Abiding Free | Biblical Truth & Encouragement

Have you ever felt the cultural pressure to ‘Do it all’?

It’s probably safe to say we all could answer ‘yes’ to that question. We live in a fast paced world that tells us our worth is measured in the things we do, the places we go, and the people we associate with. 

In today’s episode, Kristin sits down with Kristin Schmucker, Founder & CEO of The Daily Grace Co. and Cultivate What Matters to discuss cultural pressure, the anxiety it creates and the peace that can be found in the Word of God. Kristin founded The Daily Grace Co. in 2014 after the tragic loss of her daughter. During that time of grief, she turned to the Word for her strength. After a discussion with her husband, she decided to sell some of her Bible Studies on Etsy to honor their daughter. On the first day, she sold hundreds of copies. Since then, the company has grown from packaging orders on the kitchen table to now having a team of 70 men & women and shipping about 1,000,000 Bible studies a year.

Kristin is captivated by the Word due to the impact that it has made on her life, and is actively seeking her calling to share it with others. We are so excited that you are joining us for this impactful episode today!

Episode Highlights: 

• Background on Kristin Schmucker
• How The Daily Grace Company was started
• Finding peace through loss
• Diving into the Word
• Practical Ways to Stay Organized
• Juggling Priorities
• Dealing with Anxiety

Find more on Kristin:

• Kristin’s Instagram
• The Daily Grace Co Website
• Cultivate What Matters Website
• The Daily Grace Co Instagram
• Cultivate What Matters Instagram

Find More on Abiding Free:

• Instagram: @abidingfree
• Follow us on Facebook
• Check out our Website HERE
• Contact: [email protected]

*Disclosure: Some links are Amazon affiliate links and a small portion of your purchase will come back to us while your cost remains the same.

We are looking back and looking ahead at the Abiding Free podcast today, as well as giving a short Christmas devotional.

We are so incredibly grateful for all of our listeners from across the world and we celebrate this being our 58th episode here! Be sure to listen today for some exciting interviews ahead (coming back January 9th)!

And most importantly, we share today about the joy that came to the world, and why we can walk in joy and sing this Christmas season even if it has been a hard year. Thank you for joining us today on the podcast!

Find More on Abiding Free:

• Instagram: @abidingfree
• Follow us on Facebook
• Check out our Website HERE
• Contact: [email protected]

How do we know when it is the right time to have a Biblical Confrontation?

Today, we are discussing the difficult topic of Biblical Confrontation. Confrontation can be hard, but if we look to the Holy Spirit to guide us, it can be done in a way that is pleasing to Him. We’re also discussing how to know when something is worthy of confrontation, and how to address it when it is.

We live in a fallen world, and believers will make mistakes, but how we address them and move forward is what sets us apart. We can have Godly conversations that are rooted in love and grace. We hope you find encouragement in our discussion today as we navigate this sometimes difficult topic.

Episode Highlights: 

• What is Biblical Confrontation?
• Questions to ask yourself when deciding if a confrontation is worth having
• Wise & Biblical Strategies to encourage us to confront biblically

Find more on the Daily Kairos Prayer Journal:
Daily Kairos | Daily Kairos | Tools to Help You Draw Closer to God
Daily Kairos Prayer Journal (@daily.kairos) • Instagram photos and videos

Find More on Abiding Free:

• Instagram: @abidingfree
• Follow us on Facebook
• Check out our Website HERE
• Contact: [email protected]
• https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/when-should-you-confront-someone-about-their-sin
• https://cornerstonesimimedia.com/sermons/video-archive

*Disclosure: Some links are Amazon affiliate links and a small portion of your purchase will come back to us while your cost remains the same.

Do you ever struggle with Spiritual Discipline?

If we are being honest, we could probably all say ‘yes’ to this question on some level. Spiritual Disciplines are the essential practices and habits we participate in as believers to enhance our spiritual walk with the Lord. 

In today’s episode, Shannon chats with Arabah Joy from Sojo Academy about Spiritual Discipline and the daily struggles and distractions we may face. Sojo Academy is an ongoing membership for Christian women that provides a practical, streamlined spiritual growth plan.

