Christmas

This episode features Nana Dolce, a beloved teacher and author, who discusses her 40-day devotional called "You Are Redeemed" that takes women through the Book of Exodus. Nana reflects on her life journey, her experiences with adoption, and the importance of understanding God’s redemption story. She shares deeply personal stories about her son, Kian, who was adopted as an embryo through the National Embryo Donation Center. Kian was frozen for 20 years before being adopted by Nana and her husband Eric. This miraculous story is deeply tied to Nana’s perspective on God's redemption and care for the seemingly unseen and forgotten.

Nana also recounts the emotional meeting between Kian and his genetic mother and grandfather, who met him for the first time after years of waiting. The story touches on the miraculous nature of God’s work in preserving life even in seemingly impossible situations. She connects this narrative to her devotional, which explores the themes of God's plan for redemption through the Exodus story. Nana highlights the story of Moses and the Israelites' journey from slavery to freedom, emphasizing that God’s plan for His people has always been to dwell with them.

The episode also explores the deep theological insights of God’s love, presence, and redemption. Nana’s book reveals how the Book of Exodus is not just a historical account but a foreshadowing of a greater redemption found in Jesus Christ. Through personal stories and reflections, Nana emphasizes that God sees, hears, and knows the pain of His people, drawing parallels to the experience of Jesus, who suffered deeply for humanity. The episode concludes with a call to those feeling unseen or forgotten to know that God’s love is constant, and He is always with them, even in their pain. Nana’s devotional aims to reassure readers that God's redemption story is for everyone, and it will ultimately lead to a time of eternal dwelling with God.

Show Notes and Resources

• Learn more about Nana Dolce at her website.
• Recieve Nana's new devotional You Are Redeemed for a donation of any amount. 
• Get encouragement when you feel unseen. 

• Find resources from this podcast at shop.familylife.com.
• See resources from our past podcasts.
• Find more content and resources on the FamilyLife's app!
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In this engaging and insightful podcast episode, Dave and Ann Wilson dive into the topic of faith, questioning God, and navigating life’s challenges, especially when those challenges lead to feelings of resentment or doubt toward God. The discussion starts by emphasizing the importance of asking children—and even oneself—when they've felt resentment toward God. The hosts share personal experiences, including one host reflecting on the loss of her sister and the deep, unresolved questions that came with that loss. The conversation then transitions into addressing the belief gap between what people often expect from God and what they experience in reality. Lisa Fields, the guest speaker and author, shares her wisdom, acknowledging that doubt, questioning, and wrestling with God is a natural and important part of spiritual growth. She suggests that these struggles don’t signify the death of faith but rather the key to it. The hosts also discuss how wrestling with faith brings believers closer to understanding their beliefs and the concept that theological growth is not just about memorization but about heartfelt conviction.

Lisa Fields emphasizes that wrestling with difficult questions allows people to form stronger beliefs that are rooted in both knowledge and personal experience. She talks about the importance of recognizing pain points in people’s struggles—such as peace, provision, protection, and purpose—and how people often look for peace in temporary solutions, like drugs, relationships, and other distractions, rather than in God. A significant part of the conversation touches on the concept of peace, explaining that true peace is not about the absence of negative emotions but about the assurance of God's presence in the midst of trials. Fields also shares her personal story of heartbreak, where she had to wrestle with forgiveness after being betrayed by someone close to her, illustrating how faith, forgiveness, and personal growth can intersect. She also talks about how peace with God, peace with others, and peace within are all necessary to experience true inner peace.

The episode further explores the idea that many people, particularly younger generations, struggle with finding purpose and meaning in life, often seeking it in things like social media validation or material success. The hosts emphasize that true purpose comes not from what we do but from who we become in Christ. Fields challenges the notion of purpose tied to achievement, instead shifting the focus toward becoming a person of integrity, compassion, and love. As the conversation wraps up, the hosts encourage parents and believers to engage deeply with the Bible and to understand the full scope of what Scripture promises and teaches, which includes not just prosperity but the reality of trials and suffering.

The episode concludes by stressing the need for families to navigate these faith struggles together, acknowledging that faith can be complicated and sometimes disappointing but that God uses these challenges to grow us. Lisa Fields’ book "When Faith Disappoints: The Gap Between What We Believe and What We Receive" is highlighted as a resource for those wanting to bridge this gap and engage in deeper conversations about faith, doubt, and the complexities of spiritual life.

Show Notes and Resources

• Learn more about Lisa Fields on her website and get her book, "When Faith Disappoints" on our shop. 
• Learn more about the "Jude 3 Project". 
• Get marriage and family help right now by calling 1-800-358-6329.
• Experience the Easter story with Resurrection Eggs and explore more resources i

In this episode, Dave and Ann Wilson engage in a deep and insightful conversation with Lisa Fields, the founder and CEO of the Jude 3 Project. They explore themes of faith, doubt, disappointment, and the emotional struggles Christians often face when their experiences seem to conflict with their beliefs. The conversation opens with a question about a book titled "When Faith Disappoints," which deeply resonates with Dave, due to his own past struggles with faith crises.

