Fierce Calling

Fierce Calling

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Fierce Calling episodes

  • Thriving in Life’s Seasons & Transitions with Dr. Evelyn Johnson-Taylor
    Welcome back to another inspiring episode of Fierce Calling! I'm your host, Doris Swift, and today we have the pleasure of welcoming back a dear friend and esteemed guest, Dr. Evelyn Johnson-Taylor. With over three decades of leadership in women's ministry, Dr. Evelyn is dedicated to guiding women through the many seasons of their lives, encouraging, empowering, and equipping them to triumph at every stage.
    In this episode, we delve into her newest book, In and Out of Seasons: Thriving in Life's Transitions, where she courageously shares her personal journey through loss, grief, and rediscovery. Through transparency and wisdom, Dr. Evelyn reveals how God uses life's transitions to prepare us for our callings, reminding us that we are never alone in our journeys. Join us as we explore the power of embracing each season of life with hope and resilience.
    Whether you're navigating a season of change or seeking to find your purpose, this conversation promises to uplift and encourage. You won't want to miss this. Grab a cup of your favorite beverage, settle in, and let's dive into this transformative discussion with Dr. Evelyn Johnson-Taylor.
    Episode Highlights
    Dr. Evelyn’s Personal Journey and Calling
    Her unexpected journey into women’s ministry.
    The influence of her husband’s pastoral work on her path.
    The importance of recognizing one’s calling through interactions with others.
    Impact of Loss and Life Transitions
    Dr. Evelyn’s experience with the passing of her husband and its emotional impact.
    Her approach to grief and the importance of aligning feelings with faith.
    The process of finding clarity and purpose after loss.
    Purpose and Objectives of the Book
    Using personal experiences to help others through similar life transitions.
    Emphasizing empathy and understanding through shared experiences.
    Different types of life transitions covered in the book, including empty nest and divorce.
    Engagement and Impact on Readers
    Feedback received from readers who relate to the book.
    Dr. Evelyn’s desire for readers to know they are not alone.
    Practical Advice on Navigating Seasons and Transitions
    Encouragement to approach change with an open heart and mind.
    Insight into thriving through challenges and opportunities for growth.
    Conclusion and Further Engagement
    Encouragement for listeners to connect with Dr. Evelyn through her website and social media.
    Information about Dr. Evelyn’s ongoing projects, including a prayer line for women.
    Connect with Dr. Evelyn!
    You can connect with Dr. Evelyn Johnson Taylor at https://evelynjtaylor.org/ where you'll find all of her social media links, services, Women Called to Prayer prayer line, and more!
    Connect with Doris!
    Connect with Doris at https://dorisswift.com/ For speaking engagements, visit her booking page at womenspeakers.com
    Join us for this heartening episode of Fierce Calling and be inspired to deepen your biblical study and walk with God.
    What Threatens to Steal Your Joy?
    Check out Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You 6-week Bible study rooted in John 15. You can find more info at https://dorisswift.com/book/
    Let’s Stay Connected!
    Find my free resources including Fear Fighting Bible Verses, Simple Tips for Sharing Your Faith, Surrender the Joy Stealers, Step Out of Your Doubt and Into Your Calling ebook, and more on my dorisswift.com homepage!
    Love Fierce Calling?
    Did you know that following, rating, and leaving a review over at Podchaser or Apple Podcasts helps others discover the show too? I would so appreciate it, friend!
    Need a Speaker for Your Next Women’s Event? Now Booking for 2025 & 2026!
    Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let’s talk about me speaking at your next women’s event…
    Thanks for Listening!
    I hope this episode with Nancy encouraged, inspired, and challenged you to cultivate community, live and walk in the value and worth God gave you, and take action where your passion, compassion, and conviction intersect. You'll find links in the show notes to connect with Nancy and with me.
    If you're looking for a speaker for your next women's conference, retreat, luncheon, or workshop, reach out and connect with me on my speaker page at https://www.womenspeakers.com/florida/edgewater/speaker/doris-swift
    Let's have a chat about your 2025 event!
    Stay tuned for more amazing content and remember to check the show notes for all the links mentioned.
    Thank you for being a part of our community. We are grateful for your continued support and encourage you to embrace the unique gifts that make you magnificently you.
    I hope you'll join me next time when I talk with another woman who is taking action where her passion, compassion, and conviction intersect ...
    Until then friend, have a blessed week, and I'll talk to you soon.
    With love and joy,
    Doris
    P.S. Don't forget to follow us on social media for bite-sized wisdom and inspiration from Doris and our incredible guests! 📲
    Check out my home page for amazing for free resources and encouragement!
    Transcript
    What is threatening to steal your joy? What is it that feels so heavy right now that you could barely stand? God has a plan, and his plan is to surrender it. Surrender it to him. It might be a prodigal. It might be a relationship, a marriage, something with your job. So many things. We have so many amazing blessings, but there are so many things in our life that threaten to steal our joy. I'm Dora Swift, author of the award winning six week Bible study, Surrender the Joy Stealers Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You. And it helps women rediscover the overflowing, ever present Jesus joy within that fills, empowers, and ripens the fruit that God produces in our lives.
    Using personal and biblical stories, I share how you can identify your joy stealers, surrender them to God, reawaken the joy within, and share the joy with others. You can do it on your own or with a group. If you're looking for a bible study, check it out, friends. Surrender the Joy Stealers. Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You. It's available on all the online retailers. It's time to take your joy back.
    Doris Swift:Welcome back to the show. Today, I am so excited to welcome back my good friend and sister in Christ, doctor Evelyn Johnson Taylor. She has three decades of leadership in women's ministry dedicated to guiding women through the various seasons of their lives. Her overarching vision is to encourage, empower, and equip women to triumph in every stage of life, which is so fitting for fierce calling, and she sure has one. Today, we're talking about her newest book. I believe it's her sixth book, actually, In and Out of Seasons, Thriving in Life's Transitions, traditionally published by Elk Lake Publishing. And she is a requested speaker for for conferences, and she has a background in nursing and caregiving. And she's a theology professor at great Grace and Truth Christian University in Tampa, Florida, which is amazing. Welcome back to the show.
    Doris Swift:It's so great to have you.
    Dr. Evelyn Johnson Taylor:Thank you, Doris. I am delighted to be back with you. I love spending time with you.
    Doris Swift:Thank you. I enjoy it so much too. And I know that my listeners are gonna be so encouraged by what you have to share. And you shared so much, in the previous episode that we did a while back and, talked a lot about your journey and the different seasons that you've been in. And you have really come out with a book that has been so encouraging, and I was so blessed to put a review, on Amazon for the book. And, you know, just to let people know that, you know, reviews really, really help authors to get the word out and more people can find the book. So it's so important. So just a little reminder there, if you, love a book that you read and love an author, that if you do reviews, that's, like, one of the best gifts ever.
    Doris Swift:So and it's free, except for the book. But, you know, the review is free. So, so glad to have you back. So, doctor Evelyn, I would love if you would share a little bit about your story, maybe recap some things we've talked about before and how you're currently taking action where your passion, compassion, and conviction intersect.
    Dr. Evelyn Johnson Taylor:Yes. Thank you. I've as you said, I've been a women's ministry leader now for for over thirty years. I started started teaching a women's bible study when my youngest daughter was about she's probably about nine months old, and that's how I started. I have to say this part because it's it's not something that I really in aspired to do, not something that I set out to do. My husband was a pastor, just started pastoring, a young pastor. We had two young daughters, so I thought, you know, my my role would be to support him, of course, but to mainly just focus on raising out daughters. And the interesting thing happened is that women started coming to me and asking me, will you teach us? Will you help us? Can you can you advise me on this? And I thought, well, I don't you know, what what am I gonna say? But they just kept coming.
    Dr. Evelyn Johnson Taylor:And every time I would direct them to someone else, they would always come back to me. And what I discovered is that many times, we we have a call, you know, something that god has placed in us. And even though we don't want to want to walk in it or go forth in it, he will send people around us to pull out of us what he has put in us. And I tell people this all the time that if you're if you're thinking I don't know what I'm supposed to do, pay attention to who comes around you. Pay attention to the questions that they ask, you know, what kind of information they want from you. Because more than likely, what they're asking from you is what God has placed in you to give them....
    36 min
  • Becoming an Overcomer Woman of Influence with Tawana Lowery

    In this episode of Fierce Calling, Doris welcomes Tawana Lowery, founder of Miss Overcomer Global, a movement dedicated to helping women overcome through Christ and empowering them to become the key women of influence God created.

    Join us as Tawana delves into her incredible journey of overcoming life’s trials, from personal heartbreak and loss to the powerful epiphany that transformed her perspective on hardships. Discover how these experiences led her to develop a ministry that aids others in connecting with their courage, calling, and the power of prayer.

    Listen in as Tawana shares her wisdom on the importance of casting cares onto Christ, defeating the enemy’s lies, and embracing our unique calling. Whether you are seeking encouragement or looking for ways to enhance your spiritual journey, this episode is packed with insights that will encourage, inspire, and challenge you!

    Episode Highlights

    *Tawana’s personal overcomer story

    *The forming of Miss Overcomer Global

    *The power of prayer

    *Finding God’s faithfulness through hard seasons

    *God does work all things together for good

    *Prayer coach academy

    Connect with Tawana!

    You can connect with Tawana and find her coaching, speaking info, prayer coaching info, and more at www.MissOvercomer.com

     Learn more about the Power of Prayer Coaching with this Free Prayer Coach Readiness Quiz…

    ️ https://bit.ly/PrayerCoachQuiz

     Let Tawana help to make 2025 your MEGA year for: 

     Mega Impact

     Mega Purpose

     Mega Empowerment

     Discover your Score now https://bit.ly/PrayerCoachQuiz Then book your Free 2025 Planning call with Tawana to discuss your results and your goals. 

     Possibly you were Born for such an Opportunity as this! 

     Tawana Lowery is a dynamic figure in the world of women’s leadership and personal growth. For more than 20 years, she has dedicated her career to Empowering women of Faith as a Leadership Coach, Best Selling Author, International Speaker, and YouTube Host.

    Connect with Doris!

    Connect with Doris at https://dorisswift.com/ For speaking engagements, visit her booking page at womenspeakers.com

    Join us for this heartening episode of Fierce Calling and be inspired to deepen your biblical study and walk with God.

    What Threatens to Steal Your Joy?

    Check out Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You 6-week Bible study rooted in John 15. You can find more info at https://dorisswift.com/book/

    Let’s Stay Connected!

    Find my free resources including Fear Fighting Bible Verses, Simple Tips for Sharing Your Faith, Surrender the Joy Stealers, Step Out of Your Doubt and Into Your Calling ebook, and more on my dorisswift.com homepage!

    Love Fierce Calling?

    Did you know that following, rating, and leaving a review over at Podchaser or Apple Podcasts helps others discover the show too? I would so appreciate it, friend!

    Need a Speaker for Your Next Women’s Event? Now Booking for 2025 & 2026!

    Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let’s talk about me speaking at your next women’s event…

    Thanks for Listening!

    I hope this episode with Nancy encouraged, inspired, and challenged you to cultivate community, live and walk in the value and worth God gave you, and take action where your passion, compassion, and conviction intersect. You’ll find links in the show notes to connect with Nancy and with me.

    If you’re looking for a speaker for your next women’s conference, retreat, luncheon, or workshop, reach out and connect with me on my speaker page at https://www.womenspeakers.com/florida/edgewater/speaker/doris-swift

    Let’s have a chat about your 2025 event!

    Stay tuned for more amazing content and remember to check the show notes for all the links mentioned.

    Thank you for being a part of our community. We are grateful for your continued support and encourage you to embrace the unique gifts that make you magnificently you.

