Challenges Won't Stop Me

Today IS a good day.

Is it? What makes today a good day? When during the day do you decide today is good? Do irritations like spilled coffee or frustrations like losing your debit card cause your day to go from good to bad?

Categorizing a day as good or okay or bad is something we all do. When someone tells you to "have a good day!" they are wishing you well. Do their well wishes perk you up? Or make you grumble "it couldn't get worse"?

My guest, Dr. Michelle Bengtson, adopted a mindset years ago to start each day by declaring TODAY IS GOING TO BE A GOOD DAY. Did you catch that she started the day this way? You see, she was struggling greatly at that time in her life. Every reason for her perspective and mindset to be murky and grumbly and expecting more bad to happen. But she resolved to start each day basing her day on God's promises that are always good instead of whatever bad circumstances or irritations or frustrations sprouted up during the day.

Our conversation is filled with her hard earned and rich wisdom about leaning hard on God's promises in His Word. She's faced MANY zigzags in her journey. In fact, she's in the middle of a big zigzag right now. Even though she's experienced many tough days lately, you won't hear her say any of them has been bad. Why? Because she doesn't base her day on the circumstances. Rather, she declares her days as good, because God is faithful, unchanging, forgiving, gives her strength, unfailing in His love, never leaves her alone, and working all things for her good.

• Her hope-filled perspective is what she's known for. Learn more about her at drmichelleb.com 
• Her books, Hope Prevails, Hope Prevails Bible Study, and Breaking Anxiety's Grip, are available everywhere! 
• Check out her podcast, Your Hope-Filled Perspective, on all podcast apps to hear Michelle discuss ways to find hope when life is going well AND when you're finding it tough to see the good in each day.

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Sometimes it seems God isn't answering our prayers. This quote by Anonymous might give us some insight: "When you're going through something hard and wonder where God is, remember the teacher is always quiet during a test."

My guest, Amy Satterfield, spent years praying for children. Many unsuccessful attempts led to desperation and a crisis of faith. Why wasn't God answering her prayers? Why was He silent? Was this a test?

During her lonely and empty times, Amy experienced God's presence through His Word. His faithfulness to His children was written on every page. Slowly, Amy realized surrendering her desire to have a child led to an acceptance and appreciation of God for who He was and not what He could give her.

As her heart changed, her prayers changed too. She discovered His plans for her life - children or no children - were the vesy best plans for her life. After five years of waiting, God answered Amy's prayer to have children. While her children are answer to prayers, she knows those years had another purpose: surrendering to God allowed her to experience God's faithfulness in all aspects of her life.

 Maybe you haven't struggled with infertility, but I bet you have struggled at some point in your life with why God isn't answering your prayers. Amy's jouirney of experiencing God's faithfulness might help you when it seems your prayers aren't being answered.

Visit www.womenofthewaytn.com to check out Amy's devotions and Bible studies. If you'd like Amy to speak at your next event, you may email her at [email protected]

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How many of us are willing to admit we are exhausted beyond explanation? Sure, our bodies are tired. But so are our minds, our emotions, and our souls. We run and run and run, trying to keep up with all the demands and expectations placed on us and those we place on ourselves. We rarely take the time to rest.

For some, sleep comes easily when your head hits the pillow. While others, many others, struggle to piece together five hours of sleep over the course of a night. Sleep, or physical rest, is as vital to our overall health as food and water.

But physical rest is but one of the seven types of rest we need says Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, author of the book Sacred Rest.

In this episode, Dr. Saundra explains the difference between sleep and rest and how rest replenishes, restores, renews, recovers, rebuilds, regenerates, remolds, and repairs every area of our lives. Rest does important work! We discuss each of the seven areas of rest and examples of how to get that rest so you may enjoy your life fully. 

The seven areas of rest are:

• physical rest
• mental rest
• emotional rest
• spiritual rest
• social rest
• sensory rest
• creative rest

When I heard her discussing her book, Sacred Rest, at a writers conference, I knew I had to read it. Taking the Rest Quiz at restquiz.com helped me discover what areas of rest I needed most. Once I put her practice of rest in those areas into practice, I noticed more energy, less brain fog, and relief from fatigue.

