Feels and Flowers

You rarely see people contort themselves pretzel-like as they do when they try to make scripture--and God--more palatable to modern-day sensitivities as when they talk about Sodom and Gomorrah. Trust me--I’ve listened to a bunch of podcasts and sermons on this subject from both sides of the spectrum. The truth is, this is not a pretty story. But we can’t skip it, either. So let's talk about this, let’s talk about that time when God rained fire down on the wicked cities of Sodom and...

So many times, we fall back on the belief that we are only human made of dust and ashes and what CAN we do, what positive change, what impact can mere mortals do in the face of overwhelming odds and huge challenges. And when someone is hurting we say we will pray for them. But REALLY? Is that the best we can do? In this episode we talk about that time when Abraham interceded for the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. In this passage, wouldn’t it have been the human thing to do to leave...

The end of year is always a good time to pause and reflect on what growth we achieved and what goals we met in the year and how we are going to do better and in the future. But hey, we just survived 2020, I think you should be proud of yourself. Being alive trumps any other accomplishment. Really. Without meaning to, this episode somehow circles back to the very first episode that I ever published back in January of this year, and I'm a little proud of that. So... in this episode we talk...

Sometimes in the Bible you get these stories of supposedly good and holy people handpicked by God who just make the worst decisions. There was this elderly couple, you see, and one day they decided to explore surrogacy with a dash of sexual exploitation to see if that was the answer to their problems. The story is quite problematic, especially when seen through the modern lens. But we learn a bit about God, and get another glimpse of his loving character in how he dealt with what was at...

Gather round kids for embarrassing stories of Paula's youth. We're getting personal as we talk about loooooove. Or lack of love, and what happens when you chase it away with a broom. It's going to be a wild ride, as this episode was written in the middle of the night after waking up from strange and unsettling dreams. But that stuff is unimportant. What IS important is our journey through Genesis. This week we talk about Sarai, Abram's wife and how she dealt with her own black moment. Turns...

Hello! Welcome to Feels and Flowers. Your host is preparing for the crazy that is coming up in November. Yes, one of the most important elections of our generation is coming up, as well as Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and (important to me) NaNoWriMo 2020. But aside from all the nonsense I share about the many novels I have written during National Novel Writing Month, I am finishing out Genesis 15 where Abram and God make a pact, or rather, God makes an oath that he will give Abram the...

Back from summer break! We delve right back into Abram's story. He is back from defeating the king of Elam and all his allies. He rescued the captives and returned them home without seeking so much as a reward for it. Now he's home and the eyes of his neighbors were on him while Abram continued being solid as a rock. Unshakable in his beliefs, unafraid of the future, unwavering in his faith. Or...was he? If you feel a bit burnt out this is actually an episode for you. There is a message...

Should Christians support the Black Lives Matter movement? I had thought it was a no-brainer. What could be more obvious for us as Christians to do but to support something that affirms the dignity and worth and value of humans? Surely churches would jump to make a statement of some kind in support of the cause. Apparently I was wrong. Many churches were reticent, and after reading more I learned why: because there is much more behind the BLM movement than I was aware of. Here are my...

Hello! Welcome to Feels and Flowers, where your host finally has finally come to grips with reality (it only took a little under a month) and decides to move forward. You should too. After all, the world is on the brink of change--let's make sure the change is a positive one! This week we are talking about one thing that keeps a lot of us back: Nostalgia. A longing for the good ol' days to return in any capacity (Seems an innocent enough wish, right? WRONG!!!). To do so we delve into...

Hi! Welcome to Feels and Flowers where I, your host, talk about plants and essential oils, celebrate beauty in all its forms, and share a Christian gospel based entirely on love: Love God, love yourself, love others. Full stop. This week's podcast is based on Genesis 12 and 20: two nearly identical narratives about that time when Abram/Abraham took matters into his own hands and lied about his relationship status. What happens when in the midst of your calling you encounter a trial which...

