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What is your perspective on women's roles in the early church? Nijay Gupta brings eye opening insight to aide your understanding of women in ministry through biblical wisdom. Join us on a transformative journey as we explore the leadership of women in the early Christian community. In order to be biblical, we have to establish the right place for women to be and the wrong place. So the right place is the home and the wrong place is the pulpit, or however you imagine that, the public, however you imagine that. And when people kind of say they want to reclaim biblical womanhood, they're often harkening back to a world that never was. - Nijay GuptaMy special guest is Nijay Gupta Meet Nijay Gupta, theologian, seminary professor, and author with a unique faith journey that began with his conversion from Hinduism to Christianity as a teenager. Nijay has since devoted his life to the study and teaching of the Bible, with a particular focus on women's roles in the early church. His book, "Tell Her Story", shares this fascinating research, providing valuable insights on this often-debated topic. With degrees in theology, divinity, and New Testament, Nijay is not only highly qualified but also approachable and genuine in his discussions, making him a much sought-after expert in the field. Show Notes cont. Resources Mentioned: Book: Tell Her Story by Nijay Gupta Related Episodes: 210: Wendy Alsup | Clinging to God When Your Church Falls Apart 73: Bethany Allen | Pastor of Spiritual Formation & Leadership Development 141: Elyse Fitzpatrick & Eric Schumacher | The Value of Women Grace Enough Listener Survey: Will you help me serve you better? Answer now through May 23, 2023 and be entered for a chance to win a $50 gift card Come be a part of the Grace Enough Gang Follow Grace Enough: Instagram | Facebook | YouTube Become a Grace Enough supporter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Christian mothers, are you feeling overwhelmed by the unexpected sorrows of motherhood? Today’s guest, Katie Faris, author of God is Still Good: Gospel Hope & Comfort for the Unexpected Sorrows of Motherhood, will share the truth that will bring you comfort and renewed hope. My trial and suffering don’t mean that God doesn’t love me. – Katie Faris In this episode, you will be able to: Pinpoint and replace deceit with the unwavering truth found in God’s Word. Comprehend the importance of reaching out for support from the family of God. Acknowledge the sorrow of motherhood while clinging to who God says He is in Scripture. Recognize that obstacles are merely a prelude and brace for eternal magnificence. Show Notes Cont. Resources Mentioned: Book: God is Still Good: Gospel Hope and Comfort for the Unexpected Sorrows of Motherhood by Katie Faris Printable Truth & Lie Chart Book: Growing Up Christian by Karl Gaustein and Mark Jacobsen Related Episodes: 51: Vaneetha Risner | When Suffering is Your Story 140: Andrew and Rachel Wilson | Lamenting & Parenting Special Needs Children 57: Kristen Hatton | Redemptive Parenting Grace Enough Listener Survey: Will you help me serve you better? Answer now through May 23, 2023 and be entered for a chance to win a $50 gift card Come be a part of the Grace Enough Gang Follow Grace Enough: Instagram | Facebook | YouTube Become a Grace Enough supporter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jessica Harris grew up in a cultural Christian home, she followed all the rules and expectations of her faith, but still fell prey to pornography. When she stumbled upon pornography at the age of 13, she became addicted and developed a double life of shame and perfectionism. Even after finding Jesus, she struggled alone, unable to find a safe place to talk about her addiction. But just when she thought she might have a way out, a devastating blow leaves her questioning everything. In this episode, you will be able to: Uncover the trials and triumphs of women’s navigation through pornography addiction and the healing process. Overcome the hurdles of self-blame and shame as you seek help on your quest to break free from porn addiction. Embrace a compassionate and nurturing perspective as you pursue restoration and wholeness in your life through Jesus and His love for you. Imbue God’s spirit of hope and deliverance for those embroiled in the clutches of porn addiction.   Show Notes cont. Resources Mentioned: Beggar’s Daughter Book: Quenched: Discovering God’s Abundant Grace for Women Struggling with Pornography and Sexual Shame by Jessica Harris Book: The Cry of the Soul: How Our Emotions Reveal Our Deepest Questions About God by Dan Allendar and Tremper Longman Related Episodes: 219: Rosie Makinney | The Truth About Women Crushed by Porn in Their Relationships 54: Nick Stumbo | Discovering Freedom From Pornography 144: Joshua Broome | Porn Star to Pastor 119: Shelia Gregoire | Exposing Lies Christians Believe About Sex Grace Enough Listener Survey: Will you help me serve you better? Answer now through May 23, 2023 and be entered for a chance to win a $50 gift card Come be a part of the Grace Enough Gang Follow Grace Enough: Instagram | Facebook | YouTube Become a Grace Enough supporter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is your