Morning Cup of Faith

Brenda and Shelley bring in the holidays with a “Holiday Joy Mashup” of some of their favorite episodes of their popular fall Nehemiah 8:10 Joy Series. Brenda gushes, “We want to say ‘Happy Holidays’ and give you a few words of encouragement before Thanksgiving. We’re so grateful for you, faithful listeners! We want to help you find that joy, that light, that zest for life again." Shelley adds, "We’ve all been through a tough season these last 18 months. I don’t know anyone who is saying, ‘You know what? I’m doing fabulous!’ Where are we going to find that new start and fresh strength?” Brenda explains, "Joy is our birthright, it comes from God. Nehemiah 8:10 “the joy of the Lord” does give us strength. Guess what? It also strengthens the people around us too. Shelley and I strengthen each other with joy, right Shelley? Shelley laughs, “Daily! I always knew that joy felt good, but I didn’t realize the POWER there is in that verse. When we plug into God, we know He’s going to work good in all things. God always has bigger dreams for us than we have for ourselves.” Inspiring author, Bible teacher and pilgrim JL Gerhardt (“Look to Love” Episode 60) adds, “It’s what God brings. When you’re close to God, joy is close." What are some blocks to God's joy? Well-loved author podcaster Heather MacFadyen and “ recovering angry mom to four boys” (“Don’t Mom Alone” Episode 62) reveals, “My word for this year is ’strength.’ When I was doing my inner healing prayer journey I didn’t realize there was a spirit of weakness oppressing me. When we asked the spirit why it was there, it replied, ‘I was never asked to leave.’ I said ‘go!’ It was hiding the gifts that God gave me because of a spirit of weakness." Brenda states, “It think of the verse Zechariah 4:6 'Not by might, nor by power. but by my Spirit.’ If He’s in you, than joy is in you. Joy is a trait of our Heavenly Father. We’re not joyful because of our circumstances; joy is something bubbling up inside of us because of who God is.” Dynamic author, podcaster and coach Trish Blackwell's (“Straighten Your Crown” Episode 55) favorite life verse is Isaiah 55:12. “You will live in peace and joy and peace and the mountains and hills will burst into song and the trees in the field will clap their hands. I feel like I am in the ’Sound of Music!’ That is my daily premise: I will live in joy and peace. I was little girl who struggled with insecurity, anorexia and anxiety, the opposite of peace. I was all about performance. I think, joy and peace? That’s me!" Tune into Morning Cup of Faith's Holiday Joy Mashup" and raise your joy meter. Happy Thanksgiving!

November is National Gratitude Month! If the only prayer we ever said was thank you, that would be enough. In this moving and deeply personal episode, Brenda bares her heart as she shares intimate details about her family and prayer life. Her "Book of Promises” is a journal she’s kept for over a decade with scriptures that she speaks aloud daily over her her life which breathe new strength into her spirit. Brenda shares, “My ‘Book of Promises’ was inspired by God and His blessings, and all of the things He’s done in my life, and things I want to see come to pass. I started this book when my young family was coming together and I was very grateful, but I was in ‘Mom-mode’ wondering, what’s next? I’ve always had this burning desire and understanding that God has planted these seeds inside of me and I’m supposed to reach out and encourage people; that is such a huge part of my heart. I was frustrated because I wasn’t in faith. I opened up my Bible, and I started writing down scriptures that resonated with where I was at, and I started speaking them aloud over my life daily." It’s important to chronicle all of the miraculous things God has done for us over the years because if we don’t take a moment of gratitude, we tend to forget our answered prayers when we’re enjoying a time of prosperity and rest. Brenda reflects, “Prayers never die. They stay alive and active, and they’re sharper than any double-edged sword. If we really understood the power and principle behind prayer, we would pray with fervency and more often. I often refer back to my breakthrough moments in my “Book of Promises” when life throws me a curveball. Looking back on those scriptures remind me of God’s faithfulness." As you head into the Thanksgiving holiday, what are you grateful for? What scriptures would you include in your "Book of Promises?" God’s word never returns void.

