Grace in Every Season

Denise Schwabe, CHHC Faith + Food Ministry

Grace in Every Season is a faith-centered podcast for women learning to trust God through every season of life — the joyful, the challenging, and the in-between. Through personal testimony, Scripture, and gentle encouragement, Denise shares how faith, obedience, and nourishment — spiritually and physically — can lead to true healing and wholeness. This podcast is an invitation to slow down, reflect, and rest in God’s grace, knowing He is always at work.

  1. 3d ago

    Are You Growing—or Just Going Through the Motions?

    Are You Growing—or Just Going Through the Motions? Are you truly growing in your relationship with Jesus Christ—or have you become so accustomed to your Christian routines that you’re simply going through the motions? We can attend church faithfully, read our Bibles, pray, participate in Bible studies, and even serve in ministry. But is being spiritually active the same as being spiritually mature? It’s possible to be so busy doing things FOR Jesus that we neglect spending time WITH Jesus. In this week’s episode of Grace in Every Season, Denise invites us to examine the difference between religious activity and genuine spiritual growth. Together, we’ll explore: Abiding in Christ — John 15:4–5: Why remaining connected to Jesus is essential for bearing lasting spiritual fruit.The Fruit of the Spirit — Galatians 5:22–23: How genuine spiritual growth is reflected in our love, patience, humility, forgiveness, and Christlike character.God’s Continuing Work — Philippians 1:6: Why spiritual growth is a lifelong process, not a pursuit of perfection.Making Room for Jesus: How even good responsibilities and ministry activities can sometimes distract us from personal fellowship with the Lord.Perhaps you’ve been faithfully serving, yet find yourself feeling spiritually dry. Maybe prayer has become hurried, Bible reading has become routine, or your responsibilities have left little time for simply being in God’s presence. Friend, this episode isn’t about condemnation or adding more to your already busy schedule. It’s an invitation to return to the One who gives us life. Because spiritual growth isn’t measured by how much we accomplish for God, but by how much we’re becoming like Christ. And sometimes the most important thing we can do is slow down, examine our hearts, and remember that apart from Him, we can do nothing. Are you growing—or just going through the motions? Join Denise for this Scripture-centered reminder that genuine spiritual growth begins with abiding in Jesus Christ. 💛🌻 Grace in Every Season — Growing in His grace, one day at a time.

  2. Oct 26

    Are You Carrying What God Never Asked You to Carry?

    Are you feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or weighed down by responsibilities, expectations, and circumstances beyond your control? Sometimes the heaviest burdens we carry are the ones God never asked us to take upon ourselves. We try to fix situations, change people, control outcomes, and meet every need around us. And sometimes, even while doing good things and serving the Lord, we forget that God never called us to do everything. In this episode of Grace in Every Season, Denise shares a biblical reminder about the difference between being faithful to what God has entrusted to us and carrying responsibilities that belong in His hands. Through 1 Peter 5:7 and Matthew 11:28, we’ll explore what it means to surrender our anxieties to the Lord, recognize our limitations, and find true rest in Jesus Christ. Together, we’ll reflect on three important questions: ​What has God actually entrusted to me?​What am I trying to control that belongs to Him?​What would surrender look like in my life today?Sometimes surrender means praying instead of worrying. Sometimes it means accepting help, setting healthy boundaries, or allowing ourselves to rest without guilt. Surrender doesn’t mean we stop caring. It means we trust God enough to release what we cannot control. Friend, you can love without fixing everything. You can serve without doing everything. And you can remain faithful without carrying the weight of every outcome. Whatever burdens you’re facing today, remember the invitation of Jesus: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28 (ESV) You don’t have to carry it all. God cares for you. 💛🌻

