I’m so excited to launch into a new season with you this fall! We wrapped up our Legacy of Faith series, and I felt led to take a little break for the first time since starting the podcast. I mean, I’ve taken time off at Christmas in the past, but as a mom to three little boys, we all know Christmas isn’t a break.

I did this as part of practicing what I preach. In my real life, I’ve said 100 times, it doesn’t matter how hard you run, if you’re running the wrong direction, you’re not going to get anywhere. I realized at the end of 2024 that I was running hard without knowing the direction. I was just jumping from topic to topic… they were all great topics, but I wanted to be more intentional to grow your faith deeper (let’s be honest, my faith too, because my faith has grown so much from these conversations with mentors).

⁠More info about Around the Ancient World HERE!!⁠

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Helping you love Jesus and disciple your kids ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Original Music written and recorded by Jonathan Camenisch

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Many of us have heard Sally's encouragement to mothers, but today we are doing something a little different. Many life advice books encourage us to "begin with the end in mind."

When I was thinking about how I wanted to close out the Legacy of Faith series, I sat down with a pen and asked "Who do I see finishing the race well?" Immediately, Sally Clarkson came to mind.

She hasn't just mothered well and retired to leisure, but has spent all her retirement energy on encouraging other mothers and trekking back and forth over the Atlantic to serve her grandchildren in the UK. 

As humans, it's easy to get stuck in the here and now and overlook who we want to become, but today let's chat with Sally about what it looks like to "Put on new tires and keep rolling for the Lord," instead of retiring from life.

What does a "day in the life" look like for you right now?

Sarah has shared in her book that she left home later in life. That meant you were empty nesters later in life... What made you decide to keep serving rather than settling down into mountain life? 

What are some things that strengthened your character at my age that have carried you into the next season? 

What do you wish you had learned sooner? 

Was there ever a time that things felt so hard you thought you might not keep serving?

How has Jesus met uniquely in this chapter? 

What is the greatest joy you have discovered as you've reached grandmotherhood? 

You can find Sally Clarkson here and her book "Well Lived."

You can find Elizabeth writing helpful hints ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on the blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Original Music written and recorded by Jonathan Camenisch

*affiliate links are used when appropriate. Thank you for supporting Sunshine in My Nest

Hey don't stop listening! Based on stats, a lot of you who listen are under 40. I'm excited this means we are in the territory of getting out of echo chambers, because if I had to guess, most of you aren't grandparents yet. We are getting close to the end of our series about what it looks like to live a Legacy of Faith.

Grandparents have a unique role in modern culture. In times past, it seems like the role was a bit more defined, but with as much as well all move now, it makes things a little more complicated. 

This week, we are talking about the Biblical role of grandparents and the way they can point grandkids to faith.

The Bible encourages us to learn from people in the faith who are ahead of us, and I've talked to Courtney enough to know that any time she speaks, I'll always be encouraged.

If you want to apply the scripture we discussed today, I’m creating a download with a verse to meditate on, a passage to study, and questions to dig in deeper. You can find a link to that in the show notes.

Does the Bible talk about grandparenthood? 

What do you think is the calling placed on Grandparents? How do you see your role in their life?

I see all over reels right now people talking about the way a lot of the grandparent generation has said, "I already raised my kids, I don't want to parent yours." What keeps you from feeling that way? 

What is one way someone my age can start preparing for what it means to be a grandparent? 

You can find Courtney Doctor here or her Bible study called "Titus".

You can find Elizabeth writing helpful hints ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on the blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Original Music written and recorded by Jonathan Camenisch

*affiliate links are used when appropriate. Thank you for supporting Sunshine in My Nest

We would never dream of waking up one morning and just going to run a marathon. Yet, we often do that with Christian life. Then we hit that wall at the 18th mile and want to drop out.

