Be Still Be Free: Recent Episodes

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We're wrapping up this short series of behind-the-scenes glimpses into what we've been up to and testimonies to share a little of how it's been going in our quiet times, and what we've been experiencing of God. We hope you enjoy, and will be back soon with a new exciting series!

Thanks as always for listening! Make sure to rate and review us, as it helps more women find our podcast. And be sure to follow us on Instagram at Be Still Be Free.

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A verse that best describes the testimony Monica shares in this week's episode is this:

"Oh, Lord God, answer my prayers! I need to see your tender kindness, your grace, your compassion, and your constant love. Just let me see your face, and turn your heart toward me. Come running quickly to your servant. In this deep distress, come and answer my prayer." (Psalm 69:16, Passion Translation)

God showed up in Monica's life in exactly this way--with tender kindness, grace, compassion and love --when she didn't know she was asking Him to...and especially when she didn't realize she was needing Him to.

What a good God.

Listen in this week and be encouraged as Monica shares her journey from being raised in church, knowing God as a young child, turning and rebelling, then turning back and repenting.

Thanks as always for listening! Make sure to rate and review us, as it helps more women find our podcast. And be sure to follow us on Instagram at Be Still Be Free.

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It's testimony time! This week we get to hear Tracy's story, and her incredible journey with Jesus. Thank you Lord for what you've done in her life!

"I kept my testimony hidden. I was embarrassed and ashamed of my past. I wanted so badly to have grown up in a Christian home and to have loved Jesus in my childhood, but that was far from my truth. I blamed God for my abuse and pain. In my youth I would cry out every night asking God to help me and when He didn’t answer, I would take that same request and go to the devil. I just wanted to feel better. I was messed up emotionally, physically and spiritually, and by age 14, I found myself depressed, gothic and no longer wanting to live. BUT Jesus rescued me. Many would tell you that I am RADICAL FOR JESUS. It is true. I am alive because of Christ and every good thing in my life has come from Him. So if you have a few minutes and want to hear a powerful testimony of overcoming the enemy - take a listen to my story!

Today, I openly declare God’s goodness in my life. I went from death to life. The enemy has been defeated and God reigns over all. No matter where you are today precious one, please know that God longs to also be good, kind, faithful, and merciful to you also.

'They conquered him {the enemy} completely through the blood of the Lamb and the powerful word of their testimony. They triumphed because they did not love and cling to their own lives, even when faced with death.' - Revelation 12:11"

We would love to hear your testimonies as well! Email us yours at monica@bestillbefree.com, or send us a DM on Instagram. Let's rejoice together!

Thanks as always for listening! Make sure to rate and review us, as it helps more women find our podcast. And be sure to follow us on Instagram at Be Still Be Free.

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Hi friends! We're back from a long and eventful summer, and are looking forward to spending the next several weeks with you. We're kicking off fall with a post-summer catch-up...just a long conversation of what we've been up to, how summer went, what's new in our worlds, and more. It feels so good to be back!

Here are the links to the things we mentioned in this week's episode:

1. Doing Life with Your Adult Children: Keep Your Mouth Shut and the Welcome Mat Out
2. Sara speaking at Moms with Swords

We're looking forward to being with you again next week as Tracy shares her testimony!

Thanks as always for listening! Make sure to rate and review us, as it helps more women find our podcast. And be sure to follow us on Instagram at Be Still Be Free.

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Friends, it's the last episode of this series, can you believe it?? Hopefully you are leaving this series feeling extremely empowered, equipped, and ready to fight spiritual warfare when it rises up against you, your loved ones, and your home. This last week is the conclusion of our discussion about spiritual warfare in the home, and Sara brings us incredibly practical steps on how to fight and win the battle!

Learn more about Sara's coaching at her website, www.SaraGoede.com.

THIS WEEK'S VERSES:

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy." (John 10:10)

"And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brothers is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night." (Rev 12:10)

"The Lord said to Satan, 'From where have you come?' Satan answered the Lord and said, 'From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.'” (Job 1:7)

"And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angle of light. Therefore it is not a great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works." (2 Cor 11:14-15)

“For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks…they became fools…they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator." (Romans 1)

"Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, 'Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?'” (Gen 3:1)

"You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:48)

PRACTICAL APPLICATION:

Use the Armor of God throughout your entire home!

• The Helmet of Salvation:
  • The helmet made them stand out. Families of Christian faith should stand out.
  • Does yours?
• Beast Plate of Righteousness:
  • Allows us to be quick to resist the things of earth.
  • What are you using to protect your family form this world?
• Belt of Truth:
  • Hold everything together. If the family is not armored with the truth, it will fall apart.
  • Are you armored?
• Sword of the Spirit:
  • If your family does not know the Word, it will have no weapon.
  • What sword is your family using?
• Shield of Faith:
  • Faith is produced by hearing the Word the God.
  • What is your family hearing?
• Shoes of Peace:
  • Peace give us sure footing.
  • What shoes are your family wearing?

Thanks for listening, and make sure to follow us on Instagram to stay up to date on latest news from Be Still Be Free!

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We have two weeks left in this series, and we are absolutely ecstatic that Sara is back leading us with spiritual warfare in the home--what it looks like, how to identify it, and how to fight it!

Learn more about Sara's coaching at her website, www.SaraGoede.com.

THIS WEEK'S VERSES:
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy." (John 10:10)

"And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brothers is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night." (Rev 12:10)

"The Lord said to Satan, 'From where have you come?' Satan answered the Lord and said, 'From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.'” (Job 1:7)

"And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angle of light. Therefore it is not a great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works." (2 Cor 11:14-15)

“For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks…they became fools…they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator." (Romans 1)

"Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, 'Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden?'” (Gen 3:1)

"You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:48)

PRACTICAL APPLICATION:

1. Call it what it is: Be willing to be bold and truthful.
2. Don’t take it personal, take it to God.
3. Know your values.
4. Have a strong stream of faith nurturing constantly in your family.
5. Connect regularly.
6. Ask great questions.
7. Be forgiving.
8. Renew your Mind (Counseling, coaching, mentoring, connecting).
9. PRAY!
10. Put on the Armor of God.

Thanks for listening, and make sure to follow us on Instagram to stay up to date on latest news from Be Still Be Free!

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It's time for part 2 of how to use your authority during spiritual warfare, and this one is a deep dive into the Armor of God--what it is and how to use it effectively! Again, you're gonna want notepaper and a pencil for this one!

THIS WEEK'S VERSES:

"Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:13-17)

"God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13)

"For the Word (spoken word) that God speaks is alive and full of power {making it active, operative, energizing and effective}; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breathe of life (soul) and {the immortal} spirit, and of joints and marrow {of the deepest parts of our nature}, exposing and shifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)

“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11)

"The Spirit alone gives life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life." (John 6:63)

“After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward." (Genesis 15:1)

PRACTICAL APPLICATION:
Put on the full armor of God!

1. Helmet of Salvation: Protected head, cheeks and jaw, heavy and lined with sponge to soften its weight. Nothing could pierce it.
2. Breastplate of Righteousness: The breastplate refers to the righteousness purchased by Jesus at the cross. At salvation a breastplate is issued to each sinner.
3. Belt of Truth: Holds everything together. The belt of truth is declaring WHO God is, while the breastplate declares who you are IN Christ.
4. Sword of the Spirit: The Sword is the Word of God and The Spoken word of God is so sharp it cuts through our questions, intellect and emotions.
5. Shield of Faith: It covered the entire soldier from head to toe. A soldier would care for the shield by saturating it with oil, just as we need the daily oil of God’s Word to keep our faith strong and active.
6. Shoes of Peace: These shoes have daggers on the front, back, sides and underneath to do vital damage to the enemy.
7. Prayer: Prayer is more than a request, but a place of surrender, consecration and thanksgiving.

Thanks for listening, and make sure to follow us on Instagram to stay up to date on latest news from Be Still Be Free!

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We've established what spiritual warfare is, and we've exposed all the blatant and sneaky ways we experience it. Now, it's time to fight it! This week, Tracy equips us with all the knowledge we need to know how to fight from victory when facing spiritual warfare. This is part 1, so make sure to take great notes and tune in for part 2 next week!

THIS WEEK'S VERSES:

“All authority (dunimus power) in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matthew 28:16-18)

“Go therefore (exousia power) and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

“Jesus now called the twelve (disciples) and gave them authority (exousia) power to deal with all the demons and cure diseases. He commissioned them to preach the news of God’s kingdom and heal the sick. The apostles departed and went into the villages with the wonderful news of God’s kingdom, and they healed diseases wherever they went.” (Luke 9:1-6)

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12)

“When He (JESUS) had disarmed the rulers and authorities [those supernatural forces of evil operating against us], He made a public example of them [exhibiting them as captives in His triumphal procession], having triumphed over them through [i]the cross.” (Colossians 2:15)

“Because she loves me, says the Lord, I will rescue her: I will protect her for she acknowledges my name. She will call upon me, and I will answer her: I will be with her and trouble, I will deliver her and honor her. With LONG LIFE I will SATISFY her and SHOW her MY SALVATION.” (Psalm 91: 14-16)

“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” (Hebrews 4:12)

PRACTICAL APPLICATION:

Steps to overcoming warfare:

1. See the warfare.
2. Put on the armor and resist it!
3. Declare God’s Word.
4. Wait expectantly for victory.
5. Repeat.

How do we protecting our minds in everyday warfare?

1. Read God’s Word
2. Take account: What am I reading? Watching? Listening to? Who am I hanging out with? In Who or what am I putting your hope in?
3. When a lies come (and they will): Utilize the 5 steps of Spiritual Warfare.
4. Do not let go of HOPE.

Thanks for listening, and make sure to follow us on Instagram to stay up to date on latest news from Be Still Be Free!

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Monica leads us this week on sneaky ways we experience spiritual warfare that we may not recognize as warfare, as well as things that may not be warfare at all! Listen in as we funnel down practically what warfare may look like to us as women on a day-to-day basis, and ways to combat it.

THIS WEEK'S VERSES:

“A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect—life in its fullness until you overflow!" (John 10:10)

“As the most dangerous winds enter at little openings, so the devil never enters more dangerously than by little unobserved incidents, which seem to be nothing, yet insensibly open the heart to great temptations.” (John Wesley)

“Therefore I was left alone and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me, and my countenance grew deathly pale, and I retained no strength.” (Daniel 10:8)

“I tell you this timeless truth; The person who follows me in faith, believing in me, will do the same mighty miracles that I do—even greater miracles than these because I go to be with my Father!” (John 14:12)

PRACTICAL APPLICATION:

1. Know what you’re up against and what you’re doing.
   1. Satan attacks with “fiery arrows.”
   2. Resist--get in position, and set your feet to fight
2. Have the right perspective and understand who you're fighting.
   1. David Guzik says in a commentary about Job, “The fact that Satan came among them shows that Satan is himself an angelic being, and in no way equal to God. We often—to Satan’s great delight—inflate his status and importance, thinking of him as the opposite of God, as if God were light and Satan were darkness; as if God were hot and Satan were cold. Satan wishes he was the opposite of God, but God wants us to know that Satan is a mere creature and is in no way the opposite of God. If Satan has an opposite, it is not God the Father or God the Son; it would be a high-ranking angelic being such as Michael.”
3. Know Who’s on your side:
   1. John 14:12, “I tell you this timeless truth; The person who follows me in faith, believing in me, will do the same mighty miracles that I do—even greater miracles than these because I go to be with my Father!”
   2. 2 Cor 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
      1. Remember, ‘sufficient’ in Greek means, to be possessed of an unfailing strength.
      2. It’s enough because it’s so full of an unfailing strength that you don’t need anything else added to it.
4. Change what you think about.
   1. Philippians 4:8-9, “Finally, brothers and sisters, fill your minds with beauty and truth. Meditate on whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is good, whatever is virtuous and praiseworthy. Keep to the script: whatever you learned and received and heard and saw in me—do it—and the God of peace will walk with you.”

Thanks for listening, and make sure to follow us on Instagram to stay up to date on latest news from Be Still Be Free!

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We're so excited to be back for this spring session! We are diving into spiritual warfare over the next six weeks, so get your notepads ready, your headphones on and settle in!

In this first episode, Tracy leads into discussion on what even is spiritual warfare? She defines it, gives us scripture to help explain it, and gives us key ways to identify we might be facing it.

In the coming weeks, we'll look at sneaky ways we might be experiencing warfare without realizing it, how to use our authority in Christ to fight it, and ways we experience warfare in our homes. We hope these episodes leave you feeling encouraged, strengthened and ready to be victorious! Because here is the good news: We fight FROM victory, not FOR victory.

THIS WEEK'S VERSES:

“Submit yourselves then to God, Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you.” (John 4:7-8)

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walkers about, seeking whom he may devour; whom you are to RESIST, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same affections are accomplished in your brethren that in the world.” (1 Peter 5:9)

“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-6)

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

PRACTICAL APPLICATION--SCROLL DOWN FOR A PRINTABLE GRAPHIC!

Steps to overcoming Spiritual Warfare:

1. See it. Acknowledge it maybe warfare. If you are unsure, simply pray something like, “Jesus is if this is warfare, I ask that you rebuke it on my behalf. The Lord rebuke you satan. I welcome you Jesus, but I rebuke the enemy and his assignments.”
2. Resist it. RESISTANCE IS KEY! Put on the full armor of God & use the authority given to you through the resurrection power of Christ.
3. Declare scripture. Stand on the Word of God. His Word is true and will not return void, but accomplish that which it was sent to do.
4. Wait expectantly for victory. How we wait matters. Thank God daily for victory. “Tell God what you need, thank Him for his answers, then you will have supernatural peace as you trust in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7). Faith requires thanking in advance/waiting expectantly.
5. Repeat!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD OUR FREE OVERCOMING STEPS TO SPIRITUAL WARFARE PRINTABLE AND PHONE WALLPAPER!

Thanks for listening, and as always, make sure to follow us on Instagram!

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It's our last week on our Pauses series, and Tracy leads us through what it means to be in a Prophetic Pause...and y'all, it's so good! Make sure to listen in, and be subscribed to our episodes so you will automatically get the next series coming soon! Thanks for welcoming us back with such fervor--it's been a joy!

THIS WEEK'S VERSES:

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10)

"But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth [full and complete truth]. For He will not speak on His own initiative, but He will speak whatever He hears [from the Father—the message regarding the Son], and He will disclose to you what is to come [in the future]." (John 16:13)

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit." (Proverbs 18:21)

"Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.” (Isaiah 59:1)

“Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” (Romans 12:2)

“For we walk by faith and not by sight.” (2 corinthians 5:7)

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

"Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, 'Brother Saul, the Lord--Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.' And after taking some food, he regained his strength." (Acts 9:17)

"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:26)

"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6)

PRACTICAL APPLICATION:

1. Things are lining up. Gospel is being preached
2. Be ready
   1. "Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen." (Revelation 1:7)
   2. “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming." (Matthew 24:42)
   3. "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." (John 14:3)
   4. "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

Thanks for listening, and as always, make sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook!

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Monica leads conversation this week about Purposed Pauses, and how they are orchestrated by God’s hand for a very specific preparation and purpose. The most important characteristic of a purposed pause is that in it, God does a divine preparation in you for what He has planned next. Listen in to hear how you can find purpose in your pause!

THIS WEEK'S VERSES:

• Jonah 1-4
• Exodus + Numbers: Israelites and a 40-year pause in the desert
• "Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back to her own home." (Luke 1:56)
• "And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.'" (Matthew 1:19-21)
• "For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." (Matthew 12:40)
• "Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is a Sabbath day’s walk from Jerusalem. When they had entered, they went up into the upper room, where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers." (Acts 1:12-13

PRACTICAL APPLICATION:

If you’re in a purposed pause right now, the most important thing you can do is to stop bemoaning that you’re in one, and instead praise God for His divine orchestration of it.

• Tell your soul to stop being so downcast. Look for your own biblical examples of purposed pauses in the Bible (there are hundreds more), and use them to encourage yourself as you are paused.
• Look for the ways God is preparing you. Journal and make notes on all the ways you notice God preparing you for His next steps, even if you don’t know what they are.
  • Recognize the ways you’re growing and maturing.
  • Notice His hand and all the God winks right in the place you are.
  • Thank Him for never leaving or forsaking you, and loving you too much to keep you where you are.
• Speak truth. Memorize scripture and let the words that come out of your mouth about the situation be filled with the truth of God’s word. Acknowledge the ways God has brought you through before and thank Him that He’ll do it again.
• Worship Him and be glad! He is worthy of our praise and worship because of who He is, not what He can do for you. We forget this a lot, and wait to praise Him until He acts. He deserves our worship simply because He is God.

Thanks for listening, and as always, make sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook!

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This week, Tracy leads us in a discussion about Unwelcomed Pauses in life--the ones that are unplanned, unforeseen, unexpected, and inconvenient. How can we navigate these pauses well, and even thrive in them?

THIS WEEK'S VERSES:

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9)

“Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.” (Psalm 147:5)

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” (Psalm 116:15)

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." (Matthew 5:4)

"Praise be to the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of all compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." (2 Corinthians 1:3)

"In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

PRACTICAL APPLICATION:

1. Acknowledge the un-welcomed pause (see it for what it is).
2. Invite Jesus into it.
3. Grieve it.
4. Reach out to your community. Don’t do this alone.
5. Know that God will strengthen you to the end.

Thanks for listening, and as always, make sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook!

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In light of the week-long revival happening on the campus at Asbury College in Kentucky right now, Tracy felt led to share her testimony of miraculous healing on Asbury's campus back when she was a student there. Listen in to this incredible story of healing, as well as excitement about what God is doing today on Asbury's campus. And be encouraged that God is still in the business of miracles!

Tracy read Psalm 126 from the Passion Translation in this episode:

"It was like a dream come true 
when you freed us from our bondage and brought us back to Zion!
We laughed and laughed and overflowed with gladness.
We were left shouting for joy and singing your praise.
All the nations saw it and joined in, saying,
'The Lord has done great miracles for them!'
Yes, he did mighty miracles and we are overjoyed!
Now, Lord, do it again! Restore us to our former glory!
May streams of your refreshing flow over us
until our dry hearts are drenched again.
Those who sow their tears as seeds 
will reap a harvest with joyful shouts of glee.
They may weep as they go out carrying their seed to sow,
but they will return with joyful laughter and shouting with gladness
as they bring back armloads of blessing and a harvest overflowing!"

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Thank you so much for your excitement about our return to podcasting! It's been a thrill and we couldn't be more grateful.

This week we discussed Welcomed Pauses, and explored what they look like biblically and in reality. We hope you enjoy!

THIS WEEK'S VERSES:“The apostles then rendezvoused with Jesus and reported on all that they had done and taught. Jesus said, ‘Come off by yourselves; let’s take a break and get a little rest.’ For there was constant coming and going. They didn’t even have time to eat.” (Mark 6:30-31, The Message)

“Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28-30, The Message)

“Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving].” (James 1:19, Amplified)

“Soon a large crowd of people had gathered to listen and be healed of their sicknesses. As often as possible Jesus withdrew to out-of-the-way places for prayer.” (Luke 5:15-16, The Message)

“Because the Lord has appointed tomorrow as a day of seriousness and rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord when we must refrain from doing our daily tasks. So cook as much as you want to today, and keep what is left for tomorrow.” (Exodus 16:23, The Living Bible)

“He offers a resting place for me in his luxurious love. His tracks take me to an oasis of peace near the quiet brook of bliss. That’s where he restores and revives my life.” (Psalm 23:2-3, The Passion Translation)

“Pause a moment, Job, and listen; consider the wonderful things God does.” (Job 37:14, Good News Translation)

PRACTICAL APPLICATION:

1. First and foremost, if incorporating welcomed pauses is hard for you, ask yourself, “why do I struggle with this?”
2. Focus on Job 37:14. The Good News Translation says this, “Pause a moment, Job, and listen; consider the wonderful things God does.”
3. Cultivate more welcomed pauses in life.
   1. Make it short. Let go of the pressure to make it grand and deep.
   2. Plan. Scale back where necessary, schedule for a good time, prepare in advance.

Make sure to check out our past episodes with co-host Tracy Hurst, and to find out more about Tracy, visit her website.

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Take 2!
Well friends, after 227 episodes and a 2+ year break, we are thrilled to announce that Be Still Be Free is finally back!

In this week's episode, listen in as we catch up on what's been happening the past two years, and get a feel for what it's going to look like here as we move forward.

Thank you for being patient with us, for tuning in, and sharing us with your friends and family!

Make sure to visit our website, and follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

See you next week!

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Take 2!

Well friends, after 227 episodes and a 2+ year break, we are thrilled to announce that Be Still Be Free is finally back!

In this week's episode, listen in as we catch up on what's been happening the past two years, and get a feel for what it's going to look like here as we move forward.

Thank you for being patient with us, for tuning in, and sharing us with your friends and family!

Make sure to visit our website, and follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

See you next week!

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As a part of each mini-series in our Walking from Bondage to Breakthrough semester-long series, we've interviewed an "everyday woman" -- someone who is walking out their victory in that specific area, and willing to share how God is bringing them freedom. This month, as we wrap this series and season, we introduce you to Kim Wahl! Kim and her husband are healing from chronic illness while refusing to succumb to a complaining spirit, and choosing to find abundant joy! Kim has also provided a free downloadable for all our listeners -- be sure to visit our show notes to get your free PDF on how to change your thinking! Her passion and joy are infectious and you're going to love this final episode of 2020!

