Looking Up with Kathy and Carla

Paul’s letter to Philemon is nearly 2,000 years old and only 25 verses long, yet it’s packed with practical wisdom that still speaks to us in 2026! This week, Kathy and Carla dig into this little letter with big implications for Philemon, the church that met in his home, and his runaway slave, Onesimus. Somehow, Onesimus crossed paths with the apostle Paul, who taught him the gospel, and he gave his life to Christ. That commitment meant making things right, including returning to Philemon. Paul had some encouragement for Philemon, as well: to welcome Onesimus “no longer as a slave, but… a beloved brother” (v. 16). Paul’s heartfelt appeal shows us how to handle difficult relationships with grace, encouragement, and love. We pray this episode is practical and encouraging for you, and we’d love to hear what you learn from Philemon, Paul, and Onesimus.

Are you a morning person? You don’t have to be one to love your mornings. The Bible has a lot to say about them:“Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)“Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love.” (Psalm 90:14)“My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.” (Psalm 130:6)“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22–23)This week, we’re talking about how to shift our mindset so we notice and appreciate the joys and mercies in our mornings. We hope you’ll join us, and let us know what you think!

It’s human nature to get our feelings hurt. A perceived slight, a careless word, or being left out can leave a real ache in our hearts. So what do we do with those feelings? We can’t always stop them from coming, but we don’t have to let them control us. On this week’s podcast, we’ll look at some practical, biblical ways to handle hurt feelings so they don’t keep us from loving and caring for others well.

This week, we’re sharing even more of our favorite things! From hair products to books, stuffies to golf pants, these are simply things we love. We aren’t affiliates or paid representatives for any brand, and we don’t profit from anything we recommend, so you can trust that we really enjoy everything we’re sharing. Tune in to hear our latest favorites!

“You are going to meet an old lady someday. Down the road ahead—ten, twenty, thirty years—she’s waiting for you. You will be catching up with her. What kind of old lady are you going to meet?”— Sharon JaynesA woman doesn’t just wake up at 80 kind and gracious, or cranky and cynical. Whether we realize it or not, the choices we make and the habits we form along the way are shaping who we will become. In this episode, we talk about the kind of “old ladies” we want to be: women who honor God, reflect His goodness, encourage others, and keep bearing fruit. We hope this episode encourages you to take an honest look at your current habits and character, and to start making the changes that will help you grow into a kind, gracious, seasoned woman of God.

Bibles on our phones, iPads, and computers are wonderful! They make it easy to carry God's Word with us wherever we go. Still, we believe "e-Bibles" are missing something important. Our leather or hardback Bibles of paper and ink have been with us through thick and thin, through joys and sorrows. Many of us have notes in the margins from sermons and classes we were blessed to attend, taught by people we loved to hear. We feel a real affection for our paper Bibles that we probably don't feel for the electronic ones.This week, Kathy shares many reasons (we lost count!) why we love carrying our paper Bibles. Of course, this is all opinion! We'd love to hear what you think about the pros and cons of e-Bibles and paper Bibles. Let us know!

No one ever sets out to ruin their own life. But some of our everyday habits can do real damage if we don't get them under control. Things like spending too much time online or becoming self-absorbed can lead to unhappiness and heartache. This week, we're talking about six habits that might not seem so bad at first but can have lasting effects. We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Encouragement is so much more than saying "Good job!" It's more than a pat on the back. Those things matter, but true biblical encouragement goes deeper — it happens when we truly know someone, and when we notice the moments they're struggling or discouraged. Biblical encouragement gives strength to others when their own has run out. It isn't found on the surface; it has substance. This week, we're talking about what it looks like to encourage one another biblically. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this important topic!

Emily Hatfield needs no introduction to many of us—a beautiful Christian woman, friend, speaker, podcaster, preacher's wife, and mom of two precious children. But some may be unaware that she has battled severe, debilitating postpartum struggles.In this episode—one that will speak to every woman who is (or will be) a mother, loves a mother, or simply wants to know how to love and support one well—Emily opens up candidly about her journey. She offers wise, biblical guidance for walking alongside a sister facing postpartum depression or psychosis, and gently reminds us that even our best intentions can sometimes wound instead of heal. She points us toward a better, more Christlike way to care for one another—and reminds us that what we post online or say aloud can widen the very divide we're called to bridge.We believe this episode will be a lifeline to the many women suffering in silence or feeling hopeless—and just as valuable to the rest of us, as we seek to lift them up and remind them of God's love and their true worth. Please help us share this episode.

What if we all had the goal of creating a home where it's impossible not to think about God — where others can tell by our tone, our speech, and our attitudes that He lives among us, where our homes are saturated by the voice of God? Wouldn't the world be a better place if we all invited God into our homes and lives?That's the subject of this week's discussion. Kathy has a list of eleven ways we can easily invite God into our lives. We'd love to hear your ideas for making this a reality too!