 Ashley Jackson can't see or hear. Yet this girl is one of the most brilliant minds I've ever met.   In this episode, she shares her story of living without hearing or sight. When I first met Ashley, back when Lexie was only 10 months old, I knew a smattering of sign language. Okay, I knew most of the sign alphabet.   As a child, the first "real" biography I'd ever read was about Annie Sullivan, Helen Keller's teacher, and how she finger-spelled the sign alphabet into Helen's hand to teach her...everything. I devoured the story of this half-blind teacher locking the kitchen door when tiny manic Helen clawed her way around the table, snatching people's food, and battled this wild child into folding her napkin.     That story of how one woman opened the world for someone living in darkness shaped who I'd become, as a teacher, mother, writer. Yet I never dreamed I'd actually get to finger-spell into a deaf-blind hand.   Not until that day on a loud, crowded church bus when this tall teenage girl climbed on the bus holding onto her cousin's shoulder. No, she wasn't just blind. She was also deaf. And if someone only knew how sign, she could understand what they were spelling by feeling their hand.   I tried it.   It worked.   On that bouncing bus, I spelled into her hand, "M-y  n-a-m-e  i-s  R-e-b-e-k-(bump)-h."   "Oh, Rebekah. Hello."   Shaking my head, I continued. "W-h-e-e  d-o  y-o-u  g-o  t-o  s-c-h-o-l" (Oh yes, I did misspell a lot. For a while I honestly thought the sign for "r" was "t")   "Where do I go to school? Oh, Tennessee School for the Blind. I'm just visiting here for the weekend."   I raced my stuttering fingers across her palm, trying to get to know this amazing person as well as I could in the short amount of time we had. I only saw her two or three times after that. Each time, I'd learned a few more signs. Just hoping I could talk to her again.   So imagine my delight when I met Ashley a decade later (last year). Now she was a senior at UT Martin, even more brilliant and polished. I began driving her to church sometimes, and on one of those trips she let me interview her so you can also hear her story. Ashley lost her eyes before she turned a year old. Her prosthetic eyes are lovely, but she sees nothing. Her hearing was lost shortly afterward, but thanks to God's gift of brilliant minds and medical technology, she now has cochlear implants that somehow transmit sound waves to her brain and allow her to understand speech. That's how I was able to interview her while driving.   She still "hears" through finger spelling, but she has also learned to understand speech. You'll hear more about that in the interview.   What's most impressive to me is Ashley's hunger to learn, and even more, to share with others. She's graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin and dreams of opening the world up for children with disabilities.   This one quick truck ride didn't allow us time to share her entire story, and Ashley's a gifted speaker. If you're interested in booking someone who will leave your group a lifelong impression, make sure to check out her website and consider booking her for a speaking engagement. She's about to head up to Gallaudet University to get her Master's, so if you're local, don't wait too long!   I hope you enjoy this interview. Please excuse the vehicle noises. This story is a gift from God. Let's not take the precious gifts of life, sight, or hearing for granted. And like Ashley, may we never use our weaknesses as excuses, but rather, as bridges to help others.   Visit Ashley's website here 

Every Wise Woman Builds

The Story of My Life, with "Modern-Day Helen Keller" Ashley Jackson

 Everybody has a story. I have a story, you have a story, your mailman has a story, the lady who does your nails has a story. In the telling and the listening to these stories waits the power to heal. If sharing our stories was easy, this world could be spared much pain.   Thankfully, some people are willing to share their stories because they've been taught by previous generations of storytellers.   In this episode of Every Wise Woman Builds, we're going to meet one such lady, Mrs. Lucilla Hodges a pastor's daughter and professor's mother. What her parents couldn't know was, as they were telling stories and laying a godly foundation, this foundation of faith would be tested. Just like the foundation I'm building will be tested. Whether or not that foundation holds can mean the blessing or loss of countless lives through future stories.   I first met Mrs. Lucilla's daughter, Amy, as a young college student when she was a polished graduate student. She welcomed me on campus and got me a job in the administration building before I was even a college student. Later as a young professor she'd continue to be friendly to me, and I remember one friend asking me who that really pretty student was who always wore suits?   "That's my professor friend," I said.   Now Amy, my professor friend, teaches at Belmont. And guess what she teaches? How to tell stories that matter. And she has her own story to tell, as Mrs. Lucilla shares today.   Whatever stage you are, I believe this story will remind you of the importance of sharing your story, pain and all. Someone needs the healing God has given you.   Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When Stories Heal with Lucilla Hodges

