Mamas in Spirit

Holly was raised in a wonderful Catholic family. Her chastity was of prime importance to her.

When Holly went away to college and attended Mass, she noticed there weren’t many college students there. Holly fell away from the Sacraments. 

Holly learned “when we fall away from the Sacraments we stop receiving the graces that help us make good choices.”

Holly met a guy she thought she could fix. He was handsome, charming…all the things. 

Just a few months into their relationship Holly was pregnant. Soon thereafter she became a single mom.

In addition to carrying her precious son, Holly was carrying unforgiveness in her heart. Hear Holly’s story of God’s forgiveness and redemption—she describes it as “beauty from ashes.”

Holly says, “We can still make a beautiful offering from the mess, we just have to be open to it."

Kayce Maddux lost her sister when she was in third grade. In their suffering, Kayce's family stopped going to church for a time. Yet God met Kayce right where she was at in the intimacy of her heart and backyard of her home.

Jesus became Kayce's very best friend.

Kayce continued to seek God throughout her adolescence and was blessed to meet her husband at a young age--she was surprised when they sat atop a lifeguard tower and talked about their passionate love of God during their first full conversation.

Kayce converted to Catholicism to get married to her husband in the Church. Kayce talks about how God works through all things, met her as a young bride and drew her closer than she had ever been before.

Kayce continues grow close to God through the Sacraments and prayers she has been blessed with in the Catholic Church. 

Kayce recognizes how God draws us near every day in all things. She recognizes the sacred balance between having Catholic friendships centered in the Lord, while also being surrounded with those different from her to discover God more fully and stay ignited with the fire of His love. 

For many years Natalie Hanemann's prayer life was one of routine and came from a place of obedience. But her heart longed for more. Natalie was struck when she heard about "the interior life," as well as Saint Catherine of Sienna's words about the “interior cell.”

At around the same time Natalie's family was experiencing significant brokenness--this inspired Natalie to seek God with all her heart and soul.

Natalie's heart was opened and soul touched as she found God in everything, from Adoration to hikes to runs in nature.

Natalie realized she had been trying to fix her family herself. She discovered Christ walking with her and not only offering to carry her "backpack of burdens," but holding her hand as she proceeded forward in these relationships that mattered most. 

Natalie experienced profound healing and sharpening--she was healed from a judgemental spirit and learned to be more loving and merciful.

Natalie wants listeners to know that God is speaking intimately and personally to each of us. May we seek God with all of our hearts.

Natalie is an editor and ghostwriter. Learn more at nataliehanemann.com. 

“Maybe God doesn’t have anybody for you or God has called you to be single."

These were the types of heartbreaking responses Julieanne Bartlett heard from loved ones when she was struggling with prolonged singleness.

Yet, Julieanne knew God was calling her to the Vocation of marriage and discovered she needed to let God work outside the box for her—nothing was going to go the “perfect way” or “the perfect Catholic way.”

Julieanne chose to put herself out there in spite of her fear of rejection, especially in regards to her weight (she had always struggled with this).  She was willing to face rejection, because Julieanne wanted marriage more than she wanted to protect herself.

Julieanne's greatest hope came true and she met and married her husband at 42. Julieanne continues to experience God's profound healing and hope within her marriage. 

We have to stay open to the way that God may get us to our dreams.

Dr. Cynthia Stewart grew up in Vidor, Texas. Vidor has historically been known as one of the last “sundown towns” in the United States.

Cynthia discovered very young that people are complex--people carry within them the spark of God, as well as the ability to be so perfectly against what God tells us at the same time. No one is beyond the love of God and no one is perfectly what God envisions.

Cynthia has spent a number of years as a volunteer, chaplain and employee in prison ministry. Cynthia came to understand that she has been working out what she experienced in her family history and childhood community—prison ministry has been a way for her  to “give something back.”

Cynthia wants listeners to understand that "every single person in prison is a beautiful child of God."

Cynthia is the Director of Operations for Tennessee Prison Outreach Ministry (TPOM). TPOM strives to transform life behind bars, trade recidivism for restoration and end generational incarceration. You can learn more at https://www.tpom.org/.

Rainer Lowman and her husband Mitch put their hearts on the line for God--they adopted three children with special medical needs from China.

Each time Rainer and Mitch sat down to discern their adoptions they would ask themselves how God had equipped them to potentially help a child and what their lives would look like if they said “yes.” 

Rainer talks about the call to adoption and the beauty of the "yes." Rainer has had to turn to and depend on God in ways she never could have imagined—she says there is no where she would rather be than in full surrender and total need of Jesus.

Rainer reminds us that God always offers us, "a fresh cup of hope."

Rainer founded “Hearts Together Nashville,” a ministry for foster and adoptive moms to gather monthly to share, support and provide resources. You can reach out to Rainer to learn more at rlowman1100@yahoo.com.

Beth had all the cards stacked up against her as a child--both parents struggled with drug addiction, she spent time in foster care and was the victim of abuse.

Beth developed her own cocaine addiction by the time she was an adult and has spent most of her adulthood in and out of jail and halfway homes.

Yet something profound unfolded the last time Beth was in jail--she was ministered to by Tennessee Prison Ministry (TPOM) and felt like the hands of Christ reached into jail to save her.

Beth is now a client of TPOM outside of jail and is working on rehabilitating her life. Holy scripture and the words of people loving into Beth are helping her to discover her dignity and value as a person. Beth is on fire with the love of God and is called to share this message of hope with others. 

TPOM strives to transform life behind bars, trade recidivism for restoration and end generational incarceration. You can learn more at https://www.tpom.org/.

Two of Juliana Stachurski's boys needed service hours for school. Juliana found the perfect non-profit to take them one Saturday that would meet the exact requirement, so they could check it of their list and be done. Little did Juliana know that her life would be forever changed.

Juliana is now on the board of One Generation Away after joining the team every Saturday to distribute food since 2016. She shares stories of heartbreaking joy and the clear call to serve (and receive abundantly in return).

Juliana encourages listeners to do "praise in action" and be the hands and feet of Christ in the world. Serving another is always a good thing and invites the Holy Spirit to transform and work through us. 

One Generation Away helps remove food insecurity through food rescue, food distribution and disaster relief. They pick up good, unexpired food and redistrubute it to families in need. Their vision is "to wipe hunger off the face of America by teaching people to love one another through service." Learn more at: https://onegenaway.com.

Dorris Walker-Taylor is a survivor of sexual exploitation and addiction, as well as a graduate and now employee of the program that helped save her, Thistle Farms. Dorris landed at Thistle Farms after twenty-six years of addiction. She attributes the women at Thistle Farms for loving her back to life. 

Dorris grew up with her parents in a lovely neighborhood where everyone knew each other. When she was twelve her world shattered—a troubled family member severely injured her mother and killed her father. 

Dorris tried to numb her feelings through marijuana. Once marijuana didn’t have the same effect, she started using cocaine. Dorris was addicted to cocaine, lived on the streets of Nashville and was in and out of jail by the time she was an adult. 

Dorris talks of her mom’s home as a praying home. When Dorris returned home at her mother's request to sing in a choir reunion. Dorris obliged and sang, "You're Looking at a Miracle" by Lemmie Battles.

Dorris  had no idea that her mother's prayers, coupled with this request for her to sing, would change her life just as the song said: miraculously. 

The tagline of Thistle Farms is “Love Heals” and they believe love is the most powerful force for change in the world. Thistle Farms was founded in 1997 by Becca Stevens and helps rescue women from human trafficking, sexual exploitation, addiction and abuse. 

When Chaplain Fr. Jon Meyer was about to be ordained as a priest in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, he was interviewed regarding his Vocation. One of the things he said has often been quoted from that interview:

 “Priests need families and families need priests.”

Marriage and Holy Orders are Vocational Sacraments--both are are lifestyles rooted in Christ and expressed in different ways. 

They share a call to holiness, love and total self gift. 

May we create relationships with the priests in our churches and dioceses that fortify and enrich one another's Vocations. 

Andrea Bear felt paralyzed by grief when her mom passed away five years ago. She refers to this loss as an unplaced love that never goes away.

Andrea has always been a "doer" but discovered there was nothing she could do to escape missing her beloved mother. Andrea listened as God drew her into prayer and to just "being" with Him. 

Andrea has experienced profound healing from God through prayer. She refers to this purification as "life-changing" and "a turning point" in her life. 

Andrea is the author of “The Grieving Daughter’s Club" and will soon be starting a new podcast called "Mourning Glory." 

Tara Roof was recovering from a hysterectomy and living paycheck to paycheck when she was invited on a mission trip to China. She learned how many children with special needs filled the orphanages—she was heartbroken and drawn to go. 

Tara was told she would offer her professional services as a Speech Pathologist to the children. While Tara never rendered these services, God planted a seed that would change her and her family's lives forever. 

When Tara returned to America from China she prayed and asked God what He wanted from her. God answered clearly that He wanted Tara and her husband to adopt a ten-year-old boy with Down Syndrome who was affectionately named, “The Mayor.”

While Tara describes herself as someone who is Type A and likes to be in control, God has transformed her heart and helped her loosen her grip. This has enabled Tara to love more fully than she ever could have imagined. 

Five-year-old Frank sat on the steps of his parents' home and couldn't wait to drink like the adults he was watching. 

From 16 to 60 alcohol consumed Frank's life--it was an obsession of his mind. Frank would wake up each morning recovering from the night before, eat mid-day and spend the afternoons functioning until he could finally be drinking again.

At sixty Frank found himself hospitalized when he was visiting Memphis, TN. The doctors were concerned he may have a heart problem and required he drive back to Nashville, TN in an ambulance. 

Frank's wife trailed the ambulance for three hours of his journey back to Nashville--Frank recounts how the look in her eyes moved from contempt to pity. He couldn't take the look of pity and it broke open his heart.

Frank asked for help that day and has remained sober due to his daily dependence on God for thirteen years. Frank tells listeners that while we may give up on ourselves, God never gives up on us. Frank is now happier than he ever imagined possible. 

The day they broke up, Brian handed Lindy a Bible. With both moving away, it was a moment drenched in emotion and laced with countless unknowns.

It’s jacket now well-worn, its pages heavily noted and highlighted, “The Breakup Bible” proved to be a cornerstone for both Lindy’s faith-journey and Brian and Lindy’s relationship.

In this week’s podcast, Brian and Lindy share how God helped them climb out of the mess they made and firmly root their marriage in Him.

Hear about how a journey of loss, heartbreak and separation led to redemption and commitment. And how a breakup gift became a prized possession.

Every marriage has its brokenness that may seem unfixable. Yet God is hope and offers miraculous healing.

Brian Muha and his beloved friend Aaron were randomly and brutally murdered on May 31st, 1999. Two eighteen-year-olds high on cocaine broke into their college apartment, kidnapped and killed them.

In this podcast Brian’s mom Rachel Muha shares her journey of learning the meaning of forgiveness--she prays daily for Terrell and Nathan, the boys who killed Brian (they are incarcerated).

Rachel attended the court proceedings and learned more about Terrell and Nathan--the boys "were so damaged, because they weren’t loved.”

Rachel felt God's call to care for inner-city children. 

Rachel founded The Brian Muha and Run the Race Foundations in Columbus, Ohio in honor of her son, Brian. Rachel spends her days with inner-city children of Columbus, Ohio providing basic needs and sharing the presence, joy and mercy of Christ. 

Rachel encourages listeners to open their hearts, forgive and ask for forgiveness—this is a great weapon against darkness. She says, "when we forgive, God gives back a thousand times more."

To donate or volunteer go to brianmuhafoundation.org.

"Have confident expectation of God."

When Michelle McCallum's mom spoke these words many years ago, Michelle had no idea they would hold such profound meaning for her when two of her own children were diagnosed with chronic illness (both with rare liver diseases and one with Crohn's Disease).

In this Easter podcast, Michelle talks about her choice to trust God--Michelle recognizes she has very little control over her life or the lives of her children and surrenders everything to Him.

Michelle shares how having a heart of gratitude, being real about both the difficulty and blessings of her everyday life and trusting God's abiding presence helps her to live in the peace and joy only God can give.

Lisa Canning is a Catholic wife, mother and business woman who seems to be able to do it all.

Yet Lisa shares that doing it all herself is impossible--for this "Possibility Mom" all things are only possible with God. 

In this Easter Podcast, Lisa shares how she is constantly being sharpened as she re-surrenders her life, business and plans over to God and trusts in a future filled with hope (Jeremiah 29:11). 

One of the greatest gifts Lisa has learned is to loosen her grip of control and open her heart to being loved in ways she never could have imagined. 

Creating and maintaining healthy sisterhood in Christ is essential to our walk as women of faith. 

In this Easter podcast, Emily Jaminet and Jennifer Gentile explore The Woman at the Well and the truths this parable has uncovered in their lives.

Before creating holy sisterhood, we must first go to Christ individually for Living Water. Once we understand that we are seen and loved by Christ--and know our identity as daughters of God--we can develop the kind of sisterhood God hopes for us. 

Come gather at The Well with host Lindy, Jennifer and Emily and discover the glorious blessing of sisterhood in Christ.

Learn how to give your life away like Christ and live in the profound freedom and joy of the Lord. 

In this Easter podcast, Chaplain Father Jon Meyer and Lindy Wynne share personal stories about their experiences of dying to self and discovering the supernatural love of God. Father Jon explores his call into priesthood, while Lindy speaks of the ways she has been sharpened as a mother (Lindy is a mother through adoption and two of her children have special needs). 

We are called to self-gift in both our Vocational calls, as well as little dyings to self in our daily lives. May we be emptied of ourselves so that God can fill us with just what we need to love beyond measure. 

Rachel's husband was going to leave here and take their children with him. While Rachel had been deceiving her husband and hiding the extent of her drinking for some time, her recent car accident couldn't be explained away. She was caught.

In this Easter podcast, Rachel looks back on this moment as a gift from God--this was the "rock bottom" she needed to finally get help.

As Rachel engaged in the work needed to become and maintain sobriety, she discovered a greater joy than she could have ever imagined possible. 

Rachel has been an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) for five years.