First Giving Honor To God

In this season's final episode, Whitney shares how she found the strength to start building the vision God gave her back in 2019. And she encourages the audience to take the same leap and build confidently with God while becoming exactly who He's calling them to be. Whitney ends this season with prayers over the audience — prayers to encourage them as they head to build. Shivawn Mitchell of SAM Studios, and Juston Daniel of Becoming Ministries join in, offering prayers for listeners, too “Keep building. It's going to rain. They're going to come. Keep building, fam. ” Connect with Shivawn Mithcell on her website or follow her on Instagram: @shiwvawnmitchell Follow Juston Daniel on Instagram: @j_edifies   To listen to more episodes, visit: www.honortogod.com/episodes/  Follow us on social: Instagram: @honortogodpod Twitter: @honortogodpod Website: www.honortogod.comMerch: https://www.honortogod.com/shop-1 If you love us, rate and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and/or wherever you listen.

In lieu of a guest, Whitney uses this week to share how God has been helping to shift her perspective around growth and its relationship to winning. This all started when God told her to take this year off from goal setting — something she would never have considered on her own. And through this no goals year, she's learning exactly why she's been so obsessed with goals in the first place. Whitney recounts the three areas in her life that have been clear areas of growth over the last few years but have felt very humbling, uncomfortable, and very far from winning. She actually took some literal Ls. Still, she encourages listeners to let the growth happen.  She also advises that listeners understand the real implications of Romans 12:2 — be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Once you really understand this, you'll know you don't need a win to know your growth is worth it.  To listen to more episodes, visit: www.honortogod.com/episodes/  Follow us on social: Instagram: @honortogodpod Twitter: @honortogodpod Website: www.honortogod.comMerch: https://www.honortogod.com/shop-1 If you love us, rate and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and/or wherever you listen.

In this episode, Whitney recounts her worst academic fear coming true; missing a college final. She uses this story to jumpstart a casual conversation around her feelings of unaccomplishment in the face of an ending season. Instead of God dismissing her feelings, he walks her through a months-long journey showing her how her inability to recognize answered prayers and fulfilled promises is keeping her stuck in seasons that he wants to end. Whitney shares one of God's biggest promises kept to date — a huge one—that took her over ten years to recognize. Whitney's hope is that listeners will take a look at their own life and notice the places where they've missed the hand of God and allow themselves to let seasons end and a fresh, new one to emerge. “I was standing in the middle of a promise fulfilled and I missed it. How did I miss this?” _ To listen to more episodes, visit: www.honortogod.com/episodes/  Follow us on social: Instagram: @honortogodpod Twitter: @honortogodpod Website: www.honortogod.comMerch: https://www.honortogod.com/shop-1 If you love us, rate and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and/or wherever you listen.

In this episode, Whitney sits down with award-winning filmmaker, producer, podcaster, author, and her homegirl, Shivawn Mitchell of SAM Studios, to talk about creativity and telling good stories. Shivawn shares how she decided to take a leap of faith to pursue a career in film and the mindsets she had to release in order to truly lean into her creative calling. She also shares why she produces the way she does and how we, as Christian creatives, have the freedom to tell the stories that matter to us and stories that are as layered as we all are. "We diminish our value because we don't recognize that our stories exude the light. We're shining the light in the darkness, and that doesn't have to be super deep." - Shivawn Mitchell  To pick up Shivawn's Toolkit for Christian Creatives or to purchase her latest book, visit her website! Also, Connect with Shivawn on Instagram: @shiwvawnmitchell To listen to more episodes, visit: www.honortogod.com/episodes/  Follow us on social: Instagram: @honortogodpod Twitter: @honortogodpod Website: www.honortogod.com Merch: https://www.honortogod.com/shop-1 If you love us, rate and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and/or wherever you listen.

In this episode, Whitney shares her earliest memory — a holiday gathering where she sings for her family for the first time. This memory represents the beginning of Whitney's musical journey. It also represents the beginning of her struggles with her self-worth. And it wasn't until decades later in the midst of the pandemic that she begin doing the work to change her self-image when God asked her to stop doing and start being. While the journey hasn't been easy, she believes it's absolutely been worth it. Her advice to anyone struggling with their self-worth: Give yourself time to be — with God, in His presence and the world will truly open up to you. “Will it feel like a gut punch at times? Yes. Will it be freedom, too? Also, yes.”   To listen to more episodes, visit: www.honortogod.com/episodes/  Follow us on social: Instagram: @honortogodpod Twitter: @honortogodpodWebsite: www.honortogod.comMerch: Coming Soon If you love us, rate and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and/or wherever you listen.

