The first time that I heard Katy Bolls pray my jaw hit the ground and I knew that I wanted a prayer life like hers. In today’s episode Katy reveals to us the secret to her robust prayer life and she also shares with us how Jesus took her from a place of fear and filled her with His light and warmth. Katy’s testimony is that Jesus healed her soul.

Below are some of our favorite takeaways from today’s show:

⭐️ When we don’t know what to pray, we can call out, “Jesus, help me.” He will flood us with His presence and heal our souls. Desperation allows us to cry out to God and receive His light in a new way.

⭐️In order to have a robust prayer life, there is not a formula. It’s simply about having a relationship with God, which is a two-way street.

⭐️God does not get impatient with our prayers. He loves to hear from us and wants us to enjoy a relationship with Him while here on earth.

⭐️ Learn to pray by reading the Book of Psalms and praying it back to Him. All of our struggles matter to the Lord and He oftentimes will show us a better way.

⭐️We can be bold in our prayers. Katy’s secret to her prayer life is: Knowing God. Knowing what belongs to us in Jesus Christ. And feeling the freedom to pray authentically.

About Our Guest:

Katy Bolls is a California lawyer who was born in California and made her way to West Monroe, Louisiana, in order to establish roots and invest in the community in which she now lives. Katy and her husband have three boys and they are raising them to love the Lord just as they do. You can find Katy on YouTube for her public readings of Scripture.

If you’ve ever held a newborn, then you know that the gift of life is a miracle in its own right. But what if a woman finds herself in the midst of an unplanned pregnancy? Can a live birth still result in a miracle while in the midst of turmoil? Today’s guest, Lyndsey Sikes of Life Choices, explains how making life-affirming choices can create a beautiful miracle even in the midst of brokenness.

Below are some of our favorite takeaways from today’s show:

⭐️ In an unplanned pregnancy, a positive pregnancy tests gives a woman tunnel vision. But when looked at with a wider lens and with the help of counselors, the woman can better make life-affirming choices.

⭐️ 8 out of 10 women experience post-abortion stress and 1 out 3 women have had an abortion by age 65. Lyndsey’s team recommends the study “Surrendering the Secret” by LifeWay to help women who are dealing with past abortions.

⭐️There are miracles in the brokenness. The gift of adoption facilitates the healing for both the birth mom and the adoptive parent.

⭐️Our God is faithful and that’s a fact. But sometimes God requires our faith in His abilities to provide in times of uncertainty. It’s how we respond to His faithfulness that takes us to the next level.

⭐️ Mother Teresa said, “There are no great things, only small things with great love.” Lyndsey reminds us that where there is great love, there are always miracles. It’s humbling to know that we can be conduits of His love and therefore usher in His miracles.

About Our Guest:

Lyndsey Sikes is the Executive Director of Life Choices, a Pregnancy Resource Center. Life Choices offers an alternative to abortion by providing free pregnancy tests, mentoring programs, and much more. They serve over 1000 women per year. Lyndsey is married to Alex and is known as momma to two precious children.

We are kicking off Season 2 of The Reflecting Light Show with a real and raw conversation between April and Coach Jeff Fitzgerald of how he and his wife were able to come out of a season of depression and darkness and into God’s marvelous light. Coach Fitz is a big believer in putting on the Armor of God every day and will explain how it’s not much different from suiting up for a football game.

Below are some of our favorite takeaways from today’s show:

⭐️ Putting on the armor of God is a daily practice that provides divine protection from the enemy. When we are aware of the enemy’s schemes we can fight with confidence that the battle is already won.

⭐️ There is nothing that we can do to make God love us. We don’t have to worry about approval or meeting a particular standard. It’s just a benefit of being in the Light.

⭐️ The sword (God’s Word) comes to bless and correct. God brings about the improvement inside of our lives when we pick up the sword daily.

⭐️ God can use other people to be the “Shield of Faith” in our times of darkness.

⭐️ Putting on our armor allows us to rest in Him as we walk through various trials. He gives us glimmers of hope to keep us pressing on.

About Our Guest:

Coach Jeff Fitzgerald is currently leading the charge for Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Northeast Louisiana. After coaching football for almost 22 years, Coach Fitz now is able to pour into the lives of youth by encouraging EVERY athlete. Jeff has also be instrumental in sharpening both men and women through retreat and lifegroup ministries at North Monroe Baptist Church. Jeff is married to his beautiful wife Kim and is the proud dad to two daughters.

