Episode 167 :: Kelly Balarie :: Stories of The Power of God’s Word and Taking Every Thought Captive
Release Date: 10/27/2023
Episode 174 :: Douglas McKelvey :: Stories of Leaning into Advent, Lament, and Living with Every Moment Holy
Simply Stories Podcast
Today, I have the absolute pleasure of sharing my conversation with the one and only Douglas McKelvey. Douglas is a songwriter, author, and liturgy writer extraordinaire. I have never met someone like Douglas. His gift with words and passion for Christ cultivates a visceral invitation to be more present in this life, to find your fight again as you walk this weary way, and speaks to our hope of the next life with Jesus. Douglas shares with me his story of what led him to Nashville, TN, his journey from songwriting to fiction writing and the idea of unpacking his belief that every moment...
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Episode 173 :: Carole Holiday :: Stories of Learning Who You Are Again After Loss and Living with Grief
Simply Stories Podcast
A self-proclaimed “accidental author”, Carole Holiday was living a very full life as a wife, mother, and nana, until one day, everything fell apart. Her marriage to her childhood sweetheart of over 35 years ended, followed by losing her job and ultimately filing for bankruptcy. Then she developed heart issues because of all the stress, and a continued windfall of loss, and grief in losing close loved ones, until it felt like there was absolutely nothing recognizable about the life she had known. In her book I Don’t Know Who I Am Anymore, Carole shares her story, but it...
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Episode 172 :: Mike Nappa :: Stories from the Valley of the Shadow, and Blessing Those Who Mourn
Simply Stories Podcast
Over the last several years, I don’t think there is anyone who has not been touched by loss or some kind of grief. Today's guest, author, and literary agent Mike Nappa is incredibly familiar with loss and living with grief. In 2016, he lost his beloved wife, Amy, to cancer. In his learning how to live life without her, God has shown him why grieving is such an important part of losing a loved one. As Mike says, he learned how to cry into his keyboard and produced one of the most poignant books that bears witness to grief that I have ever personally encountered. It is called ...
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Episode 171 :: Gary Miracle :: Stories of Taking Heart, Persevering in Suffering, and No More Bad Days
Simply Stories Podcast
Gary Miracle is an author and a speaker who passionately believes in the power of storytelling and how it unites us and spurs us on when life is tragically hard, and also reminds us who we are and who God made us to be. In this episode, he shares his story of growing immersed in church culture on Sunday but then suffered from an identity crisis the rest of the week as he chased perfection, and changed personas in order to be affirmed by anyone and everyone. Finally, later in his life and career, now a married man with kids, Gary reached his breaking point and reached out to his friend Bart...
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Episode 170 :: Justin & J.L. Gerhardt:: Stories of Encountering God at the Intersection of Story and Worship
Simply Stories Podcast
Justin and J.L. Gerhardt are on the podcast today, and you will love hearing from them! There is an epic retelling of their meeting and falling in love complete with 90’s Hearthrob meet cute and all. More than that, Justin and J.L. share about their journey of God leading them both into ministry with words, calling their family to travel the world, and unleashing their creativity and courage to press into new ways to encounter God and His Word. This journey has given birth to various creative outlets for the Gerhardt family, but the one we talk about the most in this episode is Justin’s...
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Episode 169 :: Nikki Anders :: Stories of The Journey to Bethlehem
Simply Stories Podcast
I am so excited to share with you a really special conversation with the incredibly talented Renaissance woman Nikki Anders. Nikki is an award-winning musician, songwriter, and music producer in the TV and film industry. She shares some of her experiences in the music industry as a solo artist and member of the music group Avalon, her and her husband Adam’s time working on “Glee” as well as many other films, and now are the creative team behind the new movie musical “The Journey to Bethlehem.” Nikki shares how the Lord closed and opened so many doors over the last seventeen...
