3/28/22 - Women's Work Matters: Peggy Bodde, Sacred Work

Intro: As a Christian working woman, you have many roles from your responsibility with family and friends to community and work. How do you connect all that you do with all that you are, and still have your face shine through. It's a challenge, but you are up to it. The, sheWorks4Him podcast at the gathering place to empower Christian working women, to live out their calling at work.

By connecting them to God resources and each other through powerful face stories from other working sisters in Christ. Welcome to sheWorks4Him.

Martha: You've tuned into, sheWorks4Him, where we connect Christian, working women to God resources and one another. And that is our prayer for you today.

Listeners, as you join us in conversation that somehow you will feel more connected to each other through just Christian working women. We're all in this together. Getting connected to God and resources that can help you along the way. You can find those resources by going to, sheWorks4Him.com that's she works the number for him.com and learn more about some of our past guests, the resources that they have shared and other ways that you can stay connected.

And we are so glad that you are here. Remember that she works the number for him.com.

Catherine: Giving our best at work comes easiest. When we have confidence in the value of what we have to contribute it to many Christian working women still struggle with seeing the value of their work in God's eyes, perceiving their work in the marketplace as less valuable than the work of women in ministry or missions.

But women need to know that God uses their work in business. At least as much as he uses the work of women in minister. Peggy Bodde worked in the corporate world for 25 years after wrestling was seeing the value of her work in God's eyes. God showed her that what he has commissioned her to do is no less important than the work of women in missions or ministry in a step of faith.

Peggy made the transition to full-time writer and entrepreneur eight years ago. At the same time, she felt compelled to continue helping other Christian women see the value, God, places on their work and find rest in it. Peggy is a full-time writer and the founder of sacred work, a foundation she established to serve working women through mentorship.

Peggy, welcome to sheWorks4Him.

Peggy Bodde: Thank you. I am so excited to be here and I'm a regular listener of your podcast. And so glad you guys launched it. Having to be.

Catherine: Thank you. Well, I'm so excited to share your story, Peggy, and, um, you and I have developed such a great friendship, just starting from your connection to me on LinkedIn, which is amazing.

So I can't wait for you to share how you live out your faith at work, but first, can you share with our listeners how you became a Jesus follower?

Peggy Bodde: I would have to say I became a Christ follower against all odds. And I say that because I was adopted into an abusive home and the adoptive parents were both avid church goers.

They took us to church regularly. So you can imagine it was really confusing for me because the Jesus I was learning about in Sunday school did not seem to be present in our home, but by God's grace, my time in that home ended and. God faithfully pursued me. It was a long, messy journey, but he, um, I think that's why it's called amazing grace.

And I would have to say as far as a reason that I became a Christ follower, it's because he wouldn't take no for an answer. And I'm grateful for that. Um, amen.

Martha: Are we all grateful that he doesn't take no, we can be cut to stubborn sometimes, but so grateful for that. So Peggy, tell us what kind of work you do.

Peggy Bodde: Well, as Catherine mentioned, I was a corporate leader for most of my career. Well, over 25 years, but then eight years ago, I resigned as the senior vice president to start my own small business, a freelance writing business. So today I'm a full-time writer and I largely write for educational publishers, which is just another way of saying I research and write textbooks, which I really enjoy.

But my passion is writing content to equip and support Christian professional women. So I do that on the side and I'm super excited because, uh, I wrote a book proposal last year, along the lines of the topic that we're discussing. And it was picked up by a literary agent and she shopping it out to Christian publishers right now,

Martha: uh, is so exciting, you know, and I have to say, you know, one of the things that I've learned over the years, Like every, there is.

Special people God has created for every position that's out there. We need textbook writers. So I love that. That's what you do and you love it because without it, we wouldn't have them. Right. And as much as people might, you know, chagrin the cost or, or having to read those textbooks, we're grateful for you for writing them.

So, and that is the way God has equipped you. And he equips each one of us different. But in what you are doing in that, um, on, you're kind of on the side, what you're talking about there. Um, we just love this conversation about Christian working women and anything that can be a resource. I'm excited to hear more about your upcoming book that will be coming out.

So how did your decision to follow Jesus impact your approach to your work? Whether it's your writing or whatever it is that God has you do?

