Welcome to Grace Enough Podcast, where Amber Cullum and special guests fearlessly tackle challenging faith questions while unraveling the limitless grace of God. Through engaging podcast conversations, Amber dives deep into the hard truths of life and reveals the boundless grace of God through inspiring stories of men and women walking in the kingdom of God here on earth. Grace Enough's mission is to offer more than a Band-aid Bible verse or empty platitude to individuals on their spiritual journeys with Jesus. Discover a wealth of free resources at www.graceenoughpodcast.com. This podcast is specially designed to uplift and encourage Christians, reminding them that, regardless of their stories, God can use them to make an impact on His kingdom. Embracing surrender and trust, you'll discover that His grace is truly enough. Tune in now and embark on a remarkable journey of faith.
Episodes
Tuesday Apr 06, 2021
Tuesday Apr 06, 2021
Gracia Burnham joins me to discuss on her missionary life with Martin, being held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf, and God's provision during the 20 years since being freed from the jungle and losing Martin.
Questions Gracia and I Discuss:- (4:38) You met and married Martin and eventually moved to the Philippines where you served as missionaries for 17 years. Tell us what led you to the Philippines and what ministry looked like for you and your family while there.
- (7:56) What makes you say Martin was born to fly in the jungle?
- (10:01) You and Martin decide to take a rare trip alone as a couple to celebrate your 18th wedding anniversary. Walk us through what happened on May 27, 2001 at the Dos Palmas resort.
- (12:17) Who were the Abu Sayyaf?
- (17:30) You and Martin, along with many other captives were held hostage by Abu Sayyaf, but the majority were released. Why did they keep you and Martin for another year?
- (19:51) How would you describe the conditions overall?
- (22:37) What thoughts about your kids would go through your mind during captivity?
- (24:27) Martin often was the one that would kind of pull you up when you were down.. What were some of the things he would say to point you back toward the Lord?
- (26:02) 911 put you and Martin in the forefront of people's minds. What happened after 911?
- (29:56) How did the events of June 7, 2002 unfold
"Our job to run a good flight program and Martin wasn't just an ordinary pilot. He was born to fly in the jungle. And he loved what he did."
"Martin just knew how to get a loaded Cessna down on a short jungle strip and get it stopped in the next few hundred feet."
"These militant Muslims stormed the resort. There was a banging on the door. Before Martin could even get to the door these three guys within M-16's broke the door in and one took him right out. One of them came over to the bed and lowered his weapon at me and yelled, 'Go go go!'. And I said, 'No, no, no, I'm not dressed properly.'. They took me out to after I put on what I'd worn to the beach that night.""At the very beginning, they told Martin we will deal with you last. You'll be political prisoners."
"For the most part, we hiked. We moved all the time, because we were trying to stay in front of the Philippine military who were trying to rescue us."
"Every once in a while, we would come to a place where we thought we were safe....and we would spend weeks. During those days [we were] totally bored. We were either exhausted or we were bored and witnessing the atrocities."
"This huge gun battle, number 17 (we've been through 16 of these before), this Rambo style shooting up the camp... and before I could hit the ground...I was shot in the leg and kind of slid down the slick grass....I came to rest beside Martin and I looked over at him and he was bleeding from his chest. I knew from experience that leg wounds might heal, but chest wounds don't."
Connect with Gracia Burnham at graciaburnham.org
------------------------------------------------------
Follow Grace Enough Podcast on IG and FB
and www.graceenoughpodcast.com
------------------------------------------------
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Tuesday Mar 30, 2021
Tuesday Mar 30, 2021
Sharon Betters and Susan Hunt join me to talk about Aging with Grace in an anti-aging culture. We discuss Psalm 92, healthy rhythms women can establish to help as their bodies slow down, and the value of investing in younger and older women.
Questions on Aging and God's Word Discussed During Our Conversation:- (5:11) What do you mean when you say, aging with grace?
- (12:57) How would you encourage women in their 40's-50's to appreciate and press into what comes with the agingprocess?
- (18:46) What are some healthy rhythms and practices women can establish now that will help them continue to agewith grace as their bodies slow down?
