Change of Direction

It’s been a hard day. I had a talk with God this morning about my priorities.

Right now I have 3 full time jobs:

• Publisher at Redemption Press
• Talk Show Host at Always Faithful Radio
• Soon-to-be Pastor’s Wife

I’ve tried to develop a support base for Always Faithful, but with the move to the Seattle market and my cost for each show doubling over what I paid in San Antonio, the Lord has not seen fit to open doors for supporters to underwrite the full cost of the show.

As I asked Him this morning what He was trying to say to me, I remembered the scripture in Deuteronomy 24 that refers to newlyweds and how the husband should not be sent off to war or have other commitments during the first year. While we are not under the law, the principle of guarding and protecting the first year of marriage still rings of Truth and wisdom.

I realized I am about to embark on a very important calling, being a pastor’s wife. I didn’t set out to become a pastor’s wife, I just happened to fall in love with a pastor. And because God so clearly orchestrated our relationship, I know that I am being faithful to His call if I set this assignment as a top priority.

Combine that truth with the lack of funds God used to get my attention, and I had a big decision to make. Do I continue to invest money I don’t really have to keep the show afloat? No. I think not.

I believe God is asking me to lay down my favorite thing to do…radio ministry…to take a break for 6 months to a year…and to focus my energy on my husband-to-be and Redemption Press…the vehicle God used to bring me back to Washington.

The way I’ve developed the radio ministry takes a lot of time and effort. Finding quality guests, scheduling them, traveling an hour+ each way to do the show, scheduling devotionals, bench pictures with scriptures, posting about upcoming guests and pod-casts from shows already aired. Let’s face it, it’s a big job, and something I must realize I cannot keep going just because I love it. I must surrender it, and allow God to resurrect it in His time.

And so, it’s a bittersweet feeling. To know I’m laying on the altar my Isaac, but doing it in obedience to God, feels right…but it still hurts. My heart is breaking because this has been a ministry that has meant a lot to me. But letting it go is what I must do.

Focusing on the man God has given me and the business God has birthed is just what He wants me to do, and I will love doing both. Sure, I will grieve the loss of the radio ministry, but I know that God is faithful, and He can, and will, bring it back to me if it is His will in the future. But for now, I must slow down…yield…stop spinning so many plates…re-focus my life on what God is working…and trust Him for the outcome.

Thanks to all of you who have encouraged me over the last 11 months. This radio broadcast ministry has been a wild ride, but I have loved every minute. I pray that God will open doors for more in the future…but for now, I must say adieu.

And so, this last Saturday’s show is my last. It was a great one, and I hope you all take a moment to listen to it. The title of “Love Junkies” I think gave a wrong impression to some, but it was amazing content. God willing, there might be more shows someday, but for now, I will be the best pastor’s wife I can possibly be, and work hard at developing Redemption Press for His glory.

Love in Christ,

Athena

Recap & Podcast from 4/26 – Christy Johnson on “Love Junkies”

What an amazing time I had with Christy Johnson on Saturday…here’s the podcast in case you missed the show.

So much ground covered in this interview, I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed our conversation… such an important message for all women to hear, married or not, in a relationship or not.

We gave away three copies of “Love Junkies” and if you weren’t one of those winners, go get a copy…it’s a great read and full of down to earth steps to guard your heart. Highly recommended!

Saturday 4/26 Christy Johnson on “Love Junkies”

I am so excited to introduce you to Christy Johnson this Saturday, 4/26 at 11AM PST on 820AM KGNW or streaming live on http://saleminteractivemedia.com/ListenLive/Player/KGNWAM! We’ll be discussing her new book Love Junkies: 7 Steps for Breaking the Toxic Relationship Cycle.

A love junkie is a woman who is addicted to unhealthy relationships and continues to make the same painful relationship mistakes, even though they can have a traumatic impact on her emotionally, and sometimes physically.

The Love Junkie Quiz  ​http://www.christyjohnson.org/love-junkie/

Christy Johnson believes that because our culture is saturated with hyper-sexuality and instant relationships, many women do not understand how destructive it is to compromise themselves emotionally and physically to so many men that they do not really know. As a result they develop unhealthy and toxic habits with the opposite sex.

• What is a relationship addict and how do people become one
• Why logic is more important than emotion
• The trouble with mind affairs
• Can Christian women be susceptible to becoming love junkies
• Charm vs. Charisma
• Identifying and changing toxic behaviors
• How to improve the health of your relationships
• Establishing Godly friendships
• Managing expectations and guarding your heart

Christy Johnson is a dynamic communicator, award-winning writer, popular conference speaker and the  author of Love Junkies, 7 Steps for Breaking the Toxic  Relationship Cycle. As a soul-health advocate, Christy’s mission is to help women identify roots of bitterness, maintain joy in the midst of adversity and develop drama-free habits that help to improve their relationships. Her message of hope inspires women that whether they are in or out of a relationship, they can live confident content lives.

Recap & Podcast 4/19 – Kathi Lipp on Praying God’s Word and Sheryl Giesbrecht on Trusting God When Life Knocks You Down

Here’s the podcast in case you couldn’t join us this morning.

WOW. These two interviews were some of the best content and some of the most encouraging that I can remember from the 50 or so interviews I did at the International Christian Retail Show…such powerful truths and profound take-aways these ladies provided!

Real, transparent, down to earth and vulnerable, both of these women of God touched my heart and reminded me once again of how faithful our God is.

I hope our time on this podcast encourages you as well!

I couldn’t find a picture of me with Kathi, but I was right in the front row when she taught on book marketing at the AWSA Convention!

For more info on each guest, visit www.kathilipp.com for Kathi Lipp and www.fromashestobeauty.com for Sheryl Giesbrecht.

Last Minute Change of Plans – 4/19 Show Features Kathi Lipp & Sheryl Giesbrecht

Due to an unforeseen scheduling error, I was just notified that my previously announced guests will not be with me this Saturday…ahhhh the joys of live radio! But praise God I still had some great interviews from the International Christian Retail Show from last summer to share :).

Join me this Saturday at 11AM PST on 820AM KGNW, or streaming live on www.kgnw.com, as I introduce you to two author friends who have something significant to share! Kathi Lipp, creator of the Husband Project and author of “Praying God’s Word for Your Life” will share during the first half of the show, and Sheryl Giesbrecht, radio personality, cancer survivor, recently married widow, and author of “Get Back Up: Trusting God When Life Knocks You Down” will be with me for the second half of the show.

What a great save! Love these two ladies! You won’t want to miss this show!

Many women find it easy to pray for the concerns and well-being of others. But when it comes to praying for themselves, they may wonder, Should I pray for my own needs? Are any prayers too big or too small? Are my prayers effective? Are they selfish? Does praying really make a difference?

Kathi Lipp inspires thousands of women each year to take beneficial steps in their personal, marital and spiritual lives through purposeful living. With humor and wisdom, Kathi offers hope paired with practical steps to live each facet of our lives with meaning.

Kathi is the author of eight books including her latest, Praying God’s Word for Your Life, with Revell Publishers and Harvest House Publishers. She has become well respected on the topics of marriage, children and self-purpose from a biblical perspective. She has four more books slated for release in the next two years.

She is a national speaker and is often featured on Focus on the Family, MOPS International, Crosswalk.com, and Nickelodeon TV’s Parent Connect as well as a number of other reputable organizations around the country. She was recently named “Best of Broadcast” on Focus on the Family.

She and her husband Roger are the parents of four young adults in San Jose, CA. When she’s not doing laundry, Kathi is speaking at retreats, conferences and women’s events across the US.

 

Life is not always easy or fair for the follower of Christ. Yet, Sheryl Giesbrecht has learned, from the depths of past pain, it is possible to be raised up. It is possible to heal. Most importantly, it is possible to exchange hurt for hope. In her inspirational new book, Get Back Up: Trusting God When Life Knocks You Down, Sheryl tells her own story. She uses scripture to tell the stories of so many other Biblical figures who stumbled before they could be helped up. Sheryl’s message is one of hope. Trusting God in the midst of a life turned upside down is essential to survival. Without Him, life would not be worth living. Climbing out of the pits of despair would be impossible. Yes, with God to lean on, finding hope is possible. Healing is possible. God is capable of taking our losses and mistakes and turning them into something remarkably beautiful. Won’t you let Him?

Exchanging hurt for hope is Sheryl Giesbrecht’s focus—a message she shares with audiences as a radio personality, author, and speaker. A dynamic teacher and motivating leader, Giesbrecht has endured many changes and challenges, moving her to a deep faith, trust, and dependence on God.

She served as Focus on the Family’s columnist for Pastor’s Wives for four years. Hundreds of her columns, magazine and devotional articles have appeared in Focus on The Family Magazine, Just Between Us, Discipleship Journal, CCM, Walk Thru the Bible’s – InDeed and Tapestry publications.

Giesbrecht’s radio show, “Kindred Moments,” can be heard each weekday evening and Sunday afternoons on KAXL 88.3 FM Music for Life, and her nationally syndicated radio show, “Turn Up the Music with Sheryl Giesbrecht,” is heard on numerous networks across the United States.

She also has a heart for missions and is avid about reaching out to the poor and needy, locally through the Rescue Mission and worldwide through Compassion International. Giesbrecht is also the Executive Director of International Christian Ministries  and has been personally involved with equipping hundreds and facilitating the training of thousands of leaders internationally. It is a ministry in which she worked alongside her late husband, Paul.

The joys of Giesbrecht’s life are her two children, son-in-law, and her most recent marriage to Dr. Jim Turner. Sheryl holds a bachelor of arts from Biola University, a master’s in ministry and a doctorate of theology.

 

This Saturday, 4/19 – Robin Jones Gunn & Alyssa Joy Bethke on Your Identity in Christ

I am so excited to introduce you all to two dynamic women who have teamed up to bring an important message to young women. I’ll be interviewing Robin Jones Gunn and her co-author Alyssa Joy Bethke about their book “Spoken For: Embracing Who You Are and Whose You Are.” Join me this Saturday at 11AM PST on 820 AM KGNW (or streaming live on http://www.kgnw.com) for a great hour of encouragement and inspiration. Gonna be good!

Unexpected Mentorship Grows into Collaboration on Identity in Christ

A generation apart in age, best-selling author Robin Jones Gunn and popular young blogger Alyssa Joy Bethke have an unusual friendship that has grown into a mentor relationship. Twenty-five years ago, Gunn wrote the well-liked Christy Miller Series of teen novels which turns out were instrumental in Bethke’s relationship to the Lord in her youth.  Years later as a church intern in Maui, Bethke was delighted to meet the writer who had such great influence on her as a teen. They developed a fast friendship that grew into a mentor relationship and a mutual desire to help young women understand God’s love.

That passion to inspire girls to understand their value in the eyes of God resulted in Gunn and Bethke’s first collaboration, Spoken For: Embracing Who You Are and Whose Your Are (Multnomah Books, April 15, 2014).

“How different would our lives be if we actually believed that we are loved, wanted, pursued and cherished?” the authors ask. Bethke eloquently addresses the question in the YouTube video “What Every Girl Needs to Hear,” which has more than 80,000 views.

In Spoken For, Gunn and Bethke unwrap the ancient truths from God’s Word about what it means to be loved, to be sought after and to be spoken for.  “Our goal is simple,” they write. “We want you to see what happens when you respond to the invitation of the true Bridegroom and step in the center of an epic love story—yours.”

Written with young women in mind, the message that you are wanted translates to any woman struggling with loneliness, rejection or disappointment. Gunn and Bethke share their firsthand stories of success and failure at love on the journey to realizing that God already had them spoken for. Bethke includes details of her bumpy romance with now husband Jefferson Bethke, a highly regarded blogger,  You Tube video sensation, and author of the New York Times best-seller Jesus>Religion.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Over the last 25 years, Gunn has written 85 books with 4.5 million copies in print.  While she lives in Maui, her books are doing what she hoped–traveling around the world, telling God’s story.  (www.robingunn.com) Bethke is a blogger with thousands of followers. Spoken For is her first book. She and her husband live in the Pacific Northwest and are expecting their first child. (www.alyssajoy.me )

Podcast from My Guest Hosting on Live from Seattle – How to Recognize a Cult & Shannon Ethridge on The Passion Principles

Here’s the podcast from yesterday’s show…

It was a great 2 hours of conversation with my husband to be, Pastor Ross Holtz, and long time friend and bestselling author, Shannon Ethridge…

Enjoy!

Recap / Podcast 4/12 – An Amazing Story of God’s Faithfulness – My Love Story

Here’s the podcast from today’s show where I shared the story of God bringing me the love of my life.

What an amazing time of telling my story of God’s faithfulness…while I tried for 2 1/2 years to make thing happen to find a husband and orchestrate things to result in the outcome I thought was His will, He was faithful to rescue me and keep me going in His ways.

How awesome that God gave me a promise from Isaiah 43 exactly 2 years before the defining moment of a phone call with Ross…It was so good to finally get to share this story! LOVE!!

This Saturday 4/12 – My Story of Waiting for God to Bring Me a Godly Husband

I couldn’t figure out why every possible option for guests this Saturday was falling through…and then I woke up at 4:45 yesterday morning and felt God nudging me to tell the latest most amazing story of His faithfulness in my life.

I know many single women struggle with waiting on God for a husband. I know I sure did. It was a time of ups and downs, twists and turns, joys and sorrows, mostly sorrows.

To be on the other side now and looking back to see the intricacy with which God wove this tapestry of my life takes my breath away. I pray it will be an encouragement to many who are in the same position I was.

Join me this Saturday, April 12, from 11AM to Noon PST on 820 AM KGNW or streaming live on http://www.kgnw.com.

Podcast from Today’s Show 4/5…Panel of Publishing Industry Experts Help Those Who Feel Called to Write

Here’s the podcast from today’s show in case you missed it…please pass it along to anyone who might benefit!

Found some old pictures of me with Cynthia Ruchti and Chip MacGregor at the ACFW Conference and Kim Bangs at the Florida Christian Writers Conference!

WOW. What an experience this show was…interviewing 5 people at one time, on the phone where I cannot look them in the eyes, oh my…that was SCARY! But Lin, Chip, Cynthia, Kim & Clint made it so easy…I’m already hearing back from so many folks about how much they learned….I love that!

And for the record, as the pioneer of self/indie publishing in the Christian market, I must say that I agree with everything that was said…no matter how you plan to publish. Whether you intend to work towards a contract with a traditional publisher or go the DIY route, the information shared in this broadcast will help you produce content you will be proud of and others will be blessed by.

Enjoy!