Strength Dignity Life

Do you ever wish you had a mature godly woman in your life? Someone who is genuine, transparent and worthy of imitation? The kind of woman who loves God with her all but is not afraid to admit her mistakes? Then you are listening to the right podcast!

Strength & Dignity Life is a ministry that comes alongside young women in a "Titus 2" (Titus 2: 1-5) relationship. In this Episode Apryl Ortiz shares the process that led her and her husband to start SDL. From the internal work she had to overcome in her own life to the group of young women that God used to stir her heart to pray that someone would serve and journey with them, that someone being Apryl!

Hear her share her commitment to young women called to fulfill the SDL challenge to raise the standard on the culture by living out the word of God in every area of life.

If you are up to the SDL challenge we invite you to connect with Apryl through the links below. If you loved this episode, please subscribe to the Strength Dignity Life Podcast wherever you’re listening from today. This way, future episodes will automatically download to your phone and you won’t miss a single episode!

Website: strengthdignitylife.com

Instagram: @strengthdignitylife

Facebook: Strength Dignity Life

Jaymee’s zeal shows that it is never too late for change and for God to do a work in our hearts. Jaymee shares how God lead her out of a life committed to drugs and alcohol, to a life of hope and freedom in Christ.

In Part 2 of this episode, Jaymee tells us when she was shown the gentleness and the love of Christ by the people closest to her. As her friends personally evangelized, God was seeking her out. And as she looks back today, she can recognize and see the story that God was weaving and is still weaving today. Jaymee’s life was flipped, her priorities changed, her orientation flipped. She now does everything for the glory of God and is the founder of a non-profit called, Project Do Over, a vocational rehabilitation ministry helping people at all stages of life to succeed in the workforce.

To learn more about Jaymee, her non-profit, and her business, follow the links below:

www.imetalsource.com

www.projectdoover.org

Jaymee is a wife, mother, founder of the non-profit Project Do Over, and CEO of her own aerospace company. Jaymee does it all. Today, she tells us the story of what matters most, how she came to know Christ. Listen for the ways God was present throughout her whole story.

After starting her own business, Jaymee returned to school and is now studying engineering. She has seen and acknowledged the ways in which God has cared for her over the years and leads us to notice them too. Through food service jobs, accounting, and even losing jobs, God taught her the value of a good work ethic. And even through the periods when she did not know Christ, God pursued her. He gave her people to faithfully show her the gospel in word, action, and even song! Jaymee learned that she had a new family and a new life in Jesus.

This is the story of how a self-sufficient independent woman learned to be dependent on her maker.

To learn more about Jaymee, her non-profit, and her business, follow the links below:

www.imetalsource.com

www.projectdoover.org

No matter which direction we are lead we can be confident that we are being prepared for the future. Brittany Garcia is a beautiful example of this. She leads us through the twists and turns of her story as God shaped her heart and prepared her for what was coming.

Brittany started out as a teenager, involved in Ozzie and Apryl’s youth group, who had no desire to travel. Despite her own plans, Brittany was led to Haiti with IV Hope for Haiti, Thailand with Hannah House Ministries, and to Asia a second time with YWAM. God used each of these experiences to mold her heart toward ministry and youth.

Now, Brittany ministers to youth in Indiana alongside her husband, Gabe. They work together to lead a youth group and point more hearts to Jesus every day. As we reflect, we can see that God has carried each of us through. Proverbs 20:24 says “A man's steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way?” We can trust that no matter how much our circumstances and plans change, if we love Jesus and are called according to His purpose, He will do good, in and through our lives (Rom 8:28).

For more information on Brittany and Gabe's ministry:

@providercoffeeco

@therockmpcc

Sometimes God calls us to sit in the mud, somewhere we would not have placed ourselves. Michael Brandon Foss is with us today as we discuss what it means to glorify God with our calling as we seek to minister to others and ultimately, to serve God.

Michael Brandon Foss is a husband, father, musician, and maker of specialty coffee. He tells us about the decisions he has had to make over the years and how he could see God lead him and pursue him through it all. As dreams were cut short, others took root. He digs into how God was faithful to provide and care for him through many transitions and changes. And he talks about what the Christian mindset should be regarding business operation.

Our work, no matter what our job is, has eternal value. And if we keep our priorities straight (doing everything to the honor and glory of God, first) we can serve others well. We care for others because God cares for us. And we can show others joy, mercy, grace, kindness, and compassion because God himself has given these to us. We are valuable because we are valued by God. And we are lovely because God loves us and made us in His own image, we must live as such. Matthew 5:15-16

To connect with Michael via Instagram, you can find him at:

@fossy_coffee

@slowbarcoffee_tea

For many, the road to higher education is not smooth. With guest Vanessa Cruz, we discuss what the journey may look like and how to navigate around the many potholes as we challenge each other to live out the Word of God in every area of life.

Vanessa Cruz earned her Bachelor’s in Psychology and a Master’s in Social Work. She is a Director of Student Ministries; she is an Educator for Love Notes Curriculum and she is a teacher of foster and at-risk children. Coming from a single parent household and being a first-generation college student Vanessa struggled throughout her journey. God often leads us to places we do not expect. He is faithful nonetheless and He gives us each gifts and passions to use for His glory. We are called to faithfully run the race (1 Cor 9:24).