In this episode, Robin Sparkman shares her story of stepping into homeschooling despite her fear. Along with her interview, make sure to check out this link to her son's Youtube channel. It'll give you a glimpse into the product that can result when a daddy and a mama follow God's leading, even when Mama's scared. :)   https://www.youtube.com/user/danielsparkman 

Taking the Plunge into Homeschooling with Robin Sparkman

"The force was strong back when we focused on the Book. We could see behind the enemy's plans. Now with the new books, everything's become cloudy except our feelings of intellectualism. Patting ourselves on the back while the city grows colder and darker." - Lou, The Defense of New Haven Hi, I'm Lexie Joy Dorris, and in this episode, I got to interview Amelia Joy Steege. Her family has made movies that my family treasures. I have memorized almost every line in both movies. When I learned that I would be interviewing Amelia, I was super excited! I never dreamed that I would even meet her and that we would have so much in common. We both love horses and painting and we're both the oldest girl in our families. I hope you enjoy it!

Lexie Joy Interviews Amelia Joy of Little Crew Studios

When You're Only Going Through the Motions, with Laura Owens

Fear Thou not, for I am with thee. Be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I with strengthen thee. Yea, I will help thee. Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness. The Bible says that every wise woman builds her house. From the moment a woman decides to follow Jesus Christ, she embarks on a building program that can change the course of the world. Whether you’re in the beginning stages of building your home and it doesn’t seem to matter that much, or you’ve already built a beautiful home that nourishes generations, your life matters. The future of the world is affected by your decision to turn your heart toward home. Every wise woman builds. Susan needs to get to sleep, but her fingers won’t slow down with the clicking to and fro on her phone. She mindlessly clicks over to her Etsy page and sees she has a new review! Yay! That makes two! She reads it, confused at first because it only has two stars. She’s not sure it’s a review for her product until the words penetrate: “Cute idea, but poor execution. The item is cheaply made, lacking skill or creativity. Could have done better to buy the supplies at Walmart and made it myself. Would not recommend.” Like a wound that hasn’t registered yet, her mouth drops open before the emotions hit. Of course, it’s cheaply made. I couldn’t afford more than that and still turn a profit. Did you not appreciate the free shipping, lady? But the defenses dissolve as a tear forms. Every fear she ever had about her ability to do this is unearthed in that review. Have you ever had your worth called into question? It’s one thing to doubt yourself. It’s quite another for someone to confirm that you’re as worthless as you feared. Sarah was named by God. He called her “princess.” She was married to a nomad who believed God was leading him, even though he had no idea where. He also believed God was going to bless them with a great lineage. All around them, there was fertility. Flocks multiplied as God blessed her husband. Those flocks and herds fertilized the ground. Servants multiplied around them. Even her nephew had a growing family. Yet Sarah, the princess, went month after month with no news. Year after year. Empty. A useless eater, never producing the firstborn of that lineage that would multiply like everything else Abraham touched. Today we know Sarah was the mother of nations. She’s the woman God tells every godly woman to emulate. Kings saw her as desirable even when she was old. I wonder, though, how Sarah saw herself. Did she ever wonder if she was worth keeping around? Did she ever feel in the way, as decade after decade revealed her inability to produce the promised child? Did she ever feel the need to apologize for herself, defend herself against accusations only she could hear? Do you? Do I? How different could her life have been if she’d only believed that the God who promised her such a grand future was the one who had a reason to wait to bring that promise to pass? If she could have known the end of the story, she’d have realized that the waiting was necessary for the miracle. How different would the world look today if she’d realized her worth wasn’t in her womb, but in the promise of God? My worth is not in what I own. Nor is yours. Your worth is not found in who greets you in the morning, or how many likes your Instagram has, or in whether your kids call you on Mother’s Day. You are not worthy because the top of your refrigerator is clean, or because your kids sit quietly in church, or because people listen to your podcast. Your worth is revealed by the blood of Creator, shed for you. You. Listen to the words of this song, sung by Keith & Kristyn Getty: My worth is not in what I own Not in the strength of flesh and bone But in the costly wounds of love At the cross My worth is not in skill or name In win or lose, in pride or shame But in the blood of Christ that flowed At the cross Refrain: I rejoice in my Redeemer Greatest Treasure, Wellspring of my soul I will trust in Him, no other. My soul is satisfied in Him alone. As summer flowers we fade and die Fame, youth and beauty hurry by But life eternal calls to us At the cross I will not boast in wealth or might Or human wisdom’s fleeting light But I will boast in knowing Christ At the cross Refrain Two wonders here that I confess My worth and my unworthiness My value fixed - my ransom paid At the cross I’m going to share a link to the video in the blog post. Make sure to listen to this beautiful song. It makes a great prayer. Your worth is found in Christ alone. Not your complexion, your figure, your career or your grandchildren. If we lost everything today, we’d still be precious in His sight. Thanks for listening to Every Wise Woman Builds. Feel free to leave a review on iTunes. I’ll try to listen to any constructive criticism, and I’d love to hear if something blessed you. It helps others to find this show, so I’d really appreciate it. And just so you know, I’m just a wife and mother of eight, who homeschools six of her kids and shuttles two to school. I do graphic design. I’m not a professional speaker, but I do have a lot of friends I’d love you to meet. Thanks for joining me today. In two weeks, make sure to listen to the story of a lady who feared she’d lose her worth when her growing forgetfulness jeopardized her job security. It’s a powerful story by a precious friend. You won’t want to miss it.  You can leave a review here. Click "Open in iTunes," then click on "Ratings and Reviews" to share your thoughts.

