Lauren Malcolm joins the podcast to unpack Active Listening and the power and potential of this spiritual skill. Lauren helps us consider ways we can approach & respond to others that leads to unity, mutual understanding and ultimately individual and collective growth. As followers of Jesus, we are learners, & most learning is contingent upon listening. There is so much opportunity to glorify God & advance His purposes through building a community of active listeners amidst a culture of contempt. God is equipping us to take his Kingdom to deeper places by banding together and hearing each other out. About the SpeakerLauren Malcolm lives in State College, PA with her handsome husband Jamison, three wonderful children (Rory, Luke and Jordan), and mini golden doodle Miley. Born in the Midwest and raised in CA with a brief interlude in Jersusalem, Israel, Lauren has grown up in diverse environments and attended The University of Georgia for college where she studied Latin American and Caribbean Studies. Later she attended the University of Pennsylvania where she got her Masters in Social Work. She currently leads the Nittany Church alongside her husband. She loves talking and connecting with people and has had to learn to be a better listener. Active Listening implies engagement, reflection, and asking clarifying questions. You aren’t just listening to get someone off your back or to get to your point, but you are listening with the intent of making them feel heard and learning alongside them.1 Kings 10:1-5Example of Solomon and Queen of ShebaTake aways:Come with questions:She recognized an opportunity to learn!She came with the intent to learn.Learners&apos; spirits- We need to be eager to ask questions and seek understanding.Be honest with what’s inside:We need to bring our full selves to what we do and not be afraid to share honestly where we are stuck and struggling.Accept the test:Solomon was not reactive!We accept the test by putting on humility...he didn’t get threatened by her questions or react defensively- the true test was her trust in God.Invest:Trust has to be built first. Manage expectations. "When I take the time to draw out someone’s heart rather than defending myself, I am able to learn and own my part and they are able to learn and take responsibility for their part."Are we going to miss the opportunity to grow in the character of Christ and in relationships that build up the Kingdom JUST because of the way the information is presented? Practically how can we engage in active listening:Be attentive - Mindful of body language, eye contact, distractions, etc. Ask Open-Ended Questions “How did what I say land on you?”Ask Probing Questions - Dig to get to the heart of what they’re trying to communicate. Request Clarification “I’m a little confused by this piece, can you help me understand?:Paraphrase “So this is what I hear you saying….”Be attuned to and reflect feelings “I imagine that you felt _____, is that what you felt?”Summarize “Here’s what I’m taking away from this conversation… is there anything else?” God is equipping us to take his Kingdom to deeper places by banding together and hearing each other out. We have so much to be learned from each other and the future of the church depends upon it. So let us become active listeners who truly seek after wisdom.Support the show (https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/678206?giving_to=Woven%20In%20Truth%20Podcast)

Woven in Truth Podcast

Active Listening

In this episode, our TREASURE of a friend, Leigh Kinnard, joins the podcast to share her insights on "waiting" in life. Instead of reluctantly hoping for God to fix things as we would like for Him to, how can we learn how to go through these times of waiting WITH Him? Rather than existing consumed by outcomes or results we are invited to live presently, intentionally entwined with God,  for every step of the nuanced  journey of life this side of eternity. About the Speaker: Leigh Kinnard has been a disciple of Jesus for 38 years. She and her husband , Stevemoved from the south to be a part of the New York City church of Christ a fewmonths after it began in 1983. They have lived for months at a time in Africa andIsrael working with the churches in those countries and currently are a part of theHudson Valley Region of the NYC church. Steve and Leigh recently celebrated their40th wedding anniversary. They have 2 adult children and two grandsons. Episode Notes:Waiting is a necessary part of our lives. HOW we wait is a decision.What are you waiting for right now?How are you handling your “wait?” What do you struggle with as you wait?Instead of waiting for God to fix things as we would like for Him to, He wants us to learn how to go through these times with Him, trusting the outcome to Him.It is so easy to focus on the end result instead of the journey. Two truths - God is always movingTrust His timingWho will I be as I wait?How does God define waiting? (Most verses will be from the Passion Translation)Psalm 27:13,14Psalm 25:3-5Qavah – Hebrew word-means to “tie together by twisting, entwine, or wrap tightly”Picture a rope twisted tightly together, entwined-strong – all strands connected. When one strand disconnects, the rope gets frayed, unraveled – eventually affects the whole rope....How do we wait this way with God?Psalm 131HUMILITY-decide to be a true learner-What does God want me to learn in this process of waiting?We GET to learn.What helps me:Ongoing list of scriptures on God is always moving/working – so many in OTIn NT – Jesus carries this on and shows us how John 5:17Pray through the scriptures Psalms 130:5,6Gets his emotions out, connects to God, reminds himself of the truthRev 8:3-4 – Prayers keep workingPut Jesus in the roomInstead of trying to “fix it” fix my eyes on JesusMatthew 11:28-30 exp v 29 – “Bend your neck” decide to focus on being connected to Jesus-trusting Him to do the hard part. Trust Gods timingJohn 11:4 – Its about God getting the glory, people seeing Jesus, in God&apos;s time – not me getting what I want when I want it. He is always listening.Micah 7:7,8How I wait affects others – Strive to be who God wants us to be as we are waiting – entwining our hearts with Gods heart-hold on tight and refuse to let go.Isaiah 40:28-31Support the show (https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/678206?giving_to=Woven%20In%20Truth%20Podcast)

