Hey, I’m Shannon,
and I’m so glad you’re here. From the platform, page, or podcasting microphone, it’s my joy to invite you to open your Bible with me, drink deeply of God’s story, then
live like it’s true.
Hey, I’m Shannon!
I’m so glad you’re here. From the platform, page, or podcasting microphone, it’s my joy to invite you to open your Bible with me, drink deeply of God’s story, then
live like it’s true!
The Podcast
Welcome to my brand new podcast: Live Like It’s True!
Please join my guests and me as we talk about our favorite jaw-dropping stories of the Bible, and the God who invites us all to live like the story is true.
In this first season, we’re discussing the stories of Jesus. What will we learn as we encounter the man who fed five thousand with one lunch, who forgave a paralyzed man’s sins, and who called Lazareth out of the tomb? What overarching story about God is being told? And what difference does it make if that story is true?
Come join us for conversations devoted to helping you know the story, share the story and live the story.
The Podcast
Join my guests and me as we talk about our favorite jaw-dropping stories of the Bible, and the God who invites us all to live like the story is true.
In this first season, we’re discussing the Stories of Jesus. What difference does it make that Jesus forgave the sins of the paralyzed man first? What does it mean that Jesus had the longest recorded theological conversation wtih—not only a woman, but an outcast? How does it change things to know that a man named Lazarus walked out of his tomb?
Do you know these stories? Do you live like they’re true?
Come join me for a series of conversations at Live Like It’s True, devoted to helping you know the story, share the story and live the story!
Finishing up my slides, and thinking about Mary's amazing example of surrender.
An angel shows up unexpectedly with news that will completely upend Mary's life. And there are no question marks at the end of any of his sentences; only periods:
You will conceive.
You will give birth.
You will name him Jesus.
After asking, "Yes, but how?", Mary says, "I am the Lord's servant. Let it be to me as you have said."
You shouldn't give your life away to just anybody who shows up, asking for it. But when the Most High God sends word that he has a role for you to play, this is exactly what you should say.
I am the Lord's servant. I serve at the pleasure.
What is God asking you to surrender to Him, this Christmas?
#controlgirl #sweetsurrender #speaking #womensevent #christmasevent #christmassurrender #visitfromtheangel #luke1 #motherofjesus #marydidyouknow #letitbetome
“Often I hear people say, 'Well, I've always been a Christian.'
“This idea that their standing with God is based on the fact that they were born into a church-going family [isn’t true].
“It doesn't matter who your parents are. That doesn't mean that you are spiritually born again.” - @thebrewsterhome
Come listen as Aaron and I talk through the story of Nicodemus and the astonishing truth that we must—and can—be born again, if we're to live forever.
Check out Aaron's podcast @truthloveparent
My parents. My husband and kids. Traditions. Bounty. Freedom.
Thank you, Lord, for so many blessings.
Have you been born again? Do you know what this metaphor even means—and why Jesus used it to confront a Bible teacher named Nicodemus?
What about the metaphor of wind or the imagery of the snake on the pole? And why didn’t Jesus just use plain English… or maybe Greek?
Join me for episode 8, where Aaron Brewster and I discuss the True Story of Nicodemus from John 3:1-21.
Find Aaron @thebrewsterhome
@truthloveparent
I hope you'll be encouraged as Aaron and I talk through this story of the Nicodemus, and then I hope you'll take my challenge to share it with someone else.
#biblepodcast #livelikeitstrue #biblestorypodcast #biblereadings #biblereadingpodcast #readthebible #christianpodcast #christianpodcastsforwomen #newpodcast #christianpodcastcommunity #sparkmediapodcastnetwork #encouragement #podcastsforwomen #storiesofjesus #truebiblestories #truestory #biblediscusstiontopics #biblestudy #thestoryofthebible #beastoryteller #storyofthebible #dgroup #smallgroup #storying #storyofnicodemus #bornagain #truthloveparent #john3
When he was in first grade, I sent Cade to school (Yes that’s @cadepopkin in the photo at about that age) with a backpack full of turkey plates and brown bags cut into ‘vests’ for the festivities, the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.
We had an argument about whether his lunch also belonged in his backpack, since there was to be a Feast.
I told him, “I believe your feast is just going to be a snack.” But he was remembering the turkey lunch meat sandwiches with corn chips and cranberry jello, served at the kindergarten Feast last year. Surely, the menu would be the same.
But, it was not. I was right and he was wrong. The Feast was only a snack.
