Ep 149 // Open-Handed Kingdom Living: Saying Yes to God Through Surrender, Community, and Courage

What does it look like to truly live with open hands and a willing heart—especially when life brings suffering, uncertainty, and hard seasons of discernment? In this deeply moving and wisdom-filled conversation, Vivian Mabuni joins host Megan Nilsen to explore Kingdom living, saying yes to God, and how surrender—lived out in community—becomes the doorway to transformation.

From surviving breast cancer, to 35 years of marriage, to theological formation at Denver Seminary, Vivian shares how God’s Word, the Holy Spirit, and the people of God shape a life of faithful obedience. This episode is an invitation to loosen your grip, trust God more deeply, and discover that you were never meant to walk alone.

In this episode of Kingdom Life Coaching, Megan sits down with Vivian Mabuni—author, Bible teacher, seminary graduate, marriage conference speaker, and cancer survivor—for a conversation that feels like coffee with a wise and trusted friend.

Vivian shares how God has shaped her calling through seasons of suffering, marriage, ministry, and theological study, and why open-handed living is essential for discerning God’s leading. Together, Megan and Vivian explore the difference between individualistic faith and Kingdom-centered community, and why surrender is often the first step toward clarity.

This episode covers:

1. How saying yes to God often begins before clarity comes
2. Why Kingdom living is personal and communal
3. How Scripture re-centers us when life feels overwhelming
4. What seminary taught Vivian about humility, discernment, and truth
5. Why faithfulness in ordinary life matters more than flashy impact

Whether you’re navigating a hard season, discerning your next step, or longing for deeper spiritual grounding, this conversation will encourage you to trust God with open hands—and walk forward in faith.

Key Takeaways:

1. Open-handed living is a posture of surrender, not passivity—it positions us to follow God with trust.
2. God often uses community, not isolation, to bring healing, clarity, and strength.
3. Marriage and ministry thrive when rooted in covenant, not performance.
4. Seminary and theological formation can deepen humility, not pride.
5. The Holy Spirit works powerfully through the “we” of the Body of Christ, not just the individual.
6. Faithfulness in everyday obedience creates ripple effects we may never fully see this side of heaven.
7. Saying yes to God doesn’t require a big platform, just a willing heart.

Stay connected with Megan:

1. Website: meganbnilsen.com

Ep 148 // Calling vs. Assignment: How to Know When God Is Moving You Into a New Season with Barb Roose

What do you do when your life no longer fits the theology you once held so tightly?

In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, Barb Roose joins Megan Nilsen to explore faith that is forged—not performed—through suffering, surrender, and holy discontent.

Barb shares her remarkable journey from megachurch leadership to becoming a bestselling Bible study author and literary agent with Books & Such Literary Management, while navigating addiction in her marriage, unexpected divorce, and seasons of profound uncertainty.

Together, Barb and Megan unpack the difference between calling and assignment, why God often invites us to release what feels secure, and how discernment is rarely a single moment—but a faithful process.

This episode is for the woman who feels restless, stretched, or quietly asking God, “Is there more?”

1. Calling vs. Assignment: Your calling is your identity as a daughter of God. Assignments change—but identity doesn’t.
2. Holy Discontent Is a Gift, Not a Flaw: That internal nudge may be God preparing you for your next season, not asking you to strive harder in the current one.
3. When Theology Meets Reality: God lovingly allows seasons where your beliefs are stretched so your understanding of Him can deepen.
4. Discernment Is a Process: Fasting, prayer, wise counsel, and paying attention to spiritual momentum all matter.
5. Don’t Cling to an Assignment Like It’s the Last Blessing: Holding too tightly to a role can prevent you from receiving what God wants to give next.
6. You Are Not Behind: Preparation often happens before clarity—and sometimes through pain.

Both Barb and Megan name something many Christian women feel but rarely say out loud: God’s invitations often come wrapped in loss, surrender, and unanswered questions.

From She Speaks conferences to book rejections, from ministry platforms to hidden seasons of formation, this conversation highlights a shared belief:

1. Women discerning a next step or season
2. Leaders feeling restless but unsure why
3. Writers, speakers, and ministry-minded women
4. Anyone navigating loss, divorce, or identity shifts
5. The woman learning to trust God without guarantees

Stay connected with Megan:

1. Website: meganbnilsen.com
2. Social: Instagram,

Ep 147 // New Year, New Strength: A Spirit-Led Approach to Wellness for Mid-Life Women with Theresa Rowe

Welcome to a brand-new year on the podcast! If you’re reflecting on how you feel—physically, emotionally, or spiritually—as you step into a new season, this conversation is the perfect companion to your January reset.

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Theresa Rowe, founder of Shaped by Faith, nationally certified fitness professional, TV host, author, and passionate advocate for whole-person wellness. Theresa’s powerful testimony of miraculous healing and her decades of faith-infused fitness ministry offer deep encouragement—especially for mid-life moms navigating hormonal shifts, fatigue, or feeling disconnected from their bodies.