In this episode, Whitney sits down with her childhood bestie to dive into the story behind her new career in clinical research.  After completing her degree in business, Jennifer started down a path that would be considered a complete success story to most, but she knew there was so much more for her.  Jennifer shares how a prayer she prayed two years prior would lead her to an unexpected trip to visit a relative and ultimately change her life.  Jennifer's heart and smile and her hard work in the field have not only landed her great roles but also caused her to be recognized by her colleagues and peers in big ways. She's truly found a passion she never expected.  "I told God, I never thought I'd be doing something like this, but thank you thank you thank you!" - Jennifer Mims To listen to more episodes, visit: www.honortogod.com/episodes/  Follow us on social: Instagram: @honortogodpod Twitter: @honortogodpodWebsite: www.honortogod.comMerch: https://www.honortogod.com/shop-1 If you love us, rate and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and/or wherever you listen.

Have you ever found yourself driving along and suddenly your GPS tells you it's “re-routing you”?   In this first episode of season two, Whitney shares the story of how God took her to and through a brand new job in a whirlwind six months; the ultimate re-route. To her, it was horrible timing. However, she eventually realizes that the journey was all to heal her heart and soul.  Tune in to hear how Whitney found herself back in a familiar place with a renewed sense of hope and a new outlook.  “I feel myself evolving into a woman that I am so proud to be and that I am so proud to allow other people to see.”                              - Whitney Hall                                                              Whitney advises listeners not to fight change and to trust God's plan above what people may say every time.  “Lean into the re-route,” she says.     To listen to more episodes, visit: www.honortogod.com/episodes/  Follow us on social: Instagram: @honortogodpodTwitter: @honortogodpodWebsite: www.honortogod.comMerch: https://www.honortogod.com/shop-1 If you love us, rate and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and/or wherever you listen.

In this season’s final episode, Whitney walks through a time where she trusted gurus and business experts' voices over God’s voice causing her to hate the craft she once loved more than anything — photography. She even jokes about how they led her to take photos of babies, which was something she vowed to never do. Whitney also recounts one of the hardest episodes she recorded this season; episode 3. Whitney calls that episode “raw” and “real” and discusses how it revealed to those closest to her just how unhappy she’d been for so many years. She also has an exciting update from that episode.  “I just know that God is committed to this vision for my life. And I know if He’s this committed to the vision for my life that He’s committed to yours as well. ” — Whitney Hall Whitney goes on to talk about the importance of looking at the devastation of 2020 and remember that there's still a 90% chance of ‘winning’ this decade. She points out that in order to do that we must turn down the volume on all of the voices that aren’t God’s voice and commit to doing exactly what God says the way He says to do it. To close this season, Whitney reminds listeners that she loves them and that she hopes they will take a chance with her and ‘Go with God’. Follow us on social: Instagram: @honortogodpod Twitter: @honortogodpod Learn more about our Pod Manager, Crys & Tiana by visiting their website www.crysandtiana.com or Follow them on social @crysandtiana If you love us, rate and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and/or wherever you listen. 

In this episode, Whitney is joined by two of her best friends, Courtney and Detric, to sit down and talk about their journey to becoming friends and creating community. “You have to start by being your authentic self. Otherwise, you’re going to attract people who are attracted to a person that doesn’t exist”  Detric and Courtney share why community has become such an important thing for them. Detric realized that he didn’t have anyone to share his authentic self with and Courtney realized that she wasn’t actually happy and that her friendships didn’t allow her to share her faith. They also talk about how their growing ministry, which Detric leads, Becoming was a true test at first but ended up bringing even more people into their inner circle. Something they never expected. Whitney and Detric journey through their lifetime dislike for each other that she equates to an “east coast/west coast beef” and how getting past that to become friends is proof that God put this together. Courtney and Detric also share that the way to finding a friend is determining if you really want friends—especially Godly friends. Detric reminds us that friends don’t always tell us what we want to hear or make our life easier. And the three talk about how their friendship was really made in the times where they had to have those hard conversations with each other — something they called “medicine”. The three best friends encourage listeners to pray for community and encourage them by admitting that they can’t imagine reaching this point in their purposes and lives without consistent love and community. To listen to more episodes, visit: www.honortogod.com/episodes/  Follow us on social: Instagram: @honortogodpod Twitter: @honortogodpod Learn more about our Pod Manager, Crys & Tiana by visiting their website www.crysandtiana.com or Follow them on social @crysandtiana If you love us, rate and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and/or wherever you listen. 

