I have taken a beautiful prayer that Karin Esselstrom read over us in my latest podcast- Karin's Journey, and put it here for you to listen to. I encourage you to get in a quiet place, where you can allow yourself to rest and let this prayer wash over you as you begin the new year. I truly felt the peace and presence of God when I first heard this, and it continues to bless me and remind me of my truest identity- that I am a child of God.

If you don't know this love and rest that our Father God offers us in His Son Jesus, ask Him to make that known to you.

Happy New Year to you and your loved ones! May God bless you mightily with His voice, peace and rest in all that comes your way in 2025.

If you would like to hear the full podcast, go to sheribriggs.com or Apple Podcasts and it is posted on my Facebook page.

If you would like to get in touch with Karin, you can reach her at:
[email protected]

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Join me in a transparent, rich and informative conversation with Karin Esselstrom- Karin has been a missionary, living in communities experiencing poverty for nearly 38 years. She is a master training facilitator with Trauma Healing Institute, holds certifications in Life and Mental Health Coaching with AACC, and a certified coach with the Clear Thinking Method through Clear Thinking Solutions.
Karin shares her own journey, that began at a time of crisis and developed into a deep intimacy with God. Karin cried out to God in a time of deep loneliness, and He spoke to her from the book of Hosea. This is where her journey of truly knowing God's love began; God being a Father who isn't waiting for her to mess up-but a Father of love, grace, mercy and healing. Over the years, this and many other revelations about heart wounds and the healing process, has led her to help others and equip and train others how to hold space and become a place of rest for those who are struggling with the effects of trauma and grief and for those who are hurting.

Karin will teach us and walk us through a Clear Thinking exercise that is incredibly helpful when dealing with tension and triggers. She also leads us in a powerful prayer, that has been hugely instrumental in Karin's life. You will want to do this on your own over and over again (I know I do)-It is called 'A Prayer of Reconciliation'.


If you would like to get in touch with Karin, you can reach her at:
[email protected]

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Big Lew is a volunteer at Bridge of Hope San Diego. He is 70 years old and has just celebrated 4 years of sobriety.
This is a story of a man who was bound to addiction from the time he was 13 years old. He was a victim of childhood sexual abuse and poverty. He lived in and out of programs, hospitals, and lived outside for over 27 years. At 66 years old, he cried out to God and fully surrendered. He said, "God set me free at that moment from the desire for crystal meth and everything else that kept me in bondage and shame."
Today Lew is actively involved in his recovery and other people's recovery, his church, and is a faithful and hard working volunteer at Bridge of Hope.
This is a story of HOPE! that says- No matter how many times a person may fall, or feel like they will never change or experience victory, Lew's story tells us differently. Lew has gone from saying, "Drug addiction is my life." to "I am truly living now and learning for the first time what it means to be a man... A man of God."
 
*This interview is not suitable for young children.

sheribriggs.com

My conversation with Matt was so insightful, I knew we needed to do another one! On this podcast, Matt shares from his own faith and experience, on the topic of mental health. Matt has become very passionate about the topic of mental health because of his own journey dealing with anxiety and depression. He addresses the question that he is frequently asked, "Do you believe mental health issues are spiritual or do you think there is purely a psychological explanation for it all?"
His answer is yes. He believes it is both.
Matt shares that If something we are battling does not come from the character of God, it is not from Him. The Word of God says, 'God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.' Yet, God allows us to go through difficulty in order that our faith will be tested, strengthened, and refined for a greater purpose that will bless us and and those around us.
Matt and I also talk about our times of grief and suffering in this life, and the ways we have grown to know the nearness and love of the Father in a most beautiful and profound way, because of our struggles and seasons of suffering.
We also discuss simple God given ways to help calm our nervous systems when needed, while clinging to Jesus throughout the storms of life.

Matt is a pastor. He and his wife Maddie and their children live in Bali. (This recording may sound a little rough in spots.)
If you would like to reach out to Matt and Maddie Kirk and hear more from them go to:
https://kirk-family.epistle.org
[email protected]
Facebook- Matt Kirk

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Grief Survivor.... Is That Possible? That is what Susan has written on her Instagram profile, along with Hope Seeker, Horse Lover and Sharing Cool Stuff God Does.

Today I am talking with my friend Susan Wagner. Eight years ago, her precious daughter was murdered.  She was 15 years old.

Susan shares in a real and honest way about her pain, her grief and life now after her child has died. Some of the questions that come up after tragic loss are, "How do you go on after the loss of a child? How do you make sense of that?"
"How does a loving God allow this to happen?"
We all know that In this life, there will be many things that will cause us to grieve. Not only our loved ones passing, but also failed marriages and broken relationships, loss of a job, disappointments, things that happened and things that did not happen as we hoped.

Grief survivor- Is It Possible really? Susan's story is a story of HOPE in unthinkable circumstances. It is truly miraculous.  God nearness to the brokenhearted is the answer. God's saving grace and presence comes in through many different ways for those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalms 34 :18.

On this podcast, you will hear how God brought a horse, a mama burro, along with His unfailing love and guiding hand, and rescued Susan- and He continues to everyday.  She is a grief survivor who wants to encourage others who are weary, to put their hope in Christ.
 
