Welcome to summer, my friends! This month, we'll be talking about how to engage who we are on the inside so we can better connect with God, get to know who He has always been, and walk with Him from a more authentic place. Once we can do that, it spills over into our relationships around us. Past me would think it was completely crazy to pursue space for growing myself in the summer but present me says that this part of our story matters. We've got self-examination, growth, and care to do. God has much to show us and heal in us. Are you willing to come along for the ride? Today we'll start with Meredith Boggs. Meredith is a podcaster and an author. Her book The Journey Home: A Biblical Guide to Using the Enneagram to Deepen Your Faith and Relationships tells the story of...
Welcome to summer, my friends! This month, we'll be talking about how to engage who we are on the inside so we can better connect with God, get to know who He has always been, and walk with Him from a more authentic place. Once we can do that, it spills over into our relationships around us. Past me would think it was completely crazy to pursue space for growing myself in the summer but present me says that this part of our story matters. We've got self-examination, growth, and care to do. God has much to show us and heal in us. Are you willing to come along for the ride?
Today we'll start with Meredith Boggs. Meredith is a podcaster and an author. Her book The Journey Home: A Biblical Guide to Using the Enneagram to Deepen Your Faith and Relationships tells the story of her life as a young adult and doing all the good Christian things, but finding herself burned out and confused. Looking for a way to breathe life back into her soul and her faith and the Enneagram became a tool that God used to minister to her.
Ohhhh the Enneagram: We're going to talk about the beef people have with it, the understandable concerns many have about it, the misuse of it, AND if it is a useful tool to you, then how could we see what God has for people of faith in it so they can grow into who God made them to be. Maybe you've never even heard of it or only heard weird things about it OR you're over it. Give us another chance today because how Meredith breaks down perspectives about how the enneagram can be used well and not well in relationships, and how it can build one another up in the body of Christ is really beautiful and unique. Of all the Enneagram content I've consumed over the years, Meredith's voice has become my favorite. Her book is about spiritual growth more than a personality evaluation. It is grace-filled, but honest and nuanced. I loved this conversation with her so much where you will get to hear some of Meredith's story and hear her share about her journey with recognizing weaknesses and surrendering in recovery and learning how to trust God in those places.
I hope that this conversation ministers to you today. If anything, I hope you hear that we are ALL in progress. We all have weaknesses and limits and the Lord can and will make Himself known in all of them. Transformation takes time, it is messy, and grappling with who God really versus how broken people sometimes claim Him to be can be an adventure, but a worthwhile one. You matter, and your story matters.
Connecting with Meredith:
Book: The Journey Home: A Biblical Guide to Using the Enneagram to Deepen Your Faith and Relationships
Facebook
Instagram
Podcast
TikTok
Website
Episode Sponsor: Tony Crabtree of Crabtree Homes with Exit Realty
Facebook
Instagram
Tik Tok
Website
YouTube
References:
Enneagram
The Road Back to You
Enneagram 8
Enneagram Test (a free one) Enneagram Test from Enneagram Institute (paid one!)
Ian Morgan Cron
Annie F. Downs' Enneasummer series
Myers Briggs
Strengths Finder
Enneagram 7
Enneagram 3
Beth McCord
Harry Potter (y'all know I'm a #Potterhead), the beef with it when the books were coming out
"Hocus Pocus 2"
Enneagram 2
Codependency (more words about this here and here)
John Calvin quote- "Without knowledge of self there is no knowledge of God Our wisdom, in so far as it ought to be deemed true and solid Wisdom, consists almost entirely of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves. But as these are connected together by many ties, it is not easy to determine which of the two precedes and gives birth to the other."
Our friend Kelsey is Kelsey Chapman. You can hear my conversation with her on episode 73
Triads
Attributes of God Daily Grace Co. study (Affiliate link, thank you for your support!)
Communicable vs. incommunicable attributes of God
Walking in the Spirit
Aslan who creates (From Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis)
12-Step Recovery Process
The Power to Choose
Meredith's resources on her website
Scripture References:
Galatians 5:22-23- Fruit of the Spirit
1 Corinthians 12:12-27- How the body of Christ functions (all its unique parts)
Lamentations 3:40- see ourselves rightly
Luke 10:27; Matthew 22:36–40; Mark 12:28–31-Love the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself
Psalm 90:12- Grant me a heart of wisdom
Ephesians 1:18- Enlighten the eyes of my heart
Isaiah 9:7- God's power has no end and He has no limits
2 Corinthians 12:9-11- In my limits/weaknesses, He is strong
Ephesians 3:20- Even more, than we could ask or imagine
Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 8:28- He has a purpose for you
Isaiah 63:7- God is kind to us
Psalm 27:13-God is good (just one scripture!)
1 Corinthians 3:9- We are co-creators with God
Philippians 1:6- He will complete the work He began in us
Philippians 4:19-God does provide for all of our needs
JOIN OUR PATREON COMMUNITY!!!! I would be honored to have your support to keep the Simply Stories Podcast going. You can sign up for as little as $3 a month and each tier offers gifts that I hope will bless you in return.
Connecting with Emily and Simply Stories Podcast: Instagram (Em life // Podcast Life) Facebook Twitter Blog