Lisa shares that the book is, in part, a memoir of her own faith journey, including her struggles as a seminary student who faced a crisis of faith. Dave and Lisa discuss an emotionally impactful moment in Dave's life when he questioned the reality of his faith after encountering the harsh realities of the world, like terrorism and violence against innocent children. Lisa recounts a memorable conversation with her professor, where, instead of offering deep theological explanations, her professor simply said, “me too,” which helped validate her doubts and let her know that her struggles were normal.

The discussion then shifts to Lisa’s ministry, the Jude 3 Project, which she started as a passion project to equip Black Christians with apologetics and engage skeptics. She reflects on the lack of representation of African Americans in the apologetics space and her motivation to fill that gap. The project began humbly, but grew to serve a significant need within her community. Dave and Lisa also discuss the challenges of working in ministry while dealing with the pressures of maintaining a personal connection with God. Both share their own experiences of burnout, disillusionment, and the crucial importance of community and therapy in overcoming these crises of faith.

Dave and Ann talk about the emotional toll that disappointment can take on a believer, emphasizing that doubt is a normal part of the Christian journey and should not be repressed. Lisa emphasizes that it’s important for Christians, especially parents, to create spaces where young people can vocalize their doubts and disappointments. She believes that listening to their struggles without judgment and offering shared vulnerability helps foster a safe environment for growth.

Finally, the episode touches on the rising trend of Gen Z exploring spirituality outside of traditional Christianity, seeking supernatural experiences and peace. Lisa and Dave discuss how understanding this generational shift can offer opportunities to engage young people in conversations about faith in a way that respects their experiences and questions.

The conversation is heartfelt and practical, offering listeners valuable insights on navigating doubt, disappointment, and spiritual growth.

Show Notes and Resources

• Learn more about Lisa Fields on her website and get her book, "When Faith Disappoints" on our shop. 
• Learn more about the "Jude 3 Project". 
• Get marriage and family help right now by calling 1-800-358-6329.
• Experience the Easter story with Resurrection Eggs and explore more resources in our shop 

• Find resources from this podcast at shop.familylife.com.
• See resources from our past podcasts.
• Find more content and resources on the FamilyLife's app!
• Help others find FamilyLife. Leave a review on Apple Podcast

In this episode, Dave and Ann Wilson discuss the concept of a "sacred home" and how to cultivate an environment that prioritizes faith, simplicity, and connection over perfection. The episode opens with a humorous and relatable story about Ann's embarrassing moment as a young mom when her parents unexpectedly visited and her house was a mess. Despite the chaos, she emphasizes the importance of creating a home where Jesus is at the center, not one that's always perfectly tidy.

Jennifer Pepito shares her wisdom on the importance of simplicity in the home and the role women play in setting the tone for a sacred environment. She discusses the importance of decluttering, minimizing distractions, and ensuring that family time and connection with God are prioritized over maintaining a pristine home. This leads to a conversation about the need for balance in life, and Jennifer talks about the nine habits of rural life that bring peace and stability to mothers. One example she shares is the story of Madeleine L'Engle, who, despite personal struggles, maintained her commitment to faith and family, illustrating that balance can help moms navigate the chaos of life.

The conversation turns to the topic of forgiveness, both in terms of personal relationships and the necessity of forgiving oneself as a mother. The hosts reflect on how unforgiveness can create bitterness, affecting both personal well-being and family dynamics. They share examples of how bitterness has affected families and relationships, noting that letting go of anger and resentment is crucial for fostering a sacred home environment.

The episode also explores the topic of simplicity, specifically how it can help reduce distractions and allow for more meaningful connection with God and family. The hosts discuss how the culture of busyness, particularly in America, often leads to the accumulation of excess stuff, which becomes overwhelming. Instead, they suggest practicing simplicity by minimizing possessions and focusing on the things that truly matter: family, faith, and purpose.

Finally, Dave and Ann touch on the importance of prayer in creating a sacred home. They share the story of Amy Carmichael, a missionary who was deeply committed to prayer and sought to create a sanctuary for those she served. They emphasize the importance of making prayer a daily priority, even in the midst of a busy family life, and how doing so can align a mother’s heart with God's purposes. The episode concludes with an invitation to dive deeper into the principles shared in Jennifer's book, Habits for a Sacred Home, which offers practical advice for living a faith-centered life in the home.

Show Notes and Resources

• Follow Jennifer Pepito on Instagram. 
• Learn more about "The Restoration Home" community, listen to Jennifer's podcast, and find her book, "Habits for a Sacred Home" on our shop. 
• Experience the Easter story with Resurrection Eggs and explore more resources in our shop 

• Find resources from this podcast at shop.familylife.com.
• See resources from our past podcasts.
• Find more content and resources on the FamilyLife's app!
• Help others find FamilyLife. Leave a review on Apple Podcast or

Hope Media Group is proud to present an original audio experience: Scrooge: A Christmas Carol. Here's a taste.

https://scroogepodcast.com/

Presented by Hope Media Group and Compassion International.

Find fun & meaningful content for a joyful, confident faith at Hope Nation. http://hopenation.org

Release a child from poverty through Compassion International. https://bit.ly/compassion-scrooge