Peggy Bodde: That's a great question. So in whatever role I've been in, whether as a leader or a writer, there are three actions that I try to take. So the first one is to show excellence because I think when we bring our best to the table, we glorify God.

And we also earn the respect of the people around us and respect is foundational for relationship. And the second thing is to broker hope. And I think as Christians, especially Christian leaders, It's our responsibility to inspire hope and dispel fear when people are faced with difficult circumstances at work, which happens often.

And the last thing I would say is to love fully, and that's not something, you know, you're going to find in a management or leadership book, but I know that God places a high priority on it. So I have always done my best to do that because what better way to set ourselves apart as leaders in the workplace than to love.

So those are the three guardware guardrails that I try to use anytime I'm in a workspace, whatever that may be.

Catherine: I love that it's and it's easy to keep in mind to excellence, hope and love. We all could use more of that in our workplaces. So Peggy, tell us a little bit about, I know you have a passion for equipping other working women and really supporting them based on your experience.

What are you doing to equip price followers, to live out their faith?

Peggy Bodde: So I write and speak about the intersection between faith and work at every, every chance I get, whether it's podcasts like this one or a women's event like I did last week. I also have a private women's group on LinkedIn and it's called sacred work.

And it's a space where professional Christian women can get together and encourage and support one another. Um, but most of my one-on-one equipping comes through my ministry, which is also called sacred work. So through the ministry, I help one to two women every month. And I love that because it's really personal.

I get to know that. Um, I get to come alongside them and help them work through whatever career or leadership problem they're facing. And I take them through that pain point to the other side, and we usually stay in touch and develop friendships after that. So, um, that is a really rewarding part of it and way that I equipped women in the workplace who, um, have a heart for Christ.

Catherine: That's so wonderful. I'm sure there's some women who are listening right now who would love to connect with you. Can you tell us really quickly how they can find.

Peggy Bodde: Sure. My website is PeggyBodde.com and they can find my email information, um, other contact information there, but it's all for free because it is my ministry.

So if they, um, send me a message via the website, then I will get in touch with them about, um, the next step that they would like to take.

Catherine: Fantastic. You're listening to, sheWorks4Him. We're going to take a short break and then we'll be right back with Peggy Bodde.

Intro: Did you

Break: know that God has a calling on your life?

It's true. He's called you to bring Jesus to the world. For some that may look like a pulpit or a foreign mission field, but for most of us, it looks like a construction site, the cubicle, a hospital, or a classroom, wherever it is that you work with volunteer and, and best that is your mission field. To learn more about integrating your faith into your work in retirement.

Check out our books iWork4Him. sheWorks4Him and iRetire4Him by going to iWork4Him.com/bookstore.

Catherine: Welcome back to, sheWorks4Him. We're talking to Peggy Bodde writer and founder of sacred work. Peggy is offering a free download four steps to help you make a successful career transition.

And so we will make sure to put the link so that you can download that in the show notes. Peggy, I love that you are helping other women live out their faith at work. What did it take for you to surrender your work to.

Peggy Bodde: I'll surrender is a big word. And there are, there are some lessons in God's kingdom that I learned easily and surrendering my work was not one of them, but he knows what we need.

Um, and toward the end of my career, I got a very big lesson, which was a turning point for me. So I was scheduled to interview for the CEO of our company. And unexpectedly had to have surgery on my spine. So I was in the hospital for a few days and while he was there, my boss interviewed and hired the other candidate for the position.

So this was a very painful, difficult time for me, but God used it to show me that I had put my job on the throne. So he had blessed me with this amazing career. I was a single mom. Um, the career provided for me and my daughter, but I had taken that gift and dishonored it by making it into an idol. So that was a really hard lesson in surrender.

Um, but God also used it in an amazing way because my heart and my mind were surrendered to the point that I was willing to make the career change that he had been prodding me to make for two years. So he had been working on my heart. The holy spirit had been speaking to me, um, to quit my corporate job and start my own business and, and become a full-time writer.

But I was afraid, you know, there were so many things that I was scared of. I had trust issues with the Lord. So when this big situation happened, this scenario, it really humbled me. And it helped me to understand what it meant to fully surrender. And I did, and I made the career change.

Martha: And I'm guessing that that's a little bit of where this download, that you're offering, that we're going to have in the show links comes from because the title of it is four steps to help you make a successful career transition.