    I hope you’ll join me next time when I talk with another woman who is taking action where her passion, compassion, and conviction intersect …

    Until then friend, have a blessed week, and I’ll talk to you soon.

    With love and joy,

    Doris

    P.S. Don’t forget to follow us on social media for bite-sized wisdom and inspiration from Doris and our incredible guests! 📲

    Check out my home page for amazing for free resources and encouragement!
    Transcript

    Doris [00:01:54]:
    Welcome back to the show. Today, I am excited to welcome my friend, Tawana Lowry. For more than twenty years, she’s been empowering women of faith as a leadership coach, keynote speaker, best selling author, and YouTube host, and prayer coach. She is the founder of Miss Overcomer Global, and she gets joy from helping women overcome setbacks and leap forward with joy and purpose. And I am so excited to get into this conversation with you today. Welcome to the show, Tawana.

    Tawana Lowery [00:02:28]:
    Thank you, Doris. I’m so happy to be here.

    Doris [00:02:30]:
    This has been an experience, kind of just meeting with you over time and getting to know your heart and how you love to help women to be the overcomers that God is calling them to be. And I know that you have dealt with a lot of struggles and hardships in your life, and I I know that what you share is gonna encourage, inspire, and challenge our listeners. So I would love if you would share a little bit about your story and also how you are taking action where your passion, compassion, and conviction intersect.

    Tawana Lowery [00:03:06]:
    Yeah. So, you know, we do overcome so that we can help others overcome. Right? Paul talked about that. We are encouraged so we can help others and encourage them. And so, really, when you think about having an overcomer story, it’s almost like it’s ordained to have that because, you know, how else would we have something powerful to offer others if we ourselves haven’t gone through something and come out of it. I like to say that my hardships were multiplied, but God used it all to give me a message, Doris, that multiplies hope. And so, it spans, you know, three decades of just one tragic hardship after another after another. But what stands out the most is I’ll never forget the day that I discovered that my twenty five year marriage had ended.

    Tawana Lowery [00:04:00]:
    And it was every woman’s worst nightmare, but it happened to me. You know, it’s amazing how a simple text message can turn your life upside down and wrong side out all at the same time. And that’s kind of my story. And it just kicked off this very, very painful set of circumstances. And if that horrible news wasn’t bad enough, realizing that my marriage was ending came just six months after my mother had suddenly passed away from a stroke. Well, a year later, I hate to say, a year later, my father suddenly died from heart failure. And a couple of days after his memorial, I was in my living room, and I was looking at the pictures on the credenza of family time together and kind of trying to just grasp a happy memory. And so, I was looking at a picture of my father and I and I went to sit it down around all the other beautiful pictures on my credenza.

    Tawana Lowery [00:05:10]:
    You know, those photo displays for women, that’s like our trophy case, right? It’s the vacations and the holidays. That’s our trophy case. Well, I had mine, but a lot of those trophies were tarnished. And so, I went to sit back on the credenza, and all of a sudden, I saw those pictures, and I just realized it it represented a life I was never gonna have, you know, a life I had dreamed about that turned out to just disappear. And and it was like sand just going through my fingers, and I couldn’t stop it. It it hurt me so bad, and it was such a hard punch to my emotions. I just dropped to my knees. I just felt nauseated with despair and pain.

    Tawana Lowery [00:05:55]:
    And I remember just crying out to God, like, look at all I’ve overcome. Look at all I’ve overcome. And I couldn’t stop saying it. And, you know, I was a faith minded, Bible believing, spirit filled woman of God. And yet, it felt like I couldn’t go on. I literally hit a wall. And I have to be honest with you. I mean, it happened.

    Tawana Lowery [00:06:17]:
    Right? It was the real thing that happened to me. And so I’m just kinda crying out to God and and with everything in me, look at all I’ve overcome. And I couldn’t stop saying it. And I wasn’t just talking about that was my second marriage, by the way, my second marriage ending in such a horrific, painful way. My parents dying. I wasn’t just talking about that. I was talking about all the other things, Doris, that had happened years prior, like being raised in domestic abuse, being raped at 15, date raped at 15. My mother forced me to have an abortion.

    Tawana Lowery [00:06:52]:
    And then a lot of complications emotionally from that, having, you know, horrible panic attacks and insecurity, like, you just can’t even believe. Then I married early, had a baby, got divorced. I was a single mother living below the poverty level, had a season of homelessness. And then, you know, when I remarried, I had two bankruptcies, law lost three homes, and then all of these other things that had happened. And and I just said, I can’t do it anymore. And all I could think about is everything I had overcome. And I’m laying in the floor on a hardwood floor, right? It can’t ever be soft carpet. It’s got to be the hardwood floor.

    Tawana Lowery [00:07:32]:
    So, I’m laying literally face down on this hardwood floor, and I’m exhausted. And finally, I just hear God say, Tawana, did you have to overcome it, or did you get to overcome it? Were you forced to, or were you unable to? And I was like, well, I never really thought about it like that before. And he said, think about it. You did overcome it. And I couldn’t deny it. I was still I was still there. But I’ve gotten so distracted about everything that happened. I completely missed the fact that I did, in fact, overcome it.

    Tawana Lowery [00:08:09]:
    And he said, Tawana, you you overcame every single one of those issues because I prepackaged you ahead of time with what you would need. And I gotta tell you, Doris, that just my mind, it was like, you’ve been taking the blue pill, now take the red pill. It was that much of a shift in my reality. And he said, Tawana, you’ve been hiding from all of this and you’ve been angry about it and upset. He said, You look at all this as a dark, dark list of liabilities. He said, That’s not a list of liabilities, honey. He said, That is your resume. And I went, What in the world? Like, this just blew my mind.

    Tawana Lowery [00:08:53]:
    Right? And and he’s and then he goes, what are you gonna do with it? Mhmm. And in a second, Doris, I just saw this horrible list of darkness that I felt had been like a, you know, a heavy weight on my shoulders. It just it just translated into this dazzling billboard that said, overcome a resume kind of thing. Right? And I said to God, you know, I don’t know this split second what I’m gonna do with it, but I’m gonna do something. And so from there, I just, you know, began to blog about overcoming and things like that, what I felt like people were struggling with. Next thing I know, there’s people of 90 countries following my blog, and then I wrote a book. But the key thing is I started looking for, Doris, some things I knew I needed. Yes, God had transformed my thinking and and helped me see everything differently, but I knew I still needed some support.

    Tawana Lowery [00:09:48]:
    You know, like, we need help. We need each other. And so I began to look for some things I knew I needed, and I was looking for a sisterhood where I could reclaim my courage because it had just been beaten to a pulp and and reconnect with my calling because I had lost so much, Doris. I felt like the calling went out the window with the marriage and the family and everything else. Right? You know, women, we tend to put everything altogether like we’re baking a cake. Like, we got the marriage and the career and the family and all that. And when when one of them leaves, we think the whole thing leaves. But so I needed to reconnect with my calling, and I was also looking for a sisterhood where I could feel safe to be transparent about my pain and the shame because I had a lot of both.

    Tawana Lowery [00:10:35]:
    Well, I’m sorry to say that I came up short doors. I couldn’t find either. And so I just made a promise to myself, and I said, one day, when I get to the other side of this mess, I am going to become the thing I could not find in my time of need. And so, thanks be to God, He gave me the opportunity over the years to develop skills and networking and all these kinds of things that coalesced or translated into this wonderful ministry that I have called Miss Overcomer Global. And it does all of those things that I was praying for and looking for. And that’s what it became. And it thrills my heart to know that all of that happened so that I could have something to offer others to help them overcome.

    Doris [00:11:31]:
    Yeah. Wow. That is really powerful in all of the ways that you shared how God just brought that out, that those hardships that you went through were part of your resume like that, and that you did overcome those, and that it changed your perspective. It, like, shifted everything for you in that moment, and you began to walk forward, and you really didn’t know what you were walking forward to. But you knew God was with you, and you weren’t alone.

    Tawana Lowery [00:12:05]:
    That’s tote that’s totally right. And, you know, and and you’re right when you said it shifted my thinking. You know, I I was I was going over the edge to the dark side. Right? Mhmm. And I and I was going over to be a permanent victim. And the Lord literally just kinda grabbed me by the shirt collar. He’s like, you’re not a victim. You are an overcomer.

    Tawana Lowery [00:12:27]:
    Well, I couldn’t deny it. And, you know, sometimes when we face, especially when you have multiple things happen to you, and you live long enough, you’re going to have at least five or six, right? It’s easy to start to develop a victim mindset. But we are not victims. Victims. There is nothing in the scripture that says victims. I don’t care how bad it’s gotten. And read everyone’s life in the Bible. I mean, they all went through something, multiple somethings.

    Tawana Lowery [00:12:55]:
    And yet God was with them. They were not victims. They were victors, and that’s what god was trying to tell me. You’re not a victim. Don’t even see yourself like this. And you are a victor. What are you gonna do with it?

    Doris [00:13:11]:
    Yeah. And the way that you now use that, as you said, you know, we’re to use the things that we’ve gone through to encourage others for them to be able to walk through it. We can say, you know, we are on the other side of this, and this is how you can get through it too and just share the love of Christ and how God is is faithful. And I love how your ministry helps women to move forward. Because oftentimes, women can feel like they’re just stuck, you know. And it might not be a bad thing. It might not be because something bad happened to them, but they just don’t know. Maybe maybe a season changed in their life.

    Doris [00:13:54]:
    Maybe

    Tawana Lowery [00:13:54]:
    Right.

    Doris [00:13:55]:
    You know, now their kids are grown and they don’t know what their role is or what to do. So how do you encourage women in those transitional periods in their life?

    Tawana Lowery [00:14:05]:
    Well, I’m so glad you asked that question because one of the things I teach, especially in prayer skills and prayer coaching and things like that is, I love to talk to them about some things that sabotage our prayer life, right? Being able to engage God in prayer is paramount. And yet, there are so many women that aren’t able to do that, even though they go in the doors of the church all the time. They still somehow have missed that ability to pray in such a way that they know that they’re communicating with God, and they can hear God’s voice. And one of the things that shuts us down, one of the things that sabotages us in that is failing to cast all of our cares onto Christ. And I like to say that it we we need to always cast our cares onto Jesus, no matter how small, Doris, and no matter what it’s called. For instance, one of the things that is very detrimental that that trips up women is being overwhelmed. Mhmm. We get overwhelmed by the daily challenges.

    Tawana Lowery [00:15:21]:
    You you got the career, you got the spouse, you got the kids, and and you’re battling with your own inefficiencies, insufficiencies, fears, and all those kind of things. And so the overwhelm starts to set in, or you may just feel clueless to know how to solve a problem, or or maybe you just feel extremely inadequate or confused, or just fill in the blank. Right? We assume sometimes that we have to solution this in and of ourselves. And we look at ourselves and we go, well, I don’t have what it takes to fix this. And you know, the truth is you don’t, Which is why Jesus said apart from me, you can do nothing, right? It doesn’t mean that we’re worthless. It just means you can’t be victorious in this life without me. And so, what I like to tell the women is, whatever it’s called, no matter how small, no matter how big, you must this is this is a must. Right? It’s not optional.

    Tawana Lowery [00:16:18]:
    You must cast all your cares onto Jesus. Now what does that look like? Like I was saying, it could be overwhelmed, God. I can’t take that. I’m confused. I’m really angry with my spouse or my child or my coworker or whatever. I I’m I’m really feeling frustrated. I’m feeling inadequate. So, Lord, I cast this onto the cross of Jesus right now, and I reckon it completely dead because none of that is of Christ.

