Family | Chrystal Evans Hurst

This is the last episode of the three podcast series on legacy. I’ve enjoyed recording these for you — and for me. I hope they’ve been helpful for you and encouraged you to think about how you can live with legacy in mind.

Oxford dictionary defines focus as “the center of interest.”

At age 15 my mom made a commitment to the Lord – to give her life to serving Him, regardless of what that meant. I’m sure she could have not imagined the many opportunities or people God would place in front of her. She simply decided to focus. 

She raised four children. She structured and managed a ministry. She acted as the visionary and leader for conference for pastors’ wives.

Think about your life: Where do you want to focus your energy and time? How do you desire to flourish and grow? What will it look like for you to finish well?

While what we focus on may change based on the season we’re in, at the end of our lives, we want to be able to convincingly say what my mom was able to say, “what a beautiful life.”

Are you living out your beautiful life? Don’t dwell on what isn’t well or what isn’t right. Focus on the life you want to live, even if you are still working towards a life you love.

As you listen to this episode, I want you to think about what you’ll be focusing on this year. There will be times where you have to break out of a rut and start over, but you can finish what you start. You can live a life you love.

Highlights from Today’s Episode:

After you’ve listened to the podcast, I’d love to continue the conversation. Be sure and leave a comment!

If you’re new to podcasts, think of them like little radio shows that you can listen to at your convenience. They are perfect to listen to and learn from as you workout, fold laundry, wash dishes or conquer the world.

1. Listen right here on the blog. Click the little play button at the beginning of this post.

2. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play! – Be sure and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Also, if you would be so kind as to leave a rating on iTunes and/or write a 2-3 sentence review there or on Stitcher?  Your commentary or rating helps make the podcast more “findable” by others who might not know it exists!

3. Share today’s show –   Email the link to a friend or share on social media. Just click on the sharing buttons at the bottom of this post!

You have been so great to join me on the journey here on the blog, I hope you jump right in and do the same on the podcast!

What are you making space for? How are you cultivating your talents? Where are you leaving your mark?  When this year comes to a close, will the things you spent your time doing matter? Will you wish you put the phone down more, scrolled a little less, and laughed a lot more? What meaningful moments are you ensuring that you and the people around you experience? 

If you’ve had to unbusy your life and slow down a bit, as I have, you may be still working to get your feet underneath you as you try to navigate through 2020 as best you can.  As you plan, I want you to think about the impact of living a life you love will have on those around you. What is the pace you need to keep? I believe that this year can be your best year yet. It can be the year that you choose to show up and live a life you love, regardless of the circumstances around you. Because it is a choice, you know? 

One this episode I hope you are reminded of the importance of choosing well. We get to choose, so let’s be sure to make choices we’ll be glad to live with. 

Highlights from Today’s Episode:

After you’ve listened to the podcast, I’d love to continue the conversation. Be sure and leave a comment!

If you’re new to podcasts, think of them like little radio shows that you can listen to at your convenience. They are perfect to listen to and learn from as you workout, fold laundry, wash dishes or conquer the world.

1. Listen right here on the blog. Click the little play button at the beginning of this post.

2. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play! – Be sure and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Also, if you would be so kind as to leave a rating on iTunes and/or write a 2-3 sentence review there or on Stitcher?  Your commentary or rating helps make the podcast more “findable” by others who might not know it exists!

3. Share today’s show –   Email the link to a friend or share on social media. Just click on the sharing buttons at the bottom of this post!

You have been so great to join me on the journey here on the blog, I hope you jump right in and do the same on the podcast!

Love.

Release.

And keep going.

One of the things I’m sure of is that my mom left a legacy of love. I’ve heard this over and over again over the past few weeks. She consistently took the time to stop and really see people. Some of us struggle with that because we are moving too fast and doing too much and forgetting the value of the human soul. Having the margin to see people and let them feel your love matters.

But you have to love others enough and love yourself enough to know when to let go. If you hold on too long to the wrong person, situation, or thing, you will only waste time.

And no matter what happens in your life, you have to believe that when you feel like you have nothing to give and that your hands are empty, God can fill you up if you will commit to simply keep going and living with the end in mind.

This is the first of three podcasts that I’ll be sharing about eight ways that you can live for legacy. These eight ways are certainly not an exhaustive list,  but they are some things that have been on my mind and heart as I’ve reflected on this last year and on my mom’s life.

I hope that as you listen, you become aware, or you are reminded of the value of leaving a legacy of love. Do the work, it won’t be easy but it will be worth it.

Highlights from Today’s Episode:

After you’ve listened to the podcast, I’d love to continue the conversation. Be sure and leave a comment!

