Kathy Stoops has been on a transformational journey of discovering her true identity in Christ, learning how God’s Word impacts her everyday life, and figuring out how to recall these truths anytime, anywhere. In this episode you’ll learn about: discovering your true identity in Christ (and what it’s really all about), how small action steps can help build your confidence, and cultivating an awareness of God’s presence in your everyday life.
283 || Why Taking Action Is the Secret to Clarity for Your Dream || Brandy Traylor
Why is there so much pressure to figure out the dream before you start? Most women say it’s the fear of getting it wrong, making a mistake, or misunderstanding God’s prompting and falling out of His will. In this episode you’ll learn about pursuing a dream when you’re not sure of the direction or outcome, letting your ideas and ambitions mature over time, and maintaining an open-handedness so that God can redirect your dream if He wants to.
282 || How the Right Community Becomes Fuel for Your Big Dream || Terri Albrecht
Want an incubator for your dreams? Terri Albrecht has been involved in church ministry most of her adult life and has a passion for finding ways to draw people closer to God and each other. In this episode you’ll learn from Terri about how our unique personal experiences shape our dreams from God, the importance of trusting His timing and guidance in the dream, and the mistake of underestimating your gifts and what you have to offer the world.
281 || How to Nurture True Belonging as You Pursue a God-Shaped Dream || Katy McCown
Have you been pursuing a dream all on your own? This week Katy McCown returns to the show with a power-packed episode on the importance of belonging in the body of Christ and the impact of community as we pursue our dreams. Join me and Katy as we unravel the significance of community, acknowledge the challenges, and uncover practical ways to invite others into your unique journey.
280 || [Recast] How to Keep Perspective When You Don't See the Fruit of Your Dream || Katy McCown
Does it sometimes feel like God’s timing doesn’t make sense? Katy McCown always knew she was called to write but she didn’t expect to get the green light when she was eight months pregnant with her sixth child. Today she is the author of two Bible studies, president of She Laughs Ministries, a writer for Proverbs 31 Ministries, and a national speaker. Through all life’s uncertainties and surprises, Katy has learned some things about “living sure” even when the future is not.
279 || [Solo] What Will Kids Going Back to School Mean for Your God-Shaped Dream? || Merritt Onsa
How will you find balance between your dreams and your kids’ school routines? Amidst the flurry of back-to-school preparations, are you also quietly pondering what this season holds for your personal dreams? If you’re a mom with kids still living at home, your routines (and theirs) are likely about to shift big time. In this solo episode you’ll learn about creating space for yourself first, building your support system and overcoming fears and doubts that come with big dreams.
278 || 3 Things We Wished We Knew before Starting Our Podcasts || Merritt Onsa & Natalie Blenkush
Starting a podcast helps build a platform for your dream. Join seasoned podcasters Natalie Blenkush and Merritt Onsa as we reveal three secrets we wish we knew about conquering the initial challenges of podcasting. Learn from our podcast launch experiences as we guide you towards a seamless podcasting journey, helping you overcome obstacles with expert tips and making your podcast debut faster and smoother than if you did it all on your own. This is where your podcasting success story begins!
277 || [Recast] How Trusting God Changes the Way You Pursue Your Dream || Krista (Hengesh) Breilh
Krista (Hengesh) Breilh is the Executive Director and Founder of Live Salted, an intergenerational women’s ministry based in Seattle, Washington. Krista shares her infectious enthusiasm for life, unwavering devotion to God, and a remarkable ability to fuse practical wisdom with scriptural truths. Krista is honest about the faith necessary to step into your God-shaped dream, especially when you can’t predict the results (and who can!?)
276 || [Recast] Find Your Purpose: 12 Steps to Uncover a God-Given Dream || Merritt Onsa
I recorded this episode because of a mistake I made in 2018. I could have kept it to myself to minimize my embarrassment, but I chose to share it. Why? Because mistakes happen, and they are one of the best ways to learn. Instead of continuing to feel foolish, I used this episode as an opportunity to share my reflections on what I’ve learned in my journey to uncovering a God-shaped dream, hoping that it will provide clarity for your path to yours.
275 || [Recast] How to Grow in Courage? Take Action Even When You Don’t Feel Brave || Julie Landreth
Get ready to be inspired as we revisit a captivating conversation with Julie Landreth from season five. If you’ve ever found yourself paralyzed by fear while preparing to embrace something significant and new, this is a must-listen. I’m sharing it again because of the vital role Julie played in anchoring me to truth when I was facing significant fear and doubt. This conversation offers fresh insights and a renewed perspective to propel you forward on your journey toward a God-shaped dream.
