I have been incredibly blessed over the past several years to connect with other individuals who are doing similar work. Laura Howe is one of those people.

Laura and I met as part of a mastermind we were both in. Where I focus on helping individual women come alongside their loved ones who are hurting, she focuses on equipping the church to support those in their congregations and communities. She does this through her organization, Hope Made Strong. 

Back in 2021, we were each other’s podcasts, and today, I want to share an excerpt from my interview on her podcast. Laura and I talk about the power of companionship for those who are hurting, plus how your church can minister to the grieving during the Christmas season by offering a Blue Christmas service.

Kari

>> Get your free ticket to the 2025 Church Mental Health Summit (affiliate link):

http://lovedoesthat.org/mentalhealthsummit  

RELATED EPISODES + RESOURCES:

·       Care Ministry Podcast, Episode 11 – The Power of Standing with Those Who Are Struggling with Kari Bartkus

·       Episode 7 – 5 Things to Say When You Don't Know What to Say with Laura Howe

·       Episode 42 – Offering a Blue Christmas Service to Honor the Loss and Cling to the Hope

·       Episode 95 – Blue Christmas Mini Service: Holding On to Hope in the Midst of Suffering and Loss

·       Advent resource – When Your Silent Night Feels Empty

·       Courageous Care book, available on my website or on Amazon

______

>> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop

>> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief and trauma journaling program

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently

>> Speaking

http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking

Music by DappyTKeys

“God doesn’t talk to me.”

“I can’t hear God’s voice.”

“I don’t know what God sounds like.”

Hearing from God is pivotal to the life of a Christian. Not only do we seek guidance from His Word, but we also ask Him questions about which path to take, what to do, and how He wants us to behave. We want insight into situations we find ourselves in. And we long to receive His words of love and comfort, especially when life around us is full of chaos and heartache.

Yet there are times when we struggle to hear His voice, when it seems that He is silent. Why is that?

I won’t be able to address any and every situation that might make it harder to hear from God—at least, not all in this episode. But there is one issue in particular that I’ve noticed in my own life, and I bet you can recognize it in yours, too. And if we truly want to hear from God, it’s something that we’re going to have to address.

So what is it? What can prevent us from hearing from God? You don’t expect to.

Let’s take a few minutes and unpack this idea together.

Kari

RELATED EPISODES:

·       Episode 183: [Bible Journal Session] How Do You Need to Be Restored?

·       Episode 173: [Written Spiritual Direction Session] Dialogue Journaling

·       Episode 99: Spiritual Practices to Help You Learn to Hear God's Voice (Re-Release)

·       Episode 94: Entering the Silence and Stillness with God: A Conversation with Blogger and Writer Celia Miller

·       Episode 91: When God is Silent: Experiencing His Presence in New Ways

_____

>> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop

>> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief and trauma journaling program

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently

>> Speaking

http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking

Music by DappyTKeys

There are many ways to journal, but one of my favorites is to journal as I read the Bible. I take note of things that grab my attention, I ask questions, and I explore various ideas together with God as a result of the passage I’ve read.

Today, I want to invite you into a Bible journaling session with me. We’ll pray and journal through Psalm 23:3 together. And though it is a familiar passage, I pray God would meet you there and share His heart with you. I know this has been a powerful verse for me.

We’ll use my Bible Journaling Framework:

·       Ready

·       Recognize

·       Receive

·       Respond

If you’d like to learn more about journaling together with God, you can get access to my free journaling workshop at lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop or download my guide entitled 20 Ways to Journal with God, which you can find at lovedoesthat.org/store.

Kari

RELATED EPISODES:

·       Episode 168: [Journal Reviews] Bible Study Journals

·       Bonus Episode 19: [Scripture Reading] The Good Shepherd (Ezekiel 34, Psalm 23, John 10)

·       Episode 166: God in the Midst of the Storm: A Devotional Reading of Mark 6:45-52

·       Episode 117: Running Away From God: A Devotional Bible Study on Jonah 1

______

>> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop

>> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief and trauma journaling program

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently

>> Speaking

http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking

Music by DappyTKeys

As women, as moms, we carry a lot of responsibilities, and sometimes a lot of expectations—from ourselves and from others. Yet one thing is clear: God has called us to keep our families as a top priority.

The question is, how do we do that?

In this episode, I talk with life and business coach Danielle Roberts and we explore what this might look like, often sharing personal examples from our own lives.

