Livin' What You're Given

Right in time for the Thanksgiving Holiday here in America, we have lessons on gratitude and joy from across a few different ponds. Annette (AJ) Spurr, from Australia, is an author, freelance writer, wife, mom and on a mission to help us recover our joy and gratitude.

Based on many research sources to support her book, she shares some insights about how we may have lost our joy and ways we can recapture it. "The Simple Joy of Seeing God," her first book, starts by telling us some of the elements that may keep us from living in joy and gratitude. In episode one of this two-part series, we talk about three major factors that subtract joy from our lives. She also offers some practical solutions to remedy the situation. 

1.  Chronic lack of awe. We no longer have a childlike wonder as we observe, move through and share our world. We've lost the ability to see the daily miracles around us. One way to recapture our awe? Go outside and spend time in nature. 

2.  Avatar effect. AJ tells us that we live in a comparison culture with no point of reference other than that outside ourselves. That leads to comparing what we have to what others have or appear to have. One of the ways to combat this is to simply remember we are loved by God who is our good father and being grateful for what we do have while finding value in our lives through gratitude.

3. She talks about the secret passwords, “Thank you" for helping us enter into the presence of God. Gratitude does not come easily in many cases but practicing just saying "thank you" daily or even hourly helps to shift our perspective and move us into the presence of God. She says, "We are not just thankful to be in His presence. We are in His presence because we are thankful."

In part two of this two-part series, Annette shares three more gems useful for not only identifying our lack of joy, but also practicing ways to reclaim it.

To catch up with Annette, go to her website at https://seeinggod.com.au, where you will also find a link to her book. It also is available on Amazon.
 
To reach out to Stephen Ray Watts, the musician performing "The Perfect Gift" on this episode, go to https://dotseroband.com

The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com

Gwendolyn Burton is an authentic voice for those grieving and those trying to come along side of those grieving. By sharing her story of losing her 26-year-old son, five years ago, she talks about the many lessons she has learned and is still learning about the process of healing from loss.

Taking time to grieve fully and freely in our own time and giving the grace and space for others to walk that road freely and fully is her message as she speaks and writes about unpacking the misunderstandings around the grieving process. She shares that we cannot make the pain less but can say and do things that can make the pain worse, even though we may mean well. Gwen offers some practical ways to just be available and helpful without trying to "fix" the grieving person but help honor where they are.

She emphasizes the need for self-care by validating feelings and reaching out in order to honor grief especially at the holiday time. 

To reach out to Gwendolyn for her book "You Don't Know Just How I Feel: Hope for the Grieving Heart" or for resources and/or support go to https://www.gwendolynoburton.com/


The website for Stephen Ray Watts and the band Dotsero   https://dotseroband.com

The website to connect with Laura Padgett https://lauralpadgett.com  

This week, I am joined by my friend and fellow Christian author Patricia Raybon, as she celebrates the one-year anniversary of the release of her debut novel "All That is Secret". She shares what she has learned on this journey including how hungry people are to learn the history of the great centennial state of Colorado. 

Patricia talks about how the truths in this book, especially about the hold the Ku Klux Klan once had on every county, town and city in Colorado in the early 1900's, have been met with gratitude for her ability and courage to tell the truth.  In a time in our USA when we are surrounded by and immersed in malignant conspiracy theories supported by no evidence, Ms. Raybon brings facts based on years of verifiable research. 

This same fact finding and digging for truth are the foundations of her sequel, "Double the Lies" releasing in February of 2023. Truly if we believe that the truth will set us free, we've a great deal to gain from writers and storytellers like Patricia Raybon. And as she wishes us all peace, who offers us the freedom to find that in telling, accepting and teaching the truth.

Website for Patricia Raybon is https://www.patriciaraybon.com/ 
Check here to sign up for her newsletter, to be encouraged and to find information on how to purchase her books including the link to purchase All that is Secret on Amazon.
Twitter at twitter.com/PatriciaRaybon 
Facebook at Facebook.com/PatriciaRaybonAuthor
Also find her work at Our Daily Bread, Be Encouraged or Day Spring.

 The website for Stephen Ray Watts and the band Dotsero   https://dotseroband.com

The website to connect with Laura Padgett https://lauralpadgett.com  

What does it mean to kick against darkness? For that matter, how do we define darkness? That is what my guest Rodney Olsen and I explore today. 