The time change is coming, it’s getting darker earlier and we’re all transitioning out of a rocky 18 months of the pandemic. Many of us are running on empty. Where are we going to get this new fresh strength from? Take a moment to reflect on the last year. What’s going on in your life? Where are you going? What areas of your life need to be restored? The answer can be found in one of our favorite verses Nehemiah 8:10 “The joy of the Lord is our strength.” God is always waiting for us with a fresh start and a new strength. Brenda shares, “I didn’t realize when I was a little girl that our joy came from God. I write about #ijoy in my book “Rise Up.” It means “I AM JESUS ON YOU.” When God is close, joy is near. It’s a beautiful aroma, like a favorite fragrance we wear." Nehemiah was the cupbearer to the king who built the protective wall around the defenseless Jerusalem in just 52 days. At the start of the book of Nehemiah, Israel was in a dark period after returning from 70 years of exile in Babylon, isolated from God. Nehemiah did what he could do in the natural world to rebuild his city. In the supernatural, God brought the people, supplies and finances for Nehemiah to complete the wall. God too will restore what was lost in our lives, block by block, if we bring Him into our dreams. What are some of your blocks to His abundant joy? How do you know you're in bondage? Brenda laughs, “Check your joy monitor.” Shelley explains, “One of our recent guests, Heather MacFadyen (“Don’t Mom Alone”) talked about how a spirit of weakness was over her and when she asked the spirit why it was there, it said, ‘I was never asked to leave.’ Her story had such a big impact on me because I have been fighting a similar stronghold for the past couple of years. It’s daily work. The first step in breaking a stronghold is realizing you have one.” Whatever brokenness we have in our lives, Nehemiah’s story gives us hope. Brenda adds, “Joy is our birthright. The word ‘joy’ appears 88 times in the Hebrew Bible. Having joy is the fruit of the spirit.” What’s one area that needs to be rebuilt in your life?

“Don’t Mom Alone” is a vision to do motherhood with your people! Popular podcaster and author Heather MacFadyen's new book “Don’t Mom Alone: Growing the Relationships You Need to Be the Mom You Want to Be” shows you that being a good mom isn’t about doing everything right to create a set of trophy children, though every mom has felt the pressure to do just that and to do it all on her own. This "recovering angry mom to four young boys” is based in Dallas, Texas and her award-winning podcast has over 13 million downloads from all around the world. Heather confesses, “I walked with God my entire life, but motherhood brings another layer of faith. I was needing my kids to behave a certain way so other people would approve of me. I had to learn to ask God, ‘Who is my identity in you? Who did you make me to be?’ That process for me was like a bloodbath!” Heather is very transparent about the hard and painful lessons she’s learned through her parenting. Heather admits, “My book isn’t about having it all together; it’s about being on the Titanic and avoiding the icebergs ahead. I was a self-proclaimed do-it-yourselfer. I was holding the full brunt of the responsibility and I didn’t let other people in.” Heather reveals that after the birth of her fourth son she had a panic attack and that’s when she hit rock bottom and reached out to her community. Heather states, “I help struggling moms see that they are refined instead of broken." Everyone can identify with Heather's universal message about surrendering your battles to God and remembering our identity in Christ, no matter what your struggle is: marriage, addiction, health, or the loss of a loved one. Through prayer with friends, God healed the wrong identities Heather was holding onto and he secured her belief in who He said she was. Fear lost a hold on her. Heather shares, "Our hope isn’t found in a successful child; it is found in a faithful God. Motherhood is hard! We are not meant to go it alone." Heather will show you how you can be empowered by God, supported by others, and connected with your children.