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Episode 168 :: Travis Thompson :: Stories of Mental Health, Addiction, Faith and Healing
Simply Stories Podcast
Travis Thompson is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who practices in Middle Tennessee. He is a PhD candidate who works with clients from many backgrounds to find the deeper meaning of their struggles and embrace long-term recovery from the pains that they experienced. His work is focused on being healed from past hurt and toward future success. During our conversation, Travis shares his journey of wrestling with his own mental health as a teenager, his recovery and healing journey, and entering the world of becoming a mental health professional serving and helping others like...
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Episode 167 :: Kelly Balarie :: Stories of The Power of God’s Word and Taking Every Thought Captive
Simply Stories Podcast
I have a powerhouse on the podcast in the form of Kelly Balarie. Kelly is an author and a speaker who is passionate about Jesus and the Word of God. She is a sister in the trenches and a self-proclaimed spiritual cheerleader. Every book she has written, she writes from a place of “this is where God has been faithful to me in this season.” Or “this is what God has been teaching me,” full of authenticity, and powerful scripture-saturated insights for women who desire to walk well and be filled to the fullness of God. In our conversation today, you’ll hear about her...
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Episode 166 :: Dr. Clarence Shuler :: Stories of Finding Hope in Dark Places and Cross-Cultural Relationships that Can Heal
Simply Stories Podcast
Dr. Clarence Shuler is the President and CEO of his nonprofit BLR- which stands for Building Lasting Relationships. Their mission is to equip others for discipleship in various venues. He and his wife both speak and write about marriage, but also dealing with infidelity, and divorce, but they especially love to minister to singles in the church. Whatever it looks like, the Shulers are committed to “loving people with God’s love with no agenda and see what happens.” During our conversation today, Dr. Shuler shared his story of coming to Christ through a relationship that would impact...
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Episode 165 ::Kayla Craig :: Stories of Curiosity & Questions in Faith & Holding Every Season Sacred
Simply Stories Podcast
Today I have the absolute joy of sharing with you my conversation with Kayla Craig. Kayla is a modern liturgist as the woman behind Liturgies for Parents online. She is a Mama of 4, a supportive pastor’s wife, and just this week she released her second book Every Season Sacred. In our conversation today, you’ll get to hear Kayla’s heart as she shares about what it looks like to pursue an honest and abundant life full of wonder and work. In all the spaces she occupies, she offers an open invitation to be curious, to express our questions, doubts, or confusion as we walk out our faith...
info_outlineI have a powerhouse on the podcast in the form of Kelly Balarie. Kelly is an author and a speaker who is passionate about Jesus and the Word of God. She is a sister in the trenches and a self-proclaimed spiritual cheerleader. Every book she has written, she writes from a place of “this is where God has been faithful to me in this season.” Or “this is what God has been teaching me,” full of authenticity, and powerful scripture-saturated insights for women who desire to walk well and be filled to the fullness of God.
In our conversation today, you’ll hear about her latest book Taking Every Thought Captive: Exchange Lies of the Enemy For the Mind of Christ. We unpack that term,“the mind of Christ,” and what it means, how to connect deeper into the heart of God as we yield our minds and hearts to His love, plans, and purposes for our lives. We go deep and wide about spiritual warfare and even the differences between spiritual possession and oppression. We’ll talk about the goodness of God in the “even ifs” of life, how our thoughts in suffering can impact us, how God can and will meet us in the feelings He gave us, and so much more. Kelly’s love for the Lord and the power of His word is vivacious and galvanizing and I truly believe it will serve as a balm to your soul today.
God is not finished with us. He is not finished with the Church. He is not finished with this world. Even when things are hard, or everything looks like it is past redemption, hope and His love get the final word. You matter, friend. Your story matters.
Connecting with Kelly:
Current Book: Taking Every Thought Captive: Exchange Lies of the Enemy For the Mind of Christ
For great resources for Bible study and getting into God’s word check out the Daily Grace Co!