    Tawana Lowery [00:16:48]:
    Here’s the goal. We want to keep moving forward. Well, the enemy doesn’t want us to move forward. And so, he will use anything and everything to make us sit down. But here’s what happens. If we don’t cast those cares onto Jesus, we do sit down, We do get frustrated, and we give up, or we don’t even try to engage God in prayer. And that is the strategy of the enemy, which is why it is absolutely paramount that we cast every care onto Christ. So, we cast it onto the cross.

    Tawana Lowery [00:17:24]:
    Lord, I crucify this in the name of Jesus. I bring this anger to the cross. I bring this frustration. I bring my sense of overwhelm to the cross, whatever it is, no matter what it’s called. I crucified in the name of Jesus. I cast it into the hands of Jesus. And now, Lord, I ask that you would resurrect within me an ability to have wisdom. I ask that you would resurrect within me peace and strength and rest for my soul because you can’t you can’t experience the resurrection without a crucifixion.

    Tawana Lowery [00:18:00]:
    Right? So, the goal is to keep moving forward, to stay in faith. And but if you’re overwhelmed and you shut down, you’re gonna sit down. And now the enemy wins. So we have to cast all of our cares on the Christ. Otherwise, we can’t move forward.

    Doris [00:18:18]:
    Yeah. Well, I I really love that and how you laid that out. And the fact that too when you are able to coach women in prayer, how to pray because sometimes that can be intimidating too. And and some women have maybe been raised in a church where they say standard prayers that, you know, we memorized or know. And, of course, we know the Lord’s Prayer is an amazing prayer that Jesus gave us. But in order to pray boldly, because it says in the word that we can come boldly before the throne of God, you know, and and we’re empowered by the spirit. And so I love how you’re able to help women to know, oh, because somebody might not realize that they can pray that way, you know, that they can do those things. So how does this look in when you were developing this prayer coaching academy, if you wanna kinda segue into that and tell us a little bit about that.

    Tawana Lowery [00:19:18]:
    Yes. Thank you so much. So the Prayer Coach Academy is is really intended, to take all of the things that I’ve been teaching and helping women with for the last twenty plus years. I’ve been doing it in small groups and live events, etcetera. And God just gave me a mandate. He said, make it digital and make it for global consumption. So, I want to prerequisite by saying this, and it’s always really been the truth, but I think it’s even more prevalent now than ever. In the in the days that we are living in and certainly, Doris, in the days that are to come, prayer is the most important thing.

    Tawana Lowery [00:19:58]:
    It is the critical vital, and I’m gonna say it this way, skill that we need because prayer is something that can be learned and taught, right? And so it’s going to be the most critical skill and ability that we have. Therefore, people who can help others experience that are going to be in very high demand. And there’s going to be a great, great need for skilled women of faith that know how to pray and know how to hear God’s voice and know how to help others. And so, the Prayer Coach Academy is about helping women of faith skill up so they can stand up and launch out and be that beacon of hope for others to help them do the two most important things. Number one, teach them how to pray. Now, it’s mind blowing to realize that there are millions of Christians and they love God, but they don’t know how to pray. If it’s not in a book, right, Or if it’s not scripted, they don’t know how to pray. So, it answers that question, how do I pray? And then the second question it answers is, how do I hear God’s voice? And so, it specifically teaches them that and several other skills, but those are too vital.

    Tawana Lowery [00:21:15]:
    You know, hearing God’s voice, Doris, is absolutely life transforming. Would you agree? I can say something to you. I can give you a word of encouragement. I can even quote a scripture to you. Right? And you can hear from 10 people. But when you hear it from God Himself, it’s drop the mic. I mean, game over because when God speaks to us, He didn’t just like speak a word to us. He speaks a word through us, and it it’s transformative.

    Tawana Lowery [00:21:52]:
    When he says something to us, it’s so all encompassing and so all sufficient the way he is. Right? Everything he does and says and is an attribute of himself. It it it changes our mind. It changes our heart. It it heals the past. It gives us peace for the for the present and gives us hope for the future. I mean, it does all of those things. Why would we not want to be able to engage that as often as possible? And it breaks my heart, Doris, to know that there are so many women who don’t.

    Tawana Lowery [00:22:26]:
    And so, one of the main purposes of the Prayer Coach Academy is to make that available now. For the women that are in the academy, what it’s doing for them is those very same things that I said I wanted to become that I couldn’t find is helping them empower their purpose. It’s helping them maximize their potential. It’s giving them support and and a proven methodology and skill so that they can be more effective in advancing God’s kingdom. Because look, in the day that we’re living in, it’s going to take all hands on deck. And we really do need to be working together. There is a massive harvest now, and there’s even a bigger one that’s coming. And so, you know, basically, the the Prayer Coach Academy is helping the harvesters get prepared for the harvest, whether they know they are or not.

    Tawana Lowery [00:23:19]:
    And it just gives me such great joy to know that all of the things that I went through and all of the things that I learned, had it not been for the prayer skills that God taught me and curated in my heart over these many years, and I still do it. Like, the things I teach, I do it every day. It it it it made it worthwhile. And so what I teach in the Prayer Coach Academy is the five, you know, these five basic skills that you can just run and repeat and run and repeat for any situation in life, to help people have rapid results, rapid results, transformative experiences, so that they can live the life that god has always ordained for them to live.

    Doris [00:24:06]:
    Yeah. Amen. Because let’s face it. I mean, the enemy speaks to us. You know? The enemy lies to us. Yeah. You know? And so

    Tawana Lowery [00:24:13]:
    You better believe it. And, Doris, I

    Doris [00:24:14]:
    you know what I wanna say about when he tells us lies sometimes.

    Tawana Lowery [00:24:17]:
    What I wanna say about that. We are more prone to it to hear the enemy’s voice and agree with him than we are god. I mean, we’ll hear the enemy talk to us and we’ll go, yeah, you’re right. I am worth this. Yes. I am stupid. Yes. I am a horrible mother.

    Tawana Lowery [00:24:30]:
    Yes. I am a and we just sit there and go, yes. Yes. And and then God will speak to us and we’ll go, I’m not sure about that. And it’s insane when you think about it, but but Prayer Coach Academy, it it just it solidifies that. Like, no. That’s the voice of the enemy. I’ve gotta reject it right away.

    Doris [00:24:47]:
    Yeah.

    Tawana Lowery [00:24:47]:
    I’m going for my father’s voice.

    Doris [00:24:49]:
    Yeah. And to have, again, like we were talking about, have a shift in our mindset and our perspective to listen to truth and to believe truth and to share truth versus believing the lies. And then what I mean, we may not realize it, but and we might not you know, someone might say, well, I’m not a leader or whatever. But we’re all leaders because someone is looking at us. And so if we believe the lies, it’s going to come out in some way. Even if we’re not speaking it out, you know, it’s going to come out if we believe that we’re not worthy or that we have no value or that believe that we’re not worthy or that we have no value or that we’re not someone who can be used by God, we’re gonna be sitting on the sidelines. We’re not gonna be living out our faith. And so we want to be walking in our fierce calling.

    Doris [00:25:37]:
    We want to be that girl that goes out and is a misovercomer. We want to be that for the kingdom of God. And and so for us all to work together and partner with God in that. So I think that’s really exciting. And I would love if you would share maybe one last thought that would really encourage someone that’s listening today, and then how they can connect with you.

    Tawana Lowery [00:26:04]:
    Yeah. So, you know, I think it’s important to realize that we’re all standing on a mountain of value. But when you’re standing on it, you can’t see it. Right? And so, your experiences, what you’ve gone through, what you’ve overcome, you you may be so familiar with it. The enemy may convince you that it’s not that big of a deal, but it is big of a deal that big of a deal to somebody. And even if you’re just two steps ahead of the other person, then you’re leading. And there’s such a void there’s such a void out there of strong women. You said go get her.

    Tawana Lowery [00:26:41]:
    I say go get them. Right? Go go get them women that that know that we have a short window. We have a very short window. And and so the harvest is ripe. And we are called to go out there and make a difference because we are ambassadors. And I will say this for some of the women out there that that are like me, or hearing Darth Vader breathe on your neck, right? Like, go to the dark side. I am your father, you know, that kind of thing. And then Jesus comes along and says, No, I’m your father.

    Tawana Lowery [00:27:13]:
    But but I get it. I get it. The temptation to give up is it’s a real thing. Right? So the struggle is real. But here’s what I wanna say, and this is what I’ve learned. If you quit when times are hard or you give up too soon, you’re going to cheat yourself out of seeing how God works it all together for good, Doris, because he absolutely will. I’m a living testimony of that. You’re a living testimony of that.

    Tawana Lowery [00:27:39]:
    And look at what you’re doing with first calling. It’s it’s absolutely amazing, and and you’re spreading all this wonderful, great joy and good news and hope to women all over the world. But ladies, don’t you can’t give up. The Lord directs the steps of the righteous. That means you gotta be walking and trust that he’s gonna direct every step you take. We don’t live outside of him. Mhmm. It’s impossible.

    Tawana Lowery [00:28:06]:
    It’s David said, where can I go from your spirit? It is impossible to live outside of his grace and mercy and love. So ladies, just take a baby step. Whatever it is, take a baby step and then take another baby step and know that your father’s with you. He’s gonna he’s promised to never leave you and never ever forsake you. So if you wanna learn more about miss overcomer, you can go to miss,miss,overcomer.com. On the homepage, there’s also a little section there that says, are you ready to be a prayer coach? And maybe you might not know, but you can take a free readiness quiz, and it doesn’t cost you anything. And you can go through this little, process of just kind of, getting a a scorecard on your prayer coach readiness. It’s it’s great.

    Tawana Lowery [00:28:58]:
    It’s a lot of fun. You get some divine insights, and then you can see where you are. If you’re thinking of being a prayer coach, might be something you wanna do, takes a little quiz and kind of get, you know, get a feel for it, get your scorecard, and then you can book a call with me. We’ll go over your results, find out what the Lord may want to, direct you with in next steps. And you can also go to, miss overcomer global on Facebook and connect with me there.

    Doris [00:29:26]:
    Great. And I hope that if you’re listening today, that you will check that out and go to the site and see all the things because you have a beautiful website, I must say. And it is so encouraging. It is gorgeous. And so, I will have all the links in the show notes so the listener can find you and reach out to you. And who doesn’t love a quiz? I mean, I love quizzes. Everybody loves quizzes. Right? So take the quiz and see where you are with it, and maybe this is something that God is putting on your heart to do and move forward to help others.

    Doris [00:30:01]:
    And, you know, it might be your your fierce calling, and so I would encourage you to to check that out today. And, Tawana, thank you so much for being on the show. I would love to have you back on sometime.

    Tawana Lowery [00:30:13]:
    I would love that, Doris. It’s been great fun. Thank you so much.

    Doris [00:30:16]:
    Thank you. It really has been fun. And, we just we prayed before we started that whoever is listening, that their hearts would be readied by the Lord to receive the encouragement that you shared with us today. So thank you so much, and we will talk soon, friend.

    Tawana Lowery [00:30:35]:
    Thanks, Doris.

