WELCOME HEART: Living a Legacy Life

Do you ever doubt your purpose in life, especially when facing different or difficult seasons? And what do you do to help you live fully in God’s presence? Today I‘m delighted to be speaking to, Peg Arnold—a Christian speaker and author and encourager—and self-confessed drama queen—who speaks to the many different seasons women walk through: joy, loss, struggle, and waiting. Some gems from our conversation and for your encouragement: I like to say I'm never retired, just repurposed. When facing the unknown, God spoke to me: "What makes you think that I don't have everything prepared for you in the days and years ahead?" When disappointed with circumstances, it helps me to have friends who remind me that God may have a different perspective than I am seeing right now. We have a choice to stay stuck in our anger and bitterness or choose instead to trust that God knows what he's doing and will bring good from whatever it is. When your heart is broken it's a lonely place to be but it doesn't mean that God is not there with you and your broken heart. Go to the Psalms and weave your painful story into David's lament. God is not afraid of our pain. My legacy is to share with others that God loves them, delights in them, and has a purpose for their lives. Two of her books are Devotions for the Distracted Heart and Making Your Message Memorable and can be found on Amazon or her website: PegArnold.org. She's walked through loss and change and through each season found God and his Word to be her constant source of identity and joy. Be sure to access her free prayer guide here: Make Your Prayers Meaningful https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/752930/109370258823840924/share ~~ I have a new book! Check it out HERE MOST DAYS, LIFE ISN’T PERFECT I wrote this book for everyone who has felt the pain of being alone because I have felt its sting even surrounded by wonderful people. We’re created for relationship, with God and with one another—not because life becomes perfect when we have both God and community. That’s not the point. No, it’s because most days, life isn’t perfect. And remembering we are loved and not alone is what gets us through those days. READ MORE HERE

I was surprised by doubt in the middle of my college years. Thankfully, God didn't give up on me and invited me 4 times back to himself. Some of us need 4 times. A favorite professor helped me out. Listen in. Back story: Around age ten I fell in love with the Christian education pastor at our church. He was happily married—which was a good thing. I didn’t tell anyone about my crush—which was also a good thing. But when I went off to college, I thought I might major in being a pastor’s wife. I was surprised to find out they didn’t have that major—nor did any aspiring pastor ask me. At least not anyone I wanted to say yes to. I was even more surprised to discover sometime in the middle of my second year that I’d lost my faith. More than a surprise, it was a shock. I awoke one morning and thought: Is Christianity actually true? Close to panic, I wondered, Does God even exist? Have I been duped? In school, no one spoke about doubt, not in daily chapel, never in class. Surrounded by godly professors, my friends and I took Bible courses alongside our majors and enjoyed the scholarship as well as the spiritual stimulation. But not one person asked: “So how much do you believe in God today, Sue?” (I wish they had—I would’ve been honest. I may have cried.) No one ever preached in chapel: “You May Doubt Your Faith One Day and You Will Be Okay.” (I wish they had. I would’ve taken notes.) One ordinary morning, doubts slipped in unnoticed and unwanted and rattled my cage of comfort and certainty. The fact remained: I no longer believed. I had lost my faith. I felt like I was living on the edge of crazy. Do you have a friend who needs to hear they are not alone in their doubts? Share this podcast episode with them today. You can help bring them back from the edge of crazy. Read more from Never Alone: Stories of Invitation and Connection ~~~ Do you prefer watching while listening? We are on YouTube: Welcome Heart: Knowing & Showing the Heart of God

