Be Still Be Free

We've got just three episodes left in 2019 (can you believe it??), and these last episodes are going to focus on practical management strategies for different areas of life: marriage, family and everyday/holiday. This week, we dive into tangible things that have helped us navigate our marriages. This is by no means us having it all figured out; rather it's us haring the few things we have figured out and realizing we have a lot more to learn along the way. (This uniting of two separate people into one flesh is not for the faint of heart, y'all!) Listen in and see if any of our stories and lessons learned might help you avoid some of the bumps in the road we encountered! Know Your Why! Know your God-given calling in marriage. Know Your Who!  Be a life-long student of your marriage and your spouse. Know You! Know your negotiables and non-negotiables. Be able to walk away from the negotiables. "Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife." (Prov 21:19)Know When! S

It's part 2 of our mini-series with licensed professional counselor, Tracy Hurst! If you haven't yet listened to last week's go back and do it now! In this week's episode, Tracy teaches us about unresolved trauma and hurt, what happens when we push down pain and how to combat loneliness -- and she does it all with a backdrop of Jesus and His healing. MAKE SURE to listen and share with those who may need some encouragement and HOPE!To listen to last week's episode with Tracy, click here. To connect more with Tracy, click over to her website.To get a copy of Tracy's devotional, Tuesdays with Tracy, click here.To hear the earlier Be-Cast episodes with Tracy (there are four!), click here, click here, click here and click here.BE IN THE WORD:You’re my cave to hide in, my cliff to climb. Be my safe leader, be my true mountain guide.Free me from hidden traps; I want to hide in you. I’ve put my life in your hands. You won’t drop me, you’ll never let me down. (Psalm 31:3-5, Message)Lord,

We are thrilled to bring back our very first #podcast guest ever, Tracy Hurst! Tracy is a licensed professional counselor, author, conference speaker, and former co-host/guest on Moody Radio. More importantly, she's a wife, mom and friend who knows what it's like to navigate womanhood in today's day and age. Tracy will be with us for two weeks, and in this week's episode, she dives into the flooding of our minds and emotions, and how to biblically navigate tension and conflict. Be prepared for truth bombs to explode all throughout this episode!To connect more with Tracy, click over to her website. To get a copy of Tracy's devotional, Tuesdays with Tracy, click here.To hear the earlier Be-Cast episodes with Tracy (there are four!), click here, click here, click here and click here.BE IN THE WORD:Be brave, be strong, don't give up. Expect God to get here soon. Psalm 31:24Desperate, I throw myself on you; you are my God! Hour by hour I place my days in your hand, safe from the hands

There are stigmas surrounding mental wellness in our Christian culture, but slowly, we're starting to see them crumble and fall. Where once no one would open up about times of depression or struggling with thoughts and emotions, we're recognizing this very real struggle for so many of us. In this week's episode, we open up about our current or past struggles, and share the tools and strategies that have helped us through those darker times. God brings healing in so many different ways -- and maybe something we discuss this week will be the key to bring healing to you.BE IN THE WORD:Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BE, IT'S OUR 6th BIRTHDAY TODAY!! And what a better time to talk about physical wellness -- when we should be celebrating with cake. :) We admit, when it comes to physical health, IT'S HARD. But maintaining physical wellness is so vital -- not for a size, or a weight, or to simply look cute -- but for maintaining the stamina, energy, and clear-mindedness needed for kingdom work! You can't pursue your calling with passion if your body is sluggish and your mind perpetually foggy. And food and movement play big roles in that. Consider this (incredibly convicting) quote we discuss from Charles Spurgeon: “Your body was a willing horse when it was in the service of the devil, let it not be a sluggish hack now that it draws the chariot of Christ.” #ouch Tune in to hear what we discovered and some tips on how to successfully maintain physical wellness!BE IN THE WORD:Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your ow

It's the second half of our conversation with the amazing Traci Morrow! This week, Traci wraps up the last three steps toward spiritual and physical wellness, which are as practical as they are spiritual! For more details about Traci, visit www.bestillbefree.com/192. And to access her new book (!!!) click over to https://www.tracimorrow.com/marriage-mentoring.TRACI’S 5 STEPS FOR SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL WELLNESS:Ground our identity in JesusLet Jesus define you with daily time in His word and prayerManage the manageable:Make your bed!SleepNutrition and WaterTake care of your templeDress: style, modesty, self-expression, to your shape, color palette  Know Yourself, Know Your People: Enrich your relationships: love language, personality/enneagram, core motives, strengths finderWomen need women: have an inner circle: to pray for and with, and speak into your life Learn to say, “No, but thank you!” Create boundaries around the relationships and projects that matter to you.For more resources, make sure to visit

