Well and Grace

Embracing Advent: Rediscovering Christmas in the Chaos with Jen Ludwig

Have you ever worked so hard to make Christmas special for everyone else that you reached December 26 wondering where the season went?

In this episode of Well & Grace, Regina Bartlett welcomes author, worship leader, and songwriter Jen Ludwig for a conversation about preparing our hearts for Christmas. Jen shares the inspiration behind her devotional, Embracing Advent: Rediscovering Christmas in the Chaos, and invites us to receive the hope, peace, joy, and love Jesus offers.

Through the story of Mary and Martha, practical ideas for simplifying holiday expectations, and encouragement to spend time with Jesus, this conversation offers a fresh approach to a busy season. Whether you’re raising young children, navigating an empty nest, or simply feeling overwhelmed, you can begin right where you are.

In this episode:

Jen’s faith journey and how songwriting led to writing an Advent devotional.

What Advent means and why preparing our hearts matters.

Recognizing when even good things distract us from Jesus.

Choosing meaningful traditions and releasing unnecessary expectations.

Creating a consistent time and place to connect with God.

Carrying the spiritual habits of Advent into the new year.

Episode chapters

00:07 — Welcome and introduction

Scripture discussed

Luke 10:38–42: Mary and Martha’s encounter with Jesus reminds us to sit at His feet amid our preparations.

Romans 15:13: Jen’s prayer for readers to experience joy, peace, and overflowing hope through the Holy Spirit.

Try this before the holiday rush

Write down everything you expect to do this Christmas—including traditions, obligations, and expectations from others. Pray over your list. Choose three priorities to put on your calendar and three things to release or postpone. Then choose a regular time to spend with Jesus.

Resources and connections

Jen Ludwig: JenLudwig.com — connect with Jen and find links to her book and social platforms.

Book: Embracing Advent: Rediscovering Christmas in the Chaos

Small-group resources: Jen invites listeners to contact her for discussion questions to accompany the book.

YouVersion Bible App: Search “Embracing Advent” for Jen’s four-day and seven-day reading plans.

Well & Grace: reginabartlett.com/podcast

Regina Bartlett: reginabartlett.com

If this conversation encouraged you, share it with a friend who’s already feeling the holiday pressure. Follow Well & Grace for more conversations about faith, everyday life, and the grace of Jesus.

When life shatters everything you thought your future would be, where do you turn?

In this heartfelt conversation, Regina sits down with bestselling author, speaker, entrepreneur, and breast cancer survivor Kim Sorrelle to explore how devastating loss became the doorway to discovering the true meaning of biblical love.

After being diagnosed with breast cancer and then losing her husband of nearly 29 years to pancreatic cancer just six weeks after his diagnosis, Kim found herself asking a profound question:

What does it really mean to love?

That question launched a year-long journey through every phrase of 1 Corinthians 13, ultimately becoming her bestselling book, Love Is. Along the way, God transformed not only her understanding of love—but her understanding of grief, forgiveness, service, and grace.

This episode is filled with wisdom for anyone navigating loss, relationships, unanswered questions, or simply wanting to love others more like Jesus.

"Love isn't a transaction. It's a decision to reflect the heart of Christ." Kim Sorrelle 0

"Service is one of the greatest healers of grief." 

"Love is not a transaction." 

"You control the narrative. Love keeps no record of wrongs." 

"People and relationships are the most valuable things in life." 

"You never get over grief—but you can get on top of it." 

1 Corinthians 13:4–8

"Love is patient, love is kind..."

Mark 12:30–31

"Love the Lord your God... Love your neighbor as yourself."

1 John 4:8

"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."

Romans 8:28

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him..."

Psalm 34:18

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

Kim Sorrelle is an author, speaker, entrepreneur, and television host whose life mission is helping people understand and live authentic biblical love. After enduring breast cancer, widowhood, and years of humanitarian work in Haiti, she now encourages audiences worldwide to love intentionally and live with grace. 

🌐 Website:

📘 Facebook:

📷 Instagram:

💼 LinkedIn:

▶️ YouTube:

📺 TV Show:

📚 Books

Love Is

Cry Until You Laugh

If this episode encouraged you, please:

Remember...

Grace meets us where we are. Love transforms us into who God created us to be.

Many women genuinely want to understand the Bible, but they are not always sure where to begin. They may open Scripture and feel overwhelmed, become discouraged when they do not immediately understand what they are reading, or compare their spiritual practices with those of other women.

April Joy Gadoury believes that spending time in God’s Word can be both deeply meaningful and joy-filled.

Through A Joy Full Life, April helps women dig deeper into Scripture through unique, creative, and memorable experiences. Her approach encourages women to slow down, pay attention, ask questions, and engage with biblical truth in ways that help it remain with them long after their study time has ended.

