Podcast appearances and mentions of peggy williams

In June 2008, McCants began dating reality television star Khloe Kardashian. The two were introduced by the National Football League player Reggie Bush who had been dating her sister Kim at the time. The relationship ended after seven months, in late January 2009, reportedly due to McCants's infidelity. He also made a brief guest appearance on her reality show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, during season 3 (episode 7). Eight years later, speaking with a Charlotte Observer reporter while looking back on his career in the NBA, McCants stated that the highly publicized relationship with Khloe Kardashian was the "biggest regret" because it "gave people an opportunity to doubt his commitment to the NBA", adding: "Without that situation in play, I'm a $60-70 million player. Easily." McCants was one of the victims of professional scam artist/fraudster Peggy Ann Fulford (Peggy King, Peggy Williams, Peggy Ann Barard, etc.), losing $200,000, amongst the $5.79 million in total she stole from him, Ricky Williams, Travis Best, Dennis Rodman, Lex Hilliard and others. Fulford, who was indicted by the FBI in December 2016, continued her criminal activity until sentenced in February 2018 to 10 years in prison and full financial restitution to her victims. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Peggy Williams-Smith, president and CEO of VISIT Milwaukee, highlights the city's upcoming role in hosting the Republican National Convention and emphasizes the potential economic benefits. She also shares her passion for the hospitality industry and dedication to promoting Milwaukee's unique stories and attractions. Subscribe to ensure you don't miss an episode of the Skift Meetings Podcast. Skift Meetings is defining the future of business events. Visit our website for the latest news, reports, reviews, and events.

Visit Milwaukee president and CEO Peggy Williams-Smith joined Marquette University president Michael Lovell and BizTimes managing editor Arthur Thomas on Leadership Lens, a monthly podcast that dives into the leadership styles of Milwaukee-area business leaders. The conversation, recorded in mid-April, touches on how Williams-Smith navigated the pandemic, which hit just after she started in her role, landing the Republican National Convention, selling Milwaukee and addressing its challenges, leading as an optimist who doesn't want to say no to things, and much more. 

How does a very Blue City land a very Red Convention? Visit Milwaukee's Peggy Williams-Smith joins DMOU to share the story of how her Team and City landed the 2024 Republican National Convention. We'll also discuss how Milwaukee was named one of National Geographic's Top Destinations and how Visit Milwaukee has expanded the organization's community awareness, visibility and support. Plus a Bonus Round question on her deep Beer City roots.

Peggy Williams-Smith, president and CEO of VISIT Milwaukee, is passionate about selling her beloved city to national and international visitors. She grew up in the hospitality industry, starting work in the field at 15 years old, and her work these days has her doing everything from being part of a bipartisan group of leaders bidding for national political conventions to leading her team in culturally responsive work.In this episode, Williams-Smith talks about economic impact through hospitality and discusses her efforts to engage diverse businesses in VISIT Milwaukee's partnership base. Above all, she says? Never put a limit on your potential – and be kind.Episode Highlights03:37 - We are on the road to recovery. It's awesome. It's great for us. But we have taken a really inventive approach to how we market the city. We're not doing the things we used to do. We're much more verbose about how great our city is. It has been a long time that we're often talked about as being quiet, under the radar. People come to our city and say, "Oh, I just didn't realize how good it was." My goal, at the end of my tenure with VISIT Milwaukee, is to never hear anyone say that again. We need to shout it from the rooftop because it does create economic impact. 14:03 - We're all here together for one purpose, and that's to shine a light on Milwaukee. So, it's been an incredible experience. Now the hard work begins, and that's actually shining the light on Milwaukee and hoping that this allows us to create more economic impact, more opportunity that will then allow us to fix some of the things that we still need to fix.26:14 - Never put a limit on your potential. I started as a bartender and a waitress. I worked my way through hospitality, and I'm now the CEO of an organization that gets to sell the city. I get to be on stages around the country talking about how amazing Milwaukee is.Connect with Becky Dubin JenkinsLinkedInConnect with Peggy Williams-SmithLinkedInGuest Bio:Peggy Williams-Smith is a Milwaukee native and veteran of the hospitality industry who joined VISIT Milwaukee as the company's first female president and CEO in 2019. Under her direction, the company has launched exciting, dynamic marketing campaigns to increase economic impact to the community and elevate the city's reputation.Since 2019, Williams-Smith has deepened the company's local connections and developed a nimble team that is more responsive than ever to changes within the travel and hospitality industries. This was none more apparent than during the pandemic when VISIT Milwaukee became the go-to source for information for the hospitality industry and the industry's No. 1 advocate on state and local levels.From promoting the city to the nation during the Milwaukee Bucks' championship run to leading the city's bid to secure the 2024 Republican National Convention, Williams-Smith's strategic leadership will ultimately result in economic gains for Milwaukee for years to come. Prior to her work at VISIT Milwaukee, she worked for Marcus Hotels & Resorts for over 22 years and held leadership positions at varying levels throughout the division. Williams-Smith is a proud mentor of other women in business and uses her free time to support numerous charitable causes. She resides in Milwaukee with her husband, Tim Smith, their niece, Jocelyn, and their Boston Terrier, Tito Fenway.

