Praise Through It
By Elisa Preston
Praise Through ItJul 22, 2021
Darci J. Steiner + Joy in Suffering
Joy in suffering.
God's presence in the darkness.
That's what Darci is here to teach us.
I had such a hard time choosing just two quotes for this week’s Praise Through It, so I’m going to include some of her other gems right here, instead of my own words like I usually do.
If you are in a dark place of suffering, or have been before, or want to arm up for battle in the future, this episode is for you.
Read below for some snippets, and then spend 30 minutes here, listening.
I was like, ‘Really, a second time? What didn’t I learn the first time, God?’
I stopped praying for awhile. I learned how much of my prayers were genie prayers. … asking God for this, and asking God for that. And ‘can you do this?’ and ‘can you do that?’
I developed this friendship with God in this really deep, dark place.
There’s an understanding in suffering that can only come from God.
We meet in a dark place, but it’s a beautiful place, too. Because God inhabits this dark place. It’s not the same darkness Satan inhabits.
Yes, I have received a lot of joy in suffering.
The beauty beyond the thorns is Jesus.
I can sit in fear and not be afraid because I know He’s working good in suffering.
I don’t know the why. But I trust. I know that He is good. And He is God, and He knows what He’s doing. So I’m just facing Him, and letting Him direct.
If anyone feels like they’re on a bumpy road, like washboard bumpy, instead of on a smooth road, that doesn’t mean your purpose is thwarted. Look at what God is trying to show you because it might be better than what you had planned.
Paul Henderson: Finding Freedom
“The reality is: you are free.”
Paul Henderson said that during our podcast conversation when we recorded about two months ago, and I still have those words rolling around in my head.
More than the line of a worship song. More than a line in a podcast. More than a (good, true) soundbite. It is REALITY. I am free. You are free.
In this conversation, Paul Henderson—author and Dean of Students for an elementary & middle school—talks to us about living in that reality for ourselves and for the people around us. With constant encouragement and a raw faith that shows itself over and over, Paul talks about his decision to have a relationship with God, his work with his students, marriage, parenting, and more.
Listen in for 25 minutes of how to find freedom & then stay right in it, every single day.
Show notes
Slave No More: Conquering the Master Within
Paul Henderson online
Paul Henderson on Instagram (Fatherhood On the Fly)
Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Virginia Commonwealth University
Farmville, Virginia school system 1957-1964
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Heather Eberhart + Trusting God in the Changes
“Oh you’re used to that right? You guys move all the time.”
I’ve heard that sentence a few times because of the … 14? … collective residences we’ve had in the 16 years we’ve been married. The truth is, though, that it actually isn’t that easy based on the number of times you’ve done it in the past. Our last move was actually the most difficult, and our third was the easiest.
Heather Eberhart is a military wife—and the only repeat guest on Praise Through It (Together) this summer!—and she talks with such honesty and grace and knowledge about what it’s like having your military family uprooted … again. How do we parent through those huge transitions? How do we hold onto our faith and rest on God’s absolute promises when everything swirling around us feels the opposite of sure and absolute?
Listen in to find out how.
Show notes
Connect with Heather online
Sign up for Heather’s newsletter
Resources for the military family
Heather on Instagram
Kristen Strong
When Change Finds You
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Dorina Gilmore: Being a Glory Chaser
Do you know someone in your life whose superpower is JOY?
If not, meet Dorina Gilmore. She is an author, speaker, and self-titled Glory Chaser. She teaches us how to chase God’s glory—look for his goodness & his glory—in every aspect of our lives. And this passion of her heart comes from a deeply sincere place, since the plan she had for her life has been thrown off course more than once.
Listen in for encouragement on how to see God’s glory in your big and small moments.
Show notes
Dorina online
Dorina on Instagram
Fort Bragg 10-miler
Army 10-miler
HaitiGO
Walk Run Soar
A Trip to the Garbage Dump: When God Enlarged My Heart for Mercy
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Megan Ericson + the Good Side of Socials
I’m not known for my love of social media, but Megan Ericson is. She is quite literally the one voice I listen to when I need or want to learn something about social media. She keeps it simple, easy, and judgment-free. And she is a JOY to talk to!
Megan walked me through the Instagram world in 2021 when I was part of her Instagram challenge. In this conversation, she walks us through the good side of social media, how to be a light in a world of trolls, and how to work your kids through the online space.