So if you've been through it and you've learned a lot of lessons along the way, and you're willing to share that with others, then we're more than willing to receive that gift and hopefully learn from it ourselves. So at what point in your life did you realize. That God cared more, or just as much about your work as that he did have a pastor or missionary and not more or less.

Peggy Bodde: I am really grateful because I came to this realization pretty early in my career. So I mentioned that I was a single mom and I didn't have the option to stay at home with my daughter. And I spent a lot of time. Second guessing the work that God called me to, I always felt less than as a mom, less than as a Christian, um, the Christian community at that time.

Um, there wasn't a lot of latitude for roles that women could could take in the workplace or at home. It was very defined. So one day, um, And that leaves me feeling really isolated. So one day I was crying out to the Lord about it. I was praying and I was saying, you know, God, not only do I think I'm not bringing value to your kingdom, but I'm probably sending by working instead of being at home and I should be working in ministry or I should be using my gifts to be a missionary.

And it was almost audible. I heard the holy spirit say, who is criticizing you because it's not. And at that moment, I felt this huge peace settle over me. And that question was, was completely answered and I did dig into scripture and that was just more affirming because I saw example after example of how God uses diverse people, men and women.

In a million different roles to accomplish the purposes for his kingdom. So all of those realizations gave me a lot of peace, but also a lot of confidence and clarity. And that message is one that I preach to women to this.

Martha: Hmm, good for you. And, you know, I love the fact that you said, you know, you dug into scripture as you, you saw it, what it was that God was really trying to show you.

And that having that connection to the Lord and using the word to guide and direct us is so very precious and valuable on in the flat. What do you do for living out your faith in your work for encouragement? Is there a group that you surround yourself with or that you participate in, or what is that resource for you that helps you to keep moving forward?

Peggy Bodde: God has really blessed me with amazing friends. All of whom are professional Christian women. So that that's an incredible experience. I'm in Bible studies and prayer groups with them. I was also in a small group with Catherine. She was our leader recently through women in the marketplace. And that was a wonderful experience too.

I believe that. The best way for professional Christian women to be encouraged is by other professional Christian women. So I'm really inspired and encouraged to see women in the marketplace. sheWorks4Him, propel all these organizations, collaborating and working together to bring resources to professional Christian women it's much needed.

And it's just really encouraging to see.

Catherine: Yeah, and you're right. We need to work together. Right? We need to, we need community where we can trust one another and really be open. I mean, I can do the same study, you know, with a dif different groups of women. And I always, always learn so much, not only from God's word, but from the other women and their perspective.

So it's so incredibly valuable. So Peggy, what's a recent lesson. If you wouldn't mind sharing that, you've learned about living out your faith at work. What's some insight that you've recently.

Peggy Bodde: I was reflecting recently about how, if we are obedient, God will take our work experience and use it in his kingdom in ways that we can't even imagine.

So for example, as we talked about, I'm a writer, I write eight hours a day, five days a week. So the skills that I developed. Writing as my job I can use to write for God's kingdom. They make me a better writer for God's kingdom. But the other way I've been able to use that is I've had women who are stay-at-home moms who need to bring in a little extra money and they want to do, how do I make money as a writer?

Well, I can help them. Um, at the same time, all the years I spent leading in corporate, God didn't waste that because now I'm using that experience to mentor and coach, um, other Christian women in my ministry. So that doesn't waste anything. He is truly the master orchestrator. And I just love that.

Catherine: That is so that's so true.

And I think it's so important for all of us to recognize that in here that he doesn't waste anything the hard times, the good times, the things that have that seem so well past, right. He uses it all. That's fantastic. You're listening to, sheWorks4Him with your host, Martha Brangenberg and Catherine.

We're going to take a short break and we'll be right back with Peggy Bodde.

Break: Hey listeners.

One of the huge projects Martha and I have been working on for years is making it easy for every workplace believer to find all the voices speaking, encouragement, and equipping into the faith and work movement, presenting the Awaken podcast network.

Online and Awaken podcast network.com with over 130 different podcast. Voices speaking truth into you. The workplace believer, including over 30 podcasts, dedicated to Christian working women go online to awaken podcast, network.com that's Awaken podcast, network.com.

Martha: Welcome back to sheWorks4Him.

We're talking to Peggy Bodde writer and founder of sacred work.

