Bookish Talks with Lia

In this episode, author Ana Ávila joins me to discuss her new book, Life in Devotion:Cultivating a Deeper Relationship with God in the Everyday. We talk about what it looks like to move beyond a checklist or a “quiet time” routine and into a life of communion with the Lord.

Ana shares her story of coming to know Christ, how she stepped into writing and ministry, and the heart behind this book. We also talk honestly about the discouragement many believers feel when spiritual disciplines feel inconsistent, and how Scripture and prayer can become places of joy rather than pressure.

If you’ve ever struggled with consistency in your walk with God or felt like you’re always starting over, this conversation will encourage you.

Connect with Ana Ávila
Book: Life in Devotion: Cultivating a Deeper Relationship with God in the Everyday
@anaavilaosuna

Connect with Lia:
Bookstagram: ⁠⁠@liarossreads⁠⁠
Instagram: ⁠⁠@bookishtalkspodcast⁠

What does it look like to care for one another well in your local church?
In this episode of Bookish Talks with Lia, I’m joined by Helen Thorne-Allenson, author of A Church That Cares: A Biblical Guide to Loving One Another Well. We talk about what it means to build a culture of care in your local church and why caring for one another isn’t simply the responsibility of pastors or counselors. It’s something every Christian can participate in.

Helen shares practical, biblical wisdom for caring for one another in the church, especially when we don’t feel equipped or know exactly what to say. We talk about what it looks like to listen well, come alongside someone in need, and trust God rather than feeling like we have to have all the answers.

We also talk about the role church leaders play in creating a culture where people are encouraged and equipped to care for one another. Helen shares why vulnerability matters for leaders and why having healthy boundaries around confidentiality is so important when caring for others.

Whether your church already has a strong culture of care or you see areas where there is room to grow, this conversation will encourage you to consider how you can love and care for the people God has placed around you.

In this episode, we talk about:
What it means to create a culture of care in your local church
Depending on God through prayer
Learning to listen well
How leaders can model honesty, weakness, and repentance
Accountability and healthy boundaries in pastoral care
Practical ways you can contribute to a caring church

About Helen Thorne-Allenson
Helen Thorne-Allenson is a biblical counselor and author who writes about applying biblical truth to the complexities of everyday life. In A Church That Cares, she offers practical and biblical guidance for developing a church culture where people genuinely love and care for one another.

Books Mentioned In This Episode:
A Church That Cares: A Biblical Guide to Loving One Another Well by Helen Thorne-Allenson
Caring for One Another: 8 Ways to Cultivate Meaningful Relationships by Edward T. Welch

Biblical Counseling Resources: Find articles, podcasts, books, and other resources from Biblical Counselling UK to help you care for others well. Explore Biblical Counselling UK Resources

Connect with Lia:
Bookstagram: ⁠⁠@liarossreads⁠⁠
Instagram: ⁠⁠@bookishtalkspodcast⁠

Do you ever feel like you're constantly running from one thing to the next, yet still feel restless and exhausted?

In this episode of Bookish Talks with Lia, I'm joined by author and ministry leader Aimee Joseph to talk about her newest book, Made to Rest: True Peace in a World That Never Stops.

We talk about why it's so difficult for us to truly rest, the ways control, striving, and our desire for satisfaction can leave us restless, and what it looks like to receive rest as a gift from God rather than simply taking a break from our busy lives.

Aimee also shares about Sabbath, finding peace in Christ, and cultivating rhythms of rest even when life doesn't slow down.

If you've been feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or like you simply can't turn your brain off, I think this conversation will be a timely encouragement.

I hope you're encouraged and challenged to consider what it looks like to truly rest in Christ.

Books mentioned in this episode:
Made to Rest: True Peace in a World That Never Stops by Aimee Joseph
Look, Listen, Live: Cultivating Attention in a Distracted Culture by Aimee Joseph

Connect with Aimee:
Website: ⁠⁠https://aimeejoseph.blog
Instagram: ⁠⁠@aimeejosephwrites

Connect with Lia:
Bookstagram: ⁠⁠@liarossreads⁠⁠
Instagram: ⁠⁠@bookishtalkspodcast⁠

In this episode, I’m joined by author and Bible teacher Jen Wilkin to discuss her newest book, Dust to Dust: Aging Wisely in an Anti-Aging World.
In Dust to Dust, Jen challenges the cultural narrative that aging is something to fear or resist. Instead, she invites us to see aging through a biblical lens and recognize the dignity, wisdom, and value found in every season of life.
In this episode, we talk about the arc of life, caregiving, honoring our aging parents, intergenerational discipleship, the graying of America, and how the church can better embrace and serve people across generations.

You can order Dust to Dust: Aging Wisely in an Anti-Aging World by Jen Wilkin from:
Amazon
Westminster Books 
10ofThose 

Connect with Jen Wilkin:
Instagram: @jenwilkin Website: https://www.jenwilkin.net

Other Books Mentioned:
Women of the Word by Jen Wilkin
The Knowledge of Holy by A.W. Tozer

Connect with Lia:
Bookstagram: ⁠⁠@liarossreads⁠⁠
Instagram: ⁠⁠@bookishtalkspodcast⁠

In this episode, Shannon Popkin joins me to talk about her book Kinda Judgy and how Scripture reshapes the way we think about judgment, pride, and mercy.

Through six biblical stories, Shannon helps us see how easily a critical spirit can take root and how Jesus leads us into something better by receiving mercy and extending it to others.

If you have ever felt weighed down by comparison, criticism, or strained relationships, this episode will help you move toward a more merciful way of seeing others and yourself.

Book Mentioned
Kinda Judgy: Finding Mercy for Myself and Others in Six Stories of the Bible by Shannon Popkin

Connect with Shannon Popkin
Website: shannonpopkin.com
Instagram: @shannonpopkin
Podcast: Listen to Live Like It’s True Bible Podcast

Connect with Lia:
Bookstagram: ⁠⁠@liarossreads⁠⁠
Instagram: ⁠⁠@bookishtalkspodcast⁠