Sunday, September 11, 2016

The Inner Views of Michele Morin

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:38,39
(KJV)

I love to read blogs written by bloggers who dig deep into the Word of God.
Each time I visit the blog written by the dear lady being interviewed in this post,
I find encouragement and a depth of rich, spiritual insight.
So many times, she has stopped by here and left a kind comment that has boosted my spirits
and given me courage to keep pressing forward on this blogging journey.
It is with so much joy I share her interview with you today!

Michele is wife to a patient husband, Mum to four young men and a daughter-in-love, and, now, Gram to one adorable grandboy.  Her days are spent homeschooling, reading piles of books, and, in the summer, tending their beautiful (but messy) garden and canning the vegetables. She loves to teach the Bible and is privileged to gather weekly around a table with the women of her church and to blog at Living Our Days about the grace she is receiving and the lessons from God’s Word that she is trusting.



And, now I gratefully share with you, the 
of 
Michele Morin.


Cheryl:  Please tell us about yourself.  

Michele:  I’m a 53 year old mum to four guys who get taller and smarter everyday, and raising them has been job one for the past twenty two years. For twenty six years, I’ve been married to an unreasonably patient man, learning what it means to be “heirs together of the grace of life". Unbelievably, I still discover new qualities to appreciate about him -- God’s greatest gift to me. We live on a country hill in Maine, and every summer I plant a big garden that keeps me well-entertained – and keeps our family in green beans, spaghetti sauce, pickles, etc. for the year. Our church family is located in a small fishing village about a half hour east of us. They’ve loved us well, we’ve raised our kids together, my oldest son met his wife there, and the ladies join me in studying the Word of God in Sunday School and in our Ladies Missionary Fellowship group which has been meeting since the days when we met for lunch and rolled bandages for “the War.”


Michele's four sons in 2010

Michele's sweet grandson, Raymond

Cheryl:  How did you meet your husband?  To what do you credit the longevity of your marriage?

Michele:  The patient husband and I met at a Child Evangelism Fellowship teacher training class. We were friends for years, and I was happily single – really not expecting to get married. We called our dates “friendship appointments,” but, to my surprise, we fell in love, and it was clear that God wanted us together. We’ve weathered some rough days together: the deaths of three of our parents and one of his sisters, the pull and haul of raising a family and managing a home, but I am blessed to report that marriage has been a lightener of the load. I was asked once, years ago, by a friend who had known me in my independent, career-oriented single days how I managed to live at peace in my role as a wife and mum. The words that floated to the surface then are still true today: Trusting God and trusting my husband.

Michele and her husband, Calvin, on their happy wedding day

Cheryl:  What led you to homeschooling?  How many years have you homeschooled?  To the mother who is considering beginning a homeschooling journey, what advice can you offer?

Michele:  When I played with dolls as a little girl, I was never their mother. I was always either their nurse or their teacher, so homeschooling for our family came as a natural consequence of all the “teaching” that happened when our boys were tiny. We just sort of grew into it. Now, seventeen years later, we see that by homeschooling we have given our children the gift of control over their time. With only my husband’s work schedule to accommodate, we were able to have a family breakfast with morning devotions, to emphasize music and creativity as part of their daily learning, and each of the boys has had the opportunity to learn a trade along with college preparatory course work in high school. (My youngest starts high school this year, and I expect he will do the same.) In the early years it was wonderful to have everyone home together, to be able to have a little more control over outside influences, but here’s the thing: it’s crucial that we not make decisions about our children out of fear. Homeschooling is hard work, and fear is not strong enough to carry a busy mum through the commitment, daily sacrifices, and time pressure that comes with teaching children at home.

Cheryl:  As a long-time homeschooling mother, what would you define as your most difficult moment?  During that time, how did you find strength to continue?

Michele:  As a homeschooling mother the word that comes to my mind first when I think about homeschooling is: HARD! It takes preparation and planning, and then the daily routine can feel a little bit like a straightjacket. My boys span eight years, so there were only five years in which all four of them were in school together, but they’re a rowdy crew. I’m sure that there are boys out there who enjoy polishing a sentence until it shines or pondering the amazing relationships among numbers that math reveals – but not my boys. My most difficult moments in homeschooling have been when I have forgotten that I am teaching children – not subjects. I still battle perfectionism and impatience almost every day. Having said that, we have wonderful memories of reading books aloud together, lots of hands-on learning, and days of blessed chaos and togetherness.

Cheryl:  What is the most important thing we should teach our children in this modern age?

Michele:  My husband and I have tried to remind our children that whatever they have in their hand, God will use. This honors their uniqueness, and it also encourages them to strive to refine their gifts, to have lots of good things “in their hands”: not so that they can become proud or self-centered, but so that they can offer them back to God in service and in love.

Cheryl:  If you could go back and change one thing about your life, thus far, what would it be?

Michele:  I’m a slow learner, so I’ve pretty much been working on one lesson for my entire life. It has impacted everything I’ve ever done, and it’s this: The importance of valuing relationships over tasks. I was a machine in college, working several jobs and pushing, always pushing for excellent grades. I burned a lot of bridges, and even as a mum I’ve missed a lot of eye contact and focused listening that I would like to go back and re-capture. Even so, I’m thankful for the mentors God has provided along the way, for the patience and grace of a husband who consistently reminds me that our boys are my priority – not the house work or ministry or any of the other idols I manufacture.

Cheryl:  When did you become a Christian?  What life events led you to make the decision to follow Jesus?

Michele:  When I was in junior high, I began attending Sunday School somewhat regularly and my teacher had just come home from a year of Bible college. She took us through the book of James, and I realized that everything James said about needing wisdom from above and the futility of controlling my tongue in my own strength was TRUE. I didn’t follow the Lord consistently at first, but God placed faithful people like sign posts along my path – and He used the hot fires and deep water of living in a family that was shaped by alcoholism and mental illness to strengthen and refine what He had begun.

