Finding Joy in God's Presence: Walking the Path of Life with Debbie Ashley

Finding Joy in God's Presence: Walking the Path of Life with Debbie Ashley

Do you ever wonder if God really has a specific path for your life—or how to find joy in His presence when life feels anything but joyful? In this episode on Psalm 16:11, we explore what it means for God to make known the path of life, to fill us with joy in His presence, and to hold eternal pleasures at His right hand—even in seasons of grief and everyday stress. Description In this Life as Worship episode, Angela talks with pastor’s wife and Bible teacher Debbie Ashley about Psalm 16:11: “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Debbie shares why Psalm 16 has become a deeply personal “I psalm” for her, showing a God who sets loving guardrails, gives specific direction, and cares for our whole selves—heart, mind, and body. She explains how this verse has anchored her through decades of ministry and how, in God’s presence, there can be real joy even when circumstances are confusing or painful. Episode Highlights * Why the Psalms are a “multi‑faceted songbook” that give us language for both the highs and lows of life. * How Psalm 16 models a deeply personal relationship with God—“You have assigned me my portion and my cup.” * What it means for God to “make known the path of life” in practical, everyday decisions. * Why God’s boundaries and guardrails are for our good, even when we’d prefer another path. * How slowing down to be intentionally in God’s presence (through Scripture, prayer, or a quiet walk) helps us actually experience “fullness of joy.” * The hope of “eternal pleasures at Your right hand,” especially when we walk through death and loss, like Angela’s story with her dad and Psalm 23. Great Quotes * “This is an ‘I psalm.’ It’s not just ‘God, be with us’; it’s ‘You have assigned me my portion and my cup.’ It’s so personal.” * “My body also will rest secure because You will not abandon me. God cares about our physical beings as well as our hearts and minds.” * “You make known to me the path of life. I can’t tell you how many times in thirty years of ministry I haven’t known what to do, and this verse has been the anchor that got me through.” * “God isn’t just the guide at the front of the hike; He’s the One who is with us in the moment. In Your presence is fullness of joy.” * “There’s never a time you are without His direction, without His presence, or without access to His joy—even if you don’t feel it in the moment.” Resources Mentioned * Psalm 16:11  [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2016%3A11&version=CSB] * Psalm 23 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2023&version=CSB] * A Place for Simplicity – Debbie’s website, where she helps women make God’s Word accessible in everyday life (aplaceforsimplicity.com [https://aplaceforsimplicity.com/]). * Debbie’s books – Two books available via her site and Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/stores/Debbie-Ashley/author/B09QLDQ9DJ?r]; she invites listeners to email her for more details. Related Episodes (from Life as Worship) * Strength When Sorrow Wearies Our Souls with Jackie Freeman [https://angelamackey.com/strength-when-sorrow-wearies-our-souls/] – Finding God’s sustaining strength when sorrow and weariness feel overwhelming. * God’s Creative Process for Rebuilding with Dawn Mann Sanders [https://angelamackey.com/gods-creative-process-for-rebuilding/] – How God gently rebuilds our lives after loss, disruption, or disappointment. * Joyful Surrender in Suffering: Living Romans 12:12 with Sheila Preston Fitzgerald [https://angelamackey.com/joyful-surreneder-in-suffering-living-romans-1212/] – Learning to rejoice in hope, be patient in affliction, and stay devoted to prayer in hard seasons. Newsletter Invitation If Psalm 16:11 and Debbie’s story reminded you that God really does have a path for your life and offers fullness of joy in His presence, I’d love to keep walking with you. Subscribe to the Life as Worship newsletter for a weekly devotion, small group discussion questions, and a 10‑minute thought filter to help you stop spiraling thoughts—plus a link to that thought filter download to keep you rooted in God’s truth: https://eepurl.com/h3Nafz [https://eepurl.com/h3Nafz].

