From the National Christian Foundation in San Diego, I’m Kim Moeller, and this is the Generous Girl podcast, a show that shares inspirational stories about generosity through faith,
family, finances, fitness, and friendships, as well as deep thoughts about what matters most and practical tips. My guests are all amazing women who have overcome adversity and are big believers in hope,
and in maximizing their time, their talents, and their their treasures, and making their lives count. So we’re so happy that you’re here. Thanks for joining us. (upbeat music) –
Hi,
welcome back to the Generous Girl podcast. We are here for our final episode of season one. So hard to believe how quickly this year has gone by,
but I have such an exciting guest to introduce you all to today. – Hi. Her name is Anna Campbell, and you are going to be so glad you tuned in. Anna is a transplant from the Chicago area.
She moved to Indianapolis over a decade ago, where she met and married her husband, Jonathan, who is a U .S. Air Force veteran. And in 2017, God saved her from herself,
as she likes to say, and graciously called her from her retail management job into a position with the National National Christian Foundation in Indiana, which has a work mission that she felt was more conducive for her young family and situation,
and has a focus on the kingdom. And she and Jonathan are enjoying the sweet chaos and daily humbling of navigating parenthood to their three amazing daughters. And she’s inspired by the incredible work that God is doing in Indianapolis and the surrounding communities.
And is continually in awe. with the part she gets to play in it. She’s honored to be able to serve as NCF’s in her role with generous givers and advisors and ministry partners and is humbled by God’s abundant grace and generosity in her own life.
She knows personally that God lovingly turns heartbreaks into honor and Anna is on the journey to go deeper with women in the conversation of biblical generosity, wise stewardship,
and kingdom impact. in all areas of life, not just financial. She continues to explore her God -given purpose of inspiring hope and is deeply passionate about Jesus and women. And her word of the year for 2023 is attuned.
So welcome, Anna. – Hi, thanks for having me. – Oh, it’s such a privilege. You know, as I look at the calendar of guests and try to lay out,
what, okay, as we look at our five… five pillars of the faith, family, fitness, finances, and friendships. I try to have, you know, kind of an equal representation of the guests and then I like to mix up the ages and I like to have,
you know, just stories of women who have overcome adversity to encourage the listener because we all have various forms of adversity in our lives. And, you know, we all have different forms of adversity in our lives. You were recommended to me, even though I already know you or knew you, but someone else said, “You really need to have Anna on the podcast.” And when the gal sent me a note, I thought,
you know what, she’s absolutely right. And that gal, just to give a shout out to her, is Katie Shepard with NCF. So yay for Katie. But I was able to meet you and through another mutual NCF connection,
and that is Becky. in Indianapolis who said you need to reach out to Anna because Anna has an amazing story herself and then Anna is doing an amazing job with women in Indianapolis so during this podcast I would love to touch on your story and your own version of how you have overcome adversity which is obviously woven into your bio and then I want to talk about how you’ve created community for women in Indian apolis.
and Because I think there are a lot of takeaways that You know many people listening do not live in Indianapolis for this podcast But I think there are a lot of takeaways that women when they hear what you’re building there Can build into their own lives wherever God might have them.
So welcome. Yeah, thank you So you don’t have to worry about me rambling on about fitness so we can And I’ll try and do my best to stay focused on some of those other topics though.
No you’re great well you have three young kids I remember when my son was like two I think I was the skinniest I had ever been because I was running after him all the time making sure he wasn’t killing himself falling downstairs and I did not need to go to a gym at that time.
So I think what would be great is just if you could share your highlight reel of your life and and some we were talking before and that would be lovely for you to share with listeners so they have a glimpse into who is Anna Campbell.
Yeah sure you know I’ll just say just to give some context I call the first part of my life Anna BC because it was kind of dark and and God was really trying to get to me but I was very resistant so I would say just so that women who are listening know that they’re not alone in some of these things that they experienced throughout their life is that there have been kind of two main themes of my my journey and
one has been this idea of shame and fear and what that poured into my my identity was this idea that I was an accident that I was an afterthought and really like how could God want me or love me and He had plans for other people.
I could see that very clearly, but when it came to internalizing that for myself, I just never connected those dots. It’s like, I knew he created me, but I didn’t know he created me. That’s kind of the majority of the theme of the,
especially the first part of my life. And adjacent to that theme is this other theme of God really being faithful and walking through valleys with me and that, and you know,
I kind of, have cared less if he was there and he really stayed persistent pursuing me and bringing me through those deep dark holes. And like I said, like you said in my bio, you know,
turning my heartbreaks and my pain into honor and joy. And so that’s sort of the framework for how I’ve experienced life. But yeah, we don’t have time to go into my whole history, but I’ll just give you a few.
