Welcome to Burning Brightly! This is where moms of faith gather who are feeling called to stretch themselves out of the comfort of their own homes and put themselves out into the world. You might be feeling excitement about this new phase of life, you might be feeling nervous, or you might be absolutely terrified - all those feelings are normal and valid!

Today I'll introduce you to me, this show and this concept of shining the light that God gave us in bigger and brighter ways, despite fear, overwhelm or mom-guilt.

We'll learn about the role that discomfort plays in stepping into roles that help us grow and the incredible opportunities that God has in store for you. Yes, YOU.

Are you ready? Let's go.

Download the free business starter guide here

Schedule a free coaching call with me here

Hello, and welcome to burning brightly.

You guys, I'm so excited to be here with episode number one of

this brand spanking new podcast.

I, can't wait to dive in and tell you all about what I mean by

burning brightly and what you're going to get out of this podcast.

But first, just a teeny tiny intro about me, who I am, why you might

even want to listen or, whether or not I have any qualifications at all.

So I am a mom first and foremost, I have 10 children.

We homeschool them all.

That's why I'm gonna say right up front, please.

Excuse any background noise?

I do the best I can to record this and my other podcast.

But inevitably it happens.

We have 10 kids ages, two through 17.

We have four boys and six girls.

And, I'm also an entrepreneur.

I love, love, love building businesses.

We're going to get into that in a minute.

But first and foremost, I'm a life coach.

Certified life coach, and I own a couple of product based businesses.

And I have been in business for myself in one form or another, for

about eight years now, which is super exciting and kind of unbelievable.

But every last minute has been, so, enlightening, such a growth experience.

And I can't wait to guide you through the same thing.

If that's something you're interested in as well.

So, like I said, I have another podcast as well.

It is called outnumbered, as you can guess, it's about large families

and I have a co-host on that one.

It's Audrey and she is a mom of nine kids.

And we talk all about large families and how to manage the chaos of that.

Or just systematize your life as a mom in general.

So go check that one out as well.

Now, one thing that both Audrey and I have noticed in the past few years is there's

this distinct movement amongst moms.

And I would say, especially amongst faithful moms, Who are feeling the

call to put themselves out there.

Meaning.

For most of them, it means starting a business of some sort.

It also might mean.

Um, creating some sort of service initiative or giving back to the

community in some way, it's some sort of putting their talents

and skills out into the world.

And.

What I've noticed is that I think w there's a couple of reasons for this.

The first one I think is because we, as modern moms have a lot

more time and energy leftover at the end of the day than moms did.

A thousand years ago, 500 years ago.

Right.

We might disagree with that because we like to pack our days full of soccer,

carpools, and lunch with friends.

And maybe we work outside of the home, whatever it may be.

But.

Really truthfully, we're not taking our clothes down to the river to wash out.

We're not, you know, making our food from scratch.

So we have a lot more time.

Thanks to modern conveniences.

So the question is what are we doing with this time and this energy, right.

In addition to this, we all have the internet.

The internet is this magnificent, miraculous, amazing invention,

which means that we can stay home and be predominantly stay at home

moms caretakers to our children.

While still putting our genius out into the world, which

is really, really amazing.

So I think this combination of these two things, more

time and energy for ourselves.

And for anything that we feel called to do, plus the invention of the internet

means that these faithful moms who maybe otherwise might not have had

the chance to put their voice out into the world now are getting the chance.

And for some of us, it is so exciting.

And for others of us, it is terrifying.

And usually at somewhere in the middle, right.

I have for sure, felt excitement and terror and overwhelm and insecurity

and the old imposter syndrome.

All of the feelings when putting my content and skills

and talents out into the world.

But this is what this podcast is about.

It is for those of you who are feeling like now is the time maybe your kids

are getting just a little bit older.

Maybe your baby went to kindergarten or maybe your baby went to college.

And you're sitting around looking at your life and thinking I

don't have to change diapers.

I don't have to make dinner all the time.

I don't have to scrub and pick up, like I used to.

What is this next phase?

All about?