Waiting WITH God

Elaina Rosenquist joins the podcast to share her refreshing journey of embracing rest and the life-giving and biblical invitation to Sabbath. Through Shabbat, we are called out of the crushing pressure of striving and into a liberating exodus from tension. How can we cultivate rest, worship, and delight in our lives in this hectic side of eternity? About the SpeakerElaina Rosenquist leads the Pittsburgh Church of Christ with her husband, James. They have two children Jack (5) and Anna (2) and a fish named Happy. Elaina loves exploring her beautiful city, drinking tea, doing yoga and working as a nurse which she gets to do twice a month at a hospital. She has an Instagram account where she posts some spiritual thoughts and lessons she is learning @plantedby_thewater. Follow her for more content! Episode NotesA Check-In question to ask yourselves: What does my body need and what would be helpful to make the rest of the day go well?Psalm 73:26Psalm 46:10 NASB- “Stop striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted on the earth.”Rest in a biblical sense, requires surrender and humility. Matt 11:27-29 Jesus invites us to restMatthew 14:15-16 humility of Jesus When we are tired how often do we honor that request from our body to give it what it needs? "Remember everything you are doing, and then be gentle with yourself."John 5:19-20My working definition of sabbath: time frame where we delight in God, creation, in Gods work and the work we have doneit is a time frame where we do not workit’s not a date but an atmosphereit’s an “exodus from tension”it’s a gift from God to mankindit is refreshmenta time of resta time of celebrationit’s having that living water John 4sabbath means I have enough and I am enoughit’s a command from God in the Old Testament, it was practiced by Jesus (differently than how the religious teachers of the day practiced it)practiced by Jesus followers even after his death (the women waited till after sabbath over to tend to Jesus dead body)sabbath is wisdomit’s not just a day off but a day of resting in and celebrating God.*which ones resonate with you- what would YOU add to this working definition? “Sabbath is more than just a day, its a way of being in the world. It’s a spirit of restfulness that comes from abiding, from living in the Father’s loving presence all week long.” Sabbath boundaries- might be different for people. Practicals - Prepping- "What can I do today that will make tomorrow more restful?"Pick a day or time period ahead of timeWrite down  boundaries“For many of us the great danger is not that we will renounce our faith, it is that we will become so distracted and rushed and preoccupied that we will settle for a mediocre version of it. We will just skim our lives instead of actually living them.” Ortberg Resources for sabbath and rest:John Mark Comer books- “Ruthless Elimination of Hurry” and “Garden City”Peter Scazzero “Emotionally Healthy Leadership”Abraham Joshua Heschel “The sabbath”(Not spiritual) “The Highly Sensitive Parent” by Elaine AronSupport the show (https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/678206?giving_to=Woven%20In%20Truth%20Podcast)

Sabbath // A Spirit at Rest

Pam & Kim Bowers join us on the podcast to affirm a lot of the wonderful things you are already doing as parents & caregivers, but also provide some insights on anchoring our perspective of what it means to parent our children in the Lord. Developing faith is not mutually exclusive from a child’s development; don&apos;t miss this dream-team&apos;s inspiring perspective rooted in proactivity & intentionality for facilitating faith in our children. About the SpeakersPam- Hailing from simple Henderson, Nevada, Pam Bowers has been a Christian for over 30 years. Her walk with God began in the early ‘80s when she was met while playing professional golf. God knew exactly what she needed when in 1990, she met and married her faith-filled husband, Dale. Together, they have served in God’s kingdom in many different capacities, from small-group leaders to Elder/Elder’s Wife. They have two incredible friends in their adult children—both of whom are pursuing doctoral-level graduate studies. Professionally, God has blessed Pam abundantly, as she is a Top 50 Master Kids Golf Instructor and co-instructor at the Bowers Golf Academy. Recently, God has brought to fruition a long burning dream for Pam and her daughter, Kim, to publish a series of children’s books, which teach social-emotional development anchored in God’s word. Through the many twists and turns in life, God has been the Ultimate Friend and anchor for Pam—she cannot wait to see what adventure lies around the next bend.Kim- Kim Bowers is a 25-year-old coffee-drinking, fun-loving daughter of God. She has been a Christian for almost 10 years. In those 10 years, God has taken her from a high school student in Nevada to a Psychology PhD student in Colorado. Sometime in between, Kim earned her MEd in Elementary Education and taught first grade. God has also used her in a variety of ways to serve his kingdom: from small-group leader to young professionals ministry co-leader. Most recently, God has taken her talents and experience down a new route. Alongside her incredible mother, Kim has co-authored children’s books aimed to help children learn the necessary skills to regulate their emotions—while also equipping parents with the skills to facilitate their child’s social-emotional learning. With all that lies ahead, Kim is looking forward to the many adventures God has in store for her.Episode Notes:We’re very deliberate in helping our children meet their developmental milestones, but how deliberate do we need to be to ensure our kid’s are hitting their spiritual milestones? Developing faith is not mutually exclusive from a Child’s development. Three different lenses of parenting-  parent-centered, child-centered, God-centeredDefinition of God-centered parenting: custodial posture- place of humility, being accountable before God for the molding of a life. What does God-centered Parenting look like? ProactivityPartly windows due development Zones of Parenting HandoutIntentionality Relationship over RulesA word of encouragement One day at a time Do your best and God will do the rest - go off of the strength that you have The books are now available for order through their website: www.smoothsailingbooks.com. You can also purchase them online through Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Support the show (https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/678206?giving_to=Woven%20In%20Truth%20Podcast)

