Journal Gently: Spiritual Formation for Christian Women

Guided Scripture reading has been powerful for me because it helps me engage with the story in a deeper way. It's often combined with a practice called imaginative prayer, where you use all of your senses and imagination to enter into the story itself. What sounds do you hear? What does it smell like? Who is around you? And then God uses these details and stories to speak to you right where you are.

It might feel a little strange at first. We've been taught to use our reasoning and knowledge when we read the Bible, not our imaginations.

But, you see, God has given us a mind to both reason and imagine, and when we use that reasoning and imagination with God's guidance in a prayerful posture, He will empower us to engage more deeply with His Word… and ultimately, engage more meaningfully with Him.

So I invite you to find a quiet place. Get settled. And let's see what God has to say to us today.

Let's encourage one another…

Kari

RESOURCES:

• Register for the "When God Says No" Online Mini-Retreat

CONNECT:

• Shop Encouragement + Sympathy Gifts
• Facebook
• Instagram

Today I want to share with you a conversation I had with Laura Howe, founder of an organization called Hope Made Strong. I met Laura online and, when I saw what her mission was, I immediately asked to have a chat with her to learn more.

Hope Made Strong is all about equipping church and ministry leaders to care for those in their community in a healthy and God-honoring way. And whether you're a ministry leader or not, I know you'll learn so much through this conversation.

We talk about five things to say when you don't know what to say. Laura shares information, practical tips, and real-life examples. I know you won't want to miss it.

Let's encourage one another…

Kari

MEET OUR GUEST:

Laura loves to equip you and your ministry team as you support and care for others in your community. Founder of Hope Made Strong and the Church Mental Health Summit with over 15 years of experience as a registered social worker focused on mental health and addictions, Laura combines her skills with a passion for equipping and strengthening faith leaders. Her online courses and in-person presentations create conversations that lead to hope, strength, and resilience in leadership.

CONNECT WITH LAURA:

• Hope Made Strong Website
• Facebook
• List of Curious Questions That Will Help You Offer the Right Support
• Church Mental Health Refresh (affiliate link—get 20% off using coupon code "encourage")
• Finding Hope in Helping (affiliate link)

CONNECT WITH KARI:

• Shop Encouragement + Sympathy Gifts
• Facebook
• Instagram

Today, I want to share something incredibly special with you. You see, I gave a message back in 2016. A message that ignited all this we call Love Does That. A message that my husband Mike, before we even got married, heard. And this phrase—Love Does That—became a motto, of sorts, for our marriage.

So when I started a simple Etsy shop to sell a devotional I had written and had to come up with a name for the shop, the only thing that came to mind was Love Does That. Yet Love Does That has grown to be so much more than we could have imagined.

We just celebrated our third business birthday, so it seems like an especially powerful way for us to remember why we do what we do. I'll share more on our story in later episodes, but for now, let's go back and listen to the message that started it all. Enjoy.

Let's encourage one another…

Kari

RESOURCES:

• Mighty KidMin! Online Children's Ministries Conference (affiliate link)
• Buy the Imagine Devotional for $5

CONNECT:

• Shop Encouragement + Sympathy Gifts
• Facebook
• Instagram

It's so important for us to grow in discernment because we need God's help when it comes to encouraging and caring for those around us. It's not a one-size-fits-all answer. Our needs are different. Our personalities are different. Our situations are different. What would be encouraging for one person might be humiliating for another.

And so we come to God with a posture of openness for what would be most meaningful to our friend, and not just what is most convenient for us.

In future episodes, we'll talk more about how to encourage others when we have limited time and resources. But today, we're going to explore some things we can do to discern God's guidance when it comes to reaching out to a certain friend.

Let's encourage one another…

Kari

RESOURCES:

• Mighty KidMin! Online Children's Ministries Conference (affiliate link)
• How to Encourage Someone Based on Their Love Language

CONNECT:

• Shop Encouragement + Sympathy Gifts
• Facebook
• Instagram

Discernment is another foundational topic for us as we consider how to offer encouragement and care to those in our lives who are hurting. Think about the questions you have when someone you care about is hurting:

• How do I know how God is leading me to help others?
• My friend seems to be having a hard time. How do I know whether to approach them about it or not?
• What do I say to loved ones who are hurting?
• When do I say "yes" to helping someone and when do I need to let others be the ones to help instead?

