Courageous~Radiance: Recent Episodes
Brittany Dixon
-She’s Dressed for the Narrow Gate- I am glad you are here! Ladies, grab your sword (the Bible), tea/coffee and cozy up weekly.
I hope that you will join me in engaging discussions centered on one purpose, Christ-centered living, through the lens as a wife, momma, and nurse.
I pray that you experience encouragement, laughter, and heart challenging content.
Let’s set ourselves apart in a magnificient way. We are knee deep in the world trenches; loving people, staying engaged, but from the path that God desperately wants us to follow.
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There are songs I have memorized, and haven’t payed attention that I had committed to memory until the song comes on the radio and I start to sing along. Reciting scripture or certain Biblical passages, likewise studying the Bible is vital to the success of circumstantial victories. Many times, reflection on applicable scripture reframes my situation to not be on the level field as God, encourages me, and it gives me peace in spite of what I am dealing with. Psalm 62 chants more than once that God is our Rock and therefore we are not be be shaken. That is good news in light of reality, and it is hope in spite of what is uncertain.
God’s disclosure statement is written from cover to cover in the Bible, and no different than those before us, He wants us to believe and trust Him. In the face of adversity or difficulty we can either activate our fears or our faith; the former pulls us back and the other moves us forward. In Exodus 13-14, we will read and discuss God’s big picture overarching our circumstances, which is what we can use to activate step by step, moving us ahead. Thanks for listening!
In life there are not many certainties, but one thing that can be agreed on is that if you keep living it is inevitable that life dishes out problems. In John 16:33, Christ removes any false assumptions and guarantees that life will, in some way, be disappointing or frustrating. But, our hope is in Him we have peace through any difficulties and shortcomings. The disciples of Jesus hit some chopping waters and storms in Mark 4, in which Christ further illustrates that He is present with us in the trials. How are you weatherproofing your life? Thanks for listening!
If I asked you what are the 2 most important things that you commit to for your physical wellness, would the health of your teeth make the cut? I don’t know about you, but I want the report the dentist gives to reflect no cavities and improvement of my gums, without the dedication. When I short cut discipline, I try to makeup for lost time and get the same results as though I have been committed.
Similar to dental visits, and other areas that you could stand to improve, where does God rank in importance within your life? If you are a vase, and the stones sitting outside of the vase need to be placed inside, in order of priority, and the stones are different sizes, what goes in first? Do you place the big stones in first? Should you fill the jar with smaller stones then put the larger ones in at the top?
God is the big stone. Even if you haven’t accepted the whole Christianity piece, and in spite of the disbeliefs that may be present. I want to testify that God is the big stone. God in any other place, but the center, the first priority stone in our life jar, means that somewhere, somehow our life is out of balance.
Are your procrastinating your spiritual pursuits towards God because you believe that you have time later? This is a risk that is not worth taking. We get to reorient our lives to reflect the scale that God has in mind for our relationship with Him.
Will you run after connection with Him and pleasing Him more than anything else, and not just in the crisis?
Thanks for listening in!
There was a song in mid 1990s called “Mo Money Mo Problems”, and it resonates when I think about money. From childhood on, we are trained to run after money, even if not directly said, it can be inferred by way of our laser focus on our career. I associated money with security, and I did a horrible job, for decades, to understand my relationship to money. As we wrap up the prior weeks discussion regarding mind transformation and becoming the “new me” or better version of ourselves, it would be a huge oversight for me to not include my financial mismanagement. From low credit scores, to bankruptcy, and over 100K in student loan debt, in my lifetime I have successfully written the chapters to a book I like to call “What NOT to do with money.” When Christ has invited us to live an abundant life in Him (John 10:10), there is no area in our lives that should go untouched. This week my husband has joined in order to give his expertise, as a financial advisor, along with his own life baggage application as to why we must be vigilant to renew and align our minds with what God says should be our priority. Thank you so much for joining in to the podcast!
