The Love Offering

We live in a loud, opinionated world of staggering distraction. It's not only exhausting, but immobilizing. You are tempted to zone out, binge watch, and doom scroll.With all of this distraction, it's hard to keep focus on what matters most: God and His nearness in this very moment. Katie Westenberg is on the show today helping to equip us to focus on what truly matters. Leaning on Scripture, scientific studies of memory, and the power of a renewed mind, she will help you uncover the ancient way of being un-distractible. Here is the wake-up call our hearts are longing for--and the clear-eyed focus our souls were made for.Connect with Katie:https://katiewestenberg.comSupport the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Sometimes our mistakes can leave us feeling like we're drowning in an ocean of regret. Thankfully, we are not alone. The books of First and Second Samuel help us realize that worship is the gift that leads us to encounter renewal in the Lord in spite of: The rejection we have experienced.The rebellion we have entertained.The regret we have endured. Modern culture demands tireless ambition and determination. Consequently, we sometimes become restless walking with God in a world that sprints. However, the men and women in First and Second Samuel knew this struggle too. Liv Dooley has written the Selah Bible Study and today she is revealing and reminding us of our access to the powerful presence of the Lord when we pause to pray despite the pressures we face.Connect with Liv:https://livdooley.comSupport the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Life often sends hard things our way: illness, financial struggles, broken relationships, and so many kinds of loss. Sometimes we can’t imagine a way forward. So how do we keep going when everything is going wrong? Rachel Wojo is on the show today sharing how hope rises to greet us when we find the strength to take One. More. Step. Like you, Rachel has faced experiences that crushed her dreams of the perfect life: a failing marriage, a daughter’s heartbreaking diagnosis, and more. In her book One More Step she transparently shares her pain and empathizes with yours, then points you to the path of God’s Word, where you’ll find hope to carry you forward. No matter the circumstances you face, through this episode you’ll learn to:· run to God’s Word when discouragement strikes· replace feelings of despair with the truth of Scripture · persevere through out-of-control circumstances and gain a more intimate relationship with Jesus Join us to find the courage to keep going, one step at a time. Connect with Rachel:rachelwojo.comSupport the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In the last five decades, Precept has created Bible studies and resources in over 90 languages, distributed in nearly 190 countries and on six continents. But CEO David Arthur felt they were missing an entire generation of people—namely millennials and Generation Z believers. Partnering with Barna Research, they discovered three important facts that helped them develop their brand-new Bible study resource named Yarrow.The next generation wants desperately to understand how the truth of the Bible connects to their daily lives and actual hardships. They long for a relationship with God and are interested in the Bible but don't know where to start. They need a guide who can help them get started and know where to go next. They are busy and deeply connected to technology. Yarrow is determined to meet them where they are with materials that speak to their way of life and fit into their daily routines and habits. So, the studies in Yarrow are designed to be relevant, guided, and flexible.David hopes to see a generation so in love with God and His Word that the culture around them is greatly impacted. Their vision is that every believer in Christ, lives out God’s Word every day. They know that’s a huge vision, but they also know we serve a big God.Connect with David:www.yarrow.orgSupport the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

“I am not enough.”Embrace the power of these four words that can free you from a lifestyle of striving.There are many areas in life where we strive to be enough: jobs, relationships, personal disciplines―the list goes on. In a culture that celebrates and encourages a work-to-earn mentality, it is no surprise that this same, formulaic pattern has bled into our faith. It is easy to become trapped in the exhausting cycle of trying to be good enough for God. But God is not after our well-polished performance but rather our full assurance in the sufficiency of his Son!As a longtime church gal, Kaitlin Garrison knows the struggle of feeling caught in a perpetual lifestyle of trying to please God and others through outward behavior. In her book Sweet Relief and in today's episode, Kaitlin tackles four prevalent false gospels that can keep us stuck in our cycles of striving. She reintroduces us to the simple gospel that banks on the grace of God rather than our own sufficiency. Join us to walk away confident that your standing with God is not centered on the good things you can do for him but on the finished work of Jesus who has already won it all on your behalf.We aren’t perfect people. We can exhale when we don’t measure up. Because our hope is not in what we do but in the reality that God is enough.Connect with Kaitlin:https://kaitlingarrison.comSupport the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

