Constantly Under Construction with Donna Harris

If you feel like you are wrestling with comparison, the pain of brokenness in your life, or needing inspiration for how to cultivate a kingdom minded home, you’ll find encouragement in this episode.   Kennesha Buycks lays out all the pain points that have pointed her back to restoration in Jesus. This also birthed the social space and newly released book, Restoration House. Kennesha desires to pull your heart and your home toward God’s peace and toward a welcoming of the Holy Spirit.  We get vulnerable pretty fast in this episode and cover topics like numbing pain with alcohol, the need of a father, the Enneagram, and God given desires that don’t look like they will ever come to fruition.    Kennesha's book, Restoration House will get much praise from me this episode but don’t mistake this for an endorsement for frivolity or a focus on making our earthly spaces our idols. I’m a champion of the book Restoration House. Not a fan. The difference is, the zeal I have for this book comes from it’s goal: it’s drawn me closer to Jesus.    If this is your first time listening, I absolutely believe you’ll enjoy my time with Kennesha today. And I encourage you to subscribe to the podcast. If you’ve been with me from the beginning, I just want to say thanks for sticking it out with me for 77 episodes! When you support the show by sharing it and rating it on your podcast app, it furthers my reach. Because of you, the podcast brings encouragement and freedom to those who listen.     Where are you inspired to change your heart so that you can change your living space? The Book, Restoration House has lots of ways to get you started. Grab a copy of the book and follow Kennesha on Instagram.   Also, I want to hear from you!! What about today’s episode touched your heart? Send me a Direct Message on Instagram and let me know how this conversation gave you hope, freedom, and something new to think about. You can find me at Constantly Under Construction. I cannot wait to hear from you!   Grab the Book, Restoration House.  Follow Kennesha on Instagram  Restoration House Website and Blog   

My friend Chrystan Ferrell walks us through her journey of coming to Christ. Like the real moment, not the outside circle moment where you know who Jesus is and you know about scripture. The REAL life-changing relationship with Jesus was birthed in Chrystan’s life after lots of chasing after fun that ended in destruction. She talks about the struggle as a single parent and I love how she defines the brokenness of sin yet the blessing that God continues to place in her life. Chrystan poured her heart into the book Sister, Walk in Truth because she believes there’s a tangible hope you can have in Jesus. If you’re seeking for hope that doesn’t fade, consider buying a copy of the book to dive deeper into the truths that Gods word has in store for you. Visit Chrystan's Website Follow Chrystan on Instagram Like Chrystan on Facebook Friend, if this is your first time listening, I absolutely believe you’ll enjoy my time with Chrystan today. And I encourage you to subscribe to the podcast. Plus, I want to thank to my long-time listening friends for sticking it out with me for 76 episodes! When you support the show by sharing it and rating it on Apple Podcasts, it furthers my reach. Thank you for supporting my efforts to bring encouragement and freedom to those who listen.  

Episode 75: If you struggle to understand where you are in life and why, Lindsey’s story can point you to God’s sovereign plan and his perfect timing that’s bigger than all of us. My guest and new true friend Lindsey Hale talks about a time in her life where what looked like a blessing to most of the world, was a surprising point of grief and surrender of self. After 13 years of raising her kids, Lindsey unexpectedly found herself pregnant again creating a gap of 9 years between her last baby and this new one.We talk candidly about what it looks like when life becomes unexpected and God clearly says, “Here’s a new blessing in your life that you did not ask for.” It truly was a joy to chat with Lindsey and you’ll love hearing the irony of how a crappy experience in a therapy session actually led her to walking in true purpose that lifted the FOG in her life. Also, if you love the Enneagram like I do, all of you Enneagram 8’s will likely relate to Lindsey’s feelings of boldness were misinterpreted as rebellion as a child.  Friend, you absolutely want to get connected with Lindsey Hale. Grab a copy of her book, Lifted: How to ditch fear obligation and guilt. and live your best life. 

Your gonna tap into your own personal reason to be courageous today. Melissa Scott has had a tumultuous life. From horrific sexual abuse as a child to a cycle of repeated abuse in relationships, Melissa hit rock bottom, seeking more for her life. Even though she was able to see healthy relationships and witness to God’s power around her, Melissa felt very much on the outside of the ability to achieve an actual and real relationship with Jesus. You’ll be encouraged to hear how she found healing moments through true forgiveness, therapy, and crying out to Jesus in her car.    Please hang on toward the end of our conversation to receive the ultimate lesson you can gain from Melissa when we talk about grace and how Melissa gained supernatural freedom in her life from her hurts and her continued hurt because of the gift of Grace that God has given her and gifted her!    And we talk about two of Melissa’s passions, her role as a mom and the love she has for transformation from negative thinking to a confident attitude.    If you value your role as a parent and what that means when it comes to supplying your children (and yourself!) with the ability to have a healthy, positive mindset, you’ll want to hear Melissa’s discovery of powerful, Biblically-based, scientifically proven mindset shift.    I’m excited to share this conversation to you and I hope if this is your first time listening, welcome! I know you’ll gain some hope and freedom from my time with Melissa today. And I encourage you to subscribe to the podcast. AND Thank you so much to my long-time friends for sticking it out with me for 74 episodes!  Don’t forget to tap on the stars in iTunes or Apple Podcasts to review the show. It’s a tremendous way to keep the show active and available. Thank you so much for your support.    You can follow Melissa Scott, and listen to her podcast, Hello Courageous and find more info about Melissa’s digital course, Your True Courage Method by going to her website.    I want to hear from you about today’s episode! How has it encouraged you? If we are friends on Instagram, shoot me a direct message and let me know how this conversation gave you hope, freedom, and something new to think about. You can find me on Instagram at Constantly Under Construction. I cannot wait to hear from you!

In Episode 73, we talk candidly about 4 ways a critical spirit can take root in your everyday life. In fact, I share a few of my own struggles in my marriage and in my actions where I wrestle with a spirit of criticism. Shannon Kay McCoy is a biblical counselor and new friend and helps us walk through this spirit of criticism that we can easily fall into or rationalize.    This important conversation also evolved into trying to define terms like self-love & self-care. We were both seeking to pin down where self-love could be Bibilcal and where is it outright sin. I was so glad for the healthy tension created in our conversation and how it sparked lots of questions to bring to the Lord.   Did you have a healthy dose of conviction when Shannon mentioned the four ways we can act with a critical spirit? I hope, like me, you’ll be comforted by the scriptures mentioned and you’ll see the freedom God wants for you from actions that are in opposition to His holiness. Do you feel the tug of the Lord gently reminding you that you don’t need to control everything? Do you overshoot self-care into unholy self-love? It’s truly a Constantly Under Construction process that requires leaning on the Lord continually.   Connect with Shannon: http://shannonkaymccoy.com/ https://www.biblicalcounselingcoalition.org/ http://www.counselinggrace.com/ https://ibcd.org/

Your gonna tap into your own personal reason to be courageous today. Melissa Scott has had a tumultuous life. From horrific sexual abuse as a child to a cycle of repeated abuse in relationships, Melissa hit rock bottom, seeking more for her life. Even though she was able to see healthy relationships and witness to God’s power around her, Melissa felt very much on the outside of the ability to achieve an actual and real relationship with Jesus. You’ll be encouraged to hear how she found healing moments through true forgiveness, therapy, and crying out to Jesus in her car.    Please hang on toward the end of our conversation to receive the ultimate lesson you can gain from Melissa when we talk about grace and how Melissa gained supernatural freedom in her life from her hurts and her continued hurt because of the gift of Grace that God has given her and gifted her!    And we talk about two of Melissa’s passions, her role as a mom and the love she has for transformation from negative thinking to a confident attitude.    If you value your role as a parent and what that means when it comes to supplying your children (and yourself!) with the ability to have a healthy, positive mindset, you’ll want to hear Melissa’s discovery of powerful, Biblically-based, scientifically proven mindset shift.    I’m excited to share this conversation to you and I hope if this is your first time listening, welcome! I know you’ll gain some hope and freedom from my time with Melissa today. And I encourage you to subscribe to the podcast. AND Thank you so much to my long-time friends for sticking it out with me for 74 episodes!  Don’t forget to tap on the stars in iTunes or Apple Podcasts to review the show. It’s a tremendous way to keep the show active and available. Thank you so much for your support.    You can follow Melissa Scott, and listen to her podcast, Hello Courageous and find more info about Melissa’s digital course, Your True Courage Method by going to her website.    I want to hear from you about today’s episode! How has it encouraged you? If we are friends on Instagram, shoot me a direct message and let me know how this conversation gave you hope, freedom, and something new to think about. You can find me on Instagram at Constantly Under Construction. I cannot wait to hear from you!

Episode 72 is all about freedom from our hangups. If it’s food or relationships, Jenna Barbosa has a lot of wisdom to offer on the issue. We talk about Jenna’s personal brokenness and how is continually gaining freedom from hurts from her past, relationships that she tried to use to replace God, and using food as an idol.   Feel comforted and encouraged as you listen to Jenna introduce herself as a women that is content and the hope that she can bring to you, no matter your situation.   I really loved the thoughts she had on the difference between being a victim and having a victim mentality.  Friends, I’m praying that if you’ve recognized your responsibility in moving forward with healing, that you’ll take those next steps toward Jesus. Come as you are. Let Him fill you, guide you, protect you and comfort you on your road to wholeness.    Connect with Jenna and get info on her upcoming book, Tenacious Grace.

