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00:00:08.960Welcome to the Overcomers Approach podcast, where I share stories of resilience, redemption, and life-changing power of hope.
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00:00:11.359I'm your host, Nicole Liss McGregor.
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00:00:27.199Today I'm honored to welcome Kristen Kurtz, a life coach, speaker, and entrepreneur whose story is power is a powerful reminder that God can redeem even in our most broken places and transform them into a purpose-filled life.
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00:00:31.600Kristen's journey is one of redemption, obedience, and transformation.
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00:00:39.039After being saved and delivered from addiction, she rediscovered firsthand that God doesn't waste our pain.
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00:00:40.479He redeems it.
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00:00:51.679The life-changing experience became the foundation for the work she does today, helping women embrace their God-given identity and stepping boldly into their calling.
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00:00:56.560Kristen, thank you for being a guest on the overcomer's approach today.
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00:00:58.960I love your story of redemption.
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00:01:04.799I'm looking for more for looking forward to dwelling more into it into it today.
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00:01:07.359Just really having an organic conversation.
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00:01:08.640Yes, I love that.
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00:01:10.480Thank you for having me.
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00:01:11.200Thank you.
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00:01:12.159Happy to be here.
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00:01:18.159Well, take us back to wherever you want to at the beginning of your story of how you got here today.
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00:01:18.719Yeah.
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00:01:28.079Well, and and it's honestly when I hear people share kind of the behind you know what you just shared, it's still kind of at times.
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00:01:31.599Like I think when I reached out to you about your podcast, I saw the butterfly.
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00:01:33.599Butterflies are so powerful to me.
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00:01:44.079They are they they represent like transformation on a I guess the word is like cataclysmic level, like to the point of like the transformation that happens.
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00:01:48.159And I do really feel like that's what God did with me.
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00:01:53.840Um I was um, as you mentioned, saved from addiction when I was 25.
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00:01:56.799And I was literally on a crash course.
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00:02:00.640I lived a very rush and roulette life, didn't grow up in church.
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00:02:02.640I I just didn't care.
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00:02:04.079I cared, but I didn't.
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00:02:10.000Um I I really felt like there was no purpose because I didn't feel like I had a purpose.
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00:02:11.599I didn't go to college.
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00:02:16.319I just I just had no purpose really.
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00:02:21.599Um, and I thought like the God that people talked about, um, I actually hated him.
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00:02:24.879And I I've said now, uh, I didn't grow up in church.
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00:02:33.520Like I hated God until I met him, and he met me in my lowest, lowest of lowest when I was 25.
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00:02:39.360So um that that completely was the shift going into the cocoon.
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00:02:40.159Yes.
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00:02:41.439Oh, I love that.
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00:02:47.199I love the story how you equated it with the butterfly that totally resonates with me as well, as you know.
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00:03:00.960Uh caterpillars are not the most beautiful creatures when they're first, you know, they they're kind of scary looking, but what they transform into is something so beautiful and so diverse and just so meaningful.
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00:03:04.159And I I think they're resilient, beautiful creatures.
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00:03:06.960And I love I love the fact that you can relate to that.
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00:03:14.080And I also love the fact that you're being really honest about you know, not having that relationship at first with God.
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00:03:16.400And and I I didn't grow up in church either.
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00:03:25.439Um, I I grew around a lot of religious, like you know, my grandparents raised me, they were Catholics, but we just went to church and I didn't know what was going on, like literally.
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00:03:26.400It it kind of scared me.
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00:03:29.759Yeah, it just kind of scared me to be honest.
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00:03:42.240Um, uh, but there was no relationships there, and I didn't, you know, in my late 20s, so I could totally relate to like I don't know what this is, uh life has been pretty traumatic.
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00:03:45.439So I could totally relate to that.
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00:03:53.919And then you saying that, you know, at 25 and you know, going through your addiction as well, um, and you having the ability to meet God.
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00:04:02.479Was there any significant event that just clicked for you in that during that period, or how did you come about to that, or how did that journey start?
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00:04:03.199Yes.
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00:04:13.520Well, um, I I I have this phrase that I actually use a lot late and throughout, you know, since I became a believer, but especially like the last five years, you can't make this stuff up.
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00:04:14.560No, you can't.
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00:04:17.519You can't make the stuff up moment.
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00:04:23.439When I was 25, I like I said, I was just I'd gotten married when I was 24.
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00:04:25.839I started dating my husband when we were 18.
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00:04:29.360So we are we've been together 30 years now, which is wow.
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00:04:30.560Congratulations.
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00:04:32.399It's unusual.
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00:04:33.279Right.
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00:04:41.360You know, I was just yeah, I I really was hitting a lot of rock bottom moments, just really like, what's the point?
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00:04:43.199You know, why am I here?
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00:04:51.759Um, and just drinking, but then just feeling worse than I'd ever felt, you know, doing some drugs and just I don't know.
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00:05:00.240So I remember what what was so interesting about me, even though I was doing all these things, I would still work out at the gym.
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00:05:02.560I just always I've always I love working out still.
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00:05:05.199It's like I loved working out back then.
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00:05:10.399So I would take care of myself, but then I would party after.