Homeschool mom, writer and speaker, Adriana Gomez knows she doesn't have to "arrive" spiritually to obey God, surrender to his call and engage in mentoring relationships. Her passion is to "serve God and others radically" and sometimes that takes more courage than you think you have. She loves apologetics and is working on a kids apologetics course and book to help us teach our children well in the truths of God. Enjoy our conversation today and ask God, "What are you calling me to do? Help me surrender all." Gems from our conversation: You can practice teaching someone else what God is showing you as you are learning from him. I'm not afraid to share my weakness because it is in that very weakness that God's strength comes through. We don't have to arrive to say "Yes" to Jesus. I gave up a promising career in education to educate the ones who were most important to me. This life hasn’t been easy, but we are seeing the fruits of that sacrifice, and seeing what the Lord has done with the little bit of faith we were able to trust Him with. Our kids pick up on who God is by how we live alongside of them and love them. My definition of apologetics is being able to defend the Bible inside and outside of the Bible. I quit working entirely, and we were fully dependent on the Lord to provide. But, like David and Goliath, God had already been preparing us for this decision. Adri and her husband got interested in apologetics from listening to these two podcasts:Podcasts that Orlando listened to I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist. Frank Turek The AC podcast (apologetics Canada) Adri Gomez is a speaker, writer, and homeschooling mother of three who is passionate about helping parents raise rooted, critical-thinking children who know what they believe, why they believe it, and how to live it out boldly. With a background in ministry, early education, and curriculum development, Adri encourages mothers to create homes where faith is lived, questions are welcomed, and spiritual maturity is intentionally fostered through the ordinary rhythms of family life. Website: www.garlandstograce.com ~~~ I have a new book! Check it out HERE MOST DAYS, LIFE ISN’T PERFECT I wrote this book for everyone who has felt the pain of being alone because I have felt its sting even surrounded by wonderful people. We’re created for relationship, with God and with one another—not because life becomes perfect when we have both God and community. That’s not the point. No, it’s because most days, life isn’t perfect. And remembering we are loved and not alone is what gets us through those days. READ MORE HERE

Do you have a spiritual giant? Someone who has gone before you and been that example of faithfulness until the end? Today we talk with Lori G. Melton about her book Journey With a Giant—Choose Your Guide, Pursue Your Purpose and Grow in your Walk with God What a fun conversation about what could be your next step in growing closer to God. Go HERE to receive a free peek at her book. We are led on a year-long journey alongside a "giant" of faith, inspired by the author’s year of studying the life of Mister Fred Rogers, America's favorite neighbor. The practice of walking with a spiritual giant is not a new concept. Since the origin of the Church, believers have studied the Bible and pored over Christian biographies to learn and grow in their faith. In the same way that athletes can improve their game by studying the tactics of seasoned players, we can get unstuck in our spiritual lives, cultivate a deeper connection with God, and explore how to fulfill our purpose by learning from and journeying with a spiritual mentor who has traveled the path before us. Some gems from our conversation: I began my year with this prayer: How can I grow closer to You this year? And He answered, Study the life and faith of Mr. Rogers. To be a disciple takes discipline—to hold onto what God is trying to teach us about ourselves and a deeper walk with Him. The truth is, they lived not perfectly but prayerfully, doing the best they could just like we can—and their weaknesses speak to us as much as their strengths. When we learn from a faithful followerer of God, it makes Him happy—as if He's saying, "Isn't it great to see how I worked in his life and now that's helped you as well!" Fred Rogers was a great model of one who accepted others while remaining faithful to the grace and truth of Jesus Christ I learned better how to love others, listen better and leave space for silence from my year with Mr. Rogers. Following a spiritual giant has brought me closer to God because I've learned to see things from differenct perspectives and it has helped me worship Him more. My legacy is to be one who loved God and listened to His voice, and when I did, I was filled with joy. Lori G. Melton is an author, spiritual director, retreat leader, and a member of Hope*Writers. She and her husband, Bryan, are the creators of the Sanctuary Stirrings Podcast and the founders and directors of The Sanctuary at BearCreek Retreat Center, which serves hundreds of people a year. When she's not writing, speaking, or welcoming guests, she enjoys spending time with her six children and three grandchildren. She and her husband live in Allegan, Michigan. Follow Lori here: lorigmelton.com thesanctuaryatbearcreek.com Social Media: FB Lori G. Melton

Do you ever wonder if you can really trust the God of the Bible when things feel and are dark and discouraging? How do you synthesize with honesty Jesus loves me & The Lord is my Shepherd when your prayers are not answered, not only for yourself, but for those you love so very much? Today we welcome for the second time, author and disability advocate, Jillian Benfield, and we get to talk about her latest book, Overwhelmed and Grateful—the Key to Finding God’s Goodness in All Life’s Ups & Downs Benfield can speak to our suffering & call us to remember God's goodness all at the same time. We first met Jillian on Living a Legacy Life, Ep 183, and you will be so encouraged today as we talk about what it means to endure life's challenges and trials & practice honesty, gratitude and awe. She's hosting a book giveaway so be sure to comment below or on social media to be entered to win her beautiful and faith-encouraging book, Overwhelmed and Grateful—the Key to Finding God’s Goodness in All Life’s Ups & Downs. Some gems from our conversation I do not want to become an old woman who let the beauty of her life become the background. I no longer trust that God will rescue me from my humanity. Instead, I trust in a God who will love me through it. It's essential to remember God's goodness is always at work even when we don't see it. The bad part of your day or life doesn't define you; look for the beauty in the now, the mystery of God's goodness. We learn from Ecclesiastes that we need lay our questions down & move forward, anyway. I am working on becoming a person who is easily delighted. There will always be challenges, there will always be beauty. Being human is living with both. Living gratefully acknowledges a God who can be trusted.

After years in clinical social work and the sacred chaos of raising five children, God radically redirected Liz's path. She stepped into ministry as a writer and speaker, trusting Him to do what only He can. Raised by a faithfilled single mom, Liz felt called to love God and teach his Word in her late teen's and she's never stopped. We met at two different writing conferences. Here we are last year at Mt Hermon: Some gems from our conversation: To mentor someone in the faith, you just need to be one or two steps ahead, bringing them closer to Jesus. My legacy is to not try to be a perfect Christian, just forgiven and redeemed. I love to help people fall deeper in love with Jesus and to help them understand him and his character more thoroughly. When I don't feel close to God, I need to place the truth of his Word over and above my feelings and place my trust in him. From being raised by a single, faith-filled mom, I learned first-hand to look and depend on God as my Father and provider. My current favorite verse is the one that God is working into my life at this moment. Our emotions try and speak our truth but we only find truth in the Word and God's character. Liz House is a Christian author, Bible teacher, and speaker passionate about helping believers grow in their faith with boldness and grace. She creates faith-based content such as books, Bible study tools, podcasts, and messages designed to help believers encounter Jesus and deepen their spiritual walk. She speaks and writes with conviction, humor, and vulnerability because she knows what it's like to wrestle with doubt and still choose faith. She lives in the U.S. with her husband and her kids, joyfully serving the local church and global body of Christ--one gospel-centered word at a time. Liz is offering for free her mini e-book entitled "The Power of Weakness: Why Your Limitations are the Surprising Key to Spiritual Health" God isn’t waiting for your strength; He’s offering His. It’s easy to think our limitations disqualify us. But in Christ, they become invitations to His power. Grab this FREE mini e-book — plus a bonus 7-day prayer journey — and learn to see your limits through a fresh, faith-filled lens. Thanks, Liz! And check out her books: Book 1: Drowning in the Shallow End: A Guide for Deepening Faith https://www.amazon.com/Drowning-Shallow-End-Guide-Deepening/dp/B0BCRTGVZH Book 2: 10 Tips for Deeper Bible Study https://tinyurl.com/3rpwv37r Follow Liz and sign up for her newsletter at lizhouse.net Social media links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorlizhouse/ Blog: https://www.lizhouse.net/blog/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorlizhouse Threads: https://www.threads.com/@authorlizhouse Youtube Shorts: https://www.youtube.com/@authorlizhouse/shorts Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorlizhouse?_t=ZT-8yhvT1dzQZj&_r=1 X: https://x.com/authorlizhouse

Does the Bible make sense to you? Do you think it ever will or ever could? And what is God’s best intention for you as a child of his? Today we welcome my friend and fellow podcaster, Tim Winders of Seek, Go, Create Podcast for the second time to Living a Legacy Life - and we get to talk about some of these thorny but enlightening questions that Tim’s been noodling about these past couple of years. What if some things you learned were truth in Scripture were taken out of context and maybe out of order? Tim's spent the last couple years studying and figuring some of these things out. Whether or not you come to the same conclusions, you'll appreciate the opportunity to think and evaluate and maybe study a little bit harder on your own. Some gems from our conversation: We need to see Scripture as written for us, not necessarily to us. When we interact with people, we want them to sense there is something different about us because of Jesus in us, our source of peace. Part of the deception of the enemy is to overload us with information. We need to take responsibility for our own growth in Christ by sitting at his feet and listening to what he has to say to us. Sometimes the greatest act of faith is to let go of man's answers so that we hear God. We live in a chaotic world but we can have peace when we remember how much—how very much—God loves us. (And we may also need to disconnect from social media for a while.) We look forward to Tim's 90 Day Reading Plan when completed. Find more of Tim's work at timwinders.com.

Are you feeling at peace today? After all, it’s the Christmas season and does "Peace on Earth" mean peace in your home and in your car? Do we have good will toward men but not toward our family members or extended family members? December is here and maybe you’re in the midst of holiday chaos. Today Ginger Harrington and I are going to be talking about peace and hope. Ginger Harrington is the voice behind the Habits of Hope podcast, a long-time blogger, and the author of Holy in the Moment. She has plans for launching a gorgeous Etsy shop in the new year featuring printable resources and tools to help women grow in faith, peace, and purpose. Listen to how Ginger gifts her children with each Christmas. Now her Bible is a family legacy! Some gems from our conversation: Peace isn't the reward for figuring it all out. It's the fruit of walking with the One who already has. As a gift for my kids each Christmas, I pick a verse and put it as their name placecard for Christmas dinner and mark it in my Bible. My Bible is now full of their names and the year which I pray over again when I come across their verse. Reframe what peace is and is not. It's not how things are working out or not; rather it's connecting with God in the moment. When we shift our attention to God, we move from self-reliance to God-reliance. In my time with God in the Word, I pray, "Lord, will you read this verse to me?" Ground yourself in the truth that God is good and truly loves me. My creativity is part of my legacy life. For those interested in ministry to the military, check out Tun Tavern Fellowship https://www.tuntavernfellowship.org/ Follow Ginger at gingerharrington.com and be sure to check out her new Etsy shop in 2026 for gifts for yourself and others. Her creativity is a way to live a legacy life. Bask in the light of Christ this Christmas with a selection of devotions to inspire light and hope in your heart. Light up your life with this free gift from Ginger. See gift HERE. ______ Get a copy of my Five Prayers for the Holidays HERE

If you or someone you know finds herself in a relationship crisis, how do you navigate the pain—a pain of lost dreams and expectations for yourself but also for your children? You need courage that’s for sure, and hope in a God who will never let your down even when you feel like all hope is lost. Jody Allen writes: “Jesus doesn’t care about our track records or our reputations – he’s all about redemption.” Today we welcome, Jody Allen, mom to young adult twins, Director of Women's Ministry at her church, and author of Hidden Heartache: Finding Courage When Your Husband Struggles with Pornography Some gems from our conversation: Shame can trick us into believing that silence is the best way forward. Being honest with God doesn't make you less of a Christian, it makes you a more genuine Christian. To know that Satan was on the attack helped provide more compassion and gave me perspective that he was the real enemy we were dealing with. To forgive someone comes with guardrails; we can forgive but it doesn't mean we can entrust ourselves to them like we can fully trust God. Proverbs 3:5, "to not lean on my own understanding" helped me move forward when I couldn't understand the pain and betrayal of a world that celebrates and rewards pornography. Shame is a liar and tells me that my legacy of living a kingdom life is tarnished. When I hear anothers woman's story, I listen with love and empathy because I have felt her hurt and experienced her shame. You can find Jody and all her free resources at jodyallenwrites.com And the feelings wheel she mentioned can be found HERE. Leave a comment to be entered in a giveaway.

One way to please God and show his heart for all people is to invite. To ask a simple question: “Would you like to come for coffee?” can negate a lifetime of rejections. To think, "they aren't like me" can make us hesitate to invite. The biblical definition of hospitality means to invite the stranger and some may be a little strange! At least different from how we live, that's for sure. Jesus told us what love is when he told the story of the good Samaritan. I love that story and I'm always a little convicted! How about you? Is it a risk to invite someone you don't know? God will give you the courage if he is leading the way. Some thoughts from today's podcast What kind of courage does it take to invite a stranger? It takes a Paul-courage, a Peter-courage, a Samson-courage, a Joshua-courage. You might think hospitality means having your friends over. It does. But it’s so much bigger and grander. Another way to explain what God means by hospitality is to give without a thought of receiving anything in return. Someone said, “Share the Gospel. Use words if necessary.” I would add, “Share your life. Make soup and maybe brownies.” To invite a stranger into your home and out of their life—for just a few hours—creates a sacred space and isn’t far from holy living. We miss you, Doug! From Never Alone: Stories of Invitation and Connection

Fellow writer and mother of adult children, Michele Morin, talks about modeling who God is for our children as our greatest legacy. Mother of four grown boys-now-men with families of their own, I love how Michele trusts God for each new season of her life, even a season with a chronic illness included. You will be blessed with tons of practical wisdom today as we talk about how we deal with unanswered prayers and questions and try not to catastrophize every little thought that comes into our brains. Some gems from our convo: We make the mistake of defining God's goodness by how he answers our prayers—or not. I used to have to "send myself to my room" for a time-out so I could do some much-needed attitude adjustment. I had to learn that making a good life for a family I loved was exactly where and what God wanted me to do and be. Never forget that we are modeling for our kids what God is like. Only a free person has the privilege of rest. Chronic disease helps me stay present to today's work rather than projecting and catastrophizing what may lay ahead. We tend to put our hope in our prayers instead of God himself which can make what we pray for an idol. To lean into God's goodness on a daily basis helps to keep our walk with God fresh and not rote. Michele is the author of over 8 YouVersion Bible Reading devotionals which you can find HERE. She's a regular contributor at DesiringGod.com. Because “the way we live our days will be, after all, the way we live our lives,” you are invited to peruse Michele’s writing on her website here at your leisure. michelemorin.net Michele Morin is a reader, writer, speaker, and gardener who does life with her family on a country hill in Maine. She has been married to an unreasonably patient husband for thirty years, and together they have four sons, four daughters-in-love, and five adorable grandchildren. Active in educational ministries with her local church, Michele delights in sitting at a table surrounded by women with open Bibles. She loves hot tea and well-crafted sentences, poems that stop her in her tracks, and days at the ocean with the whole family. She laments biblical illiteracy and advocates for the prudent use of “little minutes.”

Can you have peace in the insanity of the Sandwich Season? Ruthie Gray, author and host the podcast, Sandwich Season Sanity, joins me to today to talk about the struggles we may face when juggling several difficult and time-consuming roles. We are never alone because God knows the way that we take, and you will be encouraged and maybe challenged from our conversation. Our peace comes from daily laying down our lives, our plans, our "To-Do Lists" to the One Who really is in control. "Pray your list," Ruthie says. And when we do, we will have peace in any life-season. SIGN UP FOR THE PEACEFUL MOM COLLECTION WITH RUTHIE GRAY Let’s trade not-so-helpful stress for encouragement that hits right at home. Some gems from our podcast today: Laying down our past roles doesn't come easy because we can wrap our identity in those roles instead of who we are in Christ. There's a grief in releasing our kids and their kids into the Lord's control instead of hanging on to them for dear life. I can't afford to not spend time in God's Word, journaling, praying Scripture back to God and giving him my "to-do list" for the day. Our peace can only be as big as our faith, clinging to God no matter what the day brings. If you want a good relationship with your adult kids, ask open-ended questions instead of telling them what they already know about you and your well-laid out plans for your life (and their's!) I can idolize my title like "mom" or "grandma" so when they change, I go through an unnecessary identity crisis. We need to allow time for our own soul care to be healthy and ready for the next challenge life offers, welcomed or not. Ruthie Gray's book, Empty Next Awakening may be just what you need currently and it also makes a great gift for a friend. Find out more from Ruthie at ruthiegray.com and you can get her 5 short podcasts on getting peace in your insanity seasons HERE .

Yes, everyone has a story worth sharing and you will love Marci's stories and inspiration on today's Living a Legacy Life Podcast. Marci Seither’s writing career began after her humor article was published in a small-town newspaper. Since then, she has authored two books and hundreds of articles for local papers as well as Guideposts and Focus On The Family. And she now hosts the radio show and podcast: The Biscuit Book Club - how cute is that? Today we are offering two giveaways: Marci's new magazine for readers, eaters and writers, as she says. As well has her beautiful hard back retreat at the lake devotional called Lake Side Retreat. Besides writing, she enjoys teaching workshops, speaking, and photography, and she just launched a radio show, "The Biscuit Book Club," with her friend Shelly Sulfridge. Her biggest joy, besides being married to John, raising six kids who have all flown the nest, and creating memories and messes with her seven grandkiddos, is baking anything that includes butter. Some gems from our conversation: You can hear someone's story from asking simple questions like, "Tell me about your lunch box growing up?" or "Have you ever felt lost?" If you feel stuck in taking the next step in doing what meant you to do, start where you are standing right now. Start observing more—if you see a need, fill a need. If there's room on the floor, there's room for one more—invite! Volunteering is a gift to yourself. You can impact someone by simply showing up in the messy middle of your own life. Don't wait until the timing is just right to move forward—that right time may never happen. The "red pen" mentality can keep you from writing your story and that might mean your story is lost forever. Be sure to comment to win this lovely devotional. LINKS https://wrjz.com/onair/ Saturday mornings at 10:30 am https://marciseither.com/ https://www.instagram.com/marci_seither/ https://www.focusonthefamily.com/episodes/broadcast/preparing-for-the-empty-nest-years/ Everyone gets a free Printable Download of Marci's latest Southern Christian Writer Magazine—as she says, a magazine for readers, eaters and writers. If you prefer a printed one (totally worth it, by the way - for the recipes, alone - contact Marci.) Catch her radio show and podcast HERE.

Life is full of "whelm" and then there's "overwhelm!" Today we get to talk about what it means to feel overwhelmed, and how we can use that very thing to draw us closer to our Savior, the Lord of peace. To be overwhelmed is defined as the weight of a load too hard to bear. We are human so we fail, time and time again, and I was comforted by that statement by my guest, Mary DeMuth on today's episode, God's Peace in the Overwhelm. Mary DeMuth is a literary agent, daily podcaster at the PrayEveryDay.show, Scripture, artist, speaker, and the author of more than fifty books, including The Most Misunderstood Women of the Bible, The Most Overlooked Women of the Bible and her latest, The Most Overwhelmed Women of the Bible. Any or all three will make great gifts this Christmas and include questions at the end of each chapter to help you lead and enjoy a small book group. She lives in Texas with her husband and is the mom to three adult children. Find out more at marydemuth.com. Some gems from our legacy conversation: From rapidly reading the Bible—which she tries to do once or twice a year—Mary discovered the stories of many women in Scripture that we don't hear very often. God's timing is always perfect but it doesn't always feel like it is. We need to make sure we seek God for Himself instead of deifying his blessings and our prayer requests. Taking a day of rest helps us reset our strength and guidance in our overwhelming lives. From looking in Scripture, we find normal women just like us facing hardship and challenges and we can learn from their mistakes and be inspired by their faithfulness. Find friends who will tell you the "ingredients" of how God created you to be his masterpiece. To be overwhelmed is defined as the weight of a load to hard to bear. To help a friend who feels overlooked you need to demonstrate God's love vs stating platitudes. If you feel overwhelmed and overlooked, you are not alone as we can find hope and encouragement in how these women in Scripture stayed faithful to God in their overwhelm.

Fellow podcaster and Bible teacher, James Early, joins us today with some Bible-based encouragement to love, pray and think like Jesus. Is that actually possible? you might wonder. According to James, we can grow daily in our obedience and reformed mindset so that we can, all for heaven's sake and for God's kingdom and glory. One way James shows God's love is through weekly Bible studies with a group of inmates in a local prison. His podcast is The Bible Speaks Today and from our chat, you will know that it does! Take advantage of James' free resource HERE. Some gems from our conversation: Lack of unity often stems from people thinking they are always right. Jesus wouldn't tell us to have His mindset if it were not possible. To "repent" means in part to think in a new way. To think like Jesus is to not be earth-bound in our minds nor self-focused. Praying like Jesus is to start and end with God. We often start our prayers with the problem and end with the problem. True prayer is surrendering to God's will. My legacy isn't to have a bronze statue—rather it's to love others as Jesus loves. Sometimes we can have the truth but not live the truth. We can have this mindset: "What if I treat others the way I would treat Jesus?" My commitment is to do whatever I can to further the cause of Christ. James helps people learn to think, pray, and love like Jesus. He gives talks and conducts workshops on the Bible to churches and groups, as well as online. Since 2008 his prison ministry at the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, CT has transformed hundreds of lives. In fall of 2019, James started The Bible Speaks to You Podcast, which has had listeners in over 200 countries and territories. His podcast is listed on the Feedspot list of top 100 Bible podcasts. Through his Jesus Mindset Coaching program, James helps people embrace the mindset of Jesus and rediscover their God-given ability to think and act more like Jesus. He lives in Bethel, CT with his wife of 35 years, Polly Castor. They have three grown children. He loves hiking and organic gardening. Don't forget to check out his free resource just for my listeners HERE.

One Sunday after church, I stood by my car before getting in and looked around me. Young parents busy getting their tired kids buckled in didn’t give me a second thought; their minds on home and lunch and naps, all in short order. As cars and vans drove away, hands waved and I heard voices ring out, “So long!” and “Have a great rest of your day! Single in my 20’s, in a new career, a new town and a new church, I felt okay, mostly. Life was full and purposeful, but lonely on occasion. I wondered why families didn’t ask me over for Sunday dinner. The Bible says God sets the lonely in families. (Psalm 68:6) I was lonely. I needed to be set somewhere. I got tired of waiting. Listen to what I did and what you can do, too, if you are singng the Parking Lot Blues. PS Please feel free to send my your stories of feeling lonely in a crowd. I'd love to share it on the podcast or in the newsletter. It can remain anonymous. Email me: [email protected] Some gems from the parking lot blues: Mom’s hospitality radar, in good working order on most days, placed itself on high alert each Sunday morning. I needed family so I gathered some folks. Sometimes you just have to make it happen and not wait for someone else to pick up the phone or send a text. Loneliness is the feeling that no one is thinking about you, much less cares about you and what you’re going through. We feel shame with loneliness and we know where shame comes from. Shame comes from the pit and God’s children are not pit people. When these ladies met with me it was like Jesus looking through the window of my Toyota Camry to say, “Hey Sue, I see you and I’m coming over and we’re going to make some changes where changes need making.” If you are feeling lonely at times, you are not alone. Make that call. I’ll give you my recipe for apple crisp. It’s a killer—for loneliness. Mom and Aunt Joy at Sunday dinner (not lunch, not supper.) Trishie’s Best-Ever Apple Crisp In a 7 1/2 x 11 glass casserole, mix together the following: (Trish says: “Mix in the baking pan and save washing a dish.” I wholeheartedly agree.) 5 large apples, peeled and sliced 1 t cinnamon 1/4 t nutmeg 1 t to 1 T lemon juice, depending on tartness of the apples 1 cup water Topping In a medium bowl combine: 1 cup sugar 3/4 cup flour Cut in until crumbly: 1/2 cup firm butter (I use pastry cutter or box grater) Spread topping over the apples. Bake at 350 degrees for an hour. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream. Comfort food, simple and delicious. A welcome home is a fragrant home.

God told Kerry Hasenbalg over twenty years ago that she was to write this book, The Way of Becoming. She wasn't convinced. She asked God to maybe ask someone else instead. She made bookmarks instead. Happy to report, she finished her book and it released in April, just in time for the National Day of Prayer in which an entire chapter, Chapter 7, was picked to bless our nation and a free download of that excerpt is still available on her website: https://kerry hasenbalg.com/book A leader in Soul Care and a spiritual director, Kerry Hasenbalg, is a wife and mother of four and founder of The Becoming Foundation and resides in Pennsylvannia. You will be blessed and challenged as you hear our conversation about how to become who God has designed us to become no matter what challenges we face. Thank you, Kerry, for your honest reflections and teachings. We will all be hanging clotheslines very soon! Some gems from our conversation: God is interested in our inner world and we need to bring our stress and anxieties to him and his care. We land in the valley and progress out of towards God as we apply certain faith practices in our lives, and then land in the valley again and God keeps moving us forward. The Lord brings people into our lives for us to help dispel any of their darkness with the truth and beauty of His Spirit. When we endure trials and pain, it's important that we name the broken things in our lives as we hand them over to the Healer. To ask God for specifics gives us a deeper awareness of his great love for us. I wanted to make sure to teach our kids first what God was teaching me before teaching anyone outside our home. Every day is an exercise in trusting God enough to let Him work out His plan as we walk by faith. My legacy is to help our kids know that they can access the power of Jesus right now in their lives through whatever challenges they endure. I wrote my book based on Scripture and included my story so that the reader could begin seeing God in their own story.