Praise Through It: Recent Episodes

Elisa Preston

PRAISE THROUGH IT, a podcast where we're going to practice seeing the good through the bad, the beauty through the mess, the order through the chaos. Based on Phil. 4:8, this is a space to help you learn how to keep the true and good things in mind, a space to be reminded of the noble and the commendable and the praiseworthy, even among the chaos. A space to take a deep breath.

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Joy in suffering.

God's presence in the darkness.

That's what Darci is here to teach us.

I had such a hard time choosing just two quotes for this week’s Praise Through It, so I’m going to include some of her other gems right here, instead of my own words like I usually do.

If you are in a dark place of suffering, or have been before, or want to arm up for battle in the future, this episode is for you.

Read below for some snippets, and then spend 30 minutes here, listening.

I was like, ‘Really, a second time? What didn’t I learn the first time, God?’

I stopped praying for awhile. I learned how much of my prayers were genie prayers. … asking God for this, and asking God for that. And ‘can you do this?’ and ‘can you do that?’

I developed this friendship with God in this really deep, dark place.

There’s an understanding in suffering that can only come from God.

We meet in a dark place, but it’s a beautiful place, too. Because God inhabits this dark place. It’s not the same darkness Satan inhabits.

Yes, I have received a lot of joy in suffering.

The beauty beyond the thorns is Jesus.

I can sit in fear and not be afraid because I know He’s working good in suffering.

I don’t know the why. But I trust. I know that He is good. And He is God, and He knows what He’s doing. So I’m just facing Him, and letting Him direct.

If anyone feels like they’re on a bumpy road, like washboard bumpy, instead of on a smooth road, that doesn’t mean your purpose is thwarted. Look at what God is trying to show you because it might be better than what you had planned.

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“The reality is: you are free.”

Paul Henderson said that during our podcast conversation when we recorded about two months ago, and I still have those words rolling around in my head.

More than the line of a worship song. More than a line in a podcast. More than a (good, true) soundbite. It is REALITY. I am free. You are free.

In this conversation, Paul Henderson—author and Dean of Students for an elementary & middle school—talks to us about living in that reality for ourselves and for the people around us. With constant encouragement and a raw faith that shows itself over and over, Paul talks about his decision to have a relationship with God, his work with his students, marriage, parenting, and more.

Listen in for 25 minutes of how to find freedom & then stay right in it, every single day.

Show notes

Slave No More: Conquering the Master Within

Paul Henderson online

Paul Henderson on Instagram (Fatherhood On the Fly)

Fellowship of Christian Athletes

Virginia Commonwealth University

Farmville, Virginia school system 1957-1964

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“Oh you’re used to that right? You guys move all the time.”

I’ve heard that sentence a few times because of the … 14? … collective residences we’ve had in the 16 years we’ve been married. The truth is, though, that it actually isn’t that easy based on the number of times you’ve done it in the past. Our last move was actually the most difficult, and our third was the easiest.

Heather Eberhart is a military wife—and the only repeat guest on Praise Through It (Together) this summer!—and she talks with such honesty and grace and knowledge about what it’s like having your military family uprooted … again. How do we parent through those huge transitions? How do we hold onto our faith and rest on God’s absolute promises when everything swirling around us feels the opposite of sure and absolute?

Listen in to find out how.

Show notes

Connect with Heather online

Sign up for Heather’s newsletter

Resources for the military family

Heather on Instagram

Kristen Strong

When Change Finds You

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Do you know someone in your life whose superpower is JOY?

If not, meet Dorina Gilmore. She is an author, speaker, and self-titled Glory Chaser. She teaches us how to chase God’s glory—look for his goodness & his glory—in every aspect of our lives. And this passion of her heart comes from a deeply sincere place, since the plan she had for her life has been thrown off course more than once.

Listen in for encouragement on how to see God’s glory in your big and small moments.

Show notes

Dorina online

Dorina on Instagram

Fort Bragg 10-miler

Army 10-miler

HaitiGO

Walk Run Soar

A Trip to the Garbage Dump: When God Enlarged My Heart for Mercy

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I’m not known for my love of social media, but Megan Ericson is. She is quite literally the one voice I listen to when I need or want to learn something about social media. She keeps it simple, easy, and judgment-free. And she is a JOY to talk to!

Megan walked me through the Instagram world in 2021 when I was part of her Instagram challenge. In this conversation, she walks us through the good side of social media, how to be a light in a world of trolls, and how to work your kids through the online space.

Social media is not going away, that is for sure. In its evolution over the last 20 years, we’ve heard everything from social media saves lives to social media has ruined the world.

Maybe there’s an in-between, and Megan can for sure teach us how to show up and be a positive light in the online space.

Show notes

MeganEricson.com

Megan Ericson on Instagram

Megan on Twitter

Megan on Facebook

Megan on LinkedIn

Kellerman’s Mountain House (Dirty Dancing Experience)

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Show notes

Drumline / Drum core

Hope Church

Eastman Kodak

Delco

Xerox

Zoom

Eastman School of Music

Praise Through It: Change

Psalm 46

Purpose Driven Life

Psalm 63

Sheltering Mercy

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Latasha & I could talk for hoursssssss.

We don’t here. You’re welcome. But it’s a great conversation filled with truth and laughter and new friendship. She is as open and honest as anyone could be about body image struggles from childhood all the way on up.

Listen in here for some great encouragement on eating those three cookies, exercising because it’s a privilege to do so, and loving the body God gave to and made for you.

Show notes

Overcome to Become podcast on SpotifyOvercome to Become podcast on AppleLatashaferguson.com

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Emily Bernath is an author, a spiritual leader, and a sexual assault survivor.

She shares all the pieces of her story in her books & with other women so that they might know their worth in Christ, no matter what has happened in their past.

In our chat, Emily reminds us that our identity is 100% rooted in God, in who He made us to be.

Show notes

Broken Lenses: Volume 1Broken Lenses: Volume 2Emily Bernath (website)Emily Bernath on Instagram

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Alana is a podcaster, podcast coach, entrepreneur, and constant encourager for (mostly) women (but sometimes men!) who are ready to live out their calling but aren’t quite sure how to get there. She is so passionate about dreaming with God, and then keeping Him in the center while we move toward that dream, that you can’t help but listen to her when she tells us what to do!

After chatting with Alana, I set up a solid (realistic) summer plan for journaling, dreaming, and setting a vision for my future with God in the middle of it.

Listen in for encouragement & inspiration to live the dreams God has put in your heart.

Show notesAlana Dawson onlineAlana Dawson on InstagramPodcasting Party FB groupBig Magic by Elizabeth GilbertLindsay LettersProductivity PrayerDawson’s CreekEnneagram

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Jenna Erlandson is a biological mom to five kiddos - after being told by years of infertility that she wouldn’t have a baby.

“I think we’re finally done proving the doctors wrong,” she said — after a surprise set of twins at the end of 2021!

Jenna is so generous with her story, her heart, and some hard mama truths that so many of us can relate to.

