Our guest this week is our friend Ted Kluck - author, podcaster, journalism professor, creator and such a fun guy! Despite his many impressive accomplishments (15 books, a new movie and a podcast with Barnabas Piper!), he remains so humble and is quick to encourage the rest of us to dream big and go for it!  We loved this conversation & you will, too!

Connect with Kluck & learn more about him on his webite Read Kluck's articles in The Gospel Coalition here

Listen to Kluck's 3 podcasts at the links below:

The Happy Rant podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-happy-rant/id878250651

Kluck podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kluck/id1598263842

Gut Check https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gut-check-podcast/id947211113

Proverbs 16:24: "Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body."

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We have SO MUCH to catch up on, including what we are watching, what we are reading, and all the ways we are gearing up for a new year!  On this episode we are looking back (we share our favorite Christmas surprises this year!) and looking foward (find out why we stopped making resolutions and what we do instead!).  Do you choose a word for the year?  We have our own opinions on that, plus some real talk about our daily time with the Lord and our best advice for igniting your prayer life!

"We have to remind ourselves of the gospel every day becasue we forget the gospel every day." Martin Luther

Good questions to ask yourself as we begin a new year: How will I be more alive?  How can I be challenged?  How can I grow? What have I learned about myself as a result of the last year? What am I proud of accomplishing in 2022?  How were my "failures" actually growth opportunities? 

Romans 8:15 "This life is adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike 'what's next, Papa?'" The Message 

Romans 15:5 refers to "the God of endurance and encouragement"

Order our favorite devotional "New Morning Mercies" by Paul Tripp 

We can have the mindset every day of looking forward!  We have the God of endurance on our side!  Hang in there with Him through it!

Our new favorite book on prayer: Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools by Tyler Staton - "an invitation to the wonder & mystery of prayer" 

Want to read the bible with us in 2023?  Join our Bible Recap group here!

Download Fran's prayer journal template here 

You can also watch this week's episode on our YouTube Channel! 

Proverbs 16:24: "Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body."

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This week we talk about the very real tension, the struggle between food, shopping and trying to stay focused on sweet baby Jesus.

Want to know what we are currently watching on Netflix? Take a listen and let us know if you are watching too!

If you are near Memphis, you must go to Oxbeau and shop for the guys in your life! FABULOUS STORE!

Need a new Christmas album to listen to?  How about Christmas Sessions by Mercy Me and The Thrill of Hope by Christy Nockles.

Did you know you can watch just about every episode on our YouTube Channel? 

Have you joined our Facebook group?

Be sure and follow us on IG

We are even on TikTok!

We also have some cute boards on Pinterest :)

This podcast has a verse that we hold closely in all that we say and do.  It is Proverbs 16:24. It says, "Kind words are like honey---sweet to the sould and healing for the body."

Be kind in your words everyone! We sure do love and appreciate you.

On this episode, we talk about the status of our Christmas shopping & our favorite go-to holiday gift, Fran's favorite book and who it's perfect for, ideas for reflecting back on 2022 and looking ahead, how to navigate grace and growth in the people around us and love them where they are!  This is the exact conversation we needed this Christmas season and hope it will encourage you also. 

Shop local!  We love Hattie's Gift Shop!

Christmas amaryllis

Christy Nockels Christmas album

The Lord is My Courage: Stepping Through the Shadows of Fear Toward the Voice of Love by KJ Ramsey

This Too Shall Last: FInding Grace When Suffering Lingers by KJ Ramsey

The Daily Grace Co: "Being still isn't about a relaxing morniing.  it's about resting our anxious hearts."

Psalm 46:10 "Be still and KNOW that I am God."

You can also watch this week's episode on our YouTube Channel! 

Proverbs 16:24: "Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body."

We LOVE connecting with you!    Join our Facebook group   • Follow us on Instagram • Follow us on TikTok   • Follow us on Pinterest

Fran & Angela's rambling this week included a lively debate over Pennies from Heaven, Fran's fun recap of Natalie Grant & Danny Gokey's Christmas Show, Angela's wellness infusion experience, 6 essentials to make you feel better each day, and practical advice for saving your sanity in the crazy holiday season!  We also talk about the beauty of Advent and the childlike wonder and joy of the holiday season.  

I am a spirit, I have a soul.  I live in a body.  

"The celebration of Advent is possible only to those who are troubled in soul, who know themselves to be poor and imperfect, and who look forward to something greater to come." ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer

You can also watch this week's episode on our YouTube Channel! 

Proverbs 16:24: "Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body."

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Listen to our prior episode "It's Not Your Turn" with Dr. Heather Thompson Day 

Ways to connect with Heather:

• on her website
• Instagram
• Facebook

You can also watch this week's episode on our YouTube Channel! 

Proverbs 16:24: "Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body." This is the verse we use to keep us focused. 

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Amy Ragon knows how to get us fired up about Jesus! She's our friend, women's ministry leader and someone we respect so deeply.  In this episode, Amy shares what the Lord is teaching her through Ephesians.  You will want to take notes and listen to this conversation at least twice as she shares practical advice for living this abundant life with Jesus!

Some of our favorite takeaways:

As we start to allow the gospel to transform our lives, we look like the biblical narrative.  The gospel is the story of us - because of what Christ is doing in us as we surrender our lives.

We have to know who we are so we can live sent.  Our point of origin is in heavenly places.  We have to know who we are in Christ.  That is our starting point.

