We Have This Hope is a podcast about the study of scripture, the art of remembering, & the practice of telling. We’ll explore the ways God calls His people to remember in scripture & hear stories of hope anchored by remembering. Welcome!
Today’s story is one that I know well because it’s partly mine. I shared the experience with a lot people, others who also had storm damage, friends and family who walked through it with us, but no one knows the intricacies of the last year more than my brilliant husband Dustin. He’s joining me on the episode to tell the story.
One year ago the hundred year old oak tree in our backyard dropped a massive branch onto our house during a wild Oklahoma storm. I’ve lived through 38 tornado seasons in this state and had never personally experienced any damage. Even now I can’t technically say I experienced the moment of impact because we were traveling. What I did fully experience, however, was the aftermath of it—water damage, relocation, insurance claims, relocation, contractors, remodeling, relocation, so many spreadsheets—did I mention relocation? As I type this I can happily report I’m sitting in the office of my almost entirely remodeled home and, with a bit thicker skin, I can also say that this was ultimately nothing more than an incredible inconvenience.
But we did grow a lot from it.
We did see God move in ways that surprised us. We did experience community in a way that will hopefully impact the way we respond to others. We did question why this was happening and then walk away saying we’d do it all over again. So today we remember because we believe this story matters—if not for anyone but ourselves and our children and maybe our family and friends who stuck it out with us.
I’m biased, but I think this is also a fun episode, one that you’ll enjoy as you walk around the neighborhood or empty the dishwasher. Odds are you likely encouraged and supported us along the way this past year in a small or big way so this episode is also for you. It was a wild and wonderful year—may it bear fruit in us as we remember.
Emily
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wehavethishope.substack.com/subscribe
Part 2 is ready for you!
Last week I promised you the second half of my conversation with Lael Crabtree, a missionary living with her family in the busy of Papua New Guinea. It bears repeating that this story comes in two parts because we chatted for nearly three hours and I barely needed to edit. Please don’t miss out on the first episode because Lael does a beautiful job of giving context to their work—how they got there, what they do, and why they do it. You can listen right here.
Today’s episode makes space for her honest stories of what its like when the adrenaline wears off and the real work begins—when persecution is real and you wish you had a bit more medical training. Lael shares of God’s faithfulness, but let me say that with a few more words because often we skip over God’s faithfulness. Lael shares about God giving them exactly what they need at exactly the right time, God moving and equipping and providing in ways that could not have been orchestrated by human hands or mustered by human strength. Friends, these stories are the testimonies of the saints—and they’re being delivered right to you headphones. Listen and let them do some good work in you.
I’m also asking you to pray for the church in Wantakia. Could you pause right now and ask God to move, delight, inspire, and be known among the people? Consider this your official nudge to do that.
Next week I’ll be sending out more details about what this summer looks like for We Have This Hope and I’m truly so excited. Thank you for reading/listening/commenting/subscribing/sharing/askingmeaboutit/sendingmefeedback/beingmyfriends/decipheringalltheserunonphrases/laughingalittlealongtheway!
Emily
Lael & Jack work for Ethnos360. Follow along via their IG account as well (@laelbcrabtree)
Want to see what it actually looks like in their village? reachWantakia on youtube has some drone footage as well as glimpses of the church gathered for literacy and Bible training.
Thank you for reading We Have This Hope. This post is public so feel free to share it.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wehavethishope.substack.com/subscribe
Today I’m sharing my conversation with Lael Crabtree. She is an incredible storyteller and, unless you already have friends who live in the bush of Papua New Guinea (I mean, do you? that’d be a crazy coincidence), then you’ve never heard a story quite so unique and powerful. This is part one of a series on the work Lael and her family are doing because we talked for almost 3 hours during her interview and there was almost nothing to cut. Do I leave out the part about her developing an entire alphabet from a tribal language or the people responding to the gospel message for the first time or the incredible Wantakian women delivering babies on their own in the jungle?
