Simply Stories Podcast

Today I get to share with you my conversation with Patricia Raybon. Patricia is a woman who wears many hats as a writer of both nonfiction and fiction. She shares with me what it was like for her to grow up under Jim Crow segregation and how that informed her identity from a young age, and how writing out stories helped her to make sense of what she experienced from the culture at large while her faith bloomed in her own soul. As an adult, in her journalism career, she cultivated the art of listening and understanding people's history to help her wrestle with forgiveness, the effects of racism on her life, learn to love when things got hard, and writing it all down so that the Lord could reveal Himself to her, and ultimately others, in that journey.

Most recently she burst into the Christian fiction scene with her award winning debut novel All That is Secret is the first book in the Annalee Spain trilogy which follows a young Black woman in 1923 working in higher ed as a theology professor, as well as writing as a journalist. Annalee finds herself in the midst of a mystery in the wild west of Colorado, where the second wave of the Klu Klux Klan is flexing its power, and willing to do anything to keep secrets hidden. Patricia shares with me the inspiration for her female professor turned detective, the realities her story is based on, and the resilience and heart of Black women that beats through each page.

She shares a little bit about the topics that come up in the rest of the trilogy such as interracial marriage, Black women's roles in society historically, female detectives as a whole, but mostly, we talk about the realities of what many people continue to face day in and day out and yet still have to persevere in their days. When we listen to the stories of others to better understand their experience, not to pass judgement, even if it makes us uncomfortable, we have such a rich opportunity to encounter God, learn more about fellow image bearers in the Kingdom of God, and consider life from a perspective we may not have had a chance to otheriwse. Patricia has such a sweet spirit, but a fiery tenacity that I know you are just going to love. I cannot wait for you to spend time with us today.

Connecting with Patricia:

Books

Facebook

Instagram

Reader's Circle

Website

Episode Sponsor: Tony Crabtree of Crabtree Homes with Exit Realty

Facebook

Instagram

Tik Tok

Website

YouTube

Scripture References:

John 15:18, 16:33- The world may hate you, but it hated Jesus first, take heart

John 3:16- God loves you (among a thousand other verses!)

Zephanie 3:17- God sings over you

Colossians 3:12, 1 John 4:7-God calls you beloved

Psalm 116:15, Psalm 139:13-16, Jeremiah 31:3, Ephesians 2:10- You are precious in the Lord's sight

Jesus' parables (his stories)

Galatians 6:4- "Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else." (NLT)

References:

Jim Crow Segregation

Internalized oppression

The Denver Post

United Methodist Publishing House

The Holocaust

Holocaust denial

Reconstruction

The prison pipeline

The middle passage

Night - Ellie Wiesel

James Baldwin

President Truman integrated the army (July 1948)

University of Colorado

USA Today, New York Times, Newsweek

Penguin Random House

My First White Friend : Confessions on Race, Love and Forgiveness

Zondervan

I Told the Mountain to Move

Christianity Today

One Year: God's Great Blessings Devotional

Civil Rights Movement

The klan = Klu Klux Klan

The second highest KKK membership in the country in the second wave in Colorado

What is the "white savior" narrative?

The Help book and movie

The Black friend who enlightens the white protagonist trope

Sherlock Holmes

The instagram post about the model cover

Anti Miscegenation Undivided: A Muslim Daughter, Her Christian Mother, Their Path to Peace

Steph Curry's book club pick!

Our Daily Bread

Connecting with Emily and Simply Stories Podcast: Instagram (Em life // Podcast Life) Facebook Twitter Blog

I am so honored to get to share with you my conversation with the amazing Brandi Wilson. Brandi is a woman who loves Jesus fiercely, being a Mom to her 3 boys and cheering them on as they play football. She is passionate about walking with women as a coach working through their callings, and walking with them when they're in the midst of relational healing journeys. Recently, she released her first book Better Than Okay: Finding Hope and Healing When Your Marriage Ends which shares her journey of following God's call to plant a church in Nashville, TN with her then-pastor husband, watching it grow exponentially into a massive and impactful ministry with multiple sites, meanwhile at home experiencing heartbreak and betrayal. This ultimately led to a very painful divorce as well as a public parting with the faith community that had been the epicenter of their ministry and their lives.

During her book as well as our conversation, Brandi shares how God met her as she wrestled through grief, mothered her boys, navigated what it means to be a divorced Christian woman, as well as a former pastor's wife, and just how she navigates life in co-parenting, and so much more. Brandi is honest, hilarious, and heartfelt in her sharing of her story while also giving such beautiful advice for how to hold space for the people we love as they grieve through their own experiences, and letting that happen at their own pace. She shares ways that might be helpful to those walking through seasons of trauma and loss, in others' lives, annnnd the not-helpful ways to maybe steer clear of as well. She's a self-proclaimed deep feeler, but also a deep healer and if that's not a word of hope that I think we all need no matter where we are, I don't know what is.

Brandi is an amazing follow on Instagram, her book is such a breathtaking view into her heart, overflowing with honesty but constantly pointing to hope, and like she said, a reminder that there are NEW things that are still coming. I hope that hearing this episode helps anyone who needs it to feel seen and cared for wherever you are in your story, because we are all feeling, and we all carry the possibility for healing. The One who made you cares about all the pieces that feel broken, and His hope never runs out. You matter, friend. And your story matters.