That evening, he whispered to me that during the Feast, his eyes got very, very wet. When I asked why, he said it was because there were no grownups at the Feast in first grade.
In kindergarten, there had been grownups. He liked having grownups at the Feast.
I said, "Did you tell the teacher how you were feeling?" and he said, “No, I didn’t want to explode and start crying in front of everyone. I just wanted to come home and tell you.”
Bless his little first grade heart.
Will there be people with wet eyes at your feast this week? Will anyone be remembering last year’s feast, and noticing that things aren’t quite the same?
The Lord doesn’t promise that our life menu will match last year’s, or that every precious one will be at our table each year.
What he does promise is Himself. He never changes. Ever year he's the same.
One day, when he invites us to his own Feast, he will wipe every very, very wet eye, and tell us that we are finally home. Will you remember that today?
#thanksgiving #notlikelastyear #loss #holidaygrief #holidaysadness
Win a free "Live Like It's True" t-shirt! Leave a review at Apple Podcasts, and if I read it on an episode, you win!
(Also, if I've your review has already been read, can you DM me with your address and size? Thank you!)
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-like-its-true/id1586053997
#freebie #winatee #applepodcasts #newpodcast #giveaway #winner
20 years. That’s how long we’ve been friends with the Gebhards.
We only lived near each other for a year—back when we had a 3 and 1 year old.
The night before we moved away, they took us out for dinner and told us they were expecting their first baby.
This week, while they were here visiting (home from Taiwan) that “baby” got accepted to the college of her choice! 👊🎉
You can’t make new old friends. #amiright Especially not ones who love the Lord and encourage you in your faith.
Do you have any friends you’ve known for 2+ decades?
#oldfriends #butweareyoung #homefromtaiwan #fullhouse #20yearfriendship #twodecades
"When we’re not getting what we want—instead of praying, we will binge eat, we will binge buy, we will binge watch and we will binge sleep. Because we’ve got this hunger deep inside of us that only God can fill. Instead of turning towards God, we find other ways to pacify ourselves." - Barb Roose
On episode 7 of Live Like It’s True, we’re talking about temptation and how to live like it’s true that—like Jesus—we have the power of the Spirit to overcome.
Will you live like this story in the wilderness is TRUE?
For a chance to win a copy of Surrendered, sign up for my Live Like It's True emails. There is a link in the shownotes.
Follow Barb @barbroose
#biblepodcast #livelikeitstrue #biblestorypodcast #biblereadings #biblereadingpodcast #readthebible #christianpodcast #christianpodcastsforwomen #newpodcast #christianpodcastcommunity #sparkmediapodcastnetwork #encouragement #podcastsforwomen #storiesofjesus #truebiblestories #truestory #biblediscusstiontopics #biblestudy #thestoryofthebible #beastoryteller #storyofthebible #dgroup #smallgroup #storying #barbroose #matthew4 #Jesusinthewilderness #temptationofJesus #temptedbythedevil #stonestobread
“I had to learn not to put my hope and trust that my life was going to have this great sunshiny ending here on earth. I am reminded that just like the promise land was the vision of God’s rest for his Israelite people, there is a land of promise for me in the future with God.” —Barb Roose
⠀
Come listen to episode 7 of Live Like It’s True, as @barbroose and I talk through the True Story of the Wilderness. Do you know this story of Jesus being tempted after 40 days of fasting? Join us and treasure up this story for your next wilderness experience. (Or maybe you’re there, now.)
Find out more about Barb:
⠀
https://barbroose.com⠀
⠀
For a chance to win a copy of “Surrendered”, sign up for my Live Like It's True emails this week. (link in the shownotes)
⠀
#biblepodcast #livelikeitstrue #biblestorypodcast #biblereadings #biblereadingpodcast #readthebible #christianpodcast #christianpodcastsforwomen #newpodcast #christianpodcastcommunity #sparkmediapodcastnetwork #encouragement #podcastsforwomen #storiesofjesus #truebiblestories #truestory #biblediscusstiontopics #biblestudy #thestoryofthebible #beastoryteller #storyofthebible #dgroup #smallgroup #storying #inthewilderness #surrendered #Jesusinthewilderness #temptationofJesus #temptedbythedevil #stonestobread ⠀
If you have a bad case of comparison syndrome, come listen in as I share my latest battle with envy with my friend, @asheritah . Maybe you can relate, somehow? ⠀
⠀
You’ll love Asheritah’s podcast #prayersofrest . She is such a soothing soul, and always points us to the One who gives us rest. ⠀
⠀
Don’t miss the bonus episode where Asheritah invites us to pray with her through the negative emotion of envy.
