Embracing Joy in Life: Lessons from Carol McLeod on Finding Happiness Amidst Challenges
Building Strong Homes: Blueprints to Strengthen Your Faith and Family podcast
Release Date: 07/25/2023
Building Strong Homes: Blueprints to Strengthen Your Faith and Family podcast
What a pleasure it was to interview Mart Green, son of Hobby Lobby founder David Green, to talk about his family’s philosophy of faith and generosity. Mart is such a down-to-earth guy who happily shares the secret to Hobby Lobby’s success. I loved hearing the fun and practical ways Mart and his family celebrate each other and minister to those around them. Money isn’t the only way to bless people and Mart makes that clear in the examples he gives. He also shares about the new book he has coming out, co-authored with David Bowden, Learning to be Loved: The Everyday Believer's Guide to a...
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Hey friends! I’m back from my summer hiatus and have some awesome guests lined up for you this fall, starting this week with Stephen Kendrick of the Kendrick Brothers. Alex and Stephen Kendrick have brought us some great movies like Facing the Giants, Fireproof, Courageous and War Room and their newest movie, The Forge, will release in theaters nationwide on August 23 and he’s here to tell us about it. I had the privilege of watching a pre-screening of the movie and I must tell you that there are several scenes in this film that brought me to tears. The story involves a single mom, played...
info_outlineBuilding Strong Homes: Blueprints to Strengthen Your Faith and Family podcast
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One of the reasons I felt called to start this podcast was because of stories like Donovan and Lavonna Garrett's. If you don't believe God can make a difference in your marriage and family then you need to listen to the testimony of how Donovan's alcohol abuse almost destroyed him, his marriage and his entire family. As I look at the photos of their beautiful family today, I'm in tears, knowing that if Donovan hadn't surrendered his life to Christ, their story would have had a much different outcome. No, they aren't perfect, as none of us are, but they have so much joy...
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One year ago I had the pleasure of interviewing Kara Stott, author of one of my favorite books, An Intentional Life, for the podcast. It was great meeting Kara on Zoom and hearing her story from her own voice. But this past spring my friend, Julie Bagwell, and I were able to meet her in person at her Pursuit Retreat outside of Nashville, Tennessee! She has such a heart for Jesus and ministering to women and it was evident as she served us over several days next to the beautiful lake at Wildwood Retreat. She's one of the kindest and most thoughtful people I've ever met and I loved her even more...
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Summer Throwback! My guests for the first episode of this podcast were my two very best friends, Julie Bagwell and Frieda Younts. We’ve been friends for over 30 years now! Over time we’ve experienced lots of ups and downs but have remained close through it all. How did we do it? By being honest and real with each other, for one thing, but mostly by building our friendship on the foundation of Jesus Christ. Growing up I only had one friend at a time and always felt like I never belonged. In my late 20’s I began praying for God to bring some good friends into my life and He was faithful to...
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I’ve really struggled to put into words all that I wanted to say to you today because the last few months have been difficult for me as I’ve been seeking what God wants me to do with the podcast. I’ve been doing this for 3-1/2 years now and have recently been in a deep season of discouragement. As I prayed and continually asked God what my next steps should be, I only sensed silence from Him. I’ve gone through seasons of silence before, but this has been especially hard because I wanted to make sure I was being obedient to what God wanted me to do, not just put out a podcast to build...
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"Mothers are a sleeping giant and when the giant awakens, take cover--things are going to change! I believe the giant is slowly stirring and beginning to wipe the sleep from its eyes." - excerpt from Your Girl by Vicki Courtney Over 15 years ago this quote stirred my soul to the point where I decided I wanted to be one of those mothers who stood up to make a difference and began a ministry for youth girls titled You-Nique Girls. God lit my soul on fire for those girls and I prayed for them and desired they know God in a real and personal way. It's still one of the reasons I do this podcast....
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You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending. This is a quote from C.S. Lewis my guest, Jennifer Sakata, shares that fits her own life story. Having grown up with an alcoholic mother and stepdad she didn't understand that her family life was dysfunctional. Not until she began to notice that her friends' families functioned much differently than her own. But when she became a teen, she and her little sister were removed from that environment. Unfortunately, the sisters were separated, each going to live with their respective grandparents....
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Welcome to the 100th episode of the Building Strong Homes Podcast! What an amazing ride it has been to get this far, and I want to thank all of my listeners for showing up each episode! So, I thought it would be fun to introduce you to my husband, John, and our children, Elise and Jacob, and have them share some of their stories from growing up on the farm. I ask each of them share their thoughts on what it means to build their faith and what kind of legacy they want to leave. John even shares a story I'd never heard before about being put in a police car and hauled off to be interrogated!...
info_outlineIf you're feeling overwhelmed by your suffering and finding no relief in your current efforts to overcome it, such as seeking professional help or relying solely on your own strength, then you are not alone!
In this episode, you will be able to:
- Discover how leading with integrity trumps emotional reactions when steering the leadership helm.
- Adopt faith and worship as essential tools for enduring during tough times, inspired by real-life stories.
- Learn from Joseph and Peter's epic undertakings as chief examples of overcoming life's adversities.
- Realize the liberating force of the spoken word of God and ponder on its relevance in day-to-day life.
- Immerse yourself in the joy of classic Christian literature and embrace outdoor activities as meditations on God's creation.
My special guest is Carol McLeod
Step into the sphere of faith with Carol McLeod, a woman whose sole purpose lies in communicating the timeless truths of Scripture. As a mother, a grandmother, and a woman of faith, Carol has spent years finding strength and peace in the teachings of the Bible. Her drive to kindle a ray of hope in the hearts of the disheartened led her to write inspiring Bible studies. Sharing from her own experiences of pain and loss, Carol offers a powerful testimony that even on life's darkest days, God's love and faithfulness shine through.
The resources mentioned in this episode are:
- Join Carol McLeod's Bible study: Timeless based on the book of First Peter.
- Visit Carol McLeod's website at Carolmcleodministries.com for more information on her books, podcasts, TV show, and blog.
- Email Carol at [email protected] to join the private prayer group Warrior Moms for mothers with prodigal children or those who have been cut off by their grown children.
- Purchase Carol McLeod's book, Meanwhile, which focuses on the life of Joseph and offers insights on living well in the midst of devastation.
- Explore the concept of finding purpose in pain and how God can use evil for good by reading Genesis 50:20 and reflecting on Joseph's story.
- Consider attending Carol Roper's retreat at The Cove, Operation Restoration, which draws inspiration from the restoration of Joseph and his family.
- Reflect on the hope and strength found in the Bible and seek comfort in knowing that God is with you in your deepest moments of pain.
- Pray for your children, especially if they have strayed from their faith, using fighting scriptures such as John's promise that God hears