WELCOME HEART: Living a Legacy Life

Ep 129 A Legacy of Seeing God in Our Dailies with Diana Stuhr

I first met Diana Stuhr on a missionary trip with Practical Missionary Training. It was love and laughing at first sight. Diana has served with World Vision, Central American Mission and has worked with Wycliffe Bible Translators for the last 34 years. Currently, semi-retired in Waxhaw, NC, Diana oversees the events for seniors and she was born for it! Always with a good word of encouragment and a ready laugh, Diana's legacy is evident to all: to be a woman known for loving Jesus, talking about Him as a matter of course in the "dailies of life." 
What a great reminder to pray to God to open our eyes to how He works in and around us. And to be ready to talk about it out loud to anyone who may be listening. 
You will love Diana! I sure do. Sign up for her weekly email here: Monday Memories: diana_stuhr@wycliffe.org
 
Diana writes a weekly email with many of her "parables" as well as some of her photography. Here's a sampling:
Occasionally,  I encounter someone spectacularly rude, astonishingly so. I encountered someone like that this week at the synagogue (Luke 13:10-17) Jesus was teaching and sitting just a few rows away from me was a bent over and crippled woman. I wondered how Jesus came to be at the podium (perhaps the synagogue leader had invited Him to speak), when suddenly He called out to the crippled woman. He invited her to come forward. You could have heard a pin drop in the seconds it took her to rise to her feet and the minutes it took her to shuffle forward. I was embarrassed for her. She reached Him and He simply said to her, "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity." 
There should have been laughter and clapping, but rudeness but a squelch to that straightaway as the synagogue leader rose up indignant and instead of speaking to Jesus who stirred his ire, he spoke to us. He scolded us as if we were the ones who caused the stir. He accused Jesus of breaking the law without speaking directly to Him. Rude, indeed. 
Stunned everyone was just trying to take it all in, when Jesus spoke directly back to the synagogue leaders. He called them hypocrites. In essence, He humiliated them. He had the last word, too, as far as I know. 
It just goes to show, you never know what might happen at church.  I left assured: 
Jesus cares about those in bondage whatever form it takes and regardless of who it is. 
Jesus has power over all bondages and with just a word He can bring healing. 
Jesus invites, but waits for those He's invited to come. 
Sometimes laws are meant to be "broken" because a higher law prevails (ie compassion and kindness).
I also left with some questions: 
What constitutes work? 
Why did this woman have to suffer for 18 years? 
The woman came forward without knowing what Jesus would do. Could I have been brave enough to do what she did? 
Shame is a powerful emotion. In essence the synagogue leader, while being rude to Jesus, was also shaming the woman. He was substituting the shame of her affliction with the shame of her healing, which had no basis in reality. How does one battle that kind of shame successfully? On the other hand, Jesus shamed the synagogue leaders, but their shame was based in reality. How does one battle that successfully? By repenting. 
Sign up for her weekly email here: Monday Memories: diana_stuhr@wycliffe.org
 
 
 

Ep 128 A Legacy of Right Thinking with Sheree Shannon

Sheree Shannon knows that what we think makes all the difference in how we live. "You can't change your life," she says, "without changing how you think about it." Good stuff. And practical. The more we know and believe what God says about Himself and ourselves, the more we can be Who God designed us to be and live with peace, strength and a security that all will be well in the end.
As believers, we want to look different from those who don't understand how much God loves them, but often we can "fit in" all too well to the rest of the world. Sheree noticed this and came to understand that this starts in the mind. When our minds are whole and in tune with God, we can fight the doubts and insecuirties that are common to all of us.
She wrote a book about it called: The Journey to Wholeness of Mind which sounds like a great place to start. She's offering a free copy this week—please comment here, on the blog or on instagram to be entered. I hope you win!
Sheree Shannon-Author, teacher, public speaker, coach, wife, mother and gigi but most importantly a child of God. She has lived a life of service empowering and equipping others to live their very best life. Her message is one of hope, vision, clarity, and yes, the know how to help transform any life, situation, or future all for the glory of God.
 
