Chasing Hard-Trusting God when life doesn't turn out the way you planned

What do you believe about money? Is it good or evil? Do you have a healthy relationship with money? My guest today has much to say about how our beliefs about money affect our lives. Let me know what you think! Find her here https://changeyourfinancialstory.com/ and https://www.amazon.com/stores/Noelle-Schwantes/author/B0B14HS6N9?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnab...

I don't know what called to stay looks like in your life. It may be staying in your marriage or another significant relationship. It may be a job or even the place you live. Called to stay looks different for everyone but make no mistake, called to stay is a call from God. Called to stay is something you know deep inside. Listen in and see if what you are experiencing is a call to stay.

Growing up with a severe stutter makes like challenging. Brittany talks about the hardships of trying to make friends and fit in while growing up with a stutter.

Laurie talks with Chrystan about when you don't fit in. What happens when you don't fit in at church, or in your women's group? What happens when your life, your marriage, your ideas and opinions don't fit in, especially with the Church? Chrystan shares how she navigates the differences we have and encounter in others.

Ciarra from When The Church Leaves You, joined me again to finish the story of being married to an unbeliever. After Ciarra found her way back to Jesus and made peace with the church that left her, she still had an agnostic husband. She shared her story of allowing God to write his story while she stayed out of the way.

Things get passed down from generation to generation. Good things and not-so-good things. It's part of the human experience. The things we pass down matter. Looking back to past relationships and the generations before us matter. Listen in while Betty Owens tells parts of her story of the generations before her and the things they purposed to change.

Listen as Faith and Charlie talk of the birth of their first child, during the Covid pandemic. Charlie watched the birth of his daughter via FaceTime because he was in a fight for his life as he battled Covid. This story of faith gives hope and encouragement to those who are struggling.

Why would God ask you to give up a family tradition, an heirloom, something that brings joy? Do you have to know why to follow Him? How do you move forward in the relationships that are special to you when obeying God alters the lives of those you love most? Joyce Anne talks candidly about parts of her story and shares about choosing God's way even when it will affect other people.

Noah had a few turns in his young life. He changed his major during his college days to answer God's call. He moved to a new small town to be a campus pastor. He lost a cousin to cancer and two other relatives. Then Covid hit and he was alone to deal with all his emotions. Noah shares in truth and with wisdom that only comes from God.

Parenting is hard, no doubt about it. And so is addiction. When the two collide there are no words to describe the pain and heartache, the guilt, and learning to trust God with your kid. My friend, Patti Coleman was open and incredibly vulnerable when she talked of her journey with her son.

Jessica Hottle, a spiritual mentor and coach, was my guest on this today. She talked about how to honor your feelings and heal from your hurt. 

I talked with my young friend, Trevor. He grew up fast to become the man of the family at 13 years old. He is a young adult, in a committed marriage with a 7-month-old daughter. We talked of the things that shaped him into the person he is today and the things he is most concerned about raising kids in this present world.   For comments on the podcasts, questions, topic suggestions and prayer need...

Life has a lot of twists and turns. Some things are hard. Some things are all about perspective.  For comments on the podcast, questions, topic suggestion and prayer needs, email Laurie@lauriecooklyons.com    

Growing up in church has a lasting impact. Sometimes we stray or turn away but God doesn't even though it can feel like the church does. Ciarra shares parts of her past when she experienced these things and how she found her way back. For comments on the podcast, questions, topic suggestions and prayer needs, please email Laurie@lauriecooklyons.com

I am excited to talk with my son, Luke, today, the one who moved 2300 miles from home. We talk about the different perspectives of having an adult child move so far away as a parent and the kid who is a grown man. We tell you how it's done. Only kidding, we share our stories in hopes of helping you as you adjust to the differences in family dynamics. For comments on the podcast, questions, topic s...

Do you make New Year's resolutions? I have but now I don't. They feel like a recipe for failure to me. I hope you listen in and share your thoughts. To resolute or not to resolute, that is the question. For comments about the podcast, questions, topic suggestions and prayer needs, please email Laurie@lauriecooklyons.com

Friendships fall apart sometimes whether from a betrayal or natural circumstances. It's important to be intentional with friendships.

Finding hope for the holidays is the goal of this episode. A lot of people don't like the holidays for a lot of different reasons. Finding something to hold on to can help.

When dealing with chronic health issues there are plenty of opportunities to choose to trust God. Heather shared some of her journey with Rheumatoid Arthritis. 

Parenting, in all the phases, can be difficult. Each phase presents challenges of its own. Some are harder than others. Learning to let go is a lesson we, as parents, need to learn.

The holidays are here and so are the holiday blues. You may not experience the down feelings that come before, during or after the holidays but a lot of people do. Loneliness can be harder to overcome during the holidays than other days. Join in for the holiday blues coversation. 

There are so many things vying for our attention in this society. We can get caught up in a lot of things that don't have eternal value. They can be important. Some things are but living with the end in mind is a good way to approach life.

The homes we grow up in matter. Trauma and dysfunction have a way of playing out in our adult lives if we aren't aware. We have to be intentional about making changes and stopping the chaos. Talking with Amy about breaking the patterns and the positive effects on our children is where we landed on this episode.

Embrace the suck, run to the roar, and face the giant are all sayings of what it looks like to stand up to the hard things in our lives. Hard things come whether we like them or not, whether we want them or not, whether we get a say or not. We get to choose how to respond. Embracing the suck is one of our choices. 

God can take the worst situations and turn them into good. It may not be your choice or anything you wanted to go through, but when you allow God to work in your heart and life event, He can turn things around. Renae Green talks about the hard situations in her life that God used for good.