No Higher Calling: Recent Episodes
Brettnay Brazzell
God has given me a passion for motherhood and homemaking. From that passion, a ministry has birthed- No Higher Calling. There is no higher calling on my life than to be wife to Simeon and mama to my littles. Join with me on my motherhood journey as I seek to encourage moms and point them to Christ.
Do you ever wonder, “Am I doing enough?” as a homeschool mom?
You’re not alone. In this episode, we’re offering a reminder that homeschooling was never meant to be measured by perfection, packed schedules, or completed checklists. The heart of homeschooling is faithfulness—loving our children well, discipling their hearts, and creating a home where learning, wonder, and connection can grow.
Join us as we explore encouragement from beloved homeschool voices who remind us that our presence matters more than perfect lessons, that childhood is worth protecting, and that some of the most meaningful learning happens through simple moments together. From read-alouds on the couch to adventures outdoors and everyday conversations, these reminders will encourage you to embrace the beauty of the homeschool journey right where you are.
Because years from now, your children may not remember every worksheet or lesson plan—but they will remember the atmosphere of home you created.
Resources Referenced:
- Favorite Books on Homeschooling https://nohighercalling.org/my-favorite-books-on-homeschooling/
- Prayer Journal for Kids https://nohighercalling.org/shop/family-resources/prayer-journal-kids/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Sarah Boots joins me to tackle the subject of the responsibility Christian women have in stewarding their health well. God has gifted us with an incredible design, yet our modern world has so many factors that inhibit our health. We discuss the importance of having balance as we prioritize our health for the glory of the Lord and for the longevity of the life He has given us.
- The connection of our physical, mental, and spiritual health
- Energy management
- The importance of nutrition
- What it means for our body to be God's temple
Resources Referenced:
- Watch this interview on YouTube https://youtu.be/5hv1jMJcfGQ
- Subscribe to the NHC Email: www.nohighercalling.org
- Connect with Sarah on IG https://www.instagram.com/faithfulandflourishing/
- Subscribe to Sarah's Email/Substack https://faithfulandflourishing.org/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
In this special listener Q&A episode, we’re diving into your homeschooling questions—from getting started and choosing curriculum to creating a peaceful home rhythm and managing the everyday challenges of teaching multiple children.
We’ll talk about everything from screens, read-aloud favorites, and funny homeschooling moments to schedules, routines, unit studies, memorization, music practice, and finding the right balance between consistency and flexibility. Whether you’re a brand-new homeschool mom or a seasoned homeschooler looking for encouragement and fresh ideas, this episode is filled with practical wisdom, simple solutions, and reminders that you don’t have to do everything to homeschool well.
Join us as we answer your questions and encourage you in the beautiful, meaningful work of homeschooling.
Resources Referenced:
- Children of Character Cards https://nohighercalling.org/shop/family-resources/children-of-character/
- Podcast: Being a TV Free Family
- https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-ems7c-1656c8d
- World Watch News: https://app.worldwatch.news/pages/referral?referral_code=DBgHDaDHgeBeiD
- YouTube: Our Daily Homeschool Rhythm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEnHHmA6Tk4
- YouTube: Morning Moments https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KfxOIqyLqE
- Podcast: Balance Between Homemaking & Homeschooling https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-wx2ux-1731e51
- Podcast: Homeschooling with Toddlers and Babies https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-67hvu-14078cf
- Podcast: Homeschooling in the Little Years https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-y2tr7-161f21b
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Motherhood can be beautiful, but it can sometimes feel lonely. In this episode, we talk about practical ways to cultivate meaningful connection, including being the kind of friend you hope to find, investing in relationships within your local church, thinking creatively about opportunities for community, and being willing to say yes when invitations arise. Most importantly, we remember that in every season, our truest Friend is Christ, who never leaves us alone.
Resources Referenced:
- Children of Character Cards https://nohighercalling.org/shop/family-resources/children-of-character/
- Subscribe to the NHC Email www.nohighercalling.org
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
II Cor 1:4 "Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God."
In this episode, we explore the biblical meaning of comfort through 2 Corinthians 1:4 and discover that God's comfort is far more than sympathy—it is His strength, encouragement, and presence coming alongside us in our trials. We discuss how the comfort we receive from God equips us to bear one another's burdens, fulfilling the law of Christ by actively helping others carry their struggles. Ultimately, God's grace in our suffering is not meant to make us comfortable, but to make us comforters, reminding us that it's hard to doubt God when His people keep showing up.
Resources Referenced:
- Children of Character Cards https://nohighercalling.org/shop/family-resources/children-of-character/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
God answered so many prayers throughout the birth of our precious Caspian Essex! We are thankful to have him on the outisde, and he has fit so beautifully into our family. In this episode, I share the details of his birth story.
Resources Referenced:
- Children of Character Cards https://nohighercalling.org/shop/family-resources/children-of-character/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
In this episode, we explore Mother Culture—the intentional care of a mother’s mind, heart, and soul—and how it shapes the atmosphere of the home. Rooted in Charlotte Mason’s philosophy and expanded by Karen Andreola, this idea reminds us that what a mother is, her children will naturally receive.
We emphasize that true soul nourishment must be grounded first in a faithful, obedient relationship with the Lord. Time in God’s Word is not optional—it is the foundation. From that place, mothers can be refreshed and strengthened through good books, beauty, rest, and meaningful daily rhythms.
Rather than a luxury, Mother Culture becomes a way to live with intention—allowing mothers to serve their families with joy, cultivate a life-giving home, and faithfully pour out what the Lord is first pouring into them.
Watch the Interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rrg2Z43sNd0
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Join me as I share about the books I've been reading in Quarter 2.
- Specters in the Glass House by Jamie Jo Wright
- An Accidental Life by Pamela Binnings Ewen
- In This Moment by Gabrielle Meyer
- For a Lifetime by Gabrielle Meyer
- Across the Ages by Gabrielle Meyer
- Every Hour Until Then by Gabrielle Meyer
- Through Each Tomorrow by Gabrielle Meyer
- Into a Golden Era by Gabrielle Meyer
- The Green Ember by S. D. Smith
- The Fifth Vital Sign by Lisa Hendrickson-Jack
- Grounded in Grace by Jonathan Holmes
- On Magic and Miracles by Marian A. Jacobs
- Ember Falls by S. D. Smith
- A Castaway in Cornwall by Julie Klassen
- Fast Like a Girl by Dr. Mindy Pelz
- The Doctor of Hiroshima by Dr. Michihiko Hachiya
- The 5AM Club by Robin Sharma
- After the Funeral by Agatha Christie
- The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion Vol. 1 by Beth Brower
- Overwhelmed Mom by Jamie Erickson
- Come on Home by Jessica Smartt
- Raising Worry-Free Girls by Sissy Goff
- I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys
- Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan
- Generation AI by Matt Britton
Resources Referenced:
- Book Links! https://nohighercalling.org/2026-book-challenge-quarter-2/
- Great Hymns for Growing Hearts by Brettnay Brazzell https://nohighercalling.org/shop/devotional/ghgh/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
In this episode, we’re talking about how homeschooling doesn’t have to look like traditional school at home. From a 4-day school week and being done by lunch, to skipping written tests and learning multiple ages together, we share the freedom and flexibility that homeschooling can offer. We also discuss moving at your child’s pace, avoiding rigid curriculum expectations, and creating a homeschool rhythm that truly fits your family’s unique needs and values.
Homeschooling can be exactly what your family needs it to be- and that is a beautiful freedom!
Resources Referenced:
- NHC YouTube: Our Daily Homeschool Rhythm https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEnHHmA6Tk4&t=2s
- Children of Character Cards https://nohighercalling.org/shop/family-resources/children-of-character/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Join me as I share my break-making journey as a homemaker. From yeast breads to delving into sourdough, I have loved learning tips and tricks for feeding my family delicious, nutrient-dense homemade breads.
Resources Referenced:
- Bread Making Favorites & Cookbooks Referenced: https://amzn.to/4uAvmj3
- Favorite Bread Recipes https://nohighercalling.org/category/recipe/
- YouTube: Sourdough for Beginners with Erin Bates Paine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fi84RRL7sWg&t=205s
- YouTube: Azure Standard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QU0iITdDvDc
- Great Hymns for Growing Hearts by Brettnay Brazzell https://nohighercalling.org/shop/devotional/ghgh/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Jamie Mock, homeschool mom of one graduate and two highschoolers, joins me to discuss homeschooling in the teenage years.
We discuss...
- The most rewarding part of homeschooling teens
- How to lay a foundation for a strong relationship with your teen
- How the approach to teaching changes as children mature
- How to lean into your teen's interests in education
- How to encourage independence
Resources Referenced:
- Watch this interview on YouTube https://youtu.be/7tTa2dSsKa8
- Great Hymns for Growing Hearts by Brettnay Brazzell https://nohighercalling.org/shop/devotional/ghgh/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Sometimes, there are pain points in life. One of those for me as a busy, homeschool mama was lunch. We try to finish all of our school day prior to lunch (which I love), but that means that we race into lunch time. I needed a plan to help keep lunch easy and quick to get on the table. Insert the lunch matrix! Giving some thought to what we'll eat ahead of time helps me to serve my family healthy, whole foods with minimal lunch prep.
Resources Referenced:
- Great Hymns for Growing Hearts by Brettnay Brazzell https://nohighercalling.org/shop/devotional/ghgh/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Join Sarah and I as we answer listener questions!
-How to find balance in all the responsibilities of life?
-How to have discernment when choosing books to read?
-How to get your children in God's Word?
-How to invest in long-distance friendships?
-Fun (screen free) ideas for family time?
Resources Referenced:
- Watch the interview on YouTube https://youtu.be/GLfMzYLkKag
- NHC Podcast: Balancing Homemaking and Littles https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/balancing-homemaking-and-littles/id1547126864?i=1000702992591
- NHC Podcast: Balancing Homemaking and Homeschooling https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/balancing-homemaking-and-homeschooling/id1547126864?i=1000703857446
- Time Saving Mom by Crystal Paine https://amzn.to/4v5Y3E7
- Friendship Note Cards https://nohighercalling.org/shop/heart-and-home/friendship-note-cards/
- Journey Homeschool Academy https://journeyhomeschoolacademy.com/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
We are wrapping up the first half of our school year. In this episode, I share what we've been up to, curriculum we've been loving, and what some of our homeschool highlights are.
Resources Referenced:
- NHC Blog: 2026 Mid-Year Homeschool Update https://nohighercalling.org/2026-mid-year-homeschool-update/
- Journey Homeschool Academy https://journeyhomeschoolacademy.com/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
We are just days away from welcoming Baby Brazzell #6 into our family, and we couldn't be more excited! Join me as I share a family update, my list of postpartum essentials as a mama of six, and as I answer some listener questions about baby/pregnancy/postpartum.
Resources Referenced:
- Journey Homeschool Academy https://journeyhomeschoolacademy.com/
- Brettnay's Pospartum Essentials https://amzn.to/4wSFPYH
- NHC Podcast: The Story of Our Baby Names https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-story-of-our-baby-names-and-names-we-liked-but-didnt-use/id1547126864?i=1000749420858
- Documentary: The Business of Being Born https://amzn.to/4dpU3bP
- NHC Podcast: Hope for the Physical Side of Postpartum Depression with Rebecca Grant https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WOlY4oiJw0&t=37s
- NHC Podcast: Hope for the Spiritual Side of Postpartum Depression with Ashley Webster https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaC8gsYbahA&t=34s
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
In a world that’s growing darker and more corrupt, the call for believers is simple: stay steady and remain faithful. Just as Paul sent Titus to lead the church in Crete—a place marked by immorality and disorder—this episode highlights what it means to “adorn the doctrine” through everyday obedience. Faithfulness isn’t always dramatic; it’s often found in ordinary, consistent choices: caring for your home, loving others well, and holding firmly to God’s truth. Rather than trying to fix everything around us, we’re called to focus on what God has placed in front of us today. From order in the church, to the home, to the world, God is a God of order—and He faithfully directs the steps of those who follow Him.
Resources Referenced:
- Journey Homeschool Academy https://journeyhomeschoolacademy.com/
- Enjoying the Journey Podcast with Evangelist Scott Pauley https://enjoyingthejourney.org/daily-bible-studies-etj-broadcast/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
I had the privilege of interviewing Erin Bates Paine several years back on the podcast. She shared what God had been teaching her about having a quiet, contented heart in the midst of the busyness and demands of motherhood. Her wisdom and inspiration is such an encouragement as we seek to have an eternal perspective in motherhood.
Resources Referenced:
- NHC Mother's Day Sale: Code MAMA for 20% off https://nohighercalling.org/shop/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Diligence isn’t something you can shortcut—it’s faithful, consistent effort in the things God has given you to do. In this episode, Sarah and I talk about what diligence truly is, where Scripture calls us to practice it, and why it feels so difficult in a world of constant convenience and distraction.
We unpack how modern life often replaces meaningful work with decision fatigue and delay, and why putting things off only makes life harder. The truth is, we all “choose our hard”—and diligence leads to a more fulfilling, faithful life.
Ultimately, there is no hack. Diligence is built through a right relationship with the Lord and lived out in daily faithfulness.
Scriptures Referenced:
- Deuteronomy 4:29; 6:5–7
- Psalm 90:12
- Proverbs 4:23; 13:19; 23:1–2; 27:23; 31:27
- Ecclesiastes 9:10
- Jeremiah 29:13
- Hebrews 11:6
- 1 Corinthians 4:2
- Colossians 3:23–24
Resources Referenced:
- Watch the interview on YouTube https://youtu.be/5lsemk_Q84k
- Follow Sarah on Substack https://faithfulandflourishing1.substack.com/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Conviction: God pointing out sin in your life
Guilt: Satan accusing you of sin you have been forgiven of
In this episode, we discuss how important it is for the believer to understand the difference between conviction and guilt. Our thought life is so important! If we truly desire to love the Lord with all our mind, we must learn to listen to the Holy Spirit and take captive Satan's lies.
Scriptures Referenced:
John 16:8-9
Isaiah 1:18
II Corinthians 10:5
James 1:23-25; 4:8
Revelation 12:20
Resources Referenced:
- NHC Mother's Day Sale: Code MAMA for 20% off https://nohighercalling.org/shop/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Simeon and I were recently challenged as we heard Pastor Paul and Mrs. Terrie Chappell from Lancaster Baptist Church reflect on their 40 years of ministry. As they were sharing different ways God has opened doors for the Gospel, the conversation kept turning back to hospitality. We were reminded once again how important this aspect of life is for believers!
We have seen hospitality have a huge Gospel impact during our time of ministry in Australia. I share some stories of how God used simple things like our kitchen table and a homecooked meal to see a life changed for Christ!
Resources Referenced:
- Heartfelt Hospitality by Terri Chappell https://amzn.to/3OZBb9H
- NHC Podcast Hospitality Episodes https://nohighercalling.org/podcast_series/given-to-hospitality/
- NHC Mother's Day Sale: Code MAMA for 20% off https://nohighercalling.org/shop/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
In this episode, I share how different seasons of life shape our capacity—and why it’s important to give yourself grace in lower-capacity seasons while making the most of the ones where you feel energized.
During my first trimester, I was in survival mode with limited energy—and that was okay. Now in a more energized season, I’ve been intentionally building a morning routine that supports my health, faith, and home life.
Highlights:
- Honoring your season instead of pushing beyond capacity
- A simple, life-giving morning rhythm (movement, prayer, small tasks)
- The importance of evening prep for smoother mornings
- Building habits slowly and consistently
- Modeling good routines for our kids
Start small, stay consistent, and remember—faithful habits add up over time.
Resources Referenced:
- NHC Blog: Getting a Great Start to My Day Find all the links referenced in this episode https://nohighercalling.org/getting-a-great-start-to-the-day-my-morning-routine/
- NHC Podcast: Winding Down Well
- The 5am Club by Robin Sharma https://amzn.to/4bEPOrO
- NHC Mother's Day Sale: Code MAMA for 20% off https://nohighercalling.org/shop/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
In this episode, I share how we unexpectedly started studying Shakespeare with my elementary homeschool children — and why it’s become one of a highlight of our school days!
Despite having little interest in Shakespeare myself, I was inspired by A Charlotte Mason Companion and several podcasts to give it a try. What began as skepticism turned into delight as we discovered the beauty of introducing Shakespeare early.
Key Conversation Points:
- Surprising benefits of Shakespeare for young children
- How we structure our weekly “Shakespearean Tea Time” lessons
- Reading the play aloud with dramatic voices, memory work, discussion, and puppet coloring
- Our fun 6-week wrap-up: memory recitation and family puppet show
Perfect for families wondering if Shakespeare is too advanced for little ones — it’s not! We’re already planning our next play later this school year!
Resources Referenced:
- NHC Blog: Introducing Our Children to Shakespeare https://nohighercalling.org/introducing-my-children-to-shakespeare/
- Subscribe to the NHC Email www.nohighercalling.org
- NHC YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@NoHigherCalling/videos
- NHC Mother's Day Sale: Code MAMA for 20% off https://nohighercalling.org/shop/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Join Sarah and I as we share some of our favorite books on the topics of faith, marriage, motherhood, health, and
Books Mentioned:
- A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W. Phillip Keller https://amzn.to/4dt3iYP
- What Do I Know About My God? by Mardi Collier https://amzn.to/4cVJRrI
- Glimpses of God Revealed Through His Names by Debi Pryde https://amzn.to/4bxksCi
- How I Know God Answers Prayer by Rosalind Goforth https://amzn.to/4sYNhP7
- Climbing by Rosalind Goforth https://amzn.to/47GLjdP
- Praying the Bible by Donald Whitney https://amzn.to/479wQah
- Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas https://amzn.to/4bBYqhK
- Cherish by Gary Thomas https://amzn.to/4bRmrCE
- His Needs Her Needs by Willard. F. Harley https://amzn.to/4rFjEkQ
- Intended for Pleasure by Ed Wheat https://amzn.to/4uJQqnF
- The 5 Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman https://amzn.to/4bjze0C
- The Time-Saving Mom by Crystal Paine https://amzn.to/4uyeael
- Parenting with Mercy by Michelle Brock https://amzn.to/4lC6cwB
- The Strong-Willed Child by Dr. James Dobson https://amzn.to/3NH8vSx
- Hormone Repair Manual by Dr. Lara Briden https://amzn.to/4sjRyfS
- The Fifth Vital Sign by Lisa Hendrickson-Jack https://amzn.to/4ducOLm
- Be Your Own Doctor by Rachel Weaver https://amzn.to/4rDfIkw
- Awaking Wonder by Sally Clarkson https://amzn.to/4rE1pMm
- The Read-Aloud Family by Sarah Mackenzie https://amzn.to/4cVLTIm
- A Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola https://amzn.to/3PgYlse
- Mother Culture by Karen Andreola https://amzn.to/4bBZK4c
- Educating the Whole Hearted Child by Clay and Sally Clarkson https://amzn.to/3PJGeLC
- Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Lathum https://amzn.to/4uDrNZI
- The Little Pilgrim's Progress by Helen Taylor https://amzn.to/40ABXwq
- Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss https://amzn.to/3NLSKtu
(Amazon affiliate links. Should you choose to purchase through these links, thank you! At no cost to you, it gives a little back to the ministry of NHC)
Resources Referenced:
- Psalm 23 Study on the NHC Podcast https://nohighercalling.org/podcast_series/psalm-23/
- Watch the interview on YouTube https://youtu.be/us3oPYqFAwI
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
The key to a successful morning routine is a good evening routine.
Many of us want productive mornings, but we often forget that they begin the night before. When we use our evenings to prepare for the next day, spend meaningful time connecting with family, and allow our bodies and minds to wind down for quality sleep, we create not only more peaceful evenings but better mornings as well.
In this episode, we discuss...
- Why having an evening routine is important
- Establishing your evening priorities
- Ways to wind down well, promoting refreshment and good sleep
- How gratitude plays a huge role in our spiritual and mental wellness
Resources Referenced:
- The Time Saving Mom by Crystal Paine https://amzn.to/3Pc8pCI
- Earthley Wellness Goodnight Magnesium Lotion https://earthley.com/products/good-night-lotion
- Subscribe to the NHC Email www.nohighercalling.org
- World Watch Newshttps://app.worldwatch.news/?referral_code=DBgHDaDHgeBeiD
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Join me as I share what I've read in Quarter 1 of 2026.
- Oath by Chuck Black
- Merchant by Chuck Black
- Reclamation by Chuck Black
- A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
- Isola by Allegra Goodman
- Metabolism Repair for Women by Dr. Lara Briden
- Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
- We Shall All Be Changed by Whitney K. Pipkin
- As For Me and My House by Stacie Loughrin
- Creed by Chuck Black
- The Queen's Cook by Tessa Afshar
- When the Day Comes by Gabrielle Meyer
- Good Energy by Dr. Casey Means
- Letters to Pastor's Wives by Catherine J. Stewart
- The Happiest Man on Earth by Eddie Jaku
- Daily Sourdough by Lisa Bass
- Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
- Homegrown by Amber O'Neal Johnson
- Well Lived by Sally Clarkson
Resources Referenced:
- Find these books on the NHC Blog https://nohighercalling.org/2026-reading-challenge-quarter-1/
- Find these books on my Amazon Storefront https://amzn.to/4jn6oP2
- World Watch Newshttps://app.worldwatch.news/?referral_code=DBgHDaDHgeBeiD
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Psalm 116:15 — "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints."
In this episode, we explore how Scripture confronts death head-on, transforming it from bondage to deliverance through Christ's victory. Facing grief, trials, and mortality reveals deeper hope: valleys become mountaintops, suffering yields glory, and Jesus meets us in our pain with His presence and tears.
A thoughtful meditation on grief, hope, and the splendor of God's redemptive work—reminding us we can rest in Christ's triumph even as we await its fullness.
Scriptures Referenced:
- Psalm 116:15
- Romans 8:22-23
- 1 Corinthians 15:51, 54
- Genesis 3:4; 15
- Lamentations 3:32
- Revelation 21:4-5
Resources Referenced:
- We Shall All Be Changed by Whitney Pipkin https://amzn.to/4b9bTOM
- World Watch Newshttps://app.worldwatch.news/?referral_code=DBgHDaDHgeBeiD
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Join Simeon and I as we share some of our favorite 2 player board games.
Resources Referenced:
- Find links for all the games mentioned: https://nohighercalling.org/favorite-date-night-games/
- World Watch Newshttps://app.worldwatch.news/?referral_code=DBgHDaDHgeBeiD
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Join Simeon and I as we answer listener questions!
- What is your favorite thing about each other?
- How do you spend quality time together on a daily basis?
- How to prioritize your marriage in difficult/stretching seasons where time/energy is limited?
- How can I support my husband in ministry best while also prioritizing the kids?
- How to balance marriage, motherhood, and ministry?
- How to cultivate a goldy marriage while in ministry?
- What was your gut reaction/thought when Brettnay first said the words "home birth"?
- What are your specific postpartum plans for Simeon to help while you recover?
Resources Referenced:
- NHC Podcast: Facing Postpartum as a Team https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/nhc-family-facing-postpartum-as-a-team/id1547126864?i=1000652475260
- Watch the interview on the NHC YouTube channel https://youtu.be/-P8Cysal6XU
- World Watch Newshttps://app.worldwatch.news/?referral_code=DBgHDaDHgeBeiD
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
In this warm, encouraging conversation, Sarah and I share about transforming our daily time in the kitchen—from seeing it as a reluctant chore to embracing it as a place of genuine joy, love, and even worship.
We share how God softened their hearts toward cooking, revealing it as a beautiful way to steward their homes, nurture their families, and extend hospitality even in the everyday moments. Drawing from Scripture and real-life experiences, they explore how preparing meals can minister to others (just as Jesus did around the table), build lasting family memories, and fill the home with an inviting aroma that points to His presence.
Together we discuss simple, heartfelt shifts: slowing down to savor the process, involving children in meaningful ways, setting the table with care (candles, music, favorite dishes—even for their own loved ones), and reclaiming the family table in a culture that's losing it.
Whether you're a busy mom looking to find delight in meal prep or simply want to make your kitchen feel more like the heart of your home, this episode invites you to start small and rediscover cooking as an act of purposeful love poured out right where you are.
Resources Referenced:
- Subscribe to the NHC Email: www.nohighercalling.org
- Connect with Sarah on IG https://www.instagram.com/faithfulandflourishing/
- Subscribe to Sarah's Email/Substack https://faithfulandflourishing.org/
- The Lifegiving Table by Sally Clarkson https://amzn.to/4bV0MtP
- Teachers of Good Things by Francie Taylor https://amzn.to/3MBlk0b
- Farmhouse on Boone Beginner Sourdough Bread https://www.farmhouseonboone.com/beginners-sourdough-bread-recipe/
- Erin Bates Paine Sourdough for Beginners https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fi84RRL7sWg&t=204s
- Sue Becker's Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/sues-healthy-minutes-with-sue-becker-the-bread-beckers/id1609279985
- Watch this interview on YouTube https://youtu.be/o09C8TUtyVk
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Simeon and I share some of our family's favorite board games for younger and older children!
Resources Referenced:
- NHC Blog: Family Game Night Favorites FIND ALL THE LINKS! https://nohighercalling.org/family-game-night-favorites/
- Our favorite games on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/shop/nohighercalling_/list/2F0XWD60PQMRZ?ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d
- NHC Podcast: Spending One-on-One Time with Your Children https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/spending-one-on-one-time-with-your-kids/id1547126864?i=1000634580156
- Head to Toe Prayer Journal https://nohighercalling.org/shop/devotional/head-to-toe/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
In this episode of the podcast, we get a faith-centered, practical roadmap to combat excessive screen time and reclaim family presence. Recent data shows teens averaging 7+ hours of daily entertainment screen time (with many exceeding 8 hours), nearly half of U.S. teens online "almost constantly" (Pew Research), and kids owning smartphones by age 12 facing higher risks of depression, obesity, and poor sleep (2025 CHOP/Columbia study). For moms, heavy smartphone use often heightens stress, anxiety, and fatigue—stealing moments from kids and God.
As you implement boundaries, may you experience the freedom and deeper connection God desires for our lives—redeeming the time for what truly matters most
Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 90:12
Philippians 4:8
Colossians 4:5
Resources Referenced:
- Head to Toe Prayer Journal https://nohighercalling.org/shop/devotional/head-to-toe/
- NHC Podcast: Living a Life You Love with Sarah Boots https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/living-a-life-you-love-tea-time-chat-with-brettnay-sarah/id1547126864?i=1000743803048
- NHC Podcast: Circadian Rhythm with Sarah Boots https://podcasts.apple.com/dk/podcast/circadian-rhythm-with-sarah-boots/id1547126864?i=1000656357180
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Join me in this fun episode to hear the stories behind our children's names!
Resources Referenced:
- Head to Toe Prayer Journal https://nohighercalling.org/shop/devotional/head-to-toe/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
A while back, Evangelist Scott Pauley wrote an article that shared seven ingredients for a fruitful Bible study. I found it so helpful in my own devotional life and Bible reading! In this episode, I share those thoughts and how they have helped me be a better student of the Bible.
Resources Referenced:
- Article: 7 Ingredients for a Fruitful Bible Study by Scott Pauley https://enjoyingthejourney.org/7-ingredients-for-fruitful-bible-study/
- Head to Toe Prayer Journal https://nohighercalling.org/shop/devotional/head-to-toe/
- NHC Podcast: A New Testament Marriage with Scott and Tammy Pauley https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/a-new-testament-marriage-with-scott-tammy-pauley/id1547126864?i=1000689476351
- Psalm 119 Scripture Writing Plan https://nohighercalling.org/shop/devotional/psalm-writing-plan/
- The Bible Handbook by Daily Grace https://thedailygraceco.com/products/the-bible-handbook-1?srsltid=AfmBOookKk1YnP5WEaQEVWclPie1r6LnT8mXYyT5NcDxR4h1dwr3snDP
- Enjoying the Journey Podcast: Journey Through Scripture Series https://enjoyingthejourney.org/journey-through-scripture/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Life is 95% mindset and 5% action.
Join me and Sarah Boots from Faithful and Flourishing as we unpack the power of a right mindset, grounded in Matthew 22:37—loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind.
Your perspective shapes your relationships, growth, and daily outcomes. A negative mindset hinders; a renewed one heals and brings joy (Proverbs 17:22).
We chat through these Biblical principles that root our thinking in God's Word.
- Choose gratitude daily (one simple daily habit that changed everything)
- Speak truth to yourself (Proverbs 12:25, 15:23)
- Embrace the truth: “I only have today—make today count!”
Walk away with biblical encouragement and actionable steps to realign your mindset with God’s priorities, so every day reflects faith, purpose, and grace.
Resources Referenced:
- NHC Blog: Living a Life You Love https://nohighercalling.org/living-a-life-you-love/
- Head to Toe Prayer Journal https://nohighercalling.org/shop/devotional/head-to-toe/
- Watch the interview on YouTube https://youtu.be/BoWKd5_2R6o
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
One of the greatest additions to our homeschool last year was incorporating biographies of great Christians from history. It brought incredible richness to my daughter's language arts, deepened her character as she learned from godly examples, and sparked meaningful family discussions that blessed us all.
In this episode, I share exactly how we wove biography study into our daily homeschool rhythms, why exposing our children to these faith-filled lives is so vital for their spiritual growth, and the unexpected ways it strengthened our entire family.
If you're looking for simple, impactful ways to enrich your homeschool with truth, beauty, and inspiration, you'll enjoy this conversation!
Resources Referenced:
- Christian Heroes: Then & Now Series by Janet and Jeoff Benge https://amzn.to/4aSL3e8
- Ten Girls Who Changed the World Series by Irene Howat https://amzn.to/48X1MKC
- Do Great Things for God Series https://amzn.to/3XUQQZ8
- Biography Research Paper https://www.canva.com/design/DAGFQwQqHS0/A0jn0e0VhAx2z0_whykH7Q/edit
- NHC YouTube: Introducing Your Children to Biography https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcXPmOMZ7pA
- Children of Character Cards https://nohighercalling.org/shop/family-resources/children-of-character/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Answering your questions about my pregnancy with Baby Brazzell #6!!
-Why we decided to find out baby's gender?
-Baby names?
-How I'm handling health, fitness, and diet in pregnancy?
-Birth plans? Home birth or hospital birth?
-How to care for other children while pregnant/postpartum?
And more!
Resources Referenced:
- Children of Character Cards https://nohighercalling.org/shop/family-resources/children-of-character/
- NHC Podcast: A Seasoned Mama's Thoughts on Sleep https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/a-seasoned-mamas-thoughts-on-sleep/id1547126864?i=1000698016407
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
In this heartfelt episode, I sit down with my dear friend Lydia Scoggins to discuss her beautiful new Scripture lullaby album—a soothing collection designed to uplift the spirit and bring peace to your soul.
Lydia opens up about her personal journey creating this project, sharing how God placed a deep burden on her heart to intentionally pour His Word into her daughter's life. What began as a tender act of motherhood has blossomed into this exquisite album, filled with gentle melodies and timeless Scripture that your whole family will cherish.
You'll want these lullabies playing in your home—perfect for bedtime, quiet moments, or anytime you need a touch of heavenly calm!
Resources Referenced:
- Find Songs in the Night Album on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3MVWKHi
- Find Songs in the Night Album on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mIixtsf0U0LIc3lI9cpRkxyjoU-cojda8
- Children of Character Cards https://nohighercalling.org/shop/family-resources/children-of-character/
- Watch interview on YouTube https://youtu.be/wnn58iqVeq0
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
The Australian school calendar follows the calendar year, so we are kicking off the 2026 homeschool year! I will have kids in Year 5, Year 3, and Kindergarten plus two toddlers and a newborn who joins the crew midway through the year.
We are changing some things up trying new curriculum and new rhythms. I am so excited to see where the year will take us as we learn and grow together.
I share about...
- Our daily rhythms
- Curriculum choices
- Loop schedule
- Daddy Day
- Morning Moments resources
Resources Referenced:
- Find all links for curriculum and resources here! NHC Blog: 2026 Homeschool Curriculum Choices https://nohighercalling.org/2026-curriculum-choices/
- Children of Character Cards https://nohighercalling.org/shop/family-resources/children-of-character/
- NHC Blog: Morning Moments https://nohighercalling.org/morning-moments/
- Read Aloud Revival with Sarah Mackenzie https://readaloudrevival.com/
- NHC YouTube: The Good and The Beautiful Math https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U8_VMrHkZ4&list=PLqZNJmMBPH8RkswzgoXs5R5drVMYQVdge&index=6
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Is it possible to truly live a life you love?
Join me and Sarah Boots from Faithful & Flourishing as we seek to answer this question based on truths from God's Word. We explore how to build an excellent life—not a perfect one—through intentional choices rooted in faith and wisdom.
Drawing from Proverbs 29:18, we discuss the power of a clear vision to give direction and purpose. You'll learn to identify your top 5 priorities, use them as a decision-making filter, and align daily habits with what matters most—through keystone habits, habit stacking, and asking, "What will tomorrow's me thank today's me for?"
We also dive into the freedom of simplicity: decluttering your space, schedule, and mind to create margin for family, faith, and rest—because a cluttered life often crowds out what we claim to value.
Discover practical steps to live with purpose, avoid burnout, and ensure your time truly reflects your deepest priorities.
Resources Referenced:
- Time Saving Mom by Crystal Paine https://amzn.to/495jHzc
- Find Sarah on Instagram at Faithful & Flourishing https://www.instagram.com/faithfulandflourishing/
- Watch the interview on YouTube! https://youtu.be/F78KcA4fSlM
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
2026 launches year 6 of the No Higher Calling podcast! Join me as I share what you can expect on the podcast this year and a personal life update.
Resources Referenced:
- FREE DOWNLOAD! Pen the Proverbs Scripture Writing Plan https://nohighercalling.org/product/pen-the-proverbs-scripture-writing-plan/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
"Wrong will be right when Aslan comes in sight, at the sound of his roar sorrows will be no more, when he bares his teeth winter will meet its death, and when he shakes his mane we shall have spring again."
We live in a world that is ravaged by sin and brokeness. Though it can feel like this "winter" season is forever, Christ is on the move! We can cling to His promises and trust in His Word, finding courage, hope, and joy.
Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 30:5
Isaiah 40:31
Jeremiah 29:11
John 16:33
Romans 15:13
II Corinthians 4:16-18
I Peter 1:3-4
Revelation 21:4
Resources Referenced:
- FREE DOWNLOAD! Pen the Proverbs Scripture Writing Plan https://nohighercalling.org/product/pen-the-proverbs-scripture-writing-plan/
- Focus on the Famiy Radio Theatre: The Chronicles of Narnia https://store.focusonthefamily.com/radio-theatre-the-chronicles-of-narnia-set-digital/?srsltid=AfmBOormEzFx-DQSrv79HFMnuxAya61AIPgH-A6GMMWQLTpXGBQoyg4e
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Join me as I share about the books I read during the last quarter of 2025.
-
The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket
-
Nova by Chuck Black
-
The Hedge of Thorns by Lamplighter
-
The Secret of the Hidden Cove by Lamplighter
-
City of Serpents by Christina Baehr
-
Vally of Dragons by Christina Baehr
-
A Charlotte Mason Companion by Karen Andreola
-
Flight by Chuck Black
-
Book Girl by Sarah Clarkson
-
A Day at a Time by Kristen Kelley
-
The Christmas Book Flood by Roseanna M. White
-
A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus
-
Lore by Chuck Black
-
Kingdom's Hope by Chuck Black
-
Kingdom's Edge by Chuck Black
-
Beyond the Far Horizon by Carolyn Leiloglou
-
Little Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens & Joe Sutphin
-
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
Resources Referenced:
- NHC Blog: Quarter 4 Book List https://nohighercalling.org/2025-reading-challenge-quarter-4/
- FREE DOWNLOAD! Pen the Proverbs Scripture Writing Plan https://nohighercalling.org/product/pen-the-proverbs-scripture-writing-plan/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Oh, there's no place like home for the holidays
'Cause no matter how far away you roam
If you want to be happy in a million ways
For the holidays, you can't beat home, sweet home
Join me for a special holiday episode as walk down memory lane remembering Christmas past, delight in the joys and traditions of Christmas present, and hope and dream of a beautiful Christmas future.
Resources Referenced:
- FREE DOWNLOAD! Pen the Proverbs Scripture Writing Plan https://nohighercalling.org/product/pen-the-proverbs-scripture-writing-plan/
- Little Christmas Carol envisioned and illustrated by Joe Sutphin https://amzn.to/3KFbyZO
- Little Pilgrim's Progress by Helen Taylor and illustrated by Joe Sutphin https://amzn.to/4aDbioM
- NHC Podcast: Christmas Conversations https://nohighercalling.org/podcast_series/christmas-conversations/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
God will take care of you, Through every day, o'er all the way...
Throughout our lives, we pick up burdens—big and small—that quietly grow into worry, fear, and overwhelm. We weren’t meant to carry them alone.
In this episode, we look at one of the most tender invitations in Scripture: “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7). God doesn’t just offer to take our anxieties; He promises to shoulder them completely and to carry us through every storm.
Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 37:25; 55:22; 127:1-2
Ecclesiastes 11:6
Matthew 6:28-30
I Peter 5:7
Resources Referenced:
- FREE DOWNLOAD! Pen the Proverbs Scripture Writing Plan https://nohighercalling.org/product/pen-the-proverbs-scripture-writing-plan/
- Great Hymns for Growing Hearts by Brettnay Brazzell
- Great Hymns for Growing Hearts Book and CD Bundle
- New Mercies Music Peaceful Hymns CD
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
The Missionary Monday series has been the most encouraging journey throughout 2025! We have heard from women on every continent and from every stage of life. We have realized that God is at work all over the globe, and there are so many souls that need to hear the Gospel!