Will you let me know if you enjoyed it? Link in bio.
What makes you want to turn back home, and crawl under the covers of lazy pastimes? For me, this weekend, it was the crazy Michigan weather we had.
It was my last speaking overnight travel for 2021, and about four hours into my two our drive, I got scared. The snow was so thick and I was fishtailing all over, going only 5 miles per hour.
I swiped to close my audio book so I could concentrate, and accidentally closed my map as well. Then I got REALLY scared.
So there I was. No service. No visibility. No idea which road I was supposed to turn on in two miles.
I pulled into an isolated driveway and prayed. I also texted my husband to ask him to pray (and to tell him we need a different cell phone carrier).
I sat there, wondering how long before my gas would run out, and how long before the person in the house would come out, and what I would do if both happened at once... I kept checking for wifi, but there was none.
Honestly, I just wanted to be home, watching netflix with my husband. What in the world was I doing out here? Why couldn't I be home, like everybody else?
I decided to pull up a little closer to the house, and check again. Walla! Wifi found. Map reconnected. Thank you, God!
I backed out, and continued my route. Twenty minutes later, the roads were magically clear. No snow. No rain. The snow dripping off my bumper was the only evidence of what I'd been through.
Do you ever feel like nobody gets what you've been through?
Sometimes serving the Lord takes you places that no one can go. It requires tenacity, humility, and dependence on him—the one who really does understand!
Think how far Jesus traveled to get to us. Think how homesick he was for heaven. Think of his great love, which sent him into the darkness.
If he did all this to buy me a place in heaven, where there will be pleasures evermore, how can I do anything less than travel where he leads, and share the good news of knowing him?
Where will you keep heading this week? What keeps you going?
Have you ever been forced into an out-of-your-control wilderness where the comforts of life are beyond reach? And do you ever just want to binge your way through, reaching for whatever comfort you can find?⠀
⠀
In episode 7, we're looking at the astonishing story from Matthew 4 where Jesus is in the wilderness and without food for forty days, and yet he still has the power to overcome temptation. ⠀
⠀
At the end of this episode, I'm going to invite you to live like this story is true—both that Jesus had the power to overcome temptation in the wilderness through the power of the Holy Spirit, and so do you.⠀
⠀
Barb @barbroose is a Bible teacher who loves following God more than anything else.⠀
⠀
Find Barb on:⠀
⠀
https://barbroose.com⠀
⠀
For a chance to win a copy of Surrendered, sign up for Live Like It's True! There is a link in the shownotes.⠀
⠀
#biblepodcast #livelikeitstrue #biblestorypodcast #biblereadings #biblereadingpodcast #readthebible #christianpodcast #christianpodcastsforwomen #newpodcast #christianpodcastcommunity #sparkmediapodcastnetwork #encouragement #podcastsforwomen #storiesofjesus #truebiblestories #truestory #biblediscusstiontopics #biblestudy #thestoryofthebible #beastoryteller #storyofthebible #dgroup #smallgroup #storying #inthewilderness #Jesusinthewilderness #temptationofJesus #temptedbythedevil #stonestobread ⠀
So proud of these two men—both veterans. My my dad served in the Navy and my husband served in the Coast Guard.
I’m proud of them both, and of the country they have served. Here’s my prayer:
🇺🇸God, bless America.
🇺🇸God prune and heal America.
🇺🇸God, be patient with America.
🇺🇸God, turn the hearts of Americans back to You.
🇺🇸God, use me—as an American—to lift your name high among the nations.
#veteransday #prouddaughter #proudwife #america #prayersforamerica
"This feeling of not being seen or known or understood may drive us into the lonely season, but we have a choice in that loneliness. We can either survive it, bemoan it, be miserable in it... Or we can do what Jesus did: Choose in. We can pursue our heavenly Father in the loneliness." - Alicia Bruxvoort"⠀
⠀
Follow Alicia at @aliciabruxvoort⠀
⠀
Have you listened to episode six of Live Like It’s True? (link in bio.)⠀
⠀
I think you’re going to LOVE this amazing conversation with Alicia. More importantly we hope you’ll go live like the story at the well is TRUE! ⠀
⠀
#biblepodcast #livelikeitstrue #biblestorypodcast #biblereadings #biblereadingpodcast #readthebible #christianpodcast #christianpodcastsforwomen #newpodcast #christianpodcastcommunity #sparkmediapodcastnetwork #encouragement #podcastsforwomen #storiesofjesus #truebiblestories #truestory #biblediscusstiontopics #biblestudy #thestoryofthebible #beastoryteller #storyofthebible #dgroup #smallgroup #storying #luke5 #lonelyplaces #aliciabruxvoort
4th grade, first game, he says to me, “We’re gonna play under those big lights and there’s gonna be an announcer and cheerleaders and I think a band…”
And I said, “No, bud. There won’t be any of those things… but it will still be fun!”
