Flourish-Meant: You Were Meant to Live Abundantly

How can we take steps to accomplish our dreams? Today's guest, author and accomplished entrepreneur Victoria Duerstock, shares insights from her success journey on achieving your God-given destiny.

Victoria Duerstock is an award-winning author, multi-passionate creator, and founder of End Game Press. She founded her publishing company with a passion to create beauty, community, and lasting impact.

Victoria shares insights from her multi-career journey. She notes that when we follow the Lord, he puts the dreams in front of us and cultivates our growth process toward fulfillment.

We discuss how creatives might struggle to choose between many ideas. Duerstock lists the following steps to discern our best direction:

1. Know your design.
2. Decide between good and best.
3. Commit to saying "no" to anything less than best.
4. Work with mentors and team members to discover your next steps.
5. Consider how your decisions will affect you or cost you long term.
6. Invest in the work God places on your heart and the mission he prompts you to pursue.

Victoria notes that we don't always know the scope of God-given dreams, but we can trust the one who does and take the next step forward.

Duerstock acknowledges the common fears many of us face, yet emphasizes the need to do our God-given work in spite of the fear. Victoria encourages us to keep in mind this is God's work.

We discuss courage and how to overcome discouragement. Duerstock lists the following keys to pursuing God-ordained purpose:

1. Take time to rest.
2. Community is vital.
3. Recognize the supportive people necessary to accomplish a God-sized mission.

Victoria shares the common principles she discovered while interviewing successful entrepreneurs for her book, The Story of Good. While each business founder had a unique journey, the motivation to serve others echoed throughout all their stories. Duerstock defines a successful, divinely-ordained dream as one centered beyond self. "We might not be able to help everyone, but we can help someone."

We also discuss how to balance visionary or creative work with administrative, organizational tasks. Duerstock advises recognizing when you are most able to process certain types of tasks and set your schedule accordingly. Protect your visionary or creative time.

Connect with Victoria at https://www.victoriaduerstock.com/ and check out the coffee-table-worthy books published by her company at https://www.endgamepress.com/

Get inspired now and get Tina Yeager's newest release, Upcycled: Crafted for a Purpose! The book is available on Amazon, Bold Vision Books, or wherever books are sold. Visit Tina's website for craft videos and more at https://www.tinayeager.com/upcycled/

Unwrapping Your Worth in Christ with Royce King

When we feel worthless or we lose sight of our purpose and value, how can we unwrap our worth in Christ? That's the topic we're going to be addressing today on Flourish-Meant.

Today I have a lovely woman of God with me. Her name is Royce King. She's a highly motivated speaker with 20-plus years of experience. As a woman's coach and a group facilitator, she runs a global marketing agency and is a coach, author, and podcast host.

Royce was an underprivileged kid raised by a single mom on the wrong side of the tracks and had a lack of confidence because of those things. In high school, she went into modeling, made some terrible choices, and entered into toxic relationships.

In her forties, King realized Christ that gives us worth, not what the world says. God uses us despite our brokenness. She shared that message with women over and over again, even in her brokenness. But she couldn't accept that message.

After 20-some years of mentoring women and being a group facilitator and a Bible study leader with women, God called King to write a book. She ended up being obedient to him after some arguing and wrote, Unwrapping Your Worth in Christ. That book really shares that beautiful message that the outside circumstances of our world are not what gives us our identity, rather Christ gives us our identity.

And that message continues to resonate with audiences, so this year she's launching a couple of other things to go along with the book.

We discuss some of the things that are really specific to women, especially those that tend to cover our worth and hide it and push it deep down where we can't find it.

Our worth cannot be found in the things that everyone around us is telling us to search for our worth inside of or purchase a little bit more worth from. If we stay in the word of God, we realize how valuable we are, and that's when we can really unwrap our worth and see us through the eyes that Jesus sees us.

Find that picture of God in your mind and just cling to how much he loves you.

The Bible says to renew our minds daily. The world continues to attack us because if the enemy can make us believe we are not who God has created us to be, we can't impact the world. And we're all called to do something.

And we won't ever accomplish that if we're thinking small, believing small, and walking in a false identity.

In the second portion of our discussion with Royce King, we dive into some practical things that you can do to unwrap your worth in Christ.

The first thing that we need to do is be in God's word daily. You know, he talks about renewing our minds, and if we're not reading his word, we can't renew our minds.

