Encouragement From Women Podcast

19/02/2024

Serving in the Shadows: by Kimberly Joy
Some time ago I had the opportunity to attend a regional student convention with the students from our Christian school. Throughout the week, students from several states competed in academic activities, sports, music, art, and dramatic productions.
During the week, one young man caught my attention. (I'll call him John.)
It seemed there was nothing John couldn't do. He excelled in sports, music, and drama. By the end of the week, he had won several medals.
But what most impressed me about John was something I spotted in the large auditorium where the dramas, speeches, and monologues were performed.
The students "on deck" to perform were required to wait off to the side of the platform, then walk over to the judges table. One of the event coordinators, a friendly lady with the ability to help ease pre-event jitters, would chat with the students as they stood waiting to be called by the judges.
A young man was up next to perform a persuasive speech, one of the more difficult categories. He stood against the wall, visibly nervous.
Unfortunately, Friendly Lady had been called away for several minutes, so he stood alone.
No one noticed.
Except John.
He slipped from his seat and made his way over to the uneasy young man. I was too far away to hear what John said, but his words immediately put the soon-to-be-performer at ease. The boys laughed and chatted until the judges called. John gave him a quick fist-bump, then rejoined the audience.
I know John went home with an armful of medals, and I'm sure his parents and school are very proud of him.
But I'll always remember his performance outside of the spotlight—off the court and off the platform— when he took the time to simply be a friend to someone in need.
It's important that we shine for Jesus while we're in the spotlight.
But how we serve Him in the shadows truly shows our heart.

18/02/2024

Think of someone that you can impact today, by being an encouragement to them.

17/02/2024

Romans 10:14 - How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

16/02/2024

Check out our newest episode!
Season 4 episode 2
Proverbs 31: 25
“Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.”

This episode is filled with Biblical truths tied alongside with scientific knowledge that we can use to glorify God throughout our monthly cycles.

It is sure to be an encouragement to you!
Follow the link in the bio to listen to the episode today!

16/02/2024

FLASHBACK FRIDAY
—to a favorite podcast episode
Season 1 episode 13

Follow the link in the bio to listen to the full episode

14/02/2024

Be sure to show the boundless love of our Savior on this special holiday!

12/02/2024

“When You Can't Talk About It”
By Francie Taylor

“I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul." Psalm 142:4

Have you ever felt alone in a crowd?

That's what life feels like when you're going through something really hard, but you've run out of people with listening ears. In the beginning of any trial, people are eager to be there and willing to sit and pay attention as you recount the details of your pain.

And then time goes by, and people go on with their lives.
That's called "normal," but you are still in your trial.
Does anyone care?

It's so easy to forget that Jesus always cares, because we have become so reliant on people. The reality is this: there are times when "no man" can care for your soul, but Jesus can.
And He does.

When your loss is so tremendously painful and you feel like there are no words to describe it, Jesus is very familiar with your agony. He gets it. Deeply.

"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not." Isaiah 53:3

Are you going through deep waters right now and you just can't talk about it?
Pour it out to the "man of sorrows." He is "acquainted with grief," and completely understands what you are going through. And best of all, Jesus never gets tired of hearing from us, even if we're repeating the same sentences.
Jesus hears you.

"Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness."
Psalm 143:1

10/02/2024

Philippians 3:13-14

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

07/02/2024

Do you have a prayer request?

06/02/2024

“A prudent woman looks ahead to see the trouble in her path and prepares for it, but the simple girl passes on like everything is normal and finds trouble.”
-Heather Teis
Proverbs 22: 3
In this episode Heather Teis and our host, Haley Shoemaker dive into the topic of woman’s cycles and how we can glorify God through each season of our cycle and view it simply as “an opportunity not oppression.”
Click the link in the bio to listen to the full episode!

