Women Encouraged: Recent Episodes
Bethany Barendregt
A Christian women's podcast connecting you with Scripture-based encouragement and gospel hope. Host Bethany Barendregt is often joined by guests for conversations about relatable topics. No matter what we're discussing, we'll always be encouraging you to get into God's word and believe what He says about Himself - and about you.
In today’s episode, Bethany talks with Katie Faris about her book He Will Be Enough: How God Takes You By the Hand Through Your Hardest Days. Listen in to this conversation as Bethany and Katie discuss the Faris’s story of running to the Lord as they faced a difficult diagnosis in their children and how the Lord has met them and been trustworthy in the mist of pain and trials.
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Author Christina Fox joins Bethany in today's episode to discuss her newest book "Like Our Father" and chat about how we can look to our Father in Heaven's example to shape our parenting.
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In this devotional episode, Bethany discusses how God's comfort for us is sufficient because His word and promises are sufficient. In the midst of any and all suffering, we can know that not only does Christ share his comfort with us (2 Corinthians 1:3-11), we serve the God who resurrects!
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By God's grace, we're back with another season to share with you! Today's episode is a conversation with author and blogger Tim Challies on "The Means of Grace". God initiates and establishes a relationship with His people but how does he maintain the relationship and nourish it? And what ought our responses and responsibilities be in view of God’s initiation and care for this relationship? What are some different views of the means of grace and some common misunderstandings about this topic? Bethany talks with Tim about these topics, and he tells us about his newest book, Knowing and Enjoying God.
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In this episode, Abigail Dodds joins Bethany to talk about the importance of good theology for Christian women. Abigail and Bethany discuss differences between complementarian and egalitarian theology as it relates to our understanding of who God is, what it means to be a Titus 2 woman, and so much more.
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Writer and Bible teacher Nana Dolce joins Bethany on the podcast to talk about what it means to be good theologians and how important it is to be conscious of our theology as mothers. As Christian women, our mothering does not begin and end with us. It begins with knowing and believing the one true God, loving him, and parenting out of the overflow of what he has done in our hearts. We're praying this episode encourages you to consider the impact of your theology on your mothering.
Please note: we apologize for the sound issues with this episode. Unfortunately, Bethany's mic did not pick up properly, but we hope the content is still a blessing to you.
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Joanna Kimbrel and Stephanie Boyle of the Daily Grace Co. Podcast join Bethany to talk about how we should be readers and students of the word of God. They discuss how our theology informs our Bible reading and whether we read scripture in a God-centered or a self-centered way. Joanna and Stephanie also share some tips for both new and seasoned readers for becoming more faithful readers of the Word.
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Ruth Chou Simons joins Bethany to talk about how our beliefs about God impact the way we love our neighbor. She and Bethany discuss the biblical definition of love, the importance of engaging in Christian fellowship, and how we should practice repentance and forgiveness in our relationships.
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Pastor Mark Jones, author of "Living for God," joins Bethany on the podcast to kick off our series on the importance of good theology in every area of our lives. This conversation centers on what Christians mean when we talk about doctrine and theology, and how what we believe about God shapes the way we live.
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Laura Klassen, founder of Choice 42, joins the show to talk with Bethany about her work sharing the hard truth with women about abortion. Our prayer is that this conversation with Laura will encourage you to be fearless as you love others well by speaking God’s truth, and as you speak up on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves.
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We're wrapping up our Matters of the Heart series with this conversation with Lindsey Tollefson. She shares her own story of how the Lord has taught her patience and worked in her life while she has waited for him. She also helps us to correct common misconceptions about patience and talks about some specific Scriptures that encourage our hearts to cling to God's character while we wait for Him. Lindsey also answers specific questions from some listeners about patience and she offers all of us excellent and practical encouragement for whatever season we're in.
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Chelsea Stanley joins Bethany for a conversation about why we can be sure God is trustworthy, and how being sure of God's faithfulness also enables us to trust other people. Chelsea also offers insight into how a relationship can be rebuilt after trust has been broken.
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Katie Westenberg joins the show to talk about her book I Choose Brave and what it truly means to fear God and embrace holy courage. She and Bethany also discuss why it’s so dangerous for us to adopt a worldly definition of courage and why Christian women are often pulled toward wanting to fit in and be acceptable to the world.
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Alisa Childers joins Bethany for a conversation on doubt and unbelief. Alisa shares about her book Another Gospel,which tells the story of her encounter with progressive Christianity, and how that led to the deconstruction and eventual reconstruction of her faith. She and Bethany discuss the difference between doubt and unbelief, as well as how progressive Christianity falls short of the true gospel. Alisa’s message offers encouragement and hope for every Christian, but will especially minister to the Christian who is struggling to hold on to their faith, or who has a loved one in the process of deconstructing.