MEET KIM:
Kim Wahl is a Louisiana girl with a deep appreciation for fried okra and beignets. She is the wife of the sweetest man alive, mom to three great kids and Nina to three adorable little firecrackers. She is a teacher, speaker, ordained minister, and author who loves to communicate Biblical Truths that will enable you to get one step closer to the heart of Jesus. She and her husband Bill released their first book The Complaining Cure: How to Quit Grumbling, Stop Complaining, and Find Abundant Joy in November 2019. They co-lead The River Church on the shores of beautiful Lake Huron in Fort Gratiot, Michigan.

To find out more about Kim, or to purchase her book, The Complaining Cure, visit her website: www.onestepcloser.life.

Download Kim's free PDF on changing your thinking!

Find Kim on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onestepcloser.life

Follow Kim on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onestepcloserlife/

Wonder if you complain too much? Find out at www.complainingquiz.com!

For more resources, make sure to visit our website.

You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Join our Be Together Community on Facebook where we gather regularly to encourage, uplift and pray for one another. Click here to join!

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It's the last episode with Tracy in our Walking from Bondage to Breakthrough series, and she leaves us with her story of chronic illness. It's her testimony of how God has healed, and continues to heal, in a year-long battle with Vestibular Neuritis. You will love hearing her personal story as she describes what life is like for her right now, but moreso no matter how she feels, she determined long ago that wherever God leads her, she will preach Christ!

What Tracy is learning through her illness:

1. Self-reliance is a myth.
   1. “Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” (Matthew 6:33-34, MSG)
   2. “Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle, but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God’s action in them find that God’s Spirit is in them - living and breathing God! Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life.” (Romans 8:5-8, MSG)
2. How to Glance at her body, but GAZE at Jesus.
   1. "He was fully convinced that God was able to do whatever He promised.” (Romans 4:18-24)
3. How to wait expectantly for healing.
   1. I will daily ASK for healing.
   2. I will daily BELIEVE for healing.
   3. I will daily TRUST in God’s provisions of strength, grace and help in the midst of my chronic illness.

Visit Tracy's website: www.tracyhurst.com

Click here for past episodes with Tracy Hurst!

For more resources, make sure to visit our website.

You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Chronic illness is a reoccurring illness that persists over a period of a year and requires ongoing medical attention. More than 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experience chronic pain, and is significantly more prevalent in women than men. It may or not be obvious, and this statement may be true for you: "I may not look sick, but turn my body inside out and it would tell a different story." Tune in this week as Tracy Hurst, licensed professional counselor, shares how to embrace the uncertainty of chronic illness while holding tightly to the certainty of God!

BE IN THE WORD:
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)

"And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)

“The Lord is near the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)

“Heal me, Lord and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.” (Jeremiah 17:14)

"He will never leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18)

“A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.” (Matthew 8:2-3)

"One thing I am sure of -- my victory awaits me in heaven." (Revelation 21:4)

BE EDUCATED:

1. “Some people think God does not like to be troubled with our constant coming and asking. The way to trouble God is not to come at all.” (Dwight L. Moody)
2. Hope Heals: A True Story of Overwhelming Loss and an Overcoming Love by Katherine & Jay Wolf.
3. Suffer Strong: How to Survive Anything by Redefining Everything by Katherine & Jay Wolf.

BE DOERS, NOT JUST HEARERS:

1. Where can you move in faith toward your healing? What is your "apple pie?"
2. Honestly assess how many "spoons" you have for the day, and use them intentionally.
3. Remember God is not only able to heal, He is willing.

Visit Tracy's website: www.tracyhurst.com

Click here for past episodes with Tracy Hurst!

For more resources, make sure to visit our website.

You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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As a part of each mini-series in our Walking from Bondage to Breakthrough semester-long series, we're interviewing an "everyday woman" -- someone who is walking out their victory in that specific area, and willing to share how God is bringing them freedom. This month, we introduce you to Ashley Edwards, a dear friend of Sara's who shares practical and spiritual ways she's overcoming comparison and walking in acceptance! You're going to love her humor, her transparency and especially her real-ness. Enjoy!

ASHLEY'S BIO:
"When Monica and Sara asked me to write a bio, my first instinct was to read what other people wrote in theirs, so I would know what to include. So, as you can see, I don't struggle anymore with comparison AT ALL! I didn't look at other bio's in an effort to fight comparison, so that's a win! I am a follower of Jesus, a wife to Michael, and a mom to Zac (14) and Juliette (13). I was a teacher before my kids were born and am now a part-time substitute at their schools and a full-time mom. I love cheering on my husband, who is the Global Orphan Care Director at Lifeline Children's Services located in Birmingham, Alabama. He partners with believers around the world to support children who are vulnerable by teaching them life skills, job skills, and most importantly, the gospel. I love running, hiking, reading, singing, and spending time with my people (and also Dr. Pepper and Beth Moore)!"

For more resources, make sure to visit our website.

You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Join our Be Together Community on Facebook where we gather regularly to encourage, uplift and pray for one another. Click here to join!

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“We won’t be distracted by comparison if we are captivated with purpose.” These words by Bob Goff jump right to the heart of the matter, don't they? And yet, most women get stuck right there, in the midst of comparison and insecurity, which stunts us from living fully alive in purpose with God and for the kingdom. Tracy lights us up this week with incredible truth bombs on how to move from comparison to acceptance, starting with a life-changing phrase: THAT'S NONE OF MY BUSINESS! Honestly, this week will make you rejoice with freedom!

BE IN THE WORD:
“Let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t.” (Rom 12:5, MSG)

“'What’s going to happen to him?' Jesus replied, 'If I decide to let him live until I return What concern is that of yours? You must still keep following me!'” (Jn 21:22)

“Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody.” (Rom 12:15-16)

“Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else.” (Gal 6:4)

“Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation!” (Ps 139:19)

BE EDUCATED:

1. Quieting the Shout of Should by Chrystal Stine
2. Chasing Perfect: Peace and Purpose in the Exhausting Pursuit of Something Better by Alisha Illian
3. You Be You: Why Satisfaction and Success are Closer Thank You Think by Jamie Ivey

BE DOERS, NOT JUST HEARERS:

Follow Tracy's steps for moving from comparison to acceptance:

1. Declare, "THAT'S NONE OF MY BUSINESS!"
2. Welcome Humility
   1. Enter the room with the intent to be a blessing
   2. Celebrate and compliment the success of others
3. Accept you are wonderfully made in the image of God

Visit Tracy's website: www.tracyhurst.com. Click here for past episodes with Tracy Hurst!

For more resources, make sure to visit our website.

You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Join our Be Together Community on Facebook where we gather regularly to encourage, uplift and pray for one another. Click here to join!

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It's part 2 of our amazing discussion with licensed professional counselor Julie Davies on moving in freedom from self-loathing to love! This week, Julie shares some very practical steps we can take toward loving ourselves in a wholly biblical way and dwell in the resting place of God's love. Again...NOTES, y'all!

ABOUT JULIE DAVIES:
Julie readily shares how God brought hope, healing, and freedom to her soul after years of struggling with depression and anxiety. She has worked as a discipleship counselor, youth pastor, and professional speaker with New Hope for Teens Ministry for the past 14 years. She founded the New Hope Counseling Center in 2019, focusing on discipleship counseling for teen girls and women that helps them exchange lies for Truth and experience God’s Grace based on the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Find out more about Julie at www.juliedavies.com.

BE IN THE WORD:
Ephesians 1:4 (God chose you)
Romans 5:8 (God loves you)
Psalm 18:19 (God delights in you)
2 Cor. 5:17 (God makes you new in Jesus)
Ephesians 2:10 (God sees you as a masterpiece)
Romans 8:1-2 (God saved you)
Deuteronomy 31:8 (God will never abandon you)
Isaiah 61:1 & 3 (God turns your ashes into beauty)

BE EDUCATED:

1. Loving Yourself: Be Still Be Free podcast from the Be Loved + Live series
2. Slaying the Dragon of Self-Hatred
3. The Inner Voice of Love by Henry Nouwen
4. Abba's Child by Brennan Manning

BE DOERS, NOT JUST HEARERS:

1. Ask God to bring you revelation and show you any lies you might be still believing about Him or yourself. Ask Him to show you any root causes of self-loathing issues.
2. Replace lies with Truth exercise- Write down any lies you are believing about God or yourself and then replace each lie with a Truth from scripture. Meditate on these scriptures daily so you retrain your brain to believe and think about the Truth instead of the lie.
3. Do the Love Letter Journal Exercise. Write a love letter to yourself from God. Two suggestions for questions to ask Him are, “What do you think of me God?” and "How do you see me?"
4. Find a Professional Christian Counselor to help you discover any root causes or lies you might be believing and help you on your healing journey to breakthrough. (You can reach out to Julie at www.juliedavies.com!)

For more resources, make sure to visit our website.

You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Join our Be Together Community! It’s a private Facebook group where we gather regularly to encourage, uplift and pray for one another. Click here to join!

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It's time for our newest series as we walk from bondage to breakthrough, and this week we're moving from self-loathing to love! Friends, this week we're led in discussion by Julie Davies, a licensed professional counselor who knows this topic intimately and deeply. Julie leads us this week, part 1 of 2, and outlines the wrong beliefs and lies we so easily accept as truth. You're going to want to get your journal and take notes for this one!

ABOUT JULIE DAVIES:
Julie is a wife and mom who loves Jesus. She readily shares how God brought hope, healing, and freedom to her soul after years of struggling with depression and anxiety. Julie has worked as a discipleship counselor, youth pastor, and professional speaker with New Hope for Teens Ministry for the past 14 years. She founded the New Hope Counseling Center in 2019 in Atlanta, focusing on discipleship counseling for teen girls and women that helps them exchange lies for Truth and experience God’s Grace based on the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Find out more about Julie at www.juliedavies.com.

BE IN THE WORD:
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." (Romans 8:1)

"We love Him because He first loved us." (1 John 4:19)

"And to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:17-21)

"Be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Romans 12:2

"Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things which you do not know." (Jeremiah 33:3)

"So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind." (Philippians 4:8)

BE EDUCATED:

1. The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
2. Letting Love in: How God Renews Relationships By Crushing Your Inner Critic by Lindsay Morgan Snyder
3. God is Whispering to You: How you can hear God's Quiet Voice above the Noise by Christy Pierce
4. Shut Up: Silence the Negative Thoughts in your Head by Christy Pierce (teens & young adults)

BE DOERS, NOT JUST HEARERS:

1. What are some wrong beliefs and false views you have about yourself?
2. What is the truth of who God is and w

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As a part of each mini-series in our Walking from Bondage to Breakthrough semester-long series, we're interviewing everyday women who are walking out victory, and willing to share how God is bringing them freedom. This week, we introduce you to Angie Hohulin! Angie works in Counseling and Crisis response ministry full time, but her own journey through grief is deeply personal and filled with Grace, Love and Truth. Listen in as she shares the practical and spiritual ways the Lord is bringing her glory through her grief.

Angie Hohulin is originally from South Florida, but has called Atlanta home for the last 20 years.

She loves spending her free time with family & friends or working on any creative project especially writing or painting.

She has served in full time ministry for the last eight years focusing on Mentoring, Counseling, and Crisis Response ministries.

Her heart for those walking through grief grew from her own experiences with loss.

To reach the Buckhead Church Care and Counseling ministry, click here.

To find out more about Buckhead Church, click here.

Visit Tracy's website: www.tracyhurst.com

Click here for past episodes with Tracy Hurst!

For more resources, make sure to visit our website.

You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Join our Be Together Community! It’s a private Facebook group where we gather regularly to encourage, uplift and pray for one another. Click here to join!

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Most of what we've heard about regarding grief in modern culture is that there are 5 stages -- and that once we get to acceptance we've completed the grieving process. But what if there is more to grief than simply moving through a ladder of stages? What if there is glory in the grief? Tracy walks us through some incredibly powerful truths in this week's episode that you are NOT going to want to miss! Here's a teaser: "Glory is God's goodness in action in front of you. Glory is proclaiming the Name of Jesus even in the presence of your grief." Y'all! Make sure to listen and share with those who may need to hear this transformative word!

BE IN THE WORD:

“He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.” (Isaiah 53:3)

"Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. (Isaiah 53:4, KJV)

“But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.” (Psalm 3:3)
BE EDUCATED:

1. Grieving Like God (article from professor at Biola University)
2. Be Prayerful-Lament (past podcast episode)

BE DOERS, NOT JUST HEARERS:

1. Do you see yourself in any of the 5 stages of grief?
2. Maybe you need a hack to open the floodgates of emotion; watch a movie or listen to music that stirs your emotions to get the feelings flowing.
3. Make an appointment with grief. Schedule time for it and then put it back in a box on the shelf like Tracy talked about.
4. Like Moses, ask God to see His glory while you're grieving.
5. Find a grief counselor to help you navigate your journey.

Visit Tracy's website: www.tracyhurst.com

Click here for past episodes with Tracy Hurst!

For more resources, make sure to visit our website.

You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Join our Be Together Community! It’s a private Facebook group where we gather regularly to encourage, uplift and pray for one another. Click here to join!

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As a part of each mini-series in our Walking from Bondage to Breakthrough semester-long series, we're interviewing everyday women who are walking out victory, and willing to share how God is bringing them freedom. This month, we introduce you to Carol Aebersold! Carol is probably best known for Elf on the Shelf, but the journey to getting there is one filled with practical and spiritual ways the Lord brought her victory over depression and grief. Enjoy!

Carol Aebersold is co-founder of the Atlanta-based powerhouse, The Lumistella Company, a consumer products and entertainment company that brings the magic of Santa’s North Pole to life for children around the world. She co-authoredThe Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition and is co-owner and executive producer of Scout Elf Productions™, the subsidiary entertainment production company behind the Elf Pets® animated specials. Known as the heart and spirit of the company (just like Mrs. Claus!), Aebersold engages in a variety of projects that serve the brand, from writing song lyrics, to developing stories, to fostering the highly revered family-focused company culture.

In 2005, after a private battle with depression, Aebersold sat down with daughter, Chanda A. Bell, to write The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition, based on an elf from her own childhood. Bell suggested the two begin the project as a way to spread happiness and cheer by sharing their tradition with others.

As a former music teacher, Aebersold has drawn on her roots to contribute to the creative direction of the brand. In 2011, as an executive producer of the contemporary classic animated special An Elf’s Story, she co-wrote two original songs, “Each and Every Christmas” and “Extravaganzalorious!” More recently, her skills were put to good use in the animated Christmas special Elf Pets: Santa’s St. Bernards Save Christmas to co-write “Christmas Carol,” which turned out to be a mouthful lyrically: “Wishing You a Little Merry Joyful Upbeat Happy Jubilant Christmas Day!” In addition, Aebersold voices the character of “Grammy” in the 2019 animated special, Elf Pets: A Fox Cub’s Christmas Tale. For Aebersold, these playful contributions reinforce the origins of the elf tradition and the heart of the company mission: there is joy and connection to be found in the magic of belief and tradition at Christmastime.

Aebersold is a highly sought-after business and community speaker. She is a member of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) Alliance of Women Philanthropists and serves on the UTK Alumni Board of Directors. When she is not supporting Santa and his Scout Elves, Aebersold enjoys theatre, music, reading, writing, and time with family (especially her grandchildren).

Visit Elf on the Shelf!

Visit Tracy's website: www.tracyhurst.com

Click here for past episodes with Tracy Hurst!

For more resources, make sure to visit our website.

You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Join our Be Together Community! It’s a private Facebook group where we gather regularly to encourage, uplift and pray for one another. Click here to join!

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Major Depressive Disorder is the “common cold” of mental illness in America, impacting over 17 million people. It affects how we feel, think and behave, and is usually accompanied with unexpressed sadness, hurt, anger, disappointment, fear or guilt. And guess what? Women are nearly twice as likely as men to have depression. This is why we're doing this series! Women are drowning in depression and we want to bring HOPE! This week, Tracy gives us an incredible teaching on how we can not only get help, but also how we can DARE TO HOPE.

BE IN THE WORD:

"I waited patiently for the Lord.He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire. He set my feet on a rock and He gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord." (Psalm 40:1-3)

“I well remember my affliction and my soul is downcast within me, Yet I call this to mind and I dare to hope because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, the Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him. The Lord is good to those who hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.” (Lamentations 3:19)

“Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been promised to him." (Romans 4:17)

BE EDUCATED:

1. When Your Body Gets the Blues by Marie-Annette Brown.
2. Grieving Like God by Betsy Barber, professor at Biola University.

BE DOERS, NOT JUST HEARERS:

1. What can you dare to hope for?
2. What steps can you take today to get hope? Reach out, call your doctor, find a professional counselor?

Past episodes with Tracy Hurst

Be Healthy, Part 1
Be Healthy, Part 2
Conquering Depression, Part 1
Conquering Depression, Part 2
Emotional Wellness, Part 1
Emotional Wellness, Part 2

For more resources, make sure to visit our website.

You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Join our Be Together Community! It’s a private Facebook group where we gather regularly to encourage, uplift and pray for one another. Click here to join!

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As a part of each mini-series in our Walking from Bondage to Breakthrough semester-long series, we're going to be interviewing an "everyday woman" -- someone who is walking out their victory in that specific area, and willing to share how God is bringing them freedom. This month, we introduce you to Julie Gudger, a dear friend of Monica's who shares practical and spiritual ways she's overcoming fear and anxiety. Enjoy!

ABOUT JULIE GUDGER:
Julie is an abstract artist, and has painted since she was old enough to hold a paintbrush. Her work reflects the creative influence of ideas, emotions and expressions felt from the heart. Her art is inspired by the beauty in everyday life. Her love of water, oceans and sunsets is seen through the vibrant colors and movements in her paintings; whether semi-abstract or fully abstract, the horizon is always displayed in her work. Since becoming a mother, the energy and pace of her daughter has given Julie a new appreciation for the beauty in little moments of life around her. Her work, in turn, now has a vibrancy and depth of color that reflects the zest for life that her child teaches her. Julie llives in Atlanta, GA and is a graduate of the Savannah College of Art & Design (Savannah, GA) with a Bachelor of Arts in Painting and a Minor in Art History. She also holds a certificate in Art Direction from the Creative Circus in Atlanta. Click here to see Julie's work!

For more resources, make sure to visit our website.

You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Join our Be Together Community! It’s a private Facebook group where we gather regularly to encourage, uplift and pray for one another. Click here to join!

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It's time to tackle the issue that very few people struggle with...anxiety! (#saracasticfont) Listen, if you didn't struggle with anxiety prior to the past 5 months, certainly most of us can relate to it in some capacity now. Tracy tackles this head on in this week's #podcast episode, teaching us first what anxiety is, what it looks like and why we suffer from it. Then most importantly, she guides us to very practical ways we can get free from its clutches. Don't miss this one...and get that notebook out, you're going to want to take notes again!

BE IN THE WORD:

But the one who always listens to me will live undisturbed in a heavenly place. Free from fear, confident and courageous, you will find rest unafraid and sheltered from the storms of life. (Proverbs 1:13)

1 Kings 19 (full chapter about Elijah)

Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. (Romans 12:2)

Open up before God, keep nothing back; he'll do whatever needs to be done. He'll validate your life in the clear light of day and stamp you with approval at high noon. (Psalm 37:5-6)

Leave all your cares and anxieties at the feet of the Lord, and measureless grace will strengthen you. (Psalm 55:22)

Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, our High God, above politics, above everything! (Psalm 46:10)

BE EDUCATED:

1. Calm My Anxious Heart (Linda Dillow)
2. The Confident Woman (Joyce Meyer)

BE DOERS, NOT JUST HEARERS:

1. Continue using your Wonder journal and write out one of this week's verses and a prayer to accompany it on turning your anxieties over to God.
2. From the list of things Tracy said to do to help, what's one thing you can do this week in each category:
   1. BODY: Treat your body
   2. MIND: Get counseling
   3. SPIRIT: Where can you GAZE at God instead of glancing at your worries?

Past Episodes with Tracy Hurst

Be Healthy, Part 1
Be Healthy, Part 2
Conquering Depression, Part 1
Conquering Depression, Part 2
Emotional Wellness, Part 1
Emotional Wellness, Part 2

For more resources, make sure to visit our website.

You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Join our Be Together Community! It’s a private Facebook group where we gather regularly to encourage, uplift and pray for one another. Click here to join!

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It's part two of our From Fear to Faith series, featuring incredible teaching by Tracy Hurst. And trust us, you are definitely going to want to take notes on this one! Learn how to not only identify roots of fear, but how to uproot them and instead become rooted in faith.

BE IN THE WORD:
"My heart is trembling inside my chest as the terror of death seizes me. Fear and dread overwhelm me. I shudder before the horror I face. I say to myself, “If only I could fly away from all of this! If only I could run away to the place of rest and peace.I would run far away where no one could find me, escaping to a wilderness retreat.” (Psalm 55:4-7)

"Now desolation and darkness has come upon you. May you and all those like you descend into the pit of destruction! Since evil has been your home, may evil now bury you alive! But as for me, I will call upon the Lord to save me, and I know he will!" (Psalm 55:16-17)

So here’s what I’ve learned through it all: Leave all your cares and anxieties at the feet of the Lord, and measureless grace will strengthen you. He will watch over his lovers, never letting them slip or be overthrown. He will send all my enemies to the pit of destruction.
Murderers, liars, and betrayers will face an untimely death. My life’s hope and trust is in you, and you’ll never fail to rescue me!" (Psalm 55:22-23)

"But the one who always listens to me will live undisturbed in a heavenly peace. Free from fear, confident and courageous, you will rest unafraid and sheltered from the storms of life." (Proverbs 1:33)

"A fool is in love with his own opinion, but wisdom means being teachable." (Proverbs 12:15)

"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)

Psalm 103

BE EDUCATED:

1. New Life Ministries. Offers compassionate and empowering solutions to those who find themselves in life’s difficult places and who are missing what God desires for their lives.

BE DOERS, NOT JUST HEARERS:

1. In your Wonder journal, follow the steps Tracy mentioned to be rooted in faith. What are your roots of fear, coping skills? What can you uproot and replace with fruits of the spirit?
2. Rehearse and remember what God has done in your life.
3. Continue to read and mediate on Psalm 103.

Past Episodes with Tracy Hurst

Be Healthy, Part 1
Be Healthy, Part 2
Conquering Depression, Part 1
Conquering Depression, Part 2
Emotional Wellness, Part 1
Emotional Wellness, Part 2

For more resources, make sure to visit our website.

You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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It's finally here -- time to kickoff a brand-new series and season to help women walk from bondage to breakthrough! We're bringing light to the secret struggles women face, both in and out of the church. Our guest for the fall is licensed professional counselor Tracy Hurst, who is bringing words of Truth in due season for all of us battling fear, anxiety, grief, depression, self-loathing, comparison and more. This week is part 1 of going From Fear to Faith, and you're going to want to listen once, then again when you can sit down and take notes!

Tracy Hurst is a licensed professional counselor, author, conference speaker, and former co-host/guest on Moody Radio. More importantly, she's a wife, mom and friend who knows what it's like to navigate womanhood in today's day and age. To connect more with Tracy, click over to her website. To get a copy of Tracy's devotional, Tuesdays with Tracy, click here. Listen to our past episodes with Tracy here:

1. Be Healthy, Part 1
2. Be Healthy, Part 2
3. Conquering Depression, Part 1
4. Conquering Depression, Part 2
5. Emotional Wellness, Part 1
6. Emotional Wellness, Part 2

BE IN THE WORD:

• Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:6)
• For God is greater than our thoughts and feelings and He knows all things. (1 John 3:21)
• My peace is the legacy I leave to you. I don't give gifts like those of this world. Do not let your heart be troubled or fearful. (John 14:27)
• God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. (1 Tim 1:7)
• Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him. (Psalm 33:8)
• But in the day that I’m afraid, I lay all my fears before you and trust in you with all my heart. What harm could a man bring to me? With God on my side I will not be afraid of what comes. (Psalm 56:3-4)
• All of Psalm 103

BE EDUCATED:

1. The Confident Woman by Joyce Meyer

BE DOERS, NOT JUST HEARERS:

1. Make an awe and wonder journal!
2. Write in it all of Psalm 103, whichever translation you prefer.
3. Find biblical examples of people who felt wonder toward God.
4. Use the journal to write down times of wonder in your life.

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It's the last #podcast of our throwback Be Prayerful series, and we're focusing on probably the hardest topic of all -- unanswered prayer. There are really only two types of prayers: answered and unanswered. Even if it’s really an answer of wait, it feels unanswered. Do you ever get caught up equating God’s love and existence merely in the answer to your prayer? Why do we do this? This week we dug into some of our friends in the Bible to see that God gave us more than ample examples of answered and unanswered prayers with stories we can relate to. Take the time to dig in and read about these stories…these people…our brothers and sisters in Christ who went before us and were written about so that we might glean and grow from their lives.

BE IN THE WORD (this week’s verses):

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

BE EDUCATED (additional resources):

1. The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson
2. When God Says No
3. Prayers of the Bible
4. Five Ways God Answers Prayers

BE DOERS, NOT JUST HEARERS (practical application):

1. Identity some of your most recent and consistent prayers. Which ones have been answered? Which ones have not? Can you see why it might not have been answered? Take the time to think through what you are praying and why.
2. Take time to pray: commit a certain amount of time to pray each day…start small but start.
3. Watch the War Room.

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Time for the next #podcast episode in our throwback series on prayer! Yes, there’s a time to be strong and courageous and move on. But FIRST, it is absolutely biblical to stop and give space for your pain, frustration, anger, fear, sadness...especially with what's happening in the word right now! There’s a time to speak out in faith and proclaim truth regardless of how you feel, but that comes after you’ve emptied yourself of the desperation first. It has be released and let go TO GOD so that He can fill those empty places with faith, peace, love, hope and yes…even joy. In this week's episode, we explore the importance of biblical lament, and learn how biblical lament never loses sight of God.

BE IN THE WORD (this week’s verses):

Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am faint; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are in agony. My soul is in anguish. How long, O LORD, how long? Turn, O LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love. (Psalm 6:1-4)

I’m exhausted. I cannot even speak, my voice fading as sighs. Every day ends in the same place—lying in bed, covered in tears, my pillow wet with sorrow. My eyes burn, devoured with grief; they grow weak as I constantly watch for my enemies. (Psalm 6:6-7)

Why are You so far away? Why can’t You be found during troubling times? Mean and haughty people hunt down the poor. May they get caught up in their own wicked schemes. (Psalm 10:1-2)

BE EDUCATED (additional resources):

1. A Sacred Sorrow: Reaching Out to God in the Lost Language of Lament by Michael Card. The book Monica references in the podcast.
2. Pouring Out Your Heart in Lament to God. Great application on how to personally write a prayer of lament.
3. Liturgical Lament in Times of Crisis. The biblical structure of prayers of lament.
4. Lament: The Dark Side of the Journey.Quotes by Michael Card referenced in the podcast.
5. Biblical Laments: Prayer Out of Pain. Great biblical application for praying from grief.

BE DOERS, NOT JUST HEARERS:

Write a prayer of lament. Using the prayers of Job and Habbakuk as a guide, use the words “though”and “yet” to begin to phrase your lament. Do this when you are facing difficulty.

1. Find a quiet place with God.
2. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you.
3. Be in God’s presence.
4. Write down the “though” circumstances in your life.
5. Offer these things to God.
6. Worship God by completing the phrase: “Though these things have happened, yet _________.”

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We're back with another episode of our throwback series, Be Prayerful! This week we're talking about provision. You know, sometimes as women we don't ask God to provide because we feel it's selfish to do so; we feel selfish for asking God to give us anything, whether it be healing, restoration, finances, whathaveyou. But Provision isn't just something God does...it's also GOD'S NAME. Abraham called God Jehovah Jirah, "One Who Sees and One Who Provides." And there are over 169 verses in the Bible specifically about God's provision! It's time to let go of how we feel about asking God to provide, and begin walking in the confidence that God wants us to ask!

BE IN THE WORD:
There are over 160 verses in the Bible that refer to the ways God provides for us! Here are just a few:

Trust in the Lord and do what is right! Settle in the land and maintain your integrity! Then you will take delight in the Lord, and he will answer your prayers. (Ps 37:3-4)

God will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son. (Gen 22:8)

*If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! (Matt 7:11)

No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. (Ps 84:11)*

Open your mouth wide and I will fill it. (Ps 81:10)

Don’t hold back—give freely, and you’ll have plenty poured back into your lap—a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, brimming over. You’ll receive in the same measure you give. (Luke 6:38)

BE DOERS, NOT JUST HEARERS (practical application):

1. Make a Top 3 list. What are the three areas in life you need major provision for? Write down and pray specifically over all them. Be bold and audacious in your prayers. Ask God to show off, to make it clear He’s the only one that could have answered that way.
2. Play Your Part. All those verses we talked about have the if/then paradigm – they say we need to walk uprightly and seek the Lord. Not in order to make God do what we want Him to do, but because it’s the right thing to do, and then God can choose to bless us. Be obedient in every small thing.
3. Make a List. Make a list of answered prayers, so that when you are in the waiting again, you can reflect on what God has done, and be reassured that He will come through for you again.
4. Every single time God provides and answers your prayers, REJOICE unashamedly. THANK HIM profusely. Stop everything and acknowledge from whom the answer came and have a party about it!

BE EDUCATED (additional resources):

1. How Should I Pray for God to Provide?
2. The Habit of Recognizing God’s Provision
3. Trust Your Finances to God’s Provision
4. Learning to Trust in God’s Provision

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In this strange and unprecedented time, Sara and I thought it would be fitting to throw it back to a series we did several years ago called Be Prayerful. In this series, we dive into the sheer POWER of prayer. The world can be changed through prayer. Lives can be changed through prayer. Revival is possible through prayer! If you want to have influence in the world, in your community and in your family, then it's time to get on your knees and Be Prayerful! In this introduction episode prayer, hear how Sara discovered in the Bible that prayers can be positional, commands or promises. Let's change the world one prayer at a time!

BE IN THE WORD (this week’s verses):

Positional

• The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. (Prov 15:29)
• The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. (Ps 145:18)

Commands

• Pray without ceasing. (1 Thess 5:17)
• But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Matt 6:6)
• And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (Luke 11:9)

Promises

• Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. (Jer 29:12)
• If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chron 7:14)
• Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. (Jer 33:3)

BE DOERS, NOT JUST HEARERS OF THE WORD (practical application):

1. What truth about prayer is hardest for you to accept, believe, or new for you? Do you struggle with your position and believing that you are near to Him when praying? Or perhaps you struggle with the idea of prayer being a command?
2. Can you identify something in your life that has kept you from wanting to dive into prayer? What is it?
3. Write it down on a piece of paper and burn it. It is holding you back…keeping you from freedom.

BE EDUCATED (additional resources):

1. The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson. Without a doubt this has been one of my favorite books on prayer. It is practical, educational, motivational.
2. The War Room (movie). How much better can practical application and resources be then a movie? Be inspired and encouraged in the power of prayer and get some really great ideas of how to start a simple prayer life by watching this movie.

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Trip of a lifetime! That is exactly what Sara would call the 12 day trip she and her husband, Chris, experienced just a few weeks ago. They weren't even supposed to go on this trip, but 3 weeks before it's scheduled departure, they were invited to attend. In this week's episode, Sara shares the top takeaways from the trip, and gives us all an audio tour of this trip of a lifetime. Make sure to visit the blog at bestillbefree.com/208 to see some of her pictures from the trip!

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One of our favorite things about Solomon is that he doesn’t just give us advice without being practical about it. In Chapter 9, once again he gives us the reasons why we should be invited by “wisdom,” but he also tells us why we should not accept an invitation by “folly.” That is just who God is. He is so for us that He wants us to see both choices we have, and the consequences that follow—be it good or bad. He loves us enough to show us both sides of the coin, as if not to hide anything from us. If you keep reading in Proverbs, God gives us everything we need to know about wisdom through Solomon. When I was a child or even teen, these passages gave me so much help to keep going in a tough world and not to give up. May they do the same for you…comfort you, lead you, motivate you, inspire you!

BE IN THE WORD (This Week’s Verses):“Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.” (Proverbs 9:9)BE EDUCATED (Additional Resources):1. The Book of Proverbs: Wisdom verses Stupidity 2. Wisdom's Feast and Folly's Funeral

BE DOERS, NOT JUST HEARERS (Practical Application):1. Create your own wisdom and folly lists. What seems like wisdom to you? What seems like folly? Can you back them up with scripture? 2. Are you teachable? Ask yourself that very hard question. How do you react with criticism? Next time someone gives you feedback, take a moment and ask the Lord to help you receive it before you react to it.

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It's part 2 of our discussion on Proverbs 8, and in this week’s #podcast, we wrap up our dissection of Wisdom's remaining "be" words -- eternal, delightful, persistent. We go deep into discussion about how maybe we're holding onto things that are negotiable and not foundational truths...and how wisdom should bring delight and joy to our lives. We stay super practical, with tangible things to think about consider for personal daily lives. Listen at your favorite #podcast app or at bestillbefree.com/206!

BE IN THE WORD (This Week's Verses):

Read Proverbs 8

BE DOERS, NOT JUST HEARERS (Practical Application):

1. What negotiables are you holding onto tightly in the name of Wisdom, that you can maybe let go of and be willing to see differently?
2. What area in your life would wisdom bring the freedom that would cause you to delight and rejoice in the Lord?
3. Where are the places in life you can identify as crossroads where Wisdom calls out to you on a regular basis?

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Instead of looking at Wisdom as something we look for and seek out, this week we examine how Wisdom is looking for us. She is out in the highways and hedges to show us herself in our own culture and our own day-to-day life. This week we get really practical, and spend a lot of time in dialogue about wisdom in our own personal, individual lives. We have so much dialogue, in fact, that we decided at toward the end of the episode that we needed to break this into 2-parts! We hope you enjoy this hands-on, grassroots look at Wisdom in our lives today, and be sure to tune in next week for part 2!

BE IN THE WORD (This Week's Verses):

Read Proverbs 8

Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8)

But let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these comes from the evil one.(Matthew 5:37)

BE DOERS, NOT JUST HEARERS (Practical Application):

1. What super basic, everyday ways does Wisdom call out to you that you wouldn’t have otherwise considered as wisdom?
2. Where have you heard Wisdom calling out to you, but you let the noise of the world overpower her?
3. Where has God called you to speak forth confidently with wisdom?
4. Where in your life can you identify the unabashed blessings and riches of God because of your commitment to walk in Wisdom?

QUOTES FOR THE WEEK:

“There are, it’s true, temples, synagogues, churches, chapels, but hundreds of thousands never frequent them, and therefore do not hear the voice of truth. Wisdom, therefore, must go to them, if she wishes them to receive her instructions. Hence the zealous ministers of Christ go still to the highways and hedges, to the mountains and plains, to the ships and the cottages, to persuade sinners to turn from the error of their ways, and accept that redemption which was procured by the sacrificial offering of Jesus Christ.” (Adam Clarke)

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Have you ever felt like you repeat yourself to your kids when trying to really make a point on an issue? Isn’t that what Solomon must have been feeling while writing Proverbs? There's no doubt that he wants his son to hear him and listen to his words. God must feel the same way. If we believe that the Word of God is infallible, and that each word is written for our learning, we must understand that each time Solomon says, “My Son,” God is saying it to us. Do we need to improve our listening skills? Or are we so focused on what everyone else is supposed to be learning that we don’t even hear our name being called by God? Let us take time to truly listen for God’s voice calling our name; for wisdom whispering for our attention. May we identify our distractions and work to reprioritize so that we may extend the number of our days!

BE IN THE WORD:

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom!

BE EDUCATED:

1. The Paths of the Just and the Ways of the Wicked. Commentary on Proverbs 4
2. How to Guard Your Heart. Adrian Rogers teaches what it means to guard your heart and practically walks us through the steps of doing so.

BE DOERS, NOT JUST HEARERS:

1. Ponder the question whether you are willing to pay the price for wisdom or not? If you are not, ask yourself why? What do you have to lose? What do you have to gain? And then ask God to give you the desire for wisdom. If you answered yes, then begin now asking God to give you wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Ask him to shine the light of wisdom upon you.

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In Proverbs 3, Solomon gets excited (or "geeked up" as Sara would say) about sharing the rewards that come from living out wisdom in everyday life. It’s a back-and-forth volley of if/thens: IF you keep God’s teachings, THEN you’ll have long life and peace. The premises and promises continue throughout the entire chapter, illustrating the glorious and rich benefits of practicing a life of wisdom. Listen to the discussion this week as we explore all these rewards!

BE IN THE WORD (This Week’s Verses):Read Proverbs 3BE DOERS, NOT JUST HEARERS (Practical Application):1. This week, pick one of the practical ways to exercise wisdom from verses 31-35: 1. Be good to others if it’s in your power to do so. 2. When you have it to give, give it immediately instead of later. 3. Don’t take advantage of anyone’s trust 4. Don’t argue for the sake of arguing 5. Don’t envy the wins that the ungodly get and think their ways are more beneficial

QUOTES FROM THIS WEEK:“The word translated ‘trust’ means ‘to lie helpless, facedown.’ It pictures a servant waiting for the master’s command in readiness to obey, or a defeated soldier yielding himself to the conquering general.” (Dr. Warren Wiersbe)“Deciding not to forget God’s word is more than a mental exercise of memory. It’s also connected to a life of obedience… If one mentally remembers God’s word yet fails to obey it, we could right say he or she has forgotten God’s commands” (David Guzik)Give us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts!For more resources, make sure to visit our website.You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.Join our Be Together Community! It’s a private Facebook group where we gather regularly to encourage, uplift and pray for one another. Click here to join!

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"Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not putting the tomato in a fruit salad," the ever-wise Chris Goede is noted as saying. What is wisdom, though? It might feel like a word that has no context or is so abstract that we cannot wrap our minds around it. Yet it's a very distinct word chosen by Solomon. So how, then, is wisdom different from knowledge or understanding? Here are the definition of the words that can cause us such confusion:

Definitions:

1. Wisdom: Not just about knowing what’s good for you, but applying that knowledge into your everyday life. The ability to think and act using knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense and insight.
2. Knowledge: Facts, information, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject. Awareness or familiarity gained by experience of a fact or situation.
3. Understanding: Having insight or good judgment.Comprehension.
4. Discretion or discernment: The quality of behaving or speaking in such a way as to avoid causing offense or revealing private information. The ability to determine right from wrong.

Hopefully these will help as will our discussions each week!

BE IN THE WORD

For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you. (Prov 2: 10-11)

Read Proverbs, chapter 2

BE EDUCATED

1. The Protective Power of Wisdom Proverbs 2: A commentary resource diving into the meaning of Prov 2.
2. What is Wisdom? (And How to Get It): Dr. Michael A. Milton discusses exactly what we are talking about today…where to find wisdom.

BE DOERS NOT JUST HEARERS:

1. Every day this week, choose one of the ways to “find” wisdom and apply it. Try the same one each day or use a different one each day.

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We're diving into Wisdom from Chapter 1 in Proverbs this week! It's a jam-packed #podcast episode about cultivating wisdom in relationships, behaviors, intentions...and how we need to possess a spiritual desire to want to become wise. It's good stuff, friends! #bestillbefree #beingwise

BE IN THE WORD (This Week’s Verses):

Read Proverbs 1

I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it. (Psalm 81:10)

BE DOERS, NOT JUST HEARERS (Practical Application):

1. Challenge yourself to read one chapter of Proverbs a day for 31 days

QUOTES FROM THIS WEEK:

“Here the open proclamation…to make it clear that the offer of wisdom is to the man in the street, and for the business of living, not to an elite for the pursuit of scholarship.” (Derek Kidner)

“The greatest tragedy is that there’s so much noise that people can’t hear the things they really need to hear. God is trying to get through to them with the voice of wisdom, but all they hear are the confused communications clutter, foolish voices that lead them farther away from the truth.” (Warren Wiersbe)

“Fools are people who are ignorant of truth because they’re dull and stubborn. Their problem isn’t a low IQ or poor education; their problem is a lack of spiritual desire to seek and find God’s wisdom.” (Warren Wiersbe)

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Welcome back, friends! It's not only our 200th episode (beyond crazy!), it's our first episode of 2020. We're catching each other up on life through the holidays, and then doing an introduction and overview for you of this new #podcast series we're starting on WISDOM. It's going to be an incredible foundational way to start this new decade and year. So grab your coffee and your earbuds and enjoy!

BE IN THE WORD (This Week’s Verses):

Read Proverbs 1

BE EDUCATED (Affiliate Links):

Dr. Warren Wiersbe BE series

Finish by Jon Acuff

QUOTES FROM THIS WEEK:

“We’re living in the ‘information age,’ but we certainly aren’t living in the ‘age of wisdom.’ Many people who are wizards with their computers seem to be amateurs when it comes to making a success out of their lives.” (Dr. Warren Wiersbe)

“Knowledge is the collection of facts; wisdom is the right use of what we know for daily living. Knowledge can tell one how financial systems work; wisdom manages a budget properly.” (David Guzik)

“God does not guarantee uniform outcome or application for each proverb, but in studying them and applying them, one comes to contemplate the mind of God, His character, His attributes, His works, and His blessings.” (John MacArthur)

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Y'all it's our last #podcast of 2019! How have we already arrived at this point in the year? This episode is longer (#sorrynotsorry) but contains all the goodness to help you thrive in your everyday life. We also have strategies to help catapult your prep for the wonder that is the holiday season. We've got tips, we've got tricks, we've got permission for you to let some things go and just say no! So grab your cup of coffee, kick back and enjoy. We pray you all have a glorious and joy-filled Christmas and new year, we can't wait to see you again in 2020! #theyearofvision

BE IN THE WORD:For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God’s holy people. (I Corinthians 14:33)

I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. (Ecclesiastes 3:12-13)

QUICK LIST OF TIPS:

1. Don’t set yourself up for failure!
   • Only volunteer for what you know fits your skill set and your calendar
   • Set a budget and stick to it
   • Keep it as simple or as complicated as you want
   • Don’t just give your kids presents
   • Be okay saying “no”
   • Keep it fun
   • Remember the reason for the season
2. Throw grace at your feet.
3. Making dinners (meal planning, prepping, etc.)
4. Watch out for road blocks
5. Cleaning the house
6. Be okay with a load of laundry in the dryer all day.
7. What is the most important thing for the day?
8. Things to remember:
   • The wise men brought Him gits, the shepherds gave him glory and time.
   • Do you remember what you got for Christmas every year? nope!
   • Creating traditions lasts longer than gifts.
   • We all have the same number of days in a week and the same hours in a day. Don’t think your life is busier than someone else.
   • Gifts come in all shapes and sizes. Be creative.
   • Go out to dinner one less time a week and save it to be able to give to others.