Join me as I wrap up this series by sharing about our ministry in Parramatta, Australia. As our family nears three years on the field, we have seen God prove Himself faithful time and again. It is the joy of our lives to serve the Lord in this land.
Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 95:6-7
Joshua 24:15
I Corinthians 4:2
Romans 12:1
Resources Referenced:
- NHC Podcast: Life in Australia https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/life-in-australia/id1547126864?i=1000699014264
- www.brazzellstoaustralia.com Subscribe to our bi-monthly prayer letter
- Kingdom Series by Chuck Black https://amzn.to/4ruwh3o
- Little Pilgrim's Progress by Helen Taylor https://amzn.to/3M2533L
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
"True hospitality consists of giving the best of yourself to your guests." -Eleanor Roosevelt
This episode explores a remarkable story from the late 1800s that embodies the essence of true hospitality as we learn the story behind the hymn "Little Is Much When God Is In It." This hymn reflects the profound impact of simple acts of generosity, emphasizing that even small gestures, when offered with faith, can yield immense spiritual rewards.
Resources Referenced:
- Great Hymns for Growing Hearts: Christ the Savior is Born
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Join me as I reflect on the best homeschool year yet with my kids! We've laughed, explored, and grown together through learning and adventures. In this episode, I give a glimpse into our daily schedule, favorite curriculum picks, beloved read-alouds, memory work, and more. If you're curious about joyful, family-centered education, this one's for you!
Resources Referenced:
- Great Hymns for Growing Hearts: Christ the Savior is Born https://nohighercalling.org/product/great-hymns-for-growing-hearts-christmas-edition-hard-copy/
- NHC Blog: Morning Moments https://nohighercalling.org/morning-moments/
- Everyday Graces by Karen Santorum https://amzn.to/49IFHS4
- NHC Podcast: Cursive First https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/cursive-first/id1547126864?i=1000661880166
- NHC YouTube: Why We Love The Good and The Beautiful Math https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U8_VMrHkZ4&t=323s
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
I must tell Jesus all of my trials; I cannot bear these burdens alone;
In my distress He kindly will help me; He ever loves and cares for His own.
God choses different paths for different people. No matter the trial, He promises to give the grace required to live out the life He has perfectly chosen for each of us. When life brings challenges or sorrows, we must tell Jesus! He will sustain us. We do not need to bear our burdens alone. He is with us!
Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 86:6-7
Luke 11:11-13
James 4:8
I Peter 5:7
Resources Referenced:
- Great Hymns for Growing Hearts by Brettnay Brazzell
- Great Hymns for Growing Hearts Book and CD Bundle
- New Mercies Music Peaceful Hymns CD
- Great Hymns for Growing Hearts: Christ the Savior is Born https://nohighercalling.org/product/great-hymns-for-growing-hearts-christmas-edition-hard-copy/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
I struggle with the pursuit of perfection. This has been an area of my life where God has been growing me and changing me. I can easily put expectations and standards on myself that God does not have on me. That brings bondage and oppression when God desires for us to live in freedom.
Join me as we chat through these topics of striving, motivation, identity, and keeping our goal focused on the glory of God alone.
Scriptures Referenced:
I Peter 1:16
Resources Referenced:
- Great Hymns for Growing Hearts: Christ the Savior is Born https://nohighercalling.org/product/great-hymns-for-growing-hearts-christmas-edition-hard-copy/
- Mind the Gap by Terrie Chappell https://amzn.to/43LbMF1
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Travel with me and hear about other places, cutlures, and peoples as I interview missionaries around the globe. God is at work in this world! We can have a part in that work!
Retired missionary LouAnn Keiser joins us to share about the decades that her family served the Lord in Spain. Her testimony is a beautiful story of God's faithfulness, provision, and guiding hand.
Her devotional thought is centered around the question, "What is a woman"? This is a question that so many people in our world today cannot answer! LouAnn shares from God's Word what God's beautiful design for womanhood is.
Resources Referenced:
- Watch the interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/4W1q6sZkyrc
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
For I know, whate'er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well.
In this episode, we dive into the hymn "All the Way My Savior Leads Me" by Fanny Crosby. We learn that our God is leads us and is trustworthy. Proverbs 16:9 says that the Lord directs our steps. Whatever you are facing in your life, you can find peace in knowing that all the way, your Savior will lead you!
Scriptures Referenced:
Ruth
Job 23:13-14; 40:2; 42:2, 5-6
Proverbs 3:5-6; 16:9
Resources Referenced:
- Great Hymns for Growing Hearts by Brettnay Brazzell
- Great Hymns for Growing Hearts Book and CD Bundle
- New Mercies Music Peaceful Hymns CD
- Children of Character Cards: https://nohighercalling.org/product/children-of-character-cards/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
God designed our stress levels to fluctuate, but chronic stress is not part of His plan, yet so many find themselves battling this. In today’s fast-paced world, many feel frazzled instead of flourishing.
This episode explores the impact of stress on women, practical ways to manage it, and biblical encouragement for finding peace.
Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 55:22; 94:19
Isiah 41:10
Matthew 6:34
John 16:33
Philippians 4:6-7
I Peter 5:7
Resources Referenced:
- NHC Podcast: Circadian Rhythm with Sarah Boots https://podcasts.apple.com/dk/podcast/circadian-rhythm-with-sarah-boots/id1547126864?i=1000656357180
- NHC Blog: Establishing an Afternoon Quiet Time https://nohighercalling.org/establishing-an-afternoon-quiet-time/
- Body Talk Basics Puberty Course: Use code NHC10 to save 10%. https://nohighercalling--bodytalkbasics.thrivecart.com/body-talk-basics-us-shipping/
- NHC Blog: Review of Body Talk Basics Course https://nohighercalling.org/body-talk-basics-with-megan-ziegenfus/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
This school year has been an adventure as I have taught my son how to read. He started the year as quite the reluctant reader. Now as we wrap up the school year, I find him reading lengthy chapter books of his own desire and delight!
On this episode, I share some tips I learned while encouraging my reluctant reader.
Resources Referenced:
- NHC Blog: Links for the Books discussed in this episode https://nohighercalling.org/how-to-encourage-a-reluctant-reader/
- Great Hymns for Growing Hearts: Christ the Savior is Born https://nohighercalling.org/product/great-hymns-for-growing-hearts-christmas-edition-hard-copy/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
In this episode, holistic nutritionist Rebecca Grant explores how mothers can make informed choices about their children’s health and nutrition. We discuss the critical role of nourishing foods during preconception, pregnancy, and a child’s early years to establish a foundation for healthy living. Key topics include:
- Supporting a baby’s gut health and microbiome.
- Transitioning to solid foods.
- Promoting healthy snacking habits.
- Using age-appropriate vocabulary to discuss healthy and unhealthy foods.
- Emphasizing God’s design for optimal health, body function, and stewardship.
The episode provides practical insights for mothers desiring to lay strong foundations for their children's health.
Resources Referenced:
- Find Rebecca on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebecca.m.grant/
- www.cleanlivingmomma.com
- Children of Character Cards: https://nohighercalling.org/product/children-of-character-cards/
- Watch the Interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gc7I_lEolj0
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Travel with me and hear about other places, cutlures, and peoples as I interview missionaries around the globe. God is at work in this world! We can have a part in that work!
Pastor's wife Suzy Crocket joins me to share about their family's time serving in Romania. This part of the world holds vast beauty and intrigue, but it is an area that has a great need for the gospel. Suzy also shares what God is teaching her as a mother to young adult children who are struggling with their faith. I hope this episode will encourage you to pray for them and other missionaries and the real challenges they face while leading their families and serving the Lord.
Resources Referenced:
- Children of Character Cards: https://nohighercalling.org/product/children-of-character-cards/
- Watch the interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zpPr5QnP9zM
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
People all over the world have been impacted by the death of Charlie Kirk.
People all over the world have been awakened to spiritual things.
People all over the world have been emblazened to stand for our King.
God has always had a remnant. This is not the time for God's remnant to keep our heads down until Jesus comes. This is the time for God's remnant to rise up and live, love, and speak with courage for our faith!
Anchored in Romans 15:13, we discuss clinging to God’s promises, doing the next right thing, loving Christ passionately, teaching children diligently, acknowledging spiritual warfare, praying fervently, and speaking truth courageously.
Scriptures Referened:
Deuteronomy 6:7
II Samuel 6:14
Psalm 30:5; 119:2
Esther 4:16
Isaiah 60:1
Micah 6:8
Acts 28:31
Romans 11:5; 15:13
Ephesians 6:12
Hebrews 10:24-25
James 5:16
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Join me as I share what I've been reading during quarter 3 of 2025!
-
Faith That Sticks by Tricia Goyer & Leslie Nunnery
-
Reclaiming Quiet by Sarah Clarkson
-
The Mythmakers by John Hendrix
-
Wormwood Abbey by Christina Baehr
-
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
-
Michael's Gentle Wife by Karen Andreola
-
It's Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn by Greta Eskridge
-
The Prince and The Blight by Kathryn Butler
-
Mother Culture by Karen Andreola
-
The Only Raised Bed Gardening Book You'll Ever Need by I. V. Fieldstone
-
Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
-
Kingdom's Dawn by Chuck Black
-
The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser
-
Drake Hall by Christina Baehr
-
Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale
-
The Time Saving Mom by Crystal Paine
-
The Forgotten Sisters by Shannon Hale
-
Castle of the Winds by Christina Baehr
-
Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Resources Referenced:
- Find all the books discussed today on the NHC Blog: https://nohighercalling.org/2025-reading-challenge-quarter-3/
- Body Talk Basics use code NHC10 to save 10% off https://bodytalkbasics.thrivecart.com/body-talk-basics-us-shipping/?affiliate=nohighercalling
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Grief, while deeply painful, can sometimes serve as a catalyst for strengthening the marriages of Christian couples who navigate it together with faith. Simeon and I have seen that first hand in the lives of our friends and mentors. We have also experienced that truth in our own marriage.
In this episode, we seek to share lessons God has taught us in the midst of grief and how these biblical principles can make your marriage stronger than ever.
Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 34:18
Isaiah 43:2
Ecclesiastes 4:12
II Corinthians 1:3-4
I Thessalonians 4:13-14
Hebrews 11:10
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Come, thou Fount of every blessing;
tune my heart to sing thy grace;
streams of mercy, never ceasing,
call for songs of loudest praise.
In this episode, we explore the timeless hymn "Come Thou Fount" and its powerful message of redemption. Discover how God, our Redeemer, ransoms us from the bondage of sin, as vividly reflected in the life of the hymn’s writer, Robert Robinson. Once a wayward young man, Robinson’s heart was transformed by the gospel, inspiring this beloved hymn of worship.
Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 107:2
I Samuel 7
Acts 8:1-4; 9
Ephesians 1:7
Resources Referenced:
- Body Talk Basics use code NHC10 to save 10% off https://bodytalkbasics.thrivecart.com/body-talk-basics-us-shipping/?affiliate=nohighercalling
- Great Hymns for Growing Hearts by Brettnay Brazzell
- Great Hymns for Growing Hearts Book and CD Bundle
- New Mercies Music Peaceful Hymns CD
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
In this episode, Brettnay interviews Megan Ziegenfus, creator of the Body Talk Basics puberty course. They discuss how important it is for mothers to walk with their daugthers through this season, being a voice of truth and compassion. This can help form a strong bond that will serve the family well as you enter into the teen years.
Resources Referenced:
- Body Talk Basics Puberty Course: Use code NHC10 to save 10%. https://nohighercalling--bodytalkbasics.thrivecart.com/body-talk-basics-us-shipping/
- NHC Blog: Review of Body Talk Basics Course https://nohighercalling.org/body-talk-basics-with-megan-ziegenfus/
- Watch the interview on NHC YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/XyMd5_z4SSg
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
We will travel around the world experiencing other cultures and peoples as we hear from missionaries. God is at work in this world! We can have a part in that work!
Missionary Aleah Gilbert shares about her and her husband's work amongst the Inuit people in Greeland. This country is rich in beauty and natural wonders, but it has been a place where the gospel has been neglected. This episode will encourage to to pray for the Gilberts and for more laborers to go to this part of the world!
As a part of NHC Family, these episodes are great to listen to with your spouse and children!
Watch the Interview on the NHC YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/Utjomx8GSG8
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
"Do not let tomrrow's worries rob you of today's joy."
Fear crowds it's way into many of our hearts. It is not a welcome guest, but we do not know how to be free from it's clutches. Yet all throughout Scripture we find the Lord telling us to fear not!
In this episode, I share Scriptures and truth that I meditate on to help me gain victory over my fears.
Scriptures Referenced:
Deuteronomy 20:3-4; 31:6
Psalm 27:1; 34:4; 56:3-4; 118:6
Proverbs 29:25
Isaiah 12:2; 41:10, 13
Luke 12:6-7
Philippians 4:6-8
II Timothy 1:7-8
I John 4:18
Resources Referenced:
- New Mama Gift Box
- NHC Podcast: Fear Not!
- NHC Podcast: Living Above Anxiety with Rebecca Grant
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Here is love, vast as the ocean, Loving-kindness as the flood,
When the Prince of Life, our Ransom, Shed for us His precious blood.
This beautiful hymn full of rich truth about our Lord is known as the "love song" of the Welsh revival. In this epsiode, we learn more about God's vast love for us and the sacrifice He made to extend that love to us.
Scriptures Referenced:
Genesis 18:25
Jeremiah 31:3
John 2:2; 14:27
Romans 10:13
I Corinthians 13
Colossians 3:25
I John 4:19
Resources Referenced:
- New Mama Gift Box
- Great Hymns for Growing Hearts by Brettnay Brazzell
- Great Hymns for Growing Hearts Book and CD Bundle
- New Mercies Music Peaceful Hymns CD
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
In this episode, the focus is on supporting women through the physical challenges of postpartum depression, building on the previous discussion about its spiritual and emotional impacts. Host Rebecca Grant shares insights for nurturing physical well-being during this season, offering practical ways to care for oneself amidst the complexities of postpartum depression. The episode emphasizes holistic support, addressing the physical while acknowledging the emotional and spiritual aspects covered previously.
She walks us through practial steps towards physical healing such as...
-Nutrient and Mineral Depletion
-Nervous System Regulation
-Emotional Support
-Circadian Rhythms
Resources Referenced:
- Find Rebecca on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebecca.m.grant/
- www.cleanlivingmomma.com
- Rebecca's Guide: Reclaim Your Energy https://www.cleanlivingmomma.com/product-page/reclaim-your-energy
- NHC Podcast: Circadian Rhythm with Sarah Boots
- Watch this interview on YouTube
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
In this episode, we dive into the often unspoken struggle of postpartum depression (PPD), which affects 1 in 7 women. Joined by pastor's wife Ashley Webster, we explore her journey with PPD and how she found victory, particularly through a spiritual lens. Ashley shares about the shame and isolation many women face, offering hope and practical insights for those seeking help.
In this episode, Ashley discusses:
- What depression is and how PPD manifests
- Why PPD can feel like an identity crisis
- The impact of PPD on marriage
- How to overcome the spiritual challenges of PPD
Join us for an honest, uplifting conversation that sheds light on finding healing and strength through the Lord.
Watch the interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VaC8gsYbahA
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Travel with me and hear about other places, cutlures, and peoples as I interview missionaries around the globe. God is at work in this world! We can have a part in that work!
Missionary Julie Knickerbocker joins me to share about her family and their ministry in Burkina Faso, West Africa. Your heart will be challenged and helped as you hear Julie share her journey of learning to trust the Lord and cast her cares and fears on Him.
Watch the interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/OfVxAdGLAQQ
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
The practice of writing Scripture has helped me focus more closely on God's Word during my devotional time. There are many reasons I enjoy doing this and why this practice is good for your spiritual growth, memory retention, and meditation on God's truth. Join me as I chat through these points on this episode!
Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 119:11
II Timothy 2:15
Resources Referenced:
- NHC Scripture Promises for Labor & Birth
- Scripture Writing Journals on the NHC Shop
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
In this episode, we discuss homeschooling during the early years, a time that can feel both exciting and overwhelming for parents. Joined by Sam Brown from Our Blessed Homeschool, we explore how to embark on the journey of home education with confidence. With her unique perspective as a former public school teacher and now a homeschooling mom of young children, Sam shares practical insights and encouragement for parents looking to start their children's academic journey well.
We discuss
- The discipleship aspect of homeschooling
- Home is home first, then school
- Helping your littles fall in love with learning
- Engaging activites for toddlers and preschoolers
Tune in to learn how to make homeschooling in the little years a rewarding experience for both you and your children!
Resources Referenced:
- Our Blessed Preschool Bundle
- 140+ Resources from Our Blessed Homeschool
- Follow Our Blessed Homeschool on Instagram!
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
and to take him at his word;
just to rest upon his promise,
and to know, "Thus saith the Lord."
The words of this hymn came from a grieving heart. As Louisa Stead reflected on the devastating loss of her husband, she found strength for the future as she trusted in her Lord. We can glean truths from this hymn that will help us walk in the confidence of the Lord on life's good days and on life's most challenging days.
Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 121:4; 138:2
Isaiah 26:3-4
John 1:1-3, 14
I Corinthains 1:20
Philippians 2:10
Titus 1:2
Resources Referenced:
- NHC Scripture Promises for Labor & Birth
- Great Hymns for Growing Hearts by Brettnay Brazzell
- Great Hymns for Growing Hearts Book and CD Bundle
- New Mercies Music Peaceful Hymns CD
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Answering your homeschooling questions from Instagram!
- What printer do I use?
- What homeschool planner do I like?
- Will I use Gather Round Homeschool throughout middle/high school?
- What writing curriculum do you use?
- How to help reluctant readers?
- What rhythms are good to have in place before you begin a homeschool journey?
Resources Referenced:
- NHC Shop: Scripture Promises for Labor & Birth
- Amazon: Ecotank Printer
- Mid-Year Homeschool Update
- Brighter Day Press Watercolor Classes
- NHC Podcast: Homeschooling with Toddlers & Babies
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Welcome to the second episode in the 2025 Missionary Monday series. We will travel around the world experiencing other cultures and peoples as we hear from missionaries. God is at work in this world! We can have a part in that work!
Missionary Deana Brown joins to to share about her life in a quaint village in Germany. God has led her family to a unique ministry- a coffee shop ministry. Through providing locals with free coffee and conversation, they have had the opportunity to share the free love of Jesus Christ.
Watch the interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/OOknDqtOkJY
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
"YOU are the one person in the world that has the most influence on your children’s eternity!"
The most important prayer request on the heart of a Christian parent is that their children will come to know Christ as their personal Saviour. Leading them to Christ can feel like a daunting task, but we must remember that God loves our children even more than we do, and He desires that they come to know Him!
Sarah Boots from Faithful and Flourishing joins me to share God's heart for the salvation of our children and practical ways that we, as mamas, can guide their hearts to Him.
Sarah shares...
- God's heart for your children
- How to lead your children to Jesus
- How to live a real faith in front of your children
- How to invite your children to Jesus
- How to share the gospel with our children
Resources Referenced:
- Sarah has made all this information and so much more available in a FREE E-Book, Leading Our Children to Christ. Available on her website https://faithfulandflourishing.org/free-ebook/
- Find Sarah on Instagram
- Watch the interview on YouTube
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Join me as I share what books I've been reading throughout quarter 2 of 2025. I ended the quarter finishing book #26 out of my #52 book challenge.
Books Read:
- Mr. Eternity by Roy Thomas Williams
- Hormone Repair Manual by Lara Briden
- Between Flowers and Bones by Carolyn Leiloglou
- Your Mom Walk with God by Sally Clarkson
- Eternity in Their Hearts by Don Richardson
- Mooses with Bazookas by S. D. Smith
- Sweep by Jonathan Auxier
- Sincerely, Stoneheart by Emily Wilson Hussem
- The Dragon and The Stone by Kathryn Butler
- The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoners Dilemma by Trenton Lee Stewart
- Parenting in the Middle Years by Gary and Ann Marie Ezzo
- Little Pilgrim's Progress by Helen Taylor
- Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
- The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhorn
Resources Referenced:
- 2025 Reading Challenge (Quarter 2) Blog Post
- Save $10 off your first set of $50 or more from Mentionables, a model-free lingerie company!
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Psalm 127:4 "As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth."
Every Christian is called to spiritual warfare, using two scriptural weapons: the sword (the Word of God) and the arrow (children, Psalm 127:4). Simeon and I discuss how arrows—our children—must be prepared, aimed, and fired to reach their potential. As Christian parents, we prepare and aim our children in their youth, then release them to fight the good fight of faith.
Scriptures Referenced:
Deuteronomy 6:6-9
Psalm 127:4-5
Proverbs 22:6
Matthew 4:1-11
Ephesians 6:12, 17
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
In the cross, in the cross, Be my glory ever; Till my raptured soul shall find rest beyond the river.
The gospel has the power to transform lives, not just for eternity but in our everyday living. Jesus wants us to have life abundant. This is found when we keep our attention focused on the cross.
Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 16:8-9; 31:24; 39:7; 42:11; 78:7; 119:114; 130:3-5
Isaiah 52:14
Matthew 16:24
I Corinthians 15:31
II Corinthians 12
Resources Referenced:
- Save $10 off your first set of $50 or more from Mentionables, a model-free lingerie company!
- Great Hymns for Growing Hearts by Brettnay Brazzell
- Great Hymns for Growing Hearts Book and CD Bundle
- New Mercies Music Peaceful Hymns CD
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Proverbs 14:1 "Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucket it down with her hands."
God has made women to be the cultivaters and keepers of home. A wise woman will establish her home on biblical principles that bring glory to her Lord. But what foundations should we build upon?
Join me as I discuss the importance of building our homes on foundations of love, trust, joy, peace, and hospitality.
Scriptures Referenced:
Proverbs 14:1; 31:11
Romans 12:13
Philippians 4:4
Titus 2:4
James 1:5
I Peter 5:7
Resources Referenced:
- Save $10 off your first set of $50 or more from Mentionables, a model-free lingerie company!
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Welcome to the second episode in the 2025 Missionary Monday series. We will travel around the world experiencing other cultures and peoples as we hear from missionaries. God is at work in this world! We can have a part in that work!
Missionary Patty Sommer joins us to share what her life is like living in Ghana, West Africa. The Sommers have been in the country church planting for over two decades. While planting churches and traning national pastors, they also are involved in literary work.
She talks about raising children on the mission field, navitaging the years of children crossing into adulthood, trusting the Lord, and how we can be all that God desires us to be as we go through different seasons of life.
As a part of NHC Family, these episodes are great to listen to with your spouse and children!
Watch the Interview on the NHC YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/OGnhbireXcI
Resources Referenced:
- Color Analysis: Use this link for 10% offhttps://cal.com/radiant-woman-co/brettnay10-color-analysis
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
There are different stages in the life of a woman. While I'm still in the reproductive years, I know the perimenopause/menopause stage is on the horizon. As I learn about how God created the female body, I am fascinated! The later season of womanhood can be one that women approach with fear and dread, but do we have to?
While reading Hormone Repair Manual by Dr. Lara Briden, I gleaned so much information on that coming season of life as well as things I can do today to set myself for future health success.
Join me as I discuss the importance of...
- Nervous System Regulation
- Exercising, Stregnth Building, and Getting Outside
- Getting Sunshine
- Nourishing Your Body with Whole Foods
- Prioritizing Good Sleep
Resources Referenced:
- Hormone Repair Manual by Lara Briden
- Period Repair Manual by Lara Briden
- A Christian Woman's Guide to Health and Hormones by Sarah Boots
- Color Analysis: Use this link for 10% offhttps://cal.com/radiant-woman-co/brettnay10-color-analysis
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Whaterver my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.
Years ago I heard the story behind the writing of this hymn. Having my eyes opened to the heartbreaking circumstances that led to the writing of this beautiful hymn would change me. I realized that there is rich depth to the hymns we sing in worship. This changed how I worshipped the Lord through song. I began to see God's character shining through hymns I had sung since my childhood.
Join me as we glean truth and encouragement from this beloved hymn of the faith.
Resources Referenced:
- Great Hymns for Growing Hearts by Brettnay Brazzell
- Great Hymns for Growing Hearts Book and CD Bundle
- New Mercies Music Peaceful Hymns CD
- Color Analysis: Use this link for 10% offhttps://cal.com/radiant-woman-co/brettnay10-color-analysis
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
There is nothing like a good story. The way it draws you in, captivates you, and leaves you thinking is an experience that young and old alike delight in!
God is the master storyteller. We know that because He wrote the Bible and filled it with stories. Jesus demonstrated this as He time and again used stories to teach eternal truths.
Simeon and I interview our friend, Nathaniel Brown author of The Christian Storyteller. He shares how God has used stories to impact his own life, and how he, as a father, incorporates storytelling into how he instructs his children.
We discuss...
- Why Christian parents should be storytellers
- How we can use stories for eternal purposes in the hearts of our children
- Why it is important for families to spend time reading Bible stories together
- How using stories can be more effective than lecturing a child
- How a parent can practially being using storytelling to instruct their children
Resources Referenced:
- The Christian Storyteller by Nathaniel Brown
- Exempla Podcast
- Watch this interview on the NHC YouTube Channel
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
"Just as much as our kids are dependent upon us, we are dependent upon the Lord."
Kim Shadday has years of experience as a mother and as a biblical counselor. She joins me in this episode to share her journey of spiritual growth and how motherhood transformed her walk with God. Through the different seasons that motherhood brings, God taught Kim more about who He was and how she could reflect His character to her children. We walk through the seasons of...* Infancy: Learning to Trust and Rely on God * Toddler Years: Patience in the Chaos * Elementary Years: Consistency and Repetition * Junior High: Grace and Gratitude * High School: Stregthening Relationships and Trust * Young Adulthood: Season of Transition
May this conversation encourage you in your mom walk with God!
Scriptures Referenced: Deut. 6:1-9 Psalm 139:7; 32:8; 143:10 Prov 22:6; 3:5-6 John 13:15 Rom 12:10; 14:12 II Cor 3:18 Gal 6:9 Eph 3:7 Phil 4:13; 1:6 James 1:17; 5:11 II Peter 2:9 I John 4:10
Resources Referenced:
- Kim Shadday Biblical Counselor on Facebook
- Watch this interview on the NHC YouTube Channel
- Mother's Day Special: Use code MAMA to save 20% at www.nohighercalling.org/shop
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Missionary Lori Holt shares about her life serving the Lord in Chile, Latin America. You'll learn many unique facts about this beautiful part of the world.
The Holts have served the Lord in this part of the world for just over two decades. Their experience gives us great insight into preparing for longevity in our service to the Lord.
Resources Referenced:
Find out more about the Holt's Ministry: https://connectchile.org/
Watch this interview on the NHC YouTube Channel
Mother's Day Special: Use code MAMA to save 20% at www.nohighercalling.org/shop
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
There are times in life where we have to cling to the goodness of the Lord lest we drown under the waves of sorrow and loss. Our family has recently been in that season as we walked through our second miscarriage. I share the story of our grief, but my prayer is that hope shines brightly through all the darkness. God is always, only good- even when our hearts are breaking. "I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."
Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 27:13
Lamentations 3:19-24
II Corinthians 1:4
I Thessalonians 4:13
Resources Referenced:
- NHC Podcast: All Things for Our Good
- NHC Podcast: Pregnancy After Miscarriage
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
In shady, green pastures, so rich and so sweet, God leads His dear children along;
As we continue through our book study of Great Hymns for Growing Hearts, we come to the hymn God Leads Us Along. This is a beautiful hymn that reminds us of truths we learn about our great Shepherd in Psalm 23. Whether we go through the waters, floods, or fire, God promises to lead us. We can find peace and rest in Him through all the seasons life brings.
Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 23
Daniel 3:17-18
Acts 5:29
Romans 8:28
II Corinthians 2:9
Resources Referenced:
- Great Hymns for Growing Hearts by Brettnay Brazzell
- Great Hymns for Growing Hearts Book and CD Bundle
- New Mercies Music Peaceful Hymns CD
- Mother's Day Special: Use code MAMA to save 20% at www.nohighercalling.org/shop
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Being a homemaker and a homeschool mama leaves a woman with quite a bit to juggle. How can we get through academic tasks while also keeping up with the laundry and getting a healthy dinner on the table? I've been asked that question (and similar versions of that question) before, and I get it! I've asked the same thing during different stages of life.
Join me as I share lessons God has taught me in a busy season of homemaking and homeschooling!
We chat about...
- Starting the day before your kids (getting your priorities in order through time in God's Word and prayer)
- Preparing the night before
- Planning for margin
- Using pockets of time wisely
- Simplifying
- Being consistent with housework
- Embracing a need for rest
Resources Referenced:
- Time Saving Mom by Crystal Paine
- YouTube: What We Love About the Good and the Beautiful Math
- YouTube: Gather Round Geography Units
- YouTube: Gather Round Homeschool
- NHC Podcast: Embracing a Season of Home
- NHC Family Podcast: Developing a Biblical Vision for Your Family
- NHC Family Podcast: Crafting a Family Culture
- IG: Sarah Boots from @faithfulandflourishing
- IG: Elisabeth Beam from @balancingbeams
- Mother's Day Special: Use code MAMA to save 20% at www.nohighercalling.org/shop
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
So often I get asked, "How do you balance homemaking while having littles?" I'll be honest, it's not always easy, but through my journey of motherhood, God has taught me so much. I share some spiritual and practical lessons that have helped me to find and keep balance in these areas.
We discuss things such as:
-Taking care of your soul
-Keeping the joy of the Lord as your strength
-Establishing priorities
-Determining the essentials
-Involving your children
-Establishing a daily rest time
Scriptures Referenced:
Deuteronomy 33:25
Nehemiah 8:10
Psalm 19:7
John 10:10
James 1:5
Resources Referenced:
Mother's Day Special: Use code MAMA to save 20% at www.nohighercalling.org/shop
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Welcome to the second episode in the 2025 Missionary Monday series. We will travel around the world experiencing other cultures and peoples as we hear from missionaries. God is at work in this world! We can have a part in that work!
Missionary Jessica Curtis shares about her life serving the Lord in Malawi, Africa. God has had the Curtis family on a unique journey as they've given their lives in service to Him. From Ukraine, to the US, to Africa, they have followed God as He's led them. You will be encouraged to hear how God is working through their ministry and how God has used their time in Africa to remind Jessica to encourage herself in the Lord.
As a part of NHC Family, these episodes are great to listen to with your spouse and children!
Watch the Interview on the NHC YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/mWQj2Lulj78
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
"Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers." -Charles W. Eliot, President of Harvard
It is no secret that I love books! Reading is a huge part of the atmosphere of our home and our family culture. In this episode, we chat about why it is so important to develop a love for reading in your home. One of the best ways to do this is to collect a home library. I share where to find books worth buying and how to build a home library on a budget.
Resources Referenced:
NHC Blog~ Reading Posts
Friendship Cards
Thriftbooks
The Read-Aloud Family by Sarah MacKenzie
Give Your Child the World by Jamie C. Martin
Honey for a Child's Heart by Gladys Hunt
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Join me as I share the books that I've been reading in 2025!
-
New Testament Marriage by Scott Pualey
-
Safeguards by Julie Lowe
-
Habits by Charlotte Mason
-
Beneath the Swirling Sky by Carolyn Leiloglou
-
Seasons of a Mother's Heart by Sally Clarkson
-
Every Home a Foundation by Phylicia Masonheimer
-
A Healthier Home by Shawna Holman
-
George Washington Carver by Janet & Geoff Benge
-
Boy Mom by Monica Swanson
-
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart
-
Gospel Mom by Emily Jensen & Laura Wifler
-
The Christian Storyteller by Nathaniel Brown
-
Eric Liddell by Janet & Geoff Benge
Resources Referenced:
NHC Blog: 2025 Reading Challenge (Quarter 1)
NHC Friendship Cards
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.
Jesus Christ is sufficient to be the payment for our sins! Though our sin left a crimson stain, He can wash us white as snow. It is good for us to reflect on the gift we have in salvation. Join me as we discuss truths learned in the hymn, "Jesus Paid It All." May it remind us that we owe our all to Him!
Scriptures Referenced:
Romans 3:10
II Corinthians 12:9
Ephesians 2:8-9
Hebrews 10:10-12, 18
Resources Referenced:
Great Hymns for Growing Hearts by Brettnay Brazzell
Great Hymns for Growing Hearts Book and CD Bundle
New Mercies Music Peaceful Hymns CD
NHC Friendship Cards
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
God has given us the unique opportunity to call Sydney, Australia home. Australia is a land of fascinating animals, diverse landscapes, and stunning beaches. Join me as I share a peek into what our life is like living abroad!
Resources Referenced:
NHC Friendship Cards
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Sleep during the newborn/postpartum season is a hot topic! We are desperate for rest, yet it seems to elude us in that season. There are many methods, tips, and ideas to try. We ask- should we co-sleep? try the cry-it-out method? should a 6 week baby really sleep 8 hours at a time? how often do they really need to eat? So many questions!
In this episode, I don't have magic advice that will transform your nights, but I do have some practial advice as a mama of five. Some tips are to help with baby, but most tips are to help mama!
Scriptures Referenced:
Deuteronomy 33:25
Resources Referenced:
Prayer Journal for Kids
Taking Cara Babies Sleep Course
NHC Podcast: Circadian Rhythm with Sarah Boots
A Christian Woman's Guide to Health and Hormones by Sarah Boots
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Welcome to the second episode in the 2025 Missionary Monday series. We will travel around the world experiencing other cultures and peoples as we hear from missionaries. God is at work in this world! We can have a part in that work!
Missionary Marissa Paton joins us to share what her life is like living in Bacolod, Philippines. God has given her a love for this unique and beautiful land and for the people. She shares truths that God has taught her during her time living there such as letting God have control of your life, trusting Him for your needs, and the importance of staying in God's perfect will.
You will leave this episode excited about serving the Lord and googling how much it costs to fly to the Philippines!
As a part of NHC Family, these episodes are great to listen to with your spouse and children!
Watch the Interview on the NHC YouTube Channel:
https://youtu.be/HS_nwpL252g
Resources Referenced:
Follow Marissa on Instagram
The Highly Favoured Life
Big Bible Adventures Kids Books
Prayer Journal for Kids
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Day by Day, and with each passing moment, Strength I find, to meet my trials here;...
Join me as we study Hymns for the Heart each month throughout 2025. We will be meditating on the words and truths of twelve beloved hymns of the faith.
On this episode, we hear the story of Carolina Sandell and the tragic event that led her to pen the words of this beloved hymn. Through the loss of her father, she learned rich truths about her heavenly Father that sustained her and strengthened her faith. You will be encouraged to trust the heart of your Father as He promises to give us strength for each day.
Scriptures Referenced:
Exodus 16:1-31
Numbers 11:4-9
Deuteronomy 33:25
John 3:16
Romans 8:11, 14-17
Galatians 4:7
TItus 3:5
Resources Referenced:
Great Hymns for Growing Hearts by Brettnay Brazzell
Great Hymns for Growing Hearts Book and CD Bundle
New Mercies Music Peaceful Hymns CD
Prayer Journal for Kids
NHC Blog: As Thy Days, So Thy Strength
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Every person on this earth has a sphere of influence. God has designed our lives to impact the lives of others. We have a responsibility to steward this influence well. Jesus is our perfect example. He called the disciples to be "with him". It is this withness that allows us to steward our influence well.
We discuss how this truth impacts the Titus 2 model of discipleship and what it should practically look like in the life of a believer.
Scriptures Referenced:
Proverbs 13:20; 27:17
Matthew 5:13-16
Mark 3:14
Resources Referenced:
NHC Podcast: A Study of Titus with Denise Palmer
NHC Podcast: Be Someone's Elizabeth
NHC Podcast: A Life Infused with Christ
Enjoying the Journey Podcast with Evangelist Scott Pauley
Prayer Journal for Kids
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
God desires for couples to have a beautiful, abundant marriage, yet so often, life and busyness get in the way. Simeon joins me to share our own struggles in this area, and how the Lord has helped us rekindle the spark in our marriage in recent days.
Scriptures Referenced:
Genesis 2:24
Mark 10:8
John 10:10
Resources Referenced:
30 Day Husband Encouragement Challenge from Revive Our Hearts
Prayer Journal for Kids
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Scott and Tammy Pauley join us to discuss their new book, New Testament Marriage. The book delves into the lives of Bible couple, Aquilla and Priscilla. This couple gives us a beautiful picture of a marriage where husband and wife are committed to each other and are committed to Christ.
We discuss...
-How to nurture friendship with your spouse
-How a couple can have conversations about Christ
-The importance of having a family altar
-How couples can invest in other couples and serve the Lord
Resources:
- New Testament Marriage Resources: https://enjoyingthejourney.org/topics/new-testament-marriage/
- Enjoying the Journey: https://enjoyingthejourney.org/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Welcome to the second episode in the 2025 Missionary Monday series. We will travel around the world experiencing other cultures and peoples as we hear from missionaries. God is at work in this world! We can have a part in that work!
Missionary Nikki Brown joins us to share what her life is like living in Memot, Cambodia. The Browns have been in the country church planting for over a decade. God is using them to introduce Jesus to a primarily Buddhist people.
As a part of NHC Family, these episodes are great to listen to with your spouse and children!
Watch the Interview on the NHC YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/WKwXnLR2EPU
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
A new homeschool year is about to commence, and I could not be more excited! Hear what curriculum and resources I'll be using with my 8, 6, and 4.5 year old.
Resources Referenced:
Find links for all the resources referenced on this episode in the blog posts listed below.