Friends, episode 71 will give you freedom in questioning your faith and choosing self-help as self-care.   My guest Joey Monteleone is a podcast pal that has a story of freedom from religion into relationship. I hope you’ll find inspiration in Joey’s story and be encouraged to walk forward in the truth that God cares more about your heart than your appearance.    We talk about Joey’s background in the Plymouth Brethren Church and while denomination isn’t the point of his story, it points to the strictness, the legality of religion and how he found freedom in his heart even though he never traveled far from his church, literally and figuratively.    I’m excited to share this conversation with you and I hope if you’re driving, on a run, or picking up the house, you’ll stop and subscribe to the podcast. And, if you’ve listened for a bit of time, please support the podcast by rating and reviewing. It’s super easy to tap the stars to show your support.    Have you come from a place where you found freedom from what you thought you were supposed to be? Did you have a different idea of who God was and what He wanted from you? I hope that this episode leaves you with some thoughts to ponder on challenging your faith while seeking your creator.   Subscribe to The Dismantle Podcast. 

Episode #70 will help you see that lessons in life are often obtained by self-awareness and grace with your situation.   David Rawlings speaks with me today about baggage. He wrote a modern day parable called The Baggage Handler, a story that captivates you because we all know the pain of having a mis-hap with baggage at the airport.  The story is built around three different travelers, on individual journeys, who realize they have picked up the wrong suitcase at the airport. They meet an interesting character, The Baggage Handler, who shows them there is more in their baggage than what they have packed. And they have to deal with it before they can leave.   David and I talk about his love for story-telling and how it’s through story we can identify struggle. I appreciate David’s heart and he shares his lesson he learned in empathy when he and his wife walked the road of infertility. We also discuss the value of being present with our circumstances, like putting the phone down for a bit and taking a moment to enjoy our actual, messy and mundane lives.   I’m thrilled to present this conversation to you and I hope if this is your first time listening that you’ll subscribe to the podcast. And my long time friends, please tap on the stars in iTunes or Apple Podcasts to review the show. It’s a tremendous way to keep the show active and available. Thank you so much for your support. 

Listen to The Dismantle Podcast HERE Subscribe to Constantly Under Construction  Follow me on Instagram! Shoot me a message here!

Episode 68 is going to open your eyes to the beauty that is already in front of you. You’ll learn a new term, Placmaking, as a way to embrace beauty, even in the middle of mess.  Christie Purifoy, the author of Placemaker, invites you to use the places and spaces of your life as a way of connection with God. You’ll be surprised to learn that Placemaking might call you to buy all new pillows for your living room or build a flower garden that you insisted was frivolous….but it certainly never requires it. Peacemaking is a method that will bring you closer to discovering yourself and loving others by enjoying the beauty of life that God provides.    My time with Christie was filled thoughts on cultivating our spaces so that they can teach us…and we can love others in that process.    Friends, I invite you to grab a copy of Placemaker for yourself or as a gift for someone who enjoys the lyrical pacing of being swept away on a journey of loving and learning about the beauty around them.   Christie’s Website http://www.christiepurifoy.com Buy the Book, Placemaker https://www.amazon.com/Placemaker-Cultivating-Places-Comfort-Beauty/dp/031035224X Christie’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/christiepurifoy/ MapleHurst Gardens: https://www.instagram.com/maplehurstgardens/    

Episode 67 will remind you why laughing through hard times is beneficial. My guest Melanie Dale is an author and podcaster that takes the hard things seriously but with a spin of approachable, quirky humor that makes her so relatable. She wrote a book called Infreakinfertiltiiy: It’s a survival guide for those attempting pregnancy with a ton of Melanie’s real-life experiences from her own infertility journey.    Melanie and I had fun talking about a variety of things that will amuse you and make you think : From sex in your 40s to Nerdy TV shows and Books, and finally Melanie’s one weird trick she does to connect with Jesus.  I hope you’ll enjoy our conversation.    You can find all things Melanie Dale on her website:  Connect with Melanie on Instagram:  Buy her newest book Infreakinfertiliy:    Fun Stuff to Share -  Link to her Middle Aged Sexy time post:  Neil Gaiman Books:  

Episode 66 will leave you feeling like you’ve just wrapped yourself in your favorite cozy blanket and settled down for some peaceful ‘me’ time.   Kaitlin Wernet is a professional writer and editor which is why I love hearing her geek-out about the oxford comma! We share an intrigue toward Taylor Swift’s many transformations and we both love Gilmore Girls.   My favorite thing about Kaitlin is her desire to abide in honest thoughts, even when they are hard. She and I share a specific loss: We’ve both lost our brothers. While we are similar in losses, we agree that the grief is unique and our relationship to God is special and intimate. This special place that God has shown up in Kaitlin’s life created words of Comfort through her new book, The book of comforts.    You’ll enjoy Kaitlin’s sweet voice as she walks us through the depths of God’s goodness and promises, even when things are difficult.   It is a joy to hear from Kaitlin. My takeaway was how she was basically saved during her lowest moments by being at a job that forced her to read God’s word everyday. It really reminds me that the Bible is our lifeline.  Go to the show notes to connect with Kaitlin and purchase The Book of Comforts. Give it as a gift to a friend or an opportunity to practice a bit of self-love when you’re in need of His comfort.    

Justine Froelker is a powerhouse that stares down grief in the face, says thank you, while simultaneously hanging onto hope.  She suffered through the heart-wrenching fate of infertility and her encouraging story isn’t one that looks like most. She wants to empower you to reject shame and encourage you to thrive EVEN when life doesn't turn out how you hope, dream, or plan.   Friends, I just love Justine’s rawness and authenticity. Go to the show notes at constantly under construction dot com  to find   While you’re still listening, can I ask a quick favor? If you listen on your phone in Apple Podcasts, I would love it if you’d scroll down to the reviews section of the podcast and click on the stars to rate it. This is a tremendous help in getting the word out about the podcast and it costs absolutely nothing!

Before she curated successful magazines for women, Angie was a woman in desperate need of freedom.   Caught in the crossfire of two dysfunctional relationships, Angie didn’t know her self-worth and was repeatedly told how to think, feel, or behave.  Her church did not encourage healthy behavior and relationships and her marriage was a prison of being controlled and emotionally abused.   Her deliverance from an abusive mindset began when Angie launched her magazine.    Angelia walks us through the miraculous journey of launching her magazine from literally nothing. God was near each and every moment as opportunities to start the magazine unfolded quickly and successfully. Her small steps of faith boosted her self-confidence and showed her that He had great things in store for her life. We’ll also dive into culture and race (in and outside of the church) and how these issues were tied to Angelia’s abuse. Where she was once taught to be strong through the pain and handle difficult times silently, Angelia broke free from isolation by finding freedom in meeting women who were free. These women of the Lord spoke truth into her life and gave her the confidence to walk away from a flawed mindset and controlling people.   Get encouraged when you hear how God proved bigger than any opposition. No individual that desired their own power or control over Angelia could match up to the All encompassing power of our Creator. 

Episode 63 is full of hope from brokenness but also encouragement on ministry and mission no matter where you live in the world! Friends, I’m super excited for you to meet my guest Rachel Linden - she’s an author with a world of experiences. One includes working in Budapest with women who are victims of sex trafficking. As an author, Rachel’s fictional stories are purposeful and thoughtful. She weaves together wonderfully captivating stories of hope and courage that are based off of her own experiences; her miscarriage, her travels around the world and human trafficking. We discuss the conviction that every hurting person is valid and deserves the dignity of healing… no matter what social status or living situation. Rachel recounts her own trauma when she was molested by a childhood friend. She has great advice for anyone who is stuck in the middle of healing from a horrific experience. It’s what makes her so great at ministering to women and children that are victims of sex trafficking. We talk about Rachel’s learning and unlearning about doctrine and theology. Her revelation in learning that ministry and secular living can go hand in hand: How it can be a simple but compelling way to live out the gospel freely. It was her miscarriage that kickstarted her unlearning of fear in her relationship with God. Find freedom in understanding that God isn’t looking for a purely transactional relationship that is based only on fear but also out of willing dependence. As heavy as our time may seem, it was full of much hope and peace that Rachel has experienced throughout the journey. I am certain you’ll walk away from our time together feeling this same peace, hope and freedom.  From the ability to love people near and far, to healing from brokenness, and seeing freedom in our practices of our faith and our relationship with God. Rachel’s character’s in her book aren’t the only ones that exhibit courage, hope, and connection. Follow Rachel on Instagram Like Rachel on Facebook Buy Rachel's Books Thank you so much for listening. Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts or your podcast app. And let me know what you think of today’s episode by connecting with me on Instagram!