Theresa shares practical steps for strengthening your spirit, mind, and body, along with her story of how God’s voice led her into fitness ministry, healed her physically and emotionally, and continues to guide her today. Whether you're feeling stuck, weary, or simply ready for a fresh start, her wisdom will help you reframe your wellness journey through the lens of faith, freedom, and God’s tender care.

Stay all the way to the end—Theresa prays a powerful, Holy Spirit–filled blessing over your year that you do not want to miss.

• How to set grace-filled, realistic wellness goals in the new year
• Ways to approach mid-life changes—menopause, slower metabolism, fatigue—without shame
• How Theresa experienced God’s miraculous healing before she even knew Him
• What it looks like to hear God’s voice in everyday decisions
• How physical health and spiritual health deeply influence each other
• Simple steps to begin restoring your energy, strength, and connection with your body
• The Scripture that shaped Theresa’s calling to combine faith and fitness
• A powerful closing prayer to start your year renewed and aligned with God

Stay connected with Megan:

• Website: meganbnilsen.com
• Social: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn
• Grab the Book: Untangled Faith+Companion Journal
• Free Gift: 30-Day Grace + Truth (Daily) Devotional
• Book a free discovery call to see if Kingdom Life Coaching could help you unlock your next right step!
• Looking for a holiday devotional? Experience the first session of Untangled Advent for Free!! –>

What happens when God asks you to say yes—before you feel ready, certain, or equipped?

In this short, personal episode, Megan Nilsen shares the story behind her family’s adoption journey—a journey marked by years of prayer, hesitation, fasting, and searching God’s Word for clarity. When the answer finally came, it didn’t lead to ease or simplicity—but it did lead to undeniable encounters with God’s presence.

This episode was originally recorded for The Unfolding Short Stories podcast and captures the raw intersection of obedience and uncertainty. Megan reflects on how her yes to adoption reshaped her understanding of love, grace, and identity in Christ—and how God meets us faithfully in the middle of hard callings.

If you’ve ever wrestled with a God-invitation that felt costly, confusing, or overwhelming, this episode will remind you that obedience is not about having all the answers—it’s about trusting the One who calls.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Discerning God’s voice through prayer, fasting, and Scripture
• The difference between a clear calling and an easy path
• How God’s presence shows up in unexpected and challenging seasons
• What adoption taught Megan about surrender, love, and identity in Christ

This is an invitation to lean in, listen closely, and trust that when God says go, He goes with you.

Stay connected with Megan:

• Website: meganbnilsen.com
• Social: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn
• Grab the Book: Untangled Faith+Companion Journal
• Free Gift: 30-Day Grace + Truth (Daily) Devotional
• Book a free discovery call to see if Kingdom Life Coaching could help you unlock your next right step!
• Grab your free New Year Reflection Journal! -> NewYearReflections.com

Ep 145 // 3 Ways to Know It’s Really God’s Voice with Nadine Mullings Murray

What if you could recognize when God is speaking — and actually know how to respond? In this deeply personal and practical conversation, Megan Nilsen sits down with Nadine Mullings Murray, CEO and Partner of She Elevates Media and Founder of the Women Faith + Business Community. Together they unpack how to discern God’s direction in your business, relationships, and everyday life using Nadine’s simple framework of the 3 C’s: conviction, confirmation, and clarity.

A newlywed at 49, Nadine shares candidly about her decades of singleness, hiring a relationship coach, and how faith guided her into both marriage and a new business partnership. You’ll hear how she learned to balance ambition with intimacy, surrender control, and stay Spirit-led instead of coach-led or AI-led in a noisy world.

If you’ve ever asked, “God, is that You - or just my own thoughts?” this episode will help you untangle the confusion, lean into peace, and take your next faithful step with confidence.

Key Takeaways

• How to recognize God’s voice through conviction, confirmation, and clarity
• Why imbalance—whether in business, parenting, or faith—can signal an invitation to deeper alignment
• The role of both coaching and counseling in spiritual and relational growth
• Why collaboration beats competition in Kingdom business
• How to stay Spirit-led (not guru-led or AI-led) when making life and business decisions

Memorable Quotes

Stay connected with Megan:

• Website: meganbnilsen.com
• Social: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn
• Grab the Book: Untangled Faith+Companion Journal
• Free Gift: 30-Day Grace + Truth (Daily) Devotional
• Book a free discovery call to see if Kingdom Life Coaching could help you unlock your next right step!
• Looking for a holiday devotional? Experience the first session of Untangled Advent for Free!! -->

Ep 144 // How to Let Go and Trust God (Even When It Doesn’t Make Sense)

In this heartfelt conversation originally recorded for Maria Morgan's God’s Girls Group, Megan Nilsen shares the winding, grace-filled story behind her calling as a writer, life coach, and seminary student. She opens up about the hard but holy process of surrender - how God used adoption, motherhood, and burnout to realign her identity with His voice.