I personally, as a mom of faith, really believe that this is God

inspiring us to go out and do something more with our lives.

And I am so honored to be here supporting you if this is your phase of life as well.

So when considering names for this podcast, I kept thinking about the

scriptures in the new Testament that talk about being a candle

that is set on a hill, right?

Christ followers were told to shine.

To shine brightly to not hide ourselves under a bushel, right.

To be an example for good.

An example of joy and compassion and service and love and all these

beautiful Christ-like qualities.

To show the world what it looks like to have a family and to love that family.

To raise it and nurture it and make it your number one priority to serve those

who maybe might never pay you back.

Right.

Or might never even be grateful, but to be this , example of Christ and

everything that we do with no need.

For reciprocity or being paid back, right?

That is what a real Christian women does.

And when we feel called to do this outside of our home, I really

think that that is coming from God.

I said, for me, this has meant.

, using and developing talents to build a business or multiple businesses

actually, I've had quite a few and it's been a wild, really fun ride.

But for some of you, it might mean just standing up for your beliefs.

It might mean, you know, showing up on social media as someone who does not.

accept the current way.

Way of thinking, right.

Or maybe pushes back a little bit at, trendy, social constructs.

It might mean starting a charity organization or some sort of service.

initiative that really, really lights you on fire.

Regardless of what it is.

It involves tapping into our beliefs that we hold most dearly.

And then getting uncomfortable.

Right.

If you are a woman of faith, chances are good that you have felt

uncomfortable in some way or another.

Because of your beliefs, maybe you've had to stand up for them.

Maybe you've had to express.

discomfort when someone was speaking unkindly or using foul language

or doing something that wasn't in keeping with your beliefs.

So we should be comfortable with being uncomfortable, right?

But some of us, especially through our motherhood years,

just kind of sit back into the.

Into the comfort of our home.

And don't leave a lot.

Don't show up a lot in our society, in our community.

And so it can be very scary and overwhelming to step into that

limelight a little bit to step into.

this place of visibility.

And to acknowledge that this is something that God is calling you to do.

So I totally recognize that and know that you are not alone.

Now, I know what you're thinking.

A couple of things, right?

First of all, do I have to accept this call?

And of course the answer is no, you don't have to do anything.

That's the miracle of agency, right.

And of being able to make your own choices and come to a decision all on your own.

That's why saying yes is so powerful.

Because we get to use our God given agency, our power to choose, to

put goodness out into the world without expecting anything in return.

Now that being said, if you choose to build a business, eventually

you will expect to be paid.

And I'm not saying that everything we do to put our goodness out into

the world has to be for non-profit.

I don't believe that at all.

I believe in exchanging value and putting goodness and light and beauty

out into the world and having people.

Exchange money for that as well.

That is going to be part of how we grow and become the best versions of

ourselves, but just acknowledged to yourself before things get too scary.

That this is entirely within your power to choose yes or no.

In fact, there were quite a few times that I felt called to something more.

That I said no to mostly because it wasn't the right time for me

when all my babies were little.

At one point, I had seven children, 12 and under.

And that was not quite the right time.

Shortly thereafter after I actually did start outnumbered the podcast, but.

All that to say, there were many years when I said, no, my

priority is to be with my family.

I don't have a lot of time outside of the, that role.

And so I'm going to say no at this point.

But I was always open to considering it.

Right.

And that's all I'm asking for you is to just maybe consider what would

that look like answering this call and stepping into this feeling of.

Moving forward.

Okay.

The other thing I know that you're thinking is this.

But I don't have anything special.

I'm not a talented artist.

an eloquent speaker.

I'm not good on video.

I don't know how to use the internet.

I hate social media, any number of those things could be really convenient

excuses to sit back and not step into this light and not burn brightly.

However, I will say this, that.

Wherever God calls someone.

He also qualifies that person.

So all you need is a willingness to say, maybe.

Maybe this is my time.

Maybe there is something for me to do.

When we are able to open our hearts, so that willingness.

It is amazing what can happen.

