CHURCH OF POD
Honest, grace-centered conversations helping ordinary Christians move from performance to a secure identity in an extraordinary God.
When I was young, I wanted nothing more than to please God. Trouble was, I was always unsure if my efforts were enough. We were taught, sometimes without words, that our part of being a Christian meant trying harder. Serving more. Doubting less.
And so, we performed. For God. For the church. For ourselves. Problem is, you can’t earn what you’ve already been given.
I'm Steve. And I spent more years than I care to admit working hard to please a God who had already accepted me. Completely. But what I've come to understand, after years of striving, after some honest therapy, and after training my ears and my heart to hear His voice, is that God never required me to be “perfect.”
He was waiting for me to stop apologizing for how He made me.
The Church of POD community is for the believer in Christ who wants to escape from the vicious cycle of performance.
Most of us have faith that God loves us. Far fewer of us live like we're certain of it.
I hope you'll join me, as we seek God, not perfection. Together.
Our Foundational Scriptures:
"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear." (1 John 4:18 ESV)
"... that I may know Him..." (Philippians 3:10 ESV)
“I am the way, the truth and the life." (John 14:6 ESV)
Our Core Values:
- Be grateful
- Own your mess
CHURCH OF POD
The Orphaned Wife - A conversation with author Julie Cunningham (Episode 6)
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
What does emotional healing look like after decades of feeling unseen in a marriage?
In this powerful conversation, author Julie Cunningham shares the deeply personal journey behind her book The Orphaned Wife — a story of emotional abandonment, hidden wounds, spiritual awakening, and the long road toward real restoration.
Julie opens up about:
- Growing up adopted and navigating childhood wounds
- Emotional abandonment inside a “good” Christian marriage
- The moment she realized healing wouldn’t save her marriage
- The process of rebuilding her identity in Christ
- Why the church often misses signs of silent suffering
- How her three-book series helps others walking through the same pain
- The difference between surviving… and becoming whole
Whether you’ve experienced emotional abandonment, spiritual discouragement, or simply want to understand how healing really works, this conversation will meet you where you are — and offer hope.
📚 Julie Cunningham’s Books
- The Orphaned Wife
- Ashes on the Altar
- The Kaleidoscope of Butterflies
- Mama Was A Hippie: A Journey to Find True North
The Orphaned Wife Series – Amazon Links
The Orphaned Wife: The story of how one woman survived emotional abandonment in a Christian marriage, and her healing journey toward emotional wholeness (Pub: 2020)
Kindle Edition Link: https://amzn.to/49y0Puv
Paperback Edition Link: https://amzn.to/48d1nnh
Study Guide for The Orphaned Wife
Kindle Edition Link: https://amzn.to/3XKJDdS
Paperback Edition Link: https://amzn.to/4poG4G2
Journal for The Orphaned Wife
Paperback Edition Link: https://amzn.to/43KvEsd
Ashes on the Altar: Insights From a Journey Through the Wilderness (Pub: 2022)
Kindle Edition Link: https://amzn.to/3XbiAIE
Paperback Edition Link: https://amzn.to/4oNJm5U
Study Guide for Ashes on the Altar
Kindle Edition Link: https://amzn.to/48b56kW
Paperback Edition Link: https://amzn.to/486aJRC
A Kaleidoscope of Butterflies: Women Walking in Glory (Pub. 2023)
Kindle Edition Link: https://amzn.to/4o6Oy3x
Paperback Edition Link: https://amzn.to/4ptrGfZ
Email:
churchofpod@gmail.com
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https://www.youtube.com/@ChurchOfPOD
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