My guest for The Happy Hour #125 is Renee Swope. Renee is a Word-lover, heart-encourager, story-teller and grace-needer. She’s the best-selling author of A Confident Heart and A Confident Heart Devotional. Renee served as Executive Director and as radio co-host at Proverbs 31 Ministries for 20 years. She is a writer for (in)courage and contributor to (in)courage’s first book Craving Connection: 30 Challenges for Real-Life Engagement. Married to her favorite person on earth, Renee and J.J. live in North Carolina making memories with their three kiddos: Joshua, Andrew and Aster (their adopted daughter from Ethiopia). Renee loves pouring into, praying for and loving on women, in real life and online at www.ReneeSwope.com .
I first met Renee by interviewing her for The Influence Network Podcast and fell in love and immediately invited her to join us on The Happy Hour. If I could describe Renee and this conversation with one word, it would be wisdom. This is the kind of interview that you'll want to grab a pen and piece of paper and take some notes. She shares some really valuable wisdom on using her gifts and skill sets in her home and with her family, when she was so used to using them in the workforce. Renee recently stepped away from her job to focus on her family, specifically her daughter with special needs. She shares about that decision and what she has learned along the way.
Most of our conversation focused on Renee sharing about a difficult season with their middle son, as he shocked his parents by claiming atheism. Renee's wisdom and her patient self-control completely blew me away. I know some of you are right in the middle of these seasons, or for some of you, they are coming. The Spirit of God in Renee is so illuminating and inspiring. But, what I realized as I have thought more about this conversation is that it's easy to listen to people like Renee who are good with words, good with people, and think “I could never do that with my kid.” And I want to encourage you that if you are in Christ, the same Spirit lives in you. My heart feels heavy today for those of you that are hurting because of difficult seasons with your kids. I hope Renee's experience and her wisdom is like water to your soul today.
{You can listen to the show HERE. And of course, I would love if you would share with your friends. Just use the FB & Twitter links at the end of this post!}
Links from the Show
The Influence Network Podcast #49: Jamie Ivey & Renee Swope
Fly A Little Higher by Laura Sobiech + Love Does by Bob Goff + The Broken Way by Ann Voskamp + Ridiculous Faith by Shelene Bryan
What Renee is loving: Tazo Tea Zen Green Tea with Lemongrass & Spearmint, her new dog, Writing Down to the Bones by Natalie Goldberg
Connect with Renee
Facebook // Twitter // Instagram
Connect with Jamie
Facebook // Twitter // Instagram
Sponsors:
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I really enjoyed this podcast! Great topics – adoption, transitions, making time for friends and parenting. Thank you!!
I loved Renee. She had such encouraging, real advice for moms. I’m a new momma and it is so encouraging to hear from a seasoned mom with such great perspective. I appreciated her practical and actual advice about how they approached their sons in their seasons of doubting and what they are doing differently with their younger daughter. I would be so happy to hear from her again and more women like her.
Thanks, Jamie!
I just finished listening to the podcast with Renee Swope. How my goodness, was it balm for my soul. Like Renee, I have a teen aged boy who has been going through “stuff” for the last year, or so. I felt like she was speaking right to me about how to listen to my son, but also listen to the Spirit and know that HE is wooing my son and to trust Him. I think she said the thing that challenged her was “if you believe what you say you do about God, than why are you afraid? Yup. Totally meant for me t.o.d.a.y.
Thank you for having a mom on who was able to speak about older kid issues. I’m going to listen to it again, and than have my husband listen to. So good!!
OMG thank you so much for this episode! Renee was amazing. I am going through a difficult time with my 11 year old son right now, and I have prayed for God to speak to me. I know he used this HH episode to speak truth into my situation. God bless!