Perspectives Into Practice: How to Walk with God in Real Life: Faith in Practice & Spiritual Growth

Can I tell you something? I love a good God moment where a whisper becomes a clear yes. In this episode I sit with my friend Margie, a proud Texa Rican and mama of four, who found herself feeling out of sorts when life didn’t match the values she held in her heart. She thought the house, the plans, the remodel were the next right things, but a quiet season and a trip across the ocean changed everything. I remember the way Margie described that trip - the slow, forced quiet that happens when you’re somewhere unfamiliar and your devices don’t have the same pull. They went to church while they were away and, friends, God spoke. Not in some rushed, checklist way, but like a steady invitation: let the stuff go, it’s time to move. She and her husband came home and felt a peace so certain they decided to sell their house despite every practical reason to wait. You see, this episode is full of small miracles and messy faith. The house listed, an offer arrived the first day, the buyers sold their home in two days, and multiple timing problems resolved in ways that felt like God arranging details. Margie shares how surrender felt both terrifying and freeing - that tension between clinging and trusting where God meets us in the middle. Hand to heart, she tells us how saying yes looked like frantic packing, leaning on a friend who’s a professional organizer, and a thousand ordinary choices done with worshipful trust. Scripture held space in our conversation. Psalm 46:10, be still and know that I am God, is the atmosphere Margie found on that trip. Proverbs 3:5-6 also echoes the posture she learned to practice - trust in the Lord, lean not on your own understanding, and let him direct your paths. Those verses aren’t abstract; they were practical lifelines for someone who had to choose to step, sell, and release the next chapter into God’s hands. If you feel misaligned, here are a few things from our talk that you can try in your own life: Slow down and create real quiet - even for a weekend this will help you hear what’s already been whispering. Ask God specific questions and listen for impressions, not just logic or fear. Surrender the timeline - say the words, I trust you, and then do the next responsible thing in faith. Call practical help when you need it - friends, professionals, people who can carry the load while you obey. There are moments when obedience looks like a slow, steady walk. And there are moments when obedience looks like a sudden move that requires faith and boxes and coffee on the kitchen counter at midnight. Both are faithful. Both honor God when they are done with an open hand and a soft heart. Margie’s story reminded me that God sometimes rearranges our lives in ways that are more than tidy solutions - they are invitations to more freedom and more dependence on him. She didn’t pretend the process was easy. She admitted the fear, the clenching, and the weird grief for what she thought life should be. Yet through it all she practiced trusting God in the small decisions and the huge ones. If you want a practical prayer to try after listening, pray this: Lord, show me one thing you want me to release, and help me take the next faithful step. Then watch for the ordinary miracles that follow. That’s what happened for Margie and her family. Thanks for listening to this conversation on Perspectives Into Practice. I hope Margie’s story gives you courage to listen when God whispers and to move when he says move. Please listen to the full episode, share it with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave feedback so we can keep bringing real stories that help us put faith into practice.

Hey friends, welcome back. Can I tell you something? I remember the first time Pat and I sat down and compared football and ballet - an odd pairing, right? But that little, funny moment opened our conversation about seasons, roles, and how God reshapes us when the positions we once carried no longer fit. Here's the thing - I think most of us have a role that becomes part of our identity. For Pat it was a season of faithful leadership and pouring out into others. She told the story of seeing someone God was raising up, investing in her, and then the long work of letting go. I sat with that story and kept thinking about how God asks us to release what shaped our days so he can reveal who we are beneath the title. You see, Pat walked alongside the woman for almost two years while God was preparing her. That moment when Pat told her, I can see God is doing this in you, was tender and holy. But even as she rejoiced, Pat wrestled. She worried about friendship, about people thinking something was wrong, about how stepping aside would affect her own sense of purpose. Those fears sound familiar, don't they? We talked about the tension between pressure and peace. Pat called it a shift - she had to move from doing to witnessing. At first that felt risky. The first event her friend led stirred up jealousy, the what ifs, and so Pat had to pray honestly. She had been praying that God would sanctify her ego and her ambitions. I loved that phrase. She wanted her desire to matter to be cleaned up by grace so it would not derail what God was doing in someone else. Scripture kept showing up in our chat. Galatians 2:20 came to mind - I have been crucified with Christ and Christ lives in me. That truth reminds us our identity is not in a title or a task. It's rooted in Jesus. When roles shift, that root holds us steady. If you are in a season of stepping back or watching someone else step forward, here are a few practical things Pat and I talked about that you can put into practice right away Pray for clarity and humility, not just direction, and ask God to sanctify your desires Invest in the person taking the role, even if it means stepping out of the center Choose to be a witness - cheer, encourage, and speak truth into their growth Keep daily rhythms of the Word and prayer so you know who you are apart from what you do Set gentle boundaries so both you and the new leader can thrive When we practiced these things, what shifted for Pat was a deeper trust. She didn't lose meaning, she found new ways to serve and new rhythms to sit with Jesus. I think that is what God wants for each of us - not the loss of purpose, but the refinement of it. So friends, if you're watching a role change, or if you're the one stepping into something new, remember this - God is authoring the story. Your worth is held by him, not by applause or position. Be brave enough to let go, wise enough to prepare someone to lead, and gentle with yourself as God does his work. Thanks for listening to this conversation with Pat on Perspectives Into Practice. I hope her story encourages you to trust God with the shifting seasons of your life. Please listen, share this episode with someone who needs it, and leave your feedback so we can keep these honest conversations going.

