Dec 31, 2020
Today, I want to invite you to sit down with a couple of friends who have lived a LOT of life together as we talk about life in the year of our Lord 2020. One of my dearest friends Lauren Venable is with me today, and she has such a beautiful gift of encouragement, a love for God’s Word, fiery red-headed passion for life and you’re just going to love her.
There’s a LOT of loud laughing, and a lot of looking back on what we’ve been through, and what we’ve learned, and even though we may come out of this year with a limp, we can keep moving forward with hope. My greatest wish is that wherever this episode of the podcast finds you, I hope that you can feel encouraged, and that you would take this moment to look up and feel that you are alive.
In this conversation Lauren asks a poignant question: are we living like we still have some story in us? It doesn’t matter where you ponder that from. Your couch, the ER waiting room, your car, the bathroom floor, do we believe that the story isn't over? I know that there will still be low points. I know that there are low MONTHS, but dear one, the Lord is not unfamiliar with this kind of experience, and that is why He came to be our peace no matter what is happening all around us.
Even if it feels broken, let out your hallelujah that by His help you’ve come this far.
Happy New Year, friends. You matter. Your story matters.
*References:
-the Nashville Christmas Day bombing
-Hannah Brencher : Fighting Forward
-Alli Worthing: Standing Strong
-Tyra Banks “We were rooting for you!”
-How to smize with Tyra Banks (pandemic edition)
-Alli Worthington (my conversation with her) and her book Standing Strong
-Dr. Saundra Dalton Smith- my conversation with her and her fantastic book Sacred Rest
-The Bible Handbook from Daily Grace Co
- “Is he safe? Of course he isn’t safe, but He’s good. He’s the King I tell ya.” -CS Lewis
-The Chronicles of Narnia- CS Lewis
-Advent in Narnia - Heidi Haverkamp
-Quaker tradition of “I will hold you in the light.”
*Scripture References:
-Genesis 32:22-32- Jacob wrestled with God and walked away with a limp
-Philippians 4:6- Do not be anxious about anything
-1 Corinthians 15:58- nothing is wasted
-the 12 tribes of Israel from Jacob (the younger brother who lies, steals, and acts like an idiot). The whole story of Jacob’s life starts in Genesis 25:19 and goes allll the way until Genesis 50. Starting at chapter 37, his sons take the stage, but he’s still there. (25 chapters of Jacob.)
-2 Samuel 11- King David
-The book of Ruth -- (also, here’s our conversation about it AND a reading of it :))
-Genesis 5:32-10:1- Noah
-Luke 22:54-62, Matthew 14:22-33, John 18:10, Acts 10- Peter’s mess (to name a few)
-Acts 7:54-8:2, and Acts 9 - Paul’s mess
-Revelation 21:4- In Heaven there will be no more death, sickness, tears, etc.
-Matthew 6:9-13- The Lord’s prayer says “on earth as it is in Heaven”
-Psalm 130:6- more than watchmen wait for the morning
-Psalm 34:18- The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
-2 Corinthians 10:5- take every thought captive
-Matthew 5:6, John 4:14, John 7:37-38, John 6:25-59, -What do I hunger and thirst for?
-Revelation 19:6-10- You have a seat at the feast of the Lamb
-Proverbs 31 woman (Proverbs 31:10-31 -- this is actually an acrostic blessing, but that’s another podcast for another day)
-Psalm 27:13- Let me see the good in the land of the living
-Matthew 28:19-20, Ephesians 4:1- We are called to go and do and be
-2 Corinthians 12:7-10-thorn in our flesh
-2 Corinthians 4:7-10 (AMP) and (TPT) - jars of clay
-John 16:33-In this world you will have trouble
-Isaiah 40:3, Luke 1:17- John the Baptist heralding the coming of Christ
-Colossians 1:17-He still holds all things together
-Romans 8:31-39, 2 Timothy 1:10, Isaiah 25:8, Hebrews 2:14-15, - We are not defeated in death
-James 1:2-3-Count it all joy
-But I will look to the Lord, I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me. Micah 7:7
-For He has rescued us and has drawn us to Himself from the dominion of darkness and has transferred us to the Kingdom is His beloved Son. Colossians 1:13
-Since then you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God’s. Colossians 3:1
-But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith, and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. - Jude 1:20-24
-Psalm 46:10 - Be still and know that I am God (the whole Psalm for context)
-Ephesians 3:14-19 (what I read in the outro, the NLT)
*More Scriptures I’ve treasured:
Connecting with Lauren:
Connecting with Emily and Simply Stories
Podcast:
Instagram (Em life // Podcast Life)
Facebook
Twitter
Blog
*Intro and Outro music is from audionautix.com