See what I mean…
Part 1 includes the story of how she and her family decided to do tribal missions, their training and preparation for almost 4 years, and their eventual move into the jungle where they built their home, created an alphabet, taught literacy, and continued to raise their family.
As I’ve been editing and re-listening to Lael’s beautiful story, I’ve felt compelled to remind all of us that the point of story-telling, or at least this kind of gospel story-telling, is not to sensationalize an experience, garner a wider audience, or even leave those of us at home in the states wondering if we’re doing enough.
It is simply to let this incredible work of God, remembered and told by a real woman, settle in our hearts and minds. When we do this, the stories leave us changed, never in one airbud and out the other. They do work in us, by the power of the Spirit, that increases our faith and compels us to keep living in the deep hope that Christ has died, Christ is risen, and Christ will come again.
This is my prayer for you as you hear her story.
Emily
Lael & Jack work for Ethnos360 - follow along via their IG account as well
Want to see what it actually looks like in their village? reachWantakia on youtube has some drone footage as well as glimpses of the church gathered for literacy and Bible training.
Thank you for reading We Have This Hope. This post is public so feel free to share it.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wehavethishope.substack.com/subscribe
I found on Instagram and just really liked what she had to say. That’s how it started even though we’ve since discovered that we were both at the University of Oklahoma at the exact same time. The way she wrote about her experience of walking alongside her mother as she battled cancer for more than 20 years really got my attention.
Good news for me when I discovered that she had a book releasing this year. So I did the thing I’ve developed the muscle for in the last year and a half: I cold-emailed her and asked if she would tell her story on the podcast. One of my favorite things in this process has been how approachable some people have turned out to be. Whitney is one of them. It takes some inner fortitude to agree to have a recorded conversation with a stranger about your creative work, your personal story, and your deep hopes—but thank God some people say yes.
In today’s conversation Whitney shares the story of her life growing up alongside her mother’s cancer battle and ultimately how her mother’s death in 2020 forced her to ask questions of her own theology like: how do I make sure I’m changed in the right ways by this, in the ways that take me somewhere and not just leave me yelling at God?
Whitney has a deep faith and you’ll hear that echo throughout her story—”death teaches us how to live”, she says. And even more, she shares how developing a theology of suffering prepares us and equips us to cling to hope in Christ’s finished work when the stability of our life is shaken.
I hope you’ll check out her book We Shall All Be Changed: How Facing Death With Loved Ones Transform Us or share it with a friend who may need this resource. Even more, pass along this episode today. I have found that stories are often the way God teaches us to trust Him more—Whitney’s may be the one your person needs to hear. We also chat about her latest obsession: birding. I promised I’d link the Merlin app so open your windows today and start your life list. (If you have no clue what this means, two seconds of googling should bring you up to speed.)
Find Whitney on Instagram and Substack here.
Thanks for tuning in!
Emily
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wehavethishope.substack.com/subscribe
I’m delightfully calling this episode a crossover event. It is equal parts learning about the beautiful work of an organization in the child welfare sphere and equal parts the story of God’s good work in the life of one person.
The organization is 111 Project (also CarePortal) and the person is Chris Campbell.
Chris is a Tulsa native who recently traveled the world for a year with his family of 7. (You might know his wife, Ashley) He currently serves as the executive director of the 111 Project, an organization that connects local churches to the child welfare system in Oklahoma. There are currently over 6,000 children in the Oklahoma foster care system and over 6,200 churches here as well. Chris shares the origin story of 111 Project and their vision for the future. You also get a glimpse into Chris’s personal journey from playing guitar at FCA to good old-fashioned church work to running statewide initiatives. You’ll hear how he came to faith and how his resume reflects a career and life of following God on adventure.
After chatting with Chris (and then re-listening while I edited), I spent the remainder of the day feeling energized. For lack of a less cheesy expression, I felt like I could really make a difference, like I could take action and that action would matter on a scale bigger than myself. His unique gift of mobilizing people is woven throughout the entire episode and you’re about to be one of them.
