Life seems to be a series of highs and lows. If my happiness depends on the circumstances around me, I’m in for quite the roller coaster ride.

Even this past week we received heartbreaking news about my mom’s health. BUT God has been faithful and present and steadfast to show up in the details. Including the timing of this interview. . .

Sara Hagerty’s book “Every Bitter Thing is Sweet” released in October 2014. I started reading it in May 2015 when my dad was diagnosed with colon cancer. Her words soothed my aching heart. Her honesty about her dad’s cancer diagnosis and God’s faithfulness through it brought me peace.

Then the day after we got my mom’s diagnosis I’m on Skype interviewing Sara. Well, first she and I cried and prayed together. . .then we recorded this interview.

Like I said, God is in the details.

Sara knows the struggle to believe God is good when life doesn’t turn out the way you’d hope. From marriage struggles, financial insecurity, parent illness, infertility exhaustion, etc, Sara discovered her only place of true security came when she prayed back God’s Word back to Him in adoration.

One day while sitting in her kitchen, utterly exhausted by life, God gave her these words:

The satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb, but to the hungry soul,

 every bitter thing is sweet. (Proverbs 27:7)

Thanksgiving week is full of remembering all that God has done for us. Who couldn’t use an extra heaping helping of gratitude these days?

Sara reminding us about adoration, takes gratitude and turns it towards who God is. Praising Him not for what He has done for me, but who He promises to be. Which then shifts my heart to believe He is who He says He is.

In control.

Almighty.

Beginning and End.

Lover of our souls.

Binder of the brokenhearted.

If you need to hear a word of encouragement and be reminded of who God is and why He can be trusted, then this episode is for you, sweet sister. Happy Thanksgiving!

What we chat about:

• Discovering life with God is often NOT like a treadmill, always gaining speed and strength
• God’s revelations to Sara through the pain of infertility and marriage struggles
• Facing bitterness and the nagging feeling “God is good, he’s just not good to me.”
• Recognizing the hunger that lies beneath bitterness; God’s “divine alluring”
• Intentionally seeking God in the places your heart comes alive
• Adoration as a spiritual discipline: speaking scriptures (even the hard ones) back to Him
• Honesty with God on areas you struggle to believe instead of just splashing some “Jesus juice” on it
• How God sees all of the “hidden parts of life” of moms that often feel unnoticed
• Vulnerability not for it’s own sake but with the intention of God’s restoration
• How God not only restored Sara’s marriage, but how He used the hard times to bring more to it than she thought possible

Links Mentioned:

• EveryBitterThingisSweet.com
• SaraHagertyAuthor.com
• “Every Bitter Thing is Sweet” book **
• Psalm 139
• 2 Corinthians 12:9–Our weakness is the place where God moves.

**Amazon affiliate link

Heather MacFadyen, mother of four boys, interviews guests discussing the topic of staying God-centered...both replacing "me" with "He" and remembering we are centered in Him.  

It’s not a magic formula. But almost.

This week’s guest is Dr. Emerson Eggerichs (New York Times Best Selling author of “Love & Respect”). He has opened my eyes to the high value of respect with boys & men with his newest book, “Mother and Son: The Respect Effect**”. ‘Game changer.

•  
•  
•  
•  
•  

With this new “respect effect” perspective, interactions with my boys have changed. Before a word comes out of my mouth I’m evaluating if the tone is positive and the correction is focused on the behavior and not the person. I’ve also noticed how I alter what I say when helping them get along with one another (e.g., “Are you respecting your brother when you take the toy he is playing with?”).

I know, I know. A few weeks ago I published a parenting boys episode. I promise an interview with Sissy Goff is in the works, to help moms with girls (she leads a camp all summer. . .so we’ll be chatting in the Fall). But just like with the other parenting boys episode, whether you have sons or daughters, after listening you will understand your husband better. That’s a very good thing.

And I know, I know, I share several books on the podcast. Each of my guests is selected with a lot of thought and consideration. Deciding to only introduce you to books that I would want to read myself. But this book sits at the top of the summer reading list. Seriously. (Just ask all my friends which book they see me toting around and talking about this month 😉 ).

What we chat about:

• How the popular “Love & Respect” message applies to mother & son relationships.
• Recognizing that honor motivates men (and our boys).
• How teen girls respond differently than teen boys to a mom’s critique.
• A great definition of “respect”.
• How to hold boundaries with our boys, but still respect their spirits.
• A specific example of how to apply “respect talk” with your boys.
• How this respect effect can be applied by teachers in the classroom.
• Using the acronym “CHAIRS” to identify areas you can use respect talk.
• How it’s never to late to start.

Links Mentioned:

• Love and Respect: The Love She Most Desires; The Respect He Desperately Needs **
• Ephesians 5:25 “ Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,”
• Love & Respect in the Family: The Respect Parents Desire; The Love Children Need **

**Amazon affiliate links

Heather MacFadyen, mother of four boys, interviews guests discussing the topic of staying God-centered...both replacing "me" with "He" and remembering we are centered in Him. /