Known and Loved: Remembering Who You Are in Christ with Elizabeth May Bennett

Do you ever feel like you have to clean yourself up before you come to God—or like your inner critic and body‑image struggles get the final word on who you are? In this episode on Psalm 139:1–4, we explore what it really means to be fully known and fully loved by God, and how remembering who He is reshapes how we see ourselves. Description In this Life as Worship episode, Angela talks with educator and author Elizabeth May Bennett about Psalm 139:1–4 and the stunning truth that God has searched our hearts and knows everything about us—our actions, thoughts, and even our words before we speak them. Elizabeth shares how this psalm has grounded her as an overthinker who has wrestled with identity and decades‑long body‑image struggles, and why God’s complete knowledge of her is now a comfort rather than a threat. She also tells how a “Remember who you are” moment from The Lion King became a holy nudge from God to see His image in her reflection and live from His verdict—beloved, chosen, valued—instead of striving to earn worth. Episode Highlights * Why the Book of Psalms feels like “the Facebook of the ancient world”—raw emotions, honest prayers, and a God who meets us in all of it. * What Psalm 139:1–4 reveals about God’s omniscience: He searches our hearts, knows our movements and thoughts, and understands our words before we speak. * How being fully known by God can feel scary at first, yet becomes deeply comforting when we remember His character and the cross. * Elizabeth’s long battle with body image and identity, and how God used a “Remember who you are” moment from The Lion King to remind her that His image and presence define her. * Practical ways to “flip the script” on the inner critic: bringing honest thoughts to God, receiving what He says about us, and letting that overflow into kindness toward others. Great Quotes * “To me, reading Scripture is just like being at the gym and standing right underneath one of those fluorescent lights. It shines the light and really examines your heart.” * “When I was younger, I tried to kind of clean myself up before I’d pray. Now I don’t feel like I’m hiding anything, because if God already knows what I’m thinking, why would I pretend?” * “God really spoke to me through that Lion King scene—‘Remember who you are.’ It was like He said, ‘Elizabeth, you’ve forgotten who you are because you’ve forgotten Me. I live inside of you.’” * “I’ve been so hard and critical on myself that it’s turned outward. The more I learn to love myself in my vulnerable places, the easier it is to love others in theirs.” * “We think, ‘I’ve got to work for my identity or my value,’ but God is saying, ‘You think you know who you are, but you really don’t. I’m going to tell you who you are—beloved, chosen, valued, accepted.’” Resources Mentioned * Psalm 139:1–4 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20139%3A1-4&version=CSB] – God searches and knows us completely: our actions, thoughts, paths, and words before they’re on our tongues. * The Journey to Find My Divine Design [https://amzn.to/4vwxIjd] – Elizabeth’s book inviting readers to embrace their God‑given identity, remember who they are in Christ, and walk in their purpose. - Amazon Affiliate Link. I earn money for qualifying purchases. * Elizabeth’s website – elizabethmaybennett.com [https://wordcrafts.net/elizabeth-bennett/], for more about her writing and speaking. * YouTube channel: divine design.me [https://www.youtube.com/@divinedesignme] – where Elizabeth shares faith‑based content and lighthearted parody videos. Related Episodes (from Life as Worship) * God’s Covenant: A Thousand Generations [https://angelamackey.com/seeing-gods-faithfulness-how-to-trace-his-covenant-love-in-our-lives/] – Seeing how God’s faithful character and promises shape our identity and obedience today. * Permissible and Beneficial: How God Is Calling Us to Live In Freedom [https://angelamackey.com/permissible-and-beneficial-how-god-is-calling-us-to-live-in-freedom/] – Learning to live out who we are in Christ instead of being defined by rules, comparison, or performance. * Be Strong and Courageous: Finding Courage When You’re Afraid [https://angelamackey.com/be-strong-and-courageous-finding-courage-when-youre-afraid/] – Finding courage to live as God’s beloved child when fear and insecurity feel loud. Newsletter Invitation If Psalm 139 and Elizabeth’s story reminded you that God really does know you and still delights to call you His, I’d love to keep walking with you. Subscribe to the Life as Worship newsletter for a weekly devotion, small group discussion questions, and a 10‑minute thought filter to help you stop spiraling thoughts—plus a link to a 9‑day devotional to keep you rooted in God’s truth: https://eepurl.com/h3Nafz [https://eepurl.com/h3Nafz].