If you are someone who is interested in learning more about practical ways to engage with the child welfare crisis, this is a great starting place for you. Also, if you are a person who needs to be reminded of the power of community and the work of God in our world, let Chris encourage you and maybe get you taking steps to join the movement.
Step one, listen. Step two, share this with a friend. Step three, does your church know about 111 Project?
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wehavethishope.substack.com/subscribe
Today I am so happy to share with you the story of Jamie O’Donoghue. Jamie is someone who I am grateful to know. He's also someone who I asked to join me on the show without knowing much of their story. In fact, I think I totally surprised him when I asked if he’d be willing to do an episode, but I am so grateful he said yes. Jamie is intentional with his words and thoughtful about his faith. You’ll hear him share about his life as a young boy in Ireland on his grandparents dairy farm, how loss and upheaval in his family as an adolescent left him wandering and wondering, and how the truth of the Gospel has impacted his life.. He’ll tell us not just what God has done, but what He’s continuing to do over years of healing.
Jamie and his wife Grace live in Tulsa, OK with their son Killian. And don’t worry, I definitely asked him how a young boy from Ireland ended up married to a lovely Tulsa girl. It’s a great story all on its own.
As you listen, would you think about someone else who might be encouraged by Jamie’s story? Would you send them a link to the episode? I get the best feedback from listeners who heard one interview that somehow resonated with them at just the right time. These stories matter and God is using them in beautiful and surprising ways.
Tune in next week for a few favorites from the archives & an update about the rest of the We Have This Hope season!
We Have This Hope is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wehavethishope.substack.com/subscribe
Today’s episode is such a gift. I’m sharing my conversation with author —you may know her from some of her beautiful writing over the years on her blog, from Instagram, or even right here on Substack.
In this episode we talk about her upcoming book Even If He Doesn’t - What We Believe About God When Life Doesn’t Make Sense. Kristen shares about doubt and belief, hope and suffering, beauty and heartache all through the lens of her story. You’ll hear her mention some heavy topics—shame-based church culture, traumatic pregnancy, to name a few—with authenticity and resiliency, the kind that reminds us that God is with us right now and in all things.
Kristen lives in Massachusetts with her husband, Zach, and their five children. You can find her HERE with some high quality reels that are a mix of deep reflections and Taylor Swift references. Who doesn’t love that? Or make your way HERE to preorder her book that comes out February 20th. I’ve already read it and I couldn’t put it down. Truly, I wandered the house carrying it in my hand while I did my regular chores.
This story is for everyone, but maybe you have someone in your life that you think would really resonate with this episode? If so, would you take a minute to share with them now?
And before you go, today is Ash Wednesday and the start of the season of Lent. Have you checked out any of the excellent resources available to us during this season? A great place to start is the book Sacred Seasons by Danielle Hitchen of Catechesis Books. If you’re new (or old) to the rhythms of the historic church calendar, this book offers simple and insightful explanations. It’s really the perfect blend of scriptural and historical context—with recipes and a pretty cover so basically you need it in your life.
I hope you’ll enjoy this week’s episode and live eyes-wide-open as you look for ways to remember & tell the work of God in your own life!
Emily
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wehavethishope.substack.com/subscribe
Today’s episode is with my friend Andrea Bubert. Even after saying yes to joining me on the podcast, Andrea gave me the opportunity to change my mind. “If you’re sure…” she said when I told her I was certain.
If you’ve ever wondered if your story was ordinary, this episode is for you. If telling your story looks more like reviewing years of faithfulness and less like “I once was blind and now I see” this episode is also for you. Andrea shares about her life with God over 4 decades in seasons of abundance and in seasons of unmet expectations. She talks about what it’s like to faithfully live the life you have and challenges us to ask really beautiful questions like “what does it look like to honor God in the season that I’m in?” Her story is not ordinary, it’s lovely and full of the hard-earned wisdom that comes from a life of obedience to God. I’m certain you’ll be encouraged!