Episode 62 with Jamie McLaughlin is one that will empower you! Jaime McLaughlin is a seasoned and skilled makeup artist that took her career into a whole new arena by teaching moms about the application of make up and the importance of self-care. For a makeup junkie like me, the attraction to this subject was intense: How can we satisfy the idea that makeup isn’t frivolous? I’ve wrestled with this for many years. You’ll enjoy hearing from Jaime and her take on self-care and how we address this question. Makeup or not, she’s ready to equip you with what you need to show up and take on the day. When it comes to self care, it’s more than just makeup but a mindset of honoring what God has given you to steward, from your body, your face, your mind, to your kids, your work, and your belongings. You’re gonna love Jaime’s focus on real, natural beauty that you can’t replicate from a trendy unreachable youtube tutorial. And as Jaime shares some of her own personal struggles, you’ll see that nothing is more beautiful than a heart for the Lord. I hope you are just as fascinated with Jaime’s take on jumpstarting your day with an element of self-care. I’ve got a special offer for you, friends! For listening to the podcast today, Jaime is offering a SPECIAL PRICE for her Complete Guide to Beauty. You’ll get The Complete Guide to Beauty for nearly 25% off when you go the themachouseblog.com and enter CUC at checkout. This Complete Guide to beauty gives you all the recommended products, all the recommended tools, all the application techniques plus an online community filled with beauty tips and bonuses. Enter CUC at checkout when you go the themachouseblog.com to order the The Complete Guide to Beauty. Follow Jaime on Instagram Like Jaime on Facebook Buy The Complete Guide to Beauty Thank you so much for listening. Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts or your podcast app. And let me know what you think of today’s episode by connecting with me on Instagram!

If you caught last week's episode with Teeba, you'll love hearing from Barbara Marlowe, Teeba's "American Mom”.   On today’s episode, you’ll be intrigued to hear how a woman in her 50’s became a first-time mother to a 4-year-old Iraqi burn victim.  Barbara Marlowe was a woman who had given up the hope of ever becoming a mother until one day a deep and instant connection happened with a girl across the globe.  Teeba Furat Fadhil whose face hands and head were severely burned during a roadside bombing, had her photo featured in a US newspaper.  When Barbara saw the soulful eyes of Teeba’s, her life was forever changed. Learn of all the times that Barbara experienced supernatural events that she can only describe as “God moments” since Teeba has joined her family.   Friends, have you had times in your life that you just cannot deny are God moments? It’s so important to cherish those as reminders that our God is living and active in our lives TODAY. I also loved Barbara’s thoughts on God’s perfect timing in her life. I encourage you to find thankfulness in your current situation. Just like Barbara, you never know what God could be preparing you for…it could be to fulfill the desires of your heart in a way you never imagined. Continue to hope, continue to trust and remain steadfast. He is with you.   You’ll want grab a copy of Barbara and Teeba’s book, a brave face. Written with material from Teeba, her Iraqi mom Dunya and Barbara, you’ll enjoy this inspirational story. It’s filled with all the details of how they connected, it travels through the refining moments of marrying two cultures and two families together and it’s a story of hope and sacrificial love.   Order Barbara and Teeba's Book, A Brave Face   Thank you so much for listening. Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts or your podcast app. And let me know what you think of today’s episode by connecting with me on Instagram!   *Constantly Under Construction has affiliate recommendations in the show notes and blog and on the podcast.

When she wasn’t even 2 years old, Teeba was a victim of a roadside car bombing that took place in the Diyala Province of Iraq. Teeba recounts the events of the bombing that disfigured her face, head, hands and legs and took her brother’s life. This incredible story begins in Iraq but travels to the United States when a woman, Barbara Marlowe, was captivated by Teeba’s story and photograph in the newspaper. Wanting to supply a wig for Teeba, events quickly escalated and soon Barbara welcomed Teeba into her family.   In my time with Teeba, you’ll learn of her perseverance through the hard times in Iraq, her family’s insistence to do whatever it took to help Teeba gain a functional life, and the love between two families of two different cultures that surpasses ignorance and prejudice.  Teeba’s story is inspiring as it is educational. I can’t wait for you to hear from this insanely intelligent and mature 16 year old about the incredible lessons that life has given to her.   Pre-Order Teeba's Book, A Brave Face   Thank you so much for listening. Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast in Apple Podcasts or your podcast app. And let me know what you think of today’s episode by connecting with me on Instagram!

If you struggled with anxiety that you didn’t have enough Pinterest worthy crafts or Instagram worthy photos to be considered a mom who makes good memories, I encourage you to stop the pinning and slapping on the photo filters and listen to my interview with Jessica Smartt. Jessica is more than a homeschooling mom and blogger. She’s a woman who wanted to find the purpose and practicality in making memories with her family. Here’s a few things we chat about before discussing her book:  Enneagram vs. Meyer’s Briggs  Crazy things we do in college  Jessica’s personal growth after a broken engagement Jessica is the author of a new book, Memory Making Mom, where she helps us change our perspective of what it looks like to create family memories. Jessica shares that it was a traumatic event in their family’s life as well as her feelings of missing out on making family traditions led her to be more intentional in creating traditions around her family values. Be challenged to new routines and discover that memory making can happen at any time or any season: from the day to day and even times of busyness, rest, or grief. Pre-Order Jessica’s book, Memory Making Mom. Jessica’s blog where she writes on topics including motherhood, anxiety, homeschooling and more. Follow Jessica on Instagram    

Friends, you’re going to love getting to know my guest, Lisa Leonard. If you’ve struggled in your relationship or if you feel like you are emptied of all your ability to continue to keep people happy, this is the episode for you.  Lisa is an amazing woman who’s story will give you new insight on self-care. I got the chance to read her upcoming book, Brave Love, where she shares that even from childhood, she was willing to step back and let others be happy at the expense of knowing herself.  Lisa shared her struggle of constantly caring for others in an unhealthy, unbalanced way - this people-pleasing method was surprisingly a tactic of control her environment to keep things stable in her life but ultimately Lisa found that she was neglecting loving herself (and others) in a healthy way.   In our time together, we dive deeper into how it was nearly divorce from her husband that brought Lisa closer to God and back to a truly honest space in her marriage where she could love and be loved.  Here's some Lessons Learned and Unlearned in this episode: Are you missing space and quiet in your life right now? Lisa shared that space was what really allowed her to heal. When she was emptied of her strength, she needed quiet and rest to avoid the knee-jerk reactions of her old habits of soothing away discomfort. It’s busyness and noise that fills the quiet space and discourages us to be mindful when it comes to reconnecting to God. If you’re missing out on illuminating moments that bring you closer to how you really feel, I encourage you to seek space in you life.  Lisa was fighting a two part battle. She fought for herself and for her marriage. She stressed that it wasn’t quick and it wasn’t easy. The Undoing of the way we used to think is so incredibly hard. Especially when you aren’t used to giving yourself the permission to heal. And especially when you are doing it alongside of your spouse. But this retraining of thinking and doing is necessary for lasting change and it’s worth it for a flourishing life. Pray for God to give you clarity in these moments. Ask for God to give you space. And when you are provided with that time and quiet, soak it in, don’t fill it up with distractions. Use it for what it’s for: self-discovery, leaning into the painful parts, and clinging to God for his strength and guidance.  I’m totally in love with Lisa’s heart and her ability to become more whole from brokenness. Her family’s story of vulnerability and faith are such an encouragement.  Links: Lisa's Website - preorder Brave Love today! Follow Lisa on Instagram Friends, I’m in my third year of the podcast and would love your help! My show thrives off of subscribers. If you haven’t yet subscribed, please do! It’s a tremendous way to support the podcast. 

If you consider yourself a fan of pop culture, you'll love my time with Knox McCoy.  Knox takes his musings of pop culture and shares how it shaped his view of God and his identity in his book, The Wondering Years. Show Highlights: Get a glimpse into Knox's experiences as we chat about being uncertain with His relationship with God brought him the most certainty in his Faith.  I'll pepper you with the word "cliche" and put Knox in the position of reassuring me that loving the enneagram and being basic is not automatically annoying.  We chat about pop culture as a learning tool for faith and theology. And I reveal my buffet of broad experiences in the church that has led to my questioning of truth in identity.  After listening, I challenge you to re-watch a favorite movie or show and imagine how Jesus may use that very story to respond to a question of faith... just like he did with parables in the Bible.  Check out Knox's book, The Wondering Years. Follow Knox on Instagram Knox's Website - Where you can learn more about The Popcast, The Bible Binge, and Sectional Healing. ____ Thanks for listening!  Please be sure to subscribe here or here And I'd love to know what you thought about this episode by chatting with me on Instagram!   I am an avid consumer of pop culture so I was thrilled to be speaking with Knox. He (and his co-host Jamie Golden) host TWO podcasts that use entertainment as the central theme of their shows.   Here’s a breakdown of their two podcasts:   The first podcast is called, The PopCast, and it’s LOL pop culture... meaning you’re gonna fall hard for this dynamic duo and they way they educate you on entertainment because they are so funny!    Their other podcast, The Bible Binge, brings the delightful charm of the Popcast but adds on a biblical twist. It’s a retelling of our favorite and obscure bible stories as a TV show recap.    This totally makes Knox the premier person to be speaking about all things entertainment and how that informs our identity in Christ.     

Annessa strives for joy and she chooses to bring it to the table in the good times and hard. Everything about Annessa represents the positivity it takes to have meaningful success in work and in life. As a homeschooling mom that also works outside of the home as a dietitian, recipe-creator, spokes-person AND a talk show host, Annessa is somewhat of a superwoman. But don't be fooled by the idea that perfection is what describes her life. She talks about the moment in her life where this became a revelation, one of Annessa's hardest times, when her marriage crumbled away. Her vulnerability in relaying her hardship makes you feel connected to her even more. And ladies, let's wipe away the shame of divorce, Amen? I'm confident Annessa’s story of overcoming is one you'll want to hear and even share with a friend... because we all have experience with broken relationships. Look forward to these gems from our conversation: Get inspired by Annaessa transformation of herself through the transformation of others Learn an old school trick to the power of positive thinking. Walk away with an attitude of gratitude when it comes to food. Guys, when you’re finished listening, you’ll quickly agree that Annessa is the best! Go to the show notes to continue to follow Annessa on Facebook live and to sign up for the kids-snack challenge! Anessa’s Website Like Anessa on Facebook Follow Anessa on Instagram Thank you so much for listening! Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast in iTunes or your favorite podcast app. And let me know what you think of today’s episode. I would love to connect with you AT MY FAVORITE PLACE, Instagram!