If you’re new to podcasts, think of them like little radio shows that you can listen to at your convenience. They are perfect to listen to and learn from as you workout, fold laundry, wash dishes or conquer the world.

1. Listen right here on the blog. Click the little play button at the beginning of this post.

2. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play! – Be sure and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Also, if you would be so kind as to leave a rating on iTunes and/or write a 2-3 sentence review there or on Stitcher?  Your commentary or rating helps make the podcast more “findable” by others who might not know it exists!

3. Share today’s show –   Email the link to a friend or share on social media. Just click on the sharing buttons at the bottom of this post!

You have been so great to join me on the journey here on the blog, I hope you jump right in and do the same on the podcast!

On today’s show, I had a chat with my sister, Priscilla Shirer. Priscilla has a role in an upcoming film, Overcomer, produced by the Kendrick Brothers, which will debut on August 23, 2019. She has also just released a new book, Radiant, and a new Bible study, Defined. Overcomer, Radiant, and Defined all center on the theme of identity. Priscilla shared these words about identity in her new book:     

“The culture will try to DEFINE YOU, your past may try to LABEL YOU, the enemy will seek to DECEIVE YOU, but no one has the authority to GIVE YOU YOUR NAME—your true identity—except your Father.”

It’s important not to allow our value to be wrapped up in worldly, temporal things, but instead to have it firmly rooted in the unchanging Words God has spoken over our lives. When circumstances arise that make us question our true identity, we must renew our minds in the Word and boldly and courageously declare its truths. When we know who we truly are and walk in the light of it, it will give us confidence in Him and His ability to shape and mold us into the unique, gifted, and valuable individuals He has called us to be. In Christ, we never have any reason to feel defeated or afraid.

I hope you enjoy this chat with my sister—I know I did.

Highlights from Today’s Episode:

After you’ve listened to the podcast, I’d love to continue the conversation. Be sure and leave a comment!

If you’re new to podcasts, think of them like little radio shows that you can listen to at your convenience. They are perfect to listen to and learn from as you workout, fold laundry, wash dishes or conquer the world.

1. Listen right here on the blog. Click the little play button at the beginning of this post.

2. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play! – Be sure and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Also, if you would be so kind as to leave a rating on iTunes and/or write a 2-3 sentence review there or on Stitcher?  Your commentary or rating helps make the podcast more “findable” by others who might not know it exists!

3. Share today’s show –   Email the link to a friend or share on social media. Just click on the sharing buttons at the bottom of this post!

You have been so great to join me on the journey here on the blog, I hope you jump right in and do the same on the podcast!

No matter how grand life is, She’s Still There moments still come. And often, they come simply because becoming awake to the moment isn’t enough. After you’ve become awake to the fact that you’ve gotten off track, you still have to figure out what you need to do to get back to where you want to be. You have to ask yourself, what does the girl in you need now? 

The next step may look different for each of us, but what we all must do is adjust to the lesson that God wants us to learn in this season. Life will change, but we cannot allow the change to keep us from moving forward. If we choose to show up for our lives, even in the midst of She’s Still There moments, the change will give us wisdom and strength to grow. 

Where you are today is not where you have to be forever. If you are currently in the midst of a She’s Still There moment, you may not want to embrace where you are, but it is so incredibly important for you to embrace who you are. You get to choose. While you can’t control everything in your life, you can do at least one thing: every day you can choose to honor you.

Highlights from Today’s Episode:

After you’ve listened to the podcast, I’d love to continue the conversation. Be sure and leave a comment!

If you’re new to podcasts, think of them like little radio shows that you can listen to at your convenience. They are perfect to listen to and learn from as you workout, fold laundry, wash dishes or conquer the world.

1. Listen right here on the blog. Click the little play button at the beginning of this post.

2. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play! – Be sure and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Also, if you would be so kind as to leave a rating on iTunes and/or write a 2-3 sentence review there or on Stitcher?  Your commentary or rating helps make the podcast more “findable” by others who might not know it exists!

3. Share today’s show –   Email the link to a friend or share on social media. Just click on the sharing buttons at the bottom of this post!

You have been so great to join me on the journey here on the blog, I hope you jump right in and do the same on the podcast!

This episode is a compilation of my many conversations with her, as Wynter was a guest on my podcast multiple times and also served as my “co-host” on some of The Sister Circle Shows on YouTube.

Wynter was a quiet person but when she did something, it mattered.  Her wisdom ran deep and she had a keen ability to pierce through to the heart of the matter and draw out what was important. I called Wynter often to ask her opinion because she had a way of taking my spiraling thought life and getting to the bottom line quickly. I miss her greatly.