We Have This Hope is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wehavethishope.substack.com/subscribe
You know when you see someone all the time, bump into them often and think you'd like to be friends, but you don't really know their story? That is today's conversation for me.
Today I'm sharing my conversation with my new friend Kasey Rutherford, a fellow mom of 3 who lives down the street and sits near me at church. But most importantly, she's a woman whose life has been profoundly changed by Jesus.
Kasey shares about hearing the Gospel in college for the first time and God's good work in her that followed. Her story is about healing from patterns of family dysfunction and God rebuilding her life in seasons of singleness, marriage, and motherhood. Kasey is full of wisdom, the hard-earned really good kind, and I know you'll be encouraged as you listen!
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wehavethishope.substack.com/subscribe
I can't believe it's been over a year of We Have This Hope. Just typing those words (or saying them in a microphone) is stirring up memories of Emily circa 2021 day-dreaming and scheming, eventually planning and preparing. If you’ve been with me from the beginning, THANK YOU!
Today’s episode is simple. I’m sharing the vision for WHTH in 2024 and some exciting updates that I’ll be rolling out later this month. The bonus content is some small background clips of my kids yelling “Daaaaaaaad!” and my dog barking. Maybe treat it like a game of Where’s Waldo but in podcast form? You’re welcome for the professionalism.
If you’re reading this right now and want the updates right away, here’s the scoop:
We Have This Hope now lives on Substack - an awesome platform where you can subscribe for free to get the podcast as well as new written content from me.
I’ll be posting content every week this year. The first interview of the year is launching on Wednesday, January 17th and my first monthly newsletter So I Won’t Forget comes out the following week.
You can also now support We Have This Hope by upgrading to a paid subscription on Substack. You’ll support the ongoing collection of stories and get access to Bible Studies and other content.
Either way, be sure to subscribe on Substack to get each new episode or newsletter.
We have an incredible line-up of people remembering the work of God in their lives and I can’t wait to share their stories with you this year!
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wehavethishope.substack.com/subscribe
We're wrapping up 2023 and Season 2 of We Have This Hope with a really sweet episode for you! I don't take this lightly when I say today's guest is by far the cutest one we've ever had. My 5 year old son Avett has been asking to be on the show for months and he's the perfect bookend to an incredible year of interviewing wise and lovely people. I'm also sharing a Prayer for Remembering the Past Year and I hope it will bless you. Thanks for tuning and we'll be back next year with more episodes and interviews!
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wehavethishope.substack.com/subscribe
Most of us don’t work at church. Or at least we don’t call our local church the place we get paid to show up every day and that was really never Amy’s plan. Today you get to meet someone who is equal parts wise and funny, someone I dearly love, someone who has served the local church for nearly 15 years. My friend Amy moved to Texas after college to teach elementary school when God called her back to her hometown to serve at the church where she grew up. In today’s episode, she’s remembering the good and long work of loving your church, your community, and the beautiful people we meet along the way. Make sure you don’t miss “The Butterfly Story” toward the end!
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wehavethishope.substack.com/subscribe
“Do I actually believe the resurrection is true? If it’s not, all is lost. If it is, that changes everything…” - Sarah J. Hauser
Friends, you need to meet Sarah J. Hauser. I stayed up late editing her episode because I just couldn’t find a place I wanted to stop. My conversation with Sarah had me holding back tears, laughing, shaking my head in solidarity, and thanking God for her story.
Sarah lives with her husband and four kids (including twins!) in the suburbs of Chicago. She writes and speaks about mental health, motherhood, grief, and creativity. Her work has been featured in several favorites including Coffee & Crumbs, Risen Motherhood, & The Gospel Coalition. She’s the author of All Who Are Weary: Finding True Rest by Letting Go of the Burdens You Were Never Meant to Carry.
