A Conversation on Releasing Old Assignments and Walking Away with Dr. Quantrilla Ard

THE CONTENTMENT TO WALK AWAY

We are finally at the end of our series on contentment and we have covered everything from how contentment is influenced by prayer, the culture, our spiritual disciplines, sorrow, and now release.

Have you ever questioned if your inability to experience contentment is connected to your decision to hold on to assignments you should have released? Could it be time to walk away from a few things?

It's the perfect time to reflect on our motives, and this conversation is one for the books. I pray it supports your growth and the development of contentment in your lives. I know it has mine.

MEET DR. QUANNY

Quantrilla Ard, PhD, lives in the Atlanta area along with her husband and three littles. She is a faith-based personal and spiritual development author and dynamic speaker who believes in the power of collective strength, community, and fellowship.

A passionate creative at heart, Dr. Quanny has answered the call to encourage women in all stages of life and of various backgrounds through empathy, transparency, and love. She holds a doctoral degree in Health Psychology and is an advocate and champion for social and reproductive justice with a focus on Black maternal and infant health and mortality. Dr. Quanny is a professor at the Morehouse School of Medicine, and she uses her social media platforms to engage, educate, and inform others about her doctoral research and personal experience with preeclampsia. In addition, she provides expert opinions on the same in various print and online media outlets.

Dr. Quanny humbly stewards a grief and loss community and podcast, both entitled It’s All Grief to Me, as a coach and liaison for individuals navigating their loss journeys. You can find her sharing stories of triumph as well as follow her and the work she is involved in at www.thephdmamma.com.

RESOURCES

My First Episode with Dr. Quanny on Apple

SELAH ON THE YOUVERSION BIBLE APP

Want to subscribe to Selah on YouVersion? Join the 7 Day devotional here.

Purchase your copy of Selah: A Study of 1 and 2 Samuel

A Conversation on Suffering and Contentment with Kristen LaValley

THE STRUGGLE WITH CONTENTMENT AND SORROW

I do know that this month can introduce a variety of emotions and lots of different women, especially as we prepare for Mother's Day. And for years, it was pretty hard to start the month for me because although I wanted to be a mama, I didn't have the opportunity. It always felt a little difficult to send out those Mother's Day text messages to various friends because although I was happy for them, I still felt some sadness.

Now that I've gone through pregnancy and labor and I've familiarized myself with lots of different research about many different struggles that women experience, as well as experiencing some of those struggles myself or with friends, I am also holding those who are feeling the loss of their children in my heart, as well. 

So today, as we prepare to begin this conversation, we'll pray for those who hope to experience contentment again despite their pain.

MEET KRISTEN LAVALLEY

Kristen LaValley is a gifted writer whose words provide a refreshing perspective on faith and spirituality. Her writing resonates with those who carry tensions in their faith, offering insights that intersect doubt and belief, hope and suffering, beauty and heartache, complexity and simplicity. With a deep love for the Christian faith and a willingness to explore its complexities, Kristen's writing offers nuanced conversations that challenge readers to think deeply and wrestle with important questions.

Kristen lives in Massachusetts with her husband Zach and their five children - Jonah, Emery, Anna, Chloe, and Lydia.

RESOURCES

Even If He Doesn't

SELAH ON THE YOUVERSION BIBLE APP

Want to subscribe to Selah on YouVersion? Join the 7 Day devotional here.

Purchase your copy of Selah: A Study of 1 and 2 Samuel

A conversation about spiritual disciplines (like scripture reading, gratitude, and prayer) that strengthen our contentment with Shante Grossett O'Neal

THE BENEFITS OF THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES

Y'alllll, the spiritual disciplines have supported my relationship with Christ in the best ways, and I am grateful for them. They consistently remind us that us our God is a relational God, that He has placed us in relationship with others for our good, and that His Holy Spirit will always lead us into all truth and righteousness.

We may not learn them in a formal setting, and we may not always share them on social media, but those spiritual disciplines have the power to remind us we are always growing in the Lord when we let Him lead us there. 

MEET SHANTE GROSSETT O'NEAL

Shanté Grossett O’Neal is the founder of Daily She Pursues. She is passionate about teaching women how to pursue the heart of God by studying his word, spending time in prayer, and committing to a daily walk with the Lord. She is currently working on a Master’s Degree in Biblical Studies at Liberty University and some of her favorite things include tea, journaling, art museums, essential oils, and thrift shopping.

RESOURCES

The Twelve-Week Jesus Bible Study

My Conversation with Shante on the Imprecatory Psalms

SELAH ON THE YOUVERSION BIBLE APP

Want to subscribe to Selah on YouVersion? Join the 7 Day devotional here.

Purchase your copy of Selah: A Study of 1 and 2 Samuel

A conversation about the culture and the pursuit of contentment with Becky Beresford

THE PURSUIT OF CONTENTMENT

Welcome back to our miniseries on contentment. When I first found out I was expecting a little one, I had so many emotions they surprised me. I had planned to feel nothing but pure joy and ecstacy. However, I also felt some grief about the things I knew I would have to walk away from for a season. Now, don't get me wrong.

I was overjoyed. Still, I recognized that every time I engaged with cultural values and got sucked into a vortex on social media, I started feeling as if I was falling behind.

