Conversations of Christ

In this part 1 conversation with Amy and Stef, you will feel the tender hearts of these incredible women and how they found Christ seeking them out in their moments of darkness or wandering.  Christ goes after the one as the shepherd of our souls.  We talk about surrendering our will to God and walking to the edge of the light to receive so much growth, peace, and understanding from all we experience.  This conversation is part of the Finding Jesus in Every Step Series. 25 Faith-filled affirmations freebie: https://restandabide.mykajabi.com/pl/2147584305

I take a pause in the series Finding Jesus in Every Step to officially introduce Rest and Abide and a few of the principles that outline the purpose of this platform.  It's a place to share practical Christ-centered tools for you to live more often in a place of courage, peace, hope, truth, and refuge.  To fill your whole mind and body with His light and love and continue in that unity with God throughout your day, providing you with rest to your soul and peace that passes all understanding.  There's a Christ-centered meditation at the end to help you on your journey to rest and abide in Him.   To download the free PDF of 25 faith-filled affirmations, visit https://restandabide.mykajabi.com/pl/2147584305

In this episode, my husband and I get to share with you some of the tender experiences we've had in our own wilderness times of life.  God promises so much to those traveling through these dessert-like places.  He gives us treasure here, makes these places beautiful and filled with life, and he goes before us as our shield and is our reward.  We share how we have found God in every step, even when those steps are unimaginably hard.

We're starting a new series!  We'll still be learning about daughter disciples (like Mary Magdalene and Hagar today), but with a bit of a twist.  We're looking at wilderness experiences in our lives in this series and where Christ shows up in our stories.  Wilderness times may be uncomfortable, stretching, or maybe even mundane, but they are times that have the potential to create amazing transformation within us and our lives.  They help us see Christ with new eyes and a new heart.  I can't wait to be with you here!

Join me with three wonderful and wise young women as we explore the story of Esther and the parallels we can find in our modern-day daughter disciple lives!  We're talking about courage, eternal identity, receiving the power of God to accomplish the little and big things in life, and creating unity.  This is a great episode to share with the young women in your lives!

This episode explores the Old Testament story of Esther and parallels her story with gospel principles and applications for our day.  She went on a "heroine's journey", faced huge obstacles, was guided by a loving mentor, and was faced with a choice to act in courage and accomplish a task that brought her people to their knees in prayer and fasting.  We'll explore the idea of how knowing our eternal identity helps us accomplish and conquer all things, both big and small, that God asks of us.

Learning of Christ and coming to him facilitates peace and healing and allows us to have our minds changed to think more with heaven's view.  As we prepare our homes and hearts for the Christmas season, this episode focuses on the roles of Christ as the “light of the world” and “the lamb of God”.  Two fitting descriptions of Him as we celebrate His birth. As we draw near to Him and come to know and understand, love, and trust Him, we come to also know, understand and love ourselves more deeply in the process.  Thank you for joining me as we celebrate the birth of our Savior! Resources Little Lamb by Jenedy Paige: https://www.jenedypaige.com/gallery/little-lamb Newsletter: https://restandabide.mykajabi.com/newsletter-subscription Email: hello@restandabide.com

We are jumping right back into our conversation with Audra and Camille.  We'll be talking about what has helped us come to really know Christ personally. That Christ helps to carry us through our trials.  He helps make our burdens feel lighter and brings our hearts peace, even when there's a storm going on around us.  Christ strengthens us to bear our burdens with ease.  Then he calls us to go and do the same for others.  Your Sphere of Influence Audra Elkington: @audraelkington Camille Schramm: @choosetobeelect A Worldwide Sisterhood: @aworldwidesisterhood A VoiceofGladness: @avoiceofgladness Subscribe to the Rest and Abide Newsletter: https://restandabide.mykajabi.com/newsletter-subscription Questions or comments? Email Ashley: hello@restandabide.com

Join this conversation with Audra Elkington and Camille Schramm as we talk about loneliness and feeling different.   Christ lovingly and tenderly sees us deeply and meets us where we are.  He then teaches us who He is and as we come to know him, we come to know our own eternal identity.   Guests: Audra Elkington: @audraelkington Camille Schramm: @choosetobeelect A Worldwide Sisterhood: @aworldwidesisterhood A VoiceofGladness: @avoiceofgladness Subscribe to the Rest and Abide Newsletter: https://restandabide.mykajabi.com/newsletter-subscription Questions or comments? Email Ashley: hello@restandabide.com

As we look at this intimate biblical encounter with Christ and the Woman at the Well, we'll see the sweet and powerful way that Christ meets us exactly where we're at, even in the middle of our daily chores.  He sees our eternal worth and identity and wants all of us, including our weaknesses, which are often what allow Him to shine more brightly through us.  He just needs a willing heart.  We'll see a sweet transformation as Christ spends time with this daughter disciple and creates an environment to help her see His true identity.  As she learns of Christ's identity as her Messiah, she comes to better understand her own identity. This interaction between the Woman at the Well and Christ is one of the most detailed narratives between Christ and one of His daughter disciples in scripture that we have. It is so intimate, which helps us to see ourselves more easily in her shoes, helping us better see our own encounters with Christ.   Find more... Instagram: @avoiceofgladness  Sign up for the Rest and Abide Newsletter: https://restandabide.mykajabi.com/newsletter-subscription   Awesome Resources: Evidence Not Seen: A Woman's Miraculous Faith in the Jungles of World War II by Darlene Deibler Rose (p. 167-168) Women in the New Testament by Camille Fronk Olson (p.214-225) Falling Upward by Richard Rohr  

