Welcome back to The Power of Permission.

Today we’re talking about something that many of us desperately need but often feel guilty for: permission to set boundaries.

For some of us, the word boundaries feels selfish. We worry that saying “no” means we’re being unkind, disappointing people, or letting someone down. So we keep saying “yes”—yes to one more commitment, one more request, one more responsibility—until we’re exhausted, resentful, and running on empty.

But what if boundaries aren’t about keeping people out?

What if they’re about protecting what God has entrusted to us?

Healthy boundaries protect our time, our energy, our relationships, and our ability to love others well. They help us live with intention instead of obligation. They remind us that we are called to be faithful, not available for everything.

Even Jesus had boundaries. He withdrew to pray. He rested. He didn’t heal every person in Israel or respond to every demand placed on Him. He was never driven by guilt or the pressure to please everyone. Instead, He lived with clarity about His purpose and trusted the Father with what He could not do.

Today we’ll explore why boundaries are so difficult, how people-pleasing and perfectionism keep us from setting them, and what Scripture teaches about loving others without losing ourselves in the process.

Because every time you say “yes” to something, you’re also saying “no” to something else. Healthy boundaries help us say “yes” to what matters most.

You don’t need permission to protect the life God has entrusted to you.

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Welcome back to The Power of Permission.

Today we’re talking about something that may feel surprisingly difficult for many of us: permission to play.

When was the last time you laughed without looking at the clock? Created something just because it brought you joy? Played a game with your kids, took a walk without a destination, or did something simply because it delighted your heart?

For many of us, play feels irresponsible. We believe we have to earn it. We tell ourselves, “I’ll have fun when the work is finished.” But the work is rarely finished. There is always one more email, one more load of laundry, one more goal to accomplish, one more person to take care of.

Somewhere along the way, many of us stopped believing that joy had value unless it produced something.

But what if play isn’t a distraction from the life God wants for us? What if it’s actually part of His design?

From the opening pages of Scripture, we see a God who creates beauty, delights in His creation, establishes rhythms of work and rest, and invites His people into celebration. Throughout the Bible, we find feasts, music, dancing, laughter, weddings, and children running to Jesus. Joy isn’t an afterthought in God’s kingdom—it is evidence of His goodness.

Today we’ll explore why so many adults lose their ability to play, how performance and perfectionism steal our joy, and why reclaiming delight may be one of the most spiritual things we can do.

Because play reminds us of something we often forget:

We are more than what we produce.

We are beloved sons and daughters of a Father who delights in us.

So pull up a chair, let’s rediscover the freedom to laugh, create, celebrate, and enjoy the life God has given us.

Here to There:

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Today we’re talking about something many of us desperately need but often struggle to receive: permission to rest.

For some of us, rest feels uncomfortable. We can sit down, but our minds keep running. We can take a day off, but guilt follows us. We tell ourselves we’ll rest when the work is finished, the house is clean, the goals are met, or everyone else is taken care of.

The problem is that for many of us, rest has become something we believe must be earned rather than received.

But what if rest was never meant to be a reward for productivity?

What if rest is actually a gift from God—a declaration that your worth is not determined by your performance?

From the very beginning, God built rhythms of rest into creation. He didn’t create us to live in a constant state of striving, proving, producing, and achieving. He created us with limits, needs, and a deep dependence on Him.

Today we’ll explore why we resist rest, what Scripture teaches about Sabbath and surrender, and how learning to rest may be one of the most powerful ways we declare our trust in God.

Because rest isn’t weakness.

Rest is worship.

And perhaps the permission you’ve been waiting for is the permission God has already given.

Here to There: The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World https://a.co/d/0aOlRUBh

Most of us are waiting for permission in ways we don’t even realize. Permission to rest. Permission to say no. Permission to be honest. Permission to belong. Permission to make mistakes. Permission to be human.

Somewhere along the way, many of us began living from performance instead of freedom, striving instead of grace, perfection instead of authenticity. We learned to measure our worth by what we accomplish, how well we perform, or what others think of us.

But what if the life God intended for us was never meant to be lived that way?

In this episode, we’re exploring what permission really is, where it comes from, and how it has the power to change the way we live, lead, love, and relate to God. Because permission isn’t about lowering the standard—it’s about living from the security of knowing who you are and whose you are.

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Join Chelsey, Brandy, Keisha, and Tonya at the table today as we wrap the season with stories that inspire and move us!

What's for Dinner? https://mixandmatchmama.com/2022/10/pumpkin-sausage-lasagna/

Here to There: Favorite Things Party

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Join us at the table today as we talk Parables.

By definition, a parable is a short story that illustrates moral or spiritual lessons. They are often used to make complex ideas simple and relatable. Jesus was a fan of the parable! He used all manner of natural means to illuminate supernatural truths. Mustard seeds, vines and branches, yeast, lamps, wages,wine skins, prodigal sons, and fishing nets to name a few. And why? Why would Jesus bother to take time to turn these everyday ordinary stories into teaching moments? Parablesshow that God meets us right where we are and connects with us in our everyday lives to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways. Let that digest for a moment! The Godof all the universe wants you to know Him personally andpersonal relationship can transform how we view ordinary experiences, making them meaningful. You want toknow the craziest part of all? Have you ever considered that your life itself might be the greatest parable God shares with the world? According to 2 Corinthians 5:20, We are Christ’s ambassadors, which means God is making His appeal to others through us.

This means the story of your life could be the only Bible someone ever reads.What's for Dinner?

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Here to There

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