I grew up in a family that was on survival mode. for much of my life. My parents struggled with mental illness. And so I was the caretaker for my sister and for my parents quite often.
And so this idea of serving a purpose really permeated my identity in a lot, in a lot of ways as a young child. When I was 18, I was kind of desperate to escape and throw myself into service for the Lord.
And so I moved to Mexico to pursue a life full of… of glorious missions and I thought that’s the end of my story. I’ll just serve till I die and maybe I’ll get into heaven and we all I think know that doesn’t work that way but that experience actually ended in a very messy painful way and so I ended up back in a in Chicago land in a very deep dark hole of depression and shame and fear and just this back to
this idea that I wasn’t worth it. I wasn’t made for anything bigger or purposeful. So that’s sort of how I existed in my early 20s with God over here.
I was kind of like, thanks, but no, thanks. I’ve been there. Don’t love it. And over the next five or six years, instead of pursuing him like he was pursuing me, I spent time with people who I thought men specifically who I thought could fix me.
me, or who would affirm what I already believed about myself that I was worthless
and not worth loving well. And sort of swung in between those two sort of like archetype men,
you know, like, please fix me, you’re such a good Christian and I’m not, or I’m not a good Christian, so why would I try? And shockingly did not find the validation or the affirmation that I was looking for.
In those relations. relationships. And so eventually moved down to Indianapolis, which was really just probably like a divine intervention. My family had migrated down here. I wasn’t thrilled about being close to them again,
but God really set up some things to push me in this direction. And what I would say about my early years in Indianapolis was that I was very much a shell of a person,
and physically, emotionally, and especially spiritually. Just, you know, it’s like I sort of had this vision of like my chest was just an empty cavern and it was dusty and dark.
And that’s just how I felt all the time. So I was living with my sister in Indianapolis and she came home one night and said, “Hey, there’s a guy that just started work at the restaurant she was at.
He just got out of the military. I think you’d really like him. Like basically you’re a loser and have no friends. Maybe you should hang out with somebody.” I was like, “Okay, ouch.” but you’re right. And so we ended up going out and I almost failed on this date because again,
I just thought, I just had this sense, like I’m not worth anything good. And I kind of thought this guy would probably be a good guy. He wasn’t my typical date. He was nice and stable.
And so deep down I was like, I don’t know if I can show myself to somebody like that, but I ended up going on state and 12 years later, Jonathan and I are more than happy to be here. and we have three girls. And so we are being sanctified every single day.
A lot of it’s everyone else. Oh my gosh, oh my gosh. So we actually were joking this morning. I still am shocked when I think back about when we met.
I felt like such trash. And he goes, “Well, I’m a raccoon. I love trash.” And I said, “Okay.” So we still just looked back on that and really see God’s hand in that and the way he’s generous with putting people in your life right at the right time.
And so not to say that our marriage and life and family has been totally beautiful and stress free, but he’s been a real blessing to me. So fast forward,
and we’re married, we have our first kid, and I sort of throw myself into expectations that I think other people should have for me. me. What I think be a mom should look like,
an employee, a wife, and I do this all at the expense of really my own health and also the relationships of the people that are closest to me. So I was a district manager for a gas station chain,
which was an incredible job. There were so many things I loved about it, but ultimately that’s where I had placed my identity. And so I spent from six in the morning morning to 8 p .m. working on my computer or in my stores at the expense of spending time with my husband and my family and God.
And so by the end of that run, I had really burnt out pretty hard and pretty epically. And the enemy had really gotten a hold, a foothold in my spirit,
you know, with his lie that work was the answer. Do more, be more accomplished. Accomplish more. Love you better. And that wasn’t the truth,
right? So we had our second daughter and during the second maternity leave, I am wracked with anxiety about going back to this job that I’ve just killed myself at and can’t imagine going back to.
At 10 weeks old, she has surgery and it was supposed to be a weekend surgery to remove a cyst in her abdomen. and What ended up happening is we had to go back in a second time.