- NHC Blog: Curriculum Line-Up for 2025
- NHC Blog: Morning Moments
- YouTube: The Good and The Beautiful Math
- YouTube: Gather Round Homeschool
- Pen the Proverbs
- Children of Character Cards
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
The more I read and research, the more I realize how important it is for children and adults to be out in nature! This aspect of life has become so important to us that we are seeking to make outdoor time a part of our family culture. That effort has led us to camping together! While it is so good to get away from everyday responsibilities and tech and get immersed in nature, it's not aways easy to tent camp with five little children!
On this episode, I share tips that have helped us fall in love with camping adventures!
- What to pack
- What we eat
- Fun facts about camping in Australia
- Creating an adventure playlist
- Navigating hard things and unexpected challenges
Resources Referenced:
1000 Hours Outside Backpacks
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!
Join me as we study Hymns for the Heart each month throughout 2025. We will be meditating on the words and truths of twelve beloved hymns of the faith.
On this episode, we hear the story of Captian John Newton and the events that led him to writing "Amazing Grace." We learn about our gracious God. We think through discussion questions that delve us deeper into biblical truth.
You will walk away from this episode amazed by our gracious God and with a song of worship in your heart. "We've no less days to sing God's praise then when we've first begun."
Scriptures Referenced:
Exodus 11-12; 16
Numbers 21:5-9
Psalm 145:8
John 14:6
Romans 6:6-10; 10:9
I Corinthains 15:22
Ephesians 2:3
Revelation 20:14-15
Resources Referenced:
Great Hymns for Growing Hearts by Brettnay Brazzell
Great Hymns for Growing Hearts Book and CD Bundle
New Mercies Music Peaceful Hymns CD
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
We are in the middle of summer here in Sydney, Australia. I have come up with a simple rhythm for our mornings during our break from homeschooling. I have found that having a bit of structured time together at the beginning of the day helps keep them from wandering around with no direction. This is a fun time of reading, learning together, music practice, and activities!
Resources Referenced:
- NHC Blog: Summer Rhythms
- Think Tank Scholar Math Flashcards
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Welcome to the first episode in the 2025 Missionary Monday series. We will travel around the world experiencing other cultures and peoples as we hear from missionaries. God is at work in this world! We can have a part in that work!
Missionary verteran, Margaret Stringer, joins me to share her life's story and answer the question, "What is a missionary?" You will be captivated by Miss Stringers enthusiasm for the Lord and His calling on her life! From jungle rats, to attack spiders, to witch doctors, Jesus led her all the way!
As a part of NHC Family, these episodes are great to listen to with your spouse and children!
Resources Referenced:
Learn more about Margaret Stringer and purchase her books at margaretstringer.com
Watch the Interview on the NHC YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/Yh8W8y387bM
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
God has a will for every person and a plan for every person. His will is the gospel. He desires that all people come to know Him and to make Him known. His will is the bedrock from which the plan develops. It is in His will that we find our identity, but it is through His plan that we live out our daily callings for His glory.
This podcast is called No Higher Calling. What is my highest calling? What is your highest calling? In this episode, I share my heart and what God is teaching me from His Word in regards to the thought of His will and His plan for our lives.
Scriptures Referenced:
Ecclesiastes 12:13
John 4:34, 6:40; 17:20-23
Romans 8:28-29; 12:1-2
Ephesians 4:13-15; 6:5-8
I Thessalonians 4:3-5, 7
James 4:8
I John 2:28
Resources Referenced:
Children of Character Cards
NHC Podcast: Finding God's Will for Your Life
NHC Podcast: My Surrender to Missions
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Wrap up another year's reading challenge with me! I set the goal of reading 50 books this year, and I wrap up with having read 54. In this episode, I share the books I've read in quarter 4.
Books Discussed:
- Jesus Led Me All the Way by Margaret Stringer
- Being Elisabeth Elliot by Ellen Vaughn
- A Family Guide to Narnia by Christin Ditchfield
- The Last Battle by C. S. Lewis
- Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham
- The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
- Marmee by Sarah Miller
- Parenting by Paul David Tripp
- Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
- The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald
- Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler
- The Christmas Doll by Elvira Woodruff
- Little Christmas Carol by Joe Sutphin
- Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund
- Ben Carson: A Chance at Life by Geoff & Janet Benge
Resources Referenced:
NHC Blog: 2024 Reading Challenge (Quarter 4)
NHC Blog: Finding Time To Read as a Busy Mom
NHC Blog: What To Do When You are in a Reading Slump
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
We finish our Couples of the Bible study with Mary and Joseph. Why add this couple to the "undesirable couples" list? Though God saw them as highly favored, man misunderstood and deemed this couple undesirable. That did not matter to them! They knew they had received a command from God, and they were willing to fulfill it, no matter the cost.
Simeon and I talk about what it means to be wholly given to the Lord as a couple, even if that means that others misunderstand your choices.
Scriptures Referenced:
Matthew 1:18-25; 5:11-12
John 8:48
I Peter 2:23-25
Resources:
NHC Couples of the Bible Series
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Simeon and I share our vision for No Higher Calling in 2025- year 5 of the ministry! Hear an update on our family and ministry life in Australia. We also share some very exciting things coming to the podcast plus the FIRST sneak peek into a brand new project for your KIDS! This is an episode you don't want to miss!
Resources Referenced:
Great Hymns for Growing Hearts by Brettnay Brazzell
NHC Podcast Series
Through the Eyes of Eve Website
Through the Eyes of Eve Podcast
NHC YouTube Channel
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
There is a scarlet cord woven throughout all Scripture. God had a plan for the redemption of mankind. His plan was Jesus Christ. For centuries, women wondered if they would be chosen to be the mother of the promised Redeemer. Out of the pages of history, God chose Mary to have that honored privilege.
Jesus Christ has come and paid the price for our sins. He fufilled all the longings of man's heart. That is why we celebrate Christmas! But He is coming again! Come thou long expected Jesus!
Scriptures Referenced:
Deuteronomy 18:15
Isaiah 7:14
Malachi 3:1
Micah 5:2
John 1:41; 4:25-26; 14:6
Acts 2:38
Resources Referenced:
NHC Podcast Series
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Miscarriage is a devastaing loss to navigate. In 2021, Simeon and I lost a baby that we named Victory. That was a dark trial for us to walk through as a couple, but it was a loss that also affected our entire family. Though our children were young, we decided to tell them of their sibling that went to heaven.
I have been asked before for advice on helping your children process miscarriage. Every family grieves differently, and ultimately if you tell and how much you tell your child is up to the discretion of the parents. I will say from our experience, it has been good for our entire family to be able to speak of and remember our baby.
In this episode, Simeon and I share advice on how you can navigate this heartbreaking topic with your children, giving space to grieve while claiming the hope that is found in Christ.
Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 30:5
Ecclesiastes 3:2, 4
Resources Referenced:
NHC Family~ A Father's Heart on Miscarriage
A Letter in Your Loss by Kristen Kelley
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Come on a journey with me as we follow Mary and her ponderings as she considers God's plan for her Son. From the manger to the cross, we see God weaving His plan of redemption through the life of Jesus Christ. Years of expectation led to this moment in time. The Messiah had come!
What does this mean for us? How can we ponder on these things and keep them in our hearts?
Scriptures Referenced:
Luke 2:1-19, 41-52; 23:33, 44-46
John 19:26-27
Resources Referenced:
Great Hymns for Growing Hearts: Christ the Saviour is Born
KJV Christmas Cards
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Gratitude: An emotion of the heart, excited by a favor or benefit received; a sentiment of kindness or good will towards a benefactor; thankfulness.
We have so much to be thankful for. When we start counting our blessings, we realize that we are a very blessed people. Yet, we often forget to express our gratitude to the One who has given us these good and perfect gifts. God has challenged me in this area of my life. I know that I need to grow in gratitude. I share specific ways that I am working on this area, as well as the affect gratitude has in so many areas of life.
Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 22:3; 100:4-5
I Thessalonians 5:18
Resources Referenced:
Research Study on Gratitude
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Many parents struggle with the question, "What do we do about Santa?" As Christians, we desire to have a holiday that is centered on Christ, yet secularism entices our focus in another direction.
Simeon joins me to talk through this topic as we share what we've come to as a family. You'll also enjoy some fun rabbit trails as we share what it's like to celebrate Christmas in Australia!
Resources:
NHC Podcast: A Christ-Centered Christmas
Great Hymns for Growing Hearts: Christ the Savior Is Born
Friendship Cards
Christmas Cards
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
God has given our family the unique privilege of serving Him as missionaries in Sydney, Australia for almost two years.
Because I am a missionary wife, I have often been asked to share my "calling" to missions. My story is different from others. It's not the testimony of other missionary heroes you might read about. My heart was encumbered with fears and doubts.
But God has given clarity and purpose as we've followed Him. I couldn't imagine doing anything else with our life. We are doing what we truly believe God created us for, and there is nothing like living in His way!
Resources:
Subscribe to our ministry prayer letter- https://brazzellstoaustralia.com/
Brazzells Missionary Video 2024
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Does your home bring feelings of peace and rest or angst? Do you struggle to stay on top of all the tasks motherhood brings? Are you racing to try to stay ahead of the laundry, dishes, and toys?
Elisabeth Beam, from Balancing Beams, joins me to discuss these questions and give practical help for leaving overwhelm behind and thriving in your life.
We chat about...
- Simplifying and decluttering your home
- Breaking tasks down into 15 minute intervals
- Finding your minimum
- Having tidy points throughout your day
- Making systems and rhythms work for you
Resources Referenced:
- Find @balancingbeams on Instagram
- Balancing Beams resources and links
- January Decluttering Challenge Waitlist
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Throughout this year, we have been looking at undesirable couples of the Bible seeing that most of them struggled because they did not have a oneness in marriage. This is beyond physical oneness, but also spiritual and emotional.
We come to Ahasuerus and Esther, and we discuss what to do when a spouse is unequally yoked with a non-believer. Esther gives a beautiful example of God's love and grace as she interacts with her heathen husband.
Scriptures Referenced:
The book of Esther
II Corinthians 6:14
Resources Referenced:
NHC Family Podcast Series: Undesirable Couples of the Bible
NHC Shop
Great Hymns for Growing Hearts: Christ the Saviour is Born
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
What is God's will for my life?
That is a big question. We are asked this, espcially during our teenage years, but as time moves on, we continue to ask, "God, what is your will for me?" We tend to ask this with a 5 year or 10 year objective. We want the answer to the long-term plan.
In Psalm 119:105, God gives us a key to unlocking the mystery of this question. His Word is a lamp unto our feet. This is speaking of a light, an illumiation, for the very next step. As we follow God in obedience in the day-to-day decisions, it will set our path on the trajectory to walk out the path He has created us for.
God desires that we walk step by step. As we follow, He gives more light. But the big picture plan that we often desire is left in God's hands. This keeps us dependent on Him for daily guidance. The Christian life is walking through every moment hand in hand with our Savior.
Scriptures Referenced:
Genesis 24:27
Psalm 119:105; 139:13-17
Proverbs 16:9
Jeremiah 29:11
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Confidence: a trusting or reliance; an assurrance of mind of firm belief in the integrity, stability, or veracity of another, or in the truth or reality of a fact -Webster's 1828 Dictionary
Confidence: that which has a firm foundation; steadfastness of mind, firmness, courage -definition of the Greek word hypostasis (confidence)
We live in an instable world that seeks to shake our confidence. We must remember that our confidence is not rooted in anything other than Christ. Because of that, our confidence is steadfast and sure!
In this episode, we discuss how to live confidently in a broken world.
Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 118:6, 8
Proverbs 11:28; 14:26; 28:26
Ezra 33:13
Jeremiah 48:7
Philippians 1:6; 3:3
Isaiah 14:24
II Corithians 12:9
Ephesians 3:11-12
Hebrews 3:14; 4:16
I John 2:28; 5:14
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
God has an order. Culture disrupts that order and dwells in compounded confusion. This is clearly seen in context of marriage and the roles within marriage.
When God established the first marriage in Genesis, He called what He designed very good. Simeon and I go back to the beginning to dicuss...
-Responsibilities and roles within marriage
-Husband and wife working as a team
-Satan's attack on the nuclear family
Scriptures Referenced:
Genesis 2 & 3
II Corinthians 6:14
Ephesians 5:25-33
Titus 1:5
Resources:
Eve in Exile by Rebekah Merkle
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Our lives can be inundated by fear, yet God's Word tells us again and again to fear not. How are we to obey that command when there are so many things that cause us worry and concern?
We discuss identifying irrational versus rational fears. We must not waste our time worrying about fears that are not based in reality. But when we do have real fears, we need to learn to give them to the Lord, remember is faithfulness, and trust Him with the outcomes.
Scriptures Referenced:
Proverbs 19:23
John 10:10
Romans 8:28
II Timothy 1:7
Hebrews 13:5-6
I John 4:18
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Laundry can be quite the pain point for homemakers. The endless mountains of clothes to wash, fold, and put away can feel overwhelming. In this episode, I share some tips that have helped me stay on top of our laundry as a family of seven. I also share great tips from some of my audience! Thank you to all those who added your input. I hope maybe one of these ideas will help you find better rhythms in this area of homemaking.
Resources:
NHC YouTube: Make Your Own Laundry Detergent
Young Living Thieves Laundry Soap
Miss Mouth's Messy Eater Stain Treater (affiliate link)
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Throughout this study, we have continually seen the theme of couples who were not one whether that be spiritually, emotionally, or physically. Ananias and Sapphire were one, but it was in sin. This led to a disastrous end for this couple.
As we look at their marriage, we discuss the importance of being sober-minded and true to the promises that we make to God.
Scriptures Referenced:
Exodus 21:14
Proverbs 6:16
Ecclesiastes 5:4-6
Acts 4:32-5:11
Resources:
NHC Podcast: Couples of the Bible Study
NHC Podcast: Marriage Purity
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Obedience brings blessing. This is a principle found all throughout Scripture. In the New Testament, God commands His people to be "given to hospitality." Obedience in this area brings abundant blessings!
In this episode, we discuss blessings that come from ministering to others through hospitality.
-The blessing of influencing others for Christ
-The blessing of cultivating relationships
-The blessing of fellowship, laughter, and encouragement
-The blessing of teaching moments for our children
Scriptures Referenced:
Proverbs 17:22; 18:24
Acts 18
Romans 12:13
Hebrews 6:10
Resources:
Heartfelt Hospitality by Terrie Chappell
NHC Hospitality Guide
NHC Holiday Hospitality
NHC Podcast Hospitality Series
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
After working as a pediatric RN for over a decade, Elizabeth Parsons left the hospital to pursue a more holistic approach to health. On this episode, she gives advice on how to fight sickness naturally. We discuss...
-Transitioning from conventional medicine to a holistic approach
-Simple, free steps to pursuing a healthy lifestyle
-Cooking nourishing foods from scratch
-Cleaning your home with natural products
-Top 5 essentials for a natural medicine cabinet
Resources:
Follow Elizabeth Parsons on Instagram @purelyparsons
Purely Parsons Shop
Hear more from Elizabeth Parsons
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
For the past 2 years, our family has been TV free. That is not the norm in 2024, but there are many families who are concerned about the constant overstimulation and who are making the decision to remove the TV from their homes. Simeon and I share our why for this decision and the benefits we have seen from this choice. Spoiler alert: We have ZERO regrets! It has been one of the BEST decisions we have made for our family!
We chat about...
- Why we decided to make this decision (it might surprise you!)
- The detox process of getting rid of the TV
- How to still enjoy movies without having a TV
- How to keep children entertained without screens
- The crisis of screen addition in the younger generations
- Being intentional about what you prioritize in your home
- How to navigate making this decision as a couple
- Parents responsibility to be gatekeepers
Resources:
- NHC Podcast: Gatekeeper
- NHC Podcast: The Greenhouse Effect with Denise Palmer
- NHC Podcast: Too Much TV?
- NHC Podcast: Establishing a Quiet TIme
- Sight and Sound Theatres
- NHC Blog: Date Night Game Ideas
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
As we wrap up another quarter of 2024, I share the books that I've been reading.
- The Bucket List Family by Jessica Gee
- Simulated by Nova McBee
- The Silver Chair by C. S. Lewis
- Love Without Borders by Angela Braniff
- Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
- Family Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham
- Mere Motherhood by Cindy Rollins
- Twelve Extraordinary Women by John MacArthur
Resources:
- NHC Blog: 2024 Reading Challenge (Quarter 3)
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
There are many different approaches to introducing solids to your baby. As a mama who has done this 5 times, I share the approach that has worked well for us. This is based upon experience and research.
What is baby led weaning? It is when you offer your baby food from your family meals cut up into finger sized foods allowing them to self-feed.
We discuss:
-How to know your baby is ready for solids
-How to introduce high-allergen foods
-The difference between choking and gagging
-Benefits of the BLW method
Resources:
Baby-Led Weaning: The Essential Guide by Gill Rapley, PhD, and Tracey Murkett
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Our children are going to face lies. Some lies come from within their own minds, and others come from outside influences. We know from God's Word that Satan is the father of lies. How can we as Christian parents equip our children to take a stand for truth in a culture that says there is no truth?
Join Simeon and Brettnay as they talk about the importance of...
- Understanding the culture
- Recoginzing it's message
- Seeking the Truth
- Equipping the next generation to combat the lies
Scriptures Referenced:
Deuteronomy 6:6-7
Psalm 119:105
Matthew 4:1-11
John 8:32-34
II Corinthians 11:12-14
II Timothy 2:2
I Peter 3:14-17
Resources:
NHC Podcast: Convictions, Standards, and Preferences
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
How do I find joy in motherhood? How do I grow in patience as a mother? How can I be more gentle in my responses to my children? We all ask those questions as mothers. There is no doubt that motherhood is a sanctifying work.
The fruit of the spirit (joy, patience, gentleness) aren't things we can "work up" on our own. Growth can only be accomplished through the Holy Spirit's work in us! Developing the fruit of the spirit in our lives is a byproduct of abiding in Christ.
We need to be abiding mothers! Mothers who abide in CHrist- His power, His Word, His strength, His forgiveness, His love.
Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 61:4; 91:1
Proverbs 19:23
John 15:1-10
I Corinthians 7:20
Resources:
NHC Podcast: Supermom
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Have you ever tried to keep all the plates beautifully spinning only to find broken pieces shattered at your feet? I think most mamas have been there. We juggle alot, and on top of that, we often put expectatons on ourselves that do not align with what God expects of us. This causes us to leave in defeat, guilt, and comparison. We look around and see "supermoms". But what is supermom? And is that a goal we should strive for?
Join me as I share how God has worked in my heart as I've pondered these motherhood questions.
Resources:
NHC Podcast: A Quiet, Contented Heart with Erin Bates Paine
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Abraham and Sarah are the father and mother of God's chosen people, Israel. They set an amazing example of faith as they leave all they know in the city of Ur, and set out to follow God into the unknown. But they also make some big mistakes, some of which cause a lack of unity in major aspects of their marriage.
Join us as we look into the famous laugh of Sarah. As we study the context and the Hebrew meaning of the word used for Sarah's laugh, you will find a truth that will help our marriages.
Scriptures Referenced:
Genesis 17:15; 21
Ecclesiastes 4:9
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
For many, a new school year has begun. I have heard from mamas who are launching out into homeschooling their little ones, and they have so many concerns and fears. We all want to put our child on a path of success, but what does that really look like? Do we need to get it all right from day 1? Do we need to have rigourous curriculum and push to be above average in every area? Or can we take a deep breath and give us and our children freedom to fall in love with a lifestyle of learning?
I share things I've learned from my experience homeschooling, research, books, and advice from other mamas. I hope this will be a help to those who are starting out on this beautiful journey!
Resources:
- NHC Podcast~ Sage Advice from a Homeschooling Mom with Rachel Woodward
- NHC Blog~ My Favorite Books on Homeschooling
- Read Aloud Revival: Sally Clarkson's Advice for Her Younger Self
- NHC YouTube: Our Favorite Resources and Activities for Little Ones
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Rachel Woodward is a homeschooling mama to four boys. She has been homeschooling for 17 years, and has graduated two of her sons. Rachel has a wealth of wisdom to share to younger moms who are pursuing this path for their children's education.
This episode is done Q & A style. Hear Rachel answer these questions and more!
-Where to start
-How to choose curriculum
-What should homeschooling look like in the early years
-How to keep your kids excited about learning
-How to foster independence in a child
-How to juggle multiple grades
Resources:
Follow Rachel on Instagram! @learningwithboys
Rachel's YouTube Channel
Home School Legal Defense Association
Teach Them Diligently homeschool convention
Edutaters Student Logbook
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
We desperately need a revival of the family alter! God designed the family to be the place where children are introduced to Christ and are instructed in righteousness. Unfortunately, in our busy world today, family worship of often neglected. Simeon joins me to discuss the importance God places on parents spending time teaching their children God's Word.
We address:
-Why it is important to have a designated time of daily family worship
-The difference between reading and studying the Bible together
-The role of father and mother in family worship
-How to get started
-How to have a devotional time with little children
Scriptures Referenced:
Deuternonmy 4:8-9, 6:7, 6:20-25, 11:19, 31:12-13, 32:45-46
Psalm 78:5
Resources:
Great Hymns for Growing Hearts by Brettnay Brazzell
Toddler Devotional: Bible Truths for Little Hearts
Scripture Meditations CD by Erin Bates Paine
Family Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Suzy Crocket joins me to share her family's stories of adoption. This path gave her family two beautiful children, but it also taught them many spiritual things. She shares insight into the truth that God the Father has adopted us. He makes us "heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ". This truth gives us identity and security.
She also shares some thoughts on the adoption process, and how Christians can get involved in this area of need.
Scriptures Referenced:
Romans 8:16-18
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Simeon and I recently celebrated our tenth anniversay. It's had me reflecting on my wedding day. So much preparation went into me preparing myself to be Simeon Brazzell's wife. I delighted in each detail as I prepared to present myself to him.
Christ promises that one day, He- the Heavenly Bridegroom, will return for His bride. Will He find you ready?
Scriptures Referenced:
Matthew 24:42, 44; 25:1-13
Luke 12:36-37
I Thessalonians 4:13-18
Titus 2:13
Revelation 3:11; 22:12, 20
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
David and Michal's marriage is one that lacked spiritual unity. Scripture gives us different glimpses into their relationship, and it reveals that they did not share the same faith and trust in Jehovah. This would ultimately lead their marriage to a very sad and lonely place.
Join Simeon and I as we glean truth for our own marriage's from this couple.
Scriptures Referenced:
I Samuel 19:10-17
II Samuel 6:16-23
I Corinthains 3:11
Resources:
Undesirable Couples of the Bible Study
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
A fun update on our homeschool year! I share what we're up to, what we're loving, and what we're learning.
Resources:
NHC Podcast: Homeschooling with Toddlers and Babies
Gather Round Homeschool
NHC YouTube: The Good and The Beautiful Math
Geography from A to Z: A Picture Dictionary by Jack Knowlton
Fix It! Grammar from IEW
Amy Carmichael by Janet & Geoff Benge
NHC YouTube: Gather Round Homeschool
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
A question I get often is, "How do you know what to read?" In a world where there are millions of books, how does one sift through it all? There are so many books and so little time!
In Educating the Wholehearted Child by Clay and Sally Clarkson, they give a list of qualities to look for in a good book. I share this list and talk you though it. I hope this will help us all find the best literature choices.
Resources Referenced:
Educating the Wholehearted Child by Clay and Sally Clarkson
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Simeon and I just celebrated our 10th anniversary! We have had the sweetest time reflecting on the past decade and all that God has done in our lives together.
On this episode, Sim joins me to share some memories of our early days, as well as things we've learned about marriage.
We share...
-Things We've Done Well
-Things We Want To Do Better In
-Thoughts on Marriage Growth
-Best Marriage Advice We've Received
Resources Referenced:
NHC Podcast: What Does It Mean to Cherish Your Spouse?
NHC Podcast: Episode 2- Our Love Story
Cherish by Gary Thomas
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Kara Rogers joins me to share her family's story with trusting their children to God. Jordan and Kara have five children, and their oldest has non-verbal autism. In recent days, God has opened amazing doors for their son that has allowed him to communicate and share what God is doing in his mind and life.
You WILL be encouraged as you listen to their story! Maybe this will speak to your heart as you navigate challenges of having a child with special needs. Maybe that is not something you face, but this will help you know how to encouarge friends who walk this road.
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Join me for a deep dive into research surrounding the debate between whether manuscript or cursive should be a child's first handwriting instruction.
We discuss...
-Is handwriting instruction important?
-Progressive education's introduction of the print "ball and stick" method
-Development of early motor skills
-Contrasting the differences between cursive and manuscript
Resources Referenced:
The Good and The Beautiful Handwriting
Pencil Gripper
Montessori Sand Tray for handwriting
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Scripture only records two sentences that Job's wife says. They are words of condemnation towards her husband and bitterness towards God. What a legacy to leave behind!
While we can feel deep empathy for Job and his wife at all they lost, they handle their trial in very different ways. We can glean wisdom from their example that will strengthen our marriages as we walk through grief and loss.
Scriptures Referenced:
Job 1; 2:1-10; 42:10-13
Proverbs 14:1
Resources:
Undesirable Couples of the Bible Study
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
"Is there an ideal 'house' for homeschooling? Yes! It's yours- the one you have right now. The key to a great homeschooling house is to use the house you have to its fullest." -Julie Bogart, The Brave Learner
For the homeschool mom, there can be pressure to cultivate a "perfect homeschool environment." What does that look like? Is it recreating what we see on social media? What happens when we don't have the resources, rooms, funds, etc to make it happen? Do we have to settle for a "less than" education for our children?
In this episode, we discuss the most important aspects of a homeschool environment. A loving and contented mother who is using the resources she has to the fullest will surpass any Insta-worthy classroom you might see.
You will be challenged to find satisfaction in what you have while being creative to make the space you desire with the resources you have.
Resources:
The Brave Learner by Julie Bogart
Educating the Wholehearted Child by Clay & Sally Clarkson
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Hear what books I've been reading this quarter!
-
Son of Hamas by Mosab Hassan Yousef
-
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis
-
When Your Child is 6 to 12 by John M. Drescher
-
Really Very Crunchy by Emily Morrow
-
How Can I Feel Productive as a Mom? by Esther Engelsma
-
Be Your Child's Pediatrician by Rachel Weaver
-
A Lifelong Love by Gary Thomas
-
Mind the Gap by Terrie Chappell
-
Heartfelt Hospitality by Terrie Chappell
-
The Railway Children by E. Nesbit
-
Calculated by Nova McBee
Resources Referenced:
NHC Blog: 2024 Reading Challenge (Quarter 2)
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage. That statistic is staggering, even more so when you become the one. When we believe that life begins at the moment of conception, the loss of a baby at any week gestation is a deep grief. A person has died. A person that a mother and a father have fallen in love with.
More and more, we are hearing from the mothers. They are opening up on what has previously been termed as a "silent grief." But we do not hear from fathers much. The truth is, though mother and father might grieve differently, the loss is deeply felt by both.
Simeon joins me in this episode to share his heart, a father's heart on miscarriage. In June of 2021, our baby Victory went to heaven. Though the sorrow was great, God's comfort and peace are greater still! This episode will be encouraging and helpful to men who also walk this road, or those who seek to help others navigate this grief.
Scriptures Referenced:
Isaiah 25:8
John 11:35-44
Romans 12:15
I Corinthains 15:54
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
"God's call to you is not to get things done but to use time well. God's will for you is not to get things dome but to grow in sanctification. God's purpose in creating you is not to get things done but to glorify Him." -Esther Engelsma
I recently read the booklet, How Can I Feel Productive as a Mom? by Esther Engelsma. My heart was so challenged! She looks at productivity and motherhood through the perspective of eternity. There are many demands of motherhood, and we often struggle to prioritize well. Sometimes, we get much done but we missed the things that are the most important.
In this episode, I share my takeaways from this helpful booklet. I pray it will encourage you as much as it has me!
Scriptures Referenced:
John 10:10
Philippians 2:7
Resourced Referenced:
How Can I Feel Productive as a Mom? by Esther Engelsma
Trusting Christ When Your Hands Are Full by Gloria Furman
NHC Podcast: Mundane Moments or Moments of Worship?
Faithful and Flourishing E-Guide
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
"Salvation is more than a past experience. It is a present possession." -Clarence Sexton
John writes that we can KNOW that we have eternal life, yet for many of us, we doubt our eternal security. Doubt is a real part of my story. For many years, I struggled with placing my full faith and trust in Christ for my soul's salvation. Fear clouded my understanding of Scripture. Praise the Lord for the victory He gave me in this area!
On this episode, I share my salvation story and how God brought me from a place of doubt to a place of complete assurance in my eternal security.
Scriptures Referenced:
John 1:12-13; 6:37; 10:27-29
Romans 6:23; 8:38-39
Galatians 2:21; 3:10
Ephesians 1:13; 2:8-9; 4:30
II Timothy 1:12
Titus 1:2
James 2:10
I John 2:25; 3:20; 5:11-13
Revelation 20:11-15
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Scripture records many people that we can look up to and desire to model our lives after. But it also records thel lives of people who we want to be nothing like! Ahab and Jezebel are a couple that we can learn from as we see their negative example.
What can we learn from this wicked couple?
-You reap what you sow, and you reap more than you sow
-Spouses enabling wickness instead of encouraging in righteousness
-Staying close to God individually and as a couple so you don't miss His still, small voice
Scriptures Referenced:
I Kings 16:29-33; 21:19-22, 25
II Kings 8:18
Proverbs 12:4, 26; 13:20; 22:24-25
Hosea 8:7
Hebrews 10:24
Find the entire Bible Study Series: https://nohighercalling.org/podcast_series/undesirable-couples-of-the-bible/
A Cancer or a Crown? by Niki Lott
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
One of the challenging parts of parenting is discipline. This has gotten a negative rap in modern parenting, but God's Word has a lot to say about discpline. This even goes beyond the parent/child relationship, and has impact on our entire lives. Discipline is simply learning to obey God and walking in the way we should go according to His Word.
There are three aspects to discipline- preventative, corrective, and redemptive. Denise Palmer, my spiritual mentor, joins me to encourage mothers in the aspect of preventative discipline.
We discuss. . .
-The importance of training your children proactively
-The heart work that takes place in parenting and discpline
-Practical advice on how to set children up for success in obedience
-The different between "gentle parenting" and biblical parenting
Scriptures Referenced:
Judges 21:25
Proverbs 21:2
Daniel 1:8
Resources Referenced:
NHC Podcast: Disciplines Role in Discipling Our Children with Melissa Hildebrand
NHC Podcast: A Study of Titus with Denise Palmer
Tagalong Stroller Handle
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
How can you encourage your pastor? Evangelist Scott Pauley gives great, biblical advice on how church members can support their pastor through prayer. This advice has impacted my life, and in this episode, I share how.
We discuss...
-Why your pastor needs you to pray for him and his family
-How praying for your pastor will open your heart to receive more from preaching
-Specific things to pray for your pastor
Scriptures Referenced:
Jeremiah 3:15
Romans 15:30
Ephesians 6:18
Philippians 1:18-19
Colossians 4:2-4
I Thessalonians 5:25
II Thessalonians 3:1
James 1:17
Resources:
Enjoying the Journey Blog: Pray for Your Pastor by Scott Pauley https://enjoyingthejourney.org/pray-for-your-pastor/
Sermon by Evangelist Scott Pauley: How to Pray for Your Pastor
YouTube: Papa Visits Australia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVCWtnDybYc
No Higher Calling Podcast: How to Encourage a Missionary https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/how-to-encourage-a-missionary/id1547126864?i=1000651409425
The BEST Gift for Mom- Smart Mug https://amzn.to/3WFd95G
Subscribe to the NHC Email www.nohighercalling.org
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
In 2015, The Wall Street Journal did a survey recording that while 82% of people parenting today did chores growing up, only 28% of those parents were requiring their children to do chores today. Why the significant decrease? Is it important for our children to do chores? Simeon joins me as we discuss how chores help children learn life skills, how to work together as a team, and how to grow in responsibility.
Danelle Fisher, M.D., pediatrician and vice chair of pediatrics at Providence Saint John's Heath Center in Santa Monica, California, says, "When you break chores down, they are activities of daily living. You as an adult need to tend to yourself, your home, and your family. It teaches you that responsiblity as a child, that things don't just come to you, but you have to work for it."
Sometimes we think that work is a part of man's sin curse, but that is not true! God created man to work! He designed for every person, old and young, to get great satisfaction from a job well done. We can help our children understand this as we include them in the habits of home.
Scriptures Referenced:
Deuteronomy 6:6-9
Mark 9:35
I Corinthains 10:31
Resources Referenced:
Bad Therapy by Abigail Shrier https://amzn.to/3Kf7qfa
When Your Child is 6 to 12 by John Drescher https://amzn.to/44NlbeJ
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Women wear many hats. We need energy and health to steward our many responsibilities well. Yet we live in a society where people are struggling with mental and physical health issues more than ever.
Sarah Boots from Faithful and Flourishing joins me to share her health journey and how circadian rhythm has had an astounding impact on her quality of life. She's been chatting quite a bit about this on her Instagram account, and ladies are catching on! Many are implementing free, easy, God-designed practices and are seeing huge impacts on their health.
We chat about...
-What circadian rhythm is
-The negative affect screens have on health
-Sunlight's aid in hormone and mental health
And SO MUCH MORE!
Scriptures Referenced:
Proverbs 31:27
I Corinthians 6:19
Colossians 1:16-20
I Timothy 3:11
Resources Referenced:
Find Sarah at Faithful and Flourishing https://faithfulandflourishing.org/
Follow Sarah on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/faithfulandflourishing/
A Christian Woman's Guide to Health and Hormones
Past Episodes with Sarah:
NHC Podcast: Meal Rotations with Sarah Boots https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/meal-rotations-with-sarah-boots/id1547126864?i=1000642050291
NHC Podcast: Mothering the Strong-Willed Child with Sarah Boots https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/mothering-the-strong-willed-child-with-sarah-boots/id1547126864?i=1000625113522
NHC Podcast: Clean 15 with Sarah Boots https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/clean-15-with-sarah-boots/id1547126864?i=1000593962267
NHC Podcast: Mothering in the Digital Age https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-85-mothering-in-the-digital-age-with-sarah-boots/id1547126864?i=1000564948737
NHC Podcast: The Importance of Reading to Your Children with Sarah Boots Part 1 https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-72-the-importance-of-reading-with-your-kids/id1547126864?i=1000555095161
NHC Podcast: The Importance of Reading to Your Children with Sarah Boots Part II https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-73-the-importance-of-reading-with-your-kids/id1547126864?i=1000555442999
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
I have been baking bread for years, but this year I challenged myself to make all of our bread products from scratch. There are many reasons for this such as taste, cost, and health. Bread is a staple of most homes and kitchens.
We chat about. . .
-How to weave bread making into the rhythm of your day
-The cost and health benefit of eating homemade bread products
-Grinding your own grains
Resources Referenced:
NHC Podcast: Embracing a Season of Home
Hope's Table Cookbook
NHC Podcast: Ways to Save on the Grocery Budget https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ways-to-help-the-grocery-budget/id1547126864?i=1000654301974
The BEST Muffin Recipe https://thevanillatulip.com/2021/06/simple-blueberry-muffins.html
NHC Blog: Our Favorite Sandwich Bread https://nohighercalling.org/our-favorite-sandwich-bread/
NHC Blog: Delicious Pizza Dough https://nohighercalling.org/delicious-pizza-dough/
NHC Blog: Mexican Style Tortillas at Home https://nohighercalling.org/mexican-style-tortillas-at-home/
NHC Blog: Homemade Hamburger Buns https://nohighercalling.org/homemade-hamburger-buns/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Isaac and Rebekah begin their marriage relationship with so much potential. Sadly, as we walk through their story, things fall far from God's design for marriage. God blesses their marriage with children, but instead of children stregthening their marriage, they allowed them to divide it.
Some lessons we learn from this couple:
-How a couple should handle sorrow
-The importance of being one in decision making and communication
-The legacy and impact of a godly marriage
Scriptures Referenced:
Genesis 24-26
Proverbs 14:1; 24:16; 31:11-12
II Timothy 2:20
Resources:
Find the entire Bible Study Series: https://nohighercalling.org/podcast_series/undesirable-couples-of-the-bible/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Let's rewind the clock about 2 decades and get a snapshot of little girl Brettnay. I'll never forget the day I got a brochure in the mail saying that the Junior Miss American pageant wanted me. ME! I knew from that moment, I wanted to be a model.
Fast foward, God did not answer my little girl prayers. And I am so thankful! Yet in some ways, He did. I am not modeling fashion, but I am modeling Christlikeness, and often my lack thereof.
Motherhood gives us the opportunity to be models for our children. We have the privilege and responsibility to show them the patience, love, and longsuffering of the Father. Are we rising up the the task? Are we, as mothers, modeling godliness to our children? Hear the overflow of my heart as I share how God is using this thought in my life and motherhood.
Scriptures Referenced:
Philippians 1:6
I Timothy 1:12
II Timothy 2:21
Resources:
Children of Character Cards https://nohighercalling.org/product/children-of-character-cards/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Grocery prices are outrageous these days! How can we provide delicious, nutritious meals for our family while staying within a budget? This is a struggle that almost all homemakers are battling right now. I know I am!
In this episode, I share ways that I am trying to be a wise steward of our grocery budget.
