Life moves fast.

Our minds don’t always slow down.

Even when the weekend comes, it can be hard to actually rest.

In this episode of The Wooden Cricket Podcast, we talk about what it really means to rest with Jesus not quitting, not giving up, but learning to trust God enough to slow down. Through Scripture and real-life examples, we’re reminded that faith isn’t only built in busy moments… a lot of the time it grows in the quiet ones.

Take a breath.

Spend some time with the Lord.

Let Him carry what you don’t need to carry today.

Faith in Jesus works its way into real life with Jesus.

Real growth with Jesus always starts in the same place… humility.

In this episode of The Wooden Cricket Podcast, Laurence reflects on John the Baptist’s words in John 1:23, the importance of staying teachable, and what it really looks like to grow in faith in everyday life. From Scripture to real-life moments, we talk about learning to let God lead, letting others sharpen us, and trusting the path He’s writing even when we don’t see the full picture yet.

This episode also shares a personal update about stepping into a new season at camp in the Whiteshell a full circle moment where God’s goodness is impossible to miss.

Faith in Jesus works its way into real life with Jesus.

Every follower of Jesus has moments where they stumble.

We lose patience.

We react the wrong way.

We fall back into old habits.

The question isn’t if we fail…

the question is what we do next.

In this episode of The Wooden Cricket Podcast, Laurence reflects on the grace of God, the importance of getting back up, and what real discipleship looks like in everyday life. From Scripture to real-life examples, we’re reminded that following Jesus isn’t about perfection it’s about staying close to Him and letting Him shape us over time.

Real faith means learning, growing, repenting, and walking forward again.

Faith in Jesus works its way into real life with Jesus.

At a Freedom meeting this week a powerful question came up:

When we read the Bible… are we doing it out of duty or desire?

That question led to a deeper reflection about something many followers of Jesus wrestle with the quiet feeling that we need to perform for God.

But the Gospel tells a different story.

In this episode of The Wooden Cricket Podcast, Laurence reflects on the grace of Jesus and the freedom that comes when we stop trying to earn what Christ has already accomplished on the cross.

Because following Jesus isn’t about performing for Him.

It’s about walking with Him.

Faith in Jesus works its way into real life with Jesus.

Most lives aren’t shaped by big dramatic moments.

They’re shaped by small habits repeated every day.

In this episode of The Wooden Cricket Podcast, Laurence reflects on how daily rhythms quietly shape the direction of a life and how followers of Jesus can intentionally build habits that keep their hearts close to Him.

Looking at the example of the early church, the wisdom of focusing our minds on what is good and true, and the call of Jesus to follow Him daily, we’re reminded that discipleship often happens in the small ordinary moments.

Because when Jesus begins shaping our daily habits, He slowly begins shaping our whole lives.

Faith in Jesus works its way into real life with Jesus.

Life gets busy.

Work.

Schedules.

Responsibilities.

A thousand little things pulling at our attention.

And sometimes in the middle of all that, the quiet moments we meant to spend with Jesus drift away.

In this episode of The Wooden Cricket Podcast, Laurence reflects on what it looks like to follow Jesus in the middle of real life not just during church or quiet mornings, but in everyday conversations, decisions, and responsibilities.

Because following Jesus was never meant to be something we squeeze into life when it’s convenient.

It’s a way of living that touches every part of life.

Faith in Jesus works its way into real life with Jesus.

Life is loud.

Notifications, opinions, news, and endless distractions compete for our attention every single day.

But the voice of Jesus is still speaking.

In this episode of The Wooden Cricket Podcast, Laurence explores what it looks like to stay close to Christ in a world full of noise.

Looking at the example of Jesus stepping away to pray, the promise that His sheep recognize His voice, and the wisdom of filling our hearts with Scripture, we’re reminded that hearing Jesus often begins with simply slowing down.

Because when the noise fades, the voice of Jesus becomes clear again.

Faith in Jesus works its way into real life with Jesus.

EP235 Letting Go of Bitterness Before It Takes Root

Bitterness doesn’t usually show up all at once.

It starts small.

A hurt that lingers.

A moment we replay in our minds.

A situation we can’t seem to let go of.

In this episode of The Wooden Cricket Podcast, Laurence talks about how bitterness quietly grows in the heart and why Scripture warns us to deal with it before it takes root.

From the warning in Hebrews to the wisdom of Proverbs, we explore how followers of Jesus learn to guard their hearts and release resentment before it shapes their lives.

Because the mercy of Jesus doesn’t just forgive our sin it changes our hearts.

Faith in Jesus works its way into real life with Jesus.

Some wounds are easy to move past.

Others stay with us.

In this episode of The Wooden Cricket Podcast, Laurence walks through one of the hardest teachings of Jesus forgiveness.

From Peter asking how many times we should forgive… to the powerful moment of Jesus speaking mercy from the cross, we explore what it actually means to forgive when the hurt is real.

Forgiveness doesn’t mean pretending the pain didn’t happen.

It means remembering the mercy we ourselves have received through Christ.

Because when followers of Jesus choose grace in moments where anger would be easier, something powerful happens.

People notice.

Conversations open.

And the message of the cross begins to shine through everyday life.

Faith in Jesus works its way into real life with Jesus.

Some people are easy to love.

Others… not so much.

But Jesus didn’t only love the easy people. He loved everyone tax collectors, doubters, critics, and even the people who would eventually nail Him to a cross.

In this episode of The Wooden Cricket Podcast, we step into three powerful moments from Scripture and talk about what it actually looks like to love difficult people in everyday life.

Not with weakness.

Not by pretending problems don’t exist.

But with the strength, patience, and mercy that come from Jesus.

Because when followers of Christ respond with grace in tense moments, people notice and those moments can open doors to the Gospel.

Faith in Jesus works its way into real life with Jesus… even in the way we treat people who test our patience.