A former professional Golfer, Thane learned about success at a young age. He has now written a book regarding these achievements and has wisdom from his experiences that he loves to share to empower people toward a life well-lived Thane shares how he was transformed through the work of Jesus during his time in college. It was through a series of setbacks after a result of poor choices that changed his character and rooted his identity in his faith in God. Thane highlighted the Heroes of faith in the Bible as inspiration and how we can learn much about a life well-lived from David a man of God who had his share of trials and triumphs.    I enjoyed getting to know Thane! We connect over midwestern traditions, like a bowl of Chili with a Cinnamon roll on the side and even though his hometown of Hutchinson, Kansas is not nearly as close to STL as I thought, I still consider him my midwestern neighbor in spirit and my brother in Christ.   Thane’s book, titled From Here to There is his perspective on achieving the most potential out of life with a kingdom-minded outlook.    Grab a copy of Thane’s book and if you do it before DEC 1st you’ll get a super sweet deal of 30% off when you use the code GRATEFUL at checkout.   Thanks for listening today! I love hearing from you all. Please keep sharing the podcast with your friends! You never know what sort of encouragement a Constantly Under Construction story will bring to someone right when they need it the most.     

At the height of her singing career, life was turned upside down for Julie Roberts when she had an attack on her body as she was performing on stage. Blind and partially paralyzed on stage, Julie pressed on singing, and chose to tuck those scary symptoms away until she could return home from her tour.     After a trip to the doctor, Julie was diagnosed with MS.  Julie wanted nothing to do with the diagnosis. She decided to ignore it personally and hide it professionally. Because of her tumultuous past, she felt like she was good at hiding the real truth in life.    In self-denial, Julie cut off her opportunity to learn more about the disease and the treatments available.    The bad times got worse as she lost her record deal the same week that the Nashville flood wiped away all of her possessions.  At this point, the stress of the situation took a physical toll on Julie’s body and she could no longer ignore the fact that MS was a real part of her life.    Listen to Julie’s story as she hit rock bottom but found what was most important in life through her trials. Believing she was saved from the Nashville flood for a reason, Julie took her first steps toward treating MS and caring for her body and her soul. She now helps advocate for people diagnosed with MS and other diseases that initially steal your hope.    Finding love, trusting Jesus, and walking in her passion despite the misconceptions of her health, Julie is an inspiration not only to those who struggle with MS, but to anyone who is in the middle of a hard road.    And we had such a great time laughing! Listen to the end of this episode to find out how pig-sitting gets you THE MOST GORGEOUS lashes and the best advice I’ve ever heard about facing a near-death experience on an airplane!   Buy Julie's Book Julie's Website Follow Julie on Instagram Like Julie on Facebook  

Amy Parker's story is one of success in work because of faith in God. It's a simple story of a woman who had acquired her "dream job” with a fantastic company and was soon devastated to hear the news that she was to be fired. Over the course of time, Amy says she can look back now and see it was very clear that God was paving the way for her to exercise the skills of a children's author, an actual dream job that she didn't know was possible in her life. Speaking of exercising skills, have you all heard of The Artist’s Way?     It is a book that Amy has dubbed the "12 step program for artists or creatives". She wholeheartedly recommends it! The concepts we talk about that really help you clear your mind and move forward in the creative process. One of them, Morning Pages, where you write anything that is on your mind, (stream of consciousness)- gets the mundane tasks out of the way to tap into the creative voice. Internal editor/internal voice it's something that we may not even be aware of. But I love how Amy clued us into seeing when our internal editor seems to be the loudest. It’s when our confidence is shaken, that we start to let the internal negative voice take over. It can discourage and persuade us from moving forward, particularly after a setback. I love how Amy points to our true Inner Voice (God) and how He's the one that will ultimately guide us into the places and spaces that we are meant to be. Amy's job loss took her to a place where she was forced to step out and pursue something little bit out of her comfort zone: Writing Children's Books. In that stepping out, Amy found a new job. She can say God fully cared for her in this job in ways she never anticipated. This job came with perks that her old job never had; namely the flexibility to be near her children when they needed her. Hindsight showed her that this was such a blessing. And I particularly loved how her story has highlighted that women can have professional jobs and simultaneously play a large role in raising their children. The balance that Amy juggled was definitely real. This was almost 2 decades ago when women working from home with kids in their lap was certainly not the norm. I love Amy's insight with her experience as a dedicated mom who was also fully invested in her career. Pro tip from Amy: moms need to put on clothes and make-up and get out of the house and connect with other adults. This is essential to stay whole and not lose yourself in just one facet of your work. It allows you to reconnect with other parts of yourself and not just stay on autopilot with a mom-brain.  You don't want to miss the end of our time together when Amy openly shares about her relationship with God and how He has crafted Amy's story from the very beginning. Amy tells us how her experiences gave her faith that God would provide. She had assurance that He would take care of her, even when her husband was fired from His job. And yes, God even provided then! God is not kidding when He says he will give us more than we could ever ask or think. Amy found that her worst career moment of being fired from her great job ended up being for the best moment because God provided a perfect job: Living the dream as a full time writer. (Amy will quickly dispel the glamour of her writing gig, but never diminishes the fact that it's a job she loves because she fully feels like it's what she was created to do. I love the charge Amy gives when it comes to the idea of success. She encourages us to back up and to focus on the purpose God created for us instead of the plan we think we need to "get there". Let God formulate the plan as you work solely on executing the purpose. Whether it be helping, creating, educating, encouraging, protecting, caring, or saving...your purpose can be found in a role or a job, it can be to a large group or a single individual, but it usually doesn't look like we think. The world says success is achieving certain milestones or a large reach of people, but God is pleased when our purpose is acted out in faith. This doesn't always match the definition of the world's success. It may not mean getting publicity or having a large influence. But instead, the small quiet moments of acting in His purpose feel right, meaningful and satisfying.    Walk free in knowing that when you're doing what you're created for, you're on the path to glorifying Him and that's the most fulfilling place to be.  Amy's purpose is to encourage families to read delightful books. She writes wonderfully crafted stories that are fueled from her faith in God. Check out the Night Night Series and other books.  Follow Amy so you can be anticipate her upcoming books, The Night Night Bible Book and The Night Night Devotional.  Amy's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amyparkerbooks/ Amy's Website: http://amyparkerbooks.com/ Amy's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmyParkerAuthor/  

Dr. Wallace Mendelson spoke with me about mental health, specifically, depression and medication. He wrote the book Understanding Antidepressants. Mental health awareness is something I'm very passionate about and my heart is softest toward those suffering with depression. Millions of people that suffer from depression every year and it's often undiagnosed. Depression can be triggered from a stressful or trumatic experience but it's cause can be medical or genetic as well. Awareness of how to handle depression and some of the hidden symptoms of depression are subjects we talked about with Dr. Mendelson. It's my hope that we gain better understanding of our options for treating depression including medications that are available.  The book Understanding Antidepressants tackles a big subject because there are many, many antidepressants on the market today, and their prescription and use have skyrocketed over the years. Wallace Mendelson simplifies the subject of medication. He walks us through the various treatment methods and the reasons why some medications won’t work over others.  I geeked out a bit on the science behind some of the causes of depression. Especially when it comes to inflammation. Inflammation can make your entire body go wacky, it can cause hair loss, asthma, skin problems, and even depression. I really leaned in when Dr Wallace responded to my questions about inflammation and depression.  This episode might feel a little bit different than my previous episodes. But the balance balance between the spiritual on the physical is a component of being Constantly Under Construction. Let's not forget to take care of our bodies while we're also taking care of our spirit. And vice versa. If you're struggling with mental illness or don't feel like your mental health is up to par, reach out to God. Then reach out to your friends, to your doctors, your neighbors, your counselors, your therapist for assistance. God created amazing people with amazing talents and abilities so its with connection to Him and community to others that we can overcome depression. Let's give credit to our Creator who gave us the brains to figure out the scientific way our bodies create stress and the medicinal and emotional ways to combat that stress. We don’t have to walk this road alone and there are many ways we can combat depression, including medication.    Support the show and buy his book here: https://amzn.to/2Dtnael