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Lauren Washer joins Bethany for a conversation about keeping our hearts diligently. They discuss what this looks like in the Christian’s daily life and how Christ has modeled diligence for us in the way he lived. Lauren shares encouragement from the Scriptures for the woman who is questioning whether her work is pleasing to God, and for the one who feels too busy and overwhelmed to be diligent.
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Bethany is joined by Courtney Reissig for a conversation about the Psalms. Courtney gives us an overview of the structure of the book of Psalms and the types of different Psalms, as well how they offer us encouragement and hope for every season of life. Courtney shares from her own experience how God has used the Psalms to uphold her during trials. She and Bethany discuss what the Psalms teach us about our emotions.
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In this episode, Allie Beth Stuckey joins the show to talk about self love and her book You're Not Enough (And That's Okay). Allie shares why it's a liberating truth that we're not enough, and how to face our feelings biblically and determine whether they're valid. She shares vulnerably from her own story of trying to live in her own sufficiency and ultimately receiving the truth of God's grace and sufficiency for her.
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In this episode of our Matters of the Heart series, Abbey Wedgeworth joins Bethany today to talk about grief and loss and the importance of processing both through Scripture and understanding God's character. Abbey is the author of Held: 31 Biblical Reflections on God's Comfort and Care in the Sorrow of Miscarriage.This excellent resource walks you through Psalm 139 and helps you to center your heart on the truth of who God is and how he cares for you, helping you grieve with hope.
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We're kicking off this new season and our "Matters of the Heart" series with this conversation with Christine Hoover, talking about idolatry and allegiance to Christ. Christine shares about how idolatry is a heart issue and explains the wholehearted allegiance Jesus calls us to. Listen to hear her explain what it means to live for the kingdom of God versus the kingdom of self.
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Today, author Betsy Childs Howard joins Bethany to talk about the value of forming our moral imagination through literature. Betsy explains what moral formation is and she has some wonderful insight that will help you consider your family's book and media choices (as well as your own). She also some encouragement to help you develop conversations with your children about what they're reading and how it's shaping them.
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In this episode, Katie and Bethany finish up their "Asking for a Friend" conversation, discussing a couple of listeners' questions about the Enneagram and any concerns they have with this tool. They also answer a question from a listener about how to answer the issue of transgenderism from Scripture.
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Awhile back, we invited listeners to participate in our "ask us anything" episode, which we’ve affectionately titled Asking for a Friend. We’ve decided to break up this episode into two shorter parts because one episode would have been too long.
This week, Katie Morin and Bethany are sitting down to chat about the first few questions related to what we’ve done during COVID and how the Lord has blessed us during this time. We also answer a listener’s request for Christian advice on how to navigate loneliness and feeling like an “outsider”.
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In this episode, Haley Williams joins Bethany to talk about discerning between truth and lies in online voices and understanding the messaging of progressive Christianity. Haley shares a bit about what progressive Christianity is and the false teachings associated with it. She and Bethany discuss how we can be rooted firmly in Scripture, and share some practical ways to discern what is true and godly.
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Christine Chappell, author of Help! My Teen is Depressed, joins Bethany for a conversation about how to give our kids true, biblical comfort when they’re hurting. This isn’t about empty platitudes or band-aid fixes, but rather acknowledging our children’s suffering while pointing them to the trustworthy and eternal promises of God. Christine and Bethany discuss how we should respond to our children in these situations, and take a look at the comfort God’s word offers.
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Bethany is joined on the podcast this week by Lee Nienhuis, author of Countercultural Parenting: Building Character in a World of Compromise. Lee candidly recounts some of her own difficult experiences as a parent, and shares the wisdom she’s learned about raising children to walk in obedience to Christ. She and Bethany discuss the importance of modeling godliness to our children, how to respond when they fall into sin, and how we can support other parents.
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In this episode, Melissa Kruger comes on the podcast to share about her newest book, Growing Together: Taking Mentoring Beyond Small Talk and Prayer Requests. Melissa talks about the importance of mentoring, practical steps for getting started in a mentoring relationship, and some common pitfalls to guard against. She and Bethany discuss mentoring with an ultimate purpose in mind— the edification of the church and the glory of God.
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In this episode, Bethany is joined by Glenna Marshall, author of Everyday Faithfulness: The Beauty of Ordinary Perseverance in a Demanding World(Crossway, 2020). Glenna shares about what faithfulness looks like in our normal, daily lives, and how we can grow in spiritual maturity. She and Bethany discuss the importance of spiritual discipline, faithfulness in difficult times, and what some common barriers are to living a faithful life.
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In this episode, Bethany is joined by author Tilly Dillehay to talk about food and what the Christian’s attitude towards it should be. Tilly shares biblical truth that teaches us how we can bring glory to God in what we eat. She and Bethany discuss dealing with guilt and shame, glorifying God in what we eat, and how hospitality can build the kingdom of God.
Tilly's book Broken Bread: How to Stop Using Food and Fear to Fill Spiritual Hunger is available for pre-order now (it will be released June 2, 2020).
