A Cup of Gratitude

Hewlette Pearson is a gifted and dynamic speaker with a sense of humor. She has a love for seeing people live out their purpose with authenticity. She spent over 15 years teaching homeless mothers with children, adult ex-offenders, and teens English, job readiness and life skills, and character education in Washington, DC, and Virginia. Hewlette holds earned Master of Arts in Teaching degree from...

This week I speak with Rayna Neises who understands the joys and challenges that come from a season of caring. She helped care for both of her parents during their separate battles with Alzheimer’s over a thirty-year span. She says she can look back on those days now with no regrets – and she wishes the same for everyone caring for aging parents. Rayna is the author of No Regrets: Hope for Your Ca...

I speak with Hannes Viljoen who believes: “Truth be told, We don’t get to choose what happens to us, but we get to choose how we respond.” His story is one of Grace, perseverance, stubbornness, and a great sense of humor. Hannes and his beautiful wife have 4 children and 3 of them have diverse special needs. He is a man of Faith who stands for the poor, vulnerable, and those with special needs, to...

This week I speak with Leann Faint who coming from a broken family herself, inherently understands the struggles of the students she works with. Called to teaching, Leann began her career as an English teacher in a mainstream high school in a low socioeconomic area in Australia. While raising her three children, she moved into Special Education, a field Leann quickly became passionate about. This...

This week I speak with Candice R. Reyes, a Speaker, Author, and Executive Director of Her Well. As a 2x survivor of sexual assault, Candice inspires other women to overcome their fear of the past and walk with Jesus through recovery. Through storytelling and practical tips, Candice helps women: - Reclaim their hope - Regain their voice - Resist their urge to isolate during this journey.  She is an...

I speak with Jay Gardner. Jay’s life is a story of redemption. Through trials and tribulations, he grew up tough, fighting with his fists and the demons of addictions that ended when the gavel slammed down, sentencing him to twenty years in prison! His life seemed over, but God had other plans! From a prison cell, God revealed His purpose to Jay in a ministry called “Torn Pages.” Today, Tornpages...

This episode premiers the new song "Old House" by Laurel Taylor. This episode is such a blessing. Laurel has become a true friend, and I am such a fan of her music.  Laurel Taylor is a singer-songwriter and producer whose roots and influences of rock, country, and gospel blend together to give her a unique and edgy sound. She has toured worldwide, from small-town music festivals to the b...

Tamika Williford is the Founder of “Clothed N Strength,” a  Nonprofit for women in transition. She has been in Cosmetology for more than 30 years, where she connects with many Women. Tamika is a New Life Bible school graduate where she studied Missionary & Evangelistic Training and is currently a Lancaster Bible College student pursuing a BA in Biblical Studies. Clothed N Strength has been her...

This week  I speak with Misty Robinson, a Christian wife and stay-at-home homeschooling mom of 23 years.  She has worked with teen girls and young ladies for 15 years as a Sunday school teacher. She desires to help ladies of all ages understand God's love and faithfulness through each stage and trial of life. She has faced many trials, which include losing her husband to cancer at age 24 and...

This week I speak with Donna Frisinger. She is a Multi-Award-winning author, poet, and freelancer. Donna loves to create stories to make God’s Word come alive in fresh ways for kids of all ages. Her husband says she thrives in a world of perpetual “once upon a time” while he lives in the “real world,” juggling the bills and wondering what’s for dinner. They live their happily-ever-after in Indiana...

Welcome to the Special Christmas Break Episode 4 . This week, we look at the best gift ever given and the special messengers entrusted with sharing this gift with the world. You won’t want to miss this encouraging episode, as God reveals much more than traditional Christmas offerings! Join me for Hope, inspiration, and love!!! Once again, featuring the beautiful music of Laurel Taylor ✨Merry Chri...

Welcome to the Special Christmas Break Episode #3 - This week on A Cup of Gratitude podcast, we take a look at a beautiful present that God has given us all. Each one of us is fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm139) Formed by a divine design that includes nuances so intricate that I had never even heard about them before - And now that I know, that’s exactly what I want to share with you this we...