05/02/2024

The Hope in what Matters
Jo Alipalo

In life I can be very hard to make peace with pain, disappointments, death, etc. Our human nature wants to change it, even fix it. But we can't avoid a world that is torn and ever becoming more broken.
The more I live, the more I realize that it's not the sick, the needy or the poor that are the most desperate ones on earth. That maybe it's us after all-the ones who live in abundance, the ones who are constantly fed, ones who rely on the blanket of religion, ones who are successful, ones who are intellectual. Heaven is not for the healthy, for the rich, for the smartest, or for the ones who have it all together. It is for the humble & broken who understands that nothing on earth can make a way to heaven except the person of Christ, His finished work on the cross, and the power of His resurrection.
Matthew 5:3-8
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. The beatitudes become more real the more I experience and see the harsh reality of this life. In the desperation I face, God is close. In the breaking of my heart is also seeing the hands of God work to make all things new and knowing He understands, He feels, and He breaks too. The questions and sometimes doubt in the faith I hold so dear also become an open door that overwhelms as God's truth is revealed.
The lesser I have in need or in want, the clearer God becomes. It's not always the blessings that jump right before us that hold the most importance; for the greatest gain after salvation is and always will be in me gaining more of Christ and being changed more into His image. In this truth and only in Christ do I hope.

04/02/2024

03/02/2024

Colossians 1:16-17

“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all
things consist.

As Cristians, we have the unexplainable opportunity to go before the very God of the universe with our burdens, and like a loving Father, he takes them upon Himself, and in turn, He gives us rest. Our God is so wonderful!

02/02/2024

Flashback Friday to a Favorite Episode:
SEASON 1 EPISODE 3

Follow the link in the bio to listen to the full episode.

01/02/2024

How can we pray for you this today?

01/02/2024

We are getting ready to launch the first episode of season four on Tuesday, February 6! We are excited to bring these new episodes to you, filled with Biblical truths and Christ- like encouragement!

01/02/2024

Encouragement From Women-
6 week devotional, filled with day to day encouragement to fill your heart and mind with the word of God. Here’s the link, order your’s today!

https://www.amazon.com/Encouragement-Women-Thirty-Day-Devotional/dp/B0941HJB83/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1RUBNXRJYWCM4&keywords=encouragement+from+women+whove+been+there&qid=1659315011&sprefix=encouragement+from+wo%2Caps%2C94&sr=8-3

30/01/2024

Dear New friend/Old Friend:

Friend: how’s it been going?
Brandy: Girl! Let me tell ya ‘bout my Jesus!
Friend: complete deer in the headlights look because they are used to hearing all about my miserable existence and typical doom and gloom.

“So…. Around April of last year we decided to get serious about our church attendance and put God first. We started doing so…. And one thing lead to another and God opened up the floodgates and I RAN TO HIM! He rescued me from the pits of hell…. Again! Only this time I wouldn’t turn back. I was all in! No matter what! And it all started with a beautiful woman named Haley Shoemaker that attended the church we had recently joined and WOW! She just made me want to know God! The way she carried herself and spoke to me and I watched her service to the church and I wanted to experience that. Long story short, I remembered she had posted something about this Podcast and helping women…. So I gave it a listen….And I never stopped! If I was doing laundry I had my headphones on just listening! If I was pressure washing the house…. I was listening…. And eventually I just broke and reached out to her and WOW…. She was marvelous! She would check on me… and that was strange because I wasn’t used to having women in my life, close or distant, that cared for more than the daily “gossip” which was disguised under the “I’m praying for her” excuse. There are so many short stories and intricate details that go into the whole picture and I would love to share them when it’s time, but for now I know that I wouldn’t be standing today without “Encouragement from Women” hosted by Haley Shoemaker!”

