This podcast tells two stories of women who felt forgotten and left behind. I met them while they were doing their daily work. I was on the receiving end of their good work until they were on the receiving end of God’s good work. He leads in common things like spas, salons and tea parties. Everyone is waiting for consolation and invitation

I tell you these two stories because you never know who is ready to make a new friend or needs to meet the Friend who never forgets His children. 

Someone wrote,“The friendship connection is more than the way to health and memory; it is the call of God to be people who create community and bring those who have been forgotten into our hearts.”

To bring those who have been forgotten into our hearts.

You may feel forgotten yourself. God will use your life experience to help someone else. Your pain is never wasted, unless you keep it to yourself.

You may not be called to go to Korea or Mongolia, but we are all called to make connections.  To reach out, gently, tentatively, like dipping our toes into the steaming water for a pedicure, asking one question followed by another which might lead to a simple invitation: “Would you like to get together for coffee? I've got some great scones from Trader Joe's.” 

Look for opportunities for coming alongside. And, go to the Beauty College.

    3. What did you learn about yourself?

    4. What did you learn about God?

A prayer for your day (and maybe someone else's!)

Dear Father,

Thank you for seeing my pain and loneliness. My name is written on your hands so I know I’m never alone. Please help me be alert to another who may feel all alone in their difficulties. Nothing is hidden from you and I’m grateful. Strengthen us both according to your word. Thank you and amen.

A reminder from the Word:

“See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;

your walls are ever before me” (Isaiah 49:16)

Rachael Adams returns to Welcome Heart today to talk about love in the month of love. Of course, to love well is a year-round aspiration and one that I want to work on no matter what age I am or what month I'm in. Her new book: Everyday Prayers of Love: Learning to Love God, Others, and Even Yourself is out this month and will make the perfect gift for yourself and for someone you love.

Rachael hosts The Love Offering Podcast and she and her husband have been married 18 years and are the parents of two middle schoolers. We talk about her first book, A Little Goes a Long Way in Ep 178 in 2022.

Leave a comment below or on social media to be entered to win a copy of Everyday Prayers: Learning to Love God, Others, and Even Yourself.

Some gems from our conversation:

• We need God every day to help us love well. 

Find Rachael on her website here.

Instagram: @rachaeladamsauthor

What a great conversation today on Living a Legacy Life with Chelsea Damon, author of the book: I Thought This Would Make Me Happy, How to Fight Less, Forgive Faster, and Cultivate Joy in Your Marriage.

Married or not, this podcast is for any serious follower of Jesus. Why? Becasue we are all prone to find our joy and satisfaction and identity in anything but God and yet we get disappointed, disenchanted, and discouraged—maybe all in the same day and at the same time—because we forget that we were made to find our rest in Him, period. 

Chelsea knew from an early age that she wanted to be married and she always had someone to lean on. What she didn't know was that leaning too hard on one person, even a great husband, didn't help her know who she was nor flourish as God's child. Married young, she was determined not to be one of those divorce statistics but it wasn't until the Lord showed her that she had made marriage an idol that she began to feel the freedom to be herself and help her relationship flourish instead of trying to control all the outcomes.

Get your free Self-Awareness Guide HERE (how to know how selfish we are!) And, no, not a good idea to take it for your spouse!

Chelsea will be hosting a giveaway of this great book all week long. Be sure to comment to be entered. Even if you aren't married, you know someone who is and might benefit from a gift of her book. 

Chelsea Damon is not only the author of I Thought This Would Make Me Happy: How to Fight Less, Forgive Faster, and Cultivate Joy in Your Marriage, but also, Together with Christ: A Dating Couple's Devotional: 52 Devotions and Bible Studies to Nurture Your Relationship. She is also the author of chelseadamon.com, a website where moms and wives are encouraged in healthy, Christ-centered lives and relationships.

Damon and her husband Josh met while attending college, where they grew in their faith and dated for three years. They were married on the windy coast of Washington in 2013. Throughout their dating and marriage relationship and into parenthood, they've been learning what it means to live loving God and loving others in a self-love world. Today, the Damons have three biological children, are foster parents, and spend their time looking for new places to hike and explore beautiful South Carolina.

