Has busyness become a guest who has overstayed her welcome in your life and home? Discover the barriers that keep you from finding balance.

Today, I'm chatting with Sandy Cooper from the Balanced Momcast on all things busyness. She offers valuable insight into why we often become overly busy and how to gain a genuine understanding of our busyness personality.

In this episode, we discuss the following insights about busyness:

• Physical, spiritual, and emotional effects of being too busy
• When busyness turns into “hurry” - and why that's not good
• The first two (of 4) types of “busy people” we might be

Our chat was so insightful, I had to split it into two, so be sure to catch Part 2 in episode #110!

Head over to Sandy Cooper’s website and take her busyness Quiz entitled, “What’s Your Busyness Personality?” – it’s free and quite insightful!

And be sure to grab her amazing book, "Find Your Balance." [1]

Other episodes like this one:

#93 Giving Yourself Permission to Rest

#74 Six Steps to Cultivate Contentment

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Subscribe to my weekly newsletter/blog post "Musings for UnPerfect Ponderers" here: www.shellysnead.substack.com.

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Today's discussion with Myshel Wilkins is filled with wisdom to navigate challenges that bombard you with relentless intensity, and to do it with unwavering faith and hope.

Faith has been the foundation of Myshel Wilkins' life. As the daughter of a Ghanaian mother and a missionary father, she grew up leading worship in churches around the world. She later toured as a vocalist with top Christian artists, including Mandisa, TobyMac, Matthew West, and Don Moen and was mentored by gospel legend CeCe Winans. But behind the spotlight, Myshel and her husband struggled with the hope of starting a family, and dreams that God began to overhaul to give Myshel a heart for the people she ministered to. It was through personal heartache—years of infertility and eight painful miscarriages—that propelled her to know God’s strength and goodness in a deeper way.

In this episode, we discuss the following topics related to navigating challenges and overcoming adversity:

• Worship in the Face of the Unexplainable
• Clinging to Truth Amidst Heartbreak
• Faithfulness in Deferred Hope
• The Enemy's Tactic: Hitchhiking on Grief
• Worship as an Act of Obedience
• Discerning God-Given Identity
• Unlocking Your God-Given Authority
• Tormenting the Enemy Through Worship
• Avoiding the Trap of Comparison

Connect with Myshel here.

Grab her book, Arise, Shine and Conquer, here.

Listen to some of her music here and here.

More Unperfect episodes on overcoming adversity and navigating challenges:

Episode #78: Life to the Full in Difficult Seasons

Episode #80: How to Hope in Hard Times

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Subscribe to my weekly newsletter/blog post "Musings for UnPerfect Ponderers" here: www.shellysnead.substack.com.

In this episode, we dive deep into the concept of joy, especially for moms who might feel their "joy meter" running low. We discuss how true joy isn't something we can conjure up on our own, and we unpack some supernatural and practical ways to find joy in being a mom.

My guest today is Cara Dyck, author of the Each Ordinary Moment blog. As a mom to four young boys, three of whom have special needs, Cara knows how tough the motherhood days can be and how easy it is to feel discouraged and lonely in the nitty-gritty of the often mundane or challenging moments. She has a passion for encouraging other women in their walk with God while equipping them to live their lives with joy during each ordinary moment.

We discuss the following to help you find joy while being a mom:

• Hold your children loosely while loving freely
• Avoid complaining, but seek friendships where you can be seen and heard
• The power of a great mentor
• Why we can't "muster up" joy on our own
• Happiness versus Joy
• Why obedience makes motherhood easier
• Creativity in nurturing your relationship with God
• Being aware of two joy-killers: social media consumption and comparison
• Accepting help from others
• Letting go of perfectionism and people-pleasing
• Prioritize special moments with your kids
• Catch your kids being good
• Record and reflect on positive memories and past provisions from God

Want to hear more on this or similar topics? Check out these episodes:

Episode #94: A Care-giver's journey to surrender with Jess Ronne

Episode #87: Parenting Teens with Jon Acuff and McRae Acuff

Support the show

Subscribe to my weekly newsletter/blog post "Musings for UnPerfect Ponderers" here: www.shellysnead.substack.com.

In a world of instant gratification and streaming services (where even commercials feel like an eternity!), we're losing our ability to wait patiently. And waiting on God can seem to last an eternity. But what if there's a way - backed by Scripture - to wait actively?

The episode's core message comes from Psalm 27:13-14: "I am certain that I will see the Lord's goodness in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart be courageous. Wait for the Lord." Your host, Shelly Snead, dives deep into the meaning of "waiting on God," explaining that it's far from passive.

In this episode, "Waiting on God," Shelly discusses the following implications of the Hebrew word for wait and how they impact our understanding and faith during waiting seasons:

• an intertwined faith - bound together (by twisting)
• active expectation
• watchman mentality (Psalm 130:6)
• Learning God's Voice

Finally, Shelly offers three practical disciplines to practice while waiting on God, which include stillness and silence before him, doing the next right thing, and practicing active gratitude.

