1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:09,720 What's going on, guys? Welcome to this episode of the Pursuit of Calling podcast with me, 2 00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:16,960 your host, Thomas Kearney. In this episode, I got to sit down with Dawn Marasco, where 3 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:24,300 we start from her birth all the way to what she's doing right now. And guys, it's a ride. 4 00:00:24,300 --> 00:00:31,120 We talk about her calling, what God's doing in her life, and we really dive into some 5 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:38,000 practical things of what can be done in your life to really understand what the calling 6 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:43,440 is on you and how to live in that fully. But before we dive in, I want to ask you to send 7 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:48,920 me a message. If you have any questions or you want me to talk on a particular topic, 8 00:00:48,920 --> 00:00:54,880 or you just want to say some encouraging words, you can do so on Instagram or via the email 9 00:00:54,880 --> 00:01:01,040 that is listed in the show notes of this episode. So guys, really want to take some notes on 10 00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:08,360 this one. You really do. All right, let's get into it. 11 00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:14,400 All right, guys. Hey, how's it going? Today, you know, you already know I'm here with Dawn 12 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:23,720 Marasco and Dawn, I've known I've known of her for a while. I interact with her kids 13 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:32,600 a lot. And her son Matt and I did it together at the church for for about a year. And for 14 00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:44,040 when I know about her, she's very, very intelligent and very, like, they're very blessed. And 15 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:49,000 I'm very blessed to have her on the podcast. I know she has a one I know she has a lot 16 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:55,680 to say. But I also know that she's going to give us something that I know I'm not even 17 00:01:55,680 --> 00:02:03,200 expecting. So, so Don, like, thank you for your yes for being on the podcast. And for 18 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:09,360 those who don't know you, who is Don Marasco? Thank you so much, Thomas. So Don Marasco 19 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:16,320 is a it sounds funny, but a bloodbath Christian, like I was in a pit when God found me. And 20 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:21,720 I just want everyone to know that one, it doesn't matter where you started. Yeah, you 21 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:30,000 know, and to our past does not hold us back from what God has for us. And three, I think 22 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:38,440 it's in those deepest losses, and I'll call it pits, and pain that I found God, and his 23 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:48,040 love runs the deepest. And so I guess for me, you know, yeah, I, I am a mom of four adults 24 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:58,880 now. And absolutely love being a wife and a mother. And I love mentoring anyone, but 25 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:05,800 mentoring women is my heart. And I think because I came from such broken places, that I feel 26 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:13,880 compelled, ignited to help anyone else. I think I mentioned the best compliment I think 27 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:18,840 I had was a friend who she said, I grew up in church all my life. But when I come to 28 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:25,800 you, you teach me how to do it. You're my how to girl. Yeah. And to me, like, I'm like, 29 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:32,920 yes, because I knew nothing about Christianity. I knew absolutely nothing. And I was 19 when 30 00:03:32,920 --> 00:03:38,120 I got saved. So if I can just go back for a minute. Yeah, for sure. My mom was 16 when 31 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:44,800 she had me, which was already a big event. Yeah. And being raised by a 16 year old, which 32 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:51,840 she was awesome. But she married my dad, who was a 20 year old alcoholic. And so his alcoholism 33 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:58,120 really taught me not to trust. And I realized, you know, I couldn't trust him with my heart. 34 00:03:58,120 --> 00:04:04,240 And so it was really hard going forward to even trust God. And so I trust anyone, really, 35 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:08,640 I had trust issues big time, and control because if you can't trust, then you have to control 36 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:16,960 things and control is an illusion. And I found that out. And at the same point, I came out 37 00:04:16,960 --> 00:04:21,880 of that. And, you know, I'm an out front person, you know, I have like a bright shirt on today, 38 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:29,160 you know, I like the bright things, etc. But I learned from having an alcoholic dad to 39 00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:34,120 not ask questions to sit kind of in the back of the room, be quiet, don't make waves, because 40 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:39,080 I didn't want the what came from that, you know. And so I started wearing more grays 41 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:44,800 and more blacks. And if you don't realize, like it affects who you are. And so I remember 42 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:48,840 when God was starting to wrestle with me, like, that's not who you are. Like, be who 43 00:04:48,840 --> 00:04:55,120 I created you to be, which is more bold and loving and kind and reaching out to people 44 00:04:55,120 --> 00:05:04,000 and, you know, building others up. So in my teen years, I was rough and I was tough. And 45 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:09,160 then at 19, I was engaged to be married. And then he was murdered in front of me. Wow. 46 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:14,080 Yeah, so that loss, yeah, right there. And he and I would go to church and things like 47 00:05:14,080 --> 00:05:19,240 that. But and I would pray all the time, Thomas, it wasn't like, I didn't know God, I wanted 48 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:23,560 to know God, I prayed all the time, but I did not know how to hear God. And so I had 49 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:31,920 a one way relationship with God. And after his death, I do remember I asked the priest, 50 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:37,880 you know, how could God let this happen? And it was just a young heart cry, like, how can 51 00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:42,160 this? How could God have let this happen? And the priest said, I don't know. And I thought, 52 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:47,800 oh, my goodness, if the priest don't know, you know, but I thank God that I never blamed 53 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:53,240 him that I never pushed away from him. I ran to him. Yeah. And I knew he was going to be 54 00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:58,160 my answer. And so I prayed all the time. It's our I did get to have a he did give me a dream 55 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:02,040 of my fiance in heaven, which was awesome. And I'll show that another time. But that 56 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:08,960 was beautiful. And then I came to Christ. And when I say I knew nothing, I knew nothing, 57 00:06:08,960 --> 00:06:13,760 Thomas, I did not know how to read the Bible. If I open the Bible, the word