WELCOME HEART: Living a Legacy Life

Ep 207 A Legacy of Surviving Abuse: Live Free, Be Bold with Jilliann Woods

Jilliann Woods grew up in an abusive environement which didn't stop with her childhood. Because she didn't understand the oppression under which she was raised, she found herself in repeated abusive relationships. She finally realized that God created all of us to be heard and seen and empowered by His Spirit, she now lives free and boldly counsels and teaches multitudes of women so that they too can find our God-given freedom in Christ. Thank the Lord, for Jilliann's courage and love for others. Check out her two free resources on her website: jillian-woods.com. And pass them along to anyone you know who might need help in this painful and crippling life situation. 
Free guide: How to Climb Out of Oppression
Free printable: Bold and Free Manifesto
 
 
Some gems from our conversation:
I thought it was my duty to be nice at the expense of being honest.
All the things I wanted to keep secret, I now share to help others.
One oppressive relationship when younger can lead to a series of abusive relationships as an adult.
When you suspect someone may be in an abusive relationship, develop trust by just being there for them and then begin asking gentle questions.
God gives us all kinds of permission to be bold. 
I learned I do have a voice given to me by God, empowered by Him to be used by His Spirit.
How does a woman transition from being "beside the point" to becoming the very point of her own life?
Jilliann Woods is a writer, abuse survivor, and founder of Be Bold. Live Free—providingencouragement, coaching, and resources for women affected by abuse in close relationships. Currently,she is writing a book for Christian women who seek a path to freedom from abuse and relationshipaddiction. She is a certified Domestic Violence Peer Counselor. Jilliann is Mom to three amazing adults,and Grammie to seven cherished grands. She happily resides on the Central Coast of California.
 
3 Steps to Take if You are in an Abusive Relationship:
 
[Safety first for yourself and your children. If physical violence is an issue, find safe shelter. If you don't have a place to go call: 800.799.7233]
1. Confide in a trusted friend. Even if you feel ashamed or embarrassed, a trusted friend will understand and realize the abusive behavior of your spouse is not your fault.
2. Find a mentor or counselor who is trauma informed. Someone who will know what you are going through. Ask your friend to help with this step. If you are a Christian, find a trauma informed faith-based coach or counselor. 
3. Be honest with yourself, don't excuse the abuse, and don't accept the blame for his behavior. Pray and ask God for guidance and courage.  
 
NOTE: In abusive marriages, Marriage Counseling is not advisable. You need individual counseling. The abuser must be willing to get help and do the work to change his behaviors first.
 
Click here for  FREE 5-Step Toxic Relationship Reset Guide (scroll to bottom of Jilliann's home page)
 
Find and follow Jilliann in all the places--
https://jilliann-woods.com/https://www.instagram.com/jilliannwhttps://www.facebook.com/writerjilliannwoodshttps://www.pinterest.com/jilliannwoodscoach/
 

Ep 206 A Legacy of a Full Cup of Joy, Part II

Things are out of our control. Circumstances do cause us grief and pain, tragedy does strike the good people as well as the bad. What can we do with our sorrow? We hope as Paul wrote in I Thess. 4:13 – “Do not grieve like the men who have no hope.”
We can think that as a good Christian, we should not be grieving—as if being sad is un-Christ-like.
Life IS hard, we’d be foolish not to embrace that fact, and the best way to get through grief is to grieve. But we grieve differently because we belong to God.
How does a follower of Jesus grieve differently? With hope in God who knows what’s ahead and loves us to the uttermost.
We are to come to Him with our grief, we are to hold on tight, as we grieve, and we are to look for God’s beauty and purpose amidst the ashes of pain.
I want to add something here that maybe you can relate to:
I hate to see my kids suffer – I like to run around and manipulate all their circumstances and their friends and their teachers – just so that my kids don’t suffer pain – but God has something better in mind. He wants them to know Him through their pain.
And that is far more beautiful and helpful than anything I can maneuver.
They need to learn to know God personally;
They need to learn for themselves that God’s joy underlies their grief and the best way for them to learn it, is for their mother to get out of the way of the Holy Spirit.
 
 (Of course, the Holy Spirit still needs my help with my husband . . . just kidding.)
Joy comes from trusting and hoping in God
Joy comes from communing and depending on God
Joy comes from obedience and the main thing to obey is: "Love others as I have loved you." John 15
 
 
 
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Also in journal form - see SHOP. A gift for your soul just in time for the holidays. Quantities are limited. 

Ep 205 A Legacy to Retrain Our Minds with Mimika Cooney

Mimika Cooney, author, speaker and "personal trainer for the mind" is with us today to talk about mindset and legacy and living for things that matter. Wife and mother of three, Mimika had a lot going on until she realized she needed to get off the treadmill of doing too much with too little of relying on God. She needed a mindset change: "Lord, show me what you want me to do and then help me do it." And he did and does. 
"Our mind drives our actions so I need to keep God in the driver seat by renewing my mind daily—Romans 12:2."--Mimika (pronouced like paprika!)
Author of 10 books including her latest: Unstick Your Mind: Shift Your Mindset, Develop Grit, and Break Barriers, Mimika shares wisdom and inspiration based on her favorite Scripture, Romans 12:2 - "...be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
Find her free resource: 8 Steps to Supercharge Your Mind HERE.
 
Some gems from our conversation:
Training includes action—God expects us to act so we can be and do what he's created us to be and do.
We all have "junk in the trunk" that slows us down and needs clearing out.
We may be living in denial-city if we think we can do God's will without God renewing our minds daily.
Our mind drives our actions so I need to keep God in the driver seat by renewing my mind daily—Romans 12:2.
We don't know what we don't know so we rely on God to show us what needs changing and then take action steps to make those changes.
There are limits to self-help because it's self, not God.
You have to want to make a change. I help people move from where they are to where they want to be.
Ask yourself: "What are you thinking and why do you believe that?"
You're never too old to teach an old dog new tricks. 
Your story is a testimony to God's grace so if you keep it to yourself, you are doing the world a disservice and robbing God of the glory due him.
 
Find Mimika here:
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mimikacooney YouTube https://youtube.com/c/mimikacooney Facebook https://www.facebook.com/themimikacooney Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mimikacooney Twitter https://twitter.com/mimikacooney
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Mimika- Cooney/e/B0052GNJGY
 
Don't forget to check out her latest book, Unstick Your Mind as well as her free resource: 8 Steps to Supercharge Your Mind HERE.
 

