Warrior Words | Stories of Hope | Finding Beauty After Battles & Thriving After Surviving Trauma

Welcome to Episode 154 of the Warrior Words podcast!   It feels good to be back! I recorded this episode in my office because I can walk again. It's not perfect or pain-free walking, but it is walking. The 2.5 weeks of zero weight-bearing were tougher and longer than I thought they would be! But like our storms and traumas, I survived and am ready for another year of stories. In this episode, I ta...

Welcome to Episode 153 of the Warrior Words podcast!   In this short Bits of Biblical Beauty (BoBB) episode, I talk about the future of the Bits of Biblical Beauty - or BoBB - episodes.   Donate to Star of the Sea Guild through our new fiscal sponsor! https://raisedonors.com/xaviermissionfund/star-of-the-sea-guild   Armor Up. Fight the Good Fight. Seek Beauty. Make Your Words Warrior Words.   Merc...

Welcome to Episode 152 of the Warrior Words podcast!   In this short Bits of Biblical Beauty (BoBB) episode, I talk more about the beauty of Advent. This fourth week focuses on Peace, and we light all four candles; the fourth candle is known as the Angel's Candle. What peace we have knowing that Jesus has come to save us! His name is Emanuel - His name literally means "God is with us!"   Donate to...

Welcome to Episode 151 of the Warrior Words podcast!   In this short Bits of Biblical Beauty (BoBB) episode, I talk more about the beauty of Advent. This third week focuses on Joy, and we light the pink candle, known as the Shepherd's Candle. This Sunday in Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday - Gaudete means rejoice. We rejoice because Christmas is almost here, and the Scripture referenced in this e...

Welcome to Episode 150 of the Warrior Words podcast!   This week, I have an early Christmas message. Christmas was meant to be the most hope-filled, the most love-filled time of the year. But for many of us, walking through the various storms of life, it's difficult to see the hope or the love. Sometimes the pain and loss blind us to the blessings so freely given to us by God. Don't let the enemy...

Welcome to Episode 149 of the Warrior Words podcast!   In this short Bits of Biblical Beauty (BoBB) episode, I talk more about the beauty of Advent. This second week focuses on Faith, and we light the second purple candle, known as the Bethlehem Candle. It's about how Jesus judges with righteousness and mercy, not on appearances, even though He experienced the opposite from the moment He began His...

Welcome to Episode 148 of the Warrior Words podcast!   I have a very short episode for you this week. As I mentioned in a previous episode, I had an ablation for my lower back and an ankle reconstruction surgery last week. Yes, both procedures occurred less than 48 hours apart. That scheduling was actually a blessing in disguise. I am home and able to do most things. Except I can't walk. At all. N...

Welcome to Episode 147 of the Warrior Words podcast!   In this short Bits of Biblical Beauty (BoBB) episode, I talk about the beauty of Advent. Advent is a season of approximately four weeks. The first week focuses on Hope, and we light the first purple candle, known as the Prophet's Candle.   Donate to the Star of the Sea Guild through our fiscal sponsor! https://raisedonors.com/xaviermissionfund...

Welcome to Episode 146 of the Warrior Words podcast!   Have you ever said or done something you later regretted? My guess is that most of you reading this answered, "Yes." I think we all do it. Sometimes we are able to fix it - make amends - and sometimes, we can't. At least not the way we might want to fix it. This week, I speak with a woman who said some harsh words and made a decision for which...

Welcome to Episode 145 of the Warrior Words podcast!   In this short Bits of Biblical Beauty (BoBB) episode, I talk about the beauty of repentance with the illustration of Jesus' response to the Good Thief on the Cross: "Today, you will be with me in paradise."   Donate to the Star of the Sea Guild through our fiscal sponsor! https://raisedonors.com/xaviermissionfund/star-of-the-sea-guild   Armor...

Welcome to Episode 144 of the Warrior Words podcast!   Are you a planner? Do you like to have every detail accounted for, and basically like to have it your way? Do you ever pray like you're at the Burger King drive-through? Well, as much as we may not like it, God does not answer prayers like Burger King offers to let you have it your way. Through a series of medical challenges, I've discovered (...

Welcome to Episode 143 of the Warrior Words podcast!   In this short Bits of Biblical Beauty (BoBB) episode, I talk about the beauty of Jesus' hard truths; the truths and rewards that come from His commands.   Donate to the Star of the Sea Guild through our fiscal sponsor! https://raisedonors.com/xaviermissionfund/star-of-the-sea-guild   Armor Up. Fight the Good Fight. Seek Beauty. Make Your Words...