In this episode, Whitney decides to have an off the cuff conversation about something she’s dealing with and has been talking about a lot with her friends lately — being a beginner. In fact, Whitney shares how being a beginner comes with some incredible blessings. "I believe God had to make me a beginner again because for the most part I was leaning on me and I'd be like 'God I'll holla at you if I get lost'. But that's a really dangerous place to be." Whitney is learning that starting from the bottom with God is better than trying to do it on her own. In fact, God’s guidance and daily presence is the biggest blessing because the word says that His strength is made perfect in weakness —2 Corinthians 12:9. She also discovers a surprise blessing that just a year ago she would have thought was a serious curse. This episode ends with Whitney encouraging everyone to not only be OK with being a beginner but to keep a beginner’s mindset even as they progress along. There is so much blessing in being a beginner. Merry Christmas, fam! To listen to more episodes, visit: www.honortogod.com/episodes/  Follow us on social: Instagram: @honortogodpod Twitter: @honortogodpod Learn more about our Pod Manager, Crys & Tiana by visiting their website www.crysandtiana.com or Follow them on social @crysandtiana If you love us, rate and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and/or wherever you listen. 

In this episode, Whitney sits down with Kendall Isadore, one of the first friends she made during her college years at Howard University. Together, they talk about Kendall’s powerful trio, The String Queens — a soulful and authentic strings trio that creates stimulating musical experiences that inspire diverse audiences to love, hope, feel, and imagine! Kendall shares the story of how The String Queens came to be; a story that is clearly orchestrated by God and full of right place, right time moments. But a moment that almost didn’t happen. Kendall talks about a brief moment after college where, mad at God for not delivering on his promise to use her sound to inspire people, she stopped playing her violin altogether. But God spoke a word that would change everything.  “Before that year was up, God had a word for me. He said, ‘It’s actually not about you.’” - Kendall Isadore   And with that, she picked her instrument back up. Kendall agreeing to trust God at that moment and saying yes to doing it His way opened up the entire world to her. Leading her to some of the world's greatest stages such as Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center.  The duo discusses Kendall’s mission as a Black woman orchestra teacher; an experience neither of them had growing up in music education programs. Kendall then shares that her goal is to give her students a world-class education because that’s what they deserve no matter their background and even if they don’t aspire to become professional musicians.  And in true Howard woman fashion, they end their conversation talking about social justice.  In 2018 Kendall launched a social impact movement called Black Kings/Queens Matter, and with the events of 2020, she knew it was the perfect time to relaunch and inspire Black Kings and Queens.  Kendall is truly making an impact. To listen to more episodes, visit: www.honortogod.com/episodes/  About the Guest: Kendall Isadore is a Washington, DC-based educator, creator of the Black Kings/Queens Matter movement, and one-third of the world-renowned trio The String Queens. Based in Washington, D.C., TSQ members have been featured in famed performance venues across four continents including Carnegie Hall, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, The Howard Theatre, Royal Festival Hall, Radio City Music Hall, Shanghai Grand Theatre, The Moscow Conservatory, and Blues Alley, to name a few. Recognized by D.C.’s leading news network WUSA9 as “school teachers by day and concert performers by night”, they have been honored as the 2020 Aspire Awardees by Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. They also collaborated with Washington Performing Arts to launch a series of concerts and educational outreach programs with the organization as their 2019-2020 Ensemble-in-Residence for their signature community engagement initiative titled “Mars Arts D.C.”. In late 2019, TSQ premiered their debut album at legendary venue Blues Alley. The album is now available for purchase on the TSQ website and all major digital outlets.  They premiered their second album, “Our Favorite Things”, in late November 2020.  To learn more, visit The String Queens’ website: www.thestringqueens.com Follow The String Queens on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestringqueens/ Connect with The String Queens on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thestringqueens/ Follow Black Kings Queens Matter on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackkingsqueensmatter/  

In this episode, Whitney shares how she went from starting her dream business to taking a job that took her off the path of God. After constant questions about her getting a “real job”, Whitney eventually gave into other people’s wishes and it has taken her almost a decade to realize she is on a really long detour.  Tune in to hear how 2020, a year of incredible stillness and quietness and her ‘bout with sickness caused her to open her eyes to the reality of her life: she was living a life she didn’t choose.  “I thought, if this is it for me, I would be dying with so many talents unshared and so many dreams unfulfilled. So I just said, ‘God if you get me through this I won’t let this continue to be my story.’”  Whitney is still accepting that she’s lived a life she doesn’t love, but God is calling her to move different, to do some things in a new way.  Listen to find out how four words from Tracee Ellis Ross have become a mantra for her this year and are helping her move in new ways. Also, hear how she’s sleeping more than she ever has in her life and how that's a part of God's plan, too.  If God has given you a word to move and you trust that it’s his word, that word is enough to do it. And you have to do it now. But even if you’ve gotten off the path, like Whitney did for so many years, God can still restore the years just like he’s doing for her.  To listen to more episodes, visit: www.honortogod.com/episodes/  Follow us on social: Instagram: @honortogodpodTwitter: @honortogodpod Learn more about our Pod Manager, Crys & Tiana by visiting their website www.crysandtiana.com or Follow them on social @crysandtiana

