Teach Me About Grace

In Bonus Episode 02, where I continue in a conversation about story - God’s story - by sharing an overview of Scripture through the lens of one aspect of God’s character that has completely altered my perspective on what it means to know God for our actual lives. In one of my favorite quotes,  J.I. Packer says, “The world becomes a strange, mad, painful place, and life in it a disappointing and unpleasant business, for those who do not know about God. Disregard the study of God, and you sentence yourself to stumble and blunder through life blindfold, as it were , with no sense of direction, and no understanding of what surrounds you. This way you can waste your life and lose your soul.” My hope in this episode as I share one of the many threads God weaves through his story is that you find yourself stumbling less and with a sense of direction - because you know that he’s with you. So, tune in and uncover how your life has meaning and significance all because of the One who created it and continues to write your story.Receive a FREE devotional by clicking here!

I’m excited to be back with you today for Bonus Episode 01. I wrapped up Season 1 a few months ago and I’m so proud and thankful for that first season. Story after story of the guests who joined me gave me more and more confidence and courage to walk with God in my actual life. Today, I want to jump back in here to share a little bit of my story from the past two months and how knowing God has mattered for me. I wonder where this episode finds you, and where God might meet you in it. He works all things together - and I love that I can rest in that truth. This bonus episode is an invitation to story - my story, and yours - as we see how God is at work weaving pieces together in order that we might grow with him and for him.  This bonus episode is a slightly different format than it’s been but I hope you’ll get a taste of grace as you listen in. Thanks for inviting me into your world today - I hope you enjoy what you hear.By the way, if you're impacted at all by this episode or any from Season One, would you be willing to rate and review this podcast in Apple Podcasts? This will help women find the truth and grace of knowing God more for their actual lives in a way that is practical and tangible. I'm so grateful for you.INSTAGRAM: @teachmeaboutgraceWEBSITE: www.teachmeaboutgrace.com

It's our final episode of Season One and this week we celebrate with a bonus interview with my friend, Lauren Light. I asked Lauren to join me to talk a little bit about this season, share what some of our highlights have been, and dive in deeper to some of the themes that surfaced over the show.  Lauren is a full-time campus minister with Greek Cru at VCU in Richmond, VA! She is passionate about making the Gospel accessible to fraternity/sorority students by creating a safe, judgement-free space for them to explore their faith together. Lauren is a proud Virginia Tech graduate, an avid Philadelphia sports fan, and a raging Enneagram 3 with a love for long-distance running and high quality coffee.I want to take a moment to say thank you to each of you, my listeners, for supporting me and this podcast in its inaugural season. God has overflowed my cup with blessings as I have had the honor to create space for stories from 13 guests as they point back to how knowing God has mattered for their actual lives. It has been a gift and it wouldn’t be possible without YOU! So thank you for tuning in! Season two will be coming soon and I want to make sure you stay updated with when it launches - so, in the show notes, I’m linking a sign up list for my weekly emails! You’ll also receive encouragement, resources, and grace -- a little personalized taste of all that we’ve talked about this season and it’ll help us stay connected over this break. I’d love to have you. You can sign up here or at www.teachmeaboutgrace.comSHOW NOTES: click hereCONNECT WITH LAUREN hereSUBSCRIBE to the newsletter here

I'm so glad you're here for episode 12 with Tabitha Morales. Tabitha is a proud NewYoRican living in Florida where she serves as the Oneness & Diversity Strategist and Research and Care Coordinator for Cru in the US. Actually, in our interview today we spend a good bit of time talking about what it means to know God and trust him in the areas of leadership and calling. Her insights on what it means to follow God in the unknown are so encouraging and meaningful to me in this season. Tabitha also shares more of her own and her family’s journey to knowing Christ and how understanding culture has shaped how she views the majesty and glory of God himself. If this episode is meaningful to you, would you rate & review on this app, and would you also share this with a friend? As always, may you - and your friends - know God more for your actual life today.SHOW NOTES: click hereSUBSCRIBE to the newsletter here