274 || [Recast] Why It’s Time to Let Go of the Fear That You’re Not Enough || Merritt Onsa
What if you stepped into your fear of failure? Tune in this week to learn about fear of failure, what its true source really is, and how we can battle it and get moving in the pursuit of our God-shaped dreams. In this solo episode you’ll learn what our identity in Christ really means, how to shift the way you think about failing again and again, and the good news about why you can stop trying to be enough.
273 || How to Hold On to God When It Doesn’t Go the Way You Expected || Keagan Hayden
My guest Keagan Hayden shares how she relinquished control and learned to enjoy the journey rather than focusing on the destination. She talks about the challenges of following God’s plan, especially when it doesn't match your expectations, and the difference between working with God versus doing work for Him. Despite the ebbs and flows of her dream, Keagan continues to trust in God's plan and take each day as an adventure.
272 || [Solo] The Two Must-Have Truths You Need to Shut Down Imposter Syndrome || Merritt Onsa
Is there a “cure” for imposter syndrome? It’s easy to recognize the impact of imposter syndrome on a dream you haven’t had the courage to step into. The voice of imposter syndrome will suggest to you that it’s not the right time, you’re not the right person, you’re not ready to do this, or that it’s already been done. Obviously, without any intervention, thoughts like these would keep anyone stuck and their dream hidden.
271 || How to Remain Faithful When God Has You in a Season of Waiting || Eryn Lynum
What if you embraced your doubts? In this episode, Eryn Lynum shares how her dream has become more aligned in the last five years, even in the midst of her doubts. You’ll learn how embracing doubts becomes an opportunity for God to reveal His plan, that waiting is not idle because it allows for growth and strength in preparation for when it's time to act, and how spending time connecting with God through nature provides a better understanding of both His written Word and His created world.
270 || [RE-RELEASE] How She Got Her Book Published Even with a Small Platform || Eryn Lynum
I’m re-releasing this 2017 episode because Eryn Lynum will be returning with a five-year update. Next week you’ll hear how her dream has changed (significantly in some ways and not so much in others). Give this re-release a listen to see where she’s come from, especially if publishing a book could be part of your dream. Then, come back next week to hear what’s changed in wildly beautiful ways since Eryn and I last spoke.
269 || What If God Reveals a Dream That’s Out of Your Comfort Zone? || Yohonna Smith
Have you ever considered that there’s someone waiting for your dream to come alive? As Yohonna Smith’s kids got older and started to uncover their own interests, she found she had more time for her own dreams. But what was God prompting her to do with that time? In this episode, you’ll learn about how her dreams grew from her own personal needs and desires, the fears that held her back at first, and the powerful lesson of becoming a spiritual mother.
268 || How Weakness Will Show Us the Way Back to Ourselves || Kimberly Phinney
What happens when your dream is sidelined by the realities of life in a broken world? Kimberly Phinney had a vision for her future as a writer with big hopes, dreams, and ideas she wanted to share with the world. Even as a child she had a sense that this would be her path. When her health took a turn for the worse, it seemed all of her dreams might be lost. In this episode, you’ll learn Kimberly’s 3-step process for staying true to the dreams God has given you (her students rave about this year after year!), what God has taught her in her brokenness (and the breakthrough that awaits in such seasons), and about letting go of anything that’s going to detract from God’s vision for you.
267 || [Solo] Two Must-Have Ingredients I Want for Your God Dream || Merritt Onsa
Have you been searching for camaraderie and understanding from others as you pursue a God-shaped dream? In this solo episode you’ll learn why soaking up inspiration from everyone else’s dreams online isn’t serving you in the way you think it is, what to do instead of expecting friends and family members to “get” you and your excitement for a dream, and strategies to find time for your dream right now, even if you’re a busy mom, have a day job, or are caring for aging parents.
266 || How a Dream Surrendered Can Open Your Eyes to a New Direction || Emily Karc
How do you discern God’s will for your life and then surrender it back to Him? In this episode, Emily Karc offers practical advice for seeking God's guidance, waiting on His timing, and trusting in His plan. Through her story, she emphasizes the importance of prayer and obedience and how surrendering our dreams to God can lead to a shift in our dreams that far exceeds what we could or would envision on our own.
265 || How God Answered One Woman’s Prayer to Use Her Creative Gifts || Carol Willis
What if the decision you’ve been putting off could open up possibilities for your life and your dream that you haven’t even considered? In this episode, you’ll learn about how a simple (even unspoken) prayer in faith can transform your circumstances, why we can let go of the idea of ever arriving at the finish line, and how to hold tension between the demands of young children in one season of motherhood and the gift of time you’ll receive once you release them into the world.