You know, I, again, I just want to reiterate that I am so grateful that you are go to scripture learning what God is teaching you, listening to his voice. When you run into an area where you need to seek wise counsel, when you need to gain wisdom from somebody else, where do you go for

that?

Peggy Bodde: I have read a ton of books and listened to a lot of podcasts. Um, I also have some great business mentors. And as I mentioned, Christian friends who are also small business owners, leaders, et cetera, but I have to say the holy spirit has been the best mentor for me. Um, once I realized that God doesn't want me to compartmentalize that part of my life, he doesn't want us to take work and set it aside.

And go to him about everything else, but work. He is very interested in our work. So once I realized that and I started speaking, uh, seeking the holy Spirit's help, um, in all work-related issues, it made so many things about work, easier, dealing with challenges, personnel, problems, decisions. I had to make everything I believe in the power of prayer.

And I know that when we invite God into our workspace, he is going to show.

Catherine: So Peggy, you know, we like to be super practical and sometimes I know people can get in their heads about what does that even mean? Seek the holy spirit. So can you, can you kind of like bring that down to real practical? What does that look like for you?

How do you seek the holy spirit for, for those things and how frequently does that happen?

Peggy Bodde: Oh, it happens in all things all the time, but on a practical level, you know, for me, when I, when I dug into scripture and realize that the holy spirit is my advocate, he's my counselor. Um, he prays for me what, I don't even know how to pray for myself.

You know, all of there's a lot of power and all of that. So. I basically bring any, any time I need to, Sermont help making a decision. I lay that at the foot of the cross. So I pray about it. I asked the holy spirit to show me in scripture, to reaffirm, to me, to make my way clear. Um, and I, and I target specific things and work because I think we have a tendency to, um, invite God into our health, our families, church, life, all of that, and not into the work part.

So for me, on a practical level, it is being very specific about what I pray about and what I bring before God, as far as work goes, you know, I'm very, very specifically. And I think that's about as practically as I can explain it. I don't know if that make sense.

Catherine: No, that's, that makes a lot of sense. And that's great.

I just, sometimes people, like I said, they get in their heads and they're just not sure. I mean, to your point, you know, it's, it's stopping throughout the day. Lord, what do you want me to do next? What to, how does this need to. Or, or, you know, as we were trying to get guests for the show, you know, Lord show me who you want on the show decks, you know, and it's amazing how he's like, oh, good.

Thank you for asking me now I'll lead you to that person.

Peggy Bodde: Thank you for inviting me in.

Catherine: Yeah. Yeah. And sometimes it's journaling, you know, sometimes it's just speaking, you know, doing that two way journaling where I write down a question and I just write down then what I feel like God's speaking to. So, no, I think that's very helpful for listeners to have those practical, practical tips, if you will.

So Peggy, before we wrap up, can you just leave us with one final piece of wisdom, something that maybe you would, you want to make sure is said in the show that our listeners can gain from?

Peggy Bodde: Absolutely. I would say to your list. Don't downgrade the value of the work that God has called you to do. God will use women in the workplace just as mightily as he uses women in the mission field and in ministry.

And we spend about a third of our lives at work. Don't use that time. Doubting, you said making a difference.

Catherine: Oh, love that. Love that, Peggy. Thank you so much. I really pray that, that there are thousands of women who are inspired by your story. I we're just so grateful that you've been a guest on our show.

You've been listening. You've been listening to, sheWorks4Him with your host Martha Brangenberg and Catherine Gates. We're Christian workers. Helping other Christian working women to live out their calling at work as sheWorks4Him

Outro: christian women, we have many roles from daughter, sister, friend, wife, and mother to analyst, accountant, executive or educator.

Is it possible to balance our roles at work and home in a way that honors God? The answer is yes. And our new book, sheWorks4Him will help show you. Written to celebrate, encourage and equip women in the workforce. sheWorks4Him. Discusses the diverse experiences of today's Christian working woman.

Pick up a copy by going to, iwork4him.com/bookstore. You've been listening to the, sheWorks4Him podcast with your host, Catherine Gates, Nadya Dickson, and Martha Brangenberg. Please like us on Facebook and subscribe on YouTube under sheWorks4Him and to access any of the resources we mentioned on today's.

See the show notes at sheWorks4Him. Dot com that's she works the number four kim.com. This podcast was created to empower you to live out your calling. It works. The world knows sheWorks4Him.