Finding Strength in Grief: Quiet Confidence in God with Raewyn Elsegood

Have you ever tried to fix everything yourself—frantically strategizing, problem‑solving, and praying—and still felt like your world was collapsing? In this episode, we sit with Isaiah 30:15 and discover how, even in the deepest grief, God invites us to be delivered not by striving, but by returning, resting, and finding quiet confidence in Him. Description In this Life as Worship episode, Angela talks with Australian chaplain and author Raewyn Elsegood about the tender but challenging invitation of Isaiah 30:15: “You will be delivered by returning and resting; your strength will lie in quiet confidence.” Raewyn walks us through the context of Isaiah—God’s people in chaos, looking to Egypt and human solutions instead of trusting the Holy One of Israel—and why this verse has become an anchor for her as a grieving mother. She shares candidly about her daughter Amy’s sudden diagnosis of severe aplastic anemia, the grueling months of treatment and bone marrow transplant during COVID, and the unexpected virus that ultimately took Amy’s life. In the fog of loss, Raewyn describes how she could barely open her Bible, yet God met her through a daily worship song, her mother’s repeated reminder that “in quietness and confidence is your strength,” and the simple act of lying on the grass, looking up, and remembering who God is. If you feel overwhelmed, spiritually weary, or unsure how to trust God when life doesn’t make sense, this conversation will gently invite you to look up, slow down, and discover that real strength comes not from frantic effort, but from returning and resting in Him. Episode Highlights * How Isaiah’s audience mirrors us: God’s people in political and spiritual chaos, seeking security in human alliances instead of the Lord. * What “returning and resting” means in context—turning back to God, stopping our frantic plans, and letting Him re‑center our hearts. * Raewyn’s story of Amy’s diagnosis, hospital journey, and homegoing, and how this verse became a heartbeat prayer in ICU and beyond. * The role of lament: why honest questions, tears, and even anger can actually be part of returning to God instead of drifting from Him. * Practical ways to cultivate “quiet confidence” in everyday life—like finding literal quiet spaces, starting the day with worship, and noticing the small gifts of God’s presence in grief. Great Quotes * “My home became the quietest it had ever been—almost like a tomb—and the only person left to talk to was God.” * “In quietness and confidence is your strength, Raewyn. That’s the verse my mum kept speaking over me as I sat by Amy’s bed.” * “I trusted God. I didn’t have to like what He had done—but I knew I couldn’t walk this road without Him.” * “Lament doesn’t push you away from God; it keeps you close enough to sit with Him in the quiet and actually hear His heart.” * “Look up. Stop. Listen. Rest. Your strength is not in doing everything; it’s in returning to the One who already holds everything.” Resources Mentioned * Isaiah 30:15 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isa%2030%3A15&version=CSB] – “You will be delivered by returning and resting; your strength will lie in quiet confidence… but you were not willing.” * Worship music as daily nourishment [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3PlaqXYQru8sP67PVyab3d?si=27Z92j_aRpe3ds1x44PQnQ&nd=1&dlsi=34b9ea5e821e47db] – a friend sending Raewyn one worship song each morning to help her get out of bed and fix her eyes on God. * 21 Gifts: A Sacred Dance Through Grief and Healing [https://amzn.to/4ax3rrW] – Raewyn’s book, sharing 21 “gifts” God gave her through Amy’s life and homegoing, with space for readers to process their own grief. Amazon Affiliate link. I earn money on qualifying purchases. * Raewyn's YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@ChaplainsGriefInsights] * Raewyn's Website [https://www.raewynelsegood.com/] Related Episodes * Strength When Sorrow Wearies Our Souls with Jackie Freeman [https://angelamackey.com/strength-when-sorrow-wearies-our-souls/] – Finding God’s strength when grief and sorrow feel like more than you can bear. * Praising God When He Gives and When He Takes with Kelly Arena [https://angelamackey.com/praising-god-when-he-gives-and-when-he-takes/] – Learning to worship God honestly in both joy and deep loss. * God’s Creative Process for Rebuilding with Dawn Mann Sanders [https://angelamackey.com/gods-creative-process-for-rebuilding/] – Seeing how God gently rebuilds life after loss, disruption, or disappointment. Newsletter Invitation If Raewyn’s story and Isaiah 30:15 have reminded you that God invites you to return, rest, and find quiet confidence in Him—even in chaos—I’d love to keep encouraging you. Subscribe to the Life as Worship newsletter for weekly biblical encouragement, honest reflections, and a free devotional to help you worship God with your whole life, in every season: https://eepurl.com/h3Nafz [https://eepurl.com/h3Nafz].