Connecting with Brandi:

Book

Facebook

Instagram

Website

Episode Sponsor: Tony Crabtree of Crabtree Homes with Exit Realty

Facebook

Instagram

Tik Tok

Website

YouTube

Scripture References:

God is still good

Psalm 27:13- God is going to be good to me

1 Peter 5:7- Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you

Romans 5:5-11-Hope does not disappoint

Philiipians 1:6- He will complete the work He began in you

References:

Acteens

Young Life

Experiencing God

Mind of Christ

Crosspoint Church

Lori Wilhite

Central Church Vegas

Leading and Loving It

Onsite

Enneagram 2

Jennifer Dukes Lee's journal Stuff I'd Only Tell God journal (it is AMAZING)

Jennifer Dukes Lee's episode with me!

David Thomas' episode on the podcast

Raising Emotionally Strong Boys

Sissy Goff

Sissy Goff and David Thomas' podcast "Raising Boys and Girls"

Daystar Counseling

Side plug, I cannot say enough good things about Sissy's new book The Worry-Free Parent

Connecting with Emily and Simply Stories Podcast: Instagram (Em life // Podcast Life) Facebook Twitter Blog

I am so thrilled to welcome back to the podcast, the one and only Dorena Williamson! Dorena is a woman of deep faith, with a passion for building the kingdom of God and living a legacy of faith as a minister, a mama, a pastor's wife, and a woman of impactful and instructive words. She is the author of 8 children's books that all provide beautiful insight into the heart of God and scripture's call to live in diversity and humility as we learn and grow together in the world. Whether that diversity is found in differing racial or ethnic communities and cultures, to others living with visible or invisible disabilities, or on the margins socioeconomically. She encourages children and the big people who love them, in every story that she writes to celebrate how God made them, and to delight in His world that He made and all those made in His image.

Her most recent book is called I Know Who I Am. It is a book of scriptural affirmations for kids. It is designed to serve as a companion to come alongside families and those that love kids with words that contain truth about them, about the Lord, and to see all of God's image bearers represented in the pages from around the world! It gives beautiful verbiage for children to repeat over themselves and to speak over other children of all ages they encounter as they walk through the hills and valleys and changes of life. My kids absolutely loved it, and it would be a perfect addition to a morning or evening routine for kiddos that are starting back to school!

In this conversation, Dorena also shares her heart so beautifully about where God has her in her lament as a leader in her church, a Mama raising Black kids, and the world around her. She invites us to consider how all Believers can lean in to the reality of what is before communities and their daily fears and concerns and how to bear one another's burdens together at the feet of Jesus. She offers an invitation to lean in to humility and honor towards others as we experience beauty, hope, tragedy, and all that is found on Earth this side of Heaven together. None of us are perfect, we will make mistakes, but God honors our learning, our choices to lean in and have Him show us His heart for us and for others. He has so much to show us. Always remember, you matter, and your story matters.

Just as an FYI, we recorded this episode right in the midst of our communities' grief over the Covenant shooting in the Spring. We mention it briefly in the beginning of the episode, but we spend a little more time (around 5-7 minutes) discussing its impact on our community around 40 minutes in. If that is a tender place for you, I just want to be sensitive to that and give you that heads up. We fairly quickly transition to Dorena sharing about how to be the body of Christ in the midst of seasons of communal lament. It's a powerful word, not solely about that tragedy, but about how to lock arms and shields of faith with others as humans made in God's image walking this weary land together until we all go home.

Connecting with Dorena:

Books

Facebook

Instagram

Website

Sponsor for this Episode: HopefuelUse the code 'SIMPLY15' for 15% offInstagram Website Please consider joining our Patreon community. We need your support! If you have enjoyed what you heard on the podcast today or from other episodes, we would appreciate your support to keep the Simply Stories Podcast going. You can sign up for as little as $3 a month and each tier offers gifts that I hope will bless you in return. If you feel you cannot financially commit at this time, would you please consider leaving us a star rating and/or review on Apple Podcasts? My family and I are so grateful for each of you and how you are part of our story.

Scripture References:

Psalm 136, Psalm 27:13-14,James 1:17 - God is good (plus many more verses)

Psalm 100:5 – His truth endures to all generations

John 2:1-11- Water into wine

Matthew 6:10- On Earth as it is in Heaven

Ephesians 3:14-15, Revelation 7:9- The family of God in Heaven

Isaiah 6:1-3-The Earth is full of God's glory

Matthew 7:24-29-I build my life on Jesus who is the solid rock, vs. shifting sand

Jeremiah 29:11- You have plans for me for hope and my future

Hebrews 13:5–6; Deuteronomy 31:6–8-You will not leave me

Isaiah 40:31- Wait on the Lord, He will renew your strength

Psalm 8:5-8- Crowned with glory and God's strength

Psalm 5:1-12, Romans 8:26- Oh Lord, with deep groanings

Exodus 1:8-14, Exodus 2:23-25- Exodus and the cries of those enslaved, and God heard them and saw their grief and He was concerned

Ephesians 1:4, 1 Corinthians 2:7, 1 Peter 1:19-20 - His plans from the foundations of the earth (futher insight here)

Exodus 6-14- The Exodus story and the plagues

Exodus 14:9-31- God parted the seas for His people

Psalm 3:3- Lift my head

Jude 1:24-25- God keeps us

Romans 8:28- God works together for the good of those that love Him

Galatians 6:2- Bear one another's burdens

Matthew 28:18–20; Revelation 5:9–10; Revelation 7:9–10; Revelation 14:6–7 Every nation tribe and tongue in Heaven

Genesis 1:26-28- Let us make man and woman in our image

References:

Dorena's previous episodes on the podcast (part one, part two, Advent)

The Covenant School shooting in Nashville

Bridge Builder

Taylor Swift concerts ;)

Loving Day and the Lovings' Story and the Loving Act (Loving v. Virginia 1967)

Dr. Chris Williamson's episode on the podcast

Strong Tower Bible Church

Trayvon Martin

Colorfull

Thoughtfull

Buddy Walk - The Extra Mile - DS Association

Dr. Jemar Tisby (and our episode together!)

