EP 028: Leave the Marbles on the Floor: Choosing Presence Over Perfection

EP 028: Leave the Marbles on the Floor: Choosing Presence Over Perfection

LEAVE THE MARBLES ON THE FLOOR: CHOOSING PRESENCE OVER PERFECTION In this episode of Big Girl Panties & Other Business Essentials, Amy shares one of the most personal lessons God has been teaching her—not through a business breakthrough or a mountaintop moment, but through a week spent with her children, grandchildren, and a marble set scattered across the floor. But this conversation isn't really about marbles. It's about the quiet tension so many women live with every day: trying to build successful businesses, care for the people we love, manage endless responsibilities, and somehow still be fully present for the moments that matter most. As entrepreneurs, leaders, wives, mothers, and women of faith, it's easy to believe we're serving others by doing more, achieving more, and keeping everything running smoothly. Yet somewhere along the way, responsibility can quietly become distraction, and productivity can begin to steal our presence. For faith-driven entrepreneurs, this episode is a gentle but powerful invitation to slow down. Rooted in the story of Mary and Martha, Amy explores the difference between serving from a place of peace and serving from a place of striving. She reminds us that God never asked us to choose between meaningful work and meaningful relationships—but He does call us to keep Him first, creating margin for the people He's entrusted to us and the moments we'll never get back. If you've ever found yourself feeling overwhelmed, stretched too thin, or wondering if you're missing the life you've worked so hard to build, this episode will encourage you to pause, breathe, and rediscover what matters most. Because sometimes the dishes can wait. The emails can wait. Even the marbles can wait. The most beautiful thing you'll ever create isn't a perfect life. It's a life where the people you love feel truly seen.   IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN * Why responsibility can quietly become the biggest distraction from what matters most. * The difference between having Martha's busy hands and cultivating Mary's attentive heart. * How busyness, perfectionism, and productivity can rob us of God's peace. * Why creating margin is essential for healthy leadership, relationships, and spiritual growth. * The simple practice that allows you to lead your business without sacrificing your presence. * How to recognize the "marble set moments" God places in your everyday life. * Why stillness isn't wasted time—it's where God strengthens your soul for the work He's called you to do.   3 KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. Presence Is More Valuable Than Perfection The most meaningful moments in life aren't found in perfectly prepared meals, spotless homes, or completed to-do lists. They're found when we choose to be fully present with the people God has entrusted to us. Like Jesus reminded Martha, "only one thing is needed." (Luke 10:41–42) 2. Stillness Isn't a Luxury—It's a Necessity Our culture celebrates busyness, but God calls us to stillness. When we intentionally pause to spend time with Him, we gain the peace, clarity, and perspective needed to lead our businesses, serve our families, and love others well. (Psalm 46:10) 3. You Can't Pour from an Empty Soul Whether you're building a business, raising a family, or leading a team, lasting impact begins in God's presence. Jesus doesn't ask us to come after everything is finished—He simply says, "Come to me." (Matthew 11:28)   SCRIPTURE REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE Luke 10:41–42: "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better..." Psalm 46:10: "Be still, and know that I am God." Matthew 11:28: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."   WHY THIS EPISODE MATTERS The world celebrates women who can do it all. Build the business. Lead the team. Care for the family. Keep the house. Never miss a deadline. But God isn't asking us to become better at doing more. He's inviting us to become better at being present. In a culture that rewards hustle and constant productivity, this episode reminds us that success isn't measured by everything we accomplish—it's measured by whether we're fully present for the people and moments God has placed in front of us. Through the story of Mary and Martha, Amy encourages us to pursue Martha's capable hands with Mary's attentive heart, leading with excellence while refusing to let busyness steal our peace, our joy, or our relationships. If you've been feeling exhausted, distracted, or worried that you're missing the moments that matter most, this conversation will gently lead you back to God's presence—and remind you that sometimes the holiest thing you can do is leave the marbles on the floor. So here's the question: What "marbles" in your life are keeping you from experiencing the moments God never intended for you to miss?   #ChristianEntrepreneur #FaithAndBusiness #WomenInBusiness #EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessLeadership #CreativeEntrepreneur #ChristianWomen #PresenceOverPerfection #MaryAndMartha #LeadershipGrowth #WorkLifeBalance #BeStill #PurposeDrivenLife #ChristianLeadership #BigGirlPantiesPodcast

