WELCOME HEART: Living a Legacy Life

Michelle Rayburn, host of Life Re-Purposed Podcast, wanted a transformed life, but as you know, we often need to admit we need transformation before change can begin. She reminds us that change is often slow and usually layered through the years. We can't hurry what God is doing; rather, trust that He is doing a good work inside our hearts and minds while we humbly draw closer to Him. Michelle's l...

Creativity isn’t one particular path. It doesn’t look the same on you as it does on me. Isn’t that a wonderful thing? We are made in God’s image, we try to love as He loves, but the way we create looks different on each one of us. Three questions today:   Do you view yourself at a creative person?   If not, how might you begin to change your mindset today?   What trusted friend can you ask this we...

Lauren Sparks wants to live a legacy of loving others. She talks of how she manages to do that through the singular challenges of being a mom of a special needs young adult, as well as loving others in their hard places.  I love her tagline: "Where thoughts of a special needs mom intersect with the Cross of Christ." Do you know anyone who could be blessed by hearing Lauren's story today? Prayer an...

Maree Dee made a choice long ago to trust God, no matter what the circumstances. Her family includes those suffering with mental illness - something that isn't talked about enough in circles of faith. Her pastor counseled her in the midst of her grief: "Maree, we make a decision to trust God. You don't need to waste time in re-visiting that decision every time life throws a curveball, no matter ho...

Last Fall I was a train headed for a wreck. Every day filled to the brim with all good things. Just too many of them. Reminds me of the time I asked the Man-in-Plaid, "Aren't you proud of me for finding bargains?" And he replied, "Yes, you just find too many of them!" (Still true.) I decided to block three days off on the calendar and the rest is history. Listen today to find out how God used it i...

New Zealander, Aimee Walker—pastor, author, Bible Study writer and teacher—first came on my show early on in December of 2019 . She recently launched her first book: But I Flourish: Learning to Thrive in Every Season and I wanted to share some of what you will gain from reading it,  as well as introduce you to Aimee in case you missed her the first time round .  Aimee knows that we all are called...

Author, blogger, Bible teacher, Michele Morin was surprised by joy--never in a million years did she think she would live in rural Maine, raise four boys, and mow lawns with her husband of over 30 years. She likes to think the Bible isn't an Answer book so much as an Asking the Right Questions book. Michele won't care if her grandkids and their grandkids forget her name, but she does work at makin...

Do you live out your legacy of hospitality? Did you know we all have a hospitality legacy? What does yours look like? Here's the reason why we want it to look welcoming: God welcomed us to His table. We get the distinct privilege to pass along His invitation. You don't need to invite like my friend, Ceslie, invites. Or how Maria Goff invites. Or my sister, Lynnel invites. Or how I invite.  As a fo...

Susan is a delight, most of all because she laughs heartily and believes in God's word in equal hearty measure. I know you will love her practical wisdom and six words to live by. Maybe you'll adopt her six for your legacy. I plan to.  Some fun facts about Susan Anderson: "Glenn and I have been married for 46 years, mother of four adult sons, mother-in-law to three wonderfully loving “daughters”,...

Early on in the shutdown of 2020, I began writing prayers for quarantine. They aren't necessarily only for quarantine, in case you no longer are! And I could've added many (many) more, as it continues on longer than anyone thought it would. Maybe the children of Israel felt that waiting angst as they wandered 40 long years.  I include only seven prayers—maybe the eighth should be: "Lord, may this...

To know Mitzi is to love her and to be encouraged. Her greatest desire is to instill confidence in people of all generations. Though she desires daily to be more like Jesus, she knows she falls far short, and she's learned to be content in her imperfection. Joy comes from thanking God at the beginning of every day as well as recognizing that no matter what that day brings, He is in it and ahead of...

I like to say that I was "surprised by doubt" much like CS Lewis was "surprised by joy" only the opposite. He was thrilled with God's plan of salvation. I woke up one day and doubted that there was a plan or a God.  Today's episode is my testimony of doubt in my 20's and how God drew me back. The hero of the story, as always, is God—His graceful wooing and utmost patience. You may never have doubt...

Kathy is one of my favorite people. She's encouraging, wise and practical and the best coach you would ever want to have. She's been in a season of suffering the past 5 years and she shares today how God changed her through the suffering and the benefits to offering each day to God for His leading and care. We all experience suffering, trials, disappointments in one form or another. What we do wit...