Rodney discusses his own podcast, Bleeding Daylight and what he means by kicking the darkness until it bleeds daylight. He says that as followers of Jesus, there are times when He calls us to identify the darkness and kick against it in order to bring the light into our world, communities and churches. In this episode we examine the idea that social justice issues are intricately related to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In this conversation, we talk about why social justice is a loaded term as others may see that as preaching a social gospel and not preaching the salvation in the Gospel of our Lord. Rodney explains that social gospel is indeed part of holistically walking, talking and sharing what we have been sent here to walk, talk and share. He reminds us that we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. And what that really means. He shares his experiences in doing just that, as we talk about his work and ministry centered in addressing global childhood hunger and poverty, while introducing them to the Lord Jesus Christ.

To find out more about Rodney and listen to some of his podcast episodes go to https://www.bleedingdaylight.net/

To reach out to Stephen Ray Watts, the musician performing "If You Only Knew" on this episode, go to https://dotseroband.com

The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com



 

Do you often find yourself rejecting or downplaying compliments given, but receiving and retaining negative comments? Well, you are not alone if the answer is "yes." We all do it, so why?

My guest today is author and speaker Dawna Hetzler, who joins me to answer that question and more on this topic. Drawing on personal experiences and observations, she explains some of the factors contributing to our unwillingness to see ourselves as valued, valuable and worthy of the good life has to offer. 

We discussed her latest book, releasing in September 2022, "Free to Receive: Become Your True Self by Knowing What to Accept and What to Release." In this work, she encourages us to notice the patterns in our lives that may need to be changed in order to accept ourselves and live our best life. She also says that many of these patterns are formed from the wrong messages we received in the past and may be affecting our self-image now. She calls these childhood giants. 

She shares tips, from her own journey, that can help us identify, examine and maybe unpack the unhealthy and untrue messages we carry on our journey.

This book, along with her first one, "Walls of a Warrior," are available on Amazon.com by searching for the titles or for Dawna Hetzler. The release date is September 9, 2022. It will be available by the time this airs. 

 
To reach out to Stephen Ray Watts, the musician performing "If You Only Knew" on this episode, go to https://dotseroband.com

Connect with Laura Padgett at https://lauralpadgett.com

Perhaps the best summary of the interview with my guest today is summed up in Jeremiah 1:4-8

4 The word of the LORD came to me, saying, 
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;
   I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” 
6 “Alas, Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”
7 But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.
8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD.

Esther is a young lady I met four years ago, and through listening, mutual respect and intentionally finding time to be together, we have forged a relationship based on our mutual faith base, our love of dance, writing and good coffee as well as shared experiences. No doubt you are thinking that I am the mentor (as I am several decades her senior) and she is the mentee, right?  You just might be surprised to find out that those roles have switched back and forth over the course of the past four years.

I've learned more from Esther than I can list here, and we discuss some of those lessons in this episode. She reminds us that different generations can learn and grow together but as older people we need to do our best not to minimize the experiences of younger people. True, we may have gone through something similar but it was not the same. Listening for the differences while not saying things like, "Well, I know because I've been there," goes a long way in building lasting friendships and mentoring partnerships (on all sides).

Esther also reminds her generation that older people have a lot to offer and can help them through tough times, if the young are willing to learn. Although the experiences of older people are not precisely like the experiences of today's youth, she encourages her peers to learn from the experiences of another generation. 

Putting some of Esther's words into practice can only serve to help us come together and treat each other as if we really do belong to each other - because we do. Wise beyond her years, this kind, caring and loving young lady will restore your hope in our younger generation. And by hearing our story, maybe you too will choose to be mentored or to mentor.

To reach out to Stephen Ray Watts, the musician performing "If You Only Knew" on this episode, go to https://dotseroband.com

The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com

What are the advantages of stepping into the shoes of another? Today I am joined by Neil Matthews, host of "Other People's Shoes" Podcast, and we explore the moments of pause when we choose to intentionally listen to others. Can we perhaps put ourselves aside and put another first in order to just bring more understanding to a confused and sometimes self-absorbed world? Can we listen with respect even if we are not ever going to totally understand? 