that was like 58 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:19,160 foreign, I'm like, huh, like, I couldn't understand anything. But there was one thing that God 59 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:24,040 said, he it was the first time I ever had like a word. I don't know if you've had that 60 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:28,720 like drop into your mind. And it was like, you're going to be a speaker and a writer 61 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:34,200 someday. And I laughed out loud. I'm like, Yeah, right. What would I write about? And 62 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:39,960 who would even listen? Yeah. And that's I just say that because I think a lot of in 63 00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:45,160 the audience could be like, Yeah, right, God. You have these big plans for me. Yeah, right, 64 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:50,760 right. Like, don't you know who I am? Don't you know how a mess my life is? Like, I was 65 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:55,720 a horrible student. And for you to say that I'm intelligent, I thought that is so funny, 66 00:06:55,720 --> 00:07:01,760 God. Because that's the work God does. Yeah. And it's it's why how and that's what I hope 67 00:07:01,760 --> 00:07:05,800 to get into tonight. You know, for sure. Yeah. Wow. 68 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:18,520 Guys, okay, so we're starting off running the your fiance. Okay, you just laid out. 69 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:26,520 Yeah, you were engaged and he was murdered in front of you. And I just hearing all of 70 00:07:26,520 --> 00:07:33,800 these things that one guy brought you through and has seen you to see you through on the 71 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:39,000 other side. And seeing who you are now, the conversation we just had before we started 72 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:46,560 recording and like that I was not expecting that at all. And gosh, this is like I'm so 73 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:51,800 happy that we're having this conversation because it's the true testament to like, to 74 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:58,760 God can use anything. Yes, God can use anything to not just like change your life, but change 75 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:02,840 it, people change lives around you like you're doing with your with what you're doing with 76 00:08:02,840 --> 00:08:07,920 your platform and the woman that you coach. Yes. That's awesome. Well, and I'll tell you 77 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:12,760 also so that story is in my intro to my book. Yeah. Book is called Okay, so this is even 78 00:08:12,760 --> 00:08:18,840 more crazy when I said, Yeah, right, God will give God time. I mean time I mean decades 79 00:08:18,840 --> 00:08:24,040 to transform my life. And I wrote the book continuous peace. And that came out of Wow. 80 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:29,120 Yeah, continuous peace. And it's called four steps to living the life of peace God intended. 81 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:32,100 And when God spoke those words to my head, you're going to be a speaker and a writer 82 00:08:32,100 --> 00:08:37,760 someday. Yeah. Yeah, right was truly like, Yeah, right. What I what would I even write 83 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:42,320 about? But what I did not realize is that was going to write about the transformation 84 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:47,960 that took place in my life. And what God has done and is still doing. You know, we never 85 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:52,440 arrived, thank the good Lord, because it would be such a boring Christianity. We never rise. 86 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:57,760 We're always going deeper and bigger and you know, using all the all the things even current 87 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:06,400 things in my life to grow me. But I will tell you, losing my fiance, that pain has served 88 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:13,880 me well. Yeah. So hear this our pain can serve us well. I had to unlearn some of the fears. 89 00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:19,320 And that's what the book is about. Because I was a fearful Christian. And that's like 90 00:09:19,320 --> 00:09:25,120 an oxymoron. You know, we shouldn't be Christian and fearful. God says fear not right? I am 91 00:09:25,120 --> 00:09:29,760 with you. I didn't know those truths. I might know them if I read them to be true, but they 92 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:35,320 weren't my truths. And so this book takes you through four steps that led me from being 93 00:09:35,320 --> 00:09:41,200 a fearful Christian for nine long years as a Christian, to long got into my heart all 94 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:46,760 the broken places, allowing him to heal those places, trusting him with my past, trusting 95 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:52,120 him with my today. That was the surrender and then shakily trusting him with my future, 96 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:57,720 knowing he was in control and I wasn't and for our control freak, that was super scary. 97 00:09:57,720 --> 00:10:03,240 That was super scary. But we're now decades out and I'm like, only you and that's why 98 00:10:03,240 --> 00:10:08,220 he gets all the glory. I know where I started from. You know, what you see the good that 99 00:10:08,220 --> 00:10:21,840 you see is fruit of him in my life and pursuing him. That's insane. Well, the sense you mentioned 100 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:27,800 pursuing God, this, you know, this podcast is called the pursuit of calling and we were 101 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:35,120 talking a little bit beforehand about what we're going to talk about and like you mentioned 102 00:10:35,120 --> 00:10:39,800 about pursuing God first. Yes. So can you elaborate a little bit on what that means 103 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:46,200 in your life and what it means in general? Yeah, I love your title, the pursuit of calling. 104 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:51,320 I thought, man, that's so good. And you go in so many directions. It's so good. But when 105 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:56,640 I think of pursuing my calling, it's like, well, I get first off to pursue him. And I 106 00:10:56,640 --> 00:11:00,560 know that's in your heart, too, you know, and that pursuit, what does that look like? 107 00:11:00,560 --> 00:11:05,880 It looks like a broken girl coming to God broken. And it looked like me being honest 108 00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:11,560 with I don't even know how to do this, God. I don't even believe I can do this, God. But 109 00:11:11,560 --> 00:11:15,960 if this is what you have, you're going to have to help me. And those are the real conversations, 110 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:19,920 honestly, that God's looking for from us. You know, I know for me, you know, in those 111 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:23,320 first nine years as a Christian, you know, I tried to clean the outside of the cup, you 112 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:26,880 know, I tried to look the part I tried to look like I'm a happy Christian, I walk in 113 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:31,200 the church smiling and people like, she's the nicest girl, you know, inside, I'm dying, 114 00:11:31,200 --> 00:11:35,240 right? And how many of us walk into church like that carrying such loads and really not 115 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:40,320 being honest with anyone else. And I'm not saying we walk in, we just pour guts out to 116 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:46,760 everybody. But you have a special group that you're, you know, friend, friends. And that 117 00:11:46,760 --> 00:11:51,320 was also part of the pursuit, like, give me someone that after I said that prayer of surrender, 118 00:11:51,320 --> 00:11:57,720 God said, go share your story with this one friend. And I will tell you, the one thing 119 00:11:57,720 --> 00:12:01,040 Thomas that God continually put on my heart in the beginning, because I was so afraid 120 00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:07,280 of missing him. And trying to complicate everything. He just makes it he like dumps it down for 121 00:12:07,280 --> 00:12:13,880 me, you know, Christianity 101 dawn, be willing and obedient. That's all be willing and obedient. 