Tears of Gold :: Stories of Hope

Tears of Gold :: Stories of Hope is back! Thank you for your patience as I prepared for Season Two. I have a great line up of guests ready to share their stories with you and this season opener is an awesome kickstarter!

In this episode I get to interview a very dear woman to me, Mary McBrearty. I have known Mary since I was in high school and now we call her by Nanny Mary. My family is grateful to get to have a local, surrogate grandma in the form of Mary. She loves my children with overflowing joy, love, and patience. And as you'll hear in her sharing, she got to deepen those character traits while raising her own three children. In particular, with her daughter, Christie, who will be a forever child in Mary's life. Far from being bitter about a dependent adult, Mary's story reverberates with a message of God's faithful love, compassion, and provision in her life. Even though I have known Mary for twenty years and seen this story up close, I was moved to joyful tears by Mary's deep and abiding confidence in her heavenly Father.

I am positive you will walk away encouraged, uplifted, and joyful from Mary's story!

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That's it for Season One of Tears of Gold! In this brief episode, I share a few reflections about producing 16 episodes of the podcast. Now I'm taking some time to rest, reflect, learn, and plan for Season Two!

Book mentioned:

Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman

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As she raised her two children in Huntington Beach, Jill faced the typical challenges that any parent faces. It was not until her daughter, Jesse, was in high school that Jill faced the biggest challenge of her life as a parent. What do you do when your child is not making healthy choices for herself? As Jesse got deeper and deeper in the world of drug addiction, Jill surrounded herself with God's truths as her heart was breaking watching her daughter in that lifestyle. In this episode Jill shares how she walked through the grief of loving a child who was making painful choices. Today Jesse is sober, healthy, happy, and walking with the Lord. I was honored to have Jill share her story on Tears of Gold for this episode. Enjoy!

Book mentioned:

Streams in the Desert by L.B.E. Cowman

Follow Tears of Gold:

Instagram : @tearsofgold16

Facebook : Tears of Gold :: Stories of Hope

Website : www.tearsofgold.com

To Leave a Review on iTunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/tearsofgold-podcast/id1195223602?mt

Click blue button on left "View in iTunes"

Click "Ratings and Review"

Click "Write a Review"

Thank you for taking the time to write a review on iTunes!

If you or someone you know would be interested in being a guest on Tears of Gold, fill out a contact form here.

Christina Levasheff had a beautiful and simple life with her husband, young son, and infant daughter. When her 29 month old son, Judson, began to show some atypical physical symptoms, Christina and her husband began the process of seeking medical attention to discover what was going on. After some incorrect diagnoses, Judson was ultimately diagnosed with Krabbe Leukodystrophy Disease, a genetic disease that destroys the white matter in the brain. In just five months, the Levasheffs watched their bright and active two year old lose vision, speech, and all body movements to eventual death. Throughout the short but intense suffering, Judson retained his mental functioning and joy. As with all the stories told through Tears of Gold, this is a story of suffering and heartache, but it is also a story of how God met Christina in her pain. It is a story of how the compassionate Lord gathered her in His arms and comforted her in ways only the good Father can. And how God has taken that pain and transformed it into a ministry of hope to walk alongside others in their pain. Christina and her husband, Drake, and their daughter, Jessie use Judson's Legacy to bless the children and families walking a similar journey they did. I pray you'll be blessed as you hear Christina's sharing in this episode.

Books mentioned during episode:

A Grace Disguised: How the Soul Grows through Loss by Jerry L. Sittser

Lament for a Son by Nicholas Wolterstorff

Streams in the Desert by L.B.E. Cowman

Morning and Evening by Charles H. Spurgeon

There Is No Good Card for This: What to Say and Do When Life is Scary, Awful, and Unfair to the People You Love by Kelsey Crowe and Emily McDowell

The book Christina wrote about her loss:

Eyes that See: Judson's Story of Hope in Suffering by Christina Levasheff

Follow Tears of Gold:

Instagram : @tearsofgold16

Facebook : Tears of Gold :: Stories of Hope

Website : www.tearsofgold.com

To Leave a Review on iTunes:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/tearsofgold-podcast/id1195223602?mt

Click blue button on left "View in iTunes"

Click "Ratings and Review"

Click "Write a Review"

Thank you for taking the time to write a review on iTunes!

If you or someone you know would be interested in being a guest on Tears of Gold, fill out a contact form here.

When she was pregnant with her third child, Havah Felker was given the news no parents wants to hear - her unborn baby had a genetic disorder and survival odds were minimal. Despite the grief of this knowledge, Havah, her husband, and loved ones never stopped trusting God. Elisha Felker was born into the arms of Jesus on August 9, 2012 via emergency C-section. The harrowing story continued when it was discovered that Havah had been bleeding internally due to a hidden placenta abruption. The fact that Elisha was born through a C-section saved Havah's life because the doctors were able to stop the bleeding when they saw it. God took Elisha into his arms in heaven but He has allowed Havah more time on earth to do his work. And doing that she is! Since Elisha's passing, Havah and her husband have foster-adopted two children in to their family; she is a pastor's wife; cares for people in her community; and testifies about God's goodness in the midst of hardships. Havah's joy is contagious and I hope you enjoy this episode!

Resources mentioned:

If You Say Go - Rita Springer

Healing is Here - Deluge

Unshakeable - Deluge

Bethel Loft Session

Heaven is For Real by Thomas Nelson

Story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendo - Daniel 3

Follow Tears of Gold:

Instagram : @tearsofgold16

Facebook : Tears of Gold :: Stories of Hope

Website : www.tearsofgold.com

If you or someone you know would be interested in being a guest on Tears of Gold, fill out a contact form here.