Show notesJenna Erlandson onlineBridge of the Faithful podcast on SpotifyBridge of the Faithful podcast on AppleSecret Confessions of a Mom Who Wants to QuitWhat is postpartum depression?What is postpartum anxiety?What is postpartum OCD?

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Kellie Haddock is a singer, a songwriter, and a Hope Giver.

She shows up on all socials in the brightest, happiest pink you’ll ever see.

And she talks to us about using hope as a choice, about how God trusts us with tragedy and what we can do with that, and why her new album is called Orchids From Fire.

Show notesKellie Haddock.comOrchids From FireKellie on InstagramKellie on SpotifyThank You Projectelisapreeston.com

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Asking myself, What will this choice look like in 30 years?is one of my daily cornerstones that helps me live well.

In 30 years, you’ll have built on habit after habit and what you have is what you will have built, and I’m not talking about tangible things like a specific size house or brand of car. I’m talking about the status of your heart.

If I want my daughter to know she is loved at all times, I’ll teach rather than scold.

If I want her to know that her creativity matters, I’ll hold my tongue when that creativity takes us on a wild, messy ride.

If I want my own heart to know that God made me on purpose and for a purpose, I’ll write my words and nobody else’s.

I want a future that holds a long line of choices that point to all of the above, and more.

I do that by constantly asking and answering that one question:

What will this choice look like in 30 years?

If you’re wondering how to use that question for yourself, listen in here or read right here!

Show notes

Barn doorsMy favorite chocolate chip cookiesEnneagramKellie Haddock

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Maybe, like me, you have a hard time recognizing when something needs to change.

We know that we’re restless and tired at the same time but we’re not sure why because we didn’t used to feel this way but nothing has changed…

We know that something feels off but we can’t put our finger on it.

We know that we need a break, but we’re not sure from what.

We know that we’re unhappy, but we look around at the people and the four walls holding us together and wonder what we’re unhappy about.

If you’re wondering how to recognize when something needs to change—and how to have the courage to change it--listen in here or read along here.

Show notes:Robin Jones Gunn - Sierra Jensen series

Magic Tree House -- Hour of the Olympics

James 1:17

Nike

Seasons episode of Praise Through It

Snow episode of Praise Through It (called Heart Pivots)

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There’s a difference between living in fear, and letting fear live with you.

There’s a difference between letting fear lead you, and letting it walk beside you.

Fear propels bravery. We literally cannot have bravery without fear, because without fear there would be no reason to be brave. We have to learn how to let the fear live beside us, walk along with us, but not win the moment.

If you’re wondering how to make sure fear doesn’t get the final say, listen in here or read right below!

Show notes:Leann Rimes - One Way Ticket (Because I Can)

Book of Common Prayer, 2019 Anglican Church of North America edition

Official definition of Fear

Emily P. Freeman - Next Right Thing Guided Journal

Read the transcript of this episode

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What is ‘praise’ to you?

What is ‘kindness’ to you?

What is ‘hate’ to you?

When I asked my 6-year-old daughter if she wanted to help me practice something with a microphone, I had no idea she’d need this little coaching when it came to recording a podcast episode. And I had no idea she’d have such strong, powerful questions.

I hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed recording.

If you’re wondering what a 6 year old thinks about praise, kindness, hate, fear, bravery, and fun, listen in!

Show notes:Donate to Annabeth’s Jump Rope for Heart (the 2022 version) challenge

Her favorite Bible story podcast

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Numbering our days.

Making them count.

Making them matter to us in a way that brings our heart closer to wisdom, & with a foundation of mercy, grace, kindness, goodness, love & faith.

If you’re wondering how to make the most of your days, listen in.

Show notes:Less Like Me by Zach Williams

Episode 19: Staying on Assignment

Psalm 90

Listen to the podcast episode of this blog

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We have upset, upheaval, and unrest at almost every major turn in our world right now. And every keyboard warrior has the answer to every one of them.

One remedy I think we forget: friendship.

It’s the friend who will come for me. A friend who will go into the dark for me. A friend who will say, it’s okay that you got yourself lost, I’ll help you find your way. A friend who will say, I’m on my way. A friend who understands that wayfinding is not my strength but doesn’t tease me about it until I’m out of the woods.

That is friendship.

And how well we would do if we leaned into that on a daily basis.

No matter your season of friendship — an awkward season, looking for a revival in that area, or are over-the-moon grateful for the friends in your life — listen in here or read right below!

Show notes:Friends from Elementary School Reunited on a Battlefield in Vietnam

Clean Streets: Sanitation workers recall their friendship on the streets of Manhattan

Friends During the Vietnam War Reunite Almost 50 Years After

Longtime Friends Reconnect in a Homeless Shelter

“You’re My Forever Love”: Reflections On Over 30 Years Of Friendship

Winnie the Pooh & friendship

Greg’s last Apache flight

Listen to the podcast episode of this blog

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The capital-S Seasons of our lives are the most obvious ones that bring change. A new job, relationship, child, weather season... all of those usher in change in a big way, they define us and times in our lives very clearly.

Lately, I've been more interested in the little-s seasons of our lives. The seasons of joy and sorrow, grief and rejoicing, anxiety and confidence.

I think we too often fold those little-s seasons into the big-S seasons, conflating the entire season with only one feeling, assigning ourselves these absolute traits based on the ebb and flow of the human experience. I think we miss the fact that these little-s seasons could be looked at as STATES of our lives instead of TRAITS of our lives and our personhood.

If you're wondering how to move in and out of the seasons of your life with some sanity and grace, listen in.

Show notes:

My Holocaust-Survivor Grandmother Found Happiness Everywhere. I See Her in My Daughter.

Friends

Mike & Molly

Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist

Psalm 48:14

Psalm 23

Ecclesiastes 3

My breakfast face

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Is there a way to feel less lonely, even in the midst of our loneliness?

What if it couldn't be cured, but it could be curbed? Alleviated in some way?

I think the answer lies in our shared humanity. Not necessarily looking into everyone's souls, but acknowledging we're not so alone in our feelings as we think we are. If only we would reach out, look around, sing some heart songs, and listen to other people's heart songs.

What does that mean?

Listen in to find out!

Show notes:

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist

Enneagram

Praise Through It, episode 20: Heart Pivots

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Monday mornings are for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC. When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life.

After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today.

If you want these blessings in your inbox as well as in your earbuds, sign up here. You'll hear from me on Monday mornings with encouraging notes for your daily life.

Wondering about the Enneagram? Email me here, get the Enneagram Overview freebie here, or read some info right here. Become part of my FRIDAY CREW - where together we learn and grow together in all things adulting, mostly using the framework of the Enneagram. Plus a fun GIF. Always a fun GIF. Sign up here!

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How & why does God change a heart?

What do we do when our heart starts to pivot away from our current situation? What do we do when our life or situation looks like nothing what we imagined it would, even though we thought we were making wise choices?

