Podcast

Breaking Free from Shame: Pregnant at 15, Redeemed by Faith with Christy Braddock

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Christy Braddock

When I was younger, I wasn’t sure if abortion was all that bad. I’d never really heard it addressed much in the church while growing up, so I didn’t have a strong opinion about it either way. Not until my struggle with infertility did I become a strong proponent for choosing life for all babies. I saw the importance of every single child created in the womb and understood that life is formed at the moment of conception. I also saw how God is the Master Creator who has a grand plan for each of us, and we hinder His work when our will collides with His masterpiece.
Today’s guest, Christy Braddock, has struggled with both scenarios. The guilt became a heavy weight to carry. Christy got pregnant at 15 and gave her baby up for adoption. Then at 21 she became pregnant again, but this time she decided to keep the baby and get married, thinking this was her second chance to raise a child. But because her marriage was so dysfunctional she made some poor choices, including abortion, that she’s had to overcome with Jesus’ grace and forgiveness.

Lessons Learned and Victories Won Through Our Son’s Struggle with ADD with Carol Roper

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Jacob and Carol Roper

Jacob’s teacher began by saying Jacob had been very distracted over the last few months, and she felt he needed to be tested for ADD. She handed us a paper outlining the symptoms and advised us to have a doctor confirm the diagnosis.

Then she dropped the bomb.

“I believe Jacob would be better off if you held him back a year,” she said coolly. “Of course, the choice is yours, but he won’t benefit if you send him on ahead.”

Do You Know How to Gracefully Defend Your Faith? with Liz Cobo

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Liz Cobo

Liz Cobo says that nothing has deepened her faith and changed her walk with Jesus like studying the Bible. Studying God’s Word literally changed her life. Things that were once important priorities aren’t anymore. Things that were once afterthoughts are now at the top of her list. 

Scripture is God’s self-revelation and is available to anyone willing to take the time and make the effort to read and study. Liz understands that now. God promises in his Word that he will give us greater understanding of His Word when we read it. 

Liz always believed in God, but didn’t always know Jesus and lived a lot of her life not knowing what the Bible says and doesn’t say.

Are You Harboring Bitterness Toward Your Messy Family? with Carol Roper

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Carol Roper

I don’t know about you, but in my home the laundry room is considered one of the most important rooms. It’s command central. When my kids were still at home it was also a disaster on most days. Oh, it might be clean for a few brief hours, but then when everyone started slinging off boots and muddy clothes, you’d never know I’d darkened the door that day.

Many days the frustration of laundry, picking up clothes, blankets, cups and shoes (the list could go on infinitely) is overwhelming, especially with kids in the home. Before my children flew the nest, I’d get mad and start to spew at them, wanting to ask the question my mom used to ask us in jest (mostly), “What’d your last maid die of—overwork and underpay?” I always laughed at that question, but now I can appreciate the significance of it. That’s sure what it feels like sometimes.

Are You Weary? A Musical Duo’s Story of Hope Through Life’s Storms with Kenny and Claire Hilliard

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Kenny and Claire Hilliard

Husband-and-wife music duo, Kenny and Claire Hilliard both grew up in the upstate of South Carolina before God took them the long way around to finally settle in Nashville, TN.  In 2015, during Kenny’s tenure as a senior pastor and worship leader in Asheville, North Carolina, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Shortly after successful surgery to remove the tumor, Kenny received a second diagnosis, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome—a degenerative genetic disease that left him temporarily impaired. The couple embraced a return to music during Kenny’s recovery, founding a music teaching studio and penning modern hymns for their home congregation. Kenny and Claire also share some of their travel experiences from being on the road six months of the year touring with their 3 kids in an RV across the country. This special couple is honest about the struggles they’ve endured and continue giving God glory via their music through it all.