The Devoted Dreamers Podcast

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**The Devoted Dreamers Podcast**

What if the dream in your heart was placed there by God for a reason?

Merritt Onsa, host of The Devoted Dreamers Podcast, helps Christian women in midlife find the courage to pursue their God-shaped dreams—even when fear, doubt, and imposter syndrome say they’re not ready.

Through real conversations with women living out their callings and short solo episodes full of biblical truth and encouragement, you’ll discover:
✨ How to move forward even when you feel unqualified
✨ The source of lies that keep dreamers stuck (and the truth that sets you free)
✨ Practical wisdom for taking the next brave step with God

This is your safe place to wrestle with questions about how to move forward, get clarity for your calling, and remember you don’t have to do it alone.

Together we’re building a community of sisters in Christ who will remind you where your hope lies and encourage you to keep taking the next step.

If you’re ready to stop second-guessing and start walking boldly with Jesus toward the life He’s calling you to, you’re in the right place.

Latest Episodes:

**45 Interview with Julie Manning: Unexpected Author | Cardiac Nurse | Surrendered in Suffering** May 17, 2017
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Julie Manning is a wife to her beloved husband, John, mother of three fun-loving boys, and pediatric nurse practitioner. At the age of 25, Julie left her career in corporate America to pursue a bachelor’s degree in nursing. While in nursing school, the Lord birthed a passion within Julie to care for children born with heart disease. Little did she know seven years later, she would learn that her own heart was sick. The Lord’s pursuit of Julie’s heart and soul through the valley of facing many uncertainties has developed a fire within her to live intentionally from moment to moment as if it may be her last.

In this episode, Julie shares about the clear calling from God to begin sharing the story of her heart condition. She talks about what it was like to face her fears and to see this circumstance as an opportunity to draw closer to Christ. I love Julie’s desire to live for eternity right now—as if tomorrow isn’t guaranteed—because it’s not, for any of us.

Stay tuned to the end of the show where I share how you can win a copy of Julie’s book, *My Heart,* on Instagram when you enter before midnight Central Time on May 19th.

You’ll find the videos and links to resources Julie mentioned and ways to connect with her in the show notes, here: http://www.merrittonsa.com/podcast/45
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Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson.
Theme music by Reaktor Productions.
Ad music by Komiku.

**44 Interview with Rachel Swanson: Speaker | Author | Creative Entrepreneur** May 10, 2017
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Rachel Swanson is a dental hygienist turned author and speaker. Her book, *Big and Little Coloring Devotional* (released in LifeWay stores, April 2017), was birthed by her own struggle to keep it together as a busy mama of three children under two years old. A rising inspirational speaker, Rachel shares personal and spiritual growth insights related to encouraging moms in motherhood, helping women discover their unique purpose in Christ, understanding God’s design for healthy sexuality, and overcoming stress and anxiety in their lives. Rachel has been married ten years to her husband who loves her despite her love for coffee and often impulsive nature. They rear their tribe of identical twin boys, their baby girl, and a Weimaraner who thinks she's a human.

Rachel tells the about the dreams she didn’t see coming in a season of feeling anxious and overwhelmed as a mom of three little kids. She shares what inspired her to create the *Big and Little Coloring Devotional* and how it’s helped her find time to be in God’s word and engage her kids with scripture.

She is honest about the insecurities she has struggled with on this journey and the lies that the enemy has used to try to defeat her progress—and how daily submitting those to God has helped her continue to walk forward. I loved hearing her share about letting go of control and allowing God to lead us in taking the next steps toward our dream.

Stay tuned to the end of the show where I share how you can win a copy of Rachel’s book, *Big and Little Coloring Devotional*, on Instagram when you enter before midnight Pacific Time on May 11th.

You’ll find links to resources mentioned and ways to connect with Rachel in the show notes.

Join the Devoted Dreamers Insiders Facebook Group.

