Stay ConnectedHas something simple ever changed your life? A lunch box note changed mine. A few years ago, my husband wrote a timely message to our son that said: BE STRONG, PROTECT THE WEAK, LOVE EVERYONE. Those six words ignited our family’s mission to love others well.
Each week on Be Love. Do Good. podcast, we’ll share ideas, encouraging words, and stories that inspire you to love outside your comfort zone.
Today I talk to Becky Leach, a writer, author, artist, and a survivor of sexual assault. Becky just released one of the most vulnerable and brave books called: THE PIVOT: Believing God When You Really, Really, Don’t Want To.
We talk about the secret she held in for over 30 years, what happened when she finally told her truth, and how God came alongside her in her most difficult circumstances. She talks about real times when she didn’t believe God could handle her pain, and how she chose to believe in Him even when she didn’t feel like it.
You will immediately fall in love with Becky and her heart for others. We are so appreciative that she shares her painful journey so others can be free.
Grab her book here:
Learn more about Becky here:
Follow Becky in Instagram: Beckyleachtx
Today I have on the podcast author Anjuli Paschall and she teaches us how to stay awake to what really matters. Many times, we are looking for the next big thing before we feel successful, happy, fulfilled. Anjuli reminds us to stay awake to small moments that mean everything, and to not miss what’s right in front of us. She gives us practical ways we can do this daily. Grab Anjuli’s book Get to know Anjuli
This week I am diving into the ways we have identified our kiddo’s God-given passions and talents and how they can creatively serve and love others with them. Our kids are very different and the way they serve others is also very different.
I have a kiddo who is extroverted and one who is more shy around others, loving others looks different for them.
Being curious about our kids and helping them identify what gifts they have and how they can use those to serve others has been a goal of mine as they grow. One of my kids love to build things. So how do I help him find opportunities to use that skill to serve? One of my kids loves and I mean LOVES little kids. How can I provide her with opportunities to use that gift?
In this podcast I give you practical ways to be a student of your children, to help identify what they love, and simple ways you can find places for them to love others in their gifts.
It’s a short one today but packed with ideas for you!
If you have been encouraged by our podcast, would you leave us a REVIEW? Reviews help us tremendously and helps us know how to serve you better!
One of the quotes that has stayed with me after this interview is “You don’t need to wait for a desired outcome before you start healing.” Lisa Appelo tells her story of how her life was turned upside down after a shocking tragedy upended their family. She shares with us the details of her grief, the messy in between of healing, and how God put her life back together again when she thought it was over.
You will be touched by her story, her faith, and the hope she regained. If you want to hear more of her story, please grab her new book: Life Can Be Good Again: Putting Your World Back Together After It All Falls Apart.
Learn more about Lisa:
Follow her on Instagram: lisaappelo
If this episode or any others encouraged you, would you please leave us a review?
This is the second part of my interview with Jason Ramos. If you haven’t heard the first part take a listen here.
Jason’s story is filled with brokenness, trauma, abuse, drugs, and prison, and how God completely transformed his life.
Sometimes we think there are some people who will never change, or they are too far gone. Many of us have loved ones we have given up on or felt like they were hopeless.
This story will help us see into a perspective many of us will never know. It helps us really SEE people. It’s a story of God’s power in the life of one of his children.
This is part 1 of my 2 part interview with Jason Ramos. This week I am sharing a story of complete transformation. And it’s too unbelievable to just do one part, so we broke it into 2.
Jason’s story is filled with brokenness, trauma, abuse, drugs, and prison, and how God completely transformed his life.
Sometimes we think there are some people who will never change, or they are too far gone. Many of us have loved ones we have given up on or felt like they were hopeless.
This story will help us see into a perspective many of us will never know. It helps us really SEE people. It’s a story of God’s power in the life of one of his children.
Tune in next week for the second part of my interview with Jason.
How many times do we ask the question or get asked “How are you?”
And the response is, “I am just so busy!”
I understand as parents, employees, caretakers it can feel like life will never slow down.
Many times, we go through life rushing from responsibility to responsibility and we miss the most important things right in front of us. PEOPLE. I know, if I have packed my schedule and create no space to be interrupted or to pay attention to the needs right in front of me, I will miss it every time.
Today I talk about 2 ways we can “see“ others, some ways we can shine God’s light on others without missing someone in need or in pain because we are just TOO busy. As busy as we all are we have a choice to slow it down and to ask God every day to “SEE” someone, to bring encouragement to one another. We all know that a kind word or even gesture can change someone’s entire day. Let’s be people that create space to see others.
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Grab our children’s book here The true story of how a lunchbox note changed our family.
Bring some tissues to this episode! Today I interviewed Randy Hartley who is the father portrayed in the movie and the book Beautifully Broken. It’s about three fathers who fight to save their families, their lives becoming intertwined in an unlikely journey across the globe where they learn the healing power of forgiveness and reconciliation.
Y’all, if this wasn’t a true story you would never believe it was real. Randy takes us on an unbelievable journey of how one man’s family was changed forever by a Rwandan refugee.
In this interview we talk about unimaginable pain and suffering and how we can come out restored and offer forgiveness. I can’t even do it justice to try to explain how this story unfolds. Do yourself a favor and listen to a story that will change you.
Buy Randy’s book Beautifully Broken and watch the movie.
Have you ever had a kid wake up cranky, be unhappy about the breakfast you woke up early to make, and you still keep a calm and sweet attitude? That’s a hard pass for me. Griping and complaining from others can ruin my mood quickly. How many times do we let someone else; our kids, our spouse, our friends dictate the way we feel, the way we view ourselves?
Jess puts me through a little life coaching session, and we figure out how I can be responsible for how I want to feel, even if others around me might not be up to my expectations. And speaking of expectations; we talk about how the ones we put on others, the unfair ones and the ones not met, impact us.
Jess Klasnick is a life coach who specializes in helping us get unstuck in our attitudes and feelings.
Learn more about Jessica’s coaching: https://www.jessicaklasnick.com/
I read a book recently called Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms. A publicist had reached out to see if we wanted to have the author on the podcast and she sent me a copy of the book. You need to know that I truly research everyone on our show, and read their stuff to see if they will be valuable to our audience. I do this because I want to give our listeners something that will help them strengthen their own family so they can love others outside their immediate family well
I honestly was a little nervous to read this book, not because I don’t love habits, but I thought it might feel like more things to do in our already busy schedule or even guilt that we aren't doing some habits we should be. BUT…. this book is none of those things. There is so much grace in Justin and this book, and it is wild to see how many things we are already doing in our family that we can just add a little intention to and it will change everything.
I loved this conversation so much; it made me think, challenged me, and also encouraged me that we are on the right track. You will get some tangible action items immediately after listening to this episode to put habits in your family that could truly change your family dynamic.
Get Justin's book: Habits of the Household
Or his first book: The Common Rule
Connect with Justin https://www.justinwhitmelearley.com/
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