With years of ministry under her belt, Arabah Joy understands the struggle it can be to see God’s Word as nourishment for the soul. She didn’t always grasp what it meant to truly take delight in the Word. Over the years, she has grown in her spiritual discipline and is here to share some of her wisdom with us today.

We hope you will join us as we dig into this important aspect of our walk with the Lord!

Episode Highlights: 

• Background on Arabah Joy
• What is Sojo Academy?
• What is Spiritual Discipline?
• Practical Tips to increase Spiritual Discipline
• Taking delight in the Word
• Grieve, Release, & Rest

Find more on Guest:

• Sojo Academy Website
• Email: [email protected] 

Find More on Abiding Free:

• Instagram: @abidingfree
• Follow us on Facebook
• Check out our Website HERE
• Contact: [email protected]
• The Daily Audio Bible with Brian 

*Disclosure: Some links are Amazon affiliate links and a small portion of your purchase will come back to us while your cost remains the same.

How do we respond to evil in today’s culture? 

Evil runs rampant in our world today, and our youth are being numbed to it. While it is important to recognize Satan’s schemes, we can’t let it discourage us. We serve a Mighty God who is greater and stronger than any attack from the enemy. He is still on the throne. 

As believers, we have to let our light shine bright in the darkness and stand firm on the Word of God. We hope you enjoy this episode  and are left encouraged!                                   
Episode Highlights: 

• Acknowledging evil in the world
• How to respond
• Grieve, Release, & Rest

Find more on the Daily Kairos Prayer Journal:
Daily Kairos | Daily Kairos | Tools to Help You Draw Closer to God
Daily Kairos Prayer Journal (@daily.kairos) • Instagram photos and videos

Find More on Abiding Free:

• Instagram: @abidingfree
• Follow us on Facebook
• Check out our Website HERE
• Contact: [email protected]
• https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/the-fall-of-satan-and-the-victory-of-christ/excerpts/satan-always-asks-permission
• Sexual Morality in a Christless World by Matthew Rueger

*Disclosure: Some links are Amazon affiliate links and a small portion of your purchase will come back to us while your cost remains the same.

Are you as kind as you think you are?

Join us today as Shaunti Feldhahn challenges us to take a closer look at ourselves and our relationships and analyze how kind we really are. Shaunti is a best-selling author and has written several books, one being The Kindness Challenge. The Kindness Challenge is a 30-day movement in which readers are led through 3 steps to improve their relationships.

After participating in the challenge, two-thirds of the participants said that they, themselves, felt more loved and appreciated! This goes to show that the kindness you pour out directly affects the love you are able to receive. 

Join us today as we dive into the topic of kindness and how to improve the level of kindness we show others!

Episode Highlights: 

• How kindness affects your relationships
• Jesus’ instructions to be kind 
• What you focus on is what you see
• What is the Kindness Challenge?

Find more on Guest:
Shaunti Feldhahn (@shauntifeldhahn) • Instagram photos and videos
Join The Kindness Challenge HERE!
Home - Shaunti Feldhahn

Find more on the Daily Kairos Prayer Journal:
Daily Kairos | Daily Kairos | Tools to Help You Draw Closer to God
Daily Kairos Prayer Journal (@daily.kairos) • Instagram photos and videos

Find More on Abiding Free:

• Instagram: @abidingfree
• Follow us on Facebook
• Check out our Website HERE
• Contact: [email protected]

*Disclosure: Some links are Amazon affiliate links and a small portion of your purchase will come back to us while your cost remains the same.

What does biblical womanhood truly look like?

The world says there is not an answer to this, but God's word says otherwise.  And the reality is if you’ve ever walked through your day feeling that it was nearly impossible to meet all of the demands your role as a woman has required of you, you’re not alone.

As women in today’s culture, we are busier than ever. We are required to take care of our families, coordinate schedules, and work, among many other things.

But what does God say about what womanhood is? Is the hustle and bustle really what pleases God?

Today, we are diving into a well-known passage that is also often misunderstood: Proverbs 31. Many women hear the reference to that passage and either feel intimidated or that they could never meet the criteria. If you have ever felt that way, this episode is for you.

Join us as we take a fresh look into Proverbs 31 and dive into the truths that can encourage us.

