Feathers Podcast

In this episode, I interview Wendy Speake.

Whether she’s with loved ones in her actual Living Room, alone in God’s Living Word, or speaking to a room full of women, Wendy Speake is inspired to share life and faith with others in creative ways. As Jeremiah had fire in his bones, she too feels compelled to share the Gospel of Jesus — she just does it with stories that probe the glorious and hurting places of life, pictures of faith lived out in her home, and recipes purposed to inspire hospitality.

Wendy shares a story of a small moment of obedience in the grocery store that had a big impact. We then chat about anger and parenting and how we live out the call to be loving and kind in all the small moments of parenting.

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 Links from the Episode

• Triggers
• MOB Society
• No More Angry Mob Facebook Group

Quotes

God is so much more concerned about our obedience to Him than our children’s obedience to us.

Keep doing the good parenting.

Keep on responding right even when you’re children are responding wrong.

Being obedient in the small things is so important.

Love is a sacrifice. I am sacrificing love today when I don’t have enough to fill myself up.

#LoveWins

If we can identify our triggers and know what to expect what can trip us up, we can prepare better.

Figure out what you mean to say until you say something mean.

If you complain about what people serve you, people are not going to enjoy serving you.

Let’s not give in to the knee-jerk reactions, let’s choose to respond in a kind way. Our kids are going to do wrong, but we have to join them. We can still do right.

We have trained our children not to respond to us until we get to that point. We need to go up to them and say, “I’ve made a mistake.”

Whining and complaining is a precursor to backtalking.

Backtalk parenting script: “The way you’re speaking to us is unkind. I need you to go away from us until you can talk to us in a nice way.”

There’s a time for “because I said so.”

We don’t have to fight just because they invite us to fight.

When we meet them fit for fit, they don’t ever get to feel bad about their behavior because they’re feeling bad about our behavior.

If you can slip outside the ring and slip around to their corner, you can speak to them as their coach.

Scripture

The kindness of the Lord leads us to repentance. Romans 2:4

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In this episode, I interview Nicki Koziarz.

Nicki Koziarz is a speaker, writer & leader in today’s generation. She is on staff at Proverbs 31 Ministries, where she gets to help lead thousands of women through their online Bible studies. Her first book, 5 Habits of a Woman Who Doesn’t Quit releases in March of 2016 and the Bible study to follow in May 2016. One of the greatest joy’s in her life is being a wife to Kris and mom to 3 amazing girls: Taylor, Hope & Kennedy. They also have a slightly famous pug, Herman.

Nicki and I chat about her family’s move from the suburbs to a family farm.

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 Links from the Episode

• Proverbs 31 Ministries
• Herman the slightly famous pug
• What Happens When Women Walk in Faith
• What Happens When Women Say Yes to God
• 5 Habits of a Woman Who Doesn’t Quit

Quotes

Sometimes we often discount what God is doing because we are so determined to go our own way.

As women who are pursuing obedience with Jesus Christ, there will always be opportunities for opposition in our lives when it comes to stepping all the way through with God. Every opposition is an opportunity for God to reveal His power.

When you’re trying to obey God you already have enough self-doubt to deal with.

To become a woman who doesn’t quit, we keep going until the last possible second until there are no other options, all of our options have been exhausted and we know we have been so faithful to God.

It’s so important that your God-dream it’s in alignment with who we’re aligned with.

God will put the right person with you to walk right beside you.

God has never called us to this island of isolation.

Habit #3: She stays open to the movement of God in her life.

When we get to a place of humility and surrender holding hands, that’s where we begin to see the movement of God in our lives.

Scripture

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8

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In this episode, I interview Jamie Ivey.

Jamie is a podcaster, writer, and speaker from Austin, Texas. She is the proud mama of four kids and the wife of Aaron, worship pastor of The Austin Stone Community Church. Jamie loves to encourage women to passionately follow Jesus through whatever stage of life. She does this through writing and her weekly podcast, The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey.

Jamie shares the story of her three adoptions. We discuss how her adoption impacted our family’s adoption. We chat about the hard stuff, the good stuff, and the scary stuff of adoptions.

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 Links from the Episode

• The Happy Hour Podcast
• In Defense of the Fatherless
• Real Hope for Haiti
• Bethany Christian Services
• The Austin Stone
• Friday Night Lights
• IF:Gathering

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In this episode, I interview Emily G. Stroud.

Emily G. Stroud currently lives in Fort Worth, Texas with her husband and two children.  She also owns and manages a boutique investment firm called Stroud Financial Management. She has been a Financial Advisor for a little over 17 years.  Emily counsels people on how to handle their online loans, manage risk, and ensure a nice tidy retirement. Emily does her best to beat the odds of the stock market.  She helps her clients plan and mitigate each possible financial scenario that can arise in their lives. Most importantly, Emily wants her clients, and now her readers, to thrive financially, emotionally, and spiritually.

