Clutter Free Academy

“No act of kindness no matter how small is ever wasted."   Aesop  Generosity isn't all about money.  It can be time, space, energy or a number of other things. Kathi and co-host, Erin MacPherson, talk about how you can be generous when you don't have a lot of extra money. The important things is to make sure you are giving out of joy and not out of guilt. Many people worry they can't give enough.  Any gift is better than not giving. It is our faithfulness that God will bless.  Whatever we do God can multiply! Look at what you can give and they various ways you can be generous.  Listen in to this episode for generosity tips.  

Are you a reluctant speaker?  Public speaking is the number #1 fear of the majority of people. Kathi and co-host Erin MacPherson give you some tips that will take your speaking from on level to the next. 1. One Point, One Point, One Point - Just cover one point!  You can have multiple examples, but only one major point. 2. Recognize Your Are Not the Hero - No one cares that you are an expert.  You have to be relatable. 3. Show Them the Journey - Look where I started.  Look at the problems I overcame.  If I can do it YOU can too! 4,  What is Your Takeaway - If you could only give your audience one message they will remember, what would it be?   A catchy takeaway or a reminder of some sort will help them remember.   Listen in as they discuss these four tips and how you can become a better speaker.

Kathi and co-host, Erin MaPherson discuss summer planning and provide tips for having a fantastic summer with your kids. Kathi shares her summer manifesto and they both share ideas for the 6 items on the list. They want you to have a great summer – get some stuff off your checklist, have some fun with your kids, and enjoy the (sometimes) slower pace of summer.

Kathi and Co-host Erin MacPherson discuss their summer travel plans and how to travel clutter free. Both are taking big trips and need to pack lightly. They discuss packing tips, using ebags (packing cubes), and how to find great places to stay that feel like home.

Kathi and Cohost, Erin MacPherson discuss the 7 Tips for Decluttering that came out of the Clutter-Free Bible Study. The group has done the top layer of decluttering but is now dealing with the things that have sentimental value or promote guilt. 7 Tips for Decluttering 1. Start in the Kitchen - fewer sentimental items there. 2. Put motto on the wall, keep it visible. 3.  Give it a final goodbye. 4. Remember when everything is precious, nothing is! 5. Keep 3 things per person.  6. Don't guilt others into keeping things. 7. Don't' value the past or the future and ignore the present. Just do little things and start small.  Let your house serve our present, not your past or your future.

Kathi and co-host, Erin MacPherson discuss the need to keep the romance alive in your marriage. Listen in as they provide tips for keeping the relationship fresh.  They talk about everything from cooking together to planning for sex.    

Kathi talks with a new friend, Kelley Belarie.  Kelley is the author of Fear Fighting: Awakening Courage to Overcome Your Fears. They discuss the experiences and fears Kelley lived through over the years and how she chose to fear "less" when trusting in God. Kelley developed a  program to jumpstart your fearlessness.  Sign up today for the 4 Days to Fearless Challenge.

Kathi talks with guest, Bekah Pogue about her book, Choosing Real, An Invitation to Celebrate When Life Doesn’t Go as Planned. They discuss the Five keys to creating an un-overwhelmed life. Check out the show notes for a chance to enter to win a Choosing Real Kit.

Kathi and co-host Erin MacPherson discuss Clutter Free Kitchens.  When your kitchen is clutter free you can cook more and find everything. They also share the tools they use that they can't live without.  From the instant pot to the ninja coffee maker they each share their favorite kitchen tools.   This post isn't about things you should run out and buy more stuff, but about you having things that make you happy.  Kathi talks about purchasing tools, not trinkets to make your home a better place to be. Share with us your kitchen tool that you can't live without in the comments.

Shaunti Feldhahn, author of the Kindness Challenge: Thirty Days to Improve Any Relationship, is the guest on this episode of Clutter Free Academy. Kathi and Shaunti discuss what being clutter free in your heart means.  Sometimes we think of ourselves a being kind, but when we learn what all is involved in kindness we realize we have work to do.  They also discuss the difference between kindness and being nice. Whether you thrive in your life and relationships doesn't depend on circumstances or how others treat you, but on how YOU treat others. Shaunti invites listeners to participate in her 30-Day Kindness Challenge. Kathi encourages you to enjoy the free things available on the site.  Take the assessment and use the group resources.

