Kenneth Chamberlain: Trusting God’s Timeline Over Your Own

In this episode of Verses & Visions, I’m joined by award-winning author Kenneth Chamberlain for a thoughtful conversation about faith, creativity, and returning to a calling after years away.

Kenneth shares how early creative discouragement led him to set writing aside — only to rediscover his love for storytelling decades later. After building an international business career and moving his family across 11 states, he found that life experience gave him the perspective he once lacked. What he couldn’t write at 20, he can now write with depth, conviction, and spiritual clarity.

We explore what it means to trust God’s timing, especially when your creative dreams don’t unfold according to your original plan.

Overcoming Creative Self-DoubtKenneth opens up about a pivotal college moment when a professor told him he probably shouldn’t pursue writing. For years, that criticism lingered. But instead of letting it define him permanently, he eventually chose to return — this time willing to learn, revise, and grow.

We talk about accepting feedback as a writer, learning the difference between “telling” and “showing,” and why creative growth requires humility. If you’ve ever struggled with creative self-doubt or feared criticism, this part of the conversation will resonate deeply.

Trusting God’s Timeline in Your Creative Calling

One of the strongest themes in this episode is trusting God’s timeline over your own expectations. Kenneth reflects on how decades of career experience, church service, and life transitions shaped the stories he now tells.

Rather than seeing delay as failure, he sees preparation.

We discuss how God sometimes moves us through unexpected seasons — relocations, career shifts, closed doors — not to derail us, but to equip us. Creative callings don’t expire. Sometimes they simply mature.

Writing Faith-Centered Historical FictionKenneth is the author of The King’s Bodyguard, a faith-based historical novel that reimagines events surrounding the fall of Jerusalem. His writing blends scripture, history, and fictional perspective to explore redemption, leadership, and eternal truths.

He shares how studying timelines in scripture helped him see connections others may have overlooked — and how those discoveries sparked entire novels. His stories wrestle with universal themes like sexual purity, political tension, humility, and personal transformation.

Rather than writing fairy tales, Kenneth says he writes real life — stories where romance exists, but growth and accountability matter more.

Returning to the DreamIf you’ve ever set aside a creative dream because of fear, criticism, or timing, this episode is your reminder: it’s never too late to begin again.

Sometimes the spark doesn’t fade — it waits.

And when you trust God’s direction over your own timeline, your second act may be stronger than your first.

🎙️ Casey Cline: Creating with Courage, Quilts, and Clean Historical Romance

Hosted by Cassidy Beck | Verses & Visions: Creative Conversations

In this heartfelt and refreshingly honest conversation, Cassidy sits down with historical romance author Casey Cline — a woman who seems to do everything: quilting, baking pies, riding horses, practicing jiu-jitsu, working in housing advocacy, raising two daughters… and writing sweeping love stories inspired by real history.

But beneath all those hobbies is something deeper: a creator who feels called to bring beauty, faith, and hope into the world — one story at a time.

Casey shares how her love of history led her to the fearless traveler Isabella Bird, how motherhood shapes the way she writes about love, and what it really looks like to pursue creativity while juggling family, work, church service, and life’s everyday demands.

This episode is a gentle reminder that you don’t have to fit into one box. You can follow every spark of curiosity God plants in you.

Because sometimes creativity looks like quilts, sometimes like novels… and sometimes like simply showing up.

✨ In this episode, we talk about:

• Collecting hobbies (and why that’s actually a strength, not a distraction)

• Teaching herself quilting during COVID and donating quilts to veterans

• Writing historically accurate romance — down to word choices and idioms

• Research rabbit holes and the realities of editing

• Balancing writing with motherhood and a part-time legal career

• Navigating vulnerability as an author (reviews, events, showing up publicly)

• Feeling called by God to finally pursue writing

• Why clean, wholesome love stories matter

• Letting go of labels and embracing a multi-passionate life

• How love — romantic, familial, and divine — shapes every story she tells

💛 A personal takeaway

Casey’s life is such a beautiful picture of “create with what you have.”

She doesn’t wait for perfect conditions. She quilts when she can. Writes when she can. Serves where she can.

It’s not polished or perfectly scheduled — it’s faithful.

And honestly? That feels a lot like real discipleship and real creativity.

📚 Resources & Links

• Casey’s website: caseycline.com

• Monthly newsletter + free historical romance novella

• Follow Casey on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Goodreads, and BookBub

• Learn more about LDSPM(A) and creative community events
  

🌟 Sponsor Shoutouts

SodaBeers Crafted by Cassidy’s family, SodaBeers offers premium, small-batch sodas that bring people together — from crisp Ginger Beer to classic Root Beer and Apple Beer favorites. A simple, sweet reminder of home and connection.

Sheep Chronicles: Baptism Cassidy’s new children’s book about Joshua and the parable of a lost sheep named Shannon is a tender story to help families talk about faith, baptism, and belonging.

🤍 Connect with Cassidy & Verses & Visions

• Podcast updates + episodes

• Coaching & creative resources

• Newsletter & community
  

Keep creating. Keep dreaming. Keep bringing your visions to life.

Sharla Goettl: How Temple Covenants Quiet Fear and Unlock Confidence

Hosted by Cassidy Beck | Verses & Visions: Creative Conversations

What if the answers to our deepest fears were already written into the promises God has made with us?

In this tender and wisdom-filled episode, Cassidy sits down with author, seminary teacher, and lifelong youth leader Sharla Goettl to explore how temple covenants aren’t just symbolic rituals — they are practical, powerful anchors for everyday life.

From wrestling with self-doubt and not feeling “good enough,” to learning how covenant living increases spiritual confidence, Sharla shares how scripture study, temple worship, and intentional discipleship have transformed the way she sees herself — and the way she sees others.

Together, Cassidy and Sharla talk about faith, influence, imposter syndrome, youth leadership, and how covenant promises help us become more effective in every role we care about most: parent, creator, teacher, friend, and disciple.

This episode is a gentle reminder that God isn’t negotiating against our desires — He’s guiding us toward the truest version of ourselves.

If you’ve ever wondered how temple covenants apply to real life or struggled with feeling “not enough,” this conversation will meet you right where you are.

🌿 In This Episode, We Talk About:

• How temple covenants answer our most common human fears

• Why obedience, sacrifice, and consecration are actually pathways to power

• What youth today teach us about unity and belonging

• The connection between covenants and everyday effectiveness

• Overcoming imposter syndrome through identity in Christ

• Seeing scripture study as a personal priesthood blessing

• Writing Covenant Power and relying deeply on the Spirit

• • Why covenant living helps us discover our “true self”
    💛 A Personal Takeaway

• One of the most beautiful moments in this conversation is Sharla’s reminder that we don’t have to choose between what we want and what God wants. Our Heavenly Father already knows our deepest desires — and His plan is designed to fulfill them, not restrict them.

  Covenants aren’t about limitation. They’re about becoming.

  📚 Resources & Links

  • Sharla Goettl’s books: Covenant Power and Spiritual Resilience (Amazon)

  • Website: sharlagoettl.com

  • Instagram: @authorsharlagoettl

  • Free ebook available in exchange for an honest review

  🌟 Sponsor Shoutouts

  SodaBeers – Cassidy’s family-owned premium soda company, crafted with classic flavors and nostalgic charm. Perfect for gathering, celebrating, and sharing simple joys together.

  Sheep Chronicles: Baptism – Cassidy’s new children’s book, a faith-filled story about Joshua, a curious boy learning gospel truths through the parable of a lost sheep. A sweet read for families and little ones.

  🤍 Connect with Verses & Visions

  Follow, subscribe, and share the episode with someone who could use a little extra hope today. Because your vision + God’s purpose can truly transform the world.