Hey, Var!

Should we feel guilty about using our God-given abilities and talents to make money? So much confusion and controversy surrounds this topic in Christian circles, so when the question came to us from one of our friends, we couldn't wait to put our Friendship two-cents in! 

The Bible says that God gives us the ability to create wealth (Deut. 8:18) and Jesus didn't hold back much in Matthew 25 when He called the servant who failed to multiply his money "wicked and slothful."  We don't want anyone around here being called wicked and slothful, friends. So, as any two good, opinionated friends should, we kept digging to get to the root of mindsets that keep us stuck and feeling guilty. When we have a healthy understanding of WHY God gives us abilities to make money, then we can become extravagant givers and resource centers for the blessings of God to flow. 

Isn't that what we all want? We know we do! Big shout out to our friend Kiersten who challenged us this week! We loved it! 

From the latest release of Tabatha's first E-book (and how we thought it was a bestseller but as it turns out Stacey can't read) to learning and living out the meaning of Stacey's name, this episode is packed full of equal parts wisdom and equal parts wisecracks.

If life has you feeling a little stuck, listen to how Spirit-Filled Friendship can get you up and moving once again. 

We had fun with this one! Looking at some common advice out there in Friendship Land, we busted up a few myths that are almost true... but not quite! It's so easy to get swept away in what sounds good because honestly, there can be a lot of truth in conventional wisdom. BUT, when filtered through the Holy Spirit, it may not be quite as true as it sounds. As Christian women who are called to live and think higher, we have to soar above the noise to gain insight the world doesn't have so we can do what the world can't do! 

This episode will help you filter out the good from the God. After all, isn't that what we should want for our Friendships?! MYTH BUSTERS, let's go! 

This isn't your typical Thanksgiving podcast, and we are over-flowingly grateful for that. We've just returned from the Fierce Women's Conference at Convergence Point Apostolic Hub in Independence, MO, where a banquet was set for us to feast around the table of the Lord. We laughed deeply, cried irreverently, worshiped with all we had, and made new connections with women who are giving their all in pursuit of Jesus. To say we are changed is an understatement. We are transformed. 

To Pastor Shelley Lowery, our dear friend Cathy Tully, and all of our Fierce new sisters, this one's for you. We now know: The Feast is different when you eat with Warriors. Thank you for your fierce passion and unwavering devotion. We have tasted and seen and will remain in pursuit of the One who came to us this weekend. "He came. We knew that He would come." 

May your Thanksgiving be different this year as one seated in the Presence of the One who prepares the table. Feast well, sisters. 

"The anointing of your presence satisfies me like nothing else. You are such a rich banquet of pleasure to my soul." Psalm 63:5 (TPT)

Welp, we have a new BFF in town! You are going to love Robin Gerblick, Founder & Visionary of Exodus Women's Retreats: crazy-fun, transformational adventures in the beauty of the wilderness where forever friendships are forged and faith is found. Who wouldn't want to be a part of THAT?!

You can hear some of the back story as to how we know Robin in Episodes 51 & 54, but on this episode we get to talk to this amazing, adventurous woman herself! It was such a rich conversation about Friendship: how it helped build her dream and keeps it going, the special bonds created through a common vision and working together, and how Friendships change when Jesus enters the scene, plus a lot more! 

Wisdom was definitely flowing... so enjoy the Overflow from our friend, who shows us what incredible Adventure can be had when you take it with Jesus and your Friends. 

https://exoduswomensretreat.com

Have you grabbed your FREE copy of our newly released e-book: Hardwired for Friendship? 

It can be devastating to lose a friendship you thought you'd have forever. In our first e-book (yay!), Stacey walks us from heartbreak to healing by discovering God’s true design for Christian friendship so that we can build meaningful connections that last and bring purpose to our lives.

Read it for FREE here: https://www.flawsoffriendship.com

Does absence really make the heart grow fonder? What about in our friendships? Can friends survive physical distance but stay emotionally connected or vice versa? On this episode, Tabatha and Stacey kick around a topic from a teen flick that Tabatha watched from her sick bed this week. Jump in with us as we talk about the pros and cons of the distance that can come between us, and what we can do to bridge the gap when it does.

A Flaws Hebrew Friendship Breakdown

Haver (n.) - Friend and companion

Havar (v.) - Yoked together for a Heavenly task

If you've ever wondered what in the world we're talking about over here when we say weird words like Haver and Havar, this episode will clear them right up (or maybe not). We mention them all the time, but today we're exploring them side-by-side so that we understand the kind of adventure God is calling us to together. We're pulling the plug on normal Friendship and "nouning" and "verbing" our way to deep connection and motion! So come along, Var! 

Nothing can kill a Friendship quite like the Comparison game. If she's pretty, I must be ugly. If she's smart, I must be dumb. If she's good at this, then I must be bad at it. A thousand little thoughts (LIES!) like these and you're doomed, and that just won't do in Friendship HAVAR Land, where we are called to pull the load side-by-side and together! 

Aaaand you can't say we don't live out what we preach real good around here. It was Stacey's bright idea to talk about comparison, which landed us right smack dab in the middle of a Friendship fight during our first attempt at recording (for real). We pushed pause, got back our WE, hugged tight, and tried again. So, don't mind our kids Gabriel (4) and Addie (15) riding skateboards upstairs during this recording; we had to do an emergency late night Podcast session to make up for our Blow Up Gone Good. And it DID end up good. 

Sometimes it's hard to know how and where to move forward in our lives and friendships, but this week we just might have found a clue to help us. It's found in the word "zakhar," which means "to remember." Following the roots of our past helps us move forward in confidence, and it prevents us from making really dumb decisions in the present... just ask Stacey! Thank God Tabatha remembered who we are and saved us. Let's take some guidance from Hebrew culture this week and remember so that we can move forward in the fruit of our roots together.   

Join us for this Haver Homecoming Episode as Tabatha returns from her trip to AZ and Stacey rises up from her Netflix binge that carried her through worrisome flight delays and her Var so far away... Not even the wilderness of standby could stop this Exodus Retreat. There were friends made along the way and wisdom from the desert that brought Tabatha back home again.