I sit down with author Jen Thompson to discuss her book "Return to Jesus: An Invitation to Abide with Him in Every Beautiful, Stressful or Tedious Moment." This conversation is for every woman who feels overcommitted before her feet hit the floor in the morning.

Jen opens up about what prompted her to write the book... that post-pandemic season when life went from zero to 100 mph and she desperately wanted to carry the lessons of stillness into the chaos. We dive into what it really means to abide with Jesus throughout ordinary, overwhelming, and mundane moments rather than compartmentalizing our faith into just the "holy" parts of life.

The heart of our conversation tackles the plague of overcommitment that so many women face. Jen shares practical wisdom about taking your calendar before the Lord, learning to say no without explanation, and why scheduling "no plans days" might be the most counter-cultural thing you can do. We explore why our worth often gets tangled up in our productivity and how saying yes to everything might be robbing someone else of their opportunity to serve. Jen vulnerably shares about her own struggle with shame and how Jesus meets us exactly where we are - no cleaning up required. We discuss why the voices telling us to get ourselves together before coming to God sound nothing like how our Father actually speaks to us.

Whether you're drowning in expectations, numb with busyness, or simply trying to figure out how to meet with Jesus in your current season of life, this conversation offers hope, practical tools, and the reminder that you are seen, loved, and held by God in every moment.

Chapters

00:00 | Introduction and the Cost of Writing

02:59 | The Heart Behind 'Return to Jesus'

06:02 | Abiding in Busy Seasons of Life

12:33 | Navigating Overcommitment and Saying No

18:44 | Meeting Jesus in Ordinary Moments

22:07 | The Impact of Shame on Our Relationship with God

26:39 | Disrupting Patterns for an Eternal Perspective

27:23 | Disrupting the Mundane: Finding Spiritual Rhythms

30:40 | Seasons of Restoration: God’s Work in Our Lives

37:03 | Recognizing and Embracing Life's Seasons

40:47 | An Invitation to Grace: You Are Seen and Loved

44:01 | Designing Your Perfect Day: A Reflection on Joy

Jen's Website: http://www.jenthompsonauthor.com
Jen's Blog: http://www.trulyyoursjen.com
Jen's Facebook: facebook.com/trulyyoursjen
Jen's Instagram: instagram.com/trulyyoursjen
Jen's Podcast: https://jenthompsonauthor.com/the-podcast
Jen's Book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/747877/return-to-jesus-by-jen-thompson/

I sit down with Pastor Tony Calabrese, lead pastor at The Gathering in Spring Hill, Tennessee, for a conversation that ranges from his admittedly bougie coffee habits to the deep spiritual work that happens in seasons of transition.

Tony shares how his passion for prayer was shaped by watching his single mom depend on God through difficult circumstances, and why he believes prayer begins with understanding God as Father rather than taskmaster. We dive into his journey of saying yes to his biggest no - church planting - and how God often calls us out of our comfort zones to step into His purposes.

The heart of our conversation centers on transition as spiritual invitation. Tony offers profound insight for anyone feeling stuck between what was and what's to come, explaining why God's perceived absence in difficult seasons might actually be the prime condition for His breakthrough. We explore how the greatest demonstration of God's power at the resurrection was actually what was missing from the tomb, not what was there.

Tony also shares about The Gathering, the church he recently planted after a previous church planting season ended during COVID. He describes this new venture as the most freeing and joy-filled season of his 19-year ministry. Whether you're in a season of transition, struggling with prayer, or simply need encouragement to trust God in the unknown, this conversation offers hope and practical wisdom for following Jesus through every season of life.

Chapters

00:00 | Introduction and First Impressions

04:42 | Transitioning Through Life's Seasons

05:11 | The Coffee Journey

09:12 | The Power of Prayer

14:27 | Personal Stories of Prayer

19:13 | Saying Yes to Our Biggest No

23:07 | Encouragement for Prayer

29:02 | Navigating Transitions

30:14 | Navigating Transitions: The Spiritual Journey

37:01 | The Power of Dependence in Transition

41:29 | God's Silence: A Test of Faith

47:34 | The Gathering: A New Church Community

54:45 | Designing a Beautiful Day: Simple Joys

Tony's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tony_calabrese_
The Gathering Website: https://www.thegatheringchurch.co/
Tony on QAVA: https://qava.tv/teachers/tony-calabrese/

We're back! I brought all three of my kids onto the podcast for an unplanned family conversation about the whirlwind of changes hitting the Scott family all at once. Maggie's thriving in Orlando at Disney World, Jack just moved to Chattanooga for new opportunities, and Ali surprised us all by getting accepted to a ministry internship in Norwich, England after feeling God's call during a school trip.

With all three kids officially launched, Jeff and I made the decision to sell our Franklin house and pursue financial freedom for the first time in our marriage. I'll be honest... having the house on the market feels invasive, and my kids definitely called me out for my magic eraser obsessions during showings.

We dive into the realities of adulting (spoiler: everything is expensive), how faith becomes your own when you leave home, and why people don't grieve change itself but rather what they're losing. The Scott family will be scattered across the globe now, but we trust God with wherever He's leading us next. This episode is raw, real, and full of the chaos you'd expect from an organic family conversation - including dog interruptions and sibling roasting.

Chapters

00:00 | Introduction to Change

03:35 | Navigating Life Transitions

05:45 | Allie's Move to England

08:51 | Jack's Journey to Chattanooga

11:05 | Maggie's Experience of Adulthood

14:01 | Challenges of Independence

16:50 | Embracing New Opportunities

18:30 | Reflections on Family Dynamics

29:17 | Finding Personal Space and Adjusting to Change

31:34 | The Decision to Sell the Family Home

33:23 | Navigating the Emotional Toll of Selling

37:02 | Reflections on Family Dynamics and Memories

40:31 | Embracing Change and New Beginnings

50:49 | Personal Growth and Faith Journeys

56:30 | Trusting God Through Transitions