Meet Traci Morrow! Traci’s passion has always been to help people of all ages and stages of life to live in their passion and gift zone. For eleven years she built and led the junior and senior high youth ministries at her church, went on to lead the women’s ministry, and has served in various school, church, and community boards. She walked boldly into business leadership in 2003, when she established both Traci Morrow Fitness, Inc. and Finish Line Leaders, Inc. as a Founding Team Beachbody Coach. For the last 16 years she has spoken at leadership trainings and events, as she’s mentored other entrepreneurs.  In addition to over a decade of appearing in various fitness videos, achieving the highest rank in the Team Beachbody Coaching Network, hosting numerous national fitness camps, speaking at Team Beachbody national conferences, and serving three terms as a member of the Coach Advisory Board, Traci has maintained active participation in her church, community and children’s schools and sports.  Traci has twi

Wellness. What does that word conjure up in your mind? Physical health? Mental health? What about spiritual health? Where most people would agree that physical and mental health are of paramount importance, rarely do we assess our spiritual health, let alone work diligently toward increasing in it. This week, we dive into this foundational basis for all wellness -- spiritual health -- and discuss what it means to be spiritually healthy as well as how to get stronger in it!Monica's Spiritual Check-Up:What’s my weight?Heb 12:1, AMPWhat’s my blood pressure? What’s my temperature? Rev 3:15-16, AMP How are my energy levels? 1 Peter 4:11How are my reflexes? Prov 16:32Gal 5:16-17, MSGRest. Psalm 46:10, VoiceJer 31:25BE IN THE WORD:Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness. Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important for it promises a reward in both this life and the next.  This is true and everyone should accept it.” (1Tim 4:7-9) BE EDUCATED:Articl

It's the last episode in our Knowing Yourself series, and this week we talk about the 16 personalities of the Meyers-Briggs test, as well as the 4 personalities. We should be experts on ourselves after this week! Make sure you tune in next week as we launch a new series on Wellness -- Spiritual Wellness, Physical Wellness and Mental Wellness. And it's going to include a couple special guests you will not. want. to. miss!BE IN THE WORDLove the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself. (Luke 10:26, Matt 22:37, Mark 12:30-31)BE EDUCATED:16 Personalities (free test)Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator ($49.95)4 Personalities (Choleric, Sanguine, Melancholic, Phlegmatic)For more resources, make sure to visit our website.You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.Join our Be Together Community! It’s a private Facebook group where we gather regularly to encourage, uplift and pray for one

We're in the middle of our Knowing Yourself series, and this week we're talking about one of our favorites -- the Enneagram! Tune in and learn not just what the enneagram is, but how it's helped us tremendously in our personal lives and relationships. You're gonna love this! BE IN THE WORD:"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself." (Luke 10:26, Matt 22:37, Mark 12:30-31)BE EDUCATED:Your Enneagram Coach (learn about types; free test) The Enneagram Institute (learn about types; $12 test)Annie Downs That Sounds Fun Podcast (Web link)Annie Downs That Sounds Fun Podcast (iTunes podcast link)Ian Morgan Cron Typology (Web link)Ian Morgan Cron Typology (iTunes podcast link)Brush and BarleyFor more resources, make sure to visit our website.You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.Join our Be Together Community! It’s a private Facebook group where we g

In this series on Knowing Yourself, we wanted to start things off with Spiritual Gifts. First, what is a spiritual gift, and why should we have one? And second, how do we determine what our gifts are? Listen in this week as we dive deep, learn more and start our journey on knowing ourselves in a more complete way!BE IN THE WORD:Romans 12:6-8, We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.Ephesians 4:11-13, So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the

Summer is over for us in the south, and that only can mean one thing... The Be Cast is back in action! This week, we catch up on all the summer happenings and what's coming up for each of us. And then we dive into an overview of what's in store for our podcast series for the coming months. It's new and different, but we think you're going to love it!We reference several personality tests in this episode, so we wanted to go ahead and link to those if you're interested in being teacher's pet and getting these done ahead of time. Enjoy!SPIRITUAL GIFTS TESTS:Lifeway Spiritual Gifts AssessmentLifeway Spiritual Gifts ListSpiritualGiftsTest.comENNEAGRAM:Your Ennegram Coach (free)The Ennegram Institute ($12)16 PERSONALITIES:16 Personalities (free)Meyers-Briggs Instrument Test ($49)You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.Join our Be Together Community! It’s a private Facebook group where we gather regularly to encourage, uplift and pray for one another. Click here to join!

It's not just the finale on our Unexpected Lessons from Unlikely Ladies series, it's our semester finale as this is our last #podcast for the summer! This week we dive into lessons from Mary and Martha. Except this Mary is Jesus' mother, not Martha's sister. #gotcha We explore how Mary had to correct Jesus as a mother and what that must have been like for her; we also see how Jesus later had to correct Martha, but not for what you think it was for. Make sure you listen in as we wrap up another amazing year of podcasting and diving into God's word. Thanks for being loyal supporters and listeners of the Be-Cast! We couldn't keep doing this without you!BE IN THE WORD:Mary: corrected Jesus like a momEvery year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were un