Hey friends, I'm so glad you're here. Can I tell you something? When I first listened to Kathleen tell about the season she walked through, hand to heart I felt that familiar tug. She described an unwanted divorce, fear that became a default rhythm, and then a gentle, steady turnaround as she began to hide scripture in her heart. I remember thinking, here's the thing we all need to hear: God is arranging pieces of our lives long before the picture becomes clear.Kathleen talked about simple, practical choices that shaped her faith. She started with small verses like, "When I am afraid I put my trust in you" (Psalm 56:3), and let those truths become a new habit of thought. Over time what was once a surface statement became a belief that changed how she woke up each morning. That practice shifted her from living in fear to living led by the Spirit.We also shared a story that made me smile. Kathleen told about a contractor who came asking for payment and how she almost sent him away. Immediately she heard a quiet prompting, do not say come back tomorrow when you already have it with you. That nudge matched scripture about not withholding good when you can act, and she went and paid him. It was a small moment, but it was a clear sign that when scripture is in your heart, God's voice becomes recognizable and obedience becomes simple.If I were to boil this episode down to what you can put into practice this week, it comes back to three things: memorize, meditate, and obey. Memorize a short verse, meditate on it until it lands, and practice obeying the small nudges you sense. That repetition rewrites the inner story you tell yourself. Romans 8:1 that there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, and Psalm 46 that we will not fear though the earth give way, are examples of promises that protect and reframe your thinking when they become belief.Here are practical steps we talked about that I want to offer you nowStart small, pick one short verse that meets your fear or your needRepeat it each morning and night, let it be the thing that greets your dayWrite it down, say it out loud, tuck it into conversation when it fitsNotice gentle promptings and act, even on simple things like returning a call or settling a billBe patient, because belief grows through repetition not perfectionYou see, scripture memory and meditation are twin practices. When you hold Gods words in your heart they shape your desires and your responses. The abundance of your heart overflows in your words and actions, as Jesus taught, and that means you begin to live from what you trust instead of what you fear.I shared with Kathleen how this looks in everyday life, not as some lofty spiritual achievement but as small, faithful steps. Maybe you start with Psalm 23, or a promise like "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5). Maybe you choose a verse for your anxiety and place it where you'll see it. The goal isn't perfection, it's practice that makes God familiar so you can hear His voice.Friends, if you want one invitation from this episode, it's to take a verse and make it yours. Let it move from your head into your heart. Try the simple steps we talked about and notice how your responses change. I think you'll be surprised at how gentle and persistent God is when you make room for Him.I'd love for you to listen to this full conversation, share it with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave feedback about what verse you're memorizing or what God is teaching you. Join us on the episode, share this episode, and tell us what God is doing in your life.

Hey friends, Jessica here. Can I tell you something? The conversation I had with Val landed like a gentle but firm tap on my shoulder. We started with karaoke and laughter and ended up sitting in a quiet place where she admitted she felt stuck, heavy, and out of control. Hand to heart, that felt familiar to me and maybe it will feel familiar to you too.Val shared how someone prayed one simple word over her at a prayer event. She said clarity. She had never asked for clarity before. She had asked for wisdom and discernment, but clarity was different. It invited her to step forward without having every step spelled out. That moment changed her. She talked about losing control, how even after a tragic loss years ago she still tried to control outcomes, and how last year felt like swimming upstream. Then her hours at work were cut and the worry about money almost swallowed her, until she noticed grace showing up in small unexpected ways. You see, clarity did not mean every doubt disappeared. It meant she no longer carried the crushing weight of having to have every answer right this second.I kept thinking about the Israelites who could literally see God leading them in a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night and yet still struggled to trust. Exodus 13 21 helps us remember that presence does not erase human fear. But presence does invite a different posture. Proverbs 3 5 and 6 reminds us to trust the Lord instead of leaning on our own understanding. That trust looks like a next step, then another, instead of trying to map the whole path before we move.Here is what this episode brought me back to and what I want to offer you as practical steps you can try this week. These are small, honest, and doable ways to practice trusting God and asking for clarity instead of trying to manufacture it yourself.Ask someone to pray for clarity for you and then listen more than you explain. Val said the prayer she received shifted her trust more than any plan could have.Take one next right step you can actually do. Not a giant leap, just one obedient move that creates space for God to show the next thing.Let kids and people around you learn in safe ways. You do not have to die on every hill. Give space and hold steady boundaries when needed.Notice small confirmations. A calm heart, a timely conversation, a closed door that redirects you. These are often God's nudges and they build confidence over time.Here's the thing, ladies, faith is not a test you pass once. It is a practice you live daily. That practice includes honest lament, brave asking, and slow obedience. Val's story is not about immediate answers. It is about choosing to trust God even while the path looks unfinished. That choice frees you from the need to control outcomes and opens you to the freedom of following when God leads.I share more of Val's story, scripture that steadied us, and questions to help you identify one next step on the episode. If this resonates, I would love for you to listen, share this episode with a friend who needs permission to loosen her grip, and leave feedback so we can keep these conversations going and growing together.