You can reach out to Sheree here
https://www.shereeshannon.com/
https://www.instagram.com/journeytowholenesswithsheree/
 
 
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One simple way to spread God's message of love and forgiveness is to welcome others like He welcomed you. Join my series to do simple hospitality, one task a day for 4 weeks:
Hospitality By the Day
What to do Today to Host Guests in a Month.
It's fun.
It's simple.
I promise. 
Sign up here and it will begin next Monday.
Can't wait to hear all about it!
 
 

Ep 127 A Legacy of Living Your Purpose with Tiffany Jo Baker

Today meet, Tiffany Jo Baker, a 3-time surrogate mother, life and project coach, and all-around encourager. I knew I loved her when I saw she signed off all her emails with "cheering you on!" No matter what season we are in or how far we have come or how far we've drifted, we all need someone in our corner "cheering us on." 
Hear Tiffany's story of surrogacy and how God used that to "birth" her ministry of holding others' dreams and helping them flourish. She reminds us that God made us differently to uphold His unique purposes.
You may be an arm, she's obviously a womb—and I may be a mouth. But what it is doesn't matter. What does matter is that we listen to God's voice, act in obedience and, take the next step in living out our God-designed life. 
Check out Tiffany's book: Soul-Care for Go-Getters, Refresh and Refocus in Five Minutes a Day, a 31-Day Devotional. I have many go-getter friends who may be getting this for Christmas or birthday - don't tell!
Tiffany will give one away this week--leave a comment on blog or instagram to be entered to win. I hope it's you!
Cheering you on,TiffanyTiffany Jo Baker MA, CLCCreator of the video podcast: All the Things TV plus instagram encouragement of womenwalking out their why - 
Need to know your "Why?" Contact Tiffany @ www.tiffanyjobaker.com3x Surrogate | Speaker | StrategizerUplifting the soul + success of women walking out their WHY at home + onlinewww.TiffanyJoBaker.com@TiffanyJoBaker  Instagram | FacebookHost of All the Things TV podcastAuthor of Soul-Care for Go-GettersCreator of purposeful productsLover of a good laugh
 
 
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When asked, "What's the greatest commandment?" Jesus replied simply: "Love God, love your neighbor." I imagine He was thinking,"It's not rocket science" or "What's not to like?" or  "It's not complicated."
He was right, it's not complicated.
I make it complicated. I need to pray daily to uncomplicate what He says is best for me and best for others. So I wrote 31 Days of Uncomplicated Prayers, and once I pray them through, I start over again. 
You can too.
Sign up HERE to receive 31 Days of Uncomplicated Prayers to take the "complicated" out of the simple commands of Jesus. Love God. Love your neighbor. It's not complicated.
 

Ep 126 A Legacy of Making Your Life Count for Eternity

Happy Spring! A new year is here—well it still feels like the year has just begun, even though it's March—and time doesn’t stop when I feel stuck, inadequate or needing longer showers (my shower is my “prayer closet” so we need more rain.)
I want to take stock, re-evaluate my days and months to make sure I’m investing in what counts.
How do we know what lasts? We read in I Peter,  “ . . . since you have been born again . . . through the living and abiding word of God . . . the word of the Lord remains forever.’  (I Peter 1:23-25 ESV)
No matter how small or insignificant our daily actions seem, living a life that counts means investing in people and the abiding word of God, and then leaving the results of those actions with Him. 
The Bible is clear that this life is brief, a “mist” we read in James 4:14 — a “blade of grass” says the Psalmist in Psalm 103. I forget that truth when caught up in my busy day, and stressed by all I’m not doing nor can’t do. God is gracious to remind me that when I bake with a young gal, meet a lonely friend for coffee, or listen to my children, I am investing in what’s eternal.
Listen today and be encouraged that we can live a life that counts for eternity when focused on God, His word and the people He brings our way every day. 
 
To help us determine what we should be doing, here are the questions I listed: 
TAKING STOCK: SOME QUESTIONS TO ASK
 
Think about your natural abilities and talents. What gives you joy? When do you feel God’s pleasure? An inordinate amount of self-examination can keep me stuck, but a healthy dose of self-knowledge helps me determine which direction to take.
 
Do I need to take a course, invest money or time so I can get better?
Should I try something I’ve never tried before?
Do I need to stop doing what I’m currently doing?
Have I exercised the sanctified “No” lately or am I running frantically from task-to-task in the name of Christian service? God calls us to be empowered by Him, not to be exhausted by perceived expectations of others or ourselves.
Do I have the courage to pray, “Lord, do you want me to stop what I'm doing right now and try something new?"
 
