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When life as we know it is flipped upside down, we struggle to make sense of it all. Why would a good God allow this to happen? Hi, I’m Sherrie Pilkington, your host of Finding God In Our Pain. In 2018, when I unexpectedly lost my husband of 32 years, questions erupted out of my deepest despair. Since then, I’ve continued to search the heart of God for what He has to say about pain and suffering. In this podcast we’ll discover how God enters into our pain, shepherds us through our darkest valleys, and leads us to green pastures once again. I’ll bring you firsthand stories from women who allow us into their authentic struggles, along with professional advice from experts, counselors, and others who can help us navigate pain. Join me, as we discover God’s answers to the deepest cries of our shattered hearts.
Episodes
Wednesday Nov 25, 2020
Wednesday Nov 25, 2020
Meredith Bunting - Living with Chronic Illness
If you have chronic pain be it physical or emotional, Meredith can give you insight to using your pain to bridge your reality with heaven. She lives with 2 chronic illnesses that do not have a cure. But rather than cave to the loneliness and depression they create she has found holy moments where she knows God's presence and experiences His great love for her.
Make sure to read her blog post The Essence of Pain. The post includes the main page plus 4 additional pages that break down the word PAIN. The pain of this world braided together with the beauty of God's presence in the midst of it all. You can find her at meredithbunting.com
Live Loved and Thrive @ alifeofthrive.com
Transcript: https://www.happyscribe.com/transcriptions/ba4cd2021edb48aa903e06ecd88649ba/edit_v2
BIO: Meredith Bunting, formally called “Fluff Ball” as an endearment close to the mark, is prone to whimsy while bent to wisdom, drawn to emotion, yet thrives in compassion and is besought with questions and always surprised by God’s answers. Her driving passion is seeking the essence within the days given by God.
Her thirty-year battle with Rheumatoid Arthritis has rendered her joints weak, her hands deformed and her feet plain sore. The life changing diagnosis to a former Health and Fitness Instructor developed into a writing ministry she calls, “Faith Fitness and Fruit”, which will be published in the near future.
Meanwhile, “The Essence of Pain”, which she wrote during episodes of chronic pain, is available through this website.
Meredith lives in her new home in Naples, Florida. She and her husband have three daughters and are blessed with ten grandchildren and one “best friend”, their Schnauzer, Sophia. Excerpts from “Faith, Fitness and Fruit” can be found on meredithbunting.com.
Wednesday Nov 11, 2020
Wednesday Nov 11, 2020
Dyan Lollis - False Imprisonment
My guest, Dyan Lollis is no stranger to pain and suffering. In this episode she tells us what it's like to be convicted, sentenced and doing time ... for something she didn't do. How in the world can God use a convicted felon and why would He tarnish His reputation by doing so?
Live Loved and Thrive @ alifeofthrive.com
She's written a book on her experience. You can get it on Amazon but she said if you contact her directly she's cheaper :) dyanlollis@ymail.com. Here's the Amazon link:
https://www.amazon.com/Behind-Glass-Innocent-Woman-Tells/dp/1603832556
Transcript to today's episode: https://www.happyscribe.com/transcriptions/207280aa8d924aeab27e0450edc53805/edit_v2
BIO: I live in Florida with my husband Walter. I love sharing Christ with others and I am a leader in the youth group at my church and I teach Sunday School for 3rd through 6th grade.
I love all God’s creatures so I rescue all forms of wildlife; reptiles, mammals, and birds. I take seriously that we are to be caretakers of the earth and I would rehabilitate a bumble bee if it needed me.
I am an avid reader, reading at least one or more books a week. I also love crafts and I constantly have some project going at all times. When I want to unwind I visit Disney World and all the other theme parks in Florida as I love thrill rides.
Wednesday Oct 28, 2020
Wednesday Oct 28, 2020
Michele Poe - Mental Illness and Suicide
Michele Poe or Meiche (pronounced Meesh) has one of the most generous hearts when it comes to passionately championing those who suffer with mental health issues and thoughts of harming themselves. You'll find her to be authentic and transparent as she shares her personal journey of what it looks like to be a Christian who suffers from mental illness and who attempted suicide in 2016. She'll be the first to tell you that labels and titles do not define you, Christ does.
Live Loved and Thrive @ alifeofthrive.com
If you want to reach out to Meiche please use her email: meichepoe7@gmail.com
Transcript: https://www.happyscribe.com/transcriptions/17ce498a9d7846e5803a6e8f5e4796f1/edit_v2
BIO: Meiche Poe has been married to her high school sweetheart Evan, for 26+ years. They have four successful adult daughters whom they take great pleasure in watching as God draws them into all that He has for them. In addition to the girls, they currently have two young grandsons who fill their hearts with exceedingly abundant joy.
Meiche has successfully fought depression, anxiety and insomnia for the past twenty years. She has found peace and perseverance for the journey with help from the Lord, her family and a wonderful treatment team.
Her passion is to share her story with those who suffer from mental illness. It is her heart’s desire to remove the feeling of hopelessness and give hope to those who struggle with similar issues.
Wednesday Oct 14, 2020
Wednesday Oct 14, 2020
Sandra Julian Barker - Murder and Forgiveness
Author Sandra Julian Barker shares her personal story of what it has been like for God to shepherd her through her own personal valley of darkness when her nephew murdered his parents, Sandra's brother and sister-in-law. She reads several excerpts from her personal journal, reveals her authentic struggle with questions and her ultimate choice to be the hands and feet of Christ despite her great pain.
Live Loved and Thrive @ alifeofthrive.com
You can contact her through her inspirational blog at www.sandra-ramblingrose.blogspot.com or email at joyfulwriter@hotmail.com.
Transcript: https://www.happyscribe.com/transcriptions/a37b9e66ef9744d5a8296a922e0b1d78/edit_v2
BIO: Sandra Julian Barker is author of 13 published books and an award-winning short story and travel writer. She also has a story in the best selling, Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul.
Sandra enjoys traveling in Europe and all around the U.S and recording those travels through journaling and photography. She has a passion for leading women in Bible study, teaching young adults in Sunday School, and for encouraging female inmates at the regional jail through Bible study.
She delights in spending time with her family and especially her six precious grandchildren. Sandra's greatest desire is to encourage women, and to bring honor and glory to God through the talents He’s given her. You can contact her through her inspirational blog at www.sandra-ramblingrose.blogspot.com or email at joyfulwriter@hotmail.com.
Wednesday Sep 30, 2020
Wednesday Sep 30, 2020
Marjorie Wingert - Living with Blindness - Degenerative Eye Condition
Marjorie's journey into blindness delivers new challenges every day. While her energy, dreams and goals have never slowed down they have been thoroughly and completely tested. Being forced to walk in complete faith and not by sight has been one of the beautiful gifts in her life.
Live Loved and Thrive @ alifeofthrive.com
Website: Marjoriewingert.com
Transcript: https://www.happyscribe.com/transcriptions/6d0e7854731148c38f50a920a66109ed/edit_v2
BIO: Marjorie L. Wingert’s desire to write emerged as a young child. As she grew up in central Pennsylvania, music, art, and academics joined her love of writing. These interests culminated in a B.A. in Music and Psychology. However, it was the financial industry that benefitted from her talents for over a decade. Yet, a degenerative eye condition forced her away from the financial sector and led her to earn a M.A. in Community Counseling. Although continued failing vision once more altered her pathway, a new passion to write re-emerged.
Marjorie’s heart’s desire is for young children to know Jesus through the transforming power of God found in the pages of Scripture. As an author, speaker, musician, and blogger, Marjorie uses her God given talents to help equip parents in training up their children in the Lord through prayer. She loves to communicate God’s truths to kids in fun and engaging ways. Collaborating with the “real” Mr. Caleb, she is composing a music CD of Bible verses set to simple, catchy tunes children and parents will sing over and over again. For more information on her ministry, visit www.marjoriewingert.com.
Wednesday Sep 23, 2020
Wednesday Sep 23, 2020
Pilot Episode for Finding God in Our Pain
The podcast Finding God in Our Pain, is a division of the blog, A Life of Thrive. While the blog strives to find the beauty of Christ in everyday life the podcast format opens up a conversation about finding the beauty of Christ even when our lives are flipped upside down.
Through an interview format, we will hear firsthand stories of women who have walked through the darkest days of their life and they’ll share what it felt like for God to meet them in their pain and what it looked like for Him to gently shepherd them through their valley and bring them out into the green pastures.
In addition to personal stories, we’ll hear from therapists, grief counselors, pastors, authors and others who can speak into the pain with solutions, insight, strategies and various ways we can use to find healing for our shattered hearts.
Live Loved and Thrive @ alifeofthrive.com