Social Media: 

https://www.instagram.com/chelsealeighdamon

https://www.facebook.com/LivingTheSweetWife/

https://twitter.com/damonchels

Some gems from our conversation:

• A good way not to fight is to begin the conversation with: "I'm not mad about this but . . ."

Courtney knew God had been speaking to her about doing a major move for two years but she still wasn't sure. She decided to lay out a fleece, as they say in the Christian world: she asked God to help her find a piece of sea glass. And the rest is history. Hear that story as well as how God led her to marriage at 44—suddenlty a mom of 4!

As a fulltime Bible study teacher and mentor with Young Life for over 20 years, Courtney knew the value of knowing and doing God's word. Her passion is to invite women into a flourishing life with the Lover of their souls and she's written two books to help in that endeavor: Prayer & Devotion and her prayer and Scripture meditation book R.A.M.P. Journal

Leave a comment to be entered to win a free copy of either one. 

Courtney is the founder of Sea Glass mission. Here are some of her thoughts as to why Sea Glass:

The beauty of sea glass is that it tumbles through the ocean for 20-40 years - into the depths, across distances, weathered by the elements - in order to be formed. As time goes on, the glass changes texture and shape because of where it’s been and what it’s been through. The slickness wears off, and the edges are rounded. Although still recognizable from its origins, the piece that was once-broken is transformed, and the beautiful sea glass is created … and ready to be used for a new purpose.

Wherever you are in the “tumble” we want to help you see that Jesus, the Author of Life, is writing your story and that He longs to walk with you and show you abundant life.

For the past 25 years, Sea Glass Mission founder Courtney Brackin has been in full-time ministry, working to share the Gospel and the love of Christ with young people in North Carolina, Uganda, Washington, DC and Florida. Her desire is to share the truth of God’s Word and to help others be rooted in His life-giving scripture as they live in this tumultuous world. 

Her own life and soul have been shaped with purpose through studying scripture, spending time in the spiritual disciplines, living missionally-minded and simply being in the body of Christ. She is so thankful for the mentors, pastors and friends who showed her this path and who pointed her to the Way. She aims to be that same type of friend and guide, as she walks together with others.

She also values being available to those who are questioning and wondering about faith and to those who want to be equipped and challenged to share their faith. 

Courtney lives in Naples, FL with her husband Eric. She is thankful to be step-mom to his four children, Ella, Jack, John and Ben. Courtney loves a good novel, cooking & baking, dreaming up her next trip and spending time with family & friends.

Some gems from our conversation:

Everyone deserves to hear about Jesus.

Nothing is wrong with wanting to be married, but we need to live life to the fullest whether married or single.

God completes you, period. 

The temptation in becoming a step-mom is to make it all about me rather than helping each child flourish as God intended.

I know that nothing is mine: possessions, talents, my home—all belongs to God—and that makes it easy to say "yes" whenever someone needs me or my time or my table. 

God told me to remember His promise that He would show me things I'd never seen before. 

Danny Edwards knows where he's going after he dies and he's not afraid to answer any questions you may have. At 16, athough always in trouble and with more freedom than most teenagers, Danny had a deep side to him and often wondered: "What happens after death? And how should I live so that I find out the answer to that question? What is the truth?"

Today you'll hear how the Gospel worked a miraculous transformation in Danny at age 20 through a circuitous series of events including moving to Colorade to join an Ashram and becoming a Sikh, all in his search to find God and answers to his deepest wonderings. 

And yes, Danny loves talking about death. You will get excited and blessed as you listen to today's episode, Gospel Transformation With Our Eyes On Eternity with Danny Edwards.

Danny and his wife Kimber of over 30 years have raised 5 chidlren and are happy and busy grandparents of 8. 

Some gems from today's conversation:

• At age 16, I began asking: "Where am I going after death?" 