    33 min
  • Resetting Your Life Through Incremental Growth with Josh Huisman
    Welcome back to another inspiring episode of Fierce Calling! Today, we're thrilled to have a conversation with the multifaceted Josh Huisman. Josh is not only a pastor but also an author, coach, artist, and podcaster. In today's episode, Josh shares his incredible journey through the ups and downs of life and how he has embraced a path where his passion, compassion, and conviction uniquely intersect. He opens up about the transformative power of intentionality, whether it's through cultivating a routine of reading scripture, harnessing creativity through music and art, or leading a healthier lifestyle.
    His stories and insights offer practical advice on how incremental growth can lead to significant life changes. Join us as we dive deep into an engaging dialogue about faith, creativity, and transformation. Plus, don't miss the chance to hear about his exciting projects, including his podcasting ventures and upcoming book.
    Listen in for an episode filled with wisdom, encouragement, and a reminder of the impact of making small, intentional changes every day.
    Key Topics and Takeaways ...
    Intentional Living: Josh shared the importance of having a game plan in various aspects of life, whether it’s setting a daily routine for Bible reading, creating healthy habits, or pursuing personal passions. He emphasizes the power of showing up every day and making intentional choices. 🌱
    Faith in Action: With his vibrant story from being a sports enthusiast to a pastor and musician, Josh inspired listeners to trust in God's plans. His journey reminds us that total surrender and openness to where God leads can result in a fulfilling and purpose-driven life. 🙏
    Incremental Growth: Josh advocates for incremental daily changes rather than extreme short-term goals. Whether it's health, faith, or professional growth, small, consistent efforts lead to sustainable transformation over time. 💪
    To listen to more of Josh’s journey and inspiring insights, check out the full episode of "Fierce Calling." This is a must-listen for anyone looking to enrich their life with purpose and intentionality!
    #FierceCalling #Podcast #IntentionalLiving #Faith #GrowthMindset
    Connect with Josh!
    My episode with Josh on The Josh Huisman Podcast/Surrender the Joy Stealers of Your Life
    Chase the Sunset by Josh Huisman
    https://youtu.be/olJtck5q-dc?si=PV4ouRLP3Q5FVnRy
    Josh Huisman is a pastor, author, coach, artist, and host of The Josh Huisman Podcast and Biblical Mindset. In ministry for over 20 years, his ministry and art exist to glorify God. His podcasts bring you content from Christian leaders who are doing their best to walk upright before the Lord.
    Connect with Josh at joshhuisman.com
    New Hope Community Church in Brentwood. New Hope's website is newhopechurchtn.org
    YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC12vv4i7kJlosft5vcu-03A
    Spotify open.spotify.com/show/6XzNAbd4bgeZiZxKHJIPoz?si=de079f44b5344684
    Apple Podcasts geo.itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1688067162?ct=rephonic&mt=2
    YouTube Music music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiHwMg6xzXt8S39o3oC9snt9gJGRlDYpn
    Google Podcasts podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9lMWMwMWY5OC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw?sa=X&ved=0CAMQ4aUDahcKEwiQ49ik_sb_AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQNQ
    Amazon Musicmusic.amazon.com/podcasts/6258e5bf-bfa0-426f-bac1-93cc1d3f6653/the-josh-huisman-podcast
    iHeart Radioiheart.com/podcast/269-the-josh-huisman-podcast-115186628
    Castbox.fmcastbox.fm/channel/The-Josh-Huisman-Podcast-id5438709
    Connect with Doris!
    Connect with Doris at https://dorisswift.com/ For speaking engagements, visit her booking page at womenspeakers.com
    Join us for this heartening episode of Fierce Calling and be inspired to deepen your biblical study and walk with God.
    What Threatens to Steal Your Joy?
    Check out Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You 6-week Bible study rooted in John 15. You can find more info at https://dorisswift.com/book/
    Let’s Stay Connected!
    Find my free resources including Fear Fighting Bible Verses, Simple Tips for Sharing Your Faith, Surrender the Joy Stealers, Step Out of Your Doubt and Into Your Calling ebook, and more on my dorisswift.com homepage!
    Love Fierce Calling?
    Following, rating, and leaving a review over at Podchaser or Apple Podcasts helps others discover the show too!
    Need a Speaker for Your Next Women’s Event? Now Booking for 2025!
    Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let’s talk about me speaking at your next women’s event…
    Thanks for Listening!
    I hope this episode with Nancy encouraged, inspired, and challenged you to cultivate community, live and walk in the value and worth God gave you, and take action where your passion, compassion, and conviction intersect. You'll find links in the show notes to connect with Nancy and with me.
    If you're looking for a speaker for your next women's conference, retreat, luncheon, or workshop, reach out and connect with me on my speaker page at https://www.womenspeakers.com/florida/edgewater/speaker/doris-swift
    Let's have a chat about your 2025 event!
    Stay tuned for more amazing content and remember to check the show notes for all the links mentioned.
    Thank you for being a part of our community. We are grateful for your continued support and encourage you to embrace the unique gifts that make you magnificently you.
    I hope you'll join me next time when I talk with another woman who is taking action where her passion, compassion, and conviction intersect ...
    Until then friend, have a blessed week, and I'll talk to you soon.
    With love and joy,
    Doris
    P.S. Don't forget to follow us on social media for bite-sized wisdom and inspiration from Doris and our incredible guests! 📲
    Check out my home page for amazing for free resources and encouragement!
    Transcript
    Doris Swift:Welcome back to the show. Today, I am so excited to introduce to you my friend, Josh Heismann. He is a pastor, an author, a coach, an artist, and a podcaster. He does a lot. He wears a lot of hats. So we're looking forward to getting into this conversation. He had me as a guest on his show, which was amazing, and I really enjoyed being on that show so much. And I'll put the link in the show notes so you can go back and check that show out as well.
    Doris Swift:And for now, we're gonna jump into our conversation and have you just hear a little bit about, Josh's story. So welcome to the show. We're glad to have you on Josh.
    Joshua Huisman:Doris, it is an honor to be on here and to be a part of this program. And thank you so much. And it's cool to you know, we had you on a month ago, and now it's cool to be on your show. So thank you very much.
    Doris Swift:Thank you. Yeah. I love when we can kind of reciprocate that and just get, so we're, like, sitting at the opposite end, you know, from host to guest. And so it's kinda neat to be able to switch up like that. And I would love if you would share with our listeners a little bit about your story and how you're currently taking action where your passion, compassion, and conviction intersect.
    Joshua Huisman:My passion, compassion, and conviction intersect? Is that what is that okay.
    Joshua Huisman:Yeah. I like that. Calling.
    Joshua Huisman:It's really good. Oh, I've been in full time ministry for over 20 years. I started as a youth pastor in 2003. Before that, I had a couple different things that I really wanted to do with my life. I grew up in a sports family on the south side of Chicago, and both my my brothers and I played baseball and grew up you know, we're we're all within 3 years of each other. And so we just grew up always playing on the same teams with one another through high school. And we took that on even into college and went on and played baseball at Ole Miss, University of Mississippi in the SEC. And that was a wonderful time.
    Joshua Huisman:In fact, my junior year, my older brother was a senior. I was a junior, and my younger brother, Justin, was a freshman. So we're all in the same team together, and it was such a cool experience and, and I loved playing baseball. I thought that's what I was going to do. Do that professionally. God had other plans for me when that came to an end. Both my brothers went on and played pro ball. But when that came to an end for me, I switched gears and and went into the music world and played music and sang, and I love doing that.
    Joshua Huisman:And I really thought that was a direction that God was gonna take my life as well. So I was pursuing that living just north of Nashville between the year 20,021,003. And I was working at a Christian radio station while I was trying to pursue the music thing and something crazy happened and I lost that job. And my wife and I were we we were in a place where we're going, what are we what are we gonna do? And, lord, whatever you want us to do, we'll do it. We just need to hear from you. And literally, the next morning I I mean, it it sounds like out of a book. I I should write it. I should put it in a book.
    Doris Swift:You should.
    Joshua Huisman:Literally, the next morning, I get a phone call from the church I grew up in, and it was my mom. And she said, we're looking for a youth pastor. And I know you're doing the music thing, and you're trying to get that going. And and but our pastor said, can you at least just call Josh and see if he'd have any interest in moving back to Chicago in doing this? Now we had just prayed the day before, Doris, and said, god, whatever it is, we're we'll do it. And my goodness, that that was the beginning of full time ministry. My wife, Sarah was pregnant with our first child at the time, when he was born. Then just a few months later, we moved up Chicago. We did youth ministry up there for for 3 years, and then God called me back down to where I am now, which is on the south side of Nashville, Tennessee.
    ...
    1 hr 2 min
  • Choosing Joy & Trusting God in Our Dark Places and Desert Experiences with Cindy Brinker Simmons
    This week's episode is an inspiring journey of transformation, faith, and joy that you won't want to miss. Join Host Doris Swift as she welcomes the remarkable Cindy Brinker Simmons to the Fierce Calling Podcast. Cindy, a best-selling author, businesswoman, and philanthropist, shares her compelling story that started on the worst day of her life and blossomed into a ministry that encourages others through life's challenges.
    Listen in as Cindy opens up about her personal trials, beginning with the loss of her mother at age 12, to enduring the profound grief of her husband's cancer diagnosis. Cindy's unwavering faith, even in the face of heartbreak, reveals a powerful message about God’s plan and purpose in our struggles.
    We're talking all about her new book Restored: Reconnecting Life's Broken Pieces
    Key Topics and Takeaways ...
    Finding Ministry in Grief: Cindy reflects on her journey from devastation to discovering a new purpose.
    Prayer and God's Answers : She believes God answers prayers in various ways that lead to unexpected blessings.
    Joy as a Choice: Discover how Cindy and her family chose joy and faith during her husband's illness, creating a lasting impact through their strength.
    "Restored" – A Guide to Perseverance: Explore Cindy's book, which offers valuable insights and practical applications for reconnecting life's broken pieces.
    Transforming Grief into Activism: Learn about Cindy’s foundation, "Wipe Out Kids' Cancer," which channels personal grief into meaningful action.
    Connect with Cindy!
    You can connect with Karen at brinkersimmons.com.  Her social media links are:
    https://www.facebook.com/cindybrinkersimmons.author
    https://www.instagram.com/cindybrinkersimmons.author
    https://youtube.com/@cindybrinkersimmons.author
    Cindy Brinker Simmons graduated from the University of Virginia with a bachelor of arts in communications and Spanish. Upon returning to Dallas after her graduation, Cindy began a distinguished 30-year career in public relations.In 1980, coinciding with commencing her professional career, in 1980 Cindy established Wipe Out Kids’ Cancer (WOKC), one of Dallas’ largest pediatric cancer non-profit organizations, and has remained on its board. WOKC funds meritorious childhood oncology research projects nationwide and has multiple programs designed to help and encourage young cancer patientsand their families. Cindy established WOKC in memory of her mother, the late great tennis champion Maureen “Little Mo” Connolly Brinker, who died of cancer in 1969 at the age of 34.
    Cindy is president and on the board of the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation (MCB), one of the most respected junior tennis organizations worldwide. MCB furthers tennis development for elite and talented players, ages 8-12, through its national and international tournaments. MCB has also created innovative initiatives for its young competitors thatpromote good sportsmanship, fair play and strong moral character. In 2008, Cindy was appointed by Texas Speaker Tom Craddick to the Oversight Committee of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, a state agency designed to fund groundbreaking cancer grants and to bring top cancer specialists to the state.
    Cindy completed her three-year term on CPRIT’s Oversight Committee, serving as its secretary, to establish andmanage the operations, policies and staff of the Institute. Cindy has devoted herself to philanthropic concerns. She currently serves on the board of Dallas Theological Seminary.
    Cindy is the author of the popular book, LITTLE MO’s LEGACY: A Mother’s Lessons, A Daughter’s Story. The book chronicles the lessons her late mother taught her in life and in death.
