Be Grace and Glory

This week was an unusually challenging week around here. It was extra busy as I volunteered daily at my church to help with Vacation Bible School but there were also challenges like the sudden and unexpected loss of three chickens whom we had raised from tiny chicks. I also had the adventure of meeting someone...

Last week we talked about the wonderful truth that we can begin again. No matter what has happened in our lives we do not have to stay stuck, we can begin again. And I love that! As I've been digesting this truth it has been nudging me to look at some of my circumstances with...

In a recent episode, we talked about “What's Holding You Back”, and in that, we were prayerfully examining the thoughts and feelings that may be keeping us stuck to a certain degree from making progress in various areas of our lives.  As I've been walking through that process with the Lord I've been gaining a...

In mid-March, I left my job at an independent magazine publisher and went to work full-time as the Marketing Communications Director for a ministry organization whose sole purpose is to serve the kingdom of God around the world by supporting native missionaries. It's a job I never envisioned having and yet one I am so...

Last week in the Failing Forward episode I talked about finding balance and sorting out good ideas versus God ideas and also gave some practical tips to help you evaluate if and when to pursue new goals and projects. I invite you to listen to that one if you haven't already.  As I mentioned in...

This week I want to talk about the idea of failing forward. We all have areas in our lives where we've failed… and they hurt. Often they can feel like stains we wish we could wipe out and make disappear, but I'm trying to adopt a different approach to looking at these situations and that...

It's amazing to me how consistently God seems to be dedicated to our spiritual growth and healing. He really does use all things for His purposes and our good. For me, this was apparent in my life this week as I began to feel old insecurities rising up in me. As I'm in the early...

I've come to notice that every week there is some kind of theme in my life that God is addressing. Sometimes it has to do with patience or forgiveness or dealing with selfishness or fear and this week it seemed to be about being Bold & Courageous. Of stepping out in Faith.  If you've listened...

Both my daughter and I got the flu this past week. It's actually the first time we've been sick like that in a couple of years since we've been wearing masks and been in lockdown from COVID.  My daughter is a wonderful patient. She always has such an upbeat positive attitude. By contrast, I'm not...

It's spring and at this time of year, our minds can often turn to the idea of Spring cleaning our homes. And for some folks, this is an exciting endeavor but unfortunately, I'm not one of them. I like the idea of having things all fresh and tidy but the actual process of getting it...

Today marks my 19th podcast and while 19 is an unusual number to celebrate I think that actually makes the celebrating that much more meaningful and reminds me of an important lesson for all of us and certainly for me. And that is the critical importance of celebrating our journey. For much of my life,...

In last week's podcast, we talked about Learning How to Rest and how that process involves one of the few places in the Bible where God instructs us to work, strive, or endeavor to do something. And as I said last week learning to rest and trust God and not give in to worry, anxiety,...

Lately, I have been studying rest and trusting God. And as I've been meditating on them, for me, these two words have become almost interchangeable. For so long when I'd think of the word rest I'd think of actions like sleeping, relaxing, taking a vacation, things like that… but for the last year and a...

One of the biggest battles I think we all face is the battle to forgive others. And sadly, unforgiveness is rampant, not just in the world today, but also within the church. And friend, we need to talk about that. In the recent Overcoming Betrayal episode, I spoke some about the importance of forgiveness in...

This past week has been a challenging week for me. There is a tremendous amount of change converging in my life at one time and it's mostly all good changes but even good changes can be uncomfortable and cause stress. Add to that uncertainties like the war in Ukraine, rising gas prices, daily responsibilities, not...

One of the greatest blessings for me from the last couple of weeks has been God giving me a greater discernment for sorting truth from lies. You see, the enemy will often masquerade as an angel of light and he loves to take God's word and find ways to abuse it in the lives of...

Over the last year and a half, I have repeatedly felt the Lord asking me to trust Him and to rest. It's almost become a private joke between me and the Lord. Every time I feel anxious, He quickly whispers “Just rest, just trust Me, I've got this.” I know it's always the right answer,...

Today I want to talk about one of the hardest most brutal storms some of us will ever face, betrayal. When you look up the definition of betrayal it includes phrases like a violation of a person’s trust or the violation of a moral standard… Synonyms include treachery, duplicity, deceitfulness…  Friends, if you've ever been...

This past week has been an extraordinary week of breakthroughs in my life. A time when I am seeing God miraculously open doors that I honestly had no way of opening on my own. After coming through such a long and painful sixteen months, I am astonished to see God showing up in such an...

One of the most painful experiences we can have as humans is the feeling of rejection. At least, it's one of the most painful experiences that I've ever felt. And I've felt it a lot. From hurts suffered in childhood to a failed marriage and the loss of one of my closest friends to missed...

Last September my daughter and I went on vacation to the Outer Banks for the first time. I have always wanted to go there but it had never worked out before then. And immediately upon arrival, I felt an instant connection to this small barrier island standing between the East Coast of the United States...

Several months ago I was grocery shopping with my daughter, wearing a mask as required for safety, and I started to feel extremely anxious… just totally overwhelmed feeling. Like on the brink of a panic attack. It was a moment where the stress of life, hurt feelings from everything I'd been going through, anxious thoughts...

After being a Christian for all of my life, for over forty years, I reached that place where I realized I was done being tossed about on the waves of life. Because that was exactly how I felt! Constantly tossed about by my circumstances, my thoughts, my emotions, my feelings, other people, just… everything! And...

Y’all. I am so excited to be able to introduce you today. To someone whose work has been such a blessing to my life. Today, we are getting to talk with Wendy Pope. Who is, if you are not familiar with her, an incredible Christian author. She has authored four books and her most recent book...

Y’all, I am so excited today. This topic that we’re going to be talking about is very near and dear to my heart and to make it even more amazing. I am honored to get to share with you a very special conversation with my dad, David Riley. So, Dad, welcome to the show.  David:...

Early on in my journey of God calling me out of the boat as I like to call it, or walking in a deeper level of faith, I felt Him ask me to begin what I call prayer journaling. Where every day I write out my conversations with God. Not only do I write out...

I have a question for you.  How comfortable are you? What I mean is, is there anything that you are believing in God for, right now, that is beyond what you can achieve on your own? Have you gotten comfortable with where you are in your life and stopped stretching out in faith?  I have...

Christmas is almost here, and while it can be a magical time of year full of family and special memories for many, I know it can also be a time of loneliness, pain, and hurt for many others.  And, in case you find yourself facing a struggle today, perhaps in a relationship, or in your...

Welcome to Be Grace and Glory, Inspiration and encouragement to help you live with Faith over fear. I'm your host Jennifer Carroll. There I sat in my car in the parking lot of Walmart, sobbing. Again. This wasn't the first time, nor sadly, would it be the last time. I had kept it together through...

Welcome to Be Grace and Glory. Inspiration and encouragement to help you live with Faith over fear. I'm your host Jennifer Carroll. My passion is to provide you with encouragement to help you grow in Christ and have unshakeable trust in Him.  I created Be Grace & Glory as a result of God leading me...