Joy in suffering. God's presence in the darkness. That's what Darci is here to teach us. I had such a hard time choosing just two quotes for this week’s Praise Through It, so I’m going to include some of her other gems right here, instead of my own words like I usually do. If you are in a dark place of suffering, or have been before, or want to arm up for battle in the future, this episode is for you. Read below for some snippets, and then spend 30 minutes here, listening. I was like, ‘Really, a second time? What didn’t I learn the first time, God?’ I stopped praying for awhile. I learned how much of my prayers were genie prayers. … asking God for this, and asking God for that. And ‘can you do this?’ and ‘can you do that?’ I developed this friendship with God in this really deep, dark place. There’s an understanding in suffering that can only come from God. We meet in a dark place, but it’s a beautiful place, too. Because God inhabits this dark place. It’s not the same darkness Satan inhabits. Yes, I have received a lot of joy in suffering. The beauty beyond the thorns is Jesus. I can sit in fear and not be afraid because I know He’s working good in suffering. I don’t know the why. But I trust. I know that He is good. And He is God, and He knows what He’s doing. So I’m just facing Him, and letting Him direct. If anyone feels like they’re on a bumpy road, like washboard bumpy, instead of on a smooth road, that doesn’t mean your purpose is thwarted. Look at what God is trying to show you because it might be better than what you had planned.
“The reality is: you are free.” Paul Henderson said that during our podcast conversation when we recorded about two months ago, and I still have those words rolling around in my head. More than the line of a worship song. More than a line in a podcast. More than a (good, true) soundbite. It is REALITY. I am free. You are free. In this conversation, Paul Henderson—author and Dean of Students for an elementary & middle school—talks to us about living in that reality for ourselves and for the people around us. With constant encouragement and a raw faith that shows itself over and over, Paul talks about his decision to have a relationship with God, his work with his students, marriage, parenting, and more. Listen in for 25 minutes of how to find freedom & then stay right in it, every single day. Show notes Slave No More: Conquering the Master Within Paul Henderson online Paul Henderson on Instagram (Fatherhood On the Fly) Fellowship of Christian Athletes Virginia Commonwealth University Farmville, Virginia school system 1957-1964 Become part of my FRIDAY CREW - quick, actionable ADULTING tips, usually using the framework of the Enneagram. I promise interesting. I promise a GIF. I promise helpful. Right here or right down below. Sign up for Monday Morning Blessings: soulful meditations to start your week
“Oh you’re used to that right? You guys move all the time.” I’ve heard that sentence a few times because of the … 14? … collective residences we’ve had in the 16 years we’ve been married. The truth is, though, that it actually isn’t that easy based on the number of times you’ve done it in the past. Our last move was actually the most difficult, and our third was the easiest. Heather Eberhart is a military wife—and the only repeat guest on Praise Through It (Together) this summer!—and she talks with such honesty and grace and knowledge about what it’s like having your military family uprooted … again. How do we parent through those huge transitions? How do we hold onto our faith and rest on God’s absolute promises when everything swirling around us feels the opposite of sure and absolute? Listen in to find out how. Show notes Connect with Heather online Sign up for Heather’s newsletter Resources for the military family Heather on Instagram Kristen Strong When Change Finds You Become part of my FRIDAY CREW - quick, actionable ADULTING tips, usually using the framework of the Enneagram. I promise interesting. I promise a GIF. I promise helpful. Right here or right down below. Sign up for Monday Morning Blessings: soulful meditations to start your week
Do you know someone in your life whose superpower is JOY? If not, meet Dorina Gilmore. She is an author, speaker, and self-titled Glory Chaser. She teaches us how to chase God’s glory—look for his goodness & his glory—in every aspect of our lives. And this passion of her heart comes from a deeply sincere place, since the plan she had for her life has been thrown off course more than once. Listen in for encouragement on how to see God’s glory in your big and small moments. Show notes Dorina online Dorina on Instagram Fort Bragg 10-miler Army 10-miler HaitiGO Walk Run Soar A Trip to the Garbage Dump: When God Enlarged My Heart for Mercy Become part of my FRIDAY CREW - quick, actionable ADULTING tips, usually using the framework of the Enneagram. I promise interesting. I promise a GIF. I promise helpful. Right here or right down below. Sign up for Monday Morning Blessings: soulful meditations to start your week