Last week on our special episode, we looked at the Red sea Exodus as a symbol of the blood that was shed on the cross that would ultimately provide freedom from captivity for the chosen people of God. This week we look at an intimate relationship, at the beautiful personal healing that God desires to give each and every one of His children.  You will definitely be encouraged! This message was such...

Welcome to the Special Christmas Break series! Each week is a gift from me to you.  I am sharing messages of hope and grace straight from the Word of God, accompanied by music from one of my favorite Christian music artists Laurel Talor.  Although the stories don't all come from the traditional places that you might think of in the bible, they all point to the freedom, grace, hope, and love o...

This week I speak with Charlene Brisbane. She is currently a member of Dare to Imagine Church under the pastorship of Rev. Kevin Johnson. At Dare to Imagine, she is involved in community service and serves as an iGroup (small group) leader. In 2022, Charlene became vice president of the non-profit organization Clothed N Strength, whose mission is to help women overcome barriers to success who have...

This week I speak with Carol Bevil, a Christian author, and speaker. She is the founder of Fuel Your Body, Feed Your Soul, an Instagram ministry and blog dedicated to the truth found in Romans 12:2 and Matthew 6:33. Carol has authored three books. She is passionate about knowing Jesus better so that her life makes Him known. Carol surrendered her life to Christ at the age of forty, having been rai...

This week I speak with Kate Berkey. She is a writer, speaker, and missionary living on the north side of Chicago, where she works with refugees and immigrants with Devon Oasis Ministry. Kate is passionate about helping people, especially women, discover the heart of the Father and live courageously because of who He is and who He says they are! She and her co-author recently published their first...

This week I speak with Liz Zulli. She is a visual storyteller who loves celebrating people’s transformations through her photography. Liz is a mother, visionary, and recently published author who has learned to turn pain into purpose with a mission to show her daughter and other women how cultivating a personal relationship with God and self-love creates a life of joy, connection, and freedom. Thr...

This week I speak with Annette Spurr. Annette is a freelance writer, speaker, and co-founder of Blue Box Marketing. She lives in Brisbane, Australia, with her husband and two boys. We look back from her childhood to the present, and as we do, we see the thread of a loving and amazing God working and writing a beautiful story! You don’t want to miss this encouraging and inspiring episode! https://w...

This week I speak with Anastasia Corbin. She loves to encourage women to live a life anchored in Jesus. She is also passionate about sharing God's Word. Anastasia manages the home while blogging and providing resources that encourage overwhelmed moms to prioritize faith, family, and themselves. The author of Becoming an Intentional Family and co-author of When the Bases are Loaded: Encouragem...

This week I speak with Amy Hafner, who is a Child of God, Champion of Women, Wife, Mom of three boys, and co-founder of the Soar Study Journal, a non-profit company creating tools to help study the word to help spread the word.  She is a 1st-year seminary student with - Masters in Biblical Exposition and has been Saved since March 2014. Amy grew up in a Jewish household practicing traditions that...

This week I speak with Jan L. Burt, who is an author, speaker, podcaster, a homeschooling veteran, a mother to five, and has been happily married to her husband Tony for thirty years. She served in youth ministry alongside her husband for twelve years & has led several Bible studies for women as well as hosting two online prayer retreats. Jan is the host of the podcast “The Burt (Not Ernie) Sh...

This week I am speaking with Susan and Craig Taunton, the parents of recent guest Christian singer-songwriter Laurel Taylor (From Season 4-Episode 3). They wanted the opportunity to share their family’s story from the parent’s perspective as well as Laurel’s, and it was powerful to hear it from all sides! Susan grew up in Montgomery, Alabama. She married at age 19 to her high-school sweetheart. Sh...

This week  I speak with Lori Vober. She suffered a hemorrhagic stroke at the age of twenty-nine, then developed epilepsy from the stroke. Lori is a walking miracle and felt called to share her journey of faith and perseverance to encourage others. Even with her difficulties, Lori and her husband were able to become adoptive parents to a sibling group of three. She published her first book and has...

This week I speak with Jill Page; she holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees and has worked with non-profit organizations since 1991. As Director of Education at Urban Family Council, Jill wrote curriculum, trained and supervised a team of educators, and taught programs in public and private schools, churches, and community agencies for children in pre-K through high school. The work was primarily...