Gospel Spice | Awaken Delight in God through faith in Jesus Christ

Episode 59 – What do you do with your sexual thoughts and feelings? How do you reconcile the sexual and the spiritual, within the context of a healthy, Christian marriage? As a single person, what do you do with all those thoughts? What does sex look like when we age? What does prayer have to do with a healthy, God-honoring sex life? How can you make your sex life come alive within your Christian marriage?Whether you are married or not, these questions are relevant for you today. As Christians, how do we talk about healthy, holy sex? What does sex have to do with intimacy with God?Stephanie welcomes bestselling author, international speaker Shannon Ethridge, Sexuality Expert and devoted Christian. This interview takes us deep into the connection between the spiritual and the sexual. This is an honest, deep, vulnerable conversation between two Christian women, both deeply committed to the Lord, and to a healthy marriage!Yes, we’re diving into what healthy sexuality looks like from a biblical perspective today. And we are diving deep!Shannon Ethridge is an award-winning author of 22 books including the best-selling Every Woman’s Battle series, which sold over 1 million copies and was published in 30 different languages! She says, “we want to learn to be interested and motivated sex partners, but only with our husbands. That is what holy sex looks like.” And then we take it to the spiritual level. What does all this have to do with God?The topic of this episode is not for very young ears, so please be advised not to listen to this in the presence of little ones, unless you are ready to answer questions about physical intimacy in marriage, and a healthy sex life!This is a conversation for married couples, for singles alike. It takes us to the Throne Room in worship and wonder.Shannon’s more recent books include The Sexually Confident Wife and The Fantasy Fallacy, which the American Association of Christian Counselors declared “a must-read for every pastor, every counselor, and every sexual being on the planet!”In addition to writing best-selling books and speaking all over the world the past 27 years, she is a certified life coach with a master’s degree in counseling & human relationships.  She LOVES working with individuals, couples, and groups to help them make PEACE with their sexual past and cultivate RICH and REWARDING romantic relationships.This episode is absolutely NOT recommended for young children.Quotes:-          “Single women seem to think they can’t live without sex, and married women, that they can’t live with it.”-          “We are called to be horny and holy at the same time.”You will find more at shannonethridge.com“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 isn’t a poetic suggestion — it’s a promise. But many believers quietly assume it doesn’t really work, or it’s not really possible – or they’ve kinda lost sight of it along the way.In "Awaken Delight," I’m inviting you to rediscover what Scripture actually means by delight in God— not emotional hype, not religious performance, but a steady satisfaction rooted in who God is. Through biblical theology and practical rhythms, you will learn how communion with God reshapes suffering, quiets restless striving, and anchors your identity in something unshakable."Awaken Delight" is a theologically grounded spiritual formation book for thoughtful believers who feel spiritually fatigued, and ready to embrace the reality of Psalm 37:4.Find out more at https://www.gospelspice.com/awakendelight Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Episode 58 (Psalms, 4th session)– Have you ever come across a verse in the Bible and wondered, “I have no idea what this means!” Or, worse, have you ever been downright shocked by a verse that seems vengeful, or vicious, or just plain mean or mysterious?How about... “Happy is the one who dashes your babies against the rock, Babylon.”Yes, this is a verse in the Bible. Psalm 137:9, to be exact. Now, how does one reconcile this with God’s kindness and patience?How can Scripture be more than markings on a page? Stephanie humbly challenges us to learn to read the Bible with the help of the Holy Spirit today!After this meaty example of Babylonian babies and their link to our modern-day thoughts, we switch gears to focus on Psalms 45 and 110, the two famous Royal Messianic Psalms.Speaking of meaty content, who was Melchizedek, and what does he have to do with the Psalms?How can Jesus say that we can't love our family more than Him, and yet still be worthy of the Kingdom?Well, there’s only one way to find out. Take a listen now!Whether you are a new believer in Christ, or a seasoned Bible student, we hope and pray you will be blessed by this episode today!This episode ends by linking Jesus' titles as High Priest, and King. It connects to the Gospel Spice Ministries Bible study "Centering on Christ: the Tabernacle." We are offering a self-paced study option to enjoy our in-depth Bible lessons for FREE! Check out gospelspice.com/tabernacle to register and enjoy these in-depth lessons completely free of charge.