In honor of Mother’s Day week, Amy Groeschel and Jenn Jewell are joined by a special guest at The Messy Table—the beautiful and refreshing Korie Robertson!

You might know her as the calm to the colorful Duck Dynasty crew, but Korie is also wife to Willie, mama to six, “Kmama” to seven—as well as a New York Times best-selling author, adoption + foster care advocate, and a woman of God who helps run the family business (Duck Commander), plus a production company (Tread Lively Productions), while aiming to be present with her big, growing family.

“We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and mighty wonders.”  Psalms 78:4

If you could use some reminders about everyday faithfulness, sticking it out through the hard stuff, and keeping your eyes on what matters, we’d love to have you at The Messy Table.

Listen HERE!

CONVERSATION NOTES

Gospeler by Willie Robertson | The Blind Movie with Tread Lively Productions

Strong and Kind and The Duck Commander Family by Korie Robertson

Whoa That’s Good with Sadie Robertson Huff | Duck Dynasty | Duck Commander

Anonymous and The Night is Normal by Dr. Alicia Britt Chole

Seven Women by Eric Metaxas | Dr. Jordan B. Peterson | illumiNations Bible Translations

Life.Church | Life.Church Sisters | YouVersion | Bible App for Kids | Psalms 78:4

CONNECT WITH KORIE, AMY, JENN, AND THE MESSY TABLE PODCAST ON INSTAGRAM

Check out these episodes if Mother’s Day feels extra complicated… Infertility: Ep. 91 | 77, Loss of a Child: Ep. 42 | 49 | 52 | 70 | 115 | 130 | 139, Loss of a Parent: Ep. 63 | 86 | 139, Single Moms + Blended Families: Ep. 66 | 104 | 141 | 146, Foster Care + Adoption: Ep. 36 | 58 | 112 | 122 | 142.

The post EP. 149 | Korie Robertson [Everyday Faithfulness] appeared first on Jenn Jewell.

We get it—we’re all busy. Life is full with work and family, with hard and good things. And we don’t always make space to intentionally process the important stuff, like faith. Like eternity.

But if Christianity is true, shouldn’t we carefully consider its significance? If Jesus really lived and died and rose again, what does that mean for us now? And how can His resurrection power impact our actual, everyday lives?

“The loss is really the provision. The loss of His life was the provision for our salvation—the provision for our freedom.”  Jennifer Cantrell

Today is the perfect day to remember what’s true, to linger in the messiest-yet-greatest story on earth, and to tap into the freedom, power, and love that’s freely available on this side of heaven.

Grab your coffee, pull up a chair, and join Jennifer Cantrell and Jenn Jewell for a special episode at The Messy Table!

Listen HERE.

CONVERSATION NOTES

Ep. 96 with Amy, Cindy, & Jenn [The Truth Behind Jeremiah 29:11]

Ep. 113 with Divina, Shanna, & Jenn [A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Christmas]

Ep. 63 with Jennifer Cantrell [Joy in the Depths of Suffering]

Hebrews 4:16 | John 3:16-17 | Isaiah 53 | 1 Corinthians 15

Life.Church | Life.Church Sisters | YouVersion | BattleCreek Church

The Case for Christ and other books by Lee Strobel

Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh & Sean McDowell

Reasonable Faith and other books by William Lane Craig

The Reason for God by Timothy Keller

CONNECT WITH JENNIFER, JENN, AND THE MESSY TABLE PODCAST ON INSTAGRAM

The post EP. 148 | Jennifer Cantrell & Jenn Jewell [Resurrection Power] appeared first on Jenn Jewell.

Have you ever felt the sting of rejection? And maybe it was more than mere feelings—you were legitimately abandoned, unwanted, dismissed, or devalued. But did you also know there’s a flip side to rejection?

Our fabulous guest for today’s episode at The Messy Table wears all the hats and does all the things. Nona Jones is a wife and mother, innovator and survivor, and a rare combination of preacher, business executive, author/speaker, and entrepreneur. But despite her personal success, she’s also known deep rejection—describing herself as a statistically improbable product of God’s grace.

“Rejection, even though it’s painful, can actually be purposeful in the hand of God.”  Nona Jones

Because of what she’s experienced, she has TONS of wisdom to share with us. Join Cindy Beall and Jenn Jewell for a chat with Nona Jones at The Messy Table!

Listen HERE.

CONVERSATION NOTES

Nona’s Website | Nona’s Books | More About Nona

Life.Church | Life.Church Sisters | YouVersion

Open Door Church | Proverbs 31:17

CONNECT WITH NONA, CINDY, JENN, AND THE MESSY TABLE PODCAST ON INSTAGRAM

The post EP. 147 | Nona Jones [The Flip Side of Rejection] appeared first on Jenn Jewell.