In today’s Remembering Interview, Sarah shares specifically about a season of depression after having kids and the grief she experienced after losing her mom to cancer. Her hope in the Resurrection hasn’t come without wrestling. If you’re wondering and weary, this episode will encourage you!
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wehavethishope.substack.com/subscribe
“Maybe this is an image of God some people find hard to bow before or praise. But for me, a God who grieves is a God I am more willing to trust…” - Amanda Held Opelt, Holy Unhappiness: God, Goodness, & the Myth of the Blessed Life
Friends, I can't wait to get this episode to your ears. Last week I sat down with Amanda Held Opelt, author of Holy Unhappiness: God, Goodness, & the Myth of the Blessed Life and I haven't stopped thinking about our conversation. Amanda speaks beautifully about her life with God, the disillusionment she experienced when pain and suffering didn't go as she expected, and how a God who grieves is a God she just can't walk away from. If you've ever wrestled with emotions that don't match expectations, this is an episode for you. If you've walked through grief (we talk about infertility and sibling loss specifically), this is an episode for you. If you are clinging to Hope and trying your best to be human, this is an episode for you. Tune in and be encouraged!
Amanda Held Opelt is an author, speaker, and songwriter. She writes about faith, grief, and creativity, and believes in the power of community, ritual, shared worship, and storytelling to heal even our deepest wounds. Amanda has spent 15 years serving in the non-profit and humanitarian aid sectors, and has written for Christianity Today, Premier Christianity, and 100 Days in Appalachia. She lives in the mountains of Boone, North Carolina, with her husband and two young daughters.
Amanda's Books:
Holy Unhappiness: God, Goodness & the Myth of the Blessed Life
A Hole in the World: Finding Hope in Rituals of Grief and Healing
Amanda's Podcast:
Holy Unhappiness with Amanda Held Opelt
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wehavethishope.substack.com/subscribe
We're launching Season 2 with an interview that I am truly so delighted to be sharing. A few years ago I stumbled upon the IG account Liturgies for Parents and was captivated by how these prayers were giving words to my actual life as a mom with three young kids. As it turns out the author of these beautiful words is a real person and she's LOVELY. Today, we get the gift of hearing Kayla Craig remember the story of her own family coming together through birth and adoption and how her latest work Every Season Sacred was born out of her own parenting journey.
Kayla is a former journalist who brings deep curiosity and care to her writing. She's the author of Every Season Sacred and To Light Their Way. With a poetic, prophetic voice, she created the popular Liturgies for Parents Instagram account, which Christianity Today named an "essential parenting resource." She also hosts the Liturgies for Parents podcast. Kayla's nuanced and accessible reflections, essays, and prayers are featured in various books, devotionals, and Bible studies. Kayla lives in a 115-year-old former convent in her Iowa hometown, where she hopes to create spaces of welcome alongside her four children, two dogs, and pastor-husband, Jonny.
Every Season Sacred
To Light Their Way
Liturgies for Parents on IG
Kayla on IG
Kayla on Twitter
Kayla’s website
Kayla’s Substack
This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wehavethishope.substack.com/subscribe
This season we're exploring the SPACES we occupy, the actual physical spaces where God plants us and meets with us. Each week we'll focus on one particular space, digging into where its found in Scripture and hearing stories from YOU about how you've encountered God in the spaces you occupy. Here's a little preview of the SPACES to come this Fall....
Have you encountered God in one of these spaces? How has God used one of these spaces to influence your story? I'd love to include your response on an episode. Send me a 1-2 minute voice memo at wehavethishopepodcast@gmail.com. See you next week for Season 2 of We Have This Hope!
We’ve made it to the end of our Summer Morning Series studying the book of James and I can’t believe it! James ends his letter the way he started: with a call to persevere…a wildly ironic message for those of us holding our breath this Summer waiting for this strange season to end. Here’s the takeaway: we can’t do it alone, Church. Hope you enjoy and feel encouraged!
We're almost DONE with our study on James!
Today's episode includes some solid reminders and some solid OT hyperlinks. James is reminding us of those things that have always been true, hidden in some Old Testament personification and other literary devices whose names no one actually remembers. It's not too late to catch up and it's the perfect time to hang on as we daydream about October weather.
Want to know how to be wise? James will tell you what to do and what not to do. It's why we love him.
In today's episode we look at how James echos the wisdom of Proverbs and the wisdom of his contemporaries Paul/Peter when he talks about what it looks like to live wisely in a world where there's fake wisdom all around. Want the short version? It's the way you live, rather than the way you talk. Want the "not so short, but also not longer than a walk around the block" version? Tune in now wherever you get your podcasts.
Most of us can say that our stories are shaped by their intersections with grief and hope. Not as many of us can say that our everyday professional lives do, but for today's guest that's exactly the case. Dr. Ryan Huey is a medical oncologist at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. Ryan shares his story of unexpected grief and how God used this season of his life to influence his care for patients and families as they walk through cancer. We've been friends for nearly 30 years and I've had a front row seat to God's work in his life...spoiler alert: it's good, good work. I can't wait for you to listen!
This week we're talking about how to set our lives on fire. JK, but also not JK.
What we post, what we repost, what we text, what we voice memo, yell, whisper, sing and say all have the power and potential to set our lives on fire. Shouldn’t we handle this with greater care? This is episode 5 of 8 in our Summer Morning Series studying the book of James. I hope you'll tune in and enjoy!
"The seamless unity of believing and doing..."
In today's episode James gets straight to the point and yet still somehow leaves us with much to unpack. Do our actions reveal what we truly believe? James says yes. Does that sometimes feel like a gut punch? I say also yes. Join me this week in thinking deeply about our actions and our beliefs. It's not easy work, but James says it's the only way for our faith to be truly alive. Also, be blessed by the adorable voice reading scripture and listen all the way to the end for her first ever book recommendation.
In today’s episode, wife and mom of 3, Amanda Brown remembers her last year of discovering a tumor in her brain, followed by surgery, a cancer diagnosis, recovery and remission. This story is one I haven’t stopped thinking about since recording. Not just because the story itself is compelling, but because of how Amanda tells it.
Amanda shares about finding purpose in our pain, the beauty in receiving care and learning how to give it well, and how God’s given her enough for each day. I cried when she told the story and I cried when I edited the story. God’s work in Amanda’s life is good and it’s not finished yet. Listen anywhere you get your podcasts - LINK IN STORIES/COMMENTS
Plus, you can find more of Amanda’s story at @thebrowntribeof5 where she shares her everyday life + reflections on what it looks like to follow Jesus in our messy, painful, and beautiful lives.
There are a million ways we show favoritism, but it's slowly making us miserable. It's putting us in a job we were never meant to fill and frankly one we're terrible at pulling off. In today's episode, James reminds us to set down our gavel and change our mantra because mercy triumphs over judgment.
"The crazy thing about grief is when you're experiencing one area of grief, it really tends to open a floodgate in our brains to the other areas of grief in our life that we've never dealt with..."
On today's episode my friend Lauren King shares how God met her in grief and offered healing, empathy and rest. If you've ever struggled to sit in your own sadness or filled your life so full that you can't see yourself quite clearly, Lauren's words will challenge you and equip you. Her new book Sabbath Guide is available RIGHT NOW. This tool will help you build a more intentional Sabbath practice into your weekly rhythms. Friends, don't miss this resource and beautiful story behind it. Link to Sabbath Guide & Episode 24 in stories/comments!
A practical advice sandwich from James today on being quick to listen and caring for the vulnerable. In the middle, we get metaphors about mirrors (cue the Justin Timberlake music) and planted words. I hope you'll join me as we work through our 3 questions and ask of the text: what does it say? why did it matter? why does it still matter? Happy Monday!
