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

Welcome to Episode 104 of the Warrior Words podcast!   This week, I'm beginning a series I'm calling "Summer Rewind," where I'm taking some older episodes and re-airing them. I'm sprucing them up a bit and adding a little commentary. You'll get to hear a thought or two about the episode from my recollection when it was recorded, and the editing may be improved a bit. I thought this might be a good...

Welcome to Episode 103 of the Warrior Words podcast!   In this short Bits of Biblical Beauty (BoBB) episode, I talk about the beauty of answering God's call! I share about my recent experience of attending my first priestly ordination and watching these dedicated men commit their lives to the service of God and others.   Donate to the Star of the Sea Guild through our fiscal sponsor! https://raise...

Welcome to Episode 102 of the Warrior Words podcast!   He was given six months to live. Six and a half years ago... Andy Campbell joins me in this episode to share some of the many things he learned along his cancer journey; a journey he started long before his own diagnosis, but one that would help form his decisions about his own treatment. And like we've said many times before, trauma is not on...

Welcome to Episode 101 of the Warrior Words podcast!   In this short Bits of Biblical Beauty (BoBB) episode, I talk about God's math. It doesn't add up. Nor should it. Because He's God. He can take something that shouldn't add up and make it multiply! Offer what you have to God and watch what He can do with it!   Donate to the Star of the Sea Guild through our fiscal sponsor! https://raisedonors.c...

Welcome to Episode 100 of the Warrior Words podcast!   My guest this week is Cheri Gregory, a woman I "met" online several years ago through a few of her books. I read her book, Sensitive & Strong, and so many things in my life now have explanations. I just thought I was too sensitive or too emotional. It turns out that neither is true. My kids lovingly tease me about crying over commercials,...

Welcome to Episode 99 of the Warrior Words podcast!   In this short Bits of Biblical Beauty (BoBB) episode, I talk about Paul's exhortation to boast in our afflictions. That's counterintuitive, right? But the truth is that even in our afflictions, we have hope. And we have that hope because of God's love.   Donate to the Star of the Sea Guild through our fiscal sponsor! https://raisedonors.com/xav...

Welcome to Episode 98 of the Warrior Words podcast!   One of the things I love about this podcast is that I get to talk to people who are smiling and laughing after enduring some of the most horrific experiences. It affirms my belief that we should never give up, even though we may want to sometimes - many times... This is the case with this week's guest, Kijuan. He shared with me in the episode t...

Welcome to Episode 97 of the Warrior Words podcast!   In this short Bits of Biblical Beauty (BoBB) episode, I talk about gifts; more specifically, about gifts from the Holy Spirit and how we use 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 Warrio...

Welcome to Episode 96 of the Warrior Words podcast!   From refugee to pop star to entrepreneur... There are times in most people's lives when they need to pivot or reinvent themselves. Moving from country to country, experiencing multiple dictatorships, and ultimately witnessing the fall of the former Soviet Union. As the son of a single mother with a degree in Economics, what's a young man to do...

Welcome to Episode 95 of the Warrior Words podcast!   In this short Bits of Biblical Beauty (BoBB) episode, I talk about music; about making your joyful noise to the Lord as He mounts His throne to a blare of trumpets.   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...

Welcome to Episode 94 of the Warrior Words podcast!   What do you do when you face a vicious attack at the hands of someone you once loved? How do you handle it when this attack seemingly comes out of the blue and completely upends everything in your life? My guest, Kimberly, experienced this very thing eight years ago when her ex-husband broke into her home in the middle of the night. The healing...

Welcome to Episode 93 of the Warrior Words podcast!   In this short Bits of Biblical Beauty (BoBB) episode, I talk about the promise Jesus makes to those who love Him and keep His Word - dwelling in the house of the Lord forever!   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 B...

Welcome to Episode 92 of the Warrior Words podcast!   Today's episode is a brief unplanned break as I am recovering from an injury.   Donate to the Star of the Sea Guild through our fiscal sponsor! https://raisedonors.com/xaviermissionfund/star-of-the-sea-guild   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 91 of the Warrior Words podcast!   In this short Bits of Biblical Beauty (BoBB) episode, I talk about newness. A fresh start. Forgiveness. And, of course, I talk about the One Who can make all things new!   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....

Welcome to Episode 90 of the Warrior Words podcast!   Mary returns this week to share more of her incredible story. She bravely describes the depths to which her difficult medical situation took her. But she doesn't stop there.  She shares what and who helped remind her of her storytelling magic. Mary rediscovers her talents, one in particular that allows her both personal recovery and the ability...

Welcome to Episode 89 of the Warrior Words podcast!   In this short Bits of Biblical Beauty (BoBB) episode, I talk about the beauty of crying. Yes, I'm talking about tears and the beauty of God's relationship with our tears.   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...

Welcome to Episode 88 of the Warrior Words podcast!   Mary Flint is an incredibly talented storyteller; you might even say she's a magician. She used her fingers to tell stories and create emotion on the piano. Until one day, when her fingers wouldn't work as they should. She went through multiple tests and possible diagnoses while her piano sat untouched and her stories remained untold. How do yo...

Welcome to Episode 87 of the Warrior Words podcast!   In this short Bits of Biblical Beauty (BoBB) episode, I talk about the beauty of marriage. Marriage doesn't seem to hold the high esteem it once did, and I think it's time to remember the beauty of marriage itself and not just the wedding day. This episode is dedicated to my daughter and my son-in-love in honor of their marriage.   Donate to th...

Welcome to Episode 86 of the Warrior Words podcast!   Today's episode is a brief update as I took the week off for my daughter's wedding.   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. Merch Store: https://heather-clr-shop.fourthwall.com  ...

Welcome to Episode 85 of the Warrior Words podcast!   In this short Bits of Biblical Beauty (BoBB) episode, I talk about the beauty in weddings, Christian weddings specifically. I talk about the difference between a contract and a covenant. And I dedicate this episode to my daughter and son-in-love, who are getting married.   Donate to the Star of the Sea Guild through our fiscal sponsor! https://...

Welcome to Episode 84 of the Warrior Words podcast!   Micaiah Gray did not see healthy marriages modeled in her life. She lived in a dysfunctional household for the first five years of her life. Then spent time in multiple foster care homes, and finally was adopted by a single mother. I am not saying foster care is bad (though some is). I'm not saying single mothers are bad (most of us are not). B...

Welcome to Episode 83 of the Warrior Words podcast!   In this short Bits of Biblical Beauty (BoBB) episode, I talk about the beauty in the Resurrection of Jesus. I talk about a few specific Scriptures associated with His Resurrection.   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. S...

Welcome to Episode 82 of the Warrior Words podcast!   Teddy's life proves that it's not about the length of time a person has on this earth. The legacy we leave has more to do with what we do with the time we have.  Teddy's life pulled together his family, his parish, his community, a local college, and a well-known charity. Listen in and hear how Gina and her family met the challenges of Teddy's...

Welcome to Episode 81 of the Warrior Words podcast!   In this short Bits of Biblical Beauty (BoBB) episode, I talk about the ugliness of the Crucifixion of Jesus. Or is that ugliness, in fact, beauty born out of God's love for us?   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...

Welcome to Episode 80 of the Warrior Words podcast!   Chronic. Just the word alone implies little to no relief. Whether it's chronic pain or chronic illness, it's something we'd all like to avoid, but honestly, something most of us will deal with at some point in our lives. Sometimes that will be a chronic condition within our own bodies, and other times, caring for a loved one. Maureen's experien...