Faith Over Fear

Do you feel anxious when people suggest that we're living in the end times? Do you find verses related to this biblical period confusing? In this episode beloved pastor Max Lucado shares his views and insights regarding God's unfolding, eternal story and our ultimate destination. Discussion/Reflective Questions: What resonated with you most in this episode? How might knowing what Scripture teaches regarding the "end times" help alleviate anxiety related to that period? If you've trusted in Christ for salvation, how does it feel to know, when your present time on earth ends, you will immediately be in Christ's presence? If you've trusted in Christ for salvation, how does it feel to know that you will be judged according to what Christ did for you, not according to the sins you've committed? If you haven't yet trusted in Christ for salvation, what are some questions or concerns you want God to address before you are ready to do so? What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode? Resource referenced: What Happens Next: A Traveler’s Guide Through the End of This Age Find Max Lucado: On his website On Instagram On Facebook On Amazon On YouTube Find Carol McCracken: On her website On Facebook On Instagram Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group (Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.) Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

One of my favorite names for Christ, especially during the often chaotic holiday season, is Prince of Peace. It reminds us that our peace is found not in our circumstances or the absence of conflict but instead through our relationship with Him. Advent provides a wonderful opportunity to evaluate our schedules, slow down, and connect in a special way with our Savior.  Discussion/Reflective Questions: What resonates with you most in this episode? What are some of your most cherished Christmas memories from your childhood? Consider your current schedule. How has anxiety or fear contributed to your busyness? What are some ways you experience the sacredness of Christ's birth? What is something you can eliminate or simplify this holiday season to make it less hectic and more memorable? What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode? Resource referenced: Glad & Golden Hours: A Companion for Advent and Christmastide:  Find Lanier Ivester: On her website On Instagram On Facebook   Find Jennifer Slattery: On her website Instagram Facebook Amazon Subscribe to her free newsletter Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group  (Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)   Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Many of us tend to judge our most intense or unpleasant emotional responses which only increases their intensity by piling on shame. In this episode, Dr. Allison Cook talks with host Carol McCracken about her latest book, I'm Not Supposed to Feel This Way, how we can gain healthy emotional distance when we feel overwhelmed, and options for dealing with toxic people.  (Check out Faith Over Fear's GodTube Channel: https://www.godtube.com/faith-over-fear/) Discussion/Reflective Questions: What resonated with you most in this episode? Consider your inner critique. How might he/she be trying to help, although in an unhelpful way? How might recognizing the various moments that comprise your complex emotional system help you feel less consumed by them? Consider an area in which you typically feel guilt. Using Dr. Allison's discussion on conditioned guilt as a guide, what emotions might your guilt be masking? What is the difference between numbing and self-soothing? How might learning to name your emotions without judgement help you become more aware of what is occurring within you? What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this episode? Resource mentioned: I Shouldn't Feel This Way: Name What’s Hard, Tame Your Guilt, and Transform Self-Sabotage into Brave Action by Dr. Allison Cook Find Dr. Allison Cook: On her website On Instagram On Facebook On Amazon Find Carol McCracken: On her website  On Facebook On Instagram Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group  (Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.)     Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

If you experience chronic pain or chronic illness, you understand how impossible it can feel, at times, to hold tight to hope. On our darkest, most painful nights, we can easily feel alone and abandoned by God. Singer/songwriter Katy Nichole understands. In fact, there was a time when she wasn't sure she wanted to hold on and contemplated taking her life. But God met her in that place with a truth meant for us all.  (Check out Faith Over Fear's GodTube Channel: https://www.godtube.com/faith-over-fear/) Discussion/reflective questions: What resonated with you most in this episode? When have you most needed to know you remained held by God? How did you feel when you heard Katy say that it's okay not to be okay?  What might it look like in your life to allow yourself, in your pain, to not be okay? How did you feel to hear that God has good plans for you? If this is hard to believe, share why.  What might self-care look like for you? How might listing tasks or goals in order of priority help you mange your time and energy level? What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode? Find Katy Nichole: On her website On Instagram On Facebook On YouTube Find Jennifer Slattery: On her website Instagram Facebook Amazon Subscribe to her free newsletter Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group  (Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.) Listen to When I Fall HERE.    Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

The stress of the holidays become amplified when we know we'll spend time among dysfunctional people. As Christ-followers, this can elicit questions and confusion. How can we share the light of Christ in a way that feels emotionally safe? Is there a way to reduce the chaos? Carol's guest Pam Farrel believes, often, there is. In this episode, she shares some strategies she's developed in dealing with an alcoholic father and a mother-in-law with significant mental illness. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.) (Check out Faith Over Fear's GodTube Channel: https://www.godtube.com/faith-over-fear/) Related episode: Dealing with Toxic People with Gary Thomas Find Pam Farrel at:  On her website (Love-Wise) On Facebook On Amazon Find Carol McCracken: On her website  On Facebook On Instagram Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group  (Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.) Discussion/Reflective Questions: What most resonated with you in this episode? What are some ways you can plan ahead to reduce chaos and stress this holiday season? What might an escape plan look like in your circumstances and what scenarios might move you to enact follow that plan? What emotions might you need to work through in order to move from bitterness and healing? Throughout her discussion, Pam shared how God guided her through her holidays. What is God telling you in regard to how He wants you to engage (or not engage) with certain dysfunctional people this season? Sometimes God calls us to love up close, and sometimes He encourages us to love people from a distance. Which most applies to your circumstances, and what might this look like? What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode? Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

