Have you ever been shocked by the unexpected? Rattled by the unplanned? Panicked by the uncertain? Or simply disappointed by unmet expectations?

Amanda Wright has been there—stunned by two pink lines (at a time when she wasn’t expecting them). As a college student and preacher’s daughter who was unmarried and unprepared, Amanda felt embarrassed, unworthy, and lost. And yet, God was not surprised. In fact, He was already at work in her mess.

Amanda is now a wife and mom of three who’s courageously sharing her experience with such unplanned mercies. Join Jenn Jewell and Kristi Ivey for a chat with Amanda at The Messy Table!

Listen HERE.

Hope Pregnancy Center | REAL Single Moms

Thrive Gathering at Crossings Community Church

Life.Church | Life.Church Sisters | YouVersion

Save the Date: Real Talk About Relationships, Marriage, & Sex 

YouVersion Bible Plans:

Single Mom Strong | Better Than Blended | 40&7 Devotional

Co-Parenting with God’s Help | Custody Battles and The Psalms

More episodes from The Messy Table:

Ep. 66 with Kim Duncan [Embracing the Untraditional] | Ep. 54 with with Toni McFadden [Hope After Abortion]

Ep. 104 with Kim Heinecke [Hard-Wired for Hope] | Ep. 124 with Ginger Ward [Revived by God]

Ep. 117 with Toni Collier [Broken Crayons Still Color] | Ep. 89 with Lis Marin [God Doesn’t Make Mistakes]

Ep. 87 with Ali Bergin [A Call to Persevere] | Ep. 20 with “The Village” [A Beautiful Mess]

The post EP. 129 | Amanda Wright [Unplanned Mercies] appeared first on Jenn Jewell.

From dropping out of high school to earning her doctorate in psychology, from living on the streets to helping others in hard places, from being stuck in a cycle of dysfunction to defying the odds stacked against her…

Dr. Amy Newberry is a wife, mom of four, licensed professional counselor, the owner of Restore Family Counseling, and an advocate for the underdog—who (in Cindy Beall’s words) is everyone’s champion, a depositor of hope, and someone constantly transplants courage to others.

In this episode at The Messy Table, Amy is not only sharing her transformative story, but also wisdom gained in the trenches…

Don’t miss this powerful story at The Messy Table!

Listen HERE.

Restore Family Counseling | City Care | First Steps

Life.Church | Life.Church Sisters | Youversion

How to Neighbor – a message series from Life.Church

The post EP. 128 | Dr. Amy Newberry [Defying the Odds] appeared first on Jenn Jewell.

Who’s tired of rushing around? Who’s exhausted from trying to keep up? Who’s not the best at setting healthy boundaries? Who could use a little more (okay, a LOT more) rest?

Our guest today at The Messy Table is Christina Patterson—a wife and mom, author and speaker, Bible teacher and devotional writer. Christina founded Beloved Women, a nonprofit that creates online Bible studies, YouTube videos, and other faith-inspired resources.

Mostly, Christina is a fellow busy woman who’s passionate about resisting the rush and reprioritizing rest—for her own (and your own) sustainability and joy.

For those who are in a hurry (which is probably most of us), don’t miss this episode on The Messy Table Podcast! You can even join us on the go.

Listen HERE.

Beloved Women with Christina Patterson: Website | YouTube | App

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry and Garden City by John Mark Comer

To Hell with the Hustle by Jefferson Bethke | The Search for Significance by Robert S. McGee

Life.Church | Life.Church Sisters | YouVersion Bible App

The post EP. 127 | Christina Patterson [Resisting the Rush] appeared first on Jenn Jewell.

We all need mentors who’ve gone before us—to guide us, to stretch us, to encourage us. We’ve also been empowered by the King of kings Himself to pass along the wisdom we’ve gleaned to those who are coming after us.

Today at The Messy Table, Cynthia Huffmyer is chatting with Amy Groeschel and Jenn Jewell about some of what she’s learned over the past seven decades, including what it means to break through bitterness.

Cynthia isn’t just an overcomer, but she’s also a Bible teacher, truth speaker, and disciple maker. In recent years, Cynthia founded and leads Breakthrough—a ministry designed to equip women with biblical truth.

If you could use a breakthrough in your life, this is the perfect place to start.