Ep 204 A Legacy of a Simple Invitation, Part 2 with Sue Donaldson

When we wake up each morning, do we actually think that what we do can change someone's world in some way? Most of us are grateful to change the sheets on a regular basis, clean the coffee pot with vinegar a few times a year, and water the plants when they show signs of an early death.
Yet, as followers of Jesus, we are not only called to an eternal purpose, to love God and our neighbor, we also get the privilege of partnering with the Son of God to change lives—one life, perhaps—all for His glory and our good and theirs.
Does that sound too hard? Too overwhelming? Too exhausting? It can to me, until I remember how Jesus spoke to many individuals, not only crowds of 5,000 and more. And He met needs one-on-one, as well as breaking bread and fish for hungry men and women and their kids on a mountain more than once.
Think about it:
I've learned that inviting one person for a cup of coffee can change their world.
God loves people, and He wants to use our tables and teapots to show people that He does.
Your cup of coffee or tea, soup or water—can be an introduction to God that someone has been looking for their whole lives.
As my new sweatshirt reads, "My real home is heaven. I'm just here recruiting." (I don't usually wear that on a first time meet-up.)
Awhile ago I shared three stories of how God changed lives through a simple invitation. Here are three more stories of how God changed lives through a simple invitation.
An invitation to the one who needs a family
An invitation to the one who needs to live awake
An invitation to the one who needs a little help
 
Maybe you've been the recipient of an invitation that changed your life. I'd love to hear about it. 
I'd also like to hear if you invite someone over and would like me to pray alongside. Email me: sue@welcomeheart.com. We're partners, after all. 
To hear my first three invitations that changed the world, LISTEN to Part, I - HERE.
 

Ep 203 A Legacy of Less Worry and More Peace with Keri Eichberger

Today's conversation with Keri Eichberger is something we all need to hear: how to live with less worry and more peace. Author of the brand new book: Win Over Worry: Conquer What Shakes You and Soar with the One Who Overcomes, Keri, mother of five (now there are five worries!) speaks of her own process in overcoming worry with the truth of God's Word. 
Yes, there's a giveaway! Leave a comment below or on social media to be entered to win her book!
Some gems from Keri:
We must be aware of the temptation to rely on ourselves and our own abilities, for true peace and freedom can only be found when we fully trust and surrender to God.
Worry is rooted in fear: fear of helplessness and fear of worthlessness.
The more people I love, the more reason I'll have to worry—until and unless I give them all to God's care.
Simple steps to worry less takes a commitment and a decision to follow those steps. 
I worry less when I remember that God sees so much that we don't see.
Identify your root of worry and cover it with God's truth: He is all loving and all powerful. 
Overview:
On this episode of WELCOME HEART: Living a Legacy Life, our host Sue Donaldson is joined by guest Keri Eichberger as they dive deep into the topic of worry and its impact on our lives. The conversation begins with a focus on faith and the desire to make a difference in the lives of loved ones through their love for Jesus. The importance of living boldly and vulnerably in our faith is emphasized, as it brings glory to God and raises "kingdom builders" who can make a positive impact in the world.
The discussion then shifts to the root causes of worry and how unresolved worry can turn into fear. The speaker shares personal experiences, like worrying about their child driving, and explains how these fears can stem from deeper rooted fears of helplessness and worthlessness. They highlight the importance of identifying and addressing these root causes in order to overcome worry, reminding listeners that these fears are lies and that we are never helpless or worthless, drawing strength from the truths of God.
In addition to exploring personal experiences with worry, the episode also discusses how faith impacts daily life and how it is important to show reliance on God rather than trying to handle everything on our own. The speaker shares personal struggles and how they rely on God's grace to navigate their responsibilities. They also touch on the prevalence of worry among people of all ages and provide practical strategies for dealing with worry, such as writing down reminders of God's love and control.
The episode continues with an examination of the origins of worry and the tendency for people, including the speaker herself, to learn unhealthy coping strategies and avoid addressing the true source of their suffering. The importance of unlearning and relearning trust in God rather than relying on oneself or the world is discussed.
The conversation then moves to the challenges of parenting and the need for vulnerability in building intimacy and allowing others to witness the grace of God. The speaker encourages authenticity and transparency, acknowledging that it is God being tested, not the individual. They also tackle the issue of self-reliance and the tendency to worship one's own abilities. The speaker references Psalm 73 and ponders whether worry is more prevalent now compared to 100 years ago.
The episode concludes with reflections on leaving a legacy and the importance of embracing and relating to others. The speaker addresses encounters with non-believers and the need to overcome fear and self-righteousness in order to meet others where they are. Their personal journey of growth, including overcoming worry and finding more peace through a closer relationship with God, is shared. The speaker also discusses their decision to write a book on anxiety to help others and their research process. They suggest resources for fostering faith in young children, such as reading biographies of Christians, and highlight the importance of honoring trust in difficult circumstances rather than offering empty platitudes.
Throughout the episode, Sue Donaldson and Keri Eichberger provide insights and personal anecdotes that listeners can relate to. They explore the complexities of worry, the role of faith in navigating life's challenges, and the importance of leaving a legacy rooted in love and empathy. Listeners are left with a deeper understanding of worry and practical strategies to address it, as well as inspiration to live a legacy life with less worry and more peace.
Keri Eichberger
www.KeriEichberger.com
kerieichberger@gmail.com
Hang with me on Instagram!
 
 
 

Ep 202 A Legacy of an Accidental Homesteader with Kathi and Roger Lipp

You will love this conversation with Roger and Kathi Lipp about their brand new book, The Accidental Homesteader AND they are giving one away! Be sure to comment on social media, on blog or email me so you can be entered to win because you will want a copy for yourself as well as gifts for friends and family:
The Accidental Homesteader: What I’ve Learned About Chickens, Compost, and Creating Home
 
Roger and Kathi Lipp had an idea - a big idea - to move from the Silicon Valley to the north woods of California in mid-life and then they "accidentally" became homesteaders and they (mostly!) love it! Hear how they processed their move, and about some of the very real challenges they faced, and how their strong marriage made this a successful venture. Their enthusiasm for learning new things is an inspiration for all of us to learn new things at any age. Their legacy and desire is to continue to care for others as they grow in their love for each other and their neighbors as well as a deepening faith in their God. 
 
So many tips as well as over 20 recipes and inspiration for all of us to grow and change no matter what our age. Highly practical, humorous, and inspirational, The Accidental Homesteader will encourage you to live with more peace, joy, and contentment.  
 
Some gems from our conversation:
 
When you're following God, it's never boring.
Our brains have expanded, and so has our faith.
God is our first thought instead of our last resort when a crisis comes up. 
Living as a homesteader makes me more grateful and we are living the life we want.
If you're homesteading, you're not taking the easy route—it's rewarding but not convenient.
When creating your home, loved and lovely is the goal—not perfection. 
If you need or want to learn something, there are a million people who want to teach you. 
Learning on the job is rewarding in a way we never experienced before and it brings joy.
 