Ruth Schwenk and I talk about all things motherhood. She is so fiercely connected with moms of all seasons of life that throughout her ministry, The Better Mom, Ruth shows us Christ's desire for our role in motherhood. The Better Mom Devotional will assure you: No matter what you're going through, you will find purpose, will have focus, and are complete in Him. Parenting is a lifelong journey and yet the pinnacle of parenting files by so quickly. We talk about grieving the seasons of childhood as they end. Who wants their babies to grow up? It's easy to be tearful of the end of a phase in life but Ruth takes joy in the next season. She shares how she gets excited for the next new adventure her kids will take on, (even if it's a little unnerving actually to have a child in the house that can drive!). Parenting older children is a totally different scenario when it comes to personal accountability. and how all the We've been teaching our kids about their behavior as they are also now aware of our own behavior. There's so much more at stake once our kids are watching and understanding our shortcomings. Ruth says it's so good for kids to see us mess up. We're not going to be perfect. But in a Constantly Under Construction theme, we are ALWAYS needing to say sorry for our mistakes, we are always becoming better by becoming more like Jesus. Ruth and I discuss our identity when it comes to our role or our professional work. Her perspective was changed once she realized that her mission was motherhood. We when push that idea of mission into any sort of work, it totally changes why we do what we do. Ruth encourages us to embrace the current season, whatever it may be. Her most practical advice was to encourage us that a season is just that, a season. It won't be forever, good or bad, so take the most positive parts of those sessions and find the joy in the present moment. The pressure is there to "be great". But at the end of the day, it's a simple act of obedience. Doing the simple acts of parenting, without worrying if it's approved by someone else, but just pleasing the Lord in your parenting. Ruth gives me a peek into what that looks like when parenting bigger kids. Her first act of obedience is spending time with the Lord. As simple as it sounds, it's not always easy and can affect the day. Her second act of obedience is just showing up for her kids. Even when she's tired, even when the to-do list is overwhelming, Ruth makes space in her day and her heart to invest in her children's lives. Now that her children are older, she finds that she needs to be even more intentional to connect with her children. For the times that might seem mundane or don't seem to be fruitful Ruth highlights that these times really matter. Throughout all the seasons of parenting, there's opportunity for God to do some of His greatest work in you! In time with prayer and scripture, you can be sure to see amazing changes in your role as a mom and in your relationships with your family. Ruth is passionate about all things family. Check out her books on marriage and parenting. Follow Ruth on Instagram Like Ruth on Facebook Ruth's Website   Connect with Donna: Show Notes Constantly Under Construction Instagram Show Website

Lindsey Viducich is the daughter of Bob Goff. She and her dad wrote a complimentary book for children called Love Does For Kids. It was a thrill to have Lindsey on the show to make the stories that I’ve already heard so very real. If you’ve read the book Love Does, you’ll know that some of the tales in the book sound just like that, tales. But they are absolutely true and they immediately stir your heart in a whirlwind of whimsy and desire to love others. Love Does for Kids does the exact same thing, just on a level children can connect with! It was a real treat to hear Lindsey relay the incredible story of becoming friends dignitaries and leaders across the planet. Get affirmation that God’s love isn’t boring or predictable from Lindsey Viducich as she shares some amazing ways her family has loved life and loved others in the process.   Lindsey made it clear that love doesn’t have to be extravagant to be communicated but it can be as simple as giving words of affirmation. This is a HUGE takeaway, friends. You may not think you can create a whimsical, hopeful, loving environment in your world,but you totally can by the words you use!   These are little reminders of how to show God how much we love Him by how we love each other. Love it! Go to the show notes to connect with Lindsey Vidichich and buy a copy of Love Does for Kids. It would make an amazing family gift for Christmas.   Friends, thank you for taking the time to fit Constantly Under Construction into your day. I’ve heard great things about how and when you listen to the podcast. Some of you have used the podcast as your regular routine for working out and running. Another listener told me she and her daughter listen together on road trips. I’m thrilled to learn that the podcast is encouraging and enriching your lives. Be sure to pass on the podcast to a friend and tell let me know how you love to listen! You can connect with me on Instagram at Constantly Under Construction.   Scroll to these stand out points of the episode.   [2:00]   Whimsey Academy and the love of education   [3:00] Kids can make an Impact - Project Based Learning   [10:00] Cultivating Community - Neighborhood Parade   [17:00] Loving others with Words of Life   [21:50]  World Leader’s Project / Parade Story   [31:00]  Continued Friendships in Authenticity (With a little Junk Food on the side)   [34:00]  The Comparison Trap and Resources for Teachers   Quotable Moments   "Loving people is also in those really simple acts, like even just how we use our words." "Words of Life, words that we speak to each other, that has a lot of power in how we love one another." "But you think that loving people is these big grandiose acts but it can also just be in the words we use with one another."       Lindsey's Website - Whimsey Academy   Buy the Book! When you buy Love Does For Kids from the link above, you're supporting Constantly Under Construction by clicking an affiliate link. Enter the receipt number HERE to get some preorder bonuses!   Like Lindsey on Facebook Follow Lindsey on Instagram

It is so great to be reminded of how God's word is all about a new beginning. If you are struggling in your life, O.S. Hawkins has ways to help you get motivated to walk forward in a fresh way toward a new beginning. He gives practical applications of becoming do-er’s of God’s word and encouragement in resolving conflict in our relationships.  O.S. is passionate about helping retired pastors and each of purchase of any of his books helps fund the Mission Dignity organization. Check more out here. Here are the scroll-to points of this episode [2:30] Introduce of the Code Series and the Nehemiah Code[8:00] the biggest challenge of a new beginning  [12:00] god wants us to be a risk taker [14:00] resolving conflict in relationships  [18:00] Mission Dignity - retired pastors and widows    Quotable moments:   “It’s never too late for a new beginning”     Buy O.S. Hawkin’s book  Follow O.S. on Facebook   Visit O.S. Hawkins’ Website Check out Mission Dignity to support retired pastors  

Sure, “find your identity in Christ" is a cliche. But what does that actually mean? Whitney explains a lot of her perspective was changed when she read the book, The Truest Thing About You by David Lomas. We also discussed what it means to live "IN CHRIST”. I’ve listed all the scripture references that Whitney shared so that you, too, can meditate on God’s word when it comes to who you believe you are. 2 Corinthians 5:21  Ephesians 1  1 John 3:3  Whitney talks about a time when she was struggling to find security in her identity and how she felt desperate to be working in a place of purpose. Stripped away from her hometown, Whitney struggled to find a job that matched her desire of fulfilling God’s purpose. Listen to the story of how she eventually connected with a fantastic organization, Pure Hope, as a result of God’s perfect timing. Scroll to these stand out parts in the episode: [4:00] Whitney’s awakening of her salvation and seeing God’s grace in her life. [10:00] Who are you really? [16:21] How to better understand our own Identity [20:00] Whitney’s search for Identity in her work [25:00] Idolizing Your Reputation [31:00] Pure Hope - God’s More Compelling Story of Sex vs. Other Mindsets in the Christian Community Quotable Moments: "The truest thing about you has to be something that isn't subject to change." "For the first time I realized oh, I don't have to perform. I don't have to prove myself in any way by the approval of other people or my performance." "I am a beloved child of God and I can live from a place of love and acceptance in Christ.” Learn about Pure Hope Follow Whitney on Instagram  Pure Hope on Instagram 

Overweight, dragging, and tired, Brandon was living a struggling life a year ago. He confessed that he felt like he could die any day and would pray, with each passing moment, for the Lord to spare his life. Ironically, he prayed to be placed in the hospital in exchange for death.   A man in the middle of despair, Brandon, was on the verge of something big and he had no idea. One morning, Brandon's health took a drastic turn when he was unable to fit into his clothes and unable to breath as his entire body began to swell. He was quickly rushed to the emergency room after his entire body swelled and nearly took away his last remaining breath. After a traumatic number of days in the ICU and a medically induced coma, the diagnosis was found :IGA Nephropathy. They say the cause was a perfect storm of the flu shot, adverse blood pressure medication, and a sinus infection. This condition temporarily stripped away his memory, his strength, and his dignity.    Learn about how the compassion from a considerate doctor saved Brandon’s life ...and also taught him about God’s the compassion for us when it comes to His grace and mercy in our lives.   Brandon walks us through the days in the hospital when he couldn’t remember where he was or why he was there. Being confused and weak, Brandon relented to becoming the weakest person in the room. He talks about the anger and the frustration he felt during his rehabilitation. How he felt trapped in a situation that he didn’t ask for. This was not unlike our anger and frustration we feel in our everyday trials without Jesus.  Brandon also shares a funny but poignant story of how he struggled for dignity. Let’s just say it’s a bit of potty talk. :) It was vulnerability that ultimately brought him to the place of accepting the love and care that others had for him during his dark time. You’ll appreciate how vulnerability in a physical sense tells a story of how we are at our most vulnerable without Jesus in our lives.    Brandon now a completely different person. Active, healthy, and enjoying life, Brandon has a lot to be thankful for because of the dramatic way his life was altered. I can’t wait for you to hear how Brandon’s story can parallel our own when it comes to trials in life and in our acceptance of Jesus as our Savior.     Stand Out Parts in today’s episode:   [4:00] "God, Don’t take me home yet. Don’t kill me."   [14:00] Learning about Life after the Coma   [25:00] Pooping (yes, pooping!) and Vulnerability   [28:39] Desiring Dignity   [32:20] Shift from Anger to Gratitude    [34:40] Mercy from Jesus - The Connection to Vulnerability and our Salvation   Quotable Moments:   "When the spiritually vulnerable experience care from Jesus, they will care for the physically and spiritually vulnerable."    "When we realize the depth our own vulnerability and what Jesus did…it really has a lot of parallels to my time in the hospital."   "I didn’t realize I was sick, I didn’t realize I was vulnerable and so therefore I was frustrated with the people who were trying to tell me I was vulnerable. "   Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Android Visit Constantly Under Construction

The overwhelming feeling that Denise experienced in the middle of the night was a moment she will never forget and changed what she thought abut her "perfect" family life. That night she woke to compose a song, she began writing and worshipping, and also, she also found herself weeping. She describes the experience like she was writing someone else’s sorrowful story. The unsettling presence of evil in her home felt very near and all too real. The next morning, she couldn’t pinpoint or understand what the evil presence was the night before.  Until... she heard God whisper into heart, “Your husband has something to tell you.” From that moment on, Denise knew something had happened. The unsettling feeling did not leave her and God’s voice made itself known once again. Denise pursued to find the truth of the situation even when the answer was not one she wanted to hear. How could something like this happen within her family? After all, they lived in a small rural area, homeschooled the children, present in the community and at church. On the outside, everything added up to one perfect God-fearing family. Listen to the episode to get the full details of Denise’s story and to learn about the heaps of shame she endured because of a horrible revelation in her home. You’ll also you’ll find answers to how we handle sin that is thrust upon us and how to shake the shame that tries to keep us in bondage. Denise is confident that can be completely freed from shame! She spent years trying to keep the shame away and hide it by being a "safe girl”. In her book, Shame Off You, Denise reveals faulty methods that people have used to rid themselves of shame, and she provides remedies to shame based off Biblical principles.  The Shame Quotient Quiz and Shame RX blog on Denise’s website will give you a weekly prescription for overcoming shame. Key parts of this episode: [4:00] - Denise shares the beginning of a horrible experience that was brought to her attention when waking up to write a song [8:37] - Denise continues to listen to the whisper of God’s voice [16:35] - How to see God’s purpose in the midst of pain and shame [20:15] - Trying to cover the pervasive shame & the beginning of healing [25:00] - Getting mad at God...yet finding hope   QUOTABLE MOMENTS [10:09] You can do all the right things -- and still someone can choose to sin [17:07] Hiding shame doesn’t heal it...it just makes it multiply [23:37] The most ugly cry is the most redemptive part in a position of healing [24:48] God says I wasn’t angry with you when I bore your sin [26:00] When we KNOW how good God is and His character, then we know anything that He allows in our life He will use for good! [28:36]  He draws near to the broken hearted Buy Denise's Book Shame Off You Visit Denise Pass Follow Denise on Instagram Like Denise on Facebook

You might know her as “Chewbacca Mom” but after this episode, I hope you see Candace Payne as a woman who shares a lot of the same struggles we all do and has earned some hard-fought wisdom about finding joy in that process. Two years ago, when Candace Payne put on a Chewbacca mask on Facebook Live, she never imagined that her life would be brought to the place it is today. That FB video gave millions of people a good laugh and also opened up doors of opportunity for Candace. We talk a bit about how wonderful the ride has been and what she has learned about herself in the light of recognition. Now that she has a platform, Candace has become somewhat of an ambassador for joy. But fighting for Joy has not always been easy for Candace. We talk about a few struggles that have touched her life in deep ways.  A suicide attempt and postpartum depression are just two small examples in where Candace reminds us that no one is immune to life’s trials. What gets Candace fired up everyday is pursuing Authenticity and Truth in her identity. She speaks so eloquently about finding value in your authentic self and prospecting joy in that process. I can’t wait for you to listen to how Candace discovered who she was through the combination of her experiences, seeing herself through God’s eyes, and standing in confidence in the way she was created to be different. Here’s where you scroll to stand out parts in this episode on Simple Joy: [9:00] - Fighting for joy [13:00] - Self Love and True Identity [18:00] - Joy to Fight for: Candace’s suicide attempt and postpartum depression [27:00] - Don’t let the journey for Joy hold you back: Practical Tips on Experiencing Joy [30:00] - Prospecting for Joy like gold QUOTABLE MOMENTS {16:08}"I'm gonna do the hard work of seeing who I am through the perspective of the one who created me. I'm gonna own some things from what I've experienced and lived and I'm gonna stand in what I know; that I am different and unique and 'called to be'." {29:35} "I really believe joy is something that has strength and it is a fighter. It is something that says I will stand with you in this. And I think it's overlooked all the time as a weapon. Joy really is a weapon for life's darkest moments that it deals us." Buy Candace's Book Candace's Website Follow Candace on Instagram Like Candace on Facebook Buy Candace's Book

Alli wrote a book on the concept of happiness called: The Year of Living Happy: Contented and Connected in a Crazy World. What she has discovered about true happiness will surprise you! We’ve twisted our thinking that happiness is a selfish concept and only JOY is holy. This is not true! Alli did her homework and studied the concept of happiness and found that it’s not just an idea that exists outside of being holy. You might be surprised to find that in original language of the Bible (Greek and Hebrew) there is no differentiation between joy and happiness. If we look at what the world says makes us happy (money, sex, power, possessions), this always falls flat. But it is through seeking the Lord and through His holiness where we find true happiness. Happiness is not something that can come easy, but it does take discipline of gratitude and CHOOSING to ask God to bring the spirit of happiness every day. Holiness can be fun and it’s marked throughout Scripture through the life of Jesus. He was both fully God and fully man when He walked the earth. He laughed, he hung out with his best friends, and he enjoyed gathering with people. From Alli, we are reminded that all throughout scripture that all good things from God are also holy things. No matter what your preconceived notions of what happiness looks from the past, there is a way forward, and that comes from following Jesus and His transforming power in your life can reshape what happiness looks like. Alli blows my mind by sharing that we are only happy as WE DECIDE TO BE! This can be acquired by the power of the Holy Spirit. When we ask for the power of the Holy Spirit to come and adjust our attitude toward gratitude, we are sure to connect with holy happiness.   [5:29] - Alli debunks Happiness as a Secular concept [12:15] - A Spirit of Happiness in your Home: Actionable tips [17:53] - How to be happy even when stressed [19:58] - Happiness for the Entrepreneur (Did you know Alli once hustled at a McDonald’s, using the restaurant’s wifi to get her work done?) [23:34] - Is is okay to pursue happiness? [24:45] - When “humility” ruins happiness Pre-order The Year of Living Happy: Contented and Connected in a Crazy World. FREEBIE: you can download the first 7 chapters of the book!  And when you preorder, you get the 30 Days of Happiness Journal! This guided journal provides great action steps to make a change toward happiness in your life. It’s a game changer in how you view your everyday life and how to move forward with personal and professional goals! ***************************************   QUOTABLE MOMENTS [8:18] “We are created with an innate desire to love other people -- and share good times with other people” [11:14]  We all have a happiness set point, but no matter what our external environment is giving, we are going to be as happy as we DECIDE to be [21:00] 20% of your success formula comes from mechanics, 80% of your success formula comes from internal thoughts and attitude [21:24]  Don’t let fear and anxiety overtake you, you will take yourself out of the game before you ever give yourself a chance to play [23:00] Power of your thoughts will take you where you need to go

Many people are facing life-threatening diseases, terminal illness, and the long-term care of elderly parents, but have few resources to rely on in these difficult times. They often keep their challenges private only to suffer in silence with no real support system. Hidden Treasures written by Robin Bertram delivers practical solutions to the problems everyone must deal with when they are experiencing the degradation of the quality of their life or the potential loss of a loved one. Buy the Book 

The life-changing accident happened three weeks after getting engaged. Usually, you don’t survive an accident being t-boned by a semi-truck.  Ashley recalls the blessings of the incident at the time.: Like how an entire field was nearby so it was easy for the helicopter to land and lifeflight her to the hospital.  During her time at the hospital, Ashley endured multiple surgeries and was in a coma for a month. The accident and suspected stroke caused facial paralysis and has left her hand unusable.  My guest today is Ashley Stevens. She’s a Catholic convert and she blogs and speaks about her experiences. We talk about some crazy times in her life: one was when she gave birth to her daughter in the car, the other was how she narrowly survived a horrific car accident with a semi-truck. This accident altered her life significantly, taking away the use of her hand, paralyzing one side of her face and leaving her deaf in one ear. You’ll appreciate the lessons that Ashley has learned in thankfulness and in the pursuit of joy, even in the small things.  www.constantlyunderconstruction.com    

Depression first engulfed James during his time as a full-time children’s minister. Depression is a unique struggle in most jobs, but in ministry, it seems to be even more daunting. And, I wanted to get insight into how it feels to struggle with mental illness as a man in ministry.    Before depression, James had the ability to really connect with the kids at church. He said, “If I can think it, I can create it.” He reminisces his time where he described himself an amazing pastor. He loved his life and loved his job.   For James, depression started as a tiny nagging feeling where everything is doomed. There wasn’t one incident that triggered things for him, he just slowly stopped loving life. In the past, James judged people who had depression. He thought people should buck up and get over it. Because of family history, he even felt like people with a diagnosis of mental illness used this as an excuse to “get out of life”.   James’ depression manifested itself through sleep disorders and apathy. He said things got to the point where his wife carried everything up to the point where he was literally just working at church when necessary. The ability to feel good was taken from him. He says he was lacking serotonin and dopamine, a true chemical imbalance.    James felt a lot of shame in his struggle and just waited for the day that he was “over” the depression. He struggled with wondering what he did wrong spiritually because he had depression. The feeling of keeping up an appearance of “fine” at church was exhausting. He took it upon himself to get better and tried and tried and tried to change spiritually. His pastoral staff made is seem as though they accepted his depression, that it was ok to be broken. However, there was a point where that wasn’t the case. After attempting to quit his job as a pastor three times, he finally had to walk away from traditional ministry.    James cried out to God, desperate for an answer, wanting a change in his life, and wanting to be free from the hold of depression. He says that ultimately this was a medical mental issue but not a spiritual one. What he needed was proper medical attention to attend to his health.    One blessing that James sees in the hard times is that depression has beaten his quick temper out of him. He realizes he now only has so much emotional and mental energy and choosing to spend it wisely (instead of wasting it on being angry on something silly).   James walks us through his road to recovery. He traveled from doc to doc, prescription to prescription and found that his health was a constantly under construction battle of self-care, grace, and acceptance of his situation.   James asked, “What if God chooses to never heal me from this? How will my relationship with God continue through this?” At this point, James found beautiful and sweet surrender.  A point where James let go, but God never did.    James helps us understand that God is always meeting us where we are. God gives us value and none of our efforts change that. This is where surrender becomes effortless freedom instead of shameful quitting. If you were old enough to view TV commercials from the 80’s, you’ll appreciate his NesTea analogy. :) And this is precisely why I admire James. God created him to share his humor and his struggle. And it is so, so valuable.    Find James and his podcasts here: https://nlcast.com  

Susette tells a redemptive story of shame regarding her body image that involves a mall dressing room, a fancy dress with those darn side zippers, and a pair of scissors. We all have been caught in a dress in the dressing room, right? That's stressful!!! Imagine having a huge connection with shame alongside it. We contrast that shame story with another one where Susette had a breakthrough with recognizing shame. This one involves water bugs! (And how we see ourselves) :) Believe it or not, this also was a very vulnerable moment for Susette and I am so appreciative of her sharing so we can feel those feeling alongside her.  Most of her frustrations with her shame became subconscious thoughts that heap over time and attack her womanly heart: weight, homemaking, motherhood...all the parts of our identity. Susette’s vulnerable heart is refreshing. I love that she is so open about her current disconnection with with God and her frustrations with infertility. She helped us see that by sharing all of this with her husband, language can battle the shame. Stating it out loud has become a weapon for fighting against it. Verbalizing, using language, is a way to cut shame. Counseling and therapy is another great way to put language to shame. Knowing about the shame itself and finding your people that are safe to verbalize it to can be a great path to self discovery and proper mental and spiritual health. You can train your friends to help you too. You can teach them and practice identifying shame and supporting one another as we build language for acknowledging it. Susette say Reading a bene brown book together can be a way to communicate shameful feelings with your people in your life. Also, Celebrate Recovery is a great group program  to be a place to share your heart, identity your shame, and verbalize it. Here are some resources Susette wanted to share with you about finding a therapist: Psychologytoday.com is a good reference for people in need—most therapists are on it, so people can search through a complete list.  It also has availability for therapists who do online therapy.  You can see anyone licensed in your state for online.   For anyone in California, you can begin therapy with Susette by emailing her here:  susette@susettemagana.com   Christians can call New Life Ministries too—they have therapist referrals in most states: 1-800-New-Life We talk about shame and our relationship with God and the difference between shame and conviction. Shame becomes a buzzword in the Christian community. God's conviction is gentle and with hope for change. Shame is the opposite and it's isolating, none of Gods love is involved. When it comes to science and shame, Susette breaks it all down how our bodies can be trained to WANT to pursue God more when we pray. The more we pray, the more specific parts of the brain that helps us cope with hard stuff grows and helps us process. It’s like our brain builds our faith through our experiences! How cool is that?! Susette is thrilled to build a community among our Constantly Under Construction Podcast Tribe. She also has a podcast Facebook group for The Desire Line. Please, dive into both! I absolutely love what she is doing to connect people with themselves and our Creator. Susette's Website Follow Susette on Instagram Like Susette on Facebook 

If you’ve struggled with having a baby or felt the weight of a diagnosis that is final. You’ll walk away from our time feeling more encouraged. I cannot wait for you to draw closer to the Lord through the experiences that Glenna has to share.  

This episode with Heather Margiotta begins as the 2nd part of a 2 part series where we transition from connecting about the tragedy of loss to the love we experience when we interact with difficult people, namely friendships.   Heather recounts a difficult situation with a friend. It’s something that we have all experienced to some degree. You know how it goes…When you recount it, it sounds silly to explain out loud. You see where it’s hard for both people but there’s still mounds of hurt that got piled on that eventually dissolves the friendship. In the end, both Heather and her friend had a broken relationship by choosing their hurts.   Heather relays that Jesus didn’t give up on difficult people…even when Peter pulled his loyalty away from Jesus and rejected him! Peter held on to his own protection but Jesus forgave him and used him for greatness. The responsibility Jesus left him with showed true reconciliation with their relationship. Whatever was broken was not only healed but made better! What a picture for our own potential relationships! And what a hope we can have with our relationship with Jesus!   When it comes to dire situations with friends: Reach out, let heated situations simmer, and pray pray pray!   Guys, I cannot wait for you to hear how God moved in Heather’s life through prayer! She realized that she was missing out on His presence in the little things in her life so she created a physical prayer wall to see Him move! Literally, when God moved, her post-it notes moved. It showed her that in life, God provides and it was easy to move on. Prayers were answered but not held in thankfulness. But through the prayer wall, Heather was able to see God move and she was able to become thankful for each and every prayer request. On average, 2 prayers a week were answered! Can you believe that God is that big? Heather has a tangible way to say, YES!   Heather wrote a devotional about this very subject, Expecting God to Move. It’s a beautiful compilation of 30 days of connecting with God in a way that shows His presence in your life. Check out her devotional to experience a God who cares, who wants us, and is waiting to reveal how He moves in our lives!

Heather and I both have brothers who died from a drug overdose with heroin. But our connection is deeper than a tragedy. We both have a grief bond that allows us to see purpose in our pain.    Heather’s brother was her best friend. A funny, vibrant guy that ‘would try anything once’ is how she describes him. Her love for him is evident as she recounts his good-nature and her big brother affection for him. He even shared with her the treasure of salvation in Jesus. As teens, they both learned to walk the path as new Christians. Heather says they remained best friends even when he pulled away from walking the “church life”.   Heather’s brother's addiction was started when got a Staph infection. The medication that was prescribed started him on the road to pill additcion, which funneled into an addiction of heroin.   Heather was shocked the first time she heard of his addiction. Because she felt so uninformed and was naive to drugs, it was hard to accept the reality of how her brother was deeply trapped by addiction. An addiction that put him on a tumultuous rollercoaster his last few years and ultimately ended in his death.    Heather and I both connect over our loss and I share a bit about the love of my brother as well. The best part of this episode is hearing someone else validate my feelings that my brother's addiction did not define who he was. And if you have a person in your life struggling with addiction, it doesn't define them either.   

Kathy's job of 27 years was ending. Her passion for teaching child development was honed at the local college and was now being phased out of the school's curriculum. Fortunately, Kathy found a newfound passion that was part of her already exercised teaching muscle.: the Parent Talk System. Kathy now teaches a system all over the world that she knows and believes in. It’s a technique that’s proven to enhance the communication between you and your child based on respect and the opportunity for choice.    Kathy and I met at a MOPS meeting and I was so taken with the parent talk system that I wanted to have her as a guest on the show. I loved how simple and practical the techniques can be and how they really honor your child in the process. In our time together, I talk to Kathy about multiple situations in which the Parent Talk system can be used. I take some time to lament about disciplining my own children. With a basis of respect and choice, Kathy shares a method that allows you to effectively parent while you’re also encouraging your child to learn the building blocks of communication. 

Binge eating and exercise became a habit for Rachel in college. Interestingly, her past never dictated an unhealthy preoccupation with food. Her upbringing didn’t point to reasons to overeat. But a slippery slope of typical college life found Rachel in a position of choosing food as a comfort. Eating enormous amounts of food in one sitting all alone, Rachel recounted that time would just stop in those moments. To counteract the eating, she exercised. The shame and secrets would become a catalyst for beating herself up. Negative self-talk became a regular part of the cycle: food restriction, exercise, calorie counting, ending a day of self-deprivation with binge eating and then shame and repentance. All these momentary efforts to control or numb negative feelings mounted on top of each other. The cycle went on for years, Rachel promised each time to make a better effort, to promise herself that she would have better control. But when it came to conquering this eating disorder, the battle could not be fought alone.  My guest today is Rachel Tiemeyer. She’s the author of a cookbook, From Freezer to Table. We talk a bit about the joys and benefits of freezer meal cooking and it was through Rachel’s various experiences that brought her to the place where she loves to share freezer recipes and encourage a family-centered meal.  Rachel was gracious to share a personal story about a struggle from her past. It was in her early 20’s that she found herself binge eating. Typical college life found Rachel in a position of choosing food as a comfort and exercising as a counterbalance to that comfort.  Ultimately Rachel was freed from the binge eating cycle through a miracle that turned her self focus into focus on others. I love her perspective on enduring struggle and was so thankful for her willingness to share a piece of her story with us!    

Are you discouraged because you think you should have been more successful, met certain milestones, achieved certain goals by a certain time or specific age? Today we fiercely reject that lie! Get ready to listen to this episode more than once because I’m positive you’ll want to hear (again and again) encouragement for authenticy, choosing joy, and doing the hard work that Rachel Hollis has to offer. As I dreamed about this podcast,  I had the desire to share encouragement, hope, and real life stories that would help people feel inspired.  I wanted people to crawl out of the hole of despair. I wanted people to reconnect with pain and suffering to see that God is in that plan and it’s sweeter than we could ever have imagined. And when it comes to my guest today, I wanted people to know that the choice to live a better life is up to you. There may be things in our life that we cannot control but there are so many things that we have the power to change and it’s with that sort of motivation that I'm thrilled to share with you, my guest, Rachel Hollis.   You’ll get so much encouragement from Rachel, but in the most real way. She sets out to tell the honest truth…even in the messy times. And she highlights the importance of WOMEN, not just men, showing the full gamut of truth. Keeping it real, keeps life authentic for all of us; Leveling the playing field for all women is the encouragement that we see from Rachel, balancing out the good with the bad. And not just on social media, but in REAL life! It’s important to realize that sometimes we work too hard for the perception of a good life online instead of a good life in person. We slash lies from Rachel’s book that will bring you freedom. One lie was: I need a drink. Drinking as a habit of numbing…but not really acknowledging that numbing became a problem for Rachel. You’ll love to listen to Rachel explain when she realized that she wasn’t just having one drink but maybe more to survive each day. And how she has allowed to let the truth of ugly reality of her life set her free. Listen to this episode to catch all the adrenaline pumping shots of encouragement that Rachel has to bring ...I’m not joking, be alert. We seriously roll through our convo like dialogue on a Gilmore Girls episode!    

Rhonda chose drugs over her children. Wanted in three states, Rhonda was running from the law for her involvement with drugs and other criminal activity.   Listen to this captivating story of a woman who was a slave to her addiction of drugs, a woman who believed the lie that doing anything to get her kids back, including prostitution and stealing, was the way to get redemption, a woman who sought safety and purpose in her marriage but found that it was one of the unsafest places for her to be. Rhonda recounts hiding in a ditch amidst the bright lights of police helicopters and fervent search of the law enforcement on foot with their dogs. You'll find that not only was she being pursued by cops ...but also by her Creator. Rhonda’s life was completely turned around in prison but the tumultuous road getting there was filled with God’s sovereignty. God had a plan for Rhonda. It was in prison that she was rehabilitated.  It was through her faith that she saw that she could trust God to bring her children back to her. After working with her Stand in the Gap family, a ministry-led transitional home, Rhonda was able to regain custody of her three children and hold a steady job for nine years. From this amazing journey, Rhonda eventually began her own ministry and an advocate for women who have been incarcerated, like herself. Rhonda envisioned a community with less recidivism and more successful, healthy women. Rhonda is more than happy to share her story of failure-turned-success. Full blogpost...    

Somebody is yelling at me, telling me i'm worthless, screaming negative curses over me....except they aren't doing it with words…and it’s not they it’s me….it’s just feelings that are just washing over me... feelings of worthlessness, discouragement, negativity and overwhelm that eventually paralyzes me. Sometimes I can fully know this and yet I cannot stop feeling this way. My intellect confirms these aren't true feelings but brain is tricking my body into believing it's true and that registers in my body as pain.   This is depression.  Today's episode, the focus is kinda on me. I've been struggling with depression. Forever, in fact. As a teen, I have clear memories of telling family that I was depressed. But I don't think I've ever had anyone help me validate this fact in a way that felt safe. As I grow older and wiser, I'm seeing the places where depression has infiltrated areas of my life and I no longer want it to reside. Part of kicking depression to the curb is shining a light on it. So today, I will give you a sensibility of how I feel personally attacked by depression.    The symptoms of depression are unique to the individual. The cause of depression and it's treatment options are very layered. There's no way in the WORLD one episode could touch the options, the effects, or the opinions of this segment of mental health.   I want to thank my guest Elizabeth Taylor for graciously sitting beside me as I vocalized some of my thoughts on being depressed and I'm also appreciative of her insights and encouragement.    In future episodes, I look forward to diving deeper into the subject of depression with additional guests and more revelations as time proves to educate us on the nasty effect that depression can have on all of us. Thank you for listening with grace today as we scratch the surface on this important topic of mental health. 

Feeling like she wasn't good enough, feeling like she wasn't worthy, and then believing it put her in a state of darkness. Rachel opens up to us about a time in her life that she calls a spiritual depression. Postpartum Rachel was feeling low self-esteem but there was more to it than a chemical or hormonal imbalance. Her husband brought to her attention the emptiness and depression that she was experiencing. Rachel says that it was more of a spiritual depression because she was living and believing the lies that Satan was telling her about her worth. The heart of the story means so much because this is where we see beauty coming from pain. It is during this time that Rachel was given a new path in her life away from her job as a dental hygienist and into writing and speaking and sharing God's word. Ironically, this all came about by getting raw and real (and sometimes angry) with God.

She describes it similar to sneaking pornography: Alone, ashamed, in secret, and lying about it. When Cara watched The Passion of the Christ, she was seeking for the truth in the story of the resurrection. In the past, Cara had made fun of Christians and thought of them as hypocrites. So to entertain the idea of believing that Jesus and his sacrifice was real, became a moment of choosing between something she knew she could be mocked for. In the beginning of their relationship, her husband Dan wasn't walking with the Lord either. This part of her story is so interesting to me because I believe it brings more authenticity to her choice of faith. She didn’t choose God because her husband wanted her to or influenced her, but because she sought Him out on her own and found God to be everything she needed in life and more. One of my favorite truth bombs Cara brings to the podcast was this: How Christians behave has no bearing on weather or not the resurrection happened. She tells us that this was a pinnacle thought for her when researching Jesus’ death on the cross. Cara said it's her health problems that that encouraged her heart to soften and choose a relationship with God. With a possible diagnosis of colon cancer, Cara turned to God in a way that was new and unfamiliar to her. With prayer and relationship with God being so foreign, Cara wrestled with how to authentically communicate with God. When she invited the Holy spirit into her life, connecting with God suddenly became easy and she dove in head first and never looked back.   Cara is now bold about her faith and believes very strongly that people need to hear the truth of God and his love: God loves you, He’s seeking a relationship with you, and he's putting the 99% aside to come after you.Cara’s book was a product of sharing the gospel with others on social media. She never planned to write a book, but instead the book was born out of witnessing on Facebook.

Tim was an alcoholic starting in 8th grade. In our time together, Tim gives us insight into why he chose alcohol as a coping mechanism and how it was masking who he really was.    God worked a miracle for Tim through a family member that also struggled with alcoholism. His favorite uncle had just completed two years of sobriety and became a mentor to him. God provided many individuals, including his dad, along the way that helped him have a real heart change away from alcohol and toward Christ.    Tim fully embraces the idea of Constantly Under Construction as he says that God is never done with him. God continues to work through him. The pull to work in ministry was a seed that was planted many many years before he became a pastor at a church. Tim knew that he was already in ministry when he worked on TV news, but God told him it was time to step away. And in that, he saw God stripping away things that weren’t meant to be part of his life and God's plan. And it was a process of finding his identity in Christ. When it comes to identity, Tim reminds us that God works in our lives when we step into who we really are. Walking into the role as pastor was such an amazing process because Tim was able to come with confidence because of the work that God had been continually doing in his life.    Tim Ezell is a familiar face if you live in St Louis. As a TV journalist, he made us laugh for nearly 20 years amidst the heavy and necessary stories we catch on the early morning news. Tim has always been associated with levity and has been a bright spot to our mornings. We’ve watched him use goofy tactics, physical comedy, props and costumes to share a fun and light aspect to tv news.    Tim now flourishes in his God-given identity with his own television show, The Thread. Which he makes very very clear that it would never have been created without the dream, vision, and follow through of his friend and fellow show creator and producer, Virginia Kerr.    I’m so thrilled for you to hear Tim’s account about how God shaped him through his journey from alcoholic teen, to tv news anchor, becoming a pastor, and then BACK to television to complete a bigger ministry than Tim (and Virginia) has ever done before. The Thread gives the gospel message at each and every episode and the mission and message of The Thread can be summed up in the verse John 13:34- "As I have loved you, love one another."   I can’t wait for you to hear of the big dreams Tim has about the show! It’s his goal to tangibly reach individuals by means of live events and functions. Get ready to want to take part in all the fun and joy Tim wants to inspire in those who participate in The Thread!    Some things you may not know: The Thread is a show that is independent of FOX television network. Because people see Tim back on TV, they assume the show is funded by FOX. There have been moments where the show has needed financial and moral support. Tim has had bright moments where he sees God telling him that the show is doing work and there is fruit in his efforts. However, the show is funded independently and looks to outside support for viewers and donations. As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, the show needs support. Go to the website to support financially. And connect on Facebook and Instagram to interact with the show and it’s episodes.    The Thread will surely connect individuals and create a whole new level of community like we’ve never seen before!  

Virginia originally pursued journalism out of desperation. It wasn't out of noble efforts but instead to feed something that was missing inside of her. She says that she was a lost person who felt like she was worth nothing. She felt like if she could just be on television, then she would prove to herself that she felt like "a somebody”.   Through her battle with an eating disorder, her connection with mental illness, and her miscarriage, Virgina shares with us God’s provision in her life. Learn of His love as we talk about true identity and no longer trying to hide or numb the pain that life might bring. Virginia Kerr is well known around the St. Louis area as a television news anchor. Most recently Virginia has founded and fueled an amazing television show called The Thread. A show that's dedicated to sharing the light and kingdom work of St. Louis. It highlights the hearts and efforts of activities, events, and individuals who want to make the world a better place. The Thread celebrates these people and organizations by sharing and inviting others to be a part of it. The purpose of the show is to help people know God better and encourage people to see their purpose in life by showcasing others who are already walking in that role. Follow Virginia on Facebook  Connect with The Thread on Instagram Connect with the Thread on Facebook Follow Donna on Instagram!