Grace Filled Chatter
By Allison Yount
Grace Filled ChatterApr 12, 2024
When Christians are Hard to Work With
If you've ever felt disappointed in the very people you're supposed to be working with... your spiritual family, then we've got your back! Burn out and frustration happens to every single one of us, and the trick is actually a lot of work and asking God for help, lol. There's no quick fix, but we do have a conversation full of grace, how to get through burn out, how to work well with other Christians and our prayer for you.
Links to things we discussed:
Ark in the Darkness Movie:
https://answersingenesis.org/blogs/ken-ham/2024/03/08/new-noahs-ark-and-flood-movie/
Case for Christ Movie:
https://www.amazon.com/Case-Christ-Mike-Vogel/dp/B074N96F1J
Case for Christ Book:
The Goodness of God
What is goodness? How do we show goodness? What do we do with our longing for goodness in our lives when our world is anything but "good"?
Let's dive in to a conversation about all these questions and more! God's goodness is meant to be understood and reflected through our lives. So let's chat about goodness and how it should affect you and me!
Links:
New Testament in a Year study that Allison is doing (Quote from Joni Ericson Tada)
https://store.freshlife.church/products/pre-order-fit-for-the-fight-the-new-testament-in-a-year
When God Doesn't Feel Close.
When you have questions about talking to God, why He seems so distant, why He's silent, why He won't just give you a sign... that just means you're human! We understand these questions and have so much love to pour into your heart in this episode. God is faithful when we aren't, He's always a good friend and a good listener, and we have stories to prove it. Join us, friend, and let's seek God together.
Resources:
All The Prayer Questions!
Today we're answering common questions about prayer, some that we've asked before and others that we've heard people ask in and outside church culture. We hope this encourages you to take all your curiosity, your frustrations and your hurt to God and be completely genuine with Him!
We also talked about a lot of resources in today's episode, so all your links are below!
Jackie Hill Perry's Newest Devotional:
Michele Cushatt's story:
Is God Real? by Lee Strobel
The Prayer App:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lectio-365/id1483974820
THAT episode in the Chosen series:
https://watch.thechosen.tv/video/184683594325
New Year, New You??
Can we really be renewed? What does it take? Lists of resolutions, hard work, focus, determination or is it actually the opposite of anything we'd think is logical? Join us for a chat on how we can really create change in our life, what are healthy/unhealthy motivators and how we can go into this year, ready to see God work!
It's Christmas Time!
Join us for a holiday episode featuring a Christmas trivia quiz, explaining the way a woman's brain works, conversation about seasonal stress and overwhelm and how to focus!
Thanksgiving: How to and how to stay thankful past the holiday!
If you've ever felt tired of nothing feeling like enough, or no matter how hard you try to be grateful, you're still discontent, we understand! Anne Voskamp's book 1,000 gifts inspired this conversation and we pray that her words along with our thoughts encourage you to start sowing a life of gratitude, so in time your heart is completely transformed. Let's be women, wives, moms and grandmoms who exude gratitude, contentment and thanksgiving because we know we have a good God!
Book link:
Striving... Let's Stop, Can We Get An Amen!?
You exhausted, burdened, burnt out, tired and wondering where God is in the middle of your life? Yes that feeling, let's chat about it! We think there is more for us, more joy to discover, more of God's plan for us to unpack.
Books discussed in this episode:
When Strivings Cease:
https://www.amazon.com/When-Strivings-Cease-Self-Improvement-Life-Transforming/dp/B0911WTFCJ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=33X74XQLX8OYN&keywords=when+strivings+cease+ruth+chou+simons&qid=1698356249&sprefix=when+strivings+%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-1
Freely and Lighly:
https://www.amazon.com/Freely-Lightly-Gracious-Invitation-Confidence/dp/0736980377/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1698356277&sr=1-1
Marriage Tips from Two Newbies
We don't know it all!!! But our hearts go out to all the wives out there feeling discouraged or in a dry season of marriage. So, in our limited time as wives, here's some things we've seen God using already in our marriages!
