I invite you to continues our exploration of the French words for hope, "espoir" and "esperance," and to dive deeper into their biblical and cultural significance. Scripture draws parallels between the biblical story of Babel in Genesis 11 and the unifying power of hope in Christ. God orchestrated Scripture to be translatable in all languages, which reverses the curse of Babel and offers the potential in Christ to unite us under the banner of hope. As I was researching the connections between "espoir" and "esperance," I was blown away to discover two verses in Scripture that hold both verses t ..read more

Stephanie here! I'm welcoming you into a conversation where we kick off talking about the Olympic games. My guest, Vera Schmitz, used to train to go to the Olympics. She'll tell us how that worked out, and how the Lord led her in a very different way with her sister Natalie to be the cofounder of Dwell Differently. It's a truly vibrant online community, committed to memorizing God's Word together every single month. Vera tells us what happens when we have God's word in our brain all the time, stored in our hearts, deep in our soul, at the tip of our tongue. It's not just about memorizing verse ..read more

Hope is a transformative force, capable of providing comfort and strength amidst life's challenges. The Bible says much about the impact of hope on the heart, shedding light on the intricate relationship between hope and the human spirit. So today I invite you deep into the nuances from Scripture in French to spark fresh hope, and reignite embers of disappointed hope for you. French offers subtle yet profound differences between two words both translated “hope” in English: "Espoir" and "Esperance." "éspoir" is more like wishful thinking, while "espérance" is all about rock-solid promises. It's ..read more

Today I welcome Holley Gerth, who advocates for pursuing hope in the midst of pain and grief. We need to recognize the need to grieve losses, big and small – including losses of our dreams, and losses in relationships. Peace stems from surrendering to God's will, rather than fixating on specific outcomes. So, we ask: how do we transition from controlling outcomes, to finding peace in God? We discuss the pivotal role of faith in understanding and working through the pain and unmet expectations in life. How do we navigate the process of transitioning from a broken narrative to a new story under ..read more

What if an ancient prayer book proved the most relevant and up-to-date tool to embrace intimacy with God in completely fresh ways? As we race to work in the morning, have coffee with a friend, or fall into bed exhausted, we want to feel God's presence, to sink into his grace. Yet too often he feels aloof, absent. Our prayers feel trivial. But as Julie Lane-Gay discovered, the Book of Common Prayer is designed for just this purpose: to root Christians in the riches of God's grace. So, she and Stephanie have an intimate, vulnerable, authentic conversation today, aiming to invite YOU to enter int ..read more

Bonjour! Stephanie here. There is nothing quite as mesmerizing as the worth of God – the very word “worship” comes from the ancient English worth-ship and recognizes the ultimate worth of God. So today I invite you down the lane of another French word which, I pray, will allow you to enter fresh, deep worship. That French word is “Valeur.” So, drawing from the biblical concept of intrinsic worth, subjective value, and objective worth, let’s dive into the multifaceted aspects of this word and how it relates to our understanding of worthiness, valor, and the intangible qualities that draw us to ..read more

There are books we should all have a copy of, to give to our beloved ones in need. Today's conversation is about such a book. It is a whimsical, poetic, God-centric little marvel of a book, so pretty and giftable. It will encourage your loved one who is going through a rough time. It can be for you, too, but I suspect it will find its way in your tool belt of go-to books to equip those around you who are finding themselves unable to put words to their struggles. Lauren Fortenberry has penned 90 short devotions that read like prayers. She puts words in the mouths of women who find it difficult ..read more

Stephanie here! I had the most delightful encounter today with Summer Joy Gross. Let me tell you about her through reading a sample of the book we're going to talk about. It's called The Emmanuel Promise, and it's a book that I lingered over. I took time. As you know, I read several books a week to decide which ones I'm going to have on the show. And this one, I just couldn't, read it quick. I just had to take my time with it. So here's what she writes. “Try it out. Go to a busy Starbucks at 7 in the morning, and as people rush in and out, ask Emmanuel to give you eyes to see his love for this ..read more

As we continue our exploration of Scripture through the French language and culture, I invite you today into one of the more difficult and complex words – Epreuve, in the context of faith. Together, we are beckoned by this word to embrace trials and tests as opportunities for growth and refinement in our spiritual journey. Note | You are invited to go deeper by using our extensive digital book that includes, for each of our 12 episodes in the series, a listening guide, questions to ponder, key takeaways and key quotes, topics to go deeper, and more. Go to gospelspice.com/french for the de ..read more

Stephanie Rousselle interviews Mary DeMuth about her experiences in France. Mary shares insights into her cultural immersion, spiritual challenges, and the nuances of living and ministering in France. Mary's experiences in France offer actionable lessons about faith, culture, and the power of embracing conversational nuances that have unfortunately gone missing in much of the American landscape these days. As she shares her journey, she inspired Stephanie to approach challenges with open hearts, seek delight in unexpected places, and nurture meaningful interactions in a diverse world. Her insi ..read more