Latasha Morrison

Target diverse Christmas line (Listen, I know the struggle with Target is real for a lot of believers right now. However. This is honoring Black people and culture in a huge way and I'm super grateful for those strides forward.)

I Know Who I Am

Nashville tornadoes

"Wait on the Lord"- Maverick City

"Same God"- Elevation Worship

Fuller Story Initiative

Ralph Yarl shooting

Xenophobia

Cheerleaders shot for going to the wrong car

American Girl book The Care and Keeping of You

Crowned with Glory

Michelle Reyes

Dr. Christina Edmondson

The Story of Juneteenth

Juneteenth as a Federal Holiday

Notes for White Allies and how they can honor Juneteenth without centering themselves, and also here. Danielle Coke also does a fantastic job sharing about practical ways to celebrate and elevate.

Connecting with Emily and Simply Stories Podcast: Instagram (Em life // Podcast Life) Facebook Twitter Blog

I have one heck of a power-packed conversation for you with the lovely, hilarious, and always honest T.I. Lowe. T.I. is a born and bred Southern woman, and fiction author with a fiery passion for the Lord, and she shares her story with me of God coming into her life and redefining love and family, and how He can change a life. Some people have said they can really hear my southern accent on the podcast… but T.I. brings out my roots, and I love it.

Her heart to understand the experiences of others led her to take her secret love of writing and breathe life into stories of deep pain and wild Divine redemption. No topic is off limits because no human is exempt from pain and suffering. Her stories run the gamut of spiritual leaders battling major mental health issues, suicide, dealing with abusive relationships, and more, but they are saturated with the real reminder that nothing and no one is beyond the redemption of the Lord.

T.I.'s latest book Indigo Isle is a little bit of "Beauty and the Beast" and the Prodigal Son parable and a whole lot of T.I.'s personal brand of "grit and grace." It deals with issues so many of us wrestle with like knowing our worth, identity, being held back by our past, sexual abuse, and the deep lies Satan sews to keep us captive from receiving love from others, but most importantly receiving the love of God. This one is a deeply personal one for me because it echoed so much of my personal story, which we talk transparently and boldly about in this podcast. If you are a survivor of sexual abuse, we see you and are with you, but also I want to offer a trigger warning as a sister who has been there. You're not alone.

The Bible is no stranger to the things that make some feel seen, and others uncomfortable. All of it is real. It is not in God's nature to shy away from our pain and suffering. He enters in. So we offer you this conversation today so that we can enter in together.

Connecting with T.I.

Books (the current one we discussed at length is Indigo Isle!)

Facebook

Instagram

Website

Episode Sponsor: Tony Crabtree of Crabtree Homes with Exit Realty

Facebook

Instagram

Tik Tok

Website

YouTube

References:

Sweet Valley High series

Lulu's Cafe (it is free for Kindle Unlimited users btw!)

Under the Magnolias

"Beauty and the Beast"

The #metoo movement (For faith-based conversation here, some of my favorite voices are Tiffany Bluhm and Ash Abercrombie)

"True Love Waits" movement and Purity Culture (I also really appreciate Tiffany and Ash's voices on this as well. We talk about it a good bit on these episodes, but on their podcast, they have good conversations too)

Fight, flight, freeze, or fawn trauma responses

Learning about various trauma responses (example- there's an endless well of resources I could point you to! This podcast is another.)

Young Life

Cru

The Body Keeps the Score

Scarlet Hope

My conversation with the founder of SH, Rachelle Starr

Christy Awards

The book of Habbakuk

How to make indigo

Low Country Boil (we made this recipe last week at the beach actually!)

Charleston, SC

Mount Pleasant, SC

Scripture References:

Psalm 139:16- He knew me before I was born

Psalm 13- Psalms that depict suicidal ideation

Genesis 21:8-21- Hagar wishing for death

Luke 15:11-32- The prodigal son parable

Genesis 1:27- You are an image bearer

John 4- The Samaritan woman

Joshua 2- Rahab

John 1:1-5, John 17:20-21- We were made by a communal God who does everything in three

Mark 3:13-19-Jesus modeled having a small group of friends

Matthew 17-Then he had even a smaller group of trusted friends

Matthew 14:22-33,Mark 6:45-52,John 6:15-21- He went away to be alone with the Father

Revelation 1:7, Revelation 19:7-9- The Bride of Christ is not going anywhere and Jesus is coming back for her

Habakkuk 1:1

Luke 15:1-7-Going after the lost sheep

Isaiah 58:12-Mending broken things

Ezekiel 37:1-14- Bringing dry bones to life

Ezekiel 34:16- I will search for my lost loved ones and I will bring them back home safely again

Please consider joining our Patreon community. If you have enjoyed what you have heard on the podcast today or from other episodes, we would so appreciate your support to keep the Simply Stories Podcast going. You can sign up for as little as $3 a month and each tier offers gifts that I hope will bless you in return. If you feel you cannot financially commit at this time, would you please consider leaving us a star rating and/or review on Apple Podcasts? My family and I are so grateful for each of you and how you are part of our story.

