Life As Worship

Peace that Passes Understanding

Have you ever wondered how to experience peace when life feels like a tilt-a-whirl spinning out of control?
Angela is joined by bestselling author, humorist, and speaker Debora Coty, whose “Bless Your Heart” devotional and beloved “Too Blessed to Be Stressed” series encourages millions. Together, they dive into Philippians 4:6-7, sharing honest stories of loss, anxiety, reluctant obedience, and the supernatural peace God brings—even when life is messy, prayers feel unanswered, or hope seems far off. You’ll also hear how Debora’s “resurrection dog” reminds her of God’s ongoing miracles, big and small.
 
Episode Highlights
Debora shares how “Papa God’s” peace is different from anything the world offers.
First-hand, on-the-ground perspective from her recent visit to ancient Philippi—praying and worshiping near the places Paul ministered, suffered, and wrote his famous letter.
Real talk on walking through depression, loss, and multiple tragedies—and how reluctant obedience, angry Psalms, and Christian music became lifelines as God “restored me to him.”
A step-by-step unpacking of Philippians 4:6-7, focusing on God’s “covenant” to meet our anxiety with supernatural peace as we pray, give thanks, and persevere.
Encouragement for those struggling with anxious thoughts, the place of community (BFFs—Blessed Friends Forever) and how God meets us, often through others, in the process.
Great Quotes 
“I practiced what I call now, reluctant obedience. I didn’t feel like it, I didn’t want to do it. I was angry. I was bitter, but I opened my Bible to the Psalms and I read the angry Psalms and I made them my prayers.”
“I think that scripture became very meaningful to me. I posted it in my car on sticky notes everywhere, all over the house, everywhere I went.”
“It’s a process like everything else that’s worthwhile, I think, in life. It’s a process, but it has to start with us initiating the process.”
“They give us their hope when we have none. They pray for us. When we are dry, they’re the ones that help hold us up… I strongly, strongly advise that, anyone listening… find yourself at least one heart sister. Two or three are even better.”
“God is the God of miracles. Miracles come in all sizes and shapes and colors, and sometimes we miss ‘em if we’re not looking for ’em.”
Resources Mentioned
Scripture Focus: Philippians 4:6-7
Debora’s Website: deboracoty.com
Books: Bless Your Heart; Too Blessed to Be Stressed (series)
Related Episodes
Ep. 16: Courageously Trusting God (Sarah Griffiths Hu)
Ep. 36: Delighting in God, Receiving Our Desires (Maureen Miller)
•Ep. 12: Holding Faith Unswervingly (Holly Piorkowski)
•Ep. 31: Seeking God's Kingdom First (Natalie Harris)
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Strength When Sorrow Wearies Our Souls

Has sorrow ever left you feeling weak? In this episode you will discover strength when grief wearies our souls.
Angela welcomes author, speaker, and encourager Jackie Freeman to this episode of Life as Worship. Jackie is known for her heartfelt storytelling, spiritual wisdom, and unexpected joy found on the pickleball court and in God’s Word. Together, they dive into Psalm 119:28, exploring how Scripture brings strength in grief, how music can help heal the soul, and how honest faith can carry you through life’s deepest seasons of loss and renewal.
 
Episode Highlights
Jackie shares how finding pickleball brought laughter and community back into her life after losing her husband.
A fresh look at Psalm 119:28 and why Scripture is a unique comfort when we are weary, grieving, or anxious.
Honest conversation about losing loved ones, facing big life transitions, and learning to let God and His Word reshape our hearts.
Music, worship, and community as daily tools God uses to encourage us and keep us going when we feel stuck.
Jackie’s practical tips for letting God’s promises give you the courage to heal, reach out, and encourage others.
Great Quotes 
“I learned to laugh again and to connect with people and really to live again.”
 
“I have to be honest with you, Angela. I came to know the Lord as at a young age, and I had a lot of head knowledge… but it was way later in my life that my heart became fully aware of what God’s word say to me.”
 
“Encourage me with your word and, as an encourager… we need encouragement at all phases of our lives, but particularly in our deep sorrows.”
 
“Music has always been a balm for my weary soul, especially the songs that are grounded in God’s word like my Southern gospel music background.”
 