Crediting his church upbringing for his posture of "others first", Neil gives some examples of how we can set our own priorities and agendas on hold in order to try and see through another person's lens. He seeks out people for his podcast who believe they do not have value and asks them why they feel that way. He seeks to help people find their voice and value.

He shares two examples of guests who had stories that impacted his life and encourages us to walk into the growth experienced when we can listen to others. Although Neil has had many years as a podcaster and has had hundreds of guests, he says these two really impacted him by discussing issues he had heard about but had limited knowledge or understanding about.

To find out more about Neil go to https://www.opspodcast.com/ for all that Neil is doing with his podcast.

To reach out to Stephen Ray Watts, the musician performing "If You Only Knew" on this episode, go to https://dotseroband.com

The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com

Wife, mother, author, speaker, podcaster and successful business woman, Casey Alexis, joins me as we talk about our identities that have been dependent upon and now are moving away from what we do or accomplish. She says that many of us are now, especially after the effects of the COVID, redefining ourselves as being the reflection of the creator and not playing to the approval of the creation.

She emphasizes that women do not need to compete because we are not competitors as the world teaches, but Sisters in Christ with unique gifts, talents and identities. We discuss the lies and the truths around finding the healing rather than the soothing offered to us in various communities

"Right now, in churches we have a lot of hurt people and we need more healed people. It's time for the church to move back into the healing roles that Jesus models. Sometimes people in churches are known by the 'stuff' we have going on and not as the people God wants and created us to be," Casey says.

She shares some practical ways we can begin to become effective minsters of the Gospel as God intended us to be. We have a huge opportunity to walk into the honor of being able to help by providing what we can provide in the tough times we are facing right now. Casey emphasizes that it is an "honor to serve."

To reach out to Casey or find her blog, podcast and books go to https://beingeve.social/

To reach out to Stephen Ray Watts, the musician performing "If You Only Knew" on this episode, go to https://dotseroband.com

The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com

My guest today is host of the Intentional Encourager Podcast. But that is only one of his many titles. He is also a successful business leader and author of "People Buy From People." He shares with us some strategies for cultivating "people first" attitudes but being intentionally encouraging. He talks about his dad being the original intentional encourager and the impact that had on his life and others.

But what does encouragement mean? What does the word intention mean? We need to learn how to give more than we receive. That is true intentional encouragement. Why are we reluctant to intentionally encourage others and how can we find ways to do that?

We are no longer a deference society (meaning we no longer want to give more than we receive). And that attitude is creeping into our churches. We have become opportunistic.

To hear Brian's podcast, go to any platform where you find podcasts and type in The Intentional Encourager with Brian Sexton. Also check out his YouTube channel.

His book, People Buy From People is available at Amazon.

He is on these social media platforms:
Linkedin.com/in/briansextonmba
Instagram at The Intentional Encourager Podcast
https://www.facebook.com/Brian.TheIntentionalEncouragerPodcast

To reach out to Stephen Ray Watts, the musician performing "If You Only Knew" on this episode, go to https://dotseroband.com

The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com

My guest today, Pastor Marcus Watson, joins me to talk about ways we can begin to see unification in our relationships, our country, our world and especially in the church. We discuss the need to resist "thingification." What is thingification? In the church it is when we see those around us in the pews and even those who do not attend as things, numbers, people who represent a good image for the church. It is when we lose sight of what the true meaning of mission really is.

So how do we avoid doing this? We start becoming aware of when we are thingifying people. We stop doing that by paying attention to what God is doing all around us, especially outside the walls of the church building. We stop trying to control outcomes and start listening to what people need and want. Then we join in the mission to take the mission outside the walls and into our communities.

Dismissing thingification and search for shalom through listening and trying to understand other points of view can help us improve our relationships in families and at work, as well as in our churches and communities. Maybe it can even help us to contribute to healing our world, one person at a time.

To reach out to Pastor Marcus Watson go to https://www.markuswatson.com where you will find links to his books, his podcasts and his blog as well as how to connect with him.

To reach out to Stephen Ray Watts, the musician performing "If You Only Knew" on this episode, go to https://dotseroband.com

The website to connect with Laura Padgett is https://lauralpadgett.com