Honey for Your Heart with Bryson Kessler Bryson Kessler

Most of us would probably say we want to make a difference in this world but we are often not really sure how to do that.
 
My guest today had that same thought and prayed that the Lord would show her how and He did just that.
 
Jovana Mullins is the creator of Alivia Clothing. God gave her a creative mind with a love for fashion. Growing up with a mother who taught special education and after volunteering at an organization serving those with special needs, the Lord opened the door to combine her passion for fashion with her love for those with disabilities and Alivia clothing was created.
 
Understanding that each and every person is created beautifully and wonderfully by the Lord, Alivia uses fashion as a platform to connect conscious consumers with the talents of people with disabilities. I know you will be just as fascinated and inspired as I was when you hear Jovana’s incredible story of how a gorgeous piece of clothing starts with the creative mind of beautiful individual with disabilities.
 
For more information, please visit: https://www.shopalivia.com/

Have you ever had a moment where the Lord undeniably and unexpectedly brings someone in your life that you know will change it forever? That happened to me a little over a year ago with my sweet friend, Elizabeth Evans.
 
Elizabeth is the reason Honey For Your Heart exists. She is our producer and has been with us from the start, paving the way to what you are enjoying today. As the producer, Elizabeth normally stays behind the scenes, but today I am SO thrilled to have her join me on the other side of the mic.
 
Elizabeth is one of those people who you feel instantly connected with. Her love for the Lord is written all over every interaction you have with her and He is using her in BIG ways to make a difference for His kingdom.
 
Her story is one of difficult seasons, miraculous interventions, bold life changes and often scary decisions requiring radical faith and obedience. But through it all, there is a common thread: God is trustworthy, faithful and is constantly redeeming and restoring, not wasting a single second of our stories.
 
As you hear Elizabeth share her amazing journey today, I know that, like me, you will encounter a good Father who is personal and intentional with His children, never leaving them alone and always working for their good.
 
Perhaps you know this but need a sweet reminder today. Elizabeth’s story will be like honey for your soul as you remember God’s faithfulness in your own life as she shares about His faithfulness in hers. Or maybe you doubt if God is good and can be trusted. Maybe He seems distant and anything but good. If that is you today, our prayer is that through Elizabeth’s story, you will meet a God who knows you perfectly, loves you intimately and can be trusted to tenderly hold every doubt, every fear, every decision, every emotion, every question, every bit of shame you may feel and cover them with his unending mercy and grace as you surrender in obedience to Him. So grab a cup of coffee and allow the Lord to meet you right where you are as you listen to Elizabeth’s story.
 
Follow Elizabeth here: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethevans.co/
Learn more here: www.elizabethevans.co

Today, I am joined by a fellow podcaster, Lauren Cunningham. Lauren has an amazing journey that is full of twists and turns and literally leaves you with your jaw open in amazement at some points. But through it all, the Lord was writing a very beautiful story that only He could write, teaching her about His love along the way and leading her to a passion and calling that is impacting countless lives today.
 
So grab a cup of coffee and settle in for a story that will remind you that if life seems completely confusing, hard and very unexpected, the Lord has not left you and He is truly working all things together for your good.
 
Find more about Lauren and the So Can I Podcast here: https://laurencunningham.co/about

You are in for a special treat today with our guest Ashley McMakin. Ashley owns Ashley Mac’s Kitchen: a thriving catering business along with 5 restaurants that are mouth wateringly good!
 
To give you a little history, Ashley crafted meals that became like edible greeting cards for the community. In moments when words were not enough, they gave poppyseed chicken and yeast rolls. On no-cook days, moms relied on Ashley to put a warm meal on the table. And for celebrations, they served her mouthwatering strawberry cake.
 
She has achieved enormous success in her businesses and we dive into how it all started - which is fascinating. But her story hasn’t always been easy. Ashley walked through years of infertility and we talk through how the Lord carried her through those years and ultimately gave her a big beautiful family both through biological birth and adoption. You will love hearing Ashley’s wisdom as a business owner and her heart as a mom.
 
The tagline of her business is: Serving hand-crafted southern food to the community - feeding the moments that matter. And this is truly Ashley’s purpose for Ashley Macs.
 
So cozy up for an encouraging and inspiring story of a business born out of passion and a mom born out of God’s grace - both trusting the Lord and His good plan and His perfect timing.
 
To find out more about Ashley Mac's Kitchen, visit https://www.ashleymacs.com/

I remember, at a young age, seeing in scripture that Abraham was called a “friend of God.” Those words jumped off the page to me and I remember thinking - wow! I wonder how you get to actually be “friends” with God - so much that it’s even recorded in scripture.  
Well, my guest today has a passion for that very thing and has devoted her life to ministry and teaching others about the friendship of the Lord. I am so excited for you to hear from Faith Eury Cho today.  
She has been in ministry since she was 19 years old and in her words, met Jesus at a young age and hasn’t stopped talking about Him since. She is a speaker, author, CEO and founder of The Honor Summit, church planter, and much more. She has a new book out called Experiencing Friendship with God that looks at what that means and the path to getting there (spoiler alert: the wilderness is involved).  
I know that, like me, you will find Faith’s words to be both encouraging and challenging but definitely life giving as we dive into what it means to have a personal friendship with God and how we get there.  
If you are deep in a wilderness season and feeling angry, confused, frustrated, even wondering if God is there and why it all even matters or if you are in calmer days but still feel like you don’t really KNOW God or want to know Him more personally, this message is for you!  So grab a cup of coffee and your journal or notebook (you will want to take notes - I promise) and meet a God who is bigger than any wilderness you will ever face but desires you to know Him intimately. 
To learn more about Faith and her ministry, visit https://www.faitheurycho.com/

If you have ever desired something so deeply only to face closed doors time and time again, you know the heartbreak, disappointment and confusion those seasons bring. Maybe you felt angry at God and wondered what He’s doing and if He is even trustworthy. If that’s you, this episode will certainly validate those feelings and speak to the questions and longings of your heart.
 
Today, I am joined by my sweet friend Megan Smalley. Megan owns Scarlet & Gold, a multifaceted business based in Auburn, AL and she is the mom of three beautiful boys. I actually came across Megan’s story several years ago on social media. Megan spoke openly and honestly about her very painful and difficult struggle with infertility and also about dealing with burnout in her business. She made a very difficult and extremely honest post about how she sensed the Lord was calling her to step away from her thriving business, possibly for a season, possibly forever and that in obedience to that she was literally shutting down Scarlet & Gold. Thankfully, the Lord did eventually lead her to pick the business back up and it is still thriving today. I remember being shocked but also so inspired by her willingness to be open and vulnerable with anyone who wanted to listen. I loved her heart for the Lord and for helping people and often found encouragement and inspiration in her words. A few years later, the Lord would allow our paths to cross and a friendship to form - something I will forever be grateful for.
 
As Megan shares her story today, no matter what season you find yourself in, you will find such wisdom her words as we talk about business ownership, motherhood and other just basic life issues. But if you are in the depths of waiting and longing - not knowing how the story will end, you will find compassion and understanding in her words and as you listen, it is our prayer that you will encounter the hope and peace and trust that can only come from the Lord and lifting your eyes to Him, especially on the darkest of days.
 
For more information on Megan or Scarlet & Gold, visit: https://www.megansmalley.com/