Listen HERE.

Breakthrough Ministry | More about Cynthia

Life.Church | Life.Church Sisters | YouVersion

Inside Out and Finding God by Dr. Larry Crabb

How to Stop the Pain by James B. Richards

Winning the War in Your Mind by Craig Groeschel

Romans 1:20 | Psalm 107:20

The post EP. 126 | Cynthia Huffmyer [Breaking Through Bitterness] appeared first on Jenn Jewell.

If you’ve ever had a God-sized dream, a quiet nudge of vision, or even a teeny-tiny idea planted in your heart, this episode could be the breath of encouragement you need!

Today at The Messy Table, Heather Turner is chatting with Jenn Jewell about dreaming big and trading up. About paying attention to whispers, stepping out in faith, shifting your perspective, leveraging your gifts, sharing your burdens, persevering through setbacks, fighting back with grace, and trusting God with every step.

“Your gift is not meant for you, but to go through you—and to be of service to others.”  —Heather Turner

Heather is a wife, boy mom, worship leader, business owner, author, speaker, and the founder of a multi-site music school called Anthem Road Academy. She’s passionate about empowering women on topics like leadership, business, and faith. Join us!

Listen HERE.

DreamTraders: Discover and Pursue the Life You Want by Heather Turner (on Amazon)

DreamTraders Website: Book, Speaking, Coaching, Student Workbooks | Anthem Road Academy

Life.Church | Life.Church Sisters | YouVersion Bible App | Bible App for Kids

A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller

The Obstacle Is The Way by Ryan Holiday | Honor’s Rewards by John Bevere

The One You Love by Elevation Worship | Christ in Me (coming soon) by Life.Church Worship

The post EP. 125 | Heather Turner [Dreaming Big and Trading Up] appeared first on Jenn Jewell.

Look at us, back together again! Happy September and welcome back to The Messy Table—an ordinary space for us to slow down and remember that GOD IS AT WORK IN OUR MESS.

Kicking off the 2022 fall season here at The Messy Table is Ginger Ward—a fantastic mama, an intentional leader, everybody’s favorite cheerleader, and the Central Group Leader of Training and Development at Life.Church.

In today’s episode, Ginger is chatting with Cindy Beall and Jenn Jewell about navigating unexpected challenges: a divorce, single-parent life, identity theft, and other deep hardships that redefined her life.

Ginger’s learned what it means to persevere, maintain integrity, lean on God’s strength, and find joy in the midst of disappointment. Mostly, she knows what it’s like to be revived by God. Join us!

Listen HERE.

Audio production by Glacier Rock Media; Social images by Jas Reynolds

Life.Church | Life.Church Sisters | YouVersion

Boundaries and Safe People by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend

Daring Greatly by Brené Brown | Principles by Ray Dalio

The Messy Table Podcast with Cindy Beall [Episodes 11 and 108]

The post EP. 124 | Ginger Ward [Revived by God] appeared first on Jenn Jewell.

Have your plans ever been derailed? Has a dream ever quietly died? Have you thought God was leading you one way, but, turns out, you were wrong?

Carrie McCarty has known disappointment: She thought she’d marry her high school/college sweetheart, but that relationship ended. She thought she’d be a biological mom, but those two pink lines never showed up. She thought she was going to adopt a baby, but ended up with a furnished nursery and empty arms. She thought her family would be in ministry, but “ministry” looked different than she’d pictured.

Life hasn’t always gone how Carrie envisioned, but now she is grateful for those sacred detours.

If your plans have ever been rerouted, join Amy Groeschel and Jenn Jewell for a chat with Carrie at The Messy Table.

Listen HERE.

Life.Church | YouVersion | Life.Church Series: Doubting God

YouVersion Plan: Bible in One Year with Nicky Gumbel

The BEMA Podcast with Marty Solomon | That the World May Know with Ray Vander Laan

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry and Garden City by John Mark Comer

New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp | I Will Be Found By You by Francis Frangipane

To the End by Mack Brock | Christ Be All Around Me by All Sons & Daughters | Goodness of God by Bethel Music

CONNECT WITH CARRIE, AMY, JENN, AND THE MESSY TABLE PODCAST ON INSTAGRAM

The post EP. 123 | Carrie McCarty [Sacred Detours] appeared first on Jenn Jewell.

