"Take courage! For I am with you", says the Lord -- with Jennifer Rothschild

<p>Episode 86 -- Jennifer Rothschild is sharing her experience of physical blindness and spiritual eyesight with us today. We go deep in the trenches of self-reliance, and she says, "I used to rely on my own strength, and I thought it was grace." She tells us that without Christ's power in us, we can't experience true success. Our strength can be our greatest liability.  Jennifer says that blindness has exposed her true weakness: her dogged self-reliance! Learning that our greater weakness is self-dependence teaches us to boast in our weakness because that is where the power of Christ can dwell.</p> <p>So, we talk about the imperative of surrender to a God who knows us exactly as He created us to be. How do we make surrender our number one goal? This is one of the themes of "Take Courage: a study of Haggai" the latest book that Jennifer wrote--because she needed it for herself, and hopes to share it with others who seek to rebuild against discouragement after 2020 and amidst 2021. Jennifer reminds us through Haggai that you are never too young, or too old, for God to call and qualify and equip you for the work and identity He has for you.</p> <p>Jennifer says, "true success is obedience." How do you not get weary of well-doing? Haggai teaches us that obedience and faithfulness ARE success. It is not about size and glitter, but about surrendering our 100% to God.</p> <p>Jennifer shares with vulnerability how taking courage is an instruction amidst weakness and disappointment, not something for the strong. It is about receiving courage, not mustering it up out of our own strength. So, it starts with emptying yourself of self-reliance, stop trying to grip control, taking "be strong" off your to-do list, and tell God that you can't -- but that HE CAN! Case in point, Stephanie started this interview with a few butterflies in her stomach and a slight case of fan-girling, but Jennifer made her feel at ease immediately by her kindness and approachability. This was a perfect practical example of how to celebrate success a