Finding God in Our Pain

SUMMARY: - “Hurting people hurt people—but narcissists mean to. The higher up the spectrum, the more deliberate and sadistic it becomes.” - “A normal person can self-reflect and repair. A narcissist can’t or won’t—self-reflection feels like death to them.” - “You didn’t cause this, and you can’t fix it. It’s not your fault.” - “As darkness rises, so does the glory of God. What the enemy meant for...

SUMMARY: Guest: Lara Silverman — comedic actress, jazz singer, violinist, author, Stanford Law grad; formerly a federal prosecutor. -Faith roots: Grew up in a large Romanian Christian family (with Syrian Christian heritage); accepted Christ at 7; faith deepened after her aunt’s death from cancer. -Calling to law: Loved advocacy and public speaking; passed the bar after intense study; landed her dr...

SUMMARY: -Dating is harder today due to digital misrepresentation and added life complexities after 40 (widowhood, divorce, family-of-origin issues); real-life community is essential for discernment and support. -Prioritize meeting and observing potential partners in Christian community and everyday life to see a 360-degree picture (church involvement, service, friendships, parenting). -Four non-n...

SUMMARY: * Guest: J. Harrington, author of “Swords Up: Mastering the Weapons of Spiritual Warfare for Today’s Christian Woman,” an eight-week Bible study. * Tragic loss: During pregnancy with a son, sensed the Holy Spirit warn she wouldn’t keep him; hurricane delayed care; confirmed no heartbeat; experienced palpable peace from God in the hospital. * Aftermath: Peace lifted upon discharge; entered...

SUMMARY: -Guest, Dr. Janelle Martin, author of “Losing Her, Finding Us,” shares the parent perspective of a child’s addiction, alongside her daughter Reagan’s perspective. These dual perspectives (parent and child) in one narrative to validate parents’ feelings, reduce isolation, and offer hope and clarity. -Janelle sought real-life accounts over “how-to” guides to understand others’ emotions, tho...

SUMMARY: - Guest, Author and speaker Debora Coty shares how to find joy amid pain, drawing from deep personal losses and decades of ministering to women. - Writing journey: Her Too Blessed to Be Stressed brand unexpectedly grew to 40+ books/products with 2M+ copies sold worldwide; new devotional Bless Your Heart focuses on daily encouragement. - “Papa God”: She uses the intimate, biblical sense of...

SUMMARY: -Lori Ann shares her journey of faith through ongoing uncertainty, particularly after her heart disease diagnosis. -Despite being physically healthy, she later discovered her heart condition that she had no point of reference or expectation of this type of diagnosis. -Lori Ann emphasizes the importance of maintaining faith during difficult times, discussing how grief and gratitude can coe...

SUMMARY: *The conversation centers around the challenges of parenting, particularly when dealing with prodigal children—those who stray from their upbringing and values. *The speakers discuss the emotional and spiritual battles parents face, emphasizing the importance of spiritual warfare and maintaining a relationship with God. *Personal experiences of feeling unprepared for the struggles of rais...

SUMMARY: *Melissa shares her journey of faith and the challenges she faced, including health struggles and the loss of her teaching career. *She emphasizes the importance of understanding one's identity in Christ and how her experiences led her to write a 66-day reading plan that highlights Jesus' presence throughout the Bible. *The discussion touches on God's mercy, the power of scripture, and th...

SUMMARY: The conversation features Reverend Cheryl discussing her experiences with childhood trauma, including living in a chaotic environment with an abusive father and a depressed mother. *She emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing abuse, understanding forgiveness, and setting boundaries. *The dialogue explores the complexities of healing, the role of faith, and the necessity of...

SUMMARY: *Anita shares her personal journey of facing an unplanned pregnancy at 17, navigating the emotional turmoil of telling her pastor father and the challenges of societal expectations. *Raised in a loving Christian family, she struggled with feelings of shame and the weight of her decision regarding her pregnancy. *After much prayer and reflection, she chose to place her child for adoption,...

SUMMARY: *In this conversation, guest Kim Harr shares her journey through grief, loss, and trauma as a Christian woman who faced significant challenges in her marriage and personal life. *After 23 years of marriage and four children, she experienced difficulties that led to divorce, despite her strong commitment to her faith and the belief that marriage should last until death. *She shares a harro...