The second thing that we need to do is pray Scripture over us.

God has lavished great love on us, that we should be called children of God. And if we spoke that scripture over us and really understood what it meant to be his child, we would live differently. We would believe differently, and we would impact people at a much deeper level.

Second Corinthians tells us the old life has gone, a new life has begun, and we need to walk in that new life.

It's kind of like veering off of the old worn path and going down a new road. You really have to be steadying the one that made the map so that you know where he is taking you.

God tells us that out of the heart, the mouth speaks, and so our heart is where our thoughts really start and shows us what we believe. And when we believe those beliefs long enough, we end up acting on those beliefs. And so, it really happens in the mind and the heart first where those changes happen and when they happen there, it's so much easier to live out the difference in your life.

And if we love ourselves enough to receive that love from God, we love God better and we love other people better.

We learn to love, like Christ loves because humanly in our human form, we can't. Perfectly and unconditionally because love is patient. Love is kind. Love is not jealous. In our human form, we're not always kind or patient.

One of the things that we do is examine the lies that she currently believes.

The second thing is prayer. Implementing a habit of prayer is so important because the world is so noisy and will continue to lie to us and drag us away. Where we're called to be with the Lord, and it's only in that quiet place that we can hear his still small voice and know what he wants for us.

We discuss co-piloting. We need to be the co-pilot and let God pilot because he sees the big picture. We only see the next runway, but we don't see the entire life plan for us.

Know that you are a treasured chosen child of God. When you come to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are a co-heir with him. You are no longer an orphan. You are no longer an outcast. You are his treasured child and he opens the door to everything you need to accomplish his purpose.

You can find Royce on all the social media channels and go to treasuredthemovement.com (available soon) for updates.

Get inspired now and get Tina Yeager's newest release, Upcycled: Crafted for a Purpose! The book is available on Amazon, Bold Vision Books, or wherever books are sold. Visit Tina's website for craft videos and more at https://www.tinayeager.com/upcycled/

What if the conventional limitations placed on women in the church aren't really Biblical at all? Today's guest, Julie Zine Coleman, reveals the accurate ways to interpret scriptures about a woman's role as she serves God.

When correctly understood, Scripture actually teaches freedom for women. Expert Bible teacher Julie Zine Coleman will take us through and offer a fresh, truly Scriptural perspective. It's time to set women free to answer God's call on their lives—and set the church free to function in the way God truly desires.

Julie grew up in a strict church environment, where many restrictions were placed upon women with regard to ministry. When she married her husband, who had a more egalitarian view, he asked her to remove the word "obey" from their wedding vows. Julie reacted with indignance because she thought it might be unbiblical at the time, but later expanded her view of how scripture outlines gender roles.

Coleman was later asked to serve on her church's teaching team and taught sermons, but she felt a compelling need to examine the scriptures often interpreted as prohibiting women from speaking or teaching in church. She did not pursue the study to contend with anyone, but sought the truth because she didn't want to disobey God by teaching.

When Julie offered to share what she discovered about women's roles in scripture, attendance doubled at that service. Coleman saw how many women were hurt and began to leave the church. Even more disturbing were the numbers of women who also turned away from God because of how they had been treated in church. Julie felt led to write her book to help those who were losing their faith due to a misunderstanding of scripture. Though she prefers to avoid conflict and controversy, she felt compelled to help the women who had been wounded by the misuse of scriptures that were taken out of context.

Julie emphasizes speaking the truth in love. She encourages having respectful conversations with those with different viewpoints. Coleman clarifies that she is not speaking against any particular group, but simply wants to request all Christians to take another look at scripture.

For those who feel called to ministry, Coleman advises the following steps:

• Prepare. Seek education and training.
• Wait. When you're obedient by investing time and experience in preparation, God will open doors at the right time.
• Seek God's direction.
• Connect with those already involved in ministry.

If experiencing setbacks or difficulties after pursuing a call to ministry, don't assume it's because you're doing something wrong or God is displeased with you.

Tests and trials can grow us for leadership.

Ask what you can learn from the trial.

We discuss the battles to expect when pursuing a call to ministry. Coleman encourages us to be aware of spiritual warfare but also to remember that God is greater and keep it in perspective.

Women in ministry can find community and support on podcasts like Come to the Table, Facebook groups, or organizations like Christians for Biblical Equality.