Sarah and Hagar -- two women who got along like oil and water, like black and white, like night and day, like... you get the idea! Each of these women made impulsive decisions and were gently rebuked by God. Yet they also learned great lessons and what it means to believe God and be obedient to Him. Listen in to this week's #podcast on Unexpected Lessons from Unlikely Ladies, and hear how Sarah and Hagar each teach us invaluable truths that apply to us still today! BE IN THE WORD:Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.” But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.” Genesis 12:13-15)This plan of mine is not what you would work out, neither are my thoughts the same as yours!  For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than yours, and my thoughts t

In this week’s Unexpected Lessons from Unlikely Ladies #podcast, we focus on Lot’s wife and Job’s wife. Each of these women are criticized greatly for their actions and words, but what if we more fully understood the circumstances surrounding their decisions? Would we be able to have greater compassion for them, and in turn, ourselves? Part 2 of our series continues!Job’s Wife:·       Remains nameless?·       Is known for a 1-line sentence? “Curse God and Die.”·       Job did not lose his children and all he had on his own, his wife lost the same as well. ·       Watched her husband grieve?Lot’s Wife: · Remains nameless?· Had to leave her home and people in a moment’s notice?· Had to trust 2 angels to lead her and her family out of town? · Had to look back on the familiar, on the comfortable even when the Lord told her not to.Again, as last week, we see that God used sinners to do His extraordinary work! But that’s just it; it was His glorious work, not the work of the characters of the stories. God is glorio

I believe that when we think of the stories in the Bible, we elevate the characters of those stories as if they are more than we are or had more to offer God than us. But when we dig in and really study to understand these stories, we realize that each and everyone of them are just ordinary people, sinners, people just like you and me. Women are so very guilty of comparing themselves, judging others, and providing plenty of self talk whether positive or negative. But as we dive into 8 women over the next 4 weeks, hopefully you will cut those chains of guilt, clear your heart of judgement, and open yourselves to the saving grace God gives to all that just want to follow Him! Today we are learning about Rebekah and Eve. We’ve spoken of these women and we’ve known their stories. But did you know:Rebekah:· Mothered the first set of recorded twins?· Loved Jacob more?· Encouraged Jacob to steal Esau’s blessing from Isaac by deceiving his father?· Deceived her husband· Tried to take control of God’s plan and make it

Hold onto your hats, ladies, because for the second week in a row, we're having a fun, chatty and non-exegetical conversation... and this time it's about spring break! We're coming at you hot next week with the start of a brand-new series, but thought we'd take another chance to have a laugh, sit back and share a little about some funny and some sweet things from our spring break experiences. We know you'll enjoy it! But for sure come back next week for a new series done a little differently about women in the Bible -- we think it's going to resonate with all of us! For more resources, make sure to visit our website.You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.Join our Be Together Community! It’s a private Facebook group where we gather regularly to encourage, uplift and pray for one another. Click here to join!Thanks as always for listening! Make sure to rate and review us, as it helps more women find our podcast. And be sure to follow us on Instagram at Be Still Be F

Well friends, it's random chat time. This is one of those episodes where we don't have a plan and we just roll with it and chat about everything from what we're cooking to what we're struggling with. Hope you enjoy this fun conversation with us! For more resources, make sure to visit our website.You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.Join our Be Together Community! It’s a private Facebook group where we gather regularly to encourage, uplift and pray for one another. Click here to join!Thanks as always for listening! Make sure to rate and review us, as it helps more women find our podcast. And be sure to follow us on Instagram at Be Still Be Free.

It's our final week discussing the book of Ruth, and we're wrapping up the series focusing on chapter 4 and our hero of the story, Boaz! He was a man who esteemed and protected Ruth, who provided for her and Naomi, and welcomed her not just into his country, but into his land, his harvest and his heart. In this episode, we explore what led to the incredible character of Boaz, where he learned such integrity and strength. The answer just may surprise you! BE IN THE WORD:All of Ruth, Chapter 4“Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab.” (Matthew 1:5)“Joshua let Rahab live.” (Joshua 6:25)BE DOERS, NOT JUST HEARERS:1.  Who are you raising? Parents – are you raising your girls to be women of noble character like Ruth? Are you raising your boys to be strong and courageous men of God?2.  Are you willing to let your expectations go so that your life can look the way God wants it to? Ruth thought she was going to live in Moab with her husband and raise a family there. But she was willing to let go of all the ex

Nope, no April Fool's joke here... it's time for a new #podcast episode in the #BeNoble series!  When opportunity presents itself, we all have choices to make on how we will approach that opportunity. In today’s podcast, we will see how Ruth does an amazing job of showing us how to be teachable but responsive, how to humble but yet bold, how to get what she wants but wait on the delivery. Life and all that it has to offer often comes down to timing and opportunity. But if we always wait for life to happen and are not willing to be part of the process, we will miss out on abundance. Be willing to learn about Ruth and see if you can’t learn from who would be the great-grandmother of King David!BE IN THE WORD:“I will do whatever you say,” Ruth answered. (Ruth 3:5)BE EDUCATED:1.     John Piper 4 week series Book of Ruth. John Piper wants to refresh and encourage us by leading us through the book of Ruth, a book he calls a “beautiful story”.2.     Ruth, Under the Wings of God book about the book of Ruth