A Mess, Nonetheless

Miss and Rachel had something planned at the start of this episode, but they decided that "bombs go first." Rachel was having a really tough morning and needed to dig into some tactics to fight the enemy. So they ended up spending the episode talking about that. They also discuss visualization and how it can be a powerful part of our prayer lives.

Rachel talks with Kristin Smith about grief and what it looks like to move forward after experiencing a devastating loss. Kristin shares the kinds of things that are helpful when walking alongside a friend who is grieving, and what kinds of things are NOT helpful. We think everyone can benefit from this episode and we are very grateful to Kristin for opening up and sharing her heart with us on this difficult topic. 

Ministry Spotlight:

Startlightmin.org

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Very few people don't ever yell, and very few people aren't surrounded by people who make them feel crazy once in a while! Miss and Rach dive into what the Bible says about the subject and what we should do when we habitually (or even occasionally) yell at our loved ones. 

Show Notes:

1/18 When they “force” me to yell

1. 1. Is yelling at people we love ever ok? 
      1. Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

• What should we do when we yell at our loved ones?

1. 1. 1. Own it. ASAP. “An apology is the super glue of life. It can repair just about anything.” unknown

Saying, “I’m sorry” shows maturity. 1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.

• Pray, Pray, Pray!

• James 5:16b The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

1. 1. Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Challenge: Start apologizing right now!

If you’re married, you know it’s hard, but do you know it’s hard for others too? Miss and Rach talk about the hard times in marriage and the benefit of sharing it with others so we know we’re not alone in the journey.

 Changing our perception in order to move forward.

We’ve all had to forgive others at different times, it’s a part of life. Have you ever noticed that sometimes even after forgiving someone it feels like the hurt feelings continue to resurface? Miss and Rach talk about how forgiveness is a two-step process; it takes intentionally changing our perception of the offender in order to start seeing them through a new lens and not a continual lens of the hurt. Tune in on all your favorite podcast apps + youtube!

Show notes:

***Disclaimer - this for the typical hurts in a typical relationship. We aren't talking about toxic, non-stop wounding relationships where distance and series boundaries need to be put into place. 

• The Bible is clear that forgiveness is the only way through.

1. 1. 1. Colossians 3:13 “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

• What happens after forgiveness?

1. If we don’t work on developing a new perspective toward the person who hurt us, we will fall back into old patterns and just need to keep working on forgiveness. This step helps relationships, but it helps us not give the enemy a foothold in our lives!

Challenge: Where have you worked on forgiveness, but not chosen to seek a new perspective that will bring fullness of healing and resolution. 

We might not think we live with fear in relationships, but what about when we don't bring something up for fear of how another will react? Or we don't ask for help because we are afraid of how people will perceive us? These are small and sneaky ways that fear creeps into our relationships and can create a tiny wedge that grows into a very big one over time. Miss and Rachel discuss fear, what the Bible says about it and why this is such an important topic for all types of relationships. 

Show Notes:

There is no faith where there is fear 

• What’s the problem with fear?
  • The Bible says to not fear 365 times. 

Relationships cannot flourish under the suspicion of fear

• Share my example of intimidation and walking on eggshells in my own home. 
  • Liz told me to pray away the spirit of intimidation and pray in courage, connection and grace. 

Assumptions will let fear thrive in relationships

• We have to be willing to share our concerns
  • Telling Miss how some other faces make me feel
    • Randy, even myself. 

Fear pushes others away

Challenge: Where are you letting fear into your relationships and what action step can you take this week to start turning the tables?

Most women have a mother-in-law and most women will become one themselves. Let's be honest, the mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship comes with plenty of bumps along the road. It's quite unnatural! Melissa and Rachel discuss their experiences with having a mother-and-law and becoming one themselves. Tune in, we think everyone can benefit from this one!

Show notes:

• Love the person for where they are.

• They might not always be what we need/want

• Release expectations.

• We can’t need something from them that isn’t spoken.

Is it ok to be angry, if so, when and what does that look like? What does the Bible say about it and what can we learn from it? Miss and Rachel journey through the topic and dig into it. We hope you'll benefit from this episode!

Show Notes:

• Is anger ok?: 

1. 1. We can know that anger in and of itself isn’t a sin because both God & Jesus display anger.

Challenge: Where do you struggle the most with Anger? Which verse today stopped you in your tracks and you might need to spend some time meditating on?

As we head into the busy, holiday season, we decided to re-air this episode from last year. Even if you listened to it last year we think this episode is filled with important reminders for all of us during this time of the year! 

Is it sometimes easy to dread spending time with people during the holidays, even if you also love them? Do you ever find yourself getting stressed over the idea of being with certain people, or maybe reliving past hurts and frustrations in your mind? Do you "just know" certain things are going to happen again? Melissa and Rachel have been there and are working on not staying there. They share the ways they've moved beyond their frustrations with other people and what the Bible says about it. Don't skip this episode before you spend time with people this holiday season, we are sure you'll get something out of it!

Phew, this is a tough topic, but we believe it's an incredibly important one in today's world. Rachel talks with Kristin Smith about their experiences walking through depression and suicide with loved ones. We hope you will take some time to listen. Whether this episode will help you in your own personal struggle, or in support of someone you love, we are hoping to help remove the stigma of mental health and suicide. 

Ministry Spotlight:

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@eminentsnp