Julie closes with the encouragement that God has made us unique and God is calling us to share with those around us. Whatever he is calling you to do, take steps and do it. God didn't limit half of the church. If we were designed to walk on two legs and we're trying to walk on only one, we're not operating according to God's design.

Connect with Julie Z. Coleman and sign up for a free study of Colossians at juliezinecoleman.com. Her book, On Purpose: Understanding God's Freedom for Women Through Scripture, is available on Amazon, Kregel Publications, or wherever books are sold.

Get inspired now and get Tina Yeager's newest release, Upcycled: Crafted for a Purpose! The book is available on Amazon, Bold Vision Books, or wherever books are sold. Visit Tina's website for craft videos and more at https://www.tinayeager.com/upcycled/

What can we learn about our own trials, our own suffering, our own need to persevere and perhaps even lift up a sacrifice from the new feature film coming out right now, His Only Son? That's the topic we're going to address today on Flourish-Meant in this. Easter episode.

Flourish-Meant is sponsored by Access More. Today I have with me an award-winning director, David Helling. He was a Marine for five years, which sent him into the desert, and there's through some battling even within himself, he discovered that his calling was to help bring scripture. From the page to the screen, and he's here to talk to us today about his new film, His Only Son.

Welcome David. I am so pleased to have you on Flourish-Meant.

David: I'm looking forward to talking about just what the Lord did in the life of Abraham and what he's been doing in, in this.

Tina: Tell us a little bit about that personal journey that you went through when you were a Marine and you went through this war inside that brought you to know more of who God is in your life and more desire to delve into scripture and then share it with the world.

David: Yeah, well, you gave the summary of it and really it was during my time as a Marine in Iraq. I grew up in a Christian home and asked Jesus into my heart when I was eight years old at church camp. But really I was just kind of living morally for moral's sake Whenever I went to Iraq, by God's grace, I had taken my Bible with me. And I just got really convicted. It was over there primarily. My team was holed up in one of Saddam Hussein's old missile bunkers in Al Ambar province near the town of Hoban, right on the edge of ancient Babylon. The Lord really began to work in my heart through those long and lonely nights and show me my sin and showed me just how deep it actually ran and that even though I confessed to be a Christian, I had no desire to read his word. And I got really convicted about that.

And so I started reading the Bible. And as I started reading the Bible, I actually started in First Samuel. Cause I didn't even know where to start. I thought, well, my name is David. I'll start with the life of David. And so through going through his life and cross-referencing to the gospels, to the epistles, to the Psalms, just seeing the depth of my own sin and the heights of his grace and the gospel came alive to me and it was like, wait, did I ever get it before? Did I ever really understand what it meant that Jesus died for my sins? That God's standard is holy, but we all fall short of that standard, so the Lord himself came and met that standard in his son Jesus Christ. And through that perfect life, in spite of that perfect life, he was put to death anyway, the just for the unjust. And he atoned for the punishment that we were due. He died the death that we deserve, and he conquered death for all those who believe. Our eternal life with him is by faith in his finished work alone. And all that came alive to me. And not only that, but the people in scripture came alive to me as well. It was no longer letters on a page. It was people in real life. From that moment I had a strong desire to, show people what I was seeing when I read the Bible and to illustrate these accounts we find in in history to show that these are real people.

When you paint that vividly and you see them as real, that's a proper hermeneutic. Hermeneutics is how you study the Bible, and a proper hermeneutic is you start with the text. Who was the writer? Who was the audience? What did the word mean to these people in that time? Then once you have that fleshed out, then you see the true meaning of the text.

Then from that point, you see how it applies to you.

There's a lot of scripture in the film, but this is a tool, which the homiletics is preaching essentially. And I mean, just a pastor would prepare a sermon and you dig from the text and then you set the context in the world so that people better understand the text of scripture. That's what I'm trying to do with this film.

Not everything in the film is scripture, so lemme be clear about that. So this isn't supposed to be a replacement for scripture at all. This is not, you don't go see this movie and think you got your Bible time in for the day. You want to go home and dig into the word. But I know there are many things in this film that are touching on, not only with Abraham's trial and his testing of faith, but for the first time ever, I think there is a richness that is given to Sarah's struggle with infertility and as she works her way to the birth of Isaac . That will resonate differently than, Abraham's story will resonate with people. And so the Lord will use it just like our own testimonies, right? We bear witness of how the Lord has brought us from death to life. And there's different parts of our testimony that the Lord will use in shining that light or sparking that spark in people's lives.