Verses to pray over your husband:
Paul’s prayer for the Philippians:
I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.
A prophecy given to Zachariah about Jerusalem’s coming struggles:
“Then I, myself, will be a protective wall of fire around Jerusalem, says the Lord. And I will be the glory inside the city!’” - Zachariah 2:5
Pray the armor of God over your spouse!
The Core of Our Worship
Why does our best worship moments seem spread far apart and distant when we feel the most in need of a good worship session? What if it has more to do with our sin and understanding of justification than we think??
What Are You Working For?!
Experiencing burn out brought us to the realization that work can't be all that our culture weighs it to be! Maybe there's another way to work, another purpose to our days and our time. Let's chat about it!
Feeling Discouraged? Us too!
As Savannah so very well put it in this episode, discouragement leaves us feeling like we're stuck in sinking sand that seems hopeless to escape! But what if our enemy wants that? What if they've led us to believe lies that make us feel stuck and God has the truth to set us free?! Let's chat about that!
Sermon series at Fresh Life Church:
Return of the gods:
Cultivating Gratitude
Ever get in on of those ruts when your life seems lackluster and your hope feels grim? As we've been journaling this summer and trying to note things we're grateful for, it's changed our feeling of joy and hope in daily life! Our circumstances didn't change, but our attitude about them did just because we took notice in our conversations with God, of the things He's blessed us with.
If you've never tried a gratitude journal or even just a gratitude conversation with God on your drive to work, this episode is all about why we think you should try it! You never know how a small change could greatly impact your life until you try.
Bravery in Every Day
Our theme in this conversation is how to become brave, what bravery means and how God wants us to make brave moves! But we also talk about waiting until marriage, the power of sin, our inner voice, training our thoughts, and our personal struggles. A long and rich episode, we pray that this blesses you to see your little moments of bravery throughout the day as a bigger deal than you probably do. But we also want to encourage you that God is bigger than we tend to think and we are actually much less important than we tend to live.
Books:
Fullness of Joy
If the joy of the Lord is our strength, how do we really get that strength, enough to live through all of life's most difficult days? Where does true, lasting joy come from and how do we feel it? Let's chat about that!
Books mentioned this episode:
J.I. Packer "Knowing God"
Eugene Peterson "A Long Walk in the Same Direction"
Nehemiah 8:8,9
Daniel
Job
The Pain of Rejection
Going off some great advice from Lysa Terkeurst's book, Uninvited, we're talking about rejection. The pain in the aftermath of a rejection, our experience when we handled it well and when we let it break us, and how God's love for us can heal any hurt. Come chat with us about moving through rejections into a future that God has for each of us!
Books mentioned:
Uninvited
https://www.amazon.com/Uninvited-Living-Loved-When-Lonely/dp/1400205875/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2GDTZDR4UAJ8E&keywords=uninvited+lysa+terkeurst+book&qid=1684421243&sprefix=uninvit%2Caps%2C95&sr=8-1
Boundaries
https://www.amazon.com/Boundaries-Updated-Expanded-When-Control/dp/0310350239/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1684421263&sr=8-1
A Long Obedience in the Same Direction
https://www.amazon.com/Long-Obedience-Same-Direction-Discipleship/dp/0830822771/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1684421278&sr=8-1
When You Don't Get to Be First
Do you ever feel like you're the last to get a dating relationship, the last to get engaged, the last to buy a nice house, the last to have a baby, the last to get a job you love....? On and on the list can go and oh the pity parties we can throw for ourselves! We've ben there, some days we're still there! So, let us love on you in this frustrating season, tell you of stories when we felt hopelessly last and how God redeemed that time in the dark and lonely places.