God-Centered Parenting

In this refreshing episode, Jenn Schultz joins the podcast to discuss waiting & watering. Although seasons of planting and harvesting can be exciting, so much of life is just about showing up in the in-betweens. "It’s time to get excited about this stage, to appreciate the process God has us in, and to put on lenses of faith to see the transformation that is happening within us as we water.” Don&apos;t underestimate God&apos;s hand in seasons of watering, there&apos;s miracles in the mundane! About the Speaker: Jenn is a recovering perfectionist and a writer at Whatyoumakeitblog.com, encouraging women to live loved and wholehearted, right where you are. She’s a wife and mom living in the Pacific Northwest, and you can usually find her with a cup of decaf coffee and a good book.Episode Notes: Appreciate the Process; Miracles are happening in the watering. There’s something growing, even if you can’t see it. Why? Because God is behind the growing.It’s time to get excited about this stage, to appreciate the process God has us in, and to put on lenses of faith to see the transformation that is happening within us as we water.The Bible talks so much about water!Baptism - Romans 6:3-4 - we were baptized into Jesus’s death and raised with him!Streams in the desert - Isaiah 35:3-7 - God comes to save us and water comes and refreshes a land that was once parched and dry and hopeless - MoanaThe Word rains on the earth - Isaiah 55:10-11 - the Word always achieve God’s purposeLiving water - John 4:13-14 - you never thirst with it - it becomes a spring welling up to eternal lifeQuiet waters - Psalm 23:2-3 - he restores my soulParting of the Red Sea - Exodus 14:29-31Jesus walks on water - Matthew 14:25-27Jesus calms the waves - Mark 4:39-41Jesus turns water into wine - John 2:7-10THERE IS TRANSFORMATION IN WATER.Don’t disparage the time of watering! It is a valuable time. It’s important to remember: All the miracles that happen are God’s…BUT -  we participate in the transformation and the miracles. How? By showing up. The Bible tells us of both one-time and ongoing sanctification.God has made us holy, AND we are still being made perfect. (Hebrews 10:14) God has forgiven us from our sins AND he continues to refine us. We train; God transforms.4 ways to water wellPosture What stands out to God? Humility - David - “a man after God’s own heart” - Psalm 18:27-32Faith - the bleeding woman - Mark 5:25-34Eagerness - Bereans - Acts 17:11Practice How do we train spiritually? Keeping in step with the Spirit - growing in fruits and setting aside acts of the flesh - Galatians 5:19-25Participate in the divine nature and keep growing - 2 Peter 1:3-9Offer yourself as a living sacrifice and renew your mind - Romans 12:1-2Patience2 Peter 3:8-9Philippians 1:6Romans 8:28Progresshow are you keeping track of your goals and wins, even in the mundane? journaling, planners, prayer journal, etcJeremiah 17:7-8Follow Jenn on Instagram or check out her blog!Support the show (https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/678206?giving_to=Woven%20In%20Truth%20Podcast)

Watering Well: Embracing Process

In this episode, Gina Poirier joins the podcast to share some refreshing insights on stress and spiritually healthy ways to respond to it. She unpacks toxic thinking, the good work of boundaries, and our God-given, counter-cultural invitation to rest. If you are approaching the end of your metaphorical rope, or you’re already crispy from burnout, then do not miss this episode! About the SpeakerGina is a happily married mom of four, stress management coach, and writer who helps overwhelmed, exhausted moms find peace and purpose in the everyday. She creates resources for Christian moms at ginampoirier.com, where “Wiping noses for Jesus is legit!”Episode Notes “Burnout is nature’s way of telling you, you’ve been going through the motions your soul has departed.” Sam Keen 1. Understanding stressStress is not an inherently negative thing! It is the way God designed our bodies to respond when something we care about is at stake, and it can ultimately help us grow The Upside of Stress by Kelly McGonigalJames 1:2–4Curiosity is a great way to approach stress and while we often want to shove it away or get it over with; there is a process there. 2. Recognizing what we can and can&apos;t controlMost of the variables that cause stress are out of our control. By letting that go and giving it to God (Matthew 6:25–27), we can focus on the variables we can control, which are usually much more manageable.A lot of things we can stress about are hypothetical or completely out of our hands; processing that objectively can be helpful. Some choices make us more resilient, while some choices (i.e. escapism) can actually aggravate the stress response. 3. Taming toxic thinking This is hard, but it is one of the variables we can control that make a big difference in the way we respond to stress Toxic thinking aggravates the stress responses and leads more quickly to burnout. 2 Corinthians 10:5We get into these toxic thinking cycles and it really aggravates the way our bodies can respond to stress. "When we approach our minds with curiosity and work towards taming toxic thinking, that goes a long way in dealing with burnout and stress."Caroline Leaf & Neuroplasticity 4. Setting healthy boundaries (i.e. taking ownership) This is also hard, but again boundaries are variables we can control and make a difference in making us more resilient to stress. Galatians 6:2–55. Choosing restThis is a huge lesson, especially for performance-oriented people. God established rest from the beginning of Genesis, and it is a gift we can choose to accept- physically, emotionally, and spiritually. There&apos;s both a posture and a practice of rest. Matthew 11:28-30For a free video series with more practical stress management strategies, subscribe to her newsletter here! And to connect with Gina and see more of the resources she offers, check out this link to her site!Support the show (https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/678206?giving_to=Woven%20In%20Truth%20Podcast)

