Joyful Journey

As human beings made by God, we all have a purpose on earth. How do we know our purpose and learn how to live according to that purpose as a believer? And how does God’s sovereignty play into all of this? Listen in this week as Janet and Jocelyn teach through the story of Samson in Judges 13-14 and discuss the dangers of living without a purpose. Episode Transcript Resources: Episodes Hesed Love o...

Introducing our very first Joyful Journey Q&A episode! Janet and Jocelyn answer listener questions, from how to spend time with the Lord while raising small children, to the difference between godly grief and self-pity. We pray that as you listen, you find yourself encouraged and strengthened to choose truth and to choose joy on your journey as a woman of God. Episode Transcript Resources: Epi...

Thank you for joining us on this journey! We wanted to share a little bit of what it actually looks like during the recording process. Enjoy this short blooper episode and we look forward to continuing the journey next year!

Our thought life matters to God! Our theology should impact the way we think. The Bible teaches us how to take our thoughts captive in submission to Christ. In this week’s episode, we are thrilled to welcome back our co-host, Jocelyn, as she and Janet take a look at Psalm 1 and 2, which instruct us to meditate on truth and show us how to conform our thinking to Christ Main passage: Psalm 1 and 2 E...

We have an exclusive episode of the Joyful Journey Podcast! Today's podcast is entitled,  Special Gentle & Lowly Interview . In this new episode, Janet's husband, Pastor Brent, had the unique opportunity to interview Dane Ortlund, author of the bestselling book  Gentle & Lowly  and senior pastor of Naperville Presbyterian Church in Illinois. In this...

Sometimes it feels like criticism comes from all around us. How can we humbly process and respond to the criticism leveled at us? Alexandra and Janet discuss how God’s view of us in Christ can help us to consider and respond to the critics in our lives from a biblical perspective. Main Passage: Proverbs Episode Transcript Resources: Website ACBC Counseling Episode Principles and Methods - Joyful J...

Submission. Why do we shudder when we hear that word? Perhaps we equate it with being a doormat, being taken advantage of, or told we have no voice or value. But true biblical submission is not about value: It's about order. In this episode, Janet and Alexandra will discuss some common misunderstandings of submission and look to Jesus's example to reshape our understanding, as we seek to l...

Imagine someone knowing everything about you. Even the deepest, darkest parts of who you are and how you think that you don't want to acknowledge, even to yourself... Imagine Someone does know and does see - and loves you dearly anyway. This is the kind of love we find in our Creator. Janet and Alexandra take a long look at Psalm 139 to see how we are both fully known and fully loved. Main Pas...

Gender. Womanhood. Beauty. Value. Equality. All of these terms swirl in our heads when we think about the messages the world shouts at us as women and our role in society today. Janet and Alexandra examine Genesis 1-2 to answer the most important question when it comes to a right view of womanhood: What does GOD think of women? Part of pursuing truth in our journeys of women of God includes answer...

Today on the podcast, hosts Janet and Alexandra discuss principles and methods. In the church, we should base all of our life principles on scripture, even though the methods we use might be different from person to person. Understanding the difference between principles and methods is crucial to experiencing the unity of Christ.  Main Passage: 1 Peter 3:8 Episode Transcript Resources: Books Fruit...

Modern sensibilities resist the idea of meekness. And yet, it is one of the words that Jesus uses to describe Himself! A biblical understanding of the power and strength in true meekness gives us much hope! In this episode, Janet and Alexandra focus on a Christ-like quiet spirit, and the beauty of freedom of not resisting what God allows into our lives. Main passages: 1 Peter 3:1-4, Psalm 131 Epis...

How can we process suffering in a way that results joy in the midst of hard times? Alexandra Nitzschke opens up about her personal experience in suffering in self-destructive ways and in biblical ways, and shares four steps she uses to pursue joy when times get tough. Main Passage: Psalm 34 Episode Transcript Resources: Books Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy - Mark Vroegop God’s Healing for Life’s Losses -...

Janet Aucoin and Alexandra Nitzschke discuss how a biblical understanding of the unfulfilled longings we all experience will help us see the tastes of God’s goodness all around us. Episode Transcript Resources: Books Heaven - Randy Alcorn Gospel Primer - Milton Vincent Video Dealing with Unfulfilled Longings - Janet Aucoin Visit the Joyful Journey website to sign up for our newsletter, view transc...