She had to have a central line put in I’m a new mom Pumping and I’m not able to nurse or even hold my child comfortably and we ended up staying in the hospital for 10 days which You know,
I look back and like God is so good because there are people who never leave the hospital But but in that moment, I vividly remember one evening Jonathan had gone home to stay with us our oldest And I was alone in the hospital room with the baby And I just like bit like my spirit just like cried out and I was literally crying – but like mice I just felt this lurch in my chest,
and I just I said God and I don’t recommend bargaining with God generally Biblically, it’s not got a great track record, but I Said God if you
get us through this if you keep my family intact I will start saying yes to you and he did we We left the hospital on Mother’s Day.
And the week before I was supposed to go back to this job that I just couldn’t do, I got the interview for NCF Indiana. And it was so funny,
because now looking back, I still am sort of shocked I got the job. I just, I remember being like, I’m not Christian enough to work here. It’s got Christian in the name. They’re gonna send me through me again.
with this idea that you had to have like this perfect relationship. It’s just like so many lies that I had. I believe that then. But what I found at NCF and this sort of brings us closer to present day is just like an incredible community of imperfect people trying to serve the Lord with an abundance of grace and in a culture of generosity.
And I found respite. for my heart and my soul. Oh it was a gift God did not have to give me but I’m so glad he did because it has been so wonderful not just for myself but for my family to be in this situation where I am constantly being reminded of his generosity and I get to do that for other people.
I get to bring to that heart of it and so it’s just been it’s been a wild ride but and I would say God is still like unpacking and peeling it. layers of my heart,
cold heart. I always laugh because I cry at the drop of a hat now. I didn’t, maybe like 25 years, I never cried. And now I can cry whenever something touches my heart.
And I think it’s God’s sort of sense of humor to say, like, I’ve softened your heart, there’s no going back. That’s right. Yeah. So yeah, so he’s been so generous.
with me and put me in a place of discovery. You know, it was sort of like in the moment was like, I just need anything else. But over the years, I’ve discovered that I actually really am passionate about generosity and specifically women and inspiring that hope and generosity in them.
And so it’s been like so neat to see that intersection. Like his plans are just so much better than anything I could have come up with. Yes. Oh, that is just such a beautiful story. And I know we’ve had guests on the podcast this past year that have touched upon shame and fear,
anxiety, and, you know, self -worth. And I’ve almost gotten more feedback on those episodes, being life -giving and helpful to people than any other episode.
Because I think we’re, we all, are challenged with what truth do we believe? What scripture have we memorized to know in our heads so that when a lie is put before us we can immediately say,
“No, that’s a lie, and here’s the truth,” and fight it? Or not recognize the deception and then really go down this path of something that’s just so completely not true and our life decisions are based on this untruth and then later you look back and you’re like,
“What was I thinking?” kind of thing. But you know, there is the verse that talks about the heart is deceitful and
sometimes when we’re just kind of following, well, this is how we feel is what we think.
So I certainly don’t think your experience with shame and identity and especially the career side and achievement is atypical.
atypical for many, many women. I think figuring out one’s identity in Christ and the way if a person has children, listening to this podcast,
like you can see how that quickly upends anybody’s life when the baby enters the world because no longer, like however the constructs were constructed before,
everything is new. new. Like you’re saying, I was actually in the hospital also with a stroke -like headache after my third child was born, and it was really terrifying.
I didn’t even know if I was gonna make it, what was gonna happen. We ended up having one more child after that, but it is, it was like your life and death situations, God’s presence,
and then as you’re taking the next step of like, okay, you’re looking at the finances. and, you know, you mentioned you’re a manager in that prior role. And then feeling like,
okay, what does he have for me? And someone’s gonna take the next job. Someone’s gonna be a stay -at -home mom. Like everyone’s journey is so unique. But the beauty of it I love is what you’re talking about about God’s generosity that he gives to us through so many things,
you know. And when we have the eyes open, open to see what that is, it does make us want to give more of ourselves and our time, our talents, our treasures. So the tears,
I think that’s beautiful. So keep, keep crying when they’re brought to your mind. It’s so funny that, I mean, that you mentioned how unique we are because I wholeheartedly believe that.
I think God created us in such unique creative ways, but what I really love is that he didn’t make us so different so that we would be isolated, so that we would be complimentary and we would lift each other up and spur each other on and fill the gaps where there are gaps.
And it was like there was never, there’s not a sense of competition with the gospel, right? Like there’s enough for everyone and I think that women specifically forget that.
that. I have, you know, especially with all the distractions we have everywhere, but like social media or TV or all these things are telling us who we should be.
