The Devoted Dreamers Podcast

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Does it ever feel like you’ll never reach the finish line?

If you’ve spent any time on social media lately, you probably think everyone else is years ahead of where you are with your dream. It feels even worse if you haven’t started yet. But I’m here to shatter that perception and tell you that you’re right on time no matter how far along you are (or are not).

The reassuring truth is that God exists outside of time and yet He can still appreciate that our time on this earth matters to us. In fact, He was gracious enough to provide a clear example in the Bible of someone who waited what must have felt like an eternity to see a dream come to reality.

I’ll walk you through that story and offer a hopeful reminder that your waiting is not in vain. But that’s not all.

You’ll also hear about:

• Avoiding the biggest mistake that keeps dreamers from progress
• Examples of small steps of faithfulness you can take today
• Courageously facing the scariest part of pursuing a God-shaped dream

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MORE ABOUT THE DEVOTED DREAMERS PODCAST:
Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson.
Theme music by Reaktor Productions.
Ad music by Komiku.

Send us Fan Mail

Find show notes here.

How often do you sense yourself feeling anxious?

I don’t know if my anxiety has gotten worse since the pandemic or if I’m just more aware now of how everyday stressors make me feel in my body. The truth is, knowing the anxiety is there won’t actually change it, but it is a place to start. And certainly, finding the antidote feels important if you’re living burdened by increasing anxiousness and stress.

If you’ve been a Christian very long at all, you know the Bible says we aren’t meant to live this way. It’s not God’s best for our lives, but if we’re already there, how do we make a change?

My guest today is all too familiar with the struggle of anxiety and depression. It took a painful loss to help Angie Gibbons wake up and see the reality of her life and the impact it was having on her family, particularly her children.

The Lord took her on a journey of discovering momentary breakthroughs from anxiety that have now become a lifestyle and she’s here to share her story.

In this episode, we’re talking about:

• One specific assignment to unlock your mind and release stress,
• How to live outside of an anxious space, and
• The best way to think about launching something new when you’re on a tight budget.

NEXT STEPS:

Connect with Merritt: Website || Instagram || Book a Discovery Call

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Support the Podcast

Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts/iTunes

Subscribe: on Apple Podcasts * on Android

Sign up for Dream Believers. Just $49/month or $490 for the year (get 2 months free!) 

NEXT STEPS:
Connect with Merritt: Website || Instagram || Book a Call
Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts/iTunes
Subscribe: on Apple Podcasts * on Android
Join the Dream Believers community

MORE ABOUT THE DEVOTED DREAMERS PODCAST:
Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson.
Theme music by Reaktor Productions.
Ad music by Komiku.

Send us Fan Mail

Find show notes here.

Has God called you to be bold and courageous in your dream?

If you are actively pursuing a dream—or even considering it—you are possibly facing opposition, fear, comparison and even imposter syndrome. But instead of seeing your dream as a mountain too high to climb on your own—which it very likely is—what if the dream became an invitation from the creator of the universe to trust Him more fully than you have in the past?

In this episode, we’re talking about:

• The power of identifying how and where God might open your eyes to bring his boldness into your business or industry to redeem it for His glory
• How the journey of our God-shaped dreams is an invitation to intimacy with the Lord
• What we are at risk of missing out on when we aren’t willing or able to submit our plans or ideas to Him.

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Connect with Merritt: Website || Instagram || Book a Discovery Call

Get Connected with the Facebook Community

Support the Podcast

Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts/iTunes

Subscribe: on Apple Podcasts * on Android

Sign up for Dream Believers. Just $49/month or $490 for the year (get 2 months free!) 

NEXT STEPS:
Connect with Merritt: Website || Instagram || Book a Call
Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts/iTunes
Subscribe: on Apple Podcasts * on Android
Join the Dream Believers community

MORE ABOUT THE DEVOTED DREAMERS PODCAST:
Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson.
Theme music by Reaktor Productions.
Ad music by Komiku.

Send us Fan Mail

Find show notes here.

Have you seen God’s hand on your life, even through the most difficult trials?

My guest today will tell you that she was so caught up in herself when the reality of her motherhood didn’t look the way she always dreamed it would. She will tell you that it became an obsession to fix the ache caused by her unmet desires. And she will tell you what God did instead of allowing her to stay there.

Today Nicole Clark is the founder of a local nonprofit ministry in North Texas helping women and families through tough seasons of infertility and loss. She hosts a podcast called Purpose Beyond Motherhood and events, both local and streaming online, to help women who are walking through the fire so they can persevere and step into whatever God is calling them to.

In this episode, we’re talking about:

• The mistake of running ahead of God's timing and what to focus on instead,
• Managing expectations about the outcome of your dream, and
• A trap creatives get stuck in and how to shift so you can make true progress.

Get more info about the Refined Purpose event in Frisco, TX and online - Friday, April 29, 2022 at 7:00 pm (Central Time)

NEXT STEPS:

Connect with Merritt: Website || Instagram || Book a Discovery Call

Get Connected with the Facebook Community

Support the Podcast

Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts/iTunes

Subscribe: on Apple Podcasts * on Android

Sign up for Dream Believers. Just $49/month or $490 for the year (get 2 months free!) 

NEXT STEPS:
Connect with Merritt: Website || Instagram || Book a Call
Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts/iTunes
Subscribe: on Apple Podcasts * on Android
Join the Dream Believers community

MORE ABOUT THE DEVOTED DREAMERS PODCAST:
Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson.
Theme music by Reaktor Productions.
Ad music by Komiku.

Send us Fan Mail

Find the show notes here.

Have you ever wondered if you could get paid to do the thing you love?

Something I often hear from dreamers is a question about whether a God-shaped dream should be a business or a hobby—and how to decide.

I recorded this solo episode first as a wrap up for my financial series from last month but also to share a bit of my business-building story. You’ll hear how I accidentally became a freelance writer in my 30s and the lessons I have learned that you can apply to your questions about whether a dream can or should be something that supports you and your life. 

Listen in to hear:

• One genius example of how to make a big career move less risky,
• Five considerations you must think through before you decide to launch a business, and
• What trusting God and His plan for your life has to do with any of it.

NEXT STEPS:

Connect with Merritt: Website || Instagram || Book a Discovery Call

Get Connected with the Facebook Community

Support the Podcast

Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts/iTunes

Subscribe: on Apple Podcasts * on Android

Sign up for Dream Believers. Just $49/month or $490 for the year (get 2 months free!) 

NEXT STEPS:
Connect with Merritt: Website || Instagram || Book a Call
Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts/iTunes
Subscribe: on Apple Podcasts * on Android
Join the Dream Believers community

MORE ABOUT THE DEVOTED DREAMERS PODCAST:
Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson.
Theme music by Reaktor Productions.
Ad music by Komiku.

Send us Fan Mail

Find show notes here.

What will it cost to get your dream off the ground?

This episode is the third and final conversation in my financial series where I’m bringing back a previous podcast guest to share her brilliance and experience related to the money side of launching a dream!

This week’s guest is dream defender and founder of Camp Well and The Well Summit Jenn Jett Barrett who shared her dreamer story waaaaay back in episode 16. This time we’re talking about creative ideas to launch without spending a lot of money.

You’re going to get so much out of hearing Jenn talk about:

1. Reminders from scripture that God uses financially successful women to advance kingdom purposes and how we don’t have to be afraid of conversations about money,
2. Making money decisions from where you are today rather than where you ultimately hope to end up, and
3. Specific ideas Jenn shared about how to launch and vet your dream from the beginning on a minimal budget.

Looking for my free 5-day Guided Scripture Reading Plan? Get yours today. You’ll also receive a copy of the Dreamers Unleashed Manifesto to post on your mirror, fridge, or wherever you need a reminder of who you are and the path you’ve been given. Just go to: https://www.merrittonsa.com/biblereadingplan

NEXT STEPS:

Connect with Merritt: Website || Instagram || Book a Discovery Call

Get Connected with the Facebook Community

Support the Podcast

Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts/iTunes

Subscribe: on Apple Podcasts * on Android

Sign up for Dream Believers. Just $49/month or $490 for the year (get 2 months free!) 

NEXT STEPS:
Connect with Merritt: Website || Instagram || Book a Call
Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts/iTunes
Subscribe: on Apple Podcasts * on Android
Join the Dream Believers community

MORE ABOUT THE DEVOTED DREAMERS PODCAST:
Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson.
Theme music by Reaktor Productions.
Ad music by Komiku.

Send us Fan Mail

Find show notes here.

Have you counted the cost of your dream?

This episode is the second of three conversations in my financial series in which we’re talking about how to think about spending your hard-earning money on a dream and how to determine if your dream should be a business or a hobby.

My guest this week is Business Coach Katie Wussow, who shared her dreamer story in episode 167.

This time we’re talking about making wise investments in your dream, whether it’s a passion project or a business. Katie brings levelheadedness and practicality to the conversation. 

