Welcome back to Altar’d Reality! Instead of a standard full-length topic this week, Jen, Lauren, and Tassy are hopping on for a brief, honest check-in. Between travel, work, recovering from surgery, and juggling full-time mom life, the team needed a moment to pause, catch up on each other's lives, and send a quick update out to everyone.

Life gets chaotic, and sometimes the best thing you can do for your heart and community is to stop the hustle and reconnect. Take a moment this week to pause, reach out to a friend or loved one, and invest in the relationships right in front of you.

Welcome to the very first Altar'd Moment! These shorter mini-episodes feature Jennifer sharing quick spiritual snapshots, personal reflections, and deep dives into God's Word between the regular group episodes[1]. In this inaugural segment, Jen explores the story of the Samaritan woman at the well to unpack how Christ meets us in our loneliness and satisfies the deepest thirst of our souls[1].

• Connected yet Lonely: Despite living in the most digitally connected era in human history, over 1 in 6 people worldwide experience deep loneliness[1]. While being alone describes who is around you, loneliness describes what is happening inside your heart[1][4].
• Completely Known and Completely Loved: When Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well at noon, He knew every detail of her past, her broken relationships, and her hidden wounds—yet He still chose to sit at the well with her[2][4]. Jesus already knows everything about you and still comes looking for you[2].
• Living Water vs. Worldly Wells: We often try to satisfy our soul's thirst with "quick sips" from worldly wells—relationships, career success, new purchases, physical appearance, or endless social media scrolling[5][6]. None of these were designed to carry the weight of an eternal soul; only Christ offers a spring of living water welling up into eternal life[6].
• Leaving the Water Jar: After encountering Jesus, the woman left her water jar behind because her deeper thirst was satisfied, running back into town to tell everyone about the Man who knew her story and loved her anyway[6][7].
• Jesus as Our True Source: Jesus fills the internal places in our heart that other people were never meant to satisfy, allowing us to love others freely without demanding that they become our ultimate source[3].

• John 4:1–42 — The story of the Samaritan woman at the well (The primary Gospel account of this encounter) [1871–1875].
• Luke 12:7 — God knows the very number of hairs on your head[7].
• Psalm 27:8 — Hearing God's call to "come and talk with me" and responding in faith[3][7].
• Ephesians 3:18–19 — Experiencing the width, length, height, and depth of Christ's love[8].

Take a moment today to put the phone down, turn off the noise, and stop settling for "little sips" from worldly wells[3][8]. Go to the well, sit with Jesus, and let His living water satisfy your heart[3][8].

Hey friends, Jennifer here! We are taking a quick, grace-filled pause this week. Between the hectic start of the school year, unexpected sickness, and the juggling act of full-time mom life and work schedules, we just couldn't get the whole gang together in the studio. But rather than completely disappearing, I wanted to pop on here for a quick second to say hello and share a simple thought I talked about with my boys last week.

The Compass and True North

I sat down with my boys and showed them a physical compass, asking what it does. While it obviously points to True North, it also does something equally important: it shows us where True North isn't.

• The Bible is Our Compass: Every page of scripture is ultimately designed to point us directly toward our True North, which is Jesus. It shows us who He is, how He loves us, how He wants us to live, and how we can follow Him.
• Spotting the Potholes: The compass of God's Word lovingly warns us of the directions that will take us somewhere else... the wrong turns, bad decisions, relationships that pull us away, and the subtle idols we can chase and treasure more than Jesus. It also warns us about the voices we can listen to that point us in a completely wrong direction.
• The Danger of a Few Degrees: Getting lost rarely happens because we suddenly turn around and run the opposite way. Instead, we often get off course by just a few degrees through a single compromise, a distraction, or one wrong priority. Before we even know it, we have wandered a long way from where we wanted to go.

A Daily Prayer for Extravagant Wisdom

My mom recently introduced me to a daily prayer that I’ve started praying over myself, my husband, my kids, and my friends:

"Lord, give me extravagant wisdom today and uncommon discernment."

