Life Builders By Julie Hamilton

"Imagine yourself as a living house...." God is at work building foundations that are imperative to your future, even if you can't see the results yet!

Lean in and take some notes because today's episode with Pastor Tom Stonecipher is full of wisdom and healing for anyone who has been harmed by prophetic voices that got it wrong.  What should we do with them? Are they still trustworthy? How does God speak to us? If you hear a prophetic word, what should you do with it?  Tom lays the groundwork of a beautiful message for all who have been hurt by the recent events and finding our true identity -- in who we are, not what we do.  Follow Tom on  IG: @ranchopreacher FB: Tom Stonecipher or Rancho Christian Center Second Cup of Coffee on YouTube 

Two of my favorite people on the planet, Myles & Katharine Weiss, are in the hot seat this time as they answer questions about their own tips for marriage, heart for restoration, the One New Man, and ministry as they hold out hope for a brighter future.  Don't miss this restorative and inspiring interview. Follow them on Facebook at Myles & Katharine Weiss Subscribe to their newsletter at mkhop.org Subscribe to their podcast To Life! Hope Behind the Headlines Purchase their book "When Heaven Hits Home" 

"We are going about our everyday lives doing our everyday things and in the background, God is setting up everything we need." Transitions in life are TOUGH! But God showed me something fascinating about the way He is working in the background even in hard transitions.

~ Income generated from the child sex trafficking industry is greater than that of the NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB combined. ~ 750,000 pedophiles per second online. ~ 48,000% increase in child porn ~ the only number going down is the age of the children. In Part 1, Amanda Florczykowski's told the story of her first encounter with a child sex trafficking ring as the stranger yanked Amanda's 3 yr old daughter away from her at the local grocery store.  In Part 2 we examine the aftermath, the unraveling, the consequences of her path into the world of anti-sex trafficking, learning to deal with the criticism and rejection that comes along with going viral and operating in leadership and what enables her to endure the suffering courageously to this day.  Hear the courageous story of one mom's fight to reconcile her multiple painful experiences with a good God, educate others about the horrors of human trafficking, face injustice from trusted authorities, survive going viral and walk closely with God & develop intimacy with Him through it all. Learn how to "mother fiercely in a world full of fears."  Visit Amandaflo.com to purchase her book "Unraveled" and find other resources to equip parents! Super Agent Safety Squad by Denize Rodrigues  

"Saw bye-bye to mommy," the stranger mocked as she yanked Amanda's 3 yr old daughter away from her at the local grocery store. This was Amanda Florczykowski's first encounter with a child sex trafficking ring and it happened in their small town.  Hear the courageous story of one mom's fight to reconcile her multiple painful experiences with a good God, educate others about the horrors of human trafficking, face injustice from trusted authorities, survive going viral and walk closely with God & develop intimacy with Him through it all. Learn how to "mother fiercely in a world full of fears."  Resources mentioned:  "Unraveled" by Amanda Florczykowski (+ other resources)  Note: On the recording, I stated that Tim Ballard was on the Ben Shapiro Show, but I was incorrect. It was the Candance Owens Show.  See link below! Tim Ballard on Candance Owens Show   Operation Underground Railroad (WE EXIST TO RESCUE CHILDREN FROM SEX TRAFFICKING.)

The tales of the last missing chocolate chip cookie caper and thoughts about misplaced privilege.  This one word in the story of Luke 10 caught me off guard and reminded me of something super important that shifted my quiet meditation times this week! Also, I share how trying to stay undistracted in your quiet time just makes you more distracted! Here's a simple tip to deal with distractions. 

"God's picture of your life is greater, bigger, and more impactful than you could ever think." Today's chat with Will G of the "Free Will Talkin" podcast is all about exceeding expectations -whether it's looking back at our lives & what we expected to accomplish, how surrendering his family brought the desires of his heart back to him or even how we often underestimate the potential and value of others surrounding us. Will G shares how to stay on track to see the best days of our lives....better than we would ever expect! 

Like the tree in my neighborhood, things around us can look so dead, and yet there remains a little bit of life that makes its way to the surface. Taking things from appearances and situations of death to life is just what Jesus does over and over.  There is hope! 

This chat with Amie Stockstill was a year in the making so we made sure to cover everything under the sun! We did talk about charcuterie boards, why 2019 was Amie's worst year, why women are afraid of their public callings, Let's Echo, true discipleship and how isolating is self-sabotage. We were never meant to walk this road alone.  Also, you get to hear Amie laugh while I choke on an almond and we learn all about Embrace Grace! 

We are all tempted. Jesus was too. Here are 3 big temptations he faced and how he overcame them -- self-satisfaction, the illusion of power or control, and satisfying His ego.   Luke 4 gives us big keys to dealing with temptation! 

Wow, when I hit record two months ago while John Lynch and I were having a conversation about being blindsided, we hadn't heard a thing about COVID19 or the economy collapsing or American grinding to a halt.  But, the words and the prayer spoken at that time have never been more timely for today. As you listen to this podcast, may you be reminded that God is ever-present in the midst of the beauty and the rubble.  "The best life, the greatest life, is not the pristine life, the fully satiated life, the fixed life, the neatly ordered life. The best life is the real one with God receiving glory as you trust him, enjoy him and others amidst the beauty and the rubble." - John Lynch  Romans 8:28  God refashions all of the evil on this planet that hits all of us and employs it to give us an even better life than if it had never happened.