That couldn't be further from the truth, but if it is, who cares? We have to think critically about the messages we're accepting and adopting from the culture so that we can ensure they don't impede our ability to enjoy contentment.

MEET BECKY BERESFORD

Becky Beresford lives in North Carolina and is happily outnumbered by her husband and three wonderful boys. She is an author, speaker, and coach with a Master's Certificate in Spiritual Formation and Discipleship from Moody Theological Seminary. Becky loves encouraging God’s Daughters to embrace Christ-centered empowerment through the truth found in the gospel. She is the host of the inspiring Brave Women Series, where different women share about their journeys toward courage with Jesus. Becky’s first book with Moody Publishers, She Believed HE Could, So She Did, releases in March. Connect with Becky at BeckyBeresford.com where you can sign up to become a part of her Empowered Email Tribe. Or follow her on Instagram.

RESOURCES

She Believed He Could, So She Did

SELAH ON THE YOUVERSION BIBLE APP

Want to subscribe to Selah on YouVersion? Join the 7 Day devotional here.

Purchase your copy of Selah: A Study of 1 and 2 Samuel

Access the Full Show Notes Here

A conversation about burnout, resentment, and wholeness with Lisa V. Fields, founder of the Jude 3 Project.

THE PURSUIT OF CONTENTMENT

Welcome to our miniseries on contentment. Over the next five months, we are going to explore what it means to pursue contentment. We'll talk about how it changes the way we live, love, and lead, and I hope you're here for it.

Now, before we get started, let's talk about what contentment is not. Contentment is not an excuse for passivity, disobedience, or complacency. It is a fine balance between faith and gratitude. 

Contentment is not the end of the road, a final destination we somehow get to, but a component that makes the journey easier and more fulfilling. It is the beautiful absence of strife, pride, and competition.

Contentment recognizes capacity and it yields to calling in whatever form it may come.

MEET LISA V. FIELDS

Lisa Fields, one of the world’s most sought-after Christian apologists, combines her passion for biblical literacy with her heart for sharing God’s love with all she meets.

Since starting the Jude 3 Project, Fields has received several honors, most notably, Christianity Today’s recognition of her work as an apologist in the African American community.

Lisa is taking us behind the scenes to talk about how the pursuit of contentment showed up in one of the hardest periods of her life. I could not be more grateful for how she has invited us behind the scenes.

DOCUMENTARIES

Watch Unspoken

Watch Faith and Freedom

SELAH ON THE YOUVERSION BIBLE APP

Want to subscribe to Selah on YouVersion? Join the 7 Day devotional here.

Access the Full Show Notes Here

Can you believe we are at episode 100?! When I first launched The Best Kept Secret, I couldn't see past episode 3, but our God is so kind.

Thank you for joining me here week after week. In honor of our 100th episode, I'd like you to grab your Bible and listen in as we wrap up this series on worship with a message I shared at Avenue Church this past September.

If you have your copy of Selah: A Study of 1 and 2 Samuel, you can turn to Session 6 as we prepare to talk about the final session, titled Worship Invites Us to Rejoice.

AVENUE CHURCH

Want to get connected to a healthy church in Las Vegas? Check out Avenue Church, led by Pastors Jeremy and Lindsey Bosma. I can't recommend it enough.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Want to find out what was going on in King David's life when he wrote the psalms He's known for? Grab your download here. 

A conversation about pain, disappointment, and friendship with God with Faith Eury Cho

WORSHIPING IN THE WILDERNESS

It wasn't until late in 2022 that one little story in David's narrative stuck out to me. I was going through my own wilderness season, and had been for about a year and a half when I read it.

When King David was returning to the wilderness in 2 Samuel 15 on his way into exile from his son Absalom who had taken over his kingdom, he paused.

He paused to let everyone who was traveling with him (over 600 men and their families to pass by him), while Abiathar the priest made sacrifices. Wow.

Y’all. This is powerful. It shows us that we can keep worshiping, even when we are on the way into a wilderness season, and all of our options feel heavy and impossible to navigate.

I don’t know whether you are coming out of a wilderness season, feeling like you’re on the way into the wilderness or somewhere in between, but the one thing we learn from David is that the wilderness does not dictate our ability to worship the Lord in everything.

This week, we continue to reflect on some of the themes in Session Five of Selah: Worship Invites Resilience in the Wilderness.

TODAY WE'RE REFLECTING ON JAMES 1:5-6 ESV:

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

A WOMAN YOU SHOULD KNOW

Today, Ty and I get ready to close out this season by featuring one woman who has impacted both of us. Today, I have the great joy to introduce you to Tona Haywood, a marketing consultant and boutique h. Get connected to her because she is definitely a woman you should know.

MEET FAITH EURY CHO

Faith is the CEO and founder of The Honor Summit, a nonprofit organization that equips and activates Asian American women for the mission of God. Alongside her husband, Pastor David Cho, she is also the co-founder and co-pastor of  Mosaic Covenant Church in NJ.

Faith is a coach and collaborator for Propel Ecclesia, for which she has also been a contributing writer. She is also the author of Experiencing Friendship with God: How the Wilderness Draws Us to His Presence.

Faith has spoken on mission fields, churches, conferences, and stages such as Thinq Media and Exponential. She regularly appears on TBN’s Better Together. In addition, she has been a guest on The 700 Club and LIFE Today TV. In January 2023, she was mentioned in Outreach Magazine as one of, “20 Rising Leaders.”

