WELCOME HEART: Living a Legacy Life

Sue Donaldson
  • 5.0 (52)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

WELCOME HEART: Living a Legacy Life with Sue Donaldson from WelcomeHeart.com. Hear how to invest in what matters beyond ourselves. We have one life - let’s make the most of it by inviting others into God’s welcoming heart.

  1. 5d ago

    Ep 278 God In and Through Your Story with Storyteller, Amanda Schaefer

    Do you ever think: I like hearing how God works in other people’s lives but I don’t think anyone would be interested in hearing my story with or without God – I mean, I’ve messed up, I keep messing up—how can I be sure God still wants to use me?   Today we have  Amanda Schaefer, podcaster, Bible teacher and author of Holy Plot Twists—God Is Still Writing Your Story. Once God came into Amanda's life, she hasn't wanted to stop talking about him and she does that best through telling her story. And says today that we can do the same. All our stories are powerful becasuse they show off God's beautiful work of redemption, transformation and love. What a way to live. You will be encouraged. Amanda is hosting a giveaway of her latest book - please comment below to be entered.  Some gems from our conversation: God gave me everything I needed while getting ready to meet Jesus. He takes all our individual stories to intersect with others to make one big God story. God interrupts my thoughts of sin and shame, and puts his hand under my chin to lift me up to remind me I'm doing a great job. God is constantly trying to get our attention so don't limit the way he may be speaking to you. It's not enough for me to be free—he wants everyone to be free! I'm a "scooper-upper", making sure people are connected to God and to one another—to make them feel welcomed, seen, heard and loved. God comes in and takes a story and does a flip to change it all around for His purposes and kingdom. Choose to look for the good, and it will change the way you view life all day long.  God does His best work while we wait.  Comment below to be entered to win Amanda's book. Amanda Schaefer is a podcast host, award-winning author, and speaker. She carries with her the goodness of looking through a lens of gratitude. The “A Cup of Gratitude” podcast is global, reaching over 147 countries and 3500 cities.      Connect with Amanda at www.acupofgratitude.org or on Social media.    www.instagram.com/acupof_gratitude www.facebook.com/amanda.f.schaefer www.acupofgratitude.org   https://youtube.com/@acupofgratitude?si=PF55x6T4ecrs7jdg

    38 min

  2. Jun 15

    Ep 277 Adoption and Mentoring - Is This Our Legacy? with Jill and Todd Talley

    Have you ever thought about why adoption is so close to God’s heart? Maybe you know someone who was adopted or as a child you wish you were adopted (jk!) or perhaps you’ve thought at one time or another: Should we adopt? And what all will that mean to me and our family? Today we have our friends, Jill and Todd Talley, to talk about all things adoption as well as some mentoring topics. Todd and Jill Talley are the parents of three children, two through birth and one through adoption. In 2008 they were blessed to be able to fly to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and bring home their then 18-month-old son. Together as a family the Talleys have a passion for adoption, orphan care ministries and mentoring. So much so in 2009, Todd and Jill met with several families from Grace SLO who had adopted or fostered. Together these couples founded the Adoption and Foster Care Ministry at Grace Central Coast. The Talleys currently Co-Lead the Ministry.   Some gems from our conversation: From the first time we held baby Daniel in our arms, we loved him and knew that this was how our Father in heaven holds and loves us.  By entering in and serving our community, we show the Gospel in understated ways. Foster care and adoption starts with a loss—this child carries a great loss which we can't fully replace but God can through our efforts to love and come alongside as He does for us. Every child belongs in a loving family. The biggest challenge to doing foster care and mentoring is time management. We have to learn how to "layer in" a young person into our already busy schedule who just needs someone to show up and be there to listen. Being engaged in church community was invaluable to our venturing into adoption. Adoption and foster care is a picture of God's welcoming heart.  By utterly depending on God for grace and strength, we want to show the same grace to the lonely, the lost, and the child who needs a family.  The book Jill mentioned: There Is No Me Without You by Melissa Fay Greene Baby Daniel! For information on the Foster and Orphan Care ministry, check HERE.

    41 min

  3. Jun 1

    Ep 276 How to Deal With Difficult People Without Moving to Australia with Sue Donaldson

