Podcast appearances and mentions of bo stern

Going through the loss of a marriage after the death of a spouse or divorce is very difficult. And then trying to blend a family and create something new adds a whole other layer. The average blended family takes at least 7 years to blend, so today - if you hear anything, we hope you hear grace for the journey as we talk with a couple who truly gets this assignment. We have Cliff Brady and Bo Stern today. You might have heard Bo share last month about suffering well. Bo is the author of Beautiful Battlefields, When Holidays Hurt, and Ruthless. She has been a pastor for a few decades and speaks nationally. Cliff is a business consultant with a variety of expertises. Together, they have 10 children and 6 grandchildren! And yes, their last name is Brady. Bo and Cliff share candidly about their caution to remarriage, how they transitioned toward dating, and the conversations they had with each of their 10 children. They share their observations on how they see divorcees treated differently in the church than widows. They believe people shouldn't need to earn the compassion of others - single parenting is hard! As you tune in, you'll gain some beautiful insights into how to keep your marriage first in the midst of lots of children, and the core values Bo and Cliff believe are helping them have a healthy blended family (despite the many hurts they all experienced along the way). Whether you are grieving the loss of a spouse (through death or divorce), considering remarriage, or currently blending a family, this episode is for you. And honestly, if you are leading blended families or wanting to better understand the needs of your friends, this episode is for you too!   To connect with Bo Stern-Brady, visit:   ONLINE -  bostern.com   SOCIAL -  Instagram - instagram.com/bosternbrady Facebook - facebook.com/bstern   BOOKS -  Beautiful Battlefields  Ruthless When Holidays Hurt   OTHER -  Writer for the SoulSpace app    ========================   We LOVE that you have decided to join us this week for the Living Wholehearted Podcast. We hope you enjoyed the conversation, tips, and resources to help you transform every relationship that matters most to you. If you think this will help someone you know, make sure you send it their way or share on socials. Tag us @living_wholehearted and @terramattson! Don't forget to FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss an episode and help spread the word by leaving us some stars on a review. Thanks for partnering with us to help more leaders, just like you, who want to live and lead with integrity at home, work and in the community.  Go to livingwholehearted.com and sign up to receive our free leadership tips and updates delivered to you in our monthly newsletter.  And… If you're a girl mom, check out mycourageousgirls.com.     Until next time, be the leader you would follow!   Grateful for you, Jeff & Terra   To connect with Jeff & Terra Mattson and Living Wholehearted, go to:   INSTAGRAM @TerraMattson @Living_Wholehearted @MyCourageousGirls   FACEBOOK @WeAreLivingWholehearted @MyCourageousGirls   WEBSITES LivingWholehearted.com TerraMattson.com  MyCourageousGirls.com   RESOURCES Shrinking the Integrity Gap        https://davidccook.org/shrinking-integrity-gap-book/       https://a.co/d/dRiP4Ii Shrinking the Integrity Gap e-Course        https://www.livingwholeheartedstore.com/e-courses Courageous: Being Daughters Rooted in Grace       https://mycourageousgirls.com/shop/p/book-courageous-being-daughters-rooted-in-grace Dear Mattsons        https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdPzQ_cUwCbRc-MQ40KL3a6ze06CiY38l Helping Moms Raise Confident Daughters        http://cpguides.org   Living Wholehearted is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Today we are going to talk about moving through suffering and loss and finding meaning in life - the deep waters. With Bo Stern-Brady as my guest, I know you will find some gold in the midst of this conversation. Bo is the author of Beautiful Battlefields, When Holidays Hurt and Ruthless. She has been a pastor for a few decades and speaks nationally. She's a mom, step-mom, and a grandma. Jeff and I have been through some deep waters of suffering lately, and after spending two decades helping people grieve and heal from the losses of this life, the theology of suffering never gets old. I love this conversation because Bo, a wise sage for today, gets honest about her own niave views of suffering until her first husband was diagnosed with ALS and then passed away leaving her to raise her children as a single-mom. Nothing brings us face to face with Jesus like suffering. Bo and I talk about the ways we fight suffering, try to control it, and what myths we need to let go of in the midst. Bo shares insights about the greatest temptations people face when they are suffering, tips for suffering well, and how to walk alongside a friend or loved one who is going through a season of deep loss.    Bo reminds us that no matter why we have suffering - because of our own choices or the brokenness of this world - the question is not about "why" did this happen but "how" can we let it uncover more of our truest identity. In addition to suffering, Bo talks about leadership and spirtual formation and what every human being needs at the core of their existence. Listen in friends. This episode is one you'll want to play on repeat.  And, will you do us a favor and share with a friend who is suffering and needs a word of hope today? This won't be trite. But like a balm for the soul. As always, leave a review! It helps us meet new listeners along the way.    To connect with Bo Stern-Brady, visit: ONLINE -  bostern.com SOCIAL -  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bstern?fref=ts Twitter - https://twitter.com/Bostern Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bosternbrady/ BOOKS -  Beautiful Battlefields  Ruthless When Holidays Hurt OTHER -  Writer for the SoulSpace app  Founder of She-ology    If you are a female leader and looking for a way to connect with us, our Executive Coaches, Connie Armerding, Rhonda Began and I, Terra Mattson, will be leading a 6 month group coaching series. It will run through July 2023, meeting on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. You can register anytime. It's only $45/month and we will be covering all those unique challenges women face as leaders. To find out more, go to www.livingwholehearted.com/executive-coaching.   We LOVE that you have decided to join us this week for the Living Wholehearted Podcast. We hope you enjoyed the conversation, tips, and resources to help you transform every relationship that matters most to you. If you think this will help someone you know, make sure you send it their way or share on socials. Tag us @living_wholehearted and @terramattson! Don't forget to FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss an episode and help spread the word by leaving us some stars on a review. Thanks for partnering with us to help more leaders, just like you, who want to live and lead with integrity at home, work and in the community.  You can always subscribe to our monthly newsletters at livingwholehearted.com. And, if you are a girl mom, check out mycourageousgirls.com.   Until next time, be the leader you would follow!   Grateful for you, Jeff & Terra   To connect with Jeff & Terra Mattson and Living Wholehearted, go to:   INSTAGRAM @TerraMattson @Living_Wholehearted @MyCourageousGirls   FACEBOOK @WeAreLivingWholehearted @MyCourageousGirls   WEBSITES LivingWholehearted.com TerraMattson.com  MyCourageousGirls.com   RESOURCES Shrinking the Integrity Gap        https://davidccook.org/shrinking-integrity-gap-book/ Shrinking the Integrity Gap e-Course        https://www.livingwholeheartedstore.com/e-courses Courageous: Being Daughters Rooted in Grace       https://mycourageousgirls.com/shop/p/book-courageous-being-daughters-rooted-in-grace Dear Mattsons        https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdPzQ_cUwCbRc-MQ40KL3a6ze06CiY38l Helping Moms Raise Confident Daughters        http://cpguides.org   Living Wholehearted is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be visit www.ChristianParenting.org

The idea of grace is so powerful and compelling that it can seem dangerous. What if we throw it around too easily? What if we give people a license to sin? How do we make sure grace is “balanced” by truth? But grace is always lopsided, it's always scandalous or it isn't grace. Grace meets us and embraces us long before we “deserve” it. The life of Paul shows us a living color demonstration of the scandalous grace of Jesus. “Knocked flat on the ground on the way to Damascus, Paul never recovered from the impact of grace: the word appears no later than the second sentence in any of his letters."  (Phillip Yancey).

