They say when you become a mother, it's like part of your heart is walking around outside our body. But those aren't the only relationships that are so meaningful to us that it's painful to think about or imagine the bad things that could happen to them. Worrying about them is really natural, but can also be debilitating. Hunter Beless is a former military wife and the mother of four children, as well as a Bible teacher. These combined experiences have given her a lot of time to think about and process the vulnerabilities of love in relationships in the light of Jesus' profound love for people. So today, we are going to walk through what it looks like to trust God with the ones we love most.
-When was the first time you felt the gutwrenching twist of anxiety connected to someone you love?
-How did you handle that at first (in your flesh)? How did that work out for you?
-Have you struggled with this in connection to your kids coming to faith or staying in faith, or just health and safety?
-What was the turning point for you when you saw your faith had an answer for that?
-How does that change the way you functionally live life?
-What are some practices that have helped you speak truth to the recurring anxieties?
Listen to Hunter Beless' Journey Women Podcast HERE or purchase "Jesus Loves You More."
You can find Elizabeth writing helpful hints on the blog
Helping you love Jesus and disciple your kids on Instagram
Or get access to the Additional study resources here
Original Music written and recorded by Jonathan Camenisch
*affiliate links are used when appropriate. Thank you for supporting Sunshine in My Nest
When we think of discipleship, family worship, or devotions, we often think of cute little faces all in a circle while we read from the Bible, recite a Bible verse, or catechism question. But when Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me." He knew what kids were like. He made kids to love fun and laughter. I'm going to chat with Carl Laferton about how to make teaching little ones fun. He's written two of my favorite books for discipling kids, and just finished one full of discipleship games and activities. I had the joy of pre-testing that one with my kids and then writing an endorsement for it, because we fell in love.
Kid's discipleship resources seem to be a passion of yours over the last few years. Does your stage of life encourage that?
You've done rich theological resources for kids in the past... Why do you think fun in discipleship is so important that you poured your time into writing so many activities?
When you're looking at a passage or story, how do you gather ideas to make it fun?
Is there ever a place for seriousness in discipleship, or should all of it be gamified?
How do we keep that balance as parents?
What are the vital elements of teaching the Bible to kids?
How do we prioritize connection in discipleship?
Follow Carl Laferton HERE or get "God's Big Promises Storybook Bible" and the companion "Beginning with God"
You can find Elizabeth writing helpful hints on the blog
Helping you love Jesus and disciple your kids on Instagram
Or get access to the Additional study resources here
Original Music written and recorded by Jonathan Camenisch
*affiliate links are used when appropriate. Thank you for supporting Sunshine in My Nest
I don't know about you, but I want to do more than manage schedules and be a chauffeur in my own life. I want to have good habits that lead to a connection with my family. Many habit books talk about how to revolutionize our lives, but so many of them focus on professional success, and that's not really the metric I'm chasing. I want to learn to do the hard things in my relational life and in my home. Today I'm chatting with Min. She's a homeschool mom and on the board of the Charlotte Mason Institute. She leads many coaching groups that help moms succeed in their homes or in their small businesses.
-What inspired you to do more than just survive everyday life?
-What are some of the Band-Aids you notice moms use to get through the day?
-What is a better way to have clarity around our goals as moms?
- What is the first step a mom can do to start training herself to do hard things?
You can find Min Hwang at Life-giving Motherhood or Coram Deo Planner!
You can find Elizabeth writing helpful hints on the blog
Helping you love Jesus and disciple your kids on Instagram
Or get access to the Additional study resources here
Original Music written and recorded by Jonathan Camenisch
*affiliate links are used when appropriate. Thank you for supporting Sunshine in My Nest
I was reading an article the other day. It was saying you become like the sum of your 5 closest friends. The things that we think about, talk about, and watch shape us more deeply than we are aware most of the time. I think the podcasts we listen to and tv we watch also would apply to this. In fact, I so deeply believe this I recently deleted a bunch of shows I listen to because I think the messages and language it was using were starting to affect the words I reach for when I don't know what to say.