If you would like to follow Susan or reach out to her go to her Facebook or Instagram
https://www.facebook.com/susan.wagner.3914?mibextid=LQQJ4d 


Relentless Pursuit- God's Gentle Guidance Amidst The Storm available on Amazon

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My dear friend Eddie Feuer, (meaning; to catch fire), is currently in production on the sequel to a Christian surf movie entitled Changes 2. Changes 1  was produced 25 years ago with Brian Jennings, and had an incredible impact all over the world. Thousands came to follow Jesus after that film was released.
Today we get to hear about his new movie, Changes 2  that will be coming out soon. The film features some incredibly talented surfers who are not only radical surfers, but are  outspoken about their faith: Bethany Hamilton, 16 year old Erin Brooks, Tom Curren and Felipe Toledo.
Eddie's heart and motivation for making Changes 2  is to touch even more lives than Changes 1 and to bring revival across the nation!
 
Eddie also recently released a book called, The Underground City of Cappadocia: Unity and the Great Persecution- (available on Amazon).  Eddie spent a long time, researching, writing and editing to create a work that is easy to read, exciting, historically accurate and spiritually up-lifting. I believe this book and the revelation and understanding Eddie received while researching and writing this book, is so important for us today!

To get in touch with Eddie and learn more about Changes 2, go to:
Changes2surf.com

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My mom left this earth June 1st of this year, one month before her 90th birthday. 

This podcast gets personal as I share about my beautiful mother,  the complexity of our relationship, and the healing that occurred between us in her latter years. 

God’s divine care in her last week of life, under hospice and in my home, was a gift my heart truly needed. 
The months of her suffering and pain led to this last week of supernatural peace. 

I was able to be with her in the thin space between this world and eternity. 
These last and lasting sacred moments allowed me to witness my mom entering into her WHOLE and HEALED life- forever free!

sheribriggs.com

Matt and his wife Maddy and their two children, moved to Bali in 2019 and planted a church there in 2022.
Matt shares about their journey through addiction- hitting a breaking point, which lead to a desperate cry to God for help. Matt shares about how God showed up in a powerful way; bringing healing, freedom and a direction which changed the trajectory of their lives.
In this podcast, Matt talks about the personal struggles he has faced battling anxiety and depression. He has learned that revelation and understanding comes through trusting God in and through difficult and challenging seasons.
"How can we be dependent on God, when we don't know our true need for Him? How can we receive His strength if we don't come to a place of complete weakness? There are so many treasures the Lord wants to give to us, and some of those only come through suffering."

Matt also shares encouragement and wisdom about responding to the unique call  of God on our lives, and taking steps of faith to where He is leading; areas that feel impossible in the natural. "If you feel it is impossible, that is good! You are now in the miracle zone. Now you are partnering with Him! He will make a way!"

With Paul we rejoice in our weaknesses, for when we are weak we are strong. Under great pressure we learn to rely on God, who raises the dead. So as sons and daughters, we are prepared to embrace pain as well as power.- Roland Baker

You can reach Matt at:
https://kirk-family.epistle.org
[email protected]
Facebook- Matt Kirk

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Today I am continuing the conversation with my guest Jada Tjoelker. Jada talks about living in the dichotomy of experiencing  both -the answer to her and her husband's prayers; their son Triston meeting Jesus in a powerful way before leaving earth, and living with the grief and sorrow of losing their son.
In this podcast, Jada and I talk about what life is like now, knowing our children are in Heaven and the peace that that brings, and carrying the deep longing to have our children here and our families all together in one place.
For those who have lost a loved one, life now is about learning to carry both grief and hope, sadness and peace- it is not one or the other but learning to hold all of it everyday.
Jada and I also discuss finding (after some time), even a greater faith and intimacy with Jesus after tragic loss- which is clearly miraculous! We both testify that Jesus truly is near to the broken hearted and saves those crushed in spirit.  His grace and nearness is tangible in ways we had never experienced before the deepest valley of pain. 

"I believe God will show me through this soul grief, how much He really loves me. How much He loves my children. It is a beautiful pain, a contrast of feelings and a contrast of good and evil; the goodness of God, the evil of death. But Jesus conquered the grave.... Jesus conquered death. If God is for us, who can be against us?" ~Jada Tjoelker

If you didn't get to hear the part 1 of Beauty in Tragedy, please do. Jada shares about her son Triston's battle with cancer, faith, persevering prayer, and Triston's radical and transforming encounter with Jesus.
If you would like to reach out to Jada Tjoelker, you can find her on Facebook.

Relentless Pursuit- God’s Gentle Guidance Amidst the Storm is available on Amazon 

sheribriggs.com

In 2003, after two years at sea, John and Jean Silverwood and their four children, aboard their 55-foot catamaran known as Emerald Jane, hit a reef off the South Pacific. 
With the force of every wave that slammed against them, Emerald Jane was breaking apart beneath them. The surge was so strong,  the boat's 80 foot mast came slamming down on John, crushing him under its weight, leaving him critically injured.

On this podcast, Jean shares with us what led up to their adventure at sea, what happened, and the details of how she and her family fought to stay alive.

You will hear of their vision and ministry called GodSwell, that was birthed out of the devastation they survived and the miraculous they experienced.
Jean also shares about her being healed of Cancer as well as her passion and mission to touch people with the wonder and healing power of Jesus.

This story is about God's relentless pursuit; He makes a way, where there is no way.
What is impossible with man, is possible with God.
I know this miracle story will greatly encourage you, and build your faith no matter what you are facing right now. 


Black Wave; written by John and Jean Silverwood-available on Amazon
You can find Jean Silverwood on Facebook and instagram @jsilverwood or GodSwell Sailing

sheribriggs.com