29/01/2024

Psalms 73:25-26 Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
Here, Asaph testifies to the fact that God has become his everything.
Often, we say God is our everything, yet our actions reveal otherwise.
Those that find their ALL in God alone have usually been stripped of anything that provides a sense of self-sufficiency.
To this, I say "Me too.
God has not given me my wants, but he has heard the silent cries of my heart to truly know Him.
God's best is almost always laced with suffering and surrender. If HE is to be our all sufficiency, then we must come to a place where we give him our self-sufficiency. Nothing done in our own strength brings glory to God.
Stripped of the sufficiencies of health, looks, relationships, success, and acceptance, then God is able to take over and do what we cannot.
Self- sufficiency has no need of God, but when God is all you have, then you find that He really is all that you need. God wants me: my understanding, dependency, love, and devotion. He wants my minutes, my thoughts, my intents without facade. Just me: the good, the bad, the ugly. He waits for me to bring him the worst of me so He can give me the best of Him.
This is how Paul could be content with such things in such hard circumstances.
Every stripping is to replace our sufficiency with His
True contentment only comes when Jesus is enough. No relationship whether physical or material should ever be greater than my intimacy with Christ. Just as I look forward to my next intimate encounter with my husband, so should I have that same magnetism with my God. My heart panteth after thee. I hunger and thirst for righteousness. God is my portion forever.
God, Himself, is my greatest reward in eternity, and I can have as much of Him as I want right now.
If I'm miserable or discontent, chances are I'm making something other than Christ my one desire and passion.
Happiness will never be found in my circumstances, but my complete surrender to the King.

28/01/2024

What passage of scripture did you learn from in church today?

Colossians 3: 16
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

27/01/2024

Proverbs 31:30
“Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.”

Fear the Lord, and He will exalt you in His time, don’t settle for what this world has to offer, because soon it will all fade away, and only what you have done for Him will remain.

26/01/2024

Flashback Friday to a favorite episode:

A TOOL, NOT A TASK -A PRAYER TALK
WITH HOLLIE VAUGHN

You won’t want to miss out on this one!
Follow the link in the bio… season 2 episode 5

25/01/2024

What is your life verse?
Jot it down in the comments to encourage someone else!

24/01/2024

Do you have a prayer request our team can pray for?

23/01/2024

Revisit season 1 episode 9
A PERSONAL STORY -with Joy Lewis

In this episode, we will hear from Joy Lewis. Her husband, Shane Lewis, fought cancer before passing 2020. Joy describes her journey of walking beside her husband through this difficult time. She also shares many incredible life lessons she learned along the way. Though her story is heartbreaking, both of their testimonies are truly inspirational for how God can use you to touch lives, no matter what you are going through. You are in for another encouragement packed episode, so we hope you listen in for this conversation.

Follow the link in the bio, and give it a listen!

22/01/2024

Not Your Own Lips
Emily Lawson
Proverbs 27:2 - "Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips."
From a very early age, my husband and I have quoted this verse to our children. When they start to brag about what a good job they did, we give this gentle reminder that we need not praise ourselves.
Let someone else tell you what a good job you did!
As humans, we need no help in promoting our accomplishments. We often are our number one fan!
A meal cooked, house cleaned, birthday party executed, VBS lesson taught, or work accomplishment conquered. We can often look around and tell ourselves how amazing we are! The world preaches this to us.
As bellevers, all that we do is for the Glory of God.
WE don't need to get the credit or take the glory.
When someone tells us, "Great Job!" we can thank them and thank God for the abilities and strength to accomplish the task.
It's all for Him!
This verse also reminds me that we should look for ways to praise others. Be that friend, wife, or mom who cheers others on. We, as parents, should be quick to praise our kid's good behavior and accomplishments. Praise God with them for what He is doing in and through them. It's a great way to teach them how to enjoy a moment and thank God for His blessings.
In a world that tells you to shout your
accomplishments from the rooftop, be the one who quietly and humbly serves Him.
"But the one who boasts is to boast in the Lord." 2
Corinthians 10:17

21/01/2024

Do you love your church?
Tag it in the comments below ⬇️

19/01/2024

Flashback Friday:
Season 2 episode 4
Walking by Faith and Making Mental Monuments of God's Miracles
-with Katie Ciccarelli

Follow the link in the bio to listen to this episode!

18/01/2024

Three inexpensive, fun family ideas that you can do today:

1. Go play pickleball

2. Play a board game

3. Take a hike