Fasting is a well-known Biblical principal, but unless we understand why we fast, it just becomes another thing to do in the new year. But if we grasp that fasting unlocks the power of God within our lives, then we can be truly satisfied.

Today April is joined by Pastor Jeffrey Kent, author of Satisfied: A 21-Day Prayer and Fasting Devotional through the Gospel of John. Listen in on this conversation between two seminary graduates to learn how you can be completely satisfied in 2022!

Below are some of our favorite takeaways from today’s show:

⭐️ Fasting is different than a new year resolution in the way that we depend on God to satisfy our every need versus depending on ourselves to improve our circumstances.

⭐️ Limiting our fleshly desires allows our spirit to come alive and increases God’s clarity and power within our lives.

⭐️ Don’t give up if you happen to slip up within the fast. Remember that the goal to keep pressing in to God’s heart.

⭐️ When we are intentional to consecrate the first part of the year to God, we can come with great expectation that God will reveal Himself to us.

About Our Guest:

Jeffrey Kent is a pastor at Christ Church. He has been teaching, preaching, and serving churches for over 20 years including nearly 3 years in China. Jeffrey received a B.A. in Religion from Louisiana College and a Master of Divinity from Liberty University. He is married to his beautiful wife, Abigail, and together they are raising two amazing kids in West Monroe, Louisiana.

God doesn’t want us to be comfortable. He actually wants to move us out of our comfort zones so that we can make a difference for Him. Today April Rodgers welcomes Christy McIntyre to The Reflecting Light Show to share a missionary’s perspective of how to get uncomfortable for the sake of the gospel.

Below are some of our favorite takeaways from today’s show:

⭐️ One of the best ways to share the hope of Jesus in another country is to simply immerse ourselves into their culture and share our lives.

⭐️ Asking questions is key to building trust and community when witnessing to others.

⭐️ Grieving unrealized expectations are a part of life, but we can be certain that God is still with us every step of the way.

⭐️ Community involves vulnerability, authenticity, and dedication.

⭐️ Uncomfortable is God’s norm. When we pour out our lives for Him, we honor Him with our lives.

About Our Guest:

Christy McIntyre is married to Ashton and they have two fantastic children, Luke and Anna Faith. The McIntyre family are missionaries with Willing to Go and they most recently served the people in Thailand where they built community through fitness programs.

You’ve most likely heard the term “generational curses,” but it’s rare that we spend time discussing “generational blessings.” Today April Rodgers welcomes her pastor, friend, and boss, Ryan Lowe, to The Reflecting Light Show and together they flip the script and focus on the positives of stepping into one’s calling.

Below are some of our favorite takeaways from today’s show:

⭐️ Unity ushers in the blessings of God. When we stand shoulder to shoulder, it allows us to grow in our spiritual gifts.

⭐️ When we operate in God’s calling on our lives, we can thrive better than if we try to be someone else. God is always specific to grow us in each season to accomplish His plans.

⭐️ You can’t know God as a Healer if you’ve never needed healing before. Our seasons of pain help us hear God’s voice in a new and better way.

⭐️ Walking through difficult seasons is a two-sided coin…it helps us learn things about ourselves that we need to change, but it also allows us to learn new things about God.

⭐️ Character is different than integrity. We have to have integrity with ourselves and resolve that we will keep our word to ourselves.

About Our Guest:

Pastor Ryan Lowe is the executive pastor of one of the largest churches in North Louisiana. Christ Church hosts campuses in West Monroe, Ruston, and Sterlington, Louisiana. Ryan has two amazing kids, Willa Rae and Guy and together they enjoy exploring the great outdoors.

April Rodgers welcomes her friend and fellow conference speaker, Mindy Lancaster, to The Reflecting Light Show. Mindy has a truly inspiring story of how God used other women to disciple her through some of the darkest seasons of her life. After allowing them to speak truth into her life, Mindy was able to let go of unhealthy labels by living in the light of God’s Word.

Below are some of our favorite takeaways from today’s show:

⭐️ Letting go of unhealthy labels is best done by applying God’s to our lives and actively moving out of that space.

⭐️ Sometimes there are no “right words” to say when someone has lost a loved one. You just have to show up.

⭐️ The Lord can bring purpose and strength that breathes life into us after seasons of darkness.

