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Laura Smith

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Laura L. Smith is a popular speaker and best-selling author, Smith speaks around the country sharing the love of Christ with women at conferences and events. She shares her own brokenness to write ‘Restore My Soul: The Power and Promise of 30 Psalms’, offering much-needed comfort and hope for others who are feeling broken and scared in a strife-torn world. She has selected 30 of the Bible’s best-known psalms, including

  • Psalm 1
  • Psalm 23
  • Psalm 51
  • Psalm 119
  • Psalm 150

Through her transparent, thoughtful reflections and a careful study of Scripture, Laura shares how experiencing these psalms allows her to open up to God about everything and turn her troubles into a time of worship. With an interactive Restore segment at the end of each chapter and a Spotify playlist at the back of the book to go along with each psalm, she invites readers to let the Psalms have a similar effect in their lives. For Smith, Restore My Soul comes from a very personal and broken place. “I’ve been searching my whole life for beauty,” she says. “Not in the world—the world is filled with beauty. But beauty in me? Well, that was another story.”

Growing up, Laura’s father repeatedly told her how ugly and awkward she was. How clumsy and gangly she was. How her voice was too high and too loud. He left her family numerous times over the years. Laura reflects now: “As a little girl I couldn’t understand that my dad was the one struggling. I felt when he left, he was leaving me—that I wasn’t good enough . . . and that I would never be good enough.” Through high school and college and beyond, Laura jumped on the performance treadmill in desperation to find approval, love, acceptance. She also gave her heart away over and over again to various guys, hoping they would love her. “Each time there was a breakup,” she says, “it just reminded me how unlovable I was. I felt even more ugly, more clumsy, and more desperate.” At an extremely low point after college, God bent down and picked her up, reminding Laura that she was beautiful because He’d made her. He showed her that not only was she lovable—but fully loved. Always had been. Always would be. Despite what she’d done. Despite what she’d believed. “He restored my soul,” she says. “And it was in this soul restoration, this discovering of my true beauty, that I realized my voice had been muffled for too long. And now I use my voice to share what I learned: That each of is marvelously made by the Creator of the universe to inspire awe.

No matter what the world tells you, no matter what you tell yourself, no one can rob you of the incredible true identity God has instilled in you. No one can cancel His great love for you.” The Psalms help her remember these truths. “No matter what the psalmists experienced or felt,” she says, “God was with them. He was faithful. He hemmed them in, picked them up, reminded them that they were fearfully and wonderfully made, stood over them like a watchman, led them to green pastures, and yes, restored their souls. He does the same for you and me.” Restore My Soul: The Power and Promise of 30 Psalms is available July 5, 2022 everywhere books are sold.

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153: Taylor Kiser

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Taylor Kiser, author of Eat The Cookie,  understands the pendulum swings we experience with our weight and self-perception. She knows what it’s like to let fear of falling short turn into a belief that you’re not worthy, and this belief turned into destructive habits that controlled her life for far too long. Now a certified nutrition and fitness coach, Taylor enjoys eating a cookie now and then, even as she enjoys discovering recipes and habits that give her renewed physical energy and health. In Eat the Cookie, you’ll learn the secrets of balance that can help us all live health-conscious without being calorie-obsessed.

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152: Nancy Hicks

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As so many of us are struggling with anxiety, disappointment and grief in the wake of COVID-19, Nancy is working tirelessly to provide hope and guidance. Recently, she launched Meant to Live: Six Sessions, a brand new course based on her book, Meant to Live, that is dedicated to helping women live a life of meaning—a life where they wake up inspired, where they experience a deep connection with God, self, and others and where they are fully known and loved.

All this while grappling with her own deep grief. A few weeks ago, she found out that her 27-year-old son David had just been diagnosed yet again with colon cancer. Of this, she says:

Yesterday, David had a CAT-scan, which revealed they found another tumor in our 27-year-old beloved firstborn. We are terribly sad. We are utterly indebted to you for your partnership in prayer and love over this last year.

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. – 2 Corinthians 4:8,9

I’ll soon share more about next steps, but in the meantime, as we grieve, along with mothers and fathers, families and friends since the beginning of time, and at this COVID-19 time, and united, yell, “It’s not supposed to be this way!” I also remember, (though begrudgingly right now, I’ll admit): We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body,

For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. – 2 Corinthians 4:10-12

Ok, Lord. If this is the way it must be.

If you’re looking for guests to provide a refreshingly honest take on dealing with grief and disappointment while remaining faithful—all during COVID-19—Nancy is a voice of inspiration and guidance that possesses the rare blend of both experience and expertise.

Nancy has been featured on Hallmark’s Home & Family, The Jesus Calling Podcast, as well as in Publisher’s Weekly, The Christian Post, Christian News Journal, Philadelphia Weekly and more

 

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117: Jason Thacker

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The Thriving Beyond Belief podcast this week featuring: Jason Thacker.  Jason is an expert on current trends in AI. He is one of the authors of the Evangelical Statement of Principles on Artificial Intelligence and is the creative director and associate research fellow at the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.

In The Age of AI, Thacker thoughtfully explores the social, moral, and ethical challenges of our interactions with AI, which most of us now interact with constantly, often without even realizing it.

Thacker explains how AI affects our:

  • Medicine
  • Parenting
  • Privacy
  • Relationships
  • Economy
  • Warfare
  • And more

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095: Amber & Jordan Massey

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So excited for Jeff and I to be interviewing one of our favorite couples, Jordan and Amber Massey this week on the podcast!

Amber is.. a 30-something year old wife to her firefighter hero and best friend in the whole wide world + a mama to their five littles.!

Amber says,
“I am his number one after The Lord and I have remained there throughout these last 10 years of marriage + 3 years before that.  I’m his favorite girl, and he makes me feel that way on a daily basis.

We had so much fun on this interview, but we also talk very seriously about marriage and parenting, and how Jesus needs to be the center of our lives to abundantly live out our roles and life as He planned!

We laughed, we cried, and the kids were crawling in their laps as we chatted!

One of the most real, vulnerable interviews we have done on marriage!

DON’T MISS IT!

 

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Highlights:

  • Marriage is the best when Jesus is at the center of it!
  • Jordan knows his leadership as the Godly man of his home is key!
  • They make time to nurture and work on their marriage!

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Lysa TerKeurst

067: Lysa TerKeurst

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I am thrilled to have Lysa Terkeurst with me on this episode of Thriving Beyond Belief!

And why am I thrilled…….let me count the ways:
1. We have a similar stories and the same Redemptive God
2. We both have had serious marriage struggles, but God still Reconciled
3. Both marriages have hurts, pains, resentments and anger, but God still Restored
4. Trust has to be rebuilt with time and consistency, and God never leaves us or forsakes us
5. Vulnerability happened for both of us, & God desires intimacy with all of us! He wants our heart!
Lysa just published a new book, “It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way” and it has resonated so deeply with me and I hope you each receive an opportunity to read it. One of Lysa’s goals with this book is to make sure others don’t feel alone in their journey, which so closely correlates with the ministry Jeff and I have given our life to.

The amazing thing is how Lysa has seen how the circumstances in her life have led to deep and painful times before the Lord, which leads further to deeper understanding of the Word of God and to be an even more reliable teacher of the Word.

We talk about the deep, difficult questions of who God is and how He could allow life-altering painful situations happen to His children. Lysa dives into her own journey of emotional healing through the church and Christian counseling and how that led so much to the content in her book.

We also discuss the redemption and restoration of the hard times, mainly with the Lord and then with others in our lives. From Lysa sharing her story, the Gospel is being shared and there has been so much healing for so many just by knowing that they are not alone, even in the valley. And what joins each of us in the valley is the truth of God’s Word and His character.

Lysa shares with vulnerability what she now has to work through because of what has happened in life, and beautifully clarifies the healthy difference between vulnerability in sharing and the importance of privacy. We even talk about no longer taking things for granted, but taking every situation to the Lord. We take our situation out of the center of our lives and replace that with the Lord. He is the only one that can bring peace and remove fear.

“God loves us too much to answer our prayer in any other time than the right time and in any other way than the right way.”

This is one episode you will not want to miss. I hope you join me!

 

Tune In

 

Social Media Links

Instagram: @LysaTerkeurst

Website: www.Lysaterkeurst.com

Facebook: @OfficialLysa

 

 

 

041: Kristi Hayes

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Kristi Hayes joins me today on Thriving Beyond Belief! It was wonderful speaking with her and discovering our kinship with our hearts for women. We share a passion to help women thrive as their whole selves- physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Kristi does her life with her husband, Grant, and her two children now in Denver. She and her husband have a ministry called “Be Strong Story” that they began 2 years ago. What began as a simple note to their son that encouraged him to be strong and protect the weak blossomed into a ministry that helps families live in the same mentality.

A big discussion for us today is how we, as women, reevaluate life after children. For those that work hard in every way, we talk about the balance of thriving in our own story as well as balancing that with raising children well and being fully present with our families.

Kristi and I discuss the balance of her marriage, different communication styles, the importance of prayer with each other, and keeping the Lord at the forefront of the marriage. Date nights, marriage accountability partners, and adventuring together are some of the few things that have helped keep Kristi’s marriage thriving.

It was refreshing to discuss the glorification of the busy with Kristi, where so often we “do” a lot of things, but “sprinkle God’s name” in everything, without it truly being for the Lord. Kristi was asked to “stop” by the Lord and be truly content to just be with Him. We too often find our worth in the work we say we are doing for the Lord instead of our worth and value being truly in Christ Himself.

From the topic of true accountability to being vulnerable to fears that we share, this episode truly hits home with so many issues that we as women face today. We often struggle between the balance of who we think we are, what others perceive about us, and what the Lord tells us about ourselves that is the ultimate truth. He speaks to us through His Word that tells us who we truly are in Him. A challenge that this episode presents is if we are truly spending time with the Lord because we see it as a box to check off for the day or if we truly have a desire to spend time knowing the Lord more.

Please tune in to receive some true encouragement and wisdom from my talk with Kristi. It will bless your day!

 

 

Social Media Links

Instagram: @bestrongstory

Website:  www.bestrongstory.com

Facebook: @bestrongstory

Youtube: The Be Strong Story

 

 

040: Kathy Izard

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Thank you for joining us at Thriving Beyond Belief today! I am so excited to introduce Kathy Izard to the podcast. It was such a blessing being able to speak with her.

Kathy is a fellow Texan that now lives in North Carolina. She is happily married with four daughters. Kathy recently wrote a book titled “The Hundred Story Home”, that will be released this month! This book is about her own story and hearing the voice of the Lord, and how you can listen to His voice in your own life!

Thriving, to Kathy, is defined as living joyfully and purposefully. We see this in her own story.

Regarding Kathy’s story, we discuss how mothers can so often put the voice of the Lord for their own life on the back burner to the lives of their children. Kathy was at a place in her life where she began seeking out that voice to begin change in her own walk with the Lord. In truly hearing  that voice, Kathy’s life suddenly had true, eternal purpose and direction.

We talk all about how age is not an issue for the Lord. He is using everyone for His glory for their entire lives. She encourages us to never discount dreams the Lord gives us and to truly believe God to fill your life with His purpose.

After reading a book about a couple that embraced homelessness, Kathy was haunted by the obedience of the family in the book to truly help the homeless in their community. She met Denver Moore, author of “Same Kind of Difference As Me”, and after some crazy circumstances, Kathy left her full time job to take on working for homeless community in her city, called Moore Place. What she believed to be a mere career change turned into a passion lit within her to build a shelter and run a ministry that truly helped the homeless in Charlotte.

Kathy says that God’s path isn’t without its trials and unknown moments. She faced fears and disappointments along the path the Lord was leading her down. But along the way of helping the homeless, Kathy found her own way home, she found her faith again through this process, and learned to trust in the Lord’s timing.

When discussing marriage, Kathy emphasizes the need for compromise and laughter to make marriage joyful. We emphasize the need to focus on eternity in order to prioritize what we do here today. And now with older children, Kathy talks about the balance between giving children roots and wings.

I hope you join us today for this podcast to be encouraged, challenged, and inspired by what the Lord is calling you to!

 

 

Social Media Links

Instagram: @kathyizardclt

Website:  kathyizard.com

Facebook: @kathyizardclt

Twitter: @kathyizardclt

 

 

039: Katie Smith

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Please welcome Katie Smith today on Thriving Beyond Belief!

Katie has a new blog, KJSonline, where she speaks candidly about her journey. She also loves being a restaurant server because of the amazing interaction she has with others. (And fun fact, she is one of eight children!)

Katie and I have a special bond in that the Lord has used us to speak into other’s lives about divorce and the desire for a redeemed marriage.

We talk about Katie’s journey through marriage, depression, divorce, her years of rebellion, spiritual restoration, and so much more. We discuss the lies that creep in when we think marriage is the root issue of our discontentment. Katie also talks about the Lord whispering to her that intimacy with Him would lead to restoration in all areas of her life.

All of the world’s definitions of happiness happened for Katie, and yet she felt completely empty without the Lord being present in her life. Through slowly reading the Bible again, the one step of obedience after a season of running, Katie was overwhelmed with the peace she received from spending time with the Lord.

Katie talks about her Damascus road experience of realizing what the Lord wanted for her and her story. God was showing Katie that He still answers prayers today. He is the same God that He was in the Bible, and we can trust who He is.We talk about trusting the Lord with His timing. It became more about the relationship with the Lord than the marriage.

Through Katie’s journey, she is encouraging others with their own story. She is using what happened for good and to help others. Please take some time to listen today- it will leave you hopeful and thankful!

 

 

Social Media Links

Instagram: @kjsonline

Blog: www.kjsonline.ca 

Podcast: Lessons Learned Podcast

Twitter: @k_sonline