It’s May, y’all! AND Mother’s Day week. AND Foster Care Awareness Month. AND we’re nearing the sun-soaked days of summer—which often means extra time with the younger humans in our lives.

And that’s why we’re THRILLED to have Amanda Torres as our guest today at The Messy Table. Sharing the unexpected messes and mercies of motherhood with LaTonya Pratt and Jenn Jewell, Amanda’s shedding light on the challenging-yet-meaningful work of biological, foster, and adoptive mamas.

Honest, witty, and down to earth, you’ll want to be Amanda’s friend by the end of the conversation. Join us!

Oklahoma Fosters | Amanda’s Arbonne Business

Jesus the King by Timothy Keller | Waking the Dead by John Eldrege

The 7 Decisions by Andy Andrews | Garden City by John Mark Comer

God Behind Bars | Tulsa Women and Children’s Center

Blue Letter Bible | YouVersion | The Bible App for Kids

Life.Church | Life.Church Sisters | Church on the Move

WHEN MOTHER’S DAY IS COMPLICATED

Oh, hey. If Mother’s Day is especially hard on your heart, check out these important past episodes …

FOR THOSE STRUGGLING WITH INFERTILITY: Ep. 64 with Carol McLeod [Becoming a Woman of Defiant Faith], Ep. 77 with Caley Porter [When Mother’s Day Hurts] and Ep. 91 with Adrienne Bley [Waiting on God]

FOR THOSE WHO’VE LOST BABIES: Ep. 42 with Rachel Leslie [Embracing Goodbye], Ep. 70 with Keri Young [Finding Grace Between Heaven and Earth], and Ep. 115 with Alyson Brown + Kelsi Cole [A Tragic Honor]

FOR THOSE WHO’VE LOST CHILDREN: Ep. 49 with Jennie Lusko [Unspeakable Loss + Unshakeable Hope], Ep. 52 with Kate Merrick [Show Up for Your Actual Life], Ep. 79 with Emily Freeman [Trusting God in Life and Death], Ep. 95 with Jamie Jobe [Beauty From Ashes]

FOR THOSE WHO’VE HAD AN ABORTION: Ep. 54 with Toni McFadden [Hope After Abortion]

FOR THOSE WITH BONUS KIDS: Ep. 66 with Kim Duncan [Embracing the Untraditional :: Singles, Stepmoms, and Blended Families]

FOR THOSE WITH A CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS: Ep. 106 with Heather Brower [Does God Really Work All Things Together for Good?]

No matter what, you are not alone.

The post EP. 122 | Amanda Torres [Unexpected Mercies] appeared first on Jenn Jewell.

Jen Lake never expected her pastor-husband to die—in front of her eyes or in front of their church. She never planned to be a young widow with three small children. And she never anticipated finding love again …

Today at The Messy Table, Jen is sharing her unexpected journey with grief, as well as a surprising catalyst for continued healing. Now, having been remarried for over a decade, having raised three incredible kids to adulthood, and having a (still) strong relationship with Christ, there is much to learn from her life after loss.

Don’t miss this powerful episode at The Messy Table!

Listen HERE.

Mornings and Turn My Mourning Into Dancing by Henri Nouwen

A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis | When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron

Understanding God’s Will and (RE)Understanding Prayer by Kyle Lake

The Kyle Lake Foundation | Life.Church | Life.Church Sisters

YouVersion Bible App | The Bible App for Kids

The post EP. 121 | Jen Lake [Life After Loss] appeared first on Jenn Jewell.

We don’t always notice God’s fingerprints—until we look back. But He’s constantly working and continuously present, even when we fail to see it.

Jas Reynolds is a New Yorker transplanted in Oklahoma, as well as a wife, mama, and pastor/communicator at Life.Church. Today at The Messy Table, Jas is chatting with Amy Groeschel and Jenn Jewell about:

We’d love for you to join us at The Messy Table!

Listen HERE.

Life.Church | Life.Church Sisters

Life.Church Online | YouVersion

The Christian Atheist by Craig Groeschel

Heart of the Father by Ryan Ellis

Life.Church Internship Program

The post EP. 120 | Jas Reynolds [God Is Not Done] appeared first on Jenn Jewell.