Another episode on anger? Yep—and with good reason. We are banking on the fact that at some level, we all have anger issues. Last week, we learned that the feeling of anger isn’t a sin in and of itself. Even Jesus got angry. The tipping point is understanding the motive behind our anger and even more so, how we choose to deal with it. This week on the pod, Lisa and Ali give some healthy ways we can deal with our anger in the heat of the moment, or what Ali describes as “drive-by anger.” Lisa also shares a personal story about the verbal lashing she received from a total stranger and the surprising lessons God taught her through that experience.

Links:

Got Questions article

https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-anger.html

Anger is a tricky emotion. As Christians, we typically don’t want to admit that it is something that we struggle with and feel. After all, isn’t peace the goal? But the truth is that we all get angry, and let’s be honest, most of us tend to excuse and justify it. Plenty of us have heard others—maybe even ourselves—claim “righteous anger,” but is that something we are even capable of as sinful humans, or is righteous anger something only Jesus can claim? In Part 1 of this two-part series, Ali and Lisa get real about anger—what is often behind it, whether or not it is a sin, and what the Bible teaches us about Jesus and why He really flipped those tables in the temple. 

Links:

Wiersbe Bible Commentary

https://www.amazon.com/Wiersbe-Bible-Commentary-Vol-Commentaries/dp/0781445418

Untangle Your Emotions

https://www.amazon.com/Untangle-Emotions-Bible-Study-Streaming/dp/0310171458/ref=asc_df_0310171458?mcid=a32ae9a2daeb3424ac9ae99253652f78&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693674918115&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10300517288326280181&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9021612&hvtargid=pla-2273568150160&psc=1

How often do we as women find ourselves feeling like a “red hot mess,” trying our hardest to do all the things while never quite feeling like we are getting it right? In fact, Lisa and Ali often joke that this would be their band name (if they had any musical skills or aspirations). For most of us, this frazzled state of mind is more than a little relatable. But is this really where God wants us to stay? Are we all just red hot messes after all? In this episode, Lisa and Ali discuss their personal struggles with chaos and then look to scripture to find Biblical responses that can help us find peace and stability, even in the middle of our most hectic days.

Links:

Prayer Journal for Women

https://www.amazon.com/Prayer-Journal-Women-Scripture-Devotional/dp/1941325823/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=L94CHXJSFA1Y&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.TngcSha4T0ry7yXZvCTW6FK8jjjsiT-TgdClhd08NazEyrCmr8g5fLf4k_kz7yfr5-2S4lr0gg6znhABb_oIn5a-YLCiOGe60vJl1z6xh_fgYzCSJQgnsWa9ANk5g_-AWcwSh3EY3WCFTmwx0TyOVh0RYXa4iyoI6V8Jo3qZ3B0vFTvTahNm0U8bp0-i-xlAA6ZBiLEoZKfbcYXP9zrmn9eceGvSLh1p5RJz0flu5kRbnt5UxBH820AOIWN2qMoEPI7qQOrcnELr-ST75yQ-wCs3P9rT9ArE-ntdU8zuJEE.q6_qO8SoPq22hvUcBeQnEwbyTYzqsyXVCFdjc4Np-Co&dib_tag=se&keywords=prayer+journal&qid=1737578936&sprefix=prayer+journal%2Caps%2C131&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

We’ve all heard about the power of prayer, but is that our reason for praying? Do we only pray so that we get what we want? Should there be more to our prayers than simply stating our needs? This week, Ali and Lisa are tackling these questions and more in order to get to the heart of what God intends our prayer life to be. Instead of making prayer something we “should do” or “have to do,” let’s see what Jesus teaches us and how we can start looking at prayer as something we “get to do.”