“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 isn’t a poetic suggestion — it’s a promise. But many believers quietly assume it doesn’t really work, or it’s not really possible – or they’ve kinda lost sight of it along the way.In "Awaken Delight," I’m inviting you to rediscover what Scripture actually means by delight in God— not emotional hype, not religious performance, but a steady satisfaction rooted in who God is. Through biblical theology and practical rhythms, you will learn how communion with God reshapes suffering, quiets restless striving, and anchors your identity in something unshakable."Awaken Delight" is a theologically grounded spiritual formation book for thoughtful believers who feel spiritually fatigued, and ready to embrace the reality of Psalm 37:4.Find out more at https://www.gospelspice.com/awakendelight Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Episode 57 (Psalms, session 3) - How do you navigate the fog today? Where do you place your trust? What is unshakeable?Where does your confidence come from? We are diving into Stephanie's native French today to explore trust and confidence. We are in Psalm 23 today! One of the most known, most quoted, most beloved psalms! Do you feel that, if you were "mature enough" then you would never walk in the fog, spiritually speaking?Stephanie endeavors to bring new, spicy flavors in your experience of this beloved Psalm. We go deep into the Jewish culture of shepherds, and their sheep!When in the fog, learn to discern the Voice of God... that is one of the key spices from Psalm 23!Do you enjoy Gospel Spice? Then let's deepen our relationship! There are 4 very simple ways to do that, and it would truly mean the world to us. 1- If you’ve enjoyed this episode, you will love receiving our newsletter. It contains value-packed free gifts and rich content each month. It’s at gospelspice.com/signup. There is always something new and exciting happening around here, and I don’t want you to miss out! Sign up at Gospelspice.com/signup2- Did you know Gospel Spice has a YouTube Channel? There’s exclusive content there too. So, join Gospel Spice on YouTube! It's at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice 3- Also please give us a star rating and a comment on your podcast listening app. Your reviews actually really do make a difference to help others discover and experience Gospel Spice. You would be surprised how helpful these are! So please leave a star rating and a review of a sentence or two. Thank you!4- As always, we are praying for you! You can confidentially email us your prayer requests and praise items at the email address contact@gospelspice.com. It is our privilege to pray for you!So, would you please invest 3 to 5 minutes of your time, maybe even right now, to do one (or more!) of the following suggestions:1-      signup on our website for our newsletter to receive gifts you’re going to love - at Gospelspice.com/signup 2-      find us on YouTube, and see what content we’ve put together to help you grow closer to Jesus - at https://www.youtube.com/gospelspice3-      rate Gospel Spice on your listening app – it’s one of the easiest ways to share the gospel!4-      and finally, tell us how we can pray for you!Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 isn’t a poetic suggestion — it’s a promise. But many believers quietly assume it doesn’t really work, or it’s not really possible – or they’ve kinda lost sight of it along the way.In "Awaken Delight," I’m inviting you to rediscover what Scripture actually means by delight in God— not emotional hype, not religious performance, but a steady satisfaction rooted in who God is. Through biblical theology and practical rhythms, you will learn how communion with God reshapes suffering, quiets restless striving, and anchors your identity in something unshakable."Awaken Delight" is a theologically grounded spiritual formation book for thoughtful believers who feel spiritually fatigued, and ready to embrace the reality of Psalm 37:4.Find out more at https://www.gospelspice.com/awakendelight Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Episode 55 (Psalms, 2nd session) - Stephanie takes us the heart of