Cheryl:  So many times, I have come to your blog seeking encouragement, and I have found Scriptural depths that have fed and nourished my soul.  Can you describe how the Lord reveals His mind to you concerning blog posts?  Is there a certain place you like to go to find His inspiration?

Michele:  I’m convinced that the Lord speaks to us through His Word. If we say that we want to hear His voice but do not put ourselves in regular contact with the primary means by which He has promised to communicate, we’re only kidding ourselves. It is my responsibility to “show up,” to hold myself before the mirror of God’s written Word and to bask in the miracle of His unwavering attention. Most of what I write comes as a result of whatever I’m learning. I want to challenge my readers to push themselves beyond biblical literacy and into biblical fluency! When I’m teaching a series to my Sunday morning women, I have usually published a weekly blog post for them – and for whoever else happens to read it. Regular reading and studying for a blogger are like finger exercises for a musician. They strengthen and build skill so that when it is time to play a piece of challenging music, the raw material is there.

Cheryl:  When did you begin blogging?  What is the main objective of your blog?  How has blogging enriched your life?

Michele:  My pastor invited me to write guest posts for our church’s blog, and the idea of starting a blog of my own began from there. I’ve just finished my second year of blogging at Living Our Days, a phrase I borrowed from a statement by Annie Dillard: “The way we live our days will be, after all, the way we live our life.” I’ve carried that quote in my heart for most of my mothering years, because I struggled so in the early years when I came to the end of the day exhausted, yet feeling as if I had accomplished nothing. Learning to value the daily development of relationships with my boys, to slow down and be thankful for hummingbirds and the flapping of clean sheets on the clothesline and papier-mache Viking hats perched on four precious heads was a daily discipline for me. With that in mind, I write about the intersection of family life and theology. I review Christian books that encourage (mostly) women to become all that God wants us to be. Blogging has enriched my life in two ways: first, it has provided accountability for my writing. Second, it has introduced me to a community of writers and thinkers who consistently challenge me to step outside my comfort zone and to press on in this life of believingly following Jesus Christ.

Cheryl:  What is your passion?  What fulfills you most?

Michele:  Isaiah 58 with its challenge to “extend my soul” to the needy has long been a favorite passage. It promises renewal in times of drought which I know applies to the people of Israel in exile, but as a child of God, adopted into Abraham’s line, I experience God’s work of “bone strengthening” and “garden-watering”, and especially appreciate the truth of verse 12: “You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, the Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.” Somewhere along the way I heard someone loosely translate that last phrase as “the rebuilder of paths leading home.” This is my passion in this season of my life. I am past the mid-point in my parenting days with my third and fourth sons both in high school, but my investment in all four boys will go on and even though there was estrangement and alienation in my family of origin, I am trusting God for a new beginning with our boys in which the path leading home will always be open.

Cheryl:  What is your favorite thing about being a grandmother?  Can you tell us about your grandson and how he brightens your life?

Michele:  I consider myself to be still a “Grandmother in Training” since we have just one grandson, and he’s not quite two, but what a joy that little brown-eyed boy has been! Best of all, he provides one more way in which we can help and support our son and his sweet wife. We want to be available for counsel and babysitting, to pray with and for them, to teach and train that little guy in righteousness alongside his parents. Whenever I review children’s books, he definitely has input to the process in some way!

Cheryl:  You often do book reviews on your blog.  Can you share with us about some of your favorite books?  Are there certain books that you have felt a desire to read more than once? 

Michele:  I could talk about books and authors all day! I have gone through lots of “phases” in my reading life, but running through all of them has been a return to certain authors who have been “book mentors” to me. For instance, Luci Shaw and Madeleine L’Engle have inspired me with the beauty of their writing and the great care they take in the formation of every sentence. If I have any iron in my soul at all, it is likely because Elisabeth Elliot’s words have galvanized me in the pursuit of God. I used to read a lot more widely than I do now: lots and lots of fiction, random biographies, memoirs, history. However, about five years ago, I began to look at my reading time as an investment – I really don’t have much time to read during the day (although, as the boys become more independent, that is changing), so I wanted to be more intentional in my choices of reading material. I started reading books by John Piper and other theologians, and somewhere along the way I started blogging and learned that I could review books for publishers. The only thing more satisfying than reading a great book is the fun of talking about it and sharing it with others. One of my goals as a reader and as a blogger is to transition from reading so many new books so that I will have more time to read and to share some ancient classics with my readers.

 Cheryl:  In the church today, we are involved in a continual cultural war against evil.  Iniquity is abounding, as Jesus prophesied it would.  How can we overcome the prevalent evil with good?  What are some things you do, on a personal level, to make a positive difference?  

Michele:  When I think about the climate of evil on this planet, I am tempted to feel helpless – that there’s nothing I can do about something so pervasive. Then I remember that I have influence in my small world – that one day (sooner than I like to think about) there will be four more “Morin families” headed by men that my husband and I have trained and loved. Strong families make for strong churches, and we need to follow the example of the early church in our commitment to demonstrate that “God is truly among” us (I Cor. 14:25).

Cheryl:  What encouragement can you offer the reader who is tired from the intense fight against wrong?  How do you personally stay encouraged to press on in the face of increasing opposition to holiness in our culture?  What are some of your favorite Scripture verses, hymns, and other sources of encouragement?

Michele:  Amy Carmichael, missionary to India in the late 1800’s and into the early 1900’s was vexed at being delayed in her journey to India. The boat was docked en route for several days, and she marveled that her traveling companion and senior missionary colleague was taking it all in stride so well. The wise woman’s words to Amy became a byword for her for the rest of her ministry whenever things did not go as expected: “God knows all about the boats.” I try to remember this, for I am guilty of praying “prescriptive” prayers to the God of the universe, telling Him how He should handle matters both big and small. When our boys were just entering the teen years, I often felt overwhelmed by the many “new” influences that found their way into our home. I pictured myself flung, spread-eagle and wild-eyed against a bulging door, trying to hold out evil. This was NOT a helpful mindset! The majestic words of Romans 8, the reminder from Psalm 46 that it is possible to be still in the midst of tumult, great hymns of the faith, remembering the discipline of gratitude: these are key to reminding me that God is sovereign. He “knows all about the boats,” and He knows all about whatever it is that is frightening or worrying or frustrating me on this planet.

