Grace Filled Chatter

If you've ever felt disappointed in the very people you're supposed to be working with... your spiritual family, then we've got your back! Burn out and frustration happens to every single one of us, and the trick is actually a lot of work and asking God for help, lol. There's no quick fix, but we do have a conversation full of grace, how to get through burn out, how to work well with other Christians and our prayer for you. Links to things we discussed: Ark in the Darkness Movie: https://answersingenesis.org/blogs/ken-ham/2024/03/08/new-noahs-ark-and-flood-movie/ Case for Christ Movie: https://www.amazon.com/Case-Christ-Mike-Vogel/dp/B074N96F1J Case for Christ Book: https://www.amazon.com/Case-Christ-Journalists-Personal-Investigation/dp/0310345863/ref=sr_1_1?crid=JG5UWB1S3UKN&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.le60kBGD7sfUzFt31dob4faT9Oznsvbd8GTVQ2rYjL1M9Y_0pkh0apRQM68hhRYdFkqWS8GW3zTFxkNeDk5g4kdvIWtl8Mua7MIj7TDgNFAZkqW6yqEqp5oAwflI3HbtRdRQinzC2oKrEQcHbrZFSes4z3w521LzXT_xy2U9LHiduzWrYPx0IxTaItrmZ3MV8SCyOpCQ3LPyOwIssFAfUqcptVp6Rp9qE-rG5M3aemc.zW-ncu7xwKoPYMnrXj-yaWFK6InUpn2g3CNGEAuYxEA&dib_tag=se&keywords=case+for+christ&qid=1712933113&sprefix=case+for+christ%2Caps%2C94&sr=8-1

What is goodness? How do we show goodness? What do we do with our longing for goodness in our lives when our world is anything but "good"? Let's dive in to a conversation about all these questions and more! God's goodness is meant to be understood and reflected through our lives. So let's chat about goodness and how it should affect you and me! Links: New Testament in a Year study that Allison is doing (Quote from Joni Ericson Tada) https://store.freshlife.church/products/pre-order-fit-for-the-fight-the-new-testament-in-a-year https://www.amazon.com/Upon-Waking-Reflections-Discover-Ourselves/dp/1087783712/ref=sr_1_1?crid=322V6VODL2HMD&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.DZ9GjlaLnG9JHVet_Nx7B5dbp4SFLCeuRIoWItrwOpxL_ma0CE92gL3-jBXCZZHTh7kox7RYZUFfoOpAunE5C7BP8YohCfH98btujVFsLfdhpKGFE7iAehmp82YYGvLptrP6dkr7us387ffVF9nBdxx3l5VfoubPD1WIo5AavIsIwLfLAM8ReX6WXIzVtjUDXL04p-dX-VhJ3bMQ7TJbxO-skfD52EBrSnu1hw3fOfY.ewuJbYsTtcZAuSeRsnbsI5DJ26cR016V77LDZAdkIuw&dib_tag=se&keywords=upon+waking+jackie+hill&qid=1710514052&sprefix=upon%2Caps%2C87&sr=8-1

When you have questions about talking to God, why He seems so distant, why He's silent, why He won't just give you a sign... that just means you're human! We understand these questions and have so much love to pour into your heart in this episode. God is faithful when we aren't, He's always a good friend and a good listener, and we have stories to prove it. Join us, friend, and let's seek God together. Resources:

Today we're answering common questions about prayer, some that we've asked before and others that we've heard people ask in and outside church culture. We hope this encourages you to take all your curiosity, your frustrations and your hurt to God and be completely genuine with Him! We also talked about a lot of resources in today's episode, so all your links are below! Jackie Hill Perry's Newest Devotional: https://www.amazon.com/Upon-Waking-Reflections-Discover-Ourselves/dp/1087783712/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3T2Z12HZ3M9O0&keywords=upon+waking&qid=1706214430&sprefix=upon+waking%2Caps%2C85&sr=8-1 Michele Cushatt's story: https://www.amazon.com/Relentless-Unshakeable-Presence-Never-Leaves/dp/0310352991/ref=sr_1_3?crid=24DVR9A92AS8Y&keywords=michelle+cushatt+books&qid=1706214409&sprefix=Michelle+cu%2Caps%2C95&sr=8-3 Is God Real? by Lee Strobel https://www.amazon.com/God-Real-Exploring-Ultimate-Question/dp/0310367875/ref=sr_1_1?crid=HJ0AHM0ZWM7T&keywords=is+God+real%3F&qid=1706214701&sprefix=is+god+real+%2Caps%2C91&sr=8-1 The Prayer App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lectio-365/id1483974820 THAT episode in the Chosen series: https://watch.thechosen.tv/video/184683594325

Can we really be renewed? What does it take? Lists of resolutions, hard work, focus, determination or is it actually the opposite of anything we'd think is logical? Join us for a chat on how we can really create change in our life, what are healthy/unhealthy motivators and how we can go into this year, ready to see God work!

Join us for a holiday episode featuring a Christmas trivia quiz, explaining the way a woman's brain works, conversation about seasonal stress and overwhelm and how to focus!

If you've ever felt tired of nothing feeling like enough, or no matter how hard you try to be grateful, you're still discontent, we understand! Anne Voskamp's book 1,000 gifts inspired this conversation and we pray that her words along with our thoughts encourage you to start sowing a life of gratitude, so in time your heart is completely transformed. Let's be women, wives, moms and grandmoms who exude gratitude, contentment and thanksgiving because we know we have a good God! Book link: https://www.amazon.com/One-Thousand-Gifts-10th-Anniversary/dp/0785253653/ref=sr_1_4?crid=JNP0SZI5XTHK&keywords=1%2C000+gifts&qid=1699625870&sprefix=1%2C000+gifts%2Caps%2C98&sr=8-4

You exhausted, burdened, burnt out, tired and wondering where God is in the middle of your life? Yes that feeling, let's chat about it! We think there is more for us, more joy to discover, more of God's plan for us to unpack. Books discussed in this episode: When Strivings Cease: https://www.amazon.com/When-Strivings-Cease-Self-Improvement-Life-Transforming/dp/B0911WTFCJ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=33X74XQLX8OYN&keywords=when+strivings+cease+ruth+chou+simons&qid=1698356249&sprefix=when+strivings+%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-1 Freely and Lighly: https://www.amazon.com/Freely-Lightly-Gracious-Invitation-Confidence/dp/0736980377/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1698356277&sr=1-1

We don't know it all!!! But our hearts go out to all the wives out there feeling discouraged or in a dry season of marriage. So, in our limited time as wives, here's some things we've seen God using already in our marriages! Verses to pray over your husband: Paul’s prayer for the Philippians: I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. A prophecy given to Zachariah about Jerusalem’s coming struggles: “Then I, myself, will be a protective wall of fire around Jerusalem, says the Lord. And I will be the glory inside the city!’” - Zachariah 2:5 Pray the armor of God over your spouse! https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Miss-Out-Daring-Believe/dp/0764238221/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2SLJEVNRTQ1EE&keywords=don%27t+miss+out&qid=1696004182&sprefix=dont+miss+out%2Caps%2C124&sr=8-1

Why does our best worship moments seem spread far apart and distant when we feel the most in need of a good worship session? What if it has more to do with our sin and understanding of justification than we think??

Experiencing burn out brought us to the realization that work can't be all that our culture weighs it to be! Maybe there's another way to work, another purpose to our days and our time. Let's chat about it!