- (26:12) Let's say a woman is listening who is 50-65 and they are in a season of helping their aging parents, spouses, and/or personal health declines. The exhaustion is real and so is the sadness. What would you say to encourage those women?
- cont.
Susan: "The reality is, there's no way to stop aging. The wrinkles and the weakness will come. So if youthfulness is our goal, first of all, that's a pretty shallow goal, but it will also disappoint us terribly. But the gospel offers something so much bigger, so much better, something that's eternal."
"In Psalm 92, God holds before us, a remarkable promise, a vision for aging. Let me read verses 12 to 14, 'The righteous flourish, like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon, they are planted in the house of the Lord, they flourish in the courts of our God, they still bear fruit, in old age, they're ever full of sap and green'."
Sharon: "I started thinking about what it means to grow in grace. It was a seed that was planted and there would be other events that would start nourishing it and growing it, but it was there in my heart I had to make a choice which one was I going to be a life giver or a life taker? I'm so thankful for those life giving women way back then to this little young girl."
"Each loss is a reminder that we don't belong here. When we're God's children, when we know Him through Jesus, we are on our way Home. And so each loss is a memory of that and that can drive us to the cross."
Resources Mentioned:- Book: Aging with Grace by Sharon W. Betters & Susan Hunt
- Aging With Grace Free Resources
- Westminster Catechism
- Book: Spiritual Mothering by Susan Hunt
- 104: Susie Rowan | Bible Study Fellowship, Executive Director
- 84: Sandy Cullum | When Your Faith Walk Changes
- 66: Tim & Darcy Kimmel | The Influence of A Grandparent
Connect with Sharon and Susan at agingwithgrace.online
-----------------------------------------------
Follow Grace Enough Podcast on IG and FB
and www.graceenoughpodcast.com
------------------------------------------------
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Tuesday Mar 23, 2021
Tuesday Mar 23, 2021
Caroline Bailey joins me to discuss becoming barren at age 11 due to a hysterectomy following a life threatening infection, fostering parenting, adoptive parenting, and working in the child welfare system for 20+ years.
Questions Caroline and I Discuss:- (1:59) At age 11, a defining event took place in your life. Will you share about that portion of your childhood, the illness you experienced, and a little about that defining event?
- (8:14) You knew you would never have biological children, but when did you begin to grieve that reality and what was that season like?
- (11:35) Did you grow up in a family of faith? Were your parents Christians? How was God in your life at that time in middle school?
- Through high school, did you continue to think, "Maybe God doesn't love me?" Or were you a typical high schooler and just basically, ignoring what happened?
- (18:15) What happened in your 20s that triggered everything to come crashing down?
- (25:07) For a woman that can carry the label of barren, God has filled your life with children. What drew you and your husband to begin foster parenting?
- (32:37) How did you end up adopting your youngest two children?
- (38:11) What are some of the positive changes you have seen in the child welfare system during the last 20 years?
- (41:26) In regards to child welfare, is there anything you would like to see the body of Christ do better?
"[M]y pediatrician came back into town and read my chart....[H]e called an OB GYN who did some exams on me and did exploratory surgery and when they opened me up, my uterus was completely full of infection.... The infection was leaking into my bladder....[T]hey realized they had to do a hysterectomy, because my uterus was so expanded with infection that if it ruptured, it would have killed me instantly."
"I knew from the very minute I woke up from surgery, that I couldn't have kids....I didn't fully understand the impact of it because I was only 11, but I immediately started to internalize feeling lesser than."
"I think there was two sides to me....My nickname when I was young was little trooper.... so in my head, I'm like, I'm a trooper, I'm just gonna be strong, because that's what I have to be is strong....But I really thought I would never be loved by someone. Who would want a wife that couldn't have babies."
Related Episodes:- 105: Cheri Jimenez | What is A Safe Family?
- 37: Dr. Lindsay Hinson | Foster Parenting
- 48: Tori Hope Petersen | Hope for the Foster Child
- 64: Natalie Maxwell | A Story of Special Needs Adoption
Connect with Caroline Bailey at barrentoblessed.com
and on FB
-----------------------------------------------
Follow Grace Enough Podcast on IG and FB
and www.graceenoughpodcast.com
------------------------------------------------
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Tuesday Mar 16, 2021
Tuesday Mar 16, 2021
Amy Watson joins me to discuss growing up in a state of turmoil that involved trauma and neglect, meeting Jesus in a children's home, 12 years of domestic abuse, living with complex PTSD and how Jesus is the star of her story.
Questions Amy and I Discuss:- (4:09) The definition of turmoil is a state of great disturbance, confusion, or uncertainty and it is fitting of portions of your childhood. Take us back and share with our listeners a little about your childhood experiences.
- (9:14) When you did enter the children's home,? Who came along to say no more, this ?
- (6:47) Tell us a little bit about the children's home, you say it was some of the best years of your life.
- (21:25) How did you end up attending a Christian college?
- (23:16) You eventually met and married a man who abused you to the point of almost taking your life. Tell us about your relationship.
- CONTINUED
"I am a survivor of a lot of trauma."
"I love my mom, I didn't understand why she locked us in a room. I didn't understand why we didn't get food. I didn't understand why the physical abuse happened and why she let all this stuff happen. And so from the time I was seven to 14 when I went to a children's home, the definition of my life was absolute turmoil."
"I was there [children's home] for about 30 minutes....She said, 'Has anybody told you today that they love you?' And I just looked at her and said, 'No, ma'am.' She said, 'Well, I'm Mom McGowan, and I love you.'."
Related Episodes:- 101: Paula LeJeune | When God’s Love and Adversity Collide
- 94: Mary DeMuth | Hope After Sexual Abuse
- 50: Rebecca Bender | Freedom From Human Trafficking
Connect with Amy Watson amywatsonauthor.com
and listen to Wednesdays with Watson
-----------------------------------------------
Follow Grace Enough Podcast on IG and FB
and www.graceenoughpodcast.com
------------------------------------------------
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Tuesday Mar 09, 2021
Tuesday Mar 09, 2021
Amy Hale joins me to discuss how her life changed when she began digging into God Word daily, becoming an accidental Instagram influencer, and cultivating conversation with God.
Questions Amy and I Discuss:- (4:58) When Did you come to know Jesus? Tell us a little bit about your faith journey.
- (8:06) What led you to finally open up God's Word?
- (12:22) Why did you begin sharing what God was revealing to you on Instagram?
- (14:28) As a teacher of God's Word have you ever had a dark night of the soul or intense personal challenges?
- (20:58) Why is it important to praise God when you rise?
- (23:49) What is color coding? Why have you found it so valuable in your studying of God's word?
- (33:06) On Instagram, what has been one of the most encouraging things to come from interacting with these women?
- (37:30) What would you say to that woman out there who's struggling to get into God's word?
"I grew up in church, but I did not read my Bible."
"I was 45 ish years old when I realized God's word is more than important and a good thing, it's necessary."
"I saw quickly how hungry women were to open up the Word. I realized I had not been alone."
"I've had women tell me the way that I would share [God's Word] made it seem less intimidating, made it seem safe and inviting."
"My friend Lisa Whittle, taught me the phrase, We need to lock eyes with God'....when I take a break from social media, it's usually because I have no longer locked eyes with Him. I have started looking around at what other people are doing."
"I get up in the mornings and want to do a million different things when what I need to do is to first be alone with the Lord. And so praising Him before I do anything else... is setting my feet on the right path."
Related Episodes:- 104: Susie Rowan | Bible Study Fellowship, Executive Director
- 99: Jen Wilkin | Women of The Word
- 95: Nancy Guthrie | God Does His Best Work With Empty
Connect with Amy Hale on IG
or Facebook
-----------------------------------------------
Follow Grace Enough Podcast on IG and FB
and www.graceenoughpodcast.com
------------------------------------------------
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Tuesday Mar 02, 2021
Tuesday Mar 02, 2021
Stephanie Rousselle joins me to discuss life as an atheist, encountering God as a foreign exchange student, surrendering to Jesus, teaching God's Word and how her various cultural experiences impacts her reading of God's Word.
Questions Stephanie and I Discuss:- (2:17) Introduce yourself, your family to our listeners and tell everybody a little bit about what you do.
- (5:32) Tell everybody about Gospel Spice Podcast (and ministry).
- (11:57) You are French born and raised. Take our listeners back to your childhood and share some details about the family and culture in which you grew up.
- (23:10) What led you to open your heart and mind to the idea of God?
- (33:07) You returned to France as a young Christian, what did the next 5-10 years look like for you?
- (41:28) How has the way you read Scripture been impacted by living in numerous cultures around the world?
"My dad in particular, was a very strong atheist, but it was something I had researched and decided to take as my worldview."
"I ended up giving my life to the Lord, which was a painful process, because this girl is very full of self."
"My baptism was the stone of remembrance of this is what the Lord has done for me and my faith. At that moment in time it was real and that did keep me through very dry seasons in France."
"I was not seeking God. I was perfectly happy in my atheism, I did not have any awareness of a God shaped hole in my heart....I was so unaware of self, that God had to break that little by little."
Related Episodes:- 104: Susie Rowan | Bible Study Fellowship, Executive Director
- 99: Jen Wilkin | Women of The Word
- 79: Amy Carroll | Sharing Your God Story
- 50: Rebecca Bender | Freedom From Human Trafficking
Connect with Stephanie Rousselle at www.gospelspice.com
or on Facebook
-----------------------------------------------
Follow Grace Enough Podcast on IG and FB
and www.graceenoughpodcast.com
------------------------------------------------
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Tuesday Feb 23, 2021
Tuesday Feb 23, 2021
Scot McKnight and Laura Barringer join me to discuss the abuse of power in the church, creating a goodness culture, and how the western business model has negatively impacted the church. Topics they wrote about in their book A Church Called Tov.
Questions Scot, Laura and I Discussed:- (3:39) Your family attended and served at Willow Creek Church for a number of years. What were some strengths and weaknesses you observed while attending?
- (7:33) The two of you have written A Church Called Tov: Forming a Goodness Culture That Resists Abuses of Power and Promotes Healing. Laura, will you share a bit of the back story that led you to write this book?
- (15:47) "We form church cultures, but we are simultaneously formed by the cultures we've helped form." In relation to the church, Scot unpack that a bit for us.
- (18:56) What are a few early warning signs of a toxic church culture?
- (22:57) Something I have witnessed personally is the mis-application of Matthew 18, which you write about in Chapter 3 of the book. How is Matt. 18 mis-applied in abuse culture and how is it to be appropriately applied?
- (30:17) What is Tov? And how is it more than a works based goodness?
- (34:28) The portion that particularly struck me was how the western business model has taken root in churches. The focus has become achievement and accomplishment rather than holiness and Christlikeness. Unpack that a bit for our listeners.
- (42:13) As we close, what would you say is a good first step to take if you are a member of a church and are experiencing that feeling of "ugh...I think this may be happening in my church"?
"When people are confronted with their sins that are shocking, and will destroy their ministry they do certain patterns."
"Good characters produce good cultures, and bad toxic characters produce toxic cultures."
"If I see loyalty, constant building up, bragging about the church, and the pastor, and the musicians, I'm going to be suspicious, because they're holding people up at a level that is going to detract from Christ."
"Goodness is a fruit of the Spirit. It is also a term used a lot in Judaism. But it is a term that makes Christians scared."
"If you are connected to Jesus, you are connected to someone who is all together tov (good), and if you spend time in the presence of someone who's all together tov, you'll be tov-er."
"We would go to these training sessions led by Bill Hybels, and he called it Fill. He wanted your section to fill. It was all about inviting people in and making sure that the seats had bodies in them."
SHOW NOTES cont.
Related Episodes:- 94: Mary DeMuth | Hope After Sexual Abuse
- 97: Hannah Anderson | Goodness and The Lost Art of Discernment
- 101: Paula LeJeune | When God's Love and Adversity Collide
Connect with Scot McKnight on Twitter and at Jesus Creed
Connect with Laura Barringer on Twitter
-----------------------------------------------
Follow Grace Enough Podcast on IG and FB
and www.graceenoughpodcast.com
------------------------------------------------
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Tuesday Feb 16, 2021
Tuesday Feb 16, 2021
Cheri Jimenez joins me to discuss Safe Families for Children, supporting families in crisis, and the various roles people can fill to help a family in need reach a place of stability.
Questions Cheri and I Discussed:- (4:16) Share a little of your faith journey with us. How did you become involved with Safe Families for Children?
- (7:40) What is Safe Families for Children? What is the purpose and the mission behind Safe Families?
- (13:27) How does Safe Families for Children differ from foster care?
- (18:57) If someone is listening, who is interested in getting involved with Safe Families, what are some of the volunteer roles they would fill?
- (25:27) How does Safe Families get connected with families in need?
- (30:37) Will you share 1 or 2 impact stories of families here in the Raleigh area who have come along side a family in crisis?
“I was brought up in a Christian home, we have a wonderful spiritual legacy. My grandparents were missionaries in Haiti for 46 years….Yy parents took over the work and the late 90s.”
“They [parents] maintain full custody. This is not something mandated by the state. They do not sign their children over…. They allow us to keep their children, so that they can make those changes necessary.”
“If we didn’t have a support system where would we be? So many of the individuals we serve just need help. So we are able to step in and through our host families…host their children while the parents get the help that they need.”
“This [Safe Families for Children] isn’t foster care.”
Related Episodes:- 37: Dr. Lindsay Hinson | Foster Parenting
- 48: Tori Hope Petersen | Hope for the Foster Child
- 28: Jodie Berndt “Praying The Scriptures For Your Children
- 64: Natalie Maxwell | A Story of Special Needs Adoption
Find out more about Safe Families for Children
-----------------------------------------------
Follow Grace Enough Podcast on IG and FB
and www.graceenoughpodcast.com
------------------------------------------------
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Tuesday Feb 09, 2021
Tuesday Feb 09, 2021
Susie Rowan joins me to discuss her journey through Bible Study Fellowship, encountering God through His Word, and pivoting an international ministry during a pandemic.
Questions Susie and I Discussed:-
(3:46) How did you come to know Jesus as Savior?
-
(6:05) What prompted you to first begin attending BSF?
-
(8:45) You are the current Executive Director of BSF and have served in various other roles in the BSF organization. Will you share a bit of that journey with us?
-
(15:16) What are some of the things that you have changed in BSF to help engage future generations?
-
(20:50) What are some of the shifts you have had to make as an organization as a result of coronavirus?
-
(24:53) What is the study model of BSF?
-
(28:25) What would you like to say to the woman listening who may still be struggling to commit to an in-depth Bible Study for whatever reason?
"I gave my life to Christ on Sunday morning during the preaching of the gospel by a local pastor in a local church. I love to encourage pastors by saying, 'God saved me during the preaching on Sunday morning'."
Related Episodes:
- 99: Jen Wilkin | Women of the Word
- 95: Nancy Guthrie | God Does His Best Work With Empty
- 28: Jodie Berndt "Praying The Scriptures For Your Children
Connect with Susie Rowan at www.bsfinternational.org
-----------------------------------------------
Follow Grace Enough Podcast on IG and FB
and www.graceenoughpodcast.com
------------------------------------------------
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Tuesday Feb 02, 2021
Tuesday Feb 02, 2021
Pastor Andy George joins me to discuss pastoring a multi-site church through the pandemic. We discuss challenges, unexpected blessings, engaging an online community, and how people can support their local ministry leaders.
Questions Andy and I Discussed:- (5:23) We are quickly approaching 1 year of living during a pandemic, which means you are approaching 1 year of leading a church during a pandemic. How has your life and ministry changed during this time?
- (9:05) What have been some of the biggest challenges of leading during this time?
- (12:45) What have been some of the unexpected blessings of leading during this time?
- (19:02) What does pastoring an online community look like in comparison to a traditional congregation?
- (28:23) What has been/is one of your greatest fears for your congregation?
- (34:01) In what ways, can congregants (in this case me) come along side their pastors to support and encourage them?
- (39:29) Any final words you would like to share with followers of Jesus who find themselves struggling to return to their local church or engage online?
- 63: Mazi Robinson | Managing Anxiety
- 61: Daniel Messina | Jesus as King
- 68: Doug Gamble | Learning to Rest
Connect with Andy George on Twitter and IG
-----------------------------------------------
Follow Grace Enough Podcast on IG and FB
and www.graceenoughpodcast.com
------------------------------------------------
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices