Mind The Gap

Phil Morris is a husband, father, pastor and student at Bethany Global University. In this episode he shares his testimony of being healed from PTSD and depression as he learned to love God and serve others in his hometown of Erie, PA. We dive into topics such as his confidence in his wife and her faith and loving her to the fullest by learning to lead as the head of his house, practicing the biblical idea of love to others, figuring out how to hear God's voice in our everyday lives, and recognizing the uniqueness of others while forming personal relationships that foster understanding and real love. If you want to go deeper in understanding from a loving and biblical perspective of current events, please visit the following conversations as mentioned at the end of the episode. Each resource is available through YouTube and everywhere podcasts are available. Southside Rabbi: YouTube - CRT Series PART ONE, CRT Series PART TWO, CRT Series PART THREE, CRT Series PART FOUR Podcast - PART ONE, PART TWO, PART THREE, PART FOUR Just Thinking Podcast: YouTube - Episode #108 Critical Race Theory Podcast - Episode #108 Critical Race Theory

Joining us today is Lisa Davis, who is a highly educated, God-fearing, people-loving woman among many other things to many people. She sits down with us to discuss her testimony full of supernatural grace, freedom, and healing starting from living in a dirt poor, abusive household as one of nine children in West Virginia to eventually not only being the only member in her family to go to college, but going back later to get her masters degree. She talks about her journey as a wife of 30 years, a mother of 2 children and 3 step-children, a counselor to women who have experienced similar traumas, and how God was with her through fatherlessness, molestation, and life-altering decisions as a young woman. She offers her personal time and experienced counsel at the end. Please feel free to reach out if you resonated with her and her story and are in need of someone to talk to directly. As mentioned toward the end of the episode, her email is lisadavis1220@gmail.com.

Jillian Walters sits down with us today to chat about getting through tough times. When striving and achieving fail us and we come to the end of ourselves, where are we supposed to turn? Jillian shares where she found support and grace in the midst of child loss and carrying a heavy secret. For listeners who are going through a similar season in life and need direction and encouragement, please feel free to watch the 4-part sermon series called Hurt Happens linked below. Click here to watch the Hurt Happens Sermon Series.

Join us today as we delve into how to live a Jesus-centered life as a young person in today's modern society. Kenny Ortiz, a professor at Bethany Global University and a pastor at Cities Church, sits down with us to discuss navigating things like dating, finding a church community, and moving forward in our careers. Professor Kenny's podcast: Theology For The Rest of Us Other resources mentioned: Podcast - Ask Pastor John Books - Habits of Grace by David Mathis and Accidental Feminist by Courtney Reissig YouTube - Paige Benton Brown with The Gospel Coalition

We're back! In this episode of Mind the Gap, we're kicking off a new style of conversation where we bring on guests of all ages, genders, and races to share their story of how God has saved them and grown them. Our first guest is none other than Ma'Laika's mother, Yolandé Hall. Since she's been a pillar, mentor, and encourager in all of our lives, we decided there would no more perfect way to start this new version of the podcast than to hear more about how she grew into a Godly woman who knows how to balance showing love and speaking truth.

The podcast is transitioning into a new direction. Listen to this short episode to find out what to expect in the coming weeks, and don't forget to subscribe and turn on notifications to be updated when the new season starts.

In today's episode, we're discussing the the fine line between honoring our bodies with adequate rest and dishonoring our bodies by being too complacent in our own daily comforts. This conversation covers the perspectives of a college student working out twice a day on her summer break, a corporate 9-5 employee getting in exercise when she can, and a pregnant, work-from-home entrepreneur exercising only when her body feels good enough to move.

Our guest today, Katelyn Stephens, is a friend, Seed77 participant, and fellow Jesus lover. She joins us to share her story and perspective of overcoming being hurt by people in the church and how that led into a deeper relationship with God. In this conversation, we make the distinction between human-made religion and rules and God-given convictions and communication. And stick around until the end of the episode where talk about how this applies to our bodies and nutrition.

In this episode, we go deep into what it means to differentiate between receiving proper grace to never be perfect and having the license to do whatever we feel like doing. We break down how true grace is the only power that allows us to change for the better and how license keeps us stuck in the same cycles and patterns that keep breaking us down time after time. If everyone receives a form of common grace, what does that look like? Is there a standard of grace or does everyone receive it differently? Listen in as we tackle these questions and more in today's conversation. *Correction: The artist mentioned, Eshon Burgundy, published the song, "Nothing But The Blood", on the album "Don't Shoot the Messenger" not "For the Love of Money". Both albums are equally awesome.

