Extraordinary Faith for Everyday Life
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Alright, y’all, Feathers is coming back! Stay tuned for August 11th for the next episode.
In this promo, I explain a bit about it being Season 2, how God totally worked out the timing this summer to take a break and I share a sneak peek of a few guests coming on this season.
One year ago today I was working. It was the last day before the July 4th weekend. I was sitting on a conference call and I got a text from Scott that DSS had called. We’d been chosen as parents for a little boy. I remember the rush of emotions that tried to spill out in tears. Joy. Anticipation. Fear. Panic. Elation. Relief. This was it! The day we’d waited for for years.
In the following days and weeks, I began to see God at work. How he’d planned this for a long time. While it’s been so very, very good, it also was the start of the hardest year of my life.
July 3rd, 2014 was the beginning of a rebirth.
This adoption is not all about me, but it has birthed something new in me. And while I think it birthed something new in a lot of us, it’s not my place to write about those.
So, let me tell you from my perspective. This has been the hardest, longest, most joyful-filled, frustrating, hair-falling-out, tears-rolling-down, happiest year of my life. This year we’ve been pressed down and shaken, busy forming both a new family and new individual inner beings. We have been wrapped in a cocoon, old things being transformed into new things.
I’ve been doing a study with IF:Equip on the beatitudes and my friend Hannah has shared so much wisdom about what it really means to be blessed. She explains:
אשר, a Hebrew word that we translate “blessed” or “happy”, has at it’s core a picture of being held in the teeth, stretched, and straightened. Imagine what happens to a coiled rope if you pick it up, hold one end between your teeth and pull. All the kinks are straightened through pressure. That straightening under pressure is what Jesus meant when He said “blessed”.
We truly have been blessed. God’s been working out my inner kinks through the pressure.
So today, on the anniversary of that beginning, it feels like another new beginning, the cocoon is opening and we’re beginning to see the fruits of all the labor. So much work is to be done, and yet I cannot help to stop and celebrate how far we’ve come–the absolute blessing he has placed in our lives.
Last night at dinner I announced that today was one year since our call. Lexi jumped out of her seat and ran over to Jac0b, who also jumped out of his seat to run away from Lexi. Lexi eventually caught him and gave him a big hug which he returned. Emma jumped up and did the same.
An hour later they were all fighting over virtual space on Minecraft.
That’s how this year has been. Moments of joy and frustration rolling one after another.
Today I celebrate God’s plans, God’s wisdom, God’s discipline, God’s love, God’s power, God’s authority. All and only through God has this been possible. God gets every single ounce of the glory. I could not have done this year without him. He’s so good.
But we also glory in our sufferings,
because we know that
suffering produces perseverance;
perseverance, character;
and character, hope.
Romans 5:3
In this episode, I take a look back at our first 15 episodes and see what “flying lessons” we can gather about living a life of faith. I would love to hear in the comments what nuggets you have taken from Feathers on our journey so far.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Listen and subscribe via iTunes | Stitcher
I would love to connect more with you guys about the episode. Leave a comment here or we can chat about the episode on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
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.
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3
Trust in the Lord with all your heard and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight Proverbs 3:6
In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the Lord establishes their steps. Proverbs 16:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged,
for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
At the Lord’s command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a long time, the Israelites obeyed the Lord’s order and did not set out. Sometimes the cloud was over the tabernacle only a few days; at the Lord’s command they would encamp, and then at his command they would set out. Sometimes the cloud stayed only from evening till morning, and when it lifted in the morning, they set out. Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out. Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out. Numbers 9:18-22
If we are faithless,
he remains faithful,
for he cannot disown himself. 2 Timothy 2:13
In this episode, I chat with Melanie Dorsey.
Melanie is a graduate of Lee University and holds a B.A. degree in both Communications and Modern Foreign Languages and a minor in Bible. She is also a certified teacher. A featured soloist for many years, she considers it a joy to minister in song. More recently Melanie has discovered a new joy. Art! Just two years ago, on a whim, she picked up a paint brush and opened an Etsy Shop in which she sells acrylic and watercolor paintings. Who knew?!
Melanie is married to Dannie Dorsey and they live in Florida with their son, Avery – a student at the University of South Florida. Their daughter Audra is married to Sam and they live in NM. Their third child, Andrew, resides in Heaven now and they anxiously await their glorious reunion!
