WELCOME HEART: Living a Legacy Life

Ep 195 A Legacy of Courage and Entrepreneurship with Ruthie Gray, Authentic Marketing Coach

Ruthie Gray from Authentic Online Marketing and the Authentic Online Marketing Podcast shares her story of how God has led her the "second half of life"—something we are either in or heading towards. Ruthie's passion is to help women "grow up", try new things--even when it's terrifying—and help Christian women entrepreneurs succeed for the sake of the Kingdom of God. She's a wife of 35 years, mother of 4, grandmother, caregiver for the last 13 years and loves her Lord and the community she coaches and encourages. She acknowledges we can't grow and move forward without helping each other along the way. Listen and be encouraged - and take some time to dream and explore: What's next for your life?
Some Ruthie gems:
I love looking at Scripture as a whole and read the Bible through each year, starting the day with coffee and the Word.
If you don't try new things you won't find out what you're best at, what gives you joy, what serves others and what's your superpower.
You deserve to take some time to dream and explore what your next season will hold.
Every time I try a new thing, I become apprehensive and fearful, but I don't want my fears to hold me back.
I want my legacy to be one of courage and wisdom because I've walked with God.
Are you starting a new business and want to connect authentically with your online people and grow your audience? Find out how Ruthie can help HERE.
You can get to know Ruthie better and what she offers on her podcast: Authentic Online Marketing Podcast.
 
Let us know in comments what dreams you are exploring. God loves you and you are not done yet. 

Ep 194 Is Your Cup of Joy Full? Is That Even Possible? Joy, Part I

The writer Maree Dee has two grown children with mental illness. When I interviewed her on my podcast she said, “It’s possible to experience joy and pain at the same time.” (Episode 75) How? Because she trusts God, no matter what.
We never know what’s ahead of us each and every day, do we?
We ask God each morning,
“Lord, please give me wisdom and strength to face my day – and grace for those who need to know your joy and peace.”
 
There’s a world of hurt out there and we need to be so filled with God’s Spirit that we are able to not only remain full when we come under attack, but we need to be so filled, that when jostled and banged around, that the grace and joy of Jesus spills out.
Our benediction at Grace Church is Romans 15:13 – we say it as a congregation at the closing of the service –“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
 
We need to be giving this benediction to ourselves every day –maybe before our husbands get home or the kids or before we go into work:
“Dear God of hope, please fill me with all joy and peace in believing – that I will abound and overflow with hope by Your power.”
What helps you keep your cup full of joy? Share in comments and we will all be filled up a little better.
Points to Ponder:
Joy is the deep, quiet undercurrent that has its source in the eternal river of God Himself and His peace. That kind of joy can even underlie grief.
We keep our cup full by recalling we are not alone.
Your night of weeping may have been more like nights of weeping – I’ve smeared mascara on my sheets more than once. There’s got to be a country Western song by the name of What Do I Do With the Mascara On My Sheets?
Weeping may endure, but there’s hope for the morning. (Psalm 30:5) 
Our maturity, our fruit-bearing, our witness for the Gospel—our JOY— is not dependent on another person or event or group of circumstances—like the perfect family reunion or holiday gathering. It is dependent on our own personal response to God and His Word. 
 

Ep 193 A Legacy of Fighting Anxiety and Fear with Christy Boulware

Christy Boulware, author of Nervous Breakthrough: Finding Freedom from Fear and Anxiety in a World that Feeds It, learned from experience that living life on overdrive meant she was headed for distruction. On a family vacation one summer, she experienced her first panic attack and she didn't know what was happening to her. When her dr said, Christy, your body is telling you something's got to change and you need to get to the root of it."
That began a process of recognizing she was living in fear and anxiety and the only way to change was to surrender to God. Surrender and give up her way of doing things, her timing of how things were to get done, and even changing a successful career to help others find freedom from their fears. 
Leave a comment on blog or social media to be entered into giveaway of her book: Nervous Breakthrough: Finding Freedom from Fear and Anxiety in a World that Feeds It
 
Some gems:
Just because you have fear, it doesn't mean you don't have faith.
We can experience negative emotions; it's what we do with them that leads us to greater peace and less fear.
Our body provides what I call "smoke alarms" that something needs to change and it's to our peril that we ignore them.
We underestimate how much understanding God's love connects to our level of fear and anxiety.
We overcome the snowballing effect of anxiety when we check our thoughts with truth at the top of the hill before it gets too big for us to control.
I was stuck in self-reliance and addicted to success so I didn't need what God had to offer.
Christy Boulware was stuck in self-reliance and addicted to success so she didn't need what God had to offer. Until her body told her a different story. 
Debilitated by days and weeks of panic attacks, Christy learned that the only way to change and fight her fears and anxieties was through getting to the root of them, and that took surrender.
As a result of her work of faith to get her from fear and panic to using her experiences for the kingdom, Christy began the non-profit: Fearless Unite. See christyboulware.com for additional sources that help us when we are afraid and to keep our minds and hearts on the truth of God’s Word.
 