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Raising kids is no joke, #amiright? Being an intentional parent (in today's culture especially) is an exhausting undertaking, but one that can reap the greatest rewards if we are diligent and do not grow weary in doing good. (Although moments of weariness or even all-out breakdowns are allowed and even expected!) #handhighintheair So how do we display Christ in our parenting? How do we raise humans and not just have babies? The answer can be found in James 1:5 which is an anchor verse for us as we parent: "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." Some of us ask God on an hour by hour basis, #amiright? Listen in to this week's #podcast episode as we share some challenges we face in parenting, and also the practical tips we use that help us as we train up these children of ours in the way THEY should go.

BE IN THE WORD:

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (James 1:5)

BE EDUCATED:

1. Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood by Dr. Lisa Damour
2. Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters: 10 Secrets Every Father Should Know by Meg Meeker
3. Secret Keeper Girls (now True Girls)

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We've got just three episodes left in 2019 (can you believe it??), and these last episodes are going to focus on practical management strategies for different areas of life: marriage, family and everyday/holiday. This week, we dive into tangible things that have helped us navigate our marriages. This is by no means us having it all figured out; rather it's us haring the few things we have figured out and realizing we have a lot more to learn along the way. (This uniting of two separate people into one flesh is not for the faint of heart, y'all!) Listen in and see if any of our stories and lessons learned might help you avoid some of the bumps in the road we encountered!

1. Know Your Why! Know your God-given calling in marriage.
2. Know Your Who! Be a life-long student of your marriage and your spouse.
3. Know You! Know your negotiables and non-negotiables. Be able to walk away from the negotiables. "Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife." (Prov 21:19)
4. Know When! Stop the vicious cycle if necessary. "Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time!" (Prov 15:23)
5. Know Your How! "The unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit is of great value in the eyes of the Lord." (I Peter 3:4)

BE EDUCATED:

1. The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman
2. 101 Conversation Starters for Couples by Gary Champan and Ramon Presson
3. Prayer Challenge for your spouse, in partnership with Graceful Abandon

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It's part 2 of our mini-series with licensed professional counselor, Tracy Hurst! If you haven't yet listened to last week's go back and do it now! In this week's episode, Tracy teaches us about unresolved trauma and hurt, what happens when we push down pain and how to combat loneliness -- and she does it all with a backdrop of Jesus and His healing. MAKE SURE to listen and share with those who may need some encouragement and HOPE!

To listen to last week's episode with Tracy, click here.

To connect more with Tracy, click over to her website.

To get a copy of Tracy's devotional, Tuesdays with Tracy, click here.

To hear the earlier Be-Cast episodes with Tracy (there are four!), click here, click here, click here and click here.

BE IN THE WORD:
You’re my cave to hide in, my cliff to climb. Be my safe leader, be my true mountain guide.
Free me from hidden traps; I want to hide in you. I’ve put my life in your hands. You won’t drop me, you’ll never let me down. (Psalm 31:3-5, Message)

Lord, you know everything there is to know about me. You perceive every movement of my heart and soul, and you understand my every thought before it even enters my mind. You are so intimately aware of me, Lord. You read my heart like an open book and you know all the words I’m about to speak before I even start a sentence! You know every step I will take before my journey even begins. You’ve gone into my future to prepare the way, and in kindness you follow behind me to spare me from the harm of my past. With your hand of love upon my life, you impart a blessing to me. (Psalm 139:1-5, Passion Translation)

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We are thrilled to bring back our very first #podcast guest ever, Tracy Hurst! Tracy is a licensed professional counselor, author, conference speaker, and former co-host/guest on Moody Radio. More importantly, she's a wife, mom and friend who knows what it's like to navigate womanhood in today's day and age. Tracy will be with us for two weeks, and in this week's episode, she dives into the flooding of our minds and emotions, and how to biblically navigate tension and conflict. Be prepared for truth bombs to explode all throughout this episode!

To connect more with Tracy, click over to her website.

To get a copy of Tracy's devotional, Tuesdays with Tracy, click here.

To hear the earlier Be-Cast episodes with Tracy (there are four!), click here, click here, click here and click here.

BE IN THE WORD:

Be brave, be strong, don't give up. Expect God to get here soon. Psalm 31:24

Desperate, I throw myself on you; you are my God! Hour by hour I place my days in your hand, safe from the hands out to get me. Warm me, your servant, with a smile; SAVE ME BECAUSE YOU LOVE ME. PSALM 31:14-16

Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2

BE DOERS, NOT JUST HEARERS:1. Self-care. Put yourself into a place of importance.
2. Physical care. Get a physical from your doctor!
3. Boundaries. Set them with ourselves and others.
4. Limits. Respecting limits allows us to do more!
5. Medication. Ifyou are stuck and unable to do the above things, you might be suffering from a biological pre-disposition where medication might help while in therapy. Medication takes the edge off, but talk therapy is the goal.

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There are stigmas surrounding mental wellness in our Christian culture, but slowly, we're starting to see them crumble and fall. Where once no one would open up about times of depression or struggling with thoughts and emotions, we're recognizing this very real struggle for so many of us. In this week's episode, we open up about our current or past struggles, and share the tools and strategies that have helped us through those darker times. God brings healing in so many different ways -- and maybe something we discuss this week will be the key to bring healing to you.

BE IN THE WORD:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7)

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27)

Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:34)

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

BE EDUCATED:

1. Dr. Caroline Leaf

2. Lord is it Warfare, Teach Me to Stand by Kay Arthur

3. Lord, Change my Attitude...

4. Putting an X Through Anxiety by Louie Giglio

BE DOERS, NOT JUST HEARERS:

1. Pray and seek Jesus. He wants you to be whole.
2. Seek outside counsel. Sometimes we need a professional and educated guide to help us.
3. Seek medical care. Sometimes there’s a chemical imbalance that needs to be addressed.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BE, IT'S OUR 6th BIRTHDAY TODAY!! And what a better time to talk about physical wellness -- when we should be celebrating with cake. :) We admit, when it comes to physical health, IT'S HARD. But maintaining physical wellness is so vital -- not for a size, or a weight, or to simply look cute -- but for maintaining the stamina, energy, and clear-mindedness needed for kingdom work! You can't pursue your calling with passion if your body is sluggish and your mind perpetually foggy. And food and movement play big roles in that. Consider this (incredibly convicting) quote we discuss from Charles Spurgeon: “Your body was a willing horse when it was in the service of the devil, let it not be a sluggish hack now that it draws the chariot of Christ.” #ouch Tune in to hear what we discovered and some tips on how to successfully maintain physical wellness!

BE IN THE WORD:
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones” (Proverbs 3:7-8)

BE EDUCATED:
1. Article by Dr Walt Larimore
2. Made to Crave by Lysa TerKuerst

BE DOERS, NOT JUST HEARERS:
1. Start as you mean to go on. What are practices and disciplines you can implement that are sustainable for the long haul?
2. Find what works for you. The plan your friend is on may not be the one that works best for you. Your body responds to food and exercise uniquely different -- honor that and investigate what your body responds to.

For more resources, make sure to visit our website.

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It's the second half of our conversation with the amazing Traci Morrow! This week, Traci wraps up the last three steps toward spiritual and physical wellness, which are as practical as they are spiritual!

For more details about Traci, visit www.bestillbefree.com/192. And to access her new book (!!!) click over to https://www.tracimorrow.com/marriage-mentoring.

TRACI’S 5 STEPS FOR SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL WELLNESS:

1. Ground our identity in Jesus
2. Let Jesus define you with daily time in His word and prayer
3. Manage the manageable:
   1. Make your bed!
   2. Sleep
   3. Nutrition and Water
   4. Take care of your temple
   5. Dress: style, modesty, self-expression, to your shape, color palette
   6. Know Yourself, Know Your People: Enrich your relationships: love language, personality/enneagram, core motives, strengths finder
4. Women need women: have an inner circle: to pray for and with, and speak into your life
5. Learn to say, “No, but thank you!” Create boundaries around the relationships and projects that matter to you.

For more resources, make sure to visit our website.

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Meet Traci Morrow! Traci’s passion has always been to help people of all ages and stages of life to live in their passion and gift zone. For eleven years she built and led the junior and senior high youth ministries at her church, went on to lead the women’s ministry, and has served in various school, church, and community boards. She walked boldly into business leadership in 2003, when she established both Traci Morrow Fitness, Inc. and Finish Line Leaders, Inc. as a Founding Team Beachbody Coach. For the last 16 years she has spoken at leadership trainings and events, as she’s mentored other entrepreneurs. In addition to over a decade of appearing in various fitness videos, achieving the highest rank in the Team Beachbody Coaching Network, hosting numerous national fitness camps, speaking at Team Beachbody national conferences, and serving three terms as a member of the Coach Advisory Board, Traci has maintained active participation in her church, community and children’s schools and sports.

Traci has twice been a Member of John C. Maxwell’s Executive Mentoring Circle, is a certified John Maxwell Team Member, and serves on The John Maxwell Network Marketing Advisory Council. She is the Host of Maximum Impact Mentoring Calls since 2015, is honored to emcee the Live2Lead Global Leadership Simulcast for the past five years, and serves on the John Maxwell Leadership Foundation Board, where she travels with John, Mark, and their team and partners to bring Transformation to nations. Traci loves people, lives humbly and with excellence, and desires to illuminate the path for those she leads.

Traci and her husband KC live in Los Angeles with or near their 6 kids & 1 favorite son-in-law, where they gather often and serve together. Traci has just completed her first book on communication in a marriage for life, and you can find out more about it at her website, www.tracimorrow.com. Connect with Traci on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @tracimorrow.

TRACI’S 5 STEPS FOR SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL WELLNESS:

1. Ground our identity in Jesus
2. Let Jesus define you with daily time in His word and prayer
3. Manage the manageable:
   1. Make your bed!
   2. Sleep
   3. Nutrition and Water
   4. Take care of your temple
   5. Dress: style, modesty, self-expression, to your shape, color palette
   6. Know Yourself, Know Your People: Enrich your relationships: love language, personality/enneagram, core motives, strengths finder
4. Women need women: have an inner circle: to pray for and with, and speak into your life
5. Learn to say, “No, but thank you!” Create boundaries around the relationships and projects that matter to you.

For more resources, make sure to visit our website.

You can also find us on Facebook, Twitterand Instagram.

Join our Be Together Community! It’s a private Facebook group where we gather regularly to encourage, uplift and pray for one another. Click here to join!

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Wellness. What does that word conjure up in your mind? Physical health? Mental health? What about spiritual health? Where most people would agree that physical and mental health are of paramount importance, rarely do we assess our spiritual health, let alone work diligently toward increasing in it. This week, we dive into this foundational basis for all wellness -- spiritual health -- and discuss what it means to be spiritually healthy as well as how to get stronger in it!

Monica's Spiritual Check-Up:

1. What’s my weight?
   • Heb 12:1, AMP
2. What’s my blood pressure?
3. What’s my temperature?
   • Rev 3:15-16, AMP
4. How are my energy levels?
   • 1 Peter 4:11
5. How are my reflexes?
   • Prov 16:32
   • Gal 5:16-17, MSG
6. Rest.
   • Psalm 46:10, Voice
   • Jer 31:25

BE IN THE WORD:

Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness. Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important for it promises a reward in both this life and the next. This is true and everyone should accept it.” (1Tim 4:7-9)

BE EDUCATED:

Article by Kenneth Copeland

Article by Walking By Faith

BE DOERS NOT JUST HEARERS:

1. Answer honestly the question Jesus asks in John 5:6 – Do you want to get well? Sometimes we’re comfortable and content with our disease. Do you want to get well? Do you want to do the work required to get well? Because it will require work – there will be things you have to let go of, disciplines you need to enforce, things you have to say no to. You need to be committed to your yes if you answer yes to this
2. Go through the wellness checklist and make an honest assessment of where your spiritual health is, and then commit those things to the Lord. (Weight, Blood pressure, Temperature, Energy, Reflexes, Rest.)

For more resources, make sure to visit our website.

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It's the last episode in our Knowing Yourself series, and this week we talk about the 16 personalities of the Meyers-Briggs test, as well as the 4 personalities. We should be experts on ourselves after this week! Make sure you tune in next week as we launch a new series on Wellness -- Spiritual Wellness, Physical Wellness and Mental Wellness. And it's going to include a couple special guests you will not. want. to. miss!

BE IN THE WORD

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself. (Luke 10:26, Matt 22:37, Mark 12:30-31)

BE EDUCATED:

16 Personalities (free test)

Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator ($49.95)

4 Personalities (Choleric, Sanguine, Melancholic, Phlegmatic)

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We're in the middle of our Knowing Yourself series, and this week we're talking about one of our favorites -- the Enneagram! Tune in and learn not just what the enneagram is, but how it's helped us tremendously in our personal lives and relationships. You're gonna love this!

BE IN THE WORD:

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself." (Luke 10:26, Matt 22:37, Mark 12:30-31)

BE EDUCATED:

Your Enneagram Coach (learn about types; free test)

The Enneagram Institute (learn about types; $12 test)

Annie Downs That Sounds Fun Podcast (Web link)

Annie Downs That Sounds Fun Podcast (iTunes podcast link)

Ian Morgan Cron Typology (Web link)

Ian Morgan Cron Typology (iTunes podcast link)

Brush and Barley

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In this series on Knowing Yourself, we wanted to start things off with Spiritual Gifts. First, what is a spiritual gift, and why should we have one? And second, how do we determine what our gifts are? Listen in this week as we dive deep, learn more and start our journey on knowing ourselves in a more complete way!

BE IN THE WORD:

Romans 12:6-8, We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Ephesians 4:11-13, So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Acts 6:1-7, Now in those days, as the disciples were multiplied, there was murmuring among the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were overlooked in the daily distribution. 2 So the twelve called the multitude of disciples together and said, “It is not reasonable for us to leave the word of God and serve tables. 3 Brothers, look among yourselves for seven men who are known to be full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint over this duty. 4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what was said pleased the whole multitude, and they chose Stephen, who was a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Procorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 6 whom they presented before the apostles. And when they had prayed, they placed their hands on them. 7 So the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples grew rapidly in Jerusalem, and a great number of the priests were obedient to the faith.

BE EDUCATED:

https://spiritualgiftstest.com/adults-spiritual-gifts-test/

Joyce Meyer article

Personality is a Matter of the Heart

Lifeway Spiritual Gifts Assessment

Lifeway Spiritual Gifts List

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Summer is over for us in the south, and that only can mean one thing... The Be Cast is back in action! This week, we catch up on all the summer happenings and what's coming up for each of us. And then we dive into an overview of what's in store for our podcast series for the coming months. It's new and different, but we think you're going to love it!

We reference several personality tests in this episode, so we wanted to go ahead and link to those if you're interested in being teacher's pet and getting these done ahead of time. Enjoy!

SPIRITUAL GIFTS TESTS:Lifeway Spiritual Gifts Assessment
Lifeway Spiritual Gifts List
SpiritualGiftsTest.com

ENNEAGRAM:
Your Ennegram Coach (free)
The Ennegram Institute ($12)

16 PERSONALITIES:16 Personalities (free)
Meyers-Briggs Instrument Test ($49)

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It's not just the finale on our Unexpected Lessons from Unlikely Ladies series, it's our semester finale as this is our last #podcast for the summer! This week we dive into lessons from Mary and Martha. Except this Mary is Jesus' mother, not Martha's sister. #gotcha We explore how Mary had to correct Jesus as a mother and what that must have been like for her; we also see how Jesus later had to correct Martha, but not for what you think it was for. Make sure you listen in as we wrap up another amazing year of podcasting and diving into God's word. Thanks for being loyal supporters and listeners of the Be-Cast! We couldn't keep doing this without you!

BE IN THE WORD:
Mary: corrected Jesus like a mom

Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he was saying to them. Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. (Luke 2:41-52)

Martha: she wasn't corrected for her "doing," she was corrected for her attitude during it
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42)

BE EDUCATED:1. Surprising Facts We’ve Overlooked About Martha

1. Martha: All the Women of the Bible

BE DOERS, NOT JUST HEARERS:
1. Can you completely relate to Mary as a mother in this story?
2. Can you imagine getting on to Jesus? And yet, how often do we look at Him and say, “what are you doing? Why have you treated us this way?”
3. How often do we not understand what Jesus/God is saying to us?
4. What should we treasure more than we question?

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Sarah and Hagar -- two women who got along like oil and water, like black and white, like night and day, like... you get the idea! Each of these women made impulsive decisions and were gently rebuked by God. Yet they also learned great lessons and what it means to believe God and be obedient to Him. Listen in to this week's #podcast on Unexpected Lessons from Unlikely Ladies, and hear how Sarah and Hagar each teach us invaluable truths that apply to us still today!

BE IN THE WORD:

Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.” But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.” Genesis 12:13-15)

This plan of mine is not what you would work out, neither are my thoughts the same as yours! For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than yours, and my thoughts than yours. (Isaiah 55: 8-9)

Genesis 16, 21 (Hagar)

No external links or practical applications this week!

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In this week’s Unexpected Lessons from Unlikely Ladies #podcast, we focus on Lot’s wife and Job’s wife. Each of these women are criticized greatly for their actions and words, but what if we more fully understood the circumstances surrounding their decisions? Would we be able to have greater compassion for them, and in turn, ourselves? Part 2 of our series continues!

Job’s Wife:

· Remains nameless?

· Is known for a 1-line sentence? “Curse God and Die.”

· Job did not lose his children and all he had on his own, his wife lost the same as well.

· Watched her husband grieve?

Lot’s Wife:

· Remains nameless?

· Had to leave her home and people in a moment’s notice?

· Had to trust 2 angels to lead her and her family out of town?

· Had to look back on the familiar, on the comfortable even when the Lord told her not to.

Again, as last week, we see that God used sinners to do His extraordinary work! But that’s just it; it was His glorious work, not the work of the characters of the stories. God is glorious, not the people.

Someone once said, “It’s obvious God loves ordinary people; that’s why He created so many of them.”

BE IN THE WORD

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

BE EDUCATED:

Read these stories for yourself and see exactly what you can pull out of them and what God can reveal to you. Job’s wife is of course found in the book of Job but her famous line is Job 2:9. As you read the story of Job, insert his wife into the story of all the loss. Make it real that she suffered, too. Lot’s wife is found in Genesis 19.

BE DOERS, NOT JUST HEARERS:

Consider this quote:

David Guzik, “Instead of trusting God to fulfill what He had promised, Rebekah went about to do what she thought was right in man-centered wisdom and strength. Her good intentions did not justify this self-centered approach.”

This can be said of all of the women we are going to study. So, here is the question for you this week? Have you ever stopped to consider the feelings of women around you that might motivate them to do what they do instead of just jumping to conclusions and judgements?

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I believe that when we think of the stories in the Bible, we elevate the characters of those stories as if they are more than we are or had more to offer God than us. But when we dig in and really study to understand these stories, we realize that each and everyone of them are just ordinary people, sinners, people just like you and me. Women are so very guilty of comparing themselves, judging others, and providing plenty of self talk whether positive or negative. But as we dive into 8 women over the next 4 weeks, hopefully you will cut those chains of guilt, clear your heart of judgement, and open yourselves to the saving grace God gives to all that just want to follow Him!

Today we are learning about Rebekah and Eve. We’ve spoken of these women and we’ve known their stories. But did you know:

Rebekah:

· Mothered the first set of recorded twins?

· Loved Jacob more?

· Encouraged Jacob to steal Esau’s blessing from Isaac by deceiving his father?

· Deceived her husband

· Tried to take control of God’s plan and make it her own?

· Mothered 2 nations one of which would birth Jesus Christ?

· Was chosen to fulfill God’s plan even with her sin?

Eve:

· Was easily deceived by the serpent?

· Tempted her husband, Adam, to sin along with her?

· Hid from God?

· Desired more?

· Mothered all nations?

· Was created by God with His own hands as the first woman?

· Was chosen to fulfill God’s plan even with her sin?

As you see here, God used sinners to do His extraordinary work! But that’s just it; it was His glorious work, not the work of the characters of the stories. God is glorious, not the people.

Someone once said, “It’s obvious God loves ordinary people; that’s why He created so many of them.”

BE IN THE WORD:

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

BE EDUCATED:

Read these stories for yourself and see exactly what you can pull out of them and what God can reveal to you. Rebekah is found in Genesis 25-28. And the story of Eve’s sin is Genesis 3.

BE DOERS, NOT JUST HEARERS:

Consider this quote:

David Guzik, “Instead of trusting God to fulfill what He had promised, Rebekah went about to do what she thought was right in man-centered wisdom and strength. Her good intentions did not justify this self-centered approach.”

This can be said of all of the women we are going to study. So, here is the question for you: Do you take control of what God has called you because you think you know what is best? You might have the best of intentions even. Reflect on your own life and see where you might be more like Rebekah and Eve than you think.

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Hold onto your hats, ladies, because for the second week in a row, we're having a fun, chatty and non-exegetical conversation... and this time it's about spring break! We're coming at you hot next week with the start of a brand-new series, but thought we'd take another chance to have a laugh, sit back and share a little about some funny and some sweet things from our spring break experiences. We know you'll enjoy it! But for sure come back next week for a new series done a little differently about women in the Bible -- we think it's going to resonate with all of us!

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Well friends, it's random chat time. This is one of those episodes where we don't have a plan and we just roll with it and chat about everything from what we're cooking to what we're struggling with. Hope you enjoy this fun conversation with us!

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It's our final week discussing the book of Ruth, and we're wrapping up the series focusing on chapter 4 and our hero of the story, Boaz! He was a man who esteemed and protected Ruth, who provided for her and Naomi, and welcomed her not just into his country, but into his land, his harvest and his heart. In this episode, we explore what led to the incredible character of Boaz, where he learned such integrity and strength. The answer just may surprise you!