We all do.

The good news is that I know, along with our entire family, where she is. We also know that Wynter lived her life well and accomplished the purposes God had for her.  Her husband and the girls are doing well and we all remember her with the stories we tell and the memories we will continue to intentionally keep alive in her honor.

Wynter is missed but she will be remembered always.

And it’s my privilege to remember her by sharing some of her story with you.

Highlights from Today’s Episode:

After you’ve listened to the podcast, I’d love to continue the conversation. Be sure and leave a comment!

If you’re new to podcasts, think of them like little radio shows that you can listen to at your convenience. They are perfect to listen to and learn from as you workout, fold laundry, wash dishes or conquer the world.

1. Listen right here on the blog. Click the little play button at the beginning of this post.

2. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play! – Be sure and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Also, if you would be so kind as to leave a rating on iTunes and/or write a 2-3 sentence review there or on Stitcher?  Your commentary or rating helps make the podcast more “findable” by others who might not know it exists!

3. Share today’s show –   Email the link to a friend or share on social media. Just click on the sharing buttons at the bottom of this post!

You have been so great to join me on the journey here on the blog, I hope you jump right in and do the same on the podcast!

Clarise Cannings joins me this week to talk about her journey as a single foster parent. She decided to go after a desire God placed within her at a young age to ensure that no one ever feels unwanted. Clarise shares lessons she has learned along the way and discusses how fostering has allowed her to extend a loving hand to kids who need care for a little while. Clarise believes that if you are capable and willing to do something to help others, why not do it yourself instead of waiting for someone else to step up?  

Clarise speaks candidly about the decisions she has made to live the “foster-mom” life and the adjustments she has made to shift from being a single woman with her own schedule to being a foster parent and an advocating voice for someone else.

Listen, sometimes we tend to wait for all of our ducks to be in a row before we take the next step, while waiting for our dreams to fit in our life plan or fill a void we think will never be filled.  As you listen to Clarise’s story, I hope you discover the capacity within you to go after the dreams and desires God has placed in your heart and take steps to act on the aspirations or intentions that are deeply embedded in your soul. You might just discover that there is more to your story than you know.  

Highlights from Today’s Episode:

After you’ve listened to the podcast, I’d love to continue the conversation. Be sure and leave a comment!

If you’re new to podcasts, think of them like little radio shows that you can listen to at your convenience. They are perfect to listen to and learn from as you workout, fold laundry, wash dishes or conquer the world.

1. Listen right here on the blog. Click the little play button at the beginning of this post.

2. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play! – Be sure and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Also, if you would be so kind as to leave a rating on iTunes and/or write a 2-3 sentence review there or on Stitcher?  Your commentary or rating helps make the podcast more “findable” by others who might not know it exists!

3. Share today’s show –   Email the link to a friend or share on social media. Just click on the sharing buttons at the bottom of this post!

You have been so great to join me on the journey here on the blog, I hope you jump right in and do the same on the podcast!

My friend Tricia Goyer has authored over seventy books and is a homeschooling mom of ten children (!), seven of whom are adopted. As those numbers would suggest, Tricia has much experience and insight to share on raising children. On this week’s podcast, she reminds us why it is essential to identify and address the heart of an issue when anger arises, and she also shares some specific techniques she has found to be helpful in teaching her kids how to be calm and respectful while expressing their feelings.

Tricia admits that she has not arrived or figured it all out (and I totally get that as a mother of five myself), but I admire her for sharing what she is learning as she is living through it. If you have children, work with children, or interact with children on any level, I strongly encourage you to listen in on our chat. The principles and practical tools that Tricia offers will change your relationships with the children in your life for the better.

After you’ve listened to the podcast, I’d love to continue the conversation. Be sure and leave a comment!

If you’re new to podcasts, think of them like little radio shows that you can listen to at your convenience. They are perfect to listen to and learn from as you workout, fold laundry, wash dishes or conquer the world.

1. Listen right here on the blog. Click the little play button at the beginning of this post.

2. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play! – Be sure and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Also, if you would be so kind as to leave a rating on iTunes and/or write a 2-3 sentence review there or on Stitcher?  Your commentary or rating helps make the podcast more “findable” by others who might not know it exists!

3. Share today’s show –   Email the link to a friend or share on social media. Just click on the sharing buttons at the bottom of this post!

You have been so great to join me on the journey here on the blog, I hope you jump right in and do the same on the podcast!