    Cindy has one treasured son, William. Her husband, Bob, passed away in 2005 after a valiant three-year battle with cancer. Cindy’s absolute favorite pastime is gathering with her family and friends with a cup of Earl Grey hot tea enjoying a deep and meaningful conversation.
    Connect with Doris!
    Connect with Doris at https://dorisswift.com/ For speaking engagements, visit her booking page at womenspeakers.com
    Join us for this heartening episode of Fierce Calling and be inspired to deepen your biblical study and walk with God.
    What Threatens to Steal Your Joy?
    Check out Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You 6-week Bible study rooted in John 15. You can find more info at https://dorisswift.com/book/
    Let’s Stay Connected!
    Find my free resources including Fear Fighting Bible Verses, Simple Tips for Sharing Your Faith, Surrender the Joy Stealers, Step Out of Your Doubt and Into Your Calling ebook, and more on my dorisswift.com homepage!
    Love Fierce Calling?
    Following, rating, and leaving a review over at Podchaser or Apple Podcasts helps others discover the show too!
    Need a Speaker for Your Next Women’s Event? Now Booking for 2025!
    Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let’s talk about me speaking at your next women’s event…
    Thanks for Listening!
    I hope this episode with Nancy encouraged, inspired, and challenged you to cultivate community, live and walk in the value and worth God gave you, and take action where your passion, compassion, and conviction intersect. You'll find links in the show notes to connect with Nancy and with me.
    If you're looking for a speaker for your next women's conference, retreat, luncheon, or workshop, reach out and connect with me on my speaker page at https://www.womenspeakers.com/florida/edgewater/speaker/doris-swift
    Let's have a chat about your 2025 event!
    Stay tuned for more amazing content and remember to check the show notes for all the links mentioned.
    Thank you for being a part of our community. We are grateful for your continued support and encourage you to embrace the unique gifts that make you magnificently you.
    I hope you'll join me next time when I talk with another woman who is taking action where her passion, compassion, and conviction intersect ...
    Until then friend, have a blessed week, and I'll talk to you soon.
    With love and joy,
    Doris
    P.S. Don't forget to follow us on social media for bite-sized wisdom and inspiration from Doris and our incredible guests! 📲
    Check out my home page for amazing for free resources and encouragement!
    Transcript
    Welcome back to the show. I am excited to welcome my friend today, Cindy Brinker Simmons. She's a best selling author, a businesswoman, and philanthropist who cares deeply about helping people in the midst of life's challenges. That is so precious. She is a living, breathing champion of joy, and I can totally attest to that. That is a great description of you, Cindy. Thank you. Cindy's victory in overcoming the sorrow of multiple personal losses provides comfort and hope to those struggling through life's most difficult trials.
    Doris Swift00:02:26 - 00:02:38
    For years, she walked alongside hurting people to encourage and help them confidently press forward, choose joy, and trust God. And I love that so much. Welcome to the show. It's great to have you, Cindy.
    Cindy Brinker Simmons00:02:38 - 00:02:42
    Doris, I'm just thrilled. Thank you so much. We'll have fun.
    Doris Swift00:02:42 - 00:02:49
    Yes. We will. I mean, I'm already having fun with you, and you are just a a joy. I mean and you just
    Cindy Brinker Simmons00:02:49 - 00:02:49
    Thank you.
    Doris Swift00:02:49 - 00:03:15
    Exude the love of Christ, and I just can, you know, sense that even over the airwaves through the technology, because we're not sitting in the same room, but I feel like, you know, we have been doing that. So I wanted to invite you to share your a little about your story, however the Lord leads and how you're taking action, where your passion, compassion, and conviction intersect. And I know you have a lot to tell about that.
    Cindy Brinker Simmons00:03:17 - 00:04:13
    I do. I do. And, again, Doris, thank you. This is really quite a joy for me as well. Let me start with a foundational premise, and that is that it has been said that we're either in a crisis, in the middle of a crisis, leaving a crisis, or entering a crisis. And a fundamental principle is that suffering is a universal experience, and the word of God says that too because we see in 1st Peter 412, it says, dear friends, why are you surprised at the painful trials you're suffering as though something surprising is happening to you? I mean, the the bible talks about and predicts that we have many bumps and bruises in our daily living. It's called suffering. That there is misery and there is gladness and joy that cohabitate together in this messy, crazy, beautiful thing called life.
    Cindy Brinker Simmons00:04:14 - 00:05:00
    So suffering is a universal experience, and that is my ministry is suffering, as you, as you said so adeptly in the introduction. When I was 12 years old, I was seated on a very uncomfortable pew. To my left was my 10 year old sister, To my right was my mid 30 year old dad. He had just buried my mom. Mhmm. And I was so confused, so heartbroken, so so angry because I thought that God hated me. I thought, Doris, that I had done something so bad, so terrible that I was incurring the wrath of a vengeful God. I literally thought God hated me, and you know, I wasn't very crazy about him either at that point at 12 years old.
    Cindy Brinker Simmons00:05:01 - 00:05:52
    That's where I parked my heart. And not only was my family suffering this colossal, enormous loss of this beautiful and talented woman, but the world was too. Because although my mom was known as mom to my little sister Brenda and me, she was known to her adoring public in the 19 fifties as the tennis champion, Maureen Conley, known as Little Mo. Mom was number 1 in the world in tennis in 1952, 53, 54. She won Wimbledon 3 years in a row, and we're right now, we're we're,...
    45 min
  • Winning the Mental Health Battle: Tips & Techniques for Thriving with Karen E Iverson
    Welcome to today's episode of Fierce Calling, where we're thrilled to have the multi-talented Karen E. Iverson back on the show. Karen is a licensed professional counselor, coach, public speaker, actress, singer, and artist, recognized as a difference-maker at the 2019 Author Advantage Live Conference. Her newest book, Winning the Mental Health Battle from Struggling to Thriving: 7 Tips to Navigate Anxiety, Depression, and Mania, offers invaluable insights into mental health.
    In this episode, Karen shares her inspiring journey from aspiring psychiatrist to impactful mental health counselor and author. We delve into her personal experiences and explore her approach to therapy, which includes innovative techniques like the "54321" grounding method.
    Karen and I discuss embracing authenticity, confronting societal stigmas, and finding strength in faith. We also highlight practical ways to navigate emotions and thoughts, underscoring the vital role of professional help. Get ready for a deep and fascinating conversation that will encourage, inspire, and challenge you. Listen in!
    Key Topics and Takeaways ...
    Karen Iverson's Professional and Personal Journey
    Aspiration to follow her father's footsteps as a psychiatrist
    Path to becoming a licensed professional counselor
    Shift from aspiring art therapist to counselor in Oklahoma
    Previous book on her breast cancer journey and companion journal
    Karen's New Book
    Winning the Mental Health Battle from Struggling to Thriving: 7 Tips to Navigate Anxiety, Depression, and Mania
    Open discussion of faith while being accessible to a diverse audience
    Divine timing and the experience gained before release
    Thematic Insights on Mental Health
    Emphasis on journaling as a therapeutic practice
    Explanation of mania and importance of professional diagnosis
    Destigmatizing mental health treatment via diagnosis, therapy, and medication
    Encouragement to seek help without shame, acknowledging stigmas even in religious communities
    Spiritual and Faith-Based Elements
    Transition from secular music to faith-based speaking
    Christ-centered yet inclusive approach in Karen’s book
    Use of faith in resilience against cultural identity and relationship challenges
    Practical Techniques for Mental Health Management
    "54321" grounding technique for anxiety
    Emphasizing gratitude and positive thinking
    Concept of emotions being temporary; typically lasting about 90 seconds
    Role of the Holy Spirit and Divine Intervention
    Discussion on the Holy Spirit as part of the Trinity
    Moments of perceived divine intervention in Karen’s life
    Use of Guided Visualization
    Free guided visualizations on Karen’s website to address anxiety, depression, and mania
    Guided visualizations explained as audio-guided relaxation exercises
    Clarification that techniques are not aligned with new age practices
    Examples such as walking on a beach as a calming visualization
    Acknowledgments and Contact Information
    Doris thanks Karen for her participation
    Encouragement for listeners to check show notes for more information
    Karen’s contact details and resources availability: mental health quizzes and service offerings on her website
    More of Karen's Books
    Pick up the Original Books:
    Winning the Breast Cancer Battle: Empowering Warriors and Guiding Loved OnesLoved Ones of Those Battling Cancer and Thrivers: Pick up the original book, ebook, and audiobook to help those facing a cancer diagnosis.
    Winning the Breast Cancer Battle, Companion Journal: Empowering and Guiding Breast Cancer Warriors Breast Cancer Warriors/Thrivers: Geared for breast cancer warriors as they face their challenges.
    Past Episode with Karen as Mentioned in the Show:
    Karen Iverson: The Fine Art of Positive Connection
    In our first episode together, Karen shares about her breast cancer journey and her first book.
    Connect with Karen!
    You can connect with Karen and find her books and free resources at kareneiverson.com
    Karen E Iverson was born in New York City and states that she has always been a writer at heart. She moved to New Jersey when she was ten and was often found in her bedroom writing poems and song lyrics and journaling in spiral-bound notebooks. She fondly recalls learning how to “show not tell” her senior year in high school.
    Karen further developed her writing skills as an undergraduate at the University of New Hampshire. Her education then included attaining 2 master’s degrees in education from Columbia University Teachers College and in clinical mental health counseling from Northeastern State University.
    At age 39, Karen was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma and when facing potential mortality, she did what she knew best and journaled her way out. Karen later published her first book Winning the Breast Cancer Battle: Empowering Warriors and Guiding Loved Ones, based on that experience.
    Karen is a Licensed Professional Counselor, coach, public speaker, actress, singer, and artist and was honored to be recognized as a “Difference Maker” at the 2019 Author Advantage Live conference.Email: info@kareneiverson.comwww.winningthebreastcancerbattle.comwww.ivisionartwork.comIG https://www.instagram.com/kareneiversonFB https://www.facebook.com/kareneiversonLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kareneiverson/YouTube https://youtube.com/@kareneiverson
    Connect with Doris!
    Connect with Doris at https://dorisswift.com/ For speaking engagements, visit her booking page at womenspeakers.com
    Join us for this heartening episode of Fierce Calling and be inspired to deepen your biblical study and walk with God.
    What Threatens to Steal Your Joy?
    Check out Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You 6-week Bible study rooted in John 15. You can find more info at https://dorisswift.com/book/
    Let’s Stay Connected!
    Find my free resources including Fear Fighting Bible Verses, Simple Tips for Sharing Your Faith, Surrender the Joy Stealers, Step Out of Your Doubt and Into Your Calling ebook, and more on my dorisswift.com homepage!
    Love Fierce Calling?
    Following, rating, and leaving a review over at Podchaser or Apple Podcasts helps others discover the show too!
    Need a Speaker for Your Next Women’s Event? Now Booking for 2025!
    Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let’s talk about me speaking at your next women’s event…
    Thanks for Listening!
    I hope this episode with Nancy encouraged, inspired, and challenged you to cultivate community, live and walk in the value and worth God gave you, and take action where your passion, compassion, and conviction intersect. You'll find links in the show notes to connect with Nancy and with me.
    If you're looking for a speaker for your next women's conference, retreat, luncheon, or workshop, reach out and connect with me on my speaker page at https://www.womenspeakers.com/florida/edgewater/speaker/doris-swift
    Let's have a chat about your 2025 event!
    Stay tuned for more amazing content and remember to check the show notes for all the links mentioned.
    Thank you for being a part of our community. We are grateful for your continued support and encourage you to embrace the unique gifts that make you magnificently you.
    I hope you'll join me next time when I talk with another woman who is taking action where her passion, compassion, and conviction intersect ...
    Until then friend, have a blessed week, and I'll talk to you soon.
    With love and joy,
    Doris
    P.S. Don't forget to follow us on social media for bite-sized wisdom and inspiration from Doris and our incredible guests! 📲
    Check out my home page for amazing FREE resources and downloads!
    Transcript
