POSITIVELY JOY: Healing Hearts After Divorce

Tracey Glenn finds peace at the most difficult times in life.

Tracey Glenn and her alter-ego character, Loretta, are a hoot. But don't be mistaken, they ARE strong Christians and love the Lord. She is an author, blogger, speaker, and searcher of biblical wisdom. Her book, "Gathering the Wayward Heart," is about what happens when life doesn’t turn out the way you planned. Listen to Tracey speak on joy and peace.

 

Visit Tracey Glenn's website

Her books

Coffee with Loretta

Singer and author is bald but bold about her faith and her disease

Carol Chisholm is a writer and singer who has kept her baldness a secret from the world and even from her family. She has an autoimmune disease called alopecia that took away her hair and her self-esteem. But she took to heart the words of Psalm 139 that says we are all fearfully and wonderfully made! Now she is proud of her baldness, and her book, "Breaking the Shadows," has just won a best memoir award! Let's hear more from Carol.

Jerry Dugan goes Beyond the Rut to find faith, love and family

Jerry Dugan of the Beyond the Rut podcast and ministry visits the show today. A military veteran, Jerry has a great message about listening to God, being obedient and loving his family. It's about time we had him on the show, and his message of finding faith certainly is relevant following the Memorial Day weekend.

Media graduate joins student ministry on OU campus

Recent graduate Allison England is starting a new career in ministry and media. The creative media production grad from the University of Oklahoma has joined a student ministry on campus to help disciple college students, a worthy vocation. But she needs your help. Tune in to this week's episode and learn directly from Allison why it's worth it.

Student Mobilization website

How to help Allison's ministry

Christians should use faith in marriage and anxiety counseling

Couples aren't perfect and can have problems, so speaking to a marriage counselor can be a good idea. But what about incorporating your faith into exploring marital issues? Licensed Professional Counselor and Therapist Healey Ikerd says it's a natural, and that when picking a counselor who is Christian you should ask them to integrate their faith into the counseling. 

 

Healey's website

Her books on anxiety, children's books and  journals

Perfectionism and pride don't belong in faith

Perfectionism, pride, imposter syndrome. It's something that Vivian Cumins has struggled with. Vivian is a writer, speaker, and podcast host. Her need to be perfect and in control led to an unbalanced lifestyle filled with work, stress, illness, and depression. Today, Vivian and I talk about how to rededicate our lives to the Lord and leave perfectionism behind.

Go to Vivian's website

Free resources on work-life balance and others

Beth Thorp loses her son, but crusades to help ill children

How can grief be about joy? Grief transforms when the death of a son turns into new lives for lots of other children. Beth Thorp, after the loss of her son, Mitchell, started a foundation with her husband. The foundation would go on to help other children with illnesses, diagnosed or not, find healing. Beth told me she was not ready to start down this path but realized it is what God wanted to turn Mitchell's story from one of death to life. The Mitchell Thorp Foundation has raised millions to help these families. 

MitchellThorp.org: Learn more about the foundation that helps "children fighting for their tomorrow."

anewcreation.org: Learn more about Beth's book: ​It's a true story about a family, their love for each other and how the power of one life can cause a ripple effect that goes on and on to touch the lives of so many. 

Married couple forgive husband's abuser to thrive

Today, our show is about forgiveness of the unforgiveable. I spoke to Mark and Jen Sowersby last year about their amazing marriage and his amazing testimony. Mark was abused for years by his mother's boyfriend. He grew up damaged and afraid. But as, he says, a perfect God helped him forgive his abuser, find a loving wife and forgive the nightmare. He created a ministry and book, "Forgiving the Nightmare." And they have 20 years of a beautiful marriage. How did they get here? 

Mark's book, "Forgiving the Nightmare

Mark and Jen's ministry

Women can find 'Sacred Work' and be Christians and leaders

I'm a career woman and a Christian creative, and there have been times when the two felt at odds. When I talked to our guest this week, author and leader Peggy Bodde, it seemed she felt my pain. Peggy has written a new book, titled "Sacred Work: A Christian Woman's Guide to Leadership in the Marketplace" and it was meant for me, and for many of you, too. Let's hear from Peggy.

"Sacred Work" is out this week! Get it here.