Cheryl:  Describe what you consider to be a perfect day.

Michele:  For my husband and me, the most glorious sound on this earth is the laughter of our boys when they are all together. Anything that we do as a family ends up being the perfect day, which is surprising because my boys continually push me out of my comfort zone. Recently, we paddled our way TEN MILES down a river. It was beautiful, but I was a wreck, worrying about the fading daylight, the fallen trees and rock outcroppings that formed an underwater obstacle course to challenge our paddling prowess. I do love being outdoors, and when there is a free minute, a cup of tea, a book, my journal, and a sunny spot on our country hill . . . ahhh!

 Cheryl:  Can you tell us about SheLoves Magazine?  What is your personal involvement in this ministry?  What is (in)courage?  How can our readers become involved and participate?

Michele:  For me, blogging has been a community affair right from the beginning. Before I even considered writing myself, I was enjoying the inspirational offerings of other bloggers through gatherings such as SheLoves Magazine and (in)courage. I was much too timid to comment at first, but read faithfully, and eventually felt led to comment on posts that spoke to me. Good conversations came from that (heart-pounding) risk-taking, and one day I mustered up my courage and started submitting my own words as guest posts here and there. I cherish the diversity of these communities, and my thoughts are continually challenged by writers whose geography, race, age, faith traditions are different from my own.

Cheryl:  How can we pray for you at this current season of life?

Michele:  It is my deepest desire to finish well in this parenting journey, to continue to build into my boys, and to be faithful in giving them roots and wings. As they grow and become more independent, I’m trusting for wisdom to know how to use my time and to be disciplined in study so that my writing and my teaching will be grounded in Truth.
What a noble desire and request for prayer, Michele!
A big thank you for this wonderful interview.
It was so nice to get to know you better.
You are such a blessing to us all!

Be sure to go by and check out Michele's blog and consider becoming a subscriber,
and please do keep Michele and her requests in your prayers.

God bless you, and thank you so much for reading, dear friends!

To read previous
click the links below.

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Sunday, September 4, 2016

The Inner Views of Holly Barrett

"For Thou art my hope, O Lord GOD:  Thou art my trust from my youth."
Psalm 71:5
(KJV)

Nearly every Tuesday, I slip over to the blog of a sweet, precious sister in the Lord,
and I link up one of my latest blog posts.
While there, I find needed encouragement, and I leave refreshed in spirit.

Many of you already know and love her, but for those who may not have met her yet,
I am so happy to introduce her to you today!

Holly Solomon Barrett is a Jesus-following minster, writer, mother and YaYa from NC. Holly is a survivor of domestic violence and has served churches for more than 20 years in a variety of volunteer and staff ministry roles. She currently serves as Director of Communications for the ministry of The Crossnore School in the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains, where she daily shares the stories of children finding hope and healing. Holly writes at Reclaiming A Redeemed Life and podcasts weekly at Living A Redeemed Life. She enjoys teaching and speaking opportunities wherever they may arise, sharing the story of redemption available to all. Holly has two adult children, one son-in-love, and three of the most beautiful grandchildren ever. 


With gratitude, I present to you the
of
Minister, Writer, Mother, and Grandmother, 
Holly Barrett.

Cheryl:  What was your childhood like?

Holly:  I grew up in the 60’s and 70’s. It was definitely a different time. Like most mothers at that time, my mom stayed home with my brother and me. We walked to school. We went to church. We rode in cars without seat belts! My dad was a minister, and so much of our life was spent within the church and actually in the church building. Mom went back to work when I was about 10. So at a young age, I learned to do a lot around the house…cooking, laundry, cleaning, etc. By the time I was a teenager, my dad had retired from the ministry, so we finally stayed in one place longer than 2 years! My brother and I finished junior and senior high school at the same place we started! We continued to be active in church of course, and I had jobs, boyfriends, and great friends from that time period. I’m still in touch with my four best friends from high school. Honestly, I have to say it wasn’t as idyllic as it sounds. Being a minister’s family is hard, and it was really hard back then. My dad was often the only staff person and thus, the only one everyone called for whatever needed to be done. He was gone a lot. And suffice it to say that I had a rebellious streak as a teen. The most formative thing for me was not growing up in a grace-oriented church where I soon realized that I wouldn’t measure up. So if I wasn’t going to measure up anyway, why bother trying to keep all the rules? I have great memories from my childhood and teen years…but I’m really glad that part of my life is behind me! 

Cheryl:  When you were growing up, what did you most want to be? 

Holly:  A writer and a teacher. And a wife and a mom.

Cheryl:  When did you become a Christian? What were the circumstances surrounding you turning your life over to Christ? 

Holly:  Well, now that is two separate questions! I became a Christian and was baptized when I was almost 19 at the beginning of my freshman year in college. I was involved in a very large campus ministry at a state university. The next 12 to 13 years were filled with major ups and downs! So the answer to the second question is that I finally turned it all over to Him around age 32 when I got divorced and became a single mom of two littles. There is something about feeling like a failure that makes you willing to give up control! But it was more than apparent when I turned my life back to Him that He had been waiting the entire time and was ready to heal and redeem all the years the locusts had eaten (Joel 2:27).

Cheryl:  What inspired you to begin blogging? Tell us about Reclaiming A Redeemed Life. 