Her most precious role, however, is being a mom to her 4 children— Moriah, Elias, River and Adalynn.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Want to find out what was going on in King David's life when he wrote the psalms He's known for? Grab your download here. 

A conversation about rebellion, grace, and presence with Pamela Henkelman

OFFERING PRESENCE

I am so grateful for those mamas who model how to keep worshiping when your children rebel because they display the heart of our Great God and the love He has for each of us. In fact, my mama has modeled this up close and personally for me.

One of the most interesting relationships in all of 1 and 2 Samuel is that between King David and his son, Absalom. Once David invites Absalom back into the kingdom, he continues to ignore him, and throughout the Scripture we see Absalom fall deeper and deeper into rebellion the more distant he grows from His father.

Thank God that we don't have a Heavenly Father who ignores us-even when we rebel. May we all pray for the parents and their children in each of our lives.

This week, we continue to reflect on some of the themes in Session Five of Selah: Worship Invites Resilience in the Wilderness.

TODAY WE'RE REFLECTING ON ACTS 10:34-35 KJV:

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

In the NLT, it says, “Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right.”

A WOMAN YOU SHOULD KNOW

Today, Ty and I get ready to close out this season by featuring one woman who has impacted both of us. Today, I have the great joy to introduce you to Heidy de la Cruz, a writer and podcaster. Get connected to her because she is definitely a woman you should know.

MEET PAMELA

Pamela Henkelman is a Life Coach for Midlife Moms, speaker, writer, and host of The Midlife Momma Podcast. With her bright smile and enthusiastic personality, she is passionate about encouraging women, particularly the often-forgotten group of moms with adult children.

Pamela helps these moms navigate their changing roles and build stronger relationships with their grown children.

As a mom of five grown kids and two grandsons, Pamela has first-hand experience with the challenges and joys of navigating the empty nest phase of life. She and her husband, who is a pastor, are living their best empty-nest life and loving every minute of it. Download Pamela’s freebie Your Kids Are Grown…Now What here.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Want to find out what was going on in King David's life when he wrote the psalms He's known for? Grab your download here. 

A conversation about grief, acceptance, and healing with Natasha Smith

YAHWEH

One thing that King David was familiar with was grief. In fact, many Biblical figures we look up to were. Out of all of the Psalms that were written, over a third of them were written as lament, and today, we can read them to help us gain a deeper perspective of who our God is in the middle of pain.

Sometimes, it feels like all you can do is breathe when you're in the middle of intense grief. And, even though that can feel shallow or superficial, those of us who have struggled with the desire to live know how important breathing can be.

In those times, when taking your next breath feels unbearable, remember that the name YAHWEH is made up of aspirated consonants that we breathe in and out every single day. And until you can find the strength to lift your arms again, know that He is with you, and that is enough. 

This week, we are continuing to reflect on some of the themes in Session Five of Selah: Worship Invites Resilience in the Wilderness.

TODAY WE'RE REFLECTING ON JOHN 16:33 NLT

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.

A WOMAN YOU SHOULD KNOW

Today, Ty and I get to close out this season by featuring one woman who has impacted both of us. Today, I have the great joy to introduce you to Brittany Dodson, a worship artist and author. Get connected to her because she is definitely a woman you should know.

MEET NATASHA

Natasha Smith is a grief advocate, author, speaker, podcaster, and content creative. She loves God and believes he has the heart for the hurting. She believed God sees, God knows, and God understands every single thing that we go through.

Natasha she has a heart for the hurting, for the grieving and for those who are experiencing and facing hard times in life as well. She has experienced God's love, sovereignty, power, healing, peace, and love in her life. And Natasha loves sharing God's goodness with others-especially for those who were hurting so that they would know that there is hope in Hope's name is Jesus.

Natasha Smith has been sharing on faith, family and grief for over 12 years through multiple publications, including her website in a few of those publications include her view from home today, parents. And focus on the family. Natasha's new book, Can You Just Sit With Me: Healthy Grieving for the Losses of Life is available today.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Want to find out what was going on in King David's life when he wrote the psalms He's known for? Grab your download here. 

Have you met our cohost for season 6? Ty Scott King is currently being considered for a Grammy and we are praying and celebrating with her! You can find her newest album here.

TODAY WE'RE REFLECTING ON 2 SAMUEL 5:22-25 CSB

 The Philistines came up again and spread out in Rephaim Valley. 23 So David inquired of the Lord, and he answered, “Do not attack directly, but circle around behind them and come at them opposite the balsam trees. 24 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, act decisively, for then the Lord will have gone out ahead of you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” 25 So David did exactly as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Geba to Gezer.

THE BIBLE STUDY IS OFFICIALLY OUT!

Selah: A Study of 1 and 2 Samuel is still available for preorder and it is my prayer that, together, we can fall even more deeply in love with the Scriptures. You can purchase it here on Amazon.

The study includes: 

• 6 video sessions (all between 9 and 14 minutes because you have your own questions to pray about and answer),
• 30 guided prayers (all around 7 minutes to help you dive into prayer),
• and 6 weeks of live study with me (and any others who have the opportunity to join us) every Tuesday, beginning September 26 at 6:30PM PST/9:30 PM EST.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Thinking about launching your own podcast? Want to see if there's a way to continue to host your podcast and do more while spending less? Click here for my 7 Podcasting Essentials!