Links:

When You Pray

https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/when-you-pray-bible-study-book-with-video-access-P005837641?mcid=Adwords-sb-PLA-005837641&cmpid=pm:ggl:220725|oth|shopping|women|women|17853994734|womens_pmax:pla:na&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAst67BhCEARIsAKKdWOnoEiFwAog2IpgKk9gNO0nfOKI-f5K8kmxaveKmx3GUKQkCMeKWohcaAs5WEALw_wcB

As we head into a new year, a lot of us are planning, setting goals, and maybe even making some resolutions. This is all good, good stuff. We are big fans of intentionality here on the pod. However, as believers, we need to make sure our plans are grounded in the larger truth that God is the One in control and that it is His plan, not ours, that will prevail. This week on the pod, we are unpacking the concept of God’s sovereignty—what that means and why it is good news for us. We may not always fully comprehend or even agree with the ways of God, but what a comfort to love and serve a God who is bigger than our own limited understanding. If God is good, then His plan is not only good, it is better than anything we could ever come up with on our own. 

Links:

“So Will I”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2U7ffUM5Ec

Most of us are in the thick of all things Christmas right now – decorating, baking, shopping, and doing our best to attend all the festivities. It’s all so much fun, but let’s be honest…it’s also a lot of stress, chaos, and activity. Some of us are already feeling the fatigue set in and when that happens, it's easy to get distracted and forget what this season is really all about. This week on the pod, listen in as Lisa and Ali remind us to not miss “the who” for “the what” this Christmas. In the midst of all of our preparations, let’s not miss out on enjoying the people in our lives that God has gifted us with and, most importantly, let’s not forget to enjoy the gift of His Son.
In the end, the details don’t matter. People matter. Jesus matters. May we allow that to be enough for us this Christmas.

This week, we welcome guest Melissa Kachin to the pod! Melissa is a wife, mom, and licensed therapist specializing in women’s issues and trauma recovery. She is also a member of Hickory Creek Church and leads and coordinates our Advent study. As we head into Christmas season, we wanted to lean on Melissa’s expertise to help us navigate all the feelings and expectations that usually come with the holidays. As Melissa says, Christmas doesn’t mean we leave all of our difficult emotions and nervous systems behind. Listen in as Ali, Lisa, and Melissa talk about practical ways we can manage our expectations this Christmas and how we can reset our focus in those moments when we feel overwhelmed, sad, or disappointed. 

As we get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving this week, we all know that our focus should be on gratitude. But what happens if that is not how we actually feel? Do we just go through the motions and offer superficial thanks to God, or is there a way to be honest about our true feelings and still honor God? This week on the pod, Lisa and Ali discuss what God has to say about lukewarm worship, whether or not gratitude is a feeling or a choice, and how we can position our hearts to be fully present this Thanksgiving, both with God and the people in our lives.

Links:

Wiersbe Bible Commentary 

https://www.amazon.com/Wiersbe-Bible-Commentary-Vol-Commentaries/dp/0781445418

Links:

Wiersbe Bible Commentary 

https://www.amazon.com/Wiersbe-Bible-Commentary-Vol-Commentaries/dp/0781445418

How many times have you heard: Judge not, lest ye be judged? Or, in common culture: Don’t judge others. But is that what scripture truly instructs? Many people are framing this idea around the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:1, but you might be surprised to know that this verse—and those that follow—are often misunderstood and misconstrued. Yes, Jesus gives some important information about whether or not we should be judging others, but let’s be sure we understand the fullness of His teaching. Tune in this week as Ali and Lisa take a closer look at scripture to answer the question: Can we judge others?

Links:

Got Questions article

https://www.gotquestions.org/do-not-judge.html

Pastor Scott’s Message

https://hickorycreekchurchil.subspla.sh/x5bhpxs

“Both/and" is a phrase we use often on the pod. It’s a way of thinking that acknowledges that ideas that appear to be opposites can both still be true at once. For example, as believers, we can find comfort and hope in the promise of eternal life and yet still feel deep grief when we lose someone we love. We find the idea of “both/and” to be especially true in the Kingdom of God, which is often called “upside down” compared to the ways of the world. This week, listen in as Lisa and Ali take a closer look at the paradoxical nature of God’s ways and even within God Himself. 

Links:

Untangle Your Emotions

https://www.amazon.com/Untangle-Emotions-Bible-Study-Streaming/dp/0310171458/ref=asc_df_0310171458/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693674918115&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=808088877810583510&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9021612&hvtargid=pla-2273568150160&psc=1&mcid=e34645a19dbd3581a9d94220d77e2403

How We Feel app

https://howwefeel.org/