When You Suspect You're Not Worth Very Much

Preach the gospel to yourself. Every day. Wise words from the woman who lost her daddy to the murderous savages he was trying to preach the gospel to, and who was taken by her mother to live with those savages. The gospel transformed that tribe of Aucas (meaning "fierce") to a truth-seeking tribe of peaceful believers. And the gospel still has the power to change every savage lie we hear replayed in our own minds daily. You'll be blessed by this wise woman, Valerie Elliot Shepard. May her tribe increase!   "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." "Turn Your Heart Toward Home" by Steve & Annie Chapman. Used with permission.

Building with Grace Though You're Not Perfect with Valerie Elliot Shepard

 Welcome back to the Every Wise Woman Builds podcast! It's been a nice break, but now I'm excited to get back to you and share with you some of my friends. In this season, we'll be talking about everything from parenting without regrets to overcoming forgetfulness as we hit menopause. Today though, I'm sharing with you the very best friend I've ever had.   In this episode, I share with you the reason I no longer fear death. According to Scripture I share in this episode, we can know for sure we're going to heaven. "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God," says the Scripture in 1 John 5:13, "that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the only begotten Son of God."   Have you ever wondered what will happen when you breathe your last? Have you ever wondered why a loving God would turn away someone who chooses to reject Jesus Christ? Have you ever wondered if it's possible to live without fear of death?   In the Beginning   When God made the world, He set it up with certain laws. Breaking these laws results in death as surely as the sun rises in the east and what goes up must come down.   Sadly, every human alive has broken at least one of these laws (but usually I find myself breaking more than one every hour). Laws like "forgive," "thou shalt not covet," "love God with all your heart" and others have been hard for people to keep from the beginning.   God looked down from heaven on all the children of men to see if there were any that did seek God. Not one. Not one person really wanted to seek a God who's so very holy. It's so much more comfortable to do good deeds and compare myself to other humans!   So God Himself left heaven, became a baby in the womb of a virgin (as had been prophesied centuries earlier), and was born into a destitute family in one of the darkest ages in human history. He felt the pain of being human. He was tempted in all points like we are. Yet without sin. Never once did he give in to the sinful pleasures we all grab.   And because of that, He, Jesus Christ, was qualified to live forever, unlike us. Since the wages of sin is death, Jesus had no wages waiting on him. He could condemn every one of us, now with perfect right, because He did know how it felt to be one of us.   Yet rather than judging us, He took our sin upon Himself. He became sin for us, who knew no sin. Why? Because as the God-man, He could then legally transfer His righteousness to us. He took our blame and punishment so we could take His perfection and be welcomed into heaven.   Seriously! Read the Bible! It's full of stories of Jesus. Even the old stories in the beginning of the Bible foretell that Jesus would come.   So Jesus did come, and He took the punishment for every human ever. He was buried, and three days later He rose from the dead, crushing the enemy's hopes that God was dead.   And what did He tell his followers when He rose from the dead? "Tell all nations. Baptize them. Teach them to tell people." And that's what been happening for the past two thousand years. That's why I'm telling you.   "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."     If you'd like to talk more about this, email me at cryoutforwisdom@gmail.com.   God bless, and Happy New Year!   ~ Rebekah   "Turn Your Heart Toward Home" by Steve & Annie Chapman. Used with permission.

How to Not Fear Death

Who would've guessed that the most valuable book after the Bible is a tattered hymnbook? Within those pages lie the answers to the questions that man wrestles in every age. In this episode of the Every Wise Woman Builds podcast, Lexie Joy and I talk about how my two year old went from mimicking nonsense like "Bulbous Bouffant Blubber Macadamia" to lisping truths he won't understand for years, but he'll still have them when he's 92. Enjoy! Lettering Graphic Courtesy of Shiloh Graphic Design: https://www.shilohgraphicdesign.com/On Instagram: @shilohgraphicdesignPlease follow Shiloh for incredibly beautiful lettering inspiration and hymn art!   "Turn Your Heart Toward Home" by Steve & Annie Chapman. Used with permission.

The Power of Hymns

"Should I work?   "Work from home?   "Or only work on my home?"    In this conclusion of the interview with Terrie Gatto on teaching kids to clean, Terrie and I talk about this constant struggle for mothers. I know there's nothing as satisfying as focusing on my family, but sometimes my focus is needed elsewhere "to pay a bill or two."    Terrie talks about how women in her life taught her she could do anything. Then she gives me much-needed advice about my own choices.    As a famous homeschooled person once told me long ago, it's important for mothers to have their own interests. Without them, we can smother the very relationships we feel we're sacrificing our lives for. Our children need our love and attention. They also need our example.   We mamas need to know it's okay to take those steps of faith to try new things. We need to model living daring lives for our children. (We also need to model saying "No" to opportunities that threaten relationships, but that's another topic for another day.:)      "The hope that we have in Jesus should make Christians some of the most fearless, wisest risk-takers when pursuing our callings."   - Jordan Raynor, Called to Create     I hope this interview blesses you as much as it did me. In the end, as Terrie says, everything depends on our dependence on the One who's really providing for our homes. If we can make prayer for our children the top to-do on our list, everything else will fall into place.    "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:6-7, 13   "Turn Your Heart Toward Home" by Steve & Annie Chapman. Used with permission.

Teaching "I Can Do This" to Our Kids with Terrie Gatto, Part 2

Here it is! The interview that taught me how to teach my children to clean. I have to tell you, I recorded this interview in May, and our home has changed drastically - for the better - because of this conversation.   In this inspiring interview, my dear friend Terrie Gatto shares with me how she trained her young children to clean - and enjoy it! Seriously! She has her small children racing each other to do laundry! And they do it RIGHT.  Here are a few of my favorite quotes from Terrie's experience training her children to work:   "If I make it tense, nothing will ever get done." "Calmly say, 'What is wrong?' I let them point it out. They know if they skipped over something."    "Claim God's promises in the Bible."   "Wherever you are as a mom, just say, 'I'm going to obey God.' It's me humbling myself and obeying God. He says to train, I'm just going to train. It's hard, and there are days when I feel I'm failing at everything."    "We've just got to trust God with our children."    "Don't forget that they're the future. I look at my kids like, 'Okay, they're future husbands. No woman wants a man who won't work. Even if they're single, they need to have a good work ethic.'"   "Their future starts at home."   "Ask God for wisdom. The Bible says He giveth to all men liberally. You don't have to be sixty years old. A young child can ask for wisdom and get it."     You can read more of Terrie's writing by visiting http://www.mycrazymessybeautiful.com. You can also check out her bakery at https://www.facebook.com/sweetaffairs.sa.    "Turn Your Heart Toward Home" by Steve & Annie Chapman. Used with permission.

Teaching Kids to Love to Clean with Terrie Gatto, Part 1

I can’t tell you how many times it happened. Morning after morning, year after year, I crawled out of bed way too late, feeling like a loser and convinced of it as the lateness kept me from productivity. I’d been reading Jolina Petersheim’s blog for a while when I saw she’d started posting about how she got up early. Guiltily, but hungry to learn, I observed. I tried to imagine all the things I could do if I got up early enough to be productive at 6 in the morning. Time passed, more babies came, and those dreams of rising with the chickens stayed dreams. Jolina’s example stuck with me, though, and – praise be – now I’ve finally learned it. You can read about that here. (The names are changed to protect the embarrassed. Me.) What’s so funny is that, in this part 2 of Jolina’s interview, she shares with me how short-lived that “resolution” to get up early really was. And you know what? I wonder if Jolina felt those blog posts about rising early were in vain. They weren’t. Not for me. Those accounts of her ambitious goals that she thought fell flat caught hold in my soul and eventually bore fruit. Even though, to her, they may have felt like a big fail. Isn’t that cool?! Who knows what new thing you’ve started, or I’ve started, that was just another flop sparked something lasting in someone on the sidelines? God uses the weak. The foolish. The ones who feel so unworthy. Probably the biggest thing that keeps Him from using us is when we feel so qualified we’re unthankful He stoops to think on us at all! Enjoy the podcast!     One note on a section of this episode when I misspoke: I said, “It’s so easy to get separated from that love.” That’s the opposite of the truth. Nothing can separate us from His love.    For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39   "Turn Your Heart Toward Home" by Steve & Annie Chapman. Used with permission.

