WELCOME HEART: Living a Legacy Life

Ep 159 A Legacy of Hosting Family at the Holidays (And Surviving. With Joy.)

I love the holidays and I love family. And mostly, I love them at the same time!
These 5 tips help me not only survive hosting family at the holidays, but actually enjoy it. As believers, we have God as our greatest peace and resource for joy. He's in our details and sometimes we need to do some planning to make things run more smoothly so that we can focus on what matters: Jesus and our people.
Life is easier if I my “To-Do” list is shortened by half on the same day Uncle Tom, Dick and Harry arrive at the door needing coffee and a muffin.
You may not need a “hosting planner” but you do need a planning system, if only using paper and a pencil with an eraser.
A practical way to create gracious boundaries is to limit the number of traditions.
The most important part of preparations is preparing my heart.
Asking questions and listening to the answers may not be what you think of when preparing to host family, but it can be our biggest act of love and service.
As much as I want to be all things to all people, I’m wise to know my limits and, when necessary, let others know. 
Here are 5 tips we will cover in today's podcast:
MAKE A PLAN
MAKE BOUNDARIES
MAKE PREPARATIONS
MAKE IT FUN
MAKE IT MEANINGFUL
 
God is concerned with what concerns you. He’s in the details and will help us all along the way.
 
Commit your work to the Lord,and your plans will be established. Proverbs 16:3
 
It's not too late to make your own Pilgrim Scavenger Hunt. This will help.
Conversation Starters on SHOP
 

Ep 158 A Legacy of Living Our Best Life at Any Age with Laura Padgett

Today, the darling and wise, Laura Padgett, an award-winning author, dancer, and fairly new podcaster—she began her podcast, Livin' What You're Givin' on her 70th birthday—speaks of the gifts of age, the necessity of inclusion, and enduring-through-dance her life with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Laura looks out for those who may be new to the church, inviting those to the choir who may not know they were "allowed to sing." Her mission is to show and tell the world that aging isn't a disease; rather, we look for more and maybe different ways to serve our Saviour with the varying gifts each season and stage we meet along the way. 
Some Laura gems:
Jesus plus nothing; there is no Jesus, plus.
I start each day with, "Wow! Thank You!"
Start looking at what you have instead of what's been taken.
I'm not going to put other people's stuff on my credit card.
Art lives in the heart, not the hands and feet. (That's why anyone can dance!)
Laura wrote a book about her mentor entitles, Delores, Like a River and she's giving a copy away this week. Leave a comment below or on instagram to be entered.
About her book:
The story of an extraordinary relationship between two women who would have been unlikely companions if not for the plans of the Almighty in bringing them together. As you follow the narrative of their thirty-five-year relationship, it may change the way you see beauty and purpose in aging. And it may convince you of or reinforce your belief in the God who spares no effort when reaching out to the broken and lost. 
 
Laura is Italian and I love it that she shares a part of her kitchen heritage with Papa Cavalla's Recipe for Spaghetti Sauce: 
This is a recipe my father, Albert Carvallo, (Papa) learned from his Sicilian mother. He was first generation Italian and the only one of ten children born on American soil. This like many other recipes brought from Italy, was handed down to his daughters in his distinctive way of teaching the culinary secrets of our homeland. Please know the exact measurements are not known but for the purposes of this offering, I have tried to be as accurate as possible. Mostly we just always knew that the recipe was right by the taste.
 
Ingredients
2 large cans (28 oz) whole tomatoes in juice
2 large cans (15 oz) of tomato sauce
1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
4 large pork spare ribs, lean
½ pound ground mild Italian sausage
2 teaspoons each dried oregano and dried basil
5 cloves garlic
 
In large sauce pan, in 1 inch of water and 3 cloves of garlic, chopped but not diced into small pieces, braise the pork ribs until done over low heat. Remove to cutting board and let cool. You may need to keep adding water so the ribs do not stick and the garlic does not burn.  While pork is cooking place the tomatoes with juice, sauce and paste into a large bowl and mash together with a potato masher and 1 teaspoon each basil and oregano. You can used canned crushed tomatoes but they usually do not have as much juice.
 