BE IN THE WORD:

All of Ruth, Chapter 4

“Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab.” (Matthew 1:5)

“Joshua let Rahab live.” (Joshua 6:25)

BE DOERS, NOT JUST HEARERS:

1. Who are you raising? Parents – are you raising your girls to be women of noble character like Ruth? Are you raising your boys to be strong and courageous men of God?

2. Are you willing to let your expectations go so that your life can look the way God wants it to? Ruth thought she was going to live in Moab with her husband and raise a family there. But she was willing to let go of all the expectations of how she thought her life would go, and because of that, God was able to pour out blessings she did not have room to contain.

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Nope, no April Fool's joke here... it's time for a new #podcast episode in the #BeNoble series! When opportunity presents itself, we all have choices to make on how we will approach that opportunity. In today’s podcast, we will see how Ruth does an amazing job of showing us how to be teachable but responsive, how to humble but yet bold, how to get what she wants but wait on the delivery. Life and all that it has to offer often comes down to timing and opportunity. But if we always wait for life to happen and are not willing to be part of the process, we will miss out on abundance. Be willing to learn about Ruth and see if you can’t learn from who would be the great-grandmother of King David!

BE IN THE WORD:

“I will do whatever you say,” Ruth answered. (Ruth 3:5)

BE EDUCATED:

1. John Piper 4 week series Book of Ruth. John Piperwants to refresh and encourage us by leading us through the book of Ruth, a book he calls a “beautiful story”.

2. Ruth, Under the Wings of God book about the book of Ruth, John Piper.

3. The Living Room Series, Ruth by Kelly Minter. A 6-week Bible study series on the book of Ruth

4. David Guzik Commentary on Ruth 3

BE DOERS, NOT JUST HEARERS:

1. Do you feel like you approach situations like Ruth? If not, where can you grow?

2. Identify a place in your life where you need to become part of the process and not just a spectator? Now, how can you approach it the way Ruth approached Boaz?

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At first glance, it seems that this second chapter of Ruth is full of blessings and open doors for Ruth because of her dedication to provide for Naomi. But a deeper look shows us that while God’s blessing and favor are indeed bestowed on her, it’s more a direct result of her inner character and the integrity she possesses in all she put her hands to. Ruth wasn’t afraid to work hard. She possessed a good, old-fashioned work ethic; she was willing to humble herself, put her hand to the dirt, and provide by whatever means necessary. And she did it cheerfully. Can we say the same? Listen in as we explore many powerful lessons from Ruth this week!

BE IN THE WORD:

Ruth, Chapter 2

BE EDUCATED:

1. 10 Powerful Lessons from the Book of Ruth

2. Five Lessons from Ruth

3. Be Healthy podcast episodes with Tracy Hurst: Part 1, Part 2

4. Dear God It’s Me and It’s Urgent.This is the book of prayers for women Monica referenced in the episode.

BE DOERS, NOT JUST HEARERS:

1. Like Ruth, what difficulties has God used to accomplish great plans in your life? What losses, hardships and struggles has He seen you through, where you today can firmly say with faith, “the Lord saw me through it and His fingerprints were all over it?”

2. If someone were writing a book about you, what characteristics would they write about you? Would they be positive or negative? Who are you when no one is watching?

3. What’s your approach toward hard work? Truthfully and honestly, do you work hard, with excellence being your calling card, at all God has asked you to do? Is there an area God is nudging you to quit “praying about” and instead get out and do what you can? This isn’t about hustle, but about using what’s in your hand.

For more resources, make sure to visit our website.

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Without a doubt, we all have times of suffering in our lives. Some of those times are worse than others, but man... when we are down, we are down, and there's nothing comfortable about it. Even if you are able to be more like Joseph and never lose your faith in God’s plans and purposes, or if you are more like Naomi and feel like God has afflicted you, tough times are tough. Hurting times hurt. But there is a silver lining, friend. God does not allow despair in our lives without a purpose and plan. The hard part is trusting Him in that plan and being willing to suffer for the good of that plan. Will you join me today and grow and learn from Naomi and Ruth? Will you be willing to trust God in your suffering? Trust that His plans are higher than ours.

BE IN THE WORD:

But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” (Ruth 1: 16-17)

BE EDUCATED:

1. John Piper 4-week series Book of Ruth chapter 1, John Piperwants to refresh and encourage us by leading us through the book of Ruth, a book he calls a “beautiful story”.

2. Ruth, Under the Wings of God, book about the book of Ruth, John Piper.

3. The Living Room Series, Ruth by Kelly Minter, a 6-week Bible study series on the book of Ruth

BE DOERS, NOT JUST HEARERS:

1. Are you more like Naomi or Joseph? Do you believe that God works all things together for His good? Are you willing for His good to be more important than your good?

2. Change your perspective. Just as we finished our Be Thinkers Series, where do you need to see the small cracks of light even in the midst of your darkness?

For more resources, make sure to visit our website.

You can also find us on Facebook, Twitterand Instagram.

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We're kicking off a brand-new series today, and we're doing something a little different. Listen in as we dive into the details of the book of Ruth, learning more about Naomi, Ruth, Boaz, and how God interrupted the lives of very ordinary, everyday women to leave a legacy that led to Jesus Himself. You don't want to miss this series! So grab a cup of coffee, settle in and learn more about this woman of noble character. 

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For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com. 

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree. 

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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It's our final #podcast episode of the #BeThinkers series! We hope you've been as encouraged and as challenged as we have been to elevate our mindsets and be transformed by the renewing of our minds. This week's episode is our Deep Dive and Wrap-Up, where we share personal thoughts and feelings about the series and how we're walking through Being Thinkers on a personal level. Listen in, enjoy, and tune in next week for the kick-off to a brand-new series on the Book of Ruth called Be Noble!

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com. 

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree. 

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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It's one of our favorite features each #podcast series, our Women of the Bible episode! This week we discuss several women who we feel embody these attributes of thinking we've been studying.

TRUE + HONEST

Sarah, wife to Abraham. She fell into the trap of believing lies and fact over Truth:

LIE: Sarah’s words in Genesis 16:2: “The Lord has prevented me from having children.”
FACT: God had not opened her womb to have children to this point.
TRUTH: God said to Abraham, “Look up toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them. So will your descendants be.”

LIE: I’m an old, wrinkled and weathered woman who can not only bear children but has zero desire to even have sex with my old, withered husband.
FACT: I am physically past childbearing years. Medically impossible.
TRUTH: Spoken by God Himself in Genesis 18: “Is anything too difficult for the Lord?”

JUST + PURE:

Mary, mother of Jesus

She was pure physically, ethically, levitically

Just in a wide sense, upright, righteous, virtuous, keeping the commands of God; only Christ truly- approved of or acceptable of God

LOVELY + GOOD REPORT

Mary, mother of Jesus again!

“Yet from time to time God gave Mary LITTLE BITS OF OPEN HEAVEN, to strengthen her faith and keep her looking, ‘not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.’" (Mary Elizabeth Baxter)

“Mary pondered frequently. This wasn’t tucking something away in the dark recesses of her heart, but rather a holding of them closely so that she could feel and touch and smell them.” (Graceful Abandon)

“This (treasuring, pondering) is a beautiful way to grow in the Lord. Let Him bring new, possibly scary, potentially overwhelming things your way and respond with thoughtful contemplation instead of riotous emotion.” (Graceful Abandon)

VIRTUE + PRAISE:

Ruth, daughter-in-law to Naomi

For someone to have virtue means that they have the ability to withstand opposition, to make wise decisions in difficult situations, and to claim what is rightfully theirs even when everything around them is in disagreement.

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And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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In a world filled with distraction, sin and trauma, how many “things” a day would you say you think on that are excellent and praiseworthy? If you are anything like Sara, focusing on the negative is so much easier than on the positive. But in her studies this week, she was reminded of a small scene in Peter Pan that is so appropriate:

Peter is in the children's bedroom; they have seen him fly; and they wish to fly too. They have tried it from the floor and they have tried it from the beds and the result is failure. "How do you do it?" John asked. And Peter answered: "You just think lovely, wonderful thoughts and they lift you up in the air."

That sentiment is a little sappy but it also contains a measure of truth. The only way to defeat evil thoughts is to learn to think differently.

BE IN THE WORD:

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things." (Philippians 4:8)

BE EDUCATED:

1. Think On These ThingsAn article that breaks down each of the words Paul instructs us to think on.

2. The Perfect Youauthor Dr. Caroline Leaf. We have incredible minds that are truly worth celebrating. We must also remember, however, that with the incredible power in our minds come responsibility for how we use it: we cannot escape the consequences of our choices.
3. Bigger Than I Thought You Were by Passion Music. This is the song Monica talks about.

BE DOERS, NOT JUST HEARERS:

“You are special. You are unique. You have a particular way of thinking, feeling, and choosing that acts like a filter through which you experience reality. It shapes the worldview you build into your mind, which in turn shapes your future thoughts, feelings, words and behavior. If this filter is broken, your perception of reality can become distorted. If you are bitter or have low self-esteem, for example, your world view can become clouded by toxic thinking, which in turn shapes your mindset and actions…trauma and sin can interrupt your design.” (Dr. Caroline Leaf)

1. Do you know you? How well do you know yourself? Your personality? Your natural tendencies?
2. Is your filter broken? What has happened to you that you might be hanging onto aware or unaware that is distorting your reality?

“It is important to remember that thoughts are made into habits through deliberate, repeated, and conscious cognitive thinking. This type of thinking has to occur for a minimum of 3 cycles of 21 days in order for the true understanding to take place.”

1. Are you trying to develop new ways of thinking? What deliberate strategies have you put into place in order to change your way of thinking?

“To ensure that we stay in our Perfect You and correctly respond to the circumstances of everyday life, we need to train ourselves to consult with the Holy Spirit on a daily basis. We can ask the Holy Spirit to help us renew our mindsets and teach us how to react and behave. The Holy Spirit will guide us, if we choose to listen to him, and show us the correct way to ‘consciously veto’ our thinking, feeling and choosing. In this way, we fulfill the requirements of Scripture to constantly pray.”

1. Do you call upon the Lord, upon the Holy Spirit to help you grow and change the areas of your life you know is

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In today's culture (especially), it's easy to let our thought lives spiral on things that are ugly, frustrating, negative and disheartening. But Paul tells us to think on things that are lovely and of good report -- so what does that mean? It's not keeping yourself uninformed and ignorant of what's happening in the world around you, but rather, focusing on thoughts that help us wholly rely on God instead of ourselves; thoughts that encourage us to be undisturbed by what's happening around us (and our news feeds). 

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree. 

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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It seems there are so many “things” fighting for our attention, our focus, our minds. Paul is so very clear about making sure you mediate or think on very specific topics in an effort to perpetuating the Great Commission in our lives. Today, talk about Just and Pure thinking, and the ramifications of where your roots truly lie can have on your world!

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com. 

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree. 

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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The very first thing in Philippians 4:8 that Paul tells us to think about are things that are TRUE and HONEST. In today's culture, where the phrase "my truth" is peppered around like confetti, what does the Bible mean about thinking things that are True and Honest? We'll give you a hint: it has nothing to do with us. Listen in to this week's #BeThinkers #podcast as Monica dives into what it means to center your thoughts on Truth and Honesty!

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com. 
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It's the introduction to our new series, Be Thinkers! This week, Sara and Monica share what it means to be aware of your thought life, and what the Bible has to say to encourage us to Be Thinkers according to God. Listen in and be challenged!

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com. 

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree. 

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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Welcome to a brand-new year, and a brand-new kick-off to an exciting podcast season! Before we jump in to a new series (come back on Jan 21 for it!), we thought we'd first take a minute to catch you up on some life stuff. Sara has had a major life change in the past few months, and we wanted to give her a chance to share the news. (All good, no worries there.) Get yourself a cup of coffee and sit back and hear her heart. And then be sure to tune in on Monday for the start of our newest series, Be Thinkers!

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com. 

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree. 

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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Guys, it's the last podcast episode for 2018! We hope you've enjoyed this Be words series as much as we have. This final episode in the series encompasses the word Belong, and we dive into it in two parts: belonging to God, and belonging to each other. Listen in as we explore what each of these means to us as believers today! Listen on all #podcast apps or at bestillbefree.com/166!

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com. 

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree. 

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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“Victorious Christianity is not found in knowing a lot of theology, or manufacturing the right kind of feelings. It’s found in abiding in the presence of a Person.” (JD Greear) Not only did Jesus leave us with an advocate, helper and comforter in the Holy Spirit that would walk beside and within us, but He gave us the blueprint of how we should walk beside others. The most effective relationships are those done side-by-side. As we live out the gospel, there are times when we will go ahead and prepare the way, but those intimate relationships are done beside each other. If we walk ahead of those we lead and influence, we are pulling them or making them go at a pace they are not able to achieve. If we walk behind them, we are most likely either pushing them again at a pace they cannot achieve or we are not truly invested with them.

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com. 

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree. 

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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We get so rigid in our views of what Sabbath is and what it needs to look like. But what if we changed your mindset from Sabbath being a set day of the week to it being an intermission — a time for us to pause to catch our breath that can be any length of time God determines? The Sabbath is a GIFT from God for us to grab hold of and take, not a rigid and inflexible law. Listen in to this week’s #BeFreeFriday #podcast as Monica shares why we always take a Sabbath here at Be Still Be Free, and why we need one personally, especially this time of year!

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com. 

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree. 

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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Becoming is an active word that means entering into a new state or condition. Jesus took a slightly more intentional spin on the word by meaning, “become what you believe.” So the question we have to ask ourselves is – what are we believing? What we believe is what we become, and boy does that put some responsibility back on us! 

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com. 

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree. 

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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Happy #BeFreeFriday y'all! This week we switched it up and did a video episode from the top of Kennesaw Mountain! Watch the video on Facebook or at bestillbefree.com/bff129. We chat about struggles and triumphs in 2018, and about plans and recipes for Thanksgiving (visit the blog for details!). It's a spontaneous, non-fancy episode we think you'll enjoy. 

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com. 

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree. 

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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Suppose you were walking along a path and you came to a bridge which crossed a deep canyon. You might look at it and believe that it would hold you, and you might even see other people walking across it so you know it would hold your weight. But so far, your “belief” in the bridge is only in your head. When do you really believe the bridge will hold you? You only really believe it when you are willing to commit your life to it and actually walk across it. 

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com. 

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree. 

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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In this week's #BeFreeFriday, Monica gets honest about a couple seemingly innocent questions that ended up exposing some things in her heart that God wanted to address. Maybe you can relate! 

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com. 

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree. 

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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There’s a Because to all of our trials -- a reason that we go through what we go through. But what does the Bible say about Because? The reasons may be different than you think, and go deeper than you think! 

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com. 

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree. 

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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It's easy to say that we believe IN something, but perhaps we really believe ABOUT it more than IN it. How about your faith? Do we really believe IN God or do we just believe ABOUT Him? Listen in today as Sara talks with us about The Bridge; learn quickly where you are on your journey of believing.

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity 

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It’s part two of our special 5-year anniversary celebration featuring an in-depth chat with the men beneath our wings, Chris and Greg. Enjoy the wrap-up of this fun, honest and hilarious conversation around the table. And be sure to tune in next week for a brand-new series! 

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com. 

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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You guys! Today is our 5-year anniversary of podcasting, can you believe it?? To mark this amazingly momentous occasion, we decided it was time for you to meet the men behind the women. In this week's episode, we introduce you to Chris and Greg, Sara and Monica's other halves. Listen in as they discuss everything... or at least attempt to. There are guaranteed a lot of laughs, and some sweet and tender moments as well. Enjoy! 

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com. 

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree. 

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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In this week’s #BeFreeFriday, Monica shares about the faithfulness of God and how it never fails, never gives up.

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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It's our Everyday Woman interview, but we decided to switch it up...and we've "interviewed" you! In this final episode on the Proverbs 31 woman, we compiled audio recordings from our listeners of what the Proverbs 31 woman means to them. It's a short and sweet episode filled with wisdom from the very best women around -- our listeners. Enjoy!

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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In this week's #BeComplete #podcast, we're looking at how women in the Bible exemplified the characteristics of the Proverbs 31 woman...and you may be surprised by how they reflect her!

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com. You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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Have you ever stopped to think about what you think about? In a Craig Groeschel podcast Sara recently listened to, he asks this question and she hasn't stopped thinking about it since. Just as last time together she chatted about the half-glass-full, this week she will continue with the idea of how important mindset is and where it can take us. But not only do we need to think on good things, Sara believes we need to enjoy good things also and shares one of her favorite guilty pleasures.

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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When we think of the "work" the Proverbs 31 woman did, we begin to hyperventilate thinking about how busy she was and how she was Pinterest-perfect before it was a thing. But what if she loved her work and it fed her soul? What if her work was a natural overflow of her God-given gifts & abilities?

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

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Our days may seem monotonous, like they're running on a loop, waking up to the exact same thing day after day like Groundhog's Day, but praise the Lord His mercies and compassions aren't. Every day when we wake up, God has freshly poured out mercies, kindness, goodness and favor for us - rivers that run fully and constantly and never run dry. As soon as our feet hit the floor, they are there - fresh and new and ready for us to receive, if we position ourselves and allow ourselves to. In this week's Be Free Friday, Monica shares a solution to getting out of a Groundhog's Day mindset!

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Where do I even start? Trying to sum up these 5 verses and our 30-minute conversation into one paragraph proves to me to be a challenge this week! So, here's to the challenge of 5 sentences. Do not be discouraged by these verses. Our "woman of wisdom" was so much more than a doer. Let me put it this way -- each of us will live out our version of wisdom, and though we all can use Proverbs 31 as a model, our actions will all look different. However, the spirit of demonstration should be about the same. For it is the spirit of wisdom that should shine out of us all and onto the lives of those we influence. She, this woman of wisdom, is merely a guide, an inspiration, an encouragement of how things can and should be for each of us and that at the end of the journey our heavenly father will praise us all.

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In a world that is ever present with opportunity for negativity, discouragement, and disappointment, it is important that we find a way to remind ourselves to stay positive and stay hopeful. Proverbs 17:22 says “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” God tells us in His Word that not only is a cheerful heart good for you, it is like medicine…good medicine. So, how can you today find ways to help you remain positive and cheerful? Fill that glass half full and place it somewhere you can see it every day! Listen in as Sara talks about seeing the world “half glass full” and then wraps up her positive take on a product she loves! For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com. You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree. And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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Only 1/5 of the P31 passage discusses the relationship of husband & wife; it's important, but it doesn't COMPLETE you. Tune in to this week's #podcast to hear how this union is unique, but how to apply it even if you don't have a spouse!

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Welcome back to our weekly Be Free Fridays after summer break! As you know, we've launched a new series called Be Complete, a focus on the Proverbs 31 woman. But instead of doing our typical Everyday Woman Interview for this series, we thought it would be amazing to hear from all of you about what the Proverbs 31 woman means to you! So consider this our official ask for your help. Send us a 2-3 min voice recording of your answer, and we'll compile them all into a single episode where we can all share our thoughts! Email your recording to monica@bestillbefree.com. We can't wait to hear from you!

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Rachel Held Evans says, "Too often, we focus on the Proverbs 31 Woman's roles as a way of reducing womanhood to marriage, motherhood, and domesticity, when really, this passage is about character that transcends both gender and circumstance…be careful of focusing on marriage, motherhood, and domesticity, or career when it is not our roles that define us, but the integrity and bravery we bring to those roles."

In this week's episode, we dive into the character the Proverbs 31 women possesses, and how who she is enables her to do what she is called to do!

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We're back from summer break and are kicking off a brand-new series called Be Complete! This series is a study of the Proverbs 31 woman, and don't fret, we're here to de-bunk a lot of assumptions we have previously made and demonstrate that she is meant for us to have joy that is complete.

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It’s our Deep Dive and Wrap-Up for the entire Be Fruitful series. We cannot believe it's already over! Join Sara and Monica on a discussion of all the fruits of the spirit and a recap of our series from January - present, as we share what we loved, what challenged us, what inspired us. As we take the summer off, we encourage you to reach out and let us know some topics you might like to see us cover in the fall!

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Sometimes when life feels overwhelming and circumstances threaten to choke you, the first thing God wants you to do is go to Him and let it all out... not stuff it down and ignore it. In this week's #BeFreeFriday, Monica shares how getting raw and vulnerable is sometimes exactly what we need in order to begin healing and move forward.

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It's time for our Everyday Woman interview! In this week's #BeFruitful #podcast, we talk with listener Kathleen and what she's learned about faithfulness, gentleness and self-control in the past year. You don't want to miss this!

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Do you find it hard to stay in the Word during the summer? Schedules are wonky, routines change, and before you know it days go by and you have not spent time with Jesus? Today Sara shares some practical ideas for summertime devotionals that can include family or be just for yourself. The trick is being willing to think outside the box and find Jesus just about anywhere and how you need! For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com. You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree. And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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In this week's #BeFruitful #podcast, we're looking at how women in the Bible exemplified the fruits of Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control...and a few may be a little unconventional!

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When we think about growing our fruits, it's easy to assume they're going to grow in only in our quiet time or when we sit to pray specifically about it. We forget that there are real-life situations we encounter every single day that give us opportunities -- and most often, those real-life situations are going to bump up against our icky humanity and challenge our normal, typical fleshly responses.

But this is exactly the fertile ground that's begging to be watered in order for fruit to be fed.