Hey friends, I'm so glad you're here. In this episode of Perspectives Into Practice I sit down with my friend Lori and we talk about a kind of hurt that so many of us carry in silence, unforgiveness. Let me tell you, her story stuck with me - from marching band days to a hemorrhagic stroke at twenty nine, and what she learned about releasing people when they may never even know they hurt you. I remember the moment on the mic when Lori said she felt overlooked and that her identity had been quietly stolen by circumstances. Hand to heart, that landed with me because we've all had seasons where life changes faster than we can name it and we hide behind a smile. Can I tell you something? That frustration, that lump of resentment, rarely helps the person who hurt us. It binds us. Here's the thing - forgiveness is not pretending the pain never happened. It's an act of obedience to God and a step toward wholeness. We leaned into the Bible a few times in our conversation, and one passage I kept returning to was Ephesians 4:31-32, which calls us to put away bitterness and be kind and forgiving as God in Christ forgave us. That scripture isn't a demand to minimize pain. It's an invitation to trade the weight we were never meant to carry for the freedom God offers. When Lori described moving across the country, feeling like the new version of herself wasn't welcome, and then realizing the barriers she built were keeping her from new connections, I felt a tangible shift happen in the room. She didn't need an apology to move forward. She needed to choose obedience and to remember who she was in Christ. You see, identity matters. When identity is rooted in him, hurts lose their power to define us. If you're wondering what this looks like practically, we talked through steps you can try right away. Try these that helped Lori: Acknowledge the hurt honestly and name it to God or a trusted friend, rather than letting it simmer alone. Bring the situation before the Lord in prayer and ask for help to release the offense; ask for his perspective, not just your feelings. Choose obedience over emotion by making a concrete small step - a prayer, a boundary, or a change in routine that protects your heart. Reclaim your identity in Christ through simple reminders - scripture, short prayers, and the people who reflect God's love back to you. Practice forward-facing generosity even in small ways, because serving softens the hold of resentment. I also share a few personal reflections about how the band taught me perseverance and community, and how that picture of many messy people making beautiful music is a picture of God's work in us. We are meant to be remade, together. That idea changed the way Lori thought about the people who had unintentionally hurt her and it can change you too. Friends, if you feel stuck holding onto an offense, I want you to walk away from this episode with a tangible next step and the reminder that forgiveness is possible even when an apology never comes. You don't have to wait for repair to choose healing. I'm grateful for Lori's honesty and for the ways God shows up when we turn toward him. Thank you for listening to this honest conversation on Perspectives Into Practice. Please listen to the full episode, share it with someone who needs permission to let go, and leave feedback so we can keep bringing practical, faith-filled perspectives to life.

Hey friends, hand to heart, let me tell you about a conversation that stayed with me long after the microphones were off. I sat down with Marchette and we laughed about her fierce board game competitiveness, the chameleon game she dominated, and then we turned toward a quieter, weightier place where obedience and doubt meet. It felt like a living example of what it means to blend in with fear or step out in faith.I remember Marchette telling me about an afternoon at the library when a book on the fear of God landed in her lap. It pulled Esther forward into the center of her thoughts, that haunting moment when Esther could have stayed safe and silent or risked everything for her people. Esther 4:14 came alive for her and started to reframe how she viewed obedience. She confessed the back and forth in her mind, the nights wrestling with whether to say yes, and the very real fear of rejection.We talked about how emotions can become our gods when we let them lead. She said something simple and honest: if I let my emotions run the show then I am serving those emotions instead of God. That hit me. It is not a call to deny feeling, but to bring those feelings to the altar of faith so they no longer dictate our decisions. She found comfort in the image of Jesus cleansing the temple, that fierce focus on mission even while religious leaders rejected him. Luke 19:45-46 echoes in her story as a reminder that mission and emotion can coexist without emotion ruling.There was a tender thread through our talk about rejection. Marchette described the heaviness of being unsure how people would receive her yes. I asked her how she kept walking. She told me she surrendered the fear by naming it out loud, by praying in the middle of the night, and by reminding herself that obedience does not always come with immediate reward. Sometimes obedience is simply the faithful yes, even when the outcome is unclear.Here are a few practical ways we walked through in the episodeBring the feeling to God instead of hiding it; name the fear and offer it up in prayerRemember scripture that grounds you, like Esther 4:14 and the cleansing account in Luke 19, and read them againTake one small step of obedience this week, not to prove anything but to practice trusting God over your sightFind a friend or mentor to tell what you are feeling so emotions do not become islandsCan I tell you something My hope for you is not that you will never feel fear, but that fear will no longer steer your course. I really do believe God meets us in the middle of our messy feelings. He sees the nights you're wrestling, the embarrassed heart, the very human questions. And sometimes his answer is not an explanation but a simple request to say yes and keep walking.I shared this conversation because the tangible ways Marchette shifted her posture toward obedience encouraged me and I think it will encourage you too. If you are carrying a heavy what if, try one of the small steps we named. Try bringing that what if into prayer and see what happens when you act in faith even before you see the results.I hope this episode warms your heart and steadies your hands for the next step God is asking you to take. Please listen, share this episode with a friend, and leave feedback about this episode.