    Welcome back to the show. Today, I'm excited to welcome back a return guest, Karen Iverson. She is a licensed professional counselor, a coach, a public speaker, an actress, which we talked about in the last episode, which is pretty cool, singer and artist, and was honored to be recognized as a difference maker at the 2019 author advantage live conference. She speaks the name of Jesus. She has a new book, and the title is gonna grab your attention, and you're gonna wanna listen to the entire episode, winning the mental health battle from struggling to thriving, 7 tips to navigate anxiety, depression, and mania. And before the show, we were talking a little bit about the book, and I had mentioned to Karen that some of us might want to hear more about what actually mania entails and how, you know, some people that are listening may have experienced it and not even known what it is, and then some may have friends or family that experience these things. So we're gonna talk about that more. So welcome back to the show, Karen.
    Karen Iverson00:03:02 - 00:03:05
    Thank you so much, Doris. I'm I'm thrilled to be here again.
    Doris00:03:05 - 00:03:40
    Yeah. It's exciting. And I meant to get the number of the episode you were when you were on a few few years ago. It's been a while. And so I will put the link in the show notes to the original podcast episode. We talked about your health journey and a lot of other things in first book that you wrote. So I would love if you would share how you feel led, if you want to kind of recap some of the things that we've talked about before and more of your story that's continued since we last chatted and how you're taking action where your passion, compassion, and conviction intersect.
    Karen Iverson00:03:41 - 00:04:39
    Yes. Well, my passion, compassion, and conviction, intersected just in general with with God leading me through all the trials I've had. You know, in the Bible, it talks about how Jesus comforts you, and then then you are supposed to use your comfort to help comfort others going through similar circumstances. And one of the things we talked about in the last podcast had to do with my first book,...
    44 min
  • Raising Faithful Kids Who Follow Christ for Life with Lee Ann Mancini
    Welcome to another encouraging episode of Fierce Calling with Doris Swift, where today we have the pleasure of introducing Lee Ann Mancini, an award-winning executive producer, author, podcast host, and advocate for raising children with a strong Christian foundation. In this episode, Lee Ann shares her incredible journey and passion for equipping families to instill biblical values in their children, and to help them become critical thinkers. Her new book Raising Kids to Follow Christ: Instilling a Lifelong Trust in God, is a powerful resource for parents, that doesn't just tell parents what to do, it shows them how to do it.
    We discuss some startling statistics regarding young people leaving the faith, concerns about culture shifts, and what we can do to help kids build strong spiritual foundations. Lee Ann also discusses her captivating children's book series, "Sea Kids," and the animated adaptations that aim to teach children to live out God's principles in everyday life. With her nonprofit dedicated to providing Christian resources to families, Lee Ann speaks on critical issues like religious beliefs, parenting, and the challenging cultural shifts impacting Christian households. She is also passionate about the importance of apologetics, and what that means for our kids and us.
    Doris and Lee Ann engage in a profound discussion, exploring practical advice for parents and grandparents who play vital roles in the spiritual development of the next generation. This episode is packed with valuable insights, not only from Lee Ann's books but also from her impactful parenting resources and approaches to teaching children about absolute truth, identity, and faith.
    Stay tuned to be inspired and equipped to reinforce a solid Christian foundation within your family!
    Key Topics and Takeaways ...
    Belief and Critical Thinking:
    Importance of children understanding faith beyond parental influence.
    Critical thinking as an essential skill for children
    Early Education and Vocabulary:
    Children's understanding extends beyond what they can articulate, even as young as six months.
    Recommendation for parents to use biblical language from an early age.
    Encouragement to teach terms like 'redemption' and 'salvation.'
    Parenting and Family Structure:
    Initiating family meetings to create a mission statement
    Emphasize accountability to God, love for children, and safety.
    Importance of distinguishing children's privileges from rights, such as technology use.
    School and Gender Discussions:
    Concerns about children choosing identities in schools without parental consent.
    The concerns surrounding early gender identity discussions and potential identity crises.
    Identity and Christ:
    Raising children with Christian values for a true sense of identity.
    Reassurance for parents regarding past parenting mistakes.
    Children's Media and Learning:
    Lee Ann Mancini’s observation of a gap in biblical principles within children's stories.
    Creation of "Sea Kids" series to teach biblical principles in real-life scenarios.
    Availability of the series on various platforms and adaptation into an animation.
    Lee Ann Mancini's Nonprofit Projects:
    Projects like the parenting book and "scripture bear" that support Raising Christian Kids.
    Proceeds from projects support Mancini’s nonprofit efforts providing free resources.
    Financial Struggles of Christian Families:
    Research statistics on Christian families' financial struggles.
    Free resources provided by Mancini's nonprofit to families through South Florida Bible College.
    Additional Resources and Recommendations:
    Available resources on Mancini's nonprofit website, like expert tips and videos.
    Recommendations for a Trumie phone for safety and Answers in Genesis's apologetic curriculum.
    Church Events and Influences:
    Mention of a church event featuring Greg Kochel.
    The inclusion of the "Tactics" book in church's discipleship pathway.
    Fostering Faith in Children:
    Importance of parents and grandparents in influencing children's faith.
    Practical ways parents can pass teachings to their children, even from afar.
    Lee Ann Mancini's Book "Raising Kids to Follow Christ":
    Provides practical resources for faith-related questions and emphasizes absolute truth.
    Encourages critical thinking and role play for children’s independent development.
    Focuses on inner transformation and obedience to God rather than behavior modification.
    Age-Specific Faith Education:
    Addresses parenting from the womb to age 13.
    Emphasizes laying a solid faith foundation and building on it.
    Apologetics and Cultural Concerns:
    Includes a chapter on apologetics with 312 Bible references.
    Discusses challenges like gender issues and decline in Christian values.
    Countering cultural challenges with a well-rounded, faith-based upbringing.
    Deconstruction of Faith:
    Acknowledges the trend of people leaving Christianity.
    Importance of solid early faith education to counteract this trend.
    Educational Approach and Community Role:
    Critiques of "Sunday school faith" and advocacy for deeper faith education.
    Importance of parental and church engagement in children's spiritual development.
    Spiritual Warfare and Biblical Directive:
    References to cultural "spiritual warfare" akin to World War 2 efforts.
    Advocates for integrating faith into daily life, referencing Deuteronomy 6:4-9.
    Host Doris' Reflections:
    Agreement with the practical nature of Mancini's advice.
    Emphasis on establishing good habits to equip children.
    Connect with Lee Ann!
    You can connect with Lee Ann and find her podcast, books, and free resources at raisingchristiankids.com
    Lee Ann Mancini is the author of Raising Kids to Follow Christ: Instilling a Lifelong Trust in God, and hosts the award-winning podcast Raising Christian Kids, available on all major platforms and streaming on KHCB Radio’s Uplifted station. She shares expert godly advice, biblically-based wisdom, and insightful tools for parenting children to bring them closer to Jesus. Lee Ann is also an award-winning Christian children’s author and executive producer of the animated series Sea Kids, which can be viewed on Answers.TV, Pure Flix, Right Now Media, and SeaKidsTV. This series is based on her children’s books about cute, colorful sea creatures who learn about God’s morals and values and how to live those daily.
    Lee Ann Mancini An adjunct professor at South Florida Bible College and Theological Seminary, as well as a sought-after speaker on topics such as Christian growth, biblical understanding, and children’s spirituality, she received her B. A. in Religious Studies from Regent University, master’s degrees in Christian & Classical Studies and Biblical & Theological Studies from Knox Theological Seminary, and a master’s in Christian Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.Lee Ann and her husband Guy have two adult children and make their home in South Florida.
    Connect with Doris!
    Connect with Doris at https://dorisswift.com/ For speaking engagements, visit her booking page at womenspeakers.com
    Join us for this heartening episode of Fierce Calling and be inspired to deepen your biblical study and walk with God.
    What Threatens to Steal Your Joy?
    Check out Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You 6-week Bible study rooted in John 15. You can find more info at https://dorisswift.com/book/
    Let’s Stay Connected!
    Find my free resources including Fear Fighting Bible Verses, Simple Tips for Sharing Your Faith, Surrender the Joy Stealers, Step Out of Your Doubt and Into Your Calling ebook, and more on my dorisswift.com homepage!
    Love Fierce Calling?
    Following, rating, and leaving a review over at Podchaser or Apple Podcasts helps others discover the show too!
    Need a Speaker for Your Next Women’s Event? Now Booking for 2025!
    Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let’s talk about me speaking at your next women’s event…
    Thanks for Listening!
    I hope this episode with Nancy encouraged, inspired, and challenged you to cultivate community, live and walk in the value and worth God gave you, and take action where your passion, compassion, and conviction intersect. You'll find links in the show notes to connect with Nancy and with me.
    If you're looking for a speaker for your next women's conference, retreat, luncheon, or workshop, reach out and connect with me on my speaker page at https://www.womenspeakers.com/florida/edgewater/speaker/doris-swift
    Let's have a chat about your 2025 event!
    Stay tuned for more amazing content and remember to check the show notes for all the links mentioned.
    Thank you for being a part of our community. We are grateful for your continued support and encourage you to embrace the unique gifts that make you magnificently you.
    I hope you'll join me next time when I talk with another woman who is taking action where her passion, compassion, and conviction intersect ...
    Until then friend, have a blessed week, and I'll talk to you soon.
    With love and joy,
    Doris
    P.S. Don't forget to follow us on social media for bite-sized wisdom and inspiration from Doris and our incredible guests! 📲
    Check out my home page for amazing FREE resources and downloads!
    Transcript
    What is threatening to steal your joy? What is it that feels so heavy right now that you could barely stand? God has a plan, and his plan is to surrender it. Surrender it to him. It might be a prodigal. It might be a relationship, a marriage, something with your job, so many things. We have so many amazing blessings, but there are so many things in our life that threaten to steal our joy. I'm Doris Swift, author of the award winning 6 week bible study, Surrender the Joystealers, Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You....
    44 min
  • Tracing the Promise of Jesus from Creation to Cradle: A Special Advent Episode with Donna Amidon
    Welcome to Fierce Calling, where your host Doris Swift dives into heartfelt conversations and explores meaningful stories. We're talking with guests who take action where their passion, compassion, and conviction intersect. In this episode, we welcome back Donna Amidon, a wife, mom, speaker, author, musician, and graduate of Southern Evangelical Seminary. Donna shares insights from her inspiring book, Tracing His Promise: Understanding the Bigger Story of Jesus and What That Means for Us, which delves into the beauty of biblical genealogies and Old Testament prophecies fulfilled by Jesus.
    How does the Jesse Tree tradition help families understand the significance of biblical stories and prophecies? We'll discuss her experiences with the Jesse Tree tradition, what it's all about, and how it shaped her family's celebrations. Hear how this tradition spread like wildfire through her church and has become a beloved way for us to share the bigger-picture story of Jesus at Christmastime.
    Listen as Donna elaborates on her mission to make the Bible accessible to all, offering her book as a treasured resource for spiritual growth. Plus, discover how her collaboration with her artist daughter has added a special touch to this family-centered project.
    Join us for an enriching conversation as we affirm the transforming power of the Bible and encourage listeners to embrace its truths. Don't miss this episode filled with joy, inspiration, and a shared passion for living a life centered on Jesus.
    Key Topics and Takeaways ...
    Donna Amidon’s Book: "Tracing His Promise"
    Overview of the book's content on Old Testament connections to Jesus.
    Aim to appeal to readers of varying familiarity with the Bible.
    Emphasis on using the Bible for spiritual growth.
    Writing process and original plans for the book's title.
    Importance of the Jesse Tree tradition in the family context.
