Simply Stories Podcast

Today’s episode filled my history nerd heart full to the brim as I got to talk with the amazing Sarah Sundin. Sarah’s stories breathe life into history and highlight its lessons that we desperately need now. With much humor and wit, Sarah shares with us her journey to becoming an author and how the Lord met her as she lived in, what she calls “the waiting room,” and how he led her to write specifically about World War II. 

Sarah’s most recent book is the final installment of her Sunrise at Normandy series which is a masterful blend of soul searching stories and fascinating history all surrounding the Allied invasion at Normandy. D-Day was such a monumental event in history, but it was such a complicated operation. The average person may generally know of its existence, but Sarah peels back the layers to expose the various roles taken on by courageous men and women to bring it to a fruition, then puts skin and bone and heart into those characters as they wrestle with their role in history and their next steps of personal faith. 

The pages of scripture are filled with stories that are alive and active, and there is always more to learn from them. We are all called to be lifelong learners. I am so grateful for voices like Sarah’s, that can take Biblical truths, and historical lessons and lay them before our hearts with a call to action. Will we allow our physical or faith history of those who have made us to dictate who we will become and engage the world around us? Or will we follow after God and walk the path He lights before us, no matter how treacherous the way? It is worth it, friends. “Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, “Clear the way through the wilderness for the LORD! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God!” (Isaiah 40:3 NLT)

Resources:

Self-Editing for Fiction Writers: How to edit yourself into print- Renni Brown and Dave King

The Writer’s Guide to Queries, Pitches and Proposals- Moira Allen

Lee Rody

A Distant Melody by Sarah Sundin

World War II or WWII

Pearl Harbor

A Memory Between Us by Sarah Sundin

Flight nurses in WWII - Wing of the Nightingale Series from Sarah Sundin

Battle of the Atlantic- Waves of Freedom Series from Sarah Sundin

The Holocaust

Night by Elie Wiesel

The rise of Holocaust denial

Pantsuit Politics Podcast

My episode with Sarah and Beth of Pantsuit Politics

PSP’s book I Think You’re Wrong, But I’m Listening : A Grace-Filled Guide to Political Conversations

Hitler’s rise to power (early 1933-1934) 

Dietrich Bonhoeffer 

Martin Niemöller 

FDR’s Lottery to bring over European refugees and put in internment camp in Oswego, NY

Haven: The Dramatic Story of 1,000 World War II Refugees and How they Came to America by Ruth Gruber 

Scripture References:

Ephesians 4:32 - Forgive as you have been forgiven

2 Samuel 12 - Nathan confronting David

Galatians 3:28 - No Jew nor gentile

Luke 16:10 - He who is faithful in little is faithful in much

Connecting with Sarah:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Instagram

Connect with Emily or catch up on more episodes:

Website

Instagram

Facebook 

Twitter

Today’s conversation is with new author, Britney Thompson. Britney has released her first book called God Minded-Living God Focused in a Me Focused world, and in it she shares her story of being delivered from an abusive relationship, fighting for freedom from an eating disorder and the journey God has had her on to find out what He says is true in His Word and how He wired our minds to be transformed by it. We talked at length about what it is like to experience a toxic relationship, and how easily you can be ensnared by it no matter what you believe about the Lord because we can be deceived by lies we believe about ourselves. 

Britney’s research about how the brain is wired and how it coincides with what God says is true in His word about how to process his truth is FASCINATING and I think this episode carries a powerful word about the freedom and healing that is possible in Christ Jesus from pursuing what Romans 12:2 says of being transformed by the renewing of your mind.

I am so honored that Britney was willing to share her story in her book, but also to come on and share what God has done in her life. Her book is an inspirational and also educational read in what it means to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. (Matthew 22:37). I love that she is telling of God’s faithfulness with such passion. 

To find ways to hear this episode, purchase her book, connect with Britney, and to get resources or references we mentioned in this episode, find all those links below.