Beauty, mystery and wonder. All three of them go together. We wonder at things that are beautiful and mysterious. Children most often find themselves in a state of wonder because everything is a new journey into beauty and mystery. The greatest wonder of all is the Incarnation. Gazing on the Word made flesh keeps the gospel beautiful.

The testing of our faith is gift that produces endurance and reveals where it's lacking.

In exile, identity is challenged and alliegence is divided. There was conflict in the Jewish community in Babylonian exile. Some wanted to hear Jeremiah's call for a peace ethic in Babylon, but others wanted to hear Hananiah's call to a resistance ethic. Should Israel just accept their fate as an exiled and broken nation and absorb completely into Babylon? Or should they resist their overlords and actively work to undermine Babylon? Or should they do something in between?

The natural condition of life for human beings is one of reciprocal rootedness in others. As firmness of footing is a condition of walking and secure movement, so assurance of others being for us is the condition of stable, healthy living. There are many ways this can be present in individual cases, but it must be there. If it is not, we are but walking wounded, our life more or less a shambles until we die.

The natural condition of life for human beings is one of reciprocal rootedness in others. As firmness of footing is a condition of walking and secure movement, so assurance of others being for us is the condition of stable, healthy living. There are many ways this can be present in individual cases, but it must […]

What we think is very much a matter of what we wish and seek to think, and what we feel is very much a matter of what we wish and seek to feel. In short, the condition of our mind is very much a matter of the direction in which our will is set.

What we think is very much a matter of what we wish and seek to think, and what we feel is very much a matter of what we wish and seek to feel. In short, the condition of our mind is very much a matter of the direction in which our will is set.

How can you rewrite your thoughts with meditation? Why should you meditate on a loving God to bring positive change to your outlook on life? Can you create a thriving “thought garden” by meditating on the love from God? In this episode, I interview Bo Stern-Brady on how to bring neurotheology and meditation into your faith. We discuss how to connect to God by finding your inner peace, and the benefits of being mindful of your thoughts.  Thanks for listening! I'd love to connect with you over on Instagram @faithfringes and Facebook. Sign up for my free Spiritual Reflections Course SHOW NOTES AND RESOURCES: Click here WEBSITE: www.faithfringes.com

This week, we are honored to have Bo Stern-Brady. Bo is a friend of ours in ministry from way back. We have been loved and encouraged by her over the years, and we can't wait for you to meet her! Bo is a pastor, speaker, and author (newlywed, mom, and grandma!) She has written three excellent books, “Ruthless,” “When Holidays Hurt,” and “Beautiful Battlefields.” “Beautiful Battlefields” is a great book and we cannot recommend it highly enough! She wrote it after her own fierce and unexpected battle when her husband Steve was diagnosed and later died from ALS. We believe that her walk with Jesus through those battles and the fires, in grief and loss, will speak directly to our communal and individual lament and infuse our hearts with hope that we are not alone, even amid the darkest moments.

This week, Casey and Ashleigh continue their conversation with Pastor Bo Stern-Brady. They talk about SoulSpace (a Christian Meditation app), how to walk through difficult seasons (or support others who are facing hard times), and the evil of recorders in schools. Resources to Dig Deeper: Download the Soulspace app at https://soulspace.co/, itunes or […]

This week on the podcast, Casey Parnell (Worship Director) and Ashleigh interview Pastor Bo Stern-Brady. They talk about how Bo’s ministry journey, the importance (and difficulties) of including women in ministry, and church in a Post-Covid world. Resources to Dig Deeper: If you are ever in Bend check out Bo's church: https://westsidechurch.org/ Wondering who Mrs. […]

