A conversation about identity, belonging, and generational legacy with Tasha Jun

OUR IDENTITY CAN HELP OR HINDER OUR ABILITY TO WORSHIP THE LORD

I have found that one of the most secure men in all of Scripture is Jonathan. It is through his life that we begin to understand that when we yield our identity to the Lord it leads us to serve Him more effectively-even when it comes at the expense of what we once believed we were entitled to.

Although we rarely acknowledge it, Jonathan is definitely a type of Christ. He chose to lay down his life for David so that David could access the throne and it is one that encourages me to become a better friend in every way.

This week, we are continuing to reflect on some of the themes in Session Two of Selah: Worship Invites You To Repentance.

TODAY WE'RE REFLECTING ON JOHN 15:13 ESV

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

A WOMAN YOU SHOULD KNOW

Today, Ty and I get to close out this season by featuring one woman who has impacted both of us. Today, Ty is introducing us to Sharonda Dreamms, a Christian Dating Strategist and Doctoral Candidate at Liberty University. Get connected to her because she is definitely a woman you should know.

MEET TASHA

Tasha is a biracial Korean American melancholy dreamer. She grew up in a multicultural home, and because of that, she’s spent her life navigating cultural collisions and liminal space. 

She writes about faith, cultural and ethnic identity, and living with a shalomsick ache. Writing has always been the way God has led her through pain and towards the hope of shalom. 

Tasha lives in the Midwest with her husband and three kids, and she is the author of Tell Me the Dream Again: Reflections on Family, Ethnicity, and the Sacred Work of Belonging.

I ASKED TASHA:

• Can you tell us about your book and the significance of the title?
• In your book, you talked to us about how hard it was for your family to find a church you could feel welcome in as a young child. You continued to discus this theme as you recounted your adult years, too, and I deeply resonated with the point you made about how you counted the minorities as an adult. Can you share some advice that we can implement today to help others feel more welcome?
• How can leadership teams of churches become more strategic about the ways they include diverse voices?
• Color-blind theology has always been a sugarcoated death threat to everything Korean in me. It pretends to offer something sweet but it does so at the expense of deep connection and community. What is the difference between false unity and true unity?
• You write, "These experiences of trauma passed through generations and the han we carry are not given by God as a means to an end, but what if they are the soil God uses to show us our need for Jesus and open us to love?" Can you share a little more about the soil God shows us our need for Him?
• How might someone who has rejected her culture learn how to worship the Lord more deeply?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Want to find out what was going on in King David's life when he wrote the psalms He's known for? Grab your download here. 

A conversation about expectation, immediate gratification, and disappointment with Elizabeth Woodson

WORSHIP INVITES US TO BRING OUR DISAPPOINTMENTS TO GOD

It saddens me to think about how much we talk about Michal, David's first wife, without ever addressing the trauma that she endured throughout her life. As the youngest daughter of King Saul, she was often used as the pawn he chose to manipulate to kill David and it is evident that she was influenced by the idolatry her father practiced.

When Michal helped save David's life in 1 Samuel 19, she took a household idol to distract Saul's servants and give David time to escape. However, no one ever slowed down long enough to address the pain she had, the disappointment she was navigating, and the rebellion that had begun to hide in her heart.

It's hard to imagine someone reaching for a household idol today, but it may be more common than we realize.

Today, we are reflecting on some of the themes in Session Two of Selah: Worship Invites You To Repentance.

TODAY WE'RE REFLECTING ON GALATIANS 3:13-14 ESV

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

A WOMAN YOU SHOULD KNOW

Today, Ty and I get to close out this season by featuring one woman who has impacted both of us. Winter Brooke is someone who reminds me to prioritize my time with the Lord on IG so that I don't begin to idolize the algorithm or any desire for popularity. Get connected to her because she is definitely a woman you should know.

