Life is hard, and sometimes it just seems we can't move forward in our lives until someone speaks some words of life to us. So that's what I'm here for today. If you're facing something really hard, I am here to tell you, you were made for hard things. For the full show notes, visit nancyray.com/podcast/128.

Work and Play with Nancy Ray

128 - You Were Made For Hard Things (Ep. 7 Replay)

As you may know, I'm currently taking a six month break from work and social media to be fully present with my family, which means that every Tuesday on the podcast, you're going to be getting a mix of new episodes, old episodes and interviews. This episode of the podcast is one of my earlier most popular, most downloaded episodes, which means it's worth repeating. This is the first episode ever of Work & Play with Nancy Ray, I hope you enjoy it. For the full show notes, head to nancyray.com/podcast/127.   Resources from this episode: Psalm 127:2 Magnolia Manifesto Magnolia Journal Present over Perfect, Shauna Niequist Episode 002 - Rule of Life

127 - Work & Play (Ep. 1 Replay)

Hello! I am back after a two month break from this podcast! I'm happy to be back and today I'm so excited to share with you a huge life event that took place over the last two months for us, which is the birth of our fourth baby, a son, Benjamin Valor Ray. And today I'm going to be sharing his birth story with you. I'm going to go into the details of why we chose a home birth and just the story of how God used his birth to really heal me and rid me of so much fear and just show me how beautiful birth can really be. It was such an amazing experience, and I'm so excited to share it with you today.    

126 - My Home Birth Story

Well friend, this is my last episode of Work & Play before I take a two month break from the podcast and a six month break from work and social media. I just want to use this time and space to encourage you. And I want to speak life over you. And I want to encourage you to speak life over the people around you. I'll also tell you a little bit about what to expect from me for the rest of the year. It's going to be a short and sweet episode, and I kind of hope it feels like a little podcast hug, and I'm excited to know I'll see you again soon. For the full show notes, head to nancyray.com/podcast/125.   See you in a few months! To sign up for my monthly emails during the podcast break, head to nancyray.com/emails. 

125 - Speak Life

I am so excited about today's episode! Today, Will and I are going to be sharing about how we are debt-free again, as we just paid off our house! If you followed us for a while, you know, we are passionate about financial stewardship and financial freedom, and you also might know that we paid off our first mortgage when we were just 25 and 26 years old. And today we will be telling you a little bit about our journey and how we went back into debt for the house we live in now and how we were able to pay that house off this year. Our hope more than anything is that you would be inspired and know that with some hard work and intentional planning, this could be possible for you, too. For the full show notes, head to nancyray.com/podcast/124.   Resources from this episode: Episode 068 - 12 Years of Marriage, Part I Episode 069 - 12 Years of Marriage, Part II Financial Peace University God and Money, by John Cortines and Gregory Baumer The Contentment Challenge The Total Money Makeover, by Dave Ramsey Rich Dad, Poor Dad, by Robert Kiyosaki The Journey of Generosity Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!

124 - We're Debt Free AGAIN!

Before we jump in, this is your quick reminder that today is the last day you can purchase An Integrated Life, which is an 18 lesson audio course—basically 18 podcast episodes with a workbook that you can keep coming back to, and it outlines a framework for you to grow deeper in your faith. Take authority in your home and gain clarity in your work. All for the kingdom of God had to nancyray.com/integratedlife to grab yours today. And if you're listening to this and the deadline has passed, feel free to still go to that link to sign up for the wait list, so you'll be the first to know when it comes back out again. So I have decided to take six months off of social media. No Instagram, no Facebook, no Twitter, no social media. As soon as our fourth baby arrives, I'm going to be spending time with my family and friends in real life, being present and free myself from any obligation to post or share anything for six whole months. In today's podcast episode, I'm going to share more about why I'm doing this and why you might consider doing it, too.   Resources from this episode: An Integrated Life (An Audio Course) Episode 012 - 3 Habits to Put Social Media In It’s Place Episode 088 - Book | Digital Minimalism Episode 093 - A Year of Contentment with Reagan Reynolds, Pt. 1 Episode 114 - BFFs, Infertility, and Miracles with Samantha Ray The Graham Cochrane Show, Ep. 105: A Year off Social Media (The Update) Shanna Skidmore’s blog: I Quit Social Media for a Year. Here’s Why. The Tech-Wise Family, by Andy Crouch Digital Minimalism, by Cal Newport Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!

123 - Why I'm Taking 6 Months Off of Social Media

Before we dive in today, I just wanted to remind you that my new audio course, An Integrated Life, is still available. An Integrated Life is an 18 lesson audio course, think: this podcast you listen to meets an online course meets an audio book. It's something you can come back to over and over again. Anyway, it's a course that outlines a framework for you to grow deeper in your faith, take authority in your home, and gain clarity in your work, all for the Kingdom of God. And it's available for purchase until July 15. So, if you buy the bundle for $50, you can actually listen to it on your phone like this podcast. So while I'm taking a two month break from this podcast with the new baby, you can keep listening. Head to nancyray.com/integratedlife to learn more and sign up. Welcome to the Nancy Ray Book Club, where I'm sharing a book that I'm reading and my top three takeaways from that book. You can join in anytime at nancyray.com/bookclub. Today's book is Parenting by Paul David Tripp. He outlines 14 gospel principles that can radically change your family. This book isn't as much a practical book on how to handle a tantrum or discipline your child or what to feed your kid or how to raise teenagers, instead, it's a book that speaks to the "why" of parenting—the heart of parenting—and really how to view our role of parents as believers.