122 00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:19,880 So, all right, God, and I knew for myself, I did not know anything about him. So I had 123 00:12:19,880 --> 00:12:24,800 to pursue him. I had to know him better. And that's really where the depth comes from knowing 124 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:31,040 him better who he is, who he is towards me, you know, his love, I mean, when we understand 125 00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:35,560 and that's, you know, I have an online platform. And in there, that's my main thing that we're 126 00:12:35,560 --> 00:12:40,840 talking about, like who he is, and who we are and walking that out. Because it is simple. 127 00:12:40,840 --> 00:12:45,200 I think we complicate it, you know, but that pursuing him and that does look like for me, 128 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:49,160 you know, I'm in my word, it looks different every day. Yeah, you know, asking God for 129 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:57,400 words, speaking to him just like real raw and real as my best friend. And I don't know, 130 00:12:57,400 --> 00:13:01,720 that is the best gift that we've been given is to have a real relationship with Almighty 131 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:07,760 God. And then everything else pours out from there. Yeah. That's really, really great. 132 00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:11,480 And I said I was going to take notes while you were talking. I was and then you just 133 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:16,480 start, you kept going and I just forgot to take notes. That's okay. I was like, I was 134 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:23,320 just so like involved with what you're what you're saying. But no, like that is the, I 135 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:27,960 was, I said to people before, like originally this podcast, when I started with Sean, it 136 00:13:27,960 --> 00:13:32,840 was called Technically Short. I wouldn't push it a lot where I would say this, we're, this 137 00:13:32,840 --> 00:13:37,040 isn't a Christian podcast. We're just, we're, but we are Christians with a podcast. And 138 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:42,800 then I changed the podcast title to the Preserve of Calling without thinking about how Christiany 139 00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:48,480 that sounds. And I was like, I guess I'm, I guess I'm in it now. And I was like, I was 140 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:52,200 like pursuit of calling. That's just so calling is just like a term that I'm just so used 141 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:58,240 to now that I didn't even think it was like that, that Christiany word. Right. And, and 142 00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:04,640 now that I think and now that I'm like, I've, it's where I'm established as like the pursuit 143 00:14:04,640 --> 00:14:10,800 of calling. And, and I do believe like in my accord, you know, I know where that calling 144 00:14:10,800 --> 00:14:16,320 comes from, comes from God. Like, I guess like inadvertently just became this Christian 145 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:25,720 podcast even though like, and like, I'm, I love that. Like I could have people on like 146 00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:32,200 you who have, want to have been through so much. And, but also, like I said before, God 147 00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:36,960 has brought through and now you're taking, now you're taking that or God took it and 148 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:40,360 that changed you. And that caused you to be like, wait, I can actually do way more than 149 00:14:40,360 --> 00:14:46,760 I ever thought possible. Right. And that doesn't mean for those who, for those who are listening, 150 00:14:46,760 --> 00:14:51,160 it doesn't mean you have to go through something terrible in order to pursue something great. 151 00:14:51,160 --> 00:14:58,400 Absolutely not. Like you can pursue, like God has something great for you. And it doesn't 152 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:07,080 mean, it doesn't mean like a bi-wordly standards of success. It means like whatever God's calling 153 00:15:07,080 --> 00:15:14,920 you towards, that's where the success is. Right. That's good. And there's like, I've 154 00:15:14,920 --> 00:15:19,960 told people before this podcast is the best thing I do. And it's sometimes I'm like, sometimes 155 00:15:19,960 --> 00:15:24,600 I like, I get stressed out, but I think I've said in a previous episode, I'm, I'm, I'm 156 00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:30,320 attentioning a little bit, but I just knew like there was one day I just didn't want 157 00:15:30,320 --> 00:15:34,120 to record this like the last episode, maybe I didn't want to record that whole day. I 158 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:37,240 was tired and I was like, but I knew what I was going to cause I know what my calling 159 00:15:37,240 --> 00:15:42,240 is. Right. That's good. And I was like, I knew, I knew what I was going to because like, 160 00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:45,640 I was like, I can't not. Right. It's like, if I have a calling, I have to, I have to 161 00:15:45,640 --> 00:15:52,280 live in it. And it comes from within too. Yeah. Right. Like there's an inner calling 162 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:56,520 to do it. There's an inner strength to do it. Right. A will to do it. And afterwards 163 00:15:56,520 --> 00:16:01,960 I loved it. Yes. I was like, after I did it, I even in it, I like, while I started it, 164 00:16:01,960 --> 00:16:06,720 it was like, well, I was like, all I had to do was start it. All I had to do was start 165 00:16:06,720 --> 00:16:12,860 willing and obedient. Yep. Willing and obedient. It's so simple. Just be willing and obedient. 166 00:16:12,860 --> 00:16:17,280 And honestly, that has helped me tremendously because so often, and the other thing I teach 167 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:23,040 in the book is do the next right thing. Yep. The next right thing has helped me so much. 168 00:16:23,040 --> 00:16:32,720 So my brother passed away early. He very sadly committed suicide. And this was a few years 169 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:40,960 ago. And in that I remember just wanting to stay in my bed and just be like, okay, I just 170 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:45,400 want to pull the covers over my head. I don't even want to face today. And those are real 171 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:51,560 emotions. I mean, that's a real part of grief. And I'm like, no. And I've just trained myself. 