Did James seriously ask us to consider it joy when we're suffering? Well.....probably. But before you get frustrated like I did, let's think about what he's really asking of us. James 1:1-18 serves as a great introduction to this letter from Jesus's brother. It also packs a punch. Join me as we consider the 3 questions while working through the text: What does it say? Why did it matter? Why does it still matter?
Need to change your rhythms up this Summer? Or are your rhythms changing whether you like it or not? Join me for our Summer Morning Series on James - an 8 episode deep dive into the book that some have called the Proverbs of the New Testament. This episode will break down what I'm doing, invite you to join me, and a quick look at WHO IS JAMES? I bet you'll learn something you didn't know, I definitely did!
Ever try to turn your own dream into reality and find that God was writing the same story but better? Today’s Remembering Interview with my friend Cheryl Wood will remind you that God can use us in delightfully surprising ways. Cheryl is a certified birth & postpartum doula living in Tulsa, Oklahoma and in 2021 her dream of becoming a doula to refugee women came to reality in the most unexpected ways. Tune in for the encouragement we all need as she REMEMBERS the work of God in her beautiful story! LINK IN STORIES/COMMENTS
What did you grow up hearing about Proverbs 31? Particularly if you're a woman who grew up near the church in the 90s? Join me as we unpack the context of this super familiar passage of scripture. Spoiler alert: I don't think it's actually about a woman at all.
This episode is a BONUS episode in our series studying Proverbs. Feel free to jump all the way back to Episode 4 for a more in depth look at the entire book. If you want to go deeper, be sure to check out the show notes for quick links to some resources.
Anyone else feel like worship songs about being hungry were the anthem of their early 2000s youth group experience? No, just me? This week we're talking about how the Bible uses the experience of hunger to teach us. It started with the grumbling Israelites and ends with the grumbling you and me. Grab a snack :) and tune in!
We're back with Weekly Words and we're talking about REST. Are you tired? Me too. This episode we'll look at several uses of the word in the Hebrew and end with what Jesus had to say about it. Does Biblical rest actually mean I'm not tired anymore? How do I know when I'm rested? Oh and the most elusive question of all...how do I get it? Hope this prompts your thinking, praying, and studying this week!
Taking a pause from our Weekly Words series to drop this beautiful story into your feed. Today’s interview is with Todd Craig, a certified leadership coach and pastor, a Tulsa native turned jeep-driving Floridian.
Todd chats with us about a theology of remembering and how over the last 20 years God has taken him on a journey from striving to rest. If you’re someone who is always looking to the future, always thinking about potential, always striving, this might be what you need to hear to slow down and REMEMBER that in Christ you are enough. Enjoy!
Continuing our Weekly Words series for Lent 2023 talking about everyone's least favorite word: Obedience. What does it actually mean? And what am I supposed to obey? All good questions that my children can be asking...just kidding...sort of...all good questions that WE can ask. I hope you'll spend time investigating this word in Scripture and thinking about it as you go about your day. Enjoy!
This week marks the start of Lent 2023. Whether you are adding new rhythms with intentionality, giving up chocolate because that's all you know to do, or totally forgot that Ash Wednesday is this week, this episode is for you. I've been each of those women. This year I'm trying to go slow, but on purpose. If you need "slow, but on purpose" too, would you join me for Weekly Words - a series of short episodes where we'll examine a new word each week of Lent. This week's word: Repentance. What is it? What does Scripture say about it? Then two questions & a prayer for your week ahead. I hope you'll join me!
Today’s Remembering Interview was a joy to record for many reasons. Frank Lester shares his story of following God’s call to work in Tanzania, Africa. If you’ve ever wondered if God can use your ordinary life to do extraordinary things, this is the episode for you. The best part of this episode? Frank Lester is my Dad. He describes himself as a man of few words, but I describe him as a man of faithfulness and the absolute best Dad in the world. Enjoy!