I’m not known for my love of social media, but Megan Ericson is. She is quite literally the one voice I listen to when I need or want to learn something about social media. She keeps it simple, easy, and judgment-free. And she is a JOY to talk to! Megan walked me through the Instagram world in 2021 when I was part of her Instagram challenge. In this conversation, she walks us through the good side of social media, how to be a light in a world of trolls, and how to work your kids through the online space. Social media is not going away, that is for sure. In its evolution over the last 20 years, we’ve heard everything from social media saves lives to social media has ruined the world. Maybe there’s an in-between, and Megan can for sure teach us how to show up and be a positive light in the online space. Show notes MeganEricson.com Megan Ericson on Instagram Megan on Twitter Megan on Facebook Megan on LinkedIn Kellerman’s Mountain House (Dirty Dancing Experience) Become part of my FRIDAY CREW - quick, actionable ADULTING tips, usually using the framework of the Enneagram. I promise interesting. I promise a GIF. I promise helpful. Right here or right down below. Sign up for Monday Morning Blessings: soulful meditations to start your week
Show notes Drumline / Drum core Hope Church Eastman Kodak Delco Xerox Zoom Eastman School of Music Praise Through It: Change Psalm 46 Purpose Driven Life Psalm 63 Sheltering Mercy Become part of my FRIDAY CREW - quick, actionable ADULTING tips, usually using the framework of the Enneagram. I promise interesting. I promise a GIF. I promise helpful. Right here or right down below. Sign up for Monday Morning Blessings: soulful meditations to start your week
Latasha & I could talk for hoursssssss. We don’t here. You’re welcome. But it’s a great conversation filled with truth and laughter and new friendship. She is as open and honest as anyone could be about body image struggles from childhood all the way on up. Listen in here for some great encouragement on eating those three cookies, exercising because it’s a privilege to do so, and loving the body God gave to and made for you. Show notes Overcome to Become podcast on Spotify Overcome to Become podcast on Apple Latashaferguson.com Become part of my FRIDAY CREW - quick, actionable ADULTING tips, usually using the framework of the Enneagram. I promise interesting. I promise a GIF. I promise helpful. Right here or right down below. Sign up for Monday Morning Blessings: soulful meditations to start your week
Emily Bernath is an author, a spiritual leader, and a sexual assault survivor. She shares all the pieces of her story in her books & with other women so that they might know their worth in Christ, no matter what has happened in their past. In our chat, Emily reminds us that our identity is 100% rooted in God, in who He made us to be. Show notes Broken Lenses: Volume 1 Broken Lenses: Volume 2 Emily Bernath (website) Emily Bernath on Instagram Become part of my FRIDAY CREW - quick, actionable ADULTING tips, usually using the framework of the Enneagram. I promise interesting. I promise a GIF. I promise helpful. Right here or right down below. Sign up for Monday Morning Blessings: soulful meditations to start your week
Alana is a podcaster, podcast coach, entrepreneur, and constant encourager for (mostly) women (but sometimes men!) who are ready to live out their calling but aren’t quite sure how to get there. She is so passionate about dreaming with God, and then keeping Him in the center while we move toward that dream, that you can’t help but listen to her when she tells us what to do! After chatting with Alana, I set up a solid (realistic) summer plan for journaling, dreaming, and setting a vision for my future with God in the middle of it. Listen in for encouragement & inspiration to live the dreams God has put in your heart. Show notes Alana Dawson online Alana Dawson on Instagram Podcasting Party FB group Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert Lindsay Letters Productivity Prayer Dawson’s Creek Enneagram
Jenna Erlandson is a biological mom to five kiddos - after being told by years of infertility that she wouldn’t have a baby. “I think we’re finally done proving the doctors wrong,” she said — after a surprise set of twins at the end of 2021! Jenna is so generous with her story, her heart, and some hard mama truths that so many of us can relate to. Show notes Jenna Erlandson online Bridge of the Faithful podcast on Spotify Bridge of the Faithful podcast on Apple Secret Confessions of a Mom Who Wants to Quit What is postpartum depression? What is postpartum anxiety? What is postpartum OCD? Become part of my FRIDAY CREW - quick, actionable ADULTING tips, usually using the framework of the Enneagram. I promise interesting. I promise a GIF. I promise helpful. Right here or right down below. Sign up for Monday Morning Blessings: soulful meditations to start your week
