying for people. 

I mean, Dannah, this is new even this week. I was like, Wait, if Jesus is interceding? That's what He's doing. I want to be like Him. I don't know. So that's my kind of new thing. Like, who can I bless today? Who can I pray for? How can I be more surrendered? That's a completely different way of living than begging for a new kitchen or a new wardrobe or begging for a new vacation. Do you know what I mean?

Dannah: Well, you've changed encountering the truth of God and discovering these powerful words being seated in Christ and that shows and by Christ, that's changed your perspective from give me, give me, give me to, wow can I give to others? Like, exactly, that's what I'm hearing you say?

Heather: Yeah, and your worldview shifts. It's a whole shift, like deprogramming your mind, basically.

Dannah: Attempting to go back to the comparison.

Heather: Well, all the time. I mean, even last week, as you know, people texted me all the time about their great things—Facebook and Instagram. I was like, I gotta get this off my phone because it is a temptation for me. It's the way Satan comes at me. 

So, I like collecting more verbs to help fight it. Like, for example, as I get older, I see that people don't worry about their appearance. I'm constantly thinking, Oh, I'm aging, you know, I need to lose more weight. I'll be happy if I'm more beautiful while seated, people don't worry about their appearance because they're so busy adoring the King. I love the psalm that says those who look to Him are radiant. Their faces are never covered with shame. 

So, I use God's Word as the sword of the Spirit to fight that lie. Second thing is affluence. See that people don't worry about affluence, the pursuit of wealth. All my friends are making a lot of money. They're buying more homes. They're buying more of this, more of that. Seated people don't worry about affluence, because they know they have access to all the riches of God's kingdom. I memorize verses like, “God is able to provide everything I need at all times. Having all that I need, I will abound in every good work.”

And then, seated that people don't worry about this race for achievement. I mean, I have my PhD. That tells you I was really concerned with achievement all my life. But what if you shift from achieving, to abiding to produce the good works that God has ordained for your life? This is going to look different from your neighbor, from the pastor's wife, from your sister. You have good works that aren't going to look like anyone else’s. So, stop comparing them. This sets me free every day, Dannah.

Dannah: I need a dose of Dr. Heather Holleman every day. Actually, no, I need a dose of the power of the Word of God. That's what you're experiencing. You’re getting a new dose of His truth every day. It's changing how you perceive yourself and how you show up in the world. I can't help but think that I'm thinking of the woman who's just waiting to be invited to, I don't know, the it Bible study group or the it discipleship group in her church. I’m thinking we really just haven't outgrown that middle school or high school mentality of if only I could get invited to that table and be invited to sit there, then everything would be okay. Right.

Heather: Right. And you know, exactly, it starts in middle school, when you don't get a seat at the popular table. And guess what, I'm almost 50 years old and I'm like, “Why wasn't I invited to that thing?” You know, for me as a writer and speaker, it's more like, “Oh, why are all the popular Christian speakers going to this conference? And I wasn't invited?” or “Why aren’t my books bestsellers?” But guess what? God is so good that He gave me and my family a really precious motto. Are you ready? Here's what we say, “Every rejection is God's protection.”

We say that because He's sovereign, and He's good. If you're not invited to that party or that Bible study or that discipleship group, there's a reason why it's not for your good. There's something that God is either protecting you from; He sees what you don't see. He knows what you don't know. 

And now I'm old enough, I can look back and I can tell my daughters that table that I wanted an invitation to, guess what bad things happen there. It would have destroyed my life. I can see it. Now think about boys that break up with you. Aren't you thankful? Every rejection is God's protection, because it led you to where you're supposed to be. But you really do have to believe in the sovereignty of God to say that.

Dannah: Yeah, I love it. Heather, where can we follow you to learn more?

Heather: Well, you can go to my website, HeatherHolleman.com. If you click on my books, there are lots of free resources and excerpts and downloads and fun things. I also blog daily at HeatherHolleman.com. My daily blog is called Live with Flair. I wish I could say you could follow everything I do on social media, but I'm terrible at social media. But you can. I am on Instagram and Facebook. I do respond to personal messages. You can DM me on Instagram or Facebook and I'll respond.

Dannah: And Heather, the book that we've been talking a little bit out of today is titled Seated with Christ: Living Freely in a Culture of Comparison. Oh, I love that subtitle Living Freely in a Culture of Comparison. You can find that wherever books are sold. Heather, thank you for being with us today on Grounded. You bless my life.

Heather: This is such a joy. I can't wait to spend more time with you, Dannah and thank you for making time for me on your program. God bless.