“Lord, I don’t know what to do or how to do, but I trust that you do.”
Resources Mentioned
Scripture Focus: Psalm 119:28
Jackie’s Website: jackiefreemanauthor.com
Books: Pickleball Parables: Inspiration On and Off the Court, Bend Your Knees, Louise!
Related Episodes
Ep. 30: Trusting God as Our Rock and Refuge (Shelley Picard)
Ep. 13: Sowing in Tears Reaping Joy (Kristi Lowe) 
Ep. 4: Anticipating God's Goodness on Earth (Sara Cormany)
Ep. 27: When Your World Ends: Beginning Again with God (Dawn Mann Sanders) 
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Victory through the Love of God

Have you ever wondered if God really loves you? This week Jose Carrillo and I discuss how we are more than conquerors through the love of God.
 
On this episode of Life as Worship, Angela sits down with Jose Carrillo, Sterling College campus pastor and local church pastor. Jose shares from Romans 8:37 on being “more than conquerors” through Christ’s love, exploring what victory really means in the midst of hardship. Their candid conversation dives deep into experiencing God’s grace, overcoming trials, and living confidently in God’s unshakeable love today.
 
Episode Highlights
Jose and Angela unpack key truths from Romans 8, including no condemnation for believers and God’s steadfast love that cannot be broken.
Real talk on what it means to be a conqueror through Christ—not based on our strength but God’s powerful grace.
Jose shares personal testimony of growing through childhood hardship, forgiving family wounds, and embracing God’s healing.
Encouragement for listeners struggling today: your trials can become your testimony and you are never separated from God’s love.
Great Quotes
“If God is for us, who can be against us? He gave His Son – that shows His relentless love for us.”
“Victory in Christ means standing strong through suffering, knowing God fights alongside us.”
“Your story, no matter how broken, is part of God’s redemptive plan.”
“We are more than conquerors because of Christ’s love, not our own power.”
Resources Mentioned
•Scripture: Romans 8:37
•Sterling College: sterling.edu
•Contact Jose Carrillo: jose.carrillo@sterling.edu
 
Related Episodes
Ep. 6: The Stedfast Love of the Lord (Kim Cusimano) 
Ep. 21: Being Upheld by His Hand (Kelly Hall) 
Ep. 3: Faith, Grace, and Salvation (Cortney Stanton) 
Ep. 15: Grace Abounds All the More (Julie Sanders) 
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Strength for Those Who Hope

Ever felt worn out or wondered if you could truly let go of past hurts? On this episode of Life as Worship, Angela welcomes speaker and storyteller Rebekah Storey to dive deep into Isaiah 40:30-31—a powerful promise about finding new strength and hope when you’re exhausted or facing the challenge of forgiveness. Listen in for Scripture insight, real-life encouragement, and practical steps for embracing freedom and walking with renewed purpose, no matter your background or season of life.
 
Episode Highlights
Explore the historical and spiritual context of Isaiah: what it means to rely on God’s strength when your own efforts just aren’t enough.
Honest conversation about what to do when you’ve reached your limit—why everyone gets weary and the hope available for those who are ready to keep going.
Practical encouragement on how to forgive, overcome bitterness, and let God’s strength carry you into new opportunities and healed relationships.
Inspiring examples of using renewed strength to serve others, pursue new callings, and live out your purpose—even on the tough days.
Great Quotes
Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength—God always supplies what we need for what’s next.
Forgiveness set me free from chains I never realized I was carrying.
True strength isn’t about pushing harder—it’s letting God be your source when you can’t go on.
If you seek God’s direction, He’ll show you where to serve, how to heal, and how to keep moving forward.
Resources Mentioned
Scripture Focus: Isaiah 40:30-31
Rebekah’s Website: rebekahstorey.com
Facebook: Rebekah Storey
Related Episodes
Ep. 12: Holding Faith Unswervingly (Holly Piorkowski) 
Ep. 28: When Forgiveness Feels Impossible (Deedy Tripp) 
Ep. 18: Hope, Persevering, AND Devotion to Prayer (Nicole Clark) 
Ep. 22: God’s Gift of All We Need (Susie Crosby) 
Ep. 14: Rooted and Built Up (Lisa Meiners) 
 