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00:05:29.519So um I remember being at the gym one day, and I was um estranged from my family for for quite some time, and I saw this gal who just looked sick, um, like she was going through some struggles, and it made me think of my sister, my youngest sister.
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00:05:35.519I remember walking outside and it was night, and I I just saw the stars were very bright.
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00:05:39.360I've just always been one who just notices things outside.
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00:05:41.439I'm a noticer, I guess you could say.
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00:05:41.920Yes.
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00:05:56.319And I kind of put the two together and I just felt led to call her and um come to find out she was actually dealing with some um eating disorder type thing, which correlated to seeing somebody.
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00:05:59.360It wasn't her, she's like, No, it wasn't me.
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00:06:13.120Um but in in that conversation, she had invited me to her church because she had um started going to church within the last year, and she invited me.
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00:06:23.839And why I said yes, because I honestly like there's no reason I should have said yes, because I had no interest in church people, church, any of it.
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00:06:25.600I could get it, yes.
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00:06:27.759None of it, like right.
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00:06:48.959I would probably use like some fragrant words, honestly, with most people if they would have asked, but right, um, I did say I would go, um, but unfortunately, like I ended up partying too much the night before I was supposed to go with her and didn't go, and she was persistent and asked again.
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00:06:58.560And I I remember going with her, and I remember looking around and just thinking, like, this is really weird, people are happy, like there's like good me.
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00:06:59.680This is good music.
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00:07:00.720Right.
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00:07:03.279What's happening?
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00:07:03.839Right.
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00:07:11.920I don't remember what the pastor spoke about, but it was something that I needed to hear that very day, and it drew me in.
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00:07:20.800And I think within two to three months or so, I accepted Christ, and literally my whole world flipped upside down.
00:07:21.040 -->
00:07:25.839I immediately like was delivered of you know, drugs, alcohol.
00:07:26.000 -->
00:07:28.720I didn't smoke two packs of cigarettes a a day.
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00:07:32.079I was just I was done with it very quickly.
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00:07:34.079There was no, you know, treatment.
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00:07:42.480I never had any kind of you know help other than helped me literally get delivered from addiction.
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00:07:43.360That's powerful.
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00:07:48.959So that that was like the you can't make this stuff up because I didn't have to planned that story for myself.
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00:08:01.040Yes, that is powerful, you know, and I love that I love it for several different reasons because I think everybody's journey is different in terms of addiction and how they meet God and how they recover.
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00:08:05.839And I love that the fact and I do believe in deliverance just as you said it.
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00:08:21.120I've met people where that day they were done, and that's just how powerful God is and the Holy Spirit is, and so I love the fact that you share that because people need to hear that because it lets them know that these things still exist today.
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00:08:25.519You know, I know people hear like, oh, 10 years ago or back when this used to happen.
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00:08:30.240No, God is still doing the same thing today, and so I love that.
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00:08:44.879And two, in your brokenness, you know, I think, you know, or in you know, you can say addiction, or no matter what we're we're working through, we could be we can become or experience that brokenness can be used for the benefit of God's kingdom and glory.
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00:08:49.519But some people think they're so broken that they can't recover from that.
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00:08:58.960Yeah, well, how would you encourage someone who's walking through a journey of addiction or life where they're just like, I don't have much to offer?
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00:09:10.879Kind of what she said in the beginning, which I always tell people when I speak with people all the time and say, Well, I didn't go to school, I don't have this, I don't have that, but you're God's creation and he makes no mistakes.
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00:09:16.639And even I think we gain wisdom and intelligence and apply that in so many different ways.
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00:09:23.039Um, that so many people have so many gifts and talents, like maybe that was a navigation journey for somebody else, right?
00:09:23.279 -->
00:09:26.559But what you have to offer on this side is very profound.
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00:09:35.600So um, that's what I'm learning in this journey that there's so many gifts and talents to offer in the body, you know, to offer the world.
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00:09:37.519I think people need to hear that.
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00:09:38.240So, yeah.
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00:09:42.399So, how can people in their brokenness be like, it's done?
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00:09:43.679I have nothing to offer.
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00:09:46.080What would how would you encourage someone?
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00:09:46.480Yeah.
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00:09:50.240Well, I want to offer a visual that I'll never forget.
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00:09:52.799And I actually have like a tattoo on my arm.
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00:09:54.080Oh, I love it.
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00:09:55.759Display of what it is.
00:09:55.840 -->
00:09:58.799This is like a flower, one of my favorite flowers, it's a Daya.
00:09:59.279 -->
00:10:02.720And the vase the vase represents kintsugi.
00:10:02.879 -->
00:10:04.159Have you heard of kintsugi?
00:10:04.240 -->
00:10:07.039It's K-I-N-T-S-U-G-I.
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00:10:09.600So they're gonna go look into it.
00:10:09.840 -->
00:10:11.679Okay, it's a Japanese.
00:10:11.840 -->
00:10:15.919I believe it's a Japanese, um, I think it's Japanese art.
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00:10:16.799Yes.
00:10:17.039 -->
00:10:26.240What they do is they take broken dishes, broken pottery, broken, um, maybe like a very nice, let's just say a very nice plate.
00:10:26.399 -->
00:10:29.679And let's say you have a broken plate.
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00:10:31.600Well, it looks unusable, right?
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00:10:32.480Right.