Melanie Dorsey shares how she first began painting in 2013 on a whim to stage a piece of furniture that she had given a makeover. She listed the piece for sale and knew staging would push the sale. It did but also had several inquiries over her simple bird painting.
Thus began her “career” in art! She painted; she prayed. As she prayed and listened, the Lord began speaking here and there to her heart about something new He was leading her to and through.
What few people know is that her son, Andrew, was (IS) the artist in her family. Many of the supplies she began with were from his stash. Often tears flowed as she picked up a marker, a can of paint, a colored pencil or a waterproof pen – they were little reminders of her son and hints of a new promise from God.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Listen and subscribe via iTunes | Stitcher
Connect with Melanie on her blog, Instagram, or Facebook
I would love to connect more with you guys about the episode. Leave a comment here or we can chat about the episode on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
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.
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 1 John 4:4
In this episode, I chat with Wendy Hogan.
Wendy Hogan is a nurse, homeschooling mom and Noonday Ambassador. She, her husband and her 3 boys reside in Mobile, Alabama. Their lives are full of legos, laughter, endless jokes, sports, & a whole lotta love.
Wendy and I open up our conversation chatting about being moms to boys. Wendy then shares how God moved her from a life of disobedience and wakened her to the work he is doing locally and around the world through Noonday Collection.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Listen and subscribe via iTunes | Stitcher
Connect with Wendy on Instagram.
Here’s the featherweight cuff for the giveaway!
I would love to connect more with you guys about the episode. Leave a comment here or we can chat about the episode on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
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.
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19
In this episode, I chat with Michelle Krieg.
Michelle Krieg is a trained primary school teacher and art therapist from South Australia. She has been teaching over the course of 20 years and in 2010 decided to follow her God-given passion to study art therapy. After completing her study, Michelle started working as an art therapist with people who are socially marginalised due to mental illness. Her clients include elderly people who suffer from social isolation, people who are homeless and the intellectually disabled. She also runs a small private art therapy practice called Artfelt Ventures and still teaches in schools when she can. Michelle is married to James, who works full time in ministry to university students and they have 3 children aged 20, 17 and 14.
Michelle and I open up our conversation talking all things Australian. She then shares how God moved her from being a elemetary school teacher to being trained in and practicing art therapy.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Listen and subscribe via iTunes | Stitcher
Connect with Michelle by email: michelle@artfeltventures.com.au.
I would love to connect more with you guys about the episode. Leave a comment here or we can chat about the episode on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
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.
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosperyou and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun. Psalm 37:3-6
I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Revelation 3:8-10
Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Isaiah 58:8
Guys, I’ve missed writing regularly here so much! I really hope you’ve been enjoying the podcasts in the time since. God has been doing a very good work in me these past few months and I wanted to catch you all up. In this video, I share why I quit writing for a few months, what I’ve been doing, and where I see things headed in the future. I hope you take a few minutes to catch up.
Let me just take a minute to encourage you just to take a few minutes to open your Bibles today and see what God might have in store for you. Here’s Isaiah 121:-6 I read on the video:
In that day you will say:
“I will praise you, Lord.
Although you were angry with me,
your anger has turned away
and you have comforted me.
2 Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust and not be afraid.
The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense[a];
he has become my salvation.”
3 With joy you will draw water
from the wells of salvation.4 In that day you will say:
“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
make known among the nations what he has done,
and proclaim that his name is exalted.
5 Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things;
let this be known to all the world.
6 Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion,
for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”
In this episode, I chat with Lizzie Branch.
Lizzie is a Board Certified Coach and has been coaching since 2006. She has a BA and MA in Psychology, and a PhD in counseling. She’s also an artist, writer, and speaker. Her art studio, Soul Graffiti, is located in beautiful downtown Clayton, NC.
Lizzie shares how God led her to step out in faith and open up an art studio and incorporating her lifelong passion for creativity with her established life coaching career.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Listen and subscribe via iTunes | Stitcher
Connect with Lizzie on her blog or visit her art studio Soul Graffiti.
I would love to connect more with you guys about the episode. Leave a comment here or we can chat about the episode on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
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.
The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to tread on the heights. Habakkuk 3:19