MEET ELIZABETH

Elizabeth Woodson is a bible teacher, writer, and speaker, who is passionate about communicating the rich theological truths of Scripture. She loves helping people internalize their faith and connect it practically to everyday life.

Elizabeth has worked as the Institute Classes and Curriculum Director at The Village Church in Flower Mound, Texas and as the Single Life Coordinator at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship under the leadership of Senior Pastor Dr. Tony Evans. She is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary with a Masters in Christian Education, a member of the teaching team at Lifeway Women, and the cohost of The Starting Place Podcast.

Today, we are talking to Elizabeth about worshiping in an idolatrous culture, and you can find her books here.

I ASKED ELIZABETH:

• What inspired you to go on your own journey to embrace your life.
• How do we reconcile the ideal lives we have been taught to pursue with God’s ideal for our lives?
• That ideal can turn quickly turn into an idol if we’re not careful, and I was so thankful that you shared incredible insight on the struggle we have with idolatry. How does comfort have the potential to lead us to idolatry? 
• What power does lament have to teach us about ourselves?
• Shifting to your Bible study, what recommendations do you have for the young ministry leader who is struggling to reconcile the vision God has given her with the present place she finds herself?
• Can you speak to our sister who is having a hard time worshiping through her disappointment today? 

SELAH IS OFFICIALLY AVAILABLE!

Selah: A Study of 1 and 2 Samuel is still available for preorder and it is my prayer that, together, we can fall even more deeply in love with the Scriptures. You can purchase it here on Amazon.

The study includes: 

• 6 video sessions (all between 9 and 14 minutes because you have your own questions to pray about and answer),
• 30 guided prayers (all around 7 minutes to help you dive into prayer),
• and 6 weeks of live study with me (and any others who have the opportunity to join us) every Tuesday, beginning this Tuesday, September 26 at 6:30PM PST/9:30 PM EST.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Want to find out what was going on in King David's life when he wrote the psalms He's known for? Grab your download here. 

Have you met our cohost for season 6? Ty Scott King is currently being considered for a Grammy and we are praying and celebrating with her! You can find her newest album here.

TODAY WE'RE REFLECTING ON 1 CORINTHIANS 3:6-8

6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.

THE BIBLE STUDY IS OFFICIALLY OUT!

Selah: A Study of 1 and 2 Samuel is still available for preorder and it is my prayer that, together, we can fall even more deeply in love with the Scriptures. You can purchase it here on Amazon.

The study includes: 

• 6 video sessions (all between 9 and 14 minutes because you have your own questions to pray about and answer),
• 30 guided prayers (all around 7 minutes to help you dive into prayer),
• and 6 weeks of live study with me (and any others who have the opportunity to join us) every Tuesday, beginning September 26 at 6:30PM PST/9:30 PM EST.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Thinking about launching your own podcast? Want to see if there's a way to continue to host your podcast and do more while spending less? Click here for my 7 Podcasting Essentials!

Please don't forget to leave a Review on Apple Podcasts or Audible to show some love. 💗 I'm giving away a book to two of you who leave your IG handle.

Here's the Confident Collaborations Quiz

My newest devotional is available on the YouVersion Bible app! Will you subscribe to it? I have a feeling it will bless you!

A Conversation on the strength, the willpower, and the consistent surrender it takes to wait with Oghosa Iyamu

WORSHIP INVITES US TO WAIT

1 Samuel 13 is a sobering picture of what happens when we fail to wait on the Lord, and it is one we need to take seriously. Saul, set on obtaining favor with people chose to deny the Lord's command when the Israelite soldiers began to desert him and it cost him everything.

However, the biographers don't leave us there. They contrast his character with that of Jonathan's (his son's) and with David's and it is evident that choosing to wait on the Lord is also an act of obedience that we should take seriously and find delight in.

Waiting is not passive, sis. It is active. Trust God's timing.

Today, we are reflecting on some of the themes in Session Two of Selah: Worship Invites You To Repentance.

