Tiffany’s story, part 2
Suzie: Let’ s pick up where we left off yesterday. You said that called several abortion clinics, but you didn’t want to go through with it. What made you decide to make the appointment?
Tiffany: Fear. Fear of losing John’s love. Fear of being a single mom. Fear of never being love by another man because I had someone else’s child. Fear of being judged by others. Fear of all the “what-if’s.” (more…)
Tiffany’s StoryToday I interview Tiffany Stuart. She talks about looking for love, an abortion she didn’t want, but had, and how God helped change this painful chapter in the story of her life.
Suzie: When you were in your early twenties, you said you abandoned your faith for a time. That’s interesting because there is a study out that says that 86% of twentysomethings leave their faith. What happened in your case?
Tiffany: My relationship with God grew stale in high school. I moved during my 9th grade summer to the desert away from my city and friends. My new friends weren’t believers, or if they were, I didn’t know it. So I had no accountability. No one asked me to youth group anymore. I didn’t really understand what I read in the Bible, and my family didn’t attend church.
So in my early twenties, I worked two jobs and started hanging out with my friends at nightclubs. Going to church after I partied on Saturday night just didn’t seem right. I didn’t want to be a hypocrite. I was either in or out. Out seemed like more fun.
Back then, my view of God was warped. I viewed Him as a punishing God if I didn’t do all the right things. I wasn’t exactly walking the holy road during those days. Who wants to run to an angry God who might say, “Shame on you”? Not me. So I walked away from my faith.
Suzie: What would you say to the twentysomething that is disillusioned with faith? Where do they turn when they have doubts or feel like they’ve failed? (more…)
Winner and February’s giveaway
Vicki Henry is the winner of Yvonne Ortega’s book, Journey Through Cancer.
Vicki said, “I enjoyed the interview with Yvonne Ortega. I loved her comment, “Be honest with God. He knows how you feel anyway. He loves you and can handle your thoughts and emotions without falling off his throne.” He is incredibly gracious.”
This month’s giveaway is a copy of Real Issues, Real Teens: What Every Parent Needs to Know by T. Suzanne Eller.
Nobody knows how teens really feel about things more than teens themselves. I interviewed 900+ teens over 9 months asking tough questions and promising to listen. Teens let me in to their thoughts and feelings and fears. These interviews form a bridge to practical help for parents of teens (or anyone who loves teens). This is some of what you’ll find inside: (more…)
One of my favorite radio hosts, Erin Campbell
Sunday one of my favorite radio hosts will air an interview. This is from WLW, Water Through the Word.
Because…EVERY Woman has a story! From Water Through the Word with Erin Campbell, Host
“Dare to Believe!”
Sunday, January 27th at 7:30am
Radio Dial AM 700 WLW Cincinnatti“Growing up, I never knew what to expect. One day it all came to a head. My mom pulled us around her in her bedroom. She put a gun to her head and threatened to shoot herself. I was scared, but not because I thought she would die, but because under my breath I whispered, “just do it!”
For women (and men) who experienced a painful past and want to not only find healing, but unpack harmful parenting baggage to give their kids a greater legacy.
Click: To order The Mom I Want to Be: Rising Above the Past to Give Your Kids a Great Future.
Conversant Life
I found a great site called Conversant Life (connecting faith to news and culture). It was started by authors, Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz (Christianity 101 series and I’m Fine with God. . . It’s Christians I Can’t Stand).
Conversant Life is an interesting concept. They have a large number of bloggers who are creating daily content in the form of blogs, podcasts and videos. Their blog roll features communicators who are actively engaging their faith and writing about their experiences in key areas the world. They have writers in missions across the world, professors who are experts in their field of education, pastors, as well as industry professionals in the Film industry, the Arts community, the Music world, Apologetics and more.
Harvest House shared an insightful interview with Bruce Bickel.
Focus on the Family Broadcast
I will be interviewed by LuAnne Crane of Focus on the Family each weekend in February. I hope you tune in as I talk about issues such as letting go of the past, forgiveness, shaping our children’s memories, gaining new perspective, unpacking unhealthy parenting baggage, helpful and practical tools to give your children stability, love, and a safe and loving home.
You can learn more about this program when you visit the website at http://listen.family.org/weekend. If you hit the “Listen Now” link, you’ll be able (eventually) to hear the program online; or if you hit the “Find a Station” link you’ll be directed to a series of pull-down menus that will reveal where you can listen to the broadcast in your local area.
I will be in Escondido, California this weekend teaching a workshop for moms on The Mom I Want to Be at Hearts at Home Mom’s Day Out conference. It’s not too late to register if you are in the San Diego area.
Suz
Happy Birthday, Mom, from a reader named Marla
Yesterday my sister and her family, my brother and his family, and I sat in church with my mom. She turned 70 on January 20th and one of the birthday surprises was to show up at her church.
She cried all the way through service, and they were good tears.
The pastor prayed a dismissal prayer, and my parents were out of there as if shot out of a cannon. I smiled, looking around at my parent’s social adult kids and grandchildren ready to shake hands and meet people, while mom and dad stood by the door of their home church, poised to fly out the door.
We are so different, my parents and I, but I digress. . .
As I watched my mom’s happiness yesterday, I couldn’t help but also think about her pain. There were a lot of years that she felt lost.
Cancer & the Story of Your Life: Day 2
Today is part 2 of my interview with Yvonne Ortega and her faith journey through cancer.
Suzie: Let’s pick up where we left off yesterday. The word cancer has so many negative connotations. Maybe someone’s asking, “Is it possible that there was anything good that came about through your illness?
Cancer & the Story of Your Life: Yvonne Ortega
Today’s Topic: What happens to the story of your life when news of a serious illness disrupts your life?
If you have experienced this, or know someone who is facing it today, I hope you’ll take the time to hear Yvonne’s story. It’s powerful.
Suzie: Hi Yvonne, I’m excited to hear your story. I’m also a cancer survivor. When I found out that I had cancer, I was only 32 and it changed the direction of my life immediately. Can you share with our readers your story? How did you find out that you had cancer?
Yvonne: In December of 2000, I stood in front of the same bathroom mirror I always did. However, that time my left breast was contorted and turned to the right. A lump protruded from my breast. It felt hard as a rock, and I knew it was cancer.
I raced to the telephone and called the doctor. I insisted I be seen the following morning. After all, two of my cousins had died of breast cancer. The next day when the doctor examined me, she seemed quieter than usual. She ordered an immediate mammogram and ultrasound and scheduled an appointment with the surgeon. As is sometimes the case, the mammogram showed nothing, but the ultrasound did. (more…)
Twentysomething quoteBasically, we’re coming out of a period of fortressing Christianity. When so much was sweeping into our culture, our parents felt compelled to shelter and protect us maybe, rather than equip us to handle the world as followers of Christ. I also am not convinced that one of the spiritual laws, namely, that God loves you and has a plan for your life was interpreted by its hearers very well.
That statement, by its very nature, conveys an idea of cushiness or maybe an unstated promise that everything will turn out well. when in fact, Jesus says ‘follow me’ and then heads straight for a pile of wood and nails, namely, the cross. So if you think you’re signing up for a cushy faith and get the nailed-to-a-tree kind of faith, then you can’t help but feel like there was a little bait and switch going on, resulting in anger. Anonymous twentysomething believer
From article, Inside the Anger of a Generation by Margaret Feinberg
T. Suzanne Eller
Believing that God redeems our life stories, Suzanne teaches you how to give every chapter of your life to a relevant and life-changing Savior.
