Faith Over Fear

We've probably all witnessed arguments and hostility between two individuals who hold vastly different views. Perhaps you grew up in a home where this often occurred. If so, this may have impacted how you view faith and your confidence to share that faith with others. In this episode, popular biblical novelist Mesu Andrews shares how God brought her from a place where she wanted nothing to do with religion to discovering, for herself, Jesus Christ.  Connect with Mesu Andrews: On her website Sign up for her newsletter On Facebook  On Instagram On Twitter  Find Jennifer Slattery: On her website Instagram Find Wholly Loved: On their website Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group  Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group Group Discussion Questions: !. What resonated with you most in today's message? 2. Growing up, what was your view of religion? 3. Have you ever feared your faith would harm your relationships? 4. Have you ever feared your faith would harm those you love? 5. Have you witnessed hostility due to religion? If so, how did this make you feel? 6. Why do you think people can become so hostile or argumentative when it comes to their personal beliefs? 7. How can one's close connection with Christ help to keep them from becoming argumentative and hurtful regarding their beliefs? Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Do you believe in miracles?Special host Kathryn Calibeo of the Sparkle Speak podcast stops by to share an exclusive preview of her podcast and one of the interview moments that left her with chills.   DISCOVER MORE EPISODES OF SPARKLE SPEAK: Missionary & Former Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Gina Sheets: https://apple.co/40ap8aJ  Cancer Survivor Kim Merrefield: https://apple.co/3XSkNqT  Artist Sadie Wilson: https://apple.co/3WLTpK5  Beauty Concierge & Blogger Shauna Garneau: https://apple.co/3wIPjYo  Widow Ruth Anderson: https://apple.co/3HpnKbw  Host Kathryn Calibeo: https://apple.co/3WWr4R3    CONTINUE LISTENING TO SPARKLE SPEAK WITH MARILENA RUVOLO:Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3g4XKJ6LifeAudio: https://www.lifeaudio.com/sparkle-speak/20-marilena-ruvolo-trusting-god-with-financial-peaceSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3wGojZN SUPPORT SPARKLE SPEAK:Website: https://www.sparklefaith.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/_sparklefaith_ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Sometimes we may look at our circumstances and try to take matters into our own hands, forgetting God’s calling on our lives or His promises for us.  In those moments, we take a detour off of the path, a way that is of our own human understanding instead of in his perfect calling. In those moments, it is important for us to remember that we can never get so far away from God that we can’t come back and, although we might take our eyes off of God, He will never take His eyes off of us. (Scroll down to find the group discussion questions) Find Jodie Bailey at: On her website On Facebook On Instagram Link to previous episode, when Abraham is called to leave everything to for the Promised Land. Group Discussion Questions: What resonated with you most in today’s episode? How do you feel when you realize that God never takes His eyes off of you? When is an example of a time you heard God calling you to do something? How did you respond? How does it make you feel to read about Abraham’s mistakes and sins in the book of Genesis then to know that, in Hebrews 11, he is commended for His faith? How can you apply that truth to your life? Who can you talk to and pray with about returning to God when you stray? Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

It’s one thing to internalize a promise from God, it’s another to make that a public proclamation. When we’re open about our faith and the promises we’re holding onto – especially in a difficult or unknown season – we’re inviting others to experience the goodness and faithfulness of God, too. While it’s not always the easiest step to take, proclaiming our faith publicly has greater impact than we might imagine. Find Kimi Miller: On her website On Facebook On Instagram Find Tami Wittrock: On her website Find Wholly Loved: On their website Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group  Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Facebook Group Group or Personally Reflective Questions: When in your life, have you made a public proclamation of faith? How did that impact you and/or those around you? Is there an area or season of your where God is asking you to make a public proclamation of faith? Is there someone in your life who might be encouraged by your proclamation to stand on God’s promise? How can you stay encouraged when all you have is God’s promise to hold onto? What have been some faith markers in your life? How did those reassure you to keep holding on?  What are some ways to express your gratitude for God’s faithfulness? How can praising God encourage you and others along the way?   Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