Isn’t it wild that—no matter what kind of messes we face, cause, or stumble into—we serve a God who’s always close?

Jamie Landers is a misplaced Texan living in Tulsa, as well as a wife and mother of four who loves to remind women who and whose they are—whether that’s in churches or strip clubs, through writing or speaking, from a stage or over a cup of coffee.

But there are parts of Jamie’s story that might not be as obvious at church on Sundays, at the grocery store on Tuesdays, or at her kids’ sporting events on Friday nights. Jamie is a self-proclaimed hot mess, former divorcee/single mom, and the founder of a ministry called No Strings Attached—a nonprofit outreach that builds relationships with “dancers” in order to reveal the real Jesus.

No matter what you’ve been through, Jamie wants you to know…

“There are still good chapters of your story to be written.”  Jamie Landers

So grab your coffee and join LaTonya Pratt and Jenn Jewell for a chat with Jamie at The Messy Table.

Listen HERE.

CONVERSATION NOTES

Jamie Landers’ Website | No Strings Attached

Church on the Move | Bethel Music Kids

Uninvited and Good Boundaries and Goodbyes by Lysa TerKeurst

Life.Church | LifeChurch Sisters | YouVersion

CONNECT WITH JAMIE, LATONYA, JENN, AND THE MESSY TABLE PODCAST ON INSTAGRAM

The post EP. 146 | Jamie Landers [The One Who’s Always Close] appeared first on Jenn Jewell.

How do you keep moving forward when life isn’t going as planned? According to Michelle Meisner—a wife, boy mom, and long-time staff member at Life.Church who loves Crossfit and poetry; who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in her mid 20s—you must “embrace the traction.”

Michelle has faced some significant challenges in her adult life: an autoimmune disease, secondary infertility, a heartbreaking miscarriage (after a long road of trying), a last-minute failed adoption (with a nursery at home that was stocked and decorated with pink), a successful adoption (that is, by nature, still accompanied by some uniquely hard things), and the everyday trials and inconveniences that can leave any one of us feeling weary.

“You have to go through the hard thing to get better, so sometimes the best thing you can do is just not stop showing up.”  Michelle Meisner

And yet, Michelle has developed a grit, resilience, and tenacity that’s truly inspiring. What a gift to learn from each other! Join Amy Groeschel and Jenn Jewell for a chat with Michelle at The Messy Table.

Listen HERE.

CONVERSATION NOTES

Life.Church | Life.Church Sisters | YouVersion

Music: Blessing Offor | Cory Asbury | Ryan Ellis | JJ Heller

Books: From Strength to Strength by Arthur C. Brooks | The Will of God as a Way of Life by Jerry Sittser

Imagine Heaven by John Burke | Good Inside by Dr. Becky Kennedy

Verses: Romans 8:31-32 | Romans 8:18 | James 1:5 | 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

CONNECT WITH MICHELLE, AMY, JENN, AND THE MESSY TABLE PODCAST ON INSTAGRAM

Did you miss the last episode? We get it, December can be wild. But you really should catch it—it was that good! Check out Ep. 144 with Heather Miller [A Tragedy Redeemed]. Also, if you’re interested in digging deeper into the Bible this year, you should get inspired by Ep. 92 with Tara-Leigh Cobble [The Bible Recap]. Happy New Year and Happy Listening!

The post EP. 145 | Michelle Meisner [Embrace the Traction] appeared first on Jenn Jewell.

Ever since she was a little girl, Heather Miller dreamed of becoming a wife and a mother. But only three years into a thriving marriage, her plans were shattered by tragedy and—at 21 years old—she became a widow.

But even the darkest nights can be overwhelmed with light. Even Jesus came into the world when things were especially heavy. Even death cannot stop the miraculous work of God.

“A huge piece of me felt like it was ripped out, but I just continuously found myself seeking the Lord to get through even the smallest of moments.”  Heather Miller

Now, Heather is remarried to an amazing man, is a mama of three, and encourages SO MANY with her deep faith and powerful story—a tragedy redeemed. THIS COULD EASILY BE A MOVIE, Y’ALL. So grab a tissue and join Jenn Jewell and LaTonya Pratt for a chat with Heather at The Messy Table!

Listen HERE.