References:

Britney’s Book: God Minded: Living God Focused in a Me Focused World

Binge Eating Disorder

Codependency

Eating Disorders

Cutting

Young Life

Episode with Ann Swindell -“Turn around and look at Jesus”

Writing with Grace classes by Ann

Amygdala

Prefrontal Cortex

Scripture:

John 10:10- Came that we may have life and life to the full

Psalm 119:105- A lamp to my feet a light to my path

Romans 12:2- Being transformed by the renewal of your mind

Matthew 22:37- Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind

Psalm 107:2 - Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story

Romans 10:15/Isaiah 52:7- How beautiful are the feet that bring the Good News

Deuteronomy 31:6- God will never leave us or forsake us

Philippians 1:6- He will complete the work He has begun in youHe comes to give us freedom and LOTS of scriptures about it

David’s Story is found in 1 Samuel 16 and his story runs through to the end of 1 Chronicles 29.

Isaiah 26:3- He will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast on Him

Isaiah 9:6- Prince of Peace

Proverbs 4:23- Above all else guard your heart

Luke 6:45- Out of the heart the mouth speaks

Psalm 61:2- When I’m overwhelmed lead me to the Rock that is higher than I

Philippians 4:13- I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me

John 15:5- Abide in Me for apart from Me you can do nothing 

Colossians 3:23- Working for the Lord not for people

Colossians 3:17- Whatever you do whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord

Matthew 5:4- Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted

Exodus 14:12- Israelites longing for Egypt 

Ephesians 4:1- Live a life worthy of your calling

Connecting with Britney: 

Instagram

Facebook

Website

Purchase her book on Amazon! 

Intro and outro music by audionautix.com

On the podcast today I’m chatting with award winning and much beloved author Lynette Eason. Lynette has written over 50 books and her most recent book Collateral Damage is a heart stopping suspense story set in the war in Afghanistan as well as the aftermath of coming home. Lynette portrays real Gospel truths within the pages of entertaining stories. She opens a pathway for great conversation about topics that are difficult to discuss whether you believe in God or not: PTSD, trauma, and the need for help when life is hard. Life is hard in varying degrees to every hear,t everywhere, and it matters and it is good and healthy and God honoring to seek help. No matter how firm your faith, there are things in this world that are hard and broken, and stories like what Lynette writes, display characters that battle things just like us. 

In that same vein, she crafts characters that display how God uses our strengths as women uniquely and intentionally, whether that is in demanding roles like those in the military, and law enforcement, or in the trenches of walking out your writing calling and Motherhood. Lynette also shares with me her story of how she got started, pressing through rejected manuscripts and I think that’s so important for those of us who are working in the economy of obedience. If it’s what the Lord has called you to, He will make it known. He makes a way where it feels like there is no way. 

If you want to check out how to connect with Lynette, find ways to purchase her books, or to treasure hunt for a topic that that we allude to in our conversation  that’s a huge part of Collateral Damage check out the links below:

Resources:

Lynn Blackburn

Dee Henderson

Nancy Drew

Hardy Boys

Alfred Hitchcock

Agatha Christie

Knight Agency

Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference

Love Inspired from Harlequin

Lynette’s “Elite Guardian” series

Collateral Damage

PTSD

Bomb Dog Handlers

Lynette’s Code of Valor

The hidden crime in CD in real life  // End It Movement 

Lynette’s Blue Justice Series

Romantic Suspense A-Team

**The next book in “Danger Never Sleeps” series that Collateral Damage begins is already available for pre-order! Find that here!

Emily Freeman's The Next Right Thing Podcast

Anna's song (Kristen Bell) from Frozen 2 "The Next Right Thing"

Psychology Today is a great place to find therapists and their profiles. Open Path Collective has options for sliding scale therapists.

Scripture References:

Isaiah 43:16-19: He makes a way where there is no wayJohn 11 (11:35): Jesus wept

John 16:33: In this world you will have trouble

2 Corinthians 4:8-10: We are oppressed, but not abandoned 

Hebrews 10:23: Hold unswervingly 

Psalm 34:18: He is close to the broken hearted

Connecting with Lynette:

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Amazon

Website

Intro and outromusic by audionautix.com

Today my conversation is with master storyteller Shawn Smucker. Shawn’s unique voice as he shares about the writing life AND the beautiful stories he writes are truly captivating and leads the reader to ask questions in their imagination as well as in their hearts. His most recent release from 2019, Light From Distant Stars weaves a tale that presses the reader to the edge of reality, but also carries a banner of hope and reconciliation. 

