"But Jesus Drank Wine" & Other Stories That Kept Us Stuck

Whether you’re asking “Do I drink to slow down?” or “How do I build healthier rhythms without adding more to-do lists,” this episode is practical, encouraging, and full of real-life examples that’ll give you ideas you can try this week.

We’re back with Lauren, this time digging into pace, rhythms, and how busyness intertwined with drinking and why alcohol felt like the only “off&rdquo...

If you’ve ever wondered why certain patterns keep repeating, or how to stop passing pain down the line, this conversation is for you.

This week we’re joined by Gina Birkemeier, LPC—licensed professional counselor, international speaker, and award-winning author of Generations Deep: Unmasking Inherited Dysfunction and Trauma to Rewrite Our Stories Through Faith and Therapy. 

Gina specializes in generational tr...

Will people still like me? Will I be boring? Will I be left out? We’ve been there, and today our team joins us to share the real story of how friendships shift… and why the changes are ultimately a beautiful blessing.You’ll hear honest fears, surprising blessings, and practical ways to navigate social life alcohol-free, without losing yourself (or your true people).📘 What you’ll learn in this episode:

...

For the first time ever, we recorded with the team in person—from our Leadership Retreat in Colorado Springs! Join us (plus Sam, Amber, Jill, Tracy, Kelsey, and Lauren) for a cozy, honest roundtable. 

We talk about the moment each of us got brave, how community breaks shame, and the surprising ways love, joy, and peace grow when alcohol isn’t running the show.

Whether you’re just getting curious or already wa...

We did it! This episode was recorded in person at our first Leadership Retreat in Colorado Springs, CO. We share the heart behind the weekend, how this ministry began, and what God is building through community. 

You’ll also get a sneak peek at the next two episodes featuring stories from our leadership team, on life after alcohol and the “friendship shuffle.”

Whether you’ve been with us since Episode 1...

Sign up for the September 40 Day Fast here: https://butjesusdrankwine.myflodesk.com/septemberfast

In Week 6—the final week—of our 6-part Monday series walking through Love Life Sober: A 40 Day Alcohol Fast, we’re covering Days 35–40. These last chapters are all about navigating real-life situations, confronting shame, and stepping fully into lasting freedom.

From the workplace happy hour to vacation cocktail...

Sign up for the September 40 Day Fast HERE!

In Week 5 of our 6-part Monday series walking through Love Life Sober: A 40 Day Alcohol Fast, we're diving into Days 28–34—and this episode is full of aha moments, empowering truths, and vulnerable conversations to support your sober journey.

Whether you’re navigating emotional ups and downs, feeling disconnected from your values, or questioning what fun looks like witho...

📣 Sign up for the September 40 Day Fast Here!

In Week 4 of our 6-part series walking through Love Life Sober: A 40 Day Alcohol Fast, we’re diving into Days 22–27—a powerful stretch of the fast that explores identity, grief, breaking generational cycles, and some surprising truths about alcohol, anxiety, and even biblical wine.

Whether you’re navigating this fast in real time or simply curious about ...

Sign up for the September 40 Day Fast here: https://butjesusdrankwine.myflodesk.com/septemberfast

In Week 3 of our 6-part Monday series walking through Love Life Sober: A 40 Day Alcohol Fast, we're diving into Days 14–21—and this episode is rich with practical tools, mindset shifts, and grace-filled encouragement to support your alcohol-free journey.

Whether you're mid-fast, gearing up for September’s live-coached...

Sign up for the September 40 Day Fast here: https://butjesusdrankwine.myflodesk.com/septemberfast

In Week 2 of our 6-part Monday series walking through Love Life Sober: A 40 Day Alcohol Fast, we’re diving into Days 8–13—a powerful stretch focused on mindset, identity, and learning to renew your mind in Christ.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in your thoughts, trapped by unhelpful labels, or frustrated that willpow...

Sign up for the September 40 Day Fast here: https://butjesusdrankwine.myflodesk.com/septemberfast

In this powerful opening to our six-part Monday series, we’re diving into Love Life Sober: A 40 Day Alcohol Fast to Rediscover Your Joy, Improve Your Health, and Renew Your Mind—starting with Days 1 through 7.

Whether you’re reading along, curious about taking a break, or preparing to join the September live-coached f...

What if the darkest chapters of your life became the very place where God’s love met you most powerfully? 

In today’s raw and redemptive episode, Cristina Baker shares her jaw-dropping testimony of addiction, trauma, homelessness, and the overwhelming grace of God that broke through it all. 

From growing up in chaos to nearly overdosing, Cristina recounts the moment she cried out to a God she didn’t yet ...

You don’t need a rock bottom to change.

Today we explore a powerful reframe: what if rock bottom isn’t a place of shame or destruction, but a moment of surrender? A moment when you realize that Jesus is the Rock at the bottom, and that He’s been there all along.

This conversation dismantles the common story that things need to get “bad enough” before you're allowed to change your relationship with alco...

This week, we’re tackling one of the most important identity questions in the Christian sobriety space: Do we really need to call ourselves “alcoholics”? 

In this heartfelt and truth-packed episode, we dive into why we believe that label doesn’t line up with our identity in Christ. We reflect on our own stories of what happened when we stopped letting shame define us.

We explore what Scripture says abou...

Moderating alcohol is exhausting. Let’s talk about what’s possible when you stop playing the game.

In this listener-favorite list-style episode, we share the 10 best things about never having to moderate alcohol again, and trust us, it’s more freeing than you think.

From the relentless mental gymnastics (“Should I? Shouldn’t I?”) to the emotional fallout of breaking yet another promise to yoursel...

Join the conversation in our community at BJDW Community! 

Episode 134. What if this is the summer it all changes—for the better? ☀️

Today we dive into what it means to experience summer without alcohol, and why that might be the very thing your soul is craving. 

Whether you’re newly sober-curious, starting your first alcohol-free summer, or coming back to this journey after a break, this conversation is packe...

To help you reflect and dig deeper, we’ve created a free guided journaling booklet that goes hand-in-hand with this episode. You can download it here.

Join the conversation in our community at BJDW Community 

Today we tackle a topic that hits close to home for many women of faith: Has wine—or any other comfort—become more important than your relationship with God? 

Using a biblical lens, they explore the...

Join the conversation in our community at BJDW Community. 

We’re re-releasing one of our most popular episodes—Episode 13: Did Jesus Drink Wine? With Pastor David—because some truths are worth hearing twice. Or ten times.

This episode gets to the heart of a phrase many of us used to justify the habit: “But Jesus drank wine.” It’s not just the name of ou...

Join the conversation in our community at https://butjesusdrankwine.com/community. 

In this honest and insightful episode, we’re joined by Blake Roberts (a returning guest!) and Jamie Haigh, founders of The Three Percent Co. and hosts of The 3% Podcast. Both licensed therapists and men of faith, Blake and Jamie share their personal and professional perspective on what’s really going on inside the hearts an...