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Welcome to another inspiring episode of Fierce Calling! Today, host Doris sits down with good friend Kristi Woods, an acclaimed author and speaker whose profound journey of faith and perseverance will leave you deeply moved. We delve into Kristi’s latest book, 101 Prayers for Military Wives, a heartfelt guide designed to help military spouses—and anyone seeking a deeper spiritual connection—grow closer to God through prayer. Kristi shares personal anecdotes, from how she met her husband through a pen pal program during Desert Storm, to the divine timing that led to her first book's publication after years of patience and faith. Doris and Kristi explore the intricate dynamics of developing a robust prayer life, the significance of understanding God’s character through scripture, and the transformative power of prayer. They also touch on Kristi's foray into fiction writing, emphasizing perseverance and obedience to God’s calling even when the path seems uncertain. If you’re seeking encouragement to deepen your faith, enrich your prayer life, or simply need a gentle reminder of God’s perfect timing, this episode is for you. Stay tuned as Kristi Woods shares her journey, offers valuable resources for women's groups, and provides that much-needed spiritual nourishment to fuel your walk with God. Don't miss it! Connect with Kristi! Kristi Woods, author and speaker, shares stories about Jesus, a few pretend couples, and other military and everyday heroes. Her award-winning work is published across the Internet and in print, including her recent gift book release,101 Prayers for Military Wives. Kristi, her Desert Storm pen pal-turned-husband, and three (now adult) children survived a nomadic, military lifestyle and have set roots in Oklahoma. There, she keeps a close watch for tornadoes and good chocolate. Website/Contact:KristiWoods.net  Newsletter Subscription: KristiWoods.net/subscribe/ Social: PinterestInstagramFacebook What Threatens to Steal Your Joy? Check out Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You 6-week Bible study rooted in John 15. You can find more info at https://dorisswift.com/book/ Let’s Stay Connected! Find my free resources including Fear Fighting Bible Verses, Simple Tips for Sharing Your Faith, Surrender the Joy Stealers, Step Out of Your Doubt and Into Your Calling ebook, and more on my dorisswift.com homepage! Love Fierce Calling? Following, rating, and leaving a review over at Podchaser or Apple Podcasts helps others discover the show too! Need a Speaker for Your Next Women’s Event? Now Booking for 2025! Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let’s talk about me speaking at your next women’s event… Transcript Surrender the Joy Stealers Bible Study Intro ... Doris [00:01:45]:What is threatening to steal your joy? What is it that feels so heavy right now that you could barely stand? God has a plan, and his plan is to surrender it. Surrender it to him. It might be a prodigal. It might be a relationship, a marriage, something with your job. So many things. We have so many amazing blessings, but there are so many things in our life that threaten to steal our joy. I'm Doris Swift, author of the award winning 6 week Bible study, Surrender the Joy Stealers, Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You. And it helps women rediscover the overflowing, ever present Jesus joy within that fills, empowers, and ripens the fruit that God produces in our lives. Doris [00:02:36]:Using personal and biblical stories, I share how you can identify your joy stealers, surrender them to God, reawaken the joy within, and share the joy with others. You can do it on your own or with a group. Check it out, friends. Surrender the joy stealers. Rediscover the Jesus joy in you. It's available on all the online retailers. It's time to take your joy back. Welcome back to the show. Now On with the Show ...

How can we impact future generations for Christ? It begins with discipling the young lives entrusted to us by God. Whether it's our kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, or kids at church, be encouraged that while the responsibility to disciple our kids and help our families grow in Jesus might seem overwhelming, it doesn't have to be. My guest this week is Christie Thomas, author of Little Habits Big Faith: How Simple Practices Help Your Family Grow in Jesus. She shares how little habits over time can make a huge impact on the lives of our families and those around us. Christie shares encouragement and amazing stories of how small beginnings and simple practices can make a huge difference, and tips on getting there. We talk about this and more! I know what Christie shares will encourage, inspire, and challenge you, so listen in while I have a chat with Christie Thomas. Connect with Christie! You can connect with Christie at littleshootsdeeproots.com, find her books, great resources, and her HopeGrown Faith membership community. You can also connect with her on Instagram @littleshootsdeeproots More About Christie Christie Thomas is a mom and writer and has been involved in children’s ministry for most of her life, including working as director of children’s ministry for more than a decade. Christie is now a family discipleship coach to many parents who need equipping, support, and encouragement. She deeply believes that every Christian parent can confidently nurture deep faith in their kids through little habits that add up over time. Her devotionals and children’s books help parents cultivate faith-filled moments. She loves making family faith fun and simple so that your kids love it, and you can feel confident that you're nurturing deep faith roots in your family. Christie lives with her husband and three boys in Alberta, Canada. What Threatens to Steal Your Joy? Check out Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You 6-week Bible study rooted in John 15. You can find more info at https://dorisswift.com/book/ Let's Stay Connected! Find my free resources including Fear Fighting Bible Verses, Simple Tips for Sharing Your Faith, Surrender the Joy Stealers, Step Out of Your Doubt and Into Your Calling ebook, and more on my dorisswift.com homepage! Love Fierce Calling? Following, rating, and leaving a review over at Podchaser or Apple Podcasts helps others discover the show too! Need a Speaker for Your Next Women's Event? Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let's talk about me speaking at your next women's event... I hope you'll join me next time, when I talk with another woman who is taking action where her passion, compassion, and conviction intersect. Until then, friend, have a blessed week and I'll talk to you soon ... Doris

My guest this week is Julie Sunne, author of Everyday Praise: Walking in Greater Peace and Sometimes I Forget: 60 Reminders of Hope For Your Hard Days. She shares her stories and how even in suffering, grief, depression, and heartache, we have hope and joy because our God is sovereign and faithful. But when the hard seasons come, sometimes we forget God is sovereign, faithful, merciful, and good, don't we? We talk about this and more! I know what Julie shares will encourage, inspire, and challenge you, so listen in while I have a chat with Julie Sunne. Julie wants others to know there is real hope in even the really hard struggles of this life. Check out her beautiful new book and be reminded of the hope that you have ... Connect with Julie! You can connect with Julie at juliesunne.com and find her books, blog, free resources, and more! More About Julie Julie Sunne writes about finding real hope amid life’s real struggles. Her own struggles include enduring multiple miscarriages and caregiving for her adult daughter who has significant intellectual disabilities. Julie’s writing has been featured in print devotionals by Proverbs 31 Ministries, Guideposts, Celebrate Life magazine, Encouragement for Today (the Proverbs 31 Ministries’ email devotional), several online sites, and on her blog at juliesunne.com. Julie and her husband, David, are parents to three grown sons and a daughter and reside with their daughter in rural northeast Iowa. What Threatens to Steal Your Joy? Check out Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You 6-week Bible study rooted in John 15. You can find more info at https://dorisswift.com/book/ Let's Stay Connected! Find my free resources including Fear Fighting Bible Verses, Simple Tips for Sharing Your Faith, Surrender the Joy Stealers, Step Out of Your Doubt and Into Your Calling ebook, and more on my dorisswift.com homepage! Love Fierce Calling? Following, rating, and leaving a review over at Podchaser or Apple Podcasts helps others discover the show too! Need a Speaker for Your Next Women's Event? Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let's talk about me speaking at your next women's event... I hope you'll join me next time, when I talk with another woman who is taking action where her passion, compassion, and conviction intersect. Until then, friend, have a blessed week and I'll talk to you soon ... Doris

Ever feel like Job? Need an encouraging word today? Award-winning author Michele Chynoweth can relate. She shares how her own life's heartaches and brokenness reminded her of the story of Job. But God brings restoration and redemption, and Michele's story was not over. God's plans for her life continued to unfold in new and unexpected ways. Michele writes intriguing and fascinating modern-day suspense novels based on Old Testament stories. To top that off, one of her novels, The Jealous Son based on the story of Cain and Abel, is going into movie production this fall! Praise God! She is also an amazing speaker, book coach, and college instructor. Besides being a talented author herself, her heart is to equip and encourage other writers to become authors. I loved my conversation with Michele, and we talk about so many amazing things it's hard to recap it all here. I know what Michele shares will encourage, inspire, and challenge you, so listen in while I have a chat with Michele Chynoweth. Connect with Michele! You can connect with Michele at michelechynoweth.com and find out more about the movie, all her books, and how to work with her to make your writing shine! You can also check out her Your Book Done Right Master Class mentioned in the show. More About Michele Michele Chynoweth is the bestselling author of several award-winning contemporary suspense novels that re-imagine Old Testament stories from the Bible in an edgy, modern-day way. She loves helping writers become authors and is a sought-after conference speaker, professional editor with several publishing houses, book coach, and founder of “Your Book Done Right” Master Class and Elite Coaching. Michele Chynoweth bring stories in the Bible to life for today's readers with contemporary characters and plots so they can better understand and relate to God's messages of faith and hope. Michele's universally appealing inspirational novels are filled with drama, suspense and romance and include The Faithful One, based on the Book of Job, The Peace Maker, based on the story of David and Abigail in the First Book of Samuel, The Runaway Prophet, based on the Book of Jonah, and The Jealous Son, based on the story of Cain and Abel in the Book of Genesis, and The Wise Man, based on the Bible's story of Solomon. Michele believes the Old Testament stories are often difficult to read and comprehend, so she hopes that reimagining them in contemporary times with fiction that's fast-paced and entertaining will help readers appreciate them, understand God's messages and hopefully bring people back to the Bible itself. In addition to being an author, Michele is also an award-winning speaker, book coach and college instructor of writing, publishing and marketing fiction. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Michele and her husband have a blended family of five children and live in North East, Maryland. Michele has won several awards including:The CIPA Christian Indie Awards (2024)AWSA Golden Scroll Award for Contemporary Fiction (2023)Director’s Choice Award for The Wise Man, Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference (2023)Next Generation Indie Book Award (2023)New Apple Book Award for Best Cross-Genre Fiction (2018)Book Excellence Award for Best Religious Fiction (2018 & 2023)Top Shelf Magazine Indie Award for Best Inspirational FictionSelah Award for Best Suspense, Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference (2018)Readers Favorite International Book Awards for Inspirational Fiction (2014, 2016, 2020, 2023)Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conference Writer of the Year (2012)Maryland Writers Association Fiction Prize for Best Drama (2001) Through her “Your Book Done Right” Master Class & Elite Coaching, Michele has helped dozens of writers become successful authors of several published books including Lawrence Scanlan, Business Practices, Biblical Promises, Gigi Williams, God’s Hand in My One, Stephen Rogers,

What does it mean to stand your ground and pray big? This week I welcome guest Linda Kozar. She's an award-winning multi-published author who writes both non-fiction and fiction, including cozy mysteries! What is a cozy mystery? Find out as I ask Linda this question and more. Linda has a heart to encourage others with a touch of humor and a precious Southern flair. We talk about praying big, trusting God, what surrender looks like, and the importance of sharing our testimonies. We also talk about one of her newest books, Gimme Some Sugar: 90 Devotions to Sweeten Your Day in a Godly Way. I loved my conversation with Linda, and I know what she shares will encourage, inspire, and challenge you, so listen in while I have a chat with Linda Kozar. Connect with Linda! You can connect with at http://www.lindakozar.com/ and on her Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest social media profiles: https://www.facebook.com/linda.kozar https://www.instagram.com/lindakozar https://pinterest.com/lindakozar Here's the link to the book about moving mentioned in the show: Moving Tales: Adventure in Relocation More About Linda! Linda Kozar is an award-winning multi-published author of traditional and indie-published fiction and nonfiction inspirational books, from cozy mysteries, historical and contemporary fiction, to devotionals. Her latest releases are Sweet Tea & Thee, Devotions To Perk Up Your Day, 2025, and Gimme Some Sugar, 90 Devotions To Sweeten Your Day in a Godly Way, (BroadStreet Publishing), 2024. In 2022, Sweet Tea For The Soul (DaySpring) received an ECPA Bronze Sales Award for 100,000+ sold, and in 2021, Sunshine For The Soul took home a First Place Selah and Nonfiction Book of the Year at the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference. Linda was also named American Christian Fiction Writers’ Mentor of the Year in 2007. She and her husband Michael, married for 35 years, live in The Woodlands, Texas and enjoy spending time with their two grown daughters, their wonderful son-in-law, grands Eden and Wes, and Gypsy, their rascally Jack Russell Terrier.  What Threatens to Steal Your Joy? Check out Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You 6-week Bible study rooted in John 15. You can find more info at https://dorisswift.com/book/ Let's Stay Connected! Find my free resources including Fear Fighting Bible Verses, Simple Tips for Sharing Your Faith, Surrender the Joy Stealers, Step Out of Your Doubt and Into Your Calling ebook, and more on my dorisswift.com homepage! Love Fierce Calling? Following, rating, and leaving a review over at Podchaser or Apple Podcasts helps others discover the show too! Need a Speaker for Your Next Women's Event? Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let's talk about me speaking at your next women's event... I hope you'll join me next time, when I talk with another woman who is taking action where her passion, compassion, and conviction intersect. Until then, friend, have a blessed week and I'll talk to you soon ... Doris

This week on the show, I welcome Israeli tour educator and bestselling author Miriam Feinberg Vamosh and bestselling author Eva Marie Everson. We're not only talking about their second co-authored book, Ahōti! A Story of Tamar, but how God can bring purpose, healing, and redemption in the aftermath of family dysfunction, sexual abuse, shame, and humiliation. The book looks at the true events that Tamar (the daughter of King David) lived through, and the culture that led to her rape by half-brother Amnon, later avenged by her brother, Absalom. When David learned about what happened to Tamar, he did nothing and his daughter was left feeling shamed. How many families sweep dysfunction and destruction under the rug? How many women are abused by family members? The statistics are startling, but God. He truly brings beauty from ashes. These two amazing authors also share fascinating historical facts they uncovered in the Holy Land! I know what Miriam and Eva Marie shares will encourage, inspire, and challenge you so listen in while I have a chat with Miriam Feinberg Vamosh and Eva Marie Everson. Connect with Miriam & Eva Marie! You can connect with Miriam at miriamfeinbergvamosh.com and Eva Marie at evamarieeversonauthor.com and grab their co-written novel Ahōti – A Story of Tamar plus their other books and resources! More About Miriam and Eva Marie! Miriam Feinberg Vamosh is an author of nearly a half million copies sold of her work. She’s an editor and translator specializing in heritage and culture and issues involving the presence of women in the archaeological record. Miriam holds an undergraduate degree in education and a master’s degree in archaeology and heritage, with distinction, from Leicester University. Her work includes a historical novel, The Scroll (Toby Press) and her nonfiction books are Teach it to Your Children: How Kids Lived in Bible Days (Avimedia 2014), Women at the Time of the Bible (Palphot 2007); Food in the Bible: from Adam’s Apple to the Last Supper (Palphot 2005); Daily Life at the Time of Jesus (Palphot 2000, translated into over 30 languages); Israel, Land of the Bible (Palphot 2005) and Pathways Through The Land of the Hart (Gefen). She is the author of numerous articles on Israel’s history and lore and a tour educator with a focus on sites connected to Christian heritage and culture in Israel. She has written three site guides to Israel national parks, translated several of the national park pamphlets distributed to visitors, and edits and translates the work of Israel Antiquities Authority scholars and others. Miriam’s master’s degree thesis entitled “Speaking of Women: Engendering Presentation at Megiddo,” examined more than a century of archaeological excavations at Megiddo (Armageddon) to discover what finds about women had been ignored, and whether and how the site museum could be redesigned to represent the presence of women in a place where warfare seems a paramount concern. Among the books on archaeological themes that Miriam has translated: Back to Masada (Amnon Ben-Tor), Biblical Lachish (David Ussishkin), and Solomon’s Temple and Palace (Yosef Garfinkel and Madaleine Mumcuolglu). A native of Trenton, New Jersey, Miriam has lived in Israel since 1970. Eva Marie Everson is a multiple award-winning author and speaker. She is one of the original five Orlando Word Weavers critique group members, an international and national group made up of critique chapters. She served as the original president from 2000 to 2007 and is now CEO of Word Weavers International, Inc. Eva Marie served as a mentor for Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild for several years and has taught at a number of writers conferences nationwide. Eva Marie has served as an adjunct professor at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana. In 2002 she was chosen as one of six journalists to tour Israel and in 2009 she, along with Miriam Feinberg Vamosh,