00:10:33.039 -->
00:10:40.720Well, what they do is they take gold and they glue it back together with gold, so it's actually more valuable.
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00:10:49.600The broken being put back together because of the that has like interwoven itself through it.
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00:10:52.000Um, so I want to offer you that visual.
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00:10:53.200Yes, I love that.
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00:10:53.600Thank you.
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00:10:57.679That right there was something, and it for me it's been a process.
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00:11:04.000I've been a believer for it's been 28, I don't know, 23 years now.
00:11:04.480 -->
00:11:05.679I'm I'm 48.
00:11:05.759 -->
00:11:06.720I'm like, how old am I?
00:11:07.039 -->
00:11:07.51948.
00:11:08.240 -->
00:11:09.20023 years.
00:11:09.360 -->
00:11:11.039Um it's been a process.
00:11:11.200 -->
00:11:22.559I mean, yeah, more than half of my life was spent in just a lot of um trauma, you know, just a lot of trouble.
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00:11:23.440Yes.
00:11:24.639 -->
00:11:28.399Um, so and we're we're on like a sanctification process.
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00:11:43.919Now, some of the things like I mentioned, like quick deliverance from addiction, um, there's been you know, longer process of discovering who the Lord called me to be, you know, because for a long time I thought, oh um, you know, there's I don't really have anything to offer.
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00:11:46.559I didn't go to school, I didn't finish college.
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00:11:55.440I I didn't didn't I didn't didn't um but to really you know I look back, you know, currently I have a podcast and I'm a life coach.
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00:11:59.279And the very things, okay, I want you guys to maybe think about this.
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00:12:00.080Yes.
00:12:00.480 -->
00:12:07.360The very things that I got in trouble for in school is what I'm actually doing now.
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00:12:10.000What did I get in trouble for in school?
00:12:10.240 -->
00:12:13.279I asked too many questions and I talked too much.
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00:12:19.200So those things tried to silence me, honestly.
00:12:19.360 -->
00:12:19.679That's right.
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00:12:34.639There was a like a silencing that I know but you can look back now, and I I know the enemy was trying to silence me because of the work that I now get to do and help others, you know, yeah and share their stories.
00:12:34.879 -->
00:12:41.360But you know, I I would just really encourage you guys to make a list of your gifts.
00:12:41.440 -->
00:12:51.440Um, if you can't pull any out, go to your go to your friends, go to your family, ask them like tell me, like you could just start with two.
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00:12:54.000Tell me two good qualities about me.
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00:12:54.320Yeah.
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00:13:03.600Because if you guys have ever looked at, let's just say, like, a pickle jar, the pickles inside the jar probably can't read what's on the outside of the jar.
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00:13:15.279You have to look you have to look from the outside in, and sometimes we need those outside in people to speak into who you are, what your gifts are, right?
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00:13:19.279Yes, yes, and start believing, you have to start believing it.
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00:13:23.279Yes, I love the fact, and I love the fact that you use visuals.
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00:13:25.519Number one, because I'm a visual learner.
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00:13:30.080If you give me a picture, I can do so much more what you're telling me.
00:13:30.960 -->
00:13:33.039And I yeah, and I could definitely apply it.
00:13:33.120 -->
00:13:35.600So I know some of my listeners can relate to that as well.
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00:13:41.039It just gives a picture to it and it makes it so much more impactful too for me.
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00:13:47.279Um, and then I love the fact that you said the things that you the enemy tried to silence you for.
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00:13:51.679Now you're using it for a bigger purpose and you're calling a life.
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00:14:00.320And yeah, and I think that's that's something that's so empowering for other people to know for your uniqueness and for how God created you.
00:14:00.480 -->
00:14:07.279It's being it can be used for God's purpose in you, and and know that the enemy may have tried to silence it.
00:14:07.360 -->
00:14:12.399So we always hear what the enemy made for get bad, God will turn it, definitely turn around and make for good.
00:14:12.799 -->
00:14:17.919And you're just a prime example of that, and I think that can give people so much inspiration.
00:14:18.399 -->
00:14:22.240Um you kind of I and which kind of leads me to my next question.
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00:14:26.240You kind of call your you do call you describe yourself as a spiritual midwife.
00:14:26.639 -->
00:14:31.519And I love the fact that you equate yourself with that because that gives life.
00:14:31.679 -->
00:14:46.480And so um how do you and I I think I kind of know the direction where you're going for that, but what in ways do you support like as you help someone as their spiritual midwife to prepare them for what God has for them?
00:14:46.639 -->
00:14:48.559Yeah, how what does that journey look like?
00:14:48.799 -->
00:14:49.440How does it start?
00:14:49.600 -->
00:14:57.519And I know it could be so complex and different for so many people, but just kind of like an abbreviate or what whatever description you want to bring to that, yes.
00:14:57.600 -->
00:14:58.559But I love that.
00:14:58.720 -->
00:15:00.080I love that description.
00:15:00.559 -->
00:15:09.120Yeah, I I would say, you know, I've I've been pregnant with um, I've been pregnant four times and I have two young men.
00:15:09.279 -->
00:15:09.759Yes.
00:15:10.240 -->
00:15:14.639Um I lost the first two, and I have an 18 and 21-year-old now.