Battling Burnout + Reclaiming Peace

Elizabeth Thompson joins us again to discuss, “When God Says, ’No’: Facing Disappointment and Denial Without Losing Heart, Losing Hope, or Losing Your Head.” We’ve all faced our share of no’s from God, especially in the last year. Elizabeth’s words minister to those who are grappling with God&apos;s nos, seeking to find Him in the middle of heartache and disappointment. She encourages us that we can maintain our faith, friendships, and hope through it all. Don&apos;t miss this life-giving perspective! About the SpeakerElizabeth Laing Thompson is the author of many books, including All the Feels and the When God Says series. As a minister, speaker, and novelist, she loves finding humor in holiness and hope in heartache. She lives in North Carolina with her preacher husband and four spunky kids, and they make her feel humbled but happy, exhausted but exhilarated, sometimes stressed but often silly... well, you know… all the feels. You can find her online at ElizabethLaingThompson.com.  Episode NotesFinding Hope in HeartacheWe can still find God in the midst of outcomes we didn’t hope for… how do we guard our hearts from bitterness?  Importance of allowing ourselves to grieve when God has said no.Surrender doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be tickled pink. Grieving the nos are important as demonstrated in scripture. Give yourself room to grieve Different Types of No:BIG Nos - the life alerting onesSmaller No&apos;s - still significant and need to be grieved When there’s unworked through sadness it can quickly turn into bitterness. The grief process actually protects our connection to God.There&apos;s an important distinction between lament and complaint. “What relief we feel when we realize that our circumstances don’t reflect God’s approval! Then we can simply hurt without the miseries of guilt, shame, blame, mistrust, and distance. We can take our pain to God, confident that He hurts with us…” When we don’t get the answer we want from God, it’s tempting to wonder why and to speculate: “God isn’t saying yes because…”Dangers of trying to “read God’s mind”use caution in saying these assumptions to others as their navigating nosThese can hurt our faith or the faith of others“God is too good to be unkind and He is too wise to be mistaken. And when we cannot trace His hand, we must trust His heart.” Charles Spurgeon 2 Kings 5 - Story of NaamanVulnerability usually precedes healing It’s amazing what happens when you pray to see God work in your life and then you look for His fingerprints with eyes of faith. Surrender doesn’t mean jumping for joy on the grave of your dreams. In the bible, we see God say no to one dream, and then He gives them a new one. If you’re still here, there’s more in store. This may not be the life I picked, but I’m gonna live it and find some fresh joy!If you want the book you can find it wherever books are sold! Click here for direct links for purchase. Enjoy! Support the show (https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/678206?giving_to=Woven%20In%20Truth%20Podcast)

When God Says, 'No' // Navigating Disappointment + Denial

Mallory was left unsupervised and talks for 20 minutes about the mind-blowing implications of God’s presence throughout history and in our lives as individuals. Whatever you’re carrying, you don’t need to carry alone. Join us as we contemplate the immanence of God with renewed wonder today! “But as for me, God’s presence is my good. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, so I can tell about all you do” (Psalm 73:28).About the SpeakerMallory is your hyphenated host that deeply loves her family, God, and buffalo wings. She is in the full-time ministry and all of her cardio comes from chasing around her spunky toddler. She is passionate about cultivating consistent platforms for women to connect and empower one another and she adores the Woven in Truth community. Episode Notes: God comforts us with His presence: Isaiah 41:10aPsalm 118:6aPsalm 94:19 “Feeling deeply overwhelmed may be a signal, not that our trials are insignificant or that our emotions are too strong, but that we have been carrying them alone.” Stephanie Tronson“Every other religion explains how we get to God, only Christianity explains how God came to us.” Question for everyone: What feeling does God’s presence solicit in you?Read excerpt from “Forming: A Work of Grace” by David TakleImmanuel or “God with us” is a Hebrew name which appears in Isaiah 7:14Then we see the fulfillment of this 400 years later in the literal PERSON of Jesus… Matthew 1:18-23“But as for me, God’s presence is my good. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, so I can tell about all you do.” —Psalm 73:28Biblical Progression of His Presence:In the Garden (Genesis 3)Ark of the covenant (Numbers 7:89) Tabernacle (Exodus 40:34)Temple (1 Kings 8:11) Jesus! ImmanuelHoly SpiritNew Jerusalem Foreshadowing/Revelation 21, etc.Question: Do you allow God’s presence to minister to you? What would that look like? Feel like? How would that change things…God’s Presence is multi-facetedOmnipresence (Psa. 139:7 ESV).Transcendence - God is not bound by any physical or time constructsManifest presence- this is physical presence, something you can process with human sensesImmanence- This is God’s presence WITHIN creation.Indwelling Presence- “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27).CS Lewis quote- “God has infinite attention to spare for each one of us. You are as much alone with him as if you were the only being he had ever created.”  Question- When or where do you connect with God’s presence the most?Reference to Aundi Kolber’s book, “Try Softer”“You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.” Psalm 139:5We cannot forget that the presence of God came to earth and dwelt among humanity, not to condemn it but to save it (John 3:17).“The result of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quiet confidence forever” Isaiah 32:17How can we be women who fully embrace & embody the Spirit who lives inside of us?Do you abide in God’s presence or are you nomadic?What would that look like? FEEL like? How would it change our perspective and interactions? Support the show (https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/678206?giving_to=Woven%20In%20Truth%20Podcast)