Social media is not going away, that is for sure. In its evolution over the last 20 years, we’ve heard everything from social media saves lives to social media has ruined the world.
Maybe there’s an in-between, and Megan can for sure teach us how to show up and be a positive light in the online space.
Show notes
MeganEricson.com
Megan Ericson on Instagram
Megan on Twitter
Megan on Facebook
Megan on LinkedIn
Kellerman’s Mountain House (Dirty Dancing Experience)
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Julie Oyer: When God Pivots Your Life
Show notes
Drumline / Drum core
Hope Church
Eastman Kodak
Delco
Xerox
Zoom
Eastman School of Music
Praise Through It: Change
Psalm 46
Purpose Driven Life
Psalm 63
Sheltering Mercy
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Latasha Ferguson: Body Image Overcomer
Latasha & I could talk for hoursssssss.
We don’t here. You’re welcome. But it’s a great conversation filled with truth and laughter and new friendship. She is as open and honest as anyone could be about body image struggles from childhood all the way on up.
Listen in here for some great encouragement on eating those three cookies, exercising because it’s a privilege to do so, and loving the body God gave to and made for you.
Show notes
Overcome to Become podcast on Spotify
Overcome to Become podcast on Apple
Latashaferguson.com
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Emily Bernath: Sexual Assault Survivor & God's Unconditional Love
Emily Bernath is an author, a spiritual leader, and a sexual assault survivor.
She shares all the pieces of her story in her books & with other women so that they might know their worth in Christ, no matter what has happened in their past.
In our chat, Emily reminds us that our identity is 100% rooted in God, in who He made us to be.
Show notes
Broken Lenses: Volume 1
Broken Lenses: Volume 2
Emily Bernath (website)
Emily Bernath on Instagram
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Alana Dawson: Keeping God in the Middle of Your Dreams
Alana is a podcaster, podcast coach, entrepreneur, and constant encourager for (mostly) women (but sometimes men!) who are ready to live out their calling but aren’t quite sure how to get there. She is so passionate about dreaming with God, and then keeping Him in the center while we move toward that dream, that you can’t help but listen to her when she tells us what to do!
After chatting with Alana, I set up a solid (realistic) summer plan for journaling, dreaming, and setting a vision for my future with God in the middle of it.
Listen in for encouragement & inspiration to live the dreams God has put in your heart.
Show notes
Alana Dawson online
Alana Dawson on Instagram
Podcasting Party FB group
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
Lindsay Letters
Productivity Prayer
Dawson’s Creek
Enneagram
Jenna Erlandson + Motherhood, Expectations + Faith
Jenna Erlandson is a biological mom to five kiddos - after being told by years of infertility that she wouldn’t have a baby.
“I think we’re finally done proving the doctors wrong,” she said — after a surprise set of twins at the end of 2021!
Jenna is so generous with her story, her heart, and some hard mama truths that so many of us can relate to.
Show notes
Jenna Erlandson online
Bridge of the Faithful podcast on Spotify
Bridge of the Faithful podcast on Apple
Secret Confessions of a Mom Who Wants to Quit
What is postpartum depression?
What is postpartum anxiety?
What is postpartum OCD?
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Kellie Haddock: Hope Giver & Musician
Kellie Haddock is a singer, a songwriter, and a Hope Giver.
She shows up on all socials in the brightest, happiest pink you’ll ever see.
And she talks to us about using hope as a choice, about how God trusts us with tragedy and what we can do with that, and why her new album is called Orchids From Fire.
Show notes
Kellie Haddock.com
Orchids From Fire
Kellie on Instagram
Kellie on Spotify
Thank You Project
elisapreeston.com
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27: My One Question for My Daily Life
Asking myself, What will this choice look like in 30 years? is one of my daily cornerstones that helps me live well.
In 30 years, you’ll have built on habit after habit and what you have is what you will have built, and I’m not talking about tangible things like a specific size house or brand of car. I’m talking about the status of your heart.
If I want my daughter to know she is loved at all times, I’ll teach rather than scold.
If I want her to know that her creativity matters, I’ll hold my tongue when that creativity takes us on a wild, messy ride.
If I want my own heart to know that God made me on purpose and for a purpose, I’ll write my words and nobody else’s.
I want a future that holds a long line of choices that point to all of the above, and more.
I do that by constantly asking and answering that one question:
What will this choice look like in 30 years?
If you’re wondering how to use that question for yourself, listen in here or read right here!