worship through the Psalms as we enter through the gates of Psalm 1. The Psalms, given to us by the Psalmists under the inspiration of the Word of God, Christ, who then learned these songs as a child through this Old Testament hymnbook. Can we fathom that?What is the life you long for? Psalm One gives you a roadmap for it.How does God see you today? The Psalmist gives us a glimpse into God' s heart for you.Who are you created to be? Dive into the Psalms to find out, straight from the heart of your Creator.What does a truly blessed life look like? The Psalmist whispers it to us with pictures that are worth a thousand words.What is prosperity? Ask the Psalmist. Why is the justice of God a good thing?How do you fight your battles? Very few meaningful battles are easily won. The Psalms provide us the perspective of perseverance!Come and dance to the worship music of the Psalms today.“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 isn’t a poetic suggestion — it’s a promise. But many believers quietly assume it doesn’t really work, or it’s not really possible – or they’ve kinda lost sight of it along the way.In "Awaken Delight," I’m inviting you to rediscover what Scripture actually means by delight in God— not emotional hype, not religious performance, but a steady satisfaction rooted in who God is. Through biblical theology and practical rhythms, you will learn how communion with God reshapes suffering, quiets restless striving, and anchors your identity in something unshakable."Awaken Delight" is a theologically grounded spiritual formation book for thoughtful believers who feel spiritually fatigued, and ready to embrace the reality of Psalm 37:4.Find out more at https://www.gospelspice.com/awakendelight Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Episode 54 - Welcome to Season 2! We are entering 6 sessions on the Psalms, interspersed with guest interviews every third episode as usual!We invite you to spend the next nine episodes in the Book of Psalms, the book that Jesus Himself quoted the most frequently.Stephanie is recording these episodes from a live teaching she gave to a room full of people seeking to find Jesus in the book of Psalms. This is our underlying challenge: will we experience Jesus in the Psalms, as the Lord intended to? If you had nothing but the Book of Psalms AND a good grasp of Jewish culture and history, you could trace the entire redemption plan of God in the Psalms alone. Jesus is God and Man; King and Priest; rejected and suffering; and gloriously resurrecting! It is all in the Psalms!In this introductory episode, Stephanie sets the scope of our quest -- to taste and see Jesus in the 150 Psalms that HE used as HIS hymnbook! The Psalms are steeped in cultural relevance, and we are setting out to taste the spice of the Gospel in these precious Old Testament texts. The Psalms are poetry that translates and transcends. They point to Jesus more often than we might surmise. Are you ready to find Jesus through the Psalms?"Lord, don't You care if we drown?" is the Psalmist's question, echoed by Jesus' disciples. Is it YOUR question today?The Psalms express unfiltered hearts coming to God with the entire range of human emotion. Have you ever wondered how to find the Psalm that best mirrors your mood du jour? praise, complaint, lament, woes... how can we find the words to express the depth of our heart? And, more importantly, how can we come to God with our heart overflowing with grief, anguish, anger-- and let Him bring peace, restore the hope of our salvation, and give us joy in the morning?Come and dance with Jesus on the pages of the Psalms!For more info, go to gospelspice.com.“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 isn’t a poetic suggestion — it’s a promise. But many believers quietly assume it doesn’t really work, or it’s not really possible – or they’ve kinda lost sight of it along the way.In "Awaken Delight," I’m inviting you to rediscover what Scripture actually means by delight in God— not emotional hype, not religious performance, but a steady satisfaction rooted in who God is. Through biblical theology and practical rhythms, you will learn how communion with God reshapes suffering, quiets restless striving, and anchors your identity in something unshakable."Awaken Delight" is a theologically grounded spiritual formation book for thoughtful believers who feel spiritually fatigued, and ready to embrace the reality of Psalm 37:4.Find out more at https://www.gospelspice.com/awakendelight Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Episode 53 - Naomi Zacharias joined us last week to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Gospel Spice Podast. Listen to the second half of her interview today!If you missed Episode52, make sure to catch it later! Naomi shared a lot about her heart and passion for the underdogs and destitutes. In this second half, she tells us more, and dares to dive into the current struggle the Zacharias family is facing as a result of the passing of Ravi on May 19, 2020.Check out wellspringinternational.org and gospelspice.com for more details!