When Obeying God Doesn't Make Sense: Following Him Wholeheartedly with Lynn Jackson

Do you ever look at your circumstances and think, “There’s no way I can do what God is asking—I’m too small, the obstacles are too big”? In this conversation on Caleb’s “different spirit” in Numbers 14:24, we explore how to trust and obey God wholeheartedly even when His ways don’t make sense and your heart feels tired. Description In this Life as Worship episode, Angela talks with author and ministry leader Lynn Jackson about what it means to be God’s servant with “a different spirit” who follows Him wholeheartedly, like Caleb in Numbers 14:24. Lynn explains the backdrop of Numbers—God rescuing Israel from slavery, giving them laws for everyday life, and calling them to trust Him as they stand on the edge of the Promised Land—and why Caleb’s response stands out when the other spies give in to fear. They discuss how God’s commands, celebrations like Passover, and even the parts of Scripture that are hard to swallow are invitations to trust His goodness as a wise and loving Master, not a distant taskmaster. Lynn shares simple, practical ways to let Scripture act like a mirror: naming where your heart resists being God’s servant, pausing instead of reacting, and asking Him to soften hard places so you can obey Him from the heart. If you feel spiritually weary, wrestling with doubt, or struggling to reconcile God’s goodness with what He’s asking of you, this episode will encourage you to bring your honest questions to Him and learn to follow with a different spirit. Episode Highlights * How Numbers fits into Israel’s story: rescued from slavery, learning how to live as God’s set‑apart people in the wilderness. * Caleb and the 12 spies: why 10 were overwhelmed by giants and fortified cities, but Caleb and Joshua trusted God’s promise and said, “We can take the land.” * What it means to be God’s servant instead of expecting Him to serve us—and why that posture actually leads to freedom and joy. * Letting Scripture expose where we’re fearful, comfortable, or clinging to control, and how to ask God to soften a hard heart. * Simple, everyday practices (like pausing before reacting and talking honestly with God) that help us grow a “different spirit” over time. Great Quotes * “My servant Caleb has a different spirit—and that’s what I want. I want my life to be a sweet aroma that goes up to Him, to bring Him pleasure.” * “Naturally, I’m just a scared little bunny rabbit. A different spirit really does come from the Lord.” * “I am God’s servant. He’s not my servant. I don’t get to boss Him around and tell Him what to do, even though you know I do—and He knows I have.” * “When my heart is hard, I go into another room, close the door, and say, ‘Father, will You soften my heart?’ Then I go fold the laundry and let the Spirit do His work.” * “It’s okay to say, ‘This really hurts and I don’t like it. Because of this, I have a hard time loving You wholeheartedly. Will You help me?’ He’s the One who removes a heart of stone and gives us a soft heart.” Resources Mentioned * Numbers 13–14 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2013-14&version=CSB] – The spies explore Canaan, 10 spread fear, and Caleb is commended for having a different spirit and following God fully. * Exodus 12 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=exodus%2012&version=CSB] – The Passover and the command to remember God’s rescue through the blood of the lamb. * Ezekiel 36:26 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2036%3A26&version=CSB] – God’s promise to remove a heart of stone and give a heart of flesh. * Lynn’s book: The Recipe [https://amzn.to/4uX1FJ3] – A gentle, practical method for women who feel too weary to open their Bibles, helping them find “spiritual food” in Scripture again. (Amazon Affiliate Link, I receive money for qualifying purchases) * Thrive Leadership Foundation – Ministry Lynn and her husband, Scott, founded to encourage pastors, missionaries, and ministry leaders (thrivelead.org [https://thrivelead.org/]). * Lynn on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/lynn.jackson.56] Related Episodes  * God’s Covenant: A Thousand Generations [https://angelamackey.com/seeing-gods-faithfulness-how-to-trace-his-covenant-love-in-our-lives/] – Trusting God’s long‑faithful promises and obeying Him even when you can’t see the full story yet. * Permissible and Beneficial: How God Is Calling Us to Live in Freedom [https://angelamackey.com/permissible-and-beneficial-how-god-is-calling-us-to-live-in-freedom/] – Learning to live fully surrendered to God’s boundaries and calling, not just what feels safe or comfortable. * Gentleness and Respect: A Guide for Conversations [https://angelamackey.com/gentleness-and-respect-a-guide-for-conversations/]– Cultivating a “different spirit” in how we speak and respond to others, out of reverence for Christ Newsletter Invitation If this conversation stirred a desire to follow God with a “different spirit” in your own hard places, I’d love to keep walking with you. Subscribe to the Life as Worship newsletter for weekly biblical encouragement, honest reflections, and a free devotional to help you worship God with your whole life, in every season: https://eepurl.com/h3Nafz [https://eepurl.com/h3Nafz].