TODAY WE'RE REFLECTING ON PSALM 136 ESV
A WOMAN YOU SHOULD KNOW

Today, Ty and I get to close out this season by featuring one woman who has impacted both of us. Briana Taylor is someone who reminds me to prioritize my time with the Lord on IG, and she is someone you should know. Get connected to her because she is definitely a woman you should know.

MEET OGHOSA

Oghosa Iyamu is a passionate Bible teacher and content creator on a mission to spread the life-transforming message of Jesus Christ. Oghosa is the founder of Un.scrambled, a ministry that helps people live unscrambled from the world’s ideologies.

With an unwavering dedication to sharing the gospel, Oghosa has spent over a decade studying the Bible and discipling individuals, leading them to experience true freedom in Christ.

She has been featured in various publications, newsletters, podcasts, and conferences, including platforms such as Lifeway, Lies Young Women Believe, She Reads Truth, Revive Our Hearts, Radical, and many others.

I ASKED OGHOSA:

• Our world is in such a rush, and we in the Church have picked it up. What kind of benefits have you discovered in the middle of the wait?
• Can you share with us how you have learned to grow in faithfulness without feeling the need to rush and focus on influence?
• What are some of the hard lessons you have learned in the middle of waiting to move forward?
• What scriptures or Bible stories throughout the Bible help you to focus on the Lord’s presence when we are consistently bombarded with messages that appeal to our pride?
• What is one word of wisdom you could share with our sister who is struggling to worship while she waits on the vision the Lord has given her?

SELAH IS OFFICIALLY AVAILABLE!

Selah: A Study of 1 and 2 Samuel is still available for preorder and it is my prayer that, together, we can fall even more deeply in love with the Scriptures. You can purchase it here on Amazon.

The study includes: 

• 6 video sessions (all between 9 and 14 minutes because you have your own questions to pray about and answer),
• 30 guided prayers (all around 7 minutes to help you dive into prayer),
• and 6 weeks of live study with me (and any others who have the opportunity to join us) every Tuesday, beginning this Tuesday, September 26 at 6:30PM PST/9:30 PM EST.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Want to find out what was going on in King David's life when he wrote the psalms He's known for? Grab your download here. 

A Conversation on Pressure, Profit, and the Pursuit of God's Presence with Nailah Tee

WORSHIP INVITES US TO REPENTANCE

I feel for King Saul. As the first king of Israel, he made a lot of mistakes that were unprecedented at the point he became king, and he experienced a lot of pressure from the very beginning, pressure that we don't always understand.

We live in an innocence-guilt culture, and because of that, we often misunderstand those who are part of collective cultures that are a part of honor-shame cultures.

Jacques Georges and Mark D. Baker, the authors of Ministering and Honor-Shame Cultures, write that the removal of shame and the restoration of honor lies at the center of God's salvation. However, I want to remind you that it was never God's intention that we feel guilt or shame, but was, instead, a byproduct of the fall.

However, King Saul's most significant problem lie in the fact that he was so consumed with honor, that he failed to offer it to the only One who is truly worthy. When we study the scriptures, we see that King Saul placed the people's opinion above the presence of God and interrupted his communion and his communication with the one true God again and again and again.

Georges and Baker, the authors that I referenced earlier, mention that the limbic system within our brain senses social threats and shame the same way as physical threats. Both types of imminent danger trigger the same self-preservation instinct, and they share a common neural basis in the brain. 

Today, we are reflecting on some of the themes in Session Two of Selah: Worship Invites You To Repentance.

TODAY WE'RE REFLECTING ON 1 JOHN 4:19 ESV:

We love because he first loved us.

A WOMAN YOU SHOULD KNOW

Today, Ty and I get to close out this season by featuring one woman who has tremendously impacted both of us. Meosha Culpepper is the founder of TER Ministries, and hosts retreats to help ministry leaders get refilled. Get connected to her because she is definitely a woman you should know.