Show notes
Barn doors
My favorite chocolate chip cookies
Enneagram
Kellie Haddock
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26: Change
Maybe, like me, you have a hard time recognizing when something needs to change.
We know that we’re restless and tired at the same time but we’re not sure why because we didn’t used to feel this way but nothing has changed…
We know that something feels off but we can’t put our finger on it.
We know that we need a break, but we’re not sure from what.
We know that we’re unhappy, but we look around at the people and the four walls holding us together and wonder what we’re unhappy about.
If you’re wondering how to recognize when something needs to change—and how to have the courage to change it--listen in here or read along here.
Show notes:
Robin Jones Gunn - Sierra Jensen series
Magic Tree House -- Hour of the Olympics
James 1:17
Nike
Seasons episode of Praise Through It
Snow episode of Praise Through It (called Heart Pivots)
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25: Fear
There’s a difference between living in fear, and letting fear live with you.
There’s a difference between letting fear lead you, and letting it walk beside you.
Fear propels bravery. We literally cannot have bravery without fear, because without fear there would be no reason to be brave. We have to learn how to let the fear live beside us, walk along with us, but not win the moment.
If you’re wondering how to make sure fear doesn’t get the final say, listen in here or read right below!
Show notes:
Leann Rimes - One Way Ticket (Because I Can)
Book of Common Prayer, 2019 Anglican Church of North America edition
Official definition of Fear
Emily P. Freeman - Next Right Thing Guided Journal
Read the transcript of this episode
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24.5: Praise, Kindness & Hate According to a 6-year-old
What is ‘praise’ to you?
What is ‘kindness’ to you?
What is ‘hate’ to you?
When I asked my 6-year-old daughter if she wanted to help me practice something with a microphone, I had no idea she’d need this little coaching when it came to recording a podcast episode. And I had no idea she’d have such strong, powerful questions.
I hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed recording.
If you’re wondering what a 6 year old thinks about praise, kindness, hate, fear, bravery, and fun, listen in!
Show notes:
Donate to Annabeth’s Jump Rope for Heart (the 2022 version) challenge
Her favorite Bible story podcast
24: Numbering our Days
Numbering our days.
Making them count.
Making them matter to us in a way that brings our heart closer to wisdom, & with a foundation of mercy, grace, kindness, goodness, love & faith.
If you’re wondering how to make the most of your days, listen in.
Show notes:
Less Like Me by Zach Williams
Episode 19: Staying on Assignment
Psalm 90
23: Friendship
We have upset, upheaval, and unrest at almost every major turn in our world right now. And every keyboard warrior has the answer to every one of them.
One remedy I think we forget: friendship.
It’s the friend who will come for me. A friend who will go into the dark for me. A friend who will say, it’s okay that you got yourself lost, I’ll help you find your way. A friend who will say, I’m on my way. A friend who understands that wayfinding is not my strength but doesn’t tease me about it until I’m out of the woods.
That is friendship.
And how well we would do if we leaned into that on a daily basis.
No matter your season of friendship — an awkward season, looking for a revival in that area, or are over-the-moon grateful for the friends in your life — listen in here or read right below!
Show notes:
Friends from Elementary School Reunited on a Battlefield in Vietnam
Clean Streets: Sanitation workers recall their friendship on the streets of Manhattan
Friends During the Vietnam War Reunite Almost 50 Years After
Longtime Friends Reconnect in a Homeless Shelter
“You’re My Forever Love”: Reflections On Over 30 Years Of Friendship
Listen to the podcast episode of this blog
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22: Seasons
The capital-S Seasons of our lives are the most obvious ones that bring change. A new job, relationship, child, weather season... all of those usher in change in a big way, they define us and times in our lives very clearly.
Lately, I've been more interested in the little-s seasons of our lives. The seasons of joy and sorrow, grief and rejoicing, anxiety and confidence.
I think we too often fold those little-s seasons into the big-S seasons, conflating the entire season with only one feeling, assigning ourselves these absolute traits based on the ebb and flow of the human experience. I think we miss the fact that these little-s seasons could be looked at as STATES of our lives instead of TRAITS of our lives and our personhood.
If you're wondering how to move in and out of the seasons of your life with some sanity and grace, listen in.
Show notes:
My Holocaust-Survivor Grandmother Found Happiness Everywhere. I See Her in My Daughter.