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The fruit of self-control isn't something we muster up on our own, but rather a confident and assured power that though a temptation be present, we have Christ’s strength and divine power to resist! That changes everything!

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Have you ever heard the quote, "The family that prays together stays together?" Well, the same has been said with "The family the eats together stays together."But how do we accomplish this in simple and easy ways that work with the crazy schedules that seep into our lives? This week Sara shares a few of her practical approaches to spending time around the table or even closing the day with "table talk" but not the kitchen. Keeping it simple is what it's all about! For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com. You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree. And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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Focus on the Family describes gentleness is a strong hand with a soft touch. It is a tender, compassionate approach toward others' weaknesses and limitations. A gentle person still speaks truth, sometimes even painful truth, but in doing so guards his tone so the truth can be well received. In my family we would even add "and guards his or her facial expressions!". When Paul wrote to the church of Galatia, he knew that they were having problems with conflict, frustration, division. His instruction on gentleness was built on the foundation of what he knew gentleness could do.

• Gentleness turns away wrath and anger: A gentle answer turns away wrath but a harsh word stirs up anger Proverbs 15:1

• Gentleness brings about life: Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. Proverbs 15:4

• Gentleness can restore: Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. Galatians 6:1

• Gentleness demonstrates our commitment to God not to cause dissention and division but peace and unity of the body of Christ so as to have a bigger impact on Kingdom building.

Gal 6:10, "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good (demonstration of the fruits) to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Bearing fruit is going to happen no matter what. The question is what will your fruit of gentleness look like? Will it be beautiful, full, abundant? Or will it be shriveled up, rotten, empty?

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Faithfulness is the one fruit we actually give back to God as well as display for humankind. All the other gifts are really centered around how we share the gospel with the world. But faithfulness is worshipping what is NOT seen and not what IS seen. It says, “I trust you God," and shows the world we trust God. We're getting down to the last three fruits -- make sure to tune in for gentleness and self control in the coming weeks!

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So often God will answer a long-awaited prayer, but we’re so excited about having a next step we jump into action before pausing to say thank you. This week Monica shares about how necessary it is for us to take a minute to stop and express our gratitude to God before rushing into doing.

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Do you shy away from the idea of hospitality because it's not your thing? Or perhaps it is your thing but you don't have the time or resources? Today, Sara shares practical ways of loving on the ones near and dear to our hearts without having to be Pinterest perfect! For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com. You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree. And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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It’s our Deep Dive and Wrap-Up for Part 2 of the #BeFruitful series! Tune in to hear how Sara, Amber and Monica all personally connect to the fruits of Patience, Kindness and Goodness, in a deeper, more personal way. Also note, we're taking off next week, but back on Monday, April 23 with the kick-off to Part 3 covering Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control!

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Lindsey P. Brackett writes southern fiction, reads widely, and cooks big family meals but complains about the dishes. Someday she might be able to balance motherhood and writing full-time. Until then, she's just very grateful for her public school system. In this week's Every Day Woman Interview, Amber talks with Lindsey Brackett an author, director, and mom of 4! Listen as they discuss snack day fails, tv shows, and how we can all use a little more patience!

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Maybe we feel like we're losing the battle because we haven't put on the right gear! Wearing the proper armor can be transformational, instilling the holy confidence needed to be victorious.

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It's Women of the Bible time! In this week's episode, we explore how Hannah, Lydia and the maid of Naaman's wife displayed the fruits of patience, kindness and goodness.

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Have you ever had a disagreement or argument with someone you love and wanted to just give up or throw your hands up? Sara shares how a recent conflict led to God speaking clearly to her about passionately pursuing the cause of Christ. For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com. You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree. And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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The fruit of goodness is not just "being a good person" in the eyes of the world. It's actually mirroring the goodness of God... shining light in places that are dark and in desperate need of GOD'S OWN goodness.

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Sometimes the internal and external noise in our lives distracts us from not only hearing God, but experiencing Him too. In this week's 5-minute #BeFreeFriday encouragement, Monica shares how intentionally creating space and stillness for God radically changed her week.

Here's a link to the playlist Monica references this week: https://itunes.apple.com/us/playlist/anthems-take-heart/pl.u-25rDc88a9We

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What’s the difference in kindness and niceness? In this episode, Amber talks about the cultural expectations that require niceness as a baseline in civility, and the ever rising investment of love that is required to be kind.

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We've been doing a series for our Podcast on the Fruits of the Holy Spirit and this week I led the discussion on Be Patient! Yes, I know we all sigh at the same time whenever we hear the title Be Patient. We discussed 3 ideas behind finding patience: Pray, Pause, and Prepare. But this week as I have been spending a little extra time in prayer, I felt as though God was showing me how I need to practice "pausing" with Him. Sure, I pray to Him about changing me, read books and do Bible studies, but when He doesn't answer me the way I want or when I want do I pause? Do I practice being long-tempered with God? I am quite certain many times the answer is NO. But Isaiah 40:31 gives us great encouragement. Let us all practice the pause with our loving God and allow this fruit to grow us even closer! For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com. You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree. And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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We have all laughed at some point either at ourselves or at others for praying for patience. Why in the world would we do that? Praying for Patience is like asking God to bring fire down upon you; can I get an amen? However, patience is without a doubt very important to God as he names is a Fruit of the Holy Spirit. So then, how do we perfect this part of our faith? How do we grow and nurture this fruit?

1. Pray that God would change you. Ask my Spirit within you to order your day and control your thoughts, for the mind controlled by the Spirit is Life and Peace. (Jesus Calling)

2. Practice Pause. Practice Pause: Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you're about to act harshly and you'll avoid doing and saying things you'll later regret. Lori Deschene

3. Prepare your mind. Phil 4:8-9 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Makrothumia, which is used in Galatians 5:22, is a compound formed by makros ("long") and thumos ("passion" or "temper"). "Patience" in Galatians 5:22 literally means "long temper," in the sense of "the ability to hold one's temper for a long time." The KJV translates it "longsuffering." In other words you can suffer and endure much without complaining.

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Fear manifests itself as so different than just fear. Are you struggling with defensiveness? Anger? Lack of control? Maybe the problem is really rooted in fear. This week, Monica shares with us how God revealed to her that she was wrestling with a fear problem, and how He is helping her conquer.

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This week Monica is sharing about how maybe crucifying our flesh means more than killing our selfish desires and passions...maybe it also involves crucifying our expectations about how God will work, too.

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It’s our Deep Dive and Wrap-Up for Part 1 of the #BeFruitful series! Tune in to hear how Sara, Amber and Monica all personally connect to each of these fruits, and share in a deeper, more personal way. And note we’ll be off next week, but back on Monday, March 5 with the kick-off to Part 2 covering Patience, Kindness and Goodness!

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So far this year has been filled with opposition and adversity, but God gave me an ah-ha moment through a recent Jesus Calling devotional. This moment, well, it all boiled down to one sentence that has now become a morning prayer for me. Do you struggle with worry or anxiety or fear? Or how about the ability to calm your mind and give it all over to God? For me, I have been trying to grow and change through this journey but have realized once again that I am trying to accomplish this on my own, as a human, filled of flesh and sin. HOWEVER, we have an advocate! Listen in as I encourage you (and myself) about this advocate and the key to true Life and Peace.

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It's time for one of our favorite features each series -- the Everyday Woman interview! Meet Nikki Corbin, who has learned (sometimes the hard way?) how to live displaying the fruits of the spirit despite circumstances that would dictate otherwise.

Nikki Corbin currently serves as Director of Development at the Christian Training Center International in Franklin, NC. CTCI is a ministry that is known throughout the world for its outreach to families, Christian leaders and young people. Nikki has been married to Scotty Corbin for almost 10 yrs. Scotty is the general manager for The Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts and directs and produces live shows at this venue. Together they serve their community through their stage productions and thru ministry.

You're going to love this one!

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We all have seasons in our lives where we think, “Is this it? Is this all I am? All I’m ever going to be?” We’re here to tell you in the name of Jesus, NO! You’re not finished. God has begun a good work in you and he’s not going to stop til he’s done. Listen to the episode via your preferred #podcast app or at bestillbefree.com/befreefriday108, and find the link in the show notes!

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Even though we're not doing a Women of the Bible series this year, we have loved diving into the lives of individual women and what they can teach us. So we've decided to dedicate an episode per series to women of the Bible and how they demonstrate the fruits of the spirit we're discussing. Fun, right?? Tune in today to hear us chat about Mary Magdalene, Rhoda and the Shunammite Woman and how they displayed love, joy and peace!

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Jesus tells us that we're going to have trouble here on earth, but that He's overcome the world. But what do we do in that messy middle - in the waiting - between trouble and victory? Well, lucky for us, He gives us the answer in the form of one simple command: TAKE HEART.

Here's the playlist Monica made on Apple Music for you! https://itunes.apple.com/us/playlist/anthems-take-heart/pl.u-25rDc88a9We

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You guys, Amber is back and leading us this week on the topic of peace!! Most people don't understanding peace as a positive concept. All they know is the negative aspect of peace, which is the absence of trouble. The Bible talks about peace using words like Shalom and Eirene… but what do those really mean?

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Ever feel like you are being broken? Today, Sara shares a beautiful story of how sometimes you have to be broken to see how bright you can shine. Take heart friend, you were made to glow! For more resources make sure you visit www.bestillbefree.com. You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree.com, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree. And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage, and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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The fullness of the fruit of joy in us is when it can no longer be contained; when an outward expression that joy just has to be released.

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Amber talks about letting go of expectations to embrace the beauty in the unexpected and accept that few things are actually in our control.

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According to Pulpit Commentary, love that never fails is like love that never “falls away” like the petals on a withered flower. Stop for a moment and just imagine being surrounded by love that never falls away, abandons, disappoints. My daughter, Addi, is learning about this kind of love…it’s hard and sometimes messy, not always easy to show and certainly is not always shown in return. Being a teenager in the midst of a culture that thinks that love is predicated on feelings is sure to feel like petals (and many of them) fall daily from all the flowers in your garden of life. But yet, yes, BUT YET, as believers we have everything we need sown into our souls that can give us this very rich, agape, kind of love both for ourselves and for others through the power of the Holy Spirit. This week’s podcast discusses what this love looks like, some of its characteristics. Listen in, and be encouraged to live a love-never-fails-kind-of-life!

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This week, Monica shares an encouragement on not turning your back on God and complaining in the desert, when He's proven to you at the sea He is for you!

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Welcome to 2018, sweet friends! We're thrilled to be back with a brand-new series that will carry us for the next few months - Be Fruitful. In this series, we're going to dive into each of the nine fruits of the spirit, and explore what it truly means to possess each one. After all, these are FRUITS of the spirit, which should be evident in our everyday lives as things we ARE, not gifts we have. This week's episode will introduce why we're diving into these, and the difference between works of the flesh and fruits of the spirit. Enjoy!

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Amber shares thoughts about embracing humility during this holiday season. It’s important for us, as kingdom people, to try to see the world from others’perspective.

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In this Be Free Friday, Sara shares why she loves Atlanta and the opportunities she is afforded living there. Recently she attended a women's event called Propel (led by her wanna be bff Christine Caine). Inspired by speakers at that event, Sara is sharing about containers vs contents, it had to be God, and cheering for other people. Listen in and be encouraged in your day and your purpose like she was. For more resources make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com. You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree. And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share,encourage, and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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It’s officially December, so for this week’s #BeFreeFriday, Monica put together a Holiday Gift Guide! Listen in as she gives five great gift ideas for (yourself, or) someone you love...all for under $40 each. BOOM.

Shelley Dolan Leather Earrings: http://www.shellydolen.com/

Personalized Wooden Cutting Board: https://www.etsy.com/shop/LingoSignWorks/items

Sakroots Charging Wristlet: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XKWZ3GF/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Toms Apple Watch Band and iPhone Cases: https://www.target.com/s?searchTerm=toms+apple+watch+bands https://www.target.com/s?searchTerm=toms+iphone+cases#sneakTo=52763947

Vertellis Card Game: https://www.vertellis.com/

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

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And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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It’s gratitude time! Amber talks about a few things she’s thankful for! For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com. You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree. And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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It’s our final #podcast episode in the #BeDifferent series, and we’re stunned that it’s gone by so quickly! We hope you’ve felt encouraged and empowered to be different and stand out for Jesus in your own life. This week we dive deep and share how we personally relate to each of the women we’ve discussed. It’s a final conversation about being different and what challenges us to live that out. We hope you enjoy!

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Recently, I heard the phrase "Let's Be Better Humans," and thought what an appropriate saying headed into the holidays! So many times it is easy to show the not-so-nice side of us during the hustle and bustle, but let us not forget that celebrating the holidays is something we "get" to do and not something we "have" to do. Sara encourages us to see a need, put our hearts into it and say thank you as a simple, easy to make the right kind of difference this season.

For more resources, make sure to visit us at www.bestillbefree.com.

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And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/betofethercommunity !

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Today, we get to interview another “everyday woman” and hear how God is working in her life! Listen in for the next half hour as Sara chats with a new friend of the show, Danielle Kelly, discussing how over the last few years she's had to learn to be different!

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And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

Everyday Woman #podcast interviews are our favorite! Today we talk with Danielle Kelly, and the lessons God is teaching as she leans into Being Different! https://wp.me/p2Mh7t-43uu

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Sometimes the most innocent question from the most sincere place can be a catalyst to major change in life. This week, Monica shares how God woke her up from a dazed slumber by a genuine question from someone who really cares.

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Jehosheba? Je-who? You may not have heard this name before, as Jehosheba's two-verse story will inspire you to live a life that's different and set apart for reasons that far exceed your immediate vision. Jehosheba was a woman who feared the Lord and not man, and risked it all for generations to come. Listen in as we explore what made Jehosheba different, and how who she was -- her character, her BE -- made her a perfect vessel for God to do mighty things!

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

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Esther was the unlikely queen of Persia who saved an entire nation by bravely revealing her true identity. In this episode, we discuss our own destiny to reveal our true selves through sanctification.

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What image comes to mind when you think of the word “freedom”? Amber talks about a cool experience in one of her recent dance classes and how freedom is available to each one of us. Check it out! #bestillbefree #befreefriday

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Abigail was a woman committed as wife to a drunken man but committed to God as a willing vessel. In a time when women were rarely heard from unless asked, Abigail dared to be different as she intervened in the life of David and Nabal her husband. Abigail’s willingness to be different kept a man of prophesy, David, from being rash against one man’s selfishness and foolishness.

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

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In a culture that sets above norm standards, are you giving power to people, organizations or performances to determine your worth, value and happiness? Nothing about you is a mistake because God does not make mistakes. You are perfectly crafted in His image. Listen in as Sara chats about where to find your self worth!

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This is going to be such an amazing ride over the next 6 weeks! In this series, we're going to look at what it means to stand out from the norm, embrace how God calls and sets us apart, and be different all for the glory of God and the kingdom. In this episode, we're going to first give you life updates from the three of us and then an overview of what to expect from this series. Later episodes will dive into Abigail, Esther and Jehosheba, and share an incredible Everyday Woman Interview. So make sure to subscribe the podcast on iTunes or wherever you listen to podcasts!

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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It’s so easy to slip into the pattern of expecting God to work a certain way and then crashing hard when He doesn’t cooperate with those plans. This week, Monica shares encouragement about God’s timing, our hoping, and misguided expectations.

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

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In this week's #BeFreeFriday, Amber talks about what it means to "use your voice."

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

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And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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Loving others fulfills the second greatest commandment in the Bible, however, it's often an obedience we struggle with. This week, we look at what Loving Others looks like and how it can change our lives.

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It's never easy going through the valley. And valleys can look different but they are all hard to navigate through. In today's Be Free Friday video, Sara shares with us encouragements she has experienced first hand when going through hard times. Allow yourself to be raw and vulnerable during those times. Hear how Sara did and be encouraged in your valley.

or more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

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And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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We are supposed to love God – with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. So it seems that loving ourselves would be a natural byproduct of loving God the way we’re supposed to love Him. Enjoy this encore of a favorite!

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Have you found yourself living by the clock with a level of intensity that leaves no room for joy in the moment? This week Monica encourages us to reclaim the joy that Christ died to give us! Watch at www.bestillbefree.com or Facebook, or listen to the audio through your favorite #podcast app! #BeFreeFriday

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

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How can we love God and what does it look like to love Him in the rhythms of grace? Listen as we dive into this on this encore episode!

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

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Amber’s back this week and she's talking about the masks we wear to cope with life!

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

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And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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As we readjust from some major life changes and prepare for a brand new series, we thought we'd replay one of our most favorite series, and the one that has resonated the most with early listeners. In this episode we talk about how Jesus Himself shows His agape love for us and toward us!

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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Do we get upset with God for allowing difficult times or even persecution? What about when we have conflict? Do we flee instead of persevere? Or do we stay long enough for restoration? I Peter 4 & 5 are full of great encouragement written during a time of great Christian persecution. We must keep doing that which is right because God will restore us! And here's the podcast Sara references in the video:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/life-church-craig-groeschel-audio/id73802266?mt=2&i=1000391521441

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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In this week’s #BeFreeFriday, we’re looking at several different and creative ways we can love our neighbors in Houston, and be the hands and feet of Jesus! Go to www.bestillbefree.com to watch and link to the various opportunities we have to serve!

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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Sometimes it's easy to forget that God's heart aches when we ache, and He longs to comfort us when we need it. This week Monica shares a personal situation where God revealed how compassionate He is toward His children, and how tender His heart is toward us.

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It's Be Free Friday, we're back and couldn't be more excited! In light of all the negatively charged emotions, conversations and actions that have been prevalent lately, Sara has a challenge for us that directly reflects the great commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves! Are you ready for some fun? Are you ready to be part of a challenge? Listen now and help start a thread of positivity in only a few minutes!

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

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And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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It's not only the final episode in the Be Willing series, it's our last episode for the summer break! We pray each year as we approach the summer that by our pausing to take time off, that it gives you permission to stop some things as well, in order to embrace some stillness and rest.

We hope you've loved getting to know these women of the Bible as much as we have! This week in our group deep dive, where we get a chance to be more transparent and open about where we struggle, and how Mary, Deborah and Pharaoh's Daughter have inspired us and challenged us for the better.

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

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Today, we get to interview another “everyday woman” and hear how God is working in her life. Sara spends the next 30 minutes chatting with her personal friend, Jeni Canaan, and how over the last year she has had to learn to have a “palms-up” kind of willingness. Life was going ok and she was in a good rhythm, though it was busy and full of challenges. And then she just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, causing her life to turn upside town. But not only did her life get twisted, her faith did as well. She wrestled with God and asked faith challenging questions like “God where are you?” She even wrestled with that tricky question when life gets crazy “God do you love me?”

A year later and many lessons in, Jeni has been able to move beyond the hurt and worry of her experience, and has landed in a new space in her life. As a mover and a shaker, her career has been of utmost importance in her life. Now, she has decided to step away and take some time to Be Still! Not only that, her experience has opened up a whole new and somewhat scary place where she doesn’t have it all figured out. But this she knows -- God is good. He DOES love us. and all things can work together for good. she continues to live in a palm-up kinda fashion instead of closed fist. What will her next step be? She has no idea. But that’s okay! She is WILLING!

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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Today is our Practical Application Day! Come sit with us and hear how we are trying to apply what we are learning into our own lives. See if there is a practical application that might speak to your heart and that might be a tool you can use to become more of the person God has for you. Putting what you learn into practice will begin the process of helping you break old habits and create new ones! You can do it and we want to do it with you!

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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Is there something you’re waiting on God to bring to fulfillment in your life? In this week’s #BeFreeFriday, we’re talking about what it looks like to wait well, and how to thrive in that slow motion process of becoming!

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

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And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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The roles we play in everyday life are often unnoticed, overlooked, forgotten, deemed inconsequential, considered frivolous, of no great value or that they have nothing significant to contribute – and yet, what we are willing to draw up out of the water just might be the catalyst that brings freedom to an entire nation (or generation). In this week’s episode, we dive into the life of Pharaoh’s daughter, and how even though we only get 5 verses of her story, God uses the core of who she is to bring about the greatest story of freedom in the old testament!

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

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Humility means putting other’s first by giving up what you think you deserve.

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

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Deborah was a wife, a prophetess, an agitator, a ruler, a warrior, and a poetess. She was willing to step into any role and take a stand on behalf of Yahweh no matter the cost!

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

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And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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In today’s #BeFreeFriday, Monica shares a story of a friend of hers who is choosing life in the face of death, and what it means to live in the power of Christ’s resurrection.

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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Mary, the mother of the one true King! What an amazing task to be chosen by God the mother the Son of Man…to give birth to Him as well as raise Him for God’s will.  Can you imagine raising your son knowing that He will one day give His life so that others might live? One would think this women to be of noble blood (which Mary was coming from the line of King David but all nobility had been lost in the years since David’s rule), she would be educated, well to-do, somebody. But instead, God chose a peasant girl whom not much is knows of. She lived in the poor and nothing town of Nazareth and was young…very young. But the one thing that Mary did have that was measured above all else was her willingness. She was willing to be chosen to do God’s will even when it meant she might loser her upcoming marriage and reputation. She was willing even though she had nothing to really offer this King.  She was willing even though she was young and had not even really experienced life.   How about you? Are you willing? This poses an interesting question to me, because although I would like to think I am willing, when it comes down to it I’m not sure.  Honestly speaking we have to be faithful in the little things to be entrusted with the big things. The little things…do I spend time with God daily? Do I love others like I should? Do I make just choices? Things that should be daily and just a part of who I am.  Could I have kept the secret of who Jesus was until it was His time? So many questions with unanswered questions.     But this I do know…it doesn’t matter because Mary already did it. She offered her life to serve God.  Her faith in her heart made her strong enough to grow Jesus in her womb. And she never left His side even that day on the cross. Mary was not worried about position or recognition but willingness and obedience. How beautiful is she?