Erin: Well, Grounded this special is special.

Dannah: Yes. 

Erin: I am thrilled to be a part of it, no credit to us. It's all the Lord, and I believe you all have witnessed one of the most special Grounded programs ever. That segment with Ray and Robyn was truly profound and precious. And then Heather's words that right now by some mystery, you are seated with Christ and chosen by God.

Dannah: Good, right.

37:56 - Grounded in God's Word (with Erin)

Erin: Good, good Monday morning. So, I'm grateful you've been with us. It's time for us to continue to be in God's Word. Heather's taken us to Ephesians. I want us to stay there in Ephesians. And another first for today's Grounded is we're gonna get inked together on Grounded, so I hope you grabbed a sharpie or a pin. If not, grab one now and I want you to write on your arm three letters N T L. Let me see if I can get it in the shot. There you go into N T L. You will frequently find those three letters written on my arm or on the arms of my children. And I'll explain to you why in just a minute. 

Heather's epiphany came from Ephesians 2. She says she remembers when she read that verse because the Holy Spirit so arrested her heart. I remember when I read a passage out of Ephesians 1 and the Lord has been using it to arrest my heart and remind me daily of my true identity. 

But first, we have had our first of all getting inked together, and we're gonna have another first: a Grounded sing along. I'm not the singer in this group. Portia is the singer in this group, but I'm just gonna go for it in humility, and I'm gonna sing a little bit of Jesus loves me. You ready? Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong, I weak but He is strong. And then you know where we go from there? Yes, Jesus loves me. That's how we've started ending the Thursday night Bible study that I host in my house. 

You should know there's no kids in the room. We're all women like me, 30 plus. And yeah, I decided that every week we're going to anchor ourselves to the truth. We see very clearly in the verse we're about to read. Yes, Jesus loves me, and He loves you. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so. 

Now, being a Christ follower is not just an emotional experience. I know that we're not just always seeking the next warm fuzzy from the Spirit. But being a follower of Jesus very often starts in this feeling. I’m reminded of our interview with Marsha Montenegro a few episodes back when she talks about being in a church. She didn't even believe there was a God, and yet she felt like she was being washed in waves of God's love. So mostly we are our hearts are rested by the fact that Jesus loves us specifically at some point. 

But then as we mature in the faith that we walk it with the Lord 25 years now, John 3:16, that famous verse that “God so loved the world, that He gave up His only Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but find eternal life.” John 3:16 starts to feel like an elementary doctrine. We might feel like we shouldn't move on or outgrow it to the more significant attributes of God as we develop. But no matter how old we get, or how long we walk with the Lord, I feel like Robyn and Ray are another testimony of this. We need to be reminded, yes, Jesus loves me, because his love is what transforms us from the inside out. Let me show you what I mean. I'm going to read us Ephesians 1:3–5: 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Even as he chose us [there's that chosen word, verse four, even as he chose us] in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption, as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will.

I could keep going. Ephesians is a power book of the Bible. It's one that I will often read out loud when my identity goes sideways, which is, frankly, more often than I like. But that “chosen” word is in there. It's there in Ephesians 1, but the reason why you are chosen, the reason why you are seated is also there. 

Here’s two questions for you to ask today that work like a pair of rose-colored glasses and change how you see everything, including your identity. Question number one: when did He choose you? Question number two: why did He choose you?

It's right there in the text. He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world. 

Talk about a mind bender! I can't say I fully understand how God chose me before He had even created the world. But because God's inspired Word says it, I believe it. And why did God choose you? It's right there at the end of the verse . . . in love. Because of His love, God chose you before the foundations of the world. Why was that such an epiphany for me? Because it means that our identity as chosen, blessed, loved, seated . . . it cannot be based on merit if He loved you before you even existed.

His love is not based on what you can do or not do. God's love is not a thermostat. It does not go up or down by degrees based on your behavior, based on your emotions, based on your perspective. Let that sink in. 

Consider this, how does knowing that God has always loved you and God has always chosen you change your identity? How could we possibly go into our week knowing God chose me in love before the foundations of the world and still find ourselves caught up and all of those trivial things that Heather mentioned? We will because we're women of the flesh. But the answer is in God's Word, that He in love. He chose us before we even could breathe or do anything for Him. 

Now do these letters I wrote on my arm and had you write on yours . . . Several months ago my oldest boy was trying out for the basketball team. He loves basketball. It was a competitive try out. There were a lot more kids trying out than there were slots on the team. 