Please don't forget to leave a Review on Apple Podcasts or Audible to show some love. 💗 I'm giving away a book to two of you who leave your IG handle.

Here's the Confident Collaborations Quiz

My newest devotional is available on the YouVersion Bible app! Will you subscribe to it? I have a feeling it will bless you!

A conversation about sexual abuse and restorative justice with Mary E. Demuth

PRESCRIPTIVE PASSAGES VS DESCRIPTIVE PASSAGES

We read about three important, yet difficult stories, throughout the books of 1 and 2 Samuel: Mychal, Bathsheba, and Tamar. And the one thing we realize when we read them is that these women's stories mattered to the Holy Spirit.

The passages surrounding these passages are not prescriptive. They are not passages to direct us about how to live today (unless it is to do the opposite). They are descriptive, meant to describe what happened to these women and the effect it had on all involved, and the Holy Spirit required the biographers to include them rather than gloss over them.

In spite of the pain, in spite of the struggle, and in spite of the abuse that we find there, we still see a God who cares, a God who redeems, a God who looks down from heaven and desires justice, a God who heals, and a God who loves in all of it.

This week, we are continuing to reflect on some of the themes in Session Four of Selah: Worship Invites Resilience in the Wilderness.

TODAY WE'RE REFLECTING ON ROMANS 12:15 ESV

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

A WOMAN YOU SHOULD KNOW

Today, Ty and I get to close out this season by featuring one woman who has impacted both of us. Today, I have the great joy to introduce you to Anisa L. Wesley, a best selling author, licensed clinical social work, and podcaster. Get connected to her because she is definitely a woman you should know.

MEET MARY

Mary DEMUTH loves Jesus. And really that’s the most important thing about her. It’s not writing or speaking or praying or mommying or any other -ing you can find. She flat out loves Him. Why? Because he has utterly, truly, completely re-storied her. 

She’s been writing for 30+ years–half of them in obscurity. She mentored many writers during that time, and continues to do so through the Rockwall Christian Writers Group and some of her  instructional books. Since then she has written over 45 books, translated into five languages. You can see a listing of all her books on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, CBD, Lifeway and Parable.

Mary pioneered a literary agency in 2022, Mary DeMuth Literary, where she shepherds writers toward traditional publishing.

Today, we are talking to Mary about how to worship amidst untold stories of sexual abuse.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Want to find out what was going on in King David's life when he wrote the psalms He's known for? Grab your download here. 

A conversation about disability, restoration, and honor with Jennifer Ji-Hye Ko

THE WORK WE HAVE YET TO DO

Mephibosheth shows up in one of the sweetest scriptures in all of 1 and 2 Samuel, and yet the way he is treated over time also reminds us that we have much work to do in the body of Christ concerning our loved ones who are disabled.

This is one of THE most important conversations we have ever had on The Best Kept Secret. Thank you for being here.

This week, we are continuing to reflect on some of the themes in Session Four of Selah: Worship Invites Renewal.

TODAY WE'RE REFLECTING ON 2 SAMUEL 9:7 ESV

And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.”

A WOMAN YOU SHOULD KNOW

Today, Ty and I get to close out this season by featuring one woman who has impacted both of us. Today, I have the great joy to introduce you to Victoria Weatherspoon, someone who is consistently lifting others up. Get connected to her because she is definitely a woman you should know.

MEET JENNIFER

Jennifer Ji-Hye Ko (JenniferJiHyeKo.com) is a Disabled speaker, writer, poet, author of A Lamenter’s Pathway to Joy: Devotional Journal, founder of Disabled Christian Voices Ministry, and currently working towards becoming a certified Beyond Suffering (theology of disability) instructor with Joni and Friends Ministry. She has lived with multiple physical, developmental, and psychological disabilities since early childhood including the traumatic confusion of being a late-diagnosed Autistic. 

Armed with over a decade of theological and biblical counseling education, as well as mind-body self-study, Jennifer continues to learn by chronically dwelling on the sacred ground of desperate fellowship with Christ in his suffering. Jennifer — supported by her husband, daughter, BFF, and service dog, Natasha Romanoff — strives to uplift and embolden hurting people with the comfort she has received from God.

I ASKED JENNIFER:

• David’s choice to keep his covenant to Jonathan is one of the sweetest stories in 1 and 2 Samuel. I’d love to ask what stands out to you about Mephibosheth’s restoration and what you think we can learn from it today.
• You often speak about how people should develop a theology of suffering. Can you tell us about this? 
• I was surprised to learn about the history of discrimination in the church against people with disabilities. Can you share a little about this history and the sin of partiality?
• What kinds of experiences have you bore witness to that show how someone might be welcome in theory but rejected in practice? 
• What scriptures inform your work? 
• What recommendations do you have for those who are struggling to worship through the challenges they have faced within their churches?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Want to find out what was going on in King David's life when he wrote the psalms He's known for? Grab your download here. 