So yes, so I can see the film being used in that regard, and I think it already,

As far as local churches going to see this film and giving talking points, especially even now during Easter, because you know so many of us, we like to invite our lost friends and family to church on Easter.

But there are those that won't even go to church on Easter, but they'll go see a movie. And so what that'll do is you're able to then have those discussions with your lost friends and family and, and be able to talk about what the Lord was doing in Abraham's life and, and what that means for us today. It's not for entertainment primarily, it's for eternal.

The Lord's perfect timing in having it come out right now, in Easter. I was actually praying for an Easter release.

If you haven't entered into that relationship with Christ, if you're not covered by his righteousness, by his finished work, and you know that you can't cut it, you can't do it. So the Lord himself did it. Christ did it. He lived the perfect life. He went and died to death that you rightly deserve. And in the proof that atoning work was sufficient before the father is, he's risen from the grave.

And so all we need to do is put our faith in that. And what we put our faith in that, yes, his work is finished. I now can stand before the Lord, before the throne blameless because it's his righteousness that covers me. When you put your faith in that. Then we love him and if we love him, then we keep his commandments.

We are saved to good works. We are not saved by good works. You wanna be careful you don't flip down on its head. So if you haven't put your faith in Christ, then do that now. This life is hard and it's difficult. We have to consider the amount of affliction that Christ, the only innocent one went through. Otherwise, we become weary in our own affliction.

We're called to do hard things and in the hard things we see that Christ's Grace is sufficient. His strength is made perfect in our weakness.

Tina: So how can people access all the resources available along with the movie and how can they find theaters to invite their friends and family members and their church community to go visit those theaters to see the movie this weekend?

David: If you go to angel.com/son, you can get your tickets there. You type in your zip code, it'll show you where it's playing near you, and. It's cool because Angel Studios actually came up with brand-new technology. Technology that they've been using for The Chosen to get The Chosen out to over a hundred million people around the world for free.

Their pay-it-forward model that people pay for The Chosen so that it stays free for other people that can't afford it. I know it's a hard time economically for all of us, including me.

There are many families that can't afford to go to the movies ever. And I think the last time I checked as of yesterday, there had been, already 16,000 tickets that have been purchased through Pay it Forward so that people can take their families to go and see His Only Son in theaters if they can't even afford it.

And so if you wanna get tickets or pay it forward for others so that others that can't afford it can go see it in Easter, you go to angel.com. I think there are resources for churches and things like that at hisonlysonmovie.com. You might be able to see that also on angel.com/son.

Are you living on purpose? Today's guest, Beth Townsend, shares the importance of living your mission with intentionality.

On her own since 17 years old right out of high school, Beth had no choice but to go to work. Starting as a property manager in Virginia, the climbed the corporate ladder and became a young executive working as VP of Operations for a Real Estate Company in Atlanta. Eventually becoming a trainer for the industry, Beth was asked one question numerous times that changed the course of her her life. "How did you know your purpose?" In her twenties, she had no clue about her purpose! Realizing the depth of the question led her on a spiritual journey that continues today. Since 2001, she has been interviewing "on purpose" people with the goal of learning how to share with others how to live a purposeful life. From her book "Life on Purpose", she gleaned 9 "Purpose Principles" that she has found can help anyone learn to be led so they can effectively lead others. Whether at work, in ministry, or home, we all must set parameters for our life so we can do what God has called us to do with passion, while also realizing we were never called to "do it all." Purpose is a mindset where passion lives, faith thrives, and God's will is accomplished in the life of every Believer! Life on Purpose TV won 23 awards in 2020 and 2021, including Best Host, Best Show, Best Director, and Most Inspirational. Beth also hosts a Show on Christian Mix 106, and is an excellent speaker and Life Coach. Her most recent award is the 2021 Christian Literary Awards, Testimonials, Justified by Grace.

Beth shares how she chose the topic because she struggled with purpose herself. Townsend declares that your life matters. We often fumble with questions and struggles over identity, which leads to the topic of purpose. Beth shares the following key points:

• Living on purpose requires intention.
• We want the story of our lives to be a legacy.
• Planning and prevention set up a proactive approach.
• You can choose what to do with your life.

We discuss how purpose involves personal responsibility, differentiating it from the concept of destiny.

