Ruthie Rayner has been called into education, serving 34 years with 15 of those as the principal at Stanley Hupfeld Academy, a charter school in Oklahoma City, OK. Driven by her own story of being raised by a handicapped mother and an under-resourced family, she works to lead her team and students to persevere and overcome their circumstances to be all they have been created to be. Today, we're talking about:

• Helping kids overcome the seemingly insurmountable before them
• The story and mission of Stanley Hupfeld Academy
• Ruthie’s story and how this has shaped her purpose as a principal

To get connected and/or serve at Stanley Hupfeld Academy, please call (405)-751-1774.

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A lot has changed in 5 years - new faces, a farm, and a whole lotta growth - but one thing is still the same: time on the porch.
To celebrate 5 years, my favorite people - ‘Dubya and Jenny - are joining me on the pod this week along with our good friend Luke Helms. We’re talking about 5 things I wish I knew before starting the blog.
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Today, my friend, Traci Shnider, is sharing her reflection of Psalm 58 with us and helping us find immense comfort in our God who is just and promises justice - that evil has not won, good and Love have the final word.

Traci Shnider is a passionate encourager, sharing hope and inspiration drawn from her journey of faith and resilience in the face of adversity. Her mission is to help others experience true freedom by deeply rooting their lives in Jesus, growing in His grace, and blooming into their God-given purpose. As a motivational speaker, Traci inspires women at Christian conferences and events, empowering them to walk boldly in faith. She is an author who recently published her 40-day devotional book, Unexpected Blessings: 40 Days of Discovering God’s Best and she’s been featured in Renew Your Mind: 40 Days to Quiet the Lies Inside Your Head through Proverbs 31 Ministries.

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Crying out to God - we usually find ourselves here when God's timing and or ways is different from that of our own. Today, a dear friend of mine and Dubya's, R.J. Hester, is sharing his reflection of Psalm 51 with us and guiding us through a prayer David prayed to be strengthened as he waited upon the Lord.

Rodney Hester, known as R.J. to many who know him well, serves at Crossings Community Church in OKC as a Graduate Resident for Kids Ministries. He and Will like to ditch the cordial handshake and wrap each other up in a big bear hug when they see each other. I pray this reflection feels a bit like that - a warm embrace from a good friend.

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Joy and grief, these seem so opposite, yet I've come to learn these two are good friends. Have you noticed in your own life how these seem to coexist? Some of our most joyous times are also met with loss, heartache or grief.

My friend, Courtney Doyle, is sharing her reflection of Psalm 44 with us and drawing strength from scripture as she endures a season marked by "a smile on [her] face and a hole in [her] heart."

Courtney Doyle is the founder of The Mom Show podcast and Courtney Doyle Ministries, dedicated to encouraging and equipping moms with faith-filled wisdom for every season of motherhood. With a heart for authenticity, she unpacks the struggles, joys, and challenges moms face, pointing them back to their identity in Christ. Through storytelling, biblical truth, and real conversations, Courtney creates a space where moms feel seen, supported, and strengthened in their journey. You can connect with her on Instagram, on her Website, or The Mom Show Podcast.

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Hang in there! It's a phrase we hear quite a bit and likely even use to try to encourage another not to give up hope, but is it really that encouraging? Is it really that hopeful?

We know Hope has a name and His name is Jesus, so this means we gotta go to scripture to see what it has to say about this. To help us, my friend, Cheri Fletcher, is sharing her reflection of Psalm 37 with us.

Cheri Fletcher is an inspiring writer, compelling speaker, and the host of the Your Spiritual Game Plan podcast. Dedicated to guiding others through life's challenges, Cheri helps people discover their God-given calling and empowers them to glorify Him in every role they serve. Cheri has faced numerous changes and transitions, each feeling like a piece of her identity left with each role. Drawing from her own journey of transitions and personal loss, she offers unique insights into overcoming obstacles and understanding spiritual warfare. From these experiences, she has come to know that her roles in life will change, but her purpose is eternal! You can find out more about Cheri on her website, Cherifletcher.com

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Weeping may stay for the night, but joy comes in the morning.

Perhaps you too are familiar with this verse. You've heard it or read it. Perhaps you didn't know it was in Psalm 30, but you've been encouraged by this scripture before.

This week, Luke Helms, a long-time friend of Will and I's and of ours here at The Good Day, is back again and sharing key insight from Revelation on this verse.

Luke lives in Oklahoma City, where he has found a wonderful community of believers at Crossings Community Church. He has an insatiable desire to learn and write about the interconnectedness and symbolism of the Bible. Luke enjoys trying new restaurants, traveling (nineteen countries and twenty-four states so far), and going to Thunder games. He serves as an attorney at a local law firm and serves as Chairman of the Board for Willow Pregnancy Support.

And consider checking out his previous reflection on ⁠Psalm 99 here⁠.

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Where are you dwelling today?

I, for one, don't ask myself this question enough. We're more accustomed to hearing, "How are you doing today?" but if we want to understand why we're doing well or poorly, I believe it actually goes back to this first question: Where are you dwelling today?

My friend, Melissa Labieniec is sharing her reflection of the beloved Psalm 23 with us and helping us experience the peace God has for us. You'll want to stick around 'til the end, the last story she shares is powerful and such a good visual for us as we go forward in our ever-changing circumstances.

Born and raised in Connecticut, Melissa is married and has two grown daughters. She has been a Christian for about 25 years now. Utilizing her bachelor’s degree in ministry and leadership (with a concentration in human services) from Grace Christian University, she loves going to church to lead and serve in many capacities. She is also on her local children’s hospital gala planning committee, where she feels she can be of service to children and families in need.

 Melissa is a twice published author with Proverbs 31 Ministries and delights in spreading God’s joy, love and hope whenever she can to women of all ages and all stages of life. You can connect with her on Facebook.

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My attempt to "do-it-all" shines brightest when it's time to carry in groceries. Sure, it's a lot and it's heavy, and yeah, I pushed it in a cart at the store, but now that it's time to carry it in the house, I decide to do this all in one trip. Deep breath.

Do you do this too? Maybe not with groceries but with all the various bags and burdens you carry for the day?

This tendency is something my friend, Bethany Kimsey has experienced too. She's sharing her reflection of Psalm 16 to help us surrender this load we're carrying to God and experience His freedom and the lightness He offers us today.

As a mother to 8 children, Bethany Kimsey has seen God radically change her messy motherhood from weary, anxious, and frantic to peaceful, joyful, and triumphant. She helps weary mothers win the battle against worry and fatigue as they understand their identity in Christ and rest in the hope of the Gospel in community with other moms. As a writer, speaker, and encourager of mothers, she wants to see a generation of mothers who can connect their motherhood to the love of Jesus in real and practical ways so that they can be confident. 

 She recently authored A Warrior Mama’s Prayers journal to help mothers pray intentionally over their children and anchor in gospel truths. This can be purchased at www.Bethanykimsey.com or on Amazon.

Connect here: https://whengodbreaksthrough.libsyn.com, Instagram or Facebook.

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What has your prayer life looked like today? This week? This month? Is it a daily rhythm or has busyness or distraction seeped in and taken your attention away? Usually when this happens, we open the door for worry and fear.

As we're studying the Psalms together again this Summer, I knew I wanted my dear friend, Patty Conrad, to join us and share how she has learned to pray through the Psalms. These words, as ancient and poetic as they may be, can serve as a guide, a practical prayer prompt for us when we don't know what or how to pray. Maybe we're unsure how to approach the throne room of the Almighty. Maybe we know, but we need something to help us make it a daily habit.

Patty Conrad graduated from Baylor University with a degree in Education. She taught special education for 8 years, has been homeschooling for 22 years and currently teaches 1st grade at a private classical school.  Patty and her husband have four boys: two teenagers and two young adults. She enjoys planning, cooking, reading and spending time with her family and friends.

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