Let's Be Real

It's almost Christmas!!! Let's discuss the Biblical Christmas story, what it says, and what it doesn't. Was Jesus born into an empty barn with only Mary and Joseph there to deliver him? Or was he born into a home full of family there to welcome him? I know what the movies tell us....but was does the bible say? Listen in.

How do you feel about the word "obey"? I have no problem with it, I use it regularly but have also gotten into trouble with it. Maybe a better word is to "adhere" or "follow" rather than the 'O' Word - but the idea is still the same. The real question I want to talk about is:Are we faithful?What are we faithful to?Are will willing to be faithful to God, even if there is a cost? (because there is)Let me know what you think!And if it's not too much to ask - will you leave me a review on whatever podcast listener you're using? Thanks so much!

Thank you to all that made it out to our 6th Annual Retreat talking about the Attributes of God (brief recap here). We have an in person Advent Event through Lifeway coming up Sunday Dec. 1st! Get your ticket HERE - you can get more info on social media or my website. www.erikamconner.comCheck out the interview with Jennifer Rothschild that I mention HERE

I was blessed to be able to teach at my home church this past weekend, if you'd like to see that message you can watch it HERE.In preparing for the message, I had to RE-learn and be reminded about many of the truths I got to teach on (isn't that how God works?!). I had to ignore insecurities and obey God and go in Faith. I had to take my eyes off me, and put them back on HIM. In this episode I share the lessons that God taught me through this experience, and I pray they can be a blessing to you.Reminder there are still spots available for this fall's women's retreat. Head on over to the website for details: www.erikamconner.com

When we get stuck in our own disappointment, the best way out is to shift our gaze. Take it off of ourselves, and put it on God. Get to know Him, and it will change everything.

I've heard this phrase, "yes & amen", for a little while now, and have wondered where it came from and what it means... and as it seems to keep showing up and becoming more popular, I figured it was time to look it up. What do you think it means? Let's talk about it.

I'm so excited for all of you to meet my friend and fellow bible teacher, Laura, hear about her ministry and her NEW book! You can check them out at  her website HERE or on amazon at this linkMy home church, Fox River Christian in Waukesha, WI is hosting a High School girls conference November 4th, 2023 called Unshakeable! Laura and I will both be there so grab your high schooler and come with them to this amazing event - its for the girls AND the women who love them. Register HERE and come say Hi to me and Laura - can't wait to see you there.

A short discussion on the fruit of the spirit that I tend to overlook...self-control. AND an invitation for you to join us to refocus on God's work, regain some discipline and intern benefit from the self control---through the 77Discipline Challenge! Listen in for details and join the group on Facebook, we get started next week!

Indulge me! I see so many life lessons while I'm in the garden. That's where I pray, that's where I feel the closest to God, and I believe God designed it that way :) Three metaphors, one main take away - how is your intimacy in your relationship with the Lord?

We will continue to dive into what theology really is, and what it means to us...but in the meantime, what do you think of when you hear the word "theology"? Do you get excited? Or are you disinterested? Maybe even overwhelmed?

I don't really watch the news, there's too much depressing information. What do you do with the 'bad news' of this world? In your own life? What is going on in that head and heart of yours?Let's look at 1 Peter 4 and talk about being stewards of God's Grace.

Psalm 1 calls on each of us to make a choice to live a life marked by righteousness or wickedness. It points us to the necessity to avoid wickedness and pursue righteousness by "delighting in the law of the Lord" and to "meditate on it day and night."How do you do with meditating on the law of the Lord day and night? Me, not great. Let's Be Real with ourselves and ask, What DO we meditate on? What DOES delight us? And ask God for help to see those things, set them down, and turn to Him instead.Information for the Women's Retreat can be found here.You can join me in person for the Jesus and Women Study by registering here. and get your book ASAP here...And last but not least, sing along through the Psalms with Poor Bishop Hooper at their website,   https://www.everypsalm.com/

My friend Jessica joins me for this episode to recount her session and talk at this last years #Letthewomenretreat weekend.  Listen in as we discuss the importance of being in the word as preparation for the spiritual that is SURE to come.

100th Episode - and we are finishing up the Advent Study and talking about biblical Love, and the New Year.Do you pick a word or goal each year? I picked a word this year, listen in to find out what it is - what is yours?

Merry Christmas Eve! Week 3 of advent (2 weeks ago, because I'm behind) is the week to reflect on Joy. Not circumstantial happiness but a deep Joy that comes only because of Jesus.How is your Joy? How are you doing? What are you looking at for Joy in your life? Jesus? Or something else?Let us meditate on our focus this Christmas Eve...

