280 // Is A Gratitude List Really Worth The Effort? (Gratitude Over Grumbling PT 7)

Get ready for the New Year with my favorite: The Hope Planner.   Episode 280 // One of the most common things that people recommend when you’re trying to grow in gratitude is… a gratitude list.    But is it worth the effort?    I’ve been a counselor for over 15 years. I’ve seen people use gratitude lists well and use them poorly. It’s not a magic wand, but it does have the potential to create big change in your heart.    So today, I want to share some encouragement for HOW to do a gratitude list in a way that is worth your effort! Let’s grow in God’s biblical command to “Rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances.”    Let’s dive in, friend. Welcome to Part 7 of our series on Gratitude Over Grumbling.   hugs & blessings, Jess   RESOURCES FOR YOU   FREE: Build a habit of Bible reading and prayer with my free 45-day Bible and Prayer Guide.   MY FAVORITE PLANNER: Get ready for the New Year with my favorite: The Hope Planner.   RELATED ON THE PODCAST: Let Proverbs 2 Shape Your Year With 3 Powerful, Practical Action Steps (EP 227)   RELATED ON THE BLOG: Two Daily Choices That Will Change Your Life   GET MORE & SUPPORT THE SHOW   Support the show on Patreon for just a few dollars a month, and grab access to behind-the-scenes family life encouragement.   Please leave a 5-star review and share the link to this episode with a friend who needs encouragement today!   FIND EXACTLY THE RESOURCE YOU NEED: Faith | Marriage | Parenting | Emotions | Communication | Home & Family | Freebies | Devotionals | Blog | Pinterest   DISCLAIMERS    I am a licensed therapist in South Carolina, but this podcast is not therapy. I may use affiliate links and earn a small commission if you purchase through my links. Read my full disclaimers here.   MISSION   Love Your People Well is all about helping you ENJOY family life as you build healthy, happy, and holy family relationships. Keep Jesus at the center of it all and joy at the center of your days.   Find your resources, devotionals, and more support at www.LoveYourPeopleWell.com

Find a Christmas devotional or Advent calendar for yourself, and the whole family.   Episode 279 // Our relationships have a LOT to do with the attitude of our hearts. With healthy, intimate, connected relationships, we grumble less. It’s easier to be thankful, to notice the positive, to feel better.    But… how do we get there?    Today, I want to dive into the topic of marriage (and friendship too) and help us see how leaning in and being vulnerable can have a big impact on our gratitude and grumbling.    We’ll talk about WHY this is so valuable, 7 tips for strengthening this connection in your marriage, and some helpful encouragement for what to do if or when you feel uncomfortable or unable to be vulnerable in your marriage this way.   Marriage is wildly important to God, and wildly important to our own mental health, heart attitude, and emotional wellness. So let’s figure out how to make it as strong and wonderful as possible. Let’s dive in, friends.   Welcome to Part 6 of our series on Gratitude Over Grumbling.   hugs & blessings, Jess   RESOURCES FOR YOU   FREE: Grab the Conflict Resolution Cheat Sheet to boost communication today.   DEVOTIONAL: Find a Christmas devotional or Advent calendar for yourself, and the whole family.   RELATED ON THE PODCAST: Strengthening Your Christian Marriage In A Hard Season (EP 269)   RELATED ON THE BLOG: Let’s Have More FUN In Marriage Intimacy, Christian Wives!   GET MORE & SUPPORT THE SHOW   Support the show on Patreon for just a few dollars a month, and grab access to behind-the-scenes family life encouragement.   Please leave a 5-star review and share the link to this episode with a friend who needs encouragement today!   FIND EXACTLY THE RESOURCE YOU NEED: Faith | Marriage | Parenting | Emotions | Communication | Home & Family | Freebies | Devotionals | Blog | Pinterest   DISCLAIMERS    I am a licensed therapist in South Carolina, but this podcast is not therapy. I may use affiliate links and earn a small commission if you purchase through my links. Read my full disclaimers here.   MISSION   Love Your People Well is all about helping you ENJOY family life as you build healthy, happy, and holy family relationships. Keep Jesus at the center of it all and joy at the center of your days.   Find your resources, devotionals, and more support at www.LoveYourPeopleWell.com