Take the rest quiz at restquiz.com and learn which types of rest you need.

Follow Dr. Saundra at ichoosemybestlife.com for resources, tips, and articles about rest and how your health, spirit, emotions, and relationships will thrive when you practice rest.

Listen to her podcast, I Choose My Best Life, on all podcast apps and at her website.

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Admitting you're a control freak isn't something any of us want to do. Yet, those of us, myself included, who like things to be done a certain way or want to have a say in the outcome of an activity have struggles with control. We want control.

What if demanding or expecting control demonstrates a lack of trust? A lack of trust in our spouse or our children. A lack of trust in the government or our employer. You get the idea.

But what if our desire to be in control demonstrates a lack of trust in God? What message is that sending God? Perhaps it says we don't trust Him to provide our dreams and wishes just exactly as we envision them. Maybe it says His way isn't the best way.

My guest, Tammy Whitehurst, admits she was a control freak. She confesses the ways she attempted to control others and situations. It was stealing her joy. An unexpected heart condition which required surgery led to Tammy making some big changes in her life. Not long after she made those changes, she found abundant joy. She realized her control freak mentality really meant she wasn't trusting God with the details of her life.

Listen in and learn how Tammy found abundant joy when she kicked her control freak mentality to the curb.

Learn more about Tammy at www.tammywhitehurst.com and follow her on her Facebook page at Tammy Whitehurst Speaker.

You can listen to her podcast, Joy for the Journey, on all podcast apps.

CORRECTION: In my introuction of Tammy, I mistakenly said she was the co-founder of the Christian Communicators Conference. She and Lori Boruff are the co-owners, not the co-founders.

Interested in reading and listening to other overcomer stories? Visit www.melonybrown.com. Subscribe and you will be notified when I publish new overcomer stories. 

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There are multiple reasons why this episode is special, but the one I'm excited about most is my guest, Mary James. She is a writer, speaker, and talented musician! And she is my 100th overcomer interview!!!

Mary and I tried to record her episode over Zoom since she lives in California, and I live in Georgia. The connection was terrible - it kept dropping and lagging. Neither of which make for a great episode. I believe it was no coincidence she was flying to Georgia a few days later to begin recording two new albums. She suggested we meet at the farm where she would be staying and record the episode there.

To say the setting and the conversation were magical would be an understatement. We talked zigzags and lessons learned from them and music and why music is restorative. Her story of overcoming demonstrates the power of restoration when one gives their heart and life to Jesus.

If you're listening to this episode, I invite you to hop over to my YouTube channel (click HERE) as we videoed this episode, too!

Check out Mary's beautiful voice on her YouTube channel (click HERE) and at www.maryjamesministries.org.

Interested in reading or listening to the other 99 overcomer stories? Visit www.melonybrown.com. Subscribe and you'll be notified when I publish new overcomer stories.

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During these days, now months, of sheltering in, I've needed music more. It fills my soul. How about you?

Just a few days ago, I had some alone time in my Jeep, so I streamed Mandisa's Greatest Hits album. For my forty-five minute drive, I drank in Mandisa's powerful voice reminding me to "press on," that "(God) gives me just what I need," and to "raise our voices to the One because He is worthy of all our praise." I needed those reminders. I needed the encouragement to press on when this extroverted hugger is missing people and warm embraces.

My guest on the podcast today is Johnny Burkhalter, aka "the johnny b." He may tell bad "dad jokes" and drink too much coffee, but his insight aboiut music is powerful. He shares how "music has the power to pause the pain." Maybe this pandemic has injected pain into your life. You might not be experiencing physical pain, but it's painful to watch your bank account dwindle while you wait for your unemployment check to arrive. Perhaps it's emotionally painful to see your graduation day pass by because your school hasn't been open since mid March and congregating hundreds of students to get their diplomas is against governor's orders. 

Can music take away the pain? No. But just for a moment, music can express what we are feeling, encourage us that we are not alone, and bring a smile to our face.

You can find Johnny at "the johnny b" on all social media platforms. If you are interested in booking him for an event, email him at [email protected]

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Martin Luther, theologian and prominant figure during the Reformation, said, "Beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us."

