How do comparisons and misconceptions impede upon your gratitude toward God and your attitude about who you are? In this episode Mary and Jay explore why many people struggle to feel content with themselves and how comparison, misunderstanding our spiritual gifts, and overlooking the Giver of every good gift can hinder true gratitude. If you long to find contentment in who you are and what you have, this conversation will be an encouragement to you.

With the holidays approaching, many of us look forward to family gatherings — but along with the joy can come stress, busyness, and even conflict. In this episode, we explore how understanding personality differences can transform tension into connection. From biblical examples like Moses and Aaron, Mary and Martha, and even Paul and Barnabas, we'll look at how God uses unique personalities to complement rather than collide. Join us as we unpack practical ways to guard your heart, extend grace, and navigate relationships with wisdom this holiday season.

In this episode, Mary and Jay sit down with Mike Robertson to discuss business, basketball, mission trips to Bolivia and more. After going through PLACE for the first time with Mary last year, Mike shares how that experience has deepened and even changed his approach to leadership and given him a new lens to see people - both in ministry and everyday life. This is both a powerful and encouraging conversation about what God can do in and through you when you are obedient and faithful to give Him your yes!

In this episode, Jay and Mary unpack the difference between abilities and talents, spiritual gifts and Christian roles. They explore why these distinctions matter. Misunderstanding them can lead to misplaced expectations; but getting it right can unlock how we serve, lead, and grow in God's design.

In this episode, we sit down with longtime friend Jamie Parlor to talk about how Nations of Coaches is helping transform the game of basketball by reconnecting it to its original purpose. Inspired by Dr. James Naismith's vision "to win men for the Master through the gym," Nations of Coaches equips over 3,500 each year to help players make the connection between character and sport. Jamie shares how this mission plays out in real life - from mentoring athletes and guiding coaches, to using tools like PLACE to help leaders discover their unique design and purpose. It's a conversation about faith, leadership, and how true success goes far beyond the scoreboard.

In this episode, we sit down with longtime friend and guest Jamie Parlor to unpack the heart of Biblical Counseling—what sets it apart from Christian Counseling, and why Scripture remains central to true emotional and spiritual healing. Jamie shares insight into the goals and purpose of Biblical Counseling, how it addresses real-life struggles, and the potential pitfalls of seeking guidance that isn't rooted in God's Word. We also explore practical tools like the PLACE assessment, discussing how understanding one's unique design can deepen self-awareness, strengthen ministry, and bring clarity to vocation. Whether you're a counselor, a ministry leader, or simply someone seeking a more biblical approach to personal growth, this conversation offers a thoughtful and faith-centered look at how God's truth brings transformation.

Whether you're in a season of change or consistency, this conversation will encourage you to reflect on how God has been at work in your own story — molding you, guiding you, and using every experience for His purpose. In this episode, Ginger McSwain, co-founder of PLACE Ministries, joins Mary to discuss things like:

Life experiences that molded her faith and identity

Navigating changing roles through the lens of PLACE

What changes and what stays the same in personality and spiritual gifts

The difference between growing and changing

How self-awareness shapes parenting and marriage

There is an abundance of wisdom for so many seasons of life that is shared in this can't miss conversation.

Ever feel like you're pulled in two directions at once? You want freedom and structure, solitude and connection, creativity and order — all at the same time. In this episode, we explore how your own abilities and desires may be the source of the internal tension, frustration, or confusion you experience in life.

Join us as we dive into the "A" in PLACE — Abilities Awareness — and unpack how different ability combinations can both conflict and complement one another.

Do you ever feel discouraged when you compare how you serve to someone else? Many of us wrestle with discontentment and confusion when we assume that if our gifts don't look the same as someone else's, we must be doing it wrong. The truth is you are most effective, impactful, and content when you serve in the unique way God has designed and gifted you. In this episode, we'll explore:

• Why comparison can distort how we see our calling

• How your PLACE profile reveals your unique wiring

• The way spiritual gifts can manifest differently depending on your environment

• How to embrace the way God has made you, rather than striving to copy others

God may be leading you toward a new environment or role because He knows exactly how He has designed you. One way to discern His calling is to discover how He has designed you. When you know how He's made you, you'll understand where He's calling you. In this episode, Mary and Jay take a deep dive into Exodus 24-40, exploring the different environments God called His people into. God knows us well. The more we know ourselves, the more clear His calling might become to us.