The Grace Narrative

This podcast is created to inspire, encourage and empower you in life's journey. It is based on the belief that God created you in His image to live an abundant life, but not because you worked hard enough to earn it. You can offer yourself to Him for healing and wholeness in mind, body, and spirit, and yet still be flawed and imperfect as a human being. This is how we embrace God's way in the everyday.

Ep. 138 It's Not Defeat- it's Surrender 04/18/2025

Ep. 138 It's Not Defeat- it's Surrender /episode/index/show/thegracenarrative/id/36219845

Ep. 137 The Journey of Worship 02/09/2025

Ep. 137 The Journey of Worship /episode/index/show/thegracenarrative/id/35211480

Ep. 136 Reflecting and Expecting 01/14/2025

Ep. 136 Reflecting and Expecting The turning of a new year begs for reflection. As we reflect, it informs what we can expect as we look to the future. It’s actually in the reflection that the learning happens. It’s not enough to just go through stuff. We have to process it - whether it’s good or bad or just normal. Looking at our experiences of the past year through the lens of God’s grace is the best place to start as we set our expectations and cast our vision for the new year. Join me today as we do just that. /episode/index/show/thegracenarrative/id/34846340

Ep. 135 Our Purpose in These Days 08/09/2024

Ep. 135 Our Purpose in These Days We've entered the last month of summer! I'm always amazed at how fast those weeks seem to fly by. As a wrap up to summer, I wanted to do one or two episodes inspired by some songs from my summer playlist. I’m really excited about this actually! One of the ways truth gets really embedded in me is when I make connections between God’s Word, music, and how I see that theme playing out in my real life. Today I’m going to tell you about what has encouraged me in my present season, and I truly hope it encourages you as well! /episode/index/show/thegracenarrative/id/32516207

Ep. 134 Grace Notes: Vol. 2 (Summer 2024) 07/22/2024

Ep. 134 Grace Notes: Vol. 2 (Summer 2024) It’s been about a year since the first time I did a grace notes episode, so I’m really excited to share a new edition for this summer. In case you’ve forgotten or you’re new around here, a grace notes episode is my version of answering the question, “What’s saving your life right now?” It’s just naming some blessings whether serious or silly that enrich my life, like grace notes embellish music. So I’ve just picked out a few simple things I’m enjoying in the present, that might give you ideas for a refreshing experience or even just remind you to pause and reflect with joy on your own grace notes right now. /episode/index/show/thegracenarrative/id/32250527

Ep. 133 Celebrating Freedom 07/03/2024

Ep. 133 Celebrating Freedom Happy Independence Day! What a privilege to live in the land of the free and the home of the brave, aka the USA. As much of a blessing as that is, greater still is the one knowing that our freedom in Christ is secure. This episode seemed like the perfect opportunity to express gratitude for the reality of both of these freedoms in our lives. Scripture references for today's episode are as follows: John 8:36, Galatians 5:13, Psalm 68:6, Philippians 4:19, 2 Corinthians 9:8 and Psalm 95:1. /episode/index/show/thegracenarrative/id/32008507

Ep 132 Share Your Wisdom 06/26/2024

Ep 132 Share Your Wisdom A lesser known but powerful account in scripture has been such an encouragement to me lately to pursue wisdom and to take courage and find boldness in the Lord and obey as He gives me vision in my calling. I love this story! The implication I find is that by the grace of God, He uses the circumstances, history, talents, abilities and suffering in our lives to gift us with wisdom. He wants us to ask him for it and has promised to grant it. There is great hope to be found as we pursue wisdom. /episode/index/show/thegracenarrative/id/31899322

Ep. 131 Curating Your Influences 06/18/2024

Ep. 131 Curating Your Influences We think that we are only influenced by what we noticeably decide, but we also give permission to be influenced by what we default to. It’s amazing how subtle influences take over. It’s very easy to do in today’s culture with unlimited access to so many people and ideas. While I’d like to think that most of my influences come from sources that are aligned with my values, I’m discovering that there is a deeper level of intention I need if that’s going to be the case. It needs to be a process of conscious curation. /episode/index/show/thegracenarrative/id/31753937

