Podcast
The Bitter and The Sweet Podcast
Hosted by Kayla M. Cook · EN
The Bitter & The Sweet Podcast is a show where we tell the truth about grief, joy, and the grace that covers it all.
Join Host Kayla M. Cook every Tuesday for conversations about disappointment and dreams, grief and gratitude, the bitter and the sweet.
42episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Noticing the Good God Has Already Given You to Do- Episode 96
2w ago00:09:07Tap to summarizeAs simple as it is, goodness can feel obscure. In this short episode (less than 10 minutes!), we're diving deep on what it means to be good, living out the goodness God is growing in us, and why that's not as complicated as it feels sometimes. LINKS Leave a review on Apple podcasts Connect with Kayla on Instagram Visit Kayla's website (and become an email friend there!)
Transcribe →Small Acts, Big Impact: Foster Care, Caregiver Support, and Loving Our Local Schools- Episode 95
3w ago00:32:24Tap to summarizeCaring for the vulnerable can look "big," but often, it looks small to us. The good news is God cares about both the big and small, and He puts us in places to meet needs and share His love with the world and our neighbors. Join me and three of my favorite guests (and yours!) as we talk about three practical ways to care for the vulnerable: foster care, caring for caregivers, and supporting our local schools. These women are incredible advocates for vulnerable children and families. In this episode, we're getting real about foster care, the needs of caregivers, and supporting our local schools, regardless of how we choose to educate our own children. I hope this episode gives you eyes to see the needs around you and encourages you to take action right where you are. LINKS Episode 6: The Family You Offer with Lauren Alexander Connect with Lauren on Instagram Episode 13: Why Caring for Caregivers Matters with Jess Ronne Connect with Jess on Instagram Get Jess' devotional, Caregiving with Grit and Grace: 100 Days of Hope and Encouragement Watch the documentary Unseen: How We're Failing Parent Caregivers and Why It Matters Episode 49: How the Local Church Can Support Local Schools with Maegan Little Connect with Maegan on Instagram
Transcribe →The Truth About Church Hurt and Finding Your Way Back- Episode 94
Jul 2100:31:23Tap to summarizeIt can feel complicated to love God but feel wary of His people. When it comes to church hurt, sometimes it's hard to know if what happened to you was just disappointment (people are very people-y, after all), or if it was something more. Join me and two of my favorite guests (and yours!) as we tell the truth about Church hurt. We're talking about the difference between disappointment/hurt and spiritual abuse, how to sort through being disappointed with an organization vs. the God they represent, how to know when it's time to stay and when it's time to move on, and more. Wherever you are on your faith walk and in your story with God and His people, I hope this episode gives you some clarity and helps you walk in grace. LINKS Episode 5: The Family of God with Sarah Wood Connect with Sarah on Instagram Episode 50: Finding a Home in the Local Church with Dusty Smith Connect with Kayla on Instagram
Transcribe →What If Knowing God Is More Simple Than We Think?- Episode 93
Jul 1400:30:45Tap to summarizeOur people need us, our to-do lists get long, the demands get loud, and our phones are insanely distracting. Somewhere in all that noise, we forget to just be with God. Join me and some of my favorite guests (and yours!) as we talk about getting to know God and spending time with Him through three foundational practices: scripture, silence and solitude, and prayer. These practices are not easy, but they are simple, and they connect us straight to the heart of God. LINKS Connect with Kayla on Instagram Episode 15: The Comfort and Joy of Scripture with Lindsay May Connect with Lindsay on Instagram Episode 16: Getting Quiet with God with Simi John Connect with Simi on Instagram Episode 17: Praying with Expectancy with Jackie Aviles Connect with Jackie on Instagram
Transcribe →Married, Single, Divorced: Living Fully at Every Relationship Status- Episode 92
Jul 700:28:08Tap to summarizeMarital status can feel like a defining feature of our lives, but it doesn't have to be! Join me and some of my favorite guests (and yours!) as we talk about three different relationship angles: marriage, divorce, and singleness, and what it looks like to live fully in your season, regardless of your marital status. Whether you're healing from heartbreak, trusting God's timing, or building a life you love as a wife, this conversation is for you. LINKS Connect with Kayla on Instagram Episode 45: Building a Healthy Marriage with Tondra Gregory Connect with Tondra on Instagram Get your copy of Tondra's book, The Marriage Game Plan Episode 46: Finding Hope After Divorce with Melinda Olsen Connect with Melinda on Instagram Visit Melinda's website and find out more about post-divorce coaching Episode 47: What Your Single Friends Wish You Knew with Aleigh Porter Connect with Aleigh on Instagram Check out Aleigh's podcast, The Best Changed Plans
Transcribe →When You Wonder If God Is Kind- Episode 91
Jun 3000:08:27Tap to summarizeKindness sounds simple enough...until it isn't. With honest thoughts on the times kindness is harder than it looks, what it means that love is kind, and trusting in the goodness of a God who doesn't always give us what we ask for, this episode will help you see how His kindness meets us, even in the middle of our questions. LINKS Visit Kayla's website (and become an email friend there!) Leave a review on Apple podcasts Connect with Kayla on Instagram
Transcribe →The Grace to be Patient When You've Been Patient Long Enough- Episode 90
Jun 2300:14:50Tap to summarizeIf you've been patient and put in the time, but you're still waiting... If you're wondering if you should keep waiting or just move on... If you've watched other people get what you've spent years praying for... If you're trying to figure out if that twinge in your heart is jealousy or pain... If you're wondering why God has let {that} go on for so long... This episode is for you. LINKS Connect with Kayla on Instagram Connect with the show on Instagram Become an email friend Visit Kayla's website
Transcribe →The Peace We Were Made For- Episode 89
Jun 1600:11:40Tap to summarizeIn a culture fueled by outrage and fear, is it possible for us to have peace? With practical help for breaking anxious thought loops and living at peace with others without people-pleasing, this episode will help you remember the peace God offers isn't just possible; it's what we were created for. LINKS Leave a review on Apple podcasts Connect with Kayla on Instagram Connect with the show on Instagram Become an email friend Visit Kayla's website
Transcribe →No Toxic Positivity: Joy That Doesn't Ignore Your Pain- Episode 88
Jun 900:11:58Tap to summarizeOne of the most important things to me in the making of this episode on joy was that it not become some Pollyanna, joy is all around us-type episode, full of platitudes and pretending. Here's the thing: I do believe that there's joy all around us. That's because in the presence of God, there is fullness of joy, and He's with us always, just like He said. But man, sometimes we're just SAD, aren't we? How do we embrace joy in every season, even (and maybe especially) when it is hard-won? Is joy available to us now, or something grown in us over time, or is it a someday thing we look forward to? What about when we're sad or grieving, and what about when we stay that way for a long time? Questions like there are what this episode is all about. LINKS Connect with Kayla on Instagram Connect with the show on Instagram Become an email friend Visit Kayla's website
Transcribe →How to Love When Your Heart Feels Hard- Episode 87
Jun 200:12:24Tap to summarizeHow do I love my people above my own preferences? How do I love when I've been hurt, or when I'm disappointed, or when I feel like I've been let down? How do I love God most when I'm mad at Him? We don't shy away from the hard questions around here, and in this episode about love, we are tackling these (and others) head on! In this honest conversation all about love, Kayla gets real about living as a person of love. With practical tips on how to love in hard seasons, healing a hard heart, and staying rooted in your faith when love feels hard, this episode will remind you you're not alone as you seek to love God and the people He gave you. LINKS Become an email friend Invite Kayla to speak Connect with Kayla on Instagram Connect with the show on Instagram
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