The Living Room with Joanna Weaver: Recent Episodes
Joanna Weaver
Join best-selling author (and fellow struggler), Joanna Weaver in the Living Room – a podcast for Christian women featuring inspiring interviews with Christian leaders and solo shows shaped to a woman’s heart. All designed to give you practical tools for living, loving, and leading like Jesus. Learn more at bit.ly/tlrpodcast Join the Living Room Facebook Community @JoannaWeaverLivingRoom
Feelings are important, but navigating difficult ones is hard.What do we do with the complicated emotions that often arise in life? Feelings that we’ve been taught we shouldn’t feel as Christians? A lot of us push them down and pretend they don’t matter. Others of us get stuck in the pain. But the Bible suggest a better way: “Pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge” (Psalm 62:8).
How do we do that? I’m so glad you asked!
Anjuli’s Paschall’s book, Feel: A Collection of Liturgies Offering Hope for Every Complicated Emotion, has been such a gift to me. And I absolutely LOVE our tender and raw conversation. We were both in tears as we talked about the disappointments and hurts that we’ve faced. Anjuli assures us that rather than tidying up our emotions, we can be real and raw with God as well. Her book helps us
Key Takeaways:
- Emotions aren’t good or bad – they’re simply part of being human. Rather than denying our emotions, they can be an indicator light for the places God wants to heal.
- God gives us permission to feel – for we serve an emotional God! We have a Savior who not only understands our feelings, He invites us to bring them to Him.
- We can be honest with God and ourselves – rather than being overwhelmed by emotions, we can curious as we process them with Jesus. For they often reveal what God wants to heal.
This is such an important conversation, you guys. And this book could literally change your life.
Stuffing and denying our emotions only makes them come out sideways in anxiety, depression and issues with our health. How much better to bring them all to Jesus. Anjuli’s book helps us do just that!
Links from ShowAnjuli’s Book: Feel: A Collection of Liturgies Offering Hope for Every Complicated Emotion
Anjuli’s Other Books:
Awake: Paying Attention to What Matters Most in a World That’s Pulling You Apart
Stay: Discovering Grace, Freedom, and Wholeness Where You Never Imagined Looking
Joanna’s Latest Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God
Joanna’s YouTube Channel
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with AnjuliWebsite | Instagram
It’s easy to feel alarmed when we read the headlines…
Especially when it comes to the immigration crisis. Current estimates suggest over 100 million people have been forcibly displaced from their homes. Many of them desperate to enter the United States – legally or illegally – which causes many people a lot of concern.
But what if we could balance the need for secure borders with compassion? What if we could engage with the crisis in a way that reflects the Christian values we cherish?
In this episode of The Living Room, author and human dignity advocate, Bri Stensrud shares from her book, Start With Welcome: the Journey Toward a Confident and Compassionate Immigration Conversation. She gives practical tips on how to align your heart with God’s heart for hurting people yet still advocate for secure and safe borders.
Key Takeaways:
- Find Out What God Says: Let Scripture shape your view on immigrants and refugees. From Genesis to Revelation, God cares for all, including the vulnerable and outcast.
- Seek Connection Over Fear: We often fear people different than us. Get to know immigrants’ personal stories, and discover the humanity that headlines often miss.
- Start Small, Start with Welcome: Making a difference doesn’t require grand gestures; it begins with small, intentional acts of kindness that demonstrate God’s love.
Rather than getting caught up in politics and safeguarding “The American Way,” let’s open our eyes to the opportunities to love those around us. It was the tangible, yet practical love of God shown by Christians that changed the world 2000 years ago. And I believe that’s how God wants to change the world today.
Links from ShowBri’s Book: Start With Welcome: the Journey Toward a Confident and Compassionate Immigration Conversation
Bri’s Ministry: Women of Welcome
Bri’s Facebook Pages: Women of Welcome & Private Facebook Group
Joanna’s Latest Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God
Joanna’s YouTube Channel
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with BriWebsite | Instagram | Facebook
What if there’s more to life than you’re currently experiencing?In this episode of The Living Room, Hannah Brencher and I talk about her new book, The Unplugged Hours: Cultivating a Life of Presence in a Digitally Connected World. She shares tips for a digital detox, showing us how to unplug from distractions so we fully engage with the people we love and the God we need.This is such an important conversation! I hope you’ll share it with a friend…Key Takeaways:
- Constant connectivity drains us emotionally and spiritually.
- God can do in rest what can’t be done in busyness and distraction
- Feeling agitated or restless is part of the process of digital detox
- Start small, but begin – having a clear plan and purpose helps maintain consistency
- Disconnecting requires trust—trust that the world won’t fall apart without us
If you’re ready to experience the freedom and peace of an unplugged life, check out the links below. Start today—and see discover the gift of quiet.
Links from ShowHannah’s Book: The Unplugged Hours: Cultivating a Life of Presence in a Digitally Connected World
Hannah’s 1000-Hour Challenge
Joanna’s Latest Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God
Joanna’s YouTube Channel
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with HannahWebsite | Instagram | Facebook
Do you feel a gap between who you are and who you feel called to be?You’re not alone. Many of us find ourselves caught in cycles of self-improvement and frustration, longing for transformation but feeling stuck. In this conversation with Christian psychologist, Dr. Merry Lin, she shares insights from Re-Becoming: Come Out of Hiding to Live as Your God-Given Essential Self offer a fresh perspective on breaking free from the patterns that hold us back.
Key Takeaways:
- Transformation is a process: Lasting change isn’t about quick fixes or external improvements but about allowing God to work a deep, inner healing.
- Self-awareness leads to freedom: Understanding the triggers and lies shaping our behavior is crucial for growth. We can’t change what we don’t recognize.
- Faith and psychology align: True science and scripture both reveal God’s design for us, offering practical tools for emotional and spiritual healing.
This journey may be slow, but it’s one worth taking—and Jesus will be faithful to lead us every step of the way!
Links from ShowDr. Merry’s Book: Rebecoming: Come Out of Hiding to Live as Your God-Given Essential Self
Dr. Merry’s Podcast: The Fully Lived Life
Joanna’s Latest Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God
Joanna’s YouTube Channel
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Dr. MerryWebsite | Instagram | Facebook
We only have one life – shouldn’t we make the most of it?Of course, that’s often easier said than done. But even when life is hard, we are all surrounded by blessings. We just need the Lord’s help to see them.
In this episode of The Living Room podcast, my very wise and wonderful guest, Sally Clarkson, shares the lessons she’s learned along the way. Especially during her time living in Oxford, England. Her new book, Well Lived, documents her journey in beautiful pictures and moving text.
I can’t wait for you to hear Sally’s rich wisdom and reminders that the life we’ve been given is more beautiful than we know.
Links from ShowSally’s Book: Well-Lived: Shaping a Legacy of Gratitude and Grace
Sally’s Other Books on Amazon
Sally’s Podcast: At Home with Sally
Joanna’s Latest Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God
Joanna’s YouTube Channel
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with SallyWebsite | Instagram | Facebook
What do we do when happily-ever-after isn’t so happy?When John and I married more than forty years ago – (wow, time goes fast!) – I was pretty sure everything would be smooth sailing. We both loved the Lord and had so much in common, how could it be anything but heaven-on-earth?
In this episode of The Living Room podcast, Chelsea Damon, the author of the new book, I Thought This Would Make Me Happy: How to Fight Less, Forgive Faster, and Cultivate Joy in *Marriage,* and I talk about our own marital journeys and the incredible wisdom she shares in the book about building a strong, joy-filled marriage that’s grounded in God and the beautiful refining that comes when we let God get His hands on us.
Key Takeaways:
- The inspiration behind Chelsea’s book and her personal experiences with marriage
- Practical advice on overcoming common marital challenges and fostering joy
- The importance of shifting focus from self-fulfillment to serving your spouse
- Insights on the metaphor of marriage as a garden – weeding out sin, planting the right seeds, and allowing God’s grace to grow
- Real-life stories and testimonies that highlight the power of love, forgiveness, and faith
Whether you’re married or not, I promise you’ll benefit from this conversation! Discover how to navigate expectations, communicate effectively, and keep Christ at the center of all your relationships.
Links from ShowChelsea’s Book: I Thought This Would Make Me Happy: How to Fight Less, Forgive Faster, and Cultivate Joy in Marriage
Chelsea’s Ministry: Living the Sweet Wife
Joanna’s Latest Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God
Joanna’s YouTube Channel
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with ChelseaWebsite | Instagram | Facebook
In a world that seems intent on pulling families apart…Chris and Julie Bennett stand firm on the importance of family as designed by God. We talk about so many things in this episode of The Living Room, because family is more than the people that live in your house. It extends to the family of God and the love we are to demonstrate to the world around us.
Chris and Julie share truths from their book, Fighting for Family: The Relentless Pursuit of Building Belonging, including:
- The importance of the concept of belonging
- Their journey from pastoring in Oklahoma to moving to Los Angeles with their family
- Overcoming personal challenges, including a cancer diagnosis and starting a new life in the middle of COVID-19
- The importance of creating a family mission statement and fostering a sense of belonging in church as well as at home
- How God provided and supported them through their trials
- Insights on building a community and the significance of family in today’s culture
I love Chris and Julie’s honesty as they share God’s faithfulness in the difficult times and the important part each of us play in the Family of God. Let’s keep pressing on together!
Links from ShowChris & Julie’s Book: Fighting for Family: The Relentless Pursuit of Building Belonging
Chris & Julie’s Podcast: Finding Family Podcast
Joanna’s Latest Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God
Joanna’s YouTube Channel
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Chris & JulieWebsite | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
Between the expectations and demands of ministry…It’s easy to lose yourself in trying to be everything people need you to be. But that isn’t what God intended. When He called you to serve His people, He called you to be YOU!
In this episode of The Living Room, I dive deep with the amazing women behind a popular ministry podcast as we talk about their new book – Pastor’s Wives Tell All: Navigating Real Church Life with Honesty. Stephanie, Jessica, Jenna and I talk about the realities of being a pastor’s wife as we explore topics like:
- Overcoming the pressure to be perfect
- Balancing personal identity with ministry roles
- Navigating church hurt and supporting your spouse
- The importance of vulnerability and authenticity in leadership
- Encouraging every member of the church to find their place and serve
Whether you’re a pastor’s wife or want to know how to love and support the ministry women in your life – this interview is for you!
Links from ShowThe Book: Pastor’s Wives Tell All: Navigating Real Church Life with Honesty
The Podcast: Pastor’s Wives Tell All
Facebook Group: Pastor’s Wives Tell All Community
Joanna’s Latest Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God
Joanna’s YouTube Channel
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Pastor’s Wives Tell AllWebsite | Instagram | Facebook
What do you do when everything falls apart?In this episode of The Living Room podcast, Courtney Joseph Fallick shares the painful yet profound journey she experienced when her seemingly perfect life was dismantled by her husband’s unfaithfulness.
Her book, Still Standing: How to Live in God’s Light While Wrestling with the Dark, offers hope and encouragement to anyone grappling with unexpected challenges. Topics discussed include:
- Courtney’s early ministry, including her blog and book “Women Living Well”
- The sudden and painful end of her 19-year marriage
- Navigating single motherhood and the spiritual warfare that ensued
- The importance of forgiveness, community, and maintaining faith amidst trials
- Practical tips for finding God’s presence in everyday life and overcoming loneliness
- How Courtney’s ministry evolved and flourished through her trials
No matter what you’re going through, Courtney’s story is a reminder that even when life takes unexpected turns, God walks with us every step of the way.
Links from ShowCourtney’s Book: Still Standing: How to Live in God’s Light While Wrestling with the Dark
Courtney’s Ministry: Women Living Well & Good Morning Girls
Joanna’s Latest Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God
Joanna’s YouTube Channel
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with CourtneyWebsite | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
It’s easy to miss the Good News if we don’t understand God’s heart toward us.Even as Christians, we can spend so much time trying to please God, we miss the joy of simply being His child.
In this episode of The Living Room, Caroline Saunders and I have a delightful discussion about the God and His heart toward us. We share our own journey to a deeper friendship with Jesus and offer advice like:
- Practical tips for studying the Bible
- The impact of themes in Scripture
- Encouragement for those struggling in their faith
- The beautiful belonging that is ours in Christ
Hope you enjoy the interview like I did!
Links from ShowCaroline’s Study: Come Home – Bible Study with Video Access
Children’s Book: Kids in the Bible: A Storybook Bible About God’s Children
Joanna’s Latest Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God
Joanna’s YouTube Channel
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with CarolineWebsite | Instagram | Facebook
In a busy, noisy world…it can be hard to hear God.Surrounded by distractions, it can be difficult to find the stillness needed to renew and restore our soul.
In this episode of The Living Room with Joanna Weaver, Sarah Clarkson talk about her book, Reclaiming Quiet: Cultivating a Life of Holy Attention (coming November 2024). She gives practical tips for reclaiming quiet. But most of all, she shares the tender love God has for us. Wooing and calling us away from noise to a deeper friendship with Him.
Links from ShowSarah’s Book: Reclaiming Quiet: Cultivating a Life of Holy Attention
Previous Book: This Beautiful Truth: How God’s Goodness Breaks into Our Darkness
Previous Episode: TLR 074: God’s Goodness in the Dark with Sarah Clarkson
Joanna’s Newest Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God
Joanna’s YouTube Channel
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with SarahWebsite | Instagram | Facebook
If you were to take the pulse of your life, what would you find?Does it feel like you’re in “a-fib” – ping-ponging off one responsibility to another? Or have you flat-lined and feel a little dead?
Dr. Saundra Dalton Smith has been where you’ve been and in this episode of The Living Room Podcast, she’s shares lessons from her book, Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity. You were not made to go full tilt and burn out for Jesus. He created you for an abundant life. And that includes cultivating a rest that renews and restores your soul.
Check out Dr. Saundra’s “Rest Quiz.” It will help you gauge where you fall in seven specific areas. (And be sure to tune in to next week’s YouTube video where I’ll unpack how I’m going to apply the “7 Types of Rest” this summer!)
Links from ShowDr Saundra’s Book: Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity
Dr Saundra’s Quiz: The Rest Quiz
Dr Saundra’s Other Book: Set Free to Live Free
Joanna’s Newest Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God
Joanna’s YouTube Channel
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with SarahWebsite | Instagram | LinkedIn
Life offers lots of reasons to be anxious…But God invites us to calm our hearts and still our soul by learning to rest in Him. No matter what we face.
In this episode of The Living Room with Joanna Weaver, best-selling author Linda Dillow shares how God has taught her to trust Him more – and the beautiful ministry He’s opened to her in war-torn countries like Ukraine.
This interview had me in tears – it’s just that good. Hope you’ll share it with a friend.
Links from ShowLinda’s Book: Calm My Anxious Heart
Other Books:
What’s It Like to Be Married to Me?
Creative Counterpart
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Let’s be honest…building friendships with other women can be difficult!Even as Christians, fear of rejection, insecurity and the snare of compare often make us hold each other at a distance.
In this episode, Jenn Schultz and I talk about her new study, She’s Not Your Enemy: Conquering Our Insecurities So We Can Build God’s Kingdom Together. Satan loves to divide and conquer, but God wants us to push back the obstacles and step into the sweet sisterhood He wants for His daughters.
Links from ShowJenn’s Book: She’s Not Your Enemy: Conquering Our Insecurities So We Can Build God’s Kingdom Together
(Book Purchase Includes 10-session Video Bible Study)
Jenn’s Website Resources
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with JennWebsite | Instagram | Facebook
Is God calling you to take a leap of faith?
It’s risky stepping out when God calls…but its even riskier not to obey.
In this episode of The Living Room, Rachel G. Scott shares from her book, Taking the 5 Leaps of Faith: Experiencing God’s Faithfulness as You Respond to His Call. She shares from her own journey and shows us how to prepare, plan and execute the leap God is asking us to take.
“Taking leaps always includes risks and tons of unknowns,” Rachel says, “but I want you to remember that the risk is worth Heaven’s reward.”
Links from ShowRachel’s Book: Taking the 5 Leaps of Faith: Experiencing God’s Faithfulness as You Respond to His Call.
Podcast: Taking the Leap with Rachel G. Scott
Quiz: The 5 Leaps Quiz
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with RachelWebsite | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn
Change can be exciting, but it can also be hard.But God promises to be with us every step of the way. In today’s episode of The Living Room, Andi Andrew shares from her book, Braving Change: Release the Past, Welcome Growth, and Trust Where God is Leading You.
Andi and I talk about the massive transitions the Lord has taken us through – and how we can fully engage in the journey. Whether it’s moving across the country or navigating the loss of someone we loved, we can count on the Lord to help us brave change.
Links from ShowBook: Braving Change: Release the Past, Welcome Growth, and Trust Where God is Leading You
Previous Episode: TLR 076: Uncomplicating Friendship
Previous Book: Friendship—It’s Complicated: Avoid the Drama, Create Authentic Connection and Fulfill Your Purpose Together
Podcast: Coffee With Andi
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with AndiWebsite | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
As Christians, we know that Jesus is with us…But sometimes we live as though He’s far away. A destination we have to reach rather than a Friend who lives within us.
In this episode of The Living Room, Joni Eareckson Tada and I talk Brother Lawrences’ classic book and how he practiced the presence of God in such a way it changed his life. Joni talks about practical ways we cultivate the Lord’s presence in the midst of everyday life.
Her new devotional, The Practice of the Presence of Jesus: Daily Meditations on the Nearness of Our Savior, has ministered to me deeply – but it’s Joni herself that inspires me to go deeper with Jesus.
Much like Brother Lawrence, Joni’s books and life has blazed a trail to friendship with Jesus that generations will follow.
Links from ShowJoni’s Book: The Practice of the Presence of Jesus: Daily Meditations on the Nearness of Our Savior
Brother Lawrence Book: The Practice of the Presence of God
Joni’s Previous Interview: TLR 082: The Beautiful Faithfulness of God with Joni Eareckson Tada
Joni’s Ministry: Joni & Friends
Joanna’s Newest Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God
Joanna’s YouTube Channel
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Joni Eareckson TadaWebsite | Facebook | Instagram
Is your spiritual hunger where you want it to be?In a world filled with distractions, our appetite for God can be sedated with lesser things. But God is stirring a hunger in the heart of His people. Can you feel it? A holy dissatisfaction that’s awakening a desire to pursue God in a deeper way than ever before. But how to do it? That is the question.
In this episode of The Living Room with Joanna Weaver, Lisa Whittle shares how God used a similar desperation to take her on a journey that led to her book, I Want God: How to Love Him with All Your Heart and Revive Your Soul.
We go so many beautiful places in this conversation – I hope you enjoy!
Links from ShowLisa’s Book: I Want God: How to Love Him with All Your Heart and Revive Your Soul
Lisa’s Previous Interview: TLR 043: Jesus Over Everything with Lisa Whittle
Lisa’s Ministry: Called Creatives
Joanna’s Newest Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God
Joanna’s YouTube Channel
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Lisa WhittleWebsite | Instagram | Facebook
His words have impacted millions of Christians…But Oswald Chambers’ classic devotional might not have ever been written had it not been for his wife. What a loss that would have been! For through the sermons she compiled, Oswald Chambers has been my spiritual mentor for nearly forty years.
In this episode of The Living Room, biographer Michelle Ule shares the incredible story behind this classic devotional and Biddy Chambers – the woman who captured her husband’s words and shared them with the world.
It is an inspiring episode in so many ways! I hope you are challenged like I was to use my giftings for God’s glory – no matter the pain and sacrifice that might be involved.
Links from ShowMichelle’s book: Mrs. Oswald Chambers: The Woman behind the World’s Bestselling Devotional
My Utmost for His Highest: Classic Edition / Updated Language Edition
Michelle’s Guest Post: Mrs. Oswald Chambers | Guest Michelle Ule
Joanna’s Newest Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God
Joanna’s YouTube Channel
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Michelle UleWebsite | Facebook | Instagram
We’re surrounded by messages from culture…
Messages that tell us that beauty is the highest goal. That if we’d only wear the right clothes, but the right beauty products, then we’d feel fulfilled.
But the world’s definition of beauty is not only skewed…it can be downright dangerous. Not only to our mental health and physical bodies, but to our spiritual life as well.
In this episode of The Living Room with Joanna Weaver, family therapist and author, Melissa Johnson, shares from her new book: Soul-Deep Beauty: Fighting for Our True Worth in a World Demanding Flawless.
I hope you share this episode with a friend!
Links from ShowMelissa’s Book: Soul-Deep Beauty: Fighting for Our True Worth in a World Demanding Flawless.
Melissa’s Podcast: Impossible Beauty
Joanna’s Newest Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God
Joanna’s YouTube Channel
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Melissa JohnsonWebsite | Instagram
End-of-year planning often focuses on what went wrong…But what if we focused on what went right?
That’s what I did last month, and what I discovered was amazing! Though I haven’t experienced freedom in every area, the Lord has certainly taught me a lot this past year – and He’s given me several victories. And I want to share them with you:
- Obedience over outcome
- Progress over perfection
- Patience over anxiety
- Hold things loosely
- Let God change your heart
You can listen to the podcast or check out the video below or watch on YouTube @ https://youtu.be/_vpXYS2_1BQ
I hope you are encouraged by this episode of the podcast, but I especially hope you’ll take time to look back at the past year, and with the Holy Spirit’s help, discover the life-changing things the Lord’s been teaching you.
If you missed the last episode, you might want to listen to “Looking Back & Moving Forward.” It’s available to watch on YouTube as well!
- LISTEN: “Looking Back & Moving Forward in 2024”
- WATCH: “How to Have a GREAT Year in 2024”
- WORKSHEET: “Four Powerful Questions”
Links from ShowJoanna’s Best-selling Book: Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World: Finding Intimacy with God in the Busyness of Life
Joanna’s Newest Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God
Joanna’s YouTube Channel
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with JoannaWebsite | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
Tis the season of goal-setting and making plans for the new year… But we often miss the most important part! In this episode of The Living Room with Joanna Weaver, I share four powerful questions to help us look back so we can move forward with confidence into 2024, knowing that God is with us every step of the way.
To help you reflect on where you’ve been so you can get where you want to go, I’ve created a FREE pdf of the questions that provides space for your answers. Hope you enjoy!
Also available at YouTube – https://linktw.in/XBPhQn
Links from ShowDownload: Four Powerful Questions Worksheet
Joanna’s Best-selling Book: Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World: Finding Intimacy with God in the Busyness of Life
Joanna’s Newest Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God
Joanna’s YouTube Channel
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with JoannaWebsite | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
Do you have a formula Christianity?The approach that, if I do a and I do b, then God has to do c?
The problem with formula Christianity is that it doesn’t work. Life tends to mess with it and God isn’t bound by it. But worst of all, it tends to push us away from God rather than draw us near.
In this episode of The Living Room with Joanna Weaver, Michele Cushatt shares how the dismantling of her religious formulas helped her find God in a deeper way as she shares from her new book, A Faith That Will Not Fail: 10 Practices to Build Up Your Faith When Your World Is Falling Apart.
“God didn’t cause my cancer,” Michele says, “but He certainly didn’t waste it!”
And He’s not going to waste the painful things in your life, my friend. Though Satan intends it for evil, God is going to work it all together for good.
Links from ShowMichele’s Book: A Faith That Will Not Fail: 10 Practices to Build Up Your Faith When Your World Is Falling Apart
Michele’s Other Episodes: TLR 018: The Relentless Presence of God and TLR 005: Finding Our Identity
Joanna’s Newest Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God
Joanna’s YouTube Channel
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Michele CushattWebsite | Facebook | Instagram
If you’ve been a Christian very long, you’ve probably experienced some hurt…
That hurt can come from the most unexpected place of all – the church. If we don’t give that pain to Jesus, the enemy loves to twist that hurt into a weapon that turns our hearts away from ministry, from the Body of Christ and even God Himself.
In this episode of The Living Room, author and pastor’s kid, Natalie Runion shares her own journey to healing from her book, Raised to Stay: Persevering in Ministry When You Have a Million Reasons to Walk Away.
Do you know someone who needs this message? Share it with a friend.
Links from ShowNatalie’s Book: Raised to Stay: Persevering in Ministry When You Have a Million Reasons to Walk Away.
Natalie’s Book Trailer
Natalie’s Instagram & Facebook
Joanna’s Newest Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God
Joanna’s YouTube Channel
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Natalie RunionWebsite | Facebook | Instagram
Sharing your faith doesn’t come easy to most of us…We love Jesus with all of our heart, but we don’t always know how to give words to our faith. Especially in a way that people around us can understand.
In this episode of The Living Room podcast, author Shauna Pilgreen shares from her book, Translating Jesus: How to Share Your Faith in Language Today’s Culture Can Understand. Co-pastoring a church in downtown San Francisco has given Shauna a unique perspective on the needs of people as well as strategies for bringing them Jesus.
You are going to love Shauna’s heart for the Lord – for it spills out in a heart for people!
Links from ShowShauna’s Book: Translating Jesus: How to Share Your Faith in Language Today’s Culture Can Understand
Other Book: Love Where You Live: How to Live Sent in the Place You Call Home
Joanna’s Newest Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God
Joanna’s YouTube Channel
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Shauna PilgreenWebsite | Facebook | Instagram
It’s one of the best-selling devotionals of all time…There’s a good chance you’ve probably not heard of the author, but Lettie B. Cowman’s compilations and writings have challenged and shaped millions of people over the years – including me!
I remember picking up a special edition of Streams in the Desert and Springs in the Valley in my early 30s. It had been my grandma’s favorite devotional and since it was on clearance, I bought it. Little did I know it would become a much-needed companion that I’ve returned to often throughout the years.
In today’s episode of The Living Room, biographer Michelle Ule and I talk about the remarkable woman behind these classic devotionals. And the many lessons we can learn from the extraordinary way she loved and served the Lord
Links from ShowLettie B. Cowman Biography: Overflowing Faith: Lettie Cowman and Streams in the Desert Devotional.
Biddy Chambers Biography – Mrs. Oswald Chambers: The Woman Behind the World’s Best-selling Devotional
Lettie’s Devotionals: Streams in the Desert and Springs in the Valley
Joanna’s Newest Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God
Joanna’s YouTube Channel
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Michelle UleWebsite | Facebook | Instagram
You don’t have to be fatherless to have a father wound…
In this episode of The Living Room Podcast, author Kia Stephens shares her journey to healing and powerful tips from her book, Overcoming Father Wounds: Exchanging Your Pain for God’s Perfect Love.
Whether your father was absent when you were growing up, or emotionally unavailable, God wants to fill your “father hole” with His love. Be sure to listen to the end – Kia’s prayer is so powerful!
Links from ShowKia’s Book: Overcoming Father Wounds: Exchanging Your Pain for God’s Perfect Love.
Kia’s Podcast – Hope for Women with Father Wounds
Kia’s YouTube Channel
Joanna’s Newest Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God
Joanna’s Youtube Channel
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Kia StephensWebsite | Facebook | Instagram
Where are you, God?
When you’re walking through difficult times, it can be hard to feel God’s presence. It can feel like your prayers are bouncing off the ceiling and that you’re all alone.
Popular radio show host and author, Susie Larson, knows what that feels like. In this episode of The Living Room podcast, she shares the powerful truths she’s learned during her decades battle with chronic Lyme disease and God’s nearness – even when we don’t see Him or feel His presence in our lives. ‘
Don’t miss this amazing discussion around her new book, Closer Than Your Next Breath: Where Is God When You Need Him Most?
Links from ShowSusie Larson’s Book: Closer Than Your Next Breath: Where Is God When You Need Him Most?
Susie’s Radio Show: Susie Larson Live
Other Living Room Episodes:
TLR 001: Living Fully with Susie Larson
TLR 050: Learning to Prevail with Susie Larson
TLR 100: Soul Care for the Battle with Susie Larson
Joanna’s Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Susie LarsonWebsite | Facebook | Instagram | Podcast
When we come to know ourselves better, we come to know God better.More than any other spiritual practice, journaling has helped me connect with God and get honest with myself. To really look below the surface of my life and see what I’m thinking…what I’m feeling…what I’m actually believing. But we don’t always know how to do that.
In this episode, Jennifer Dukes Lee gives us a power tool to help us explore deep places with the Holy Spirit as our guide. Even if you’ve never journaled, you’re going to enjoy this conversation. And I know you’ll enjoy the interactive prompts in her new book, *Stuff I’d Only Tell God: A Guided Journal of Courageous Honest, Obsessive Truth-Telling, and Beautifully Ruthless Self-Discovery.*
For as we get honest with God and give Him access to our hidden places, the Holy Spirit is able to radically change our lives. All because we’ve followed David’s advice in Psalm 62:8.
“Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.”
Links from ShowJennifer’s Book: Stuff I’d Only Tell God: A Guided Journal of Courageous Honest, Obsessive Truth-Telling, and Beautifully Ruthless Self-Discovery
Previous Book: Growing Slow: Lessons on Un-Hurrying Your Heart from an Accidental Farm Girl
Previous Interview: “The Beauty of Growing Slow with Jennifer Dukes Lee“
Joanna’s Newest Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God
Watch This Interview on Joanna’s Youtube Channel
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Jennifer Dukes LeeWebsite | Instagram | Facebook
Do you want a stronger, sweeter marriage? We've all heard that a good marriage takes work - and it certainly does. But I've found that great marriages are forged through the power of prayer.
In this episode of The Living Room Podcast, author Jodie Berndt shares tips for Praying the Scriptures for Your Marriage: Trusting God with Your Most Important Relationship. But we also talk about our own marriages and I share the simple prayer literally changed the trajectory of our marriage forever. Links from Show Jodie's Book: Praying the Scriptures for Your Marriage: Trusting God with Your Most Important Relationship. Free Marriage Prayer Printables Joanna’s Newest Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God Joanna’s Youtube Channel [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Jodie Berndt Website | Facebook | Instagram
I think we’d all prefer a perfect life that's never messy… If given a choice, we'd choose a life that's never marred by our mistakes.
But God isn't threatened by our junk. Instead, when we place it in His hands, He not only heals and restores us, He turns our mess into a message that brings hope to the world.
In this episode of The Living Room podcast, pastor and author Ines Franklin shares her very personal story of moral failure that led to debilitating shame. But she also shares how God set her free and some of the lessons found in her new book, Uncharted: Navigating Your Unique Journey of Faith.
I know you're going to be blessed by this conversation! Links from Show Ines' New Book: Uncharted: Navigating Your Unique Journey of Faith Ines' Book Trailer Ines' Podcasts Joanna’s Newest Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God Joanna’s Youtube Channel [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Ines Franklin Website | Facebook | Instagram
Have you ever felt God calling you to step out for Him, but have been too afraid? Lori Wilhite knows exactly how you feel. Though married to Jud Wilhite, pastor of one of the leading churches in America, for years Lori was paralyzed by fear that she might destroy their ministry. But out of that struggle came a powerful ministry to pastor wives and ministry women called Leading and Loving It. Whether you feel called to ministry or not, I know you’re going to be blessed by this conversation!
You’ve been set apart for a purpose my friend. Whether its in full-time ministry or ministry to your family and friends, your life matters to the Kingdom. So allow the Lord to help you shed anything that is holding you back from making yourself fully available to His Kingdom. Right where you are - starting today. Links from Show Lori's New Study: Chasing Happy: Study in Philippians Other Book: Leading and Loving It Lori's Ministry: Leading and Loving It Joanna’s Newest Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God Joanna’s Youtube Channel [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Lori Wilhite Website |Facebook | Instagram
Does your spiritual life feel a bit half-hearted? Though we don't want it, there is often a disconnect between the person you are and the person you want to be. Especially when it comes to our walk with God.
In this episode of The Living Room podcast, Kathryn Maack shares from her book, Whole: The Life-Changing Power of Relating to God with All of Yourself. As we seek the Lord with all that we are, He hleps us heal the disconnect so we no longer live a segmented life but become the kind of whole-hearted Christians God wants us to be.
For as we bring Him all that we are, He gives us all that He is! Links from Show Kathryn's Book: Whole: The Life-Changing Power of Relating to God with All of Yourself Joanna’s Newest Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God Joanna’s Youtube Channel [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Kathryn Maack Website | Facebook | Instagram
If you’re like me…it’s your thought-life that trips you up more often not. Even as a life-long Christian, too often, I allow my thoughts to dictate my peace. My fears to dismantle my joy. And the longer we allow our thoughts to run wild, the longer we’ll live in emotional and mental chaos. But there’s a better way, my friend. And in today’s episode, you’re going to learn how to manage your thought-life rather than being man-handled by it.
Kelly Balarie is a dear friend of mine, and I know you'll be blessed by the insights she shares from her new book, Take Every Thought Captive: Exchange Lies of the Enemy for the Mind of Christ.
WATCH our interview on YouTube - airing June 22nd Links from Show Kelly's New Book: Take Every Thought Captive: Exchange Lies of the Enemy for the Mind of Christ Other Books: Rest Now / Battle Ready / Fear Fighting Other Episodes with Kelly: TLR 09 - Getting Battle Ready / TLR 049 - Fear Fighting Joanna’s New Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God Joanna’s Youtube Channel [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Kelly Balarie Website |Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Wherever you are...be there!
That's the message of this episode with Heather MacFadyen, author of Right Where You Belong: How to Identify and Fully Occupy Your God-Given Space. But there is so much more to this interview! Heather shares the importance of connecting to God and tapping into the power He provides to become everything He wants us to be. Best of all, she shows us how to do it!
Don't miss the powerful prayer time at the end. The Holy Spirit wants to minister to your heart and bring the inner healing you need to show up and FULLY OCCUPY your God-given space. I hope you'll share this interview with a friend - it's just that good. Links from Show Heather's New Book: Right Where You Belong: How to Identify and Fully Occupy Your God-Given Space Other Book: Don't Mom Alone Heather's Podcast: Don't Mom Alone Podcast Joanna’s New Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God Joanna’s Youtube Channel [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Heather MacFadyen Website |Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Podcast
“Prayer looks different for each one of us…”
When it comes to prayer, It isn’t the method that matters as much as connecting with God. In this episode of The Living Room, Suzie Eller talks about her latest book, Prayer Starters: Talking With God About Hard Times. Whether you’ve enjoyed a vibrant prayer life or don’t know where to begin, Suzie offers tips on how to get honest with God despite what we might be feeling.