Representing our city well!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"Restored" | Philemon | Forgiveness and Restoration In our final episode of the semester, Donna Gaines and co-host Dayna Street sit down with our returning special guests, Peggy Williams and Leslie Hollowell. Focusing on Lesson Ten in "All That Matters," they will discuss the topic of restoration and how God works in our lives. Since we have been offered forgiveness through Christ, we are called to forgive those who have wounded us. For more information about this study and other resources, visit bellevue.org/women.

"Representatives" | Colossians 4: 7-18 | Biblical Community and Social Media In this episode of The AfterWord, Donna Gaines and co-host Dayna Street are once again joined by two special guests, Peggy Williams and Leslie Hollowell. The group discusses the importance of Biblical community and the dangers of social media. If who we are is a collection of the people we are around most often, what does that say about the need for Godly friends? For more information about this study and other resources, visit bellevue.org/women.

"Relate" | Colossians 3:18-4:6 | Marriage and Family Relationships Donna Gaines and co-host Dayna Street recap Week Eight of "All That Matters" along with special guests, Leslie Hollowell and Peggy Williams. This week's episode highlights that when we choose Christ first, then our relationships with others will be life-giving because Jesus is the one who gives us life. For more information about this study and other resources, visit bellevue.org/women.

"Raised" | Colossians 3:1-17 | Living in Freedom On this episode of The AfterWord, Donna Gaines and co-host Dayna Street are once again joined by special guests Peggy Williams and Leslie Hollowell. The focus of this week's lesson spoke on how we are "raised" up to new life, putting off the old life forever. How do we live in the freedom of this new life? How can we make sure we don't turn back to our old ways? For more information about this study and other resources, visit bellevue.org/women.

"Released" | Colossians 2:16-23 | Expose the Lie, Exalt the Truth In this week's episode of The AfterWord, Donna Gaines is joined by co-host Dayna Street and special guests Peggy Williams and Leslie Hollowell for an important discussion on how the truth of God relates to our lives. If we are finding our worth in something other than Christ or listening to the arguments of this world over what we see in scripture, we leave ourselves open to be swayed by lies. For more information about this study and other resources, visit bellevue.org/women.

"Rooted" | Colossians 2:4-15 | Spiritual Warfare In this week's episode of The AfterWord, Donna Gaines is joined by co-host Dayna Street and special guests Peggy Williams and Leslie Hollowell for a special discussion on being "rooted." When we have a firm foundation, we can face the arguments of this world without being swayed. Enjoy this important talk centered on spiritual warfare as we learn the benefits of taking root in Christ. For more information about this bible study and other resources, visit bellevue.org/women.

"Rich" | Colossians 1:24 - 2:3 | Suffering: Finding Joy in Different Seasons of Life In this week's episode of The AfterWord, host Dayna Street talks with our special guests, Peggy Williams and Leslie Hollowell, about the different seasons of life and how we can find all that we need in Jesus Christ. Whether you are facing a time of grief or anticipation, don't lose sight of the One who cares for you most. For more information about this study and other resources, visit bellevue.org/women.