Friends
Mike & Molly
Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist
Psalm 48:14
Psalm 23
Ecclesiastes 3
My breakfast face
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21: Loneliness & Shared Humanity
Is there a way to feel less lonely, even in the midst of our loneliness?
What if it couldn't be cured, but it could be curbed? Alleviated in some way?
I think the answer lies in our shared humanity. Not necessarily looking into everyone's souls, but acknowledging we're not so alone in our feelings as we think we are. If only we would reach out, look around, sing some heart songs, and listen to other people's heart songs.
What does that mean?
Listen in to find out!
Show notes:
Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist
Enneagram
Praise Through It, episode 20: Heart Pivots
Monday Blessing || Moments of Delight
Monday mornings are for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC. When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life.
After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today.
If you want these blessings in your inbox as well as in your earbuds, sign up here. You'll hear from me on Monday mornings with encouraging notes for your daily life.
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20: Heart Pivots
How & why does God change a heart?
What do we do when our heart starts to pivot away from our current situation? What do we do when our life or situation looks like nothing what we imagined it would, even though we thought we were making wise choices?
Here's what I think: those initial feelings, the excitement and anticipation before the disappointment, are often to get our buy-in. Like, God is going to do what God’s going to do but if we could see the end of it we’d pull the e-brake quicker than you can say Boo. So we get a picture in our heads of what we think it’s going to be, we get there and do the thing, then if we’re mature and willing enough, we’ll change our picture so that through our disappointment we learn, grow, embrace, enjoy, cherish, and hope.
Immeasurable gifts we would not know had our hearts not changed when God prompted them to change.
If your heart is changing, or you're hoping for it to change because you're feeling kind of stuck, listen in.
Show notes:
IG: canada
IG: paradise.canada
IG: parks.canada
IG: explorecanada
IG: artisan Kristine MacDonald
Enneagram
Listen to the podcast episode of this blog
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Monday Blessing || For Your 2022
Monday mornings are for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC. When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life.
After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today.
If you want these blessings in your inbox as well as in your earbuds, sign up here. You'll hear from me on Monday mornings with encouraging notes for your daily life.
Wondering about the Enneagram? Email me here, get the Enneagram Overview freebie here, or read some info right here. Become part of my FRIDAY CREW - where together we learn and grow together in all things adulting, mostly using the framework of the Enneagram. Plus a fun GIF. Always a fun GIF. Sign up here!
19: Being On Assignment
What would change for me if I looked at the little things I do, not as menial tasks that don’t matter, but rather as part of me being on assignment?
Laundry.
Dishes.
Dinner.
Looking in someone’s eye and saying HI, THANK YOU, and BYE.
Answering a text message.
Buying lemonade from a 6-year-old’s lemonade stand.
Sending a gift card.
Feeding your animals.
Making breakfast.
Going for a walk.
Going to the gym.
Raking the leaves.
Changing your pool filter.
Taking the lint out of the dryer.
Why?
Because what if me being on assignment was me building a life that mattered?
Listen in for some ideas on how to stay on & live out your assignment.
Show notes:
Forgiveness
Unity
Hope
Therapy
Faith
Character traits
Waiting
Presence
Tab Time trailer
My Mama & me
Enneagram
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Blue Christmas: Faint & Faith
Christmas is not the most wonderful time of the year for *everyone*. Various life circumstances and happenings can steal the joy of the season right from us. We experience grief, hurt, faintness of heart, and messy spirits.
The good news, though? No matter the state of our hearts? Christmas with Jesus offers grace, healing, faithfulness & mercy.
We bring him grief; He gives us grace.
We bring him hurt; He offers healing.
We bring him faintness of heart; He remains faithful.
We bring him our messy spirits & selves; He extends mercy.
Join me for this four-part series, each episode a snippet of hope if your Christmas is more blue than it is merry & bright.
//
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Blue Christmas: Mess & Mercy
Christmas is not the most wonderful time of the year for *everyone*. Various life circumstances and happenings can steal the joy of the season right from us. We experience grief, hurt, faintness of heart, and messy spirits.
The good news, though? No matter the state of our hearts? Christmas with Jesus offers grace, healing, faithfulness & mercy.
We bring him grief; He gives us grace. We bring him hurt; He offers healing. We bring him faintness of heart; He remains faithful. We bring him our messy spirits & selves; He extends mercy.
Join me for this four-part series, each episode a snippet of hope if your Christmas is more blue than it is merry & bright.
