#005: The Story of Live the More

How can we break free from past burdens, avoid getting stuck in bitterness, and cross over into places of flourishing? In Episode #005, co-founder of Live the More—Allison Jordan—shares her own story of finding “the more of God” in times of suffering. She also shares her vision for Live the More: to provide bridge-building tools for people to cross over from past or present difficulties into greater victory found through life with God. 

“Oftentimes, that’s where we need help—to get to the next place,” Allison shares, “we need those bridges to keep going, to help us cross over, but we don’t have the resources only in ourselves to do it.”

Take a listen to this week’s episode and discover how living “the more of God” does not immunize you from suffering, but imbues our anguish with meaning and purpose. 

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Transcript

spk_0:   0:01
Welcome to the live The more podcast will we explore going deeper and intimacy with God finding meaning and satisfaction in our day and making a lasting impact on our world. Hey, everybody, welcome back to the live, the more podcast. Today we have a very, very special guest. The co founder of Live the More Alison Jordan, my best friend, and my wife is joining us.

spk_1:   0:26
Hello.

spk_0:   0:28
And so we're really excited to tell the story of live the More today. And so Allie is going to do a great job of explaining where this all came from and why we're all here and we're coming to you live from the crazy Corona days. We're here in Central Europe and Budapest, Hungary, where we are on partial lock down. And so what better time and what better day to record a podcast,

spk_1:   0:52
right? Yeah, we're we're just looking out the window stuck inside, and the kids, they're watching a movie in the baby's sleeping. So hopefully this will work out.

spk_0:   1:03
Yes, that's right. We're we are long. We'll just looking outside, longing to remember what fresh air is like. Um, so we're going to get started by just explaining to you slowing down, doing something a little different this time around. And that is slowing down. Explaining to you, where did this all come from? What's the story behind live? The more. And so, um, I just wanted to to do that by bringing an alley and asking her a few questions and letting her tell the story because she's such a great storyteller. Sally, Um, how did live the more start and what's the genesis?

spk_1:   1:41
Well, I think it really started in time with the Lord and just, um, sitting on our chair in our bedroom and journaling and reading the Bible and just asking God. Okay, but how How do I do this? I Yes, I want to, um, follow. Yes, I want to obey. But how? And And I started asking that question in a really difficult season of our life, and what happened was it was a really difficult season, and I was really wrestling with a lot of stuff. And I was asking the Lord like, how do I get over the the difficulties that I'm walking through? How do I forgive this person? How do I get past my disappointment? How do I move on. And in that place of of asking those questions I really just started dreaming of, Okay, if I am struggling with these things, if I'm wanting wisdom and insight, um, who else wants this as well.

spk_0:   2:49
And when you were wanting wisdom and insight, what was it like for you as you started to search that out? I mean, was it easy to find what you're needing? It was it Was it hard? And what was that experience like?

spk_1:   3:03
Yeah, so? So it really started with asking God, like, how do I how I live in the world with with pain and with suffering And how do I live? A really enjoyable, holistic, fruitful life. And, um, you know, I started looking on the internet. I started asking friends, I started seeking out mentors and, um,

spk_0:   3:35
Pastor Google.

spk_1:   3:36
Yeah, faster Google. I didn't find a ton on Internet. Um, you know, im Ah, young Mom and I was looking for, like, quick tools and things like that that I could really process through. And I found some great stuff that helped me process through some things. But I really found a lot of help through mentors and through friends. I have this amazing woman in my life who earnings and pan. Um, and she's just spoken a lot of wisdom and shared a lot of stuff that has helped me just traverse what it is to live the more of God. And, um, I think when I look at what she has given me and I look at the other people in our lives who have just shared so much wisdom and, um, in their own experience and how they have wrestled with God and just stayed in the mix And, um, seeing the fruit of of really, um, just leaning into friendship with God, I I want to capture that in some way in and share it with others.