    Jesse Tree Tradition
    Explanation of the Jesse Tree's purpose and historical background.
    Modernization and its role in teaching children about biblical stories.
    Biblical Connections and Genealogies
    Discussion on the significance of biblical genealogies.
    Examples of prophecies in the Bible relating to Jesus.
    Mention of key figures like David, Abraham, and Ruth.
    Book Features and Resources
    Description of the 25 stories and corresponding Christmas ornaments.
    Information on craft exchange and printable ornaments.
    Inclusion of ornaments and stories in personal, church, or educational settings.
    Artwork and Contributions
    Donna's daughter as the illustrator and her role in the project.
    Details on her daughter’s professional work as an artist.
    Check out my previous episode with Donna as mentioned in the show:
    Living Surrendered to God's Plan
    Connect with Donna!
    A graduate of Southern Evangelical Seminary, Donna is a wife, mom, speaker, author, musician, and lover of all things Bible.  Since college, Donna has dedicated herself to engaging women in the rich truths of Scripture while weaving its application into daily life.  With a passion for the local church, Donna has served as a Bible teacher, worship leader, radio broadcaster, small groups director, and pastor’s wife.  
    Currently, Donna is an active speaker for Stonecroft Ministries and women’s events. In addition to speaking, Donna works for Back to the Bible as a Spiritual Fitness Coach, hosting short video programs to encourage Christians in their spiritual journey. She is excited about the release of her first book, Tracing His Promise.  ​
    Donna and Ryan live in Virginia, where they enjoy raising their two teenage children and maltipoo, Roxy.
    Connect with Doris!
    Connect with Doris at https://dorisswift.com/ For speaking engagements, visit her booking page at womenspeakers.com
    Join us for this heartening episode of Fierce Calling and be inspired to deepen your biblical study and walk with God.
    What Threatens to Steal Your Joy?
    Check out Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You 6-week Bible study rooted in John 15. You can find more info at https://dorisswift.com/book/
    Let’s Stay Connected!
    Find my free resources including Fear Fighting Bible Verses, Simple Tips for Sharing Your Faith, Surrender the Joy Stealers, Step Out of Your Doubt and Into Your Calling ebook, and more on my dorisswift.com homepage!
    Love Fierce Calling?
    Following, rating, and leaving a review over at Podchaser or Apple Podcasts helps others discover the show too!
    Need a Speaker for Your Next Women’s Event? Now Booking for 2025!
    Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let’s talk about me speaking at your next women’s event…
    Thanks for Listening!
    I hope this episode with Nancy encouraged, inspired, and challenged you to cultivate community, live and walk in the value and worth God gave you, and take action where your passion, compassion, and conviction intersect. You'll find links in the show notes to connect with Nancy and with me.
    If you're looking for a speaker for your next women's conference, retreat, luncheon, or workshop, reach out and connect with me on my speaker page at https://www.womenspeakers.com/florida/edgewater/speaker/doris-swift
    Let's have a chat about your 2025 event!
    Stay tuned for more amazing content and remember to check the show notes for all the links mentioned.
    Thank you for being a part of our community. We are grateful for your continued support and encourage you to embrace the unique gifts that make you magnificently you.
    I hope you'll join me next time when I talk with another woman who is taking action where her passion, compassion, and conviction intersect ...
    Until then friend, have a blessed week, and I'll talk to you soon.
    With love and joy,
    Doris
    P.S. Don't forget to follow us on social media for bite-sized wisdom and inspiration from Doris and our incredible guests! 📲
    Check out my home page for amazing FREE resources and downloads!
    Transcript
    Surrender the Joy Stealers Bible Study ...
    What is threatening to steal your joy? What is it that feels so heavy right now that you could barely stand? God has a plan, and his plan is to surrender it. Surrender it to him. It might be a prodigal. It might be a relationship, a marriage, something with your job, so many things. We have so many amazing blessings, but there are so many things in our life that threaten to steal our joy. I'm Doris Swift, author of the award winning 6 week bible study, Surrender the Joystealers, Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You. And it helps women rediscover the overflowing, ever present Jesus joy within that fills, empowers, and ripens the fruit that God produces in our lives. Using personal and biblical stories, I share how you can identify your joy stealers, surrender them to God, reawaken the joy within, and share the joy with others.
    Doris Swift00:02:40 - 00:03:09
    You can do it on your own or with a group. Check it out, friends. Surrender the joy stealers. Rediscover the Jesus joy in you. It's available on all the online retailers. It's time to take your joy back.
    Doris Swift00:03:09 - 00:03:46
    Welcome back to Fierce Calling. Today, I'm excited to welcome back a wonderful friend of mine, and she is just an amazing woman of god, and she wrote a book we're gonna talk about. Donna Amidon, she was on before, and I will put the link in the show notes for our previous episode. It was one of the most listened to episodes, so you don't wanna miss that one. And this one's gonna be fantastic. She is a wife, a mom, a speaker. She is an author as we said. She's a musician also, which is amazing, and she is a graduate of the Southern Evangelical Seminary, and she loves all things Bible. So this is amazing, and this is what we're gonna be talking about. And with, you know, the holidays coming up with Christmas and advent and all of that, we're gonna get into that.
    Doris Swift00:03:46 - 00:03:58
    And I saw I know sometimes families need a little help in that area to know how to navigate that with their families. So welcome to the show, Donna. Welcome back. It's so great to have you on again.
    Donna Amidon00:03:58 - 00:04:01
    Hey, Doris. It is just a joy to be with you. Thank you.
    Doris Swift00:04:01 - 00:04:32
    Thank you. Yeah. It's just, amazing. Your book, Tracing His Promise, Understanding the Bigger Story of Jesus and What That Means for Us. And that is just like a perfect title for this book. I know it originally had a different title, and I loved that one too, but this really is something that connects us into the bigger picture story and shows Jesus all through how Jesus has always been there. And I was, blessed to endorse this book. It was my honor to do so.
    Doris Swift00:04:32 - 00:04:46
    So I would love, Donna, if you would get into a little bit of your story and then how you are taking action, where your passion, compassion, and conviction intersect in all things bible that you love so much.
    Donna Amidon00:04:47 - 00:05:07
    Yeah. Thank you. Well, I mean, I think you said that very well. My my joy and my passion is all things Bible, and that really is the passion that I live by. I've been setting it for years. I'm no me by means an expert, but yet it never gets old. I mean, it never gets old. There's always something else to discover.
    Donna Amidon00:05:07 - 00:05:59
    Not that we're going searching for meaning and trying to, like, either listen to those teachers who just kind of make up things like, wait, that's not in there. But because it's not. It's it's about just unpacking all the jewels and all the treasures that are in the Bible. And that is truly my passion. My compassion is for people to understand the Bible. I think of Romans 22, it says, do you not be conformed to the ways of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind?...
    40 min
  • Embracing Emotional Confidence and Christ-Centered Joy with Alicia Michelle
    In this episode of Fierce Calling, your host Doris Swift welcomes friend Alicia Michelle, a mindset coach and author of the new release Emotional Confidence: 3 Simple Steps to Manage Emotions with Science and Scripture. Join us as Doris and Alicia delve into the profound transformation that's possible through understanding and managing our emotions, using both science and scripture.
    Alicia shares her remarkable personal journey, detailing how a major medical crisis led her to rethink emotional management and the importance of addressing subconscious thought patterns. Alicia shares about the concept of changing mental "soundtracks" to align with positive, biblical truths, and the innovative process of "brain priming" to rewire thoughts and foster mental renewal. With practical insights drawn from neuroscience, Alicia explains how her Christian mindset makeover course empowers women to overcome negative narratives, leading to newfound confidence and freedom.
    Uncover the power of surrendering life's challenges to God and the joy that arises from embracing transformation. Discover how you can actively manage your mindset and deepen your spiritual growth journey. What Alicia shares will encourage, inspire, and challenge you, so listen in!
    Key Topics and Takeaways ...
    1. What is joy and how do we find it in the hard seasons?
    2. The Importance of Joy and Positive Mindsets
    3. Changing Negative "Soundtracks"
    4. Alicia Michelle's Approach to Emotional Management
    5. Techniques and Tools for Emotional and Mindset Transformation
    6. Integrating Neuroscience and Faith
    7. The Practical Application and Resources
    8. Conclusion and Encouragement for Listeners
    Connect with Alicia!
    Alicia Michelle, ACC, CPLC is an ICF-certified Christian life coach and NeuroCoach, traditionally-published author of Emotional Confidence: 3 Simple Steps to Manage Emotions with Science and Scripture, popular conference speaker, and multi-award-winning podcast host of the top-ranked podcast The Christian Mindset Coach with Alicia Michelle.
    Through her coaching and courses Alicia has equipped thousands of women with practical brain-and-biblically-based tools to better manage emotions and to break free from perfectionism and people-pleasing in order to cultivate Christ-centered confidence.
    She is passionate about using brain science + the Bible together to help women release fear + build confidence as they boldly follow God's plan for their lives.
    You can connect with Alicia and find her podcast The Christian Mindset Coach, her new book, her Christian Mindset Makeover course, and more at aliciamichelle.com
    Connect with Doris!
    Connect with Doris at https://dorisswift.com/ For speaking engagements, visit her booking page at womenspeakers.com
    Join us for this heartening episode of Fierce Calling and be inspired to deepen your biblical study and walk with God.
    What Threatens to Steal Your Joy?
    Check out Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You 6-week Bible study rooted in John 15. You can find more info at https://dorisswift.com/book/
    Let’s Stay Connected!
    Find my free resources including Fear Fighting Bible Verses, Simple Tips for Sharing Your Faith, Surrender the Joy Stealers, Step Out of Your Doubt and Into Your Calling ebook, and more on my dorisswift.com homepage!
    Love Fierce Calling?
    Following, rating, and leaving a review over at Podchaser or Apple Podcasts helps others discover the show too!
    Need a Speaker for Your Next Women’s Event? Now Booking for 2025!
    Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let’s talk about me speaking at your next women’s event…
    Thanks for Listening!
    I hope this episode with Nancy encouraged, inspired, and challenged you to cultivate community, live and walk in the value and worth God gave you, and take action where your passion, compassion, and conviction intersect. You'll find links in the show notes to connect with Nancy and with me.
    If you're looking for a speaker for your next women's conference, retreat, luncheon, or workshop, reach out and connect with me on my speaker page at https://www.womenspeakers.com/florida/edgewater/speaker/doris-swift
    Let's have a chat about your 2025 event!
    Stay tuned for more amazing content and remember to check the show notes for all the links mentioned.
    Thank you for being a part of our community. We are grateful for your continued support and encourage you to embrace the unique gifts that make you magnificently you.
    I hope you'll join me next time when I talk with another woman who is taking action where her passion, compassion, and conviction intersect ...
    Until then friend, have a blessed week, and I'll talk to you soon.
    With love and joy,
    Doris
    P.S. Don't forget to follow us on social media for bite-sized wisdom and inspiration from Doris and our incredible guests! 📲
    Check out my home page for amazing FREE resources and downloads!
    Transcript
    Surrender the Joy Stealers Bible Study ...
    Doris What is threatening to steal your joy? What is it that feels so heavy right now that you could barely stand? God has a plan, and his plan is to surrender it. Surrender it to him. It might be a prodigal. It might be a relationship, a marriage, something with your job. So many things. We have so many amazing blessings, but there are so many things in our life that threaten to steal our joy. I'm Doris Swift, author of the award-winning 6-week Bible study, Surrender the Joy Stealers, Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You. And it helps women rediscover the overflowing, ever-present Jesus joy within that fills, empowers, and ripens the fruit that God produces in our lives.
    Using personal and biblical stories, I share how you can identify your joy stealers, surrender them to God, reawaken the joy within, and share the joy with others. You can do it on your own or with a group. Check it out, friends. Surrender the joy stealers. Rediscover the Jesus joy in you. It's available on all the online retailers. It's time to take your joy back.
