Listen Now

My guests on The Consilium Podcast are Cindee Re and Pam Piquette.  They are the founders of a group called Chronic Joy a non-profit dedicated to helping and enriching the lives of those living with chronic illness.     Chronic illness affects nearly 1 in 2 people – approximately 140 million people in the United States alone – almost half of the world’s population. It impacts every aspect of life – marriage, family, faith, finances, friendships, education, hobbies and work.   Chronic illness is hard, but there is hope. OUR MISSION STATEMENT: Radical hope. Compassionate change. Equipping those affected by chronic physical and mental illness through community and education rooted in Jesus Christ. Chronic Joy Raises awareness of the overwhelming impact of chronic illness. It  Develops faith-based tools, materials and educational resources and Builds thriving communities for those affected by chronic illness      www.chronic-joy.org  

David Rupert is currently an author Patheos, where he engages in thoughtful discussions about faith, culture and life. He is the co-author of three books and has penned more than 1,500 articles. "Last year became the year of saying “yes” I told God that I would say yes to every opportunity he gave me. I thought this would be an easy commitment. I thought I would have to say “yes” to things like Awards, accolades, successes, contracts – a second piece of pie But God was starting to tell the story in a different way. Saying yes helped me meet prisoners, and refugees, and people of different races and cultures and beliefs. It took me to the Middle East ... twice. And I'm still learning" -David Rupert  

David Rupert is currently an author Patheos, where he engages in thoughtful discussions about faith, culture and life. He is the co-author of three books and has penned more than 1,500 articles. Like many of you, he adopted a “word” of the year, something that would define his life and give him focus. Some some people choose words like forgiveness, holiness, or giving. His wasn’t particularly profound. It wasn’t all that deep. It wasn’t really spiritual. It was a simple word. “Yes.” Last year became the year of saying “yes.” He told God that he would say yes to every opportunity God would give David. He thought this would be an easy commitment. David thought, he would have to say “yes” to things like Awards, accolades, successes, contracts – a second piece of pie... But God was starting to tell the story in a different way. Saying yes helped David meet prisoners, and refugees, and people of different races and cultures and beliefs. It took him to the Middle East ... twice. "And I'm still learning...", said David. He challenges us with this thought, "Quit defining your margins and instead expand your tent Embrace the Discomfort of letting God surprise you Do one thing every day that scares you half to death." Resources Mike Yaconelli, "Dangerous Wonder" "If you live out of weakness, you'll never run out of life. And somewhere, living and in that place, you might just stumble into what you were meant to do all along."       -David Rupert

As Jenn returned home, she found herself traveling and speaking to churches about her experiences serving overseas. She began to notice church pews packed with people who said they knew the living God, but were living dead inside. Coming Alive Ministries was founded as a 501 (c)3 organization to provide an invitation to come alive in Christ through conferences, retreats and written resources. It is easy for us to find ourselves busy and bored.   Checking our to-do list boxes, trying to have Pinterest perfect lives, squeezing in coffee with a friend, while trying to convince ourselves to wear something other than our favorite yoga pants when meeting with said friend. Meanwhile, in the midst of our mundane, we are trying to experience a meaningful relationship with Christ. Coming Alive Ministries exists to provide an invitation to come alive and live alive in Christ in the midst of your everyday. Bloom Conferences.  Since 2012 Coming Alive has held eleven bloom conferences reaching  close to 2,000 women with the message of coming alive and living alive in Christ. International Ministry. Coming Alive Ministries loves to travel and minister to Nationals and International mission workers.  Coming Alive has ministered in Nepal {Jenn speaks Nepalese and left a huge part of her heart in that country}, Haiti , Turkey, Thailand, China, India, Japan, Europe, Bangladesh, and Jamaica. Speaking Engagements. In 2015 Jenn spoke at over 30 speaking engagements, varying from ladies nights out, to weekend retreats in a cabin. Ministering to leaders, pastors, and missionaries. Coming Alive Ministries has a passion to pour into those servants who are always pouring out.  We have hosted missionary conferences, days of refreshing for ministry leaders and provided counseling resources for those who are serving.  Please let us know if we can minister to your leaders or missionaries. Connecting. We like to get creative in ways the Lord may direct us to minister.  If we can help you or your group come alive in Christ, let’s grab coffee and chat. It can even be a virtual coffee date if you live far far away. Jenn's Books: Coming Alive at the Cross 31 Days to Coming Alive 25 Days to Coming Alive at Christmas   Other Winsome Retreat

     I’ve spent much of my adult life choosing to forget my childhood. I grew up in the 1970’s when most of my friends had the type of home that epitomized your stereotypical family togetherness. They had what seemed like perfect homes. I remember watching the hub of the home of my friends gathering around a kitchen table where conversations flowed free, and lives were loved well, and wondering if I ever had that.      My childhood consisted of shame from sexual and emotional abuse by the time I was six years old. I felt abandoned and unimportant to those closest to me. I lived in denial of my own pain, and likewise it simmered deep within my relationships. I refrained from thinking too much about my past, afraid that the memories that I suppressed and learned to control would break free and consume me. I lived detached, wondering how and searching to fit into humanity, in and outside of my home life.      I was the baby, the only surviving girl, and I struggled to find my worth. Out of my desperation to find acceptance, love, and the meaning of my life, I became easily enticed. I was seduced into the glamour of the modeling industry as I searched for self-worth.      It was in the heart of this industry, choking on the poison of self-worship, that I learned to cover all my imperfections. When I modeled, I could live in a pretend world where everything was just as I wanted it to be. On the outside I was beautiful, perfect, all put-together. But on the inside I was unhappy, consumed with fear, and living miserably hopeless without direction.      Writing down this story was the last thing I wanted to do. I so desperately wanted to forget and focus on moving forward. I wanted my life to appear unblemished and perfect to those on the outside looking in      But God … he always has a different plan. And his plan took me off the course I built for myself. He healed the fear in my heart. He silenced the tiny voice in my head that kept me from moving forward as it whispered, “You are nothing.”  He took the shame from the past and turned it into his greatest glory.  And here I am, revealing what I most wanted to hide in order to reach out to the other women and young ladies that struggle like I did.      To help them escape the unhealthy cycle that I found myself in for years.      To help them break free.   "Modesty isn't a head condition it is a heart condition." ~Teresa Coelho Dannah Gresh Power of Modesty Dennis Rainey: Family Life Power of Modestyat amazon soon Teresa's Book

Thank you for joining us on this episode of The Consilium Podcast - Lakeside. Haven't you always wanted a friends who know how to do something you have dreamed about but didn't know how to proceed from dream to reality? Natalie Joy is that friend. Founder of, Defining Your Joy, Natalie teaching Strategy Motivation Resources and Accountability to individuals, businesses and teams.  Her experience as a Certified John Maxwell Coach and consultant in Kolbe make her the woman you want to consult for advice. She writes for God Size Dreams and is an advisor and speaker for The Winsome Retreat.   Quotes: If you are a leader and no one is following you, then you are simply taking a walk ~John Maxwell   Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in every situation! ~Rick Warren Resources: Holley Gerth: You're Already Amazing. and You Were Make For A God-sized Dream

Kris Camealy is an author, speaker, and founder of Grace Table and The Refine Retreat.   Kris shares with us today how the confession of Brennen Manning in his book, All is Grace, co-written by John Blase, allowed God to open her eyes to her own sin and gave her a new heart to see others and herself differently.   You can find Kris's books on Amazon: Holey, Wholly, Holey - A Lenten Journey of Refinement Soul Bare - Stories of Redemption by Cara Sexton (Kris Camealy contributor) and her latest book, Come Lord Jesus - The Weight of Waiting. An Advent Study   Zephaniah3:17 "The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing."        

Warning: This episode is not appropriate for younger children and should be previewed by parents before allowing teens to hear. This also may have some triggers for those who are sexual abuse survivors. Monica Kaye Snider is rescued and redeemed. She believes at least six impossible things before breakfast. She knows telling the truth out loud is the only path to personal peace. She continues a long journey of chronic illness and daily physical suffering. Some of her diagnoses include Chiari malformation, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Tethered Spinal Cord, Craniocervical Instability, Postural Tachycardia Syndrome, Intracranial Hypertension, Mast Cell Activation Disorder and most recently PANS/PANDAS. She’s seen real miracles happen and holds on to Christ’s Hope as an anchor for her soul while living in great pain. But until recently, Monica had a secret that only her husband knew - Monica had been a prostitute. In today's episode, Monica tells her story of the place where she hit rock bottom, and discovered there is no low place where Christ cannot reach you.   You can find Monica's original post on my website   Here is where you can find Monica's website.

At age of 28, Carey Bailey appeared to be living the ideal life.  She was married to her college sweetheart and working at a high profile church as a Youth Director - the job she had dreamed of since she was fifteen.  What others didn't know was that inside she was dying.  Carey was working over 60 hours each week at a job that discouraged creativity and required strict conformity.  She felt helpless and hopeless as she watched her marriage unravel and eventually end, fueled by the alcohol abuse of her young husband.  As she waded through rising and uncharted waters, her appetite waned.  The church where she had invested her time and heart was peering in and as Carey's life spiraled out of control, they move from an attitude of supportive oversight to one of discipline and domination.   In counseling, Carey was given a reality-shaking, life-altering statement: "You are not an anorexic, but your life is."Not only did her body have a desire for food, but her soul was craving more from the life she was living.  FRom that point on she fought for what it meant to truly LIVE a balanced and abundant life.    Carey now lives a congruent life with her husband and two children.  As a certified Life Coach, she encourages other women to create change in their own lives with the Holy Spirit at the helm.   You can find Carey at:http://www.careybailey.com/

Jennifer Dukes Lee is an award winning journalist covering stories about crime, politics, and natural disasters.  Now, she uses her skills as a journalist to tell the biggest story ever: the redemptive story of Christ. Her first book Love Idol addresses the need we all feel to  be valued, to be respected. To be loved. Yet this yearning too often turns into an idol of one of God’s most precious gifts: love itself. If you, like so many of us, spend your time and energy trying to earn someone’s approval—at work, home, and church—all the while fearing that, at any moment, the facade will drop and everyone will see your hidden mess . . . then love may have become an idol in your life. Love Idol will help you dismantle what’s separating you from true connection with God and rediscover the astonishing freedom of a life lived in authentic love. Her latest book, Happiness Dare. In this book, Jennifer has good news for anyone who’s ever secretly, longingly (even guiltily) dreamed of being happier: It’s okay to want to be happy. God cares about your happiness; He created it as a sweet spot, a gift, and something you can faithfully, freely pursue. And He’s daring you to trust Him enough to discover it. Listen to the podcast to find out what tried to rob her of her happiness in the middle of writing her second book and what helped her find her happy place again.   You can find Jennifer Dukes Lee on her Website, Twitter, and Facebook

You might have heard of the Grammy and Dove Award winner Francesca Battistelli, but have you heard of her amazing mother? On the Podcast today we have the honor of talking with Kate Battistelli - a blogger, published author, foodie and a retired Broadway actress.  Kate,toured for 2 1/2 years in the Broadway National Tour of The King and I playing Anna opposite the legendary Yul Brynner as the King and it’s where she met her amazing husband. Kate's book, Growing Great Kids is available on Amazon. On today's Episode, we talk with Kate about leaving Broadway to follow Christ, Children, Mentoring and the Empty Nest, a.k.a "The After Party". You can find Kate on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.  

Julie Hulstein is the Founder and CEO of VI Bella Jewelry.  Vi Bella means “beautiful life” and that is Julie’s vision for Vi Bella artisans, their families, and their communities. Today God is redeeming and restoring lives through her leadership by providing life-changing employment and a framework to share the gospel daily in supportive work centers.    What began as one small center in Simonette, has since expanded to three international centers:  2 in Haiti and one in Mexico.  A home office in her hometown of Sioux Center, Iowa also employs women who need of employment and a path out of poverty. You can find Julie Hulstein and ViBella online at www.vibellajewelry.com.

Deidra is the Author of Every Little Thing and the founder of Jumping Tandem.  In today's episode we had some technical difficulty and lost our connection several times, but God is good and we were able to reconnect and finish the podcast.     Deidra talks about the Holy Spirit, doing hard things and going to places God calls you to go when that is not where you want to go.  We also talk about being a parent of adult children and loving them no matter what their choices.  Deidra Riggs – Jumping Tandem   The High Calling   (in)courage   Every Little Thing: Making a World of Difference Right Where You Are by Deidra Riggs   “Who is this coming up from the wilderness leaning on her beloved?” Song of Songs 8:5    

 Chrystal Evans Hurst is our guest on The Consilium with Diane Bailey and Holly Barrett. In this episode we discovered all three of us have been a single mother at one point in life.  Crystal has written a book with her dad, Tony Evans, titled, Kingdom Woman: Embracing Your Purpose, Power, and Possibilities. Today, we talk about finding balance, and the journey of making our way through working in ministry, caring for family and serving the Lord responsibly.    

 Julie Lefebure shares with us how to persevere with a strong faith when life becomes unpredictable.   You can find Julie at these online locations:   Julie Lefebure: Real Encouragement for Real Life   Bible Study Fellowship   Julie on Facebook   Julie on Twitter  

The Consilium Podcast is a community of wisdom and purpose where women are encouraged to be all that God wants them to be, even as they face the joys and challenges found in the second half of life. In today's episode, we meet Susan Stilwell, one of the founding members of The Consilium. Susan will share her recent life experiences with caring for aging and elderly parents, and parenting adult children. 

The Consilium Podcast is a community of wisdom and purpose where women are encouraged to be all that God wants them to be, even as they face the joys and challenges found in the second half of life.  In today's episode, Diane and Holly interview Lyli Dunbar, member of The Consilium Leadership team. Lyli talks about her involvement with The Consilium and gives us encouragement for living life when life gets tough. 

In this episode, Diane Bailey interviews Holly Barrett as she shares a little about her background, how she came to be part of The The Consilium with Diane Bailey and Holly Barrett, and her hopes for this community.

The Consilium Podcast is a community of wisdom and purpose where women are encouraged to be all that God wants them to be, even as they face the joys and challenges found in the second half of life.  Today's episode features Diane Bailey, founder of The Consilium. Diane talks about how The Consilium started, her goals for the community, and how you can join the group.