Your Story with Melinda

As a younger woman, Elizabeth Smith has found success in modelling and beauty pageants. Despite that, she responded to God’s call and left that career behind to become a nurse practitioner. On this episode of Your Story with Melinda, you will learn from her on how we can live a life that God set before us with courage and hope. SUBSCRIBE for more! 👉http://bit.ly/SUBSCRIBEtoFST 👈 | SOCIAL | Facebook: http://facebook.com/faithstrongtoday Instagram: http://instagram.com/faithstrongtoday Twitter: http://twitter.com/stayFaithStrong Website: http://faithstrongtoday.com | HASHTAGS | #YourStorywithMelinda #FaithStrongTodaySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Your Story with Melinda, we have Kay Wyma back to talk about a very interesting 12-month experiment to teach her children about entitlement and help them learn the value of work, as well as the lesson she learned about being part of the problem.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kay Wyma wears many hats. She was as an international banker and a staffer at the White House. Currently, she’s an author, blogger, entrepreneur, speaker, vodcaster – and most importantly – a wife and a mom to five kids! Like me, I know you want to find out how is she not overwhelmed by all these and what she does to stay on top of it all. She gives us the answers on this episode of Your Story with Melinda!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Growing up in the mission field in Kenya and Congo, Ruth Thorogood has seen the best and worst of humanity. Now a successful racer and businesswoman, she said her experiences living in Africa and then having to start from scratch upon moving back to Canada have redefined her identity through Jesus. Come along with us as Ruth shares her adventures and how she lived God’s purpose in every adventure she took on this episode of Your Story with Melinda.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Registered psychotherapist Colleen Blake-Miller joins us on this episode of #YourStorywithMelinda to share her advice on how to create more empowering thoughts with the help of God’s truth to create better realities. In This Episode: • Finding opportunities to rebuild every day • Advice to those who are struggling to fight negativity • Colleen’s very personal story of rising up through adversity • Advice to parents on how they can respond with love when their child commits mistakes Connect with Colleen Blake-Miller: You can find more info on Colleen and read her blog at www.colleenblakemiller.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why are so many young people leaving the church? Let's ask one! On this episode of Your Story with Melinda, Alyssa Esparaz of Compassion Canada shares why her journey and explains how to inspire her generation to find a relationship with God. What’s In This Episode? - The church as a social movement - Engaging the youth to work for justice and poverty alleviation - Bringing the poor and the privileged together - The gift of lamentSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

http://media.blubrry.com/faithstrongtoday/p/fst.mc.tritondigital.com/YOUR_STORY_WITH_MELINDA_P/media/YS-S03E10_Ratzlaff_Family_jul27-18.mp3 Sisters Berkeley and Dylan Ratzlaff started their dancing and acting careers at a very young age. They have worked in LA, lived in Toronto on their own, and there's a lot more to accomplish. On this episode of Your Story with Melinda, Berkeley and Dylan join the show with their mother Pam to share their journey as a family, talk about their television careers, and how praying for the right roles and mentors became integral to their success. What’s In This Episode? * Importance of praying for the right roles and right mentors * How their parents support their passion for dancing and acting * The best part of following Jesus * Becoming salt and light wherever fame takes them Share Your Faith Join our Christian community on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. What an amazing story on this podcast hosted by @melindamaria - watch 'Your Story with Melinda' @stayFaithStrongClick To TweetSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s world offers so many options. We spend a lot of energy on all the little choices we have to make daily just so we can be or get the best. Unfortunately, this distracts us from our God-given purpose and eventually leads us to apathy. Author and podcaster Danielle Strickland has worked with the marginalized for over 20 years. She talks to me on this episode of Your Story with Melinda on how working on the margins have humbled her and opened her eyes to what’s truly essential. What’s In This Episode? * Society’s struggle of wanting what’s “it” * How God makes the ordinary sacred * Apathy and our “sleepy” culture * How embracing discomfort can change your life Share Your Faith Join our Christian community on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. What an amazing story on this podcast hosted by @melindamaria - watch 'Your Story with Melinda' @stayFaithStrongClick To TweetSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ask and you shall receive! This week we're gathering up your questions from social media and answering them in a very special episode of Your Story with Melinda. From career advice to fashion, dating to purposeful living, and so much more, this show is all about connecting with you. What’s In This Episode? * Advice to pre-teens and giving grace to your parents * Discerning about culture and media * Living your best life with passion and purpose to find true love * Being confident with who you are in Christ * Answers to questions you’re curious about Share Your Faith Join our Christian community on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. What an amazing story on this podcast hosted by @melindamaria - watch 'Your Story with Melinda' @stayFaithStrongClick To TweetSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we're exploring what true and authentic love really means. Bethany Baird and Kristen Clark are sisters and co-authors of Love Defined, a book that offers a Biblical approach to finding true love and having a godly marriage. It’s not as easy and romantic as you see in the movies, but the insight and wisdom they will be sharing on this episode of Your Story with Melinda will certainly help you achieve a lasting one. What’s In This Episode? * What the Bible says about true love * Agape, the sacrificial kind of love * Having contentment and purpose in your singlehood * Looking for godliness in a man * Working towards intentional relationships and a godly marriage Share Your Faith Join our Christian community on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. What an amazing story on this podcast hosted by @melindamaria - watch 'Your Story with Melinda' @stayFaithStrongClick To TweetSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s generation of Christian deals with overwhelming information and content on a daily basis. The question is how can young people separate the noise from the truth of God? Young entrepreneur and digital marketing consultant Isaac Hanekamp joins Your Story with Melinda to discuss how we can play an active role in sharing God with others and deepen our faith in Him on or off social media. What’s In This Episode? * How 22-year old Isaac Hanekamp built his business * Finding and sharing truthfulness in social media * His advice to parents and older generations on how to inspire millennials * Being an active consumer and creating for God Share Your Faith Join our Christian community on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. What an amazing story on this podcast hosted by @melindamaria - watch 'Your Story with Melinda' @stayFaithStrongClick To TweetSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Best-selling author and Proverbs 31 Ministries speaker Suzanne Eller grew up in an abusive home, but after her friend decided to invite her to church, her life turned around. Suzie developed a relationship with God and she allowed the Holy Spirit to envelope her life, which gave her the strength to continue her walk with God despite the chaos that surrounded her. Suzie talks more about the Holy Spirit and how to trust it with all your heart on this newest episode of Your Story with Melinda. What’s In This Episode? * Knowing when the Holy Spirit is calling you * Understanding that we have help * Soaking in the message of the Book of Acts * Daring to live a Spirit-led life * Being a reflection of God’s love Share Your Faith Join our Christian community on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. What an amazing story on this podcast hosted by @melindamaria - watch 'Your Story with Melinda' @stayFaithStrongClick To TweetSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

http://media.blubrry.com/faithstrongtoday/content.blubrry.com/faithstrongtoday/YS-S03E04_KatelynBeaty_may25-18.mp3 Katelyn Beaty has a successful career as a writer and a leader. She has written for the New York Times and the Washington Post and is also the youngest and first female Managing Editor of Christianity Today. But like many women, Katelyn also experienced struggles and challenges as a woman in leadership. On this episode of Your Story with Melinda, she shares a few takeaways from her book A Woman’s Place that will empower you to go after God’s calling with confidence, whether it’s in the workplace, the home, the church, or the world. What’s In This Episode? * Katelyn’s struggles as a young woman in leadership * Men and women working together makes a better society * Getting to know the Proverbs 31 woman * The importance of support groups for women * Being brave in every decision we make and every role we play Share Your Faith Join our Christian community on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. What an amazing story on this podcast hosted by @melindamaria - watch 'Your Story with Melinda' @stayFaithStrongClick To TweetSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

http://media.blubrry.com/faithstrongtoday/content.blubrry.com/faithstrongtoday/YS-S03E04_Kevin_and_Wendy_Pauls_may18-18.mp3 TV hosts Wendy and Kevin Pauls have been married for 30 years, and they will tell you it has not been a walk in the park. Both of them have seen many of their friends’ marriages fail despite being raised with Christian values and knowing how it’s "supposed to work." On this episode of Your Story with Melinda, the Pauls offer their advice on how to keep your relationship with your spouse intact and healthy, despite the challenges that come along the different seasons of married life. What’s In This Episode? * The different seasons of married life * Top 3 issues that cause disagreements * Tips for young couples who are about to get married * Why communication is key * Thinking of your spouse before yourself every day Share Your Faith Join our Christian community on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. What an amazing story on this podcast hosted by @melindamaria - watch 'Your Story with Melinda' @stayFaithStrongClick To TweetSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens if God's calling pushes us outside our comfort zones and fear, shame, and anxiety get the best of us? Elizabeth Thompson, author of the book When God Says Go, shares with us how we can rise to challenges and go where we are being asked with confidence, courage, and faith on this episode of Your Story with Melinda! What’s In This Episode? * Defining what God’s calling means * What God really wants us to do * Not all calling is big, grandiose, and glamorous * How to know when God is saying “go” * 3 things that will help us discern God’s calling Share Your Faith Join our Christian community on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Sharing this incredible and inspiring story - watch 'Your Story with Melinda' @stayFaithStrongClick To TweetSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Religion seems to have a bad reputation in today’s society. Greg Paul, the founding pastor of Sanctuary Toronto and author of the book Resurrecting Religion: Finding Our Way Back to the Good News, admits that there is a lot of bad religion out there and that’s causing people to avoid it. Walking in Jesus’s path is more than just going to church or reading the Gospel. As Christians, we are called to something bigger – to think the way Jesus thinks and let it reflect in our actions. Greg talks about how we can live God’s Word for others to see and resurrect true religion on this latest episode of Your Story with Melinda. What’s In This Episode? * Bad religion vs. good religion * Defining what true religion is * Discovering the Beatitudes * Working together as a community to uphold justice Share Your Faith Join our Christian community on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Stories of faith, trust, and love with @melindamaria and her guest - an amazing episode of #YourStorywithMelinda @stayFaithStrongClick To TweetSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Even if you don't know her name, you probably know Melba Pattillo Beals. She is a member of the Little Rock Nine, a group of African-American students who were the first to integrate Central High in Little Rock, Arkansas. Because of this, Melba faced telephone threats, brigades of attacking mothers, rogue police, fireball and acid-throwing attacks, economic blackmail, and even a price upon her head. But that journey saw Melba Beals emerged with indestructible faith, courage, strength, and hope. She opens up about it all on this episode of Your Story with Melinda. Episode Links Connect with Melba: http://melbapattillobeals.com Buy March Forward Girl: http://amzn.to/2F3s7es Join the Faith Strong Community: http://faithstrongtoday.com/forum http://facebook.com/faithstrongtoday http://twitter.com/stayFaithStrong Explore the Faith Strong Podcast Network: http://faithstrongtoday.com/podcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a special Christmas episode of Your Story with Melinda, featuring author and speaker, Sherry Stahl, and co-host of the Why Me Project podcast, Hollie Taylor! It's a conversation with girlfriends about family traditions, favorite memories, and things we love about the season. But we also chat about some tough stuff like why it can e so hard to happy and joyful at Christmas. Episode Links Connect with Sherry Stahl: http://sherrystahl.com http://twitter.com/sherry_stahl Connect with Hollie Taylor: http://faithstrongtoday.com/whymeproject http://twitter.com/hollieonshine Learn about WIMM Canada: http://wimmcanada.caSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's always fun to sit down with another Faith Strong Today family member! Kevin Makins, whose videos discussing faith and life are shared weekly on FaithStrongToday.com, sits down to share his story this week, as well as talk about his recent one-man-show, Holy Shift. Kevin is all about bridging the gap between the secular and the sacred and you're going to love his perspective on how we can effectively create conversations about faith. Episode Links Connect with Kevin: http://kevinmakins.com http://facebook.com/kevinmakins http://instagram.com/kevinmakins http://twitter.com/kevinmakins Join the Faith Strong Community: http://faithstrongtoday.com/forum http://facebook.com/faithstrongtoday http://twitter.com/stayFaithStrong Explore the Faith Strong Podcast Network: http://faithstrongtoday.com/podcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, Pam Sykes spoke honestly about the hardships of marriage in an inspiring episode of Your Story with Melinda. If you missed it, definitely go back and check it out. But our conversation continued afterward, unpacking more of her story and what helped her along the way. We quickly realized that Pam's story needed a part two, and it's just as honest and inspiring as the last. Join us as we chat about creating a healthy support system and the important part church and girlfriends play in that. You don't want to miss this show. Episode Links Connect with Pam: http://cleanlifehappywife.com http://www.facebook.com/Greg.and.Pam.Sykes http://twitter.com/cleanlifewife Join the Faith Strong Community: http://faithstrongtoday.com/forum http://facebook.com/faithstrongtoday http://twitter.com/stayFaithStrong Explore the Faith Strong Podcast Network: http://faithstrongtoday.com/podcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.