As a new year begins, we’re starting a series about the kind of woman we want to be: relaxed. Most of us don’t even know what the word means. The idea of becoming a relaxed woman may intrigue us - but it likely also scares us. Feels impossible. It may even make us feel ashamed - as though being relaxed is something we’re not supposed to be. We’re breaking it all down, getting honest about what gets in the way, and sharing truth and tips to help us work towards becoming the kind of woman who embraces rest, honors her limits, and lives life refreshed instead of frantic.

Hey everybody, it’s Bekki. The girls and I are spending one more week resting and taking time with our families, but as I thought about starting out a brand new year, one word kept coming to mind as I thought about my desire for 2025: Peace. We spend so much time on the podcast acknowledging our stress and the chaos we find ourselves settling for. We’re frantic and fearful - and yet continue to spread ourselves thin and work well beyond our capacity. What are we trying to do? To prove ourselves? To find joy and meaning? It clearly isn’t working, and we need to do something different. So today, we revisit the conversation we had last year about true peace - what it is and how to get it - how to LIVE it. And if you find yourself connecting with what we’re talking bout today, I urge you to listen in next week when our brand new series, The Relaxed Woman, begins. It’s a 4 part series that I couldn’t be more excited about (because I need it!) So, as this year comes to a close and a new year begins, I invite you to abandon anxiety, declutter your space and your heart, and replace some of that chaos with peace. Thanks for listening, and have a wonderful new year, everyone.

The expectations we place on ourselves and others loom large in our lives, creating stress, pressure, and resentment.

In today's episode, we talk about the strain living with unrealistic expectations creates. We share the harm the word "should" has caused and the absolute need for grace and an acceptance of our shifting capacity. We wrap up today's podcast by sharing a few truths to help us let go of the expectations that weigh down our hearts and steal our happiness.

We all want healthy relationships - so why aren't we doing the things we need to do to protect them and keep them strong? Today, we're getting into some of the most common relationship boundaries we break and get honest about why it's hard for us to hold the line. We're digging into people-pleasing, guilt, and how old wounds continue to hurt our current relationships. We wrap up the series with truths we need to hear and a few tips as we work towards balanced life-giving relationships.

Today, we begin a two-part series on boundaries. We know we need healthy boundaries in our relationships, but what about ourselves? We're taking an honest look at internal boundaries, the guidelines we need to protect our energy and well-being. We get real about the internal boundaries we break (and break a lot) and talk about why we struggle to prioritize our needs. We're taking responsibility for our wellness and working to love ourselves enough to set and keep the internal boundaries that keep us safe, energized, and committed to growth.

We wrap up our look at the Armor of God today as we take a close look at the sword of the Spirit. This is the piece of armor that is the most tangible, so why aren't we using it more? We take a look at why we resist reading our Bibles and get honest about why it can be taught. We also get real about why we need to pick it up and how it's so much more than a book. We're sharing tips and truth about this life-changing, life-giving roadmap we've been given.

We continue our study of the Armor of God by taking a look at the helmet of salvation. Salvation is something that can be hard to wrap our minds around, so today, we're digging into what it means - not just in death - but in our right now. We talk about why the concept of salvation can be hard for us and get into why our salvation is likened to a helmet. What is the connection between salvation and our mind? We're talking about doubt, trust, and renewing our minds as we secure our helmets and become confident in our salvation.

We continue our series on the Armor of God by looking at the shield of faith. Our faith is a gift and strong protection during trials, but we fight it. We're getting real about some of the reasons it's hard to have faith and why we need to hold on to it. We have an honest conversation about doubts and fears because we've all got them. But also share ways to strengthen our faith and talk about why our faith is necessary. As always, this episode is full of tips and truth as we investigate this vital piece of our spiritual armor.

We continue our study on the armor of God by talking about the shoes of peace. Why does peace feel so elusive? And if we find ourselves craving it, why do we resist the habits and practices that bring it? We get honest about why we reject the peace available to us and dig into what peace has to do with the gospel. We're talking about trading fear and anxiety for trust and confidence so we can walk with stead feet - fully prepared to meet challenges, spread love, and experience a life filled to the brim with life-giving peace.

We continue our series on the armor of God by looking at the Breastplate of Righteousness. We don't use those words a lot - so do they really matter? Does this concept still apply? What does righteousness even mean? We answer these questions as we wrestle with the concepts of sin and grace and get honest about our tendency to try to prove our goodness. Temptation is real - but so is the absolute freedom that comes from leaning into our new life and the protection the breastplate of righteousness offers.