4 ways to address disappointment, frustration with your current season of life or jealousy of someone else's season in life:
1. If you find yourself unhappy because you’re coveting something of someone else’s life: Pray for them! In trying to think of things that they might need prayer for, you’ll realize that they are human too
2. If you’re feeling frustrated because you’ve been seeking God and being obedient to His direction and you’re not where you hoped you’d be… hang in there! This season can be so hard, but I encourage you to take a few mins to look at what IS in your hands, thank God for those things and focus on what you have right now in today! Ask yourself, how can I invest in what I do have, what is in my hands right now?
For the sake of your closest relationships, if you’re having a hard time celebrating with someone close to you because they got something you long for, pray! Celebration is something that the church is called to! We are to meet each other with celebration, sharing the joy of Christ, basking in His goodness, and we can’t do that if we let bitterness take over our hearts.
Sometimes it isn’t that God isn’t bringing something to us that we’d like but rather that people don’t invited us and we feel unwanted by people. Remember that you always have an open invitation from God, He always wants your company, wants to be part of your life and wants to engage with you! Loneliness and hurt from people can so easily distract us from God's love, but fight to not let it take over your heart!
“You’ll only build as high as you dig deep. We live in a culture obsessed with the seen. But its the unseen that’s powerful - the unseen makes landmark buildings strong; the unseen stabilizes redwood forests; the unseen keeps a structure’s integrity intact. A strong foundation is vital for a structure’s ability to stand the test of time. Your walk with God is no different. Digging deep is the secret to unshakable faith.” - John Bevere (cofounder of the message bible)
https://www.amazon.com/Uninvited-Living-Loved-When-Lonely/dp/1400205875?ref_=ast_sto_dp
God's Immutability and Us
How does God being unchanging effect our lives? Let's dive deep into His Word and talk about it!
Scriptures in today's episode:
Rev. 22:13
James 1:17
Malachi 3:6
Hebrews 13:8
Jeremiah 10:10
Psalm 102:26-27
Exodus 3:14
Psalm 100:5
Books discussed: Last Supper on the Moon
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Supper-Moon-Christs-Fantastic/dp/B0912MP55H/ref=sr_1_1?crid=13VWVA5GG53AZ&keywords=last+supper+on+the+moon+levi+lusko&qid=1682084731&sprefix=last+supper+on+the+moon%2Caps%2C96&sr=8-1
Team God
How do we be an active part of God's team? In involves waiting, not knowing the plan, practice using your spiritual gifts, working with other team members, understanding your part in the "Body of Christ", but mostly learning how to hear from the Holy Spirit! Join us for this discussion about living for the team over ourselves, hearing our spiritual gifts, and the things we've learned from mistakes in our past.
Links:
Don't Miss Out (the book on the Holy Spirit that we love!!)
Spiritual Gift Survey
https://gifts.churchgrowth.org/spiritual-gifts-survey/?id=901995
Living Courageous
Hate trying new things? Do you limit where you'll let God lead your life because of fear? We do the same!! So, let's dive into what keeps us in our comfort zones, what keeps us living scared and break free so that we can live courageously! God has more for us... let's chat about it!
Having a "Posture of Confession"
Why is apologizing so difficult? Why do we often feel the need to get to a place where we no longer need to apologize? If God knows everything we've done, why do we need to confess our sins to Him? So many good questions are discussed in today's episode!! Confession and apologizing are so difficult to do and we so often try to give generic band-aid apologies to "save time" when really we're hurting our relationships by not diving into the depths of where we went wrong, where we chose to rebel from Gods instruction and where we chose to be flat out selfish! We're 100% preaching to ourselves here, but we hope you know you're not alone after listening to this episode.
Books discussed:
Daily Grace Co. Lamentations study - https://thedailygraceco.com/products/between-grief-and-glory-a-study-on-the-book-of-lamentations?_pos=1&_sid=489e0235b&_ss=r
Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby- https://www.lifeway.com/en/product-family/experiencing-god
Finding Fulfillment
What does fulfillment look like? How do we find it? How do we know we're worth something? If you've asked these questions, so have we and we're going to dive in deep into feeling fulfillment this week! Join our conversation about what it means to really know God and how that changes our outlook on everyday life!
