Catherine Brown (not her real name) agreed to come on the show as long as I could keep her identity private. She tells the story of a vision God gave her about taking a group of Muslim women rock climbing. Her response was, “Ok, God. Here am I, send me.” Now, Catherine and her husband are preparing to move across the world to a primarily Muslim country in North Africa where they will serve with a rock climbing ministry.
071 || Finding Space for Your Dreams, Even With a House Full of Kids || Lara Veve
Lara Veve oversees the Women’s Community at Flatirons Community Church in Lafayette, Colorado. In this interview, she talks about the big dreams she had as a child and how those plans got upset by life’s circumstances. She shares about her fears that make her want to live “inside the box.” She also offers an important reminder that we need to pay attention to the things that make our heart beat a little faster because that’s often where God has planted our dreams.
070 || How To Nurture the Dreamer Inside Every Young Woman || McKenna Gilbert
McKenna Gilbert is a freshman at Whitworth University who is passionate about young girls knowing their worth and value. In this interview, she talks about how she came to the realization that everyone battles insecurity. She shares her insights about being “new” somewhere, whether that’s at college, a new job or in a new city. And she offers some wisdom for pointing that young woman or girl in your life toward the passion that makes her light up.
069 || How To Prioritize Your Kids AND Your Dream || Rebekah Scott
Rebekah Scott has loved sewing since she was four years old, kneeling next to her mom and begging to cut some scraps of fabrics to create something on her own. She started Rebekah Scott Designs in 2003 because she wanted to have children and be able to stay at home to raise them by her side--and she wanted to help others do the same. She loves what she has grown over these years through her business, and her four little ones continue to inspire her, put smiles on her heart, and remind her of the reason behind it all.
068 || How Even Busy Moms Can Find Time for Their Dream || Meredith King
In this episode, Meredith King talks about how things changed in the pursuit of her dream once she had kids—and the ways she’s learned to draw boundaries that are good for her and her family. She gives a name to that voice in our heads that tells us we’re not enough or shouldn’t be pursuing this dream, and she talks about how she fights back by inviting “truth-tellers” into the conversation. Plus, she’s got some awesome tips for success around providing dinner for her family and making time for prayer and bible study in the midst of an already busy life.
067 || How to Keep Your Faith While Waiting on Your Dream || Beth Ratzlaff
In this episode, Beth Ratzlaff talks about the long years she has waited on her dream to be a writer, how God has grown her through the pain of life and through waiting on her dream. She also shares the 5 promises from scripture she uses on a daily basis to draw closer to the Lord. A blogger, waiting-author, spiritual director and ministry leader, Beth calls herself and “ordinary clay-pot woman who is being crafted by an extraordinary potter.” I know you’re going to love hearing her story, especially if waiting is a part of yours.
066 || Proof that God is in the Details || Jeannie Blackmer
In this interview, Jeannie Blackmer talks about how her dream to write complemented her desire to work from home once she had young children. She shares some of the early baby steps that helped get her feet wet in the writing/publishing world, and what you need to know if you want to self-publish a book, like she did with her newest book, Talking to Jesus.
065 || How Heartbreak Brought Her Dream to Life || Lisa Whittle
Jesus is everything. This is the heart, the passion and the leadership approach of author and speaker, Lisa Whittle. Lisa is the author of 6 books including her 2 latest: Put Your Warrior Boots On: Walking Jesus Strong Once and For All, and 5 Word Prayers, a 40-day devotional. She is a sought-out Bible teacher for her wit and bold, bottom line approach. Wife of 22 years, mom of 3, lover of laughter, good food, interior design and The Bible, Lisa is a grateful work in progress. She would have never dreamed up this particular life, and yet she living proof that the life God has for us is always the one we really want in the end.
064 || Taking Your Dream One Step at a Time || Trillia Newbell
Trillia Newbell is the author of Enjoy: Finding the Freedom to Delight Daily in God's Good Gifts (2016), Fear and Faith: Finding the Peace Your Heart Craves (2015), United: Captured by God's Vision for Diversity (2014) and a children’s book, God’s Very Good Idea: A True Story of God’s Delightfully Different Family (September, 2017). Her writings on issues of faith, family, and diversity have been published in the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Desiring God, Christianity Today, Relevant Magazine, The Gospel Coalition, and more. She is currently Director of Community Outreach for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission for the Southern Baptist Convention.
063 || How to Not Miss the Dream || Alisa Keeton
Alisa is a wholehearted lover of God who uses fitness as her tool to spread the Gospel message. She is the founder of Revelation Wellness – a non-profit ministry that trains fitness instructors and teaches fitness enthusiasts as well as the author of The Wellness Revelation – an 8-week journey to losing what weighs you down so you can love God, yourself and others.
062 || Surviving the Wilderness Years || Sharon Hodde Miller
Sharon blogs at SheWorships.com. She loves writing about Jesus for the women in his church. In addition to writing, she’s a speaker, pastor’s wife and mom of two boys (and another baby on the way) and she hails from North Carolina. She recently completed her PhD at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. You’ve likely read her writing if you spend much time at Christianity Today’s blog for women–Her.meneutics. Her writing has also been featured in Christianity Today’s print magazine, Relevant, (in)courage, Propel, Gifted for Leadership, LifeWay’s Collegiate magazine, and The Gospel Project blog. Sharon’s first book, Free of Me: Why Life Is Better When It’s Not About You, just launched this week and she’s back on the show to share more about the book and what she learned along the way.
061 || Finding the Hope You Need When You Doubt Yourself || Darcy Wiley
Darcy Wiley is a writer who digs to find the transforming work of God in unexpected places. She is co-writer of the book “The Yes Effect: Accepting God’s Invitation to Transform the World Around You” (with Moody Publishers) in partnership with Luis Bush, the missions strategist who originated the 10/40 Window Movement. She is an explorer at heart. As a youth, she traveled to observe movements of God and serve on mission in various regions of the world. Nowadays, her primary mission is to raise her kids to be curious and compassionate citizens of the world. Her writing casts light on beauty and brokenness and helps readers cultivate deep, vibrant relationships with God and others.
060 || Because There's Room For You Too || Laura Crawford
Laura Crawford is a new wife, a new mom, and a gluten-free chef, living in Colorado Springs. She’s the blogger and creator of Clean Chef, Messy Mom. When people ask her about that title, the answer is simple—it encompasses the fullness of what she aims for in her writing >> clean eating, even when life is messy.
She’s on a mission to inspire others to crave a healthy lifestyle—from food, to fitness, to marriage, to finances, to fun. Although she would claim that most of her culinary training came from her mother’s kitchen, she learned the art of technique, flavor, and tone, and how to use the science of cooking and baking to come up with the perfect recipe at Escoffier School of Culinary Arts.
Laura’s hope is that she can help other mamas embrace authenticity and find creative ways to stay healthy in all aspects of their lives even when self-care seems impossible.
059 || How to Build Your Network When You're Feeling Alone || Beth Booram
Beth Booram is the co-founder and director of Sustainable Faith Indy, an urban retreat center in Indianapolis, where she leads The School of Spiritual Direction and offers individual and group spiritual direction. Beth speaks around the country on topics related to spiritual formation and Christian leadership. She is a deep feeler who loves to think; an extrovert with a penchant for solitude; an artist who sees the hand of God in even the smallest encounters with creation. Beth has authored several books including Awaken Your Senses and Starting Something New: Spiritual Direction for Your God-given Dream, which tells the story of her dream to found an urban retreat center.
058 || Starting With What You Know || LaKena Dunham
LaKena Dunham is the founder of Hewalenamo Girls, Inc., a non-profit organization providing financial assistance for educational purposes to girls from impoverished families in developing countries. An international speaker, best-selling author and legacy coach, LaKena wants every woman to live courageously and confidently, going after the dreams that God places in each of our hearts. She has been recognized for her efforts to leave an indelible mark on girls and women around the world and resides near Dallas, Texas with her husband and three children.
057 || Walking Forward Even in the Face of Rejection || Dorothy Greco
Since graduating from Boston University in 1983, Dorothy Greco has worked as a photographer, journalist, pastor, home educator, author, and writer. She feels equally at home speaking in front of hundreds or standing quietly behind her camera. Her writing has been featured in several Christian websites and publications. Making Marriage Beautiful, her first book, was published in January of 2017. She and Christopher have been married for more than 25 years. They have three sons and one amazing daughter-in-law.
056 || How to Start Before You Have It All Figured Out || Ashley Carroll
Ashley Carroll blogs at Todayseden.com and is the host and creator of the Today’s Eden podcast. She’s a mother of two, a mom-tribe encourager and a podcast junkie. She started her own podcast because life can be hard and we need each other! Her goal is to combat the feelings of isolation that social media perpetuates and, instead, talk about the hard stuff, point us back to community, and remind us that “it really does take a village.” Ashely is the real-deal, and she and her guests discuss the good, the bad and the intimate aspects of womanhood and motherhood.
055 || She Realized She Was Chasing the Wrong Dream || Katie Bulmer
Sorority girl Katie Bulmer was certain she’d found all that life had to offer with the cutest boyfriend, best friends, and a solo cup of hunch punch in hand. But when the makeup came off, the drunken buzz turned into a terrible headache, and the guy that promised forever never called again, she started to wonder if there was more to life. As it turns out, there was. Today, Katie is a Christ-follower and a mentor to sorority women nationwide writing, speaking and going on coffee dates with young women to share about the eternal water that changed the world.
054 || How She Got Her Book Published Even with a Small Platform || Eryn Lynum
Eryn Lynum lives in Northern Colorado with her husband and three boys, where they spend their time hiking, camping, and exploring the Rocky Mountains. Her work and passion is to come alongside of authors and help them market the message God has laid on their hearts. She loves to travel and share at conferences, churches, and writers’ groups. But every opportunity she gets, she is out exploring God’s creation with her family.
As the author of 936 Pennies: Discovering the Joy of Intentional Parenting, available in February of 2018, Eryn talks about the shift towards intentional parenting that happened when she and her husband were faced with the reality that they have only 936 weeks – from birth to 18 – with each of their three boys.
053 || She Was Young, Inexperienced & Unqualified || Lisa Steven
Lisa Steven has more than 20 years of experience working with teen moms. She co-founded Hope House – a residential home for teen moms who want to raise their child and its program arm which supports the educational, counseling, life skills and childcare needs of teen moms in the Denver area. Lisa has served as the organization’s Executive Director since 2003, and led it to become one of the top 10 percent of nonprofit organizations in the United States. She was the City of Arvada's 2013 Woman of the Year for her contributions to the community and among the West Jeffco Chamber's Outstanding Women of Jefferson County in 2010. A former teen mom, Lisa is committed to empowering teen moms in her community and across the world.