No Higher Calling

Ep 75- Because He Lives

I've shared often how much Christ-honoring music plays a part in the atmosphere of our home. Recently, God's had the hymn "Because He Lives" on Simeon's heart, and God has used the truth of that song to encourage him and me! 

Sim joins me in this episode to talk about the current state of our world. We live in a world where chaos and confusion reign supreme. Where does that leave us as parents who are trying to have Christian homes and raise a generation for Christ? Should we just surrender and accept defeat? NO! We must place our confidence in God and Him alone, and fight the good fight of faith. 

Verse 2 of "Because He Lives" says,

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he brings;
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!
. . .
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

We can be confident knowing that though our children will face uncertain days, they can do it victoriously through the power of Jesus Christ! We are more than conquerors! This episode is a challenge to rise up with boldness and find a deep seeded peace in the promises of God.

 

Resources:

NHC Shop

Blue-Collar Theology Podcast by Simeon Brazzell

 

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Ep 74- My 2022 Book Challenge (Quarter 1)

I have set two reading goals for 2022. 1. To read 50 books 2. To read 1 book with Simeon each quarter. It's hard to believe that we are already wrapping up the first quarter of this year! In this episode, I share an update on where I'm at with my reading challenge, as well as a summary of the books (and a few read-alouds) that I've read so far. Be ready to hear lots of great book recommendations!

 

Resources:

NHC Blog: My 2022 Reading Challenge (Quarter 1)

 

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Ep 73- The Importance of Reading with Your Kids with Sarah Boots Part II

Sarah Boots with Altogether Lovely Collective joins me for part 2 of The Importance of Reading with Your Kids. In this episode, we address questions we hear often from moms when it comes to reading aloud with your children. Questions like. . .

-Should I still read aloud to my kids even though they can read themselves?

-How can I get my kids to fall in love with books?

-Where can I find wholesome book recommendations?

-What part do audio books play in reading with your children?

 

Resources:

Altogether Lovely Instagram Page

Altogether Lovely Collective Website

Altogether Lovely Facebook Page

 

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Ep 72- The Importance of Reading with Your Kids with Sarah Boots Part I

Sarah Boots from Altogether Lovely Collective joins me to discuss the importance of reading with your children. Sarah is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to good, wholesome books and resources for the home! 

In this episode, we answer the question, "What are the benefits of reading to children?" Actually, we only cover the tip of the iceberg because the answer to this question holds such depth! Sarah discusses educational and relational benefits that come when parents connect with their children through reading.

Educational benefits include:

-Increased vocabulary

-Reading comprehension

-Background knowledge and data connection

 

Relational benefits include: 

-Exposure to good literature

-Opportunity to have deep or hard conversations

-Books give a broad perspective on the world and life

-Physical bonding

-Develop bravery and courage

 

Join us in the next episode for part 2 of this discussion as we answer questions such as, "Is reading aloud only for families with little children?", "How do you get your children to fall in love with books?", "What about audiobooks?", and "Where can you find wholesome book recommendations?"

 

Resources:

Altogether Lovely Instagram Page

Altogether Lovely Collective Website

Altogether Lovely Facebook Page

 

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Ep 71- Respectable Sins: Anxiety, Frustration, & Worry

"... when I give way to anxiety, I am, in effect, believing that God does not care for me and that He will not take care of me in the particular circumstance that triggers my anxiety of the moment. ...God's providence may be simply defined as God's orchestrating all circumstances and events in His universe for His glory and the good of His people." -Jerry Bridges

 

This episode is part 3 in our Respectable Sins Bible study. Anxiety, frustration, and worry are sins that can so easily creep into the life of a believer. We often feel justified having these emotions because of the circumstances that tend to cause them. But anything that keeps us from becoming more like Christ is sin! I know this is an area that I've had to grow in myself! Much of that growth has happened during the moments when I wasn't sure if I could go on, yet God stepped in and proved Himself faithful.

As we battle the old man, and bring our thoughts into subjection, we focus on verses like Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." To understand this promise is to trust that God works all things for His glory and for our good, even when we cannot see how that will be accomplished! In the words of Amy Carmichael, "in acceptance lieth peace." Yield this area to God and find the peace He desires for us to have! 

