WELCOME HEART: Living a Legacy Life
Religion & Spirituality:Christianity
Jillian Benfield got the news that her second child, Anderson, was Down Syndrome. This news was not her life-plan. Then just four months after his birth, he underwent open-heart surgery. Then their third child, Preston suffered medical procedures for the first two years of his life. Jillian wrote her book, The Gift of the Unexpected: Discovering Who You Were Meant to Be When Life Goes Off Plan, not as a how-to book on how to get through life's difficulties; rather she wrote her own story--the good, bad and the ugly--to offer hope. Wise beyond her years, Jillian's story has much to teach us about theology, Western thought, ableism and how if we are willing to put in the work, that God will transform us from the inside out, for our good and for His glory.
Get this book, for yourself and for a friend. She's giving one away this week. Leave on comment on blog or on social media or email me at sue@welcomeheart.com.
In her own words:
My life fell apart with a 20-second phone call. We call these moments in life, before-and-after moments. Mine came when I was 27 years old and pregnant with my second child. My life would never be the same, I would never be the same. If you would have told me years ago that my before-and-after moment would end up being one of the greatest gifts of my life, I wouldn’t have believed you. But it was. It is. The unexpected gave me my son. The unexpected ended up giving me, me. That’s what my book, The Gift of the Unexpected, and this space are about. Our unexpected moments, our unexpected lives, can end up helping us live into our God-dreamed entireties.
Some gems from Jillian:
Follow Jillian here:
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When asked, “What’s the greatest commandment?” Jesus replied simply: “Love God, love your neighbor.” I imagine He was thinking, “It’s not rocket science” or “What’s not to like?” or “It’s not complicated.”
He was right, it’s not complicated. But people are people and we make it complicated.
I need to pray daily to uncomplicate what He says is best for me and best for others. So I wrote “31 Days of Uncomplicated Prayers,” and once I pray them through, I start over again.
You can too. One short, simple prayer to help uncomplicate love sent to your inbox for 31 days. Don't worry. They are short. God doesn't mind short prayers.
Sign up HERE
Ep 164 A Legacy of Needing Jesus at Every Age
Ep 163 A Legacy of Christ-Centered Christmas Traditions with Mitzi Neeley
Ep 162 A Legacy of Hope in Grief with Lisa Appelo
Ep 161 A Legacy of Authentic Community for our Good and God’s Glory with Halee Wood
Ep 160 A Legacy of Making Music with Steve Moore
Ep 159 A Legacy of Hosting Family at the Holidays (And Surviving. With Joy.)
Ep 158 A Legacy of Living Our Best Life at Any Age with Laura Padgett
Ep 157 A Legacy of Radical Hospitality: Monday Night Dinners with the Cleaths
Ep 156 A Legacy of Living Awake with Anjuli Paschall
Ep 155 A Legacy and Lifetime of Discipleship with Cal Samuels
Ep 154 A Legacy of Curiosity—A Journey of Faith with Lore Ferguson Wilbert
Ep 153 A Legacy of Recalling God’s Goodness in Anxiety and Isolation with Becky Keife
Ep 152 A Legacy of Habits of Faith with Jen Pollock Michel
Ep 151 A Legacy of Going Into the Hard Places For Wholeness and Healing with Jolene Underwood
Ep 150 A Legacy of Prayer: 31 Days of Uncomplicated Prayers to Love God and Love Your Neighbor
Ep 149 A Legacy of Doing the Work You Love with Brian Dixon
Ep 148 A Legacy to Change the World By a Simple Invitation, Part 1
Ep 147 A Legacy of a Responsible Social Media Relationship with Chris Martin
Ep 146 A Legacy of Spiritual Growth: 3 Things to Keep Us On the Right Track
Ep 145 A Legacy of Perfectionism vs God’s Love with Amy Carroll
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