Ep. 130 - Takeaways from a Stressful Season 06/11/2024

Ep. 130 - Takeaways from a Stressful Season Despite our best efforts to avoid stress, it shows up anyway. I’m learning that as important as it is to be able to walk through it and deal with it without going under, it is equally as important to pause and process during and after - to recover and learn from it. I think one of the best questions we can ask at a time like this is, "What do we learn about God and his desire to form Christ in us?" In this episode, we'll talk about the truths we learn in a stressful season and the gift they bring when we take the time to reflect on the evidence of God's grace. /episode/index/show/thegracenarrative/id/31697202

Ep. 129 The Essential Mindset Needed for Change 01/23/2024

Ep. 129 The Essential Mindset Needed for Change In this episode we are going to talk about following through to release damaging practices/habits/or thought patterns in order to see a positive growth in our lives. If you listened to Ep.128 you know that we discussed the first 2 steps of the Keep and Release strategy as a way to focus our new year energy into sustainable change. Today we are talking about step 3 in this process, so let’s dive right in! /episode/index/show/thegracenarrative/id/29618023

Ep. 128 Keep and Release 01/11/2024

Ep. 128 Keep and Release In this season when we lean into both reflection and forward thinking, I think it’s important to not get too complicated and overwhelm ourselves with "new year, new me" energy. You’ve learned some stuff these past 12 months that has already changed you for the better! Of course, we want to continue to make positive changes, but we also want that change to be SUSTAINABLE. Today we discuss the KEEP and RELEASE practice that I’ve found to be an uplifting, grace-filled approach that takes advantage of the new year energy without weighing me down with unrealistic goals and standards that will never last. /episode/index/show/thegracenarrative/id/29436678

Ep. 127 Joy and the Cost of Christmas 12/23/2023

Ep. 127 Joy and the Cost of Christmas It brings me great joy to be able to share about grace, especially this time of year. Christmas is upon us! Lately, I’ve been challenged to really look at that FIRST Christmas with fresh eyes. It’s been interesting that my side hustle and my Advent study came together in a unique way to help me receive truth and I’m excited to share that truth with you in these next few minutes we have together. /episode/index/show/thegracenarrative/id/29215098

Ep. 126 BONUS: Intentionally Remembering 11/23/2023

Ep. 126 BONUS: Intentionally Remembering I pray this Thanksgiving is a time for you to join in with purpose to the things Ps. 145 encourages us to do: Meditate on the wonders of God To declare His greatness in trust Remember His goodness and righteousness and share it with others May the discipline of remembering help you embrace God’s way in the everyday. /episode/index/show/thegracenarrative/id/28772868

Ep. 125 Gratitude for the Love That Never Quits 11/07/2023

Ep. 125 Gratitude for the Love That Never Quits “Father, we break ties with fake thanks and we choose gratitude as spiritual warfare. Give us eyes to see and mouths that speak life, praise, truth, and grace.” -Jess Connolly I think the reason I love that prayer so much is that I believe praise for the character of God and recognition of his truth, can be POWERFUL in overcoming the hopelessness and defeat that the devil tries to use to overwhelm our souls. When I reflect on the blessings from the hand of God in the life I’m living, I noticed an undeniable fact that is like a continuous thread running through every single part - and that is that He is a God of mercy and love- He always has been and always will be. Reflect and rejoice with me in the truth of Ps. 118 "His love never quits". /episode/index/show/thegracenarrative/id/28538645

Ep. 124 Everyone is Called to Create: Rhythms of Renewal Series 10/23/2023

Ep. 124 Everyone is Called to Create: Rhythms of Renewal Series This is the rest of my conversation with my friend and artist Terri Shown. I’m glad to hear that so many of you enjoyed the first part in Ep. 123! Today is the icing on the cake as we finish exploring this specific kind of renewal. We talk about different creative types and there are more stories and more authentic examples of how each one of us is called to create. You’re gonna love it so let’s jump right in! /episode/index/show/thegracenarrative/id/28399850

Ep. 123 How to Create: Rhythms of Renewal Series 10/03/2023

Ep. 123 How to Create: Rhythms of Renewal Series Today is the third installment inspired by Rhythms of Renewal by Rebekah Lyons and I’m happy to introduce you to my friend Terri Shown as we discuss creativity as a form of renewal. You will enjoy hearing about her experiences, her stories and her heart for sharing her creativity. Bonus note: we basically lost track of time and talked so much this is going to be a two part episode. (I could not bring myself to edit out that much content- it’s just so good!) Thanks for joining in today to hear my conversation with my friend, the talented Terri Shown. /episode/index/show/thegracenarrative/id/28206515