Resources:
NHC Family~ Why Should You Budget? https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/nhc-family-why-should-you-budget/id1547126864?i=1000649550719
Cooking From Scratch with Jami Balmet https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/cooking-from-scratch-with-jami-balmet/id1547126864?i=1000617132827
Meal Planning https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-62-meal-planning/id1547126864?i=1000549157611
Freezer Cooking https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-77-freezer-cooking/id1547126864?i=1000558245327
Hope's Table Cookbook https://amzn.to/3PsuRF2
Simplified Hospitality with Marcie Fowler https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-34-simplified-hospitality-with-marcie-fowler/id1547126864?i=1000531069404
Cloth Diapering 101 https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-80-cloth-diapering-101/id1547126864?i=1000559688028
Steps Towards a Healthy Cycle with Megan Kay https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-103-steps-toward-a-healthy-cycle-with-megan-kay/id1547126864?i=1000578020490
NHC YouTube: Cloth Diapering https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgTC71QqMvI&t=36s
NHC YouTube: Cleaning with Littles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeJi_LPv34Q&t=18s
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
From the beginning of the earth, God designed a perfect order for the family. And ever since, Satan has sought to corrupt God's design with a counterfeit. His attack on marriage and family prove just how important these are to God and to society as a whole.
What is God's purpose for the family? What is God's view of children? How can followers of Christ leave a multigenerational legacy that will testify of God's goodness and grace for years to come?
Simeon joins me to discuss these foundational questions as we look into God's Word.
Scriptures Referenced:
Judges 2:10-19
Psalm 127:5
Matthew 5:14-16
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
There are many different ways to extend hospitality. Sometimes, you might find yourself hosting a guest for weeks on end. Now that we are living abroad, we rarely get overnight guests, but when we do, they stay for an extended amount of time. I love hosting family and friends, but when having long-term company, it is very helpful to have thought through details to make the visit smooth.
Several of the things we address are. . .
-Preparing the guest space
-Planning an itinerary for their visit
-Communicating clearly with your guest (needs, schedules, etc)
-Ways to prep ahead to make the visit relaxing
Resources:
NHC Podcast: Hospitality Series https://nohighercalling.org/podcast_series/given-to-hospitality/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Watching a child's wonder and imagination ignite is incredible and nothing accomplishes that quite like a rich story.
In this episode, we chat about. . .
-The importance of imagination
-Where to draw the line with fantastical literature
-Protecting the freedom and enjoyment of childhood
-Benefits of reading aloud and imaginative play
Resources:
NHC Podcast: Approving Things That Are Excellent https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/approving-things-that-are-excellent/id1547126864?i=1000647558699
Awaking Wonder by Sally Clarkson https://amzn.to/4d3Tan2
Mothering by the Book by Jennifer Pepito https://amzn.to/3xGhiMl
Books Referenced:
The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis
The Railway Children by E. Nesbit
Green Ember by S. D. Smith
Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Simeon and I have walked through five postpartum seasons together. Each one has look different. Our experience with our later babies was vastly different from our experience with our first two. Some of that came out of necessity, some of it came out of growth in our understanding of the postpartum season and each other. It has been beautiful for us to walk through this season as a team.
In this episode, we discuss. . .
-The importance of communication in this season
-Serving your spouse
-Transitioning to having a new member in the family
-How to make the intial postpartum days sacred
-Finding your "new" normal
-Connecting intimately after your body heals
Scriptures Referenced:
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
Ephesians 5:25
Resources Referenced:
NHC Podcast: Postpartum: The Beautiful and The Ugly with Morgan Young https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/postpartum-the-beautiful-and-the-ugly-with-morgan-young/id1547126864?i=1000645434442
NHC Podcast: Freezer Cooking https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-77-freezer-cooking/id1547126864?i=1000558245327
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Rachel Sengmany joins me to discuss ways to minister to today's teenage girl. Rachel has years of experience working with teenagers and she desires to see their lives transformed by Christ.
The things that teenagers face these days are very different from what people faced even just a generation ago. But the gospel is the same, and it has power! Rachel shares several different struggles that teen girls deal with today and how we, as Titus 2 women, can help them navigate these issues.
Some of the topics addressed are. . .
-Body image struggles
-Emotional struggles (hormones, depression, anxiety)
-Relationship struggles (authority, boys, friends)
Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 139
Proverbs 11:14
Philippians 2:13
Titus 2
Resources:
NHC Podcast: Raising Teenagers for Christ with Ruth Sturgill https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/raising-teenagers-for-christ-with-ruth-sturgill/id1547126864?i=1000597701791
Lies Young Women Believe: And the Truth That Sets Them Free by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth https://amzn.to/3vj5fDT
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
A podcast listener asked me to address the question "how to encourage a missionary." I loved that question and the heart behind it!
I polled a large group of missionary women and came up with a highlight list of things one can do to be an encouragement to a missionary familly. I share these on this episode as well as somethings people have done for our family that have been a blessing!
Resources:
www.brazzellstoaustralia.com
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
This episode brings us to a couple, who though joined in marriage, are nothing alike. Abigail is a women of strong character and a meek spirit. Nabal is a fool. In spite of this unequal yoking, Abigail has the joy of the Lord. When her husband acts in foolishness, she responds in godly wisdom. This wisdom saved the life of her husband and the reputation of the future king.
Some lessons we learn from this couple:
-Can you have joy if you are unequally yoked?
-Showing wisdom in how and when to approach a spouse with issues
-Abstaining from bitterness when you're hurt by a spouse
-Guarding how you speak about godly leadership
Scriptures Referenced:
I Samuel 25
Resources:
Find the entire Bible Study Series: https://nohighercalling.org/podcast_series/undesirable-couples-of-the-bible/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Hear what books I've been reading in the first quarter of 2024!
Books Reviewed:
-
Until the Streelights Come On by Ginny Yurich
-
The Watchmaker's Daughter by Larry Loftis
-
Raising a Modern-Day Knight by Robert Lewis
-
The Brave Learner by Julie Bogart
-
The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
-
Help for the Hungry Soul by Kristen Wetherell
-
Educating the Wholehearted Child by Clay & Sally Clarkson
-
Ember Rising by S. D. Smith
-
Breaking Free From Broke by George Kamel
-
Mothering by the Book by Jennifer Pepito
-
Running On Empty by Barbara Bancroft
-
The Horse and His Boy by C. S. Lewis
-
Creative Counterpart by Linda Dillow
-
Ember's End by S. D. Smith
-
Teatime Discipleship for Mothers and Daughters by Sally Clarkson
-
You Carried Me by Melissa Ohden
-
Prince Caspian by C. S. Lewis
-
The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
-
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
-
Hard is Not the Same Thing As Bad by Abbie Halberstadt
Resources:NHC Blog: My 2024 Reading Challenge (Quarter 1) https://nohighercalling.org/2024-reading-challenge-quarter-1/ Follow me on Goodreads! https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/86355120-brettnay-brazzell Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
January of 2023, our family set out on our biggest adventure ever. With four kids in tow (ages 6, 4, 2, and 8 months), we boarded a plane in Knoxville, TN and set out of Sydney, Australia. It was a LONG 28+ hours of travel, but things went so smoothly. Most of that I attest to the hundreds of people who were praying for us, but there were also several things we did that wound up being very helpful.
In this episode, I share the smart things we did, and several things I'd do differently when flying with littles.
Resources:
NHC YouTube: Kid's Bag for Our Big Flight (links included!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D3g6GTEKXw&t=477s
Our Favorite Books! https://paperpie.com/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
“A budget doesn’t limit your freedom – a budget gives you freedom! It’s an intentional spending plan that grants you permission to spend.”
-George Kamel, Breaking Free From Broke
Rich, middle class, or poor, everyone is called to wise stewardship of their finances. Simeon shares from the Bible why it is important for couples to honor God with their money and budget their income with purpose and intentionality.
Many of us cringe at the word budget. It feels restricting and daunting. It acutally is the opposite. It is the key to having freedom to spend and give more! And it is a practical way to ensure that you are stewarding the resources God has given you well.
Scripture Referenced:
Proverbs 22:7
Matthew 22:5
I Timothy 6:17-19
Resources:
Breaking Free from Broke by George Kamel https://amzn.to/487DNGf
NHC Podcast: Stewarding Your Finances Wisley https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/stewarding-your-finances-wisely/id1547126864?i=1000592615640
NHC Podcast: The Windows of Heaven https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-98-the-windows-of-heaven/id1547126864?i=1000574986128
EveryDollar Ramsey Budgeting App https://www.ramseysolutions.com/ramseyplus/everydollar/share?utm_source=mobileshare&utm_medium=mobilesharebutton&utm_campaign=mobileshareability&utm_id=ramseysolutions
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
My Eden is an avid reader! She joins me on this episode to share several of her favorite book series. These are great recommendations for elementary age girls!
Resources:
NHC Blog: Favorite Book Series from Elementary Age Girls https://nohighercalling.org/favorite-book-series-for-elementary-age-girls/
Gather Round Homeschool https://gatherroundhomeschool.com/
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George https://amzn.to/3TmqvSm
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
"It is a mercy that our lives are not left for us to plan, but that our Father chooses for us; else might we sometimes turn away from our best blessings, and put from us the choicest and loveliest gifts of His providence." -Susannah Spurgeon
Most of us have a chapter of our story that brought us deep grief. We live in a broken world where trials and sorrow abound. What does one do when grief changes everything? How can we move forward in hope?
I share from my own personal experience with grief how it has changed everything for me. There felt like a time where the darkness was so present that I'd never find light again. But, for the believer, there is hope! There is an "after" to the grief. Scars remain, but God brings healing. Be encouraged, friend! "Suffering is never for nothing!" -Elisabeth Elliot
Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 23; 73:26; 119:71
Isiah 43:2
Romans 5:2-5; 8:28-29
Resources:
NHC Podcast: Gifts Discovered in Grief https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-11-gifts-discovered-in-grief/id1547126864?i=1000512611671
NHC Podcast: All Things for Our Good https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-33-all-things-for-our-good/id1547126864?i=1000530384520
Great Hymns for Growing Hearts by Brettnay Brazzell https://www.newmerciesmusic.com/product-page/great-hymns-for-growing-hearts
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
When we hear the name Jacob, we often think Rachel, but that was not his first wife. It is easy to get swept up in the romantic love story of Jacob and Rachel, but God has things to teach us from the loveless marriage of Jacob and Leah.
Lessons we learn from this couple:
-Keeping your affection and attention united in marriage
-Finding fufillment, identity, and contentment in Christ
-Encouragement for those in a loveless relationship
-God's holy design for sex
Scriptures Referenced:
Genesis 29:21-35
Psalm 133:1
Resources:
Find the entire Bible Study Series: https://nohighercalling.org/podcast_series/undesirable-couples-of-the-bible/
Her Name is Woman Book 2 by Gien Karssen https://amzn.to/3OShqhb
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Pastor Clarence Sexton said, "Choosing the high road is not choosing between the good and the bad, but the good and the best." Throughout our sanctification journey, we are to be growing in spiritual discernment and choosing things for our lives that are excellent. We dig into Philippians 1:10, defining the words of Scripture to get a deeper understanding of what it means to approve excellent things.
Have you filled your heart and life with excellent things? It can be easy to differentiate between good and bad, but it is harder to discern between good and best.
Wives and mothers are the gatekeepers of our homes. As we approve excellent things in our own lives, it will overflow into the atmosphere we cultivate within our home. It will impact those we love and have stewardship over.
"If I wanted the souls of my children to be rich, then my soul needed to be rich because it was my soul they would draw from. Whatever I mind with, whatever I learned and embraced, flowed into the well of knowledge and refreshment I would draw from and pass onto them daily as I lived my moments in their presence." -Sally Clarkson
Scriptures Referenced:
Philippians 1:10
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Now that we live in Australia, we follow thier school model and launch a new year with a new calendar year. We are about a month into a brand new homeschool year! In this episode, I share our curriculum line-up for the year.
Resources:
NHC Podcast: Homeschooling with Toddlers & Babies https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/homeschooling-with-toddlers-babies/id1547126864?i=1000624731570
NHC Blog: Curriculum Line-Up 2024 https://nohighercalling.org/curriculum-line-up-for-fall-winter-2023-copy/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
You asked, we answered! Enjoy listening to this Q & A with us. Some of the questions we answer are as follows.
*When do we have our devotional time with so many littles?
*What are the 3 best things we've done for our marriage?
*Ways to keep your marriage a priority with young children?
*Did our marriage change when we had our first child?
*Advice for a couple facing an unexpected pregnancy
*Our thoughts on birth control
Resources:
NHC Podcast: Ep 91- Q & A with Simeon and Brettnay Part 1 https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-91-q-a-with-simeon-and-brettnay-part-1/id1547126864?i=1000569126123
NHC Podcast: Ep 92- Q & A with Simeon and Brettnay Part 2 https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-92-q-a-with-simeon-and-brettnay-part-2/id1547126864?i=1000569136606
NHC Podcast: Ep 66- Q & A with Simeon and Brettnay https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-66-q-a-with-simeon-and-brettnay/id1547126864?i=1000551377125
NHC Blog: Date Night Game Ideas https://nohighercalling.org/date-night-game-ideas/
NHC Podcast: Crafting a Family Vision https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/crafting-a-family-culture-with-simeon/id1547126864?i=1000634241307
NHC Podcast: Ep 35- Truth, Lies, & The Birth Control Pill https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-35-truth-lies-the-birth-control-pill/id1547126864?i=1000531802380
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Motherhood is a sanctifying journey, and often, the season of pospartum takes mothers on a sprint down that path! First-time mama, Morgan Young, joins me to share her postpartum experience- the beautiful and the ugly. Going from no children to adding a new human into your family can bring it's set of unique challenges. Throw raging hormones, lack of sleep, and new responsiblities to the mix, it can leave a woman floundering spiritually, emotionally, and physically.
Morgan does a beautiful job of addressing the real and raw aspects of this season while giving mothers encouragement through the lessons Christ has been teaching her.
Morgan's Post:
✨Postpartum✨
This morning I got up, made my coffee while Presleigh played quietly on her floor mat, and then began to ponder the last three months as I did my devotions. Tomorrow Presleigh will be 3 months old. It has been the longest and quickest season of my life all in one. I don’t think anyone can truly be prepared for having a baby. We tried to be as we talked about all the things we needed and all the hopes and dreams along with it. But what I wasn’t prepared for was all the things we didn’t think to talk about.
To the new mom…
Make time for your relationship with God. He is who is gonna guide you through this and the sooner you are spending time with Him everyday the better for your mental health. He gives a joy and peace in the middle of the crazy that nothing else can!
Make time for your relationship with your husband. Women are different than men. The emotions and hormones rushing through you are not felt by your husband. Give him some grace as he is trying to help what he doesn’t understand.
The bathroom does not have to be deep-cleaned the first week home from the hospital. Give yourself some time when it comes to cooking and cleaning. Perfection is not the goal right now!
Savor the moment. This is not your time to do things solely for yourself and your husband anymore. This is your time to live for serving your child. And it will not last forever. Soon you will miss the things you dreaded so much.
Find something to look forward to every day. You have reached a new level of difficult but you can still find small moments of something for you! Whether that’s simply taking a shower, or a show you like while the baby sleeps, or asking your husband to bring takeout of your favorite place home to you that evening.
Remember that it’s going to get easier! And even better than that, it’s going to get fun!! Your mind is not thinking 100% clearly from all your hormones after birth but soon it’s going to be the most amazing thing you’ve ever imagined! Give it TIME.
Resources:
Enjoying the Journey Podcast with Evangelist Scott Pauley: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/enjoying-the-journey/id1329674849
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Flora Quinn's arrival did not go at all like we expected, but God was in every detail! Listen in as I share her story and all that God taught us as we humbly surrendered our will and rested in Him.
Resources:
Willow's Birth Story https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-86-willow-noelles-birth-story/id1547126864?i=1000565755697
Brazzell Babies Birth Stories https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-24-brazzell-babies-birth-stories/id1547126864?i=1000524934713
NHC Blog: Flora Quinn's Birth Story https://nohighercalling.org/flora-quinns-birth-story/
Downforce- Race Car Board Game https://amzn.to/3Ugf7If
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
There are many lessons we can learn from the biblical account of Lot and Mrs. Lot. While there is very little said in Scripture about their marriage relationship, we can draw truths from what is recorded. Simeon joins me on this NHC Family episode to share all that God taught us as we studyed through this couple and the Scripture passages listed below.
Some lessons learned from Lot and Mrs. Lot include. . .
-The importance of being equally yoked as husband and wife
-What to do if you are in a marraige where you are not equally yoked
-Letting your marriage have a gospel impact
-Being careful where you "pitch your tent"
-Keeping your family in God's protective hedge
Scriptures Referenced:
Genesis 13, 14, 19
Deuteronomy 2:9, 19
Psalm 83:8
Matthew 6:21
Luke 17:28-29, 32
II Corinthians 6:14
Colossians 3:2
II Peter 2:7
Resources:
Find the entire Bible Study Series: https://nohighercalling.org/podcast_series/undesirable-couples-of-the-bible/
NHC Podcast: The Greenhouse Effect with Denise Palmer https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-49-the-greenhouse-effect-with-denise-palmer/id1547126864?i=1000540733233
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
I once heard birth described as a labyrinth. There is an end goal to which you are pressing towards, and you often have a plan of how to get there, but as you wander the twisting paths, you sometimes walk paths you did not expect. The end reward is the same no matter what course you take- a precious baby in your arms.
My precious friend Tobianne McCown joins me to share the birth stories of her three daughters. Each one is so different from the other! From preganacy complications that led to an early deliver via cecesaran, to a very long labor ending in a natural VBAC at the hospital, to a quick homebirth, her stories are all beautiful in their own unique ways. My favorite part about each is how Tobianne shares things that God taught her through the twists and turns of each set of circumstances.
Resources:
Scripture Promises for Labor & Birth https://nohighercalling.org/product/scripture-promises-for-labor-birth/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
What can I do now to make life easier later? That is the magic question! As we wrap up a month of focusing on simplifying life, this episode is to help you make all we've chatted about super practical. I walk through several everyday life pain points (laundry, dinner, groceries, etc), ask, the magic question, and seek to simplify the daily rhythms of home.
Resources:
The Lazy Genius Way by Kendra Adachi: https://amzn.to/3TbI7k3
NHC Podcast: Meal Planning https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-62-meal-planning/id1547126864?i=1000549157611
Head to Toe Prayer Journal: https://nohighercalling.org/product/head-to-toe-prayer-journal/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
We've been emphasizing the word simplify on the podcast in January. Simeon joins me in the NHC Family episode to talk about areas in which couples might desire to simplify their lives. There is such a temptation in our culture to say "yes" to everything. Then we wonder why we are exhausted, burning the candle at all ends.
As we come together as a couple and look at our life, there are four steps we work through to help keep our life and schedule one that enables our family to thrive. 1. Assess 2. Prioritize 3. Strategize 4. Implement. From there, we share some things that have helped us simplify our schedule, calendars, technology use, and more.
Resources:
Google Calendar www.calendar.google.com
Reclaim Scheduler https://reclaim.ai/
NHC Podcast: Parenting and Discipleship https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-38-parenting-and-discipleship/id1547126864?i=1000534090284
NHC Podcast: Crafting a Family Culture https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/crafting-a-family-culture-with-simeon/id1547126864?i=1000634241307
NHC Podcast: Too Much TV? https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-84-too-much-tv/id1547126864?i=1000563976777
Head to Toe Prayer Journal: https://nohighercalling.org/product/head-to-toe-prayer-journal/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Sarah Boots from Altogether Lovely Collective joins me to discuss a great way to help simplify and systematize meal planning! Investing a bit of forethought and planning (even just twice a year!) can lead you to delicious meals with very little thought required through the rest of the year. This idea of meal rotation can be a huge blessing to busy homemakers.
Resources:
Faithful and Flourishing: Fall/Winter Meal Rotations
https://faithfulandflourishing.org/blog/our-fall-winter-meal-rotation/
Faithful and Flourishing: A Meal Plan I Don't Have to Plan
https://faithfulandflourishing.org/blog/a-meal-plan-i-dont-have-to-plan/
Faithful and Flourishing: Spring/Summer Meal Rotatations
https://faithfulandflourishing.org/blog/our-summer-meal-rotation/
Find Sarah on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/faithfulandflourishing/
Head to Toe Prayer Journal: https://nohighercalling.org/product/head-to-toe-prayer-journal/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
Are mornings your pain point? I'll be honest, since having children, mornings are a struggle for me. In this episode, I share some things that have helped me establish a do-able, simple morning routine that helps get our days off to a good start!
Start with asking yourself, what are a few things that fill my heart and give me something to draw from as I minister to others throughout the rest of my day? This question is my foundation. From that, I have set a handful of habits to get my heart and mind prepared for a day of serving and loving others.
Resources:
NHC Podcast~ Creating a Good Evening Routine: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/creating-a-good-evening-routine/id1547126864?i=1000621742469
Head to Toe Prayer Journal: https://nohighercalling.org/product/head-to-toe-prayer-journal/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
We are so excited to launch our first Bible study episode for 2024! Simeon will be joining me for NHC Family episodes digging into what God's Word says about couples of the Bible that we might deem as "undesirable."
In this episode, we look at Elimelech and Naomi. They were followers of Jehovah who were prominent people in their city of Bethlehem. When God's judgement came by way of famine, instead of inquiring of their King, we see them running from God's protecting hedge. Together with their two sons, they enter into the heathen land of Moad. Initially, the plan was to "sojourn" there, but we find them putting down roots.
What lessons can we learn from this couple's negative example?
-Making sound decisions as a couple
-The husband's responsibilty for the stewardship of his family
-The wife's responsibility to submit to her husband's leading
-Using the influence of your marriage to point other's to God
Scriptures Referenced:
Exoduse 33:15
Leviticus 26:19
Numbers 25:1-3
Deuteronomy 23:3-4
Judges 21:25
Ruth 1:1-15
Proverbs 11:14
Isaiah 41:10
Ecclesiastes 4:9
Amos 3:3
Resources:
Six Scriptural Tests
-
Proclamation Test- "Has God clearly proclaimed it to be wrong in His Word?"
-
Principle Test- "Is is forbiden in God's Word in principle?"
-
Partnership Test- "Could I invite Jesus Christ to do this with me?" Col. 3:17
-
Present Test- "Would I be ashamed to be found doing it, thinking it, or saying it upon Christ's return?" Phil 1:20
-
Purity Test- "Is there any glory for God in it?" I Cor 10:31
-
Peace Test- "After praying about it, is there the least bit of doubt in my mind?" Rm 14:23
Resources:
Find the entire Bible Study Series: https://nohighercalling.org/podcast_series/undesirable-couples-of-the-bible/
Head to Toe Prayer Journal: https://nohighercalling.org/product/head-to-toe-prayer-journal/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
"The task of building our homes into places of beauty & life that will feed the hears, souls, and minds of our children is the most comprehensive task to which God has called us as mothers." -Sally Clarkson
As we kick off a new year, we are going to focus on the word simplify for a few episodes on the podcast. Most of us are recovering from a busy holiday season and seeking to establish new rhythms and routines for a fresh year. This episode encourages you to give yourself freedom to embrace slow- embrace a season of home- if that is what your life calls for.
That is the season that I am currenly in. Nurturing a lot of little children, homeschooling, homemaking, ministry- these are the focus of my life right now. I am finding that to be effective in these areas, I need to embrace a season where outside commitments are limited, and my efforts are put into the home God has given me. Seasons come and go, and my life won't always look like it does right now. But for today, I am seeking to embrace a season of home and delight in the beauty of a simple life ministering to those who hold my heart.
Scriptures Referenced
Psalm 90:17; 127:1
Ecclesiastes 13
Resources
NHC Podcast: A Quiet, Contented Heart with Erin Bates Paine https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-59-a-quiet-contented-heart-with-erin-bates-paine/id1547126864?i=1000547089912
Seasons of a Mother's Heart by Sally Clarkson: https://amzn.to/3sCXYxl
Serving Well by Jonathan & Elizabeth Trotter: https://amzn.to/3SSCE1f
Head to Toe Prayer Journal: https://nohighercalling.org/product/head-to-toe-prayer-journal/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org
I share the books I have been reading in quarter 4 of 2023.
UPDATE: Since the recording of this episode, I did finish my 2023 book challenge!! I will include the final books read this year in the quarter 1 review next year.
Books Reviewed:
-Raising Amazing by Monica Swanson-Parenting by Paul David Tripp-Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery-Serving Well by Johnathan & Elizabeth Trotter-The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame-The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein-Trusting God by Jerry Bridges-Habits of the Household by Justin Whitmel Earley-The First Songs of Christmas by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth-Ember Falls by S. D. Smith-Before Your Tween Daugther Becomes a Woman by Robin Gunn-The Magician's Nephew by C. S. Lewis Resources:NHC Blog: My 2023 Reading Challenge (Quarter 4) https://nohighercalling.org/my-2023-reading-challenge-quarter-4/ Follow me on Goodreads! https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/86355120-brettnay-brazzell A Family Guide to Narnia by Christin Ditchfield https://amzn.to/46U8VZr NHC YouTube: A Year of Read Alouds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW_snFzRxbc&t=7s Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
"A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,"
There are many things in this life that make us weary. Yet we, as Christians, have the hope of the Lord Jesus Christ! In the midst of our weariness, we delight in the hope that He gives. This is a hope that passes all understanding. It brings a deep peace, contentment, and joy unlike anything else in this world.
Isreal was weary of waiting for the hope of the coming Messiah. Christ was the fufillment of all Old Testament prophesy. He came not just to be born in a manger, but to die on a cross so that sinful mankind can be reconciled to God. That truth alone brings such hope!
Whatever brings weariness to your heart, may this Christmas message fill you with a thrill of hope and give you reason to rejoice.
Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 122:6
Proverbs 4:18
Resources:
Great Hymns for Growing Hearts by Brettnay Brazzell https://www.newmerciesmusic.com/product-page/great-hymns-for-growing-hearts
NHC Podcast: The Vibrancy of Christ https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-vibrancy-of-christ/id1547126864?i=1000635021967
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
This year, we accepted the 1000 hours outside challenge, and it has been so good for our family! It has stretched us. 1000 hours is quite the loftly goal! But we are nearing the end of the year with only a few more hours to go. I have seen my children's mobility, endurance, and strength soar. I have seen their imagination and creativity ignite. We have made wonderful memories outside in nature together.
As you see statistics of how little chidlren are getting outdoors in this generation, it is staggering. I share quite a bit of that research and where "indoor lifestyles" are leading a future generation. I am thankful for people like Ginny with 1000 Hours Outside who are advocating for more time in nature and who are helping families achieve their goals.
Resources:
1000 Hours Outside https://www.1000hoursoutside.com/
1000 Hours Outside Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/1000hoursoutside/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
A new year is quickly dawning upon us! Many people are thinking about goals and resolutions they desire to set in 2024. Simeon joins me to discuss setting goals as a couple.
Some of the highglights include. . .
-Choosing a Scripture to focus on in the new year
-Having a big picture vision and breaking it down to live it out this year
-How to proritize goals for your family
-Connecting as a couple through goal setting
. . . and more!
Scriptures Referenced:
Psaom 90:17; 127:1
Resources:
NHC Podcast: Quarterly Planning https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/quarterly-planning/id1547126864?i=1000605520475
NHC Podcast: Crafting a Family Culture with Simeon https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/crafting-a-family-culture-with-simeon/id1547126864?i=1000634241307
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
We come to the final episode in our Psalm 23 Bible study series, and what a study this has been! From the field to the house, we have seen the Shepherd tenderly, lovingly guiding His sheep through all the highs and lows the path brings. He has promised that at the end of our journey, we can look forward to dwelling in His house forever. What is the highlight of this dwelling place? It is not the destination, it is the Lord Himself! What a precious Shepherd we follow!
Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 23
Resources:
A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W Phillip Keller: https://amzn.to/3CJZGid
The Heart of the Shepherd by Stephen Chappell: https://amzn.to/3Sh6B8R
NHC Podcast Series: Psalm 23 https://nohighercalling.org/podcast_series/psalm-23/
NHC Podcast: The Vibrancy of Christ https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-vibrancy-of-christ/id1547126864?i=1000635021967
If you do not know Christ as your Shepherd, email me at nohighercallingpodcast@gmail.com. I'd love nothing more than to share how Jesus Christ can be your Savior.
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Christmastime brings on all the fun traditions and sweet memories! One of the most enjoyable things for me as a mother is making holidays extra special for my family. This year looks a bit different than previous years because it is our first Christmas in Australia. In this episode, I share some of our traditions that have stood the test of time and several new ones we will start this year.
I'd love to hear what traditions you're family enjoys during the Christmas season! Leave them in the comments!
Resources:
NHC Podcast: Crafting a Family Culture https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/crafting-a-family-culture-with-simeon/id1547126864?i=1000634241307
NHC Podcast: Our Christmas Traditions (2021) https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-53-our-christmas-traditions/id1547126864?i=1000543723732
NHC Blog: Christmas Gift Guide https://nohighercalling.org/christmas-gift-guide-2023/
NHC Blog: Christmas Books for Little Ones https://nohighercalling.org/christmas-books-for-little-ones/
Holiday Hospitality Guide: https://nohighercalling.org/product/holiday-hospitality-guide/
Great Hymns for Growing Hearts: Christ the Savior is Born Advent Devotional https://nohighercalling.org/product/great-hymns-for-growing-hearts-christmas-edition-hard-copy/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
2023 has been an incredible year for our family! God brought us from east Tennessee all the way to Sydney, Australia. Our faith has been strengthened as we've watched God do things that only He can do! Hear what we've been up to in our family and ministry this year.
In the second half of the episode, we give sneak peeks of some exciting things coming to NHC in 2024 as well as several products that are currently in the works. We have expectant hearts and are asking God for big things in the coming year!
Resources:
NHC YouTube: Home Sweet Home (our trip from the US to Australia!) https://youtu.be/dqa7wH4k-xQ?si=WhKVriog7U3Nr85u
NHC Podcast Series: https://nohighercalling.org/no-higher-calling-podcast/
Living Waters Baptist Church: https://www.livingwatersbaptist.com.au/
Subscribe to our ministry prayer letter: www.brazzellstoaustralia.com
Subscribe to the NHC email: www.nohighercalling.org
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
I will soon be entering my 5th postpartum season. I have learned many things that have helped me have a smooth, wonderful experience. First time postpartum mama Brettnay would not recognize fifth time postpartum mama Brettnay (and I'm glad! I've come a long way!) With my first pregnancy, I thought that in order to be super mom, I needed to jump back into "normal" asap. Now as a mom of almost 5, I have realized how quickly those newborn days fly by. I have also realized that giving birth qualifies every woman as super mom, and now it is time to rest, recover, and bond with baby. If I take those initial weeks to heal, it will serve myself and my family so much better than if I try to rush ahead and jump into things too fast.
In this episode, I share how my husband and I work together to ensure that I have a smooth postpartum. I also share postpartum essentials that have been a huge help the recovery process and hormone regulation.
Resources:
FIND ALL ITEMS MENTIONED LINKED HERE--NHC Blog: Postpartum Essentials https://nohighercalling.org/postpartum-essentials/
NHC Podcast: Preparing for a New Baby https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-70-preparing-for-a-new-baby/id1547126864?i=1000553542251
NHC Podcast: Nourishing Your Postpartum Body with Rebecca Grant https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-78-nourishing-your-postpartum-body-with-rebecca-grant/id1547126864?i=1000558592925
NHC Podcast: Steps Towards a Healthy Cycle with Megan Kay https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-103-steps-toward-a-healthy-cycle-with-megan-kay/id1547126864?i=1000578020490
Great Hymns for Growing Hearts: Christ the Savior is Born Advent Devotional https://nohighercalling.org/product/great-hymns-for-growing-hearts-christmas-edition-hard-copy/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
...To love and to cherish til death do us part...
Simeon and I recently read the book Cherish by Gary Thomas. It was so good for our marriage, and it prompted great conversations between us. On this episode, we share our takeaways from the book.
A few topics we discuss. . .
-Making your spouse your one and only
-Not comparing your spouse with other people
-Building your spouse up to others
-Infatuation vs authentic intimacy
Resources:
Cherish by Gary Thomas: https://amzn.to/3uiyt4O
Great Hymns for Growing Hearts: Christ the Savior is Born Advent Devotional https://nohighercalling.org/product/great-hymns-for-growing-hearts-christmas-edition-hard-copy/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Psalm 23:6 "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:"
This verse begins with a word of certainty- surely. God promises that without any doubt or question, goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives. His goodness provides for every need, and His mercy covers every failure. Goodness and mercy keep us hedged in, walking the path of life, pressing towards the mark for the prize, Jesus Christ.
As we walk the path of life, we leave a trail of God's goodnes and mercy behind. Oh that our prayer might be that all who come behind would find us faithful!
Scriptures Referenced:
Deuteronomy 31:8
Psalm 23; 139:5
Ephesians 6
Resources:
A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W Phillip Keller: https://amzn.to/3CJZGid
The Heart of the Shepherd by Stephen Chappell: https://amzn.to/3Sh6B8R
Great Hymns for Growing Hearts: Christ the Savior is Born Advent Devotional https://nohighercalling.org/product/great-hymns-for-growing-hearts-christmas-edition-hard-copy/
If you do not know Christ as your Shepherd, email me at nohighercallingpodcast@gmail.com. I'd love nothing more than to share how Jesus Christ can be your Savior.
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Vibrant: full of energy, life, and passion; pulsating (throbbing sensation, excitement)
One of the beautiful things about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, is that while I am so thankful for my soul's salvation, that is just the beginning, not the end. Jesus desires to save you, but also to walk through every moment of every day WITH you! He has come not only that we have life, but that we will have life abundant!
As we walk with the Lord, choose things that are excellent, and allow Him to do His sanctifying work in our hearts, the vibrancy of Christ should captivate our hearts. This will then affect our actions because all of our actions stem from our view of Jesus Christ.
"Make Christ so big in your heart and mind that it crowds out lesser things."
Scriptures Referenced:
I Chronicles 29:11
Psalm 8; 115:4-8
John 10:10
Romans 12:2
Great Hymns for Growing Hearts: Christ the Savior is Born Advent Devotional https://nohighercalling.org/product/great-hymns-for-growing-hearts-christmas-edition-hard-copy/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Simeon and I have a lot of littles, and it can be difficult to find ways to connect with each of them individually. I recently saw a mom share about the "stay up late" nights they do with their children. It was a way for Dad and Mama to get quality time with each individual child without having to leave the house or pay for childcare for the other children. This caught my eye, and we have since began implementing a version of this in our home. It has been so sweet for us, and for our children! Listen in as I share what this looks like for our family, and the blessings that have come from being intentional to connect with the hearts of our children.
Resources:
Great Hymns for Growing Hearts: Christ the Savior is Born Advent Devotional https://nohighercalling.org/product/great-hymns-for-growing-hearts-christmas-edition-hard-copy/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
"Everybody has a family culture whether you intend to or not. It is important to be intentional about the culture your family has." -Simeon
Simeon joins me in this episode to talk about crafting a family culture. We start with the foundation of answering the question- what is family culture? This is your family's values, visions, and interests. What do your children think about when they think of your home and family?
We share our family mission statement and our family culture statement that has grown out of our mission. When you outline these things for your family, it helps you prioritize, make decisions, and develop your unique family identity.
One day, when our children are grown and have left our home, we hope they reflect on their childhood with fond memories, lasting traditions, and clear identity. Crafting a family culture is the foundational blocks these elements are built upon.
Resources:
Great Hymns for Growing Hearts: Christ the Savior is Born Advent Devotional https://nohighercalling.org/product/great-hymns-for-growing-hearts-christmas-edition-hard-copy/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
As we prepare for our 5th baby and 3rd home birth, we are excited to include our children in all the details of the process. One of the beautiful things of giving birth in the comfort of home is that you can have the siblings be a part of the experience. We loved having Eden present for Willow's birth, and we are preparing the others to be a part of this baby's arrival.
Birth is beautiful and miraculous! I want to pass that message to my children, especially my girls.
In this episode, I discuss. . .
-How involved we allow my son to be in the birth
-Ways to appropriately introduce topics like sex, birth, and babies to your children
-Including your children in the pregnancy journey- be dazzled by God's design!
and much more!
Resources:
Scripture Promises for Labor & Birth Cards https://nohighercalling.org/product/scripture-promises-for-labor-birth/
Birds & Bees https://birds-bees.com/ (use code BRETTNAY to save 20%)
NHC Podcast: Brazzell Babies Birth Stories https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-24-brazzell-babies-birth-stories/id1547126864?i=1000524934713
NHC Podcast: Willow Noelle's Birth Story
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-86-willow-noelles-birth-story/id1547126864?i=1000565755697
NHC Podcast: The Midwifery Care Model with Rebekah Mustaleski https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-68-the-midwifery-care-model-with-rebekah-mustaleski/id1547126864?i=1000552290906
Books on Home Birth for Children:
*These were recommened to me by a friend. I have not personally read any of them.
Mama Says Home Birth https://amzn.to/3QcIbwG
Welcome Home https://amzn.to/477LQ65
The Family Birth https://amzn.to/3rWbb41
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Psalm 23:5 "thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over."
In this Psalm, the anointing of oil symbolizes the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. This is a continual work. We continually need a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and minds. For the shepherd to know the sheep's need for the application of the oil, he must be among his sheep paying close attention to their needs. In the same way, our great Shepherd is ever-present in our lives ministering, comforting, and applying the oil of His Spirit.
Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 23
John 14:26; 16:13
Romans 12:2
II Corinthians 10:5
Resources:
Enjoying the Journey Podcast: The Shepherd in the Shadows with Evangelist Scott Pauley https://enjoyingthejourney.org/series_title/the-shepherd-in-the-shadows/
A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W Phillip Keller: https://amzn.to/3CJZGid
The Heart of the Shepherd by Stephen Chappell: https://amzn.to/3Sh6B8R
Great Hymns for Growing Hearts: Christ the Savior is Born Advent Devotional https://nohighercalling.org/product/great-hymns-for-growing-hearts-christmas-edition-hard-copy/
If you do not know Christ as your Shepherd, email me at nohighercallingpodcast@gmail.com. I'd love nothing more than to share how Jesus Christ can be your Savior.