Get your free copy of the Identify Your Values worksheet to help you clearly identify the values you hold dear that may shape the direction of your calling.

This week's sponsor: Amazon.com - Read eBooks using the FREE Kindle Reading App on Most Devices

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Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson.
Theme music by Reaktor Productions.
Ad music by Komiku.

**43 Interview with Suanne Camfield: Author | Minister to Women | Paying Attention to The Stirring** May 03, 2017
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Suanne Camfield is the women’s ministry director at Christ Church of Oak Brook and the author of The Sound of a Million Dreams: Awakening to Who You are Becoming (her first book, released in March of 2017). She previously worked for Caris, a nonprofit counseling organization that supports women and children, was an assistant editor at InterVarsity Press and the blog manager for FullFill, a nonprofit focused on mobilizing women to invest their influence in the world for God's purposes. She lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband--who’s a pastor--and two teenage children.

In this episode, Suanne shares the story of when God stirred something inside her during a “holy moment” in a coffee shop. She takes us along on the journey of what God was doing in her heart and mind while she pursued a dream of writing that she didn’t know she had before age 30. In doing so, she encourages us to focus less on what we are to do with our dreams and more on who we are to become as we follow God’s call on our lives.

She is honest about the internal war--those voices that make her question what she’s doing and even who she is sometimes--and how she fights back against them. This journey with God toward her dreams has built confidence in Suanne and a growing trust in God’s faithfulness, despite her circumstances or feelings. She shares how this has helped her pursue with vigor and, at the same time, hold more loosely to her dreams.

I love the way Suanne talks about dreaming. I’ve already called her a kindred spirit. And I hope you’ll feel some of that, too, as you listen. The warmth and courage and strength with which she shares her story along with true encouragement for anyone with a dream—or the hope for a dream—is a gift she’s given us through this conversation.

At the end of the show I share how you can win a copy of Suanne’s book, *The Sound of a Million Dreams*, on Instagram if you enter before midnight Central Time on May 4, 2017.

You’ll find the show notes, links to resources mentioned and ways to connect with Suanne in the show notes, here: http://www.merrittonsa.com/podcast/43

Join the Devoted Dreamers Insiders Facebook Group.

Get your copy of the Pay Attention Worksheet to help you think through the dreams God has been brewing in your life all along.
This episode is sponsored by:
Amazon.com - Read eBooks using the FREE Kindle Reading App on Most Devices

Subscribe on iTunes * Subscribe on Android

Leave your review of the show on iTunes or Stitcher.

Sign up for Dream Believers. Just $49/month or $490 for the year (get 2 months free!)
NEXT STEPS:
Connect with Merritt: Website || Instagram || Book a Call
Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts/iTunes
Subscribe: on Apple Podcasts * on Android
Join the *Dream Believers* community

MORE ABOUT THE DEVOTED DREAMERS PODCAST:
Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson.
Theme music by Reaktor Productions.
Ad music by Komiku.

42 Interview with Shanon Roberts: Self-published | Devotional Writer | Leaving a Legacy Apr 26, 2017

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Shanon Roberts married her high school sweetheart and now lives in Columbia City, IN with their two teenage daughters. When they’re not attending girls’ soccer or basketball games, they’re playing recreational sports, or cuddled up with a good movie. She’s worked as an orthopedic designer for nearly seventeen years, and co-invented a handful of patents as a result. About nine years ago, Shanon consciously committed her life to Christ and has been relying on Him to lead, guide, and grow her ever since. As her love for Him has grown, so has her love for her husband, daughters, and others; she now finds herself standing with arms wide open simply saying, “Here I am, this life is Yours.”

In this episode, Shanon shares what this open-arms-attitude has produced in her life. She talks about the practice of getting up early over the last four years to get in God’s word, which she admits, didn’t come easily at first. But she began to write down her thoughts each day and post them online for others to read and gain encouragement. The days and weeks turned into months, which turned into a year of consistently writing her devotions, and that became the jumping off point to create and self-publish her first devotional book, Rise Up! Devotions.