Led by Cords of Love: Trusting God's Guidance in Hard Seasons

Do you ever feel like you’re straining against God’s guidance, wondering why life is so hard if He really loves you? In this episode, we look at Hosea 11:4’s “cords of love” and discover how God gently leads, protects, and nourishes us—even in barren seasons like infertility, grief, and loss. Description In this Life as Worship episode, Angela talks with author, teacher, and former nurse practitioner Heather LaVigne about what it means to be led by God’s “cords of human kindness” and “ropes of love” in Hosea 11:4. Heather explains the context of Hosea—God’s people acting like an unfaithful spouse—and why this tender image of God bending down to feed His rebellious people is so stunning. Using pictures like a toddler on a leading cord and a child in a safety harness, they explore how God gives real freedom while still protecting and redirecting us toward what truly leads to life. Heather then shares from her own long journey with infertility and loss, where she often felt the tension between her plans and God’s timing, and how His “cords of love” held her even when she wrestled and doubted. If you’re in a barren or painful season and wondering whether God is really kind, this conversation will help you see His gentle, persistent care and invite you to rest in His leading. Episode Highlights * The story and context of Hosea: God uses Hosea’s marriage to picture Israel’s spiritual unfaithfulness—and His faithful, pursuing love. * What “cords of human kindness” and “ropes of love” meant in the ancient world, and how the “leading cord” image of a toddler helps us see God’s gentle guidance. * How the yoke imagery points to both work and rest, and why Jesus’ “my yoke is easy” is such good news for weary hearts. * Heather’s story of infertility and loss, the tension of pulling against God’s cords, and learning to trust His love when life felt unfair. * Practical ways to cry out honestly to God, name your doubts, and keep coming to Him instead of misreading His character in seasons of silence or suffering. Great Quotes * “We think we’re running on our own, but God is behind us holding the cord, keeping us from falling on our faces.” * “Those cords don’t feel like love when life hurts—but over time, you see they were never there to harm you, only to keep you from destruction.” * “This isn’t a prosperity gospel. Jesus Himself had the hardest life; our hope isn’t in ease, but in His stunning grace.” * “Hard seasons are not proof that God has abandoned you; they’re often the places where He bends down, lifts you to His cheek, and feeds you exactly what you can handle.” Resources Mentioned * Hosea 11:4 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hosea%2011%3A4&version=CSB] – God leads His people with cords of human kindness, ties of love, lifting the yoke and bending down to feed them. * Matthew 11:28–30 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2011%3A28%E2%80%9330&version=CSB] – Jesus’ invitation to take His easy yoke and find rest. * James 1:2–4 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%201%3A2-4&version=CSB] – Trials as tools God uses to mature and refine us. * Psalm 23 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2023&version=CSB] – The Lord as our shepherd who provides, guides, and gives rest. * Circle of Hope [https://www.twelve12ministries.org/circleofhope] – Online support community for women walking through infertility, pregnancy, and child loss. * Heather’s site & socials: * heatherlavigneauthor.com [https://heatherlavigneauthor.com/] * Instagram @heatherlavigneauthor [https://www.instagram.com/heatherlavigneauthor/] * Facebook: Heather LaVigne [https://www.facebook.com/heather.lavigne.5] Related Episodes * Ep. 21 – Held in His Hand [https://angelamackey.com/trading-fear-for-being-upheld-in-gods-hands/] (Kelly Hall) – Trusting God’s care in a painful season. * Ep. 8 – We Do Not Lose Heart [https://angelamackey.com/how-to-never-give-up-even-if-you-feel-broken/] (Laura Acuna) – Persevering when life feels heavy. * Ep. 27 – When Your World Ends: Beginning Again with God [https://angelamackey.com/gods-creative-process-for-rebuilding/](Dawn Mann Sanders) – Walking with God through grief and disruption. * Ep. 39 – Strength for Those Who Hope [https://angelamackey.com/strength-for-those-who-hope/] (Rebekah Storey) – Hope when you are waiting on God. * Ep. 50 – Prayer: An Invitation to Release Worry [https://angelamackey.com/prayer-an-invitation-to-release-worry/] (Rachel Wojo) – Releasing fear and control to God. Newsletter Invitation If you’re walking through a hard or confusing season and long to see how your life can still be worship, I’d love to keep encouraging you. Subscribe to the Life as Worship newsletter for weekly biblical encouragement, honest reflections, and a free devotional to help you worship God with your whole life, in every season: https://eepurl.com/h3Nafz [https://eepurl.com/h3Nafz].