What does faith look like when the pain doesn’t go away?

In this episode, Courtney shares her personal journey with interstitial cystitis, a chronic condition that has affected her life in ways most people would never know just by looking at her. She opens up about how it began, the reality of living with an invisible illness, and what it looks like to continue trusting and loving God while walking through something you wish He would take away.

We also talk about the assumptions we make when someone “looks fine,” the complicated emotions that can come with chronic illness, and why continuing to struggle physically does not mean you are struggling spiritually.

You can love Jesus deeply and still hurt.
You can have faith and still have hard days.
And you don’t have to be healed for God to use your story.

If you or someone you love is living with chronic pain or an invisible illness, we hope this conversation reminds you that you are seen.

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Talking with purpose. Sharing the stories that connect us. And pointing it all back to Jesus.

Jesus calls us to love people, but what does that look like when relationships get messy, complicated, or simply don’t turn out the way we hoped?

In this episode of The Beauty in Burnt Toast, Jade and Courtney talk honestly about navigating difficult relationships through a biblical lens. What’s the difference between peacemaking and simply keeping the peace? Can you love someone and still need space? And how do we know when God is asking us to lean into a relationship, create some distance, or simply release the outcome to Him?

We look at the story of Abram and Lot in Genesis 13 and what it can teach us about choosing peace over proving a point, knowing when a relationship may need to look different, and recognizing that distance doesn’t always mean the absence of love.

We also talk about taking responsibility for our own part, extending grace without ignoring unhealthy patterns, knowing when a relationship is worth fighting for, and learning when it may be time to stop trying to control the outcome and trust God with what remains unresolved.

Sometimes love requires a hard conversation. Sometimes it requires humility. Sometimes it requires space. And sometimes it means asking, “Jesus, show me how You want me to love this person.”

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Talking with purpose. Sharing the stories that connect us. And pointing it all back to Jesus.

How many things have you believed about yourself that God never actually said?

In this episode of The Beauty in Burnt Toast, Jade and Courtney talk about the labels, limitations and expectations we can unknowingly accept as truth. Sometimes they come from other people. Sometimes they come from our past. Sometimes they come from fear. And sometimes, we’ve simply repeated something about ourselves for so long that we stopped questioning whether it was ever true.

It all comes back to one powerful question God asked in Genesis 3:11:

“Who told you that?”

Throughout Scripture, we see people like Moses, Gideon and Jeremiah focus on who they thought they were and what they believed they couldn’t do, while God was calling them into something completely different.

What if some of the limits you’ve placed on your future were never placed there by God?

This conversation is about recognizing the voices that have shaped the way we see ourselves, breaking out of molds God never created and allowing Him to show us who He created us to be.

Maybe it’s time to stop saying, “That’s just who I am,” and start asking:

Who told me that?

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Talking with purpose. Sharing the stories that connect us. And pointing it all back to Jesus.

Alex Murphy’s story is one of heartbreak, addiction, loss  and ultimately, redemption.

In this episode, Alex shares her testimony publicly for the first time, opening up about the painful seasons that shaped her, the places she never thought she would come back from and the way God began rewriting a story that once felt broken beyond repair.

What makes her story even more powerful is the full circle redemption that followed, finding love with someone who had walked through his own pain and watching God transform two lives that had both been through so much.

This conversation is a reminder that your past does not get the final word. God is still writing, still restoring and still redeeming.

If you are in a season where your story feels unfinished, this episode is for you.

This Christian testimony touches on addiction recovery, healing from abuse, grief, marriage, faith, redemption and the transforming power of Jesus.

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Talking with purpose. Sharing the stories that connect us. And pointing it all back to Jesus.

Baptist. Methodist. Pentecostal. Presbyterian. Non denominational. Somewhere along the way, the labels meant to describe our churches can start defining our faith.

In this episode of The Beauty in Burnt Toast, Jade and Courtney talk about division within the Church, denominational differences, and what happens when our theological camps become louder than the name of Jesus.

We dig into Jesus’ prayer for unity in John 17, Paul’s warning against division in 1 Corinthians, and the difference between standing firmly on Scripture and allowing secondary issues, traditions, and personal interpretations to separate the body of Christ.

We also talk about the temptation to pick and choose the parts of Scripture that fit what we already believe rather than allowing the Word of God to shape us.

This isn't about throwing doctrine out the window. Truth matters. Scripture matters. But Jesus has to remain at the center of it all.

Can we hold biblical convictions and still love the believer sitting across the aisle? Can we disagree without becoming divided? And have we become so busy defending our labels that we've forgotten what and Who unites us?

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What if one of the biggest misconceptions in the Church is what freedom actually looks like?

This week we're joined by our friend Melissa for an honest, Scripture-centered conversation about freedom in Christ, temptation, identity, grace, and why so many believers carry unnecessary shame.

Many Christians believe that once Jesus sets us free, temptation should completely disappear. But what happens when the thoughts come back? Does that mean you aren't really free? Have you failed God? Or have we confused temptation with bondage?

