Real Talk With Rachael Podcast

This week on Real Talk with Rachael, I'm talking to mother and daughter Dr. Helen McIntosh and Blythe Daniel, authors of Mended: Restoring the Hearts of Mothers and Daughters. Blythe Daniel is an author, literary agent, and marketer with 25 years of experience in media and publishing. She has written for Focus on the Family, Proverbs 31 Ministries, and Christian Retailing. She conducts blog, podcast, and publicity campaigns and helps authors publish their books. She lives in Colorado with her husband and children.​ Dr. Helen McIntosh (EdD, Counseling Psychology) is a counselor, speaker, educator, and author. Her work has appeared in several national outlets including Guideposts, ParentLife, and HomeLife magazines. She resides in Dalton, Georgia with her husband Jim. They have two children, including Blythe McIntosh Daniel, and are grandparents five times over. Key Points from Our Conversation: Moms often do the hard work without getting a thank you. Speaking encouraging words over a mom does something inside

When my family climbed the Guadalupe Peak earlier this year, I noticed many parallels to real life. In order to stay consistent you must: Commit to do it. We met people along the way who didn’t prepare for the terrain (one woman was in heels), so they had to turn back. Have community. Have a few people around you that won’t let you quit. On both that physical mountain and my life mountains, that’s my husband. I would have quit many things a long time ago if it wasn’t for him. Celebrate. Enjoy the views at every turn. The peak was beautiful but each switchback had an equally as breathtaking view. Enjoy the journey. My friends, the only way I have accomplished anything worthwhile in my life is by showing up consistently. It’s not always easy or fun. I’ve wanted to quit many times. Connect with Rachael: website | Instagram | Facebook

I will never forget the moment in my journey to become a therapist when I was seeing my own therapist. I was processing a traumatic memory from my childhood and after I had shared everything I could remember she said, “Where is Jesus in this moment?” For the first time, I was able to see Jesus there with me. Weeping with me. Protecting me in ways I didn’t even ask Him to. And walking me out of that dark situation. Jesus has since healed my heart from that time in my life, but it was a process. We can’t talk about Jesus and therapy without bringing up the most obvious point about Him - He is a Healer. We can read countless stories in the Bible about when He healed in a moment. It rarely came at the time or way they might have imagined but one touch from Him and the people were never the same again. The question I feel Jesus asking us today comes from John 5:6, "When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?” I’m not talking about physical healing today,

This week on Real Talk with Rachael I'm talking with author Dominic Done about his latest book Your Longing Has a Name. Dominic Done is the founder of Pursuing Faith and author of When Faith Fails. With a master’s in theology from the University of Oxford, he has served as a pastor in Portland, Oregon; North Carolina; and Hawaii. Dominic has also taught English for companies in Europe, lectured in theology and history at various Christian colleges, worked as a radio DJ, and lived as a missionary in Vanuatu and Mexico. Key Points from Our Conversation: In the Bible, flourishing is directly related to participation in life with God. Something is happening in our culture on a soul level that is broken. We are languishing. We are seeking truth and purpose and as Christians, we have the opportunity to speak into those souls. "What lies beneath languishing is longing." Society tends to think of the soul as what we become when our bodies die, but scripture says that the soul is the entirety of our being that longs

So far we have discussed how Jesus felt and how He often retreated. This week we are looking at how He asked great questions. I’ve been told much of my life that I ask great questions. As a counselor and podcast host, much of my days are spent asking questions. I’ve been asked before how I come up with such good questions. The answer is simple - I listen. Being a good listener is crucial if you want to be a great communicator. Jesus was and is the best listener. We see all throughout the Bible examples of times when Jesus asked great questions, but those came from Him listening to what the person was really saying. Jesus asked mostly open-ended questions. Open-ended implies we want to not only help you reach your own conclusion, but also want to have a conversation with you. Jesus wants to have a conversation with you. He wants to listen to your frustrations. Questions for this week: Do you trust Jesus? It’s hard to follow someone we don’t trust. What question is He asking YOU? Write it down. Connect with Rac

This month our Talk Therapy series focus is on Jesus and therapy. Why Jesus and therapy? Because nothing changes without Him. He shows me things only He can see. He takes us places only He knows to go. Last week, we discussed how Jesus felt. Jesus would often retreat to a quiet place to be alone and pray. This week we are looking at how and why He retreated. We live in a world that does not give us natural pauses to retreat so we must be intentional about this practice. I think Jesus was always retreating not just for the rest, but to hear His Father. He had many people giving their opinions on where He should go and what He should do next. He had to be intentional about aligning his mission, and values with the Father. We must first retreat to be refueled before we can charge into what God has in store for us. But how do we know what He wants us to do? We follow the values He has planted in our hearts. Be sure to download the values worksheet and use it to retreat this week. Resources mentioned: Retreat in O