Holly:  My dream to be a writer had never died. There were many years when I hardly had time to read a book, let alone figure out how to write even a paragraph. But as my children grew up and left the nest, my hours were suddenly much more free. By then blogging was a thing. and I started reading blogs. It wasn’t long before I thought, well I could do that! So I built my first blog on Blogspot, wrote a few posts, and let it sit there until I gathered up the courage to hit publish. My first blog was a ministry-related blog. I was doing women’s ministry then, and wrote to encourage and inform the women at my church. That was in 2009. In 2012, I went through some training with Amy Carroll at Next Step Speaker Services as God was directing me to step out into my own blog that wasn’t connected to a particular ministry. So Reclaiming A Redeemed Life was born. I write about faith, family, and spiritual life lessons we can learn in the every day. I’m passionate about Scripture and the application of it in our lives. And I want to encourage everyone to live in the redemption that is ours on the day we are saved. That leads us to the abundant life Jesus promised in John 10:10. Also turns out that God really knows what He is doing, because in the same year that I started my own blog separate from a ministry blog, I got laid off from my church staff position. Love how He always prepares us for what’s coming next!

Cheryl:  What was the darkest time of your life? How did your faith in God sustain you during this time? What advice would you give to the reader who is now going through a similar trial? 

Holly:  There have been several. My divorce was the right thing to do to protect my children and myself, as my former spouse was an alcoholic abuser. Children should never grow up in domestic violence. Then there were the several years that I dealt with a serious stronghold of sin and received a huge light bulb moment in Scripture that catapulted my recovery journey. The year my nephew died in a car accident two weeks before my son graduated high school was a year my family will never forget. And the year I was laid off from a church was especially painful, as I was unemployed for almost a year to the day, and went to live with my daughter and her family for five months. Any one of these things is enough to knock you off your feet and it is only through the grace of God that you get back up. And I’m not sure that my faith didn’t waiver during any of those things…that’s pretty normal, I’d say. But there were several things that sustained me through all of these trials: God’s Word. It is always true. It is always reliable. And when I keep my nose in the Book, my head and my heart have much less chance to wander off on their own. The second thing is community. God’s people are not perfect, but I’ve found they are always present. To pray, to hold my hand, to cry with me, whatever I’ve needed. It is true that community works, and there is no better community than one drawn together by the Spirit of God. I would encourage anyone going through difficulties to find a community that will love and support you, and will also point you to God’s Word and His plan for your life.

Cheryl:  What are you most passionate about? 

Holly:  So many things…my family first. I have two adult children and a son-in-love, along with three grandchildren. Those six people are my very heartbeat. Second, is living in the redemption God gifted me. I don’t ever want to go back to living in captivity or living in a half-life of rules and fear. Jesus set me free, and I want to stay there! And finally, sharing God’s love and His Word with people who don’t know Him. That sounds really ministerial, doesn’t it? But really it’s something we can all do every day in our every day lives. We don’t have to be in a church building or at a worship service or small group. We don’t have to stand on a street corner preaching or walk around with our Bibles to pull out at a moment’s notice. We can simply live our redeemed life every day, trusting God to bring the Divine appointments He chooses into our lives, and being people who care about others. That speaks volumes to the people we meet every day who are hurting and searching.

Cheryl:  Can you tell us about your ministry? When did you first feel the call of God upon your life? What was it like to become an ordained minister? 

Holly:  I never set out to be a minister, since I lived the life of a minister’s kid! But when I came back to the Lord in my early 30’s as my marriage ended, I felt an undeniable call to use my gifts in kingdom service. So I spent 20 years in volunteer ministry, while seeking a full-time paid role. I served in divorce recovery, youth ministry, women’s ministry, and adult education. I finally was hired as a Connections Minister with the responsibilities of guest services & newcomer assimilation, community transformation, women’s ministry, and adult Bible studies. It was a big job, and I loved it. It’s also where God began to challenge my assumptions about ministry and what we do inside the church building vs. outside the building. When you start working in the community, that will happen! Today I work as Director of Communications for the ministry of The Crossnore School. We are a Christian organization providing a group home for children from families in crisis. We have two campuses and currently serve nearly 300 children in different programs including group homes, single-family foster care, adoption, outpatient therapy and medications management, day treatment, and intensive in-home services. It is a privilege every day to tell the stories of the children we serve.

Cheryl:  When are you happiest? What fulfills you the most? 

Holly:  I am happiest when I get my way! Just kidding. Sort of. :-) Isn’t that true for all of us? But I truly find the most joy in being with people…especially my family. There’s no joy like the joy of being a grandma! Or YaYa as my grands call me. I am most fulfilled when I feel like I’m doing exactly what God wants me to do…whether that is in a larger life calling or within a moment where He calls me to be present and serve.

Cheryl:  Describe your current ministry endeavors. What are you involved in now? 

Holly:  Well, my job takes up the majority of my waking hours. But I love it! I am truly getting paid to write now, and it’s awesome! Otherwise, I write a lot and am working on a couple of books. I enjoy conversations with fellow believers on my podcast, Living A Redeemed Life. And I enjoy the occasional opportunity to preach at my church or to speak at conferences or retreats. I’d love more of those opportunities too!

Cheryl:  Who do you credit as being your most influential spiritual mentor? Tell us how this person has enhanced your walk with Jesus. 

Holly:  I don’t think I can choose just one person, but rather three different groups of people. All three were groups of three other women with whom I entered into prayer and accountability relationships during very formative times in my life. The first group was when my children were younger, and I was just beginning to seriously walk with Jesus. The second group was when I was dealing with my own recovery. And the third group was when my children were leaving home, and I was trying to decide what to do with the rest of my life. All three groups of women always kept me moving towards Jesus. They prayed over me, grieved with me, and celebrated breakthroughs. They supported my decisions and were honest enough to tell me the truth in love. I miss them desperately as we have scattered about the state and the country now. I currently live in a tiny town and have had difficulty establishing relationships in a very isolated and insular community. So I look forward to the day when I can be in similar relationships again. Over the last few months, God has called me into relationship with three other women who all live in different states. What began as relationships in the online community have now spilled over into real life, and we get together in person, meet in Google hangouts, text, and call one another as often as possible. 