Today I'm talking to Kyle Worley about how what we expose ourselves to transforms our lives. Kyle is a host of the wildly popular "Knowing Faith Podcast" and Author of "Formed for Fellowship."
What is a way that you have noticed yourself being formed by who you are around, for good or bad?
How do we start becoming aware of what is shaping us?
How do we start creating a vision for our life and family based on Biblical truth?
What are some of your favorite family rhythms, and who influenced you to pick them up?
Follow Kyle Worley HERE or get "Deep Discipleship" or "Formed for Fellowship."
You can find Elizabeth writing helpful hints on the blog
Helping you love Jesus and disciple your kids on Instagram
Or get access to the Additional study resources here
Original Music written and recorded by Jonathan Camenisch
*affiliate links are used when appropriate. Thank you for supporting Sunshine in My Nest
I know so many of you are already day 1 listeners... would you help me chase a curiosity?
I've been winging this podcast situation, but I just found out you can get on the Apple podcast charts if a bunch of people hit follow on the show on the same day!
The email list is ON IT! And Instagram is ON IT!! Would you experiment with me and hit FOLLOW on the podcast for today, and then invite a friend also!
I know it's a random Wednesday, but I'd really love to try and see if we could do something!
As parents, we know the words we say matter so much. But in the heat of the moment, many parents still find that angry or degrading words come pouring out. After these moments, hot tears of repentance stream down cheeks, and oaths are sworn. It will never happen again. Amy is a mother of nine, parenting coach, and writer in the Wild and Free community. She and I are going to explore how God's grace can cover angry words and how that grace can transform the words we speak.
-From a child psychology perspective, why do the words that parents speak matter so much? Can it affect our kids' anxiety and depression?
-What are some of the most damaging words and phrases a parent can use?
-How do we repair when we've found we've used those words again?
-In what way do we need to see ourselves to change the way we speak?
-Does the way we talk to ourselves matter? (How does seeing ourselves held in grace matter?)
-If a woman is starting to feel heavy with the thought of watching every little word that comes out of her mouth, what hope do you have to offer her?
Follow Amy Hughes HERE or get "Words Like Honey."
You can find Elizabeth writing helpful hints on the blog
Helping you love Jesus and disciple your kids on Instagram
Or get access to the Additional study resources here
Original Music written and recorded by Jonathan Camenisch
*affiliate links are used when appropriate. Thank you for supporting Sunshine in My Nest
The number one thing I get asked when I share about memorizing the catechism is "Wait... I didn't know you were Catholic." Trying to explain that there are many kinds of catechisms and we use a Protestant one leaves even more questions. That's sad to me because teaching my kids the catechism has become one of the most formative faith practices I've had.
Today I'm talking to Leah Nicklaus. She is a fellow mom of only boys who homeschools in the classical/Charlotte Mason method. She has hundreds of gospel-centered book recommendations and resources! I've come to love chatting with her because we share so much in common, including how valuable we find the catechism to be.
-How has catechism helped you and your family? -When did you first discover the catechism? How would you define it?
-Which catechism do you like best?
-How do you include it in other discipleship practices? What does discipleship look like in your family?
-Have you found the catechism to help your faith?
-What are other family discipleship practices that work for you?
My walk with God has looked so different in different stages of my life, or do we call it Eras now?
But in every one of the new stages of life, I have found myself encouraged by hearing the way other people practice their faith. Today I'm talking to Katie Orr, Bible Teacher and Bible study writer. We are going to compare and contrast what our spiritual walk looked like as we were kids, how it developed through having our own kids, and how it's shifted as Bible teachers. I hope as you listen, you can take and add the practices that feel encouraging to you, and leave what doesn't fit for another season. In this episode, we cover:
Childhood devotional habits and family Bible reading traditions
How to make your faith your own in your teen years
What to do when you feel like walking away from faith
Creative ways to connect with God during busy motherhood
Transitioning from survival mode to pouring into others
Encouragement for adapting your spiritual practices as life changes
We are both participating in a "Bible Study Bundle" available just this week. In it, you'll get a couple of the Bible studies we discussed during this episode, and many, many more!
