Chasing Squirrels: Testimonies of Active Faith

Happy Resurrection Day!  I pray you take time this Easter to reflect on the amazing love, mercy, and grace poured out on us by our spotless Lamb, our perfect Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Between the date when we arrive
and the date we go away,
there exists a horizontal line
that captures every single day.

And because these days we're living
seem to vanish in a flash,
we need to make the most of
that special little dash.

(excerpt from The Dash Between by Linda Ellis)

It’s often said there are two certainties in life: taxes and death. We’re all given a birth date, and though death is inevitable, none of us know when our last day on Earth will come. But there’s another certainty for most of us: we all want to make the most of this life and live it well.

In this episode, I reflect on the life of my dear friend, Valerie Ramos, who truly lived her dash to the fullest. Valerie approached each day with intention and purpose. I recently attended her funeral and listened to her beloved family—her children and husband—share the lessons she imparted and the legacy she left behind. In this episode, I share some of my personal takeaways from that experience and reflect on how we can all live our lives with the same intentionality and love.

This interview originally took place on May 1, 2022 - just 2 months shy of exactly 3 years before Jesus took Valerie Home to be with Him in heaven.  I never fully understood (until today) why the Lord told me to wait to publish it.  As always, His ways are better than our ways and His timing is always perfect.

Pay particularly close attention to the words she speaks at the 17:17 mark...

This is an important introduction to the episode that will follow:  S4 E7:  "If You Died Tonight" (an interview with Valerie Spradling)

In this episode, we are reminded of the comforting truth that Jesus is our safe haven when the storms of life come our way. When life feels overwhelming, He offers us peace, refuge, and rest. I also share a personal story about how I transformed our bedroom into a sanctuary—a space that finally feels truly calm and tranquil.  I will walk you through the practical steps I took to clear both physical and mental clutter, creating a relaxing atmosphere and building a peaceful retreat in the midst of life's chaos.  Tune in for inspiration on finding rest in both your heart and your home.

One of the greatest commandments the Lord gives us is to love our neighbors as ourselves. But how do we do that when we're faced with people who truly test our patience, who get under our skin, or push all the wrong buttons? In this episode, I share a personal story of how God used one of those 'sandpaper' people in my life to smooth out my own rough edges. Through this experience, He taught me more about His incredible grace, mercy, and love.

In this episode, I share a deeply personal and emotional testimony about the transformative power of forgiveness. I recognize that for some, the pain runs so deep that forgiveness may feel impossible. However, I truly believe that with God, all things are possible. (Apologies in advance for the sniffles!)

It's February...Valentine's Day (my favorite) is just around the corner...Yay!  The holiday centered all around love.  I just LOVE love!  God has a LOT to say about love, especially about loving others.  In this episode I share some practical ways you can love those you spend the most time with:  your family members (specifically, your spouse and children).  Even if you're not married (or you don't have children), I think you'll find this episode to be helpful, enlightening, and maybe even a little funny.  Enjoy!

Jesus placed a high priority on relationships, particularly His relationship with His Heavenly Father. In this episode, we’ll explore how you can do the same. I’ll be sharing practical steps of faith that will help you experience true fruitfulness as you spend time in God’s Word and in prayer.

Happy New Year!  What are your hopes and dreams for 2025?  If you're like most people, you're grateful to wipe the slate clean and get a fresh start.  You are probably eager to make some much-needed changes in your life, and you may have even set some goals for the new year already.  Or...you might have decided to throw in the towel on "Quitters Day" like the vast majority of the population has.  No matter where you are in the goal-setting/achieving process, I hope you'll join me as I shed light on my own personal journey into 2025.  My prayer is that some of practical things that have worked for me will work for you as well.  Above all, I pray we will all lean into the Lord and delight in His Word as we commit this upcoming year to Him, the Author and Perfecter of our Faith.