Edifi Podcast Network

Margin Maker

Are you worn out from trying to do it all? Do you constantly worry about getting it all done and disappointing people if you don’t? Do you feel guilty for wanting space to laugh, linger, and just be? In today’s world women are faced with a relentless pace and the expectation to be all things. And we can feel it…physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. What’s the cure? Margin! Our life and leadership gets better when we create a sustainable pace and make space to be all that we were created to be. Join your host Jen Howat, as she gives you encouragement, support, and practical tips to make margin a reality in your life and leadership! Jen is a wife, mom, pastor, and coach who knows first hand what it’s like to lose yourself along the way in the name of doing it all. She has spent years giving spiritual guidance to women to help them prioritize what’s most important and embrace their God-given limits. And that’s what this show is designed to help you do too.

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Episodes

Discovering the Vision Jesus Has For You [EP:020] 26:12 August 25, 2022 Play in Edifi Player

Discovering the Vision Jesus Has For You [EP:020]

> “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30 MSG > > Fall will soon be upon us and once it starts it feels like one big jump to the end of the year. When you get to the …
3 Life-giving Decisions I Made During a Difficult Summer [EP:019] 27:06 August 18, 2022 Play in Edifi Player

3 Life-giving Decisions I Made During a Difficult Summer [EP:019]

Summer is my favorite season but this summer has been hard. When things became overwhelming, I made 3 life-giving decisions that have made all the difference in the world. ### My 3 Decisions * **I deleted all news apps off my phone.** There is something to be said about being informed about what is happening in our world and in our communities, but watching and reading the news was not helping me be the best version of myself. I wasn't more loving. I wasn't more empathetic. The constant …
Becoming the Adult Over Your Life [EP:018] 21:18 August 11, 2022 Play in Edifi Player

Becoming the Adult Over Your Life [EP:018]

> Setting boundaries inevitably involves taking responsibility for your choices. You are the one who makes them. You are the one who must live with their consequences. And you are the one who may be keeping yourself from making the choices you could be happy with. We must own our own thoughts and clarify distorted thinking. -Henry Cloud ### Many of us wonder how we ended up where we are today...so far away from the person we were created to be. It's because we are caught up in The …
How to Guard Against the Drift [EP:017] 22:46 August 4, 2022 Play in Edifi Player

How to Guard Against the Drift [EP:017]

The waters of life may seem calm but we are always in jeopardy of drifting. There is an undertow that is subtle and slow that constantly wants to pull us away from being the person we were created to be. What do you to do protect yourself against the drift? Set boundaries. > Boundaries define us. They define what is me and what is not me. A boundary shows me where I end and someone else begins, leading me to a sense of ownership. Knowing what I am to own and take responsibility for gives …
The Drift [EP:016] 21:23 July 28, 2022 Play in Edifi Player

The Drift [EP:016]

> A gradual shift in attitude, opinion or position. > > An aimless course. > > To move along a line of least resistance. > > To vary or deviate from a set course or adjustment. ### This is what it means to drift. You will never drift into a mind filled with peace. You will never drift into a heart full of life. You will never drift into contentment and security. Perfect peace comes when we intentionally and continually fix our thoughts on God (Isaiah). A heart that flows with life …
When the Unexpected Happens [EP:015] 21:05 July 14, 2022 Play in Edifi Player

When the Unexpected Happens [EP:015]

What do you do when the unexpected happens and you know you are beyond your emotional and physical capacity to get things done? Do you insist that you press on because that's what committed leaders do? Or do you rearrange things in order to create the space you need? Most of us hesitate to create margin when the unexpected happens. We want to follow through with our obligations, serve people well, and be a person of our word. But most of the motivation to continue comes from guilt when we …
Conquering Your To-Do List (So it Doesn't Conquer You) [EP:014] 24:43 June 16, 2022 Play in Edifi Player

Conquering Your To-Do List (So it Doesn't Conquer You) [EP:014]