spouse or boyfriend struggling with a porn addiction in your relationship? Have you heard the myths about how to address it? From the widely misinformed to the downright wrong, Rosie Makinney is here to debunk the top three myths about how pornography addiction affects relationships and marriages, present the truth and what to do next. I remember what it was like to feel so alone and so ashamed, and I don’t want anybody else to feel like that. – Rosie Makinney My special guest is Rosie Makinney Rosie Makinney, founder of Fight for Love Ministries, is a compassionate advocate for women struggling with the impact of pornography addiction in their relationships. With a personal history of battling porn addiction in two significant relationships, Rosie’s passion for helping others is rooted in her own experiences. Through her work with Fight for Love Ministries and as an author, Rosie brings hope, truth, and guidance to women looking for support and understanding. In this episode, you will be able to: Unravel the complex impacts of pornography addiction on relationships and marital well-being. Discover the path towards healing from betrayal trauma and tackling the emotional fallout resulting from your spouse’s addiction. Champion the significance of setting boundaries and enlisting professional help to bolster recovery success. Examine and question assumptions surrounding pornography addiction and its influence on sexual intimacy. Gain the essential knowledge to protect and educate your children against the risks posed by exposure to pornography and possible addiction.   Show Notes cont. Resources Mentioned: Book: Fight for Love by Rosie Makinney Fight For Love podcast How Betrayal Trauma Affects the Brain with Dr. Jake Porter on Fight for Love Related Episodes: 54: Nick Stumbo | Discovering Freedom From Pornography 144: Joshua Broome | Porn Star to Pastor 119: Shelia Gregoire | Exposing Lies Christians Believe About Sex Grace Enough Listener Survey: Will you help me serve you better? Answer now through May 23, 2023 and be entered for a chance to win a $50 gift card Come be a part of the Grace Enough Gang Follow Grace Enough: Instagram | Facebook | YouTube Become a Grace Enough supporter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Shannon Popkin on unhealthy control, and how it can impact our walk with Jesus and with others. Shannon shares practical ways to relinquish control in order to live a surrendered life to God. Questions Discussed During Surrendering Your Need to Control: Talk to us about control. I know I struggle with wanting control and I did not realize it until I became a mother. I think that is a part of your story, so share with us when you began to realize the struggle to control was an issue for you? Not all control is “bad”. We know God is in control and a fruit of the Spirit is self-control, so what is the difference between unhealthy control and necessary control? How does being a control girl impact our walk with Jesus? You write about 7 women in the Bible and how they struggled with control. Share one of those with us and what we learn about control from her story? What are some ways we can practice relinquishing control? SHOW NOTES cont. Resources Mentioned: Book: Control Girl by Shannon Popkin Book: Comparison Girl by Shannon Popkin Control Girl Quiz Live Like It’s True podcast Episode 210 with Wendy Alsup | Clinging to God When Your Church Falls Apart TGC Article: Problems with a New Reading of an Old Verse by Wendy Alsup Practical Theology for Women 3 Part Series on Gen. 3:16 by Wendy Alsup and Hannah Anderson Grace Enough Listener Survey: Will you help me serve you better? Answer now through May 23, 2023 and be entered for a chance to win a $50 gift card Come be a part of the Grace Enough Gang Follow Grace Enough: Instagram | Facebook | YouTube Become a Grace Enough supporter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After growing up in a Christian home, Jasmine Holmes has felt the stigma of shame her entire life and is now determined to confront it through her journey to freedom and understanding of God's grace. Shame is like guilt's evil twin, honestly, in the garden, we see the beginning of both. - Jasmine Holmes Jasmine Holmes, a thoughtful and articulate author, brings her personal experience and heartfelt insight to the topic of overcoming shame through Christ's conviction and empowerment. Growing up as a pastor's daughter, Jasmine has dealt with the weight of expectations and the struggle of finding her identity in Christ. She candidly shares her journey of wrestling with shame, ultimately finding freedom and healing through faith. With a passion for helping others find the same freedom, Jasmine's vulnerability and wisdom make her a trusted voice on this challenging topic. In this episode, you will be able to: Grasp the critical differences between guilt and shame. Uncover the detrimental effects of shame on mental well-being. Embrace Christ's conviction and strength to triumph over shame. Apply successful communication techniques to battle shame in relationships. Distinguish shame that arises from sin versus ordinary human situations. Show Notes Cont. Resources Mentioned: Book: Never Cast Out: How the Gospel Puts an End to the Story of Shame by Jasmine