Who attempts to run 110 miles in a snow storm to bring awareness on National Adoption Day? My guest Jessica Hurlbut. She's mom to five: two adopted, two autistic, and one average teen. She brings a fresh perspective on what it means to persevere and run the race. She helps us see life's hardships and struggles as blessings and opportunities. So good! She also helps us see that God's abundantly more looks radically different than what we might expect, and that's a beautiful thing. Jessica is passionate about giving people permission to fail and feel because when we are weak, God is strong. I love her authenticity when sharing the hard parts of her story and as she says, cuts through the fluff and gets real. She brings a message of hope and reminds us we're never alone in our struggles. I loved my conversation with Jessica and it's not just for moms! She shares so many golden nuggets of truth and I know she will encourage, inspire, and challenge you so listen in while I have a chat with Jessica Hurlbut. Connect with Jessica! You can connect with Jessica at jessicahurlbut.com and grab her newest book Unlimited Motherhood: Overcome 12 Limits that Overwhelm and Conflict Our Hearts. You'll also find links to her blog, Full Spectrum Parent podcast, the limits quiz to discover what's holding you back, and more! More About Jessica! Jessica Hurlbut is a pastor, a writer, an ultra runner, and a mom of five—two who struggle with autism, two adopted, and one typical teen boy. Jessica spent nine years in the trenches of full-time ministry until 2012 when her daughter was diagnosed with level three autism. Four years later, Jessica’s son was also diagnosed with severe autism. This season Jessica refers to as her hidden years, where God did a great and humbling work in her life. During this time, the Holy Spirit called Jessica and her husband to adopt a sibling pair through foster care, and God opened their eyes to the great need for foster and adoptive parents in this country. This led Jessica to attempt to run 110 miles in 24 hours on National Adoption Day as a visual representation of the 110,000 kids in foster care who desperately need a forever family through adoption. What Threatens to Steal Your Joy? Check out Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You 6-week Bible study rooted in John 15. You can find more info at https://dorisswift.com/book/ Let's Stay Connected! Find my free resources including Fear Fighting Bible Verses, Simple Tips for Sharing Your Faith, Surrender the Joy Stealers, Step Out of Your Doubt and Into Your Calling ebook, and more on my dorisswift.com homepage! Love Fierce Calling? Following, rating, and leaving a review over at Podchaser or Apple Podcasts helps others discover the show too! Need a Speaker for Your Next Women's Event? Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let's talk about me speaking at your next women's event... I hope you'll join me next time, when I talk with another woman who is taking action where her passion, compassion, and conviction intersect. Until then, friend, have a blessed week and I'll talk to you soon ... Doris

There was a time when Lisa Granger felt her testimony wasn't exciting or dramatic enough to share. She grew up in a Christian home and had a great childhood. Her story did not include a powerful transformation of overcoming abuse, addiction, or life on the streets. But she would later discover that all of our God stories are purposeful and powerful when we use them to glorify Him and encourage others. Lisa had faith and things were going fine, until they weren't ... When tragedy struck her family, Lisa's faith wavered. She lamented and prayed. She leaned on the all we need is a mustard seed of faith Scripture, but things did not turn out the way she'd hoped, and her mustard-seed faith prayers seemingly went unanswered. Listen in to hear Lisa's story from faith, to doubt, then back to a stronger-than-ever faith. Her calling was unfolding and God continues to show her the way. She loves sharing a message of hope: What hope is, where we get it, and how to live it out. She also loves pointing others to God, in Whom we find our worth and value. She helps women get untangled from their Superwomen capes and lies they believe, and she knows how because she's been there. When her season changed again she suddenly found herself an empty-nester. As Lisa says, "I was in my lane then my lane wasn't there anymore." Have you ever felt that way? I have! It's a great conversation, and I know what Lisa shares will encourage, inspire, and challenge you, so listen in while I have a chat with Lisa Granger. Connect with Lisa! You can connect with Lisa at lisagranger.com and find her podcast/Radio show A Woman's Heart with Lisa Granger. Download her 8 Verses of Hope for free! My episode with Lisa can be found at Doris Swift: Simple Power of Surrendering the Joy Stealers Her show can also be heard here:  Williamsburg's Radio Station FM 93.5 The Burg & WMBG AM 740 , Real Country 101.7 , or Three Rivers Media WYVE 99 9FM / WXBX 95 3FM / WLOY 93 3FM,  More About Lisa! Lisa started with a radio show where she shared a few thoughts and played contemporary Christian music, but when she had a conversation with a friend on the show, she was hooked. She loves talking with guests and through their stories she wants everyone to know they are precious in His sight, their story is worth sharing, and their passion is worth pursuing. Lisa is a wife, mother, friend and recovering perfectionist. She loves a cup of coffee during her time with Jesus or with good girlfriends. She also loves helping and encouraging people while connecting with new friends and sharing their stories. Lisa and her husband Greg have 3 grown children and some fur babies as well. Lisa also enjoys reading, writing, singing, traveling, and crafting! She's available to speak at events and loves being a podcast guest! What Threatens to Steal Your Joy? Check out Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You 6-week Bible study rooted in John 15. You can find more info at https://dorisswift.com/book/ Let's Stay Connected! Find my free resources including Fear Fighting Bible Verses, Simple Tips for Sharing Your Faith, Surrender the Joy Stealers, Step Out of Your Doubt and Into Your Calling ebook, and more on my dorisswift.com homepage! Love Fierce Calling? Following, rating, and leaving a review over at Podchaser or Apple Podcasts helps others discover the show too! Need a Speaker for Your Next Women's Event? Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let's talk about me speaking at your next women's event... I hope you'll join me next time, when I talk with another woman who is taking action where her passion, compassion, and conviction intersect. Until then, friend, have a blessed week and I'll talk to you soon ... Doris

Welcome to Episode 180 with Guest Shadia Hrichi! Shadia shares what she calls an "ugly" past, filled with self-destructive choices and dysfunction. Her story includes co-dependency, alcoholism, abortion, abuse, date-rape, divorce--but God intervened and redeemed her broken past. Once an agnostic exposed to many religions, Shadia was intrigued by the authenticity and genuine faith she observed in her Christian friends. She was so intrigued that she wanted to know more about Jesus and the Bible. Once she surrendered her life to Jesus, she went from not knowing what Bible study was to writing them! That's our God. Shadia has a passion for not only studying God's word, but also teaching it. Through her gift of teaching she shares the bigger picture story of the Bible and expands on thematic elements we might otherwise gloss over. It is Shadia's desire that others would fall in love with God's word as she has, and hunger to walk deeper in Scripture. She's drawn to those messy-life kinds of stories in the Bible--stories like Rahab the prostitute and Hagar, who felt discarded and abandoned until God met her right where she was in the wilderness. This episode is filled with serious and sensitive topics, yet you'll also find it light and fun. I'm not sure if I've laughed with a guest as much as I have with Shadia. She is truly joyful, and I know what she shares will encourage, inspire, and challenge you, so listen in while I have a chat with Shadia Hrichi. Connect with Shadia and learn How ! You can connect with Shadia at shadiahrichi.com and grab her books and free resources mentioned in the show! As Shadia mentions in the show, you can also easily find each of her studies by simply using the web address with that study's name. For example for Rahab you can find it by typing rahabbiblestuy.com or legionbiblestudy.com , isn't that cool? Check out these amazing studies by Shadia ... RAHAB: Rediscovering the God Who Saves Me TAMAR: Rediscovering the God Who Redeems Me  HAGAR: Rediscovering the God Who Sees Me LEGION: Rediscovering the God Who Rescues Me Worthy of Love: A Journey of Hope and Healing After Abortion More About Shadia! Shadia Hrichi is a passionate Bible teacher and award-winning author who loves seeing lives transformed by the power of God’s Word. Having experienced many heartbreaks, including abortion, date rape, divorce, and more, Shadia captures the hearts of her audience as she illustrates, through personal experience, God’s love, faithfulness, and power of redemption. She holds a master’s in biblical and theological studies as well as a master’s in criminal justice. Shadia is the author of several Bible studies, including Rahab, Tamar, Hagar, Legion, and Worthy of Love (see above links) and the recipient of several awards, including the 2022 WCCW “God’s Word is Alive” award. Shadia is often invited to speak at retreats, conferences, and other events and has served on faculty for a number of Christian Writers conferences. Her bible studies have been endorsed by Bible Study Magazine (Faithlife/Logos Bible Software), Liz Curtis-Higgs, Francine Rivers and many others. Currently residing in northern California, Shadia loves to visit the ocean each week for “a date with Jesus.” What Threatens to Steal Your Joy? Check out Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You 6-week Bible study rooted in John 15. You can find more info at https://dorisswift.com/book/ Let's Stay Connected! Find my free resources including Fear Fighting Bible Verses, Simple Tips for Sharing Your Faith, Surrender the Joy Stealers, Step Out of Your Doubt and Into Your Calling ebook, and more on my dorisswift.com homepage! Love Fierce Calling? Following, rating, and leaving a review over at Podchaser or Apple Podcasts helps others discover the show too! Need a Speaker for Your Next Women's Event? Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer,

We all endure trials, pain, and hardships in this life, but what if all the hard things had divine purpose? What if we could grasp a better understand of pain and suffering from a biblical perspective? This week I welcome back my friend Dr. Michelle Bengtson. Besides being a friend, she is an award-winning author, international speaker, podcast host, and a media resource on mental health, plus, she is a neuropsychologist who listens and understands. She's experienced pain first-hand and helps others see pain and suffering from a biblical perspective. Friend, our sacred scars have purpose. We're talking about her newest book, Sacred Scars: Resting in God's Promise That Your Pain Is Not Wasted, which helps you ... understand suffering from a biblical perspective discover how the trials of your life serve a purpose reflect on the healing that God has accomplished comfort others with the comfort God has given you I know what Dr. Michelle has to share will encourage, inspire, and challenge you, so listen in and hear Connect with Dr. Michelle and learn How Our Sacred Scars Have Purpose and More! You can connect with Dr. Michelle at drmichelleb.com and grab her books and free resources! How We Lose Our Joy and How To Find Joy in Life Again - Your Hope Filled Perspective Episode 235 Check out the link above to view episode 235 of Your Hope Filled Perspective on Dr. Michelle's YouTube channel! I so enjoyed being a guest on her show. She is an amazing host and I loved our conversation. We're talking all about joy! Dr. Michelle Bengtson – God Never Wastes Our Pain: Hope for Your Journey/Fierce Calling Episode 16 Check out the above link and listen in to my first interview with Dr. Michelle back in February 2020! Whoa, this was episode 16, so Dr. Michelle was one of my very first guests on the show! I am so grateful for the wisdom she shares and the encouragement she brings to all of us. Loved having her on as we talked about finding hope in the midst of depression and anxiety. She shares amazing golden nuggets of truth and encouragement so don't miss it! More About Dr Michelle! Dr. Michelle Bengtson entertained several dreams in her life: becoming a doctor, having children and writing a book. She studied neuroscience, becoming a board-certified neuropsychologist almost 30 years ago. A few years later, the birth of her first son brought her second dream into reality. God planted the third dream in her heart as a young girl. A few years ago, she published her first book, multi-award winning author of Hope Prevails: Insights From a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression. Since then, she authored several more books including the award-winning Hope Prevails Bible Study, Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises, and Today Is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises From God to Start Your Day Off Right, and her newest book, Sacred Scars: Resting in God's Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted. She expanded her vision and became an international speaker, podcast host, and coach with a mission to restore hope, renew minds and empower others to live in their God-given identity. This doctor knows pain and despair firsthand and combines her professional expertise and personal experience with her faith to help others be all God created them to be. Using sound practical tools, she affirms worth and encourages faith. Dr. Bengtson offers hope as a key to unlock joy and relief—even in the middle of the storm. Throughout her career as a clinical neuropsychologist, and now as a speaker, author, podcast host, and coach, she encourages others to focus less on their self-esteem and more on how God esteems them by knowing His truths offered in Scripture. She loves offering practical resources to help you her audience grow in your their walk with the Lord. Let's Stay Connected! Find my free resources including Fear Fighting Bible Verses,

What happens when your story takes an unexpected turn? My guest this week is Dawn Damon. She shares her story of past childhood sexual abuse, a broken marriage, a devastating divorce, losing a position at a mega church, and how God redeemed every bit of it and showed her how to walk in her true super bloom. What is a super bloom? Listen in to hear what it is and how you can step into your super bloom purpose. We're talking about identity, purpose, and becoming a BraveHearted Woman. As Dawn says, "You're not finished. God has greatness in store for you." There are so many treasures in this conversation with Dawn, and we hope you are blessed and if you are, please share this episode with others to encourage them, too! I know what Dawn shares will encourage, inspire, and challenge you, so listen in while I have a chat with Dawn Damon, because every woman of God is a BraveHearted Woman. Connect with Dawn and Learn More About How to Step Into Your Super Bloom Purpose as a Brave Hearted Woman! You can connect with Dawn at braveheartedwoman.com and grab her book and resources! More About Dawn! Dawn Damon is an Influencer, Global Communicator, Podcaster, High Performance Coach, and Best-Selling Author whose 5 award- winning books, include When a Woman You Love Was Abused published by Kregel Publications, When the Woman Abused Was Me, The Freedom Challenge:60 Days to Untie the Cords that Bind You Redemption Press, the #1 Best-Selling Book The Freedom Challenge for Men: 60 Days to Untie the Cords that Bind You, and most recently, The Making of a BraveHearted Woman: Courage, Confidence & Vision in Midlife. Dawn is the founder and CEO of Brave New Dawn and the BraveHearted Woman, an enterprise and a non-profit designed to cultivate the vision of women dreamers, and equip them to live their best life. Dawn and hubby Paul live in Rockford, (Grand Rapids) MI. along with their children, 11 grandchildren and 2 grand dogs! Let's Stay Connected! Find my free resources including Fear Fighting Bible Verses, Simple Tips for Sharing Your Faith, Surrender the Joy Stealers, Step Out of Your Doubt and Into Your Calling ebook, and more on my dorisswift.com homepage! Love Fierce Calling? Following, rating, and leaving a review over at Podchaser or Apple Podcasts helps others discover the show too! Need a Speaker for Your Next Women's Event? Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let's talk about me speaking at your next women's event... What Threatens to Steal Your Joy? Check out Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You 6-week Bible study rooted in John 15. You can find more info at https://dorisswift.com/book/ I hope you'll join me next time, when I talk with another woman who is taking action where her passion, compassion, and conviction intersect. Until then, friend, have a blessed week and I'll talk to you soon ... Doris

