POSITIVELY JOY

Join us and gain wisdom through the Positively Joy book club!

 

Welcome to 5-minute  Mondays. Where  I share some encouragement, motivation and honesty in just five minutes! Today I want to talk about self-improvement through reading.

As I listened to God in 2020 command me to begin this ministry, I didn’t know what it would look like or what I would do. I never doubted his command or his Word, but like Moses, I did worry that I would not have the words to do it. I am not a Bible scholar or a minister. I had no training in religion, divinity or theology.

But he said to do it, and I said, “Yes, Lord.” I’m a journalist and educator by profession, and what I do know how to do is research. 

That’s right, I’m starting the Positively Joy Book Club! If you’d like to read along with me, I’ll list the books I choose in the show notes. We’ll start with one book a month.

My first entry in the log? it will be “Contact with God: The Amazing Power of Prayer” by Jeanne Wilkerson. Come along with me and start your own reading log. Let’s gain the wisdom we need this year to share God’s word!

Find the book link through positivelyjoy.com.

Look up in wonder as you listen to these messages of the joy of Christmas

I'm pleased to present this special Christmas episode, a compilation of podcasters from the Spark Media Network --  including yours truly. It features a special song I co-wrote with Rick Amburgey and Alyssa Newton, "Wonder." Alyssa beautifully sings the vocals. I hope all the messages fill you with the wonder of Christmas.

A different Christmas story: Podcaster Shea Watson looks at Joseph, Jesus‘ earthly father

Season 3, Ep. 37: On his bio page, Shea Watson says, “I’m just a man who loves Jesus.” True, and a lot more. That's why he's my go-to interview for this different kind of Christmas story: Joseph's role in the telling of the Nativity. Joseph was a man of God who shouldered the task given him with compassion, grace, and love. In today's episode. Watson, a husband and dad, drops some wisdom on Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus Christ.

Podcaster Lori Morrison combines faith and true crime

It's a Replay! In Season 3, Episode 13, Lori Morrison is a private investigator and a woman of faith. Her podcast, “The Unlovely Truth,” is the intersection of both of these passions. On her show, she reviews true crime books with guests who can discuss crime and faith.

Doubt in yourself is doubt in God

Recently I was talking with a friend about the fear and doubt that many Christian women experience. The “I could never do” the thing God asked us to do. The “I’m not worthy” of His trust. The “I’m not good enough” to share His message. That’s fear. But then, you decide to take a step. You do the thing. You obey. But there is something that is holding you back from fulfilling your holy mission. That thing is doubt. Listen today to learn how to conquer your doubt!

Read the rest of this entry »

Speaker and worship artist, Marina McLean boosts women in the faith

Season 3, Ep. 35: Dr. Marina McLean is a keynote speaker, recording artist, songwriter, and  author. London born of Jamaican descent, her angelic voice captivates crowds and ushers in the true presence of God. She talks about her work supporting women entrepreneurs in the faith community, and the Mega Women project. Her spirit will draw you in!

Joy can live alongside anxiety and depression, as long as there is Jesus

Season 3, Ep. 34: Author, speaker, and podcaster, Jodi Howe joins me on the podcast today representing Joy. Throughout crippling anxieties and the journey to discover what was happening to her, she was introduced to God in a deeper and richer way. Now she sees the joy in life with Jesus.

(The conversation took place in July in Dallas, after the NRB/Spark Media Conference.)

Her podcast, The Air That I Breathe: https://www.jodihowe.com/podcast

Her website: https://www.jodihowe.com

Failure in life and business set Carenda Deonne on a path to transform

Season 3, Ep. 33: Author and speaker Carenda Deonne once questioned Christianity and turned to other religions, but she recognized that the failures in her life here opportunities to teach others. Now, she challenges people not to make lemonade when life gives you lemons, but instead throw those lemons back by changing your thought process, taking risks, and delivering a new you.  After going through two failed marriages and failed business relationships, Carenda stopped pointing the finger outward and instead inward. Only when doing that was she able to live a fulfilled and fruitful life.

Her website: https://www.carendadeonne.com/

Her free membership: https://www.carendadeonne.com/phswomensgroup

 

A week of gratitude on the Positively Joy podcast, and book launch!

