Life Upside Down with Abel Speaks
15 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsWhen life turns upside down, we can see the world from a new perspective. No matter who you are, you have either walked through deep hardship, you are in a hard season as we speak, or you will be soon enough. Sorrow and suffering can feel deeply isolating, and it would be easy to believe that no one could possibly understand. But trust us, you are not alone. We believe every person can experience hope and joy, even in the midst of sorrow. Hosts, Daniel and Kelly Crawford, have the privilege of walking with men and women through the valley of the shadow of death on a weekly basis through their ministry, Abel Speaks. In their own story of suffering and countless others, the Crawfords have seen the redemptive truth that God never wastes an ounce of our pain. Join them each week for authentic conversations and gospel hope for the hurting. Life Upside Down is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be visit www.ChristianParenting.org
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Episodes
12 - Top Moments from Season One
December 15, 2020 08:05 - 33 minutes - 30.4 MBFor the final episode of the year, we do a high-level recap of the six conversations that comprised this first season of Life Upside Down with Abel Speaks, sharing audio clips and highlight moments. If you’re been listening along, we hope you’ll enjoy revisiting some of the content that has encouraged and challenged in the first 11 episodes (and invite you to rate the podcast if you haven’t taken a moment to do so!). If you’re just jumping in, we hope this episode can give you a taste of wha...
11 - Choosing “hard” with no regrets, with Matthew Lyle Mooney
December 08, 2020 08:05 - 31 minutes - 28.4 MB“After so much hard, why did you choose more hard?” This is the honest question Matt & Ginny Mooney were asked as they adopted their daughter with disabilities after losing their firstborn son. We continue our conversation with Matt as he speaks to that very question, and how they have walked through a lot of pain with a lot of joy… and with no regrets. We also dive into the broader conversation around disability and the American Church and what 99 Balloons is doing to drive that conversatio...
10 -“Is God at work in my sufferings?” with Matthew Lyle Mooney
December 01, 2020 08:05 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MBThe reality of suffering in this life can lead us to question the reality of a good and loving God. But is it somehow possible to understand God less, and yet, come to know Him more? Is it possible that our greatest “good” is actually found in the hardest parts of life? This conversation is a special one for us, as we hear from a source that has shaped our journey of suffering. We know you will love Matt Mooney as much as we do and be encouraged by the work he and Ginny have set forth to acc...
09 - Processing and praying as spouses with Ryan & Ally Wall
November 24, 2020 08:05 - 37 minutes - 34.4 MBIt’s no secret that men and women are very different. God designed it to be this way! And yet, as spouses and parents, these differences will present their fair share of relational challenges early and often. What do we do when we’re simply not on the same page? And how do we stay connected if our grief manifests itself in contrasting ways? Last episode, we heard Ryan and Ally Wall’s story and would highly recommend you give it a listen before. In this episode, we continue that conversation ...
08 - How long will we wait? with Ryan & Ally Wall
November 17, 2020 08:05 - 33 minutes - 30.9 MBThere are times where we feel left wanting and left waiting. Sometimes these stretches seem to last for an eternity and leave us wondering if our heart’s longings will ever come to fruition. When will God just finally throw us a bone? Has He forgotten us? Or are we being punished for something? We sit down with Ryan and Ally Wall to hear about their experiences with abortion, adoption, infertility, and all of the conflicting emotions along the way. This podcast is powered by Christian Parent...
07 - “When God doesn’t answer…” with Jonathan Pokluda
November 10, 2020 08:05 - 23 minutes - 21.1 MBIn this episode, we resume our conversation with Jonathan “JP” Pokluda about prayer. It’s one of the most foundational parts of walking with God, and yet, for many of us it’s also one of the most challenging parts. Last week we discussed three of the biggest barriers that keep us from a rich and consistent prayer life. This week, we lean fully and authentically into the tension when God doesn’t seem to answer our prayers, particularly in seasons of sorrow and suffering. Finally, we wrap up t...
06 - “Why is prayer so difficult for us?” with Jonathan Pokluda
November 03, 2020 08:05 - 22 minutes - 21.1 MBPrayer. It’s one of the most foundational parts of walking with God, and yet, for many of us it’s also one of the most challenging parts. Jonathan “JP” Pokluda joins the podcast to talk about three of the main reasons we struggle to experience a rich and consistent prayer life. JP also shares his personal and pastoral reflections from praying with and for the Crawfords during their season with Abel. If you’ve ever hit this roadblock in connecting with God in difficult times, we believe you’l...