When Anne Dawson's marriage ended in divorce, she found life as she knew it had unraveled in every way imaginable. In the process of healing, Anne allowed God to redefine who she was in Him and what He has called her too. Throughout her sharing, you'll hear things Anne did during the hardest parts and ways God spoke to her. These days you'll find Anne in Nashville with team of people who go into the community to love others through conversations, prayer, and food. Enjoy!

Resources mentioned:

Girls with Swords by Lisa Bevere

Undaunted by Christine Caine

Scripture mentioned:

Psalm 139

Hagar story - Genesis 16

Philippians 1:6

Moses story - Exodus 17:8-15

You can follow Tears of Gold:

Instagram: @tearsofgold16

Facebook: Tears of Gold :: Stories of Hope

Website: www.tearsofgold.com

If you or someone you know would like to be considered as a guest on Tears of Gold, fill out a contact form here.

In this episode, I was privileged to have my friend and author, Paul Angone, share his story with me. After graduating from college, Paul walked through a season of wrestling with what life looked like as a 20-something in the process of growing up. God has used Paul's pain in that wrestling to be turned into the purpose He has called Paul to. For the last decade, Paul has been writing and speaking to and for the Millennial generation as they walk through their own journeys of "what now?". With humor, wisdom, and profound insight, throughout our conversation Paul reflected on his experience of that season and encouragement for anyone walking through their own season of wrestling and uncertainty. Enjoy!

You can find Paul at:

www.allgroanup.com

or his Twitter account @paulangone.

Paul's books:

All Groan Up : Searching for Self, Faith, and Freaking Job!

101 Secrets for your Twenties

Other Resources Mentioned:

Band of Brothers tv series

Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

Prodigal Son Bible story (Luke 15:11-31)

Walk the Line movie

Man's Search for Meaning book by Victor Frankl

Isaiah 55:8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord.

I was honored to interview my friend, Denny Flanagan, for this week's episode. I've known Denny since high school and it was a privilege to get to hear his story and God's working in his life as he walked through waves of grief you'll hear during our time talking together.

Denny experienced his first wave of grief after a hamstring injury interrupted a promising football trajectory for college ball. He wrestled with the loss of a dream and his identity in God while his leg was healing. Soon after graduating from him college, his beloved dad was diagnosed and passed away from bladder cancer. With the grief needing to get out, Denny turned to God and to music to find the words to express the deep heartache of loss. One of Denny's songs is "A Song for Dad" that he wrote from that place of pain. Another more recent loss of a miscarriage of his fourth child solidified how God uses music as a part of Denny's healing process for pain and putting words to song as a form of expression for both himself and others. An in that realization Denny found a calling he wasn't given credit to as a place of deep gladness for himself and meeting a deep hunger for others.

I think you'll really enjoy this episode of hearing Denny share his story. I know I was blessed in talking with him!

Things mentioned in the show:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (NIV)

"The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet." - Frederick Buechner

Where to listen/read some of Denny's works:

The Royal Mountain blog

The Griffith family was an active, joyful, and well-loved family in their Costa Mesa community. When their middle child, 15-year-old, Emma, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma (bone cancer) in 2013, the Griffiths lives were put on an abrupt hold has they did everything in their power to get Emma healed. After a two year battle with the cancer, Emma left this earth and walked into the arms of her Savior on August 4, 2015. In this episode, you will hear from Jenny, Emma's mom, about the heartache of the illness and Emma's passing. But you'll also hear how God was and is working in their hearts and lives to be present with them in the grief. I was honored to have Jenny share her story with me and all of you.

As a head's up, the sound is not the most consistent in regards to volume. You may find yourself adjusting the volume in your car or headset. I apologize for this and thank you for your grace as the podcast is a work in progress!

References to Bible verses mentioned:

Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10 (NIV) "Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death."(v. 51) John 8:48-59 (NIV) Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 (ESV) But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 (NKJV) Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. I Thessalonians 4:13 (NIV) For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21 (NIV) The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:35 (NIV) Links to other mentions in show: Hope Chapel OC (now The Sound) Dr. Nezami - oncologist

Keeping it all in the family for this episode as I interview my brother, Adam Bansmer! In the last episode (08), you heard my story of losing my parents and how God walked me through that. In this episode, you will be hearing from my younger brother, Adam. Though we both lost the same parents, you'll hear how his grief was expressed in ways that were different than mine. In addition to losing our parents, Adam had another layer of grief when his first marriage ended in divorce after a year and half of marriage. By the time he was 30 years old, Adam had been through a divorce and loss of both our parents. Through his grief journey, Adam was confronted with the truths he thought were in the Bible to rediscover what the actual truths were about God and what He promises for His followers. In this episode, you'll hear Adam share how he wrestled with the grief, how people loved on him, and how he ultimately came to the hope available in a life of Christ.

I had fun getting to interview my little brother in this episode and you'll definitely hear a bit of playful digressing at one point....wait for it. ;p I hope you enjoy this episode!

Resources mentioned:

A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis

Good Grief by Granger E. Westberg

Revelation 21:3-5

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

Follow Tears of Gold::

Web: www.tearsofgold.com

Instagram: @tearsofgold16

Facebook: Tears of Gold :: Stories of Hope

Email: [email protected]

If you or someone you know would be interested in sharing your story for Tears of Gold, please email me at the above email address!