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
As a homemaker, it is important to me to steward my family's health well. Planning, cooking, and serving meals are such a huge part of life. Busy lives can make microwave dinners and takeout pizza look quite appealing, and while we do enjoy those from time to time, I know that's not what I want for our everyday. I'm also realizing that I have a very important ministry to my family through the family table.
Laying that foundation, we discuss how to live that out while having busy lives and schedules. You'll hear some of the tips that have helped me accomplish the goal of feeding my family well while also not spending all my time in the kitchen.
Resources
NHC Podcast: Cooking from Scratch with Jami Balmet https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/cooking-from-scratch-with-jami-balmet/id1547126864?i=1000617132827
NHC Podcast: Meal Planning
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-62-meal-planning/id1547126864?i=1000549157611
NHC Podcast: Freezer Cooking
https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-77-freezer-cooking/id1547126864?i=1000558245327
Crock Pot: https://amzn.to/45IuZW8
Bread Machine: https://amzn.to/3Sbz2af
Souper Cubes: https://amzn.to/3Q1481O
Cooling Racks: https://amzn.to/3Q7j6Dl
*Amazon links are afflilate links. As an Amazon influencer, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you!!
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
As moms, one of the things we most dread to hear from our children are the words, "I'm bored!" We live in a culture that is so overstimulized. We have lost the ability to wait, to be still or to be bored.
Ainsley Arment from Wild + Free said, "If only we could be content with ourselves long enough to make it through the desert of boredom into the oasis of imagination and creativity."
Boredom is not something that should be avoided at all costs. We just need to learn now to navigate our way through it to the beauty that awaits us on the other side. This is gift that we can give to our children!
We discuss...
-How parents model navigating boredom
-Balancing adventure and boredom
-Ways to encourage creativity and imagination
-Learning to slow down as a family
And so much more!
Resources:
NHC Podcast: Mothering in the Digital Age with Sarah Boots https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-85-mothering-in-the-digital-age-with-sarah-boots/id1547126864?i=1000564948737
NHC Podcast: Establishing a Quiet Time https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-119-establishing-a-quiet-time/id1547126864?i=1000587712462
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
I'm often asked, "How do you juggle the first trimester of pregnancy while parenting other little ones?" I do not have the perfect answer, and some days are better than others! Growing a new life brings so many changes and challenges to the mama, but those things compound when you are trying to chase a toddler, manage your older children's education, keep up with the home, etc.
This pregnancy was very rough in the first trimester. There were days where I didn't have the energy to get off the couch. In this episode, I share some different things that have helped me survive those early weeks while being mama to other little ones.
Resources:
NHC Podcast: Nourishing Your Postpartum Body with Rebecca Grant https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-78-nourishing-your-postpartum-body-with-rebecca-grant/id1547126864?i=1000558592925
NHC Podcast: Preparing for a New Baby https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ep-70-preparing-for-a-new-baby/id1547126864?i=1000553542251
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
"If you can light a passion in a child to love to learn and to learn for themselves, you will set them on a trajectory of pursuing beauty and excellence."
Accoring to Greek and Latin origins, the word "genius" means "giving birth to one's joy." To help give birth to a child's genius, we have the privilege of introducing to them the joy of learning. How can we cultivate this? Wonder is the gateway to unlocking the genius. We discuss how parents can encourage wonder in their developing children, offer a feast of excellence in education, and be students of our student's as we seek to see them become all that God created them to be.
Resources:
Awaking Wonder by Sally Clarkson https://amzn.to/3PmZ7jT
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
There is so much pressure to craft homes that could be photographed for Better Homes & Gardens. Maybe you have that kind of home, and if so, that's wonderful! But I think the majority of us don't for a multitude of reasons- practicality, buget limitations, children, etc.
What is the purpose of our homes? What do you want to emphasize in your space?
As homemakers, we have the opportunity to cultivate a haven of beauty for our families. In this episode, I seek to find the balance between delighting in a beautiful home with finding contentment and joy in crafting a home that serves a unique purpose.
Scriptures Referenced:
Proverbs 14:1
Resources:
Subscribe to the NHC Email! www.nohighercalling.org
Simeon's audio & web business: https://aussie-audio.com/
The Lifegiving Home by Sally Clarkson https://amzn.to/3PpOZGP
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
This episode is specifically for those who have been called to let go- to let go of those that they love who are serving Christ around the world. It was (and still often is) difficult for me to be so far from our parents, other family, and friends. But it is also difficult for those who remain behind and have to watch their loved ones board a plane.
I've received messages from others asking what it's been like to be so far from friends and family, how we "shorten" the distance, and ways that we help the grands stay connected with their grandchildren. We are only 8 months into our new life overseas, but we have had to navigate a vast array of emotions and learn to take comfort in what we do have and can do.
Resources:
Serving Well by Elizabeth & Jonathan Trotter: https://amzn.to/45WwDEI
Resources:
www.brazzellstoaustralia.com
Subscribe to the NHC Email! www.nohighercalling.org
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Another quarter finished, another reading challenge update! Hear about the books I've been reading over the past few months.
Resources:
NHC Blog: My 2023 Reading Challenge (Quarter 3) https://nohighercalling.org/my-2023-reading-challenge-quarter-3/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
There are time when the need for hospitality calls for us to minister from our homes instead of in our homes.
What is a "meal train"? It is simply when someone is in charge of organizing multiple meals for a person/family in need. In this episode, I share practical tips on how to make this go smoothly (especially for the one hosting/organizing the meals) and to be the greatest blessing to the recepients.
We have been so encouraged and helped by those who have provided meals for us during times of new babies, the unexpected loss of my brother, and sickness. If you have been on the receiving end of this aspect of hospitality, you know the immense blessing this can be!
Resources:
www.mealtrain.com
NHC Podcast: Hospitality On-the-Go https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-107-hospitality-on-the-go/id1547126864?i=1000580291148
NHC Hospitality Guide https://nohighercalling.org/product/hospitality-guide/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Proverbs 23:5 "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:"
Before we are in the presence of our enemies, desperate for the nourishment that the Shepherd provides, He has already prepared a table for us. Loving care is required when laying a table, and no one prepares a table like Jesus!
"What a tragedy when Christ prepares a table for me, yet I don't stop and grumble about my weariness as I walk by." -Evangelist Scott Pauley
In the moments of intense battle and spiritual depletion, may we stop at the table the Shepherd has provided and find the refreshment we so desperately need.
Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 23
Resources:
Blue Collar Theology Podcast by Simeon Brazzell~ Bible Translations: https://blue-collartheology.com/podcast/holey-left-sleeves
Hinds' Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnad: https://amzn.to/3OZCxNR
A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W Phillip Keller: https://amzn.to/3CJZGid
The Heart of the Shepherd by Stephen Chappell: https://amzn.to/3Sh6B8R
If you do not know Christ as your Shepherd, email me at nohighercallingpodcast@gmail.com. I'd love nothing more than to share how Jesus Christ can be your Savior.
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
As a mom of a lot of littles, I get asked often about how I manage the clutter and keep our home organized and tidy. My personality is to have everything decent and in order. I cannot funtion or find joy in a home that is drowning in stuff, messes, and dirt. On the other hand, having many little children means that messes are a part of our everyday life. So, how does one find balance? How do you juggle it all?
In this episode, I share some tips that have been helpful to our home in this area.
Resources:
NHC YouTube: Kid's Bookshelf https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=womti80cqOo&t=637s
NHC YouTube: Natural Cleaning with Kids https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeJi_LPv34Q&t=18s
NHC Podcast: Clean 15 with Sarah Boots https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/clean-15-with-sarah-boots/id1547126864?i=1000593962267
NHC Podcast: Cleaning with Littles https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/cleaning-with-littles/id1547126864?i=1000609275443
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Joshua 1:8 “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
Motherhood is a sanctification journey. As I am trying to correct, instruct, and nurture the little hearts God's blessed me with, I'm learning that I must use the tools that He has provided. So often, I work out of my own strength wondering why my words seem to fall on deaf ears. The Holy Spirit has reminded me that it is His words that do not return void. Over the past year, I have sought to be intentional about commiting Scripture to memory. Not only has it helped me in my parenting, but it has helped me in my own relationship with the Lord. We need mamas who will desire that His Word will not depart out of their mouths, who will meditate therein day and night!
Hear some practical ideas for how I am memorizing Scripture myself and how I am helping my children to hide God's Word in their hearts.
Scriptures Referenced:
Deuteronomy 6:8
Joshua 1:8
Psalm 40:8; 119:16
Proverbs 6:21; 15:1
Ephesians 6:12
Philippians 4:8
II Timothy 3:16-17
Resources:
NHC Podcast: Saturating Our Homes with God's Word with Erin Bates Paine https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-46-saturating-our-homes-with-god-s-word-with-erin/id1547126864?i=1000538562720
Scripture Memory Resources https://www.chadanderin.com/store/
Wise Words for Moms Pamphlet by Ginger Hubbard https://www.gingerhubbard.com/products/wise-words-for-moms
Scripture Meditations by Erin Bates Paine https://www.chadanderin.com/product/scripture-meditations-2-disc/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
The topic of pregnancy after miscarriage is one that is rarely addressed. Maybe because it is often interwoven with deep grief and conflicting emotions. The Lord blessed Simeon and I with 3 babies, then we lost a baby in 2021. Since that loss, God has blessed us with 2 more babies. We are so grateful for every life He's entrusted to our care, whether it was for days or years.
Pregnancy after miscarriage is different from pregnancy without experiencing loss. I have to battle doubts, fears, and emotions that I never dealt with in my first three pregnancies. A part of my heart wants to scream, "It's not fair!" But the reality is, we live in a broken, sin-cursed world and death is a part of the brokeness. Satan wants to keep my heart focused on my lack of control and his lies against God's character and promises. I have to fight to keep truth on the throne of my heart. But God gives victory! In Him, we find hope, joy, and a perfect peace that casts out all fear.
In this episode, I share my personal struggles with pregnancy after miscarriage and what God is teaching me about His character and love in the midst of my greatest joys and my greatest sorrows.
Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 34:18; 94:19
Isaiah 26:3
Jeremiah 29:11
Mark 9:23-24
Romans 8:26
II Corinthians 10:5
I Thessalonians 4:13
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Psalm 23:4 "thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."
Psalm 23 is all about our present Shepherd. He is with us! Praise God for His faithful, constant presence in our lives. In this episode, we discuss the Shepherd, our protector, and how He uses the rod and staff as tools of His protection. Just as as shepherd uses the rod and staff for the care of his sheep, our great Shepherd uses the rod (God's Word) and the staff (the Holy Spirit) to keep us under His wing of safety and security.
Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 23; 139:23-24
Hebrews 12:6
Resources:
Enjoying the Journey Podcast Series: The Shepherd in the Shadows with Evangelist Scott Pauley https://enjoyingthejourney.org/series_title/the-shepherd-in-the-shadows/
NHC Podcast: Guiding Our Kids to the Shepherd with Katie Davidson https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-13-guiding-our-kids-to-the-shepherd-with-katie-davidson/id1547126864?i=1000514400888
A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W Phillip Keller: https://amzn.to/3CJZGid
The Heart of the Shepherd by Stephen Chappell: https://amzn.to/3Sh6B8R
If you do not know Christ as your Shepherd, email me at nohighercallingpodcast@gmail.com. I'd love nothing more than to share how Jesus Christ can be your Savior.
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Prayer is one of the most powerful tools God has given us for every aspect of life, but especially when it comes to parenting. The most important prayer request we can intercede for on the behalf of our children is for their salvation and relationship with the Lord. The next most important, I believe, is praying for your child's future spouse. So much of what their future will look like will be directly connected with the person they marry.
In this episode, I challenge mothers to pray for their child's future spouse. We take it a step further giving the challenge to also pray for the parents of your child's future spouse. If you are anything like me, you need the power of the Holy Spirit and divine wisdom to raise your children for Christ. So do the parents who are raising your future daugther or son-in-law! What a powerful thing it would be to meet them one day, and be able to say that you've spent decades praying for them!
Scriptures Referenced:
II Corinthians 6:14
I Thessalonians 5:16
Resources Referenced:
Head to Toe Prayer Journal: https://nohighercalling.org/product/head-to-toe-prayer-journal/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Motherhood is sanctifying work, and mothering a strong-willed child is extra sanctifying! The challenges parenting this personality type brings can lead a mother to feeling isolated, frustrated, and exhausted. What are we to do when everything we try doesn't work? How can we find hope in the midst of tantrums and attitudes?
Sarah Boots from Altogether Lovely Collective joins me to share how God is helping her grow in this area. This episode is less about the strong-willed child, and more about the mother who's been gifted that unique life. God promises to give us wisdom when we ask it of Him. Claim His promise and find strength to believe forward into the life of your child, seeing the potential that God has for them!
Scriptures Referenced:
Galatians 6:9
Resources:
Altogether Lovely Collective Blog: Mothering the Strong-Willed Child https://altogetherlovelycollective.com/blog/mothering-the-strong-willed-child
Altogether Lovely Collective https://altogetherlovelycollective.com/
Altogether Lovely Collective Instagram https://www.instagram.com/altogetherlovely.co/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Homeschooling with toddlers and babies is no joke! Yet there will be endless opportunities for laughter and fun! A question I get often is, "How do you manage homeschooling your older children while juggling having a toddler and baby under foot?"
In this episode, I share practical advice on how we've structured our school days to best fit the season of life our family is in right now. I also share ways that I keep my toddler and baby entertained and involved in what we are learning.
Not every day looks like what I picture and some days I cling to the promise that "His mercies are new every morning", but this life is a true joy! It is the greatest priviledge to get to teach my children at home and have our whole family involved in a lifestyle of learning (toddler and baby included)!
Resources:
NHC YouTube: Our Favorite Activities and Resources for the Kids https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=womti80cqOo&t=106s
Grocery Sort & Play Book (PaperPie) https://paperpie.com/p/9902/grocery-day-sort-play
NHC Podcast: Encouraging Your Children to Enjoy Books https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/encouraging-your-children-to-love-books/id1547126864?i=1000612612054
Children of Character Cards https://nohighercalling.org/product/children-of-character-cards/
NHC Podcast: Establishing a Quite Time Routine https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-119-establishing-a-quiet-time/id1547126864?i=1000587712462
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
The Australian school year begins in January, so we are right in the middle of a fantastic homeschool year. But, I know all my friends in the US are back-to-school! I thought it'd be fun to share a glimpse into our homeschool days and the curriculum line-up we have for the next semester. Researching curriculum is a geeky hobby of mine; it's been so fun to come up with these resources, unit studies, and curriculum choices!
Resources:
NHC Blog: Curriculum Line-up for Fall/Winter 2023 https://nohighercalling.org/curriculum-line-up-for-fall-winter-2023/
The Four-Hour School Day by Durenda Wilson https://amzn.to/3ONO6cl
NHC Podcast: Clean 15 with Sarah Boots https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/clean-15-with-sarah-boots/id1547126864?i=1000593962267
NHC Podcast: Cleaning with Littles https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/cleaning-with-littles/id1547126864?i=1000609275443
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
For the next three episodes of the podcast, we'll be chatting about homeschooling! This is a huge part of our lives, and it is something and Simeon and I are very passionate about.
The goal of education is so much more than academic success. Our goal for the education of our children is to introduce them to God, allowing them to know God better. As they learn of Him, we learn about the world He created (science, history, literature) and the order He instilled in the world (math, languages, civics). Home is the ideal place to invest in this calling of discipleship and learning. Home is where we can lay the foundation of what real like looks like and how to accomplish real life skills. You do not have to homeschool to emphasize those things, but homeschooling does give margin for more time and opportunities to train.
Simeon and I share our hearts, and why we believe that home education is the best choice for our family. If you are on the fence about school choices, or maybe you've never thought and prayed through the decision, we hope that this episode will give you some great conversation and prayer points!
Outline of biblical reasons why we have chosen home education (taken from the list in the the Clarkson's book)
-Homeschooling allows the greatest opportunity for emphasizing the Word of God in a child's life II Tim 3:16-17; Heb 4:12-13; I Thess 2:13
-Homeschooling allows the greatest opportunity for strategic discipleship influence in a child's life Luke 6:10; Matthew 28:18-20; Col 2:6-7; II Tim 2:2
-Homeschooling provides the best setting for dynamic learning through exposure to real-life experiences James 1:2-4; Proverbs
-Homeschooling provides the best setting for discovering and developing spiritual gifts and personal skills and talents I Pet 4:10-11; Col 3:17; II Tim 1:6-7
-Homeschooling is the best way to live out the biblical picture of walking with your children on God's path of life until they walk it on their own Proverbs 4:1-19; John 14:6; Eph 5:1-2
Scriptures Referenced:
Deuteronomy 6:7-9
Mark 3:13-15
I Corinthians 11:1
II Timothy 1:5
Resources:
Educating the Wholehearted Child by Clay & Sally Clarkson https://amzn.to/3DMy5Nb
General Order Four (discipleship podcast) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/general-order-4-podcast/id1529928237
NHC Podcast: Parenting & Discipleship https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-38-parenting-and-discipleship/id1547126864?i=1000534090284
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
I can hardly believe we are at the halfway point of my pregnancy with baby #5! We could not be more delighted about this new addition to our family. In this episode, I answer listeners questions about the baby & pregnancy.
-When's the due date?
-Will we find out baby's gender?
-Will baby be an Australian citizen?
-What is my birth plan?
And more!!
This podcast was recorded live for the NHC YouTube Channel. You can watch the q&a here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QX_hxph0IqY
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
One of my favorite aspects of making hospitality a big part of our home and ministry is getting my children involved. They have become wonderful hosptiality helpers! Through intentional training, they have learned how to greet others with kindess and welcome, how to do a quick tidy and clean of the home, how to prep dinner, how to remember manners through meal time, how to engage in conversation with people of all ages, and more!
In this episode, I pull some thoughts from the Hospitality Guide I put together (find at www.nohighercalling.org/shop) and give practical ideas on how to get your children involved in hospitality no matter what their age!
Do you practice hospitality on a regular basis? Do you involve your children? I'd love to hear how you get your family involved in this wonderful Gospel opportunity!
Resources:
NHC Hospitality Guide https://nohighercalling.org/product/hospitality-guide/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
"I truly believe that a successful day begins the night before. Setting yourself up for success before bed is an amazing way to not only have more peace in your day, but it's a way to feel calmer and happier- and to have time for those things that matter most to you." -Crystal Paine
I am a busy wife and mama. With 4 kids under 6, a baby on the way, homeschooling responsibilities, homemaking tasks, a husband, minstry, and the list could go on. . . I get asked often, how do you manage?! I've learned (from lots of trial and error) that if I want to set myself up to have a successful day, I have to begin preparing the evening before. In this episode, I share what our evening rhythms look like and give practical tips to creating a good evening routine.
Resources:
Time Saving Mom by Crystal Paine https://amzn.to/44T4Kwp
NHC Podcast: A Quiet, Contented Heart with Erin Bates Paine https://podcasts.apple.com/om/podcast/ep-59-a-quiet-contented-heart-with-erin-bates-paine/id1547126864?i=1000547089912&l=ar
Peaceful Hymns CD by New Mercies Music https://www.newmerciesmusic.com/product-page/peaceful-hymns-cd-piano-solos
Hymns CD by Erin Bates Paine https://www.chadanderin.com/product/hymns/
Scripture Meditations by Erin Bates Paine https://www.chadanderin.com/product/scripture-meditations-2-disc/
Hive Pocket Game (a great game for a parent & child ages 4+) https://amzn.to/3Oiycq5
Parks Board Game (a favorite 2 player game!) https://amzn.to/3Q0FO1u
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Psalm 23:4 "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;"
Deep trials are a reality of life because we live in a broken, sin-cursed world. Yet, our gentle Shepherd reminds us that in the midst of the darkest valleys, we need not fear! How can that be so? Because of the Shepherd's presence. We can weather the storms of life victorious because Christ walks with us.
The journey we walk is worth the endurance required. The valleys provide blessings that nothing else can provide. They make us dependent upon Christ. They provide a way to higher ground. They provide wisdom we must glean to continue on the path.
As we continue our journey through this rich Psalm, may your soul be encouraged as we learn more about the loving heart of our great Shepherd.
Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 8:4-6; 23; 91
Isaiah 6:5
Daniel 3:18
John 9:1-3
II Corinthians 10:5-6
Philippians 3:10
Resources:
Fear Not! Meditations to Overcome Fear, Worry, and Discouragement by Rand Hummel https://amzn.to/3NG4x8u
Children of Character Cards https://nohighercalling.org/product/children-of-character-cards/
Hinds' Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard https://amzn.to/447tQrp
Always, Only Good by Shelly Hamilton https://www.majestymusic.com/always-only-good-book.html
A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W Phillip Keller: https://amzn.to/3CJZGid
The Heart of the Shepherd by Stephen Chappell: https://amzn.to/3Sh6B8R
If you do not know Christ as your Shepherd, email me at nohighercallingpodcast@gmail.com. I'd love nothing more than to share how Jesus Christ can be your Savior.
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Family-integrated worship is becoming more common in churches today. Whether that is your choice or because your church doesn't have separate nursuries and classes, many parents find themselves wondering- how do we teach our littles to sit in church?
I'll say upfront, I am not the authority on this topic! We are in the process of training our children in this, but I have learned some things that I share in this episode. I also had a friend reach out with some great questions to think through with your spouse as you train your children to sit in the main worship service.
Scriptures Referenced:
Romans 10:17
Resources:
Family Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham https://amzn.to/44pgyGV
Great Hymns for Growing Hearts Family Hymn Study https://www.newmerciesmusic.com/product-page/great-hymns-for-growing-hearts
NHC Podcast: Teaching Children to Pray with Heidi James https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/teaching-children-to-pray-with-heidi-james/id1547126864?i=1000598838116
Sermon Notes for Kids Printable https://www.theferventmama.com/free-kids-sermon-notes-printable/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Everyone seems to love when I do an Instgram day-in-the-life! It's fun to bring you in and show you a glimpse into our life and the rhythms of our home. It's been requested that I do a podcast sharing a more detailed look into what our life looks like. So, here's the episode! Listen in as I share how we tackle homemaking tasks, homeschooling, schedules, and more. Not all days are normal, and life often brings new seasons and rhythms of home get tweaked, but this is what our current season looks like.
Podcast Episodes Referenced:
NHC Podcast: Clean 15 with Sarah Boots https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/clean-15-with-sarah-boots/id1547126864?i=1000593962267
NHC Podcast: Cleaning with Littles https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/cleaning-with-littles/id1547126864?i=1000609275443
NHC Podcast: Meal Planning https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-62-meal-planning/id1547126864?i=1000549157611
NHC Podcast: Establishing a Quiet Time https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-119-establishing-a-quiet-time/id1547126864?i=1000587712462
Resources Referenced:
My FAVORITE Cookbook- Hope's Table https://amzn.to/43mF3Tw
YouTube: Cleaning with Kids Using Natural Products https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeJi_LPv34Q&t=18s
New Mercies Music Studio https://www.newmerciesmusic.com/newmerciesmusicstudio
Aussie-Audio and Web https://aussie-audio.com/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Crystal Paine from Money Saving Mom joins me to talk about her new book, Time Saving Mom. This book is all about how to juggle a lot, enjoy your life, and accomplish what matters most. Crystal writes about a four step plan to put this to action in your life, and it all begins with starting your day with the Lord.
In this interview, she shares why it is so important for busy women to begin their day with Jesus. This allows you to serve the Lord and others from a place of peace instead of from a place of overwhelm.
The practical, yet powerful, tips Crystal shares will be an encouragement to your heart! You will be challenged to love God more, spend more time with Him in prayer, and be a conduit of His grace to those you encounter in your everyday life.
"The little choices we make each day can change the trajectory of our lives."
Resources:
Time Saving Mom by Crystal Paine: https://amzn.to/44eOWUg
Crystal Paine on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themoneysavingmom/
https://moneysavingmom.com/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
A recap of the books that I read in Quarter 2 of 2023!
Resources:
NHC Blog: 2023 Reading Challenge~ Quarter 2 https://nohighercalling.org/quarter-2-books/
Bible Studies for Teens by Rand Hummel: https://wilds.org/store/products/resources/bible-studies/
Brambley Hedge on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=brambley+hedge
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
When Mary needed spritual encouragement and fellowship, the Bible says she made haste to go to one person- Elizabeth. The friendship between Mary and Elizabeth is beautiful, and there is much we can learn from their example. We are challenged to seek to be a Christlike friend, seeking to point those we love to the Lord.
"We are hungry for the sustenance of sturdy, deep friendships, but we are fed an idea of friendshp that is neither nourishing nor satisfying. Friendship can and must be so much more." -Sally Clarkson
Scriptures Referenced:
Luke 1:39-56
Proverbs 27:17
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
We are living in a day where children are coming in adulthood with little to no character. Being known as a man of your word or a woman of discretion is almost unheard-of. As Christian parents, it should not only be our desire, but it is our responsibility to instruct our children in righteousness and godly character!
God put it on our hearts to create a resource full of Scripture and biblical wisdom to aid parents in teaching their children character. The Children of Character cards are now available in the No Higher Calling Shop! In this episode, you'll heart my heart behind the creation of this resource as well as a glimpse into how this can impact your home and legacy.
Enter the giveaway to win a FREE set of Children of Character Cards on my Instagram account- @nohighercalling_
Scriptures Referenced:
Proverbs 16:16
Galatians 6:9
Colossians 2:3
Resources:
NHC Shop: https://www.nohighercalling.org/shop
Great Hymns for Growing Hearts: https://www.nohighercalling.org/new-book
Aussie-Audio and Web Design: https://aussie-audio.com/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Many of our families are facing the struggle of rising food costs and limited budgets, yet while having a desire to feed our families wholesome meals. Jami Balmet from Finding Joy in Your Home joins me to share how cooking from scratch has blessed their family in these areas. She also gives great advice on how to make cooking from scratch a very practical part of your homemaking- it doesn't have to be overwhelming and daunting! By taking baby steps in your kitchen, you will see progress and growth.
Join us as we chat about. . .
-Figuring our your kitchen and cooking priorities
-Trusting God with our health and finding balance in our food choices
-How to afford to cook from scratch and buy in bulk
-Involving your children in the kitchen
Resources:
Finding Joy in Your Home Podcast
https://findingjoyinyourhome.com/
https://www.instagram.com/jamibalmet/
Jami's Cookbooks: https://findingjoybookstore.com/en-au/collections/cookbooks
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
We enjoyed 3 wonderful weeks of having my mother-in-law in Australia with us. The time went way too fast, and we are already trying to plan her next visit!
While Roxanne was here, we recorded this Q & A episode together. It was a treat for me to get to share her with my podcast audience.
Roxanne shares. . .
-Her salvation testimony, her favorite Bible verse, and her hobbies
-A mother's heart behind their child being called to a foreign mission field
-Inside scoop on the early days of Simeon & Brettnay's love story
-What makes a good mother-in-law and daughter-in-law
-What is one of the greatest joys of being a grandma
Resources:
I Rock Creations Instagram -Roxanne's business page for those local to Knoxville, TN
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
"But the path of the just is as the shining light, That shineth more and more unto the perfect day." Proverbs 4:18
The Christian life is a path, a journey that leads us down the road of sanctification. How do we know what path to follow? We follow the Shepherd who guides us!
In this episode, we discuss the path that God desires for us to walk, how to guide your children in the path of righteousness, what to do if you are doubting the path God would have you walk, how singing can free the soul, and more.
The purpose of the path is that God's name would be glorified. May we resolve to walk our path with commitment and passion as we pursue our worthy Shepherd!
Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 23
Proverbs 4:18; 14:12; 24:16
Jeremiah 17:9
Matthew 5:16-18
John 10:27
Resources:
A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W Phillip Keller: https://amzn.to/3CJZGid
The Heart of the Shepherd by Stephen Chappell: https://amzn.to/3Sh6B8R
Heaven Rules by Nancy Demoss Wolgemuth: https://amzn.to/3oKMLZ1
You Can Trust God to Write Your Story by Nancy Demoss Wolgemuth: https://amzn.to/3LoHQoi
Suffering Is Never for Nothing by Elisabeth Elliot: https://amzn.to/3LoHQoi
When God Doesn't Fix It by Laura Story: https://amzn.to/40LNXsA
If you do not know Christ as your Shepherd, email me at nohighercallingpodcast@gmail.com. I'd love nothing more than to share how Jesus Christ can be your Savior.
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Simeon joins me to discuss the difference between convictions, standards, and preferences. This conversation can often be difficult, but God's Word gives a sure foundation of truth. We seek to define the difference of these three areas, and how we can best obey, glorify, and grow in Christlikeness in the decisions we make as families.
In the age of social media, I often am asked questions about our choices, beliefs, etc. And being a ministry family, we have been approached for biblical advice regarding issues of conviction and how to deal with others who have differing opinions. Simeon answers these questions from the Bible, and I believe it will be a help to those who are seeking to take a firm stand on the truth of God's Word. Ultimately, we are each responsible for following the leading of the Holy Spirit and seeking His guidance through prayer and growth in our sanctification walk.
Scriptures Referenced:
Proverbs 22:3
I Corinthians 8:7-12
Titus 1:9
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
We are entering birthday season in our home! As we seek to celebrate life and create fun family traditions, we have tried to make birthdays extra special. In this episode, you hear how the Brazzells celebrate birthdays. I also share some of my favorite gifts for children age 1- early elementary.
Resources:
NHC Blog: Links for Gifts Mentioned in Episode: https://www.nohighercalling.org/blog/the-best-birthday-gifts-for-children
Memory Making Mom by Jessica Smartt: https://amzn.to/3ouzNhO
Everyday Confetti by Karen Ehman & Glynnis Whitwer: https://amzn.to/41jf7In
The Lifegiving Home by Sally Clarkson: https://amzn.to/41GmOZ2
NHC Podcast: Music's Influence on Children with Casie Ravert https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-113-musics-influence-on-children-with-casie-ravert/id1547126864?i=1000584081838
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Leah Boden, the Modern Miss Mason, joins me to give a beautiful introduction to a Charlotte Mason education. She emphasizes the wonder and delight found in this method, no matter what form of education your family chooses.
In her own words, the advice she shares is, "For every mother who desires to cultivate a lasting foundation of curiosity and wonder for her children from home, whilst continuing a rich life of learning for herself."
We discuss. . .
-A brief introduction to Charlotte Mason and her works
-What it means for children to be "born persons"
-How faith in Christ is woven into her ideals
-What a typical day of Mason-style schooling looks like
Resources:
https://www.leahboden.com/
https://www.instagram.com/modernmissmason/
Modern Miss Mason by Leah Boden https://amzn.to/452wRKc
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
"We are living the transition between paradise lost and paradise restored." -Nancy Demoss Wolgemuth
One day, paradise will be restored. All will be made right. But for now, we live in a broken, sin-cursed world. Because of this, we often find our souls in desperate need of restoration. This beautiful phrase in Psalm 23 reminds us that it is our Shepherd who restores us. Once we have been through the green pastures and by the still waters, our souls are restored.
Restore means to "revive, refresh, renew." Do you need your soul restored? God delights in trading beauty for ashes. Let Him take your brokenness and restore beauty to your soul.
Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 23; 51:7, 10
Isaiah 43:19; 61:3
John 4:5-30
James 4:8
Resources:
A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W Phillip Keller: https://amzn.to/3CJZGid
The Heart of the Shepherd by Stephen Chappell: https://amzn.to/3Sh6B8R
If you do not know Christ as your Shepherd, email me at nohighercallingpodcast@gmail.com. I'd love nothing more than to share how Jesus Christ can be your Savior.
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Have you ever felt like you are too busy to spend time with the Lord? If we're being honest, I believe we could all answer "yes." There will always be distractions and pressing schedules. I'm not here to make you feel guilty, but I am here to challenge you (and myself!) to make Christ preeminent in our lives. Ladies, we will never be the women God desires for us to be if He does not have His rightful place in our lives!
In this episode, I share how God is teaching me to keep my heart and mind in a devotional posture. This happens through reading His Word and meditating on it, staying in a state of prayer, and continually worshipping Him.
Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 1:2; 19:14; 49;3; 104:34; 119:10, 15, 18, 97, 105
Proverbs 4:20
Isaiah 26:3
Matthew 4:4; 6:6-7
Mark 11:24
Luke 11:9
John 15:7
Romans 8:26; 15:4
Philippians 4:6, 8
I Timothy 4:13
II Timothy 3:16-17
I Thessalonians 5:17
Hebrews 4:12
I Peter 2:2
Resources:
Time Saving Mom by Crystal Paine: https://amzn.to/3mRLy1z
NHC Shop: Pen the Proverbs
Prayer Mate prayer app
Head to Toe Prayer Journal: https://www.nohighercalling.org/shop/p/head-to-toe
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
The Brazzell household loves books, from the oldest to the youngest! I often receive messages from moms asking me, "How do you get your children to enjoy books?" In this episode, I share various ways you can encourage a love for reading in your child (and in yourself!) Rich literature provides such delight. Expose your children to a feast of it!
Resources:
NHC Podcast: Mothering in the Digital Age with Sarah Boots
NHC Podcast: The Importance of Reading with Your Kids Part I with Sarah Boots
NHC Podcast: The Importance of Reading with Your Kids Part II with Sarah Boots
NHC Podcast: Too Much TV?
A Beatrix Potter Treasury: https://amzn.to/3LhOz4F
The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh: https://amzn.to/41rgk0i
A Madeline Treasury: https://amzn.to/3AfdCis
The Brambley Hedge: https://amzn.to/43PSkWc
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Simeon joins me in this episode to talk specifically to the husbands and dads represented by the ladies who listen to this podcast. So grab your husband and a cup of tea and join us as we chat about the role God has for dad in the home and in the education of your children.
In the previous episode, Simeon addressed the importance that the father plays in the home as the spiritual leader. Many of those responsibilities lead families to make the choice that homeschooling is the educational model that aligns best with their family values. We ask the question, "What role does dad play in home education?" Simeon shares great practical advice on how the husband & father can be a co-laborer with mom in this area.
Here's a highlight of some of the points covered in this episode:
-How dad can communicate, encourage, and pray for mom as the teacher
-The importance of the family table creating a lifestyle of learning
-The impact of dads reading aloud to their children
-Ways dad can get engaged in the learning and interests of the children
Resources:
NHC Podcast: Family Worship https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/family-worship/id1547126864?i=1000594670765
NHC Podcast: How to Choose a Homeschool Curriculum https://ryw6ld.podbean.com/e/ep-30-how-to-choose-a-homeschool-curriculum/
Family Worship by Donald Whitney: https://amzn.to/3UyoCAX
Educating the Wholehearted Child by Clay Clarkson: https://amzn.to/3MBBqVe
Gather Round Homeschool: https://gatherroundhomeschool.com/
The Read-Aloud Family by Sarah Mackenzie: https://amzn.to/3KYtmwl
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Simeon joins me in this episode to talk specifically to the husbands and dads represented by the ladies who listen to this podcast. So grab your husband and a cup of tea and join us as we chat about the role God has for dad in the home and in the education of your children.
This is the first of a 2 part episode where Simeon opens the Scriptures and digs deep into the role of the husband and father. This episode, while touching on academic education, deals more with a father's role in his home as the spiritual leader. A foundation will be laid for what the broader goal of education and learning is. We are seeking to guide our children in truth, raise them to grow in their spiritual maturity, and to see them fulfill the purpose God has created them for. Having this goal in mind keeps you on a path of spiritual discipleship within your home and family culture.
Scriptures Referenced:
Deuteronomy 6:1-12, 20
Ephesians 5:25-28
Colossians 1:16-17
II Timothy 2:15
Hebrews 11:23
Resources:
Educating the Wholehearted Child by Clay Clarkson: https://amzn.to/3MBBqVe
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Gracie Heaton, missionary to the United Kingdom, joins me to share how the Lord is challenging her to remember Him. Psalm 106 contains the record of the children of Israel, how they forgot the works of the Lord and sinned against Him. We can be quick to judge Israel, but how quick are we to forget the works of the Lord?
Psalm 111:4 says, "He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered." Gracie shares Scriptural commands for the discipline of remembering God, and practical ways that we can implement this into our lives. This is so important because God desires for us to pass truth to the next generation, and we cannot do this if we are not remembering God ourselves.
Scriptures Referenced:
Deuteronomy 8:2
I Samuel 7:12
Psalm 20:7; 77:11-12; 78:6-7; 105:5; 106; 111:4; 143:5
Ecclesiastes 12:1
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
It is a rare day when the voice of "Patch the Pirate" (aka Ron Hamilton) is not heard in our home. Simeon and I grew up on Patch the Pirate audio adventures, and it has been such a blessing to our family to introduce them to our children.
Join Patch the Pirate as he captains the Jolly Roger! You'll fall in love with characters like Sissy Seagull, Alberta Einstein, Commodore, Princess, and all many more. Adventure to many lands all while learning truths from God's Word. These stories are full of biblical wisdom and songs of worship and praise!
As a Christian mother of young children, I am always looking for resources that will aid us in instructing our children in truth and righteousness. I can 100% recommend Patch the Pirate as a wonderful resource to accomplish that.
Ron Hamilton entered heaven last week, a faithful Christian who received his "well done!" Hear from me and the kids as we say our "thank you" to Ron Hamilton and the entire crew for all their ministry has (and continues) to mean to our family.
