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

You can find Elizabeth writing helpful hints ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠on the blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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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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

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

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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

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

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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

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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

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Life in 21st-century America has become lonely. A lot of us long for not just friends but rich friendships that go past the surface level. Today, I’m going to talk to Hunter Beless about how she has developed rich gospel friendships even in the middle of military life, and ministry life.  

What was the hardest stage of life for you to make friends?

How did you learn to develop relationships generally?

Y’all have just worked through Titus where relationships are laid out as a huge part of discipleship in the church, but I’ve noticed people get nervous if you walk up and say, “Will you be my mentor… or mentee?”

Did you some seasons of life harder to find spiritual relationships?

How do you build trust and promote real conversation in these relationships?

What have the most ideal discipleship scenarios looked like in your life?

You can find Hunter Beless on the Journey Women Podcast!

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

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I don’t know what your experience has looked like, but for a lot of us, coaching our kids through the teen years makes us nervous. Especially knowing if handled well, it’s also a pivotal time of faith formation. So I'm chatting with Jen Oshman about what it's been like to raise her daughters and watch them walk forward into adult life.

 First off we will find out what kind of teenager Jen was

What does discipleship in the teen year look like?

Did you find it hard to understand your teens? 

What is something you’ve noticed parents do while raising teens that make the process harder harder?

What makes it easier? Is it “too late” to adjust course by the time they are teens?

How do you build trust and promote good conversation with your teens?

Can we disciple high schoolers the same way we disciple adults?

What do you keep in mind that helps you hold empathy for teens?

You can find Jen Oshman 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

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the next few weeks, we are digging into our faith more deeply. Last week we kicked off a brand-new project called the “Legacy of Faith” series. I've hand-picked people I respect most for each topic, so I'd love it if you invite a friend to join you, and let’s grow to be more like Christ together. 

I don’t know what your experience looked like, but for a lot of us middle school sucked. The proof of that will come out in some stories today. But it’s also a pivotal time of faith formation.

Today Caroline and I talk about what it looks like to talk TO middle schoolers and not down at them.

We remember what it felt like to be in middle school.

We share ideas for how to start good conversations and what questions end up being effective when leading a small group.

We also talk about how easy it was to say really mean things about other people in order to gain social currency.

You can find Caroline Saunders Bible study for middle schoolers, "Come Home⁠⁠⁠" or follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠Caroline 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

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.