More on Peggy and her ministry at peggybodde.com

Over 50 and not sure you're fabulous?

Jen Hardy quotes St. Catherine of Siena when speaking about women over 50: “What is it you want to change? Your hair, your face, your body? Why? For God is in love with all those things and he might weep when they are gone.” Jen's Fabulous Over 50 podcast ranks high among aging and retirement podcasts. If you're almost 50 or over 50, listen and let Jen help you feel better about yourself. 

A Proverbs 31 woman works or stays home in service to family first

It's Women's History Month and International Women's Day, so it's fitting to have Anna McLaughlin on the show! Anna is the founder of She Considers A Field, a women's ministry centered around the Proverbs 31 verse on what a good woman is. You can find Anna on her podcast, YouTube channel, and Facebook group of the same name. Anna talks about making the sacrifice to leave a full-time job to become a full-time homemaker and finding her fulfillment there.

She Considers a Field Ministries:

YouTube

Facebook Group

Podcast

 

Overcoming loss and pain: One father's journey

Clint Hatton has experienced as much pain as most people. But God has given him the task of sharing a message of being strong and courageous even in the darkest of times. "The pain in some form will be with us for the rest of our lives," Clint said. But that pain represents the love he has for his son, Gabriel, a pilot who died a tragic death. After Gabriel's death, he and his family started living Big, Bold and Brave. Learn more about it from Clint himself. 

More about the Big Bold Brave foundation

"Big Bold Brave" (The book)

About his son, Gabriel

Divine disconnect: The spiritual risks of AI-generated Bible studies with Sharon Wilharm

I'm concerned about using AI to write Christian teachings, and I'm not the only one. In this two-part episode, I'll talk with experts about whether we should use technology's latest tool to teach the Bible. In part one, Bible Storyteller Sharon Wilharm of All God's Women weighs in. 

The Gospel Coalition: "Should We Embrace or Evict AI in Churches?"

All God's Women podcast

Sharon Wilharm website

Author took a higher road and climbed out of depression

Non-religious people as well as Christians, can suffer from depression and suicide ideation. So everyone, listen up! Today's episode with Author D. Neil Elliott takes us down a path that might be different for regular listeners. We talk about depression and suicide,  using language that some people, not necessarily Christian, can recognize and relate to. But what's the same is that our Creator's incredible grace and unconditional love remains. As we move in to this year, it's important to be able to talk to all kinds of people with all kinds of beliefs and values. Stay with us through this one.

Neil's book

Neil's website

Discover God's Purpose: Journey from Workaholic to Coach

It's early in 2024 and we've been talking about life plans. Life coaches can help us get clarity. Last week we talked with coach Ann Visser about marriage, and this week we spend the episode with Karin Freeland, who coaches women about the workplace and when to exit. Karin and I have a lot in common, especially that unfulfilled feeling that you can't define.

Karin calls herself a recovered corporate workaholic. After experiencing a midlife awakening at 39, she reinvented her life by deepening her spirituality, discovering God's purpose for her life and taking bold action. Now she coaches high-achieving women, helping them achieve success without sacrificing health and well-being.

Karin's website

Six Secrets to Get Unstuck

 

 

Life coach gives top tips for a successful Godly marriage

Ann Visser co-founded 4 Better 4 Ever with her beloved husband of 42 years.
She has trained couples, young people, students, addicts in recovery, Christian women and professionals ... in the areas of communication, leadership, relationship, mindset and personal growth.

We had such a good conversation on marriage and relationships that we ran a little long this week! 

Ann's website: https://4better4ever.com
Check out her 7-day challenge here.

Come back for next week's episode of the Positively Joy Podcast!

Focus on prayer in this New Year throwback episode

Going back into the archives, I promised to focus more on prayer in 2022 in this throwback episode. Did I do it? Well, I can say for sure I brought God into my daily life, but I still have some work to do on my prayer life. Talking to God is so important, and you - and I - should do it more often. I hope this inspires you!

Some ways to put prayer front and center:

• Practice daily journaling and speak to him while you do it. Try using my new book, "Journaling His Joy."
• Other books mentioned in the show are "Adventures in Prayer" and "Follow Me" by Mary Jo Pierce, and "Whispering in His Ear" by me, Yvette Walker.
• Make a place for your prayer time, as mentioned in "Adventures in Prayer."