For when we pour out our hearts to Him, He pours in the grace and peace we so desperately need. But more importantly, our relationship with Him deepens. All because we’ve taken time to connect with Him in prayer.
Links from ShowSuzie’s Book: Prayer Starters: Talking With God About Hard Times.
Suzie’s Podcast: Prayer Starters Podcast
Joanna’s New Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God
Joanna’s Youtube Channel
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Suzanne EllerWebsite |Facebook | Instagram | Podcast
What if the unexpected is a pathway to becoming who you were always meant to be?
Your unexpected circumstances may not “be” good, my friend. But God can make good come from them.
In today’s episode, Jillian Benfield shares from her book The Gift of the Unexpected: Discovering Who You Were Meant to Be When Life Goes Off Plan. A former TV journalist, Jillian learned the gifts found in having her plans derailed and her agenda dismantled when she found out she was pregnant with a son who had Downs Syndrome.
This book – and conversation! – is for anyone whose life has taken a wide left turn and is looking to find meaning through it.
Need a Deeper Trust in God?You could be five days away from a closer, deeper trust in God than ever before. The email challenge and companion videos can be done anytime and anywhere.
GET THE CHALLENGE!
Whether you do it in five days or over five weeks, as you take time to live in the truths of Proverbs 3:5-6, I believe they will transform your life!
Links from ShowJillian’s New Book: The Gift of the Unexpected: Discovering Who You Were Meant to Be When Life Goes Off Plan
Joanna’s New Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Jillian BenfieldWebsite | Instagram | Facebook
So when you hear the word “theology,” what comes to mind?
Does it inspire mental images of dusty libraries filled with massive books about God? Perhaps it makes you thing of grey-haired scholars using big, multi-syllabled words as they tryt to describe the Almighty?
Well, I believe my conversation with Jenny Randle is going to change all that! The best type of theology doesn’t leave a mental fog – instead, it helps us gain a greater understand of who God really is. Rather than bringing God down to our level, theology opens our hearts and elevates our minds so we come up to His.
Our discussion about Jenny’s new book, Flash Theology is anything but dry, my friend! It’s downright fire!
PODCAST: Listen @ Apple or Spotify or any podcast player.
YOUTUBE: This interview will air on YouTube Thursday, May 4 @ 11:30 am. If you subscribe to my channel and hit the notification bell, you’ll be automatically notified each time a new video is posted.
|| WATCH JENNY & JOANNA ||Links from ShowJenny Randle’s Book: Flash Theology
Jenny’s Other Books: Amazon
Jenny’s Podcast: Shut the Should Up
Jenny’s Community: Freedom Creatives
Joanna’s Newest Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Jenny RandleWebsite | Instagram | Facebook
Are you feeling spiritually lethargic? You may need a diet change…
Sadly, we can stuff ourselves so full of things of this world, we nearly starve to death when it comes to our spiritual life with God. But Amy Seiffert offers a new way to live in her new book, Starved: Why We Need a Spiritual Diet Change to Move Us from Tired, Anxious, and Overwhelmed to Fulfilled, Whole and Free.
Our conversation covers so much ground, you guys! From the importance of silence and gratitude to our deep need to shed our shame so God can give us a new story. This is a powerful episode! I hope you’ll share it with a friend.
The Living Room on YouTubeYou can watch this episode with Amy on YouTube as well! You’ll love her gentle heart and gracious beauty. ke to automatically subscribe to my channel, just HIT THIS LINK!
Links from ShowAmy’s New Book: Starved: Why We Need a Spiritual Diet Change to Move Us from Tired, Anxious, and Overwhelmed to Fulfilled, Whole and Free
Amy’s FREE Bible Study for Starved
Amy’s FREE Printables
Joanna’s New Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God
Joanna’s Youtube Channel
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Amy SeiffertWebsite | Instagram | YouTube
Do you feel inadequate when it comes to answering hard questions of faith?
In this episode of The Living Room, I have the privilege of interviewing theology professor and author, Mary Jo Sharp about Dark Room Faith – a video curriculum designed to address the objections many young people have about the Christian faith. This free curriculum can be used by youth leaders but also parents to help them talk through the questions teens often face.
But we also talk about how many millenials are leaving the faith because of hypocrisy in the church and her book, Why I Still Believe: A Former Atheist’s Reckoning with the Bad Reptutation Christians Give a Good God. I hope you’ll check out all of Mary Jo’s excellent material – and share this episode with a friend.
Watch on YouTubeMy interview with Mary Jo Sharp is also available on YouTube (Wednesday @ 3:00pm)! Subscribe and hit the notification bell to be notified each time a video goes live.
https://youtu.be/YYNcvnTFnVM
Embracing Trust Challenge – Also on YouTube!I have so enjoyed hearing from people who are doing the Embracing Trust Challenge! And it’s not too late to start because it can be done anytime and anywhere.
All five days of the challenge have been uploaded to YouTube – but you definitely want to sign up to receive the FREE worksheets and daily emails before you start. Resist the impulse to watch all five days at once, because the best way to get the most out of the challenge, is to live in each truth for awhile.
In fact, you may want to do it over five weeks rather than five days! Because each one of the truths from Proverbs 3:5-6 have the power to transform your life.
GET THE CHALLENGE!
Links from ShowMary Jo’s Curriculum: Dark Room Faith
Mary Jo’s Book: Why I Still Believe: A Former Atheist’s Reckoning with the Bad Reptutation Christians Give a Good God
Joanna’s New Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Mary Jo SharpWebsite | Instagram | Facebook
Are there things in your past that you’d like to forget?
Do you struggle with lingering shame over things done to you or done by you? Regret over past mistakes or old wounds that just don’t seem to heal?
In this episode of The Living Room Podcast, author and teaching pastor, Alli Patterson, shares how God helped her break free of shame and invites us to do the same. For when we come to Jesus, He not only forgives our sin and heals our soul, He takes the worst parts of our story and turns it into a display case for God’s glory!
Check Out The Living Room on YouTube!It’s seriously so fun to chat with my guests face to face! And even more fun to share that experience with you. Be sure to check out Alli’s interview on YouTube! She is so passionate for Jesus that you can’t help but have some of that passion rub off on you.
Embracing Trust Challenge – Also on YouTube!I have so enjoyed hearing from people who are doing the Embracing Trust Challenge! And it’s not too late to start because it can be done anytime and anywhere.
All five days of the challenge have been uploaded to YouTube – but you definitely want to sign up to receive the FREE worksheets and daily emails before you start. Resist the impulse to watch all five days at once, because the best way to get the most out of the challenge, is to live in each truth for awhile.
In fact, you may want to do it over five weeks rather than five days! Because each one of the truths from Proverbs 3:5-6 have the power to transform your life.
GET THE CHALLENGE!
Links from ShowAlli’s New Book: How to Stay Standing: 3 Essential Practices to Build a Faith That Lasts
Joanna’s New Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Alli PattersonWebsite | Instagram | Facebook
God never asks us to give something up unless He wants to give us something better – Himself!
For most of us, fasting seems a little out of reach. Something we’ve tried to do and failed – or have felt too weak to even attempt. But fasting isn’t as hard as it seems.
In today’s episode, best-selling author Wendy Speake talks about how fasting leads to feasting on the goodness of God. We trade stories of how fasting the things that have stolen our attention and affection from God has led to freedom – not only in our relationship with the Lord but in our very lives.
This is a great conversation! Hope you’ll share it with a friend.
The Living Room is Available on YouTube!I’m so excited to announce that you can not only listen but also WATCH the Living Room Podcast on YouTube! It’s so fun to see my guest’s face as we talk, and now you get to see them too!
Every other Wednesday, I post a shorter video ike this one: “How to Draw Close to God.” It’s my prayer that both formats bless and encourage you – but more importantly, equip you for a victorious life in Christ!
Embracing Trust 5-Day Challenge is Coming Soon!A deeper trust in God might be closer than you think! Join me on March 1, 2023 for the launch of the Embracing Trust 5-Day Challenge. Just click on the button to learn more about it!
LEARN MORE!
Links from ShowWendy’s New Book: The 40-Day Feast: Taste and See the Goodness of God
The 40-Day Feast Online Study (starts February 22, 2023)
Wendy’s Other Books: The 40-Day Sugar Fast | The 40-Day Social Media Fast
Joanna’s New Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Wendy SpeakeWebsite | Instagram | Facebook
” Those who are the most broken are the most ripe for Jesus’ message of true blessing.”
What does it mean to live a blessed life? Best-selling author and Bible teacher, Kelly Minter joins us today to talk about the Sermon on the Mount and Jesus’ definition of true blessing.
Her new devotional, The Blessed Life: A 90-Day Journey Through The Teachings And Healings Of Jesus, helps us reshape our thinking to the specifications of the Word. For we were all created to experience God’s true blessing.
The Living Room on YouTube!Hey, did you know that I’m posting regularly over at YouTube? I’m so excited about the opportunity to reach new people with the Good News of the Gospel – but also to encourage believers to go deeper and farther in their faith. Each Wednesday, I post a new video – and this week features my conversation with Kelly. If you’d like to automatically subscribe, just HIT THIS LINK!
In This Show We Talk About: 1:35 The definition of a blessed life * 5:36 Kelly shares how she breaks down Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in her book * 11:02 Coming to the end of ourselves * 13:55 Learning how to let go of our “to-do list” and partner with the Holy Spirit * 20:04 How God changes our hearts * 21:42 The process of sanctification * 23:29 The calling to wholeness in the Sermon on the Mount * 27:03* How Kelly’s experiences in other countries put her idea of “blessing” into perspective
Links from ShowKelly Minter’s New Book: The Blessed Life: A 90-Day Devotional through the Teachings and Miracles of Jesus
Joanna’s New Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God
Joanna’s Youtube Channel
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Kelly MinterWebsite | Facebook | Instagram | Podcast
“When we renew our minds, truth actually changes our desires. It changes both our desires and our negative emotions. ”
For many of us, this month means reigning in our eating habits as we recover from the holidays. But how to we truly gain victory when emotional eating controls our lives? Barb Raveling and I sit down to discuss her journey in overcoming emotional eating and how we can turn to the only one who can truly satisfy our hunger for more.
In This Show We Talk About: 2:03 Barb shares about her new book “Say Goodbye to Emotional Eating” and her own journey in overcoming emotional eating. * 4:30 The format and interactive exercises included in Barb’s book, * 7:03 What is emotional eating? * 8:55 Joanna shares her own journey through emotional eating * 10:12 Barb talks about how to renewing our minds and letting the truth inform our thinking can change the way we view food. * 11:53 The life changes Barb has experienced in her ministry to other women. * 14:35 How to renew our minds concerning food and emotional eating on a practical level. * 20:29 Practical tools that can help us in our everyday struggles with overeating. * 22:36 How to navigate the benefits and dangers of diets. * 27:38 How our relationship with food impacts or relationship with God. * 29:41* Barb talks about the power of “Truth Journaling”.
Links from ShowBarb Raveling’s New Book: Say Goodbye to Emotional Eating: 100 Renewing Exercises to Help You Break Free From the Control of Food
Joanna’s New Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Barb RavelingWebsite | Facebook | Instagram | Podcast
“If nothing was too insignificant for the Savior of the world, then nothing is too insignificant for me and you.”
Are you feeling the pressure to make your life bigger, brighter and more significant? In this episode Rachael Adams and I talk about “the power of small” and how God makes a little go a long way. Rachael and I talk about the significance of the small moments, and how we can follow Jesus’ example by being faithful in the everyday and mundane.
In This Show We Talk About: 1:40 Rachael talks about what led her to write “A Little Goes A Long Way: 52 Days to a Significant Life” * 5:27 Balancing the tension between being satisfied with what we have and the longing for significance and purpose. * 7:28 How we often see God as a taskmaster instead of a loving Father. * 8:27 Rachael’s desire for the woman discouraged in the seemingly insignificant daily duties of life. * 11:00 How to get our eyes off what we thought our life would be like and onto what God has for us today. * 13:50 The paradigm shift that helps us embrace the “little” things. * 15:41 The power of being available. * 19:55 How God uses the unlikely and ordinary. * 20:34 Listening when God calls us to step out of our comfort zone into something bigger. * 26:07 Learning to overcome our fears and insecurity and encouraging others in the faith. * 30:18* Rachael shares what she and her family learned from living a simpler life in an RV.
Links from ShowRachael Adams’ Book: A Little Goes A Long Way: 52 Days to a Significant Life
Embracing Trust 10-week Video Bible Study
Joanna’s New Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Rachael AdamsWebsite | Facebook | Instagram | Podcast
“Every day we are given the opportunity to either accuse God or to trust Him”
Do you constantly feel crippled by fear or disappointment, wondering where God is in the midst of your suffering? In this 100th episode of The Living Room, Susie Larson shares from her new book Soul Care for the Battle. We discuss the fears that pull us away from peace with God and how to learn to trust God’s goodness during life’s trials.
In This Show We Talk About: 2:45 Susie shares the story behind her new book “Soul Care for the Battle”. * 8:19 Learning to discern the difference between a warning from the Holy Spirit and fear from the enemy. * 12:18 How to respond to fear and intense emotion in a godly way. * 13:54 When fear turns into rebellion, and how to prepare for hard times as a believer. * 20:40 Susie reads a poem the Lord inspired her to write during a time of intense suffering. * 24:09 Susie shares the verse that has proven true to her in the midst of life’s worst storms. * 25:42 Joanna and Susie discuss the ability to accept both God’s blessings and the trials of life in tandem. * 28:25 Why we shouldn’t move past the “Why me?” question too quickly. * 31:43 How we miss God’s goodness by looking for the good. * 44:01* The difference between holy lament, honest before God and self-pity.
Links from ShowSusie Larson’s Book: Soul Care for the Battle
Embracing Trust 10-week Video Bible Study
Joanna’s New Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God
[Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Susie LarsonWebsite | Facebook | Instagram | Podcast
"It's not so much about having the longing for success or significance, but where we turn in the midst of that longing.” Do you have big dreams and callings from the Lord, but feel held back by fear of failure, or even fear of success? I sit down with my dear friend Rebecca George as we discuss her new book Do the Thing: Gospel-Centered Goals, Gumption, and Grace for the Go-Getter Girl. Rebecca and I talk about trusting God during rejection and disappointment, and how to follow our dreams in a way that glorifies Him.
In This Show We Talk About:
2:39 Rebecca shares the inspiration and heart behind writing her book Do the Thing. 5:46 Learning to step out in faith and overcome fear, both of failure and success. 7:40 Viewing our desires, gifts and calling through a Gospel-centered lens. 9:53 How both rejection and success can refine and sanctify us. 12:24 Joanna and Rebecca share about following God in Ministry and avoiding getting caught in comparison. 18:25 Learning to bring our sinful hearts to the Lord in the moment instead of hiding in shame. 21:41 Allowing God to use the season and circumstances He's placed you in. 29:02 How to step into what we sense God calling us to do. 29:02 Rebecca shares the strength that keeps her going during times of weariness. 43:40 How to connect with Rebecca, plus how to access Rebecca's FREE Light of the World Advent Devotional
Links from Show Preorder Rebecca's New Book: Do the Thing: Gospel-Centered Goals, Gumption, and Grace for the Go-Getter Girl Rebecca's Free Gift to Living Room Listeners: Light of the World: 21-Day Advent Devotional Joanna's New Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Rebecca George Website | Facebook | Instagram | Podcast
“Trust is the key that takes us back to the Garden - back to intimate friendship with God.” How can we lay down our fear and hold on in faith amidst the ups and downs of marriage and parenting? In this episode of the Moms in Prayer podcast, Joanna shares the journey God took her on while writing Embracing Trust: Letting Go and Holding on to a Forever Faithful God. Joanna and Stacy discuss laying down our control, insecurities and expectations in exchange for intimacy with God.
Important Takeaways from the Show
When dealing with out "Flesh Woman", it's not a sin to doubt or be tempted, but what we do with doubt temptation that matters. Just as distrust led us out of the garden, key is the trust back into intimacy with God. As moms, we can easily hide from God using modern day "fig leaves" like our children, a beautiful home, the perfect marriage or worldly success. When we turn our convictions into criticism rather than intercession, we are harming rather than helping. It's easy to put our faith in an outcome rather than faith in our God. Childlike faith asks big things of God, and trusts Him with the outcome. We often forfeit God-given peace when we do not give our burdens to the Lord. We often have a problem with God's sovereignty because we have a problem with trust. God wants to show us His faithfulness, but we miss out on His blessings when we choose control over trust.
Links from Show The Life of Trust: Being a Narrative of the Lord's Dealings by George Mueller Joanna's New Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Moms in Prayer Website | Facebook | Instagram | Podcast
“The goal of Christian fiction is to stir the reader's curiosity and send them to the Bible for more.” In this episode Mesu Andrew talks with us about bringing the Bible alive and truly loving the word of God. Mesu has written 13 Biblical novels, her newest being Miriam: A Treasures of the Nile Novel. In today's podcast we discuss the power of Christian fiction to sanctify our imagination and out us in the shoes of Biblical characters.
Mesu shares her approach to writing Biblical fiction, the Biblical accounts that have impacted her the most while writing, and how the story of scripture changed her relationship with Jesus. Important Takeaways from the Show
Mesu's three layered approach to Biblical fiction: combining the unchangeable truth of scripture, historical research (debatable facts), and fill in with fiction to create a novel that feels real and believable. Mesu's goal in Christian fiction is to stir the curiosity of the reader and have them end up delving into scripture for answers. It's important to have a "sanctified imagination". Biblical fiction helps us to approach the Bible with more imagination, and put ourselves in the Biblical figure's shoes. Mesu's battle with chronic pain - finding God in the journey. God welcomes our "why" questions, but He answers with "who" He is instead. When we know "who", the "why" doesn't matter. Scripture tells us we can receive the limits God puts on our life as a gift instead of a punishment. It is in our suffering that we become more accurate reflections of our Savior. Journalling can be a concrete, tangible reminder of our conversations with God that we can look back on as reminders of His faithfulness.
Links from Show Mesu Andrew's Christian Fiction Books ESV Illuminated Bible Journals Joanna's New Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Mesu Andrews Website | Facebook | Instagram
“Depth and personal transformation is more important than trying to impact others.” In the age of YouTube stars and social media influencers, it's easy to find our identity in our online presence. You may find things that temporarily fill your spiritual buckets, but are left once again dry, anxious, and weary. In today's podcast, author Katelyn Beatty and Joanna talk about dangers to avoid surrounding celebrity, social media and public ministry.
Katelyn shares common pitfalls that arise for church leaders in today's fame-obsessed culture. Join us as we dive into a deeper understanding of the troubles the church is facing today and how we can navigate the current age by holding on to God's sovereignty. Important Takeaways from the Show
We can get so wrapped up in our visibility that we abandon our real life relationships that are more authentic. Sometimes accountability can be a name-only thing. Leaders must be willing to ask those around them to comment on their character. Don't confuse numerical growth on social platforms with God's blessing or the validity of the message. It's easy for us to set up today's Christian leaders on pedestals and over-prioritize public gifts over more private ones like hospitality. All spiritual gifts are needed in the body of Christ. When a leader falls, it's an opportunity for us to examine our own hearts and uphold them in prayer. We must resist our negative impulses to become contentious and backbiting on online social platforms. We are living an a time of profound loss of trust in institutions. We can't solve the deep divides in our culture without viewing our neighbors as made in the image of God. How we do things is as important as what things we do. God is sovereign over our current cultural climate.
Links from Show Katelyn Beatty's New Book: Celebrities for Jesus: How Personas, Platforms and Profits Are Hurting the Church Joanna's New Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Katelyn Beatty Website | Instagram
“Trust God's future promises because of His past faithfulness” Do you find yourself in a routine of casting your cares upon the Lord, only to take them back again? You may find things that temporarily fill your spiritual buckets, but are left once again dry, anxious, and weary. In today's podcast, author and speaker, Amy Seiffert and Joanna talk about tips fo overcoming anxiety.
Amy shares powerful tools to help to name our feelings, be honest with ourselves and God, and allow Him to align ourselves to His great plan for us. As we allow these things to draw us closer to Jesus, anxiety and worry can be replaced with peace and God's abundant goodness. Join us as we dive into a deeper understanding of true freedom, and find rest for your anxious souls. Important Takeaways from Show
Our feet can be in one space, but our minds can be somewhere else. As we let go of what we try to control, giving it to Jesus, our minds can be realigned in the calling He has for us. As we journal our feelings, we find the root of where they came from and identify them by name. Trusting God with our children means parenting from our knees, and surrendering our treasures to Him. Journaling can help us connect our hearts and thoughts back onto Jesus. Being honest ties our feelings together and readies our hearts for a conversation with God. The same grace that saves us is the same grace that changes us. Make a set time in the day to take your worries to God, not allowing them to consume every part of the day. Remember the goodness of God, the faithful times, and the answered prayers.
"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7
Links from Show Amy Seiffert's New Pre-Order Book: Starved: Why We Need a Spiritual Diet Change to Move Us from Tired, Anxious, and Overwhelmed to Fulfilled, Whole, and Free Amy Seiffert's Starved Bible Study: Starved Bible Study: A Six-Week Guided Journey James Bryan Smith- The Good and Beautiful God: Falling in Love with the God Jesus Knows Joanna's New Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Amy Seiffert Website | Instagram | Facebook
"If you are not working on your recovery, you are working on your relapse." Do you feel the weight of shame pulling you down? Weaknesses that feel too deep and shameful to admit? In today's episode, author, speaker and life coach, Irene Rollins, shares from her newest book, Reframe Your Shame: Experience Freedom from What Holds You Back.
With beautiful vulnerability, Irene shares her struggle with alcoholism, and how she overcame the battle of addiction and shame. If we'll be honest, do the work, and trust God and His unfailing love, we too can walk in freedom and light. This is such a rich episode, you won't want to miss it. Important Takeaways from Show
Rock bottom can become the foundation that the rest of our lives are built on. God can reframe our shame- as our greatest pain turns into our greatest ministry. It is time to give ourselves permission to be honest and bring the things that are in the dark into the light. When we admit our weakness, we are a witness of the power of Christ in us. I am enough because God says I am enough. We are temples of the Holy Spirit and freedom is on the other side of denial. "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Romans 12:2 Let us know the goodness of God, not through the lens of shame, but for who He truly is and His reckless love for us. Admit it. Accept it. Apply it.
"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9
Links from Show Irene's New Book: Reframe Your Shame: Experience Freedom from What Holds You Back Sign-Up for Tool Kit: Reframe Your Shame ToolKit Jimmy and Irene Rollins Marriage Ministry: Two Equals One Joanna's New Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Irene Rollins Website | Instagram | Facebook
“If God can create His proudest creation from mud, what can He do with the mud in our lives?” Have you ever felt disqualified by your origin story? Or perhaps driven to prove that you're better than your past? In today's episode, Mary Marantz shares how God has helped her navigate the broken pieces of her story and to approach it with compassion rather than judgment or bitterness, resentment or regret.
We dive into her memoir, Dirt: Growing Strong Roots in What Makes the Broken Beautiful, but also her newest book, Slow Growth Equals Strong Roots: Finding Grace, Freedom and Purpose in an Over-Achieving World. No matter what your story has been, God wants to redeem it for your good and His glory. There is so much good stuff in this episode. I hope you'll share it with a friend. Important Takeaways from Show
In making peace with our pasts, we take the muddy, the hard, the broken, and the beautiful and ask God to help us see it through the lens of grace. We can stop holding our present prisoner to the things we think we must do in order to count. Generational chains can break without the severing of ties as we honor the roots, strengthen them, and grow new fruit. The things you thought were shattered are mere reflections of light, love, and beauty. Achieving can start to feel like oxygen, it is something we feel like we need in order to survive. If we try to rush the process that God is taking us through, we only produce shallow roots that easily break-the slower growth equals the strongest roots. Significance is not about us; it is simply taking the gifts God has given us to serve and love others. We often think, “if I don’t work for it, I don’t deserve it,” but God’s love says “let it be easy, let it be light” “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
Links from Show Dirt: Growing Strong Roots in What Makes the Broken Beautiful Mary's Newest Book: Slow Growth Equals Strong Roots: Finding Grace, Freedom and Purpose in an Over-Achieving World Justin Kendrick - "The Spirit-Led Life" Joanna's New Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Mary Marantz Website | Instagram | Facebook
We've never been in control, but God always has... The tables have turned in this week's episode, and my friend, Kelly Balarie, interviews ME about my new book, Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God. It's easy to walk in our Christian faith thinking everything is okay, until it's not. When the hard comes, and people wound us, we slowly take a step backward out of trust and are left wondering why we feel empty.
I share some of things I learned during the writing process, the incredible joy of deepening our understanding of who God really is and His heart toward us. As we surrender to His way and trust Him in all situations, joy and peace is the outcome. So what's holding you back? Let's dive all-in and choose His way above our own. For when we embrace trust, we embrace God. Hope you enjoy!
Important Takeaways from Show
When we embrace trust, we take a leap of “all in” and surrender our everything to God. Jesus may have our hearts, but do we take control of everything else? Give God all the pieces of our life, and let Him do something beautiful in the surrender. In the obstacle is the opportunity to go deeper with the Lord. There is a period of exponential growth that is being offered if we just begin. Let us not hold on to faith for an outcome, but believe our faithful God will do what is best. When the promise is delayed, are we going to trust the Lord? Our questions and demands of God can become a wedge, instead of something that draws us closer to Him. God wants to build an unshakable faith in His people for these times.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 Links from Show Pre-Order Bonuses have been extended until Friday, August 19 - Learn more HERE! Joanna's Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God Kelly's Book: Battle Ready: Train Your Mind to Conquer Challenges, Defeat Doubt, and Live Victoriously Kelly's Book: Take Every Thought Captive: Exchange Lies of the Enemy for the Mind of Christ [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Joanna Weaver Facebook | Instagram
Oh you guys...
I've been waiting for five years for this moment! Next Tuesday - August 16, 2022 - my new book releases in the world. But my publisher was kind to let me give you a sneak peek of the introduction and first chapter.
Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God is the message I've longed to write from the moment I finished Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World. For I am convinced there is no more important question than this... Will I trust God? I hope you enjoy listening to the introduction and first chapter of the book - I certainly enjoyed reading it to you! 😉 Quotes From the Book
"As an adult, I still find myself groping and grasping, reaching for something more...Unfortunately, when what I want and what I get don’t coincide, I come to the unconscious conclusion: I’m all alone in the world and there’s no one I can trust. At least that’s how it feels. Yet nothing could be further from the truth." "Adam and Eve were tricked into trading the perfection of the Garden for something they already had." "It’s baffling to me that we so often reject our heavenly Father’s advances and choose to do life on our own. For there’s a beautiful logic in trusting God." "Christianity isn't the absence of problems, It's the promise of God's presence." "If we don't trust God, we'll live life looking through the wrong end of a telescope. God will appear tiny, and our problems will appear huge." "Rather than giving in to fear when difficulties arise, I'm learning to declare my faith in Jesus out loud. 'I trust You, Lord!'"
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6
Don't Miss the Bonuses! We've created an amazing bundle of pre-order bonuses when you buy the book on or before AUGUST 15, 2022. They include:
FREE audio book Downloadable study workbook Printable inspiration cards, screensavers and bookmark Personalized bookplate from author
My publisher is also offering an amazing 40% off PLUS free shipping when you order at Baker Book House!! Buy the book, then submit the receipt at EmbracingTrust.com to get the bonuses.
Hope you share this amazing deal with your friends! (And hey...It's not too late to join THE INSIDER CLUB launch team!)
Links from Show Join the Insider Club - Joanna's launch team! Joanna's Book: Embracing Trust: The Art of Letting Go and Holding On to a Forever-Faithful God [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Our identity is not found in external things, but in an internal God. In this week's episode, our very special guests, Brittany Maher and Cassandra Speer share from their newest book. Her True Worth: Breaking free from a Culture of Selfies, Side Hustles, and People Pleasing to Embrace Your True Identity in Christ.
Brittany and Cassandra are leaders of the popular ministry, Her True Worth, which encourages women to find their true worth in Jesus Christ. After working in the beauty industry, Brittany and Cassandra's eyes were opened to the emptiness of trying to find approval in the world's view of what defines a woman's worth.
Brittany and Cassandra share with us how to find our true worth and identity in Christ. As we accept our "acceptedness," we will learn how to live like true daughters of the King. You won't want to miss this one! Important Takeaways from Show
You are seen, known, and dearly loved by God. The world's measuring stick cannot measure our worth, value, and identity. God's goodness is not reliant on our "enoughness". Salvation cannot be revoked and our daughterhood in the family of God cannot be earned. "No matter what I do, where I've been, or mistakes I've made, as long as I have a pulse His invitation to me never expires." You need to know who you are not, in order to accept who you truly are in Christ. Are we living our lives in a posture of worship unto God, or are we in a place of needing the worship? Let us not spend a life earning what is already ours. Instead, let us put our worth, identity, and trust back in the hands of Jesus.
"For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works." Psalm 139:13-14
Links from Show Join the Insider Club - Joanna's launch team! Brittany and Cassandra's Book: Her True Worth [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Brittany Maher and Cassandra Speer Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube
Let us embrace the ever-present presence of God In this episode, the incredible, Jeanne Stevens shares from her new book, What's here Now? How to Stop Rehashing the Past and Rehearsing the Future-- and Start Receiving the Present. Jeanne is an author, speaker, and the founding and co-lead pastor of Soul City Church in Chicago. After finding herself in burnout and weariness, Jeanne discovered that while she was rehashing the past and living for the future, she was missing the present.
When we try to change something that cannot be changed or control something that God does not want us to control, peace feels distant and almost unavailable. God revealed to Jeanne the key to peace is in the present. Join us in the Living Room as we discuss ways to find freedom, allow God to draw us close, and embrace the ever-resent presence of God. Important Takeaways from Show
We can rehash the past or control the future, but the present moments are where we find peace. We need to be living in the ever-present moments in order to receive the ever-present help. (Psalm 46:1) Be thoughtful about patterns of the past and plans for the future but find contentment in the now. Peace is not contingent on our understanding, it is contingent on us being present with God. Replace the question from, “why” with the question, “what’s here now?” Grace means we start by knowing that we are accepted and loved just as we are, and our job is to connect people to the Good Shepherd. That is when we are living on purpose. Presence is an ongoing practice that will always need to be worked toward and focused on. As we cultivate God’s presence in our lives, breath in and out, notice our emotions, and take captive every thought that is not from Him.
The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14
Links from Show Join the Insider Club - Joanna's launch team! Jeanne's Book: What's Here Now? [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Jeanne Stevens Website | Facebook | Instagram
Trusting God is a revolt against worry and anxiety. In this episode, dear friend and author of The Settled Soul, Jodi Detrick, shares her experience of living with only half-sight after a series of eye complications. She has not only adjusted to life with a new perception visually, but her perception spiritually has attuned to a clearer understanding of what it looks like to truly trust God in the dark. When we only see and know in part, the most important part of trust takes over. The choice and treasure to have faith in God even when we can't see or understand what we're going through. Jodi reminds us to lift the burdens to God and release the worry and fear over things we can't control. Trusting God to help us walk this life with a lighter load. Trust is not a feeling it is a choice. As we choose to trust God in the dark, the light will always find its way in. Important Takeaways from Show
In the hardship of life, light shines through the haze which gives us hope and points our feet in the direction of trust. Every day we make the decision to get up and re-trust what we trusted yesterday and believe what we believed yesterday. Let us find a way to position ourselves to catch the light that is being offered and walk out of the shadows that hinder us. The limited vision spiritually is not the definer of our reality. It is a choice and treasure to have Faith and trust Him in the dark. The vision we have right now will not always be the vision we have in the future-He continues to expand our perception. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 Let us declare our trust with our voices and lift our heads to Him.
"Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy." 1 Peter 1:8
Links from Show Join the Insider Club - Joanna's launch team! Jodi's Book: The Jesus-Hearted Woman Jodi's Book: The Settled Soul [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Jodi Detrick Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest
You may feel like you can control every situation, but it will come at a high cost. It’s never too late to turn a controlling habit into a trusting one. In this episode, author and speaker, Sharon Hodde Miller shares from her newest book, The Cost of Control: Why We Crave It, the Anxiety It Gives Us, and the Real Power God Promises Us. Co-pastoring a church with her husband, Ike, control felt like something that brought security and peace, only to find anxiety and a high cost as the true outcome. Sharon helps us all loosen our grips on control and to trust the power of the Holy Spirit living inside of us. Sharon points us to the truth that whenever we reach for control that God has not given us, we are making a "devil's deal." Jesus has already offered us the best deal of all, and when we put our trust in Him, we find what we have been searching for has been with us all along. This episode is insightful, and convicting-you won't want to miss it!
Important Takeaways from Show
Adam and Eve reached for more control, which resulted in anxiety, shame, and division. Every time we reach for control that God has not given us, it will cost us something. Adam and Eve did not have control of the garden but exercised agency over it. We cannot control the chaos, but we can order it with systems and processes. The less we control the more we experience the power of the Holy Spirit that we already have access to. We cannot control the soil of a person's heart, but we can have influence whether we are softening or hardening it. Whenever we reach for control that God has not given us we are making a "devil's deal". Jesus has already offered us the best deal. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24) God is dependable, he is faithful, and He is enough.
"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
Links from Show Join the Insider Club - Joanna's launch team! Book: (Being Released August 16, 2022): The Cost of Control: Why We Crave It, the Anxiety It Gives Us, and the Real Power God Promises [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Sharon Hodde Miller Website | Facebook | Instagram
"You are not merely tolerated, you are fiercely loved" What a joy to have our very own Godmother in the Faith, Lisa Bevere, on this episode! This New York Times best-selling author and internationally known speaker has spent more than three decades empowering women of all ages to find their identity and purpose. We talk about Lisa's latest book, Fiercely Loved: God's Wild Thoughts About You, and how to shift our perspective so that we live confidently from the fact we are loved, welcomed, and wanted by God.
