Why I Believe
What if God isn't simply part of your business; what if He's the CEO? Philippa Channer is a wife, mom of three, business owner, and marketing strategist who helps female entrepreneurs think more strategically about growing their businesses. But behind her own strategy is a question she has learned to keep asking: God, what do You want me to do? Philippa's faith journey began when she was 11 years old after her family found a Baptist church willing to help with her brother's wedding. What began as a practical need became a church home, a community, and the place where Philippa began to...
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In this week's Faithful Friday, we continue our journey through the Gospel of Matthew with Matthew 5:1β12 β The Beatitudes. Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are those who mourn. Blessed are the meek. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Blessed are the merciful. Blessed are the pure in heart. Blessed are the peacemakers. Jesus gives us a beautiful picture of what life in His Kingdom looks likeβbut these aren't simply words to read. They're an invitation to live differently. As you listen, reflect on this question: Which Beatitude is God inviting you to live...
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β οΈ Content Note: This episode includes discussion of eating disorders, anorexia, restrictive eating, compulsive exercise, and recovery. Please listen with care. At eight years old, Becca Parrish accepted Jesus into her heart. Years later, during one of the darkest seasons of her life, she would learn what it truly meant to depend on Him. At 14, what began as an interest in health and fitness slowly became part of Becca's identity. Healthy eating became restriction. Exercise became compulsion. Eventually, Becca found herself battling a life-threatening eating disorder. Her body was reaching...
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Welcome to Season 2 of Faithful Friday! Last season, we journeyed through the Gospel of John, discovering who Jesus is. This season, we're walking through the Gospel of Matthew as we learn what it truly means to follow Him. In our first episode, we reflect on Matthew 4:18β22, where Jesus calls His first disciples. When Jesus said, "Follow me," they immediately left their nets and followed Him. His invitation still echoes today. What might Jesus be inviting you to leave behind so you can follow Him more closely? After the Scripture reading, you'll have an opportunity to pause for personal...
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What happens to your faith when some of the people who hurt you are people of faith? For Liz Berry, the answer wasn't walking away from God. It was running toward Him. Liz's relationship with Jesus started young. As a little girl experiencing loneliness and instability, she learned that Jesus could be her βforever friendβ; someone she could talk to as though He were sitting right beside her. That foundation would eventually carry her through some of the hardest seasons of her life. In this episode of Why I Believe, Liz shares openly about an abusive marriage that also included spiritual...
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Three weeks to live. That's what Kevin Kahl says he was told after years of battling cancer. He was a nonbeliever. He had never read the Bible. He didn't go to church. Then, in desperation, Kevin opened a Bible for the first time on Good Friday 2020. And his life changed. Recorded LIVE at OneFest, this episode of Why I Believe takes you into Kevin's extraordinary story of cancer, hospice, surrender, faith, and the completely different life he says God gave him on the other side. Kevin shares why he began reading with the death of Moses in Deuteronomy 34, how Joshua 1:9 became foundational to...
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Welcome to Faithful Friday. This week, we're reflecting on John 20:24β29, where Jesus meets Thomas in the middle of his doubts. Thomas wanted proof before he could believe. Rather than rejecting him, Jesus met him with grace, inviting him to see, believe, and trust. Many of us have moments when we can't see the whole picture. We wonder what God is doing, why He's asking us to wait, or where He's leading us next. Yet Jesus reminds us: "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." Faith isn't about having all the answers. It's about trusting the One who does. As you listen, consider...
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What happens when you watch the water rise inside your home, and there's nothing you can do to stop it? In March 2019, Natasha Bryn and her family were getting ready for bed when her husband noticed water on the floor of their den. Within hours, water was pouring through the doors, windows, and walls. Their children watched as their parents scrambled to save baby pictures and belongings. Eleven feet of water eventually flooded two floors of their home, causing more than $100,000 in damage and forcing their family out for three months. And then something remarkable happened. People started...
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Welcome to Faithful Friday. This week, we're reflecting on John 17:20β23, where Jesus prays not only for His disciples, but for all who would believe in Him. His prayer wasn't for comfort or success. It was for unity. Jesus prayed that we would be one, united in Him and united with one another, so that the world would know God's love through the way we love each other. In a world that often feels divided, we have an opportunity to become bridge builders, reflecting Christ's love in our families, churches, workplaces, and communities. As you listen, consider this reflection question: How can...
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What if the thing you're failing at today is somehow connected to where God is taking you tomorrow? Darren LaCroix knows something about failure. Long before he became a World Champion of Public Speaking, professional speaker, coach, and mentor to speakers around the world, Darren had to be willing to be bad at something before he could become great at it. In this episode of Why I Believe, Darren joins Michelle Von Ruden for a conversation that goes beyond speaking and success. It's about the journey. The failures. The people God puts in our path. The willingness to keep learning when it would...
info_outlineWelcome to Faithful Friday.
This week, we're reflecting on John 15:9-12, where Jesus invites us to remain in His love.
"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love."
For many of us, love has become something we feel we need to earn. We believe if we work harder, accomplish more, or become "better," then maybe God will love us more.
But that's not what Jesus says.
His love isn't based on our performance, it's rooted in who He is. He invites us to rest in that love, allowing it to transform our hearts and fill us with His joy.
As you listen, consider this reflection question:
Do you truly believe God loves you as you are, or are you trying to earn His love through performance?
After the Scripture reading, you'll have an opportunity to pause for personal prayer and reflection before returning to pray the Our Father together.
π Scripture: John 15:9-12
This week, let go of the pressure to prove yourself. Instead, rest in the truth that you are deeply loved by God.
Thank you for joining me for Faithful Friday.
Want to share your story?
Michelle is currently accepting guest applications for Why I Believe.
π Apply here: https://www.michellevonruden.com/whyibelieve-apply
Ready to take the next step?
If youβre feeling called to grow deeper in your faith, identity, or purpose, Michelle would be honored to walk alongside you.
π Book a conversation: Book Your Discovery Call with Michelle Von Ruden
π Learn more about coaching: Von Ruden Coaching and Consulting LLC- INDIVIDUALS