Beth shares scriptural references to choosing our self-talk and renewing our minds. She describes the process of fulfilling our purpose as a balance of plan and surrender. We can trust God when our plans don't go as we hoped. Townsend refers to a celebrity interview, in which her guest recommended praying without being married to preconceived outcomes.

Beth declares that today matters and everything we do is important. The world is suffering, and believers are the solution. She encourages listeners to pay attention to who God might put in their paths.

Townsend shares the following steps toward living on purpose:

1. Ask God. Get your concerns and thoughts out, preferably on paper, and lay them before God.
2. Weigh whether the thoughts and ideas are from God or not.
3. Ask yourself if you can commit to excellence on the endeavor.

Beth emphasizes that we can choose our disposition, which leads to character training. She encourages us to take the presence of Jesus with us everywhere we go.

Townsend notes that we don't always know God's plan, but he will redirect us by closing doors when needed.

Beth shares her personal journey of waiting fifteen years between God's call to write a book and its publication. She explains that God gives us a dream. What changes during the waiting season is what's inside us. After our growth, we are ready to fulfill our purpose.

Townsend states that purpose is a process, not just a destination. She emphasizes we need to believe our life has meaning and purpose. As we let Christ live through us, we can change the world.

Connect with Beth Townsend, watch her TV show, and get your copy of Life on Purpose at bethtownsend.com.

Get inspired now and get a copy of Tina Yeager's newest release, Upcycled: Crafted for a Purpose! Get your free downloadable flip book template at https://upcycledbook.com/

How do we find freedom from trauma in our lives? Today's guest, J. Otis Ledbetter, offers insights on the keys to overcoming trauma.

J. Otis Ledbetter is an author, conference speaker and lead pastor at Sonrise Church in Clovis, California. He holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Liberty University. He is the author of Your Heritage: How to Be Intentional about the Legacy You Leave and Soul Hunger: Satisfying Your Heart's Deepest Longing. See also: www.joledbetter.com

Dr. Ledbetter shares how the issue of trauma first captured his attention during a board meeting for the Parenting Enhancement Program. The Board of Education required development of a Trauma-Informed curriculum to address emerging issues resulting from the recent pandemic. When Ledbetter saw the impact of trauma upon children in his county, his heart couldn't take it.

Ledbetter also heard the leader of a national ministry say he'd never heard a pastor address the issue of trauma from the pulpit. Realizing he hadn't targeted the topic of trauma, J. Otis wrote a sermon series on trauma. When he delivered the messages for the series, an unusual silence fell across the congregation as he spoke. Ledbetter received more feedback from his messages on trauma than he'd gotten from the entirety of his 36 years in ministry at that church, so he decided to write a book on this much-needed subject.

We discuss the rise in anxiety, depression, and suicide among children, teens, and adults. Dr. Ledbetter describes the progression from fear to anxiety, mood swings, and then isolation. He states that isolation brings on hopelessness and desperation, which can lead to suicidality.

Ledbetter declares the Bible is the best psychology book ever written. He states this is why he chose to approach this topic from a spiritual perspective. His school district intended to address only the social and emotional aspects of trauma, but Ledbetter recognized the need to include the spiritual component.

Dr. Ledbetter explains that the most revered people featured in scripture all suffered from trauma. He defines trauma as a chronic reaction to an event, not the event itself.

We discuss why the church has avoided the subject of trauma and how believers can better respond to the issue. Ledbetter cites the following reasons why Christians fail to deal well with trauma:

1. The myth that Christians should not have troubles
2. We become comfortable with our pain.

He cites Biblical examples of those who became too familiar with an unhealthy lifestyle. J. Otis describes how we often cry about pain but remain reluctant to allow anyone to touch the sore points and free us from the cause.

Dr. Ledbetter declares we need to live vertically in a horizontal world. He elaborates upon how trauma compounds as new events trigger additional chronic reactions. Quoting a therapist, he describes how trauma shatters perspective like a pebble hitting a windshield.

Ledbetter cites Biblical examples of trauma related to loss, anxiety, moodiness, isolation, and suicidality. He states this progression leads to lying as we attempt to create a safe place for ourselves. Our personal choice remains a key factor in overcoming trauma.

We discuss how isolation keeps us from the source of healing.

We also explore reasons why believers and even ministry leaders fear reaching out, particularly the lack of proper training.