Sharing Wisdom When You're Still Young with Jolina Petersheim, Part 2

"Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days." That's what I think about when I consider my old friend Jolina Petersheim. As a young college student, I'd give Jolina rides home from church and pepper her with well-intentioned advice with the air of a sage. Looking back, I cringe at how I must've come across to this giddy little junior high girl who must've seen me as a major party pooper. I couldn't hold back, though. God had changed my life around her age, and I wanted SO BAD for her to taste and see how good He is. Time passed, and we both went our different ways as life played out. She was in my wedding, and I heard through the grapevine as she headed off to college and then got married. When I heard through our shook-up community grapevine that Jolina had not only published a book, but it was a best-seller, all of us were thrilled. For me, who'd always entertained secret crazy dreams like running in the Olympics, writing, and being a radio show host, a spark of "what if I could, too!" was secretly lit. I began reading her blog, which was far different than it is today. In the following years I observed as this spunky dreamer mellowed into a wise woman who regularly offers insight that shapes my own thinking. So if you've poured into younger women, praying for them, feeling like your words fall flat, just know that it isn't us that makes people wise. It's Jesus. He sometimes allows us to join in the process, and sometimes He removes us and puts others in our place. He's the One doing the work. And we will reap. If we don't faint.     "Turn Your Heart Toward Home" by Steve & Annie Chapman. Used with permission.

Sharing Wisdom When You're Still Young with Jolina Petersheim, Part 1

What a gift God gave me as I sat across from Mrs. Brenda Gilley as the choir practiced in the room across the hall that Sunday afternoon. She told me how as she worried over a problem she couldn't fix, "My doctor told me, 'Turn your head! You're not God!" In this rich conclusion to last week's interview, Mrs. Brenda provides comfort and instruction far beyond what I've heard before on the subject of prayer. There's something about one on one conversation that can't be matched in a large group setting. So pull up a chair, go pick up the kids, or grab some ironing, and listen in as Mrs. Brenda shares her seasoned insight. You won't be sorry. If you'd like to leave a message for Mrs. Brenda, you can email me at cryoutforwisdom@gmail.com.   "Turn Your Heart Toward Home" by Steve & Annie Chapman. Used with permission.

The Rest of the Story: Praying for the Next Generation with Brenda Gilley, Part 2

Monday morning I woke up at 2:00am with labor-type pains in my kidney. Yes. My kidney. I am so. Not. Interested in finding out if kidney stones hurt worse than childbirth. I remembered a friend telling me recently how her kidney stones got dissolved without trauma, but 2am was way too early to message her. The pain scared me. So I prayed. And like usual, prayer put me to sleep. (Isn’t that awful? God is so merciful to let my laziness work in my favor.) And yes, I did get her recipe for dissolving kidney stones, and I did follow it, and no, I haven’t had any more pain. I don’t know if I will. I don’t know if I would’ve if I hadn’t prayed. I think I’d still be suffering. Just like all the other times I’ve suffered way too long before I finally thought to pray. Prayer can’t be overemphasized. That’s why on today’s podcast, my dear friend, Mrs. Brenda Gilley, one of my Titus 2 “older women” who’s guided me many times, shares with me this most important of all things a younger woman needs to learn from the older generation.  No matter how dark our world becomes, if we can stay on our knees, and even more importantly, train our children to hit their knees and find mercy and grace to help in time of need, we can love rather than fear. Fear has torment,  but it’s the natural reaction when we have no hope. As long as we can pray, we can love. Because we can hope. So I hope you enjoy this first part of the interview with Brenda Gilley. Let’s take some extra time to pray this week. It’ll naturally grow if we’re praying, because prayer births prayer when we see how God answers! God bless! Have a great, prayer-filled week.   "Turn Your Heart Toward Home" by Steve & Annie Chapman. Used with permission.

Praying for the Next Generation with Brenda Gilley, Part 1

According to Titus 2, the "generation gap" mentality results in spiritual paralysis for Christian women. My name is Rebekah Dorris, and with my daughter, we'd like to introduce you to some wise women making a difference. Some of them are from Scripture, and some live down the street. Listen along as we bridge the gap between generations, so our daughters and their granddaughters can be wise women building homes that last.

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Every Wise Woman Builds

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