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A great way to invest in what counts is getting to know your neighbors.
Here are simple steps. Happy Hosting for Heaven's sake!
Jesus said, "Love God and love your neighbor." You might love God but wonder about Part II.
 
You don't remember your neighbor's name or even which house they live in when you walk by with your puppy or they walk by with their puppy. You say "Hello" but, you don't really know them. I can relate! We have 90 homes in our 'hood and we've lived here over 30 years.
 
It sounds too hard to obey Christ's command to "go into all the world starting with Jerusalem." But I like to think my neighborhood is my Jerusalem. You, too?
 
You want to show your neighborhood God's love but you're not sure how to go about it.
 
CLICK HERE today for simple steps to invite your neighbors over for coffee. I include two delicious and simple recipes. Try them out and I'll come over!
 
 

Ep 125 A Legacy of Loving Kids in the Projects with Nancy Thomason

Nancy Thomason loves kids. And she will go wherever they are to tell them the Good News of Jesus. Nancy worked with Child Evangelism Fellowship for 47 years and she loves talking about what God did through those years because the "searchlight is on God." At 84, Nancy's smile hasn't dimmed nor has her open heart and home for everyone who needs to know that God loved them enough to die for them. 
Nancy with the Director of Child Evangelism Fellowship at their conference.
If you want to serve God and you love kids, hosting a Good News Club may be the very best way to get started. Contact Child Evangelism Fellowship in your area to find out more.
I loved hearing Nancy's stories of faith and trust in God as He led her to begin Good News Clubs in her neighborhood, then to Whittier, the San Fernando Valley and South Central LA. She made sure she was ready with a flannel graph story in the trunk of her car and a welcoming smile on her face.
 
Some Nancy-ism's:
"If we are unplugged from God, where will we get our power?"
"When God tells you to go, you know He's got you in His hand."
"If you don't come to the edge of the cliff and jump, you'll never know that God can hold you."
"You don't have an adventure with God without obstacles because that's when God shows up."
 
Nancy's Acorn Squash
Poke some holes in the top of squash
Cook in microwave for 10 minutes.
Voila! Add butter and brown sugar. Yum!

Ep 124 A Legacy of Your Spiritual Game Plan with Cheri Fletcher

Cheri Fletcher is my younger twin—an enneagram 7 with a great smile and desire to help women and young people find their purpose, no matter what they may be facing. While watching her husband coach basketball, she recognized that we all need a "game plan" if we are going to endure the normal trials and troubles of this world. Once we know the plan and our purpose, we can thwart Satan at his own game to sideline us from what God intends for our lives.
 
Our purpose? To show who God is to everyone we meet.
Our legacy? To build into our kids a clear understanding of spiritual warfare. God has a plan and Satan has a plot to wreck that plan.
 
Cheri says:
I want our kids to have a very clear understanding of the war that is going on for their attention, mental health, salvation, marriage, their life! To fully grasp that God has had a plan for them all along and the enemy has had a plot against it.  
When things are hard—to be able to step back, to fully KNOW that God is already victorious and that with a spiritual game plan in place, they are too.
Sounds like a great plan to me!
 
Cheri Fletcher is a writer, speaker, singer and the host of Your Spiritual Game Plan podcast.
She loves to help women develop a spiritual game plan so that they can live out the purpose God created for them.  She wants to share the message of how intentionally you were made to be a part of God’s plan.  
Through her writings, speaking and podcast guests, it is her desire to equip you with an understanding of the enemy’s plot against that very plan.
She and her husband Todd are empty nesters and have just moved from Seattle WA to Cleveland Tennessee. They have three grown children and 1 dog, Libby.
You can find out more about Cheri on her website Cherifletcher.com
From Cheri, when I asked her for a favorite recipe:
A recipe --- Hmmmm, well, it is a vegetarian one that is a staple at all holidays.  The very first time that my mom made it my dad (an avid meat eater) said: "Well, for dog food that tasted pretty good!"  My 5-year-old brother decided to tell everyone that we had dog food for Thanksgiving and thus  - we still serve dog food at every Thanksgiving meal and I have had several friends who grew up in my life ask me for my dog food recipe. LOL 
 
https://cherifletcher.com/wp-content/uploads/Dog-Food-Recipe.pdf
Follow Cheri here: https://cherifletcher.com
 
 
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One simple way to spread God's message of love and forgiveness is to welcome others like He welcomed you. Join my series to do simple hospitality, one task a day for 4 weeks:
Hospitality By the Day
What to do Today to Host Guests in a Month.
It's fun.
It's simple.
I promise. 
Sign up here and it will begin next Monday.
Can't wait to hear all about it!
 
 
 

Ep 123 A Legacy of Rest: Connecting With God in 2022

I love a good invitation and this morning’s invitation is from God Himself: “Come to Me and find rest” Matthew 11:28
To find rest, we could just all go home and get in the tub and lock the door, which is always a good idea, but for now let’s see what God wants to remind us of today
Why do we need to come when Jesus invites?
Women are tired, period. We do too much, often, for too many people, with too little money, cooperation or sleep.
I’m in the process of learning the 3 d’s to help me get a handle on this overload. I need to figure out one of 3 things:
Do I delegate this job? Do I do things that energize me? Or, do I dump something? (I learned that from life coach, Kathy Vick from runlikeagirl.org)
The main part of rest is connecting with God. How's that going for you in 2022?
Through many years, starts and stops, I've found a rhythm of sitting at Jesus' feet and it's made all the difference in growing in my relationship with God.
This is what I do now and I find I rarely miss, even on a cruise with the Man-in-Plaid or a weekend with the girls. For more details on how I'm currently connecting with God and finding rest on my blog in January.
 
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Going on a women's retreat is one of the great boons of a believer's life. If you have a chance to go this year, I hope you go. So much fun and such a great time to connect with God and with others. 
For information on my 8 Retreat Series, go to my website. I'd love to meet you in person. 
 

Ep 122 A Legacy of Storytelling with Laura Thomas

You will love hearing Laura Thomas's story today, not only because she's from the UK and sounds like she lives at Downton Abby, but because her love for God and others shines through everything she says. Laura is an author, speaker, and mentor and blogs at laurathomasauthor.com.
She dreamed of becoming a writer as a child and kept it a secret dream for 20 years, and now is a published writer of mostly Christian fiction. 
Laura will be giving away a signed, personalized copy of The Glass Bottom Boat - first in her Flight to Freedom Series. Leave comment to be entered!
Her legacy is storytelling not just because she writes stories but because she has seen the value of how our stories can touch and encourage others. We don't have to have a grand story of success or a painful story of crisis to have our story be used of God. He's created us uniquely and all stories are of value.
A published Christian author, Laura writes heartwarming encouragement for your soul. She has three Christian romantic suspense novels published as well as a Christian teen fiction trilogy, marriage book, middle-grade novel, several anthology books, devotionals, articles, and stories in magazines and online.Laura is a chocoholic mom of three, married to her high school sweetheart—originally from the UK, they live in Kelowna, British Columbia as audacious empty-nesters.Find more on her website: https://www.laurathomasauthor.comINSTAGRAM: @lauracthomas FACEBOOK PAGE: @LauraThomasAuthorTWITTER: @Laura_Thomas_PINTEREST: lauracthomasGOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5837074.Laura_Thomas
BOOKBUB: https://bit.ly/2Uj4gyRYOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAIg1LlXedxtfqmEAssdgnQ
 
“A storytellers’ job is to find the common threads in this tattered world and hold them out so that a reader will grab and pull until the veil is torn in two and they behold the heart of God.” --Robin Jones Gunn
 
“After nourishment, shelter, and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.” --Philip Pullman
 
And here’s Laura's recipe for her go-to chocolate cake, the perfect accompaniment to a good story!
 