MEET NAILAH

Nailah Tee is a worship leader and certified coach who believes in the power of worship to transform lives. Her natural talent for music was recognized early, and led to her becoming a member of various school and children’s choirs.

Since then, Nailah has performed on large stages and provided background vocals to several gospel artists, musicians, and worship leaders. Her music can be found on all music streaming platforms. She currently serves as a worship leader in her local church. 

Nailah believes music is only one of the ways God uses her to share His heart and help believers walk in the fullness of who they are. She can be seen sharing words of encouragement on social media and will be available for 1:1 coaching this fall.

I ASKED NAILAH:

• How did you first fall in love with the Lord? 
• In your opinion, what blocks our ability to worship the Lord?
• What are some of the pitfalls you see those in your field leading worship through song fall into?
• Do you have any words of advice about how we can steward our gifts without giving in to the idolatry of money?
• How have you learned to continue inviting the Lord to purify your worship? 
• What is one thing you want congregants to know about worship?
• Would you share a few words of wisdom do you have for our sister who is here and interested in going deeper in worship?

SELAH IS OFFICIALLY AVAILABLE!

Selah: A Study of 1 and 2 Samuel is still available for preorder and it is my prayer that, together, we can fall even more deeply in love with the Scriptures. You can purchase it here on Amazon.

The study includes: 

• 6 video sessions (all between 9 and 14 minutes because you have your own questions to pray about and answer),
• 30 guided prayers (all around 7 minutes to help you dive into prayer),
• and 6 weeks of live study with me (and any others who have the opportunity to join us) every Tuesday, beginning this Tuesday, September 26 at 6:30PM PST/9:30 PM EST.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Want to find out what was going on in King David's life when he wrote the psalms He's known for? Grab your download here. 

A Conversation on Remembrance with Katie Westenberg

If we are going to worship the Lord, we have to remember who He is in the middle of everything that attempts to steal our attention and make us forget about how faithful He has been from generation to generation.

Biblical writers instruct us to remember from the Old to the New Testament, so let's take it to heart today.

Moses first reminds the Israelites to remember in Exodus 13:3.

Joshua picks up on that theme in Joshua 4.

And Samuel continues the tradition in 1 Samuel 7:12.

When the Israelites decided to repent for their actions against the Lord, Samuel called all of them to Mizpah. However, the Philistines decided to wage war against them. Samuel didn't grow anxious or worried. Instead, he made a sacrifice and set up an Ebenezer stone.

Ebenezer means stone of help. Samuel was calling them to remember how the Lord had helped them in the past and how He would continue to help them. And the Lord was faithful! He gave the Israelites success over the Philistines and peace as a result.

May we all remember the God who helps us in the pain and the problems we face.

The first session of Selah is titled Worship Invites us to Remember, and if you'd like to cover this topic further, you can purchase a copy of Selah here. 

TODAY WE'RE REFLECTING ON 1 SAMUEL ESV:

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the Lord has helped us.”

A WOMAN YOU SHOULD KNOW

Today, Ty and I get to close out this season by featuring one woman who has tremendously impacted both of us. Marilyn Johnson is a YouVersion Partner and the Creator of At The Well. Get connected to her because she is definitely a woman you should know.

MEET KATIE

Katie is the wife to Ross and mother to Tyler, Bailey, Brooklyn, and Bo (ages 10-18). She has a Bachelor’s Degree in business from Washington State University, but her days are mostly spent in the busyness of running a home and homeschooling her kids. I

In surrendering my far and wide dreams for His so much better story, God has given her many opportunities to speak life and write truth. She loves helping women follow Christ bravely and live boldly in the fullness of His plan for their lives – big, small, and all the wild and mundane in between.

You can find her new book, And Then She Remembered, here. 