Cheryl:  Describe the legacy you hope to leave for your children and grandchildren. What are some of the things you hope they remember about you most? 

Holly:  I just hope my kids and grands know that I love them beyond all reason. I always told my kids that I love them all the way around the world and back again. That become truth when they both deployed (at different times thankfully) and were very, very far away from home! I hope they remember that we had fun together, that I was encouraging and not judgmental as they lived their own lives, and that I thought they were the best people on the planet. 

Cheryl:  If you could sit down with anyone, living or dead, and ask them for advice, who would you most wish to talk to? Why? What questions would you ask? 

Holly:  I think I would call together all three of my prayer and accountability groups. I stay in contact with most of them at least through Facebook but that’s certainly different than our relationships used to be. I’d want to hear how they are experiencing God now, how they are ministering in their communities, and how they feel I have done since we were close. I’d like to talk about how we can serve God better in this stage of life now.

Cheryl:  How do you stay encouraged? Are there particular Scriptures, hymns, books, or other resources that you would like to recommend to the one who may be disheartened and ready to give up? 

Holly:  As I mentioned before, I have to keep my nose in the Book. I have to stay connected to God’s people. And I have to have outlets to serve within my gifting and calling. I love worship music but don’t listen to a lot outside of worship services. I also enjoy podcasts and there are a lot out there where you can be encouraged and learn from others. For anyone who is ready to give up, I’d say find community. Find a place where people will love and listen. 

Cheryl:  What would you describe as being the biggest challenge you have ever had to face, and how did you overcome it? 

Holly:  My recovery journey was difficult, no surprise there. I was captive to a stronghold that I thought I would never leave behind. But God showed me in Romans 6 and 8 how Jesus had overcome death, and I finally realized that the same power that resurrected Jesus from the dead was available to me today. It was available to resurrect me from captivity and for me to draw on every day to fight temptation. Having a group of women around me who knew all the bad and ugly parts of it and loved me anyway was transformative. They weren’t afraid to love me and they weren’t afraid of the truth…either hearing it or speaking it. They were available when I was struggling. They prayed for me. They made plans with me about how I would avoid my particular temptations. They held my arms up as I battled through this season and are a large part of my victory. Most importantly, they always pointed me back to the truth and love of our Father.

Cheryl:  How can we pray for you at this current season of life? 

Holly:  You can pray that I will be content and patient in whatever circumstances God chooses for me right now. I love what I do and love my life, I just don’t love where I am living right now. I’m a city girl who doesn’t live in a city. That could change though, and I need to just wait on God’s will and timing! Thanks so much for praying for me. 
And, thank you, dear Holly, for being willing to take the time to share your heart with us!
You, my friend, are such a blessing!

Please add Holly and her request to your prayers, dear readers.
Sometimes, when God wants us to make a change, He allows us to feel a stirring of discontent.
I look forward to seeing what great things He has ahead for Holly!

God bless you for reading, for your support and encouragement,
and for every time you visit and comment here!

To read previous
click the links below.


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Sunday, August 28, 2016

The Inner Views of Lindsay Huggins

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
Roman 1:16
(KJV)

A few years ago, I was introduced to the music of the dear young lady I am interviewing today.
Soon, we connected online, and a sweet friendship was formed.
How blessed I was when later God orchestrated a way for my family and me to meet her in person while in Myrtle Beach where she was scheduled to perform!
God has gifted her with an amazing talent to sing
and an accompanying joyful, humble, Christlike spirit. 
I know you are going to love getting to know her, and I hope you can take the time to 
listen to a few of her songs included below.
You will be abundantly blessed!


So thankful to present to you the 
of
Follower of Jesus, Wife, Mom, Friend, Worship Leader, and Christian Recording Artist,
Lindsay Huggins.

 Cheryl:  Please tell us about yourself. 

Lindsay:  I grew up in a small town - Sandersville, Georgia. My younger sister and I were blessed with wonderful loving and hard-working parents, who have modeled lives of character before us. My family was very involved in church and music, which went hand in hand. After graduating from high school, I moved to Nashville, TN, to attend Trevecca Nazarene University, where I earned a bachelor’s degree in Music Business. I traveled in a singing group for TNU, along with this cute sweetheart of a guy named Craig. He also happened to be our sound tech and was good at his job, so I decided to keep him! We were married on April 8, 2006 in my hometown. In 2012, our son Tanner was born and we make our home just outside of Nashville.

Cheryl:  Can you share with us about your Christian testimony? When did you become a Christian? Were you raised in a Christian home? What drew you to Christ?

Lindsay:  I was raised in a Christian home, and we were faithful church members. It seemed we were there all the time, which I loved. My best friends were my church friends. From a very young age, I remember learning God’s Word. But it wasn’t until I was 13 years old that I really remember inviting Jesus in my heart. I was trying to fall asleep that night and the Lord was speaking to me. I was listening to a CD of one of my favorite artists at the time (this was how I fell asleep every night), and I made it all the way to the end, still wide awake. That last song talked about not missing the opportunity to respond to the Holy Spirit because we never know if today will be our last. I got up and woke up my Mama, and she came into the living room with me. We prayed and read scripture together, and that’s the night I truly invited Jesus into my heart.

 Cheryl:  What a sweet and precious testimony, Lindsay!  What was your biggest, most cherished childhood dream? What did you most hope to accomplish in life? Who did you want to become?

 Lindsay:  As cliche as it sounds, my dream has always been to sing! The dream has looked different during various seasons of my life, but I knew that’s what I wanted to do. My Mama will tell you, I could turn anything into a microphone. Hairbrush, fork, my thumb - you name it! And my sister would get so annoyed at me always singing. I loved Reba McEntire. Every Sunday, our family would gather at my Granny and Granddaddy’s house for dinner after church. Granny would make a big meal and after dinner, everyone would move into the living room. My sister and I would then perform a dinner show. We stood on footstools, sang into old microphones that had been discarded by our church, and performed a full show of Reba songs using her cassette as our band. Too bad we didn’t have cell phone cameras at our fingertips then. I bet the videos would be a hoot! I went on to work for Reba after college, and she’s still one of my favorites!