Ledbetter encourages us to see hurting people as disconnected souls. He refers to his book, Soul Hunger, in which he identifies the number one hunger of the soul as connection. If a person has a psychological disorder, refer them to professional support. If the wounded heart does not have a mental health disorder, offer them the healing balm of connection.

We discuss equipping lay believers and ministry to respond better to trauma, using Set Free as a resource. Ledbetter describes how people in the Bible moved from fear to faith, from anxiety to assurance, from moodiness to maturity, from isolation to involvement, and from lying to leadership.

Connect with Dr. J. Otis Ledbetter's resources, including his book, Set Free, at https://www.joledbetter.com/

Get inspired now and get Tina Yeager's newest release, Upcycled: Crafted for a Purpose! The book is available on Amazon, Bold Vision Books, or wherever books are sold. Visit Tina's website for craft videos and more at https://www.tinayeager.com/upcycled/

How can we overcome family brokenness and dysfunction? Today's esteemed guest, Lisa Burkhardt Worley, shares insights and tips to guide you toward healing and freedom.

Lisa Burkhardt Worley is the founder of Pearls of Promise Ministries, a ministry designed to help people overcome brokenness and oppression through biblical truths. She is a documentary film producer, television host, conference speaker and ten-time award-winning author of ten books and a Bible study including her most recent award-winning book, The Root that Never Died: A Christian Woman's Journey Back to Her Hebraic Heritage.

Lisa spent almost twenty years as an award-winning on-air television sportscaster both nationally and locally and is now the Executive Producer and Co-host of the topical television and radio show, POP Talk, an interview program seen on thirteen television platforms and heard on numerous radio platforms.

Lisa earned a Masters of Theological Studies degree from SMU Perkins School of Theology in 2008, and after a return to her Jewish roots in 2014, is currently working on her Doctor of Ministry degree in Messianic Jewish Studies at the King's University. Her goal is to help the Jewish people by educating the world about antisemitism.

Lisa shares her story of being born 2 months after her father's death to a mother who never recovered from the loss. Worley felt lonely, abandoned, and unloved as a child. But in high school, a God-sent friend shared Christ with Lisa.

She still needed to overcome insecurity. College activities helped build her confidence, but the issues continued to resurface at times. Lisa later rededicated her life to Christ and discovered how she could turn to God's Word for the healing and strength to overcome insecurity and the wounds of her past.

She recommends finding a verse to apply to your area of struggle and putting it on the mirror.

Worley states there are two steps in our faith journey:

1. Belief
2. Lordship

After her career crash in adulthood when she rededicated her life to Christ, Lisa applied the step of lordship and became a praying woman.

Worley notes that healing takes time. God helps us lift layer upon layer of woundedness. She emphasizes forgiveness as a vital part of healing. Lisa shares how forgiveness of her mother fulfilled great healing, though she had to extend unconditional love.

Lisa gives the following tips for overcoming family brokenness and dysfunction:

1. Talk about it. Don't bottle it up.
2. Share your testimony, but make sure you honor others when sharing your story. God works a blessing in others when you share your story of healing.
3. Prayer is very important. Spend time with God to flourish. Consider Psalm 92:12-13.
4. Take your needs and wounds to the Lord.

We discuss how unresolved issues like abandonment and family dysfunction can affect relationships. Lisa strongly recommends studying scripture, believing God's Word, prayer, and Biblical teaching.

Lisa advises listeners not to give up. She offers the metaphor of a pearl, which is created from years of distress. Likewise, God forms pearls in us.

Connect with Lisa at https://pearlsofpromiseministries.com or on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@pearlsofpromiseministries, where you can find her TV show as well as documentaries on antisemitism, including her new film, Terror in Toulouse.

POP (Pearls of Promise) TV show is also available on InspirationTV.

Get inspired now and get Tina Yeager's newest release, Upcycled: Crafted for a Purpose! The book is available on Amazon, Bold Vision Books, or wherever books are sold. Visit Tina's website for craft videos and more at https://www.tinayeager.com/upcycled/

How can we change the world and grow individually by learning about the circle of life? Today's guest, Stacy Shewey, shares the blessings and unique opportunities that spring forth from lending our lives to facilitate intergenerational well-being.