And if we’re not careful, we really can forget where the source of our identity comes from. And so I think that it’s such, like you said, it’s not an atypical experience for women, but the trick of the enemy is to take that truth and then just to skew it.
just enough to make it feel like we’re alone And it’s yeah, or you’re the you’re alone and whatever it is you’re going through is you’re the only person who’s ever gone through that and that is so isolating and actually,
it’s a perfect point to segue into the community built in Indianapolis and the phrase that you use which is better together and which I love because because it is so true that we were not meant to go at life alone,
and many of us, you know, have family or spouses, great friends, and we’re not meant to just be this lone ranger. So I was fortunate this fall to get to fly out and see this women’s event that you put on,
which had probably 250 women in this beautiful ballroom, and you had Julie Wilson, who… was on the Generous Girl podcast episode number two. She was the keynote speaker.
She did a lovely job of like teaching from the platform, but then also giving women a chance in small groups to connect with one another and then take the next step of doing an actual like small group study,
which we call you ignite with the women doing well program. But why don’t you talk a little bit about not just that event, but what you’re trying to do and what you have done in building this really cool community of women in Indianapolis?
Sure. Yeah. So I’ll sort of frame it up a little bit with what NCF’s purpose is and mission is. But first I want to say, I so appreciate you saying I built it, but I am,
I am one tiny little person. I know. And I’ve had such incredible women, like, catch the bit. and just energize around this idea of creating a space that’s safe to talk about finances and generosity and stewardship and just shed that sense of competition and come together for collaboration for the kingdom and be bold in our faith.
And so I have had, I mean, I could list so many, I wish they were all here on the podcast with me,
but certainly not a single effort by myself. by any means. So okay,
so at NCF though, and you know this because you’re a part of NCF, but for people who are not as familiar, our mission is to mobilize resources by inspiring the local generosity. And so in my brain,
I like pictures, there’s a two two parts right, the mobilize and inspire. And what I really love about our mission is it doesn’t say mobilize money. It says mobilize resources and The more that I meditate on this and read the Bible and talk to other women the more I’m convinced that we are the resources that need to be mobilized that women are going to be the ones to Revive the church in the truest sense that women
are going to be the ones if they’re not already building the businesses Stewarding the finds creating relationships and policies and directions for culture,
right? Like, I think that God wants us to be mobilized. And then the other things we’re stewarding are like byproducts. I really think that we’re the best, we’re the his most special,
most impactful resource. And so when I think about mobilizing resources, yes, NCF has practical tools to mobilize. mobilize financial resources. But I don’t think that’s where we stop.
I think the culture of NCF is to disciple and to spur each other on in wholehearted, whole person development so that we can continue to reflect Christ,
transform into his image. And so I met Jonathan during this time in my life where I was a hot mess and went on the stage. And I think– nothing had really changed spiritually for me.
I wasn’t necessarily looking for a long -term relationship, but God and his sovereignty knew what he was doing. And so Jonathan saw me at my worst and really stuck around for kind of the ugly side of me.
I mean, I would have panic attacks that I couldn’t explain. And I was in… deep pits of anxiety and depression for a lot of those first months especially that we were dating and really he was just a persistent in I don’t even think he knew it at the time but like showing me what it meant to be valued and loved and I think even though we didn’t really start our relationship with Christ at the center as we’d grown
into our relationship and our marriage and have had these different experiences where faith is becoming more and more the center. You know, I can look back and say, even if we both didn’t realize it at that time,
God was mending my heart and he was using Jonathan to show me what he was gonna even offer me even more so. And so I think I didn’t have this great change of heart.
I’m gonna start looking and dating better men. men but God brought me a man who was out notch and continued to like grow us together in that journey so Beautiful so beautiful and that ties into as we’re talking about the mission of NCF and what you were saying about the Resources and thinking of women as these resources that God wants to deploy women who?
understand their identity in him understand the potential of how they can change this world, impact the kingdom. Like there is no greater joy when a woman is fully released to be all she was made to be.
And, you know, your two word purpose statement is inspiring hope. Mine is encouraging significance. I just finished doing a women doing well group out here in Southern California. California that we met in person With and I loved it I mean,
there’s nothing that gives me greater joy than like raising my own are my husband’s and my own kids and helping them be all they were made to be and Watching women in groups do the same So keep unpacking what you were saying earlier about the the mission and what you’re trying to build with better together in Indianapolis because I think think it’s wonderful.
– Yeah, so just this idea, again, that we are the equity that God is putting into this world, like to make it more like heaven on earth. We are the resources that need to be mobilized.