In today's episode we have a special guest and friend, Kayla, who shared a very unique experience within an online program led by a weight loss charlatan on Instagram. Listen in as we dive deep into the mysterious world of online coaching programs through the lens of real client experience, coaching red flags, and enrollment call scripts. Stay tuned until the end to hear who the only true mentor and coach worth having is, and if you are ready to take a step forward with creating healthier habits for yourself, check out the free program of Seed77 by visiting the link below. www.seed77.org

Sex and porn and divorce, oh my! In today's episode we talk about both spiritual and physical intimacy. We compare the struggles and advantages of relationships from three unique perspectives: singlehood, courtship, and marriage. Is masturbation sinful? What does the Bible say about divorce? How does the true intimate nature of worship satisfy us? Listen in as we wrestle with these controversial questions and more in this unconventional conversation.

Negative feedback can be dismissed, internalized, or used. Today we use negative opinions about ourselves as a springboard for objective personal improvement and discuss our own unique ways of processing offense. And stay tuned to the latter part of the episode to hear us break down new age practices that have creeped into the church where the following podcast is referenced: https://youtu.be/_nKrJvOdl3w

In a follow up to last week's episode of loving yourself, today we break down the other side of that coin: denying yourself. In our conversation, we answer the complex question, "how can denying myself be the ultimate form of loving myself?" The topic is broken down in a systematic and objective way without neglecting our own failures and vulnerabilities. As this is such a nuanced and complicated subject, we do our best to steer clear from our own opinions on the matter unlike previous episodes and instead use scriptural references as well and passages from the textbook, "Systematic Theology" by Wayne Grudem.

You are most precious and valuable. But sometimes it's hard to feel like that about ourselves. We can be our own worst critics, and at the same time refuse to discipline ourselves in the ways we know we should. How do we find the balance between remembering our value and not letting entitlement and complacency creep into our daily habits? In this episode, we discuss comparison, depression, anxiety, and true love toward ourselves and others.

The space in between taking action and seeing the results is full of waiting. Today, Kenisa, Ma'Laika, and Antalicia are back with a new episode in a new season of the podcast to talk about pushing through the waiting period of life with consistent effort and hopeful patience. Join us as we talk about committed singleness, transitioning into a healthier lifestyle, and more. And stay tuned until the end of the episode for a SPECIAL SURPRISE ANNOUNCMENT!

It goes deeper than just a self-esteem issue. Some of us are raised in households that are so focused on eating right and exercise that when we don't have the time to focus on our bodies as an adult, we start to think there's something wrong with us. And some of us are raised in families that never make health a priority, and as we enter a world of comparison and competition, we never feel good enough or like we measure up to impossible body standards. Whatever the case, every woman has had a moment where she looks in the mirror and picks apart what she sees. That unrelenting, negative voice in our heads tells us that if we would just lose 8 pounds this month, next month will be better. But it never seems to stop. It's a cycle of seeing what's wrong, trying to fix it, and coming up short. How do we stop the cycle? Or better yet, how do we get out of it altogether? What kind of mindsets, beliefs, and habits must we have so we can actually see ourselves for the beautiful creation we are? Join us in this personal and vulnerable conversation around body image, and listen until the end for practical applications to help overcome the distortion of it. Visit the website mentioned at the end of the conversation at www.seed77.org.

"Show me your friends, and I'll show you your future." We love our friends, and losing any kind of relationship is a difficult thing that leaves behind hurt and bitterness. But what do you do when you realize that the people closest to you are keeping you stuck in habits that you want to outgrow? How do we show love to people who we know aren't good for us anymore? Join our conversation today as we discuss keeping friends around too long, cutting people off too soon, and everything in between.

Whether you are successfully holding on through the storm or you feel like you're drowning altogether, everyone is in need of a moment of encouragement right about now. You are not alone, and you are more than a conqueror through Him who loves you. This short, unique episode discusses the beautiful paradox of finding strength in our weakest moments and ends with a word of encouragement that will uplift anyone who takes less than 10 minutes to listen.

In the conversation today, we discuss what it means to find real, lasting joy in a world that's constantly trying to steal it from us. Contrary to toxic positivity that says, "just focus on the good things!", we dive into what it means to find true enjoyment in the mundane without disregarding the pain. How do you find purpose in all the days that might seem to blur together? Where does sustainable joy come from when we may not exactly *feel* all that joyful? Sit down with us as we compare our personal experiences with healing through trauma and some practical suggestions that might help in your journey toward rejoicing in all things.

In this episode, we sit down to discuss what real, true, Godly love looks like. How do we love ourselves more in a way that glorifies our Creator? How do we extend that to the people around us? What does that love look like when we give it to God directly? Listen in as we explore the practical implications of this perfect love in our daily fallible lives.

