Deeper Still

Suanne interviews Cassandra Ma, the Founder & Executive Director of Reclaim 13. Reclaim 13 is a Chicago-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to end the cycle of sexual exploitation through prevention, healing and community engagement. Reclaim 13's vision is to create a world where all children can grow up feeling safe and loved. Learn more about Reclaim 13 at www.reclaim13.org.

Support Reclaim 13 today by provide tangible support for some of their most needed items. Visit their Amazon Wish List today!

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Parenting through this pandemic has brought highs and lows, challenges, celebrations and poignant reflections. It's been a mixed bag of grief, loss and celebrating quality time we can never get back. Through it all, moms have been guiding their children, aching over if they are doing the right things, balancing the tension of academics, relationships, activities and more. Now, a new conflict has arisen. Moms are embracing their calendars at the same time they're lamenting the frenetic pace that will inevitably come again.

Suanne and her friend Amy, mom of four ranging in ages from 12-17,  have been journeying through motherhood together for more than fifteen years. While they don't claim to be experts or have THE answers, they carve out some space to have an honest conversation about what it's been like to parent through the pandemic, particularly reflecting on how to hold onto some of the unexpected good as they move into the next season ahead.

Suanne and Kris Stevenson close out the book of James by discussing why James calls us to pray in all situations, how confessing our sins is good for our soul and how we should never lose hope when we get off track. Also, a few extra minutes on why studying James has been so impactful this year.

Deeper Still takes a one-week break from the book of James as Suanne and Northern Seminary President Bill Shiell dive into the beautiful story of a woman who anoints Jesus on the dawn of Passover. As told in the book of Mark, the reclining disciples rebuke the woman, but Jesus defends her, telling them to "leaver her alone" because she did a beautiful thing, in fact "she did what she could." Not only is this story a powerful reminder of how we can and should approach Jesus during Holy Week, but also gives us the freedom to be okay with doing what we can with what we have.  

Suanne and ministry leader Lisa Garvin discuss James' harshest words yet. This conversation takes a deep dive into considering how God calls us to view the resources he has given us (hint: they are his to own and ours to steward), how God provides hope for those who are marginalized and why letting our "yes be yes" and our "no be no" is so important. 

Suanne and pastor, author and speaker Tracey Bianchi take a deep dive into these verses where James challenges his listeners to hold their plans loosely. Listen in as Suanne & Tracey talk about what it means to wrestle with God as he invites us to continually let go of our expectations and hopes, and to submit to his eternal perspective over our own agendas.

Suanne and Kris Stevenson dig into James 4:1-12 and discuss friendship with the world, the context around the term "adulterer", humility, confession, slander (yikes!) and more! The good news is found in v.6 though, "But God always gives us more grace." Listen in!

Suanne and ministry leader Sally Couture talk about the two sources of wisdom introduced by James, how we discern godly from worldly wisdom and why it matters. Sally shares her own story of adoption, parenting and how trying to put forth the perfect image led her to seek God's wisdom when life didn't go as planned.

Suanne talks to mentor and spiritual director Carla Peer about how we take a step back from the WHAT and HOW in our lives and instead focus on WHO we are as God's children. We discuss what it means to have a God-given identity, why it matters and how we live that out in our everyday lives.

Suanne talks to author and pastor Tara Beth Leach about her challenges as a female pastor, her passion to embolden women to use their gifts, the unexpected circumstances that led her back to Chicago and her hope for the future of the church. Be sure to check out Tara Beth's book Emboldened: A Vision for Women in Ministry and pre-order her new book Radiant Church (IVP, Feb. 2021).