Are there certain people who disgust you? Are there those you have a hard time showing compassion to? What if God lavishes those loathsome people with His mercy? That's what happened to Jonah. Listen in on part two of my conversation with Erika VanHaitsma and learn from a prophet who was disgusted by God's mercy and blind to his own need for grace. Judgy Series Guest: Erika VanHaitsma Bible Passage: Jonah's Prayer & Displeasure - Jonah 2-4 (NASB) Get your Free Resource: 20 Page Workbook R...
Why did Jonah run from God’s call—and what does that reveal about our own hearts? In this episode of Live Like It’s True, Erika Van Haitsma joins me to unpack the irony and intensity of Jonah’s story, exposing his deep resentment toward the Ninevites and resistance to God’s mercy. Together, we explore how this familiar narrative challenges us to confront our own grudges and ask whether we truly want God to be gracious—to everyone. Judgy Series Guest: Erika Van Haitsma Bible Passage: Jonah's D...
She just wanted it to go away. She didn't want to be judged as one of "those" kind of girls. Yet in the parking lot of the abortion clinic, Tammy thought, "What have I done?" The new judgment and condemnation she felt didn't go away. In this episode, Tammy De Armas shares her personal journey through unplanned pregnancy, abortion, and the lasting impact on her life. Listen in and explore the weight of judgment and the healing of God's mercy. Judgy Series Guest: Tammy De Armas Bible Pas...
Beth's one foster daughter was more work than her other eight kids combined. She had tried everything... but she hadn't tried this. Hear about Beth's breakthrough that began with trading judgy criticism for curiosity and compassion. In this conversation, Beth Guckenberger reminds us that the gospel frees us to see people through God’s eyes, which shifts our hearts and our relationships and opens the door for influence. Judgy Series Guest: Beth Guckenberger Get your Free Resource: 20 Page Work...
What stories have you heard about God? Would you be shocked to know that He rescued one woman who was a prostitute from a city He was about to destroy? In this episode, Lisa Appelo and I explore Rahab’s bold faith, God’s stunning mercy, and the hope it offers to anyone with a broken past. Her story reminds us that no one is too far gone for God’s grace. Judgy Series Guest: Lisa Appelo Bible Passage: Rahab Hides the Spies - Joshua 2:1-13 NKJV Get your Free Resource: 20 Page Workboo...
Do you feel "disqualified" from receiving God's mercy? Are you stuck in shame over your past, or particular sins? Or is there someone else you think of as disqualified? Lisa Appelo joins me for a conversation about Rahab, the prostitute, and the surprise of God's mercy when she chose to side with Him. This story shows that none of us is too far gone for God to redeem. Judgy Series Guest: Lisa Appelo Bible Passage: Rahab Hides the Spies - Joshua 2:1-13 NKJV Get your Free Resource: 20 Pag...
Have you been trying to influence the people around you by steamrolling over them? If you try to control and micromanage, they’ll resist your influence, not embrace it. But if your faith is in God, and you’re receiving wisdom from Him, you’ll become a faith-building asset to those you have influence over. I have Katie M. Reid, author of a new study, “God, What Do I Do?” with me today. We’re talking about the story of Deborah—a woman who was called a “Mother of Israel.” How did she invest in t...
How do we talk with our kids about salvation without overwhelming them or avoiding the hard stuff? In today’s conversation, I’m joined by Champ Thornton, author of 10 Questions About Salvation. We're talking about how to help kids understand faith, repentance, judgment, and mercy in a way that’s both truthful and tender. Champ shares from his own experience and gives practical encouragement for having those deep, meaningful conversations about the gospel right at home. Guest: Champ Thornton B...
What if I find the flood kind of offensive? What if it makes me uncomfortable? If Jesus is kind and forgiving, how can God just end everybody? Lindsay Schott joins me to explore the flood narrative, where God grieves over human wickedness but also offers mercy through rescue. Lindsay shares how God transformed her judgy heart and gave her more compassion, and we talked about how trust is admitting God knows more than we do. Guest: Lindsay Schott Bible Passage: Noah and the Flood -...
What happens when a woman deeply entrenched in New Age invites her new community of Christian friends over to her house filled with Hindu statues and oracle cards? In part 2 of my conversation with Kara Seymour, she shares about how her new relationship with Jesus changed everything—but not immediately. Kara talks about the beautiful community and sisterhood she's experienced, but also some responses of judgment. We're kicking off our Judgy series—looking at stories of judgment and mercy from...
