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Moms Actually is a motherhood community that aims to redefine motherhood and break away from the unhealthy expectations society has placed on women. Our community provides spaces for women to authentically relate to each other in a society that often prioritizes appearances over genuine experiences. We host a visual podcast that addresses the experiences of womanhood, sisterhood and motherhood through candid and transparent discussions We have discussed a range of topics, including marriage, ...
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Welcome to the (in)courage podcast! We are all different ages, in different life stages, and we come from different cultures and churches, but our common thread is the hope of Jesus. Each weekday we meet you right where you are as one of our writers shares what’s going on in her everyday life and how God’s right in the middle of it all. We bring our joys and struggles equally so that you can feel less alone, and be empowered by the hope Jesus gives. We hope you’ll bring us along with you on ...
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"When was the last time you truly rested? When did you sit on the back porch and sip a cup of tea? When did you lie in bed for thirty minutes before turning to your phone? When did you choose to trust God that resting is a part of your wiring? Make time today to rest. You’ll find Him waiting there for you." Leave a comment for Sopha Rush and be ent…
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In this episode, Becky Keife interviews author Kristen Strong about her book 'Friends Are Family We Choose'. They discuss the importance of friendship and belonging, especially in the context of military life. Kristen shares her personal experiences and insights on making and maintaining friendships. They also talk about the power of in-person rela…
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"I imagine Jesus sitting on the floor of my family room with our shaggy rug under His legs, in the middle of the night, while the rest of my family sleeps. Would I try to hide my feet under the couch cushions? Would He hold my feet gently, and wipe them clean? “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.” Unless you stop trying to prove yourself as …
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God is the Source of all hope, the Giver of every good thing — but He invites us to be His messengers. Whether by practical support, a helping hand, or comforting words, we all have the ability to encourage others! Today is National Day of Encouragement! It's the perfect time to give thanks for the ways God has infused your heart with hope and look…
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God offers a different kind of peace. Lasting. Unshakable. Perfect. Whether we’re in a time of crisis or just trudging through the struggles of ordinary life, we can entrust our troubled, fearful hearts to the one who is worthy of our trust. Leave a comment and join the conversation today: https://incourage.me/?p=248696 -- Every day is a chance to …
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"If you don’t have the words to tell that friend you love like family what she means to you, I’ve come up with the words for you through this book! It’s a poignant-with-a-side-of-humor hardback that’s also beautifully designed, and it’s for any gal you want to thank for being the friend you love like family. This world is a divisive one, and plenty…
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"When we rejoice with those who rejoice, it shows clean hands and a pure heart. It takes humility, love that’s unconditional, and self-control to celebrate with others. Especially with those who receive the prayer you’ve been praying to receive yourself. It’s never quite as hard if someone gets what we didn’t want. However, when they get the thing …
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"The last thing a person needs when they are in the middle of a crisis is one more decision to make. Recently, when my husband and I were going through a challenging season physically, we had a number of people tell us, “Let me know if I can help.” And while I love the heart behind those words, the last thing I could do was strategize the “what, wh…
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"We need to love our neighbor and our enemy everywhere. When I get lost online and have to find my bearings again, I try to remember what has helped me in the past. 1. Pray before you post. 2. Take a deep breath to ground yourself in the Holy Spirit. 3. Forgive others and ask for forgiveness. 4. Look to wise leaders. 5. Keep Jesus’s welcome and wis…
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"All of us are in different circumstances, but chances are you’re dealing with your own challenges now. I hope my story encourages you to support the people around you, whether friends, family, or strangers, to see the Lord’s provision in the bleakest circumstances, and when you find yourself overwhelmed by big worries, focus on simple daily blessi…
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"Tell God what's too much for you to handle today and hand it to Him. What should you do if you're feeling overwhelmed today? Follow King David's example. Rather than turn away from God in his problems, David turned toward God. He didn't hide his honest and raw emotions; you don't have to either. In Psalm 55, David continues to pour out his heart, …
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"It's the love of Jesus that my Abue and other women in our communities have so intentionally and beautifully modeled for me throughout my life – love through community. Coming together intentionally, nurturing safety in the relationships we are entrusted with. They know that generations to come are not only shaped by traditions but by togetherness…
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"Sisters, we can make a difference in someone’s life with something we do every day: sitting down for a meal. Breaking bread together involves more than eating; it’s about serving people and spending time with them. It’s about slowing down, sharing stories, and savoring food and fellowship. You don’t need to throw a fancy dinner party (although you…
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"I have never felt so encouraged and excited about the global church. The headlines might be full of bad news, but the Good News is alive and thriving. And what God is doing in and through His Bride all over the globe is nothing short of spectacular." Leave a comment for Michele: https://incourage.me/?p=241119 -- If you love listening to the (in)co…
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"What’s causing you to lose heart today? Whatever you’re facing, it matters to Jesus. He has seen all you have endured. He knows how many nights you’ve stared at the ceiling, trying to sleep. He has heard every prayer that feels like it’s still unanswered. Jesus knows how hard it is sometimes to just keep trusting, keep pressing forward, keep belie…