Holmes Related Episodes: 215: Leigh Mackenzie | The Value of Trauma Therapy and Journeying with Jesus 204: Caris Snider | Battling Anxiety 182: Courtney Doyle | Masquerade of Motherhood Come be a part of the Grace Enough Gang Follow Grace Enough: Instagram | Facebook | YouTube Become a Grace Enough supporter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Richard Foster, Brenda Quinn and Amber discuss the virtue of humility in a me centered world and how Jesus is our model. Questions Discussed During The Virtue of Humility in a Me Centered World: In a recent conversation with Rick Langer and Joanne Jung, Rick described a leadership book written in the early 1900's and its chapters primary focus was virtuous living. He compared that to leadership books written today which tend to focus on how to assert yourself, how to achieve your goals, how to find your identity and so on. That conversation seems to pair up well with your newest book Learning Humility. Why this book, in this way, in this time? Merriam-Webster defines humility as freedom from pride and arrogance: the quality or state of being humble. Will the two of you expand on that definition? In a culture that is SHOUTING, "Be great!" ,"You do you!", "Busyness and Accolades equal Success!", humility is often viewed as weakness, but how does Jesus view humility and how do we witness humility in his life? What are a few of the characteristics of humility that may be surprising to those who haven't spent time intentionally pursuing it?  Richard, you pose a few questions toward the end of Learning Humility to help us discern our growth in humility. As I share each of those questions I would like for one or both of you to expound on why they're helpful to ask:  Am I genuinely happy when someone else succeeds? Do I have less need to talk about my own accomplishments? Is the inner urge to control or manage others growing less and less in me? Can I genuinely enjoy a conversation without any need or even any desire to dominate what is being said? If someone desires to grow in humility, where would you recommend they begin? Let's end with, how can we celebrate and foster humility in those we mentor, parent, or teach? Show Notes cont. Resources Mentioned: Book: Learning Humility: A Year of Searching for a Vanishing Virtue by Richard Foster Book: Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster Book List authored by Richard Foster Related Episodes: 201: James Bryan Smith | The Good & Beautiful Life 214: Alan Fadling | How to Become an Unhurried Leader 211: Joanne J. Jung & Rick Langer | Follow Jesus to Become a Better Leader 29: Jan Johnson | Spiritual Formation and Hearing God's Voice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Leigh Mackenzie and Amber discuss discuss the hard and necessary healing work after traumatic childhood experiences. Leigh's book, She Seems So Normal: Shatter the Plastic Princess, Embrace Authentic Faith is a documentary narrative journey of uncovering long hidden sexual abuse and her journey of embracing authentic faith through the help of Jesus, mentors, prayer warriors, therapists, and the work of the Holy Spirit. Questions Discussed During The Value of Trauma Therapy in Your Journey with Jesus: Take us back to your childhood and share a little about what family life was like for you.  You are a CSA survivor. Will you share a little of your story and how the abuse shaped the way you viewed yourself (and others) as a teen, young woman and beyond? What role did Jesus play in your early childhood? When did you come to know him and how did the abuse impact what you believed about God? At what point did you realize you needed to embark on a healing journey from the trauma you experienced and what has that journey looked like for you? For someone who has PTSD from all that you have survived, You've said, "She Seems So Normal: Shatter the Plastic Princess, Embrace Authentic Faith is a documentary narrative of a journey to unearth long-hidden, heinous childhood sexual abuse. As a megachurch biblical researcher for preachers, I was the picture of “put together, Plastic Princess” on the outside, but inside I was dying, believing the enemy’s lies, and wondering what’s wrong with my faith. When I stepped away from the grave of fearful rule-following legalism and into the gardens to embrace authentic faith, I found avenues of recovery and restoration for anxiety, trauma, and shame with Jesus, mentors, prayer warriors, therapists, and the work of the Holy Spirit." What do you mean by "put together, Plastic Princess" in the context of the church? Tell us a little more about what you found with Jesus, mentors, prayer warriors, therapists and the work of the Holy Spirit? All too often, we believe that faith in Jesus alone is enough to conquer any of life's challenges, but I believe that that we minimize what "faith in Jesus" looks like lived out in day to day life. It is not "pull up your bootstraps, never complain and get on with your life because Jesus saved your soul" faith. It is "dig deep and let people into your mess, so you can see Jesus on earth as He is in Heaven" faith. It is a walking hand in hand through every high and low even when you want to run faith. Let's close with how you have found those statements to be true? How are you putting your faith in Christ alone, by going to therapy and doing the hard work of healing? Show Notes cont. Resources Mentioned: Book: She Seems So Normal: Shatter the Plastic Princess, Embrace Authentic Faith by Leigh Mackenzie 8 Books that Were Influential In Ways that Surprised Me Related Episodes: 186: Dr. Diane Langberg | Redeeming Abuse & Trauma 109: Amy Watson | Abuse Survivor and Living with PTSD 179: Sonya Brunner | Abuse, Human Trafficking, & Redemption 94: Mary DeMuth | Hope After Sexual Abuse 193: Lisa Saruga | Sexual Violence Victim & Reform Advocate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alan Fadling and Amber discuss living at the pace of Jesus and practices to help you become an unhurried leader.  