Here's what I think: those initial feelings, the excitement and anticipation before the disappointment, are often to get our buy-in. Like, God is going to do what God’s going to do but if we could see the end of it we’d pull the e-brake quicker than you can say Boo. So we get a picture in our heads of what we think it’s going to be, we get there and do the thing, then if we’re mature and willing enough, we’ll change our picture so that through our disappointment we learn, grow, embrace, enjoy, cherish, and hope.

Immeasurable gifts we would not know had our hearts not changed when God prompted them to change.

If your heart is changing, or you're hoping for it to change because you're feeling kind of stuck, listen in.

Show notes:

IG: canada

IG: paradise.canada

IG: parks.canada

IG: explorecanada

IG: artisan Kristine MacDonald

Enneagram

Listen to the podcast episode of this blog

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Monday mornings are for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC. When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life.

After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today.

If you want these blessings in your inbox as well as in your earbuds, sign up here. You'll hear from me on Monday mornings with encouraging notes for your daily life.

Wondering about the Enneagram? Email me here, get the Enneagram Overview freebie here, or read some info right here. Become part of my FRIDAY CREW - where together we learn and grow together in all things adulting, mostly using the framework of the Enneagram. Plus a fun GIF. Always a fun GIF. Sign up here!

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What would change for me if I looked at the little things I do, not as menial tasks that don’t matter, but rather as part of me being on assignment?

Laundry.

Dishes.

Dinner.

Looking in someone’s eye and saying HI, THANK YOU, and BYE.

Answering a text message.

Buying lemonade from a 6-year-old’s lemonade stand.

Sending a gift card.

Feeding your animals.

Making breakfast.

Going for a walk.

Going to the gym.

Raking the leaves.

Changing your pool filter.

Taking the lint out of the dryer.

Why?

Because what if me being on assignment was me building a life that mattered?

Listen in for some ideas on how to stay on & live out your assignment.

Show notes:

Forgiveness

Unity

Hope

Therapy

Faith

Character traits

Waiting

Presence

Tab Time trailer

My Mama & me

Enneagram

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Christmas is not the most wonderful time of the year for everyone. Various life circumstances and happenings can steal the joy of the season right from us. We experience grief, hurt, faintness of heart, and messy spirits.

The good news, though? No matter the state of our hearts? Christmas with Jesus offers grace, healing, faithfulness & mercy.

We bring him grief; He gives us grace.

We bring him hurt; He offers healing.

We bring him faintness of heart; He remains faithful.

We bring him our messy spirits & selves; He extends mercy.

Join me for this four-part series, each episode a snippet of hope if your Christmas is more blue than it is merry & bright.

//

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Christmas is not the most wonderful time of the year for everyone. Various life circumstances and happenings can steal the joy of the season right from us. We experience grief, hurt, faintness of heart, and messy spirits.

The good news, though? No matter the state of our hearts? Christmas with Jesus offers grace, healing, faithfulness & mercy.

We bring him grief; He gives us grace. We bring him hurt; He offers healing. We bring him faintness of heart; He remains faithful. We bring him our messy spirits & selves; He extends mercy.

Join me for this four-part series, each episode a snippet of hope if your Christmas is more blue than it is merry & bright.

//

Find extra encouragement on Instagram: @elisapreston

Join my Friday Crew! Framed by the Enneagram, we go through adulting & personality tips. Quick, actionable, helpful & entertaining! Plus, exclusive access to extra Enneagram content each week. Join me!

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Christmas is not the most wonderful time of the year for everyone. Various life circumstances and happenings can steal the joy of the season right from us. We experience grief, hurt, faintness of heart, and messy spirits.

The good news, though? No matter the state of our hearts? Christmas with Jesus offers grace, healing, faithfulness & mercy.

We bring him grief; He gives us grace.

We bring him hurt; He offers healing & hope.

We bring him faintness of heart; He remains faithful.

We bring him our messy spirits & selves; He extends mercy.

Join me for this four-part series, each episode a snippet of hope if your Christmas is more blue than it is merry & bright.

//

Find extra encouragement on Instagram: @elisapreston

Join my Friday Crew! Framed by the Enneagram, we go through adulting & personality tips. Quick, actionable, helpful & entertaining! Plus, exclusive access to extra Enneagram content each week. Join me!

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Christmas is not the most wonderful time of the year for everyone. Various life circumstances and happenings can steal the joy of the season right from us. We experience grief, hurt, faintness of heart, and messy spirits. The good news, though? No matter the state of our hearts? Christmas with Jesus offers grace, healing, faithfulness & mercy. We bring him grief; He gives us grace. We bring him hurt; He offers healing. We bring him faintness of heart; He remains faithful. We bring him our messy spirits & selves; He extends mercy. Join me for this four-part series, each episode a snippet of hope if your Christmas is more blue than it is merry & bright.  // Find extra encouragement on Instagram: @elisapreston Join my Friday Crew! Framed by the Enneagram, we go through adulting & personality tips. Quick, actionable, helpful & entertaining! Plus, exclusive access to extra Enneagram content each week. Join me!

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We can look at the success of our communication in two ways: the logistics--like, the actual thing that happens after the communication; and the long-term impact--any inside-out change that occurred as a result of the communication. The relationship, the character, the state of the heart.

Changing the outside is easy; it’s the inside-out change that makes all the difference. That’s where the heart stuff comes in. But when we change from the inside-out, when we do the heart work, everything else that flows from it is better because of that change.

So how do we change our communication from the inside out? How do we change our hearts so that our communication is pleasing and effective? I have three ideas.

First, we figure ourselves out.

Then, we seek to understand.

Last, we decide what’s worth it.

God’s love language is PEOPLE. He sent us a savior so that we would be free from the old law and embrace his final word of grace, and to me that says that people are pretty important to him. One way to honor that is by honoring his love language, honoring people. Which we can do when the goal of our communication is true, right, noble, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy.

Listen in for some ideas on how to up the love in your daily communication.

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Monday mornings are for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC. When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life.

After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today.

If you want these blessings in your inbox as well as in your earbuds, sign up here. You'll hear from me on Monday mornings with encouraging notes for your daily life.

Wondering about the Enneagram? Email me here, get the Enneagram Overview freebie here, or read some info right here. Become part of my FRIDAY CREW - where together we learn and grow together in all things adulting, mostly using the framework of the Enneagram. Plus a fun GIF. Always a fun GIF. Sign up here!

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Tell me the truth: how many times have you had some variation of the thought: I’m behind or I’ve got to catch up or I’ll never get to do all they’re doing. If you’ve scrolled any social media ever, the answer is probably: at least once. But if we’re all being honest, it’s way more than that. We see these people doing all these things and we see ourselves doing less.

And then we consider ourselves behind.

I guess, to me, how am I behind if that’s not my story to live and tell?

How am I behind if that’s not where I’m supposed to be?

How am I behind if that’s not my path?

So how can we use the emergency break on this comparison game that leaves us feeling so behind? I’ve got some thoughts in this episode & some extras on Instagram & Facebook all week. Follow along for some encouragement on seeing this old burden of keeping up & still feeling behind in a new way.