About Kathi:
Kathi Lipp is the Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author of 20 books, including An Abundant Place: Daily Retreats for the Woman Who Can’t Get Away, Overwhelmed, and Clutter Free.  Along with being a part of the InCourage at Dayspring writing team, she is the host of Clutter Free Academy the Podcast! with Kathi Lipp, Facebook group Clutter Free Academy, and Clutter Free for Life.
Kathi lives on her Red House mini-homestead with her husband Roger, a dog, and eight chickens and holds cozy writer retreats for content creators.
Find and follow her at kathilipp.com, @kathilipp and clutter-free academy and @writingattheredhouse
 
 
 
 
 

Ep 201 A Legacy of Living Seen by God and That’s What Counts with Whitney Akin

Whitney Akin felt overlooked,and that her life didn't matter and she didn't have any purpose in the grand scheme of things. Insecure and shy, she hid in the back of any group gathering so that she wouldn't make a mistake and bring even more perceived criticism onto her heart and life. Finally God reminded her who she was and more importantly who He was: beloved by God, created for his purpose and mission. Her mission now is to let everyone know that they count, that our worth isn't based on our big splash in society or our numbers on social media. Listen today to hear what it means to live seen by God and how you can make that a lifestyle vs only a moment. 
Her book, OVERLOOKED: Finding Your Worth When You Feel All Alone is a gem and you may need to get one for yourself and one for a friend who is feeling the same way. Good news: A Giveaway for your first copy! Leave a comment below to be entered to win.
Some gems from today's conversation:
God gives us all the approval that we need, we just need to remember that.
God's name, El Roi, means he is the God who sees so he can't help but see us—we are never overlooked.
We like to measure our worth based on how many more eyes are on us, but its the Father's eyes that matter.
There's a difference between knowing that God loves me and experiencing it for myself in my grief and doubt.
Feeling like  was unseen translated into severe, self-consuming insecurity so that wanted to hide in any social situation.
If I hid inside myself there was less of a chance of being hurt.
I want my children to live seen, but also take it a step further to help others feel seen by God.
Being seen is a moment, living seen is a lifestyle. 
Whitney Akin is a wife and mother of three young ones, author and speaker. You can find her here.

Ep 200 A Legacy of 80 Years of a Life Well-Lived—Bless-able with Hyatt Moore, Christian, Artist

Hyatt Moore and his wife Anne came to Jesus late, in their later 20's and they've never stopped serving God all these many years. Hyatt, in his third career—when you're just about to ready to celebrate your 80th birthday, you have time for at least 3 careers—describes himself as a Christian who is an artist.
Father of 5 and grandfather of 17, Hyatt wants his legacy to be something that goes on through his kids long after he dies, and he's very intentional about modeling his faith and pouring into his kids and grandkids. First career: Art Director of Surfer Magazine, Dana Pt, CA; second career: Missionary with Wycliffe Bible Translators for 32 years (Director for 5 of those years); Full-time painter (currently painting for many organizations, including donating many each year, and on commission.) See his commission gallery here. 
We talk about art and creativity and the talents that God gives all his children. Hyatt says he's a two-talent guy, and God has definitely doubled those. I'm thinking he has five to ten, but then I'm his sister and his biggest fan.
Some gems:
Creativity is basically problem-solving.
God and his mercies are new every morning; I get ideas, solutions, creativity every morning.
After running from God and then found by Him, I wanted to live my life to serve others the way I had been helped.
Be humble, but step up to your gifting and you'll get more yet. 
I want to live a "bless-able" life—I can prevent God's blessings by how I live.
God said, "Be holy for I am holy" which implies it's possible for us but only with his help, Spirit and fullness. 
 
Hyatt's portrait painted by a friend and student, Pil
See his art at hyattmoore.com
View his blog here and join his mailing list here. 
Hear his testimony on YouTube here.
Hyatt's signature piece is The Last Supper with Twelve Tribes - hear that story HERE.
One of the paintings Hyatt created for fellow-artist, Joni Eackenson Tada:
 
He's known for his large canvases as in Heroes of the Faith:
 

Ep 199 A Legacy of Honesty and Compassion Through Journaling with Jennifer Dukes Lee

With her latest book, Stuff I'd Only Tell God, A Guided Journal of Courageous Honesty, Obsessive Truth-Telling and Beautifully Ruthless Self-Discovery, Jennifer Dukes Lee gives us what we may didn't know we needed: a self-guided tour of ourselves--and it's only as accurate as we are honest.
On this episode of WELCOME HEART: Living a Legacy Life, host Sue Donaldson talks to guest Jennifer Dukes Lee about her legacy journey. Jennifer shares her story about creating legacy Bibles for her daughters and the importance of leaving a lasting impact on loved ones. In addition, the episode delves into the power of journaling and how it can help build a deeper relationship with God, the value of asking and answering questions to form meaningful connections with others, exploring both the good and the bad memories in our life, and cultivating self-compassion through journaling. Join us as we explore these meaningful topics that can help us all live a more purposeful and intentional life.
What you'll learn from tuning in today:
1. The importance of journaling as a way to become more intimate and honest with God, and to see where He has been in your life, ultimately leading to a deeper relationship.
2. Ways to embrace your unique self and be reminded of God's humor.
3. The concept of exploring both the "holes" and "gardens" in your life and how this can balance things out and allow you to see the beauty in both.
4. How to think about your relationship with money and how it influences your life.
5. The value of cultivating self-compassion by reflecting on past experiences and gaining admiration for your younger self.
Some Jen Gems:
1. "We have a generation of people who have grown up without a legacy of faith, so it's up to us to create that legacy now."
2. "Legacy is about making a lasting impact. It's the things that will outlast us when we're gone."
3. "When you lean into discomfort, you find a deeper level of meaning, purpose, and significance in your life."
4. "When we're honest and vulnerable about what we're experiencing, other people find a way to connect and realize they're not alone."
5. "Legacy is not about perfection, it's about authenticity. It's about being true to who God created us to be."
 
Learn how to create a Bible journal for someone you love: HERE
 

Ep 198 A Legacy of Stewarding Good Health with Grace and Good Sense with Robin Rhine McDonald

Welcome Robin Rhine McDonald of MadeWell.com today as we discuss what may be your favorite topic (or not!)—our physical health. Robin is a faith-based holistic health coach who loves Jesus and has a passion for helping people live their best life physically, all for heaven's sake. I ask Robin some tough questions today—maybe I was feeling a little defensive as I do love my sugar—but she answered everything beautifully. You will learn and be encouraged, no matter where you are on the health spectrum. 
Robin learned her good habits because she needed to, and she learned how food and fitness work together to help us live the way God designed. We talk weight loss, bad and good habits, and why God cares about us stewarding our bodies well. 
Some gems from Robin:
1. "I think the turning point for me was watching my grandparents' health deteriorate. They dealt with all the common chronic diseases, and I began to see that if we don't make intentional choices, we are going to end up the same way."
 