Connecting with Emily and Simply Stories Podcast: Instagram (Em life // Podcast Life) Facebook Twitter Blog

I am so delighted to share with you my conversation with the lovely and amazing Jennifer Dukes Lee. Jennifer is a Bible teacher and writer living on a fifth-generation farm in the middle of Iowa with her family. She began her career of words working in journalism and was on the way to a successful political correspondent career. Then, the Lord called her and her husband to the farm life raising crops and daughters, and there, she began to really wrestle with the faith she grew up in, and used her interrogation skills from her journalism career and took them to God and His word. What she found there was so rich and full and transformative, and God began to help her share what she was learning and invite others into that same adventure.

Her latest work is a guided journal titled Stuff I'd Only Tell God: A Guided Journal of Courageous, Honesty, Obsessive Truth-Telling, and Beautifully Ruthless Self-Discovery. The journal is a book of questions and prompts because as Jennifer says there are beautiful things that can be encountered at the end of a question mark. It is unlike any other journal I've ever encountered, it is full of questions that plumb the depths of your soul, and others that make you laugh out loud. Jennifer and I even share some of our answers to some of the really funny ones later in this episode, but much of what we talk about today is unpacking how we perceive Jesus' questions, the tones we assign to scripture, why we resist growth, questions, and are scared to confess our doubts. Jesus is not afraid of what He already knows we're wrestling with. Perhaps this conversation will serve as an invitation for you to consider what He may have for you at the end of a question mark.

Y'all I cannot express how much I enjoyed this journal. It has given me space to be all the versions of myself. Serious me, introspective me, silly me, music-obsessed me, all of it. Is it hard for you to answer questions about yourself? Serious ones or lighthearted ones? Are you like me and struggle to embrace fun and whimsy in your life?

I want to challenge you to hold space for the weird and the wonderful in you, no matter what that looks like. The Lord welcomes you, as you are, as He made you, questions, doubts, quirks, and all. I hope this conversation serves as a catalyst for just that. You matter, and your story matters.

Connecting with Jennifer:

Stuff I'd Only Tell God: A Guided Journal of Courageous, Honesty, Obsessive Truth-Telling, and Beautifully Ruthless Self-Discovery

Books

Facebook

Instagram (The seperate journal's instagram page!)

Website

References:

Grief bacon- "kummerspeck"

Baker Publishing Group (hey, to my friends!)

Bethany Publishers

Jennifer's post about her daughter going to Oxford

"Des Moines Register" (newspaper)

"The Chosen" - Jesus and Simon "I've got you."

Growing Slow

Annie F. Downs

8 Track Tape

"The Osmond Family Christmas"

"Chipmunk Punk"- Alvin and The Chipmunks

"Thriller"- Michael Jackson

"Pump up the Jam"

"Make You Sweat" ("Everybody Dance Now") C+C Music Factory

"Can't Touch This" MC Hammer

"Vogue" - Madonna

The Stuff I'd Only Tell God playlist

The band Chicago

"Cinderella" Disney movie soundtrack

Casey Kasem American Top 40 (now Ryan Seacrest) Countdown

"Phenomenon" movie soundtrack

"French Kiss" movie soundtrack

"Dizzy Up the Girl" by Goo Goo Dolls

Maverick City Music

Brandon Lake

"Baby's Black Balloon" - Goo Goo Dolls

"Tubthumping" by Chabuwamba

"Home" by Phillip Phillips

"Home" by Edward Sharpe and the Magenetic Zeros

"The Walking Dead"

Scripture References:

John 20:24-29-Thomas

Matthew 12:1-8, Mark 2:23-28, Matthew 15:1-9, Luke 6:1-5, John 8:1-11- The disciples' concern with breaking the Law (and the Pharisees and Sadducees, and etc)

Acts 9 -Scales came off Paul's eyes

John 5:1-15- Do you want to get well?

Luke 18:41-43- what do you want me to do for you?

Matthew 14:31 - Why did you doubt?

John 6:67 - You do not want to leave too, do you?

Matthew 26:14-30, Luke 22 (this account is different than John. John says he was "prompted" to betray Jesus, and after Jesus fed him the bread, Satan entered Judas and he left the supper) John 13- When Jesus speaks to Judas

Luke 2:1-20- Jesus showed up as a baby

Luke 2:52-Jesus grew up in wisdom and stature

Sponsor for this Episode: Hopefuel

Use the code 'SIMPLY15' for 15% off

Instagram

Website

Please consider joining our Patreon community. If you have enjoyed what you have heard on the podcast today or from other episodes, we would so appreciate your support to keep the Simply Stories Podcast going. You can sign up for as little as $3 a month and each tier offers gifts that I hope will bless you in return. If you feel you cannot financially commit at this time, would you please consider leaving us a star rating and/or review on Apple Podcasts? My family and I are so grateful for each of you and how you are part of our story.

Connecting with Emily and Simply Stories Podcast: Instagram (Em life // Podcast Life) Facebook Twitter Blog

Today we are continuing our conversation about mental health and faith and caring for our hearts with identity coach Ray Leight. Ray and his wife Kathryn lead Faith by Grace, a coaching practice and ministry designed to equip people to do deep inner work to live lives of freedom and joy. Ray shares with me today how the Lord led him into ministry and a passion for identity coaching through his own journey of coping with trauma as well as living with undiagnosed neurodivergence and bipolar two until he was well into adulthood. Ray brings some really fascinating insights into this conversation that brings to the surface some of the points of contention that can confuse Christians about spiritual healing, maturing in faith, and neurological and biological roadblocks that occur genetically or as a result of trauma and life experience.