Questions Discussed During How to Become an Unhurried Leader: When you talk about unhurried living, you are not talking about clearing calendars or reducing to-do lists, but you are talking about living at the pace of Jesus. Will you expound on that a bit? How did you begin to wrap your mind around accepting the interruptions and accepting that your to-do list is just not going to be finished? You've said, "Slowing down is often the better spiritual move rather than autopiloting into acceleration in the face of challenges or hardships." How do we do that? In your book, An Unhurried Leader, you share questions that help unhurry leaders? Will you share a few of those here and how they help? What prompted me to share a series on leadership is a book titled, The Call to Follow: Hearing Jesus in a Culture Obsessed with Leadership (which goes along with the second section of your new devotional). When you hear that title, what thoughts come to mind? Are there any other practices that help you stay grounded and unhurried? Will you describe the kingdom life and how it impacts how we as Christians live this unhurried life? What led you to write A Year of Slowing Down? Who are some of the people that influenced your faith and the work you do? Show Notes cont. Resources Mentioned: Book: A Year of Slowing Down: Daily Devotions for Unhurried Living Book: An Unhurried Leader: The Lasting Fruit of Daily Influence Book: An Unhurried Life: Following Jesus' Rhythms of Work and Rest Book: What Does Your Soul Love: Eight Questions that Reveal God's Work in You Website: Unhurried Living Related Episodes: 211: Joanne J. Jung & Richard Langer | Follow Jesus to Become a Better Leader 212: Jeff & Terra Mattson | Become the Leader You Would Follow 213: Tim Winders | Leaders: Are You Building God's Kingdom or Your Own? Come be a part of the Grace Enough Gang Follow Grace Enough: Instagram | Facebook | YouTube Become a Grace Enough supporter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tim Winders and Amber discuss Christian leadership, building your own kingdom vs. building God's kingdom.  Questions Discussed During Leaders: Are You Building God's Kingdom or Your Own?: You have held positions of leadership throughout your career. What have been a few of those roles and are there any areas of leadership you would say early on were not Christlike that you walk through a transformation period to become more Christlike? You recently shared an episode on Seek. Go. Create. titled The 3 Biggest Leadership mistakes, which you name as apathy, self-focus, and chaos. Will you share a little about each one and the impact those mistakes often have on those who are being led? What prompted me to share a series on leadership is a book titled The Call to Follow: Hearing Jesus in a Culture Obsessed with Leadership. When you hear that title, what thoughts are evoked in you?  How do you think our churches, organizations, non-profits and individuals would change if leaders began teaching and training more on followership and less about leadership? What advice about followership would you give to people in leadership? In a world, where the prevalent messaging is to be EXTRAORDINARY, end with a few practices that can help us be ordinary faithful followers of Jesus? Show Notes cont. Resources Mentioned: Book: Coach: A Story of Success Redefined by Tim Winders Rise and Fall of Mars Hill Podcast Related Episodes: 211: Joanne J. Jung & Richard Langer | Follow Jesus to Become a Better Leader 212: Jeff & Terra Mattson | Become the Leader You Would Follow 210: Wendy Alsup | Clinging to God When Your Church Falls Apart Come be a part of the Grace Enough Gang Follow Grace Enough: Instagram | Facebook | YouTube Become a Grace Enough supporter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jeff & Terra Mattson join Amber to discuss their book, Shrinking the Integrity Gap between What Leaders Preach and Live. They dive into how unresolved trauma impacts a leader, the gap between our values and habits, and some healthy tips for shrinking the gap. Questions Discussed During Become the Leader You Would Follow: The two of you have invested more than two decades in leadership coaching and trauma-informed therapy. Share a little of what you've found to be the root issues contributing to many of the leadership crises. What's some of the impact and dangers you've seen from slapping Bible verses on wounds of the past like Band-aids? What is trauma-informed therapy? What is the integrity gap? What does unresolved trauma look like and how can a leader know if it is impacting his/her integrity? Jeff, you share a number of ministry stories in "Shrinking the Integrity Gap: Between What Leaders Preach and Live" that would leave many confused, angry, and at worst closing the door on Christianity. Share a little about one of those experiences, how they impacted what you do today, and what the result could have been had you not dealt with the trauma?  