Kathi and co-host Erin MacPherson discuss how they celebrate Lent and the Clutter Free Bible Study and Challenge they have coming up just in time for Lent starting March 1. Listen in as they talk about these questions: Why do we have the clutter we do? What causes us to collect instead of give? How to have a new level of freedom as we go deeper. The Clutter Free Bible Study and Challenge will help you "Give Up, Get Rid, and Go Deep."  The challenge is to give up buying of unnecessary items,  get rid of 10 things a day or 400 things total, and go deep by participating in the Clutter Free Bible Study. More details are available Clutter Free: The Bible Study  

Kathi talks with NY Times bestselling author, Karen Ehman, about her latest book, Zip It. They discuss why it is important to use less words and tell the truth. Gossip is fun and Satin makes you feel special when you share a secret!  There is a sense of excitement, but it is wrong. Karen discusses her struggles to "Zip It."  She also invites the audience to her Zip It: 40 Day Challenge starting on March 1.

Kathi and Guest, Cindy Bultema discuss Cindy's book, Live Full, Walk Free, Set Apart in a Sin Soaked World. Cindy discusses how she hit rock bottom and almost lost her life.   All her life she just wanted to fit in and be special to someone. She just wanted someone to "pick me!" She was told by friends that a snort of cocaine would help her drop the pregnancy weight and she ended up almost dying. Listen in as Cindy talks about living happily and successfully in a world that screams "You are not enough."

Kathi and co-host Erin MacPherson catch up on what has been happening the past few months. Kathi also talks about changes for her life in 2017. One of the things she is doing is focusing on a different spiritual discipline each month. She is hoping these changes add more joy to her life and restore her home and life. Just like her books, Kathi says she has moved from Clutter Free to Overwhelmed and now to Restore. One of the things she is focusing on is "simplicity."  She would love you to share your ideas of how to create more simplicity in your life.   Please go to the show notes and share your thoughts and ideas.  Random winners will be selected from the comments.

How do you balance all the relationships in your life?  Sometimes friendships can become overwhelming.  How do we manage our expectations in relationships in a healthy way? Kathi and Overwhelmed co-author, Cheri Gregory discuss times in their lives when they had to set boundaries or when they had unrealistic expectations of relationships.  Listen in as they discuss how decluttering relationships is hard but it's necessary to make room for the ones God has called you to.

"Not everyone's feedback is equal." We all need feedback at one time or another, but conflict arises when you need one type of feedback and you receive another. We have all wanted reassurance about something and ended up with a complete critique of our work. The truth is, many people have no business speaking into our lives.   They haven't earned the right to give feedback.   Kathi and Overwhelmed co-author, Cheri Gregory discuss the various types of feedback and how to deal with each.  

Clutter's #1 priority is to keep us feeling overwhelmed. Kathi and Overwhelmed co-author, Cheri Gregory, discuss how easy it is to be overwhelmed with clutter.   They go through three of the top things clutter tells you! 1.  Clutter Keeps You In The Past - You hang on to things the crowd out the present. 2.  Clutter Keeps Us Stuck in the Future - You buy things to be something.  Because someday you might need it you hang on to all the clutter. 3.  Clutter Decides We Have Not Earned A Future - Because you have failed with various endeavors in the past, you won't be good at something in the future. Clutter says you don't deserve to move forward. Listen in and learn how decluttering will free you from the overwhelm.      

We are not doing resolutions this year.  We are making "fresh starts."     Creating a "Personal Manifesto" can be done and updated anytime.   Kathi and Overwhelmed co-author, Cheri Gregory, discuss how to live out your manifesto.  They give you three important steps to help you stay on track and live your priorities. 1.  Microsteps 2.  Prep and Plan Day 3.  Morning and Evening Routines Learn how you can implement these steps and create a life you love.

In this episode, Cheri Gregory joins hosts Kathi Lipp and Michelle Cushatt to offer hope for the speaker and/or author who feels overwhelmed by the demands of ministry.  You do not want to miss this episode as these seasoned authors and speakers ladies provide humor and wisdom on this very important issue.