On this journey, she shares how important it was to have other women in her life to encourage, support, and pray for her—and how she got connected with them in the first place. She shares about her prayer closet where she goes to spend time with God and get reconnected when she’s been struggling with confidence or battling negative thoughts. Finally, it was especially comforting to hear her talk about fitting her pursuit of this dream into the little corners of her life to avoid letting it take over her relationships with her husband, daughters, or friends.

At the end of the show Shanon has a bunch of great resources she’s giving away for free as well as a limited time discount code just for Devoted Dreamers listeners if you’d like to purchase a copy of her book, Rise Up! Devotions.

You’ll find the show notes, links to resources mentioned and ways to connect with Shanon in the show notes, here: http://www.merrittonsa.com/podcast/42

Join the Devoted Dreamers Insiders Facebook Group.
This episode is sponsored by:
Amazon.com - Read eBooks using the FREE Kindle Reading App on Most Devices

Subscribe on iTunes * Subscribe on Android

NEXT STEPS:
Connect with Merritt: Website || Instagram || Book a Call
Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts/iTunes
Subscribe: on Apple Podcasts * on Android
Join the Dream Believers community

MORE ABOUT THE DEVOTED DREAMERS PODCAST:
Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson.
Theme music by Reaktor Productions.
Ad music by Komiku.

41 Interview with Lauren Jones: Homeschool Mom | Foster Parent | Putting Books in Kids’ Hands Apr 19, 2017

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Lauren Jones is a homeschooling, bio/adoption and foster care mama of four kids ages 9 to 9months. If you can’t find her in the kitchen or the mountains, she’s probably scouring vintage shops for beautiful books. It should be said that she’s definitely not cleaning her house--you can pray for that if you’d like. Lauren and her husband Joe started foster care three years ago and have had 7 placements in that time. It’s been a healthy mix of “this is amazing” and “this totally sucks.” They recently founded Treasured Kids--a ministry aiming to get beautiful books into the hands of foster kids.

In this episode, Lauren talks about all the reasons she felt unqualified to launch a brand-new ministry and, yet, how God has met them in the midst of it and answered prayers before they even knew they had the needs.

She shares about her family and caring for kids from hard places who aren’t interested in books or being close with their caregivers and how reading has made a difference in their home when they’ve faced hours-long tantrums or unresponsive kiddos. She’s honest about what she and Joe have learned as foster parents and how they’ve had to change their expectations along the way.

Finally, there’s some sweet encouragement for you from Lauren to just listen to what’s on your heart and share with others what you’re thinking and dreaming about. She’s seen her community step up in surprising ways with Treasured Kids, and I have a feeling she’ll see more of that in the future.

At the end of the show Lauren shares about how you can get involved with Treasured Kids’ monthly giveaways—which anyone can enter—to win an heirloom book as well as a local event, in Boulder County on April 25th if you’re interested in learning more about foster care.

You’ll find the show notes, lists of excellent books for kids and adults as well as how to connect with Lauren and Treasured Kids in the show notes, here: http://www.merrittonsa.com/podcast/41

Join the Devoted Dreamers Insiders Facebook Group

This episode is sponsored by:
Amazon.com - Read eBooks using the FREE Kindle Reading App on Most Devices

Subscribe on iTunes * Subscribe on Android

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Connect with Merritt: Website || Instagram || Book a Call
Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts/iTunes
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Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson.
Theme music by Reaktor Productions.
Ad music by Komiku.

40 || How to Just Take the Next Step || Julie Landreth Apr 12, 2017

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Julie Landreth has a passion for healthy and thriving relationships–especially marriages. She is a speaker and wife coach who loves sharing with women her passion for prayer and how to cultivate a thriving marriage. She leads a growing number of women in San Jose, CA through her weekly WifeLab curriculum: Loving Well, The Art of Praying for Your Husband. This year Julie and her husband will celebrate 13 years of cultivating a marriage filled with intentional love. Their secret? A date night every Friday since her now 10-year-old son was 7 months old. In addition to speaking, writing, and teaching, Julie is also a freelance photographer and designer.

