Sacred Story Podcast

Wendy attended a Sacred Story Retreat with a group of college friends where she reflected on God's work in her story. She shares with Laura how her relationship with her mother-in-law began with so much promise and yet unfolded in misunderstanding, hurt, and estrangement. Wendy describes how the tension began, what traumatic events caused a severing of the relationship, and how she and her husband navigated difficult dynamics. She also offers hope for anyone who is experiencing distance from a loved one when she shares how her relationship with her mother-in-law has been restored. Wendy's story Be Reconciled is an amazing example of how God takes the messiness of relationships and makes something beautiful. You will be encouraged! And we  count it a gift when you share the Sacred Story podcast with others. 

Emily describes how she found herself unable to return to normal life due to a debilitating health struggle, and how she leaned into the Lord. When her healing did not manifest as expected, her heart moved from a posture of demanding from God to a greater surrender than ever. Emily describes how God delivered and healed her in more ways than imagined. Emily's story Not One Scar can be found in the Sacred Story library. Gather a group of friends to enjoy a Sacred Story Retreat as you deepen friendships and reflect on God's faithfulness in your stories. 

Stephanie and Aaron serve the refugee community in Greece. They are part of lending the heart and hands of Jesus to those who have fled their countries due to persecution, hardship, and war.  Many come from Muslim backgrounds and are receiving the message of the Gospel with curiosity and joy. Stephanie and Laura talk about her personal story including her struggles with loneliness and the unknowns of living abroad. She also shares the ways joining in God's harvest is an adventure, and encourages listeners to labor wherever they find themselves.  

Laura and Becky begin the conversation with Becky hiding in her early years which contributed to her feeling unseen. Becky shares about brokenness as our human experience. She witnessed deficits in her parent's lives and felt the effects in her life. She shares more about processing pain in a person's upbringing, and at the same time, she looks back on her parent's struggles with empathy and increasing love.  Becky vulnerably talks about messing up in parenting, struggles with jealousy, and her pursuit to be kinder to herself. Laura asks her about our need to risking and the benefits which come from doing so with the Lord. One of the risks Becky took is to enter the stories of men and women involved in sex trafficking.  In her work with ICAP Global, she "stepped on the neck of evil" by following God's calling to show His love. Becky describes what a story workshop is like at the Allender Center along with other resources for reflecting on  a person's story. Laura shares what joy and insight she received by reading Becky's book Hidden in Plain Sight: One Woman's Search for Intimacy, Identity, and Calling,  and both Laura and Becky celebrate the gift of sharing our stories with others. Find out more about gathering your community for a Sacred Story Day Retreat. 

Laura's conversation with Judy Douglass is full of rich insight from a Christ follower who has experienced God's faithfulness through many chapters. Judy shares about coming to faith and those who helped her grow. She talks candidly about her struggles to want her own way and how she responded to life events including a broken engagement and the adoption of her son Josh. Judy imparts life giving wisdom about giving thanks, surrendering dreams, investing in the lives of others, and hearing God. To hear more visit JudyDouglass.com where she shares with "realness" how God is meeting her. Judy and Laura also talk about how she comes alongside those who are waiting for a loved one to surrender to the Lord through the Worldwide Day of Prayer for Prodigals on June 2nd and Judy's devotional When You Love a Prodigal. Judy recommends Lori Joiner's Bible studies as a great resource for discipleship.  Having worked with Cru for over two decades, Laura talks about how connecting with Judy and being involved in the ministry impacted her as a college student, helping to form mission and vision for her life. Read more stories of passing on hope at Sacred Story.

Courtney Garrett, the creator of the 101: Christianity Series, talks with Laura about how she came to faith in Christ and how her passion grew for investing in others through discipleship.  She explains her heart behind the resources she wrote on exploring the basics of the faith and discovering the character of God. Laura and Courtney talk about the Living Your Story study they co-authored relating to every chapter in a woman's story.  Each of these resources offers Christ followers a launching place for going deeper in the basics of the faith and helping others do the same.  Laura and Courtney talk about seeking out a discipleship relationship, ideas for launching a Bible study, and working through barriers of initiating. Laura asks Courtney about stories of changed lives and both celebrate the  joy of seeing the Great Commission carried out through the lives of believers who take steps even when "doing it scared." 

Laura's conversation with Erika begins with a crossroads in Erika's story. Erika and her husband found  themselves in a deficit in their finances and yet Erika felt led to talk more about hope in Jesus to her clients at her hair salon. Laura and Erika discuss what it means for her to risk bringing the hope of Christ into her conversations when she didn't know how her clients would respond and whether her boldness would cause her to lose business. Erika shares stories of lives she's seen changed by the power of the Holy Spirit and the wild adventure of being on mission.  Erika's also explains the deep pain she's experienced through the loss of children and how sharing her pain while living life alongside people brings Jesus into focus. Laura and Erika talk about the enemy's tactics to keep believers from speaking up and practical ways to help people know Christ personally. 

Laura's conversation with Teresa Snow begins with Teresa sharing how she came to faith in Jesus Christ while in high school.  Teresa's experience as a teenage girl who  grew in her faith from those who discipled her gave her a deep conviction to do the same for others. Teresa and Laura talk about being alongside others in life, and how to enter into their stories with love and a word of hope. This powerful conversation also includes making the most of opportunities to plant seeds and how to bridge to the Gospel when the opportunity arises. Laura asks Teresa about barriers to reaching others and yet there's great encouragement through this conversation to take the next step even when feeling inadequate and fearful. Teresa talks about her personal experiences in broaching discipleship with women and stories of how she's seen God move in the lives of those around her. As resources, Teresa recommends 99 Questions to Create Space to Talk with People, EveryPerson.com for those who have questions about faith,  Everystudent.com for resources in 40 languages, the book God Space by Doug Pollock, and StartingwithGod.com as a resource for new believers. 

Laura and Taeler talk about the source of the attacks Taeler faced through social media. Taeler describes how the affects of her battle on her mentally, physically, and spiritually and the sources of intervention she sought. When she came to the end of her resources, she pours out her heart to the Lord and begins the continuing journey of working through bitterness and anger. She talks about helpful ways people responded and the tendency of people to skip over lamenting with those who suffer. Laura and Taeler talk about recovering intimacy with the Lord as well as what it means to forgive someone when there's ongoing hurt and consequences.