No Higher Calling

2023. A new year is upon us! Whether that floods your heart with excitement, curiosity, trepidation, or dread, we can enter this year with hope. Deuteronomy 31:8 says, "And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.” In this episode, I share... -A spiritual challenge for the new year -20 questions (...

No Higher Calling is wrapping up it's second year, and what a year it's been! We've hit 100k podcast downloads, published 2 books, created several other resources through the NHC shop, and started the YouTube channel. As we begin a new year, we have expectant hearts on all that God will do. In this episode, I share more about... -Our upcoming international move -Plans for NHC in 2023 -Sneak peek o...

I did it! I hit my goal of 50 books in 2022. Listen to me share my thoughts on the books that I read in quarter 3 & 4.    Resources: NHC Blog: My 2022 Reading Challenge (Quarter 3 & 4) https://www.nohighercalling.org/blog/book-list-from-2022 I've saved each book I read this year on a highlight on my Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/nohighercalling_/ Great Hymns for Growing Hearts by Bre...

There are days in motherhood when we might wish we could rewind the clock and get a do-over. The reality if life is that time marches on, and the best we can do is learn from our mistakes and listen to the godly counsel from those who are further down the sanctification road. Francie Taylor from Keep the Heart Ministries joins me to share areas where God helped her to recalculate in her motherhood...

James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."   As we walk into a year, do you find yourself asking God for wisdom? Maybe for your marriage, motherhood, career, finances. . . the list is endless! God promises us that when we ask Him for wisdom, He will give it to us LIBERALLY!    In my pursuit of wisdom,...

If you've been following me for very long, you'll know that hospitality is something I'm passionate about. We have seen the impact of obeying God's Word in this area again and again. I have shared many episodes on this topic, but in this episode, we address extending hospitality in the holiday season.  It can feel daunting to extend hospitality in the Christmas season with all the busyness that ti...

"Mary gave her baby a beautiful gift. Mary gave the Christ-child a mother who pondered in her heart the purposes of God, who found her part in those purposes, and then who determined to raise her child to continue to fulfill His purpose."   During the holiday season, there are so many pressures to make perfect memories and give perfect gifts. In this episode, let's refocus. What really is the grea...

What a journey it has been for Denise and I to walk through the book of Titus alongside you listeners throughout this year! God has taught us many things throughout this study, and we pray He has done the same for you. We recap our takeaway truths, and give a charge to continue on in your study of God's Word. As we are on the precipice of a new year, we present the challenge to ask God to put a bo...

We've made it to the final episode of the Respectable Sins Bible study on the podcast! Throughout the year, we've looked at sins that might not seem "that bad" in light of culture, but all sin is in direct opposition to a righteous and holy God. So, where do we go from here? We must keep short sin accounts and live in the conscious awareness of the presence of God. Allow Him to shine the light of...

"I am responsible for my rest, my quiet time, my health, and my relationship with God. Each of the things that fill my cup allowing me to pour out beauty on the life God has given me." -Sally Clarkson One of the most impactful pieces of wisdom I have received and applied in our home is to create a rhythm of quiet time every afternoon. Not every day looks the same, but we strive to have 1-2 hours i...

I Thessalonians 5:18 "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." Life brings storms. Sometimes the waves crash so loudly that it drowns out the still, small voice of God reminding us that He is always in control.  In this episode, I share some truths that Pastor Tom Sexton shared after experiencing devastating loss in Hurricane Ian. In the midst of trag...

Melanie Cook is a dear friend, and the Lord has used her to be an example to me of what a Christlike woman looks like. God has chosen for her to go through several heartbreaks this year as she has faced three of her precious unborn babies going to heaven. In the midst of pain, Melanie has been a beautiful testimony of someone who has trusted their heart to the One who does all things for our good...

I Timothy 4:12 "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." Throughout our study of Titus, we have been looking at the commands and characteristics God's given to women. In today's episode, we look at the list of characteristics God gave to Titus as the pastor of the church in Crete. There are paralle...

We come to the final "respectable sin" in this year long study- the sin of worldliness. At first glance, it might seem odd that worldliness is included as a respectable sin. Don't we know that we are to not be like the world? But as we dig into this topic, we see how our hearts have allowed the world to creep in.  Jerry Bridges defines worldliness as being attached to, engrossed in, or preoccupied...

Ashlie Gillit is a pastor's wife, missionary and mother in Birmingham, England. Her family works with the extension ministry of The Crown College, and they have seen God do incredible things in the UK. It is an honor to have her join me on this episode. What does it mean to "set the tone"? It means when something someone does or says sets the tone for an activity, it establishes the way the activi...

India Werner joins me to discuss how to create a musical culture in your home. As Christians, we are admonished to make spiritual music a part of our lives. How can mothers encourage this in their homes? India shares five ways she is working to make music a central focus of their home culture. 1. Play music as often as you can 2. Sing with your children 3. Talk about the songs you sin 4. Be willin...

Casie Ravert with New Mercies Music joins me to discuss the influence that music has on children. She delves into the impact that it has on their young, developing minds in the areas of social, emotional, and spiritual development.  Some of the topics covered are: -How can someone afford music lessons? -Ways to expose young children to music (from the womb into the preschool years) -How music brea...

What do pedicures and the good tidings of peace have in common?  Throughout Scripture, we find the phrase "beautiful feet" several different times. This got me thinking- what are beautiful feet? Culture puts a high importance on keeping our feet beautiful. In 2017, over 14 billion dollars was spent on nail salon services in the US. But what does God say beautiful feet are? Several other words are...

Portions of this episode have been redacted for the safety of the interviewee and those she loves in a closed country   A friend joins me in this episode to talk about the time God had her and her family serving the Lord in a closed country. It is a very different culture than what we are used to in the West, but the gospel breaks all barriers! They were able to see God do amazing things during th...

Missions is the heartbeat of God. His desire is that every tribe, nation, and tongue come to know Him as Lord and King. In Romans 10 we find the question, "How can they hear without a preacher?" God desires that every believer have a part in reaching the world with the gospel. Not everyone is called to be a missionary, but everyone is called to have a part in world missions. Even our children shou...

I could not be more excited to announce my new book Great Hymns for Growing Hearts: Christ the Savior is Born. This is a wonderful resource for families to countdown to Christmas together as you prepare your hearts and homes to celebrate Christ's birth.  Throughout the ages, carols have been sung at Christmas celebrating the joyous birth of Jesus Christ. The truths in these songs point us not only...

As we continue on through the Respectable Sins study, we come to addressing sins of the tongue. The Bible has a lot to say about our tongues! It is estimated that the average person speaks 16,000 words each day. How many of those words are for edification, encouragement, and the gospel? Or do we use our words for gossip, slander and complaining? This episode presents the challenge to pray the pray...

Denise and I come to the final command the aged women are given to teach the younger women. When we hear words like "obedient" or "submissive", we tend to bristle. In this episode, we study what God's heart was as He inspired Paul to write this letter to Titus. As we have learned, God does everything decently and in order. Everything He does is for His glory and our good. Our sinful flesh can balk...

We are in an interesting season. So many good things are happening; God is on the move! Yet in the midst of it all, I have found myself struggling with overwhelm- physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Maybe you've been there? Life circumstances, whether good or bad, have you spinning so many plates until all the sudden, they start crashing down. It is in this brokenness that God is r...

When we think of hospitality, we usually think about inviting people into our homes for a meal. While that encompasses much of the ministry of hospitality, there are ways we can serve the Lord in this way FROM our homes, not just IN our homes. What do I mean by hospitality on-the-go? This encompasses making meals for people who are in need of encouragement, help, or support, and then taking it to...