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Grace for Us, the Thirsty

Has life ever left you thirsty? Like joy and peace are for others and you are on the outside looking in? 
Angela is joined by grace-filled truth-teller and podcast host Jennifer Sakata to reflect on the transformative power of grace in the story of the woman at the well (John 4:28). Jennifer unpacks how a single verse unlocks a message of liberation, forgiveness, humility, and new life. Together, they explore how real worship begins when grace becomes lived experience: freely received, then freely given.
Episode Highlights
 Context of John’s gospel: Rich with stories designed to help readers believe that Jesus is the Christ; packed with honest portrayals of Jesus’ encounters with outcasts, seekers, and the hungry-hearted.
Woman at the well: Jesus intentionally meets a marginalized, wounded Samaritan woman at noon and offers her radical acceptance, a new identity, and living water that satisfies every thirst.
The water jar: Why leaving her important, practical lifeline signified a whole new dependence on Jesus as her source and a willingness to tell her story, even to those who had wounded her.
Jennifer’s story: Forgiving her mother after a fractured, painful childhood—how grace, extended in costly, ongoing humility, led to her own mother’s redemption and salvation.
Practical encouragement: Grace is for you, and for “them.” Forgiveness is a process, not a graduation. Each act of receiving and extending grace rewrites our own and others’ stories.
Great Quotes
“She left her water jar because she picked up a new lifeline: life with the Messiah who saw the real her.”
“Only by God’s forward movement toward us—the substance of grace—can we move toward those who’ve hurt us most.”
“None of us have it all figured out. We’re not graduates of grace; we’re all thirsty people invited to the well.”
“If we ever forget that we’re saved by grace, we’ll never be able to bring other thirsty people along.”
“Forgiveness doesn’t always mean reconciliation or safety, but grace empowers us to wish our enemies well and release them.”
Resources Mentioned
Scripture: John 4:1-45; Colossians 3:13
Podcast: Living the Grace Life with Jennifer Sakata
Website: jennifersakata.com
IG/Facebook/YouTube: @jennifersakata
Devotionals: El Roi: The God Who Sees; Trusting God: 31 Days, 31 Women, 31 Stories, One God
Jennifer's newsletter
Related Episodes
Ep. 28: Forgive as the Lord Forgave (Deedy Tripp)
Ep. 23: Source of Living Water (Lisa Granger) 
Ep. 13: Grace Abounds all the More (Julie Sanders) 
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Suffering and Eternal Glory, How Can Suffering Bring Glory?

What does it mean that suffering can bring eternal glory and how can that help us face suffering now?
Join us this week as we seek to discover just that.
Angela welcomes Christian author, lawyer, comedian, and jazz singer Lara Silverman to discuss an eternal perspective on suffering. Diagnosed with a rare, debilitating illness, widowed after a bittersweet love story, and now a vibrant online storyteller, Lara shares how God meets us in the valley and how clinging to His promise of glory and redemption can sustain joy—right now, not just someday.
Episode Highlights
 The context of 2 Corinthians: Paul’s letter to a suffering church, stressing perseverance and the eternal hope that outlasts every earthly trial.
Light and momentary affliction: How Paul calls deep, daily pain “light” in light of eternity, not to minimize it, but to magnify what’s coming.
The unseen and eternal: Why fixing our eyes on the invisible promises of God—faith, hope, love, and ultimate redemption—transforms our perspective. 
Lara’s story: Chronic illness derailing a high-powered legal career, the loss of her beloved husband to cancer, and unexpected platforms for testimony, comedy, and deep faith.
Practical encouragement: Honest wrestling with God, humor through grief, and God’s promise that not a single tear or tragedy is wasted, but is prepared as glory for us.
Great Quotes
“If you’re in the fire and still smiling, the only answer is: God is with me. Glory is coming.”
“Paul knew suffering. He isn’t minimizing your pain—he’s magnifying how incomparable eternity will be.”
“God’s economy is upside down. He takes our deepest losses and turns them into beauty, joy, and eternal glory.”
“Every millisecond of your pain is doing something. God will not waste it.”
“He isn’t just the God of someday—He gives us gifts, joy, and even laughter in the hardest places, right now.”
 
Resources Mentioned
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
Lara’s Book: Singing through Fire. Affiliate Link
Instagram: @singingthroughfire_author 
Book trailer: Singing through Fire 
Comedy links: The Silverman Show
Related Episodes
Ep. 29: The Lord Gives and Takes Away (Kelly Arena) 
Ep. 13: Sowing Tears and Reaping Joy (Kristi Lowe) 
Ep. 27: God's Creative Process When Your World Ends (Dawn Mann Sanders) 
 
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Delighting in God and Receiving the Desires of Our Hearts

Does it seem like a pipe dream that God would give us the desires of our hearts, just for delighting in Him?
Join me this week as Maureen Miller and I discuss what Psalm 37:4 really means and how it changed Maureen's life.
This week I welcome writer, chaplain, and new novelist Maureen Miller to discuss Psalm 37:4. Maureen unpacks how this beloved verse is not a promise of “gimme, gimme prayers,” but an invitation to intimate relationship with God, allowing Him to shape our desires and bring deeper fulfillment than we could ever imagine. From her story of infertility to the simple joys found on her farm with grandchildren, Maureen testifies that God’s best often looks different—but always better—than what we picture for ourselves.
 
