Abundantly More with Hannah Lynn Miller

Interruptions as Sacred Service

Serving others is disruptive. It always will interrupt your day, throw off your week and pause your plans. But that’s what Jesus calls us to. So if you are annoyed by something disruptive like caregiving, children, a friend asking for help — what’s going on inside? And if you find yourself in a season where these kinds of interruptions are your job, a daily rhythm of sorts know you are truly doing Gods work. Being a mom has made me desire to never want to have a season of life where children are not adding to my rhythm of life. I definitely had a stretch of life in the city where I forgot how magical kids are. I reread Matthew 25 recently and was reminded of the seriousness of leaning into God interruptions to serve others. Below are the last few verses but I would encourage you to read the whole chapter. 44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Matthew 25:44-46 Thanks for reading Abundantly More by Hannah Lynn Miller! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hannahlynnmiller.substack.com/subscribe [https://hannahlynnmiller.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Because Jesus Lives, You Also Will Live

John 14:19, ESV: “Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.” Abundantly More by Hannah Lynn Miller is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Welcome back to the podcast. Today we are spending a few minutes in one verse that carries an entire lifetime of hope: John 14:19. Jesus is speaking to His disciples on the night before the cross. They are confused, unsettled, and afraid of what is coming. And right there, in the middle of their fear, Jesus gives them a promise that is still strong enough to hold us today. John 14 is part of what many call the “upper room” teaching. Jesus has told them He is leaving. Their hearts are troubled, and Jesus knows it. So He does not give them a vague encouragement. He gives them a reason. He says: “Because I live, you also will live.” That is not motivational language. That is resurrection language. “The world will see me no more, but you will see me” Jesus says the world will not see Him. The world will watch a crucifixion and assume the story is over. The world will treat death like the final word. But Jesus says to His followers: “You will see me.” That can mean the disciples would see Him after the resurrection. They would see Him alive again. But it also points to something deeper: there is a kind of sight that belongs to relationship. When you belong to Jesus, you do not just know information about Him. You know Him. Even when the world cannot recognize what God is doing, Jesus makes Himself known to His people. Then comes the heartbeat of the verse: “Because I live…” Notice what Jesus does not say. He does not say, “Because you try hard, you will live.” He does not say, “Because you never fail, you will live.” He does not say, “Because you have the right feelings, you will live.” He anchors our life in His life. The resurrection is not just a proof that Jesus is powerful. It is the source of our new life. Christian hope is not optimism. It is not denial. It is not pretending things do not hurt. Christian hope is a Person who walked out of the grave. Jesus says: “You also will live.” That is eternal life, yes. It is the promise that death will not have the final word over those who belong to Christ. But it is also life right now. Because Jesus lives, you can live a different kind of life today: * A life that is not defined by shame. * A life that can repent and start again. * A life that can endure suffering without losing God. * A life that can forgive because mercy has been received. Resurrection life begins before heaven. It begins the moment Jesus claims you. Jesus, thank You that Your life is stronger than our sin, our fear, and even death. Help us believe John 14:19 today. Open our eyes to see You, and let Your resurrection life steady us and reshape us. Because You live, we can live. In Your name, amen. Thanks for reading Abundantly More by Hannah Lynn Miller! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hannahlynnmiller.substack.com/subscribe [https://hannahlynnmiller.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

64. Scarcity Mindset: Why It Shows Up and How to Shift into Abundance

Scarcity Mindset (and How to Shift) If you have been feeling behind, comparing yourself to everyone else, or living with that constant sense of urgency, this is for you. A scarcity mindset does not always look like being “bad with money” or wanting more than you have. A lot of the time, it shows up as a nervous system that is bracing for loss. It is the pressure to hurry, the fear that there will not be enough time, the belief that rest is risky, or the feeling that someone else’s success means you are failing. And while scarcity can feel like reality, it is often a protective strategy. It is your body and brain trying to keep you safe. What an abundance mindset really is When I talk about an abundance mindset, I am not talking about pretending life is easy or forcing positivity. An abundance mindset is a steady belief that there is enough. * Enough grace for today. * Enough strength for the next step. * Enough provision to be held, even in seasons that feel tight. * Enough creativity and opportunity to grow at the pace you are meant to grow. Scarcity says, “There is not enough.” Abundance says, “I am cared for.” How scarcity shows up in everyday life Scarcity can sound like: * “I am running out of time.” * “If I rest, I will fall behind.” * “If they are doing well, I must be failing.” * “If I cannot do it perfectly, it does not count.” It can also show up as control. When life feels uncertain, we often try to control everything as a way to calm the anxiety. But control rarely creates peace. It creates exhaustion. A faith-centered reframe From a faith lens, abundance is not “I always get what I want.” Abundance is trusting God’s character even when circumstances are uncomfortable. It is a posture of gratitude, stewardship, and peace. Scarcity invites panic planning. Abundance invites presence. It looks like doing your part and releasing what you cannot carry. A nervous system note (because this matters) Scarcity often lives in the body as: * urgency * comparison * hypervigilance * the feeling that you need to be “on” all the time When your body is stuck in that state, your thoughts will naturally follow. That is why mindset shifts are not just about “thinking better.” They are also about helping your body feel safe enough to soften. Abundantly More by Hannah Lynn Miller is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Three small practices to shift out of scarcity You do not have to overhaul your life to practice abundance. Start small. * Name the story. Ask: “What am I afraid will run out?” Time, money, energy, attention, approval, love? Get specific. * Practice ‘enough for today’ language. Try: “I have enough for today.” Not for every worst-case scenario. Just for today. * Move into stewardship. Make a plan. Take one action step. Ask for help. Rest without guilt. Stewardship is responsible and grounded. Striving is punishing and never satisfied. A gentle reflection to sit with Here is the question I keep coming back to: Where am I living like God is withholding? And right behind it: What would change if I believed I am cared for? If you want a simple practice this week, pick one area of life and write down three evidences of provision you have seen before. Sometimes abundance is remembering your track record of being held. You are not behind If scarcity has been loud lately, you are not broken. You are human. And you are allowed to take the next right step without spiraling into the future. You have enough for today. If this post encouraged you, share it with a friend. You can also connect with me on Instagram at @hannahlynnmillerlpc or at hannahlynnmiller.com [http://hannahlynnmiller.com]. Thanks for reading Abundantly More by Hannah Lynn Miller! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hannahlynnmiller.substack.com/subscribe [https://hannahlynnmiller.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

You Need More Love in Your Life! Verses about God’s Love for YOU.

Hey friend, welcome to another Abundantly More Moment. I’m Hannah Lynn Miller, and today we’re talking about something that’s at the very heart of our faith: love. You know, when we think about love, we often think of it as a feeling - that warm, fuzzy emotion we get. But here’s the thing: in the Bible, love is so much more than an emotion. It’s an action. It’s a choice. It’s a commitment. The Greek word “agape” that’s used throughout the New Testament describes this kind of love - it’s unconditional, sacrificial, and active. It’s the love God has for us, and the love He calls us to show others. Look at John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son.” God didn’t just feel love for us - He acted on it. He gave. That’s agape love. And in 1 Corinthians 13:4, we see what this love looks like in action: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” These are all actions, not feelings. As a couples therapist, I see this play out all the time. The couples who thrive aren’t the ones who always feel “in love” - they’re the ones who choose to turn toward each other, who ask questions, who serve in small ways every single day. They’re practicing agape love. So here’s your challenge today: How can you show agape love to someone in your life? Maybe it’s your spouse, your child, a friend, or even a stranger. What’s one small action you can take today to love like Jesus loves? Remember, 1 Corinthians 13:13 tells us: “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” Thanks for joining me for this Abundantly More Moment. I’ll see you next This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hannahlynnmiller.substack.com/subscribe [https://hannahlynnmiller.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Forget Cheap Forgiveness and Try Forbearance

I have been learning about forgiveness for awhile now and I have a unique perspective on forgiveness and in my opinion we’ve cheapened the word in our culture. Where in other cultures and time periods forgiveness was a process between the offender and the offended. Now we’ve limited forgiveness to just a word said sometimes to the offender or sometimes to ourselves just to make things feel better. There’s no process, no look at how to make things right. I usually tell clients that there’s a different word for waiting on the offender to ask for forgiveness and then to make things right. That word, for me, is forbearance. I think it’s a powerful concept. And the entire reason I think we have to be careful about how we talk about forgiveness is that it cheapens grace and what Jesus did for us on the cross. We can’t just say we are forgiven or that God forgives us. There’s first acknowledging that we are sinners. We have lived in a way that is wrong and not right. Then after we ask for God to forgive us we have to run the other direction from sin and towards living in the light. When we tell people to forgive when there was no process we are doing more harm than good. And we are asking people to do something that God doesn’t even do. Forgiving without repentance or an acknowledgement of the wrong. The Bible says God is willing and ready to forgive us. He’s waiting for us to come to him and live in a right way. 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (ESV) Psalm 103:8-12 “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” (ESV) Acts 3:19 “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out.” (ESV) These verses emphasize that God is ready and waiting to forgive, but forgiveness requires our response: acknowledgment of sin, repentance, and turning toward Him. Forbearance in Galatians: Greek Meaning In Galatians 5:22-23, forbearance is listed as one of the fruits of the Spirit. The Greek word used is μακροθυμία(makrothymia). Throughout the New Testament, makrothymia consistently describes both God's patient forbearance toward humanity and the character quality believers should exhibit toward one another—a supernatural ability to endure wrongs and remain steadfast in love. Read more about this on the blog www.hannahlynnmiller.com/theology This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hannahlynnmiller.substack.com/subscribe [https://hannahlynnmiller.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]