SENSITIVITY WARNING: Cynthia shares how God has transformed her life following a decision she made to have an abortion 40 years ago when she was 19. If you find yourself in a position where that might be challenging to hear or read any further about in the show notes, I encourage you to consider skipping this interview and returning next week. (She mentions this around 27:55-35:10 on the episode, if you'd like to skip around it.)On Episode 11, I am pleased to introduce you to my friend Cynthia Thomeer. Cynthia and I talk about a wide range of topics, from foster care to living with terminal cancer for the last six years and everything in between.  Cynthia is passionate about speaking grace and truth into the shameful parts of our stories and lives so that we can live with freedom. Cynthia shares her powerful story of how God freed her from shame she carried following an abortion she had nearly 40 years ago, and while she doesn’t go into much detail, I did want to let you know that this topic comes up towards the middle of our conversation.  As always, the highlights of this episode are shared on the show notes if you’d like to get a preview or read more first. Cynthia speaks with power and trust in God, is hilarious and made me both laugh and cry this episode, and is just a joy to introduce to you. May you leave this episode knowing God more for your actual life today.SHOW NOTES: click hereSIGN UP FOR OUR EMAILS: click here

On today’s episode I welcome one of my favorite people in the world onto the show  - my mother-in-law, Enid Walker Orr.  I always say that when I married John-Mark, I hit the jackpot with his family. His siblings have become some of my closest friends and Enid truly a second mom to me. As sweet as she is wise, Enid offers us in this episode a grounding and approachable truth to who God is. Enid serves on staff with Cru as part of the Significance Project Leadership team focusing on providing support to teams around the world using discipleship and evangelistic life coaching resources. She talks of the joy that it is to help women, specifically, uncover the truths of the gospel in everyday life.  We also spend some time talking about her journey through motherhood and then through loss and remarriage - all of which remind me that God is intimately aware of the details of our lives and meets in them all. Lastly, what I think you’ll enjoy the  most of this episode is hearing Enid talk of the joy it is to know God for herself personally and the way that she truly delights in him - she offers simple and un-intimidating words and I think you’ll naturally find yourself wanting to follow her as she knows God. As you listen, our biggest prayer is that you grow in your understanding that knowing God matters for your actual life, too.SHOW NOTES: click hereThe Significance Project

I’m so glad you’ve tuned in today to Episode 09 with Ashley Herrinton. Ashley and I go way back - John-Mark, Ashley, her husband, Tyler, and I all met the same summer of 2009. We have loved watching them grow and thrive in their roles as talented filmmakers, creatives, and business-owners.  You’ll quickly learn that one of Ashley’s best qualities is her ability to be real with people - and to get there naturally. Ashley shares with us today their journey in the creative small business world and in parenting and how trusting God for her looks like asking him, “God what do you have for me today?” Ashley and I spend about the second half of our conversation today talking openly about her life-changing experience in personal counseling where she shares the beautiful things she’s learned there, the reasons she thinks it’s so valuable for anyone to go, and we share some candid insight into both of our fears and experiences even after almost a decade of receiving counseling between us. Ashley is funny, wise, and so deep - you will fall in love with her and hear of God’s tenderness and intimacy all throughout this episode. I’m excited for you to meet her, but as always, my biggest excitement is for how you will come away from this episode uncovering more how knowing God matters for your actual life, today. COUNSELING RESOURCES:Psychology Today list of Christian CounselorsGlobal Counseling Network for virtual counseling appointmentsChristian Counseling & Education FoundationSHOW NOTES: click hereFollow @ashleyherrinton on InstagramFollow @tylerherrinton on InstagramCheck out their business here

Today Shelby Forosan and I dive into the past year of her life as her plans were greatly thwarted due to COVID. Shelby serves as a missionary whose placement last year was in a country in East Asia and as you can imagine, the pandemic greatly disrupted her plans there. Her team learned how much the covid would affect their lives while at a conference and even though they only packed their bags for two weeks, they ended up being in a different country for two months before ultimately flying back to the US… without most of their belongings. Shelby shares with us today how she processed and lamented the losses of this past year and the way that God met her in her acknowledgment of her pain. She also shared how while she was in East Asia, she discovered a lot about her Filipino-American identity and how God was working in and through her, just as he created her to be; she opens up to us today about what it was like to begin to honor more of her own story through even the chaos of her time overseas. Listen in as we talk about trusting God through your pain and disrupted plans, of holding space for others’ stories, and the beauty that honesty with God can bring. FOR SHOW NOTES: click hereFollow Shelby on Instagram here