During this heartfelt conversation, April shares how her relationship with God developed and how He began connecting her creativity with her calling to teach. What may have once appeared to be separate interests became part of a larger purpose: helping women encounter God through His Word.

Regina and April also talk about the pressure women sometimes place on themselves when it comes to spiritual disciplines. Bible study can easily become another task to complete rather than an opportunity to spend time with the God who loves us.

April reminds listeners that there is no single formula for connecting with Scripture. Some women may learn through writing, drawing, journaling, visual reminders, conversation, or hands-on experiences. The goal is not to create something perfect or impressive. The goal is to remain present, listen for what God is teaching, and allow His truth to take root.

The conversation also explores the relationship between creativity and faith. Creativity is not reserved for professional artists. Because we were created by God, creativity can appear in countless forms—from the way we solve problems and care for people to the way we notice beauty, tell stories, organize ideas, or reflect on Scripture.

April encourages women to release the fear of doing Bible study incorrectly. God is not grading our quiet time or comparing our journals. He desires relationship, honesty, willingness, and an open heart.

This episode offers practical encouragement for anyone who:

Bible study is an invitation, not an obligation.

You do not have to study Scripture exactly like someone else.

Creativity is not about artistic perfection.

Curiosity can deepen our understanding.

Consistency begins with small, faithful steps.

God can use every part of your story.

Choose a short passage of Scripture and read it slowly several times.

As you read, consider:

Write, draw, journal, pray, or create a visual reminder of what God is showing you. The finished product does not have to be beautiful. Let the process become an opportunity to remain with God and His Word.

April Joy Gadoury is a Bible teacher, speaker, and the founder of A Joy Full Life. She helps women dig deeper into the Word of God through unique and memorable experiences. Through her teaching and creative resources, April encourages women to approach Scripture with curiosity, confidence, and joy.

April is based in Rhode Island and is available for speaking and ministry opportunities.

Website: A Joy Full Life

Well and Grace is a Christian podcast hosted by Regina Bartlett, featuring honest conversations, biblical encouragement, and powerful testimonies of what God can do when we bring Him our stories, struggles, questions, and hopes.

Each episode invites women to come to the well, encounter Jesus, and discover the grace that never runs dry.

April’s story reminds us that God’s Word is alive, personal, and filled with treasures waiting to be discovered. We do not need the perfect journal, the perfect routine, or all the answers before we begin. We simply need a willing heart.

Open your Bible. Become curious. Create space. Trust the Holy Spirit—and allow God to meet you there.

“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” — Psalm 119:18

What if one of the greatest challenges facing the modern Church isn't opposition from the world—but silence from believers?

In this powerful conversation, Regina sits down with pastor, author, and disciple-maker Sara Dangerfield to discuss her book, Leading Spiritual Hoarders: Creating a Culture of Disciples Who Make Disciples. Together they unpack why so many Christians have unintentionally become "spiritual hoarders," holding tightly to the greatest news ever told instead of sharing it with others.

Sara shares her remarkable faith journey of growing up with a Christian mother and Muslim father, having to choose her faith at a young age, and how that decision eventually led her into more than two decades of ministry. From children's ministry to serving as a lead pastor, she offers practical, biblical wisdom for every believer who longs to become more confident in sharing Jesus with others.

This conversation is filled with encouragement, practical ideas, and reminders that discipleship isn't reserved for pastors—it's the calling of every follower of Christ.

"You only need to be one step ahead of someone else to begin discipling them."

"Our responsibility is obedience. The outcome belongs to Jesus."

"The Gospel is too good to keep to ourselves."

"The Church doesn't just need information—it needs multiplication."

Take inventory of your everyday relationships.

Sara encourages listeners to make a list of the people they regularly encounter outside of church—the cashier, neighbor, coworker, barista, walking partner, or gym friend. Begin praying intentionally for them and ask the Holy Spirit to open opportunities for genuine conversations about Jesus. Small moments of obedience can have eternal impact.

If this episode encouraged you, please:

Remember: The Gospel was never intended to be stored—it was meant to be shared. Your story may be the very thing God uses to change someone else's eternity.

What do you do when the phone call you never expected changes your family forever?

In this deeply honest and hope-filled episode, Regina sits down with Debra McNinch, founder of Battle Cry Moms, to discuss the heartbreak of loving a prodigal child, the power of persistent prayer, and how God can transform unimaginable pain into a ministry that encourages thousands of parents. Debra shares her family's journey after learning her oldest child identified as transgender, the loneliness she experienced in the church, and how God called her to build a community where parents can pray, support one another, and stand firmly on God's promises.