So often, the unresolved conflict and trauma in a leaders life actually causes it to implode. Why do you think we're so reluctant to just share that and seek help or just humbly admit? If a leader is listening and wants to process their story, but are afraid because it puts their job on the line. What's the step forward for them? What are some of the gap similarities you see in Christian and non-Christian leaders? SHOW NOTES cont. Resources Mentioned: Book: Shrinking the Integrity Gap Between What Leaders Preach and Live by Jeff & Terra Mattson Related Episodes: 211: Joanne J. Jung & Richard Langer | Follow Jesus to Become a Better Leader 210: Wendy Alsup | Clinging to God When Your Church Falls Apart Come be a part of the Grace Enough Gang Follow Grace Enough: Instagram | Facebook | YouTube Become a Grace Enough supporter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joanne J. Jung, Richard Langer, and Amber discuss our never changing call to follow Jesus and how to pursue that in a world that views following as weakness. They also discuss the West's obsession with leadership. Questions Discussed During Follow Jesus to Become a Better Leader: In chapter 1 of The Call to Follow you compare leadership to money and I loved it! At one point you write, " And leadership is like money. Leadership, too, is an instrumental good. It helps get things done. But it is not an intrinsic good-it is not to be pursued for its own sake." Will one of you dive into how leadership is like money? Historically, what seemed to be the tipping point for Christian culture's current obsession with leadership language? Or has it always been this way? While culture says you must be a leader to be successful, the Bible speaks much about being a faithful follower of Yahweh, of Jesus. Expound on the language the Bible uses as it pertains to leadership and followership. What is the difference between the "followership stereotype" and "Biblical followership"? How do you think our churches, organizations, and non-profits would change if leaders began teaching and training more on followership and less about leadership? What advice about followership would you give to people in leadership? In a world, where the prevalent messaging is to be EXTRAORDINARY, end with a few practices that can help us be ordinary faithful followers of Jesus? SHOW NOTES cont. Resources Mentioned: Book: The Call to Follow by Joanne J. Jung and Richard Langer Come be a part of the Grace Enough Gang Follow Grace Enough: Instagram | Facebook | YouTube Become a Grace Enough supporter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wendy Alsup and Amber discuss her time as deacon of women’s theology at Mars Hill Church, how and why she was able to continue clinging to Jesus in the midst of suffering, and what a good Jesus hermeneutic has to do with it. Questions Discussed During Clinging to God When Your Church Falls Apart: You served as a Deacon in charge of Women’s Theology and Training at Mars Hill in Seattle. Share your experience of stepping into that role and the ways you were able to serve women during that season With the success of The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill podcast, many now have a more robust view of power struggles and abuse in the church. Were you able to continue teaching and serving women practical theology on a weekly basis, while behind the scenes the staff was “blowing up”? Expound on that a bit. You eventually left. What was that process like for you both emotionally and spiritually? What I love about your story is you didn’t walk away from God or the Bible despite being deeply wounded by God’s people. At one point you said, “A lot of people had problems with Mark Driscoll and just wrote off the Bible: ‘Well, if that’s what the Bible teacher says, obviously, there’s something wrong with the Bible.’ But I believed in the Bible a long time before I ever got to know Mark Driscoll, and I’m going to believe in it now. So I don’t think the problem’s with the Bible.” Talk to us about what you think made a difference in your clinging to God and His Word vs. friends, colleagues, strangers who walk away. I think having written books like, Practical Theology for Women and The Gospel-Centered Woman helped to ground you in truth of God’s character and what He says about His people, but not everyone has the foundation. Speak directly to the wounded soul, particularly the one who’s been wounded by those in a position of spiritual authority. In “I Forgive You,” you weave some of your own personal journey of forgiveness in with the story of Joseph and how we witness him forgive. What hope do we find in Joseph’s story? How can we apply some of those same principles to the people we need to forgive? SHOW NOTES cont. Resources Mentioned: Book: I Forgive You: Finding Peace and Moving Forward When