So we got there, and there were lights, an announcer 🎙, cheerleaders 📣 , and the band 🥁was even practicing in the background. 🤷🏼♀️
@grandvillefb , you know how to do football right!
It’s been such a joy to watch our boy grow into a man, out under those big lights. To the army of coaches and parents over the years: thanks for all that you’ve invested in our son. I can see so clearly how your influence and coaching has shaped who Cade is, both on and off the field.
@cadepopkin so proud of you, son. It’s been a delight to cheer you on from the stands. But my favorite is hearing about the standout moments and lessons you noticed, after the game. I have learned so much about life (and a little about football 😉) from watching you play.
Yes, football’s done. But what you learned will live on. Don’t ever stop giving your best, huddling up with coaches who are wise, and being a team player others can count on and laugh with.
And most importantly, don’t forget that life, too, has a clock that runs out—so never stop making yours count. #highschoolfootball
“Maybe we can’t avoid the loneliness. Maybe not many of us would choose loneliness. But when we find ourselves in those spaces, are we going to handle it as Jesus did? ⠀
⠀
If he chose "in" during those spaces, and he chose in because he wanted to spend time with the Father being known, then that is a possibility for us during the loneliness.”⠀
⠀
Come listen to episode 6 of my podcast: Live Like It’s True! I know you’re going to be so encouraged by this conversation with Alicia Bruxvoort.⠀
⠀
Follow @aliciabruxvoort or read her devotionals at @proverbs31ministries
⠀
#biblepodcast #livelikeitstrue #biblestorypodcast #biblereadings #biblereadingpodcast #readthebible #christianpodcast #christianpodcastsforwomen #newpodcast #christianpodcastcommunity #sparkmediapodcastnetwork #encouragement #podcastsforwomen #storiesofjesus #truebiblestories #truestory #biblediscusstiontopics #biblestudy #thestoryofthebible #beastoryteller #storyofthebible #dgroup #smallgroup #storying #luke5 #lonelyplaces #aliciabruxvoort
Have you read any of these? 📚
All “recommended reading” from @kellyneedham and friends at @stonegate_women for the women’s teaching residency. I’m so blessed to be following along from Michigan!
PS. Many of these are new (or used!) purchases for me from @baker_book_house which is my local Christian bookstore—but since they do free shipping, they can be your local Christian bookstore, too! 😉
#amreading #wanttogrow #christianspeaker #bibleteacher #womenteachingwomen #teachtheword #weightytask #getequipped
Have you been feeling lonely recently? Do you ever feel misunderstood? Are there times you wonder if there's anywhere you really belong? If so, consider this: Jesus can relate.⠀
⠀
I think you're going to find so much encouragement and help in this conversation with my friend, Alicia Bruxvoort as we talk about the true Story of Lonely Places on Luke 5:12–16.⠀
⠀
Alicia @aliciabruxvoort speaks regularly at women’s events and writes for Proverbs 31 Ministries’ Encouragement for Today, an online devotional that daily reaches millions of women around the globe with bold hope and biblical truth.⠀
⠀
A storyteller at heart, she loves to weave the wonder of scripture with the whimsy of ordinary life and help women connect with Jesus on the pages of His word.⠀
⠀
I hope you'll be encouraged as Alicia and I talk through this story, and then I hope you'll take my challenge at the end: to live like the story is true.⠀
⠀
#biblepodcast #livelikeitstrue #biblestorypodcast #biblereadings #biblereadingpodcast #readthebible #christianpodcast #christianpodcastsforwomen #newpodcast #christianpodcastcommunity #sparkmediapodcastnetwork #encouragement #podcastsforwomen #storiesofjesus #truebiblestories #truestory #biblediscusstiontopics #biblestudy #thestoryofthebible #beastoryteller #storyofthebible #dgroup #smallgroup #storying #luke5 #lonelyplaces #aliciabruxvoort⠀
“I don’t understand, Lord…”⠀
⠀
I must have prayed this prayer 500x, as I processed a dreadfully painful situation a while back. ⠀
⠀
It all started with a meeting at Starbucks. I walked in with a sunny expression and hopeful expectation. I walked out trying to mask the hurt, then spent the next months beneath a cloud of disillusionment and pain, praying, “I don’t understand, Lord…”, on a loop.⠀