172 00:16:51,560 --> 00:16:55,840 No, what's the next right thing? And it's, I don't always know it, but God does. And 173 00:16:55,840 --> 00:17:00,640 I'm like, okay, God, what is that next right thing I need to do? And I guess I read the 174 00:17:00,640 --> 00:17:06,480 Bible already and he was like, go work out. And where I work out is where I pray and I 175 00:17:06,480 --> 00:17:13,520 worship God. And I went down to my basement, I started worshiping God and was within minutes, 176 00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:20,300 maybe even a minute that what was so heavy inside of me was able to come out in a literal 177 00:17:20,300 --> 00:17:28,160 cry to God and release it from me. And then I honestly felt so much better. And so that's 178 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:32,400 that's part of this. And that's in the book too. But that's part of this whole thing of 179 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:37,360 like, I don't know what is right next. I don't. Yeah, a lot of times. But I know you do. So 180 00:17:37,360 --> 00:17:42,140 help me. And I know if I would have went back, roll back over and went back to bed, I would 181 00:17:42,140 --> 00:17:48,280 have woken up with that heaviness not released by going to God, worshiping him, giving him 182 00:17:48,280 --> 00:17:54,440 our heart, right? And so yeah, I talk about the hard things in life because it's in those 183 00:17:54,440 --> 00:18:00,600 wounds and those depths that I found God's love runs the deepest. And so a lot of times 184 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:06,040 that is what I'll talk about. But it's in the everyday. Yeah. In your life. And, you 185 00:18:06,040 --> 00:18:10,960 know, I think everyone I know every one of us has a calling. Yeah, every one of us is 186 00:18:10,960 --> 00:18:16,000 gifted every one of us. So it's like, okay, God, what is it? And I wanted to talk about 187 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:21,280 to the gifts. Yeah, are a little different than the calling. But there's so hand in hand, 188 00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:27,600 right? Right. And so often it's like, I'll say, you know, and I think it's in here too. 189 00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:32,000 A lot in this book. But anyhow, it's in here too. You know, what is it that people tell 190 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:37,320 you that you're good at? And so often it's like, oh, that's so, that's so silly that 191 00:18:37,320 --> 00:18:42,780 they would even point that out. Well, one of the things that I thought was just everyday 192 00:18:42,780 --> 00:18:47,600 life for everyone, we think everyone can do the things that, you know, is are easy for 193 00:18:47,600 --> 00:18:53,820 us. And I remember walking to high school, and there was a girl walking and I caught 194 00:18:53,820 --> 00:18:58,440 up with her and hey, how you doing, you know, and she had an issue. And so I just started 195 00:18:58,440 --> 00:19:01,400 talking to her, hey, you know, and I gave her some advice. I don't even know what the 196 00:19:01,400 --> 00:19:05,160 issue is. I don't remember the advice, whatever it was. And when we got done, she's like, 197 00:19:05,160 --> 00:19:09,360 thank you so much. You always helped me. I can't even, I, every time I share something 198 00:19:09,360 --> 00:19:13,680 with you, you give me the best advice. And I remember laughing and thinking, I just love 199 00:19:13,680 --> 00:19:19,700 to do it. Yeah. That's a gift. And I had no idea that was pre Jesus. I mean, Jesus was 200 00:19:19,700 --> 00:19:25,360 in my life. I love God, but I didn't know how to hear from him. But you know, it's, 201 00:19:25,360 --> 00:19:32,240 I wasn't in my actual like seeking him to know him better, you know, seasons, but God 202 00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:37,920 so used to get because the gifts are given at birth. And then once I got, you know, into 203 00:19:37,920 --> 00:19:44,920 this new season, this season now is like, I guess I was a little surprised at first 204 00:19:44,920 --> 00:19:51,320 is like, I love coaching people. I love helping people out of situations. I don't know. I 205 00:19:51,320 --> 00:19:59,320 just see it. I know I, it's a gift. I'm not, that is not braggy. I just, I love what I 206 00:19:59,320 --> 00:20:04,040 get to do. Why it's a gift, but it's also the calling. Yeah. Right. God calls me to 207 00:20:04,040 --> 00:20:09,520 help people. So it's so neat how they go together, but so often we dismiss our gifts. Yeah. You 208 00:20:09,520 --> 00:20:13,160 know, gifts of helps. So many people are like, I don't know. I just love helping people. 209 00:20:13,160 --> 00:20:19,520 That's a gift. Don't minimize it. It's your gift. Right. We've, I've talked about like 210 00:20:19,520 --> 00:20:24,640 Sean and I a while ago did a whole series about purpose. Yeah. And so many people were 211 00:20:24,640 --> 00:20:32,040 talking about, like we talked about purpose, AKA essentially calling and, and like, I remember 212 00:20:32,040 --> 00:20:39,360 Kendall and I remember her talking about it in a way of like your purpose, your calling 213 00:20:39,360 --> 00:20:42,840 goes with you everywhere that you go. And that's been talked about here too. Like, and 214 00:20:42,840 --> 00:20:48,560 the reason I think the reason that is one is internal and two, like you said, and you 215 00:20:48,560 --> 00:20:52,480 can't get away from it because it's inside of you. And then you also have the gifts that 216 00:20:52,480 --> 00:20:59,800 are yours and like those gifts are like, so there are tools to be used and you can, it 217 00:20:59,800 --> 00:21:05,040 could be used just like any tool for good, for good, for evil, for just like very level, 218 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:11,440 like very, if I had a video, it'd be easier to show, but very like lukewarm things. Yes. 219 00:21:11,440 --> 00:21:17,800 But like, it's no, I'm really happy you brought that up. No gifts are extremely important 220 00:21:17,800 --> 00:21:20,640 and especially to know what they are. I think there's a lot of people out there that make 221 00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:25,960 it like, yeah, I don't really have any talents. Yeah. That's so, that's just, what it is, 222 00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:29,960 is you know, you're dismissing your talents because they come so easy to you. And people 223 00:21:29,960 --> 00:21:35,120 are like, that's not a talent. I'm like, okay, I can't do that. Do you realize like IT, I 224 00:21:35,120 --> 00:21:40,640 can't do that's a gift and a talent. Well, it's so easy because it's your gift. And so 225 00:21:40,640 --> 00:21:43,880 when we, I try to break it down too, in the book, cause it's like, I want you to know 226 00:21:43,880 --> 00:21:48,660 who you are in Christ too. So we can take these, you know, walk out this life of peace 227 00:21:48,660 --> 00:21:56,960 God has for us. But in that it's like, we dismiss so often the very unique gifts that 228 00:21:56,960 --> 00:22:03,360 God gives us. And so, yeah, it's good. And they do work together. And I love that our 229 00:22:03,360 --> 00:22:08,800 purpose our gifts and our calling, you know, let's wrap it all together as one. Yeah. Glorify 230 00:22:08,800 --> 00:22:15,240 God. Right. Yeah. And it's so good. And when you had said about tools, our past and our 231 00:22:15,240 --> 00:22:21,520 present can become tools. And that's also like, you know, the hard things I went through, 232 00:22:21,520 --> 00:22:26,160 I could have, and at times, you know, I'm sure went through the negative sides of them, 233 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:34,400 you know, as I was healing, but the positive side is, like I said, my pain has served me 234 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:39,920 well. How, how does pain serve you well, Dawn? That doesn't even make sense. Well, because 235 00:22:39,920 --> 00:22:46,800 guess what? Losing someone at 19. I loved my family so much deeper. I loved others so 236 00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:54,080 much deeper. Yeah, I knew life could be short. And so I'm I've held on to it. Yes, sometimes, 237 00:22:54,080 --> 00:22:59,460 you know, fearfully, you know, especially before the book when I was led by fear. Yeah, 238 00:22:59,460 --> 00:23:05,200 but just realizing this life is not a guarantee. And so I really appreciated people. So in 239 00:23:05,200 --> 00:23:09,920 my mind, I'm like, thank you, God, that I went through the hard things. I never would 240 00:23:09,920 --> 00:23:14,880 see you like I do. I never would see others in the way I probably would have said things 241 00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:18,760 I shouldn't have said, I probably would have been harder on people than I needed to be. 242 00:23:18,760 --> 00:23:24,800 Why? Because I wouldn't have elevated the love that I was able to keep with them and 243 00:23:24,800 --> 00:23:32,040 have with them. Yeah, because loss, open my eyes. So yeah, so it's a tool, right? So God 244 00:23:32,040 --> 00:23:36,680 can use all things together for good. And so many times we think our past will disqualify 245 00:23:36,680 --> 00:23:41,320 us, you know, and I am here to tell you, absolutely not. And I don't even care if you've been 246 00:23:41,320 --> 00:23:44,760 like, well, I've just been going to church all my life. And my family's been Christian. 