  3. Oct 19

    When Loving Others Comes at a Cost

    When Loving Others Comes at a Cost Have you ever loved someone when loving them wasn’t easy? Maybe you’ve cared for someone through a serious illness, walked alongside someone who was grieving, sacrificed your own time and comfort, or poured love into someone who didn’t love you back. Sometimes love requires patience, forgiveness, sacrifice, and perseverance. And sometimes, loving others can leave us feeling physically and emotionally exhausted. But what does it truly mean to love others as Christ has loved us? In this episode of Grace in Every Season, Denise explores the beauty and challenges of Christlike love through God’s Word. Together, we’ll discover: Love That Sacrifices — John 15:12–13: Jesus demonstrated the greatest love through His sacrifice on the cross, giving us an example of selfless love.Love That Bears Burdens — Galatians 6:2–5: We’re called to support one another through life’s difficulties while recognizing our own responsibilities and limitations.Love That Requires Wisdom — Romans 12:18: Forgiveness, compassion, and healthy boundaries can coexist. Loving someone doesn’t mean approving of harmful behavior.Love That Depends on God’s Grace — Galatians 5:22–23: We cannot consistently love like Christ through our own strength. We need the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.Whether you’re caring for someone who is suffering, navigating a difficult relationship, serving others while facing challenges of your own, or struggling to know when to let go, this message offers biblical encouragement and hope. We are called to love others as Christ has loved us. But we are not called to be anyone’s Savior. Only Jesus can change a heart. And only He can provide the wisdom, strength, and grace we need to love faithfully—even when loving comes at a cost. We love because He first loved us. — 1 John 4:19 Whatever season you’re walking through, remember that God’s grace is sufficient. 💛🌻

  4. Oct 12

    The Grace That Sustains Us Through Every Season

    The Grace That Sustains Us Through Every Season God’s grace doesn’t end at salvation. Last week, we explored the beautiful truth that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ—not by our own works. But what happens after we’re saved? Are we expected to face every trial, overcome every temptation, endure every hardship, and love those who don’t always love us back—all in our own strength? Absolutely not! The same grace that saves us is the grace that continues to sustain us throughout our Christian walk. In this episode of Grace in Every Season, Denise explores the many ways God’s grace works in our everyday lives. Through Scripture, we’ll discover: Sanctifying Grace — Titus 2:11–12: God’s grace doesn’t leave us unchanged. It teaches us to turn away from sin and grow in Christlikeness.Sufficient Grace — 2 Corinthians 12:9: God’s power is made perfect in our weakness, even when He doesn’t remove the difficulties we’re facing.Sustaining Grace — Hebrews 4:16: We can confidently approach His throne of grace to receive mercy and find help in our time of need.Grace to Love Others — Luke 6:32–36: God’s grace enables us to show mercy, extend forgiveness, and love even when loving isn’t easy.Sometimes the pain remains. Sometimes the grief is still there. Sometimes our physical limitations don’t change, and the circumstances we’re praying about remain unresolved. But that doesn’t mean God’s grace is absent. His grace is sufficient—even when our strength is not. And sometimes that grace gives us the wisdom to rest, accept help, establish healthy boundaries, or simply take the next faithful step. Whatever season you’re walking through today, this episode is a reminder that you don’t have to rely upon your own strength. The grace that saved you is the grace that will sustain you. You didn’t earn it then. You don’t have to earn it now. And you don’t have to face tomorrow without it. His grace is sufficient. 💛🌻