I’m so grateful for the podcast for a lot of reasons, but getting to talk with people like Shawn has brought such depth to my faith, my imagination, and most definitely my bookshelf. I’m so grateful that artists like Shawn exist and are sharing their God given talents with the likes of us. I hope if you are an artist, particularly a writer, that you feel encouraged and maybe even inspired by what Shawn shares in this episode. Since we recorded our conversation, Shawn also launched a podcast, “The Stories Between Us.” that he and his wife host together, and it is another source I can’t say enough good things about. They talk about what its like for them to raise their six children, both work as writers, and how they walk through the hard questions.Shawn also has a new book that he mentioned a little about coming out in 2020 called These Nameless Things. The cover art and small synopsis for it was just recently released and it is beautiful and super intriguing! It comes out in June and you can actually pre-order it on amazon and other resellers now.

Find ways to connect with Shawn, his books, and more resources for this episode here.

Resources:

hope*writers

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis 

Umberto Eco :  The Name of The Rose

The Day the Angels Fell 

Light from Distant Stars

The study we mention is from The Whole Brain Child

Madeline L’Engle- “if writing about a topic too hard for adults I write for kids”

These Nameless Things - Coming out in June!

The Smucker’s Podcast - “The Stories Between Us”

Kate Dicamillo- “The Tale of Despereaux”

Francine Rivers

Scripture References: 

Mark 4:34 :: Jesus didn’t speak without telling a story

Luke 15:11-32-Prodigal Son

Ephesians 6:12- We are not at war with flesh and blood

Connecting with Shawn:

Facebook

Instagram

Website

Intro/outro music by audionautix.com 

On this episode, we get to hear from Ann Swindell who is an author, teacher, lover of words and wise woman of God. We discuss how to hold on to hope when life is not what you thought it would be, and how to walk with the Lord when we live in that tension. She shares with us pieces of her life story and struggle with trichotillomania that is also told in her book Still Waiting: Hope For When God Doesn’t Give You What You Want. 

Friend, if you are walking in a place of waiting on God, or staring at what feels like failure and unanswered prayers, if you need a word of encouragement because you wonder if your story matters, or if you are struggling with hustling for your worth, then this conversation is for you. Ann breaths the Word of God into everyday vernacular and draws the listener closer to Jesus. 

For my fellow aspiring writers, Ann teaches writing courses through Writing with Grace and I cannot say enough good things about her classes! Ann uses her love of the Lord and her knowledge of words and the writing world to encourage writers to use their gifts for God’s glory. She teaches a variety of classes such as creative nonfiction, memoir, spiritual writing, book proposal writing, and article writing. For more info, be sure and follow Ann and check out writingwithgrace.com.

Resources:

-Wheaton College

-Writing with Grace :: Ann teaches writing classes of varying topics such as creative nonfiction, memoir, spiritual writing, book proposal writing, and article writing! If you are curious about any of her classes, I’m happy to share my experiences as I have taken almost all of her courses! :)

-Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum

-Hellen Keller

-Strength Finders (My friend Laura Foote is an amazing teacher and offers in person and online courses for how to apply it to your life and business!)

-Ann’s book Still Waiting: Hope for When God Doesn’t Give You What You Want

-trichotillomania (or “trich”)

-Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

-Risen Motherhood (amazing podcast, blog and book) “The little years are not the lost years.”

-At His Feet Studies: Luke Part 2

Scripture References:

-Psalm 40:2- He plucked me out of the miry clay

-John 15:5- without Him we can do nothing

-Hebrews 12:1- throw off every hindrance

-Matthew 11:28-30-His yoke is easy and burden is light

-Psalm 33:20-22-in You alone so we place our hope

-Psalm 73:26- my flesh and my heart may fail

-Psalm 94:18-19-when I said my foot was slipping your love supported me

-Psalm 61:2-when I am overwhelmed lead me to the rock

-Lamentations 3

-Luke 8:43-48-The woman with the issue of blood

-Luke 18:35-43-blind man calling out to the Lord

-John 2:1-11- water to wine at a wedding

-Philippians 1:6- He will complete the work

-1 Peter 5:7- cast all your anxieties on Him

-Psalm 56:8-He collects your tears in a bottle

-John 10:10- He came that we may have life and life to the full

-Psalm 77:19-the Psalms recounting what God had done (you walked us through the Red Sea)

-Deuteronomy 31:6-God has never left His people (He will never leave)/

-Exodus 16- manna in the desert

-Luke 7:11-17-The widow whose son had died, Jesus raised him from the dead during the funeral

-Psalm 27:13-see the goodness of the Lord and the land of the living

-John 16:33-in this world you will have trouble

-Commentary from Nehemiah chapters 1-7 on God restoring the wall in Jerusalem by assigning a piece of the wall to families of Israel

-Psalms of Ascent are Psalms 120-134. Here is a Bible reading plan through them from She Reads Truth

Connecting with Ann:

-For info on future classes with Writing with Grace, you can visit her website and get exclusive news when the classes are coming up as a newsletter subscriber. Subscribe here!