247 00:23:44,760 --> 00:23:49,640 Good. Do you know what you can give to people? Yeah, yeah, there's so much I had to learn 248 00:23:49,640 --> 00:23:55,920 it firsthand, the hardest way, you know, you might be coming out of it with so many tools 249 00:23:55,920 --> 00:24:00,120 to be like, Oh, this is what you do here. Or this is what helped me there. Yeah, that's 250 00:24:00,120 --> 00:24:07,520 good. I remember I, I always liked giving people advice. I kind of like, but I was never, 251 00:24:07,520 --> 00:24:11,600 I wouldn't always do it in the best way. I would always be the nicest person. Yeah. And 252 00:24:11,600 --> 00:24:16,960 so it's like straightforward. Yeah. Yeah. And like, because I would be like, man, that's 253 00:24:16,960 --> 00:24:22,000 so dumb. I would, I'd be mean and like, but like, I just couldn't like there's sometimes 254 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:28,560 I just couldn't keep my mouth shut. Yeah. And I like my, I initially started like my 255 00:24:28,560 --> 00:24:32,960 in college at my first freshman year was I was going to be a teacher and freshman year 256 00:24:32,960 --> 00:24:37,760 college. I was like, cause I just, I was like, well, I guess that just seemed like, I like 257 00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:42,560 talking to people. I like teaching people things. Hence the podcast. Yeah. That's so 258 00:24:42,560 --> 00:24:47,000 funny. And I like teaching people things and it's like, and then I learned pretty quickly. 259 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:51,560 I was like, okay, this is actually what I want to do. And so then I was like, I like 260 00:24:51,560 --> 00:24:56,800 computers as I have always had a gift with computers. So I like them from a young age. 261 00:24:56,800 --> 00:24:59,920 So I was like, I'll just go to computer science, not knowing what programming I didn't know 262 00:24:59,920 --> 00:25:05,200 anything about it. It's like computer science sounds cool. So I like went for that and like, 263 00:25:05,200 --> 00:25:12,640 and I've been developing for seven years, but there's and like, and I've used that in 264 00:25:12,640 --> 00:25:17,560 the pursuit of other things in pursuit of searching for business ventures and things 265 00:25:17,560 --> 00:25:23,240 like that. And like under asking God for certain specific things, I can probably maybe make 266 00:25:23,240 --> 00:25:31,120 another episode about, about that, about a little bit about this, but there's we talked 267 00:25:31,120 --> 00:25:35,680 a lot about like, I think you mentioned that we talked a little bit about the small moments, 268 00:25:35,680 --> 00:25:42,200 right? And, but like there, we talked mainly just about like the big things and like how 269 00:25:42,200 --> 00:25:46,200 God uses those, but can you expand a little bit more about the small moments and how God 270 00:25:46,200 --> 00:25:51,160 uses those? I love that. You know, it reminds me of this, I think it's a song. I don't 271 00:25:51,160 --> 00:25:57,160 know. It's definitely Old Testament, but it talks about God lays out a green pastors for 272 00:25:57,160 --> 00:26:02,160 us. And it's like with borders, you know what I'm saying? Like everywhere in there is where 273 00:26:02,160 --> 00:26:06,400 he wants you to be. And so often it's like, we're looking at the over the edge, like, 274 00:26:06,400 --> 00:26:09,800 yeah, but if I could go down there, you know, and God's like, no, this is where I have you. 275 00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:14,600 So what does that look like? That's in your everyday life. Something else real quick, 276 00:26:14,600 --> 00:26:22,040 God showed me was he put on my heart a long while ago. And he said, you know, he strategically 277 00:26:22,040 --> 00:26:27,840 places all of his people in specific places. Yeah. And he said, and if each and every one 278 00:26:27,840 --> 00:26:34,120 of us shined his light, we would light up the world. And so that's in our everyday lives. 279 00:26:34,120 --> 00:26:38,720 That's in every, every place, no matter where you are. If you're a mom at home, that is 280 00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:44,880 a bright light you are shining. That is like for me, that was my high calling was to be 281 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:50,560 a stay at home mom and raise my kiddos. I love that. And I felt it was a high calling. 282 00:26:50,560 --> 00:26:54,480 It was a calling I couldn't run from. It was a calling. I couldn't just be like, I'm just 283 00:26:54,480 --> 00:27:00,160 going to do it halfway today because you know, no, I was going to, you know, not that we, 284 00:27:00,160 --> 00:27:04,520 not that it was ever perfect, not that my house is perfect or anything else, but the 285 00:27:04,520 --> 00:27:12,000 calling in me was so strong. That was like, no, I have a responsibility to you, you know, 286 00:27:12,000 --> 00:27:16,840 to love you, to teach you about God, et cetera. And so that's in the everyday life. What does 287 00:27:16,840 --> 00:27:20,440 that look like? I remember when my kids would come downstairs and they'd say, you know, 288 00:27:20,440 --> 00:27:25,120 they were little and I'd say, guys, go play. Mommy's trying to get happy. You know, I just 289 00:27:25,120 --> 00:27:29,520 needed Jesus. Like I was in the broken places and I'm like, I just need you today because 290 00:27:29,520 --> 00:27:34,160 I need your strength. It might be, you know, for me, when I was broken too, I was in the 291 00:27:34,160 --> 00:27:37,840 grocery store and God was teaching me. He loved me. And an older lady would walk by 292 00:27:37,840 --> 00:27:44,440 me and she would smile at me. And I'm like, why does that feel so warm? Yeah. And God's 293 00:27:44,440 --> 00:27:48,440 like, I'm teaching you. I love you. Yeah. Through a smile of somebody I did not even 294 00:27:48,440 --> 00:27:53,560 know. So we can be that to people. Like how do we shine his light? It is in the simplest 295 00:27:53,560 --> 00:27:58,580 ways. And I love that two scriptures. As I was thinking this morning, you know, what 296 00:27:58,580 --> 00:28:04,200 God wanted us to talk about, one of them was, what are we called to? Yeah. The great commission 297 00:28:04,200 --> 00:28:12,580 and also two commands. Love God. And I love this love God with hair. No, love the Lord 298 00:28:12,580 --> 00:28:20,440 your God. See, that's that personalized your God. It's not just love the Lord who is God. 299 00:28:20,440 --> 00:28:24,500 That's completely different than the Lord your God. Yeah. And once you make him your 300 00:28:24,500 --> 00:28:31,160 God like opening up those vulnerable places, let them into all with all of your heart, 301 00:28:31,160 --> 00:28:38,040 with all of your mind and with all of your with all of your soul. So it's heart, soul, 302 00:28:38,040 --> 00:28:45,360 mind, and all of your strength. So it's like all it's like, okay. And our I heard have 303 00:28:45,360 --> 00:28:52,400 been told soul is like your mind, your will, and your emotions. Well, God help me to love 304 00:28:52,400 --> 00:28:59,080 you with my emotions. I mean, I know and you know, that's hence the book also, the ways, 305 00:28:59,080 --> 00:29:03,080 you know, if I started thinking on the wrong things, that can take me down such a negative 306 00:29:03,080 --> 00:29:07,500 path so quickly, and it's gonna affect everyone around me. Yeah. You know, versus just being 307 00:29:07,500 --> 00:29:13,280 like you said, hold my tongue. I remember teaching people and learning it myself. You 308 00:29:13,280 --> 00:29:17,360 won't combust if you don't say that thing. Right. It feels like you're gonna combust. 