//
Find extra encouragement on Instagram: @elisapreston
Join my Friday Crew! Framed by the Enneagram, we go through adulting & personality tips. Quick, actionable, helpful & entertaining! Plus, exclusive access to extra Enneagram content each week. Join me!
Blue Christmas: Hurt & Hope
Christmas is not the most wonderful time of the year for *everyone*. Various life circumstances and happenings can steal the joy of the season right from us. We experience grief, hurt, faintness of heart, and messy spirits.
The good news, though? No matter the state of our hearts? Christmas with Jesus offers grace, healing, faithfulness & mercy.
We bring him grief; He gives us grace.
We bring him hurt; He offers healing & hope.
We bring him faintness of heart; He remains faithful.
We bring him our messy spirits & selves; He extends mercy.
Join me for this four-part series, each episode a snippet of hope if your Christmas is more blue than it is merry & bright.
//
Find extra encouragement on Instagram: @elisapreston
Join my Friday Crew! Framed by the Enneagram, we go through adulting & personality tips. Quick, actionable, helpful & entertaining! Plus, exclusive access to extra Enneagram content each week. Join me!
Blue Christmas: Grief & Grace
18: The Daily Struggle of Communication
We can look at the success of our communication in two ways: the logistics--like, the actual thing that happens after the communication; and the long-term impact--any inside-out change that occurred as a result of the communication. The relationship, the character, the state of the heart.
Changing the outside is easy; it’s the inside-out change that makes all the difference. That’s where the heart stuff comes in. But when we change from the inside-out, when we do the heart work, everything else that flows from it is better because of that change.
So how do we change our communication from the inside out? How do we change our hearts so that our communication is pleasing and effective? I have three ideas.
First, we figure ourselves out.
Then, we seek to understand.
Last, we decide what’s worth it.
God’s love language is PEOPLE. He sent us a savior so that we would be free from the old law and embrace his final word of grace, and to me that says that people are pretty important to him. One way to honor that is by honoring his love language, honoring people. Which we can do when the goal of our communication is true, right, noble, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy.
Listen in for some ideas on how to up the love in your daily communication.
Monday Blessing || Feeling Behind in Life
Monday mornings are for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC. When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life.
After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today.
If you want these blessings in your inbox as well as in your earbuds, sign up here. You'll hear from me on Monday mornings with encouraging notes for your daily life.
Wondering about the Enneagram? Email me here, get the Enneagram Overview freebie here, or read some info right here. Become part of my FRIDAY CREW - where together we learn and grow together in all things adulting, mostly using the framework of the Enneagram. Plus a fun GIF. Always a fun GIF. Sign up here!
17: The Daily Struggle of Feeling Behind in Life
Tell me the truth: how many times have you had some variation of the thought: I’m behind or I’ve got to catch up or I’ll never get to do all they’re doing. If you’ve scrolled any social media ever, the answer is probably: at least once. But if we’re all being honest, it’s way more than that. We see these people doing all these things and we see ourselves doing less.
And then we consider ourselves behind.
I guess, to me, how am I behind if that’s not my story to live and tell?
How am I behind if that’s not where I’m supposed to be?
How am I behind if that’s not my path?
So how can we use the emergency break on this comparison game that leaves us feeling so behind? I’ve got some thoughts in this episode & some extras on Instagram & Facebook all week. Follow along for some encouragement on seeing this old burden of keeping up & still feeling behind in a new way.
Show notes:
Episode 3: Filters
Friends
Thirtysomething
TGIF
Wonder Years
The Book of Acts: Bible Project
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Monday Morning Blessings: soulful meditations to start your week
Monday Blessing || A Deep Breath
Monday mornings are for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC. When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life.
After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today.
If you want these blessings in your inbox as well as in your earbuds, sign up here. You'll hear from me on Monday mornings with encouraging notes for your daily life.
Wondering about the Enneagram? Email me here, get the Enneagram Overview freebie here, or read some info right here. Last Friday we started FRIDAY CREW - we're going to learn and grow together in all things adulting, mostly using the framework of the Enneagram. Plus a fun GIF. Always a fun GIF. Sign up here!
Monday Blessing || The Thorns in Your Shoe
Monday mornings are for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC. When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life.
After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today.
If you want these blessings in your inbox as well as in your earbuds, sign up here. You'll hear from me on Monday mornings with encouraging notes for your daily life.