-Instagram

-Facebook

Today’s episode is with the one and only Laura Frantz. Laura is a seasoned and beloved Christian Fiction author who just released her 11th book, An Uncommon Woman. This book is a beautiful story filled with nuanced and challenging layers about how we process American history which has often been sanitized and whitewashed. We as God’s people, and just human beings as a whole, must be willing to dive deep and consider the layers and the hearts of the past as well as the future and Laura’s beautifully crafted story equally captivates and challenges one to do just that.

In our conversation, Laura also shares her story of God using the dreams and gifts He planted in her early in her life, and bringing them to fruition later on and what that journey of surrender has been like for her. God calls us to do His work from many seasons, each of us uniquely made and gifted to tell the story we’ve been given. Will we be willing to surrender no matter what that looks like for such a time as this?

Resources:

-The Writer’s Edge

-“I squandered the writing gift God gave me”

-Billy and Ruth Graham’s story

-French and Indian War

-Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts (living history site and museum)

-”Gone with the Wind”

-The Frontiersman’s Daughter

-Foxfire books

-Fort Boonesboro

-Jemima Boone and Daniel Boone

-Smallpox blankets given to Native Americans

-Pantser vs. Plotter

-Courting Morrow Little

-Samantha Keiser (website designer- will update when receive info!)

-Peripety-- Definition // my dear friend’s blog of the same name 

-Beth Moore’s study on Esther (I LOVE this Bible Study. I think I’ve done it… 3 times now? I cannot say enough good things about it.)

Scripture References:

-Psalm 139:13-14: We are uniquely and wonderfully made

-Spiritual gifts // Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4

-Exodus 3 : Burning bush

-Ecclesiastes 12:12 : The making of a book there is no end

-Esther 4:14: For such a time as this

-Matthew 7:24-27 : Faith built on sand vs rock

-.Luke 5:17-39 : Stretcher beaters who tear the roof off to get their friend to Jesus

-Isaiah 43:16-19 : He makes a way where there is no way

-Luke 23:39-43: The thief on the cross

-Psalms 116:15 : Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints

Connecting with Laura:

Facebook

Instagram

Pinterest

Website/Blog

Intro and Outro music by audionautix.com

Today’s episode is my conversation with the ladies who make up At His Feet studies, Hope Blanton and Christine Gordon. Hope and Chris are wives, Moms (to humans and pups), both work in the counseling world, and are wise women who love the Lord and deeply love His Word. 

In this conversation Hope and Chris share their heart with me for why they feel called to their work of unpacking scripture in a way that is deep and rich, but accessible in a crazy world. Their motto is: "We help busy women study the word of God with nourishing, rich Bible studies that can be done in 20 minutes." In our conversation, Hope and  Chris share beautiful encouragement about how to come to the Lord as you are, where you are, as well as practical insights for how to combat the lies and stigmas we have around how to engage the Bible, the wrestle as believers with goals, and the desire to grow, but to do so from a place of grace and not shame. This conversation ministered to me when I was in it, and it has fallen fresh on me yet again and I can’t wait for you to hear it. 

The Father’s table is set for YOU. You, friend. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never been there, or if you have not been there in a long time, your place at the family table is always waiting for you. Even if you aren’t hungry, there is NO shame. The Bible says there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, it also says we are His children, and the perfect, loving Father does not expect you to live perfectly or to accept on the scraps of His feast. He delights in encountering and nourishing His children. 

I cannot say enough great things about these women, their mission and their Bible Studies. You can find links below for ways to purchase ANY of their studies.