2. "It's about going back to the garden and the way that God intended for us to live, before there were processed foods and convenience was the norm."
 
3. "We don't have to be perfect, but we do need to be intentional and aware of the choices we're making. It's never too late to start making healthier choices."
 
4. "Grace is not just about covering our mistakes, it's fuel for transformation. It's about acknowledging that we're not perfect, but that God is at work in us.
 
"5. "Our culture promotes convenience and a sedentary lifestyle, but it's important to remember that small changes can make a big impact on our health."
 
 
How to connect with Robin and access her great resources:
Podcast: visiondrivenhealth.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robin_rhinemcd/
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/RobinRhineMcD
5 Day Sugar Fast Devotional: https://www.madewellhealth.com/sugarfast
Greens & Grace Experience: https://visiondrivenhealth.com/greensexperience
How to prioritize your health masterclass: madewellhealth.com/prioritize
Robin McDonald is a health advocate who believes that small changes in lifestyle can have a big impact on health. She knows that many chronic diseases are preventable through healthy choices and that our cultural norms make it difficult for people to know where to begin. Robin encourages people to take hold of God's grace and start making positive changes in their lives. She emphasizes that there is no shame in past choices and that hope for healing is available to everyone.
 
TRANSCRIPTION OF OUR CONVERSATION - ENJOY!
Good morning. Today we are talking to my first health coach. I don't know. I'm not sure I can do this today, Robin, because I went to Taco Bell for lunch. But this is Robin Ryan McDonald, and she describes herself as a faith based, holistic health coach, and we're going to dig into that a little bit. Robin, I know you'll be excited to talk about what that actually means. We'll break it down. Robin, first, tell us a little bit about where you live, your family, and then what does that exactly mean?
Robin McDonald [00:01:13]:
Yes. So I live in Oceanside, California. I'm a mama of two boys. I've got a three and a half year old and a ten month old.
Sue Donaldson [00:01:21]:
Whoa.
Robin McDonald [00:01:22]:
I know. And I'm married to the man of my dreams. So a holistic, faith based health coach. So at the end of the day, it really means that we are coming into alignment with what God has called us to already. We've been given this life. We have a vision, we have a purpose, we have a calling like you talk about all the time. We have this legacy. And so my big thing is, what does it look like to steward our bodies and to partner with God in creating the vitality that we need to carry that out?
Sue Donaldson [00:01:56]:
Say it again. What does it look like to steward our bodies? For those who don't know, the Christiane steward. What do you mean by that?
Robin McDonald [00:02:03]:
Thank you for asking. So stewarding means that you are taking care of you're tending to something. So if someone lends something to you that actually belongs to them, you want to make sure you take really good care of it. Right. And so our bodies, at the end of the day, belong to God, and so we want to make sure we take really good care of them again in order to do what he's called us to do.
Sue Donaldson [00:02:28]:
Yeah, it's always for a higher purpose. It's not so that we look good, though. I like to look good in order to fill out or fulfill our purpose that God has given us. I'm wondering for the person who has an ongoing disease that makes them maybe they can't even get out of bed. What's that called where you just don't have any strength?
Robin McDonald [00:02:55]:
There's a couple of different diseases.
Sue Donaldson [00:02:58]:
If they're listening to this today, they go, wait, is this my design to stay in bed all day? What would you say to someone like that?
Robin McDonald [00:03:04]:
It's a good question. Bringing the heavy questions out. I like it. So first thing I'll say is I don't believe that that was God's intention or design. The problem is we live in a fallen, broken world, and unfortunately, there is disease, there is pain. And even Jesus himself said we would not face this world without trouble. There would be challenges. And unfortunately for some of us, that is physical.
Sue Donaldson [00:03:27]:
Right.
Robin McDonald [00:03:28]:
With that said, there is almost always something we can do to either minimize the either propensity we have towards disease or even our current state. Right now, the United States, we are struggling. Most adults are either obese or experiencing not just one, but two to three chronic diseases. And a lot of that is actually lifestyle induced. So there are the people who unfortunately have these oftentimes diseases that they got maybe since birth, but most people only have a propensity to disease. And it was the choices that we've made that led to the outcome we have. And for some people, maybe they hear that and they're like, oh, man, I did this to myself. And maybe they would be inclined to feel guilty or shame. And I would say there doesn't need to be any shame in it because unfortunately, our culture has informed us that fast food and convenience and sedentary lifestyle, all those things are the norm. And so most of us wouldn't even know where to begin to make different changes. And when we become aware of where we're at and the hope that's available to us for the healing that can come from starting now, no matter where you're at, to make those simple changes, that's when we can take hold of God's grace and actually create a different outcome and trajectory for us moving forward.
Sue Donaldson [00:04:52]:
Okay, now that is a mouthful and a paragraph full. And I love all those different sentences. Taking care of yourself for God's kingdom. Also taking hold of his grace and also starting where you are. I think for people who are chronic dieters, especially, feel like I've tried them all, none work. So I'm just going to go buy another donut. A friend of mine, she does like to walk a lot more than I do, but she calls it taking care of her temple because our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. And I thought, okay, spiritualize, everything grace. Her name is even grace. But it's true. We take care of our temples when we are stewarding our bodies. Well, how did you get started in health coaching and what do you love about it?
Robin McDonald [00:05:36]:
Great question. So for me, I actually grew up eating terribly.
Sue Donaldson [00:05:40]:
Paul talks about why is that your mother? You're going to blame your mother? Watch it. I have adult children.
Robin McDonald [00:05:47]:
I always say bless my precious mama. She didn't know. I didn't know. None of us knew. We were just living. The American Standard Diet, also known or the Standard American Diet, also known as Sad. Right? Sad.
Sue Donaldson [00:05:59]:
What's it stand for? Standard American diet.
Robin McDonald [00:06:03]:
It's just sad.
Sue Donaldson [00:06:05]:
White sugar, white bread, all the things.
Robin McDonald [00:06:07]:
I like shaken bake this, fried this, pasta that. Hamburger Helper. If it wasn't in a box or something we could throw in the microwave or something we could get in a drive through. I personally wasn't eating it. I was the pickiest eater. Paul writes about how he was the foremost in his sin, and I'm like, I was the foremost with my eating. Like, I did not like vegetables. A lot of my childhood friends who know what I do now think it's hilarious because they knew how piggy they remember.
Sue Donaldson [00:06:35]:
Yeah, my mother always served two vegetables at every meal, so that was good. And she was from the Midwest, but we lived in California, so we had good vegetables. You know, the Midwest, you think they would have better vegetables, but no, it's the frozen vegetables, I think, that are healthier than the canned, of course.
Robin McDonald [00:06:50]:
Oh, yeah.
Sue Donaldson [00:06:51]:
And then she always had a salad. But I'm not saying we grew up, and also we couldn't afford to go out, and I think going out, especially the fast food in McDonald's, was like to eat. Well, they were pretty cheap when they started, but it was kind of a treat to do fast food. So I think I grew up fairly healthy. But you didn't. So what switched it?
Robin McDonald [00:07:14]:
That's awesome that you had that. And I think that's one of the things I tell people, too, is if you could just cook your own food, even if maybe it's not the standard, healthy, whatever, that's a game changer in and of itself. But for me, it didn't catch my attention until college. I ended up getting a full face of acne and gaining the freshman 15, which turned into the college 20. And then, like we talked about earlier, we want to look good. I wasn't feeling so good in how I look, and so I started to do some more research and exploration. And it was funny because I was trying to find the right topical regimen for my face. And a friend of mine said, you know, what shows up on your face is actually part from what you eat. And I thought that was the dumbest thing. I was like, why would what I eat have anything to do with my face? That goes in my stomach.
Sue Donaldson [00:08:02]:
But I remember people saying, well, I can't have chocolate because of my acne.
Robin McDonald [00:08:08]:
It is absolutely related. I didn't know at the time, obviously, and it wasn't until I did change my diet, and at the time, I was I was eating out a lot. I was getting a lot of and I was on a college budget as well. Sure. And so I ended up realizing by changing my diet, I cleared my acne, I lost the weight. But what really shifted in having a passion for this was when I started to see the health of my grandparents deteriorate. So I have all the chronic diseases represented in my grandparents heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, Alzheimer's, cancer, dementia. And I have one grandparent left. Unfortunately, two grandpas passed away from dementia, alzheimer's. One grandma passed away from heart failure. She also had diabetes and arthritis. My last standing grandma has she's a cancer survivor. She has diabetes and arthritis and all of these.
Sue Donaldson [00:09:07]:
Yeah, diabetes is such a bad thing. My husband's an internist, and so he's very conscious of getting his patients to lose weight. Because diabetes is so hurtful to your body, you don't stay alive longer. I'm pretty sure.
Robin McDonald [00:09:21]:
Absolutely. And unfortunately, diabetes is often the precursor to heart disease. So when you see someone who ends up with heart disease, stroke, heart attack, it often started with diabetes, which even before that was a result of excessive blood sugar spikes, which comes from eating a lot of processed, high carb, refined foods.
Sue Donaldson [00:09:44]:
I'm going to ask you another hard question.
Robin McDonald [00:09:46]:
I'm ready.
Sue Donaldson [00:09:47]:
My husband is naturally slender. Thankfully, all three of my daughters got those genes, but we feel like it's unfair to those who are naturally DNA disposed to having. One of my roommates, her father died very young and he was a jogger. And when I mentioned that to my husband later, when I met him, he said, oh, well, it's DNA. And so how much of it is DNA? Where people go, well, it's not fair. He can have three beers a night and he doesn't get a beer belly and he doesn't work out, and he just climbed Mount Everest. So I know that's whining, but I bet you hear it.
Robin McDonald [00:10:31]:
Absolutely. And even to some extent with me, I'm 6ft tall, and so even when I was at my heaviest and I show my before and after photos, they're like, you don't look like you were that heavy. And I'm like, well, it just kind of distributes really well.
Sue Donaldson [00:10:48]:
Yeah, I wear big sweaters myself.
Robin McDonald [00:10:51]:
There you go. And your question, there's two different aspects to it. So one, just based on what we know through research, is 80% of what actually comes about with disease is lifestyle. Only 20% is genetics.
Sue Donaldson [00:11:11]:
How do you know that for sure? That's a big statement.
Robin McDonald [00:11:15]:
Yeah, absolutely. So if you want to delve further into it, you look into the study of epigenetics. So this is the study that looks or the study of your genes and gene expression. So what we've come to find is that you're given a certain set of genes from your parents, obviously, but based on what you do, your environment, even your mental health, what you eat, your water, all these different factors cause those genes to either express to turn on or to turn off.
Sue Donaldson [00:11:43]:
Oh, wow. And can you kill them off early on so that they never get turned back on?
Robin McDonald [00:11:48]:
I'm not entirely sure about that. What I do know is that the more we implement those healthy habits, the better chance we have to keep the negative ones off right.
Sue Donaldson [00:11:58]:
And did you study health in college then?
Robin McDonald [00:12:00]:
I actually didn't. So undergrad was business, grad school was seminary, and I ended up doing a specific nutrition certification through integrative health after I graduated, once I started to see the health deteriorate with my grandparents. And after coming from seminary, where we're being equipped to execute the Bible and to understand theology and to equip the saints and doing what God's called them to do. And I'm seeing these precious saints getting taken out of the game early and being hindered by disease, and I'm like even professors and peers, there were two pastors in my denomination who passed away.
Sue Donaldson [00:12:39]:
In their fifty s and sixty s oh, my goodness.
Robin McDonald [00:12:41]:
From these degenerative diseases. And so God really put on my heart of like, okay, this is a problem. If the bodies that comprise the body of Christ are unable to do what they're called to do, to actually be the hands and feet of Jesus, we're in trouble.
Sue Donaldson [00:12:58]:
How much as believers, do we need to focus on the physical? You've sort of answered the question, but I think that might come to mind for those who are more like too heavenly minded to be any earthly good. But God calls us to set our minds on things above. He doesn't say to set our bodies on things above. So how would you answer that?
Robin McDonald [00:13:19]:
I think the best answer to almost any question we have regarding our walk with God is what can we see from Jesus in his life? So Jesus had three years of public ministry. He was alive for 33, but he only had three years of public ministry. When you read the Gospels, I believe the number is I'm not going to give the percentage, but I would say at least a third of the Gospel is referring to physical healing. So if physical health didn't matter, then the Son of God was wasting his time. And I don't think he was, but.
Sue Donaldson [00:13:55]:
I think people would argue, sure, yeah, late, I'm ready. I taught high school, so I love it.
Robin McDonald [00:14:04]:
I love it.
Sue Donaldson [00:14:05]:
Has nothing to do with anything. I think they might argue that the reason there were physical healings is because people were looking for an outward sign fair of a Messiah. But you take it to a different aspect. I'm not arguing with you, but I think that's a very interesting thing. That's how you come about, I think you've already answered it. Is that God wants us to live for Him in the best way possible and to live longer. May or may not be in the cards. I mean, Tim Keller just passed away very young because of pancreatic cancer, who knows whose fault that was or is there a fault? Who knows? I don't think people are talking about that right now. They're just feeling the loss.
Robin McDonald [00:14:47]:
Right.
Sue Donaldson [00:14:47]:
And my brother is almost 80 and I'm not ready for him to weigh he's got a lot more going on, but he's sick right now, so it makes me worried in a spiritual way, of course, but I've given him to the Lord, but I just don't want him to. But 80 is long for some and I told you, I'm 71 and I'm not ready to conquer over, but I'm ready to see Jesus. But if he wants me to be healthier, maybe I need to hire you.