Enjoy this short guided meditation about courage, light, and hearing Him!   Sign up for the newsletter here: https://restandabide.mykajabi.com/newsletter-subscription Find out more updates @avoiceofgladness 

Join me with Kati, Lauren, Darla, and Sally in the second half of our inspiring conversation about Mary and Martha from Luke 10:38-42.  Today we're discussing practical ways to create stillness in our lives to more fully receive that good part.  We'll look at examples of how our personal worship and discipleship look unique and different because we are each unique children of God.   And we'll finish it off with some powerful encouragement that your individual gifts are needed to help build God's kingdom.   Where to find our guests in this episode: Katie Ellis @thefaithcollective Darla Trendler @spirituallymindedwomen Lauren Madsen @a.lingering.light Sally Dupaix @kinship.table Ashley Marchant (host) @avoiceofgladness   Resources: Women of the New Testament by Elspeth Young  and Camille Fronk Olsen  

Join me with Kati, Lauren, Darla, and Sally in our conversation about Mary and Martha from Luke 10:38-42.  We'll talk about how our way of worshiping Christ will look unique and different to our own circumstances and individuality.  How we can deepen our connection with Christ and become more deeply planted in our faith.  What we can do to offer the little moments in our lives to Christ and how those small, still moments of reaching to and sitting with Him help us hear Christ's voice more clearly.   Where to find our guests in this episode: Katie Ellis @thefaithcollective Darla Trendler @spirituallymindedwomen Lauren Madsen @a.lingering.light Sally Dupaix @kinship.table Ashley Marchant (host) @avoiceofgladness   Resources: Women of the New Testament by Elspeth Young  and Camille Fronk Olsen  

Do you ever feel burdened by all the things you're trying to balance in your life?  In a busy world with multiple things pulling at our attention, it can seem easy to feel spread thin or just distracted from what matters most.  In our next two episodes, we are going to look at Luke 10 with a sweet example and reminder of balance and priorities with Martha, Mary, and Jesus.  We're going to talk about how spending time at the feet of Christ truly is the most needful thing for the wellness of our souls and how to do so in practical ways. Thank you for being here!

Join me with three inspiring women and dear friends, Dani Davis, Kali Smith, and Lindsay McConkie, as we discuss the parallels in our own lives with the life of Hannah (from Samuel 1-2).  We'll talk about the power that comes into our lives as we commit ourselves to the Lord and pray with faith. We'll explore questions like how challenges can bring us to God, examples of how prayer can look in day-to-day life, and the little miracles we can see when we pray with an eye of faith.  We'll share powerful and simple examples that reflect the quote by Neal A. Maxwell,  “Righteous sorrow and suffering carve cavities in the soul that will become later reservoirs of joy.”  As we come to find ourselves in the lives of other daughter disciples, both in biblical times and in modern-day, we come to better understand our own worth and identity in the eyes of God.   Find episode updates and more on Instagram @avoiceofgladness

Being desperate can actually be a really good thing. When we are desperate, we work harder and do more to be guided by heaven.  In this episode, we'll explore the experience of Hannah in 1 Samuel.  We'll see how she dealt with the sorrow of unmet expectations and how her desperation brought both an internal and external transformation.  "Hannah came to realize that no one could fill the emptiness in her life, but the savior... it became an important catalyst that led Hannah to discover the Lord's teachings for her. Through his compassionate acceptance and limitless strength. God helped this Israelite woman recognize that she could contribute to the Lord's work and have a fruitful life." (Women of the Old Testament, Camille Fronk Olsen) Together we'll see how we can find pieces of our own story and our own encounters with Christ through the experience of Hannah.  Our challenges have great purpose and when we give them and our commitment to the Lord, he can make something of us much greater than we could ever imagine. I invite you to consider how your own challenging circumstances can draw you closer to God to experience your own change of heart, of vision, and who you're born to be.   Resources: Women of the Old Testament by Camille Fronk Olsen Hannah: Devoted Handmaid of the Lord by Linda M. Campbell The Holy Bible … with Commentary and Critical Notes, 6 vols. by Adam Clarke Stay up to date with new episodes on Instagram @avoiceofgladness

There is power in finding commonality and community with women of faith.  Whether face-to-face, in sacred text, or in the pages of a book.  Hope, healing, and answers come as we find ourselves in their stories.   In this episode, host Ashley Marchant shares with you a few pieces of her personal journey that's lead to the creation of Conversations of Christ. From gathering together and sharing stories of faith with other women to diving into the scriptures with questions she was desperately seeking answers to.  Ashley discusses how learning and sharing stories of faith help to deepen our roots and widen our branches, helping us grow and bear fruit for others to partake of and be strengthened in their own journeys. Season 1 of the podcast will be focused on seeing Christ through the eyes of His daughter disciples.  Each month, we will dive into the written Word to learn about a Woman in the Scripture's life and where they found Christ in their stories.  The episode that follows will be a small group or one-on-one conversation where we discover parallel experiences with Christ in our own lives.  Our purpose with Conversations of Christ is threefold: first, to get clear on our purpose and identity soul deep; second, to learn to draw Christ's healing and strengthening power more fully into our lives; and third to practice seeing God, ourselves and others deeply, enabling connection and desired change.  Join me!