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This week's episode is a powerful and moving testimony of God's unfailing goodness in the midst of an incredible trial. Bethany is joined by writer and speaker Kelly Streiff to talk about trusting in God’s goodness when life is hard. Kelly shares about how after the unexpected loss of her first child, she learned what it meant to trust God for who He is, rather than just what He can do for us. She and Bethany discuss having faith in the midst of trials, understanding the character of God, and how God works in the midst of our pain.
This episode is brought to you by Hope*Writers, an online community of working writers dedicated to the success and creativity of each member. Find out more at hopewriters.com/womenencouraged.
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Megan Hill, author and editor for TGC, joins Bethany to talk about her book A Place to Belong: Learning to Love the Local Church.Megan shares the importance of growing as a believer in Jesus in the context of His church and how our identity is uniquely connected to the body of Christ.
This episode is brought to you by Hope*Writers, an online community of working writers dedicated to the success and creativity of each member. Find out more at hopewriters.com/womenencouraged.
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In this episode, Bethany and her husband Alex sit down with Jeff and Sarah Walton to talk about their new book, Together Through the Storms. Speaking from their own experience, the Waltons share biblical encouragement to help couples to strengthen their marriage during times of trial. The Waltons discuss the role of suffering in the Christian life, and how we ought to respond to it as believers. For both the married and the single, this is a message that both challenges and encourages the Christian to live with an heavenly perspective.
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Today, I’m talking with Summer Jaeger about the topic of feminism. We hit a variety of topics related to this worldview, including legalism, faithfulness, Bible reading, agreeing with God, and cultivating discussion about hard topics with our friends. Summer is a great encouragement to us to be living for God’s approval and to evaluate all things through Scripture. You can check out her show Sheologians wherever you listen to podcasts.
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What is the goal of vulnerability for a Christian woman? What do we do with our shame? And how do we look at these in relation to finding belonging? In this episode, I sit down with WE team member Katie Morin to talk about these topics from a Christian perspective. We discuss some of the problems with the worldview and answers offered to us by a popular writer and researcher, and talk about how the gospel answers those problematic solutions.
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In today's episode, Bible teacher and author Nancy Guthrie shares about her newest book, Saints and Scoundrels in the Story of Jesus(Crossway, 2020). We discuss some of the things God is teaching us about His generous grace through a few particular people in Jesus' story highlighted in her book. Nancy answers for us some ways we might grow by learning more about these people and some warnings we should heed. We also discuss encouragement we can receive as believers in Jesus from these accounts in Scripture.
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In this episode, Pastor Bo Cogbill talks with Bethany about sin and forgiveness and the truths Pastor Bo covers here with us are things we as believers in Christ need to be reminded of over and over. Bo discusses specifically what sin is, dealing with feelings of guilt, how Christians should be thinking about sin, our identity now, confession, and the Father’s heart for us. Bo has so much encouragement for you in this episode and we are praying it will be a blessing to you.
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Author and podcaster Danielle Hitchen is back on the show to talk with me about Jesus, broken bodies, and Lent. Even though I recorded this conversation with Danielle before COVID19 became a pandemic, it’s not lost on us that as we get nearer to Good Friday and Easter, we are in the midst of something that is daily confronting us with the way sin brings brokenness, disease, and death. I’m grateful for this chance to share this conversation with Danielle and think together about the importance of our bodies, why Jesus coming and being physically present with and for us matters, and how we can talk with our children about their bodies.
This episode is made possible by donations from friends of the show (like you). Supporters through Patreon have access to the full content of the last WE conference talks, the opportunity to help us choose upcoming content, monthly supporter video chats and more! You can find out about how to support the show at our Patreon page.
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Jasmine Holmes joins the show today to talk about understanding our identity from a Scriptural perspective as well as dealing with expectations and people-pleasing. We love this conversation and how Jasmine points us to God's Word as our authority to evaluate the different voices and opinions in our lives. You can find Jasmine on Facebook and Instagram, as well as at her website.
Thank you so much for listening and for sharing the WE podcast with your friends!
Did you know? Women Encouraged is made possible through friends of the show (like you). You can find out about becoming a supporter of the podcast and the other work we do at our Patreon page. For as little as $5-10 per month, your financial support gives you access to conference recordings, the opportunity to vote on content, monthly video hang-outs, and participation in our upcoming "ask us anything" episodes.
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Jen Oshman joins the show today to talk about the good news that we're not enough - but Jesus is! Today, we talk about why the philosophy of you're enough is failing us, how to identify me-centered practices and relationship with God's word, what repentance looks like, and how Jesus demonstrates true joy for us.
Jen recently wrote the book Enough About Me: Finding Lasting Joy in the Age of Self (Crossway, 2020).She is a clear communicator and you will definitely want multiple copies of this book on your shelf: one for yourself and several to give away to your friends.