Episode Highlights
Psalm 37’s context: an instructional psalm written as an acrostic, contrasting the fleeting success of evildoers with the enduring inheritance and joy of the righteous.
Verses 1-3: “Fret not” over the prosperity of the wicked; trust, do good, dwell with faithfulness—this context shapes how we read verse 4.
“Delight yourself in the Lord”: means pursuing deep relationship and intimacy with God, allowing Him to reshape our dreams and desires.
Maureen’s story: how God transformed a heart’s cry for children from clenched-fist prayers to open-handed surrender, leading to joyful motherhood through His timing and means.
Practical encouragement: When God’s answer seems “no” or “not yet,” keep pressing into Him, surround yourself with community, safeguard what you read/listen to, and anchor yourself in gratitude and worship.
Great Quotes
“Delight means more than thinking, ‘God is awesome.’ It’s knowing Him so intimately that His desires become ours.”
“I used to clench my dream for children tightly in my fists, but God taught me to open my hands—as I delighted in Him, He changed me.”
“God will plant desires in us that are more beautiful than anything we could dream for ourselves.”
“Praise is the ladder out of despair. What we listen to and focus on can lift us or keep us stuck.”
“God’s best always fits us perfectly—even when it looks different than we hoped, when we delight in Him, He gives us Himself, and that’s enough.”
Resources Mentioned
Scripture: Psalm 37:4
Maureen’s Website: maureenmillerauthor.com
Email: maureen.miller913@gmail.com
Blog: Windows and Wallflowers
Novel: Gideon’s Book (Maureen Miller, 2024) (affiliate link)
Reference: Jeremiah 29:11, Hebrews 12, Psalm 139
Related Episodes
Ep. 26: Shelter Under the Lord's Wings (Meg Wilson) 
Ep. 22: God's Gift of All We Need (Susie Crosby) 
Ep. 4: Anticipating God's Goodness on Earth (Sara Cormany) 
 
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What Does God Require? Do Justice, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly

Sometimes it is hard to know what God wants from us...but He has told us. Join us as we discuss doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly.
Angela is joined by Australian award-winning children’s author Penny Reeve to discuss Micah 6:8. Penny shares how this passage has shaped her ministry, advocacy work, and the “small sphere” acts of justice and mercy in everyday life. The conversation dives deeply into what justice, mercy, and humble walking look like—not just globally, but at home, in community, and in personal worship.
 
Episode Highlights
The context of Micah: a minor prophet writing to Israel during a time of disobedience and idolatry, balancing prophecies of judgment with redemption, and pointing forward to Jesus.
Micah 6’s “courtroom scene,” where God lays out his case and asks for the true heart of faith, not empty religious ritual.
“Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly”: why these three belong together, and how justice and mercy are team players, both on a grand scale (advocacy, missions) and smaller “home” spheres (budgeting, relationships, kindness to those around us).
Penny’s stories: mission work, writing on child labor and adoption, learning to let go, and how the verse has shifted through seasons of life.
Practical encouragement: Noticing is key—allowing God to shape our hearts through His Word, authentic community, and action even in small spheres.
Great Quotes
“Micah’s heart message is: Even when God brings judgment, His goal is always redemption. He’s always asking—‘will you come back?’”
“Do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly—these aren’t actions, they’re a way of being in the world. Let God show you where justice and mercy are needed, and lean in.”
“Mercy is more than forgiveness; it’s compassion rolled up with kindness—responding to both the big and small needs of others.”
“If we’re not noticing, we won’t respond. Walking humbly means slowing down and asking, ‘God, what do you want me to see—and do—today?’”
“Jesus didn’t just raise awareness—He came down, gave everything, and calls us to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly, wherever we are.”
 
Resources Mentioned
Scripture: Micah 6:8
Penny’s Website: pennyreeve.com
Penny's Book Topics: Child labor, foster care, adoption, children’s devotional, etc.
Book referenced: “God’s Abundant Mercy” by Lori Roeleveld (April 2026)
Related Episodes
Ep. 24: Going and Telling So Others Will Know (Travis Young) 
Ep. 5: Chosen to Produce Fruit (Na'Kedra Rodgers) 
Ep. 27: When Your World Ends (Dawn Mann Sanders) 
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How to Run the Race Well

I know that most of you are not fans of running. But God has given us each a race to run. The question is how can we run it well? 
Angela welcomes Dr. Whit Jordan—professor, deacon, husband, and father—to discuss one of Scripture’s most encouraging passages: Hebrews 12:1-2. Together, they explore what it means to run with endurance, to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, and to embrace the unique power and grace that Jesus brings. Dr. Whit shares wisdom from his roles as educator, coach, and parent, along with practical encouragement for building a resilient and Christ-centered life.
 