Cheryl:  Who is your most influential spiritual mentor?

Lindsay:  Well, of course I have to say my Mama. She’s been my mentor from day one, and still encourages me, prays for me, and spurs me on in faith.

 Cheryl:  I love your song, “Praying Women”. Can you tell us about the most prominent praying women in your life?


If video doesn't load, click here.

Lindsay:  This song is definitely true about my Mama. My Granny has also modeled a strong faith, and there are so many women who have guided me, and prayed with and for me over the years - Sunday School teachers, youth leaders, school teachers. I’m very thankful for my pastor’s wife, Karan.

Cheryl:  How old were you when you began singing? Please share with us about your singing experiences and career.

Lindsay:  I’m sure as soon as someone would let me on the platform I was singing in the kids music programs at church. My first distinct memory of performing is when I was around five years old. I entered a children’s talent competition sponsored by our district church. I sang “What Makes Popcorn Pop” that Lauren Talley had recorded. (I had all her cassettes.) I won that day, and remember taking my trophy to kindergarten Show-and-Tell. :)

Cheryl:  Describe what you would define as the most exciting happening in your music ministry thus far.

Lindsay:  I’ve had lots of exciting singing opportunities - singing on main stage at National Quartet Convention, sharing the stage with some of top names in Gospel music, etc. But the most rewarding moments come when I know God has used my music and the talent He gave me to speak to someone’s heart.

Cheryl:  How many concerts do you perform each year?

Lindsay:  I’m never good at answering this question! I’d literally have to pull out the calendar and count all the dates. I’m always seeking and accepting opportunities to minister. I’d say on average, I’m on the road about three weekends a month.

Cheryl:  Of all of the songs you have recorded and sung, what is your personal favorite?

Lindsay:  Right now, I’d say there are two - "Praying Women" and "Nothing He Can't Redeem".

If video doesn't load, click here.

Cheryl:  What would you say is your driving force? What keeps you going on days that you are worn out and wondering how you will continue to keep up the pace?

Lindsay:  What’s the quote? “Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” Well, I wouldn’t say that’s 100% accurate because there’s quite a bit of work to be done! But I do love getting to sing and travel and share the Good News through the gift of music. I love meeting folks out on the road and hearing their stories. And I love that I can do this together with my family.

Cheryl:  Being a wife and a mother, how do you find balance? What would you say is your biggest challenge when trying to fill so many roles, simultaneously? What advice can you offer to others in similar circumstances?

Lindsay:  Umm…maybe you should get someone else to answer this question and then send their answer to me! :) Seriously, though, it is tough. There are so many standards we try to live up to - as a woman, as a wife, as a parent, as a minister, as a performer. It can be draining. One thing I’m trying to embrace is being fully present in my current situation. And remembering that my first job is to love God and my family well. And my witness and ministry to others will overflow from that.

Cheryl:  What is your favorite thing to do when you are off the road? What do you most look forward to doing when you get back home? What do you miss the most while you are gone?

Lindsay:  I guess I’d say I mostly miss the familiarity of home when I’m on the road. And sometimes our dog Chloe can’t travel with us, so we miss her when we have to leave her behind. But I’ve never been a home body. I love to travel, so I don’t get too homesick when I’m away, unless my husband and son can’t be with me.

Cheryl:  Can you share with us about one of the darkest times of your life? How did your faith in God sustain you?

Lindsay:  We had quite a difficult journey to becoming parents. It didn’t come easy for us, and this struggle is one that so many couples face, but yet not many openly talk about it. We felt pretty alone during this time. Myself probably more than my husband. It seemed all our friends were having babies. Some were on their second or third, and we were still hoping. We finally got that good news and two weeks later I started hemorrhaging. I knew that I must be losing the baby. I hadn’t even been in for my first doctor’s appointment but I called and spoke to the nurse. I was a basket case, but I remember her saying “I need you to just have a little faith.” Honestly I wasn’t sure how to take that comment. I mean, of course I had faith! Right? The issue continued for two weeks without explanation. But from that first very early appointment where we heard that little heartbeat, we had to hold on to our Hope, knowing that God was in control no matter what. Our perfect baby was born in March 2012, and he is ALL BOY. Even as I’m typing this, he’s pretending to be superheroes, running around my desk.

Cheryl:  As Christians, we are living in very discouraging times. What do you personally do to stay encouraged? What are your favorite Bible verses? Are there any particular books, hymns, or other resources that you turn to for strength and courage?

Lindsay:  There are so many sources of media that it seems we are constantly bombarded with the bad stuff. But we can also use all the media at our fingertips for sources of good news, too. I have a Bible app on my phone, it suggests daily readings. I also enjoy the “Jesus Calling” devotional. And of course, music is my go-to! When I was afraid we were losing our baby, I sang “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus” a lot! Some days I was celebrating the comfort I found in trusting Him. Some days I was convincing myself that I had to trust Him. But always praying “oh for grace to trust Him more”.

Cheryl:  How can we pray for you? Are there any particular requests you would like us to share and bring to the Father on your behalf?

Lindsay:  Thank you for offering your prayers on my behalf! I’d ask that you pray for wisdom and guidance, safety in travel, and a purity in my ministry, that I wouldn’t be distracted by the unnecessary things or swayed by the desires of the world.

Such noble requests, Lindsay!
Thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to share your heart with us today!
You are such a dear blessing, and I trust God will continue to bless you,
your sweet family, and your ministry. 
May He always work in and through your life in new and amazing ways!

Please keep Lindsay in your prayers, dear readers,
and if you have a moment, please stop by her website,
where you can buy her CDs and learn more about her music.