And to do that, we need to understand a few truths about ourselves, based on what he says in the Bible. But first, before I get to that, I just, I was at a wounds event last night.
night and the speaker, she goes, “I just think Jesus is crazy about women.” I mean, like, I don’t think, again, we have a tendency to think we’re accidents or afterthoughts or,
but I think he’s crazy about us. I think he is, like, excited that we are laboring in the kingdom before and with him. And she goes, “Think about this, like, Jesus could have just poofed to earth as an adult.” But God sent to as an infant through a woman.
If that’s not the biggest ask of what is stewarding something valuable, I don’t know what it is. Like that’s an incredible responsibility and eternally impactful her role and her participation in bringing the kingdom to earth.
And so I just think it’s like, when we think about our responsibility as women, even just knowing some of the data that we’re going to be able to bring to earth, what we’re going to be able to bring to earth coming down the line about how much wealth the women in the US are going to manage,
you know, in the next, what, like less than a decade, we’re going to be managing more than 70%. And the global number I think is like 38%. So it’s, it’s women, but it’s also women in the US.
We are going to be resourced in a way that the world has never seen before. And to understand that God’s crazy about us and then to pair it with the statistics that this is a reality and it’s coming.
I mean, what an opportunity. What a way to engage and to get to know Jesus even better and to share that with other women and their families.
I mean, women are gonna have generational impact like exponentially. – So fine. – That we’ve never seen. – Oh my gosh. It’s like, it hikes me up to think about, I love it. I love that you called it that out from the speaker last night because it is this Christmas season and you’re absolutely right and there’s no other religion like Christianity that values the woman.
You know, you look at the value of women in the Middle East in other religions and the books that are out there of just the, again, the shame and there’s no value for the woman and yet the woman is the one bringing these precious babies into the world,
the life giver, you know, the nurturer and the one who brings beauty often into a room. And yeah, and that’s what God chose is Mary, you’re the one, you’re going to bring my son into this earth.
Yes. And I just can’t get over what she shared too. You know, this idea that Mary was entrusted with Jesus, but also she gave Mary community.
Was it, I’m like totally blanking out, Elizabeth, right? Elizabeth went before her in birthing a son, in raising a son. Her son died before Jesus.
Like this, God wasn’t just like do this hard thing. He equipped Mary and gave her people to lean on who went before her. And like that, that I think is really. really, when I think about community,
Christ -centered community, in Indianapolis, what I really hope for, if I could be so selfish as to save my hope. But I hope that women not only know their own value,
but can see the value in the woman next to them. And that we’re going before each other, and we’re carrying each other’s burdens, and we are the first one to stand up for someone else.
You know, I think we just have such opportunity to influence and to love well. So when we think about this Better Together event, the event is so fun and I love it each year and I’m already excited about next year,
but even more so the things that happen in between the events just jazz me up. I mean, the women doing well retreats that happen, and then the individual connections. that turn into friendships and Mentorships that happen the meetings that people will say hey I saw you at that event and I’d love to get coffee and you never know how God’s gonna open doors just with a coffee date I mean,
I just truly don’t think there are any coincidences in life But it’s all these little Relational things that happen in between the two big events. Just like keep me in awe of what God’s doing in Indy In And so at this,
at this event, and our hope with, you know, as I’m interacting with women to individually or in small groups, my hope is that, and I use this as my own practice, I try very hard to come back to these consistently,
I have six sort of biblical truths that I’ve gleaned this year that I’d love to share because I think I think they’ll resonate but specifically about generosity.
generosity. Some of the things that I come back to are, generosity is a gift and not just a gift, but a gift from a generous God. And you know, in John 3 .16, it says, “I so love the world that he gave his son.” And I even love more so how it’s said in 1st John 3 .16.
And it says, “This is how we know what love is. Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. God gave, and with the ultimate gift, with the greatest act of gender, I mean, I’m paraphrasing after this.
But with the ultimate gift and the greatest after gender, obviously ever, he’s grafted us into his family forever. And so it’s not just that he like, I think we forget that the word gave is so impactful in that tiny little verse.
We’ve just heard it so many times throughout our life, maybe. Oh, God’s the love of the world he gave us. And it’s like, Oh, no, no, that tiny little word, that four letter word gave has a whole lot of implications for it. for us. The second truth is that because of this generous gift,
generosity is not an obligation, but it’s an invitation to become more like Christ and to know Christ better. The third truth that I that I’ve gleaned is we were each made,
and I’ve already touched on this obviously, but we’re each made for a purpose and with a purpose and rationality. And you know, the bible says that the thoughts God thinks about me about you I greater than the grains of sand on the earth.