Becoming the better version of ourselves comes with the prerequisite course named “Anchoring in Certainty.”God’s unchanging personhood is that foundation we can latch into for our stability within the constant changing circumstances of life. We can turn on the TV, visit the doctor, or receive a phone call to find out life altering information; nothing is certain. Furthermore, the fickleness of our relationships and interactions with others disqualifies this area as being our go to for security. When battling a bent such as insecurity, it can be an uphill fight to not struggle with constant doubt, comparison, self-hatred, and lack of perfection issues. As we continue to navigate arriving and thriving in the abundant life Christ has invited us to (John 10:10), we are talking through the transformation of our habits (Romans 12:2) specifically dealing with insecurities. Thank you for joining and listening in today! I appreciate you being on this page today! I pray this encourages and challenges you.
I believe that we all are diligently striving to develop into the better version of ourselves. The beginning of change can be initiated as long as you are ready to shed light and recognize that some areas in your life need tending to. It is rewarding and challenging to transition into a stronger “me”! I pray that you are ready to throw out your anchor in this mind transformation process, in order to latch onto the only certainty of your peace and success in this process. Christ is waiting for the opportunity to be tagged into your issues! Today, I am unveiling my bent of anxiety. Do you struggle with this as well? Let’s stop normalizing anxiety as a personality trait and take control of this! Let’s not let one more day pass that we allow our anxiety to rule our decisions, relationships and our lives. We are jumping from Isaiah to 2 Corinthians (and a few more in between) in our reading. Thanks for listening in!!
Real quick, in 10 seconds, tell me one person that you have a difficult relationship with?
Who pushes the buttons for you? Are you easily offended? Can you recall past relational pain that has severed your ability to maintain healthy relationships?
In Romans 12:2, we are encouraged to embrace the sacrificial life that Christ has ahead of us, but only by first taking ahold of your thinking and establishing healthy habits centered around mind renewal processes.
On this episode let's discuss empowerment in becoming our "new self" (Colossians 3), through renewing our mind and tearing down old habits that are not beneficial for this transformation. This week we are talking all things forgiveness. Can you identify any challenges involved when there are remnants of unforgiveness? I cannot imagine the pain that is very real in your story, and I do not believe that the process of forgiving and moving ahead is easy. Forgiveness is difficult, and even though it is NOT easy to abandon the need to build up emotional walls and withhold displaying love to others, Jesus adds a "but" on the playing field, which invites us to an emotional unleveling to be undertaken.
I appreciate your listening and being here!
I’m so glad you’re here!! Are you subscribed to weekly podcast?
Have you ever, or do you regularly reassess your view of Christ? Who do you believe He is (Luke 9)? What we think about God aligns with our faithfulness to obey and stay the unique path that He has given us. We are discussing King Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 29-32) again from the vantage point of both his success and pride.
Is Christ at the forefront of our lives or do our thoughts and values get in the way? Who ranks first: you or Him?
This week we are dealing with the value of nestling ourselves under the loving guidance and protection of Christ.
I hope you will stick around! Thanks for listening!!
Thanks for landing here!
We are discussing the life of King Hezekiah; his running start and his success in a BIG way.
What was his secret? Not only is it noted in 2 Chronicles 29 that he was a king in alignment with God, but that he was consumed with his life being deeply rooted into his "hub".
God, as the center of our lives, will align us and therefore He will empower us to have success in the purposes that He has planned for our lives. Success and prosperity were given to King Hezekiah, 2 Chronicles 31, however it was only after his life was fully engolfed into a life connected with God.
What do you envision for your life? How connected are you to God? The motivation of our connection is not a demandingness for worldly defined success. Our driving force is humility, and a surrendered heart should be the essence of our posture.
I want more connection! I want to be all that God has created me to be!
Thanks for listening.
Thank you for landing here!
I hope you will stay for this 2nd part of "And they Lived Happily NEVER after."
We are discussing for another week the difficult topic of mastering love from a Biblical view. Love is the first listed Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5, and it can be very challenging, yet the Bible talks about how much hinges on us exhibiting this fruit in our daily lives. Our marriages are no different from the importance of knowing how to flesh out love in a dynamic way.
My husband joins me yet again and I am excited to have him be a part of the weighty topic of love + marriage + winning. Our win is defined in Ephesians 5:21, so join us for what it is that this says.