At times, our chaotic world reveals hints of the utter brokenness in which we live. As people of faith in a powerful God, we want to lift our faces to heaven to cry out or bury our face in our hands to whisper prayers. Either way we utter things like “God, please help,” “God, what are you doing?” “God, those people are terrible!”And we aren’t alone in those words we lift to heaven.Taylor Turkington is joining us today to talk about her book Trembling Faith (B&H books). We chat about the timeless story of Habakkuk and look at the situation of our own hearts and world. Tune in to learn that the only way to not just survive, but find lasting hope is through gritty, trembling, wrestling faith in the God who works in our chaotic world. Connect with Taylor:https://bibleequipping.orgSupport the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

We all long for “friends forever”―but what happens when forever ends?They say friends are the family we choose. And that choosing―the joy of loving and being loved by someone who isn’t genetically obligated to share life with us―adds priceless worth to our days, but also great risk. Because hurt can happen even in the closest friendships, and sometimes friendships fall apart. The loss can be staggering. As we struggle to digest the pain and confusion, we wonder, How could this happen? And what do I do now?Elizabeth Laing Thompson is on the show today chatting about her book When a Friendship Falls Apart and helps us as we process our struggling friendships―the faltering, the fractured, and the failed. Join us as we chat about:How do we guard against the poison of bitterness so we can process the hurt and move forward?When and how do we seek reconciliation? What does forgiveness look like?How do we know when it’s time to leave a friendship behind?How do we open up again and entrust our wounded hearts to new friendships?If you find yourself in the midst of a friendship that’s falling apart, or you’re grappling with past hurts and regrets, this episode is for you. May it be a comfort and help, leading you closer to the Friend who will never leave.Connect with Elizabeth:https://lizzylife.comSupport the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

The Bible is a collection of ancient texts written in different historical, cultural, and literary contexts. To interpret it accurately, we need to consider factors like the historical background, the author's intent, the audience, and the literary genre of each passage. Ignoring context can lead to misinterpretation and misunderstanding of the Bible's teachings. But this is easier said than done. Bestselling author and professor Kristi McLelland is on the show today helping us see the Bible through a new lens, from beginning to end. She shares about her book Rediscovering Israel, and helps us experience the living God and His Word as never before! Join us to explore the biblical narrative in the historical, cultural, geographic, and linguistic contexts in which it was written. Whether you are preparing for pilgrimage to Israel or you desire to experience a fresh encounter with Scripture, Kristi offers a welcome blend of biblical truth, faithful research, and personal reflections that will enrich your interactions with God’s Word.Connect with Kristi:https://www.newlensbiblicalstudies.comSupport the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

There's an old joke that says, “Don't ask God for patience. He'll answer by testing yours.” But the reality is we are all waiting for something, so we might as well learn to wait patiently. Brooke McGlothlin from Million Praying Moms is on the show sharing how it's possible to learn how to wait for God's perfect timing, even when it seems like we've been waiting forever. In today's episode she's sharing insight from her book Everyday Prayers for Patience. The prayers will help you seek God's heart to discover surer ways to have patience with your children and yourself. Your life and theirs can become beautiful reflections of His great patience with us.Connect with Brooke and Million Praying Moms:www.millionprayingmoms.com@millionprayingmomsSupport the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Are nagging thoughts, anxiety, fear, and worry consuming you? Unfortunately, you're not alone. But thankfully hope and peace is possible. Keri Eichberger is on the show today chatting about how to Win Over Worry. She is no stranger to worry and its ill effects. As a teenager, she discovered the power of panic and anxiety after encountering her own struggles and suffering. She developed unhealthy and unreliable coping strategies of self-will over the preferred will and way of God. Join us to learn how to face the fears that have been holding you back from taking flight into the fullness of life you long for. God has planned a colorful, flavorful, chains-free future for you to enjoy. Right here, and right now.Connect with Keri:www.KeriEichberger.comSupport the Show: https://rachaelkadams.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.