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Today, we have a slightly different style of a show for you because we’re giving you a little taste of the content from our latest Women Encouraged conference in the Portland, Oregon area. If you’re a longtime listener you might already know that WE started as a women’s conference, and in fact, the reason we originally started the podcast was to share great teaching with women in our community. At the end of the episode, Bethany shares about a new way to support the Women Encouraged podcast, the goals we have going forward, and the benefits of being a patron - which include access to the full content of the talks we highlighted today. Thanks for listening!
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Author Trillia Newbell joins Bethany to discuss how we should think about beauty and our bodies from a biblical perspective. They discuss how the gospel changes our view of our bodies, and the necessity of reflecting Christ's beauty.
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Today, Christina Fox joins the podcast to share on the topic of Christian friendship. Christina and Bethany talk about how friendships within the Church are developed, how they're different from other relationships, some thought patterns we should avoid, and the gospel purpose that our friendships really have.
Editor's note: There are a few technical issues on our guest's end. We apologize for some of the sound quality in this episode, but we think you'll be greatly encouraged by what Christina has to share! Thank you for listening!
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On today's episode, Amy Gannett joins the show to discuss what discipleship is, why it matters, and some of the misconceptions or misunderstandings we might have about it. Amy's course, Daily Disciple-Making is a "no-frills guide to discipleship relationships", co-taught by several other Bible teachers and authors.
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In today's episode, Dr. Kathryn Butler (Katie) joins the show to discuss how Christians should view life and death and medical intervention with a gospel-centered perspective. Her book Between Life and Death: A Gospel-Centered Guide to End-of-Life Medical Care is incredibly helpful and insightful. We're grateful for this conversation about modern medical practices, the differences between preserving life and prolonging death, physician-assisted suicide, and what Christians need to know in order to wisely make decisions for themselves and their loved ones.
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It’s a joy to welcome pastor and author Costi Hinn to the show today. Costi's passion is to preach the gospel and serve the church and he wrote the book God, Greed, and the (Prosperity) Gospelfor that purpose. Today, Costi answers some key questions about what the prosperity gospel looks like, whether it's a true gospel, and how to talk about it with fellow Christians.
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We're back for another cycle of episodes and so thrilled to be sharing this episode with you! Abby Hutto joins Bethany to talk about some of the ways God the Father demonstrates His heart for us through the person and work of Jesus Christ. Abby shares about how studying the gospel of John changed how she saw God's intention toward her and awakened her to what her invisible Father is like. Abby's message (and her book God for Us) is poignant and thought-provoking. She and Bethany talk about how God fixes our broken lenses with the truth of His word and how He uses Christian community to help correct our vision so we can truly see what He is like.
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Today, author Rosaria Butterfield joins me to talk about reaching out to members of the LGBTQ community. We discuss how we can talk about, with, and minister to them in ways that are honoring to the Lord and faithful to Scripture. She also talks about the power of simple, faithful acts like opening our homes to our unbelieving neighbors and demonstrating the love of Christ to them with our lives.
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Today, Tony Reinke joins me to talk about parenting in the digital age. Tony is author of the books 12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You, and Competing Spectacles: Treasuring Christ in the Media Age. Our discussion covers questions like how is parenting in our digital age different from past generations, what kind of protective limits are wise, and how can we teach our children about the importance of connection and relationships, when we’re all being tempted to connect through a screen?
If this episode is a blessing to you, we'd be so thankful if you'd subscribe to the podcast and give us a rating and review. These help us to continue to reach more women with encouragement and gospel hope, and share biblical perspectives on the topics we cover.
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Today, I’m talking with Katie Guiliano, artist and founder of Hosanna Revival. Her business is devoted to helping women engage in Scripture by creating beautiful and intentional tools for their lives. Today, Katie shares the story of how she was led to share the beauty of God’s word with women all around the world. We also talk about practicing perseverance in dry seasons, and encouraging one another to make the most of our giftings and opportunitites.
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In this episode, I’m talking with college-age student Katherine Forster about her book Transformed by Truth and her passion to help teens know that the Bible transforms them. Katherine shares why teens can’t put off engaging in Scripture until later in life and explains the fallacies in thinking that they’re too young to be changed and shaped by the word of God.
If you have teens, I’d love to welcome them to listen along with you, because I really think Katherine’s encouragement today is for us all. And if you’re not a parent of teens, you’ll still be blessed and challenged to engage in discipling teens in your church and social circles. Let’s get started!
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In this episode, I’m welcoming back to the podcast, Lydia Brownback to talk about her book, Flourish: How the Love of Christ Frees Us from Self-Focus. This book deals with so many of the shapes that self-focus takes and we discuss a few of them, including self-improvement, self-analysis, and self-condemnation. We also discuss discipleship and community in light of this topic and how we can encourage one another to be freed from focusing on ourselves, rather than Christ and what He’s done for us.