In a world of comparison and judgment, our understanding of God's fierce love gets skewed. Lisa helps us move God's love from our heads to our hearts so that we experience the intimate, fierce love God has for us. For we've been His best idea and the focus of His love from the very start. Important Takeaways from Show
Godmothers are those who recognize the gaps in our lives and call us to a higher way. We need multigenerational connections; the younger ones need the older ones and the older need the younger. God has a treasury of thoughts about you that is innumerable and constant. “How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.” Psalm 139:17-18 Who you are to God is far more important to Him than what you can do for God. Keep your eyes, not on people, but on the One who gave His life for you. Understanding the love of God requires experience, not just words. When you have a relationship with God, His words proceed to you - when you have religion, you only hear what has proceeded. Stop running from God's love and turn towards it. God’s love is everything we long for plus more. Rather than pursuing good works, we should pursue God's presence. When we are distracted by peripheral matters, we miss out on the internal and eternal love of God. Until we receive love, we cannot give love.
"I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you." Jeremiah 31:3 ESV
Links from Show 90 Day Devotional: Fiercely Loved: God's Wild Thoughts About You Book: Godmothers: Why You Need to Be One. How You Need to Be One Devotional: Strong: Devotions to Live a Powerful and Passionate Life [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Lisa Bevere Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Subscribe & Get a Bible Reading Journal! You can get your free "2022 Thru the Word” Journal by signing up in the form below.
The Bible reading journal features:
Instructions for using the journal - including tips for getting the most out of your Bible reading Daily assignment schedule keeping you on pace to read the entire Bible in one year Space to record your Bible reading highlights Bonus: "Pray Every Day" pages to help you focus on a different part of your life each day
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Lisa's interview?
"In the valley of misunderstanding, there is always One who understands you." In this episode, popular author, speaker, podcaster, and literary agent, Mary DeMuth shares from her latest book, The Most Misunderstood Women of the Bible: What their Stories Teach Us About Thriving. Most of us know what it's like to be misunderstood, or have gone through seasons of being misheard, or even misrepresented by people we know and the ones we don't.
Mary went through her own trial of misunderstanding, which was the inspiration for finding hope in the stories of women from the bible. These stories compel us to move out of the valley of misunderstanding, and into the hands of the One who understands us perfectly. You won't want to miss this one! Important Takeaways from Show
There is hope and a positive way forward for those walking in the valley of misunderstanding. Instead of focusing on Eve's worst mistake, we can learn from her example of confession and honesty. Rahab, although known as a harlot, was an example to all of us as a woman of great faithfulness. Labels can be attached to us through other people, or from our very own thoughts of ourselves. Trust the Holy Spirit to lead us in the trial of misunderstanding; knowing when to move and when to be still. In the removal of approval, we come to a deeper understanding of the approval of God. Confide in a friend or loved one for accountability and support during seasons of misunderstanding. God is a God who sees us and strengthens us to pray for the ones who have hurt us. "You have searched me, Lord, and you know me." Psalm 139:1 If you make yourselves of no reputation, you have nothing to build and nothing to defend. Our reputation is in the Lord’s hands. Philippians 2:6-7 "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." Colossians 3:1-2 Jesus has intersected our lives so we can help others with the same struggles and hurts. God redeems and chooses us to be kingdom builders on earth. The Lord uses all people with different gifts and abilities; in the seen and unseen God has a plan for you in your ministry.
"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." ~Colossians 3:1-2
Links from Show Mary's Podcast: Pray Every Day Mary's Book: The Most Misunderstood Women of the Bible: What Their Stories Teach Us About Thriving [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Mary DeMuth Website |Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Subscribe & Get a Bible Reading Journal! You can get your free "2022 Thru the Word” Journal by signing up in the form below.
The Bible reading journal features:
Instructions for using the journal - including tips for getting the most out of your Bible reading Daily assignment schedule keeping you on pace to read the entire Bible in one year Space to record your Bible reading highlights Bonus: "Pray Every Day" pages to help you focus on a different part of your life each day
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Mary's interview?
"Send me something good today, God, and give me the eyes to see it." In this heartfelt episode, author and blogger, Ruth Schwenk shares from her latest devotional, Trusting God in All the Things: 90 Devotions for Finding Peace in Your Every Day. Ruth invites us into her story of real-life struggles and opens the door for us to find God's perfect peace in the middle of it all. Ruth is a Pastor's wife, the founder of two popular blogs, and has a podcast show along with her husband, Patrick called, Rootlike Faith.
Raising four children, walking through her husband's cancer, and having multiple miscarriages, Ruth was positioned to cling to Jesus and trust His perfect peace that surpasses all understanding. She inspires us all to find hope in the tomorrow and trust in His perfect plan. Grab a box of kleenex and get ready, you won't want to miss this one! Important Takeaways from Show
It is not only in the big, but the little things that we must position ourselves to trust God. In the middle of our suffering is where God meets us. When we come to a dead-end, we can only cling to Jesus. Trials can be a gift as they draw us closer to esus and help us better understand His suffering. God can use our trials for the good, the good of others, and our relationship with Him There is something that happens in the hard moments, that doesn’t happen anywhere else. Suffering exposes what we really believe about God and purifies our relationship with Him. We cling to the things of the world less when we cling to Him more. "Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you." Psalms 9:10 The time we spend with God today, matters for the tomorrow. When we know what is true about God, it doesn’t matter what is true about our situation. Devotionals help us grow in the Lord and the knowledge of scripture Never give up if you miss a day of studying scripture and pressing into understanding- there is always tomorrow. God wants to exponentially open our understanding of who He is and what His word means. We can love and help people, but we are not their Savior. When you navigate through the unknowns, God gives us His Word to bring peace, comfort, and strength - He will meet you in those words. When you are at rock bottom, cling to God, run to God and invite Him into the situation
"Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you." Psalms 9:10
Links from Show Devotional: Trusting God in All the Things 90 Devotions For Finding Peace in Your Every Day. Book: In a Boat in the Middle of a Lake: Trusting the God Who Meets Us in Our Storm [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Ruth Schwenk Website | Facebook | Instagram
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Subscribe & Get a Bible Reading Journal! You can get your free "2022 Thru the Word” Journal by signing up in the form below.
The Bible reading journal features:
Instructions for using the journal - including tips for getting the most out of your Bible reading Daily assignment schedule keeping you on pace to read the entire Bible in one year Space to record your Bible reading highlights Bonus: "Pray Every Day" pages to help you focus on a different part of your life each day
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Ruth's interview?
"Fighting and flourishing are meant to blend together" In this heartfelt episode, author Jennie Lusko, shares from her new book, The Fight to Flourish: Engaging in the Struggle to Cultivate the Life You Were Born to Live. Jennie serves alongside her husband, Levi, leading Fresh Life Church in Montana, Utah, Oregon, and Wyoming, as well as across the world online. After the loss of her five-year-old daughter, Lenya, Jennie was left with the idea that a flourished life might never be attainable...until God revealed that the flourishing is often birthed in struggle.
Through grit and grace, surrender and trust, God showed Jennie that even as a seed needs darkness to grow and blossom, we too can grow even in the darkest of situations. Flourishing begins in the struggle. It's in the fight through the hard that we can begin to shine, as we keep our eyes focused on God. Important Takeaways from Show
Hard things don't always have to be in the "bad" category; It's the hard that brings out the most good. When a seed is planted in the dark ground, that is when it starts to grow and flourish. Do not "fast-forward" through the process or you'll miss all that God has for you. There is beauty in His process. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds." James 1:2 Only God can do the deep part, but we can do our part by pressing in and keeping our eyes on Him. 2 Chronicles 20:12 We can respond to brokenness with grit and grace, "God speak to me; your servant is listening." "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts." Psalm 139:23 Respond with active faith and not passive participation. "Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." John 12:24 When you are stuck in the grief, take a tiny step towards the Lord. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. James 4:8 God can help us buy back the time; it is never too late to ask God to redeem the time. Run toward the roar; when hard rears its ugly head, stand firm and hand it over to God. Find a safe place and safe people to be honest in the pain. Excavate - go deeper with the Lord. Go further up and further in, and there you'll find the treasure. It is possible to shine in the darkness, because Jesus is the light of the world.
"Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” 2 Chronicles 20:12
Links from Show Book: The Fight To Flourish: Engaging in the Struggle to Cultivate the Life You Were Born to Live The Fight to Flourish: Six Session Study Guide Sparkling Gems From The Greek [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Jennie Lusko Website | Facebook | Instagram
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Subscribe & Get a Bible Reading Journal! You can get your free "2022 Thru the Word” Journal by signing up in the form below.
The Bible reading journal features:
Instructions for using the journal - including tips for getting the most out of your Bible reading Daily assignment schedule keeping you on pace to read the entire Bible in one year Space to record your Bible reading highlights Bonus: "Pray Every Day" pages to help you focus on a different part of your life each day
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Jennie's interview?
"Bad days don't make you a bad mom" In this special episode, award-winning author, popular national conference speaker, and former radio cohost, Renee Swope shares from her newest book, A Confident Mom: Simple Ways to Give Your Child What They Need . Renee shares how her pain from her youth inspired her to parent differently with God's direction and leading. Renee encourages all mamas how to find confidence, purpose and meaning in their parenting.
Through heart-centered parenting that is character-focused and relationship-driven, she gracefully reminds us that we are not created to carry the load of perfect parenting. We must allow God to lead us in our imperfections, learning how to truly understand our children and raise them to become all that God created them to be. Important Takeaways from Show
Being a mom is one of the hardest, holy jobs we will ever have to face. We are raising up a person created in the image of God with a purpose, calling, and future. Their emotional A confident mom is not self-reliant, she is one who puts her faith in God and trusts that He who began a good work in her children will be faithful to complete it. Philippians 1:6 Motherhood strips away our ability to really fake it until we make it. God looks at us with love, patience and kindness, and He wants us to see our own children through those same eyes. Let your kids be who God created them to be - guiding them in wisdom, covering them in prayer and getting to know who they truly are. Discern the voice of God and ask Him, "What are the keys to our kids kingdoms?" "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts." Psalm 139:23 Become a student of your child; loving and accepting them for where they are at. "They need to be good so I can be good," is too much of a load for us moms to put on our kids. Do life and gain wisdom from the older moms whose life looks like a legacy you hope to live. Instead of asking was I a failure today God, ask was I faithful today in my parenting. We have a good Father who pursues us. If we can be who He says who He is, things will be better. Be with your children; be present, and be patient in your time with them.
"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6
Links from Show Book: A Confident Mom A Confident Heart A Confident Heart Devotional [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Renee Swope Website | Facebook | Instagram
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Subscribe & Get a Bible Reading Journal! You can get your free "2022 Thru the Word” Journal by signing up in the form below.
The Bible reading journal features:
Instructions for using the journal - including tips for getting the most out of your Bible reading Daily assignment schedule keeping you on pace to read the entire Bible in one year Space to record your Bible reading highlights Bonus: "Pray Every Day" pages to help you focus on a different part of your life each day
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Renee's interview?
"When pushed up against a dead-end wall, the only option is to trust God." In this special episode, best-selling author and disability advocate, Joni Eareckson Tada celebrates the 45th anniversary edition of her book- Joni: An Unforgettable journey. Joni shares beautiful and intimate details of her journey with God after breaking her neck in a diving accident and becoming completely paralyzed at age 17. Her determination to trust the faithfulness of God - even now, in the midst of chronic pain and a battle with cancer - has turned a tragedy into a powerful tool God continues to use in thousands - if not millions - of peoples' lives.
If you're struggling to find hope and meaning in your painful trial, don't miss this episode. And be sure to share it with a friend! Important Takeaways from Show
We encounter the Lord from deep places - in the vulnerable and the unknown. When you're pushed up against a dead-end wall, the only option is to trust God and cast your cares on Him. Melt yourself into the circumstance as if walking through a dead-end wall - enter your pain and find Jesus there. If you think God is asking too much, remember with His grace you can do it. Trials were intended to completely flatten our self-sufficiency. If we are still putting up a fight, there is a crust of pride that needs to be peeled away. God wants to be the first thing we think of when we wake up and the center of our universe. In the midst of the trials, talk to the pain and situation; give yourself a good talking to. "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed." 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 Like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, as we walk into the flames, Jesus will meet us there. Make the suffering useful as you come in agreement with the Lord; doing the hard thing with patient endurance. "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." Genesis 50:20 Take the trial and use it as a platform of ministry to comfort others in their hurts. Don’t worry about the breadth of your ministry, worry about the depth of your life with Christ. Remember what it means that Christ died for you - sit with your justification and go deep. Fall in love with Jesus - He wants to build His Kingdom in us more than through us. As we think about God's attributes, we are more aware of our sin - which makes us quicker to repent. Think magnificently about God and see Him in His majesty. Trust in the Lord at all times Psalm 62:8
"Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God." Psalm 42:5
Links from Show Book: Joni: An Unforgettable Story: Joni Eareckson Tada Book: Finding God in Hidden Places: His Presence in the Pieces of Our Lives Book: A Place of Healing: Wrestling with the Mysteries of Suffering, Pain, and God's Sovereignty Book: The Letters of Samuel Rutherford (Puritan Paperback) [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Joni Eareckson Tada Website | Facebook | Instagram
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Subscribe & Get a Bible Reading Journal! You can get your free "2022 Thru the Word” Journal by signing up in the form below.
The Bible reading journal features:
Instructions for using the journal - including tips for getting the most out of your Bible reading Daily assignment schedule keeping you on pace to read the entire Bible in one year Space to record your Bible reading highlights Bonus: "Pray Every Day" pages to help you focus on a different part of your life each day
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Joni's interview?
"As we trust joy we find courage to celebrate." In this episode, licensed marriage and family therapist, writer, and speaker, Nicole Zasowski shares from her latest book, What If It's Wonderful?: Release Your Fears, Choose Joy, and Find the Courage to Celebrate.
Through seasons of disappointment and despair, Nicole reminds us that staying connected to the hope of Christ is possible! Through her own season of transition, multiple miscarriages and crippling anxiety, the Lord brought her to a deep place of inimacy as she learned to look for joy even in the middle of pain.
Nicole shares insights into how our brain works and how embracing joy and celebration can increase our happiness and well-being. As we keep Jesus at the center of our affection, God turns our fear, self-protection, doubt and even our cynicism into a new hopeful approach to life - no longer expecting the worst but opening our hearts to possibility...after all, "what if it's wonderful?" Important Takeaways from Show
Believing for the wonderful interrupts the catastrophic thinking there is within all of us The brain adapts to delight and joy more rapidly but fixates on negativity There is a difference between feelings being real and feelings being true - when we trust the truth, we don't react to how we feel It takes courage to celebrate all seasons of life, we must choose celebration before we have a reason to We miss out on our God-given life when we spend our time preparing for the worst Disappointment comes when we desire more joy from a gift than it was meant to give Only one person belongs in the center of our affection- Jesus Knowing Him is enough to make us dream about what it could look like When all our hope is in the Lord, we are safe to dream God-sized dreams and pray God-sized prayers The practice of savoring helps us celebrate the ordinary The practice of thanksgiving: expressing the joy that we feel doubles the joy we experience Joy trusts God's promises in the midst of celebration and suffering Cultivate a beautiful life with God right where you are, and in that will cultivate a life of celebration and joy God wants to give us the desires of our hearts if we delight ourselves with Him
"However, as it is written: "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived"- the things God has prepared for those who love him." 1 Corinthians 2:9
Links from Show NEW BOOK: What If It's Wonderful?: Release Your Fears, Choose Joy, and Find the Courage to Celebrate Guided Journal Questions [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Nicole Zasowski Website | Instagram
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Subscribe & Get a Bible Reading Journal! You can get your free "2022 Thru the Word” Journal by signing up in the form below.
The Bible reading journal features:
Instructions for using the journal - including tips for getting the most out of your Bible reading Daily assignment schedule keeping you on pace to read the entire Bible in one year Space to record your Bible reading highlights Bonus: "Pray Every Day" pages to help you focus on a different part of your life each day
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Nicole's interview?
"When we are happy in the Lord, everything changes." In this episode, my dear friend, author, speaker, podcast host, and USA Today bestselling author of over 80 books, Tricia Goyer, shares from her newest book, Heart Happy: Staying Centered in God's Love During Chaotic Circumstances.
Tricia is a homeschooling mom of ten, including seven by adoption, a busy grandmother to many, and wife to her husband John. It was in a chaotic period of life that God revealed to Tricia the importance of keeping her heart happy in the Lord.
Adopting this unusual but powerful approach to life helped lift Tricia out of depression and overwhelm - and it can change everything for us as well! As we learn how to center our hearts in Jesus and look to Him for strength and peace, we can experience true joy - even in the midst of chaos, trials and tests. Important Takeaways from Show
God doesn't always need us to do, He just wants us to be with Him Go to God for forgiveness, and allow Him to set you free from guilt and shame - that's the start of true happiness Slow down and meditate on the Lord, His goodness, and fix your eyes on eternity When our heart is settled in the Lord, the hard things are less upsetting We need the Lord to order our thoughts for the enemy likes to hijack conviction from the Lord and turn it into condemnation God created us out of His love; trust that His love is enough for us. When we face hard circumstances, we need to cleanse our minds with scripture and allow the Living Word to be our weapon. Emotions don't tell us the truth. The truth is God loves us and we need to trust Him in the storm When upsetting things happen, we must trust God’s sensitivity and sovereignty Everything doesn’t have to be okay for me to be okay Be happy in the things that God asks us to do Happiness is not found in stillness, it's not found in our emotions, it's found in walking it out God will answer our prayers, it might not be how or when we want it, but He will answer in His time
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. (Psalm 139:23-24)
Links from Show NEW BOOK: Heart Happy: Staying Centered in God’s Love During Chaotic Circumstances George Muller: The Guardian of Bristol's Orphans More about George Muller [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Tricia Goyer Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Subscribe & Get a Bible Reading Journal! You can get your free "2022 Thru the Word” Journal by signing up in the form below.
The Bible reading journal features:
Instructions for using the journal - including tips for getting the most out of your Bible reading Daily assignment schedule keeping you on pace to read the entire Bible in one year Space to record your Bible reading highlights Bonus: "Pray Every Day" pages to help you focus on a different part of your life each day
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Tricia's interview?
"A message of hope for the hopelessly messy" In this episode, blogger, author, speaker, and decluttering expert, Dana K. White, shares from her newest book, Organizing for the Rest of Us. Keeping up with our homes can feel like an uphill battle through cleaning, organizing, and decluttering. Dana, who was overwhelmed by her own home discovered a realistic approach to the de-slobification process that has helped thousands of others do the same.
In her lighthearted approach, Dana shares the truth about cleaning, organizing, and decluttering with tips that work for real life and real people. In her reality-based strategies, anyone can go from slob to decluttering expert in no time. Though the journey can seem overwhelming, we can take one step at a time, celebrating the small victories as we go. It is the little wins that grow the desire for an uncluttered life and one that is better for our environments, spiritual lives, and relationships. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
If we wait for perfection before doing God’s will, we will never begin Let go of the need for perfection and enjoy the journey of having a more organized life The way we are created is not failure, embrace the unique way God created us There is a great difference between organization and decluttering Organizing is problem-solving Decluttering is removing things from the home When we pull everything out of a space or area, that can leave us feeling more overwhelmed Start decluttering a visible place in your home by throwing out trash Put items back into the established home The three layers of a clean house are, Declutter, Daily Stuff, and Deep-Cleaning It is freeing to let loose of the excess! We don’t need it all God helps us to realize that life is maintenance When you don't have a lot of time, pick a smaller cleaning task, such as dishes Our homes really begin to change when we start with decluttering Treating our homes like a project can do more harm than good Little wins grow the desire for an uncluttered life Time the task that overwhelms you - it never takes as long as we think Containers serve as a limit, they aren't just for putting things in Our home itself is a container - embrace the limits To help sustain an organized home, follow the rule: one item in requires one item out Gaining space in our home gives us freedom Give yourself grace for the process and celebrate the small victories
“But all things should be done decently and in order” -1 Corinthians 14:33
Links from Show NEW BOOK: Organizing for the Rest of Us: 100 Realistic Strategies to Keep Any House Under Control Workbook and Journal for Organizing for the Rest of Us How to Manage Your Home Without Losing Your Mind Decluttering at the Speed of Life [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Dana K. White Website | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Subscribe & Get a Bible Reading Journal! You can get your free "2022 Thru the Word” Journal by signing up in the form below.
The Bible reading journal features:
Instructions for using the journal - including tips for getting the most out of your Bible reading Daily assignment schedule keeping you on pace to read the entire Bible in one year Space to record your Bible reading highlights Bonus: "Pray Every Day" pages to help you focus on a different part of your life each day
Hope You'll Join Us... Whether or not you take part in "2022 Thru the Word" on Facebook, you can still use the Bible Reading Journal. God longs to speak to us and I know He will meet you as you open His Word. I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Dana's interview?
"The fairytale has to end for intimacy to begin!" In this episode, clinical psychologist, Dr. Juli Slattery shares about marriage from the newest edition of her book, Finding the Hero in Your Husband, Revisited: Embracing Your Power in Marriage. Many women begin their marriages with great expectations but struggle to know how to build the kind of relationship they long to have with their husbands.
As her own marriage has grown so has Juli's passion for teaching God’s design for marriage, intimacy and sexuality. She addresses difficult and rarely discussed topics like disappointment in marriage, biblical submission and sexual intimacy.
When we give God access to our hearts, ambitions and expectations, He gives us the ability to build our marriages and use our power wisely. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
We fight against our husband's growth when we try to force him to be who we think he needs to be By nature, women want their husbands to be their hero and men want to be the hero "Marriage is a romance in which the hero dies in the first chapter" - anonymous Disappointment is a natural part of a marriage story God gives both men and women power in the relationship and calls them both to use it wisely Common Challenge - "I want my husband to lead but I want him to lead the way I tell him to" Common Dilemma - "I want my husband to step up but I can't get out of my own way" Fear can drive us to use our power negatively Love is a choice; true love perseveres even when it is not felt Marriages are designed to represent the relationship between Christ and the Church Have empathy for your husband Remember you're on the same team God purposefully created our husbands differently than us and our children are better off because of those differences Trust is a growing and changing component in a marriage Forgiveness and grace are key to building intimacy God can reclaim and redeem what has been broken and lost in our hearts The most powerful wife on earth is the one who chooses to yield her power to build intimacy and grow her husband's confidence Submission is not the absence of power; it is the wise application of power A husband's great power is meant to be used to sacrificially love his wife like Jesus loves the Church
2 Needs Husbands Have that Give their Wives Power in the Marriage
Respect - When it comes to your husband's confidence, your words hold the power of life and death. Your husband is asking questions like "Am I enough?" "Do you believe in me"? and "Am I your hero?" Help - As their Helper we are called to address sin and issues with love as a sister in Christ
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. ~ John 13:35
Links from Show Finding the Hero in Your Husband, Revisited: Embracing Your Power in Marriage Java with Juli Podcast Website for Christian Leaders on Navigating Sexual Issues [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Dr. Juli Slattery Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter Subscribe & Get a Bible Reading Journal! You can get your free "2022 Thru the Word” Journal by signing up in the form below.
The Bible reading journal features:
Instructions for using the journal - including tips for getting the most out of your Bible reading Daily assignment schedule keeping you on pace to read the entire Bible in one year Space to record your Bible reading highlights Bonus: "Pray Every Day" pages to help you focus on a different part of your life each day
Hope You'll Join Us... Whether or not you take part in "2022 Thru the Word" on Facebook, you can still use the Bible Reading Journal. God longs to speak to us and I know He will meet you as you open His Word.
"Only God can heal the broken-hearted!" In this episode, author and speaker, Sheri Rose Shepherd, shares from her newest book, Beyond the White Picket Fence: What to do When Your Life is Dismantled. In movie script format, Sheri describes her personal story alongside others who have learned to walk beyond betrayal, shame, and devastation.
Sheri experienced a fruitful ministry for 25 years when she was faced with stage 4 cancer, a broken marriage and several other crisis simultaneously. She had to learn to discover God in the midst of her suffering and trust Him to bring true healing.
If you're tired of Band-Aid solutions to your pain and are looking for true healing in Jesus, then this is for you! { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
God will meet us in the middle of our suffering and help us to move beyond it There is not a Band-Aid solution to suffering, but rather a process of healing for every pain and crisis The Holy Spirit will gently lead you through your healing process Identify the lies you've started to believe and replace them with God's truth It is not our suffering that makes us anointed or qualified to minister to others; it is Christ in us There is a difference between a bitter heart and a broken heart Be careful who you choose to process your pain with "[God] heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds" Psalm 147:3 Healing from a broken heart starts with tears and grieving "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18 We can't rush our healing or anyone else's God will use people to walk beside the hurting, but only He can heal wounds
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
Links from Show NEW BOOK: Beyond the White Picket Fence: What to do When Your Life is Dismantled DEVOTIONAL: His Princess Every Day Devotional: Love Letters From Your King His Princess Royal Membership [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Sheri Rose Shepherd Website | Facebook
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Subscribe & Get a Bible Reading Journal! You can get your free "2022 Thru the Word” Journal by signing up in the form below.
The Bible reading journal features:
Instructions for using the journal - including tips for getting the most out of your Bible reading Daily assignment schedule keeping you on pace to read the entire Bible in one year Space to record your Bible reading highlights Bonus: "Pray Every Day" pages to help you focus on a different part of your life each day
Hope You'll Join Us... Whether or not you take part in "2022 Thru the Word" on Facebook, you can still use the Bible Reading Journal. God longs to speak to us and I know He will meet you as you open His Word. I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Sheri's interview?
"The common denominator in all your friendships is YOU!" In this episode, Andi Andrew shares from her newest book, Friendship—It’s Complicated. While friendship is a beautiful God-given gift, it is not always easy. After experiencing the hurt of many disappointing and broken friendships, Andi felt God call her to take ownership of her own heart issues which led to healing and healthier friendships.
Andi invites us all to stop the cycle of blaming others and allow God to reveal the fault lines within us, untangle the mess and bring healing. Then we too can experience the gift of reconciliation and building authentic friendships. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
God takes us back to our broken places to move us forward in healing As we allow our Healer to bring healing to our hearts we can experience healing in our relationships No friendship can meet all of our needs; only God can Mismanaged hurt will follow us until we allow God to bring healing We get in God's way when we try to be a false messiah and fix all of our friends' problems God will allow the removal of approval from others to reveal fault lines in our own life We often choose the pain and loneliness of self-preservation over the potential of messy, yet godly connection with others We learn to be self-aware and find healing so that we can shift our focus to others and help them find healing God often uses our broken, messy places to minister to others Identify the patterns in your friendships and recognize that while there are often different scenarios, there is the same snare It takes humility and vulnerability on both sides to reconcile and rebuild relationships "Be authentic with the many and vulnerable with the few" ~ Irene Rollins The wounds of a friend are faithful because a true friend's correction is built on a relationship that is loyal, trustworthy, and authentic (Proverbs 27:6) Use the Word of God to bring truth and encouragement to your friends rather than respond with only compassion and validation "Discernment is God’s call to intercession, never to fault finding" ~ Oswald Chambers We become more like Christ when in close relationship with other people, not in isolation
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. ~Proverbs 27:17
Links from Show New Book: Friendship—It’s Complicated: Avoid the Drama, Create Authentic Connection and Fulfill Your Purpose Together Podcast: Coffee With Andi Previous Book: She Is Free: Learning the Truth about the Lies that Hold You Captive [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Andi Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Subscribe & Get a Bible Reading Journal! You can get your free "2022 Thru the Word” Journal by signing up in the form below.
The Bible reading journal features:
Instructions for using the journal - including tips for getting the most out of your Bible reading Daily assignment schedule keeping you on pace to read the entire Bible in one year Space to record your Bible reading highlights Bonus: "Pray Every Day" pages to help you focus on a different part of your life each day
Hope You'll Join Us... Whether or not you take part in "2022 Thru the Word" on Facebook, you can still use the Bible Reading Journal. God longs to speak to us and I know He will meet you as you open His Word.
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Andi's interview?
"Success found in our own strength still leads to burnout!" In this episode, best-selling author, podcast host and national speaker, Rebekah Lyons, shares from her devotional, A Surrendered Yes: 52 Devotions to Let Go and Live Free. Rebekah experienced a lot of fear and anxiety early on in her life but has since discovered that when she fully surrenders to God she finds rest in His peace and strength.
Surrender is not a one-time decision, but a slow and steady process of handing things over to God. Oftentimes, the real question we must ask ourselves is, "Do we just want God to fix what we are holding so tightly or are we willing to give what we are holding to Him?" Every time we release control and surrender more to Jesus, we experience His peace and presence in return. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
The purpose of surrender is to enjoy direct communion with God rather than a specific outcome Surrender is not passive; it is an active decision to release control to God and follow His leading We are prone to always do things ourselves but God has more and better in mind for us When we are afraid of failure we are not trusting God God is near in our sufferings and trials Pain always becomes purpose if we let it Calling is where our talents and burdens collide God is inviting you into something that requires His power "Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him." Romans 6:8 Surrender requires fixing your mind on the Spirit and not on our fleshly desires When we chase what the world offers we are left feeling empty "When our activity ends; [God's] begins" ~ Andrew Murray We've been invited into a great freedom that only comes with surrender We love ourselves by believing in God's love and delighting in what He has created We love others better when we live surrendered to Jesus Loving God requires a surrendered heart and trust in His goodness God did not make a single mistake in how He created you God redeems time and takes back what has been stolen Public affection cannot heal private rejection; we need love over admiration Everything good is costly at some level Put guard rails on your life that require surrender, forcing you to trust and rely on God God's glory is revealed in our weaknesses Nothing that touches your life is outside of God's watch Let go of the known so you can see the unknown
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 10:27
Links from Show DEVOTIONAL: A Surrendered Yes: 52 Devotions to Let Go and Live Free BOOK: Rhythms of Renewal: Trading Stress and Anxiety for a Life of Peace and Purpose PREVIOUS PODCAST: 024: Making the Most of Your Life with Rebekah Lyons | The Living Room Abide In Christ: A 31-Day Devotional for Fellowship with Jesus by Andrew Murray The Christian Atheist: Believing in God but Living As If He Doesn't Exist by Craig Groeschel [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Rebekah Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
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I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Rebekah's interview?
"God will meet us in the darkness and give us eyes to see the treasures there!" In this episode, Sarah Clarkson shares her personal story of wresting with God in the midst of mental illness from her book, This Beautiful Truth: How God's Goodness Breaks into Our Darkness. Sarah found herself in the midst of deep personal pain and surrounded by a broken world leading her to ask questions like: "Where is God?" "Can He be trusted?" "Is He still tender towards me?" God began to open her eyes to His goodness and beauty all around her. In the midst of the darkness.
If you struggle with a mental illness or feel overwhelmed by the darkness and unrest in our world today, this will encourage your heart. When your trust in God has been shaken, He is there. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
Suffering, grief and loss can drain our world of beauty and meaning Understanding the evil in the world and the goodness of the Lord creates a constant tension God wants us to taste and see His goodness every day (Psalm 34:8) Stories and art can re-enchant our own world, helping us to recognize the beauty of the person and presence of Jesus all around us again (C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien) Rather than allow ourselves to disengage, we must choose life and hold fast to God (Deuteronomy 30:19-20) Jesus demonstrates God's power to redeem all things, to take what is broken and fully restore it Theodicy is the study of God and justice God created a world that was meant to reflect His beauty and goodness We were given the gift of freedom; Having free will is what gives us the ability to love We can use our freedom to destroy the world or order it Our freedom is based on God's choice to give us freedom; therefore His Sovereignty will always prevail We have the opportunity to respond to God's beauty, to be a part of creating it and offer it to others Rather than deny the reality of evil, we can choose to embrace the beauty and light of God all around us Being redeemed in the midst of our pain means clinging to the hope that God's Kingdom is coming God is unthreatened by our frailty; His goodness and grace engage with us wherever we are (Psalm 103:14)
5 Ways to Find Joy in the Midst of Darkness
Seek companionship and community - Pain can be the great isolator so we must choose to draw near to Christ-minded people Recognize the power of words - Engage with the life-giving redemptive words of Scripture Look for tiny acts of God's beauty - Counter the darkness by waking up to the beauty all around you Step away from the online world - Let your first encounter of the day be with Scripture and God's creation Focus on the present - Recognize God and His wonder in your everyday life
I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden riches of secret places, That you may know that I, the Lord, Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel. ~ Isaiah 45:3 NKJV
Links from Show This Beautiful Truth: How God's Goodness Breaks into Our Darkness Book Girl: A Journey through the Treasures and Transforming Power of a Reading Life [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Sarah Clarkson Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
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"God never forsakes His people in the wilderness!" In this episode, Lauren Chandler shares powerful truths from her newest Bible Study, With Us in the Wilderness: a Study of the Book of Numbers. We are all prone to walk through wilderness seasons when life is difficult and God feels distant. Lauren reminds us that even when God feels far away, His presence is always near.
In love, God allows wilderness seasons to draw us nearer to Him, but the wilderness will not last forever. While the Israelites wandered in the wilderness and struggled to trust God before experiencing the fulfillment of His promise, we can learn to follow His leading and experience His presence every step of the journey. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
Numbers in the Hebrew Scripture is called "In the Wilderness" Being in a wilderness season does not necessarily mean we are doing something wrong God's love followed Adam and Eve out of the garden; His presence is always with us in the wilderness Your faith can be strengthened and deepened through the wilderness In Numbers, the tabernacle of God's presence was in the center of the camp Our lives should be centered and grounded in God as well God doesn't ask us to come to Him already put together Go to God undone and allow Him to put you back together Find a way to connect with God every morning and stay connected to Him throughout the day The Lord was leading the Israelites through the wilderness, they just had to keep their eyes on the pillar of fire and pillar of cloud Choose to live from the shadow of God's presence rather than the shadow of your fears He is the God of the wilderness just as much as He is the God of the promise Like Moses, we can take our complaints straight to the Lord Be faithful with your gifts and opportunities but continue to find your identity in being a child of God We are defined by God and His love for us, not by what we can do for Him Don't ever believe you outgrow the gospel, we need it every minute of every day
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. ~Numbers 6:24-26
Links from Show Bible Study Book: With Us in the Wilderness: a Study of the Book of Numbers Teen Girls' Bible Study: With Us in the Wilderness: a Study of the Book of Numbers Leader Kit: With Us in the Wilderness: a Study of the Book of Numbers Steadfast Love - Bible Study Book: A Study of Psalm 107 [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Lauren Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
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I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Lauren's interview?
