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Wholehearted WORD Rhythms in a Dark Season with Chriscynethia Floyd · The Wholehearted Enneagram Podcast

0:01
SPEAKER_04: Welcome to the Simply Wholehearted Podcast with Amy Wiggs, your wholehearted life and business coach.
0:09
SPEAKER_04: You should know this podcast will inspire you to grow in self-awareness, be passionate about your faith, and get clear on your calling.
0:17
SPEAKER_04: If you are new here, then welcome to the community of multi-passionate women who love to go deep on topics like faith, Enneagram, relationships, leadership, and community.
0:30
SPEAKER_04: This conversation might provide the step you need to make the change you desire.
0:35
SPEAKER_04: So let's get started.
0:43
SPEAKER_04: Well, here we are.
0:44
SPEAKER_04: It's 2025, and we get to dive in together to the Wholehearted Rhythm series to set the tone for our year of seeking God first in all we do.
0:56
SPEAKER_04: The last eight years, we've talked about the three rhythms or wholehearted pillars, if you will, word worship and write.
1:04
SPEAKER_04: It's my daily rhythm, and it's a rhythm that I invite you to seek out this year.
1:10
SPEAKER_04: At least on a, well, maybe weekly basis even.
1:15
SPEAKER_04: This year I'm orienting the conversations just a little bit differently to explore how each of these rhythms help us in seasons that are dark, whether it's the dark night of the soul or a season of grief and loss, or just a season where things aren't as clear and as bright as you'd hoped they were.
1:35
SPEAKER_04: Each of these conversations are going to really speak into those places where when the going gets tough, how do you continue to engage in God's word?
1:46
SPEAKER_04: What does worship look like?
1:47
SPEAKER_04: How can a writing rhythm help you?
1:50
SPEAKER_04: And this year we get a bonus conversation about wholehearted wealth.
1:55
SPEAKER_04: What does abundance actually mean when we're putting it in the context of God's word and abundance in Christ and even money?
2:04
SPEAKER_04: And the word that's often used in this world is wealth.
2:07
SPEAKER_04: What does that look like, especially when we've maybe hit our lowest point?
2:12
SPEAKER_04: Is God still good?
2:14
SPEAKER_04: Will God still meet us?
2:15
SPEAKER_04: Is there still abundance in Him?
2:18
SPEAKER_04: I think these conversations are really going to be setting the tone for my heart for sure, and I hope for you as well, and some other things that are going to be happening in this community as this year unfolds.
2:32
SPEAKER_04: I'm so honored that you're giving your time here once again.
2:35
SPEAKER_04: It means the world to me that you listen to this podcast week in and week out, and that you share it with your friends and family.
2:43
SPEAKER_04: That is the best compliment and the best gift that you could give me.
2:47
SPEAKER_04: So let's welcome 2025 together in these wholehearted rhythms as we look to God's word, as we practice and engage in worship and writing, and even exploring what abundance looks like as daughters of the king.
3:03
SPEAKER_04: This conversation in particular was such a delightful surprise.
3:07
SPEAKER_04: Christynthia Floyd really graced us with a vulnerable, beautiful conversation about loss and how God met her there.
3:16
SPEAKER_04: I invited her on after her publicist sent me the our daily bread resource, God Hears Her.
3:23
SPEAKER_04: As soon as I got this resource, I knew that Chrysynthia was someone that I wanted to get to know.
3:29
SPEAKER_04: And I felt like was going to provide an instrumental conversation into the series.
3:34
SPEAKER_04: And I was not let down at all.
3:36
SPEAKER_04: It was just so beautiful.
3:38
SPEAKER_04: And not only do I think you'll appreciate the resources from our daily bread and specifically God Hears Her, but I know that you'll be encouraged and inspired by Chrysynthia's testimony.
3:49
SPEAKER_04: All right, let's get right to the conversation.
3:52
SPEAKER_04: What's the story behind your name?
3:54
SPEAKER_00: I understand that my father gave me this name.
3:57
SPEAKER_00: I was a kid that started out pretty small, two and a half pounds.
4:02
SPEAKER_00: And that he wanted a nice, impressive name for a kid starting off so small.
4:08
SPEAKER_00: Wow, that's a beautiful story, a meaning behind it.
4:12
SPEAKER_00: I love it.
4:12
SPEAKER_00: Thank you.
4:13
SPEAKER_00: Thank you.
4:14
SPEAKER_00: That's what I understand.
4:15
SPEAKER_00: That's what I've been told.
4:16
SPEAKER_04: That's what you've been told.
4:17
SPEAKER_04: All right.
4:18
SPEAKER_04: Well, look at you.
4:19
SPEAKER_04: You have been, it sounds like a fighter from the very beginning, because clearly not every baby thrives from such a small beginning.
4:30
SPEAKER_00: Um very true.
4:31
SPEAKER_00: Um, it's hard to imagine that someone that started out um so small and I have um lifelong asthma that I ended up being a classically, classically trained singer.
4:44
SPEAKER_04: So no kidding.
4:46
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so I learned how to use my breath.
4:48
SPEAKER_04: Yes, you did.
4:49
SPEAKER_04: Yes, you did.
4:52
SPEAKER_04: Yes.
4:53
SPEAKER_04: I love that.
4:53
SPEAKER_04: Okay, well then classically trained singer.
4:57
SPEAKER_04: Um sounds like you've been, you know, a go-getter throughout your life.
5:01
SPEAKER_04: Here you are at Daily Bread Ministries leading this organization.
5:06
SPEAKER_04: Um, how did you get here?
5:07
SPEAKER_04: Like what's the story behind it?
5:09
SPEAKER_00: Oh, oh my word.
5:10
SPEAKER_00: Oh well, I, as I mentioned before, I um um am a classically trained singer, but I didn't know I was a singer or that I could sing until um eighth grade, somewhere around eighth grade.
5:25
SPEAKER_00: And and before then I thought, well, I'll just be a children's librarian.
5:29
SPEAKER_00: I had grown up around um an aunt as a storyteller and someone that introduced books to me during a very difficult time in my life.
5:39
SPEAKER_00: And uh so I thought that I would end up being a librarian.
5:45
SPEAKER_00: And uh, but then in the eighth grade, um my chorus teacher discovered I uh have a voice, and I didn't understand the uh the implications of that voice.
5:59
SPEAKER_00: I had no idea, but she recognized something in my voice, the quality of it uh at such a young age.
6:07
SPEAKER_00: It was very rich, um, very close to being very operatic at that point, just very big.
6:14
SPEAKER_00: And um, so she kind of set me um on this path.
6:18
SPEAKER_00: Her name is Harriet Gilbert in Gastonia, North Carolina.
6:22
SPEAKER_00: She um set me on this path uh for you know opportunities to sing.
6:29
SPEAKER_00: Now, of course, I still had no recollection, I had no idea that this voice was much of anything.
6:35
SPEAKER_00: I thought, oh yeah, I'll just go sing in this chorus.
6:37
SPEAKER_00: Oh, we're going to this competition, I'll go sing in this competition.
6:41
SPEAKER_00: It's just what I do.
6:42
SPEAKER_00: Oh, oh, I oh, I won the competition.
6:45
SPEAKER_00: You know, and um because while I grew up in church, um, I didn't sing very long in the church choir.
6:54
SPEAKER_00: I um I actually didn't like it that much.
6:59
SPEAKER_00: And um so when I had the opportunity to actually stop singing in the choir, I stopped singing in the choir and just attended church.
7:07
SPEAKER_00: Um and then my world really did open up at that point um with music.
7:16
SPEAKER_00: Uh I am the youngest of three, uh quite a bit of an age difference between my older siblings and I, 10 and 8 years.
7:24
SPEAKER_00: So I sort of so I hit my formative years um when they had already gone off to college.
7:31
SPEAKER_00: And so at that point I felt like an a loner.
7:34
SPEAKER_00: I really did.
7:35
SPEAKER_00: And it really, it was two, I mean, two things, obviously um the uh the folks or the family that were part of my um church community, um, and then also um books and music really did help me along the way to find to find the gift that God had given me.
7:57
SPEAKER_00: Um and really just try and and and so I've tried my best to lean into that.
8:03
SPEAKER_00: Um I stopped pursuing a music career years ago because um I really wanted to um well I decided I wanted to be able to eat.
8:14
SPEAKER_00: And uh you know, I was living in New York City, um, but I also had this great love for literature and books and and Christian content and uh specifically.
8:27
SPEAKER_00: And so I um yeah, I went into the publishing business basically.
8:34
SPEAKER_00: Wow.
8:35
SPEAKER_00: And so I've um in 2007, I took a company transfer from HarperCollins, New York, to Zondervan Publishing here in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
8:45
SPEAKER_00: And that's how I I was my entree into Christian publishing.
8:50
SPEAKER_00: Okay my New York colleagues thought I was crazy.
8:53
SPEAKER_00: They were like, What?
8:54
SPEAKER_00: You're gonna go work for the Christians?
8:56
SPEAKER_00: I'm like, what are you kidding?
8:57
SPEAKER_00: I'm one of those Christians.
8:59
SPEAKER_00: So yeah.
9:01
SPEAKER_00: So the rest is really history.
9:04
SPEAKER_04: Thank you for sharing that.
9:06
SPEAKER_04: I yeah, I think what's really interesting is that I have done this wholehearted rhythm series for eight years now.
9:14
SPEAKER_04: And Word Worship Right, three pillars for the daily rhythms that keep us anchored.
9:20
SPEAKER_04: But I wanted to kind of spin the theme a little bit to touch on those rhythms that help us stay anchored in dark times or get us through dark times.
9:31
SPEAKER_04: And sometimes in that, these rhythms are keeping us steady when we're experiencing massive change, like maybe a death of a dream or a transition in our life work that looks different than what we hoped it would.
9:49
SPEAKER_04: So because you and I are just getting to know each other, I didn't know we'd go this direction.
9:53
SPEAKER_04: But if I could for a second, could you speak to the woman who is maybe looking at this new year and there might be something that they're laying down, they're saying goodbye to, or they're having to take another path that really maybe wasn't their first choice.
10:09
SPEAKER_04: And it's been hard to even grapple to get to this point.
10:13
SPEAKER_00: Well, it's interesting you mention that approach because I told you, I told you sort of the beginning of that transition.
10:21
SPEAKER_00: The part I had not shared, which I think is probably the most important part of this story, is that when I when I decided to leave New York City and um stopped pursuing um full-time, I should say, I still sing, but stopped pursuing a full-time career in um in stage, I would say, I moved here to Grand Rapids anticipating that within a year I would be married uh to to the young man I was dating.
10:54
SPEAKER_00: But two months into my move here, I lost him tragically.
11:01
SPEAKER_00: And um it is it is not the call you ever expect, especially about someone that's only 36 years old.
11:11
SPEAKER_00: And so um when you s when you say laying down a dream, um I on that day in July 2007, I I really lost that dream of um companionship and marriage, and um, I mean I didn't and and and children.
11:35
SPEAKER_00: And so um that's been tough.
11:39
SPEAKER_00: That's that's that's been the the most difficult part of my path.
11:45
SPEAKER_00: But what I think, no no, not not what I think, but what I know is that um God moved me to be here to be cared for.
11:58
SPEAKER_00: Wow, to be cared for by um folks who um have great faith, who would pray over me, pray the scriptures, pray prayers, who would really care for me.
12:13
SPEAKER_00: And um at the same time, just prior to James, James's passing, I would say probably two days before he passed away, um, he and I were on the phone, and I had just been told by a doctor that I had this very rare autoimmune disease.
12:33
SPEAKER_01: Oh my god.
12:34
SPEAKER_00: And and and so he and I had been praying over the phone about about this disease because there was it was still unclear at what level I had it.
12:46
SPEAKER_00: And um, so we were praying that it was not gonna be one of those levels where um the the the treatment would kill you, essentially.
12:55
SPEAKER_00: Because that's what a doctor told me.
12:57
SPEAKER_00: A doctor was like, let's pray.
12:58
SPEAKER_00: The doctor actually said, let's pray out of all these three different categories that you're in this category, because if you're in this category, well, treatment's gonna be rough.
13:08
SPEAKER_00: And so, so two days prior, James and I had been praying about that.
13:13
SPEAKER_00: So I was in the middle of what losing my health, part of my health looked like, um, and then two days later, losing James, and um, and just really a godly man.
13:27
SPEAKER_00: And so I guess what I would say to the person who is looking at life, um, and it looks different than they ever imagined, is that um find community.
13:42
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and I could not pray.
13:46
SPEAKER_00: I couldn't pray for myself.
13:48
SPEAKER_00: Um, one of my friends out of my church uh in New York, now keep in mind I had just moved to Grand Rapids.
13:57
SPEAKER_00: I left my church community out of New York City, and I had yet to be in church community in Grand Rapids, but I was in Zondervan.
14:07
SPEAKER_00: I was in, you know, a Christian space with believers.
14:12
SPEAKER_00: But my friend, uh my dear friend from um church in New York called and said, Um, I want to pray with you every Sunday at seven.
14:25
SPEAKER_00: She says, I'm gonna be praying for you all week, but I want to pray for you.
14:30
SPEAKER_00: And I was so angry.
14:32
SPEAKER_00: I was very angry.
14:35
SPEAKER_00: And I and I said, I don't want to talk to anything.
14:38
SPEAKER_00: I don't want to talk to God, I don't want to talk I don't, I don't and she said, she said, just answer the phone.
14:45
SPEAKER_00: You don't have to do anything.
14:47
SPEAKER_00: And I said, it's a good thing because I'm not doing anything.
14:51
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
14:52
SPEAKER_00: And part of it, part of my anger too is that I had I had done, I thought I'd done everything right when it came to being a person of faith.
15:04
SPEAKER_00: I thought I had done it right.
15:05
SPEAKER_00: I thought I'd I'd waited on the guy.
15:08
SPEAKER_00: I thought I'd, you know, I'd um um not really been been very focused um on God and just um not involved in the things of the day.
15:21
SPEAKER_00: I had I had like followed the script, and then I found this godly man and just what was very fleeting to me, he was gone.
15:32
SPEAKER_00: And so I was angry.
15:34
SPEAKER_00: And and so what I did allow was I allowed someone to come alongside me, um, even though I didn't want it.
15:46
SPEAKER_00: And and so if if someone's listening who happens to have a friend, I would say to them, be persistent, yeah, be persistent, and say to that person, I'm asking, I'm just asking you to show up.
16:00
SPEAKER_00: Just just like answer the phone.
16:02
SPEAKER_00: That's good.
16:03
SPEAKER_00: And and I probably, I would honestly say, I don't think I could pray.
16:07
SPEAKER_00: I don't think I prayed for nine months.
16:09
SPEAKER_00: I don't think that I'd pick up the phone and my friend Soha would say, start praying, and then I'd say bye and hang up.
16:18
SPEAKER_00: This is like I was like, bye, hang up, I'm done.
16:22
SPEAKER_00: And that went on for that went on for months.
16:25
SPEAKER_00: But you know, there's something about prayer that softens the heart and that that is healing and that brings you along, and it was that process that um really brought me, I would say, um that helped me, helped me during the healing process.
16:50
SPEAKER_00: And it was that I had someone to walk alongside me, and the the one thing I just needed to do was just open the door slightly for that person to walk in to help me.
17:02
SPEAKER_00: And so I would say to that person, um, if you can't pray, if you if you can't open your Bible, um ask your girlfriends, ask her husband, ask whoever's close to you just to pray for you.
17:18
SPEAKER_00: And sometimes I don't even think you have to say why.
17:21
SPEAKER_00: I think you just have to say, I need your help, I need prayer, and and go to God.
17:28
SPEAKER_00: And um, like I said, I you know, Psalm 139 tells us that God knows us.
17:35
SPEAKER_00: God knows us before we even speak a word on our tongues.
17:39
SPEAKER_00: And so while I could not form any words, God um knew my thoughts, he knew my pain.
17:49
SPEAKER_00: Um, but he also set this stage for me to enter a space where he where worshiping him and praying for him out and open would be far more accepting.
18:03
SPEAKER_00: And it was gonna be what I would need to survive, quite frankly, and not feel bottled up bottled up in New York City.
18:11
SPEAKER_00: It was gonna be what I was gonna need.
18:13
SPEAKER_00: And so um prayer, um, companionship, leaning into community, it's it's what did it.
18:24
SPEAKER_04: Wow.
18:25
SPEAKER_04: Man, uh, once again, thank you.
18:27
SPEAKER_04: Thank you for sharing this.
18:29
SPEAKER_04: And I've gotta imagine that someone really needed to hear this and your story.
18:34
SPEAKER_04: I I don't think um, you know, a lot of times the dark night of the soul is brought on by circumstances like this where we, the God we knew and served and how we operated in our faith, um, it doesn't equate to what we're experiencing.
18:54
SPEAKER_04: The this recipe or script or checklist that we were following doesn't add up.
19:01
SPEAKER_04: And suddenly we're grappling, left grappling with who is God, who is God to me, what is faith?
19:09
SPEAKER_04: How do I hold on and still believe when the outcome is horrific?
19:14
SPEAKER_04: It's not even just about not matching expectations, it's horrific.
19:19
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
19:20
SPEAKER_00: And I've tried, you know, in all honesty, there have been times where that because of because of maybe loneliness and and um just at times feeling like God isn't hearing me, um I I've I've actually I've tried to walk away.
19:38
SPEAKER_00: That's been so fascinating.
19:39
SPEAKER_00: It's like I've tried, it's like, I'm done with this, I'm done with this guy, right?
19:44
SPEAKER_00: You know, and um God, like he he grabs hold of me and he just doesn't let go.
19:53
SPEAKER_00: And I I can really feel that because when I do something and I think, oh, I'm just gonna rebel, and you have to, if you if you know me, my rebellion is pretty weak.
20:07
SPEAKER_00: I'm just saying.
20:08
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
20:08
SPEAKER_03: I hear you.
20:09
SPEAKER_03: It's pretty weak.
20:11
SPEAKER_00: But but just thinking, I said to someone earlier who was asking about my journey, I said, you know, I've made mistakes, but in those, in those bad decisions, God has made good.
20:24
SPEAKER_00: God, God's made, you know, and it's just been a part of my journey.
20:30
SPEAKER_00: Um, it hasn't always been perfect, but God has made those things good.
20:36
SPEAKER_00: And and it's just because I know that I'm a child of His.
20:40
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, my beloved.
20:42
SPEAKER_04: Man, um, your story definitely preaches.
20:45
SPEAKER_04: I okay, so I I mean I want to go into this because this whole idea, right?
20:50
SPEAKER_04: We're we're getting into rhythms of the word.
20:53
SPEAKER_04: You just alluded to those rhythms are anchors, but sometimes it's the last thing we want to do.
20:59
SPEAKER_04: There's just an element I can think of friends who are coming out of um just devastating church situations where the person they were following is not what they portrayed to be for, you know, maybe even a couple of decades.
21:12
SPEAKER_04: And so suddenly there's even a distaste for the word of God.
21:17
SPEAKER_04: And is this really worth investing in or reading or spending time to?
21:22
SPEAKER_04: And I I know your answer because you're still standing and you're still here, and this is why we're talking, but help us get there, help us get to the like maybe God's word being palatable again, or what's the value, or how do we do this, or even give this thought of like, well, God still hears me, even if things aren't turning out how I wanted it to.
21:44
SPEAKER_00: Well, I think first and foremost, we must give ourselves.
21:48
SPEAKER_00: God does.
21:50
SPEAKER_00: Yes, he does.
21:51
SPEAKER_00: Um God gives us grace.
21:53
SPEAKER_00: Um, so we must give ourselves.
21:56
SPEAKER_00: And then I also think that we have to get rid of the musts.
22:00
SPEAKER_00: I must do this, I must do that, I must whatever.
22:03
SPEAKER_00: Um, and allow ourselves to just really be cared for by God.
22:09
SPEAKER_00: Church hurt is huge.
22:13
SPEAKER_00: It is.
22:14
SPEAKER_00: Church hurt is um one of the most devastating things that can happen to any individual because you have really quite frankly put that person up on the pedestal, probably next to God.
22:28
SPEAKER_00: You know, and in doing and and in doing so, we've forgotten the humanity of that person.
22:36
SPEAKER_00: And um I I have I've gone through a situation recently where um I forgot the humanity in the person that I had admired, only to find out that this individual is just as flawed as I am.
22:53
SPEAKER_00: Right.
22:54
SPEAKER_00: Just as human.
22:56
SPEAKER_00: Just as human and just as flawed.
22:58
SPEAKER_00: Um and they need our grace as well.
23:02
SPEAKER_00: But church hurt is is devastating.
23:05
SPEAKER_00: And I would say um when there's so much hurt, because that's deep hurt, that's when you have to go to your your people.
23:14
SPEAKER_00: You have to go to your people and just really ask for prayer and get back to the word.
23:22
SPEAKER_00: It could be in chunks.
23:23
SPEAKER_00: It doesn't mean you have to like like read the entire chapter of you know Psalms or Exodus in one sitting.
23:32
SPEAKER_00: Right.
23:33
SPEAKER_00: We we we actually have in God Hears Heard, we have a title that's called Guilt-Free Quiet Times.
23:39
SPEAKER_00: And and oftentimes uh women feel like if they're not doing things to the script or doing it to the planned plan that um they're not doing it you know properly.
23:54
SPEAKER_00: And when you have hurt, the last thing you want to do is actually sometimes go to those places you know you should go to.
24:02
SPEAKER_00: But sometimes it's just cracking that door a little bit and taking chunks at a time.
24:06
SPEAKER_00: It's almost spoon feeding, and just saying, okay, let me just go to a psalm that I really enjoy, and just let me allow God to speak to me through that word.
24:19
SPEAKER_00: Let me allow the Holy Spirit, let me just really rest.
24:24
SPEAKER_00: Rest, rest in God, um, and allow God to work and transform whatever's happening internally in me.
24:34
SPEAKER_00: And it's baby steps.
24:37
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, it is.
24:38
SPEAKER_04: I think that's so good because it's just one verse.
24:42
SPEAKER_04: It's um, it's still a morsel of the bread of life, and and one crumb can nourish you and get you down the road.
24:49
SPEAKER_04: I I'm guessing too, that's kind of your thought around some of the devotionals.
24:54
SPEAKER_04: I mean, I remember our daily bread on my grandparents' counter.
24:58
SPEAKER_04: Like I'm going back to the trailer park in just outside of LA, and you know, that that's where they were retired, and I can like smell the bacon and I see the our daily bread, I smell the toast, and they read it and we read it with them.
25:12
SPEAKER_04: So, I mean, it it this is a you know, longstanding, powerful ministry.
25:18
SPEAKER_04: Maybe tell me more about that little like getting the morsel, and even if it's just a verse and the little and the ways the ministry really helps portion it out, if you will.
25:29
SPEAKER_00: Well, you know, um, to your point, you it's nice to hear that um you guys were sitting at the table and it wasn't in the bathroom because we hear that sometimes.
25:38
SPEAKER_03: But you do.
25:39
SPEAKER_03: That's great.
25:40
SPEAKER_03: Yeah, at the table.
25:42
SPEAKER_00: But at the table.
25:44
SPEAKER_00: Um we're uh we're 85, we're an 85-year-old ministry, but we're not your grandmother's ministry any longer.
25:52
SPEAKER_00: I mean, we we hold close to that core devotional, which is the booklet, and which is trans uh translated in over 50 languages.
26:03
SPEAKER_00: And um but but we think about content from a contextualized as well as a localized perspective, meaning that we want to be able to speak to people where they are, and um say you're in Brazil, we want to make sure that the that the word of God stays the same, but that illustration that we provide will speak to you in your own language, in your own culture, so that you've got so that you can see yourself in God's story.
26:37
SPEAKER_00: Yes, it's not a one-size, it yeah, it's not a one-size-fits-all.
26:41
SPEAKER_00: We want you to see yourself in God's story.
26:44
SPEAKER_00: And um the the great thing about the God Hears Her community uh is that it is a community of women through our resources, through our blog, through our podcast, that allows women to come alongside one another in the beautiful moments of life and in the messy moments of life.
27:06
SPEAKER_00: And and the morsel part of this is that there are several ways for you to connect with us.
27:12
SPEAKER_00: You can simply um click into a podcast and with our guests, we have an array of guests who are who are discussing um things that they've gone through in their lives.
27:25
SPEAKER_00: It it's meant to be encouraging, meant to be inspiring.
27:29
SPEAKER_00: And frankly, quite often, most people uh at some point in a podcast session will identify with something that's being said.
27:38
SPEAKER_00: The host, the hosts are three different women from three different walks of life, and so you've got a different perspective that you might connect with, even with those women.
27:49
SPEAKER_00: But the idea is that these stories, um, this content um always leads you back to the word of God, which is everlasting and sustaining, is transformative, uh, is meant to heal, it's meant to remind us who God is and who you are in God.
28:11
SPEAKER_00: That is really our purpose is to continue to um make the life-changing wisdom of the Bible understandable and accessible for everybody.
28:22
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, I love that.
28:24
SPEAKER_04: So powerful.
28:24
SPEAKER_04: It's one of the best things that we'd be doing to build the kingdom of God.
28:28
SPEAKER_04: Now, I what caught my attention was I was sent because I get sent packages in the mail, so fun, books and all of that.
28:35
SPEAKER_04: So got the 365 devotional of God Hears Her and the Planner, and it's this whole community that our Daily Bread has really launched and and host and all of that.
28:46
SPEAKER_04: Um, what can we explain what what does the devotional look like?
28:49
SPEAKER_04: What does engagement with with it?
28:51
SPEAKER_04: And how how would I approach that?
28:53
SPEAKER_04: Or how would my friend approach that as they're going, okay, I want to get into a rhythm of getting in this word.
28:59
SPEAKER_04: How is it gonna help me?
29:00
SPEAKER_04: And 365, whoa, that like that's a big number.
29:05
SPEAKER_00: It is.
29:06
SPEAKER_00: It it's it's a big number, but it's it's not meant for, you know, some folks will dive into it and I have it here.
29:13
SPEAKER_00: Some some folks will dive into this thing, it's really big, and think, oh, I need to start this from beginning to end.
29:20
SPEAKER_00: But sometimes you don't feel that way.
29:22
SPEAKER_00: Sometimes you just like open the book and see what someone has to say about something.
29:28
SPEAKER_00: It isn't um, and so while it might be chronological in nature, it's okay.
29:33
SPEAKER_00: Just just dive into it.
29:34
SPEAKER_00: And this is just pick a day, and this is when I say um to take the pressure off yourself.
29:42
SPEAKER_00: Just open it and read one page.
29:45
SPEAKER_00: They're not long, they're they're one page, you can see the book here.
29:48
SPEAKER_00: They're not long, and um, so it is just an opportunity to say that I've I've um had an experienced time with God today.
29:58
SPEAKER_00: Um I I think especially women, because um social media, media um portrays, um, tries to portray uh women or women try to portray themselves as perfect, um, flawless, um, extremely beautiful.
30:20
SPEAKER_00: Um and we're just, you know, we're regular people who are wives and mothers and and caregivers and just trying to make it through the day.
30:31
SPEAKER_00: And um the media and social media um is false.
30:37
SPEAKER_00: And but we we get sucked in.
30:39
SPEAKER_00: We really get sucked into to trying to live up to the standard that is virtually impossible to do so.
30:47
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
30:47
SPEAKER_00: So this isn't meant to be able, the the whole point of this 365 and any of our content is simply to invite you in on your own terms.
30:58
SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
30:59
SPEAKER_00: When you're ready, yeah, when you can and when you're ready.
31:03
SPEAKER_00: Now, with that said, um we do like to encourage people that encourage people to engage um in their way at least three to four times a week, if it's possible.
31:18
SPEAKER_00: Because the research from the Center of Bible engagement tells us that when folks engage with the Word of God three to four times um a week, it does allow opportunity for the Holy Spirit to work in your lives.
31:33
SPEAKER_00: Um, there's research that tells us that people struggle less, they're less lonely.
31:38
SPEAKER_00: Um, they they're clearer in their decisions because they're able to understand who they are in God.
31:46
SPEAKER_00: And so while you could, if only you can do, if you can only do five minutes, do five minutes.
31:52
SPEAKER_00: Right.
31:52
SPEAKER_00: And then, but don't pressure yourself, but still, you know, I hope it, I hope this, you know, encourages women to just dig in where they can, when they can, and how they can.
32:06
SPEAKER_04: I love that you highlight the, you know, just getting into the word a few times a week, it makes the change.
32:13
SPEAKER_04: And that's what I'm such an advocate of is that it's it's not always easy to do it, but there is a simple step of transformation that we can experience.
32:24
SPEAKER_04: And that is simply showing up as ourselves, hot mess, tired, angry, all the feelings before God, and just cracking open and making that declaration physically to open the word of God or something that is going to spoon feed you the word of God, that brings the transformation.
32:44
SPEAKER_04: It's not even anything you do outside of that, right?
32:47
SPEAKER_04: There, there's just something that happens.
32:49
SPEAKER_04: It's living and active.
32:51
SPEAKER_04: And I think I I know I'm confident that it's resources like this that I know it's what kept me coming to the word because it was little, it was, it was digestible.
33:04
SPEAKER_04: It was easy to take, right?
33:06
SPEAKER_04: You know, it was like the pill that's very nicely candy coated so you can swallow it.
33:11
SPEAKER_00: It's non-intimidating.
33:12
SPEAKER_04: Yeah, you're not gonna exegete Jeremiah when you were going through the dark night of the soul.
33:18
SPEAKER_04: Let me tell you, I had to give that up.
33:19
SPEAKER_04: I was like, no, I can't do this anymore.
33:22
SPEAKER_04: Um, and and then eventually I finished it.
33:24
SPEAKER_04: But um I that's what you think these resources are so invaluable to help just bring a little life into that rhythm again and some joy and it to not feel like this heavy lift, um, which, you know, the even though there's 365, it's not this giant, you know, grandmother's box.
33:46
SPEAKER_04: It isn't.
33:46
SPEAKER_00: It isn't.
33:47
SPEAKER_00: And and we actually have other content as well, a part of the God hears her family.
33:52
SPEAKER_00: You know, we've got um a planner and and journals, and and there is there is a God hears her piece of content for you, um, where you are in your journey with God and and even where you hoped you're gonna be.
34:08
SPEAKER_00: Um so I I encourage, I want to encourage those that are listening and maybe watching the podcast to take a read.
34:17
SPEAKER_00: Go to godhearsher.org.
34:19
SPEAKER_00: That the podcast with those three women is phenomenal.
34:23
SPEAKER_00: I had a chance to visit with those uh those women about a year ago and share my grief story.
34:29
SPEAKER_00: Um, and that was um, you know, I was I was blessed and honored that I was invited.
34:36
SPEAKER_00: And it was a wonderful time that we had, but but I really feel like um it that uh your listeners can can find something that will will encourage them.
34:49
SPEAKER_04: Absolutely, absolutely.
34:50
SPEAKER_04: Okay, two things before I let you go.
34:53
SPEAKER_04: Um could you give us uh a little fast forward?
34:57
SPEAKER_04: Obviously, you're sharing your grief story now, you're working for this incredible ministry, you're inviting women and men to get into the word of God.
35:06
SPEAKER_04: And uh, but where do you find yourself now as you reflect on some of that grief stage?
35:13
SPEAKER_04: It's 18 years later.
35:15
SPEAKER_04: And what do you know about God as you've continued to grow in resilience and standing in Him?
35:25
SPEAKER_00: Provider, provision.
35:28
SPEAKER_00: Um, I am still single and I still have a heart for companionship, and um, and I imagine that when and if that time is right, God will make that happen.
35:42
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, um, but God has provided, and um, He's allowed me the ability to step into roles like this and just really enjoy myself and encouraging women, encouraging other readers uh to hold tight to God.
36:02
SPEAKER_00: Um so 18 years later, um I I won't lie to you, it's still there's still some pain there.
36:11
SPEAKER_00: Absolutely.
36:11
SPEAKER_00: Um, there's still pain.
36:13
SPEAKER_00: Um but I I stopped fighting God a long time ago.
36:21
SPEAKER_00: I I said to God, I you have you have proven to me more than once, twice, a hundred times, that I am your child and that you will provide for me.
36:35
SPEAKER_00: And when door when one door is closed, he has immediately flung up open another.
36:41
SPEAKER_00: He's he without really needing to do so, he's proven to me that he's gonna he's gonna care for me, his child.
36:50
SPEAKER_00: And so um my journey has been one of acceptance, one of acceptance where God has me now.
37:01
SPEAKER_00: Um, and um just um me being open to where God wants to wants me to go in the future.
37:11
SPEAKER_00: And I try my best not to have any preconceived notions about that any longer, because remember, I said I I thought I had a script.
37:19
SPEAKER_00: I was trying to, I was, I was I was doing the I had the checklist, um, but God in He um has shown me favor in my singleness.
37:32
SPEAKER_00: God has shown me favor um uh while I've been childless.
37:38
SPEAKER_00: God has shown me favor um in just about every area of my life, and I need to be grateful, and I am grateful.
37:50
SPEAKER_04: Well, I see it.
37:51
SPEAKER_04: I see it in you.
37:52
SPEAKER_04: Um, you just radiate true love for Jesus and the hope that you carry, it's uh it's tangible.
37:59
SPEAKER_04: Like I can I can see it.
38:01
SPEAKER_04: And for those who can't see it now, I'm sorry, but let me communicate that.
38:05
SPEAKER_04: And so thank you.
38:07
SPEAKER_04: Thank you for giving us that word of encouragement.
38:10
SPEAKER_04: And I've I have complete confidence that several of my friends listening needed to hear this.
38:15
SPEAKER_04: And I'm gonna put you on the spot, but I just feel like this would be really applicable if you're willing.
38:21
SPEAKER_04: And that is to actually close us in prayer.
38:23
SPEAKER_04: I feel like your friend, I think her name was Solo or Soho with some like fun name.
38:28
SPEAKER_04: Soha.
38:29
SPEAKER_04: Soha, there we go.
38:30
SPEAKER_04: Soha prayed for you.
38:32
SPEAKER_04: Would you pray for the woman who's not really able to pray for herself right now and just some hope that's needed and in the power of the word of God?
38:42
SPEAKER_00: I I would be happy to.
38:45
SPEAKER_00: Um, Father in heaven, we're so grateful for the opportunity to come before you and ask for your help, um, for your healing hand, and for you to wrap us in your arms of encouragement and healing.
39:03
SPEAKER_00: And Father, I uh lift the names of those that I don't know, uh, and I ask that you walk alongside them.
39:13
SPEAKER_00: I ask that you come to them in their hour of need, showing your true self and showing them what it's like to be loved by you, Father.
39:24
SPEAKER_00: For the individual that just can't um pray at this moment.
39:29
SPEAKER_00: I ask that you just open your heart just slightly to allow the Holy Spirit to come in, to allow God to show you mercy and love and to allow those around you to surround you with grace and acceptance.
39:47
SPEAKER_00: Father, we're so grateful for the opportunity to serve because you are a wonderful and your name is majesty.
39:57
SPEAKER_00: In this season, um, we're thankful for the son that came and then eventually died on the cross for our sins.
40:06
SPEAKER_00: Thank you for all that you've done for us and that you will all you will continue to do.
40:11
SPEAKER_00: In your name we pray.
40:14
SPEAKER_00: Amen.
40:15
SPEAKER_00: Amen.
40:16
SPEAKER_04: Thank you so much, Constanthea.
40:18
SPEAKER_04: Yes.
40:19
SPEAKER_04: I also wanted to say I love praying for people who are still desiring marriage, and the answer has not been fulfilled.
40:27
SPEAKER_04: So you're going on my list.
40:29
SPEAKER_01: Thank you.
40:30
SPEAKER_04: It's just a fun name to add to my morning prayer.
40:33
SPEAKER_04: So yeah, I know a lot of other people are, I'm sure.
40:36
SPEAKER_04: You're a beautiful woman, a beautiful person.
40:38
SPEAKER_04: And I just love the way that the Lord has used you in mighty ways.
40:43
SPEAKER_04: And even though it's not always the way we want to.
40:46
SPEAKER_04: So God be the glory.
40:49
SPEAKER_00: Amen.
40:50
SPEAKER_00: Amen.
40:50
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
40:51
SPEAKER_00: Hey, thank you for your time today.
40:52
SPEAKER_00: We really, you know, we here at the ministry really thank you.
40:55
SPEAKER_00: I thank you.
40:56
SPEAKER_00: Um, we love what we do here.
40:59
SPEAKER_00: Um, we really do feel like we've been called to do this type of work and the work in of serving those that who don't always have the resources to read the word of God.
41:09
SPEAKER_00: Um, so we're just, we're thrilled.
41:11
SPEAKER_00: Thank you.
41:12
SPEAKER_04: It's a true ministry.
41:14
SPEAKER_04: Absolutely.
41:14
SPEAKER_04: It's my joy and honor for sure.
41:16
SPEAKER_04: Thank you.
41:18
SPEAKER_04: Okay.
41:18
SPEAKER_04: As you heard, most of this conversation was a delightful surprise.
41:23
SPEAKER_04: And I am so glad that I felt inspired in the moment to ask Chris Cynthia to pray for us.
41:28
SPEAKER_04: It was really beautiful and meaningful.
41:30
SPEAKER_04: I hope that you feel encouraged to pick up God's word again, whether it's been just a few hours or if it's been a few years.
41:40
SPEAKER_04: I hope that you will open up and find a psalm and maybe even just read one verse, one verse to help orient you for today.
41:48
SPEAKER_04: And in the end, that will help orient you to the year ahead.
41:52
SPEAKER_04: I'd love it if you would go say hi to Chrysynthia on the socials to follow our daily bread and to learn more about God Hears Her Resources.
42:01
SPEAKER_04: What a rich, abundant society that we live in, that we have so much access to God's word.
42:08
SPEAKER_04: Next week, we're going to continue conversations about these wholehearted rhythms with Douglas McKelvey.
42:15
SPEAKER_04: He came on to share about worship, but admittedly, we talked about the word and writing, and also about what to do when the dream dies or when it ends, and perhaps doesn't turn out the way that you thought it would.
42:31
SPEAKER_04: Douglas has a lot of stories.
42:33
SPEAKER_04: And if you haven't heard his name before, he has helped write and direct the three volumes of Every Moment Holy that are available.
42:41
SPEAKER_04: They're full of liturgy prayers for the everyday, the every moment, whether it's a new year or ordinary days, or even helping someone pray through grief and loss and sickness.
42:54
SPEAKER_04: These every moment holy volumes are so rich and so profound.
42:58
SPEAKER_04: You've heard me talk about them before, or if you've been at my live events, you've heard some of the prayers and liturgies from these books.
43:04
SPEAKER_04: So I was really thrilled to get to talk to Douglas and hear more about his journey behind the prayers.
43:09
SPEAKER_04: I mean, how do you write a liturgy?
43:11
SPEAKER_04: How did it all begin?
43:13
SPEAKER_04: And I appreciated all his stories that I think were also as inspiring and encouraging as the one that you just heard.
43:20
SPEAKER_04: So I look forward to sharing that with you next week.
43:23
SPEAKER_04: So make sure you're subscribed to the Simply Wholehearted podcast so you don't miss an episode.
43:27
SPEAKER_04: And as always, tag me on socials or send me a message to let me know what you've thought of these conversations, or maybe an idea you have for future ones.
43:37
SPEAKER_04: Alrighty, my friend.
43:39
SPEAKER_04: Remember, we're all broken, we're all blowing it, but it's the brave one who does something about it.