A phase of my own life that nearly took my faith out at the knees was when we lost our baby to miscarriage. Death is something that doesn’t neatly fit into our boxes and leaves us asking a lot of questions about our faith. But the Christian faith in resurrection holds a path of hope through the valley of the shadow of death.

What has led you to write about death and loss in families?

Your husband died while your family was exploring in a national park, have you guys always loved the outdoor world? Do you still love it or is that something you left behind? 

What did God show you about Himself during grief? What hope did you hold on to?

How did you help your kids come to grips with what happened?

How is it you’ve become so compassionate in your loss to help coach others in grief?

You can find "⁠Hope Comes to Stay" here and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Clarissa Moll on Instagram⁠⁠

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Original Music written and recorded by Jonathan Camenisch

*affiliate links are used when appropriate. Thank you for supporting Sunshine in My Nest 

As Christians, we want to be formed by wisdom. Biblically, we know that wisdom comes with age, but we live in a culture obsessed with youth rather than one formed by gospel truth. I’m of the age that I have friends turning both 30 and 40, and for so many women, those milestones are greeted with grief.

Creams and fillers to disguise our age are in our social media feeds constantly. When you open the comment sections on so many things, the term “Okay, Boomer” has revealed how far we’ve moved culturally from respect of elders to derision of them.

Most of us know Jen from her Bible studies, but recently she wrote an article for Christianity Today "At My Mother’s Deathbed, I Discovered the Symmetry of a Long Life" about what it was like caring for her mother as she aged and eventually passed. I would love for us to take a look together at what a “Legacy of Faith” looks like when caring for elderly parents.

What was it like moving into the stage of life caring for your parents?

You’ve talked about the arc of life and the way it reflects Biblical literature. Can you tell us about that?

How has watching your parents and older saints helped give you a path to exit a current season with grace and submission to the passing of time?

Being in midlife, you said you noticed that you repeat so many of the same life experiences, but level up the quality in how you handle them… Can you tell us about that?

How have you noticed the gaining of wisdom and shift in the internal life as we age?

What did you learn about cherishing all of your days in this process?

What does it look like to find value in older women, and not just to see them as having equal value, but rather increasing value?

You can find Jen Wilkin's latest Bible study on "⁠⁠Revelation" here. ⁠

You can find Elizabeth writing helpful hints ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on the blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Original Music written and recorded by Jonathan Camenisch

*affiliate links are used when appropriate. Thank you for supporting Sunshine in My Nest

For many people, God calls them to serve in the middle of full-time work or parenthood. For other's he calls them to work in ministry. Each comes with its own unique challenges.

When did you step into vocational service, and how did God work in you specifically to help you know you were called?

What does being a woman in ministry look like functionally for you?

What have been some unique challenges you have run into as a woman in ministry?

What keeps you going in ministry?

You can find "⁠A Fruitful Life" here and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Ashley Hales on Instagram ⁠

You can find Elizabeth writing helpful hints ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on the blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Or get access to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Additional study resources here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Original Music written and recorded by Jonathan Camenisch

*affiliate links are used when appropriate. Thank you for supporting Sunshine in My Nest

Throughout the history of the church, there has been a tendency to fall into different ditches of emphasis. During the medieval times, singleness was celebrated, and religious movements were dedicated to convents and monasteries. But those days are far in the past of the church. Our current services and church social events are set up to cater to married couples and parents. So much so that I’ve heard from several single friends that they don’t feel like there is space made for them in the church!

What has made the church a notoriously difficult place to be single? Have we made marriage a cultural idol?

What are some proactive things you’ve learned to do to make space for yourself in a body of faith?

What is dating like for Christian singles in 2025?

How do people hold on to the fun and hope in dating?

What inspired you to start “Single Purpose League?”

What would you like to say to encourage other Single Christians today?

What would you encourage married people to do or change in order to be more inviting?