122 - Parenting | Book

Today's episode is the last of a three part series, giving you a glimpse into the new course I'm releasing TODAY at noon eastern time. So today is all about work, and my foundational approach to it. To learn more about An Integrated Life and to go ahead and get access today when the doors open, head to nancyray.com.

121 - Foundations in Work

Today's episode is part two of a three part episode series, giving you a glimpse of this new audio course. Today you'll hear about my outlook on the home and how important home life is. I hope you enjoy it. And the course is almost out! So be sure that you head to nancyray.com to get on the email list to hear more about it. For the full show notes, head to nancyray.com/podcast/120.   Resources from this episode: Sign up for the email list! The Life-Giving Home, by Sally & Sarah Clarkson   Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!

120 - Foundations in Home

Over the last several months, I have been working on a project I haven’t told anyone about, but you, my dear work and play podcast listener, are going to be the very first to know about it. Today’s episode is part 1 of a three part episode series giving you a glimpse inside this new audio course (I honestly hesitate to call it a course because it’s more of a comprehensive way that I look at my life broken down into three categories: faith, home and work). You’re going to hear Lesson 1 from the Faith section which includes my testimony and really just the foundational outlook I have on my faith.

119 - Foundations in Faith

I'm so grateful that for every baby we've had, we've had the opportunity to get away, just me and my husband for a few days before our new baby arrives.  Today's episode is going to cover all of the work and play of going on a babymoon. I'm going to summarize each of the babymoons we've taken; how they've all been different and how we've budgeted for each one.  Now, there's a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes to make it happen, but the play makes it all worth it.  For the full show notes, head to nancyray.com/podcast/118.   Resources from this episode: Where the Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens Snorkeling mask Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!

118 - Babymoon: Work and Play

Welcome to the Nancy Ray Book Club, where every month I share a book worth reading and invite you to read it along with me. Today's book is The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer. Highly recommending this one, friend. Listen, by now, you know I'm fascinated with the fast pace of our culture and the use of technology in our world and biblical principles for living. But this book was particularly helpful because it felt like it bridged the gap between modern living and the way that Jesus actually lived. It's one of those books that have kind of settled into my spirit and I think about it often. And I can't wait to share more about it with you today.   Resources from this episode: Nancy Ray Book Club The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, by John Mark Comer Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!

117 - Book | The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry

My mom is the kindest wisest, warmest, funniest woman I know. It is really an honor to have her as a mom. Every time I've needed advice or have felt misunderstood or have been confused, she is the first person I call. She's so trustworthy. She's the best listener in the world, and every time I ask for advice, it seems like she always has the exact words I need to hear.  The world needs more people like my mom, and today I get to share her with you. I hope you enjoy the last May is for Mamas episode: an interview with my very own mama.  For the full show notes, head to nancyray.com/podcast/116.   Resources from this episode: The Nightingale, by Kristin Hannah The Four Winds, by Kristin Hannah Beverly Lewis   Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!

116 - An Interview with my Mama

Welcome to the last episode of May is for Mamas! Today, I’m going to be brief and hopefully encouraging. And I don't say this lightly—I believe the secret to getting the most out of motherhood, and life in general, is to simply lean in to your season. For the full show notes, head to nancyray.com/podcast/115.   Resources from this episode: Episode 047 - Book | Seasons of God with Dr. Richard Blackaby Seasons of God, by Dr. Richard Blackaby   Affiliate links have been used in this post! I do receive a commission when you choose to purchase through these links, and that helps me keep this podcast up and running—I truly appreciate when you choose to use them!

115 - Lean Into Your Season

Welcome to May is for Mamas where every episode this month is dedicated to all the mamas out there. Today is a special one because I'm having my best friends since ninth grade, who also happens to be my sister-in-law—yes, it's crazy—we ended up marrying brothers on my podcast as my guest. Her name is Samantha Ray, and she is a writer, creator, mother, and my dearest friend, living in Wake Forest, North Carolina, with her husband, John, daughter, Griffin, and their three kitties. She is a writer in every sense of the word. She writes about slow living, pursuing a whole healthful lifestyle, including relational and emotional health. And she has never been afraid to dig into the deeper grittier issues of life, which is why she's here today. She's also a beautiful songwriter and musician. She's gifted in so many ways. I adore her and she always has this profound belief that there's beauty to be found in the messy, the undone, the less photo-worthy moments of life. And it's always worthwhile to dig for the gold, right where you are. Now, Sam and I have been friends for a long, long time. Today we are diving into one of the most difficult seasons of our friendship, the season of five years where she was walking through infertility and I had three babies. The tension, the heartache, and the hope that we felt was very real and we're sharing that today, and Sam specifically is sharing her story. And as she does, she's very honest, very real. She gives a lot of great practical advice and a huge dose of hope and healing for anyone walking through infertility. I'm just so honored to share today's podcast episode with you, because what it feels like for me is a precious gift that I'm giving to you, that you can hear Sam's heart and her story. And it feels like we are sharing this really vulnerable part of our journey together as friends and sisters with you. For the full show notes, head to nancyray.com/podcast/114.   Resources from this episode: Sam’s blog Episode 093 - A Year of Contentment with Reagan Reynolds, Pt. 1 Episode 094 - A Year of Contentment with Reagan Reynolds, Pt. 2

114 - BFFs, Infertility, and Miracles with Samantha Ray

Work and play with Nancy Ray is a weekly podcast all about learning to balance the two most competing areas of our lives: work and play. She’ll dive into topics like productivity, work life balance, leading a team, time management, contentment, play, sabbath, marriage, parenting, and rest, always pointing back to scripture, the ultimate guide for a life of faith. This is a podcast all about learning to work and play well, which ultimately leads to a healthy soul and a fulfilling life.

hubhopper

Work and Play with Nancy Ray

hubhopper