Rough Drafts: How God Writes His Love in Our Stories

She's been a businesswoman. A nurse. A farmer. A missionary. A foster mom. A youth minister. She's done it all. Life has not always been easy for Marsha. Her faith today does not look like it did....several....years ago. Enjoy your time this week with PART 1 of Marsha Griffin's God story! (Part 2 coming Thursday!)

Rough Draft kids is back with another gem. You heard his dad earlier this week, now you get to hear from Benjamin Bowker!

When you think of the stereotype of police officers, you don't often think of singer songwriters. Or portrait photographers who prefer film over digital. Or homeschool dads. Or Bible class teachers. ...but Wes Bowker doesn't fit into anyone's stereotypes. He's a thinker and a creative. In this week's episode, you'll get a special treat as he shares one of his newest songs!

Nobody likes losses. Pain is painful! But God seems to love to use our losses as an opportunity to bring bigger blessings into our lives. Listen to Jason Allison as he shares about how God brings gains after, and even through, losses.

It's another Rough Draft: KIDS day! Brogan Hayes shares some beautiful words with us.  He recognizes Jesus as caring and kind and loving. He knows, even in elementary school, that there sometimes is suffering now and joy to come. And the goal is becoming "better friends with Jesus."

There probably is no other Rough Drafts guest who abuses me as much as this week's guest. She was our most reluctant storyteller, but after some persuading from her family, she agreed to tell her God story. She talks about taking the elevator instead of the stairs. She shares about working from, not for God's love. She experiences God's tugs and nudges.  My favorite part of her story is the way th...

Episode 16 is our second installment of Rough Drafts: KIDS! This week, we venture into the terrifying halls of middle school and visit with an absolute gem. We enjoy bursts of joy...the beauty of having a "forever sister"...and the important promise that God never leaves us alone. He is always with us. Welcome Maggie Dawson!

This week's episode is a story of how faith, family, and the kindness of your people can get you out of the darkness. A rescue worker finds himself rescued--more than once. Brannon Wilkerson is the kind of guy you're really grateful is answering the call on your worst day. Listen as he tells about having to be on the other end of some of those calls.

Monica Gossett had a great idea. She said that since Jesus thinks the kingdom of God belongs to kids--maybe we ought to listen to them more than we usually do! So for the next few weeks, we're going to have a summertime "Rough Drafts" Treat. On Thursdays, we'll drop special episodes from some really cool kids. This week is my favorite episode. Am I biased? Absolutely. Does that bother me? Absolute...

"Life doesn't come with a manual. It comes with a mother." Today's episode has three very special guests, but one of them slept through most of our conversation! Jason & Megan Bennett join us with Brooks, one of the newest babies at Burns Church. Listen while they share the joys of "mom brain" and new life!

Some people just refresh us and encourage us. This week's guest is one of those people. She's not one to complain. She works so very hard for anyone and everyone. She's never at home! You can find her in the nursing home, caring for a friend. Or playing cards at church. Or cleaning someone's house. Or delivering cookies. Or...or....or.... She's always doing good. Donna Hiett tells us about the fai...

Today's bonus episode is a collaboration with Dickson's annual Old Timer's Day festival! Our guest is the grand marshal of this year's parade. He is a veteran of 27 years. He is a graduate of Dickson County's Hampton High School. He has been married 65 years. He's run a TV repair business, deliveries, rental properties, real estate, and so much more. Join us for a walk through 94 years of history...

Do you remember the story of how you started going to church? Do you remember the story of how you stopped? What about when you came back? This week Jerry Hall walks us through some of his journey from seeing the Bible and church as a list of rules to be followed to coming to a place where we trust in Jesus and his love for us. Praise the Lord!

Do you know anybody who lives like a "lost puppy"?  They don't know who they are. They don't know what they want. What do they do? They blend in. They please people. They end up missing so much of what God has intended for them. This week's story is a story of another way. Christen Rhodes shares with us her story of finding her identity in Christ. Once you know who you are and whose you are, you c...

I couldn't sell ice in the dessert, but today's guest could sell match sticks to the devil! Marshall didn't just use his gifts to earn a commission. If you know Marshall at all, you know how he loves to pray. I'll never forget one Bible class when he had one student start a stopwatch. Then he had another student read the Lord's prayer. When he was done, he looked at the time, and he asked us if we...

Write letters to your family or talk to God? That's the choice facing today's guest in her time at Paris Island.  The choice she made set her direction for years to come.  Listen this week to a few moments of God at work in Miranda Fuson's story!

When I first got to meet today's guest, I wasn't really sure what to do with him. To be fair, there aren't that many grown-ups who can pull off wearing a clown costume or pulling a quarter from a stranger's ear! You're going to love him. But one of the things that took me a while to learn is that underneath the magic and the fun and the goofy is a real depth and quality. He's the real deal. He has...

There is nobody quite like Carol "Granny" Todd. She's done it all. Belly dancing. Youth ministry. Grocery stores. The Hokey Pokey. Fostering. She's even got her funeral planned--and you're invited! Our time with her seemed exactly right. We got interrupted midway through by tornado sirens and phone calls.  But don't let the fun fool you. Carol has some deep words for us. Our faith can't be in peop...

"Vulnerability is not weakness; it's our greatest measure of courage." By that measure, today's guest is one of the bravest I know. She shares her story of how her plans and dreams for life met an unexpected detour.  Martha's story drives us to the power of God's grace and God's Spirit. You don't want to miss her!

Have you ever noticed that all the 12 step programs begin the same way?  Step one is always the same. Admit that we are powerless. Recognize that our lives have become unmanageable. It's hard to imagine a step that sounds less appealing than that, but in this week's conversation, we learn that when we realize we can't do it alone, that's when we'll see God's power at work. "My grace is sufficient...

Life is hard. Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying or delusional...and this week's guest is neither! She's been through plenty, but despite all of the difficulties we navigate, she has made an incredibly serious decision. She has chosen joy! Here is Peggy Donegan and a glimpse into her decision to be serious about joyful faith.

This week's guest is so special. She's amazing. She's deep. She's a seeker. Life has moved her around plenty of times. She's even packed a house--not the stuff in it, but the house itself--and moved it! But through it all, she has found stability, joy, and even peace.  You'll be blessed by hearing how God is at work in Debbie's story.

A sneak peak of Dickson's newest podcast, "Rough Drafts: How God Writes His Love in Our Stories." Matthew shares the idea behind the show and what is coming up soon. Subscribe & Share!