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 possib...
Nov 24, 2022•29 min•Ep. 137
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...
Nov 17, 2022•33 min•Ep. 141
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 ex...
Nov 14, 2022•39 min•Ep. 139
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 i...
Nov 10, 2022•30 min•Ep. 140
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 ...
Nov 03, 2022•28 min•Ep. 138
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. 1. Play music as often as you can 2. Sing with your children 3. Talk about the songs you sin 4. Be willing to invest in music lessons 5. Watch music videos together Music can be such a wonderful tool to te...
Oct 31, 2022•28 min•Ep. 136
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 ...
Oct 27, 2022•39 min•Ep. 135
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 fo...
Oct 20, 2022•19 min•Ep. 134
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 w...
Oct 17, 2022•29 min•Ep. 126
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...
Oct 13, 2022•35 min•Ep. 132
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 ...
Oct 08, 2022•21 min•Ep. 153
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.” Resou...
Oct 06, 2022•24 min•Ep. 131
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. Follo...
Oct 03, 2022•34 min•Ep. 130
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 Sheph...
Sep 29, 2022•35 min•Ep. 128
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 a...
Sep 22, 2022•26 min•Ep. 127
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 experi...
Sep 19, 2022•54 min•Ep. 133
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 m...
Sep 15, 2022•29 min•Ep. 125
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 recipi...
Sep 12, 2022•32 min•Ep. 123
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 d...
Sep 08, 2022•35 min•Ep. 122
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 h...
Sep 01, 2022•28 min•Ep. 121
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 l...
Aug 29, 2022•24 min•Ep. 120
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 en...
Aug 25, 2022•37 min•Ep. 119
"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, ...
Aug 18, 2022•34 min•Ep. 118
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 lovin...
Aug 15, 2022•49 min•Ep. 116
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 igni...
Aug 11, 2022•28 min•Ep. 115
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 ...
Aug 04, 2022•37 min•Ep. 117
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...
Aug 01, 2022•46 min•Ep. 114
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 i...
Jul 28, 2022•27 min•Ep. 113
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 ...
Jul 21, 2022•33 min•Ep. 112
"... 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 hea...
Jul 18, 2022•55 min•Ep. 111