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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Do you wrestle with how God can allow bad things to happen in life or whether He really does stay by our side? Today we're talking about not panicking when things don't go right, and believing in the promise that He will never leave us or abandon us! Are you willing to trust His promises?

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

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And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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What does it mean to truly #BeWilling to do what God says and go where He leads...and what do the women in the Bible teach us about willingness? In today's episode, we introduce you to this brand-new series, and give you a taste of what we have to share about Mary, Deborah and Pharaoh’s Daughter!

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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Sometimes we disqualify ourselves from the race God has planned for us by getting bogged down with weights and burdens that aren't ours to carry. And sometimes we get disqualified for running in a race that's not even our own to run. This week, Monica shares about what it means to truly cast off the things that keep us from our own race, and the key to being victorious as we run.

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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It's our final episode in the Be Redeemed series, and we hope you have loved getting to know some women of the Bible as much as we have! This week, we're doing a group deep dive, where we get a chance to be more transparent and open about where we struggle, and how Rahab, Sarah and the Tamars have inspired us. It's a fun wrap-up to yet another of our favorite series!

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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“Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm.” Find encouragement in these words from Job.

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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In July 2013, Noelle Moore lived every parent’s worst nightmare. She arrived at the hospital to give birth—to her first child, a little girl named Finley—and a few days later, left with only her husband. Their daughter would never come home with them.

As the doctors removed the tube from her daughter’s nose and the IV drip from her foot, Finley’s brief life came to an end.

In the months that followed, Moore’s family and friends provided her with emotional support. But Moore was in a particularly bad place; not only had she lost her beloved daughter, but her dad had passed away a few months earlier. And only a
 few weeks after losing her only child, she came home to an empty house—her husband had left her.

Listen to this Everyday Woman interview as Noelle tells her how her grief turned to hope and a desire to help others suffering the same type of loss. Truly a story of God's redemption!

For more information on The Finley Project, visit http://www.thefinleyproject.org/

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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Life is full of seasons, just like nature. Ecclesiastes 3 talks about seasons of grief, happiness, healing and hurting, as well as living and dying. What season are you in? Are you on a mountain looking out over the horizon, or are you in the valley feeling despair? Or maybe you are in a season more of giving and serving and saying no to things you might want or wish to do. The glory is that you are never stuck in the same place for more than the time God wills you there. Just as the leaves fall and wither, new life is born in the spring. Be where you are in the moment and stop to learn and grow and enjoy the moment. Never rush the process of the changing of the season!

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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So often we forget that Christ has extended us grace upon grace upon grace...and when we forget, it keeps us from being able to extend grace to those around us who need it the most. In this week’s #BeFreeFriday, we talk about showing grace out of the overflow of it that we’ve received!

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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Sarah, whose name means "princess," was mother of many kings. How interesting that she alone only bore 1 child, and yet, God promised Abraham to the be the "Father of many nations" making her the mother of many of those nations. But Hagar, her maidservant, would also be the mother of many nations. Why? Because of something I think every single one of use women can relate to...Sarah took matters into her own hands. She didn't believe she would ever have a child and thought Hagar could be the answer giving her to Abraham to have a child. And though she was loyal to Abraham, she compromised her purity by agreeing to be his sister instead of his wife not once but twice! Again, I think every woman can relate to a time in her life when she did not stand up for truth either out of fear, lack of courage, or just plain apathy. AND YET (I love those 2 words because it feels like something exciting is about to happen) God redeemed her each and every time that she did not trust in Him to work His will in His time in His way no matter how impossible it felt. God is oh so good! Listen in today and hear how God used a sinful woman to do His work. To be the mother of the line of David and hence the line of Jesus. Do you need to be redeemed? Do you need to submit to God? Let Sarah be your inspiration!

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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Questions of faith especially from young children can be so cute like one a nephew of Sara's recently asked "Will there be Disney World in Heaven?" But as adults, unanswered questions can sometimes rock our faith. Take confidence in knowing though, that our Lord's plans protect us even when we don't know the answers. Today, Sara is talking about a promise from God that will encourage us to stand firm in our faith even with unanswered questions.

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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Tamar the daughter-in-law of Judah posed as a prostitute to regain her rightful inheritance. Tamar the daughter of David had her rightful inheritance violently ripped away. Tamar the daughter of Absalom represents the value, righteousness, and justice that God will restore to them all.

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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In this week's #BeFreeFriday, we explore what it looks like when you put your training into practice out in the real world!

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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Rahab, commonly called a harlot in the Bible, believed that the God who could part the Red Sea could save her with a red cord, and redeem her past in order to create a new future. Despite her scandalous past and multitude of sins, Rahab went from being a woman used by men to a woman who influenced men and forged a new family tree of holiness. Listen to this week’s episode as we discover that God already knew the redemption He planned to bring forth through Rahab, and how her BE helped the Israelites conquer an entire city.

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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Today we are talking about being vessels of restoration from 2 Corinthians 13:11-14!

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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Today we are kicking off a new series called Be Redeemed. While diving into the lives of Sarah, Rahab and the three Tamars, we will discover just how God uses the ordinary and the sinful to do extraordinary things. These women were wives, mothers, daughters, business owners, risk takers, influencers and ultimately followers of God. But each of them carried with them the need for redemption. Listen in as Monica, Amber and Sara share why they choose these women to study and how they relate to their stories. And then prepare to hear about beautiful stories of redemption by God over the next several weeks.

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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Do you feel likes it's hard to find common ground in this world sometimes? Today, Sara is talking about how to find common ground in what feels like a not so common world. We are ambassadors of God and given the blue print of how to find a connection with those around us no matter our differences. Will you choose to live freely in the Word of God or in bondage to man's words?

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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It's our final episode in the Be Enough series, and we hope you have loved getting to know some women of the Bible as much as we have! This week, we're doing a group deep dive, where we get a chance to be more transparent and open about where we struggle, and how Eve, Elizabeth and Priscilla have inspired us. It's a fun wrap-up to one of our most favorite series ever!

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Happy #BeFreeFriday! Today we’re talking about little deals and a big God, and how our perspective about the problems we face can either make us victims or victors.

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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It’s time for our Everyday Woman interview! In this episode, Monica talks with Logan Wolfram, curator of the Allume Conference about what it means to #BeEnough even after you’ve followed God’s lead to walk away from something “successful” in the eyes of the world. You’re going to love Logan’s transparency, and you’ll find her willingness to shed expectations remarkably refreshing.

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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Happy Be Free Friday! Today we are talking about generosity in the midst of being robbed.

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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Hey Ya’ll (because I moderated today and it’s a “ya’ll” kind of day)…today is our Practical Application Day. Come sit with us for about 20-25 minutes and hear how we are trying to apply what we are learning into our own lives. See if there is a practical application that might speak to your heart and that might be a tool you can use to become more of the person God has for you. Putting what you learn into practice will begin the process of helping you break old habits and create new ones! You can do it and we want to do it with you!

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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We all have things in our day that probably doesn't get us very excited. However, join Sara as she shares with you a mindset change or a shift in perspective as she tries to embrace the truth that "This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it!"

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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Priscilla and Aquilla were one in the Lord, one in their daily work, one in friendship, and one in ministry. Priscilla’s influence quite possibly changed the entire trajectory of the early church. And yet many Christians don’t know who she is. We have a lot to learn from the quiet, yet incredibly powerful ministry of this couple.

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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Our faith comes from hearing the word of God, which literally means listening to the message of Christ preached. If you're having a shortage of faith or even a crises of faith, then the question you have to ask yourself is, "What am I listening to?"

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com. You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree.

And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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Elizabeth was so much more than the mother of John the Baptist -- she was righteous, faithful, hospitable, fiercely protective of God's miracle, and open to the supernatural power of God. The core of who she was is how God knew He could trust her with such a miraculous gift. Listen in this week as we discover that Elizabeth was enough in the eyes of God, and didn't compare herself to others. Can we say the same?

For more resources, make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com. You can also find us at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree, www.twitter.com/bestillbefree. And if you want a close-knit community of friends to share, encourage and walk through life with, be sure to join our private Facebook group, at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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Did you know God LIVES in the mundane and OPERATES in the ordinary? New Be Free Friday! And make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com for more resources!

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Eve, the Matriarch of all Kings, created without sin, walked with God personally, talked with God audibly, and called the most beautiful garden home. AND YET, (oh, those two very little words that warn us that something is coming) it was not enough. Why is it that we, women, all women struggle with the idea that no matter how good we have it there is still something better out there? I mean, Eve had it all and yet she still wanted more. How many times have you thought when I get to heaven I am going to walk straight up to Eve and ask her what in the world she was thinking? I know I have! And isn’t just like God to remind us that when we point our finger at someone else there are 3 pointing back at ourselves? Yes, I have learned that often when I look in the mirror I have to ask myself “what are you thinking?” For I have tasted the lie from Satan that says I am not enough or that there is something better out there for me. The lie that says does God really love you and if so how do you know.

The most beautiful part of the story, though, is that even in her decision and choice of sin, God redeemed her in the end. She was still used as the Matriarch of all Kings and The King. Through her and for her God would defeat Satan. Isn’t it just like our almighty all-loving God to meet us where we are and redeem us?

Come sit with us for 30 minutes and learn about Eve in a way you might not have thought of her. Let her teach us and grow us. And one day walk with her woman to woman together and not in judgement.

For more information on today's episode, and for more resources, visit www.bestillbefree.com. And if you would like to join our Be Together Community, visit www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity.

Have a great week!

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Ever get so discouraged when you feel like God allows things to happen TO you? In Sara's home they have been learning about perspective...shifting our mindset. Maybe what is happening around you is not TO but FOR you or FOR someone else. As we enter the new year, let us be encouraged that there is purpose when things don't go our way!

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Happy New Year and welcome back! We're thrilled to kick off the new year with a brand new series that focuses on women of the Bible -- who they were, not what they did. This week's episode gives you a broad overview of what to expect for the next few months, and gives you details of the upcoming mini-series called Be Enough. We hope you are as excited about this series as we are!

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It's our final Be Free Friday of 2016! In a season where we should celebrate joy, hope, and newness, Sara shares 3 truths to encourage us in how we can be peacemakers and begin to build an environment of encouragement around us. We are standing in the truth of the Bible and digging in about being mindful of our tongues! For more resources, be sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com.

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It's our final episode in the Be in the Spirit series, which is crazy that it's already over! This week, we're doing a group deep dive, where we get a chance to be more transparent and open about where we struggle with being in the spirit, and what things have sparked a passion in our lives. It's a fun wrap-up to one of our most favorite series!

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There's a lot of talk these days about standing in your own truth and sharing truth -- but what if our truth is in direct opposition to God's truth? In this week's #BeFreeFriday, we’re sharing the truth about Truth, and why we need to be Truthful in what we share with others. Watch the video at bestillbefree.com or facebook.com/bestillbefree!

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In a cultural climate that often feels hopeless, words from this interview are sure to encourage you. This week Amber talks to Carol Johnson, an atheist well into her 60’s before she met Jesus. Carol’s story encourages to keep praying for our lost friends and family, because God can and work miracles in their lives. For more resources and a complete list of past podcasts, be sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com!

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This Be Free Friday we are hanging out at the Pool of Bethesda and discovering if we have an attitude of "I Will" or "Oh Well."And make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com for more resources!

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So far in our Be in the Spirit series, we've talked about what it means to Be Mindful of Your Tongue, Be Sustained, and Be Righteous. And in each episode we've shared a couple of practical applications you can do to put what you've learned into practice. But we had an idea that maybe before we can do outward or external applications, we need to do introspective, personal ones. So this week we thought we'd take a shorter episode to share ways you can internalize and personalize these topics.You can watch this as a video at www.bestillbefree.com/episode99, as well as find a list of the applications for your review. Enjoy!

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We learned in our podcast this week that "Righteousness" means "Right Relationship". But, how can we be in right relationship with others if we aren't in right relationship with God? Write in a reminder of who God is today! #GodIs #BeFreeFriday #BeStillBeFree

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When you think of righteousness, what's the first thing that comes to mind? Is it simply living up to a moral standard? This week we discuss how righteousness is more than a moral code, it's more about being in right relationship with others and God. Listen to learn more, and as always, visit www.bestillbefree.com for this week's verses, resources and more!

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Sometimes we're so overwhelmed by current circumstances that we forget God is faithful and we lose hope. But if we go back through our personal testimonies, it reignites our faith and propels us forward. Spend time this week remembering your own story and the awesome deeds God has already done in your life. Make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com for more resources!

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Being in the spirit requires a lot of trust in God’s promises, and one of those is that He will sustain us. But how do we be in the spirit and allow God sustain us? This week we discuss the different ways that God sustains us, and how we can allow Him to do it. Make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com for additional resources!

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In today's #BeFreeFriday we're talking about the role we play in battle, based on Exodus 12:17! Are you a Moses, a Joshua or an Aaron? Watch and find out your role in whatever battle you're facing!

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When it comes to being in the spirit, there’s no place we need it more than when it comes to our mouths and the words we speak. In this week’s #podcast episode, learn what the Bible has to say about our tongues and our words, and why we need to let the Lord guide our speech at all times! For details related to this episode, visit bestillbefree.com!

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This week, Sara shares about John the Baptist, and how we can use his example to realize who we are in comparison to Jesus!

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We’re starting a new series and hope you will join us for the next 6 weeks of discussions, interviews, videos and more. YES!! You read that correctly…we are stirring things up a little over at BE and think that we will offer something for everyone. In a time where there is so much conflict, sit with us and let’s celebrate common ground! If you are anything like us, we are just everyday women trying to be free in a culture of unrealistic expectations. STOP STRIVING & START LIVING! Celebrate Your Worth * Embrace Your Purpose * Live Your Life

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Happy Birthday to BE! Today we turn 3, and to we’re doing a celebration in today’s #BeFreeFriday! Visit our Facebook page or bestillbefree.com to see the video, and visit facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity to join our private Facebook group!

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Happy #BeFreeFriday! This week we are talking about being Followers! Do you feel like there is something standing in the way of you hearing from God? Maybe that’s because something is. Enjoy and be sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com for more resources!

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Do you hear from God? What does it sound like? When you follow His leading, what does it look like in your life? In this week's new podcast, we discuss what God sounds like to each of us when He speaks, how He leads us in our day-to-day lives and what it means to follow that leading.

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Doing extraordinary things in ordinary ways...today we look at how Jesus chose ordinary people to be in His tribe. And then how those few went and made a difference. Don't worry...not talking about leaving your life for something else, but rather leading the life you have to make a difference in the small ways!

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We're doing something a little different for this week's #BeFreeFriday! This week, Monica shares five things that she's happy about this week. To get links and to see the complete list of 10 things, visit www.bestillbefree.com.

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We are officially back from summer vacation, and kicking off our regularly scheduled podcasts together with an episode where we can all be reunited! Get caught up on what's been happening over the summer, where God's been leading over the past few months, and our excitement over some things God is doing with Be Still Be Free in the coming months. We've missed y'all and are so happy to be back!

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Happy #befreefriday! This week we are talking about trusting God, and we'd love to hear about what God is calling you to surrender to Him with trust.

“Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for GOD ’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to GOD! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! Honor GOD with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over.” (‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:5-12, The Message)

Make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com for more resources!‬‬

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We're so excited to be back with regular podcast episodes! And we love that we can kick off this new season with an interview with the incredibly insightful Shauna Niequist. Shauna's newest book, Present Over Perfect, released last month and couldn't be a more perfect Be Still Be Free message. Enter to win a copy of the book by visiting www.bestillbefree.com! You can also find us on Facebook.com/bestillbefree, Twitter.com/bestillbefree and Instagram.com/bestillbefree.

Enjoy this episode, and then check back on the 12th as we kick off a brand new series called Be in the Spirit!!

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When going through adversity do you struggle with listening to the lies of the enemy? Sara shares 3 truths rooted in the truth today that will encourage you and help shift your perspective! Make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com for more resources, and find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bestillbefree!

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How's your health? If you're struggling, the key might be that your heart needs peace. Listen how in this week's #BeFreeFriday! Make sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com for more resources, and join our Be Together community at www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity!

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Happy #BeFreeFriday! Lets take a minute this week and have a mid-year review! “So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision – you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it.” (Philippians 3:15-16 MSG) Check out this week’s video or download the audio version on iTunes to listen while you drive!

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Did you know you have a yard? Not just a yard like around your house but a yard around your life? How does it look? Do you spend more time in other people's yards then in your own? Sara shares today about borders and fences...judging and loving!

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In this week's #BeFreeFriday we're talking about how much more amazing it is when we take our hands off and let God write our stories! Watch online at www.faceboook.com/bestillbefree or at www.bestillbefree.com. And be sure to join our Be Together Community, a private Facebook group! www.facebook.com/groups/betogethercommunity

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Every thought that enters our mind is either leading us toward life or death. What thoughts do you need to take captive this week? Check out Amber’s discussion about having a new mind on this week’s #befreefriday! Watch on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/bestillbefree) or download the audio version on iTunes!

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Happy Friday y'all! #heylisten do any of you struggle with knowing Gods will for your life or feeling completely clueless? I've got great news...God has an answer for that and we are talking about it today! There's only one thing I'd like to add...#needmyrootstouchedup!

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We're talking this week about prayer! #HeyListen, the world doesn't need our opinions or our 800-word status update soliloquies...the world, our communities, our loved ones...they all need our PRAYERS. And those prayers are our responsibility and our privilege! Let's commit to going to the Lord in prayer FIRST in all things, before we go to everyone and everything else.

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Happy #BeFreeFriday! Amber gets open and honest about her struggle with food and how God has shifted her thinking in regards to gluttony. Make sure to watch the full video on our Facebook page if you can (www.facebook.com/bestillbefree) or visit our website (www.bestillbefree.com)! "I say to myself, 'The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.'" (Lamentations 3:24)

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Hey everyone, guess what?? We figured out how to turn each week's Be Free Friday video into a mini-podcast episode! So if you're not able to watch each week's video, you can definitely at least listen. :) Make sure to tune into our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/bestillbefree) or www.bestillbefree.com to watch, too. Love y'all!

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We are THRILLED to welcome back to the podcast Sophie Hudson, aka Boo Mama! Sophie's an author, speaker and blogger who's penned two other books -- A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet and Home is Where My People Are. She thinks laughter is next to godliness, and more importantly, values women connecting with women -- not competing with them. Sophie's got one of the most open, tender and giving hearts of anyone we've ever met! You're going to love this episode where we chat about all manner of things including her newest book, Giddy Up, Eunice, which is available starting today! AND, we're giving away a copy to a lucky listener! Visit www.bestillbefree.com to enter to win. Enjoy, and giddy up!

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So this episode is a wee different -- instead of Monica, Sara and Amber discussing a Be word, we're interviewing author and speaker Annie F. Downs! But actually it's just Monica interviewing her -- we're trying something new! In this episode, Annie shares all about her newest book, Looking for Lovely: Collecting Moments That Matter. And we're giving away a free copy to one lucky listener! Just visit www.bestillbefree.com to enter!

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Free to fly…what does that mean? And yet, we often hear how people desire to just soar with wings like eagles and feel free enough to fly instead of so weighed down by life that we can’t even hop. The problem, I think, is that we don’t really know from where or what we are flying and to where or what we hope to fly to. We fly without purpose or plan. Without direction or focus. Today we are wrapping up our series on Being Free with the idea that we can experience the kind of freedom in Christ that allows us to truly be free enough to fly. What is holding you back from flying? And do you really know what true freedom is?

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As women, we have emotional depth on a whole different level. We feel things deeply. And not only do we feel deeply, we feel multiple things at a time! We are complicated and multidimensional and our feelings reflect that! Our feelings are an important part of our faith journey and it is so important that you and I learn how to give them the thoughtfulness they deserve without allowing them to control us. This week we explore how God gives us the FREEDOM to feel, and how to do it biblically!

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Do you ever struggle with being paralyzed by fear? Or maybe you don’t get paralyzed, but fear certainly creeps in and causes Living Free to become a hard accomplishment. When Jesus gave His last will and testament, He said “Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid” (John 14:27). He knew His people needed peace: peace in the midst of the storm; peace for tomorrow; peace from the past; peace from an even present evil seeking to kill, steal, and destroy. There is a war waging and fear is such a huge part of that war. Today we are talking about the freedom God has given us in scripture to overcome that fear and live in peace. God has earned our trust. Won’t you give it to Him? Be sure to check us out at bestillbefree.com and find us on Facebook!

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What in the world is a stronghold, and how do you even know if you have one? And if you do...is it really so bad? In this first episode of the Be Free series, we outline exactly what a stronghold is and why it can be such a hinderance to our freedom. And as always, make sure to join our Be Together Community on Facebook! It's a place for us to connect, pray and encourage one another...a virtual coffee shop if you will. Just search Be Together Community on Facebook to find us and join in the conversation!

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I’m sure most of you have heard about the verses in the Bible that talk about renewing your mind, spirit, etc. But have you stopped to think about why or how it affects your life if you don’t? Renewing ourselves is part of the great commission. Jesus called us to go and share the gospel. To love the Lord and love others. What He didn’t intend was for us to do this in our own might or power. He knew we could not. That is why he gave us the Holy Spirit to indwell in us richly so that we could have the source of power and of might to grow in the knowledge of God so that we could live daily in His image. Today we are looking at putting off the old and putting on the new. What does that mean, look like, or even how can we do that? The answers are in the word…they just need to be heard and understood.