spk_0:   4:51
Yeah, and so it sounds like and gave you some really practical tools. And here is a person standing in front of you. So you're not on your own. But then also, she gave you some really practical tools that told you how. I mean, she was there for you, but it sounds like Was that true? Did she give you so?

spk_1:   5:08
Yeah. I mean, not only was she there for me in that time, and she still is, um, but I think she also gave me some tools, um, to think through questions. I think through, um, you know, things to actually practice in my day. Um, as I'm seeking to forgive someone as I'm processing the disappointment as I am seeking joy in my family joy and life with young kids. As I'm seeking these things out, I started finding that Wow, it's not just information. It's not just, Oh, I should, you know, believe these things. I needed to practice them in my day, and, um and so I think, yeah, I think it's Ah, um, live the Moor is an outpouring of. Okay, So here's all this information. Here's all this knowledge and wisdom that we might have How do we actually apply it and live it out?

spk_0:   6:05
Yeah, that's really good. Um, and so when you think about this this time in your life, um, it's really interesting to me that it came in a place of suffering. And so here you're talking about the people that you wanted to learn from our people who were walking through the suffering Well, we're continuing, depressing, a friendship with God, and so it sounds like from what you're saying living the Maur of God. Ah, it wasn't just a place of trying to be free from suffering. Is that right?

spk_1:   6:37
Yeah. I'm I'm not sure where, um, this really started for me. But I think when I came into relationship with God, somewhere along the way, I I really wanted God to to free me from suffering. I wanted my relationship with God too. Bring benefits of joy and peace and love and relationship in all of these things. And I really hoped that it would keep me from discomfort, you know, like we want the comforter. We went the Holy Spirit. And we want that comfort. But I think somewhere along the way I wanted to avoid any discomfort. And so yeah, and so along the way, it was like, how in my life can I avoid suffering? How can I avoid discomfort? And then, when seasons of suffering came, it was such a shock to me because I thought that this wasn't supposed to happen. Like what? Why why am I entering into this suffering? Like why is this even taking like, Why didn't God keep this from happening?

spk_0:   7:51
Going God somehow exempts you from suffering?

spk_1:   7:54
Yeah. And you know, as I think about that, I was, um, during this particular season, I was really asking God, like, what is it about this that I'm trying to avoid? And I realized I was reading in Genesis and the Garden of Eden and just how, before the fall, before the disconnection with God, um, human beings were made for relationship with God. They were made for relationship with each other. They had a healthy relationship to themselves, into the earth and to their work. And all of these relationships were vibrant and life giving. And then once the disconnection came in, everything became disconnected. And what I realized in my own life was I was trying to get back to Eden, get back to where there is no suffering or there is no hardship. And what I realized was actually, God came to me like here I am in the world where there is suffering and even right now, her, you know, we're in the season of global suffering. And instead of avoiding it and saying like, No, this can't happen. Instead, God saying I will enter into it with you. I will be in relationship with you and walk with you through that and and so it just Yeah, I think I entered into this season of really looking like even when you think of Psalm 23 of it saying, like though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you, my God, or with me, your Rod and your staff comfort me. And it was really this kind of revelation of like, Oh, sometimes we're gonna go through those valleys. Sometimes we're gonna walk through suffering. And that doesn't mean that life is any less. It doesn't mean that I can't thrive in those season. What that means is that God is with me and because he's with me, I can thrive because I have relationship with him. I can have wife and I can have life abundantly, which is the more so the more is not. Oh, I'm gonna avoid this in put on a smile every day and say, Hey, life is so easy and so suffering free for me instead, it's wow. God has given himself fully to us and we can experience him. And that is, the more that we get to live.

spk_0:   10:32
That's so good. Yeah, so then we're not alone in the suffering, Which seems to be what most of us just want to know. Anyways, when we're in, we're going through something that we're not alone. So you gave a really good picture when we were when we were talking about this before you give a really good picture of what it was like for you when you did come to these disappointments when you did deal with these moments of suffering these moment of crises of crisis, Um, and the picture was you standing at a cliff? Could you share that? What?