Once pork is cool, cut it off the bone into bite size pieces and return to pan having removed any excess water from the pan. Add the tomato mixture and bring to a simmer. Allow mixture to simmer on medium to low heat covered for three hours.  Turn off heat but keep covered and leave on stove top for one hour.
 
Braise Italian sausage in same manner as ribs, drain and cool.  Put into the tomato mixture and cook for another three hours. Add remaining chopped garlic and spices. Return mixture to slow simmer for another three hours. Turn off heat, let cool on stove and either serve over pasta of choice or refrigerate for use the next day over pasta of choice.
 
*Note: You may want to had a bit more seasoning prior to refrigeration or ½ hour prior to serving, while sauce is still simmering.  Also, this recipe can be used with chicken if pork is not a meat that is desired.  Follow all other directions as listed above.
 
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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 157 A Legacy of Radical Hospitality: Monday Night Dinners with the Cleaths

We don't all have to remodel our dining rooms just because we host 60 people every Monday night for dinner, but that's exactly what Tim and Allie Cleath set out to do when the guest list got bigger and bigger. Hear their story today of "radical hospitality." Try out Allie's biscuit recipe and invite someone over.
I love Allie Cleath's and her gracious giving heart for others. I reminded her recently of the time she handed me a pot roast in a plastic bag. “See?” she said, “I don’t do fancy. I just cook and give because of all God’s given me.” I was grateful that night so many years ago, and many are grateful every Monday night.
If you’re ever in San Luis Obispo, give me a call and we’ll head on over to the Cleath’s. We may need to wash dishes or fold up some chairs, but we’ll be blessed with radical hospitality for the glory of God
 
Allie’s Homemade Biscuits
 
Stir together:
2 cups flour
½ t. salt
¼ t. baking soda
2 ½ t. baking powder
 
Mix in with a fork:
1/4 c. shortening
 
Add:
3/4 c. buttermilk
 
Stir then knead 10 – 12 times on floured surface. Roll out to ½ inch thickness. Cut with biscuit cutter. Bake 450 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until puffed and golden.
 
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Free eBook 
What’s your #1 tip for making the holidays less stressful? How do you practice self-care during the holidays?
How do you get your family members & other helping hands more involved in holiday preparations?
What’s your #1 tip for saving money during the holidays (whether on gifts, food, decorations, or other things)?
 
Free eBook for Happier Holidays (: 

Ep 156 A Legacy of Living Awake with Anjuli Paschall

Mom of five, writer, speaker, spiritual director, Anjuli Pasquall, knew how it felt to always be running after a more-and a later-on and someday-I'll-catch-up kind of life and she knew it wasn't how God wanted life to be— for her, for anyone. She began a quest to find out what it meant to live fully awake—to God's presence, to love, to connection. And she wrote a gem of a book about it. 
Leave a comment here or on social media to be entered to win your own copy of AWAKE: Paying Attention to What Mattters Most in a World That's Pulling You Apart
"From a young  age, I trusted God. I knew He loved me in my head, but there was a disconnect because I didn’t believe He loved me in my heart. I knew a lot of the right answers, but deep down I was a disaster." -Anjuli
Learn more about Anjuli HERE, and her soul-care course HERE.
We chat about her fabulous "club" that supports moms who need more than the average support. Check it out: 
"I founded “The Moms We Love Club.” It is a social media campaign. We raise money and prayers for moms enduring long term hardship. Over the past two years we’ve raised over $200, 000 just by posting a picture. Join the club!"
Follow Anjuli on instagram @lovealways.anjuli
 
 