This prayer asks for a wisdom and discernment far beyond anything we could ever come up with on our own. When you pray this, He will faithfully answer and bring opportunities to start putting those things into action in your daily life.

My Challenge to You

Wherever you are this week... whether you're starting a new school year, overwhelmed at work, juggling family schedules, or just trying to keep your head above water, take a minute to find True North again. Open God's Word, look for Jesus, ask Him to guide your steps, and ask Him to give you the eyes to see both the road that leads toward Him and the things pulling you away.

Thank you for giving us a little grace this week while life happens, and we will be back next week with a full episode. Until then, keep your compass pointed toward Jesus!

Welcome back to Altar’d Reality! Today, the girls tackle some of the most sobering words spoken by Jesus: "I never knew you." We dive into the difference between a religious resume and a genuine relationship, explore the danger of "duct-taped fruit," and learn how to stand firm in the armor of God... not as a costume, but as a life clothed in Christ himself.

In this episode, we cover:

• Relationship Over Resume: We unpack Matthew 7, where people present Jesus with a list of miracles and prophecies only to be rejected. The problem wasn't their lack of activity; it was the lack of relationship. We discuss how proximity to Christian culture is not the same as intimacy with Jesus.
• Taped-on Fruit vs. Rooted Life: Using Jesus’ warning about wolves in sheep’s clothing, we discuss how you recognize a tree by its fruit. We share the powerful illustration of "duct-taping" good fruit onto a dead tree. It might look convincing from a distance, but there is no life flowing from the root.
• The Storm and the Foundation: We look at the two builders... one on rock and one on sand. The storm doesn't create the foundation; it merely reveals it. A foundation of performance will always crumble, while a foundation of relationship holds fast.
• Returning to the Vine: For the tender hearted believer who worries they are "fake," we look at John 15. Abiding in Jesus doesn't mean perfection; it means constant returning. We discuss how a "dead heart does not ache" the very fact that you long for Jesus is evidence of life.
• The Armor of God as a Person: We shift to Ephesians 6, noting that the armor isn't a religious ritual but a picture of being "clothed in Christ." We look at the historical context of Paul writing this while chained to a Roman soldier in Ephesus, a city obsessed with magic and incantations.
• Spiritual Warfare Reframed: True spiritual warfare isn't yelling into the darkness or finding a "Christian spell"; it is standing in the light and character of Jesus.

Our Challenge to You

This week, don't present Jesus with a resume. Come to Him empty-handed and receive His mercy. Practice "abiding" by returning to the Vine every time you feel dry, anxious, or distracted.

Resources & Links

• Scripture References: Matthew 7:15-27, John 15:1-5, Ephesians 6:10-20, Isaiah 61:10, and Psalm 42:5.
• Living Free Nation Podcast: Their website and the specific episode on the Armor Of God.
• Logos Bible Software: An incredible study tool with AI features to help you dig deeper. Use our link to sign up for Logos. You get a 30 day free trial and $10 off your purchase. If you sign up we get a credit to our account so we can purchase more resources.

Grab your favorite cool beverage and join us as we remind ourselves that, in the end, it is Jesus over everything, always!

Welcome back to Altar’d Reality! Today, Jen, Lauren, and Tassy are diving into a question that every Christian has wrestled with: If we are new creations in Christ, why do we still struggle so much with our "old self"? We explore the biblical design of our body, soul, and spirit to understand how salvation actually works and how to retrain our minds to align with God’s truth.

In this episode, we cover:

• The Struggle is Real: We look at Paul’s honest confession in Romans—doing the evil he doesn’t want and failing to do the good he desires. We discuss why loving Jesus doesn't magically make our impatience or anxiety disappear overnight.
• What Actually Changed at Salvation?: We break down the "three tenses" of being saved: you have been saved from sin's penalty, you are being saved (transformed/renewed), and you will be saved when Jesus returns. At salvation, your spirit is made alive, but your personality and body remain the same.