Our Favorite Patch Adventures:
Eden- Operation Artic
Knox- Patch the Pirate Goes to the Jungle
Brettnay- Kilimanjaro, Kidnapped on I-land, Kingdom Chronicles, The Incredible Race, and The Final Voyage
Others we have greatly enjoyed- Once Upon a Starry Night, Time Twisters, Ocean Commotion, Villain of Venice, Shipwrecked on Pleasure Island
Resources:
Patch the Pirate Audio Adventures: https://www.majestymusic.com/patch-the-pirate.html
(missionaries receive 20% off physical purchases if you call Majesty Music)
Patch Plus Streaming App: https://patchthepirate.org/
(receive unlimited access to all Patch Adventures for $6.99/month)
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
David, the shepherd boy, gives beautiful illustrations about God through the lens of the relationship he has with his sheep. We are journeying through Psalm 23, and this episode brings us to the still waters. Sheep will not drink from waters that are rushing. Neither should they drink from waters that are stagnant. The shepherd must find still, peaceful waters for them to be refreshed by. God does the same thing for us. Throughout hills and valleys of our lives, He has perfectly staggard places of still waters, and He promises to lead us to them.
Scriptures Referenced:
Job 14:1
Psalm 23
Philippians 4:7
Colossians 3:15
Resources:
A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W Phillip Keller: https://amzn.to/3CJZGid
The Heart of the Shepherd by Stephen Chappell: https://amzn.to/3Sh6B8R
Then Sings My Soul by Robert J. Morgan: https://amzn.to/3UsLPnQ
If you do not know Christ as your Shepherd, email me at nohighercallingpodcast@gmail.com. I'd love nothing more than to share how Jesus Christ can be your Savior.
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
At the first of the year, Sarah Boots from Altogether Lovely Collective joined me to share how "Clean 15" has revolutionized cleaning in their home. I gleaned so much from her wisdom, but being in the middle of an international move, it was not a good time for us to implement them. Fast forward a few months, we are now settled into our new life in Australia, and we have implemented our own version of Clean 15.
In this episode, I share:
-what Clean 15 looks like for us
-how to incorporate your littles into cleaning
-natural, safe cleaning products
Resources:
NHC Podcast: Clean 15 with Sarah Boots
NHC YouTube: Cleaning with Littles Using Natural Supplies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeJi_LPv34Q
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
As much as I wish this wasn't the case, we are raising our children in a sin-cursed, broken world. Satan wants nothing more than to sit on the throne of our children's hearts and minds and keep them in bondage to sin. One of the ways he is accomplishing this at epidemic rates is through pornography. The question is not if our children will be exposed, it is when. The average age of exposure to pornography is 8 years old. We MUST acknowledge this reality and equip our children so they will not fall prey to this snare.
How do we equip our children, yet be delicate with their childhood innocence? I seek to give advice that I have gleaned from God's Word, other biblical resources, statics, and scientific data.
Mamas, it's time to rise up, be gatekeepers of our homes, pray for the our children's minds, and protect the next generation from Satan's weapon of pornography.
Scriptures Referenced:
Jeremiah 6:15
II Corinthians 10:3-5
Philippians 3:13-14; 4:8
I Peter 5:8
Resources:
NHC Podcast: Gatekeeper
Birds & Bees https://birds-bees.com/ (use code BRETTNAY to save 20%)
Mama Bear Apologetics Guide to Sexuality- Paperback Audiobook
Good Pictures, Bad Pictures Jr. by Kristen Jenson: https://amzn.to/428bENL
Good Pictures, Bad Pictures by Kristen Jenson (ages 6+): https://amzn.to/3FnuGpv
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Culture is giving our children's so many mixed messages when it comes to the topic of sex. It is not a matter of if they will hear these confused ideals, but when. And that age of introduction is getting younger all the time. As Christian parents, we need to be the loving authority who are the first to speak to our children about this topic so that we can give them a biblical view of sex. Sex was God's design. All things that He created He called good.
In this episode, I discuss...
-getting your family message of sex from the Bible
-teaching your children what the word "private" means
-the importance of using anatomical terms and how that protects our children
-using the "drip method" to build the conversation
-teaching beauty and boundaries
Scriptures Referenced:
Hebrews 13:4
Genesis 2:24
Jeremiah 8:12
Resources:
Birds & Bees https://birds-bees.com/ (use code BRETTNAY to save 20%)
Mama Bear Apologetics Guide to Sexuality: https://amzn.to/3Lxasxh
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
James 5:16 "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
Stacie Loughrin, author of Praying Over Your Homeschool and Joy in the Chaos,joins me to speak on the importance of prayer in the life of a homeschooling family. She shares great thoughts on cultivating an atmosphere of prayer in your home and home education.
"Homeschooling is not just about academics, but about nurturing the whole person and instilling in them a love for God and a desire to serve Him. And prayer is a crucial component of this calling."
Scriptures Referenced:
Deuteronomy 6:4-10
Resources:
Praying Over Your Homeschool: The Power of a Parent's Prayer by Stacie Loughrin https://amzn.to/3xqs6up
Joy in the Chaos: The Anxious Homeschooler's Guide to Unwavering Peace by Stacie Loughrin https://amzn.to/3xo0TZk
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
My reading goal for 2023 is to read 50 books. Simeon and I have also set a goal to read 1 book together each quarter. This episode is an update on those challenges, and reviews of the books I've read in this quarter.
Let me know what book you are enjoying!
Resources:
NHC Blog: My Reading Challenge 2023 (Quarter 1)
NHC YouTube: My Bookshelf
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
I am a planner. Always have been, always will be! As I grow and navigate busy seasons of marriage, ministry, and motherhood, I've had to learn that while planning is important, it is more important to be flexible and hold my plans loosely. If God chooses to give my day a "redirect", I want to be quick to follow and obey.
I'm often asked how I can manage to have a podcast, write books, etc all while managing a home. The truth is, I fail more often than I'd ever like to admit to you, but there are some things that have helped keep me tracking towards achieving my goals and seeing personal growth. One of those is quarterly planning. In this episode, I share
-how quarterly planning can help you fill in the gap between monthly and yearly planning
-areas to assess and set quarterly goals for
-incorporating prayer into your planning
and more!
Resources:
NHC Shop: https://www.nohighercalling.org/shop
NHC YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@nohighercalling
PowerSheets Goal Planner: https://thedailygraceco.com/products/2023-one-year-powersheets-goal-planner
GatherRound Homeschool: https://gatherroundhomeschool.com/
Clean 15 with Sarah Boots: https://podcasts.apple.com/af/podcast/clean-15-with-sarah-boots/id1547126864?i=1000593962267
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
There are many reasons why sheep refuse to rest- trouble amongst the flock, pestilence, and hunger just to name a few. When the shepherd is near, he removes these issues and allows his sheep to rest in peace and contentment. The same is true for the Shepherd of our souls. Life brings many worries and anxieties to our hearts. How can we "lie down in green pastures"? How can we find the rest our soul craves? Our Shepherd Himself is the rest! There is no substitute for the awareness that the Shepherd is near.
God has created us to require rest. In making our human bodies to require rest, He reveals our dependency and limitations, yet His sufficiency! Does this mean that we are doomed if we don't sleep 8 hours at night and get several naps each week? No! While physical rest is vital, there is a soul rest that supersedes all others. This soul rest provides a deep well for us to draw from as we live out our purposes in our busy lives.
Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 4:8; 23
Ezekiel 34:15-16
Resources:
A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W Phillip Keller: https://amzn.to/3CJZGid
The Heart of the Shepherd by Stephen Chappell: https://amzn.to/3Sh6B8R
If you do not know Christ as your Shepherd, email me at nohighercallingpodcast@gmail.com. I'd love nothing more than to share how Jesus Christ can be your Savior.
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Proverbs 12:15 "he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise." God has been so good to bless my life with Denise Palmer, my spiritual mentor. She has been a continual source of godly wisdom and counsel for me. I wish that every woman could have a Denise!
We polled asking women what they'd like to ask if they had a spiritual mentor to turn to for biblical wisdom. We received many questions, but we narrowed it down to a few that we hear quite often from women. Denise shares that the source of answers for all of our questions is God, but she seeks to guide our thinking towards biblical principles from a standpoint of one with experience.
We address the topics of
-The empty nest season
-How much should husbands help in the home?
-One thing Denise is thankful she did as a mom, and one thing she wishes she would've done differently
Resources:
NHC Podcast- Too Much TV?: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-84-too-much-tv/id1547126864?i=1000563976777
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Feminism has invaded everything. Education, media, culture, and even the church. If we are going to biblical women, women of the Bible, we need to know what God says about our role and purpose.
My mentor, Denise Palmer, joins me to share her past experiences with feminist thinking and how God used His Word to change her heart and mind. We dig into the foundational tenets of the feminist movement, some of which we can appreciate. I am thankful that women have the right to vote, to be educated, etc. But as first wave feminism moved into the second and third wave, we see worldly ideology taking control. Now, we see a movement that is seeking to take a wrecking ball to the order God has designed, and "rebuild" it in a way that is in accordance with man's [humankind's] thinking.
As women who seek to know truth and live it out in our lives, what can we do to uphold God's order in spite of the opposing culture? We seek to answer this from the truth we find in the Bible.
Scripture Referenced:
Genesis 3:16
Jeremiah 17:9-10
II Corinthians 10:5
Resources:
Eve in Exile by Rebekah Merkle
Mama Bear Apologetics by Hillary Morgan Ferrer
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
During our time in the States, I had the privilege of managing a Facebook mom group for ladies in my community. One of the highlights of being an admin of that group was our Mom's Night Out events. Every other month, I would get with the other group admins, and we would host a fun evening for our mom friends. Each one was a bit different as they spanned over the past 5 years, but all were such a wonderful evening of refreshment and encouragement.
Don't let it be something that feels so daunting that you push it off! "The purpose of hosting is not to impress, it is to bless." There are many ways to make this a simple, yet fun venture. Not only will the evening refresh you in your motherhood, but it is also a great opportunity to share the gospel with other mom's in your circle.
In this episode, I share some tips on how to plan and host a mom's night out.
-Thinking through location
-Sending invitations
-Planning food, activities, etc
-Keeping the fellowship focused on Christ
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Our family has had quite the major life transition. On Wednesday, January 25th, our family of 6 began our journey from cold east Tennessee to beautiful, sunny Sydney, Australia. So many of you have prayed for us along the way, and I wanted to share some of the miraculous ways that God answered very specific requests.
To everyone who has prayed for us, given financially, sent us encouraging messages, etc- THANK YOU! We could not be more grateful!
Subscribe to the No Higher Calling YouTube channel and see a video glimpse into our journey: https://youtu.be/dqa7wH4k-xQ
Follow our ministry at www.brazzellstoaustralia.com
The more I speak with other women, the more I realize that we all have a desire for personal connection. God created us for community, for friendships that strengthen and encourage us. We want to cultivate relationships, but we often don't know where to begin. How does one "find their tribe"?
In this episode, I share my personal struggle with this and how God used my search for mom friends to grow me. Brettnay from a decade ago wouldn't recognize the Brettnay today. God asked me to step out of my comfort zone, and He used that to radically change my life. The reward has been some of the most precious friendships.
Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 37:4; 90:9
Proverbs 18:24; 27:17
Luke 22:32-34
Hebrews 10:24-25
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Because the Lord is our Shepherd, we can say with complete confidence, "I shall not want."
Is Christ enough in your life? In Him, there is no lack or deficiency. He is sufficient, and He fills every void in our heart. The more we come to know the heart of our Shepherd, the more we find all we need in the person of Jesus Christ.
We continue our study of Psalm 23 diving into the phrase "I shall not want." Four little words, yet packed with rich truth!
Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 23; 68:19; 121:4
Resources:
A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W Phillip Keller: https://amzn.to/3CJZGid
The Heart of the Shepherd by Stephen Chappell: https://amzn.to/3Sh6B8R
If you do not know Christ as your Shepherd, email me at nohighercallingpodcast@gmail.com. I'd love nothing more than to share how Jesus Christ can be your Savior.
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
"Don't trade any secret sin for the joy of walking in unbroken intimacy with Jesus Christ."
Simeon joins me in this episode to tackle a delicate topic- marriage purity. Purity is often equated with virginity; therefore, we think we can tic the box when we make it to our wedding day. Purity is much more than saving sex for marriage. It is a call to holiness and godliness in each area of our being- body, soul and spirit. We discuss several areas where Christian couples must stand guard against Satan's attacks and "purpose in their hearts" that we will not be defiled by the filth of this world.
Pray fervently and stand strong to protect the purity of your relationship with Christ and your spouse!
Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 51
Proverbs 4:23-27
Jeremiah 17:9; 33:3
Daniel 1:8
Matthew 5:27-28
Romans 13:13-14
I Corinthians 6:20; 10:12-13
Resources:
Point Man by Steve Farrar: https://amzn.to/3Z8BNt8
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Simeon joins me in this episode to discuss love languages. These are taken from the book The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. Chapman divides personalities into 5 main categories of how we express and receive love: words of affirmation, physical touch, quality time, acts of service, and giving/receiving gifts.
We share what our love languages are and how knowing that has helped us better communicate our love and appreciation to each other.
“Our most basic emotional need is not to fall in love but to be genuinely loved by another, to know a love that grows out of reason and choice, not instinct. I need to be loved by someone who chooses to love me, who sees in me something worth loving. That kind of love requires effort and discipline. It is the choice to expend energy in an effort to benefit the other person, knowing that if his or her life is enriched by your effort, you too will find a sense of satisfaction—the satisfaction of having genuinely”― Gary Chapman
Resources:
Love Language Quiz
The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman
Instagram: Fierce Marriage
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Simeon joins me in this episode to share some of our current favorite date night ideas. I also share ideas from others that we thought sounded fun. If you are in a rut with date nights or if you want to add a fresh spark to your relationship, these ideas might help you get off to a good start.
We also share a few tips for being intentional in having a heart connection with your spouse.
Resources:
The Flirtation Experiment by Lisa Jacobson & Phylicia Masonheimer
Parks Board Game
Learn to Play Parks YouTube Video
Lost Cities Card Game
The Crew Card Game
Finders Seekers Mystery Box
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Heidi James from the Children's Bible Society joins me to discuss how to teach children to pray. God has given Heidi a unique ministry. He is greatly using her as she seeks to reach children with the gospel and help parents and ministry workers know how to best reach the hearts of children.
She shares practical things she's learned through leading children's prayer meetings. These truths and ideas will be so helpful as we seek to encourage the children we influence to speak to God through prayer!
Prayer questions are also addressed, such as-
-At what age should we begin teaching children to pray?
-Why do we bow our heads, fold our hands, close our eyes, etc?
-What should they pray for?
-Should we invite children to pray for mature topics? (war, death, illness)
-What is required of us if we desire to teach children to pray?
Resources:
Children's Bible Society: https://childrensbiblesociety.com/
Children's Bible Society Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/childrensbiblesociety/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
"Raising teenagers has the protentional to be one of the best seasons of our lives... If we go into it with a valiant "we are going to trust God" attitude, it's going to be good. It's not easy but it's good."
Ruth Sturgill, pastor's wife and mother of 2 teenage boys, shares her heart on the teenage years. It is often difficult to see our babies grow up and become less dependent on us, to see them spread their wings and begin to fly. Ruth gives advice on how to navigate these years with grace and how to find true joy in a season that so many dread.
She addresses:
-Not parenting in fear
-Transitioning your children to adulthood independence
-Being your child's greatest advocate
-Teaching your children to live in the awareness of the presence of the Lord
-Navigating puberty, hormones, relationship struggles, and more
Scripture Referenced:
Deuteronomy 32:11-13
Resources:
The Sturgill Family CD: www.https://sturgillfamily.com/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
This time of year has everyone making resolutions and setting goals for a new year, a fresh start. One of the biggest areas that we seek to make changes in is in our health. Diet plans and gym memberships soar in January! But what does healthy really look like? Is it working out hours a day and eating nothing but salad?
Rebecca Grant, CNC + IP HTMA, joins me to tackle this question. Her information is geared specifically towards women, women who are in many different stages of life- college, preconception, pregnancy, postpartum, breastfeeding, menopause, etc. She shares helpful advice on how we can focus on things that will enable us to best steward the bodies God has given us.
Resources:
Rebecca Grant's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebecca.m.grant/
Clean Living Momma: https://www.cleanlivingmomma.com/
HTMA Testing (use code NHC10 to receive 10% off htma testing!): https://www.cleanlivingmomma.com/treatments
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Throughout 2023, we will be giving one episode each month to studying through Psalm 23. Join me as we mine out the truths God has for us in this chapter and catch a deeper glimpse into the heart of our Shepherd.
This episode lays a foundation discussing the human penman of this Psalm, the position of this Psalm in God's Word, and what this Psalm reveals about Christ. The more you come to know the heart of the Shepherd, the more you will fall in love with Him. His tender care and His diligence to guide His sheep through every season of life is a precious revelation. If you cannot say with full confidence "the LORD is MY Shepherd" I share how you can settle your salvation because of the sacrifice of the Lamb of God.
Scripture Referenced:
Psalm 23
Hebrews 4:14
Resources:
A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W Phillip Keller: https://amzn.to/3CJZGid
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Romans 12:13 says to be, "given to hospitality." I believe that the area of hospitality is one of the greatest means we, as Christians, have to be a light for Christ. Whether it is ministering to fellow believers or witnessing to the lost, inviting people into your home to share a meal and fellowship will bless your heart.
In this episode, I share small steps to showing hospitality. Maybe inviting someone into your home for a meal feels very daunting. Maybe you don't know where to start- what do you cook? what do you talk about? how do you teach your children to use their manners? We start with the basics- showing hospitality to your family and using everyday dinners to teach your family how to prefer others. (Rm 12:10 "in honour preferring one another;”) From there, we discuss other simple ways to incorporate hospitality into your family life.
Resources:
Jessica Curtis with Blessed Purposeful Living: https://www.instagram.com/blessedpurposefulliving/
NHC Hospitality Guide Digital Download: https://www.nohighercalling.org/shop/p/hospitality-guide
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
"If we want to bring up a godly family, who shall be a seed to serve God when our heads are under the clods of the valley, let us seek to train them up in the fear of God by meeting together as a family for worship." -Charles Spurgeon
Throughout the Bible, we see the importance of family worship. This is how future generations receive the truths of God's Word and the genuine faith of their parents. In this episode, I discuss the importance of a consistent family worship time as well as practical ways to make it a daily rhythm in your home. Focusing on the essentials of reading, praying, and singing, we lay a solid foundation to build upon.
The episode wraps up with answering several big questions people have when it comes to family worship:
-What if my husband isn't saved or isn't a spiritual leader?
-What if I am a single mother?
-What if my children are little?
-What if we have a wide variety of ages in our children?
-What if there are no children in the home?
Scripture Referenced:
Deuteronomy 6:5-7
Genesis 18:17-19
Joshua 24:15
Job 1:1-5
Psalm 78:1-8
Ephesians 5:25-26; 6:4
Resources:
Family Worship by Donald Whitney: https://amzn.to/3Xd6kWx
Great Hymns for Growing Hearts by Brettnay Brazzell: https://www.newmerciesmusic.com/product-page/great-hymns-for-growing-hearts
Family Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham: https://amzn.to/3vZNG8r
Children's Bible Society: https://childrensbiblesociety.com/
Do Great Things for God by Laura Caputo-Wickham: https://amzn.to/3QzXqQ2
Christian Heroes Then & Now- Gladys Aylward: https://amzn.to/3W9w9p1
Truth Seekers Podcast: https://www.sherilynrgrant.com/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
It's a new year, and many of us are analyzing our routines and asking ourselves if there is a system that would help us be more efficient in the tasks of home. If you are asking that in regards to cleaning, this episode is for YOU!
Sarah Boots with Altogether Lovely joins me to talk about a cleaning routine that has changed their lives! Giving just 15 minutes to cleaning after each meal has helped Sarah keep her house cleaner than it has ever been. My favorite thing about the tips that she shares is that it can be customized to your family's dynamics and needs.
No more cringing when you get a glimpse of the baseboards, rushing around before company comes dusting the top of the fridge, or blowing dust bunnies everywhere when you turn on ceiling fans! The practical advice will help you to find your trouble spot and create a clear plan of action as you clean your home.
Resources:
Altogether Lovely Collective Blog: SCAMP- The Cleaning Routine that Changed Our Lives
Altogether Lovely Instagram
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
The Bible calls us to be wise stewards of the things the Lord has blessed us with. That seems like an easy statement to agree with, but often, living it out requires a lot more attention and thought.
In this episode, I share different money saving tips for those who are seeking to cut costs and be a better steward. Many of these came from a friend, Rebekah with More Radiance, and then I threw in a few that have helped Simeon and I. As we launch into a new year and seek to make wise decisions, this is an area of life that could always stand to be reassessed. I hope this episode gives some ideas of ways that you can steward your finances wisely.
Resources:
Rebekah Joy from More Radiance: https://www.instagram.com/more_radiance/
NHC Podcast Episode 98- The Windows of Heaven: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-98-the-windows-of-heaven/id1547126864?i=1000574986128
Azure Standard: https://www.azurestandard.com/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
- A new year is upon us! Whether that floods your heart with excitement, curiosity, trepidation, or dread, we can enter this year with hope. Deuteronomy 31:8 says, "And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.”
In this episode, I share...
-A spiritual challenge for the new year
-20 questions (taken from a Daily Grace Co blog) to ask as you step into a new year
-My goals for 2023
-Tips to stay on track with your goals
Resources:
Daily Grace Co Blog: Reflection Questions for a New Year by Aubrey Coleman
https://thedailygraceco.com/blogs/the-daily-grace-blog/reflection-questions-for-the-new-year?_pos=3&_sid=e78ce8db2&_ss=r
1000 Hours Outside
https://www.instagram.com/1000hoursoutside/
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
No Higher Calling is wrapping up it's second year, and what a year it's been! We've hit 100k podcast downloads, published 2 books, created several other resources through the NHC shop, and started the YouTube channel.
As we begin a new year, we have expectant hearts on all that God will do.
In this episode, I share more about...
-Our upcoming international move
-Plans for NHC in 2023
-Sneak peek of some new resources we hope to make available
-What to expect from the podcast in the first quarter
Resources:
www.brazzellstoaustralia.com
NHC YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCypThPIuyvezeooYdGdBrsQ
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
I did it! I hit my goal of 50 books in 2022. Listen to me share my thoughts on the books that I read in quarter 3 & 4.
Resources:
NHC Blog: My 2022 Reading Challenge (Quarter 3 & 4) https://www.nohighercalling.org/blog/book-list-from-2022
I've saved each book I read this year on a highlight on my Instagram account
https://www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_/
Great Hymns for Growing Hearts by Brettnay Brazzell
https://www.newmerciesmusic.com/product-page/great-hymns-for-growing-hearts
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
There are days in motherhood when we might wish we could rewind the clock and get a do-over. The reality if life is that time marches on, and the best we can do is learn from our mistakes and listen to the godly counsel from those who are further down the sanctification road.
Francie Taylor from Keep the Heart Ministries joins me to share areas where God helped her to recalculate in her motherhood journey. You'll hear biblical advice on managing your reactions, admitting when you're wrong, navigating social media, and treating your spiritual life like a to-do list. Join me as we glean nuggets of truth from Mrs. Taylor, and be challenged to be a godly mother, not just a good one.
"Don't focus on what you would do over if you could, but focus on what you can do better from here going forward. Begin with the person in the mirror."
Resources:
Find Francie Taylor https://www.keeptheheart.com/
Encouragement for Motherhood: A 30-Day Devotional
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."
As we walk into a year, do you find yourself asking God for wisdom? Maybe for your marriage, motherhood, career, finances. . . the list is endless! God promises us that when we ask Him for wisdom, He will give it to us LIBERALLY!
In my pursuit of wisdom, I have created a FREE downloadable resource that I'm delighted to share with you! I have committed to penning the entire book of Proverbs through 2023, and I would love to have you join me! Each day, we will write out 2-4 verses from the book of Proverbs. By the end of the year, you will have a journal full of the handwritten Proverbs.
Resources:
Pen the Proverbs FREE Download: https://www.nohighercalling.org/shop/p/pen-the-proverbs-scripture-writing-plan
Scriptures Referenced:
Proverbs 2:2-5; 18:15
James 1:5
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
If you've been following me for very long, you'll know that hospitality is something I'm passionate about. We have seen the impact of obeying God's Word in this area again and again. I have shared many episodes on this topic, but in this episode, we address extending hospitality in the holiday season.
It can feel daunting to extend hospitality in the Christmas season with all the busyness that time of year brings. But the holidays provide a wonderful opportunity to use hospitality as an avenue to share the gospel with those God's placed in our realm of influence. I give the challenge determine to minister in this way, and I share various ways that your family can engage in holiday hospitality.
Resources:
NHC Hospitality Guide digital download
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
"Mary her baby a beautiful gift. Mary gave the Christ-child a mother who pondered in her heart the purposes of God, who found her part in those purposes, and then who determined to raise her child to continue to fulfill His purpose."
During the holiday season, there are so many pressures to make perfect memories and give perfect gifts. In this episode, let's refocus. What really is the greatest gift a mother can give her children? That gift is a mother who's heart is completely captivated by Christ. Step away from the busyness of life and ponder in your heart how you can give a gift that will keep giving for generations to come!
Scripture Referenced:
Mark 3:14
Romans 12:2
John 10:10
Psalm 19:1
Genesis 33:18-23
Luke 2:1-19
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
What a journey it has been for Denise and I to walk through the book of Titus alongside you listeners throughout this year! God has taught us many things throughout this study, and we pray He has done the same for you. We recap our takeaway truths, and give a charge to continue on in your study of God's Word. As we are on the precipice of a new year, we present the challenge to ask God to put a book of the Bible on your heart to study in 2023. Denise shares several ways to do that as we wrap up our study of Titus.
Psalm 119:103 says, "How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" As you dig into God's Word and do the work of mining out His truth, you will find that there is great sweetness to be found.
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
We've made it to the final episode of the Respectable Sins Bible study on the podcast! Throughout the year, we've looked at sins that might not seem "that bad" in light of culture, but all sin is in direct opposition to a righteous and holy God. So, where do we go from here? We must keep short sin accounts and live in the conscious awareness of the presence of God. Allow Him to shine the light of His Word into your heart and be willing to let Him transform the ugly, sinful reflections into ones that bring Him glory!
Resources:
Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges
Scriptures Referenced:Luke 7:36-50
Psalm 119:133
I Peter 5:5
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
"I am responsible for my rest, my quiet time, my health, and my relationship with God. Each of the things that fill my cup allowing me to pour out beauty on the life God has given me." -Sally Clarkson
One of the most impactful pieces of wisdom I have received and applied in our home is to create a rhythm of quiet time every afternoon. Not every day looks the same, but we strive to have 1-2 hours in the afternoon to reset and refresh our hearts. This took intentional training and consistent implementation to become habit, but it has been worth it! The children and I all look forward to this time of day. The baby and toddler go down for naps, I turn on soft instrumental hymns, the older 2 play independently (find ideas in the episode on what they enjoy doing!), and mama gets to spend some time in Bible study, NHC work, homeschool planning, or whatever tasks the day may bring.
Establishing a quiet time has been such a blessing to our daily rhythms. The beauty of it is that it's not just for moms with littles who take naps. All ages benefit from a peaceful pause in the day!
Do you have a quiet time in your home? What do you enjoy doing during that time? Is it a time to catch up on your favorite book or fold laundry? What do your children enjoy doing? I'd love to hear your ideas in the comments!
Resources:
Jonathan Park Audio Adventures
Patch the Pirate CDs and Digital Downloads
Patch the Pirate Plus App
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
I Thessalonians 5:18 "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
Life brings storms. Sometimes the waves crash so loudly that it drowns out the still, small voice of God reminding us that He is always in control.
In this episode, I share some truths that Pastor Tom Sexton shared after experiencing devastating loss in Hurricane Ian. In the midst of tragedy, he gives the reminder of I Thess 5:18 that IN everything, we can give thanks. How is this possible?
*Because nothing can touch a child of God without our Heavenly Father allowing it
*Because what touches our lives has a greater purpose that what we first see
*Because we must believe to see
Be encouraged to thank God no matter what life brings!
Scriptures Referenced:
Proverbs 3:5-6
John 11:4, 40, 45
I Thessalonians 5:18
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Melanie Cook is a dear friend, and the Lord has used her to be an example to me of what a Christlike woman looks like. God has chosen for her to go through several heartbreaks this year as she has faced three of her precious unborn babies going to heaven. In the midst of pain, Melanie has been a beautiful testimony of someone who has trusted their heart to the One who does all things for our good and His glory.
Hard times do not wait to come when it is convenient for us. It is often in the midst of busy serving and ministering that circumstances cause us to be completely emptied of ourselves while still needing to continue with everyday life. Melanie shares lessons that God has taught her as she has come to a place of complete emptiness, yet there she found a sweetness as she relied upon God to fill her with more of Him. This is not a call to burn out, but a call to be intentional on where we get our strength and nourishment from.
Truths from the lives of David, Joseph, Naomi, and Mary will encourage our hearts and redirect our perspective in empty season.
David: He encouraged himself in the Lord in a time of great distress.
Joseph: He sought to be full of the presence of God.
Naomi: She realized God has a purpose in the empty.
Mary: She was a hungry soul that found satisfaction in God.
Psalm 119:68 "Thou art good, and doest good;" If you are in an empty season, remember- God is good, and He only does good! Anchor your heart to Him, and trust that He holds your heart in His hands.
Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 119:68
Proverbs 27:7
Isaiah 58:11
Philippians 4:6-7, 11-12, 19
I Timothy 6:6
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
I Timothy 4:12 "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity."
Throughout our study of Titus, we have been looking at the commands and characteristics God's given to women. In today's episode, we look at the list of characteristics God gave to Titus as the pastor of the church in Crete. There are parallels in Paul's instruction to Titus and Timothy, and as it says in I Tim 4:12, pastors are to be an example of the believers.
We do a deep dive Bible study into the characteristics listed for a pastor in the book of Titus, and learn how they are also to be a part of our lives. As pastors follow Christ, they give a Christlike example for us to follow in.
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
We come to the final "respectable sin" in this year long study- the sin of worldliness. At first glance, it might seem odd that worldliness is included as a respectable sin. Don't we know that we are to not be like the world? But as we dig into this topic, we see how our hearts have allowed the world to creep in.
Jerry Bridges defines worldliness as being attached to, engrossed in, or preoccupied with the things of this temporal life." The things of this temporal life may or may not be sinful in themselves. What makes our attitude towards things that are not sinful worldliness is the high value we put upon them." We look at worldliness in connection with money, immorality, and idolatry.
Christ should be King of our heart. Nothing else should be allowed to dethrone Him and usurp the place that was created for Him alone.
Resources Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges
Scripture Referenced
I John 2:15-16
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Ashlie Gillit is a pastor's wife, missionary and mother in Birmingham, England. Her family works with the extension ministry of The Crown College, and they have seen God do incredible things in the UK. It is an honor to have her join me on this episode.
What does it mean to "set the tone"? It means when something someone does or says sets the tone for an activity, it establishes the way the activity will continue. As ladies, we have such a powerful responsibility to establish the atmosphere our our homes. A wonderful tool God has given us to accomplish this is music.
Ashlie shares her own personal story of how music encouraged her in day to day life, and then how that foundation of truth and reminders of God's comfort provided a well from her to draw from in a scary season.
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
India Werner joins me to discuss how to create a musical culture in your home. As Christians, we are admonished to make spiritual music a part of our lives. How can mothers encourage this in their homes? India shares five ways she is working to make music a central focus of their home culture.
-
Play music as often as you can
-
Sing with your children
-
Talk about the songs you sin
-
Be willing to invest in music lessons
-
Watch music videos together
Music can be such a wonderful tool to teach children truths of Scripture and to create an atmosphere of worship in the home!
Resources:
Patch the Pirate
Instrumental Hymns: Our Daily Bread, "Arise" by the Galkin Evangelistic Team
Music Videos: Ben Everson, Forever Be Sure, the Hamilton Family
Scriptures Referenced:
Deuteronomy 6:5-7
Ephesians 5:19
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Casie Ravert with New Mercies Music joins me to discuss the influence that music has on children. She delves into the impact that it has on their young, developing minds in the areas of social, emotional, and spiritual development.
Some of the topics covered are:
-How can someone afford music lessons?
-Ways to expose young children to music (from the womb into the preschool years)
-How music breaks down social barriers and allows for connection
-The power music has over the brain, body and soul
-Where to draw the line with what kinds of music we listen to
This episode is the first in a mini series we will be doing on the podcast. I'm excited to dig into this topic more as we seek to glorify God in what we listen to, see the influence music has on us, and use music to spread truth to future generations.
Resources:
www.newmerciesmusic.com
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
What do pedicures and the good tidings of peace have in common?
Throughout Scripture, we find the phrase "beautiful feet" several different times. This got me thinking- what are beautiful feet? Culture puts a high importance on keeping our feet beautiful. In 2017, over 14 billion dollars was spent on nail salon services in the US. But what does God say beautiful feet are? Several other words are connected with this phrase in Scripture. Words like "good tidings", "gospel", and "peace." Join me for a deep dive as we seek to mine out a great truth God wants us to understand through the study of beautiful feet.
Scriptures Referenced:
Romans 10:14-15
Isaiah 52:7
Ephesians 6:15
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Portions of this episode have been redacted for the safety of the interviewee and those she loves in a closed country
A friend joins me in this episode to talk about the time God had her and her family serving the Lord in a closed country. It is a very different culture than what we are used to in the West, but the gospel breaks all barriers! They were able to see God do amazing things during their time there.
She goes on to give some insight on how Christians in America can pray for believers who are serving Christ in other nations, as well as how to pray for believers that are facing persecution around the world.
I hope the Lord will use this episode to open our eyes to the world and give us a greater passion for missions.
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
Missions is the heartbeat of God. His desire is that every tribe, nation, and tongue come to know Him as Lord and King. In Romans 10 we find the question, "How can they hear without a preacher?" God desires that every believer have a part in reaching the world with the gospel. Not everyone is called to be a missionary, but everyone is called to have a part in world missions.
Even our children should have a part in this! In this episode, I share different ways we can involve our children in world missions and expose them to the need of the gospel all around the world.
Resources:
https://www.ywampublishing.com/c-70-christian-heroes-then-now.aspx
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
I could not be more excited to announce my new book Great Hymns for Growing Hearts: Christ the Savior is Born. This is a wonderful resource for families to countdown to Christmas together as you prepare your hearts and homes to celebrate Christ's birth.
Throughout the ages, carols have been sung at Christmas celebrating the joyous birth of Jesus Christ. The truths in these songs point us not only to a baby in a manger, but to a Savior who came to die on the cross for our sins. This season is so much more than the celebration of Christ's birth. It celebrates the completed work of salvation!
Sing your way to Christmas as you meditate on the truths in these hymns. As we lift our voices in praise to God, may we echo the triumphant praise of the angels from many Christmases ago, "Christ the Saviour is born!" It is this message that brings joy and hope to mankind and praise and adoration to our God.
In this episode, you'll get a sneak peek look into one of the hymns included in the book I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.
Resources:
Great Hymns for Growing Hearts Christmas Edition (hard copy)
Great Hymns for Growing Hearts Christmas Edition (digital download)
Find both resources at www.nohighercalling.org
NHC YouTube Channel GHGH Christmas Video
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org
As we continue on through the Respectable Sins study, we come to addressing sins of the tongue. The Bible has a lot to say about our tongues! It is estimated that the average person speaks 16,000 words each day. How many of those words are for edification, encouragement, and the gospel? Or do we use our words for gossip, slander and complaining? This episode presents the challenge to pray the prayer David did in Psalm 141:3, “Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.”
Resources:
Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges
Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm 119:133; 141:3
Proverbs 4:23; 10:31, 32; 12:18; 15:1, 2, 4, 23; 16:24; 25:11; 31:26
Matthew 12:26
Luke 6:45
Romans 12:2
Philippians 4:8
James 3
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
Denise and I come to the final command the aged women are given to teach the younger women. When we hear words like "obedient" or "submissive", we tend to bristle. In this episode, we study what God's heart was as He inspired Paul to write this letter to Titus. As we have learned, God does everything decently and in order. Everything He does is for His glory and our good. Our sinful flesh can balk at His divine boundaries, but God desires that we find freedom and joy as we follow His ways.
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
We are in an interesting season. So many good things are happening; God is on the move! Yet in the midst of it all, I have found myself struggling with overwhelm- physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Maybe you've been there? Life circumstances, whether good or bad, have you spinning so many plates until all the sudden, they start crashing down. It is in this brokenness that God is revealing Himself to me in a deeper way. God is teaching me that He is my sufficiency, He is my Shepherd, He is to be the one desire of my soul. "The joy of the LORD is my strength." He desires that I be desperately dependent upon Him, for His glory and my good.
Join me as I share the wrestling of my heart and how God is meeting me there.
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
When we think of hospitality, we usually think about inviting people into our homes for a meal. While that encompasses much of the ministry of hospitality, there are ways we can serve the Lord in this way FROM our homes, not just IN our homes.
What do I mean by hospitality on-the-go? This encompasses making meals for people who are in need of encouragement, help, or support, and then taking it to their home for them to enjoy at their convenience. On this episode, I share some tips to make this aspect of hospitality easy on you and the person you are seeking to encourage and bless!