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"God has never stopped speaking. Although God may come on the scene with thunderous roars, He can pierce through the hardest hearts with the gentlest whisper. God is faithful to step into our whirlwinds. Instead of matching the fury of a storm, He encloses us in His arms, tucks us to His chest, and speaks the words that we desperately need to hear.…
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"God was at work. He heard the prayers of those interceding, and the Holy Spirit tended my heart. “Be positive” became a battle cry. This wasn’t my Pollyanna disposition resurfacing. Being positive became a powerful act of resistance against the darkness around and within me. This wasn’t any superpower. This was God’s supernatural power at work." *…
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"It turns out that you don’t have to do anything to float. You trust that the water will hold you. You lean back… and simply relax. You and I are in the ocean of God’s love. There is nothing that can separate you from Him or His love for you. You are loved by God, and that is — and always will be — the truest thing about you. Whether you see it or …
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"'You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.' -Ephesians 4:22-24 NIV This is a daily choice, not a one-time decision. Like my …
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"Both Deborah and Jael were wise, strategic, and courageous women who God used in extraordinary ways to lead and rescue His people. Friend, it’s unlikely that God will call you and me to take out a warrior with a tent peg, but He can use our strategic minds, our creative hands, and our discerning hearts for His glory." **Our website is currently ha…
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"I want to be the kind of person who, even at my lowest, refuses to allow circumstances to dictate my life or my praise. I confess to you that on hard days, my first reaction isn’t to feel thankful. On hard days, you’d more likely find me trying to pray my way out of the struggle. But the truth of the matter is, hard days can turn into hard seasons…
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"Oh, that Christ's power would rest on us. His grace is indeed sufficient for any struggle that comes our way. Thank God that it is a sustaining grace. We can trust Him. And we can trust those who He places in our lives. This is how we can we can praise Him. We thank God for His truth in our lives and how He sets us in His family. God is our faithf…
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"God takes what is burned and busted up and makes it beautifully purposeful. Romans 8:28 says, 'We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.' Whether we are suffering through the blackened aftermath of our sin or wounds from the sins of others, whether we’re walking through chron…
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"Jesus made it clear: He is the way. Our path forward is to follow Him. How do we follow the Lord instead of our longings for a different reality? We read God’s Word. Or we pour our hearts out in prayer until we’ve made space to be filled up by Him. We stand in His creation and listen to the story it tells. We crank up the music or lift up our hand…
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"God stays the same so we don’t have to. While adapting to the changes we don’t ask for can drag us right through the mud and into the valley, God the author remains unchanged. Malachi 3:6 (NIV) says straight up, "I the Lord do not change." And His faithfulness, His consistency, His unchanging nature can soothe our fear of the unknown." Leave a com…
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"When I read my Bible, I feel a bit like Alice in Wonderland, opening doors and going down rabbit holes, often finding more questions than answers. The more I learn, the more I wonder. The more I wonder, the more I learn. A life walking with Christ is comforting yet often confounding. The more we embrace a posture of Christian curiosity, the more o…
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If you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, or discouraged as you try to hold everything together, today is the start of a new day. . . and we have just the conversation you need to support your soul. In this episode, Becky Keife and Barb Roose discuss the topic of stress and overwhelm through the lens of Barb's new book, Stronger Than Stress. They talk abou…
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"We were created to be in direct relationship with God. Just like lilacs were created for direct sunlight, we were created to be in direct relationship with God. Comforted by His presence. Fueled by His warmth. Growing closer and closer to Him every day. Boldly displaying abundant blooms as a living example of the goodness and power of Jesus." Leav…
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Rachel Marie Kang: This World Is Not Our Home. But Knowing That Doesn’t Make It Any Less Hard to Live In
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"What I'm really waiting for is a home that can’t be built with brick and beams. Jesus knows what it’s like to have no home, no place to lay his head, no permanent place of peace. He knows, full well, about persecution, poverty, and placelessness. Jesus knows the transient life, living from bags and boxes, so to speak. How to be in a place and, mys…
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"Although my world rocks and the wind roars, my faith is with Jesus. He sits in my boat, even while the storm grows. Peace is with me, right here, right now, no matter what comes." Get your Book and Planner bundle here (and save 25% with code PLAN25): https://www.dayspring.com/in-courage-agenda-prayer-board-100-days-of-strength-in-any-struggle-gift…
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"God offers gentle nudges intended to get us to pause, reflect, slow down, and align ourselves with Him again. Letting God lead us begins with realizing our need to be led every day and never getting to the point where we think we don’t need God’s guidance or correction. There are times on our path when we pull, and the Holy Spirit gets our attenti…
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"The older my kids become, the more I find that I have to trust God to reach my kids from the inside out, instead of trying to affect their behavior or choices from the outside in myself. I'd like to spare them from any hardship, and yet I know that through hardship God refines them into the people they're meant to be -- just like their parents are…
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Kathi Lipp: Grieving Life's Small but Significant "Deaths" (Even When Others Don't Understand Your Loss)