The grace of God and the unwavering love of a praying mom pulled Chad Mattson out of addiction and transformed him into a dad, husband, and musician who now lives to proclaim all the Lord has done. His story speaks hope to those who feel they've fallen too far to start again, those who remain chained to their past mistakes, and who, like Mattson, are learning, perhaps for the first time, to become acquainted with emotions they've suppressed for far too long. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.) (Check out Faith Over Fear's GodTube Channel: https://www.godtube.com/faith-over-fear/) Find Chad Mattson and his band: On the Unspoken website Facebook Instagram Spotify YouTube Find Jennifer Slattery: On her website Instagram Facebook Amazon Subscribe to her free newsletter Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group  (Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.) Discussion/Reflective Questions: What most resonated with you in this episode? Consider your current social sphere. Do your friends tend to bring out the best in you or tempt you to engage in unhealthy behaviors? When has something fun turned into something enslaving? Reflect upon some of your current coping mechanism. What might it look like to turn to Jesus when working through difficult emotions? What does Chad's story reveal regarding the heart of God? What does Chad's story reveal regarding the power of grace? What is one action step God might be asking you to take having listened to this podcast? Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Do you find yourself battling loneliness and long for deeper connections? Do you struggle going deeper in your current relationships and wonder why tension often invades certain interactions? In this episode, host Carol McCracken talks with author and Bible teacher Becky Harling about our longing to connect, things that can hinder our connections, and practical ways we can build deeper relationships. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.) Resource referenced: Cultivating Deeper Connections in a Lonely World Find Becky Harling: On her website On Instagram On Facebook Check out her podcast, the Connected Mom Find Carol McCracken: On her website  On Facebook On Instagram Discussion/Reflective Questions: What resonated with you most in this episode? When has God used a difficult season to shift or correct your priorities? What are some ways you experience a sense of belonging in your relationship with Christ? When has envy hurt one of your relationships? When has comparison hurt one of your relationships? When have you seen celebrating others deepen a relationship? What is one action step God might want you to take having listened to this episode?     Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

How do we navigate the loss of those we love and the evil we encounter in this world? How can we choose faith when our hearts ache and we don't have all the answers? In this episode, Brandon Heath shares how he answered those questions after the loss of his parents and a school shooting that hit much too close to home.  (Scroll down for discussion/reflection questions.) Resources referenced: Raising Worry-Free Girls: Helping Your Daughter Feel Braver, Stronger, and Smarter in an Anxious World by Sissy Goff The Ache, by Brandon Heath Find Brandon Heath: On his website Facebook Instagram YouTube Music Spotify Find Jennifer Slattery: On her website Instagram Facebook Amazon Subscribe to her free newsletter Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group  (I inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.) What resonated with you most in this episode? Who might you need to engage in a conversation with so that you can ensure you've left nothing unsaid? How might your fear stem from a desire for control, or the belief that you retain control? How does it feel to know that God remains close to the brokenhearted?  What might it look like to live so that you are surprised by difficulties but also not to feel caught off guard by them? What is one action step God might want you to take having listened to this episode? Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Fear and anxiety will come. We'll all face challenges that leave us feeling unsettled and unsure. How can we prepare ourselves to face those challenges well? In this episode, host Carol McCracken talks with Bible teacher Kathy Howard on the benefits available to us in Christ. (Scroll down for discussion questions.) Find Kathy Howard: On her website On Facebook On Instagram On Amazon Find Carol McCracken: On her website  On Facebook On Instagram Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group  (Inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.) Discussion/Reflective Questions: What resonated with you most in this episode? How have you seen your love for Christ grow over the past year or decade? How does your love for Christ impact your obedience to Him? When has personal weakness increased your dependency on Christ, and what was the result? What does it mean to you to possess resurrection power within? What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode?    Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

If you've ever watched a loved one endure the pain of depression, you can understand the anxiety, fear and heartache author and comedian Kristina Kuzmic experienced when her son developed depression. Eventually, his mental health deteriorated to the point that she felt compelled to have her son committed to inpatient care. In her recent book, "I Can Fix This" she shares their journey with transparency, the insights she gained along the way, and the steps that helped bring her son to the much healthy place in which he now finds himself. This episode has great value for parents with depressed teenagers but also for anyone trying to love someone well who has depression. (Scroll down for discussion/reflective questions.) Resource references: I Can Fix This: And Other Lies I Told Myself While Parenting My Struggling Child Find Kristina Kuzmic: On her website On YouTube On Instagram On Facebook On Amazon Find Jennifer Slattery: On her website Instagram Facebook Amazon Subscribe to her free newsletter Join the private Faith Over Fear Facebook Group  (I inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.) Discussion/Reflective Questions: What resonated with you most in this episode? What are some assumptions you've made regarding your loved one's struggle? How might setting aside those assumptions increase your ability to be present for them? How might viewing your loved one's behavior as communication of a need and expression of pain improve your interactions? What might it look like to show up for your loved one? In what ways do you practice healthy self-care in challenging, frightening, and painful seasons? Who might you be able to reach out to for help and support as you strive to love your loved one well? What is one action step God might be inviting you to take having listened to this episode? Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.