"Reconciled" | Colossians 1:15-23 | Discouragement and Depression In this week's episode of The AfterWord, Donna Gaines and co-host Dayna Street are joined by Leslie Hollowell and Peggy Williams for a discussion on fighting discouragement and depression. The last few years have seen an exponential growth in these areas, so how can we use the truth of scripture to overcome these struggles? For more information about this study and other resources, visit bellevue.org/women.

"Rescued" | Colossians 1: 9-14 | Guarding Our Hearts and Minds In this week's episode, Donna Gaines and co-host Dayna Street are joined once again by our guests for this season: Leslie Hollowell and Peggy Williams. The group will talk about what it means to have been redeemed by Christ and how we can guard our minds to remain in this truth. For more information about this study and other resources, visit bellevue.org/women.

"Reminded" | Colossians 1:1-8 | Fear and Anxiety Kicking off a new season of The AfterWord, host Donna Gaines and co-host Dayna Street are joined by Leslie Hollowell and Peggy Williams for a great discussion on fear and anxiety. Leslie and Peggy will talk about healthy thinking habits, what they've seen during counseling sessions with others, and the benefits of trusting God through our trials. For more information about this study and other resources, visit bellevue.org/women.

Happy birthday to area nursing home residents!  Join the staff of the Wilson County News in congratulating the February birthday celebrants among area nursing home residents. Bluebonnet Nursing & Rehab.  •Clifford Boehm – 2-2 •Rumalda Cruz – 2-7 •Catarina Escobedo – 2-13 (696 F.M. 99 S., Karnes City, TX 78118) Country Care Manor  •Arlene Christmas – 2-3 •Ruth Appling – 2-6 •Beatrice Villarreal – 2-9 •Velia Coulter – 2-11 •Ricardo Lopez Sainz – 2-14 •Peggy Williams – 2-22 (2736 F.M. 775, La Vernia, TX 78121) Floresville Residence and Rehab Center  •Mary Jaskinia – 2-2 •Jennie Loven – 2-6 •James Demaree...Article Link

When Peggy Williams-Smith started as chief executive officer of VISIT Milwaukee in November 2019, she knew the organization was going to need to change. She had seen VISIT lose some of its luster during her more the two decades of experience working in hospitality in downtown Milwaukee.“It was a pretty fractured culture, it was pretty siloed and there were people who, unfortunately, I think were just fighting to stay afloat and starting to stay alive which caused the organization to be really damaged when I got there,” she said. Williams-Smith joined Beth Ridley of The Brimful Life on the BizTimes MKE Podcast. VISIT is a Brimful Life client and the two discussed their experience working together. Ridley noted that many of her clients stopped working with her when the pandemic hit and Williams-Smith was one of the first to come back. “Investing when things are tough is the hardest thing to do, but it’s also the best thing to do, because it helps you look outside of your own four walls and have that person who can then tell you what you’re doing right and wrong,” Williams-Smith said. She also discussed how she approached her first few months at VISIT, including meeting with everyone on a staff that at the time was around 50 people for 30 minutes each. Staff members were allowed the first 10 minutes of their conversation to complain about past problems, but the next 20 minutes needed to focus on what the organization needed to do to improve. Williams-Smith was also careful to set expectations for what was going to come from those initial meetings. “I wanted them to know during that timeframe that although I wanted their input, that not everyone was going to be intimately involved with every decision and I was not going to take immediate action,” she said. In partnership with The Brimful Life

Peggy Williams-Smith of VISIT Milwaukee discusses DNC changes on Wisconsin's Morning News

VISIT Milwaukee President and CEO Peggy Williams-Smith talks DNC on Wisconsin's Morning News

2020 is shaping up to be a huge year for the city of Milwaukee. VISIT Milwaukee's role will be to maximize this moment in the spotlight. In this episode of Deff-initely Milwaukee, Carl Deffenbaugh sits down with the woman leading the charge for the tourism organization, CEO Peggy Williams-Smith. They talk about the lasting impact she hopes the DNC, the Ryder Cup, and other events will have on Milwaukee. Plus, they talk about the balance of growth and expansion while not losing what makes Milwaukee special.

