Trying to discern our calling is difficult enough without lies cluttering our mind and keeping us from fully living the life God intended for us to live. On today's episode, Maria and Melanie continue their conversation about the connection between knowing your identity and walking in your calling. Drawing from the parable of the talents found in Matthew 25, Melanie points out 10 lies we are prone to believe which prevent us from using our gifts. So whether you struggle with knowing your calling, feel unworthy to serve in any way, or have lost your passion to serve, we hope you will find today’s show both helpful and encouraging. You can always find us on Facebook, Instagram, or by emailing us at mennonitegirlsinamodernworld@gmail.com 

Mennonite Girls in a Modern World

10 Lies Satan Uses To Discourage You in Your Calling

Canadians celebrated Thanksgiving last weekend, and while Thanksgiving is celebrated at different times in different countries, it's the attitude that counts! But what if you are walking a season of grief? What does Thanksgiving look like then? How do we grieve in a Christian culture that often strives to be joyful and positive even when life hurts? When does positivity become toxic? How can we give thanks in a way that is authentic while not devaluing the pain we are experiencing? Join your host, Maria Dyck, for this Thanksgiving Day episode and learn how grief and lament can lead to worship and thanksgiving.  You can always find us on Instagram, Facebook, or email us at mennonitegirlsinamodernworld@gmail.com

Thanksgiving and Toxic Positivity

Do you struggle with feelings of insecurity? Maybe the better to ask is: who doesn’t struggle with feeling insecure? While it may be common, it also wrecks havoc on the most important relationships in our lives and leaves us depleted of the joy and strength we need to live from day to day. On today's episode, Melanie and Maria sit down for a deep dive into the topic of insecurity. Where does it come from? How does it affect us? And most importantly, what does Scripture say about it?  

Rooting Out Insecurity

In times of division and conflict, how can we better understand each other? How do we move past our own limited understanding and learn to see from each other's perspective?  On today's episode, Maria dives into the messy conflict of our current pandemic to discuss why this pandemic has affected each one differently, why my truth/your truth fails to provide a real answer to the conflict, and how the Apostle Paul teaches us to be more gracious towards each other.  You can find more of Mennonite Girls in a Modern World on Instagram or Facebook or email us at mennonitegirlsinamodernworld@gmail.com

My Truth, Your Truth, And the Whole Truth

In the first episode of season 3, Melanie and Maria catch up on life at home, life on the podcast, and life in general. What has changed, what has stayed the same, and how do we navigate life when we feel overwhelmed by the changes we face? While some changes are welcomed, others are not, and before we decide all change is bad, we need to look at what Scripture says about it. So whether you are facing a season that stretches out endlessly in front of you, or whether you are facing a storm of changes, we hope you will be encouraged by today’s episode. If you want to learn more about us, you can find us on Facebook, Instagram or email us at mennonitegirlsinamodernworld@gmail.com

Changing with the Seasons

It's the final show of season 2! On today's episode, Maria Dyck, Melanie Salte, and Deanna Friesen, the hosts of Mennonite Girls in a Modern World, sit down to recap the season and talk about the struggles, challenges, and lessons of the past year. From babies to parenting, sickness to health, juggling family responsibilities and school, these 3 women will remind you to look for God's goodness in whatever stage you are in and continue to trust Him no matter where He leads. Enjoy your summer!

Season 2 Finale

If you love history, mystery, and romance, the name 'Julie Klassen' may already be familiar to you. Julie Klassen is a best-selling Christian author and has won several Christy awards for her regency romance novels. On today's episode Maria Dyck sits down to talk with Julie about what it takes to be a best-selling author, the reality of writing a book, how to survive the editing process, and how to stay organized and inspired with each new project.  To find a Julie Klassen novel, you can visit your local Christian bookstore or click the link below: Julie Klassen website    

Life Behind the Typewriter

What is it like to be an outsider? What is it like to marry into a different culture and make your home among people whose language and customs are very different than your own? If you were born and raised in a Mennonite town, you may not realize how many quirks and habits you have grown accustomed to or the many ways our culture has shaped us until someone from the outside arrives. On today's show, Deanna Wiebe and her guest, Meaghan Wiebe, talk about the unexpected challenges of being a modern girl in a Mennonite world and give a peek into what it is like to make yourself at home in a closed-knit Mennonite community. 