In Mark 10, we see a crowd that has two distinct parts? Which part would you be in -- future-oriented or fear-oriented? We have a choice. Also, I share 3 ways that we can keep our hearts towards the hope of the future, based on "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl. 

During this time of social distancing and shelter at home, many who already live alone are feeling the burden in an especially heavy way. You can be literally alone or be in a crowd of hundreds and feel alone. Here's the most important thing to remember. 

"We ride the highs and lows," - Andy Grammar "Smoke Clears"  These days are full of highs and lows seemingly out of nowhere! But if we look at scripture, we notice a pattern--Jesus also goes from highest highs to lowest lows one after the other! Here are a few examples and how we recognize that we are in a typical cycle of life. Hang in there...highs will return again. 

What's been on my heart? Business owners like us who have lost all their income & jobs overnight due to COVID -19. Here are some simple ideas to reduce spending, but mostly just a prayer from my heart to yours. We are with you. God is with you. 

In this crazy time I know one thing, God is still speaking. Sometimes we just feel compelled to do certain things that might not make sense and we may never understand why. Let's take a look at 2 situations in the Bible where incredible gifts were on the other side of people's obedience. When those feelings come, the gut feelings, the urges, the Holy Spirit whispers, here's why it might be important to follow those feelings. 

Executive coaching expert Tracy Smith takes us behind the scenes into the deep dive that surrounds creating a great team with various personalities as well as personal emotional intelligence and strategic development. We talk about Meyers Briggs, DISC, the Enneagram AND the emotional intelligence quadrants! Let's go deep! 

LIE #20: "Jesus died for our sins" is the whole message of the cross."  What?? If you're ready to be challenged & fascinated today, check out this podcast with Dr. Andrew Farley and his gift of articulating how small nuances frame the big picture of our lives. He takes simple phrases that many have grown up believing like "Less of him and more of me" or "I die daily" and shows us how they are actually wrong.  His book, Twisted Scripture, uses the Bible to untangle 45 unexpected lies that Christians have been told.  Hear how to get free from analysis paralysis and why the goal of pleasing God can leave us feeling empty.  What did John the Baptist actually mean when he said "Less of him and more of me"? You'll find out in the next 23 minutes.  Other resources mentioned:  www.andrewfarley.org Naked Gospel: The Truth You May Never Hear in Church God Without Religion: Can It Really Be This Simple? The Hurt and the Healer with Mercy Me

"God doesn’t write sad, boring stories. Oftentimes when we’re living out a sad, boring story it’s something that people have written for us. Our own decisions have written for us." In this episode, Jackie Dorman teaches us how to do the "heart work", not the hard work! She gives us shortcuts to healing from trauma and becoming who we really are underneath it all -- healed and whole and free.  Please buy her book "The Heart Work: The Secret to Becoming the Real You" and consider attending her online heart-healing workshop starting in Feb! Find out more at JackieDorman.com 

I've missed you all!!!! So glad to be back with you! Today is just straight preaching from me! Here is Part 2 of four beautiful gifts that we can find in the darkest seasons of our lives. 

Today is just straight preaching from me! Here are four beautiful gifts that we can find in the darkest seasons of our lives. 

Kelly King knows a thing or two about waiting well! She's been in women's ministry for decades, and that's brought her to her current position as the Women's Resource Specialist for Lifeway Christian Resources. Hear her encouragement for wading through unmet expectations, being faithful to take the next steps when the promise seems far away, how women's ministry has changed over the decades, and finally finding yourself in just the right place and the right season!  Follow Kelly's Journey on IG and Twitter at @kellydking Resources mentioned:  Open Windows devotional magazine for a more mature audience Stand Firm devotional magazine for men Journey devotional magazine for women   You Lead 1 Day Leadership Training for Women Lifeway Women's Leadership Forum Women's Leadership Forum in Irvine, Feb 20 - 21  

Dutch Bros Coffee isn't just loud music, chatty teenagers and crazy drinks.  It's a grace incubator and leadership laboratory under the care of David & Kenzie Rowe. These passionate young leaders are impacting our community and work force one cup at a time by teaching their employees how to thrive in face to face relationships, grow healthy minds and hearts, and develop into their best self. Today let's talk about maintaining vision throughout the mundane tasks, growing an env't of grace in the workplace, what they love about the public and nerd out on what leadership development books are in their own mini-library! Follow David and Kenzie's journey by stopping by the Dutch Bros stand in Napa or Sonoma! They're not really on social media :)  Resources mentioned in today's episode:  "The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom" by Don Miguel Ruiz  "Be Here Now" by Ram Dass "Entreleadership:20 Years of Practical Business Wisdom From the Trenches" by Dave Ramsey "QBQ: The Question Behind the Question" by John G. Miller Joe Rogan Podcast  Jordan B. Peterson Podcast Robin Sharma Mastery Sessions Podcast 

Wow wow wow. This podcast ranks high among my favorites ever.  Therapist and author Jay Stringer explores the world of unwanted sexual behavior (pornography, infidelity, and buying sex) with such grace and gentleness, showing us that these behaviors are actually invitations to finding healing and wholeness. We talk about how these unwanted behaviors are not random, they have specific root causes, about how the church and secular "treatments" haven't been effective and why, about how we don't have a "lust management" problem but a heart problem usually related to anger or power, what to do when you find out a spouse is using pornography, how we can grow up in abuse without ever being touched, and how our culture, even our language perpetuates violence against and degradation of women. This chat will enlighten, challenge, and hopefully encourage you to find the way to healing and encourage those around you to do the same! Follow Jay's journey at www.jay-stringer.com    Resources:  "Unwanted: How Sexual Brokeness Reveals Our Way to Healing" by Jay Stringer  