In this episode, we unpack what the Bible actually says about temptation, sanctification, and walking in freedom. Melissa shares a powerful analogy that beautifully illustrates why the enemy may still knock on your door, but that doesn't mean he still has a place in your life.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• The difference between temptation and sin

• Why recurring temptation doesn't mean you're still in bondage

• The difference between conviction and condemnation

• How shame can keep us trapped in the very things we're trying to escape

• Why your temptation is not your identity

• What repentance and God's grace really look like

• Whether we've made Christianity more about ourselves than about Christ

• Why the better question may not be, "Does God love me?" but, "Do I love Him enough to trust Him?"

Whether you've struggled with fear, anxiety, pornography, pride, addiction, same sex attraction, gossip, anger, people pleasing, or any other ongoing battle, this episode is a reminder that temptation is not your identity and it doesn't have the final say.

Freedom isn't the absence of temptation.

Freedom is living under the authority of Jesus, even when temptation still comes knocking.

If this conversation encouraged you, we'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who needs the reminder that God's grace is greater than their shame.

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Thank you for listening! Remember, your story matters because God wastes nothing.

Depression doesn’t always look the way we expect it to.

Sometimes it looks like getting up, showing up, smiling, working, serving, and doing everything you’re supposed to do while quietly struggling with what’s happening inside your own mind.

In this raw and honest conversation, we talk about depression and what it can look like when someone is struggling beneath the surface. Courtney opens up about her own experience with depression, and we dig into the negative self-talk, insecurity, isolation, and distorted view of ourselves that can come along with it.

We also talk about something so many women experience: looking at ourselves through a completely different lens than the people around us do. Depression can convince us that we aren’t enough, that something is wrong with us, or that everyone else sees the flaws we can’t stop focusing on.

But our feelings don’t always tell us the truth.

This conversation is for the woman who is struggling to recognize herself, the woman who feels like she should be okay but isn’t, and the friend or family member trying to understand someone they love who is walking through depression.

Faith doesn’t mean we never struggle. Sometimes faith looks like being willing to bring the struggle into the light, allowing other people into it, and holding onto God’s truth when our own thoughts are telling us something different.

The Beauty in Burnt Toast is a Christian women’s podcast having honest conversations about faith, depression, mental health, identity, purpose, relationships, and real life while pointing it all back to Jesus.

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Talking with purpose. Sharing the stories that connect us. And pointing it all back to Jesus.

What does it really take to build a marriage that lasts?

In Part 2 of our conversation with Pastor Monty and Kimberly, we continue talking about what it means to be truly intentional in marriage. Because staying married and building a healthy marriage aren’t always the same thing.

We talk about communication, navigating conflict, learning how your spouse needs to be loved, extending grace, and choosing each other even when life gets busy or difficult. Monty and Kimberly share practical wisdom from their own marriage, lessons they’ve learned through previous seasons, and why keeping Christ at the center changes the way we love our spouse.

This conversation is honest, practical, faith-filled, and full of encouragement for couples who want more than simply making it through the years together. Whether your marriage is thriving, struggling, or somewhere in between, there is always room to become more intentional.

If you missed Part 1, go back and hear Monty and Kimberly’s story, how God brought them together, and the experiences that shaped the way they approach marriage today.

Need marriage counseling, pastoral guidance, or someone to talk to?
Pastor Monty is available to connect with couples who may need additional support.

📧 Contact Pastor Monty:
[email protected]

If this episode encouraged you, share it with your spouse or a couple you love. And don’t forget to follow The Beauty in Burnt Toast for more honest conversations about faith, relationships, purpose, and the stories that connect us, all while pointing it back to Jesus.

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What makes a marriage last?

In a world where relationships often run on autopilot, healthy marriages are built with purpose. This week, we sit down with Pastor Monty and Kimberly to talk about the power of intentionality in marriage. From walking through grief and caring for previous spouses during illness to finding each other later in life, their story is one of God's faithfulness, healing, and second chances.

In Part 1, we discuss how they met, what they learned from past seasons, why communication is one of the most important foundations of a healthy marriage, and the daily choices that help couples grow closer instead of drifting apart. They also share practical wisdom for couples in every season.

Whether you've been married for six months or sixty years, or you're praying for a future spouse, this conversation offers biblical encouragement and practical insight for building a Christ-centered marriage that lasts.

If this episode encouraged you, we'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who could use this conversation today.

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Everyone says they want authenticity, deeper friendships, and real community. But what does being authentic actually look like?

In this episode of The Beauty in Burnt Toast, Jade and Courtney unpack the difference between being visible and being truly known. In a world where social media encourages us to share more than ever, have we mistaken vulnerability for authenticity? Is saying "I'm fine" keeping us from the healing God wants for us?

Using James 5:16 as the foundation, this conversation explores why genuine relationships require honesty, why depth always involves risk, and how God designed us to find healing through trusted community instead of performance.

If you've ever struggled to let people see the real you or wondered why you still feel lonely while staying connected online, this episode is for you. Join us as we talk about the courage it takes to be known, the freedom that comes with authenticity, and why healing often begins when we stop pretending everything is fine.

If this episode encouraged you, be sure to follow The Beauty in Burnt Toast, leave a review, and share it with a friend who needs this conversation.

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