"PERFECT CHOCOLATE CAKE"Ingredients:2 cups sugar1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour3/4 cups cocoa1 1/2 tsp baking soda1 1/2 tsp baking powder1 tsp salt2 tsp vanilla2 eggs1 cup milk1/2 cup vegetable oil1 cup boiling water(Frosting)1/4 cup butter or marg (melted)2 cups icing sugar1/4 cup cocoa1/2 tsp vanilla1-3 tsp milk as needed Directions:1. Heat oven to 350 degrees2. Combine dry ingredients in a bowl3. Add eggs, oil, milk, and vanilla— mix well4. Carefully stir in boiling water (batter will be thin)5. Pour into greased baking cake pan6. Bake for 50-70 mins depending on oven (check after 50 mins)7. Cool and frostFROSTING:1. Melt butter in microwave2. Add to icing sugar and cocoa— mix well3. Add vanilla and milk a little at a time, until desired consistency*Optional: top cake with grated chocolate/ berries
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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When asked, "What's the greatest commandment?" Jesus replied simply: "Love God, love your neighbor." I imagine He was thinking,"It's not rocket science" or "What's not to like?" or  "It's not complicated."
He was right, it's not complicated.
I make it complicated. I need to pray daily to uncomplicate what He says is best for me and best for others. So I wrote 31 Days of Uncomplicated Prayers, and once I pray them through, I start over again. 
You can too.
Sign up HERE to receive 31 Days of Uncomplicated Prayers to take the "complicated" out of the simple commands of Jesus. Love God. Love your neighbor. It's not complicated.
 
 

Ep 121 A Legacy of Staying Married with Conell and Rhonda Hollins

Conell and Rhonda Hollins say that a good marriage is worth the work including all the "heated fellowship" involved along the way. They claim that we can be trained to staying married in a loving, passionate and joyful relationship—the kind of marriage God means for us to enjoy and to model to our children and to a needy world. 
Parents of three boys, elders in a large church, and podcast founders of the MetoWeTalk Podcast, this dynamic duo (you will love their passion and laughter) isn't afraid to discuss any aspect of marriage, and their desire is to keep a couple from marriage if they aren't "marriage material" as yet, and to protect and grow the marriage of everyone they meet. 
In their book, Marriage Material: Pre & Post-Marital Training Guide they write: "If we break you up before you ever get married to save you from divorce, we did our job!"
Leave a comment here or on instagram to be entered to win a copy. Be sure to order the companion workbook as well.
 
Start praying now about who to get this book for - one for yourself, as well. 
"Most couples want the look of marriage but not the work involved to make marriage last with passion, joy and a growing love for one another."
"We have become students of love and of one another."
"Our mission is to empower your marriage with tools, resources and education to ensure your marriage is strong enough to last a lifetime."
 
 
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Use this as a reminder (bookmark?). God's design is for marriages to flourish. And we only can flourish when we put God in the center of all our relationships. 
Don't forget to comment on blog or instagram to be entered to win a copy of Marriage Material!
 
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How to invest in what matters beyond ourselves. We have one life - let’s make the most of it for God, others, and eternity.
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Ep 120 A Legacy of Belovedness with Markus Watson

Markus Watson—pastor, podcaster, author, teacher—knows what really matters. His passion is to help show individuals and churches  who they really are and how their gifts can align with the mission of God's heart. A self-described "reluctant" pastor, Markus heard God's call in the prayer of St. Augustine, "Late have I loved You." He learned some very hard things in a very difficult situation but knows more than ever that his worth is not in what he does nor how he succeeds, but in how he is loved by God. A legacy worth living and replicating in everyone he knows and meets.
In his own words:
I’m a Presbyterian pastor, living in San Diego with my beautiful wife, Robin, and my three kids, Micah, Macy, and Drew.  I currently serve as an interim pastor at a small but mighty congregation in the rural town of Westmorland, about two hours east of San Diego.  I also host the Spiritual Life and Leadership podcast and am the author of Beyond Thingification: Helping Your Church Engage in God’s Mission.
I’ve been serving in churches for over twenty years.  But, believe it or not, church ministry was never on my radar when I was young…
Hear more at www.markuswatson.com
His podcast is all about encouraging those in Christian leadership and is in collaboration with Fuller Theological Seminary.
Check it out: Spiritual Life and Leadership Podcast
 
 
 
________
One simple way to spread God's message of love and forgiveness is to welcome others like He welcomed you. Join my series to do simple hospitality, one task a day for 4 weeks:
Hospitality By the Day
What to do Today to Host Guests in a Month.
It's fun.
It's simple.
I promise. 
Sign up here and it will begin next Monday.
Can't wait to hear all about it!