Jennifer Gerhardt, or JL as some people call her ( “JL makes me sound tough!” she laughs) is a best-selling author, Bible teacher, storyteller and all around pilgrim ( jlgerhardt.com). Her Instagram says, “I write about God and talk about God. Never like a jerk.” She’s constantly wandering around the globe with her husband and homeschooling her two young daughters while chasing God-given dreams. This November JL is releasing her highly anticipated 7th book “Look to Love: A Better Way to Read the Bible," a book about how to read the Bible and fall in love with God - personal stories that will make you laugh, cry and THINK. It’s a personal take on Bible reading and how that changes everything. We talk about how (and why) to fall in love with God, and why you shouldn’t feel any shame if you don’t yet. JL shares, “I’m a Bible teacher; I travel around the world talking to women about their faith and how they are doing. ‘Tired' is the word that comes up. They’re so exhausted from all of the expectations, and they’re running on an empty tank. When I read scripture, it seems to me that the thing that should be electrifying us all is our love for God. God’s love dwelling inside of us manifesting as our love for Him is what enables us to accomplish awesome things.” JL and her pastor husband, Justin, are always on the edge with God following the spirit. Their family has been traveling to England and Ireland, and the next exciting stops are Croatia and Israel. JL admits, “Our new lifestyle took a leap of faith, but God’s way is always so much better.” What is this Bible teacher’s favorite scripture? JL gushes, “My absolute favorite verse is Psalm 27. David the shepherd’s love for God and the way he pursues Him through gazing is the centerpiece of my new book ‘Look to Love.' David writes, ’The one thing I ask from the Lord, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in his temple.” JL’s entertaining stories will inspire you to “gaze upon the beauty of the Lord” like David and she’ll give you a fresh approach and a heartfelt way to read the Bible.

Fall forward into something new, get more clarity with God, and fall out of some bad habits! Fall is a time to pause, transition, and to take care of that deepest part of ourselves. What are your goals? Are they the same? Different? Do you need to let go of something? This is a time to be still (Psalm 46) and reconnect with our heavenly father and hear what He is calling us to do. Brenda and Shelley talk about their morning routines and their new fall reset. Brenda shares her Book of Promises, personal scriptures that she meditates on and speaks aloud every morning. Brenda laughs, “Do you know there are over 3,000 promises in the Bible?” Shelley sets her alarm ten minutes early every morning and prays before she gets out of bed. Shelley shares, “Praying for ten minutes for what you need, your intentions, and thanking God every morning before you get out of bed is a game changer. Last week I was feeling very desperate about a few situations and I prayed in bed with my palms held wide open in total surrender, ‘Ask, and you will receive. Seek and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you.’ Works every time!" God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called. Don’t think you're ready to move forward yet, or feeling like you might not have the right stuff? Don’t let fear and doubt undermine you. God put that ambition on your heart for a reason. We already have everything we need to accomplish that goal. David used a small stone to slay Goliath. Moses stuttered, but God called him to lead his people out of Egypt. Moses balked, “I am not eloquent. I have a heavy tongue, so I think you have asked the wrong man.” God always has bigger and better than we have now. If you need a belief boost, join us for our new fall series Nehemiah 8:10 “they joy of the Lord is your strength” for a fresh start and new strength. Brenda adds, “Little is much when God is in it and he can use you beyond your wildest imagination!”