And so, I took him to that early morning try out. The sun wasn't even up yet. I could tell he was nervous. It mattered a great deal to him. And I said, “Buddy, are Mommy and Daddy gonna love you any less if you don't make the team?” 

“No, Mama.” 

“Buddy, is Jesus going to love you any less if you don't make the team?” 

“No, Mama.” 

I said, “Then you’ve got nothing to lose. You just go in there and play your heart out because nothing's really on the line here. But I know you want to make the basketball team, and I want that for you. But even if you don't make a single shot in that try out, even if you're terrible, nothing that really matters is on the line. You’ve got nothing to lose.”

Now, I've given myself a sermon in the car. And since then, many times when I faced a difficult week or a challenge that seemed too big for me or the criticism of others, I'll put it onto my arm. I’ve got nothing to lose. God has loved me and chosen me since before He poured the foundations of the world. His love for me is never on the line. His choice of me is never on the line. I am free to just play my heart out for the glory of God. With nothing, really, to lose. And nothing's on the line for you this week, Friend, really nothing of significance. I'm not saying that challenges won't come. They will. I'm not saying embarrassments won't happen. They will. I'm not saying real grief won't come your way. They will. But in an ultimate sense, God chose you in love since before the foundations of the world. So, you’ve got nothing to lose. For sure, you better get in here, because if I go any longer, I'll just get too fired up. So, you got to take over.

Portia: I mean, I'm here for it. But I got my N T L on my arm and guess what? I am going to write underneath it E T G.

Erin: What’s that mean?

Portia: Because I got nothing to lose. But in Christ, I've got everything to gain.

Erin: Amen! That's so good.

Portia: I am when I get done. 

Erin: Y’all ink up. 

Portia: I'm writing it on there. All right. Got N T L E T C—nothing to lose and everything to gain. All right. Take us to church, Erin. Praise God. 

Well, you know, we'd like to be the friends who give you the good stuff. And like any friend, we want to tell you about a good sale. You know how people always talk about the good shoe sales and the good back to school sales? Well, we have a great, Revive Our Hearts Bible study sale. All of our Bible studies are up to 50% off. Did you hear me? 50% off. So, we’ve got studies like Erin's 7 Feasts. Dannah’s study through the book of Habakkuk. We've got True Woman 101 and True Woman 201. And one of our most popular studies, Seeking Him, which I would say, first of all, is amazing. But the cool thing is the videos are now available for free. Alright, digital download—free. 

So, there are teaching videos to accompany this 12-week study that you can get for free. Now you're telling me this is not a good deal? This is a great deal. Alright. 

So if you are a Bible Study leader at your church, or maybe you are thinking about starting a neighborhood Bible study this fall, we're just looking at something new for your own personal time in the Word. We've got you covered. I just showed you everything. Don't walk, run. We’ll link to the sale, so you can hit there as soon as this episode is over. Don't wait. Sale ends in two weeks. All right, the early bird gets the winner.

Dannah: The early bird does get the worm

Erin: But that's a yummy tasting worm, all of those Bible studies.

Dannah: No matter what kind of bird you are, you are still sitting in the same seat with a view of the universe Christ.

Erin: Yeah, we got a lot of nuggets like that today. 

Portia: We did. Yeah. 

Erin: Every rejection is God's protection. Whoo. Yeah.

Dannah: Listen, friends, I want you to know that if you're finding your identity in anything other than the saving knowledge and the truth of Jesus Christ, you're going to be caught up in that firestorm of comparison, and that's a frustrating way to live. We invite you today to sit down with your Bible and discover the truth that you are seated and chosen in Jesus Christ. 

Erin: Yeah.

Dannah: Word geek out with us, today. 

Erin: Yeah, that’s right. We also invite you to hurry back next week. We'll be here along with Elizabeth Mitchell. I know I'm always telling you that I love our guests, and I mean it. But Elizabeth is special, and she has a really special story. You're gonna love her. It is a heartbreaking story of loss, and yet, joy and hope and peace are somehow going to ooze out of her and into your heart because she tells it with so much grace. She has a deep passion to see women remember the hard things in our life without getting stuck in those things.

So set an alarm and do what you’ve got to do. Share this episode. Several of you are telling us how special this episode has been. There are women in your life that need this hope, and so we count on you to share every week. 

Hurry back next Monday. We're going to be here, and we're going to wake up with hope together on Grounded.

Dannah: Grounded audio is powered by Skype. Grounded is a production of Revive Our Hearts calling women to freedom, fullness, and fruitfulness in Christ.

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