As I have looked back over the past eight years at all the

opportunities and talents and gifts.

been given to me because I've taken a chance on putting myself out there.

It's incredible.

I really feel like I'm a completely different person now than when

I first started my business.

And I first started dabbling in learning new things and growing.

It's just incredible what God can do for you.

If you are willing to just kind of step into the dark a little bit.

Now, if you're still wondering, what, what would I even do?

I want to give you just a few examples of incredible women that are out there.

Nailing this just amazing examples of those who are putting.

Brilliant beauty and goodness out into the world because they feel called to do so.

One is a blog friend of mine who teaches art and calligraphy.

And so she literally puts beauty out into the world, but the best part is

she teaches others to do it as well.

So they come to her website, they sign up for her classes.

They watch her incredible art online on social media and they

get inspired and then they get to go and create that amazing art

for themselves in their own lives.

But it's not just about creating beauty for them.

It's about tapping into that part of them that says there's

something more for me to develop.

There's something more that I can give to the world and whether it's just

beautifying the walls of their own home.

Or whether it's, you know, pushing them out of a mental health crisis or whatever

benefit they get out of that hobby.

It is extra goodness that's being put into the world because of my amazing friend.

Pretty cool.

Right.

Another woman that I know.

Created a service initiative specifically for small children.

So she has three small children and she remembers looking around

thinking I would love to give my kids service opportunities, but

no one will take small children.

Everybody says 16 in that bright because small kids are not particularly helpful.

And she said, no, there has to be a better way.

So she created an organization that does monthly service projects

specifically for little kids.

So they all get together and pack care packages or, you know, color

cards for, military personnel.

Any number of things that little kids can do, and they get to participate

in this really cool service project that otherwise they'd be left out of.

So pretty amazing.

Right.

And, and not only is she helping benefit those who her organization is serving,

she's benefiting all the people who come participate and not the least of all her

own children, which was the whole purpose.

Right.

She wanted them to get a taste of service.

another mom.

I follow on social media who feels really passionately about protecting

her children and other children from the dangerous of the internet.

So she's taken it upon herself to teach people specifically, parents.

How to, their kids safe, how to make screen-time work for them.

So that, that our kids don't fall into the trap of all the

dangers that are out there.

Something that I'm also super passionate about.

So it's been so fantastic to see someone doing this way better than I could ever

do, and using her talents and skills of, you know, warning and watching out

for others and to tell parents how to do the same for their own children.

So beautiful.

The last example I'll give you is of a woman who channeled her love for reading

into an online movement that embraces the power of reading aloud to your children,

to other children, to the neighbors.

And it is beautiful.

There's a podcast on a blog and books and everything you can think

of to help inspire families, to read out loud more to each other.

So So some of these ideas and topics are really specific and

sometimes you might even think, is there be a following to this?

Would there be people that even care about this?

And the answer is yes.

If it's important to you or you feel a call to do it, it's going

to be important to someone else.

And you will find someone who feels the same and is super interested

in what you have to offer.

reality, the examples are absolutely endless.

I challenge you to get on Instagram and find five to six women doing

incredible things with their gifts and talents and jot them down, give

yourself some ideas so that you know, that whatever talents you come up with.

God will have a way to help you expand them.

Once again, I know you are probably thinking, but I don't have any

talents or skills or an education.

But I will say this.

I believe it denying the talent and growth that God has in store for you.

Is denying the God who gave them to you.

So if you believe that he is a good God, which we know he is, and that he gives

all of his children gifts, then you have to believe that there are some for you.

They just might be a little bit dormant or hiding.

You might need to do some uncomfortable work to discover them.

You might need to just start sharing them in order to develop them better.

But I know that they are there.

Be humble and be patient.

Be willing to take the time to develop yourself, be open.

And willing to any opportunity that God sends your way,

even if it sounds terrifying.

And finally be excited for what lies ahead, because you

have no idea what is coming.

Please, please don't close any doors until you have fully considered them because you

never know what lies on the other side.

If you love video, you can also find this podcast on YouTube under Bonnie

Wiscombe and you can expect a short but sweet podcast from me every single week.