Dear Daughters

Are you allowing your heart to have space in your daily life? That might be a strange question but over the last two months I’ve had two dear daughters and one spiritual mama come to me because they were feeling stuck, worried and anxious about things in their lives. Then after talking things out, and walking metaphorically around their lives … I saw with all clarity, they were so in their heads with their issues, that they weren’t giving their hearts voice. They were working their lives, checking off things on the spiritual list, and quieting the little cries of their hearts. And I do it too sometimes. By prioritizing, analyzing, thinking, planning, working … instead of listening and feeling. Today on the podcast, we’re going to get curious about the why behind the reluctance to listen to our hearts. I hope today’s podcast will encourage you to love God holistically. SHOW NOTES The Next Gen (Mother’s Day/Mentor) Message at Austin Christian Fellowship You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart a

Do you feel like your life is a mess? Just one mistake after another? Do you ever wonder how God could take the mistakes you’ve made and turn things around? Tricia Goyer felt that way almost 30 years ago as a despairing teen mom and then she prayed, “God, if you can do anything with my life, please do.” I loved getting to talk with her today about the way God radically answered that prayer and about her beautiful, better-than-a-fairy-tale love story. We also talked a lot about walking through the hard things and what happens when we dare to take our life journey with Jesus. Tricia lives in Arkansas with her husband and TEN kids. :) In addition to homeschooling her seven kids who still live at home, she has also written 71 books, and writes online. Tricia is a spiritual mama to look to for life advice and wisdom. SHOW NOTES Tricia’s latest book, Walk It Out: The Radical Result of Living God’s Word One Step at a Time Join me for the Acts 2.46 Table (Breakfast) for spiritual conversation and Austin’s best break

Who encouraged you? Who took time to listen to you? Who was it that provided a safe haven? Who showed you how to live out your faith? Who was an organic, everyday mentor to you?  What’s the best gift at Mother’s Day? I think it’s gratitude. And not just for your mom, though she certainly deserves it, but also for the spiritual mamas who shaped you as a young woman. Besides my own mother, I can think of three women in particular who loved me well. I look back now and can see how each of them played such an integral role in contributing to the person I am today. Do you have those people too?  I hope today’s podcast will encourage you to thank those spiritual mamas who may not even realize the impact they had in your life. That you’ll feel compelled to look back and remember the people who showed you how to love Jesus in a daily, real way. SHOW NOTES  Sophie Hudson: DD Episode 7 Giddy Up, Eunice: Because Women Need Each Other Find Jen Wilkins quote here. Acts 2.46 Table (Breakfast) Thanks to Davis Music for us

Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? ~ Mary Oliver Do you feel like you don’t know what you’re supposed to do with your life? Do you wonder if you’re too young or too old? When you think on the things that would really make your heart happy, do you feel under-qualified or maybe even over-qualified? Today on the podcast, we’re going to wonder about the things you’d love to do with your one beautiful life. We’re going to try to identify several things that God is leading you to do. Whether it’s invite more people to dinner or start a Bible study or whatever. For me, gathering women around my table to talk about God, like at this Acts 2:46 Dinner, is something that I’ve wanted to do for a long time. And now God is giving grace to do just that. (Pretty pictures of the gathering provided by my photographer daughter, Emily Boone). You have things like that too. I pray that you will take some time to talk with God about those dreams that are in your heart. I pray that these ques

"Think of God often, by day, by night, in your business and even in your diversions. He is always near you and with you; leave him not alone." ~ Brother Lawrence If you’re like me, there are probably a bunch of tedious little tasks lined up and waiting for you today, like folding the laundry, unloading the dishwasher, or going to the grocery store…. those things that take us away from ‘the big things.’ But what if there is big blessing for us in those small tasks when we invite God to be present with us? Today I talk about how those days of small things can turn into big opportunities for worship and communion with God when we shift our perspective towards gratitude. SHOW NOTES Practice of the Presence of God, by Brother Lawrence My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers What are You Created To Do? DD episode 55 St. Therese’s definition of holiness, and what I’m supposed to be today. Thanks to Davis Music for use of her song Fifty Seven. Get the Dear Daughters Podcast Prompts and keep up weekly by sign

This week on the podcast, I talked with Amy Hannon of Euna Mae’s and Kristin Schell of the Turquoise Table about true, biblical hospitality. And good news – it’s much simpler than we often make it and often more fun. It doesn’t matter what your house looks like or how good the food is – all that hospitality requires is being available and welcoming. Ordinary moments around the table or in the front yard become holy when we’re truly available. “All the other stuff,” as Kristin says, “is just gravy. Good, Amy Hannon style gravy.” Today on the podcast we talk about the difference between hospitality and entertaining. We hope it will encourage you to have spiritual eyes to see the people around you, to release your expectations, and open your front door. SHOW NOTES Kristin Schell: DD Episode 6 Amy Hannon: DD Episode 39 Amy’s cookbook, Love Welcome Serve: Recipes that Gather and Give  Kristin’s book, The Turquoise Table: Finding Community and Connection in Your Own Front Yard.  Coffee with Amy Hannon at Kristin’s

My whole life, in one sense, he has been an experiment in how to be a portable sanctuary, learning to practice the presence of God. ~ Richard Foster Everywhere you go, as you practice the presence of God in your life, you’re like a small sanctuary to the people closest by. So that means when you’re on the way to work and you stop for coffee and interact with the barista in the morning, you’re standing there as a respite. Giving life to the person you’re talking to. Or maybe as you hold your infant, or read to your toddler … you’re offering them sanctuary as you abide with God. Maybe in your high pressure job, with people that don’t know or maybe even care about God. There you are, a portable sanctuary. Do you struggle to understand what you are created to do? Do you see yourself as a minister? Because you have that capacity. That’s God’s big plan by the way, you and me ministering His love and light to the people in our lives. And that’s what we’re going to talk about today on the podcast. SHOW NOTES Colos

Do you remember the first time you thought of God? Was it a good or bad first impression? How did that impression lead you on a journey with God?  If you've wished you could sit at my table and talk, I've got good news! These are the kinds of questions I'm going to be asking you on the Dear Daughters Podcast in the 'Questions' Episodes.  I've always hoped the Dear Daughters Podcast could be a place for you to hear about the kinds of things that are practical and helpful in living a godly life. And that it would be a starting point for conversations I hope you have with the people in your life you love or lead. Now it’s also a place for *you* to a-n-s-w-e-r questions to grow closer to God and others by understanding yourself better. I'm adding something new to the mix by inviting you to a one on one conversation with me. It will be a much shorter episode, just 10 minutes, where we dive deep together. Hope you like it! SHOW NOTES God is with you. Matthew 1:23  Hillsong’s Emmanuel Join us at the Acts 2:46 Dinne

Do you struggle between wanting to honestly express yourself on social media, and wanting to post a perfectly curated picture that kind of looks more like what everyone else is posting? Are you thirsty for authenticity? Do you need someone to remind you that because of Jesus, you are always enough and never too much? If you relate to any of these, I know you will love today’s interview with Hayley Morgan. In this episode, Hayley and I talked about authenticity on social media, the importance of self care and creativity, and also about the necessity of doing the quiet + hard work with God in everything from raising children to living with integrity. Hayley is quirky and wise. And she is passionate about seeing women walk into their unique calling and gifting. She is a wife, mom to four boys, writer, speaker and entrepreneur. I can’t wait for you to meet her! Here’s the interview on the Dear Daughters Podcast Episode 53. SHOW NOTES Wild and Free Nellie Taft Pre-order Always Enough and Never Too Much Devotional

Do you want to journey deeper into self-awareness, but feel like you need a guide? It can be confusing to hear people rattle off a bunch of numbers and letters trying to help you better understand yourself if you don’t have enough context. Today, I talk with Anne Bogel about her latest book, Reading People, which gives an in-depth look at seven different personality frameworks. We also talk books (LOTS of books), the glory days of the 80’s hit-wonder, Color Me Beautiful, and our thoughts about book to movie adaptations. Anne is a wife, mom to 4, bookworm and author. She writes online at Modern Mrs. Darcy and hosts the What Should I Read Next? Podcast.  I can’t wait for you to meet her!  Anne’s book, Reading People: How Seeing the World through the Lens of Personality Changes Everything The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self Discovery, by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile Anne’s newest book, I‘d Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life The book that made the biggest impre

Are you or someone you love in a season of suffering? Whether it’s the suffering that comes from loneliness and unfulfilled hopes, or the heartache that comes with illness or loss, author and teacher Laurie Short has comfort for you. In her new book, When Changing Nothing Changes Everything: The Power of Reframing Your Life, Laurie talks about the ability to expand your perspective by reframing your life stories. She shares a very personal story of how when she finally got engaged at forty-three years old, it ended in a dissolved relationship. She also shares (with great joy) how God brought her just the right man at forty-nine years old. I hope that it gives you courage to love your one beautiful life - even the painful parts - and that it brings you some comfort in whatever you might be grieving. Laurie is a wife, stepmom, speaker and author based out of Santa Barbara, California. I can’t wait for you to meet her!  Laurie’s book on grace and suffering, Finding Faith in the Dark: When the Story of Your Life

Are you looking for real friends who will walk through life with you? The sort of friends who you can say anything to? Today on the podcast, Jamie Ivey talks about how to find those kind of friends. The kind you can talk to about the hardest things, the kind that speak truth and walk out life with you. We also talk about freedom and authenticity and about parenting. Lots of good stuff. Jamie is a wife, mom, podcaster, speaker, and a newly published author of: If You Only Knew: My Unlikely, Unavoidable Story of Becoming Free. She and her husband live in the Austin area with their four kids. I can’t wait for you to meet her. Here’s the interview on Dear Daughters Podcast Episode 50. Show Notes: Jamie’s new book, If You Only Knew: My Unlikely, Unavoidable Story of Becoming Free Susie’s book, Parenting Your Teen and Loving It: Being the Mom Your Kid Needs Jamie and Aaron’s beautiful glamping retreat center, Green Acres She Reads Truth Proverbs study ~ The Way of Wisdom Jamie’s upcoming Happy Hour Live, May 4-5th

Jesus is the author of invitation. ~ Jen Schmidt Jen Schmidt has spent the last decade encouraging, challenging and cheering on women to embrace both the beauty and bedlam of their everyday lives on her popular lifestyle blog, Beauty and Bedlam. She’s a wife, mother, and ‘accidental author’, as well as a fellow table person and thrifter. Today we talk about how to get past some of the barriers that keep us from opening our homes, how to take hospitality on the go, and what you actually need to live a hospitable life. We also discuss her new book, Just Open the Door: How One Invitation can Change a Generation Here’s the interview on Dear Daughters Podcast Episode 49. See all the show notes: www.susiedavis.org  

As women, we have this tendency to sabotage our own calling to shine. There’s a lot of confusion out there about shining and pride and hiding and humility. God has called us to live radiant lives, and that’s not prideful. That’s the calling of God. ~ Janet Davis Janet Davis is one of the best listeners I’ve ever met ~ both to other people, and to the Holy Spirit. She is a spiritual director, speaker, teacher, and has written two books. Janet works with women in particular, and I have loved getting to meet with her over the last few months to listen together to what God is saying through her in my life. She is wise and nurturing, a perfect spiritual mama. Today we talk about transitions and grieving and… crones (intrigued?). I cannot wait for you to meet Janet! Here’s the interview on Dear Daughters Podcast Episode 48.

Do you need a guide to fight fear, wrestle worry and overcome anxiety?  Meet Alli Worthington. Alli is a speaker, author, and business coach who lives with her husband and their five boys in Nashville, Tennessee. She’s the author of a new book, Fierce Faith: A Woman’s Guide to Fighting Fear, Wrestling Worry, and Overcoming Anxiety. Today we talk about breaking the cycle of anxiety, giving ourselves grace, and staying healthy while on social media. Here’s the interview on Dear Daughters Podcast Episode 47. See all the show notes at susiedavis.org

Be aware of where your time is going. Decide what’s going to be important to you. If you don’t, everybody else is going to decide it for you. ~ Will Davis III Do you have goals and dreams but for whatever reason aren’t able to achieve them? Well, then I hope you get some big encouragement and direction from today’s podcast with Will Davis III. Will is a realtor, trail runner, mountain climber, husband to beautiful Amy, and my son! He also has an amazing mind for systems and strategy. He recently helped me make changes in my schedule by looking at priorities and goals. As a result, it has helped me feel more free, more organized, and much more effective. So excited to have you join us as we dig into priorities, goals and strategy. Here’s the interview on Dear Daughters Podcast Episode 46. See all the show notes at susiedavis.org

The Enneagram is a tool that awakens our compassion for people just as they are, not the people we wish they would become so our lives would become easier. ~ The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery As we continue diving into these questions surrounding vocation, identity and God’s plans for our lives, it just seemed right to explore the Enneagram so I called in an expert. Suzanne Stabile has taught over five hundred Enneagram workshops over the last twenty-five years. She has written two books on the subject, hosts The Enneagram Journey podcast, and continues to teach on the subject at events on a regular basis. In addition to all of this, Suzanne also coached high school and college women’s basketball coach, taught senior theology, started a social services program for the elderly, and raised four children. She lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband, Joe, where they run the ministry they started together in 1985, Life in the Trinity Ministry, and chase around their seven (soon to be eig

What am I supposed to do with my life? That’s what we’ll be looking into over the next few weeks on the podcast. The questions surrounding vocation, identify and then what to do with those two things in developing a strategy to accomplish God’s plans for our lives. Today, I’m so excited to have my husband Will Davis Jr. join me for another episode of the podcast. Besides being a church founder and pastor, I wanted to interview him because he is someone who has known what he’s meant to do with his life since he was eighteen years old. He has laser beam focus and has a lot to say about the Bible and vocation. So glad to have you join us as we explore vocation and how to love your one beautiful life. Here’s the interview on Dear Daughters Episode 44. Show notes: www.susiedavis.org  

Alexandra Kuykendall lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband and four daughters, where she writes about relishing life, hosts The Open Door Sisterhood Podcast with our mutual friend Krista, and speaks about expectations, contentment, and purpose. She worked for MOPS International for ten years and still regularly contributes to their blog. In this episode of The Dear Daughters podcast, we talked a lot about releasing expectations this Christmas (which she talks about in her new book), focusing on what matters, and the beauty of brokenness. Alex also shared the recipe for her home-run holiday dessert. ;) I can’t wait for you to meet Alex. Here’s the interview on Dear Daughters Episode 43. All show notes at www.susiedavis.org

Will Davis Jr.  is a pastor, writer, mountain-climber, intense human, father, and my own sweet husband. Together we started Austin Christian Fellowship in 1993. He’s passionate about surprising unbelievers with the credibility and relevance of Jesus’ message, and teaching about the power of prayer. He’s written ten books, writes online at willdavisjr.com Even more important, he’s been an incredible dad to three pretty fabulous children (including our Sara, pictured with him above … how could I not include the most recent wedding photos??!). We talked a lot about parenting, letting go, good family relationships and prayer. I can’t wait for you to meet Will. Here’s the interview on Dear Daughters Episode 42. See all show notes at www.susiedavis.org