We're so glad Lydia joined the podcast again, and even more excited to welcome her to come speak at our Women Encouraged conference in Western Canada on April 17-18, 2020. Connect with us on Instagram or Facebook to stay up-to-date with the details on that event!
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Today I’m joined by Bible study author Asheritah Ciuciu. Asheritah has such a heart to encourage women to pursue and form the habit of Scripture study and she has so many helpful tips for those of us who struggle to build a habit of being in the word. Asheritah’s newest book, Bible and Breakfast, releases on October 10th and it’s not just a Bible study book – it’s actually packed with gorgeous, delicious recipes for breakfast and ideas to help you look forward to your mornings.
Today, Asheritah and I talk about some of the methods of study and reading that have helped her as a young mom and ways we can encourage one another to stay in the word and abide in Christ. We’re praying this will spark some ideas and excitement for you as you build your own Bible habit or refresh the one you have – and also consider how you can connect with women in your own area to encourage one another to stay in the word.
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In this episode, I welcome Matt and Lisa Jacobson to the podcast, for a couples chat along with my husband Alex. Matt and Lisa tell us about their newest books 100 Ways to Love Your Husband/Wife and their accompanying books 100 Affirmations Your Husband/Wife Needs to Hear.If you’re married, we’d love for you to invite your husband to listen in with you, because this episode is full of topics that will be some great conversation starters for couples. Alex and I really enjoyed hearing from Matt and Lisa – they’re joyful and encouraging and they have such a beautiful commitment to loving God and loving his word and his ways in their marriage and family. Today, we talk about speaking words of encouragement to one another, viewing home as a mission field, being in fellowship with other believers, forgiveness, and more.
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In this episode, I'm chatting with Lindsey Carlson, author of Growing in Godliness: A Teen Girl’s Guide to Maturing in Christ. We discuss the great value of pursuing growth, ways we can encourage one another, and the importance of coming alongside the teen girls within our churches.
If you’re a mom of a teen girl, we’d love to welcome her to this conversation too, and introduce her to Lindsey’s ministry through her writing. If you don’t have teens, or even children, Lindsey’s encouragement will still be thought-provoking and with so many takeaways and principles for application.
Would you consider leaving us a rating and review? This helps us to continue to reach listeners with gospel-centered encouragement through these podcast episodes. We hope you’ll also connect with us on social media – on Instagram @womenencouraged and on Facebook @thewomenencouragedpage.
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Hannah Anderson joins me for this helpful and insightful discussion about discernment. Hannah is the author of the book Humble Roots and more recently, All That’s Good – Recovering the Lost art of Discernment. Hannah clarifies for us what discernment is and isn’t and explains the connection between discernment and humility, and how fear and pride hinder us from experiencing God’s goodness. We’re praying this episode stirs your affections for the Lord and for his truth.
Would you consider leaving us a rating and review? This helps us to continue to reach listeners with gospel-centered encouragement through these podcast episodes. We hope you’ll also connect with us on social media – on Instagram @womenencouraged and on Facebook @thewomenencouragedpage.
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Jennifer Brogdon joins me for a candid discussion about viewing perfectionism in light of the gospel. We discuss why it’s so vital that we look at perfectionism from a biblical perspective and define grace according to God’s terms and not our own. We also talk about shame, and how perfectionism impacts our relationships and the way we confess sin with one another. Jennifer also explains how repentance and abiding in Christ is the solution for when we’re discouraged about our sin or our lack of fruit.
You can find show notes and more at our website. Be sure to connect with us on Instagram and Facebook, too!
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Laura Hardin joins Bethany to talk about joyful obedience, how abiding in Christ strengthens and equips us to obey him (even when the feelings aren't there), and how God fills our cup with what we need to faithfully obey. Wondering about whether this leads to legalism? Take a listen to hear Laura define legalism and how obedience is different.
You can find show notes and more at our website. Be sure to connect with us on Instagram and Facebook, too!
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In this episode, Caroline Saunders joins me to talk about delighting in the Lord and who he has created us to be. I love Caroline's perspective on knowing God for who he is, "staying weird", and resting in the favor we have in Christ. And is God ok with humor? Listen in to hear Caroline's take on how fun and humor play a role in our Christian walk!
You can find show notes and more at our website. Be sure to connect with us on Instagram and Facebook, too!
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In today's episode, some of the WE team members Alyssa Donovan and Katie Morin chat with Bethany about what it means to renew our minds. We discuss how easily we're influenced, how Bible reading has equipped us and fed us, and why Christian-izing the world's message just won't work.
You can connect with us on our Women Encouraged webpage, as well as on Instagram and Facebook. Thanks for listening!
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In today's episode, I'm chatting with Rachel Jankovic about Bible reading, the Bible Challenge, and how God's word feeds us. Rachel explains how the Bible challenge was inspired and started, how it's grown, and how women have grown through it. We're getting ready to jump into the summer reading challenge on June 3rd, and there are over 9,000 women who would love to welcome you over in the Facebook group. But no matter when you're listening to this episode, we invite you to come to the table that God has spread for us. Come feast on his word!