Rather than offering quick fixes, Debra reminds us that our role is to love faithfully while trusting God to do the saving. Through scripture, prayer, worship, and community, she encourages parents to never stop believing that God is still writing their family's story.

Whether you're praying for a prodigal child, walking through family conflict, or carrying a burden that feels impossible, this conversation will remind you that hope is never lost when Christ is at the center.

✨ Your job is to love your child; God's job is to save them.

✨ Prayer is never passive—it is spiritual warfare.

✨ Shame isolates, but community strengthens.

✨ God's promises are stronger than our circumstances.

✨ Joy is rooted in Christ, not in our current situation.

"It is my job to love my child. It is God's job to save him."

"You can't burn the bridge, because they need a bridge to come home."

"Believe in the miracle before it arrives."

"Joy comes from the Lord. Happiness comes and goes."

🌐 Website: https://debramcninch.com

🙏 Battle Cry Moms: https://battlecrymoms.com

📖 Book: Battle Cry: Love Goes to War (Amazon)

If today's episode encouraged you, please subscribe, leave a five-star review, and share it with someone who is praying for a loved one. Every share helps bring hope to another heart.

Visit Well and Grace for more Christ-centered conversations, devotionals, and resources designed to encourage women to grow deeper in their walk with Jesus.

Remember: No prayer is ever wasted, no prodigal is beyond God's reach, and no story is finished while God is still writing it.

When life falls apart, God often begins His greatest work.

In this encouraging episode of Well & Grace, Regina sits down with Gail Showalter—author, speaker, educator, and founder of Single Moms Empowered. Gail shares her deeply personal journey through divorce, raising three young children as a single mother, and discovering God's faithfulness in seasons she never would have chosen.

What began as heartbreak became a lifelong calling. Today, Gail helps single mothers pursue education, build stable futures, and discover their God-given worth through practical support and biblical encouragement.

Whether you're a single parent, know someone who is, or simply need hope that God is still writing your story, this conversation reminds us that no season is wasted in God's hands.

✨ God often builds our greatest ministry from our deepest wounds.

✨ Prayer isn't meant to be our emergency response—it's our daily lifeline.

✨ Sometimes the greatest ministry isn't solving someone's problems—it's listening.

✨ Healthy boundaries are biblical.

✨ Children learn more from watching us than listening to us.

✨ God cares deeply about women who feel overlooked or forgotten.

✨ No difficult season lasts forever.

✨ God can redeem every chapter of your story.

"Trust your heart and trust the Lord. He will make a life for you that you can't even imagine."

"This is a season. It will not be forever."

"God speaks in the silence."

"Prayer changes things within you, around you, and through you."

"Listen before you try to fix."

Philippians 4:8

"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure... think about such things."

A beautiful reminder from Gail that our thoughts shape our hearts and ultimately our lives.

Other biblical themes discussed include:

Gail Showalter is an author, speaker, educator, and founder of Single Moms Empowered, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping single mothers achieve financial stability through education, childcare assistance, mentoring, and encouragement.

Having walked the difficult road of single motherhood herself, Gail now devotes her life to helping women discover hope, purpose, and God's faithfulness during life's hardest seasons.

Website

Organization

Book

Available through Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

Gail's reminder that she prayed every night beside her bed asking God to simply "get me through today" until He unexpectedly opened the door to a career teaching visually impaired students. It's a beautiful testimony that God often answers prayers in ways we never anticipated.

Maybe today you're in a season you never planned.

Divorce.

Gail's story reminds us that our current chapter isn't the conclusion. God is still writing.

Sometimes His greatest miracles begin after the life we planned falls apart.

Keep praying.

🌐 Website:

What happens when the very things that tried to break you become part of the testimony God uses to help others?

In this episode of Well and Grace, Regina Bartlett sits down with Jill White, a faith-based transformational coach, speaker, and author who is passionate about helping women step into their God-given purpose.

Drawing from her own journey of overcoming adversity through her relationship with Jesus Christ, Jill shares how God can meet us in our hardest seasons, break down the spiritual and emotional barriers that keep us stuck, and lead us into a life of greater freedom, faith, and purpose.

Regina and Jill talk about the importance of knowing who we are in Christ, learning to recognize the things that may be holding us back, and finding the courage to move forward—even when we don't have every detail figured out. Jill also shares biblical wisdom and practical encouragement for women who sense that God is calling them to something more but may be struggling with fear, uncertainty, or feelings of inadequacy.

To learn more about Jill White and Overflow Coaching, connect on LinkedIn

This season, we’re going deeper into the stories of women who have walked through hard places, encountered God’s grace, and discovered that their stories are far from over.

Through honest conversations, powerful testimonies, faith-filled encouragement, and real stories of transformation, Well & Grace is a place where we come together to remember that no matter where we’ve been or what we’ve faced, Jesus still meets us at the well.