Wondering about the Enneagram? Email me here, get the Enneagram Overview freebie here, or read some info right here. Last Friday we started FRIDAY CREW - we're going to learn and grow together in all things adulting, mostly using the framework of the Enneagram. Plus a fun GIF. Always a fun GIF. Sign up here!
16: The Daily Struggle of Forgiveness
There is plenty of advice on how, why, and when to offer forgiveness. And there is so much behind the act of forgiveness that doesn’t just include the offense, it can be tough to know which direction to go.
So … What’s the thing that brings us to a point of forgiveness that is meaningful and lasting?
Honestly, the only thing I could think of over months of thinking about this, is committing to it. Deciding that once we decide to forgive, that’s it. We have forgiven and nothing may be held for that offense from that day on. How do we do that? Listen in for some thoughts.
Show notes:
Cain and Abel
Jacob and Esau
Joseph and his brothers
I Love Lucy
Tom Brady & the NFL
The Grateful Dead
Cookie Monster
Sally’s Baking Addiction Chocolate Chip Cookies (have I made these almost every single week since March 2020? Yes. Commitment.)
Resources:
Domestic violence
Emotional abuse
BetterHelp.com
TalkSpace
Become part of my FRIDAY CREW - quick, actionable ADULTING tips, usually using the framework of the Enneagram. I promise interesting. I promise a GIF. I promise helpful. Right here or right down below.
Monday Morning Blessings: soulful meditations to start your week
Monday Blessing || Common Ground
Monday mornings are for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC. When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life.
After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today.
If you want these blessings in your inbox as well as in your earbuds, sign up here. You'll hear from me on Monday mornings with encouraging notes for your daily life.
Wondering about the Enneagram? Email me here, get the Enneagram Overview freebie here, or read some info right here. Last Friday we started FRIDAY CREW - we're going to learn and grow together in all things adulting, mostly using the framework of the Enneagram. Plus a fun GIF. Always a fun GIF. Sign up here!
Monday Blessing || Your Hopeful Heart
Monday mornings are for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC. When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life.
After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today.
If you want these blessings in your inbox as well as in your earbuds, sign up here. You'll hear from me on Monday mornings with encouraging notes for your daily life.
Wondering about the Enneagram? Email me here, get the Enneagram Overview freebie here, or read some info right here. Last Friday we started FRIDAY CREW - we're going to learn and grow together in all things adulting, mostly using the framework of the Enneagram. Plus a fun GIF. Always a fun GIF. Sign up here!
Monday Blessing || Getting Older
Monday mornings are for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC. When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life.
After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today.
If you want these blessings in your inbox as well as in your earbuds, sign up here. You'll hear from me on Monday mornings with encouraging notes for your daily life.
Today's podcast episode: The Daily Struggle of Gray Hair & Wrinkles. Listen on this same podcast feed!
Wondering about the Enneagram? Email me here, get the Enneagram Overview freebie here, or read some info right here. Last Friday we started FRIDAY CREW - we're going to learn and grow together in all things adulting, mostly using the framework of the Enneagram. Plus a fun GIF. Always a fun GIF. Sign up here!
15: The Daily Struggle of Gray Hair & Wrinkles
Gray hair & wrinkles?
Listen, this daily struggle hits all. of. us. With myriad ways to cover them up, maybe we can think of this old burden in a new way...
The first time my husband found a gray hair on the top of my head (because I’m not quite five feet tall so eventually someone was going to find the first one and it wasn’t going to be me) I am pretty sure I vehemently denied it. He thought it was hilarious. I thought it was the absolute opposite! I can’t very well look atop his head to see how well his hair follicles are faring through marriage and parenting and the ups and downs of careers and pandemics and such. Right? Right. So let it be, man.
Show notes:
Heather Gillis: Instagram post about going gray!
Wondering about the Enneagram? Start here!
Rod Stewart
Oil of Olay
Alan Jackson: The Older I Get
Get my FRIDAY CREW emails - quick, actionable ADULTING tips, usually using the framework of the Enneagram. I promise interesting. I promise a GIF. I promise helpful. Right here.
Monday Blessing || The Pickupable Pieces of Your Life
Monday mornings are for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC. When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life.
After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today.
If you want these blessings in your inbox as well as in your earbuds, sign up here. You'll hear from me on Monday mornings with encouraging notes for your daily life.
Wondering about the Enneagram? Email me here, get the Enneagram Overview freebie here, or read some info right here. Last Friday we started FRIDAY CREW - we're going to learn and grow together in all things adulting, mostly using the framework of the Enneagram. Plus a fun GIF. Always a fun GIF. Sign up here!