Ep 155 A Legacy and Lifetime of Discipleship with Cal Samuels

I taught high school with the wonderful and exuberant pastor, teacher Cal Samuels back in the day, and today he continues to teach, disciple and pour into young people with his whole heart and soul. A fellow Marine who had been saved a whole 5 days took it upon himself to read the verse, John 3:16 to Cal after a night on the town, and at that moment he believed and began a life steeped into and led by the Word of God. His legacy is one we all want to live. Enjoy my friend, Cal, who daily desires to imitate his Master, Jesus Christ in the 3 C's and teach, show and "let them go", growing deeper in faith and strength.
Cal, in his own words:
l was born in Fredericksburg, VA,  the youngest of four kids. Growing up in a small town was absolutely wonderful.
I spent four years in the Marines right after high school and became a Christian in the Marines while stationed in Japan in 1970. After getting out of the Marines in 1971, I stayed in California to work with The Navigators in a lay capacity doing military and collegiate ministries.
I married Pam while I was still in college, and later earned a Bachelors in English from Cal State Fullerton.
After graduation I taught at Whittier Christian High School for three years.
We moved to San Diego and I taught three years at Christian High in El Cajon.
Pam also was a teacher in the public schools.I left teaching and went to work in the corporate world as a training administrator and Human Resources manager.When I was 45 the Lord called me into ministry, so I stopped working and went to seminary to earn a Master of Divinity degree.
 
I pastored in San Diego and later relocated to Temecula to pastor Filipino-American churches.
I retired and served at our church doing discipleship and men's ministry for five years.
I had some friends who taught at Linfield Chritian High School and they encouraged me to do substitute teaching.I started subbing in September 2018, and after two weeks one of the Bible teachers suddenly moved to Texas. The school offered me the position, and I am finishing up my fourth year there. Linfield has been thrilling!
 
Pam and I have been married 46 years. We have three sons and three grandchildren.
Our youngest son went to be with the Lord two years ago.
 
You can follow Cal on Facebook where he continues to teach and disciple through posts and commentary. 
 
His heart's desire on a daily basis is to commit himself to the words in Isaiah 58:10 and 11—
 
AND IF YOU OFFER YOURSELF TO THE HUNGRY
AND SATISFY THE NEED OF THE AFFLICTED,
THEN YOUR LIGHT WILL RISE IN DARKNESS,
AND YOUR GLOOM WILL BECOME LIKE MIDDAY.
AND THE LORD WILL CONTINUALLY GUIDE YOU,
AND SATISFY YOUR DESIRE IN SCORCHED PLACES,
AND GIVE STRENGTH TO YOUR BONES;
AND YOU WILL BE LIKE A WATERED GARDEN,
AND LIKE A SPRING OF WATER WHOSE WATERS DO NOT FAIL.
Isaiah 58:10,11
 
 
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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 154 A Legacy of Curiosity—A Journey of Faith with Lore Ferguson Wilbert

Writer, thinker, self-named "chronic doubter", Lore Wilbert talks today about how asking questions are not only welcomed by God, but often essential to our journey of faith. Whether you are a staunch believer, never doubting, or more in a messy faith situation right now, you will find comfort, grace—even some answers to your questions—in our podcast conversation today.
Lore Ferguson Wilbert is a writer, thinker, learner, and author of the book, Handle With Care. She writes for She Reads Truth, Christianity Today, and more, as well as her own site, Sayable.net,as well as at LoreWilbert.com. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram @lorewilbert. She lives in New York and has a husband named Nate, a puppy named Harper Nelle, and too many books to read in one lifetime. Her wonderful new book is A CURIOUS FAITH: The Questions God Asks, We Ask, and We Wish Someone Would Ask Us.
I love her latest book, A CURIOUS FAITH: The Questions God Asks, We Ask, and We Wish Someone Would Ask Us. I thought I'd get this book for some friends, but the more I read it, I knew it was meant for me. Funny how the Lord does that. (My friends will still get a copy and you should, too.)
Lore says this about herself:
My life is small and simple. Grace is the marked measure of all things in me. God is the ultimate Creator and He’s crafted all things for His glory and my good. I learn this, albeit slowly at times.
I am a Christian for whom doubt has been a near constant thread. I am not funny or vivacious or the life of the party. I am the one who hangs out on the margins, the one who sounds slightly, maybe impressive until you meet me, the one people don’t recognize when they see me. And it has taken me nearly 40 years to finally be okay with that.
I have lived in ten states. Nowhere is quite home. The writer of Hebrews quotes the Lord as saying, “They’ll never get where they’re going, never able to sit down and rest.” A favorite author, Wendell Berry, says in one poem, “We must arrive at the ground beneath our feet,” and in another, “at peace, and in place.” I have done neither, not completely. I am perpetually homesick and I wonder if God did that to me on purpose, so I would never feel too much at home on this earth.
Some gems from Lore:
The Gospel is much more accessible and simple than we could ever imagine, and much more complex and majestic than we could ever imagine.
One of the most difficult parts of faith is getting honest about what we really want from God.
God is not interested in followers with all the right answers or even the right questions. He wants us to ask the quesitons, whatever we want, to lead us right to the locus of his love.
The Bible is a permission slip from God to ask questions.
Living my questions led me to more surety and stability.
 