Robin McDonald [00:15:17]:
Hey, I'm here. I'm ready. Would you have an application process?
Sue Donaldson [00:15:21]:
I just don't want to give up sugar. That's my problem. I'm a good baker.
Robin McDonald [00:15:26]:
Hey, me too.
Sue Donaldson [00:15:28]:
You are? Yes, but I'm not going to argue with you. I'm sure you are. You include in your description the phrase weight loss. There's a lot to be said about this because of body image, and my daughter's a therapist and she has to deal with especially girls or women who we go into deep depression because of body image issues. Maybe it's not even a bad body image, but it's how they view themselves. Depression, even suicide. What are your thoughts on that? I think it's a weight loss.
Robin McDonald [00:16:02]:
Yes. So it's obviously a word that can be fleshed out a lot. When you think of weight loss, when you ask someone, what's your main health goal? And they say, I want to lose 20 pounds. If you cut off someone's leg, that's going to drop for some people, close to 20 pounds. But that's not really what we're looking for, right?
Sue Donaldson [00:16:20]:
No.
Robin McDonald [00:16:21]:
And so what people really want is they want fat loss and what they even want more than that is to look a certain way. And oftentimes, at least for myself, I care a lot about building muscle. There's a lot of research that shows that one of the number one things you can do to reduce all risk of disease and mortality is to build muscle and oftentimes to create maybe the aesthetic that people are looking for. They don't realize that sometimes that could mean gaining weight.
Sue Donaldson [00:16:51]:
Yeah, muscle muscles make you cause gain weight. Yeah, I've heard that before too.
Robin McDonald [00:16:56]:
And so something we talk a couple of different things we talk about with my clients. One, a big foundation of the program is grounding ourselves in our identity, in Christ and knowing that the pursuit of health, even the pursuit of weight loss, isn't about trying to attain an acceptance for our body or trying to reach a certain aesthetic goal. Again, we all want to look and we want to feel confident, but I think what we often don't realize is that's a decision that we make for ourselves that comes from receiving God's perspective of us, that comes from believing what's true and identifying the lies that are there. And oftentimes the lie is, I'm not attractive or beautiful unless I weigh X amount.
Sue Donaldson [00:17:36]:
Okay.
Robin McDonald [00:17:36]:
And things like that. But then, of course, from the actual health standpoint, we want to say, okay, and some people, they're actually health at a heavier weight. We want to look at their blood work, you want to look at their physical capacity. You want to look at those other factors. Or even two, if someone's more muscular, and then they have maybe some fat on top of that, and it looks like they're heavier, but their body composition isn't health. So there's a lot that goes into what it means to lose weight and what it means to be healthy. And in terms of body size, what that looks like.
Sue Donaldson [00:18:05]:
Okay, what is your favorite? Maybe you don't have one. Do you have a favorite popular weight loss or fitness program? I'm thinking of noom calibrate weight Watchers. Do you have one or you don't even want to mention it?
Robin McDonald [00:18:23]:
I don't. I'm a big proponent of creating a lifestyle, and I think that's one of the biggest hurdles for people in creating something that lasts. 90% of people who lose a significant portion of weight gain it back within five years.
Sue Donaldson [00:18:46]:
Oh, totally.
Robin McDonald [00:18:47]:
And a big part of that is because we try the next thing. We try the next diet, we try the next app or whatnot? And we miss that. It's not a question of hitting your next goal. It's a question of, am I creating habits that serve a lifestyle like we talked about, enabling me to do what God's called me to do? And so we do a lot of reframing and perspective shifting with my clients to where, yes, we support them in losing the weight. Yes, we support them in improving their blood work and increasing their energy. But we want to come down to, are we creating a lifestyle that's in alignment with who you are in Jesus?
Sue Donaldson [00:19:26]:
I'm writing this down, no problem, because I've joined a couple of these things and I've lost, like, five pounds, but I don't like the food. Sometimes I don't like the food. So I think, well, this is not going to last. So I quit. That wasn't those two. But there was something else. I can't remember the name of it. I thought, oh, my gosh, I don't even like it. And I'm a foodie, and I know you can eat well and deliciously healthy, and sometimes I do. So am I creating habits that are in alignment with say that again with.
Robin McDonald [00:19:57]:
Who Jesus has called me to be and what he's called me to do.
Sue Donaldson [00:20:02]:
Do you think that there's a prejudice against fat people, even in Christian circles?
Robin McDonald [00:20:08]:
It's a good question. I think it's one of those things where it's something to discern with each individual heart. I'm not entirely sure. I guess I don't have a strong opinion on that question. I think there's a misconception about people who are heavy, the assumption that they're that way because they're lazy or because they end up that way. And I don't think that's the case because like I said, our culture one, we've got a culture that has severely misinformed us on what health actually is. The governmental guidelines are junk and actually perpetuate obesity and the onset of disease. And then on top of that, oftentimes what parents consumed and their lack of health when they have their kids, they increase the propensity of obesity and whatnot. And one last thing I'll say about that. Most people who come to work with me are undereating, even though they're overweight.
Sue Donaldson [00:21:06]:
Isn't that interesting?
Robin McDonald [00:21:07]:
They're trying so hard to lose weight and they care so much about trying to be healthy and they're actually not able to lose the weight because their body is starving and holding onto the weight to survive. And I have to do a lot of mental reworking for them to be comfortable with increasing their intake so that we can get their body nourished and help improve their metabolism to get to a place where they can actually lose the weight.
Sue Donaldson [00:21:34]:
It sounds like it's a big educational process, education plus building good habits. Can you summarize what you mean by the phrase grace based sustainable process that's on your website?
Robin McDonald [00:21:47]:
Yes.
Sue Donaldson [00:21:47]:
Let me say it again. Grace based sustainable, which we all want to be sustained in any process if we're going to work that hard, if we're going to spend money to be coaching or to change a habit, whether or not we go with you or anything. And also fresh food costs more. Sometimes the poorest section of the population is difficult. And so of course I know we were each given $100 by our church during COVID to go pass it around to people.
Robin McDonald [00:22:19]:
That's cool.
Sue Donaldson [00:22:20]:
Yeah, I think my husband used it to help someone who needed dental work. And my daughter and I went around and we bought some sleeping bags on sale and passed them out to homeless people. But we actually went to McDonald's to get $10 gift certificates because they could get more food. It would fill their belly longer, but of course it wasn't healthy. So I'm a bad girl. But they got fed. They were happy to get them. Of course I'm sure. So what do you say for someone I can't afford to eat?
Robin McDonald [00:22:49]:
Well, what I will say is it does take some intentionality to craft a meal plan and a grocery list that actually can fit within a certain budget. And I will say I'm very excited. I'm going to be having a gal on my podcast who is like the budget master and that's like her whole thing is you can eat healthy and budget for this much. So I'm excited to have her as a resource. But with that said, what is not able to occur in finances for purchasing food will have to be made up in time to plan accordingly.