How does a girl from South Carolina who doesn't like people grow up to work in the White House & Congress and then find her heart's passion serving Syrian refugees & working in the world of fashion in the Middle East? In this interview with Ally Portee we'll find out! Learn how her childhood influenced her heart for the nations and love for politics, what she treasures about the Middle East, the realities of Syrian refugee camps and how YOU can help most, what it takes to become a writer at Harper's Bazaar Arabia, why you should "let it go," and tips to navigate the twists and turns of your own path! Follow Ally's world wide journey at @allylolitaportee     

"Two key factors I saw contributed to raising daughters well. 1) If they had a safe relationship with their parents, they could get through anything and 2) If they had an ONGOING dialogue, a slow drip of truth and real relationships." Terra Mattson, a Marriage & Family Therapist, combined all her clinical knowledge, ministry knowledge, and life experience to create dialogue and support for raising AND being daughters rooted in grace! Her free curriculum has been used to create mom/daughter groups all around the world (Courageous Girls), she founded Living Wholehearted and is now expanding into a conference called InCourage 2020 where she's bringing women together to create honest and beautiful conversations and bring healing. Today we talked about sin vs. survival behaviors, her biggest awakening, raising daughters in grace, and the biggest obstacles facing women today...you'll be surprised about her insight on that one! Follow Terra's journey at www.TerraMattson.com  or on IG at @TerraMattson, @Living_Wholehearted, or @MyCourageousGirls  Here are the resources we discussed today:  Incourage 2020 Gathering "Let's Talk About It" Courageous Girls small group resources 

"You’re not going to see what's next fully until you let go of everything else." Former "churchy girl" Marni Ausenbaugh shares vulnerably about her journey of self discovery and walking by faith through a season where nothing seems stable.  "Be authentic and live a life of purpose on purpose."   Follow Marni's journey at www.marniausenbaugh.com and her name on Youtube, IG and FB! (and look out for her new podcasting "Reformed Churchy Girl" coming soon.)  

It's a big topic from a big man with a big heart! Stan Johnson leads us on a gracious journey to explore the topic of racism in light of the Bible and what it says about how we should treat our fellow man.     

Brian Dixon has helped literally thousands of messengers & authors grow in their craft through Hopewriters and his clarity coaching. Today he joined us to share practical ways we can be cultural architects, build the life we want by focusing on the people closest to us first and also a few fantastic tips for want-to-be authors! I just ordered his brand new book "Start With Your People" today and I hope you will too! You also do not want to miss his "kitchen fail" story -- I am still laughing about it!  "What’s obvious to you is magic to other people." Follow Brian's journey on IG at @brianjdixon where he loves to answer his DM's!  Resources mentioned in today's show include:  -Order Start With Your People at www.startwithyourpeople.com to get the bonus features!  -30 second quiz for writers: hopewriters.com/quiz  "Poverty, Riches and Wealth: Moving from a Life of Lack into True Kingdom Abundance" by Kris Vallotton Kris Vallotton Podcast "Becoming a Cultural Architect"     

We're back and starting off Season 2! So happy to be back here with you again! Today's episode is just about catching up. Just little old me talking all about immense grace (and the float spa). What is grace? What does is really mean? Is it just a life preserver when we're drowning or something more? Let's chat. 

"Please know that you can trust Him to be faithful and He will bring about and accomplish all that He has promised you." In today's chat we tackle one of the biggest and most controversial issues in the church -- women in leadership-- and so much more! Dear friend & Pastor Tom Stonecipher dares to jump in to bring some biblical clarity to how and why we should support leaders & their authority regardless of their gender. He shares about Jesus's view of women, why women sometimes make better pastors, practical advice for husbands to support their wives, why timing matters and why we can trust God! The whole thing is great, but if you only have a few minutes, skip to minute 32:00 where the absolute gold unfolds! If you're a woman who feels called, but stuck, listening to this last part is an absolute MUST!! Other topics mentioned in this chat include: -What conservative religious traditions typically believe about women -The surprising division surrounding this topic -How Jesus viewed women -Why football & jeans almost cost a bible school admission -Why women are uniquely qualified as pastors -Needing ALL parts of the body -Deborah in Judges 4, her husband & her servant leadership -Submitting to authority, no matter the gender -Evidence that Jesus intentionally supported women in leadership -Would Tom vote for a woman president? Why or why not? -Practical advice for husbands & wives supporting each other's leading -Humility -The importance of "workable fire" -The three C's of support -Why a season isn't permanent -Being stretched in waiting -God's time table vs. our time table -A word for women who feel called, but feel stuck where they are -Staying the course   Follow Tom's journey on IG at @ranchopreacher or listen to his sermons at Rancho Christian Center    Resources mentioned in this episode: Rancho Christian Center Cherish Ministry for Pregnant Teens & Young Moms with Rachel Tucker "Why Not Women: A Biblical Study of Women in Missions, Ministry & Leadership" by Loren Cunningham  