A conversation about identity, belonging, and generational legacy with Tasha Jun

OUR IDENTITY CAN HELP OR HINDER OUR ABILITY TO WORSHIP THE LORD

I have found that one of the most secure men in all of Scripture is Jonathan. It is through his life that we begin to understand that when we yield our identity to the Lord it leads us to serve Him more effectively-even when it comes at the expense of what we once believed we were entitled to.

Although we rarely acknowledge it, Jonathan is definitely a type of Christ. He chose to lay down his life for David so that David could access the throne and it is one that encourages me to become a better friend in every way.

This week, we are continuing to reflect on some of the themes in Session Two of Selah: Worship Invites You To Repentance.

TODAY WE'RE REFLECTING ON JOHN 15:13 ESV

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

A WOMAN YOU SHOULD KNOW

Today, Ty and I get to close out this season by featuring one woman who has impacted both of us. Today, Ty is introducing us to Sharonda Dreamms, a Christian Dating Strategist and Doctoral Candidate at Liberty University. Get connected to her because she is definitely a woman you should know.

MEET TASHA

Tasha is a biracial Korean American melancholy dreamer. She grew up in a multicultural home, and because of that, she’s spent her life navigating cultural collisions and liminal space. 

She writes about faith, cultural and ethnic identity, and living with a shalomsick ache. Writing has always been the way God has led her through pain and towards the hope of shalom. 

Tasha lives in the Midwest with her husband and three kids, and she is the author of Tell Me the Dream Again: Reflections on Family, Ethnicity, and the Sacred Work of Belonging.

I ASKED TASHA:

• Can you tell us about your book and the significance of the title?
• In your book, you talked to us about how hard it was for your family to find a church you could feel welcome in as a young child. You continued to discus this theme as you recounted your adult years, too, and I deeply resonated with the point you made about how you counted the minorities as an adult. Can you share some advice that we can implement today to help others feel more welcome?
• How can leadership teams of churches become more strategic about the ways they include diverse voices?
• Color-blind theology has always been a sugarcoated death threat to everything Korean in me. It pretends to offer something sweet but it does so at the expense of deep connection and community. What is the difference between false unity and true unity?
• You write, "These experiences of trauma passed through generations and the han we carry are not given by God as a means to an end, but what if they are the soil God uses to show us our need for Jesus and open us to love?" Can you share a little more about the soil God shows us our need for Him?
• How might someone who has rejected her culture learn how to worship the Lord more deeply?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Want to find out what was going on in King David's life when he wrote the psalms He's known for? Grab your download here. 

A conversation about expectation, immediate gratification, and disappointment with Elizabeth Woodson

WORSHIP INVITES US TO BRING OUR DISAPPOINTMENTS TO GOD

It saddens me to think about how much we talk about Michal, David's first wife, without ever addressing the trauma that she endured throughout her life. As the youngest daughter of King Saul, she was often used as the pawn he chose to manipulate to kill David and it is evident that she was influenced by the idolatry her father practiced.

When Michal helped save David's life in 1 Samuel 19, she took a household idol to distract Saul's servants and give David time to escape. However, no one ever slowed down long enough to address the pain she had, the disappointment she was navigating, and the rebellion that had begun to hide in her heart.

It's hard to imagine someone reaching for a household idol today, but it may be more common than we realize.

Today, we are reflecting on some of the themes in Session Two of Selah: Worship Invites You To Repentance.

TODAY WE'RE REFLECTING ON GALATIANS 3:13-14 ESV

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— ¹⁴ so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

A WOMAN YOU SHOULD KNOW

Today, Ty and I get to close out this season by featuring one woman who has impacted both of us. Winter Brooke is someone who reminds me to prioritize my time with the Lord on IG so that I don't begin to idolize the algorithm or any desire for popularity. Get connected to her because she is definitely a woman you should know.

MEET ELIZABETH

Elizabeth Woodson is a bible teacher, writer, and speaker, who is passionate about communicating the rich theological truths of Scripture. She loves helping people internalize their faith and connect it practically to everyday life.

Elizabeth has worked as the Institute Classes and Curriculum Director at The Village Church in Flower Mound, Texas and as the Single Life Coordinator at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship under the leadership of Senior Pastor Dr. Tony Evans. She is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary with a Masters in Christian Education, a member of the teaching team at Lifeway Women, and the cohost of The Starting Place Podcast.

Today, we are talking to Elizabeth about worshiping in an idolatrous culture, and you can find her books here.

I ASKED ELIZABETH:

• What inspired you to go on your own journey to embrace your life.
• How do we reconcile the ideal lives we have been taught to pursue with God’s ideal for our lives?
• That ideal can turn quickly turn into an idol if we’re not careful, and I was so thankful that you shared incredible insight on the struggle we have with idolatry. How does comfort have the potential to lead us to idolatry? 
• What power does lament have to teach us about ourselves?
• Shifting to your Bible study, what recommendations do you have for the young ministry leader who is struggling to reconcile the vision God has given her with the present place she finds herself?
• Can you speak to our sister who is having a hard time worshiping through her disappointment today? 

SELAH IS OFFICIALLY AVAILABLE!

Selah: A Study of 1 and 2 Samuel is still available for preorder and it is my prayer that, together, we can fall even more deeply in love with the Scriptures. You can purchase it here on Amazon.