Apart from previously starring on the show Little People, Big World, Audrey and her husband have been able to do a lot of things together, and one of the things they are most proud of is their new book, Love Letter Life. Love Letter Life chronicles the growth of Audrey and Jeremy’s love story over the years. Through a long distance relationship, a breakup, and relational challenges, Audrey and Jeremy persevered, eventually finding their way down the aisle and making a lifelong commitment to one another. They continue to battle for their relationship because as anyone who has been married for any length of time knows, the real battle starts after you say “I do.” Marriage is a wonderful gift, but the enemy and life circumstances will inevitably present many challenges over the years.

Audrey advises us to prepare for marriage like we would prepare to climb a summit, win a championship, or even pursue a career. We admire athletes who train years for one event and we ourselves relentlessly train and equip ourselves to climb the corporate ladder, but what are we doing to strengthen our marriages, or even simply keep them healthy and intact? And this applies to those of you who are single too:  what are you doing to prepare yourself for marriage?

Married or single, I hope that this episode challenges and encourages you to be intentional in documenting your story. And of course, your love story is a major part of that. We all have a story, whether we like it or not. The way to write a better story is to take an intentional look at your life and your relationships—especially a relationship with a spouse—and make strategic changes, both for your good and the good of those you love.

Hope you enjoy this episode!

After you’ve listened to the podcast, I’d love to continue the conversation. Be sure and leave a comment!

If you’re new to podcasts, think of them like little radio shows that you can listen to at your convenience. They are perfect to listen to and learn from as you workout, fold laundry, wash dishes or conquer the world.

1. Listen right here on the blog. Click the little play button at the beginning of this post.

2. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play! – Be sure and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Also, if you would be so kind as to leave a rating on iTunes and/or write a 2-3 sentence review there or on Stitcher?  Your commentary or rating helps make the podcast more “findable” by others who might not know it exists!

3. Share today’s show –   Email the link to a friend or share on social media. Just click on the sharing buttons at the bottom of this post!

You have been so great to join me on the journey here on the blog, I hope you jump right in and do the same on the podcast!

It’s often said that opposites attract, and if you look at most marriages, you’ll see that’s true. But if you’ve been married for any amount of time, you also know that it’s not very long before the very characteristics that initially attracted you to your spouse start to drive you crazy. On this episode, I’m chatting with my Proverbs 31 buddy, Karen Ehman. Karen is the author of Keep Showing Up: How to Stay Crazy in Love When Your Spouse is Driving You Crazy.

Karen has been married thirty-two years to the same man, and while her marriage has stood the test of time, there definitely have been bumps in the road. She’s dealt with the friction caused by differences perhaps even more than most married women. In fact, during premarital counseling, Karen and her husband were told that they only had around a 5% chance of staying married because the differences between them were so great.

While her marriage hasn’t been easy, Karen and her husband have stuck it out and learned many things along the way. Karen hopes to use her experience to encourage women who are going through normal bumps in the road like the loss of excitement, the mundaneness that settles in, and the constant busyness of raising kids.

Your marriage may not be all that you thought it would be, but I hope this episode provides a fresh perspective that helps you to keep going and keep showing up. If you’re single, don’t overlook this episode! Not only will you likely have to face differences in marriage one day, but you also have to engage with people who are different from you right now in your day-to-day life y. You can put the principles Karen shares into practice long before you walk down the aisle.

Marriage is a beautiful journey, but it inevitably comes with challenges. No one’s marriage looks exactly how they thought it would. Everyone struggles in some way. What we must remember as followers of Christ is that marriage is a special, sacred relationship in which we choose to reflect Christ’s love over and over and over again – even, if not especially, when it is difficult and doesn’t bring us immediate happiness.

In her book, Karen not only shares pieces of wisdom and insight she has gained over the years, but also offers practical suggestions for things like date nights and conversations starters that will help you talk to your spouse about your marriage. Seriously, she’s got so much good stuff to share! So listen to our chat, and then head over and grab a copy of her book!

After you’ve listened to the podcast, I’d love to continue the conversation. Be sure and leave a comment!

If you’re new to podcasts, think of them like little radio shows that you can listen to at your convenience. They are perfect to listen to and learn from as you workout, fold laundry, wash dishes or conquer the world.

1. Listen right here on the blog. Click the little play button at the beginning of this post.

2. Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play! – Be sure and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! Also, if you would be so kind as to leave a rating on iTunes and/or write a 2-3 sentence review there or on Stitcher?  Your commentary or rating helps make the podcast more “findable” by others who might not know it exists!

3. Share today’s show –   Email the link to a friend or share on social media. Just click on the sharing buttons at the bottom of this post!

You have been so great to join me on the journey here on the blog, I hope you jump right in and do the same on the podcast!