Come thirsty. Come weary. Come hopeful. Come exactly as you are.

There is grace here.

Welcome to Season 2 of the Well & Grace Podcast.

Hosted by Regina Bartlett

New conversations. Real stories. Unchanging grace.

Subscribe and follow so you don’t miss a single episode of Season 2.

Scripture

“But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.”

Connect

Visit Well & Grace and follow along for new episodes, encouragement, and conversations centered on faith, testimony, and the transforming grace of Jesus.

#WellAndGrace #WellAndGracePodcast #Season2 #ChristianPodcast #ChristianWomen #WomenOfFaith #FaithPodcast #ChristianTestimony #GodsGrace #JesusChangesEverything #LivingWater #ComeToTheWell #FaithStories #ChristianEncouragement #ReginaBartlett

In this episode of Well & Grace, Regina Bartlett (host) sits down with Heather Day to explore a rich, faith‑deep conversation about how our finances are intimately tied to our spiritual lives.

Together we unpack how the fruits of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self‑control) inform our financial decisions. Heather helps us see how financial stewardship is less about tactics and more about heart transformation.

Key Takeaways

Favorite Quotes

“I believe that money is spiritual and some of the things that we see—the way that we treat and view and manage our money—is often a symptom of a much deeper issue.” — Heather M. Day 

Resources & Links

Who This Episode is For

Call to Action

In a world of shifting foundations, Cathy Garland invites us to see that when everything seems to be falling apart, Christ stands as the indestructible cornerstone. Through her journey of divorce, miscarriages, a broken neck, and waiting on the promise of a child, Cathy discovered that the God who sees us (El Roi) and declares His truth (Jehovah Nissi) is not just a theological concept—but a living reality. Her co‑written book Revelationship (with father Dr. Randy Colver) guides readers into the many ways God reveals Himself and pursues intimacy with us. 

How the concept “Revelationship”—God revealing Himself to us as He pursues relationship—was born, and why it matters. 

Why our spiritual lives can languish if we limit how God can reveal Himself (or emphasize one form of revelation over another). 

Real‑life stories of suffering and redemption: from deconstruction of faith at age 13, through brokenness and waiting, to a renewed pursuit of Christ.

The invitation: To rediscover your identity in Christ, to let Him meet your deepest needs, wrestle your hardest questions, and heal your greatest hurts.

Book Title: Revelationship: Transformative Intimacy with Christ 

Authors: Cathy Garland & Dr. Randy Colver

Publisher: EnRoute Books & Media (Fall 2024)

The term “Revelationship” is defined on the website as:

“(Noun) The pathway to an intimate relationship with the God who created you; (Verb) Receiving from God all He pours out, then turning it back to Him in worship.” Revelationship

The book explores:

Being open to God who reveals Himself & why this changes everything

Deconstruction / Reconstruction of faith

Church abuse & healing

Motherhood, divorce, loss of children, suffering

How God’s nature is an antidote to what ails us

How to discover the living God of the Old Testament

Prayer that gets answers / Praying with the Holy Spirit

Why knowing God is the first step to knowing our own identity

Encountering difficult stories in the Bible (Eden, Sodom & Gomorrah)

Companion Devotional: Revelationship Devotional (available December 2025) – building on the book, includes journaling prompts, mindfulness exercises, QR codes linking to worship music, etc. 

Additional offering: Online mini‑course “Reset” to move from spiritual drift to deeper intimacy with Christ. 

“It was knowing and being known by God that made all the difference.”

“God’s call doesn’t waver. Even when we shut down, He waits, ready to walk alongside us.”

“If something is true, it can withstand questioning.”

“Revelationship is not about ritual; it’s about a relationship that heals and transforms.”

Feel spiritually dry, distant from God, or stuck in routines.

Are navigating suffering, loss, brokenness, or waiting seasons.

Have asked deep questions about faith, authenticity, identity, or purpose.

Want to deepen your intimacy with Christ and move beyond surface‐level devotion.

Are leading small groups, mentoring women, or seeking fresh ways to minister to those in transition.

Website: revelationship.net Revelationship

Blog: “Graceful Musings” by Cathy (short spiritual growth reflections for busy moms) Revelationship

YouTube: “Back Porch Talks” – father/daughter Q&A conversations about intimacy with Christ. Revelationship

Social Media: Follow for updates, devos, and community. Revelationship

Visit the website to download a free chapter of Revelationship or check out the devotional.

Reflect on one way God has revealed Himself to you recently—what did that invite you to believe or do?

Share this episode with someone who’s questioning faith, walking through suffering, or longing for fresh momentum in their relationship with Christ.

Let the conversation continue: join the online community or engage with the book discussion questions.

Thank you for joining us!