Praise Through It

Joy in suffering. God's presence in the darkness. That's what Darci is here to teach us. I had such a hard time choosing just two quotes for this week’s Praise Through It, so I’m going to include some of her other gems right here, instead of my own words like I usually do. If you are in a dark place of suffering, or have been before, or want to arm up for battle in the future, this episode is for you. Read below for some snippets, and then spend 30 minutes here, listening. I was like, ‘Really, a second time? What didn’t I learn the first time, God?’ I stopped praying for awhile. I learned how much of my prayers were genie prayers. … asking God for this, and asking God for that. And ‘can you do this?’ and ‘can you do that?’ I developed this friendship with God in this really deep, dark place. There’s an understanding in suffering that can only come from God. We meet in a dark place, but it’s a beautiful place, too. Because God inhabits this dark place. It’s not the same darkness Satan inhabits. Yes, I have received a lot of joy in suffering. The beauty beyond the thorns is Jesus. I can sit in fear and not be afraid because I know He’s working good in suffering. I don’t know the why. But I trust. I know that He is good. And He is God, and He knows what He’s doing. So I’m just facing Him, and letting Him direct. If anyone feels like they’re on a bumpy road, like washboard bumpy, instead of on a smooth road, that doesn’t mean your purpose is thwarted. Look at what God is trying to show you because it might be better than what you had planned.

“The reality is: you are free.” Paul Henderson said that during our podcast conversation when we recorded about two months ago, and I still have those words rolling around in my head. More than the line of a worship song. More than a line in a podcast. More than a (good, true) soundbite. It is REALITY. I am free. You are free. In this conversation, Paul Henderson—author and Dean of Students for an elementary & middle school—talks to us about living in that reality for ourselves and for the people around us. With constant encouragement and a raw faith that shows itself over and over, Paul talks about his decision to have a relationship with God, his work with his students, marriage, parenting, and more. Listen in [https://anchor.fm/elisa-preston]for 25 minutes of how to find freedom & then stay right in it, every single day. Show notes Slave No More: Conquering the Master Within [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09HQW6MQT/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1] Paul Henderson online [https://paulanthonyhenderson.com/] Paul Henderson on Instagram (Fatherhood On the Fly) [https://www.instagram.com/fatherhood_onthefly/] Fellowship of Christian Athletes [https://www.fca.org/] Virginia Commonwealth University [https://www.vcu.edu/] Farmville, Virginia school system 1957-1964 [https://www.neh.gov/humanities/2013/septemberoctober/feature/massive-resistance-in-small-town] Become part of my FRIDAY CREW - quick, actionable ADULTING tips, usually using the framework of the Enneagram. I promise interesting. I promise a GIF. I promise helpful. Right here [https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/o2l9m4] or right down below. Sign up for Monday Morning Blessings: soulful meditations to start your week [https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/k2c6g3]

“Oh you’re used to that right? You guys move all the time.” I’ve heard that sentence a few times because of the … 14? … collective residences we’ve had in the 16 years we’ve been married. The truth is, though, that it actually isn’t that easy based on the number of times you’ve done it in the past. Our last move was actually the most difficult, and our third was the easiest. Heather Eberhart is a military wife—and the only repeat guest on Praise Through It (Together) this summer!—and she talks with such honesty and grace and knowledge about what it’s like having your military family uprooted … again. How do we parent through those huge transitions? How do we hold onto our faith and rest on God’s absolute promises when everything swirling around us feels the opposite of sure and absolute? Listen in [https://anchor.fm/elisa-preston]to find out how. Show notes Connect with Heather online [https://heatherleberhart.com/] Sign up for Heather’s newsletter [https://heatherleberhart.com/subscribe] Resources for the military family [https://heatherleberhart.com/resources] Heather on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/heatherleberhart/] Kristen Strong [https://kristenstrong.com/] When Change Finds You [https://kristenstrong.com/when-change-finds-you/] Become part of my FRIDAY CREW - quick, actionable ADULTING tips, usually using the framework of the Enneagram. I promise interesting. I promise a GIF. I promise helpful. Right here [https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/o2l9m4] or right down below. Sign up for Monday Morning Blessings: soulful meditations to start your week [https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/k2c6g3]

Do you know someone in your life whose superpower is JOY? If not, meet Dorina Gilmore. She is an author, speaker, and self-titled Glory Chaser. She teaches us how to chase God’s glory—look for his goodness & his glory—in every aspect of our lives. And this passion of her heart comes from a deeply sincere place, since the plan she had for her life has been thrown off course more than once. Listen in [https://anchor.fm/elisa-preston?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=praise_through_it_being_a_glory_chaser&utm_term=2022-06-23]for encouragement on how to see God’s glory in your big and small moments. Show notes Dorina online [https://dorinagilmore.com/] Dorina on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/dorinagilmore/] Fort Bragg 10-miler [https://bragg.armymwr.com/programs/fort-bragg-10-miler] Army 10-miler [https://www.armytenmiler.com/] HaitiGO [https://haitigo.com/] Walk Run Soar [https://dorinagilmore.com/books/] A Trip to the Garbage Dump: When God Enlarged My Heart for Mercy [https://dorinagilmore.com/a-trip-to-the-garbage-dump-when-god-enlarged-my-heart-for-mercy/] Become part of my FRIDAY CREW - quick, actionable ADULTING tips, usually using the framework of the Enneagram. I promise interesting. I promise a GIF. I promise helpful. Right here [https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/o2l9m4] or right down below. Sign up for Monday Morning Blessings: soulful meditations to start your week [https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/k2c6g3]

I’m not known for my love of social media, but Megan Ericson is. She is quite literally the one voice I listen to when I need or want to learn something about social media. She keeps it simple, easy, and judgment-free. And she is a JOY to talk to! Megan walked me through the Instagram world in 2021 when I was part of her Instagram challenge. In this conversation, she walks us through the good side of social media, how to be a light in a world of trolls, and how to work your kids through the online space. Social media is not going away, that is for sure. In its evolution over the last 20 years, we’ve heard everything from social media saves lives to social media has ruined the world. Maybe there’s an in-between, and Megan can for sure teach us how to show up and be a positive light in the online space. Show notes MeganEricson.com [https://www.meganericson.com/] Megan Ericson on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/meganericson/] Megan on Twitter [https://twitter.com/meganericson] Megan on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/meganericsonblog] Megan on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-ericson/] Kellerman’s Mountain House (Dirty Dancing Experience) [https://www.mtnlakelodge.com/mlliskellermans] Become part of my FRIDAY CREW - quick, actionable ADULTING tips, usually using the framework of the Enneagram. I promise interesting. I promise a GIF. I promise helpful. Right here [https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/o2l9m4] or right down below. Sign up for Monday Morning Blessings: soulful meditations to start your week [https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/k2c6g3]