It's one thing for us to trust in God … in theory. The theory, as it turns out, is pretty simple. It's the practice that many of us find much harder. Because trusting Him is something we need to do, very often, when times are tough.   The View from Heaven's Balcony I was recently confronted with a situation that really tested my faith. You see, I don't want you to think that just because I happen to be this smooth voice on the radio – that I somehow get an exemption stamp in my passport, from turbulence on the journey. In fact, probably the opposite is the case. Because I'm out there, sharing the fantastic news of Jesus with people all around the world, week after week through these radio programs, our enemy the devil's got me in his sights. I've got a target painted on my chest as far as he's concerned. So, here's what was going on. There was one particular country, one of the world's most populous countries, where our team had been working to get these programs to air on a radio station with a huge listenership. The daily audience for the program was going to be over one million people – that's actual listeners. That's a big deal! I mean one listener is a big deal to me. A million – I can't even imagine that many people. It's a big deal. We'd been working for two years on this project, including finding translators and a voice to record the messages in the local vernacular language. Quite an investment of time and effort and money. And then the day came when finally, the radio network in question accepted the program and placed it in a prime time slot. Amazing stuff. We rejoiced. We gave thanks. Really – it had been such a long road and so much was at stake. So many lives, so many people to hear the good news about Jesus. Wow. But on the first day we were due to go to air they told us, well … we can accept the program for the moment, but in a few weeks' time, we're having a review of all externally provided programs and we don't know what that is going to mean. When our team in that country got in touch with me to tell me the news, they were gutted. I can understand how they felt. All that effort and now, all of a sudden, the whole thing was up in the air again. Devastating. What would happen? I'll share my reaction to that whole thing with you in a minute. But first I want to go to what Isaiah has to say into situations like that. Remember, if you've been able to join us these past few programs, you'll know that Israel has been in slavery in Babylon for 70 years, since about 586 or 587 BC. And God comes to them through His Prophet Isaiah and brings them the good news that He is about to set them free; that they are about to return to the Promised Land. Whoopee! You'd think. But just like you and me, when everything's bleak, they struggled to digest the good news. You know what it's like. When all your circumstances are screaming gloom and doom at you, it's very hard to believe that something good is going to happen. Even if you believe in God. Even if you've put your trust in Jesus. Even if you've heard a million sermons on trusting God. When your Goliath comes stomping into your life with weapons of destruction pointing at you – yah, believing that God is there to protect you, that God has a good plan for you – that's really, really hard. It was hard for Israel, way back then and it's hard for us today. Here and now. So here's what God says to His people through the Prophet Isaiah. Have a listen Isaiah 52:12: For you shall not go out in haste, and you shall not go in flight; for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard. You see, they were going to leave Babylon and their slavery behind. But how does that actually happen, they've been wondering? Babylon – the global world power of the day. The most fearsome and powerful of armies. Are we going to have to run for our lives? Are some of us going to be killed? What? How's this going to happen? All well and good for Isaiah to be carrying on with all this good news, but what if he's wrong? What if God doesn't show up? Have those thoughts ever crossed your mind when you're between a rock and a hard place? Yep – well, Israel too. And so God points back to a time when He's done exactly the same for them before. He's pointing back to a time in their history that every man, woman and child knows from top to bottom, inside out, back to front, because it's been handed down from generation to generation for centuries. He's pointing back to the Exodus of course, to their escape from Israel. Remember? They fled and God hardened Pharaoh's heart and so the greatest army of that time, Egypt, came after them. In front of them was the Red Sea – an uncrossable body of water for a million men, women and children. Behind them, coming up fast was the mightiest army on the planet. Here it is.  Exodus 13:21–22: The Lord went in front of them in a pillar of cloud by day, to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light, so that they might travel by day and by night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people. So God went ahead of them. But what about the rear, as the Egyptians closed in on them? Exodus 14:19–21: The angel of God who was going before the Israelite army moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and took its place behind them. It came between the army of Egypt and the army of Israel. And so the cloud was there with the darkness, and it lit up the night; one did not come near the other all night. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land; and the waters were divided. There it is. God went ahead of them, and behind them. He led them and opened the way, and He protected them from an attack from the rear. So when He promises now all these centuries later to do exactly the same – what is it that He's doing? Is He asking them to rely on blind faith? Is He asking the to conjure up courage that they don't have? No! He's asking them to look back at what He has already done. That's the amazing thing with God, He never takes us to the point, where we can't take it. Each challenge, He comes through. And so the next time, when the challenge is bigger and scarier than last time, He asks us to look back on what He's already done in our lives. We forget that each time. We forget He's already proven Himself faithful and true. Oh yeah! He did that last time. Of course, in fact as I look back, He's always come through, He's always been there, He's always somehow some way made it happen. Wow! And there is the bedrock of our faith this time. When I heard the bad news about the radio program in that country, my reaction was this. We have seen this happen so many times. Today God has tens of millions of people listening to this very same program that you're listening today in 160 plus countries around the world. There are so many times when we shouldn't have ended up on stations and God opened the door. He went ahead of us. There are so many times when the ministry should have folded because there weren't the resources. But He brought up our rear. He'd trained me to trust in Him over and over again by putting me between a rock and a hard place and showing up and making things happen. After a while even someone as spiritually thick as me starts to get it. We don't have to listen to the theory, God plans for us to put it into practice over and over again and then shows up and proves Himself true. He teaches us in our experience that this verse is absolutely true: For you shall not go out in haste, and you shall not go in flight; for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard. He's teaching us to stop sweating it. He's teaching us at each and every transition and trial and temptation that He is faithful and true. What an awesome Dad. What an awesome God.   The Answer is Jesus I would love to be able to tell you today that I have a secret that can take all the uncertainty and change and surprises out of your life's journey. I'd love to be able to tell you that I have a secret that'll take all the wrinkles, and lumps and bumps out of your life. But alas, no, I'd be lying if I told you that. There's no such thing! Every life is a journey, every life has surprises, and every life takes twists and turns that we wouldn't choose for ourselves. The sooner we get used to that truth, the better. ‘It's just not fair!' I hear you say. Well, whether it's fair or unfair, whatever, the reality is that there isn't a perfect life out there. There isn't a life out there that's all peaches and cream. We kind of kid ourselves that there is. We aspire to living that sort of life, but I've been racking my brain and so far as I know, there's not a single person I've met in my life who can tell me that their life has been completely perfect. However, what I can share with you is the amazing truth that in the midst of the imperfections and the storms and the onslaughts and the wrinkles and the surprises; in the midst of the disappointments, the tragedies, the loneliness that we find ourselves in; in the midst of those things, there is an answer. There is an answer that brings joy and peace in the middle of those troubled times – a special kind of joy and peace that is only available in those difficult times. I hope you've been able to join me these past few weeks on the programme, because we've been talking about the huge transition that the nation of Israel faced, from certainty (such as it was) – the certainty of their slavery and captivity in Babylon over the past 70 years, to the uncertainty of God's blessing as He set out to restore their freedom and take them back to the promised land, to rebuild Jerusalem; to rebuild the wall; to rebuild the temple. It's really ironic that we're more comfortable often with an ugly certainty than a potentially beautiful uncertainty, but as we saw before the break, that's just the way it is; we are. And so, through the prophet Isaiah, as we've been tracking through chapters 51 and 52 of that book in the Old Testament, we've seen God rousing His people and convincing them of the amazingly beautiful journey ahead of them, back to the Promised Land. Isaiah 52:4-6, he says: Listen to Me, My people, and give heed to Me, My nation: For a teaching will go out from thee, and My justice for a light to all the peoples. I will bring near My deliverance swiftly; My salvation has gone out, and My arm will rule the peoples. Even the coastlands wait for Me, and for My arm they hope. Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath, for the heavens will vanish like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a garment, and those who live on it will die like gnats. But My salvation will be forever, and My deliverance will never be ended. It's a beautiful promise of deliverance, but as we've seen, Israel has been struggling with that. So the question is, in the middle of that struggle, what's the answer? Where do we turn? Where do we find that courage and strength and peace and comfort and calmness that we need to get through the tough trials? Well, this is the really exciting bit. This is the end of those 2 chapters and unbeknown to the Israelites in that sixth century before Christ, what Isaiah gives them is a prophecy – a prophecy that wouldn't be fulfilled for centuries; a prophecy about the One who would bring the comfort of God into their very midst. Are you ready for it? Isaiah 52:13-53:6: See, my servant shall prosper. He shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high. Just as there were many who were astonished at Him, so marred was His appearance beyond human semblance and His form beyond all that of mortals, so He shall startle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths because of Him, for that which has not been told them, they shall see; and that which they have not heard, they shall contemplate. Who has believed what we have heard, and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For He grew up before Him like a young plant, and like a root out of the dry ground. He had no form or majesty that we would look upon Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him. He was despised and rejected by others, a man of suffering, and acquainted with infirmity. As one from whom others hide their faces He was despised, and we held Him of no account. Surely He has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases, yet we counted Him stricken, struck down by God and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the punishment that made us whole, and by His bruises we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. And on it goes in Isaiah chapter 53. This is truly amazing. Centuries before that starry night, on which Jesus was born in that stable in Bethlehem, God through Isaiah's prophecy tells us exactly what this Jesus would be like – Jesus the suffering servant; Jesus the plain, ordinary man who would bear our sin, whose suffering would set us free; Jesus the Son of God, who would show us exactly how much this God of ours loves us – a God who not only does things powerfully for His people, but a God who would come into our very midst and suffer for us. This is what sets God apart from all the other so-called gods. It's the fact that He shows up; that He walks 30 years or more in our shoes on the dusty highways and byways of life: This Jesus who understands our suffering not merely because He is God, but because He became one of us and suffered for us and suffered like us and suffered with us, dying a terrible death so that you and I might live. My friend, with all my heart, I tell you that this Jesus is the answer. You may be going through indescribable suffering and pain; you may be going through an exhausting or an uncomfortable transition in your life, but Jesus has been there ahead of you, and He knows how you feel, what you're going through, the pain and the loneliness – hallelujah! God is the God who suffered for me and for you, and that is the answer. He is the answer. When you pray to God in the name of Jesus, you're praying through Jesus, who knows you and your journey better than you know them yourself, ‘cos He's been there. I want to leap forward now to something in the New Testament about Jesus – this Jesus who wants to bring you peace; this Jesus who wants to be your companion on this journey so that you are never, ever, alone. Just before He was crucified, He said this to His disciples: If you love Me, you will keep My commandments, and I will ask the Father and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees Him nor knows Him, but you know Him, because He abides with you and He will be in you. I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will also live. And on that day you will know that I am in the Father, and you in Me and I in you. They who have My commandments and keep them are those who love Me, and those who love Me will be loved by my Father and I will love them and reveal Myself to them. Hallelujah! ‘Cos Jesus is on our journey with us. Jesus is on your journey with you. He's on my journey with me. We're not orphaned. We're not alone. We're never alone! We're never without Him! Have you asked Jesus into your life? Have you called out to God in His mighty name? If you have, Jesus dwells in you. God dwells in you (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) – in you to hold you, and to comfort you, and to strengthen you ... That's the honest truth, and it's a truth that I would tell you with my dying breath because it's the most important truth I know. Friend, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.   A Battlefield Perspective I was recently in a little place called Lincoln, Nebraska, in the USA – the home of the global media ministry Back to the Bible, the very same ministry that way back in 1957 planted Christianityworks in Australia. And I was over there on a weekend, so I wandered down to my favourite church in that town – the Lincoln City Church, and it turned out they had a visitor speaking at the church that morning. Her name was Bo Stern – mid-40s, great communicator – but what she spoke about was something that I just didn't expect. You see, everything had been going perfectly for her and for her husband Steve and their family. They were a family that served and honoured God. Steve in particular was a great man of faith, as the head of the home, and he sought to honour God with all that he was. It was all going along swimmingly, until the day Steve was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, and in an instant, Bo found herself out on a battlefield. She found herself out there in one of those places where she needed to learn how to trust God not just in theory, but in practice. And as she remarked: ‘Don't you just hate it when people come along with glib platitudes like oh, don't worry dear. All things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose?' Hey, now that's a Scripture. Romans 8:28. How can that be a glib platitude? Well, easy. ‘Cos when people who haven't really experienced the pain of your battlefield come along and try to drop a simple solution in your lap, it doesn't work. "Hey; don't you get what I'm going through here? Don't you understand the ferocity of the battle, the onslaught on my family, my husband's disease?" She's written a book about this journey and it's called "Beautiful Battlefields" by Bo Stern. Definitely worth a read; you can buy it online. The central thesis, the big idea of this book if you will, is this (and I quote from her book): “Some beautiful things can only be found in the hardest times. Can you turn that idea around in your mind for a bit, and let its size and scope seep in? God is for us. He is for our growth; for our joy; for our success; our maturity; and He will use every struggle we face as the delivery agents for His most remarkable gifts. Our beautiful God has hidden beauty in the soil of our battlefield. He has placed treasure there that we simply would not be able to find in another, more peaceful place. Before we faced this fight, I knew this in theory, but I hadn't experienced a fire hot enough to prove and refine it. Now I can say with great confidence: I own it. On good days and on bad, in war and in peace, in sickness and in health, I know in the deepest part of my heart that He is the God who brings beauty from battle.” (Beautiful Battlefields by Bo Stern). The power of what she's saying here lies in the fact that Bo is speaking from her vantage point in the midst of a most terrible battle. No glib platitudes or shallow theories; just a real, gritty, Spirit-breathed understanding, that can only come from out there on the battlefield. In that book she grapples with issues and shares insights that'll warm your heart and strengthen your soul, and fill you with hope. My point in sharing this with you is that I think sometimes, when we're going through some transition in life, from A to B, from comfortable to uncomfortable, from safe to unsafe, from certain to uncertain, we expect there to be an instant, magic solution. We expect God to heal now! To provide now! To do whatever we want Him to do now, while all along He holds back because there are treasures hidden in the dirt out there on the battlefield. My friend, it's true on my battlefields, and it's true on your battlefields. God has hidden treasures out there that you can only find because you're out on the battlefield – the treasure of knowing Him in the battle; the treasure of discovering His faithfulness under fire. And I would encourage anyone out there on their own personal battlefield, you on your battlefield, to start looking for those treasures – for they are treasures only available to you out on your battlefield – and when you discover them, they are truly, truly exquisite. My friend, God is with you on your journey, as He was with Israel; as He went ahead of them to lead the way, and behind them to protect them, your God is travelling with you through your battle, doing exactly the same thing for you, and here's one thing for certain: In years to come, when you look back at this battle, you'll be able to see how your God has proven Himself to be faithful and true, ‘cos that's just who He is.

Things look different depending on where you sit. And sometimes, things in our lives look a whole bunch worse from where we sit, than from where God sits.   The View from Heaven's Balcony I was recently confronted with a situation that really tested my faith. You see, I don't want you to think that just because I happen to be this smooth voice on the radio – that I somehow get an exemption stamp in my passport, from turbulence on the journey. In fact, probably the opposite is the case. Because I'm out there, sharing the fantastic news of Jesus with people all around the world, week after week through these radio programs, our enemy the devil's got me in his sights. I've got a target painted on my chest as far as he's concerned. So, here's what was going on. There was one particular country, one of the world's most populous countries, where our team had been working to get these programs to air on a radio station with a huge listenership. The daily audience for the program was going to be over one million people – that's actual listeners. That's a big deal! I mean one listener is a big deal to me. A million – I can't even imagine that many people. It's a big deal. We'd been working for two years on this project, including finding translators and a voice to record the messages in the local vernacular language. Quite an investment of time and effort and money. And then the day came when finally, the radio network in question accepted the program and placed it in a prime time slot. Amazing stuff. We rejoiced. We gave thanks. Really – it had been such a long road and so much was at stake. So many lives, so many people to hear the good news about Jesus. Wow. But on the first day we were due to go to air they told us, well … we can accept the program for the moment, but in a few weeks' time, we're having a review of all externally provided programs and we don't know what that is going to mean. When our team in that country got in touch with me to tell me the news, they were gutted. I can understand how they felt. All that effort and now, all of a sudden, the whole thing was up in the air again. Devastating. What would happen? I'll share my reaction to that whole thing with you in a minute. But first I want to go to what Isaiah has to say into situations like that. Remember, if you've been able to join us these past few programs, you'll know that Israel has been in slavery in Babylon for 70 years, since about 586 or 587 BC. And God comes to them through His Prophet Isaiah and brings them the good news that He is about to set them free; that they are about to return to the Promised Land. Whoopee! You'd think. But just like you and me, when everything's bleak, they struggled to digest the good news. You know what it's like. When all your circumstances are screaming gloom and doom at you, it's very hard to believe that something good is going to happen. Even if you believe in God. Even if you've put your trust in Jesus. Even if you've heard a million sermons on trusting God. When your Goliath comes stomping into your life with weapons of destruction pointing at you – yah, believing that God is there to protect you, that God has a good plan for you – that's really, really hard. It was hard for Israel, way back then and it's hard for us today. Here and now. So here's what God says to His people through the Prophet Isaiah. Have a listen Isaiah 52:12: For you shall not go out in haste, and you shall not go in flight; for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard. You see, they were going to leave Babylon and their slavery behind. But how does that actually happen, they've been wondering? Babylon – the global world power of the day. The most fearsome and powerful of armies. Are we going to have to run for our lives? Are some of us going to be killed? What? How's this going to happen? All well and good for Isaiah to be carrying on with all this good news, but what if he's wrong? What if God doesn't show up? Have those thoughts ever crossed your mind when you're between a rock and a hard place? Yep – well, Israel too. And so God points back to a time when He's done exactly the same for them before. He's pointing back to a time in their history that every man, woman and child knows from top to bottom, inside out, back to front, because it's been handed down from generation to generation for centuries. He's pointing back to the Exodus of course, to their escape from Israel. Remember? They fled and God hardened Pharaoh's heart and so the greatest army of that time, Egypt, came after them. In front of them was the Red Sea – an uncrossable body of water for a million men, women and children. Behind them, coming up fast was the mightiest army on the planet. Here it is.  Exodus 13:21–22: The Lord went in front of them in a pillar of cloud by day, to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light, so that they might travel by day and by night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people. So God went ahead of them. But what about the rear, as the Egyptians closed in on them? Exodus 14:19–21: The angel of God who was going before the Israelite army moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and took its place behind them. It came between the army of Egypt and the army of Israel. And so the cloud was there with the darkness, and it lit up the night; one did not come near the other all night. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land; and the waters were divided. There it is. God went ahead of them, and behind them. He led them and opened the way, and He protected them from an attack from the rear. So when He promises now all these centuries later to do exactly the same – what is it that He's doing? Is He asking them to rely on blind faith? Is He asking the to conjure up courage that they don't have? No! He's asking them to look back at what He has already done. That's the amazing thing with God, He never takes us to the point, where we can't take it. Each challenge, He comes through. And so the next time, when the challenge is bigger and scarier than last time, He asks us to look back on what He's already done in our lives. We forget that each time. We forget He's already proven Himself faithful and true. Oh yeah! He did that last time. Of course, in fact as I look back, He's always come through, He's always been there, He's always somehow some way made it happen. Wow! And there is the bedrock of our faith this time. When I heard the bad news about the radio program in that country, my reaction was this. We have seen this happen so many times. Today God has tens of millions of people listening to this very same program that you're listening today in 160 plus countries around the world. There are so many times when we shouldn't have ended up on stations and God opened the door. He went ahead of us. There are so many times when the ministry should have folded because there weren't the resources. But He brought up our rear. He'd trained me to trust in Him over and over again by putting me between a rock and a hard place and showing up and making things happen. After a while even someone as spiritually thick as me starts to get it. We don't have to listen to the theory, God plans for us to put it into practice over and over again and then shows up and proves Himself true. He teaches us in our experience that this verse is absolutely true: For you shall not go out in haste, and you shall not go in flight; for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard. He's teaching us to stop sweating it. He's teaching us at each and every transition and trial and temptation that He is faithful and true. What an awesome Dad. What an awesome God.   The Answer is Jesus I would love to be able to tell you today that I have a secret that can take all the uncertainty and change and surprises out of your life's journey. I'd love to be able to tell you that I have a secret that'll take all the wrinkles, and lumps and bumps out of your life. But alas, no, I'd be lying if I told you that. There's no such thing! Every life is a journey, every life has surprises, and every life takes twists and turns that we wouldn't choose for ourselves. The sooner we get used to that truth, the better. ‘It's just not fair!' I hear you say. Well, whether it's fair or unfair, whatever, the reality is that there isn't a perfect life out there. There isn't a life out there that's all peaches and cream. We kind of kid ourselves that there is. We aspire to living that sort of life, but I've been racking my brain and so far as I know, there's not a single person I've met in my life who can tell me that their life has been completely perfect. However, what I can share with you is the amazing truth that in the midst of the imperfections and the storms and the onslaughts and the wrinkles and the surprises; in the midst of the disappointments, the tragedies, the loneliness that we find ourselves in; in the midst of those things, there is an answer. There is an answer that brings joy and peace in the middle of those troubled times – a special kind of joy and peace that is only available in those difficult times. I hope you've been able to join me these past few weeks on the programme, because we've been talking about the huge transition that the nation of Israel faced, from certainty (such as it was) – the certainty of their slavery and captivity in Babylon over the past 70 years, to the uncertainty of God's blessing as He set out to restore their freedom and take them back to the promised land, to rebuild Jerusalem; to rebuild the wall; to rebuild the temple. It's really ironic that we're more comfortable often with an ugly certainty than a potentially beautiful uncertainty, but as we saw before the break, that's just the way it is; we are. And so, through the prophet Isaiah, as we've been tracking through chapters 51 and 52 of that book in the Old Testament, we've seen God rousing His people and convincing them of the amazingly beautiful journey ahead of them, back to the Promised Land. Isaiah 52:4-6, he says: Listen to Me, My people, and give heed to Me, My nation: For a teaching will go out from thee, and My justice for a light to all the peoples. I will bring near My deliverance swiftly; My salvation has gone out, and My arm will rule the peoples. Even the coastlands wait for Me, and for My arm they hope. Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath, for the heavens will vanish like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a garment, and those who live on it will die like gnats. But My salvation will be forever, and My deliverance will never be ended. It's a beautiful promise of deliverance, but as we've seen, Israel has been struggling with that. So the question is, in the middle of that struggle, what's the answer? Where do we turn? Where do we find that courage and strength and peace and comfort and calmness that we need to get through the tough trials? Well, this is the really exciting bit. This is the end of those 2 chapters and unbeknown to the Israelites in that sixth century before Christ, what Isaiah gives them is a prophecy – a prophecy that wouldn't be fulfilled for centuries; a prophecy about the One who would bring the comfort of God into their very midst. Are you ready for it? Isaiah 52:13-53:6: See, my servant shall prosper. He shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high. Just as there were many who were astonished at Him, so marred was His appearance beyond human semblance and His form beyond all that of mortals, so He shall startle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths because of Him, for that which has not been told them, they shall see; and that which they have not heard, they shall contemplate. Who has believed what we have heard, and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For He grew up before Him like a young plant, and like a root out of the dry ground. He had no form or majesty that we would look upon Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him. He was despised and rejected by others, a man of suffering, and acquainted with infirmity. As one from whom others hide their faces He was despised, and we held Him of no account. Surely He has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases, yet we counted Him stricken, struck down by God and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the punishment that made us whole, and by His bruises we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. And on it goes in Isaiah chapter 53. This is truly amazing. Centuries before that starry night, on which Jesus was born in that stable in Bethlehem, God through Isaiah's prophecy tells us exactly what this Jesus would be like – Jesus the suffering servant; Jesus the plain, ordinary man who would bear our sin, whose suffering would set us free; Jesus the Son of God, who would show us exactly how much this God of ours loves us – a God who not only does things powerfully for His people, but a God who would come into our very midst and suffer for us. This is what sets God apart from all the other so-called gods. It's the fact that He shows up; that He walks 30 years or more in our shoes on the dusty highways and byways of life: This Jesus who understands our suffering not merely because He is God, but because He became one of us and suffered for us and suffered like us and suffered with us, dying a terrible death so that you and I might live. My friend, with all my heart, I tell you that this Jesus is the answer. You may be going through indescribable suffering and pain; you may be going through an exhausting or an uncomfortable transition in your life, but Jesus has been there ahead of you, and He knows how you feel, what you're going through, the pain and the loneliness – hallelujah! God is the God who suffered for me and for you, and that is the answer. He is the answer. When you pray to God in the name of Jesus, you're praying through Jesus, who knows you and your journey better than you know them yourself, ‘cos He's been there. I want to leap forward now to something in the New Testament about Jesus – this Jesus who wants to bring you peace; this Jesus who wants to be your companion on this journey so that you are never, ever, alone. Just before He was crucified, He said this to His disciples: If you love Me, you will keep My commandments, and I will ask the Father and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees Him nor knows Him, but you know Him, because He abides with you and He will be in you. I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will also live. And on that day you will know that I am in the Father, and you in Me and I in you. They who have My commandments and keep them are those who love Me, and those who love Me will be loved by my Father and I will love them and reveal Myself to them. Hallelujah! ‘Cos Jesus is on our journey with us. Jesus is on your journey with you. He's on my journey with me. We're not orphaned. We're not alone. We're never alone! We're never without Him! Have you asked Jesus into your life? Have you called out to God in His mighty name? If you have, Jesus dwells in you. God dwells in you (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) – in you to hold you, and to comfort you, and to strengthen you ... That's the honest truth, and it's a truth that I would tell you with my dying breath because it's the most important truth I know. Friend, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.   A Battlefield Perspective I was recently in a little place called Lincoln, Nebraska, in the USA – the home of the global media ministry Back to the Bible, the very same ministry that way back in 1957 planted Christianityworks in Australia. And I was over there on a weekend, so I wandered down to my favourite church in that town – the Lincoln City Church, and it turned out they had a visitor speaking at the church that morning. Her name was Bo Stern – mid-40s, great communicator – but what she spoke about was something that I just didn't expect. You see, everything had been going perfectly for her and for her husband Steve and their family. They were a family that served and honoured God. Steve in particular was a great man of faith, as the head of the home, and he sought to honour God with all that he was. It was all going along swimmingly, until the day Steve was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, and in an instant, Bo found herself out on a battlefield. She found herself out there in one of those places where she needed to learn how to trust God not just in theory, but in practice. And as she remarked: ‘Don't you just hate it when people come along with glib platitudes like oh, don't worry dear. All things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose?' Hey, now that's a Scripture. Romans 8:28. How can that be a glib platitude? Well, easy. ‘Cos when people who haven't really experienced the pain of your battlefield come along and try to drop a simple solution in your lap, it doesn't work. "Hey; don't you get what I'm going through here? Don't you understand the ferocity of the battle, the onslaught on my family, my husband's disease?" She's written a book about this journey and it's called "Beautiful Battlefields" by Bo Stern. Definitely worth a read; you can buy it online. The central thesis, the big idea of this book if you will, is this (and I quote from her book): “Some beautiful things can only be found in the hardest times. Can you turn that idea around in your mind for a bit, and let its size and scope seep in? God is for us. He is for our growth; for our joy; for our success; our maturity; and He will use every struggle we face as the delivery agents for His most remarkable gifts. Our beautiful God has hidden beauty in the soil of our battlefield. He has placed treasure there that we simply would not be able to find in another, more peaceful place. Before we faced this fight, I knew this in theory, but I hadn't experienced a fire hot enough to prove and refine it. Now I can say with great confidence: I own it. On good days and on bad, in war and in peace, in sickness and in health, I know in the deepest part of my heart that He is the God who brings beauty from battle.” (Beautiful Battlefields by Bo Stern). The power of what she's saying here lies in the fact that Bo is speaking from her vantage point in the midst of a most terrible battle. No glib platitudes or shallow theories; just a real, gritty, Spirit-breathed understanding, that can only come from out there on the battlefield. In that book she grapples with issues and shares insights that'll warm your heart and strengthen your soul, and fill you with hope. My point in sharing this with you is that I think sometimes, when we're going through some transition in life, from A to B, from comfortable to uncomfortable, from safe to unsafe, from certain to uncertain, we expect there to be an instant, magic solution. We expect God to heal now! To provide now! To do whatever we want Him to do now, while all along He holds back because there are treasures hidden in the dirt out there on the battlefield. My friend, it's true on my battlefields, and it's true on your battlefields. God has hidden treasures out there that you can only find because you're out on the battlefield – the treasure of knowing Him in the battle; the treasure of discovering His faithfulness under fire. And I would encourage anyone out there on their own personal battlefield, you on your battlefield, to start looking for those treasures – for they are treasures only available to you out on your battlefield – and when you discover them, they are truly, truly exquisite. My friend, God is with you on your journey, as He was with Israel; as He went ahead of them to lead the way, and behind them to protect them, your God is travelling with you through your battle, doing exactly the same thing for you, and here's one thing for certain: In years to come, when you look back at this battle, you'll be able to see how your God has proven Himself to be faithful and true, ‘cos that's just who He is.

In communication, thesis matters more than anything. It sets the tone and drives and edits the content for the rest of the message. Jesus' thesis for the sermon on the mount is How to Be Happy.

Facebook: @BoSternAuthor · AuthorInstagram: @bosternbradyTwitter: @bosternbradyWebsite: bostern.comBo’s App: Soulspace.co (look for the three point crown in your favorite app store)Drink: Black Coffee (decaf) Pacific Northwest girl = Dark Roast

In communication, thesis matters more than anything. It sets the tone and drives and edits the content for the rest of the message. Jesus’ thesis for the sermon on the mount is How to Be Happy.

Kevin spoke with Bo Stern, the creator of the digital meditation app Soul Space.

In order to live with hope in a hard world, we have to get really good at seeing the evidence of our relationship with an invisible God. We have to see and acknowledge the things that point to His nearness, His awareness of us and His love for us.

In order to live with hope in a hard world, we have to get really good at seeing the evidence of our relationship with an invisible God.  We have to see and acknowledge the things that point to His nearness, His awareness of us and His love for us. 

What do we do when we're faced with the unimaginable? With something so far outside our ability to fight or navigate? That's 2020. It seems like we're on an endless loop of new crises and if you look at everything we've faced this year, you realize: We're still in the middle of pretty much all of it. Still in a pandemic, still in racial unrest and governmental upheaval and - hey, those wild fires are still burning in California. The book of Joel was not written TO us, but it was written FOR us. It has so much to tell us about who God is when the world falls apart. #lifelovejesus #westsidechurch

What do we do when we’re faced with the unimaginable? With something so far outside our ability to fight or navigate? That’s 2020. It seems like we’re on an endless loop of new crises and if you look at everything we’ve faced this year, you realize: We’re still in the middle of pretty much all

My dear friend, pastor and author, Bo Stern will be sharing today about how she navigates life as a single parent. We've titled today's show: "Mrs. Dad: When a Mom Needs to Step into a Dad Role.” Trust me…this is a conversation you don't want to miss!

Today on The Regenerate Podcast Tony talks with one of his favorite preachers, author and speaker Bo Stern-Brady about the ways grief reshapes and transform our faith. Bo vulnerably shares the story of losing her husband to ALS and experiencing God through it all. Contact: tonyscarcello.com Twitter: @TonyScarcello instagram: tony_scarcello Email: regeneratepodcast@gmail.com

Today on Wholistic Heart's podcast, Kristin has an opportunity to speak with Bo Stern, creator of SoulSpace meditation app- a place to anchor your thoughts to the love of God and the way of Jesus.  Bo shares her story about how meditation has impacted her in everyday life and through anxiety and some really difficult situations.  Throughout the show, Kristin and Bo share more about their hearts and passion behind meditation and visualization. Listeners! I guarantee you will love SoulSpace as part of your daily anchoring in the Word.  Check out Soulspace app on iTunes/Android or https://soulspace.co For more on Encounters, go to Kristin's website. You'll find multiple resources to listen to an encounter or just read the importance of meditating on the heart of the Father. 

Sometimes what's happening in our lives or country intersects directly with the Word of God - the result is an opportunity to grow in applying, practicing and living out real truth.  

Sometimes what’s happening in our lives or country intersects directly with the Word of God – the result is an opportunity to grow in applying, practicing and living out real truth.  

This miracle is the beginning of the revelation. The beginning of the unveiling of the person and purpose of Jesus Christ. This is the launch.

This miracle is the beginning of the revelation. The beginning of the unveiling of the person and purpose of Jesus Christ. This is the launch.

Bo Stern is a profound speaker, writer, and the founder of She.ology, an organization that empowers women to live out their place in the story of God. She is the author of three books, including Beautiful Battlefields, that focus on growth-through-suffering, a message developed and refined during her husband’s four-year battle with ALS. Her story and writing has been featured in countless publications worldwide, including the Huffington Post, Focus on the Family and NBC News. Join us in part 2 where we take a deeper dive into leadership and the power of words.  Learn more about Bo and all she offers at www.bostern.comsheology.co or Soulspace App You can also register for Bo's breakout "Beautiful Battlefields" at the InCourage 2020 Gathering on July 10 & 11. This virtual women's conference has over 40 incredible speakers discussing topics every woman struggles with, but rarely discusses. Rooted in clinical, biblical and relational wisdom this conference is one-of-a-kind and you won't want to miss! You can also follow @incouragegathering for updates.  www.christianbooks.com is giving 40% off to all our listeners from 5/5 - 5/25 on Terra's book, Courageous: Being Daughters Rooted in Grace. Use the discount code: COURAGEOUS

In these next two episodes, we unpack suffering, single parenting, and what really matters most in the way we lead with author and pastor, Bo Stern. Bo is a profound speaker, writer, and the founder of She.ology, an organization that empowers women to live out their place in the story of God. She is the author of three books, including Beautiful Battlefields, that focus on growth-through-suffering, a message developed and refined during her husband’s four-year battle with ALS. Her story and writing has been featured in countless publications worldwide, including the Huffington Post, Focus on the Family and NBC News. Bo believes God is always good, coffee always works, and life always wins.  Learn more about Bo and all she offers at www.bostern.comsheology.co or Soulspace App You can also register for Bo's breakout "Beautiful Battlefields" at the InCourage 2020 Gathering on July 10 & 11. This virtual women's conference has over 40 incredible speakers discussing topics every woman struggles with, but rarely discusses. Rooted in clinical, biblical and relational wisdom this conference is one-of-a-kind and you won't want to miss! You can also follow @incouragegathering for updates.  www.christianbooks.com is giving 40% off to all our listeners from 5/5 - 5/26 on Terra's book, Couragoeus: Being Daughters Rooted in Grace. Use the discount code: COURAGEOUS

So often in the Bible, God uses contraction to expand. Like we've been saying recently, He scatters in order to gather. He breaks in order to build. #westsidechurch #livelovejesus #bookofacts

So often in the Bible, God uses contraction to expand. Like we’ve been saying recently, He scatters in order to gather. He breaks in order to build. #westsidechurch #livelovejesus #bookofacts

Rather than waiting for church services to start up again, what if we used this time to recognize the moment.  Recognize this specific visitation from the Holy Spirit to our hearts?  Each one of us has the raw ingredients we need – let’s start building our lives into a house where God can dwell and

Bo Stern - Brady - Mind Blown - 03042020 by Life Pacific University

My guest this week is Bo Stern-Brady. Bo is the Co-Founder of SHEOLOGY, an Author, Pastor, and the speaker of our Hope Women's Conference coming up on May 1st-2nd in Corvallis Oregon. Bo realizes life is full of fierce and unexpected battles. When her now, late husband was diagnosed with a terminal illness, she knew she had found her Goliath. With winsome sincerity, Bo points to the battle plans available to us in Scripture and to our God who brings beauty from the struggles we face. Connect with Bo: https://www.facebook.com/bstern https://www.facebook.com/sheology.co/ https://www.instagram.com/bosternbrady/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/she.ology/?hl=en https://twitter.com/Bostern

Show notes: refreshinglyhonestchristian.com/episodes/stern-bradyFollow us as we follow Christ! On social media...

Bo Stern shares this morning from 2 Chronicles about the important distinction between doing right and living wholeheartedly.

Today's podcast interview has so much wisdom for you, ESPECIALLY if you've recently found yourself recovering from loss or trauma. Bo Stern is a mom of four, writer, speaker, pastor and co-founder of  Sheology.co, an online platform empowering women to use their voice and live their place in the story of God.  After losing her husband in 2015 to ALS, a disease her husband fought for several years, Bo went on a journey of self-discovery, relearning her faith, finding what she calls her "edge of the wild", and eventually starting Sheology.co.  Today We Discuss: The Love of God in The Midst of Trials & Pain. Bo's healing process and finding her passion again, including the Trip to Italy that started it all.  How To Choose Your Happy. The Power of Embracing Risk and say YES. Empowering women to speak and lead inside and outside of the church. The Difference between women's equality and equity in the church and what we can do to change it.  Follow Bo here on Instagram @bolovesjoe Check out all things Sheology and their upcoming events and workshops here: https://www.sheology.co/blog-sheology The Edge of The Wild Planner FREE here  - Join the Make Your Passion Pay You Community here https://www.facebook.com/groups/makeyourpassionpayyou/ Free Video Series: Secrets To Unshakeable Confidence In Your Calling bitly.com/unshakeableconfidence

In a special 4 part live series, we look back on some of the most memorable messages of 2018 and discuss on stage at Westside Church.

Bo Stern and Justine Froelker have walked dark roads filled with grief and lost hope. Today, Bo and Justine share how God gave them strength during and in the aftermath of their personal heartaches, especially at the holidays. Author and pastor Bo Stern had a happy home filled with four children, lots of friends and a loving church family. After two decades of marriage, her husband Steve’s health gradually began to deteriorate and they came to learn he was battling the first signs of ALS. In her book When Holidays Hurt, Bo recalls how painful and disorienting the Christmas season was during Steve’s illness, and how she wrestled with how to hold sadness and joy in her heart during the holidays. As therapist and author Justine Froelker has grown closer to God and studied with shame and vulnerability researcher Dr. Brené Brown, she has learned how to share her painful journey so she can help others. One of Justine’s most painful battles has been her struggle with infertility, all the while witnessing her friends’ growing families. In an unlikely encounter with God on Christmas Eve, Justine realized He had been with her during every painful step of her journey, and He had great plans for her, though they might look different than Justine’s own plan for her life.

In a special 4 part live series, we look back on some of the most memorable messages of 2018 and discuss on stage at Westside Church.

My dear friend, Pastor and author, Bo Stern will be sharing today about how she navigates life as a single parent. We've titled today's show: "Mrs. Dad: When a Mom Needs to Step into a Dad Role.”  Trust me…this is a conversation you don't want to miss!

Bo Stern and Spencer Schaber join the podcast to discuss their message on worry and how Jesus introduced a whole new way to live: anxiety free.

We're back for season 2 of Behind the Message, and begin this season with a live podcast recording with a panel of pastors discussing minorities and women in ministry. With Pastors Keith Jenkins, Steve Mickel and Bo Stern.

Bo Stern joins for the last episode of season 1 to discuss what we've learned through the parables of Jesus. We also discuss techniques to get the attention of distracted crowds.

Bo Stern joins the podcast to discuss Jesus' parable of the weeds, and why it was important to her not to over explain or draw too much out of what Jesus was teaching the crowds.

Bo Stern joins us live at Westside Church in the final episode of our 4 part series to discuss her popular message on singleness and marriage in the church.

In the third part of our 4 part live series, Bo Stern discusses the power of shame and how to come out from underneath it.

Pastor Bo Stern joins the podcast to discuss the end of the Lord's prayer , explaining how the earliest manuscripts don't include it. What do we teach about the inerrency of scripture? Does God tempt us or not? Bo dives into these topics and more in this week's podcast.

Pastor and Author Bo Stern stops by to discuss her experience as a preacher and pastor (a traditionally male role), what it means to live wholeheartedly, and why the gospel needs to work in and out of the church.

Bo Stern is back to discuss her message on worship and to discuss why worshipping with the community is quite possibly more important than time spent in personal prayer and devotion.

Bo Stern stops by to discuss how we talk to singles and married people, how our messaging on sex & singleness misses the mark, and the challenges of dating after marriage.

In this episode of Behind the Message we delve into Bo Stern's message on Ephesians 6 - War this Way. We talk about questions like: Why don't we talk more about Satan in the church? Why is "making war" important for the church?

Special guest Pastor Bo Stern speaks to walking through difficult times and how Jesus never leaves or forsakes us.  He uses our tests and trials to magnify His love and grace.  He chooses the journey, we choose the response. 

Discovering the everlasting covenant with God.

Bo Stern, a guest speaker from West Side Church in Bend, speaks about how each of our stories corresponds with "The Red Line."

Doing something real, right, and meaningful with our lives

Bo Stern, returning guest speaker, author and pastor, gives a powerful message at Women's Worship Evening. 

Featuring Jonalyn Fincher and Bo Stern. Jonalyn Fincher co-founded Soulation, a non-profit dedicated to helping others become more appropriately human. She works with her husband, Dale, as a national speaking/writing team. They recently co-authored their first book together, Coffee Shop Conversations: Making the Most of Spiritual Small Talk. She writes regularly on her personal blog blending women and spirituality RubySlippers.org for the past five years. She co-authors a blog on women and friendship with a female psychologist ArtofFriendship.org. Her first book, Ruby Slippers: How the Soul of a Woman Brings Her Home (Zondervan, ’07), explains the qualities of a woman’s soul. Bo Sterns make her home in Bend, OR, where she is a teaching pastor at Westside Church with a passion for making theology accessible, compelling and transformative. Both her position in the church and her personal battle have allowed Bo to minister to others as they are facing their own goliaths. She considers it to be a privilege to provide a listening ear and a should to cry on being a part of another’s Army so that they don’t have to fight their battle alone. Bo and her husband, Steve, also serve on the international board of Kings Kids Village, a home for AIDS affected orphans in Nairobi, Kenya. They are also active in ALS advocacy a disease Steve has been fighting since 2011. Bo is the author of the book, Beautiful Battlefields.