Shielded by Grace

Charley and Anna interview our friend Caroline about joy. 

Charley interviews  Anna Joy Putt about Joy! 

Charley interviews Heidi about her testimony, how she experiences joy in the good and bad times and some top tips for how to be more joyful. The audio quality isn't great in places, Charley is really sorry! She forgot the connector for her mic! 

Anna interviews Charley about her experiences of Christian Joy and what helps her cultivate an attitude of joyfulness.

Charley and Anna chat through the biblical concept of joy. 

We introduce Season 4 our new podcasts on joy and how you experience it in the Christian life. 

Anna interviews her friend Anna Risbridger about life in her 20's and the challenges and joys it brings.  

They talk about transitions and choices, moving, making friends, churches and seeking God's guidance and contentment in each one. Anna shares some of the challenges of the 'Is this all there is?' syndrome of working and the daily grind and talks a bit about the temptation of identity building in each new area of life.

As well as some top tips for how those the other side of our twenties can help those we know in that stage of life.

Anna R's verse that has helped her  learn to find joy as we fix our eyes on Jesus.
 Hebrews 12 v1-3
 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy that was set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Book recommendation: 'Is this it?' By Rachel Jones

Plus Anna and Charley share their favourite festive foodie treats!

Anna chats to Charley about the issue of Miscarriage.  A topic that has been in the news a lot recently with some high profile people talking about their experiences.
Anna shares her personal experience of her own miscarriage and they talk about what Christians can say of importance into the conversation.  As 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage chances are there are a lot of people around that have been touched by this.

Verse for the episode
Psalm 139 v 13-16
13For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.

If you want to explore more https://www.sayinggoodbye.org/ is a great place to start, for information, for stories and for ideas for commemorating life lost.

Books include; 'Held' by Abbie Wedgeworth 
https://www.10ofthose.com/uk/products/26451/held

'Ours' by Eric Schumacher offers biblical comfort for men grieving miscarriage
https://www.thegoodbook.co.uk/ours

'For all who grieve' Navigating the Valley of Sorrow and Loss by Colin S Smith
https://www.10ofthose.com/uk/products/25826/for-all-who-grieve 

Anna speaks to Liv Chapman from EMU music about the role of music in faith corporately and individually.  

She shares some of her own experiences of living on different continents and how its helped her longing for a heavenly home.

We hear how she thinks through what to write songs about, how the new EMU album 'Joy in Sorrow' came about and how it can help us to lament.

Check out how to support the work of EMU music, buy their new album and partner with Liv at www.emumusic.com

 

In this episode we talk about why gratitude is such an important topic for this moment in history.
Biblical ideas of gratitude and why its more than the mumbled grace at the dinner table or the forced thank you cards we make the kids write.
We think about what stops us from being grateful including affliction, doubt and busyness. Finally we talk about how we can show gratitude/make the choice to be grateful despite our circumstances.

We go to a few places in the Bible in this episode, here are the verses from Habakuk;
Hab 3 17-19. 'Though the fig tree does not bd and there are no grapes on the vines….yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Saviour.  The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.'

We talk about a few books we have enjoyed reading on this topic:
Peter Maiden 'Radical Gratitude'
Mary Moehler 'Growing in Gratitude'
Paul Mallard 'The Grace of Gratitude'