EP 027: When God Changes Your Plans: Trusting Him Through Brokenness with Kim Pepper

WHEN GOD CHANGES YOUR PLANS: TRUSTING HIM THROUGH BROKENNESS WITH KIM PEPPER In this episode of Big Girl Panties & Other Business Essentials, Amy sits down with Christian artist, entrepreneur, and founder of Creative Faith Club, Kim Pepper, for a deeply honest conversation about brokenness, rebuilding, faith, and learning to trust God when life doesn't unfold the way you expected. But this conversation isn't just about divorce, business pivots, or starting over. It's about learning to trust God when the plans you carefully built suddenly change. So many women find themselves in seasons they never asked for—relationships end, businesses pivot, dreams evolve, and the future looks nothing like they imagined. The question becomes: Can God still use this? Rather than allowing fear, disappointment, or uncertainty to define the next chapter, Amy and Kim explore what it means to surrender striving, embrace obedience, and trust that God is working even in life's most painful seasons. From rebuilding after heartbreak and overcoming imposter syndrome to discovering how creativity can become a form of prayer and healing, this conversation is filled with wisdom for women navigating both business and life. Whether you're facing a personal setback, pivoting your business, or simply wondering where God is leading you next, this episode will remind you that His plans are always greater than your own. Sometimes the most beautiful chapters of our lives begin the moment we surrender the story we thought we were supposed to live. IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN: * Why God often uses brokenness to prepare us for a new season. * How to trust Him through unexpected life and business pivots. * The difference between striving for success and living in obedience. * How creativity can become a powerful form of prayer, healing, and worship. * Why vulnerability and community are essential for lasting growth. * How to overcome self-doubt, comparison, and imposter syndrome through faith. * Why your calling will continue to evolve as you walk with God. 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. Brokenness Is Often the Beginning of God's Best Work. The hardest seasons of life don't disqualify you—they often prepare you for the purpose God has been shaping all along. 2. God's Direction Is Found Through Daily Obedience. You don't have to see the entire path. Faith is choosing to trust God with the next step, even when the destination isn't clear. 3. Your Story Isn't Over Just Because Your Plans Changed. God specializes in restoration. The dreams that seem lost may simply be making room for something even more meaningful. Why This Episode Matters Many women quietly wonder if an unexpected setback has changed the trajectory of their lives forever. Divorce. Loss. Business challenges. Disappointment. This conversation offers a hope-filled reminder that God doesn't waste any part of our story. He uses every season to shape our character, deepen our faith, and prepare us for the work He's calling us to do. If you've been struggling to let go of your own plans or wondering what God is doing in this season, this episode will encourage you to trust that He is still writing your story. His timing is perfect, His purpose is greater than our plans, and His faithfulness never changes. So here's the question: What if the life you never planned is exactly where God intended to meet you?   #ChristianEntrepreneur #FaithAndBusiness #WomenInBusiness #BusinessLeadership #EntrepreneurMindset #CreativeEntrepreneur #ChristianWomen #PurposeDrivenLife #LeadershipGrowth #TrustGod #BusinessGrowth #BigGirlPantiesPodcast

EP 026: Finding Purpose: Julie Silber on Reinvention, Friendship & Living a Beautiful Life