Ep 192 A Legacy of Radical Radiance in the Every Day with Rebecca George

Rebecca George, podcaster, author and speaker is passionate about helping women find and live out their God-given purpose, all for heaven's sake. She wants to "leave a person better than she found them" which can be shown in the every day actions of love, action and encouragement. Rebecca's brand new book, Do the Thing: Gospel-Centered Goals, Gumption, and Grace for the Go-getter Girl helps the reader examine her joys, gifts, and heart-posture before her Creator-God and moves her into a life of purpose and surrender. 
She will be giving a copy away this week so be sure to comment on Blog or on Social Media to be entered. 
Rebecca's theme verse is Psalm 34:5--—
Those who look to him are radiant;    their faces are never covered with shame.
We light up our world from looking to Jesus. Hear Rebecca every Tuesday on her podcast, Radical Radiance and follow her on instagram @rebeccageorgeauthor. She offers a free journal SHINE BRIGHT on her website. Sign up here.
Some gems:
What gifts we have from God can translate into how we love others in our every day.
God's at work all the time. How many opportunities do I miss to partner in His work by living unaware?
The outcome is God's; the obedience is ours.
To be available to God is to ask: How can I best love, serve and encourage anyone He brings into our lives on a daily basis?
Are we turning to God's truth when faced with fear, doubt or insecurity?
 

Ep 191 A Legacy of Faith Enough to Get Out of the Boat

A good definition of faith is:  doing what God says and trusting Him with the results.  It sounds good on paper. It can be hard in real life. Sometimes it can be hard to trust God to work through another person- or perhaps in spite of another person.
 To step out on faith may feel like we’re stepping off of cliff but once you step out you find it’s only a curb because God is there to break your fall. Pity the person who never takes that step to find that out.
“Step out,” God says, “and you will find I am all you need.”
For some, faith might mean closing your mouth and praying only:  Hudson Taylor said, “Learn to move men by God through prayer alone.”  That’s a tough one – especially for a woman, especially for an extrovert, especially for a red-headed extrovert. . . Faith may mean closing your mouth, AND,
Faith may mean opening your mouth.  Paul asked his friends in Colossians 4:3– “Pray that I talk freely of the mystery of Christ, that God would open the door. . .”
You know when God is speaking to you. And if you’re not sure, like Peter, you can say, “Is that you, Lord?” And if it is, then it’s best to get out of the boat.
 God is calling for complete obedience for a complete faith.
Hudson Taylor said: "Learn to move men by God through prayer alone."
 
7 ways to live in the unseen:
God is doing His work in our lives and others (even when we can’t see it) II Corinthians 4:18;
Our work for Him is not in vain I Cor. 15:58  “. . .be steadfast, abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”
That all things are working together for good who are called according to His purpose –Romans 8:28
That God is able to do abundantly above all that we ask or think – Ephesians 3:20
That He Who began a good work in us will complete it – Phil.1:6
That where there is weeping now, will turn to joy and laughter Luke 6:21
That nothing can separate me from the love of God – nothing – Romans 8:39

Ep 190 A Legacy of Taking Leaps with Rachel G. Scott

Rachel G. Scott, wife and mom of a blended family knows what it means to obey by faith, look to God for the next step and take that leap that needs taking. Founder of The 5 Leaps Podcast, Rachel is wise beyond her years and counsels her audience that there is more than one way to take a leap, five in fact. She explains there's a difference between being a "nice" Christian and a "kind" Christian, and her legacy is one we share: to serve God well and point her kids to Jesus.
Today she's offering my listeners her free resource: The Five Leaps Quick Guide - click here. 
Tools to help you prepare, plan and execute your next leap. Love it and Rachel!
Some Rachel gems:
We need to always be leaning into what is that next leap God is leading us to make.
The trailblazer goes where no one has gone before, teaching and bringing others along the way.
I realized that there is more than one way to take a leap of obedience. 
I can envision the worst that can happen while considering the next leap and fight with God's truth my imaginations, speculations and negative thoughts.
A "nice" Christian is different than a "kind" Christian; one is something we perform, the other is a posture of the heart. 
I want my kids to live a leaping lifestle so that obedience to God is natural for them.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow
Follow
Follow
Facebook: /iamrachelgscott
LinkedIn: /rachelgscott
Instagram:/iamrachelgscott
 

Ep 189 A Legacy of an Unbound Life with Stephen David Leonard

Steve Leonard, of StephenDavidLeonard.com, joins me today to talk about Dad Guilt, parenting, gains and losses, identity, and living the abundant life. Steve and his wife, Lisa (of Lisa Leonard Designs) are the parents of two sons: David, 21 and Matthias, 19. Their world was changed dramatically when David was born with a rare genetic disorder, Cornelia DeLang Syndrome. You can read about it here. 
I first met the Leonards when they moved to San Luis Obispo when Steve became our Family and College Pastor. When Lisa's jewelry took off, Steve then moved out of formal ministry to help manage their fast-growing business. He discusses the challenges he faced in changing roles and parenting a boy becoming a man and moving off to college as well as one who will never move out and move on. Each son provides much joy in the Leonard's lives and we are blessed to know them in our little community. 
GIVEAWAY - Two Roman Cross Coin necklaces for two winners!
To Enter: FOLLOW STEVE AND ME AND TAG A FRIEND
Some Steve gems:
I want to be someone who thinks "There you are!" vs "Here I am!"
Being a dad has helped me understand God's heart a little bit more. 
We actually live between the first page and the last page of the Bible.
Dad Guilt is real and less talked about, perhaps, because we are men.
Living by "ought's and should's" can hinder the abundant life that God promised in Scripture.
More than anything else, our son David has taught me that I am made in God's image and that is my worth.
Steve is Founder and CEO of StephenDavidLeonard.com. Follow on Instagram @stephendavidleonard
www.lisaleonard.com
www.stephendavidleonard.com
www.leonardgroup.com
 