Ep. 122 How to Connect: Rhythms of Renewal Series 09/12/2023

Ep. 122 How to Connect: Rhythms of Renewal Series There is no way to overemphasize the importance of connection in our lives! My friend and counselor Kayla Little joins me in this episode of our current series based on Rebekah Lyon's book Rhythms of Renewal with some wise and practical ways of strengthening our relationship with others in order to "spur one another on" and "bear one another's burdens". /episode/index/show/thegracenarrative/id/28006467

Ep. 121 How to Rest: Rhythms of Renewal Series 08/29/2023

Ep. 121 How to Rest: Rhythms of Renewal Series I’ve been looking forward to this discussion for a long time! I get to talk with my dear friend Heather Walton in this episode which is always a treat. We talk about SO MANY things- from what a restful quiet time looks like, to tech detox, our attitude about Sabbath, and even calming the chaos that always happens when the kids get home from school! It’s a bit longer than normal - I mean, it's a strategy episode so we get nitty gritty with the details - and I just love it! One of my favorite things is at the end where Heather talks about the mission of the retreat center she is one of the founders and directors of and how to go about scheduling a time away for intentional rest. /episode/index/show/thegracenarrative/id/27886749

Ep. 120 Why We Need Rhythms of Renewal 08/15/2023

Ep. 120 Why We Need Rhythms of Renewal Today’s episode is going to lay the foundation for our series on Rhythms of Renewal. This is a topic I’m passionate about because it has been such a means of grace in my own life. What is the scriptural basis for the rhythms of rest, restore, connect, and create and why are they so important? Those are the questions we’ll answer today. /episode/index/show/thegracenarrative/id/27741246

Ep. 119 Finding the Rhythm - Second Glance 08/08/2023

Ep. 119 Finding the Rhythm - Second Glance We are squeezing as much as we can out of summer while simultaneously preparing for fall. What an interesting mix! As we prepare to talk about how to rest, restore, connect and create in future episodes, I think it's important to evaluate our daily routines to see where we might need to make room for or adjust our habits that put us in a position to receive renewal. I hope and pray this reair of Finding the Rhythm of Your Season sets the stage for you to do just that as we embrace God's way in the everyday. /episode/index/show/thegracenarrative/id/27691281

Ep. 118 Grace Notes Vol. 1 08/01/2023

Ep. 118 Grace Notes Vol. 1 In this episode, I’m going to share about some little gifts of grace that have made recent months more enjoyable in everyday living! It’s like answering the question “What’s saving my life right now?” I’ve said this before and I’ll say it many more times I’m sure…it’s in the reflecting that we actually learn from our experiences. These are the things that came to mind as I was reflecting. Some are spiritual, and some aren’t- I have a practical one, a physical/spiritual one, and kind of a silly one- but all of them I consider blessings. Like grace notes in my life. /episode/index/show/thegracenarrative/id/27623541

Ep. 117 How to Know Your Season 07/24/2023

Ep. 117 How to Know Your Season Remember Ecclesiastes 3:1 "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven." If we are going to discern our season, I think we should know what spiritual fall, winter, spring and summer look like, right? By describing physical seasons we can draw some pretty enlightening parallels that help us know our spiritual season. In this episode, we are going to focus on how to recognize winter and it's purpose in our growth. Even if you’ve heard teaching on this before, keep listening because the Holy Spirit is always in the business of revealing more truth as we focus on Him. /episode/index/show/thegracenarrative/id/27554469

Ep. 116 How to View Your Life 07/11/2023

Ep. 116 How to View Your Life Today we are going to dive into how viewing our spiritual growth as a cycle offers a much better understanding with deeper trust and peace than having only a conventional linear view of our lives. That’s a lot of words- maybe a little philosophical sounding, but rest assured that we are going to do what we always do. We are going to identify a common challenge, share real life examples of how it’s part of our narratives, and of course, discover the role that grace plays as we explore what God’s Word has to say about living in the tension of this challenge. /episode/index/show/thegracenarrative/id/27402471