Show notes:

Episode 3: Filters

Friends

Thirtysomething

TGIF

Wonder Years

The Book of Acts: Bible Project

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Monday Morning Blessings: soulful meditations to start your week

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Monday mornings are for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC. When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life.

After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today.

If you want these blessings in your inbox as well as in your earbuds, sign up here. You'll hear from me on Monday mornings with encouraging notes for your daily life.

Wondering about the Enneagram? Email me here, get the Enneagram Overview freebie here, or read some info right here. Last Friday we started FRIDAY CREW - we're going to learn and grow together in all things adulting, mostly using the framework of the Enneagram. Plus a fun GIF. Always a fun GIF. Sign up here!

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Monday mornings are for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC. When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life.

After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today.

If you want these blessings in your inbox as well as in your earbuds, sign up here. You'll hear from me on Monday mornings with encouraging notes for your daily life.

Wondering about the Enneagram? Email me here, get the Enneagram Overview freebie here, or read some info right here. Last Friday we started FRIDAY CREW - we're going to learn and grow together in all things adulting, mostly using the framework of the Enneagram. Plus a fun GIF. Always a fun GIF. Sign up here!

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There is plenty of advice on how, why, and when to offer forgiveness. And there is so much behind the act of forgiveness that doesn’t just include the offense, it can be tough to know which direction to go.

So … What’s the thing that brings us to a point of forgiveness that is meaningful and lasting?

Honestly, the only thing I could think of over months of thinking about this, is committing to it. Deciding that once we decide to forgive, that’s it. We have forgiven and nothing may be held for that offense from that day on. How do we do that? Listen in for some thoughts.

Show notes:Cain and Abel

Jacob and Esau

Joseph and his brothers

I Love Lucy

Tom Brady & the NFL

The Grateful Dead

Cookie Monster

Sally’s Baking Addiction Chocolate Chip Cookies (have I made these almost every single week since March 2020? Yes. Commitment.)

Resources:

Domestic violence

Emotional abuse

BetterHelp.com

TalkSpace

Become part of my FRIDAY CREW - quick, actionable ADULTING tips, usually using the framework of the Enneagram. I promise interesting. I promise a GIF. I promise helpful. Right here or right down below.

Monday Morning Blessings: soulful meditations to start your week

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Monday mornings are for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC. When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life.

After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today.

If you want these blessings in your inbox as well as in your earbuds, sign up here. You'll hear from me on Monday mornings with encouraging notes for your daily life.

Wondering about the Enneagram? Email me here, get the Enneagram Overview freebie here, or read some info right here. Last Friday we started FRIDAY CREW - we're going to learn and grow together in all things adulting, mostly using the framework of the Enneagram. Plus a fun GIF. Always a fun GIF. Sign up here!

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Monday mornings are for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC. When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life.

After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today.

If you want these blessings in your inbox as well as in your earbuds, sign up here. You'll hear from me on Monday mornings with encouraging notes for your daily life.

Wondering about the Enneagram? Email me here, get the Enneagram Overview freebie here, or read some info right here. Last Friday we started FRIDAY CREW - we're going to learn and grow together in all things adulting, mostly using the framework of the Enneagram. Plus a fun GIF. Always a fun GIF. Sign up here!

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Monday mornings are for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC. When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life.

After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today.

If you want these blessings in your inbox as well as in your earbuds, sign up here. You'll hear from me on Monday mornings with encouraging notes for your daily life.

Today's podcast episode: The Daily Struggle of Gray Hair & Wrinkles. Listen on this same podcast feed!

Wondering about the Enneagram? Email me here, get the Enneagram Overview freebie here, or read some info right here. Last Friday we started FRIDAY CREW - we're going to learn and grow together in all things adulting, mostly using the framework of the Enneagram. Plus a fun GIF. Always a fun GIF. Sign up here!

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Gray hair & wrinkles?

Listen, this daily struggle hits all. of. us. With myriad ways to cover them up, maybe we can think of this old burden in a new way...

The first time my husband found a gray hair on the top of my head (because I’m not quite five feet tall so eventually someone was going to find the first one and it wasn’t going to be me) I am pretty sure I vehemently denied it. He thought it was hilarious. I thought it was the absolute opposite! I can’t very well look atop his head to see how well his hair follicles are faring through marriage and parenting and the ups and downs of careers and pandemics and such. Right? Right. So let it be, man.

Show notes:

Heather Gillis: Instagram post about going gray!

Wondering about the Enneagram? Start here!

Rod Stewart

Oil of Olay

Alan Jackson: The Older I Get

Get my FRIDAY CREW emails - quick, actionable ADULTING tips, usually using the framework of the Enneagram. I promise interesting. I promise a GIF. I promise helpful. Right here.

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Monday mornings are for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC. When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life.

After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today.

If you want these blessings in your inbox as well as in your earbuds, sign up here. You'll hear from me on Monday mornings with encouraging notes for your daily life.

Wondering about the Enneagram? Email me here, get the Enneagram Overview freebie here, or read some info right here. Last Friday we started FRIDAY CREW - we're going to learn and grow together in all things adulting, mostly using the framework of the Enneagram. Plus a fun GIF. Always a fun GIF. Sign up here!

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There is no way to live in the year of our Lord 2021 and not experience the tension of wanting or feeling the need to be in two places at once. We can’t do it with our bodies so we do it with our minds. Our bodies show up where they’re supposed to, when they’re supposed to, but that’s it. We go through the motions & are “here”, when really, we’re waaaaay over there. If you want some ideas on what the absence of presence does & how to move into a present life, listen in. Show notes: Get the FRIDAY CREW emails Take Heart: God’s Comfort for Anxious Thoughts by Lindsay Hausch Praise Through It Together with Lindsay Hausch Praise Through It: episode 1 - The Daily Struggle of Multitasking Learn more about the Enneagram

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Monday mornings are for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC. When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life.

After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today.

The Blind Side

If you want these blessings in your inbox as well as in your earbuds, sign up here. You'll hear from me on Monday mornings with encouraging notes for your daily life.

Wondering about the Enneagram? Email me here, get the Enneagram Overview freebie here, or read some info right here. THIS FRIDAY, Sept. 24, I start FRIDAY CREW - we're going to learn and grow together in all things adulting, mostly using the framework of the Enneagram. Plus a fun GIF. Always a fun GIF. Sign up here!

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Monday mornings are for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC. When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life.

After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today.

If you want these blessings in your inbox as well as in your earbuds, sign up here. You'll hear from me on Monday mornings & the 1st of every month with encouraging notes for your daily life.

Montgomery Gentry's Something to Be Proud Of (lyrics & video)

Wondering about the Enneagram? Email me here, get the Enneagram Overview freebie here, or read some info right here. Friday, Sept. 24, I start FRIDAY CREW - we're going to learn and grow together in all things adulting, mostly using the framework of the Enneagram. Plus a fun GIF. Always a fun GIF. Sign up here!

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Monday mornings are for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC. When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life.

After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today.

If you want these blessings in your inbox as well as in your earbuds, sign up here. You'll hear from me on Monday mornings & the 1st of every month with encouraging notes for your daily life.