You can Katie Orr at this link!
You can find Elizabeth writing helpful hints on the blog
Helping you love Jesus and disciple your kids on Instagram
Or get access to the Additional study resources here
Original Music written and recorded by Jonathan Camenisch
*affiliate links are used when appropriate. Thank you for supporting Sunshine in My Nest
I was reading a year or two ago, I can't even remember where now, but a sentence from the article has solidified itself in my memory. It said something along the lines of "Most people on social media follow someone one step ahead of them, or one financial bracket above them.
Any more than that and it's overwhelming, under that and it isn't inspiring." It struck me because it named rather specifically why social media can breed discontentment. If we are only looking at the lives of people a little bit ahead of us, then we are always going to be tempted to spend above than we can afford. Maybe that's taking trips that the financial strain makes us miserable afterward. Sink a deposit into a house that consumes our whole household income. Maybe it's as simple as buying organizing systems that is totally out of reach.
Kate Strickler is the creator behind Naptime Kitchen. For this book, she was just named a New York Times best-selling author! Congratulations! Her new book, "I Just Wish I had a Bigger Kitchen," tackles why we feel discontent when most of us have everything we need.
-What is the first time you started noticing you were believing lies about your life?
-How do you usually identify that you are believing a lie?
-Do you think naming the lie helps remove its power over us?
-Why is the chapter "I just wish I had more friends" resonating most with readers?
Follow Kate Strickler HERE or get "I Just Wish I Had a Bigger Kitchen."
You can find Elizabeth writing helpful hints on the blog
Helping you love Jesus and disciple your kids on Instagram
Or get access to the Additional study resources here
Original Music written and recorded by Jonathan Camenisch
*affiliate links are used when appropriate. Thank you for supporting Sunshine in My Nest
Have you ever wondered why stories hold such power over our hearts? From fairy tales and Greek myths to Disney movies and the Bible itself, stories shape the way we see the world. In this episode of Sunshine in My Nest, I sit down with Marian A. Jacobs, author of On Magic and Miracles, to explore the role of stories in Christian life, how to discern between good and harmful narratives, and why God chose story as the way to reveal His plan of salvation.
Together, we talk about:
Why humans crave hero stories and how they point us toward Jesus.
How the Bible is not just rules or heroes to copy, but the ultimate story of the Savior who rescues us.
The difference between magic and miracles—and why it matters for Christians.
What Frozen, Greek myths, and stories from around the world reveal about the character of God.
The danger of legalism when discerning what media we consume.
Practical questions you can ask yourself while reading or watching to help guide your choices.
Whether you’re a parent reading the Jesus Storybook Bible, a book lover sorting through modern fiction, or someone who simply wants to grow in discernment, this conversation will help you enjoy stories more deeply while keeping your eyes fixed on Christ.
Listen in and be encouraged to find the beauty of God’s truth woven into the stories all around you.
More info about Around the Ancient World HERE!!
You can find Marian A Jacobs and her book "Watching for the Morning."
You can find Elizabeth writing helpful hints on the blog
Helping you love Jesus and disciple your kids on Instagram
Or get access to the Additional study resources here
Original Music written and recorded by Jonathan Camenisch
*affiliate links are used when appropriate. Thank you for supporting Sunshine in My Nest
Burnout feels like waiting for the next blow.
I remember sobbing to a friend after three months, where it felt like everything I valued was stripped away. Later, another friend echoed the same words: “I’m just scared of what will happen next.”
Burnout isn’t just exhaustion—it’s the crushing weight of repeated losses. The first time someone explained burnout recovery to me, I nearly cried with relief. What I was experiencing was normal. But recovery wasn’t instant. Healing burnout takes time, grace, and patience.
Today I’m talking with Vaneetha, who has walked through divorce, infertility, post-polio syndrome, and even the loss of a child. In the middle of suffering, she has clung to faith and discovered the hope God offers in burnout, grief, and lament.
We’ll explore:
-What burnout really looks like
-How to recover from burnout with faith
-What lament is and how to practice it
-How to hold on to hope when life feels impossible
Let’s talk:
What led to burnout for you?
What does burnout look like in your faith journey?
How have you learned to lament and hold hope in hard times?
Pain isn’t a competition. Sharing our stories of burnout, faith, and lament helps others heal—and helps us heal too.
More info about Around the Ancient World HERE!!
You can find Vaneetha Risner and her book "Watching for the Morning."
You can find Elizabeth writing helpful hints on the blog
Helping you love Jesus and disciple your kids on Instagram
Or get access to the Additional study resources here
Original Music written and recorded by Jonathan Camenisch
*affiliate links are used when appropriate. Thank you for supporting Sunshine in My Nest
The Secret Joy in Your Work
I wish we were in the same room and everyone of us could share what the word calling means to us, and what you feel called to do. Maybe you've known that with burning clarity from the time you were tiny. Maybe thinking about your calling is confusing and gives you anxiety just thinking about it. Maybe you felt like your calling was one thing, but others or life circumstances have changed that for you...
I hope you leave this episode with a renewed sense of clarity and encouragement as you step into what God is calling you into.
-What in the world got you interested and excited about the topic of calling?
-I love how you pointed out that not all callings are paid work and the word "work" has been saddled with a bad reputation. Can you talk us through that?
-How does it change our understanding of work to know that we worship a God who works?
-Did all ancient gods work, or was that unique?
-How did the fall affect our work? How does a culture of forward-facing and instant/microwave results show up as a barrier for young people pursuing challenging goals?
-How do we learn to find joy in the process of work, not just the results?
More info about Around the Ancient World HERE!!
You can find Karen Swallow Prior and her book "You Have a Calling"
You can find Elizabeth writing helpful hints on the blog
Helping you love Jesus and disciple your kids on Instagram
Or get access to the Additional study resources here
Original Music written and recorded by Jonathan Camenisch
*affiliate links are used when appropriate. Thank you for supporting Sunshine in My Nest
Back to school can be challenging for families. I find that many moms I talk to are more susceptible to the "Am I doing enough?" question this time of year. Add to that, we are all starting all our routines from scratch again, and kids are being required to do more structured time. All that gives a full recipe for meltdown (and not just for the kids). Let's talk to veteran mom Jamie Erickson about navigating back to school with grace!
-Why do you think we still struggle with overwhelm as moms?
-Was back-to-school overwhelming for you as a mom?
-What are some things you did to help with your start-of-year rhythm?
-If someone wants to start off strong, what can they do?
More info about Around the Ancient World HERE!!
You can find Jamie Erikson and her book "Overwhelmed Mom"
You can find Elizabeth writing helpful hints on the blog
Helping you love Jesus and disciple your kids on Instagram
Or get access to the Additional study resources here
Original Music written and recorded by Jonathan Camenisch
*affiliate links are used when appropriate. Thank you for supporting Sunshine in My Nest
I’m so excited to launch into a new season with you this fall! We wrapped up our Legacy of Faith series, and I felt led to take a little break for the first time since starting the podcast. I mean, I’ve taken time off at Christmas in the past, but as a mom to three little boys, we all know Christmas isn’t a break.
I did this as part of practicing what I preach. In my real life, I’ve said 100 times, it doesn’t matter how hard you run, if you’re running the wrong direction, you’re not going to get anywhere. I realized at the end of 2024 that I was running hard without knowing the direction. I was just jumping from topic to topic… they were all great topics, but I wanted to be more intentional to grow your faith deeper (let’s be honest, my faith too, because my faith has grown so much from these conversations with mentors).