Find a Christ-centered Christmas devotional or Advent calendar here.   Episode 278 // Gratitude is more than just a feeling in our heart or something that happens naturally as we smile more often. If we are truly going to be thankful people even on the hard, stressful, chaotic days… well, this is when we really see that gratitude is a spiritual discipline.    So today, I want to share 7 steps that walk us closer and closer toward the ultimate goal living everyday life with our hearts centered in Christ-centered gratitude.    These are spiritual “action steps” - which means, we cannot do it in our own strength. We need the Lord’s help. As Christians, the Holy Spirit lives in us. He delights to help us honor Jesus more by crushing our grumbling spirit and growing in gratitude!   This is not a checklist, friends. This is a spiritual journey, like every other worthwhile journey in life. Join me to look at these 7 steps of spiritual discipline, so we can grow in gratitude together.    Welcome to Part 5 of our series on Gratitude Over Grumbling. Let’s dive in.   hugs & blessings, Jess   RESOURCES FOR YOU   FREE: Build a habit of Bible time and prayer with my free Holy Habits 45-day Bible and Prayer Challenge.   DEVOTIONAL: Find a Christmas devotional or Advent calendar for yourself, and the whole family.   RELATED ON THE PODCAST: Spiritual Action Steps To Help You Stand Firm, Feel Better, And Manage Emotions Well (EP 241)   RELATED ON THE BLOG: 7 Christmas Scriptures To Teach Your Kids   GET MORE & SUPPORT THE SHOW   Support the show on Patreon for just a few dollars a month, and grab access to behind-the-scenes family life encouragement.   Please leave a 5-star review and share the link to this episode with a friend who needs encouragement today!   FIND EXACTLY THE RESOURCE YOU NEED: Faith | Marriage | Parenting | Emotions | Communication | Home & Family | Freebies | Devotionals | Blog | Pinterest   DISCLAIMERS    I am a licensed therapist in South Carolina, but this podcast is not therapy. I may use affiliate links and earn a small commission if you purchase through my links. Read my full disclaimers here.   MISSION   Love Your People Well is all about helping you ENJOY family life as you build healthy, happy, and holy family relationships. Keep Jesus at the center of it all and joy at the center of your days.   Find your resources, devotionals, and more support at www.LoveYourPeopleWell.com

Find a Christ-centered resource for your family’s holidays.   Episode 277 // No matter how hard we try, sometimes life disappoints us. And at the holidays, that can be especially hard! There can be tension, conflict, unmet expectations - and we want to figure out how to still be a thankful, joyful person even in that disappointment.    I hope that your Thanksgiving holiday and Christmas season are beautiful times of family and feasting. But just in case you run into a roadblock on this road of gratitude, in case you find yourself grumbling a bit in a moment of disappointment, I’ve got you. This episode is for you!   Join me for 8 QUICK TIPS today - 4 tips to avoid the grumbling, and 4 tips to enhance the gratitude. Let’s get practical and let’s be thankful, friend!   Welcome to Part 4 of our series on Gratitude Over Grumbling. Let’s dive in.   hugs & blessings, Jess   RESOURCES FOR YOU   FREE: Grab my quick one-page Conflict Resolution Cheat Sheet.   DEVOTIONAL: Find a Christmas devotional or Advent calendar for yourself or the whole family.   RELATED ON THE PODCAST: Handling Your Hot Moment: 9 Tips To Start Calming Down In The First 90 Seconds (EP 244)   RELATED ON THE BLOG: Why A Happy Christian Home Requires Lots Of Forgiveness   GET MORE & SUPPORT THE SHOW   Support the show on Patreon for just a few dollars a month, and grab access to behind-the-scenes family life encouragement.   Please leave a 5-star review and share the link to this episode with a friend who needs encouragement today!   FIND EXACTLY THE RESOURCE YOU NEED: Faith | Marriage | Parenting | Emotions | Communication | Home & Family | Freebies | Devotionals | Blog | Pinterest   DISCLAIMERS    I am a licensed therapist in South Carolina, but this podcast is not therapy. I may use affiliate links and earn a small commission if you purchase through my links. Read my full disclaimers here.   MISSION   Love Your People Well is all about helping you ENJOY family life as you build healthy, happy, and holy family relationships. Keep Jesus at the center of it all and joy at the center of your days.   Find your resources, devotionals, and more support at www.LoveYourPeopleWell.com  