What do you do when your life takes a detour you never expected? What happens when life is disrupted by the diagnoses of a parent's terminal illness? My guest this week is Jen Babakhan. She shares her story which includes an unexpected detour from a working professional to stay-at-home mom, and an unexpected disruption when her mom received a terminal diagnosis. Jen is the author of Detoured: The Messy, Grace-Filled Journey from Working Professional to Stay-At-Home Mom and Disrupted: Finding Peace with a Parent's Terminal Illness. We touch on the first book, but mainly talk about what happens when you come face-to-face with the reality of a parent's terminal illness. She shares encouragement and what she's learned from not only her own journey, but the journey of others she interviewed for the book, plus mental health professionals. I know what Jen shares will encourage, inspire, and challenge you, so listen in while I have a chat with Jen Babakhan. Connect with Jen and Learn More About You can connect with Jen at jenbabakhan.com author of Disrupted: Finding Peace With A Parent's Terminal Illness & Detoured: The Messy, Grace-Filled Journey From Working Professional to Stay-at-Home Mom www.JenBabakhan.com Subscribe to Jenerally Speaking Breathe: A Health Anxiety Workbook (FREE!) Reader's Digest Author pageInstagram: @JenBabakhanFacebook:@JenBabakhanauthor More About Jen! Jen Babakhan is an author living in California with her husband and two young sons. Her books, Detoured: The Messy, Grace-Filled Journey From Working Professional to Stay-at-Home Mom(Harvest House Publishers, 2019), and Disrupted: Finding Peace With A Parent’s Terminal Illness (Bold Vision Books, 2023) emerged from a desire to serve others during difficult times in life. She loves sharing hilarious memes on social media, anything coffee-flavored, spending days at the beach, and has a slight obsession with dogs and animals in general. Her writing has appeared in Reader’s Digest, Guideposts, and various national news outlets. Visit Jen online at www.JenBabakhan.com, or find her on Instagram @jenbabakhan.  Let's Stay Connected! Find my free resources including Fear Fighting Bible Verses, Simple Tips for Sharing Your Faith, Surrender the Joy Stealers, Step Out of Your Doubt and Into Your Calling ebook, and more on my dorisswift.com homepage! Love Fierce Calling? Following, rating, and leaving a review over at Podchaser or Apple Podcasts helps others discover the show too! Need a Speaker for Your Next Women's Event? Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let's talk about me speaking at your next women's event... What Threatens to Steal Your Joy? Check out Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You 6-week Bible study rooted in John 15. You can find more info at https://dorisswift.com/book/ I hope you'll join me next time, when I talk with another woman who is taking action where her passion, compassion, and conviction intersect. Until then, friend, have a blessed week and I'll talk to you soon ... Doris Surrender the Joy Stealers book promo: Music by ElephantGreen on Pixabay

Susan Neal lost her health at age 50. After seeing specialist after specialist, she began educating herself on the root causes of her conditions and how God designed our bodies to heal. She learned a plethora of valuable information and gained insight on how to transform her health. Then she started writing books and sharing what she learned so we could all discover how to look and feel younger, live healthier, and age gracefully. Susan is the author of several books including her best-selling book 7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates, Solving the Gluten Puzzle: Discovering Gluten Sensitivity and Embracing the Gluten-Free Lifestyle, Eat God's Food: Kits Activity Guide to Healthy Eating , and her newly released 12 Ways to Age Gracefully: How to Look and Feel Younger. She is passionate about helping others improve their health. I know what Susan shares will encourage, inspire, and challenge you, so listen in while I have a chat with Susan Neal. Connect with Susan and Learn More About How to Look and Feel Younger, Live Healthier, and Age Gracefully! You can connect with Susan at susanuneal.com and find her books, coaching info, courses, including 7 Steps to Reclaim Your Health and Optimal Weight , social media links, and more! Who Loves a Good Quiz? Take the candiquiz.com to see if you have a possible candida issue in your gut. Did you know 10% of the population is gluten sensitive? Check out Susan's quiz glutenintolerancequiz.com, to find out if you might have a gluten disorder. The Scripture Susan Clung To During Her Health Crisis ... "but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31 More About Susan! Susan Neal RN has a masters in health science and an MBA. She lives her life with a passion to help others improve their health. After suffering a health crisis, she became an author and health coach to provide others with the tools they needed to heal their bodies and reclaim their ideal weight. She is a Certified Christian Health and Wellness Coach with the American Association of Christian Counselors. Previously, Susan worked as a Kidney Transplant Nurse at Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Florida, Assistant Administrator at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, and Quality Assurance Nurse at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida. She currently owns her own businesses and lives on five acres where she grows organic fruits and vegetables. Her award-winning #1 Amazon best-seller is 7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates. The third book in her Healthy Living Series, Healthy Living Journal, won the Golden Scrolls award “Best Inspirational Gift Book.” Her newest release is 12 Ways to Age Gracefully: How to Look and Feel Younger. She's been featured in many media outlets including CTN's Bridges TV show, WATC-TV Atlanta Live and Friends & Neighbors, TCT's Julie and Friends, Charisma magazine, and numerous podcasts and radio shows. Learn more about Susan at SusanUNeal.com. On a personal note, Susan enjoys swimming, horseback riding, and gardening, and she is mom to three daughters.  Let's Stay Connected! Find my free resources including Fear Fighting Bible Verses, Simple Tips for Sharing Your Faith, Surrender the Joy Stealers, Step Out of Your Doubt and Into Your Calling ebook, and more on my dorisswift.com homepage! Love Fierce Calling? Following, rating, and leaving a review over at Podchaser or Apple Podcasts helps others discover the show too! Need a Speaker for Your Next Women's Event? Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let's talk about me speaking at your next women's event... What Threatens to Steal Your Joy? Check out Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You 6-week Bible study rooted in John 15. You can find more info at https://dorisswift.com/book/

Life is hard and there's no doubt about that as my friend, Cyndi Daves, well knows. She experienced abandonment and father wounds at a young age, among other heartbreaking circumstances, but God. We talk about how God redeems our stories and uses even the hard parts as He calls us to partner with Him in Kingdom work. We can trust that when we surrender to God He'll take care of the rest. Cyndi's fierce calling is helping others understand the simple truth of the Gospel. Plus, she shares some amazing ways God has used her to impact the lives of others. This impact has a ripple effect we are all part of. We can all listen for the voice of our Good Shepherd and walk in God's will. There are so many great nuggets of truth in this episode! Cyndi reminds us how God is in the big things and the small things, that there's a difference between saved and surrendered to God, and more. I know what Cyndi shares will encourage, inspire, and challenge you, so listen in while I have a chat with Cyndi Daves. Connect with Cyndi Daves and Learn More About When We Surrender to God He'll Take Care of the Rest and Her Ministry Jesus For Real Life! Connect with Cyndi at jesusforreallife.com and find her social media links, speaking page, and more! You can also email her at jesusforreallife@gmail.com. Listen to her Saturday morning radio show: Cyndi Daves is the Radio Show Host/Producer "Jesus For Real Life" WCDG 88.7/WUCG 93.1/WCRY 89.9 www.TodaysChristianCountry.com She is a Spirit-Filled Speaker and Teacher Sharing God's Message of Hope, Forgiveness and Salvation. Check out the show Saturday mornings at 8am, and listen to past shows via the Spotify link the radio station website provides. Listen to My Interview with Cyndi on Jesus for Real Life: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0vqWCbzBmlNpMcdPqujNgF More About Cyndi Like many, Cyndi's life has taken her through a multitude of phases.   A broken home, sexual abuse, failed marriages and the redemptive power of the Heavenly Father has formed her into the unique creation she is today. Standing tall and stepping into her calling, Cyndi loves using her gift of public speaking to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Her "real life" engaging presentations are relatable, personally poignant, and point to the Truths of God's Word.  In addition to hosting and producing JESUS FOR REAL LIFE, a weekend radio talk show for women, Cyndi is pursuing a degree in Biblical Studies from Trinity Bible Institute.   On a personal level, Cyndi and her husband  Bill live in the mountains of western North Carolina and Northeast Georgia where they have been REALTORS since 2000.  They have four children, including two daughters currently serving in the US Navy and five grandchildren.   Let's Stay Connected! Find my free resources including Fear Fighting Bible Verses, Simple Tips for Sharing Your Faith, Surrender the Joy Stealers, Step Out of Your Doubt and Into Your Calling ebook, and more on my dorisswift.com homepage! Love Fierce Calling? Following, rating, and leaving a review over at Podchaser or Apple Podcasts helps others discover the show too! Need a Speaker for Your Next Women's Event? Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let's talk about me speaking at your next women's event... What Threatens to Steal Your Joy? Check out Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You 6-week Bible study rooted in John 15. You can find more info at https://dorisswift.com/book/ I hope you'll join me next time, when I talk with another woman who is taking action where her passion, compassion, and conviction intersect. Until then, friend, have a blessed week and I'll talk to you soon ... Doris Surrender the Joy Stealers book trailer: Music by Oleg Kyrylkovv from Pixabay

How have we allowed catchy cultural phrases to infuse our mindset? How can truth change culture and our perception? In this episode, I'm talking with friend Becky Beresford. She shares her story of striving to be enough on her own, which led to shame and feeling like a failure. Then she had a mind shift when she changed up the words to a well-known phrase, discovering how the truth changes culture and lives. Her fierce calling is helping women embrace Christ-centered empowerment, and to know Him as Savior of their stories. We're talking about her new book, She Believed HE Could So She Did, a familiar cultural phrase with one important, Christ-centered twist. Hear about how truth impacts culture and how this book concept came to be. I know what Becky shares will encourage, inspire, and challenge you, so listen in while I have a chat with Becky Beresford. Connect with Becky Beresford and Learn More About How Truth Changes Culture! Grab Her New Book She Believed He Could So She Did Connect with Becky at BeckyBeresford.com and become a part of her Empowered Email Tribe or follow her on Instagram and Facebook. Moody Publishers: https://www.moodypublishers.com/she-believed-he-could-so-she-did Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/She-Believed-Could-Did-Christ-Centered/dp/080242998X/ More About Becky BECKY BERESFORD lives in North Carolina and is happily outnumbered by her husband and three wonderful boys. She is an author, speaker and coach with a Master's Certificate in Spiritual Formation and Discipleship from Moody Theological Seminary. Becky loves encouraging God’s Daughters to embrace Christ-centered empowerment through the truth found in the gospel. Her work has been featured in large online communities including Crosswalk, (in)courage, iBelieve, HuffPost, DaySpring, and she recently became a writer for Proverbs 31 Ministries’ First 5 writing team. Becky’s book with Moody Publishers, She Believed HE Could, So She Did, released in March. Let's Stay Connected! Find my free resources including Fear Fighting Bible Verses, Simple Tips for Sharing Your Faith, Surrender the Joy Stealers, Step Out of Your Doubt and Into Your Calling ebook, and more on my dorisswift.com homepage! Love Fierce Calling? Following, rating, and leaving a review over at Podchaser or Apple Podcasts helps others discover the show too! Need a Speaker for Your Next Women's Event? Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let's talk about me speaking at your next women's event... What Threatens to Steal Your Joy? Check out Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You 6-week Bible study rooted in John 15. You can find more info at https://dorisswift.com/book/ I hope you'll join me next time, when I talk with another woman who is taking action where her passion, compassion, and conviction intersect. Until then, friend, have a blessed week and I'll talk to you soon ... Doris Surrender the Joy Stealers book trailer: Music by Oleg Kyrylkovv from Pixabay

Have you ever struggled with forgiveness? Anxiety? Worry? Need encouragement in your daily walk with Jesus and diving into Bible reading? This week I welcome my new friend and guest Healey Ikerd to the show. She shares her Jesus story of redemption, which includes being a child of divorce, serving in the US Army, and becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor and Marriage and Family Therapist. She's been in the mental health field for over 17 years and founded her private practice HopeLife Counseling where she helps others work through problems of everyday life. Her fierce calling is helping others know the importance of reading the Bible, manage anxiety, and experience the freedom of forgiveness. Healey also has a heart for helping others learn ways to improve brain and body for good mental health. So good! We're talking about her books Changing Your Feeling – A Workbook for Anxiety and Worry From a Christian Perspective and a newly released children’s book called The Red Ball – A Story of Friendship and Forgiveness. Plus she provides helpful encouragement and actionable steps you can take to move forward in current challenges you may be facing. I know what Healey shares will encourage, inspire, and challenge you, so listen in while I have a chat with Healey Ikerd. Connect with Healey! Website:  https://writtenbyhealey.com/ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/writtenbyhealey/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WrittenbyHealey Grab her Ways to Improve Your Brain and Body for Good Mental Health A resource created especially for Fierce Calling listeners! Thank you, Healey! Steps to Forgiveness More About Healey ... Healey Ikerd is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the State of Arkansas and a Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor.  She has also earned a Certificate in Ministry from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.  She is a U.S. Army Veteran and has worked in the mental health field for over 17 years. She owns her own private practice in Fayetteville, Arkansas called HopeLife Counseling.  She is the author of Changing Your Feeling – A Workbook for Anxiety and Worry From a Christian Perspective and a newly released children’s book called The Red Ball – A Story of Friendship and Forgiveness.  Her passion is to help others excel in life and relationships through biblical principles.  Healey is a mom and a new grammie.  She and her husband live on a small farm in Northwest Arkansas.  Let's Stay Connected! Find my free resources including Fear Fighting Bible Verses, Simple Tips for Sharing Your Faith, Surrender the Joy Stealers, Step Out of Your Doubt and Into Your Calling ebook, and more on my dorisswift.com homepage! Love Fierce Calling? Following, rating, and leaving a review over at Podchaser or Apple Podcasts helps others discover the show too! Need a Speaker for Your Next Women's Event? Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let's talk about me speaking at your next women's event... What Threatens to Steal Your Joy? Check out Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You 6-week Bible study rooted in John 15. You can find more info at https://dorisswift.com/book/ I hope you'll join me next time, when I talk with another woman who is taking action where her passion, compassion, and conviction intersect. Until then, friend, have a blessed week and I'll talk to you soon ... Doris Surrender the Joy Stealers book trailer: Music by Oleg Kyrylkovv from Pixabay

Have you ever wrestled with God? Need peace that bypasses your circumstances? Then you won't want to miss this episode as we dive into these subjects and the art of remembering what anchors us. This week I welcome back my good friend and guest Evelyn Sherwood. She shares her story of loss, trauma, cancer, but even in the midst of it all, how she saw God's faithfulness. She leaned in to trust God through her journey--learning to allow the truth she's always known to travel from head to heart. I know what Evelyn shares will encourage, inspire, and challenge you, so listen in while I have a chat with Evelyn Sherwood. Connect with Evelyn! You can connect with Evelyn at https://evelynsherwood.com/ and sign up for her monthly Hope for the Journey devotional and her guest blog series Stories of Hope! Her Advent book is coming soon so you won't want to miss it! Grab Just Breathe: 30 Practices to Calm the Weary Heart for yourself and to give as gifts! I've gifted several already and it's blessed so many. More About Evelyn ... Evelyn Sherwood was born and raised in the Midwest and has been married 40 years to her college sweetheart. They have two beautiful children who visit often with their spouses and eight grandbabies. Evelyn calls this glorious chaos and she absolutely loves it! The same church that called them to serve 29 years ago is still “family”, as well as the community of faith in their smallish midwest town. True confession from Evelyn: "I watch Hallmark Christmas movies all year, Pumpkin Spice Latte is my favorite season, and my idea of a 5-star hotel is camping in the clubhouse with my Grands.” In November of ‘23, after an intense season of pain, loss and uncertainty spanning over an eleven month period, Evelyn released her first book, Just Breathe. It was the book she never saw coming, but the one that God birthed in her during that eleven month battle.  This is why she writes… that the wounded, weary, and worn will not feel alone. Though darkness and uncertain times surround us, we are never alone.   Let's Stay Connected! Find my free resources including Fear Fighting Bible Verses, Simple Tips for Sharing Your Faith, Surrender the Joy Stealers, Step Out of Your Doubt and Into Your Calling ebook, and more on my dorisswift.com homepage! Love Fierce Calling? Following, rating, and leaving a review over at Podchaser or Apple Podcasts helps others discover the show too! Need a Speaker for Your Next Women's Event? Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let's talk about me speaking at your next women's event... What Threatens to Steal Your Joy? Check out Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You 6-week Bible study rooted in John 15. You can find more info at https://dorisswift.com/book/ I hope you'll join me next time, when I talk with another woman who is taking action where her passion, compassion, and conviction intersect. Until then, friend, have a blessed week and I'll talk to you soon ... Doris Surrender the Joy Stealers book trailer: Music by Oleg Kyrylkovv from Pixabay

Have you ever lived in fear? Even for a short while? We dwell, we panic, we get anxious and feel overwhelmed. On today's episode we're talking about how to stop living in fear and lean into truth. I share personal stories, God's word, and helpful action steps to face down fear and live free. Grab my free Fear-Fighting Bible Verses! Mentioned in the Show ... From my friend Kim Stewart's website: "I'm a Podcast Manager and Strategist who loves to help female nonfiction authors like you market their books. Since 2015, I’ve helped my clients build their platforms, launch their books, and market their messages long before and long after their book release. Hands down, podcasting is one of the best ways to build your community of readers and keep the buzz going long after your book launch. I'd love to help you use the power of podcasting to serve the listeners who need your God-given message the most." - Kim Stewart Check out Kim's website at https://kimstewartmarketing.com/ Calm My Anxious Heart: A Women's Guide to Finding Contentment by Linda Dillow Fearless Faith and a Five-Dollar Bill by Doris Swift on (in)courage Fear-Fighting Bible Verses! More About Doris ... Doris Swift is a follower of Jesus, speaker, host of the award-winning Fierce Calling Podcast, and author of Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You. In ministry for over 30 years, Doris is passionate about equipping and encouraging women to walk deeper in God’s word, use their gifts to impact the world for Christ, and to take action where their passion, compassion, and conviction intersect. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in Christian counseling, psychology, and business from Liberty University and is the office manager at Edgewater Alliance Church, where she also serves as a lay counselor and discipleship mentor. Doris resides in Edgewater with her best friend and hubby, Brian, is mom to four amazing grown-ups, a son & daughter-in-love, and a daughter & son-in-love, and loves being Gammy to her six wonderful grandkids. Let's Stay Connected! Find my free resources including Fear Fighting Bible Verses, Simple Tips for Sharing Your Faith, Surrender the Joy Stealers, Step Out of Your Doubt and Into Your Calling ebook, and more on my dorisswift.com homepage! Love Fierce Calling? Following, rating, and leaving a review over at Podchaser or Apple Podcasts helps others discover the show too! Need a Speaker for Your Next Women's Event? Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let's talk about me speaking at your next women's event... What Threatens to Steal Your Joy? Check out Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You 6-week Bible study rooted in John 15. You can find more info at https://dorisswift.com/book/ I hope you'll join me next time, when I talk with another woman who is taking action where her passion, compassion, and conviction intersect. Until then, friend, have a blessed week and I'll talk to you soon ... Doris Surrender the Joy Stealers book trailer: Music by Oleg Kyrylkovv from Pixabay

Do you need a breakthrough? Fear, anxiety, and so many things of this world can stop us from experiencing God's peace. If you or someone you know is struggling with faith and is seeking peace, this episode, Finding Breakthrough and Healing, is for you. My guest this week is Kimberly Vaughn. She shares her story of a forgotten childhood and the heartache of having a paranoid schizophrenic biological father, and her later struggles with irrational fears and panic attacks that shook her faith. But God ... After struggling for so long, Kimberly asked for His help and He provided the way to her breakthrough. You'll be greatly encouraged by her story and the message she shares, so listen in while I have a chat with Kimberly Vaughn. Connect with Kimberly! You can connect with Kimberly and find her posts here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vaughn_kimberly/ Blog posts can be found by searching "Kimberly Vaughn" at https://connectingwomenwithgod.com/ Here's where you can find the post on deception mentioned in the show: https://connectingwomenwithgod.com/blog/are-you-deceived More About Kimberly ... Kimberly Vaughn is a blog editor and a co-leader for a mentoring program at The Connection. She is a wife and a homeschool mom of two. Kimberly has been involved in various aspects of ministry since graduating from Bible college 20 years ago. She has a passion to encourage and build up other women, especially those who are hurting and broken. It is her desire for others to experience hope and transformation in Jesus through the words she writes and speaks.  Let's Stay Connected! Find my free resources including Fear Fighting Bible Verses, Simple Tips for Sharing Your Faith, Surrender the Joy Stealers, Step Out of Your Doubt and Into Your Calling ebook, and more on my dorisswift.com homepage! Love Fierce Calling? Following, rating, and leaving a review over at Podchaser or Apple Podcasts helps others discover the show too! Need a Speaker for Your Next Women's Event? Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let's talk about me speaking at your next women's event... What Threatens to Steal Your Joy? Check out Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You 6-week Bible study rooted in John 15. You can find more info at https://dorisswift.com/book/ I hope you'll join me next time, when I talk with another woman who is taking action where her passion, compassion, and conviction intersect. Until then, friend, have a blessed week and I'll talk to you soon ... Doris Surrender the Joy Stealers book trailer: Music by Oleg Kyrylkovv from Pixabay

Have you grown weary weathering life's storms? Loss, grief, broken relationships, and heartaches can stop us in our tracks and hold us back from walking in God's plans for our lives. But weary one take heart, because the battle is the Lord's. My guest this week on Fierce Calling is author, speaker, and podcast host Rachel Wojo. Her story includes heartache, divorce, loss, and grief, but God redeems the broken pieces for his glory and truly does bring beauty from ashes. Rachel shares about meeting her now husband, Matt, and how their redemption stories meshed together creating a beautiful marriage and family. We talk about joyful blessings amidst hard seasons as she shares her experiences as a special needs mom to Taylor, a beautiful daughter who went to be with Jesus in 2019. We also talk about when it's hard to pray, borrowed prayers, her book One More Step: Finding Strength When You Feel Like Giving Up, and her newest book releasing in the fall, Desperate Prayers: Embracing the Power of Prayer in Life's Darkest Moments. You'll be greatly encouraged and inspired by her story and the message she shares just for you. Listen in and be challenged in new ways to step into your next adventure with God. Connect with Rachel! You can connect with Rachel and find her books, podcast, free prayer resources and more at rachelwojo.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelwojo/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachelwojoauthor/ More About Rachel ... Rachel Wojo is a public speaker and freelance writer for well-known faith-based companies. She hosts Bible reading challenges on her popular blog, rachelwojo.com, which rallies readers of all ages to search God’s Word for solutions to life’s problems. Her Bible reading plans are used by more than four million people worldwide. Rachel is the author of One More Step: Finding Strength When You Feel Like Giving Up. She and her husband, Matt, reside in Ohio and are the parents of eight children, two in heaven and six on earth.   Let's Stay Connected! Find my free resources including Fear Fighting Bible Verses, Simple Tips for Sharing Your Faith, Surrender the Joy Stealers, Step Out of Your Doubt and Into Your Calling ebook, and more on my dorisswift.com homepage! Love Fierce Calling? Following, rating, and leaving a review over at Podchaser or Apple Podcasts helps others discover the show too! Need a Speaker for Your Next Women's Event? Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let's talk about me speaking at your next women's event... What Threatens to Steal Your Joy? Check out Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You 6-week Bible study rooted in John 15. You can find more info at https://dorisswift.com/book/ I hope you'll join me next time, when I talk with another woman who is taking action where her passion, compassion, and conviction intersect. Until then, friend, have a blessed week and I'll talk to you soon ... Doris Surrender the Joy Stealers book trailer: Music by Oleg Kyrylkovv from Pixabay

Valerie Ellis loves sharing joy and helping families flourish in their faith. Her beautiful book, Share the Joy! A Christmas Lift-the-Flap Book came out right before Christmas, and though we may not have a year-round Christmas tree in our living rooms, we carry Christmas joy in our hearts year-round, don't we? But we're talking about more than that--we're talking about becoming more aware of God in our everyday moments. We celebrate Jesus every day--we give of our time, gifts, talents, and love every day--we have an opportunity to sow into the next generation every day. I'm so excited to welcome Valerie back to the show to share joy and encouragement with all of us. I know what Valerie shares will encourage, inspire, and challenge you so listen in and share it with a friend! Connect with Valerie! You can connect with Valerie at oureverydayparables.com and valerieellis.com, and check outsharethejoybook.com for more about the book and free resources Valerie talkedabout in the show. Check out Valerie's Instagram @iamvalerieellis  and @oureverydayparables More About Valerie ... Valerie is a lover of Jesus. She's a children's book author, a mom and teacher who understands how tricky it can be to help kids discover and develop a vibrant, authentic faith amidst life’s many challenges. That’s why she is passionate about helping families find simple, everyday ways to engage kids in natural conversations, fantastic children’s books, and fun activities centered around faith and love.  You can find her living out this passion as she speaks at mom’s groups and writes articles for Our Everyday Parables and other media. She is a former public school teacher and a member of the Texas Library Association, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), MOPS/MOMSnext, and my local children’s ministry team. Valerie supports her children’s book habit by writing grants for nonprofits in Houston, Texas where she lives with her husband, Josh, and their two boys. A few things she gets pretty excited about include live music, eating on the patio, and cilantro. Grab Doris's Freebies! Grab my free resources to encourage and equip you in your walk with Christ! Find them here: https://dorisswift.com/ Love Fierce Calling? Following, rating, and leaving a review over at Podchaser helps others discover the show too! Need a Speaker for Your Next Women's Event? Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let's talk about me speaking at your next women's event... What Threatens to Steal Your Joy? Check out Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You 6-week Bible study rooted in John 15. You can find more info at https://dorisswift.com/book/ I hope you'll join me next time when I talk with another woman who is taking action where her passion, compassion, and conviction intersect. Until then friend, have a blessed week and I'll talk to you soon. With Joy, Doris Surrender the Joy Stealers book trailer: Music by Oleg Kyrylkovv from Pixabay

How can God use the middle part of our stories? My guest this week is Sandra Jones, and she has a heart for encouraging women in difficult situations. Her story includes past sexual abuse and coming extremely close to ending her life, but those broken parts of her story do not define her, they have given her courageous compassion for those who are hurting. What does all that mean for you? Listen to Sandra's inspiring story and learn how God can use the middle part of your story. What is the middle part? You'll hear all about it as Sandra shares what she's learned through her adventures with God. She encourages us that freedom is found in Christ alone, and that chains don't always break off in an instant, sometimes He helps us break off one chain link at a time. I know what Sandra has to share will encourage, inspire, and challenge you, so listen in while I have a chat with Sandra Jones. Connect with Sandra! You can connect with Sandra at sandrajonesspeaks@gmail.com and book her to speak at sandrajonesspeaks.com J Designs: Check out Sandra's fabulous soaps, hats, and more at https://www.facebook.com/jdesigns2121  More About Sandra ... For over sixteen years Sandra has brought a message of encouragement, love, and hope to women in difficult situations. As a result, hurting women see their true identity through God's eyes, discover freedom in forgiveness and experience the love from their heavenly Father.  Sandra is the founder of Homeless Heart Ministry.  In addition she has served as women's and youth ministry leader, prison ministry leader, and Bible teacher. She comes from Texas and would love to share with your audience that they ,too may experience God in a fresh new way Grab My Freebies! Grab my free resources to encourage and equip you in your walk with Christ! Find them here: https://dorisswift.com/ Love Fierce Calling? Following, rating, and leaving a review over at Podchaser helps others discover the show too! Need a Speaker for Your Next Women's Event? Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let's talk about me speaking at your next women's event... What Threatens to Steal Your Joy? Check out Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You 6-week Bible study rooted in John 15. You can find more info at https://dorisswift.com/book/ I hope you'll join me next time, when I talk with another woman who is taking action where her passion, compassion, and conviction intersect. Until then friend, have a blessed week and I'll talk to you soon. With Joy, Doris Surrender the Joy Stealers book trailer: Music by Oleg Kyrylkovv from Pixabay

How do we overcome trials when life gets hard? How have we experienced the undeniable faithfulness of God in our lives? My guest this week is Tracey Glenn, author of Gathering the Wayward Heart: Lessons on Faith, Trust, and Surrendering our Best-Laid Plans. She shares with us her amazing story filled with trials and triumphs. Her story includes date rape, finding her true love, family life on the ranch, raising a special needs child, foster care, adoption, and how she became a successful entrepreneur. What does all that mean for you? Tracey shares how the faithfulness of God is woven throughout her story, even when she didn't see it right away. She dispels lies we might be believing about ourselves and how to change our perspective and believe what is true. You'll be greatly encouraged and inspired by her story and her message for you. Listen in and be challenged in new ways to step into your next adventure with God. Connect with Tracey! You can connect with Tracey and find her books and more at traceyglenn.com Social Media Links: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/brandedinfaith Instagram –  https://www.instagram.com/brandedinfaith/ More About Tracey ... Tracey was raised on a cattle ranch in Southeast Arizona and has been married for over thirty years to the love of her life, Link. She is a mother of three, a grandmother of four, and is currently a caregiver for her daughter with special needs, and homeschooling her adopted son.Informally, she is a graduate of the School of Hard Knocks, and the Lord has used that education to transform her into a new creation. Formally, Tracey has an associate’s degree in psychology, has completed the Living Waters School of Biblical Evangelism, and is a successful entrepreneur.Tracey Glenn is a born-again child of God and a Jesus freak. She is a writer and searcher of Biblical wisdom. With a heart for God, kids, and all God’s creatures, Tracey shares her journey through the pages of her life as a seeker of the Lord.She co-founded a business in 2007, which at present has six locations across Southern Arizona and provides other special needs children and their families with essential support and services. Involvement in helping others in need ultimately led her and her husband to adopt their son in 2013.Tracey is the author of Gathering the Wayward Heart, available wherever books are sold.   Let's Stay Connected! Scroll down and sign up for encouraging emails I send exclusively to my subscribers about once a month! I won't spam you, I promise! Plus, find helpful freebies on my homepage! Love Fierce Calling? Following, rating, and leaving a review over at Podchaser helps others discover the show too! Need a Speaker for Your Next Women's Event? Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let's talk about me speaking at your next women's event... What Threatens to Steal Your Joy? Check out Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You 6-week Bible study rooted in John 15. You can find more info at https://dorisswift.com/book/ I hope you'll join me next time, when I talk with another woman who is taking action where her passion, compassion, and conviction intersect. Until then, friend, have a blessed week and I'll talk to you soon ... Doris

Did you know statistics show 1 in 2 people will develop cancer? Not that long ago, the statistics were 1 in 30. So what is happening? Of course, God has the final say, but we could all use help in moving toward a healthier lifestyle. What if we could reverse those statistics in ways that are accessible to everyone? My guest this week is Ginny Dent Brant. She's the author of UNLEASH YOUR GOD-GIVEN HEALING: Eight Steps to Prevent and Survive Cancer. She knows her stuff because she's lived it. She didn't take her cancer diagnosis lying down--literally! She kept moving, not only physically, but by investing hours of research into uncovering how God designed our bodies to heal. She shares simple steps we can all take to not only fight cancer but to actually prevent it. As a side note, Ginny also shares how the power of prayer spared her dad prison time during the Watergate case. Remember that? If you weren't born yet, it was likely part of your history course in school. What we're talking about is lifechanging, lifegiving, and valuable information for lifelong health. I know what Ginny has to share will encourage, inspire, and challenge you, so listen in while I have a chat with Ginny Dent Brant. Connect with Ginny! You can connect with Ginny and find her books, healthy resources, , and more at https://www.ginnybrant.com/ and grab the recipe for her yummy BANANA CHOCOLATE BLUEBERRY SMOOTHIE FOR 2 along with practical ways to lower your breast cancer risk. Social Media Links: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ginny.d.brant/ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/ginnydentbrant/  Linked in - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginny-brant-aa5153a/  Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@ginnybrant More About Ginny ... Ginny Dent Brant is a speaker and writer who grew up in the halls of power in Washington,DC. She has battled cancer, ministered around the world, and served on the front lines ofAmerican culture as a counselor, educator, wellness advocate, and adjunct professor. She hastwo masters degrees from the University of South Carolina in Elementary Counseling and inEducation and Research. She received her undergraduate degree from Columbia InternationalUniversity in Biblical Education. Brant’s award-winning book, Finding True Freedom: From the White House to the World, wasendorsed by Chuck Colson and featured in many media interviews nationwide. Her recent book,Unleash Your God-given Healing: Eight Steps to Prevent and Survive Cancer was written withcommentary from an oncologist and medical researcher and has won five awards. Ginny hasbeen interviewed on The Crystal Cathedral, CBN, CTN, Atlanta Live, American Family Radio,Charisma Podcast, Life Today Live, and been featured in Today’s Christian Woman, TheChristian Post, Conquer Magazine, and Today’s Christian Living. She currently mentorspastors/ministry leaders, missionaries, doctors, scientists, and other cancer patients through thejourney with lifestyle changes. Visit her website and cancer and wellness prevention blog atwww.ginnybrant.com.   Let's Stay Connected! Scroll down and sign up for encouraging emails I send exclusively to my subscribers about once a month! I won't spam you, I promise! Plus, find helpful freebies on my homepage! Love Fierce Calling? Following, rating, and leaving a review over at Podchaser helps others discover the show too! Need a Speaker for Your Next Women's Event? Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let's talk about me speaking at your next women's event... What Threatens to Steal Your Joy? Check out Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You 6-week Bible study rooted in John 15. You can find more info at https://dorisswift.com/book/ I hope you'll join me next time, when I talk with another woman who is taking action where her passion, compassion, and conviction intersect. Until then, friend,

Have you ever felt alone in your struggles? My guest this week is Gina Fox, founder of Anchored by the Sword ministry. Her story includes experiencing abusive relationships, stalking, infertility, rape, and many hard seasons. But her story doesn't end there, because it was transformed into her freedom story. When the storms of life hit us head-on, it can leave us feeling broken and alone. Our prayer is that today's episode will encourage you in that you're not alone. Gina Fox loves to encourage men and women to become anchored in God. She shares what it means to walk in freedom--a freedom only found in the truth of God's word--our true sword. I know what Gina has to share will encourage, inspire, and challenge you so listen in while I have a chat with Gina Fox. Connect with Gina! You can connect with Gina and find her podcast, social media links to follow, and more at anchoredbythesword.org More About Gina ... Gina Fox is the Founder of Anchored by the Sword, which is a ministry to help women and men become more anchored to God and His Word and to be truly set free! She is a wife, fur baby mama and aunt to 5 amazing nephews. She loves to be with her people, write, and watch God move!  Let's Stay Connected! Scroll down and find the free gift I created for you! More freebies can be found on my homepage! When you grab one or all of them, you will also receive a newsletter from me about once a month with encouragement and great resources! Love Fierce Calling? Following, rating, and leaving a review over at Podchaser helps others discover the show too! Need a Speaker for Your Next Women's Event? Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let's talk about me speaking at your next women's event... I love speaking God's truth into the lives of women! Free Gifts for You... Grab your free gift below, and find more free downloads on my homepage! Love & God's Perfect Peace to You! Doris

Welcome back to another episode of Fierce Calling! In this week's episode, I welcome my friend and remarkable woman of God, Dr. Evelyn Johnson-Taylor. As a beloved women's ministry leader for nearly three decades, Evelyn has dedicated her life to encouraging, empowering, and equipping women in every season of life. Join us as we explore her journey, from her inspiring role as a nurse to her transformative experiences as a caregiver and mentor. Evelyn shares her insights on the alignment of calling and interests, the power of prayer and seeking, and the transformative role of mentoring. We delve into her life's purpose of serving and caring for others, as well as her passion for advocating for caregivers who often go unnoticed. I know you'll be inspired by Evelyn's profound understanding of the importance of rest, savoring moments, and active listening. We also explore her personal challenges and triumphs, including her own widowhood and the realization that God's plans exceed our own desires. As we journey through this episode, we uncover Evelyn's immense strength, unwavering faith, and her ability to uplift and encourage others in their darkest seasons. Are you ready to be encouraged, inspired. and challenged? Then listen in while I have a chat with Dr. Evelyn Johnson-Taylor. Connect with Dr. Evelyn You can reach out to Evelyn https://evelynjtaylor.org/ and sign up for her monthly newsletter, filled with great info and encouragement! www.evelynjtaylor.org https://www.facebook.com/drevelynjohnsontaylor @evelynjtaylor-twitter evelynjtaylor-Instagram www.linkedin.com/in/evelyn-johnson-taylor-ph-d-590b513/ More About Dr. Evelyn ... Evelyn Johnson-Taylor Ph. D. is a women’s ministry leader for nearly thirty years, helping women navigate many of the seasons of their lives. Her vision is to encourage, empower and equip women to win in every season of life. She uses God’s Word, and her life experiences to fulfill this vision by coaching, mentoring, training, speaking, and writing books. When applied, the biblical principles that she teaches will encourage, empower and equip women to walk in thefullness of all that God created them to be and accomplish. Evelyn is an ordained minister who served with her late husband, Pastor Scott Taylor, as the founding pastors of Good News Bible Church in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and Good News Global Ministries in Wesley Chapel, Florida. For fourteen years, she also served as founder and president of Women of Promise International Ministries Inc., a nonprofit outreach ministry offering hope and healing to women. She is a theology professor at Grace & Truth Christian University in Tampa, FL.She has earned an AD in nursing, BA in Women’s Studies, and MA and Ph.D. in Ministry. She was a caregiver for her husband during his illness from 2008–2018. As a 10-year caregiver, she offers a message of hope and encouragement to those caring for loved ones. Her work with community organizations keeps her in touch with the needs and resources available to caregivers. God has blessed Evelyn with multiple guest appearances on HomeKeepers with Arthelene Rippy, Atlanta Live, and other media platforms to share her passion to empower women and theimportance of self-care for caregivers. Evelyn is the mother of two adult daughters and one son-in-love. Need a Speaker for Your Next Women's Event? Book Doris ... I’d love to chat about speaking at your next event! I’m currently booking for 2024-2025 so let’s connect. Check out my speaking page at https://dorisswift.com/speaking/ or https://www.womenspeakers.com/florida/edgewater/speaker/doris-swift I’m looking forward to serving you and your ladies! Ever feel like you can’t find your joy? Grab my Bible Study Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You!

What if we were more intentional about going deeper in prayer? What would those prayers look like--sound like? This week, I welcome guest Brooke McGlothlin, founder of Million Praying Moms. But before Brooke founded this amazing gathering of praying moms, she first became a praying mom herself, praying Scripture-inspired prayers over her boys. Listen in as we talk about the power of Scripture-inspired prayer and how Million Praying Moms came to be. And this episode is not just a blessing for moms, but for all of us who yearn for a deeper prayer life. Brooke shares great actionable steps to help make that happen. She also provides great resources and info about all the prayer books she and her team have written. Good stuff! Connect with Brooke! Hop on over to millionprayingmoms.com or https://brookemcglothlin.net/ and find the resources and books Brooke mentioned during the show. You'll also discover ways to connect with her via her "connect" tab on her website. More About Brooke ... Brooke is the founder of Million Praying Moms, and author of 6 books, including her latest, Everyday Prayers for Peace and Praying Mom: Making Prayer the First and Best Response to Motherhood. She’s a wife and mom to two teenage boys who make their home in the mountains of Appalachia, calling southwestern Virginia home. Brooke loves IG best, so come hang out with her and share daily life by following her at @millionprayingmoms. Book Doris to Speak! I'd love to chat about speaking at your next event! I'm currently booking for 2024-2025 so let's connect. Check out my speaking page at https://dorisswift.com/speaking/ or https://www.womenspeakers.com/florida/edgewater/speaker/doris-swift I'm looking forward to serving you and your ladies! Ever feel like you can't find your joy? Grab my Bible Study Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You!

Welcome to another episode of Fierce Calling! In this week's episode, I welcome back inspiring author, Laura C. Brandenburg. Get ready for a thought-provoking conversation about operating in our gifts and aligning with God's plan. Laura shares how she walked away from being a full professor to fulfill a bigger dream. She shares her deeply personal story of infertility and God's faithfulness throughout that journey. We dive deep into the relevance of biblical truth in different seasons. Laura's upcoming book explores the experiences of women longing for a child, a dream, a relationships. Join us as we uncover the profound insights and hear the wisdom Laura has to offer. Get ready to be inspired and encouraged with every word. Listen to my previous episode with Laura here: The God Who Sees Me: A Journey Through Infertility Connect with Laura! Website | Instagram| Twitter | Facebook More About Laura ... Happily married mama to three miracles, Laura C. Brandenburg believes even through the hardest chapters, God writes good endings. An author and speaker, she holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English and a doctoral degree in Technical Communication and Rhetoric. A former college professor turned stay-at-home mom, Laura now spends her days in rural West Texas wiping sticky, dimply hands, writing books, and sharing messages from God’s Word. Connect with her at www.lauracbrandenburg.com or on social media @lauracbrandenburg. Book Doris to Speak at Your Next Women's Event! I’d love to chat about serving you and your ladies by speaking at your next women’s event. I am available for keynotes, conferences, workshops, retreats, including online and in-person events. For more information and testimonials, check out my speaking pages at dorisswift.com/speaking/ and womenspeakers.com and let’s make it happen!

Welcome back to another episode of Fierce Calling, where we dive deep into topics that challenge and inspire us to live passionately and walk in our calling. This week, we have a phenomenal guest with us, Rhonda Stoppe, an incredible author, speaker, and mentor. In this episode, Rhonda opens up about the power of truth and transformation in mentoring relationships, while sharing her own experiences and insights. Rhonda brings a wealth of wisdom and encouragement that will bless every listener. Stay tuned as we discuss the need to surrender personal idols, the importance of mentorship, and the transformative journey of raising sons to be men. I loved our chat and how the conversation transitioned into discussing the true role of a pastor's wife, what that looks like, and why our expectations might need a reality check! I know what Rhonda shares will encourage, inspire, and challenge you to live life without regrets and walk in your Fierce Calling. Connect with Rhonda! You can connect with Rhonda via the links below. Head on over to her website and grab the free chapter of Moms Raising Sons to be Men. You'll also find all her books, podcast (Old Ladies Know Stuff), and great resources! Also, don't forget to text the words NO REGRETS in all caps to 55444 get the free video Your Marriage Can Survive Toddlers and Teens. Great stuff and it's free! Website:  NoRegretsWoman.com Podcast:  Old Ladies Know Stuff Social Media Links: YouTube Channel: Rhonda Stoppe No Regrets Woman: https://www.youtube.com/c/RhondaStoppeNoRegretsWoman Facebook Page: Rhonda Stoppe No Regrets Woman: https://www.facebook.com/NoRegretsWoman Twitter: @RhondaStoppe Instagram: @RhondaStoppe https://www.instagram.com/rhondastoppe/ LinkedIn: Rhonda Stoppe Pinterest More About Rhonda ... Rhonda Stoppe helps women build no regrets lives with over 30 years experience as a pastor’s wife, Bible teacher, mom coach and marriage mentor. Rhonda is a Christian speaker and the best selling author of 7 books including: Mom’s Raising Sons to Be Men, The Marriage Mentor and Real Life Romance. She has appeared on Focus on the Family, The 700 Club and Dr. James Dobson’s Family Talk. Rhonda and her pastor-husband, Steve, have been joyfully married for 41 years. Their four adult children are happily married and have blessed them with 15 grandchildren. The Stoppe’s live out their own real life romance at their ranch in California. For more about Rhonda’s books and resources or to schedule her to speak at your event please visit: at: NoRegretsWoman.com Connect with Doris! I'd love to hear from you about how Fierce Calling has encouraged, inspired, and challenged you to take action where YOUR passion, compassion, and conviction intersect! Reach out to me on my contact page at dorisswift.com/contact/ Need a speaker for your next woman's event? I'd love to chat about serving you and your ladies by speaking at your next women's event. I am available for keynotes, conferences, workshops, retreats, including online and in-person events. For more information and testimonials, check out my speaking pages at dorisswift.com/speaking/ and womenspeakers.com and let's make it happen! Blessings! Doris

Welcome back to another episode of Fierce Calling! This week we have a truly powerful and eye-opening conversation in store for you. My guest, Lane Lawson Craft, is a best-selling author, award-winning media host, and in-demand speaker who has partnered with struggling parents. Lane joins us to share her story, as well as the powerful message found in her book, The Parents Battle Plan: Warfare Strategies to Win Back Your Prodigal. This is the second guest interview I've had with Laine, and she is a dynamic woman of God. After listening in to today's episode, be sure to check out the episode we recorded in August 2022, God Still Moves Miraculously on Our Behalf. Join us as we journey through this inspiring episode, and discover how Lane Lawson Craft's incredible insights can help guide us through the battles we face as parents and in our daily lives. You won't want to miss this heartfelt and empowering conversation. So grab your favorite cup of coffee, find a cozy spot, and let's dive in! Grab Laine's Book! More About Laine ... Laine is dauntlessly committed to guiding parents of teens and young adults to win back their prodigal children. She partners with prodigal parents so that they find a proven battle plan and strategies to guide them to know that they are not in a war with their child but in a war with the enemy trying to destroy them; they will learn how to have authority over the battles, and how to pray for victory for their prodigal. With over fifteen years of working with amazing people with similar hurts and spiritual warfare and guiding them to achieve remarkable success, her mission and commitment are to give you insights and revelations into how the darkness of our world operates, build your hope, and give tried-and-true tools and applications that will bring your prodigal home. Her path to writing this life-transforming battle plan became clear after she fought hell for her children, and her family was healed and won. Laine is an award-winning, best-selling author, popular media host, and in-demand speaker. She has been married to Steve, her husband, for over thirty-five years, and she loves spending time with her two sons, only daughter, daughter-in-love, and son-in-love. You can connect with Laine at https://lainelawsoncraft.com/ Love Fierce Calling? If you listen to Fierce Calling, I'd love if you would subscribe and write a review on Podchaser! Do you have a favorite episode? Are You Looking for a Speaker for Your Women's Event? I'd love to connect with you and have a chat about it! I'm currently booking for 2024 & 2025! Check out my Speaking Page for more information!

Hey friends! Welcome back to another impactful episode of Fierce Calling. Today we have an incredible guest joining us: Janet Perez Eckles. Janet takes us on a deeply personal and inspiring journey, sharing her story of overcoming adversity and finding hope in the face of literal darkness. Janet's life seemed like a dream come true, but everything changed when she was diagnosed with a retinal disease that rapidly stole her sight. Her marriage was in turmoil and her hope waning. Then something amazing happened, she met Jesus. She would need him more than she would know. As she continues to share, we'll hear about Janet's unimaginable tragedy. Yet, with unwavering strength and the peace that comes from her trust in God, Janet navigated the darkest of times and learned the power of forgiveness, even towards the man who took her son's life. Throughout this episode, Janet shares how her faith and unwavering belief in God's promises carried her through the most challenging moments of her life. She'll also discuss the importance of having Christ at the center of our relationships and the incredible transformation that can occur when we truly seek God's guidance. Janet's story is a testament to the power of resilience, forgiveness, and the unwavering faith that can lead us through even the darkest of days. Get ready to be inspired, challenged, and moved as we dive deep into Janet Eckles' remarkable journey of faith and redemption. So grab your favorite beverage, find a cozy spot, and get ready for an episode that will leave you feeling empowered and uplifted! Grab Janet's Award-Winning Book, Now I See!   More About Janet! Blindness didn’t slow her down, nor tragedy stop her. As an author, international speaker, and founder of JC Empowerment Ministries, Janet Perez Eckles gives a new meaning to God-given victory and success. She overcame not only the loss of her eyesight at 30, but endured the loss of her youngest son to violence as well as the acquittal of the man responsible. But rather than sink as a victim, each episode from which she rose above showcases the value of faith, forgiveness and tenacity. Though her life includes tragedy, her message and her books showcase God’s power to restore any setback, heal any heartache and calm any storm. Without physical eyesight, but with a clear vision, she travels across the U.S. and internationally to empower her English- and Spanish-speaking audiences. In addition to her own five books, her writings include 32 stories in Chicken Soup for the Soul titles, Guidepost Magazine, dozens of anthologies, Crosswalk.com and hundreds of print and online magazines. The media captures her compelling story as she’s been featured on the cover of Hispanic Woman Magazine, 700 Club, Desperate America (Good Morning America), Lifestyle Magazine and Focus on the Family as well as dozens of national and regional media. Janet’s work has been recognized by numerous awards including the Lifetime Achievement from the Hispanic Chamber of Commers of Central Florida, Latina Women who make a difference, Beyond Me Award, Professional Excellence and first runner-up for the Ms. Senior Florida pageant. Janet resides in Florida with her husband Dale, her adult children and delightful grandchildren. www.janetperezeckles.com Need Speakers for Your Events in 2024? If you're looking speakers for your events, did you know that both Janet and Doris are speakers? You can check out Janet's speaking page at womenspeakers.com here: https://www.womenspeakers.com/florida/orlando/speaker/janet-eckles , and find Doris's speaking page here: https://www.womenspeakers.com/florida/edgewater/speaker/doris-swift

Welcome, listeners, to another episode of Fierce Calling! In this episode, Creating Safe Spaces: Mental Health, Faith, Family, and Connection, our host Doris is joined by the incredible Lori Wildenberg, a licensed parent and family educator, also known as a parent coach. Lori is here to discuss her journey and share her profound insights on topics ranging from faith and parenting to overcoming challenges in life. Our conversation with Lori begins with a thought-provoking analogy. She also shares a deeply personal story about her youngest daughter's battle with depression, including a failed suicide attempt. She reveals how her daughter's strength led her to write a powerful and impactful blog, providing solace to those facing similar struggles. Inspired by her daughter's bravery, Lori sought permission to write a book about their experiences, ultimately leading to healing and growth for both of them. Through her work as a parent coach, Lori helps parents navigate the challenges of raising children who are grappling with mental and emotional health issues. We delve into the importance of open communication, being rooted in faith, and seeking support within a loving community. I know what Lori shares will encourage, inspire, and challenge you. Listen in while I have a chat with Lori Wildenberg! Connect with Lori! You can connect with Lori, and find her amazing books and resources at https://loriwildenberg.com/ Socials: FB:  https://www.facebook.com/LoriWildenbergauthor https://www.facebook.com/MomsTogether IG https://www.instagram.com/loriwildenberg/ https://www.instagram.com/momstogether/ Twitter https://twitter.com/loriwildenberg?lang=en LinkedIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/loriwildenberg/ YouTUBE https://www.youtube.com/@LoriWildenberg Website: https://loriwildenberg.com/ TAGS: #MessyHope #mentalhealth More About Lori ... Helping families build relationships that last a lifetime is Lori Wildenberg’s passion. Lori, a licensed parent and family educator, is a national speaker, and author or coauthor of six parenting books including the award-winning book Messy Hope: Help Your Child Overcome, Anxiety, Depression or Suicidal Ideation. Articles by Lori can also be found at Focus on the Family, Mom Life Today, Just Between Us, and more.  Lori is the lead mentor and administrator of  the popular Mom's Together community and group on Facebook. The Wildenberg home is nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Lori is Mom to four, Mom-in-Love to three, and Mimi to four. A perfect day in Lori’s world is a hike with Tom (her hubby) and their growing family! Grab My Book … Surrender the Joy Stealers! Book Doris to Speak at Your Next Woman’s Event! Now Booking for 2024! Doris can help your ladies find their joy and walk in their Fierce CallingTM 2023 Event: The Joy Jesus Gave Us Blessings of Peace & Joy, Doris

My special guest, Julie Holmquist, an author, speaker, and host of the Kairos Moments podcast, shares her insights on calling out the gifts and talents in women. She loves helping equip women in what God calls them to do. He leads and uses Julie in empowering women in their callings and purpose. In this episode, Julie emphasizes the importance of words of affirmation and how they can truly uplift and encourage us on our paths. She also sheds light on the need to discern the source of feedback and not let negative comments hinder our growth. Such golden nuggets of God's truth in this episode! Favorite Quotes from Empowering Women in Their Callings with Julie Holmquist ... "...because if we get bitter in that disappointment, that's where we get stuck. And then we're not doing anyone any good.  Matter of fact, the Bible says the bitterness poisons everybody, right? And so we just need to always keep our heart in check with the Lord. And he's called us to be fruitful, not successful, and success looks very different to Him." --Julie Holmquist "Seeing the gifts in other people and calling them out, empowering them and just cheering them on all along the way brings me so much joy" --Julie Holmquist My Episode with Julie on Her Podcast--Kairos Moments https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/doubting-the-dream-w-doris-swift/id1493750283?i=1000544958822   Timestamp Moments The Power of Encouragement: "When someone speaks a positive word into your life, what they see that you're good at, what they see God doing in your life, it's like water on parched soil."— Julie 00:04:4600:05:44 Feeling Left Out: "Sometimes we can feel left out even by God. It can be really painful when we feel like that's something that God is leaving us in a season of just complacency, but he never does that."— Doris 00:17:3600:19:07 The Power of Patience: "We need someone to constantly remind us he's working behind the scenes. You don't need to go dig it up and question."— Julie  00:21:0900:22:15 Dealing with Doubters: "And then there are going to be those people who are going to mock whatever God is trying to do."— Julie 00:24:2600:25:25 Connect with Julie! Julie Holmquist is an author, podcast host (“Kairos Moments”), and a speaker. God has given Julie deep insight into His Word with real-life, transformational application. She empowers Christian women to take bold and confident steps forward with their God-given dreams while developing a more intimate relationship with God and becoming the women He’s created them to be in the process. Her work has been featured in Focus on the Family magazine, Crosswalk.com, and The Secret Place. Julie’s written the first in a series of workbooks that will encourage women with a God-given dream to get deeply rooted in who they are in Christ. The other two workbooks will teach women what an intimate relationship with God looks like and to how to make a lasting, kingdom impact on the world around them. BOOK JULIE TO SPEAK!! “Defined” (IDENTITY in Christ) https://stuffofheaven.com/product/an-identity-deeply-rooted-in-christ-is-bold “Known” (INTIMACY with God) – COMING SOON “Called” (Making an IMPACT through the Holy Spirit) – COMING SOON She and her husband have four sons. They live in Charlotte, NC. You can connect with Julie at the following: Website: Stuff of Heaven (“Kairos Moments” episodes are published here Instagram: Stuff of Heaven Facebook Page: Stuff of Heaven (Julie Holmquist) Grab My Book ... Surrender the Joy Stealers! Book Doris to Speak at Your Next Woman's Event! Now Booking for 2024! Doris can help your ladies find their joy and walk in their Fierce CallingTM 2023 Event: The Joy Jesus Gave Us Blessings of Peace & Joy, Doris

Welcome to Fierce Calling! In this episode, Finding Hope: Navigating Dysfunction and Difficulties in Life with Dr. Mel Tavares, Dr. Mel opens up about her personal journey, filled with difficult choices, challenging relationships, and health issues. Despite these hardships, Dr. Tavares has dedicated her life to supporting and empowering women facing similar struggles. Growing up in a dysfunctional environment, Dr. Tavares understands the weight of making tough choices. She shares her experience of navigating an arduous 25-year marriage that eventually ended in divorce. As a single mom herself, Dr. Tavares has a sincere heart for women in difficult situations, providing guidance and encouragement along their own journeys. Drawing from her personal battles with health issues, Dr. Tavares finds passion in bringing hope to those battling chronic illnesses and difficult diagnoses. Her ministry extends to helping prodigal children and those seeking to rediscover their faith, where her own experiences provide invaluable insight. Dr. Tavares firmly believes that God has a purpose for everyone, even in the midst of challenging circumstances. As someone who works in the counseling and coaching fields, she actively encourages mental health awareness, seeking to erase the stigma that surrounds it, particularly within the church. In collaboration with the American Association of Christian Counselors, Dr. Tavares is actively engaged in educating churches about mental health. I know what Dr. Mel shares will encourage, inspire, and challenge you, so listen in while Doris has a chat with Dr. Mel Tavares. Key Themes Covered in Finding Hope: Navigating Dysfunction and Difficulties in Life with Dr. Mel Tavares 1. Overcoming challenges and finding purpose 2. Stigma around mental health in churches 3. Balancing technology and mental well-being 4. Importance of a firm foundation in faith 5. Preventative measures for mental health crisis 6. Disconnect and disconnection in families 7. Impact of technology on children's mental health 8. 21 Days to Improved Mental Well-Being Grab The Book ... 21 Days to Mental Well-Being More About Dr. Mel ... Mel Tavares is an accomplished award winning author, speaker/teacher, and coach and counselor both in ministry and in her career. She has invested decades in equipping women from all walks of life to thrive in the midst of their circumstances. Mel holds a Doctorate of Ministry, is a Board Certified Mental Health Coach, a Certified QPR Suicide Prevention Instructor, a member of the AACC (American Association of Christian Counselors), AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association). She will soon add ‘Professional Life Coach’ to her certifications. She authors books, is a contributing author to several books, writes for multiple ministries, including the Word of Life Global Youth Ministries and Arise Daily Online Devotions. She teaches digitally and in person, conducts Facebook Live series, and is a frequent media guest. Mel is a wife, mom to seven, and grandma to ten. You can find her materials and learn more about her ministry at her website: drmeltavares.com Grab My Book ... Surrender the Joy Stealers! Book Doris to Speak at Your Next Woman's Event! Now Booking for 2024! Doris can help your ladies find their joy and walk in their Fierce CallingTM 2023 Event: The Joy Jesus Gave Us https://www.womenspeakers.com/florida/edgewater/speaker/doris-swift Transcript for Finding Hope: Navigating Dysfunction and Difficulties in Life with Dr. Mel Tavares Doris [00:01:56]: Welcome back. Today I'm excited to welcome my friend Dr. Mel Tavares. She is an accomplished award winning author. She's a speaker and a teacher and coach, and she's a counselor both in ministry and in her career, which I love. She has invested decades in equipping women from all walks of life to thrive in the midst of their circumstances.

On this episode, Reflections on Caregiving, Faith, and A Legacy of Love, join host Doris Swift as she welcomes author Ann Coker to the show. Ann shares her journey of compiling her husband Bill's sermons into book form. Despite facing challenges, including Bill's Alzheimer's diagnosis and the couple's move to Indianapolis for caregiving support, Ann's passion for seeing Bill's message in print has driven her forward. She encourages listeners to document their own treasures and experiences, as it can lead to something special. Doris and Ann also discuss the importance of staying true to one's calling, even in challenging seasons, and the multiple facets that a calling can have, such as being a caregiver and a writer. They express gratitude for the opportunity to partner with God despite imperfections and reflect on the blessings and support they receive from loved ones. Throughout the episode, they touch on various projects, including Ann's unpublished companion book for 'The Pilgrim's Progress' and Bill's podcast, 'Words of Endearment with Bill Coker.' They also delve into the significance of written words as a way to preserve and pass down legacies, highlighting the importance of reading someone's writings to truly understand their heart. As the episode comes to a close, Doris expresses excitement about having Ann on the show and the ongoing projects they are both involved in. They affirm that age should not hinder someone from pursuing their calling and share their plans to publish more of Bill's works, including a podcast series. Doris concludes the episode by extending blessings to Ann and expressing gratitude for her ongoing ministry work. Listeners can find links to Ann's information in the show notes and can look forward to future episodes of Fierce Calling, where meaningful conversations and connections among believers are valued and celebrated." Grab Ann's Freebies Mentioned in Reflections on Caregiving, Faith, and A Legacy of Love: Words of Endearment: the Ten Commandments as a Revelation on God's Love Prayers for the People: from the Heart of a Pastor https://colossal-leader-739.ck.page/95ff988dba Scandal of Christmas: Advent Reflections on Four Unlikely Figures https://colossal-leader-739.ck.page/50d532d749 Podcast: Words of Endearment with Bill Coker More About Ann and How You Can Connect with Her! Ann L. Coker graduated from college 20 years after completing high school. After working as managing editor of Good News magazine, she started writing for devotional publications, periodicals, and her active blog abcoker.blog. She has served the pro-life cause in several agencies. Ann is married to her favorite preacher, Bill. She has prepared Bill’s sermons on the Ten Commandments for his first book, Words of Endearment, published in 2020. Three more books have been published. Ann has written a companion book (unpublished) for John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress. Ann finds her greatest joy in seeing her husband’s messages in print to glorify God. She is his caregiver because he has Alzheimer’s disease. With an able tech team, Bill now has a podcast: Words of Endearment with Bill Coker.    Contact Info:  www.abcoker.blog and https://www.facebook.com/ann.coker.395 and al2.coker@gmail.com Transcript from Reflections on Caregiving, Faith, and A Legacy of Love Doris [00:02:27]: Today I am excited to welcome my writing friend, Ann L. Coker. We are in a group together called Book Camp, and we have been able to connect, and I'm so glad to have her on. It's going to be a really great episode. And some really fun facts about Ann, she graduated from college 20 years after graduating from high school, which is very encouraging. And she also worked as managing editor of Good News magazine. And then, she started writing for devotional publications and periodicals, and she also blogs. She has served in the pro-life arena for that cause for several different agencies.

On this special edition episode of Fierce Calling, we explore the concept of supernatural joy, of purposeful pruning, abundant fruit, and how maintaining a posture of praise to the Lord can lead us to a fruitful life. Pruning, as discussed in this episode, becomes a necessary process for bearing much fruit. We learn the power of asking the Lord to remove things in our lives that are not pleasing to Him, allowing us to grow and thrive. The significance of abiding in Jesus is highlighted, showing us that it is through this connection that we avoid being those purposeless branches thrown into the fire but rather live as branches connected to the True Vine who live out our true calling and potential. Throughout this episode, we emphasize the importance of supernatural joy, which exists regardless of our circumstances. Uncover the keys to unlocking this joy and living a life filled with purpose and fulfillment. Friend, you have a fierce calling regardless of your past or present circumstances. Don't miss this special episode of Fierce Calling, where we talk about Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You. This six-week study takes us on a journey from surrendering what threatens to steal our joy to living a joy-filled life with purpose. Get ready to be inspired and challenged as we embark on this journey of purposeful pruning with love on Fierce Calling.

What stuff would you only tell God? In her guided journal, Stuff I’d Only Tell God, my return guest, Jennifer Dukes Lee, creates space for people to reflect on their deepest feelings, fears, hopes, and dreams. She gives everyone permission to release their whole selves into God’s hands and allows them to embrace the true, weird, beautiful, and wonderfully made creations God created them to be. Stuff I’d Only Tell God is a fun and provocatively creative guided journal filled with exercises to help journalers express their secret thoughts, ideas, beliefs, and memories that will bring about a deeper intimacy with God and help them understand more about themselves. Jennifer's book mentioned in What Stuff Would You Only Tell God? This amazing resource gives everyone permission to journal, even if you don't journal! Connect with Jennifer here: Website: jenniferdukeslee.com Instagram@jenniferdukeslee Facebook/JenniferDukesLee Pinterest@dukesleeTwitter@dukeslee More About Jennifer ... Jennifer Dukes Lee is a farmer and writer who returned to rural Iowa with her husband to manage his family's farm. Previously a newspaper reporter, Jennifer is now a prolific author of books and Bible studies and also shares her thoughts and reflections on social media. Her latest project is a guided journal, "Stuff I'd Only Tell God," filled with engaging and introspective questions that reflect her curiosity and compassion for people. Jennifer is driven by a deep desire to know the Lord and to help others do the same. Connect with Doris! You can connect with me at dorisswift.com, check out my new Bible study, Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You, and grab some freebies!! I'd also love to chat about speaking at your next women's event. You can find my speaking info on my speaking page or my profile on womenspeakers.com! Blessings! Doris

Have you ever found yourself on a path you didn't choose, but it made all the difference in your life? In this episode of Fierce Calling, I'm talking with my friend Lori Ann Wood, a Christian writer and heart failure survivor. We're talking about wrestling with faith and navigating life's detours to find the faith we've always wanted. Lori shares her personal experience with heart failure, questioning her faith, and the value of asking questions. The episode encourages listeners who may be going through a difficult season to ask questions and wrestle with faith and offers a framework to do so. Lori's Book mentioned in Wrestling with Faith and Navigating Life's Detours to Find the Faith We've Always Wanted We're also talking about her book, Divine Detour: The path you'd never choose can lead to the faith you've always wanted The podcast episode also offers encouragement to those who may be going through a difficult season to ask questions and wrestle with a faith worth fighting for. If even one person's life is impacted by something we share, say, or write, it was all worth it, amen? If you're looking for a powerful conversation and some guidance on navigating difficult seasons, this episode of Fierce Calling is a must-listen. Connect with Lori! You can connect with Lori at loriannwood.com and find all her links and the giveaway she mentioned in the show. Thank you for being a part of our community. We appreciate you and hope you enjoy the podcast! More About Lori ... Lori Ann Wood lives in an empty nest in beautiful Bentonville, Arkansas, with her husband and miniature dachshund, Pearl. Having discovered a serious heart condition almost too late, Lori Ann writes to encourage othersto embrace deep faith questions along the detours of life. She has been awarded the Frederick Buechner Narrative Essay Award and awards from the Evangelical Press Association as well as from Colorado Christian Writers. Her work has been published in several anthologies and numerous print and online venues, including The New York Times, The Christian Century Magazine, The Joyful Life Magazine, Just Between UsMagazine, Bella Grace Magazine, Truly Magazine, Pepperdine University Press, and Sweet to the Soul FAITH Magazine. Connect with Doris! You can connect with me at dorisswift.com, check out my new Bible study, Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You, and grab some freebies!! I'd also love to chat about speaking at your next women's event. You can find my speaking info on my speaking page or my profile on womenspeakers.com! Blessings! Doris

Friend, what is threatening to steal your joy today? Do you struggle with finding your place? What about when you feel left out, passed over, or uninvited? Our minds can really do a number on us. So many things threaten to steal our joy, so let's talk about this issue today. I can relate to feelings of not belonging and feelings of being left out. But you know what? Truth be told, I’ve done that to others too. Yup, (gulp) guilty as charged. I remember it well—my first-grade birthday party. I invited my entire class with a personal invitation, or so I thought. Somehow I forgot to invite someone. Donna. She was the sweetest girl–quiet and polite. I simply forgot to invite her, and I didn’t even realize it until the Monday morning after. Back at school and still feeling awesome coming off of a birthday weekend of fun and friends, I walked into the classroom, and there sat Donna. My heart sank. I was sure she had heard about the party. I don’t remember if I even said anything to her. I hope I did. I hope I said sorry I didn’t invite you, Donna—I didn’t mean to leave you out. We have all been left out, forgotten, or just plain passed over at some time in our lives. It doesn’t feel all warm and fuzzy, does it?  For some reason, we choose to hang on to those kinds of memories while some of the best ones get buried in the recesses of our minds. Why do we do that? It seems in our humanness, negativity shouts louder than positivity; bad memories overshadow so many good ones. But we need to change that mess and renew our minds with God’s truth. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2 When we renew our minds, we can ask the Lord to remind us of all of our wonderful blessings—memories that have gone missing for so long. They are in there somewhere. Every experience has been recorded in our complex and intricate minds … “It is incredibly important to realize that, even though we cannot control our circumstances, we can control our reactions to our circumstances—we are not just victims of our biology or our pasts. I have researched and experienced the evidence of the mind-brain connection, and recognize the need to help people realize that we all have incredibly powerful minds, minds that can cope and prosper as we learn to operate in God’s magnificent love.”  – Dr. Caroline Leaf, cognitive neuroscientist  There is so much we are still learning about the capacity and possibilities that await us when we power on our brains. Our minds are always processing the stimuli we’re exposed to, but we need to keep our thoughts in check. When we find ourselves dwelling on thoughts of being uninvited, excluded, and left out, we can take heart that we belong to something bigger–bigger than my first-grade birthday party and bigger than ourselves. Aren’t you glad? We belong to God, and we are included in His grand plan. Jesus provided a personalized invitation like no other. He invites us to personally connect with Him, and it’s time to tell others they’re invited, too. How do we do this? I drove passed Indian River Fruit and Gifts last week. A landmark in our community for as long as I can remember, it now sits run-down and abandoned. Over the years, when I’d drive by, my eyes feasted on displays of edible goodness piled high in baskets and bins out front. Vibrant colors of fresher than store-bought fruits, nuts, specialized gifts, and souvenirs. Abundant offerings from an abundant harvest. Now all that remains is an empty shell–the vibrant colors gone. It’s a reminder of what we can become if we hold back our abundant offerings and gifts. Our God-given gifts, talents, and abilities have been entrusted to us by God. When we allow insecurity to keep us from using them, it will choke our calling, and our gift offerings will remain hidden–aband...

Are you looking for a relationship and waiting for "the one" to come your way? Have you ever wondered if what you're hearing is God's voice? Then you'll want to hear Dr. Michelle's story. Hear how God "downloaded" what He wanted her to know, including a ministry project He was calling her to. Dr. Michelle shares how she was missing something in her life--a relationship with her Abba Father. She began hearing from God, the Father, and it transformed her life. Coming from a background of abuse by the father figures she trusted, this life-changing encounter with her heavenly Father redeemed the brokenness and set her on the path to her Fierce Calling. Once her relationship with her heavenly Father was restored, He then sent "the one" her way. Powerful and sweet, you won't want to miss this episode! I know what Dr. Michelle shares will encourage, inspire, and challenge you--so listen in while I have a chat with Dr. Michelle Watson Canfield. In Hearing the Voice and Experiencing the Love of Abba Father, we talked about this book ... Some Favorite quotes from Hearing the Voice and Experiencing the Love of Abba Father: "Do not date or marry a fixer-upper." "God coming in as a Father to me has brought more fullness to prepare me for marriage ..." - Dr. Michelle Watson Canfield More About Dr. Michelle ... Michelle Watson Canfield, Ph.D., LPC, is a national speaker, author, licensed professional counselor of 27 years, andfounder of The Abba Project, a nine-month group forum for dads whose daughters are in their teens and 20s. Shewrites guest articles regularly for journals and magazines (online and print), as well as her own bi-monthly Dad-Daughter Friday Blog, and has been interviewed on numerous radio and television programs. Her best-selling book, Dad, Here’s What I Really Need From You: A Guide for Connecting With Your Daughter’s Heart, is followed by her most recent field guide for men, Let’s Talk: Conversation Starters for Dads and Daughters (both available on Audible). She has also written contributing chapters in Fathers Say and How to Disciple Men. Dr. Michelle is the radio/podcast host of The Dad Whisperer and The Dad Whisperer Podcast, which is available on her website and on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. She also co-chairs the Father-Daughter Initiative at the National Center for Fathering with her husband, Dr. Ken Canfield. They reside in Fayetteville, Arkansas, near their tribe of 24, which includes five children, three sons-in-law, two daughters-in-law, and 16 grandkids. Reach out to Dr. Michelle and find out more about her book, her coaching for dads and daughters, and her podcast, The Dad Whisperer, at drmichellewatson.com. Email: drmichellewatson@gmail.comOffice Phone: 503.244.6160Cell Phone: 503.476.5551Website: drmichellewatson.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/drmichellewatsonInstagram: michellejwatson and thedadwhispererpodcastTwitter: @mwatsonphdLinkedIn: Dr. Michelle Watson CanfieldThe Dad Whisperer Podcast: Apple + Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify Let's Stay Connected! Scroll down and find the free gift I created for you! More freebies can be found on my homepage! When you grab one or all of them, you will also receive a newsletter from me about once a month with encouragement and great resources! Love Fierce Calling? Following, rating, and leaving a review over at Podchaser helps others discover the show too! Need a Speaker for Your Next Women's Event? Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let's talk about me speaking at your next women's event... I love speaking God's truth into the lives of women! Free Gifts for You... Grab your free gift below, and find more free downloads on my homepage! Love & God's Perfect Peace to You! Doris

What does the Bible say about the roles of women in the church, home, and workplace? Are women limited to only certain roles? My guest this week is Julie Zine Coleman. From a place of love, of both the Word of God and others, Julie unpacks Scriptures that have long been misunderstood regarding women and traditional gender roles. This episode, Losing Limitations and Finding Freedom for Women Through God's Design, will knock your socks off! Do people still say that? Listen in to see what I mean. We're talking about Julie's book, On Purpose: Understanding God's Freedom for Women Through Scripture , where she shares her findings about roles, purposes, and callings for women after digging deep in the Word. I know what Julie shares will encourage, inspire, and challenge you--so listen in while I have a chat with Julie Zine Coleman. In Losing Limitations and Finding Freedom for Women Through God's Design, we talked about this book ... Favorite quotes from Losing Limitations and Finding Freedom for Women Through God's Design: "There's such a great reward in taking the time to dig deep." "The truth is--the Bible does not limit women." - Julie Zine Coleman More About Julie ... Julie Zine Coleman is managing editor for Arise DAILY devotionals and a longtime writer and speaker. She holds a master’s in biblical studies. Julie serves on the pulpit team at her church, New Hope Chapel, and preaches about 1/4 of the sermons. She delights in teaching Bible study skills that enable people to dig into Scripture for themselves. Julie lives near Annapolis, Maryland, where she and her husband, Steve, raised four children. Let's Stay Connected! Scroll down and find the free gift I created for you! More freebies can be found on my homepage! When you grab one or all of them, you will also receive a newsletter from me about once a month with encouragement and great resources! Love Fierce Calling? Following, rating, and leaving a review over at Podchaser helps others discover the show too! Need a Speaker for Your Next Women's Event? Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let's talk about me speaking at your next women's event... I love speaking God's truth into the lives of women! Free Gifts for You... Grab your free gift below, and find more free downloads on my homepage! Love & God's Perfect Peace to You! Doris

Have you ever compared yourself to the Proverbs 31 woman and failed miserably? When we read this passage in the Bible, at first glance we might view her virtues as unattainable. But when we do, we're missing what this passage is truly all about. Did you know the Proverbs 31 passage holds a military theme? Or that it is an acrostic poem of the Hebrew alphabet? Listen to this week's episode, Why we are the Proverbs 31 woman--A Fascinating Look Into the Hebrew Text, and gain a new and fresh perspective on this beloved passage. My guest this week is Lauren Crews, author of Strength of a Woman: Why You Are Proverbs 31 . In her book, Lauren deep-dives into the Hebrew text and discovers the truth about the Proverbs 31 woman. She shares her insights with us and they are truly fascinating. I know what Lauren shares will encourage, inspire, and challenge you--so listen in while I have a chat with Lauren Crews. In Why We Are the Proverbs 31 Woman--A Fascinating Look Into the Hebrew Text, We're talking all about this amazing book ... Strength of a Woman More About Lauren ... Lauren Crews is an award-winning author and holds an MDiv from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. With twenty years’ experience in women’s ministry, she dives deep into God’s word and is eager to share the many layers with women in all roles of life. She resides in Jacksonville, FL with her husband and two brown labs who have their humans well trained. Let's Stay Connected! Scroll down and grab my free resources. When you do you will also receive a monthly newsletter with encouragement and great resources! Love Fierce Calling? Following, rating, and leaving a review over at Podchaser helps others discover the show too! Need a Speaker for Your Next Women's Event? Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let's talk about me speaking at your next women's event... I love speaking God's truth into the lives of women! Free Gifts for You... Grab one of my free downloads by scrolling down to the bottom of the page! Love & God's Perfect Peace to You! Doris

Do you struggle with finding just the right words to say what you feel? Need a special gift for your mom or that mama figure in your life? I've got just the thing! This week on Fierce Calling, I'm sharing an episode I did with Blythe Daniel and Dr. Helen McIntosh last March. This mother-daughter team co-authored the book, I Love You, Mom! Cherished Word Gifts From My Heart to Yours, and it's filled with precious word gifts for a mom's heart. Since Mother's Day is just a few weeks away, now is the perfect time to re-share this episode! This is one of the most beautiful books I've ever seen and it's chock-full of words of affirmation for moms! These word gifts will bless and encourage a mama's heart. A love letter to moms filled with Scripture, this book is the perfect way to express your love for your mom or that mama figure in your life. Hear how the book came about, unique gift ideas for the book, and why this mother-daughter team is so passionate about affirming moms. I know what these amazing ladies shared will encourage, inspire, and challenge you--so listen in to my chat with Blythe Daniel and Dr. Helen McIntosh! By The Way... Did you know Fierce Calling is on the Spark Network found on the Edifi App? Fierce Calling is one of many Christian podcasts available on the Edifi app. To listen to this podcast and other amazing Christian podcasts, go to the Apple or Google Play stores and download the app today! Check Out This Beautiful Book! I Love You Mom Book Favorite Quotes from Precious Word Gifts for a Mom's Heart "...I think we all need that affirmation...I see you and God sees you and you have a special role to fill." - Blythe Daniel "...there's so much about memories and we don't stop very long in our culture, our rapid pace, to remember." - Dr. Helen McIntosh Connect with Blythe and Dr. Helen! You can connect with Blythe and Dr. Helen on the contact page at theblythedanielagency.com on Facebook, Instagram, or email info@theblythedanielagency.com. Grab copies of their book for Mother's Day or any day! We don't need a special occasion to bless sweet mamas with a double-dose of encouragement! More about Blythe & Dr. Helen... Helen McIntosh & Blythe Daniel Blythe Daniel is a literary agent, author, and marketer with 20 plus years of experience in publishing. She is a speaker at writer’s conferences and is interviewed for podcasts and webinars. She links hundreds of bloggers with millions of readers through BlogAbout. Her passion is helping authors share their unique stories. She lives in Colorado with her husband and three children. Dr. Helen McIntosh, EdD, Counseling Psychology, is a counselor, speaker, educator, and author. Her work has appeared in Guideposts, ParentLife, and HomeLife magazines. She resides in Georgia with her husband Jim. They have two children, a son Bryan and daughter Blythe, and five grandchildren. Let's Stay Connected! Scroll down and grab my free resources. When you do you will also receive a monthly newsletter with encouragement and great resources! Love Fierce Calling? Following, rating, and leaving a review over at Podchaser helps others discover the show too! Need a Speaker for Your Next Women's Event? Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let's talk about me speaking at your next women's event... I love speaking God's truth into the lives of women! Free Gifts for You... Grab one of my free downloads by scrolling down to the bottom of the page! Love & God's Perfect Peace to You! Doris

What if parenting could be peaceful, purposeful, and playful? Have you ever considered play as being just as important for adults as it is for kids? Today, we're chatting about how we were created to play. My guest this week is Joy Wendling, who is passionate about helping moms enjoy parenting as they teach their children about Jesus. She's also passionate about reminding us we were all created to play and can encounter Jesus through play. Her name fits her perfectly! She is a joy to talk with, and she is joyfully taking action where her passion, compassion, and conviction intersect. If you need refreshment and encouragement, you'll find it here. I know what Joy shares will encourage, inspire, and challenge you! So listen in while I have a chat with Joy Wendling. A Few Favorite Quotes from We Were Created to Play "In college, I was introduced to Jesus as a friend--and for today. That it wasn't just this thing that we could experience after we died--it wasn't just about getting to heaven, it was about living life with Jesus. When that happened, my whole world changed." "Abundant life became this thing that I understood in a new way ." --Joy Wendling Connect with Joy and learn more about how we were created to play ... You can connect with Joy at createdtoplay.com and find links to her podcast, coaching, and speaking! If what Joy shared intrigued you, be sure to book a free consult! More about Joy ... Enthusiastic and passionate with a simple, yet profound message, Joy Wendling is a writer, speaker, podcaster, and founder of Created to Play. Jesus has always been a part of her life, but not until college did she come to know him as a friend and understand an authentic, daily relationship with him. This experience led to Joy's passion for equipping families to take responsibility for their children's discipleship. Joy believes play is the best way to engage children, as well as an essential part of the abundant life and complete joy offered to us through Christ. When she isn't serving parents and children's ministry leaders, you can find Joy at home in the Pacific Northwest, laughing and playing with her five daughters and husband. Love Fierce Calling? If you love Fierce Calling, please leave a rating and review on Podchaser or wherever you are listening to this podcast. And... Do you need a speaker for your next women's event? Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let's talk about me speaking at your next women's event... I love speaking God's truth into the lives of women! Free Gifts for You... Grab one of my free downloads by scrolling down to the bottom of the page! Love & God's Perfect Peace to You! Doris  

Are you on a journey to find true health? I sure am! What if we could be fueled into transformation and find the place where grace meets health? Today we're talking about vision-driven choices for grace-fueled health, and you won't want to miss this conversation. My guest this week is Robin Rhine McDonald, who is passionate about helping people find balance, get healthy, and create sustainable healthy lifestyles. Through her own health journey she discovered why so many are unable to find true health and maintain a healthy lifestyle--they're missing one important piece, or should we say person--God. Find out: How to create true transformation in your health so you can live out your fierce calling How a healthy lifestyle can pave the way to living your God-given purpose Why Jesus cares about your physical health How to steward your body by taking hold of grace I know what Robin shares will encourage, inspire, and challenge you! Please share this episode and listen in while I have a chat with Robin Rhine McDonald. A Favorite Quote from Vision-Driven Choices for Grace-Fueled Health "...the reality is, if we do not have health and vitality, we will be hindered in doing what God has called us to do." --Robin Rhine McDonald Connect with Robin and learn more about vision-driven choices for grace-fueled health ... You can connect with Robin at madewellhealth.com and here: Instagram Facebook More about Robin ... Robin Rhine McDonald is a Faith-Based Holistic Health Coach, proud mom and wife with a passion for supporting and empowering Jesus-loving women to gain true health while losing weight through her sustainable, grace-based process. She loves to help women ditch chronic dieting and disease for holistic health and wellness. She mixes her seminary background with her study of integrative nutrition to help women develop the energy and vitality to live out their unique God-given calling.  Love Fierce Calling? If you love Fierce Calling, please leave a rating and review on Podchaser or wherever you are listening to this podcast. And... Do you need a speaker for your next women's event? Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let's talk about me speaking at your next women's event... I love speaking God's truth into the lives of women! Free Gifts for You... Grab one of my free downloads by scrolling down to the bottom of the page! Love & God's Perfect Peace to You! Doris  

Have you ever experienced some type of trauma, perhaps childhood trauma? This week I welcome back my friend, Danielle Bernock. Danielle found healing from childhood trauma and neglect and now it's her fierce calling and mission to help others find healing. Because Danielle is walking in her calling, others are overcoming trauma through the love that heals. Danielle is passionate about seeing others not just survive, but thrive and reclaim what rightfully belongs to them in the name of Jesus. I know what Danielle shares will encourage, inspire, and challenge you, so listen in while I have a chat with Danielle Bernock. A Few Favorite Quotes by Danielle from Overcoming Trauma Through the Love that Heals "... I've learned how much people need that encouragement--they need that love." "I wanted to encourage people--I wanted to come against that fear." "Trauma is what happens inside a person--trauma is personal." Connect with Danielle and learn more about overcoming trauma through the love that heals ... You can connect with Danielle at daniellebernock.com and find all her books, link to her podcast, coaching info, social media links, courses, and more! More about Danielle ... Danielle Bernock Danielle Bernock is an international, award-winning author, speaker, podcast host, trauma-informed self-love coach, and the founder of 4F Media. For years she has been helping men, women, and organizations EMERGE with clear vision of their value, TAKE ownership of their choices, and CHART a path to their promise, becoming Victorious Souls who embrace the change from survive to thrive, through the power of the love of God. Her books include: Emerging With Wings, A Bird Named Payn, Love’s Manifesto, and Because You Matter. In addition to her own books, Danielle has written for numerous online publications, and her stories have been published in two book anthologies. Having successfully emerged free from her own childhood trauma, she created courses, and workshops to implement her 4 step-proven process called S.E.L.F. Her mantra is “love yourself from survive to thrive” and she’s known as “that lady on the internet who loves you.” Danielle enjoys life with her husband Michael, in Michigan, near their adult children and grandchildren. Love Fierce Calling? If you love Fierce Calling, please leave a rating and review on Podchaser or wherever you are listening to this podcast. And... Do you need a speaker for your next women's event? Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let's talk about me speaking at your next women's event... I love speaking God's truth into the lives of women! Free Gifts for You... Grab one of my free downloads by scrolling down to the bottom of the page! Love & God's Perfect Peace to You! Doris

Have you ever felt called to step out in faith, but thought it sounded crazy? Today we're talking about the pivot. There's freedom in the pivot and changing our direction to follow God's plan. My guest this week is Connie Albers, author of Parenting Beyond the Rules: Raising Teens with Confidence and Joy The title alone says it all and we're talking about the book, and so much more. This show is not just for parents, it's for anyone with a Fierce Calling. That's you! I know what Connie shares will encourage, inspire, and challenge you! Please share this episode and listen in while I have a chat with Connie Albers. A Few Favorite Quotes from There's Freedom in the Pivot--Changing Our Direction to Follow God's Plan "... if I'm praying for it I really have to be willing to say yes to what God might be doing." "When we know our strengths--when we're operating out of our strengths--we free up others to step in where we are weak. Two things happen: We allow other people to use their strengths to complete the project, the task, or the assignment that God has given so we can work together, and we also learn to rely on the Lord in our weaknesses, his strength is made known ..." --Connie Albers Connect with Connie and learn more about how there's freedom in the pivot--changing direction to follow God's plan ... You can connect with Connie at conniealbers.com your one-stop-shop to check out her books, podcast, speaking info, resources, and social media links. Don't forget to check out her Equipped to Be podcast and subscribe so you'll never miss an episode! More about Connie ... Connie Albers Connie Albers has spent much of her adult life as a homeschool mom to five and mompreneur with an outreach and ministry to parents through her speaking and various leadership roles. Balancing her roles as a wife, speaker, homeschooler, consultant, and active volunteer, she has learned to discover resilience and joy within the stop and go of life. She is a respected leader, social media enthusiast, and trusted mom who understands the challenges of balancing the demands of life, work and homeschool.  More recently, Connie is equipping parents with her book Parenting beyond the Rules by NavPress, which outlines positive approaches to parenting today’s teenagers. Her enthusiasm for helping others navigate social media led to her taking a post at Social Media Marketing World. Connie’s mission is to equip moms to live their life with confidence and joy. Connie and her husband, Tom, have been married 35 years and have homeschooled their five children, all of whom continued their studies and graduated from the University of Central Florida. She is a speaker, a spokeswoman, an author, and owner of ConnieAlbers.com. Her latest venture is fulfilling her desire to equip women in their calling through her Equipped To Be ministry. The Albers family lives in Winter Garden, Florida. Love Fierce Calling? If you love Fierce Calling, please leave a rating and review on Podchaser or wherever you are listening to this podcast. And... Do you need a speaker for your next women's event? Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let's talk about me speaking at your next women's event... I love speaking God's truth into the lives of women! Free Gifts for You... Grab one of my free downloads by scrolling down to the bottom of the page! Love & God's Perfect Peace to You! Doris

Have you struggled with anxiety or know someone who has? Then you're in the right place today because we're talking all about stomping out anxiety with God's truth. My guest this week is Caris Snider, author of Anxiety Elephants: 31-Day Devotional to Help Stomp Out Your Anxiety, and Anxiety Elephants for Tween Boys and Tween Girls. So listen in with a friend and please share this important episode. I know what Caris shares will encourage, inspire, and challenge you! Favorite Quotes from Stomping Out Anxiety with God's Truth "... the truth is--I was a master of the mask--no one saw what was truly going on behind that ..." " ... but in that moment it was like God said, 'Look up--look up' and when I looked up, those lies that I was gonna be alone, that I was gonna be rejected were proven false." --Caris Snider Connect with Caris and learn more about stomping out anxiety with God's truth ... You can connect with Caris at carissnider.com and find her amazing books, social media links, her speaking info, her Anxiety Elephants Deep Dive Course, and more! More about Caris ... Caris Snider Caris Snider is a Christian Communicator who shares the hope of God through writing, speaking, and leading worship. Her desire is to help women everywhere of all ages discover their value and worth. Through sharing her personal testimony, Caris wants them to encounter freedom to no longer hide behind a mask. She's been married to her husband, Brandon Snider, since April 2004, and they have two beautiful daughters. Zoe and Allye Grace.  Love Fierce Calling? If you love Fierce Calling, please leave a rating and review on Podchaser or wherever you are listening to this podcast. And... Do you need a speaker for your next women's event? Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let's talk about me speaking at your next women's event... I love speaking God's truth into the lives of women! Free Gifts for You... Grab one of my free downloads by scrolling down to the bottom of the page! Love & God's Perfect Peace to You! Doris

Have you felt it? That urge to plunge head-first into something bigger than yourself–to be used by God as a beacon of hope in the lives of others? But there’s that one thing –that hurt, pain, betrayal, loss, whatever-it-is that binds you up and holds you back. So how do we walk in our calling while our hearts are still mending? Your heart needs the Healer to mend the shattered shards as only He can. And even though you know that He can you wait because surely, a broken heart cannot be of service to anyone, right? The truth is… God’s Call on Your Life Happens in all Seasons Joseph Discovered How A Calling Happens in All Seasons--Even the Bad Ones Joseph understood this broken heart thing well. He was the most-loved favorite son–and his brothers knew it. A surefire recipe for a family feud. The brothers were further irked by Joseph’s crazy dreams of their sheaves of grain bowing to his, and his being center-stage in a celestial worship service of sorts. Actually irked isn’t the biblical word–hate is. And as we know, those dreams weren’t crazy at all–they were prophetic. Sometimes Our Journey Takes Unpleasant Turns Joseph’s dad sent him on a mission to check on his brothers and the flocks they were tending. But what happens next is often glossed over in light of the big picture outcome and a colorful coat. You may have first heard the story as a child in Sunday School. As an SS teacher, I’ve stood in front of countless adorable wiggling bodies and wandering eyeballs, trying to cram the story in between the I-miss-my-mom crocodile tears and, “When is it snack time, Mrs. Doris?” You may have taught this lesson to wiggly littles, too. Did your Road-Runner version sound like mine? “…then Joseph’s dad told him to look for his brothers and the flocks to see if they were all okay and Joseph went and when he was wondering the field looking for them a man asked him what he was looking for and Joseph said, “I’m looking for my brothers. Can you tell me where they are…” And the man told him where the brothers went so Joseph continued looking for his brothers and the brothers saw him coming and plotted to kill him and then Reuben said let’s not kill him but just throw him into the cistern and when Joseph reached them they stripped him of his coat of many colors, another reminder to them that their dad loved him best (which will be our art project after the story), and they were so jealous, and they threw him into the cistern and then they sat down to eat and then they saw these Ishmaelites so then they sold Joseph into slavery and then…” Maybe it wasn’t quite that rambly, and I probably took a breath somewhere in there, but we tell Bible stories so matter-of-factly and in a rush sometimes, don’t we? And I can’t blame wiggly little people for my rush to the end. I think we all want to jump right to the good part–the part where Joseph’s brothers show up and find out Joseph’s calling by God is the reason they aren’t going to starve to death. The part when we see the goodness of the Lord, and how Joseph fulfilled his calling while his heart was still broken. The part when they finally get those crazy dreams. But today, that glossed-over part of the story made me cry. When Joseph didn’t find his brothers and the flocks where they were supposed to be, he still kept looking for them. Isn't That So Like Our Jesus? Isn’t that so like our Jesus? Even when we aren’t where we are supposed to be and even when we probably don’t deserve to be found, he pursues us anyway. Even though some may reject Him, He still loves unconditionally. And we can’t point fingers and say we would never do that because truth is, we have. We have chosen other things over our first love. Probably not intentionally, but we most definitely have. But the Lord is gracious and patient, slow to anger and quick to love. Even when we break His heart. God Redeems Unpleasant Journeys for Good

Have you ever thought about it? What is the difference between peace and complacency? What about comfort vs. comfortable? We all want peace, don't we? But it got me thinking about how easily complacency can disguise itself as peace. There's something I used to pray about continually. Something important. I don't worry about it and I feel at peace about it, but then it struck me. Although I've surrendered it to God, I've also stopped praying about it. Perhaps rather than having true peace, I've become complacent. Maybe I've become satisfied with things as they are and not as they could be. How many times have we heard someone say, "I'm good." And how many times have we said it, too? And we've all heard the phrase, "It's all good." So is it? Or have we excepted things as they are, and that's it? Good is good. God is good. I'm not dissing good. As long as it doesn't mean we're settling. That we've quit doing what we've been called to do. As long as hat we've quit praying for that thing, or that person, or that people. That we've just plain given it up. Retired from the vibrant life we've been created for to settle for just existing. So What is the Difference Between Peace and Complacency? Here's the definition of complacency straight from Merriam-Webster: Complacency - a feeling of being satisfied with how things are and not wanting to try to make them better : a complacent feeling or condition Now here's the definition of peace also from Merriam-Webster: Peace - freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions: harmony in personal relations Side by side, which would you choose? Check this out: You women who are so complacent, rise up and listen to me;you daughters who feel secure, hear what I have to say!In little more than a year you who feel secure will tremble;the grape harvest will fail, and the harvest of fruit will not come. Isaiah 32:9-10 (NIV) Now this: And the work of righteousness will be peace,And the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever. Isaiah 32:17 (NASB) When we become complacent, we're probably good when things are good. But what happens when the trials come? If we stray from our firm foundation, we'll crumble like a cookie. Here are a few dangers of complacency: It stunts our spiritual growth. It blurs the lines between comfortable and comfort. It causes us to settle for less than God's best. It keeps us stuck when we need to move forward. It makes us lukewarm, neither hot nor cold. It tempts us to withdraw-to become isolated. It will distance us from God. Are we experiencing the comfort of true peace or settling for the comfortable of complacency? Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.   John 14:27 NASB I didn't see the words PEACE or FREEDOM in the definition of complacency, did you? Of course, Jesus' peace is supernatural. You won't find that definition in Merriam-Webster. That's why God says it's a peace that surpasses all understanding. We can have it even when it doesn't make sense. Stay in prayer. Without ceasing. Which means don't give up. Stay close to the sisterhood-Isolation is a dangerous place. Don't go there. Stay alert because the enemy loves when we're distracted. The world needs to know that true peace is found in Jesus. Is there something you've been praying about for a very long time? I'd love to hear your thoughts. Have you ever become complacent? Blessings,