Emily shares the story of God calling her to share her story at IF:Gathering 2015 and then receiving a book contract at She Speaks 2015 for Faithful Finance. Emily then shares her heart and desires for individuals to manage their money with biblical principles.

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 Links from the Episode

• IF:Gathering
• She Speaks conference
• Faithful Finance

Quotes

If you truly believe I’m real, you need to live out your faith in a more visual way.

I learned I’m totally and 100% dependent on God and not my own strength so that was part of the process too. So all the different seasons that I have gone through I truly believe prepared me for such a time as this.

How you steward your money is much more of a heart issue than a monetary issue.

Money is a tool to be used wisely.

If you are obedient to God’s plan you will be blessed and you will be able to bless others and that’s the most important thing to realize.

I’m not preaching a prosperity gospel. However, there are so many practical tools that are for financial planning that are in the Bible and God does have a best practice to manage your money. He does want it to be a positive thing in your life.

He really does control everything and we’re just managing it while we are here.

Look at it like a faith issue rather than an issue causes fear.

God doesn’t need your money. He’s got this under control, but he wants is a relationship with you and he wants you to be obedient. Part of being obedient is actually taking a step of faith and using your money to tithe and to bless others.

You cannot afford not to tithe. If you are faithful in a little God will allow you to be faithful in much, but if you are not faithful in the little bit that you have now, why in the world would he entrust you with more? Take a small step with the faith of a mustard seed and say with my next paycheck I’m going to take 10% off the top and tithe.

Expect God to show up.

If you’re already tithing, but you’re not being challenged, giving over and above a 10% tithe would be called sacrificial giving, take the next step.

People that are running really successful non-profit ministries need your money more than your time. Pray about who you can support.

When you change your perspective about your money a lot of things change in your life as well.

Money can be a root of evil. That doesn’t mean that money is a root of all evil. Money is a tool and God can use it so abundantly. Do not think of money as a negative thing.

Some of the richest people I know in my life are the most generous people I’ve met.

There are kings and priests in God’s kingdom. Kings are the people who work and create wealth and they provide the monetary resources to support priests. And a priest is the executive director for World Vision, all the different people running non-profit ministries. What they need is money to further their kingdom causes so if we see our roles in the body of Christ, we could radically change the world.

There’s a whole world of need out there and the more we can build resources and give it away, you know what’s going to happen, you’re going to make more money and you’re going to give it away and it’s going to build more.

I promise you can not outgive God.

In an ideal world, we would not have debt.

I do not consider a mortgage bad debt, but it has to be done in a wise manner.

Credit card is the #1 bad debt.

If at all possible, don’t have car debt because it will never be worth more than the day you buy it.

If you’re start seeing the tithe as a non-negotiable, then God will bless it.

If you don’t have a goal, then you don’t have a direction and you don’t know where you’re going.

Scripture

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:10

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In this episode, I interview Alli Worthington.

Alli Worthington is an author, speaker, blogger, and the Executive Director of Propel Women, an organization that empowers female leaders. Her goal is to help women live the life they were created to live. Alli co-founded BlissDom Events and has helped individuals, small business owners and Fortune 500 companies be more successful. Alli’s no-nonsense, guilt-free take on motherhood, parenting and balance has led to appearances on TODAY and Good Morning America. She lives outside Nashville with her husband, Mark, their five sons, rescued dog and cat who moved onto their doorstep.

Alli’s story begins at the pinnacle of one of the most successful blogging conferences around when she heard God’s direction to quit. She then experienced a year of disobedience, another year of learning what it really means to trust God and then must learn to say yes when He calls her to the next adventure.

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 Links from the Episode

• Propel Women
• Blissdom
• Christine Caine
• A21
• Breaking Busy

Quotes

I heard two words ‘Quit Blissdom’ and I was absolutely appalled. I was shocked. I was surprised, but I knew it was God. – Alli Worthington

I wasn’t willing to obey until I knew what was next – Alli Worthington

God was growing so I would trust him – Alli Worthington

I had to decide I wanted what he wanted more than what I wanted for myself  – Alli Worthington

All the success I had I was thinking in the back of my mind it was my success and it wasn’t Him leading me. – Alli Worthington

“Get up and live like you believe I’m going to take care of you.”  – Alli Worthington

The reason why I’m stuck is I just don’t believe He’s going to take care of me.  – Alli Worthington

Giving my opinion without doing any work is one of my favorite things to do.  – Alli Worthington

“Jesus is going to have to tell us both separately to do this because this is a terrible idea,” Alli Worthingon
“No, Jesus is just going to have to tell you.” Christine Caine

I heard a very clear ‘do it’.  – Alli Worthington

I never would have been ever able to say yes to this opportunity had I not obeyed God when it didn’t make sense.  – Alli Worthington

God has planted different gifts inside of us and I believe they’re indicators of what we’re created to do.  – Alli Worthington

If we’re so busy doing all the things that suck the life out of us we’re going to miss those great opportunities  – Alli Worthington

God is directing us but asks the question will you trust me or will you not and then gives us the option – Amy Bennett

We can’t lean on our own understanding, we just can’t reason ourselves to the right answer – Amy Bennett

Scripture

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Proverbs 3:5

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In this episode, I interview Katrina Ryder.

