
29 episodes

Made for Hope: Conversations for Christian Women Sara R. Ward
-
- Religion & Spirituality
-
-
4.7 • 13 Ratings
-
Life-giving conversations for Christian women. Fresh ideas and Biblical encouragement that will help you cultivate better spiritual health, mental health, and relational health. Live an intentional hope-filled life through soulful stories and thought provoking conversations that inspire you to greater hope.
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sara-r-ward/support
-
28. Breaking Free from Shame and Perfection
Do you struggle to overcome shame or past failures? Is is hard for you to celebrate small wins?
Today, we welcome life coach Taryn Nergaard who will help us to understand how to process shame and failure in a healthier way. She’ll teach us how to celebrate our progress, no matter how small.
You’re going to find so much encouragement as we chat about the common pitfalls around failure and discouragement and how to break free from them.
In this episode you’ll:
-Learn to find freedom from perfection
-Change your mindset so you focus on progress
-Get practical tools to help you celebrate your wins
Her strategies will empower you to make positive changes you can implement today.
Episode links:
Taryn’s Website
https://www.tarynnergaard.com
Taryn's Life Coaching:
https://www.tarynnergaard.com/coaching
Reflective Bible Journal for Adults
https://www.amazon.com/Reflective-Bible-Journal-Voice-Follow/dp/1777033128/
Teen Reflective Bible Journal
https://www.amazon.com/Reflective-Bible-Journal-Teens-Follow/dp/1777033136/
Kids Reflective Bible Journal
https://www.amazon.com/Reflective-Bible-Journal-Taryn-Nergaard/dp/1777033144/
Register for Taryn’s Free Soul Care Virtual Summit, free online event for people seeking simple practices for mind, body, and spirit. May 24-28
Register here for the Soul Care Summit:
https://tarynnergaard.com/soul-care-summit?aff=23
Sara's Book, Made for Hope: Discovering Unexpected Gifts in Brokenness
https://www.amazon.com/Made-Hope-Discovering-Unexpected-Brokenness/dp/1733411003/
Katy's Book: Life on Purpose: Thirty Days of Listening to the One Who Calls You
https://www.amazon.com/Life-Purpose-Days-Listening-Calls/dp/1736259202/
---
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sara-r-ward/support -
27. How to Deal with the Grief of Infertility
For those who have gone through infertility, you know what a grief trigger Mother's Day can be. It can bring up disappointment, hurt, and messy, complex feelings. But here's the part we don't always talk about: there can also be joy.
Thelma Nienhuis writes about grief, infertility, and extending permission and acceptance for those in the midst of the storm. In this episode we talk about:
—why infertility is grief too (and why we’re reluctant to name it that way)
—how to honor grief in your life and build traditions that allow you to grieve
—why you should extend permission to yourself on Mother’s day and other triggering events
—how we can best support those going through infertility
—finding joy in the place where you’re at.
Links mentioned in the show:
Life as Two Resource
https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5f43f7e6a25f1c0029564a11
The Wide Spectrum of Mothering
https://www.uua.org/worship/words/prayer/wide-spectrum-mothering
Quiet Assurance: 30 day devotional walking you through the Psalms
https://www.amazon.ca/Quiet-Assurance-Meditations-Peace-Grieving/dp/1777423104/
Sara's book, Made for Hope: Discovering Unexpected Gifts in Brokenness, which also talks about her journey through infertility and adoption. Find it on Amazon.
---
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sara-r-ward/support -
26. Self Care Practices for Better Mental Health
How can we care for our souls in the midst of difficulty? What tools can we use when we’re stuck in negativity, bitterness, grief, and more?
On this episode, Kristin Vanderlip will show us how to use tools to help us become unstuck from our negative emotions. Kristin is a writer who experienced the loss of a child and learned the value of healing through journaling and practicing soul care.
We chat about the proven benefits of journaling and what soul care practices help us to shift our mindsets, change our negative thinking and invite God into our experiences.
Learn how:
-Writing things down improves our health
-Certain practices can shift your attitude and emotions
-To invite God into your practices of writing things down
-To assemble a toolkit for soul care
EPISODE LINKS:
Find Kristin's Life Worth Living Journal and Kids' Journals here:
www.kristinvanderlip.com/journal
Kristin's website
www.kristinvanderlip.com
Follow Kristin:
Instagram: @kristinvanderlip
Facebook: @kristinvanderlipwrites
Get Sara's books, Made for Hope and the Made for Hope Bible Study here:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/bookseries/B08FXTQG61
---
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sara-r-ward/support -
25. The Power of a Life-Changing Bible Study Group
Do you ever wonder what makes a great Bible study group?