Find a Christ-centered resource for your family’s holidays.   Episode 276 // Habits are far more powerful than we realize. They anchor our days and have a big impact on our mental health, spiritual growth, and family interactions.   So, how do we crush bad habits like grumbling, and build good habits like noticing the GOOD in life? How can we make this such a normal part of who we are - a habit that fills our hearts and spills out in our words and interactions?   Today, I want to share 9 tips that will help you build a habit of gratitude.    Join me in Part 3 of our series on Gratitude Over Grumbling. Let’s dive in.   hugs & blessings, Jess   RESOURCES FOR YOU   FREE: Build a daily Bible and prayer habit with this free 45-day guide.   DEVOTIONAL: Find a Christmas devotional or Advent calendar for yourself or the whole family!   RELATED ON THE PODCAST: Help For The Tired Christian Mom During The Holidays (EP 154)   RELATED ON THE BLOG: 4 Good Daily Habits To Strengthen A Godly Mindset   GET MORE & SUPPORT THE SHOW   Support the show on Patreon for just a few dollars a month, and grab access to our 2025 perk of daily(ish) devotionals!    Please leave a 5-star review and share the link to this episode with a friend who needs encouragement today!   FIND EXACTLY THE RESOURCE YOU NEED: Faith | Marriage | Parenting | Emotions | Communication | Home & Family | Freebies | Devotionals | Blog | Pinterest   DISCLAIMERS    I am a licensed therapist in South Carolina, but this podcast is not therapy. I may use affiliate links and earn a small commission if you purchase through my links. Read my full disclaimers here.   MISSION   Love Your People Well is all about helping you ENJOY family life as you build healthy, happy, and holy family relationships. Keep Jesus at the center of it all and joy at the center of your days.   Find your resources, devotionals, and more support at www.LoveYourPeopleWell.com

Find a Christ-centered resource for your family’s holidays.   Episode 275 // Sometimes, we find our greatest motivation in a reality check about life. And that is my goal in today’s episode: not to discourage, but to encourage all of us to work intentionally on our grumbling hearts.    And we’ll find that encouragement with a reality check about how our grumbling - and our gratitude! - impacts the people we love the most.   Last week, we looked at a biblical basis for working on this issue in our lives. But today, we’re going to look around us. At our families. Our homes. Our kids. Our marriages.    Because the reality is, our grumbling is impacting our families. We don’t need to beat ourselves up about it, but we can find motivation to address this issue in our hearts when we realize the impact it can have (that we might not even realize).    Join me in Part 2 of our series on Gratitude Over Grumbling. Let’s dive in.   hugs & blessings, Jess   RESOURCES FOR YOU   FREE: Build a daily Bible and prayer habit with this free 45-day guide.   DEVOTIONAL: Find a Christmas devotional or Advent calendar for yourself or the whole family!   RELATED ON THE PODCAST: Yes, Your Emotional Struggles Are Impacting Your Family: How, Why, And What To Do (EP 243)   RELATED ON THE BLOG: 12 Easy Ways To Give More Positive Attention To Your Family   GET MORE & SUPPORT THE SHOW   Support the show on Patreon for just a few dollars a month, and grab access to our 2025 perk of daily(ish) devotionals!    Please leave a 5-star review and share the link to this episode with a friend who needs encouragement today!   FIND EXACTLY THE RESOURCE YOU NEED: Faith | Marriage | Parenting | Emotions | Communication | Home & Family | Freebies | Devotionals | Blog | Pinterest   DISCLAIMERS    I am a licensed therapist in South Carolina, but this podcast is not therapy. I may use affiliate links and earn a small commission if you purchase through my links. Read my full disclaimers here.   MISSION   Love Your People Well is all about helping you ENJOY family life as you build healthy, happy, and holy family relationships. Keep Jesus at the center of it all and joy at the center of your days.   Find your resources, devotionals, and more support at www.LoveYourPeopleWell.com

Find a Christ-centered resource for your family’s holidays.   Episode 274 // Happy November, friend! This is the time of year when we have gratitude on the brain. But is it really in our hearts all year long? As Christians, it should be. As moms, we long for it to be.    So we’re kicking off a mini-series today, diving deep into our calling and desire. How can we become more thankful people? What will it take to stop the grumbling in our hearts and our negative thinking?    Well, it starts by grounding ourselves in Scripture.God repeatedly tells his people to be thankful and joyful instead of grumbling and anxious. That’s where everything good and wise in life starts - with the Bible itself!   Dive in with me today, friend, as we look deeply at Scripture to set the biblical stage for our dive into Gratitude Over Grumbling.   hugs & blessings, Jess   RESOURCES FOR YOU   FREE: Build a daily Bible and prayer habit with this free 45-day guide.   DEVOTIONAL: Find a Christmas devotional or Advent calendar for yourself or the whole family!   RELATED ON THE PODCAST: How To Stop Negative Thinking And Change Direction (EP 271)   RELATED ON THE BLOG: 12 Quick Tips For A Low-Stress Holiday Season   GET MORE & SUPPORT THE SHOW   Support the show on Patreon for just a few dollars a month, and grab access to our 2025 perk of daily(ish) devotionals!    Please leave a 5-star review and share the link to this episode with a friend who needs encouragement today!   FIND EXACTLY THE RESOURCE YOU NEED: Faith | Marriage | Parenting | Emotions | Communication | Home & Family | Freebies | Devotionals | Blog | Pinterest   DISCLAIMERS    I am a licensed therapist in South Carolina, but this podcast is not therapy. I may use affiliate links and earn a small commission if you purchase through my links. Read my full disclaimers here.   MISSION   Love Your People Well is all about helping you ENJOY family life as you build healthy, happy, and holy family relationships. Keep Jesus at the center of it all and joy at the center of your days.   Find your resources, devotionals, and more support at www.LoveYourPeopleWell.com

Grab the Stress Relief Workbook for Christian Moms. Episode 273 // Ever feel a little stressed out? Ha! You’re a mom - of course you do. And heading into the holiday season can sometimes boost our stress level even more. Today, we’ll look at 10 big-picture areas where you can make a difference in your own mental health, stress level, and your home atmosphere.  We’ll look at 5 things to REMOVE from your life and 5 things to ADD to your life, to lower stress and bring more joy and peace to family life. Each one could be its own big topic, but you can make a quick change or two and see a big difference! Ready, friend? Let’s jump in. hugs & blessings, Jess   RESOURCES FOR YOU   FREE: Grab my free e-book Building Your Mom Toolbox to learn 5 key skills that help every mom. DEVOTIONAL: Go deeper with the Building A Home Of Godliness And Joy devotional workbook. WORKBOOK: Grab the Stress Relief Workbook for Christian Moms to walk through 5 steps to help reduce stress. RELATED ON THE PODCAST: Practical Action Steps To Help You Feel Better When You’re Stressed And Emotional (EP 240) RELATED ON THE BLOG: Feeling Like A Stressed Out Mom? Try These 9 Helpful Tips   GET MORE & SUPPORT THE SHOW   Support the show on Patreon for just a few dollars a month, and grab access to our 2025 perk of daily(ish) devotionals!    Please leave a 5-star review and share the link to this episode with a friend who needs encouragement today!   FIND EXACTLY THE RESOURCE YOU NEED: Faith | Marriage | Parenting | Emotions | Communication | Home & Family | Freebies | Devotionals | Blog | Pinterest   DISCLAIMERS I am a licensed therapist in South Carolina, but this podcast is not therapy. I may use affiliate links and earn a small commission if you purchase through my links. Read my full disclaimers here. MISSION Love Your People Well is all about helping you ENJOY family life as you build healthy, happy, and holy family relationships. Keep Jesus at the center of it all and joy at the center of your days. Find your resources, devotionals, and more support at www.LoveYourPeopleWell.com  