Have you ever had a breakthrough in a struggle and then after time you feel like you go backward? Have you ever questioned God's healing in your life? Do you lack clarity with terms like 'codependency' or 'boundaries', but find it confusing about how that might actually apply practically? I'd love to invite you to give this conversation a listen with Holy Spirit-led discernment for your healing journey. His discernment is always available to those who call on Him! And I ALWAYS want to encourage you to pursue His leading in any conversation we have! But I think some of the things we discuss today touch on places we can get tripped up in the church, so I just want to remind us all to have ears to hear and hearts tuned to the One who made us and will bring us to the day of completion.

We are professionals with our tools we fashion for survival, aren't we? But friends, we have to hand over those tools to the Carpenter who made us by hand and have Him give us new tools, new skills, and new ways of living life. The Lord can and will recalibrate and reset what you have always known and how you have coped. God's goodness and mercy and hope are always there and are always enough as we walk out this journey. As Ray shared, "It is not selfish to care for yourself." In fact, it honors God and makes space for Him to continue doing a work in you. You matter, my friend. Your story matters.

Connecting with Ray:

Book: Maturing into Yourself

(Other books)

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter Website (and Coaching information)

Sponsor for this Episode: Hopefuel

Use the code 'SIMPLY15' for 15% off

Instagram

Website

Please consider joining our Patreon community. If you have enjoyed what you have heard on the podcast today or from other episodes, we would so appreciate your support to keep the Simply Stories Podcast going. You can sign up for as little as $3 a month and each tier offers gifts that I hope will bless you in return. If you feel you cannot financially commit at this time, would you please consider leaving us a star rating and/or review on Apple Podcasts? My family and I are so grateful for each of you and how you are part of our story.

References:

Bipolar 2

ADHD

CRU (Campus Crusade)

Life Builders

Leanne Payne's Pastoral care model

Bethel Church (Just a quick word of using the Holy Spirit-led discernment here)

Sozo and shabar work (same here)

We're all just spiritual beings walking around in earth suits - Well I royally screwed this one up. I merged multiple quotes together and CS Lewis didn't say one of them. Good times. But this was insightful.

On-Site Podcast on Treating Trauma, and the other about Living Centered- (this is the episode I was listening to) - On-site is a REALLY sound resource at the intersection of faith and mental health.

codependency

Finding a New Normal

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind and Bod in the Healing of Trauma- Bessel van der Kolk (this is an incredible resource for understanding how trauma and experiences stored in the body and affects us over time)

An example of a study of people believe that they are actually saved or not

Also studies of what do people mean when they say they're Christian and how Americans and faith have shifted since the pandemic

Example of some stories we've heard on the podcast of spiritual things we may or may not understand Tessa Afshar, Michael Heiser, and Todd Nettleton.

"Beloved is where we begin."

Scripture References:

Genesis 3 - Adam and Eve believed the lie and ate the fruit

John 8:42-47- We have an enemy that lies to us

Romans 5, Romans 14:16-19, 2 Corinthians 4:1-6, 2 Timothy 1:7- Kingdom of the world is fear, shame, and guilt. Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit

Deuteronomy 6:4-7,Matthew 22:37-40,Mark 12:30-31,Luke 10:27-We are called to love the Lord our God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength

Philippians 1:6- Jesus is working on you until the day of completion

Psalm 51:10-19- Create in me a clean heart oh God

John 16:33- In this world you will have trouble

John 10:10- He is the One who gives us life and to the full

Galatians 5:22-23- Fruits of the Spirit

1 Corinthians 12- Gifts of the Spirit

2 Corinthians 5:17- You are a new creation

Jeremiah 17:9- The heart is deceitful above all else

Ezekiel 11:19; Ezekiel 36:26; Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10- We are given a heart of flesh for our heart of stone

Hebrews 10:16, Jeremiah 31:33- Jesus wrote the Law on our hearts

Hebrews 10- Jesus fulfilled the Law

Matthew 28:19-20- We are called to go and share the Gospel

The Holy Spiri has the power to save

John 17- Jesus talking to God about bringing Him glory in the garden

Ephesians 1, Romans 8:31-39- Your identity is who you are in Christ

Matthew 13:31-32-Faith of a mustard seed parable

Matthew 7:5-Take the log out of your own eye

Mark 12:30-31- Love the Lord your God and love your neighbor as yourself

1 John 4:19- We love because He first loved us

Ephesians 3:14-21- How vast God's love is for us

Romans 5:8- While we were still sinners (us and all our issues) Christ died for us

Colossians 1:24-27-Christ in You the hope of glory

Connecting with Emily and Simply Stories Podcast: Instagram (Em life // Podcast Life) Facebook Twitter Blog

We are diving into part two of my conversation with author and advocate Ally Henny. If you missed part one of this conversation I would strongly recommend you check that episode out first so you can hear some context of Ally's life, ministry, and some of her experiences as a Black woman in predominately white Christian spaces, and a glimpse into her journey of allowing herself to speak up and not just allow racism to be what is just an accepted part of her occupying space in the world. This gave birth to her new book I Won't Shut Up: Finding Your Voice When the World Tries to Silence You.

