My guest Anna Romary, shares how at a time when she envisioned herself dating and preparing for married life, God is teaching her that the truest joy is found in His will, even when it looks different from our greatest desires. The simple act of daily counting her blessings has guarded her heart from complaining, bitterness, and settling for less than God's best in a culture that lives counter from God's plan for dating and marriage. Counting her blessings is proving to be a bridge of strength to faith in His perfect plan, timing and a set apart life.

We all experience loss, disappointment and unmet expectations. Our lives play out differently from what we envisioned and we sometimes find ourselves in a space of life that falls short of what we expected. These disappointments can be especially magnified during the holiday season, when giving thanks is expected and joy in Christ is magnified. The Enemy would like nothing more than to use these times to, instead of magnifying our blessings, magnify our lack or less-than idealistic life. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 makes it clear that in every season of life there are both blessings and burdens. 

Whatever unmet expectation you’re facing today, I pray that today’s episode, “When God’s Ways Aren’t My Way: Finding Contentment In Christ”, will be a reminder of hope that  in Christ there is nothing we lack, all dreams are fulfilled and our hopes are always satisfied.

1,000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp

Not My Will by Francena Arnold

Praying God's Will For Your Life

*These books and online resources are not a ministry of SRBC. Although we may differ with some of the authors standards or convictions, we have found in these books many truths founded on Biblical principles and practical tips that have been a great help. We always encourage listeners to read/listen with discretion through the lens of God’s Word.

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Media Director: Jennifer Beil

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God calls all Christians to faithfulness, in all roles and areas of life, but we must carefully guard our hearts as we seek to faithfully serve our Savior.  Jenn and I discuss how the Enemy seeks to detour us from faithfully following our Savior through distraction, discouragement and doubt.

Mrs. Jenn will share how God called her husband to plant the New Heights Baptist Church in Albuquerque, NM 16 years ago and how God has taught her the importance of keeping Him first.  

Having A Mary Spirit in A Martha World by Joanna Weaver

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Media Director: Jennifer Beil

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Join me on today’s episode of the Friend to Friend podcast, as my friend and fellow church-planter’s wife, Krista Marasco, joins me to discuss our topic of “Rooted In Christ: Trusting God With The Harvest”. 

She shares how they planted their first church on the big island of Hilo, Hawaii and how most recently God has used them to plant Rock Point Baptist Church in Mililani on the island of Oahu.

We discuss how although our expectations for church growth often differ from God’s plan, God always exceeds our limited vision of what true growth looks like. 

We also discuss the danger of comparison when starting a church and how Krista has learned to guard her heart while trusting God with the Harvest.

We Wrestle Not by Pastor Marvin Smith

The Church Planter's Wife by Christine Hoover

*These books and online resources are not a ministry of SRBC. Although we may differ with some of the author's standards or convictions, we have found in these books many truths founded on Biblical principles and practical tips that have been a great help. We always encourage listeners to read/listen with discretion through the lens of God's Word.

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Media Director: Jennifer Beil

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Today, my guest, Heather Higgins shares her story of “Rooted In Christ: Reviving a Church and Raising a Family.”  She shares how the “team effort” mentality  has been their theme in serving God as a family and how she’s learned to recognize that her attitude has powerful influence over her children in ministry and all areas of life. 

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Media Director: Jennifer Beil

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Join me on today’s first of four episodes that we will share in October, as I introduce this month’s theme at Friend to Friend. Each week in October we will release an episode all about the role of a pastor’s wife and how my guests are carefully and prayerfully navigating this role. Each of the episodes will have the common thread of “Rooted In Christ.” I’ll start the month off by sharing my own testimony of being a church planter’s wife, new to the role of a lead pastor’s wife, “Rooted In Christ: Growing In Grace.”  

It’s my prayer that fellow pastor’s wives will be encouraged and strengthened by stories that are both relatable and insightful. And for listeners not married to a pastor, this month’s episodes are just as much for you as they are for her! I promise that in listening to this month’s podcast, you will gain helpful insight in knowing how to better pray for, love and serve alongside your own pastor’s wife.