Renewed Wonder: The Immanence of God

Anne-Brigitte Taliaferro speaks to our cultural moment and encourages our weary hearts with her faithful, eternal perspective. Our circumstances can be scary, and life can’t be tamed by our management skills. But we can find peace and cling to our hope of eternal life in the midst of earthly suffering. Many of us are in lonely or difficult times, but we can fight to keep soft, settled hearts and even find places to rejoice. 1 Peter 1:6 reminds us, “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.”About the Speaker: Anne-Brigitte Taliaferro has been a disciple of Jesus for 36 years. She began her ministry calling in 1983 in New York City as part of a church planting. In 1987 she and her husband Mike began a church in São Paulo, Brazil. From there they moved to Africa in 1989 and lived there for 14 years. They have planted churches in Zimbabwe, Kenya and the Ivory Coast. Johannesburg, South Africa was home for 11 of their Africa years. They currently live in San Antonio, Texas and have been there since 2003. Anne-Brigitte has a passion for working with young women to raise them up as women ministers. She has been married for 39 years and has three sons - all of whom are married.Episode Notes:Esther 4- For Such a Time as THIS? I’d prefer such a time as THAT! Psalm 107Unfailing love rescues us from the storms.Jesus helps us in the storms- He either calms them or enables us to walk through it with our eyes fixed on Him.2 Timothy 3:1There WILL be terrible times, this isn’t Heaven yet- don’t be surprised at difficult times, they will come. There will be mountains and there will be valleys.1 Peter 1:17“Since you call on a Father who judges each person&apos;s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.”Process with this level of awareness, this isn’t our final home. Hebrews 3:8“do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness…” It’s a lonely time, but we can fight to keep a soft heart. How do we keep soft hearts? Read scriptureTalk to PeopleBe open about thoughts and feelings “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.” 1 Peter 1:6You have the hope of eternal life! Cling to this.2 Thessalonians 3:16- “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.”It’s the Lord of peace that gives me peace, it’s not a situation working out a certain way.Romans 5:6- "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. God knows our times1 Peter 1:3-7 (SO GOOD!) Find places to rejoice In God’s mercyOur living hopeResurrection of JesusOur eternal inheritance Support the show (https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/678206?giving_to=Woven%20In%20Truth%20Podcast)

Faith Forward: From Anxiety to Possibility

“Grief is not a problem to solve, it’s an experience to be carried.” In this episode, LaShanda Milner joins the podcast to discuss helpful tools & perspective for navigating our individual grief journeys. God desires to walk with us through our grief and He creates space to bear compassionate witness to our pain. We’re invited to create space to do so as well.  About the Speaker  LaShanda Milner serves as a Bereavement Coordinator for Crossroads Hospice and Palliative Care providing grief education and support to individuals and families. LaShanda is passionate about walking alongside bereaved as they navigate the unknowns of many different types of losses. LaShanda also serves as the MO/KS Director of Crossroads Kids; an annual grief camp for children ages 6-12 that offers a therapeutic environment for kids to grieve and grow! LaShanda is a dedicated wife of 23 years to Rob Milner and has two amazing children, Jaydin and Marcel.  LaShanda has a MA in Counseling and is a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist. She is a woman of deep faith with a mission to help others.Episode Notes “You’ve kept track of all my wandering and my weeping. You’ve stored my many tears in your bottle—not one will be lost. For they are all recorded in your book of remembrance.” (Psalm 56:8)“Grief is like the ocean; it comes in waves ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All we can do is learn to swim.” -Vicki Harrison*Loving Kindness Mediation*Grief DefinedThe normal and natural reaction to a loss of any kindConflicting feelings caused by the change in a familiar pattern of behaviors (can be non-death losses- lay-off, divorce, loss of safety, etc) Grief is very unique to the individual ReactionsWe can normalize the symptoms of grief -physical, emotional, mentalFatigueCan be a range- Helpless, hopeless, lonely,  even relief. None are bad. Coping Practice self-care & creative expressionYou feel how you feel- don’t try to get yourself over anything HALT- hungry, angry, lonely, tiredTake a moment to get in tune with your body. Journal, exercise, run- ask a friend to check in with you. Support If you’re supporting someone in grief, the HUSH acronym is helpful when choosing your words… Is what I’m about to say… Helpful, Useful, Sincere, Honoring Do’s & Don’ts- Do- share your sentiments, your desire to be there for themDon’t- use phrases that could incite shame or guilt cycles Meaning “Some things cannot be fixed; they can only be carried. Grief like yours, love like yours, can only be carried.…” (Megan Devine- It's OK That You're Not OK)Making meaning VERSUS Creating Meaning Not trying to make sense or comprehend an existential lesson from the loss, but rather cultivating something positive to honor the loss as your move forward. Psalm 23:4-  “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me...”“Those who walk the fields to sow, casting their seed in tears, will one day tread those same long rows, amazed by what’s appeared.” Psalm 126:5 The Voice Support the show (https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/678206?giving_to=Woven%20In%20Truth%20Podcast)

Carrying Grief & Loss

Who is ready for a Negativity Detox? In this episode, Melissa Abello returns to unpack the wiring of our brains and the spiritual truths we can wield to build new neural pathways and fight toxic negativity. She discusses God’s intricate design, privileging the positive, interrupting negative inputs, and creating margin in our lives. Shirley MacLaine said, “Dwelling on the negative contributes to its power.” Let’s find a better way. About the Speaker: Melissa Abello has been serving for the last 10 years in the full time ministry.  She is married to Janus Abello and has two daughters: an angel in Heaven named Naomi and Ruth who is 1 year old.  Melissa is also a licensed mental health practitioner in the state of Missouri. Her and her husband serve currently as Evangelist and Women&apos;s ministry leader in Columbia, MO. Episode Notes: Contributing Factors this year: Doomscrolling, Toxic Rumination, Isolation, Pandemic, Divisions & Tensions, Personal/Individual Loss, Etc.Romans 15:13Why do we veer towards negativity? God designed the fight or flight part of our brain as built in protection, but Satan has tried to use this to his advantage since the fall.Brain does not differentiate physical from emotional pain.our brains are picking up that information about pain and storing it. Remembering it so that it can preserve and protect itself. When something poses a threat or we perceive potential pain it fires, sending us into negative spirals!It is the path of least resistance in our brains - we will automatically want to go the direction of negative and fear based on our previous broken experiences.The other side of this:If you travel down different pathways you weaken old ones.  If consciously do this more often then it will begin to go on autopilot.When we go the opposite direction we change hundreds of billions of neurons in the brain.Engage in positivity - increase activity in the left prefrontal cortex - continue to do this we can essentially rewire our brains.Feel the hard feelings and then also privilege the positive.God talks about our minds a lot in the bible, He wants to help us overcome…“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” -Col 3:2Metanoia= MIND CHANGE2 Corinthians 10:5Philippians  4:8Isaiah 26:3"Guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Above all else, do this!” -Proverbs 4:23Jesus was so good at not absorbing the negativity of circumstance or the negativity of others. His mind was set on things above. How do we guard our hearts?STOP- We have to stop when we notice that we’re being negative. LOOK- Consider- “What puts me on the negative highways?”LISTEN- Acknowledge and process what you feelREFOCUS- Reframe. This takes trust in God.Be Mindful of Negative Inputs“Don&apos;t be deceived, bad company corrupts good character.” Company is what you’re reading, watching, listening to. Create space in your life- “What do I need to do to create margin in my life?”We can’t put ourselves on the back burner constantly. We can’t fight negativity if we don’t have any energy. Satan wants to rob us of the good God is doing. 1 Corinthians 10:13 Support the show (https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/678206?giving_to=Woven%20In%20Truth%20Podcast)

Negativity Detox

“Am I Enough?” As we struggle with this fundamental question, we usually compensate or we hide- leaving our deep wounds untended. In this recording of Woven in Truth’s first ever live-podcast, Robin Weidner shares powerful perspective, personal experiences and her current understanding of her value in Jesus- our mediator. Don’t miss this healing episode as we learn how to dismantle self-judgements and bring our wounds into compassionate light with the scriptures. About the Speaker: Robin Weidner is the author of Secure in Heart—Overcoming Insecurity in a Woman’s Life; Eve’s Song; and her new book Grace Calls: spiritual recovery after abandonment, addiction or abuse. Robin ministers to women in the arenas of purity, codependency and security, while co-leading marriage seminars alongside her husband of 35 years, Dave, through their Purity Restored organization. Robin’s Bachelor’s degree included concentrations in Bible, Social Work and English. Their home is in Idaho where they enjoy riding bikes, paddleboarding, camping and spending time with their 3 adult children and one grandchild.Episode Notes: HandoutAm I Enough? - This question can be tied to so much in our past or present. We can strive for performance or strength based “enoughness.”Sometimes in our efforts to be enough, we can even start to feel like we are too much! Question: Do you remember an early or a recent moment when you felt like you were not enoughPerfectionism is striving for enoughness. It’s an effort to avoid rejection. We either compensate or we hide.There’s usually some wounds that lead to this question… then there’s the self-judgements we place around the initial wound. Hebrews 12:1 TPT “As for us, we have all of these great witnesses who encircle us like clouds. So we must let go of every wound that has pierced us (or “get rid of every arrow tip in us.”) and the sin we so easily fall into.”Bring wounds into the light. Let the wound speak. Cradle the wound with compassion. Jesus loves us in our woundedness.John 8:1-11- The Adulteress WomanCan you imagine if this was you? If YOU were caught? The humiliation, the shame, the pain, etc. Can you imagine the self-judgment? Jesus steps between you and your own self judgment, just like he did with the woman. Jesus allows us to let go of others condemnation, but also your own. We have to invite Jesus into the wounds. He’s the light of the world, and our wounds need light. This woman needed a mediator. We do too. Jesus stands in the middle. We can learn to love ourselves THROUGH Jesus. Not through our enoughness or striving. Psalm 16 TPT-Verse 2- “So I said to the Lord God, “You are my Maker, my Mediator, and my Master. Any good thing you find in me has come from you.”God has a pitcher FULL of goodness, and He’s pouring it into my life. Psalm 66:12 TPT- “We’ve passed through fire and flood, yet in the end you always bring us out better than we were before, saturated with your goodness.”Support the show (https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/678206?giving_to=Woven%20In%20Truth%20Podcast)

Am I Enough?

Join Mallory and Chanelle as they unpack GRIT, rock collecting, and the power of approaching life with a growth mindset. In different capacities, we all navigate adversity and life-changing hardship. But how can we accept that, adapt, and then emerge even stronger than before? "A gemstone is so beautiful, not because it’s existed untouched, but because it HAS endured darkness and tumbling. The beauty was there all along, but the tumbling process revealed it."GRIT DEFINEDSmall loose particles of stone or sand. This is the grit that’s used in the refining process of precious gems. unyielding courage in hardship; fortitude, toughness, endurance, spunk, gumption… it’s passion fused with perseveranceRomans 5:22 Timothy 2:10 “Not a single ounce of your suffering is wasted in God’s economy. Our enemy works to grind us down with gritty circumstances, but God uses the same circumstances to forge endurance and character in us if we’re willing. Like those rocks, the grittiness doesn’t remove beauty in us — it reveals it.” - Meredith CarrA gem is so beautiful not because it’s existed untouched, but because it HAS endured darkness and tumbling. It’s striking not because something is glued on to make it shiny, but because the beauty was there all along, AND THE TUMBLING process revealed it. Isaiah 50:7 TPT- The Lord Yahweh empowers me, so I am not humiliated. For that reason, with holy determination,  I will do his will and not be ashamed.Question: What would it look like for you to face your current tumbling with HOLY DETERMINATION?Be TOUGH MINDED, but tender hearted. Life is tough but so are YOU.THIS is the heart of Jesus, who said “be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.’ In Matthew 10:16 “Mental toughness is like a muscle. It needs to be worked to grow and develop. Prove to yourself — in a thousand tiny ways — that you have enough guts to get in the ring and do battle with life… it’s about building HABITS. Mentally tough people don’t have to be more courageous, more talented, or more intelligent — just more consistent.” -James ClearMary Anne Radmacher — 'Courage does not always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow. Grit and growth mindset- grit isn’t a personality trait that you either have or don’t have … any of us can grow our capacity to endure and even grow from hardship. GRIT GAINZ -loosely adapted from the APA’s recommendations to build resiliency in hardship:Recognize & Reclaim CONTROL over what you CAN CONTROLAcceptanceNegativity DetoxAcknowledge and celebrate growthProactive PURPOSE2 Corinthians 4:17 “We see our difficulties as the substance that produces for us an eternal, weighty glory far beyond all comparison…”Psalm 46:1&5 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble…God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.”“Take Courage, dear heart. Little by little, one walks far.” Support the show (https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/678206?giving_to=Woven%20In%20Truth%20Podcast)

GRIT // Facing Refinement with Holy Determination

Tesia McBride joins the podsquad to talk through her 2020 journey as she’s navigated marriage/working from home, a new baby and postpartum depression. She shares how to practice humility amid the hardships and experience grace in the growth. We are all evolving this year as women; how can we lean into, value and maybe even find joy in the process? About the Speaker:Tesia is originally from Los Angeles, but moved to Denver, CO in 2012 and absolutely loves living by the rocky mountains! She met her husband Kevin in the Denver Campus Ministry and was married in 2016. She also recently became a first time mommy to her baby girl Lyla and is learning to enjoy the incredible love, joy and stressful times that come with having a newborn! Tesia is passionate about coffee and chocolate and while Colorado provides a vast arrangement of outdoor activities, she likes to "dress the part" but stay cozied up by a fire with a good book (guess you can&apos;t totally take LA out of the girl).Episode Notes: Vulnerability may lead to humility, but they do not equate each other. Just because I&apos;ve been vulnerable doesn&apos;t mean I&apos;ve been humble: humility requires repentance, vulnerability does not.Humility requires repentance, and vulnerability doesn’t… need a plan to address and change the sinful or hurtful behaviors. “Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other&apos;s faults because of your love.” Ephesians 4:2 TLB  Scriptures that have helped:1 Corinthians 9:25-27 2 Timothy 1:7Ephesians 4:2- “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”Quote: “Fighting is not sinful. But being unwilling to compromise or unwilling to work with each other is.”Motivation matters- what is my goal in bringing up this feeling, emotion, or hurt? Goal isn’t to be right, it’s to righteous.Who do you want to be on the other side of this pandemic? We have to remember the bigger picture. The goal is growth, maturity, resolution and ultimately- unity. “The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never.” – OshoI am not the same person and learning how to be a new person in a pandemic is super difficult! Even if you aren’t a new mom- you are not the same woman you were last year! Give yourself permission to evolve! Embrace and give yourself grace.  Scriptures that have brought me some peace in this journeyIsaiah 66:13Proverbs 31:25Number one thing that has helped: getting open and talking with friendsEveryone’s experience is different. You can ask “How can I help?”  or “What do you need?” During a Pandemic, mental health is harder than ever for a lot of people – grow deeper in understanding different triggers, roots of issues, etc. We can respect boundaries and still find ways to stay connected. Give yourself space to evolve. The goal isn’t to get back to the woman we were before. We can enjoy and adapt to the places God is taking us. We can VALUE process. Support the show (https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/678206?giving_to=Woven%20In%20Truth%20Podcast)

Evolving // Peachy in Pandemic

Kathryn Peckman, a fellow recovering perfectionist, shares her journey to a biblical understanding of the encompassing identity of our gracious God. She also shares the powerful impact that has had on her Christian life as she embraces her own identity "soaked with grace." Kathryn shares, “Every individual who met with Jesus was changed; not just changed behavior but a changed identity. We see lepers become spotless, adulterers become blameless, and the weak become strong. God’s identity changes people’s identity”… do you let it define yours? About the Speaker:Kathryn Peckman is a wife, mom, and Campus Minister from Southern California. She and her husband Dustin have served in the full-time ministry for five years. She enjoys baking, cooking, reading with her three kids, and spending time in nature.  She is a recovering perfectionist who seeks God’s grace in every season & loves helping others do the same.Episode Notes:There’s no such thing as a happy perfectionistBook Rec: The Complete Guide to Grace, by Jim LeflerIsaiah 55:8-9 We can’t look to the world or pop-Christianity to understand grace, we need to look in the Word.Definitions- what do you THINK grace, mercy, and forgiveness mean? These are unique and not synonymous although they feed into each other. Grace: charis (Greek) chen (Hebrew): favor, charm, generosity, gift “charisma;” not in the definition: meritMercy: eleos (Greek) checed (Hebrew): goodness, kindness, compassion, especially toward the afflicted; not in the definition: judgment or pityForgiveness: aphesis (Greek): release from bondage or imprisonment, pardon of sins as though they never were committed, drop & leave behind (ex: when fishermen “leave their nets & father behind” to follow Jesus); not in the definition: keeping scoreGracious God: Grace is God’s identity. It’s the subtitle on his autobiography.Grace or gracious is used as a descriptor of God over 125 times in the Bible.One phrase is used by 5 different authors to describe God: “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.” Exodus 34:6, Nehemiah 9:17, Psalm 86:15, 103:8, 145:8, Joel 2:13, Jonah 4:2Isaiah 30:18-19 Interacting with the gracious God means changes for your own identity as well.Grace Identity- John 10:1-18  v.3 “The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own* sheep by name and leads them out.”He doesn’t just want us to know His scripture or know the church but to KNOW HIS VOICE… Can I recognize it? *Idios (greek): pertaining to one’s self, one’s own, belonging to one’s self      v.10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have     life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd.”d)    diabolos (greek): prone to slander and accusing falsely. How does the thief steal, kill, and destroy? Through accusation, shame, & often, woundse)     You can’t follow the shepherd while you listen to the stranger’s voice f)      Grace, mercy, and forgiveness are the OPPOSITE. They are intended to heal the wounds, silence the accusations, and free us from shame. We didn’t become disciples to become slaves again to a set of rules or accusations or false labels. Support the show (https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/678206?giving_to=Woven%20In%20Truth%20Podcast)

Grace Based Identity

"I want you woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God. Then you will have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ, God's great mystery." Colossians 2:2 MSGThis podcast is an outpouring of our heart as women to connect the way God desires- to Him first and foremost, but also to one another. Woven in Truth is a platform in which we will hear from different women at different life stages teaching what God has put on their hearts to encourage, inspire, and empower our listeners with God's truth. There is so much in life that distracts and disheartens us as women, and we want to help every listener focus on Jesus and get to the place of confidence and peace that He desires for our lives, no matter how crazy they may be! Our desire is that the word of God and these lessons will meet you right where you are at: maybe as you break a sweat on the elliptical, maybe in your car as you drive to work, or maybe as you sit in your favorite spot and sip a cup of coffee over God's word. Feel free to listen here or on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or Spotify. Please join us as we learn, laugh, and grow together.

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