Scripture References:

-Exodus 4 :: Moses and Aaron

-Ecclesiastes 4:10 :: When one falls down the other picks them up

-Genesis 2:18- Its not good for man to be alone

-John 8:31-32- The truth will set you free

-James 3:1- The cost of ministry

-Matthew 16:24-26- Take up your cross and follow Him

-Psalm 91– The Lord is my refuge 

-1 Corinthians 15:58- Nothing is wasted

-Philippians 4:6-7-the anxious mind (scattered mind)

-Psalm 31:9 // Psalm 86:3 - Be merciful to me Lord

-2 Corinthians 12:7-10- Thorn in your flesh

-Luke 24:13-35- The story of Jesus on the road to Emmaus

-John 20:1-18- Mary going to tell the men he was born

Other Resources: 

-Journeywomen podcast episode

-Borders (RIP!! Fascinating article from NPR on why it died and B&N stil lives)

-enneagram types

-AHF insta post on battle together

-Beth Moore’s talk on the call to ministry and risking it all

-Their commentary on Psalm 91: “Because of the way you cling to me, says the Lord, I will deliver you. What will this deliverance look like? Like an ear that listens for his child’s voice in the midst of the crowd. Like answers in the form of practical help. Like immediate or evenutal rescue. It will look like God’s presence, like him being next to his children when they are stressed, scared, or otherwise in trouble. It means that whatever suffering is allowed into their lives, God will walk through it with them. And in the end he will rescue them in the ultimate way, giving them ‘long life,’ probably referring to eternal life. The final and most decisive danger, death itself, is not to be feared by the one who clings to the Almighty.” - Psalms / Study 8 / ““Because He Knows My Name (Psalm 91)”

-MOPS

-Downton Abbey

-gathering of Levites at the Wailing Wall

-“We’re all just walking each other home.” - Ram Dass

-Eve is the crown of creation 

Here is a list of their available studies:

Luke Part 1

Luke Part 2

Philippians

Psalms

Romans

1 Samuel

Connecting with Hope and Chris:

Instagram

Facebook

Website

*The amazon links listed are affiliate links. We’re grateful for your support!

*Intro and Outro music by audionautix.com

Today, I bring you a Christmas gift in the form of this conversation with my friend and my women’s pastor at the church where I attend, Miriam Walsh. While this is the final episode of our Simply Advent series, it is a message that is timeless because it is saturated with the Good News of the love of God and the gift of His Son for all people everywhere. Miriam’s love for the Lord and for the Word flows from her heart and will wash over you with the truth of who God is and who you are in Him in such a powerful way. This conversation runs so deep and wide, but is birthed from the unrelenting that love heals us, redeems us, and binds us into a family, and from the gift of God grafting us into His family, and He then invites us to be a part of the family business of sharing this very love. 

As Miriam says “love demands a response.” Every person in the Christmas narrative that we know responded somehow: wonder, fear, anger, admiration, and much, much more. What will we do with the love of God brought near to us in Immanuel? I pray this word, as one season ends and another one begins ,reminds you where you begin and end, that God wants your offering and your response, no matter what it looks like, and that His love is truly enough to carry you, heal you, and strengthen you until the work is complete. Merry Christmas, friends. “Oh come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.”

Scripture References: 

Book of Hosea

1 John 2:3 - If you love Me keep my commands

Isaiah 60 Light is deliverance

Hosea 2:14- Speaking tenderly to you 

The Lord of hosts

Genesis 1:2 The Earth without form and void and He hovered

Luke 2- The birth of Jesus

Romans 3:23 -All fall short of the glory of God

Lamentations 3:22-23- His mercies are new, and His faithfulness never ends

Mark 6:31, Luke 5:16- Jesus rested and was alone

Matthew 8:23-27 - Slept on the boat in the storm 

Psalm 16:6-The boundary lines have fallen

Matthew 11:28- Come to Me all who are weary

Exodus 31:14-Observing sabbath

Proverbs 3:11, Proverbs 12:1- His correction is loving

Colossians 3:23-24- Working for Him so that He is glorified

Mark 10:37- Disciples arguing about who sits next to Jesus

Matthew 9:38- Lord of the harvest

Matthew 9:35-38-The harvest is plentiful the workers are few

1 John 1:15- The light of the world has come and there is no darkness in Him at all

John 16:33- In this world you will have trouble

2 Timothy 4:18 - God will guide me safely home

Titus 2:3- The glorious appearing

1 Peter 5:7- He cares for you

Psalm 56:8- He captures our tears in a bottle

Matthew 28:20-Surely I will be with you until the end of the age

2 Timothy 1:9-He had a plan from the beginning

Ephesians 1:11-23 - In Him we have hope (and more!)