More info about Around the Ancient World HERE!!
You can find Elizabeth writing helpful hints on the blog
Helping you love Jesus and disciple your kids on Instagram
Or get access to the Additional study resources here
Original Music written and recorded by Jonathan Camenisch
*affiliate links are used when appropriate. Thank you for supporting Sunshine in My Nest
Many of us have heard Sally's encouragement to mothers, but today we are doing something a little different. Many life advice books encourage us to "begin with the end in mind."
When I was thinking about how I wanted to close out the Legacy of Faith series, I sat down with a pen and asked "Who do I see finishing the race well?" Immediately, Sally Clarkson came to mind.
She hasn't just mothered well and retired to leisure, but has spent all her retirement energy on encouraging other mothers and trekking back and forth over the Atlantic to serve her grandchildren in the UK.
As humans, it's easy to get stuck in the here and now and overlook who we want to become, but today let's chat with Sally about what it looks like to "Put on new tires and keep rolling for the Lord," instead of retiring from life.
What does a "day in the life" look like for you right now?
Sarah has shared in her book that she left home later in life. That meant you were empty nesters later in life... What made you decide to keep serving rather than settling down into mountain life?
What are some things that strengthened your character at my age that have carried you into the next season?
What do you wish you had learned sooner?
Was there ever a time that things felt so hard you thought you might not keep serving?
How has Jesus met uniquely in this chapter?
What is the greatest joy you have discovered as you've reached grandmotherhood?
You can find Sally Clarkson here and her book "Well Lived."
You can find Elizabeth writing helpful hints on the blog
Helping you love Jesus and disciple your kids on Instagram
Or get access to the Additional study resources here
Original Music written and recorded by Jonathan Camenisch
*affiliate links are used when appropriate. Thank you for supporting Sunshine in My Nest
Hey don't stop listening! Based on stats, a lot of you who listen are under 40. I'm excited this means we are in the territory of getting out of echo chambers, because if I had to guess, most of you aren't grandparents yet. We are getting close to the end of our series about what it looks like to live a Legacy of Faith.
Grandparents have a unique role in modern culture. In times past, it seems like the role was a bit more defined, but with as much as well all move now, it makes things a little more complicated.
This week, we are talking about the Biblical role of grandparents and the way they can point grandkids to faith.
The Bible encourages us to learn from people in the faith who are ahead of us, and I've talked to Courtney enough to know that any time she speaks, I'll always be encouraged.
If you want to apply the scripture we discussed today, I’m creating a download with a verse to meditate on, a passage to study, and questions to dig in deeper. You can find a link to that in the show notes.
Does the Bible talk about grandparenthood?
What do you think is the calling placed on Grandparents? How do you see your role in their life?
I see all over reels right now people talking about the way a lot of the grandparent generation has said, "I already raised my kids, I don't want to parent yours." What keeps you from feeling that way?
What is one way someone my age can start preparing for what it means to be a grandparent?
You can find Courtney Doctor here or her Bible study called "Titus".
You can find Elizabeth writing helpful hints on the blog
Helping you love Jesus and disciple your kids on Instagram
Or get access to the Additional study resources here
Original Music written and recorded by Jonathan Camenisch
*affiliate links are used when appropriate. Thank you for supporting Sunshine in My Nest
We would never dream of waking up one morning and just going to run a marathon. Yet, we often do that with Christian life. Then we hit that wall at the 18th mile and want to drop out.
A phase of my own life that nearly took my faith out at the knees was when we lost our baby to miscarriage. Death is something that doesn’t neatly fit into our boxes and leaves us asking a lot of questions about our faith. But the Christian faith in resurrection holds a path of hope through the valley of the shadow of death.
What has led you to write about death and loss in families?
Your husband died while your family was exploring in a national park, have you guys always loved the outdoor world? Do you still love it or is that something you left behind?
What did God show you about Himself during grief? What hope did you hold on to?