To connect with Vanessa, you can find her on Instagram at:

IG: @vanessacruzlbc

If you need guidance, desire to reach out, or to further connect with Vanessa you can contact her via email at:

[email protected]

God changes our perspectives in the ways we least expect it. We think we have plans and God changes our hearts. This episode, Ozzie and Apryl discuss how God has guided them in His will and for His glory, showing us what it looks like to seek after God’s heart.

As we make decisions, we deal with expectations, passions, and hopes. Ozzie and Apryl give us practical steps to take when trying to process our plans in accordance with God’s will. Practically, how can we follow the Lord with all our lives? How are we supposed to make life decisions with God’s overarching story in mind, knowing that Jesus is Lord of it all?

Ozzie and Apryl talk about being okay with where the Lord directs you. The journey of proper surrender is not always a linear one, but God surprises us with what He has in store. We can trust that He is using our weaknesses and passions for His glory as He works everything out for our ultimate good. God’s will is not hidden. We must pray, read, surrender, and lean not on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6) as we trust that His plans are greater than our own.

“Visit many good books, but live in the Bible” -Charles Spurgeon. In this episode, our host Apryl Ortiz, along with Sean Arviso, author of “Fact or Fiction,” parse out what it means to study the bible, why it is so important, and how to do it properly.

Sean Arviso is a Pastor at Calvary Chapel El Centro and is the author of “Fact or Fiction,” “In His Presence: Challenge Through the Book of Genesis,” and “In His Presence: Epistle of James.” Sean’s personal story is a testament to God’s love for the lost and demonstration of His power in saving those that are far off. Sean has a passion for Apologetics which is how we understand the defense of Christianity from an evidential perspective.

During this hour, Sean tells of the best way to study the bible ourselves. Sean uses the method of inductive bible study as he sorts through the observations, interpretations, and applications of a particular passage. He answers questions such as: Is Jesus really on every page of the Bible? Why is it important to understand the book of Genesis today? How are we supposed to approach scripture considering the vastness of it? And how then do we apply it to our own lives?

Use the links below to access free resources to aid you in your study of God’s word:

https://www.blueletterbible.org/

https://study.bible/welcome

Follow the links below to check out Sean’s books available on Amazon:

In His Presence, Challenge Through The Book of Genesis: A Thought Provoking and Practical Devotional Commentary

In His Presence, Epistle of James

Fact or Fiction

“There is no one on this planet that has arrived.” Karrie Scott Garcia is with us today as we dig into what it means to live an abundant life. We all struggle with our humanity but through it all we have a God who walks alongside us.

We can all rest in the fact that no one truly has it all together. Karrie Garcia is the Founder and Executive Director of Freedom Movement, a ministry that seeks to bring hope to men and women by offering tools to help them walk in freedom. She has put together “The Exchange,” a nine-week video course with reflection questions to guide people through the process of exchanging believed lies for God’s freedom.

As Karrie puts it, an abundant life is a full life. It is not a life without grief, sorrow, and pain. But rather it is both hurt and hope simultaneously. As we grow, we struggle with questions like: How do I know what I am supposed to do? Where is the root of this issue? What is keeping me from living for Jesus? When we wrestle with these questions and our humanity, we are not bypassing pain but engaging it with the power of the Holy Spirit. Through the wrestling we come to know God’s heart and will.

For more information about Karrie Garcia, Freedom Movement, or the Exchange Course, please visit:

https://freedom-movement-shop.myshopify.com/products/the-exchange-course

https://www.wearefreedommovement.org/

https://www.karriegarcia.com/

Insta: @karriescottgarcia

Facebook: Karrie Scott Garcia

Podcast by Karrie Garcia and Shara Haus: The Honest Pod

What Satan means for evil, God intends for good. In part two of this episode, Colleen Myers shares her past from a place of healing and remembrance. Listen today, to how God used her brokenness, weakness, and inability for His glory.

Colleen was not able to find healing until her childhood abuse was brought to light. It was in this openness that she was able to confront and deal with her suffering. God used this difficult season to give her compassion and love for people later. Satan meant her past for evil, but God had a plan.

Colleen, along with her team at PLUR Life Ministries, has been ministering at raves to young men and women since 2009. After ministering at a rave in early March of 2020, Colleen tested positive for Covid-19. Her suffering lead to opened doors, a broadened audience, and a public acknowledgement of her God who was faithful through it all.

Joseph in Genesis 50 went from being a prisoner to a prince and his past was used for good. God shapes our hearts through our circumstances even when we do not understand them. He uses broken and unqualified people in the process. God, in His kindness, uses the weak. Colleen encourages us to seek discipleship, acknowledge that God is good, and share the story of what God has done in your life to reach others. Let’s remember today what God has done for each of us.

To learn more or to get involved in PLUR Life Ministries check out the links below:

raveoutreach.com

Contact Colleen at: [email protected]

Smack Dab: Living Life in the Center of God’s Will by Colleen Myers

From Wounded to Warrior by Lisa Barrett