⭐️ True discipleship means we allow other Christ-followers we trust to speak truth in love. Be teachable.

⭐️ Jesus does not expect us to be perfect, but rather He meets us as broken people right where we are.

About Our Guest:

Mindy Lancaster has a passion for women’s prison ministry that was birthed out of the pain of childhood trauma. She is a Christian speaker and advocate for Heartfelt Ministries, a Titus 2 women’s ministry. Mindy has been blessed with an amazing family that includes her husband, son & daughter-in-law, and daughter.

April Rodgers welcomes Leslie Lamb of Mercy Multiplied to The Reflecting Light Show to share with us how experiencing shame and thoughts of suicide can be overcome with the help of the Lord and oftentimes the willingness a thoughtful friend to speak life. Leslie rewrote her story of trauma and pain into a beautiful ministry “for her.”

Below are some of our favorite takeaways from today’s show:

⭐️ Shame is tool used by the enemy to make us feel alone in our darkness, but God can completely break that off if we allow Him to remind us who we are in Him.

⭐️ Typically, those who are suicidal have the desire to escape their current reality while inflicting the least amount of pain onto others. The misconception is that they are just being selfish.

⭐️ Allowing the Lord to walk us out of the darkness is a climb that takes effort, but the hike is worth it because our healing is on the other side.

⭐️ Rewrite your story where trauma is not the overwhelming shame factor, but rather focus on the hope and truth that is found in our faithful God. When we share our stories, we begin a ministry “for her.”

⭐️ Sometimes God uses the obedient actions of others to literally save our lives. Perhaps God is prompting us to offer hope to someone else who is in a dark space.

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April Rodgers welcomes Corey Taylor to The Reflecting Light Show to share with us his story of how he was radically transformed from a sports star (who was successful by worldly standards but walking in total darkness) to a man on fire for God (who now points everyone he meets to The Light). Throughout this conversation you will learn how to share your faith with a renewed passion. We cannot/should not/will not be ashamed!

Below are some of our favorite takeaways from today’s show:

⭐️ Times of uncertainty teach us to draw closer to God and stand firm on His Word.

⭐️ Darkness is the absence of light. Accepting the invitation to follow Christ is all we have to do to start walking in the light.

⭐️ Discipleship helps us to learn how to love others to Christ, which is irresistible. The added benefit is that as we live in a community of believers, God’s love trickles down into our homes and families.

⭐️ Once we come to the end of ourselves, the Lord’s work can begin within us. We cannot be ashamed of the gospel and how it has saved us.

About Our Guest:

Corey Taylor is a Monroe, Louisiana, native who is well known in his community for his passion for Christ and God’s ability to transform lives. He is married to his gorgeous wife, DeAnn, and together they have three beautiful daughters. Corey is a leader within the Men’s Ministry at North Monroe Baptist Church and has been instrumental in retreat ministry throughout Northeast Louisiana.

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April Rodgers welcomes her husband, Adams, to help her interview their friends, Holley and Jonathan Perry. After the loss of their infant son, Holley and Jonathan Perry were able to donate their son’s organs which led to a wonderful friendship with the family who received John Clarke's heart and it ignited within them a passion for organ donation. This interview will warm your heart as we explore how our grief/pain can be used to comfort others, which ultimately ushers in our healing.   

Below are some of our favorite takeaways from today’s show:  

⭐️  God can use our pain to comfort others which can oftentimes lead to unlikely friendships birthed in love.  

⭐️  Looking at loss as a miracle from God versus a tragedy helps us to focus on God’s sovereignty and see the impact our loss can have on the lives of others.  

⭐️  We have to make a choice to keep getting up so that God can work in and through us.  

⭐️  God puts the “super” on our “natural” to invoke supernatural works, yet it starts with us stepping out in obedience.  

⭐️  Doing a check and balance of our lives helps confirm if we are in the will of God or not. He will provide the confirmation we need to step out in faith.   

About Our Guests: Holley and Jonathan Perry are the founders of The John Clarke Perry Foundation that focuses on organ donation. They have given away over $60,000 and most recently have sponsored a PICU wing at St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe, Louisiana. The Perry’s home is filled with much love and laughter with their three daughters, Emarie, Ella, and Evie Clarke. You can visit The John Clarke Perry Foundation at johnclarkeperryfoundation.com.

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend who needs some LIGHT & HOPE. You were Made to Shine. 💫