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On today's episode, author and speaker Stacy Reaoch and I sit down to talk about how we should respond when life doesn't look the way we expected it to. Stacy and I chat about how the gospel answers our tendencies to live in a what-if world and how we can often mirror the Israelites in our grumbling. We also talk about the differences between grieving loss and living in bitterness and discontentment.
What's the right response to feeling like our situation isn't what we had hoped for? Listen in and find out what Stacy has to say to encourage us to walk faithfully with the Lord in times of wilderness wandering.
You can find show notes and more at our website. Be sure to connect with us on Instagram and Facebook, too!
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Today, we take on the topic of submission with Robyn McKelvy, who shares encouragement and biblical truth to help us understand God's word on this issue. Robyn is a pastor's wife and speaker, as well as an author of a few little books on marriage topics. She and her husband Ray have ten children and live in the Nashville, TN area, where Ray pastors Christ for the Nations Church.
I first heard of Robyn through the Revive Our Hearts conferences, where she has spoken a few times. She's a gracious speaker, who shares from her own experiences and weaves God's truth in clearly.
Thanks so much for listening! We'd love to connect with you on Facebook and Instagram and we'd be so grateful if you'd leave a rating or review for the podcast. This helps us to reach more listeners and share encouragement with women all around the world.
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Bethany and WE team members Alyssa Donovan and Katie Morin sit down for a candid conversation about financial security. We talk about contentment, trusting God, hardship, and God's abundant provision.
You can connect with us on our Women Encouraged webpage, as well as on Instagram and Facebook. Thanks for listening!
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In this episode, Bethany discusses with author Maggie Combs what it means to be an "unsuper" woman, as a mother and a wife. Maggie shares from her book Unsupermommy, and we chat about seeing our weakness correctly in Christ, dealing with our idols of expectation, as well as practices for abiding in Him, and some great thoughts about date night. Be sure to follow Maggie on Instagram for excellent regular encouragement!
Today our podcast is sponsored by Alberta Computers. We're so grateful to Deegan and his team at AC for their support of Women Encouraged 2019 and for sponsoring this episode of the podcast!
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In this episode, Bethany talks with writer and author Abigail Dodds about her excellent book (A)Typical Woman and what it means to be a courageous Christian woman. Abigail shares biblical definitions of woman, Christian, and discusses the identity we carry as believers in Jesus Christ. Abigail believes, as we do at Women Encouraged, that Christian women are truly called to live free and unashamedly, unembarrassed about God's word, and with hearts that love the standard God sets for us in Scripture.
This episode is generously sponsored by HJB Financial Services. We're so grateful to Henry and his team at HJB for their support of Women Encouraged 2019 and for sponsoring the podcast.
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We're back for season 3! Author Michelle Van Loon joins Bethany to chat about her newest book, Born to Wander: Recovering the Value of Our Pilgrim Identity.Bethany and Michelle discuss several different topics, including what it means to follow Jesus even when we stay in one place, what it is to have the identity of a pilgrim, as well as "holy remembering", knowing that God remembers His people.
This episode is graciously sponsored by Dental Care Centre. We are very grateful to them for sponsoring Women Encouraged 2019, and for their help keeping the WE podcast on the air!
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Today, we're chatting with writer Abbey Wedgeworth about everything from the shame that we might experience postpartum, fear and anxiety in pregnancy, and just facing hormonal changes in general in the light of the gospel and the hope that Jesus brings us. Abbey's insight as a young wife and mama will be sure to encourage you at whatever stage of motherhood you’re in. I’m excited for you to listen in as she fleshes out the ways that God meets us and changes us through his word and by the power of the Holy Spirit.
After my chat with Abbey, Brittany and I have a quick chat about the fruit of the Spirit and our emotions, and telling ourselves the truth when we’re feeling especially hormonal.
You can find Abbey at her blog GentleLeading.com and on Instagram @gentle_leading. As always, you can connect with us on Instagram @womenencouraged and on Facebook or at our website WomenEncouraged.ca
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Today, I sit down to talk with Lisa Jacobson, author and founder of Club 31 Women, about some key elements of a thriving marriage. We talk through her article 25 Things it Takes To Make it to 25 Years, and after the interview, Alyssa and I sit down to chat about a few of those things and how we’ve been personally impacted by them or growing in them.
As always, you can find show notes for this episode on our website womenencouraged.ca and a link to some of Lisa’s articles and books there.
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Today we are sharing our conversation with Adriel Booker, writer, speaker and author of the book Grace Like Scarlett: Grieving with Hope after Miscarriage and Loss. Even with the increase in openness on this topic, miscarriage remains a tender subject that is often difficult to process and discuss.
