As We Grow

This week we’re wrapping up our season and heading into a summer break! In this episode, we talk about why we’re stepping away for a few months, what we’re hoping to learn during this season of rest, and the personal goals we’re working toward while we’re off. From growth and discipline to margin and restoration, we’re sharing what this summer looks like for us and inviting you to consider what yo...

Joy jumps in this week to talk about the necessity of developing a rhythm of stopping and listening before we make any decision, and then she ties it to the unavoidable need for community. This conversation is the kick you need to recalibrate your life rhythms to God's rhythms before summer roars in. We also have many personal updates on this show, so follow us on Instagram  @aswegrowpod...

We only got through one topic this time, so you'll have to tune in next week for our second of the TOP TWO. In this episode, Gretchen lays out the difference between excuses and speaking truth. We talk about the difference between the two and how to identify when excuses are masquerading as truth. Prepare for some conviction. This one will sharpen you. As We Grow is on Instagram! Follow @aswegrowp...

We're gonna push the limits of your faith and spiritual understanding with this one. Buckle up! We're talking time travel, redemption, and a wild testimony from Gretchen! We did the best we could to summarize Redeeming Your Timeline  by Troy Brewer, but you really just need to read this one yourself. Here's a link to purchase. Can't wait to hear what you think! Redeeming Your Timeline: S...

This is the episode that never ends . . . it just goes on and on, my friends! I promise we tried for under an hour, but we just had too many good things to chat about. Today's TOP TWO focuses on seeing God in literally everything, and how a surrendered life seems like the harder way in the beginning but ends up being the harder way with eternal consequences. And we might sprinkle in some...

We're back with a bonus episode discussing our March book club read:  The Way of Life: Experiencing the Culture of Heaven on Earth by Bill Johnson. This is the first time both Joy and Gretchen have read a Bill Johnson book, and they were both challenged by the content. This book offers a no-holds-barred guide to living life as a follower of Jesus. We believe this discussion will provide an in...

We're back in our regular groove! This week's Top Two includes Bible journaling habit suggestions, deeper insights into Genesis, and tender takeaways from reading Henri Nouwen's The Return of the Prodigal Son . Also mentioned on the pod, Lisa Harper's podcast Back Porch Theology, " Mountains, Valleys, & the Voice of God pt. 1 ." As We Grow  is on Instagram. Follow  @aswegrowpod &nbsp...

This one is special Today Gretchen gives a vulnerable account of the lessons God is inviting her to concerning His promises for babies. Gretchen shows a lot of courage by sharing raw responses and how she's processing her most recent trip to Bethel's Wonder conference for women. We'll talk both grief and hope; and then the delicate ways of managing the tension of how those are both necessary and h...

We're back from spring break! This week, we kicked our Top Two off with an honest and messy conversation about naming pain in relationships, choosing when extreme boundaries are needed, determining our responsibility in the pain, and deciding how we can keep showing up to our community's "table" and doing life together in an emotionally healthy way. Warning: nothing is tied in a neat bow at the en...

Today’s TOP TWO gets a little more introspective as we dig into what we’re noticing God is opening our understanding in. Gretchen kicks it off contemplating how three different books she’s reading are all leading her to the same lesson: “It’s the slowing down.” Joy shares about how she’s personally in the middle of a difficult season financially and which touchstones from her walk with God she’s c...

We're back with a bonus episode reviewing our most recent haverim (book club) read-- Captivating by John & Stasi Eldredge. As a counterpart to John's Wild at Heart, this book spells out what makes women unique and valuable. Tune in to find out why this was the book that inspired Gretchen to start our haverim over two years ago. We're very honest in this conversation, and we will spell out...

This may be our favorite episode to date! Joy kicks off our Top Two by defining confirmation bias and then explaining how it affects processing current events. From there, we broaden the discussion by incorporating the differences between PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and PTG (post-traumatic growth). Then Gretchen brings it all together as she discusses how the feeling of inauthenticity wh...

It's a BONUS EPISODE, and this time we're pulling back the curtain and sharing some personal examples of things that are bringing us joy right now. From IG posts to kitchen utensils to favorite articles of clothing, we think everyone will find something in here that could add a little bit of happy to your day. We'd also love to hear five things that are bringing you joy right now by commenting on...