CONVERSATION NOTES

Life.Church | Life.Church Sisters | YouVersion

Church on the Move | Guts Church

Getting to the Other Side of Grief: Overcoming the Loss of a Spouse

CONNECT WITH HEATHER, LATONYA, JENN, AND THE MESSY TABLE PODCAST ON INSTAGRAM

Interested in more? Check out Ep. 121 with Jen Lake [Life After Loss], Ep. 86 with Avery Brooks [Relentless Joy in the Face of Heartbreak], and Ep. 113 with Divina Bruss, Shanna Crawford, and Jenn Jewell [A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Christmas].

The post EP. 144 | Heather Miller [A Tragedy Redeemed] appeared first on Jenn Jewell.

Could you use a dose of inspiration? Whether you’d love to renovate a space in your home, parent your children with fresh wisdom, or even set some life-giving boundaries so that everyone around you might thrive—it takes intention to cultivate a meaningful life.

So let us introduce you to the darling and creative Lesley Graham! Lesley is an expert on all things home, lifestyle, and renovation. She has an eye for cozy, a knack for restoring things, and a gift for seeing beauty in unexpected places. Her cute family and some of their design projects have been featured on outlets like HGTV and Country Home Magazine, plus they’re currently restoring a 35-acre homestead in Georgia.

“It always feels like winter is never going to end. And then—all of the sudden—you start seeing those little green buds and there’s hope on the horizon.”  Lesley Graham

Yes, Lesley is incontestably inspirational. But she also understands that progress and mess inevitably go hand in hand. And in today’s episode, Lesley is chatting with Jenn Jewell about a gamut of relatable topics:

Renovating messy spaces, embracing new seasons, curating beauty and contentment and thankfulness, letting go of perfection, overcoming people-pleasing, nurturing a home, navigating difficult relationships, and so much more. Don’t miss this conversation at The Messy Table Podcast!

Listen HERE.

CONVERSATION NOTES

Lesley Graham | Lesley’s Nurturing Home Series

Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman | The Bible Recap with Tara-Leigh Cobble

John Mark Comer: Live No Lies | Garden City | The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry

Lysa TerKeurst: Good Boundaries and Goodbyes | The Best Yes

CONNECT WITH LESLEY, JENN, AND THE MESSY TABLE PODCAST ON INSTAGRAM

Want more episodes like this one? Check out Ep. 47 with Lysa TerKeurst [It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way], Ep. 105 with Priscilla Shirer [A Timeless Reset], and Ep. 92 with Tara-Leigh Cobble [The Bible Recap]. 

The post EP. 143 | Lesley Graham [Nurturing Your Life] appeared first on Jenn Jewell.

Tori Hope Petersen bounced around twelve foster homes until she emancipated or “aged out” of the system at 18 years old. But even in the middle of a rollercoaster childhood, God met her in her mess.

Despite the odds being stacked against her, Tori became a 4x State Champion and All American in track and field, found a forever family when she wasn’t expecting it, and eventually landed the title of Mrs. Universe in 2021. Currently, Tori is a wife, biological + foster mama, bestselling author (see: Fostered) and speaker, and the founder of a nonprofit called the Beloved Initiative—who’s using her story and voice to advocate for others from hard places.

“In our suffering, God makes a promise to us: He will not waste it.”  Tori Hope Petersen

Don’t miss this powerful story and eye-opening perspective with Tori Hope Petersen, Amy Groeschel, and Jenn Jewell at The Messy Table Podcast.

Listen HERE.

CONVERSATION NOTES

Website: Tori Hope Peterson | Book: Fostered by Tori Hope Petersen

Loved Already Conference (November 18, 2023) | Beloved Initiative

Life.Church | Life.Church Sisters | YouVersion | YouVersion – Give

CONNECT WITH TORI, AMY, JENN, AND THE MESSY TABLE PODCAST ON INSTAGRAM

Interested in more episodes on the topic of foster care? Check out Ep. 58 with Britanie Ramirez [Becoming Fosters], Ep. 101 with Dr. Deb Shropshire [The Impact of Everyday Heroes], Ep. 112 with Heather Van Wormer [Love Does Hard Things], and  Ep. 122 with Amanda Torres [Unexpected Mercies].

The post EP. 142 | Tori Hope Petersen [Fostering Hope] appeared first on Jenn Jewell.

Friends!!! Welcome back to The Messy Table! YAY!! And sorry for all the exclamation marks, but we’ve missed you, missed these conversations, missed these powerful stories, and are so thankful to be back in this intentional space.

Kicking off our fall episodes is the darling, strong, and faith-filled Brandi Wilson. Brandi is a boy mama, football mama, single mama of three who’s not only “classy until kickoff” but has raised boys to men, survived a heart-wrenching divorce, and is still Better Than Okay (yep, that’s the title of her new book!).

