A Mess, Nonetheless

If part four left you feeling a little heavy, you aren’t alone. Miss and Rach felt that way too. They decided to leave you today with a five minute encouragement about why dealing with conflict is so important, and how much joy can be on the other side!

One of the hardest parts in conflict is when you’ve done everything you can and yet, things just don't feel resolved. How do we move forward when nothing feels “wrapped up”? How do we act fine when nothing feels fine? And what happens when relationships come to an end? Miss and Rach journey through their own experiences with this and give three points to remind us how to rely on God through such difficult circumstances.
Show Notes:
Remember who you serve:
James 4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Deuteronomy 6:5
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
 
Remember a kingdom perspective: 
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Galatians 4:7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
Philippians 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Romans 8:1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
 
Remember who is our comforter:
James 4:8a
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
Matthew 11:28
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
 
Challenge: Remember who you serve, keep a kingdom perspective and remember who your comforter is. Also, sometimes all we can do is act like everything is fine if someone is not willing to move forward with you.

Sometimes we don’t see conflict coming, and it sort of feels like a dump truck unloaded on us. That’s frustrating, challenging and sometimes downright hurtful. Miss and Rach share how they deal with those situations and how they lean on the Bible for support. They hope you’ll be better equipped after this episode for the next time you don't see conflict coming.
Show Notes:
Verses:
John 8: 31a-32 If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
 
Phil 4:4b Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. 
 
Hebrews 12:14-15 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 
 
James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
 
Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Vs 11. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 
 
Challenge: Meditate on the verse: Phil 4:4b Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. Lean heavily on this verse during your next conflict. 

Are you someone who always seems to be in conflict with others, or perhaps conflict is all around you but it never seems to be resolved? You might be what they call the “fire starter”. It’s time to pay attention to how this role hurts our loved ones and what we can do to change in this area. Or perhaps you’re in a relationship with a firestarter and you need some advice. Listen in, we think everyone can learn something today. 
Show Notes
Verses:
Ephesians 4:26 “In your anger do not sin.” Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.
 
James 1:19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
 
Prov 15:18 A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.
 
Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Vs 11. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 
 
Challenge: If you are realizing you’re a fires tarter, and that bothers you, get on your knees right now and start talking to Jesus about it. 
 
If you’re in a relationship with a fire starter, consider having a conversation with them where you put up some major boundaries. 
 

Whether you think you have conflict in your life or not, you do! Miss & Rach walk through what it looks like to ignore conflict and how it affects those around us. Relying heavily on Scripture, they show us what healthy conflict can look like and how it can bless our relationships and lives. 
Show Notes
Theme Passage - we are called to be peacemakers: 
Romans 12:9-21 (Paraphrase) How to love in action: Love should be sincere, we should hate what is evil, clinging to what is good. We should devote ourselves to loving one another, and honoring each other above ourselves. We should always seek joy, hope, patience and be faithful in prayer. We should practice hospitality. We are to live in harmony with one another, not being proud, not being conceited. It’s not our job to seek revenge, we should do what is right in the eyes of everyone. As much as it depends on us, we should live in peace with others. We are to leave vengeance and judgment in God’s hands. We are not to be overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with good.
Verses:
Matthew 18:15-16 If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
Matthew 5:23-24 Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
1 Cor 1:10  I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.
1 Cor 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.Philippians 2:5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Prov 17:22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
 
Romans 12:16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
 
Challenge: Evaluate yourself, be honest. Do you deal with conflict?

Does it ever feel like life is too serious and it’s hard to just let loose and experience joy? Miss, Rach, and their special guest - THEIR MOM - share about how they’ve taken themselves too seriously in the past, how the Bible guided them to a different place and how they “balance” it now.
Show notes:
Verses:
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Psalm 4:7 You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.
John 15:11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
1 Chronicles 16:27 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place.
Roman 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Challenge: Maybe take a personality test and start digging into what makes you, you. Also, what’s taking your energy, robbing you of joy, and entangling you? 

Ever wish you knew more backstory about these two sisters? More about the people they married, what they’ve done in their careers and who their 13 kids are? We hear so often that people feel like they're sitting with friends having a chat during our episodes. So in this episode they’re sharing more about their personal lives to help you know them a little better.

Are you someone who is open to learning new things, seeing other people's way of thinking, or grabbing onto something in an area God is convicting you? Or do you prickle when someone tries to teach you something new? This episode is for you no matter where you land. Miss and Rach have been on all sides of the topic and they share how they want to follow God's Word on the issue.
 
Proverbs is all about receiving instructions and the wisdom in listening.
 
Jesus was the walking example of receiving instructions. He was constantly seeking God for counsel, he was constantly asking God for direction and reminding himself that he wasn’t the only one in charge, so to speak. 
 
Proverbs 12:1 Whoever loves discipline loves to learn; whoever hates to be corrected is stupid.
 
Proverbs 13:18 If you refuse to learn from your mistakes, you will be poor, and no one will respect you. If you listen when you are criticized, you will be honored.
 
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by God. And all Scripture is useful for teaching and for showing people what is wrong in their lives. It is useful for correcting faults and teaching the right way to live.
 
Hebrews 12:6 “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” Chastise - Scold, rebuke, reprimand.
 
Challenge: Pay attention to your first reactions, do they indicate a teachable spirit? If not, ask God to help you become more teachable. 

Being understood matters to the majority of people. But is it a Biblical concept, and is there room to grow in the subject? Miss and Rachel talk about their need to be understood in life and how they hope to grow in the area.
You cannot hope to be understood until you are willing to do the same for others.
 
The Bible says, “A person who answers without listening is foolish and disgraceful” Prov 18:13
 
It takes humility to be willing to understand others. I think when we’re willing to try and understand others, they soften and are more willing to try and understand us.
 
Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
 
Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
 
Affirmations: God knows you completely. 
Jeremiah 12:3 But You, O Lord, know me; you have seen me, and You have tested my heart toward You. (NKJV)
 
Challenge: Ask God what are my motives behind needing to be understood and how can I put God first in this area?

Doesn't it always feel like there are more things to get done in life than there are hours in the day and it's hard to keep moving forward? Or maybe you have plenty of time, you just can't seem to manage it well because you don't want to do any of the things on your list? Miss and Rach discuss their own struggles with motivation and where they've landed on the subject in their own lives, and how they got there. 
 
Show notes:
Verses:
Psalm 128:2 "You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours."
Although you may feel weary from hard work, you will reap the fruits of your labor eventually.
Romans 12:11-12 "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."
 
Colossians 3:23-24 "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."
 
Acts 20:35 "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
Work hard so that you may use your skills and talents to benefit others.
Challenge: Pick one thing that can lead to “success” in your day.