Ep. 115 Listen With Your Face 07/04/2023

Ep. 115 Listen With Your Face I truly hope you are reminded today of the power of connected relationships- this gift the Lord has given us to bond with our people. The next time a loved one comes to talk to you, I hope this practice of listening with your face is something you find helpful and strengthening in your relationship. And spiritually, I hope that you find a new level of intimacy with God as you seek his face, knowing his face is already focused on you! He welcomes you and wants to show himself to you. Listening with your face is another chance to embrace God’s way in the everyday. /episode/index/show/thegracenarrative/id/27252150

Ep. 114 Reair "Creating a Life with Margins" 06/02/2023

Ep. 114 Reair "Creating a Life with Margins" Margins are essential for anyone desiring wholeness and freedom from "hurry sickness". I don't believe we were created to live in a constant state of overwhelm that crowds our spirit. Margins give us space to breathe and freely experience the peace and joy we all crave. Learning how to create margins has been a life-changing experience that the Lord in his grace continues to teach me about. I hope you'll be encouraged today to take steps in implementing margins. I'm cheering you on! /episode/index/show/thegracenarrative/id/27027171

Ep. 113 Prepping for Summer 05/25/2023

Ep. 113 Prepping for Summer Why am I talking about prepping for what summer entails on The Grace Narrative? It’s because even though different seasons may call for different rhythms, our focus needs to stay true to what God is calling us to. The focus He put on my heart at the beginning of 2023 was presence…that means being present in the moment with the people around me and being more aware and living in the power of the presence of the Lord. As the boys are telling me all of the things they have going on this summer, it came to me that if I want to stay present and appreciate my people, and savor this time, I might need to be a little more proactive in setting our family up for a successful summer. Listen in for some inspiration as we prep for summer together! /episode/index/show/thegracenarrative/id/26956122

Ep. 112 Part 3- Solutions to Burnout: Discard Unmet Expectations 05/16/2023

Ep. 112 Part 3- Solutions to Burnout: Discard Unmet Expectations The thing about expectations is that when they are not met, it creates stress. We have choices in how to react when that happens. We can stubbornly hold onto the unmet expectations, deny reality, and harbor resentment which leads to exhaustion, negative attitudes, and overall defeat- in other words, burnout...or we can discard unmet expectations, accept reality, and reframe how to move forward based on what is most important. /episode/index/show/thegracenarrative/id/26854878

Ep. 111 Part 2- Solutions for Burnout: Understanding High Demands & Low Control 04/22/2023

Ep. 111 Part 2- Solutions for Burnout: Understanding High Demands & Low Control Operating under high demands while feeling low control in our work is a huge stressor that ruins our motivation, exhausts us, and breeds negativity, so we have to address how to look realistically at the demands placed on us and get real about what is actually in our control. It makes a huge difference in finding answers in the midst of burnout. In this part 2 episode we are going to learn how asking and answering these 2 questions can help us: 1) "What really matters?" and 2) "What would this look like if it was easy?" /episode/index/show/thegracenarrative/id/26620044

Ep. 110 Part 1- Solutions for Burnout: Reciprocal Relationships 04/10/2023

Ep. 110 Part 1- Solutions for Burnout: Reciprocal Relationships This is the first installment of a new series we are starting related to burnout. One of the biggest challenges for people like you and me, goal-oriented achievers that pour everything into what we do, is burning out. There are several different ways of thinking and acting that lead to this state, hence the series! I plan for these to be on the shorter side, but no less impactful because we’re going to be very focused on our topics, the aim being to answer these questions: How can we overcome burnout? Where do we find grace in dealing with it? That’s what we are going to talk about today, specifically as it relates to relationships in our work. /episode/index/show/thegracenarrative/id/26502009

Ep. 109 Reair "Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing [Easter Edition]" 04/04/2023

Ep. 109 Reair "Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing [Easter Edition]" Serving the Seder meal helps our family focus on Easter in a special way. After keeping this tradition for several years now, I look forward to it so very much becauseit keeps us present in the meaning and power of Holy Week. As you listen, I hope you are drawn to remembering and celebrating Easter in the Lord's presence as you embrace God's way in the everday. /episode/index/show/thegracenarrative/id/26435109

The Grace Narrative

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