Revelation 12:7-12- By the blood of the lamp and word of His testimony

Hebrews 1:3- the Son is the radiance of God’s glory

1 John 4:7-21- God is love

Isaiah 9:6- prophecy of Jesus wonderful counselor

John 11- Jesus raising Lazarus and wept with Him

Luke 10:1-23- Sending of the 72

Ephesians 3:16- strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit

2 Timothy 4:17-  but the Lord stood by me and strengthened me so I could declare

Luke 15:11-32-Parable of the Prodigal son and his Father

If you don’t know where to start, start with the Gospel of John

Psalm 119:18- Behold the wondrous works of His word

Psalm 107:2-Let the redeemed of the Lord tell my story

Acts 2- Pentecost, given a new language to speak 

References: 

Humble Roots: How Humility Grounds and Nourishes Your Soul - Hannah Anderson

Shabbat Laws (Jewish Sabbath laws)

Discovery and Discipleship Focus (shout out to the Fullers!)

Simply Stories Episode with Ashley Abercrombie (where we talk Sabbath!)

My blog on Palm Sunday before my friend Amanda passed.

“Death Was Arrested” by North Point Inside Out

“Glorious Day” by Passion  (Ironically, I am present in this video. I attended the conference the year this song premeried, just months before Amanda passed. As my friend Katie says “aint that like the Lord”)

“Reckless Love” by Cory Asbury 

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

If you are looking for a church to attend in the Nashville/Murfreesboro area for Christmas or otherwise, we would LOVE to have you at Fellowship Bible Church! I attend the Murfreesboro campus, but there is one in Brentwood as well. If you read this in time for Christmas Eve 2019, we have services at 3:00pm and 4:15pm (CST). You can always connect with us online via Facebook and hear sermons over the site/Podcast as well. I just pray you know how loved you are this Christmas season, and don’t choose to be alone. 

Any time there are books listed in the show notes, they are amazon affiliate links. I do not think the prices are marked up in any way, but we do receive a small percentage from your purchase which supports this podcast. Thank you for your support in this way!

Thank you, again, to ZonderKidz, Sally Lloyd Jones and The Jesus Storybook BIble for allowing us to read portions of their telling of the Christmas story for this Advent series. 

Connect with me over on Instagram and on my blog for more Advent resources and general Podcast and other Simply Shenanigans. 

The intro and outro music is by audionautix.com

On today’s episode you are going to get a hearty dose of humor, heart, and honesty from my conversation with my dear friend, Kristen McCall. Kristen has lived a lot of life in these last few years including going through a divorce while pregnant with her first child. Kristen shares how God’s gift of joy carried her through some of the hardest seasons of her life and continues to sustain her as He meets her in her present. 

Friend, if you are walking through a season where it feels like joy just isn’t possible, then this episode is for you. Jesus came knowing that it wasn’t yet time to remove all the broken things, but because He came, and will come again, we are never alone in the broken things, and by His spirit we can know deep joy until it is all fully and completely redeemed. Joy is possible this side of happen, no matter where you are, what hurts, or if it feels like what is happening will never end. The Light of the World has come and His Light is the fullness of joy. 

References:

GO VOLS!!! 

Biltmore Estate at Christmas is INCREDIBLE

Enneagram Types

John Piper “Christian joy is a good feeling in the soul, produced by the Holy Spirit, as he causes us to see the beauty of Christ in the word and in the world.” Here is a link to his full article, “How Do You Define Joy?”

Rick Warren (It actually is a quote from his wife Kay.) "Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that everything is going to be alright and the determined choice to praise God in every situation.” She apparently has a book about Choose Joy: Because Happiness Isn’t Enough as well. 

Soaking Music (Also instrumental version)

Ralph Griggs- The best wedding minister in the land :)

Defiant Joy: Taking Hold of Hope, Beauty and Life in a Hurting World by Stasi Eldredge

Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman’s Soul by John and Stasi Eldredge 

Scripture References:

Luke 1:26-38- Story of Mary and her pregnancy

Zephaniah 3:17- The Lord sings over you 

Exodus 17:12-14-Holding up Moses’ arms in battle 

Galatians 5:22- The fruit of the Spirit is joy

Mark 2:1-12, Luke 5:17-39- Tear the roof off and lay a friend at Jesus’ feet

Connecting with Kristen on Instagram and Facebook. She’s an amazing writer, entrepreneur and social media coach!