Here are a few topical highlights you don't want to miss: 

• The mistake of spending money to solve a problem you don't yet fully understand,
• Making a realistic assessment of the costs involved in saying yes to a dream, and
• The difference between an investment in your dream and an expense it requires.

Looking for my free 5-day Guided Scripture Reading Plan? Get yours today. You’ll also receive a copy of the Dreamers Unleashed Manifesto to post on your mirror, fridge, or wherever you need a reminder of who you are and the path you’ve been given. Just go to: bit.ly/scriptureplan

NEXT STEPS:

Connect with Merritt: Website || Instagram || Book a Discovery Call

Get Connected with the Facebook Community

Support the Podcast

Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts/iTunes

Subscribe: on Apple Podcasts * on Android

Sign up for Dream Believers. Just $49/month or $490 for the year (get 2 months free!) 

NEXT STEPS:
Connect with Merritt: Website || Instagram || Book a Call
Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts/iTunes
Subscribe: on Apple Podcasts * on Android
Join the Dream Believers community

MORE ABOUT THE DEVOTED DREAMERS PODCAST:
Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson.
Theme music by Reaktor Productions.
Ad music by Komiku.

Send us Fan Mail

Join me for a Devoted Dreamers gathering on March 31, 2022! 

RSVP at merrittonsa.com/marchevent

NEXT STEPS:
Connect with Merritt: Website || Instagram || Book a Call
Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts/iTunes
Subscribe: on Apple Podcasts * on Android
Join the Dream Believers community

MORE ABOUT THE DEVOTED DREAMERS PODCAST:
Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson.
Theme music by Reaktor Productions.
Ad music by Komiku.

Send us Fan Mail

Find show notes here.

Is money a barrier to launching your dream?

This episode is the first in a series of three finance-focused conversations in my financial series where we’re talking about how to think about spending your hard-earning money on a dream.

Listeners have been telling me that time and money are among the biggest barriers to jumping into a God-shaped dream. That may be the reality for some, however, the reason I wanted to do this series was so we could have some real talk about this topic of finances (after realizing I’ve been neglecting it all this time).

I brought in Money Coach Katie Jones this week, who shared her dreamer story in episode 215, and we’re talking about how to think about your finances so you CAN invest in your dream in the future. This is Katie’s passion and I know you’re going to get so much out of this conversation where we talk about:

• The secret to getting started on a dream even when you feel like you don't have the money
• Underlying motivations that could be influencing your desire to spend, and
• The importance of identifying priorities to see if you're actually spending on what's most important to you.

NEXT STEPS:

Connect with Merritt: Website || Instagram || Book a Discovery Call

Get Connected with the Facebook Community

Support the Podcast

Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts/iTunes

Subscribe: on Apple Podcasts * on Android

Sign up for Dream Believers. Just $49/month or $490 for the year (get 2 months free!) 

NEXT STEPS:
Connect with Merritt: Website || Instagram || Book a Call
Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts/iTunes
Subscribe: on Apple Podcasts * on Android
Join the Dream Believers community

MORE ABOUT THE DEVOTED DREAMERS PODCAST:
Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson.
Theme music by Reaktor Productions.
Ad music by Komiku.

Send us Fan Mail

Find show notes here.

Does comparison steal your joy and keep you from fully walking in your purpose?

With 24/7 social media access to everyone’s highlight reels, it’s no wonder so many of us struggle with comparison.

Today’s guest Heather Creekmore is no stranger to comparison, and God has been using this struggle as part of her God-shaped dream to help women stop comparing and start living!

In this episode, we’re talking about:

• How easily the ideals we hold onto can become disruptive idols in our hearts,
• A simple activity to help determine where you’re most likely to cave in to comparison, and
• How to look at the “competition” and see something other than a threat.

Looking for my free 5-day Guided Scripture Reading Plan? Get yours today. You’ll also receive a copy of the Dreamers Unleashed Manifesto to post on your mirror, fridge, or wherever you need a reminder of who you are and the path you’ve been given. Just go to: bit.ly/scriptureplan

Sign up for Dream Believers. Just $49/month or $490 for the year (get 2 months free!) 

NEXT STEPS:
Connect with Merritt: Website || Instagram || Book a Call
Leave a Review: Apple Podcasts/iTunes
Subscribe: on Apple Podcasts * on Android
Join the Dream Believers community

MORE ABOUT THE DEVOTED DREAMERS PODCAST:
Produced by Jonathan R. Clauson.
Theme music by Reaktor Productions.
Ad music by Komiku.