 Make sure to have tissues handy before watching the video below!



If video doesn't load, click here.

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Thursday, August 18, 2016

The Inner Views of Serena Smith-Williams

"Ah Lord GOD! behold, Thou hast made the heaven and the earth by Thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for Thee..."
Jeremiah 32:17
(KJV)

Today, I am so grateful to be able to introduce (to those of you who are not already acquainted)
a blogger who is a special and consistent blessing to me.
Her wonderful blog is chock full of amazing health and fitness information,
easy-to-understand recipes (many of them kid-tested and approved!),
and beautifully-written encouragement, support, and inspiration.
Her sweet spirit and genuine, caring heart shine through in every post she writes.
I know you are going to enjoy getting to know her,
and you will come to love and appreciate her as much as I do!


With joy and gratitude, I present to you the 
of
blessed mommy of 3, wife, blogger, actress, health coach, certified personal trainer, and holistic nutritionist,
Serena Smith-Williams.

Cheryl:  Please tell us about yourself.

Serena:  I was born and raised in New Jersey and still live there.

For the most part, my childhood was fine. Even though I was in and out of the hospital and diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at the age of 9 (then rediagnosed with Crohn's at the age of 15), my mother always made sure my life was as normal as possible. I had supportive friends and family and did quite fine.

Today, I am married (15 years) and have three children.

Cheryl:  When did you become interested in health and fitness? Who most inspired you to begin this journey? Was there a particular life event that influenced you to become more conscious of your health and the health of your family?

Serena:  Having Crohn's disease urged me to want to do something in the healthcare field. And although my diet wasn't the best, I was always pretty active in my youth.

I played basketball in high school and intramural basketball in college. My major was Psychology, and I even thought about doing Sports Psychology at one point. Then once I graduated I became an ACE certified personal trainer and got accepted into a Masters in Athletic Training program. Although I didn't pursue the program, I remained interested in general health and fitness.

The holistic & natural living aspect didn't happen until just 5 years ago when I took a natural health continuing education course to renew my personal training certification. I got hooked, and the rest is history.

Cheryl:  To those who are not familiar with the term, “holistic”, will you define what it means?

Serena:  Holistic refers to the whole person. In other words mind, body, and spirit. Not just fixing the immediate problem, but healing the origin or source of the problem. For example, if you're experiencing headaches - explore natural remedies (because traditional ones can wreak havoc on your body and cause other problems) to take care of the pain you are having as well as exploring different methods (like stress management, for example) to fix the cause of the headaches.

Cheryl:  Tell us about your blog. What do you most hope to accomplish through it, and what life events first inspired you to begin blogging? How has blogging impacted and enriched your life?

Serena:  I blog over at Simple Holistic Girl. I originally started it to share my experience with Crohn's and my slowly, (at the time), creeping up blood pressure. It soon turned into sharing healthy and natural living tips, natural remedies, workouts, healthy recipes, and more. I also use it as a platform to educate people on popular topics such as ingesting essential oils (being safe) and the process of how our cosmetics end up on the shelves (for example, no FDA approval like some people think).

I have met sooooo many wonderful people, including you, Cheryl, through blogging, and that, in itself, has positively impacted my life!

Cheryl:  Thank you ever so much, Serena!  I count it a Godsent blessing that I have met you, too!  Can you tell us what you are most passionate about?

Serena:  My main passion is arming people with the tools & knowledge to make their own decisions on how to be healthy, since healthy is not the same to everyone. Also, helping people understand that the same solution (even if it is based on research) will NOT work for everyone.

Cheryl:  When did you become a Christian? Who do you consider to be your strongest spiritual mentor? Is there a particular person who has prayed for you most and influenced you in your walk with Christ?

Serena:  I have been in church all my life, but became a Christian when I was a teenager. I would have to say my former youth leaders, who are now pastors at the church we attend, are my strongest spiritual mentors.

One person that has prayed for me the most? Oh, that is most definitely my mother!

Cheryl:  As a Christian wife and mother in these troubled times, what do you consider to be some of our greatest challenges? How do you, personally, rise to the occasion of these challenges?

Serena:  Oh boy....the greatest challenge during these troubled times I think is keeping your faith. And that's not just in God, but in people, mankind, the universe, you name it.

I rise to the occasion by trying to be a little nicer to people (which sometimes can be easier said than done) and appreciate the little things like that warm smile from your neighbor or a friendly encounter with a total stranger, because after these things happen you realize nice people really DO exist in this world!

Cheryl:  What is the most important thing(s) we should be teaching our children?

Serena:  Love and respect to ALL - even if it means you don't get it back.

Cheryl:  How do you balance your home duties as a wife and mother with the demands of your work schedule and blog?

Serena:  I actually do not know....hahaha. It just works out. I only really share a new post once a week on my blog right now because I recognized doing more was way too demanding. I also get to work from home so those days give me an extra two hours put back in my day from not commuting.

I also try not to be on the computer as much as I used to be if everyone is home...keyword is "try"...lol.

Cheryl:  We would love to hear about your love story. How did you meet your husband? What is your favorite part of walking through life with him? What is the best marital advice you have ever been given?

Serena:  My husband and I went to the same college. My favorite part of walking through life with him is being with our kids and getting involved more and more in the church.

The best marital advice we have gotten is communication is key, and pray together.

Cheryl:  To the reader who is struggling to lose weight, what advice can you offer? Where should we start? What are some of the most important things we can do to jumpstart a weight loss journey?

Serena:  I think people think too hard when it comes to weight loss, when in reality you can start with simple changes. Simple changes over time will lead to big changes.

For example, I have a blog post entitled: 9 Ways to Lose Weight Without Trying Too Hard (http://www.simpleholisticgirl.com/9-ways-to-lose-weight-without-trying-too-hard/)

Those 9 things are: 1) walking, 2) eating more color (meaning colorful fruits & vegetables), 3) drinking more water, 4) keeping a food diary, 5) taking your sauces on the side, 6) limiting your alcohol intake (it contains a lot of calories), 7) choosing beverages (other than water) wisely, 8) choosing your fats wisely, and 9) getting enough sleep.