Louie Giglio Prayer Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bf-OP6LOwM
Lisa Harper's Devotional book:
https://www.amazon.com/Life-Obsessively-Grateful-Genuinely-Devotional/dp/1433691957/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1GK2IZLAZG52E&keywords=Lisa+harper&qid=1675695271&sprefix=lisa+harper%2Caps%2C99&sr=8-3
Lisa Harper's Podcast is called, "Backporch Theology"
Living Satisfied With Being Dissatisfied
Do you ever feel dissatisfied with your life? Us too! The hard things = hard, those frustrating days when nothing seems to go your way = exhausting, and when you've prayed and prayed for a healing or a big breakthrough and see no fruit = discouraging! We're right there with you, but today we want to talk about one of Matt Chandler's statements from a well known beatitude: We can live satisfied even while being dissatisfied. Sound contradictory? We thought so too, but dive in with us to see what about living with dissatisfaction and disappointment can be satisfying!
Season 2: Confidence
Do you experience the same struggle with your confidence constantly going up and down depending on your day, finding value in things that crumble or never feeling fully sure of yourself? Us too! So, let's dive in together to see what God says about confidence, where we can find peace in the struggle and how our priorities line up with where we seek our own value!
Savannah's bible study:
https://thedailygraceco.com/products/philippians-study
We Love Christmas!!
All things Christmas trivia, our favorite gift ideas, favorite elements of the Christmas story and how we stay focused on God during all the business!
Fall's Our Favorite!
All things fall, from our favorite parts about the season, a fall trivia game, and what about this season of change stirs our hearts for the Lord! Let's chat about it!
Links:
Gentle and Lowly:
https://www.amazon.com/Gentle-Lowly-Christ-Sinners-Sufferers/dp/1433566133/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2KLUTBYLFV8HE&keywords=gentle+and+lowly&qid=1666615637&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIxLjk0IiwicXNhIjoiMS41MyIsInFzcCI6IjEuNTkifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=gentle+and+low%2Caps%2C108&sr=8-1
Sermon on the Mount: Your Words Matter
This conversation became such a deep chat about friendship! We talk about making promises, being true to our word, why trust matters in relationships, and how God's ability to be a friend inspires Christians to be faithful people. It was refreshing for us to dive into this part of the Sermon on the Mount and we pray that it encourages you as well!
Matthew 5:33-37
Links:
Daily Grace, Sermon on the Mount bible study:
https://thedailygraceco.com/products/sermon-on-the-mount-study?_pos=1&_sid=f9fb24279&_ss=r
Gentle and Lowly:
https://www.amazon.com/Gentle-Lowly-Christ-Sinners-Sufferers/dp/1433566133/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2E8356TA3R4FA&keywords=gentle+and+lowly&qid=1665150941&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIxLjkyIiwicXNhIjoiMS41MSIsInFzcCI6IjEuNTgifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=gentle+and+lowl%2Caps%2C94&sr=8-1
Sermon On The Mount: Lust of the Flesh
What does is mean to commit adultery? Is being unfaithful to your spouse the only way to commit adultery? Does lusting after and desiring things that we don't have cause dissension in our hearts as adultery causes in a marriage? Let's chat about it!! Dive into Matthew 5:27-30 with us as we talk about being faithful of heart to God and keeping our first love our main life focus!
Sermon on the Mount Bible Study:
https://thedailygraceco.com/products/sermon-on-the-mount-study?_pos=1&_sid=a37235c2f&_ss=r
Sermon On The Mount: Let's Talk About Murder
Is anger like murder? Can we control the thoughts and reactions we have to other people's choices? What does Jesus have to say about anger? Let's chat about it!
Join us in Matthew 5:21-26
The Daily Grace Co. Biblestudy we reference: https://thedailygraceco.com/products/sermon-on-the-mount-study?_pos=1&_sid=d36a841c0&_ss=r
A Big Sister's Advice On Parenting, Adoption and Foster Care - Interview with Lindsay, Part 2
Part two of our conversation with Allison's sister, Lindsay, is all about their journey in parenting, adoption and foster care. Get ready for an unplugged look at the beauty and the struggle of foster care, what its really like and how God has grown Lindsay and her husband through their years of fostering!