⠀
I didn’t notice it at the time, but my prayer was revealing something in my heart: ⠀
⠀
I wanted to know. I wanted to understand so badly.⠀
⠀
It was an unavoidable trial; that, I could see. What I couldn’t see was why. And how it happened. And for what purpose.⠀
⠀
My response was to roll my sleeves up, get to the information and figure things out. But God seemed to be holding all the answers and reasons in a locked vault, which He refused to let me inside of.⠀
⠀
Even now, as I reflect on those tearstained months of agony, I don’t have any new understanding. It’s not that I didn’t learn from my trial; I did. But God was asking me to move forward in faith, even when I didn’t (and don’t) have all the answers.⠀
⠀
>James 1:5 doesn’t say, “If any of you lacks, come ask God and he’ll give it to you.” ⠀
⠀
It says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” ⠀
⠀
Friend, are you facing some painful trial? Are you praying, “God, I don’t understand…” ⠀
⠀
Perhaps God is asking you (like me) to move forward in faith, without the answers you crave… ⠀
⠀
Read more about what God has been showing me re:wisdom in my recent post, “Wisdom in the Garden”. ⠀
⠀
#wisdomquotes #wisedompath #whygodwhy #idontunderstandthis #idontunderstandgod #butitrusthim
“The message of the Bible isn’t: Buck up and don’t be afraid. The message of the Bible is: Look at Me and I will help you deal with your fears.”⠀
⠀
Come listen to episode 5 of my podcast: Live Like It’s True. I know you’ll be so encouraged as @kristen_wetherell as she shares the True Story of Fear, according to the Bible.
⠀
You can find more of Krsiten’s writing and speaking by following @kristen_wetherell or her site:⠀
⠀
https://kristenwetherell.com⠀
⠀
#biblepodcast #livelikeitstrue #biblestorypodcast #biblereadings #biblereadingpodcast #readthebible #christianpodcast #christianpodcastsforwomen #newpodcast #christianpodcastcommunity #sparkmediapodcastnetwork #encouragement #podcastsforwomen #storiesofjesus #truebiblestories #truestory #biblediscusstiontopics #biblestudy #thestoryofthebible #beastoryteller #storyofthebible #dgroup #smallgroup #storying #fearnot #donotfear #kristenwetherell ⠀
⠀
From the Blog
E8 The True Story of Nicodemus {Aaron Brewster – John 3:1-21}
Have you been born again? Do you know what this metaphor even means—and why Jesus used it to confront a Bible teacher named Nicodemus? And what about the metaphor of wind or the imagery of the snake on the pole? And why didn’t Jesus just use plain English... or maybe...
E7 The True Story in the Wilderness {Barb Roose – Matthew 4:1-11}
Have you ever been forced into a wilderness of discomfort? An out-of-your-control season where the comforts of life are beyond reach? If so, do you ever want to binge your way through your time in the wilderness, reaching for whatever comfort you can find? I'm so glad...
E6 The True Story of Lonely Places {Alicia Bruxvoort -Luke 5:12-16}
Have you been feeling lonely recently? Do you ever feel misunderstood? Are there times you wonder if there's anywhere you really belong? If so, consider this: Jesus can relate. Listen as Alicia Bruxvoort and I talk about the True Story of the Lonely Places. Alicia...
Most Popular
If Comparison Stress is Wearing You Out
This post first appeared on TriciaGoyer.com. Thanks so much, Tricia, for sharing this post! I came running home after school, crying so hard I could barely talk. My mom dropped everything, and through my hiccupping sniffles, I told her my third-grade woes. It had been...
3 Heart-Steadying Responses for the Control Girl on Election Week
Hey there, Control Girl. How's your heart doing, today? I'm wondering. Have you been... Anxiously pacing in front of your television as you watch the election updates? Unable to sleep—worried that there will be more rioting and chaos? Overwhelmed with gloom and even...
The Disgust Behind my Mask
“I can’t believe our church isn’t requiring everyone to wear a mask!” “I can’t believe our church is requiring everyone to wear a mask!” “I can’t believe people can’t just trust God with this virus already!” “I can’t believe people won’t just love their neighbor and...