Is your to-do list out of control? Do you struggle with trying to check everything off of it? Do want to get things done but don't feel like you are making much progress? If you want to know the secrets to conquering your to- do list so it doesn't conquer you...this conversation is for you! As busy Christian women leaders, we often are trying to manage ALL of the things and get it ALL done and yet as hard as we work, we still feel like we are falling short. * What if you knew exactly …
Boundaries and Margin in the Midst of Tragedy [EP:013] 27:04 June 9, 2022 Play in Edifi Player

Boundaries and Margin in the Midst of Tragedy [EP:013]

How does space and margin integrate or intertwine with tragedy, grief, or loss? Do you tend to feel guilty for create space when there's chaos happening in the world, in your community, or in your own life? Or do you feel like you have permission to step back and create boundaries...even in the midst of grief and loss? In this episode, I share my thoughts and observations from interactions with other women leaders as we wrestle with making margin alongside the recent heartache that has …
Planning Margin This Summer [EP:012] 30:51 June 2, 2022 Play in Edifi Player

Planning Margin This Summer [EP:012]

> ### If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail. > > ### -Benjamin Franklin If you're like me, you have a vision of what you want this summer. But here's what ends up happening...time goes by. Before you know it, the summer is over and there is so much that never happened. Planning helps you be thoughtful and intentional about the time ahead. Planning takes your vision from an idea to reality. ### Here's How You Can Plan for the Season Ahead …
No More Excuses: Time to Change [EP:011] 26:22 May 26, 2022 Play in Edifi Player

No More Excuses: Time to Change [EP:011]

Tired of being overwhelmed as a leader and never having enough time for the things that are the most important to you? Are you tired of living and leading in a way that keeps you from being your true self? If you want things to change...if you’re ready for things to change...if you find yourself wishing that somehow things would just change…this is for you! It's time to stop making excuses about why you can't have the healthy rhythms and boundaries you need to thrive in life and leadership. …
4 Spiritual Disciplines to Renew Your Soul 30:55 May 19, 2022 Play in Edifi Player

4 Spiritual Disciplines to Renew Your Soul

Are you looking for new ways to renew your soul? Sometimes we can get in a rut and spiritual practices that have worked so well for us in the past don't seem to be as helpful. In order to be healthy pastors and leaders as well as women living in the freedom of Christ, we should be growing closer to the Lord each and every day. While there is nothing "magical" about a spiritual practice per se, trying a new spiritual discipline, even one that may be a bit uncomfortable, is a great way to …
3 Tips to Help You Learn Whether to Say Yes or No [EP:009] 30:36 May 12, 2022 Play in Edifi Player

3 Tips to Help You Learn Whether to Say Yes or No [EP:009]

Let me ask you…Are you an automatic YES person? Do you always say yes when someone asks you to do something? Is that your default answer? Or, what about this one…Maybe you’d like to say no but you don’t know how to break that cycle. Or maybe you don’t even know what answer to give, is this something you SHOULD do or not…or perhaps you wonder…do I have a choice?? In today’s episode I am going to share with you some tips on how you can discover and learn whether you should say yes or whether you …
4 Common Mistakes When Making Margin [EP:008] 18:44 May 5, 2022 Play in Edifi Player

4 Common Mistakes When Making Margin [EP:008]

Do you feel like you’ve tried to make margin but nothing seems to work. Are you getting frustrated and want to throw in the towel? Before you think that healthy rhythms and boundaries are simply not possible for you, let me share with you 4 common mistakes that people make when it comes to creating the space they need. ### Common Mistakes We Make ### 1\. You aren't sure what you want. Are you clear on the margin you need to make? Do you know what it would look like? Do you have a plan. …
How to Get Started Making Margin [EP:007] 17:55 April 28, 2022 Play in Edifi Player

How to Get Started Making Margin [EP:007]

You know you want to create margin and integrate healthy rhythms into your life and leadership but where do you start? What are some ideas of practical things you can put into place. In this episode I’m going to share with you some ideas for margin to help you get started. I was leading a workshop on making margin at a women's clergy conference and someone raised their hand and said...I know that this is going to be different for each of us, but what are some practical examples of what …