If you've ever felt the pressure to be "on" all the time- for your people, for your job, for the whole internet, or even for God- this episode is for you!

In our season finale (can you even believe it?!), we're talking about the ONE spiritual practice that I have found that relieves the pressure in my life like nothing else.

Spiritual disciplines are practices that connect us with God, and this one has huge personal benefits, too. 

Today we're talking about: 

• what this spiritual discipline is, and why it's so important
• how I have implemented this in my life 
• a tool to help you do this in a practical way that will help you avoid overwhlem in the process 

LINKS:

Get the Sabbath planning guide HERE!

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In our final guest episode of 2024 (another solo to come!) , we are digging into prayer with my friend Jackie Aviles.

Jackie is a writer and speaker who works with Go and Tell Gals, a pastor's wife, a mom, and a breast cancer survivor. Jackie is one of the most encouraging people I've ever met, and I'm thrilled for you to get to know her via the podcast today! 

Join Jackie and I as we talk about: 

• why we pray if God already knows
• the difference between coming to God with expectations vs. being expectant of what He will do 
• frustration in prayer
• learning and knowing God's voice
• how looking back builds our faith

LINKS: 

Connect with Jackie on Instagram

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Conncect with the show

Our Comfort & Joy series continues this Advent, as we lean into spiritual disciplines (practices that connect us with God). 

This conversation is all about two practices that are so hard to implement but so important for our souls: silence and solitude.

My friend Simi John is here to lead us in this, and I'm so excited for you to get to hear from her!

Simi is the author of I AM NOT, a Bible teacher with a study on Right Now Media, and a writer who contributes to (in)courage with DaySpring. Simi is a pastor's wife, mom of two, and a physical therapist by trade. 

Join Simi and I as we talk about: 

• why we feel uncomfortable when things get too quiet for too long
• getting honest with God
• what we miss out on when we don't make space for quiet and solitude in our lives
• working with (not against!) your personality when it comes to being alone with God
• practical tips for making space for silence and solitude in your life
• what to do when you get quiet and your thoughts run wild
• why getting away and getting alone is about more than taking a break

LINKS

Connect with Simi on Instagram

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Advent is HERE, and I'm so excited to kick of our Advent series today!

"Comfort & Joy" is a series all about spiritual disciplines. If that doesn't sound very comforting or joyful, stick around! Walking with God is where we find the ultimate comfort and joy, and spiritual disciplines are just practices that help us do that. 

Deep diving all things Scripture with us today is my friend, Lindsay May. Lindsay is the founder of The Truly Co, sharing Gospel-centered encouragement through a beautiful, award-winning magazine and other resources. She is a wife, mom, and student at Pillar Seminary. 

Join Lindsay and I as we talk about: 

• why the Bible is trustworthy
• the difference between meditation and study 
• why context is so important as we read and study Scripture
• practical tips for getting started in building Bible reading into your life
• working with your season of life 
• what to do when you feel like you "should" read the Bible but feel resistant to it or just don't want to 
• a mildly embarrassing story about the Bible connection I made as a grown up (after knowing a certain story since childhood!)

Be sure to stick around until the end for a scripture-based prayer I pray over my kid that you may want to pray over yours. Here's to finding comfort and joy in God and His Word. 

LINKS:

BibleProject

BibleProject on YouTube

The Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, NIV

The Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, NKJV

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The Truly Co website

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If there is one thing I hope you take away from our grief and gratitude series, it's this: you don't have to choose. 

In this solo show, I'm sharing: 

• a "what if" question about grief I can't quit thinking about
• misconceptions I've had about God and how He works
• two things God has used in my life- one happy, one sad- to break my illusion of control
• showing up for our lives and our people 
• why perseverance is so important 

You don't have to choose between grief and gratitude. By the grace of God, we can carry them both, as He carries us. Listen in for more. 

LINKS: 

Connect with Kayla on Instagram

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Be an email friend here

November is National Family Caregivers Month, and while I'm not currently a caregiver, I know how important this topic is. I knew the exact right person to join us, lead us, and teach us in this conversation!  

Jess Ronne is the founder of The Lucas Project, a nonprofit that serves special needs families with recognition, resources, and respite. She is the creator of two documentaries, Unseen: How We're Failing Parent Caregivers and Why It Matters (airing on ABC this month!), and Uncertain: The Search for Supported Living. 

Jess is the author of multiple books, including her latest devotional, Caregiving with Grit and Grace: 100 Days of Hope and Encouragement, that comes out in December. 