14: The Daily Struggle of Presence
Monday Blessing || When You're Wrong
Monday mornings are for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC. When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life.
After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today.
If you want these blessings in your inbox as well as in your earbuds, sign up here. You'll hear from me on Monday mornings with encouraging notes for your daily life.
Wondering about the Enneagram? Email me here, get the Enneagram Overview freebie here, or read some info right here. THIS FRIDAY, Sept. 24, I start FRIDAY CREW - we're going to learn and grow together in all things adulting, mostly using the framework of the Enneagram. Plus a fun GIF. Always a fun GIF. Sign up here!
Monday Blessing || A Life You Can Hang Your Hat On
Monday mornings are for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC. When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life.
After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today.
If you want these blessings in your inbox as well as in your earbuds, sign up here. You'll hear from me on Monday mornings & the 1st of every month with encouraging notes for your daily life.
Montgomery Gentry's Something to Be Proud Of (lyrics & video)
Wondering about the Enneagram? Email me here, get the Enneagram Overview freebie here, or read some info right here. Friday, Sept. 24, I start FRIDAY CREW - we're going to learn and grow together in all things adulting, mostly using the framework of the Enneagram. Plus a fun GIF. Always a fun GIF. Sign up here!
Monday Blessing || Restored Faith in Humanity
Monday mornings are for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC. When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life.
After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today.
If you want these blessings in your inbox as well as in your earbuds, sign up here. You'll hear from me on Monday mornings & the 1st of every month with encouraging notes for your daily life.
Luke Bryan's Most People Are Good (lyrics & video)
Wondering about the Enneagram? Email me here, get the Enneagram Overview freebie here, or read some info right here. I'll have some more for you this fall, including coaching services!
Praise Through It Together - The Great Sex Rescue with Sheila Gregoire
Sheila Gregoire is a gift to all of us. Her passion is strengthening marriages & families, and that is 100% clear in her work. Currently, her teaching is coming through on the topic of sex, an important one, yes?
We talk about her survey of 20,000 women who come from all points and ends of the ideological spectrum. She gives us numbers on what works and what doesn't, what culture has done to our men and women, and how we can make it better. She TEACHES & PREACHES, y'all. I promise.
Sheila is the face behind ToLoveHonorandVacuum.com, the largest single-blogger marriage blog. A sought-after speaker, she’s also an award-winning author of nine books, including The Good Girl’s Guide to Great Sex and her latest: The Great Sex Rescue, which has been featured in the New York Times Book Review, Publishers Weekly, and the Washington Post. Sheila has a Masters in Public Administration and Master of Arts in Sociology both from Queen’s University. Sheila built the successful blog, To Love, Honor, and Vacuum, with traffic of one million page views a month. Her email list is 45,000 strong and her social media reach is over 100,000. Her podcast, Bare Marriage, has more than 5,000 downloads each week. Sheila has spoken at churches and conferences around the globe. She is a frequent contributor at Family Life Canada events. She has bylines at Religion News Service, Relevant Magazine, and other news sources. Sheila and her husband Keith, a pediatrician, live in Belleville Ontario. They have two grown daughters and one very adorable grandson who lives down the road. She enjoys hiking, birdwatching, RV camping trips, and board games. And she knits - even in line at the grocery store.
We talk about:
Bare Marriage podcast
Co-author Joanna Sawatsky
Co-author Rebecca Gregoire Lindenbach
Fixed it for you series: Methadone statement
Love & Respect
What is a Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist?
The Great Sex Rescue
Enneagram overview
Enneagram Coaching
Connect with Sheila:
https://tolovehonorandvacuum.com
https://instagram.com/sheilagregoire
https://facebook.com/sheila.gregoire.books
https://twitter.com/sheilagregoire
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdO1v4LdyqZV-m_VMlH5VGg
https://greatsexrescue.com/
Monday Blessing || Questions
For Summer 2021, Monday mornings will be for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC. When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life.
After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today.
If you want these blessings in your inbox as well as in your earbuds, you'll get a matching GIF (starting now!) & get a quick, actionable relationship strategy (starting this fall) - sign up here. You'll hear from me on Monday mornings & the 1st of every month with encouraging notes for your daily life.
Elisabeth Bennett's 60-Day Enneagram Devotional series: here.
