PRN: Pause, Renew, Next

Today we’re talking about belonging and community, a subject that is applicable to every human on the planet, in any season of life. We all long to belong and be seen.

This month’s guest, Sarah Westfall, is a writer and fellow boy-mom who was gracious enough to share her own thoughts about cultivating community on this week’s episode. Sarah has written an online resource called Between You + Me, which can be found on her website: sarahewestfall.com.

Sarah and I are going to be continuing our conversation together in next week’s episode, so make sure you come back to hear part two!

If you’re not already following Sarah on social media, I encourage you to find her on Instagram, @sarah_westfall. In November on Instagram she leads Liturgy of the Little Things, an invitation to share places in our lives that we are finding joy, beauty, and meaning. I’ll be participating too, so find me as well, @pauserenewnext!

May you be encouraged on your journey with Jesus!

If you enjoyed last week’s episode about triggers, then you will love this week’s episode. We’re talking today about the opposite of a trigger, a glimmer.

Glimmers are moments and events that cause us to find safety, goodness, hope, and beauty. Glimmers allow our bodies to find felt safety, and the more time we spend savoring these moments, the more healthy and resilient we become.

I hope you are encouraged by this episode, and that you go out and find many glimmers this week. Even better, I hope some glimmer moments find you!

May you be encouraged on your journey with Jesus.

Pause, Renew, Next!

This fall, we’re continuing the soul-care series on building resilience and widening our window of tolerance. So, today we’re talking all about triggers: what they are, why we react so strongly, and how memory plays a role.

Join me for a ten minute pause in your day as we do a breathing exercise and learn together about triggers. I hope you’ll allow yourself to get curious about your own as we flip the script on how we think about them.

May you be encouraged on your journey with Jesus.

Pause, Renew, Next!

Welcome back for part two of our podcast series all about teenagers! Last week’s episode was all about raising teen girls, and in this episode we’re diving into the world of teen guys.

This week’s podcast guest, Taylor Hayden, has worked with teen guys in many capacities: through Young Life, as a licensed counselor, and in ministry as a youth group leader. In this podcast, Taylor shines a helpful light on the inner workings of the teenage mind, from their mental development to their underlying motivations. He also shares some helpful tips for connecting with and parenting adolescent guys.

As a mother of two teenage guys myself, I valued this conversation, and I think you’re going to love it too.

If something from today’s podcast episode resonates with you, I’d love to hear about it! Comment under today’s show notes or join the PRN Facebook community.

May you be encouraged on your journey with Jesus.

Pause, Renew, Next!

This episode is the first of a two-part series on navigating the teen years. Whether you know a teen, or are raising a teen yourself, the information in this podcast is so helpful!

Today’s guest is a podcast favorite, Dr. Jackie Perry. She has worked with adolescents as a clinical mental health counselor for decades, and has so much wisdom, knowledge, and encouragement to share with us.

So much is happening during the teenage years: both developmentally and socially, and in today’s episode, Jackie discusses some of these changes. We also talk about identity formation, and how social media plays a strong role in many teen’s lives. Jackie then leaves us with some helpful encouragement for parents who are navigating the turbulent teen years.

If you enjoyed today’s conversation, and you’d like to hear more from Jackie, I encourage you to check out her book: Heart Cries of Every Teen.

She also mentioned two other helpful books during today’s podcast:

• Hold On To Your Kids
• The Power of Showing Up

In next week’s episode we’ll be diving into the world of teen guys, so make sure you don’t miss that episode!

May you be encouraged on your journey with Jesus.

Pause, Renew, Next!

Welcome, friends. I’m inviting you today to jump into Scripture and practice a meditation exercise with me. For our purposes in this podcast, I’m considering meditation to be an exercise in pondering, dwelling, and thinking deeply. There is nothing better to think deeply about than God’s Word!

As always, we’ll begin together with a short, calming exercise. Then, we’ll read through Isaiah 55 together three times. Each time our focus will be slightly different.

If you could use a reset or pause in your day, then please join me for 15 minutes of renewal.

May you be encouraged on your journey with Jesus.

Pause, Renew, Next!

Today we continue our Soul-Care Reflection series about restoration and resilience. In order to heal, we must first slow down our pace of life enough to allow our souls to catch up.

In this episode we’ll start with a grounding exercise, talk about how stress and challenge affect our bodies and brains, and about how slowing down allows space for pause and reset. We’ll also talk about how nature is a natural antidote to hurry.

If you’re not already following PRN on Facebook or Instagram, now’s a great time to begin. This week, on both platforms, we’ll be sharing ways that we are intentionally practicing pause and slow-living. Come, join the conversation!

May you be encouraged on your journey with Jesus.

Pause, Renew, Next!

Over the summer, I reached out to you, my podcast listeners, about what topics you would like to hear covered on the podcast this season. The number one response I received was to continue talking about burnout and recovery. So, that’s exactly what I’m going to do!

Over the coming months, in the reflection episodes, you will see a continual theme of recovery, renewal, and resilience. We’re starting that ongoing conversation in today’s episode by uncovering and establishing the foundation for true resilience.

We’ll start with a grounding/slow-down exercise, then I’ll regale you with a story from a recent family outing, and as always, we’ll end with a Scripture benediction.

May you be encouraged on your journey with Jesus.

Pause, Renew, Next!

If you’re needing a good dose of encouragement in the fight against anxiety, then today’s episode is for you! It was such a joy to talk to author, Shay S. Mason, about her new book: Rest For The Weary: Finding Freedom From Fear in the Heart of the Father.

In this episode, Shay shares some of her own story of battling anxiety and OCD for many years. She also talks candidly about how the Lord met her with grace and love, and how she has experienced a great measure of healing. (To hear the whole story, listen to the episode!)

Shay and her husband are passionate about helping others who are struggling with weariness, fear, or discouragement in their faith. If you’d like to learn more about Shay and her writing and ministry, please visit her website: shaysmason.com. I also encourage you to check out her podcast: What If We Loved?

If something from this episode resonated with you, please comment below or join the conversation on PRN’s Facebook page.

May you be encouraged on your journey with Jesus.

Pause, Renew, Next!

Welcome friends to Season 5 of the Pause Renew Next Podcast! There is so much to look forward to about this podcast season, but I wanted to start the season with a reflection episode of hope. 

Join me for five minutes of encouragement as we slow down together and breathe. We’ll talk about Mister Rogers, Tikkun Olam, redemption, the Kingdom of Heaven, and the ministry of reconciliation. I hope this episode inspires you!

May you be encouraged on your journey with Jesus.