Hey friends, I'm so glad you're here. Let me tell you about a tiny, ordinary moment that turned into something quite holy. I was talking with Bethany, who was born at 24 and a half weeks and whose dad's wedding ring fit around her wrist. Hand to heart, that little fun fact is the doorway to the way God has shaped her sensitivity to the spiritual life. On a simple Zoom call she felt an urgent thought that jarred the conversation and later realized it wasn't from God.You see, that Zoom moment is the kind of thing we miss all the time. We let a single thought slide by, and before we know it our decisions bend in a different direction. Bethany and I talk about how subtle spiritual attacks can be. We look at King David in 2 Samuel 11 and 12 to see how one choice opened a door. We also talked about James 4:7 and the practice of submitting, resisting, and standing firm. Scripture helps us name the enemy's tactics and shows us restoration is possible when we turn back to God.I remember leaning in as Bethany described how her responses used to be quick and reactionary, sometimes spilling over into fear-filled dreams and a constant edgy chest feeling. But friends, here's the thing: God gives tools. The Bible does not leave us helpless. When we learn to pause and cross reference a verse, when we study a story like David's, when we practice the habits of prayer and intentional time with God, our default responses begin to change.So what does practical discernment look like in real life? Bethany and I walk through small, concrete moves you can make the next time a thought shows up. They are simple and repeatable. They are things you can begin to practice today.Pause for a few breaths to interrupt automatic reactionAsk a clarifying question aloud or in your heart where this thought came fromBring the thought to scripture by searching cross references or a familiar passageChoose one faithful response rather than following the first impulseWe also talk about the fruit that follows a life walking with Jesus. If a Christian's responses look the same as the world around them, there's a missed opportunity to reflect Christ. First John and other writings remind us that our fruit shows our formation. That doesn't mean perfection, but it does mean intention. You're allowed to be a learner. You're allowed to practice choosing differently.Throughout the episode Bethany shares honest moments about how God is changing her pattern of thinking and how He uses those moments to teach restoration. I share a few things I teach my kids about making choices now instead of letting old reactions keep steering the ship. We both want you to know that God is with you in the small shifts. You don't have to wait until you have it all figured out to start choosing faith in the moment.If this resonates, come listen to the full episode where we sit with scripture, the subtleties of spiritual attack, and concrete ways to practice trusting God when your thoughts feel loud. I'd love for you to listen, share this episode with someone who needs encouragement, and leave feedback so we can keep bringing these conversations back into practice together.

Friends, let me tell you when Desiree first told me parts of her story my hand to heart tightened and I remembered why I love this work so much. She showed up with a thrift store fun fact and a story about a picture she found that felt like a personal word from God. That picture is a hand signing I love you, full of bracelets and red nail polish that reminded her of the blood of Jesus. It was one of those ordinary moments that suddenly felt sacred. I want to take you into the messy, beautiful arc of Desiree's obedience because it looks like so many of our lives. As a child she sat between different expressions of faith and felt confusion. As a teen she felt lonely, isolated by hearing loss, and she walked away from faith for a season. That detour led to a desperate night and an unexpected pregnancy, and it was in that brokenness she lay before the Lord and saw him reach down to her. Can I tell you something? That moment of reaching back was the hinge for her life. She says God told her to keep the baby and that he would be both father and husband. I remember hearing that and thinking about how obedience often looks like one small, scary yes rather than a neat plan. Desiree didn't know how it would work out. She wrestled with depression, with days when God felt far away, and with voices telling her to give up. But she kept moving toward him. She did not give up. That persistence matters. Here is the biblical truth that held her and that I want to hand to you today. Romans 8:28 reminds us that God works for good in all things, even the things that don't make sense now. That does not mean pain is erased, but it does mean we are not alone in it. I think that promise allowed Desiree to trust again even when clarity and safety were absent. So how do we put this into practice in everyday life? I walked away from the studio noting three simple, practical rhythms that helped Desiree and can help you. Notice small promptings - God often nudges in ordinary places like a thrift store or a restless heart. Take the next right step - you don't need the whole map, just the next obedient move. Return when doubt comes - obedience is not perfect, it's persistent; keep showing up to God. Here's the thing, ladies. Obedience didn't look glamorous for Desiree. It looked like messy choices, hard mornings, and a steady reaching for God. And in those things she discovered identity in Christ, a reminder that because of Jesus' blood she is seen, held, and beloved. That thrift store picture became a tangible reminder that God shows up in small, strange, tender ways. If you're in a season of waiting, wrestling, or wondering whether God is really with you, remember this: God meets us where we are and invites us to keep taking steps, even if the steps are unsure. You may not see the whole story, but your next yes matters. I think you'll find encouragement in Desiree's honesty and the ways God kept proving himself faithful. I'd love for you to listen to this full conversation, share it with a friend who needs hope, and leave feedback to let us know how it landed with you. Please listen, share, and leave feedback about this episode.

Hey friends, I am so glad you're here. Can I tell you something? When Andrea first said yes to coming on the podcast, I felt that familiar mix of curiosity and relief. Her story landed with me like a hand to heart because it echoes so many lives I've seen where bright, shiny spiritual practices slowly leave a person dry instead of full.I remember the part she told me about growing up with music, being curious, and how trauma nudged her toward answers that felt immediate but weren't life giving. She lost her father young and later her husband unexpectedly. Those losses became doorways to psychic readings, tarot, crystals, the law of attraction, and all the new age language that promises control and peace. You hear the longing in her voice. You see how easy it is to be seduced by practices that make sense to the mind but don't actually bring wholeness.Here's the thing that stopped me in our conversation. Andrea described a morning in February of 2021 when she came out of her silent practice and felt God speak one sentence to her. He told her this is her year to unlearn. That phrase is a gift and a challenge. It reminded me of Hosea 4:6 where God warns that people perish for lack of knowledge. Andrea's lack was not ignorance of facts alone, it was not yet knowing the deeper life available in Christ.We talked about what it looks like to have faith that is real and practical. She told stories about Clubhouse rooms and finding Christians who spoke Scripture into the cracks of her life. She told of waking up to worship without alarms and how scripture sung can get under your skin in a new way. That small moment of being invited into community helped her move from seeking to belonging.If you are listening and you feel pulled between spiritual systems and a hunger for God, I want you to know I see you. You can practice trusting God in small, tangible ways that change your inner landscape. Andrea's turn toward faith wasn't a single dramatic event so much as a series of gentle course corrections rooted in truth and companionship.Practical steps we pulled from Andrea's storySlow down the shiny searches and notice what you are longing for. Name the need.Create a simple rhythm of scripture and short prayers. Start with Psalms or gospel verses that sit well in your mouth.Find a safe community that will speak biblical truth and pray with you aloud.Give God permission to unlearn habits. Expect replacement with something better, not emptiness.Practice small acts of obedience that teach your heart to trust, like thanksgiving each morning or a five minute prayer break.You see, faith grows in ordinary practice not in clever techniques. Andrea's transformation involved grief work, honest confession of what she had embraced, and steady surrender into relationship with Jesus. That is the wholeness we long for. That is real faith in practice.I share this episode because I want you to leave with hope and a few doable next steps. If you feel unsure where to start, try Psalm readings sung or spoken, tell one trusted friend about what you're doubting, and let God guide the unlearning process. Growth in faith is often quieter than we expect but it is no less real.Thank you for listening to this conversation with Andrea on Perspectives Into Practice. Please listen to the full episode, share it with friends who might need encouragement, and leave feedback so we can keep bringing honest, practical stories of walking with God. I'd love to hear what you learned and what steps you're taking next.