Janet Aucoin and Alexandra Nitzschke walk through the complex topic of anxiety and its various underlying heart issues by studying the Sermon on the Mount, and discuss how to find freedom within anxiety in our relationship to Christ. Episode Transcript Resources: Books Anxiety: Anatomy and Cure - Bob Kellemen Anxious for Nothing - John MacArthur Gentle and Lowly - Dane Ortlund Overcoming Fear, Wor...

As Janet Aucoin and Alexandra Nitzschke continue talking about the tools we have to fight temptation, we turn our eyes to the powerful Word of God, which helps us fight against the pull of our sinful desires. Alexandra dives deep into Matthew 4 to look at how Jesus was tempted during His 40 days in the desert - and how we too can have victory over temptation if we study, know, and embrace the Scri...

Joyful Journey welcomes co-host Alexandra Nitzschke back to the podcast! Janet Aucoin and Alexandra will discuss the story of Gethsemane from Matthew 26 and the stark difference between Jesus and His disciples as they respond to temptation. Their story helps guide our thoughts about how we react when temptation comes our way: Desperate prayer is a powerful tool the Lord uses to help us overcome th...

This is a special one! Joyful Journey welcomes Janet's husband, Pastor Brent Aucoin, to talk about the desires of our heart. Why do we do what we do? Because we want what we want. But why do we want what we want - and why do we want it so badly? Brent and Janet take a look at Genesis 3 to explore the process that leads us to the decisions we make - and how to align our heart's treasure wit...

We want to live out our singleness in a way that honors the Lord. But how do we do that in a world often obsessed with finding fulfilment in all sorts of human relationships? Janet Aucoin and Jocelyn Wallace discuss biblical truths to help combat the common struggles and unique battles singles face, as well as how marrieds and singles can come together to help each other live out the Creation Mand...

Janet Aucoin and Jocelyn Wallace break down Titus 2:3-5 by sharing bot the context of the passage and application of Paul's calling for the "older women" and the "younger women" in the local church. Main passage: Titus 2:3-5 Episode Transcript Resources: Books Adorned: Living Out the Beauty of the Gospel Together - Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth Blogs/Articles 100 Questions to Fuel...

Janet Aucoin and Jocelyn Wallace sit down with our very first guest, Pastor Dustin Folden, to discuss how feasting at the table of God's goodness can help us fight against the temptations and dangers of sin. Main Passage: Colossians 2:20-3:4 Episode Transcript Resources: Books Christ’s Glorious Achievement - C. H. Spurgeon  Incomparable Christ - John Stott Knowing Christ - Mark Jones Incompara...

There are so many voices in our head and in the world telling us what to think about our body. But what does God's Word have to say about it? Janet Aucoin and Jocelyn Wallace walk through II Corinthians to help us think through a biblical view of our physical bodies. Main Passage: II Corinthians 4-5 Episode Transcript Resources: Booklet The Freedom of Self Forgetfulness - Tim Keller Teaching T...

God sometimes ordains trials for his people. Janet Aucoin and Jocelyn Wallace explore how truth from James 1 can help us fight for joy for ourselves and those around us—even when we can’t understand His plan for the trials we face. Episode Transcript Resources: Books Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy - Mark Vroegop Valley of Vision Gospel Primer - Milton Vincent The Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible The Stu...

Janet Aucoin and Jocelyn Wallace discuss how the hesed love of God changes our perspective and response to unjust suffering. Sometimes we suffer as a result of someone else's sin. Sometimes we suffer due to circumstances outside of our control: an accident, a pandemic, or a variety of other results of living in a broken world. And it's not fair! Regardless, looking to our Savior's exam...

Last episode, we explored the hesed love of God - a sacrificial love that faithfully pursues even to its own hurt. Now Janet Aucoin and Jocelyn Wallace will take a look at what hesed love can look like, as we as Christ's followers attempt to live it out in everyday life. Main Passage: John 13 Episode Transcript Resources: Books Inexpressible - Michael Card Gentle and Lowly - Dane Ortlund The S...

When we think about the love of God, what do we picture? In this episode, Janet Aucoin and Jocelyn Wallace examine the faithful hesed love God holds for His people - the kind of sacrificial love that loves to its own hurt, an unchanging love that pursues those who actively run away from Him. He loves first. He loves most. He loves even to His own hurt. Taking a closer look at the steadfast love of...