Season 3, Ep. 32: Welcome to 5-minute  Mondays. Where I share some encouragement, motivation, and honesty in just five minutes! Today, I want to talk to you about gratitude. I am so grateful to all of you who are listening to me right now. You have any number of podcasts to listen to and the fact that you pick this one is not lost on me. I’m also grateful for the opportunity to produce a book of devotions that pay honor and glory to the God of the every day. The Lord of our lives. The Father who actually is there in every small moment.

Today is the launch of “Whispering in His Ear.” In many ways, this book was written by God, in all the direction he gave me, over a two-year period. And you can get a copy today on Amazon, in paperback or digital download. The book will help fund the Positively Joy online ministry.

Buy it here! "Whispering in His Ear."

Expecting victory: Jessica Houston engages a spirit-led life and career

Season 3, Ep. 31: Dr. Jessica Houston has overcome it all. She has overcome poverty, depression, low self-esteem, and domestic abuse. Through her strong belief in God and herself, she is passionate about sharing how others can live an abundant and satisfying life, full of joy, despite any obstacles they may encounter. 

Her website: Expectingvictory.com

Download: THE ULTIMATE BREAKTHROUGH STRATEGY on her website.

Don‘t rob yourself of joy, and understand your purpose

Today I read an excerpt from my new book of devotions, "Whispering in His Ear."  I'm reading from Chapter Two: Understanding Your Purpose -- Joy Robber." It's about the real reason we should serve our church and our community. The devotional, in multiple scripture translations and with multimedia links and QR codes, is available at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09K5SCJF9?ref_=pe_3052080_276849420.

Fierce and joyful, Doris Swift says every woman of God has a calling

Doris Swift has long felt a calling from God. Even when life was hard, she knew He was there -- From an unplanned teen pregnancy to difficult life choices to people trying to discourage her. Even when detractors told her no, she knew her message would be called Fierce Calling, which turned into a podcast. Doris tells women how to forgive themselves of past mistakes. 

Her podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fierce-calling/id1486667407

Her website: https://dorisswift.com/

Dealing with the suicide of a child and overcoming the odds

Season 3, Episode 28: When the death of a child triggers painful memories of another one years earlier, how do you cope? Author and coach Peggy Green has overcome the odds, and shares her personal story of life after losing two of her four children, one to suicide. We talk about her philosophies for surviving suicide loss and leaning on God in the middle of the mess.

 

 

Coach Tom Mullens taught this girl to ‘stay on offense‘

One from the vault: Pastor and former coach Tom Mullens has a message: Get on offense. What does that mean? Well, have you ever felt like you were on a moving sidewalk? Not walking under your own power, just moving forward. Just going, not even toward an object or destination. That’s what’s it like to live “on defense.” Today, I reflect on Mullens’ message. And be encouraged — there’s a way out. I'll be back with a new episode next week!

‘You are worth it‘: Cassandra Hill tells women they can heal and manifest God‘s gift

Season 3, Episode 27: Cassandra Hill is a Holistic Wellness & Life Coach. She’s also a Christian. Cassandra empowers women to renew their minds, body, and soul. Her testimony is powerful, as she describes overcoming her lupus symptoms and using her personal experience to help other women. If you need to get your health back, or have achieved success but still don’t feel happy, Cassandra has a Bible-based message for you.

She has a free resource on following "God's Plan to Crush your Goals" here: https://cassandrarhill.com/follow-gods-plan-guide/

She also has a book, He "Restoreth My Soul: Triumph Through Adversity" and a prayer journal on Amazon.com.

To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven

Season 3, episode 26: It's a fact – everything (and everyone) is only around for a season. Some seasons are longer, some shorter. Sometimes we wonder why relationships end, people die and things break. But we must remember that the only relationship that never dies is the one with God. I’ve been reading Sarah Philpott’s new book, “A  Growing Season.” It’s a year of down on the farm devotions, and it’s really got me thinking about seasons in life. It’s available now at her website, allamericanmom.net, and on Amazon.