    I love people. Especially the loveable ones. I think I love people well until I come across a difficult person. Maybe you also keep a private list of those who-best-not-be-named, and pray you never see again. Even worse: you work alongside of them. Or much, much worse: you’re related to them. The funny thing is none of our secrets are secret to God. The other funny thing is He’s got a plan for how we deal with our difficult people. What can we do? Pretend they don’t bother us? Change locations? Speak the truth in love and the truth is: we don’t like them and we would love it if they left us alone? It’s not convenient to move to Australia to join Alexander on his no-good-very-bad day caused by a no-good, not-so-pleasant, irritating person. But it doesn’t stop us wishing we could be on the next plane. Today we talk about WHAT MAKES A DIFFICULT PERSON DIFFICULT? DEGREES OF DIFFICULTY—DO THEY MATTER? SIMPLE PRACTICES TO HELP US WITH OUR DIFFICULT PEOPLE Keeping my mouth shut is usually a good idea.  Some thoughts: You’ve heard the expression, “Hurt people hurt people.” I forget that fact when I’m the object of that hurt. When difficult people lash out, I want to listen with my heart, not just my ears, and think: I wonder what’s going on to make her act that way? Was there something in his past that’s causing this behavior? Cultivating a grown-up relationship with your most beloved may include painstaking prayers for wisdom and love, timing and tone. Degrees of difficulty do matter. On the one hand, we need to exercise patience and kind words. On the other end of the spectrum, extreme behavior warrants firm and healthy boundaries. Ask for the help you need. Some conversations don’t need to take place, especially when we begin with prayer. Forbearance is putting up with more than you are due (or that you THINK you are due!) The thing is we want everyone to forbear with us, but forget to forbear with everyone else. _____ Check out my new book HERE:

    24 min

  4. May 18

    Ep 275 Start With Your Inadequacy—Overcoming Barriers to Hospitality with Dr. Janice Brown

    Do you feel inadequate regarding doing hospitality? That's the best way to feel! I know I talk a lot about hospitality and if you’ve been around awhile, you know why I do.  It’s not the same as entertaining. Do you understand the difference enough to go ahead and open your home, for heaven’s sake? Today we have Dr.Janice Brown to talk about rethinking Biblical hospitality.   Dr. Brown is a specialist in the work of C. S. Lewis and Dorothy L. Sayers. And she’s taught on the college level as well as High School English, some of the time for missionary kids in Papau New Guinea with Wycliffe Bible Translators. She's a wife of 56 years, mother of 3 and grandmother of 6. Origninally from Newfoundland, she currently resides in Pennsylvania.  Some gems from our conversation: We are more like God when we invite in our creativity, whether it's something physical we make as  in making dinner or in making someone feel loved and seen as God loves and sees us. Hospitality is to invite someone in—but in a wider, deeper sense, it's to give of yourself, your space, your focus, your concern and your attention. When we do hospitality, God uses us, the host, in a grand and simple way to provide stability for someone who hasn't had that resource growing up.  God uses what we have and makes that enough. There's a preciousness in the idea that out of our poverty or sense of inadequacy that God uses us.  Poverty fosters generosity of spirit and motivates us to share more. We honor others' individuality by inviting them into our homes even when it feels hard to "put up" with what we feel is strange or uncomfortable.  The meal is the vehicle to engage with others and foster intimacy.  Follow Dr. Brown on her writer's page on Facebook under Janice Hudson Brown. And find her books on her Amazon author page.    ___ Do you prefer watching while listening?  We are on YouTube:     Welcome Heart: Knowing & Showing the Heart of God

    42 min

  5. May 4

    Ep 274 How to Love Your Morning with Jennifer Dukes Lee

    Are you a morning person?? I’m all about the invitation and today we are invited to hear about creating a morning routine that fits your real life – sound good? And here’s the best part: We can begin to love our mornings just in case you don’t and learn, really learn to experience God’s mercies are new each and every morning. Help me welcome back the darling Jennifer Dukes Lee from Iowa , to talk about her new book, How to Love Your Morning. Jennifer is  a Proverbs 31, (in)courage contributor and bestselling author and she’s going to help us reframe our mornings to wake up with hope, joy, and purpose. She will be giving a copy of How to Love Your Morning so leave a comment below or on social media to be entered. She will be giving a copy of How to Love Your Morning so leave a comment below or on social media to be entered.   Some gems from our conversation: The hard days are when I really need my morning ritual where I offer all myself to God for that day. The morning person isn't the one who wakes up early, she's the one who is aware of who she is waking up to be. God has a soft spot in his heart for mornings—I found over 200 verses regarding that great time of day. I can't wait for the perfect morning to carry his hope, love and grace throughout the day.  Mornings are for spiritual breakthroughs with God.  Routines sound mundane and guilt-ridden; rituals sound sacred and holy. God works through unlikely means to care for his people—Ok, Lord, send the ravens! Each new morning is a gift to savor, treasure and reflect the hope and goodness of God.  Jennifer Dukes Lee is a bestselling author, speaker, and morning evangelist from Iowa. She is the author of several books, including Growing Slow, It’s All Under Control, and Stuff I’d Only Tell God. She wants to live her life in such a way that you can’t help but want more of Jesus. Follow Jennifer at jenniferdukeslee.com ~~~   Do you prefer watching while listening?  We are on YouTube:     Welcome Heart: Knowing & Showing the Heart of God