A Modern Girl in a Mennonite World

On Part 2 of our Forgiveness series, Melanie and Maria discuss the 8 ways God's forgiveness is different than our forgiveness, what it means to reconcile, and talk about why reconciliation is not always a good idea. If you have struggled to forgive, this series is sure to encourage you and give you thoughts to ponder as you wrestle through your own forgiveness story. Additional resources: "Learning to Forgive, Part 2" by Maria Dyck  

Wrestling With Forgiveness, Part 2

We talk a lot about forgiveness in Christian circles because we know it’s an important command for us to follow. Even though we know it’s important, we still struggle to do it. But what if our understanding of forgiveness is part of the problem? What if our struggle to forgive is connected to wrong beliefs and a misunderstanding of what true forgiveness looks like? On today's episode, Maria Dyck and Melanie Salte tackle the topic of forgiveness and address some of the common misconceptions of what many think forgiveness is. Additional reading: "Learning to Forgive" by Maria Dyck

Wrestling With Forgiveness, Part 1

Have you ever felt like God was asking too much? That the burden you were asked to carry was too heavy? That life was simply unfair? On today's show, Maria Dyck is joined by Esther Wiebe, author of "Displaced: A Memoir". Esther's memoir is a heartbreaking story of a Mennonite family struggling to stay together in the face of tremendous loss and their dramatic escape from a colony in Bolivia to start a new life in Canada.  You can find Esther's memoir on Amazon by clicking the link below: "Displaced: A Memoir" by Esther Wiebe

It's Too Much, God

We all have emotions, but sometimes they spiral out of control. We are no longer mastering them; they are mastering us. How can we live with our emotions and avoid the two extremes of either burying them or spilling out on those around us? In this episode, Maria and Deanna share how Covid-19 exposed their hidden emotions as well as 5 tips for dealing with emotions when they threaten to overwhelm you. Resources mentioned in this episode: "Negative Emotions" by Alasdair Groves "Beauty of the Impassable God" by Derek Rishmahy (Please note, this article was incorrectly attributed to Kevin DeYoung in the recording)  

How to Deal With Overwhelming Emotions

Have you ever wanted to study the Bible but not sure where to start? Maybe you feel like you lack the education to really understand it or don't know why you should bother. On today's episode, Bible study writer and teacher, Arlene Bergen joins Maria Dyck to talk about the importance of studying Scripture, what to look for in a theologically-sound Bible study, and a few red flags to be aware of when choosing a study. You can find more of Arlene here as well as find her studies on Amazon.

Why Should I Study the Bible?

Live long enough within a church body and you are likely to experience church hurt. How does one heal from this hurt and not lose their faith? How do you know when to stay and when it's time to walk away? On today's episode, Maria Dyck and Melanie Salte talk about their own experiences and share how staying connected to Christ, learning to forgive and draw boundaries can help you navigate this challenging situation. Resources mentioned in this episode: "Help in Overcoming Church Hurt" by Desiring God "7 Steps to Overcoming Church Hurt"

How to Handle Church Hurt

Have you ever considered going to counselling but were too afraid to try? Mennonites tend to be leery of asking for help, particularly from outsiders, so how do we know when it is time to reach out? On today's episode, Maria Dyck is joined by Tammy Thielman, a registered counsellor and social worker who provides trauma-informed counselling to talk about common myths surrounding counselling, the barriers standing in the way, and the importance of early intervention. If you'd like more information about how to find a registered counsellor near you, you can email us at mennonitegirlsinamodernworld@gmail.com

Common Myths About Counselling

Mennonite Girls in a Modern World takes you on a journey through faith and culture. What does it mean to be a Mennonite and follow Jesus in a world that’s constantly changing and in a culture that often doesn’t? How do we move forward when our culture holds us back? How do we let go of our traditions to embrace the freedom Christ has for us? Please join us as we explore these questions and many more!

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Mennonite Girls in a Modern World

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