Katrina is a wife to an elementary school music teacher and a mother of three kids, ages 10, 8, and 6.  She is a former missionary and English teacher, who loves writing, editing, teaching Bible study and sharing her stories with others.

Katrina shares the story of God calling her husband to pursue a job as a worship pastor, only to have him redirect their plans.

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 Links from the Episode

• A Ferry Tale; Katrina’s post about the story shared
• Everlasting God (Strength Will Rise) by Chris Tomlin
• Daily Bread “Grace” image
• Jen Hatmaker 7

Quotes

We don’t want the waiting to stop if we don’t actually have the strength yet. – Katrina Ryder

If we stopped waiting before we had all the strength we need, we’d still be weak – Katrina Ryder

We’ll pray this waiting process will continue so we can get as strong as we need to be. – Katrina Ryder

Grow us up. – Katrina Ryder

We think when he says ‘pursue this’, that thing we’re pursuing he’ll give us. – Katrina Ryder

When God sends Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, he’s telling him to do something he has absolutely no intention of making him do. It’s a faith exercise.  – Katrina Ryder

It’s a faith exercise to get his people to say I’ll do whatever crazy mess you want me to do. – Katrina Ryder

Sometimes I think of this story and say, ‘Lord, are you sending me on a false path?’ and He says, ‘If I am, will you trust me?’ – Katrina Ryder

Scripture

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

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If you get a chance, please rate and review the episode on iTunes.  This *really* helps iTunes find us and most of all, helps spread this message of faith and hope.

In this episode, I interview Jessica Turner.

Jessica N. Turner is the bestselling author of The Fringe Hours and companion book My Fringe Hours, as well as the founder of the popular lifestyle blog The Mom Creative. She is also is a writer for DaySpring’s (in)courage, an advocate for World Vision, a regular speaker at events nationwide, and an award-winning marketing professional. She and her husband, Matthew, live with their three young children in Nashville, Tennessee.

Jessica shares the story of how she came to write her first book The Fringe Hours, although never dreaming of writing one.  She then shares the importance of self-care so we’re able to live out the call to love your neighbor as yourself.

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 Links from the Episode

• The Fringe Hours
• My Fringe Hours
• The cups from Ezra’s Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star Party
• AllThingsTarget.com

Scripture

The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:31

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If you get a chance, please rate and review the episode on iTunes.  This *really* helps iTunes find us and most of all, helps spread this message of faith and hope.

In this episode, I interview Mary Carver.

Mary is a wife, mom and writer from Kansas City who lives for good books, dark chocolate and television marathons, but she lives because of God’s grace. She’s a word nerd, a Jesus follower, and a big fan of YA novels, Mexican food and pretty office supplies. She has a blog called Giving Up on Perfect, writes for (in)courage (a blog for women from Dayspring), and author of Choosing Joy. Mary says that after a lifetime of trying harder and doing more, she’s finally learning to give up on perfect and get on with life.

Mary shares her story of writing her first book Choose Joy, looking back at the stops along the way and seeing how they weren’t detours, but times of preparation. We then discuss her book Choose Joy and Sara Frankl’s story of choosing joy amidst severe pain.

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Links from the Episode

• Sara Frankl
• Choose Joy

Quotes

Those of us who read her words realize she was just a person like me so when I face troubles, whether they’re extreme as hers or just regular run of the mill junk life gives me, maybe I can do that too. Mary Carver

I’ve always felt like there was something big that God had for me to do and I don’t mean big like famous like world-changing, but big for me and big for Him. Mary Carver

I always felt this drive to find out what it is He wants me to do. There was a lot that I learned and I needed to learn in all those jobs. So I wasn’t in all those jobs until I could write a book, they were part of the process. I always felt like the stops along the way were the end. Mary Carver

I was able to come back to this belief that God would use me and He would use me in a big way, and I don’t mean big like Jen Hatmaker or Oprah. He would use me in a way that mattered to him and me and there was a reason all those other things didn’t work long-term. Mary Carver

I really want things to make sense, but that’s a silly thing to ask from God because His ways are not our ways. Mary Carver

That’s where the rest comes in. We go back to His words in Scripture and go back to the truth and say I don’t understand this, but He does. Amy Bennett

At the same time she trusted that God had a plan even if she never understood it, she also still remained hopeful that she could be healed or things could change. Mary Carver

Healing doesn’t always mean physical healing. But He had healed her heart and He had changed her and used her. Mary Carver

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If you get a chance, please rate and review the episode on iTunes.  This *really* helps iTunes find us and most of all, helps spread this message of faith and hope.