Welcome to Episode 142 of the Warrior Words podcast!   What happens when the Holy Spirit introduces you to your spouse in a country where you both are foreigners and you don't even speak the same language? I was blessed to sit down with Brooke Joiner this week! She shares an interesting story of how she met and married her husband. It's not your typical story! She shares with us the challenges cre...

Welcome to Episode 141 of the Warrior Words podcast!   In this short Bits of Biblical Beauty (BoBB) episode, I talk about the beauty of gardens and the nourishment God provides us through them.   Donate to the Star of the Sea Guild through our fiscal sponsor! https://raisedonors.com/xaviermissionfund/star-of-the-sea-guild   Armor Up. Fight the Good Fight. Seek Beauty. Make Your Words Warrior Words...

Welcome to Episode 140 of the Warrior Words podcast!   In this week's episode, I sit down with musician and author Steven M. Bell. Steven shares about his faith journey, which includes listening to his son and his struggles with addiction. Those struggles did not resolve once he landed in his faith. In fact, they hit bottom. And Steven found himself wanting to quit. Until he found peace. Join us a...

Welcome to Episode 139 of the Warrior Words podcast!   In this short Bits of Biblical Beauty (BoBB) episode, I talk about the beauty of our everlasting reward, not the earthly rewards we may receive, but those bestowed on us by God for our faithfulness.   Donate to the Star of the Sea Guild through our fiscal sponsor! https://raisedonors.com/xaviermissionfund/star-of-the-sea-guild   Armor Up. Figh...

Welcome to Episode 138 of the Warrior Words podcast!   For this week's episode, I had the opportunity to chat with an incredibly creative man, a man who's on a mission to offer hope through LEGO® bricks. But these are no ordinary bricks. Well, the bricks may be ordinary, but the designs and the builder behind the designs are definitely not. John was born with a chronic illness, but it wasn't diagn...

Welcome to Episode 137 of the Warrior Words podcast!   In this short Bits of Biblical Beauty (BoBB) episode, I talk about the beauty of our God - even when we don't see Him or feel that He is with us. Our God is so glorious that He is close to us when we are brokenhearted. He is there.   Donate to the Star of the Sea Guild through our fiscal sponsor! https://raisedonors.com/xaviermissionfund/star-...

Welcome to Episode 136 of the Warrior Words podcast!   Last week would have been my 25th wedding anniversary. Except, my marriage ended due to domestic violence.  In this last week of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, I take a look at some of the things that have occurred over the last 25 years. I talk about the difficulty abused spouses have when they're not allowed to go no contact until their...

Welcome to Episode 135 of the Warrior Words podcast!   In this short Bits of Biblical Beauty (BoBB) episode, I talk about the beauty of community. We were not created to live in solitude. God created us for community. We need each other. We need support and assistance.   Donate to the Star of the Sea Guild through our fiscal sponsor! https://raisedonors.com/xaviermissionfund/star-of-the-sea-guild...

Welcome to Episode 134 of the Warrior Words podcast!   My friend, and all-around amazing human, Lynn Donovan, is on the podcast this week. She shares about her personal struggle with being unequally yoked, or spiritually mismatched. This is a hope-filled episode! Many people find themselves mismatched in their marriage, and Lynn offers so much hope through her own story, as well as her ministry: ...

Welcome to Episode 133 of the Warrior Words podcast!   In this short Bits of Biblical Beauty (BoBB) episode, I talk about the beauty of suffering. It sounds contradictory, but it explains why the Apostle Paul sang in prison, wrote beautiful letters while in prison, and even converted others while in prison.   Donate to the Star of the Sea Guild through our fiscal sponsor! https://raisedonors.com/x...

Welcome to Episode 132 of the Warrior Words podcast!   This week's episode is another one that's a little different. A while ago, I saved a list from a post made by World Record Holder, Jenn Drummond. This week, I examined her list of tips, if you will, that she applies to herself. I took that list and interpreted it through my eyes and experiences. I offered some tips of my own based on hers and...

Welcome to Episode 131 of the Warrior Words podcast!   In this short Bits of Biblical Beauty (BoBB) episode, I talk about the beauty of your testimony - which is the beauty in your suffering. I talk about cowardice and power as they relate to your testimony.   Donate to the Star of the Sea Guild through our fiscal sponsor! https://raisedonors.com/xaviermissionfund/star-of-the-sea-guild   Armor Up....

Welcome to Episode 130 of the Warrior Words podcast!   When this week's guest, Brenda Ballantine, asked me what day it was while we were recording, she caught me a little off guard. But I think that was the design. When I said that it was Tuesday, she said it was also "Be Nice to Me" day. Do we know how to do that? Do we actually know how to be nice to ourselves? So often, we beat ourselves up whe...