 Cheryl:  What do you consider to be the most effective form(s) of physical exercise? For someone who is severely weight-challenged, can you offer some doable, obtainable steps that would enable them to feel they are making a good start?

 Serena:  I think the most effective form of physical exercise is the type that will keep you motivated. I can sit here and say a few different kinds are effective forms of physical exercise, but that doesn't mean that it will have the same effect on everybody. Since everybody is different you need to find the exercise that is easy enough for you to stick with, but hard enough to challenge you, and most of all produces results so you'll continue to be motivated.

I think the best form of exercise to start with, even for those that are severely weight-challenged is walking. Walking is an activity of daily living and will build up your stamina and endurance the more you keep at it. Even if you cannot physically walk fast it makes a good start and you can slowly build up over time. You can eventually even turn it into a jog and even a run and the best thing about walking is, it's free.

Cheryl:  Obesity is often accompanied by severe depression and feelings of hopelessness. If you were sitting across the table, having coffee with someone in this dark place, what would you say to them?

Serena:  First, make sure that your severe depression doesn't warrant outside help. It is important to recognize when you need additional support so that it doesn't turn into something more. Having the proper tools in place will also help you reach your goals.

Once you put those steps/tools in place, then I would suggest you start keeping a journal/diary.

In that journal I suggest you write down your daily activities, including things like, what you eat, how you felt before and after you ate, what time you ate, how much sleep you got, your emotions for the day, your daily stressors, what were you doing before grabbing that bag of chips, etc. This way you can start to see how one thing connects to another. Perhaps you will figure out that you need to cut a certain individual out of your life. Or perhaps you'll realize you need to change jobs or maybe that one food item causes you to feel sick.

Cheryl:  When working as a health coach, what have you found to be your most effective tools in motivating someone to start a weight loss and fitness journey?

Serena:  Helping them find their "why". Everyone's reason and motivation will be different on starting a weight loss journey so it's up to the individual (not me) to find their own motivation and reason to succeed. The journey and destination is ultimately theirs, I just help them get started heading in the right direction.

 Cheryl:  To the reader who has tried multiple weight loss tactics, only to repeatedly fail, what would you like to say?

Serena:  Write down everything you have tried, and then figure out what you need to do differently. If you have been doing the same thing over and over again, guess what? Chances are it's not going to work the 4th and 5th time you try it either.

And if you have been trying different methods already, then you need to evaluate why they are not working. Are they pills you're trying to take to make the weight "magically" disappear? Are you excessively exercising, but not changing your diet? Did it work for your friend/spouse/sister/cousin, so you figured it would work for you, too?

Go back to the basics and practice small changes first, like the ones I mentioned above.  (1) walking, 2) eating more color (meaning colorful fruits & vegetables), 3) drinking more water, 4) keeping a food diary, 5) taking your sauces on the side, 6) limiting your alcohol intake (it contains a lot of calories), 7) choosing beverages (other than water) wisely, 8) choosing your fats wisely, and 9) getting enough sleep.)

Cheryl:  There are many things about your blog that I love, one of them being the way you develop recipes that are kid-tested and approved. How do you come up with the recipes on your blog? How do you convince your kids to try them?

 Serena:  I simply think about what we love to eat and go from there. I will sometimes even just peruse certain sections of the grocery store, like the produce section, and think of things I can do with a certain food item. Instagram also serves as a source of inspiration.

My kids are more apt to try new recipes if it's in a form they are already familiar with, like cookies, brownies, and pancakes. I sometimes will even ask them what they want me to make and go from there.

Cheryl:  What are your favorite Bible verses, hymns, books, and other resources to turn to in times of discouragement?

Serena:  After starting my blog, I wanted to use a special verse and came up with Genesis 1:29 - Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole Earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food." It's not the only verse in the Bible that has to do with food, of course, but it's one that I have grown to love regarding food.

It's so easy to find resources to turn to in times of discouragement, especially with technology and social media. I use the YouVersion Bible App. You can find Bible lesson plans for certain topics, and it delivers a verse of the day right to your inbox if you choose. And their Instagram account posts Bible verses using the most beautiful pictures!

My other go to social media accounts for encouragement are Proverbs 31 Ministries, Women Living Well, and Thrive Moms.

 Cheryl:  Looking back over your life, will you share a time of intense trial that you have walked through? How did your faith in God sustain you during those difficult days?

Serena:  I will have to say when my Crohn's disease flared up. Those were some trying times. The pain could be so unbearable, I wondered if I would ever pull through, but then I remembered God pulled me through all the other times, so why would He fail me now?

Cheryl:  At the end of your life, what legacy would you most like to leave behind?

 Serena:  I would love for people to remember me for my spunkiness 😀, yet kindness and love.

 Cheryl:  How can we pray for you in this current season?

 Serena:  A prayer for my finances, marriage, business, and family. Both to have success and a hedge of protection around everyone and everything.
I am so grateful to you, Serena, for taking the time to visit with us,
to share your heart, and to answer our questions in such a helpful, supportive way!
I have enjoyed this interview so much and thank you from the bottom of my heart!
My prayer is that God will honor your request and send abundant blessings
and continual protection to you and your sweet family.

And, thank you, dear readers, for reading and for adding Serena and her family to your
individual prayer lists.

I hope you will take the time to go by and visit Serena's blog, leave her an encouraging comment,
 and consider becoming a follower/subscriber!
And, for all of you who are health-conscious,
she is offering a 14 Day Smoothie Challenge that you may be interested in participating in!
I just joined and can't wait to get the daily recipes!
Thank you again, Serena.
You are a blessing to us all, my friend!

To read previous
click the links below.


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