No children to distract us, just the bothersome background noise of our fellow neighbor, a train, so let's jump right in!
I am SO grateful that you have found your way here!
Did you get married and say to yourself "Life is going to be better because of (insert your spouse's name)"?
If you don't want to own the idea that, your life has arrived or get's better as a result of your boo, I will raise both my hands and take FULL credit for this false assumption for you!
Almost 14 years later, we have swam through years of infidelity, anger, unforgiveness, and strife. Not to mention, we had to deal with combined failed expectations as a parent when both of our sons were diagnosed with Autism.
My husband Eddie has joined me to discuss yet another fruit of the spirit, love which is so fitting post Valentine's Day. We are tackling this discussion about love from the perspective of what love even is, where does it fit into a marriage, and how do you navigate the growth of this Fruit of the Spirit when the one you love is not deserving.
Join me for another discussion! Thank you for listening!
Raise or wave your hand if you can relate to this; I do not like to wait.
If you have mastered this art, then I am impressed, this remains an area that needs stretching and testing. It's up for debate if the difficulty in waiting on God, or a career, change in relationship status, or even if in the back of the Chipotle line is hard because I am productive and feel as if I am wasting time, or if I can attribute it to the influence of the culture around me. Maybe it is a blended version of them both.
Waiting is not easy, convenient and it is hard to surrender to the unknown of how it will all work out in the end. However, there is a solution to the pressing issue of patience, or lack there of, have a seat. The absence of moving does not suggest lack of productivity, but rather it reframes the your sitting as doing more, not less.
Join me for another discussion within the topic of The Fruits of the Spirit!
If you are asked to rank your happiness, what would your score be from 1-10?
If you were then asked to rank your joy, 1-10, how would that score compare to "happy"?
Joy and happy, is it the same? How can you elevate your joy to the point that it is overflowing not only within your life, but it also pours out into anything and anyone that you impact?
I am so grateful for you to listen to another episode! We are talking about the second Biblically accounted Fruit of the Spirit within this episode. I pray that this greatly motivates and encourages you.
I hope you will join me for the next Fruit of the Spirit up for discussion; we are talking all things peace! On the hamster wheel...off...back on the wheel...and off again. Have you spent all your time running after the #peace? If you are dropping the hashtag, is it sustaining in every situation no matter the season that lies ahead? Your peace implant is waiting for expansion and stretching if only you would realize both where it comes from and Who controls it. Thanks for listening!!
A sought out characteristic of faithfulness is not one that is without a cost or inconvenience, yet it brings greatness!The ability to be faithful in every circumstance, life season and relationship is a challenge that I have accepted and I pray you are tugged to develop. God wants us to be our best in the middle, for the purpose of working on our heart and to sharpen who we were made to become.There is a cost, but with it comes a promise of God's providing for all that we need to press through.Thanks for joining! I hope you will keep listening, so please "like" and "subscribe" to hear more.
2021! Happy New Year! I army crawled my way out of 2020 into both excitement and hesitation of what this year will bring. As usual, I started off with a prior year(s) assessment and goal planning, but with a new specificity. Do you experience any discouragement when you review that prior goals are unmet and prayer requests remain unanswered? Is your rebound response to keep believing and standing in unwavering faith or doubt that God is working in your life? In positive energy and hopefulness of what God has or what is to come, we may subtly place demands that God must answer. Let’s be ladies who are full of faith and belief in God, in combination with a heart posture that is full surrender to His authoritative power and will.Thank you for stopping by to listen!~Brittany 💜
CAUTION: Some of this discussion includes sexual content.My family and I recently watched Wonder Woman and I am inspired. I think of the act of submission to our spouses as needing a "super" strength to pull it off. Your "super" power is your anchor to Christ not your willpower. Unfortunately, your strength and powers will weaken if you compromise your relationship with God; He has to be the unmovable tool by which this hinges on.Why we submit to our spouse, boss, parents, etc is not a waste. God is glorified because of your distinct example, and the world is watching, and more importantly He is pleased!Thank you for stopping by!~Brittany
I am so grateful you have stopped by!Briefly think of an area of your life that is associated with a sense of frustration, negativity and failure. Whatever or whoever is connected to the the term "always" or "never", may point to the need of some destruction and reframing of the perceived insurmountable giant ahead of you. Join me in this discussion, and bring with you the high hurdle goal(s) or unchanging circumstances as we explore what God has to say about the impossible task or resistant relationship that you find your life weighed down by. ~Brittany
Faith can be such a vague concept and statement, yet it is at the core essence of what we ladies need to exercise and develop if we are to be obedient to God in all that we do. He loves us so much, and He wants our trust in His love and in His strength to both comfort and guide is through the times of life that there is only blindness and uncertainty of what comes next.Please join me!