I couldn't agree more. I love music. I don't sing well nor can I play an instrument, but I love music. It speaks to my heart and my soul. It is one of the most delightful presents God has given me.

This episode was indeed a gift to me as I had the honor of interviewing guitartist, Mark Lee of the Christian rock band, Third Day. With his 27 years of experience in the music industry, he shares great stories about what goes into writing music and performing in front of large crowds with the sole purpose of glorifying God. He also shares his thoughts about the connection between music and humanity and how an accident in his teens was instrumental in pointing him to music.

Check out his book, Hurt Road, on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.

Follow him on Facebook and join his weekly Facebook Live at the bookshelf or at marklee.me to learn more about him and his solo career. 

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If each of us took a moment to step back and look at our lives, I would venture to bet there is at least one area of our lives that needs to change. Once we've decided to make that change, we have a greater chance of being successful if we make a commitment, set goals, and follow through with the plan. When we do those things, we realize transformation is possible.

When my guest, Sue Reynolds, took a look at her life, she realized weighing 335 pounds was unhealthy and prevented her from living her life to the fullest. She began a weight loss plan and started exercising. As she began losing weight, she committed to losing the unhealthy weight and engaging more in life. Her commitment and a goal motivated her. How would she follow through?

Running a 5K road race with her son started Sue on a path of significant weight loss and found an athlete inside of her that was competitive and determined. In her book, The Athlete Inside, Sue invites you to a close up view of her goals and her training regimen that ultimately ended with her winning 6th place in the World Championship Triathlon!

Join me as I discuss Sue's incredible journey of overcoming. She believes, "Transformation is possible at any age!"

Follow Sue on all social media platforms and at www.suereynolds.net. 

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Seventy-five years ago, survivors of the Holocaust were liberated. Millions of lives were literally saved and nearly 400,000 survivors are still alive.

The horrors they witnessed will never be erased from their memories. Beloved family members and friends shot or sent to the crematoriums before their very eyes. Most were starved and beaten during the months and years they were held against their will. 

These atrocities must never happen again. On this Holocaust Remembrance Day, we will remember the six million Jewish lives lost and the survivors who were liberated and given the opportunity to start a new life.

My guest, Ms. Eva Aigner, is a Holocaust survivor. At 83 years old, she is healthy, active, and full of life. She shares her experiences of watching her father be taken to the forced labor camps, her months living in the ghetto, and watching her mother be taken away. 

Ms. Eva's husband, Les, is also a survivor of four concentration camps. She shares why she and Les didn't share their experiences until 50 years after being liberated. Now, they travel to speak at schools and events around the country to dispel the lies that say the Holocaust never happened.

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Author, speaker, podcaster, and artist, Mary DeMuth, joins me to discuss her book, We Too: How the Church Can Respond Redemptively to the Sexual Abuse Crisis.

In her book, Mary urges the church to better care for those who have been sexually abused. She writes, "While we long to see the church grow deeper through discipleship and wider through evangelism, instead we are experiencing a shameful exodus of the people who could offer the world the kind of authentic, raw hope the next generation craves and needs. We are losing our clarion voice because of our nearsighted fear of how messy caring for them can be . . . The abused are our tutors, but we've expelled then."

Mary's concern and passion for those who've been abused is a reflection of her not plea for help being ignored when she was sexually abused at just five years of age. In this episode, she shares, "I have a deep empathy for survivors who tell someone and nothing happens. Or they get shamed for it. I also have empathy for survivors who tell it and people don't believe them."

If, like me you haven't experienced sexual abuse, I still urge you to listen to this episode as Mary shares much about how we can be "the kind of friend who is invitational for other people's stories. The kind of friend who doesn't jump to conclusions, who listens excessively, and who errs on the side of listening and asking good questions. We change people's lives by listening to their stories."

Please visit Mary's website, www.marydemuth.com, for a wealth of resources. Additionally, you can follow her podcast, Pray Every Day, there.  For more about healing together  (#wetoo), visit www.wetoo.org.

For additional books about sexual abuse, check out her book Not Marked: Finding Hope and Healing After Sexual Abuse, which is co-written with her husband, Patrick and her memoir Thin Places.

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