Danielle and I are both work from home, homeschooling moms, but we recognize that women fill all kinds of roles and callings. So there’s no judgment here. Just an open conversation between friends about how to care for our precious families that God has entrusted us with. 

We talk about:

·       Not comparing your family/priorities with others

·       God's funny timing

·       How many priorities you can actually have

·       Balancing discipline and discipleship

·       Letting your husband know you care

·       And deciding what’s best for you and your family

This whole thing is something that needs to be regularly evaluated, and changes made when needed. And I wonder what God might reveal to you as you listen. Is He reaffirming a choice you have already made? Inviting you to make a change? I encourage you to listen for His voice in the midst of this conversation with Danielle—see what He might be saying to you.

Kari

CONNECT WITH DANIELLE:

·       Website

·       Instagram

·       5 Creative Ways to Rest

RELATED EPISODES:

·       Episode 48: The Power of Pre-Deciding in Difficult Seasons

·       Episode 148: Don't Vacuum While the Dog's Sleeping: A Story About Juggling Responsibilities

·       Episode 160: When Life Changes, Re-evaluate

______

>> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop

>> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief and trauma journaling program

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently

>> Speaking

http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking

Music by DappyTKeys

Have you ever prayed for God to open doors for you so it’s clear which way you should go, which decision you should make? 

But, my friend, take a minute and think about the sayings we Christians have:

·       If God shuts the door, He always opens the window.

·       God doesn’t close one door without getting ready to open another with bigger and greater things.

·       He will open the doors of opportunity as He sees fit and close doors that He doesn’t want us going through.

Are these true? Are they the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Is there anything we’re missing?

I believe that circumstances, like what we call open doors and closed doors, can definitely be a way for God to lead us through major decisions. 

But I think we need to be really, really discerning about how we go about this. Because the truth is, some open doors aren’t from God, and some closed doors aren’t from Him, either.

So how should circumstances play a role in our decision-making process? Today, I want to explore what the Bible says about open and closed doors and how we can use them to discern which path to take.

Kari

RELATED EPISODES:

·       Episode 77: Three Prayers for Discernment: Making Difficult Choices in Difficult Seasons

·       Episode 108: Just Because Something's Hard Doesn't Mean It's Wrong

·       Episode 158: Burdens vs. Loads: Discerning When to Help Someone

______

>> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop

>> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief and trauma journaling program

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently

>> Speaking

http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking

Music by DappyTKeys

It’s probably no surprise to you that I am an avid reader, averaging about one or two books a week. Not only do I read for fun, but I also get to read for work, editing and proofreading book manuscripts right before they get published. 

I’m guessing that if you’re listening to this episode, you like to read, too. And I’ve learned that books can often prompt some powerful journaling sessions with God.

But how do you know which books to journal about and what to write? 

Today, I’ve got 8 ideas to get you started, plus 10 book recommendations you might want to check out for yourself.

Kari

See list of book recommendations here.

RELATED EPISODES:

·       Episode 137: 3 Easy Ways to Journal When You Don't Know What to Write About

·       Episode 153: Can 5 Minutes Journaling Really Make a Difference?

·       Episode 61: Perceiving God's Presence and Love with Spiritual Director and Author Sharon Garlough Brown

·       Episode 172: Trusting God Through Obedience: A Conversation with Neil Broere

______

>> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop

>> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief and trauma journaling program

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently

>> Speaking

http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking

>> Editing

http://karibartkus.com

Music by DappyTKeys

Deciding on my major in college really wasn’t that hard for me. I knew I wanted my studies to focus on the Bible and speech. I wanted to learn more about His Word so that I could communicate it clearly to those around me. So that’s what I did: I majored in communication and minored in biblical studies, taking as many classes as I could to understand more about the Bible and spiritual formation. 

The truth is, as much as I love supporting women as they seek healing in God and as they journal together with Him, one of my biggest passions is teaching God’s Word. You can see how the two go hand-in-hand, yet they are also distinct. Separate.

Teaching His Word has looked different for me over the years. Sometimes I was teaching children, sometimes youth, sometimes adults. Sometimes in small group settings, other times in large group ones. Always teaching in my local church, yet also sometimes teaching as a guest in places like retreats and conferences.

And today, you get a special treat. Because I’m sharing a message I gave titled “Love Does That,” which is where my business name comes from.