Adriel and I discuss so much about miscarriage, everything from the sense of loneliness that a woman may experience, the way that grief changes us, and the way we can live with gospel hope in the already-but-not-yet as we anticipate the resurrection. Every single life is precious and valuable and if you’ve lost a child, we are praying that this episode will encourage your heart with the hope of the gospel.
As always, you can find show notes, and helpful articles on our website, womenencouraged.ca. You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram.
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Today, we’re sharing a conversation I had with Tim Challies about his book Devoted: Great Men and Their Godly Moms. Tim is not only an author, he’s also a blogger at challies.com and book reviewer, and serves as one of the pastors at Grace Fellowship Church in Toronto.
In this episode, I’m talking with Tim about his book, and some of the men and women noted in it, but we also chat about the common cultural burdens of isolation and fear of failure that many Christian mothers carry. After my interview with Tim, Katie and I sit down to talk about the value of reading biographies and church history, the mentorship that a mother provides her children, and the way Scripture addresses our fears in mothering and mentoring.
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In this episode, Hunter Beless and Bethany talk about facing transitions and life changes from a gospel perspective, bible literacy, the connection between community and the gospel and our need to invest in the community that God has created for us- the church. Hunter is such an encourager and we know you’re going to be blessed and convicted by what she has to say! After the interview Brittany and Bethany talk about how the gospel answers our challenges and barriers with community building and growth.
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Our chat today with Lydia Brownback touches on so many different angles of loneliness, contentment, and singleness. Lydia is the author of several books, including a book on the psalms called Sing a New Song and the excellent book Finding God in My Loneliness where she takes on the different kinds of loneliness we face.
After the episode, WE vision team member Katie Morin joins Bethany to talk about the way Bible literacy impacts our view of our circumstances, and some practical ways we can come alongside our single sisters or women in our lives who may be lonely in their circumstances.
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Danielle Hitchen, creator of Catechesis Books and the Baby Believer board books, joins us today to talk about the books she’s designed and created, but more about the heart behind them, and the importance of not being afraid to introduce deep ideas to our little ones.
Every Christian parent wants their child to grow up to fully embrace the Gospel and walk with Christ, but it can be difficult to know how to start giving them a good foundation. After the interview with Danielle, Bethany and Alyssa chat about the importance of regular family devotional time, training our children to give attention to God’s word, and the challenges and joys we moms encounter as we work to impart the truth of Scripture and the hope of the gospel to our children.
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Today, we talk with singer and songwriter Caroline Cobb about the Bible's big story and how we never outgrow the gospel. In 2011, Caroline gave herself a goal to write a song for every book of the Bible in a year. That year of writing set in motion a new passion to tell the stories of scripture through music, faithfully and creatively. Caroline shares about the way knowing the Bible's big story informs the way we see the world, and how it transforms the way we approach God.
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In this episode, we talk with author and speaker Melissa Kruger about envy and contentment in Christ. Melissa is wife to Mike, mom to three kids, as well as an author, speaker, and an editor at The Gospel Coalition.
After the interview with Melissa, Bethany and Alyssa Donovan talk more about how we can answer our contentment struggles with the gospel, and how Bible literacy aids us in walking out contentment more and more in our lives.
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Bethany and Brittany sat down with the WE blog submissions editor Alyssa Donovan and talked about what we loved and learned through the women who have joined us and taught us in these beginning steps of expanding Women Encouraged to include the podcast and blog. We discuss: how the podcast got started; how the different women have encouraged us in our Bible study; the CC Ladies Bible Reading Challenge; how God has connected women around the world through WE these last few months; embracing the different giftings and desires God created us with; and how enjoying beauty isn’t un-spiritual. We are looking forward to connecting with you all again at the end of August when we release Season 2!
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This week, we are wrapping up the mini series with a Pastor Perspectives episode, where we talk with Pastor Matthew Kruse and women's ministry leader Patti Rosell from Seven Mile Road Church near Boston, MA. Pastor Matt reached out a few months ago to share with the Women Encouraged community about how their church is practicing shepherding and training women in their church. Pastor Matt and Patti have a podcast called Kalos Conversations which is geared towards "helping churches create discipleship communities where women can be helped to believe the gospel, understand and embrace their femininity, and get mobilized to partner fully in gospel ministry through the local church." After the interview with Pastor Matt and Patti, Brittany and Bethany discuss the importance of involvement and connection with the local church.
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Women's Discipleship mini-series: we talk with Katie Roberts and Taylor Turkington from The Gospel Coalition's Women's Training Network. Katie and Taylor share with us how they started The Verity Fellowship in Portland, OR to help disciple women by training them to handle Scripture. We talk about why training women and discipling them is so vital for the Church. However, part of this discussion is some of the practical nature of starting a women's conference. So much prayer and work and planning goes into something like this, and we are so grateful for the heart behind these ladies' efforts to minister to the women who have attended Verity events and assist them in their various ministries and callings.
