There are several women online who not only inspire me to write, live out what I learn, and speak truth, but also to reach out to others in sincerity. Jacey Verdicchio is one of those women. Jacey loves Jesus, is an amazing writer, and is also one of the most personal women I know online. She takes the time to reach out to those she doesn’t know and loves well through her blog and her work at Naptime Diaries. Jacey is a wife, author, business manager, and podcast producer. Last year she wrote the e-book “Escaping Reaction, Embracing Intention” and I had the privilege of writing a review on it that you can read here. She is a co-host at the Around The Table podcast and I had the privilege of sharing my story with her! You can listen to the podcast on iTunes here today! Visit this link for the show notes from the podcast. Grab a cup of coffee and get ready to be inspired and encouraged.

Meet Jacey.

 Introduce yourself like we are having a cup of coffee together. What kind of coffee/tea would you drink?

Hi, I’m Jacey! Professionally, I’m the brand + business manager for Naptime Diaries, cohost of the Around the Table podcast, host for the Influence podcast, and I write at TheBalancedWife.com. Personally, I’m a believer, wife, friend and mom to a golden retriever.

I drink about three cups of coffee with cream between 6 and 9 every morning, but if we’re in a coffee shop I might treat myself to a soy chai latte instead. 

What is your definition of a “life lived beautifully”?

A beautiful life is patient, honest, generous, and spirit filled. I used to think a beautiful life required flawless perfection, but my attempts to hide mistakes and seek an impossible standard in my flesh led me to a fearful, joyless, self loathing place. A beautiful life is clothed in His strength, willing to admit flaws and mistakes, and gives generously. When we set aside the chains of perfectionism and shame, we release others into freedom alongside us, and I can’t think of a more beautiful life.

When did you start following Jesus?

I learned who Jesus was and what he did for me at an incredibly young age. My first memory of our relationship is during a twilight walk in my neighborhood as a five year old. My house was in sight, my mom just outside my view. Suddenly a shiver of fear came through me with the realization that I was alone, and then an immediate calm assurance which I knew was him. I couldn’t have put it into the words then, but I had the palpable and sudden sense that I was not alone.

What are some verses you constantly cling to and bring life to your soul?

Romans 7:18-19 “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.”

I’m incredibly comforted when I read about Paul’s struggle with the flesh, and incredibly humbled by the reminder that “nothing good dwells in my flesh.”

2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

I love how this verse flips worldly wisdom on its head. Instead of seeing weakness as shameful, believers can boast in our weakness, because it’s there that He is made strong.

1 Peter 5:10 “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”

In both the joys and sorrows of life, we can be assured that he will restore, confirm, strengthen and establish us at the end.

How did God direct you to start the Around The Table podcast?

I’ve loved podcasts and seen a ton of potential in the medium for the past two and a half years. I wanted to start one pretty much as soon as I started listening to them, but God was completely silent when I asked Him about it. He didn’t give me any direction, and thankfully I didn’t even have any ideas in my own strength. When Maggie (my co host for Around the Table) and I became close last summer, I felt prompted to ask her to start a podcast with me. It really didn’t make sense, since she hadn’t indicated any interest in podcasting, wasn’t that engaged online, and was in the midst of a difficult and transitional season. My logic kept telling me it was a crazy idea, and when I eventually asked her, I half expected her to reject the idea. She said yes, and working together with her and the Lord has produced a better, more compelling show than I ever could have imagined.

What is the vision behind Around The Table?

Around the Table is a podcast designed to inspire and entertain vibrant women. Our goal is to help them live purposefully without skipping dessert. Listening to our show should feel as though they’re sitting around the table, soaking up the mutual encouragement, entertaining anecdotes and useful recommendations and resources. We aim to leave listeners feeling less alone and more refreshed, like an iced coffee on a hot day (with cream, of course!).

How do you integrate sharing the Gospel with creativity?

The gospel is the greatest story ever told. I consider myself a storyteller, regardless of the medium. It might be a blog post, a thoughtful Instagram caption (#instablog) paired with a creative image, or a podcast episode. I see each as a venue to tell the gospel story from a different angle, or to share beautiful biblical themes like redemption, forgiveness, and grace.

You have also written an e-book called “Escaping Reaction, Embracing Intention.” Tell us the story behind this book and your passion about women living their lives intentionally.

To be completely honest, some of the themes in this ebook are holdouts from a life trying to earn and perfect itself through my human strength. I can easily fall back into the lie that if I learn the right system or become just slightly more disciplined than I am now, I can “save” myself.

God has redeemed these tendencies by helping me pull the good from disciplines and intentional living without finding my identity there. This ebook is a compilation of many practical things I learned that help me live intentionally. I wrote it for the woman who (like me,) feels frantic and overwhelmed. I share practical ways to use time wisely, avoid distraction, and be intentional in relationships and with money.

God’s Word calls us to live with purpose, make the best use of time, and walk circumspectly. While the cultural obsession with wandering and spontaneity might draw us away from an intentional lifestyle, God has a lot to teach us about living on purpose.

What are some books you are currently reading?

Scary Close by Donald Miller Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg Mckeown All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.

If you could tell every woman reading this blog one thing God has laid on your heart, what would it be?

We won’t find love and affirmation more satisfying and complete anywhere besides the cross. We’ll disappoint and be disappointed when we seek our identity as wives, mothers, creatives, and friends. The more we can see our God given identities as full, rich and complete, the less we’ll seek lesser things, and the more available we’ll be to live the unique, beautiful lives He’s laid out for us.

Catch up on more A Life Lived Beautifully feature’s here!