Who doesn't want peace? Do you have it? What is the biblical definition of peace? What do you trade your God-given peace for?  Let's talk about it as we are preparing our hearts this advent season.If you still want more talk on peace, you can listen to episode #15: "Peace"  as well as episode #34: "Christmas Lights and Christmas Peace".

Week 1 of Advent! Advent is my favorite time of year to study and come together with others to refocus on the season ahead of us. Let's talk about the Hope of Advent. The Hope that is a person, the Hope that is Jesus.What do you hope in?

We just finished up our 4th Annual Women's Retreat, where we spent our weekend discussing Spiritual Warfare. In this episode, I'm recapping our introduction to the topic and will spend the next few weeks reviewing the lessons from the retreat. If you couldn't join us this year, I hope you mark your calendars for next week, Sept 22-24, 2023!There are additional opportunities coming this fall and winter to study together starting with Advent, a study on the book of Acts in January, and a weekend event simulcast of the IF Gathering on March 3&4th! Stay tuned & follow along; we have lots of great things coming up!Scatter by Anne Wilson

Get outside today, observe God's nature, meditate on and be awe-struck by the amazing glory that God show's us each and every day and often takes for granted. God's glory need not be taken for granted.

Reading in my favorite devotional this morning, Paul David Tripp's "New Morning Mercies", made me thoughtful about fear and faith. And how we make decisions based on one or the other, that fear really could be considered forgetfulness of God, that we meditate on our own selves, resources and capacities often times, instead of moving forward depending on God and meditating on his faithfulness.

I took a few weeks off to go serve at a summer camp, 'the best camp in the land', and am back recording.  I met Nolan at Northern Grace Youth Camp a few years ago and have had the opportunity to watch him grow in his faith and service to the Lord. Join me in a discussion with Nolan as we talk about serving, what it means to him, why he does, and how he is blessed.If you are looking for a fantastic Christian summer camp for your kids, visit www.northerngraceyouthcamp.orgIf you aren't looking for a camp for your kids, but ARE looking for an opportunity to financially support a wonderful faith based organization, I'm sure they would welcome that too.

The book of Proverbs. It encourages wisdom, knowledge, instruction and the fear of the Lord. What does that look like? How well do we seek knowledge and truth? Do we value these things? Or are we just moving through life?

God his taught me the hard way to evaluate my opinions. To see where they might actually be coming from? And am I actually entitled to them? Join me as we talk about our opinions, it is an interesting idea to meditate on, that is for sure!

I just finished up a 5 week book club at church reading Allie Beth Stuckey's book "you're not enough (and that's okay) Escaping the Toxic Culture of Self-Love". We thoroughly enjoyed the book and had great discussion about some challenging topics.  I give my overall review of the book in this episode and encourage everyone to read it.

The book of Job reminds me how small I really am. How I don't really have any reason to try to fully understand why God does the things He does.  That at times He may have to put me in my place, like He did Job, by asking  'who do you think you are?'. It reminds me that I need to refocus,  shift my thoughts and efforts away from control,  and to focus on how great God is,  who He is, what He has done for me and will continue to do.How do you do with that? Do you try to understand God in all things? Join me as we briefly talk about what that can look like in our hearts.Registration opens tomorrow (June 25th) for the 4th Annual "Let The Women Retreat" weekend, where we will be talking about Spiritual Warfare.You can find the registration page HERE  - I hope you can join us!

With new listeners tuning in I thought it would be a good time to refresh us as to why I am here...why this podcast...why "Let's Be Real"? It's all about honesty. Being honest with others, with ourselves, with God.

My social media scrolling led me to 2 very different and opposing video's of parental experience. God is a faithful loving Father, not a father (or parent) who leaves. He does not come and go, reject you, or make you prove your worth. He is a faithful father who never leaves. His love is steadfast and unearned. 2 Thes. 3:5 "May the Lord direct your hearts, to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ."

Let's close out the book of Ruth with the climax and conclusion of chapter 4!

We see a plan unfold in Ruth chapter three, and we see grace and righteousness (hesed) displayed yet again!

Let's walk through the second chapter of the Ruth Scroll together.  If you haven't listened to the Intro and Chapter 1, start there. If you have already, listen in :) Let's talk about Ruth, Boaz and HESED! You can view the class slides HERE if you would like to follow along.  

Let's jump into chapter one, and look at the two scenes set before us. We will look at the 'Emptying of Naomi' and the 'Interpretation of her Emptying' - while seeing a picture of true covenant/biblical love - Aheb - in the actions of Ruth.