The study includes: 

• 6 video sessions (all between 9 and 14 minutes because you have your own questions to pray about and answer),
• 30 guided prayers (all around 7 minutes to help you dive into prayer),
• and 6 weeks of live study with me (and any others who have the opportunity to join us) every Tuesday, beginning this Tuesday, September 26 at 6:30PM PST/9:30 PM EST.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Want to find out what was going on in King David's life when he wrote the psalms He's known for? Grab your download here. 

Have you met our cohost for season 6? Ty Scott King is currently being considered for a Grammy and we are praying and celebrating with her! You can find her newest album here.

TODAY WE'RE REFLECTING ON 1 CORINTHIANS 3:6-8

6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. 8 He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.

THE BIBLE STUDY IS OFFICIALLY OUT!

Selah: A Study of 1 and 2 Samuel is still available for preorder and it is my prayer that, together, we can fall even more deeply in love with the Scriptures. You can purchase it here on Amazon.

The study includes: 

• 6 video sessions (all between 9 and 14 minutes because you have your own questions to pray about and answer),
• 30 guided prayers (all around 7 minutes to help you dive into prayer),
• and 6 weeks of live study with me (and any others who have the opportunity to join us) every Tuesday, beginning September 26 at 6:30PM PST/9:30 PM EST.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Thinking about launching your own podcast? Want to see if there's a way to continue to host your podcast and do more while spending less? Click here for my 7 Podcasting Essentials!

Please don't forget to leave a Review on Apple Podcasts or Audible to show some love. 💗 I'm giving away a book to two of you who leave your IG handle.

Here's the Confident Collaborations Quiz

My newest devotional is available on the YouVersion Bible app! Will you subscribe to it? I have a feeling it will bless you!

A Conversation on the strength, the willpower, and the consistent surrender it takes to wait with Oghosa Iyamu

WORSHIP INVITES US TO WAIT

1 Samuel 13 is a sobering picture of what happens when we fail to wait on the Lord, and it is one we need to take seriously. Saul, set on obtaining favor with people chose to deny the Lord's command when the Israelite soldiers began to desert him and it cost him everything.

However, the biographers don't leave us there. They contrast his character with that of Jonathan's (his son's) and with David's and it is evident that choosing to wait on the Lord is also an act of obedience that we should take seriously and find delight in.

Waiting is not passive, sis. It is active. Trust God's timing.

Today, we are reflecting on some of the themes in Session Two of Selah: Worship Invites You To Repentance.

TODAY WE'RE REFLECTING ON PSALM 136 ESV

A WOMAN YOU SHOULD KNOW

Today, Ty and I get to close out this season by featuring one woman who has impacted both of us. Briana Taylor is someone who reminds me to prioritize my time with the Lord on IG, and she is someone you should know. Get connected to her because she is definitely a woman you should know.

MEET OGHOSA

Oghosa Iyamu is a passionate Bible teacher and content creator on a mission to spread the life-transforming message of Jesus Christ. Oghosa is the founder of Un.scrambled, a ministry that helps people live unscrambled from the world’s ideologies.

With an unwavering dedication to sharing the gospel, Oghosa has spent over a decade studying the Bible and discipling individuals, leading them to experience true freedom in Christ.

She has been featured in various publications, newsletters, podcasts, and conferences, including platforms such as Lifeway, Lies Young Women Believe, She Reads Truth, Revive Our Hearts, Radical, and many others.

I ASKED OGHOSA:

• Our world is in such a rush, and we in the Church have picked it up. What kind of benefits have you discovered in the middle of the wait?
• Can you share with us how you have learned to grow in faithfulness without feeling the need to rush and focus on influence?
• What are some of the hard lessons you have learned in the middle of waiting to move forward?
• What scriptures or Bible stories throughout the Bible help you to focus on the Lord’s presence when we are consistently bombarded with messages that appeal to our pride?
• What is one word of wisdom you could share with our sister who is struggling to worship while she waits on the vision the Lord has given her?

SELAH IS OFFICIALLY AVAILABLE!

Selah: A Study of 1 and 2 Samuel is still available for preorder and it is my prayer that, together, we can fall even more deeply in love with the Scriptures. You can purchase it here on Amazon.

The study includes: 

• 6 video sessions (all between 9 and 14 minutes because you have your own questions to pray about and answer),
• 30 guided prayers (all around 7 minutes to help you dive into prayer),
• and 6 weeks of live study with me (and any others who have the opportunity to join us) every Tuesday, beginning this Tuesday, September 26 at 6:30PM PST/9:30 PM EST.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Want to find out what was going on in King David's life when he wrote the psalms He's known for? Grab your download here. 

A Conversation on Pressure, Profit, and the Pursuit of God's Presence with Nailah Tee

WORSHIP INVITES US TO REPENTANCE

I feel for King Saul. As the first king of Israel, he made a lot of mistakes that were unprecedented at the point he became king, and he experienced a lot of pressure from the very beginning, pressure that we don't always understand.

We live in an innocence-guilt culture, and because of that, we often misunderstand those who are part of collective cultures that are a part of honor-shame cultures.

Jacques Georges and Mark D. Baker, the authors of Ministering and Honor-Shame Cultures, write that the removal of shame and the restoration of honor lies at the center of God's salvation. However, I want to remind you that it was never God's intention that we feel guilt or shame, but was, instead, a byproduct of the fall.