309 00:29:17,360 --> 00:29:22,120 It does. I'm like, No, I think I need to say that thing. Right. Like, Nope, calm it down. 310 00:29:22,120 --> 00:29:28,200 Think through it. Lay it in my hand. You let me and let's rethinking. But with all your 311 00:29:28,200 --> 00:29:33,880 strength to and the second is like it love your neighbors yourself. And that's out of 312 00:29:33,880 --> 00:29:42,440 Mark 1212 28 through 29. And I absolutely love that. And it's like, if I don't love 313 00:29:42,440 --> 00:29:48,180 him with all, how can I possibly love others? Right? That's why it's in that order. Yeah. 314 00:29:48,180 --> 00:29:53,520 You know, and so and I also want to say loving others is not always in the guess. Sometimes 315 00:29:53,520 --> 00:29:57,880 loving others doesn't know. And so I think that's important too, because sometimes you 316 00:29:57,880 --> 00:30:01,160 talk about love is like, Okay, I have to be a doormat. No, no, no. That's not what God 317 00:30:01,160 --> 00:30:06,600 saying. He's saying, with all your strength, and I love that God is our strength, the other 318 00:30:06,600 --> 00:30:10,040 is spirit. So it's like, No, God, how do you want me to do this? What do you want me to 319 00:30:10,040 --> 00:30:14,240 do? What is the plan you have for me and for this relationship? And I remember when he 320 00:30:14,240 --> 00:30:22,440 was teaching me to say no, no is a and I'm just gonna I might set someone free here tonight. 321 00:30:22,440 --> 00:30:30,360 My our pastor, my one pastor said to me, Don, if you don't get good at saying no to good, 322 00:30:30,360 --> 00:30:36,880 you're gonna miss God's great. Yeah. And I remember even something as small as me helping 323 00:30:36,880 --> 00:30:42,240 out my kids lunches when they were in school. And I kept saying, I feel you're saying no, 324 00:30:42,240 --> 00:30:46,400 it, I'm just gonna be home with you, God, like, filling up with you, like, why can't 325 00:30:46,400 --> 00:30:52,640 I do that? And he's like, say no. And when we say no, when God's telling us to say no, 326 00:30:52,640 --> 00:30:56,200 you know, I did open up a door or someone else to serve, and someone else to connect 327 00:30:56,200 --> 00:31:00,320 with those ladies and you know, whoever was in the kitchen. And so it's like, and then 328 00:31:00,320 --> 00:31:06,320 God filled me up, he had something different for me that day. So our nose can actually 329 00:31:06,320 --> 00:31:12,920 be saying yes to God in different ways. So yeah. And when it comes to calling, I think 330 00:31:12,920 --> 00:31:18,840 sometimes we have to realize it's not just that sugar coated, you know, I'm gonna say 331 00:31:18,840 --> 00:31:23,680 yes to everything. No, I'm gonna follow you God, because you are my God. Yeah. And you're 332 00:31:23,680 --> 00:31:28,640 gonna lead me. Right. Now, like he directs the steps. Yeah. And like, it does make it 333 00:31:28,640 --> 00:31:32,680 a lot easier whenever you're in line with him to know what to say yes to what to say 334 00:31:32,680 --> 00:31:40,520 no to. Yes. Yes. Now, I heard I've heard that before, like, there's so many good things 335 00:31:40,520 --> 00:31:44,840 in the world, so many good things that you could say yes to. But if you keep saying yes 336 00:31:44,840 --> 00:31:48,200 to every good thing, then yeah, you're not leaving room for the great. Yeah, that's really 337 00:31:48,200 --> 00:31:53,080 good. Yeah. Which is God in his role, you know, and people pleasing will take us down 338 00:31:53,080 --> 00:32:05,600 a path that is empty. So for those who are like, we're talking a lot about calling and 339 00:32:05,600 --> 00:32:12,800 all and gifts and all these things. And we also mentioned about people who like they 340 00:32:12,800 --> 00:32:16,680 don't know, like people who don't think they have any gifts, don't think they have any 341 00:32:16,680 --> 00:32:24,120 skills. And what if you were talking directly to someone, like if you talk directly to the 342 00:32:24,120 --> 00:32:28,960 listener right now, and they're not sure what their calling is, and not sure about the gifts 343 00:32:28,960 --> 00:32:33,760 are, what would you say to them? You know what helped me a ton when I didn't know any 344 00:32:33,760 --> 00:32:41,800 of my gifts and callings. One, I emailed a few close, close friends. And I said, Listen, 345 00:32:41,800 --> 00:32:46,800 I have this assignment, I need to ask you a question, please be honest. Yeah. Can you 346 00:32:46,800 --> 00:32:51,520 tell me some things that you see as strengths in my life? Yeah. Something that you see that 347 00:32:51,520 --> 00:33:01,480 I do well, and maybe a place that you think I could be better at. And I was floored when 348 00:33:01,480 --> 00:33:06,720 I got back emails from close friends, the things that they saw in me that I did not 349 00:33:06,720 --> 00:33:14,800 see because I'm too close. They were able to really, each one called out specific things. 350 00:33:14,800 --> 00:33:19,880 I'm like, if you put them together, that's my heart's desire. And it's like I don't we 351 00:33:19,880 --> 00:33:25,200 don't realize we're already usually doing it. Yeah. You know, and so and also I love 352 00:33:25,200 --> 00:33:32,280 like the, and maybe I can give you the link to the quiz that shows you your spiritual 353 00:33:32,280 --> 00:33:38,480 gifts and talents. And it is it was so powerful to see that too. And the one I think gives 354 00:33:38,480 --> 00:33:43,440 you your top five and it's online. So does your top five. And I remember looking at that 355 00:33:43,440 --> 00:33:49,040 and going, No wonder that all is in line with what God's called me to do. Yeah. And so yeah, 356 00:33:49,040 --> 00:33:54,760 I think that it's almost like you get to pull back the cover and see that what God has been 357 00:33:54,760 --> 00:34:00,760 doing all along, but we've maybe missed it. You know, it's like, Oh, okay, you are preparing 358 00:34:00,760 --> 00:34:07,520 me. I did not even know, you know, the things that you were doing. Yeah. So no, that's really, 359 00:34:07,520 --> 00:34:14,320 really good. The second thing is then believe it. Yeah. Because it's one thing for someone 360 00:34:14,320 --> 00:34:19,520 to say, Wow, Thomas, you're so good. I mean, I love how you interact with people, you know, 361 00:34:19,520 --> 00:34:22,560 and I know people are starting to say that to you, if you did a podcast, but you have 362 00:34:22,560 --> 00:34:27,040 to believe it. Yeah, you have to at some point believe like, Okay, no, I think you are calling 363 00:34:27,040 --> 00:34:32,760 me to this to God, seek God about it, and then take those first faithful steps and saying, 364 00:34:32,760 --> 00:34:39,800 Okay, is this you? Yeah, you know, and we, faith comes in many different sizes. And the 365 00:34:39,800 --> 00:34:46,000 little shaky faith is still faith. And it's good faith, you know, it's bizarre, because 366 00:34:46,000 --> 00:34:53,960 like, I'm, I have way more of introverted leanings. And I think a podcast was like the 367 00:34:53,960 --> 00:35:02,480 perfect thing for me to do in that sense. Because, like, one, because it prepares me 368 00:35:02,480 --> 00:35:07,880 to do bigger things. It makes me want to be able to be on stage one day, talk, speaking 369 00:35:07,880 --> 00:35:13,480 to more people. But also, though, it's like it was where I where I had to start. Because 370 00:35:13,480 --> 00:35:19,360 I had, I always felt like I had so much to say, but then we get like, and now it's like, 371 00:35:19,360 --> 00:35:26,600 wait for people to give me the opportunity. Yes. And without asking. And but then, whenever 372 00:35:26,600 --> 00:35:31,280 I started the podcast, which without really thinking about it in this way, it became my 373 00:35:31,280 --> 00:35:35,600 became my kind of outlet to be able to say these things to people that I've always wanted 374 00:35:35,600 --> 00:35:40,640 to tell people. Right. And you're inviting people in, right, which is