Go deeper with the Building A Home Of Godliness And Joy devotional workbook.   Episode 272 // None of us can enjoy family life without having healthy boundaries - with those outside our family and inside it! There are different types of boundaries and they will look different with each person. But they all boil down to the same thing:   What are you willing and able to say NO to?   Saying “no” is a skill that we can build. And saying “no” without the guilt and the awkwardness is an art form that we can practice! Even as Christians, the wise and good thing is to learn when (and how) to say NO and set healthy boundaries.   Today, you’ll get a family counselor’s perspective on the topic of boundaries, along with some practical tips to make saying no more realistic in your own life.    Ready? Let’s do this!   hugs & blessings, Jess   RESOURCES FOR YOU   FREE: Grab my free e-book Building Your Mom Toolbox to learn 5 key skills for every mom.   DEVOTIONAL: Go deeper with the Building A Home Of Godliness And Joy devotional workbook.   RELATED ON THE PODCAST: Finding JOY In The (Hard, Tiring, Wonderful, Important) Journey Of Christian Motherhood (EP 141)   RELATED ON THE BLOG: 4 Ways To Fight Mom Burnout Symptoms With Real-Life Boundaries   GET MORE & SUPPORT THE SHOW   Support the show on Patreon for just a few dollars a month, and grab access to our 2025 perk of daily(ish) devotionals!    Please leave a 5-star review and share the link to this episode with a friend who needs encouragement today!   FIND EXACTLY THE RESOURCE YOU NEED: Faith | Marriage | Parenting | Emotions | Communication | Home & Family | Freebies | Devotionals | Blog | Pinterest   DISCLAIMERS    I am a licensed therapist in South Carolina, but this podcast is not therapy. I may use affiliate links and earn a small commission if you purchase through my links. Read my full disclaimers here.   MISSION   Love Your People Well is all about helping you ENJOY family life as you build healthy, happy, and holy family relationships. Keep Jesus at the center of it all and joy at the center of your days.   Find your resources, devotionals, and more support at www.LoveYourPeopleWell.com

Get biblical help for those big emotions with the Keep Your Cool, Mama 40-day devotional.   Episode 271 // Getting stuck in a pattern of negative thinking is never helpful. It doesn’t feel good, and it doesn’t help us love our husbands and kids well. But, it’s a really common struggle!   Thankfully, like most areas of life, God has hope for us. There are practical action steps that can help us break this cycle of negative thinking and start fixing our minds and hearts on the things above, where Christ is (Colossians 3). As the Lord works in us, He purifies us. Helps us. Changes us.   Today, I want to share 8 real-life tips that I’ve found so helpful with folks in the counseling room. There’s no magic wand here, but there is the grace and power of God to change your life. And for many of us, that starts inside our own thought life.   Dive in with me, friend.   hugs & blessings, Jess   RESOURCES FOR YOU   FREE: Build your own habit of Bible reading and prayer with my FREE 45-day Holy Habits: Bible and Prayer Guide: LoveYourPeopleWell.com/Holy-Habits     DEVOTIONAL: Get biblical help for those big emotions with the Keep Your Cool, Mama 40-day devotional.   RELATED ON THE PODCAST: God’s Promise, Peace, and Presence In Your Anxiety (EP 134)   RELATED ON THE BLOG: 13 Secret Weapons For How To Stop Negative Overthinking   GET MORE & SUPPORT THE SHOW   Support the show on Patreon for just a few dollars a month, and grab access to our 2025 perk of daily(ish) devotionals!    Please leave a 5-star review and share the link to this episode with a friend who needs encouragement today!   FIND EXACTLY THE RESOURCE YOU NEED: Faith | Marriage | Parenting | Emotions | Communication | Home & Family | Freebies | Devotionals | Blog | Pinterest   DISCLAIMERS    I am a licensed therapist in South Carolina, but this podcast is not therapy. I may use affiliate links and earn a small commission if you purchase through my links. Read my full disclaimers here.   MISSION   Love Your People Well is all about helping you ENJOY family life as you build healthy, happy, and holy family relationships. Keep Jesus at the center of it all and joy at the center of your days.   Find your resources, devotionals, and more support at www.LoveYourPeopleWell.com