A Big Sister's Advice On Marriage - Interview With Lindsay, Part 1
We Invited Allison's older sister, Lindsay onto the podcast this week to ask her all out questions about engagement, marriage, relationship struggles, communication and staying focused on the Lord! She has a lot of wisdom to share and in part 2, she'll be back with more on mothering, foster care and adoption!
We hope you find encouragement and a new excitement for you marriage (or future marriage) and please excuse the lawn mower in the background at the beginning. Real life over here, lol.
Sermon On The Mount: "More Righteous Than the Pharisees"
This episode unpacks so many juicy topics like the wide and narrow road, how to discover God in the bible, what it means to be like a pharisee, and the unity and unchanging character of God! We can't wait for you to dive into this next passage in Matthew 5:17-19!
Sermon On The Mount: Salt & Light
“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
"You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." - Matthew 5:13-16
Resources discussed:
https://thedailygraceco.com/products/sermon-on-the-mount-study?_pos=1&_psq=sermon-on-the&_ss=e&_v=1.0
Sermon On The Mount: Beatitudes Part 3
Wrapping up with the final two beatitudes: "Blessed are the peacemakers" and "Blessed are those who face persecution.". What does it mean to feel peace in your life and can we have that in our daily life? Let's chat about that!
Daily Grace Co. Sermon on the Mount bible study:
https://thedailygraceco.com/products/sermon-on-the-mount-study?_pos=1&_sid=adbac2c7b&_ss=r
Sermon On The Mount: Beatitudes Part 2
Back for part two of the beatitudes, join us for a discussion about how God wants to grow our lives to reflect more of His character!
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God." - Matthew 5:6-8
https://thedailygraceco.com/products/sermon-on-the-mount-study?_pos=1&_sid=b9c64cbaf&_ss=r
Sermon On the Mount: Beatitudes, Part 1
Dive into a new study with us of the Sermon on the Mount! In this episode, we talk about the first three Beatitudes and what we've learned from the bible study created by the Daily Grace Co. The study is linked below if you'd like to follow along in your quiet time!
Daily Grace Co. Sermon on the Mount Study:
https://thedailygraceco.com/products/sermon-on-the-mount-study?_pos=1&_sid=696f33e39&_ss=r
Joy is a Source of Strength!
"Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." - Nehemiah 8:10b What does it mean to draw strength from your joy? Can you feel joy in all circumstances? How do you find joy when they world feels dark, cold and scary? This episode's chatter is about the story of Nehemiah, how we led the Israelites from fear to strength in joy and how we can cling to God's goodness in a way that will cause joy in all circumstances!
Life can be hard, heavy and flat out terrifying! We're here for you in all those circumstances, and we pray that our words, lives and conversations will encourage you to love God more fearlessly, chase Him with abandon and lean in when you can't reconcile your pain and His goodness. We may not know your story, but we know fear, struggles and loss so we get it! Praying love and joy over you life today!
Books and Scriptures mentioned:
Nehemiah 8:10
Isaiah 12
Daily Grace Co. - Arise - https://thedailygraceco.com/products/arise-a-study-of-nehemiah?_pos=1&_sid=096c41466&_ss=r
Let's Talk Relationships! Dating Pt. 2
We're back for part two!! This episode is all about what we've learned from being single that we apply to love our men well! Respect, listening, learning, seeing God's craftmanship, enjoying the moment, laughing and genuinely enjoying each other are some of the main gems of this conversation. We hope it sheds some light on your relationship and reminds you of why you decided to spend life with this person. And If you're single, we hope these tips help you establish good loving habits so that one day you will treat the man God has for you like the treasure that he is!