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"Sometimes, change has to be grieved. Grief feels like a strong word, but I believe it is an accurate one. Sometimes I struggle because I know I'm experiencing a loss, but I don't want to let myself feel the loss. It's so much easier to pretend that I am not suffering, that if I can just wait out the grief, it will all go away, and I can get back t…
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"We will all struggle with the lie of normal. We will all struggle with the lie of normal throughout our lives. I see this just as often among adults and Christian adults no less, as I do among kids. The fight to name certain ways and people groups as normal while others are excluded seems to come with the heritage of our nation and world. I keep a…
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"The One who is the Way and made the Way provides what and who we need each step of the way. Not everything is ours to do, but may it be said of us that even when we receive a “no,” we bless the ones coming behind. May we be women who choose to celebrate instead of compete, who cheer instead of compare, who live and lead and love well." Leave a com…
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"When I find myself laden with mom guilt or the shame of not doing enough, feeling restless or worn out, this whisper of truth spills into my soul: When we cry out for comfort, our Heavenly Father hears us. God does not grow weary; He leans in close to hear the voices of His children." Leave a comment for our guest author today: https://incourage.m…
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"I truly believe that if Jesus walked these streets today, He would definitely hang out at His local thrift store." Leave a comment for Jen: https://incourage.me/?p=240575 -- If you love listening to the (in)courage podcast, you’ll love our books, devotionals, agenda planners, Bible, and Bible studies! Shop the full (in)courage collection at dayspr…
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"So often, single people say they don't feel welcome in the church, so I want to give you this antidote: welcome them. Scripture reminds us in Ephesians 4 that we are all part of the body of Christ, but sometimes we miss out on one another and it actually means that the church is not as strong as it could be. If a member of the body is feeling disc…
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"Maybe you’ve been like me — caught between your grand plans and your actual life. Maybe you’ve been feeling a little panicky that what you intended to do, simply hasn’t gotten done. Maybe what we all really need right now is to remember that God has this all under control. We get to simply pray, 'God, help me to make choices today that honor Your …
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"You never have to be afraid that you’re letting God down by being human. Your loving God is compassionate toward your tiredness. Your faithful God is able to use even your weakest moments to show His strength. Your limitless God isn’t held back by your limitations." Leave a comment for Holley: https://incourage.me/?p=239709 -- The DaySpring Summer…
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"God's invitation to me and to you is a wholehearted surrender. Like a robber caught red-handed, arms flailing to the sky, finally giving up, we too have the opportunity to confess that we’re a wild mess and accept that Jesus is enough; the cross is enough. We must reach the end of ourselves, where we can wholeheartedly proclaim, 'You can have all …
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"Jesus doesn't simply tolerate interruptions and the people who make them. He welcomes them. Jesus finds the people most unwanted and out of place, and rather than wait for them to make a fuss, He pulls out a chair and offers them a seat. Why? Because they aren't an interruption to His plan — they are His plan. So am I. And so are you. Tax collecto…
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In this episode of the (in)courage podcast, Becky Keife interviews author Cleere Cherry Reaves about her book Unfiltered: Living Raw, Real, and Redeemed by Jesus. They discuss the importance of bringing our unfiltered selves to God, the dangers of perfectionism, and the need to redefine our identity based on who God says we are. They also explore t…
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"I can use what I’ve learned to become a better—and more compassionate—human being. Can you remember a time you maintained a normal facade while falling apart on the inside? I can. We’re instructed to “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). When we choose kindness as our first response instead of our last, we…
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"The disciples were all in the boat with Jesus when the storm came. They were all freaking out and afraid. They woke Jesus up and asked Him if He even cared that they were about to die. I always thought it was ridiculous of them to accuse Jesus of not caring. However, there have been many times I’ve done the same thing. I may not have said it exact…
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"God never asks us to give up more than He is willing to give us. Perhaps you've sensed that God is nudging you to give up something for His holy good. You have permission to grieve in the giving up. I also encourage you to hold onto the reassurance that God will fill that space in His time with His goodness just for you." Leave a comment for Barb:…
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"God can use anyone to accomplish His will. Did you know that Moses classified himself as being "slow of speech and tongue"? The very weakness that was a root of insecurity for him became the thing God wanted to use to redeem His people. God also told Moses that his brother Aaron, who was a good speaker, could accompany him and help him when he fel…
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"Chaos is only — and always — the start of the story. Morning sickness, messy first drafts, and even the Monday school rush have taught me that beginnings can be difficult. But we can’t lose heart when we encounter chaos. God might be drawing near in ways we can’t see, hovering close to our murky waters. Every masterpiece starts with a sketch, and …
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In this bonus episode of the (in)courage podcast, Becky Keife interviews Lisa-Jo Baker about her new book, 'It Wasn't Roaring, It Was Weeping' and the healing journey she went through with her father. They discuss Lisa-Jo's relationship with (in)courage, her journey of writing the book, and the themes of fear and violence in her family history. Lis…
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"Has it occurred to you, sweet sister, that you are an influencer? The reality is you don’t have to have thousands of followers on your favorite social media platform to be an influencer; in fact, you don’t have to be on social media at all. If an influencer is simply a person who inspires or guides the actions of others, has it occurred to you, sw…
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