There are many external things that may make you feel like you can’t do the thing God wants you to do, from money to location to lack of support. But how do we deal with internal obstacles that hold us back, like mental illness?  In this episode, Whitney briefly shares her experience with anxiety and the hit it took on her confidence, especially in the realm of creativity. Then, she welcomes her low-key cousin Tashara, who has taught her so much about how to live with mental illness and to take leaps of faith to do what she was created to do. Tashara speaks on her journey of bravery to becoming a therapist and how she launched her latest venture, Brave by TJ, a subscription box service that helps people manage their mental health.  Tashara shares what led her to leave a well-paying job to move back to Alabama and get an internship, which eventually led her to start becoming a person she didn’t want to be. She describes how she knew God was going to catch her after quitting her job and carry her through a risky period of unemployment. She speaks on her experience reconciling and dealing with anxiety and depression while knowing He still had a calling for her. “It can’t own me, it can’t be my mark or my stamp, it’s just a piece of me and that’s fine. There’s other pieces.”  - Tashara Janae The duo discusses the church’s role in mental health and Tashara divulges her candid thoughts on having mental healthcare practitioners in churches. She then expresses how she gives herself grace during anxious and depressive moments.  If 2020 has taught them anything, it’s that it’s important to take your time, slow down, listen to your body, and take days off to nurture yourself (because you want to, not because you have to!). You’re not doing the work alone, you’re doing it in tandem with God. To listen to more episodes, visit: www.honortogod.com/episodes/  About the Guest:Tashara Janae, affectionately known as TJ, is the owner, creator and CEO of Brave by TJ. She is also a pastor, a therapist, a worshipper, a creative, an introvert, and most importantly, a Southern Belle. Tashara lives her life as a servant of God who is incredibly grateful that He trusts her with His message. Tashara is committed to sharing the gospel by being creative, innovative, and theologically sound. Brave by TJ is a monthly curated subscription box with tips on coping with anxiety and depression. To learn more, visit Tashara’s website: www.bravebytj.com  Follow Tashara on Instagram: www.instagram.com/TasharaJanae Connect with her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TasharaJanae Follow Brave by TJ on Instagram: www.instagram.com/BravebyTJ Find them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BravebyTJ

Do you ever hear God whisper something to you and you think, “Nah… That’s not for me…”?  In this episode of First Giving Honor To God Podcast, Whitney shares a powerful story that began at last year’s Transformation Church Conference, only a few months after she had regained her faith. God told her she needed to come back to her creativity, revealing a vision of some sort of media company. She didn’t take this lightly, in fact, she wasn’t exactly thrilled that God had spoken this to her! With non-stop reminders, nudges, and confirmations from The Spirit over the months following that moment, she was honored, yet still resistant to this calling.  Tune in to hear how an Instagram post gave her the courage to start the media company God had been asking her to start for 7 months and how you can pursue your thing —from being an actress to an accountant — and worship God through it. Whitney is still learning to trust God’s voice that she’s on the right path. She invites you to join her on this journey of exploration and storytelling from people who are also on their unique path following God’s word.  “This is going to be a place where we’re going to learn and grow together, it’s not going to be me leading you as much as it’s going to be us learning what God would have for us to do together.”                                                                                  - Whitney Hall Listen in to hear the words that drastically changed her mindset regarding work and being creative, changing her perspective of His word from being assignment-oriented to opportunity-oriented. Stay tuned as Whitney shares the heartwarming results of these changes and the emotions that are arising from the evolution of her faith.                                                             If God has put something on your heart, no matter what it is and how you feel about it, offer it up to God as worship, because direction will be given and it will create change within you! Ask yourself: Is this going to make God feel loved and worshipped if I do this? Is this what He wants from me? To listen to more episodes, visit: www.honortogod.com/episodes/  ----- Follow us on social: Instagram: @honortogodpod Twitter: @honortogodpod Website: www.honortogod.comMerch: https://www.honortogod.com/shop If you love us, rate and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and/or wherever you listen. 

In the trailer episode, Whitney shared how in 2016 she went from turning her back to the big vision God placed on her heart to surrendering to God in 2019 at a conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A three (3) year journey that took her from being lost and confused to understanding that her creative pursuits - playing guitar, singing,  photography, etc — are important and they matter to God.  Whitney introduces us to how she hopes to share through her bi-weekly podcast episodes the story of how she quit creativity, the lessons she has learned, and how God went on a campaign to bring her back to who she is and the HUGE vision he’s placed on her heart.  She will not only be sharing her journey with you but tagging in some friends, and colleagues, all to show you that your thing matters to God, too. Whether it’s medical school, acting, or music, it’s all part of God’s plan. ----Follow us on social: Instagram | Twitter | Website | Merch