"There is so much available to you as a child of God every day!" In this episode, Juli Bevere, shares her personal story of learning how to fully live as a child of God. Juli married into ministry when she married the oldest child of John and Lisa Bevere. She partnered with her husband, Addison, and his siblings, in co-founding SonsAndDaughters.tv and authoring I AM: Find Your Identity. Claim Your Freedom. Embrace the Adventure. As children of God we are invited to step into the fullness and adventure that God has waiting for us, believing and living His truths.
When Juli began the work of finding her identity in Christ alone she discovered it was both an undoing and unraveling of her past hurts, lies, mistakes, and preconceived ideas as well as a building up into God's truths for her life. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
God uses small and seemingly insignificant things for His glory There is so much available to us on a daily basis as children of God Walking in close Christian community is critical for personal growth I am called: even our daily mundane tasks are meaningful and can hold great purpose Our calling is not found in a formula, but in a growing relationship with Jesus Sons and daughters of the King do not have to carry the weight of trying to sustain their own lives God's will is not a distant destination but rather being present with Him right now If we walk close to Jesus, we will be in His will rather than trying to find His will You cannot determine the real you apart from Christ; only He knows the real you When we fully surrender to Jesus, we no longer have to worry about how things will work out Balance is an illusion because some things require more of us in certain seasons God's will is not always easy; but often requires an active faith and partnering effort with Him Our growing is a becoming process, not an event God often uses the cracks in our lives and our weaknesses to reveal His glory Freedom and joyful adventure come after you discover your identity in Christ We were designed to need God daily (Matthew 6:11) Our only job is to stay connected to God; He will guide our steps and produce His fruit God loves you and He wants you
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. ~ John 15:4
Links from Show I AM: Find Your Identity. Claim Your Freedom. Embrace the Adventure [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Juli Bevere Website | Instagram
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
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I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Juli's interview?
"Show your children a life worth imitating!" In this episode, Rachel-Ruth Lotz Wright, shares from her book, Jesus Followers: Real-Life Lessons for Igniting Faith in the Next Generation. Rachel is the granddaughter of Billy Graham, and gives some insights about their upbringing to provide spiritual wisdom and practical advice for raising the next generation of Jesus Followers.
If we want our children to look to Jesus and trust Him completely throughout their lives, we have to demonstrate an authentic love for Him in our homes. The good news is that whether or not you were raised in a godly home, it can always start with you. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
Our choices can be the hinge for generations to come Make your faith your own and then let your kids see it Demonstrate a love for God by being in His Word Our hunger for the Word grows as we meet with Jesus "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better." ~ Ephesians 1:17 Enjoy and love your kids consistently through each stage of life Many battles for our kids are won through our prayers As our children grow older, we need to release control and trust the seed of God's Word planted in their hearts will grow Pass the baton to your children so they can learn to run Be the same person at home as you are in public The way we live speaks louder than the words we say When we continually put the Word into our hearts, we always have enough to pour into others Pray for your kids and share God's Word with them every day No matter what is going on in the world, lead your kids to see it through faith rather than fear Show your kids the joy that can only be found in Jesus in the midst of trials
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
Links from Show Jesus Followers: Real-Life Lessons for Igniting Faith in the Next Generation Rachel-Ruth's Bible Study [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Rachel-Ruth Website | Facebook | Instagram
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
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"God is still writing your story!" In this episode, Sheila Walsh shares powerful truths from God's Word and her personal journey in her newest book, Holding On When You Want to Let Go: Clinging to Hope When Life Is Falling Apart.
Early on in her public ministry, Sheila broke down on national television and felt like her usefulness and worthiness was gone and therefore she had reached the end of her road. But God was not finished with her yet. She learned to look to Jesus in the midst of her pain and has inspired millions to do the same.
When Covid-19 hit in 2020, Sheila felt the once-familiar spiral once again and began to seek the Holy Spirit for direction on how to live in these new challenging times. Sheila reminds us to release control over the broken and missing pieces in our lives to the One who holds it all.
Will you find shelter in the God who is big enough to receive you as you are? { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
We can learn how to access the full-weight of the promises of God "The silence of God's voice will make you wonder if He's even there. The absence of God's presence will make you wonder if He even cares. He is and He does." ~ Chuck Swindoll The Psalms can speak for us, giving us a language when we don't know how to express ourselves "We live by faith and not by explanations." ~ Warren Wiersbe We must ask ourselves if we believe Scripture to be true, then how would that change the way we are acting We can bring every missing and broken piece of our lives to the foot of the cross True worship declares God's goodness even when we can't see it Only God gets to write your last chapter "Be Still" means letting go of what you are trying to control and holding on to the One who always has control (Psalm 46:10) There is no condemnation and there is no separation from God (Romans 8) God is the God of the messer-upper Learn to take small steps toward God rather than toward a specific outcome The more we get to know God, the more we know we can trust Him Our God is big enough to receive our questions and to love us in the midst of our doubts Every time we walk into a room the atmosphere should change because of who lives in us We are always on mission to bring the light of Jesus every where we go While disagreements are inevitable, our greatest calling is to love Repentance is an action, not an emotion Reading the Word of God out loud will lift your spirit "Hold on to Jesus with everything that's in you and on the days when you feel yourself slipping remember you are being held"
I would have despaired had I not believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. ~ Psalm 27:13
Links from Show BOOK: Holding On When You Want to Let Go: Clinging to Hope When Life Is Falling Apart STUDY GUIDE: Holding On When You Want to Let Go Study Guide: Clinging to Hope When Life Is Falling Apart The Bible App - You Version [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Sheila Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
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I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Sheila's interview?
"It's the little things that make us who we are!" Stress. Anxiety. Constant headaches. Are you suffering from a life of hurry?
In this episode, Jennifer Dukes Lee shares from her newest book, Growing Slow: Lessons on Un-Hurrying Your Heart from an Accidental Farm Girl. Running full-force as a news reporter, Jennifer and her husband discovered that they could no longer sustain the pace of their city life. It was when they transitioned back to their family farm that God revealed the powerful gift of slowing down and recognizing the value in each season of life.
So many of us suffer from the constant pressure to produce results, hurry to the next stage in life, prove ourselves or be more than we are. But God never intended for His people to live that way. Jennifer shares how we can live the life we've been given without regrets when we learn to flourish in the season we are currently in. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
Slowing down requires that we adopt a new mindset Having the life we truly desire means we have to slow down rather than speed up Time is not the enemy; it can be your friend God makes everything beautiful in its time (Ecclesiastes 3:11) If you pick up the phone first thing in the morning, you are already sending your body into fight or flight mode for the day Growing slow becomes a super power Growing slow gives us permission to call out and validate the good, small things After planting seeds, there is a period of time where it looks like nothing is happening Like farming, winter seasons in our lives are very necessary, slow, and healing In agriculture, 1/4 of the entire growing season is in the dormitory of winter God can slow down seasons of productivity to create something new in the soil of our hearts We were not made to be productive all the time; we cannot create constant harvest and results Winter is an opportunity to celebrate, rest and prepare our hearts for the coming season Sometimes it is when we come to the end of ourselves that we finally make room for Jesus Hurry does not always have to do with our calendar or to-do list A hurried heart can make you feel behind in life Establish your own unhurried life habits
3 Practical Tips for Growing Slow and Becoming More Productive:
Get up 10 minutes earlier than normal to intentionally welcome the day and give it all to God Sit down while eating to fully taste and enjoy it Stop multi-tasking
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1
Links from Show NEW BOOK: Growing Slow: Lessons on Un-Hurrying Your Heart from an Accidental Farm Girl Habbits of the Unhurried PDF [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Jennifer Dukes Lee Website | Instagram | Facebook
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
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I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Jennifer's interview?
"The journey is the destination!" In this episode, season 18 winner of The Voice, Todd Tilghman, and his beautiful wife, Brooke, share from their book, Every Little Win: How Celebrating Small Victories Can Lead to Big Joy. Like most of us, the Tilghman's have experienced significant lows in their marriage, ministry and personal lives right alongside the highs and victories. And like Paul, they have learned the art of being content in every season.
While Todd's experience on The Voice was a big win, it is not what made him or his family who they are today. Long before winning the national competition in front of millions of people, Todd and his family learned to be faithful and grateful in their simple, every day life. Rather than accredit the victory to their own talents and abilities, Todd and Brooke view their lives as evidence to the overwhelming, abundant grace of God.
God wants to reveal Himself through your life as well! He wants to fill you with joy every day as you shift your focus to recognize the little wins all along the way. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
God began preparing Todd and his family for a transition and shift in ministry The Voice was a platform God used to lead them into a new season They had to overcome fear and intimidation each step of The Voice competition You can find rest because your future is already written Look for the little wins every day We tend to idolize the big wins which can make the rest of life feel like a disappointment One of the anecdotes to anxiety and depression is gratitude If you look for things to be thankful for, you will find them Normal, every day life is a gift that many of us take for granted You don't have to pretend that the rough moments don't happen to choose to highlight the good Life is a balancing act; the journey is the destination Pray for God's direction and then walk confidently into the doors He opens Be faithful with whatever God has placed in front of you God reveals Himself in new ways as we step out in faith
Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character. ~ Psalm 105:19
Links from Show Every Little Win: How Celebrating Small Victories Can Lead to Big Joy [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Todd & Brooke Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Get Episode Updates! We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list, by applying in the form below, you'll be notified when new episodes air - and get a special gift for joining (among other things!)
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from the Tilghman's interview?
"When we change the language, we change a culture!" If you've ever felt limited, discouraged and disappointed by your body, this is for you!
In this episode, Jess Connolly shares from her newest book, Breaking Free from Body Shame: Dare to Reclaim What God Has Named Good. The feeling that we are not enough has become prevalent amongst women today, especially in regards to our body image.
Having personally struggled with a miscarriage, an auto-immune disease and the pressure to look a certain way, Jess understands the physical and emotional pain, frustration and disappointment that many women face. It wasn't until she chose to change her thinking and allowed God to determine her worth that she experienced freedom from it all. God made you, loves you, has compassion on you and wants to set you free to live your best life! { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
We are living in a body conscience world which often leads to shame - feeling defeated, disappointed, frustrated or grieved The enemy uses our emotions to distort the truth about who we are The work that Jesus did on the cross defeated shame and fear Honor God with your words and always speak life about your body We need to call our body what God calls it - good. We will experience weakness and physical pain because we live in a fallen world, but the Good News reminds us our body is still good because God made it and will use all of it You do not have to pretend that everything is fine; God wants to comfort you and embrace you with compassion All of our bodies have limits but we are called to glorify God with the life and body He has given us "The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance." Psalm 16:6 Learn to thank God for both what your body can and cannot do It’s a daring, brave, courageous, bold move to believe what God says above what we feel Rather than striving to make your body good, recognize it as already good and therefore treat it well Ask God to set you free from shame and guilt and give you the keys to your freedom Call out what is good and beautiful in the women around you When we learn to judge ourselves less, we're less likely to judge others
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. ~ Romans 12:1-2
Links from Show NEW BOOK: Breaking Free from Body Shame: Dare to Reclaim What God Has Named Good You Are the Girl for the Job: Daring to Believe the God Who Calls You 034: Living Out Your Call Part 1 with Robin Jones Gunn | The Living Room 035: Living Out Your Call Part 2 with Robin Jones Gunn | The Living Room [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Jess Connolly Website | Instagram
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Get Episode Updates! We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list, by applying in the form below, you'll be notified when new episodes air - and get a special gift for joining (among other things!)
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“You can survive anything if you'll redefine everything...” Today's Best of The Living Room Summer Series features Katherine Wolf and her book, Suffer Strong: How to Survive Anything by Redefining Everything. Having overcome a massive brain stem stroke that nearly ended her life at the age of 26, Katherine is a living testimony that God's grace is truly sufficient. She reminds us that God wants to help us pivot, persevere and overcome even our deepest trials so that we can truly live the life we've been given! BONUS - Don't miss your opportunity to win Katherine's book bundled with books from all of the authors featured in The Best of the Living Room Summer Series plus a $75 Amazon Gift card! Find out how below. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
Rather than holding on to what was, learn to embrace the new Suffering can become a treasured gift that shapes your life in positive ways Nothing can take away the peace, joy and all good things found in Christ (Psalm 84:11) "Joy is the secret weapon of the Christian life" - GK Chesterton We get to take our worries to the foot of the cross rather than live with them Until we surrender our unmet expectations, we cannot receive the gifts that God has for us Walking through suffering with joy and perseverance can be one of the greatest testimonies Decide what voices you will allow to speak into your life (who will be your "soul board of directors"?) Live with gratitude and seek to recognize the good in every situation Determine to establish your hope in the Lord True hope is a future promise lived out now "Hope is believing in advance what will only make sense in reverse" ~ Philip Yancey What is true about God in the light is still true in your darkest moments Receiving suffering can be a big part of living a life worthy of your calling (Ephesians 4:1) The greatest things that God has done are inside of you (2 Corinthians 4:17) God is always doing something new When someone else is suffering, less words can be the best words When one person suffers in a marriage, both truly suffer A great marriage establishes true friendship and chooses to cheer one another on God has given us everything we need to adapt, persevere and overcome (2 Peter 1:3) Stop marinating in what you thought your life would look like and accept what your Good Father has allowed Always trust that God is good and remember that He is able to redeem all things True beauty is all about walking away from shame and discovering God's voice
Links from Show Hope Heals: A True Story of Overwhelming Loss and an Overcoming Love Suffer Strong: How to Survive Anything by Redefining Everything [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Katherine Wolf Website |Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter Giant Summer Giveaway
Our contest is ending August 30th, so be sure to enter soon - and as many times as you like! You could win copies of all the books featured this summer - PLUS a $75 AMAZON GIFT CARD!!
Here's how you do it...
Listen to every episode - TLR 061 to TLR 066 Write down the secret hashtag mentioned at the end of the show - for example: #TLRgiveaway Share the episode on social media using its individual hashtag - get bonus points if you share ALL six episodes!! Each time you use the hashtag, you'll get another entry On September 1st, we'll search the hashtags and randomly draw a winner!
Thanks for helping us spread the news!! Having a Mary Heart Video Bible Study available ONLINE!!! Designed to go with my best-selling book, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, this 10-session study repackages the previous DVD Study teachings in a course format - but also includes a FREE study guide! Perfect for groups and individuals.
“Is the life you lead the life that longs to live in you?” Today's Best of The Living Room Summer Series features Rebekah Lyons and her book Rhythms of Renewal: Trading Stress and Anxiety for a Life of Peace and Purpose. Rebekah's story of embracing the unexpected curveballs in her life rather than allowing them to steal her peace has resonated with so many women. Having special needs children has greatly shaped her sense of purpose and trust in God. She shares ways we can all function within the rhythms God established for us, and through doing so, discover our God-given purpose and the rest He offers for our souls. BONUS - Don't miss your opportunity to win Rebekah's book bundled with books from all of the authors featured in The Best of the Living Room Summer Series plus a $75 Amazon Gift card! Find out how below. Also, stay tuned for another interview with Rebekah Lyons, on her upcoming devotional, A Surrendered Yes: 52 Devotions to Let Go and Live Free, releasing this September! { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
Your environment doesn't have to determine your peace Relapses remind us of our frailty and our need for God every day Rest and Restore are input rhythms that God pours into our lives when we partner with Him Connect and Create are output rhythms that God designed us to experience for our good and His purposes You cannot give what you have not received The effectiveness of our creativity is dependent upon our ability to rest We are invited to pour out our hearts to God rather than stuff everything in God is a holistic God who dwells in every area of our lives and wants to help us become whole When we offer our worst to God, He offers His best in return - His righteousness, grace and love that covers it all Our diet greatly influences our mental health and God wants to partner with us in our health journey God's boundaries are a part of His offer for intimacy with us "Your spouse and your children are irritants. They refine you and show you who you really are." - Dr. Emerson Eggerichs As we say "yes" to Jesus, His grace is released to enable us to do what we could never do on our own God wants to meet you in the midst of your pain and He never withholds the daily portion that you need
Links from Show Rhythms of Renewal: Trading Stress and Anxiety for a Life of Peace and Purpose Healthy Rhythms Quiz Love & Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Episodes You Might Enjoy TLR 001: Living Fully Alive with Susie Larson TLR 018: The Relentless Presence of God with Michele Cushatt TLR 023: Four Ways to Move Forward Connect with Rebekah Lyons Website |Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Giant Summer Giveaway
You could win copies of all the books featured this summer - PLUS a $75 AMAZON GIFT CARD!!
Here's how you do it...
Listen to every episode - TLR 061 to TLR 066 Write down the secret hashtag mentioned at the end of the show - for example: #TLRgiveaway Share the episode on social media using its individual hashtag - get bonus points if you share ALL six episodes!! Each time you use the hashtag, you'll get another entry On September 1st, we'll search the hashtags and randomly draw a winner!
Thanks for helping us spread the news!! Having a Mary Heart Video Bible Study available ONLINE!!! Designed to go with my best-selling book, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, this 10-session study repackages the previous DVD Study teachings in a course format - but also includes a FREE study guide! Perfect for groups and individuals. Get 20% off by entering the following code: LIVINGROOM20 INDIVIDUAL STUDY If you're a Bible Study Leader, there's also a group discount...just enter code: HAHMLEADER20 GROUP STUDY
“If life was ice cream flavors, I wouldn’t have chosen pain and suffering...” Today's Best of The Living Room Summer Series features Michele Cushatt and her book I Am: A 60-Day Journey to Knowing Who You Are Because of Who He Is. Michele's personal journey through cancer forced her to discover her identity in Christ alone and has inspired many women to do the same. She reminds us that it is often the crucible of suffering that brings purity and depth in our walk with God. While life doesn’t always turn out the way we planned, it doesn’t have to shatter our confidence or steal our joy. BONUS - Don't miss your opportunity to win Michele's book bundled with books from all of the authors featured in The Best of the Living Room Summer Series plus a $75 Amazon Gift card! Find out how below. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
Faith is not a transactional relationship that depends on doing all the right things. Cancer and trauma can make visible on the outside our brokenness on the inside. Our natural reaction to pain is to shut down in isolation or push ourselves too hard in perspiration. Rather than running or hiding, we are invited to sit and work through our pain with Jesus, the One who knows and understands it all. We often don't realize what our identity has been tied to until it is taken away. People often source their identity in careers, roles, talents, appearances, and relationships. But if it can be taken away, it’s not who you are. Our identity must be entrenched in God's love, the one thing that never changes. In the moments of our pain, we need God's presence, not His performance. The foundational cement under true confidence is humility. Humble confidence is found in honest self-awareness, owning our mistakes and recognizing areas for growth. We are invited to love God for who He is rather than striving to earn His love for what we do.
Links from Show I Am: A 60-Day Journey to Knowing Who You Are Because of Who He Is Michele Cushatt's Inspired Life Mastermind Abba's Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Michele Cushatt Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Giant Summer Giveaway
You could win copies of all the books featured this summer - PLUS a $75 AMAZON GIFT CARD!!
Here's how you do it...
Listen to every episode - TLR 061 to TLR 066 Write down the secret hashtag mentioned at the end of the show - for example: #TLRgiveaway Share the episode on social media using its individual hashtag - get bonus points if you share ALL six episodes!! Each time you use the hashtag, you'll get another entry On September 1st, we'll search the hashtags and randomly draw a winner!
Thanks for helping us spread the news!! Having a Mary Heart Video Bible Study available ONLINE!!! Designed to go with my best-selling book, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, this 10-session study repackages the previous DVD Study teachings in a course format - but also includes a FREE study guide! Perfect for groups and individuals. Get 20% off by entering the following code: LIVINGROOM20 INDIVIDUAL STUDY If you're a Bible Study Leader, there's also a group discount...just enter code: HAHMLEADER20 GROUP STUDY
Don't Miss an Episode... We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list, by applying in the form below, you'll be notified when new episodes air - and get a special gift for joining (among other things!)
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Michele's interview?
“There is beauty in every step when you just keep walking with Jesus!” Today's Best of The Living Room Summer Series features Debbie Lindell and her book, She Believes: Embracing the Life You Were Created to Live.
Debbie's personal struggle to believe that she had what it took to lead others and learning to seek God and rely on His truth and power resonated with so many women. She reminds us all that it is not enough to know or even understand the truth of God's Word, we have to embrace it for ourselves.
BONUS - Don't miss your opportunity to win Debbie's book bundled with books from all of the authors featured in The Best of the Living Room Summer Series plus a $75 Amazon Gift card! Find out how below. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
The enemy wants us to doubt God's truth about who we are We have to believe that God can use us and then rely completely on His power If we rely only on ourselves, we will never see the supernatural power of God manifested in our lives Get alone with Jesus so He can speak His truth and direction into your heart God specializes in changing hearts When we choose obedience, it gives God access to change our hearts If we'll give God our time, He can transform our faulty thinking God longs for His children to look to Him first and He never fails to respond When we commit ourselves to God, He will work in His timing and His ways (Psalm 37:5) As the bride of Christ, we are invited into an intimate relationship with God which requires intentionality The more time you spend with God, the more you begin to hear and understand Him God speaks to us in many different ways when we are actively listening Our responsibility is to seek God with all of our hearts; it is up to Him to speak to us how He desires Prayer is the baseline for understanding who God is and what He can do in and through us
Links from Show She Believes: Embracing the Life You Were Created to Live She Prays: A 31-Day Journey to Confident Conversations with God Designed For Life Conference 2021 [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Debbie Lindell Website |Instagram | Facebook
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Giant Summer Giveaway
You could win copies of all the books featured this summer - PLUS a $75 AMAZON GIFT CARD!!
Here's how you do it...
Listen to every episode - TLR 061 to TLR 066 Write down the secret hashtag mentioned at the end of the show - for example: #TLRgiveaway Share the episode on social media using its individual hashtag - get bonus points if you share ALL six episodes!! Each time you use the hashtag, you'll get another entry On September 1st, we'll search the hashtags and randomly draw a winner!
Thanks for helping us spread the news!! Having a Mary Heart Video Bible Study available ONLINE!!! Designed to go with my best-selling book, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, this 10-session study repackages the previous DVD Study teachings in a course format - but also includes a FREE study guide! Perfect for groups and individuals. Get 20% off by entering the following code: LIVINGROOM20 INDIVIDUAL STUDY If you're a Bible Study Leader, there's also a group discount...just enter code: HAHMLEADER20 GROUP STUDY
Don't Miss an Episode... We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list, by applying in the form below, you'll be notified when new episodes air - and get a special gift for joining (among other things!)
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Debbie's interview?
"You were made for life and life more abundantly!" Today's Best of The Living Room Summer Series features Susie Larson and her book, Fully Alive: Learning to Flourish Mind, Body and Spirit.
Susie's personal story of walking through years of chronic health issues and dealing with the residue of past pain resonated with me and many others. She shares important lessons God taught her about the connection between the body and the soul reminding us not to settle for less than Jesus came to give, an abundant life!
BONUS - Don't miss your opportunity to win Susie's book bundled with books from all of the authors featured in The Best of the Living Room Summer Series plus a $75 Amazon Gift card! Find out how below. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show 1. Even Christians face hardships
Jesus told us to expect trials in this life, but we get to choose how we will respond. For the believer, life on earth is as bad as it will ever get. What we tell our soul about who God is and our troubles will determine how we fare, not only through that trial, but on the other side of it.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 2. You can rest in God's love
Nothing heals our soul like God's love. Every time you are tempted to look down on yourself, practice saying "You love me, Lord!" Pick a memory of when you felt most alive. Buried in that memory is a sign of what God wants to restore. Place it before God and together, hand in hand, you can experience true life again.
"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." 1 John 4:10 3. Recognize Satan's lies and replace them with God's truth
You can't outrun a lie. You've got to turn around and face it and put it under your feet. Don't run away when old traumas and hurts arise, but rather run to God. If the Lord brings things to the surface it means the Lord intends to heal it.
"We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ" 2 Corinthians 10:5 4. Put your hope in God
When God doesn't show up the way we thought, we can feel stuck and discouraged. The answer is to live with expectancy rather than expectation. Expectation is premeditated disappointment because we have a specific outcome in mind. Waiting is hard, but heroes are made in the waiting.
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." Romans 15:13
Are you carrying hurt that continues to weigh you down? Are you feeling emotionally, physically and spiritually exhausted? Run to God today and begin your journey of wholeness by simply saying "Lord, heal my soul, make me whole!"
You were made for life and life more abundantly. It is time for you to fully live!
Links from Show Fully Alive: Learning to Flourish Mind, Body and Spirit Fully Alive DVD Study Guide Susie's Facebook Live on "Expectation versus Expectancy" Your Powerful Prayers: Reaching the Heart of God with a Bold and Humble Faith The Uncommon Woman: Making an Ordinary Life Extraordinary [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Susie Larson Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Giant Summer Giveaway
You could win copies of all the books featured this summer - PLUS a $75 AMAZON GIFT CARD!!
Here's how you do it...
Listen to every episode - TLR 061 to TLR 066 Write down the secret hashtag mentioned at the end of the show - for example: #TLRgiveaway Share the episode on social media using its individual hashtag - get bonus points if you share ALL six ep...
You are deeply loved and desired by God! This summer, we're going to revisit some of The Living Room's most popular episodes. But I thought we'd start off with a solo show I did on "Finding Intimacy with God in the Busyness of Life" to give you a peak at the heart behind the podcast and announce some very good news! Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World Video Bible Study is now available ONLINE!!! Designed to go with my best-selling book, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, this 10-session study repackages the previous DVD Study teachings in a course format - but also includes a FREE study guide! Perfect for groups and individuals. Get 20% off by entering the following code: LIVINGROOM20 INDIVIDUAL STUDY If you're a Bible Study Leader, there's also a group discount...just enter code: HAHMLEADER20 GROUP STUDY Now on to the show...(and the BIG SUMMER GIVEAWAY!) { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
We'll be discussing...
Sin may have ended the Garden of Eden, but it did not end our relationship with God. Jesus didn't just wait for people to come to Him, He came to us! Friendship with God is not about what we DO; it is all about what He’s already DONE! Intimacy with God is not something OUTSIDE of us, it’s God living WITHIN us! We don’t have to EARN His favor – He’s already EXTENDED His favor. Acknowledge the presence of God. He is with you, He is for you and He is at work! Invite God to take the throne. We will never truly know God until we truly surrender our lives to Him. Enjoy a living conversation with the Lord by talking to Him all throughout the day.
We will never truly know God until we truly surrender our lives to Him. - Joanna Weaver, TLR Episode 007Click To Tweet Links from Show Having a Mary Heart in a Marth World Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World Sample Chapter Blog: The Day Love Was Born Blog: Spiritual Mountain-Climbing 101 [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Giant Summer Giveaway
You could win copies of all the books featured this summer - PLUS a $75 AMAZON GIFT CARD!!
Here's how you do it...
Listen to every episode - TLR 061 to TLR 066 Write down the secret hashtag mentioned at the end of the show - for example: #TLRgiveaway Share the episode on social media using its individual hashtag - get bonus points if you share ALL six episodes!! Each time you use the hashtag, you'll get another entry On September 1st, we'll search the hashtags and randomly draw a winner!
Thanks for helping us spread the news!! Don't Miss an Episode... We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list, by applying in the form below, you'll be notified when new episodes air - and get a special gift for joining (among other things!)
I'd love to hear from you... What has helped you to cultivate intimacy with God?
"The Holy Spirit makes the grace and love of Jesus real to us!" In this episode, Jeannie Cunnion shares from her newest book, Don't Miss Out: Daring to Believe Life Is Better with the Holy Spirit. Having already served Jesus for 40 years, Jeannie realized that she had been missing out on all that the Holy Spirit was intended to do in her life. While Scripture teaches that God gives us the Holy Spirit to help us the moment we put our trust in Jesus, many of us still try to live our Christian lives in our own strength.
As Jeannie's desire for more of God grew, so did her awareness of the powerful work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit invites each one of us into a beautiful intimacy with Him and longs to empower us to live out God's purposes for our lives.
For all of you moms who long to help your children to love and live for Jesus, there is a special part in this episode that will speak right to your heart! { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
The Christian life is fueled by the power of the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit is not just for the gifts of the Spirit or Fruit of the Spirit We can welcome the Holy Spirit's presence and power into our lives on a daily basis Jesus relied on the power of the Holy Spirit and told His disciples they needed to wait for the Holy Spirit (John 14-16) The Bible refers to the Holy Spirit as our intercessor, comforter, helper, champion, counselor, and strengthener If we try to live the Christian life without the Holy Spirit we will limit how far and deep we will go The Holy Spirit makes the grace and love of Jesus real to us Grace is the power and the desire to do God's will (Philippians 2:13) The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, which opens our eyes to our need of a savior, and assures us of the righteous standing we have in Christ (John 16:8) He is working even when we are not aware of it The Holy Spirit transforms us - when we abide in the Spirit, His fruit becomes more evident in our lives (John 15) "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." (2 Peter 1:13) When we learn how to commune with the Holy Spirit, He invites us to be a part of a sacred intimacy with the entire Trinity When we feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit, we have the choose to yield God's Word instructs us how to set our minds on the Holy Spirit (Galatians 1-5) The Holy Spirit speaks as an advocate whereas the enemy speaks as an accuser We cannot fill the role of the Holy Spirit in our children's lives When we walk in the Spirit we can plant seeds into our children's lives, but only He can make them grow "I've discovered it's not how intensely I struggle but how completely I surrender" ~ Ken Gire
But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him (the Holy Spirit) to you [to be in close fellowship with you]. ~ John 16:7 AMP
Links from Show NEW BOOK: Don't Miss Out: Daring to Believe Life Is Better with the Holy Spirit Don't Miss out: Book Club Kit 5 Reflections on the Holy Spirit NEW BIBLE STUDY (Releasing December 2021): Never Alone - Bible Study Book: Parenting in the Power of the Holy Spirit BOOK: Parenting the Wholehearted Child: Captivating Your Child's Heart with God's Extravagant Grace BOOK: Mom Set Free: Find Relief from the Pressure to Get It All Right [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Jeannie Cunnion Website | Instagram
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Get Episode Updates! We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list,
“You don't need a new list of things to do, you need a new way to see!” Do you feel overwhelmed by endless responsibilities and expectations?
In this episode, Kendra Adachi, shares tips for from her book, The Lazy Genius Way: Embrace What Matters, Ditch What Doesn't, and Get Stuff Done. Weary from trying to be perfect and please everyone around her, Kendra realized that being all things to all people is not a sustainable way to live. She discovered that experiencing a meaningful life is not about doing more or doing less, but doing what matters most to her.
If you are tired of trying to measure up, this is your invitation to rest in God and seek His will for your life, releasing all of the guilt and expectations that were never meant for you! { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
The Lazy Genius Way is choosing to be a genius about the things that matter most and allowing yourself to be lazy about the rest We cannot be everything to everyone without facing exhaustion No one else can decide what matters most for your life What matters most to us can change in different seasons Train yourself to ask: "what matters most in this situation?" Trying to meet endless expectations or create a certain image causes us to miss true life You do not have to be perfect or good at everything It's ok to let some things go Magic question: "What can I do now to make life easier later?" Not every area of your life deserves equal priority Redefine what it means to be vulnerable and real (you don't have to be a mess to be real) Not every approach or system works for every person; the key is to discover what works for you Being different than others should be normal We are always in a learning process and it is ok to make mistakes Take everything to your gracious Heavenly Father who wants to help you discern what is most important Admit when you mess up, receive forgiveness and let go of the guilt
Top Tips for Living The Lazy Genius Way
Decide Once - Limit your decision making by making certain choices once and then never again (e.g. Monday uniform, kid's birthday gifts) Start Small - Don't get overwhelmed by trying to do everything, instead pick one thing to do Live in Your Season - Release the guilt from not doing things that are not meant for this season Schedule Rest - Discover what makes you feel like yourself, and find ways to experience those things on a regular basis Be Kind to Yourself - You are your own friend
Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? 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
Links from Show BOOK: The Lazy Genius Way: Embrace What Matters, Ditch What Doesn't, and Get Stuff Done The Lazy Genius Podcast [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Kendra Adachi Website | Instagram| Facebook
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter Don't Miss an Episode! We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list, by applying in the form below, you'll be notified when new episodes air - and get a special gift for joining (among other things!)
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Kendra's interview?
“Conflict is normal. There is no relationship without conflict or tension!” Are you tired of losing relationships over disagreements?
In this episode, Ashley Abercrombie, shares powerful truths from her upcoming book, Love Is the Resistance: Learn to Disagree, Resolve the Conflicts You've Been Avoiding, and Create Real Change. In a world that is growing increasingly divided, Ashley encourages us to lead change and love others well by learning to engage in healthy conflict. When done right, conflict has the potential to grow love instead of tear it down.
God has given His church the ministry of reconciliation. It is time to set aside our need to be right and choose to lead in love and live out the Word of God. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
We don't have to make someone who disagrees with us into our villain Differing opinions do not need to cost us relationships We need differing opinions Every person is made in the image of God and can teach us something about Him "Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand." (Philippians 4:5) Christianity is not meant to be comfortable; God calls us to crucify ourselves daily (Luke 9:23) If we want to live Biblically, we must learn to think Biblically "If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other." (Galatians 5:15 Paul addresses disputable matters in Romans 14 because the people of God will not always see things the same Our judgment can cause others to fall, when God wants to help them stand (Romans 14) When we start pointing our finger at someone else, we have stopped loving People will know that we are followers of Jesus by our love, our unity and our fruit (John 13-17) Things grow when there is diversity (e.g. poly cropping) Follow the example of Jesus - A part from Him, the disciples would not have naturally chosen to walk or eat a meal together Unity is not assimilation or uniformity; it is joining together in love through Christ "Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification." Romans 14:19 Seek to understand one another so that you can love each other better We are called to build bridges - if our opinions are not filtered through love they will never bridge someone over to the love of Christ. (1 Peter 2:9) We have been given the ministry of reconciliation (reconciling people to God, ourselves and others)
Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. Hebrews 12:14
Links from Show NEW BOOK (Releases August 2021, Pre-order now): Love Is the Resistance: Learn to Disagree, Resolve the Conflicts You've Been Avoiding, and Create Real Change Why Tho Podcast The Biggest Little Farm PREVIOUS EPISODE: 029: Rise of the Truth Teller with Ashley Abercrombie | The Living Room BOOK: Rise of the Truth Teller: Own Your Story, Tell it Like it is, and Live with Holy Gumption [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Ashley Abercrombie Website | Instagram| Facebook
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter Subscribe & Get a Bible Reading Journal! You can get your free "2021 Word of God Speak” Journal by signing up in the form below.