Ally shares with us what it can really look like to fight racism from the inside, offers ideas of how to be welcoming in predominately white spaces, and how white people's good intentions can still cause harm if they (including me) aren't willing to lean in when it's uncomfortable and admit we don't know what we don't know. She challenges people to consider what it might look like to embrace discomfort in these conversations. and embracing what we didn't know and engaging people who do know, and then being willing to learn and sit with it.

Let's lean in today, friends, and embrace this Kingdom-building work and learn how to better build one another up, and bear one another's burdens as the body of Christ. I hope and pray that every time you encounter the stories on this podcast, you walk away encouraged to live more fully in your story, equipped with how to engage those around you more fully in their story, and how to better see your place in God's story. You matter and your story matters.

Connecting with Ally:

The Audiobook is not out yet, stay tuned though!

Book: I Won't Shut Up: Finding Your Voice When the World Tries to Silence You

Facebook

Instagram

Patreon

Podcast "Combing the Roots"

TikTok

Twitter

Website

Please consider joining our Patreon community. If you have enjoyed what you have heard on the podcast today or from other episodes, we would so appreciate your support to keep the Simply Stories Podcast going. You can sign up for as little as $3 a month and each tier offers gifts that I hope will bless you in return. If you feel you cannot financially commit at this time, would you please consider leaving us a star rating and/or review on Apple Podcasts? My family and I are so grateful for each of you and how you are part of our story.

References:

Part one of my conversation with Ally (Spotify, Apple)

The death of George Floyd

Dr. Jemar Tisby

Dr. Tisby's episode on the podcast (Ep 119)

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. talking about white liberal allies

Malcolm X talking about white liberal allies

Black churches exist because of white people's racism - The Color of Compromise is a fantastic historical look at this by the way. (I'm linking his audiobook version here because the first two chapters are audio lectures and easy access to learning!)

Respectability politics

A Tale of Two Cities

"Be the Bridge" Facebook group (There's a rule if you join it and you are white, you have to be quiet for 3 months before you can say or ask ANYTHING.)

"Be the Bridge" is an incredible resource that truly takes the time to offer resources specifically for white people to learn about how to be an ally.

Notion app

Pass the Mic podcast episode with Ally talking about Prince Harry, the Royal Family and the Meghan Markle factor /(I THINK it was this episode or the next one where she mentions the parallels with the Royal Family and how H&M left loud)

Spare- Prince Harry

The Tennessee Three // In the heat of the situation

The Justins (Rep. Justin Pearson and Rep. Justin Jones) and a few insanely captured moments of just blatant trying to get them to sit down and shut up when they were asking questions (oh this one is wild) and one for Rep. Gloria Johnson as well.

Belmont University (can I just say, listening to Dr. Tisby speak at a university that is on the property of a former plantation where hundreds of people were enslaved was… full of feelings.)

Dr. Christina Edmondson

The Witness Black Christian Collective

Pass the Mic podcast

Tyler Burns, President of "The Witness"

Ally and Tyler sharing about their Joy and Justice conference

The Color of Compromise: The Truth About the American Church's Complicity in Racism by Dr. Jemar Tisby

Scripture References:

Romans 8:29-Growing to be more like Christ

Growing as brothers and sisters in Christ (so many scriptures)

Micah 6:8- Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with your God

Matthew 6:33-Seek the Kingdom of God

Galatians 6:2, Ephesians 4:1-3-Bear one another's burdens

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Today I get to share with you my powerful conversation with the amazing Ally Henny. Ally is an author, a speaker, a minister, an advocate, and the vice president of The Witness, a Black Christian Collective which is an organization committed to encouraging, engaging, and empowering Black Christians toward liberation from racism. This week, Ally released her book I Won't Shut Up: Finding Your Voice When the World Tries to Silence You which one reviewer poignantly and perfectly called "An unvarnished perspective on racism that calls Black women to find their voice."

During our conversation today, Ally is going to share some of the insights from her incredible book as well as some of her experiences as a Black Christian woman who for many, many years felt constantly silenced but perpetually on display for public opinion. She shares how it feels for her to never be "off" because her responses in conversations, even her facial expressions are constantly being evaluated and judged. Or what it feels like to consistently be perceived as a potential threat or as someone who needs to be handled or managed. She unpacks topics such as society's expectation of women being the burden bearers, the helper, and the nurturers in American society, but how that uniquely plays out for many Black women and its roots in systemic harm.

Ultimately, Ally shares a glimpse into the culmination of events that led to her finding what she calls her "holy hell no," the sacred boundary that rose up in her and said I do not deserve to be treated this way and that racism does not have to be an accepted fact of life. Her book moved me so deeply and continued opening my eyes to experiences I've lived in ignorance of, and this conversation continues to remind me about the beauty and the power of not staying silent in the face of injustice and the heart of God to let ALL of our lights shine before men. This conversation goes so deep and wide, that this is actually part one of two episodes, and I can't wait to listen and learn right along with you. Remember friend, no matter where you are in your journey, you matter and your story matters.

Connecting with Ally:

Book: I Won't Shut Up: Finding Your Voice When the World Tries to Silence You

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Instagram

Website

Sponsor for this Episode: Hopefuel

Use the code 'SIMPLY15' for 15% off

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Website

References:

The Witness Black Christian Collective

Fuller Seminary

Juneteenth

"Black Panther"

The Black Panther Party

Kantha Bae headwraps

Chadwick Boseman ("Wakanda Forever!")