Today is the last episode in our study of Proverbs and it's actually my favorite. If you haven't thought about literary devices since your 10th grade English class, this episode will bring all that back to mind. If you dreaded English class, don't let that keep you from listening. I promise you'll be delighted to see the ways scripture is all woven together as one cohesive story. Also, this is an episode about Proverbs & women, but we don't even touch Proverbs 31. Curious how we do that? Listen & enjoy!
Happy New Year! In today's episode we're looking at what Proverbs has to say about our words. Spoiler alert: it's a lot. We'll chat about how words influence the life of Solomon and what Jesus had to say about words to the Pharisees. This episode was really rich for me in my own study time so I hope you'll take some time to dig in the WORD on your own this week. Enjoy!
Today's remembering interview wraps up our series "Your First Venture" with the story of a church. Jon Odom is the pastor of Cornerstone Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Jon shares his journey of God calling him to church-planting, the challenges of it and ultimately the beauty of following God with a spirit of adventure. Jon is an incredible storyteller, he's funny and he's one of our best friends. Tune in and be encouraged!
This week we're changing pace and tackling Proverbs theme by theme rather than chapter by chapter. Grab your colored pencils and join me as we dive into everyone's favorite uncomfortable topic: wealth. The beauty of Proverbs and the story of Solomon is that it's BBNO (basic, but not obvious). We can read it, think about it, and learn from it. I hope you'll tune in to do just that!
Today's interview is with the founder and creative director of Straight A Style, Amy Ann Arnold. She also happens to be my very best friend. I can't wait for you to hear her tell the story of how God has moved in her life as she has launched and grown this incredible business. Straight A Style started by a totally different name with totally different focus. It's grown into a successful fashion blog that reaches an average of just under 2 million people each year. Be encouraged as you listen and, of course, hope over to the blog or follow her on social media for more!
Blog: Straight A Style
IG: @straightastyle
Pinterest: @straightastyle
Facebook: Straight A Style
Today we'll examine Proverbs 4 and the beautiful imagery around walking in the Way of wisdom. This is the perfect episode to listen to while on crisp morning walk. You'll know what I mean when get there. Thanks for tuning in!
Today I’ll share some connecting thoughts on Proverbs 3:1-10 and 1 Kings 3:16-38. What do we do when the way of Wisdom feels extreme?
This episode digs into Proverbs 2:1-10 and 1 Kings 4:29-34. Why does a gift take a little effort to unpack? Who is the source of the gift and are they credible?
Today we kick off our study of Proverbs by looking at Proverbs 1:2-7 and 1 Kings 3:4-12. What is “chokmah” and how do we get it? Who is Solomon and why does his story matter? All questions we’ll answer together in this introduction to the beautiful book of Proverbs.
The very first Remembering Interview with my own darling husband, Dustin. He shares about his first entrepreneurial venture, what God did in his story when that ultimately ended, & what he is still remembering about God’s grace today. Enjoy the episode & a little background noise courtesy of our dog Lucy who snoozed her way through the entire recording!
What is the art of remembering and why build a podcast around it? This episode revisits the message that ultimately led to this podcast.
Welcome to WHTH! Today I’m introducing myself & chatting about the how and why behind this podcast. Is there a simpler way to start?
This is a recap of Lesson Four from our study covering Ezra Nehemiah. We’ll explore the first 6 chapters of Nehemiah. What are you building for the Kingdom of God?
This is a recap of Lesson Three from our study of Ezra Nehemiah. We finally meet Ezra and we unpack the strange abrupt ending to this first book. Enjoy!
This is a recap of Lesson Two from our study covering Ezra Nehemiah. It covers the first 3 chapters of Ezra and a portion from everyone’s favorite book Haggai. Thanks for listening!
A rapid-fire overview of the Old Testament that will lead us to the story of Ezra & Nehemiah. Why are these books called post-exilic? This episode will answer that question for us.
This is a recap of Lesson One from our study of Ezra Nehemiah. It covers my super simple approach to scripture using 3 questions, plus an application of them through Jeremiah 29.