Life Really Hurts by Wendy Alsup Rise and Fall of Mars Hill Podcast Rise and Fall of Mars Hill Podcast: Ep. 7 State of Emergency Book: Companions in Suffering: Comfort for Times of Loss and Loneliness by Wendy Alsup and Trillia Newbell Book: Practical Theology for Women by Wendy Alsup ALL of Wendy’s books The Gospel Coalition: Why I’m Going Back to Church After My Divorce by Wendy Alsup Theology for Women Etsy Shop Related Episodes: 106: Scot McKnight & Laura Barringer | Church Culture: Goodness vs. Abuse of Power 187: Wade Mullen | Power, Image Management, & the Church 73: Bethany Allen | Pastor of Spiritual Formation & Leadership Development  Come be a part of the Grace Enough Gang Follow Grace Enough: Instagram | Facebook | YouTube Become a Grace Enough supporter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

JOIN Still Becoming Lenten 2023 Study  Laura Acuna and Amber discuss her 50 year journey with diet culture, overcoming shame, and the work she continues both personally and through her 31 Day Devotional Still Becoming: Hope, Help and Healing for the Diet Weary Soul. Questions Discussed During Hope for the Diet Weary Soul: Take us back to Laura as an 11 year old girl and share your experience with weight gain and the ideas that were formed in your brain surrounding body image and eating. What were some of the formational things you started to believe about your appearance? How did it impact your brain? From that point forward began a 50 year battle of what you term disordered thinking about food and eating habits. What were some of the thoughts you had regarding food and dieting and how did it impact your eating? So many of us have looked in the mirror and said horrible things about our bodies, only to wake up and say "I'm not going to do that anymore. I am made in the image of God and my body is good," only to repeat the cycle again and again. Was this true for you? When did your thinking begin to shift? With that said, in your new devotional Still Becoming you write, "Disordered thinking leads to disordered eating-and when one is addressed the other follows?" Will you expound on that and maybe share a few practical tips to help us shift our thinking? Why Still Becoming? And how will the devotional help the diet weary soul? Where is the line when you cross into disordered thinking, disordered eating versus this is something that is part of taking care of your body? Often a woman's self-image goes far beyond issues with eating and exercise, but includes trauma and abuse, infertility, physical injury, and others. How do you encourage women to find rest and healing by focusing on what God has called good? Let's close with something I am SUPER passionate about and that is our culture's negative view of a woman's aging body. As Christians, how can we resist falling for this toxic and impossible standard of skinny, wrinkle free, and pigmented hair is the most beautiful? SHOW NOTES cont. Resources Mentioned: JOIN Still Becoming Lenten 2023 Study Book: Still Becoming: Hope, Help and Healing for the Diet Weary Soul by Laura Acuna Still Becoming Small Group Discussion Guide Related Episodes: 116: David & Krista Dunham | Eating Disorder Recovery 114: Heather Creekmore | Body Image Come be a part of the Grace Enough Gang Follow Grace Enough: Instagram | Facebook | YouTube Become a Grace Enough supporter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lori Ann Wood was young and healthy when she ended up in critical care with a heart failure diagnosis and only a few months to live. We discuss that season of her life, the healing and reoccurrence she experienced and how the family of God interceded on her behalf when she had no words. Questions Discussed During Divine Detour & Heart Health: You experienced a near death health incident in 2015. Will you share that experience with us? You spent 16 months at the Cleveland Clinic, what was day to day life like for you? How would you encourage people now to be proactive in their treatment of heart disease? What shifted in your walk with Jesus, as you’re walking through this experience? Tell us about your heart ejection fraction being restored. You are releasing a book Divine Detour: The Path You Didn’t Choose Can Lead to the Faith You’ve Always Wanted, where you explore the questions of worry, doubt and fear. Pick one and explain in a little more detail how your personal wrestling impacted the writing of the book and what you hoped those reading would take away. When your world was falling apart you learned questions didn’t destroy your faith, but strengthened it. Why are questions so important in our faith journeys with Jesus? Let’s close with encouragement for anyone listening who may be walking through their own desert. SHOW NOTES cont. Related Episodes: 191: Marcy Gregg | Life After Losing Your Memory 172: Christiana Custodio | When God Changed His Mind 162: Erica Baldwin | Invisible Illness Warrior Come be a part of the Grace Enough Gang Follow Grace Enough: Instagram | Facebook | YouTube Become a Grace Enough supporter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Carlos Whittaker and Amber discuss his new book, How to Human and how he practices being curious up close, walking with people, and being more of a human and less of an opinion.  