 
   
 

Ep 188 A Legacy of Untangled Faith with Amy Fritz

Amy Fritz grew up loving Jesus but figured out along the way that something needed changing—not with Jesus and not with loving Jesus. That part remained true and held her and her husband, Nathan, fast through a painful and difficult process that included job loss and uncertainty. Rather, Amy learned she needed to step beyond her natural people-pleasing tendencies in order to remain true to God and pass on the legacy to her kids and others that following Jesus and doing the right thing is always the best choice.
As host and founder of the popular podcast, Untangled Faith, Amy explores the sad truth that sometimes people in the faith community abuse their power and hurt others in the name of Christ. She doesn't throw out "church" - that's not God's plan. But she's taken a hard topic and helped people by sitting alongside of them in their pain and questions, inviting them to be with Jesus rather than simply a fan. And sometimes that's a hard choice, but always a good choice, to make.
 
Amy is the founder/visionary/host of the Untangled Faith Podcast. She lives near Nashville with her husband, three children, and two dogs. She loves to read, write, talk, and connect people to other people and resources. She loves Jesus and hates spiritual abuse.
Some gems from Amy:
If we threw out every church because it was imperfect there would be nothing left.
It doesn't matter what age you are when you lose a parent, you still feel orphaned.
If you mom dies, you may need to go to therapy to learn how to talk to your dad. 
You can do the right things and life can still be very difficult.
If you are disillusioned or hurt, don't throw out Jesus. Come sit next to me, there's room at my table.

Ep 187 A Legacy of an Open Heart and a New Kidney: Stewarding Well with Dale Masten

Dale Masten loved Christ at an early age, and loves Him still at 60. In between years included times of doubt, questioning, skepticism, and looking for anywhere but up for life's answers. Yet, God kept calling him back and Dale listened. "I derailed but I kept coming back. I couldn't live without God."
He also couldn't live very well without a new kidney which he received earlier this year after a 10-year-wait. He got the call from USC Medical Center on a Sunday afternoon. "We have a kidney. If you want it, you need to be here between 4 and 6 hours." Dale and his wife of 35 years, Jill, got into the car without packing and within 5 hours he was on the table, wondering at all that was about to happen. 
Dale knows that there is no meaning without God, faith grows in adversity and community, and that meaningful relationships begin with openness, love and vulnerability. He loves people. Reminded me of Jesus. You will be challenged and encouraged today with Dale's story.
Some gems from today's podcast:
God honors the process and builds character through suffering.
We need to be intentional with our gratitude or it quickly subsides into taking things for granted.
I celebrate that God made me someone who is voraciously interested in people. 
Vulnerability is the gateway to intimacy.
I had a new kidney but I still had my same old character flaws.

Ep 186 A Legacy of Finding Holy in the Suburbs with Ashley Hales

Author, speaker, podcaster, Ashley Hales, talks today on how to find holy and be faithful to God wherever He's placed you. "How easy it is," she explains, "to look for our value or distract us from the hard stuff by leaning on stuff—bigger homes, safer places, or a simple To-Do List crossed off on a daily basis." She writes in Finding Holy in the Suburbs: Living Faithfully in the Land of Too Much—"To fill my infinite things with finite things, the more distance I put between God and myself. And the more I do that, it creates a way of being."  
Leave a comment on blog or social media to be entered in a giveaway for Finding Holy in the Suburbs.
Follow Ashley at aahales.com where you can read about her ministry, writing and speaking. 
Ashley is a mom of four, wife of a pastor here in San Luis Obispo, and seeks to follow Jesus and love others right where she is. 
Some gems:
We get antsy waiting on God so we ask our stuff to save us.
God has made us hungry people but we remain unsatiated until we feed on Him first and foremost.
Hospitality means making room in our lives and hearts for whomever God brings our way.
The cross is the basis of our hospitality; Christ broken for us is God's invitation to come to Him. 
I want to pay attention to the work God has for me to do TODAY and not worry about may or may not get accomplished. 
We can't do Kingdom life by doing rather than being. 
Like maps like my Man-in-Plaid? Here's one for you. Ashley and her husband, Bryce have a new podcast: The Cartographers: Charting the cultural landscape for 21st century Christian Leaders
_____
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. But people are people and we 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. One short, simple prayer to help uncomplicate love sent to your inbox for 31 days. Don't worry. They are short. God doesn't mind short prayers.
Sign up HERE