Join me as we talk about some important background information for the Book of Ruth, before we jump into the book and it's important lessons over the next few weeks. This is a class I am teaching in person and am recording for you as well, so I have included the classes slides HERE for you if you would like to follow along.In this episode I refer to Gideon and Jonah; both of which I have previously recorded episodes on. If you would like to go back to those, Gideon is episode 3 and Jonah is a short series of episodes 50, 51, 52, 53, and 54.

I have 'priorities' that I value and hold in high esteem in my head and heart, but don't always show that value in my day to day life. What are some priorities that you really hold dear to your heart? Do they align with God's priorities for your life? Let's pray today and ask God to search our hearts.

The Middle Eastern way of thinking is very different from Western thought, and that applies to how we read the scriptures as well. Reading the scripture in context can be challenging and can add great understanding to the things we have already learned.Kristi McClelland and her study "Jesus and Women" does an amazing job showing us these differences and walking you through how Jesus interacts with women in his life on earth. If you haven't done that study - I know you will love it.

How do you handle a change in plans? I'm not necessarily talking about BIG life challenges and hurts, I'm talking our daily plans. Do they throw you into a bad mood for the rest of the day? Or do you roll with it? I, honestly, can do either...it really depends. And today, I'm needing to renew my mind so that I can roll with it, with a godly perspective.

I at times wrestle with the purpose of prayer, and whether or not I should even ask for things, even though scripture says I can. Am I asking for the right things? I'm sure many of you have had the same questions. This week I was working through The Weekly Prayer Project Journal (affiliate link - I think) and week 4 got me thinking about prayer and what peace comes through knowing that you have been "Heard".

Let's read some scripture together today, and let it speak to us, meditate on it and pray over it.

We are exposed to all sorts of things, good and bad, all day & everyday. We also expose others to both good and bad, every day - through our influence. How are you influenced? And how do you influence those around you?

Let's talk about it...    Why is it so hard sometimes? Why don't we always use them well?  How do we use our words?!

The New Year is always a time to set goals for ourselves, buy the new calendar, and be really motivated for a time. Let's take a look at those goals through the story of Joseph and God's sovereignty, providence and promise keeping that he shows us in Genesis 37-50.

Join me as I welcome a friend and guest, Jessica Craig, as we talk about 'buffering'! It was a new term for me, but a concept I'm incredibly familiar and skilled at. Listen in to see if you are a 'buffer-er' as well! Do you have a 'word' of the year for 2022? Do you have plans, goals and resolutions? Listen in - I think this talk will be a great help - I know it is for me.

Christmas countdown is on! Let's talk about music, Christmas, Emmanuel - "God with Us" - and the history of 'Silent Night'!

This advent season I am once again going through a study called 'HE IS', a study focused on a different attribute of God each day - this week the characteristic of "Eternal" really stood out to me, and I share it with you.

The  seasons and holidays are great reminders of where our focus should be. As we head into this next week of Thanksgiving, lets remember that it is God's will for us to Rejoice, Pray and be Thankful. What are you thankful for? Can you get into the habit of writing out what you're thankful for each day? Are you having a hard time being grateful at the moment. Let's pray with and encourage one another in the effort of living a life of gratitude, because it will change us.

Let's Be Real is all about honestly and humbly evaluating ourselves, and today we talk about hypocrisy, and how hard it can be to see it in ourselves, and just how plain difficult it  can be to not eat our words.

What does the Old Testament have to do with the command for us to be disciples?  It's so very important, its the 'Why?"!!!

I welcome my friend Sarah to the podcast today to recap her talk from the Let The Women Retreat Weekend, on what discipleship isn't, and what some of the myths of discipleship are that we tell ourselves. Join in for a great conversation.

We wrapped up our 3rd Let The Women Retreat Weekend, where we spent our time talking about discipleship. For those of you who weren't able to join us, we are going to recap our time together and what we learned about discipleship. What does the 'Divine Council' have to do with discipleship? A lot....and I'll explain more fully in the next weeks, but for now some groundwork needs to be laid.

Does it feel to you, like it does to me, that the world around me is very angry...all the time...?Don't you wonder if anyone sick of being angry yet? It's almost feels like our culture is stuck in an anger rut...are you? What does that mean or look like for the Christian? Let's talk about anger...

We are called to share the hope that is within us....Jesus. But sharing the gospel can be scary, sometimes we shy away from telling people about our faith. Join me and my special guest, my awesome husband, Will, as we chat about the gospel. What is it? How would you define it? How can we share it with the world around us?

Hope, it is necessary to have to live this life well. It is the very thing that helps you grieve from the loss of this life. Many go through this life without it, and it is heartbreaking, or at least it should be...will you share your hope with the hurting world around you? You don't know how? Wonder what you should even say? Come back in the next weeks as we talk about ways, and equip ourselves to be ready to give an answer for the hope that is in us!