How to come into God‘s presence: Rich Lewis coaches Centering Prayer

Do you have difficulty staying in prayer for more than a minute or two? Do thoughts of shopping lists, work projects, or kids’ schedules start to pop in your mind? Author and speaker, Rich Lewis coaches on contemplative, or centering prayer. It’s a way to stay in connection with God, silently, waiting on His still small voice to come to us. Today we talk to Rich about this kind of prayer, and we even attempt some of this prayer later in the show, so stay tuned. 

Photo by William Farlow on Unsplash.

Rejoice when you go through trials! It builds faith

Season 3, Episode 24: We see similarities in passages from James, the brother of Jesus, and from Peter, who Jesus named the head of the church. These two men both wrote on trials. Interestingly, the two books of Peter directly follow the book of James. Coincidence? I think not.

Destructive thinking can block our relationship with God

Season 3, Episode 23: The Ego. The id. Personality, Psychology. When I first talked to Christian de la Huerta, I wondered if his secular message of personal transformation would fit with the mission of this podcast. He told me, “our language might different,” but that he believed in the authentic message of Christ. After our interview, I realized that many of us can have a different way of talking about what gets in the way of our ability to get closer to God. I think you might find his ideas of the power of the soul stimulating and relevant, and I’d love to know your thoughts on this episode. 

Stand firm in your joy, even when your ground is shaky

Season 3, Episode 22: Welcome to 5-minute  Mondays, where  I share some encouragement, motivation and honesty in just five minutes! In the book of James, Jesus' brother starts off writing about Joy. This drew my attention, of course, not because he writes about just any joy, but rather, this joy is found through troubles and tribulations.

This kind of joy is the hardest to grasp, and in many ways, is the whole reason for this podcast. How can we grasp and hold on to joy when we are at our lowest? James explains his reasoning in chapter 1, verse 2-5:

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

Let’s take this line by line and study how to find joy through trials.

Celebrating International Podcast Day by asking you ‘what brings you joy?‘

Season 3, Episode 21: Hello, and thanks for stopping by! It’s a special day today. It’s Sept. 30, International Podcast Day. And as many of you know, it’s also the week after I published my 100^th episode. I’ve been celebrating all last week and this week. And I wanted to make something special, and I wanted you to be a part of it. So I asked you to tell me what brings you Joy?

Today I want to feature 7 amazing people who answered that question. Before I do that, let me tell you what brings me joy. It’s the ability of doing this. Talking to you about the real, true joy of the Lord, every week on this podcast. I love doing this and I appreciate all of you who listen.

Our voices today will be, in order, the following media moguls, podcasters, and students of the Bible:

• Paula Lorraine, Editor-in-Chief, of Brilliant Awakening Magazine
• Lori Morrison of the Unlovely Truth podcast
• Kim Stewart of Kim Stewart marketing and host of the Book Marketing Mania podcast
• Brittany Boatman of the Trust Falls and High Kicks Podcast
• Liz Bullard of the Coffee and Convos with Liz Podcast
• Nii of the Amazing Grace podcast
• James Early of the Bible Speaks to You podcast

Thanks again for sharing what brings you joy.

 

Did you miss it? Listen to win prizes, watch videos and appear on the show

Welcome to 5-minute  Mondays. Where  I share some encouragement, motivation, and honesty in just five minutes! Today, we’re coming down from last week, where I celebrated publishing 100 episodes. I packed so much into that week that you might have missed something. And I certainly don’t want you to miss a thing. Listen to find out the three things you might have missed!

Choosing faith over fear, she went from a corporate job to serving women

Chelle Johnson had the kind of career that most people dream of. She worked for major corporations and had a loving husband and two kids. But she had some limiting beliefs and a childhood history that God wanted to heal her of: loss of a child, alcoholic husband, fear of leaving a big job. After going through recovery with her husband, God taught her what faith over fear really is.  Now, Chelle helps other women through career resilience.

 

God loves you just the way you are: El Edwards

Season 3, Episode 18: Today marks our 100th episode of the podcast, and we are spending it with El Edwards of Youier! El lives in Wales, and is a "silver lining spotter," and her message is to stop worrying about being anyone's brand of normal and to be yourself. God loves you just the way you are. And the Holy Spirit will drive your life. Her story will resonate with all girls, women and mothers. 

Positively Joy Live! 100 episodes

Listen and find out about all the celebrations we have going on next week!