Luke Bryan's Most People Are Good (lyrics & video)

Wondering about the Enneagram? Email me here, get the Enneagram Overview freebie here, or read some info right here. I'll have some more for you this fall, including coaching services!

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Sheila Gregoire is a gift to all of us. Her passion is strengthening marriages & families, and that is 100% clear in her work. Currently, her teaching is coming through on the topic of sex, an important one, yes?

We talk about her survey of 20,000 women who come from all points and ends of the ideological spectrum. She gives us numbers on what works and what doesn't, what culture has done to our men and women, and how we can make it better. She TEACHES & PREACHES, y'all. I promise.

Sheila is the face behind ToLoveHonorandVacuum.com, the largest single-blogger marriage blog. A sought-after speaker, she’s also an award-winning author of nine books, including The Good Girl’s Guide to Great Sex and her latest: The Great Sex Rescue, which has been featured in the New York Times Book Review, Publishers Weekly, and the Washington Post. Sheila has a Masters in Public Administration and Master of Arts in Sociology both from Queen’s University. Sheila built the successful blog, To Love, Honor, and Vacuum, with traffic of one million page views a month. Her email list is 45,000 strong and her social media reach is over 100,000. Her podcast, Bare Marriage, has more than 5,000 downloads each week. Sheila has spoken at churches and conferences around the globe. She is a frequent contributor at Family Life Canada events. She has bylines at Religion News Service, Relevant Magazine, and other news sources. Sheila and her husband Keith, a pediatrician, live in Belleville Ontario. They have two grown daughters and one very adorable grandson who lives down the road. She enjoys hiking, birdwatching, RV camping trips, and board games. And she knits - even in line at the grocery store.

We talk about:

Bare Marriage podcast

Co-author Joanna Sawatsky

Co-author Rebecca Gregoire Lindenbach

Fixed it for you series: Methadone statement

Love & Respect

What is a Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist?

The Great Sex Rescue

Enneagram overview

Enneagram Coaching

Connect with Sheila:

https://tolovehonorandvacuum.com

https://instagram.com/sheilagregoire

https://facebook.com/sheila.gregoire.books

https://twitter.com/sheilagregoire

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdO1v4LdyqZV-m_VMlH5VGg

https://greatsexrescue.com/

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For Summer 2021, Monday mornings will be for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC. When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life.

After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today.

If you want these blessings in your inbox as well as in your earbuds, you'll get a matching GIF (starting now!) & get a quick, actionable relationship strategy (starting this fall) - sign up here. You'll hear from me on Monday mornings & the 1st of every month with encouraging notes for your daily life.

Elisabeth Bennett's 60-Day Enneagram Devotional series: here.

Wondering about the Enneagram? Email me here, get on the shortlist to be the first to receive the Enneagram Overview freebie in a few weeks here, or read some info right here. I'll have some freebies for you this fall!

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Sarah K. Butterfield is the author of “Around the Clock Mom: Make the Most of Your God-Given Time”. She has a heart for empowering women to grow in their faith and be intentional with their time. She and her husband and two boys live in San Diego, where she loves the first sip of coffee, getting lost in a book, and overindulging in ice cream.

My kinda girl.

Today's conversation is so encouraging and full of so many gems for the mom who feels like she doesn't do enough, does too much of the wrong thing, and gets lost in the chaos of motherhood on a daily basis. (Are you raising your hand with me?!)

Connect with Sarah:

Website: https://sarahkbutterfield.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bysarahkbutterfield/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahkbutterfield/

We also talked about:Her book, Around the Clock Mom

Prayer apps:

Pray As You Go

Lectio 365

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For Summer 2021, Monday mornings will be for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC. When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life.

After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today.

If you want these in your email to match those GIFs (starting now!) & get a quick, actionable relationship strategy (starting this fall), sign up here. You'll hear from me on Monday mornings & the 1st of every month with encouraging notes for your daily life.

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What do we do when we feel like we're disappearing in our own life? When we look around and don't see ourselves anywhere?

Author Peyton Roberts talks about that on the podcast today. (Head over to IGTV, too, for the video interview!) Peyton's conversation hit me right in the heart. These military wives, man, they've gotten me every time this summer! Peyton speaks from the heart about connecting with God, connecting with her faith, connecting with essential parts of herself during a trying season in her life. She has oodles of wisdom for us, so listen in!

**Connect with Peyton

PEYTON H. ROBERTSAuthor, Beneath the SeamsAn Amazon #1 new release!**Watch the video book trailer

peyton-roberts.com

Subscribe to Receive Email Updates

Twitter // Facebook // Instagram // LinkedIn // Goodreads

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For Summer 2021, Monday mornings will be for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC. When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life.

After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today.

If you want these in your email to match those GIFs (starting now!) & get a quick, actionable relationship strategy (starting this fall), sign up here. You'll hear from me on Monday mornings & the 1st of every month with encouraging notes for your daily life.

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Is there anyone in your life you've watched and thought, "That is a beautiful human." That's Robin Eaton for me. I've known her for 7 years and I've learned so much from her personal and professional stories and experiences.

In today's conversation, Robin talks about parenting a child with exceptional needs. She talks about the challenges she and her family faced, but way more than that - she talks about the gift that Sam is and the gifts he's brought to the world.

Robin Eaton is a woman on the go… You can see her as a wife, mother, educator, or someone who enjoys staying active. But each area is a full time focus. She served as a classroom teacher for fifteen years & has spent the past eight years as a school wide technology facilitator ensuring students and staff success in a digital world. She believes in empowering learners of all ages. Her passion for children and education can be seen with her own two; a 20 year old daughter in college and a 17 year old son with exceptional needs. Her husband is a firefighter whose long shifts have always ensured she is prepped to handle any personal situation on her own. Robin also has two golden retrievers and she has just become a Gigi, or golden grandma. She enjoys cooking, kayaking, being on the beach, recently started running, and has a hard time saying no to a nap.

She talks about Tim Tebow's Night to Shine Prom, linked here.

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For Summer 2021, Monday mornings will be for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC. When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life.

After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today.

If you want these in your email to read the blessing a week or two before it's released here, sign up here. You'll hear from me on Monday mornings & the 1st of every month with encouraging notes for your daily life.

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You know the verse that talks about renewing your mind? Romans 12:2 - be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Well... how do we do that? Alicia Michelle gives us some great pointers on that today! She runs a Christian Mindset Makeover and gives us lasting tidbits of insight and practical tools in today's Praise Through It Together conversation.

Alicia is a certified NeuroCoach™, Bible teacher, speaker and host of the Vibrant Christian Living Podcast and You Tube Show. More importantly, she’s a lover of Jesus, a wife of 20 years to her best friend, and mom of four amazing kids ages 18 to 9.

Alicia struggled with overthinking, negative thoughts and “being enough” for most of her adult life until God radically transformed her heart after a life-threatening medical crisis. Now through her signature courses and coaching programs she loves equipping women with practical, scientific and biblically-based mindset tools to help them overcome negative thought patterns and discover more confident, joyful lives in Christ.