spk_1:   11:03
So you know, I think that we get to these stages in our life in this place of growth and often times there, it feels like there's this other mountain to scale or this other thing that we have to reach and where we are currently versus where we're trying to go. It might feel like the the bottom's fallen out or or there's this like, massive, you know, some chasm between. Okay, here I am. And I know that there's something on the other side and yet I don't know how to cross to the other side, and And I think, you know, in those places, it's really easy to say I don't know how to keep going and so I'm just going to turn around and go back or I'm just gonna give up or I'm just gonna go to the writer to the left rather than to keep going forward.

spk_0:   12:08
I'm just gonna fall deep

spk_1:   12:10
or I'm just going to go straight down into the pit. And I think, um, oftentimes that's where we need help. We need help, Thio help as I get to the next place to keep going. And that's where we need those bridges, right? Like if I can't keep going, then we need a bridge to help us, you know, cross that path. And so I think that's where um, having help comes in having tools. Having resource is having mentor ship. Um, and that's really what I see for live. The more is we would love for this podcast to be a sort of bridge building tool, um, to help people keep going forward, and so to provide weekly inspiration and weekly insights and tools that people can use, um and really apply in their life to hopefully help them keep going forward. Um, I think that's a really big goal of little more.

spk_0:   13:22
Yeah, that's great. So who do you imagine would would use thes bridges? Who do you imagine? What used these tools?

spk_1:   13:30
I think I think that our hope is you know, we with live them or we want to help people deepen their connection with God. We want to help them find purpose and meaning in their life. And then we want to help them make a lasting impact in their sphere of influence. And so I think this is for anyone who is wanting growth in any of those three areas. Um, one of our values is for making these things digestible in bite size so that we can, um, keep going. You know, like, I imagine that people have kids in jobs and lots of obligations. Um, this is this is the age of hustle and hurry. And, um and so yes, So a busy ah busy leader who wants to to experience God and to impact their world, Um, whether that's home in the their family, whether that is in their workplace or another sphere of influence um, we want to equip those people, too, to live out all of who God has made them to be in the good works that God has prepared for them.

spk_0:   14:54
That's good. Yeah. And so you mentioned leading leading in the home, leading the workspace. So wherever people are leading, it doesn't have to be the classic C suite executive, sort of, you know, polished business sort of leadership. But it could be wherever someone's leading, right?

spk_1:   15:10
Yeah, I think we can. When we use the word leadership or, um, making an impact, it can bring to mind a certain way that that might be done. But I think starting in the home is a really incredible place to make an impact and starting where you are wherever you are. And so I think that's that's all got asks of us right is like, What, What's in your hands? And one what do you have to invest in this moment in U, um, your faithful with it, and you're purposeful with it, and you trust God to multiply that

spk_0:   15:49
that's good. That's really good. And so for this busy leader, wherever they're leading, um, bring it back to what you were talking about with the garden and, uh, what are the What are the resource is going to do? How what areas of those that person's life are going to find re connection or redemption or new life? Because you talked about the garden and connection with God and and Garden, You have lots of different types of connection. So what are the different areas of connection that you want this this busy leader to find re connection?

spk_1:   16:23
I think, yeah. So connection really is the goal, right? It's, um it's too deep in that connection and and yet today, even though even though we're incredibly well connected online, obviously as like in this season of Corona virus and everything like school has gone online, we have zoom meetings. We have, um, connection with family and with friends and in and so we're incredibly connected. And yet, um, their studies saying that we're the most lonely generation were the were the ones who have a 1,000,000 connections and no, like deep relationships end. And so I think, um, in this age, it's so easy to feel disconnected toe look too busy. Nous tue, um, to kind of fill Phyllis up to, um, to just be going and going and, um, surviving. Um, but not really, um, figuring out. Okay, how can we live the fullest? And so the hope there is, how can we, um, really support busy leaders Who, um, who want thes connections who want growth and get them to a place where relationship with God is vibrant and his life giving and joyful and fun. And how can you get to a place where, um, you're not looking for things in this in your life to give you meaning, but you're bringing meaning to your day. You're bringing meaning to your work. Your, um you're living your purpose in your meaning. Um, and then and then you're making an impact. I think I think in Romans Ate it says that the, um, the earth is groaning for the revelation of sons. That effusions too. It says that God has prepared good works for us. And so I think to see people released into those, um, those things is is really powerful. And I just I I think when when the church is released to to rise up into transform, um, the world will change. And so yes, so that would be a success to have a deeper connection with God, to have connection with yourself and with others to have connection with your work, Um, in with with nature. And And I think, um, in deepening those connections, you you can really make a lasting impact.