Description: 2020 is Milwaukee’s year. With the Ryder Cup, DNC and Society of American Travel Writers all coming to town in 2020, there’s a lot to talk about. MBJ’s Margaret Naczek spoke with Visit Milwaukee’s new CEO Peggy Williams-Smith on how the city’s convention and visitors bureau is preparing for this busy year. She also spoke with fellow Milwaukee Business Journal reporter Nick Williams about his story on the highest-ranking tech executives in Milwaukee.  Nick shared some of the insights he learned from interviews with local tech executives about some of the trends within the industry, including everything from artificial intelligence to recruiting talent. For more information on the stories featured in today’s episode, visit https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/  

In Today's episode, Del Rhoden sits down with entertainment mogul, Peggy Williams.

Deborah Biddle, Vanessa McDowell, and Peggy Williams discuss life as a single Christian female and how the church can support singles. Also, some exciting news for October. E&E #163 Engage & Equip is a resource designed to help form...

Deborah Biddle, Vanessa McDowell, and Peggy Williams discuss life as a single Christian female and how the church can support singles. Also, some exciting news for October. E&E #163 Engage & Equip is a resource designed to help form...

Deborah Biddle, Vanessa McDowell, and Peggy Williams discuss life as a single Christian female and how the church can support singles. Also, some exciting news for October. E&E #163 Engage & Equip is a resource designed to help form substantive disciples for the local church.Find more episodes at highpointchurch.org/podcast Music: HOME—If I'm Wrong (youtu.be/HBynMB054zw)Remixed by John Sekutowski

Peggy Williams sits down with Del Rhoden Peggy Williams founded Dream Merchant Media, The Titan Arts Awards, and more all in Prince George's County https://titanartsawards.com/ https://www.dreammerchantmedia.com/ pgcc.media

On today's episode of The Apartment Rockstar Podcast, I'm sitting down with some of our digital marketing team and one of our beneficiaries of the Ninfa Martinez Butterfly Fund, Peggy Williams. Listen while we discuss this years #WalkForTheCure and how we were able to help Mrs.Peggy with her treatment costs! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