The Three-Part Design:

• The Body: Our physical connection to the world, experienced through the senses. It is not something to be "escaped" but is a good temple that will one day be resurrected as a glorified body.
• The Soul: Our inner life, consisting of personality, emotions, and mind. We discuss how the soul can feel exhausted even when the body is rested, and why we need David-style "soul pep talks".
• The Spirit: The "lamp of the Lord" uniquely designed to commune with God.
• The House Metaphor: Jen shares a powerful illustration to distinguish the three: The Body is the structure people see; the Soul is everything inside (furniture, memories, personality); and the Spirit is the room where you commune with God.
• Retraining the Mind: We discuss Romans 12 and the necessity of "discipling" our thinking. Jen shares a favorite quote: "Read the Bible until it starts talking back to you".
• Conviction vs. Condemnation: We talk about how to distinguish God’s voice from the enemy’s. The Holy Spirit points to the sin or action to bring correction, while the enemy points to you to bring shame.
• Guarding the Portals: We discuss the importance of being mindful of what our spirits are sensitive to, including music, media, and "echo chambers".

Our Challenge to You

This week, practice adjusting your posture toward God. If you feel stuck or numb, don't overcomplicate it. Go outside, look at creation, and start giving thanks for the simple things like the trees or the sky. Let your spirit wake up your soul through gratitude.

Resources & Links

• Josh Howerton on the Shawn Ryan Podcast.
• Jordan Peterson: Control Your Emotions video on YouTube
• Scripture References: Romans 7 and 12, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Hebrews 4:12, Psalm 42:5, Job 38, and Galatians 5.
• Logos Bible Software: An incredible study tool with AI features to help you dig deeper. Use our link to sign up for Logos. You get a 30 day free trial and $10 off your purchase. If you sign, up we get a credit to our account so we can purchase more resources.

Grab your favorite cool beverage and join us as we remind ourselves that, in the end, it is Jesus over everything, always!

In this deeply personal and powerful episode, the team is joined by a very special guest: Tassy’s daughter, Bella. This isn't just a story about teenage rebellion; it’s a masterclass in redemption, the "hounds of heaven," and the fierce, protective love of parents who refuse to let their child go. Bella shares her journey from a childhood of emotional abuse and trauma to a radical encounter with Jesus that changed everything.

In this episode, we explore:

• The Roots of the Spiral: Bella opens up about growing up between two homes and the emotional abuse she faced from her biological father. She discusses the trauma of a three-year custody battle and the specific moment when past abuse was used against her family in court.
• The Descent: At 15, Bella describes her life as a "wad of parties, sex, and drugs". She shares how she swore off God, feeling He hadn’t protected her, and how she used burner phones to maintain a secret life while running away from home.
• The Rescue Mission: Tassy discusses the "World War II" effort to save her daughter—ripping her out of school, quitting her job, boarding up windows, and installing cameras to stop the running.
• The Vision and the Promise: Tassy shares a powerful vision she had at the altar of Matt and her carrying a "raggedy" Bella to the cross, only for Jesus to pick her up and restore her innocence, turning her back into a little girl in the spirit.
• The Turning Point: Bella recounts the terrifying night she didn't know how she got home after taking unknown drugs, leading to a visit to a mental hospital that served as a "reality shock".
• Total Surrender: The breakthrough happened at a 2022 women’s conference (DFL). Forced to serve and be present, Bella ended up behind a row of chairs, sobbing and surrendering everything to the Lord.
• A Father’s Love: Bella describes her dad, Matt, as the "best example of Jesus" she has ever seen. His unconditional love and safety net were instrumental in her coming back to the light.
• The Healing Journey: We discuss the practical side of recovery, including EMDR therapy for PTSD, the role of medication, and the daily, difficult discipline of forgiveness.

Our Challenge to You

If you are a parent of a prodigal, never stop praying and never stop fighting. Fasting and prayer work. If you are the one running, know that you are never too far gone. The enemy wants you doused in shame, but Jesus is waiting with open arms.