Do you have a spiritual giant? Someone who has gone before you and been that example of faithfulness until the end? Today we talk with Lori G. Melton about her book Journey With a Giant—Choose Your Guide, Pursue Your Purpose and Grow in your Walk with God

What a fun conversation about what could be your next step in growing closer to God. Go HERE to receive a free peek at her book.

We are led on a year-long journey alongside a "giant" of faith, inspired by the author’s year of studying the life of Mister Fred Rogers, America's favorite neighbor. The practice of walking with a spiritual giant is not a new concept. Since the origin of the Church, believers have studied the Bible and pored over Christian biographies to learn and grow in their faith. In the same way that athletes can improve their game by studying the tactics of seasoned players, we can get unstuck in our spiritual lives, cultivate a deeper connection with God, and explore how to fulfill our purpose by learning from and journeying with a spiritual mentor who has traveled the path before us.

Some gems from our conversation:

• I began my year with this prayer: How can I grow closer to You this year? And He answered, Study the life and faith of Mr. Rogers.
• To be a disciple takes discipline—to hold onto what God is trying to teach us about ourselves and a deeper walk with Him.
• The truth is, they lived not perfectly but prayerfully, doing the best they could just like we can—and their weaknesses speak to us as much as their strengths.
• When we learn from a faithful followerer of God, it makes Him happy—as if He's saying, "Isn't it great to see how I worked in his life and now that's helped you as well!"
• Fred Rogers was a great model of one who accepted others while remaining faithful to the grace and truth of Jesus Christ
• I learned better how to love others, listen better and leave space for silence from my year with Mr. Rogers.
• Following a spiritual giant has brought me closer to God because I've learned to see things from differenct perspectives and it has helped me worship Him more.
• My legacy is to be one who loved God and listened to His voice, and when I did, I was filled with joy.

Lori G. Melton is an author, spiritual director, retreat leader, and a member of Hope*Writers. She and her husband, Bryan, are the creators of the Sanctuary Stirrings Podcast and the founders and directors of The Sanctuary at BearCreek Retreat Center, which serves hundreds of people a year. When she's not writing, speaking, or welcoming guests, she enjoys spending time with her six children and three grandchildren. She and her husband live in Allegan, Michigan.

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Lori G. Melton

Do you ever wonder if you can really trust the God of the Bible when things feel and are dark and discouraging? How do you synthesize with honesty Jesus loves me & The Lord is my Shepherd when your prayers are not answered, not only for yourself, but for those you love so very much?

Today we welcome for the second time, author and disability advocate, Jillian Benfield, and we get to talk about her latest book, Overwhelmed and Grateful—the Key to Finding God’s Goodness in All Life’s Ups & Downs

Benfield can speak to our suffering & call us to remember God's goodness all at the same time. We first met Jillian on Living a Legacy Life, Ep 183, and you will be so encouraged today as we talk about what it means to endure life's challenges and trials & practice honesty, gratitude and awe.

She's hosting a book giveaway so be sure to comment below or on social media to be entered to win her beautiful and faith-encouraging book, Overwhelmed and Grateful—the Key to Finding God’s Goodness in All Life’s Ups & Downs.

Some gems from our conversation

• I do not want to become an old woman who let the beauty of her life become the background.
• I no longer trust that God will rescue me from my humanity. Instead, I trust in a God who will love me through it.
• It's essential to remember God's goodness is always at work even when we don't see it.
• The bad part of your day or life doesn't define you; look for the beauty in the now, the mystery of God's goodness.
• We learn from Ecclesiastes that we need lay our questions down & move forward, anyway.
• I am working on becoming a person who is easily delighted.
• There will always be challenges, there will always be beauty. Being human is living with both.
• Living gratefully acknowledges a God who can be trusted.

After years in clinical social work and the sacred chaos of raising five children, God radically redirected Liz's path. She stepped into ministry as a writer and speaker, trusting Him to do what only He can. Raised by a faithfilled single mom, Liz felt called to love God and teach his Word in her late teen's and she's never stopped.

We met at two different writing conferences. Here we are last year at Mt Hermon:

Some gems from our conversation:

• To mentor someone in the faith, you just need to be one or two steps ahead, bringing them closer to Jesus.
• My legacy is to not try to be a perfect Christian, just forgiven and redeemed.
• I love to help people fall deeper in love with Jesus and to help them understand him and his character more thoroughly.
• When I don't feel close to God, I need to place the truth of his Word over and above my feelings and place my trust in him.
• From being raised by a single, faith-filled mom, I learned first-hand to look and depend on God as my Father and provider.
• My current favorite verse is the one that God is working into my life at this moment.
• Our emotions try and speak our truth but we only find truth in the Word and God's character.

Liz House is a Christian author, Bible teacher, and speaker passionate about helping believers grow in their faith with boldness and grace. She creates faith-based content such as books, Bible study tools, podcasts, and messages designed to help believers encounter Jesus and deepen their spiritual walk. She speaks and writes with conviction, humor, and vulnerability because she knows what it's like to wrestle with doubt and still choose faith. She lives in the U.S. with her husband and her kids, joyfully serving the local church and global body of Christ--one gospel-centered word at a time.

Book 1: Drowning in the Shallow End: A Guide for Deepening Faith

https://www.amazon.com/Drowning-Shallow-End-Guide-Deepening/dp/B0BCRTGVZH

Book 2: 10 Tips for Deeper Bible Study

https://tinyurl.com/3rpwv37r

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