As Savannah so very well put it in this episode, discouragement leaves us feeling like we're stuck in sinking sand that seems hopeless to escape! But what if our enemy wants that? What if they've led us to believe lies that make us feel stuck and God has the truth to set us free?! Let's chat about that! Sermon series at Fresh Life Church: https://youtu.be/N-IPiIPAK8M Return of the gods: https://www.amazon.com/The-Return-of-the-Gods/dp/B0BBNDBCJ3/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3OGS4PEKNAXM7&keywords=return+of+the+gods+jonathan+cahn&qid=1690983685&sprefix=return+of+the+%2Caps%2C105&sr=8-1

Ever get in on of those ruts when your life seems lackluster and your hope feels grim? As we've been journaling this summer and trying to note things we're grateful for, it's changed our feeling of joy and hope in daily life! Our circumstances didn't change, but our attitude about them did just because we took notice in our conversations with God, of the things He's blessed us with. If you've never tried a gratitude journal or even just a gratitude conversation with God on your drive to work, this episode is all about why we think you should try it! You never know how a small change could greatly impact your life until you try.

Our theme in this conversation is how to become brave, what bravery means and how God wants us to make brave moves! But we also talk about waiting until marriage, the power of sin, our inner voice, training our thoughts, and our personal struggles. A long and rich episode, we pray that this blesses you to see your little moments of bravery throughout the day as a bigger deal than you probably do. But we also want to encourage you that God is bigger than we tend to think and we are actually much less important than we tend to live. Books: https://www.amazon.com/Knowing-God-J-I-Packer-audiobook/dp/B004QIWIUC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1SCCLNC580VEM&keywords=knowing+god&qid=1688138062&sprefix=knowing+go%2Caps%2C103&sr=8-1

If the joy of the Lord is our strength, how do we really get that strength, enough to live through all of life's most difficult days? Where does true, lasting joy come from and how do we feel it? Let's chat about that! Books mentioned this episode: J.I. Packer "Knowing God" https://www.amazon.com/Knowing-God-J-I-Packer/dp/0830816518/ref=sxin_11_pa_sp_search_thematic_sspa?content-id=amzn1.sym.021cacdc-698c-497f-aed0-8965849c4c44%3Aamzn1.sym.021cacdc-698c-497f-aed0-8965849c4c44&crid=3J2TDA8D5B4LH&cv_ct_cx=knowing+God&keywords=knowing+God&pd_rd_i=0830816518&pd_rd_r=04d25c60-24b2-4aa1-b4d1-406b53c4aa0e&pd_rd_w=lu9N8&pd_rd_wg=HZn8H&pf_rd_p=021cacdc-698c-497f-aed0-8965849c4c44&pf_rd_r=YX20R9N9AEXTZ6NFMN2J&qid=1685984162&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=knowing+god%2Caps%2C105&sr=1-1-6caf8c80-d701-4184-90ff-f670949d61c2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzVVA5WVA4TkdIRU5NJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMjY4NjQzMVVOQkxQV0c0OTgzUCZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMTg0NzEzMzNDSDRGS0ZXSlVaUSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX3NlYXJjaF90aGVtYXRpYyZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU= Eugene Peterson "A Long Walk in the Same Direction" https://www.amazon.com/Long-Obedience-Same-Direction-Discipleship/dp/B001P93GME/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1O1QFFCTOWXIE&keywords=a+long+walk+in+the+same+direction&qid=1685984186&s=books&sprefix=a+long+walk+in+the+same+direction%2Cstripbooks%2C86&sr=1-1 Nehemiah 8:8,9 Daniel Job

Going off some great advice from Lysa Terkeurst's book, Uninvited, we're talking about rejection. The pain in the aftermath of a rejection, our experience when we handled it well and when we let it break us, and how God's love for us can heal any hurt. Come chat with us about moving through rejections into a future that God has for each of us! Books mentioned: Uninvited https://www.amazon.com/Uninvited-Living-Loved-When-Lonely/dp/1400205875/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2GDTZDR4UAJ8E&keywords=uninvited+lysa+terkeurst+book&qid=1684421243&sprefix=uninvit%2Caps%2C95&sr=8-1 Boundaries https://www.amazon.com/Boundaries-Updated-Expanded-When-Control/dp/0310350239/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1684421263&sr=8-1 A Long Obedience in the Same Direction https://www.amazon.com/Long-Obedience-Same-Direction-Discipleship/dp/0830822771/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1684421278&sr=8-1

Do you ever feel like you're the last to get a dating relationship, the last to get engaged, the last to buy a nice house, the last to have a baby, the last to get a job you love....? On and on the list can go and oh the pity parties we can throw for ourselves! We've ben there, some days we're still there! So, let us love on you in this frustrating season, tell you of stories when we felt hopelessly last and how God redeemed that time in the dark and lonely places. 4 ways to address disappointment, frustration with your current season of life or jealousy of someone else's season in life: 1. If you find yourself unhappy because you’re coveting something of someone else’s life: Pray for them! In trying to think of things that they might need prayer for, you’ll realize that they are human too 2. If you’re feeling frustrated because you’ve been seeking God and being obedient to His direction and you’re not where you hoped you’d be… hang in there! This season can be so hard, but I encourage you to take a few mins to look at what IS in your hands, thank God for those things and focus on what you have right now in today! Ask yourself, how can I invest in what I do have, what is in my hands right now? For the sake of your closest relationships, if you’re having a hard time celebrating with someone close to you because they got something you long for, pray! Celebration is something that the church is called to! We are to meet each other with celebration, sharing the joy of Christ, basking in His goodness, and we can’t do that if we let bitterness take over our hearts. Sometimes it isn’t that God isn’t bringing something to us that we’d like but rather that people don’t invited us and we feel unwanted by people. Remember that you always have an open invitation from God, He always wants your company, wants to be part of your life and wants to engage with you! Loneliness and hurt from people can so easily distract us from God's love, but fight to not let it take over your heart! “You’ll only build as high as you dig deep. We live in a culture obsessed with the seen. But its the unseen that’s powerful - the unseen makes landmark buildings strong; the unseen stabilizes redwood forests; the unseen keeps a structure’s integrity intact. A strong foundation is vital for a structure’s ability to stand the test of time. Your walk with God is no different. Digging deep is the secret to unshakable faith.” - John Bevere (cofounder of the message bible) https://www.amazon.com/Uninvited-Living-Loved-When-Lonely/dp/1400205875?ref_=ast_sto_dp

How does God being unchanging effect our lives? Let's dive deep into His Word and talk about it! Scriptures in today's episode: Rev. 22:13 James 1:17 Malachi 3:6 Hebrews 13:8 Jeremiah 10:10 Psalm 102:26-27 Exodus 3:14 Psalm 100:5 Books discussed: Last Supper on the Moon https://www.amazon.com/Last-Supper-Moon-Christs-Fantastic/dp/B0912MP55H/ref=sr_1_1?crid=13VWVA5GG53AZ&keywords=last+supper+on+the+moon+levi+lusko&qid=1682084731&sprefix=last+supper+on+the+moon%2Caps%2C96&sr=8-1

How do we be an active part of God's team? In involves waiting, not knowing the plan, practice using your spiritual gifts, working with other team members, understanding your part in the "Body of Christ", but mostly learning how to hear from the Holy Spirit! Join us for this discussion about living for the team over ourselves, hearing our spiritual gifts, and the things we've learned from mistakes in our past. Links: Don't Miss Out (the book on the Holy Spirit that we love!!) https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Miss-Out-Daring-Believe/dp/0764238221/ref=sr_1_4?crid=24LUUER05KDWR&keywords=jeannie+cunion&qid=1680114304&sprefix=Cunion%2Caps%2C94&sr=8-4 Spiritual Gift Survey https://gifts.churchgrowth.org/spiritual-gifts-survey/?id=901995

Hate trying new things? Do you limit where you'll let God lead your life because of fear? We do the same!! So, let's dive into what keeps us in our comfort zones, what keeps us living scared and break free so that we can live courageously! God has more for us... let's chat about it!