Amy J. Bennett

Extraordinary Faith for Everyday Life

Feathers Season 2 Episode 7 with Bethany Haley Williams [Podcast]

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In this episode, I chat with Bethany Haley Williams.

Bethany Haley Williams is the founder and executive director of Exile International, an organization that exists to restore Africa’s former child soldiers and children orphaned by war. With a PhD in counseling psychology, a master’s in clinical social work, she is a leader in the specialized field of war-affected children rehabilitation with worldwide organizations such as the United Nations and the Global Trauma Recovery Institute. With more than twenty years of experience in the field, Bethany maintains a small counseling and coaching practice in Nashville, Tennessee. She and her husband, Matthew, reside in Nashville, Tennessee, and lead the work of Exile International together.

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Bethany shares her  journey from a battle of shame to starting Exile International to provide rehabilitation to war-affected children.

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Feathers Season 2 Episode 6 with Becky Keife [Podcast]

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In this episode, I chat with Becky Keife.

Becky is the blessed mama to three of the most spirited, dirt-loving little boys the good Lord ever made. Along with weapon noises and the constant need to wrestle, her sons have taught her how to delight in the chaos, surrender her will for God’s ways, and find joy in her weakness for the sake of glorifying His strength. Becky is passionate about cultivating a heart of gratitude and shining light on God’s fingerprints in her life. She loves encouraging friends, drinking coffee, and hiking sunny California trails with her crazy boy crew. She writes to slow time, give thanks, and awaken to God’s daily wonders and grace.

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Becky and I open up the episode swapping boy-mom stories. Becky shares how through steps of obedience God led her from being lonely with a desire for authentic community with women to leading a community of women and helping others connect.

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Scripture

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2

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Feathers Season 2 Episode 5 with Kate Battistelli [Podcast]

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In this episode, I chat with Kate Battistelli.

Kate’s an empty nester who’s been married to Mike for 30 years. She’s the mother of recording artist Francesca Battistelli and Mimi to Franny’s two children, Eli and Audrey Jane. She’s a Jersey girl currently living in Atlanta writing about God, food, family and hospitality. Kate enjoys creating easy, healthy recipes using whole foods and organic ingredients and loves writing about the goodness of God.
She’s the author of Growing Great Kids-Partner with God to Cultivate His Purpose in Your Child’s Life, published by Charisma House and she blogs about food and faith at KateBattistelli.com.

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Kate and I open the episode chatting about our summer wedding annviersaries. Kate then shares the story of her and her husband pursuing adoption, laying down their own desires and seeing how God had used it all for good.

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Scripture

Trust in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart Psalm 37:4

Feathers Season 2 Episode 4 with LaToya Edwards [Podcast]

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In this episode, I chat with LaToya Edwards.

LaToya is a recovering perfectionist and control freak that loves old movies, good books and strawberry Häagen-Dazs® ice cream. She traded in a law degree to homeschool her children and be home full-time to serve her family. Through trials of divorce, depression, death and more she has learned how to find joy in motherhood and broken circumstances. As a certified life coach it is LaToya’s desire to encourage and equip other women to do the same.

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LaToya and I open up with some popcorn questions. We learn LaToya was born in Germany, is introverted and loves books. LaToya Edwards share her journey of obedience in forgiveness and prayer for her ex-husband.

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Scripture

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Feathers Season 2 Episode 3 with Logan Wolfram [Podcast]

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In this episode, I chat with Logan Wolfram.

Logan  would give you full access to her pantry if you lived next door. She is a plate-juggling mom and interior decorator turned writer, speaker, and host of the Allume Conference. She is a passionate leader who desires to see women live fully in Christ. Logan and her husband, Jeremy, divide their time between wrangling two inquisitive boys and a 175-pound dog named Titan. They reside in Greenville, South Carolina.

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Logan and I open up the episode talking about the story behind the feather painting I won at Allume 2013 and adventures with her dog Titan. She then shares her journey from one of pain into one of what she’s coined curious faith.

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Feathers Season 2 Episode 2 with Chrystal Evans Hurst [Podcast]

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In this episode, I chat with Chrystal Evans Hurst.

Chrystal loves to encourage other women to love the Lord, love their families, and to love themselves. Chrystal is a wife and mother of five. She is the author of Kingdom Woman and regularly blogs at ChrystalEvansHurst.com

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Chrystal shares her journey to co-authoring Kingdom Woman with her dad Dr. Tony Evans. With fears of lack of time and life experience, she challenged the call and yet God helped her through each obstacle, providing just what she needed to be able to share with women the call to be a Kingdom Woman.

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Feathers Season 2 Episode 1 with Emily P. Freeman [Podcast]

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In this episode, I chat with Emily P. Freeman.

Emily  is the author of Simply Tuesday, Grace for the Good Girl, Graceful, and A Million Little Ways. She also blogs at Chatting at the Sky and Hope*ologie, and contributes to DaySpring’s (in)courage. She and her husband live in North Carolina with their three children.

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Emily and I open up the episode chatting about summer plans and our kids starting middle school.

Emily shares the story of how God led her husband to leave his job as youth pastor after 12 years, diving into a year and a half of the unknown. He has since led him to a career that God was preparing him for. Along the way, God has taught Emily about the small moments of life which she has written about in her new book Simply Tuesday.

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Quotes

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What If

One Year of Adoption: Knowing and Loving a Son

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August 7, 2014 and August 6, 2015

I walk out into the living room from our bedroom in the mountain condo. All three kids have jumbled together on the pull-out bed and couch even though the girls have a separate room to themselves to enjoy. They’ve all just woken up. Their eyes don’t swerve from the cartoons on the TV as I cross the room. Jacob is propped on his elbow with his head rested on Lexi’s bent knee.

I sit on the side of the bed and give Jacob a big hug and announce to the room, “Today is one year since we got Jac0b!” No one makes a move. I don’t think it’s that they don’t care, but that we’ve been celebrating every month on the 7th for 12 months straight.

I move out to the back deck in the cool air to watch the steady rain on the field behind us. I remember one year ago it was sunny and hot and we stand in front of a welcome sign on our garage with lots of hope and joy behind our smiles.  The gray rain I watch from the deck seems fit for the anniversary. It’s not that there is no joy or hope anymore. It’s just this is the year that I found God in the storm.

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I heard Lysa TerKeurst talk about ministry yesterday and she said at some point, God will give you a blessing of growth, but a burden will come with it–it’s a two-edged sword. As she talks, I think of the verses that tell us when we are given much, much will be demanded.

Hannah Kallio teaches on her blog about blessing and how the orignial Hebrew word is a word picture of a rope being held between teeth and stretched and straightened.  The blessing is that we are straightened, but the burden is in the stretching. I say it with full meaning that this year has been a blessing.

I read journal entries and posts from this time last year and I was just so excited to take this journey and just to know my son. I didn’t realize the price of a relationship. It costs to build trust. It costs to know each other. It costs to be able to speak to each other without saying a word.

We paid a hefty price, particularly in the first 4 months last year. When my flesh wanted to run from the conflict, I had to learn how to stay and work through it. When my flesh wanted to give up or spew out, I had to learn how to die to that and press on. When emotions overtook me, I had to learn to take those to the Lord and let Him carry my burden. And I only did that with the help of Jesus Christ. I learned what the verse his power his made perfect in my weakness meant. Only through the working of the Holy Spirit and the words of God the Father did I find strength and hope.

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But, oh, the blessing. I know my son now. I have earned his trust. I can speak to him without saying a word. I know what he likes to eat, what colors he likes, what he likes to wear, how he likes his pancakes, what scares him and what makes him laugh. He trusts me in the little things and the big things. He calls me Mommy and doesn’t stop when people are around.

I’ve learned that any relationship is built on a foundation of love, respect and trust. We have laid that groundwork this year.

More than that, my children have learned that this year. Where once there were tears and frustration, there is laughter and well, still frustration because, yeah, they’re siblings. They’ve learned what it looks like to follow in obedience even when sacrifice is required. They’ve learned that love is not always a feeling, but an action of faithfulness and service. But the fruit of that faithfulness is the feeling.

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Personally, God has used this year to discipline me, to guide me, to break me, to love me. Most importantly, I look at this past year and see God has taught me to abide with Him. God can use all sorts of circumstances to bring us to our knees in dependence on him. For some it is cancer, others it is divorce, perhaps some it is financial ruin or grief. God chose adoption for me.

I would not trade a single tear, frustration or smile for the relationship I have built with Jesus this year. He has become my one and only. It is no longer Jesus and something else. No longer Jesus and perfection. No longer Jesus and fear. No longer Jesus and entertainment. No longer Jesus and good works. Just Jesus. He is sufficient for me.

I have fallen in love with his word, with his presence, with his ways. My faith is strong. He is enough and my all. I do not want to go anywhere where His spirit does not go with me. And he is so faithful, He promises to never leave us or forsake us.

So, today I indeed take a moment in the midst of the mundane and celebrate the blessing and burden of this year. I celebrate with a gift of knowing and loving my son and His Son more.