Sue Donaldson [00:23:27]:
Yeah, it's so true because well, I grew up with mom parents, who we didn't go out to eat much, and where I live here, we didn't go out to eat much just because I have that. I'm a granddaughter of the Depression. But I also find that the food tastes better if you make it at home, but it does take more time. And because I didn't have to work full time after my children were born, I have the time and energy to do it. But when I started working part time, I thought, well, no wonder people want to order pizza. You're so tired after work. So you have to plan in advance. And I usually plan my menus two weeks in advance, and then if I change my mind, at least I usually put a little, like, if I don't feel like eating this a little list. Because intentionality helps, actually, in so many good things. What is the main key to good health?
Robin McDonald [00:24:15]:
The big, broad question.
Sue Donaldson [00:24:17]:
I know, but you wrote on this, you say being healthy doesn't have to be hard. Really? How so?
Robin McDonald [00:24:23]:
Okay, so being healthy doesn't have to be hard. What is the main key to being healthy? The main key, so I think, is being vision driven. And that vision comes from, again, our identity in Christ and knowing who we are in Him. Because whether it's from me or something you Google, there are always going to be recipes, meal plans, diets programs, et cetera. But the question is if it's going to last, it comes down to are you being driven by the One who made you and the One who's called you to living that life of purpose?
Sue Donaldson [00:25:06]:
Doesn't everything always come down to that.
Robin McDonald [00:25:08]:
At the end of the day? Yeah, they joke about that being the answer in Sunday school. Jesus, it's like but yeah, that is.
Sue Donaldson [00:25:14]:
Ultimately that's the answer. And, you know, my podcast is about legacy, and I can tell what your legacy is, and I appreciate your you're so articulate. How old are you? Can I ask how old you are?
Robin McDonald [00:25:27]:
Yeah, I don't mind. I'm 32.
Sue Donaldson [00:25:30]:
Here we go. And mother of two, active and a great and 6ft tall and has this great business, but it's not just a business for you. I can see that. It's a passion. So how would you answer this question? What do you want your legacy to be for those who know and love you?
Robin McDonald [00:25:46]:
So the biggest legacy that I want to pass down is that we would be led by Jesus in all areas of life and prioritizing what matters most, and that's being vision driven in relationships, in career, in health, everything. And obviously one of my primary areas of focus is health. And I really believe that it's to the enemy's delight that we consider health as something separate from our pursuit of Jesus and our ultimate legacy.
Sue Donaldson [00:26:22]:
Totally. I was told in college that spirituality isn't a slice of the pie, it's the whole pie. And our health is one of those slices. And of course I like to eat and make pie, but I always remember that because I think people, like, in your neighborhood, they see you drive out to go to church on a Sunday morning and they think, wow, they're the religious people and they consider it a slice of your life. And unless they actually know you and get to know you, they think, well, that's just not for me. But if they get to know you, hopefully they will know that it's not just a slice of our week.
Robin McDonald [00:27:03]:
Amen.
Sue Donaldson [00:27:03]:
During the other six days that Jesus rules our life. And I can say that it's not always the case for me, but that is my long term goal as well. How are you busy doing it right now, passing on this lexi?
Robin McDonald [00:27:17]:
It's been a huge game changer since I've become a mom. I think it's added a lot more depth to that question and what it looks like, and it's also, in some ways, made it more challenging. And so for me, I'm very intentional do my very best to spend time in prayer and in the Word. And even prayer has taken a different avenue. Every time I breastfeed, I'm like, I'm just sitting here, I'm going to pray. Every time I put down my babies, I pray over them and just finding those mundane areas where I can invite God, acknowledge Him with me. Even just this morning I put on my Instagram story how when I was at the gym, I was thanking Jesus that I was feeling stronger. I'm ten months postpartum and I was like, how cool, God, that you created our bodies this way to heal and get stronger and recover, especially for us as women to have that opportunity and privilege. So for me, that's a huge part is how do I integrate Jesus into the mundane? And at the end of the day, a habit that I've recently started implementing is I call it the God count up. And so I write down at least three things that God did through my day that I would count as a win, that I get to give Him glory for, and then I write down three things as intentions for the next day. And that practice has helped me just in reflecting on my day, helped me acknowledge God, help me acknowledge what there is to celebrate, and then also set my focus for the next day and just helps me be so much more intentional with, again, what matters most to me and grounding myself in Jesus.
Sue Donaldson [00:28:46]:
So every day you remember what your three things are for your focus?
Robin McDonald [00:28:51]:
Not always, actually, I tried to.
Sue Donaldson [00:28:53]:
How can you do that with two small children? Good for you. I read recently that we should just tell God every day how much we adore Him and. Has really revolutionized I can't really say that revolutionized my prayer life because it's been since Friday, but since Friday I have felt closer to God in adoring Him.
Robin McDonald [00:29:14]:
Amen.
Sue Donaldson [00:29:14]:
Even when things were not going to the way I wanted it to go. You know how things happen and you're disappointed in people or in yourself, and then you go, Well, I just adore you. It makes such a difference. And that really brings God and his grace into the mundane, because life is mundane. As Charles Windall said, the trouble with life is that it's so daily and yet God says, I love. I think it's Psalm 92. It's my parentheses, it's my parentheses verse. It says, I proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness by night. So in the morning you have the love, in a night you have the faithfulness. And because I was an English teacher, it's a parentheses and then we're in the middle adoring him. What obstacles did you have to overcome or challenges to meet to leave this legacy or you're in the process.
Robin McDonald [00:30:05]:
I know, yes, of course, always in the process. The two biggest things, one is I would consider myself kind of more of like a type, a achiever kind of person. And I've fallen into the trying to do for God versus with God. And that's a big thing I am trying to be so mindful of and to continue to bring before him and to bring to his feet. Because while doing things for God, it's not a bad thing. But I I want the fullness of what I'm created for. And I know that that's that intimate relationship with him and I know that the way that I'm going to have the greatest impact and to ultimately do what he's laid on my heart to do is going to come from being in him. I'm doing it with him, from him versus if it's just for him, then it's out of my own perspective and my own strength. So that's the first thing. The second thing is being mindful of when again, being an achiever type is being aware of when shame tries to creep in. And that's why I actually emphasize so much about grace in the program, because I have so much experience of working through that shame and taking hold of God's grace. And acknowledging grace is something that not just that which covers our sins or our mistakes, but also the substance by which we are fueled into transformation. We use the phrase like, oh, it's by God's grace and it is that we can be transformed and experience a different trajectory.
