Gather 'Round with Rebecca Spooner

You know the popular saying, "Ignorance is bliss"? So often in our lives it is easier to just pretend everything is okay and allow ourselves to be like a rubber dingy in the ocean, tossed around by the waves of what life brings. But this isn't what we were called to. You and I have been called to be rooted, to stand firm, to suit up, and to be on guard. We all talk about spring cleaning our houses, but what about spring cleaning our hearts? As quickly as our kids' bedrooms can be destroyed, our perspective can be tainted by the lies we believe and the license we give ourselves to be entitled to our feelings. Come join me for a podcast about taking your thoughts (and feelings) captive and how important it is to be on guard for those little foxes (Song of Solomon 2:14-16).

What are you taking ownership of? We've talked about taking our thoughts captive, but what happens when we don't? Today we'll be talking about some practical tools to get up and fight--and teach our children. If you've been speaking "I am, I have, I'm not, I can't, I don't . . . " it's time to test them against the Word. Are they true? Are they life? If not . . . they're about to get an eviction notice. This one's a doozy!

Today's podcast episode is all about the heart: The power of a heart that has been unraveled and is weak so that He can be strong. Whether you are walking through a season of being undone or just feeling desensitized and not even realizing how hard you have become, God seems to be highlighting to be a recurring theme of the heart. Hear some real stories of the power of compassion and gentleness as Rebecca shares some of her victories and failures, and walk away with hope in the midst of your storm, or a call to action to rise up and engage in the battle that you are most assuredly in--whether you are engaging in it or not. "Be strong and very courageous," it's time to fight!

To the overwhelmed...I see you. I see the weight that seems to be pressing in on all sides. I know what it is to feel like you can't breathe, to feel like you are failing on all sides. But I also know that the enemy of your soul wants you to believe it and stay stuck there and that is NOT what God has for you. Even in the midst of the storm, He has peace. Even in the midst of the pressure, He has joy. If you have been feeling crushed, come refocus your perspective so that you can remind yourself of what is true and start walking in victory. Come on and take my hand, and let's walk out of this pit together . . .

Do you struggle with confidence? Do you feel like a wave blown and tossed by the winds of the many different opinions and perspectives that you are faced with? Are you often uncertain or plagued with doubt and insecurity? In this episode, Rebecca shares her life passage and the invitation she feels we have as Christians to rise up and walk in maturity--to stop looking to the world for affirmation, confirmation, or qualification, and start learning how to hear God's voice and discern for ourselves. Whether you are insecure about your homeschool decisions, your theology, your marriage, your parenting, or anything else, this one's for you!

Staying soft and flexible despite hurt and disappointment is not easy. It takes intentionality, it takes practice and purpose. Like a shield around us, we put up walls, distance ourselves, or become more rigid and set in our ways--determined that we are right and only those who agree with us can stay. In today's episode, Rebecca shares a picture God gave her of how we can stay soft and flexible even amidst the hurt and disappointment. It is much harder, but it brings freedom. Come sit at the table and let's talk about it!

Are you hungry for true community and discipleship in your life or is God laying on your heart the desire to be that for someone else? Let's talk about it--what it can look like, what it definitely does not look like, and what she sees as some of the core problems. God is bringing healing and restoration to His body, and one of the ways He is doing this is through family and community. It is time for the older to teach the younger, for the mothers and fathers to rise up and speak life, and for us to lean on one another as the body of Christ.

Join Rebecca in her morning devotions as she shares from Romans 8:1: "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." We'll be talking about the difference between judgement and condemnation, the problem with extremism in the body of Christ, and how we can walk with discernment rather than judgement, being led by the Holy Spirit rather than our own self-righteousness. This is a dig deep, pull out your Bible, and "search me and know me" kind of episode . . . it ain't no milk. If you're hungry for a little bit of "spiritual solid food", this one's for you.

Join Rebecca as she shares her struggles, her burnout, her low points, and her failures and the calling God is laying on her heart to slow down and find some peace in the midst of the storms of life. Sometimes you can't stop the doing--life goes on, kids need you, businesses don't "slow down" when you want them to--but like Jesus, we can sleep in the bow of the boat, unconcerned. Like Peter, we can step out onto the water. Or maybe just like the disciples, we can only manage to cry out "Master! Save us!" No matter where we are at in our relationship with God, let's stop trying to bail out the water on our own strength and take a minute to seek what God has for us instead.

Who is Rebecca Spooner? What is this podcast about? In this intro, hear how Rebecca hopes to use this podcast to talk freely about whatever God is laying on her heart. Come walk alongside Rebecca for encouragement as God uses her journey and imperfections to point everything back to Him.