Each week as women share their stories I’m honored and humbled to create space for them here and Soumya’s feels extra sacred to me to share. We’ve run in similar circles and I had heard her share briefly how coming to know Jesus changed everything for her, but hearing of her devout family traditions in Hinduism, her passion for the world, and how God used specific books of the Bible to draw her to himself gave more beauty and depth to her story than I had previously known. Soumya is currently serving overseas with her husband Daniel in Sweden living out their desire to share the greatest news of hope, rescue, and joy,, which she talks about a little in today’s episode! You’ll love Soumya’s calm demeanor, her hospitality, and her zeal for seeing God proclaimed.If you like what you hear, go follow us on instagram at @teachmeaboutgrace & also, rate + review the show on your favorite podcast app! We'd love to help others uncover how knowing God matters for their actual lives as well. For SHOW NOTES, click here.To hear more about Soumya's ministry, click here.

Brooke Frick is a mom, a wife, a writer… and most recently a traveler! Brooke and her family are exploring the US right now as they live primarily out of their RV and go on the adventure of a lifetime - all in the midst of the consistently changing pandemic.  I love Brooke’s perspective of following God and at the risk of spoiling all of this - she and her husband bought this RV just before everything shut down in March due to COVID. She talks of what it means to truly embrace God’s plan for your life, even when it doesn’t necessarily look like you were thinking and I love her transparency and honesty and bravery as she walks with him! Brooke recently published the book, Hands Full, a devotional for moms and we spend a bit of time talking about her experience raising five kids all born within 6.5 years. Brooke is such a joy and a delight to talk with and hearing her share about her life and what it’s meant to walk with God made me want to be more adventurous and trusting with him, too. She is down to earth and a sweet new friend and I can’t wait for you to hear her story. Check the show notes by clicking here!To CONNECT WITH BROOKE:Instagram: @brookellenfrickRead more on www.brookefrick.comPurchase Hands Full, a devotional for moms, here.

Today's guest is Jennifer Smith who is a current senior at Virginia Commonwealth University. If you’ve ever wondered if God could use you where you are, or if he’s even at work in the lives of those around you… this episode will greatly encourage you. Jennifer shares her story of how she gave her life to Jesus a year ago and has jumped into what it means to follow him in every area of her life. As she navigates the Greek system, including leading her sorority as president and engages with other Greek students on her campus through Greek Cru, Jennifer has incredible insight into what it means to know God and live out her faith to those around her. She opened up with me about leadership, fighting stereotypes, and all that has transformed within her since Jesus changed her life last year. She also shares with us how losing her dad unexpectedly played a significant role in her surrender to the Lord and a grounding hope she’s found even in the midst of grief. I left my conversation with her feeling so encouraged, empowered, and excited and it’s a joy to introduce you to her today.  Whether you’re a current college student, or far past that, I know her story will encourage you. SHOW NOTES: Click hereInstagram: @jenniferclairesmith + @asavcuJennifer’s storyGreek Cru: @vcugreekcruBeing a part of Greek Cru Communities

You’re listening to Episode 4 with Heather Holleman, one of my favorite communicators and a sweet friend. Heather is a speaker, teacher, and author who loves helping people connect with Jesus, especially through scripture. People have called her a "walking exclamation point," and she's known as a lover of vivid verbs and semicolons. Heather currently directs the Advanced Writing in the Humanities courses at Penn State while also serving alongside her husband Ashley who is the Executive Director for Graduate Student Ministry within Cru’s branch of Faculty Commons.  Heather and Ash recently published a new book called Sent: Living a Life that Invites Others to Jesus. We talk about Sent and a few other of her books, all inspired by verbs, in today’s episode.  Heather’s heart for evangelism, the Bible, and knowing God more is contagious and practical and I think you’ll love her simple encouragement and unassuming posture before the Lord. Heather and I also dive into a conversation about what it means to know God during periods of prolonged anxiety and depression as well as the healing that God offers from the pit of despair.For show notes click hereConnect with Heather on Facebook, Instagram, TwitterRead more from Heather hereFind Sent: Living a Life that Invites Others to Jesus on Amazon or Moody Publishers

You’re listening to Episode 3 with my friend, Alexa Mason. Alexa and I met on Instagram of all places a few months back and she has quickly become one of my favorite friends to learn from even states apart. I’m thrilled to have her here on this show and I know you will quickly love her authenticity, her eye for grace and beauty, and her down-to-earth nature, just like I did.  Alexa is the creator of Grace & Cherish where she lives out her high value of creating meaningful spaces at home and in all parts of life that combine beauty and depth which point to Hope.  Her store is beautiful and she is absolutely a gifted entrepreneur with an eye for intentionality along with beautiful pieces you’ll want in your home. When she’s not running Grace & Cherish, Alexa enjoys hiking, deep talks (especially about Jesus) and dancing. She just recently moved back to Portland (since recording this episode) with her husband and their three children ages 4 and under. I’m convinced her kids would be best friends with mine - if only we lived in the same city. You’re going to love hearing about Alexa’s vision for hospitality as it points to God, for what it means for her to raise a family in an interracial marriage, specifically as a Black woman, and how motherhood teachers her more about hospitality and God more and more each day.  This conversation is one that could have lasted for hours, friends, and I won’t keep you waiting to hear more of her wisdom now. Thank you for inviting me into your world today and for listening to Alexa’s words of grace.For show notes click hereFind Alexa on InstagramGrace & Cherish Website + Shop

You’re listening to Episode 2 with Heather Fischer and you’re in for a treat with this one! Heather shares with us today what it means to have vision and purpose in life, all through the lens of who God is and who he created you to be.  Heather is the creator and lead coach of MTL's Life Vision Program, a program that teaches participants how to identify what it is they want to live for - the impacts they feel called to make and the core values they desire to center their life around, and equips them to make that vision for their life actionable now. Life vision designing targets the "why" behind the "what" - clarity of purpose behind the things we do. With a passion for equipping others to live confidently and freely with purpose, Heather coaches and writes to encourage and help build up a generation of grounded, vision-led leaders. If you aren’t interested already in receiving coaching from her, I promise you will after hearing more of her heart and story.  Heather and I talk about how having a life vision has grounded her marriage, her transition into new motherhood, and even how it reminds her of her grandparents who leave an incredible legacy for her family even with a “normal” life.  She shares how having a life vision can point you to God more and the biggest questions you can ask yourself to begin this process on your own.  This episode is packed full of grace and wisdom, and I’m so grateful you’ve invited us into your world as you listen today. Important Links -Find Heather on Instagram: @heatherfischer_mtlwww.madetolive.orgFor show notes & to find more information please go to: www.meg-walker.com/show-notes-heather-fischerIf you enjoyed this show, I'd love for you to rate & review it below so that more women can be refreshed by grace as they lean into how knowing God matters for their actual lives. And be sure to click subscribe so that YOU never miss an episode as well! See you soon.

Since it’s the first episode of our show, I wanted to give you a little insight into who I am and I figured - what better way to do that than to introduce you to my favorite person in the world. John-Mark is on staff with Cru where he spends his time investing in college men through introducing them to  the good news of Jesus while also developing gospel-centered leaders. He also serves movements from Delaware to North Carolina in a Cross Cultural Training Coordinator role. John-Mark is a graduate of Christopher Newport University, he loves to pick up heavy things and puts them down, and he’s definitely a Slytherin - if you’re into that. John-Mark shares his insight into what it means to know God through your cultural and ethnic identity, how he came to know God, and what it has looked like for him to walk through challenging seasons and see God move in different ways, regardless of how he’s handled them. We also share the story of our children, including our oldest son Jacob who is in Heaven, how seasons before our marriage/parenthood have shaped us, and our vision and prayer for you, our listeners, through this podcast.Episode show notes: click hereFollow John-Mark on InstagramFollow Meg on InstagramIf you enjoyed this show, I'd love for you to rate & review it below so that more women can be refreshed by grace as they lean into how knowing God matters for their actual lives. And be sure to click subscribe so that YOU never miss an episode as well! See you soon.

Hi! I'm so glad you're here. On Teach Me About Grace, Meg Walker hosts conversations with women of all types of backgrounds on how knowing God matters for your actual life. In this special preview episode, you'll hear Meg's heart for the show and a little bit of insight on what kinds of conversations will be coming in the weeks and months to follow. Please subscribe to stay up to date & be alerted when the show launches & follow us on instagram @teachmeaboutgrace. We'll talk with you soon.