The bottom line is I almost missed my purpose because I bowed down to fear.  The enemy will thwart most of our destinies because of fear more than anything else. Global evangelist and anti human trafficking advocate Christine Caine stops by to stir our faith and share her thoughts on why we need to live an "Undaunted" life, how to find the appointment on the other side of disappointment, what our generations are in desperate need of right now, why "overnight success" takes 20 - 30 years, the state of the global church and how fear wants to derail us from our destiny and in her case, almost succeeded.  Some of other topics we touched on were:  -her favorite season of parenting -teamwork makes the dreamwork -enjoying the journey -why she updated & rewrote the book "Undaunted" -daring to do what God calls you to do -what she's had to overcome -keys to entering your God given destiny -how God's work on the inside of us correlates to our outside work -what happens when we don't quit -Bible heroes and instagram  -learning to bear the weight - the myth of "overnight success" -what Christine is learning right now -why it's hard to remain faithful -how fear almost derailed her destiny -whom we should interview next A lot of us never find the God appointment on the other side of disappointment because we quit along the way. If we could understand how exceptional the God who lives within us is, we would have a lot more faith to do what God’s called us to do! Follow Christine Caine's journey on any social media channel at Christine Caine! Here are resources we mentioned in this episode:  "Undaunted: Daring to Do What God calls you to Do" by Christine Caine Propel Women A21 Campaign Walk for Freedom   

“When we aim at the target of performance, maturity always suffers. But when we aim at the target of maturity, the performance goes off the charts.” This is one of the best parenting episodes we've ever had! Janet Newberry shows us how growing up in a performance based culture & education system harms our children, ourselves and our relationships. Thankfully, we have a choice to live free by design and not stay stuck in the default.  In this episode, we chat about the differences between design vs default, how to know whether we're performing for others or being our true selves, and why parenting should not be transactional (striving to earn our next privilege), but transformational (built on a trust relationship & help) and so much more!! Janet is the host of the Brave Love Podcast, one of my go-to podcasts that is making me a much more effective parent and I count it as a privilege to have her on the show! In this chat, we also talked about:  -Their grand adventure- traveling the US and living in an Airstream named Freedom  -wearing the "good enough" mask -perils of a performance based culture -breaking the perform & pain relief cycle most of us live in -how work is different than performing -the default mindset in the education system -breaking codependency  -What is my God given instinct?  -finding courage to move from codependent to confident -crisis in the dishes section -the cost of finding your voice -redeeming childhood -creating transformational, maturing relationship with our children -helping our children mature -learning to "be me"   Follow Janet's journey & John 15 Academy at www.janetnewberry.com , on FB at Janet Newberry, and IG    Resources mentioned in this episode:  Brave Love Podcast by Janet & Doug Newberry "Education by Design, Not Default: How brave love creates fearless learning" by Janet Newberry John 15 Academy with Janet Newberry Trueface "The Cure: What if God Isn't Who You Think He Is and Neither are You?" by Trueface  "The Cure & Parents" by Bill Thrall & Trueface Trueface Podcast "Unwanted: How Sexual Brokenness Reveals the Way to Our Healing" by Jay Stringer  "Beloved Chaos: Moving from Religion to Love in a Red Light District" by Jamie West Zumwalt

Out of all the episodes I've recorded, Misty Phillip's story is one that I've probably reflected on about most since recording it.  Misty has faced her share of life challenges; losing a child to Trisomy 18, a broken childhood, caring for a special needs child, and one of her most formidable foes, breaking both arms at the same time and spending a year in recovery. In spite of all of this, her life's message is about overcoming! She shares tips for those of us who feel stuck, what matters most in overcoming, explains how her creative mastermind went from 2 people to 70 and lets us in on the secrets of successful creatives. Find out what "crack time" is and why collaborating with creatives who are in different fields than you matters.    In this episode, we also chat about:  - transitioning from learner to teacher - adult children  -why God's timing matters -why she wrote "The Struggle is Real, But So Is God" -living a defeated Christian life -the hardest thing to overcome in her life -what she learned when she literally couldn't do anything for herself -definition of grace -being loved for who we are, not what we do -finding a support system -building a creative mastermind from 2 - 70 people -why in person connection matters -why we need variety -an author who can't type -tips for producing work in the creative field -batch processing -crack time -what she would say to someone who feels that they will never overcome -tips for weathering hard times   Follow Misty's journey at www.mistyphillip.com or all social media channels at her name   Resources mentioned in this episode:  "The Struggle is Real, But So Is God" by Misty Phillip "Listener's Audio Bible" by Max McLean "His Girls Gather" FB Community by Susan B. Mead She Speaks Conference by Proverbs 31 Ministries Compel Training for writing  Declare Conference & Podcast Hope Writers with Brian Dixon      

More than ever, women feel alone and are longing for deep and supportive friendships. But how do we get there? How do we find that "girl gang" to cheer us on in life? Caitlin Zick, co-director of Moral Revolution, stops by today to chat about the "honesty room", all access pass and how we can be intentional about building the communities that we desperately need.  We'll talk about her new book "Look at You, Girl", the vocabulary we need to have in-depth conversations, the cost of the "busy" badge, tips to go from strangers to sisters and why owning your story matters.  Some of the other topics we chatted about include:  -What is Moral Revolution?  -Why they are labeled as "the sex pastors" -The dream in teenager Caitlin's heart -Why "Look at you, Girl" was written -Why are the eyes closed on the front cover if we're supposed to be looking? -Friendships that push you out of the boat -How do we begin transforming inside instead of outside? -Identifying labels and lies you've lived under -Sourcing the lies -Being comfortable in our own skin -What it takes to go from strangers to sisters -DTR - Defining moments -Honesty Room  -The cost of being "too busy" -Being Intentional -How to ask real questions -Breakfast Club -Giving the all access pass -Using our story intentionally to help others   Resource discussed in this episode:  "Look at You, Girl: Kickstart to seeing yourself the way God does" by Caitlin Zick Moral Revolution "Leap Into Love" 20 day study with Havilah Cunnington The Connected Life Podcast by Justin & Abi Stumvall       