Connect with Alicia Michelle:Podcast

YouTube channel

VibrantChristianLiving.com

Facebook

Instagram

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If you're wondering why it matters to keep creating beauty, even though everything fades and nothing lasts, this is for you.

Sarah Geringer is a speaker, podcaster, artist and author of Transforming Your Thought Life: Christian Meditation in Focusand three self-published books. A teen girl version of Transforming Your Thought Life will be published in fall 2021.

She is on the devotional writing teams for Proverbs 31 Ministries, A Wife Like Me, Devotable, Hope-Full Living, Kingdom Edge Magazine and Woman 2 Woman Ministries.

Her heart for everything she does comes straight through in this conversation. We talk about finding inspiration from music, finding courage from history, and remaining with God in our hearts and minds so we can work and create out of an overflow.

When she’s not reading over 100 books per year, Sarah enjoys painting, baking, gardening and playing the flute. Her daily must-haves are hot tea, dark chocolate, and fresh flowers.

She lives in southeast Missouri with her husband and three children. Sarah writes and speaks about finding peace in God’s Word at sarahgeringer.com.

If you're looking for a half hour to slow down and be encouraged, pull up a seat and listen here.

Connect with Sarah:

facebook.com/sarahgeringercreates

instagram.com/sgeringer

twitter.com/sarahgeringer

pinterest.com/s105

youtube.com/c/sarahgeringercreates

sarahgeringer.com/podcasts

Amazon author page: Sarah's books

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For Summer 2021, Monday mornings will be for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC. When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life.

After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today.

If you want these in your email to read the blessing a week or two before it's released here, sign up here. You'll hear from me on Monday mornings & the 1st of every month with encouraging notes for your daily life.

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With my in-real-life friend Gina Rodriguez, we talk about the tension between being hopeful while honoring the hard things life brings us. Gina is such a joy to listen to and an even greater joy to talk to. You'll love her energy, the scriptures she talks about, and how she brings it all back to letting God have it all.

Gina Rodriguez is a military spouse and mom to five sons and one daughter. With a Master’s degree in Education and an E.D.S in Curriculum & Instruction, her heart’s passion is to serve and help students grow in all aspects of learning. Her motto “healthy from the INSIDE out” is evident in her approach to teaching the whole person. If she's not busy trying to keep up with laundry, finding new and easy recipes for her instapot, or reading, you will most likely find her at the gym strength training. Teaching is a talent that she has learned to see as a gift from God. She aims to serve and encourage all individuals to see the Word of God as a valuable resource; a lamp unto our feet.

Gina currently resides at Fort Bragg, NC. Connect with her on Instagram @ginarodriguez316 and at www.facebook.com/memyselfandtheone.

Show notes:

Proverbs 25:20

Psalm 120:1

Romans 15:4

Shakespeare poster

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Heather Eberhart is a speaker and writer inspiring military wives to serve their husbands well while finding their place in his world. She wears many hats as a triplet mom, mom of four, and Navy wife of more than ten years. When she’s not in writer or stay-at-home-mom mode, she enjoys leading worship at her local church, sewing and eating pizza on Fridays. Though the Navy uproots her often, Heather and her family currently call Chesapeake, Virginia home.

Heather speaks the milspouse language and had me near tears (though I'm not sure she knew that) with a few things she said. I've been an Army wife for 15+ years and I soaked this UP. I know you will too! If you're a military wife, sit back and be encouraged. If you love someone who is a military wife, this is who we are.

Connect with Heather:

Instagram @heatherleberhart

www.HeatherLEberhart.com

Resources (including the Which Military Spouse Are You? quiz we talk about!)

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For Summer 2021, Monday mornings will be for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC. When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life.

After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today.

If you want these in your email to read the blessing a week or two before it's released here, sign up here. You'll hear from me on Mondays & the first of every month.

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With her sweet spirit, podcaster and lover of books Beth Jordahl talks to us about community, postpartum depression, trying hard because not trying hard is worse, and what God does with us when we feel like we're at the bottom.

Beth is a wife, mom, podcaster and social media manager living in the Pacific Northwest. She loves books and coffee and Jesus. She thinks stories help us grow and she wants to help you share your story!

Show notes:

Curious about the Enneagram? Your Enneagram Coach is my favorite resource.

Kendra Adachi’s The Lazy Genius Way

Sarah Clarkson’s Book Girl

If:Gathering

Connect with Beth:@bethjordahl on:

Instagram

Facebook

TikTok

Twitter

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My favorite line from this conversation: Unlearning my limitations.

Tori's story is full of faith, full of God's big dreams, full of lessons for any of us who have allowed limitations and fear to seep in where it doesn't belong. Join two friends/military spouses/girl moms as we chat about what it means to follow God's small steps into something big.

Tori Evans is a wife, mother, award-winning military photographer, & author. Over the past few years, she has documented thousands of trainees going through Basic Combat Training. Tori is an Army veteran who knows first-hand what it takes to become an American Soldier. She captures moments that are raw, honest, and familiar making each viewer feel a connection. Her love for storytelling has crossed over into photojournalism. Tori's military images are displayed in museums, routinely featured on Army and DoD websites as well as publications such as Army Times, and Army marketing campaigns across social media.

Recent awards:

2020 Military Visual Awards - Pandemic-3rd place

2020 U.S. Army's Year in Photos Feature

2020 South Carolina Press Association - Feature Photo - 2nd place

Connect with Tori:www.torievansphotographer.com

Instagram: @torievansphotographer

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For Summer 2021, Monday mornings will be for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC.

When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life.

After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today.

If you want these in your email to read the blessing a week or two before it's released here, sign up here. You'll hear from me on Mondays & the first of every month.

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Rachael Groll is an ordained minister, missionary, and author. Her latest book, She Hears: Learning to Listen to Jesus comes out June 29 and is available wherever books are sold. Rachael has a heart for pointing others to Jesus and serves across the globe in the areas of evangelism and discipleship. You can connect with her at her website, Shehears.org

Rachael has such a heart for empowering women to use their voice to serve and advance the Kingdom of God, and that is so clear in this conversation. I learned from her in our short time together, and I hope you will too! Rachael's book, She Hears: Learning to Listen to Jesus, is out now and is linked below!

Connect with Rachael:

Website: Shehears.org

Apple Podcast: She Hears Podcast

Instagram: she_hears

Facebook: She Hears

Email: rachael@shehears.org

Download a free sample of She Hears: Learning to Listen to Jesus: Free Sample of She Hears

Purchase on Amazon: Purchase She Hears on Amazon

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Dr. Camden Morgante is a licensed clinical psychologist and adjunct college professor. She writes and speaks about Christianity, psychology, and gender equality and is a regular contributor to Christians for Biblical Equality’s blog Mutuality. She is currently writing a book on the myths of purity culture. Camden lives in Knoxville, TN with her husband and their daughter.