for the introvert, 375 00:35:40,640 --> 00:35:45,320 right? It's like, it's hard. But it's on my terms, like, I'm inviting you in here. I'm 376 00:35:45,320 --> 00:35:49,960 not going to where you are. So it's more comfortable with that, too. Yeah. You know, and so it 377 00:35:49,960 --> 00:35:55,400 does it goes, you know, hand in hand with giftings. And, and, you know, with the giftings, 378 00:35:55,400 --> 00:35:59,640 every single gift we have, like, I have a gift of faith. Okay. But what's the opposite 379 00:35:59,640 --> 00:36:06,280 of that fear? And that very thing can become an obstacle to the to what God's called me 380 00:36:06,280 --> 00:36:11,640 to. And so we have to watch to know your gifts, but then look and say, Okay, wait, what's 381 00:36:11,640 --> 00:36:16,200 trying to hinder me from that gift? And I think faith and fear is one of the biggest 382 00:36:16,200 --> 00:36:20,960 easiest for me to see because it's mine. But I could give in to fear and not do it. I can 383 00:36:20,960 --> 00:36:28,800 give in to fear and then pause and contemplate and you know, hinder my steps forward. Why? 384 00:36:28,800 --> 00:36:33,320 Because I need to look at Okay, wait, you're an obstacle. Yeah. You know, what's the worst 385 00:36:33,320 --> 00:36:37,400 that can happen? You know, I think that that worst case scenario is always how's it what's 386 00:36:37,400 --> 00:36:41,680 the worst can happen? I'll embarrass myself. Okay, so what? You'll you'll be fine. Yeah, 387 00:36:41,680 --> 00:36:45,000 you know, you won't know what to do. It's okay. God's with me. If he's probably to 388 00:36:45,000 --> 00:36:50,600 it, he'll get me through it. Yeah, that's what you know, has helped me to. He equips 389 00:36:50,600 --> 00:36:55,440 us for our callings. Right. Yeah. And so it's never everything that you have. It's what 390 00:36:55,440 --> 00:36:59,720 God's gonna give to you in the moment. Just like we pray before this. I guess why we want 391 00:36:59,720 --> 00:37:04,040 God's will. Yeah, right. We're gonna come show up here. I have suffered and done sure, 392 00:37:04,040 --> 00:37:09,960 but God, you know, I'm trusting you to lead us. And if I say nothing, that's fine. That 393 00:37:09,960 --> 00:37:15,640 I wrote done. It's your spirit and he equips us and that I think is belief to I believe 394 00:37:15,640 --> 00:37:21,560 that you will cook me for this. And then, you know, by his spirit, he helps us to get 395 00:37:21,560 --> 00:37:25,640 through and I love you know, the same spirit that raised Christ Jesus from the dead now 396 00:37:25,640 --> 00:37:31,600 can live in you. Like, so when I said yes to Jesus, his spirit is what made me have 397 00:37:31,600 --> 00:37:37,400 joy and peace. The fruit of the spirit, you know, well, that doesn't mean that I don't 398 00:37:37,400 --> 00:37:44,440 have to, you know, develop myself. No, it just means I have a helper and I love that 399 00:37:44,440 --> 00:37:52,400 he calls himself the helper that's going to help me every single step of the way. Yeah. 400 00:37:52,400 --> 00:38:01,320 So we went from your like, from when you were born, and I've gotten kind of through like 401 00:38:01,320 --> 00:38:08,800 what you're doing now. Can you give a little bit more insight into like how you've your 402 00:38:08,800 --> 00:38:14,440 kind of perception of calling has changed over time? Because I know we kind of touched 403 00:38:14,440 --> 00:38:19,520 on each separate piece, but let's go a little bit more in depth on that, on that, like on 404 00:38:19,520 --> 00:38:25,600 calling and like, yeah, how it's changed for you. Well, I think from the time God said 405 00:38:25,600 --> 00:38:30,800 I have, you know, want you to speak and teach, you know, write a book. I'm thinking I could 406 00:38:30,800 --> 00:38:37,320 not even see it for myself. So I think that's where I started. I couldn't even see it. I 407 00:38:37,320 --> 00:38:45,600 honestly, I didn't feel called to anything. I just knew I wanted to be a wife and a mother, 408 00:38:45,600 --> 00:38:51,040 you know, but the depth that I got in with God, that's when he started teaching me about 409 00:38:51,040 --> 00:38:57,720 the word of God. And, and it became like a, I don't know, like a flame in me, one that, 410 00:38:57,720 --> 00:39:03,960 you know, consumed the negatives and started teaching me right things. But also like, I 411 00:39:03,960 --> 00:39:07,080 wanted to share it with someone else. And that was when I started touching with the 412 00:39:07,080 --> 00:39:11,680 gifts, you know, and it's like, who can I share this with? And I remember one of my 413 00:39:11,680 --> 00:39:17,280 friends, there were three of us and she said, I want you to teach us, we would get together, 414 00:39:17,280 --> 00:39:21,360 maybe, I don't know if it's every other week or monthly. And she'd say, I want you to teach 415 00:39:21,360 --> 00:39:26,240 us. And I said, No, it's like the blind leading the blind. Like, I don't know, I'm not that 416 00:39:26,240 --> 00:39:30,640 far ahead of you. And she's like, but you got it. I know you can do it. And what that 417 00:39:30,640 --> 00:39:36,040 did was set me down to start seeking God for words and messages. And honestly, that was 418 00:39:36,040 --> 00:39:41,280 probably the best gift I was given by God was that someone else expected me to hear 419 00:39:41,280 --> 00:39:47,000 from God and give them something. And it was awesome. And I'm like, okay, this is addicting. 420 00:39:47,000 --> 00:39:54,920 Like I, God gave me something for me. I shared it with you and it helped you. Wow. Okay. 421 00:39:54,920 --> 00:39:59,760 And that's really how calling just started showing me and then God calling me to specific 422 00:39:59,760 --> 00:40:04,400 things. One of the things when I had to surrender, it was don't tell them what I've done for 423 00:40:04,400 --> 00:40:08,080 you. Because if you tell them what I've done for you, they will have hope I can do it for 424 00:40:08,080 --> 00:40:14,040 them. So that was the thing for me is like, okay, we're never too far. We're, you know, 425 00:40:14,040 --> 00:40:18,960 we're never too broken, too fearful to you know, too anxious. It's like, no, our God 426 00:40:18,960 --> 00:40:26,200 is good and connect with him and then me tell my story and the how to's, you know, and, 427 00:40:26,200 --> 00:40:30,480 and know that God will meet them in their specific ways. I think for me, part of calling 428 00:40:30,480 --> 00:40:36,120 was, well, if it worked this way for me, I did a, b and c, you know, if you do a, b and 429 00:40:36,120 --> 00:40:40,120 c exact same way to help you and then they did D, E and F and it worked for them. And 430 00:40:40,120 --> 00:40:45,440 I'm like, wait, and God's like, yes, I work uniquely with each and every one. So we're 431 00:40:45,440 --> 00:40:50,440 not giving answers of like, you know, you check these boxes. It's like, this is what 432 00:40:50,440 --> 00:40:56,160 helped me. You seek the creator and he'll show you in your own calling. Yeah. And yeah, 433 00:40:56,160 --> 00:41:03,440 so that was, and I also say about calling too is we always there is always a God sized 434 00:41:03,440 --> 00:41:09,260 step in it. Always. And that God sized step I know when I asked like to share a message 435 00:41:09,260 --> 00:41:13,520 that was on my heart, you know, he is faithful and I was at the church and I asked them they're 436 00:41:13,520 --> 00:41:17,200 like, yeah, sure. That sounds awesome. And so we're getting all these signups and a lot 437 00:41:17,200 --> 00:41:21,240 of women are coming and I'm like, what was I thinking that God sized step right before 438 00:41:21,240 --> 00:41:26,320 me the week of, you know, prepared for a month and this the week of and this big message 439 00:41:26,320 --> 00:41:31,400 I'm teaching and it was like, why do I ask for these things? Why do I say I want to do 440 00:41:31,400 --> 00:41:35,360 these things? They're so big. What if I screw up? Oh my gosh, you know, this is all and 441 00:41:35,360 --> 00:41:40,160 it's like, slow down. And I just said, you know what, God, you're going to speak through 442 00:41:40,160 --> 00:41:44,160 me and we just have to keep come back to the truth. This is your will. You open a door 443 00:41:44,160 --> 00:41:49,040 for me. I'm going to trust that. And again, isn't that what we need to do is just go to 444 00:41:49,040 --> 00:41:53,800 the creator who created us and has this moment for us. And so then it takes everything back 445 00:41:53,800 --> 00:41:57,280 down and it's like, okay, it's back in your hands. There's nothing I can do about it. 446 00:41:57,280 --> 00:42:06,240 So except for prepare, be ready and love you and love others. Yeah. No, that's thank you 447 00:42:06,240 --> 00:42:10,920 for going into that. I think it was, um, it's important to, I think it's important to think 448 00:42:10,920 --> 00:42:18,680 about your, like you say, like you used to think calling, like, like there was like, 449 00:42:18,680 --> 00:42:23,280 your calling was to give the exact steps on what to do, a, b and c. And like that's, I 450 00:42:23,280 --> 00:42:27,120 can think about that in my life. It's like, yeah, like the, and not just that this worked 451 00:42:27,120 --> 00:42:30,560 for me or like, okay, oh, well this didn't work for me. That means it won't work for 452 00:42:30,560 --> 00:42:40,160 you either. Right. Like that's not like, it's not the case. And there's like, so really, 453 00:42:40,160 --> 00:42:47,040 I appreciate you going into, into that with the, uh, with the mind of, you know, just 454 00:42:47,040 --> 00:42:51,520 giving us, you know, giving us a little bit more. Uh, yeah, God does it his way. Right. 455 00:42:51,520 --> 00:42:56,600 And I think that was what helped me too is God is equally your God, right? As he is my 456 00:42:56,600 --> 00:43:01,720 God, he has a different calling for your life, but we can sharpen one another. We can help 457 00:43:01,720 --> 00:43:07,760 one another, you know, and to me, that's the body. That's the church in action. And so, 458 00:43:07,760 --> 00:43:14,840 yeah, I, I love that and, and not hold any expectation on anyone except for, I know God's 459 00:43:14,840 --> 00:43:18,720 good and he'll, yeah, you meet with him and he'll, he'll give you something to take away. 460 00:43:18,720 --> 00:43:24,920 And I love that. Yeah. My confidence is in him. Yeah. Well, thank you. And I, I know 461 00:43:24,920 --> 00:43:30,120 you mentioned your book a lot. We're gonna make sure we link that into show notes. Um, 462 00:43:30,120 --> 00:43:39,760 and to work on wrapping up a little bit, um, we always wrap up with these last two questions. 463 00:43:39,760 --> 00:43:46,140 So first being, who would you recommend to, uh, be on the pursuit of calling as a guest? 464 00:43:46,140 --> 00:43:54,640 My son, Luke, which I know you've asked him. I know, I know. Um, but I love that even our 465 00:43:54,640 --> 00:44:01,840 kids can see and have depths of God. Yeah. That even that we don't, which is awesome. 466 00:44:01,840 --> 00:44:07,360 And I learned from him a lot and we do have a lot of the same gift things, but I, I love 467 00:44:07,360 --> 00:44:13,600 learning from him. So that's really cool. And then what kind of resources would you 468 00:44:13,600 --> 00:44:19,720 recommend to people there when it comes to calling, uh, growth, what would you recommend? 469 00:44:19,720 --> 00:44:26,440 Um, one to be in your word. Um, and I think I'm going to offer it to your, your audience, 470 00:44:26,440 --> 00:44:31,760 um, because we're talking about, uh, calling him word. It came to me as soon as you said 471 00:44:31,760 --> 00:44:40,640 that I have a, um, a, uh, course that I put together and it has like how to read the Bible, 472 00:44:40,640 --> 00:44:45,040 why to read the Bible, things like that. And it's the word and transformation through the 473 00:44:45,040 --> 00:44:51,360 word. Um, and then I also have like a, uh, 30 day pod or a 30 day, um, uh, devotional 474 00:44:51,360 --> 00:44:56,800 that you could do with that, but you can set up a time, setting up a time to meet with 475 00:44:56,800 --> 00:45:01,640 God is the best thing you could possibly do. And I walk you through that, how to set up 476 00:45:01,640 --> 00:45:05,180 your own time, because again, we're unique. Yeah. Your timings that work for you don't 477 00:45:05,180 --> 00:45:10,060 work for me or whatever, but I give you things so that you can create your own routine with 478 00:45:10,060 --> 00:45:15,800 God. And I think the word routine can be like, Oh gosh, our routine. No, no, no. It's something 479 00:45:15,800 --> 00:45:19,400 you can look forward to something that is a place in a time that you set apart, just 480 00:45:19,400 --> 00:45:23,440 like eating. We have to eat every single day. So it's something we can set apart and say, 481 00:45:23,440 --> 00:45:29,440 no, this is time that, um, I want to get to know you more. I need to get to know you more. 482 00:45:29,440 --> 00:45:35,640 And, um, and in that, I believe is a video that God taught me on, um, bring your cup 483 00:45:35,640 --> 00:45:42,000 in. And it is so good. And it shows us, you know, daily to bring our cup in. So it's a, 484 00:45:42,000 --> 00:45:48,000 it's an awesome, uh, little video I gave, but, um, filling up with God, believing who 485 00:45:48,000 --> 00:45:56,040 he is and knowing who you are. Um, I'll send the link to do the quiz. It's like the, uh, 486 00:45:56,040 --> 00:46:02,400 gifting quiz and, um, I don't know, have a couple of friends that, you know, even if 487 00:46:02,400 --> 00:46:07,920 it's just one other person that believes in you or will walk with you and tell you the 488 00:46:07,920 --> 00:46:13,800 honest truth, but yet see your goodness because I really believe sometimes we can't see it 489 00:46:13,800 --> 00:46:18,280 for ourselves. So we do have to be in community with other people that were like, Oh my gosh, 490 00:46:18,280 --> 00:46:23,640 you are such an encourager. Like, Oh, I didn't even realize that. Yeah. So I think that's 491 00:46:23,640 --> 00:46:31,280 so key too. So, you know, God, others, there you go. God, others. And, um, I don't know. 492 00:46:31,280 --> 00:46:36,640 And then taking those little willing steps of like, okay, God, if that is show me how 493 00:46:36,640 --> 00:46:41,320 that works out. What does that look like? You know, and, um, just working with God. 494 00:46:41,320 --> 00:46:48,240 Yeah. That's great. I want, can I share this a few points I had real quick? Sure. I have, 495 00:46:48,240 --> 00:46:55,000 um, I just wanted to leave with your listeners, believe the best about God. You know, I think 496 00:46:55,000 --> 00:47:01,620 so often we put such a negative, uh, maybe our earthly fathers were rough or missing. 497 00:47:01,620 --> 00:47:05,960 So we think God's rough or missing. It's not the truth. God's with us. He's always with 498 00:47:05,960 --> 00:47:11,620 us. Um, believe the best about God. He loves you. He called him to yourself. He empowers 499 00:47:11,620 --> 00:47:18,680 you daily and he is with you. And I love, love, love. And this is in my book and a page, 500 00:47:18,680 --> 00:47:25,360 um, one 53 and this is the scripture and Hebrews 13, 15 B through six. And this is the amplify, 501 00:47:25,360 --> 00:47:33,840 which I love, um, for certain scriptures for he has said, I will, and this is God never 502 00:47:33,840 --> 00:47:40,720 under any circumstance desert you nor give you up nor leave you without support. Yeah. 503 00:47:40,720 --> 00:47:47,160 Wow. Nor will I add in any degree, leave you helpless nor why forsake you or let you down 504 00:47:47,160 --> 00:47:55,160 or relax my hold on you. I surely not. So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently 505 00:47:55,160 --> 00:48:02,640 say the Lord is my helper in time of need. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? 506 00:48:02,640 --> 00:48:06,560 God's with us. He's never going to leave us. So I just want to leave that with your listeners. 507 00:48:06,560 --> 00:48:11,880 He's a good, good father and he loves them tremendously and he's in it with them. So 508 00:48:11,880 --> 00:48:18,960 thank you. And thank you guys for listening to this episode of the pursuit of calling 509 00:48:18,960 --> 00:48:23,440 podcast. If you liked this episode, you can share it out on your social, on your social 510 00:48:23,440 --> 00:48:42,440 media platforms, give us a five star review and we'll see you next time. Right. See you.