Kara Seymour was deeply entrenched in the New Age movement as a Kundalini yogi. She was also thoroughly convinced that Christians were judgmental, boring, and brainwashed. So she was as surprised as anyone when she met a group of Christian women who became her new best friends. I can't wait for you to hear her amazing story of transformation, the judgment she felt outside and inside the Church, and how her relationship with Jesus has changed her life. We're kicking off our Judgy Girl series, ...
When your heart is breaking, what does it look like to notice God's goodness? Can gratitude grow in the soil of deep grief? In this episode of the Live Like It's True podcast, I'm talking with Allison Brost—who lost a child—about how grief and gratitude can intertwine in the most unexpected ways. Listen in as we talk about the healing power of gratitude in the story of the one leper who turned back to thank Jesus. Even in your sorrow, there’s an invitation to return to God with a grateful hea...
What is the answer to your most desperate prayer? Could the answer to your complex situation actually be quite simple? Join us for part 2 of this episode on the Live Like It's True podcast, where Shannon and Rachel Wojo finish their conversation on the story of Hannah's complex prayer to the Lord. She is desperate. She is misjudged. And yet she sees that Lord is the answer for which she is looking. Where else can I listen to this podcast? Go HERE to find this episode on your favorite podcast ...
Have you ever felt desperate in your times of trial or grief? Have you been mad or hopeless about your situation? Join us for part 1 of this episode on the Live Like It's True podcast, where Shannon interviews Rachel Wojo about the loss of her daughter and associated times of her desperately praying to the Lord. By looking at the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel, they see the beauty of Hannah's going to God with her pain and seeking His will her life. We hope this conversation will encourage you, ...
Does your girl know what her purpose is? Is she ready to take a stand for Jesus in a crazy-hair sort of way? If you're not sure and that sounds a little scary (for you and for her!), join me for a powerful conversation with Dannah Gresh. Dannah is passionate about helping your girl find her purpose by meeting a Person in the pages of her Bible. In this episode of Live Like It's True, we're talking about her latest True Girl Bible study, Esther: Becoming a Girl of Purpose which is written for ...
What would change if you thought of discipleship as passing the baton of grace from one generation to the next? Courtney Doctor and Hunter Beless have teamed up, not only to write a Bible study on Titus, but to model a Paul-and-Titus type friendship, rooted in discipleship. Join us as we discuss the relationship between Paul and Titus, the bad reputation and leadership of those in Crete, and how to put the gospel of grace on display in our own generation. Where else can I listen to this podca...
Have you lost your joy? Do you wake up tired and snap at your kids? Are you overwhelmed with all you must do? Asheritah Ciuciu, author and speaker, joins me for an honest conversation about how to live like it's true that Jesus's yoke is easy and his burden is light—especially if life feels exactly the opposite. Where else can I listen to this podcast? Go HERE to find this episode on your favorite podcast app, including Apple, Youtube, Spotify, and more. Guest: Asheritah CiuCiu Bible Passage:...
When giant-sized problems pop up in your life, your feelings can't be trusted to guide you. Donna Amidon joins Shannon on the Live Like It's True podcast to talk about the story of Joshua and Caleb in Numbers 13 and 14. Learn how to choose worship to gain perspective and overcome your fear. Where else can I listen to this podcast? Go HERE to find this episode on your favorite podcast app, including Apple, Google, Spotify, and more. Guest: Donna Amidon Bible Passage: Caleb and Josh...
Have you ever been the recipient of kindness that was surprising or unusual in nature? How did that kindness cause you to respond? On today's episode of the Live Like It's True podcast, Shannon is joined by author, Kristen Elizabeth Couch, to discuss Paul's journey from Acts 28, where he is shipwrecked, and thrown into an unknown territory with unknown people - the recipe for possible disaster! However, we see how God showed kindness to Paul through these unusual circumstances. We also see Go...
What is making you feel lonely? Do you struggle to find an answer to this question and have you ever considered that it might be your need for control? Join us on this episode of Live Like It's True, where Shannon chats with author, speaker, and podcaster, Becky Harling, and continues the story of two sisters, Rachel and Leah, and learn about their desire to control those around them. Maybe you, too, will see how when you praise God and connect with Him, both your loneliness and desire to con...