00:15:14.799 -->
00:15:17.279So are miracles in and of itself.
00:15:17.519 -->
00:15:22.720So each pregnancy was very different, each pregnancy is different for everybody.
00:15:22.799 -->
00:15:29.440And I like to say that um, you know, I I work with women, so I I like to say, and even men can be pregnant with purpose.
00:15:30.080 -->
00:15:33.759I like to say pregnant with purpose, yes, pregnant with purpose.
00:15:33.919 -->
00:15:44.480So um, each woman I believe is pregnant with purpose, no matter how broken their past was, how much you've gone through, how much you feel unqualified.
00:15:44.720 -->
00:15:55.600Um, I love the underdogs, I love the ones who've um walked through so much, and I I truly believe that God has mighty callings on the ones who walk through massive.
00:15:56.000 -->
00:15:57.600I mean, movies are made about it.
00:15:57.840 -->
00:15:58.240That's right.
00:15:58.559 -->
00:16:03.200The Bible, you know, how many people in the Bible have walked through so much and they're the ones that are featured.
00:16:03.440 -->
00:16:04.000That's right.
00:16:04.879 -->
00:16:08.559Kind of kind of equating back to the the pickle jar.
00:16:08.639 -->
00:16:20.639Um one of my clients actually had said it's almost like you hold a spiritual ultrasound and you're able to tell me what I'm giving gonna give birth to that I just can't see.
00:16:20.879 -->
00:16:21.360That's right.
00:16:21.840 -->
00:16:29.279Just imagine like an ultrasound when you're pregnant, you can't you can feel it kicking, but you're like, I don't, I don't, I don't know what it looks like.
00:16:29.440 -->
00:16:31.919I don't I can't see anything.
00:16:32.080 -->
00:16:46.799Um, so I guess I get to help kind of because I am a very like I think in pictures, I feel like prophetically, I I feel like the Lord gives me, you know, visions, um words, I'll see words for people.
00:16:47.039 -->
00:17:11.119Um so I get to let come alongside them as kind of a midwife, as you know, spiritual wife to help them see through what God is calling them to deliver to the world, because I will say um there's too many that self-abort God's plan for their life, whether it's fear or comparison or I'm not enough, I'm too much.
00:17:11.279 -->
00:17:17.440I mean, it's just all the life of the enemy that and I'm like, oh no, what is your I call it the but God said.
00:17:17.759 -->
00:17:19.440What is your but God said?
00:17:19.599 -->
00:17:23.599Yeah, follow what he said, not but what if.
00:17:24.079 -->
00:17:30.559So um, and it's fun because it really parallels with being a life coach.
00:17:30.640 -->
00:17:33.920Like I think of it a of a different way, maybe than others do.
00:17:34.160 -->
00:17:36.000Yeah, bringing life.
00:17:36.160 -->
00:17:49.680Like I'm I'm coaching you to bring bring to life what God's calling you to, and a lot of times it's gonna be something that is gonna stretch you, it's gonna be like beyond what you think you could even do, beyond, you know.
00:17:49.759 -->
00:17:53.680I think of like Noah building, like his breath.
00:17:54.079 -->
00:17:55.359Like, what are you even thinking?
00:17:55.920 -->
00:18:00.799Right, right, for decades, honey.
00:18:00.880 -->
00:18:02.480Like, what are you even doing?
00:18:02.559 -->
00:18:09.200And I feel like Noah had to have a coach, like yes in his corner going, Hey, what's God calling you to do?
00:18:09.359 -->
00:18:15.039So I get to ask these questions, yes, to help help things deliver.
00:18:15.119 -->
00:18:24.400You know, I I call it kind of the trimesters of um discovering that you're pregnant, developing and delivering.
00:18:24.880 -->
00:18:26.400Yes, I love it.
00:18:26.559 -->
00:18:26.960Excellent.
00:18:27.039 -->
00:18:28.799And I can I identify as a mom too.
00:18:28.880 -->
00:18:36.640I'm a mother of two sons as well, and so they're 12 years apart, but um, they're unique in their own, you know, journeys in life.
00:18:36.799 -->
00:18:44.400And so, but I love the fact that you equated it to just giving birth because I think as women we can most definitely identify with that.
00:18:44.559 -->
00:19:07.920And I like the fact that you said, you know, bring in bringing life for and that could look different for uh men who who definitely if their God has a gift in them that hasn't been birthed yet, or maybe women who have not given birth that I'm sure they can identify with just the whole process, yeah, because uh even if we didn't give birth, someone gave birth to us, and so and God most definitely has.
00:19:08.079 -->
00:19:09.680So I love the fact that you said that.
00:19:09.839 -->
00:19:12.000So I could most definitely relate to that.
00:19:12.160 -->
00:19:27.839I think too, my next question is um, sometimes, and this has been for myself, I'm a uh I'm a late bloomer, I'm an underdog, so I didn't really get into like really fully living my life, probably until I was, you know, it I hit like my late 30s.
00:19:27.920 -->
00:19:31.359I I think I was more in survival mode than anything.
00:19:32.480 -->
00:19:35.599And so my kids will come back and be like, Well, what were you doing then?
00:19:35.759 -->
00:19:40.799And I was like, I was working two jobs, I was taking care of you, you know.
00:19:40.960 -->
00:19:43.680I was I was the rock for my entire family.
00:19:43.839 -->
00:19:48.880So not only with you, but I was like the crisis intervention person for my whole entire family.
00:19:49.119 -->
00:19:51.359And I just that's what I was in.
00:19:51.599 -->
00:19:57.119And so there came to a point where I I did become stuck and I realized that there needed to be some movement.
00:19:57.200 -->
00:20:17.599And I think a lot of women can get stuck in fear, can get stuck in what I'm not, can get stuck on, you know, it's and and even you know, for you could see what other people are doing, you know, like in social media, like, oh my god, they're making millions of dollars, like they're going on 20 trips, and I don't necessarily really even want to go on a trip.
00:20:17.759 -->
00:20:20.880Trips mean something totally different for me, it really has to have meaning.
00:20:20.960 -->
00:20:24.160It sometimes vacations can be totally exhausting for me.
00:20:24.319 -->
00:20:31.599So it just really pertains it really pertains to like what is your what it what's it what's your what did God want you to do?
00:20:32.160 -->
00:20:37.440Um, but people be can become stuck just out of for so many different reasons.
00:20:37.680 -->
00:20:40.960Um what would you suggest for people?
00:20:41.200 -->
00:20:56.720Something practical that they could just if they needed to take a baby step, you know, out of moving in that place of you know, or or they haven't forgiven themselves for an addiction or life choices or relationship, it could be very broad.
00:20:57.039 -->
00:21:01.359Um, you know, uh God has forgiven us, but we haven't let go yet.
00:21:01.599 -->
00:21:06.640So what step do you think people could take to get them into position?
00:21:06.799 -->
00:21:07.200Yeah.
00:21:07.519 -->
00:21:14.480And that's a I mean, that's a great way to, you know, I think of just even the birthing position, right?
00:21:15.599 -->
00:21:17.279Literally laying down.
00:21:17.519 -->
00:21:37.359Okay, so I I want to just kind of stress that a lot of times, and just even in our world, like moving so fast, not taking enough time to rest, not taking enough time to like contemplate, to pray about, like Lord, what do you want to show me about this?
00:21:37.519 -->
00:21:40.240Um you know, who do I need to forgive?
00:21:40.319 -->
00:21:44.720Do and that is a question, like I I've had to forgive myself many times.
00:21:44.880 -->
00:21:48.559I think we we forget to forgive ourselves.
00:21:48.799 -->
00:21:49.279That's right.
00:21:49.599 -->
00:21:51.680Sometimes sometimes, not all the time.
00:21:51.920 -->
00:22:08.640Yes, um, but even at the end of the day, to you know, just kind of do like a scrub in, scrub out, like Start the day with the Lord and um ask him, like ask him ultimately what step would you like me to take today?
00:22:08.880 -->
00:22:09.200Yes.
00:22:09.359 -->
00:22:10.319Just for today.
00:22:10.559 -->
00:22:11.119Yes.
00:22:11.359 -->
00:22:13.119Because even you know, I am a life coach.
00:22:13.200 -->
00:22:19.200I believe in goals, I believe in, you know, you know, have a cook two two says, you know, write the vision and make it plain.
00:22:19.359 -->
00:22:20.000Yes.
00:22:20.319 -->
00:22:22.079Write the vision, make it plain.
00:22:22.160 -->
00:22:25.759So write the vision for the day and make it plain.
00:22:26.160 -->
00:22:26.799That's good.
00:22:26.960 -->
00:22:27.119Yeah.
00:22:27.440 -->
00:22:29.039One step at a time.
00:22:29.200 -->
00:22:31.920One, like literally focus on today.
00:22:32.079 -->
00:22:51.759Yep, you can look out further, you know, yep, might have this goal by the end of the year, but I think sometimes we focus too much on the future and too much on the past that we really need to like focus on literally today, literally, even minute by minute sometimes.
00:22:52.000 -->
00:22:52.480Yes.
00:22:52.960 -->
00:22:54.400Be present, right?
00:22:54.640 -->
00:22:55.279Yes.
00:22:55.759 -->
00:22:58.720I think that is a huge step.
00:22:59.039 -->
00:22:59.680Yes.
00:23:00.000 -->
00:23:01.119That is so good.
00:23:01.279 -->
00:23:02.880It's so good for a number of reasons.
00:23:03.039 -->
00:23:10.960I think uh people can get overwhelmed with just thinking too far ahead or being keeping their safe self-positioned in a place in the past.
00:23:11.119 -->
00:23:11.359Yeah.
00:23:11.920 -->
00:23:19.039And I think that celebrating that win for today and asking God just for today, what do you want me to do?
00:23:19.200 -->
00:23:19.440Yeah.
00:23:19.680 -->
00:23:26.720Um, and it brings me back to the scripture, which is uh, I think it's Proverbs 3 and 5, leaning out of that understanding.
00:23:26.960 -->
00:23:34.319Yeah, trusting God and He'll direct, and I'm probably not quoting it verbatim completely correctly, but He will direct your path.
00:23:34.559 -->
00:23:38.640Yeah, it's like we can make our plans, but the book determines our steps.
00:23:38.799 -->
00:23:40.319Yeah, about steps.
00:23:40.400 -->
00:23:41.839We you make the plans, yeah.
00:23:43.359 -->
00:23:46.079So get in the morning right away.
00:23:46.240 -->
00:23:53.359Yes, you know, before you start all your things, yes, sit, sit, get in position, yes.
00:23:53.759 -->
00:24:01.279And I came out of sleeping, but get in a position of receiving, and then that'll set you up better for your day each day.
00:24:01.440 -->
00:24:03.359Yes, yes, you know what I'm saying?
00:24:03.680 -->
00:24:05.200Yes, I know exactly what you're saying.
00:24:05.279 -->
00:24:15.839And I think just from a place of giving birth, I can remember both of my births from my sons, and until I got into position to push them out, yeah.
00:24:16.160 -->
00:24:20.160Uh it it my body wasn't really responding the way it was should should.
00:24:20.240 -->
00:24:23.759You know how and when we relax and we breathe, yeah.
00:24:24.240 -->
00:24:32.559Uh and we get into position, it just they're they they were in unison with one with God and our child that's about to be birthed.
00:24:32.880 -->
00:24:38.720It just brings them a level of more peacefulness, and then they come out and you can hear the crying and everything.
00:24:39.119 -->
00:24:41.759But I think with with both, I tensed up.
00:24:41.920 -->
00:24:44.160Like the first one was I was a hot mess.
00:24:44.240 -->
00:24:49.119It went very quickly, but I just was not in getting in position was called.
00:24:49.519 -->
00:24:52.079It's a new it's an and it's a new thing too.
00:24:52.400 -->
00:24:52.880Right, right.
00:24:53.359 -->
00:24:55.839Bringing life into this world, right?
00:24:56.000 -->
00:24:56.240Right.
00:24:56.400 -->
00:24:59.279But I think the second one was uh better, you know.
00:24:59.359 -->
00:25:12.799But I think uh just in life in general, I think if we take that concept to just spend that time with God and have that intimate time with him, breathe and let him direct your day, and don't get too overwhelmed in next week.
00:25:13.039 -->
00:25:13.680Yes.
00:25:14.400 -->
00:25:17.440And and don't like don't compare.
00:25:17.680 -->
00:25:18.160Yes.
00:25:18.400 -->
00:25:20.559I think that's one of the hardest things in this world.
00:25:20.720 -->
00:25:25.599Like, you know, I grew I I was born in the late 70s, and we didn't I was thinking about this the other day.
00:25:25.759 -->
00:25:30.079We didn't have we we had like corded phones, we yes, we did.
00:25:31.759 -->
00:25:38.160We didn't know what everybody was doing, we didn't know what everything was happening in the world, like I couldn't do anything.
00:25:38.319 -->
00:25:45.200Um I think with this world that we live in right now, there's so many opportunities to compare.
00:25:45.279 -->
00:25:52.079There's so many, yeah, you know, like, oh, I can't take that step because somebody else is like 50 seconds.
00:25:52.160 -->
00:25:52.240Right.
00:25:52.640 -->
00:25:58.079I mean, it's like, no, God, like, if there's breath in your lungs, there's a reason you're here today.
00:25:58.400 -->
00:25:59.279For sure.
00:25:59.519 -->
00:26:01.920And if they're doing the same thing, that's them.
00:26:02.079 -->
00:26:02.799That's not us.
00:26:02.960 -->
00:26:04.480Like, that's not you, that's not me.
00:26:04.640 -->
00:26:09.039God divinely created each of us uniquely, and we're called to people.
00:26:09.200 -->
00:26:27.279And if we don't get into position, they're not gonna be able to find us, you know, because maybe, yeah, because maybe your story, you know, of walking through addiction, maybe your story of finding the Lord, you know, is gonna resonate with somebody, and it's gonna be you that are called to them, yeah.
00:26:27.440 -->
00:26:28.400So yeah.
00:26:29.039 -->
00:26:31.200And like one thing, you know, I'm a coach.
00:26:31.279 -->
00:26:32.480There's a lot of out there.
00:26:32.880 -->
00:26:33.680Yes, yes.
00:26:33.920 -->
00:26:38.559I I like to say, like, I'm not called to everybody, and everybody's not called to me.
00:26:38.640 -->
00:26:42.640And I I can't reach everybody, I'm not called to work with everybody.
00:26:42.799 -->
00:26:45.200I can't even imagine if I was called to work with everybody.
00:26:45.920 -->
00:26:46.079Right.
00:26:46.480 -->
00:26:49.200God be like, uh, that's my job.
00:26:49.519 -->
00:26:50.559That's right.
00:26:51.440 -->
00:26:52.319That is right.
00:26:52.880 -->
00:27:04.799He hand picks people that we're called to even, you know, even some days when I have, you know, like if I don't have calls during the day, I I really like to have a day of just surprise me, Lord.
00:27:04.880 -->
00:27:17.680Like if I go to the grocery store and you know, be more on the lookout for an open, you know, conversation that I have space for, or um, you know, that each day, like we're called to impact somebody, right?
00:27:17.920 -->
00:27:19.279Yes, yes.
00:27:19.519 -->
00:27:20.319I love that.
00:27:20.480 -->
00:27:25.039I know we're getting down to the last uh minutes here, and I got a few more questions than me.
00:27:25.279 -->
00:27:27.440Um, and I want to make sure I get those out.
00:27:27.680 -->
00:27:36.000Obedience doesn't always come with immediate results, and sometimes that can be frustrating, and sometimes that could be painful.
00:27:36.640 -->
00:27:37.920What is your take on that?
00:27:38.000 -->
00:27:41.519And I'm sure you've lived that, or how did you navigate through that?
00:27:41.680 -->
00:27:42.079Yeah.
00:27:42.400 -->
00:27:45.519And I mean, I think I think I'm still in certain areas.
00:27:45.920 -->
00:27:54.720Um, you know, I I won't get into all the stories because it would take too long, but another visual is is a bamboo plant.
00:27:54.960 -->
00:27:55.440Yes.
00:27:55.599 -->
00:27:57.519Do you do you know the story of the bamboo?
00:27:57.839 -->
00:28:03.200No, please, please tell me is is planted.
00:28:03.440 -->
00:28:11.839Yes, it it gets rooted, and that process of staying planted and rooted takes forever.
00:28:12.240 -->
00:28:13.119Like, I don't even know.
00:28:13.200 -->
00:28:14.000I won't even say it.
00:28:14.240 -->
00:28:18.319Let's just say it takes five months, it could be years.
00:28:18.400 -->
00:28:20.880I I don't remember exactly, but it's a long time.
00:28:21.039 -->
00:28:25.119There's a long time for that process to happen, and you're not really seeing anything happen.
00:28:25.759 -->
00:28:29.519Like now that the bamboo's there, yes, it has a purpose.
00:28:29.680 -->
00:28:37.519Yes, and one day, all of a sudden, that bamboo plant just shoots straight up and grows like six feet or more.
00:28:37.680 -->
00:28:41.440I again, you can look up the whole story because I'm a little bit.
00:28:41.519 -->
00:28:49.759Yeah, but the time that it takes for it to shoot up is like seconds compared to the long, long rooting process.
00:28:50.000 -->
00:29:07.759And I think what God is teaching us, and I'm still like I said, I'm still walking through some, yep, taking massive obedient steps and not seeing the shoot up yet, but knowing like the why behind it, why am I staying rooted?
00:29:07.920 -->
00:29:12.720Why is he having me to like why is this process maybe taking a little longer?
00:29:12.960 -->
00:29:13.359Yes.
00:29:13.519 -->
00:29:15.759Is there a trust thing that he's wanting to grow on me?
00:29:15.839 -->
00:29:16.720Is there a patience?
00:29:16.799 -->
00:29:18.480I asked for patience years ago.
00:29:18.640 -->
00:29:21.359I don't recommend asking for patience, right?
00:29:22.880 -->
00:29:32.640Some some really fun adventures, but I I mean I feel like I have a doctorate in patience because I've been given many opportunities that I've had to be very patient in.
00:29:32.799 -->
00:29:33.200Yes.
00:29:33.440 -->
00:29:38.559Um so that yeah, definitely go look up the the story of the bamboo.
00:29:38.640 -->
00:29:40.160Um, yes.
00:29:40.400 -->
00:29:56.480It just reminds me of, you know, we we don't plant like a, you know, I have a I have a bunch of you know vegetables and plants in my backyard, and I don't expect it to just have a cucumber in a day.
00:29:56.559 -->
00:29:57.920I mean, that'd be fun.
00:29:58.240 -->
00:30:09.440Yes, but I planted these cucumbers like two months ago, and now they're starting to growing, and then when they're ready, yes, I can eat them.
00:30:09.680 -->
00:30:16.480But if we try to like speed up the process even of pregnancy, yeah, the process of the butterfly.
00:30:16.559 -->
00:30:20.160I've heard like even try to take the butterfly out too early.
00:30:20.319 -->
00:30:22.640Obviously, it's like its wings aren't gonna work.
00:30:22.880 -->
00:30:23.680That's right.
00:30:23.839 -->
00:30:25.519That's such a good analogy.
00:30:25.599 -->
00:30:26.240I love that.
00:30:26.400 -->
00:30:28.079Uh, and then I'll go to the next question.
00:30:28.240 -->
00:30:33.759You walked away from a corporate career, um and was obedient to the voice of God.
00:30:34.480 -->
00:30:37.440Um, and I know we're coming down to the last few minutes.
00:30:37.599 -->
00:30:42.960If there's some things that come to mind on that journey, what are some of the thoughts that kind of spring forth?
00:30:43.200 -->
00:30:43.599Yeah.
00:30:43.839 -->
00:30:44.160Yeah.
00:30:44.400 -->
00:30:49.359Well, the biggest thing for me was that I was out of alignment with my assignment.
00:30:49.519 -->
00:30:59.599I was honestly in that job because I was making good income, good benefits, and I knew that there was more.
00:30:59.839 -->
00:31:09.440And when he said go, I knew like I had to go, even though it was literally like taking a huge, huge leap of faith.
00:31:09.680 -->
00:31:21.200And that is part of the obedient process that I've been on, and the timing, and like it's been almost five years, and thinking that it would look one way, and it's been a longer process.
00:31:21.519 -->
00:31:22.720Yes, yes.
00:31:23.839 -->
00:31:24.480I love that.
00:31:24.640 -->
00:31:33.599I love the fact because you said you had to take a leap of faith and and listening to being obedient to the voice of God of what what he has for you, you know.
00:31:33.759 -->
00:31:40.480Uh, I would love to think that we'd lived forever, but at this point we're not not in this space, you know, not in this shell.
00:31:40.720 -->
00:31:46.240Uh and what now what we where we go to after, that's our choice and our will, which which I love.
00:31:46.480 -->
00:31:51.200But while we're physically here on the in this space, we the time we have is so precious.
00:31:51.279 -->
00:31:57.680And I think you being obedient to that just makes her reflect on like we want to live out God's purpose in our life.
00:31:57.839 -->
00:32:03.359And if you would have stayed in that space, would the ability to do that may not have been there.
00:32:03.519 -->
00:32:04.960Yeah, not at all.
00:32:05.119 -->
00:32:06.880Like maybe this much, right?
00:32:06.960 -->
00:32:07.279Right.
00:32:08.160 -->
00:32:10.079Not not like this, not like that.
00:32:10.319 -->
00:32:11.359Yeah, yeah.
00:32:11.440 -->
00:32:12.400So I love that.
00:32:12.480 -->
00:32:12.960Thank you.
00:32:13.119 -->
00:32:14.799And I know there's so much more to that.
00:32:15.039 -->
00:32:16.240Um, and I'm gonna leave.
00:32:16.319 -->
00:32:29.359I have one last question, and I'll give uh everyone an opportunity to that make sure we have your website, they want a uh yeah, opportunity for you to be their life coach or midwife, spiritual midwife, uh, so that be able to reach out to you as well.
00:32:29.519 -->
00:32:33.039Um, my last question is um, overcomer.
00:32:33.279 -->
00:32:38.400Uh, what comes to your mind when you think of that word and what does that mean to you personally?
00:32:38.640 -->
00:32:42.880What legacy do you hope to leave behind for your children or others?
00:32:43.119 -->
00:32:43.440Yeah.
00:32:43.759 -->
00:32:51.279When I hear when I hear overcomer, um, I almost equate it to being like a breaker in the family, right?
00:32:51.839 -->
00:33:05.599Somebody who is intentionally chosen and choosing to go a different way from maybe what you knew or what others around you are walking through.
00:33:05.839 -->
00:33:06.079Right.
00:33:06.480 -->
00:33:11.119I even have a group of gals that I I named our little group cross overcomers.
00:33:11.279 -->
00:33:13.680So crossover, crossovercomers.
00:33:13.759 -->
00:33:17.200It's kind of a double word there, crossovercomers.
00:33:17.759 -->
00:33:24.000And the cross truly is the way to overcome fully, it's the only way, honestly.
00:33:24.720 -->
00:33:26.400I agree 100%.
00:33:27.039 -->
00:33:29.680Yes, it's the only way for us to overcome.
00:33:29.920 -->
00:33:32.400Yes, yes, I agree.
00:33:32.720 -->
00:33:44.400If people want to reach out to you for like life coaching services, Osperst for Midwife, um, what website can they connect with you on so they're able to connect and inquire more?
00:33:44.559 -->
00:33:44.880Yes.
00:33:45.039 -->
00:33:46.799Yeah, it's your podcast, yes.
00:33:47.599 -->
00:33:58.319Yeah, you can find all the things on uh new N E W Wings, W-I-N-G-S, Coaching, C O A C H I N G dot net.
00:33:58.880 -->
00:34:03.039So new wings coaching, as you can probably see why I loved um her cover.
00:34:03.519 -->
00:34:05.680Um coaching.net.
00:34:06.160 -->
00:34:08.960Um, and you can find my podcast information there.
00:34:09.039 -->
00:34:13.119You can find Tope Unlocked on all streaming YouTube, all the places.
00:34:13.360 -->
00:34:14.639So that's great.
00:34:14.719 -->
00:34:14.880Yeah.
00:34:15.199 -->
00:34:15.440Thank you.
00:34:17.840 -->
00:34:18.880Yes, awesome.
00:34:19.039 -->
00:34:27.280Well, I love that you're a shining example of what can really happen if we listen to the voice of God and just walk in the direction that He's guided for us.
00:34:27.440 -->
00:34:28.960So I definitely love that.
00:34:29.039 -->
00:34:40.800We need more people like yourself out here to support people who maybe want to overcome in a space or they're stuck or there's fear or they're want to be a uh a generational breaker in their family.
00:34:41.280 -->
00:34:43.199Um yeah, so I love that.
00:34:43.360 -->
00:34:46.079So I'll make sure that's in the description of the podcast.
00:34:46.159 -->
00:34:49.840And I uh uh takes me a couple of weeks to get it out with editing and whatnot.
00:34:50.000 -->
00:34:51.760But Kristen, I just want to thank you.
00:34:51.840 -->
00:34:58.400It's been such a honor and a pleasure to connect with you this morning to really talk about your podcast and your journey.
00:34:58.639 -->
00:34:58.960Thank you.
00:34:59.360 -->
00:35:00.320Thank you so much.
00:35:00.880 -->
00:35:01.679Thank you.