This week on Real Talk with Rachael I'm talking with Atheist-turned-Christian, Lee Strobel about his documentary The Case for Heaven. Lee is the former award-winning legal editor of The Chicago Tribune and a New York Times best-selling author of more than forty books and curricula that have sold fourteen million copies in total. He currently serves as Founding Director of the Lee Strobel Center for Evangelism and Applied Apologetics at Colorado Christian University. In 2017, Lee’s spiritual journey was depicted in an award-winning motion picture, The Case for Christ, which showed in theaters around the world. Lee and his wife, Leslie, have been married for forty-eight years. Their daughter, Alison, is a novelist and homeschooling expert (www.goodschooling.net), and their son, Kyle, is a professor of spiritual theology at the Talbot School of Theology at Biola University. Key Points from Our Conversation: If you're in a relationship with an unbeliever, be sure to build your relationship with God while maintai

This month our Talk Therapy series focus is on Jesus and therapy. Why Jesus and therapy? Because nothing changes without Him. He shows me things only He can see. He takes us places only He knows to go. When you partner with both Jesus and therapy, freedom comes in ways you never dreamed possible. In this first episode of the series, I'm talking about how Jesus felt. THREE TAKEAWAYS: It’s OK and healthy to feel. Jesus did! Jesus cares about your feelings (Mary) Jesus will weep with you. Connect with Rachael: website | Instagram | Facebook

This week on Real Talk with Rachael I'm talking with Revelation Wellness Director of Culture, Heather Johnson. Heather is a beloved daughter of the King, wife to Charles, and momma to 3 amazing young people. She loves moving her body and walking with Jesus. She is always learning and changing and being transformed by the Word of God. Heather's greatest passion is to love God, His people, and empower people to step into their divine destinies. Key Points from Our Conversation: If you want to love people more, get closer to the Father. Loving people has to first come from being loved by Him. When we run out of love to give, we need God's love to replenish us. "We're His be-loved, not His do-loved." We were created to do good works, but if we don't sit at His feet, we'll wear ourselves out. Sit with God and allow Him to minister to you. It's intimate, personal, and vulnerable, but He is safe. It's more challenging than checking off boxes.  Joy is not situational, joy is the atmosphere of the kingdom. It comes t

Accountability is scary. It feels like we are giving up control because we are. Accountability takes humility because we have to confess our weaknesses. We have to admit we are prone to sin and fall into temptation. The enemy knows if he can get us to wander alone, we are a much easier target to eliminate. We avoid wandering alone by being in community and then letting people really see us. Why accountability matters: Because God loves us too much to let us get caught up in something we could have avoided. We have to do better in this area and it starts in our own home. What could be different:  You could walk in your calling but more importantly, you could live free. Things that are in the dark are the enemy’s playground. It’s time to kick him out. Accountability isn’t just scary…it makes us sharper! Growth Resource: How People Grow by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend Tested and Approved:  21 Lessons for Life and Ministry by Tom Lane Lisa Whittle Jesus Over Everything and The Hard Good Weekly grow chall

Physical growth is usually the first place our mind goes to when we think about self-improvement. There are enough physical challenges and exercise programs on the market to last you all year. But today, I want to challenge how we view and approach physical growth. For most women, we view physical growth through the lens of shrinking. Dream with me for a moment about physical growth that doesn’t focus on shrinking, rather, it focuses on what our body is capable of doing when submitting it to God. Why physical strength matters:  If you don’t feel well, it affects every area of your life.  What could be different: More energy, excitement, confidence, activities of daily living, stronger mindset  Growth Resource: How People Grow by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend Revelation Wellness BackBodyClinic.com Weekly grow challenge: Ask God how He wants to partner with you to grow physically. Maybe it’s doing something you’ve never done before. Or perhaps giving up something you know isn’t nourishing your body (exc

This week on Real Talk with Rachael I'm chatting with my friend, Sandy Jobe. Sandy is a homemaker who loves to laugh and uses baking as a form of stress release. She is known for her quick wit, bubbly personality, and ability to brighten someone’s day with a homemade treat. She’s the author of a cookbook titled Hearts Gather Here: Making Memories Around the Table - it’s full of great recipes and inspiring family stories. Sandy is also the Women’s Ministries Care Pastor at Gateway Church in Southlake, TX. She and her husband Mark have 3 grown and married children and 5 grandsons. Key Points from Our Conversation: Having a healthy marriage takes two people. That means you have you do your part and allow the Lord to work on your husband.  It's easier to blame others instead of owning our mistakes. Pray for your spouse. What we get frustrated by most with them is likely something we wrestle with ourselves.  Having a community you can be vulnerable with about your marriage and family struggles is key because it's

Welcome to the second episode in the Growth Series! We serve a God of growth. When God says grow, nothing we do will stop it from happening. Don’t be mistaken, even when we don’t SEE the growth, it is happening. If you feel stuck or would love to see growth in different areas of your life, this series is for you. Each week we are focusing on an area of growth. You will notice EVERY week includes spiritual growth because, without it, nothing in our lives will grow. This week’s topic is Emotional Growth. Why emotional growth matters: Last week we discussed how our thoughts affect feelings and feelings (or emotions) affect behaviors. Most people want to skip the feelings part. Emotions are neither good nor bad, rather, they are telling us what is happening in our hearts. Everyone has emotions but we all view and process them differently. According to Gottman Emotion Coaching, there are 7 basic emotions we all share:  sadness, anger, disgust, contempt, fear, surprise, and happiness. What could be different if you

Welcome to The first episode in the Growth Series. We serve a God of growth. Just look all around you. From the beautiful trees and flowers to human beings. When God says grow, nothing we do will stop it from happening. Don’t be mistaken, even when we don’t SEE the growth, it is happening. If you feel stuck or would love to see growth in different areas of your life, this series is for you. Each week we will focus on an area of growth. You will notice EVERY week includes spiritual growth because, without it, nothing in our lives will grow. This week’s topic is mindset growth. Why it matters:  Thoughts, feelings, behaviors. Change your mind, change your life. What could be different if your mindset grew:  You could break barriers. God Growth: 2 Corinthians 10:5, "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." Growth Resource: How People Grow by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend and Battlefield of

This week on Real Talk with Rachael I'm speaking with author Sarah Philpott about her new book The Growing Season: A Year of Down-on-the-Farm Devotions. Sarah is the ECPA Award-nominated author of Loved Baby: 31 Devotions Helping You Grieve and Cherish Your Child After Pregnancy Loss. On her website, she writes about her family, life on a cattle farm in the South, and learning to cherish God’s provisions in joy and sorrow. Also, she doesn't share desserts. Key Points from Our Conversation: "Fallow ground" is soil that has been left unplanted to rest and regenerate. Without rest, the soil loses its nutrients and cannot grow crops. We also need rest in our spiritual lives to fill our souls so that we can pour into others. Resting well requires pruning things out of our lives in different seasons. Take inventory of what you've committed to and eliminate the things that don't fit your priorities right now. "To grow a little, you've got to cut a little." Remember that everything is a season. In busy seasons, you

This week our topic is your choice. As I prayed about what the final relationship focus should be, of course, things that were relevant to me came to mind, like kids and extended family members. However, I know many of you listening may not be able to relate to those, so I felt the holy spirit say, “Ask them what relationship I want to restore.” And I sense that He is going to ask you to bring up a hard relationship. You know, the one you want to avoid. Take a moment to pause and ask God, “What relationship are you bringing up today?” Think about that person, or group of people, as you read this month’s key verse from 1 Corinthians 13:4: "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends." The part of this verse that stuck out to me as being relevant

The February series we are doing is all about restoring relationships. Last week we chatted about restoring your marriage.  If you missed it, please go back and tune in. This week our topic is friendships.  Healthy friendships are a treasure. If you find one, you need to hang on to it. But what about when friendships end? It leaves us hurt, raw, vulnerable, and if we aren’t careful, bitter. “If you can’t talk about it, it owns you.” Let’s talk about friendship today so past wounds don’t own us.  This month’s key verse for these episodes is from 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Think about friendship as you read it: "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends." Another verse I love when it comes to healthy friendships is Proverbs 27:17, "As iron sharpens

This week on Real Talk with Rachael I'm talking with Megan Lacefield. Serving as a Marriage & Family Pastor for years, Megan has seen God work miracles in many marriages, starting with her own. Though she and the love of her life, Chad, started off shaky they landed on solid ground and have been running full steam ever since. With a daughter, Chandler(21), and son Riley (18), their family has shared with thousands their story of redemption, grace, and celebrating God's goodness in the little things. Recently she stepped out in faith into a new season to pursue the dream God put inside her to speak and write. Megan’s heart is that the spoken words or written words found in Everyday Pearls capture the snapshot of His love through even the smallest details of our lives. Strong and bold is Megan’s message of hope for those who feel lost in the shuffle and insignificant in the eyes of God. Key Points from Our Conversation: Megan's revelation that she was raising her grandkid's parents shifted and shaped how s

The February series we are doing is all about restoring relationships. We started last week by restoring union with ourselves and the Lord. If you missed it, please go back and tune in. Since today is Valentine’s day, it seemed fitting to dive right into restoring romantic relationships, with the focus on marriage. Marriage was God’s idea and the enemy has been wreaking havoc on it since the beginning of time. Come with me as the Lord steps on our toes about what true love in our marriage or any relationship in our lives should look like. I’m going to move through them slowly. Ask God to highlight any of these areas you need to submit to Him. Key Verse for the month: "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pas

It’s the first week in February and chances are many of you have already given up on a new year's resolutions and I’m curious what you're thinking about yourself right now. We can’t practice self-love without seeking God with our whole entire heart, soul, mind, and strength. How can we love others if we don’t first love ourselves? The answer lies in more time seeking God. Key Verse for the month: "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away." 1 Corinthians 14:4-8 Let's look at our key verse analyzed against our relationship with ourselves. Do you treat yourself kind? With patience? Are you irritable? Resentful? Action steps for this wee