Kellie Haddock is a singer, a songwriter, and a Hope Giver. She shows up on all socials in the brightest, happiest pink you’ll ever see. And she talks to us about using hope as a choice, about how God trusts us with tragedy and what we can do with that, and why her new album is called Orchids From Fire. Show notes Kellie Haddock.com Orchids From Fire Kellie on Instagram Kellie on Spotify Thank You Project elisapreeston.com Become part of my FRIDAY CREW - quick, actionable ADULTING tips, usually using the framework of the Enneagram. I promise interesting. I promise a GIF. I promise helpful. Right here or right down below. Sign up for Monday Morning Blessings: soulful meditations to start your week
Asking myself, What will this choice look like in 30 years? is one of my daily cornerstones that helps me live well. In 30 years, you’ll have built on habit after habit and what you have is what you will have built, and I’m not talking about tangible things like a specific size house or brand of car. I’m talking about the status of your heart. If I want my daughter to know she is loved at all times, I’ll teach rather than scold. If I want her to know that her creativity matters, I’ll hold my tongue when that creativity takes us on a wild, messy ride. If I want my own heart to know that God made me on purpose and for a purpose, I’ll write my words and nobody else’s. I want a future that holds a long line of choices that point to all of the above, and more. I do that by constantly asking and answering that one question: What will this choice look like in 30 years? If you’re wondering how to use that question for yourself, listen in here or read right here! Show notes Barn doors My favorite chocolate chip cookies Enneagram Kellie Haddock Become part of my FRIDAY CREW - quick, actionable ADULTING tips, usually using the framework of the Enneagram. I promise interesting. I promise a GIF. I promise helpful. Right here or right down below. Sign up for Monday Morning Blessings: soulful meditations to start your week
Maybe, like me, you have a hard time recognizing when something needs to change. We know that we’re restless and tired at the same time but we’re not sure why because we didn’t used to feel this way but nothing has changed… We know that something feels off but we can’t put our finger on it. We know that we need a break, but we’re not sure from what. We know that we’re unhappy, but we look around at the people and the four walls holding us together and wonder what we’re unhappy about. If you’re wondering how to recognize when something needs to change—and how to have the courage to change it--listen in here or read along here. Show notes: Robin Jones Gunn - Sierra Jensen series Magic Tree House -- Hour of the Olympics James 1:17 Nike Seasons episode of Praise Through It Snow episode of Praise Through It (called Heart Pivots) Become part of my FRIDAY CREW - quick, actionable ADULTING tips, usually using the framework of the Enneagram. I promise interesting. I promise a GIF. I promise helpful. Right here or right down below. Sign up for Monday Morning Blessings: soulful meditations to start your week
There’s a difference between living in fear, and letting fear live with you. There’s a difference between letting fear lead you, and letting it walk beside you. Fear propels bravery. We literally cannot have bravery without fear, because without fear there would be no reason to be brave. We have to learn how to let the fear live beside us, walk along with us, but not win the moment. If you’re wondering how to make sure fear doesn’t get the final say, listen in here or read right below! Show notes: Leann Rimes - One Way Ticket (Because I Can) Book of Common Prayer, 2019 Anglican Church of North America edition Official definition of Fear Emily P. Freeman - Next Right Thing Guided Journal Read the transcript of this episode Become part of my FRIDAY CREW - quick, actionable ADULTING tips, usually using the framework of the Enneagram. I promise interesting. I promise a GIF. I promise helpful. Right here or right down below. Sign up for Monday Morning Blessings: soulful meditations to start your week