Hand to heart, let me tell you about a conversation that stuck with me long after the microphones were off. I was sitting with my friend Tara who, if you asked her about hobbies, would tell you she loves fishing, camping, and the quiet that comes when you sit still and cast a line. That small picture of peace stands in beautiful contrast to the season that shaped her yes to ministry. Can I tell you something? Tara did not arrive at a confident yes overnight. She walked through a life altering car accident that left her with a traumatic brain injury. She wrestled with language, balance, vision, anxiety, and depression. Those hard realities cleared every distraction and brought her face to face with a God who was patient and faithful. Through that slow, humbling preparation she began to see that God was not asking for perfect, he was asking for willing. I remember listening to her describe how God had prepared her without rushing. She talked about seasons of being pushed into solitude so that she could hear voice over noise. That preparation is often invisible and unglamorous. But friends, the scripture that kept coming up in my mind as Tara spoke was 2 Corinthians 12 9 where God says my grace is sufficient and my power is made perfect in weakness. That truth shaped her yes and it can shape yours. We talked about the specific moment that felt like permission to step forward. Tara had been a teacher for 15 years and was used to scripting everything. She prepared notes and outlines and then a women's retreat came. She had two sessions prepared and no time to finish the third because life had been messy and her mother had been very sick. She stepped up anyway, asked God to speak through her, and for the first time she got out of her own way. What came out was less scripted and more Spirit led and it became the most powerful of her messages. Here's the thing I want you to hold onto. Saying yes does not mean you suddenly feel ready. Sometimes saying yes is a series of smaller surrenders. If you want to put this into practice, try a few tangible steps that helped Tara and could help you. Pray smaller prayers if you need to - ask for a willing heart rather than perfect words Return to scripture daily - let promises anchor you when fear speaks Take one small yes - try a short talk, a small group, a single volunteer slot Invite community to speak into your discernment and to hold you accountable Expect weakness - remember that God’s power shows up most clearly there I share this with the same warmth I felt sitting across from Tara. We want tidy timelines and clean narratives, but God often prepares us in seasons that feel messy. What matters is that we show up and trust in a God whose grace meets us right where we are. I think you will find encouragement in Tara's courage and in the way God turned limitation into an open door. If this episode resonated, please listen, share it with a friend, and leave feedback about what encouraged you today. I’d love to know how you’re learning to say yes in the middle of uncertainty and how this conversation landed with you. Listen, share, and leave feedback about this episode.

Hey friends, happy new year. I'm so glad you're here as we slow down together for a minute and remember what God's been doing among us. Can I tell you something? Listening back through season one felt like reading handwritten letters from God, each one pointing me to the small ways He's been faithful in ordinary life. Hand to heart, that has been my favorite part of this whole podcast experience.I remember the exact moment I realized this space was working. We hit listeners in over 17 countries and over 1,500 clicks and listens, and I sat there feeling humbled and a little stunned. Here's the thing, I always said if this reached one person it would be worth it, but God has been graciously doing more. You sharing episodes, texting a friend, and naming what He's doing in your life has been the music in my day.You see, this podcast exists because perspectives shape how we live and practice is where faith becomes real. We don't stop at inspiration. We ask the practical question how do we live this out now? That question is what shaped season one and what will steer season two.Over and over guests reminded me of big truths. Alana taught me that blessing can come with weight and responsibility yet God still multiplies our obedience. Amanda showed how learning to hear God's voice changes the way we say yes and no. Danielle reminded me that grief does not disqualify you from purpose. Brianna's gentle nudge to begin with worship rather than striving keeps coming back to me. Michelle challenged me to ask God to let us see others through His eyes, and that changes everything.One thread I keep coming back to is this promise of presence even when clarity is absent. Proverbs 3 5 and 6 has been a guide for me lately. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, do not lean on your own understanding. That trust looks like small steps of obedience even when we don't have the whole map.If you're wondering whether you have a story to share, let me give you practical prompts that helped others speak up. Sit with these and see what rises.What has God been teaching you lately?Where have you noticed a shift in how you respond or trust Him?What feels different in your faith than six months ago?Where might God be asking you to take a small next step?These are not heavy or dramatic things. Sometimes it looks like learning to rest without guilt, setting one healthy boundary, or choosing obedience in a small unseen moment. If that feels small, good. Those small things are the practice that shapes the life of faith.Can I be honest? Many women say they don't have a story or they don't feel ready. Friend, you already are chosen. Your voice matters even if it shakes. God qualifies the called. If you want help noticing what God is doing in your life, reach out. I love coaching and sitting with women to name the God's work that's already happening.So as season two begins, my prayer is simple. I want this to stay a place where we notice God in the daily, put faith into practice, and lean into one another as the body of Christ. If this episode nudged something in you, would you listen, share with a friend, and leave feedback? It helps others find the encouragement they need, and it helps me keep showing up for you. Thanks for being here. Please listen, share, and leave feedback about this episode.