However, King Saul's most significant problem lie in the fact that he was so consumed with honor, that he failed to offer it to the only One who is truly worthy. When we study the scriptures, we see that King Saul placed the people's opinion above the presence of God and interrupted his communion and his communication with the one true God again and again and again.

Georges and Baker, the authors that I referenced earlier, mention that the limbic system within our brain senses social threats and shame the same way as physical threats. Both types of imminent danger trigger the same self-preservation instinct, and they share a common neural basis in the brain. 

Today, we are reflecting on some of the themes in Session Two of Selah: Worship Invites You To Repentance.

TODAY WE'RE REFLECTING ON 1 JOHN 4:19 ESV:

We love because he first loved us.

A WOMAN YOU SHOULD KNOW

Today, Ty and I get to close out this season by featuring one woman who has tremendously impacted both of us. Meosha Culpepper is the founder of TER Ministries, and hosts retreats to help ministry leaders get refilled. Get connected to her because she is definitely a woman you should know.

MEET NAILAH

Nailah Tee is a worship leader and certified coach who believes in the power of worship to transform lives. Her natural talent for music was recognized early, and led to her becoming a member of various school and children’s choirs.

Since then, Nailah has performed on large stages and provided background vocals to several gospel artists, musicians, and worship leaders. Her music can be found on all music streaming platforms. She currently serves as a worship leader in her local church. 

Nailah believes music is only one of the ways God uses her to share His heart and help believers walk in the fullness of who they are. She can be seen sharing words of encouragement on social media and will be available for 1:1 coaching this fall.

I ASKED NAILAH:

• How did you first fall in love with the Lord? 
• In your opinion, what blocks our ability to worship the Lord?
• What are some of the pitfalls you see those in your field leading worship through song fall into?
• Do you have any words of advice about how we can steward our gifts without giving in to the idolatry of money?
• How have you learned to continue inviting the Lord to purify your worship? 
• What is one thing you want congregants to know about worship?
• Would you share a few words of wisdom do you have for our sister who is here and interested in going deeper in worship?

SELAH IS OFFICIALLY AVAILABLE!

Selah: A Study of 1 and 2 Samuel is still available for preorder and it is my prayer that, together, we can fall even more deeply in love with the Scriptures. You can purchase it here on Amazon.

The study includes: 

• 6 video sessions (all between 9 and 14 minutes because you have your own questions to pray about and answer),
• 30 guided prayers (all around 7 minutes to help you dive into prayer),
• and 6 weeks of live study with me (and any others who have the opportunity to join us) every Tuesday, beginning this Tuesday, September 26 at 6:30PM PST/9:30 PM EST.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Want to find out what was going on in King David's life when he wrote the psalms He's known for? Grab your download here. 

A Conversation on Remembrance with Katie Westenberg

If we are going to worship the Lord, we have to remember who He is in the middle of everything that attempts to steal our attention and make us forget about how faithful He has been from generation to generation.

Biblical writers instruct us to remember from the Old to the New Testament, so let's take it to heart today.

Moses first reminds the Israelites to remember in Exodus 13:3.

Joshua picks up on that theme in Joshua 4.

And Samuel continues the tradition in 1 Samuel 7:12.

When the Israelites decided to repent for their actions against the Lord, Samuel called all of them to Mizpah. However, the Philistines decided to wage war against them. Samuel didn't grow anxious or worried. Instead, he made a sacrifice and set up an Ebenezer stone.

Ebenezer means stone of help. Samuel was calling them to remember how the Lord had helped them in the past and how He would continue to help them. And the Lord was faithful! He gave the Israelites success over the Philistines and peace as a result.

May we all remember the God who helps us in the pain and the problems we face.

The first session of Selah is titled Worship Invites us to Remember, and if you'd like to cover this topic further, you can purchase a copy of Selah here. 

TODAY WE'RE REFLECTING ON 1 SAMUEL ESV:

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the Lord has helped us.”

A WOMAN YOU SHOULD KNOW

Today, Ty and I get to close out this season by featuring one woman who has tremendously impacted both of us. Marilyn Johnson is a YouVersion Partner and the Creator of At The Well. Get connected to her because she is definitely a woman you should know.

MEET KATIE

Katie is the wife to Ross and mother to Tyler, Bailey, Brooklyn, and Bo (ages 10-18). She has a Bachelor’s Degree in business from Washington State University, but her days are mostly spent in the busyness of running a home and homeschooling her kids. I

In surrendering my far and wide dreams for His so much better story, God has given her many opportunities to speak life and write truth. She loves helping women follow Christ bravely and live boldly in the fullness of His plan for their lives – big, small, and all the wild and mundane in between.

You can find her new book, And Then She Remembered, here. 

I ASKED KATIE:

• What encouraged you to write this message?
• How can we grow more focused in our culture today, especially with all of the demands and cultural expectations all of the time?
• What do we risk when we fail to resist the distractions?
• How do we get clear about what we should really be paying attention to?
• What should we know about identity and the modern phenomenon that it is?
• How has your memory produced an inheritance for your children?
• What recommendations would you make to the woman who is struggling to worship past her distractions?

SELAH IS OFFICIALLY AVAILABLE!

Selah: A Study of 1 and 2 Samuel is still available for preorder and it is my prayer that, together, we can fall even more deeply in love with the Scriptures. You can purchase it here on Amazon.