Hitler's invention, flouride, is "more toxic than lead but slightly less toxic than arsenic."  On today's podcast, we explore this and other subtle forces affecting our health daily, even if we're not aware of them.  In this totally off-the-cuff chat, we talked about EMF's (electromagnetic fields), causes of the current fertility crisis, water, quantum physics, the power of thoughts and words and why wellness is a 4 dimensional process. Strap on your seatbelt, because you're about to go for a ride that's going to challenge and maybe even change you! For more info on pursuing healthy living, check out Chrissy's new book "Healing Through Wisdom."  Some other topics we discussed were:  -The event that caused Chrissy to pursue health and wellness not just for herself, but for others -What she went through that she never wants anyone else to do -How long it actually takes to detox from gluten, grain, and sugar -The scary reason you should care about your liver -Being intentional about sharing wellness without demeaning others -Why health is 4 dimensional  -What people at peak performance do differently -Why the journey to physical or spiritual health often parallel -How toxic is flouride? How beneficial is it? -How we can care for our teeth without flouride -EMF's & radiation -Current highest childhood cancer -What is equivalent to 16 xrays at one time -How to increase your risk of cancer by 40% -The link between phones and anxiety -Causes for fertility crisis -Your inside world -Quantum physics -- why your words and thoughts matter -Why diseases begin in our thoughts -The story of Dr. Joe Dispenza -Aligning our inner world through deeper healing   Follow Chrissy's journey at IG @chrissyhelmer , at Next Level Living Podcast on iTunes or Spotify  Free download of the first chapter of "Healing Through Wisdom" at htwbook.com    Resources mentioned in today's show:  "Radiation Nation: Fallout of Modern Technology - Your Complete Guide to EMF Protection & Safety: The Proven Health Risks of Electromagnetic Radiation (EMF) & What to Do Protect Yourself & Family" by Daniel T. Debaun Defender Shield Products at ecochic.net  Use code "ECOCHIC20" for 20% off products Bill Johnson Kris Vallotton Gayle Belanger "5am Club: Own Your Morning. Elevate Your Life" by Robin Sharma Dr. Caroline Leaf Podcast "Let's Talk about Quantum Physics" Lewis Howes Podcast with Dr. Joe Dispenza "Heal Your Body with Your Mind"            

At the age of 9, little Anna Lebaron had 49 siblings. But even after growing up in a violent polygamist cult constantly on the run from the law, her life today is a true testament to the possibility of finding hope, healing and true identity after childhood trauma and neglect. In today's podcast (and her book "The Polygamist's Daughter"), Anna holds out hope for every person who feels too broken to ever be whole again. Some of the topics we touched on were:  -Life in a polygamist cult -How poverty and polygamy affected her walk with God -Effect of fatherlessness -Pursuing healing and freedom -Finding true comfort  -Turning to food for comfort/losing weight -Self care to combat PTSD -Why this memoir matters -Every person's potential for healing -The length of the healing process -What does freedom actually mean?  -Being who we are destined to become -When God's spirit is near -"You're right here." -Experiencing the fathering heart after fatherlessness  -How to hear God speak -Message on Anna's heart -You can hear God -You can heal -Doing our part -Who we should interview next -The power of telling your own story and transitioning it from the inside to the outside -Taking the next right step   Follow along with Anna's journey at her website or social media sites at @annaklebaron   Resources mentioned in today's episode:  "The Polygamist's Daughter: A Memoir" by Anna LeBaron Bob Hamp Foundations of Freedom by Bob Hamp "Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovered our Hidden Life in God" by Dallas Willard      

The only constant in life is change. But why is it so hard? I am honored to have CSULA professor & social innovation expert, Dr. Marla Parker, here to show us how to navigate challenging shifts well and why it's necessary to respond to God's call for change in our lives. Dr. Parker shares some excellent examples of responses to change, healthy steps to navigate the disequilibrium we feel, why we MUST have a new view of ourselves to step into the next level of our life and what concerns and encourages her most about millennials!  Other topics we touched on were:  -Can introverts be leaders? -One teacher's impact -Why is it important to respond to calls for change? -An elegant, biblical model for response to change -Navigating disequilibrium -Why change requires rest -Embracing a new view of ourselves -The fears she's had to shed to grow -What concerns her most about what she's seeing in college age students today.  -The most encouraging characteristic of the upcoming generation -Message on her heart/call on her life -Whom we should interview next (see below for list of amazing people and resources she mentioned in the show).      Link for $5 off Flourish Health Summit        Resources/People mentioned in the show: Jobelle Gacuya with HMNTY Ann Marie Williams with Public Words Project (on IG) Lisa Baxter with After School All Stars Conaxion or @Conaxion on Twitter Dr. Dmetri Seals  Chrystal Parker with Craft Spirits Week June 16 - 22 Dr. Chris Hayter Dr. April Jackson Monique Melton - author, speaker, relationship & diversity coach, Anti racism Mastermind  Ramona Wright   