Any books listed in these notes are amazon affiliate links. I do not think the prices are marked up in any way, but we do receive a small percentage from your purchase which supports this podcast. Thank you for your support in this way!

Thank you, again, to ZonderKidz, Sally Lloyd Jones and The Jesus Storybook BIble for allowing us to read portions of their telling of the Christmas story for this Advent series. 

Connect with me over on Instagram and on my blog for more Advent resources, Christmas Giveaways, my Book Lovers Gift Guide and other general shenanigans.

The intro and outro music is by audionautix.com

On today’s episode you get to hear two friends, who have done a whole lot of life together, sit down over coffee and talk about a whole lot of things, but particularly about what peace is and what it is not. My friend Alice Sally is a working Momma to three kiddos, and one of them has Down Syndrome. Alice shares with us about what her and husband, Eddie’s, journey into being a Special Needs family has looked like, as well as her journey of working through debilitating anxiety, healing from trauma, and how she can walk, sometimes limp, through all of that but still experience peace.  If you hang with us to the end, we even dip into the murky waters of merging Santa and Christmas and Christianity. 

Peace is not something we can muster up on our own, it is a gift of the Spirit, but it does not mean we never feel. You can walk through incredibly long and hard seasons, and still experience peace. However, if Jesus is the Prince of Peace and this wild story of being born in a barn is how He is born, then the peace He brings is not going to be the peace we expect.

Resources:

-Hallmark Christmas Movies ( I have a lot of favorites, but I think if I have to pick.. “Help for the Holidays” is my favorite because its a fairly original plot) but this is one of the more diverse cast newer ones, featuring people of color. This is the movie I was actually thinking of (“The Holiday Calendar,” but it was a Netflix Christmas movie.)  Tia Mowry also was has a couple she was featured in that I know of (Let’s do better, Hallmark. I love ya, but, let’s do better. xo)

-Decentralization (Read more via Latasha Morrison and Be the Bridge)

-My conversation with Dorena Williamson Part 1 and 2 - Conversations on decentralization, how to walk in seeing all of God’s people in how He made them and celebrating them, and on the need to do better and have more diversity in our American culture (especially with Christmas things!) and how to not only love one another better with compassion, but teaching our children to do the same and with much healthier verbiage. 

-Narrowed aorta

-CHD

-DSAMT

-Enneagram 2’s

-Our Intro to Advent Episode: Simply Advent: The True Story

-What Israel expected in a Messiah

-”O Come, O Come Emmanuel”

-Discipleship Focus

-Discovery 

-Discipleship Focus Podcast -- These are podcasts of Will Wyatt (the man, the myth, the legend) author of the Discovery Bible Study teaching. GO. LISTEN. 

-Francine Rivers’ Lineage of Grace series :: Mary’s Story (The first link is where you can get them all together, the second link is just Mary’s by itself.)

-Saint Nicholas // (We LOVE the VeggieTales Saint Nicholas : A Story of Cheerful Giving)

-Jesse Tree and the Jesus Storybook Bible

-Father Christmas

Scripture References:

John 11: Jesus wept with his friends, and then raised Lazarus from the dead. 

Galatians 5:22-23 -Peace is a fruit of the spirit  

John 9 - The story of the blind manLuke 1: Zechariah’s story, Elizabeth’s pregnancy, she and Mary together and Mary’s response to it all

Isaiah 9:6 -The Prince of Peace

Isaiah 53: The peace offering for sin and our punishment was on Him

John 7:6, John 2:4, John 8:20- My time is not yet come

John 6 - People asking Jesus for a sign

2 Corinthians 12:9-11 - In our weakness He is strong 

John 16:33- In this world you will have trouble 

Philippians 4:7- Peace without understanding

Ephesians 4:3-Let Peace hold you together

Ephesians 6:10-18-Armor of God fitted with the shoes of the gospel of peace

Mark 3:20-35-When Jesus’ brothers and sisters mad at Him

--- Thank you, again, to ZonderKidz, Sally Lloyd Jones and The Jesus Storybook BIble for allowing us to read portions of their telling of the Christmas story for this Advent series. 

Connect with me over on Instagram and on my blog for more Advent resources, Christmas Giveaways, my Book Lovers Gift Guide and other general shenanigans.

The intro and outro music is by audionautix.com