Coffee Break For Your Soul with Bonnie Gray

We experience anxiety because life gets stressful, but we can create space to let God touch us and refill us, so we can feel His peace. Having space for you to be you is important to God and to your wellbeing.

Podcast Guest: Holley Gerth, author of Cheering You On: 50 Reasons Why Anything is Possible with God shares how words can transform us and empower us in our times of anxiety. "God gets to tell me who I am, not any struggle that I go through in life."

Scripture: “Come to me all who are weary and burdened…I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 Soul Care Tip & Scientific Research: Take a 10-minute walk. Learn the benefits of a walk in nature.

Links + Resources from This Episode:

Scientists discover the best way to boost your mood is a 10-minute walk in nature.   - For links to this study & more, sign up for Bonnie’s Newsletter.

Book Giveaway: Win a copy of Holley's new book, Be Courageous: Write in a Way That Scares You a Little.. Enter giveaway here.

Holley's Writing Course: Be a Kick-Butt Writer by Friday. Learn more here.  Grab a copy of Bonnie’s book Whispers of Rest for more encouragement.

Sign up for Bonnie’s Weekly Wellness Beloved Newsletter for more soul care tips here.

Find Bonnie on {Instagram}, {Facebook} at @thebonniegray & {thebonniegray.com} 

Bonnie kicks off a new soul care series to help you stress less + take small steps to live a more peaceful and beautiful life as God's beloved. Bonnie shares how how + why your body reacts to stress, and how you can use moments of stress to let God love you and do something loving/nurturing for yourself, instead being hard on yourself.

Podcast Guest: Kathi Lipp, author of Ready for Anything shares how to trust God one step a time to be prepared for times of crisis. Soul Care Tip & Scientific Research: I share the benefits of journaling 10 minutes a day and how it restores calm to your soul. Links + Resources from This Episode:

Research shows journaling for just 10 minutes increases happiness. * For links to this study & more, sign up for Bonnie's Newsletter here.

Book Giveaway! Win a copy of Kathi Lipp's book Ready for Anything: Preparing Your Heart and Home for Any Crisis. Enter giveaway here. PreOrder Free Resources: Cooking in Crisis Meal Plan, 5-day Family Curriculum, Kickstart to Clutter Free-eCourse. Go here.  Grab a copy of Bonnie’s book Whispers of Rest for more encouragement.

Sign up for Bonnie’s Weekly Wellness Beloved Newsletter for more soul care tips here.

Find Bonnie on {Instagram}, {Facebook} at @thebonniegray & {thebonniegray.com}

Do you ever say, "I'm fine," but your body says, "I'm stressed!"? We all want to feel our best, at peace, but do you find you're busy, gripped by stress? Give yourself permission to invest in your heart by letting go of what God never meant you to carry. Grab a cup of coffee as I chat with my friend Jennifer Dukes Lee, author of "It's All Under Control", about the importance of learning how to breathe again, in our heart and our schedules. TOIPCS I talk about with guest: Jennifer Dukes Lee: ✨ Getting off the battlefield of busy to feel your feelings & shed insecurities ✨ How to break overthinking about worries & be more present ✨ Letting go of what stresses you out & hanging onto what helps you shine ✨ Learn the freeing practice of: Do, Delegate, Dismiss to de-stress ✨What is the “Exhale of God” - and how it helps us to feel peace! 🌻Scientific Research on the calming effects of breathing, taking breaks, photography and sharing what stresses you. + more This podcast is inspired by the encouragement in my bestselling book "Whispers of Rest" and Jennifer Duke Lee's book "It's All Under Control". Get a copy and find your spark again!

C.S. Lewis said, "To love is to be vulnerable.", but how do you create vulnerability and how do you create space in your schedule and in your relationships with friends and with God – so that you can not only love, but feel loved and be loved? So you can experience intimacy with God and in our relationships? 🙌🏻TOPICS on Soul Care I talk about with guest Tasha MacDonald Scott: * How to stop hiding by being a people-pleaser and find your true voice * The power of experiencing God's peace through raw conversations and being honest * Overcoming the stress of hiding & carrying worries on your own * What to do when you have an Identity crisis and how to find your voice again *How do you find healthy friendships and how do you know who is safe to confide in? * How to confide in God in an intimate way, so you feel close to Him. * How to heal from hurt when "friends" have left you or judged you when you needed it the most. * The scientific research on the powerful benefits of being vulnerable, taking a walk out in nature to lowers anxiety and depression + MORE This podcast is inspired by the encouragement and soul care in my bestselling book "Whispers of Rest". Get a copy and find your spark again!