Fellow podcaster, teacher and speaker, Amy Watson from Florida, joins me today on Welcome Heart: Living a Legacy Life to tell her story of trauma, healing and hope in Jesus. Although she lived with trauma from early childhood, it wasn't until age 35 when she "felt safe" that she began her healing journey. She began her podcast, Wednesdays with Watson, to share not only her story but to help in the healing of others. All contributions to her Patreon are donated to help those receive therapy who cannot afford to get it. 

Some gems from our conversation:

• When trauma victims finally begin to feel "safe" that's when they can start the long process of healing.

From Amy: 

I am a Florida girl who loves a simple life: Jesus, family, friends, football, and the beach (usually in that order). I am a native of Jacksonville, Florida, but have spent most of my adult life on Florida’s west coast.

While being introduced for a speaking opportunity a few years ago, the pastor asked me, “Who are you?”. The words that followed shocked even me: “I am the precious daughter of the most high God”. There were many years when I would not have answered that question as I did that day. I have spent most of my life defining myself by all that I have survived, all that I have accomplished, or all the degrees on my wall. The truth is, my answer to that pastor’s question that day is the definition that is most important, and one that I hope truly defines my life when I am gone. The rest: survival, accomplishments, and college degrees are certainly a part of my story and why I write, mentor, and speak. My description of “who I am” that day is why I stand proclaiming Him and Him alone.

I grew up in a children’s home, graduated from Clearwater Christian College with a degree in Biology (1994); was married for 12 years to a man who tried to kill me and somewhere along the way managed to earn my Masters Degree in Business Administration. I have enjoyed success as an entrepreneur as well as an educator. As a survivor of a lot of things that tried to kill me, it is my desire to use my story to spread a story of Hope for any who may find themselves in similar situations as mine.

I love both the written and spoken word and enjoy opportunities to share my experiences in both personal and professional genres. My greatest desire is to invest my life in something that will outlive it. It is my hope that all of my efforts here and in other places will accomplish just that.

To learn more from Amy follow all these places:

wednesdayswithwatson.com 

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/132618684688613

Instagram.com/authoramywatson

X: twitter.com/amywatsonauthor

If you're interested in hearing a more detailed story of her trauma, Amy recommends this recording:

https://wednesdayswithwatson.com/charting-the-course-of-healing-a-personal-odyssey-through-trauma-faith-and-redemption/

And to see how to contribute to her Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/amywatsonauthor

Sally Clarkson didn't grow up feeling accepted or acceptable and wondered if she ever would be until one day she prayed, "If there's a God in the universe, will you please send me someone to explain who you are." And he did. A young woman knocked on her door and asked, "Can I give you a religious survey?" From that brief conversation, Sally learned that she was greatly loved and designed for great purpose and she didn't look back. 

Today, after writing over 40 books on knowing God and living for Christ, Sally talks of how as women we have agency—we have options to flourish and make decisions by faith that will cause us to thrive and make a difference in the lives around us. Her latest book speaks of beauty and choices and the love of God, Well Lived, Shaping a Legacy of Gratitude and Grace. Put it on your Christmas list and pray about giving it to someone you love this Christmas.

Some Sally gems:

• I thrive better when I live in a rhythm of obedience—doing what's right because I love God serves me well even if I don't feel it at the time. 

Sally Clarkson is a bestselling author, renowned speaker, and beloved mentor who has dedicated her life to inspiring countless women to live for Christ. She has been married to her husband Clay for more than forty years and they have raised four adult children. Today, Sally lives between the mountains of Colorado and the rolling fields of England.

You can learn more of Sally Clarkson's ministry below:

Website: https://sallyclarkson.com/

Jan Morton believes that everyone needs to be and feel seen so that they know the Gospel love of Jesus and that it might be best accomplished at her table with homemade biscuits. A pastor's wife of 47 years, Jan surprised herself and everyone else in her church when she realized that she had never given her life over to Christ even after marrying a pastor and singing in the choir. She had to move her faith from her head to her heart and she loves sharing her story with everyone she meets. 