We've all experienced rejection throughout our lives, including times when we've messed up. We may be accustomed to, and therefore have come to expect, others cutting us off or distancing themselves from us when we sin. We may even assume God will respond to us in a similar way, but this is far from what we see in Scripture. In this episode, Carol and Jennifer discuss a biblical example of a major mess up, how Abram, the man who sinned, responded, how God responded to him, and what this reveals about His heart toward us.  Find Carol McCracken at:https://www.carolmccracken.com/https://www.instagram.com/carologlemccracken/https://www.facebook.com/carol.o.mccrackenhttp://whollyloved.com/meet-the-teamFind Jennifer Slattery at:http://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.comhttps://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083247680572Find Wholly Loved, at:https://www.WhollyLoved.comFind Wholly Loved Ministries at:WhollyLoved.comJoin the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook):https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769Group Discussion Questions: What resonated with you most in this episode? How do you tend to respond after you've sinned? Do you tend to turn to God or distance yourself from Him? What have you seen, read, or experienced regarding God's heart that you can remember and reflect on whenever or if ever you fear God's rejection? Why is it important to focus on God's character, not our guilt, when attempting to live more deeply connected to and empowered by God? 1 John 1:9 tells us that whenever we acknowledge our sins to God, and each time that we do, that He forgives us and cleanses us from all unrighteousness. What are some sins, then, that He forgives us of?  Considering the use of the word "all" in 1 John 1:9, what sins does God not forgive?  Again, considering 1 John 1:9 and its discussion of God's purification, what does this mean in terms of our holiness or sinfulness after we turn to God and acknowledge our sin? Why might it be important to remember God indeed purifies us from "all" unrighteousness?  What is one action step God might be asking you to take as a result of listening to this podcast.  Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

There are times in our life when God will ask us to leave everything we find comfortable to step into the unknown with Him. These moments are a lot like “hallway moments” where we’re not exactly sure where or when the next door will open; they are moments that might be full of doubt and hesitancy, but they are essential to our faith. They are the moments that keep us holding onto the One that knows all, even when we don’t. Find Kimi:https://kimimiller.com/ https://www.facebook.com/LivingReflectionsMinistry/ https://www.instagram.com/livingreflectionsministry/ Find Tami: https://www.tamiwittrock.com/ Find Wholly Loved Ministries at: WhollyLoved.comJoin the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Support GroupJoin the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook): Group Discussion Questions: Reflect on a “hallway moment” of your life. What were some of the lies that maybe prevented you from wanting to step forward? What were some truths you discovered about God during that time? How have those truths been an encouragement or reminder for you in other times where things felt unknown or uncertain? Have you ever shared your “hallway moment” with others? What was their reaction? Read Genesis 12:2-3 and underline the seven promises God shared with Abram. How might these also be an inspiration to you? Is there any area of your life where God is asking you to step into the unknown? If so, reflect on the steps discussed on today’s episode. How has God been faithful in the past? How does this encourage you to take that first step? Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Jesus came to restore everything as it should be. To bring increased health and fulfillment to a hurting, dysfunctional, and broken world. But sometimes our first steps toward the new life Christ calls us to feel scary. What if the change He calls us to damages our current relationships and we end up alone? In this episode, Kelly Campbell and Jennifer Slattery talk about what emotions Abram may have wrestled with when God first called him from the land of his dysfunction and what we can learn from his journey. (Scroll down to find the group discussion questions) Find Kelly Campbell and Wholly Loved, at: https://www.WhollyLoved.com Find Jennifer Slattery at: http://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083247680572 Find Wholly Loved Ministries at: WhollyLoved.com Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671 Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769 Group Discussion Questions: What resonated with you most in this episode? In today’s episode, Jennifer talked about living in the “messy middle” where we’re not as unhealthy as we once were but where we also know we have room to grow. Consider your current relationships. Where are you in your journey? In what areas would you like to see increased health? When have you felt the need to make a healthy change in a relationship? What was that change, how did you respond, and what were the results? Why do you think change, even when we know the change is for our good, can feel so unsettling? If you had been Abram, what would you have struggled with most in regard to leaving your homeland? Why is it important to remember God’s heart for us when embarking on a challenging or uncertain journey? In today’s episode, what did Jennifer say is God’s heart for us? What type of life does He long for us to experience? Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