I have to give full authority to Christ. He owns my life.  What am I doing with my daily life?

4 questions to ask in our struggles:

1. Who is God?
2. What has he done?
3. Who am I?
4. How do I respond?

How do we reach the lost?  We encourage the disciples.

How are we mining our own hearts and the hearts of others with truth?

Righteousness is having a heart that looks like his.  He asks questions to get to the root of the problems we are having.  What is the root of my stress?

Good questions to ask other believers:

1. Who are you seeking?
2. What are you seeking?
3. What can I do for you?

Where are you stuck?  We can't make ourselves the central character in our stories.  That is Christ's role.  Do I want to be a healed from whatever is keeping me stuck?  Do I want to be well or do I want to keep telling the same tired story?

Discipleship is not a gift we give to God, but one that God gives to us!

You can also watch this week's episode on our YouTube Channel! 

Proverbs 16:24: "Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body."

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We heard from so many of y'all after last week's episode, so here is the logical follow up!  

What is the definition of healthy? "someone not displaying clinical signs of disease or infection" 

Am I healthy or broken? Is my cup full so that I can share from the overflow?  Self-care is essential.   Am I being kind to myself?

Indicators of being healthy:

• Am I responding or reacting?
• Am I humble & teachable?  
• Am I defensive or is this an opportunity for growth?
• Do I have the desire to examine my heart?
• Do I have boundaries in place?
• Am I an agent of health & hope?
• Am I being intentional with disciplines?
• Am I spending time in God's Word? 
• How is my prayer life?

"I keep wanting to ask the same elementary question in leadership abuse crises as one who is so flawed and has made countless mistakes.  Do leaders quit having daily time alone with God? i'm just asking because he gets in your business.  i'm just wondering how this goes unchecked." Beth Moore

"We want scripture to dwell in us.  We want to abide in the Lord." Fran

"If you want to accelerate your prayer life, pray scripture back to God. Surely he loves it when we remind him of his promises, believing they are true." Angela  

Fran teaches us how to turn scripture into prayer

Angela talks about the saying "don't birth an Ishmael." We have a choice.  We can trust God's timing or we can start manipulating outcomes.  We have to be comfortable waiting.  That pause can be so healthy as we wait on the Lord. 

In the darkness -because of the darkness - life is coming. Think about farming seasons and what takes place underground.  The Lord is at work using it all for something good.  There is health in whatever is broken.  Trust God in it. 

Colossians reminds us "He holds it all together"

It's easy to get consumed by all the darkness but let's become as healthy as we possibly can.

You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength. And all means ALL!

"So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life -your sleeping, eating, going-to-work and walking-around life-and offer it to God as an offering." Romans 12:1 MSG

Healthy lives are lived as an offering to the Lord.  That is humility. 

You can also watch this week's episode on our YouTube Channel! 

Proverbs 16:24: "Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body."

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What do we do when things are broken and we aren't sure how to respond?

Sometimes showing up is the hard thing. Even if you “failed” in the hard thing, you showed up for it. Hard things don’t equal immediate success. Brokenness doesn’t just become healed over night. The daily grind of showing up, acknowledging the broken, and THEN choosing health and healing is an awful lot to do. 

So what do you do when you don't know how to fix it?  We talk about all of this and so much more!  

Jen Simpson journals 

"Broken things are everywhere and we don't want to be afraid of them."

"I see you. I understand. I believe in you. I'm sorry that happened to you."

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind & Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk 

 Ask for generous wisdom & then count on Him to provide it! 

James 1:5 "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault"

Abide in Him! Apart from Him we cannot do the supernatural. (John 15:5) 

Auburn Community Church - Miles Fidell sermon on Luke: The Aftermath of the Cross

• Jesus did not allow the climate around him to deter his focus.
• Is my life dictated by the pressure and voices around me? or is there peace and connection and union with God that defines how I live my life each day fully submitted to the Lord.
• I have a choice each day.  I can choose to carry the energy of htre world around me OR I can become a purifier and an air filter transforming the lost world around me.
• Jesus drew strength for Calvary in Gethsemane.  What the Lord speaks to you in private will become your peace in public. 
• Getting alone with God is beholding his eye on me. 

Lysa Terkeurst new podcast Therapy & Theology & her new book Good Boundaries and Goodbyes: Loving Others Without Losing the Best of Who You are 

The Lord is My Courage: Stepping Through the Shadows of Fear Toward the Voice of Love by K.J. Ramsey

48 Laws of Spiritual Power: Uncommon Wisdom for Greater Ministry Impact by Frank Viola

Love Does (Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World) by Bob Goff

You can also watch this week's episode on our YouTube Channel! 

Proverbs 16:24: "Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body."

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Fran & Angela are back with lots of rambling! Including Fran's solo fall break adventure & the one thing she bought for herself , Angela & Cole's road trip singalong & Birmingham adventures, "rhyme without reason"  and then some spiritual encouragement including how the Lord rescues us over & over again!

Savior Please by Josh Wilson

"I  sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame."  Psalm 34:4-5

"Spiritual disciplines nurture steadfastness.  What we repeat in times of ease, we will recall in times of hardship." Jen Wilkin

You can also watch this week's episode on our YouTube Channel! 

Proverbs 16:24: "Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body."

We LOVE connecting with you!    Join our Facebook group   • Follow us on Instagram • Follow us on TikTok   • Follow us on Pinterest