God with you? Jehovah Shammah, one of the names of God that I include in my prayer almost everyday is only used once in the Bible. Ezekiel shares his prophetic dream of a city that God calls Jehovah Shammah which means "God is there.' Easton's Bible Encyclopedia says the city that Ezekiel saw is a type (symbol or picture) of the gospel Church. Jehovah Shammah is considered by theologians to be one of the 7 redemptive names of God because Jesus' death made it possible for God's spirit to dwell in believers. Jesus promised in Matthew 28:20 that He would always be with us. Even though there is an abundance of Old and New Testament verses that assures us of God's presence, there seems to be some doubt that God is really with us. '  Brady Boyd, in his book' Sons and Daughters: Orphans on our way Home, writes that God spoke to his heart..."Brady, people are overwhelmed by the circumstances they face, because they've stopped believing I am near. Don't give way to the panic. And tell others to stop panicking too. I am closer than the air you're breathing, and my presence brings all the power you need.''  It breaks my heart to think that people have stopped believing God is with them. People seem to be wondering where God has gone, so I want to remind you' God is with you! Really? I know you already know that, but do you really know that? If I asked you "Do you know that God is with you?' you would probably answer "Of course I do'! God is omnipresent like the air that is all around us. We don't see the air, but it's there. We know and believe verses like: Psalms 139:7 NLT "I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!' Jeremiah 23:24 NLT "Can anyone hide from me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?" says the LORD.' God is omni-present You've seen His fingerprints in creation and His Divine design as you've held a brand new baby or watched the reproductive process of a seed. You've stood silently in awe as a glorious sunset painted the sky with color and you've craned your neck to see a sky full of stars. No one has to tell you that only God could do that! But, if you only know Him as a distant creator, it's like recognizing Michael Jordan or Warren Buffet at a restaurant. God wants you recognize Him, but He wants more out of your relationship with Him. He wants to share Himself with you! It is important that we experience four distinct dimensions of God's presence. 1. Omni-present. 2. Indwelling presence. 3. Infilling. 4. Manifest presence. Indwelling Presence Every born again believer has received God's indwelling presence. It is like what a baby does when it is born. It breathes air into its lungs and it lives. If you have been born again, He is with you!!! He's in you! Ephesians 3:17 NLT "Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong.' Ephesians 2:22 NLT "Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.' Be Filled with the Holy Spirit Ephesians 5:18 NLT Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit. I love, love, LOVE to talk about the benefits of being Spirit filled. I have so many pages on my website about Precious Holy Spirit, so I won't allow myself to pause here. (You can check them out' here.)'  It's important for you to believe He is With You. When you believe that you need to change your thoughts and words to reflect the belief that you are never alone, you don't need to pray for Him to be with you. He already is. You simply need to become more aware of His presence. Manifest Presence Still there are times like those on a cold day that you can actually see your breath or times you see steam rising from boiling water on the stove. Exodus 19:18 NLT "All of Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the LORD had descended on it in the form of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky like smoke from a brick kiln, and the whole mountain shook violently.' He manifests His presence when we seek Him. Jeremiah 29:13 NLT "If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.' Colossians 1:27b NLT "And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.' (His glory is His manifest presence.) In His manifest presence we are enfolded with His radiant love and joy. We were made to connect with God. Often as we move from thanksgiving to praise and then to worship, we can sense His nearness. Not all the time, but often as I open my heart to God in the morning before my day begins or when I begin to tell someone about Jesus and how precious He is to me I can feel His nearness. It is a wonderful, wonderful feeling. Those precious God encounters have marked my life with His love. He is With us! Yet even when I don't feel Him, He is still there. I am aware of His presence so, even when I don't feel His presence I talk to Him, ask Him questions and ask for His help. I've gone through Peggy Williams'' 21-Day Formula for God Confidence three times. The first time I went through it I was caught off guard by her bold declaration "You are the woman/man God is with.' When I read those words, I got a mental picture of myself at a party.'  The happy party was in a location with wide doorways emptying into several rooms with lots of people filling the space. I was a guest at the party when another guest leaned over and asked me quietly "Who is he with?' and nodded toward a guest just inside the next room. I knew immediately whom she was talking about. The guest was famous. His face and prestige was recognizable by everyone there. Everyone wanted to talk with him, touch him or at the very least get near him. I smiled and answered, "He's with me!' as I moved to go to where He was. I am the woman God is with! I am not trying, neither was my friend, to say that we have an exclusive claim that no one else can share. Anyone can experience an intimate relationship with God. It begins by becoming aware that He is with you. But the fact is, I can and do have that kind of relationship with Him. My relationship with Jesus is a game changer. Game Changer Let me explain why I say and believe that because Jesus is with you it is a "game changer.' Let's say something happens and you think'¦'Oh no. I don't know what to do! But, because He is with you, you immediately begin a conversation with Him'¦Father, I don't know what to do, so I ask you to give me wisdom. Show me what to do. Where do I need to go to find the wisdom I need for this situation?" Another example. Let's say a friend asks you to cover up something by telling a lie for them. Because Jesus is with you, you can lovingly, but courageously, reply "I love you, but I won't lie for you because lying grieves the heart of Jesus and violates my values as a believer.' Benefits There are many fabulous benefits that come with having a friend like Jesus'¦because He is with you, you can'¦ be confident, peaceful, joyful, bold, loving and obedient to God. speak and live the truth boldly without harshness. You don't have to hide behind lies or make excuses. be free from addictions. be released from every prison of un-forgiveness or fear. release your faith to experience provision, favor with God and man, and wisdom. enjoy eating and sharing the good fruit that His Spirit develops in you: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faith, Gentleness, Self-control. I am learning to set myself up for success by believing and trusting God more and changing the way I think. Part of my strategy is to talk to myself, especially when I am facing something difficult. Yes, I talk to myself. My self-talk used to be destructive and discouraging, but I don't do that anymore! (Praise God!) Since I believe that Jesus goes with me everywhere I go, I can confidently say,' "I am the woman God is with.''  Here's an example if I'm dealing with a difficult person. I say Pat, God is with you. He's with you girl (Sometimes I don't pay attention to myself and I need to repeat it!) Pat, because He is with you, you can do the right thing. God's gonna help you! You can be kind, Pat, cause God is giving you some of His kindness. He loves this person. You may not feel like you have any love to give, but He's giving you some of His love to love them with. I’d like to pray with you. Father, I pray for my dear reader. Help them to have a new awareness of your presence. Help them to walk in greater confidence because they are confident in your greatness! Amen. Here's the link to sign up for Peggy Williams 21 Formula For Christ Confidence

