Altar'd Reality

About Altar'd Reality

We lay it all down so God can redefine what's real.

Publisher

ALTAR'D REALITY

Category

history · religion & spirituality · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

5 Apr 2026

Latest episode

18 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

29 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   18 Oct 2026

   Interruptible, But Not Controlled

   Welcome back to Altar’d Reality! Piggybacking off Lauren’s recent Altar'd Moment devotional, Jen and Lauren dive deep into a topic every busy person, parent, and leader struggles with: how to live an interruptible life without becoming controlled by the constant demands, expectations, and urgencies of everyone around you. By looking at how Jesus navigated crowd demands, urgent crises, and personal solitude in the Gospels, we explore how to discern the difference between a distraction and a true divine assignment. In this episode, we cover: The Core Tension: Jesus was constantly stopped, touched, and called upon by crowds, yet He was never controlled by interruption or panicked by the clock. We discuss whether we tend to lean toward over-availability or fierce protection of our plans, and why the ultimate question is who gets to decide what gets our "yes". Matthew 14 (The Crowd Interrupts Solitude): After John the Baptist was killed, Jesus withdrew to a desolate place to be alone. When the crowds followed Him, Jesus allowed them to change the timing of His solitude by showing compassion and feeding them, but He did not cancel His priority to go up into the mountain alone to pray afterward. An interruption can adjust your schedule without canceling your priorities. Mark 1 & Luke 4 (Leaving When Everyone Wants You): Early in the morning, after healing many people, the disciples told Jesus that "everyone is looking for you". Instead of staying, Jesus chose to leave for other towns, demonstrating that a legitimate, real need is not automatically your personal assignment. Mark 5 (Jairus, the Bleeding Woman, and the Markan Sandwich): On the urgent walk to heal Jairus's dying 12-year-old daughter, Jesus stopped for a woman who had suffered for 12 years to let her tell her full story. We explore the literary technique called the "Markan Sandwich" and see how what looked like a disastrous delay to Jairus was actually an essential part of God's story. The Prayer Rhythm Behind Discernment: Jesus did not wait for life to get quiet before He got quiet. He consistently withdrew to desolate places to pray (Luke 5 and 6) so that the Father's voice, not the crowd's expectations or sense of urgency, remained the loudest voice in His life. Boundaries, Guilt, and Capability: We unpack two opposite dangers: being so over-available that guilt and crowd demands drive your schedule, or being so fiercely protected by rigid boundaries that people become obstacles. We discuss asking ourselves whether we are carrying a burden simply because we are capable of carrying it, or because God actually gave it to us. Our Challenge to You This week, bring your schedule, your boundaries, your guilt, and your need to be needed to the altar. Practice holding your daily plans with open hands. When an unexpected disruption happens, pause before reacting with frustration or guilt, and pray: "Lord, is this an interruption, or is this the assignment?" Scripture & Resources Matthew 14:12-23: John the Baptist's death, withdrawal, feeding the 5,000, and mountain prayer. Mark 1:32-39 & Luke 4:42-44: Early morning prayer and leaving for other villages. Mark 5:21-43: Jairus, the bleeding woman, and the power of divine delays. Luke 5:15-16 & Luke 6:12-16: The ongoing prayer rhythm of Jesus. Resource: Working Preacher Commentary (https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/narrative-lectionary/jesus-heals-jairus-daughter-a-woman/commentary-on-mark-521-43-2?utm_source=feeds.captivate.fm%2Faltard-reality%2F&utm_medium=show-notes&utm_campaign=episode-links&utm_id=altard-reality-podcast) (Luther Seminary) on the "Markan Sandwich" technique in Mark 5. Logos Bible Software: An incredible study tool with AI features to help you dig deeper. Use our link (https://referral.logos.com/mQXv4hb) 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!

2. 