From her early days as a school counselor to becoming the author of A Beautiful Exchange, Untangled Faith, and Untangled Advent: Finding Hope in a Weary World, Megan reflects on how God transformed her struggle for control into a ministry of freedom. This episode will encourage you to trust God’s timing, release perfectionism, and take your next faith-filled step even when the outcome isn’t clear.

• Surrender leads to strength: The moments you feel weakest may be the very spaces where God wants to meet you.
• Calling unfolds in seasons: Writing, coaching, and ministry aren’t one-time decisions—they’re layers of obedience that grow over time.
• Hearing God’s voice changes everything: Journaling and reflection can help you discern His leading and align your actions with His peace.
• Joy reveals your purpose: What brings you deep joy often points to where God most wants to use you.

What area of your life is God inviting you to loosen your grip—so He can bring something new to life through you?

Stay connected with Megan:

• Website: meganbnilsen.com
• Social: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn
• Grab the Book: Untangled Faith+Companion Journal
• Free Gift: 30-Day Grace + Truth (Daily) Devotional
• Book a free discovery call to see if Kingdom Life Coaching could help you unlock your next right step!
• Looking for a holiday devotional? Check out Untangled Advent here!

Ep 143 // What If Your Most Fruitful Years Are Still Ahead? Walking with Giants in the Harvest Season of Life with Author Lori Melton

What if midlife isn’t the end of your calling—but the ripest part of your story?

In this heartfelt and hope-filled conversation, Megan Nilsen sits down with author and spiritual director Lori G. Melton, co-founder of The Sanctuary at Bear Creek Retreat Center. Together they talk about what it means to slow down, listen for God’s voice, and live fruitfully in every season—especially the “harvest years” of midlife.

Lori shares how her new book Journey with a Giant was born out of her own empty-nest transition and a longing to walk with God more intimately. She introduces the beautiful practice of learning from the “great cloud of witnesses”—spiritual giants who’ve gone before us—and how their faith can guide our steps today.

If you’re a woman wondering what’s next, craving deeper connection with God, or longing to see purpose in this new chapter, this conversation will remind you: the best fruit may still be growing in you.

• You’re Not Done Yet: Midlife isn’t a winding down; it’s a harvest season filled with wisdom and impact.
• Learn from the Great Cloud of Witnesses: Discover how studying faithful believers from history can strengthen your own walk with God.
• The Power of Spiritual Direction: Why sacred listening helps you discern God’s “new thing” in your life.
• Create Space for Stillness: How solitude and “Days Alone with God” can rekindle intimacy with the Father.
• Fruitfulness Requires Pace: Learning to walk—not run—with God brings more lasting impact than constant productivity.

What might it look like for you to slow down, listen for God’s voice, and see this next chapter as your most fruitful yet?

Stay connected with Megan:

• Website: meganbnilsen.com
• Social: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn
• Grab the Book: Untangled Faith+Companion...

Ep 142 // How to Understand Scripture (and Love It Again) with Seminarian Monica Ritchie

Have you ever opened your Bible and thought, “I should love this more than I do”? You want to hear God’s voice, but the words feel confusing, repetitive, or even distant. You long to experience Scripture the way others describe it—alive, personal, and powerful—but you’re not sure how to get there. If that’s you, this conversation will feel like a deep breath.

In this heartfelt and eye-opening conversation, Megan Nilsen sits down with author, podcaster, and theologian Monica Ritchie to talk about what happens when you accept God’s invitation to go deeper.

Monica shares how seminary took her faith “from black and white to full color,” and how learning to read Scripture with context, curiosity, and humility can completely transform the way you relate to God. Together, Megan and Monica unpack how theology becomes embodied in our everyday lives—and how a more accurate understanding of the Bible leads to greater intimacy, not just information.

Whether you’ve been walking with Jesus for decades or are just rediscovering your faith, this episode will give you practical tools and spiritual encouragement to fall in love with God’s Word all over again.

• Faith in Color: When you learn to read Scripture deeply, your faith becomes vibrant, not formulaic.
• Hearing God’s Invitation: God’s leading often feels like an impression or invitation, not a loud command.
• Theology in Real Life: What you believe about God shapes how you love, lead, and live—it’s not just head knowledge.
• Permission to Slow Down: You don’t need to “finish” your Bible reading plan; you need to linger with God.
• Read with Curiosity: You can honor God’s Word by asking questions, studying context, and inviting the Holy Spirit to illuminate truth.

Where might God be inviting you to slow down and see His Word with fresh eyes?

Stay connected with Megan:

• Website: meganbnilsen.com
• Social: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn
• Grab the Book: Untangled Faith+Companion Journal
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