When you look up and realize you've taken a wrong turn or gone down the wrong path, how do you find your way back to God? 

My friend Ashley Martin and I got to talk about it, and I'm excited to get to share this conversation with you!

Ashley is a teacher turned writer and speaker, who has battled alcoholism and addiction, and who has been in recovery for 11 years now. 

Join Ashley and I as we talk about: 

• Ashley's story of recovery and finding her way back to God
• why we walk away from God to begin with
• how getting clear in our calling helps us fight shame 
• things to look for and pay attention to if you are concerned someone you love may be struggling with alcohol 
• practical ways to find your way back to God
• what Ashley would say to the person who is believing the lie that God doesn't want them back

LINKS

Connect with Ashley on Instagram

Visit Ashley's website

Connect with Kayla on Instagram

Connect with the show on Instagram

We may "know" God loves us in a general sense, but we have a hard time understanding His love and trusting His affection for us, personally. 

My friend Rachael Adams and I got to have a great conversation all about understanding and trusting God's love for us, and I'm excited to get to share it with you today!

Rachael is the host of The Love Offering podcast and the author of two devotional books, including A Little Goes a Long Way: 52 Days to a Significant Life, and her latest, Everyday Prayers for Love: Learning to Love God, Others, and Even Yourself. 

Join Rachael and I as we talk about:

• wrapping our brains around God's love for us
• seeing God's love in our disappointments 
• how trusting and receiving God's affection for us, personally, helps us to love others and live with open hands
• being with God vs. working for God
• how to love others well while maintaining healthy and appropriate boundaries
• living out what Jesus calls the greatest commandment

LINKS

Connect with Rachael on Instagram

Get your copy of Rachael's newest devotional, Everyday Prayers for Love

Get your copy of Rachael's first devotional, A Little Goes a Long Way

Listen to Rachael's podcast, The Love Offering

Connect with Kayla on Instagram

Connect with the show on Instagram

This past fall, a listener asked if we could talk about making friends as an adult after moving to a new place. My friend Neshe Lee Sloan is here to talk us through it!

Neshe Lee Sloan is a writing coach and entrepreneur, wife, and mom of 3 boys. Not too long ago, she and her family moved from Arizona to North Carolina. 

Neshe and I became friends shortly before they began the process of the big move, so I have gotten to see firsthand how she and her family have followed God to a new place. 

Join Neshe and I as we talk about: 

• starting over somewhere new
• finding a church and finding friends
• the temptation we feel to isolate when things are new or difficult
• making a big move with school-aged kids, and parenting our kids through transitions
• giving God time and space to do His work, in us and in our our people

Neshe is so brave, so smart, and so dear to me. I know by the end of this episode she will be dear to you, too! Listen to this one today!

LINKS

Connect with Neshe on Instagram

Neshe's coaching page (writers, don't miss this!)

Visit Neshe's website

Connect with Kayla on Instagram

Connect with the show on Instagram

How do we find our purpose? Is that the right question to ask? What does "purpose" even mean? Does everyone feel the pressure to find their purpose the way I do?

When I started asking these types of questions, I knew my friend Danita Cummins was the one I wanted to help me sort through these things!

Danita is the host of the Entrusted to Lead podcast and the author of Promise Over Purpose: Unveiling the Path to a Peace-Filled Life. A retired veteran, Danita currently works in nonprofit leadership and consulting.

Join Danita and I as we talk about: 

• what our purpose is and how to find it
• the pressure that often surrounds purpose
• connecting our purpose in the world with the things that have to get done
• when the good pursuit of purpose becomes an idol
• where God's promises meet our purpose
• misconceptions about what God has promised (and what He has not)
• rebuilding our trust in God and faith in His promises when we've been disappointed for feel disconnected from Him

LINKS

Connect with Danita on Instagram

Connect with Danita on Facebook

Check out Danita's podcast: Entrusted to Lead

Get your copy of Promise Over Purpose: Unveiling the Path to a Peace-Filled Life

Connect with Kayla on Instagram

Connect with the show on Instagram

Season 2 of The Bitter and the Sweet podcast is all about living wholeheartedly, and that begins with living intentionally!

When I wanted to talk about living an intentional life, I knew my friend Cristina Slabic was the exact right person to join us for this conversation.

Cristina is the author of The Intentional Life: Cultivate Confidence, Build Your Boundaries, Protect Your Peace. As a time management coach, Cristina spends her days at the intersection of intentionality and faith, and helps others do the same.

Join Cristina and I as we talk about: 

• the difference between being productive and being fruitful
• weighing our "yes" and our "no" (especially when it comes to good things!)
• why understanding God's character is key to living an intentional life
• dreaming with God
• how God wastes nothing in our lives as we walk with Him

Cristina has helped me be more intentional in my own life, and I think she'll do the same for you, through her book and through this conversation. Listen to this one today!

LINKS

Connect with Cristina on Instagram

Visit Cristina's website

Get your copy of Cristina's book, The Intentional Life

Connect with Kayla on Instagram

Connect with the show on Instagram

The Bitter and the Sweet podcast is a show where we tell the truth about grief, joy, and the grace that covers it all. I absolutely love getting to be with you every Tuesday for conversations like these! 

In just 2 minutes, take a look back at where we've been in season 1, and where we are headed in season 2, holding nothing back as we live in relationship with God and the people He gave us. 

Season 2 kicks of January 7, 2025. Let's go! 

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!

Connect with Kayla on Instagram

Connect with the show on Instagram

Be an email friend here

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

Connect with Kayla on Instagram

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

Connect with Kayla on Instagram

Connect with the show on Instagram

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

Connect with Lindsay on IG

Connect with The Truly Co on IG

The Truly Co website

Connect with Kayla on IG

Connect with the show on IG