The Bible reading journal features:
Instructions for using the journal - including tips for getting the most out of your Bible reading Daily assignment schedule - one chapter a day Space to record your Bible reading highlights Bonus: "Pray Every Day" pages to help you focus on a different part of your life each day
Hope You'll Join Us... Whether or not you take part in "2021 Word of God Speak" on Facebook,
“You don't need to 'move on' and 'get over it', but you can move forward in Christ!” Are you walking through a season of deep grief or loss?
In this episode, author, ministry leader and my dear friend, Rachel Wojo, shares from her personal grief journey. Rachel's first child, Taylor, suffered from a rare metabolic disorder causing gradual neurological degeneration for many years and went to be with Jesus in 2019. Rachel learned to rely on the sustaining power of Jesus as she walked through the intense heartache beside her daughter for all those years as well as the sorrow of her loss.
She is the first to admit it hasn't been easy and hasn't always looked pretty, but God has been faithful. Rachel's testimony is a reminder that our deepest grief and sorrow can actually be the window to discovering God's deepest love! { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
Grief may not get easier with time, but you can grow stronger in the Lord in dealing with it You can walk and grow through anything with Christ (Philippians 4:13) Increasing your physical activity helps your mind and body during grief Recite the Bible verses you know and allow others to speak God's Word over you Stay connected to your community throughout your grieving process The first step out the door can be the hardest; pray through it There is not always a linear progression to grief, it can be very unpredictable The rollercoaster of emotions we experience in grief is a call to Jesus You don't need to have yourself all put together before turning to Jesus God understands your grief, who you are and every emotion you are experiencing There is a beautiful joy paired with the deepest sorrow God is right beside us in the midst of our pain and suffering God captures every tear and takes note of the weight and depth of our suffering (Psalm 56:8) Even though He knew Lazarus would be resurrected, Jesus wept beside Mary and Martha (John 11) You don't need to have words to minister to someone, your presence and embrace can speak even louder We should not compare grief because no loss is the same Empathize with someone else by admitting "I can't imagine what you are going through" God invites us to pour out our hearts to Him (Psalm 62:8) We have hope in the midst of our grieving (1 Thessalonians 4:13) God wants to use what the enemy means for evil and use it for good God can do miracles of the heart in you and through you All the strength, endurance and joy you need is found in Christ (Colossians 1:11-14 NLT)
Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Psalm 62:8
Links from Show Letters to Taylor One More Step: Finding Strength When You Feel Like Giving Up Rachel's Shop [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Rachel Wojo Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter Don't Miss an Episode! We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list, by applying in the form below, you'll be notified when new episodes air - and get a special gift for joining (among other things!)
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Rachel's interview?
“Start small, but begin!" Do you wish you understood the Bible better?
In this episode, Kristy Cambron, shares powerful tools and resources that have brought the Word of God alive to her and many others from her Verse Mapping Series. Kristy is a vintage-inspired storyteller, writing both award-winning historical fiction and Bible Studies. When she recognized her own tendency to choose other things before spending time in the Word, Kristy embarked on a personal journey to understand it better. She discovered the personal and life-changing truths God had woven throughout His story and her desire to know Him only grew!
God wants to speak to you too, my friend! His Word is rich and powerful and applies to every moment of our lives today. He wrote it with you in mind. It is not beyond your grasp. With a few simple steps, you can begin to understand God's Word and discover His good and perfect will for your life. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
Begin with prayer and worship to invite God into your time Expect God to speak to you when you go to His Word Invite the Holy Spirit to reveal what is most important for you in that moment (Ephesians 1:17) Our spiritual vocabulary expands as we study God's Word Verse mapping records your journey with the Lord Never be afraid to admit when you don't understand something and ask for help When you understand a story within the lens it was created, you can apply it accurately to your life today Verse mapping can retrain your mind to understand Scripture better Your study, worship and relationship with God is going to look unique to how God created you (Psalm 139) Don't be afraid to start small The goal is to walk away with one truth that you can put into practice Your craving for the Word of God will increase as you read it
5-Step Approach to Verse Mapping
Select your verse Design - Write verse in multiple translations Develop context - Research root meaning of words Actions - Discover the story around the verse Outcome - Identify what the Holy Spirit taught you and how you plan to use it
Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. Psalm 119:18
Links from Show NIV Verse Mapping Bible Verse Mapping Bible Study Journal Verse Mapping Luke: Gathering the Goodness of God’s Word Verse Mapping Acts: Feasting on the Abundance of God’s Word The Paris Dressmaker [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Kristy Cambron Website | Instagram | Facebook
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter Subscribe & Get a Bible Reading Journal! You can get your free "2021 Word of God Speak” Journal by signing up in the form below.
The Bible reading journal features:
Instructions for using the journal - including tips for getting the most out of your Bible reading Daily assignment schedule - one chapter a day Space to record your Bible reading highlights Bonus: "Pray Every Day" pages to help you focus on a different part of your life each day
Hope You'll Join Us... Whether or not you take part in "2021 Word of God Speak" on Facebook, you can still use the Bible Reading Journal. God longs to speak to us and I know He will meet you as you open His Word.
[To learn more about how the plan works, read "Get More Out of the Bible by Reading Less (Really!)"]
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Kristy's interview?
“If we will release our plans into God's hands, He will do far greater than we can imagine!" In this episode, Rachel Dodge, shares her journey of learning to trust God with all her dreams. As an English professor, Rachel always had a desire to write, but she never imagined it would unfold the way it did. As she continued to seek God and trust His leading, she was amazed at how beautifully He wove together her upbringing, education, interests, and skills in ways she had never imagined possible.
Combining her love for the Lord and literature, God led her write the devotionals, Praying with Jane: 31 Days through the Prayers of Jane Austen and The Anne of Green Gables Devotional: A Chapter-by-Chapter Companion for Kindred Spirits, which uniquely inspire and encourage women to go deeper with Him every day.
God wants to write your story as well. He wants to reveal to you the underworking of His hand to bring purpose to your pain and every part of your journey. If you feel like God is stirring something new in your heart and don't know how to get from where you are to where you feel God wants you to be, this is for you. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
Like Moses, God calls us to use whatever He has placed in our hands (Exodus 4) Keep doing the things you know God has placed in front of you each day God often wants to do something in us before He does something through us Deepen the message and let God broaden the ministry God will not take you to a place He hasn't already prepared for you and prepared you for God uses every season, especially our suffering, to teach us and mold us into His image You can be real with God because He already knows your heart Allow God to hedge you in with His love and protection and keep your eyes on Him God will lead you to the next step on His path and bring purpose to your entire journey Look for ways to walk beside other believers; God made us to need each other Trust the Holy Spirit to write your beautiful story and wait on Him with active faith
I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. Job 42:2
Links from Show NEW DEVOTIONAL: The Anne of Green Gables Devotional: A Chapter-by-Chapter Companion for Kindred Spirits DEVOTIONAL: Praying with Jane: 31 Days through the Prayers of Jane Austen Mount Hermon Christian Writer's Conference Children's Devotional/Booklet: Anne of Green Gables Devotional for Young Readers [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Rachel Dodge Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter Subscribe & Get a Bible Reading Journal! You can get your free "2021 Word of God Speak” Journal by signing up in the form below.
The Bible reading journal features:
Instructions for using the journal - including tips for getting the most out of your Bible reading Daily assignment schedule - one chapter a day Space to record your Bible reading highlights Bonus: "Pray Every Day" pages to help you focus on a different part of your life each day
Hope You'll Join Us... Whether or not you take part in "2021 Word of God Speak" on Facebook, you can still use the Bible Reading Journal. God longs to speak to us and I know He will meet you as you open His Word.
[To learn more about how the plan works, read "Get More Out of the Bible by Reading Less (Really!)"] Don't Miss an Episode! We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list, by applying in the form below, you'll be notified when new episodes air - and get a special gift for joining (among other things!)
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Rachel's interview?
“Your story does not disqualify you!" Are you still clinging tightly to the broken pieces and shattered dreams in your life? There is good news, my friend! In this episode, Sharon Jaynes, shares from her newest book, "When You Don't Like Your Story: What If Your Worst Chapters Could Become Your Greatest Victories?" about the redemptive power of God. Sharon demonstrates how God can use the parts of our stories that we wish were erased to grow us and reveal Himself to us and the world around us. While we can never change the past, with God we can always redeem it! If you are still carrying the hurt of your past, this word is for you. The issues that have bound and held you for far too long are going to be broken as you release them into God's hands. Today is your day of deliverance! { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
Your story does not disqualify you The Bible is full of personal stories of redemption Like Rahab, God wants to turn our stories around and use them for good God doesn't comfort us just to make us comfortable, but so that we can comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:4) Sharing our stories is a part of overcoming the enemy in our lives (Revelations 12:11) It is in the hard parts of our story that God meets us most Rather than say "why me?" we can ask God "what now?" We have to let go of the broken pieces we cling to and allow God to make something beautiful with it Healing starts with the decision that you want to be free and made well When we've embraced lies as our identity we have to renew our minds through the Word to tell a new story We often think it is easier to stay in disfunction than to be healed and move into the unknown When we refuse to believe what God says about ourselves over our own thoughts we bind and lock ourselves up We have to keep our story centered on Jesus and His power to redeem When we offer the difficult and weak places in our story to Jesus, He can use it in powerful ways Sometimes God will not talk to you about your future until you deal with your past The power of our past is broken when we open up and share our stories
STEPS TO HEALING:
Choose healing - decide that you want to move beyond the hurt and pain toward healing Leave the pain place - forgive those who have hurt you Leave the shame place - receive God's forgiveness and forgive yourself Tell your story
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
Links from Show NEW BOOK: When You Don't Like Your Story: What If Your Worst Chapters Could Become Your Greatest Victories? Praying Wives Club [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Sharon Jaynes Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter Subscribe & Get a Bible Reading Journal! You can get your free "2021 Word of God Speak” Journal by signing up in the form below.
The Bible reading journal features:
Instructions for using the journal - including tips for getting the most out of your Bible reading Daily assignment schedule - one chapter a day Space to record your Bible reading highlights Bonus: "Pray Every Day" pages to help you focus on a different part of your life each day
[To learn more about how the plan works, read "Get More Out of the Bible by Reading Less (Really!)"]
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Sharon's interview?
"If we really understood what Christ has to offer us when we surrender and trust Him, we would want it every day!" Do you wake up weighed down from the pressure of all that needs to get done?
In this episode, Christy Nockels shares from her book, The Life You Long For: Learning to Live From a Heart of Rest. After years of traveling music ministry with her husband, Christy began to experience burnout in her life. She recognized her life had been marked by doing things for God rather than truly living from Him. In His perfect timing, God revealed her worth a part from her platform and extended His invitation to truly rest.
He extends the same invitation to each of us - to live from a heart of rest! { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
True rest comes from surrender and trust in Jesus Our deepest longings are met when we live from a place of surrender Our identity can easily get wrapped up in what we do The bulls-eye is our relationship with God and recognizing we are His beloved God calls us to community over capacity We have the opportunity to invite God's glorious presence and power into our mundane Anything we lay down, God fills and returns in far greater ways Surrender yourself to being built by Christ rather than trying to build something for Him (1 Peter 2:4-5) When we live from the bulls-eye, the outer rings of our life are reclaimed (Ephesians 2:10) When we make time to orient ourselves around Christ, we don't have to worry about being in God's will Our hustling can hold us back from all God wants to offer us True rest in Jesus propels us into action God has always given us permission to rest The capacity of the beloved is all about what we can hold and receive from the heart of God and allowing that to overflow to the world around us We can choose to trust God and live in His rest or run ahead (Isaiah 30:15)
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. ~Psalm 37:5-6
Links from Show BOOK: The Life You Long For: Learning to Live From a Heart of Rest PODCAST: The Glorious in the Mundane [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Christy Nockels Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Get Episode Updates! We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list, by applying in the form below, you'll be notified when new episodes air - and get a special gift for joining (among other things!)
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Christy's interview?
“God's Word can shine on the darkness in our hearts and our world today!" Wow, you guys! This episode is so timely. If you've wondered how God wants you to respond to the turmoil in our world, Mary DeMuth highlights our great need to pray and live biblically so that our responses are shaped by God and not human opinions. We talk about her personal journey and recent books, "Pray Every Day:90 Days of Prayer from God's Word" and "We Too: How the Church Can Respond Redemptively to the Sexual Abuse Crisis." In times of great turmoil, confusion, and conflicting ideas, Mary provides simple, yet powerful ways we can begin letting the truth of God's Word shine on our hearts, praying His will rather than our opinions, loving the marginalized, and disagreeing with others in healthy ways. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
God doesn't ask us to tidy up our prayers. He invites us to pour out our hearts openly! Prayer is not transactional; instead it is always relational. God wants to be in close relationship with us when we are going through any stress or trauma. We've been given a great privilege to enter God's presence. It is not about us trying to perform Christianly; rather it's about us being discipled by Jesus. We don't always have to lead change. Sometimes God calls us to intercede for change. The overarching theme of the Bible shows God's redemptive story for each one of us. We have to know the Word of God to be able to think Biblically (Biblio-centric world view). Keeping our peace in the midst of turmoil requires we look to eternity and the promises of Jesus. Faith is often stretched and purified most in the midst of persecution. Look to God's Word to shine on the darkness so that His light can come. We can learn so much about God through loving and welcoming traumatized people. Loving people well requires more tables and less platforms! We can love each other even when we disagree by refusing to tie our words to our worth and needing to win. Kingdom bias looks at the brokenness of our world and asks God how to be a part of restoring it. If we only spend time with people who look like us and share our opinions, we are not representing the body of Christ. The Word of God calls us to lay down our lives, rather than fight for our rights.
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
Links from Show NEW BOOK: "Pray Every Day:90 Days of Prayer from God's Word" PODCAST: Pray Every Day Podcast BOOK: We Too: How the Church Can Respond Redemptively to the Sexual Abuse Crisis BIBLE STUDY: Into the Light: A Biblical Approach to Healing from the Past 21 Days to Healing Email [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Mary DeMuth Website | Instagram | Twitter | Etsy
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Subscribe & Get a Bible Reading Journal! You can get your free "2021 Word of God Speak” Journal by signing up in the form below.
The Bible reading journal features:
Instructions for using the journal - including tips for getting the most out of your Bible reading Daily assignment schedule - one chapter a day Space to record your Bible reading highlights Bonus: "Pray Every Day" pages to help you focus on a different part of your life each day
Hope You'll Join Us... Whether or not you take part in "2021 Word of God Speak" on Facebook, you can still use the Bible Reading Journal. God longs to speak to us and I know He will meet you as you open His Word.
[To learn more about how the plan works, read "Get More Out of the Bible by Reading Less (Really!)"] Don't Miss an Episode!
“Life shakes us up. Abiding settles us down!" In this episode, my friend and mentor, Jodi Detrick, shares from her new devotional, "The Settled Soul: Tenaciously Abiding with a Tender God". She shares powerful truths and practical steps for an abiding life amidst the chaos and challenges in life. Jesus invites each one of us to unpack our entire lives and fully reside with Him. No matter what is going on around us, we can live with peace and purpose by staying close to Jesus. Whether you are in a difficult pruning season, a quiet and seemingly dormant season or an abundant and fruitful season, settle in with Jesus. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
Not only does Jesus abide in us, but we are invited to abide in Him Abiding literally means "home" - we are invited to unpack our entire lives and make ourselves at home with Jesus Abiding also means "remain" - He asks us to stay attached and settle in Like a Gardener, God cares for the us, lifts us up, prunes us and knows exactly what we need The Father is a Gardener who is hands on and willing to get close even in the mess The Gardener is also a Father who tends us with a tender heart The father of the prodigal son shows us how God draws us to Himself and offers us all that He has (Luke 15:11-32) Discontentment and disappointment in ourselves often leads to feeling unsettled The God who never grows weary is not tired of you (Isaiah 40:28) The dormant seasons when we don't see movement are crucial to our growth Like vines in a vineyard, we depend on one another to grow Don't let your wounds decide your faith When you are wounded by life, you need the Life Giver Make peace with the unfinished - every plant starts out small and incomplete God is building a grand work of eternity in your life There is always new depth and more of Jesus to discover Keep showing up and tending your connection with Jesus As we tend the connection, fruit naturally grows
Six Simple Practices of Abiding
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Think about Jesus
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Talk with Jesus
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Talk about Jesus
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Love Jesus and let Him love you
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Trust Jesus and believe what He tells us
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Engage meaningfully with others who love Jesus
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing... By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. ~ John 15:5,8-9
Links from Show DEVOTIONAL: "The Settled Soul: Tenaciously Abiding with a Tender God" PREVIOUS EPISODE: 008: The Jesus-Hearted Woman with Jodi Detrick | The Living Room BOOK: The Jesus-Hearted Woman: 10 Leadership Qualities for Enduring and Endearing Influence FREE PRINTABLE: Jesus Thought Prompts [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Jodi Detrick Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Subscribe & Get a Bible Reading Journal! You can get your free "2021 Word of God Speak” Journal by signing up in the form below.
The Bible reading journal features:
Instructions for using the journal - including tips for getting the most out of your Bible reading Daily assignment schedule - one chapter a day Space to record your Bible reading highlights Bonus: "Pray Every Day" pages to help you focus on a different part of your life each day
Hope You'll Join Us... Whether or not you take part in "2021 Word of God Speak" on Facebook, you can still use the Bible Reading Journal. God longs to speak to us and I know He will me...
"Jesus not only loved us first – He loves us first every day!" In this episode, my friend and best-selling author, Susie Larson, shares from her new devotional, Prevail: 365 Days of Enduring Strength from God's Word. During a health crisis, Susie determined to cling to God’s Promises, searching the Bible for evidences and any opportunities to learn from. She began to see her difficult journey as an invitation to follow the Lord on His terms, deciding that if He guides our way, He also gets the say.
God's promise that the pure in heart will see Him became a reality for Susie. As she responded to God's loving and purifying work in her heart, she experienced His presence in a sweet and powerful way.
God's invitation to you and me is the same. If you feel like you're just surviving, remember God loves you. Draw near to Him, give Him full access to your heart and you too will see how good He is! { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
We are tethered to a good, good God. Prevail means to prove more powerful than your opponent and to be the last one standing. Jesus won a sound victory over the enemy for us. We need to stand in it. The love of God changes us. "If you spend 15 minutes a day pondering how much God loves you, it will change your brain structure" ~ Dr. Tim Jennings Every moment, every hardship, every battle has eternal implications – our part in believing matters. Don’t lead by your feelings. Don’t contradict what God has said to you. Are there any “idols” in your tent? You can recognize them by the fruit it produces in your life. If you are guarding your idol to the point the “uglies” come out, you’ve got to be careful. The fastest growing churches are in countries that vehemently oppose Christianity. If you have to let go of love to hang onto your cause, you’ve lost your way. You can have as much of God as you want. You draw near and He draws near. He rewards those who diligently seek Him. You can have a right assessment and a wrong a spirit. If you are more angry about someone’s stance than you are concerned about their soul, you’ve got a wrong spirit. "Things are not falling apart; they are falling in place" ~ Anne Graham Lotz We are going to see moves of God we’ve only dreamed of – but God moves on the humble. So Lord, search us… God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear – you can’t walk in Kingdom power and walk in fear. (2 Timothy 1:7 NIV) As people of God, we need to pursue community with people – actively reaching out to communicate value and love to people. Remind your soul that nothing is impossible with God. Your faith is so precious to Him.
Lord, show us the gap that exists between what we do and what we truly believe, and then fill in those empty spaces with more of You. Awaken our heart and do the impossible in our lives.
Links from Show PREVIOUS EPISODE: 001 Living Fully Alive with Susie Larson | The Living Room NEW DEVOTIONAL: Prevail: 365 Days of Enduring Strength from God's Word BOOK: Fully Alive: Learning to Flourish Mind, Body and Spirit SUSIE'S PODCAST: Faith Radio Faith Radio Interview with Dr. Tim Jennings [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Susie Larson Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Subscribe & Get a Bible Reading Journal! You can get your free "2021 Word of God Speak” Journal by signing up in the form below.
The Bible reading journal features:
Instructions for using the journal - including tips for getting the most out of your Bible reading Daily assignment schedule - one chapter a day Space to record your Bible reading highlights Bonus: "Pray Every Day" pages to help you focus on a different part of your life each day
Hope You'll Join Us... Whether or not you take part in "2021 Word of God...
"The more we seek after Christ, the more we find peace and rest!" Are you tired of striving and trying to be everything to everyone?
In this episode, my friend, Kelly Balarie, shares from her newest book, Rest Now: 7 Ways to Say No, Set Boundaries, and Seize Joy. Kelly gives simple ways we can begin connecting with the heart of God and enjoy an abiding life in Christ on a daily basis.
In a season of emotional and cultural unrest, Jesus longs to offer us His rest and joy. Rather than living led by obligations we have an opportunity to activate spirit-led rest.
{ USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
God created us with responsibilities, but we were not created to strive You don't have to work hard to prove who you are When you fully discover who you are in Christ and how loved you are by Him, you are free to live and love like Jesus Rest is the recovery and healing of self through the Biblical truths of Christ The more we follow Christ, the more we find peace and rest Admitting our weaknesses creates room for God's strength to come in “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule." (Matthew 5:3 MSG) Connecting with others in authentic ways can bring true rest Boundaries should create a reserve of love so that you can better observe the call to love Jesus wants to walk beside us in everything and show us what to do Our call is to connect with Jesus and cultivate Holy-Spirit awareness Jesus did not feel obligated to do everything; He didn't heal every sick person or answer every question Take inventory of your plans for each day and ask God what He really wants you to accomplish Never hesitate to reach out and ask for help "There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience." (Hebrews 4:9-11 NIV) Jesus wants to fill us with joy in our rest (Luke 10:21; John 15:11) Set things down and step away to connect with Jesus True rest requires trusting God
Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? 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
Links from Show BOOK: Rest Now: 7 Ways to Say No, Set Boundaries, and Seize Joy Rest Now Resources PREVIOUS PODCAST: 009: Getting Battle Ready with Kelly Balarie | The Living Room [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Kelly Balarie Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Get Episode Updates! We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list, by applying in the form below, you'll be notified when new episodes air - and get a special gift for joining (among other things!)
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Kelly's interview?
“As Christians we are all called to ministry and all parts of our lives are a part of that calling!” In this episode, Kadi Cole shares from her bestselling book, Developing Female Leaders: Navigate the Minefields and Release the Potential of Women in Your Church. Having only seen women in one role in church ministry, Kadi sought God's will for her own life and discovered her unique gifts and calling did not fit the expected mold. She has since committed her life to helping others discover and walk in their gifts.
God has given the Church so many resources and gifts through its people. It is our job to recognize, equip and release each one to fulfill her irreplaceable role.
Extra Bonus: My daughter, Jessica Downs, joins our conversation and shares about her personal journey and calling while serving as a children's pastor and a new mom. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
Each person brings unique resources and gifts to the Church We should challenge all of our assumptions and paradigms with God's Word As a leader, we need to connect with a lot of different people to challenge our own biases Scripture does not reflect gender bias in gifting Everyone in Scripture is for everyone; we can identify with male or female characters based on similar experience or gifting As culture continually shifts, women often feel like they are not enough or too much Understand your top spiritual gifts and focus on your role alone Stewarding what God has given us is a part of our sanctification We are called to advocate for others (i.e. the marginalized or oppressed), and to trust God to be our defender We need to be both honest and honoring about ourselves and others Self-awareness is the ability to understand what is going on inside of you and how it is affecting other people "A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of." Luke 6:45 We cannot avoid hurt or offense; we need the Holy Spirit to help us restore relationships towards true unity Addressing hurts and conflict should come out of a place of healing through the Holy Spirit and be motivated by love rather than revenge Restoration requires: confrontation, healing, and reunited fellowship Restoration happens when we are both honest and honoring about ourselves and others The Church misses complete reconciliation and unity when we leave any section of the body of Christ out Perfectionism is one of the main temptations Satan uses to hold women back
My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. John 17: 20-23
Links from Show Developing Female Leaders: Navigate the Minefields and Release the Potential of Women in Your Church Kadi's Leadership Support Group: Ministry Chick Joanna's Leader Access Pass [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Kadi Cole Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter Get Episode Updates! We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list, by applying in the form below, you'll be notified when new episodes air - and get a special gift for joining (among other things!)
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Kadi's interview?
“Real ministry is not the big mission we go out to accomplish, but the person right in front of us!” In this episode, New York Times Best-Selling author and speaker, Karen Ehman, shares from her newest book, Reach Out, Gather In: 40 Days to Opening Your Heart and Home, about seeing beyond ourselves to the needs of others.
We can too easily become consumed by our own lives and personal needs that we overlook others and miss the opportunities around us. While some people may be more naturally gifted at hospitality, God calls us all to reach out and notice others, especially the ones who least expect to be seen.
Karen challenges all believers to choose a life of welcome, opening our homes when possible and our hearts always. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
"If your circumstances have you down, go find someone who has it worse than you and make their day. Somehow it will make your day as well!" ~ Karen's mom You can be hospitable wherever you're at; there are always people who long to be welcomed in Become a person who is always on the lookout for the marginalized and lonely Hospitality is less about impressing or entertaining people with your home and more about refreshing and loving the people God brings into your life People will never forget how you make them feel Start small by intentionally taking time to truly listen and connect with someone Soul sharing: caring for that deepest part of another human being Listen between the lines for heart drops (when someone says something without saying it) Reaching out and gathering in is a great way to point people to Jesus "[God] 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 1:4 Look at your natural talents, passions and spiritual gifts for ways God wants to use you to reach others Start by showing love and hospitality to your own family Go find your old self - someone who is going through what you've been through Choose not to compare or judge We tend to hold back in fear of being judged when we ourselves have a propensity to judge others Your unique gifting is needed
Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:13
Links from Show NEW BOOK: Reach Out, Gather In: 40 Days to Opening Your Heart and Home Proverbs 31 Ministries BOOK: Keep It Shut: What to Say, How to Say It, and When to Say Nothing at All Thanksgiving Printable BLOG: The Art of Gratitude with Rachel Wojo [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Karen Ehman Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter Get Episode Updates! We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list, by applying in the form below, you'll be notified when new episodes air - and get a special gift for joining (among other things!)
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Karen's interview?
“You are perfectly designed for God's unique purposes for your life!” In this episode, Holley Gerth shares from her newest book, The Powerful Purpose of Introverts: Why the World Needs You to Be You. While common stereotypes often make introverts feel like they are not enough, the truth is that God wired each of us diversely on purpose.
The good news is that being introverted or extroverted does not make one better at leading or loving people, they just do it differently. So rather than living in comparison, insecurity or fear, Holley encourages us to fully embrace who God created us to be.
To my introverted friend, hear this: there are specific God-given strengths within you that our world needs more than ever before! { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
The brain and nervous systems of introverts are wired completely different than extroverts Extroverts are wired to look for ways to get more dopamine which is often found in large groups of people, whereas introverts have a more stable dopamine level within themselves already "Half the population is made up of introverts" - Myers Briggs Foundation Introverts will often become passionate about a specific cause and step up in a way that appears more extroverted Introverts and extroverts can love people equally, they just do it in different ways Both can make great leaders; many successful leaders are introverts We may appear more or less introverted in certain seasons or roles, but our initial wiring doesn't change Research shows that we all become more introverted as we age Understanding who God made us to be should lead us to praise rather than pride or insecurity Self-awareness can help us to understand and appreciate others better also To better understand someone, you can ask "how can I love you well right now?" Introverts do well with structure and fulfilling a specific given role Some people are designed to be highly visible and lead out front while others are designed to lead from behind and quietly champion people or projects Introverts can provide a calming presence in the midst of chaos Extroverts can help energize and inspire introverts We are exactly what God wants us to be right now and He loves us just as we are The goal is always progress, not perfection Trust God to complete the good work He started in you (Philippians 1:6)
COMMON QUALITIES OF AN INTROVERT:
Prefer to work in quieter, more independent environments Highly observant and often notice what others miss Have a capacity and a need for solitude Take time before making decisions or responding
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. ~ Psalm 139:14
Links from Show BOOK: The Powerful Purpose of Introverts: Why the World Needs You to Be You PREVIOUS EPISODE: 011: Hope Your Heart Needs with Holly Gerth | The Living Room QUIZ: What percent introvert are you? PODCAST:More Than Small Talk [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Holley Gerth Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter Get Episode Updates! We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list, by applying in the form below, you'll be notified when new episodes air - and get a special gift for joining (among other things!)
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Holley's interview?
“God is calling the women of this generation to partner with Him in bringing about His purposes!” In this episode, Alli Worthington shares from her book, Standing Strong: A Woman's Guide to Overcoming Adversity and Living with Confidence, about partnering with God in accomplishing His purposes. Through her own journey of learning to hear God's voice and experiencing the pain of disobedience as well as the joy of following His leading, Alli has learned to trust God in the unknown and step out in obedience and faith.
Do you hear God's whisper? God is calling you to stand strong because you are meant for more, my friend! It's not about the kind of work He calls you to or how impressive or small it may seem, because whatever He calls us to is Kingdom work. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
God partners with people through all different kinds work to accomplish His purposes on this Earth Noah partnered with God by doing the hard work of building the ark for 100 years Our life's grand purpose is to respond to Jesus' invitation of salvation and tell others about Him Our calling looks different in different seasons as we continually ask God to show us His desires for our life Mother's prayer: "May she grow to be a great woman of God, fearless in her faith and strong as she faces her future." We stand in our way when we give in to self-doubt and adversity Don't be afraid to act on God's nudges and trust Him to get your attention if you are going down the wrong path Confidence is a skill that is built up overtime God will give you the strength to do whatever He is asking of you Correction from the Lord is direction, not rejection We need to stop telling God what we cannot do and why we are not good enough or we will miss out on partnering with Him in His Kingdom work Don't use humility as a cover for disobedience Jesus wants to fill us with His Spirit, His power and His very nature in order to accomplish His purposes 5-Second Secret - Bring God into every equation and speak His truth, then countdown from five and act
LEARNING TO HEAR GOD'S VOICE:
Invite God to speak and spend time seeking Him Give God space and time to speak to you on a regular basis Allow godly influences to speak into your life Respond in obedience when you hear Him speak
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 Links from Show Alli's Book: Standing Strong: A Woman's Guide to Overcoming Adversity and Living with Confidence Podcast: Alli Worthing Show Business Coaching: Called Creatives Life Without Lack: Living in the Fullness of Psalm 23 by Dallas Willard [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Alli Worthington Website |Instagram | Facebook
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter Get Episode Updates! We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list, by applying in the form below, you'll be notified when new episodes air - and get a special gift for joining (among other things!)
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Alli's interview?
"No marriage is easy or perfect, but every marriage is worth fighting for!” In this episode, Lara Casey, the CEO of Cultivate What Happens, shares her personal marriage journey. Lara and her Jewish, military husband struggled for many years before God not only answered her prayer for a shared faith, but overtime He also healed the pain from all the earlier hurt and rekindled their love for each other.
When it seemed easier to give up, Lara relied on her faith and pressed in deeper to God. He used Lara as well as a matrix of relationships and the power of His Word to lead her husband into a relationship with Him.
I also share the story of God's healing in my marriage.
If you are struggling in your marriage or are married to an unbeliever, God wants to encourage you today! It was when Lara and I came to the end of ourselves that God was able to create a beautiful masterpiece out of all of the broken pieces. He can do that for you too! { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
There is no such thing as an easy or perfect marriage Every time an argument arises choose to pray first When we recognize how much God has forgiven us, we can easier forgive our spouse Don't allow someone else's lack of faith to hold you back from practicing your faith Any exposure to Scripture is powerful (Isaiah 55:11) You don't have to lure others to faith or pretend your life is perfect, but rather live out your real faith in front of them "What if God's primary intent for your marriage isn't to make you happy . . . but holy?" ~ Gary Thomas Sacred Marriage The time between your hurt and your miracle is an opportunity to practice faith Seek God rather than a perfect marriage and trust Him with the outcome Our purity and reverence for God and our respect and love for our spouse can draw our spouse to God (1 Peter 3:1) Rather than resent an unbelieving spouse, ask God to change your heart so you can present the sweetness of Christ Humility is one of the strongest displays of Christ to others You cannot change your spouse's heart, only God can Spend time with Christ and allow His aroma to spread to your spouse Trials are what ground your faith and strengthen your words A "gentle and quiet spirit" is one that is free from fear (1 Peter 3:4) Renew your commitment to your marriage (no matter what!) Get a big-picture mindset and commit to a long-term marriage Don't lose sight of the temporary nature of struggles and the powerful hand of God to change things in His timing Submit your heart to God and ask Him to give you a new love for your spouse Anchor your relationship by praying together often
Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. ~ 1 Peter 3:1
Links from Show Previous Episode: 006: Cultivate What Matters with Lara Casey | The Living Room Book: Cultivate: A Grace-Filled Guide to Growing an Intentional Life Book: Make it Happen: Surrender Your Fear. Take the Leap. Live On Purpose Book: Sacred Marriage: What If God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More Than to Make Us Happy? Podcast: Cultivate Your Life Podcast Cultivate What Matters PowerSheets [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Lara Casey Website | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter Get Episode Updates! We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email...
“God is either everything or nothing!” Have you ever felt torn between loving Jesus and loving yourself, wanting to live for Him but still doing things your own way?
In this episode, Lisa Whittle shares from her newest book, Jesus Over Everything: Uncomplicating the Daily Struggle to Put Jesus First about her personal struggle to daily keep Jesus number one and how He changed her perspective.
We all have different distractions and things we run to in difficult times, but Jesus wants to deliver us from it all. It is not until we relinquish our right to live our own way that we truly discover freedom and the life we were created to live. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
Deadly Overs: Our go-to behaviors that we think simplify our lives, but instead complicate things by making it all about us Over-apologizing, over-explaining, over-indulging, and over-working are all examples of "deadly overs" that stand in the way of getting closer to Jesus When we put Jesus over everything truly uncomplicates our lives We will never be satisfied until Jesus is in His rightful place Connecting with God through striving doesn't work Evaluate if there is anything you are doing on a habitual level to escape from life and give it to Jesus When God puts His finger on an area in your life, He will also give you the strength and grace to deal with it Holiness over freedom - when we do not keep the guard rails of Scripture on our freedoms we begin to enslave ourselves, but in Christ we can experience true freedom Jesus guides us into holiness because He knew that on the other side is pain and enslavement "I run in the path of your commands for you have set my heart free" ~ Psalm 119:32 “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything builds up. ~ 1 Corinthians 10:23 Whatever you are resisting letting go of the hardest is what you may need to relinquish to Jesus True holiness leads to wholeness and everything God created us for You will never regret giving more to Jesus
For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. (Colossians 1:16-18)
Links from Show PODCAST: Jesus Over Everything BOOK: Jesus Over Everything: Uncomplicating the Daily Struggle to Put Jesus First FREE QUIZ: Deadly-Overs Quiz [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Lisa Whittle Website |Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter Get Episode Updates! We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list, by applying in the form below, you'll be notified when new episodes air - and get a special gift for joining (among other things!)
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Lisa's interview?
“You can survive anything if you'll redefine everything...” Life rarely turns out the way we expect and it's not always easy to adjust when suffering redirects it all. In this episode, Katherine Wolf, discusses her newest book, Suffer Strong: How to Survive Anything by Redefining Everything.
At age 26, Katherine suffered a massive brain stem stroke that nearly ended her life. During the long years of surgeries and relearning all basic life skills, Katherine and her husband, Jay, learned that God's grace is truly sufficient. As you look to Him, God will give you unexpected peace and even joy in the middle of your deepest trial.
Maybe your life has taken an unexpected turn as well. God wants to help you pivot, persevere and overcome so that you can truly live the life you've been given! { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
Rather than holding on to what was, learn to embrace the new Suffering can become a treasured gift that shapes your life in positive ways Nothing can take away the peace, joy and all good things found in Christ (Psalm 84:11) "Joy is the secret weapon of the Christian life" - GK Chesterton We get to take our worries to the foot of the cross rather than live with them Until we surrender our unmet expectations, we cannot receive the gifts that God has for us Walking through suffering with joy and perseverance can be one of the greatest testimonies Decide what voices you will allow to speak into your life (who will be your "soul board of directors"?) Live with gratitude and seek to recognize the good in every situation Determine to establish your hope in the Lord True hope is a future promise lived out now "Hope is believing in advance what will only make sense in reverse" ~ Philip Yancey What is true about God in the light is still true in your darkest moments Receiving suffering can be a big part of living a life worthy of your calling (Ephesians 4:1) The greatest things that God has done are inside of you (2 Corinthians 4:17) God is always doing something new When someone else is suffering, less words can be the best words When one person suffers in a marriage, both truly suffer A great marriage establishes true friendship and chooses to cheer one another on God has given us everything we need to adapt, persevere and overcome (2 Peter 1:3) Stop marinating in what you thought your life would look like and accept what your Good Father has allowed Always trust that God is good and remember that He is able to redeem all things True beauty is all about walking away from shame and discovering God's voice
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. ~Romans 5:3-5
Links from Show Hope Heals: A True Story of Overwhelming Loss and an Overcoming Love Suffer Strong: How to Survive Anything by Redefining Everything [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Katherine Wolf Website |Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter Get Episode Updates! We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list, by applying in the form below, you'll be notified when new episodes air - and get a special gift for joining (among other things!)
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Katherine's interview?
“If we allow our dreams to drive us, then we may miss where God is leading us!” In this episode, Tracey Mitchell shares from her book, Becoming Brave: How to Think Big, Dream Wildly, and Live Fear-Free. God has dreams and purposes for every one of our lives, not one more significant than another. He gifts us with unique skills and opportunities to make a difference, but His greatest purpose is always to draw us closer to Him. Tracey shares the joy of walking closely to her Savior and trusting Him to reroute her life when needed, to bring purpose in her trials, and to give her the bravery to stay faithful in her daily life as much as in the big moments. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
God wants to make us brave no matter what we're facing Almost all prophetic children in the Bible came from barren wombs - John the Baptist, Samuel, Samson It was not that God was withholding something from each woman. He was reserving something that was larger than what she could imagine for an appointed season We have to learn how to be fruitful in what seems to be unfruitful seasons What's in you will always come out in a moment of stress When we're in the fire, we need to remind ourselves that everything we've believed is true and tell others of God's goodness In times like our current situation, we need to let God teach us how to navigate a new "operating system" Thinking big can mean trying something new or just taking a simple step of obedience to God's voice We don't bring our dreams to God and ask Him to bless them, we allow heaven to send God's dream for us Sometimes we are afraid to dream because of risk - fear of being disappointed Don't let fear override the plan and purpose of God for your life Believe God for more - but trust Him with the results Joseph was willing to serve someone else's dream - we need to do the same Just because my dream isn't coming true today doesn't mean it will never happen - it may be someone else's day Quote: "I never doubted my ability to make things happen, but I never weighed out the cost to my joy" Make sure the end result measures up and mirrors the purpose - was God glorified or was it all about us? Tracey's Prayer: "Flay me open, Lord, and show me my motives" When our motives are right before the Lord, we will experience joy. When we don't we'll be exhausted Invite spiritual mentors to keep you accountable: Why are you doing this? What's the purpose behind it? In this increasingly divided culture, we need to be gracious, reasonable women Whenever I feel the need to insert my opinion in every subject, I'm probably walking in pride - Joanna Lord, help us be brave and humble. Submitted to God and willing to dream His dreams
I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ~ Job 42:2
Links from Show Book: Becoming Brave: How to Think Big, Dream Wildly, and Live Fear-Free Book: Downside Up: Transform Rejection into Your Golden Opportunity Tracey's newest book: The Invitation to Intimacy with God [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Tracey Mitchell Website |Instagram | Facebook
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter Get Episode Updates! We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list, by applying in the form below, you'll be notified when new episodes air - and get a special gift for joining (among other things!)
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Tracey's interview?
“Where does your allegiance lie?” In this episode, pastor's wife and author, Christine Hoover, shares from her newest book, With All Your Heart: Living Joyfully Through Allegiance to King Jesus. After a difficult season of feeling grieved and starved for validation, God did a deep work in Christine's heart. She began to recognize false allegiances that were keeping her from experiencing the peace and joy of living with a whole-hearted devotion to Christ.
It can be so easy to get caught up in self-reliance or seeking the approval of people and neglect our call to "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness" (Matthew 6:33). But only Jesus deserves our allegiance and He alone satisfies! { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
The Kingdom of God is past, present and future Jesus came and established the Kingdom of God The Church is presently the Kingdom of God We look forward with anticipation to the Kingdom of God that is to come The primary allegiance that pulls us away from Christ is self We have an internal war with our flesh that tempts us to rely only on ourselves "There is a throne in every kingdom of our heart" - Ray Stedman We have to identify the false kings in our lives (anxiety, approval, comfort, etc..) When there is bad fruit being produced in your life, trace it back to a false allegiance When you recognize a false allegiance, repent and turn to Jesus Our false allegiances affect others negatively as well God will allow things to be shaken to reveal our weak places and give us the unshakable Kingdom of God Until we determine that Christ is Lord of all, everything can be shaken King Escape is the ruler of this modern age Rather than escape into distraction, allow God the space to speak "Loneliness is sometimes God's call to aloneness with us" Jeanne Mayo Kingdom work is bringing our hearts under the rule and reign of Jesus Rather than striving to do everything, take some time to wait and hear what God wants "They also serve, who only stand and wait" - John Milton The Kingdom of God is a corporate kingdom and is meant to be done together
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind. ~ Luke 10:27
Links from Show By Faith Podcast With All Your Heart: Living Joyfully Through Allegiance to King Jesus [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Christine Hoover Website |Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter Be Still Devotional Journal During troubled times like these, we all need God's peace...
I pray that this 7-day devotional helps you lay down fear and trust God more.
Featuring excerpts from At the Feet of Jesus, each entry takes you to Scripture and features simple exercises help you pour out your heart to the Lord. As you draw close to Him, Jesus will give you the peace you need.
Sign up for your Be Still: Finding Peace in Troubled Times Devotional Journal here
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Christine's interview?
“We can spend our whole lives being busy - or being purposeful" In this episode, Liz Bohannon, author of "Beginner's Pluck: Build Your Life of Purpose and Impact Now", shares how to live a life of integrity and courage to continually pursue the unique passions God places on our hearts.
Early on in her career, Liz felt convicted that her daily life and community did not line up with her passion to help women and girls living in extreme poverty and conflict zones. This conviction compelled her to buy a one-way ticket to Uganda and set her on the course to discovering what it means to live every day actively seeking God and relying on Him.
There are a lot of good dreams and priorities out there, but not all of them are a part of God's plan for you. Rather than trying to do and be everything you see in others, God wants to free you to be you and to live with confidence in His ability to use your life to impact others every day.
(Liz's passion to educate and empower women across the globe led her and her husband to start a socially conscious fashion brand, Sseko Designs. Be sure to check out their beautiful shop in the links below!) { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
True passion drives you beyond intellectual beliefs and strong opinions to action It is just as important to keep the promises we make to ourselves Bold promises push us to go further God doesn't ask us to take on anyone else's values, priorities or expectations "All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one" Matthew 5:37 Get alone with God and ask Him what is most important for your life, then act on it We cannot cheer others on well unless we are rooted and secure in our own God-given priorities Finding your passion has nothing to do with luck and everything to do with pluck Pluck is spirited and determined courage We don't find our passion and purpose; we build it one step at a time Building a life of purpose, passion and impact comes from seeking God and taking steps as He leads You don't have to be extraordinary to build a life of extraordinary impact Growth Mentality: When you recognize and accept that you are average and continue pressing forward When we accept being average, it makes more room for God to be BIG If you are paralyzed by a big vision, narrow it down to as small of a goal as you can The "work" we are called to do is simply understanding that we are already loved, forgiven, acceptable and good enough Jesus went before us so we don't need performance or perfection
There’s nothing I can do to make God love me less or more. I don’t have to hurry or worry Jesus settled the score. ~ Jefferson Bethke
Links from Show Book: Beginner's Pluck: Build Your Life of Purpose and Impact Now Sseko Designs Shop [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Liz Bohannon Website |Instagram | Facebook
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter Get Episode Updates! We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list, by applying in the form below, you'll be notified when new episodes air - and get a special gift for joining (among other things!)
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Liz's interview?
“There is not a cookie-cutter approach to women's ministry!” Are you a women's ministry leader or have a desire to see a thriving ministry for the women of your church?
There is nothing more powerful than women coming together around the name of Jesus - but we need to rethink women's ministry in order to reach the hearts of women today. And no one knows their hearts better than the God who loves them so much. The Holy Spirit wants to help us shape a ministry that changes women's lives.
Nobody understands this better than my friend, Cyndee Ownbey. She has devoted much of her life to ministering to women through her popular website, Women's Ministry Toolbox, and has recently published a book called, Rethinking Women's Ministry: Biblical, Practical Tools for Cultivating a Flourishing Community. Women long for connection and friends to grow beside and God wants to use the church to cultivate those relationships with each other and with Him.
In this episode, Cyndee walks us through the challenges and joys of women's ministry today and how we can keep it both current and purposeful. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
We have to prayerfully seek out God's heart and His desire for the women of our area Consider the unique demographic you are trying to reach Survey the women of your church and community to discover what their needs and availability are Incorporating all of the generations takes intentionality Find ways to create a mentoring culture between generations Take time to consider how your ministry affects women in all different stages of life Intentional icebreakers are a great way to create connection Use assigned seating at events or find ways to encourage ladies to engage with those they don't already know Don't try to do it alone; We are stronger with a team When we do everything ourselves, we rob others of the opportunity to use their gifts and experience personal growth and joy Stop and pray before you jump into any opportunity When creating a team:
Start with prayer Get advice from leadership Search for people with specific gifts to fill specific roles Invite them to prayerfully consider the opportunity
Use social media as a tool to engage your women outside of the church Honor people where they are and help them navigate forward Take small steps toward changing the culture
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. Ephesians 4:11-12
Links from Show Women's Ministry Toolbox Rethinking Women's Ministry: Biblical, Practical Tools for Cultivating a Flourishing Community Connect with Cindee Ownbey Website | Facebook | Pinterest| Instagram
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Get Episode Updates! We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list, by applying in the form below, you'll be notified when new episodes air - and get a special gift for joining (among other things!)
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Cindee's interview?
"Will you be faithful to serve God when you are still in the shadows?" In this episode, writer & host of The Christian Woman Leadership Podcast, Esther Littlefield, shares her journey of learning to trust God and lead with confidence.
Esther has always had a desire to lead women, but it didn't happen overnight. One of her biggest challenges was confidence. After looking in other directions for validation and confidence, she discovered it was only available in Christ. As she remained faithful to obey and serve God with whatever He placed in front of her, He eventually opened the door, both in the church and the business world, for her to lead women like she had always dreamed.
Whether you've always felt called to lead or have recently had it thrust upon you, God wants to equip and strengthen you for the work He has called you to! { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
We are all leading in some area (i.e. parenting, work, church, friendships) To discern where and how God wants you to lead: Pray and reflect on the areas you are most excited about or feel God uses you the most and ask how He wants to use you to lead in that area Act in response to God's direction Rather than trying to find God's will, “Watch to see where God is working and join Him” (Henry T Blackaby, Experiencing God) A closed door does not mean a broken dream; sometimes it just means "wait" "Closed doors are not rejection, they are direction" ~ Joanna Weaver Be faithful to do what God has in front of you right now and trust Him to show you the next steps "Deepen the message. Let God broaden the ministry" ~ Joanna Weaver God knows where and when we are ready to lead others; we will replicate what we are Confidence grows as we take small actions of faith and obedience Your worth has to come from God, not the role you feel called to Acknowledge the areas you feel insecure or lack confidence and take them to God Invite God into your fears and broken places Confidence in not about you; it is about the God who lives in you Look in God's Word for the truth of who He is and what He says about you The root of confidence is trust in God God wants to bring wholeness to every area of our lives, not just the ones we feel called to lead in True confidence and flourishing operates out of our close walk with the Lord
But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. ~ Jeremiah 17:7
Links from Show The Christian Woman Leadership Podcast Morningstar Media Services [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Esther Littlefield Website | Facebook| Instagram
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Get Episode Updates! We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list, by applying in the form below, you'll be notified when new episodes air - and get a special gift for joining (among other things!)
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Esther's interview?
"Parenting may be one of the hardest jobs, but it is so rewarding!" I've been looking forward to this discussion with with my adult kids, John Michael Weaver and Jessica Downs - but to be honest, I've been nervous! After all, I told them I wanted them to be honest about their upbringing as PKs (pastor's kids)...who knows what they might say?
It ended up being a precious conversation as we talked openly about what they found difficult in their growing up years as well as the things that worked. John and I definitely didn't do it perfect, but John Michael and Jessica identify some key things that helped them come to love Jesus - as well as His Church. Including the massive impact of a godly father who was the same in the pulpit as he was in our home.
Perhaps you raised your kids just like we did, but they've chosen not to follow the Lord. Perhaps you didn't have an idyllic childhood or a father (or church) who consistently showed you the love of Jesus. I want to invite you to bring your pain to the Lord this Father's Day and allow Him to heal your heart.
Though we can't go back and change history, God wants to write a new story in our hearts. In our families. In our churches. And even in our world! { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
We'll be discussing... Embrace Family Boundaries (Heart over Rules)
Teach your kids how to recognize God's conviction and to live counter-culturally Establish boundaries and who you want to be as a family Resist putting pressure on your kids to be perfect "Jesus is more concerned about how we treat the people He created and died for then our personal righteousness" ~John Michael (ref. our righteous acts are like filthy rags Isaiah 64:6) Try to help them understand the importance of their hearts versus legalistically following rules Distinguish between doctrine and personal convictions Trust the Holy Spirit to lead and guide your children into their own personal convictions Remember, "God gave you your children...not to rule but to guide" - Julie Olson Lindemuth
Cultivate an Atmosphere to Personally Encounter Jesus
Demonstrate a love for the Church, God's people and His mission Reinforce that your children have a unique, God-given purpose and calling Help them engage in the life of the church and find their place to serve and grow Make Jesus a part of everything (i.e. school, work, discipline, sports) Be the same person at church, at home and everywhere else Be humble and honest about your own shortcomings and quick to ask for forgiveness Invest in as many opportunities as possible so kids can personally encounter Jesus (church camps, conventions, etc...) Be available to them in the good and bad, exciting and mundane, ups and downs of life Love your spouse well in front of your kids
Create a Church Environment that Kids Enjoy
Become an active part in a church that values kids and youth Allow church leaders, teachers and Christian adults to connect with your kids and speak into their lives Surround them with friends and families who are like-minded Give children & youth opportunities to memorize God's Word and instill His truth into their hearts Encourage mentorship and create moments where other godly people can affirm your kids - Bar/Bat Barack Don't underestimate your role in the lives of other children and teens in your church Talk positively about the church to your kids
Even if you weren't raised in a healthy Christian home, it's not too late to create your own with the Holy Spirit's help.
Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. ~Proverbs 22:6 My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. ~2 Corinthians 12:9
Additional Resources Parenting Episode - 033: Mama Bear Apologetics with Hillary Morgan Ferrer | The Living Room
“What if all God created you to do was to live a simple life of loving Him?” In part one, my dear friend and best-selling author, Robin Gunn, spoke to how we can live out our call by sharing her personal journey of growing in confidence. As we keep our eyes on God, He wants to give us the ability to trust His power at work in our lives and His ability to accomplish His purposes.
In this episode, Robin continues the conversation by addressing the myths associated with pursuing our dreams and living out our call. With the expansion of opportunities there can be a lot of pressure on women today to discover their purpose, fulfill big dreams and make their mark on the world. Rather than live in fear that we will miss God's amazing plan for our lives, God wants to free us to simply walk hand in hand with Him every day. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
Show up and do what is in front of you Be prepared for obstacles and trials along the way Continue walking in faith even when you can't see the bigger purpose Accept what God has in mind for your life, rather than trying to fulfill the expectations and dreams of other people When we walk with God every day, we don't have to be afraid of missing His will God walks beside us in all the ups and downs of life, because He knows we need a journey Jesus had 30 years of obscurity, Moses was exiled for 40 years, and Joseph was confined by the pit and prison all before their most impactful ministry years We keep wanting the final product, but God uses the process We have to trust that our Good Father knows how and when to set us up for true success The deep work God does in us is more important than the broad influence He entrusts to us Continually ask God for wisdom - that's your compass Make yourself available to God and walk in obedience today
Godliness with contentment is great gain. ~ 1 Timothy 6:6
Links from Show Previous Episode 034: Living Out Your Call Part 1 with Robin Jones Gunn | The Living Room Finding Father Christmas Series Becoming Us: A Novel (Haven Makers Book 1) Being Known: A Novel (Haven Makers Book 2) Video Joanna referenced [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Robin Jones Gunn Website | Facebook | Instagram| Twitter
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Get Episode Updates! We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list, by applying in the form below, you'll be notified when new episodes air - and get a special gift for joining (among other things!)
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Robin's interview?
“True confidence is found in Christ alone!” In this episode, my dear friend and best-selling author, Robin Gunn, shares her personal journey of growing in confidence. Robin is the author of nearly 100 books and in many ways has become a mother of the faith to this generation of women through her faith-filled stories that depict real life struggles and situations.
As an author and a person of faith, she has had to learn to rely on God's empowerment to fulfill His calling on her life. When we look to our abilities we will always come up short, but when we choose to accept that the One who calls us is also the One who both equips us and determines the outcome, then we can have confidence that His purposes will be accomplished. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
Our job is to walk in faith and obedience and trust God with the results Blessings always come inside obedience God puts boundaries on our lives to truly set us free Your confidence in God and His ability to work through you grows as you step out in faith more When we recognize a gift or calling from God in our lives, we have to rely on Him to make it possible Apart from God we can do nothing (John 15:15), but we can do all things through Christ (Phil 4:13) In Creation, God only made one part at a time and He still called it "good" Guilt does not bring the life and change that God desires for us Have faith that what needs to get done will get done and trust God with the rest King David did not get to build the temple but He still fulfilled the purposes of God in His time (Acts 13:36) God wants to give you confidence to do only what He is putting before you, rather than taking on the expectations of others Be willing to dream a dream that may not be fulfilled in your generation Be faithful to do whatever part God has placed in front of you in His strength
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 1:6
Links from Show Christy Miller Series Becoming Us: A Novel (Haven Makers Book 1) Being Known: A Novel (Haven Makers Book 2) Spoken For: Embracing Who You Are and Whose You Are [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Robin Jones Gunn Website | Facebook | Instagram| Twitter
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Get Episode Updates! We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list, by applying in the form below, you'll be notified when new episodes air - and get a special gift for joining (among other things!)
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Robin's interview?
“Every Christian needs to understand why they believe what they believe!” Moms, we've all experienced a time when our little one is about to get bulldozed on the playground and that "mama bear" protective instinct kicks in. What if we were that protective over the hearts and minds of our children, determined to give them every tool necessary to fight the influx of false ideas and come out standing on a strong foundation? In a culture that is constantly changing, we have been given this responsibility of teaching our kids how to form their beliefs about what is true and what is false. God is calling us to stop standing idly by and instead "Let [our] reasonableness be known to everyone" because "the Lord is at hand!" (Philippians 4:5 ESV).
In this episode, Hillary Morgan Ferrer, founder of Mama Bear Apologetics, shares how we can intentionally build a moral foundation for our kids. When we know what Scripture says, we can more easily identify when it is being misused and share God's truth in love. Hillary's new book, Mama Bear Apologetics™: Empowering Your Kids to Challenge Cultural Lies, breaks down the lies that are perpetrating our culture and how the Bible refutes each one. The good news is we don't have to know everything to begin building this kind of foundation our kids can stand on. God wants to help you, my friend! { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
Apologetics: to give an offense or reason for something The Bible is not just authoritative; it is proven, reasonable and true Good apologetics separates the people from the ideas; demolishing ideas, not people Try to build bridges of agreement before dismantling false ideas and areas of disagreement The Mama Bear doesn't hate other ideas as much as she loves her children Emotionalism (the more I feel something the more true it is) is a dangerous theology The enemy does not want you to be reasoned and informed with the truth Our kids need to know why the Bible is trustworthy and worth suffering for Culture today assigns false definitions to God's morals (e.g. just, love) Pray for your kids to have a personal encounter with Jesus Seek to give your children tools for Biblical thinking, rather than make everything black and white without reasoning Make room for your kids to ask questions Be the first to address objections to Christianity with your kids and how to refute them You don't have to understand everything at once; it's ok to take information in bite sizes Learn your kids' personality types and identify how you can best help them understand and experience God Teach the "thinker" that God is noble and that there is enough influence to reveal He exists and He is good Teach the "feeler" that God is transformative and trustworthy Teach the "doer" that God moves and acts, often through us, and get them involved in projects that show radical transformation
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy,which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. ~ Colossians 2:8 NIV
Links from Show Book: Mama Bear Apologetics™: Empowering Your Kids to Challenge Cultural Lies Mama Bear Apologetics Podcast Global Prison Seminaries Foundation [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Mama Bear Apologetics Website | Facebook| Instagram | Twitter
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"If God doesn't keep His emotions from me, why am I working so hard to hide mine from Him?" Do you ever feel stuck in your hurt or labeled by the pain of your past? In this episode, international speaker and author, Esther Fleece Allen, shares from her books No More Faking Fine: Ending the Pretending and Your New Name: Saying Goodbye to the Labels That Limit. After a long season of silencing her pain, Esther discovered the healing and intimacy with God that takes place when we turn to Him and honestly voice our hurt from hardships and disappointments. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show NO MORE FAKING FINE: Ending the Pretending
We're told to "fake it until you make it" - but that's nowhere in scripture. Scripture is full of laments - people pouring out their hurt and hearts honestly before God. God wants your "sad" - Let God heal your memories and speak truth to the lies. Lies can become our belief systems. We have to challenge our thinking and habits with the truth of God's Word. Jeremiah was the weeping prophet, Paul had a ministry of tears, Jesus wept, and the Holy Spirit grieves. The enemy makes us feel like we will always be stuck in our lamenting, but God promises to lead us through it. Healing can take time, but it is worth persevering and pursuing God in the midst of our pain. Your lament won't be your final song - God gives us a new song when we seek Him during times of despair or distress (Psalm 40)
YOUR NEW NAME: Saying Goodbye to the Labels That Limit
We cannot allow our circumstances, hurt or feelings to label us. God gives new names: Jacob to Israel, Abram and Sarai become Abraham and Sarah. Jesus comes to give us a new name, a new covenant. He makes us a new creation and gives us a new spirit, a new heart. Be kind to yourself and give the Holy Spirit time to work in you. Naomi (sweet) named herself Mara (bitter). Don't rename yourself too soon! Live out of your new name! Jesus is our Redeemer - He redeems everything that touches our lives. Jesus is collecting your tears in a bottle (Psalm 56:8) - He is with you and wants to meet you in your pain.
My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise. ~ Psalm 51:17 As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning and noon. I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. ~ Psalm 55:16-17
Links from Show No More Faking Fine: Ending the Pretending Your New Name: Saying Goodbye to the Labels That Limit [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Esther Fleece Allen Website | Facebook| Instagram
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
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I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Esther's interview?
“Fear is not a sign that you should not do something!” Are you feeling stuck or paralyzed by fear? In this episode, business coach and the author of Fear Is Not the Boss of You: How to Get Out of Your Head and Live the Life You Were Made For, Jennifer Allwood, shares how we can courageously take one step after the other. An early desire to decorate houses turned into a career of encouraging and motivating women to show up for their lives without feelings of guilt, fear or being overwhelmed.
We all desire to feel confident, but confidence begins with courage and obedience. When you give your life and dreams over to God, He will free you to walk in boldness and partner with Him every day to experience His abundant life. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
Our brain cannot always differentiate between logical and illogical fears Everybody wants to feel confident, but confidence starts with courage and obedience We need confidence in our Creator, not in ourselves When something feels bad or difficult, it doesn't always mean it is bad for us We cannot put our feelings over obedience God is calling us to walk in obedience and to simply keep showing up God will always resource us to do what He is asking us to do We all deal with different fears: fear of failure, fear of success, fear of what other people think, etc... Imposter syndrome: Feeling like a fraud when you compare yourself to others We are not defined or validated by titles; Our value is found in being God's child It takes a humble confidence to recognize the gifts and talents God has given us When we give our hearts to Christ, we also give up the right to control our lives It can bring comfort to know God is in charge when we know how good He is God's will is not as narrow and difficult as we think at times Put action to your faith - start down a path and trust God to guide you along the way God is not going to let you deter from His will without letting you know God allows us to make some of our own decisions because He wants us to mature and become more like Him in the process
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9
Links from Show Fear Is Not the Boss of You: How to Get Out of Your Head and Live the Life You Were Made For The Jennifer Allwood Show Be Still - Devotional Journal One Thing Monday Archive (YouTube) [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Jennifer Allwood Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
ONE THING MONDAYS The Lord has been laying some important things on my heart to share with you and, if they resonate with you, to be shared by you. You can access the videos at:
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I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Jennifer's interview?
"God can take everything the enemy intended for evil and use it for your good!" Have you ever felt added pressure on your marriage from a circumstance completely out of your control? Challenges like infidelity, financial upheaval, rebellious children, or a traumatic accident can shape and influence our marriages dramatically.
In this episode, bestselling author and international speaker, Carol Kent, shares from her newest book, Staying Power: Building a Stronger Marriage When Life Sends Its Worst. Carol and her husband, Gene, have walked through difficult seasons together as they faced the initial shock and acceptance of the permanent incarceration of their only son. They partnered in writing this powerful book with Dave and Cindy Lambert, who have experienced heartaches of their own, to provide practical insight and wisdom for all couples to withstand the inevitable stressors and outside circumstances that too often weaken or destroy marriages.
If your marriage is currently undergoing great hardship, you are looking for ways to strengthen your marriage or you are just stepping into marriage, this is for you! { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
All of the answers to today's problems are found in the Word of God Bad things will happen because we live in a fallen world - We will not be completely free of stress, pain and suffering until we get to Heaven Staying power is the commitment to stay connected to God's Word and to our spouse in difficult times When tragedy strikes we have the opportunity to allow the situation to become a platform to glorify God and His Kingdom When you are in the middle of suffering, look for ways to serve and bless someone and you will experience joy Make pre-decisions: Before suffering strikes choose to respect and listen to your spouse and serve them sacrificially no matter what Practice automatic forgiveness: Remind yourself that your spouse loves you and has good intentions towards you so you can be quick to forgive him Control your tongue: Intentionally find ways to uplift, encourage and affirm your spouse Agree to disagree: Each spouse will process and respond to hardships and tragedies in a different way Time-outs: Allow yourself and your spouse to take a break from all the decisions and heaviness Be willing to accept help from other people Decision making is hard in marriage, but every day is full of the need to make important decisions 10-second rule: "Just do the next thing you are reasonably certain Jesus wants you to do and commit to it immediately in the next ten seconds before you change your mind" - Clare De Graaf Evaluate, meditate on God's Word, discuss it with your spouse and move forward with a decision Relinquish your expectations to God and allow Him to give purpose to your pain and joy to your heart Forgiveness does not negate the wrong done to you, but it sets you free from bitterness and anger to walk in joy and love God can take everything the enemy intended for evil and use it for your good
She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. ~ Proverbs 31:12
Links from Show New Book: Staying Power: Building a Stronger Marriage When Life Sends Its Worst Previous Book: When I Lay My Isaac Down: Unshakable Faith in Unthinkable Circumstances Speak Up Ministries Speak Up For Hope [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Carol Kent Website | Facebook| Instagram | Twitter
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
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I'd love to hear from you...
“You are loved no matter your past experiences or mistakes!” Have you ever felt the pressure to uphold a certain image? Many of us have learned how to pretend and perform in front of others, wearing a mask and living a life we were never created to live. We can be so afraid to admit our brokenness and allow others in, but that is exactly where God wants to bring healing.
In this episode, Ashley Abercrombie, author of Rise of the Truth Teller: Own Your Story, Tell it Like it is, and Live with Holy Gumption, shares her story of learning to live out loud, allowing others to share in her story and to be real with her as well. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
"There is not greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you" - Maya Angelou As we share our stories, we give people permission to share theirs as well. As we pursue wholeness over perfection, we discover we don't have to pretend and perform. We don't have to lie to live. We can be loved even though we've made mistakes and in spite of the things that have happened to us. Living bound by hatred and unforgiveness only leads to shame. God wants to help us break free and experience His life-altering grace. Give yourself permission to:
Admit to God that you're broken Own the fact that you're not perfect Suspend judgment about yourself and others Receive God's grace
If we are not changing, we are not becoming like Jesus. "I don't have to find myself, I can allow God to reveal what He's always had in mind." ~ Joanna Don't create yourself in your own image - let God make you into the image of Christ. Ask: God, what do you want to deal with? Listen: God's leading via internal impressions, Scripture, faith community, service, solitude, worship, and prayer. We are not free agents, we are part of a community. The Lord knows exactly where you are. He knows exactly what you have and what you need. Living with Holy Gumption is not contingent on what you have or don't have. It's found in knowing you are uniquely created to be right where you are - you have something to give to the world!
Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. ~ Matthew 10:39
Links from Show Rise of the Truth Teller: Own Your Story, Tell it Like it is, and Live with Holy Gumption Why Tho Podcast Previous Blog Post: The Practical Power of "One Thing" [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Ashley Abercrombie Website | Facebook | Instagram| Twitter
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
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I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Ashley's interview?
“There is beauty in every step when you just keep walking with Jesus!” In this episode, my friend and the author of She Believes: Embracing the Life You Were Created to Live, Debbie Lindell, shares about her journey of learning to seek God and rely on His truth and power.
Debbie and her husband, John, knew early on in their marriage that God was calling them into pastoral ministry, but she struggled to believe that she had what it took to lead others. Currently, God has positioned them as lead pastors of a large church and ministries that are making a global impact. Debbie discovered along the way that it is not enough to know or even understand the truth of God's Word, we have to embrace it for ourselves.
For nothing is impossible when we choose to believe that God can use us to accomplish His purposes through His power. God wants you to embrace the truth of who He created you to be so that you can represent Him to the world around you. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
The enemy wants us to doubt God's truth about who we are We have to believe that God can use us and then rely completely on His power If we rely only on ourselves, we will never see the supernatural power of God manifested in our lives Get alone with Jesus so He can speak His truth and direction into your heart God specializes in changing hearts When we choose obedience, it gives God access to change our hearts If we'll give God our time, He can transform our faulty thinking God longs for His children to look to Him first and He never fails to respond When we commit ourselves to God, He will work in His timing and His ways (Psalm 37:5) As the bride of Christ, we are invited into an intimate relationship with God which requires intentionality The more time you spend with God, the more you begin to hear and understand Him God speaks to us in many different ways when we are actively listening Our responsibility is to seek God with all of our hearts; it is up to Him to speak to us how He desires Prayer is the baseline for understanding who God is and what He can do in and through us
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. ~ John 10:10
Links from Show She Believes: Embracing the Life You Were Created to Live She Prays: A 31-Day Journey to Confident Conversations with God Designed For Life Conference 2020 [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Debbie Lindell Website |Instagram | Facebook
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Don't Miss the Giveaway! Be sure to visit my FACEBOOK page and/or Instagram page to enter to win both of Debbie's books, She Believes: Embracing the Life You Were Created to Live and She Prays: A 31-Day Journey to Confident Conversations with God.
Once you're at either page, find the giveaway graphic and follow these instructions: 1. LIKE Instagram pagemy Facebook page (1 entry) 2. LIKE and Follow my Instagram page (1 entry) 3. TAG a few friends in the comments below the giveaway post at either page. Each tag is a new entry!
Giveaway runs through March 17th and the winner will be announced under the original post the next day. Get Episode Updates! We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list, by applying in the form below, you'll be notified when new episodes air - and get a special gift for joining (among other things!)
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Debbie's interview?
"What if we stopped saying, 'Lord, change him' and started praying, 'Lord, change me'?" If you're like me, you may have entered into marriage with some false expectations and even found yourself thinking "he's not the man I married!"
In this episode, my husband, John and I talk about embracing our differences rather than resenting them. As we begin to recognize and appreciate our spouse for who they are rather than trying to fit them into our mold and expectations, it frees both of us to become all God has created us to be.
Let's choose to love each other fully, not for who we think the other person ought to be, but for who they are! { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
We'll be discussing...
Embrace your differences as a gift rather than an issue We often expect our spouse will be like us or like our parent The way we want to be loved is not always the way our spouse wants to be loved Look for ways to work together on household chores rather than expect your spouse to do certain tasks a certain way Communicate your expectations to one another and be willing to listen and adjust Accept and love your spouse where he or she is rather than try to fix them Don't allow the seed of discontent and disillusionment to destroy your love for your spouse Practice asking your spouse "What can I do to help you?" "God hasn't called us to be successful, He's called us to be faithful!" ~ Mother Teresa Make room for each other's opinions Proverbs encourages us to seek the counsel of others and this includes our spouse (Proverbs 11:14, 15:22, 24:6) Mutual Submission - when you don't agree on a decision, choose to wait and go to prayer God created woman as helper/helpmeet, meaning "one who gives an answer" (Genesis 2:18) Women, your opinions matter and can give great counsel, but were never meant to rule your husband Become a student of your spouse and learn how to love them best
Balancing Marriage, Family and Ministry
Make room for your spouse to have a personal walk with Jesus When you intentionally love God with all your heart first, you'll have love for your spouse, kids and the church Ministry follows family Be fully present wherever you are (church, home, etc...) You are never called to ministry at the expense of your family Be the same person everywhere you go Set your personal and family priorities, being careful not to overcommit to too many activities There will be seasons where ministry will require extra and that is ok, but don't allow that to be the norm
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. ~ Ephesians 5:21-25
Additional Resources 016: Choosing to Forgive | The Living Room 025: The Gospel-Centered Enneagram with Beth McCord | The Living Room 026: The Art of Becoming Us with Beth McCord | The Living Room Becoming Us: Using the Enneagram to Create a Thriving Gospel-Centered Marriage by Beth McCord Having a Mary Spirit: Allowing God to Change Us From the Inside Out TDF Inventory - Cognitive Process - (I think is the test we took) Previous Blog: The Gift of Marriage
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“The way you view life is not the only way!” In the previous episode, Beth McCord, founder of Your Enneagram Coach, shared the core motivators behind each of the nine Enneagram personality types from a Biblical perspective. Each personality is God-given and designed with longings that only He can fill.
In this episode, Beth shares from her new book, Becoming Us: Using the Enneagram to Create a Thriving Gospel-Centered Marriage. Every marriage represents two personalities who have to learn to value each other and work together. Understanding the different personality types can help us to better love and value all people, especially our spouse.
Be sure to check out Beth's tips at the bottom for how to love and support each personality type in a way that understands his unique perspective and points him to Christ! { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
Understanding our spouse's Enneagram type helps us to walk beside and support them Understanding our own Enneagram type helps us to own our faults and grow to become more like Christ God uniquely created each individual and each personality type When we become aware of our type and the types of others we can better love, understand and value people “It takes a lifetime to really, truly know someone, so always strive to be a student of your spouse." (Eye2eyemarriage) Every personality type brings value and reflects God to the world No combination of personality types is better or worse for a marriage The key to every personality type is being aligned with the truth of the gospel Christ is the only Spring of Living Water who can quench your thirst The more you drink from the Source, you will be changed and see your relationship change God promises to renew us every day as we continually surrender and depend on Him Begin to accept your spouse, rather than always expect certain things from him
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. ~ Romans 15:7
CLICK HERE to print Graphic PDF
Links from Show Previous Episode: 025: The Gospel-Centered Enneagram with Beth McCord | The Living Room Beth's Book: Becoming Us: Using the Enneagram to Create a Thriving Gospel-Centered Marriage Free ENNEAGRAM Assessment Free Download: Core Motivations Free Download: Mistyping Guide Exploring You Course Becoming Us Marriage Course [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Beth McCord Website | Facebook| Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
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Win Beth's Book & Discovering You Course! Be sure to check out the contest that has been running on my FACEBOOK page and enter to win a copy of Beth's new book, Becoming Us: Using the Enneagram to Create a Thriving Gospel-Centered Marriage, as well as her “Discovering You” course filled with tools to help you understand the nine Ennegram types and nail down your own number. Here is a direct link to the GIVEAWAY post with all the instructions. Once you're there, be sure to:
- LIKE my Facebook page
- SHARE the GIVEAWAY post on your page
- TAG a few friends in the comments below the GIVEAWAY post. Each tag is a new entry!
Giveaway runs through February 25th at midnight and the winner will be announced under the original post the next day. Get Episode Updates! We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list, by applying in the form below, you'll be notified when new episodes air - and get a special gift for joining (among other things!)
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Beth's interview?
“God's Word speaks to the core longing of your heart!” In this episode, Beth McCord, founder of Your Enneagram Coach, breaks down the deep truths of the Enneagram from a Biblical perspective.
Rather than using this personality assessment as a sword meant to harm others or as a shield used to protect ourselves, the Enneagram serves as an x-ray that reveals underlying truths in our lives. God created each person uniquely on purpose. When we understand our God-given uniqueness and continually align ourselves with the truth of His Word, we can live with a deeper sense of purpose and appreciation of others.
(Don't miss the BIG GIVEAWAY opportunity at the end!) { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
Just like everything else in life, we have to filter the Enneagram through the truth of the gospel The Enneagram is a personal growth tool that helps us understand why we think and feel certain ways Every personality type has core motivations: fears, desires, weaknesses and longings The Enneagram can help you identify patterns that get you off course so you can get back in alignment with the gospel and who God created you to be With clarity provided by the Ennegram, we can own our shortcomings, ask for forgiveness and walk in the power of the Spirit We cannot save or change ourselves - our job is to trust God and walk in obedience to the Spirit as He works in our lives God designed each of us uniquely on purpose and He does not make mistakes In Christ, our relationship status never changes We become misaligned when our minds and hearts wander from believing any of God's truths If we are being led by our core longings alone, we won't become all that God wants us to be The progression of an idol is desire, demand, judge, and punish God's Word holds the answers to the longings of our hearts There is no right or wrong, better or worse personality types When we become aware of our type and the types of others we can better love, understand and value people
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 1:6
Links from Show Beth's Book: Becoming Us: Using the Enneagram to Create a Thriving Gospel-Centered Marriage Free Enneagram Assessment Mistypes: Deciding Between Enneagram Types Enneagram Core Motivations PDF Joanna's Book: Having a Mary Spirit: Allowing God to Change Us from the Inside Out [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] BIG GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY Be sure to visit my FACEBOOK page and enter to win a copy of Beth's new book, Becoming Us: Using the Enneagram to Create a Thriving Gospel-Centered Marriage, as well as her “Discovering You” course filled with tools to help you understand the nine Ennegram types and nail down your own number.
Once you're at my page, here's how to enter: 1. LIKE my Facebook page 2. Find the post with the giveaway graphic and SHARE it on your page 3. TAG a few friends in the comments below the giveaway post. Each tag is a new entry!
Giveaway runs through February 25th at midnight and the winner will be announced under the original post the next day. Connect with Beth McCord Website | Facebook| Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Get Episode Updates! We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list, by applying in the form below, you'll be notified when new episodes air - and get a special gift for joining (among other things!)
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Beth's interview?
“Is the life you lead the life that longs to live in you?” In this episode, national speaker and bestselling author, Rebekah Lyons, shares from her newest book, Rhythms of Renewal: Trading Stress and Anxiety for a Life of Peace and Purpose. Having dealt with several unexpected life changes, Rebekah discovered that life often throws curveballs we never planned for. But these curveballs do not have to derail our lives or steal our peace.
It is in the midst of our pain that we often encounter the deep love of Jesus. Rebekah shares ways we can function within the rhythms God established for us, and through doing so, discover our God-given purpose and the true peace and rest He offers for our souls.
(If you have kids with special needs, I think you're really going to enjoy our discussion at the end.) { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
Your environment doesn't have to determine your peace Relapses remind us of our frailty and our need for God every day Rest and Restore are input rhythms that God pours into our lives when we partner with Him Connect and Create are output rhythms that God designed us to experience for our good and His purposes You cannot give what you have not received The effectiveness of our creativity is dependent upon our ability to rest We are invited to pour out our hearts to God rather than stuff everything in God is a holistic God who dwells in every area of our lives and wants to help us become whole When we offer our worst to God, He offers His best in return - His righteousness, grace and love that covers it all Our diet greatly influences our mental health and God wants to partner with us in our health journey God's boundaries are a part of His offer for intimacy with us "Your spouse and your children are irritants. They refine you and show you who you really are." - Dr. Emerson Eggerichs As we say "yes" to Jesus, His grace is released to enable us to do what we could never do on our own God wants to meet you in the midst of your pain and He never withholds the daily portion that you need
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? 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 MSG
Links from Show Rhythms of Renewal: Trading Stress and Anxiety for a Life of Peace and Purpose Healthy Rhythms Quiz Love & Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Episodes You Might Enjoy TLR 001: Living Fully Alive with Susie Larson TLR 018: The Relentless Presence of God with Michele Cushatt TLR 023: Four Ways to Move Forward Connect with Rebekah Lyons Website |Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter Move Forward With Confidence If you feel stuck or just need a little clarity as to how to move forward in 2020, this simple "MOVING FORWARD" worksheet may help. (Designed to complement the "DECADE IN REVIEW" worksheets.)
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Rebekah's interview?
"It's time to let go of the past so we can move forward into the future!" Do you feel stuck? Are you in need of some forward movement, but can't figure out where to begin?
In today's episode, I share four ways you can partner with God to move forward in your life. It's a great exercise for the beginning of the year, but it's useful for any season you are in. Sign up to receive a FREE set of "MOVING FORWARD" Planning Sheets - designed to help you get moving toward the life God has for you. GET YOUR FREE PLANNING SHEETS While looking at the past helps us recognize God's faithfulness and the ways we've grown, you and I were never meant to stay there. God is calling us to move forward with Him. He knows where He wants to take you, my friend. As you put your hand in the hand of Jesus, He'll take you there. We'll be discussing...
As we look back with gratitude, we can look forward with confidence The past has the potential to leave us with regret, unmet longing, resignment or resentment, but learn from the lessons and leave the rest behind
Let the past sleep, but let it sleep on the bosom of Christ. Leave the Irreparable Past in His hands, and step out into the Irresistible Future with Him. - Oswald Chambers Click To Tweet
God can take the hurt from our past and turn it into good (Romans 8:28) You can't change anything about your past – but you can definitely change your future God took hold of you to reconcile you fully to Himself, make you more like Jesus, use you in His Kingdom and help you glorify Him If you have habits to break - “Don’t quit quitting” If you have habits to make - “Don’t quit trying” TRY+UMPH=Triumph
The grace of God that saved you is the grace of God that changes you - Joanna WeaverClick To Tweet
"To this end I labor, struggling with all HIS ENERGY which so powerfully works in me." (Colossians 1:29) God is not setting you up to fail. Fully engage and make yourself available to God - He will give you the strength you need Keep your eyes on Jesus and the finish line - Our ultimate goal is heaven & eternity "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect." (1 Corinthians 15:10)
GET YOUR FREE PLANNING SHEETS
Four Ways to Move Forward
Let go of the past Be persistent & expectant Cooperate with God's grace Keep your eyes on Jesus
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 3:12-14
Move Forward With Confidence If you feel stuck or just need a little clarity as to how to move forward in 2020, this simple "MOVING FORWARD" worksheet may help. (Designed to complement the "DECADE IN REVIEW" worksheets.)
Additional Resources "DECADE IN REVIEW" episode & FREE worksheets 002: The Incredible Power of Grace | The Living Room 016: Choosing to Forgive | The Living Room 019: Cultivating an Unoffendable Heart | The Living Room My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
StoryTellers Conference Perhaps one of your goals in 2020 is to start or continue writing. If you'd like some tips and tools, you won't want to miss the StoryTellers Conference. There are ten authors and writing coaches ready to help you add skills to your writing toolbox. My teaching topic is: "Telling Biblical Stories with a Modern-Day Application.” Just like the FlourishWriters Conference last year, this is a VIRTUAL CONFERENCE where you can access the interviews and material for FREE anytime between January 20-25 (unlimited access available by purchase).
“The core of our heart can be gratitude or grumbling!” Grumbling can become a way of life. In a culture where more is better and instant gratification is valued, we must decide whether or not we will succumb to grumbling and complaining or recognize our blessed life.
In this episode, my friend and the author of The Grumble-Free Year: Twelve Months, Eleven Family Members, and One Impossible Goal, Tricia Goyer, shares her family's journey of removing grumbling from their lives. They discovered that every failed plan, unmet expectation, comparison and desire for more is truly an opportunity to look to God and experience His peace. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
We naturally want ease and instant gratification which sets us up for discontentment. Whether it is loud or quiet, obvious or discrete, we all have a grumble style. The desire for more makes us forget what we already have. Comparison always results in grumbling. Grumbling focuses on the problem rather than a solution. Every time something doesn't go the way we planned, we have an opportunity to grumble or give thanks. Pause and invite God into the situation rather than rushing to complain. Take time in God's presence to evaluate what is at the root of your grumbling and discontentment. Only God can change our hearts. Pray for His Spirit to work in you to bring His fruit. Help your kids get in touch with Jesus, rather than focusing on altering their behavior. Our words are powerful. How we talk and behave is linked to our testimony and influence for Christ. Every time you are tempted to grumble, turn to God and thank Him for what He has done in your life. Intentionally notice and praise your kids when they are doing something well.
"Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, 'children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.' Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life." ~ Philippians 2:14-16
Links from Show Previous Episode: 014: Calming Angry Kids (and Moms!) with Tricia Goyer | The Living Room New Book: The Grumble-Free Year: Twelve Months, Eleven Family Members, and One Impossible Goal Sign Up: 30-Day Grumble-Free Challenge Book Club: The Grumble Free Year FB Course: Write That Book Book: Calming Angry Kids: Help and Hope for Parents in the Whirlwind [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Tricia Goyer Website | Facebook | Instagram
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Lots of Free Goodies! We're celebrating the new year with, not one, but TWO special offers! One helps you look back to see God's hand in your life over the past ten years. The second helps you move forward into 2020 with God's Word as your guide.
Personal Decade in Review - these FREE worksheets will help you look back so you can move forward into 2020 with fresh faith and clarity.
Word of God Speak 2020 - our yearly Bible reading challenge features a chapter a day. To get your FREE Bible reading journal,
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Tricia's interview?
"Sometimes the best way to look forward is to take time to look back..." GET YOUR FREE WORKSHEETS You've probably heard of a yearly review. A chance in December to look back at what worked, what didn't work and the things you learned along the way. But at the end of 2019, we are not only on the cusp of a new year, we are entering a brand new decade!
Too often we fail to see the progress we've made. If you're like me, you can get so caught up on how far you still have to go, that you miss out on how far you have come.
In this episode, I share practical tips and tools for how to do a "Decade in Review" - [LISTEN using the player at the top of the page]
Don't miss the downloadable worksheets designed to help you keep your eyes fixed on God as you acknowledge the struggles in the past decade, but also celebrate the wins. Let's move forward into the year 2020 with 20/20 vision. We'll be discussing...
"People tend to overestimate what can be done in one year and to underestimate what can be done in five or ten years.” - J.C.R Licklider Like the Israelites in Nehemiah 9:17, we easily forget the miracles God has done on our behalf Rather than focus on everything that's gone wrong, God can help us find the positive "Decade in Review" is not a self-assessment tool but a chance to see the highs and lows of life without judging them Looking back allows us to determine what we want to take with us and what we want to leave behind God is always with us, for us and working on our behalf
GET YOUR FREE WORKSHEETS PRACTICAL TIPS FOR DOING A "DECADE IN REVIEW"
Set aside some chunks of time when you can be alone and free of distractions Use old journals, calendars, planners, Christmas newsletters, social media posts and pictures to refresh your memory Invite the Holy Spirit to join you in this exercise and to remind you of His work in your life Think big picture - don't get lost in the details Look for ways God has worked and revealed Himself to you over the past decade Record any progress on goals and answers to prayer - no matter how small Determine what you want to take into the new decade and what you want to leave behind Give all of your past baggage to Jesus so you can move forward unhindered
People overestimate what can be done in one year, and underestimate what can be done in ten - JCR Licklider
Additional Resources 006: Cultivate What Matters with Lara Casey | The Living Room Sign up for "Word of God Speak 2020" Bible Reading Plan and Free Journal Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Free "Decade in Review" Worksheets To help you do a personal "Decade in Review," I've designed easy to use worksheets. Sign up and you'll automatically recieve a printable pdf. I suggest printing one-sided to provide extra room for brainstorming the last ten years.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ~ Philippians 3:12 Help Me Spread the News! Because I really believe in the value of this "Decade in Review," I'd love your help in getting the word out! Perhaps you have friends who'd enjoy it - or you'd like to do it with your family or small group. Just share the following link: www.JoannaWeaverBooks.com/decade. It will bring them to this page where they can sign up for their own set of worksheets. Help spread the word online by sharing from my social media platforms:
Instagram - leave a comment and tag some friends Facebook - share the post or tag some friends
Here are a couple of tweets if you're into TWITTER:
Sometimes we need to look back in order to move forward - Joanna Weaver Get your FREE personal Decade in Review @ bit.ly/JWdecadeClick To Tweet
Do you want 20-20 vision going into 2020? Get your FREE Decade in Review @ bit.ly/JWdecadeClick To Tweet
People overestimate what can be done in one year,
"The Bible is the story of God!" God wrote the Bible to reveal Himself to you. Whether you have spent years in His Word or are wondering where to begin, God has more to speak to you.
In this episode, Jen Wilkin, author and teacher of multiple Bible studies, encourages us to personally study the Bible with both our hearts and our minds. Jen shares how we, as Christian women, can keep our focus and sustain our passion when reading the Bible. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
There is a cost to every commitment we make. We are always weighing what is worth it. We all have different capacities and family lives which influences what God is calling us to in each season. What begins as a thought exercise in studying God's Word should move to our hearts. Thought Level Interaction: Coming to the Word expectant that thinking deeply and rightly about God will transform our desires and emotions so that they align with the truth of who God is. Desire Level Impact: The Holy Spirit dwelling in us takes the words of Scripture and uses them to reshape us. Reading a section of the Bible repetitively helps us to take in the underlying theme and purpose. The Bible reveals that God is both near and transcendent. Every part of the Bible is designed to tell us about God and His story, revealing who we are as His image bearers. The deeper we get into Scripture, the more we recognize how much more there is to learn. The Holy Spirit comes along side of us with His power as we study Scripture and He leads us into all truth. We have to look to God's all-sufficiency, rather than our own inability.
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
Links from Show Village Church Resources God of Creation Bible Study God of Covenant Bible Study The Holiness of God by RC Sproul Better: A Study of Hebrews - Leader Kit [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Jen Wilkin Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter The Living Room Community Looking for a community of Jesus-hearted women to learn and grow with? Each week over at my private Facebook group, we discuss the podcast episode and share tips for living, loving and leading like Jesus. 1. Go to PAGE and click "Join Group" 2. Answer ALL three questions - (mandatory!) 3. Once you're added, take a moment to introduce yourself on the "WELCOME" thread [Note: Because we want to protect against trolls and spammers, we will only add those who have answered ALL the questions, have a profile picture and have been on Facebook for more than three months.]
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Jen's interview?
"Imagine what kind of life we’d live if we had the unoffendable heart of Jesus!" Offenses are a part of living in a fallen world and have only gotten more prevalent. Matthew 24:10 teaches us that in the last days, "many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another." Opportunities to be offended will always be there, but we get to choose our response.
In this episode, we are invited to accept God's offer to no longer carry old offenses and new grudges with us into the next season. It's time for a new beginning. It's time to lay our pain and hurt in the arms of Jesus and receive His grace and power to live with an unoffendable heart. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
We'll be discussing...
Forgiveness and choosing not to be offended is very difficult on our own, but possible through Christ To forgive we need to acknowledge the hurt and ask God to help us, choose to release the person or situation to God and then refuse to take it back Forgiveness frees us to truly love people Rather than being critical and suspicious, an unoffendable heart allows us to enjoy healthy relationships "A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers.” ~ Ruth Bell Graham Forgiveness isn't a gift we give someone else as much as it is a gift we give ourselves Getting offended for someone else is dangerous because it not only infects our hearts but it spreads to others like a virus If we belong to God, we can trust that He will take care of us and make it right The world is hungry to see the kind of love talked about in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 in the lives of Christians
Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong. It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. If you love someone, you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him. ~1 Corinthians 13:4-7 TLB
8 Steps to Cultivating an Unoffendable Heart
Determine to be a good forgiver Refuse to over-react Seek first to understand – then to be understood Believe the best, not the worst Grace people, don’t shame people Refuse to pick up someone else’s offense Trust God to make it right Ask God to help you love people
Additional Resources 016: Choosing to Forgive | The Living Room Having a Mary Spirit: Allowing God to Change Us From the Inside Out
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Don't Miss an Episode! We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list, by applying in the form below, you'll be notified when new episodes air - and get a special gift for joining (among other things!)
The Living Room Community Looking for a community of Jesus-hearted women to learn and grow with? Each week over at my private Facebook group, we discuss the podcast episode and share tips for living, loving and leading like Jesus. 1. Go to Page and click "Join Group" 2. Answer ALL three questions - (mandatory!) 3. Once you're added, take a moment to introduce yourself on the "Welcome" thread [Note: Because we want to protect against trolls and spammers, we will only add those who have answered ALL the questions, have a profile picture and have been on Facebook for more than three months.]
And be sure to subscribe to "The Living Room" EMAIL LIST, and you'll be notified when episodes go live - plus extra goodies along the way!
I'd love to hear from you... What helps you to overcome an offense?
"The presence of pain does not equate to the absence of God!" Have you ever been so hurt that you've questioned God's reality, His goodness or whether or not you can trust Him? You are not alone.
In this episode, Michele Cushatt shares her personal struggle with faith after enduring almost two decades of unrelenting struggle with cancer, divorce, single parenting and step-parenting. It was out of this dark season that Michele wrote her newest book, Relentless: The Unshakable Presence of a God who Never Leaves.
No matter how hard we try to avoid pain, we will all experience suffering beyond our control. Whether you are facing health issues, broken dreams or relationships, betrayal or abandonment God wants to reveal Himself to you as the One who never leaves your side and never wastes your pain. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
In the American culture, we have developed a theology of comfort rather than accepting the Biblical theology of pain and suffering. Jesus warns us in John 16:33: "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." Be honest with God about your doubts and questions and then eagerly seek out the truth. God's goodness and glory is big enough to tolerate your questions, pain and suffering. Jesus' choice to willingly endure horrific pain on the cross on our behalf reminds us that He is good in the midst of our pain and suffering. There is a sacredness in sharing in Christ's suffering. God doesn't always interrupt or intervene, but He always redeems our pain! Don't wait until tragedy strikes to build your foundation on God's truth and presence. The Israelites never would have been able to access the 12 stones if they hadn't gone through the flood experience. Trauma is a natural part of the human condition, but Jesus came to bring His presence and healing. God had to redeem us in order to be with us. His desire was always relationship. We've got to make space for God to experience His presence. Prayer is not about performance, it's about presence. Record evidences of God's presence and goodness in your life so you can remain confident in the moments you don't feel Him.
But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 1 Peter 4:13
Links from Show Previous Episode: 005: Finding Our Identity with Michele Cushatt | The Living Room Michele's New Book: Relentless: The Unshakable Presence of a God who Never Leaves Michele's Book: Undone: A Story of Making Peace with an Unexpected Life The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Timothy Keller Walking with God through Pain and Suffering by Timothy Keller [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Michele Cushatt Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter The Living Room Community Looking for a community of Jesus-hearted women to learn and grow with? Each week over at my private Facebook group, we discuss the podcast episode and share tips for living, loving and leading like Jesus. 1. Go to PAGE and click "Join Group" 2. Answer ALL three questions - (mandatory!) 3. Once you're added, take a moment to introduce yourself on the "WELCOME" thread [Note: Because we want to protect against trolls and spammers, we will only add those who have answered ALL the questions, have a profile picture and have been on Facebook for more than three months.]
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Michele's interview?
"Self-sufficiency is not healthy Christianity!" In this episode, my friend and the founder of Well-Watered Women, Gretchen Saffles, shares about her unique ministry and her journey through great success and personal struggle.
Being a Christian does not exempt one from experiencing seasons of depression, drought or heartache. It is in those seasons that we learn to trust God and rely on the body of Christ. No matter what our unique calling is or the path God has placed before us, we need God and we need each other to walk it out. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
One person cannot be every part of the body of Christ. We were never meant to do life or ministry alone. There is so much value in recognizing the season we are in. "Just because you can doesn't mean you should" - GraceLaced Give people the gift of being themselves in their brokenness in front of you. Don't be ashamed to seek help from Christian counselors. Self-sufficiency is not healthy Christianity. The Holy Spirit is our Great Counselor, full of mercy and grace every day. He understands and He offers us hope. God uses prayer, community and counseling to help us break depression. Recognizing our limitations is a form of worship. God wants us to not only know His Word but to truly know Him!
Links from Show Well-Watered Woman Co. Well-Watered Life Podcast
BIG GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY Be sure to visit my FACEBOOK page and enter to win a SPECIAL BUNDLE (including a Give Me Jesus journal and some Word Before World Bible study accessories) from Gretchen's beautiful Well-Watered Woman Shop.
Once you're at my page, here's how to enter: 1. LIKE my Facebook page 2. Find the post with the giveaway graphic and SHARE it on your page 3. TAG a few friends in the comments below the giveaway post. Each tag is a new entry!
Giveaway runs through October 30th and the winner will be announced under the original post the next day. Connect with Gretchen Saffles Website | Instagram | Facebook
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter The Living Room Community Looking for a community of Jesus-hearted women to learn and grow with? Each week over at my private Facebook group, we discuss the podcast episode and share tips for living, loving and leading like Jesus. 1. Go to PAGE and click "Join Group" 2. Answer ALL three questions - (mandatory!) 3. Once you're added, take a moment to introduce yourself on the "WELCOME" thread [Note: Because we want to protect against trolls and spammers, we will only add those who have answered ALL the questions, have a profile picture and have been on Facebook for more than three months.]
Be sure to subscribe to "The Living Room" EMAIL LIST, and you'll be notified when episodes go live - plus extra goodies along the way!
I'd love to hear from you...What spoke most to you from Gretchen's interview?
"We are never more like Jesus than when we choose to forgive!" Forgiveness is the hardest thing we do, but it's also the most important. Jesus told us in Luke 17:1 that "it is impossible that no offenses should come." Offenses in life are inevitable, but it is our response that determines our peace and freedom. More than anyone, Jesus understands our hurt and He cares about our pain. But He also knows that mismanaged hurt will destroy our lives. Forgiveness is the only path to healing - and we don't have to do it alone. The Holy Spirit wants to help us. So whether you've been abused, violated, betrayed, abandoned, or slandered Jesus came to set you free! { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
We'll be discussing...
God takes forgiveness very seriously because He knows what it does to us. Holding on to unforgiveness can lead to physical issues, depression, inability to love, a critical spirit, and more. Unforgiveness is the "Bait of Satan," according to John Bevere. An unforgiving heart builds up walls that keep us from people and God. If left unchecked, hurt turns into resentment, an offended spirit and a hardened heart. Forgiveness does not mean what the other person did no longer matters. Forgiveness is resigning our position as judge, jury and executioner and handing it over to the only Righteous Judge. Do what it takes to build the bridge on your side and leave the rest up to God. Forgiveness is not a feeling, it is a choice! Jesus understands your hurt and He cares about your pain.
“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:14-15
Hammering Out Forgiveness
Take the situation to God and ask the Holy Spirit to help you forgive Acknowledge the hurt – name the person, specific wrong, and how it made you feel Choose to forgive (speak it out loud) and release the person/situation to God Allow the cross to cancel the sin – just as it has canceled yours Choose not to remember their sin against them (Hebrews 8:12) Repeat as many times as necessary Ask the Lord if it’s something you need to address with the other person and for the grace to do it without anger, self-pity or pride
HOW WILL YOU KNOW YOU HAVE FORGIVEN?
The sting will lessen and eventually disappear The person’s name will be safe on your tongue They will have safe passage through your mind You won’t drag old offenses into new ones You will be changed as you forgive
Additional Resources The Bait of Satan by John Bevere Having a Mary Spirit: Allowing God to Change Us From the Inside Out Victory Over Darkness by Neil Anderson
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
12 Steps to Forgiveness Many of us carry deep hurts that we've held on to for too long. Let's invite Jesus into our hurt and allow Him to change our hearts. SIGN UP to receive a FREE PRINTABLE of Neil Anderson's “12 Steps to Forgiveness” filled with practical actions to help you live in the freedom Christ came to offer.
I'd love to hear from you... How has God helped you to forgive?
“God wants to prove Himself as faithful in your life!” In this episode, my dear friend and best-selling author, Liz Curtis Higgs, shares about her encounter with the goodness and faithfulness of God in the midst of her journey with cancer. What many would consider an obstacle to avoid, Liz has discovered to be one of God's greatest paths to revealing Himself. Whether the battle you are facing is spiritual, physical, emotional, relational, financial or anything else, God is good and He is able. Will you put your trust in Him today? { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
Whether we identify more with the "bad girls" or the "good girls" we all need a savior! God's grace extends far enough to cover the most outrageous kind of foolishness. Not only does God save us from our past, but He strengthens us and pours His grace on us in our present as well. God's righteousness in us is big enough to cover all of our sins: past, present, and future! When we fill our minds with God's Word it will eventually overflow and spill out. Gratitude is found in trusting God. God's will is always good and is always about shaping us into the image of His Son. Even the hard things in life are the good things in the end. Who God says He is in His Word is who He truly is. When you accept your circumstance as God's best for you, there is a sense of peace. God wants to give you a constant reminder of His presence. He is with you, before you, beside you and within you!
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7 Links from Show Bad Girls of the Bible Slightly Bad Girls of the Bible Really Bad Girls of the Bible 31 Proverbs to Light Your Path FACEBOOK: Wonderful Wednesdays [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Liz Curtis Higgs Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest
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Don't Miss an Episode! We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list, by applying in the form below, you'll be notified when new episodes air - and get a special gift for joining (among other things!)
The Living Room Community Looking for a community of Jesus-hearted women to learn and grow with? Each week over at my private Facebook group, we discuss the podcast episode and share tips for living, loving and leading like Jesus. 1. Go to Page and click "Join Group" 2. Answer ALL three questions - (mandatory!) 3. Once you're added, take a moment to introduce yourself on the "Welcome" thread [Note: Because we want to protect against trolls and spammers, we will only add those who have answered ALL the questions, have a profile picture and have been on Facebook for more than three months.] I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Liz's interview?
“We win when we stay calm!” In this episode, my friend and the author of Calming Angry Kids: Help and Hope for Parents in the Whirlwind, Tricia Goyer, shares about her journey as a mother of ten, seven whom they've adopted in the last nine years, and practical ways to break the trend of anger in your home.
Just as we teach our kids to brush their teeth and make their beds, we also have the opportunity to teach them healthy ways to manage their emotions and know they are loved in the process. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
When dealing with a strong-willed child our bodies will naturally begin to react, but we can choose what to do with that. We win when we stay calm. Our calm presence can calm our child. When emotions are peaked, we cannot think rationally. You don't have to solve the problem immediately. Sometimes everyone needs space to process things. Our identity is not found in how well-behaved our kids are. Let your kids know you are aware of their emotions. Labeling your child's emotions helps open the door to talking about them. Talk with them about how to handle their emotions at a time when they are not upset. Giving other parents grace helps us to give grace to ourselves. Don't worry about the problem, rather focus on investing time with your child. Our kids will be more likely to receive advice when we've bonded with them. Take your emotions to God and trust the Holy Spirit to work and bring His fruit (love, joy, peace) in your life. Respect your kids with your words. Teach them your family values through word and action.
Links from Show Calming Angry Kids: Help and Hope for Parents in the Whirlwind Calming Angry Kids Facebook Group Write That Book [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Tricia Goyer Website | Facebook | Instagram
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Don't Miss the GIVEAWAY this Thursday! Be sure to visit my INSTAGRAM page tomorrow and enter to win a copy of Calming Angry Kids: Help and Hope for Parents in the Whirlwind!
Once you're on the page, here’s how to enter: 1. Follow @joannaweaverbooks⠀⠀ 2. Like the giveaway picture & comment with your favorite emoji⠀⠀ 3. Tag a few friends in the comments. Each tag is a new entry! ⠀
Giveaway runs September 12th - 17th and the winner will be announced under the original post the next day. Get Episode Updates! We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list, by applying in the form below, you'll be notified when new episodes air - and get a special gift for joining (among other things!)
I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Tricia's interview?
"We want everything to be easy, but work is part of what we were created to do!" Life is not always easy. Perfection is not always possible. And all-or-nothing thinking can paralyze us from doing anything at all.
In this episode, I share my personal struggle with all-or-nothing thinking. Like many of you, God has called me to many things. As multi-dimensional, multi-passionate women there are times when our responsibilities can feel insurmountable.
Whether you hold back and do nothing because you're afraid to fail, or you tend to jump in and try to do everything perfectly on your own, God wants to dismantel our all-or-nothing thinking and free us to move graciously between all our responsibilities. We may not be able to do everything, but we can do something! { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
We'll be discussing...
Life is hard and requires work. Work is not part of the curse. God put Adam “in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it” before the Fall. Though sin has made work harder (Genesis 3:17), work is holy and is part of what we were created to do. God wants to help us in the hard places, but we have to let go of the all-or-nothing thinking. The process is divine - it helps us depend on the Lord. "The difference between a good housekeeper and bad is one hour" - Annette Gustafson (Joanna's mom) Satan wants to keep us paralyzed. Our Flesh Woman wants to do it perfect. God wants to help us make forward progress. God is more of a both/and God than an either/or God. He wants to help us move gracefully between all our responsibilites. There is power in baby steps! When you're overwhelmed, don't try to do everything, just do something.
ALL-OR-NOTHING Thinking Tells Us:
I should wait until I feel like it I can’t do anything until I have time to do everything When I do something, it needs to be perfect If it’s too hard, I should just quit There is no inbetween – it’s all or nothing
God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. ~ 2 Corinthians 9:8
Additional Resources Gretchen Saffles' Well-Watered Woman FLYLADY: 27 Fling Boogie
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Don't Miss an Episode! We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list, by applying in the form below, you'll be notified when new episodes air - and get a special gift for joining (among other things!)
The Living Room Community Looking for a community of Jesus-hearted women to learn and grow with? Each week over at my private Facebook group, we discuss the podcast episode and share tips for living, loving and leading like Jesus. 1. Go to Page and click "Join Group" 2. Answer ALL three questions - (mandatory!) 3. Once you're added, take a moment to introduce yourself on the "Welcome" thread [Note: Because we want to protect against trolls and spammers, we will only add those who have answered ALL the questions, have a profile picture and have been on Facebook for more than three months.]
And be sure to subscribe to "The Living Room" EMAIL LIST, and you'll be notified when episodes go live - plus extra goodies along the way!
I'd love to hear from you... How does all-or-nothing thinking impact your life?
“ Jesus never asked Martha to be Mary!” In this episode, my new friend and author of "Made Like Martha: Good News for the Woman Who Gets Things Done," Katie Reid, shares her grace awakening story and God's invitation to rest. Katie reminds us that being made like Martha does not disqualify us from intimacy with God! He is not looking to change your giftings or your personality type. He longs to meet you in the midst of who He created you to be. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
Jesus was not rejecting Martha, He was inviting her to receive her share of the inheritance. It was an invitation, not condemnation! Grace is a gift to be received, not a prize to be earned. You will never measure up when perfection and performance are your goals. Living from a place of grace empowers us to do what He has created us to do. Three helpful steps:
- Say "Yes" to God's assignments
- Say "No" to guilt and manipulation
- Say "help" and invite people to join you
Productivity can be kryptonite for Martha personalities when we think that is where our worth comes from. Spiritual growth tip: start making a list of what God reveals to you about Himself in your time together and continue praying over it throughout the day. Sabbath rest and setting boundaries are key priorities for Martha personalities to enjoy intimacy with God. God offers to give us rest, inner tranquility in the midst of necessary labor. God's gift to you today is that it is not all up to you!
Links from Show Katie's "Finding Grace in the Unraveling" Website and Blog "Made Like Martha: Good News for the Woman Who Gets Things Done" YouVersion Bible App [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Katie Reid Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest
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Don't Miss the DOUBLE GIVEAWAY! Be sure to visit my FACEBOOK page and enter to win a copy of Made Like Martha AND Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World!
Once you're at my page, here's how to enter: 1. LIKE my Facebook page 2. SHARE the post on your page 3. TAG a few friends in the comments below the giveaway post. Each tag is a new entry!
Giveaway runs through August 13th and the winner will be announced under the original post the next day. Get Episode Updates We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list, by applying in the form below, you'll be notified when new episodes air - and get a special gift for joining (among other things!)
The Living Room Community Looking for a community of Jesus-hearted women to learn and grow with? Each week over at my private Facebook group, we discuss the podcast episode and share tips for living, loving and leading like Jesus. 1. Go to Page and click "Join Group" 2. Answer ALL three questions - (mandatory!) 3. Once you're added, take a moment to introduce yourself on the "Welcome" thread [Note: Because we want to protect against trolls and spammers, we will only add those who have answered ALL the questions, have a profile picture and have been on Facebook for more than three months.]
And be sure to subscribe to "The Living Room" EMAIL LIST, and you'll be notified when episodes go live - plus extra goodies along the way! I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Katie's interview?
"Hope is not about a result, it is about a relationship!" In this episode, distinguished author, Holly Gerth shares from her newest devotional, Hope Your Heart Needs, about the names of God and how each one reveals a unique aspect of who He wants to be in our lives.
God sees you right where you are, dear friend. He delights in you and He longs to give you hope and inner rest.
Holly understands the inner struggles faced by so many women today and she invites us to look to God and allow Him to be all that He promises to be. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
Hope is not about an outcome, it is placing our trust fully in who God is and what He has for us! Every name of God is a reminder of who He is and how He cares for you. The name "Morning Star" represents the planet Venus, which rises in the darkest part of the night, just before dawn. It is God's reminder that He will come into the darkest part of your story, when it feels like there is no hope, and bring the dawn. The name "Cornerstone" reminds us that Jesus offers to take on all the weight we carry. As our "Good Shepherd," God looks for those in the middle, who may feel invisible and just pretending everything is okay. No matter how hard we push ourselves, we cannot outrun fear or our inner struggles. God invites us to slow down and rest. Inner rest is not found in walking away from something, it is in walking towards someone. God uses our broken places to reveal Himself. We are invited to enjoy a divine process and beautiful journey with Him!
The Lord be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant. Psalm 35:27
Links from Show DEVOTIONAL: Opening the Door to God-sized Dreams DEVOTIONAL: Hope Your Heart Needs:52 Encouraging Reminders of How God Cares for You PODCAST: More Than Small Talk [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Holly Gerth Instagram | Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter The Living Room Community Looking for a community of Jesus-hearted women to learn and grow with? Each week over at my private Facebook group, we discuss the podcast episode and share tips for living, loving and leading like Jesus. 1. Go to PAGE and click "Join Group" 2. Answer ALL three questions - (mandatory!) 3. Once you're added, take a moment to introduce yourself on the "WELCOME" thread [Note: Because we want to protect against trolls and spammers, we will only add those who have answered ALL the questions, have a profile picture and have been on Facebook for more than three months.]
Be sure to subscribe to "The Living Room" EMAIL LIST, and you'll be notified when episodes go live - plus extra goodies along the way!
I'd love to hear from you...What spoke most to you from Holly's interview?
Do you ever feel like the darkness and discouragement will never lift? Everyone gets discouraged now and then, but what do we do when it comes to stay? I've felt it before, that overwhelming sense that I am just slogging through wet cement, incapable of any forward momentum.
In times like this, it can be tempting to nurse and rehearse our frustrations, but God offers us so much more!
In this episode, I share five steps for overcoming discouragement. With the Lord's help, we can push through discouragement and refuse to give in to hopelessness and despair. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
We'll be discussing... When David was distressed, he "strengthened himself in the Lord" and we can too! (1 Samuel 30:6). Here's how: 1. Get alone with Jesus
If discouragement isn't dealt with early on, it only grows. Don't try to ignore it with busyness. Stop and pour your heart out to God!
2. Invite God into the equation
Don't believe the lie that you are all alone or that it is all up to you. Our strength is limited, but God's strength is not. Ask for wisdom. "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." James 1:5 God helps us to step back and gain His perspective on our situation.
- Declare what you know, not what you feel
Look in the mirror and speak words of life over yourself, rather than words of death.
- Do the next right thing
Rather than focusing on what you can't do, move forward in what you can do. Do what you can do and trust God to do the rest.
- Take courage
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 Discouragement paralyzes us, but Jesus offers the courage to take the next step.
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
What may look like an impossible OBSTACLE to us is an OPPORTUNITY to go deeper with Jesus and to see Him move in ways we've never experienced before. So be of good cheer, my friend!
God is with you. God is for you. God is working on your behalf.
Additional Resources How to Survive a Terrible-No-Good-Very-Bad Day 003: The Next Right Thing with Emily P. Freeman | The Living Room
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Don't Miss an Episode! We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list, by applying in the form below, you'll be notified when new episodes air - and get a special gift for joining (among other things!)
The Living Room Community Looking for a community of Jesus-hearted women to learn and grow with? Each week over at my private Facebook group, we discuss the podcast episode and share tips for living, loving and leading like Jesus. 1. Go to Page and click "Join Group" 2. Answer ALL three questions - (mandatory!) 3. Once you're added, take a moment to introduce yourself on the "Welcome" thread [Note: Because we want to protect against trolls and spammers, we will only add those who have answered ALL the questions, have a profile picture and have been on Facebook for more than three months.]
And be sure to subscribe to "The Living Room" EMAIL LIST, and you'll be notified when episodes go live - plus extra goodies along the way!
I'd love to hear from you... What has helped you to overcome discouragement?
"Do you long to have a steadfast relationship with God rather than vacillating between joy and despair?" In this episode, my friend, Kelly Balarie, shares from her book, Battle Ready: Train Your Mind to Conquer Challenges, Defeat Doubt, and Live Victoriously. Our minds are a battlefield and too often life can feel like a rollercoaster full of ups and downs. After all, Jesus Himself reminds us to expect trouble in this world, but He also promises to bring victory (John 16:33).
Kelly gives so many practical tips for how to can change our mindset and no longer be thrown by life's difficulties, but rather begin to see them as opportunities to grow closer to Christ! { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
Our struggles oftentimes become our breakthroughs. Our victory is rarely instantaneous. God is all about the process and the joy of doing it with us. When you are filled with Jesus, He makes the things of earth grow strangely dim. Nothing else compares. How to renew your mind: 1. Repent. 2. Reset your mind. 3. Resolve to replace lies with God's truth. Repentance is not about God being disappointed in you, it is God doing a new thing in you. We have to identify the lies behind our emotions and thoughts. When we feel hungry, rushed or tired everything can feel like a battle. Stop and breathe. Take care of your needs. Always remember to take a moment to invite God into the situation. You are not alone and it is not all up to you! Have faith that what needs to get done will get done. To address fear - admit it, invite a friend to pray with you and intentionally focus on how Jesus changes it all. Practical advice: Go through the alphabet, stating truths about who God is and what He has done for you. Listen to the wisdom of others. If you are married, listen to the wisdom of your spouse. Think about what you are thinking about. Take every thought captive.
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformedby the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2
God's Word is the fuel that feeds our minds the truth we need. - Kelly BalarieClick To Tweet
Links from Show Battle Ready: Train Your Mind to Conquer Challenges, Defeat Doubt, and Live Victoriously Fear Fighting: Awakening Courage to Overcome Your Fears Battle Ready Resources [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Kelly Balarie Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter The Living Room Community Looking for a community of Jesus-hearted women to learn and grow with? Each week over at my private Facebook group, we discuss the podcast episode and share tips for living, loving and leading like Jesus. 1. Go to PAGE and click "Join Group" 2. Answer ALL three questions - (mandatory!) 3. Once you're added, take a moment to introduce yourself on the "WELCOME" thread [Note: Because we want to protect against trolls and spammers, we will only add those who have answered ALL the questions, have a profile picture and have been on Facebook for more than three months.]
Be sure to subscribe to "The Living Room" EMAIL LIST, and you'll be notified when episodes go live - plus extra goodies along the way!
I'd love to hear from you...What spoke most to you from Kelly's interview?
“Who do you want to be when all that you have to do is done?" In this episode, my friend and mentor, Jodi Detrick, shares from her book, "The Jesus-Hearted Woman: 10 Leadership Qualities for Enduring and Endearing Influence." Whether you're a mom, a businesswoman, or a ministry leader, we are all given opportunities to lead and influence the people around us. Jodi gives so many rich and practical tips for how to do it in a way that represents the character of Christ and relies on His power. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
We all have a realm of leadership because we are all influencing someone. "Gracious Confidence" is confidence that grows as we go. It's okay to not feel fully prepared because God will prepare you as you go. Jesus' confidence was in His Father and knowing who He was. Our confidence is found in knowing who we belong to. We cannot be Jesus-Hearted leaders by relying on ourselves. It takes stamina to get to where God wants to take us on our leadership journey. Our stamina is increased by having others with us on the journey and knowing there are rest stops along the way. Be a "first clapper" - look for ways to show tangible kindness. "Kindness by omission" is giving others grace and not expecting them to lead and live exactly like you. "Kindness by commission" is when we intentionally find ways to bless others. We leave a little of the DNA of Jesus behind us when we lead with kindness. Be patient in your journey. When it comes to personal growth, face yourself and then grace yourself.
God is not looking for someone else, He is looking for you to show up in your life! - Jodi DetrickClick To Tweet
Links from Show The Jesus-Hearted Woman: 10 Leadership Qualities for Enduring and Endearing Influence Sample Chapter (& my foreword!) Sign up for "Leader Access Pass" (just for ministry and Bible study leaders!) "A Long Obedience in the Same Direction" by Eugene Peterson Prayer by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Jodi Detrick Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
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Bonus Leadership Interview with Jodi Detrick If you are a pastor's wife and/or ministry leader, you don't want to miss this special interview I recorded for the ministry women of Montana - featuring leadership-specific encouragement from Jodi!
(And be sure to sign up for the "Leader Access Pass" created just for Bible study and ministry leaders!)
Don't Miss an Episode! We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list, by applying in the form below, you'll be notified when new episodes air - and get a special gift for joining (among other things!)
The Living Room Community Looking for a community of Jesus-hearted women to learn and grow with? Each week over at my private Facebook group, we discuss the podcast episode and share tips for living, loving and leading like Jesus. 1. Go to Page and click "Join Group" 2. Answer ALL three questions - (mandatory!) 3. Once you're added, take a moment to introduce yourself on the "Welcome" thread [Note: Because we want to protect against trolls and spammers, we will only add those who have answered ALL the questions, have a profile picture and have been on Facebook for more than three months.] I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Jodi's interview?
You are deeply loved and desired by God! As Christians, we talk a lot about having a personal relationship with God, but we don't always realize how much God wants to have a personal relationship with us. It’s the reason we were created.
Intimacy with God is everything you long for and everything you need. It is the secret to a victorious life - to living, loving and leading like Jesus. God invites us to do all of life with Him, enjoying His presence in every moment. He wants to know you – and He wants to be known by you! { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
We'll be discussing...
Sin may have ended the Garden of Eden, but it did not end our relationship with God. Jesus didn't just wait for people to come to Him, He came to us! Friendship with God is not about what we DO; it is all about what He’s already DONE! Intimacy with God is not something OUTSIDE of us, it’s God living WITHIN us! We don’t have to EARN His favor – He’s already EXTENDED His favor. Acknowledge the presence of God. He is with you, He is for you and He is at work! Invite God to take the throne. We will never truly know God until we truly surrender our lives to Him. Enjoy a living conversation with the Lord by talking to Him all throughout the day.
"Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, [God] had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son." Ephesians 1:4
We will never truly know God until we truly surrender our lives to Him. - Joanna Weaver, TLR Episode 007Click To Tweet
I've included a few blog posts that I hope will encourage you today in the links below - (and don't miss the other podcast episodes listed at the bottom of the page!) Links from Show Having a Mary Heart in a Marth World Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World Sample Chapter Blog: The Day Love Was Born Blog: Spiritual Mountain-Climbing 101 [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Don't Miss an Episode! We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list, by applying in the form below, you'll be notified when new episodes air - and get a special gift for joining (among other things!)
The Living Room Community Looking for a community of Jesus-hearted women to learn and grow with? Each week over at my private Facebook group, we discuss the podcast episode and share tips for living, loving and leading like Jesus. 1. Go to Page and click "Join Group" 2. Answer ALL three questions - (mandatory!) 3. Once you're added, take a moment to introduce yourself on the "Welcome" thread [Note: Because we want to protect against trolls and spammers, we will only add those who have answered ALL the questions, have a profile picture and have been on Facebook for more than three months.]
And be sure to subscribe to "The Living Room" EMAIL LIST, and you'll be notified when episodes go live - plus extra goodies along the way! Did You Enjoy This Episode? If so, here are some other episodes you might want to check out:
#000: Introducing the Living Room #001: Living Fully Alive with Susie Larson #002: The Incredible Power of Grace #003: The Next Right Thing with Emily P. Freeman #004: Doing it Afraid #005: Finding Our Identity with Michele Cushatt #006: Cultivate What Matters with Lara Casey
I'd love to hear from you... What has helped you to cultivate intimacy with God?
“There is nothing magical about January 1st. Where you are right now is a great place for a fresh start!” In this episode, Lara Casey, the founder of the Making Things Happen movement, shares from her book Cultivate: A Grace-Filled Guide to Growing an Intentional Life.
Many of us struggle to have a clear direction of where we are headed in life and others of us focus so much on the future that we miss what God has for us now. Lara provides so many helpful resources for embracing the season we are in, discovering our God-given desires and personality, and cultivating what matters most.
Her resources have really helped me, and I know they'll help you as well. You're going to love this episode - and this woman! { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
God places desires in our hearts and gives us unique gifts to help us determine what matters most. Look at the big picture of where you want to be in the future and start living like that today. The Lord has something for you right where you are in this season. As we steward what God has given us now, He reveals the next steps. It is often in the mundane that the most meaningful moments come to life. To determine your priorities, ask yourself: What will matter when you're eighty? Don't let the disappointment of what isn't, swallow the joy of what is. Remembering the gospel story's power in our life fires us up to share our faith. Praying together as a couple changed her marriage. Understanding who we are and the unique way God created us equips us to move forward. When God is our priority, everything else falls into place around Him. There's nothing magical about January 1st...start living intentionally today.
What will matter when you're eighty? Start living like it matters today - Lara Casey - The Living Room Podcast - 006Click To Tweet
Links from Show Cultivate: A Grace-Filled Guide to Growing an Intentional Life Make it Happen: Surrender Your Fear. Take the Leap. Live On Purpose PowerSheet Prep Videos Learn About the Enneagram Types Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown Cultivate Your Life Podcast "God + Goals" YouVersion Bible Reading Plan [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Lara Casey Website | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter The Living Room Community Looking for a community of Jesus-hearted women to learn and grow with? Each week over at my private Facebook group, we discuss the podcast episode and share tips for living, loving and leading like Jesus. 1. Go to Page and click "Join Group" 2. Answer ALL three questions - (mandatory!) 3. Once you're added, take a moment to introduce yourself on the "Welcome" thread [Note: Because we want to protect against trolls and spammers, we will only add those who have answered ALL the questions, have a profile picture and have been on Facebook for more than three months.]
Be sure to subscribe to "The Living Room" EMAIL LIST, and you'll be notified when episodes go live - plus extra goodies along the way!
I'd love to hear from you...What spoke most to you from Lara's interview?
“If life was ice cream flavors, I wouldn’t have chosen pain and suffering...” In this episode, my friend, Michele Cushatt, shares from her personal journey through cancer. She recognizes that while life doesn’t always turn out the way we planned, it doesn’t have to shatter our confidence or steal our joy. Cancer changed the way Michele looked, talked, worked and lived, forcing her to discover her identity in Christ alone. While wrestling with her pain, she realized that it is often the crucible of suffering that brings purity and depth in our walk with God. No matter what you’re going through, you are not alone. Though the enemy may intend it for evil, Michele's story reminds us that if you’ll place it in God’s hands, He will work all of it together for good. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
Faith is not a transactional relationship that depends on doing all the right things. Cancer and trauma can make visible on the outside our brokenness on the inside. Our natural reaction to pain is to shut down in isolation or push ourselves too hard in perspiration. Rather than running or hiding, we are invited to sit and work through our pain with Jesus, the One who knows and understands it all. We often don't realize what our identity has been tied to until it is taken away. People often source their identity in careers, roles, talents, appearances, and relationships. But if it can be taken away, it’s not who you are. Our identity must be entrenched in God's love, the one thing that never changes. The foundational cement under true confidence is humility. Humble confidence is found in honest self-awareness, owning our mistakes and recognizing areas for growth. We are invited to love God for who He is rather than striving to earn His love for what we do.
In the moments of our pain, we need God's presence, not His performance - Michele CushattClick To Tweet
Links from Show I Am: A 60-Day Journey to Knowing Who You Are Because of Who He Is Michele Cushatt's Inspired Life Mastermind Abba's Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Michele Cushatt Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Don't Miss an Episode! We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list, by applying in the form below, you'll be notified when new episodes air - and get a special gift for joining (among other things!)
The Living Room Community Looking for a community of Jesus-hearted women to learn and grow with? Each week over at my private Facebook group, we discuss the podcast episode and share tips for living, loving and leading like Jesus. 1. Go to Page and click "Join Group" 2. Answer ALL three questions - (mandatory!) 3. Once you're added, take a moment to introduce yourself on the "Welcome" thread [Note: Because we want to protect against trolls and spammers, we will only add those who have answered ALL the questions, have a profile picture and have been on Facebook for more than three months.]
And be sure to subscribe to "The Living Room" EMAIL LIST, and you'll be notified when episodes go live - plus extra goodies along the way! I'd love to hear from you... What spoke most to you from Michele's interview?
Does fear ever stop you from doing what God has placed on your heart? Sometimes, we think that God’s will should always be easy, that it should be a glorious upward path filled with victory. But God’s will is rarely convenient or easy. And in my experience, it’s sometimes scary.
I’ve had to push through fear in order to obey God over and over in my life and you will too. Oh, but it is so worth it, my friend.
In this episode, I share three common fears we all face when trying something new, and four ways we can step through that fear and into God’s will for our lives. All things are possible with Him, but that doesn't mean they are easy. That’s why we’ve got to be willing to do it afraid. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
We'll be discussing...
Make sure it’s God’s idea and not your own. Don't let the fear of perfection keep you from doing what God has asked you to do. Some fear is natural – but don’t let it paralyze you. Give it to God. Do what God asks and leave the results to Him. Our job is obedience – and sometimes that requires “doing it afraid.” It's when we go beyond our comfort zone that we discover God's strength. Fear is not a good reason not to use your gifts and talents for Jesus.
Courage isn’t the absence of fear. It is acting in spite of it. - Mark Twain Click To Tweet
Additional Resources How to Discover God's Will Choosing Faith Over Fear
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter Don't Miss an Episode! We'd love to have you join our special Living Room Podcast email list. Even if you're already part of my regular list, by applying in the form below, you'll be notified when new episodes air - and get a special gift for joining (among other things!)
The Living Room Community Looking for a community of Jesus-hearted women to learn and grow with? Each week over at my private Facebook group, we discuss the podcast episode and share tips for living, loving and leading like Jesus. 1. Go to Page and click "Join Group" 2. Answer ALL three questions - (mandatory!) 3. Once you're added, take a moment to introduce yourself on the "Welcome" thread [Note: Because we want to protect against trolls and spammers, we will only add those who have answered ALL the questions, have a profile picture and have been on Facebook for more than three months.]
And be sure to subscribe to "The Living Room" EMAIL LIST, and you'll be notified when episodes go live - plus extra goodies along the way! Did You Enjoy This Episode? If so, here are some other episodes you might want to check out:
#000: Introducing the Living Room #001: Living Fully Alive with Susie Larson #002: The Incredible Power of Grace #003: The Next Right Thing with Emily P. Freeman
I'd love to hear from you... What is God asking you to "do afraid"?
"We make 35,000 decisions every day – no wonder we struggle to make the big ones!" In this episode, best-selling author, Emily P. Freeman, shares from her new book, The Next Right Thing: A Simple, Soulful Practice for Making Life Decisions.
So many of us live full and busy lives which can cause us to feel rushed and hurried internally as well. But when we invite God into the decision-making process it can change everything. Emily's podcast has resonated with so many women - over 2.2 million downloads in the last year and a half! And her new book is a run-away best-seller just a few weeks from release. Yay, God!
Emily offers so many practical tools for how to sift through the clutter and do the next right thing, giving us the opportunity to finally breathe. Enjoy! { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show
We make 35,000 decisions every day – no wonder we struggle to make the big ones. Unmade decisions hold a lot of power. External busyness can seep into our souls internally. When we feel hurried on the inside, it can be difficult to discern what we really long for and what might be best. There is a connection between what we believe about God and our ability to make decisions with confidence. A wrong decision is just a wrong decision – it doesn’t mean we’re wrong. It doesn’t speak to our identity, just our situation. "Clarity cannot be rushed" - Marie Forleo When seeking direction, look for "arrows" not just answers. The point is not a decision, a plan, or certainty, but union with God.
Links from Show BOOK: The Next Right Thing: A Simple, Soulful Practice for Making Life Decisions INTERVIEW: Grace for the Good Girl with Emily Freeman BOOK: Grace for the Good Girl PODCAST: The Next Right Thing Podcast [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.] Connect with Emily P. Freeman Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter The Living Room Community Looking for a community of Jesus-hearted women to learn and grow with? Each week over at my private Facebook group, we discuss the podcast episode and share tips for living, loving and leading like Jesus. 1. Go to PAGE and click "Join Group" 2. Answer ALL three questions - (mandatory!) 3. Once you're added, take a moment to introduce yourself on the "WELCOME" thread [Note: Because we want to protect against trolls and spammers, we will only add those who have answered ALL the questions, have a profile picture and have been on Facebook for more than three months.]
Be sure to subscribe to "The Living Room" EMAIL LIST, and you'll be notified when episodes go live - plus extra goodies along the way! Did You Enjoy This Episode? If so, here are some other episodes you might want to check out:
#000: Introducing the Living Room Podcast #001: Living Fully Alive with Susie Larson #002: The Incredible Power of Grace #004: Doing It Afraid
I'd love to hear from you...What spoke most to you from Emily's interview?
God’s grace is much more than we know. It’s not just for salvation. It’s crucial to our transformation. In this episode, I share my personal story of how God allowed me to come to the end of myself in order to experience the depths of His grace. If you’ve felt stuck in try-hard Christianity and lost sight of the goodness of the Good News, this episode is for you. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
We'll be discussing...
When we don't understand God's grace, we begin to hear everything through the lens of WORK-based Christianity. When it becomes about us and what we can accomplish for Christ, we live in condemnation and fear. It is not what we do, but what Christ has already done for us. God wants us to live a holy life, but He never expected us to do it alone. In His grace, God not only saves us, but He wants to give us the power and desire to do His will. As God reveals areas for growth, simply agree with the diagnosis. Then ask Jesus to bring the cure and partner with Him in the transformation process. Allow the Holy Spirit and the grace of God to work within you!
Grace is the POWER and the DESIRE to do God’s willClick To Tweet
"For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." Philippians 2:13
Additional Resources Story of John Newton's Amazing Grace Space of Grace: Practically Speaking Space of Grace: Spiritually Speaking
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter The Living Room Community Looking for a community of Jesus-hearted women to learn and grow with? Each week over at my private Facebook group, we discuss the podcast episode and share tips for living, loving and leading like Jesus. 1. Go to Page and click "Join Group" 2. Answer ALL three questions - (mandatory!) 3. Once you're added, take a moment to introduce yourself on the "Welcome" thread [Note: Because we want to protect against trolls and spammers, we will only add those who have answered ALL the questions, have a profile picture and have been on Facebook for more than three months.]
And be sure to subscribe to "The Living Room" EMAIL LIST, and you'll be notified when episodes go live - plus extra goodies along the way! Did You Enjoy This Episode? If so, here are some other episodes you might want to check out:
#000: Introducing the Living Room Podcast #001: Living Fully Alive with Susie Larson #003: The Next Right Thing with Emily P. Freeman #004: Doing It Afraid
I'd love to hear from you... How has understanding God's grace encouraged you?
"You were made for life and life more abundantly!" In this episode, my friend and best-selling author, Susie Larson, shares from her new book, Fully Alive: Learning to Flourish Mind, Body and Spirit,
Too many of us settle for less than Jesus came to give. Despite the things you might be facing, you were made for life, my friend - a life that is abundant and rich.
After walking through years of chronic health issues and dealing with the residue of past pain, Susie shares important lessons God taught her about the connection between the body and the soul.
"What happens in our soul happens in our cells," Susie says. We cannot compartmentalize our faith and just treat symptoms. We have to look to God and be willing to ask "what is my body telling me about my soul?"
This is a message everyone needs to hear. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Important Takeaways from Show 1. Even Christians face hardships
Jesus told us to expect trials in this life, but we get to choose how we will respond. For the believer, life on earth is as bad as it will ever get. What we tell our soul about who God is and our troubles will determine how we fare, not only through that trial, but on the other side of it.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 2. You can rest in God's love
Nothing heals our soul like God's love. Every time you are tempted to look down on yourself, practice saying "You love me, Lord!" Pick a memory of when you felt most alive. Buried in that memory is a sign of what God wants to restore. Place it before God and together, hand in hand, you can experience true life again.
"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." 1 John 4:10 3. Recognize Satan's lies and replace them with God's truth
You can't outrun a lie. You've got to turn around and face it and put it under your feet. Don't run away when old traumas and hurts arise, but rather run to God. If the Lord brings things to the surface it means the Lord intends to heal it.
"We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ" 2 Corinthians 10:5 4. Put your hope in God
When God doesn't show up the way we thought, we can feel stuck and discouraged. The answer is to live with expectancy rather than expectation. Expectation is premeditated disappointment because we have a specific outcome in mind. Waiting is hard, but heroes are made in the waiting.
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." Romans 15:13
Are you carrying hurt that continues to weigh you down? Are you feeling emotionally, physically and spiritually exhausted? Run to God today and begin your journey of wholeness by simply saying "Lord, heal my soul, make me whole!"
You were made for life and life more abundantly. It is time for you to fully live! Links from Show Fully Alive: Learning to Flourish Mind, Body and Spirit Fully Alive DVD Study Guide Susie's Facebook Live on "Expectation versus Expectancy" Your Powerful Prayers: Reaching the Heart of God with a Bold and Humble Faith The Uncommon Woman: Making an Ordinary Life Extraordinary [Disclosure: I make a small commission from affiliate links used in this post.]
Connect with Susie Larson Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Celebrating the Podcast! During the month of APRIL 2019, we're hosting a GIANT GIVEAWAY to celebrate the launch of Joanna Weaver's new podcast! Enter to win...
GRAND PRIZE - $150 Amazon Gift card & book from TLR 2019 guests (13 in all!)
Welcome to My New Podcast! Do you know how much God longs to share an intimate relationship with you? One that is unique to just you and Him, unlike any other. I love Jesus, I love His church and I especially love His girls. My passion is to see women fall in love with Jesus and give Him access to their lives because when they do, anything is possible! God has been stirring a desire in my heart to do this podcast for many years and, today, it is finally happening..."The Living Room with Joanna Weaver: Living, Loving and Leading Like Jesus".
Twice a month, on every other Wednesday, this podcast will feature guest interviews and solo episodes all designed to help Christian women become all that God intends them to be. I hope you'll tune in as your cleaning the house, taking a walk or driving in your car.
I'm excited to have you join me on this exciting new adventure - because life is definitely better together! { USE PLAYER BAR @ TOP OF PAGE to listen to show, subscribe and share }
Looking Ahead... As a multi-passionate woman, I am excited to explore all the facets of what it means to belong to Jesus - building a godly marriage and home, being involved in church and ministry. Cultivating intimacy with God, allowing God to change us, hammering out forgiveness, and so much more! The Living Room is a place to just belong to Jesus, sit at His feet and hear from His heart. It is also a place to get tools for living the abundant life Jesus came to give.
For "in Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28) Apart from Him, we can do nothing...
“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” - Philippians 4:13
Are you eager to get started? You'll find the introductory episode as well as a wonderful interview with Susie Larson called Living Fully Alive | The Living Room 001 are already live - watch for the companion blog post coming soon!
Check in next Wednesday for my first solo show: The Incredible Power of Grace | The Living Room 002! Connect with Joanna Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter
Celebrate the Podcast Launch With Us! During the month of APRIL 2019, we're hosting a GIANT GIVEAWAY to celebrate the launch of Joanna Weaver's new podcast! Enter to win...
GRAND PRIZE - $150 Amazon Gift card & book from TLR 2019 guests (13 in all!) SECOND PRIZE - $50 Amazon Gift card & set of Joanna Weaver books & studies 5 RUNNER-UP PRIZES - $10 Amazon Gift card & Susie Larson's book, Fully Alive
To enter, follow the prompts listed in the giveaway box below. (HINT: You get more entries for subscribing to the podcast - so be sure to do that! INSTRUCTIONS HERE) {{ Contest ends April 30, 2019 at midnight - we'll announce the winner the next morning }}
The Living Room Community Looking for a community of Jesus-hearted women to learn and grow with? Each week over at my private Facebook group, we discuss the podcast episode and share tips for living, loving and leading like Jesus. 1. Go to Page and click "Join Group" 2. Answer ALL three questions - (mandatory!) 3. Once you're added, take a moment to introduce yourself on the "Welcome" thread [Note: Because we want to protect against trolls and spammers, we will only add those who have answered ALL the questions, have a profile picture and have been on Facebook for more than three months.]
And be sure to subscribe to "The Living Room" EMAIL LIST, and you'll be notified when episodes go live - plus extra goodies along the way! Did You Enjoy This Episode? Here are some other episodes you might want to check out:
#001: Living Fully Alive with Susie Larson #002: The Incredible Power of Grace #003: The Next Right Thing with Emily P. Freeman #004: Doing It Afraid
I'd love to hear from you... What areas of living, loving or leading like Jesus are you hoping to grow in?