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Women's Discipleship mini-series: today, we start a women's discipleship mini-series on the podcast with this conversation with Gretchen Ronnevik about myths surrounding the topic of mentoring. Gretchen joins us to discuss common misconceptions of what it means to mentor women, or to be mentored, and we walk through her article, "7 Myths About Biblical Mentoring" which you can find here.
Gretchen shares from her experience as a mentor, and as someone who has been mentored by older women. She's developed a self-paced course for women who want to learn about how to mentor other women, which you can find at www.gospelmentoring.com.
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We know we are supposed to be ministering to those who are suffering but what does that look like practically? Our friend, author and cancer-survivor Marissa Henley joins us to talk about principles and practical ways of ministering to those in the body who are struggling and suffering. Marissa's book "Loving Your Friend Through Cancer: Moving from 'I'm Sorry' to Meaningful Support" released May 31, 2018.
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What does it mean to live our lives "on mission"? In this episode, author Gloria Furman explains how God has given us the ministry of reconciliation, and how our whole life is to be lived on mission for Christ, offering the hope of his Gospel to the world around us.
Gloria also discusses how being on mission impacts our motherhood, avoiding the dangerous trap of comparison, and living with a resurrection mindset.
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Joining us today is Emily Jensen, Content Director and co-host of the Risen Motherhood podcast. Emily and Bethany talk about what Risen Motherhood is all about, why it's so vital for moms to be in the Word of God, how the Gospel transforms our motherhood, and why we must avoid falling into the comparison trap. Brittany and Bethany talk more about Gospel-transformation in our lives as mothers, and how godly mothering really needs to flow out of living as godly Christians.
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Writer and recording artist Glenna Marshall joins us to discuss looking to Scripture to tell us what is true about God and not allowing our circumstances to define who he is. Glenna shares part of her story and what led her to learning to find her security in God.
Bethany and Brittany talk together about looking at suffering and trials from a perspective that God is with us and is moving us from glory to glory.
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We talk with RightNow Canada co-founder Alissa Golob about what inspired her to become a pro-life activist and why the topic of abortion affects her so personally. Alissa shares her background and story with us and the significant political work she does. We also discuss positive ways to use social media to shed light on the topic of abortion in a way that builds trust with people in our circles.
Brittany and Bethany talk about living fearlessly and faithfully and the necessity of standing on the word of God when we are interacting online.
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Bible Studies for Busy Mamas author Pam Forster joins us to talk about how busy mamas can study their Bible, even in intense seasons of mothering little ones. Pam shares her story and tips on how to include our children and why this matters so much.
Bethany and Brittany talk about the challenges and impact of Bible study in mothering little ones, and how we might need to let go of our ideal of "quiet time", at least for now.
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How should we face fear and press on as Christian women? We talk with Hannah Grieser, author of the book The Clouds Ye So Much Dread: Hard Times and the Kindness of God. We discuss how to prepare for difficulties and trials and how thankfulness guards our hearts with peace.
Brittany and Bethany talk about rehearsing God's goodness to ourselves, filing our hearts and minds with what is true about Him. We also chat about how we as mothers shape and impact our children and the way they will face difficulty in life.
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What do we do when everyone else's lives look more fruitful than ours? We had such a delightful conversation with friend, artist and Gracelaced author Ruth Chou Simons about her hashtag #youdonthavetobebloomingtobegrowing. We talk with her about growth in Christ, how to readjust our perspectives when everyone else's lives look more fruitful, and the effect that social media can have on our perception of growth.
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We cap off our series on "New Beginnings" with this talk with author and speaker Kristen Kill. We chat about finding our new beginnings, but ultimately our dwelling, in God, who gives us Himself as we come to Him in His word. Kristen spoke at Women Encouraged 2017 and it was a gift to welcome her back to the WE audience for this podcast episode.
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In this episode, we talk with women's Bible study leader Angi Tuffnell about important elements of getting started with deeper Bible study. Angi talks about how important it is to be in a community of women who are studying the word together, how this impacts us and grows us, and the importance of grace with one another.
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We chat with women's Bible teacher and author Jen Wilkin about getting started in Bible study, how to avoid the "debit account" mentality, and her new study in Genesis 1-11 called God of Creation.
Brittany and Bethany talk about why the debit account thinking hurts us and how thinking differently has helped us. This episode builds on Episode 2 with Becky Pliego, so be sure to give that one a listen! Shownotes and links to more information are available on our website www.womenencouraged.ca
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In our very first episode, we talk with writer and speaker Tara Dickson, who shares her story of finding hope and how she determined what makes a good year.
Bethany and Brittany discuss looking to Christ in the midst of difficulties and how the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead changes how we look at trials.
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We talk to Becky Pliego, Bible teacher and webinar leader for the Bible Reading Challenge, about coming to Christ through reading His word. She talks about practices that help us to keep our eyes on Jesus and what we should do when we don't feel like reading the Bible.
Bethany and Brittany discuss avoiding perfectionism and about how participating in the Bible Reading Challenge has impacted them.
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