Join Jess and I as we talk about: 

• Jess' journey of becoming a caregiver times two, with the birth of her second son Lucas, who has profound disabilities, and her late husband, Jason, who battled brain cancer
• Hard and holy moments in caregiving
• Practical ways that we can help caregiving families
• Finding your fuel as a caregiver
• Paying attention to your body and soul's natural response to adversity
• The struggle of staying engaged when weariness sets in and the need doesn't have an end date

LINKS:

Connect with Jess on Instagram @jessplusthemess

Pre-order Jess' new devotional Caregiving with Grit and Grace: 100 Days of Hope and Encouragement

Connect with The Lucas Project on Instagram @theofficiallucasproject

Watch the documentary Unseen: How We're Failing Parent Caregivers and Why It Matters

Watch the trailer for Uncertain: The Search for Supported Living

Connect with Kayla on Instagram @kaylacookwrites

Connect with the show on Instagram @thebitterandthesweetpodcast

Become Kayla's email friend here

Some losses are so sudden and profound, you could have never seen them coming. That's the kind of loss we are talking about today. 

Mallory Stokes was in the car with her twin sister, Mia, and two of their softball teammates when they were hit head on by a drunk driver. Tragically, Mia died instantly, and one of their teammates also lost her life.

Mallory is here today to share Mia's story, and what her life has been like as she has lived a part of her story that was once unimaginable: life without Mia. 

Join Mallory and I as we talk about: 

• navigating anniversaries of loss
• grieving plans and dreams when you lose someone you love in a sudden and tragic way
• what people get wrong about the grief that accompanies this type of loss, and how we can love our people better in the face of it 
• wrestling with God's sovereignty and questions of "why" 

LINKS

Connect with Mallory via Instagram @miastokesfoundation

Connect with Kayla via Instagram @kaylacookwrites

Connect with the show via Instagram @thebitterandthesweetpodcast

Book Kayla to speak: email [email protected]

When you're grieving, you know that, while THE world hasn't ended, it feels like YOUR world has. 

My friend Dawn Mann Sanders deeply understands this feeling, so much so that she wrote the book on it: When Your World Ends: God's Creative Process for Rebuilding a Life. Dawn is brilliant and wise and also funny, which counts a lot around here :) 

Join Dawn and I as we talk about: 

• what happens when God invites us into the wilderness
• giving yourself time to process your grief, and the pressure we feel at times to move on 
• how the creation story applies directly to our lives
• times when you feel like you're going in circles with God
• practical advice for navigating deep grief (Dawn's advice for every 3rd day is gold!)
• connecting with God and finding the Light when life gets dark

LINKS: 

Take Dawn's Quiz: "What's Your Start-Over Style?"

Visit Dawn's website: dawnmannsanders.com

Get your copy of Dawn's book on Amazon: When Your World Ends: God's Creative Process for Rebuilding a Life

Connect with Dawn on Instagram

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Book Kayla to speak at your small group or church

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and that should mean more to us than just wearing lots of pink!

My friend Caitlan Reese Killian is the host of the Goodness & Grace podcast, faithful writer of the Goodness & Grace newsletter, and founder of Still Good Co.

Caitlan is a metastatic breast cancer thriver and living miracle (truly!). I'm excited and grateful to have her on the show today to share part of her story!

Join Caitlan and I as we talk about: 

• Caitlan's journey with metastatic breast cancer, from her initial diagnosis in 2019 to now
• what it looks like to choose hope over cynicism in the middle of discouraging circumstances
• healing as a long game
• looking for the help God sends when it looks different than we expect
• grieving the things we hoped would be
• embracing the miracles that come in ways we didn't imagine
• practical ways we can love a friend who has been diagnosed with cancer and the people closest to them

LINKS:

Caitlan's podcast: The Goodness & Grace podcast

Shop Still Good Co. here!

Connect with Caitlan on Instagram

Sign up for Caitlan's newsletter

Sign up for Kayla's newsletter

Connect with Kayla on Instagram

Book Kayla to speak

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month, and I'm so grateful to get to introduce you to one of my friends who has infant loss as part of her story. 

Hannah J. Clements is a licensed professional counselor, wife, and mom of four kids on Earth and one in Heaven. She is so dear to me, and I know that by the end of this episode, she will be so dear to you, too. 

Join Hannah and I as we talk about: 

• grieving as a parent, in front of and with our children
• practical ways to love our grieving friends better (and what not to say to your friend who has lost a child)
• why you should resist the temptation to isolate when you are grieving
• loving ways to remember your friend's child in Heaven
• being honest about our grief in a way that honors God

LINKS: 

Hannah's Counseling Practice: Oak and Sparrow Counseling

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Become Kayla's email friend here