Stacy's career began with Hyatt Hotels and Resorts. During this time, she was awarded the prestigious Circle of Excellence Award, which is reserved for the hospitality industry's best sales associates. Stacy is an entrepreneur who built a successful hospitality company where she owned and operated hotel properties, freelanced as a hotel feasibility consultant, was a consultant/investor on a 60-million-dollar resort start-up, and contracted out as an event planner. She left the hospitality industry to become an Executive Director of an assisted living and memory care community, where she gained experience in the senior living industry. She is a visionary who takes ideas and brings them to life. After being in the senior living and hospitality industry for her whole career, she felt called to take her experiences and knowledge and serve those in developing nations. We all know we are in an aging crisis in the US, but few realize we are in a global aging crisis where there is no plan to care for the vulnerable and forgotten senior population. It was with this revelation Hands 4Life was born. In 2016, Hands 4Life founder Stacy Shewey traveled to Haiti as part of a mission trip. On that trip, she visited a newly constructed community with an assisted living facility for the elderly. Witnessing firsthand the tremendous need in the developing world for high-quality, compassionate care for older adults, Stacy began a journey leading to the creation of Hands 4Life – one of the few nonprofit missionary organizations focusing on caring for the elderly in developing nations. The need has never been greater.

Stacy shares how growing up in an intergenerational home inspired her love for seniors. She relates her story of selling her hospitality business to run an assisted living facility before hearing God's call to care for those in developing countries who have no one to care for them.

Shewey details statistics declaring the world is in a global aging crisis. Sixty percent of the world's senior population live in developing countries. By the year 2030, the number is expected to rise to eighty percent. Developing nations lack the resources to care for the elderly. Seniors in these countries often suffer from neglect or abuse. A dire need for education about proper diagnosis and care of aging adults in impoverished areas exists. The younger generation often migrates from their area of origin to seek better employment, leaving the elderly with no one to care for them.

Shewey states the solution to this global crisis is to teach children about the circle of life. Parents care for children, then kids grow up to care for their parents. The Hands 4Life model offers seniors an opportunity to impart wisdom and job training to orphaned children. Kids learn to honor and respect their elders while receiving valuable life skills.

Stacy explains that when you serve others, you find true joy and purpose. Hands 4Life has identified a five-acre site in Nigeria to build their first campus with intergenerational homes, workshops, medical facilities, educational resources, and more. Seniors will receive 24-7 care. Missionary parents will care for the orphaned children. Seniors will utilize the workshops to impart their trade skills to the younger generation. When kids reach adulthood, they are equipped with job and life skills along with Biblical truth.

Hands 4Life also envisions training interested kids on how to run for-profit senior care facilities of their own after outgrowing the nonprofit starter program.

Stacy notes that intergenerational studies have existed for a long time, but says the concept of creating an intergenerational campus with homes is cutting-edge. Shewey describes the great need as Hands 4Life prepares to launch, including childcare experts, senior living experts, sponsors of individual kids and seniors, corporate sponsors, and monthly sponsors. Mission trips are in the works, as well, and sponsors can visit the children and seniors they've supported in person. Sponsored residents of the program will send videos with personal messages to their sponsors and sponsors can respond.

To learn more about Stacy visit her website: https://h4lworld.org .

Get inspired now and get Tina Yeager's newest release, Upcycled: Crafted for a Purpose! The book is available on Amazon, Bold Vision Books, or wherever books are sold. Visit Tina's website for craft videos and more at https://www.tinayeager.com/upcycled/

When facing unpleasant circumstances, how can we have joy anyway? Today's guest, Joy Coach Robin Shear, shares how we can use joy in messy or even hopeless life situations to overcome and flourish despite them.

Robin Shear is a keynote speaker, joy coach and new author of Messy Joy: How Joy Can Begin Before Your Difficulties End (which went to #1 on Amazon's New Releases in Christian Self-Help). Robin shares her personal journey of seeking ways to serve others in a series of helping occupations. As one career came to a close, she prayed about whether she had failed. The Lord showed her that joy had woven itself through all of her previous work and led her to become a joy coach.

Shear reveals how we can apply joy to the most hopeless struggles. She differentiates between "fluffy" joy and true joy, noting the difference between joy and happiness. Joy transforms our approach to recovery. Integrating joy with our goals makes the journey possible.

We discuss how love is integral to joy and vital to therapy.

Robin describes joy as a lasting and crucial thing. She explains the compelling need to share true joy. Robin clarifies how her use of #feelgood is not encouraging selfishness, but becoming better able to bless others.