    Timestamps ...
    00:00 Mindset coach helps women manage emotions, faith.
    05:50 Overwhelmed, life paused, found clarity through coaching.
    08:41 Three-step method for emotional confidence developed.
    12:07 Balancing joy and authentic emotions is essential.
    15:40 Childhood experiences affect trust, identity, and healing.
    21:43 Deep understanding enables transformative personal growth.
    23:32 God aids mind renewal through neurogenesis process.
    27:47 Be intentional about thoughts; set boundaries.
    29:05 Bring troubles to Lord; focus on virtues.
    32:39 Discover resources and more at aliciamichelle.com.
    Now On with the Show ...
    You can do it on your own or with a group. Check it out, friends. Surrender the joy stealers. Rediscover the Jesus joy in you. It's available on all the online retailers. It's time to take your joy back to the show. Today, I am excited to introduce to you my friend, Alicia Michelle. She is a podcaster, a mindset coach, and the author of Emotional Confidence, 3 Simple Steps to Manage Emotions with Science and Scripture.
    Doris00:03:23 - 00:03:40
    That is fascinating. Her goal is to equip Christian women with bible and brain science based mindset tools to reclaim their freedom, peace, and joy in God, and we all need to hear about that. So welcome to the show. It's so great to have you, Alicia.
    Alicia Michelle00:03:40 - 00:03:42
    Yay. Thank you so much, Doris. I appreciate it.
    Doris00:03:42 - 00:04:11
    Yeah. This is really exciting. I love that you're a mindset coach and that you talk a lot about science and scripture. We have a church class that a gentleman in our church does every so often. It's called science and scripture, there is no conflict. And it's, you know, really powerful. So I love the fact that science does actually back up whatever God has told us about, you know, in his word. And so I would love to hear more about that.
    Doris00:04:11 - 00:04:27
    So if you could tell us a little bit about your story, because I know you have some things in your story that kind of segue you into this calling that God has given you. And so and share where you are taking action, where your passion, compassion, and conviction intersect.
    Alicia Michelle00:04:28 - 00:05:29
    Okay. Well, yes, as you shared, I am a mindset coach, and I'm passionate about helping women really know how to work through the feelings that they have and to do so by understanding not just how their body works and how their mind works, but how they can partner with God to do that. And a big reason why I'm passionate about that is because I saw the effects firsthand of what it's like to not do that. I think, I spent most of my life running from my feelings, from my emotions. And in 2017, I had a major medical crisis that happened to me unexpectedly where I had 2 vertebral artery dissections. So, that that what that means is just the the arteries in the back of your neck, mine collapsed inward. And instead of going outward like an aneurysm, they were collapsing inward and causing out of nowhere just these horrible headaches. And I did end up having several little strokes, mini strokes as a result of it.
    Alicia Michelle00:05:29 - 00:05:50
    And as a result of all of that that happened, I was in the hospital, all these all these really crazy things. There was no cause for it. Nobody could tell me what it was about, except that, wow. You haven't been sleeping very much. You sleep only 4 hours a night. You've been doing that for, like, 15 years. Like, that's probably not good. And, oh, you your husband just lost his job, and he's been out of work for 18 months.
    Alicia Michelle00:05:50 - 00:06:54
    And, oh, you have a child with special needs and, you know, you might be moving out of state for this a job that you you may be getting. Like,...
    37 min
  • A Place of Healing & Hope For Sexual Assault and Domestic Abuse Survivors with Candice Reyes
    Welcome back to Fierce Calling with your host Doris Swift, where we talk with guests who are taking action where their passion, compassion, and conviction intersect. In this episode, we welcomed back Candice Reyes, the Executive Director of Her Well, a faith-based ministry inspiring women to reclaim hope and regain their voice after trauma.
    From facing her own traumatic past to leading a pioneering organization, Candice's journey highlights the power of healing through faith, counseling, and innovative therapies like ART. Her Well offers free counseling, essentials, and a transformative space for those in need.
    I know what Candice shares will encourage, inspire, and challenge you, so listen in while I have a chat with Candice Reyes.
    Episode Highlights ...
    Candice's Personal Story: Candice bravely opens up about her youth and early married life marked by sexual assaults. With resilience, she found healing through Bible study, personal counseling, and a technique called Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART).
    Her Well's Mission: Her Well is more than just an organization; it’s a lifeline for women reclaiming their voice and hope after trauma. Offering free counseling, spiritual guidance, and practical support, Her Well is a testament to faith and healing.
    Healing Through Forgiveness: Discover the power of forgiveness not just as an act towards others, but as a pivotal step in personal healing.
    Supportive Community: Her Well encourages public involvement and donations to expand its outreach and impact.
    Beyond the Program: Graduates of Her Well not only achieve personal transformation but can choose to mentor new participants, further nurturing a supportive community.
    My Previous Episode with Candice
    Candice Reyes: Three Simple Practices to Help Cultivate a Relationship with God
    Connect with Candice!
    Candice Reyes is a Speaker, Author, and Executive Director of Her Well, an organization that guides survivors of unhealthy sexual relationships to overcome the fear of their past and heal mentally, physically, and spiritually. Candice wrote two books both highlighting 3 Biblical Practices to ignite our relationship with God. Her first book, A 15-minute “Date” with God: Strengthen Your Relationship in 3 Ways, made the Top 100 Books sold on Amazon and won the 2021 Christian Indie Award for the Bible Study Category. Her second book, Awake My Soul: 3 Ways to Ignite Your Relationship with God guides men and women on a personal one-on-one with God in a minimum of 15 minutes. Candice is the Executive Director of Hooks2Crook Ministries, Inc. a Non-Profit organization. On top of all that she is a wife of a phenomenal artist, Elias Reyes, and a mother of three a-dork-able kids ages 23-14. Candice hopes to encourage, equip, and endorse others to step out in faith utilizing their God-given talents and gifts for His glory.
    You can connect with Candice at https://herwell.org/ and there you'll find social media links for Facebook and Instagram.
    If you're in need of Her Well services to regain your voice and hope, click on the "I NEED HELP" button at the top of the Her Well homepage.
    Connect with Doris!
    Connect with Doris at https://dorisswift.com/ For speaking engagements, visit her booking page at womenspeakers.com
    Join us for this heartening episode of Fierce Calling and be inspired to deepen your biblical study and walk with God.
    What Threatens to Steal Your Joy?
    Check out Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You 6-week Bible study rooted in John 15. You can find more info at https://dorisswift.com/book/
    Let’s Stay Connected!
    Find my free resources including Fear Fighting Bible Verses, Simple Tips for Sharing Your Faith, Surrender the Joy Stealers, Step Out of Your Doubt and Into Your Calling ebook, and more on my dorisswift.com homepage!
    Love Fierce Calling?
    Following, rating, and leaving a review over at Podchaser or Apple Podcasts helps others discover the show too!
    Need a Speaker for Your Next Women’s Event? Now Booking for 2025!
    Check out my speaking page, grab my flyer, and let’s talk about me speaking at your next women’s event…
    Thanks for Listening!
    I hope this episode with Nancy encouraged, inspired, and challenged you to cultivate community, live and walk in the value and worth God gave you, and take action where your passion, compassion, and conviction intersect. You'll find links in the show notes to connect with Nancy and with me.
    If you're looking for a speaker for your next women's conference, retreat, luncheon, or workshop, reach out and connect with me on my speaker page at https://www.womenspeakers.com/florida/edgewater/speaker/doris-swift
    Let's have a chat about your 2025 event!
    Stay tuned for more amazing content and remember to check the show notes for all the links mentioned.
    Thank you for being a part of our community. We are grateful for your continued support and encourage you to embrace the unique gifts that make you magnificently you.
    I hope you'll join me next time when I talk with another woman who is taking action where her passion, compassion, and conviction intersect ...
    Until then friend, have a blessed week, and I'll talk to you soon.
    With love and joy,
    Doris
    P.S. Don't forget to follow us on social media for bite-sized wisdom and inspiration from Doris and our incredible guests! 📲
    Check out my home page for amazing FREE resources and downloads!
    Transcript
    Surrender the Joy Stealers Bible Study ...
    Doris [00:01:45]:What is threatening to steal your joy? What is it that feels so heavy right now that you could barely stand? God has a plan, and his plan is to surrender it. Surrender it to him. It might be a prodigal. It might be a relationship, a marriage, something with your job. So many things. We have so many amazing blessings, but there are so many things in our life that threaten to steal our joy. I'm Doris Swift, author of the award-winning 6-week Bible study, Surrender the Joy Stealers, Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You. And it helps women rediscover the overflowing, ever-present Jesus joy within that fills, empowers, and ripens the fruit that God produces in our lives.
    Doris [00:02:36]:Using personal and biblical stories, I share how you can identify your joy stealers, surrender them to God, reawaken the joy within, and share the joy with others. You can do it on your own or with a group. Check it out, friends. Surrender the joy stealers. Rediscover the Jesus joy in you. It's available on all the online retailers. It's time to take your joy back.
    Timestamps ...
    00:00 Passion meets action: Encouraging women’s divine calling.
    04:38 Grateful for God's work, emphasizing community healing.
    08:42 Facing fears to help trauma survivors heal.
    10:35 Rape distorted intimacy; counseling restored biblical intimacy.
    14:59 ART enabled narrative change and emotional healing.
    23:13 Started ministry for sexual assault survivors' hope.
    26:18 Encourage clients to progress at their pace.
    28:21 Case managers support clients; graduation celebrates achievements.
    33:39 Helping survivors understand consent eliminates self-blame.
    36:08 HerWell supports women escaping domestic violence situations.
    41:42 Corporations donate, paint logos; provide safe housing.
    46:34 Helping woman with loan, car, and housing.
    50:43 Expanding faith-based aid across multiple states.
    52:13 Reach out for free counseling support here.
    55:36 Connect: You're fearfully made, God values you.
    Now On with the Show ...
    Hey, friends. Welcome to episode 193 of the Fierce Calling podcast. I'm your host, Dara Swift, and I am so thankful you're listening in. We are talking with guests who are taking action where their passion, compassion, and conviction intersect, which is our definition of a fierce calling. And they are using their gifts to impact the world for Christ to encourage, inspire, and challenge other women to step out of their doubt and into their calling. This week, I have a returned guest you will love to hear from, my friend, Candice Reyes. She has a lot happening, and a lot has happened since she was last on the show. We're going to talk all about her ministry work right now with Her Well, and we're gonna talk about what that is and how you can become involved in that or how God might inspire, encourage, and challenge you to do something similar in your neighborhoods, in your neck of the woods, wherever you are, because every woman of God has a fierce calling.
    Doris Swift00:01:17 - 00:02:12
    And we are going to chat about so many amazing things that are going to really encourage you today. So I hope that you will stay tuned. Friends, thank you so much for listening, and we will get into the show in a moment. But if you are looking for a speaker for your next women's event, please check out my speaker page at women's speakers.com or on my home page, you'll see a link for my speaking events at dorisswift.com.
    Doris Swift00:03:04 - 00:03:45
    Welcome back to the show. Today, I'm excited to welcome back a return guest, my friend and sister in Christ, Candice Reyes. She is the executive director of Her Well. Her Well is an organization that helps women reclaim their hope, regain their voice, and resist their urge to isolate. So we're gonna hear more, and it's an exciting thing. And I had the great privilege of meeting Candice in person and also being a part of a conference more than a mom, and it was really a cool experience and god ordained. So thank you for being on the show.
    Doris Swift00:03:45 - 00:03:47
    Welcome back, Candice. It's great to have you.
    Candice Reyes00:03:47 - 00:03:50
    Thank you, Doris, for having me. I'm glad to be here.
    Doris Swift00:03:50 - 00:04:38
    Yeah. I've been looking forward to having you back on the show, and some things have changed since our first episode....
    57 min

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Because every woman of God has a Fierce Calling