 

Resources:

NHC Blog: Respectable Sins: Anxiety, Frustration, and Worry

Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges

NHC Ep 33- All Things for Our Good

Ep 11- Gifts Discovered in Grief

 

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Titus 2 Talk: The Young Women, To Be Sober

What a joy it is to have my spiritual mentor, Denise Palmer, joining me once a month for a Titus 2 Talk! On these special episodes, Denise and I will be doing a deep dive into the truths God has taught us through the book of Titus. 

On this episode, we start walking through the things God has commanded the aged women to teach to the younger women. We discuss ...

-What does is mean to be sober?

-Is there a specific reason that God lists this first?

-Our desperate need to have our minds rooted in Christ vs our emotions

-Personal examples of how God has used the Titus 2 relationship to encourage us to be sober-minded

 

 

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Ep 70- Preparing for a New Baby

There is so much preparation that goes into having a new baby. Whether it is your first, or your tenth, there's always a certain level of prep work required as you get ready to add a new member into your family. 

Many ladies have requested that I share how I'm preparing for my upcoming birth of baby #4. This is a huge topic to cover, so I tried to keep it pretty specific to how I'm preparing for my baby. 

As I prepare for my 4th birth, but 2nd natural, homebirth, the preparation has been a bit different than it ever has before. I have been investing a lot of Scripture memory and prayer time into preparing my mind for natural birth, which in turn greatly affects how the body responds! I've been researching how to best nourish and support my postpartum body which has led to some freezer cooking prep. Simeon and I have been talking through how we work together to give me and baby time to recover, rest, and bond. We've been encouraging our children to be big helpers when Baby arrives, as well as some other prep things that will be unique to this birth experience. 

Not everything I share will apply to every mama, but it will give things to think through if you are in a season of preparing to welcome a new little one.

 

Resources:

NHC Blog: Postpartum Essentials

 

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Ep 69- Great Hymns for Growing Hearts

I have been keeping a HUGE secret. . . I just published my first book- Great Hymns for Growing Hearts!! This has been an incredible project that has had a life-changing impact on our home. In this episode, I share my heart and how God led me to write this book.

This is a wonderful resource, and one that I believe needs to be in every Christian home! As we seek to pass truths about God and His Word onto future generations, this is a wonderful way to accomplish that goal. Music has a way of rooting itself deep into the mind and heart. Let's use that to etch the character of who God is deep into the hearts of our children!

 

Resources:

Purchase Great Hymns for Growing Hearts

Be Still My Soul CD by Lydia Scoggins

 

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Ep 68- The Midwifery Care Model with Rebekah Mustaleski

It was such an honor to interview my midwife, Rebekah Mustaleksi, and hear her talk about the midwifery model of care. At 34 weeks pregnant with Ivy, we made the decision to switch to Roots & Wings Midwifery for a home birth. Best decision ever!! Now with this new baby on the way, I've had the opportunity to experience a complete (well, up to this point) pregnancy with my midwives. Having birthed in both a hospital and home atmosphere with medicated and unmedicated experiences, I've gotten to see different approaches to the process of pregnancy and birth. 

I understand that every woman is different, and not everyone desires what I would consider my best birth scenario. So many ladies have asked me about the differences between my birth experiences, and we address many of those differences in this episode. 

As an expectant mama, it is wonderful to know you have options! Whatever you decide, knowing you have choices gives you and your husband things to pray through and consider as you make the best choice for your family. 

I hope this episode will shed some light on midwifery care and home birth. Simeon and I could not be more thankful for the birth and pregnancy experiences the midwifery care model has afforded us. I could not be more excited about delivering another baby with Roots & Wings!

 

Resources:

Roots & Wings Midwifery

NHC Ep 24- Brazzell Babies Birth Stories

NHC Ep 37- The Beauty of Birth with Katie Ferguson

 

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Ep 67- Lessons Learned from Little Pilgrim’s Progress

Little Pilgrim's Progress by Helen Taylor (a children's rendition of the beloved Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan) has been the read-aloud I've been going through with my littles. We have been so captivated by this story! The truth presented in this book has laid a foundation for me to go deeper into many topics such as the Gospel, the importance of having godly friends, wisdom vs foolishness, walking in the way of the King, and more! I share some of our favorite lessons we've learned as we've journeyed with little Christian to the Celestial City. 

 

Resources:

Little Pilgrim's Progress by Helen Taylor

NHC Shop

 

Follow my  journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and www.nohighercalling.org