05 - Will God make me healthy, wealthy and blessed? with Sean DeMars.
October 27, 2020 07:05 - 30 minutes - 28.2 MBDoes God promise prosperity and wellness to his people? And if that’s not what my life looks like, am I doing something wrong? In this episode, we visit with Sean DeMars of 6th Avenue Community Church in Decatur, AL. He shares his personal story of becoming a Christian, but quickly finding himself swept away by the American “prosperity gospel” and the “name it and claim it” word-of-faith movement. You’ll hear the lengths to which this skewed theology endangered Sean’s faith (as well as his p...
04 - Can my faith change my circumstances? with Jacob and Melissa Robinson
October 20, 2020 05:00 - 30 minutes - 28.2 MBWe resume our conversation with Jacob & Melissa Robinson, tackling big questions about faith, prayer, comparison and control in the Christian life. Do the Scriptures speak to our unresolved sufferings? If we just have enough faith, will God inevitably change our circumstances? Hear some of the many lessons the Robinsons have learned as they’ve witnessed their son move from health to sickness to significant special needs and fought to cling to God’s promises at each step of the journey. The L...
03 - Would God give me more than I can handle? with Jacob and Melissa Robinson
October 13, 2020 04:03 - 31 minutes - 29.2 MBIn the first of a two-part conversation with Jacob & Melissa Robinson, we hear their story of watching their son move from health to sickness to significant special needs in a matter of days. The Robinsons open up about their rollercoaster ride of wrestling with God throughout their new normal, the lies they’ve been tempted to believe, and whether they believe God ever gives us more than we can handle. The Life Upside Down podcast is powered by Christian Parenting, and you can learn mo...
02 - Why is this happening to me? with Brett & Chrissy Billman
October 06, 2020 05:00 - 41 minutes - 37.9 MBWhy is this happening to me? (Walking with God through brain tumors, diabetes, crohn’s disease, lupus, and chronic pain) Have you ever felt like the hits have kept on coming, one after another? In this episode, the Crawfords sit down with Brett & Chrissy Billman to discuss their ongoing journey through multiple health issues and physical afflictions. From discovering a brain tumor while pregnant to battling diabetes and autoimmune diseases all before the age of 35, the Billmans share wha...
01 - Can joy and sorrow coexist?
September 29, 2020 04:03 - 20 minutes - 18.8 MBWhere do you turn when life turns upside-down? Welcome to the Life Upside-Down podcast hosted by Abel Speaks co-founders, Daniel and Kelly Crawford. In this inaugural episode, the Crawfords begin by sharing the primary “need” that led to the launch of the Life Upside-Down podcast. They go on to share their own personal journey about how life turned upside-down in 2015, and God has taken a story marked by sorrow and suffering and transformed it into a ministry marked by hope and joy. Fina...
01 - Can joy and sorrow coexist? (The story and vision behind this podcast
September 29, 2020 04:03 - 20 minutes - 28.2 MBWhere do you turn when life turns upside-down? Welcome to the Life Upside-Down podcast hosted by Abel Speaks co-founders, Daniel and Kelly Crawford. In this inaugural episode, the Crawfords begin by sharing the primary “need” that led to the launch of the Life Upside-Down podcast. They go on to share their own personal journey about how life turned upside-down in 2015, and God has taken a story marked by sorrow and suffering and transformed it into a ministry marked by hope and joy. Finally,...
Can joy and sorrow coexist? (The story and vision behind this podcast
September 29, 2020 04:03 - 20 minutes - 28.2 MBWhere do you turn when life turns upside-down? Welcome to the Life Upside-Down podcast hosted by Abel Speaks co-founders, Daniel and Kelly Crawford. In this inaugural episode, the Crawfords begin by sharing the primary “need” that led to the launch of the Life Upside-Down podcast. They go on to share their own personal journey about how life turned upside-down in 2015, and God has taken a story marked by sorrow and suffering and transformed it into a ministry marked by hope and joy. Finally,...
Introduction
September 18, 2020 21:39 - 2 minutes - 2.6 MBWhen life turns upside down, we can see the world from a new perspective. No matter who you are, you have either walked through deep hardship, you are in a hard season as we speak, or you will be soon enough. Sorrow and suffering can feel deeply isolating, and it would be easy to believe that no one could possibly understand. But trust us, you are not alone. We believe every person can experience hope and joy, even in the midst of sorrow. Hosts, Daniel and Kelly Crawford, have the privileg...