T'Challa

Fred Hampton

Huey P. Newton

The assassination of Fred Hampton

Mercury

Mercury thermometers

Sassy Black friend trope (examples: "Sex and the City," "Save the Last Dance","Clueless," etc.)

The idea during slavery that Black women could give birth and go back right out to the field.

(This is a fascinating read as well about the mindset towards enslaved women)

The history of medical racism, gynecology and struggle for Black women and also discusses the "science" myth that Black women were built stronger of enslavement rhetoric

Black maternal mortality rates

Serena Williams' birth experience

Simone Biles

Educated Black women are more likely to die in childbirth than undereducated white women and other statistics

Big tobacco lawsuits

The prevalent nature of smoking in the 20th century

Marketing menthols to Black communities specifically

Constellations in the sky

Science Olympiad- "Reach for the Stars"

Reconstruction

Civil Rights Movement

School-to-prison pipeline

Liquor stores and fast food funneled disproportionately into predominately Black neighborhoods

History of redlining

Booker T. Washington and respectability politics

Ferguson, MO protests sparked by the shooting of Michael Brown Jr.

The gateway arch to the west, St. Louis, MO

The L.A. riots in 1992

The Watts Uprising/Rebellion

Civil Rights Movement protests (these photos are from Nashville)

"Downton Abbey"

"The West Wing"

"The Golden Girls"

Scripture References:

Matthew 5:16- "Let your light shine before men."

Job 38:11- Thus far and no more

Micah 6:8- "He has shown you o mortal what is good, do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God."

JOIN OUR PATREON COMMUNITY!!!! I would be honored to have your support to keep the Simply Stories Podcast going. You can sign up for as little as $3 a month and each tier offers gifts that I hope will bless you in return.

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Today, I get to share my conversation with minister and author Kathryn Maack. Kathryn shares her seemingly accidental, but God-ordained road into vocational ministry. God began to reveal Himself to her in ways that helped her to process how we as Believers approach the Lord, and that there can be a segregation that happens within ourselves in how to we relate to the Lord or even are willing to learn about Him or worship Him. Whether that be disconnect between our head and heart, Spirit and the Truth, there is much that can be disrupted and disjointed due to pain, our experiences, or perhaps even half truths we've come to believe as the whole truth. She dives into this topic in the book she coauthored with ministry partner Aaron Williams Whole: The Life-Changing Power of Relating to God with All of Yourself. When the Lord made us, He did not make us in segmented pieces, but as a whole person. Kathryn and Aaron want to remind us that Jesus wants to make us holy and whole and He wants us to live out the identity He created us to have.

if you are struggling in your own story because it is just… loud. Too much yelling, too much fighting, too many confusing narratives, I want you to hear me say that the Lord is with you. He is the God of peace, and a God of justice and mercy. He will not leave you here.

If you are struggling in your story because it is just too quiet, and you feel like God is too far and you don't know what to make of what you see, feel or what you've seen, I want you to hear me say that the Lord is also with you. He has a history that suggests that even when it seems like He is absent, He is anything but. He never leaves us or forsakes us and rejoices over us with loud singing. He listens to lament, He can take our questions, and He will not leave you here.

No matter you are, I hope you know that you matter, and your story matters. Thanks for hanging out with me and I'll see you next time.

Connecting with Kathryn:

Kathryn and Aaron's book: Whole: The Life-Changing Power of Relating to God with All of Yourself

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Instagram

Website

Connecting with Dwellings:

App

Instagram

Podcast

Website

Sponsor for this Episode: Hopefuel

Use the code 'SIMPLY15' for 15% off

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Website

References:

Aaron Williams

Dwellings is a ministry that helps ordinary people cultivate kingdom communities, typically in small groups or house churches

Jennie Allen

IF Gathering

Ancient Jewish perspective on the heart being one

"Build My Life"

Revival at Asbury University

Peter Greig 24/7

The Great Awakening

The Hebrides Revival

The Welsh Revival

"Walk Down This Mountain" - Bebo Norman

The Jesus movement in the 60's-70's

"Jesus Revolution" movie

Barna study about Gen Z not being in the church

Men of Valor

"Reckless Love"- Cody Asbury

"Rattle" - Elevation Worship

"Sanctified"- Mercy Me - "We worship with the sound of broken shackles falling to the ground."

Priscilla Shirer- Armor of God study

The power is in the name of Jesus

Scripture References:

Mark 12:30-31- Love the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul and strength

John 4:23- true worshippers come to Jesus in Spirit and Truth

Jeremiah 17:9- The heart is deceitful above all else

John 11:38-44 Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-18; John 2:13-22,Mark 3:5) Matthew 14:14; 15:32, Matthew 9:36, Matthew 4:1-11,Mark 1:12-13,Luke 4:1-13, Hebrews 4:15- Jesus came and displayed emotions but never sinned

Matthew 22:34-40-This is the first and greatest commandment

Galatians 5:22- The fruit of the spirit is joy

Psalm 34:8- Taste and see that the Lord is good

Ephesians 1:18- The Spirit enlivens the eyes of the heart

John 5:39- You search the scriptures and you want to find Me, but you don't know Me

Exodus 34:29-35-Moses shining with God glory's off the mountain

Exodus 32- Moses catching the people in a hot mess

Exodus 34- Moses comes back with the Law again

John 16:13- The Holy Spirit guides us into all Truth

John 16:8- The Holy Spirit convicts us

John 14:25-26, 1 Corinthians 2:9-14 -The Holy Spirit helps us discern scripture

Psalm 28:7, Psalm 121- He is our help

Ezekiel 37:1-14- God calls the bones to life

2 Corinthians 3:17- There is Someone who wants you to be free

John 8:36, Galatians 5:1, Isaiah 28:16- Christ is the cornerstone

Ephesians 6:17-The sword of the Spirit is the word of God

Ephesians 6:12- We are not at war with flesh and blood

1 Thessalonians 5:23- Jesus wants to make us holy and whole and He wants us to live out the identity He created us to have.