I originally gave this message in 2016. I started Love Does That in 2018. Which means I am now 7 years into this thing. Though there have been a few twists and turns along the way as I continue to discern how God wants me to use this space for Him, it is always an absolute honor and a privilege for me to use His Word to stir up the faith of others.

So I invite you to join me as we go back and listen to the message that started it all. 

Kari

>> Speaking

http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking

RELATED EPISODES:

·       Episode 106: Leading As An Introvert

·       Episode 57: A Heart to Heart with Women's Ministries Leaders: You've Got to Reach Out to Those in Your Church Who Are Hurting

·       Episode 12: Caring for Hurting Kids at Your Church: 3 Powerful But Simple Things You Can Do

·       Bonus Episode: Dry Bones: A Resurrection Story

______

>> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop

>> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief and trauma journaling program

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently

Music by DappyTKeys

It's funny how pieces of our stories get set down, lost, discovered, or picked up again. 

Some pieces we hide away, hoping never to look at them again. (We think if we don't acknowledge them, they never really happened, right?) Of course, some pieces always stay with us, regularly in the forefront of our minds. And some, we never really know how they're going to fit in until years down the road. But they're all pieces of us. They're not good, necessarily. They're not bad, either. They just... are.

Today, I want to talk about what healing might look like as we explore our stories one piece at a time. Then, I have a special invitation for you for this summer.

Kari

>> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief and trauma journaling program

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently

RELATED EPISODES:

·       Episode 164: 3 Key Lessons for Journaling in Difficult Seasons

·       Episode 147: The Flip-Out Rule in Journaling

·       Episode 98: Grief Has A Way Of… Well, Getting In The Way: A Personal Letter From Me To You

______

>> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop

>> Speaking

http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking

Music by DappyTKeys

What hard decisions have you had to make? Maybe it regarded your job, like me. Or maybe it focused on which school your kids should go to, or where you live. Maybe someone in your family needed extra care from you, and that meant you had to step away from something else, at least for a little while.

There are hard decisions, and then there are decisions you don’t want to make—when your heart and your head are telling you two different things.

Lauren Black had a decision like this. And she has had to lay down her dream and move forward in surrender.

Lauren is a Decision Coach, as she’ll talk more about in our first moments together. And she has been able to develop some frameworks that have helped her—and others—discern what choices to make. 

We also talk about how to grieve these hard decisions and if you should ever reconsider decisions later down the road. Is it okay to change your mind? Or is that too flakey?

And after this conversation, be sure to catch our episode over on Lauren’s podcast, Anchored Decisions.

Kari

Listen to my episode on Lauren’s podcast, Anchored Decisions:

www.anchoreddecisions.com/35

CONNECT WITH LAUREN BLACK:

·       Anchored Decisions website

·       Instagram

·       Free Decision Compass

RELATED EPISODES:

·       Episode 77: Three Prayers for Discernment: Making Difficult Choices in Difficult Seasons

·       Episode 160: When Life Changes, Re-evaluate

______

>> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop

>> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief and trauma journaling program

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently

>> Speaking

http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking

Music by DappyTKeys

In high school, my best friend and I were known as the Perfectionists. We had high standards for ourselves when it came to our school work, our extracurricular activities, and our jobs. If someone asked us to do something, they knew it would be done and be done well. Extremely well.

While I have relaxed some over the years, I still have a high standard I hold myself to. Remember that strength of “responsibility” I mentioned last time? I tend to beat myself up if I don’t meet a deadline or forget to follow up with someone. I feel horrible about it and do everything I can to make it up to the other person.

This perfectionism can show up in many areas of life, including our journaling. In fact, I dare say it’s one of the biggest obstacles I see women facing as they start a journaling practice of their own.

But it’s tricky. It doesn’t always look like perfectionism. So today, we’ll talk about the disguises perfectionism can wear in your journaling and what you can do to overcome it.

Kari

RELATED EPISODES + RESOURCES:

·       20 Ways to Journal with God (PDF)

·       Episode 164: 3 Key Lessons for Journaling in Difficult Seasons

·       Episode 153: Can 5 Minutes Journaling Really Make a Difference?

______

>> Free Journaling Workshop: 3 ways to encounter God on the pages of your journal

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalingworkshop

>> Journal Gently: An 8-week grief and trauma journaling program

http://lovedoesthat.org/journalgently

>> Speaking

http://lovedoesthat.org/speaking

Music by DappyTKeys