I ASKED KATIE:

• What encouraged you to write this message?
• How can we grow more focused in our culture today, especially with all of the demands and cultural expectations all of the time?
• What do we risk when we fail to resist the distractions?
• How do we get clear about what we should really be paying attention to?
• What should we know about identity and the modern phenomenon that it is?
• How has your memory produced an inheritance for your children?
• What recommendations would you make to the woman who is struggling to worship past her distractions?

SELAH IS OFFICIALLY AVAILABLE!

Selah: A Study of 1 and 2 Samuel is still available for preorder and it is my prayer that, together, we can fall even more deeply in love with the Scriptures. You can purchase it here on Amazon.

The study includes: 

• 6 video sessions (all between 9 and 14 minutes because you have your own questions to pray about and answer),
• 30 guided prayers (all around 7 minutes to help you dive into prayer),
• and 6 weeks of live study with me (and any others who have the opportunity to join us) every Tuesday, beginning this Tuesday, September 26 at 6:30PM PST/9:30 PM EST.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Want to find out what was going on in King David's life when he wrote the psalms He's known for? Grab your download here. 

A Conversation with Jennifer Lucy Tyler

Skeptics usually deny the truth in the Word of God because they claim that there are two Gods in the Bible: The God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament. However, a closer look will reveal that God’s mercy, lovingkindness, and grace have followed us all the days of our lives-from the very beginning.

Nowhere is that more evident than through the Holy Spirit’s choice to speak to the strength of women in the Old and New Testament alike. Skeptics would say that the way God treats women further reinforces this belief. However, one of the things I love about 1 and 2 Samuel is how the Holy Spirit drew attention to so many different women throughout these two beautiful books in our Bible. Selah is available today if you want to go deeper.

TODAY WE'RE REFLECTING ON HEBREWS 13:8 ESV:

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

A WOMAN YOU SHOULD KNOW

Today, Ty and I get to close out this season by featuring one woman who has tremendously impacted both of us. Maura Romero is the outreach director for Brave Global. Get connected to her because she is definitely a woman you should know.

MEET JENNIFER

Jennifer is an international speaker and bible teacher who has served as a missionary in 5 countries. Her mission is to help women know God and experience transformation through bible study.

One of Jennifer’s passions is storytelling through social media and writing. More recently, her storytelling skills were used for Hope International Inc., Three Roots International, and International Justice Mission to advocate and uplift the stories of the people these organizations serve.

She is also an author and the creator of two journals, “Be Your Own Relationship Goals-Vol 1. and “The Changemaker Guide to Studying the Bible.” Since 2006, her influence has spanned the globe, from speaking at conferences to groups of women and youth to ministering to sex-trafficking victims and orphans in several countries, and leading missions teams.

Today, Jennifer spends her time helping women grow holistically through the online SoulCircles community and speaking. She works as a National Presenter for Faithlife, the creators of Logos Bible Software.

I ASKED JENNIFER:

• What did God reveal to you on your forgiveness journey?
• What stands out to you about Hannah? 
• What kind of obstacles have you experienced in the body of Christ or do you support others through in your work? 
• What scriptures have you stood on in your faith journey? 
• What is one word of wisdom you might share with us about worship?

SELAH IS OFFICIALLY AVAILABLE!

Selah: A Study of 1 and 2 Samuel is still available for preorder and it is my prayer that, together, we can fall even more deeply in love with the Scriptures. You can purchase it here on Amazon.

The study includes: 

• 6 video sessions (all between 9 and 14 minutes because you have your own questions to pray about and answer),
• 30 guided prayers (all around 7 minutes to help you dive into prayer),
• and 6 weeks of live study with me (and any others who have the opportunity to join us) every Tuesday, beginning this Tuesday, September 26 at 6:30PM PST/9:30 PM EST.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Want to find out what was going on in King David's life when he wrote the psalms He's known for? Grab your download here. 

A Conversation with Kobe Campbell

Today, we're talking about the many ways we have the opportunity to remove the limitations off of God. He is our limitless God, and He can heal at the altar, just like He can heal in the therapist's office. 