In today's Top Two, we take a deep dive into the psyche of Satan and ask thought-provoking questions like, "Should we pray for Satan's salvation?" Listen to find out the surprising insight this gives us into spiritual warfare and how it takes the "teeth" out of the enemy's attacks. Also, Joy shares some of her recent takeaways in her Year-of-Genesis Bible habit. Listen to hear a perspective on God...

Welcome back for Part Two of our Top Two. Last week we began with Gretchen discussing the state of the church and processing out what we can learn from Bethel's recent controversy. ICYMI: Listen here . Today we jump into Joy's thoughts on choosing who we receive spiritual guidance from. Instead of assuming a victim mentality when we're fed unbiblical teachings, we discuss the responsibility that l...

Opps, we did it again.   We recorded our Top Two, but the conversation was way too long to squeeze into one episode. So for this episode, we'll just cover Gretchen's topic, and you are invited to tune in next week for Joy's topic that is surprisingly (not surprisingly--thank you, Holy Spirit) closely related. As you listen, you'll see why this conversation went so long. This is a difficu...

We've certainly teased this a lot, but the December book for our personal book club was Sitting At the Feet of Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewishness of Jesus Can Transform Your Faith by Ann Spangler and Lois Tverberg, and we're finally sitting down to review it. Spoiler alert: We loved it! It's been transformational in both of our faiths, and we highly recommend it. Today we'll cover a few of the highli...

In this week's Top Two, Gretchen and Joy share our Bible reading plans for 2026. We would love to hear what your plan is, too! And towards the end of the podcast, we dive into the uncomfortable truth that most Christians don't know HOW to read the Bible. Why is that? Whose responsibility is it to teach this? How can we be part of the solution? We come to a surprising conclusion at the end. Tune in...

Send us a text Last week, Gretchen laid a vital foundation talking about the power of our words in "T he Power of Words: Life, Death, and What We Partner With " This week, Joy gets real spicy talking hard truths about how the Church is playing for the wrong team "in the name of Christ."  This one has been brewing for awhile. Jump in with your thoughts by texting the show or DM us on Instagram...

Send us a text In this solo episode of As We Grow , Gretchen reflects on the spiritual weight of our words — how they can create life, reinforce lies, establish patterns, or quietly partner with death when left unchecked. Through personal testimony, Scripture, and recent teachings, this episode explores: How words spoken over families can shape generations What the Bible says about life and death...

Send us a text Today we're reflecting on and naming what happened in 2025 (both personally and for the pod), and we're setting some intentions or naming some habits we'll be developing in 2026. This exercise in remembering is valuable for all of us to do, but we highly encourage you to grab your person and do it with someone else, not alone, to really get the value out of it.  Who's your pers...

Send us a text If you missed us in December, we're back and making up for lost time! This is technically our Top Two, but it rabbit-trailed so often that it's really a Top Two, a bonus, and a we-love-you episode covering just about everything but especially praying with authority (as taught by Gretchen's new bestie Bill Johnson), and Joy, ironically, talking about fostering long-form conversations...

Send us a text We are back with our Top Two! This week, Gretchen is sharing a few of her favorite excerpts from Kris Vallotton's book The Supernatural Ways of Royalty, and Joy is talking about the biblical definition of HOPE (one of her favorite Advent themes). We can't wait to hear your thoughts. Hit "text the show" above to message us, or comment on Instagram @aswegrowpod .  Merry Christmas...

Send us a text Kicking off December with our latest Top Two. Joy reflects on her recent travels and discusses with Gretchen strategies to keep connected with God when not at home. Then Gretchen reflects on her Bible reading from Luke 11, and we dig into Jesus' instructions on how to pray. We love hearing from you. Text the show with the above link, or DM us on Instagram @aswegrowpod . SHOW NOTES F...

Send us a text Today we're talking about our most recent personal book club pick Surrendered to the Holy Spirit by Hayley Braun. Tune in to see if this book deserves a spot on your TBR list too, and use the link to text the show and let us know what you're reading. Click here to purchase a copy. Support the show As We Grow is on Instagram. Follow @aswegrowpod for BTS pictures, episode highlights,...