Download Podcast   What a bargain! You can listen to this podcast in iTunes. When we saw the price on the beautiful two-storied brick house, we knew we had to see it. But, when the realtor unlocked the door, we covered our nose and held our breathe—it stunk…really stunk…bad. The tall walls, elaborately crowned with carved molding, wore the tattered strips of what had been wallpaper. The big old house had numerous amenities that hinted it had once been beautiful, but time and it’s most recent and unusual residents had almost destroyed it. The owners had wintered their unruly kids, KIDS as in goats, in the house. And believe me when I tell you, it was a terrible…horrible…no good…really bad idea! As bad as a skunk! What were the owners thinking? Their crazy idea gives new meaning to Zig Ziglar’s term “stinkin’ thinkin'!” Allowing the goats to live in their house turned it into a stinking mess. And your stinking thinking will do the same thing to your mind, heart, emotions and choices! Stinking thinking affects you physically, spiritually and emotionally!!!  Stinking thinking can turn a molehill into a mountain. It can twist perceptions and turn a family gathering upside down.  Suspicious or fearful thoughts can turn a wedding into a tragedy. Jealous or angry thoughts that fester and boil can lead to criminal and deadly choices.  Matthew 15:19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander. What is your stinking thinking doing to you? God has a better plan for you.  Please read these verses from Ephesians slowly. They are so important. Ephesians 4:17-24 NLT 17So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. (their opinion, their human reasoning)  18They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.  19Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. 20That, however, is not the way of life you learned  21when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.  22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;  23to be made new in the attitude of your minds;  24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.  You can control your thinking. And you better control them because they will either poison you or position you for God’s best. How? If you are like me, maybe you are asking, “But how?” Basically, it’s a lot like farming. Weeds, like stinking thinking, are automatic, but the good things that we want to grow in our lives must be planted and nurtured. Fertilized. Watered. Weeded. We don’t want weeds. We want the seeds of good things to grow in our lives. So what are you planting? Even the youngest child understands If you want corn to grow, then you plant corn. They know if they plant birdseed they’ll grow birds…ha! Just teasing! Stinkin’ thinkin robs us, makes us feel yucky and afraid, which often causes us to make wrong choices. And we KNOW if we sow bad actions, we reap bad consequences! Right? But did you realize that it works in the positive too?  An ordinary question that grabbed me A pastor answered my generic “How are things going?” with “Great. I’ve sowed good things and I’m reaping good things.” His reply was so much more than an empty mantra. It was an honest, unemotional reply to my question. That one sentence has hounded me! I’ve used that verse like a goad to encourage and sometimes manipulate my children into doing what they need to do! But why couldn’t I see that the verse works in the positive equally as well. Why haven’t I believed God that when I plant good things that I will reap good things?  I want to get better at planting good stuff. Sometimes I am better at it than other times. I’ve noticed everywhere I go I see smiling faces. One day I realized that people are simply responding to my smile. That’s reaping what you planted at it’s simplest level. That is God’s law working in the positive! I plant kindness and thoughtfulness and I look for it in other people. And the wonderful thing is…I find exactly what I am looking for…almost every time!  You’ve probably seen it work with something as simple as a smile, but can God’s Word change our stinking thinking? Powerful enough? I wouldn’t say this if I didn’t know it personally, but yes, God’s Word is powerful enough to change not only what you think, but also what you believe. His Word is pregnant with hope. It will birth hope in your heart. God’s words are like buckets full of cool water on a sizzling hot day, like buckets full of His love. Don’t underestimate the power of God’s Word. Peggy Williams says, “praise God for the power of His written and spoken Words. Words that create, heal, resurrect, calm waters, create abundance out of lack, wine out of water, and make saints out of sinners.” The problem is not in the seed. God’s Word is powerful enough to accomplish what needs to be done, so the problem is not in the seed. You have a role in this process. Weeds thrive without any assistance, but good crops must be nurtured. Are you nurturing and cultivating God’s Word in both your mind and heart? Are you cultivating it by renewing your mind, examining and ruminating on specific Scriptures in your heart?  Then, do you align your choices with Scripture so you walk in the truth that produces the fruit you want instead of choosing to believe only what you see? Big deal? Maybe you are thinking, why do you keep harping on feeding your spirit, planting the Word, meditating on Scripture? What's the Big Deal?  It is a huge deal because it affects your heart. Your heart shapes the core of who you are. It is where you grow your beliefs, strengthen or undermine your will and hone your character.  Luke 6:45 NIV   “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”  I want good treasure to come out of my heart. So what do I need to do? Proverbs 4:23 NIV “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. The NLT says "for it determines the course of your life."  Above everything? Really? The things that make their way into your heart, the thoughts and ideas that you mix with faith and believe will affect everything- mind, body and spirit. Most of us understand the value of caring for our body, yet we don’t seem to practice that same wisdom when it comes to our thoughts.  Real wholeness begins with wholesome thinking.  Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. That is both a scary thought AND a wonderful thought. It is scary because it is a huge responsibility and wonderful because I can plant and nurture the right seed to produce the virtues that I want to enjoy and share with others. You can’t have a good harvest without strategic planting and it all begins with right thinking!  This is not a rigid formula. Walking with God is a relationship. Right thinking affects right believing; right believing leads to obedience and obedience positions us for a good harvest. 2 Corinthians 9:10 NLT For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.  Listen, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right course. Proverbs 23:19 BSB So let me ask you again...What are you nurturing? If you haven't subscribed to my podcast, please do. You'll get a notice on your phone when new podcasts come out and you can listen while you work. iTunes