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Are you tired? Winded? Weary? Faint? This week we look at what it means to have your strength renewed, and what it looks like when God renews it. Warning -- it might not look exactly like how you think it will!

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In this episode, Amber leads us in a discussion about what the Bible says regarding being renewed in spirit, looking at the life of Hezekiah! Be sure to visit www.bestillbefree.com for notes, additional resources and practical application. Find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by searching Be Still Be Free!

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We're thrilled to bring you this interview with Alli Worthington! Alli is a wife and mom, and the Executive Director of Propel Women. She's also a speaker and author, and has a brand-new book releasing this week called Breaking Busy: How to Find Peace & Purpose in a World of Crazy. The timing of talking to Alli is a perfect fit with our Be Renewed series -- be renewed in mind, spirit, strength...and schedule! In this episode, Alli shares her some clues that might indicate you're caught in a cycle of busyness, and gives you permission to say no and break the cycle of busy. And we are giving away a free copy of her book! To learn more about Alli or to enter the giveaway, visit www.bestillbefree.com to enter to win! (And listen, we had a couple random technical issues that WE COULD NOT FIX NO MATTER WHAT, so Sara's voice is going to sound a bit wonky. I hope y'all don't mind. You're so gracious.)

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We're kicking off a brand new series called Be Renewed! In this week's episode, we start the series by exploring what it means to have a renewed mind, and how it's the genesis of a renewed self. Enjoy!

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There are really only two types of prayers: answered and unanswered. Even if it’s really an answer of wait, it feels unanswered. Do you ever get caught up equating God’s love and existence merely in the answer to your prayer? Why do we do this? This week we dug into some of our friends in the Bible to see that God gave us more than ample examples of answered and unanswered prayers with stories we can relate to. Take the time to dig in and read about these stories…these people…our brothers and sisters in Christ who went before us and were written about so that we might glean and grow from their lives.

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There’s a time to be strong and courageous and move on. But FIRST, it is absolutely biblical to stop and give space for your pain…frustration…anger…fear…sadness. There’s a time to speak out in faith and proclaim truth regardless of how you feel…but that comes after you’ve emptied yourself of the desperation first. It has be released and let go TO GOD so that He can fill those empty places with faith, peace, love, hope and yes…even joy. In this week's episode, we explore the importance of biblical lament, and learn how biblical lament never loses sight of God. It’s always a prayer to God. The character of lament for us is different. We don’t mourn as those who have no hope. Enjoy the episode!

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Sometimes as women, we don't ask God to provide because we feel it's selfish to do so; we feel selfish for asking God to give us anything, whether it be healing, restoration, finances, whathaveyou. But Provision isn't just something God does...it's His name. Abraham called God Jehovah Jirah, One Who Sees and One Who Provides. And there are over 169 verses in the Bible specifically about God's provision! It's time to let go of how we feel about asking God to provide, and begin walking in the confidence that God wants us to ask!

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The world can be changed through prayer...Lives can be changed through prayer...Revival is possible through prayer. If you want to have influence in the world, in your community and in your family...then it's get on your knees and Be Prayerful! In this introduction to a new series on prayer, hear how Sara discovered in the Bible that prayers can be positional, commands or promises. Let's change the world one prayer at a time!

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Why do we need to be who we are, and how do we do it? In this final episode of the series, we uncover the true reason we need to know and Be Who We Are -- it's for the sake of community and authenticity in the body. And how do we do it? By embracing the gifts, talents and works God has prepared for us and in us. We pray you're encouraged by this episode! And if you loved it, would you leave us a review on iTunes? More ratings and reviews helps get the word out to others who may not have discovered The Be Cast yet! Be blessed this week!

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Living in the present is living both WHEN and WHERE you are. It's refusing to get caught up in yesterday's what ifs, and saying no to tomorrow's worries. It's being still with the I AM, not the I Was or the I Will Be. We hope this episode encourages you realize that regardless of circumstances, joys, pains or difficulties...when and where you are is exactly where God would have you to be.

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It's so important that we not just know “who” we are in Christ, but “what” we are as well. It’s like the fruits of the spirit meets agape love meets the beatitudes. If you study the lives and stories of some of the most amazing women in Scripture, you will see that their “what” totally demonstrated the image of God and set their hearts to freedom even if they weren’t free from difficulties, despair, or danger.

In this week's episode, Sara, Monica and Amber explore the "what" of our identities in Christ. Enjoy!

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We're so excited to share this new series with you! After a season of rest and seeking God, we felt like this series topic is a perfect one to jump into. BE WHO YOU ARE. In this series, we explore who we are in God...who we're created to be...how to find our identity not in what we do, but by who lives in us. We hope you're ready to explore and find freedom in your identity!

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It's the wrap up to our Be Missional and Build series! In this episode, Amber shares how our missions from God go through changes and seasons. Using David the Psalmist as a model, we explore how our mission might look different than it did in times past in our lives...and how to prepare for changes in the future. Enjoy!

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After living in Hawaii for over ten years, and traveling the world falling in love with the nations, Kezia McNab has finally settled in Colorado with her husband Ashton, and is expecting a little boy this summer! After spending much of her twenties in missions, and a season of not being able to go back overseas, she has slowly learned to have joy and contentment serving God in whatever circumstance He puts her in. She now devotes herself to working for Shining Light International and invests in the people of Pakistan every day from right here in the US. She is so thankful to still be involved in what God is doing to bless the Pakistani people, and loves that He allows her to be a part of what He is doing no matter where she is. Enjoy this episode as Kezia shares how her mission has shifted based on this new season of life!

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In this week's podcast, we have the incredible opportunity of sharing the wisdom of Pam Elmore!

Pam is a California girl but has been an Atlanta native since 1997. She is a certified event planner (www.PamperedEvents.com) and enjoys “holding the hands” of her clients through their big day.

Pam’s first love, however, is to honor her Heavenly Father by loving and serving people, especially her faves—her husband, Tim Elmore (www.GrowingLeaders.com) and their two adult children, Bethany (27) and Jonathan (23). She also adores, and puts up with, her 3-pound Yorkie, Tinkerbelle.

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We're so excited to launch this brand new series, Be Missional and Build! Being missional is more than a going -- it’s a being first. And being missional is so much broader than a plane trip to another country. In this series, Be Missional and Build is all about embracing the mission in front of you and building your kingdom for God – however and whatever it may look like. You can travel...or not. You can work...or not. You can be in ministry...or not. Your mission is unique to you and just as vital as someone else's. So sit back, grab your coffee and listen to what God says about being missional!

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Loving others fulfills the second greatest commandment in the Bible, however, it's often an obedience we struggle with. This week, we look at what Loving Others looks like and how it can change our lives. Want to study Be Loved and Live in more detail? Get our new Bible Study called Be Together! For details on how to purchase the study, visit bestillbefree.com.

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We are supposed to love God – with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. So it seems that loving ourselves would be a natural byproduct of loving God the way we’re supposed to love Him. Want to study Be Loved and Live in more detail? Get our new Bible Study called Be Together! For details on how to purchase the study, visit bestillbefree.com.

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We are beyond excited to share this episode with you...we're chatting with the amazing, articulate, inviting and warm Shauna Niequist! Shauna is an author and speaker, but more than that she's an inspiration for all women to fully be alive where they are and as they are. In this episode, we discuss her recent trip to Israel and Palestine, a transformational time in her life, and her newest book, Savor. Enjoy this incredible episode!

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It's finally here -- the Be Together Bible Study is now available! The first series of this study is Be Loved and Live -- a series that focuses on fully understanding the love of God so that we may in turn love well. It's the foundation for everything as we grow in our relationship with God.

This episode focuses on what Jesus meant when he said to love God with all of your heart, soul, & mind. Was that just a blanket statement meaning to love God with everything you have? We think He meant something a little more specific.

For details on how to purchase the study, visit bestillbefree.com.

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It's finally here -- the Be Together Bible Study is now available! The first series of this study is Be Loved and Live -- a series that focuses on fully understanding the love of God so that we may in turn love well. It's the foundation for everything as we grow in our relationship with God. This episode focuses on the love Christ has for us, and encourages us to abide in that love! For details on how to purchase the study, visit bestillbefree.com.

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It's finally here! The Be Together Bible Study is finally released, and we couldn't be more thrilled. The first series of this study is Be Loved and Live -- a series that focuses on fully understanding the love of God so that we may in turn love well. It's the foundation for everything as we grow in our relationship with God. For details on how to purchase the study, visit bestillbefree.com.

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We were thrilled to be able to chat with Sophie Hudson (author of the BooMama blog) about her newest book, Home is Where My People Are. In addition to the book, Sophie answers some serious, in-depth questions (ahem), her dog Hazel pipes up to add her two cents, and Amber, Sara and Monica try desperately not to laugh over Sophie. Enjoy!

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We thought it'd be fun to switch things up a bit and take an episode to focus on the most wonderful time of the year! In this episode, we share favorite Christmas traditions and recipes, and share some favorite gifts and ideas. It's a Christmas Extravaganza!

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We're thrilled to have an opportunity to interview best-selling author and speaker Lysa TerKeurst for this week's podcast! Lysa shares with us her heart and soul behind her latest book, The Best Yes: Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endless Demands. Enjoy!

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What a special treat this week! Sara recently spoke at an event on the subject of beauty, and the Lord gave her a wonderful message on what true beauty looks like, and how being YOU is the most accurate picture of beauty. We know you'll love this message!

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Feeling anxious or worried? Afraid or uncertain? The antidote to anxiety is thankfulness! This week we revisit one of our earlier podcasts and explore what it means to BE thankful; and discover the attributes and characteristics that flow out of a heart of thanksgiving.

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Gentleness is not weakness, but strength under control. This week, we revisit what it means to BE GENTLE, and discuss the biblical truth of gentleness, as well as dispel the untruths that gentleness is weakness.

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Be Still -- the entire basis for this whole thing that we do here at Be Still Be Free. We're revisiting this episode this week as a reminder that entirety of WHO WE ARE starts with Being Still...and how it is the foundation for our freedom.

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Welcome to the Best of Be, replays of some of our favorite episodes. We hope you enjoy this replay of BE HONORING - where we discuss the difference between respect and honor, and what the Bible say about honor. We explore the biblical importance of being honoring, and how it first begins as a heart characteristic.

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About six months ago, we decided to throw out the usual format and instead just take a load off, sit back and be silly. We threw caution to the wind and recorded an episode called BE FUN, where we laughed and got to know each other on another level. But mainly laughed. It was so much fun, we decided it needed to be a semi-annual podcast. Sort of like the Nordstrom half-yearly sale. Enjoy!

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As we mentioned back in May, BE is getting into the Bible Study business! In this episode, we lay out the vision and plan for the Be Together Small Group Bible Study, and share what God has put on our hearts for it!

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It's BE's first birthday! What an amazing, incredible, blessed and mind-blowing year it has been. Today, Sara, Monica and Amber take a minute to share what Be Still Be Free has meant to them over the past year.

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We can't believe it. CANNOT BELIEVE IT. We just turned one! What an amazing, incredible, blessed and mind-blowing year it has been. This week, we want to pause, reflect and celebrate GOD'S WORK over the past year, and honor and acknowledge our listeners who are fellow soldiers, sojourners and friends that have supported us on this crazy One-Step-Forward-Now-PAUSE path. (Grin)

Be Still Be Free only exists because of YOU, and we take time today to pray over you and ask God to pour out blessings over you a hundred-fold! We adore you and can't wait until the day we can hugs necks in person, look you in the eye and say WE LOVE YOU!

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This week we look at biblical examples of women who displayed boldness, and learn that despite our past and our present, we can still be bold and conquer!

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Colonel Ben Purcell served in the Korean War and in 1967, he was sent to Vietnam. While he was in Vietnam, Colonel Purcell was captured and held prisoner until 1973, when he was released. From the loss of a child, to 5 years of imprisonment with no communication with one another, Ben & Anne Purcell embody what it means to be bold and conquer. We are extremely honored and privileged to have his wife Anne Purcell here with us today to tell us the rest of their story.

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Colonel Ben Purcell served in the Korean War and in 1967, he was sent to Vietnam. While he was in Vietnam, Colonel Purcell was captured and held prisoner until 1973, when he was released. From the loss of a child, to 5 years of imprisonment with no communication with one another, Ben & Anne Purcell embody what it means to be bold and conquer. We are extremely honored and privileged to have his wife Anne Purcell here with us today to tell us their story.

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One in seven girls will be sexually abused in their lifetime, and one in three will be sexually harassed. This week, BE chats with a special friend who overcame abuse and conquered, and is sharing her story to encourage others to speak out and begin healing.

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In the Christian life, what does it really mean to Be Bold and Conquer? What does it even look like in daily life? This week we explore what God's word says boldness is, and discuss personal stories of being bold and conquering in our own lives.

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What are you pouring on your garden? Addiction? Anger? Bitterness? Isolation? Affairs? Debt? Gossip? Depression? Lies? Sleep? Or any other fill-in-the-blank? There is a reason that Christ is the Living Water...He alone is what makes us THRIVE.

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We explore depression deeper this week, looking at the different types, temperaments and treatments for depression...as well as advice for others to help those struggling with depression.

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Depression is considered the "common cold" of mental illness, and one out of three people have been or will be clinically depressed in their lifetime. What causes depression and why is it so hard to admit you need help? This week we chat with licensed professional counselor Tracy Hurst and explore how depression keeps us from being well and thriving.

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Being well is a three-part wholeness -- it's being well in mind, body and spirit. In this new series, we explore how all three work together to bring well-being in our lives, and how God wants us to not only live, but thrive.

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Flying is the fulfillment of the word, dream, calling, vision or promise from God. You’ve got a holy anticipation of something amazing right around the corner. You trust God enough to leap off the edge, spread your wings and fly…even though you haven’t been this way before. You know God has equipped you with what you need to fly.

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Cocooning is a time of isolation or testing or quiet. It might not feel like a refuge or respite, but it is. Sometimes it’s so comfortable you are reluctant to leave and resist emerging. Other times it might just feel like Crawling 2.0. Either way, cocooning is where God does the polishing up and the finalizing of our transformation. It's where we get our wings.

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The crawling phase — as painful as it is — is really all about growth. It seems that God’s intent during this phase is for us to feast and grow, feast and grow. The more we grow, the more we have to molt and shed our old selves.

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Has God has birthed a dream or vision or promise or calling in you? Are you consuming all you can of Him and His word about your circumstance, pondering these things in your heart? If so, you're probably in the birthing stage of a transformation.

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Loving others fulfills the second greatest commandment in the Bible, however, it's often an obedience we struggle with. This week, we look at what Loving Others looks like and how it can change our lives.

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We are supposed to love God – with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. So it seems that loving ourselves would be a natural byproduct of loving God the way we’re supposed to love Him.

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Have you ever thought about what Jesus meant when he said to love God with all of your heart, soul, & mind? Was that just a blanket statement meaning to love God with everything you have? We think He meant something a little more specific.

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Have you ever thought about the true measure of Jesus’s love and what it really means? His love was proven to us the day of His crucifixion and the power made real the day of His resurrection. The amount of His love for us was settled that day and remains the same…no matter what!!

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We're kicking off a new series this week called Be Loved & Live! The first in the series is Be Loved By God...how this is the foundation of everything we are. God doesn't DO love, He just IS love.

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We decided to put on a little extra mascara, blow dry our hair fancy-like, and bare it all (not literally) on our first ever video-cast! Listen to the audio version here, or to see the video, visit www.bestillbefree.com/bevisionaryvideocast!

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To come to a place of endurance, we must first enter suffering. To endure requires us to be challenged, our faith to be stretched and placed under pressure. There cannot be endurance without an obstacle; a race, a battle or the toil of the field.

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When talking about courage, it's important to talk about strength too. Most of the times the Bible says to be courageous, it says to "be strong" with it. A special guest joins us this week to explore what true courage looks like!

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Victorious, what a positive and energizing word. Don’t you just feel good thinking about being victorious? But let’s be honest; how often do we actually feel victorious? This week we are going to see that as believers, our victory is not contingent upon ourselves but rather in Jesus.

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When we think of boldness, typically we envision someone who is brash, aggressive and opinionated. But as we dive deeper into God's word, we discover it's not that at all...and what it is just might surprise you!

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Adventure can be exotic, spontaneous or even risk taking. But moreso, it's being willing to go when Jesus says, "Follow Me" -- even if that's just to your living room to bring a snack to someone you love. This week we explore the truth of what it means to Be Adventurous with Christ!

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Girls just wanna have fun...right?? Sometimes you have to let your hair down and just laugh and have fun. In this week's podcast, we ask random questions and get to know each other more -- and laugh more than should be legal.

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A committed Christian rolls away or heaps our troubles, ways, onto the Lord. A committed Christian obeys the commands of the Lord. Let's focus on becoming committed Christians!

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When we are overcommitted we are in no way Being Still. However, as the culture that we live in is picking up speed in the life of business and the habit of Doing, we have broken our commitment to God and to His true calling on our lives. We are overcommitted in the things that really don’t matter and under committed in the things that really do matter.

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To Be Abiding is to abide one of three ways: abiding in a place, abiding in time or abiding in a state or condition. This week we dive into what true abiding looks like and how to BE abiding and not DO abiding.

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True godly patience is not a grit your teeth kind of patience; it’s a state of the heart. It’s not something you do, it’s something that you BE!

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Gentleness is not weakness, but strength under control. “Gentleness is having the right, the power and authority to do something but choosing to bring it under control to fulfill a higher good," says Pastor Christian Cheong. This week, we discuss the biblical truth of gentleness and dispel the untruths that gentleness is weakness.

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In a world of fast moving families and friendships that are of convenience more than necessity, our entertaining is often found in a fast food restaurant or on a ball field. And if this is the way of our culture and direction or our communities, does God still intend for us to “entertain?” And if so, why?

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Humility is a modest view of one's own importance...but it is also a realistic assessment of our weaknesses AND strengths. This week we explore what it means to have a biblically humble view of ourselves as we acknowledge our proper place before God.

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Self-control is more than just discipline and willpower. Rather, it's an inner strength and a sound mind that first starts with changing your perspective.

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Love is much more than feeling passion, affection and warm feelings. Sometimes we have to fight our fleshly feelings and choose to love beyond how we feel. This week we explore what true agape love looks like, and God's command for us to love.

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We all think we've got the knowledge and smarts it takes to succeed at life...but what about wisdom? According to God, wisdom isn't knowledge but discernment. Tune in to learn what it means to BE wise!

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What's the difference between respect and honor, and what does the Bible say about honor? This week we discuss the biblical importance of being honoring, and how it first begins as a heart characteristic.

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Be Merciful - the last in our Be Forward-Thinking series! We explore how mercy starts with a heart and mind focused on mercy because we received mercy first from God. Once we understand that, we can demonstrate acts of mercy to others.

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Forgiveness is something Christ calls us to DO, but how can we be more like God, who IS forgiveness? This week we discuss this journey with Jesus that will take you from a place of icy bitterness to a mountaintop of freedom.

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You can DO acts of compassion without BEING compassionate. So what does it look like to BE compassionate? We explore the true meaning of compassion in this week's podcast!

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This episode kicks off a new series called Be Forward-Thinking! This week we explore how the root of kindness is speaking kind words...and how to cultivate kindness.

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Our last session in this Be Well series Be Cheerful! This week we explore what it means to cultivate a cheerful heart and do as Christ commands, "Be of good cheer."

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Feeling anxious or worried? The antidote to anxiety is thankfulness! This week we explore what it means to BE thankful and discover the attributes and characteristics that flow out of a heart of thanksgiving.

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Joy to the world, the Lord is come, right? In this season of hustle and bustle, what does biblical joy look like? Is it more than just slapping on a happy face in the midst of chaos and stress? (p.s. We had a few random technical issues this week, so bear with us through any sound issues. Thank you!)

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In a world where everyone is fixated on beauty, what does true beauty look like? What does it mean to BE beautiful instead of DO beautiful? We discuss this in depth in this week's episode!

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The continuation of our Be Healthy discussion with guest Tracy Hurst. This week we explore how our emotions affect our physical health, and how our bodies affect our emotional health...and how to truly BE healthy in mind, body and soul.

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What does a healthy woman look like? More specifically, what does an emotionally healthy woman look like? In this episode, we talk with licensed professional counselor Tracy Hurst about what emotional health is and why our emotions are valid and important!

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Is contentedness a state where circumstances are going the way we want them to, or is it something more? In this episode, Sara, Monica & Amber discuss how being content is a state of mind, not a state of circumstances.

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This episode kicks off a 5-week series on Be Good To Yourself! This week, we discuss what it means to Be Honest...not necessarily in a truth-telling way, but being honest with yourself, about yourself. Tune in and let us know what you think!

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What does freedom look like for a Christian woman? When you're stuck in traffic and have mounds of laundry and can't figure out what to make for dinner, how (and why) is freedom in Christ applicable to you? Sara, Amber and Monica discuss practical freedom in this third podcast from Be Still Be Free.

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God tells us to be still a number of times, but what does that look like and even mean in real life? Using scripture, original text meanings and real life stories, we break down what it means to Be Still, and why it's the foundation for being free.

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So what on earth is Be Still Be Free, and what is the Be Cast? In this introductory podcast, Sara & Monica share how Be came to be (pun intended), and the vision moving forward. Listen to be encouraged, uplifted and refreshed!