048: But... Let's Catch Up + Talk Tea

In this conversation, Nikki, Candace, and Teara explore the complexities of faith, suffering, and the journey of motherhood. They discuss how trust in God is essential, especially during difficult times, and how wisdom often comes through pain. The conversation touches on the nature of blessings, the importance of lamenting, and the hope found in trials. Tira shares her personal story of faith and the challenges she faced as a mother of a medically complex child, emphasizing the transformative power of suffering and the faithfulness of God. In this heartfelt conversation, Teara Venaglia shares her harrowing journey through a high-risk pregnancy, the challenges of having a premature baby, and the miraculous survival of her daughter, Kaia. The discussion delves into the emotional and physical struggles faced in the NICU, the importance of faith and support, and the ongoing journey of recovery and caregiving. Teara emphasizes the joy found in her daughter's life despite the challenges, highlighting the power of trust in God throughout their journey.

In this conversation, Candace and Nikki explore the themes of grief and lament, particularly in the context of Christian faith. They share personal experiences of loss, specifically Candace's journey after losing her son, and discuss the complexities of navigating grief over time. The conversation highlights the importance of community support, the struggle to find hope amidst sorrow, and the societal expectations surrounding grief. Through their dialogue, they emphasize the duality of experiencing joy while carrying the weight of loss, and the ongoing journey of healing and faith. In this heartfelt conversation, Candace and Nikki explore the complexities of navigating grief while also holding onto joy. They discuss the importance of sharing memories, the different ways family members cope with loss, and the significance of community support. Candace shares her evolving relationship with grief, emphasizing the need to make space for emotions and the role of faith in finding hope amidst sorrow. The conversation highlights the ongoing journey of grief and the importance of connection and understanding in the healing process.

In this episode, Candy Rose, Nikki River, and Amy Alexander catch up with Amy's absence from the podcast. They also explore the difficult realities of social media and polarized conversations since Trump took office earlier this year.Pull up a chair and let's discuss!

In this conversation, Nikki and Candy explore the intersection of faith and reading, discussing their love for books, the role of audiobooks, and the challenges of navigating Christian literature. The duo also shares their favorite fiction recommendations, emphasizing the role of storytelling in spiritual reflection. They highlight the significance of creativity as a reflection of God's image and the importance of navigating personal convictions within a community.

In this episode, Candace and Nikki reflecton the challenges of celebrating milestones and holidays while dealing with grief. The conversation also touches on aging, self-care, and society's expectation of beauty, ultimately encouraging listeners to embrace their journey and find joy amidst the struggles.

Sometimes the promises of God’s prosperity don’t feel as real as we’d like. Budgets are tight, the cost of food is astronomical, and this brings up an interesting discussion: do we believe in “prosperity gospel”? And are faith and money intertwined?Pull up a chair and let's discuss!Show Notes//Find Nikki's incredible portfolio on her website.Catch up with her on Instagram @nicholehaunphotography.Check out what Amy's doing at Brand DisciplesJoin Amy's free 8-week group for entrepreneurs (for those in Virginia OR for those on the East Coast).

As local worship leaders, all three of us are quite passionate about the topic of worship in general. In this episode we talk all things worship: whether or not lyrics matter, what it means to curate a set list, things we do or don’t love about current worship culture.Pull up a chair, and let's discuss!Show Notes//You Are What You Love by James K. A. SmithCrazy Love podcast - Francis Chan on corporate worshipKJ52Chris Tomlin - Holy Forever (at the Worship Together conference Amy attended)

The 2024 election has come and gone, and we now know that Trump is our 47th (and 45th) president.What is our reaction and how do we feel about the aftermath of such a RED country during this year's election?Pull up a chair, and let's discuss!Show Notes//SmartHerNews.com

Many of us grew up with The Left Behind series, which led us to believe that if we didn't have enough faith or didn't pay enough attention we'd have to endure The Tribulation before being with Jesus forever. And... it made us afraid every time we walked into our parents' room and found nothing but clothes on the floor. In this episode, we discuss whether the Rapture is real, and what we believe about Revelation.Notes:Covenant Theology vs Dispensationalism: Michael Heiser: Opinion of eschatologyOverview of top 7 views George Eldon Ladd - Theology of the New Testament