Jan co-authored the book Tasting Grace: A Mentoring in the Kitchen Bible Study with Leah Adams and now the Tasting Grace kitchen ministry is going on nine different states across the country. Leave a comment to be entered into the book giveaway. 

Some gems from our time together:

If it matters to us, it matters to Jesus.

I was mentored without knowing that was going on—we just did life together.

After I trusted Christ, I knew I could be myself and just love on everyone I met. 

God is writing your story and I want to hear it. 

I've learned to now pray about everything and delight in the fact that I am not in control of everything.

What happens at Gran-Jan camp stays at Gran-Jan camp. 

My best cooking tip is to make sure you place all your ingredients out on the counter before you start. 

I want my family to know that all of my treasure is in heaven and that I love Jesus with all my heart. 

Mentoring means to come alongside, ask questions and sit with another. 

Jan, a mother of two boys and grandmother of five, retired six years ago after thirty years serving in Houston County Schools. She describes herself as a content homebody, and a biscuit-maker who especially enjoys gardening, cooking, and quilting. Co-author of the book Tasting Grace, Jan also served in women’s ministry for 21 years.

She serves in a kitchen mentoring ministry of the same name: Tasting Grace – I think this is why I found Jan on Instgram – we have similar passions and both love making and serving biscuits.

A favorite fun fact of hers is being on Wheel of Fortune Season 33! Yes she won!

 https://granjansjoy.com/

And on Instagram. @jan_m_morton

Just for you:

Kathi Lipp's latest book is sure to be a treasure for you and hopefully for your neighbor who may need your chicken and wild rice soup that you just made!

Sabbath Soup: Weekly Menus and Rhythms to Make Space for a Day of Rest released October 8th. Beyond the convenience and peace of mind of managing meals, Kathi wrote this book to help you experience true Sabbath rest, a full day to relax, recharge, and reconnect with God and your friends and family. We were designed to rest—it’s time to reclaim your Sabbath day. This book will show you how.

Kathi is no stranger to Living a Legacy Life as this is her third time to be a guest on my show. Kathi and her husband Roger live in the mountains of CA and they have learned the joy and rhythm of "pre-deciding" meals, not only for their own sense of rest and refreshment, but also for those they know and love. 

Kathi Lipp is the Publishers Weekly best-selling author of over 20 books, including Sabbath Soup. She and her husband Roger ran away to the mountains of Northern California where they grow their own food and turn it into delicious meals for those they host.

And she will be hosting a giveaway all week long so be sure to enter and leave a comment below or on social media or just email me: [email protected]. 

Some gems from our conversation:

• The reason we keep sabbath is because it's God's gift to us.

Thirteen years ago, Sarah felt stirrings in her heart and spirit—she knew she was meant for something in God's great purpose plan. She just didn't know what. So she invited some friends over. Four came. They talked about their own dreams and stirrings and how they might fit into God's great story of love and design. From small beginnings—you've heard the adage—great things emerge when offered to God with humility and perhaps, some trepidation. REFRESH.ORG was born and now reaches 1,000's of women. I love how God does math. Loaves and fishes offered to the Muliplier and Distributor. 

Join Sarah Birkbeck today on my podcast and find out how God led her to help women "join the battle" to  do God's will with joy and intention. And if there's still room for REFRESH 2025,  she's offering a 50.00 off coupon to our listeners. Go sign up today! www.refreshwomen.org

Some gems from our conversation:

• We tend to diminish what God's put inside of us for his kingdom work, thinking that who we are and what we offer can't make a difference for him or for others. 

Sarah Birkbeck, wife and mother of four, is the founder and visionary of Refresh, a ministry dedicated to activating women to advance the Kingdom of God. She is a speaker, passionate about leading women to discover their kingdom purposes. Sarah lives in North Dallas with her husband James, son Asher, and daughters Stella, Skyla and Adeline. 

Find out more in these places: 

Instagram: @refresh_women

@Sarahhelenabirkbeck

Website: www.refreshwomen.org