Like that is so hard to comprehend. But like he thinks about me. I’m not just like an afterthought, right? And then he’s designed and uniquely equipped each of us for good works.
And we know that in Ephesians 210, it says that we’re his handiwork, and he has good things planned in advance for us to do. The other thing that I think we tend to forget is that generosity is a journey not just a destination.
It is narrow and also unfolding. There’s moments every day in every interaction we have to be generous with our words, our thoughts, our resources, our attitudes,
our prayers, and we should take those. And by taking each of those momentary opportunities, we’re creating an unfolding practice of generosity. And the minute we sort of think,
“I got a chance to do it,” get somewhere with it we again we like lose sight of the forest through the trees kind of thing it’s like we’re missing the point of the journey being in relationship with God and so what God’s been very gently teaching me is that when I’m feeling anxious or hurried or pulled in too many directions or joyless instead of joyful especially around this idea of generosity it’s usually because I
have have made it into like a checklist. It’s all about me and it’s all about the things I could check off the list. And when I start to feel that way, I try and use that as a cue to go, I need to go back to those first couple truths about generosity being a gift and a journey,
because then the joy comes back into it. And I think that’s God’s desire for us to have that joy. So one tiny little like segue story, I I watch a zoo show with my kids and it’s called Zoo Down Under,
I think, and it’s about a zoo and wildlife program in Australia. And so they’re going, they go behind the scenes and they talk about all these crazy animals like koalas and platypus, you know,
and just wild, wild things. And I just have this like, it’s almost so dumb to say out loud because it’s so like simple and childlike, but.
I was watching the show and I’m just in awe of like all these random features and things that got it God has flipped a platypus with Drive and to thrive and I’m like,
but the Bible says me more like and and us even more so He didn’t have to be creative with his creation, but he was And us even more so I’m just like it just like hit me like a ton of bricks.
And I just continually come back to that picture of like, if God cares enough to create a pot. – Of course. (laughing) – Surely, surely, I’m not here by accident,
right? So that’s my fifth little tangent, but the last truth, and I think the Bible’s pretty clear on this, is that generosity is not just for the financially wealthy.
However, However, it should and does include your financial wealth, whatever that looks like. And I think that this is something that we trip up on quite frequently.
We kind of go, I’m giving God my everything else, so my finances are kind of off limits, or I’m giving really well financially, and so I don’t feel like I need to step into anything messy personally.
And I do feel like I need to step into something having that holistic mindset of like no God wants it all and I’m not I don’t want to make light of it it’s a hard mentality to have and to keep like it’s a constant practice and I’m I’m be lying if I’d say I’m totally there but I do think that God wants it all he wants our hearts and so my encouragement would be if you feel some kind of way when I say
generosity includes money. money, my encouragement would be to lean into why. Why does that, what emotions does that bring up? Because I think we have a lot of ideas about money and God and our identity and even salvation to some extent that are all sort of intertwined.
Absolutely. And we hold some things just so tightly with our fists. I mean, if someone’s watching any YouTube, they can see me. with two fists right now. But it is like he needs to pry those fingers open to sit with that open posture of surrender.
And what I love about the six principles that you’ve shared is I think being this last podcast of season one, it’s a perfect time for the listener,
and obviously me included, to reflect on those six principles and look at them. my own life in this past year, past decades, but then what do I want 2024 to look like and what kind of a posture do I want to hold with my hands with like you’re talking about you know maybe it’s not just the money piece but maybe it is what he’s calling me to give extra time to that maybe I don’t even think I had that time but
maybe he’s really saying that is where I want you to spend your time so it’s just that posture of listening, surrender, and identifying so that as I go into and we each go into 2024,
it becomes a year where God is pleased, he’s fully got us where he wants us to use us. Because again, we’re the ones who are so privileged, right,
from his generosity, that we get to be a part, we get to give of ourselves, of our talents. of our treasures. And when we say no, or when we’re like oblivious to the fact that we are holding with clenched fists,
then sadly, the other person over here gets the opportunity to fill that, you know, that need that God wants to use a person to fill it with, and we don’t get to be the one. So I think all of us could testify to say there’s no greater joy than being used by God and to have one of those moments where oh my gosh like you wouldn’t believe what happened I met this person and they knew this person and and actually
I’m just real quick it reminds me of when I went to your event and I sat down at this you know quote random table and there was this sweet gal there I’d never met her before but I said so how did you even you know find out about this event and she said well I saw it advertised advertised on social media in two different times,
and I felt like I need to be here at this event.” And I was like, “That takes a lot of courage. Like you just walk into a ballroom with 250 women, you know, with no friends, and here you are.” So I just told her props to you.
