Mud Stories With Jacque Watkins - Messy Moments Worked For Our Good

Annie Lobert shares her experience through the messy muddy world of sex trafficking, pimps, prostitution and pornography, and offers the hope of God's Great Love to each of us and to the women she rescues through her ministry Hookers for Jesus and their year-long program with The Destiny House. Annie's Website: Hookers For Jesus Annie's Book: Fallen: Out of the Sex Industry and Into the Arms of the Savior

Hard times can make us feel isolated and alone, wondering if God is still good and if He sees us at all, and yet Susie Larson has much encouragement and wisdom to offer to help us to feel as loved as we are, and learn to give God our sacred yes.

Jenny Lee Sulpizio grew up with ritual and tradition, but without an understanding of God and His grace. In this episode she shares her journey toward finding faith, braving the scary thought of attending church, experiencing community at church, and learning to accept the free gift of grace God gives us all. Website: Jenny Lee Sulpizio, Grace For the Journey

Grief and pain make us feel broken, and yet it is our brokenness and sitting in our grief long enough that can become a gift, especially as we choose to say yes to being with God in it, no matter what, as He redeems our grief for our ultimate good. This is part two of my conversation with Colleen Mitchell.   Colleen's Blog: Blessed Are the Feet St. Francis Emmaus Center

Loss is inevitable, which often leads to many years of ongoing grief, sadness, and depression. Colleen Mitchell shares her story of losing her 3 month old son Bryce from SIDS in 2009, her subsequent 2nd trimester loss and three more miscarriages, and her husband's job loss, and offers wisdom and hope as we process any type of loss or ongoing grief.

From her personal experience of domestic violence and divorce, Diane Bailey shares wisdom and insight about dating, remarriage and blended families, as well as tips and strategies for step-parenting.   Diane's eBook: 30 Days to a Better Step-Family

Christy Beam shares about her daughter Annabel's chronic illness, her family's journey caring for her, the tragic event that changed everything, and the miracles from heaven that followed.   Share your story of God's faithfulness with Christy HERE

Kitty Hurdle shares her journey through unexplained infertility and adoption of a sibling pair. She explains her struggle to overcome workaholism and anxiety and to instead, trust God instead, bringing joy and hope even amidst hard things.  

Because of rape and sexual assault, Wendy Blight--author, speaker, and Proverbs 31 Ministries Bible Study Leader--lived imprisoned by fear, unforgiveness, and bitterness for years. But it was reading the Bible and understanding and praying God's promises that helped her heal and become free. And she longs for you to know it can do that for you too.

Friendship can be complicated and challenging, and even the best friends can experience conflict. Natalie Snapp is the author of the new book, Heart Sisters: Be the Friend You Want to Have, and helps us explore how to have better friendships. Natalie's Heart Sisters Book Page

Shauna Niequist shares thoughts and insights about times of adversity and pain, and offers suggestions to savor life, get through suffering, and ultimately be transformed for our good. Shauna's Books: Cold Tangerines: Celebrating the Extraordinary Nature of Everyday Life Bittersweet: Thoughts on Change, Grace, and Learning the Hard Way Bread and Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table with Recipes Savor: Living Abundantly Where You Are, As You Are

Kara Tippetts, author of The Hardest Peace--wife, mother, and friend to so many--taught us about loving big in kindness and living with grace, looking to Jesus in all things with mundane faithfulness. We remember, reminisce, and give thanks for the gift of Kara today, and for all the valuable lessons she taught us and will continue to teach us through her writing. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to a fund benefitting the Tippetts children: Jason Tippetts, P.O. Box 49727, Colorado Springs, CO 80949  

Emily Thomas shares about her abusive relationship in her first marriage, how she fled, and her struggle in choosing to get a divorce. Emily describes the guilt and shame she faced because of the abuse and failure, and how God healed her, showed her He loved her no matter what, and how He wanted to use her life despite her past brokenness and pain--especially to bless others with her art. Emily's Etsy Shop-mixed media art canvas or prints with scripture. Custom orders available.

Wynter Pitts shares how she struggled to let go of selfishness, learned how to face her trust issues, opened herself to vulnerability, and in the end, how she relinquished control to God. Wynter has a ministry to tween girls called For Girls Like You, and has just released her first book entitled, For Girls Like You: A Devotional For Tweens.

Part two--of a two part episode--with Elizabeth Foss, who shares about how our suffering is a gift that shapes and grows us, how to help our adult children through hard things, our struggle with perfectionism, navigating social media for good, burnout, depression, and burnout recovery through The Restore Workshop. Elizabeth is the founder of The Restore Workshop, a six-week online community designed to identify and cultivate burnout recovery in women's lives. Registration is open through April 12, 2015.

Part one--of a two part episode--with Elizabeth Foss, who shares her suffering, her journey through cancer, and her struggle with fear and unexpected loss through pregnancy complications, and the loss of her son's friend to cancer. We discuss relinquishing control in the midst of hard things, our need to surrender, and how control really is an illusion. Elizabeth is the founder of The Restore Workshop, and in part two we will discuss how to help our children through suffering, our struggle with perfectionism, how to manage social media, and how to wrestle down burnout and depression.

Are you feeling busy, overwhelmed, and exhausted? Unsure of how to find time for yourself? In this podcast, Jessica Turner shares how to learn to say no, find time for rest and sleep, and how to find our fringe hours to carve out time for self-care. The Mom Creative Jessica's Book-The Fringe Hours Book Website

Shame, Failure, and Perfectionism can be so paralyzing, and in this episode, Jeannie Cunnion shares how she allowed God to shatter them all through the power of accepting God's great grace. Jeannie shares the importance of receiving God's grace and in turn giving that grace to others, not only in our relationships in general, but more specifically in our parenting too. Parenting the Wholehearted Child, by Jeannie Cunnion FREE Study Guide for Parenting the Wholehearted Child, by Jeannie Cunnion FREE Resources for Finding Freedom From Failure, by Jacque Watkins

Tara Storch shares about the tragic death of her thirteen year old daughter, how to survive and live with ongoing grief, and how organ donation was the good that helped her family live through such a tragic loss. Tara and her husband Todd have written a book entitled Taylor's Gift, sharing their story, and have founded an organization called Taylor's Gift Foundation, where they raise awareness for organ donation around the nation and fund scholarships and gifts for families impacted by organ donation. taylorsgift.org Taylor's Gift, a book by Todd and Tara Storch REGISTER today to become an organ donor CLICK HERE to confirm you are already registered!

Life is full of unexpected turns, crisis, and sometimes many mundane moments. And Rachel Anne Ridge shares how to handle change and crazy circumstances, and not only survive, but thrive by doing just the next step. Rachel also shares about a stray donkey named Flash, who has become one of the family and taught her many lessons along the way. Flash: The Homeless Donkey Who Taught Me about Life, Faith, and Second Chances, by Rachel Anne Ridge (releasing May 1, 2015)