Questions Discussed During How to Human: You grew up a preacher’s kid, share a little bit of your early faith journey with us and the influence your parents have had and continue to have in your walk with Jesus. You’ve raised over 2 million dollars on Venmo alone for people in need. Take us back and share how it all began? Of all the people you have been able to help is there a moment or a story that was particularly impactful to your journey with Jesus that you can share and why? The subtitle of your new book is Three Ways to Share Life Beyond What Distracts, Divides, and Disconnects Us. What are the three ways and how do they helps us share life beyond what distracts, divides and disconnects us? When you’re in a tense situation how do you break the tension? Recently in your IG stories you said something that deeply resonated with people. You made it into an image, as almost a 2023 motto. I am going to say the phrases and I would like for you to share a little about what they look like in your day to day life of loving others. Being curious up close over judging from a distance Walking with people over standing on issues Being more of a human and less of an opinion I asked a dear friend, “What would you ask Carlos if you sat down with him?” Her response, “I love the relationship he has with his children. I would like to know more about cultivating that type of relationship.” Any encouragement, advice or insight you would give regarding cultivating a close relationship with our kids? SHOW NOTES cont. Resources Mentioned: Book: How to Human: Three Ways to Share Life Beyond What Distracts, Divides, and Disconnects Us by Carlos Whittaker Related Episodes: 176: Andy Crouch | Reclaiming Relationship in a Technological World 123: Rebecca Pippert | Share the Faith You Live Come be a part of the Grace Enough Gang Follow Grace Enough: Instagram | Facebook | YouTube Become a Grace Enough supporter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. Michelle Bengtson and Amber discuss her journey with depression, the role Scripture played in her healing, the impact social media exposure has on our mental health, and the difference between feeling depressed and clinically depression. Questions Discussed During Battling Depression: You are a Neuropsychologist and you have walked through depression. When did depression first become a part of your story and what did treatment look like for you early on?  Do you think that the goal of treatment for depression should be complete healing? When you talk about the spiritual dimension of depression, you say believing lies is a part of that. Share a few of the common lies that accompany depression, their impact on our brain, and practices we use to replace the lies with truth. Do you feel like depression is happening more and more in our world today?  What are contributing factors in our daily life in the Western world, with the way our society has developed, that you see as particularly affecting people’s susceptibility to depression?  How would you describe the difference between feeling down vs. clinical depression where I need to seek professional help? If someone is listening and your answer was confirmation that they are indeed depressed, what would you like to say to them in closing?   Show Notes cont. Resources Mentioned: Book: Today is Going to Be a Good Day Book: Hope Prevails Bible Study: Hope Prevails Bible Study Book: Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Related Episodes: 205: Ed Welch | Psychiatric Diagnosis and God’s Word 204: Caris Snider | Battling Anxiety 166: Lori Wildenberg | Helping Children with Anxiety, Depression, and Suicidal Ideation Come be a part of the Grace Enough Gang Follow Grace Enough: Instagram | Facebook | YouTube Become a Grace Enough supporter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ed Welch and Amber discuss coming at those living with a psychiatric diagnosis from broader category of "in this world you will have trouble" and how instances of suffering in the Bible can be applied to mental health. They also discuss, the place medication holds in the life of the sufferer and how Jesus speaks into the pain. Questions Discussed During Psychiatric Diagnosis & God's Word: You have been counseling for over 40 years and on staff with CCEF for the same amount of time. What are some shifts you've witnessed in regards to how Christians talk about, interact, and treat psychiatric diagnoses or mental illnesses?  When it comes to talking about it from a pulpit, are there biblical examples that can be used to call it what it is, even though that's not necessarily the exact "words" that may be written in the word? In your newest book, I Have a Psychiatric diagnosis: What Does the Bible say?, You begin by bridging the divide between the psychological world and the spiritual world. Why do people often draw a line between the two? And how do you help people to bridge the divide? What do you mean by we are embodied souls? As someone who lives with depression I found your description of the physical body experiencing weakness, yet being able to be strengthened--in some cases with medication, incredibly helpful. So much so I read the chapter to my husband. Will you share that with our listeners to help remove some of the