The study includes: 

• 6 video sessions (all between 9 and 14 minutes because you have your own questions to pray about and answer),
• 30 guided prayers (all around 7 minutes to help you dive into prayer),
• and 6 weeks of live study with me (and any others who have the opportunity to join us) every Tuesday, beginning this Tuesday, September 26 at 6:30PM PST/9:30 PM EST.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Want to find out what was going on in King David's life when he wrote the psalms He's known for? Grab your download here. 

A Conversation with Jennifer Lucy Tyler

Skeptics usually deny the truth in the Word of God because they claim that there are two Gods in the Bible: The God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament. However, a closer look will reveal that God’s mercy, lovingkindness, and grace have followed us all the days of our lives-from the very beginning.

Nowhere is that more evident than through the Holy Spirit’s choice to speak to the strength of women in the Old and New Testament alike. Skeptics would say that the way God treats women further reinforces this belief. However, one of the things I love about 1 and 2 Samuel is how the Holy Spirit drew attention to so many different women throughout these two beautiful books in our Bible. Selah is available today if you want to go deeper.

TODAY WE'RE REFLECTING ON HEBREWS 13:8 ESV:

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

A WOMAN YOU SHOULD KNOW

Today, Ty and I get to close out this season by featuring one woman who has tremendously impacted both of us. Maura Romero is the outreach director for Brave Global. Get connected to her because she is definitely a woman you should know.

MEET JENNIFER

Jennifer is an international speaker and bible teacher who has served as a missionary in 5 countries. Her mission is to help women know God and experience transformation through bible study.

One of Jennifer’s passions is storytelling through social media and writing. More recently, her storytelling skills were used for Hope International Inc., Three Roots International, and International Justice Mission to advocate and uplift the stories of the people these organizations serve.

She is also an author and the creator of two journals, “Be Your Own Relationship Goals-Vol 1. and “The Changemaker Guide to Studying the Bible.” Since 2006, her influence has spanned the globe, from speaking at conferences to groups of women and youth to ministering to sex-trafficking victims and orphans in several countries, and leading missions teams.

Today, Jennifer spends her time helping women grow holistically through the online SoulCircles community and speaking. She works as a National Presenter for Faithlife, the creators of Logos Bible Software.

I ASKED JENNIFER:

• What did God reveal to you on your forgiveness journey?
• What stands out to you about Hannah? 
• What kind of obstacles have you experienced in the body of Christ or do you support others through in your work? 
• What scriptures have you stood on in your faith journey? 
• What is one word of wisdom you might share with us about worship?

SELAH IS OFFICIALLY AVAILABLE!

Selah: A Study of 1 and 2 Samuel is still available for preorder and it is my prayer that, together, we can fall even more deeply in love with the Scriptures. You can purchase it here on Amazon.

The study includes: 

• 6 video sessions (all between 9 and 14 minutes because you have your own questions to pray about and answer),
• 30 guided prayers (all around 7 minutes to help you dive into prayer),
• and 6 weeks of live study with me (and any others who have the opportunity to join us) every Tuesday, beginning this Tuesday, September 26 at 6:30PM PST/9:30 PM EST.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Want to find out what was going on in King David's life when he wrote the psalms He's known for? Grab your download here. 

A Conversation with Kobe Campbell

Today, we're talking about the many ways we have the opportunity to remove the limitations off of God. He is our limitless God, and He can heal at the altar, just like He can heal in the therapist's office. 

Let's talk about worship as we look at how David and others worshiped beyond their pain, without dismissing their pain. Selah: A Study of 1 and 2 Samuel is now available!

TODAY WE'RE REFLECTING ON PSALM 42:2 NIV:

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

    When can I go and meet with God?

A WOMAN YOU SHOULD KNOW

Today, Ty and I get to close out this season by featuring one woman who has tremendously impacted both of us. La Tonya Daniels is the author of Forgiving A Perfect God: Resolving Anger with Divinity. Get connected to her because she is definitely a woman you should know.

MEET KOBE

Kobe Campbell is an award-winning licensed trauma therapist, bestselling author, media expert, entertainment consultant, and keynote speaker. Kobe just released her first book with W Publishing of HarperCollins titled Why Am I Like This? How to Break Cycles, Heal From Trauma, and Restore Your Faith.

I ASKED KOBE:

• What inspired her to write this book?
• Are we overusing the word trauma?
• What is EMDR?
• What advice would she give to the woman who has made a practice of dismissing her pain?
• What does it mean to stop seeing God as an audience and see Him as an advocate?
• How do we worship through our trauma?

SELAH IS OFFICIALLY AVAILABLE!

Selah: A Study of 1 and 2 Samuel is still available for preorder and it is my prayer that, together, we can fall even more deeply in love with the Scriptures. You can purchase it here on Amazon.

The study includes: 

• 6 video sessions (all between 9 and 14 minutes because you have your own questions to pray about and answer),
• 30 guided prayers (all around 7 minutes to help you dive into prayer),
• and 6 weeks of live study with me (and any others who have the opportunity to join us) every Tuesday, beginning September 26 at 6:30PM PST/9:30 PM EST.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Want to find out what was going on in King David's life when he wrote the psalms He's known for? Grab your download here.