That’s amazing. And then I loved that. And then as the time, you know, continued, you talked about holding that event where you were going to have the women. attend the Ignite,
you know, one day experience. And she said, this is so strange, but I took vacation time, which included that actual date, but I didn’t know what I was going to do with it.
And now I know exactly what I’m gonna do during my vacation. And so, I mean, it’s things like that, you know, where you just look at the posture and she’s holding her calendar,
open hand. -handed and then God’s like, this is what I want you to do. And so, so exciting. – Yes, and that’s so awesome. And I actually, I think my only, like just to wrap up the six sort of things that I use as guidelines of like re -centering myself around this idea of generosity,
the one other encouragement I would give for especially anyone listening to this and feeling like, I’m not a New Year’s resolutions person or I am when I go overboard in this. I can’t keep them. I mean,
that’s me. My encouragement would be like practice over perfection. Again, it’s a journey, no one’s grading you on it. Like don’t strive for perfection,
just strive for that habit and that practice of joy and noticing those opportunities. And I even love the idea of maybe taking your five Fs and like finding just one simple way to be generous with family,
with friends, with friends, with finances, and just starting with like five, just two maybe of those like very simple habits to start like practicing and getting your muscle of generosity moving.
But yeah, I just want, there’s no shame in that. That’s the point, right? Like I think we say, I’m not as far ahead on my journey as someone else and we back off. And I think that’s the point.
that’s The worst thing we can do we you know lean lean into the imperfection and the journey and enjoy Enjoy it as you’re learning. That’s that’s my encouragement. So No,
that’s perfect because really the subtext of this podcast is to take the next step So that step is going to look so different for this woman versus this woman But really the utter failure of this podcast is the woman listens to every episode and just feels like,
“I can’t do anything. I’m under the pod. I can’t take the next step.” That is why I love to have on every episode some form of, “How did the guest overcome adversity?” Because I want the listener to hear that story and go,
“Wow. If she can do that, I can certainly take the next step where I’m at.” And so, obviously, if someone’s listening, and they’re connected to an NCF community of women around the country,
which there are plenty, then they’re going to have a much easier way to, you know, take the next step of doing things with women, believing that we are better together. We’re not meant to,
you know, compete against each other, but we’re there to encourage each other so that we know we’re not alone. And God’s given us each other for this journey. And then for the women who’s in a random place like Alaska,
something where there’s no community, you made me think of as something that really was very life -changing for me when my kids were little. And that was what we called our Cheesecake Factory group. And we have another Cheesecake Factory that was like a half hour away this restaurant.
And several times a year, a group of us would meet there and we would be there right. when they opened. It was like probably 1130 till 230 when we had to go race and go pick up the kids and the waiter would always give us the same table and we would go around and we would each have about 15,
20 minutes to say, this is where I’m at. Like this is the high that God’s been doing and this is the low that I’m walking through. And then we would have the next phase of that like discussion where it would be like to do.
want people to give me ideas and solutions for the hard things or do I just need a place to really kind of, not I don’t wanna say vent, but really just share,
you know, where I’m at and how hard it is. And I mean, that group was so transformational for all of us, many of us are spouses, we’re in leadership roles, we had to be very careful who we talked with and it was a very safe group.
But if you looked at that group, group and the things that the women had gone through, like we pretty much covered every challenge that was out there. One of our dear, dear friends who was part of that group passed away of a brain tumor in her early 40s,
who was a part of that group. We walked through that with her and her family. But to this day, I can’t imagine like getting through those years without that group.
And I want to just think every woman listening, if you don’t have a group like that, many churches have incredible small group ministries. So I would say that would be a perfect next step in January.
A lot of times they’re kicking off the small group ministry in January and there are a variety of ways. Even women doing well, you know, you could join an online women doing well group and that could be a community. It might not be like physically where you live,
but you’re gonna be connected with other women. around the country. So that would be my next step I’d love to encourage women with at the end of this you know season one is if you don’t have community where you feel like you are better together with these other women then really pray and ask God to provide that for you and take that next step to do that because you’re not alone and you have an incredible year ahead
of you it’s probably not gonna be perfect it’s probably going to have challenges, but it can be, as people say, messy, beautiful as it is for all of us. And you’ll be able to look back at the end of next year and say,
wow, what a difference 2024 was because I walked through it with other women who believed in me and believed in the path that God had for me. – Yep, yeah.