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Scripture References:
Ephesians 3:19-21- Filled to the fullness of God
2 Corinthians 10:5- Take every thought captive
Philippians 2:1-11, Ephesians 3:16-21- We are powerful in Christ Jesus
Psalm 42:7- Deep calls to deep
Matthew 4:1-11- Jesus in the wilderness
Luke 4:1-14- Jesus was endowed with power (after His temptation)
1 Corinthians 2:9- No eye has seen, no ear has heard what I have for You
Philippians 4:7- Beyond our understanding
1 Corinthians 2:10- These things are revealed by the Spirit
1 Corinthians 2:11, 2:12-13-Who can know the Lord’s thoughts… but we can understand these things for we have the mind of Christ
Romans 5:8- Jesus died for us while we were still sinners
John 10:27- “The sheep that are my own hear and are listening to My voice and I know them and they follow me.”
1 Peter 5:7- Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you.
Psalm 23:5- You set a table from me in the presence of my enemy
Psalm 27:13-14- What would have become of me if I had not believed I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living
Jeremiah 29:11- Plans of a hope and for a future
2 Peter 1:3- You have everything you need in Christ
Matthew 14:22-34-Peter hops out of the boat
Hebrews 12:1-3- He’s the Author and Perfector of our faith
2 Corinthians 5:17- I am a new creation
Galatians 2:20- It is no longer I who live, but Christ in me
Romans 6:11- I am dead to the old and alive to the new
Romans 13:14, Colossians 3:12-15, Ephesians 6:10-18-Clothing ourselves in God’s word
Matthew 6:11- I receive today our daily bread
Exodus 16- The manna in the wilderness, trusting every morning He would provide
2 Corinthians 3:18- We are being transformed into the image of Christ
Genesis 3- Eve’s desire to know what it was like on the other side of the bite
Ecclesiastes 3- There is a time for everything and every season under Heaven
John 16:33- In this world you will have trouble, but take heart I have overcome the world
1 Peter 1:12-Angels marvel at the mystery of the Gospel
Isaiah 14:27-Who can stop the Lord almighty?
Revelation 12:11-We triumph by the blood of the Lamb and the Spirit of testimony
Job 13:15-Thou He slay me, I will trust in the name of the Lord
Matthew 13- The enemy comes and eats the seed that’s been laid by the Lord
Ephesians 1, 3 -Holy Spirit is inside of those who believe in Jesus
Matthew 16:23- “Satan, get behind me”
Psalm 121:4- The Lord never sleeps or slumbers
Psalm 91 Rest
Romans 8:28- God works all things together for the good of those who love Him
Proverbs 26:2- A curse without cause cannot alight
Psalm 24:3-4-Who can ascend the mountain of the Lord? Those with clean hands and a pure heart
Psalm 51:7- Wash me
2 Timothy 1:7- We don’t have a spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind
Romans 8:37-I am more than a conqueror in Christ
Proverbs 18:21- The power of life and death is in the power of the tongue
Genesis 1, Psalm 33:9- God spoke the world into being
Nahum 1:1-7-, Isaiah 14:27- Who can stand against the Lord Almighty?
Ephesians 3:17-That Christ would be more and more at home in your hearts
Ephesians 3:14-21- The power to understand God’s love (I LOVE this scripture as a prayer)
Exodus 3:14 · John 8:58, John 17- He is a triune God
Romans 12:3-13-We need each other in community
2 Corinthians 12:6-10- Paul had a thorn in his flesh, God said His power is made known in His weakness
Isaiah 55:8-9-Our ways are not His ways
Psalm 139:14-We were perfectly and wonderfully made
Philippians 1:6- He is not finished with your story
Psalm 23:6- Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of our lives
Psalm 37:4- Give the desires of our heart
Psalm 145:13, 2 Peter 3:9, Hebrews 10:23, Isaiah 55:11- He is faithful to His word
Psalm 56:9- This I know, God is on my side
Galatians 5:22-24- Where the Spirit is there is no law
Psalms 33:18-22- Trust and obey
Isaiah 30:21-A voice behind me will say “this is the way walk in it”
References:
Keep your head where your feet are (12 Step)
Spiritual possession vs oppression (spiritual warfare)
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