Books Mentioned:
Love Or Work - https://www.amazon.com/Love-Work-Possible-Change-Healthy/dp/0310358302/ref=sr_1_1?crid=UNOF9KS8X0LW&keywords=love+or+work&qid=1653051489&sprefix=love+or+work%2Caps%2C79&sr=8-1
His Needs, Her Needs - https://www.amazon.com/His-Needs-Her-Making-Romantic/dp/0800740998/ref=sr_1_1?crid=32G9JOV1SWYO9&keywords=his+needs+her+needs+book&qid=1653051607&sprefix=his+needs%2Caps%2C86&sr=8-1
Not Mentioned, but also good (list by Allison LOL!)
Relationship Goals - https://www.amazon.com/Relationship-Goals-How-Dating-Marriage/dp/0593192575/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2NE1GBVK2Z16N&keywords=relationship+goals&qid=1653051661&sprefix=relationship+goals%2Caps%2C100&sr=8-1
The 5 Love Languages - https://www.amazon.com/Love-Languages-Secret-that-Lasts/dp/080241270X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3L1KV7S1F3XXB&keywords=love+language+book&qid=1653051681&sprefix=love+lan%2Caps%2C79&sr=8-1
Men Are Like Waffles and Women Are Like Spaghetti - https://www.amazon.com/Men-Like-Waffles-Women-Spaghetti-Understanding/dp/0736968881/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2OAYPLZI7JE40&keywords=spaghetti+and+waffles+book&qid=1653051729&sprefix=spaghetti+and+waffles%2Caps%2C84&sr=8-1
Let's Talk Relationships!! Dating, Part 1
Here we go... diving into the scariest relationship (if you're us!).... dating!! We both have a more outside-looking-in perspective, simply because we spent more of our twenties single than dating, but we've both learned different things from watching our friends get married young, dating the wrong guys and currently dating some great, godly men! No matter where you are, single, dating, married or engaged, we pray this episode will shed some new light on how you see relationships, the responsibility placed on Christians to build each other up and the confidence to be found in loving our heavenly Father! We pray this encourages you, makes you laugh and draws you closer to your people!
Books mentioned:
Circle series by Ted Dekker: https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Circle-Black-White-Green/dp/B08GNLNMHZ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=U3X87M7WKQMD&keywords=ted+dekker+circle+series&qid=1652445907&sprefix=ted+dekker+cir%2Caps%2C81&sr=8-1
Daily Grace Co. Sermon on The Mount Study: https://thedailygraceco.com/products/sermon-on-the-mount-study?_pos=12&_sid=433289e94&_ss=r
Isaiah 53
Let's Talk Relationships!! Friends
Do you ever struggle to find good friends, feel lonely or wonder how you can have more than a surface level friendship? We're sharing our best advice from moving to new cities and knowing no one to maintaining lifelong friendships. As we mature and grow older, some friendships drift apart, so grow closer and others pop up out of nowhere! There's a lot to navigate on top of school, work, dating and family, so how do we glorify God in our friendships? Let's chat about that!!
Let's Talk Relationships!! Family
As we start our new series on relationships, we're discussing the people who made us who we are today... our families! We chat a lot about growing through conflict, learning how our different family members need love, and navigating the transition from child to adulthood. The best part of this episode is the last nugget of gold about our dreams for our future families, so you get a gold star if you listen until the end, lol!
We're praying for you as you find a support group in life, navigate family relationships, work to forgive past hurts and create healthy relationships in the future!
Books discussed:
The Lineage of Grace Series: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=lineage+of+grace+by+francine+rivers&crid=29OJB48KI8FIW&sprefix=lineage+of+grace%2Caps%2C84&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_16
Katherine of Aragon: https://www.amazon.com/Katherine-Aragon-True-Queen-Queens/dp/1101966505/ref=asc_df_1101966505/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312065522531&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13621291216650003398&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9010255&hvtargid=pla-569363654805&psc=1
Growing In The Lord: Where's Your Worship?