Have a wonderful, safe and inspiring New Year! Positively Joy is back next week with new interviews! 

Angel reads the Bible, again, and it’s the Christmas story

Years ago, Positively Joy featured the angelic voice of Angel McCoy from the podcast, Angel Reads the Bible. Angel has a beautiful family now and has been pretty busy. But I coaxed her to come back and do a reading from Luke, chapters 1 and 2 in these days leading up to Christmas. 

There is never a wrong time to hear the Christmas story, but now is just right. It's not too late to jump into my Christmas countdown on Substack.com. Just look up Positively Joy under publications. I have a weekly newsletter, so subscribe. 

 

Forgiving a killer and healing your soul: Sarah Gregory

This week, our conversation is about forgiveness, and it's a really unique episode. Could you forgive your grandmother's killer? Today's guest is Sarah Gregory, and her story is hard to fathom. She has forgiven the man who murdered her grandmother, but not only that, spent hours with him on death row the day he was executed. Her forgiveness wasn't automatic, though, and she had a long, hard road to get there. Bruce Springsteen's music plays a role, believe it or now. 

Sarah's "Set Lusting Bruce" episode

Christian and Mormon, Dallin Candlin is a man of compassion

I'm releasing some extra episodes now and until the end of the year. Last week we talked to Bible translator Brian Simmons, and later this week we'll hear about the joy of the Christmas season and Mary, the mother of God. Today, let's talk about compassion. Dallin Candland is a podcaster, poet and a man of compassion. He's also a Mormon, and we'll talk about how people with differences can still learn from one another. I can't wait for you to meet Dallin.

Dallin's blog, YIELD

Dallin's podcast

Passion lead translator, Brian Simmons, had a darkness lifted by God

Get ready for an incredible episode. In the early 1970s, Brian Simmons was a drug dealer on LSD but had what he calls a “radical” conversion. “I went from LSD to G.O.D. in one day,” he said. Part of the Jesus movement, he began memorizing scripture. Years later, after mission work in the rain forest of Central South America with his wife, Candace, he said he was given a commission by God to do a new translation, and he called it Passion.

Brian's Passion and Fire ministry

God Is Love

Brian's blog

Alcohol-free living is a ministry for author and podcaster

Social drinking may be acceptable, especially during the holiday season. But for some, it's a problem that non-Christian alcohol programs can't help. Rose Ann Forte knows these problems first hand, and she wrote a book, a Christian program, and now, a podcast called "Say Goodbye and Imagine," for people interested in understanding what's possible when they remove something toxic from our lives, namely alcohol.

The Plans He Has For Me website

Her book

 

Join a joy-seeking journey with author Christine Trimpe

Author and speaker Christine Trimpe has inspired so many women to lose weight and treat their bodies as a temple since she shed more than 100 pounds. You may know her for that. But she is a strong Christian, and today we are going to talk about her award-winning Christmas devotional "Seeking Joy through the Gospel of Luke." It's a perfect read this December and we'll talk to her all about it. 

Christine Trimpe's website

"Seeking Joy" devotional

FREE bonus chapters

Speaking of books, check out my new journal, "Journaling His Joy" is out on Amazon and other fine booksellers.

God equipped a woman born with a cleft palate for a miraculous life

Born with a cleft palate here in America, Sue Corl has one of the most unusual testimonies I have heard in my conversations here on the Podcast. God equipped her with a mother who was a nurse with cleft palate experience, working in a hospital with expertise of her needs. You might say she was cursed, but Sue says she was blessed. And I agree. Listen to her story.

Here's more about Sue:

Crown of Beauty International

His Heart podcast

 

Halloween: A look at good and evil in pop culture

Happy Halloween! Wait: I know some of you don't observe this and don't watch scary movies, and that's OK. But stay with us. The Rev. Dr. Leah Schade joins us once again to talk about how faith and good and evil is represented in pop culture. Today, we'll talk about the comedy "Good Omens" about angels and demons, and, yes, we'll talk about the sequel to "The Exorcist"  -- which has a surprisingly inspiring ending.

Warning, there are spoilers.

This is a bonus episode this week, so look out for our usual end-of-the-week podcast episode.

More on Leah Schade

Previous conversations on faith and pop culture