You can find "Single Purpose League" here and ⁠⁠⁠Annie F Downs on Instagram

You can find Elizabeth writing helpful hints ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on the blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Helping you love Jesus and disciple your kids ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Or get access to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Additional study resources here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Original Music written and recorded by Jonathan Camenisch

*affiliate links are used when appropriate. Thank you for supporting Sunshine in My Nest

Culturally, we’ve been conditioned to believe that the pointof marriage is to make us happy. Now, no one has made me happier than my husband, but even more importantly (as in any of our relationships), marriage has been teaching me to love more like Christ. Sometimes, I watch myhusband’s positive example, and at other times I have to give up what I want for what someone else needs.

The wild thing I’ve noticed is the way God’s upside-downkingdom shows up in my marriage. I’m not less happy when I am serving; in fact often, after one has taken the first step, the other matches in kind, and it provides an opportunity to like it says in Romans 10: “Out do one another in love and good works!” This week, Pastor Bob and I are going to talk about how not to just quit fighting in marriage, but how to move into a truly joyful relationship!

These may be good episodes to listen to as a couple, or if this is something you want to work on alone, I’m going to put some extra study prompts below!

You can find "⁠Gospel Waltz⁠" here and ⁠⁠Pastor Bob Flayhart HERE⁠

You can find Elizabeth writing helpful hints ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on the blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Helping you love Jesus and disciple your kids ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Or get access to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Additional study resources here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Original Music written and recorded by Jonathan Camenisch

*affiliate links are used when appropriate. Thank you for supporting Sunshine in My Nest

For our legacy of faith series, we will talk about both marriage and singleness in the church. 

Marriage is such a massive topic that I spent probably the most time praying over it while trying to decide whom to invite to talk to me about it. Then I remembered the conversation I had with Pastor Bob Flayhart on "Recovering from Anger in Parenting" and knew I wanted him to apply that same method for us to Marriage. 

Marriage is less about finding the "perfect match" and more about trying to "out do one another in love and good works" coupled with "Repent quick and repent often."  I can't wait to hear how, functionally, Bob has encouraged couples toward this in his years of ministry! 

I think sometimes in the church, we think fighting will be solved by figuring out "Who is in charge?" In my experience, if we've gotten to that point, there's probably more going wrong than that. What do you find to be a more helpful way to look at conflict? 

You call the movement of a believer in grace toward santification a "Gospel Waltz." How does this apply to marriage? 

So, we've talked about how to recover from negative interactions. What's a better way to approach major life decisions? 

You can find "Gospel Waltz" here and ⁠Pastor Bob Flayhart HERE

You can find Elizabeth writing helpful hints ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on the blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Helping you love Jesus and disciple your kids ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Or get access to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Additional study resources here⁠⁠⁠⁠

Original Music written and recorded by Jonathan Camenisch

*affiliate links are used when appropriate. Thank you for supporting Sunshine in My Nest

As Christians, we want to, as the old saying goes, "Walk the walk not just talk the talk." But along the way there are often "It's not supposed to be this way" moments.

The hardest ones are the ones that are entirely out of our control. Looking toward those we can either live in constant anxiety or open our hands to know that God will give us the grace to handle what comes next.

When battling anxiety for the future, the most encouraging thing for me is hearing the stories of others who Christ's grace met in hard moments! 

What has the diagnosis of disablity looked like for your family?

Were you around people with disabilities growing up? 

When did your awareness of disability come?

What did the diagnosis process look like for your family? 

In your experience what is something that has happened that has made life harder as a family experiencing disability? 

What is something someone has done that is particularly meaningful? 

What do you wish parents taught their kids about disability? 

You can find "The Very Best Baseball Game" or follow ⁠Katie Blackburn HERE.

You can find Elizabeth writing helpful hints ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on the blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Helping you love Jesus and disciple your kids ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Or get access to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Additional study resources here⁠⁠⁠

Original Music written and recorded by Jonathan Camenisch

*affiliate links are used when appropriate. Thank you for supporting Sunshine in My Nest