It has been said that no one starts a faith podcast without a great story. Experience the personal faith warrior journeys of longtime friends and hosts actress-singer-author Brenda Epperson-Moore and Huff Post Guest Writer Shelley Anderson Myers and hear how the “Morning Cup of Faith” podcast was born. Shelley reflects, “God put our feet to the fire, literally, but He always shows you things for a reason.” Learn about Brenda and Shelley’s transformation out of darkness and into the light and how the two friends arrived at their new fall series Nehemiah 8:10 “the joy of the Lord is your strength." Brenda chronicles her life story in her new inspirational book “Rise Up: Move Out of the Darkness and into the Light.” She overcame the death of her father at a young age, a sexual assault and being bullied as a size 16 overweight and out of control youth. She was raised by a single mom who sometimes didn’t know where their next meal was coming from. Brenda reveals, “When my father died when I was six years old, I raised my fist to the sky and I said, ‘I hate you, God.” I believe that is the moment that the enemy came into my heart and put an eight year stronghold over my life." “Morning Cup of Faith” started as a Bible study around Brenda’s kitchen table with Shelley and a few friends. Shelley didn’t realize that her faith warrior journey was about to begin when the 2018 Woolsey Fire burned down 24 houses on her street. Her house suffered extensive damage, but it was thankfully was spared. When her family moved back into her house, she felt a darkness that she had never experienced. Shelley states, “When I realized what was going on, I called Brenda immediately and she helped me turn around the energy in my house. The enemy is always on the prowl looking for opportunities to take us out. I got very aggressive with the Word, writing down spiritual warfare scriptures and placing them under my children’s mattresses and all around the house. I played Christian radio stations all day. I learned how important it is to pray against spiritual warfare daily. I don’t want anything in my house that doesn’t come from God." When lockdown occurred in 2020, Brenda and Shelley both felt a powerful calling on their hearts to use their media backgrounds to reach out and encourage people with a podcast. Shelley shares, “After all Brenda and I had experienced together, God nudged us to start this podcast and to step out in obedience and faith. Learning how to put on the full armor of God and to get to that strength and joy is not an overnight process.” Brenda adds, “We’re receiving such a great response from our new fall Nehemiah 8:10 joy series. People need a fresh strength, a new start. We don’t have joy because of our circumstances or because of what is in front of us. Joy is the fragrance of our Father in heaven when we accept Him into our heart. Joy is our birthright. Joy is part of what gives us the strength to move through difficult times if we keep our eyes fixed on Him.” How has God been nudging you to step out in faith?

Brenda and Shelley’s new fall series Nehemiah 8:10 “the joy of the Lord is our strength” kicks into high gear with Brenda sharing about her newfound joy singing in the church choir. Brenda, a Tri-Star recording artist, reflects, “Singing with the church ensemble just cracked me wide open. I needed that so much; singing and being able to express that part of me is such a big part of who I am.” Shelley chimes in, “When Brenda sings it changes the energy in the room. She brought down the house with Bethel City's “Raise A Hallelujah.” (check out footage of Brenda singing in the church choir on Instagram @morningcupoffaithpodcast or our Facebook page). Brenda and Shelley welcome awe-inspiring author and International Human Rights Attorney, Virginia Prodan, author of the best-selling gripping memoir “Saving My Assassin” (virginiaprodanbooks.com). Virginia believes, “You are as bold as a lion; you just don’t know it yet." This mighty faith warrior is under five feet tall and she weighs eighty-two pounds, but she's a strong woman of faith who stands up for justice even in the face of deadly opposition. She’s been featured in the international media—from working with the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate boldly standing up for the educational rights of Pakistani girls to denouncing one of the most powerful and brutal communist dictators when she was a young attorney. Virginia dared to defend Christians in communist Romania while fearlessly declaring Christ—even to the 6 foot tall assassin who was ordered to kill her. Virginia had found the truth of God in the Bible which was at the time the most forbidden book in the land. Virginia even ended up bringing her assassin to Christ, and he contributed a chapter to her book and ended up naming his granddaughter “Virginia.” Virginia, a sought after international speaker, shares, “I want people to be encouraged. God was not asleep during my trials. He allowed those things to happen in my life to create what he wanted me to be, a lawyer who defends Christians. God can transform your worst situation to your best message." This episode is an unbelievable David vs. Goliath story about freedom, forgiveness and a joy that is based on God’s love instead of our circumstances. Virginia knows the true meaning of Nehemiah “the joy of the Lord is our strength.” Virgina smiles, “In darkness the light shines very bright.” You’ll be so inspired by Virginia's unshakable confidence and courage. Virginia states, “Freedom is precious. I mentor others so they can stand up to their giants. Your test becomes your testimony."