Mentioned: Ruth Haley Barton's book, Invitation to Solitude and Silence

Want to hear more about waiting patiently? Check out this episode:

#36 While Waiting: How to Make the Most of Slower Moments

And this blog post:

Help for Trusting God for What I Need Today

Support the show

Subscribe to my weekly newsletter/blog post "Musings for UnPerfect Ponderers" here: www.shellysnead.substack.com.

Bonding over shared struggles. Calling each other out on blindspots. Coming out of hiding into authentic relationships. The fellowship of believers. The value of Biblical accountability. We are talking all things Biblical Community today on Episode #104 of UnPerfect.

In this episode, Jody and Shelly draw from personal experiences and Biblical examples. They discuss the importance of fellowship of believers, serving one another, Biblical accountability, and authenticity, highlighting how these aspects are essential for a thriving Christian community. They provide practical steps for cultivating such a community and emphasize that biblical community is about contributing rather than just receiving.

This discussion covers the following talking points about experiencing true Biblical Community:

• Serving One Another
• The Role of Biblical Accountability - what it is and what it isn't
• Authenticity in Community
• The Power of Empathy in Overcoming Shame
• The Birth of a Spiritual Social Experiment - creating a small group built on authenticity and vulnerability
• The Impact of Authenticity in Community
• 5 Practical Steps to Building Community
• The Importance of Vulnerability and Support
• Praying for and Contributing to Biblical Community

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Scriptures:
• Romans 12:10
• Romans 12:16
• Galatians 5:13
• Ephesians 4:32
• Colossians 3:16
• 1 Thessalonians 5:11
• Hebrews 3:13
• Hebrews 10:24
• 1 Peter 4:9
• 1 Peter 1:22
• 1 John 3:11
• 🎧 Brene Brown's TED talk: Listening to Shame
• K. J. Ramsey's book, The Lord Is My Courage: Stepping Through the Shadows of Fear Toward the Voice of Love
• Jody's book, Hidden Heartache

Other Episodes in this series of Spiritual Disciplines:

#93 How To Practice Spiritual Rest

#99 5 Things You Should Know When You Fast

Support the show

Subscribe to my weekly newsletter/blog post "Musings for UnPerfect Ponderers" here: www.shellysnead.substack.com.

Today, we continue our discussion on being working moms and homemakers. Working women, along with busy moms everywhere, will gain life-giving insights on rejecting hustle culture and creating a home your family loves.

In this episode, I continue an interview with author, mom, and English professor Charity Gibson to dive into her inspiring and practical new book, The Working Homemaker: Employed Christian Moms Desiring a Thriving Home Life. We explore the countercultural, Christ-centered vision of homemaking, motherhood, and calling. She challenges the “you can have it all” narrative and invites us to consider a slower, more sacrificial, and ultimately more fulfilling way of living. A rejection of hustle culture to embrace one rooted in biblical values, limitations, and everyday faithfulness.

We discuss what it means to set the spinning plates down and nourish our families in meaningful, lasting ways. Whether you're a working mom, stay-at-home mom, or somewhere in between, this episode will leave you feeling seen and encouraged in the season you're in. And you'll gain practical insights on how to be more intentional at spending time with family and creating a home you don't want to escape from.

If you missed the first half of our conversation, head back to episode #102, Home Management for Working Moms.

Connect with Charity and read her monthly blog here.

And make sure to grab her amazing book, The Working Homemaker: Employed Christian Moms Desiring A Thriving Home Life. [1]

Also mentioned in the podcast - Episode #95 - Struggling to Accept God's Will? Find Hope in Surrender...

[1] As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. So if it’s an Amazon link, I’ll get a few cents if you order one, too;).

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Subscribe to my weekly newsletter/blog post "Musings for UnPerfect Ponderers" here: www.shellysnead.substack.com.

Today we get a refreshing makeover of the word "homemaker." Working women - and busy moms in general - can absolutely prioritize home management and nurturing their families well.

In this episode, I sit down with author, mom, and English professor Charity Gibson to dive into her inspiring and practical new book, The Working Homemaker: Employed Christian Moms Desiring a Thriving Home Life. With heartfelt honesty, Charity shares how she’s learned to redefine homemaking, prioritize family, and pursue calling without guilt—all while juggling a full-time job and four children.

In part one of this two-part series we discuss:

• The myth of “balance” vs. the practice of harmonizing priorities
• How Christian women can know their “why” for working without guilt or pressure from cultural expectations
• A challenging but freeing reminder: “You don’t owe feminism a career.”
• The importance of co-parenting and letting go of micromanagement in the home
• The power of setting plates down—not just spinning them—and making time for what matters

Grab the book here!

Connect with Charity and read her blog here!

Support the show

Subscribe to my weekly newsletter/blog post "Musings for UnPerfect Ponderers" here: www.shellysnead.substack.com.