Wondering about the Enneagram? Email me here, get on the shortlist to be the first to receive the Enneagram Overview freebie in a few weeks here, or read some info right here. I'll have some freebies for you this fall!
Praise Through It Together - Mothering Through the Chaos with Sarah K. Butterfield
Sarah K. Butterfield is the author of “Around the Clock Mom: Make the Most of Your God-Given Time”. She has a heart for empowering women to grow in their faith and be intentional with their time. She and her husband and two boys live in San Diego, where she loves the first sip of coffee, getting lost in a book, and overindulging in ice cream.
My kinda girl.
Today's conversation is so encouraging and full of so many gems for the mom who feels like she doesn't do enough, does too much of the wrong thing, and gets lost in the chaos of motherhood on a daily basis. (Are you raising your hand with me?!)
Connect with Sarah:
Website: https://sarahkbutterfield.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bysarahkbutterfield/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahkbutterfield/
We also talked about:
Her book, Around the Clock Mom
Prayer apps:
Pray As You Go
Lectio 365
Monday Blessing || The Gift of Hindsight
For Summer 2021, Monday mornings will be for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC. When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life.
After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today.
If you want these in your email to match those GIFs (starting now!) & get a quick, actionable relationship strategy (starting this fall), sign up here. You'll hear from me on Monday mornings & the 1st of every month with encouraging notes for your daily life.
Praise Through It Together - Finding Yourself In Your Life with Peyton Roberts
What do we do when we feel like we're disappearing in our own life? When we look around and don't see ourselves anywhere?
Author Peyton Roberts talks about that on the podcast today. (Head over to IGTV, too, for the video interview!) Peyton's conversation hit me right in the heart. These military wives, man, they've gotten me every time this summer! Peyton speaks from the heart about connecting with God, connecting with her faith, connecting with essential parts of herself during a trying season in her life. She has oodles of wisdom for us, so listen in!
Connect with Peyton
PEYTON H. ROBERTS
Author, Beneath the Seams
An Amazon #1 new release!
Watch the video book trailer
peyton-roberts.com
Subscribe to Receive Email Updates
Twitter // Facebook // Instagram // LinkedIn // Goodreads
Monday Blessing || Compassionate Wisdom
For Summer 2021, Monday mornings will be for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC. When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life.
After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today.
If you want these in your email to match those GIFs (starting now!) & get a quick, actionable relationship strategy (starting this fall), sign up here. You'll hear from me on Monday mornings & the 1st of every month with encouraging notes for your daily life.
Praise Through It Together - Exceptional Mothering with Robin Eaton
Is there anyone in your life you've watched and thought, "That is a beautiful human." That's Robin Eaton for me. I've known her for 7 years and I've learned *so* much from her personal and professional stories and experiences.
In today's conversation, Robin talks about parenting a child with exceptional needs. She talks about the challenges she and her family faced, but way more than that - she talks about the gift that Sam is and the gifts he's brought to the world.
Robin Eaton is a woman on the go… You can see her as a wife, mother, educator, or someone who enjoys staying active. But each area is a full time focus. She served as a classroom teacher for fifteen years & has spent the past eight years as a school wide technology facilitator ensuring students and staff success in a digital world. She believes in empowering learners of all ages. Her passion for children and education can be seen with her own two; a 20 year old daughter in college and a 17 year old son with exceptional needs. Her husband is a firefighter whose long shifts have always ensured she is prepped to handle any personal situation on her own. Robin also has two golden retrievers and she has just become a Gigi, or golden grandma. She enjoys cooking, kayaking, being on the beach, recently started running, and has a hard time saying no to a nap.
She talks about Tim Tebow's Night to Shine Prom, linked here.
Monday Blessing || A Year From Now
For Summer 2021, Monday mornings will be for blessings - short, soulful meditations to start your week. The idea of speaking blessings is inspired from a 2013 sermon series, To Love Life and See Good Days, from Manna Church in Fayetteville, NC. When we speak blessings over ourselves and over others, we are mirroring what God has done to build hope, confidence, joy, justice, and truth in his people for generations. The tongue has the power of life and death; this is one way we use the power of life.
After you listen to the blessing, try speaking it aloud. Insert "I" instead of "you". Then, consider speaking it over someone in your life who could use a blessing today.
If you want these in your email to read the blessing a week or two before it's released here, sign up here. You'll hear from me on Monday mornings & the 1st of every month with encouraging notes for your daily life.