Brenda and Shelley’s fall series Nehemiah 8:10 continues with passionate author, speaker and coach Britt Gusmus, an expert in personal growth for men in leadership and relationships. He’s a devoted family man and the author of “The Oak Tree Source: Becoming A Man of Strength, Substance and Spirituality Today” which will be released on September 15th. Britt shares, “I was jogging one day while I was writing my book and I called out to God, ‘What should my title be?'’ I suddenly remembered a woman from my church who had prophesied over me, ‘You will be strong and sturdy like an oak tree.' I included Isaiah 61:3 in my book, “You will grow in righteous oaks for the splendor of God.” Britt’s universal message is for everyone: we can all create substance and strength in our lives if we’re bold enough to understand and step into our purpose. Britt shares, “I moved from the dark night of my soul into the hero’s journey. We’re never a finished product in God’s eyes; we’re always on the potter’s wheel. That’s how we create substance, the essential parts of our life. The other things that distract us from God and His will for us have to be burned away.” Britt laughs, " I passed through the refiners fire and believe me, there was a lot that had to be burned away! Luckily, God gave me some revelations along that way.” Britt offers a fascinating look into male spirituality and the male point of view. He was a star quarterback and a home run hitter drafted to the Houston Astros who was making a good living in business and sales when God nudged him to step into His purpose for him: to become a teacher and a football coach and to start his men’s ministry. Britt admits, “It was an internal struggle because I knew there would be a pay cut and I would have to go back to school to get my Master’s Degree. But my new life in Him is so fulfilling and satisfying and His revelations continue to work through me, helping men to become a source of strength and substance." Britt is a powerful Nehemiah kind of a guy that will light a fire in your belly; this human dynamo really brings it! He's very vulnerable and authentic, and he’s not afraid to talk about his ups and downs. As Britt gained his sobriety, he leaned on Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Britt explains, “That is the true statement of my life. I kept that verse in my pocket for three years." Be sure to follow Britt on Instagram @brittgusmus711 for his weekly video blogs for “Fired Up Fridays” and “Sunday Encouragement” and experience Britt’s contagious spirit and kinetic energy!

September is coming, and Brenda and Shelley announce their new fall podcast series which will be built around one of their favorite Bible verses: “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10) Brenda and Shelley go “unplugged" and Brenda catches us up with her new inspiring book “Rise Up” and her exciting summer book tour. "Rise Up” is a book about joy, a deep inner joy one can never achieve without God’s grace and mercy. By the time you reach the end of her book, you will be able to identify what’s holding you back, and move forward to reach solutions in your life. You’ll build your faith, breaking chains and the negative ideas you have about yourself will no longer have a stronghold over your life. Brenda reflects, “Some people say ‘I feel guilty for being joyful with so much devastation going on in the world.' Joy comes from a knowing, a stirring in your soul that understands that weeping may endure for the night, but joy always comes in the morning knowing that He will work good through all things.” (Romans 8:28) From a childhood touched by tragedy, Brenda rose from the ashes to become a world changer. Brenda overcame the death of her father at a young age, a sexual assault and being bullied as a size 16 overweight and out of control youth. She was raised by a single mom who sometimes didn’t know where their next meal was coming from. Brenda shares, “We don’t have joy because of our circumstances or because of what is in front of us. Joy is the fragrance of our Father in heaven when we accept Him into our heart. Joy is our birthright. Joy is part of what gives us the strength to move through difficult times if we keep our eyes fixed on Him. In “Rise Up” I talk about #ijoy which means “I Am Jesus On You." Brenda thanks Shelley for helping her to finish “Rise Up" last summer. Brenda recalls, “I was crying when I called Shelley, ‘I can’t finish this. I can’t do it.' Shelley was so sweet and she kindly said, ‘’Let me help you.' I’ll never forget her for that. It takes a village." Brenda closes with a prayer in “Rise Up” on page 98 about healing and joy. Brenda prays, “Saturate us in your love, Heavenly Father. Help each of us discover your purpose in our lives by laying down our dreams and desires and aligning our hearts with your will and your word. Your perfect plan will unfold every time we say “yes.” Everytime we walk away from the wrong, you will lead us into what is right. Tear down idols in our lives that slow us down or cause us to become stagnant, and allow the rich flowing healing waters of your love and peace overtake us with healing and joy." By the time you finish this episode you’ll be doing a “joy wave!”