Brandi has planted churches and written books, she co-leads a nonprofit called Leading and Loving It and works as a Certified Coach. She says…

“My marriage was not restored but, man, God was willing and able to restore me—and redeem my part of that story.”  Brandi Wilson

If you’ve ever been blindsided by heartache, Brandi has so much compassion, wisdom, and grace to share. So grab your coffee and join Cindy Beall + Jenn Jewell for a chat with Brandi at The Messy Table.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | PodBean

CONVERSATION NOTES

Better Than Okay: Finding Hope and Healing After Your Marriage Ends by Brandi Wilson

Brandi’s Website | Leading and Loving It | Leading and Loving It (book) by Lori Wilhite and Brandi Wilson

Healing Your Marriage When Trust is Broken and Rebuilding a Marriage Better Than New by Cindy Beall

The Inner Voice of Love by Henri Nouwen | Why Does He Do That? by Lundy Bancroft

The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk M.D. | Forgiving What You Can’t Forget by Lysa TerKeurst

CONNECT WITH BRANDI, CINDY, JENN, AND THE MESSY TABLE PODCAST ON INSTAGRAM

For more powerful episodes check out Ep. 11 with Cindy Beall [Better Than New], Ep. 108 with Cindy Beall [Still Better Than New], Ep. 27 with Lori Wilhite [Fighting from Victory], Ep. 50 with Julie Richard [Fearless Moms and Strong-Willed Children], and Ep. 104 with Kim Heinecke [Hard-Wired for Hope]. Happy listening!

The post EP. 141 | Brandi Wilson [Better Than Okay] appeared first on Jenn Jewell.

God cares deeply about the details of our individual stories. But we can’t forget that we’re also a part of a bigger, overarching story. From beginning to forever, this is God’s story and it’s our story and it’s the greatest story on earth.

Here to share a piece of her personal journey, as well as some hard-earned wisdom, is the wonderful Elizabeth Woodson. Elizabeth is an author, Bible teacher, seminary grad, podcast host, and a trustworthy voice who is passionate about equipping believers to understand the rich theological truths of Scripture.

“God created us to be people who show the world who He is, and people who care for His creation—so that everything and everyone thrives.”  Elizabeth Woodson

There’s beauty in the hard place, there’s power in perseverance, and there’s goodness in the mess—if we’ll have the eyes to see it. So grab your coffee and join us at The Messy Table Podcast!

Check out your listening options HERE.

CONVERSATION NOTES

The Woodson Institute with Elizabeth Woodson

Embrace Your Life | From Beginning to Forever

Starting Place Podcast | Culture Matters Podcast

Dallas Theological Seminary | Logos Bible Study Platform

Bible Project | The Bible Recap | Blue Letter Bible | Bible Hub

Lifeway Women’s Academy | The Gospel Coalition Women

Jen Wilkin | The Navigators | NT Wright | Warren W. Wiersbe

YouVersion | Life.Church | Life.Church Sisters

CONNECT WITHE ELIZABETH, JENN, AND THE MESSY TABLE PODCAST ON INSTAGRAM

The post EP. 140 | Elizabeth Woodson [From Beginning to Forever] appeared first on Jenn Jewell.

Mother’s Day week can bring all the feels—joy, sadness, gratefulness, longing, and other conflicting emotions. But our guest today at The Messy Table is no stranger to such tension.

Lindsay Johnson battled infertility for four years AND she’s experienced a surprise pregnancy. She’s known the delight of watching her kids grow AND the heartache of losing her precious baby girl. She’s felt the unconditional love of an amazing mother AND she’s carrying on the legacy of her mama’s relentless strength.

“The Lord will restore things—whether it’s here or in heaven.”  Lindsay Johnson

Lindsay is a wife, mom of four (1 in heaven + 3 on earth), pharmaceutical sales rep, and the founder of an incredible nonprofit called Aspyn Arrows. You might want to grab a tissue as you pull up a chair and join us at The Messy Table.

Listen HERE.

CONVERSATION NOTES

Aspyn Arrows: Website | Facebook | Instagram

Watch Lindsay’s 4-minute segment about Aspyn Arrows on Fox23 News

Through the Eyes of a Lion by Levi Lusko | Fresh Life Church

I Will Carry You by Angie Smith | Bridget’s Cradles with Ashley Opliger

Atomic Habits by James Clear | The Power to Change by Craig Groeschel

No One Ever Cared for Me Like Jesus by Steffany Gretzinger

Life.Church | Life.Church Sisters | YouVersion

CONNECT WITH LINDSAY, JENN, AND THE MESSY TABLE PODCAST ON INSTAGRAM

The post EP. 139 | Lindsay Johnson [A Mother’s Strength] appeared first on Jenn Jewell.