spk_0:   19:28
That's beautiful. Yeah, it's a great vision. Obviously, I believe, um, and so talk to us a little bit about the different mediums or two different avenues that lived. The more will use for this person who desires deeper connection or re connection. What are the different avenues and mediums that lived? The more will will use what does love them or offer for this person.

spk_1:   19:52
Yeah. So right now, um, we have this podcast which were doing every week you can subscribe to stay connected to that. You can also find on her website each podcast usually comes with a worksheet or guide to really help you apply, Uh, what it is that you're learning in the podcast and really live it out. And I think that's a really great place to start. Is getting connected with a podcast, Um, and then getting connected with our email list. We sent insider information and, um, tips and resource is there that you can on Lee get through the email and then, um, beyond that work, creating a planner. It's called the Connect planner, and I'm really excited about it because I think, um, I think it's so important to slow down and to connect with God and to connect with what he's doing in your life. And so this tool will be something that you can use regularly. Um, toe help You really identify where God is at work in your life and how you can partner with him in that. And so it's so easy to play in our days and, um, to have this big vision and then kind of miss what? Where, where God is at work and what God is doing. And so to really become conscious of just what he's speaking and how he shaping you and who you're becoming, um, is really important. And so the goal with the Connect planner is that not only are you becoming aware of of what God's doing and what he's calling you to do, but but also equally as important is what is God shaping in you and Who are you becoming in that process?

spk_0:   21:53
Mmm. I love how you combine the being being in the doing and just the invitation. Uhm, for forgot toe work in what we're doing and not just to try to accomplish much as possible. And then at the end of the day, Seo, Thanks God, you know, I love that. Yeah, Yeah. So good. Um, so what does with these different avenues and and with your heart for this for these kinds of people. For this, This young, busy leader, Um, what does success look like for love the more and, um like, what's the end result for these individuals who use the resource is,

spk_1:   22:32
I think success looks like, um, like, intimacy with God, um, friendship with him, um, with really growing and thriving and as a relationship. Um, I think it looks like really identifying as a child of God and walking that out. Um, not only knowing that, but living in that way, Um and then really, Like I said, like, with meaning and purpose, understanding your purpose and then bringing meaning to all that you You do as you go through the day and and then investing wherever you are with whatever you have investing that and making an impact.

spk_0:   23:27
Yeah, as you share that I just think of. I know we've often talked about our desire to be people who plant trees. And I just think of a treaty being planted wherever it is, wherever in the world and whatever it's near to being planted and drawing from the strong roots, the nutrients and life in the water that it needs to grow and then to give fruit to give life to and shade and shelter to the rest of the world.

spk_1:   23:51
Yes, that's so good.

spk_0:   23:53
Yeah. Oh, Sally, this is great. Thank you for for sharing your heart and sharing your vision. Um, I just wanted everyone to get a chance to hear from from you because the first few episodes were just me. And, um, there's more to come from Alison Jordan. She's gonna be on here more. She has a beautiful heart and lost the share. So thank you for listening. If you want to hear MME. Or if you want to get more from Livermore, please check out live the more dot com and be sure to subscribe to the live. The more podcast, and we would be happy for you to come along with us on this journey as we explore what doesn't mean toe live, the more we were made for.