Everyday Joy

"Don't hoard treasure down here... Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it's safe from moth and rust and burglars." — Matthew 6:19–20
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What if the biggest danger isn't having money or possessions—but becoming so comfortable that we forget we need God?
In this episode of Everyday Joy, Ash is joined by Kate for an honest and challenging conversation about possessions, comfort, generosity and what we're actually living for.
Together, they unpack Jesus' words in Matthew 6 about storing up treasure in heaven rather than building our lives around things that eventually break, disappear or get taken away. They explore why this can be particularly challenging in the Western world, where comfort is so readily available that we can sometimes go days—or even weeks—without acknowledging how much we need God.
Kate shares honestly about the sentimental things she's held onto after losing her mum, and how possessions can slowly move from something we enjoy into something that weighs us down. Ash and Kate also explore the difference between having possessions and being possessed by them, and why the real question isn't necessarily how much money we have, but how tightly we're holding onto it.
The conversation challenges us to think about what it means to live with an open hand: Am I willing to have less if it means someone else can be blessed? Am I using what God has given me for myself—or for His kingdom?
Because Jesus' teaching isn't simply about having less. It's about investing in what lasts. Generosity, caring for the poor, serving others and using our resources to make an eternal difference are the kinds of treasures that don't disappear when the things around us do.
If you've ever wondered whether your pursuit of comfort, money or possessions is becoming too important—or simply want to rethink what it means to live generously—this conversation will challenge you to loosen your grip, refocus your priorities and ask what you're really building your life around.
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"Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him!" — Philippians 4:4 (MSG)
What happens when we become so focused on what we don't have that we forget what God has already done?
In this episode of Everyday Joy, Ash is joined by Kate for an honest conversation about finding joy when life feels heavy, circumstances aren't changing, and it's easy to get stuck focusing on everything that's going wrong.
Together, they unpack Paul's words in Philippians 4:4 to "revel in" the Lord—and why those words are so powerful when you realise Paul was writing them from prison. Rejoicing doesn't mean pretending life is perfect or ignoring the hard things. It's choosing not to let the hard things become the only thing we see.
Ash opens up about a season where anxiety and heaviness caused her to become increasingly focused on what she didn't have, what wasn't changing, and what she felt God hadn't done yet. She shares how shifting her focus outward—praying for friends, celebrating their stories, and remembering God's faithfulness—began to change her perspective.
They also explore the power of worship and Christian community, and why remembering what God has done before can give us confidence that He is still at work now. Sometimes we need other people to remind us of the stories we've forgotten and help lift our eyes beyond our current circumstances.
This episode is a reminder that joy isn't found in having perfect circumstances. It's found in knowing the One who remains faithful through all of them.
If you're feeling stuck, discouraged, disappointed, or consumed by what hasn't changed yet, this conversation will encourage you to lift your eyes, remember God's faithfulness, and draw from the "wells of salvation" for the joy, hope and strength you already have in Christ.
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"I'm giving you a new commandment: Love each other in the same way that I have loved you." — John 13:34
What if we're sometimes so focused on being right that we forget what Jesus actually told us to do?
In this episode of Everyday Joy, Ash is joined by singer-songwriter and worship leader Kate for an honest conversation about one of Jesus' most challenging commands: love one another as I have loved you.
Together, they unpack why Christians can sometimes get so caught up in disagreements, denominations, theology and the things that divide us that we lose sight of the thing Jesus placed right in front of us—loving people.
But this conversation goes even deeper. Kate and Ash explore what it actually means to love others when we're running low on patience, grace and kindness. Because the reality is, we can't keep pouring out something we're not receiving ourselves.
Jesus doesn't simply tell us to love more—He invites us to first understand how deeply we are loved by Him. When we become more aware of God's love for us, we have a deeper well to draw from when loving the people around us gets difficult.
This episode is a reminder that following Jesus isn't about being perfect, having all the answers, or winning every theological argument. It's about becoming people who reflect the love we've received.
If you've ever found yourself frustrated by disagreements within the church, struggling to love someone you don't agree with, or simply running out of patience with the people around you, this conversation will encourage you to come back to the starting point: receive God's love, and let it overflow into the way you love others.
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"Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." — James 1:2–3
What if the season you're desperately trying to escape is actually producing something in you that comfort never could?
In this episode of Everyday Joy, Ash is joined by Kate for an honest conversation about suffering, discomfort, and finding joy when life isn't going the way we hoped.
Together, they unpack one of the Bible's most challenging instructions: "Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials." Because let's be honest—none of us are naturally excited about hard seasons. We live in a world built around convenience, quick fixes and avoiding discomfort whenever possible. So what does James actually mean when he tells us to consider our trials joy?
Ash and Kate explore how difficult seasons can test our faith, develop perseverance and reveal where we're turning when life gets hard. They talk about the difference between finding joy in suffering and pretending that suffering doesn't hurt, and why Christian joy isn't something we simply manufacture when circumstances are terrible.
They also reflect on what it looks like to keep trusting God when nothing changes, prayers seem unanswered, and you're still facing the same circumstances you were months or even years ago.
This episode is a reminder that God can produce deep faith in seasons we'd never choose for ourselves. Sometimes the joy isn't found in the circumstance changing—it's found in discovering that God is faithful even when it doesn't.
If you're walking through a difficult season, waiting for something to change, or struggling to understand where God is in your suffering, this conversation will encourage you to keep turning to Him, keep trusting Him, and remember that your hard season isn't necessarily a wasted one.
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"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." — Ephesians 4:2
What if some of the biggest problems in our relationships aren't caused by what people actually did—but by what we expected them to do?
In this episode of Everyday Joy, Ash is joined by Kate for an honest conversation about unmet expectations, giving people grace, and learning to make allowance for each other's differences.
Together, they unpack Paul's challenge in Ephesians 4:2 to be humble, gentle, patient, and willing to make space for other people's faults. They explore why we can be so quick to judge others by their actions while giving ourselves grace because we know our own intentions.
Kate shares what years of living with housemates have taught her about extending grace, assuming the best of people, and "filling the gap with trust" when we don't know someone's intentions. They also explore how this applies to marriage, friendships, family, church, and the workplace.
One of the biggest reminders from this conversation is that relationships don't have to be based on agreement—they can be based on understanding. Sometimes making allowance means accepting that someone sees the world differently, communicates differently, or responds differently than we would.
If you've ever been frustrated because someone didn't meet your expectations, taken something personally, or found yourself assuming the worst about someone's intentions, this conversation will encourage you to slow down, ask questions, give grace, and create space for people's humanity.
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