FINDING PURPOSE: JULIE SILBER ON REINVENTION, FRIENDSHIP & LIVING A BEAUTIFUL LIFE In this episode of Big Girl Panties and Other Business Essentials, Amy sits down with podcast host Julie Silber for an inspiring conversation about reinvention, purpose, confidence, and the courage to step into the next season God has prepared for your life. But this conversation isn't just about starting a podcast or changing careers. It's about discovering that your greatest calling often comes after the life you thought you were supposed to build. Many women reach a season where their children have grown, careers have shifted, businesses have evolved, or life simply looks different than they imagined. The question becomes: Now what? Rather than allowing fear, self-doubt, or comparison to keep them stuck, Amy and Julie explore what it means to embrace reinvention with faith, curiosity, and confidence. From overcoming imposter syndrome and trusting your God-given gifts to building meaningful friendships, listening well, and finding purpose beyond productivity, this conversation reminds us that it's never too late to begin again. Whether you're launching a business, pivoting into a new season of leadership, or simply wondering what God has next for your life, this episode will encourage you to take the first step—even if you can't yet see the entire path. Because sometimes your purpose isn't found by having all the answers. It's discovered by having the courage to begin. IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN: * Why reinvention is often the beginning of your greatest calling * How to overcome self-doubt and trust the gifts God has already given you * The importance of meaningful friendships and surrounding yourself with life-giving people * Why curiosity and listening are powerful leadership skills * How to discover your natural strengths by listening to trusted voices around you * Why purpose often unfolds one faithful step at a time * How embracing authenticity creates deeper relationships and greater impact 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. Reinvention Is Not Failure—It's Growth. Closing one chapter doesn't mean you've failed. Sometimes God uses the ending of one season to prepare you for the calling you were created to step into next. 2. Your Gifts Leave Clues to Your Purpose. The talents that come naturally to you—and the qualities others consistently recognize in you—are often signposts pointing toward your unique calling. 3. Meaningful Conversations Can Change Lives. Real connection begins when we're willing to listen, stay curious, and create safe spaces where people feel seen, heard, and valued. WHY THIS EPISODE MATTERS Many women quietly wonder if they've missed their opportunity. Too old. Too late. Too inexperienced. Too comfortable to start over. This conversation challenges those lies with a refreshing perspective: every season of life prepares you for the next one. Your experiences matter. Your story matters. Your relationships matter. And the gifts God has placed inside you don't expire with age—they often become even more meaningful as you gain wisdom and confidence. If you've been sensing that God may be inviting you into something new, this episode will encourage you to stop waiting for perfect timing and start trusting the next step. Because reinvention isn't about becoming someone else. It's about becoming more of who you were created to be. So here's the question: What if the next chapter of your life isn't starting over but finally stepping into the purpose you've been preparing for all along?   #ChristianEntrepreneur #WomenInBusiness #EntrepreneurMindset #FaithAndBusiness #PurposeDrivenLife #BusinessLeadership #LeadershipGrowth #CreativeEntrepreneur #WomenSupportingWomen #PersonalGrowth #Reinvention #BigGirlPantiesPodcast

EP 025: What Really Matters: Faith, Legacy, & Creating a Life That Lasts

WHAT REALLY MATTERS: FAITH, LEGACY, LEADERSHIP & CREATING A LIFE THAT LASTS In this episode of Big Girl Panties and Other Business Essentials, Amy shares a deeply personal conversation about success, motherhood, entrepreneurship, faith, and the quiet moments that shape the life we’re truly building behind the business. After reflecting on Mother’s Day and navigating the emotions of having her children scattered across the country, Amy opens up about choosing joy instead of disappointment, creating beauty in everyday moments, and staying grounded in what matters most. But this conversation goes far beyond homemaking or nostalgia. It’s about identity. So many women today are building businesses, leading teams, managing households, serving others, and carrying the emotional weight of everyone around them. Somewhere along the way, it becomes easy to confuse success with significance and productivity with purpose. For faith-driven entrepreneurs and creative women, this episode is a powerful reminder that our accomplishments, businesses, followers, and possessions were never meant to become our identity. Rooted in biblical wisdom and honest reflection, Amy shares how creating peace, cultivating atmosphere, protecting your mindset, and loving people well are all forms of leadership and ministry. She also shares the emotional conversation she and Gene had about legacy—and why neither of them mentioned money, business success, or accomplishments when talking about how they hope to be remembered. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, or disconnected from what truly matters, this episode will help you slow down, refocus your heart, and reconnect with the purpose God has placed on your life. Because at the end of the day, the business is not the legacy. The way you love people is. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN * Why success, achievement, and business growth can never replace true purpose * How creating beauty, peace, and atmosphere can become a form of ministry and leadership * The importance of choosing joy when life doesn’t look the way you expected * Why protecting your peace and mindset matters as a faith-driven entrepreneur * How to stay rooted in your identity instead of your accomplishments * The difference between building a beautiful life and chasing a perfect one * Why legacy is ultimately about faith, love, and how you impact people 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. Your Legacy Is Bigger Than Your Business. At the end of our lives, people will not remember our accomplishments nearly as much as they remember how we loved, encouraged, served, and pointed people toward Jesus. 2. Creating Peace Is Powerful Leadership. The atmosphere you create in your home, business, and relationships matters. Peace, warmth, encouragement, and intentionality are not small things—they are ministry. 3. Joy Is Often a Choice. Life will not always look the way you expected. But choosing joy, creating new memories, and remaining focused on eternal things allows you to move forward with peace instead of disappointment. SCRIPTURE REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE Proverbs 31:27: “She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.” Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God.” Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” Colossians 3:2: “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” WHY THIS EPISODE MATTERS The world tells entrepreneurs to build more, achieve more, and chase more. But Scripture reminds us that success without alignment leaves us empty. You can love business, creativity, leadership, and beautiful things without allowing them to become your identity. This episode is a reminder to slow down, protect your peace, create meaningful moments, and stay rooted in what truly matters most. Because the greatest legacy you will ever leave is not what you built— It’s how deeply you loved. So here’s the question: If someone described your legacy today, would they talk more about your accomplishments or your impact? #ChristianEntrepreneur #WomenInBusiness #FaithAndBusiness #EntrepreneurMindset #LeadershipGrowth #CreativeEntrepreneur #BusinessPodcast #FaithDrivenLeadership #PurposeDrivenLife #LegacyLeadership #MindsetAndFaith #BigGirlPantiesPodcast

