Toni Ragsdale is one of those people that you always look forward to talking to. You know that you will come away from every conversation filled with love and light. Toni and her husband Reverend Jay Ragsdale founded the Fill the Pot Ministry in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. Every Sunday, along with their amazing teams of volunteers, they serve over 300 hot breakfasts to the homeless community. They also provide many other services throughout the week. Toni is full of energy and love for God that is infectious. You can't help but smile when you listen to her. 

A few things that we cover in the first part of the interview...Toni talks about her childhood growing up in Chicago, her love of children and her desire to be a vessel in the service of God and His kingdom, how the Fill the Pot Ministry started and her experience living in Utah and raising her family amongst the Latter-day Saints and the struggles that that dynamic brought into her life...struggles that would become great blessings.

To find out more about Fill the Pot, how you can volunteer or donate, please visit their website for more information. I promise, you will not be disappointed!

https://www.fillthepot.org/

Little Lessons can be found anywhere and everywhere....including Disney movies! I was surprised when the lyrics to a Disney song came to mind when my husband was overwhelmed with our kids acting a little crazy, and I was even more surprised that those lyrics would be so helpful in my everyday life.  Think about a time in your life when you have been overwhelmed or mildly depressed or just not knowing what to do next. How would those situations be easier if you had done 'the next right things'? And how many stories in the scriptures are based around ordinary people doing 'the next right thing'? It might surprise you!

Jesus healing a man with palsy
https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/mark/2?lang=eng

The Next Right Thing
https://youtu.be/kFkClV2gM-s

In this episode, I share a story about how jazz music, beignets and chaos taught me to cling to the things that I know to be true, comfortable and safe. 

Below are some links to come amazing talks that give me peace and comfort, especially when things get tough.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2021/04/23holland?lang=eng

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1999/10/an-high-priest-of-good-things-to-come?lang=eng

For some excellent reading about Joseph in Egypt, take a look at Genesis 37-41

Here is a link for the vision of the Tree of Life from the Book of Mormon
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/8?lang=eng

Just for fun, here's some Donny Osmond for you!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0w4maOLUfFk

In this episode I am joined by two Sister Missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Sister Marchant and Sister Pulliam had so many fun stories and insights to share and their testimonies of God and Jesus Christ are so strong. We talk about their experiences as missionaries and discuss how we can do a better job of bridging the gap between members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day  Saints and those of other faiths. 

In this episode, I'm joined by a special guest. We discuss the many reasons that we should understand the unique ways that Heavenly Father speaks to His children and how knowing that can help us lead a more Christ like life.

What do you do when you find yourself in a circumstance that is not what you had planned for, through no fault of your own. It's easy, and sometimes justified, to wallow in self pity and lean into discouragement. But there is strength to be found in loving your circumstances and finding some joy in life's challenges.

'Come What May and Love It' 
https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2008/10/come-what-may-and-love-it?lang=eng

'Joy and Spiritual Survival'
https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2016/10/joy-and-spiritual-survival?lang=eng

I never knew that a bumper sticker could have such a huge impact on my life. But when I saw it, I knew that message was for me. The message on the bumper sticker that I saw a year ago has reshaped how I see people and how I interact with people that I meet throughout my life. Heavenly Father has so many individual messages for each of his children that He is so excited to send to us. He will reach us in the times that we need in the ways that He knows we will understand. For me, that day it was a bumper sticker.

God speaks to all of us in different, unique ways. Because He knows us all individually, He knows exactly what we need to hear and the best way to get that message to us. And sometimes, those messages are delivered to us in small yet very significant ways. It's not always through a huge miracle. But how do we find and hear these small, little lessons? Through sharing her own stories and interviewing friends Meghan Mitchell will discuss the many ways that God is active in our lives, teaching us lessons through music, nature, scripture and sometimes in unexpected places like a bumper sticker.