JOIN OUR PATREON COMMUNITY!!!! I would be honored to have your support to keep the Simply Stories Podcast going. You can sign up for as little as $3 a month and each tier offers gifts that I hope will bless you in return.

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Welcome to summer, my friends! This month, we'll be talking about how to engage who we are on the inside so we can better connect with God, get to know who He has always been, and walk with Him from a more authentic place. Once we can do that, it spills over into our relationships around us. Past me would think it was completely crazy to pursue space for growing myself in the summer but present me says that this part of our story matters. We've got self-examination, growth, and care to do. God has much to show us and heal in us. Are you willing to come along for the ride?

Today we'll start with Meredith Boggs. Meredith is a podcaster and an author. Her book The Journey Home: A Biblical Guide to Using the Enneagram to Deepen Your Faith and Relationships tells the story of her life as a young adult and doing all the good Christian things, but finding herself burned out and confused. Looking for a way to breathe life back into her soul and her faith and the Enneagram became a tool that God used to minister to her.

Ohhhh the Enneagram: We're going to talk about the beef people have with it, the understandable concerns many have about it, the misuse of it, AND if it is a useful tool to you, then how could we see what God has for people of faith in it so they can grow into who God made them to be. Maybe you've never even heard of it or only heard weird things about it OR you're over it. Give us another chance today because how Meredith breaks down perspectives about how the enneagram can be used well and not well in relationships, and how it can build one another up in the body of Christ is really beautiful and unique. Of all the Enneagram content I've consumed over the years, Meredith's voice has become my favorite. Her book is about spiritual growth more than a personality evaluation. It is grace-filled, but honest and nuanced. I loved this conversation with her so much where you will get to hear some of Meredith's story and hear her share about her journey with recognizing weaknesses and surrendering in recovery and learning how to trust God in those places.

I hope that this conversation ministers to you today. If anything, I hope you hear that we are ALL in progress. We all have weaknesses and limits and the Lord can and will make Himself known in all of them. Transformation takes time, it is messy, and grappling with who God really versus how broken people sometimes claim Him to be can be an adventure, but a worthwhile one. You matter, and your story matters.

Connecting with Meredith:

Book: The Journey Home: A Biblical Guide to Using the Enneagram to Deepen Your Faith and Relationships

Facebook

Instagram

Podcast

TikTok

Website

Episode Sponsor: Tony Crabtree of Crabtree Homes with Exit Realty

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Tik Tok

Website

YouTube

References:

Enneagram

The Road Back to You

Enneagram 8

Enneagram Test (a free one) Enneagram Test from Enneagram Institute (paid one!)

Ian Morgan Cron

Annie F. Downs' Enneasummer series

Myers Briggs

Strengths Finder

Enneagram 7

Enneagram 3

Beth McCord

Harry Potter (y'all know I'm a #Potterhead), the beef with it when the books were coming out

"Hocus Pocus 2"

Enneagram 2

Codependency (more words about this here and here)

John Calvin quote- "Without knowledge of self there is no knowledge of God Our wisdom, in so far as it ought to be deemed true and solid Wisdom, consists almost entirely of two parts: the knowledge of God and of ourselves. But as these are connected together by many ties, it is not easy to determine which of the two precedes and gives birth to the other."

Our friend Kelsey is Kelsey Chapman. You can hear my conversation with her on episode 73

Triads

Attributes of God Daily Grace Co. study (Affiliate link, thank you for your support!)

Communicable vs. incommunicable attributes of God

Walking in the Spirit

Aslan who creates (From Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis)

12-Step Recovery Process

The Power to Choose

Meredith's resources on her website

Scripture References:

Galatians 5:22-23- Fruit of the Spirit

1 Corinthians 12:12-27- How the body of Christ functions (all its unique parts)

Lamentations 3:40- see ourselves rightly

Luke 10:27; Matthew 22:36–40; Mark 12:28–31-Love the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself

Psalm 90:12- Grant me a heart of wisdom

Ephesians 1:18- Enlighten the eyes of my heart

Isaiah 9:7- God's power has no end and He has no limits

2 Corinthians 12:9-11- In my limits/weaknesses, He is strong

Ephesians 3:20- Even more, than we could ask or imagine

Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 8:28- He has a purpose for you

Isaiah 63:7- God is kind to us

Psalm 27:13-God is good (just one scripture!)

1 Corinthians 3:9- We are co-creators with God

Philippians 1:6- He will complete the work He began in us

Philippians 4:19-God does provide for all of our needs

JOIN OUR PATREON COMMUNITY!!!! I would be honored to have your support to keep the Simply Stories Podcast going. You can sign up for as little as $3 a month and each tier offers gifts that I hope will bless you in return.

Connecting with Emily and Simply Stories Podcast: Instagram (Em life // Podcast Life) Facebook Twitter Blog