Resource:
NHC Hospitality Guide Digital Download
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
Rebecca Grant is a dear friend who is always an encouragement to me. In this episode, she joins me to discuss the topic of anxiety. This can be a difficult and delicate topic. If you have been in seasons marked by anxiety, you'll know it is not a joyous place to be. Feelings and fears crush our hearts leaving us struggling to cope. Is it possible to have victory? Is there hope beyond the anxiety and the symptoms it brings? Becca does a deep dive into Scripture, as well as sharing personal experience and truths God has taught her as she's battled these emotions. Friend, we have the victory in Christ! You'll find encouragement for your soul as you listen to this episode and biblical advice on how to gain the victory over anxious thoughts. God has extended "grace upon grace"! We just need to fall into His tender embrace and accept the peace only He can provide.
Resources:
Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund
Daily Grace Anxiety Bible Study
Follow Becca on Instagram!
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
Continuing on our Respectable Sins study, we come to the sins of envy and jealousy. These are areas that have become great struggles in our culture today, especially in connection with social media. Facebook and Instagram have allowed us to have an intimate look into the "highlight reel" of other's lives. This often does more damage than good if we are not seeking wisdom in how we navigate these platforms.
In this episode, I share ways that I have battled these feelings and what God has taught me through those struggles. I Timothy 6:6 says, "But godliness with contentment is great gain." We need to learn to trust in the sovereignty of God and find contentment in the things He has gifted to us instead of comparing ourselves to others. Comparison is the first step that leads to the downward spiral of the sins of envy and jealousy. In our pursuit of Christlikeness, the sins of envy and jealousy should have no place on the throne of our hearts.
Resources:
Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
As Denise and I continue our study through Titus 2, we come to the word "good." What does this word mean? Strong's concordance says that this is the widest and colorless work with this meaning. So what does God have for us to learn about being "good".
Denise compares Scripture with Scripture and draws out the connection that God is making between this command for the aged women to teach the young women to be good and the Proverbs 31 woman who uses her tongue for kindness. Who is to be the recipient of our good/kind speech? It should be our husbands, children, and others God has put in our sphere of influence!
God has much for us to learn in the word "good." We pray that it will convict and challenge your hearts as much as it did ours!
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
Modesty can quickly become a hot button topic. There are many differing opinions on what modesty is, or what it should be. The only opinion that should define how we live our lives is God's opinion! In this episode, we dig into this topic and see what God has to say about modesty.
I do not give a guideline for what you should or shouldn't wear. While I have strong convictions on this issue, I would never want someone to dress or present themselves in a certain way because "that's what Brettnay does." Our desire for modesty should come out of heart that desires to bring God glory in how we dress, act, and present ourselves. When someone looks at a Christian woman, they should see the beauty of the inward, not the temporal beauty of the outward.
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
Megan Kay joins me in this episode to discuss women's menstrual health. Having been told throughout her teens and early 20s that extreme period pain was "normal" and could be managed by the birth control pill, Megan thought she had no other option. PCOS and Endometriosis (and all the complications that came with that) became things that controlled her health and physical well-being. Wanting freedom from the pain and dependency on medicine, she started trying more natural approaches to managing her condition. This led to diet changes and using natural, reusable menstrual products. These simple changes made a huge difference in her health. She shares why that's the case, and testimonies of hundreds of other women who have experienced the same thing!
Resources:
Crunchy Natural Mama Facebook Group
The Honey Pot
Rael
Hannah
Lunette
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
Ephesians 4:29 "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."
Philippians1:27 "Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ ..."
Our Respectable Sins study has brought us to the sin of judgmentalism. This is one that has cast a bad light on Christianity. Instead of the world seeing believers unify with the goal of spreading the gospel, they see us divided and arguing over lesser things. We must use our tongues for edification! That is how our conversation will become the gospel of Christ.
We look at this sin from a few different angles as we are challenged to hold to strong, biblical convictions while extending grace to ourselves and to others. We are all on this sanctification journey together. Let's encourage each other instead of casting others down to elevate ourselves. May we accept the charge in Ephesians 4:15 to always speak the truth in love!
Resources:
Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
We recently went on a 2 week trip through Florida with our four kids in tow. I received many messages (as well as stares along the way!) asking how we manage to travel with so many littles! Well, it isn't easy and we ended every day in utter exhaustion, but it was SO worth it!
On this episode, I share different tips and tricks we've learned through our extensive traveling to help make things a bit more smooth when adventuring with littles.
Several topics covered include. . .
-How to keep them entertained in the car
-How to pack
-Ways to vacation on a budget
-What to do when things don't go according to plan
I hope this episode gives you the courage to tackle an adventure together! The memories are worth it!
Resources:
Magnatiles
Melissa and Doug Water Wows
Jonathan Park Audio Adventures
Patch the Pirate
Radio Flyer Wagon
Doona Stroller/Carseat
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear." Proverbs 25:11-12
Lauren Corley joins me in this episode to discuss how we, as mothers, can take advantage of teachable moments and use our words to teach all that is true, good and godly. She says, "Often our children's hearts are open to receive wisdom and instruction...but, my mind is busy and focused on the many tasks before me, easily missing the open door." God has been teaching Lauren to focus her attention towards intentional instruction. She shares some practical advice on what this looks like on a daily basis in her home as she raises her young sons for the Lord.
These are a few of the practical things she implements. . . correcting wrong attitudes and guiding behavior patiently + frequently, not simply because I am finally* frustrated.
*creating spiritual conversation! “I’m looking at the moon, mama...I like the moon!” “Do you know who made the moon, bud?” “God did!”
*having a goal of pointing my boys to Christ in times of joy + struggle, and showing them their need for His saving grace.
*Stopping to savor the sweet times. Snuggling them a little longer, getting on their level to play, reading one more story, and pausing my work to patiently answer the 274th toddler question of the day.
Resources:
Follow Lauren on Instagram! (https://www.instagram.com/simplehavens/)
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
The ideology of our culture has caused us to cringe when we hear "keepers at home." Does this mean that God's design is for women to be stuck at home doing menial tasks? Absolutely not! That actually couldn't be farther from the truth. If we deem home as menial, it shows our own lack of understanding of God's beautiful design for the home and womanhood. Every meal made, shirt washed, and floor swept is a part of God's work in this world. How can that be possible? Because it is through this loving care that souls are nourished and cultivated.
Denise and I dig into this little phrase "keepers at home", and we seek to share with you what God taught us- that we have a high calling! There is really no higher calling! Whether you are married or not, whether you have children or not, we all have homes that God intends for us to use for His glory and for the advancement of the Gospel. This study challenges us to do all to the glory of God!
What if we decided to work hard and pursue excellence in our homemaking? The only way to purse excellence is to pursue Christ. What place does He have in our hearts and homes?
Psalm 127:1 "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it."
"The home is the beating heart that powers everything else." -Rebekah Merkle
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
It's that time of year- back to school! Right now, everyone is a buzz with excitement, but often that fades. How can we determine to have a successful school year?
In this episode, I share wisdom I've gleaned from experienced home school moms and educators on how you can keep your heart anchored in your purpose for education and have a successful year.
Proverbs 18:15 says, "The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge." The purpose of education is to ignite a love of learning and expose our children to a feast of the intricacies of this complex world that God has created. Through learning science, history, math, and language, we come to know more about the God behind it all. And what an incredible God He is!
He will equip you with all you need to be the best educator for your children. When you ask for wisdom, you can trust that it is a prayer request He greatly desires to answer for you! That is the anchor of a successful school year- to continually seek wisdom from God. Beyond that, I discuss things like establishing non-negotiables for each day, having a consistent morning and evening routine. creating anchor points throughout the day, and more!
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
Simeon joins me in this episode to talk about being a wise steward with finances. This is not an area that we have mastered, but we have received much godly wisdom from others that has helped us as we seek to glorify the Lord with the funds He has blessed us with.
Malachi 3:10 says, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” There is only one other place in Scripture where the phrase "the windows of heaven" is mentioned. Simeon addresses this, and it is an incredible parallel!
In this episode, we discuss-
*Creating a budget
*Obeying the Lord by brining the tithe
*Giving to the Lord beyond the tithe
*Faith promise giving
*Stewarding your household well
*Following the Spirit's leading in regards to blessing others through giving
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
What does it mean to trust our children to God? Does this mean to commit to raise them for the Lord during a baby dedication service at church? That can be a part of it, but it goes far beyond that. Every day, we have to depend upon the Lord for the grace, strength and wisdom to parent these precious ones that God has blessed us with.
Missionary to Germany, Tabitha Murdock, joins me to share what it has meant in her life to trust her children to God. She says, "Trusting our kids to Christ begins with our own trust in Him. We could never trust our children to God if we don't trust areas of our own lives to Him first." Tabitha has had some unique experiences that God has chosen for her and her children to walk through, but as she has leaned on Him, He's proven Himself faithful again and again.
Tabitha shares things that are such an encouragement as we seek to raise soldiers for Christ in a dark world.
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
If anyone has ever had the right to be angry with others it was Jesus. John 1:11 says, "He came unto his own, and his own received him not." Isaiah 53:3 says, "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief:" Christ set aside all of His glory to humble Himself and die for the salvation of mankind, yet at every turn, man rejected His love. We allow anger to control our hearts for much smaller offenses! Yet Christ, our perfect example, never reacted in anger, but in loving compassion. We hear His love in some of His final words in Luke 23:34 “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."
As we study through the "respectable sin" of anger, we will see how important it is for us to follow Christ's example in how we handle anger, and the weeds that stem from it.
Resources:
Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
We live in a "bounce back" culture when it comes to the postpartum season. This often leaves mamas struggling physically, emotionally, and spiritually. What if we allowed ourselves the grace and freedom to slow down during this beautiful time and embrace a birth year? It took 9 months to grow a little human. What if we gave ourselves 9 months to transition into acclimating our baby into life?
Elizabeth Santelmann from Sunshine in My Nest joins me to discuss different ways we can embrace a birth year and thrive. As a homeschool mom of 3 boys, she has some great advice to share to help the transition be smooth for mama, baby, and the entire family. She addresses how to focus on one or two important tasks, how to ask for help, and how to communicate your needs to your husband.
Resources:
Sunshine in My Nest (Elizabeth Santlemann) Instagram
Sunshine in My Nest Website
Elizabeth's Blog: Communication and Help
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
"... ashes don't have to be the end of our stories; they can actually be the sign of a new beginning." - Gretchen Saffles
I love my Dad, and he loves me. We are best friends, but it hasn't always been that way. While he was always a faithful provider for our family, there were emotional needs that had been left neglected. We share our story, and how God used different circumstances, some that brought joyful growth and others that threatened the foundations of our faith, to teach us about the heart of our Savior. We have learned that no situation is beyond hope! God can restore the years the locust have eaten, and He truly delights in bringing beauty from ashes. For it is in those situations, He receives the glory due only to Him!
We pray that as we share our story, God will receive all the glory for the transforming work He's done in our lives, and the lives of those we love so dearly.
My Dad is my best friend, my greatest encourager, and my constant prayer warrior. Losing Clay changed us. We realized the brevity and fragility of life. You'll never regret the time spent investing in those you love, but you will regret the time you gave to other things- whether it be the business of life or bitterness and resentment over the past. While our story holds some dark chapters, the redemption God has brought and the beauty He has given has been worth the road of sanctification He ordained for us to walk!
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
This year, I have been focusing on several specific areas of my kitchen and cooking. Instead of having broad goals like cooking more healthy or eating at home more, I've broken it down into very targeted goals. One of those is to have a better breakfast routine. I've been working on this since the beginning of 2022, and I'm so happy to see improvements as we are enjoying healthy, delicious breakfasts without me having to be in the kitchen at 6am! No one wants to wake up to a stressed, tired mama!
Topics covered in this episode:
-The importance of breakfast
-Convenience breakfast foods vs real, nourishing foods
-How to simplify breakfast prep
-Our breakfast favorites
-Setting the tone of the day in the morning hours
Resources:
Enjoy a free download of some of our family's favorite breakfast recipes!
NHC Blog: Our Favorite Breakfast (https://www.nohighercalling.org/printables/our-favorite-breakfast-recipes)
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
Simeon and I continue to answer your questions in part 2 of the Q & A episode. This part goes deeper as we seek to answer some tough questions from the truth of God's Word. Some of the topics we dive into are: drinking, tattoos, how to witness to unsaved people without exposing your children to sin, and how to agree to disagree with kindness and grace.
Then we transition into answering some marriage/relationship questions such as: what do guys look for in a wife, advice for dating couples, how wives can encourage their husbands, and more!
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
Simeon joins me once again for a Q & A episode. We've asked the listeners to submit questions, and we have done our best to answer! Part 1 has some light hearted questions regarding our family life, personal preferences, Australia plans, and more! Our final question for part 1 transitions us into deeper topics as we seek to biblically answer the question of how to prepare for possible shortages and government & economic instability in the future.
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
-
What a joy it is to have my spiritual mentor, Denise Palmer, joining me once a month for a Titus 2 Talk! On these special episodes, Denise and I will be doing a deep dive into the truths God has taught us through the book of Titus.
On this episode, we discuss the word chaste. This word means to be pure of carnality, chaste, modest; immaculate; clean. So often, ideas of purity are connect with the outward. How do we dress? How do we present ourselves? Do we outwardly portray biblical womanhood? While all these things are important, the most important aspect is much deeper. We will not live a chaste outward life if we do not have a chaste heart. What does is say to our God who gave everything for us if we rest on Him for our soul's salvation, yet we continue to allow the filth of this world to reign in our hearts? As women who are seeking to conform into the image of our Savior, we must live lives defined by chastity.
We transition to several practical areas in which women today might struggle with being chaste, inwardly and outwardly. . .
-Pornography amongst women
-The influence of entertainment/media on our purity
-Guarding your relationships (as a married and unmarried woman)
I Thessalonians 4:3, 7 "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness."
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
I have set two reading goals for 2022. 1. To read 50 books 2. To read 1 book with Simeon each quarter. It's hard to believe that we are already wrapping up the first half of this year! In this episode, I share an update on where I'm at with my reading challenge, as well as a summary of the books (and a few read-alouds) that I've read so far. Be ready to hear lots of great book recommendations!
Resources:
NHC Blog: My 2022 Reading Challenge (Quarter 2)
www.nohighercalling.org/blog/my-2022-reading-challenge-quarter-2
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
We are half way through 2022 which means that we are also half way through our Respectable Sins Bible study. I pray that this study has challenged your heart like it has mine. As I've meditated on Scripture and asked God to reveal ways that these sins have taken root in my heart, I've come to realize that there are many different areas of my life where Christ does not reign supreme.
This episode covers some "respectable" sins that I've struggled with personally, whether in the past or in recent days. The first one we discuss is a lack of Spirit-control. This is different than self-control. This is allowing the Holy Spirit to be in control of every area of our lives- our eating and drinking, our finances, our decision making. The second part of the episode focuses on impatience and irritability. I share lessons God's taught me in recent days regarding these sins in my own life.
Resources:
Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
James 1:27 "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction,"
As Christian women, we tend to take a strong stance on being pro-life when it comes to abortion, and rightfully so! It breaks my heart to think of the millions of babies that have died because of the selfishness of another. But what about the babies who's moms decide to keep them, and they enter into unimaginable circumstances? Who steps into these lives to rescue them from the trauma? If we are truly going to be pro-life, we must fight for lives inside, and outside of the womb! This is where the ministry of foster care and adoption come in.
My friend, Beth Hyde, joins me in this episode to share about her journey with foster care and adoption. As she continued to lay her yes at the feet of Jesus, He gifted her with the most beautiful family. It didn't come easy, but God was so evident in every detail. Beth's story will encourage you to find your part in foster care. May we be challenged to share the light of Christ through the opportunities that foster care and adoption provide as we introduce broken lives to the Father of the fatherless!
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
In this episode, I reflect on the past decade of life and share lessons that God has been teaching me. While a part of me is sad that my 20s have come and gone, I'm excited to see what God has in store for the future as I seek to continue to grow in my relationship with Him.
Some of the things God's been teaching me that I share in this episode are. . .
*I need to accept who God made me to be and root my confidence in Christ
*Perspective is everything
*Serving Christ doesn't always look like leading a big ministry
*The importance of enjoying the journey
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
Listen to me gush about all the beautiful details of my sweet Willow's arrival. Some things didn't look anything like I had planned, but God worked in every details and blessed us with a healthy baby and a lovely home birth. We couldn't be more smitten with our darling daughter.
Resources:
NHC Blog: Willow Noelle's Birth Story
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
What a joy it is to have my spiritual mentor, Denise Palmer, joining me once a month for a Titus 2 Talk! On these special episodes, Denise and I will be doing a deep dive into the truths God has taught us through the book of Titus.
On this episode, we define and discuss the word discreet. This character quality shows discernment or good judgment in our conduct and speech. As we study through this, Scripture reveals that this is not an exterior adornment; it is an interior heart work. When we pursue biblical womanhood, the Holy Spirit will develop a deeper Christlikeness in us. Mark 12:34 writes that Christ Himself answered discreetly.
This episode presents the challenge for each of us to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of our lives where we are not showing discretion. We then move beyond that to asking Him to show us how we can mentor those younger in the faith to also exhibit discretion in their Christian life.
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
Philippians 4:5 "“Let your moderation be known unto all men . . ." In a culture where everything is done in excess, God has called us to live balanced lives where all things are done in proper moderation. One area of life that has become so difficult to balance in today's age is media, for ourselves and for our children. Sarah Boots from Altogether Lovely Collective joins me to share wisdom on how we can mother with wisdom in the digital age. As she shares staggering statistics regarding the hold that media holds over our children's generation, you quickly realize this is an area that requires our diligence in being a faithful gatekeeper!
Other areas she covers are 1. the default mode network, 2. the difference between books and technology, 3. how to handle boredom, 4. how to recognize when media has become imbalanced in the home, 5. ideas on how to replace media in the home.
This discussion was so helpful to me, and I know it will be to you as well!
Resources:
Altogether Lovely Instagram Page
https://altogetherlovelycollective.com
Altogether Lovely Facebook Page
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
Simeon joins me on this episode to share our personal journey with what part TV has played in our home in years past and in our current season. When we were first married, we gave so much of our time to the TV. As we transitioned into parenthood, many of those trends continued. Around 2 years ago, God began speaking to Simeon and I about this issue, and we started rethinking what role we wanted TV to play in our home.
As we transitioned life to having less and less TV, there was a huge adjustment period- for us and for our children! But the fruit that has come from the switch has been so rewarding!! Simeon and I have been able to pursue hobbies, enjoy each other's company, and pursue dreams God has put on our hearts. Our children have learned how to handle boredom; they've fallen in love with books; their creativity has soared. We have also seen a big change in their behavior.
This is an area of home that everyone will have to make their own personal decisions on, but we wanted to give the challenge to at least make it a matter of conversation and prayer. We've seen great blessings in our family life that has been in direct connection with limiting screen time, so much so that we felt led to share our experience with you!
Resources:
NHC Blog: My Favorite Preschool Resources (www.nohighercalling.org/blog/2020/08/13/home-education-favorites-for-preschool)
NHC Blog: Our Favorite Date Night Games (https://www.nohighercalling.org/blog/2021/02/03/our-favorite-date-night-games)
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
What is my "no higher calling"? For me, that is to glorify God through being a wife and a mother, but that is not the calling God chooses to give to every woman. Whatever your life looks like, our highest calling is to bare the image of Christ, and in doing so, to bring Him glory.
It was a joy to interview my dear friend, Lauren Hickman. God has chosen for her life to look very different from mine, but our callings are equal as we both seek to pursue Christ and find HIs purpose for our lives. Lauren shares her heart and personal experiences of singleness with a desire to encourage other single ladies to find all that Christ has for them in that season of life. She shares blessings that come from singleness as well as some ways to keep your heart from letting loneliness and discouragement creep in.
We wrap up the episode with some light-hearted "singleness etiquette" helping married women know what to, and not to, say to their single friends. Married or unmarried, I know this episode will bless your heart!
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
As we continue our Respectable Sins Bible study, we come to the sins of pride and selfishness. These sins are like a fibrous root system that spreads fast and wide and intertwines into many crevices of the heart. Jesus Christ gave us a perfect example of humility and selflessness. If we are to be conforming more into His image, we need to confess and forsake these sins!
We discuss several different aspects of pride such as moral self-righteousness, pride of correct doctrine, pride of achievement, and an independent, prideful spirit. I then transition into addressing a few common areas where we often struggle with selfishness. As women who have influence on other's hearts, especially young ones, we need to be setting a strong godly example in these areas. Let's be women who are becoming more and more like our humble Savior!
Resources:
NHC Blog: Pride & Selfishness (www.nohighercalling.org/blog/respectable-sins-pride-amp-selfishness)
Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges
Comparison Girl by Shannon Popkin
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
We live very busy lives as women devoted to marriage, children, homemaking, ministry, and more. Rest tends to be an area of life that is a struggle. In a world that promotes "self-care" and "me-time", what is the proper balance?
God designed our bodies to require rest. If nothing else, it keeps our dependency upon Him as we follow His perfect order for our bodies. He goes even farther in His Word to give us a guide as to what proper rest should look like. We cannot serve as God intends when we push, push, push and neglect rest. We cannot serve as God intends when we are consumed with prioritizing our own needs over others. So how do we find the balance?
Jessica Cutis joins me in this episode to discuss the balancing act of rest. Some of the points she addresses are 1. God's design for rest, 2. the difference between rest and idleness, 3. ways to rest our bodies, 4. ways to find rest for our souls.
Resources:
Instagram: From the Heart of Mrs. Missionary (https://www.instagram.com/fromtheheartofmrsmissionary/)
Instagram: Blessed Purposeful Living (https://www.instagram.com/blessedpurposefulliving/)
Jessica's Website (https://blessedpurposefulliving.com/)
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
What a joy it is to have my spiritual mentor, Denise Palmer, joining me once a month for a Titus 2 Talk! On these special episodes, Denise and I will be doing a deep dive into the truths God has taught us through the book of Titus.
On this episode, we walk through the things God has commanded the aged women to teach to the younger women in regards to loving our children. We discuss ...
-The sanctifying work of motherhood
-The sacrifice of motherhood
-The stewardship of motherhood
-The sweetness of motherhood
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
2 years ago, I launched the No Higher Calling blog with the post, Cloth Diapering 101. At that time, I had cloth diapered 2 babies, and so many mamas were reaching out with questions! Here we are several years later, and it is still a topic that I get asked about so often! Whether your motivation is to save money, to have a natural option for baby, or to take better care of the earth, cloth diapering can be a wonderful option! It sounds daunting. Who wants to deal with the mess and how do you begin to know how to get started? I have taken many of my notes from the blog post and shared them on this podcast episode. If this is something you've wondered about, I hope you find many helpful answers!
Resources:
NHC Blog: Cloth Diapering 101
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
This episodes gives a recap of all that our family has been learning through our homeschool journey over the past few months. As we transition into having a new baby and a busy summer, life will look a bit different than it has in the first quarter of the year. As excited as we are for the upcoming months, we reflect on the past months with lots of fun memories.
I share what we've been learning in these different areas-
Bible Memory: Psalm 1, Books of the Old Testament
Gather Round Homeschool Units: North American Birds, Asia, Botany
Read Alouds: Little Pilgrim's Progress, Little Pear, The Trumpet of the Swan, The Jungle Book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Pippi Longstocking, Voice of the Martyrs The Courageous Series, and The Secret Garden
Enjoy a glimpse into our lifestyle of learning as I share some of the highlights of our homeschooling!
Resources:
Gather Round Homeschool (https://gatherroundhomeschool.com/)
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
Rebecca Grant is a returning guest to the No Higher Calling podcast. She joined several months ago addressing the topic of Simple, Natural Living, and her episode has been one of the most downloaded episodes!
She joins me in this episode to talk about nourishing your postpartum body. The postpartum period is a season of life that is often very neglected. So much investment is given to fertility, pregnancy, and birth, but then we are expected to "bounce back" immediately after having baby. Becca shares so much helpful information on why it is vital to slow down after having baby and replenish your body of the vast amounts of minerals, vitamins, etc that have been depleted while growing your little human. I cannot wait to implement so much of what she shares into my upcoming postpartum season!
Resources:
NHC Blog: Show Notes (www.nohighercalling.org/blog/nourishing-your-postpartum-body-with-rebecca-grant)
Instagram: Rebecca Grant (https://www.instagram.com/rebecca.m.grant/)
Instagram: Low Tox Talks (https://www.instagram.com/lowtoxtalks/)
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
Whether you love cooking or loathe it, freezer cooking can be a helpful element in any kitchen! Life is in seasons, and different seasons present different levels of business and chaos. Maybe you're about to have a new baby, maybe you want to be quicker to say "yes" to hospitality, maybe you are trying to find rhythm in a busy work schedule- insert the blessing of freezer cooking!
In this episode, I share ways that freezer cooking has been a blessing to our household as I seek to "look well" to the ways of my home. (Prov 31:27)
I discuss. . .
-How it saves time, money, and cleanup
-Practical ways to implement freezer cooking (ranging from very minimal work to a bit more of an investment)
-How to plan, organize and stock up for successful freezer cooking
Resources:
Jami Balmet: Finding Joy In Your Home- Jami is a wealth of knowledge in many aspects of the kitchen!
Souper Cubes
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
We are a very blessed people! So much of the world does not enjoy the immense wealth and bounty that we do in a first-world country. Yet, discontentment and unthankfulness so quickly capture our hearts.
These sins don’t always revolve around finances or possessions. Often, we feel these emotions in connection with circumstances God has allowed into our lives. I know I have been there multiple times! As Amy Carmichael wrote, “In acceptance lieth peace.” When we come to know more about God’s character, we get a deeper glimpse of His sovereignty. This leads to acceptance of His perfect will for our lives, and a peace that circumstances cannot shake!
Contentment and thankfulness bring God glory and point those we influence to a faith that is unlike anything found in this world. Let’s determine to trust the heart of our God and live lives defined by contentment and thankfulness!
Resources:
NHC Blog: Respectable Sins: Discontentment & Unthankfulness
Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
What a joy it is to have my spiritual mentor, Denise Palmer, joining me once a month for a Titus 2 Talk! On these special episodes, Denise and I will be doing a deep dive into the truths God has taught us through the book of Titus.
On this episode, we start walking through the things God has commanded the aged women to teach to the younger women in regards to loving our husbands. We discuss ...
-How God uses trials to mature our marriage relationship
-Allowing your husband to hold the place only Christ should in your life
-The influence a wife has over her husband
-The role of the wife as a helpmeet
-Trusting God to make our husbands the spiritual leaders of our homes
-The importance of prayer in marriage
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
I've shared often how much Christ-honoring music plays a part in the atmosphere of our home. Recently, God's had the hymn "Because He Lives" on Simeon's heart, and God has used the truth of that song to encourage him and me!
Sim joins me in this episode to talk about the current state of our world. We live in a world where chaos and confusion reign supreme. Where does that leave us as parents who are trying to have Christian homes and raise a generation for Christ? Should we just surrender and accept defeat? NO! We must place our confidence in God and Him alone, and fight the good fight of faith.
Verse 2 of "Because He Lives" says,
How sweet to hold a newborn baby, And feel the pride and joy he brings; But greater still the calm assurance: This child can face uncertain days because He Lives! . . . Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, Because He lives, all fear is gone; Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living, Just because He lives!
We can be confident knowing that though our children will face uncertain days, they can do it victoriously through the power of Jesus Christ! We are more than conquerors! This episode is a challenge to rise up with boldness and find a deep seeded peace in the promises of God.
Resources:
NHC Shop
Blue-Collar Theology Podcast by Simeon Brazzell
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
I have set two reading goals for 2022. 1. To read 50 books 2. To read 1 book with Simeon each quarter. It's hard to believe that we are already wrapping up the first quarter of this year! In this episode, I share an update on where I'm at with my reading challenge, as well as a summary of the books (and a few read-alouds) that I've read so far. Be ready to hear lots of great book recommendations!
Resources:
NHC Blog: My 2022 Reading Challenge (Quarter 1)
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
Sarah Boots with Altogether Lovely Collective joins me for part 2 of The Importance of Reading with Your Kids. In this episode, we address questions we hear often from moms when it comes to reading aloud with your children. Questions like. . .
-Should I still read aloud to my kids even though they can read themselves?
-How can I get my kids to fall in love with books?
-Where can I find wholesome book recommendations?
-What part do audio books play in reading with your children?
Resources:
Altogether Lovely Instagram Page
Altogether Lovely Collective Website
Altogether Lovely Facebook Page
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
Sarah Boots from Altogether Lovely Collective joins me to discuss the importance of reading with your children. Sarah is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to good, wholesome books and resources for the home!
In this episode, we answer the question, "What are the benefits of reading to children?" Actually, we only cover the tip of the iceberg because the answer to this question holds such depth! Sarah discusses educational and relational benefits that come when parents connect with their children through reading.
Educational benefits include:
-Increased vocabulary
-Reading comprehension
-Background knowledge and data connection
Relational benefits include:
-Exposure to good literature
-Opportunity to have deep or hard conversations
-Books give a broad perspective on the world and life
-Physical bonding
-Develop bravery and courage
Join us in the next episode for part 2 of this discussion as we answer questions such as, "Is reading aloud only for families with little children?", "How do you get your children to fall in love with books?", "What about audiobooks?", and "Where can you find wholesome book recommendations?"
Resources:
Altogether Lovely Instagram Page
Altogether Lovely Collective Website
Altogether Lovely Facebook Page
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
"... when I give way to anxiety, I am, in effect, believing that God does not care for me and that He will not take care of me in the particular circumstance that triggers my anxiety of the moment. ...God's providence may be simply defined as God's orchestrating all circumstances and events in His universe for His glory and the good of His people." -Jerry Bridges
This episode is part 3 in our Respectable Sins Bible study. Anxiety, frustration, and worry are sins that can so easily creep into the life of a believer. We often feel justified having these emotions because of the circumstances that tend to cause them. But anything that keeps us from becoming more like Christ is sin! I know this is an area that I've had to grow in myself! Much of that growth has happened during the moments when I wasn't sure if I could go on, yet God stepped in and proved Himself faithful.
As we battle the old man, and bring our thoughts into subjection, we focus on verses like Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." To understand this promise is to trust that God works all things for His glory and for our good, even when we cannot see how that will be accomplished! In the words of Amy Carmichael, "in acceptance lieth peace." Yield this area to God and find the peace He desires for us to have!
Resources:
NHC Blog: Respectable Sins: Anxiety, Frustration, and Worry
Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges
NHC Ep 33- All Things for Our Good
Ep 11- Gifts Discovered in Grief
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
What a joy it is to have my spiritual mentor, Denise Palmer, joining me once a month for a Titus 2 Talk! On these special episodes, Denise and I will be doing a deep dive into the truths God has taught us through the book of Titus.
On this episode, we start walking through the things God has commanded the aged women to teach to the younger women. We discuss ...
-What does is mean to be sober?
-Is there a specific reason that God lists this first?
-Our desperate need to have our minds rooted in Christ vs our emotions
-Personal examples of how God has used the Titus 2 relationship to encourage us to be sober-minded
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
There is so much preparation that goes into having a new baby. Whether it is your first, or your tenth, there's always a certain level of prep work required as you get ready to add a new member into your family.
Many ladies have requested that I share how I'm preparing for my upcoming birth of baby #4. This is a huge topic to cover, so I tried to keep it pretty specific to how I'm preparing for my baby.
As I prepare for my 4th birth, but 2nd natural, homebirth, the preparation has been a bit different than it ever has before. I have been investing a lot of Scripture memory and prayer time into preparing my mind for natural birth, which in turn greatly affects how the body responds! I've been researching how to best nourish and support my postpartum body which has led to some freezer cooking prep. Simeon and I have been talking through how we work together to give me and baby time to recover, rest, and bond. We've been encouraging our children to be big helpers when Baby arrives, as well as some other prep things that will be unique to this birth experience.
Not everything I share will apply to every mama, but it will give things to think through if you are in a season of preparing to welcome a new little one.
Resources:
NHC Blog: Postpartum Essentials
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
I have been keeping a HUGE secret. . . I just published my first book- Great Hymns for Growing Hearts!! This has been an incredible project that has had a life-changing impact on our home. In this episode, I share my heart and how God led me to write this book.
This is a wonderful resource, and one that I believe needs to be in every Christian home! As we seek to pass truths about God and His Word onto future generations, this is a wonderful way to accomplish that goal. Music has a way of rooting itself deep into the mind and heart. Let's use that to etch the character of who God is deep into the hearts of our children!
Resources:
Purchase Great Hymns for Growing Hearts
Be Still My Soul CD by Lydia Scoggins
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
It was such an honor to interview my midwife, Rebekah Mustaleksi, and hear her talk about the midwifery model of care. At 34 weeks pregnant with Ivy, we made the decision to switch to Roots & Wings Midwifery for a home birth. Best decision ever!! Now with this new baby on the way, I've had the opportunity to experience a complete (well, up to this point) pregnancy with my midwives. Having birthed in both a hospital and home atmosphere with medicated and unmedicated experiences, I've gotten to see different approaches to the process of pregnancy and birth.
I understand that every woman is different, and not everyone desires what I would consider my best birth scenario. So many ladies have asked me about the differences between my birth experiences, and we address many of those differences in this episode.
As an expectant mama, it is wonderful to know you have options! Whatever you decide, knowing you have choices gives you and your husband things to pray through and consider as you make the best choice for your family.
I hope this episode will shed some light on midwifery care and home birth. Simeon and I could not be more thankful for the birth and pregnancy experiences the midwifery care model has afforded us. I could not be more excited about delivering another baby with Roots & Wings!
Resources:
Roots & Wings Midwifery
NHC Ep 24- Brazzell Babies Birth Stories
NHC Ep 37- The Beauty of Birth with Katie Ferguson
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
Little Pilgrim's Progress by Helen Taylor (a children's rendition of the beloved Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan) has been the read-aloud I've been going through with my littles. We have been so captivated by this story! The truth presented in this book has laid a foundation for me to go deeper into many topics such as the Gospel, the importance of having godly friends, wisdom vs foolishness, walking in the way of the King, and more! I share some of our favorite lessons we've learned as we've journeyed with little Christian to the Celestial City.
Resources:
Little Pilgrim's Progress by Helen Taylor
NHC Shop
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
In honor of Valentine's week, Sim joins me for a fun question and answer episode. We've collected questions that listeners submitted, and choose several to answer together. It was a blast to record this! Hopefully, you'll enjoy it as much as we did.
These are a few of the questions we address. . .
-How many kids to we want?
-What are our long term plans regarding Australia?
-What is the best part of marriage?
-How to handle conflict?
-What to do when you feel that your man isn't the spiritual leader you desire him to be?
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
What a joy it is to have my spiritual mentor, Denise Palmer, joining me once a month for a Titus 2 Talk! On these special episodes, Denise and I will be doing a deep dive into the truths God has taught us through the book of Titus.
On this second episode, we discuss the characteristics that God says the aged women are to pattern their lives after. In pursuit of a well-ordered life, God gives clear instruction on how that is accomplished. We share what God taught us from out study of Titus 2:3 "The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;"
Time does not cause a life to be defined by these characteristics. These become the life of a believer as one moves grows in obedience and faith. As a woman continues in her sanctification process, holiness, a guarded tongue, Spirit-control, purpose, and the desire to influence others will take root in her heart and overflow into her actions.
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
"Ungodliness may be defined as living one's everyday life with little or no thought of God, or of God's will, or of God's glory." -Jerry Bridges
Do you struggle with ungodliness? If you’re like me, your first thought would be, “I’m a Christian! Of course I don’t struggle with ungodliness!” We often equate ungodliness with those who have purposely chosen to live a life in opposition to Christ. As we dig into God's Word, I think you'll realize, as I did, that this is more of a battle in our lives than we might think!
In this episode, we discuss ...
- What ungodliness is and how it differs from unrighteousness
- The contrast between godliness and ungodliness
- How we can live lives characterized by godliness
- How we can teach our children to recognize ungodliness and flee it’s temptation
Resources:
NHC Blog- Respectable Sins: Ungodliness
Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
My littles get so excited about being my helpers! Daily, I hear Ivy's heavy footsteps down our hallway and her chant of "helper, helper, helper" as she runs to be involved in whatever I'm doing. Allowing my children to join in on the tasks of home and to fully embrace the opportunity to teach them how to be my helper is an area I've been slow to adopt. I'm a very task-oriented person. The more I can check off the list, the more successful the day was. In my haste and efficiency, I realized that I was missing out on an opportunity to invest in my relationship with my littles, to teach them how to manage a home well, and to be an active team member of our family. I've been working to slow down and let them be mama's little helpers. It's actually been quite the surprise to realize just how much they are a help to me! And tasks are always more fun when you do them with someone else!
In this episode, I share practical ways I've worked on having a perspective change in this area, as well as different chores and routines of home that I let my children take part in. It makes my mama heart swell when I see them taking initiative to help out around the home.
Sally Clarkson says, "Raising children, building a home, and passing on a legacy of righteousness is part of God's eternal design for the family." Often, I think that these things are accomplished in the big moments of life. The longer I go, the more I realize that they are actually achieved when everyday moments are lived out in faithful obedience. For today, that means doing laundry, washing dishes, and feeding my family. Letting my children join in on those things keeps us moving towards fulfilling God's perfect design for our family.
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
Ginger Hubbard is the bestselling author of I Can't Believe You Just Said That, Don't Make Me Count to Three, and Wise Words for Moms. I have read the first two books, and have been so challenged by Ginger's biblical approach to child training. She joins me in this episode to talk about the message in her book, I Can't Believe You Just Said That.
Do your children whine, tattle, complain, or lie? I'm guessing the answer is yes! Our children are sinners- just like their daddy's and mama's! Ginger encourages parents to go beyond behavior modification and to get to the heart of the issue. Every time our children sin, it gives us a sweet opportunity to show them the redemptive power of the Gospel. This perspective shift will enable the parent to respond in a biblical way and will impact the child as they learn to deal with sin in their own hearts.