Being a woman is a great responsibility, and a privilege that we should not take for granted. When we can understand what God intends for biblical womanhood, we will be one step closer to abiding in true freedom.  

Episode Highlights: 

• A discussion on what womanhood truly is.
• Truths for women of God to lean on.
• A discussion on Proverbs 31.
• What God calls us to do as women.

Find More on Abiding Free:

• What Scripture Taught Me About Womanhood Article
• Instagram: @abidingfree
• Follow us on Facebook
• Check out our Website HERE
• Contact: [email protected]

*Disclosure: Some links are Amazon affiliate links and a small portion of your purchase will come back to us while your cost remains the same.

Do you struggle from anxiety? 

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the US, affecting 40,000,000 adults age 18 and older. But even without a diagnosis, most likely all of us struggle with anxiousness to some degree.

In today’s episode, we chat with Scarlet Hiltibidal, the author ofAfraid of All the Things, You’re the Worst Person in the World, theAnxiousBible Study, and other books. She writes regularly for ParentLife Magazine, HomeLife Magazine, and She Reads Truth. Scarlet has a Degree in Biblical Counseling, has taught in Elementary School before pursuing writing, and lives with her husband and kids in Southern California.

The journey to writing about ‘anxiousness’ was sparked in part by her unusual childhood and desire for stability. Fortunately, the importance of the Bible was instilled in her at a young age by her mother.

We hope this episode will leave you feeling refreshed and ready to fight anxiety with God’s Word.

Episode Highlights: 

• Introduction to Scarlet Hiltibidal
• Scarlet’s Upbringing
• Her journey to writing
• Faith & Studying the Bible

Find more on Scarlet:

• Scarlet’s Website
• Anxious Bible Study
• Afraid of All the Things Book
• He Numbered the Pores on My Face Book
• You’re the Worst Person in the World Book
• Instagram: @scarlethiltibidal
• Scarlet’s Facebook

Find More on Abiding Free:

• Instagram: @abidingfree
• Follow us on Facebook
• Check out our Website HERE
• Contact: [email protected]

How do you know when someone is ready for baptism?

In today’s episode, Kristin and Shannon dive into this much debated topic. There are so many strong opinions in the body of Christ as to whether children should be baptized, and at what age they are ready to make that decision.

The calling on parents to share the truth of the gospel to our children should not be taken lightly. It is our responsibility to share the truth with them and allow the Holy Spirit to help that truth sink down deep into their hearts.

The last thing that any parent wants is to discourage their child, especially when their faith is involved. In these moments of  let's learn to lean into the Holy Spirit and trust His leading and His ministry in the lives of our children.

We pray this episode blesses you and brings you clarity!

Episode Highlights: 

• Family calling to share the Truth with your children
• How do you know when someone is ready for baptism?
• Encouraging your children and declaring the good over them.

Find More on Abiding Free:

• Instagram: @abidingfree
• Follow us on Facebook
• Check out our Website HERE
• Contact: [email protected]

Have you ever wondered where the different translations of the Bible came from?

On today’s episode, we discuss the many translations of the Bible with Dr. Peter Gurry & Dr. John Meade, Directors of Text and Canon Institute of Phoenix Seminary. They have also just released their new book, “Scribes and Scripture - The Amazing Story of How We Got the Bible”.

In their book, they discuss in depth where the Bible came from and how we got the many translations we have today. These two insightful men have devoted their time and research into this book. You can hear the passion in their voices as they talk about God’s Word. 

We hope this episode reignites a burning desire to study the Word while also empowering you to dig deeper!

Episode Highlights: 

• Re-Introduction to Dr. John Meade & Peter Gury
• Discussion about their book - Scribes and Scripture - The Amazing Story of How We Got the Bible
• An in-depth Bible translations discussion

Find more on Dr. John Meade & Dr. Peter Gurry:

• Text and Canon Institute
• Text and Canon Instagram ​​
• Phoenix Seminary Instagram
• Scribes & Scripture
• The Life & Legacy of William Tyndale

Find More on Abiding Free:

• Instagram: @abidingfree
• Follow us on Facebook
• Check out our Website HERE
• Contact: [email protected]