Unquenchable Hope
Wonder how you can hang onto hope in a world that seems bent on stealing it? Eavesdrop on Christian writers and speakers Luanne Botta and Mary Ann Crum as they discuss all kinds of relevant topics and how God, His Word (the Bible) and His grace can give us the hope we need to get us through whatever we face. This isn’t your typical Bible teaching or preaching, but real conversation, sprinkled with humor, honesty and spontaneity, by two women who’ve walked with God and used His Word to encourage and teach others for many years.
Episodes
Walking with God is certainly an adventure, often marked by unexpected twists and turns along the way. In this episode, Mary Ann and Luanne talk about how God moves us from places, jobs and ministries -- even when we're happy where we are -- because He has something else for us to do. And then the ladies talk about how the Lord has led them, separately but simultaneously, to the decision that the time has come to...
An iceberg sunk the Titanic, and the iceberg of anger can sink us, too, if we don't recognize that there are other emotions below the surface that need to be dealt with in the light of God's truth and healing grace. In this episode, Luanne and Mary Ann talk with Denise Mock, a life coach who teaches anger management courses to people who are compelled to be there by employers or the legal system because they...
Have you ever felt like so much bad stuff has happened to you that you'll never be able to live a fulfilling, purposeful life that glorifies God? In this episode, Mary Ann and Luanne continue their conversation with Denise Mock, who shares how, with God's help, she chose not to allow several horrific experiences as a child and adult wreck her life.
Luanne’s newest book, “Spiritual Warfare and the Armor of G...
What do you do when God allows things to happen to you that just don't match up with those wonderful Bible stories you heard as a kid in Sunday School? In this episode, guest Denise Mock talks with Luanne and Mary Ann about how God brought her through childhood sexual abuse, divorce, and rape to a life that truly is a picture of the unquenchable hope we can have in Christ.
Luanne’s newest book, “Spiritual Warfare...
Who does Jesus call to follow Him? And where does He lead us? After looking at these two questions in the previous two episodes, Mary Ann and Luanne conclude the series by discussing at one more question: How does Jesus lead us?
Luanne’s newest book, “Spiritual Warfare and the Armor of God,” is available for order through her website (see below) and on amazon.com, as is Mary Ann’s book, “Live. Learn. Laugh!”
Did you ever notice that when Jesus approached His disciples in the Gospel accounts and said, "Follow Me," they didn't seem to ask any questions? They didn't say, "You mean NOW?" or even "Where are You going?" They just left everything and followed Him. Here's the thing: He still wants that same whole-hearted commitment from His followers today. Join Luanne and Mary Ann as ...
Throughout the Gospels, one of the things Jesus often said to those He encountered was simply, "Follow me." Some dropped everything and did just that, but others came up with excuses or just couldn't surrender something in their lives they knew Jesus was asking them to leave behind. In this first of a three-part series, Mary Ann and Luanne challenge us to consider this eternally important question: How ...
Why do we stay stuck in habits, thought patterns, and lifestyle choices that actually harm us and others? Simple: Change is usually hard. But it's also possible and in this episode, Mary Ann and certified life coach Denise Mock talk about how we can get out of the ruts that mess up our lives and relationships.
Luanne’s newest book, “Spiritual Warfare and the Armor of God,” is available for order through her webs...
Luanne was traveling, so in this episode Mary Ann called on her friend Denise Mock to be her co-pilot ... or in this case, co-coach. In addition to being a wife and mom, serving on their church staff, and working with newly released prison inmates, Denise is also a certified life coach and she explains why she loves helping others feel seen, heard and valued.
Luanne’s newest book, “Spiritual Warfare and the Armor of ...
Is anyone missing from your nativity scene this Christmas? Well, our special guest, Denise Mock, says she wants to add figurines of Zecharia and Elizabeth to hers. The unlikely parents of John the Baptist, "Zech and Lizzie" experienced a miraculous pregnancy just months before Elizabeth's cousin Mary did, and likely provided encouragement, security and confirmation to the young woman who was chosen to b...
Ever wondered if your prayers make a difference? Isn't God going to do what He's going to do anyway? These are just some of the hard questions Mary Ann and Luanne discuss in this episode with their guest, Pat Kenney. Pat, who for many years served as a leader in the international ministry, Moms in Prayer, shares simple but profound insights into why communicating with God is so essential in the life of a Chr...
In Part Two of this series about prayer, guest Pat Kenney joins Luanne and Mary Ann and explains in a wonderful way why "why?" isn't really the best question to ask God when we don't understand what He's doing or allowing in our lives.
Luanne’s newest book, “Spiritual Warfare and the Armor of God,” is available for order through her website (see below) and on amazon.com, as is Mary Ann’s book...
Before Mary Ann and Luanne were forced to take an unexpected (and unwanted) two-month break from podcasting, they posted the first of a three-part series on prayer. They want to rerun that first episode before they jump into part two. The series features an interview with their friend Pat Kenney. In part one, Pat talks about her experiences working with an organization called Moms in Prayer and how she saw her prayers...
"Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones" ... Most of us have heard the song and most of us have felt like "dem dry bones" during difficult seasons of our lives. But what do we do when we feel like dry bones? As Mary Ann and Luanne continue sharing some of the challenges that kept them from recording podcasts for a couple of months, they offer perspective and hope that God is always working to bring go...
It's been awhile, but Mary Ann and Luanne are back now with tales of the strange and difficult paths they've been traveling the past couple of months. As they describe in this episode, the ladies have each been through the proverbial wringer and they share some of the insights and hope they've gleaned from the recent pain and chaos in their lives. (NOTE: The series on prayer will resume after this and n...
Mary Ann and Luanne sit down with their friend Pat Kenney to talk about the subject of prayer. In this first episode of a three-part series, Pat shares about her experiences working with an organization called Moms in Prayer and how she saw her prayers for one of her daughters turn that child’s life around.
Luanne’s newest book, “Spiritual Warfare and the Armor of God,” is available for order through her website (see ...
Do we have the joy, joy, joy, joy down in our hearts (as the old song goes)? Well, as Mary Ann and Luanne discuss on this episode, we can have, IF we’ve placed our faith in Jesus Christ and His atoning death on the cross. Mary Ann comes armed with her bullet points as the ladies talk about the sources and benefits of tapping into the joy God promises His followers.
Luanne’s newest book, “Spiritual Warfare and the Armo...
Is God’s highest priority for us to be happy? Does the Bible even promise happiness? Are happiness and joy the same thing? These are some of the questions Luanne and Mary Ann tackle in this episode.
Luanne’s newest book, “Spiritual Warfare and the Armor of God,” is available for order through her website (see below) and on amazon.com, as is Mary Ann’s book, “Live. Learn. Laugh!”
In this episode, Mary Ann continues her conversation with Heidi Blake about the great opportunities out there to help kids in the foster care system. For those who don’t feel called to actually take a child into their home, there are all kinds of creative ways each of us can help these kids and share the love of Christ with them.
Luanne’s newest book, “Spiritual Warfare and the Armor of God,” is available for order t...
Planting seeds of truth, shining light into young lives that have known much darkness—however you want to think of it, there’s a great need for Christ-followers to open their hearts and homes to kids in the foster care system. In this episode, Mary Ann continues her conversation with Heidi Blake, who has fostered dozens of kids who might otherwise have had no place to go. Heidi offers practical information about how t...
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