On July 22nd & 29th Peggy Williamson will be joining us as our guest speaker. Peggy Williams is an ordained minister from Nashville, TN who has served in ministry alongside her husband, Randy, for over 32 years. Currently she is involved in her home church as a leader in the women's ministries, home group and pastoral care team, as well as a prayer team member. Through her blog at PeggyPearls.com and speaking opportunities, Peggy challenges others to discover their God-given purpose. Peggy fills the room with warmth and laughter while sharing “pearls” of wisdom from God's incredible unchanging life-changing Word.

Hart Energy’s Oil and Gas Investor kicked off its inaugural Women in Energy program earlier this year, showcasing the accomplishments of 25 distinguished women who have influenced all aspects of the oil and gas industry, rising to the top of a male-dominated business. One of those women—Deborah Byers, the U.S. oil and gas leader and Americas industry leader for Ernst & Young LLP—joined hosts Jessica Morales and Emily Patsy for our first Women in Energy podcast to discuss how successful women in the industry can stand out despite challenges they might face. Byers, who is a 30-year veteran of EY, spoke with us about how she got her start in oil and gas (2-minute mark) and talked about the challenges she faced while launching a new group at the start of the shale revolution (3:10). She also discussed the importance of confidence (5:50) and speaking up for yourself to progress your career (7:00) and why it’s vital to have a sponsor as well as a mentor (9:40). And later in the program we are joined by Peggy Williams, vice president and editorial director of Hart Energy (16:04). She shared her own experiences as the first female geologist at a company that had been in business since the 1880s and what she did to advance her career (20:30). Williams also spoke about the progress the industry has made regarding gender and diversity in the workplace (21:25) and gave us insight into how the Women in Energy program got started (22:34). You can comment on this podcast in the comments section or by tweeting our hosts @JessicaMNews or @EmilyPatsy. This and all episodes of Women In Energy are available via the podcast app and iTunes.

  Ever thought about writing your memoirs? Or do have a rip-snorting thriller in you? But do you think -or have been told- you’re too old to start on such a big creative project?    Hogwash!   Three Madison authors presented their best arguments for writing at any age. Well-known author Jerry Apps, mystery author Peggy Williams, and new memoir author RJ McKnight offered a gathering at the Fitchburg Senior Center their opinions ranging from the importance of telling your stories, confronting ageism, feeding the creative impulse and silencing your inner critique. 

Dr. Peggy Williams joined us for a chat about her experiences from living in a residence hall, to working in higher education, to being a university president.  She talks about what higher ed means to her and the concept of "Knowing and Knowing Better." Dr. Williams began her career as a social worker, and upon entering the field of higher education she held various faculty and administrative positions within the Vermont State College system and at Trinity College in Burlington, VT. She served as president of Lyndon State College for eight years prior to being named the seventh—and first woman—president of Ithaca College, where she served for 11 years.