What is ‘praise’ to you? What is ‘kindness’ to you? What is ‘hate’ to you? When I asked my 6-year-old daughter if she wanted to help me practice something with a microphone, I had no idea she’d need this little coaching when it came to recording a podcast episode. And I had no idea she’d have such strong, powerful questions. I hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed recording. If you’re wondering what a 6 year old thinks about praise, kindness, hate, fear, bravery, and fun, listen in! Show notes: Donate to Annabeth’s Jump Rope for Heart (the 2022 version) challenge Her favorite Bible story podcast
Numbering our days. Making them count. Making them matter to us in a way that brings our heart closer to wisdom, & with a foundation of mercy, grace, kindness, goodness, love & faith. If you’re wondering how to make the most of your days, listen in. Show notes: Less Like Me by Zach Williams Episode 19: Staying on Assignment Psalm 90 Listen to the podcast episode of this blog
We have upset, upheaval, and unrest at almost every major turn in our world right now. And every keyboard warrior has the answer to every one of them. One remedy I think we forget: friendship. It’s the friend who will come for me. A friend who will go into the dark for me. A friend who will say, it’s okay that you got yourself lost, I’ll help you find your way. A friend who will say, I’m on my way. A friend who understands that wayfinding is not my strength but doesn’t tease me about it until I’m out of the woods. That is friendship. And how well we would do if we leaned into that on a daily basis. No matter your season of friendship — an awkward season, looking for a revival in that area, or are over-the-moon grateful for the friends in your life — listen in here or read right below! Show notes: Friends from Elementary School Reunited on a Battlefield in Vietnam Clean Streets: Sanitation workers recall their friendship on the streets of Manhattan Friends During the Vietnam War Reunite Almost 50 Years After Longtime Friends Reconnect in a Homeless Shelter “You’re My Forever Love”: Reflections On Over 30 Years Of Friendship Winnie the Pooh & friendship Greg’s last Apache flight Listen to the podcast episode of this blog Become part of my FRIDAY CREW - quick, actionable ADULTING tips, usually using the framework of the Enneagram. I promise interesting. I promise a GIF. I promise helpful. Right here or right down below. Sign up for Monday Morning Blessings: soulful meditations to start your week
The capital-S Seasons of our lives are the most obvious ones that bring change. A new job, relationship, child, weather season... all of those usher in change in a big way, they define us and times in our lives very clearly. Lately, I've been more interested in the little-s seasons of our lives. The seasons of joy and sorrow, grief and rejoicing, anxiety and confidence. I think we too often fold those little-s seasons into the big-S seasons, conflating the entire season with only one feeling, assigning ourselves these absolute traits based on the ebb and flow of the human experience. I think we miss the fact that these little-s seasons could be looked at as STATES of our lives instead of TRAITS of our lives and our personhood. If you're wondering how to move in and out of the seasons of your life with some sanity and grace, listen in. Show notes: My Holocaust-Survivor Grandmother Found Happiness Everywhere. I See Her in My Daughter. Friends Mike & Molly Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist Psalm 48:14 Psalm 23 Ecclesiastes 3 My breakfast face Sign up for Monday emails: Short, soulful blessings to start your week Sign up for Friday Crew: adulting / life tips framed by the Enneagram
Is there a way to feel less lonely, even in the midst of our loneliness? What if it couldn't be cured, but it could be curbed? Alleviated in some way? I think the answer lies in our shared humanity. Not necessarily looking into everyone's souls, but acknowledging we're not so alone in our feelings as we think we are. If only we would reach out, look around, sing some heart songs, and listen to other people's heart songs. What does that mean? Listen in to find out! Show notes: Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist Enneagram Praise Through It, episode 20: Heart Pivots
Monday mornings are for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC. When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life. After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today. If you want these blessings in your inbox as well as in your earbuds, sign up here. You'll hear from me on Monday mornings with encouraging notes for your daily life. Wondering about the Enneagram? Email me here, get the Enneagram Overview freebie here, or read some info right here. Become part of my FRIDAY CREW - where together we learn and grow together in all things adulting, mostly using the framework of the Enneagram. Plus a fun GIF. Always a fun GIF. Sign up here!