The last episode in our "Growing in the Lord" series, let's talk about worship! The Oxford dictionary says that worship is: "the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity." If we take that idea of expressing our adoration of God, then is worship strictly singing to God, or can it be more?? The feeling we get singing to God in a room full of other people adoring Him is a powerful thing, but can we cultivate that same excitement during the week? At work? In the middle of the mundane parts of life? Let's chat about it!
Ephesians 5:1-3 says, "Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people."
If Christ lived His life as a "pleasing aroma" to God and we are to imitate His life, then let's figure out how to turn our every day activities, our talents and our occupation into a pleasing aroma to God!
Follow us @gracefilledchatter for encouragement all through the week! We love you all and are praying for you!
Growing In The Lord: Dreaming With God
How do you plan for the future, yet trust God to supply your needs? How do you dream big dreams but let God lead you? When do you wait for His direction and when do you plow ahead? These can be so confusing in some seasons of life but feel really clear in others! Join our conversation as we talk about the humility we've gained in learning to dream about our futures with God, discerning His directions, and living excited to have a new day! As children of God, we should be the most excited about the future before us, the most bold in our obedience and the last to limit our potential. So, let's chat about it!
Books mentioned:
Holier Than Thou - https://www.amazon.com/Holier-Than-Thou-Holiness-Helps/dp/1535975717/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1649990059&sr=1-1
Growing In the Lord: God In Your Habits
Once you're in the habit of daily spending time with God, how do you then bring God into the rest of your life? In this episode, we dive into how habits change, the motivation for health, finance goals, work, and time management change once you start getting to know God. Sometimes it's a slow change over time and other times its like a 180 change. Placing God at the center of your heart and as the foundation of your theology, should change your life, even into all the little things you do and choices you make. Here we go!
Books Mentioned:
Get Out Of Your Head - https://www.amazon.com/Get-Out-Your-Head-Stopping/dp/1601429649/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1649291243&sr=8-1
Growing Strong (book about health by Cambria Joy) - https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Strong-Workouts-Devotions-Recipes/dp/0736978062/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1649293079&sr=8-2
Daily Grace Co. Planner Notepad - https://thedailygraceco.com/collections/organization/products/daily-notepad-navy-floral
Growing In The Lord: Daily Time With God
What does it look like to daily spend time with God when our personalities, talents, passions and communication differ? If God created each of us uniquely, is there only one way to have a "Quiet time"? In this episode, we dive into what our time with God looks like personally, what habits we have learned help us show up consistently, how we journal and talk to God.
Books Mentioned:
Don't Miss Out (about the Holy Spirit) https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Miss-Out-Jeannie-Cunnion/dp/0764239066/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1648726859&sr=8-1
Daily Grace Co (biblestudies) https://thedailygraceco.com/collections/bible-studies-devotionals
Growing In the Lord: Your Identity Matters
Have you ever felt lacking in purpose, wondering why you're here and what you're meant to be doing? Ever let one person's opinion of you mean too much and when their praise is gone, you are left feeling empty? Yep, we've been there! So in this episode, we share all things relating to identity that we have personally walked through and grown from! Emotions happen, breakups happen, disappointment and loss happen, so how do we stand confidently in who we are no matter what we're walking through? Let's talk about that!
Books mentioned:
Holier Than Thou - https://www.amazon.com/Holier-Than-Thou-Holiness-Helps/dp/1535975717/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1648126259&sr=8-1
Find Your People - https://www.amazon.com/Find-Your-People-Building-Community/dp/0593193385/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1648125393&sr=8-1
Get To Know Us!
Hello and welcome to Grace-filled Chatter! Today, we're asking some get-to-know-you questions to introduce ourselves and get this party started. Some things we discuss that you might want to look into: the "Mark of the Lion" book series by Francine Rivers, The Lion Guard on Disney+ (new Lion King series!), The Christmas Wedding Planner on Netflix and "Trustworthy" a study on 1st and 2nd Kings by Lysa Terkeurst. If you're looking for a new book of the Bible to study, our favorites that we talk about are James, Daniel, Ruth, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. See you next week!