"Growing up in 80’s in Germany, all my dolls except for one were white by default. Even the image of what was "beautiful," if you looked at Disney movies back then, the princesses were all blonde and blue eyed. So that was what we were striving for as a young girl." "What our kids read, what they are becoming, believing, and seeing is what our world is going to become one day. Spread a feast in from of them, not just potatoes or plantains." As a homeschool mom and a lover of literature (and people), I am so proud of this chat with Nancy Hartman. She is an incredible woman, half German-half Ghanian, and a homeschooling mom with a heart to highlight the beauty of diversity in Children's Literature.  Listen in on this very honest chat about living your own truth, seeing beauty in differences, why it's important that children see characters in books that look like themselves, being intentional about selecting books written by people of color that tell an authentic story, and how we can be specific about seeking diversity in our faith. If nothing else and you want a laugh, listen to minute 28 where I try (unsuccessfully) to say the word "Championing" about a billion times.  "Our kids can know there’s beauty in differences and there’s nothing to be afraid of if someone is different, but more than that, they can glean so much richness out of other people." Some topics that we touched on were: -living your authentic truth -teaching our children cultural traditions from their past -living internationally minded -recognizing the inherent beauty of our differences -intentionality in choosing books by authors who are people of color with authentic experiences -only 22% of children's literature is written by POC -learning history from a variety of perspectives -no one can tell your story like you -the necessity of valuing someone else's story -how the church could do a better job of intentional diversity  -challenges of a multi-ethnic community -#readingblackout -healing one another -John M Perkins -feeding our children a feast!   Follow Nancy's journey on IG at @therealbeautyindiversity or her website BeautyInDiversity.org    For recommended children's literature, check out "Grandfather's Journey" by Allen Say or Nancy's IG page for many more solid recommendations!    Resources mentioned in today's episode: Charlotte Mason homeschooling method Beautiful Feet homeschooling through literature #Readingblackout "Let Justice Roll Down" by John M. Perkins (biographical memoir)    

"The doctors came in and said “He’s sicker today than he was yesterday. At some point today we need to turn off life support."  I needed to call my friends and family and let them know that this was the last day he would live." Throughout 394 days of hospitalization, fighting impossible odds and spending many days at death's door, Beth Armstrong tells the story of how her faith and trust in God grew through the storm of her husband's health tragedy turned testimony. In today's chat, we talk about Beth's journey, trusting God through the unknown, the little things, what to do if you need a miracle and not just walking through a storm but bearing fruit from it.   "God can use all of it, whether it’s a small inconvenience or a huge hurricane sized storm that you didn’t see coming. He can use it, even though it doesn’t feel good, for your good." Some other topics we touched on were:  -total surrender leads to transformation -perspective shifts -Chris on life support -facing 90% odds of mortality -peace beyond understanding -trusting God -what to do if you need a miracle -why God cares about big needs AND small needs -learning something from your difficulty and bearing fruit in the storm -why roots grow in the dark places -message on Beth's heart -whom we should interview next   Follow Beth's journey at RootedLeaders.org or on FB at Beth Armour Armstrong   Resources mentioned in this episode:  Link for $5 off Flourish Health Summit    "Rooted in the Storm: A 61-day Devotional of Faith" by Beth Armstrong "Growing Roots for a Mission Driven Life: My Life as a Mustard Seed (Vol 1)" by Beth Armstrong "Growing Roots for a Mission Driven Life: Planted in Good Soil (Vol 2)" by Beth Armstrong        

“The day before I went to jail, I was laying on the floor of our empty apartment with no where to go and I was asking God to kill me.  I didn’t want to live anymore. There was no hope in my life. I ended up in jail and it was the best thing that could have happened to me because it saved my life.” *Trigger Warning — sensitive content* Abuse. Addiction. Jail. Recovery. Redemption. Today, you’ll hear Roxanne Wilson’s powerful testimony — how she walked through hell, came out on the other side, and how God is now using her story to help women uncover their true identities! Hear her survival story, how jail saved her life, the hardest part of forgiving yourself, how to see yourself differently & to begin shifting your identity. I also accidentally preached a message about finding your identity in this podcast!

"I opened up the file folder to see what was in it…..she was practicing my signature. Her forgery of my signature was so authentic, it was scary."  Embezzlement. Forgery. Fraud. Imagine these things were happening in your $13M program of federal money to help the poor.  Imagine you went to your boss to turn in the "bad guys." Surely, he would be on your side. Wrong. In this case, Dr. Amy Block Joy had no idea how high up the deception was happening at UC Davis, but she knew one thing...she needed to sleep at night. Doing the right thing was the only solution that gave her peace. On today's podcast, she shares the turn of events that led her to find herself as a whistleblower, what it cost her, how she maintained courage through demoralizing retaliation and solid advice to those who might find themselves in the same situation.  He said, "You’ll need to find new friends and build a new life. Few people will understand what you feel, but remember it’s you who will sleep better at night knowing you did the right thing. Accept your new life now and try to embrace it as an opportunity”   Some other topics we touched on were  -Her ethical journey and moral dilemma -How she knew something wasn't right -The story of accusations against her and the 4 year investigation -Why retaliation is dangerous -The importance of going to the correct person -How and why people want to discredit the whistleblower -Forceful tactics -Advise from Daniel Ellsberg (released the Pentagon Papers that ended the Vietnam War) -Steps that every whistleblower or reporter should take -The important of anonymity -Why ethics matter    Resources mentioned in the show:  Amy's Website: www.amyblockjoy.com  Whistleblower by Amy Block Joy Retaliation by Amy Block Joy Blowback: The Unintended Consequences of Exposing a Fraud by Amy Block Joy Ethics Point, a 3rd party agency collecting reports of fraud, unethical behavior by a company     

