I welcome my friend Sarah to the podcast today to recap her talk from the Let The Women Retreat Weekend, on what discipleship isn't, and what some of the myths of discipleship are that we tell ourselves. Join in for a great conversation.

We wrapped up our 3rd Let The Women Retreat Weekend, where we spent our time talking about discipleship. For those of you who weren't able to join us, we are going to recap our time together and what we learned about discipleship. 
What does the 'Divine Council' have to do with discipleship? A lot....and I'll explain more fully in the next weeks, but for now some groundwork needs to be laid.

Does it feel to you, like it does to me, that the world around me is very angry...all the time...?
Don't you wonder if anyone sick of being angry yet? It's almost feels like our culture is stuck in an anger rut...are you? What does that mean or look like for the Christian? Let's talk about anger...

We are called to share the hope that is within us....Jesus. But sharing the gospel can be scary, sometimes we shy away from telling people about our faith. Join me and my special guest, my awesome husband, Will, as we chat about the gospel. What is it? How would you define it? How can we share it with the world around us?

Hope, it is necessary to have to live this life well. It is the very thing that helps you grieve from the loss of this life. Many go through this life without it, and it is heartbreaking, or at least it should be...will you share your hope with the hurting world around you? You don't know how? Wonder what you should even say? Come back in the next weeks as we talk about ways, and equip ourselves to be ready to give an answer for the hope that is in us!

People are watching us as we go about our days...what are the people you come in contact with seeing from you as you go? Light?

There is much discussion in our culture around meditation! Have you given much thought to what it is? How the world defines it and how God defines it? I'm not very good at meditation, it is slow, purposeful, and takes time. I am fast, task minded and like to get things done...not a good combination. If you can relate to the go-go-go mentality and long to grow in your depth of relationship with God, join me in focusing on the discipline of meditation.

In this episode I reference to sources I'd like to share with you, and encourage you to give a visit:
            First:  The article I reference and quote from on Biblical meditation from the CS Lewis institute can be found here.  It is a great read and I highly recommend it.

           Second: If you would like more information on Charlotte Mason and her style of education (which is lovely and wonderful) you can visit this website, as well as listen to the conversation I mentioned that I listened to, on meditation  HERE. You won't be disappointed.

Visit www.erikamconner.com to register for our retreat weekend, where we will be focusing on Discipleship.  See  you in 2 weeks! 

We have a bad habit of trying to define for ourselves what the 'good life' is by what this world has to offer. What do you consider as part of the good life? Following Jesus, and knowing Him IS the good life, not anything that we can attempt to attain, that we believe will make this life better, easier or more fulfilling, nothing on this earth will satisfy our souls. Let's redefine the 'good life.'

In this episode I mention the devotion called 'New Morning Mercies' by Paul David Tripp, and I highly recommend it. You can find it below!

https://www.christianbook.com/new-morning-mercies-daily-gospel-devotional/paul-tripp/9781433541384/pd/541384?en=google&event=SHOP&kw=christian-living-0-20%7C541384&p=1179710&dv=c&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_dWGBhDAARIsAMcYuJw8ezV7kMVyNo0suT3EacZbhTxT2yOE-liRbCnq8eLZnwcjJF1qMaUaAqNKEALw_wcB

Listening. It can be hard, it is a skill we need to practice, it is how we show people they are loved and valued. How are you doing at listening?

The metaphors that we see in nature to our spiritual life are beautiful, there is so much to learn from God's creation! Humor me as I geek out on gardening and soil, and how that relates to our heart condition and our spiritual walks. 

I struggle with living in the moment, I often wish for the next day so it will all be over. Have you been there? I'm sure you have. Let's try to remind each other there is much to learn in the moment, and to try to live in the present....way easier said then done!

Stick around until the end for a special announcement!

And I am NOT a night owl! I've been having a really hard time sleeping lately, too many thoughts, too many frustrations, too many things that I am giving my peace away to. Have YOU ever been there?

You are probably familiar with the story of Mary and Martha, and how applicable the lessons of it is. Today I needed the reminder to check my priorities and my heart condition, I'm hoping that you don't need this reminder as often as I do, but in the event that you do - listen in!

Last week of Jonah, finishing up with chapter 4 and Loving our Enemies!

Let's pick up the story of Jonah, where our hypocritical prophet has been vomited out and is 'obeying' God by finally going into Ninevah. We see a God of Love AND Judgement, where he ushers us into his grace.

We continue in our deep dive into the book of Jonah, and we are in chapter 2. We see Jonah wake up from his spiritual apathy, and cry out to God as he is swallowed by a sea beast. His awareness of God's presence is heightened and realized, he moves to a place of gratitude and thankfulness, WHILE he is still in the belly of the beast!  God is present and near in the midst of our suffering...what do we do? How do we pray ourselves out of these situations?

We take a dive (pun intended) into Jonah chapter 1 this week and get to see the picture of a life 'asleep at the wheel' and completely oblivious to the world around him. 

I am so excited to start this journey of deep diving into the book of Jonah. To rescue it from familiarity and to look at the message that God has for us in the pages of the book of Jonah. A satire that has humor, wit and sarcasm - a story for adults to dig into, not a story to water down for a children's book. Join me as we look at the lessons that God is teaching us as we look at Jonah.

In Denmark, they call 'Good Friday', Long Friday...I like that, it seems appropriate to me. That day must have felt very long by the time it was over. Reflect with me on the drama of that day, what it was really like, what was really going on, and what it really meant. Before we can celebrate on Sunday, we need to reflect on the death of Christ and what that means in our daily lives.

The way that we communicate in the States, by default (with of course exception), is not one deeply rooted in honesty. It is more the norm to be concerned with ease of delivery and lack of conflict.
I believe that self-evaluation is made more difficult because of the lack of honesty in how we communicate in relationships. I am not advocating, for everyone to walk around saying whatever it is they are thinking at all times, we all see how well that can go on social media. What I am advocating, is for each of us to take a look at ourselves, and how we communicate with others, and ask ourselves if our default is honesty? Or is it maybe ease? 
Then ask ourselves, is that really loving?
And after all that fun, turn and ask the same questions of our own self evaluation... are we easy on our selves? Or honest....?

We start a mini-series today regarding selfishness. About living outside of ourselves and living in light of the BIG picture. This is a big topic, and a touch topic...so today I will start small with a question and a phrase for you to ponder and ask yourself honestly - this is not easy, but it is worthwhile.

Let's Be Real Podcast is celebrating it's FIRST birthday! I cannot even believe it.

We are going to talk about IF Gathering 2021 in a quick review, and some of the great takeaways I had from the weekend, and camp on counting the costs of our faith and holding fast EVEN IF things don't go as we hope.

I've learned to love and value the seasons that God has created. To value them for what they are, winter a time of rest, spring a time of rebirth. Spring for me is a time to evaluate what God has in store for me in the upcoming changing of seasons, both literally and metaphorically. 
Let's look at nature and see God, and ask him what seeds he has planted in our hearts and how  to embrace his promptings.

Are you a planner? Or are you spontaneous? How well do you react when your plans get bumped or ruined? I had a long month of learning about my plans versus God's plans, and odds are you've had the same experience once or twice as well.

Join my friend Shelley and me as we talk about relationships. Who can't use a little wisdom about marriage, children and friend relationships? I think we all can, and wisdom is what you will get in this episode as Shelley shares her many experiences in navigating relationships. Listen in!