  5. Oct 5

    Saved By Grace-Not By What We Do

    If you were standing before God and He asked you why He should allow you into His Kingdom… what would your answer be? Would you begin thinking about all the good things you’ve done? How you’ve helped others, attended church, served in ministry, or tried to live a moral life? Or would your answer be Jesus Christ? In this episode of Grace in Every Season, Denise opens Ephesians 2:1–10 to explore one of the most beautiful truths at the very heart of the Gospel: We are saved by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ—not by our own works. Before Paul tells us how we are saved, he reminds us of our condition apart from Christ: dead in our trespasses and sins. And then come two of the most powerful words in Scripture… BUT GOD! Rich in mercy and great in love, God made us alive together with Christ—even when we were dead in our sins. Salvation is not something we can earn through good behavior, religious activity, or human effort. It is God’s gift, made possible through the finished work of Jesus Christ—His sinless life, sacrificial death, and resurrection. But what about good works? Don’t they matter? Ephesians 2:10 completes the beautiful picture: We are not saved BY good works. We are created in Christ Jesus FOR good works. Good works are not the root of our salvation; they are the fruit of the new life God gives us. Whether you’ve been a believer for years, have struggled with trying to make yourself worthy of God’s love, or have never truly understood the Gospel, this episode is an invitation to examine where your confidence rests. Your goodness? Your efforts? Your religious activities? Or Jesus Christ alone? Grace isn’t something we earn. It’s a gift we receive through faith. To God alone be the glory. 💛🌻

  6. Sep 28

    When the Storm Says Stop

    What do you do when you’ve prayed, prepared, and taken every step you believed God was leading you to take—and then a storm comes? This episode was born out of a very real moment. For months, Denise had been preparing for a Faith + Food seminar. The teaching was ready. The fellowship hall was set up. The nourishing food had been prepared. Everything was in place. And then a Nor’easter arrived. Suddenly, the circumstances seemed to say, “This isn’t going to work. No one will come. Maybe you should stop.” But sometimes faith means refusing to let what we see determine whether we’ll obey what God has placed before us. In this episode of Grace in Every Season, Denise shares what God reminded her through Peter stepping out of the boat and walking toward Jesus: the storm was already there—but Peter began to sink when his focus shifted from Jesus to the wind around him. Second Corinthians 5:7 tells us, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” We don’t always know what the outcome of our obedience will be. We don’t know how many people will show up, how things will turn out, or whether the result will look anything like what we imagined. But perhaps the better question isn’t, “How will this turn out?” It’s: “Will I be faithful with what God has given me to do?” Sometimes the storm doesn’t mean stop. Sometimes it’s simply making the road harder than you expected. And sometimes faith isn’t knowing how the story ends. Sometimes faith is taking the next step while the storm is still raging. 🌻

  7. Sep 21

    Is Fear Making Your Decisions?

    Have you ever called something wisdom…when really, you were just afraid? Fear doesn’t always sound like fear. Sometimes it sounds reasonable: “I’m just being careful.”
“Maybe now isn’t the right time.”
“I need a little more confirmation.”
“I’ll do it when I feel ready.” And sometimes those things truly are wisdom. But other times, fear can disguise itself as caution and keep us from doing what God has already asked us to do. In this episode of Grace in Every Season, Denise explores the difference between biblical wisdom and fear-driven decision-making—and why feeling afraid isn’t the same as allowing fear to control you. Through the story of Nehemiah rebuilding Jerusalem’s wall, we’re given a powerful picture of faith and wisdom working together. When danger came, the people didn’t ignore it—but they didn’t allow it to stop their obedience either. They prayed. They set a guard. And they kept building. Sometimes wisdom tells us to slow down, prepare, seek counsel, or take precautions. Other times, fear tells us we can’t move forward until we can guarantee the outcome. So how can we tell the difference? By bringing our decisions before God, testing them against His Word, asking Him for wisdom, examining what’s really driving us, and trusting Him enough to take the next faithful step. Courage isn’t the absence of fear. Biblical courage is choosing obedience even when fear is present. If you’ve been facing a decision and wondering whether you’re being wise—or simply afraid—this episode will encourage you to ask one important question: Is wisdom making this decision…or is fear? Pray. Seek God’s Word. Take wise precautions when they’re needed. And when God makes the path clear… don’t give fear a vote that belongs to God. 💛🌻

About

Grace in Every Season is a faith-centered podcast for women learning to trust God through every season of life — the joyful, the challenging, and the in-between. Through personal testimony, Scripture, and gentle encouragement, Denise shares how faith, obedience, and nourishment — spiritually and physically — can lead to true healing and wholeness. This podcast is an invitation to slow down, reflect, and rest in God’s grace, knowing He is always at work.