Looking Up with Kathy and Carla

“You are going to meet an old lady someday. Down the road ahead—ten, twenty, thirty years—she’s waiting for you. You will be catching up with her. What kind of old lady are you going to meet?”— Sharon Jaynes

A woman doesn’t just wake up at 80 kind and gracious, or cranky and cynical. Whether we realize it or not, the choices we make and the habits we form along the way are shaping who we will become.

In this episode, we talk about the kind of “old ladies” we want to be: women who honor God, reflect His goodness, encourage others, and keep bearing fruit. We hope this episode encourages you to take an honest look at your current habits and character, and to start making the changes that will help you grow into a kind, gracious, seasoned woman of God.

Bibles on our phones, iPads, and computers are wonderful! They make it easy to carry God's Word with us wherever we go. Still, we believe "e-Bibles" are missing something important. Our leather or hardback Bibles of paper and ink have been with us through thick and thin, through joys and sorrows. Many of us have notes in the margins from sermons and classes we were blessed to attend, taught by people we loved to hear. We feel a real affection for our paper Bibles that we probably don't feel for the electronic ones.This week, Kathy shares many reasons (we lost count!) why we love carrying our paper Bibles. Of course, this is all opinion! We'd love to hear what you think about the pros and cons of e-Bibles and paper Bibles. Let us know!

No one ever sets out to ruin their own life. But some of our everyday habits can do real damage if we don't get them under control. Things like spending too much time online or becoming self-absorbed can lead to unhappiness and heartache. This week, we're talking about six habits that might not seem so bad at first but can have lasting effects. We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Encouragement is so much more than saying "Good job!" It's more than a pat on the back. Those things matter, but true biblical encouragement goes deeper — it happens when we truly know someone, and when we notice the moments they're struggling or discouraged. Biblical encouragement gives strength to others when their own has run out. It isn't found on the surface; it has substance. This week, we're talking about what it looks like to encourage one another biblically. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this important topic!

Emily Hatfield needs no introduction to many of us—a beautiful Christian woman, friend, speaker, podcaster, preacher's wife, and mom of two precious children. But some may be unaware that she has battled severe, debilitating postpartum struggles.In this episode—one that will speak to every woman who is (or will be) a mother, loves a mother, or simply wants to know how to love and support one well—Emily opens up candidly about her journey. She offers wise, biblical guidance for walking alongside a sister facing postpartum depression or psychosis, and gently reminds us that even our best intentions can sometimes wound instead of heal. She points us toward a better, more Christlike way to care for one another—and reminds us that what we post online or say aloud can widen the very divide we're called to bridge.We believe this episode will be a lifeline to the many women suffering in silence or feeling hopeless—and just as valuable to the rest of us, as we seek to lift them up and remind them of God's love and their true worth. Please help us share this episode.

What if we all had the goal of creating a home where it's impossible not to think about God — where others can tell by our tone, our speech, and our attitudes that He lives among us, where our homes are saturated by the voice of God? Wouldn't the world be a better place if we all invited God into our homes and lives?

That's the subject of this week's discussion. Kathy has a list of eleven ways we can easily invite God into our lives. We'd love to hear your ideas for making this a reality too!

Do you ever stop to count your blessings on a day when nothing is going on? You aren't preoccupied or worried about something. You don't have anything weighing on you. No one in your house is sick...no appliances are broken. It's what we might call "an ordinary day" - although we really should see them as extraordinary, and be thankful for them!

This week's podcast is about being mindful of how we walk through our days - whether ordinary or not. We talk about how we should be sure to intentionally involve God in every single day, and be content in every situation, and approach trials (that WILL come at some point) with the right frame of mind. We hope you'll benefit from this discussion!

"May there be kindness in your gaze when you look within..." This is our starting point in this week's podcast: do you view yourself with kindness - even in your struggles and flaws? Are you overly hard on yourself, or do you give yourself grace? Also, how do you view others in THEIR problems? Have you worked to transform your heart and thoughts to see others as God sees them? And...are you mindful of your actual gaze...on your face? Do others see kindness radiating from your face? In this week's podcast we had a casual conversation about how we can work to make improvement in these areas and have the heart - and face - of Christ when we look upon ourselves and others.

What would Jesus do - really?

A few years ago, the slogan "WWJD" was all over the place, and we were asking ourselves "What would Jesus do?"

It was a great question...but did we follow through and consider - what would Jesus do - really?

This week's discussion is all about different life situations we find ourselves in, and how we should ask ourselves what Jesus would REALLY do - and then, follow through and actually do what Jesus would have done. We hope this episode is helpful to your daily walk!

No one enjoys being corrected or being confronted, but sometimes (oftentimes) it is helpful information that we need to hear! It's good to try to develop a thick skin so that we can truly hear and absorb what we need in order to make changes in our lives. We hope you enjoy this conversation about learning to be less sensitive!