Let's talk about worship as we look at how David and others worshiped beyond their pain, without dismissing their pain. Selah: A Study of 1 and 2 Samuel is now available!

TODAY WE'RE REFLECTING ON PSALM 42:2 NIV:

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

    When can I go and meet with God?

A WOMAN YOU SHOULD KNOW

Today, Ty and I get to close out this season by featuring one woman who has tremendously impacted both of us. La Tonya Daniels is the author of Forgiving A Perfect God: Resolving Anger with Divinity. Get connected to her because she is definitely a woman you should know.

MEET KOBE

Kobe Campbell is an award-winning licensed trauma therapist, bestselling author, media expert, entertainment consultant, and keynote speaker. Kobe just released her first book with W Publishing of HarperCollins titled Why Am I Like This? How to Break Cycles, Heal From Trauma, and Restore Your Faith.

I ASKED KOBE:

• What inspired her to write this book?
• Are we overusing the word trauma?
• What is EMDR?
• What advice would she give to the woman who has made a practice of dismissing her pain?
• What does it mean to stop seeing God as an audience and see Him as an advocate?
• How do we worship through our trauma?

SELAH IS OFFICIALLY AVAILABLE!

Selah: A Study of 1 and 2 Samuel is still available for preorder and it is my prayer that, together, we can fall even more deeply in love with the Scriptures. You can purchase it here on Amazon.

The study includes: 

• 6 video sessions (all between 9 and 14 minutes because you have your own questions to pray about and answer),
• 30 guided prayers (all around 7 minutes to help you dive into prayer),
• and 6 weeks of live study with me (and any others who have the opportunity to join us) every Tuesday, beginning September 26 at 6:30PM PST/9:30 PM EST.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Want to find out what was going on in King David's life when he wrote the psalms He's known for? Grab your download here. 

Can I introduce you to our guest cohost for Season 6? Ty Scott King is an award-winning artist, and I am so grateful that she will be joining us this season.

You can hear our Live Podcast Recording where she started our time off with a beautiful poem here, and you can order her newest album on iTunes or her website here.

TODAY WE'RE REFLECTING ON GENESIS 22:5 ESV

Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.”

THE BIBLE STUDY IS OFFICIALLY OUT IN 1 WEEK!

Selah: A Study of 1 and 2 Samuel is still available for preorder and it is my prayer that, together, we can fall even more deeply in love with the Scriptures. You can purchase it here on Amazon.

The study includes: 

• 6 video sessions (all between 9 and 14 minutes because you have your own questions to pray about and answer),
• 30 guided prayers (all around 7 minutes to help you dive into prayer),
• and 6 weeks of live study with me (and any others who have the opportunity to join us) every Tuesday, beginning September 26 at 6:30PM PST/9:30 PM EST.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Thinking about launching your own podcast? Want to see if there's a way to continue to host your podcast and do more while spending less? Click here for my 7 Podcasting Essentials!

Please don't forget to leave a Review on Apple Podcasts or Audible to show some love. 💗 I'm giving away a book to two of you who leave your IG handle.

Here's the Confident Collaborations Quiz

My newest devotional is available on the YouVersion Bible app! Will you subscribe to it? I have a feeling it will bless you!

THE BIBLE STUDY IS OFFICIALLY OUT IN 1 WEEK!

Selah: A Study of 1 and 2 Samuel is still available for preorder and it is my prayer that, together, we can fall even more deeply in love with the Scriptures. You can purchase it here on Amazon.

The study includes: 

• 6 video sessions (all between 9 and 14 minutes because you have your own questions to pray about and answer),
• 30 guided prayers (all around 7 minutes to help you dive into prayer),
• and 6 weeks of live study with me (and any others who have the opportunity to join us) every Tuesday, beginning September 26 at 6:30PM PST/9:30 PM EST.

Grab Your Preorder Bonus Here

Join the Conversation Through Email, Sis

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