This conversation with Dr. Camden is full of compassion and conviction for Biblical sexuality and what purity culture and the shame surrounding it can do to a relationship and to the broader cultural conversations on sex, marriage, gender equality, and more. You won't want to miss this conversation or the free quiz on her website: Which purity culture myth affects you?

Connect with Dr. Camden:

www.drcamden.com

Facebook

Instagram

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For Summer 2021, Monday mornings will be for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC. When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life. After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today. If you want these in your email to read the blessing a week or two before it's released here, sign up here. You'll hear from me on Mondays & the first of every month.

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Leslie is a licensed therapist, mama of two babies, and wife to her hubby Christian. She writes, speaks, and podcasts with a heart to encourage weary moms to keep their flame of faith alive right in the thick of these exhausting and overwhelming days of early motherhood.

In this conversation we chat about maintaining spiritual depth during the early, exhausting years of motherhood. There is no shame here for the tired mama who wants to keep her faith going, only encouragement.

Connect with Leslie:

MotheringByFaith.com

Free Motherhood Mindsets Devotional

Instagram: @leslie.konhaeuser

This Beautiful Truth by Sarah Clarkson

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Anxious thoughts and Jesus go together like battle and a sword. Lindsay so kindly talks us through how un-tidy anxious thoughts can be, and how Jesus is ready on the daily to minister to our hearts.

Join us for a conversation on anxious thoughts, faith, parenting through anxiety, and more.

Connect with Lindsay:

@comfortforanxiety on Instagram

@comfortforanxiety on Facebook

www.LindsayHausch.com

Take Heart: God’s Comfort for Anxious Thoughts

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For Summer 2021, Monday mornings will be for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC.

When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life.

After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today.

We start our series off with a a Blessing for Softness, inspired by author & therapist Aundi Kolber's book, Try Softer.

If you want these in your email to read the blessing a week or two before it's released here, sign up here. You'll hear from me on Mondays & the first of every month.

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Jessica Alessio is a secondary school principal in the greater Phoenix Arizona area. Recently completing her fourth year as school principal, she has a passion for crisis leadership in schools and is currently working on her first book titled Crisis Leadership for School Administrators: Leading Authentically and Effectively Through Calamity. Areas of emphasis include building leadership capacity in both teenagers and adults, and incorporating sacred rhythms into her daily routines. Prior to her leadership roles, Jessica has served as a secondary Spanish and Psychology teacher as well as Curriculum and Instruction Specialist. She holds several degrees in education, including a B.S. in Secondary Spanish Education and B.A. in Psychology from Indiana University, Bloomington as well as a M.Ed in Instructional Design from Western Governors University. She shares her daily adventures in school leadership on her IG account (linked below).

Coming out of a school counseling career in November 2020, this conversation put me right back in the halls of my school. Jess talks about rootedness in Jesus as the number one key to survival these last 16ish months. Listen in for an encouraging, inspiring conversation on faith and schools and leadership and Jesus.

Connect with Jess on Instagram: @Principal_Jess

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Jenn Whitmer helps teams and leaders solve conflict and personality clashes. She speaks, writes, and coaches about hard topics with infectious joy. Through working with Jenn, people improve communication, work through conflict, and build self-awareness with the Enneagram. She asks big questions that lead to big dreams and big ideas and big living. Usually, that means laughing.

Today it's all about...

Conflict resolution.

Human Connection.

Communication.

Boundaries.

TALKING on the phone (not just texting).

Leadership.

We go through it all with Jenn. She is so generous with her knowledge and insights. Join us for this conversation on workplace conflict, human connection, and more.

Connect with Jenn:

JennWhitmer.com

Freebies

Facebook Group, The Women Leaders Circle: Using the Enneagram for Success in Life and BusinessFacebook: @jennwhitmerspeaksInstagram: @jenn_whitmerTwitter: @jenn_whitmerLinkedIn: Jenn WhitmerMedium: Jenn WhitmerClubhouse: @jenn_whitmer

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For Summer 2021, Monday mornings will be for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC.

When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life.

After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today.

We start our series off with a a Blessing for Softness, inspired by author & therapist Aundi Kolber's book, Try Softer.

If you want these in your email to read the blessing a week or two before it's released here, sign up here. You'll hear from me on Mondays & the first of every month.

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Why do I need therapy if I have God?

A great question… attempted to be answered in this podcast episode.

A quick hit answer: you have a series of hurts you’ve encountered over your lifetime. (None of that is your fault, by the way). Those hurts have burrowed down in your heart.

(Told you it was a quick answer!)

If you or someone you know wonders, What’s the point of therapy if I read my Bible and talk to God everyday?, then this episode is for you/them. A couple stories, a couple good illustrations, a great case made for why therapy is for everyone.

Show notes:

That Sounds Fun episode 298 with Michelle Williams

Aundi Kolber, author & therapist

That Sounds Fun episode 296 with Thad Cockrell

Dr. Anita Phillips

You Asked! About Therapy on In the Light podcast with Dr. Anita Phillips

PsychologyToday.com to Find a Therapist

West Wing episode with boat parable

We’re Going There with Bianca Juarez Olthoff: Episode 16 with Lecrae: Deconstructing to Reconstructing Faith

BetterHelp.com

TalkSpace.com

Dr. Caroline Leaf

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Does your faith feel tired?

I can relate. And it's got me wondering... what's true about having tired faith?

Well, I know this:

What’s true is that faith is like anything else: you’ll find a lot of messages on how to do it quote-unquote “right”.

What’s also true is God never said your faith would disappear on Tuesday when you didn’t feel like praying on Monday. He sent his son to say: come to me all who are weary, and I will give you rest.

What’s true is God never said that your faith depends only on you and the energy of your soul to keep going 100 mph in His direction. He sent his son to tell you: I will give you peace in a way that nothing else can.

Listen in to episode 12 of Praise Through It to hear more on the topic.

Show notes:

Yes, I want a scripture bundle!

Episode 7: Introverts Should Win the Space, Too

Take Heart: God’s Comfort for Anxious Thoughts by Lindsay Hausch

Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing (performed by Chris Rice)

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Are you waiting for something?

When we were kids, waiting was the worst, right? I mean, does it get any better? Any easier? But when we were kids, waiting five minutes for Mom to get the ice cream out and ready felt like forever. Our expectations were that five minutes equals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Done! What changes as we get older is that our sense of time changes; we know that instead of just counting to five we actually have to count to 60 five separate times. What does not change is the fact that we hold our own expectations of what should happen and when exactly it should happen.

There is definite value in waiting. Listen in to hear my thoughts on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy about that four-letter word: wait.

Show notes:

The Next Right Thing, episode 18: Wait With Great HopeThe Next Right Thing, episode 48: Receive the Waiting TimeWaiting by Kevin HenkesMy Google search on “books on waiting”Ecclesiastes 3 (NIV)

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I used to go to friends’ houses & marvel at how much neater they were than mine. They had more kids, more stuff, and less time than I did … so why did it seem like they did life better than I did?