I know there are books and articles out there that will tell you, "Say this, don't say that." "Do this, don't do that." But the truth is, what is helpful for one person isn't necessarily helpful for another. And to make it even more difficult, saying one thing at one moment in time could be hurtful, but saying it a few weeks or even days later is just what they needed to hear.

I have learned that we have to develop discernment so that we can let God be the one to guide us in caring for our friends. So today, I want to walk you through a few simple practices that can help you learn to recognize His voice and His presence in your life. Are you ready?

Let's encourage one another…

Kari

RESOURCES:

• Mighty KidMin! Online Children's Ministries Conference (affiliate link)

QUOTES:

• "As I grow in my relationship with God, I find that he often uses the repetition of a phrase or word or idea represented in Scripture not only to get, but also to keep my attention." (Margaret Feinberg)
• "Discover how God has been present with us throughout the day… and for those areas that need cleansing, purifying, and healing." (Richard Foster)
• "Truth, beauty, and goodness are living realities because they are the attributes of the living and triune God." (Harry Reeder)

CONNECT:

• Shop Encouragement + Sympathy Gifts
• Facebook
• Instagram

In this podcast, I want to teach you a really simple way to check in with someone without intruding. I offer this because I know how difficult it can be to see someone who is struggling, but question the best way to approach them and ask about it. We feel like we're butting in, or maybe we feel like we're going to offend them if we ask questions. Or maybe we're just afraid of rejection.

But we've got to find a way to break through those fears and concerns because… what if NO ONE checks in with them? What happens then? They go home thinking that no one cares. And that's definitely not the message we want to send.

So let's break through the fears and concerns and learn how three simple words can make a powerful difference.

Let's encourage one another…

Kari

RESOURCES:

• Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership podcast, season 7
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

CONNECT:

• Shop Encouragement + Sympathy Gifts
• Facebook
• Instagram

Hey, my friend. I want to welcome you to this special bonus episode where I share a guided prayer and meditation about sitting with our friends in their grief and heartache. I invite you to find a quiet place where you can truly engage with the prayer, truly ready to engage with God, or to come back to it when you find yourself at a loss of words when your friend is truly struggling.

I let this episode end with quiet music, and I invite you to sit there with God until you're ready to end this prayer time with Him. And know that I'm praying for you, my friend.

Let's encourage one another…

Kari

BACKGROUND PIANO MUSIC:

• DappyTKeys

CONNECT:

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram

Today, we are going to talk about one of the most important truths when it comes to encouraging others, a truth that will help us set the foundation for all the other conversations we're going to have.

Are you ready? Here we go: we can't encourage everybody.

I would love to make and send a card to every person I know who is having a hard day or going through a difficult season. I would love to be able to pick up groceries and make meals and watch kids and drive people to appointments… but I can't. I literally can't do it all. And you can't either.

That's why we have to prayerfully discern who God is inviting us to reach out to.

Today, I'm going to share with you some general principles that God has guided me to. I encourage you to listen, and then ask God to show you who He wants you to focus on when it comes to caring for those who are hurting.

Let's encourage one another…

Kari

QUOTE:

Dallas Willard: "There is a distinctive emphasis by Jesus on loving your neighbor, your 'near dweller,' not upon loving 'humanity' or 'everyone.' What this means is that our duty and our virtue is to love those with whom we are in effectual contact–those we can really do something about."

CONNECT:

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram

In this introductory episode, learn a bit more about my journey from ministry to ministry-minded business and how God is calling me to do more than make encouragement and sympathy gifts, but actually use my gifts of teaching and speaking to equip Christian women like you to care for your loved ones in times of grief.

We all have similar questions and concerns when our friends are hurting: What do I say? What can I do? I feel like I'm intruding… Won't they ask for help if they need it? I don't have the time… I can't encourage everybody…

My friends, these are all honest questions, and I want to address each one in turn, but I don't want these to get in the way of our reaching out to others. Because that's what often happens. Our worries and fears prevent us from taking action, and then our friends and loved ones go through their season of hurt alone.

This podcast is all about finding ways to notice those around us who are hurting, and then compassionately reaching out so they don't have to go through it alone.

Let's encourage one another…

Kari

CONNECT:

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram

OTHER PODCAST EPISODES:

• Legacy Entrepreneur (This is Legacy)
• Handmade CEO
• Christian Woman Leadership