    36 min

  6. Apr 20

    Ep 273 Courage, Dear Heart with Lois Flowers

    Do you need some courage right now in your life? Maybe just to get out of bed? Or to go to work? Or to come home from work? As children of God, we get to rely on him to give us this strength – we also get a home advantage: other people who come alongside and say to us on a regular basis: Courage, Dear Heart! Lois encourages us to pray and focus on God’s sovereignty when needing courage and hope, no matter what’s happening in our lives. I’m happy to introduce you to my friend and fellow writer, Lois Flowers who wants to say to you today, “Courage, dear heart! Lois is a mom to two young adult daughters and wife to one good man. She’s an author, editor and lifelong Midwesterner who values authenticity, loves gardening and is unapologetically addicted to "The Great British Bake Off." She writes often about the pain and loss of losing one's parents.  Get her free resource that will be your own version of gaining courage: A 7-day devotional called Faith, Fear, and the God Who Goes Before Us.   Some gems from our conversation: I've learned that God knits our families together in the most miraculous ways as we wait on him. I hope to leave a legacy of someone whose life was marked and driven by prayer.  I tell my stories so that others can be encouraged by seeing themselves in some small way and be strengthened by God in the same way that he's strengthened me.  I'm not a patient person but I've learned to hold things loosely while in God's waiting room.  I've always typed my prayers to help me focus (and because I have terrible handwriting.) Everything is fair game when I'm praying but I wait best when I end each prayer with, "Thy will be done." God's plans and purpose are not always clear to me but Psalm 139:16b helps me trust him in the meantime: "all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Courage, dear heart! Love, Lois (and Sue!)

    37 min

  7. Apr 6

    Ep 272 A Mom Without Regrets Who Loves and Forgives with Rhonda Stoppe

    Today I’m wearing an apron because we are talking about motherhood! I used to think that to be a single woman on the mission field was the hardest job in the world and then I became a mother. There are no handbooks to warn you but we do have a guide book that tells us where to go for help. Praise God for that.   Have you ever thought or even prayed: I'll be a better mom tomorrow but tomorrow never comes? You're not alone—and neither were the moms in Scripture. Today I’m delighted to welcome back author, speaker, podcaster—Rhonda Stoppe to talk about her latest book, the just released: Moms of the Bible: Life-Changing Lessons from the Fearless, Flawed and Faithful Rhonda's new book is her favorite and she's offering one as a giveaway so be sure to leave a comment or email me at sue@welcomeheart.com Rhonda Stoppe, speaker and bestselling author of seven books with 40 years experience helping women build no regrets lives. We talk about that on my podcast in Ep 46 here. Find and follow Rhonda at NoRegretsWoman.com.  Some gems from our conversation: The Lord had to break me before he could use me. Four years of post partum and hormonal imbalance took me to the end of myself. I needed help and I got it. People want to hear from people who have regrets so that they can hear how God redeemed their mistakes. The first step in forgiving our own flawed parent is to admit they were flawed.  Hatred keeps us stuck so we begin by handing over our anger and resentment to God and let him deal with it. When our kids see us doing good to others, they will understand the Gospel. I felt so lonely as a mom and God led me to godly moms who led me to a deeper study of the Word. With God's help, you can become the mom that he's calling you to be.  The Gospel transformed my life; I want my children and grandchildren to see me sharing that message of hope to others.     ~~~   Do you prefer watching while listening?  We are on YouTube:     Welcome Heart: Knowing & Showing the Heart of God

    47 min

  8. Mar 23

    Ep 271 Repurposed Not Retired with Encourager Peg Arnold

    Do you ever doubt your purpose in life, especially when facing different or difficult seasons? And what do you do to help you live fully in God’s presence? Today I‘m delighted to be speaking to, Peg Arnold—a Christian speaker and author and encourager—and self-confessed drama queen—who speaks to the many different seasons women walk through: joy, loss, struggle, and waiting. Some gems from our conversation and for your encouragement: I like to say I'm never retired, just repurposed. When facing the unknown, God spoke to me: "What makes you think that I don't have everything prepared for you in the days and years ahead?" When disappointed with circumstances, it helps me to have friends who remind me that God may have a different perspective than I am seeing right now. We have a choice to stay stuck in our anger and bitterness or choose instead to trust that God knows what he's doing and will bring good from whatever it is.  When your heart is broken it's a lonely place to be but it doesn't mean that God is not there with you and your broken heart.  Go to the Psalms and weave your painful story into David's lament. God is not afraid of our pain.  My legacy is to share with others that God loves them, delights in them, and has a purpose for their lives. Two of her books are Devotions for the Distracted Heart and Making Your Message Memorable and can be found on Amazon or her website: PegArnold.org. She's walked through loss and change and through each season found God and his Word to be her constant source of identity and joy. Be sure to access her free prayer guide here: Make Your Prayers Meaningful  https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/752930/109370258823840924/share       ~~ I have a new book! Check it out HERE MOST DAYS, LIFE ISN’T PERFECT I wrote this book for everyone who has felt the pain of being alone because I have felt its sting even surrounded by wonderful people. We’re created for relationship, with God and with one another—not because life becomes perfect when we have both God and community. That’s not the point. No, it’s because most days, life isn’t perfect. And remembering we are loved and not alone is what gets us through those days. READ MORE HERE

    33 min
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WELCOME HEART: Living a Legacy Life with Sue Donaldson from WelcomeHeart.com. Hear how to invest in what matters beyond ourselves. We have one life - let’s make the most of it by inviting others into God’s welcoming heart.

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