As I dealt with the monster of comparison with these women who I love so much, I realized two things: the comparison was my problem, not theirs; and these families had more and different space than I did. So I wasn’t doing anything wrong, just different. And plus: just because we don’t see the mess, doesn’t mean it isn’t there.

Listen in to hear thoughts on the value of living our mess out loud: what it can do for our brains, our bodies, and our relationship with the creator of the universe and the curator of our hearts.

Show notes:

Sign up for Monday Blessing

Psalm 139:13-14 - God knit you together

Hebrews 4:16 - Approaching the throne with confidence

Genesis 1:27 - God created mankind in His image

Dr. Caroline Leaf

Brain Rules by John Medina

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Sometimes it feels like life is catching fire and you’re powerless to stop it. All around you something is going wrong, one way or another, and you’re just trying to get from sunrise to sunset without setting off any landmines. And when that kind of season is upon us, I think we tend to tip-toe and just make do. We tire of showing up, we tire of trying again and again. We feel wrecked right along with whatever has come undone.

What if we saw the value of salvaging what’s left, rearranging, and finding the delicious inside the disaster?

We might wonder...

What is the beauty in salvaging what’s left? What’s the point?

What’s so great about rearranging?

What’s so special or what is the point about finding the delicious inside the disaster?

Listen in (or read the transcript here) to hear some thoughts.

......

Show notes:

When the Marshmallows Catch Fire (original blog)

S’mores Pie recipe

Burning water on the stove…

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What’s the key to moving through life’s transitions, both big and small? I’m not sure there’s one perfect answer, but I do know that one of the things I’ve found most helpful is this: curiosity. If you’re moving through a life transition or have done so recently, listen in to find out how curiosity can stave off frustrated tears & maybe some gray hairs.

Because maybe curiosity killed a cat, but it doesn’t always have to. Let’s find out what’s true, right, noble, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy about curiosity in our daily grind.

Show notes:

Brain Rules by John Medina

John Medina Ted Talks (Google search)

Curiosity by Pocket Fuel

Pocket Fuel home

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Are you an introvert or have you always been considered 'quiet' and you just want people to know: just because I don't share immediately doesn't mean I have nothing to share? Or are you on the ... louder? ... side of the introversion/extroversion spectrum and you're wondering how to love your quiet people well? 

The quiet ones tend to hide behind our books and our Kindles and our screens and our kids and our pets and our writing, but introverts matter and want to win the space sometimes, too. In a world that finds extroverts more attractive, we just want to know that we're enough, that we have value.

How can introverts win the space more often than we do? Quiet and loud ones: listen in to find out.

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Wondering why you love your people, except for that one thing they say or do that drives you absolutely bananas? Should we try to change that or should we just deal with it? All character traits have alter-egos, and each side of these character traits exist in you and me and people we know. Saying “that’s not who I am” or “that’s not who they are” isn’t really a true statement because if it came out of us, it’s a part of us. And I think we forget that without this part of the person we wouldn’t have that part. And we love that part.

Show notes:Praise Through It episode 5: Going All In on Hope

Dr. Caroline Leaf: Switch On Your Brain

Daily Lent reflections: Lenten Shorts 2021

Say hi: hello@elisapreston.com

Trauma / Healing / Learning / Growing Resources:Dr. Anita Phillips - YouTube & podcast learning about trauma healing

Osheta Moore - peacemaking resource

(in)courage - encouraging reminders of various facets of faith

Michael Shahan therapy on Instagram

Kathryn Arnett on Instagram

Kristin Vanderlip: Processing the Pandemic

Emily P. Freeman: The Next Right Thing Journal


This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

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I just know that I have to start dreaming again. I can’t wait for all the things that are out of my control to get better or to change enough so that I feel free. I just can’t do that to myself. I have to plan vacations for next year. I have to think about first grade for my daughter. I have to decide that I want to learn to ski next winter. Even if none of it happens, I have to dream. I have to be optimistic and hope that they do happen.

Show notes:

The sunrise pre-all-in hot tub/pool extravaganza

Praise Through It episodes

Dr. Caroline Leaf: Switch On Your Brain

Daily Lent reflections: Lenten Shorts 2021

Say hi: hello@elisapreston.com


This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

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What happens when the light & dark seasons get mixed up? What happens when we expect light, and instead the darkness surprises us? Where do we go with that? Listen in (or read on with the transcript) to find out some thoughts on what to do when a dark season surprises us.

Mentioned in Episode 4:

Scatter Seeds of Kindness

Tsh Oxenrider’s Shadow & Light

Transcript

Praise Through It episodes

Praise Through It: Same Life, Different Filter

Say hi: hello@elisapreston.com


This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

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What if filters give us a way to look at the same thing in a different way. Not necessarily an untrue way, just different.

What if a filter was just a way to bring out something true we didn’t see before?

Show notes:

The Popcast with Knox & JamieThe Bible BingeThe Next Right Thing (book)The Next Right Thing (journal)The Next Right Thing (podcast)

Praise Through It: Daily Filters


This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

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Can it be enough that we each have different burdens and ideas? Does it have to be, ‘my burden is heavier than yours,’ and ‘put that down so you can carry this with me’? Can it be, ‘I see that’s heavy. So is mine. Let’s walk together in case one of us falls, the other can help.’? In our homes, and beyond. First in our homes, then beyond. Show notes: Joy Vetterlein + responding to extreme events: https://www.instagram.com/p/CJxHJXfhIk4/ Latasha Morrison: Be the Bridge: https://latashamorrison.com/ & https://latashamorrison.com/book/ Below are scripture references for each characteristic of God mentioned in the episode. Justice Exodus 34:7 Jeremiah 22:3 Proverbs 31:8 Isaiah 1:17 Micah 6:8 Love John 3:16 Romans 5:8 Romans 8:38-39 1 John 4:9-10 2 John 1:6 Compassion Exodus 34:6 Lamentations 3:22-23 Psalms 86:15 Psalms 103:13 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Truth Exodus 20:16 Psalms 25:10 Psalms 111:8 Isaiah 65:16 John 17:17 Romans 2:2 Advocacy Proverbs 31:8-9 Job 5:15-16 Jeremiah 22:3 Zechariah 7:8-10 Matthew 25:40 James 1:27 1 John 2:1 Peacemaking Matthew 5:9 Romans 15:7 Galatians 6:2 Ephesians 4:3 Colossians 3:14-15


This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

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We live in a world that praises multitasking. In parenthood, in work, in basic life chores, in texting expectations, in relationships. Everything. We so value finishing and producing that we pull ourselves and our brains in a million directions every day. Well … What if we slowed down? What if we did one thing at a time? One conversation. One task. One relationship. I’ll get less done, you say. Or, ain’t no way; have you seen my life!?, you say. I don’t know. Let’s see.


This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

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This is a podcast where we're going to practice seeing the good through the bad, the beauty through the mess, the order through the chaos.

Praise Through It has a foundation of Philippians 4:8, which says: Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is commendable, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

In each episode, I will give you a story, a perspective, and a blessing. Always an encouragement and a simple perspective shift, something to help your heart hold on to something good.

COMING JANUARY 2021!


This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app