   11 Oct 2026

   Altar'd Moment No. 2: Learning to Be Interruptible

   Welcome to another Altar'd Moment! In these shorter mini-episodes, the team steps in for a bite-sized devotional between regular chats. In this moment, Lauren gets honest about the hustle of daily life, from endless emails and laundry to busy family schedules, and explores what it truly means to follow Jesus's example of being interruptible and leaving margin in our days to actually see people. In this Altar'd Moment, Lauren covers: The Busyness of Everyday Life: Between work, kids, appointments, practices, groceries, and emails, life moves fast. Can somebody please explain how we're supposed to keep a house clean while we're still living in it? Obstacles vs. People: When our days are scheduled down to the minute, an unexpected interruption can quickly feel like an inconvenience. Lauren challenges us to ask: Am I leaving enough room in my life to actually see people? Intentional Yet Interruptible: Jesus was deeply intentional with His mission: He withdrew to pray, invested in His disciples, and held clear boundaries. Yet, He was never so attached to His schedule that He stopped seeing the individuals along the way. The Interruption in Mark 5: Lauren walks through the story of Jairus begging Jesus to come heal his dying daughter. On the urgent walk to Jairus’s house, a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years touched the hem of Jesus's robe. Instead of rushing past, Jesus stopped, saw her, and called her "daughter." What looked like an inconvenient delay in a life-or-death emergency was actually another person Jesus loved. Praying on the Spot: Instead of just saying "I'll be praying for you," Lauren encourages us to stop right then, whether in aisle 7 at the grocery store or at home, and pray with someone in the moment. Discernment vs. Irresponsibility: Being interruptible doesn't mean every need is your responsibility or that you abandon your commitments. It means leaving margin so you can pause and ask: "Lord, is this actually an interruption, or is this what You have for me right now?" Scripture to Study Mark 5:21-34: Jesus stopping for the woman with the issue of blood on the way to Jairus's house. Mark 5:35-43: Jesus going on to heal Jairus's daughter. Today's Altar'd Reflection This week, try creating a little extra margin in your schedule. When an unexpected conversation or request pops up, pause before reacting with frustration. Ask the Lord whether the disruption to your plan might actually be His divine assignment for your day.

3. 

   4 Oct 2026

   From Survival to Stillness: Lauren’s Story Part 2

   Welcome back to Altar’d Reality! Today, Jennifer and Lauren continue with Part 2 of Lauren’s life testimony. Building on last week’s episode where Lauren shared about losing her mother to cancer, navigating foster care, and stepping into a safe home. This episode digs into what happened when the survival mechanisms that kept her safe in childhood began catching up with her in adulthood. Quick Recap & The Reality of "Toxic Positivity" Part 1 Recap: A quick look back at Lauren’s journey through childhood grief, separation from her sisters, and moving in with her cousins Samantha and James during high school. The Survival Mask: How Lauren adopted a brand-new identity built on resilience, joy, and "everything is fine," using emotional avoidance as a coping mechanism to keep moving forward without processing deep pain. In this episode, we cover: Young Marriage & Shoving Things Under the Rug: Lauren shares about meeting her husband, Brandon, at a young age, getting married at 18, and navigating early marriage while neglecting her own emotional needs and shoving marital struggles under the rug. The Turning Point in Community: After stepping away from church for a couple of years after getting married, Lauren and Brandon returned when preparing to start a family. Six years ago, Lauren experienced a major shift when she realized "toxic positivity" wasn't from God and began opening up vulnerably to trusted Christian community about her real struggles. When the Body Says Stop: Lauren describes the breaking point she reached over the summer, suffering physical panic attacks and burnout, which forced her to realize that intellectualizing her faith was not the same as letting Jesus heal her emotional heart. Intellectual Faith vs. Emotional Healing: Lauren reflects on core lies she carried without knowing it... believing her needs were a burden, that she had to stay positive to be safe or loved, and that she could only rely on herself. Learning to Be Still and Grieve: Through EMDR therapy with a Christian therapist and quiet time before God without distractions, Lauren is learning how to stop asking "God, what are you teaching me?" and start saying "God, this really hurt me," allowing Jesus into the broken memories. Resilient and Tender: Lauren shares that true healing doesn't mean abandoning the strength God built in her through hardship, but discovering that she can be both resilient and tender in the hands of the Lord. The Refiner's Fire: The episode closes with a reflection on how God refines us like gold and silver in the fire. Not to destroy us, but to purify us until His image is clearly reflected in our lives. Our Challenge to You Are you running on autopilot, using busyness or "toxic positivity" to avoid feeling past pain? Take time this week to sit still with Jesus without distractions. Stop trying to figure out all the lessons right away, and simply allow Him to sit with you in your hurt, knowing that His presence is where true healing begins. Scripture & Resources Psalm 34:18 -"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Malachi 3:3 - "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver..." Philippians 4:8 - "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just..." Song Referenced: "Burn" by Brooke Ligertwood

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Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

8 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

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