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Media Director: Jennifer Beil

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Join me and my good friend Jennifer Beil, a.k.a. Media Director at the Friend to Friend Podcast, as we share how we came to know Christ  and how our relationships with Him have grown and changed over time.

Jenn and I both share how God met us in our times of questioning our own salvation and how God removed all doubt.  We discuss how God has taught us to not only receive from His Word but to also serve from what we’ve received and what that looks like in our day to day lives. 

God has used motherhood and ministry to show us our deepest need - knowing our Savior, our source of strength.

Most importantly, we’ve learned that God’s love is not equally measured by how much Bible we read or how long we pray. His love for us is constant and unchanging. It’s this love with no strings attached that draws me to Him and in return we receive a priceless treasure- a thriving relationship with Christ.

Hope For the Weary Mom: Let God Meet You in the Mess by Stacey Thacker and Brooke McGlothlin

Having A Mary Heart in A Martha World by Joanna Weaver

Having A Mary Spirit by Joanna Weaver

Lazarus Awakening by Joanna Weaver

Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name by Sally Lloyd-Jones

Indescribable: 100 Devotions for Kids About God and Science by Louie Giglio

*These books and online resources are not a ministry of SRBC. Although we may differ with some of the author's standards or convictions, we have found many truths founded on Biblical principles and practical tips that have been a great help.  We always encourage listeners to read/listen with discretion through the lens of God's Word.

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Media Director: Jennifer Beil

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My friend, Michelle Cowling, joins me today on the podcast! She’ll share about her own insecurities as a first-time mom, how her philosophy of motherhood has changed over time and how God has taught her to not only receive grace but to also extend that same grace to her children. We also discuss the important role a mother plays in her son’s life and how that role changes as our children grow. Whether or not you have sons, this episode is for you! Friends and relatives of mothers, I believe this episode will give you insight -equipping you with knowing how to better pray for and graciously walk along side your mom friends.You will find Michelle’s transparency and humble approach to motherhood refreshing and encouraging! If you, like myself and my guest, have sons, then count it as an added bonus! She shares insight and resources from walking the same path of mothering sons. We take time to speak hope and courage to single moms and conclude that a mother’s heart to see her children succeed cannot rest alone in a husband, mentor or "perfect home” but can only truly rest in the heart of her Savior. Happy listening! 

Resources we discussed in today’s episode:

Grace Based Parenting by Tim Kimmel

Strong Mothers, Strong Sons: Lessons Mothers Need to Raise Extraordinary Men by Meg Meeker

Every Man’s Battle by Stephen Arterburn

Every Young Man’s Battle by Stephen Arterburn

Raising Boys By Design: What the Bible and Brain Science Reveal About What Your Son Needs to Thrive by Gregory L. Jantz

Bringing Up Boys by James Dobson

Preparing for Adolescence by James Dobson

*These books and online resources are not a ministry of SRBC. Although we may differ with some of the author's standards or convictions, we have found many truths founded on Biblical principles and practical tips that have been a great help. We always encourage listeners to read/listen with discretion through the lens of God's Word.

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Media Director: Jennifer Beil

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While shopping recently, I noticed a sign that said, “Quiet women seldom make history.” I confess I tucked it away, and hid it by a different piece of decor. I recognize that we live in a world dominated by feminist thinking: fighting for equal rights, resisting male authority and shirking Biblical womanhood, but does this mindset truly prevail? Are we entirely dominated by this movement of unbiblical thinking? I think not. It’s my belief that while quiet women may not find themselves in the spotlight often, its the quiet women that more than make history, shape history.

It’s my belief that there is a remnant of women quietly pursuing the rights of other, and quietly embracing Biblical womanhood as friends, daughters, sisters, wives, mothers and teachers of good things, all under the umbrella of God-ordained authority.  Women who are respected, loved and full of confidence because their confidence is not rooted in their own identity but in their Heavenly Father who created them for His purpose.

So, the question must be asked, “What makes a woman truly great?” Well, the answer lies in who holds the measuring stick. Women like Ann Judson, and Darlene Diebler Rose are scarcely remembered by the world we live in today.  Proverbs 31:30 says, “ Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, shall be praised.” I believe these women and others, caught the eyes of their Savior and captivated the attention of the God of Heaven as the stories of their lives quietly played out.

Resources we discussed in today's episode:

All available at rurecovery.com/shop:

Victim or Victorious? Biographical Sketches of Seven Phenomenal Women by Wendy Burks

A Worthy Model/ and Teacher's Guide by Wendy Burks

Finding Security in an Insecure World

My Heart In His Hands: Ann Judson of Burma by Sharon James

Evidence Not Seen by Darlene Diebler Rose

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Media Director: Jennifer Beil

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As adults, we have a great and delicate responsibility to teach purity to those following behind us.  We live in a world that shouts everything but purity. And if we’re not walking closely to God, asking for His wisdom, we can easily steer away from teaching our children and teenagers purity and holiness for fear of what others will label us as.  We can also go so far to teach purity that we hurt others with our standards and convictions, forgetting to couple grace and truth.  It’s a balancing act for sure.  We want to reach the world, but not be of the world.  We want to be a light shining bright, not dimmed by sin, drawing men to Christ.  But living pure in today’s culture will prove difficult at times. But friend, there is hope! Is it worth it? Yes! And can we pursue holiness and still lovingly lead people to Christ? Absolutely.

Resources we discussed in today’s episode:

Family Survival In An X-Rated World by Adrian Rogers

Twenty-One Tenants of Biblical Femininity/ Biblical Masculinity by Jerry Ross

Before You Meet Prince Charming by Sarah Malley

Your Body Is Not Your Own, Your Mind Is Not Your Own by JoBeth Hooker

Six Ways to Keep the Good in Your Boy by Dannah Greesh

Six Ways to Keep the Little in Your Girl by Dannah Greesh

The Bride Wore White by Dannah Greesh

The Secret Keeper by Dannah Greesh

Different By Design by Cary Schmidt

Living Pure In an Impure World by Jim Binney

Online Resources:

VidAngel

PluggedIn

Birds & Bees? Oh, help me please: Mary Flo Ridley Ep.25 (Don’t Mom Alone Podcast)

Birds & Bees (Continuing the Conversation) Mary Flo Ridley & Megan Michelson

*These books and online resources are not a ministry of SRBC. Although we may differ with some of the author’s standards or convictions, we have found many truths founded on Biblical principles and practical tips that have been a great help.  We always encourage listeners to read/listen with discretion through the lens of God’s Word.

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Media Director: Jennifer Beil

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The Bible has clear examples of generational history and history often proves that as generations continue, Christians have a tendency to decline in succeeding to pass on their faith, let alone produce a generation that thrives in their faith… But God is always greater than our failures. All through the Bible we see God looking to use a lineage, a family, a father to trace His hand and point His children to God’s purpose and plan. And God still desires to do this today!

Two reasons for today’s podcast are this: 1. To look back to a godly heritage and learn and 2. To look to one couple’s example of continuing in that heritage.  Mark and Lacey would be the first to tell you they are far from perfect and it is never our goal to point you to perfect people. But to our Savior, who has the power to change lives, mold hearts and His ability to use the powerful influence of the home to reach generations of lives with the Word of God.

It’s my hope that second and third generation Christians will be encouraged to continue in their godly heritage and to not take for granted the price that others have paid to pave the way. And may new believers have their faith increased for building foundations for future generations to come.  

Show Notes:

Making Home Work In a Broken Society by Paul Chappell

Raising Boys by James Dobson

Recommended Music by the Clark Family

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Media Director: Jennifer Beil

Logo Design: Jamie Hurst