stigma around those who take medication, while also helping those who suffer not view medication as the CURE? When does anxiety move beyond "normal" to something more serious? How does trauma need to be treated a bit differently? You end addressing narcissism. How is narcissism different from the others and how do we even begin to interact with those living with narcissism in a life-giving way? Show Notes cont. Resources Mentioned: Book: I Have a Psychiatric Diagnosis: What Does the Bible Say by Ed Welch A Small Book for the Anxious Heart by Ed Welch Depression: Looking Up From the Stubborn Darkness by Ed Welch Other books by Ed Welch Related Episodes: 204: Caris Snider | Battling Anxiety 166: Lori Wildenberg | Helping Children with Anxiety, Depression, and Suicidal Ideation 171: Nicole Zasowski | Courage to Celebrate Come be a part of the Grace Enough Gang Follow Grace Enough: Instagram | Facebook | YouTube Become a Grace Enough supporter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Caris Snider and Amber discuss her experience with anxiety and how she is learning to shine light in the darkness for adults, tweens, teens and children through her devotional Anxiety Elephants. Questions Discussed During Battling Anxiety: Share a little of your early faith journey with us. When did you begin walking with Jesus? I don't know the details of your story, but what I do know sounds eerily familiar. While mine was crying uncontrollably on the floor while my 3 year old and newborn played nearby, yours was an anxiety attack while your daughter played nearby. Take us back to that time in your life and share what life was like and how you were coping. In addition to panic attacks, you were not eating due to the anxiety and fear, which is often a symptom of anxiety far less talked about. Will you speak to that symptom and your experience? What drove you to finally seek help and whose help did you seek? Seeking the help of a doctor and counselor are becoming less stigmatized, but as followers of Jesus we can still believe lies like, "I must not have enough faith" and "If I pray, this will go away." Did you believe those lies or others and how did you overcome them? You talk a lot about the freedom that comes from speaking openly about your experience vs. hiding and I 100% agree. It is another tool we have to fight against anxiety and depression. Not constantly bemoaning our illness, but shining light into the darkness, so others can pray and encourage. How has speaking openly about your journey with anxiety brought freedom? You've written Anxiety Elephants: A 31 day devotional to help stomp out your anxiety and now have a 90 day tween version for both girls and boys. Share a bit about your journey of writing the devotional and how you've seen God use your experience for good. If someone purchases your book, what can they expect? SHOW NOTES cont. Resources Mentioned: Book: Anxiety Elephants: 31 Day Devotional to Help Stomp Out Your Anxiety by Caris Snider Book: Anxiety Elephants for Tween Girls: 90 Day Devotional Book: Anxiety Elephants for Tween Boys: 90 Day Devotional  Related Episodes: 63: Mazi Robinson | Managing Anxiety in the Unknown 166: Lori Wildenberg | Helping Children with Anxiety, Depression, and Suicidal Ideation 171: Nicole Zasowski | Courage to Celebrate Come be a part of the Grace Enough Gang Follow Grace Enough: Instagram | Facebook | YouTube Become a Grace Enough supporter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joni Eareckson Tada and Amber discuss how robust hymns of the faith "stokes her hope" during periods of intense pain and suffering. Questions Discussed During Songs of Suffering & Hymns of Hope: Having lived as a quadriplegic for over 50 years, how would you say your view of suffering and our suffering Christ has changed? When it comes to spiritual disciplines and daily rhythms, what have been some of your anchors? You've recently released Songs of Suffering: 25 Hymns and Devotions for Weary Souls in which you write, "The song must possess enough spiritual muscle to barge into my soul and shake awake a hopeful response. It must be a hymn whose lyrics raise me onto a different plane spiritually." Flesh that out a bit for us and maybe share a few examples. I am going to share a few Hymn titles from your book. Share the first few thoughts that come to mind when you hear the title: It Is Well With My Soul Where You There (When They Crucified My Lord)? When I Survey The Wondrous Cross Standing On The Promises When We All Get To Heaven In the midst of breathing problems, breast cancer, and chronic pain, how do you strengthen yourself with Jesus' example in the upper room? Let's close with the work you have and continue to do to improve the lives of those living with disabilities. You've said, "people living with disabilities need more than just smooth sidewalks, lowered drinking fountains, and exit ramps." What else do they need and how are you on the front lines of those efforts? Show Notes cont. Resources Mentioned: Book: Songs of Suffering: 25 Hymns and Devotions for Weary Souls by Joni Eareckson Tada Come be a part of the Grace Enough Gang Follow Grace Enough: Instagram | Facebook | YouTube Become a Grace Enough supporter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices