WELCOME HEART: Living a Legacy Life

Ep 271 Repurposed Not Retired with Encourager Peg Arnold

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
 
 
 
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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 
 

Ep 270 Surprised by Doubt with Sue Donaldson

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 
 
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Do you prefer watching while listening?  We are on YouTube:
 
 
Welcome Heart: Knowing & Showing the Heart of God
 

Ep 269 We Don't Have to Arrive to Say "Yes" to Jesus with Adriana Gomez

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
 
 
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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 
 
 

Ep 268 Do You Have a Spiritual Giant in Your Life? with Lori Melton

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 sixchildren and three grandchildren. She and her husband live in Allegan, Michigan.
Follow Lori here:
lorigmelton.com
thesanctuaryatbearcreek.com
Social Media: 
FB
Lori G. Melton
 

Ep 267 Life Is Hard & God Is Good with Jillian Benfield

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.
 
 

Ep 266 Helping People Love God and His Word with Liz House

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
 

Ep 265 A Journey to Understand the Bible with Tim Winders

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.
 
 

Ep 264 Habits of Peace and Hope with Ginger Harrington

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.
 
 
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Get a copy of my Five Prayers for the Holidays HERE
 

Ep 263 Finding Courage When Faced With Your Husband's Addiction with Jody Allen

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. 
 

Ep 262 Inviting the Stranger, All For Heaven's Sake with Sue Donaldson

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