Hey friends, welcome back to Perspectives Into Practice. Can I tell you something? As the year was closing and a brand new one sat right around the corner I felt my heart stirring. Hand to heart, I realized I had been living in a comfortable version of faith that looked like attendance and agreement but felt hollow on the inside. I remember showing up, dressing the part, leading groups, and yet feeling distant from the Lord. That slow fade felt icky and I knew something had to change.Here's the thing, walking with God is not meant to be passive. In this episode I share how the Lord impressed on me that He wants all of us, not a little part tucked away for convenience. I talk about Revelation 3:16 and how the scripture calls out lukewarm faith. That verse struck me hard. It felt like a loving wake up call to stop coasting and start standing - to stop performing for people and to begin living from the inside out.I tell the story of what that looked like for me. I was doing all the church things, but inwardly I felt spiritually empty. When I finally stopped to pray and asked God what He wanted, He said He wanted more. That invitation to more forced me out of a comfort that was keeping me small. When I surrendered and chose to stand, it shifted everything - my marriage, my parenting, my friendships. Some relationships were pruned because they had stayed for convenience, and that was painful and good at the same time.If you're listening and thinking that sounds a lot like where you are, I want to offer practical next steps you can put into practice right away. These are simple, faithful rhythms that helped me move from passive to active faith.Start small with consistent scripture time, not binge reading but steady hiding scripture in your heart.Pray with authority and honesty. Name what you believe and ask God to help you stand.Pay attention instead of coasting. Notice where you are comfortable and ask God if comfort has become a barrier.Re-evaluate friendships that keep you safe but not growing. It is okay to let some relationships change.Say yes to God even when it is inconvenient. Obedience is often uncomfortable at first but leads to real change.I share how this looked in everyday life, not as a checklist but as real, messy obedience. You don't have to wait for January 1st to take one brave step. Maybe you start with a single prayer of surrender, or a commitment to memorize a verse this week. Maybe you choose one conversation to change, one habit to stop, one habit to begin.I want to encourage you, ladies, that choosing to stand is worth it. It will stretch you, and it will refine you, and on the other side you will find a truer, richer relationship with Jesus. I don't have all the answers for exactly how God will move in your life, but I can tell you from my own story that when I stopped being passive, God showed up in ways I didn't expect.Thanks for listening to this part of our year-end series on religion versus relationship and what it looks like to be a woman who stands. If this episode stirred something in you, take one of the practical steps today. Then come back and tell me about it. Please listen, share this episode with a friend, and leave feedback so I know how this is landing in your life.

Hey friends, hand to heart, can I tell you something? Brianna and I started this episode with a little laugh about thrift store treasure hunting. I remember sitting across from her, hearing about the patience it takes to find a good piece, and it felt so much like how God prepares us quietly in the fields. That image kept settling with me throughout our conversation about David and what it means to be a warrior woman in Christ.We walk through David's story in 1 Samuel 17 and talk about how a shepherd boy became the face of courage for a people who felt paralyzed by fear. David wasn't polished for battle by human standards. He was overlooked, teased by his brothers, and even ill fitted for the king's armor. Yet he trusted God, grabbed a sling and a stone, and showed up. Here's the thing - that story isn't just ancient biography. It becomes a present-tense invitation to walk by faith when everything around you says you are too small or ill equipped.Scripture anchors our chat. We land in Ephesians 6 and talk about putting on the armor of God. That passage reminded us that sometimes the armor looks like prayer, like Scripture memorized in the midnight hour, like the steady courage to show up for others. David's training was in the fields protecting his sheep. His everyday tasks were preparing him for a specific call. I kept thinking about how God uses the mundane to prepare the mighty.I share a personal example from my own life - times when I felt tiny and unwilling to take center stage. I felt like a shepherd not a soldier. Ladies, friends, I know that tension. We favor the safe path. But when the call comes, listening is the first brave act. David listened even when everyone else told him no. That listening birthed obedience, and obedience put him on the field.Practically, Brianna and I wanted this episode to leave you with tangible next steps. So we talked through things you can do this week to cultivate that warrior posture without turning into someone you are not. It starts small and builds. You don't need someone else's armor. You need the tools God gives you, however humble they look.Guard your quiet time - let Scripture and prayer shape your first responses.Practice small acts of courage - speak truth, offer help, hold a boundary.Remember past victories - God has shown up before, he remembers.Refuse borrowed identities - don't wear another person's expectations as your armor.I also want to say this plainly: courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is obedience in the face of fear. You can still be tender, you can still be gentle, and you can still be a warrior. When we trust in God rather than our own size or resume, the story changes. You become the one someone else reads about and says, I want to know how she kept going.So as you walk out your calling, pick up your sling. It might be a Bible and a prayer, a phone call to a hurting friend, or a firm no that protects your family. Walk by faith. Let this episode be a hand on your shoulder telling you that God is preparing you in small, ordinary places for a holy purpose.If this conversation resonated, join us for the full episode where Brianna and I share more stories, scripture, and encouragement. Listen, share with a friend, and leave feedback about this episode so we can keep bringing faith into practice together.

Hey friends, hand to heart, this episode landed deep for me. My sister Brianna joined me and we started with a little laugh about the plastic fork she carries in her purse - she has a phobia of metal on her teeth - and that easy, ordinary detail gave way to a much bigger conversation about how church can look good on the outside and feel empty on the inside.Can I tell you something? The phrase religion versus relationship isn't just a sermon title for us. Brianna shared a season that felt like a breakup - twelve years in a church where she served, led young adults and children's ministry, and then began to see people she loved show their true colors. They were showing up to fill seats, not hearts, and that realization has a weight to it. I felt that with her.Here's the thing: scripture matters. We talked about Proverbs 27:17, iron sharpens iron, because part of the pain comes when those around us who are supposed to sharpen and encourage us are using faith as a label instead of a living connection. We also talked about the Pharisees, because sometimes people around the pews know the language but not the heartbeat. There is a difference between quoting a verse and being shaped by the Spirit.I remember asking Brianna about the moment she knew she couldn't keep pretending. For her it was a women's conference where the room pulsed with hungry hearts and the Holy Spirit moved - it was the contrast that woke her up. For my part, traveling and trying churches across the country has shown me how often sermons are motivational speeches instead of scripture-driven truth. When worship is shallow and teaching is thin, your soul notices.So what can you do if you recognize this in your life? What helped Brianna and what I keep returning to are small, practical steps you can try this week.Pray honestly and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what you need, not what looks good.Evaluate your community - are people sharpening you or just filling seats?Look for churches where scripture is read and applied, not just paraphrased.Give yourself permission not to fake it - faith needs authenticity, not performance.Find one tangible way to serve where you can both receive and give support.Those moves aren't dramatic. They're not a checklist to prove you're holy. They're invitations to let your relationship with God shape the rhythms of your week instead of letting external expectations drive you. If you're in a season of disappointment or confusion, remember that leaving a place that hurts you doesn't mean leaving God. It can mean stepping toward a fuller experience of the Holy Spirit and truth.I share this as someone who wants faith to be real in everyday life. If you're tired of religion and longing for a relationship, I'm with you. In this episode Brianna and I tell stories, name the hard feelings, and point to practices that helped us stay connected to Jesus even when the people around us didn't match our longing.Please listen, share, and leave feedback about this episode.

Hey friends, I'm so glad you're here. Let me tell you about a conversation that started with a summertime drive, a whisper from the Holy Spirit, and a Roblox game that looked harmless until it didn't. I was with my friend Emily, who I've known since college, and her story about discovering dark imagery in a popular game grabbed my heart. We talk about restoration, grace, and what it looks like to actually guard our children in real life, not just in theory. I remember Emily telling me how she had been diligent with parental settings and how she let her oldest son practice spiritual discernment with boundaries in place. When he mentioned a new game called 99 Nights in the Forest, she did what many of us do and trusted the safeguards. But there was a soft Holy Spirit warning - the deer walked on its hind legs - and that tiny whisper should have been enough. It wasn't. A few months later, after nightmares and unsettling moments, Emily listened to that inner alarm and watched the game. What she saw was dark imagery, occult-style scenes, and elements that were not honoring to God. Here's the thing, ladies - guilt showed up first. She asked, how could I let this happen? But friends, grace met that guilt. The Holy Spirit reminded her that warnings had come, and he met her with a gentle call to turn something hard into something helpful. That is the posture I want us to take. We give ourselves grace and then we go do the work of protecting and teaching. You see, Emily used that moment to open a real conversation with her kids. She walked them through what she saw and asked a simple but powerful question: who is on the throne of your heart? When her children answered Jesus, she used the imagery to help them identify distortions and to learn the word stop. Stop became a spiritual safety word - a way for them to pause, ask their mama, and check their hearts before continuing. Scripture warns that when people have no king, they do what seems right in their own eyes (Judges 21:25). We are called to lead our children toward the King, not toward whatever is trending. That looks like patient conversations, consistent boundaries, and teaching discernment. It also looks like allowing kids to practice faith while they still have training wheels spiritually - riding beside them until they can actually stop, name what feels off, and choose rightly. Practical steps from our conversation you can start using today: Use the strictest parental controls and regularly review game content. Watch new games together before allowing play and discuss any imagery you see. Require kids to ask permission for new games and friends online, and follow up. Teach a safety word like stop for immediate discernment and pause. Frame boundaries around what honors God, not simply what is forbidden. Can I tell you something? This isn't about fear. It's about stewardship. It's about helping our children learn to see through distortions and to choose what aligns with Jesus. Be patient with yourself when you miss something. Give grace, repent where needed, and then step forward with practical vigilance. If this episode encourages you, join us. Listen to the full conversation with Emily on the Perspectives Into Practice podcast, share it with a mama who needs encouragement, and please leave feedback about this episode. I'd love to hear how you're applying these ideas in your home.

Hey friends, hand to heart, this conversation with Allison stayed with me for days. I remember pulling into a little shopping center with the windows down and feeling the kind of hush that invites God in. Allison describes that exact moment when a call to something new landed on her like a gentle but undeniable conviction. She tried bargaining and hesitating, and then God kept nudging - so she listened.Can I tell you something? There is a tender power in quiet obedience. We talk about obedience like a series of actions, but in this episode Allison and I keep returning to a quieter truth - obedience often looks like slowing down, being still, and letting God do the transforming work inside us. Psalm 46:10 came up in our conversation - be still and know that I am God - and it felt like the map for the season she walked through.Allison shares how the idea for her podcast Run Your Story arrived unexpectedly and how her husband, a practical, faithful man, supported her by buying the domain before she could talk herself out of it. That tension - the part of us that says I am not qualified and the part that senses God has given a mission - is so real. She leaned into prayer, trusted the confirmation of godly friends, and found that saying yes looked less like ambition and more like surrender.We also dug into something sacred that happens when people share their stories in community. Allison talks about runners who have carried heavy things - addiction, depression, feelings of unworthiness - and how sharing those stories changed the way she sees others. She said God sees us as who we'll be one day, not only who we are now. That perspective shifts how we love, listen, and carry one another.Practical ways Allison practiced surrender - create quiet margins in your day, bring small prayers into ordinary routines, and let running or a steady rhythm be your worship time.How community became a healing space - invite others to tell their stories, build simple rituals of listening, and refuse to rush the telling.Steps to respond when God nudges you - name the prompting, bring it to trusted people, pray with honesty, then take one small obedient step.Throughout the episode I share questions to help you apply this: What quiet margin can you create this week? Who is a safe person to share a small step with? Where have you been asking God for permission to be still instead of do more? These are the kinds of practical, tender prompts Allison and I wrestle with.My hope for you after listening is that you carry less performance and more presence. This episode is for women who want faith that works in real life, who want practical rhythms that lead to healing, and who long for community that sees them fully. I think you’ll find both permission and encouragement in Allison’s story and in the small, tangible practices we talk about.Please listen to this conversation, share it with someone who needs a reminder that God meets us in the quiet, and leave feedback to let us know how the episode landed with you. We'd love to hear your thoughts and stories.

Hey friends, Jessica here. Can I tell you something? I love hearing how ordinary people lead with extraordinary kindness. In this episode I sit with Michelle, the gentle force behind the Skoolie Swarm Nomad community, and we talk about what it looks like to lead with grace, compassion, and healthy boundaries. I start with a little scene because you should know the woman I invited is the calmest person and also a rock crawler from the 90s. Yes, she drives Jeeps up near-vertical climbs in Moab and somehow keeps her patience in a campsite full of different personalities. Here’s the thing about community leadership - it’s gloriously messy. Michelle told the story of the Swarm starting in a parking lot idea, turning into a camping weekend, and growing from 22 rigs to over 300 while still keeping the same feel. You see that word rig? That’s what our people call their buses, vans, RVs, whatever they live in. I love that detail because it roots the conversation in real-life rhythms, not abstract theory. I remember asking Michelle how she stays kind when leadership gets hard. She shared a gut-level moment when she had to protect the safety of others. Someone made people feel uncomfortable and Michelle had to say no to that person coming to an event. She didn’t act on rumor. She checked with three other people, reached out to leaders of related communities, and asked God for discernment. That careful, prayerful, neighbor-loving approach is how boundaries and compassion walk together. We weave Scripture through that story. Galatians 6:2 talks about carrying one another’s burdens and that helped shape how Michelle framed the decision. It’s not about punishing or public shaming. It’s about making space where women and single people can feel safe, honored, and welcome. Leadership that loves is protective and tender at the same time. If you want to put this into practice tomorrow, here are a few small steps we talked about during the episode: Listen first, then verify. Ask others and gather context before deciding. Pray for discernment and humility, not for confirmation bias. Set caps and structures that preserve the community's core feel as you grow. Invite feedback and create clear ways for people to speak up when they feel unsafe. Those are practical, actionable choices. They’re not flashy, but they build trust over time. I asked Michelle about growth management and she said they cap numbers intentionally so the event can keep its heart. That’s leadership saying no so the wider yes can stay healthy. Friends, if you lead anything or care about the people in your life, this episode will encourage you to hold both mercy and discipline in the same hand. I share some of my own awkward leadership flubs too, because I don’t want this to sound perfect. Can I tell you something? God meets us in the middle of the hard choices, and we can learn to lead in a way that honors people and honors truth. So come sit with us, hear Michelle’s stories of rigs and rock crawling and tender leadership, and walk away with practical steps you can try this week. Please listen, share this episode with a friend, and leave feedback so we can keep these conversations going and get better together.

In this tender conversation, I sit down with Carol as she shares the story of adopting Moise, a little boy with complex medical needs, and the long road their family walked through loss, caregiving, and grief. We talk honestly about suffering, trust in God, and the kind of faith growth that happens when you are living one day and one minute at a time. Carol opens up about the hard decisions, the seasons of waiting, and what it looked like to surrender her will to God while still showing up with love. She also shares what life with God has looked like after Moise’s passing, including the ache of losing a child, the untangling of identity, and the steady hope of heaven. If you are facing real-life challenges, this episode is a gentle reminder that God is near, and he is still at work. If you have a story to share or want to reach out, please contact us.

This is a tender conversation about healing and faith after abortion, and what it can look like to trust in God again. If you have little ones nearby, you may want to listen with headphones. My friend Jamie shares her story with honesty and hope. We talk about the weight of shame, the slow process of healing, and the freedom that comes when we stop trying to carry it all alone. We also talk about what it means to walk with God in real life, to surrender, and to receive forgiveness as something God truly gives. If abortion is part of your story, you are not disqualified from God’s love. You are not too far gone. Jesus meets us in our brokenness, and He can lead you toward wholeness one step at a time. If you are ready to take a next step and want help finding support and resources, please reach out. You do not have to walk through this alone.

What happens when you feel disconnected in marriage, carrying grief, and wondering if anything can change? In this episode, I sit down with Elisa to talk about trust in God in the middle of real faith and real-life challenges. Elisa shares the tender moment when God met her in an ordinary place and asked her to try again. We talk about suffering, loss, and what it looked like to surrender and take one practical step that began rebuilding connection. You will hear how a 60-day challenge became a turning point, not just for intimacy, but for reordering priorities and choosing a life with God inside everyday marriage decisions. Elisa also shares simple, doable ideas for date nights, putting your spouse on the calendar, getting off your phones, and starting meaningful conversations again. If you feel stuck in distance or sameness, I hope this episode reminds you that God is present, and small acts of obedience can lead to real growth over time. If you want to share your own story or reach out, contact us.