How did you help your kids come to grips with what happened?
How is it you’ve become so compassionate in your loss to help coach others in grief?
You can find "Hope Comes to Stay" here and Clarissa Moll on Instagram
You can find Elizabeth writing helpful hints on the blog
Helping you love Jesus and disciple your kids on Instagram
Or get access to the Additional study resources here
Original Music written and recorded by Jonathan Camenisch
*affiliate links are used when appropriate. Thank you for supporting Sunshine in My Nest
As Christians, we want to be formed by wisdom. Biblically, we know that wisdom comes with age, but we live in a culture obsessed with youth rather than one formed by gospel truth. I’m of the age that I have friends turning both 30 and 40, and for so many women, those milestones are greeted with grief.
Creams and fillers to disguise our age are in our social media feeds constantly. When you open the comment sections on so many things, the term “Okay, Boomer” has revealed how far we’ve moved culturally from respect of elders to derision of them.
Most of us know Jen from her Bible studies, but recently she wrote an article for Christianity Today "At My Mother’s Deathbed, I Discovered the Symmetry of a Long Life" about what it was like caring for her mother as she aged and eventually passed. I would love for us to take a look together at what a “Legacy of Faith” looks like when caring for elderly parents.
What was it like moving into the stage of life caring for your parents?
You’ve talked about the arc of life and the way it reflects Biblical literature. Can you tell us about that?
How has watching your parents and older saints helped give you a path to exit a current season with grace and submission to the passing of time?
Being in midlife, you said you noticed that you repeat so many of the same life experiences, but level up the quality in how you handle them… Can you tell us about that?
How have you noticed the gaining of wisdom and shift in the internal life as we age?
What did you learn about cherishing all of your days in this process?
What does it look like to find value in older women, and not just to see them as having equal value, but rather increasing value?
You can find Jen Wilkin's latest Bible study on "Revelation" here.
You can find Elizabeth writing helpful hints on the blog
Helping you love Jesus and disciple your kids on Instagram
Or get access to the Additional study resources here
Original Music written and recorded by Jonathan Camenisch
*affiliate links are used when appropriate. Thank you for supporting Sunshine in My Nest
For many people, God calls them to serve in the middle of full-time work or parenthood. For other's he calls them to work in ministry. Each comes with its own unique challenges.
When did you step into vocational service, and how did God work in you specifically to help you know you were called?
What does being a woman in ministry look like functionally for you?
What have been some unique challenges you have run into as a woman in ministry?
What keeps you going in ministry?
You can find "A Fruitful Life" here and Ashley Hales on Instagram
You can find Elizabeth writing helpful hints on the blog
Helping you love Jesus and disciple your kids on Instagram
Or get access to the Additional study resources here
Original Music written and recorded by Jonathan Camenisch
*affiliate links are used when appropriate. Thank you for supporting Sunshine in My Nest
Throughout the history of the church, there has been a tendency to fall into different ditches of emphasis. During the medieval times, singleness was celebrated, and religious movements were dedicated to convents and monasteries. But those days are far in the past of the church. Our current services and church social events are set up to cater to married couples and parents. So much so that I’ve heard from several single friends that they don’t feel like there is space made for them in the church!
What has made the church a notoriously difficult place to be single? Have we made marriage a cultural idol?
What are some proactive things you’ve learned to do to make space for yourself in a body of faith?
What is dating like for Christian singles in 2025?
How do people hold on to the fun and hope in dating?
What inspired you to start “Single Purpose League?”
What would you like to say to encourage other Single Christians today?
What would you encourage married people to do or change in order to be more inviting?
You can find "Single Purpose League" here and Annie F Downs on Instagram
You can find Elizabeth writing helpful hints on the blog
Helping you love Jesus and disciple your kids on Instagram
Or get access to the Additional study resources here
Original Music written and recorded by Jonathan Camenisch
*affiliate links are used when appropriate. Thank you for supporting Sunshine in My Nest