The Walking on Water Podcast

In a world full of loneliness, depression and anxiety, I feel passionate about reaching those who are struggling with day to day life.  And as a youth leader, I see it all around me.

How can we help our teens?  How can we be an encouragement to those around us?  The problem is daunting - but Jesus gave us the answer - and it’s one I want to talk about today.  Welcome to the show.

Do you know how loved you are?  Have you stopped to consider the price that was paid so that you could be in relationship with Jesus?

Easter is coming up and I had to take this opportunity to reflect on what Jesus’ death and resurrection means to me.

I’m challenged to ask myself if I’m living like the forgiven and loved person that I am.  Because when I’m allowing myself to sit in the presence of shame, I am ignoring the gift God gave me when He sent His Son.

When we know how loved we are, it changes how we live.  It gives us the courage to be imperfect while also allowing ourselves to let go of who shame says we should be in order to be who God says we are.  It’s stepping out of our hiding place in order to be clothed in His grace.

We would never go into battle without researching the strategies of the enemy forces, would we?  That would be foolish.  So in the same way, it’s important to take time to do all we can to discover how the devil uses shame in our lives as unique individuals.  Because what triggers me might not trigger you…and vice versa.

Today, we’re dissecting how his strategies affect us, what trigger points to watch for and how to live free from the crippling shame our enemy, the devil, uses it against us.

Guilt points to our sin while shame points to ourselves.

Guilt says I did a bad thing while shame says I am a bad thing.

Guilt holds up what we’ve done and compares it to our values and convictions.  When falling short, we feel sorrowful, remorseful and uncomfortable - all feelings that push a person towards repentance and restoration.   

Shame, however, tells us that we are inherently flawed.  It insists that there is something wrong with us and that we will never be good enough.  That we will never belong.  Never be fully loved.  Never be enough.

Guilt invites us to redemption, while shame disqualifies us.

Part 2 - Meet Tammy Chupp, a wife and mother who has walked through some really painful life experiences.

You'll find her authenticity refreshing as she shares how she learned to live again after the tragic loss of her firstborn son. 

Meet Tammy Chupp, a wife and mother who has walked through some really painful life experiences.

You'll find her authenticity refreshing as she shares how she learned to live again after the tragic loss of her firstborn son.

Remember Y2k?  Wasn’t that fun? 

I was a young wife and mother when the year 2000 rolled around.  I woke up this year on January 1st and began thinking back to that season of my life and all that God brought me through.  If you’re struggling with fear, loneliness, doubt, rejection and betrayal, listen in.  Cause hope is on the horizon.

As we prepare for the holidays, I’m excited to share part 2 of a conversation with Betty Detweiler.  She offers years of wisdom and experience as a wife, mother, mother in law and grandmother.

One of the greatest blessings in my life are the women who I can look up to and learn from. Today, I am going to introduce you to one who has been a mentor a friend, a teacher, and an encourager.

Betty Detweiler came into my life when I was about 30 years old. I had just had my fourth child and life was coming at me fast. Betty was a friend who had already walked down that road and was a person who I could watch and learn from.

She comes at life with energy and love and an exuberance for life. She inspires me to be intentional as a mother... to be creative, to color outside the lines, to create beauty and moments for those around us, and to embrace our role as women, wives and mothers.

So today, and next week, I am going to give you the opportunity to listen in as Betty tells me all about what she has learned in life and motherhood through the holidays and with hospitality.

Continuing my conversation with Tim today about all things

marriage.

Today, I'm talking with my handsome husband, Tim Carpenter, about marriage! He doesn't have a clue what questions are coming his way, so join in and hear what he has to say about all things marriage.

Motherhood is an invitation into a world that is, among many things, largely uncomfortable.

For many, discomfort comes knocking early in pregnancy - and generally refuses to leave.

Our mistake as mothers is that we often expect the unwanted aches and pains to leave once our baby has exited the womb.  And, in part, this is true.

However, it isn’t long after the stirrups are folded and put away that a new kind of discomfort comes knocking at your door.  I’ve been a mother now for 24 years.  I don’t have it all figured out - but there are some things I’ve learned along the way, and today, we’re going to talk about it.

Whether you are a student, a wife, a mother and anything in between, it is likely that there are times when you have struggled with feeling overwhelmed.

Life comes at us at a rapid fire pace and we can sometimes feel like we are trying to drink from a fire hose.

Ever feel that way?  Like you barely have time to catch your breath?

That’s our subject today - I hope you’ll hang around as we look at ways to deal with overwhelm.

Today's episode is one I never wanted to create. Words I never wanted to say, pain we never wanted to feel.

But this is our new reality and before diving in to a new season, I wanted to take some time to celebrate and remember our friend Jon.

God created us for friendships.  He wants to see us in community with others.  It is where we mutually find strength and encouragement.  It is where we find those who speak life over us - and us over them.  And we miss out on this beautiful gift when we are unwilling to do what it takes to cultivate these types of relationships.

Today, it’s all about getting unstuck.  It’s about real, practical solutions that we can put into practice in order to untangle our lives from this energy wasting, joy taking thief that we were never intended to carry.

Are you ready for freedom?  Are you ready for joy?  

Pull on your armor, girl, cause I’m not promising it will be painless, but I promise the pain will be worth the joy and freedom waiting for you.

Colossians 2:8 says “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”

We are surrounded by deceiving thoughts and ideas - and sometimes it’s hard to decipher truth.

One area that has captured the minds of many Believers is called the Victim Mentality.  So today, we’re going to identify this mentality and take a look at our own lives to see if perhaps, this is an area where we have allowed ourselves to fall prey to this destructive mindset.

Listen in on part two of a conversation I had with my friend, Ann Renee Aquino, to discuss her life as a wife, mother and worship leader.

In part two, Ann Renee shares insights and wisdom she has gained through the years in the areas of marriage and motherhood.

15 Steps to building a marriage that lasts.

Marriage is both complex and beautiful.  It requires work to maintain and can be both a source of our greatest joy or deepest pain.  And it’s up to both parties to do their part in making it successful.

Many of us could give a list of reasons why our marriage shouldn’t work.  I know Tim and I could.  But with God, hard work and humility, we have now enjoyed twenty five years of marriage.  And you can too.

Talking today about how to make home a place of peace and joy for our husband and kids.

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Marriage, parenting, jobs, ministry… each can be difficult in its own way.. but combined it is definitely character building.

Today, Tim and I continue our discussion on fatherhood and the many aspects that it affects.  So grab a cup of coffee and your spouse and join us for a little heart to heart on these important issues that affect us today and the generations to come.

One more thing, please take a moment to share this on your social stories or text it to a friend.  Marriage and parenting is difficult - and while we will never get it perfectly right, we want to spread hope and encouragement to as many parents as possible - because family and marraige can be the best gift you’ve ever experienced… and our kids’ futures are at stake….

Is it really possible to rise above the chaos of life?

Each day can bring an invitation to drown in the pain of life's storms. But we have a choice, we can succumb to it and determine that we will always be a victim to our situations - or we can learn the power that comes with one simple solution - focusing on Jesus.

Today we talk about what that looks like - how Jesus doesn't always remove the storm, but He can teach us how to rise above it.