In this episode, Kenisa and Ma'Laika discuss legalism and judgment toward ourselves and others. In an effort to combat the feeling of never measuring up, we talk about what perfect grace looks like and how it manifests in our own lives. It's impossible for us to be perfect, and, for that matter, we can't even comprehend what real perfection even is. So how do we live in grace AND truth in a broken world?

How do we handle it when someone calls us out with an attitude? It's easy to feel attacked, abused or misunderstood in the moment, but what if there's merit to what is being said? In this episode, we're tackling the difficult balance of telling truth and giving grace to others and ourselves. Get to know the ladies better by following us on Instagram! @heykenisa @liciagray_ @malaika_alayla

This is what the fitness and diet coaches WON'T tell you because it would go against their entire business model. There is one main factor that drives this industry of self-development that actually keeps you from developing altogether and just lines the pockets of everyone who dubs themselves an "authority." Today's conversation focuses on our personal stories in this matter and how we can overcome it to be fully secure and happy in our bodies - even without changing them. Get to know the ladies better by following us on Instagram! @heykenisa @liciagray_ @malaika_alayla

As a follow up to last week's conversation, the ladies sit down and talk about the difference between head knowledge that informs our decision making and instinctual knowledge that steers our decision making. Sometimes our instincts go against what we've learned, but somehow we just know if something is right or wrong. Some call this a "gut feeling" while others might refer to it as "being led by the spirit." Either way, it's undeniable that our own limited understanding fails us at times. And when this happens, how do we handle it? Sit down with us as we discuss the answer. Get to know us better by following us on Instagram! @heykenisa @liciagray_ @malaika_alayla

In today's conversation, we're breaking down what the evolutionary process looks like when we're doing the work to become new versions of ourselves. Just like when a new life is brought into the world, it takes time, consistent growth, and quite a bit of discomfort to get from where we start to where we want to be. In between, there are 8 stages that we all go through in various ways, and we discuss our personal experience in evolving into a new creation. Get to know us better by following us on Instagram! @heykenisa @malaika_alayla

In the final part of our new year's conversation, we discuss how we're choosing to move forward and hold ourselves to a higher standard in 2021. Loving ourselves has taken on a whole new meaning as we figure out how to love the people around us through deeper friendship. Join us as we talk about the motivation behind wanting to lose weight, how that has changed in 2020, and the difference between having goals and setting standards. Get to know us better by following us on Instagram! @heykenisa @liciagray_ @malaika_alayla @therachelrene

There's a lot of theoretical and ambiguous talk around having a growth mindset, but how does that translate in our lives practically? What does it actually look like to grow as an individual in modern society on a daily basis? Kenisa, Ma'Laika, and Antalicia continue the conversation with Rachel about personal development and how we choose to put that into practice in our day to day habits. Get to know the ladies better by following them on Instagram! @heykenisa @malaika_alayla @liciagray_ @therachelrene

In our first conversation of the new year, we sit down with our friend, Rachel, to chat about how the challenges of 2020 have refined us and how our motivations and intentions have evolved because of the struggles this past year. We hope that us sharing our personal stories and perspectives help you, as the listener, see opportunities of growth in your own life. Because if you feel like you're made for more than your current circumstances, you probably are. Follow us on Instagram, and get to know us better! @heykenisa @alaya_malaika @liciagray_ @therachelrene

For the last 77 days of the year, each of us has been focused on discipline and commitment in our own unique ways. In this episode, we talk about how we work through laziness and procrastination and how they differ from just a lack of urgency. With full transparency, we discuss how we can have a healthier relationship with our bodies and what each of us is doing to actively become better stewards of what we've been given. Stick around until the end for some fun but embarrassing throwback stories about something we've all given up for the rest of the year - drinking alcohol.

Is the universe listening? Does the Law of Affirmation really work? How does that all tie in with our relationship with Jesus? In this episode, we're discussing our mindsets on energy and power manipulation, and the consequences that result.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and like a lot of people this year, we're spending the holiday away from our families for the first time. But being away from family doesn't mean the disfunction stops. Today we're being transparent about our parents and how we're working toward having a more loving relationship with them. The conversation ends with some lighthearted joking about unseasoned food and what we'll be eating at our little Friendsgiving tomorrow. Happy Thanksgiving, and thank you for listening!

We all have doubt, and that's okay. In this episode, we're chatting about our own struggles with doubting ourselves and God. Throughout the conversation, we address three questions: How could a loving God condemn those who have had no opportunity to respond to Christ? What's the difference between a good and a bad question? Do we really have free will? Listen until the very end to hear us talk about how we work to overcome or pacify our own doubts.

In this first episode, we're sharing our personal struggles and lessons on growing through conflict. We discuss the mindsets and beliefs that are necessary to have in order to see and love the people around us instead of avoiding connection with them.