In our conversation, Julie shares about the whirlwind romance she and her now-husband had while they were dating—mostly long-distance—and then the disappointment that sunk in shortly into their marriage. She talks about how her dream—to start a revolution of marriages that last—began in her little corner of the world. Now she’s moving ahead, one step at a time, listening to what God has laid on her heart and walking forward, even when she feels resistant to doing so.

Like a lot of my guests, Julie mentions the inner chatter – those thoughts that tell her she’s not enough and cause her to question her dream. And then she shares how she’s fought back against it.

Finally, there’s a TON of good stuff in our conversation about how Julie has prayed for her husband, encouraged other women to do the same for theirs, and how little changes in her own thoughts, behavior and reactions have made all the difference in strengthening their marriage. So, if your marriage is anything but a 10, I think you’ll hear some helpful things from Julie today.

You’ll find the show notes, an amazing list of resources (more than we had time to discuss), and contact information for Julie as well as details about her upcoming events in San Jose, CA, here: http://www.merrittonsa.com/podcast/40

Also, check out Julie's Instagram for the giveaway HERE.

Join the Devoted Dreamers Insiders Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/devoteddreamers/

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Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson.
Theme music by Reaktor Productions.
Ad music by Komiku.

39 Interview with Natalie Ard: Illustrator | Unexpected Business Owner | Learning Patience Apr 05, 2017

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Natalie Ard is the creator, author, and illustrator of The Christmas Star From Afar® and The Easter Story Egg™. She is a wife and mother to three and has built the Star From Afar Kids company on the foundation of creating inspirational, interactive games and toys that help children play with a purpose. Star From Afar Kids creates toys and games that spark a child’s curiosity and creativity while delivering positive messages and creating lasting family memories.

In our conversation, Natalie talks about how God used an interest from her childhood—drawing and sketching—to build a dream in her heart that she didn’t know to have. The dream was born out of her desire to create meaningful activities for her children around the holidays and now it’s a full-fledged business. I loved hearing the joy in Natalie’s voice when she talked about getting immersed in creativity and drawing again. She’s also honest about the red-flags of self-doubt, insecurity and comparison that signal to her that it’s time to take a break, talk to God and remember who she is and why she’s doing what she’s doing. This was such an encouraging conversation for anyone with a dream to create a product or who just needs to remember that our God is faithful and trustworthy. I pray you’ll be encouraged today.

You’ll find the show notes, resources discussed, and contact information for Star From Afar Kids here: http://www.merrittonsa.com/podcast/39
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Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson.
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38 Interview with Amy Peterson: Once Misguided Missionary | Author | Caring for Our Words Mar 29, 2017

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Amy Peterson lives with her husband and two children on a couple of acres of Indiana farmland. She teaches and works with the Honors program at Taylor University. With a B.A. in English Literature from Texas A&M and an M.A. in Intercultural Studies from Wheaton College, Amy taught ESL for two years in Southeast Asia before returning stateside to teach in California, Arkansas, and Washington. Amy has written for Books & Culture, Christianity Today, The Other Journal, Comment Magazine, The Cresset, The Living Church, and Art House America, among other places. Her first book, Dangerous Territory: My Misguided Quest to Save the World, released on Feb 1. Amy lives with her husband and two children on a couple of acres of Indiana farmland.

In our conversation, Amy gives us a sneak peek into the story from her book about serving as a missionary in Southeast Asia and how that experience eventually broke her heart. She confesses the beliefs and attitudes she had as a young woman that resulted in the disappointment and disillusionment she felt about God after her dream fell apart. I so appreciated hearing how she recovered and, ultimately, how she has allowed God to use the experience to inform her next steps.