Episode Highlights
The message of Hebrews: “Jesus is better”—better than angels, prophets, priests, and old sacrifices; His completed work and ongoing intercession make Him the ideal focus for our lives.
Hebrews 11 provides the backdrop—a “cloud of witnesses” whose faith endured suffering, waiting, and hardship, all pointing to something better that we now have in Christ.
Surrounded by witnesses: The faith of Bible heroes and fellow believers inspires and encourages us.
Lay aside every weight and sin: Let go of whatever hinders, from greed to bitterness, to the love of money, with the Spirit’s help and wisdom.
Run with endurance: Life and faith aren’t sprints but long, sometimes grueling races; perseverance and perseverance in community are essential.
Fix your eyes on Jesus: He is both the founder (author) and perfecter (finisher) of faith. His example, endurance, and joy—even through the cross—show us what is possible.
Practical real-life applications: From parenting, coaching, and teaching to facing grief and loss, resilience grows through small daily steps—Word, worship, and Christian community.
Great Quotes
“In Hebrews, Jesus is always better—better than angels, better than Moses, better than the old sacrifices. He’s the better sacrifice, the better way.”
“We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses—not just in the Bible, but from our own faith community—and we need their encouragement to keep running.”
“The discipline of showing up in the Word, in worship, and with God’s people sometimes precedes the feeling. Endurance is built over time.”
“To run the race, you’ve got to let go of the weight. The things that cling—sin, bitterness, distractions—Jesus calls us to lay them aside for something better.”
“Transformation comes through looking to Jesus. We don’t just want to inform minds, but transform souls.”
Resources Mentioned
Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2, Hebrews 11, Galatians 5
Website: drwhitbooks.com
Instagram/Facebook: @drwhitbooks
Related Episodes
Ep. 25: Publishing God's Good Works (Crystal Mayo)
Ep. 22: God's Gift of All We Need (Susie Crosby) 
Ep. 12: Holding Faith Unswervingly (Holly Piorkowski)
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Living the Abundant Life in Jesus

Have you ever wonder what the abundant life Jesus offers really is and how to live it? 
 
Angela welcomes award-winning author, speaker, and retreat founder Robin Gerblick to discuss John 10:10. Robin shares her own story of deep loss, God’s faithful abundance, and the unmistakable ways God made this verse (and its promise) personal to her. Together, they explore the meaning of true abundance and how to notice God’s “more than enough” even in hard seasons.
 
Episode Highlights
Context of John: Written by the Apostle John to reveal Jesus as fully God and fully man; John’s gospel highlights seven signs/miracles and seven “I Am” statements, emphasizing the divinity and authority of Christ.
John 10—the context: Jesus sets himself apart from the thief (the enemy), who steals, kills, and destroys, while Jesus gives abundant, overflowing life; this is true both eternally and in the everyday.
Robin’s personal story: Her “river moment” of desperation and lament, and how God met her in her deepest valley with the promise of John 10:10—confirmed and repeated through unforgettable “10:10” signs everywhere.
Honest perspective: Abundance might look small or different from what we expect, but God brings fullness and goodness even in dry seasons, guiding us to notice his presence and gifts.
Great Quotes
“The enemy was real then—and he’s real now. But Jesus’s promise of abundance is true in every season—not just eternally, but for today.”
“Believing is seeing. Once you believe, you begin to see the abundance God has placed before you.”
“If the enemy can’t keep us from being saved, he’ll do anything to undermine our freedom—but we have the greater promise.”
“There are so many little things God puts in our path that bring blessing, joy, and abundance; we just need eyes to see them.”
“Jesus’s abundant life isn’t just for the future—it’s for the valley, for lament, and for everyday moments if we keep leaning into him.”
Resources Mentioned
Scripture: John 10:10
Robin’s Website: robingerblick.com
Book: Giving Up Grace: A Spiritual Rebranding of the Soul (Nonfiction Book of the Year, 2025)
Ministry: Exodus Women’s Retreats
Related Episodes
Ep. 23: Our Source of Living Water (Lisa Granger)
Ep. 15: Grace Abounds All the More (Julie Sanders) 
Ep. 2: Living by the Spirit (Cally Logan) 
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