Jennifer Plemmons wears many hats! She's a wife, mom, paralegal, farmer, and writer who has learned to say yes when God leads... even when she has no idea where that yes will take her. We talk about the strain of carrying too many things at once, learning to recognize when our capacity is full, and the courage it takes to turn down the noise. At the heart of our conversation is the truth that God is the God who sees us and the God who is faithful. I hope it's uplifting to you! 

We reference the NLT Bible, Knowing God by J.I. Packer and the Brick. 

@eubankchels

Macie Meeks and I have many many many entangled threads -- growing up in the same church, being in each other's weddings, keeping up fairly regularly -- but there are things she shared here that encouraged me afresh. She's a child life specialist, wife to Caleb, mom to Jax, and all-around fabulous human being. She shares honestly about anxiety, her daily hunt for joy and the stretching that comes with parenting. Enjoy! 

Chloe Norman is the friend everyone wishes they had. She is kind and servant-hearted and you will be encouraged hearing her share today. She's a recent UGA grad headed to Kenya for 4 years of missional discipleship. We talk about everything from her asking God for help in packing to the ways He is encouraging her heart as she prepares to leave her familiar community for a new one. Enjoy!

@chloegmo

I forgot this significant line from my notes, but it can begin this podcast description: 

"There is pleasing God and then there is pleasing God. Pleasing out of fear of disappointment and pleasing out of love and joy. I’ve done both in my lifetime with my earthly dad and my Heavenly one." 

For the last few years, the Lord has been doing some reframing of what it means to be a child of His. Today's episode is a glimpse of that reframing. 

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I also read a lot of quotes. Here are a few:

"Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, "Do it again"; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead.For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again" to the sun; and every evening, "Do it again" to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we." G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy

Jeremiah Burroughs defines Christian contentment: “…a pleasant, internal, peaceful, and gracious state of mind, which freely submits to and delights in God’s wise and fatherly decisions in every condition.”

“The early stages of faith are reaching upward, like the eaglets for their food when the mother-bird is overhead. It is an older faith that learns to swing out into nothingness and drop down full weight on God—the broken-up nest of former ‘experiences’ left behind—nothing between us and the abyss but God Himself. Trained faith is a triumphant gladness in having nothing but God—no rest, no foothold—nothing but Himself. A triumphant gladness in swinging out into that abyss, rejoicing in every fresh emergency that is going to prove Him true. ‘The Lord alone’—that is trained faith.” Lilias Trotter 

"No one will have an excuse on the judgment day that the way of salvation was too hard. God will simply say, “All you had to do was become like a little child (Matthew 18:3), and trust me to take care of you. Was that hard? Was it too hard to lean on me, to rest in my promises, to rely on the finished work of Christ? Was it too hard to accept a free gift? To cherish the pearl of forgiveness? To love the Savior who died for you?” It is free! It is free! It is free! Own up to your need and rest in him!" John Piper

"May your expectations all be frustrated, May all of your plans be thwarted, May all of your desires be withered into nothingness, That you may experience the powerlessness and poverty of a child and can sing and dance in the love of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit." John Ortberg

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Questions? Comments? 

Message me, @eubankchels

Or visit my blog, chelseaeubank.com

Hope Skinner is a real delight of a person. She loves Jesus dearly and is so sweet and humble and genuine. We had a great time talking about fighting lies with truth, keeping ourselves off the throne of our hearts, the faithfulness of God and so much more! 

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Questions? Comments? 

Message me, @eubankchels

Or visit my blog, chelseaeubank.com

This one felt a little preachy, you guys, and you'll hear the passion in my voice. I am simply confident if we could be certain of and secure in the love of God for us, it would change a lot, in us and for the world around us. 

"Rehearse this until it’s deep in your bones and it’s muscle memory for your straying mind: God is always ready to offer you infinite, unconditional affection. And it will never depend on your worth, your response or your merit. There are no gaps in His love for you." 

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Here is the Scripture I reference: 1 John 4:16, Romans 8:37-39, Psalm 36, John 15, Lamentations 3:22–24.

There is no one and nothing like Him. 

I get to feel small in the face of His transcendence, and precious to Him in the face of His immanence. But being small, lowly, dependent -- a sheep -- is a gift. And being “big” in His eyes, in His heart, is a gift.

That God would hold the entire universe together and draw near to my friends when they are in pain, or to me as I wrestle with laziness or pride. This God is worthy of my fear, my obedience, as He is my King and Lord and Creator and Master. And He is worthy of my devotion, delight and presence, as He is my Father and Friend and Love.

This week I reflect on our God who is both transcendent and immanent.

Learn more about me on my blog: chelseaeubank.com.

Ashlynn Ellis is a beautiful heart! In our conversation she vulnerably shares about her life with God as young single women with great desire for a family. We talk about the power of music, reflecting on God's character and the strong temptations in life toward comparison and discontentment. I hope you're encouraged! 

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Questions? Comments? 

Message me, @eubankchels

Or visit my blog, chelseaeubank.com

Who better to help solve a struggle or question in my soul than the One who intimately crafted it? Then the One who inhabits it? Then the One who loves it most? 

Reflecting on the omniscience of God and what it means for us... specifically me, in a season where I'm asking God to do things in my heart only He can do and I'm waiting.

Also, 70 episodes!!! WHAT. Thanks for listening :)

-Chels

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Questions? Comments? 

Message me, @eubankchels

Or visit my blog, chelseaeubank.com

This is a conversation I have had on my dream list since I started doing this podcast, with my pastor and friend Steve Hartman. He has been the pastor at our church, Kiokee Baptist, for about 25 years and married to his beautiful wife Susan for 39. A father to two adult kids and one in Heaven, he shares honestly about his life with Jesus. We talk about our thought life, the sovereignty of God in suffering, our relationship with our sin as we mature in Christ, and so many other things. I hope this conversation encourages you like it does me! 

@realstoriesoflifewithGod
@eubankchels
chelseaeubank.com