In the certainty of uncertainty occurring, and in the very normal tidal wave ups and downs of life, what is the key for your keeping it all above water? Who or what is your go to in the cascade of events after facing a problem?
Ladies, God loves YOU!! He is crazy about you. He created a crazy rescue plan for the world, with you in mind, all because He loved you from the beginning of He and Christ constructing the earth. Let that be your reminder, and your anchor in any situation. He is our shield, guide and protection. He is faithfully working behind the scenes of your life, all for His glory and because He loves you.
Join me in a discussion in 2 Corinthians 4. Our hidden life in Christ, and our hope anchored in Him who lives in us, will get us through any season!
Thanks for listening.
Are you ready for the first step towards a relationship with God? Are you ready to experience Him more deeply? We wrap up Psalm 23 today, and discussing the necessary topic of your heart.
We want to be ladies who are walking in the purpose designed for our lives and thriving in any circumstance and amongst the list of perceived failures or unanswered prayers. We want to experience Christ's abundance in our day-to-day, but to do so authentically and passionately.
I want for myself, and you all to attest to the overflow life that God has mapped out ahead of time for the sake of His loving-kindness for you.
Thanks for listening!
God has an amazing plan and purpose for your life, to include using the circumstances that have hindered and clipped our wings.
The low seasons and difficult trials are scary and frustrating! Our fear, however, is met with encouragement in the truth that God is our Shepherd and our Provider through and through.
Thank you for listening!
You may have heard the verse "The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want" in Psalms 23. Today, I am discussing this along with the story of the Samaritan woman in John 4.
There is no greater time than now to retire your hamster wheel efforts and substitute wells that do not completely provide constant and dependable restoration for your physical, emotional, and mental gaps.
I hope you can join and listen, I would love you to virtually hang out with me.
Psalm 91:1-3 encourages us to remain hidden under God's comforting and weighty wing of protection. How we navigate through the seasons of our lives, with joy, hope and peace is directly connected to our reliance on Him.
How well do you trust His plan for your life? Please join me as I discuss Hannah's brick wall (1 Samuel 1), and the substantial development of her hope and joy in the Almighty.
My husband joins me to talk through both Colossians 3 and Hebrews 12. As a recovering wife from many forms of marriage disaster and failed expectations, I continue to find my freedom in Christ and set my hope in Him.
If the goal is anywhere but God's glory in your marriage, you could potentially battle the wrong enemy. Equally detrimental is the possibility of being so distracted with your life and comforts, that growing the Kingdom through your marriage and children has lost first place.
We all are up against a spiritual battle that's behind the scenes of our life circumstances and emotions. Well, keeping our eyes focused on Christ is imperative for us to overcome and to finish the race with purpose and joy.
The winning prize is waiting for us on the other side. Ladies, we must stay glued to our Source in order to experience victory in our circumstances, attitudes, joy, peace and purpose. Plug into and fix your eyes (Hebrews 12) on our model, in Christ, to succeed at living your best life, which is always the surrendered one.
If you want to enjoy your favorite meal, you need a recipe of ingredients and steps to follow before you can bask in the fruits of your labor.
Did you know that Christ has just ONE contingency step in the life of a flourishing disciple? Be careful in how you define "flourish" because you must submit the process and end results. Nonetheless, your peace, joy and ability will be incomplete and impossible without Him.
In Mark 5, let's talk through the failed life recipe attempts for a woman that could no longer fake it till she could make it. Rather, she found her healing, existence and freedom at the feet of Christ. I am so excited to share this with you all!
Do you ever wish your daily choices, what to wear, which restaurant for dinner, and then what to buy off the menu, could be more simple? Life can be complicated! I have a secret to share with you!
In John 15, Jesus explains a way to navigate through your life hurdles..in a SIMPLE way!!
Get off your hamster wheel for a moment and join me for the powerful message Christ has outlined.
Thanks for listening in!
God has invited YOU, yes YOU to an amazing plan that He has for your life. The catch is, you have to be willing to surrender your own plan, and be willing to trust Him as you bump through disappointments, hurt and failures. Your resilience is under construction and His glory is the goal underway.
You are set apart. In order to get to that next level and that deeper foundation, you have to trust and let go. Keep your eyes focused on the courageous mission ahead!
We all need help on the road to the better version of ourselves. When regret lingers from prior decisions that have not gone well, how do you pick yourself up to keep going?
In 2 Corinthians 5:14-19, the apostle Paul outlines the need to be first reconciled to Christ, ourselves and then others. Christ's love for us was displayed in His death for our sins. If He is Lord of our life, then there is a requirement that we too have to leave the old behind and find our renewal in Christ.
Thank you for listening!
My husband joined me today for a conversation about relationships, specifically about marriage. This was a tough conversation, but such a great one to have with him!
Thank you for listening!
I continue another episode about courage, but specifically through the lens of marriage. Similar to our individual lives, our marriages are called to be divergent of the culture and to established in love. Operating in love ground wires us to walk more courageously, and to be powered by Christ our Source.
Let's discuss courageous decisions in your day by day! How do you make difficult choices and what compass helps you navigate the pathways of your life? Saying "yes" to God means we have to first submit our plan and know how to Him. It takes courage to plow through uncharted waters, but our faith and trust in Him is our secret sauce to success.
What is your definition courage?
In 2 Chronicles 22, let's deep dive into the life of a courageous woman who had a part, a call, at shaping history. She was background player in God's glory on display. Your daily decisions are opportunities to unleash your "brave" as you say "yes" to God's plan for your life. Your denial of self, and "yes" to God, will position you to be an influence as you are postured at the feet of the One and only Influencer.
Our heart health, is imperative both in the physical and the spiritual. How often do you take a deep dive inside to ensure that you are walking in alignment with the gospel.
I am revisiting 2 Chronicles, talking about how King Hezekiah fleshed out following God with a whole heart.
It is freeing to know that we are fully known and fully loved by God! Our hearts are wicked, no matter how good we believe ourselves to be. We all need a Savior. Even in wholehearted following Jesus, we will fall short. Yet, God is in hot pursuit for YOU!! His love will shift and forever change your life course.
If you have not accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, my prayer is that you would begin to open your heart to Him. I hope you will pray the prayer of surrender and confession in Romans 10:9-10.
I pray you are encouraged to know Christ better and follow Him!
Real fast, tell me your top five people who are your "roll out with" people. We all have our go to crew who will love us, fight for us, pray and support us no matter what. No matter the strength of your line up, have you tried God and allowed Him to be your Ace in the deck? He is your unshakable foundation in every battle that is coming your way.
Let's talk about the strong arm of our God who is the real MVP of your team. I am discussing King Hezekiah in 2 Chronicles 29-32, and how he walked in alignment with God and stood the test against every trial.
Thanks for listening in!
In 2 Chronicles 26, I am sharing an inspiring story through the life of King Uzziah. He prospered in every way possible. Why? The Bible makes it clear that King Uzziah depended fully on God, and his life was better for it because of this trust in the Lord. Is there any situation in YOUR life, right now, that you need God's clarity, and certainly His help? Well, listen in to understand how you can better set up your life for continuous success and peace in the journey ahead.
I hope you will listen in today while I share a battle strategy that you may not have been planning for. Your win is not tied to your knowledge, power and connections, but rather your heart posture towards God.