As you see what others have to offer, you may feel tempted to put your hopes and dreams back in your pocket – and close the door to who you really are. Don't listen to those critical voices. Listen to what Jesus has to whisper to your heart. How do you stay inspired when you feel paralyzed by anxiety and afraid of the unknowns? If you have a passion you care so much about, you'll love this episode! 🙌🏻Soul Care Tips I talk about with guest Bethany Beck: * How to step over "Who am I?" discouragement and fear, so you can let go of what's safe and step out with who God's inspired you to be & do * Dealing with numbness, when your heart feels frozen, and not letting it stop you from coming alive in your passion * How to spark your heart to come back alive. Soul care tips to return to a bubble of innocence & inspiration * Inspiration Squelchers! Letting yourself be known and loved by God, instead of overrun by duty and hiding * How to stay inspired even when you feel anxiety, feelings of depressed or discouraged. * The importance of making space for your heart's emotions without feeling overwhelmed by hard things. * The scientific research on the powerful benefits on naming negative emotions, importance of making time for each other.
, journaling + MORE Get a copy of my bestselling book Whispers of Rest, to soak in all the goodness!

As women, we all need permission to fill our tanks and prioritize our wellbeing, right? Learn how to combat the stress of constantly comparing yourself to who you wish you were or what others want you to be. Take better care of yourself, so you can find your spark again with God!

☕️Learn practical soul care tips for the week & get inspired with God's Word! Take a #coffeebreakforyoursoul with me & my friend Amanda Bauer! I'm so excited 'cuz good convo is soul goodness! .


🙌🏻TOPICS Amanda & I talk about:

• 🙅🏻break the cycle of overthinking & do what inspires you 

• how to  stop comparing yourself & start taking better care of you

• 🌱why real life conversations are powerful and how they heal you • 🍫why how you feel is important and how to lift your mood.

Soulcare Tips for the week: scientific research on the power of flowers, real conversations and sharing emotions + more! .

🤓I also give an update on what I learned this week as the beloved. Inspired by my book Whispers of Rest. Pick up a copy! Follow me @thebonniegray on IG, FB, or Youtube – it'll be fun to know you!

Maya Angelou said, "A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer; it sings because it has a song." Do you find it hard to choose joy & make time to explore what makes you come alive? Today's Brew: Combat the inner critical voices & learn NEW ways to experience joy with Jesus! TOPICS include: – Why it’s not selfish to choose joy but radically holy to God – Combat feelings of guilt or fear of wasting time on what gives you joy – The Importance of Choosing the Little Things That Make You Come Alive Instead of Doing the Thousand Things You May Be Good at But Don’t Love – Giving Yourself Permission to Explore What Gives You Joy: The Power of Curiosity – Soul Care Tip: The Science behind the Joy of Conversation – Soul Care Tip: The power of Color & Art to Lift Your Mood & Spark Joy I also share a *very* personal story & update on what I learned this week as the beloved: 👊What God said to me, when I wondered why it does it seem like it’s so easier for everyone to have joy, except me? 💛📖Blossom with God's joy using my 40day devotional for your soul #WhispersofRest whispersofrest.com

Henri Nouwen shares "Underneath all the very noisy voices is a still, small voice that says, 'You are my Beloved." How do you let go of your grip so you can blossom & say yes to God’s peace? Today's Brew: What is the Anxiety of Avoidance, how to overcome it & a talk with bestselling author Emily Freeman of "Simply Tuesday". TOPICS include: - Small moment living - Be kinder with yourself - Overcome the fear of being left behind - Pay attention to God in an ordinary day - The Power of Making Soup to Free Your Soul - Taking Breaks When You Hit the Wall

Billie Holiday said, "If I'm going to sing like someone else, then I don't need to sing at all." Mary broke into song after news of Jesus' birth too! How can you sing your song, instead of stress stealing your spark? **This special Advent Podcast** inspires your soul with bestselling author Kristen Welch(We Are That Family, "Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World"): 1) Slow Down & Break the Cycle of Busy to spark God's HOPE 2) Combat discouragement whenever you feel "It's too late!" 3) How to stay inspired, rather than let stress steal your spark 4) Learn the power of "the secret chocolate stash" and how to capture the moments that mean the most to your heart 5)Nurture gratitude in the heart of your child by nurturing your own heart from a place of honesty and vulnerability Plus, I share what I learned this week to live & build the life of the beloved! TOPICS INCLUDE: Letting grace rule your home more than rules or an agenda. Raising a grateful kids or leading an intentional home isn’t not a list do or don’ts or a checklist to do we have to complete. It’s through prayer asking for God for wisdom and guidance. Its’ grace. Learn the power of saying, “I’m sorry. This is hard for me too. Will you forgive me. Let’s figure this out together." Rather than doing the right thing, do the holy thing. Parenting from a place of honesty and vulnerability.

Thoreau said, "I went to the woods to live deliberately." This episode explores what does it a meaningful life look like in your life and how you can find the answers with God in a personal way. Topics include: What makes you come alive? Why it's difficult to nurture yourself? What are Lighthouse Questions For Your Soul? Bonnie also answers reader Questions: How do I know if an idea I have is God's or my own? What if I draw boundaries to create my own holiday traditions and it causes conflict with my family of origin?