You will love hearing Lore's legacy.
Enjoy and if you have questions? I'd love to hear them: sue@welcomeheart.com 
 

Ep 153 A Legacy of Recalling God’s Goodness in Anxiety and Isolation with Becky Keife

Becky Keife, wife and mom of 3 boys, talks today of her parenting struggles that led to writing her first book: No Better Mom for the Job: Parenting with Confidence, as well as her encouragement to people in all seasons of life that we have a God-given purpose: to display God's loving kindness whenever we get the opportunity. She speaks candidly of her own struggle with anxiety and depression, claiming that admitting and naming our struggles is the first step in coping and healing.  
We're thrilled to be offering two giveaways this week—so be sure to comment here or on Instagram to be entered.
Becky's latest books: The Simple Difference: How Every Small Kindness Makes a Big Difference and her companion Bible Study: Courageous Kindness: Live the Simple Difference Right Where You Are.
Author, speaker, Becky Keife is the Community Manager for DaySpring’s (in)courage, a widely followed online community where authentic women link arms to build community, celebrate diversity, and live courageously for Jesus.
Know a mom who needs encouragment?
Becky wants you to have the first two chapters of her new book, The Simple Difference: How Every Small Kindness Makes a Big Impact for FREE. Download it here: bethesimpledifference.com.
 
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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 152 A Legacy of Habits of Faith with Jen Pollock Michel

Jen Pollock Michele's legacy is about faith and the object of her faith; to stay close enough to Jesus— connected as a matter of habit—so that she knows His voice and obeys what she hears. Michele writes on faith in all her books and articles and the one we talk about today, A Habit of Faith--40 Days in the Bible to Find and Follow Jesus—is written for skeptics, seekers as well as old-timers like myself. She's offering a copy as a giveaway all week-long, so be sure to leave a comment to be entered by Sunday night. It's a Bible-reading experience for the convinced and the curious, in other words, everybody will benefit.
I LOVED THIS BOOK!
And, see where you can begin this habit journey on her website: A 5-Day Jumpstart to Your Habit Called Faith.
About Jen in her own words:
I’ve loved stories since childhood: the intrigue of my dad’s boyhood adventures with his dog, Chief; the friendship of books when I was—yet again—the new kid in town. I followed stories into university, then graduate school where I studied literature. After I became a mom, I passed years with my children, crowded around picture books and reading good stories.As a Christian, it’s always been the stories of Scripture that have interested me most. In the Bible, we come to discover that the events of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection are the climax of God’s story. Though many turn to the Bible exclusively for instructions about what to believe and how to behave, I’ve come to think that it offers us something even more expansive and beautiful and imaginative.
Jen the author of four books: A Habit Called Faith, Surprised by Paradox (winner of Christianity Today’s 2020 Award of Merit for Beautiful Orthodoxy), Keeping Place, and Teach Us to Want (winner of Christianity Today’s 2015 Book of the Year). She's currently living in Ohio with her husband and their five children.
Some gems to contemplate while you figure out if today you'll begin your 40 days of reading, listening, talking to the God who is in pursuit of you:
If sin has to do with habits of autonomy, faith has to do with habits of dependence.
When meeting with God, have a plan so you don't need to "start again" each time you meet.
At God's initiative, he has made his home in us, and invites us to make our home in and with him. 
Jen's new book releases Decemeber in time for Christmas! But you can pre-order now:
In Good Time: 8 Habits for Reimagining Productivity, Resisting Hurry, and Practicing Peace
Whether we're trying to find time, save it, manage it, or make the most of it, one word defines our relationship with the clock: anxiety. Yet is productivity really the only grid for the good life? Have you ever imagined a life without hurry, relentless work, multitasking, or scarcity? A life that is characterized instead by presence, attention, rest, rootedness, fruitfulness, and generosity?This is the kind of life we are meant for, says Jen Pollock Michel. But if we want to experience freedom from time anxiety, we have to reimagine our relationship with time itself.In the pages of In Good Time, she invites you to disentangle your priorities from our modern assumptions and instead ground them in God's time. Then she shows you how to establish 8 life-giving habits that will release you from the false religion of productivity so you can develop a grounded, healthy, life-giving relationship with the clock.
 