Claire Diaz Ortiz says she chooses a word for the year because it "serves as a guidepost for what you want in the year to come." I began choosing a WOTY in 2016 and it's been an inspiration and often a conviction. Who I want to be and how I want to behave is not who I am now, and when I choose a word, I'm inspired to keep moving forward.  As Crystal Hurst said, "We are both a masterpiece and a wor...

Sarah knows from experience how our mind can control and run our lives, but not always in the way God intends. Her latest book,  Transforming Your Thought Life: Christian Meditation in Focus , teaches  how to engage with Scripture in 17 different thought-life problem areas. Today you'll get to hear about 3 of those problem areas and you will be encouraged. We will be offering a free copy of  Trans...

What better testimonial than a daughter asking her mother for marriage advice right before getting married? Who wouldn't love that kind of request?   Nylse Esahc (nee' Andree Miller) speaks on today's podcast about living an authentic faith in front of her children which resulted in her ebook My Best Marriage Advice. Nylse is a Christian wife and a mother of four who currently resides in Los Angel...

Marnie Swedberg, author, speaker, musician, women's speakers' advocate - and all-around energizer bunny--encourages us today to choose Jesus, now and forever, and He will make your day perfect in the long run. Marnie says she likes to pray for perfection because that's who God is, but how things turn out—in the long run—is what God deems as perfect, and that's all she really wants. For information...

Probably the best-known Bible verse in the world is also the best Christmas verse—and it’s about giving: John 3:16 states:  “For God so loved the world that He gave—“ “For God so loved the world, that He gave…”  And, because He gave, we want to give, too. The heart of Christmas is giving because it began with God giving us His Son; the verse goes on:   “…that whoever believes in Him should not per...

You can't write a legit book on JOY unless you've known pain. Author, speaker, podcaster and Bible Study teacher, Suzie Eller has known pain, and her latest book: Joykeeper: 6 Truths That Change Everything You Thought You Knew About Joy is more than legit. I loved how Suzie shares her struggle to find joy while still experiencing fear, grief and potential loss. She allows us to feel all the feels...

What does God say is MOST important about the holidays? I'll give you a hint: it's not the food. (Darn.) Be careful what you pray for, the saying goes. You may also want to be careful who you ask to pray for you. My friend, Debbi Weeks prayed and a 14-year tradition was begun. I'm forever grateful.  Here's your Recipe for a Birthday Party for Jesus. One of my favorite Scriptures on hospitality is...

Bonnie Masten is a wise woman and a great friend. She likes to say that a whole lot of God's working is going on that we just can't see. If we could open that "zipper in the sky" we would see God's hand and trust Him more. If only! But faith is how we live for the time being: trusting and praising our Sovereign God, no matter our circumstances. Listen today to Bonnie's 3-pronged legacy. You will l...

To be a thankful person should be the easiest thing to be, right? We know God. He's given us His Son and forgiveness from sins - sins we have a tendency to repeat. . . Yet, we don't always feel grateful nor show an attitude of gratitude. Why is that? I talk about two reasons common to all. Please share in comments what other reason you may have to keep your thanks to yourself.   ::::::::::: Read a...

Jed Jurchenko and his wife, Jenny have four daughters and one foster daughter which gives him all sorts of credibility in my view! What a delightful conversation from a godly man who loves his family and is working daily to leave a legacy that counts. Listen today to hear how he is teaching his girls to live gratefully even when it's 70 below. To thrive at home includes teaching your kids a heart...

At salvation, we were reborn into the life of God.  And we have the greatest privilege of all—to be able to grow up into all aspects of Jesus as much as possible this side of heaven -- “like Christ in everything.” Do we value this privilege? I know I don't always do. My friend, Susan Anderson said, "Christians can be very good at knowing and doing their responsibilities, but not half as good at li...

Not everyone can say "pastor" and "friend" in the same sentence. I'm happy to share with you my friend and pastor, Tim Theule,  on a series of quick topics that will inspire, instruct and convict - all good things from a pastor who loves his job, his flock, and his God. Part of Tim's living legacy is calling our church to unity despite the diversity of opinions and stances even in our small town o...