Resources:
www.gingerhubbard.com
On Ginger's website, you'll find resources, her podcast, her books, and much more.
Connect with Ginger on Instagram!
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
As a wife and mama, much of my day is centered around the kitchen. Over the past year, I've been trying to implement things into my kitchen that help me "look well" (Prov 31:27) in the areas of planning, budgeting, providing healthy and delicious meals, and using our family table for ministry opportunities. An area that has given me much improvement in these goals has been meal planning. I am far from the expert on this, but I share some things that have helped me make my kitchen run smoother. In turn, this makes my life smoother!
In this episode, I discuss ...
-Creating a list of your favorite meals
-Incorporating new recipes
-How make the best meal choices to fit your schedule
-How to alleviate stress in meal planning
-Ways meal planning helps you be a wise steward of your finances
Resources:
Azure Standard
Instagram: Marcie Carol Fowler
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
This is the first episode in the Respectable Sins Bible study we'll be going through during 2022. As Christians living in an increasing dark world, we often get so preoccupied with the gross sins of our culture that we neglect to deal with the subtle sins in our own hearts. The sins we will discuss together through this Bible study are not any different in the sense that they are all sins that Christ bore on the cross. They all condemned us to hell and required a perfect Lamb to be sacrificed to atone for their transgression against a holy God.
In this episode, we dive deep into our sin problem and it’s solution. We discuss …
- The sinfulness of sin
- The malignancy of sin
- The forgiveness of sin
- The repenting from sin
Personal application is made, as well as application on how we can teach our children these truths.
Resources:
NHC Blog: Respectable Sins
Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
What a joy it is to have my spiritual mentor, Denise Palmer, joining me once a month for a Titus 2 Talk! On these special episodes, Denise and I will be doing a deep dive into the truths God has taught us through the book of Titus.
This first episode is an overview of the entire book, and we discuss lessons that God has taught us through our study. We look at the spiritual condition of Crete, the command God gave to the aged and younger women, what it means to live a well-ordered life, and how we can model a "pattern of good works" to others.
This overview will lead us into discussing the Titus 2 command that God gave to women. What do you do if you don't have a Titus 2 mentor? How do you find a younger woman to invest your life in? What is the purpose of a Titus 2 ministry? What blessings come from obedience to God in this area? What consequences come when we fail to obey God's command to disciple others? We look forward to addressing these questions straight from God's Word!
Resources:
NHC Blog: Downloadable Bible Study Resource
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
Our family has decided to start our school year in January, so we have just began a new homeschool year! We are all so excited to see what God has in store for this year as we learn more about our great Creator and the amazing world He's made.
In this episode, I share. . .
-Our school day schedule
-What's in our current morning basket
-Our current read-alouds
-Our Gather Round Homeschool unit choices
Resources:
NHC Blog: Our 2022 Homeschool Resources
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
Erin Bates Paine has been such an encouragement to me as I have watched her live a Christ-centered life in her marriage and motherhood. I couldn't image a better episode to kick off a new year of the No Higher Calling podcast!
Erin shares in this episode how she keeps her heart focused on eternity in the midst of the demands life brings. Her highest priority is her relationship with God. She says, "Our reactions and our responses stem from our relationship with the Lord."
We have many self-imposed ideas of what a perfect wife and mom looks like. As we pursue "perfection", we are left feeling defeated, frustrated, and overwhelmed. Instead, we should be striving to be genuine and sincere in our faith. If our children can grow up and say that their mommy loved God, loved their daddy, and loved them, that is a successful mother!
Resources:
www.chadanderin.com
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org.
Here we are on the precipice of a brand new year! It's been such a wonderful journey seeing all that God has done through No Higher Calling in 2021. In this last episode of the year, I want to close out the year seeking to be an encouragement to my listeners. Recently, a sermon was preached at our church that God used to speak to my heart. As I was praying for direction for this final episode of 2021, I believe God wants me to share what I learned through that sermon.
What is one blessing that you think, "If I could just have God break through in this situation, this would be the greatest blessing of 2022!"? What really is the greatest blessing we could receive from the Lord? The greatest blessing we could receive it to have God use our lives for His glory. Maybe that wasn't your answer to the question above, but it's true! The greatest thing God could do for you in 2022 is to use you.
We see this lived out in the lives of different characters in the Christmas story. Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men- all of these people were faithful in their ordinary callings. It was out of the ordinary, that God used them to accomplish something extraordinary!
Ladies, let's be faithful in the everyday ordinary tasks God has called us to. Let's be faithful to obey God in every area. Labor for the Lord and keep you eyes stayed on Him. He may not give you a spectacular story, but He WILL do with your life whatever brings Him most glory, and you most good. Whether that's accomplished by faithful service or a miraculous moment is His to decide. As we enter a new year, my challenge to you is to determine to obey however He leads!
Resources:
Temple Baptist Church: Sermon by Tim Tomlinson (the sermon starts at 24:00)
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
What a journey my 2021 reading challenge has had me on! I am finishing this year having read 50 books!! Most of these books were such a blessing and challenge to me. The more I read, the more I fall in love with reading.
In this episode, I share the books I've read during the 4th quarter of this year. I also share some tips for setting a reading goal in the new year, and what my reading goals for 2022 are. Whether you decide to read 1 book or 100 in the new year, I hope this episode will inspire you to set a goal. There are so many incredible books out there!
I'd love to hear what your reading goal is for 2022. I'd also love to know what was your favorite book that you read this year. I'm always on the hunt for a good recommendation!
Resources:
NHC Blog: My 2021 Reading Challenge Part 4
NHC Blog: My 2021 Reading Challenge Part 3
NHC Blog: My 2021 Reading Challenge Part 2
NHC Blog: My 2021 Reading Challenge Part 1
Sarah- Altogether Lovely (great source for book recommendations!)
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
Ready or not, we are about to enter a new year! I always love starting a new year. It's a fresh start, and a good opportunity to take inventory of my life and ask God what He has for me in the new year.
Over the years, my goal-setting has changed, and this year is probably the most different year yet. As I've gotten older and grown in my walk with Christ, I seek to bathe each new year in prayer and to know God's mind as I try to make changes and set goals. This year, God has led me to some specific things that I can measure and check of my list, and others are more difficult to measure. He continues to guide my heart to those things, so I will follow.
Maybe some of my struggle is not knowing what 2022 will look like for our family. I think many of us feel that way. What will 2022 look like on a world-wide scale? Only God knows! But we can face the new year with courage because God goes before us, and we are victorious in Him!
I'm so excited to see all that God has in store for the upcoming year. We have a certain future, and it is one of hope and joy!
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
The past few years have had our family on a journey towards more simple, natural living. I've been learning about the products and foods we have in our home, and have been taking small steps to switch out toxic products for more healthy options. The more I learn, the more I realize the importance of being a wise steward in the choices of what we allow to affect our bodies.
Rebecca Grant joins me in today's episode to discuss the path to simple, natural living. She addresses why this is an important topic to address in your home, and easy ways to switch out toxic products for cleaner options.
You can follow Rebecca on Instagram. You can check out her Young Living page here. Her YL Member number is #13908220.
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
The Christmas season brings so many distractions. I think I'd be safe to assume that we've all had Decembers where we end the month exhausted, overwhelmed, and so happy that all the hype is over. I know I've had years like that! The older my kids get, the more intentional I have to be to guard our hearts and homes from being consumed with things that are secondary. I love every tradition, celebration, party, and so on, but where does the emphasis of Christmas really lie?
In this episode, I share ways that God has helped me, as the homemaker, keep Christ the center of our home during Christmas. Most of what we do flows out of what we do throughout the rest of the year. If Christ hasn't been the focal point of our home throughout the year, it will be hard to flip a switch and make Him preeminent in December.
These are some specific ways we seek to keep Christ in His proper place in our home during Christmas, but really all throughout the year:
-Playing Christ-honoring music
-Memorizing Scripture as a family
-Studying the Bible together
-Looking for Gospel opportunities
How do you keep Christ the center of your Christmas?
Resources:
NHC Blog: Countdown to Christmas learning the Character of God
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
Christmas is my favorite time of year, and I love making it special for my family. Over the years, we have been developing our Christmas traditions. Now that our kids are getting a little older, it is so fun to watch them get excited about our annual festivities. I share some of our favorite traditions on this episode.
I'd love to hear what Christmas traditions your family has!
NHC Blog: Christmas Traditions Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
Shop the NHC Christmas Ornament here
This has been an incredible year for No Higher Calling. I share some of the blessings that God has given, and express my thanks to Him for giving me this opportunity. It's been amazing to watch Him lead every step of the way, and I'm so excited about things I believe He's leading me to do in 2022.
I share some exciting things to be anticipating in the new year. A Bible study discussing "respectable sins", Titus 2 Talks with my spiritual mentor Denise Palmer, and more is on the horizon! Be watching for some very BIG announcements coming in the next few months!!
Thank you to each of you for sharing this journey with me. I pray that every word that comes out of my mouth encourages you and challenges you in your walk with Christ.
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
We've looked at many different aspects of hospitality on the No Higher Calling podcast, but this episode does a deep dive into extending hospitality overnight. Being on deputation for the past 2 years and traveling all over the eastern United States, I have learned many good tips, and several things to avoid, as our family has gained experience as the traveler.
Hebrews 13:2 says, “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” The original language translates strangers as travelers and angels as those who share the message of the gospel. God commands us to remember to extend hospitality to those who travel, often in ministry capacities.
Once the foundation of the biblical command to show hospitality in this area is established, I transition into practical ways to be a blessing to those who are staying overnight in your home. These tips have been complied from our travels, and from other missionary ladies who have shared what has and hasn't been helpful for their families.
Topics include:
-What is helpful to have in a guest room
-Things to think through as you host guests overnight (sleeping arrangements, laundry accessibility, dietary needs)
-How to communicate schedules, meals, etc
-Cleaning and decluttering for hosting guests
There is such a reward in obedience to Christ, especially in this area of extending hospitality. Get your entire family involved. Watch God give blessings and rewards to each family member as you work together to serve and bless others.
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
Join me on this episode as I chat about all things kitchen! The topics are pulled from an Instagram Q & A where ladies asked about things they struggle with in their kitchen. Topics such as my favorite kitchen appliances and tools, meal planning, healthy cooking, cooking with littles under foot, and more are discussed!
As I'm working to take baby steps of growth in my kitchen, I share things I've learned along the way. So much of the serving we extend to our loved ones and others stem from our kitchens. This episode seeks to give ideas and practical ways to have a kitchen that runs more smoothly and serves your family delicious, whole food meals.
Resources:
NHC Blog: Chatting All Things Kitchen Show Notes
(on this blog post, you'll find links to the many different tools, resources, and recipes that I mention on the podcast)
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org.
Denise Palmer joins me in this episode to discuss the greenhouse effect and the part it plays in parenting. Often, parents think that their children are to be salt and light in a dark world. That is false. There will come a time for them to stand strong for Christ, but while they are young, we are to be cultivating their hearts. Denise uses the illustration of plants to illustrate this greenhouse effect. The child is the tender plant, God's Word is the soil, and the parents are the greenhouse. It is the responsibility of Christian parents to protect and prepare the soil of our children's hearts.
Denise walks through several stages of a child's spiritual development, and shares truths on what we should be doing as parents to guide them to a knowledge of Christ as Savior.
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
Families today are centered on so many different things- sports, academics, entertainment, social status, etc. As Christians, the only thing our homes should be centered on is the Lord Jesus Christ! What is a Christ-centered family? Join me as we walk through Scripture and answer this question.
As Christian mamas, I believe we'd all say that we want to have homes that are centered on Christ. How does that happen? In this episode, I discuss the Christ, the character, the cost, and the crown of a family who is centered on Jesus Christ.
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
"If giving up a holiday that brings Him zero glory is a sacrifice I must make to be more like my Savior, is that too much of a price to pay?"
Simeon joins me in this episode to discuss our stance on Halloween. I understand this is a controversial topic amongst Christians, and we take a very strong, possibly radical stance, on it, but we are convinced that our position comes from one that has been bathed in prayer and Scripture.
I John 1:5 “. . .God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”
A friend of mine wrote, "Why would I celebrate the very darkness Christ has saved me from?" Halloween is a holiday that is engulfed in darkness and evil. The Bible talks about those very things having the spirit of anti-Christ, something that is direct opposition to the very nature of God.
As we set a goal for Christ-likeness in our lives and homes, we have come to believe that this holiday has no place in the life of a Christian. Maybe you agree with us, maybe you don't. Our desire for this episode is not to judge or condemn, but to do a deep-dive into God's Word and see what He has to say on the topic. May our hearts be challenged to always be conforming more into the image of Christ. Where that lands you as a family might be a different place than where it's landed us. We should never be afraid to have our standards challenged as we study and grow in the truths of Scripture.
Resources:
NHC Blog: Standing for Light When Surrounded by Darkness
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org.
Erin Bates Paine joins me on this episode to talk about the importance of saturating our homes with God's Word. No matter what we face, God's Word always has the answers that our hearts need. Erin shares how God used a trial to give her an intensity about abiding in Scripture, praying Scripture over her marriage and children, and filling her children's hearts with God's truth. She walks through why memorizing Scripture is important and ways she has incorporated Scripture memorization in her home.
As Erin sought to saturate her home, marriage, and motherhood with Scripture, God led her to create a resource to help accomplish this goal. She discusses ABC cards that have verses for children to memorize that correspond with character traits they should be growing in. This is a wonderful tool to help you use the Bible as you train and discipline, and as you seek to let God's Word take root in the hearts of your children. She also shares about a set of 30 Bible promise cards for women to pray and claim.
Resources:
chadanderin.com (You can find Erin's ABC and Promise Cards under the store tab)
Pray Big for Your Marriage
Praying the Bible by Donald Whitney
Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_, No Higher Calling Facebook Page and www.nohighercalling.org
My reading challenge for 2021 continues. I’m excited to say that I have hit my goal for the year (40 books) with 3 months to spare!! The past quarter has been filled with some great reads. In this episode, I share what books I've been reading with my personal review of each book.
Resources:
NHC Blog: My 2021 Reading Challenge Part 3
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org.
Casie Ravert joins me on this episode to share truths that God has etched on her heart through some difficult storms in her life's journey. She talks about how when you first set out into adulthood, you have dreams of what the coming years will hold. We all have a "Plan A". We hope our lives will go according to that plan, but it rarely happens. Casie and her husband, Adam, have walked through some bitter waters as the pages of their story include miscarriage and infertility. Casie shares that it was in her lowest moment that she cried out to God. She asked Him why He wasn't answering, and He reminded her that He was. The answer just wasn't the one she was praying for.
Are we still willing to trust God when His answer is no? Do we find our identity in Him and Him alone, or do we require something else to give us security and joy? Is there hope for a heart that is shattered? Casie answers these questions as she shares how God has guided her heart and given her an eternal perspective.
Through this journey, God led Casie to start New Mercies Music. Their first CD is out- He Is Still God. This CD includes the song that inspired this podcast episode, But If Not. At the end of the episode, you will hear the song. I pray that it will encourage your heart as it has so greatly encouraged mine!
Resources:
New Mercies Music
New Mercies Music- He Is Still God CD
This CD is now streaming! Search Adam & Casie Ravert to find it.
Follow my motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and www.nohighercalling.org
We have many exciting things happening in our family right now! Two very special guests join me on this bonus episode to share some exciting news with you. It is an honor to get to share our journey with you. God is at work in our family, just as He is at work in yours! Let's give Him much praise as we see His guiding hand in our lives!
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
The tasks of home can often feel repetitive and mundane. There are always meals to cook, piles of laundry to fold, and surfaces to dust. As Christian women, we want to glorify Christ with our days, but is He really receiving glory as we mop our floors? As I've searched the Scriptures, I believe that the answer is, yes!! If the glory of God is the end accomplishment of all that we do, then it doesn't really matter what the task is. All that matters is that He is glorified. If God is glorified, one task isn't more important than another. What matters is that our Savior receives the glory due His name!
In this episode, I share ways that God has directed my perspective to eternal things and transformed my mundane moments of homemaking into moments of worship.
Follow my motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
"For a cup brimful of sweet water cannot spill even one drop of bitter water, however suddenly jolted." -Amy Carmichael
We live in a sin-cursed, fallen world. As we journey through life, we will face inconveniences, difficulties, and trials. We can either allow those things to make us bitter, or make us better. Katie Davidson joins Brettnay in this episode to talk about how God has taught her that when she keeps her focus on Him, even the sourest of days can have blessings abundant.
To keep this heavenly perspective, you must have God's Word deeply seeded in your heart. You will need a deep well to draw from when the hard circumstances arise. God has not left us to journey through life alone. He is our ever-present Shepherd who goes before us. He also gifts us with friendship. Finding an "iron sharpeneth iron" friendship is always a blessing, but it can be an even greater treasure when you have someone to walk with you through life's ebb and flow. Brettnay and Katie share some of the unexpected adventures God brought into their paths in the past few months, and how God has used those to drive this lesson a mile deep in their hearts.
Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org
The toddler and preschool years are full of lots of challenges, but there is so much sweetness in this season! Children are alight with wonder and curiosity about the world around them. The soil of their hearts is soft and easily cultivated as we seek to pour Truth into them. The days are filled with giggles, playtime, and precious moments of togetherness.
Brettnay is mama to an almost 5 year old, 3 year old, and a 15 month old. In this episode, she shares some of her favorite resources she uses with her children in these categories. . .
-Educational
-Arts & Crafts
-Bible
-Audio
-Toys
This isn't a comprehensive list, but these are things that have been loved and enjoyed in Brettnay's home!
Resources:
No Higher Calling Blog: My Favorite Preschool Resources
Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org
Schedules are something that everybody struggles with. It takes so much thought, and sometimes trial and error, to find a schedule that is perfect for the needs of your family. Then, once everything is going smooth, seasons change, and so does your schedule.
I want to be a wise steward of the time that God has given me. I also need to realize that God doesn't call me to do more than He gives me time to accomplish. How can we find balance in our schedules? I share some ways God has helped me prioritize what exactly it is that He has for my family to invest our time in. Time is precious, and I don't want to waste the opportunities God has given me. Having an intentionality in planning my days allows us to redeem the time and accomplish all that God has for our family.
At the end of the day, if schedules go haywire and seasons bring stressful demands, God is sufficient! We can rest in His strength and His sufficiency. I might not accomplish everything on my to-do list, but if I do those things that are important in light of eternity, I can find peace and contentment.
Resources:
She Laughs Without Fear by Jami Balmet
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Real Cool History for Kids Podcast
Follow my motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and www.nohighercalling.org
Brettnay's husband, Simeon, is a co-host of the podcast, General Order 4. His podcast takes a deep dive into Biblical discipleship as Christ outlined with His disciples. Simeon joins Brettnay as they do a joint episode for both of their podcasts. They explain what Biblical discipleship really is- a transfer of the life of Christ in you into the life of someone else. While we often think of the responsibility believers have to disciple new converts, this episode discusses the importance of having a discipleship mindset within the home. The call Christ gave His disciples was a call to be with Him. Our children are with us, living life with us. It falls under the jurisdiction of our stewardship as parents to be intentional with this time God has given us, and give our children the Word of God. This will enable them to grow in maturity- spiritual and emotional maturity.
Resources: Find General Order 4 on all major podcast platforms.
Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org
Katie Ferguson, with Open Heart Doula, joins Brettnay on this episode. Katie was instrumental in Simeon and Brettnay's beautiful homebirth experience with their third baby. God used her in many ways, but the most life-changing for Brettnay was having Katie open her eyes to the realization that birth doesn't have to look one way. You have options, and you get to make the choice of what is best for you and baby.
Listen in as Katie answers questions like. . .
-What is a doula?
-How are they an important part of the birth team?
-Is a doula only for natural, homebirths?
Brettnay and Katie transition into talking about the beauty that is found in birth. The experiences Katie has had from being at over 80 births has given her a deep appreciation for a woman's body, the birth process, and God as Creator. Whether your best birth looks just like Brettnay and Katie's, or something completely different, God desires to reveal Himself to you in a deeper way as you lean on His strength and as you mirror the character of the Life-Giver.
Resources:
Open Heart Doula
NHC Blog: Our Home Birth Experience
NHC Blog: Ivy Jade's Birth Story
Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org
Brettnay has been studying the life of Elisabeth Elliot. Elisabeth and her husband, Jim, had big dreams of how God was going to use them on the mission field. All of those plans drastically changed when Jim was speared to death by the very people that he desired to share Christ with. Elisabeth was overwhelmed as she worked through those days following her husband's death. The only way she was able to cope was by doing the next thing. Following Christ and obeying Him in the responsibility of that next thing led her from that thing to the next. This lesson led her to thousands of "next things" she accomplished for Christ.
We all face seasons of uncertainty and overwhelm. Brettnay shares how God is using this lesson of doing the next thing in her life.
Resources:
Suffering Is Never for Nothing by Elisabeth Elliot
Becoming Elisabeth Elliot by Ellen Vaughn
Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org
The Holy Spirit led Brettnay and Simeon to share their personal journey with the birth control pill, the lies they believed regarding it, and the truth that God brought them to. They have a strong desire to help families and glorify Christ, even in the area of fertility and intimacy. Culture has led us to believe lies that are in direct opposition to God's Word. We must stand for truth, no matter how difficult or inconvenient. Every life is precious, and every life deserves to be fought for! Why? Because every life is created in the image of God! As Brettnay and Simeon have sought God's Word, medical advice, and researched this issue for themselves, they have come to believe that the birth control pill is an abortive form of contraception. This episode shares how they came to that belief and where God led them from there.
Resources: The Fierce Marriage Podcast: Abortion, Birth Control, IVF, and Babies (Adam and Chelsea Griffin)
Is Abortion the Killing of the Unborn by Clarence Sexton
For more information on the negative affects hormonal birth control has on the body, read Period Repair Manual by Lara Briden
Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org
Hospitality should not be a daunting task. It is something God has called believers to. Whatever God asks of us, He always equips us to do. So, why do we feel like showing hospitality is so difficult? It is because we have gotten our eyes off of Christ's intentions for hospitality and onto the world's version. When you look to the world's standard, all of the sudden your house is too small, not chic enough, food not fancy enough, conversations not impressive enough.
Marcie Fowler joins Brettnay in this episode as they debunk myths as to why many women think that hospitality is unattainable. Marcie's mission is to help women in this area and to provide advice to help simplify hosting while keeping your focus God's focus.
Resources: https://www.marciefowler.com/
Follow Marcie on Instagram @marcie.carol.fowler
Marcie's Freebie: 5 Easy Crowd Pleasing Meals
*Be watching for Marcie's Hospitality Course coming in September!
Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org
Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
Our idea of all things working together for good often means we cling to this verse as a promise of happiness and ease for our lives as Christians. That is not the truth God was conveying in this verse. Circumstances and trials come into our lives that do not feel as though they are intended for our good. Sometimes, it feels that those difficulties will the be thing that drown us in sorrow, confusion, anxiety and doubt. The promise we find in this verse is that God will orchestrate every single detail of our lives not only for His glory, but also for our good- our eternal good.
Brettnay shares several dark valleys God has chosen for her family to face. Sudden death, mental illness, abandonment, and miscarriage are just a few of the chapters God's written into Brettnay's story. As she shares her journey, you will hear that though there were days where the sorrow threatened to capsize her faith, God was ever faithful. Watching God work miracles in her life has provided her with anchors of faith as she can look back and see God's guiding hand in every twist and turn. Whatever trial you are looking to, lean on Christ. His ways might not always feel like they're for our good, but friend, they are. The good He desires to work in our lives is a transformation that makes us more like our Saviour.
Resources: A Letter In Your Loss by Kristen Kelley
Blog: A Poem Remembering Our Baby
Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org
Infuse: to cause to be permeated with something that alters usually for the better
Is every area of your life infused with Christ? Does He permeate into your schedule, your marriage, your motherhood, etc? Friend, He should! So often we clench our fists, not allowing God to have control of everything. We think we know better. This episode is a challenge to let go and let God. Allow Him to permeate every area of your life. Discover the unity and oneness found only in Him, and relinquish all control into His mighty hands. He can do better with our lives than we could ever do for ourselves!
Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org
Gather Round Homeschool has been the curriculum Brettnay and Simeon chose to use for Eden's K5 school year, and they are all in love with it! Not only has this curriculum provided Eden with a wonderful foundation of learning, but also it has helped guide their family as they've solidified even more what they believe God intends for their home school journey. In John 10:10 Jesus says, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." Christ has gifted us with life abundant. Gather Round has helped Simeon and Brettnay achieve God's abundant blessings on their homeschool year with Eden.
This curriculum is not just centered around God. God is infused into every aspect of learning. Join Brettnay on this episode as she shares about how Gather Round works and how it has worked for their family this year.
Resources:
Gather Round Homeschool
Video: What is Gather Round Homeschool By Rebecca Spooner
Video: How Do I Know It's Enough? by Rebecca Spooner
Spell to Write and Read
Masterbooks
*In the month of July, we're celebrating 6 months of the No Higher Calling podcast!! You'll find details about a fun giveaway and how to enter on this episode.
Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org
Choosing to home educate your child is a big decision. Once you make the choice and become a "homeschool family," now what? There are hundreds of curriculum choices out there, and it can quickly give you the feelings of overwhelm and frustration. I've been there. I had to realize that choosing the "perfect" curriculum wasn't going to make or break our homeschool experience. Curriculum is a wonderful and important tool, but it is just that, a tool.
In this episode I outline steps to help you choose the homeschool curriculum that you believe God has for your family to use as a tool in your child's education. Start with writing out an educational philosophy and educational goals and then narrow it down to what homeschooling method best aligns with your core values. Doing these things will guide you to choosing from hundreds of options to a handful. The most important thing you can do in making this choice is to pray! He wants your children to receive a wholesome education even more than you could. Why? Because He has a specific plan and purpose for their lives, and He wants them to be adequately prepared to follow Him wherever He may lead.
Resources: Homeschooling Methods by Paul & Gena Suarez
*In the month of July, we're celebrating 6 months of the No Higher Calling podcast!! You'll find details about a fun giveaway and how to enter on this episode.
Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org
God has led Simeon and Brettnay to be a home school family. Home education is so much more than just school; it is a way of life. In this episode, they outline the main reasons why they have chosen this path for their family. Whatever education model God leads your family to, the child's education is always the parent's responsibility. We must be engaged and purposeful in this area.
Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org
Proverbs 31:12 "She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life."
What does it mean to do our husband good all the days of our life? Does all really mean all- before marriage and after? Brettnay brings out truths from this verse as she answers these questions. She addresses three specific areas in which a woman can do her husband good all the days of her life- in prayer, in presentation, and in purity. A Christian woman is called to be different from cultural norms, and that will be evident in the life of a woman who is seeking to do her husband good. The motivation for doing this isn't even to please our husbands, but to obey Christ and be continually conforming more into His image. This is an encouraging episode for all women, whether or not you are a wife and/or mother yet.
*In the month of July, we're celebrating 6 months of the No Higher Calling podcast!! You'll find details about a fun giveaway and how to enter on this episode.
Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org
Brettnay shares an update on her reading challenge for 2021 which is to read 40 books this year. She finished the month of June reading book #26! In this episode, she shares about the thirteen books she's read this quarter. All of them are non-fiction and cover topics such as hospitality, homemaking, Biblical meditation, parenting, childbirth and many other engaging topics. Listen to her reviews on this episode, and follow the link below to find more information on these books along with links to each book on Amazon.
Resources: Quarter 2 Book List
*In the month of July, we're celebrating 6 months of the No Higher Calling podcast!! You'll find details about a fun giveaway and how to enter on this episode.
Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org
Spiritual warfare is all around us. The world, the flesh, and the devil are fighting to win the hearts of our children. Simeon joins Brettnay in this episode as they discuss the stewardship of our children and the importance of being a gatekeeper, protecting and preparing our children for the fight to come. While our children are young and in our homes, we must be intentional to pour Truth into their hearts. One day, sooner that we think, they will step out of our safe nest, and will be required to stand strong as soldiers for Christ or become a casualty of war. Be challenged to be a faithful steward and a purpose-driven parent as we seek to raise a generation who will be victorious in Christ!
Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org
Proverbs 31:26-28 "She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her."
When we think of the word hospitality serving others outside the walls of our home is often the first thing to come to mind. While this is such an important aspect of hospitality, we must not neglect demonstrating a servant's heart towards those closest to us- our husbands and children. The Proverbs 31 woman's children bless her and her husband praises her. Why? I believe it is because she "looketh well to the ways of her household." Do we look well to the ways of our household? Brettnay discusses personal examples of ways she's failed at this, and ideas as to how we can better serve and sacrifice of ourselves for our husband and children.
Resources:
A Life That Says Welcome by Karen Ehman
Missional Motherhood by Gloria Furman
The Ministry of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson
Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org
Brettnay's youngest just celebrated her first birthday. That's had Brettnay reminiscing over her little's birth stories. Each birth experience has been a journey of growth, learning, and embracing God's magnificent design for a woman's body through the process of pregnancy and birth. Eden, Knox and Ivy all have a very different story, but all are precious because, in the end, they brought forth the most precious gifts God has bestowed to Simeon and Brettnay.
An excerpt from Brettnay's blog~ "Birth is beautiful. Bringing a new life into this world is beautiful and miraculous. I praise the Lord for giving me the immense privilege of doing it three times. Everything that God creates is good, even the things that bring us momentary pain. A lesson I’m learning on the journey of life is that it’s often from pain that the most beautiful blessings are brought forth."
Resources:
~Eden Brielle's Birth Story
~Knox Clayton's Birth Story
~Ivy Jade's Birth Story
~Our Home Birth Experience
Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org
Melissa Hildebrand joins Brettnay to discuss the role that discipline plays in discipling our children. What is the purpose of discipline? It is so much deeper than correcting bad behavior. Disciplines purpose is to disciple our children into spiritual maturity. Melissa walks the listener through many Scripture passages as she explains God's purpose in using the law and grace to bring us, and our children, into closer fellowship with Him. As parents, it is our goal to transfer our children's obedience from us to God as soon as possible. Melissa shares some great truths from the Bible on how God has designed that we accomplish that goal in the hearts of our children.
Resource: The Heart of Anger by Lou Priolo
Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org
In Romans 12:13, we see that God has commanded believers to be given to hospitality. What is true Biblical hospitality? Is it having a spotless house, trendy décor, and a gourmet meal? Hospitality is opening our hearts and homes to others with the goal of pointing them to Christ and refreshing their souls through the means of meeting their physical and spiritual needs.
These are some topics Brettnay addresses in this episode. . .
-
The heart of hospitality
-
Keeping your motives focused on Christ
-
The difference between hosting and entertaining
-
Preparing your home to be a blessing
-
Hospitality and the Gospel
Resources: A Life That Says Welcome by Karen Ehman & The Lifegiving Table by Sally Clarkson
Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org
Brettnay shares more details of her motherhood journey that led to the start of this podcast. Though she felt unqualified, she knew God had placed this burden in her heart. So, she asked the Lord to qualify her. Motherhood is a journey of continually learning, growing, asking forgiveness and conforming more into the image of Christ. It is on His authority that Brettnay has something to share. It's her prayer that God will continue to fill her heart and home with Truth, and that it will spill over into the hearts and homes of her listeners.
Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org
Brettnay shares a devotional thought about how God has been working in her heart. As she sees the emptiness of what the world has to offer, her heart is even more desirous to strive for nothing but the Truth. She shares about what that looks like in her life personally, and how it affects her relationship with her husband and children. May we all be challenged to pursue Jesus Christ- the way, the TRUTH, and the life!
Resource: Teaching From Rest by Sarah Mackenzie
Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org
Sunday morning is a fresh start to a new week, and the day we set apart to gather and worship our Lord. But whatever season of motherhood you find yourself in, for most of us, Sunday morning is a time of hurry, chaos and snappy attitudes. That is not the pattern I want to set for the Lord's day. In this episode, Brettnay shares some practical ways that she prepares her heart and home for Sunday. Preparing ahead for the Lord's day will enable each member of the family to give their hearts in worship and receive all that God has for them.
Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org
Brettnay is joined by a dear friend, Kelsey Jones. Kelsey shares how God has encouraged her as a young mom raising children in a wicked world. She says that her and her husband's "goal hasn't changed, but the intensity has." Kelsey and her husband have become "laser focused on pouring truth in their (their childrens) lives and hiding God's Word in their hearts." Kelsey and Brettnay share testimonies of how God has worked in their hearts, reminding them that their children are His, and He is in control.
Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org
Brettnay and Simeon continue their discussion on the Christian home. In this episode, they outline the last 5 key elements that they desire to have rooted in their home to raise children who will live their lives glorifying Christ. This list will look different from home to home, but as they have studied the Bible and sought God's heart for the home, He has led them to these truths for their family.
In this episode, they continue the discussion adding these truths:
-
Hard Work Ethic
-
Hospitality
-
Critical Thinkers
-
Love for Learning
-
A Passion for Books
Resource: Will They Stand by Ken Ham
Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org
Brettnay and Simeon continue their discussion on the Christian home. In this episode, they outline key elements that they desire to have rooted in their home to raise children who will live their lives glorifying Christ. This list will look different from home to home, but as they have studied the Bible and sought God's heart for the home, He has led them to these truths for their family.
In this episode, they discuss instilling these truths in your kid's hearts:
-
Fear of God
-
Disciple of Christ
-
An Evangelistic Worldview
-
Integrity
Resource: Will They Stand by Ken Ham
Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org
Brettnay is joined by her husband, Simeon, as they discuss their vision for their home. Together, they have sought wisdom from the Lord and searched through His Word to find what God wants for a Christian home. They discuss God as the creator of the home, His purpose for the home, the war Satan is waging against the home and building a home that glorifies Christ. This is the first in a three part series. The next two episodes will outline key elements they are striving to implement in their home, but this episode lays the foundation for the conversations to come.
Show Notes
Resource: Will They Stand by Ken Ham
Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org
There are many things Brettnay is passionate about, and books are high on the list! Brettnay has challenged herself to read 40 books this year. The first quarter of 2021 is wrapping up, and she shares an update on her reading goal as well as the books she's read so far. You will also hear tips on how to find time to read as a busy, tired mom. Whether you are an avid book lover, or you rarely pick up a book, there is something for you in this episode. Every listener will be challenged to see the importance of reading and take steps to make reading a part of their daily life.
Show Notes
Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org
Brettnay's dear friend, Katie Davidson, joins her for this episode as they discuss the importance of guiding our children to Christ the Shepherd. Through different circumstances and challenges, God brought Katie to the end of herself and her own ability. Praise God He didn't leave her there! God is always so faithful to meet us where we are and draw us closer to Him. God used Psalm 23 to open Katie's eyes to a way that she could connect with the hearts of her children and guide them to the good Shepherd.
Most days are busy days. There are practical things we can implement to make sure that, in the midst of busy days, we are connecting with our kids. On today's episode, Brettnay shares about how she incorporates a Morning Basket into her daily routine with her children. No matter what age your children are, you can tailor this to be an element of your schedule that you and your children come to love.
Show Notes
Follow her motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org
It was almost four years ago that Brettnay walked through a very dark trial. God used that heartache to drive her to the foot of the cross. What had for years been head knowledge became heart knowledge. In the midst of brokenness and raw grief, God gave her and her family precious gifts that they'd cling to in those challenging days and for years to come.
Show Notes
Follow Brettnay's motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org
On today's episode, Brettnay encourages you to join in with her as she praises and worships the Lord. Jesus Christ is holy, and He is worthy of all worship. Good times and bad, His praise should continually be on our lips. She also shares ways to create an atmosphere of worship in your home.
Follow her motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org
Brettnay shares about her personal and her family's quest for wisdom in this episode. Different circumstances brought her to the stark reality that she desperately needed wisdom from the Lord. As she mined through the pages of Scripture, God led her to find precious jewels of truth to guide her steps.
Show Notes- My Quest for Wisdom
Follow her motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org
Brettnay discusses one of her favorite ways to pray for her children- praying for them from head to toe. Our children need us to be prayer warriors for them!
Read the show notes on her blog https://nohighercalling.org/2020/10/31/praying-for-your-kids-from-head-to-toe/
Follow her motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org
Brettnay and Simeon discuss the importance of connecting with your spouse- physically, emotionally and spiritually. They share ways that they stay connected during busy seasons of life. They also share some of their favorite date ideas.
Resources:
NHC Blog: Our Favorite Date Night Games
Follow my journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org
It is not mistake that we are a moms in 2021. It is no mistake that our children are growing up during these uncertain times. God, in His infinite wisdom, planned from the beginning of time that we would be raising our children in the midst of this crazy world. Brettnay shares truths from God's Word on how you can face an uncertain future with courage and purpose.
Deuteronomy 33:25 says ". . .and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.” God promises us that He will give us the strength we need to fulfill His purpose for our lives day by day. No matter what level of strength the days ahead will require, you can know that God promises that as our days, so our strength. You can face the future with confidence, hope and peace resting in this promise. Brettnay shares how the Lord has given her peace as she's meditated on this truth.
Follow her motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org
Simeon and Brettnay introduce their children, Eden, Knox and Ivy. They also discuss how God has called them to be church planting missionaries in Australia.
Follow her motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org
Brettnay and Simeon continue telling their love story. This episode covers their engagement, wedding, and surprise honeymoon. Each part has unique elements as they reminisce about the path God has led them on.
Follow her motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org
Brettnay and her husband, Simeon, chat about how they met and fell in love. They also discuss ideas about how to honor God in a dating relationship. Follow her motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org
In this episode, Brettnay introduces herself, her family and the ministry of No Higher Calling. She is passionate about her relationship with Christ and homemaking. Follow her motherhood journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow her at www.instgram.com/nohighercalling_ and www.nohighercalling.org