After spending thousands of hours mastering video games, young Yu Kai Chou realized that he felt a deep sense of emptiness. That epiphany inspired his research that has now affected more than 1 BILLION people worldwide. In a quest to make real life more appealing than video games, he began studying the science of how developers create virtual worlds that satisfy our needs & make us want to spend time there. He has spent decades learning how to apply the core drives found in games to real life. In this episode we talk about why most gamers are actually women, core drives, how games can help solve real world problems & meet real world needs (like learning algebra) and how parents can apply these strategies to tap into core drives of our children to teach them effectively.  When I started this episode, I didn’t quite know what to expect, but by the end, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was one of my most informative & insightful podcast episodes ever. It opened up my world to an entirely new field of study & I hope it will do the same for you!    Some other topics we touched on are:  -Why governments & big organizations are calling on Yu kai -Why women make up a huge percentage of gamers -Origin of the “typical” gamer stereotype -What is gamification? -Why habits don’t need motivation  -Everyone plays a real life game -Search for epic meaning & calling -Lowest hanging fruit in making an experience enjoyable -The human need for social interaction -Best applications of gamification in real world -Our search for something rare drives us -2nd graders learning algebra  -Applying gamification to parenting -Understanding core drives of our children -What are you rewarding? -The power of family identity - Lex Luther, Game of Thrones -Teaching the important things -How outspoken faith has impacted his journey -Message on his heart -Next Interview      Resources mentioned:    “Actionable Gamification: Beyond Points, Badges & Leaderboards” by Yu Kai Chou   Octalysis Prime education platform by Yu Kai Chou   “Reality is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better & How they Can Change the World” by Jane McGonigal    “SuperBetter: The Power of Living Gamefully” by Jane McGonigal    Follow Yu Kai’s journey on FB or IG @yudashkai 

Pastors Myles & Katharine Weiss come from the most different backgrounds you could imagine: a New York Jew and a California christian girl. But somehow they overcame their differences, merged their lives beautifully and have been married for over 33 years. In their new book "When Heaven Hits Home: Ancient Wisdom for Today's Couples," they share wisdom for joining two lives into one with all the expertise you would expect from 27 years of being a Marriage & Family Therapist. We talked about what most marriages struggle with, tips for communication, men's vs. women's needs, how to merge two completely unique backgrounds & traditions, the process of writing about their own personal weaknesses, the hardest time in their marriage and how to regain a vision for a healthy and thriving marriage when it's not your current reality.    Some of the other topics we touched on are:  -finding God as the common denominator -how does ancient wisdom apply? -why marriage isn't old-fashioned, it's cream filled -what it takes for two to become one -what most couples fight about -Lashon HaTov  -tips for communicating -importance of forgiveness -what women need -what men need -how a man can reach the heart of a woman -fix it or listen? -their favorite chapters to write -assault on marriage -embracing tradition without being in bondage to it -house of peace -why we need heaven in our homes now -hardest topics to write about -dyslexia -continuing to see the treasure in your spouse -hardest thing they have been through in their marriage -navigating a church split and a prodigal son -how to regain vision for your own marriage -having a bigger purpose -the message on their hearts -whom we should interview next    Resources mentioned: When Heaven Hits Home: Ancient Wisdom for Today's Couples (available for pre-order) by Myles and Katharine Weiss  The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Stephen Pressfield Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart: Thirty True Things You Need to Know by Gordon Livingston   Follow along with Myles and Katherine's Journey at their website or the book site here. 

"You were made to influence the world in a way that no one else can." Leadership = influence. If you've got anyone in your life that you are influencing, whether you're a stay at home mom or a CEO (or both!), you are a leader. In this podcast, Jenni Catron delves deep into 4 dimensions of leadership to build a strong, healthy leader. You'll also hear why some people don't like the word "leader," about building and navigating good team partnerships, a leadership strength assessment and how to lead yourself well. This book was very instrumental in my leadership journey and I'm so honored to have Jenni on today! You can hear her smile and her passion throughout the entire podcast!   Some of the topics we touched on are:  -Where leadership begins -Hairstyle regrets -The fun of being an auntie -Why the word "leader" is polarizing -Defining characteristics of a leader -Do you need a title to be effective? -Sacred responsibility -Discovering 4 dimensions that we can lead from -Framework for effective leadership -The importance of self-awareness -Lopsided teams vs. balanced teams -How important is self leadership -How we can lead ourselves well -Emotional intelligence -What most often trips leaders up -Why you can touch the world in a way that no one else can -Message on Jenni's heart -Whom we should interview next    Resources mentioned in this episode: 4 Dimensions of Extraordinary Leadership: The Power of Leading from Your Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength by Jenni Catron Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves Clout:Discover and Unleash your God Given Influence by Jenni Catron Switch on Your Brain: The Key to Peak Happiness, Thinking, and Health by Dr. Caroline Leaf Think and Eat Yourself Smart: A Neuroscientific Approach to a Sharper Mind and Healthier Life by Dr. Caroline Leaf Think, Learn, Succeed: Understanding and Using Your Mind to Thrive at School, the Workplace, and Life by Dr. Caroline Leaf   Follow Jenni's journey at her website JenniCatron.com or on IG at @jennicatron