 
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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 151 A Legacy of Going Into the Hard Places For Wholeness and Healing with Jolene Underwood

Jolene Underwood, MA, is a trauma and abuse informed mental health counselor as well as a spiritual and emotional growth coach. She believes a cultivated life is one that experiences more of God and more of the life we've been given by God.
Jolene helps individuals cultivate the courage, character, and connection they need to live as the person they're designed to be.
She's offering a one-page printable to all our listeners today to help us dig deeper into Scripture in a unique way. To download, click here: "Cultivate Connection with God." 
Jolene's personal journey towards emotional health, and training in Christian counseling, inform the practical support she provides for spiritual growth and emotional healing. Her tool, Unleash : Heart and Soul Care Sheets, has helped hundreds experience greater freedom and grow closer to God. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her enjoying the journey by laughing with loved ones or adding to her collection of vintage glassware with a 70s flair (see part of her collection on YouTube!)
Want more? Consider Unleash: Heart & Soul Care Sheets for a deeper connection by processing life’s challenges with God and learning to hear His voice in your life. A great gift for yourself and for a friend. 
Connect with her online via YouTube/Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/Pinterest at @theJoleneU or via the Cultivated Life Newsletter.
 
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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 150 A Legacy of Prayer: 31 Days of Uncomplicated Prayers to Love God and Love Your Neighbor

Today we celebrate Ep 150 by turning our hearts and minds to our great Savior, Lord and King with "31 Days of Uncomplicated Prayers." They are brief—brief holds my attention—I don't think it's my age, but it could be. And anytime I attend to my relationship with God, He pays attention.
God is so very good. He created us to relate with us, and praying is a great way to keep our relationship fresh and strong even when we don't feel fresh or strong.
If you'd like a prayer to drop in your inbox every day for 31 days, sign up here.
My relationship with God isn’t complicated. He makes things simple: “Love Me, Sue. That’s it. And, your neighbor. That’s all.”
He’s clear, even gentle, as He bids me follow and obey. I’m the one who makes it complicated.
 
Hear "31 Days of Uncomplicated Prayers" on today's podcast episode. These simple prayers will help you love God more and your neighbors well.
Some excerpts:
Father, I’m always trying to figure out what’s next. This constant striving to know what’s around the corner shows I have trust issues. With You.
Lord, when I’m about to say something that isn’t really a good idea, please (please) keep these lips closed. Use duct tape, if necessary.
Dear Father, is it wrong to pray for something I want, but may not need? Like, a housekeeper?
Father, it’s totally beyond me how this problem I’m facing is going to get sorted out. I’ve run out of ideas. I’m pretty smart, but You’re wise. And, Your ideas are much bigger than mine. Why does that continue to surprise me?
 
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. That's why 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.
 
Prayer Journal available in SHOP.
If interested in viewing the prayer journal that includes all 31 prayers, view in SHOP.