-----------DID YOU KNOW?The Gospel Spice Podcast is part of a larger range of tools brought to you by Gospel Spice Ministries. Would you consider supporting this show today? It comes to you completely free, but is labor-intensive to produce. For the price of a cup of coffee or two, your monthly support of $5 or $10 would make a huge difference! Donate HERE today.The Gospel Spice Ministries exist to inspire Christ-followers in our generation to delight in the glory of God by knowing and experiencing Jesus more intimately. We provide resources to empower Christian leaders across generational, social, ethnic and geographical boundaries towards more intimacy with Jesus Christ and discipleship effectiveness through a Biblical Christocentric foundation. The Gospel-Spice Ministries provide a safe environment for spiritual and community growth empowering people to know Christ more intimately, serve one another more powerfully, and reach the world for Jesus.Gospel Spice Ministries is a non-profit organization registered under the tax-exempt 501c3 status. Your donations are tax-deductible under IRS Section 170. We want to be the best possible stewards of your financial support.“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 isn’t a poetic suggestion — it’s a promise. But many believers quietly assume it doesn’t really work, or it’s not really possible – or they’ve kinda lost sight of it along the way.In "Awaken Delight," I’m inviting you to rediscover what Scripture actually means by delight in God— not emotional hype, not religious performance, but a steady satisfaction rooted in who God is. Through biblical theology and practical rhythms, you will learn how communion with God reshapes suffering, quiets restless striving, and anchors your identity in something unshakable."Awaken Delight" is a theologically grounded spiritual formation book for thoughtful believers who feel spiritually fatigued, and ready to embrace the reality of Psalm 37:4.Find out more at https://www.gospelspice.com/awakendelight Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Episode 52 - In this special One-Year anniversary episode, Stephanie welcomes Naomi Zacharias, director of Wellspring International. Celebrate the first birthday of the Gospel Spice Podcast with our incredibly inspiring guest, her vision and stories, and her heart for the one no one sees. Naomi Zacharias is an author, speaker, and director of the humanitarian arm of RZIM. Naomi was graduated from Wheaton College with a BA in business/economics. After working in sales for Coca-Cola, she joined the staff of RZIM. She accepted a fulltime internship in the Office of Public Liaison at The White House and returned to RZIM to help launch Wellspring International, an initiative devoted to providing financial grants to international efforts working with vulnerable communities.Naomi has visited with women in red-light districts across Europe and Asia; foster homes for children affected by HIV/AIDS throughout Asia and Africa; displacement camps in areas of the Middle East offering aid to Iraqi refugees; areas devastated by natural disaster; and international shelters for victims of human trafficking and domestic violence.UPDATE: Wellspring International closed its ministry on March 26, 2021. Did you enjoy this episode? Then you will LOVE our Gospel Spice series! Click to listen to the first episode of each season: The Gospel of Matthew: https://www.podcastics.com/episode/3281/link/https://www.podcastics.com/episode/3281/link/ The Psalms: https://www.podcastics.com/episode/33755/link/https://www.podcastics.com/episode/33755/link/ The Gospel of Luke: https://www.podcastics.com/episode/40838/link/https://www.podcastics.com/episode/40838/link/ The Book of Proverbs: https://www.podcastics.com/episode/68112/link/https://www.podcastics.com/episode/68112/link/ -----------DID YOU KNOW?The Gospel Spice Podcast is part of a larger range of tools brought to you by Gospel Spice Ministries. Would you consider supporting this show today? It comes to you completely free, but is labor-intensive to produce. For the price of a cup of coffee or two, your monthly support of $5 or $10 would make a huge difference! Donate HERE today.The Gospel Spice Ministries exist to inspire Christ-followers in our generation to delight in the glory of God by knowing and experiencing Jesus more intimately. We provide resources to empower Christian leaders across generational, social, ethnic and geographical boundaries towards more intimacy with Jesus Christ and discipleship effectiveness through a Biblical Christocentric foundation. The Gospel-Spice Ministries provide a safe environment for spiritual and community growth empowering people to know Christ more intimately, serve one another more powerfully, and reach the world for Jesus.Gospel Spice Ministries is a non-profit organization registered under the tax-exempt 501c3 status. Your donations are tax-deductible under IRS Section 170. We want to be the best possible stewards of your financial support.“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 isn’t a poetic suggestion — it’s a promise. But many believers quietly assume it doesn’t really work, or it’s not really possible – or they’ve kinda lost sight of it along the way.In "Awaken Delight," I’m inviting you to rediscover what Scripture actually means by delight in God— not emotional hype, not religious performance, but a steady satisfaction rooted in who God is. Through biblical theology and practical rhythms, you will learn how communion with God reshapes suffering, quiets restless striving, and anchors your identity in something unshakable."Awaken Delight" is a theologically grounded spiritual formation book for thoughtful believers who feel spiritually fatigued, and ready to embrace the reality of Psalm 37:4.Find out more at https://www.gospelspice.com/awakendelight Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Stephanie welcomes Julie Hamilton on the show today. We talk about the process of refinement God uses in our lives: it often feels messy, maybe even downright crushing at times, but it's all a matter of perspective: will we choose to focus on our pain, or on His purpose? We're digging down to the core of our identity today.Some spices are ready for use straight from your garden. Others require crushing, grounding, drying, and much more, to release the flavors that enthrall us. Do you want to enthrall and astonish God, and the world, with the depth of your Gospel spice? Then let Him do His work. Julie used to be riddled with such anxiety, she could not even leave her house. Now, Julie builds strong and healthy lives one podcast at a time! Faith based podcaster, speaker, radio and TV co-host and encourager, Julie has been married for 21 years, is a mom of two girls & loves living in Napa Valley.What happened? Take a listen to find out! You will be encouraged to step out beyond the pain of the process, to embrace the God behind the process. And then, we'll discuss how to nurture your spiritual gifts to impact the Kingdom in small and big ways!Today's episode is two friends enjoying the flavors of life together. Come and join us!"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10STAY TUNED FOR A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT AT THE END OF THIS EPISODE!DISCOVER THE GOSPEL SPICE MINISTRIES The Gospel Spice Podcast is part of a larger range of tools given to you by Gospel Spice Ministries.In a nutshell, we exist to inspire Christ-followers to delight in God.In more details: we provide resources to empower Christian leaders across generational, social, ethnic and geographical boundaries towards more intimacy with Jesus Christ and discipleship effectiveness through a Biblical Christocentric foundation. The Gospel-Spice Ministries provide a safe environment for spiritual and community growth empowering people to know Christ more intimately, serve one another more powerfully, and reach the world for Jesus.PLAY IT FORWARD by SHARING the link with friends and family.PRAY IT FORWARD by praying for us and those you share it with!PAY IT FORWARD!! Would you consider supporting this show today to help others enjoy it for free? It comes to you completely free, but is labor-intensive to produce, and we want to keep putting it in the ears of people!Gospel Spice Ministries is a non-profit organization registered under the tax-exempt 501c3 status. Your donations are tax-deductible under IRS Section 170. We want to be the best possible stewards of your financial support. All donations above our minimal operating costs go to Christian organizations fighting human trafficking.Go to gospelspice.com for more, and go especially to gospelspice.com/podcast to enjoy our guests! Interested in our blog? Click here: gospelspice.com/blog(*ListenNotes ranking, 2023)“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 isn’t a poetic suggestion — it’s a promise. But many