SUMMARY: - The conversation is centered around Lisa Espinoza's experience with child loss, focusing on her son, Chandler.  - Lisa shares that Chandler was adventurous and lived life fully, participating in various activities and sports.  - Chandler had a philosophy of life and was deeply affectionate and protective of others, never meeting a stranger.  - Lisa recounts the tragic accident that led...

PODCAST INTRO: I enjoyed my time with guest, Liz Fiedler Mergen. She’s a remarried widow, mother of 2 daughters and has a multi-layered business strategy that encompasses several businesses. To me, it is all rooted and balanced with her fearless entrepreneurial creativity. Liz and I agree that grief changes you in countless ways and as much as we may want things to go back to the way they were, th...

SUMMARY: The Challenge of Understanding - Kim and I acknowledge and discuss, that many Christians (me included) struggle to truly love like Jesus without feeling like they're compromising biblical truth with regard to the LGBTQ community, and Kim shares her journey with her LGBTQ child. It’s a genuine complexity to understand how to find balance and Kim sets the marker at the foot of the cross. Ju...

SUMMARY: - The conversation centers around grief, faith, and healing, featuring Dr. Amanda McNeil, an associate pastor and counselor. - Amanda shares her journey, raised in a blended family and losing her father as a teenager, impacting her deeply and leading her to her current path. - She speaks on the intersection of the Bible and science in understanding grief, discussing her book, "Overcoming...

Summary: *Ron Jones discusses treatment resistant depression (TRD), which occurs when multiple classes of antidepressant medications fail to provide relief. *TRD is described as a subcategory of major depressive disorder, unrelated to therapy but linked to the ineffectiveness of psychotropic medications. *Ron shares his personal experience with TRD, highlighting the frustration and discouragement...

Summary: * Leslie Brennan shares her personal journey of faith and resilience, focusing on her experiences with loss and uncertainty. * She discusses her family dynamics, including blending families and dealing with her husband's past drug addiction. * Leslie recounts the initial shock and self-blame she felt upon discovering her husband's addiction. * She describes the challenges of handling fina...

The God of the Holy Bible has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. So when life becomes overwhelming we have the option to turn to Him and let Him be the support we need. Guest, Karen Dittman shares the insight she’s gained through her seasons of life on the hamster wheel. She knows that God meets on that wheel and she’s here to share the various ways we can do more than survive, we can thri...

Summary/Outline: *Introduction and Context: The focus is on Denise Clanin's personal experience with the loss of her brother, Garrett, who was diagnosed with a rare disorder called NF2 *Personal Recollections: Denise shares fond memories of her brother, highlighting his love for music and his contagious sense of humor. She also discusses his academic skills and intelligence. *Brother's Diagnosis a...

Key Takeaways: *Understanding Church Hurt: Church hurt can arise from personal issues, sins committed by others, and failed leadership. It's important to recognize that while people and communities can fail, Christ remains a steadfast focus. *Navigating Church Hurt: Michelle emphasizes the importance of surrounding oneself with a supportive, biblical community and seeking guidance from scripture d...

Summary: Faith and Resilience: Katie shares her journey of infertility, foster care, and unexpected pregnancy. She discusses how her faith was tested and ultimately strengthened through these trials. Her story highlights the importance of maintaining faith in God, even when circumstances seem insurmountable. Infertility and Foster Care: The conversation delves into Katie's struggle with infertilit...

Key Takeaways Transformation Through Faith: Ana's story highlights the transformative power of faith and community, demonstrating how even those facing significant adversity can find hope and purpose. Overcoming Adversity: Her journey exemplifies resilience and determination, showing how education and a supportive network can break the cycle of poverty and abuse. Purpose and Calling: Ana's experie...

Summary: *Suffering Well: Heather discusses the concept of suffering well, emphasizing the importance of maintaining faith and finding peace in the presence of God, even amidst life's most painful trials. *Christ as a Model: The conversation delves into how Jesus' suffering and obedience to God serve as a model for Christians to follow in their own times of hardship. *Loss of a Child: Heather shar...

So excited to be talking about how to make the most of our empty nest season with Dr. Mel Tavares! Dr. Mel is an award-winning author, speaker, life coach, and frequent media guest. Mel holds a Doctorate of Ministry, in Pastoral Care and Counseling and has 35 years of experience in working with families professionally and in ministry. She is a board certified mental health coach and life coach. Su...