In this podcast episode, I’m joined by Cyndee Ownbey, the author of Rethinking Women's Ministry: Biblical, Practical Tools for Cultivating a Flourishing Community. Cyndee serves as a mentor to thousands of women’s ministry leaders through her website, podcast and Facebook community, Women’s Ministry Toolbox.
In this episode we discuss:
-the benefits of a group study
-how groups make an impact on women personally
-why they’re necessary for accountability and community
-what makes a great Bible study group (helpful tips for those leading or looking for a study!)
Resources to check out
Bible Study Facilitator Training Course: An online course to learn how to best lead your small group and Bible study
https://womensministrytoolbox.teachable.com/p/bible-study-facilitator-training/?affcode=78758_jchh62cn
3 Keys to Increasing Bible Study Participation Freebie:
https://womensministrytoolbox.com/freebies/
Learn how to Read and Study the Bible (book or PDF)
https://womensministrytoolbox.com/read-bible-study/
Books by Cyndee Ownbey: https://womensministrytoolbox.com/books/
Sara’s Made for Hope Bible Study
https://www.amazon.com/Made-Hope-Bible-Study-Discovering/dp/1733411038/
Sara’s Bible study teaching videos
https://sararward.com/biblestudy/
Women’s Ministry Toolbox https://womensministrytoolbox.com
Episode Link: https://sararward.com/made-for-hope-podcast-episode-25life-changing-bible-study-groups/
---
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sara-r-ward/support -
24. How to Wait Well: Practical ways to embrace seasons of waiting and how to draw near to God in them
Waiting is something we all have painfully endured. Whether it’s waiting on a decision, waiting for a baby, or waiting for an answer to prayer. Seasons of waiting will happen for all of us.
But how do we wait well?
Jazmin Frank has spent much of her life waiting for the desire for marriage to be fulfilled. She’s journeyed through trusting God wholeheartedly, to doubting his abilities, to trying to get out of the waiting, avoid it, or resolve it.
The one thing she has found consistently helpful in waiting seasons is to keep taking steps toward God and meeting Him in the waiting.
What that looks like practically has been surprisingly simple, and we talk about how to endure your own season of waiting.
Grab your favorite drink and listen as we chat about:
—leaning into the tension of waiting
—taking steps toward God
—finding supportive community while waiting
—supporting someone else as they endure their own waiting season.
Such an important episode that will challenge you to ask the question: Are you waiting well?
Episode Links:
Find Jazmin’s Bible Studies:
jazminnfrank.com/books/
Jazmin's Website: jazminnfrank.com
Sara’s book, Made for Hope: Discovering Unexpected Gifts in Brokenness
Katy's Book: Life on Purpose
Episode Link: https://sararward.com/made-for-hope-podcast-episode-24-how-to-wait-well/
---
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sara-r-ward/support -
23. Intentional Parenting: Habits for Healthier Families
Let’s face it, parenting is hard.
When you’re in the trenches of parenting, you need all the help you can get. Sometimes we get stuck just trying to survive the day when we know we should be more intentional in our parenting.
But how do we do that?
In this episode you'll learn:
what to teach your kids, how to do it, and what ultimately matters
more about family mantras—crafting a list of values and statements for your family
checking in with your spouse for family meetings
making fun a priority
Listen as Katy Epling and Sara R.Ward dive into a conversation on what intentional parenting is and how to take small steps toward being more intentional with your kids.
We include books, resources and great conversation starters for you and your whole family.
Episode Links:
Grace-based Parenting Tim Kimmel
Parenting: 14 Gospel principles Paul David Tripp
Christ-centered Parenting: Russell Moore and Phillip Bethancourt
Sara’s book: Made for Hope
https://www.amazon.com/Made-Hope-Discovering-Unexpected-Brokenness/dp/1733411003/
Katy’s book: Life on Purpose
https://www.amazon.com/Life-Purpose-Days-Listening-Calls/dp/1736259202/
Catch up on past episodes: https://sararward.com/made-for-hope-podcast/
---
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sara-r-ward/support
Customer Reviews
Love listening to this podcast!
Sara does an amazing job hosting the Made For Hope Podcast! I enjoy listening to the three acts of the story, especially the gifts at the end. Honestly, that is my favorite part!
A wonderful podcast!
I love the encouragement I received from listening to this podcast. Grateful for the message of hope.
Melissa D.
Sara’s message is like a light at the end of a long dark tunnel for those who need it. Braving the hard road of facing our pain, allowing it to grow a purpose over time, and sharing with those the way forward. What a gift.