Hello! Welcome to Feels and Flowers! This week we are talking about putting faith into action. In this instance, it is in following the call of God to go wherever He leads you. To do so we delve into Genesis 12 when God calls Abraham (then known as Abram) to leave his land, his people, and his family to go to a new place that God would give him. The flower of the week is Frankincense, which isn't a flower, or a plant, or a fruit rind, but an aromatic resin rich in history. Learn about it,...

Hello! Welcome to Feels and Flowers, where your host finally has had enough and decides to come clean about something she's been trying hide for a while. Clickbait? Of course not! She'd never! We are done at last with Noah! Or... are we...? We'll see. This week we are talking about Faith. To do so we delve into Genesis 11, the construction of the Tower of Babel and what it represented. You host gets the chance to dust off her civil engineering undergraduate education and drones on and on...

Welcome to Feels and Flowers, a podcast where your host gets really enthusiastic about plants, their history, and their benefits and spends way too much talking about olives. Is she obsessed? Probably, but you will too when you learn about the wonderful properties of olive oil. This week's podcast is based on Genesis 8. Yes, we are still hanging out with Noah. It seems like we've been hanging out with him for months and months, but it's only been a few weeks. During quarantine, time seems...

Welcome to Feels and Flowers! We're switching it up a bit this week and interrupting our study of Genesis to talk about Essential Oils. This week I am joined by the wonderful Liz who happens to 1: Be AWESOME, 2: Be my sister, and 3: Be stuck with me during quarantine. HA! After a rough start (hear the outtakes in the end) I'll share with you some very important things about Essential Oils, how they must be used safely, what oils you need to start your essential oil journey, and much...

Ladies and Gentlemen we are in the midst of the Corona Virus (COVID-19) pandemic. And we are being told to stay indoors to flatten the curve. And people left and right are panicking because of the quarantine and the lack of testing kits, and shortage of medical supplies, and things look really bleak, and.... and... Well, your host finds it all a bit overwhelming and a tiny bit scary, but rest assured, she presents to you a positive perspective on this... because even THIS insanity will end....

Welcome all! Feels and Flowers is back after two weeks of silence! This week your host steals quotes from the internet and talks about dreams and your purpose in life. She also talks about myths that keep us from getting anything done, and a very important thing you need to do with a hammer. She expounds on how it is so easy to deliver a message of mediocrity in this day and age, and speaks with great candor against following supposed "omens" and "signs" from God. Do you lack a definite...

Content Warning for this episode: Violent death, Cancer. Welcome to Feels and Flowers, episode 7. A podcast where it is perfectly okay to lose one's sh*t while recording and where your host will weep halfway through. Sorry, this episode got a little too emotional. This week we continue our snail's pace journey through the book of Genesis. Chapter 6 deals with the wickedness of the world before the great flood, and God's decision to wipe out every creature on it. Ooof. How can one deal with...

Welcome to Feels and Flowers, episode 6. This week we continue our journey through the book of Genesis. Chapter 5 is just a long genealogy, but within the list of Adam's descendants is a short mention of a man who walked with God. Enoch. This week's flower is Lavender. Learn all about its history and uses. Find semi-accurate show transcripts and extras at https://feelsandflowers.com/ Send me flowers! Your comments and emails will make my day. Email me at feelsandflowers@gmail.com and follow...

Welcome to Feels and Flowers, a Christian podcast where your host sometimes has to wing it. No notes, just me talking [please don't go away]. This week: listener mail!! Shoutout to Hazel A.! Also, two types of brains, unacceptable produce, and why God probably disapproves of all our pious churchgoing. This week’s podcast is based on Genesis 4—Cain and Abel. This is my take on it and what it tells us about God's heart. The flower of the week is actually a fruit pit: Apricot Kernel Oil! Learn...

Welcome to Feels and Flowers, a Christian podcast where your host indulges in a bit of nostalgia and pulls out lessons about God wherever she can. This week I tell you about ridiculously cute nicknames, disobedient children, misadventures when learning to drive, and...fathers. And of course I also expound at great length about flowers. This week it is a small flower called bearberry, though I knew of it as pingüica when I was growing up.. This week’s podcast is based on Genesis 3—the fall....