It’s so incredible when you open yourself up to being vulnerable. in a group of women, because oftentimes I think we hesitate to say I don’t want to be judged, I don’t want them to talk behind my back,
whatever, but my experience, and this won’t be everyone’s experience all the time, but I think in general, when you are vulnerable first, you open up a path to whoever you’re with, feeling seen and loved and known and safe and safe and safe to then share their story,
that’s great. And I think that is an incredible gift to someone to give someone because you just never know if they don’t have anyone in their life that they can open up to like that. And so as women to just step into that unknown is so so brave but so needed.
Yeah, I love that. Oh, well, I feel like I could talk to you forever and I feel like I probably need to go to the next question of your favorite Bible or isn’t and book and bargain and wrap up this episode.
I think you’ve given the women listening just so many encouraging tips. And I just, one other phrase that has come into my mind over the years is like done is better than perfect.
Like it’s so much better to start something, try something and don’t expect perfection, but just do it. Just take the step and see what will happen. And you know, even starting to see this podcast,
like if you looked at the very first episode, it was so dark. The lighting was terrible. I didn’t know what, you know, which part of the camera I was supposed to look at.
And a friend said, “Just get it out there. Just start it.” And it’s so true because I could have waited. I could have just said, “It’s got to be perfect.” And I thought, you know what, I don’t have time. I have to just get it out there. And I’m so grateful,
you know, that I did. did. So okay, what is your, what’s your favorite Bible verse? Okay, well, this one was really hard, so I just had to like pick the one that I am currently sort of coming back to and meditating on,
which is Colossians one nine through 14. But specifically, first 10 in the new living translation says, then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit.
fruit. All the while you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. And that last bit, especially about knowing God better and better is like my heart’s cry,
my heart’s cry. So that’s what I’ve been like coming back to in this season. So yeah, okay. Okay, and then a current book that you’re reading her book.
I actually have two but I’ll be really quick about it. The current book I’m reading is “Having a Merry Heart in a Martha World” by Joanna Weaver. And an older lady mentor of mine gave it to me.
And at first it started off a little slow. I said, “That’s not probably enough for me. It seems kind of like old world thought process.” But I got to the middle of it and I’m like weeping. So it’s been great.
And then my all time favorite book that I continue to come back to is “Having a Merry Heart” by Joanna Weaver. to and read over and over again is “Hine’s Feet on High Places.” I love that book, I read that when I was like a teenager.
It’s just like, oh, just, it’s such a good reminder of God’s love. And then actually I have one more, “I’m Doing the Bible Recap,” which is a reading plan and then a podcast,
like five -minute podcast every day with Terri Lee Cobble. And it’s really been the first time in my life. that I have intentionally read the Bible without sort of like studies that have put piecemeal things together and just going straight through it.
And to say it has been incredibly transformational in my relationship with Jesus and my understanding of the Bible is like the understatement of the centuries. So it’s like have I ever opened a Bible before?
Really good. That’s great. I love another podcast recommendation within this podcast. That’s perfect. Okay, and a bargain.
Okay, I am on the advisory board of a social enterprise for Wheeler Mission, which is a homeless shelter downtown Indianapolis. They have a Center for Women and Children,
and within that they have some an addiction program. So this social enterprise employs the women in their addiction recovery program. It’s called restored creations and they make candles.
And they just started making these oil card diffusers that you hang on your windshield or your rear rear mirror. And they smell amazing. And they’re only $8.
And I’ve had mine in my car for like over a month and it’s not even halfway empty yet. So if you’re looking for, give for teachers or friends or yourself support a great cause and it’s at restorecreations .net.
– Perfect, and that will be in the show notes. Oh, so beautiful, Anna. Thank you so much for carving out the time to be here. Such a blessing. I am just really grateful for your journey.
I’m grateful for your life and mom of three little girls. girls and what those girls are going to be growing up within your home and their identity and who they really are and how they’ll change the world and your husband and just your role at NCF.
So thanks for all the ways that you allow God to use your life to bless others and working in the space of generosity. You’re, you’re the best and just excited to see you well.
will happen in 2024. Me too. Thanks, Timber. I’m going to miss you so much. This was so fun. I so appreciate you. So fun. I appreciate you too. Alright, God bless. Thanks so much for joining us today on the Generous Grill podcast.
We’re so glad that you’re here. And if you know of someone that you think needs to be a guest on this podcast, please reach out to to us. New episodes are released every other week and you can follow us on YouTube and on all platforms.
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