How can women overcome their fears of connecting with other women? How can we enable each other to walk in the unique callings on our lives with confidence and without comparison? Heather Estebez tackles these questions and more in this week’s podcast! Learn more about her testimony, why every person’s reaction is not about us, her first super scary speaking assignment, doing it afraid, how walking in our true calling frees others to do the same, how to find your tribe, and why personality is never an excuse for poor behavior! You will also get to hear about our most embarrassing mis-text mistakes! lol!  Some of the topics we touched on are:  -Heather's story  -Her dramatic turn away from drugs and gangs -Heart for missions -Connecting with other women -First scary speaking assignment -Why "their" actions are not all about you -Loving wounded people -American women's culture vs. global women's culture -Just do you! -Don't give up -Finding the confidence to walk in our calling -Finding inspiration -Proximity is power -Do it afraid -Our freedom helps others to be free -Maturing in having a big personality -Learning to be okay with yourself  when you're not like everybody else -Resources for growth  -The message on Heather's heart -Whom we should interview next   Resources mentioned:  Ramos Ministries (You can also follow Joanne on IG at @joanneinthecity ) A21  The Millionaire Real Estate Agent: It's Not About the Money. It's About Being the Best You Can Be! by Gary Keller Becoming by Michelle Obama Dr. Caroline Leaf Podcast Next Level Living Podcast by Chrissy Helmer Follow Heather's Journey on IG at @mama_estebez or @realtorheatherkw or on FB at Heather Lindsey Estebez

“If God had opened the door when I thought He should have, it would have been a complete train wreck.” This episode is for every person who is in a time of waiting, in the middle where it seems so dark & you can’t see the vision come to pass yet! Jessie Seneca, founder of More of Him Ministries & “She Leads” Conference was "in the wait" for twelve long years as she struggled with illness and God was building something in her. But now on the other side of that promise fulfilled, she’s encountered more than she could ever imagine!  In today’s

  "The more and more we’re in these times of waiting, we can root down more into our identity and remember that no matter how this situation turns out, we are still beloved, we are still planned for, we are still accepted, and that our worth is not in question."   This former zookeeper turned Project Manager for Trueface (and throw in a little book sculpture :), really pulls back to curtains to go where not many are willing to -- to the depths of talking about identity, the struggle of being in the middle and how to wait well in that darkness, dealing with anxiety, and why rest in hard. She shares about the main reason millennials are struggling with making real connections and being seen and known.  So grateful for this very REAL chat with Brittany! "If we practice transparency by saying lots of facts, but not really inviting anyone into the struggle, the joys, to walk with us in THAT, then we’re not going to really experience the kind of relationships we were literally made for." "Have gentle curiosity about yourself." Some of the other topics we touched on are: -The growing challenges of podcasting -The advantages of multiple perspectives -What's AMAZING about the animal she chose to talk about -How to wait well "in the middle" -Grace for not being perfect in the middle -How identity changes the way we wait -Fear response -The beauty of waiting in the dark -The difficulty with resting -Struggling sinner or saint who still sins? -Living out of our true identity -Anxiety -An anxious person vs. feeling anxious  -Why logic doesn't change emotions -Having gentle curiosity -Transparency vs. Vulnerability -Millennial struggles -Saying facts vs. inviting someone into the struggle -Living out true identity   -The life-changing message on Brittany's heart -Whom we should interview next   Resources: IG: @storybooksculpture Trust for Today by Trueface The Cure: What if God isn't who you think He is and neither are you? by Trueface, Bruce McNicol, John Lynch and Bill Thrall Incourage: Raising Daughters Rooted in Grace by Terra Mattson Unwanted: How Sexual Brokenness Reveals our Way to Healing by Jay Stringer   Follow along with Brittany's journey & find out more info at the Trueface Website, IG @truefacelife FB True Face Community

Acknowledging your own pain and showing yourself compassion is the first step to emotional healing. In this unique episode, Gayle Belanger, a addiction and PTSD counselor for almost 30 years, actually leads us through an exercise to show compassion to ourselves (at 39:00). Gayle is not just any counselor, she's MY counselor and I wanted to share with you the tools she's been teaching me that have been bringing healing to my life and I think could do the same for you! In this episode we talk about standing in our true identity, how self compassion brings healing, silencing that inner critic, being rooted & grounded in Jesus and His word, and redeeming all the gifts inside you -- even the ones you don't like! It is my prayer that this episode will open up worlds of healing for you that you didn't even know existed and that it will help you begin to walk in who you truly are, not limited by your past wounds and the world that daily tries to bring us down!  Note: When you hear us say "meditation", it's just a simple time of sitting with Jesus and receiving His love. Not sure if I said that! "If the soul is leading and your wounded, human self is in charge, then all of those toxic emotions are going into the body."  "Don’t hate yourself, don’t hate any part of yourself, find ways to embrace all of the parts you don’t like." Some of the other topics we touched on are: -Stigma surrounding getting counseling -True Identity -Safe healing of younger self -How this technique healed me (Julie) after a trauma -What is self compassion? -Silencing the inner critic -Observing ourselves -Learning to die daily -True self vs. human self -3 forms of sanctification -How proper alignment rewires our brain -What happens when our wounded soul leads -Disease and the body -Getting blindsided -Growing in resiliency  -Acknowledge pain begins healing -No regret -Being centered and grounded in Jesus -Fear vs. love base (get vs. give) -Embracing hard, unexpected changes as an upgrade -Redeeming our lost gifts -Self hate -Perfectionism vs. excellence -Self Compassion Exercise (39:00) -Empaths -The message on Gayle's heart -Whom we should interview next   Resources:  "Live Free: The Inner Journey to Healing" by Gayle Belanger   Follow along with Gayle's journey & find out more info at Live Free, on Facebook or on IG at @livefreeministry

How a simple and good desire can become the one thing that rules our hearts! Here are 6 stages of war that keep us from moving forward freely.  Resources:  Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands: People in Need of Change Helping People in Need of Change by Paul David Tripp