Sue Donaldson [00:31:35]:
Give me an example, good example from.
Robin McDonald [00:31:40]:
I think it was a week and a half or so ago, I was trying to handle this very stressful situation with my husband. He was out of town on the phone, I have a baby screaming, I have my three year old whining and my whole self is just like and I ended up yelling. I went into the garage, I did a yelled outside, came back in, and I just was, like, so worked up. And it was ironic because I had just prayed a prayer a couple of days before of, like, God, reveal the areas of me that I need to work, maybe even slightly from a place of pride, of, like, I don't know what I need to work on. Reveal to me. And then it's like, two days later, boom. Like, okay, Jesus, I see that. And that would be one of those moments where I'm like, oh, my gosh, I can't believe I reacted that way. What's wrong with me? That's not the example I want to set for my kids. And that's where the shame would try to creep in. But I guess fortunately, unfortunately, I've walked this path so many times, and I'm like, okay, hold on. We're going down the road of shame. What's true is I made a mistake. I'm not perfect. I get to work on taking hold of God's grace in those moments where I'm super stressed, recognizing, like, this isn't life or death. How can I be the thermometer instead of or the barometer instead of the thermometer with my kids? Right? I set the tone, and so I was able, after, of course, being upset with myself and experiencing a bit of the shame, to take hold of what's actually true and take hold of God's grace. And since then, it's been better. Am I never going to have a moment like that? No, but I can say that God's doing that little bit of work continually in me in that way.
Sue Donaldson [00:33:23]:
Great. How do you embody God's welcoming heart?
Robin McDonald [00:33:28]:
I love that question. And I actually just went to a conference this past weekend, and it was not a Christian conference. It was a business conference. And it was a group of people who have a huge desire to make a big impact. And the language that they used was, like, the universe or living a life of surrender the cosmos and the energy.
Sue Donaldson [00:33:50]:
That you bring to the table, the.
Robin McDonald [00:33:52]:
Energy, all those things. And they even had stories of, like, I don't know, something in me told me to do this, and my heart was just, like, bursting because I'm like, It's Jesus. It is Jesus. All of that is found in Jesus. And obviously, I can't just interrupt them or scream like, Jesus. Usually it's not super effective, but what I did do, they create a lot of space for sharing in that environment. And this is what I try to do in my life in general, is to be really authentic and to not feel like I have to hide or change language when I'm talking about what's authentic for me. So when they asked what my goals were for the year, I said, I want to be in 100% partnership with God in my business and my family. And when they asked me, what are the big wins you have from the last year? I said, my husband and I did a pastoral internship together at our church, and we led a small group together and we have weekly date nights and we're going to go on a vision retreat together. Like, I'm prioritizing my marriage and God and we're serving together. So it's like I wasn't preaching to them, I was sharing authentically. Right. And even too, they asked the question of, what are you going to bring to this event? And I said, if anybody is questioning at all about their worth and value and feeling like this business is the way that they're proving themselves, I would love to speak life into you. And I got to have a couple of those conversations.
Sue Donaldson [00:35:08]:
Did they come to you?
Robin McDonald [00:35:12]:
Yeah.
Sue Donaldson [00:35:12]:
Was your point that they would find it, that it wasn't enough?
Robin McDonald [00:35:17]:
Can you rephrase that?
Sue Donaldson [00:35:19]:
You said, if there's anyone here who's finding their worth in their business, I thought that's what you said and you were going to say, well, you're going to eventually come to the end of that because God is the one who gives you worth. Okay.
Robin McDonald [00:35:34]:
Yes, a lot of them are, and they share it's a pretty vulnerable group, which is really cool. And I think what sets the stage for me to also share vulnerably and even for them to be more receptive, but they'll say things like, oh, yeah, my mom didn't believe in me. And so I'm proving to her now I'm making this much, or things like that. And I just want to be like, oh, precious person, you're enough as you are. And what you're creating here is an overflow from your worth and your value. And then at the end of the day, again, back to Jesus. But being able to just speak life and encouragement is certainly something that really lights me up wonderful.
Sue Donaldson [00:36:12]:
So how could people find you?
Robin McDonald [00:36:15]:
I am on all the social media platform. Actually, I'm not, I'm not on TikTok, believe it or not, as as a millennial, I'm not on TikTok, but you can find me on Instagram or Facebook. I also do have my own podcast I just launched. It's called the Vision Driven Health Podcast. And so those are the three best places you can find me or hear more from me.
Sue Donaldson [00:36:33]:
Okay. And we'll put the links in show notes and you have a couple of resources. Would you explain them? And then we're going to offer them free to my listeners.
Robin McDonald [00:36:41]:
Perfect. So the first one is called the Five Day Sugar fast devotional. This one was a labor of love with me and my team. We get into what fasting is from a physical standpoint, what it is from a spiritual standpoint. And then we each wrote one of those or we took turns writing those different devotionals in there. And it guides you through a really cool process of fasting sugar and ultimately receiving more of God in your life and learning to partner with Him in your health, too. Something physical. So that's a great option. Second one. In the same vein, the Greens and Grace challenge. It is a five day experience where you will have access to five different recordings from myself on what it means to be vision driven, grace fueled, and then some very practical trainings on how to deal with sugar and blood sugar, how to form habits that last and break ones that aren't serving you, and those different topics. So that and it also has recipes. Both of these actually have recipes in there based on the topic of them. And lastly, for those of you who maybe are hearing all of this and say, I don't have time for any of this, I have the how to Prioritize Your Health Amidst the Chaos without Any Added Stress Master class.
Sue Donaldson [00:38:01]:
How long is that?
Robin McDonald [00:38:02]:
It's 2 hours. So, ironically, so it's something that you can break up over a few days or a week and kind of get little chunks of it as you go, but it also has a few different resources built into it, how to make a schedule. It's also got recipes. Quick, easy recipes. All of them. All my recipes that I give people, I try to make quick, easy, and tasty.
Sue Donaldson [00:38:23]:
I love that. Quick, easy, and tasty. Me too. I always give a gift to my podcast guests. My listeners don't know this, but I send you simple favorite recipes from sue, and you can just throw them all out when I send them to you.
Robin McDonald [00:38:40]:
So funny.
Sue Donaldson [00:38:41]:
You're going to say, oh, dear, she needs me.
Robin McDonald [00:38:44]:
I'm going to look at them.
Sue Donaldson [00:38:46]:
Thank you so much for being with us today, and you have been a delight, and God bless you. Until next time, think about your legacy, the one God has called you to live all for heaven's sake. I would love to speak at your next Christian Women's event, see my keynotes and retreat series as well as the show notes from today's broadcast@welcomeheart.com. Thanks for coming. You're always welcome here. You don't think so?