When assigned reading in school, did you ever search out the cliff notes? If so, you might appreciate this episode, in which we captured four powerful anxiety-fighting nuggets from our most popular episodes. For those who missed those episodes the first time they dropped, consider these your show notes designed to help you quickly zero in on some actionable steps you can take to decrease your anxiety and increase your peace. For those who caught those courage-bolstering discussions the first time, consider this a reminder as together we progress toward the soul-deep freedom Christ promised.   (Scroll down to find the group discussion questions) Find Jennifer Slattery at: https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com/ https://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083247680572 Find Wholly Loved Ministries at: https://www.WhollyLoved.com Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671 Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769 Group Discussion or Personal Journal Questions: In the first episode segment, Dr. Neil T. Anderson discussed the imminence and potency of those things that cause fear. Consider something that regularly causes you anxiety. How imminent is that threat? How potent? Can you detect the lie fueling that fear? If not, I encourage you to take some time to pray and journal on this. If so, what is the lie? What is one truth Scripture provides that counters that lie? Consider Cathy Loerzel’s discussion on how we tend to store trauma in our bodies. Why is this important to recognize? According to Cathy, how can a dysregulated body affect our relationships and those we love? When discussing our “stored” traumas, Dr. Allender encourages us to tend to our stories with wisdom and kindness. What might that look like in your life? How does our trust in God and His desire to heal us give us the courage to begin to unpack our stories? Why is it important to have an emergency verse? What verse can you write on notecards, in your phone, regularly recite, and memorize to serve as your emergency verse to reflect upon the next time anxiety unexpectedly hits? Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

We can’t force someone to love us or treat us well, but we can guard our peace and joy. In fact, to live the fruit-bearing and gospel-sharing lives that Christ created us for, we must learn when to walk beside and when to walk away.In this episode, prolific writer Gary Thomas, author of When to Walk Away: Finding Freedom from Toxic People, shares insights he learned when studying Christ’s interactions with the various people He encountered.Find Gary Thomas at:https://www.garythomas.comhttps://www.facebook.com/authorgarythomashttps://www.instagram.com/garythomasbooks/Resource mentioned: When to Walk Away: Finding Freedom from Toxic People: https://amzn.to/3dsPRYRFind Jennifer:https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.comhttps://www.facebook.com/JenSlattehttps://www.instagram.com/slatteryjennifer/Find Wholly Loved, at:https://www.WhollyLoved.comJoin the private Faith Over Fear Group Here:https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671Sign up to receive her 30-Day Fighting Fear emails: https://bit.ly/31y43gtGroup Discussion Questions:1. What did you find most helpful in today’s episode and why?2. Did anything Gary said cause you to reevaluate your thoughts on some relational encounters?3. How would you describe the difference between difficult people and toxic people?4. Consider your relationships. Are there people in your life who steal your peace and joy?5. Why is it important to guard your peace and joy?6. Consider a challenging relationship. In what ways do your interactions with that individual make it difficult to love others well?7. In what ways do your interactions with that individual make it challenging to live out your calling?8. What might it look like to leave an interaction mentally?9. How can you show love and compassion while protecting yourself? Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Do you find it difficult to rest, whether that involves something as simple as turning off your constantly pinging electronic devices, planning an afternoon out with friends, or engaging in a creative activity? Do all of your uncompleted tasks run through your mind the moment you step away from your desk or a particular responsibility? Sometimes it takes courage to rest. Yet, science also demonstrates, taking regular time for true, restorative rest also increases our courage by actively decreasing our anxiety. In this episode, Wholly Loved’s Kelly Campbell talks with a woman who’s dug deep into the research to discover ways we can all live a little less hustled and bustled and with ever-increasing joy and peace.  (Scroll down to find the group discussion questions) Find Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith at: https://www.drdaltonsmith.com/ https://www.instagram.com/drdaltonsmith/ https://www.facebook.com/DrSaundraDaltonSmith Take the Rest Quiz at: https://www.restquiz.com/quiz/rest-quiz-test/ Find Kelly Campbell, and Wholly Loved Ministries, at: http://WhollyLoved.com Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/442736966614671 Join the Private Wholly Loved Community Group (also on Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/groups/443325386241769 Group Discussion or Personal Journal Questions: What resonated with you most in this episode? When do you most tend to get defensive? In those particular situations, what story are you telling yourself? What are some truths you can reflect upon prior to those types of situations or interactions with that particular person? Why is it important to recognize that not everyone is a safe person who will be helpful while you are working to heal? How did you feel when Tina and Jennifer talked about potentially limiting time with unhealthy family members? What were some signs Tina mentioned that can indicate a person is not willing to change? How can recognizing this help you find the healthiest level of involvement with an individual more focused on casting blame than moving toward relational health? What is one action step God might be asking you to take after having listened to today’s content? Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.