believers quietly assume it doesn’t really work, or it’s not really possible – or they’ve kinda lost sight of it along the way.In "Awaken Delight," I’m inviting you to rediscover what Scripture actually means by delight in God— not emotional hype, not religious performance, but a steady satisfaction rooted in who God is. Through biblical theology and practical rhythms, you will learn how communion with God reshapes suffering, quiets restless striving, and anchors your identity in something unshakable."Awaken Delight" is a theologically grounded spiritual formation book for thoughtful believers who feel spiritually fatigued, and ready to embrace the reality of Psalm 37:4.Find out more at https://www.gospelspice.com/awakendelight Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Episode 50 - Today we continue the celebrations for the one-year anniversary of the Gospel Spice Podcast!Stephanie is joined by Roslyn Evans for this two-part series where YOU got to ask your questions about anything at all. We started in Episode 48, and we finish answering your questions today! And we have THREE winners announced at the end of the episode!Here are some of your questions, from Eden, Michelle, Julie, Linda, Paulette, Kate, and some Instagram accounts!!- did Jesus go to hell between Good Friday and Easter Sunday?- how did you come to faith, Stephanie?- what are the qualities to look for in a mentor?- what challenges did you face in creating the podcast this past year?This, and more, on this special edition of the Podcast with YOU our beloved listener, as the superstar!Make sure to go to gospelspice.com for all the exciting details about the upcoming FALL 2020 ONLINE Bible Study that Stephanie and Ros talk about: Centering in Christ through the Tabernacle!“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 isn’t a poetic suggestion — it’s a promise. But many believers quietly assume it doesn’t really work, or it’s not really possible – or they’ve kinda lost sight of it along the way.In "Awaken Delight," I’m inviting you to rediscover what Scripture actually means by delight in God— not emotional hype, not religious performance, but a steady satisfaction rooted in who God is. Through biblical theology and practical rhythms, you will learn how communion with God reshapes suffering, quiets restless striving, and anchors your identity in something unshakable."Awaken Delight" is a theologically grounded spiritual formation book for thoughtful believers who feel spiritually fatigued, and ready to embrace the reality of Psalm 37:4.Find out more at https://www.gospelspice.com/awakendelight Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!

Episode 49 - Stephanie welcomes her passionate friend Cheyenne to discuss how God calls us to disciple the next generation for Christ. We talk about college and high school students falling in love with God through Christ-centered discipleship and role-modeling, as well as pursuing our purpose to love others in His Name, especially when it is exhausting.We also talk about how COVID season is affecting us right now, in exhaustion and anxiety: "we have the end of the story, and this is temporary. Jesus even warned us that we would have times like this." Yes!!!Cheyenne Olson is a simple Minnesota girl, fueled by coffee with a side of chocolate. She loves being outside on, in, or by the lake with her family and is a complete plant nerd. But most notably, Cheyenne is passionate about Jesus and His Word and desires to ignite that passion in you and help strengthen your resolve to follow Him. She writes vulnerably, from her heart, about the experiences and lessons God has taught her along the way. She shares her highs and lows; victories and struggles in hopes to encourage you to grow your relationship with Jesus.“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4 isn’t a poetic suggestion — it’s a promise. But many believers quietly assume it doesn’t really work, or it’s not really possible – or they’ve kinda lost sight of it along the way.In "Awaken Delight," I’m inviting you to rediscover what Scripture actually means by delight in God— not emotional hype, not religious performance, but a steady satisfaction rooted in who God is. Through biblical theology and practical rhythms, you will learn how communion with God reshapes suffering, quiets restless striving, and anchors your identity in something unshakable."Awaken Delight" is a theologically grounded spiritual formation book for thoughtful believers who feel spiritually fatigued, and ready to embrace the reality of Psalm 37:4.Find out more at https://www.gospelspice.com/awakendelight Support us on Gospel Spice, PayPal and Venmo!