EP 024: Embracing Worthiness: A Journey from Striving to Abiding

EMBRACING WORTHINESS IN BUSINESS: FROM HUSTLE TO ABIDING In this episode of Big Girl Panties and Other Business Essentials, Amy dives into a deeply personal and transformational topic every entrepreneur eventually faces: worthiness. But this conversation isn’t about confidence hacks, external validation, or achieving more to feel enough. Instead, Amy reframes worthiness through a faith-driven lens, revealing why your worth is not something you earn — it’s something you live from. So many women in business are striving—building, serving, achieving, and showing up for everyone else—quietly believing that their value is tied to their productivity. But beneath the surface, this creates burnout, misalignment, and a constant feeling of never quite arriving. For faith-driven entrepreneurs, this episode offers a powerful reset. Rooted in Scripture, Amy unpacks the difference between striving and abiding, showing how our identity in Christ must come before our output. When we build from worth instead of for worth, everything changes—our leadership, our focus, our peace, and our business growth. If you’ve ever felt exhausted, overcommitted, or disconnected from your calling, this episode will help you realign with truth and step back into the lane God uniquely designed for you. Because the goal isn’t to produce more. It’s to remain. And from that place, everything flows. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN * Why many entrepreneurs unknowingly tie their worth to productivity and performance * The difference between striving for worth and abiding from identity * How burnout and busyness can disconnect you from God’s voice and direction * Why knowing your worth in Christ creates clarity in business and leadership * How to protect your “lane” and operate in your God-given gifts * The role of boundaries and saying no as acts of obedience * How abiding leads to sustainable, aligned business growth 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS 1. Your Worth Is Fixed — Not Earned Your value does not come from what you produce, achieve, or prove. Scripture reminds us you are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). Your identity is established before your output. 2. Striving Leads to Burnout — Abiding Leads to Fruit When you operate from pressure and performance, exhaustion follows. But when you remain connected to Christ (John 15), clarity, peace, and true productivity naturally flow. 3. Knowing Your Worth Protects Your Calling When you’re rooted in your identity, you stop saying yes to everything. You gain the confidence to protect your time, your gifts, and your God-given assignment. SCRIPTURE REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE Psalm 139:14 “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 15:4–5 “Remain in me, as I also remain in you… apart from me you can do nothing.” Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” WHY THIS EPISODE MATTERS The world tells entrepreneurs to prove their worth. But Scripture tells us our worth is already secure. Striving keeps you exhausted, distracted, and disconnected. Abiding keeps you aligned, focused, and fruitful. If you’ve been building your business from a place of pressure instead of peace, this episode will invite you into a better way. A way where your identity leads—and your work follows. So here’s the question: Are you striving to prove your worth… or abiding from it?   #ChristianEntrepreneur #WomenInBusiness #EntrepreneurMindset #FaithAndBusiness #Worthiness #AbidingInChrist #LeadershipGrowth #CreativeEntrepreneur #BusinessPodcast #FaithDrivenLeadership #BigGirlPantiesPodcast