Amy also reminds us that Jesus has a very different measure of “success” compared to what the world deems successful, and she shares how that truth has impacted her dreaming. Amy returns to scripture again and again to inform our conversation, and I’m grateful for her perspective on how we can hold our dreams loosely and keep God at the forefront of our dreaming.

You’ll find the show notes, resources discussed, and Amy's contact information here: http://www.merrittonsa.com/podcast/38

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Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson.
Theme music by Reaktor Productions.
Ad music by Komiku.

37 Interview with Cynthia Culver: Life & Biz Coach | Being Transformed | Helping People Transform Mar 22, 2017

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Cynthia Culver graduated from the University of Texas in Austin, and after seven years working in the corporate world, she left to go back to school. With a Masters in Biblical Counseling from Dallas Theological Seminary and her LPC -- Licensed Professional Counselor – license, Cynthia split the next ten years working for Watermark Community Church and in private practice at West Counseling. Now specializing in coaching individuals, executives and small business owners, Cynthia helps people who are overwhelmed by their responsibilities and a sense of angst because they feel unintentional and aimless about their lives. It is her passion to help people gain clarity on what matters to them and develop a plan to live it out.

This episode is chalk-full of wisdom and strategies for taking the next step toward your dream. Cynthia shares how a desire for perfection or immediate results sabotaged her forward progress in the past. She talks about uncovering the joy to be found in living out of who God made her to be, despite her success or failure, which has grown her trust that He is there in both. Even though she’s done a lot of public speaking in her life, she confesses to feelings of panic and anxiety recently and shares how God is using this struggle to draw her closer to Him.

I’m grateful for the little coaching session this episode turned out to be and feel challenged, yet again, to step out of what’s comfortable to try new and difficult things because that’s how we grow.

You’ll find the show notes, resources discussed, and Cynthia’s contact information here: http://www.merrittonsa.com/podcast/37

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Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson.
Theme music by Reaktor Productions.
Ad music by Komiku.

36 Interview with Hannah Edwards: Church Planter | Acquainted with Grief | Making Room for Brokenness Mar 15, 2017

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Hannah is a Midwesterner loving the Colorado life. She’s married to Brad -- a pastor, passionate engager of culture and beer, and a lover of bourbon. They were recently blessed with a bright-eyed baby boy, Ransom, after five years of infertility. While learning to be new parents, they attempt to keep up with their spirited husky/blue heeler mix, Scout, and meet the needs of their entitled cat, Brooklyn. Brad and Hannah started The Table Church in Lafayette, Colorado, with a beautiful group of adventurous souls in 2016. Hannah does not consider herself a “dreamer” but rather a pragmatist. She is learning how those two things can intersect in a redemptive way in Gospel community.

In this interview, Hannah shares what it’s been like to face the deepest grief of her life – and some of the greatest joy – while planting a brand-new church with her husband. She shares how this experience changed her and opened her up even more to walk in brokenness and grief alongside others. It has also pointed her straight to our Savior, Jesus, and given her a passion for others to live in the freedom and identity that’s been given to us in Him.

Did you know that 1 in 8 couples (or 12% of married women) have trouble getting pregnant or sustaining a pregnancy according to the National Survey of Family Growth, CDC. So, whether or not infertility is part of your story, you probably know someone who is impacted by it. My prayer in sharing stories like Hannah’s is that we’ll all learn more about how to walk in grace with our friends and loved ones who are hurting.

You’ll find the show notes, resources discussed, and Hannah’s contact information here: http://www.merrittonsa.com/podcast/36

Join the Devoted Dreamers Insiders Facebook Group.

Leave your review of the show on iTunes or Stitcher

NEXT STEPS:
Connect with Merritt: Website || Instagram || Book a Call
Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts/iTunes
Subscribe: on Apple Podcasts * on Android
Join the Dream Believers community

MORE ABOUT THE DEVOTED DREAMERS PODCAST:
Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson.
Theme music by Reaktor Productions.
Ad music by Komiku.