Shear defines joy as a collective and communal feeling of goodness.

Shear lists the following steps toward living with the power of joy:

• Believe joy is possible
• Embrace yourself as deserving of joy without having to earn it.
• Identify what inspires and uplifts you
• Seek and implement sources of joy, customized to your needs

Shear notes that coaching and therapy help trace the origins of struggles with receiving joy.

We discuss how to plug joy into daily life. Joy shapes how we live more than what we do.

Robin defines the benefits and details of living with gratitude as a key to joy.

Connect with Robin Shear on social media at joycoachrobin or on her website at https://joytotheworldcoaching.com/. For free questions related to her new release, Messy Joy, visit joytotheworldcoaching/messyjoyquestions.

Get inspired now and get Tina Yeager's newest release, Upcycled: Crafted for a Purpose! The book is available on Amazon, Bold Vision Books, or wherever books are sold. Visit Tina's website for craft videos and more at https://www.tinayeager.com/upcycled/

How can we find emotional healing through creativity and art? This week's amazing guest offers his insights from his personal healing journey during the process of publishing a powerful and inspiring children's book he co-authored with his late wife.

Matthew Ronan likes telling good stories, helping others tell good stories, and most of all wants his life to be a good story. He is an artist, writer, and content producer who's worked in film, television, and radio. His credits include projects for Disney/Lucasfilm, Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, and the Michael Jackson estate. He lives in San Francisco with his daughter Catica. Chastidy Ronan was an executive director of a family support center, a teacher, a missionary, and a nanny, but the brightest part of her life was being a mom. She taught elementary through college in Ohio, Haiti, China, and San Francisco. She knew 5 languages and always got the most blue ribbons in Toastmasters. She died in 2019 from colon cancer and is survived by her daughter Catica and her husband Matthew.

Matthew shares his heart-gripping story of multiple miscarriages, his wife's diagnosis of stage four cancer when their daughter was five months old, and the simultaneous dissolution of the company he had founded during Chastidy's illness. Ronan relates the original dream he shared with his wife about writing children's books. He notes how life became too busy to follow this dream until they resurrected the idea during Chastidy's battle with cancer. Chemotherapy regimens and caring for their young daughter made writing difficult, so Ronan had to finish the book after his wife passed away.

Matthew recounts the challenges of navigating life as a creative professional. He notes the fears that seized him as he worked on the book, especially after facing multiple traumatic losses with regard to his family, previous creative projects, and the dissolution of his company.

Ronan details how God worked on his heart as he worked through the chapters of the book. The Lord shifted his perspective from worldly success standards toward inspiring others. The mindset change freed Matthew from worry and anxiety.

We address the irony of how those who serve in the healing media of art suffer great attacks on their emotional wellbeing, identity, and discouragement. Matthew discusses the sensitivity of creatives as part of their power to offer emotionally transformative work. The emotional nature of an artist also renders them vulnerable to pain. Ronan highlights the cultural pressures and intense competition of the artistic industries.

We discuss the issues of comparison and spiritual warfare faced by creatives. Matthew shares his recent encounter with a man armed with a knife who charged at Ronan and his six year-old daughter. He pointed out the incident occurred right before he was scheduled to share his testimony at an event.

We also emphasize how those who do not work in creative arts industries can enjoy healing and connection with God through art. Matthew defines art as valuable to all people because it is the language of the heart. Ronan states that art is a tool that God uses for discipleship. He urges us to resist the temptation to ascribe value to our creative projects by comparing them to what others have produced. We differentiate between therapeutic art, healing art, art as worship and the art crafted as work.

Matthew and Chastidy Ronan's book, The Girl With 5 Hearts, is about a girl who gives her hearts to the things that she loves, only to have them rejected and broken. It is a painfully honest, yet hopeful story about giving your heart back to the One who made it, because many things in life can break it. No stranger to heartbreak and loss Chastidy's inspiration for The Girl With 5 Hearts was autobiographic, at the same time universal. This story will inspire both young and old, and point towards healing even the deepest of wounds. Learn more and get your copy at the girlwithfivehearts.com Get your copy of a book to help you connect with the Lord's renewal through insightful study chapters, creative illustrations, and easy craft projects. Discover restoration through Upcycled: Crafted for a Purpose by Tina Yeager on Amazon, through Bold Vision Books, or wherever books are sold. https://www.amazon.com/Upcycled-Craft...