When you find yourself at a career crossroads, the leap of faith into your true calling can be both thrilling and daunting. Mr. Damon Nailer, a man of many talents: educator, author, motivational speaker, and beacon of divine inspiration, has walked this path. In our heart-to-heart, Damon unwraps the layers of his journey, revealing how he navigate…

" ...We also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5:3-5 This episode with Jana Hutzler speaks pf…

In this episode I sit down with Dr. Woods Watson as we talk about both of his books "Northeast Louisiana: A Community of Innovations" and "What in the World is God Doing in My Life". Woods has been on staff at First West church for 20 years, and is currently serving as their Adults Pastor. Last summer Dr. Woods Watson came out with his latest book …

In this episode, I talk with Abigail Avara about the abuse she endured by her first husband, and how the Lord rescued her out of that situation. This story is also about how Abigail has re-learned her value and self-worth and how important it is to be rooted in God's word. There's also a bit of romance in there as she tells all about how she met he…

Porn addictions and sexting are two transgressions that would send any marital partner spinning. Beyond questioning the whys? Hows? and How many times? The bigger question is...should we divorce? In this episode, Cassidy Carpenter, shares with us her most vulnerable hurts and her heart on how she wades through the transgressions and confessions of …

Chris Craighead Jr. is currently the College Pastor at North Monroe Baptist Church in Monroe, Louisiana. In today's episode we'll unveil a trauma that he experienced as a child and how that event has impacted his life into adulthood. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 says, "We are afflicted in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; we ar…

Mentoring is not just for the young. It's for all of us all at ages and stages. And there is no better place for it than in the body and community of other believers. In this episode you'll hear from my friend, Krystal Farnell, and learn how she strives to find good mentors in her life. Who knows, maybe you'll find someone you need to mentor too? L…

For 68 episodes, I have interviewed other people, and not once have y'all heard from me, so I thought it was time to share one of my stories. With Easter just a few days behind us, I thought the best story for me to share would be my Salvation Story. May you know that you also are made for more. So take a listen and be encouraged! *Trigger Warning*…

In today's episode I talk with West Monroe High School Senior, Mallie Cole. She shares with me the moments of her sweet salvation with Jesus, how to came to that decision, and impact that decision has had on her life since. You're in for a treat! Take a listen and be encouraged! LINKS Jason Curry-that weekend's speaker Verses mentioned in the show.…

When life suddenly takes a left turn down a path that we never thought would be our own, it is sometimes hard to remember the goodness of God. In this episode listen to how Kayla finds herself on a path she never thought would be hers, but was able to cling on to hope by remembering the goodness of God. Take a listen and be encouraged! Click HERE f…

In this episode I talk with the Minister to Young Adults at Fair Park Baptist church, Clayton Bryan. We discuss how he dealt with the revelation of his father having a pain killer addiction while he was a teenager-the impact of that revelation on his family and ultimately his relationship with the Lord. Take a listen to this heroine story and be en…

I'm wrapping up this series with my current favorite woman of the Bible, Abigail. I look to her example for guidance in so many areas of my life. In this episode I asked Kristin Cook to come along side me to discuss who the woman of Abigail was and what we can learn from her even still today. What to know who she is and why I love her so much? Pres…

This week is part three of the Women of the Bile Series. In this episode we'll be exploring the characters of Miriam and Hannah-both Old Testament Women. Both have so many virtues and wisdom to learn from-even a few mistakes. Take a listen and be encouraged! LINKS Age Samuel may have been weened (3 or 4) Praises Rise by Valerie Barley (feat. Katie …

Join me today with Lifeway content writer, Alecia Bryant, as we dig in and discover more about Lydia and Anna of the Bible. Links Lifeway The Gospel Project Map of Thyatira- Lydia's Hometown Map of Ancient Greece ClickHERE for access to my Patreon Account to learn a little extra about the guests I interview. Send us a Text Message. Support the Show…

While there are many great men in the Bible, there are also many great women of the Bible too! But somehow, the women sometimes get over looked. So, in this 4 part series, I've chosen some amazing women for us to uncover and apply their life lessons to today. In Part One, I invite local radio host of 88.7 The Cross, Bri Dunn, to come and discover D…

Watching a love one suffer and succumb to cancer is heartbreaking, when that person is your spouse of over 30 years, it's down right debilitating. It's challenging to stay steadfast to anything when faced with those circumstances, much less our faith. But in today's episode you'll hear from both Terry and Jill Slawson, as they share how they were a…

Living life after the death of a loved one is sometimes too hard to even fathom, epsecially when the loss comes sudden and out of nowhere. In this episode, Austin George shares about the loss of his brother, Tyler George. As you listen to his story, it is our hope that you are given hope and encouragement for this life and the next. May you know th…

The way that church is often structured can sometimes leave people wondering...where do I fit? Where's my community? This was Krystal's situation. Listen on to how she decided to fight for community and how she came to find it. LINKS Click HERE to listen to extras content on my Patreon Account. Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. Click HERE f…

Welcome to Part Two of this Pursuing Peace Series! This week I am continuing the conversation with First West's High School Minister, Garrett Hodges on how we can pursue peace in our lives. In this episode we discuss Colossians chapter 3 and uncover handles that will help us obtain and maintain peace in our lives. Links *Colossians 3 *Battle Belong…

Season 4 is starting off with a two part conversation on Pursuing Peace with God, ourselves, and others. In today's episode, First West's High School Minister, Garrett Hodges, discusses with me the usual obstacles that block our peace, why as Christians we should be compelled to pursue it, and what it means to be true peace makers. Links *Blessed a…

Are your searching for community? Do you love Jesus? Do you ache for a good girls' night that will restore your soul? We'll Aimee Swanner and her friends have created a new group just for you called NELA Ladies Worhip. Listen on to learn what the group is about and how you can join them. .........LINKS...... NELA Ladies Worship Patreon Account...to…

Faith is defined as the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. A reality and a proof…without having to see it. A confidence in something without the need of physical, tangible proof. Trusting God’s plans to that degree, the way He asks us can be a tall order. In today’s episode I’m talking with Caleb Pool. He’s going to share …

No one likes waiting. Especially when we don’t know when the waiting will end. Proverbs 13:12 says that hope deferred makes the heart sick. And while that is true, it is also true that it is often during the waiting period where we grow the most and come closer to God. Especially when what we’re waiting on is the blessing of having children. In tod…

Shame is such a crippling emotion. It makes us feel small and unworthy-disqualified. It's easy to get wrapped up in those chains of failure and doom. BUT GOD...it's because of Him that fear and shame don't have to be our story. In today's episode, Misti Guerrero, shares how God broke those chains for her while dealing with an unplanned pregnancy an…

If a tree is poorly rooted or doesn’t have deep roots it is easily knocked over during a storm. Christians are no different. But how does someone become rooted? Where do they start? In today’s episode, I have Deano Casola tell us where to dig, so that we too can be rooted in God and not so easily knocked down during life’s storms. LINKS Patreon Acc…

A few shattered dreams, a broken body, and a myriad of other difficulties can definitely seem like life has come at you like a wrecking ball. But as the saying goes it's not what knocks you down, it's how you get back up that matters. And in my friend, Erin Wilson's case, this is triply true for her with the amount of wrecking balls she has endured…

Money did not grow on trees in the Heckford Household and when things get tight sometimes everyone feels the squeeze. With few resources and fewer options, financial difficulties can be enough to bring anyone down. Add three kids, a mortgage, and a spouse to mix...and well, is there any way out? Where's the hope? What's the answer? Today's message …

Receiving a difficult diagnosis and dealing other big life changes, can make it hard to see anything good. It's easy in those moments to let fear, anxiety, and depression to seep in and take control. But with God...even joy and happiness is still possible. Listen to Landon's story of how He made God his refuge and fought back against his anxiety an…

We all like to maintain control in all aspects of our lives. The moment we feel like we're losing even a little bit of control is when we start to white knuckle it. This is even more true when it comes to our children, especially for moms. However, when it's an unexpected illness...letting go can be the hardest thing to do. This is what Adriane Whi…

It's Summer time, which means graduations and vacation trips galore! All that most people keep asking is "Where are you going?" or "What's next?" Very natural questions to ask, but what if we applied this question spiritually? Do you know where your going...after this life? Is there an after-life? How can we know? And if there is, what does that me…

Have you ever found yourself in the depths of despair and wondered where was God? Your prayers seem to go unheard like there's a glass ceiling keeping them from going through. Maybe God hasn't checked His messages yet? Or maybe you thought, where's my miracle? In today's episode you'll hear how Roberta struggled with those some feelings, but ultima…

I decided it would be fun to have my two year old son help me and my husband sound check before my guest arrived. I was not disappointed. Enjoy his sweetness. Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. Click HERE for access to extra content through my Patreon Account.By Brandy Bostick

When we feel a nudge to do something out of our comfort zone or event our "interest" zone, it's hard to lean into it to see where it goes. But the nudge persists, that's when we often know that it's God and we must answer His call. This is Grant Tolbird's story of how he answered God's call into the deep of foster care by becoming a C.A.S.A. Volunt…

Pride comes before the fall as scripture says in Proverbs 16:18. Just when we think we got it all figured out, God shows us different. And sometimes God moves us from our comfort zones for our own good. To mold us into something better. It's often because we fail to see that we have something to work on...so He brings us somewhere where we can see …

Have you ever not been sure of where the line is between just being yourself as a Christian and being professional in the work place? Have you ever felt uneasy about initiating a gospel conversation? Me too. That's why I asked Drew Coker, the Worship and Missions Minister at First West to help us find ways to be true to our calling to share Jesus w…

Sometimes your passions and God's calling collide. Well, at least they did for this local photographer. In this week's episode, I had the privilege of speaking with Angela Shoemaker, the amazingly talented photographer and owner of Unveiled Radiance. We take a look a behind the lens and see what it's like starting a business, eating tons of wedding…

A series on Healthy Relationships would be remiss without an episode on boundaries. Boundaries play a huge role in our everyday lives, but often times it goes unnoticed. They are our guard rails, our bumper pads in the bowling alleys of life. They keep the good in and the bad out. So, I thought it would be good to ask an experienced counselor how w…

Healthy relationships are sometimes hard to have. They take work! So I asked licensed counselor, Sara Beth Prewitt to join me in a conversation on what to look out for in unhealthy relationships with friends and family. We covered so many things-common toxic patterns, privacy-sharing-oversharing, codependency, using "I" statements, how to validate …

What does it look like to have a healthy biblical friendship, marriage, or budding romance? And what about the parent-child relationships? Is there a way to escape all the drama? This two-part series seeks to answer all those questions and more. For part one of this series we’’ll be focusing on how to have a healthy marriage. So I’ve asked for the …

Welcome back to the Up From The Muck Podcast! This episode teaches us about trusting in faith during difficult times and features Kaiti McFarland, a pastor’s wife and mom of three incredible children – including twins born at just 25 weeks. We discuss Kaiti’s journey from the preparation leading up to becoming pregnant through IVF to how they leane…

What was God's intention when He made man? And what does it truly mean to be a man of God? Is it lording over people? Does "might really make right"? We wrap up this series of Identity by talking about what makes a man special, and we answer the question, what is a man's identity in Christ? For part 4 of this series, I asked business owner of J.E. …

In Part 3 of the Identity Series, we tackle the question "What is a woman?" by asking another question, "What does God say?" This conversation is not about rattling off Proverbs 31, but instead looking at what makes a woman divinely special. We also take a look at the distinctions between a calling and ones identity. In this episode, school counsel…

In Part 2 of the Identity Series, Julie and I talk at length of the things that plague our children and young people today. We discuss anxiety, gender identity, "furries", but not least what it means for a child to be rooted in Christ. In a world that seems to crave chaos and anyone's "truth" abounds, how can our children be rooted in anything, esp…

"I identify as_______". In today's society that has become such a common phrase. So, it got me thinking, what does it mean to have an identity? Can a person identify as more than one thing? And where does God fit in, if at all? This podcast series seeks to address all those questions and more. For Part 1 of the Identity Series, I talked with Pastor…

Life-after a sudden tragedy at first seems impossible. However, as time passes, the space that used to hold a person, now holds the hope of Jesus as we mourn and heal. After losing her husband, Caleb Wood, in a tragic car accident, Tara becomes a young widow and single mom to three young children within a blink of an eye. Listen to Tara's story of …

James 1:27 says, “Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” I’ve always believed that this verse also applies to those that feel like orphans and widows, the least of these if you will. Times may have changed, but for women an unplanne…

It’s never too late to start your health journey. Even though the thought of obtaining a healthy lifestyle can seem like daunting mountain to climb, having Jesus to lean on certainly helps. Listen to Ashlie’s powerful story of how she lost over 100lbs and let Jesus transform her thoughts, her heart, and her body. “Time is going to pass regardless, …

"Discipleship" the word alone can leave anyone feeling insecure. That's why I asked Connections Coordinator from First West, Rhonda Moody, to help us dive a. little deeper into what it means to disciple one another and how we cannot be so afraid of it. Throughout this conversation, we learn that Discipleship doesn't have to be a scary thing. You ca…

Ever been presented with an opportunity to serve the Lord, but were afraid it was going to be too inconvenient? Too involved? Too exhausting? But then on the other hand, the desire to following the Holy Spirit's nudge was just kept gnawing at you...making you have this tug-of-war with your heart and brain. Well, Abby Cash had a similar experience t…

Is worship just singing , standing, and waving your arms around? Why does it usually happen first? Do I have to sing to worship? In this episode, Brad and I tackle those questions and more. *LINKS John 4:19-24 - "Woman at the Well" Part B conversation. First West Worship Pastor, Brad Jett Send us a Text Message. Support the Show. Click HERE for acc…